#besides they're both stubborn as hell

[nenoname]

seeing the art that likely inspired this ask and i gotta say, it'd be pretty hilarious to think that ford would give up on the stan o war just because of nausea after all the things he'd been through (and i'm pretty sure it was said that dimension hopping makes you feel super sick??? i sure hope my brain didn't just make that up outta nowhere....) and even if it did effect him a shitton, this is mr 'nutritional pills, metal plate in my head and huh maybe i should build myself bionic eyes' that really wouldn't stop him

but also it's funny to me that some assume that they're stuck on the boat only and won't go ashore (i think stan would complain more about camping than boat plumbing but we also know that stan likes camping cos they used to do it tons as kids if only that one ep idea wasnt cut huh)

I’ve been seeing a couple posts as of late where some people have been arguing that the stan twins wouldn’t spend the rest of their lives on the stan o war ll and that they’d do it for a little under a year. I’m honestly torn between the two because while one is more realistic and makes more sense, I’m also really sappy and I love the idea that they grew up by the sea and that they’d grow old by the sea.

Do you have any thoughts about it??

i really do lean towards them spending most of the rest of their lives on the boat (and even if they don't, under a year is wayyyyy too little imo) mostly because realism haunted their backstories and lives which made them miserable for so long that there's a sense of "you know what? fuck that! ford spent years being a freaking scifi hero dimensional traveller and stan punched a demon god to death! we get to choose how we live out the rest of our lives" ya know? something something ford's self written scifi greek tragedy being defied with the kids' help and that helping him be resolved in deciding how he wants to live now

there's also the comedy of stan's retirement being far chaotic than most of what he faced over the past 30 years of stubbornly avoiding most trouble and mysteries that came his way and i just want that shit to continue escalating

of course i dont think their life on the stan o war is going to be all sunshines and rainbows-- they both have extreme issues and being freed from the kids comedy coming of age genre means they're probably going to get into more grim trouble (not helped bill's "still on your mind" being directed at stan...)

but from what we see from the ending and that stan o war comic page they seem really happy and used to that life now

(but also i have a bias for a certain ending cos of this comic lmao)

[kashverse]

CAN you PLEASE PLEASE make a drabble of Toji taking care of sleepy Mamaguro and Megumi? I think it would be so adorable. 🧎

oh to continue writing happy toji and happy mamaguro reader... 🚬

the mission was simple: stay up until 12 a.m. to wish toji a happy birthday. you and megumi, the last-standing warriors of the fushiguro household, sat by the door like hyper puppies, waiting for your beloved husband—your fearless protector—your batman (you are not explaining to a six-year-old what an assassin is)—to return home. it was going perfectly until your phone buzzed.

gonna be late. emergency job. don’t wait up.

you stare at the screen. then at megumi. then back at the screen.

the bastard forgot his own birthday.

your son, wise beyond his years, folds his arms and scowls. “so, what, we just give up?” you slap the table dramatically. “absolutely not.”

if there was one thing you and megumi had in common—besides your unwavering judgment of toji’s life choices—it was stubbornness. this mission would not fail. if your husband wanted to be late to his own birthday, that was his problem. but you and megumi? you were gonna be ready. so, naturally, you both made the worst decision possible.

sugar boost.

you and your six-year-old co-conspirator sprawled across the couch, sharing a single pack of gummy bears like it was some kind of sacred ration. one gummy at a time. chewing slowly. blinking at the wall in utter silence like two very small, very deranged owls.

"mama."

"yeah, baby?"

"do you think papa is the strongest man alive?"

"of course."

megumi chews thoughtfully. "do you think he could lift a cow?"

you consider this. "...easily."

"two cows?"

you hesitate. 

-

it’s 11:57 p.m. standing in the doorway, looking like he just crawled out of a damn action movie, is toji. the duffel bag slung over his shoulder drops to the floor with a heavy THUD, and he’s met with—

a beautiful handmade "happy birthday, papa!!" banner, decorated with poorly drawn badtz-maru stickers, because megumi has commitment to the bit.

you, sprawled out on the couch like a crime scene victim.

megumi, passed out on top of you, his little hand still clutching a half-eaten gummy bear.

toji stares. something in his chest tightens. he lets out a quiet sigh, running a hand through his hair as he steps inside, shutting the door behind him. exhausted as he is, something about this sight makes his heart ache in that weird way—the kind of warmth he’s still getting used to, the kind that makes him feel like maybe, just maybe, he didn’t screw up as badly as he thought. without a word, he moves over to the couch. and because yes, he is that man—he lifts both you and megumi in one go. you stir slightly, groggy, mumbling, "cow..."

toji frowns. "what?"

megumi snorts in his sleep, muttering, "two cows..."

toji, confused as all hell, just grunts and carries his weird, sleep-deprived family to bed.

the next morning, as the sun peeks through the curtains and the birds chirp outside like they're personally taunting you, you and megumi prepare for phase two of toji’s birthday celebration: chaotic wake-up call.

toji, the strongest man alive (and also the biggest sleeper in the house), is sprawled out on the bed, dead to the world. he sleeps like a log, one arm thrown over his face, mouth slightly open, because even assassins need their beauty rest. you and megumi exchange a look. a silent nod of understanding. then, in perfect sync, you both take in a deep, deep breath and—

"HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYYYYYYYY!!!"

toji’s entire body jerks like he just got shot. his arms flail, his head snaps up, and before he can even process what's happening, you and megumi double down with a second round of high-pitched, ungodly shrieks right in his ear.

"what the hell—"

but before he can even think about grabbing a weapon (because let’s be real, his first instinct is to attack), he realizes exactly who the culprits are. and oh, oh, you two are in trouble. his sleep-deprived brain short-circuits for about half a second before years of combat training kick in.

he lunges.

"oh—RUN!" you shriek, shoving megumi, but it’s too late—toji grabs you both in one swift motion, rolling over and pinning you down, locking both of you in a vice-like headlock.

"GOTCHA!"

"NOOOO—!"

megumi screams in betrayal as toji mercilessly ruffles his hair. you’re not spared either, as he buries his face into your neck, delivering an absolutely brutal barrage of kisses like it’s a full-scale attack.

“YOU WANNA WAKE ME UP, HUH? THAT HOW WE’RE PLAYIN’ THIS?”

"toji stop—" you wheeze, kicking your legs as he plants an exaggeratedly loud kiss to your cheek. megumi shrieks, wiggling with all his might, but toji just grabs him tighter, pressing another series of dramatic, disgusting dad kisses to his forehead. "UGH, PAPAAAA!" megumi yells, offended.

"nah, nah, you started this, kid," toji cackles. "you and your big mouth—what was all that ‘two cows’ shit, huh?”

"STOP!" megumi flails harder, but he is six and toji is built different. eventually, though, he relents, flopping back with a satisfied smirk, letting you both gasp for air like shipwreck survivors. "you’re the worst," you pant. megumi, hair now a disaster, groans. "i hate birthdays."

toji just smirks, stretching. "eh, still my best one yet."

[gadriezmannsgirl]

While I was watching some couple trends/videos, the trend "She has Mom Hands" keep on pulling up so I thought about writing a little something based on that, hope you guys like it, let me know in the comments what you think!✨

Also, I'm extremely sick😭 but hey, I got the free time to write something!

Warnings: mentions of Latina!reader

Mom Hands

Pedri:

"Is the chicken done, amor?" You ask finishing cutting the avocado

"Yes, mamá dijo que lo cortará ella" (Mom said she'll chop it)

"Not happening, guapo" You inmediately said "This is something for me to show you and your family something about my country. I'll not have your mom, dad or brother to help me out with anything; I can do it"

"You don't have to do it"

"But I want to. Your mom wants to try something traditional from my country and I'll do it, gladly. She has already taught me so much about Las Islas Canarias, that I kinda feel bad because I don't do my country's dishes for you guys"

"They really don't care about it"

"But I do"

"But you shouldn't, hija" Rosy's voice came from behind the two of you "Let me help you"

"Rosy" You whine a little "I really want you guys to enjoy everything"

"I'll enjoy it a lot more if I can help you with a little something"

"Don't do anything and sit pretty, please?" You shyly ask

"Everything but that"

"Fine" You drag out the 'e' "Only with the chicken! But can you put it in the blender? And that's it" She smiled nodding

"I can do that" You smile softly going back to cutting some dressings for the filling when you feel a kiss on your neck and some arms wrap around your middle

"Mi chica terca" (My stubborn girl)

"Calla" (Shut up) You said smiling as he giggled

"Venga Pedri, deja a mi niña tranquila, que haga su trabajo. Esto se ve riquisimo y tengo mucha hambre" (C'mon Pedri, leave my little girl alone, let her do her job. This looks delicious and I'm very hungry)

"Vale, vale" Pedri nodded going to stand besides you "Want me to help you with something?"

"Can you flip the arepas, please?" He nods leaving you and Rosy in the counter while he stood in front of the stove

"They're stuck"

"¡Ay no! Try to peel them off without breaking them"

"Voy, hijo. Que las vas a dañar" (You'll break them)

A few seconds passed and the kitchen fell silent

"Did you do it, Rosy?"

"I'm trying, cariño. But they're stuck"

"No no, coño e' la madre. Voy" (No no, fuck. Coming) You quickly forgot about the filling and washed your hands going over to both González.

You see Rosy handing you the spatula but you don't mind it, with your hand you grab the beggining of an arepa and carefully lifted it off the pan, not caring how hot the pan was but making sure it didn't break. Once you finally lifted it, you flipped it over and did the same with the other four arepas.

"Esto está es listoo" (Done) You smile before going back to the filling

"Hey, I've never seen you do that, preciosa"

"Do what?"

"¿Como carajos has hecho eso?" (How the hell did you do that?)

"What?"

"Pues eso! You flipped an arepa over with your hand! The pan was so hot and you didn't even flinched!" You just looked at him not knowing what to say

"That's called Mom Hands, hijo" Rosy looked at you smiling "I've already told you this but you better not let this girl go. She's a keeper" She side hugs you, kissing your cheek as you blush

"I know she is" He whispers, giving you a kiss "That's why I'm never letting her go"

Gavi:

"Preciosa, the bread is done"

"Perfect! I already have everything cut, the sauce's are done as well. The only thing what's left are the sausages, are they done?" You asked your 10 months boyfriend, you see how he looks over the boiling pan

"I think so"

"Did you opened them in half so they can be cooked better?"

Pablo, falls silent and looks again to the pan "...No"

"Amor! Te pedí que lo hicieras desde el inicio!" (I asked you to do it from the beggining!)

"Perdona, que también me dijiste que hiciera el zumo de limón y se me olvidó lo de los chorizos" (Sorry, you also told me to make the lemon juice and I forgot about the chorizos)

"They still need to cook a little" You pull one out with a fork "I'll open them"

You pulled out the chorizos with the fork and once you let the water drain out of them, you grabbed them with your hand and put them on the chopping board at the same time you grabbed a knife and sliced them in half.

"Hey, hey, hey!"

"What, what, what?"

"It's hot! You're going burn yourself!"

"They're not hot"

"The sausages were in boiling water, of course they're hot and of course you'll get burned!"

"I'm ok, baby" You kiss his cheek as he watches you take out the boiling water and put another pan to fry the sausages "It's not a big deal, I've cooked for a while"

"I know you've and I've seen your mom and grandma do the same, I know this is how you cook but that doesn't mean I'll love watching you put your hand on top of boiling water or in hot oil"

"Eh, que conozco mis límites" (Hey, I know my limits) He laughs

"Don't do it again"

"I'll try not doing that again in front of you" You say leaning to kiss his lips "Do you think it's hot enough?" You ask pulling your hand on top of the pan

You laugh watching his eyes wide open in horror "Y/N, no! Dijiste que no lo harías!" (You said you wouldn't do it!)

Fermín:

"Fermín!" You called for your boyfriend, you waited a few seconds to see him pulling up to the kitchen "Where are the height sticks?"

"In the top left drawer, maybe?"

"Can you please hand me some? Está tortilla me está haciendo la vida imposible" (This tortilla it's making my life impossible) You said both hands occupied

"Why?"

"Es que esta parte de la tortilla se devuelve para este lado, con los palitos de altura se mantiene y como todavía les falta cocción, pues espero que se mantenga y no se rompa" (It is that this part of the tortilla is returned to this side, with the height sticks is maintained and as they still lack cooking, I hope it keeps and does not break.)

Fermín nods, giving you some, you were so into what you were doing that you didn't realized that you were touching the hot pan with your bare hands.

"Bebé, be careful"

"Huh?" You looked him to see a small frown on his gorgeous face

"You just flipped the tortilla with your hands and a few seconds ago you were touching the pan"

You look at your hands "Sisi, no te preocupes, mi vida. No sentí nada la verdad" (Yeah, yeah, don't worry, dear. I didn't feel anything if I'm honest)

"Ya, sé que puedes, que tienes manos de mamá resistentes a cosas de cocina y todo, pero ten cuidado; si?" (Yes, I know you can, that you have mom hands resistant to kitchen stuff and all that, but be careful, yeah?) I don't want you to hurt yourself." He Kissed your cheek lovingly

"I won't"

"Good, you need help?"

Ferran:

"¡Que me quemó, joder!" (That burns, fuck!)

"I told you to be careful, Ferran!"

"¿Cómo tú si puedes hacerlo como si nada? ¿Y yo que lo intento y soy cuidadoso, me quemo?" (How can you do it just like that? And me, who tries and is careful, burns myself?)

"¡Pues que lo he estado haciendo desde hace mucho!" (Well, I've been doing it for a long time!)

"¡Pero que tú colocas tu mano dentro del aceite caliente!" (But you put your hand in the hot oil!)

"Tampoco así, Ferran" (It's not like that either, Ferran)

"¡No te falta mucho para hacerlo!" (You're not far from doing it!)

"Fer" You sighed softly "Let me see"

"Ice will solve this, don't worry" He said letting you see his arm, it had a small red spot in it

"Yes, it will. I'm sorry, love"

"Don't worry, preciosa" He kissed your hair "Let's keep cooking, I won't stop until I have a taco made by myself in my hands"

"Don't get too excited, okay?" You pushed him out of the way with your hips, your hands working on the food "I don't want Pedri or your coach to get mad at me because you went to practice all burned"

"You need to teach me how to do that, nena. I want to try it" You smiled nodding

"Another time tho. Don't want to risk any other injury"

"Nah, if you want to worry, then worry about my starting with Flick, I can handle Pedri"

"My gosh" You murmur shaking your head "I love your guys friendship but sometimes I feel like I'm third wheeling with the two of you"

"Jealous much?"

"Of Pedri? Buah!" You shake your head "You love me and Pedri loves bald people" You stuck your tongue out jokingly before laughing at Ferran's face, he soon joins laughing with you

"Bueno, es la verdad" (Well, that's true)

°°° °°° °°° °°°

Taglist: @gaviymarcsbride @stuckinaf4nfiction @elijahslover @azzpenswrld @spidybaby-mainblog @cececarmona17

[kaeyacollection]

In celebration of Diluc and Kaeya's new Theater cosmetic, I bring to you the reason behind THIS post,

"Did Diluc ever actually disown Kaeya?"

(TL;DR & art at the end)

Yeah that's right we're getting into some technicalities thanks to Knaves line about assumptions ✨️

Because who the hell decided it was a good idea to let Kaeya control the narrative uncontested?

Now, now, I hear you loudly already: He burned that boy, Diluc's an ass to him, Kaeya was banned from the household, Kaeya hasn't called him brother in YEARS, and of course,

KAEYA TOOK A FLAMING SWORD TO THE FACE

All of that would reasonably be acts of disownment without having to say the word, but when has Genshin ever been reasonable?

And while I can go on for an incredibly long time, dissecting every scene the brothers have so much as been hinted in, for you, my dear readers, I will refrain and focus on the main points 💖

Firstly, let's stray away from the main points and see what the staff thinks about all of this ✨️ Of course, they're working with limited knowledge of what happened, but it's a good place to start. We have Adelinde assuming it's Diluc's pride keeping him from setting things right, Tunner notices a problem with Kaeya but assumes he's seen as an outsider to the Dawn Winery's Family and is excluded from such talks, and Elzer, who believes while Diluc is stubborn, wouldn't actually send Kaeya away

[Adelinde's idle line, Tunner from Kaeya's Hangout, and Elzer's Hidden Strife Letter]

"When will Master Diluc finally resolve his issues with Master Kaeya."

"We did not refuse him, however. We believe that even if you were here, you would not refuse him outright."

And while that may have been true in the beginning, the staff have certainly realized the only person they need to convince to let Kaeya stay, is Kaeya

So what's the brothers issue with one another? Well, they're both incredibly petty for one, and then there's the issue where no one in their lives know enough about the situation to be able to mediate their fighting (even the Traveler doesn't know Kaeya's full story just yet).

Hell, it's not even just that they need a peacekeeper either. The dialog can't even BEGIN because it would be inappropriate for the staff to set it up, Diluc lost his right to start this talk in the flames of that night, and Kaeya knows what happened the last time he tried to have a one on one 🤷 So instead the brothers are left making various biting remarks 'cause Tyvat doesn't have therapy

"It's been years, Kaeya doesn't even blame him, he should step up 😤" Well, lately, he's been trying to. Shocking, I know. Diluc is still learning how to navigate this new personality his brother developed in his absence, and not only is he doing a terrible job at it but he's also frustrated

Between inviting Kaeya to dinner and getting rejected, trying to voice concern and being hit with venom, and only being able to keep Kaeya around if there's wine involved...

It's frustrating knowing the other person has every right to walk away, no matter how much you want to fix it. Besides, WE might know Kaeya doesn't blame him,

but Diluc clearly doesn't.

"Why doesn't he introduce Kaeya as his brother then?"

Do we see Diluc introduce Kaeya at all?

What we do have is Diluc saying he's not his "bro" in the webcomic, which has been pointed out as not being in a family sense but as buddies. Which is absolutely how "bro" is used in my area as well 🤷 but for Diluc, why the hell would he ever want to be friends with his brother? Diluc has set up the situation to be All or Nothing. Either they're brothers or they're nothing at all. And Diluc's tried the Nothing course. He kept Kaeya at a distance from his vigilante business, allowed him to revoke his place in the household (both in calling Crepus father and moving out), and keeping his distance from his brother in general [Kaeya's letter in Hidden Strife that Diluc receives before making himself scarce]

"The Grand Master has assigned the Cavalry Company to this mission. As such, I will be paying you a visit in three days. He seems to think that our relationship can be improved if we are forced to talk in person. Don’t worry, though. My lips are sealed. This will be nothing more than a formality. Anyways, three days’ notice should be enough for you, I presume?"

We know that none of that went as intended

I mean Kaeya's response to being kept away from Diluc's Dark Knight Hero business is to repeatedly show him he IS in on it just by the fact he's keeping it a secret. Hidden Strife Diluc finally talks about, albeit strained, partnership he has with the Knights now where they'll watch eachothers backs. And of course my absolute favorite of their interactions,

Diluc asking if Kaeya can cool it on the drinking, and Kaeya deciding a reasonable response is:

Or what? :) you gonna throw me out with the trash? :)

And Diluc deciding Kaeya's cut off point is whenever he starts getting sassy

[K: Any GOOD bar would have SNACKS 😤😤😤 D: aaaaaaand you're done]

I know I said you can thank the Knave for this post and that's because her line finally helped me pin down Diluc's Summer Conch dialog

"I didn't know you still remembered anything from back then... Huh."

Diluc actions line up with the bitterness of being left behind by someone who's still around.

Someone he's not willing to actually let go of

[Inviting him to dinner, saying he'd normally join Kaeya when he had the time, serving Kaeya at the bar, drinking with him outside Angels Share, drinking with him at Cats Tail, abandoning the business he claimed to have at the Cats Tail just to chase after kaeya when finding out about his tcg card (despite already admitting it doesn't bother him)]

TL;DR: If Diluc did disown Kaeya, he's doing a terrible job at following through.

Art by the wonderful Remy

[galactic-rhea]

It's ranting hours sunday for me: Y' know, I think when people complain soooo much about Padmé getting with Anakin, they're failing to see a lot of things. BUT ESPECIALLY...That it was her choice, and if speaks a lot of her character and personality.

She was already done dirty by the movies by getting so many deleted scenes, but then if you try to take away the agency she had on marrying a human disaster or her choices, like her forgiveness/understanding, it's actually undermining and flattening her character.

The fact is that she's actually very similar to Anakin, she's stubborn, deeply traumatized, compromises a lot for the sake of others and loves beyond reasoning. We, the audience, know that Anakin will become Darth Vader and one of the most iconic villains of history; so everything he does can be seem as a red flag that really isn't there.

From Padmé's POV, Anakin has done terrible things, but it's capable of incredible acts of love and compassion. They're in circumstances that aren't normal at all, she was queen at 14, and he was born a slave and joined the space wizard monks and his normal is kill or be killed. Our modern and omniscient POV can't be applied onto them because there's no point of comparison in this sci-fi-shakespearen tragedy-soap-opera-fantasy.

Besides...she was actually right in the end, and I don't believe is "feminist" or progressive to take away a big part of her core personality, that actually had repercussions in the whole story, and make her out to be either unaware and naive of marrying a monster, or (the worst one, imo) being jedi-mind-tricked-brainwashed-abused by her husband.

The "right, correct, girlboss and queen" actitude does more damage than help, leave Padmé to be a person. A person who wanted to have a fairytale romance with some guy who would fight for her and makes her laugh.

Also, the hell why you wanna blame her for something Anakin does, come on. That's a whole other can of worms, though. My point is, that trying to avoid or re-work-or re-contextualize the fact that she chose Anakin despite him literally telling her about murdering a whole village, is actually changing a big chunk of her personality traits.

She was a child queen, then a politician at the edge of an inminent war, manipulated by the same guy that groomed Anakin into a massive murderer, saw her people being taken into camps, had assasination attempts weekly and had to rip off of her individualism by becoming a public figure, giving up her sense of being a person by having several almost identical decoys, she had to stop being just Padmé to be Queen and then Senator Amidala and she did all of that showing little to no emotion.

Then Anakin does all what she herself had to rip off of her in order to be a politician: Honest, passionate, and able to show emotions; like love or anger.

She has morals and she represents democracy and justice, in a way. But I fully believe that inside her she had the same passionate anger and love capable of burning the galaxy that we know Anakin had, which makes them different sides of the same coin, and I think she realized that. Anakin perhaps didn't , as he never stopped of seeing himself as a slave and therefore inferior, whereas he held Padmé very highly, but I think Padmé saw them both as equals. She didn't have a "I can fix him" mentality, she had a "We're the same, we're both lonely, confused, hurting and scared of losing everything. And if he's like me, then I know he can do the right thing for love."

In other words: She was as insane as her husband, she only seems normal because she wasn't put into the monk warrior order and groomed by the devil for over a decade. (And I don't mean insane as, 'she's crazy for loving a murderer' harley quinn style, I just meant it on a daring, hopeless romantic and tenacious way)

[diazsdimples]

"I want to forget you." + buddietommy

"I want to forget you," Tommy slurs. The half-empty bottle of Jack Daniels in his hand clinks against the table as he sways, hiccupping. "Both of you."

The air around him is thick with the scent of stale booze and body odour, and Eddie wrinkles his nose. Beside him, Buck is a line of tension, discomfort rolling off him in waves. Eddie supposes it's not dissimilar to how he and Hen found Bobby all those years ago. The similarities are bound to be confronting.

"Tommy, babe, what are you doing?" Eddie asks with a sigh. The old endearment slips out before he can stop it, a force of habit after so long. His brain hasn't quite caught up with the fact that they're no longer a them.

"Makin' a choice," Tommy replies stubbornly. He locks eyes with Eddie, and he can barely see past the alcohol-induced glaze, to the Tommy he remembers and loves.

"Not a choice we asked you to make."

Buck's voice is firm, stubborn, like he's digging his heels in. Buck hadn't given up hope that Tommy would come back to them. It had been weeks of wistful looks at his phone, baking up every spec of flour, sugar, and baking powder within a 5 mile radius. He's not going to let Tommy get away from them so easily this time.

Eddie makes a mental note to thank Lucy for her tip-off.

Have you heard from Kinard? He hasn't been on shift for almost a week.

Tommy goes to stand and he sways violently. Both Eddie and Buck rush to support him, each hooking a hand under his arm. From here, the smell of alcohol is almost overpowering, oozing from his pores. Eddie thinks he could get drunk from the fumes alone.

"'M not good enough f'r you," Tommy mumbles, his head lolling. "N'ver g'd enough."

"Maybe that's something for us to decide."

Buck takes the bottle from Tommy's hand and places it gently on the table. He slings Tommy's arm over his shoulder and jerks his head towards the bathroom. Getting the hint, Eddie follows suit, supporting his boyfriend? ex-boyfriend? as he and Buck begin to guide him down the hall.

Tommy is heavy, even more so when none of his limbs are co-operating. They half carry, half drag him into the bathroom, both men straining under his weight. They set him down on the toilet, and Eddie begins to unbutton Tommy's shirt.

"Get his shoes, sweetheart?" he asks, pressing a soft, reassuring kiss to Buck's temple. Buck's eyes flutter shut at the contact, and he seems to take strength from it, a renewed resolve in his movements as he crouches in front of Tommy.

They work in tandem to undress him, movements which, in another world, would have been the precursor to a night they'd never forget. Now, Eddie thinks Tommy won't remember much of this come morning.

Eddie taps Tommy's nose, and the pilot's eyes, unfocussed, train on him.

"Arms up," he instructs, tugging at the hem of Tommy's shirt. Tommy complies, and Eddie divests him of his final article of clothing. "Now, into the shower."

Meekly, Tommy does as he's told. Buck turns the shower on full blast, and as cold as he can make it, and Tommy jolts as the icy jet hits him square in the chest.

"Thass too cold," he complains, making to leave, but he's stopped by Buck. Buck circles his arms around Tommy's waist, pulling him into a tight hug, and steps under the water with him.

"Come on, baby, let me take care of you."

Tommy probably misses it, but Eddie catches the pleading edge to his voice. Buck needs this, maybe just as much as Tommy. He needs to put his love into actions, because Tommy won't remember words. He needs Tommy to know how much he's loved, by him and by Eddie.

"You'll st'y with me?"

"Always." Eddie steps under the water with them, clothing be damned, and pulls both men into his arms. He tucks his face into Tommy's neck, his fingers clutching tightly at Buck's saturated t-shirt. The last few weeks without Tommy have been hell, and as pissed as Eddie is with him, he needs this. He needs to be close to him. He needs to feel his skin beneath his hands.

"I've got you," Buck promises, kissing Tommy's temple.

"We've got you."

Short and Impactful Prompts

[the-froschamethyst4]

A Warriors Mate

𖤐Pairing: Orc! Price x Human! F! Reader

𖤐Pronouns: She/Her

𖤐Warnings: Fluff, language, extreme size difference, age gap (30-140), nudity, pregnancy, a painful pregnancy, married couple, children,

𖤐Summary: Y/n was the wife/mate for the mighty warrior of the Orc clan, Price. They start a family, he wants to see her belly swollen and carry his child.

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The sound of sloshing water was filled in the bathroom from the large tub. Price the might warrior who worked alongside the King, he was relaxing into the hot bath, naked, and his head back hitting the tile behind his head, his arms resting on the side of the tub, right leg up poking out of the water, he had a bit of a hard day today at the castle.

He just wanted to relax in the tub and with his pregnant wife who wasn't home right now, when Price got home, Y/n wasn't, she was out at the farmers market and he wishes she waited for him, but she's a bit stubborn since she's been pregnant, but Price can't complain, he got her pregnant and they both wanted to start a family together.

Price then heard the cottage door open and closed, his right eye open and he sees from the doorway, Y/n coming into their shared bedroom, she pulls her flats off and came into the bathroom where Price was.

"How was the market?" Price asked, eyes fully opened while looking at his wife.

"A bit busy for sundown," she says, she starts stripping from her dress, she puts her hair up into a messy bun and steps into the hot bath with Price.

Moving to sit on his lap. She leans back into his touch, Y/n was only 3 months pregnant, her stomach just now showing, and while at the market some people didn't want to talk about her belly just in case they were wrong, and the people who did know Y/n touched her belly and told her she's doing such a good job.

Price rubs her just showing belly and kissed her temple.

"So, I was thinking about names today." Price says.

"Really?"

"Yeah. If we wanted to do a traditional orc name Hanz for a boy, and for a girl maybe Lash." Y/n did want to have a traditional orc name, but the more she thought about it.

"Why not human names?" She asked.

"I...couldn't come up with any...I don't know many human names besides your own," he confesses.

"Oh. Well...I was thinking, Beau for a boy and Iris for a girl," she says.

"I like those, Beau or Iris...I love those...what the hell was i thinking?" Price asked himself sounding extremely confused, but Y/n cups his chin making him look at her.

"It's okay, Price, even if you didn't like them, we would have came up with something, we always do," she smiles at him and kisses her lips.

After their shared bath, Price helped his wife out of the bath, wrapping her in a towel and then himself. Y/n then walks out of the bathroom and goes and grabs some more comfortable clothes mainly a nightgown that covered her body, and Price grabbed some pants.

Y/n then goes downstairs to sit on the couch, Price followed behind her and sat next to her.

"How's the baby been doing by the way, I forgot to ask," he says.

"They're doing okay, I guess."

"You guess?"

"I've hit a point where...I keep having to use the bathroom almost every 5 minutes," she says, looking up at him.

"Do you...feel that way now?"

"No, I feel fine, now," she says, rubbing her belly and looking up at Price.

When starting this, Price was extremely worried about Y/n, this is their first child together and Price was worried about how will Y/n feel carrying their unborn child. What is the baby was an orc instead of a human? How would she feel? And how will her body handle it as well?

Y/n for the most part has seem fine and Price was honestly praying for a human baby, but even if it was an orc, he'd still love them the same way.

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

It's been a while now and Y/n was 9 months pregnant and due soon, Price had taken a few days off from the castle to be there for whenever Y/n goes into labor, and he could notify a doctor for her.

It was harder for her to get out of bed now, Price would carry her from time to time.

She needed the bathroom, Price would carry her. Wanted breakfast, Price would either bring it or take you to the kitchen. What to just sit outside under the sun, Price would carry you out there.

"Price," Y/n calls from the bedroom, groaning while trying to sit up.

"Hey, my love-easy, easy. What's wrong?" He asks.

"I need the bathroom, please," Price picked her up and takes her to the bathroom, being careful with her while placing her down and standing in the doorway just in case, but with his back turned to her so she could go in peace.

"Price did you ever find a doctor?" She asked.

"I did, do you want me to call him?"

"Yes...just in case...I feel like...it...could happen any minute," she says.

"Okay...are you done?"

"Yes," Price turns and takes Y/n, placing her back on the bed, he leaves to go fetch the doctor.

Coming back with a doctor, he wanted to say Y/n needs to stop whining, but Price wasn't having it, a human doctor didn't understand Y/n's pain, so he went to the next best thing, an orc doctor.

This orc doctor was the most known for orcs and she could understand what Y/n was going through. She came into the bedroom where Y/n was asleep, Price gently woke her up, she rolls over and hugs him as the orc looms over Y/n feeling her stomach.

"You may just be due either...tonight or early tomorrow morning," she says. "But from how you're going...maybe tonight," she says. "I will stay around with the both of you." She says.

"Thank you, doctor." Y/n says to her.

Y/n was asleep next to Price, holding his waist as he moved her hair from her face, he didn't leave her side since the doctor checked on her. The orc was in the room with the couple, making sure Y/n was okay.

The orc got off the chair she sat in and moved to the couple, she looms over Y/n checking her stomach and then her breathing. Y/n was breathing like she was running a marathon and every once and a while Y/n would look like she was in pain.

"Price," she cups his chin and Price leaned down to kiss Y/n.

"What's wrong, my love?" He asks.

"It hurts," she says with tears in her eyes and it made Price worry about Y/n.

"She is due soon," the orc says, coming out form under the covers to check on Y/n.

"Soon?" Price questioned.

"7 centimeters," she says. "Y/n, mama, your baby will be here soon," she says.

"I want it out now!" She groans, putting her head back once a contraction comes.

"I know, I know, but all we can do is wait," she tells her. Price looks down at Y/n wiping tears from her eyes and holding her close as the contraction goes away.

"It's okay, it's okay," Price repeats. Y/n squeezes her eye shut tightly gripping Price's arms, and her nails digging into his skin. "My love?"

"I...I just want to start p-pushing."

"Ma'am?" Price looks at the doctor.

"Just a little bit more okay?"

"No, no, no, now, please, start now," Y/n begs.

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

Y/n's head was thrown back, her hands on her stomach, her legs up as the doctor made sure the covers was pushed up to Y/n's stomach, Price on her right holding her hand but also looking over to see what was happening.

"Price!" Y/n kind of hated it when Price would look over to see how everything was going, she didn't want Price to look at her differently if he saw something he might not like.

"Sorry, my love, I...I'm just curious."

"Well, stop being curious, it's embarrassing!" She groans out.

"I'm sorry, my love," his other hand coming to caress her hair.

"Almost there, Y/n. One more push," the orc says, Y/n groans and gives a big push. The room was filled with a loud cry. "It's a girl," the orc lifts her arms showing off a human baby girl.

"She's human."

"Is that what you wanted?" She asks both parents.

Y/n's eyes held tears and Price's eyes also held tears as they were handed their baby girl. She was so small, tiny in Price's arms, he gently gives the baby to Y/n, who did skin to skin with her newborn.

"Iris." Price says.

"Baby Iris," Y/n says, looking up at him.

"What a lovely name," the orc says.

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

Price and the doctor left the cottage to talk and to let Y/n and the baby rest.

"Congratulations," she says.

"Well, thanks."

Price waved the doctor off and headed back inside, he looms over his newborn babies crib, she looked so peaceful, he then looks at Y/n who was sound asleep, she needed it badly.

Iris stirs in her sleep, Price looms back over to watch her, her eyes flutter open but closed again, her tiny fist going up into the air and her feet kicking. The sound of soft cries started and Price gently picks her up out of her crib.

Her whole body resting on his forearm, her fists still balled up and her feet slightly kicking, Price sat on his side of his bed, back against the headboard of the bed, he gently shushes her and kissed her temple.

"Mama needs her rest, she was in a lot of pain, but you were...worth everything." He says.

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

It's been close to a week now. Iris was resting against Y/n's chest getting breastmilk from Y/n. Price was on the floor in front of Y/n and Iris watching his baby and wife bond together.

Price's chin rests on Y/n's knee as Y/n moved Iris over her shoulder and starts burping her little girl. Price just stares at them like he's never seen something like this before, and he hasn't.

"Price...do you want to hold her?" Y/n asked.

"A-Are you okay with that?"

"Yes...she's your baby as well," she tells him. She moves Iris around and gently places her in Price's hands. He was gentle and soft with her, he feels like if he moves he'll break her.

"I-I don't know what to do," he says.

"It's okay, come, switch places with me," she pats the couch as she got up, she needed some water. Price sits down where Y/n would have been, moving Iris to his forearm his free hand resting on her tummy.

"Hmmm~" Iris hums, her eyes open and look up at her father. She giggle.

"She's laughing," Price says, Y/n speed walks over and looks over Price's arm and sees her daughter's gummy toothless smile and a soft crack of laughter coming from her.

"Awww~ my baby." Y/n says.

"Do I look funny?" Price says.

"No, not to her..." Y/n says. Price just smiles and leans forward kissing Iris's forehead and turning his head to kiss Y/n's temple.

"Do you think she knows, I'm her daddy?" He asked.

"Yeah, if not...she'd be screaming her poor head off," Y/n said.

"Do you know who I am?" Price asked, looking down at his week old daughter. "I'm daddy..."

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

"DADDY!!" Iris came running into the cottage holding something in her hands.

"What is it, baby?" Price asked, while coming into the main room.

"I found a frog," she shows Price. He smiles.

"You know, mama, hates frogs." He says.

"Can we prank her?"

"Yeah, come on," Price put his hand out as Iris took it heading to his shared bedroom, Y/n was out right now, leaving Iris and Price together. Iris then placed the frog in the Y/n's sink, she shuts the door and her and Price are in a giddy laughing fit.

"I'm home!" Y/n calls into the house.

"We're coming," Price calls, picking up his daughter and heading towards Y/n.

She smiles at her daughter and husband. Iris goes to Y/n's arms and Y/n's starts peppering kisses on Iris's face.

"How was the day with daddy?" Y/n asked her daughter.

"Good," she giggles.

"What's that about?"

"What?" Price questions.

"Why are you both so giddy?"

"Giddy? Nah, baby, we're not giddy, well...we are, you're home finally," Price says.

"Okay?" She questions. "Well, I'm going to wash up and start dinner, okay?"

"Alright," Price says, taking Iris back, they both keep laughing and tell each other to shush to not ruin anything else.

Y/n just wonders what the hell are them two up to? She removes her shirt and skirt, heading to the bathroom, she shut the door behind her and turns the bath on, making sure the water was hot. She walks to the sink to check her face. As she picks at her face, she looks down when seeing a dark green blob in her sink.

"AHHHHH! PRICE! IRIS!!" Y/n grabs a towel and runs downstairs, her husband and daughter laughing their hearts out. "THAT'S NOT FUNNY!" Y/n yells at them two, but they just keep laughing.

"Aww come on, baby, it was just a joke," Price says.

"Get that frog out of my sink," she says, pointing upstairs. Price passes off Iris to Y/n and heads upstairs to remove the frog. Price was still laughing. "YOU'RE SLEEPING OUTSIDE, LIKE A DOG!" Y/n shouts.

"NO, I'M NOT!" Price shouts back.

"Were you up to this?" Y/n asks, looking down at her daughter.

"Yeah...and a bit of his," she says. Price tosses the frog outside and walks to his wife and daughter picking them both up with ease, kissing Y/n's hand and his daughter's temple.

"I love you both," he says.

"Yeah, yeah, I love you too," Y/n says, hugging his neck and kissed his cheek.

"Gross," Iris says, fake gagging at her parents.

[oonajaeadira]

Okay, who wants to hear about today's moment of magic?

Long story under the cut.

So the SO and I are getting married next month. It's really not a big deal, we're literally going down to the courthouse with @feathersandfoxtails and another bestie on the anniversary of our first date, signing the papers and doing an at-the-counter ceremony. We've been together for 14 years and own a house and a dog together. When it comes to loving and pledging our lives to each other, it's something we've grown into and we choose each other every day. Our families know we're good for life, so there's really no reason to spend a bunch of money on a ceremony. We've got everything we need, we go on "honeymoons" all the time, and we're both theater people, so it's just another event to plan and stage manage and produce and honestly, we'd both just rather put on another show with that cash than have our moms get nuts about invite lists and catering choices.

ANYWAY. With 2025 looming and all the uncertainty it's bringing, I just want it to be official in the eyes of the state so that's never a question. This dude goes up to the cabinland by himself and builds cabins 7 feet off the ground and runs chainsaws and such. If he ends up in the hospital, I don't want to be turned away from holding his hand through an amputation, you know? He's the most honest, trustworthy, good-hearted man I've ever met (if not sometimes frustratingly stubborn about being right all the damn time), and we share the same taste in just about everything. He's an inch shorter than Pedro with shoulders just as broad and eyes just as brown and a good mix of Frankie and Pero and Din and he puts up with my weirdness and I'm not letting him go.

So at one point he asks me if I'd like a ring. And I said no, mostly because I have a million rings and I like to switch them out and I'm not going to be taking up a good finger with one ring forever. My ladybits may be monogamous, but I'm not forcing that on any of my fingers. (That came out wrong. Oh well.) Besides, he's in carpentry. He doesn't like jewelry, much less wear it.

"I would for you," he said.

Cue melting.

But. Also. Another unnecessary expense. (Also, in true mischief fashion, I want to keep the marriage a secret just to see the looks on people's faces when someone like my nosy aunt's like "when you getting married?" and I can say, "oh, we are. Anyway. Pass that turkey...")

And that was that. Until I saw the script they walk you through at the courthouse.

At first glance, it's pretty short, literally an exchange of "do you?/ I dos" and exchange of rings and signing of the certificate by all the parties. No changes allowed, no vows, no "you may kiss," just cut and dry, like 2 minutes tops.

*record scratch* Exchange of rings. No changes. Aw hell.

Cue my online auction addiction. Did I mention that I have an online auction addiction? Surprise! There's a lot of lakeside property in Minnesota and rich folks come and go, passing on or downsizing or whatnot, and there's always fun estate sales going on, which is where I get a lot of my instruments and fun witchy supplies.

Literally the day I read that marriage script and was wondering if I could just fish out some rings from my jewelry box to suffice, this auction came up:

What you are looking at are two antiquities, Viking-era brass rings circa 850 - 1050 CE, the gold plating is pitted and old, but they've been restored and preservation-sealed. I did a lot of research on them and the company that they came from (as well as digging up info on antiquities/museum relations and dealers that may come in handy for a Thief fic at one point), and they're the real deal.

The sizes weren't listed (they were packaged in conservation envelopes, the box is mine) and so I lowballed a bid and was surprised that nobody outbid me. That never happens.

I told the SO that I'd won them and he's like, cool, how do you know they'll fit? I said I didn't. They're not meant to be worn. We use them for the ceremony and then shadowbox and display them nicely. If they don't really fit properly, that's okay, they're only there to fulfill the script. I'm not really getting a fancy dress or anything like that, so we might as well have one little piece of magic on the day. I just thought ancient Viking rings would be cool because he loves history and I've got me some Scandinavian blood and Viking thighs.

But y'all. The magic continues. Because I picked them up today...

And they fit us. Exactly. I'm kinda freaking out about it.

Even my atheist SO looked at me and said, "Hot damn. It's like it's meant to be."

Damn straight, boyfriend. Damn straight.

[quizzicalwriter]

hi! i loved your writing on dallas. could you please make a pt.2 of riverside where they're back at Buck's and they share an intimate moment (nsfw or not). thank you!

Riverside

Part Two

Pairing: Dallas Winston x Fem!Reader

Summary: Second part of ‘Riverside’ follows you and Dallas on the walk home and what happens after!

Warnings: SMUT. MDNI. Kissing, touching, slightly dominant Dallas, oral and fingering (both reader receiving.)

Word Count: 2.5k

A/N: Thank you for the request!

The walk back to Buck’s shouldn’t have taken that long, but the way you kept cussing under your breath with each squelch your shoes would make beneath your wet feet slowed things down to a snail's pace, enough for Dallas to groan inwardly and light another cigarette.

“You want my shoes?” He asked, pausing in his steps as he turned toward you, causing you to walk face-first into his chest due to your preoccupation with your damn shoes.

“What? No, no. I’m okay.” You replied, brushing your hair from your face where it’d flown forward when you’d all but head-butted Dallas’s chest. Luckily he didn’t care, his fingers moving to help you clear your face of your still-wet hair as he smirked around his cigarette.

“You’re stubborn and you’re cold, even with my jacket.” He murmured, leaning down ever so slightly to meet your eyes. “Still tryin’ to say you aren’t cold?”

You scowled at him then, the look making Dallas laugh as he turned back on his heel to continue the walk with you following in tow, sulking because you knew he was right, even if you didn’t want to admit it.

The leap into the river had led to Dallas kissing you, so you couldn’t say you regretted it all too much. Hell, you’d probably have done it in December if it meant Dallas’s hands found their way to your waist and breasts as they did back on the riverbed. The thought alone made your cheeks flush, thighs clenching together as you tried to clear your mind from your lascivious thoughts of the man walking in front of you.

You knew Dallas well enough to know that he would’ve walked the trek back to Buck’s barefoot if you’d asked him to, but you didn’t want to, maybe due to a combination of your stubbornness and not wanting to be the cause of Dallas accidentally walking on some broken glass given how the streets of Tulsa were on the best of days.

Thanks to a walk through a nearby abandoned apartment complex, you two were able to enter the city within five minutes. Dallas didn’t seem to like the idea of walking you alone, made much apparent by his continuous fiddling with his switchblade in his jean pocket as his other arm held you securely by his side. Nobody’d ever mess with you, not with Dallas by your side, he’d fought nearly everyone in town and then some, it felt like having your personal guard dog as you walked beneath the flickering streetlights, your gaze locked straight ahead, except for whenever you felt the pull to look at Dallas.

As you both walked up the street leading to Buck’s bar you quickly became aware of the sheer amount of cars surrounding the establishment. Dallas seemed to realize just as you did, a curse falling from his lips as you two squeezed your way between muscle cars and broken-down pieces of junk you found yourself amazed even made their way to the bar. The music was loud before he opened the front door, making you wince somewhat as you leaned into his side, allowing him to guide you through the dense crowd and cigarette smoke toward the stairs.

You thanked your lucky stars that nobody called upon Dallas besides a few greetings directed toward himself and you, not wanting to linger where the smoke was the heaviest and the conversations consisted of drunk individuals trying to scream over each other to ensure they were heard.

He opened his bedroom door for you then, holding it open as you walked beneath his arm into the warmth that poured from his room. It smelled heavily of him and his cologne, the scent making you feel safe, almost reminiscent of how a home should feel. You walked over to his bed, draping his leather jacket over the metal railing at the end of the bedframe.

There was a moment when you turned to face him, clothes clinging to your wet frame as his eyes looked you over. There were unspoken words exchanged between you then, your hands fumbling with the fabric of your shirt as you shifted on your feet, waiting for him to make the first move. Despite the warmth of the room you still felt your skin alight with goosebumps, a slight shiver running up your spine as your body acclimated to the new temperature.

The way you shivered made Dallas frown, clicking his tongue against his teeth as he moved toward you, both of you now enveloped in the warmth of his bedroom. The music still raged downstairs, some band you couldn’t recognize, but the only thing you could focus on was the way Dallas touched you over your clothes. His eyes flickered up to meet yours then, a smile evident on his face.

“Told you, didn’t I? Shouldn’t have gone in that water, got you shivering. Can practically feel your heartbeat through your skin, doll.”

There was always something electric in the way that Dallas touched you, his hands drifting up and underneath your shirt, fingertips ghosting over your skin. He knew how to make you writhe, to make you desperate enough to consider begging, which for someone like you didn’t come easily. You could feel his fingertips drift over your breasts, thumbs brushing over your nipples as he leaned down to press another kiss to your neck.

This was gentle, incredibly gentle for how irritated you’d made him earlier in the night. Something in his eyes made you not question it, his brow furrowed and lips parted as if he were committing every facet of your body to his memory. You only caught onto his game when your back involuntarily arched, pushing your chest into his palms. He abruptly pulled away, brown eyes flickering up to you as he tilted his head to the side.

“Can’t move while I’m tryin’ to warm you up, doll.” He stated, his voice reminiscent of how you’d chastise a kid for stealing something from a candy store. It made a whine die in the back of your throat, face skewing in desperation as you fought internally with yourself to be good.

After a moment he resumed, cupping your waist before sliding his hands down to your waist, then trailing them to the front of your jeans to slowly unbutton them. How he managed to keep his cool in such a manner never failed to amaze you, while your chest was heaving deeply with each breath he looked completely calm, occasionally narrowing his eyes whenever you began squirming against his touch.

As he pulled your jeans down, he moved down with them, effectively propping himself up on his knees in front of you as he helped you to step out of the denim. Once your legs were free he rubbed his hands along your calves, thighs, everything he could get his hands on. And then he started kissing along your skin, open-mouthed, lewd kisses that made you instinctively grab at his hair.

“Skin’s still so cold.” He whispered, fingers hooking around the band of your underwear as he slowly pulled it down to expose your glistening cunt to the night air. After he helped you to step out of your underwear you watched with bated breath as he began trailing another series of kisses up your legs, stopping short of your inner thigh. His hands grasped at the plushness of your ass, squeezing it hard enough to pull a squeak from you as you nearly stumbled on your own two feet.

“Dal, I-“ Before you could utter another word he moved between your legs, tongue flattening out against your folds. Your knees immediately buckled, causing you to stumble where you stood as you grasped at the skin of your thighs, silently pleading with yourself to not move - you didn’t want him to stop.

Your lips parted, whined out noises pouring from you as his tongue continued working between your folds, his eyes cast up at you as his grasp on your hips and ass tightened. You weren’t sure how many women he’d done this with, but all you could think of was the warmth and wetness of his tongue as it swirled around your clit and how he moved it in an almost expert like manner.

“Fu-uck.” You groaned, brows furrowing as your hips began moving against his mouth, pulling a grunt from his throat as he harshly slapped at the plush skin of your ass.

“Stop moving.” He all but growled out, quickly moving back between your legs as he began sucking at your clit, bringing his hand forward to curl two fingers into your cunt, slowly pumping them within you to match the tempo of his tongue.

Whatever coldness lingered against your skin from the frigid night air was long gone, replaced by a white-hot longing as his fingers pumped within you, the lewd sound of your arousal against his tongue and his fingers stretching you out filling the room along with your own near pathetic whines.

You could feel your orgasm building, inner walls clenching down around his fingers as he continued laving at your clit like a man starved. Every inhibition he’d had prior about having you stay still was long out the window as your fingers laced through his hair, locking onto the dark brown strands as you ground down against his face. You could’ve sworn you felt him smile against your cunt as your moans took up an octave, head falling back as you came against his tongue.

He slowly removed his fingers, taking a moment to pepper kisses against your inner thighs as you struggled to catch your breath. His hands smoothed up your sides as he moved to stand, the wetness once on his fingers pressed against your skin. You couldn’t bring yourself to be bothered, not when he’d made you cum against his tongue with enough ferocity to have your breath locked from your lungs as if you’d been winded.

He removed his jeans then, tossing them along with his belt into the far corner of his room, the fabric and metal falling with a soft clank. You didn’t have to look to know how hard he was, feeling him press against your stomach as he leaned down to capture your lips in a kiss. You could taste yourself on his tongue, your hands threading through his hair as you leaned up onto your toes to deepen the kiss. Only when your lungs were aching for oxygen did you pull away.

His lips were glistening in the moonlight that poured in through the bedroom window, his eyes dark and full of want. You were still weak, chest still heaving from your last orgasm as he scooped you up, helping your legs to wrap around his hips as he moved you both back to his bed.

You could feel the desperation pooling off of him, how his breath caught in his chest as he felt your bare cunt against his cock. How he looked at you made you feel as though you two had been doing this for years, a deep layer of intimacy in his gaze that you doubted he’d ever shown to anybody but you.

As he laid you down on his bed he made his way between your thighs, right hand moving to lift your thigh to drape it loosely over his hip. Neither of you felt the need to say anything, an unspoken layer of trust between you being heavily apparent as he leaned down to connect your lips again as he pushed into you.

The accompanying stretch felt heavenly, far bigger than his fingers. You could only gasp against his lips as he waited for you to nod, giving him some sort of sign that you were alright enough for him to move. As soon as you nodded he began rocking his hips, his brows furrowing as he tried desperately to conceal the low grunts that threatened to leave him.

“So tight.” He whispered, pressing a kiss to the pulse point of your throat as he rolled his hips against you. “So fucking tight and warm.”

His voice was wavering, a noise akin to a whine falling from his lips as your legs tightened around his waist, pulling him deeper into you. As his cock rocked into you, he reached a hand down between your bodies, swirling his middle and ring finger around your clit in sync with each roll of his hips.

The combination left you reeling, eyes screwing shut as your arms wrapped around his neck, fingers digging into the muscle that lined his back as you began moving your hips to meet his movements halfway, each thrust hitting so deep within you that you swore you could feel him from the outside had you placed your hand on your lower stomach.

This was more intense than you had bargained for when he’d taken you upstairs, more intimate than you’d overheard from when he’d take women during parties. This was Dallas in a new light, one without the borders he usually shone around himself. You couldn’t help but crave it, crave all of him with each thrust within you.

With a strangled groan his grasp on the sheets beside your head tightened, his fingers against your clit picking up in their pace as he whispered against your skin. “I’m gonna cum.”

The words left you speechless, only nodding as you felt your second orgasm of the night building within your lower stomach. You pressed languid kisses to his jaw, moaning against his damp skin in between each kiss. His hand moved from the bedsheet then, moving to cradle your face as he leaned against you, effectively pressing you against the mattress as he rutted into you.

“Dallas-“ Was all you could muster, cunt spasming around his cock as you came undone, the feeling of you tightening around him causing him to grunt. He pushed himself up onto his elbows, hand quickly moving to pull himself out of you, cum shooting in hot ropes against your lower stomach as he did.

He looked ethereal when he orgasmed, brows screwed together, lips parted as he grunted, cum spilling over his fingers only to drip along the top of your cunt. As he caught his breath he looked up at you, his cheeks flushed crimson as he moved to kiss you, not bothering to fill his lungs with much-needed air in preference over having your lips against him for as long as he could stand it.

After you two pulled away, both needing to breathe, he wrapped his arms around your center, pulling your back flush to his chest, pressing another kiss to the back of your neck just as he had by the river. The feeling made you hum in contentment, resting your cheek against his pillow as he intertwined his legs with yours, his breaths growing soft, almost in tandem with your own.

“Told you I could warm you up.” He whispered against your skin, a cocky grin evident in his words, causing you to roll your eyes as you laughed.

A/N: If you have read this far, thank you!! And thank you anon for the request, I’m always happy to write things if I’m able to. As always my works can be found on ao3 as well under the user Unscriptural! Hope you guys enjoy this, still getting used to writing smut - well, getting used to sharing it.

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

The Truth of the Matter

A Four Part Miniseries

@wonderland-girl143-blog @gregre369 @420-hun

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Steve, Robin, Nancy, and Chrissy stood in Steve's living room watching Eddie. He was sitting cross-legged on the coffee table pouring over his spellbook, his tongue poking out.

"You know, I have perfectly good couches," Steve said, crossing his arms, and Eddie hummed without looking at him. "He's lucky he's so cute."

"Okay. . .okay, it sounds like this spell is going to be difficult, especially with all of us, and it says I need to be. . .stronger for this. Fuck, I have to be a certain level? Well, what fucking level am I?" Eddie asked. "And how do I gain experience? More spells? You know, whoever wrote this book should have had this damn thing coded. You know, write in the margins which ones are for beginners."

"Well, considering the few spells that you have done, I think you're very much still a beginner," Robin said.

"If this is too much, we can wait. . .save up money. . . Buy plane tickets," Steve said.

"Baby, we're going to see this through, and your mother's waited long enough. . .you're worth it, Steve Harrington. . .now, shut up, I'm thinking," Eddie said.

"Oh, oh! I think I remember your father mentioning something about using magical creatures like conduits," Chrissy said.

"Yeah, no, I'm not using either one of you like that. And if my father suggested it, then I'm definitely not going to do it," Eddie scoffed.

"Well, what if we want to do it?" Steve asked.

"I can do the spell myself," he replied.

"Yeah, but it doesn't mean you should," he said.

"How in the hell is this relationship supposed to work if we're both equally stubborn?" Eddie asked with a scowl.

"Well, if we're both determined enough, we'll make it work," Steve replied.

"Eddie, it sounds like we both want to do this," Chrissy said softly.

"Are you sure?" Nancy asked.

"Very," Chrissy said, and Nancy smiled. "I want to do everything that I can to help Steve find his mom or dad. Not just because we're both fae but because it's the right thing to do."

"Thanks, Chrissy," Steve said softly and then paused. "Wait, what do you mean, mom or dad? My dad's dead, remember?"

"Oh. Did I not mention?" Chrissy asked with a frown.

"Mention what?" He asked.

"Fae can have children with anyone regardless of their gender. I had two mothers," Chrissy replied. "And some fae are what they themselves call genderfluid. . .depending on what they feel like. So, this person could be your mother, father, or both. Being transgender and queer is also more commonly accepted amongst fae. It's because of their beliefs that the fae had to remain hidden in the shadows, hiding with their illusion and glamor magic. They would come out of the shadows to help lost humans, whether they be fae, humans, or Wiccans, especially if they're children and rejected by their community because of who they love."

"Wow," Steve breathed. "Okay, so you know a lot more than I do."

"Do the fae have like their own city or country I could move to?" Robin asked.

"I don't know. If they do, it's probably hidden," Chrissy said. "There wasn't much in my mother's journal."

"Okay, let's do this shit. . .let's go find this Steve’s mommy or daddy. . .even more so now. Although, I suddenly realized that I'm going to be meeting my boyfriend's parent for the first time, and I hadn't even taken him on a date yet," Eddie said.

"And I just found out that my girlfriend neglected to tell me that she could get me pregnant," Nancy said.

"Oh! I'm so sorry! It slipped my mind. . .I was going to tell you, and then this happened," Chrissy said, looking guilty. "And besides, we can only get each other pregnant if we both wanted to. . .no accidents!"

"I figured you were going to say something like that when Mike barged into the house," Nancy said, wrapping an arm around her waist. "I'm messing with you, baby."

"I can get Steve pregnant!" Eddie yelped.

"Down boy, buy me dinner first," Steve said dryly.

"Okay, let's get to Lenora Hills before I get completely distracted," Eddie said. "Nancy, focus, and then we can study fae anatomy later. . ."

"I'm so getting a better grade than you," Nancy smirked, and Chrissy giggled.

"Fuck off, Wheeler!"

Lenora Hills, California. . .

"Fuck!" Eddie screamed.

He dropped Steve and Chrissy's hands immediately as he fell to his knees. Eddie bent over and began to make retching sounds. Steve pulled his hair back just as he vomited. He wiped Eddie's face with a tissue Chrissy gave him and helped him stand up. Eddie's whole body shuddered, and Steve wrapped his arms around him to hold him up. Steve watched as the other man's eyes turned purple.

"Eddie?" Steve asked.

"Is anyone else hearing music?" Eddie asked as blood gushed from his nose. "Did I just gain another level? Hmm, maybe it's something I ate."

Eddie's fading purple eyes rolled back into his head, and he collapsed into Steve’s arms. Steve picked him and held him close.

"I don't want to be a bummer, but I think Eddie missed by a few blocks," Robin said.

"Well, it was his first time performing the spell," Steve said. "Let's go."

They finally found the house they were looking for, and when they did, they discovered that the front door had been left wide open. Someone had clearly left in a hurry. When they entered, they found it in a stay of disarray, like someone had packed quickly. It was similar to the one in Indianapolis, except the furniture had been left behind. Drawers were opened and emptied. . .papers and takeout menus were littering the floor. Someone had clearly lived here a while, but it looked as though someone had left recently. Steve hurried to lay Eddie on the couch for a moment. He cleaned his face and listened closely to make sure he was just sleeping. He was.

"Is he okay?" Nancy asked.

"Yeah, just sleeping. That spell took a lot out of him," Steve replied. "Let him sleep, and we can look around. Maybe whoever left here is going to come back."

Of course, they searched the house for hours and came up with nothing. Robin, Nancy, and Chrissy let Eddie have the bedroom in the back, considering he drained his batteries getting them all to California. He laid Eddie on the bed and sprawled out next to him. He watched the man snore loudly before flopping onto his stomach. Steve ran his hand over his back, smiling when Eddie sighed in his sleep. He laid down on the pillow, wondering if his parent had laid their head on this very pillow. Steve closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Steve was dreaming. He was sure of it. He felt smaller than usual, and he was lying in a . . . Cage? No, a crib. He was a baby, and he was looking up at his mobile made of stars. A face appeared above him. It was a younger, fresher faced Bob Newby. He had hazel eyes just like Steve.

"He's made of stars just like you," Bob said proudly.

"Freckles and moles, my love," a garble voice said.

"Stars, stars to guide his way back to us," Bob said softly.

"He's not going to be like the others, I won't allow it," the voice said.

"There's more of them than there are of us," Bob said sadly. "It's happening more and more lately."

"Bobby. . ."

Wait, was his other parent British? Steve tried to reach for them as they moved closer to the crib.

"I'm right here," Steve tried to call out. "I'm right here!"

When he woke up, Eddie was staring at him.

"Hey, you feeling any better?" Steve asked as he immediately sat up.

"A little, but I don't think I'm at full power yet," Eddie said. "I'm fucking hungry."

"Yeah, okay, we get out of here, and we can find something to eat," Steve said.

"Just a moment," Eddie yawned.

He pulled Steve closer to him and nuzzled his neck. Eddie pressed his lips there, peppering his soft skin with tiny kisses. Steve sighed for a moment and leaned into it. He rolled over onto his side to face Eddie.

"Why are you going through all this trouble? I mean, I know you care about me, but we barely started whatever this is, and you're nearly killing yourself to help me," he said.

"I don't know. . .I mean, I guess it's because of the assumptions I made about you but also because I would give anything. . .chase any lead that gives me any hope that my mama's alive and looking for me. She's not, though. She's been dead for a long time. I can't do it for myself, but I can do it for you," Eddie replied.

Steve wrapped his arm around him, pulled him closer, and kissed him deeply. He poured every ounce of affection he had for the man into that kiss. He broke away and leaned his forehead against his.

"Come on, let's see what the girls are up to," Steve said.

They wandered into the kitchen to find Nancy, Chrissy, and Robin leaning over a phone book.

"Eddie!" Chrissy exclaimed. "How are you doing?"

"Better once I get some food in me," Eddie said.

"Well, we were actually going to order something. I was thinking pizza. Laura never lets me have any," Chrissy said.

"Pizza sounds fucking awesome," Eddie exclaimed.

As they waited for the pizza to arrive, they sat in the living room to discuss their options. Eddie still needed to recharge and get some food in him before doing any sort of spells. In the meantime, they wait it out here and see if the person comes back. Steve was trying not to get his hopes up, but the closer they got to find his parent, the more hopeful he got. Robin leaned over the arm rest of the couch. Nancy, Chrissy, and Eddie were talking amongst themselves.

"You doing okay?" Robin asked.

"Trying to keep it all in, you know?" Steve said and paused. "I had a dream about my dad, about Bob. I think it was a memory. I couldn't see my other parent, but I know they were British, and Bob said I was made of stars like them. They have moles like me. . .what else did I get from them? Will I ever see them again? Do they know what happened to Bob?"

"I'm sure that you'll find your way back to each other," Robin said.

"That's what Dad said. . .that my stars would guide my way back to them," Steve said. "It was happening to so many fae children. . . They knew it was going to happen to them."

"You're going to find each other," Robin said softly.

Before Steve could say anything else, the doorbell rang. Nancy went to answer it but paused when they heard arguing coming from the other side. Steve shared a look with Nancy.

"Is that Jonathan?" Steve asked.

"I didn't even think about it," Nancy laughed quietly. "I ordered from Surfer Boy."

"Argyle! What are the odds that my ex-girlfriend is here in Lenora Hills while my current boyfriend is the one delivering her pizzas?" they heard Jonathan yell. "It is not the same Nancy Wheeler. She's still in Hawkins."

"Man, fate has a funny way of bringing people together!" Argyle laughed loudly.

Nancy covered her giggle with her hand and went to answer the door, but Chrissy stopped her. Chrissy pulled the front door open and grinned.

"Hi, I'm Nancy Wheeler," she laughed.

"Oh, shit, man, you were right," Argyle said.

"No. . .that's Chrissy Cunningham. She goes to Hawkins High," Jonathan said.

"Oh, what are the odds?" He asked, and Jonathan elbowed him in the side.

Nancy nudged Chrissy out of the way and appeared in the doorway.

"Nancy?!" Jonathan asked.

"Hey, Jonathan," Nancy said meekly.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"It's a long story," Nancy said. "And I'll tell you later, I promise."

Jonathan looked at her doubtfully and then looked at Argyle before sighing. He knew that something strange was up, but he couldn't say it in front of Argyle. He accepted their tip and dragged Argyle back to the yellow van, leaving them with their pizzas. Once they ate, Eddie took a nap, and when he awoke again, he started to work on doing the location spell again. Eddie looked down at the paper and made a disgruntled sound with his mouth.

"What?" Steve asked.

"It says Hawkins, but it doesn't give me an address. . .just a bunch of random letters and numbers. It's like someone doesn't want us to know. . .hm, maybe there's a spell preventing us from knowing," Eddie said.

"Well, people place runes on the fae children to prevent the parents from finding them. Maybe they put runes on their houses too," Chrissy said.

"Shit, maybe it's my house or rather the Harringtons," Steve scoffed.

"Well, the only thing left to do is to check it out," Eddie said. "I'll start preparing the spell to travel back to Hawkins."

"Eddie, are you sure you're well enough for that?" Steve asked.

Eddie smiled. He cupped Steve’s face and pressed a hard kiss to his lips before he leaned his forehead against his.

"I'm fine, big boy."

Once they were in Hawkins, Eddie once again vomited and collapsed. They were just outside of Steve’s house. Steve picked him up and carried him into the house. Eddie's eyes fluttered open, and he groaned as he tried to sit up.

"Eddie!" Steve exclaimed. "You should be resting."

"I don't want to miss this," Eddie said sleepily, wiping the blood from under his nose.

Before Steve could say anything else, they heard a figure coming from upstairs. Everyone downstairs tensed up, preparing for a fight. A woman entered the room. Her hair was long and carmel colored with warm golden highlights like Steve’s with moles scattered across her tan skin. She had Steve’s nose and his lips, but her eyes were a bright blue. Her flowered colored dress was as blue as her eyes.

"You're my mom," Steve gasped.

"Today, anyway," she smiled Steve’s smile.

Steve ran into her arms without even thinking. She hugged him tightly, sobbing. This felt right. . .her hug held more warmth than the hugs he received from the Harringtons, theirs being nothing more than cold detachment. His mother's hug felt like home. He could feel her now, too, in the back of his mind. There were so many emotions going through his head, and there was one question that was on his forefront of his mind. He pulled back, tears in his eyes.

"I don't even know your name," Steve said.

"Farran Kelley," she laughed, tears in her own eyes, and she tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. "Oh, you have your father's eyes."

"Yours too," Steve grinned as he felt his eyes glow green.

Farran laughed as her eyes glowed green as well.

"Your father was a fairy too, you know," she chuckled, and her smile dropped. "He should be here. . ."

"I'm sorry. . .I was there. . . I mean, I didn't watch him die, but I was in the middle of all of it," Steve frowned.

"Well, we warned the humans for years about meddling with that world. . .if I had known you were in the middle of all of it. . .I missed so much," Farran said sadly. "You're so grown."

"There's so much left to teach me. I still don't know everything there is to know about being a fairy," Steve said.

"Oh, so many wonderful things," Farran said and cupped his face. "My sweet boy. . .however, did you get that rune removed?"

"That was me!" Eddie exclaimed, waving from his spot on the couch.

Farran peered around Steve with a grin. Steve moved beside Eddie, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Mom, this is - "

"Eddie, my God, you've grown so much!" Farran said delightfully. "I haven't seen you since you were an ankle biter."

"You know me!" Eddie exclaimed.

"I was mates with your mum," Farran said.

"You were at her funeral!" He realized. "If you were friends with my mom, then why would my dad. . .I know he's an asshole. . ."

"So, you figured out that he was the one who kidnapped my son?" She asked.

"Well, I had to remove the rune that was on his back, and I had to be blood related, so. . .and kidnapping fae children is the kind of shit my dad would do," Eddie scowled.

He sat all the way up, and Farran sat down next to him.

"Your father loved your mother very much. She was the only person in the world who could make him cut all his bullshit but even though he loved her. . .he still didn't treat her very well. He left her all the time, and I was there for her when she had all those miscarriages. She had complications when she gave birth to you, and after that, it was harder to get pregnant. I did what I could being a fae healer, but not even magic has the answers to everything. It's something your father could never understand. Lizzie and I became close when she got to town. I was there when Al refused to be. That's what really drove him mad. He couldn't forgive himself for it. When I became pregnant, Lizzie became so excited. She hoped our children would be friends. A few months after we had you, Steve was taken from us. I didn't believe it at the time that Al had anything to do with, but his jealousy had been too obvious over the years. He always thought there was something between Lizzie and I, but she had become enamored with someone else. Even though Bobby and I split up, my heart always belonged to him," Farran said.

"My father's a dick," Eddie spat, and then his furious face fell. "Is there anything redeemable about my dad?"

"There's a part of me that still hopes that his love for Lizzie, for you, and Wayne will wake him up, but the rational part of me knows that will probably never happen. You know that you look like him, but I always knew that you got your heart from your mother even when you were a child," Farran said. "It's not wrong to hope that your father might do the right thing by you or the right thing, period."

"It's a small world, isn't it? You were best friends with my mother, and now I'm dating your son," Eddie laughed, and then he slapped a hand over his mouth. "I've gotten a little too comfortable."

"It's alright," Steve grinned.

"Oh! That's wonderful," Farran gasped. "Oh, Lizzie would be so happy!"

"Don't get too excited, mom. It's only been - wait, what day is it?" Steve asked and paused. "Eddie's only recently found out he's a witch, but he's the reason we found each other at all. He's exhausted himself so much to do it."

"Definitely Elizabeth's son," Farran said fondly. "Oh, sweetheart, you look exhausted. We should probably get back to my house. Steve, we should probably get you back to our house."

"We have a house?" Steve asked.

"Well, your father's family home. It's nestled out in the woods," Farran said. "You and your friends are more than welcome to come with us."

"OH! Mom, these are my friends. Well, Nancy's my ex-girlfriend, but now she's one of my best friends," Steve said, and Nancy smiled softly at him. "This is Chrissy. She's also a kidnapped fae child."

"If you don't mind, how did you know Steve’s name?" Nancy asked. "Didn't he have a different one?"

"No, Steve is the name we gave him. It was my father's. I guess the Harringtons were too lazy to change it," she replied, scowling.

"Oh! And this is my best friend in the whole world, my platonic soulmate, Robin Buckley," Steve grinned.

"Hi, Steve’s mom!" Robin exclaimed, hitting his chest. "I told you would find each other, dingus!"

Farran laughed and hugged her tightly.

"So, we're going to your house then?" Eddie asked.

"Steve, is there anything that you want to bring?" Farran asked.

"Oh, I've been wanting to leave for a while now. What I need is already packed," Steve grinned and ran up the stairs.

He came back downstairs with his hands carrying two large suitcases. He had the largest grin on his face. Farran helped Eddie up while Chrissy did the same on his other side as Farran promised Chrissy that she would teach her all about being a fae.

"How are we getting there?" Eddie asked.

"By car," Farran said. "Why? Did you think I had a carriage being pulled by unicorns?"

"Well, now I don't," Eddie scoffed, looking disappointed.

"Unicorns live in Scotland," Farran replied with a laugh. "And are a protected species."

"They're real," Eddie gasped with delight.

Steve laughed as he followed them to the front door. He walked out the front door with them, leaving the name Harrington behind. The name Newby-Kelley slid back into place. He was going home.

Months later. . .After the spring break from hell. . .

Steve stumbled through the trees, clutching his sides. Despite all the medicines Farran used on his son, the bites still hurt.

"It's just up ahead," Steve said.

"So, why did you move?" Hopper asked.

"It's my family home," Steve said.

"Figures John Harrington has more than one home in Hawkins," Hopper snorted.

"John Harrington isn't my father," he sighed. "He never was. Him and his wife hired someone to kidnap me. This is my real family home."

"Jesus," Joyce said.

"It's okay. I found my parents. I mean, my father is dead, but my other father, who is also sometimes my mother, is very much alive and is waiting for us," Steve said.

"I'm lost," Hopper said.

"No, it's just up ahead," he replied.

"That's not what I - "

It was a spacious four bedroom cottage type house in the woods with a stone pathway leading up the front door. Vines covered the house, sealing over every opening as though they were protecting it. There were vines sprouting around the house like a bubble as well. Steve approached the vines, and his eyes glowed green. The vines moved to create a doorway for them.

"What the hell?" Jonathan asked. "Hey, does this have anything to do with you guys being in Lenora a few months ago?"

"You were in Lenora?" Joyce asked.

"We were tracking down my father," Steve said. "We had to come back to Hawkins, though, because he had been tracking me too and tracked my last location to the Harringtons. He was my mother then."

"I'm lost again," Hopper said.

"Man, we're here," Steve said. "How are you getting lost? You're right behind me."

Hopper sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Joyce laughed and patted his arm.

"I think he doesn't understand about your parent being both your mother and your father," Joyce said.

"Oh! Some faes can change their gender if they wish. Today, Farran Kelley is a man," Steve said. "He's been my father the last few weeks."

"Faes. . .as in fairies?" Will asked.

"Oh, yeah, I'm not human," Steve grinned. "Let's get inside, and we can talk about this."

They went inside the brick house where they were led into an open space living room and kitchen. On the other end of the house was a fireplace where a cool, blue fire crackled. The walls were lined with shelves, and the shelves were stuffed with books. Pictures hung on the walls very neatly. Sitting on the couch in front of the fire was Nancy. Robin and Vickie sat on either side of her, rubbing her back as she cried. Steve felt his chest tighten painfully. Mike pushed his way through the group and ran towards his sister. Farran came down the stairs with Dustin. It always startled Steve to see how much Farran looked like him as a man. It was a good thing, though.

"Holy shit, is that a picture of Bob?" Jonathan said as he glanced at a picture on the wall.

"It is," Joyce said. "Why do you have a picture of Bob?"

"He was my husband," Farran said. "And this was his family home."

"Bob never said he was married," Joyce said, frowning.

"Divorced. We split after Steve was taken from us," Farran said.

"Steve is Bob's son?!" Will asked.

"He never said. . . ," Joyce trailed off. "Actually, he said he didn't have kids he was aware of."

"Steve was kidnapped and hidden from us by wiccan magic. We searched for years, and then Bob stayed here, waiting for him to come home, never knowing he was right in front of us," Farran said softly.

"He does have Bob's eyes," she said as she smiled at the both of them.

"I'm glad Bobby had love in his life before he died," Farran said, patting her hand.

"Okay, tell us everything from the beginning," Hopper sighed.

Farran shared a look with his son before launching into the story.

". . . And we did everything we could, but Vecna overpowered us," Farran said.

"Eddie. . .," Steve choked. "He and Chrissy. . .they died."

Suddenly, everything was hurting. Eddie wouldn't be here anymore. Steve wouldn't wake up next to him. . .no more dinners with Farran, Wayne, and Eddie. It would he a somber affair now with a piece of their family missing. No Chrissy coming in with Nancy to join them. No more double dating with Nancy and Chrissy. No double wedding under fae law. They were supposed to travel to Saoradh, the hidden land of the fae, this summer. Not to get married yet (that was far off) but to view the beautiful land and all it had to offer. Chrissy and Steve were supposed to learn more about their magic, their ancestors. Now, Chrissy was gone, and so was Eddie. Eddie.

"I'm so sorry," Joyce said softly.

Steve glanced at Nancy, who was hugging Jonathan tightly. Argyle stood somberly off to the side. Nancy pulled away and shared a glance with Steve. They moved towards each other. Nancy threw her arm around Steve, still crying. Steve sniffled and wrapped his arms around Nancy. What was going to happen now?

"I am here now," El said. "And I am stronger than ever. I believe together we can destroy Henry."

Meanwhile, in the Upside Down. . .

A figure jumped down into the gate from the Munsons' trailer. The hooded figure moved outside and glanced at the red sky filled with lightning. He pulled the hood down. Al Munson moved through the Upside Down, not stopping until he came to his son's body. He fell to his knees and placed his hands on Eddie's cold forehead.

"I've fucked up, son. I've done everything wrong, and I let my anger get the best of me. I wasn't there for your mom, not the way I should have, and I spent so much time blaming other people. You shouldn't have had to pay for my mistakes. There's one thing that I did right, and that was bringing you into this world with your mom. There's one other thing that I could do, and that's bringing you back. . . I still have time. It's going to take everything that I've got," Al said. "I love you."

Al cut up his son's shirt and began painting runes on his chest. Al took off his shirt before painting the same rune on his chest. He opened his spellbook and began chanting. Al felt his lifeforce begin to flow out of him, purple light floating from his chest. With the spell, Al told it where to go. The light began to pour into Eddie's rune. The last bit of light escaped Al's body and went into his son's. He collapsed on the ground, and as he took his last breath, Eddie gasped for his. Eddie awoke, clutching his chest. Shit, didn't the bats eat him alive? There were no wounds. . .only purple scars. Eddie turned his head to find his father's lifeless eyes staring back at him.

"Dad?" Eddie asked and knelt over him. "Dad?!"

Eddie sobbed. He already knew what Al did for him. . .but why? Why?! Eddie hated him for so many reasons, but now he was grateful to him. It was twice now that this man gave him life. Eddie sat up and took his dad's hand only to discover there was a note in his palm.

"I know sorry isn't going to be enough for how much I fucked up. I let you down so many times. Let Lizzie down. If you've discovered what I've done. . .no apology is ever going to be good enough to make up for what I did to those kids. On this paper, there is a list of names. Kids I sold, witches who have also sold kids. . Do with it what you will. You're already a better man than I am. . .I love you, kid. I know wherever your mom is. She's proud of you. Your story isn't over yet."

A couple of hours later. . .

Everyone stood their ground in the woods. Steve was fighting off the demogorgons and the demobats. His father was fighting beside him. Red lightning flashed over head. Steve held his nailbat, his eyes glowing green as emerald flames erupted around his bat. He swung the bat and hit a demogorgon. It whimpered as it hit the tree and exploded into green flames. More demogorgons came out from the trees, ready to pounce. The party was surrounded. The demogorgons launched themselves into the air.

"ENOUGH!" Henry's voice rang out.

They all heard him but they couldn't see him. The demogorgons paused, standing before them and waiting for their next orders. Steve scanned the treelines for any sign of the bastard. Silence fell as the party gathered together in a circle, back to back. Dustin was one side of him while Farran was on the other. Suddenly, they heard footsteps move closer, the snapping of branches echoing throughout the forest. She appeared, her eyes red and her smile menacing.

"Chrissy," Nancy gasped.

Fred followed after her, then came Patrick, and finally, Max.

"Max," Lucas gasped and moved to get to her, but Nancy grabbed his arm.

"Let me introduce you to my wonderful puppets. . .why would I kill them when I can use them for their power? Oh, I would have gotten to you too, Steve. . .if it hadn't been for Eddie. . .I had to do away with him - "

Suddenly, Henry was cut off by the sound of music. . .specifically the strumming of a guitar. Purple smoke, flashing with light, started to spill through the trees.

"What the fuck?" Will asked.

The purple smoke surrounded Chrissy, Fred, Patrick, and Max. Amongst the smoke, their eyes turned a bright, furious green. The smoke swirled around the bats and the demogorgons as well.

"NO! NO! NO!" Henry screamed as he appeared through the smoke. "WHAT IS THIS?!"

A shadowy figure appeared and started moving towards them. The music got louder and louder until a person appeared carrying a guitar covered in runes. Steve grinned at the familiar guitar and at the ring covered hands playing them. He recognized those hands. He came out of the smoke like a god, his eyes a furious purple and his grin feral. He was shirtless and covered in runes.

"Eddie," Steve gasped.

Eddie grinned and began to sing his spells. He was an angel and devil. Both menacing and beautiful. Steve was ready to get down on his knees for Eddie right then and there. The demogorgons and the demobats turned on Henry. Chrissy, Fred, Patrick, and Max all turned on him as well.

"NO! YOU'RE SUPPOSE TO BE MINE!" Henry screamed.

"We belong to no one," Chrissy said.

Her hands lit up with green flames. She Fred's then Fred took Patrick's, and then Patrick took Max's. All their hands glowed with a bright green flame, and they shot out at Henry. The green flames encircled him, and he screamed as they began licking at him, burning his flesh. The demogorgons growled and dove into the flames along with the demobats. They all began tearing at his flesh, not caring that they were dying in the process. They all watched the flames until everything died out. Henry Creel was dead. The purple smoke was gone now, and the skies had cleared. Lucas rushed to Max immediately, hugging her tightly. Max crashed her lips to his. Nancy ran to Chrissy and immediately jumped into her arms, wrapping her legs around her waist. She kissed Chrissy deeply, shaking with sobs. Chrissy gripped Nancy's thigh and pressed her up against a tree to steady her. Steve stood and stared at Eddie in shock. The runes disappeared from him and his guitar. Eddie gave his guitar to Dustin.

"I'm real, big boy," Eddie said softly.

Steve let out a sob, and Eddie pulled him close. He dipped Steve and kissed him. Unable to keep their balance, Steve and Eddie stumbled to the ground.

"Well, hell, is anyone going to kiss us?" Patrick asked.

"We could kiss each other," Fred joked.

Patrick stared at him, and the smile slipped off of Fred's face. Patrick grinned as he looked him up and down.

"Yeah, okay, you're cute," Patrick said.

"What?! I mean. . .yeah!"

FIVE YEARS LATER. . .Saoradh. . .

Steve couldn't believe he was here, standing in his homeland with Chrissy, Eddie, and Nancy. Robin brought Vickie as well. All of their family and friends were there, including all of the fae children they had saved over the years. It had taken Eddie, Steve, Chrissy, and Nancy traveling in a cramped RV all over the country to find them all. Eddie hadn't been able to use his magic all the time. He was still amazed every time they came here. Steve gazed at the purple and pink sky, sighing happily. This is it.

"You nervous?" Robin's voice asked.

"Not at all," Steve grinned.

"He's totally nervous," Dustin said.

He pulled his head from the window and back into the small wooden building. He turned towards Robin and Dustin, glaring playfully.

"I'm ready for this," Steve said and tucked his hair behind his ears.

He clipped the fairy wings to his ears and checked his makeup in the mirror one last time. It had been centuries since the fae had lost their wings, but they still made sure to remember they once had them. Steve adjusted his yellow suit. It had been tough choosing between the suit and the fairy wedding robes, especially since the robe had lovely flowing sleeves. Steve chose the suit because his ass looked great in the pants, and he loved to see Eddie drool. Steve was more than willing to wear the jewelry, and if he knew Eddie, which he did, he had chosen the long flowing robes. Farran popped her head in, wearing fairy robes with glittering and moving flowers. Her carmel hair was piled on top of her head, with strands of hair framing her face.

"Oh, you look so beautiful, my love," Farran gasped.

"Thanks, Mama," Steve grinned. "You look beautiful too."

"Oh, I can't believe this is happening. Bobby and Lizzie should be here to see this," Farran said tearfully.

"In a way, I think they are," Steve grinned. "I feel them."

Farran patted his cheek and pulled him down to kiss his forehead.

"Are you ready?" She asked.

"Yeah."

Farran took his arm and led him outside. Dustin ran ahead to stand beside Eddie as his best man. Robin took Steve’s other arm.

"Hey, you're supposed to be my best man," Steve said in amusement.

"I've decided to give you away as well," Robin said. "I feel like it's my right as your platonic soulmate."

Farran and Steve laughed. Farran and Robin led Steve towards a cluster of trees. The tree branches moved aside, opening up to a large clearing where a lot of people were gathered. Eddie was up there already, Wayne crying and trying to get him to settle down. He adjusted Eddie's red, long flowing robes before stepping aside. Dustin was grinning with tears in his eyes. There was a large space next to them where Fred was standing up as Nancy's best man, and Patrick was standing up as Chrissy's. The music had already started. Nancy appeared first in her pastel blue suit, and her wild curls set loose. Ted and Karen stood on either side of her, crying. Steve watched as they led her down the aisle, and he laughed when Eddie high fived her before she got in place.

Next came Chrissy in her pink pastel suit, and her strawberry blonde hair loose around her shoulders. Argyle was happily giving her away, laughing when Eddie high fived her too. Finally, Steve was next. Farran and Robin guided him down the aisle where Eddie was waiting for him. With tears in his eyes, Steve couldn't help but think about how all of this started. Eddie had been in robes then, too, clueless about the unknown. He had guided Steve home, led him to discovering the truth about himself, and in the process, they had done so much good. It doesn't matter where you were, really, the people who were the most important to you, they were what made a house a home. As Steve walked towards Eddie, he had the same feelings as he did the day he met Nancy, the day Dustin came into his life, the same emotions swirling around him when he became friends with Robin and it was like when he hugged his mom for the first time since he was a baby. The truth of the matter. . .is that coming home happens more than once, and Steve was lucky to get so many.

[ch3rryjampi3]

"Oh my good looking boy."

Trans! Katsuki x Fem! reader

This was inspired by a song called: Good Looking by Suki Waterhouse

Ever since Katsumi was a little kid, He always knew he never wanted being a girl. He hated it, he hates wearing stupid dresses, he really hates playing with stupid ugly dolls and barbies. He hates it. He hates being a girl.

He hated his whole appearance that he overcomes it by bullying others. Especially Deku. "Look at how so fucking pathetic you are shitty quirkless Deku!!" He laughed as he poured everything out his bag, dropping it in front of him. "Poor Midoriya..."

It has been a routine of his. Reflecting his struggles to others. Maybe he acts all tough and all but deep inside, he's scared or maybe pathetic. Hah!! Pathetic?! He's not pathetic!! He literally has you!! His girlfriend that loves him so much and someone he's trying to hide cuz your both....girls.

"Hey Kats!! Ya ready to go?" You asked your girlfriend as she met up with you in the hallway. "Yeah. Let's go." You both then starts to head to the gates. You invited him to a sleepover since its weekend tomorrow, also to spend time together.

You both had stopped by at his house so he could pack his belongings for the weekends,he shouldn't have since he can just borrow some of your stuffs but he's stubborn so you just let him. "Katsumi!! Your staying at Y/L/N's house again?? Ugh just be home before Sunday night okay?? My little Prince-"

"I will I will!! Shut up!!" He yelled as he slammed the door shut. The ash blonde sighed deeply as he walked besides Y/N, an arm around her shoulder. "Does your Mom and Dad okay with me always staying at your house in the weekends?"

"Yup!! They couldn't care less plus, they're mostly not at home during weekends since they're busy." He nodded. "So basically, I'm your roommate during weekends?" He asked, raising a brow. "Maybee but you love staying with me!!" You exclaimed as he softly smiled.

"Just let me do your makeup!!" "Hell no!! Get that thing away from me!!" You've been wanting to give him a makeover but he kept on resisting. You knew he disliked makeup but you wanted to give him a makeover, to make him look more handsome than he already is.

"I'll treat you tomorrow on that ramen restaurant you like!! Please?!!" You pleaded, desperately wanting to give him a makeover. "I- ugh!! Fucking Fine!!" He said giving up. He don't wanna miss the opportunity of getting free food, even tho he knows he can afford it on his own.

"Yayy!! Okay so just stay still..." Few minutes had past and your done with his makeup, you fixed his hair abit to look abit shorter and you looked at your final work with awe. "Now look Katsu..."

"Holy shit...I look so handsome." He said, looking at his reflection in the mirror. He looks like his father but with his mothers hair color and eyes. He was in awe. "You always are." You said, smiling on how happy your boyfriend is.

"One day, maybe you can tell everyone on who you really are." You said, hugging him from behind as you kissed his cheek. "My Good looking boy."

A/n: I'm sorry if its bad!! I really tried my best 😓😓 I apologize also if it's not really Trans!! But I hope you guys like it!! Reblogs are appreciated 😚💕

[lostinforestbound]

It's finally here! I'm sorry it took me so long, with work and art projects I got completely swamped. But now it's here! I'm aware I'm posting this incredibly late so no one will see this until morning probably hahaha! Requested tag: @snoozeeebee

Rolan/M!Tiefling Tav

Third Time's the Charm - Ch.1

Rolan intends on doing great things when he finally gets to Baldur's Gate, but an utter idiot named Tav is distracting him. Unfortunately, against his better judgement, he's starting to fall for him.

Word Count: 5.9k (AO3)

Relevant Tags: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Rolan's POV, Makeout, No smut (yet) but it gets frisky, Slowburn

(If there's any tags I missed, please let me know!) NSFW, MDNI

They've been at this grove, stewing and waiting for too long. That Archdruid (Halsin was his name, he believes) might have been welcoming, but the other druids have not. Now he up and disappeared after he decided to follow a group of weak, loud, wannabe adventurers who were only out for themselves. When they cowered back inside the grove with less than half their group, he knew that this place was doomed. What's worse than all of that mess is that Lia is stubborn about leaving, and now they're in an argument again. They've been having them a lot in recent months, ever since the fall and rise of Elturel.

"-and all you care about is your stupid apprenticeship!" Lia shouts at him, his mind finally tuning back into the conversation- no, not a conversation, a damn shouting match.

Her words make him bristle and grind his teeth. How dare she? How dare she ever think this was all only for the apprenticeship? It's an insult to injury, knowing no matter what he does, trying to take care of them results in him being called selfish. What is selfish about wanting a better life for the three of them? They only have each other, their mother long gone. She's gone, and now he carries the sole responsibility of taking care of them.

She's gone.

"Take that back. Right now." He hisses, getting in her face as they glare each other down.

Cal immediately inserts himself in between the two of them, palms out in front of them both. "Can we all just take a moment? Please?"

Rolan idly notices the sweat gathering on Cal's temple as he pushes Lia back slightly by her shoulder, creating more space between all of them. He does the same to Rolan, but stays put in the middle to form a weak barrier- wait, who is that tiefling that approached? No, it doesn't matter.

"Hells, we can't just leave. They're kin!" Lia begs, almost pleading with him.

"I will not gamble our lives- our futures, on people who are as good as dead," He says somewhat calmly, though his tail still flicks behind him in irritation. "We must leave for Baldur's Gate at once."

Lia looks ready to bare her teeth at him, angry with him. She's always angry with him. "What's the point of blades and spells if we don't bloody use them?! We should stay! These people aren't fighters, we can help!"

"Or yell louder, that's fine too," Cal says with a familiar bitterness in his tone; gods, he hates that tone on Cal. He's been hearing it more often, these days.

"Have you forgotten Elturel?" A voice breaks through, and he finally acknowledges the presence beside them.

It's another tiefling, a much larger one at that. He's not part of the refugees, as he hasn't even seen him around until now. Did he just arrive here?

This one isn't that much taller than he is, only by a few inches; but hells, his mass absolutely dwarfs his own. A fighter most likely, or even worse, a barbarian. It doesn't matter which one he may be, he looks like an idiot that isn't worth his precious time.

"We should stand by our people. You know no one else will." He says lowly, giving a knowing look of both annoyance and sadness.

He loathes that look. He’s never wanted to blast someone more than in this moment. How dare he look at him as if he was some child throwing a tantrum?

"This isn't Elturel, and I'm not responsible for every damn tiefling in the world!" He exclaims, almost furious.

Lia pokes him harshly in the chest with her pointer finger, and he has to suppress a wince. "Just be responsible for yourself, then! We have to stay; it's the right thing to do."

He hates that fucking tiefling even more now. Not only has he butted into his family affairs, but now he turned his sister- Lia, even more against him. For once, why can't things go his way? Why do they not listen to him?

When did they stop listening to him?

"Zurgan. Fine! We'll stay. If we survive, it'll make for a good story, I suppose." He airs, rubbing a finger to his temple as he feels a headache form there.

For the first time in a long time, Lia gives him a genuine smile, putting a hand on his arm and squeezing. "Thank you, Rolan.” She says sincerely.

Cal now takes the calm moment to usher the two further into the grove, seeming to want to get away from the entranceway as soon as possible; for once, Rolan lets him. He doesn't pay any mind to the strange looks they get by going further into the grove with the other refugees, and he certainly doesn't pay any mind to the oaf of a tiefling that they left standing there by himself.

He decides he hates that man, and he pisses him off to no end.

"How long until Rolan shows off his Thunderwave?" Cal asks as they settle down near an old human woman's tent, who seems to be organizing some herbs in her storage crate. Something is off about her, but Rolan can’t put his finger on it. Either way, it doesn’t matter.

Lia snickers at that moment, crossing her arms over her chest. "Depends, how many people are dumb enough to ask?"

"Hah! True."

Rolan rolls his eyes, trying to dust off the dirt on his robes. He hates the smell of this damned grove, it stinks. Is he truly supposed to arrive to Lorroakan with his clothes smelling like this? He'll have to burn them, no question.

"Don't be grumpy, Rolan. We'll get to the city soon." Cal chirps, bumping his shoulder with his own.

"I am not grumpy."

"The scowl on your face would frighten a troll."

Despite the foul move he's in, he smiles at his little brother. "Heh. You're an idiot."

-----

It's been days, and that tiefling is still here.

He's heard about his many exploits; saving one of the children the druids held hostage, saving another orphan child from a group of relentless harpies, getting their money back from that tiefling brat with the eyepatch, and slaughtering Kagha. Emphasis on slaughtering.

When he came out of that grove where the ritual had stopped, he saw the amount of blood that was covering the large man. None of it was his own, he realized. The man barely had a scratch on him and seemed proud when exiting.

He caught himself staring at him many times, watching how the muscles stretched across his skin, seeing all the little imperfections. Scars, beauty spots, all the like. He internally curses himself and looks away when he feels his face growing hot.

Paying back attention to his siblings, he notices how Cal stares at the blacksmith across the way, rubbing his hands absentmindedly as he thinks of something.

"You shouldn't waste precious time on distractions. We need to head to Baldur's gate after this goblin fiasco is over." He remarks, getting up and brushing off dirt.

"Rolan." Lia warns, but he ignores her and walks away with a roll of his eyes. They need supplies, so he will go get them if they are too lazy to do so.

And, of course, the oaf is already buying them off of one of the druids. Damn it all!

"Need something?" He asks, inspecting him as if Rolan was much shorter than him.

He scoffs, even more irritated than he was originally, "I was in need of potions, but it seems you got them all already."

"What did you need?"

"It doesn't matter, you beat me to it!” He instinctively snaps, briefly pinching the bridge of his nose between his index finger and thumb. “Bloody health potions are so short of stock these days-"

Wordlessly, the man puts three large health potions into his arms, which, for once, renders Rolan speechless. He doesn’t even remember the original tangent he was about to go one. Something about price inflation, probably.

Staring down at the red potions in his arms, he snaps back into reality when he speaks again. "You three need it more than I do. I, at least, have a healer."

He sneers at him, gripping the potions tight. "So what, you look down on us?”

"Not at all."

"We are not charity cases,”He almost growls, baring his teeth. “What is your game here?"

"…Can I tell you a secret?"

Why is this his life? How did everything turn out this way? Why is he even entertaining this fool??

After a bit of contemplating his life choices, he finally responds. "What?"

The tiefling suddenly leans in to put his mouth near his ear, and gods he's so close. Tav was his name, wasn't it? He heard it in passing by one of his group mates. Balsam, rogue's morsel, and acorn truffle are what he smells on him, a strong scent that is surprisingly pleasant- gods, what is he thinking?! Feeling his face starting to heat up, he tries to take a step back, but Tav stills him with a hand on the back of his neck. It makes his breath catch in his throat.

Finally, Tav whispers to him, "I'm just being nice."

Tav pulls away, leaving Rolan completely dumbfounded as he continues. "I'm not trying to look down on you or be a pest, I just think you need the potions more than I do. Cause gods forbid these fucking druids try and help out people who need it." He spits with a roll of his eyes, staring directly at the Druid that was still besides them through this entire ordeal. He looks uncomfortable.

"Well, that is shockingly intelligent of you." He huffs, hoping the jab aggravated him. "Although, aren't you fighting a swarm of Goblins out there?"

"I am, but bold of you to assume they hit hard enough to hurt me." Before he could come up with another insult for his remark, Tav interjected. "Anyways, I have to return to my camp as it is getting late. Good luck to you and your siblings. Cal and Lia, right?"

He didn't have the chance to respond before the idiot sauntered off, back outside the grove. Great, now he's indebted to the bastard. Slowly, he stalks back into the grove, tying the potions to his belt as he does so.

-----

Some panic swept across the grove when people realized the goblin army planned to raid it for all it was worth. He's heard so many horror stories of slaughtered tieflings, their enemies sawing off their horns to keep as trophies or as foghorns.

If they think they could do the same to his family, they are sorely mistaken.

As others run and hide in Zevlor's war room, others stay to help fight, including himself. But, once again, the three of them can't stop arguing about their positions; he can tell Cal is getting pissed off, but so is he.

"I'm telling you to stay back. My Thunderwave will make short of any goblin that dares to come close. If you two are in the way, I'll knock you both over!"

"And I'm telling you to just get behind us! Spellcasters can't take a punch or a blade!" Lia shouts.

"Can we not argue over this? Please? How about we all line up together?"

"No." They both state and Cal immediately shuts up.

"Wow, you three must love each other very much." A familiar voice says sarcastically.

He grits his teeth and turns towards Tav. "Oh, piss off you oafish-"

"Wait! Wait, maybe Tav can help us out. Figure out positioning and whatnot?" Cal suggests quickly.

"Great idea Cal! Let's ask the professional harpy slayer."

Tav looks at them all, seeming to take in the equipment and weapons that they have on hand. In all honesty, Rolan didn't even think Tav could think.

Suddenly, Tav grabs Cal and moves him to the front, and in the next moment, he gently moves Lia to the back, leaving Rolan in the middle. "There. That's a good positioning."

"See? Easy!" Cal says cheerfully. "Now can we just-"

"Why can’t I be in the front with Cal?”

“Lia come on-“

“I want to be able to help out!”

Tav yawns briefly before explaining, "You will be helping, a lot. Both of you and Rolan are range users. You will hit goblins better by staying in the back where you'll be more effective. Cal here is in melee, with both a pike and a shield. He can protect you both and be your frontliner, while at the same time, you two cover his blind spot. Although, alternatively, you two could be next to each other, but stay behind him."

Rolan blinks slowly, processing the logic behind it. Damn it all, it's incredibly smart. Maybe Tav isn’t an idiot.

"There, good enough explanation?" He asks.

"It's great! Thank you, sincerely." Lia says, patting Tav's shoulder.

"…You're welcome." He pauses before putting a hand into his bag. "We'll kill those bastards out there, no doubt. But I would feel better if you all have this just in case."

Taking out a bright scroll, he holds it out to the three of them to take. Rolan instantly recognized it, especially with the unique binding on it.

A Resurrection Scroll.

Lia is the first to react and take it. "We won't need this, but thank you! Doesn't hurt to have a backup plan if things go wrong."

"I'll make sure it goes smoothly." He reassures, cracking his knuckles.

"What do you have planned, anyway?" Cal wonders aloud.

"I stole a bunch of smoke powder barrels in their camp and set them up along the perimeter. Anyways, they could be here any moment. Stay vigilant. If all goes super well, you won't even have to fight."

-----

They feel the explosions before they hear it. A deep rumbling in the ground that shakes them, awake and alert. There are so many of them that go off after the first one, like a domino effect. How many barrels could Tav have possibly gotten his hands on??

Unfortunately, those explosions didn’t stop a giant spider and some goblins from coming in.

Goblins were easy. He made quick work of them with his thunderwave, blasting them back into the stone wall. Though with his distraction of mentally stroking his own ego, he didn’t see the giant spider coming up until Cal quickly got to his side, blocking its oncoming fangs with his shield, the force of the bite splintering the wood.

His eyes widen, and he blasts a magic missile at the spider right as Lia shoots an arrow into one of its eyes. It screeches in pain, but it’s stubborn in its conviction. It lunges, and Cal cries out when it tears into his arm, trying to rip off his flesh.

Rolan shoots off another thunderwave in his anger and panic, killing the spider in an instant. He watches some of the legs get cut clean off, the body flying and crashing into some crates, destroying them, and its sickly green innards spilling onto the dirt floor. A disgusting sight, indeed.

“Cal!” Lia yells quickly, snapping Rolan back into reality and he quickly rushes over.

Cal is teary-eyed but tries to wave it off, even as Lia tries to get a better look. “I-I’m fine, I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. Come here.” Rolan says maybe a little too harshly, making his brother sit down on a wayward crate and grabbing his elbow to hold it still.

“Rolan please-“

“You look close to crying! Just-“ He stops himself and takes a deep breath, eyes meeting his. “Let me help. Please.”

Cal sighs shakily but nods, letting his arm be lifted for him and Lia to see.

It’s a deep injury, but nothing deathly serious. It looks painful. The spider managed to inject some kind of poison, but Cal resisted whatever effect it could have taken.

Rolan takes out one of the health potions he’s received from Tav and carefully pours it over the injury, and it slowly seals the wound. No scar is left behind, surprisingly enough.

“Does it hurt?” Lia gently presses.

“Not anymore. Thanks, Rolan.”

He wants to yell at him so badly, the argument already bubbling up his throat. Why wasn’t he more careful? Why did he jump towards his side so quickly? He had it handled! He’s supposed to protect him, not the other way around.

Instead, he settles on, “You’re welcome.”

Knowing it’s safer, Cal leans against him quietly, and Rolan carefully holds him with Lia. It wasn’t even a close call, but it’s clear Cal needed some comfort.

No more enemies come through. There were no casualties, either.

Zevlor ends up making a speech at the gate when they check out the damage, and he’s sure others are inspired, but he’s barely paying attention to it. He doesn’t care, in all honestly. He wants to leave this fucking grove and never look back; it is by far the worst place they’ve ever stayed in, second to Avernus. Though, he might be being dramatic.

He found himself looking around for Tav, but he didn’t see him anywhere. Why was he looking for him, anyway?

When he finally spots him, he shouldn’t be shocked by the amount of gore he’s covered in, but he is. He’s completely drenched in blood, whether from the goblins or the Drow leading them. Some of it was his own since he spots injuries littering his frame. 

He shakes his head and straightens up, shifting his attention to his siblings and ignoring the warmth growing in his cheeks. “Now that this fiasco is over, we will head to Baldur’s Gate.”

“Are you serious Rolan?! Come on, there’s going to be a party!” Lia complains, bumping her hip with his. “We have to go.”

“We don’t have time for parties! Lorroakan is waiting for me, I cannot be late.”

“What’s one party, Rolan? It’s just for a night. We need to rest anyways.” Cal says, looking around the other excited tieflings. When was the last time they saw a crowd of them so happy? He certainly doesn't remember, and it makes his original conviction crack a little.

“I will not-“

Cal takes hold of one of his arms, tugging him. “Please, Rolan? Just for tonight.”

“There’ll be free wine, provided by the heroes.” Lia sing-songs, leaning against him and almost making him stumble.

“…Free wine?” He questions, genuinely thinking about it.

“And free food,” Cal confirms.

Gods, he hates the pathetic puppy-dog eyes that they use. He can’t stand to look at their faces, and he hates it even more that he's falling for it, just as he always has.

He sighs heavily in defeat, head hanging a little low. “Fine.”

“Yes!” Cal cheers, giving him a tight hug.

To his surprise, Lia joins in, the both of them crushing him. “Thank you, Rolan!”

He rolls his eyes but lets a smile break through, even when he can hardly breathe. “All this over a party?”

“It’ll be fun! You’ll see!”

He smirks knowingly, finally separating from the two. “All right all right, I trust that this will be an exceptional occasion. I look forward to seeing you say you love me while drunk, Lia.”

"As if, brother."

It doesn’t take long for Tav to offer up his area with his party members, so they gather with the Tieflings and head to the camp. It doesn’t look like much, but it’s secluded at least.

That bard, Alfira, starts decorating the place in an instant; lantern lights go up, colorful ribbons decorate the trees, and boxes get moved to the side. Others help out, including Lia, but Rolan and Cal sit back and relax for the time being.

When the party finally starts, they pass wine between the three of them.

“Can you give us a magic show, Master Rolan?” She teases.

Rolan rolls his eyes playfully. “Already?”

“Oh! Can you make an owl bear?? Or a dragon!” Cal suggests, scooting forward more on the log.

He stretches out his arms in front of him, cracking his knuckles while doing so. "Patience! Have you no respect for showmanship?"

"Having performance issues Rolan?" Cal whisper-shouts playfully, and Rolan idly notices Tav approaching.

He turns his nose up high momentarily before holding his hands out. "Hush, you. And behold!"

It's a brief performance, but amazing nonetheless if he says so himself. He makes it look like stars that spark, fly, and explode into various lights. He has always been irritated he could never make it last long, but that is what his training will be for.

He looks over at Tav as soon as he claps, seeing the way his eyes glide over the lights. His face doesn’t change in the slightest, so he can’t tell if his clapping is meant to be some sort of taunt or if he’s genuine.

Either way, he does a dramatic bow. "Adoring applause? You're too kind."

"Remember when he couldn't cast that?" Lia teases.

"They grow up so fast," Cal states.

"Never have I met such troglodytes. Now, pass the wine." Rolan demands, but a content smile is plastered on his face.

It seems Lia was about to offer Tav some of it, but when she and Rolan turn towards him, he’s already gone.

“Looks like he already got bored of you.” Lia sings to him.

“Oh hush up.” He huffs, snatching the wine bottle and taking a long drink.

He will never admit how much that comment stung. He doesn’t know why he was so bothered by it in the first place. There are many possibilities he goes over as he feels the alcohol give him a pleasant buzz; was it her wording, or was it the fact that Tav disappeared without a word? Did he get bored? 

Whatever, it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t care what that man thinks of him. He swears he doesn’t.

Later in the night, he drank- no, chugged wine while Cal and Lia chatted with the other tieflings partying. As much as he loved to perform for them both, even someone as great as he gets tired after using a bunch of magic in rapid succession. 

The wine wasn’t good; nothing compares to Arabellan Dry, but what else was there to drink? He refuses to partake in ale or beer, he never found the appeal of it. Honestly, it’s disgusting, and he doesn’t understand why Lia likes it so much. Cal seems to be looking for someone in particular but isn't finding them. He looks disappointed.

As he wonders about Cal and debates checking in on him, he doesn’t notice the brute approaching him until his giant form sits next to him with his own alcohol, the bark of the fallen tree groaning from the extra weight. He covers up how it startled him quickly, tilting his head up towards the brute with a bored expression.

“What do you want?”

“Nothing. I’m here to drink.” He says nonchalantly, sipping on the wine bottle. “Impressive display of magic earlier.”

His nose scrunches up, yellow eyes settling on his flaming ones with a glare. “Was that sarcasm?”

“No. Are you self-taught?”

Of all the things he expected tonight, it wasn’t this. Tav, a person who hits things and asks questions later, is curious about him? He wonders if he has an ulterior motive.

He pushes the thought to the back burner of his brain for now but approaches the conversation cautiously. “I am! And a man with many talents, may I add. I’m going straight to Baldur’s Gate to learn from the best: The Great Lorroakan.”

He sees the imposing Tiefling roll his eyes, putting his bottle down to stare out at the water surrounding the camp. Tav looks a little different, in the moonlight. Seeing him up close is a different experience entirely, and now he can see every little detail about him, including how he was shirtless-

Wait, did he just roll his eyes?

“What?” He demands, posture straightening as he grows defensive.

“Nothing. Just heard he’s a cad is all.” He mutters, deciding to pick the bottle back up and taking a long swig.

“Common gossip and rumors! He’s the greatest wizard in all of Baldur’s Gate. I’ve never imagined he would answer my letters.” He states with a happy sigh, idly swirling the liquid in his bottle. “I will become his apprentice as soon as I arrive. I cannot be late, yet Cal and Lia insist that this party is a wonderful idea. An adoring crowd, fine wine - I daresay this place is almost civilized.”

“Do you regret staying?”

“Of course I do. But Cal and Lia…” He trails off for only a moment but snaps back to it. “They deserve to have some fun for a little while. We’ll leave at dawn, either way.”

The Tiefling stares at him for a moment, seeming to be searching his face. For what, Rolan had no idea. Some kind of lie, perhaps?

“All right then. Good luck to you.” Tav eventually settles on.

“…That’s it??” He exasperates.

“If you’re looking for someone to argue with, find someone else.”

“You-“

“You talk too much.”

He settles a death glare on Tav's form. “Prick.”

Tav slowly looks at him with his own glare, determined to play his game. “Entitled fuck.”

“Dumb oaf.”

“Prickly bastard.”

They both stare each other down, faces too close but neither of them breaks their stare. He feels Tav's hot breath ghosting over his lips, and the tension could be cut with a knife.

“You’re insufferable.” Tav huffs, suddenly gripping Rolan’s jaw and kissing him firmly.

He moans in surprise at the force but isn’t against it. In fact, his face gets incredibly red before he remembers he can kiss back.

It’s not like this is his first kiss. He’s given and received kisses before, he’s not some kind of reserved prude. But this is the first one that’s so heavy. Hot. He’s completely out of practice and can do nothing but grip Tav's thicker forearm.

Something about being desirable to Tav makes him throb in his pants, though it also may be the way Tav's tongue is tracing his bottom lip, seeking entry.

Tav's free hand trails to his rear and squeezes, making him inhale sharply; a perfect opportunity for Tav to slide his tongue in to taste him. He knows he's losing his composure and by extension, himself, but what's the harm in indulging in this? It's pathetic, but he's never felt so desired up until this moment, even if this ends up being a fling.

Why did the thought of this being a fling make him feel hollow?

He pulls away to give himself space and to breathe, but Tav doesn't pause, kissing along his jaw and ear. "My tent is west of here if you're interested. No one will hear us."

He shudders at the feeling of sharp teeth grazing the edge of his ear, teasing and provoking. Swallowing, he nods, and Tav pulls him away from the party towards a more secluded part of the area. He hopes that Lia and Cal didn't see him, but they most likely did. He’ll never hear the end of it when he returns.

Almost clumsily, Rolan finds himself in Tav’s tent quickly after, their kissing getting more heated between them. It was a strange feeling, exchanging breaths with someone else, but it felt good. Better than he thought.

They settle down on the floor of the tent, him sitting in Tav’s lap as they continue their make-out. Their tongues dance almost…lovingly. No, he can’t be reading into it right. They barely know each other; he's overthinking again.

He feels his large hands attempting to find the hem of his robes, and he seems to find it quickly as if from experience. Fingers start to dance across the bare skin of his back, running up the ridges of his spine. He sighs out shakily, goosebumps prickling out as his tail anxiously flicks about. Nerves hit him like a loose carriage, fast and suddenly, settling into the pit of his stomach. He felt cold, heart racing a mile a minute.

Why? This was good. Everything was good. This was supposed to feel good.

Why isn’t it?

He’ll give it time. It’s normal to be nervous about this kind of thing, right? Most definitely his lack of experience is a contributor, and doesn’t he deserve this after all his hardship? What’s the harm in pleasure for at least a night.

He feels his back hit the bedroll, warm calloused hands trailing over to the front of his body instead. Their kisses were feverish, desperate, and pent-up. All Rolan could do was grip the bedding below him as nails teased the textured skin of his sternum, a hand rolling a nipple between two fingers.

Tav’s lips go to his neck, finger tips trailing teasingly down his stomach before he begins to palm at his crotch through his smalls-

He can’t do it.

A cold sweat beads on the back of Rolan’s neck, panic and bile rising in his throat as it closes. He can’t do it, and he quickly grabs Tav’s arm with a death grip with wide eyes. “W-Wait, stop!”

Tav immediately gets his hands off of him, giving him space to move. His head reels from the sudden adrenaline, but also because Tav’s stoic demeanor is no longer present, and the man genuinely looks concerned. Fearful, even. “Did I hurt you?”

“No! No.” He reassures quickly, but his vulnerable mind is scattered and unfocused as he sits up.

There’s so many reasons why he couldn’t do this, but he can’t pin one down. Surely, Tav deserves an explanation, so he rushes to think of one.

It’s too soon, he hasn’t done this before, and this isn’t the place for it, he’s not a degenerate, his siblings are nearby, Tav is too imposing, it might hurt, it’s too vulnerable, he’s never been with a man, he’s never been with anyone, this is the wrong place to do it, he’s a coward, he’s scared-

“I can’t.” He grimaces, with no actual reason good enough to say out loud. Part of him is worried about what Tav would say; would he be upset with him? On one hand, if he does, Rolan knows that Tav was never worth his time. But on the other, he found Tav not as insufferable as he thought, and he may have just ruined the strange bond they made by stopping everything. Gods, he is pathetic, isn’t he?

Tav sighs slowly in relief, sitting back. “That’s okay.”

It’s not good enough, not for Rolan. As a wizard, he demands answers for a multitude of reasons when things happen. It’s only fair that he gives an explanation, is it not? Finally, he pins down a reason he could give: he doesn’t want to do it after having so much wine. There, that should do it.

Before he could start his tangent, he felt a hand cover his mouth.

“I don’t need a reason. It’s okay.”

He’s about to argue, completely insulted, but it gets muffled by the hand on his mouth.

“You don’t ever have to explain to me why you want to stop.” He says, finally moving his hand away. “I’m sorry if you felt like you couldn’t say no to me earlier.”

“I did want it.” He assured quickly, because he did. He truly did. Why did he panic?

“But you changed your mind.” He began, not unkindly.

��I did.”

“That’s fine.” He says with a small shrug. “If you want, we can keep kissing. Nothing further than that.”

He laughs in disbelief, running a hand down his sweaty face. “And why would we do that?”

“Doesn’t hurt to have company for a night. Besides-“ He gently takes hold of his chin, tilting his face up. “You seemed to enjoy what we were doing. Why not indulge? Just for one night.”

He smirks up at him, leaning forward with false confidence. “Am I that irresistible?”

“You have a pretty face.” He noted, swiping his thumb across his kiss-bruised lip before kissing him again.

The kiss is lazy and less heated, but it makes his heart pound all the same. Being held so tenderly is new, and he’s growing attached.

He cannot have attachments. What is he thinking? 

After kissing for a little longer, he lets himself be held in the bedroll as they lay down, indulging in the quiet night with Tav. They didn’t need to discuss what happened or question it. It’s exchanging favors. For Rolan, it’s just wanting the comfort of another body near him, letting him pretend that he’ll have something like this in the future. One day, he’ll be good enough for someone. He’s not sure what this does for Tav exactly, but he seems content to hold him.

“You can ask for more if you’d like.”

“I’d rather not embarrass myself more than I already have.” He barks before glancing at him in apology, eyes softer.

“Would it help if I said I will keep my mouth shut about this?” Tav suggested, pushing some hair away from his face.

He shifts to glance at his face, seeing if he is genuine. He can never read his face that well, but when he makes his judgment, he sighs and takes one of Tav’s hands, lacing his fingers through his.

“This is pathetic, I know.”

“I don’t think it’s pathetic.” He mumbles, squeezing his hand. “This is nice for me, too.”

Rolan feels himself relax more, body almost relieved that this hasn’t been rejected.

“What will you do, when you finally get your apprenticeship figured out?” Tav asks in the quiet.

“I’ll learn everything I can about all schools of magic. Then I can put on a real show for Cal and Lia.”

“They seem to love your shows already, why change them?”

“It’ll be different.” He pledged, “Bigger, better, and more sustainable. I’ll make them last so much longer, I’ll bring it more colors, and the illusion will look realistic. You will see.”

“I’m sure they’ll be great.” He yawns, nuzzling into the back of his neck.

“I will show you when you reach to Baldur’s Gate, my friend.”

There’s no response, only a quiet snore greets him. At first, he’s annoyed, but it’s hard to be angry when he is just as exhausted from today. For now, he falls asleep in his arms, hoping that for once no nightmares haunt him.

The Tiefling beside him is still fast asleep when he wakes at dawn, though he’s impressed by how the man can sleep through the screeching birds outside.

Quickly, he fixes his robes and hair, trying to not look like a mess. Cal and Lia are surely going to tease him, knowing he never returned to their tent. He debates on whether to wake the idiot up to say goodbye, but that seems foolish. He needs to sleep, and they need to head to Baldur’s gate immediately.

So he opens the tent, sparing one more look back before leaving.

He cannot create attachments. Not now, not ever. Not until he’s done with his apprenticeship.

[buckybarnesss]

So, we all know what Derek's type is. Lord only knows that there have been countless metas written by people about it.

What do you think is Stiles's type?

He's had crushes on a lot of people.

stiles had a long term crush on lydia, a canon relationship with malia that lasted nearly a year and complicated feelings-ship with derek.

(yes he totally had a crush on derek and i will die upon that hill).

what do they all have in common besides being hot and traumatized?

it's easier to see what lydia and derek have in common. both of them are witty, clever and cunning, intelligent and underestimated frequently. they both are survivors.

to a lot of people malia is the outlier because they dismiss her struggling with traditional schooling as not being intelligent. she's smart and clever in her own ways. malia's also a survivor and just as forthright as derek is and underestimated by people like both lydia and derek.

stiles is drawn to the bright, the bold, the brave and the stubborn. he wants someone who will push back and challenge him, who doesn't let him get away with his bullshit.

stiles likes puzzles and they're the ultimate kind of puzzle for him but he also wants to feel needed by someone in some capacity especially emotionally. stiles needs to feel of use. his love language is acts of service.

he'd walk into hell for you before he ever said i love you which he does repeatedly for scott, for lydia, for malia and for derek without flinching because he loves them.

[yanderes-galore]

If it's okay can I request Transformers Prime Megatron with your prompts 2, 11, and 44 with a human reader?

Of course! @okchijt and I came up with the plot for this one so hopefully it came out great after I fleshed things out :) This takes place a little after you're first abducted by Megatron.

Yandere! TFP! Megatron Prompts 2, 11, 44

"It's an honor for someone such as me to take you in and love you!"

"I'd crush their heart in front of you if it meant you'd only love me!"

"Your tongue is so sharp... wouldn't it be a shame if I had to silence it?"

Pairing: Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Cybertronian/Human pairing, Obsession, Torture mentioned, Threats, Kidnapping, Manipulation, Slight OOC Megatron, Forced relationship.

The fact humans were capable of such resolve both intrigued yet infuriated Megatron. How long had it been for you? Weeks? Months? It didn't really matter to him.

All he knows is for such a small thing you're resilient. Starscream has been sent to your cell on The Nemesis for a long time now. Despite the pain inflicted on your fleshy body, you refuse to talk or give up any info on the Autobots.

Starscream yet again kept disappointing Megatron. To think he's unable to make such a human talk is inconceivable. You're human, you should be cracking by now.

It's almost impressive really, even if it's pointless. Compared to most humans you never know when to quit. It's a trait that shows loyalty... to the wrong cause.

Despite your annoying stubborn behavior, Megatron found himself intrigued by you. Your traits frustrate him yet draw him in. He wants to know what makes you tick.

He oversees your interrogations, watching as you're either shocked or yelled at. Even through extreme psychological stress and threats you refuse to betray Prime. Megatron is almost jealous at such loyalty.

If only some of the Decepticons besides Soundwave and Shockwave show such loyalty.

Such intrigue prompts the Decepticon to remove Starscream from the job of interrogation. No, this was now between you and him. Your resistance is a trait Megatron wants to utilize... perhaps he can make a deal with you.

Megatron notices the confusion in your gaze when he steps in. A grin is on his face as you show slight weakness for just a moment. You quickly swap to a more defiant gaze right as Megatron locks the cell behind him.

"So you're the human that's been giving Starscream hell? I should thank you for that, actually. However, you aren't getting away with that when it comes to me." Megatron begins, observing your reactions carefully through his optics.

"We'll see about that..." You grumble just enough for the Decepticon to hear.

"Yes, we'll see..." Megatron begins. "We'll see what happens to your friends and family when you don't give up the Autobots. Even if you don't give the answer now... we'll find them. I don't mind extinguishing their spark in front of you."

Megatron sees fear flicker in your eyes at the threat but you still don't relent. Starscream, as much as he hates to see it, was right. In a sense....

"Think about this instead, for being a human you could make a great Decepticon."

He sees your face contort into disgust.

"I'm not telling you anything! Just as I have multiple times before! Let me go... kill me... it doesn't matter just as you said. I'll never tell you about the Autobots. They're my family, they care for me and they'll find me!"

Megatron felt his Energon heat at the fact you're defending the Autobots. The Autobots are scum... the fact you still stick by them on his turf sets him off. He was even starting to consider sparing you as a Decepticon if you've survived months of torment!

You needed to crack... now.

"I'd crush their heart in front of you if it meant you'd only love me!" The Decepticon roars, revealing a key factor of his intentions.

After the outburst there's silence. You stare wide-eyed at Megatron as he glares down at you. Megatron does realize what he said and takes a moment to ponder. It's a bit degrading to himself to stoop down to liking a human this much but... you're an exception. Perhaps while watching you and growing annoyed he was just in denial about such a fact.

Either way it appears he can use this as leverage.

You still appear to be processing the accidental confession. It's a surprise to him too. The silence is deafening as you try to process the disturbing confession given by your captor.

"Love me...?" You say in nearly a whisper. "How could a monster such as you love me? Didn't you say you hated humans?"

Megatron tries to search for an answer, momentarily distracted by his own confession and your questions. You're pushing him in a corner. It's surprising how fast you swap the power in your favor even if it's for a moment.

You really are something special.

"Go on, answer!" You growl. "If you said you hate my kind, what makes you think a confession such as that will make me love you?"

Megatron is silent, watching you bark at him like an angry dog. You are quite brave yet stupid to fight someone like him. It's what he likes about you... yet it stings slightly.

His silence prompts you to continue.

"The likelihood of me loving you, if that is truly what you want, is about as likely as you beating the Autobots!"

Megatron takes note of the grin on your face. You're enjoying the power trip. You haven't been on control of your situation for a long time now. You're reveling in the momentary power.

He'll put an end to that, you've asked enough questions already.

"It's an honor for someone such as me to take you in and love you!" Megatron counters. "Mocking me is a poor decision. You are not the one in power here."

He hates that you somehow have such an effect on him. He could squish you with his claws but he doesn't. No... he "cares" too much, huh?

You take notice due to being such a perceptive human.

"You have one last chance to cooperate. Things will only get worse from here if you continue." Megatron warns. He's already being too merciful with you as his. You only smile sweetly.

"You couldn't hurt me... you LOVE me, don't you-"

*SLAM*

The noise of Megatron's fist puncturing the wall rings in your ears. You have a look of fearful surprise on your face when you catch a look of Megatron's blazing red optics on you. Only now to you shut up, realizing playing with your captor really won't at all be like Starscream.

Megatron's deathly silent as he lowers himself to snatch you up in his hand. You now begin to shake, losing the confidence you once had. So much for the tough act....

It seems only now you understand the power imbalance between you two.

"Your tongue is so sharp... wouldn't it be a shame if I had to silence it?" Megatron mocks, grinning when he sees you tremble in his hand. "You need to learn your place. You're still a human after all."

For once, you're shocked into silence. You can tell by the gaze in Megatron's eyes that you've sealed your fate. He isn't going to kill you, at least you think....

He's going to put you through hell and back for trying to mess around with him. You wish you held your tongue. What were you thinking, mocking Megatron as a human?

You can only guess it'll be much worse than when you misbehaved around Starscream.

Even if he did say he "loved" you.

[sunlightandsuffering]

The crazy Sacrilege fan here ! I LOVE THAT DRABBLE MIKASA IS SUCH AN UNHINGED FREAK I ADORE HER THANK YOU LYS THANK YOU !!! And Eren cares about her , « might even love her, just a little » LMFAO MR COP IS SO BUSTED !! If I may ask, how do you think they would react to a pregnancy scare ? I think crazy ass Mika might even like it, think it’s the Lord’s Will for them to be with child . Eren is head over heels for his little gf so he woudn’t mind giving her a child but he doesn’t want her to regret it later, she needs to go to college and start a career first!

AHAHAHA OMG ILY !!!! 💗💗 ur so funny lol!!! THEY'RE BOTH UNHINGED THO AND THAT'S WHAT WE LOVE THEM FOR, THE ABSOLUTE FUCKING CHAOS !!!!

omg okay, i can totally see this going like both ways, mostly bc I'm so anti religion bc of how much fucking shit it can create. So me, being a little shit, i'd love to go against the grain here and have Mikasa just be pRO CHOICE GIRLY !! Altho I do think she'd be like a little thrilled to have a child with Eren lol. LETS WRITE IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!! bro tell me why they're so cute tho i like this drabble lol

Mikasa stares at the pregnancy test blankly, head knocked back against the bathroom cabinet of Eren’s apartment. Two little red lines to seal her fate, she should be thrilled.  

She isn’t. 

Contrary to her mother and every other girl in her church, Mikasa feels nothing but dread, cold, inescapable dread and suffocation. Because yes, a baby is cute, a baby is sweet, a baby would be the perfect embodiment of her and Eren’s love. They’d be the picture perfect happy family, the one people see on instagram, and she could be a stay at home mom and do all that ridiculous mom-fluencer stuff she sees.

The entire idea makes Mikasa want to throw up, and she’s not so sure it’s the pregnancy, because she isn’t that far along at all yet. 

She slumps, dropping the test to the floor beside her and blinking back stubborn tears, she wonders if this is God’s plan. Because surely, it must be? She wouldn’t be pregnant if it wasn’t His will. Hell, she’s already gone against the church by using birth control, condoms and the pill. 

So there’s really no other way she could have possibly gotten pregnant, right? Nothing else other than pure divine intervention would have allowed this. 

Mikasa sniffles meekly, a tear sleeping down her cheek despite her attempts not to cry and she wipes it away with her sleeve. Drawing her knees up to her chest, she crumples in on herself because what the fuck is she going to do? She’s not married, not yet at least, not in school yet –will probably have to drop out now actually– and her parents will most certainly withdraw what little support they were willing to provide her. She can hear it now, they’re going to call her sweet little baby a bastard, the church will gossip, her youth group will turn on her, and the pastor will look at her with eyes full of disgust at every turn. The tears flow faster now, slipping down her cheeks freely, and before she realizes it, she’s sobbing alone in Eren’s apartment bathroom, utterly alone. 

And there’s that too, isn’t there, how Eren will react. She doesn’t know, doesn’t want to lose him, but what if it’s too soon? Eren isn’t that old, only 24 and still working his way up in the force, he probably doesn’t want a baby yet either. 

He’s certainly never talked about it, and it has Mikasa tearing up all over again, because she’s going to lose him, and her parents again all at once. And she can’t lose him, she just can’t, she loves him. What had started as pure angsty rebellion had turned into love so quickly she doesn’t even know when it started. But he’s so supportive, hot, and so fucking good for her if she thinks about it, had told her just to fucking move in when her parents had gotten fussy over their break-up. He’d shrugged like it was no big deal, “Don’t worry about rent, Mika, just as long as you sleep in my bed.” Then, he’d left for work with a wink, and Mikasa for the first time in her life had real fucking independence, the very thing she’d been yearning for, begging for when he’d fucked her on that alter. 

And now here she is, about to lose it all again, her shackles renewed by the responsibility of a child and all the pressures that come with being a mom before she’s financially ready or responsible in the slightest. 

There is a click outside and Mikasa inhales sharply, glancing at her watch, because how long has she been in this bathroom moping? It’s 9:00 am on the dot, Eren is home, having just gotten off an overnight shift, and she can already hear him stomping around, seeking her out. “Mikasa,” He calls, and she slaps a hand over her mouth to keep quiet, for what she doesn’t know, he’ll find her eventually. “Baby where are you, I can see your shoes by the door, come out.” She doesn’t, fear paralyzes her, this agony of what to do, to tell him, not to tell him, to just run away and give it up for adoption, show up again in nine months and hope he doesn’t hate her. But Eren is a cop, surely he’d find her no matter where she went? And he does, just like he’d find her if she ran away, sweeping the apartment methodically before coming to the bathroom door, just off his bedroom. 

He knocks, “Miki, what are you doing?” She doesn’t answer, just grabs the pregnancy test, holds it closer as the two positive red lines blur together, tears flowing freely again. It takes Eren one attempt, one fucking shot to jimmy the lock open, and he’s leaning against the door frame like an avenging angel as he looks her over. He’s terrifying, clad in his police uniform, black cargo pants with so many pockets and that tight long sleeve shirt that goes under his body armour. 

He quirks a brow up at her as he notices her tears, eyes scanning her over, and she can pinpoint the exact moment he notices the pregnancy test, his teeth coming down to bite into his lip, his only nervous tic. “So,” He asks casually, “Pregnant?” She nods meekly, a sob working its way up her throat, all she can think to do is apologize, because obviously it’s her fault, “I’m so sorry Eren.” 

She should have never slept with him, never disobeyed God like this, it’s her punishment, and she just spirals, ugly crying in her boyfriend’s bathroom at 8 am on a wednesday. “Oh Miki no, it takes two, okay,” Eren half laughs as he kneels down next to her, tucking a strand of hair out of her eyes. He wipes the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs, cupping her face with more love and affection than she’s ever known in her life, “It was definitely more me if I recall correctly, in the back of my squad car, in the kitchen,” He smirks, looking down at her, “Yesterday morning in the shower.” Mikasa smacks him for that, choking out a laugh, “Stop it, I’m sad right now.” Eren chuckles, sitting down next to her and grabbing her hand with the pregnancy test to look at it himself. “You don’t have to be sad Miki, it doesn’t have to be a big thing you know.” 

She leans into him, her head on his shoulder as she thinks about it, “Eren I’m gonna get huge and fat, it’s definitely gonna be a thing and people are definitely going to notice.” He bumps her with his shoulder lightly, “Nah you’d be cute pregnant, and fuck,” He groans as if he’s thinking about it, “Your tits would definitely get even better.” Mikasa gasps, smacking his arm again, and before she can stop him he’s going in for a squeeze that has her yelping because yeah, she’s already a little more sensitive. He smirks, more smug than he has any right to be in this situation, ten minutes ago she was crying her eyes out. 

“So does this mean you want it, then, that you’ll support me?” Mikasa asks hopefully and Eren squeezes her thigh, looking down at her with more intensity than she knew him capable of, “Mikasa of course I’ll support you in whatever you decide to do, this would be my kid too.” He pauses and Mikasa waits, looking up at him earnestly, ready to accept whatever else he has to say, because he’s Eren and he so obviously loves her. “I know it’s a little taboo in the church community, but have you thought about getting an abortion?” Mikasa cracks, heaving out a great sob, and before she knows it she’s in Eren’s lap with him shushing her as she whispers all her fears into his neck, “You don’t want it, you’re lying you just- you just want to appease me and –” “Mikasa,” Eren kisses his way up her neck, voice right at her ear, “I’m not lying, but look at me.” He cups her chin roughly, tilting her head up so she’s forced to look into those pretty green eyes, “Baby you’re in school, you haven’t even started yet, and I’ve heard you, fuck baby I’ve heard you talk about school so many times and how much you want to be a nurse.” He leans down, so their foreheads touch, and he leans into her, “And as much as I’d love to see you pregnant, how fucking pretty you’d be, cute as hell waddling around my house knocked up with my fucking kid, it would also suck a lot because I know Mikasa that you’d be miserable, would be delaying your dreams for several years at the very fucking least and I could never ask you to do that.” Mikasa inhales shakily, relaxing into him now, the hand on her thigh, the other at the nape of her neck, how warm and solid he is against her, Eren. 

She tilts her head up for a kiss, something soft, chaste, comfort. 

He kisses her softly, all gentle affection, his hand rubbing over her thigh to keep her calm and when she pulls back she’s calmer, more stable in his arms. 

“Is it allowed?” She whispers, almost nervously, afraid she’ll be shot down by the universe at the mere suggestion. Eren laughs, his hand drifting up to her hip to tug her closer in his lap, “Of course it’s allowed Mikasa, no one has to know we have free health care you know, we’ll just you know, schedule you an appointment, I don’t think it’s that hard.” “Really?” she mumbles, “Just like that?” “I think so, I mean obviously I haven’t had one, but I don’t think it’ll be that difficult, we can call in a minute.”

“Okay,” she mumbles and Eren kisses her again, nipping her cheek as he demands her attention, “But I want to know you’re doing it for you, not because of me or anything else, this has to be your decision Mikasa and I’m just along for the ride.” She sighs, “I think you’re right, I just didn’t want to be the one to say it, but before you got here all I could think about was how much it was going to fuck up my life.” Eren gasps, and she looks up, suddenly afraid, does he think she’s disgusting, a worthless human being because of it? His eyes are alight with amusement, “You swore, what a naughty little church girl you are.” 

She smacks him and violently, which has him cackling, and he uses his leverage to go in for another kiss, which she accepts gratefully. “As long as it’s your decision Mikasa, I don’t care, hell I kind of agree, I’m not sure if I’d be a great dad right now, I’m too selfish. I wanna keep you to myself for as long as I can.” Mikasa laughs, “Then maybe we’d better start using better protection.” “Yeah, we’re also scheduling you for an IUD appointment, because fuck are you bad at taking those pills.” She winces, “I took it this morning.” Eren looks at her in disbelief, “Miki you’re already pregnant.” “Well, I tried not to be,” She tells him poutily and Eren pinches her waist, “You did a shit job.” “We just agreed it was your fault!” 

Eren smiles deviously, “Yeah it is, and it’s about to be my fault again.” 

He yanks her down against him, a devilish gleam in his eyes, and she can feel his very obvious erection right against the soft of her cunt, separated only by the thin layer of her pyjama pants. 

“Have you been hard the entire time?” “I’m not a monster, just since you swore, it just does things to me, it’s not my fault, really it’s yours.” “Oh my God,” Mikasa groans, and she can feel Eren below her, grinding her down against his cock, that guilty look on his face, “Holy fuck does it turn you on when I’m like bad?” “Is that blasphemous of me?” 

“God yes,” She tells him and then she’s kissing him, because no one else but Eren Yeager has ever made being bad feel so good.

[thewulf]

Whatever The Hell This Is || Joel Miller

Summary: Reader and Joel butt heads a lot, they're both very sure of themselves. Tess has to be the mediator alot of the time... Read Rest Here

A/N: This was fun to write. Let me know if you liked it :)

Pairing: Joel Miller x Y/N

Word Count: 6,100+

“You’re so fucking annoying!” You whisper yelled to Joel giving him a less than friendly glare before heading off towards the exchange point in the restricted zone outside the QZ. You’d had it up to your head with him. This is why you hated going out with him.

“I didn’t ask you to come!” He shot back not bothering to keep his voice down like you attempted to just seconds before.

“Well neither did I! Tess invited both of us for fucks sake.” You didn’t bother turning around knowing he was sending daggers into your back.

“I’m not sure why I did.” Tess sighed knowing she had to mediate before one of you bit the others head off. She tolerated the both of you equally. Unfortunately for her the both of you had a problem with the other. It made trips like this interesting to say the least and why she avoided them at all costs, “You both act like toddlers every fucking time.”

You sighed slowing down a bit matching stride with your longtime friend, “I’m sorry Tess. I was going to play nice. The Joel had to go and open his mouth…”

“I was just suggesting another route!” He defended himself getting annoyed by you now. He was getting tired of you biting his head off every time he suggested something.

“You always question me! You never questions Tess’s decisions.” You challenged him raising your voice now. Joel always had a knack for getting under your skin. You lost your composure all too often around the stubborn man.

“Oh, for Christ’s sake, both of you shut up. I’ll make the decisions. Yeah?” Tess’s eyes were wide as if she was punishing her own children.

Grumbling, you answered her, “Yeah fine, whatever.” You walked behind her keeping your eyes on her back and not on Joel’s who found his stride beside her. Figures, he got exactly what he wanted. He trusted Tess, never questioning her decisions. Tess was a natural leader and Joel fell right in line. He clearly didn’t feel the same about you. It felt like he picked a fight any time you were allowed to have a say. Sure, you were a few years younger, but you were here just like he was. You were a fighter and survivor just like he was.

Truthfully, you didn’t even hate the guy. You looked up to him just as much as you looked up to Tess. It always seemed like he had the problem with you though. Whatever the hell it was you would love to fix it. You even talked with Tess about it. She said she’d talk with Joel about it but had yet to get back to you just yet.

The walk continued in silence as both you and Joel were protesting. It wasn’t often the three of you all went out on a run. It was usually just either you and Tess or Tess and Joel. This was a big order though; she needed all hands-on deck for this one resulting in you and Joel joining together. You wished he could just see you as an equal, but you were afraid you’d never get there.

You were so in your own head you hardly heard Tess stop and sigh. Nearly running into Joel, you decided it’d be better to walk into the wall of the hallway building instead. He gave you a confused look when you saw you walk right into the wall. You tried to shrug it off, “What’s up Tess?” Whispering again you ignored Joel and his glare instead turning your attention back to her.

“Door’s blocked.” Her husky voice sounded tired, “Wasn’t last week. Dammit.”

Taking a look around you pointed up, “Can climb up and over. Looks like the building collapsed.”

Joel’s eyes snapped up surveying the scene of crumbling building before him, “No, that’s too dangerous.” Joel didn’t know a ton, but he knew buildings from his days before the outbreak. Being a contractor did sort of help with stuff like this.

“Come on.” You sighed dropping the rifle strap from your shoulder. You handed it to Tess who gave you a funny look. She surely wasn’t going to stop you, but it sounded like Joel was about to try, “It’s fine Joel. Somebody’s got to go.”

“What if it collapsed yesterday? It could still be unstable.” He looked around for a better option sighing when he came up short.

You shook your head offloading your backpack from your shoulders, “It’s fine. It’s had plenty of time to settle. It’s too late to turn around now anyway. It’ll take us another four hours to double back. We don’t have that kind of time.”

Joel frowned acknowledging what you had to say. He knew that you were right. It still didn’t make him happy though, “I’ll go then.” He offered up.

But your insecurities got the better of you, “Do you not trust me?” You let your frustrations out with a louder than necessary at that snap back.

Joel threw his head back biting his tongue. He trusted you. He just didn’t want to see you get hurt. He’d seen you almost get hurt too many times to count. It wasn’t always like you put yourself into precarious situations, but he’s had to save you one too many times. So, he made it his duty to protect you. You never seemed to take well to it. Always fighting back whenever he suggested something. Sure, he could’ve communicated with you, but he wasn’t the best with words. He knew he’d fuck it up more if he tried to explain himself, so he let you think the worst instead.

Shaking his head he answered, “I trust you.” He finally spoke after a long moment.

“Then I’m going.” Huffing you hoisted yourself up over the broken wall.

“You’re going to get hurt.” His frown deepened seeing you climb.

Standing you looked down at the two of them, “I’ll be fine. Plus, the opening over there is pretty narrow, I don’t think you’d fit Joel.”

He sighed, “Fine.” Leaning against the wall he gave Tess a look.

“Be careful Y/N.” Tess spoke out seeing the concern on his eyes. She knew there was something there. At least on his end. He’d never ever admit anything to her though. There was always something unspoken Tess noticed between the two of you. Two people couldn’t bicker like you did without feeling something.

“Yeah, yeah.” You shot her a smile before beginning your climb over to the hallway. Walking slowly, you took note of Joel’s concerns. You’d had the same ones. Fresh crumbles were always pretty dangerous, but you wanted to put on brave face. You had to be useful. Had to prove yourself to them.

It took you a lot longer than it normally would as you paced slowly trying to find an opening. There was always a way. Smiling when you saw light coming from a little further you made your way over to the narrow hole. You wouldn’t fit. Pulling a few rocks out of the way you knew you had to go slow, or it could collapse in on itself.

You heard it before you felt it. The rocks gave out below you sending you down to the hallway with rocks falling all around. Damn this was the absolute worst-case scenario. Covering your head, you waited for the sound to settle before releasing the grip you were holding over yourself.

It could’ve been worse. Much, much worse you decided as you threw the rock off your side surveying your surroundings. You could’ve been completely pinned by a rock, that would’ve sucked. You would’ve had to wait until one of them rescued you. That would have been so terribly embarrassing.

Feeling the adrenaline kick in you brushed your clothes back over your side. Standing up you looked down seeing the deep gash on your side and the blood that flowed down your side. It didn’t look great, but it wasn’t show stopping. Deciding to just let your clothes stop the bleeding you pressed your shirt back down to your side. Keeping pressure on your side you made your way to the door that was blocked by some rubble. Thankfully, nothing major.

“You, okay?” You heard Tess through the door, “We heard some noise on the other side of the door.”

“Yeah, rocks fell when I tried to find a way in. I’m all good though.” You partially lied. You were fine. That wasn’t a lie. Finally, you moved the rocks enough to open the door enough for them to slip through.

She surveyed you quickly before turning back to Joel, “Let’s go then. Can’t waste any more time.”

You nodded letting Joel go in front. You didn’t really want him to see you limping just yet. You were hoping the ore you walked the less you’d limp. Loosen the muscles as your mom had always told you. In the pre-outbreak world, she was a nurse at the local hospital. You always tried to remember her handy tricks. Thankfully Joel didn’t think much of your insistence for him to go first. He nodded his head and followed Tess down the long hallway.

You thought you were fine until you made it to the stairs. The adrenaline was wearing off and the up and down movement was killing your hip. You frowned looking down at your side seeing the blood seeping right through your shirt. Maybe the gash was a bit deeper than you initially thought it was. You didn’t really have an option other than to keep going so you placed your shirt back down onto your side covering the wound back up with the already bloody shirt. You thanked your lucky stars that Tess had antibiotic ointment at her place. Fedra was still good for something.

Joel noticed something was up when you weren’t on his tail. That was usually how you proved you were good enough. By always being right there. Trying your best to one up him. But when he turned and didn’t see you right behind him it concerned him a bit. He looked up the spiral staircase from which he had just walked down with Tess and saw you making your way down, slowly. It was too dark to make out your facial features so he couldn’t see if you were in pain, but he knew something was up.

Joel waved Tess on letting her know he was waiting on you. She gave Joel a brief nod of her head and a small smirk before vanishing off down the hallway. He positioned himself at the bottom of the staircase looking up, waiting for you.

You mildly panicked when you saw him at the bottom as you made the final turn. You fucking hated spiral staircases and this reminded you why. They sucked when you weren’t hurt but man, they gave you no mercy when you were injured. Trying your best to normally walk you descended down the final steps. You knew you failed to hide the twinge of pain that crossed your face though. You were never good at hiding facial expressions.

“What’s wrong?” Joel grumbled pulling you along with him. Casually taking your hand in his he made you keep his pace which was a little too fast for you at the moment.

“Nothing’s wrong. Why are you asking?” You were far too out of breath from climbing down the steps and Joel noticed it as you sucked a big breath in trying to stabilize yourself back out.

Joel dropped your hand as he stopped walking down the long dark hallway, “Cut the shit. What’s wrong?”

“I really don’t…”

“Y/N.” He hardly used your first name, and it took you by surprise every time he did. This time was no different. He was giving you a look he’d only reserved for Tess usually. One that made him seem so much softer than the Joel you were used to.

You sighed knowing he caught you. Lifting your hand from your side his eyes went wide seeing the blood nearly coat half the side of your shirt and pants. How had he not seen it?

“It looks worse than it is...”

He cut you off, “What happened? Was it the rocks? I told you to be careful!” He let out an exasperated groan studying your side. He didn’t ask for permission as he carefully peeled back the t-shirt that clung to your side sticky with blood. Dropping down to a knee he frowned noting that you’d probably need quite a few stithes. The cut ran deep along the side of your hip. It must’ve been incredibly painful to put any weight on it. He admired your ability to try and hide the pain from him.

“Well, actually Tess said to be careful.”

He didn’t stop the very quiet laugh that escaped his lips, “Yeah, well whatever. She told you to be careful. This is the opposite of careful.” He quickly shrugged off his backpack. Taking his flannel off he wrapped it around your side tying it tight making sure the wound would stop bleeding. He didn’t like how much blood he saw on your clothes. It was too much already. Anymore lost and you’d be fainting on them.

“Sorry.” You weren’t sure why you were apologizing. You had never apologized to the man before. Yet here you were at his mercy. All he had to do was a simple kind gesture and you were practically weak at the knees, “Thank you.” You brushed your hand over his flannel. You watched as he stood, placing his backpack straps back on his shoulders.

“Don’t mention it. Can you walk?” He asked, not taking his eyes from yours. Letting you take the lead this time.

“Yeah, I’m good.” You winced as you began back down the hallway.

Joel easily kept pace as you limped along. Sure, enough the longer you walked the less the limp was evident. Long pauses were just your enemy as this point. Finally, you made it out on the other side of the building. Tess was standing on the outside scouting for any infected. You could never be too sure. One day a route may be completely fine, the next it could be full of them. You’d seen it far too many times.

She spun back around once she heard the two of you exit from the building. She spotted Joel’s flannel around your waist before she saw the slight limp you were walking with. Raising an eyebrow, she waited until you made it next to her before speaking, “Care to explain?”

Shaking your head you answered her, “Not really.”

She snorted, “You never stop do you?”

“Want me to?” You smiled putting your weight on your good side. You knew this break was going to cause for a painful walk. Maybe you could just sit here while they went on the run. Who were you kidding? Joel would never let you. As annoyed as he always seemed to be with you, he was nothing short of protective. Always, he put your and Tess’s safety in front of his. For that you tried to be extra cautious. You were going at a turtle’s pace on the roof, it was quite unfortunate you’d managed to hurt yourself anyway. You hadn’t thought yourself as clumsy but maybe you were. You’d thought back on all the times Joel had saved you in the past fifteen years, as long as you’d known him. Maybe he had a point to make sure you were thinking things through, you’d had a knack for getting yourself into some rather precarious situations.

“Please don’t. Need some humor around here. He’s as dry as fucking hay.” Tess smiled at you, “Now tell me, what happened.”

It was easier to show than tell but Joel had tied you up tight and you didn’t care to have him redo it in front of Tess. You’d never hear the end of it from her. She’d already slowly started saying that Joel had feelings for you, but you shut her down every time. Truthfully, you’d love if Joel would have feelings for you, but you knew that’d never happen. The man was as cold as a stone wall. He’d shut himself down a long time ago.

“I lied a little earlier. I’m still good. But I hit a rock on my way down. Cut my side up pretty good.” You sighed not sure what else to say.

“She’ll need stitches.” Joel added in after you paused.

Tess frowned, “Can you still go on? I mean we can do this another day…”

“We’re almost there. I can carry stuff on my back still. I might not be as fast but let’s go.” You took off as fast as you can. Limp evident.

Joel hesitated but nodded to Tess as she waited for his thoughts. The two worked as a team to assess you every so often. It wasn’t that they didn’t trust you it’s just that you pushed yourself past your limits a little too often. They took it upon themselves to look out for you even if you didn’t notice.

“She’ll be fine. It looked like it was slowing down. I tied it up pretty good anyway. I can stitch it up when we’re back. No need to go to the hospital. No questions asked.” He whispered in Tess’s ear as he followed behind you.

She nodded following along. It didn’t take long for her to overpass you. Joel stayed behind making sure you were okay. Before you knew it you were at the rendezvous point in the middle of the decaying city. You took a seat on a broken stone as both Joel and Tess went inside for the trade.

Placing your elbows on your knees and your chin in your palms you took long deep breaths. The loss of blood was starting to get to your vision as you started to see black dots dancing in your line of sight. Shit. You knew it wasn’t good. Hopefully you could catch your breath before the two of the emerged with the traded goods.

You felt a hand on your shoulder sending you straight into a defensive stance, “Don’t do that!” Placing a hand over your chest you were almost thankful for the rush of adrenaline as it took your mind off the pain of your side.

“I’m sorry.” Joel’s eyes softened seeing your panicked expression, “Tess called your name a few times. Are you alright?” He took a step forward testing the waters.

You put your hands down, “Yeah sorry. Was just thinking.” You lied. Shooting them both a lazy smile you tossed him your empty bookbag, “Load it up then let’s go home.” The second smaller burst of adrenaline was wearing off as you stood there. This walk home was going to be a painful one. Especially thinking about how you had to walk up and over the courthouse safely.

He handed you back the heavy sack. It was a lot heavier than you were expecting and it almost slipped from your grip. You winced as you tossed the bag over your shoulders.

Joel noticed. He wasn’t planning on taking his eyes off of you. You were acting weird. He knew it was from the blood loss. He eyed your side and was satisfied to see that it wasn’t soaking through the flannel at the very least. It must have all just been catching up with your brain.  As long as you stayed functional the group would be okay.

“Are you sure?” Joel asked so only you would hear, not Tess.

You nodded, “Yeah, for now at least.” You admitted as you saw those damn black dots start dancing in your vision again.

“Say something if you need to slow down, okay?” He stated more than asked. He wouldn’t even mind if he needed to carry you for a bit. He’d take cruel joy in doing so. Upset that you were hurt but thrilled he would have you so close. A catch 22.

“Okay.” You began your walk back. Slowly you moved. It became easier as you imagined relaxing on Tess’s couch instead of taking a three-mile trek back to the dingy apartments. Her couch was comfier than your bed. You’d spent far too many nights on her couch by ‘accident’ or so you’d say. Beds hadn’t been manufactured in what? Twenty years… they were less than stellar these days. Couches seemed to stay far more intact through the outbreak.

Seeing Joel so kind to you was throwing you off. You weren’t sure if it was genuine or not. All the two of you could seem to do for the last fifteen years is argue. You’d met Tess in the QZ working the graveyard shift moving trash around all those years ago. She was twenty-five-year-old woman trying to find her footing and you were… a mess. You were only fifteen on outbreak day. Being one of the lucky ones you escaped the madness with your older brother and dad. By the time you were eighteen your father had passed. Your brother didn’t make it much longer, killed in a gun fight the next year. Feeling hopeless and alone you jumped from job to job trying to find a purpose or a meaning in the hopeless world.

You ran into Tess not long after. Becoming partners with Tess made it so you were automatically linked to Joel fucking Miller. The man who was so freaking handsome but made your life a living hell. Joel Miller had mastered the art of getting under your skin. Questioning your every decision. Making you feel so utterly useless. You’d tried your best to ignore the man but being around Tess meant Joel was always following closely behind. Tess was too much of an advantage to cut out of your life. You just learned to live with Joel. Had it crossed your mind to actually talk to the man? Sure. But you were far too chicken to do so. You truly felt emotionally stunted as a fifteen your old. Your brain was stuck on the day the outbreak happened.

Joel noticed you started to slow down substantially after about a mile or so into the walk. At first, he slowed to keep pace with you. It got too much when he saw you starting to trip and stagger over your own feet. The two of you were eerily similar. Stubborn beyond belief. He knew you wouldn’t ask for help until your feet literally wouldn’t move forward anymore. So, he sped up a bit walking by your side, “Doing okay?” He asked raising his eyebrow and keeping his arm raised ready to catch you.

“Uh, yeah. A little tired.” You answered without looking up to him. A dirty filthy lie. Not really believing you had it in you to make it back you stared straight ahead. Your eyes were feeling far too heavy for how long you had left on the walk back.

“Here.” Joel ran his arm along your back lifting you slightly using his arm and shoulder to take some weight off your feet. This was easily the closest you’ve even been to him and if you weren’t currently feeling like you were about to pass out you were sure the closeness would have made you feel the same way.

“Thanks.” You mumbled feeling, quite literally, light on your feet as Joel took most of your weight from you. He must’ve noticed how bad you were really starting to feel when he pulled you into him completely. You weren’t even sure how the two of you were walking at this point or how he was holding onto you so assuredly at such an awkward angle.

Tess looked back slowing down seeing your state of near unconsciousness, “Is she going to make it?” She asked quietly hoping you wouldn’t hear.

Joel shook his head, “Don’t think so. Let’s keep moving.” He held you even tighter. You wanted to protest but he was right.

“Joel, I don’t…” Your breathing was becoming heavy. You knew what this meant. Those stupid black dots started dancing once more as you literally tripped over your feet.

“Y/N?” He asked stopping.

“I don’t feel so good.” You uttered out before the black dots consumed your vision entirely. Darkness took over before you knew it.

“Oh, good you’re awake.” Tess clapped her hands after seeing your eyes open bringing your attention right to her. Turns out either she or Joel were taking shifts watching you. Making sure you were still breathing, deciding it was far too risky to take you to the Fedra hospital. Too many incriminating questions would be asked.

“Hmm, yeah.” Finding your voice, you tried sitting up before Tess pushed you right back down into the couch. Pushing your shoulders down gently she shook her head back and forth.

“No moving. I just put 30 stitches in your side. You’re not ripping them out first thing.” She pointed her finger at you before turning her head and yelling towards the bedroom where Joel was probably napping.

“Joel, she’s awake!” She bellowed earning a grimace from you still trying to reorient yourself with your surroundings. It’s a bit startling to collapse in the restricted zone and wake but up in the QZ.

Tess smirked before turning her attention back to you, “You scared the shit out of him. I’ve never seen him like this before.”

Rolling your eyes, you turned away so she wouldn’t see the heat that rose to your cheeks, “How long was I out? Just a little blood loss.” Attempting to steer the conversation in your direction you should’ve known Tess wasn’t dropping it. What Tess wanted Tess got, you learned that early.

“A night. You’re actually up way sooner than I would’ve thought. Joel finally went to bed an hour ago. Stayed up alllllll night watching you.”

You sighed wanted to smother yourself with the pillow, “Okay great.”

She laughed, a hearty one, finding too much enjoyment out of this. In another world she could’ve seen herself with Joel. But that wasn’t her reality. Her reality was the two of you being idiots not admitting their actual feelings. Something that she had tried time and time and time again to get either of you to admit. But you were too similar. Too fucking stubborn. She was tired of it. The constant bickering and almost fights. How two people could be so similar and refuse to see eye to eye was baffling to her.

“Is that really all you’ve got to say?” She sat at your feet eyeing the door to the bedroom. He must’ve truly passed out because she was sure he was going to come barreling through the door the second you woke up.

Groaning you turned your back towards her, “What do you want me to say Tess?”

She shrugged, “Anything.”

“I did! I said, and I quote, ‘Okay, great.’” You smiled to yourself knowing just how much that probably pissed her off. Just as Joel had a knack for getting under your skin you’d mastered the art of pissing Tess off.

This time she sighed, “Look, I really haven’t seen him like that before. He was stressed. You may not ever want to admit it, but he has feelings for you. And I have the sneaking suspicion that you feel the same.”

“Doesn’t matter what either of us feel Tess.” It stung but you needed to get it out, “You don’t get to have feelings in this world. I can have all the fucking feelings in the world, and it doesn’t change a thing, Tess. You know it. I know it. And he certainly knows it!” You bit your lip to stop the word vomit that was about to come spewing out of your mouth.

Squeezing your calf, she waited until she got your attention again. Flicking your eyes up to her you listened to her every word. As much as you hated to admit it Tess was way more often right than she was wrong. That’s why you and Joel let her lead so often, it was her. She was built for this. You were too, just in a different role.

 “You’re not going to want to hear me and that’s fine. It is what it is. I think you’re just deflecting. Just like he is. It’s fine. I get it. I do it too. He lost Sarah. You lost your mom, dad, and brother within a few years. I lost my fiancée. It’s hard to trust. It’s hard not to worry. But God dammit you’re only going to be here for so long. You could get bit tomorrow Y/N. Enjoy the time you have together.” She paused letting you take it in. She’s tried to get through to you in the past, but this was a different method she had yet to try, leveling it even.

It took you a moment to respond. Your back was facing the bedroom door, Tess facing the same direction. The both of you just looking at each other waiting for you to respond. Neither of you noticing Joel opened the door quietly listening in on the conversation. He knew it was wrong, but he wasn’t exactly making himself hidden either.

He might’ve heard the beginning of your conversation too. Tess had tried time and time again to convince him of your feelings, but he brushed it off. It didn’t make sense to him. Why would somebody so young and free want to be tied down with somebody old and ragged like him? He couldn’t do that to you. But in the process of pushing you away he hurt you in the worst way. He made you second guess yourself. And in this world that could’ve been a death sentence in itself. He had to make it right. One way or another.

“I don’t think it’s me Tess.” You sighed closing your eyes, “I promise I won’t start an argument but I’m certainly not ending one if it’s started. And Joel certainly starts a lot of them.” Joel frowned while crossing his arms over his chest. Was he really that combative with you? You sounded so defeated talking to her.

She let out another small laugh, “Fair, I’ll whip that old man into shape.”

“You’ll do what now?” He spoke up from behind the couch sending you both into a minor panic.

“Christ Joel!” She stood from her spot, “Glad you’re up. So, is Y/N.” Tess smiled sweetly as she walked over to you pushing you down at your shoulders once more, “What did I say? 30 stitches. Rest. Don’t move just yet. I’ll get you up later.” She scolded you before stepping away giving room for Joel.

“Fine, mom.” You rolled your eyes feeling utterly useless laying there.

“How are you feeling?” Joel asked stepping in front of Tess. Tess was right, he had been worried. Really worried. In all the years you’ve worked together none of you got seriously injured. Not enough to pass out on the job like that.

After you passed out Joel tossed you, and the backpack, over his shoulder for the walk home. The already heavy load got quite a bit heavier. He was exhausted when they made it back. But he could think about sleeping. Not when your side was bleeding like that. Not when he could lose you in the next few hours. He watched, and helped, as Tess stitched you up as best as she could. She decided she was going to do the stitching since she had steadier hands than Joels.

He'd protested over and over again about going to bed until the next afternoon when his eyes literally wouldn’t stay up. Tess let him sleep in her bed and promised she’d be watching over you. He knew the worst was over. If you weren’t going to make it, you’d be gone by now. So, he went to sleep. What felt like moments later he was awoken to Tess’s yell. It took him longer than it should’ve to reorient himself being thrown off by Tess’s bedroom. But when he did, he caught the conversation going on between the two of you, about him.

“Surprisingly okay.” You didn’t lie. Your side was aching, but it didn’t hurt, not yet anyway. It might hurt later when Tess put you on your feet.

“Yeah?” He took a step forward kneeling down, so he was more level with you knowing you didn’t have much mobility at the moment. Especially with your nurse being Tess the drill sergeant.

Your eyes really took in in his face. Fuck. Had you really looked at Joel before? He was so handsome. Even being nearly fifteen years older than you it didn’t seem to stop your brain from ogling him. You were going to have a word with Tess after this. Her stupid words got into your head. They let you go soft for the man.

“Yeah. I’d get up but Tess won’t let me.”

“Tess knows best.” Joel flashed you a rare smile.

“That’s right.” She chirped from the small kitchen. Walking out shortly after she put her shoes on while talking to the both of you, “I’m getting dinner for tonight. Anybody need anything?”

“I’m okay.” You spoke. Joel simply nodded letting her know he was good as well.

“Good. Wasn’t going to make a special stop anyway. See you two later.” She shot you a not-so-subtle wink before vanishing through the front door leaving you very alone with Joel fucking Miller. The man you had yet, in your fifteen years of knowing him, had a truly proper conversation with.

Joel still on a knee took a seat, leaning back on the couch as he sat on the floor, “Is it true?”

“Is what true?” You asked wanting to sit up, but you knew Joel wouldn’t let you either. The wrath of Tess was far worse than any nasty words you’d throw his way.

“Are you actually feeling, okay?”

“Oh, yeah. Really. I feel fine.” You looked up at the ceiling counting the water spots instead of looking at him. He was so damn close. Your heads could’ve been touching if you rolled onto your side to give him a proper once over.

“I’m sorry.” He too looked forward. It wasn’t easy for him admitting when he was wrong. When he heard how hurt you sounded earlier talking about him with Tess. He was learning that it was his way of deflecting.

Shaking your head, you were more confused than ever, “For what?”

“Always questioning you.”

It was so simple. Such a simple apology that made your heart soar, “You hear that conversation?”

“Maybe.” He shrugged trying to play whatever was happening off as coolly as he could.

“What do you say then?” You decided to be a little bolder than you would ever have dreamed of. Because why not? Maybe Tess had a point.

He took a moment considering his words this time, “I think you should enjoy the time you have left here.”

It felt like your heart literally stopped. Was he being serious? Was this him making his move? Could something actually be happening?

“You think?” You answered. You would’ve come up with some better response, but it felt like your brain was short circuiting.

He nodded his head, “I know Tess is right. She always is. I also know that I’m tired. I’m tired of always fighting with you. I’m tired of you hating me for it. I wish we could just start over and wash away the last fifteen years.” The man of few words spoke more honestly than he had in a long time. A lifetime.

You thought for a moment before coming up with a simple solution, “We don’t have to start over, but we can start fresh. How does that sound?” You said so quietly you didn’t know if he heard you or not.

He turned his entire body to you. Giving you his full attention “Are you being serious?”

You hummed in response mimicking him, turning your body completely towards him, “Sure, why not? It’s our world, we make the rules now.”

Another rare smile crossed his features as you listened to him laugh. God, you loved the sound of him laughing. You loved most of the things he did. He was a simple man with a very simple plan. Do what it takes to survive. His philosophy is why you’d made it so long.

“You’re right. It’s our world. I’m Joel. It’s going to be nice to get to know you.” You were beginning to think those smiles weren’t so rare. You just had to learn how to tap into him to get him to give you them.

“I’m Y/N. It’s nice to officially meet you Joel.” You couldn’t help the quiet giggle that left your mouth, “Here’s to figuring out whatever the hell this is.”

He nodded not dropping the smile, “To whatever the hell this is.”