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yurtletheturtlehenderson · 3 years ago

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COSMIC - S3:E4; Chapter Four, The Sauna Test - [Pt. 5 - FINAL]

A Will Byers x Reader Series

𝘔𝘪𝘬𝘦, 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘌𝘭, 𝘔𝘢𝘹 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘠/𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘯, 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘺𝘯𝘹.

📝: you have... NO IDEA how long i have been sitting on this one. Just... wow okay. And this is just the beginning, wait till you see the cabin scene 👀 Edit: tell me why I had the main chorus of Timber Feat. Ke$ha in my head on infinite loop while writing the fight scene 🤦‍♀️ LMAO

⚠️: asphyxiation [aka suffocation], several mentions of blood, and graphic (?) depictions of violence throughout. Also, long chapter

||𝟑𝐑𝐃 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐎𝐕||

"MAX! LET ME OUT OF HERE!"

Everyone watched stilled, with pounding hearts as Billy's billowing cries echoed out across the weight room. No one more so than Max. He had barely taken his eyes off of her and his voice fell into a weakened plea.

"Let me out,"

And then it was gone. Replaced with a malice-filled hiss that was beginning to feel a little too familiar for their liking. One by one his eyes flicker between the party members with a twitch in his eye as he began to shift, eyes darting past their shoulders and sweeping the room before his next glare.

"You kids," he pants, each breath like swallowing smoke. "you think..." he was swallowing embers. "this is funny?"

Mike and Lucas share a nervous glance.

Another heaving breath, the flames now licking his lungs.

"You kids think this is some kind of sick prank, huh?" With a snarl, he rears his head back and spits on the glass. "YOU LITTLE SHITS THINK THIS IS FUNNY?!"

Anxiously, Max eyes Will from where he stands beside El and he meets her gaze. The two seem to share the same thought. It was working.

But the sauna's prisoner had caught on, and as the fire was rekindled in his veins, he shifted nervously again; eyes darting once more around the room before landing on the two.

"OPEN THE DOOR!" They all flinch when he throws himself against the window in a fury. He was growing more frantic. And he wasn't stopping. "OPEN THE DOOR! OPEN THE DOOR!" He pressed his nose against the glass, showcasing his darkening eyes. "OPEN THE GODDAMN DOOR!"

The fire was now ablaze, the blood in his veins felt as if it was actually boiling, cooking him from the inside out and he finally collapsed on the sauna floor with a groan. Will took that as his cue and raced to the thermometer on the wall where the needle rested at the end.

"We're at two-twenty,"

When he returned to El's side, a great wail reverberates from within the sauna followed by a great many thumps.

"It's not my fault," he weeps, catching them all by surprise. "It's not my fault, it's not my fault, Max. I promise it's not my fault."

With a pounding and aching heart, Max crept towards the sauna door. Many eyes darted after her, fearfully, dealing between her and the only barrier protecting her from what lay inside.

"What's not your fault, Billy?" She asks.

When she peers behind the foggy glass, her heart threatens to split in two; he sits before her on the tile floor, beads of sweat blending with his tears and his hands glued together in plea as he looks up at her.

"I've done things, Max," he sobs, his voice threatening to break. "Really b... bad things and I didn't mean to."

As Billy peers up at his sister now, he can feel himself slipping again. He tries so hard to hold onto that sliver of himself, drifting away into the dark. His hands wring together as he pleads, his nails raking into his skin to stop himself - to stop Him - from winning.

His sanity was slipping and everything in him was screaming for him to do violent, inhumane things to the girl before him but he fought it. Billy knew he didn't have much time, and it was getting harder to think. And Billy spat the words from his tongue before he considers the repercussions from the shadow.

"He made me do it,"

Max was certain she knew the answer now. She knew it even as she stood in the living room facing her brother just twenty-four hours ago. But she had let herself believe the tempting lie over the bitter truth that the Shadow Monster had not gotten Billy. But she knew she had to. And so she asked.

"Who made you do it?"

Fear flashed in his eyes as he wept. He looked as something was trying to stop him, and Max knew very well something was, but he managed the words anyway; unknown to all, his final warning. The words that confirmed all their darkest fears and chilled their bones.

"I don't know, it was like a shadow. A giant shadow,"

Y/n's heart leaps into her throat, and her brows knit together in a curious frown when she sees El and Will meet eyes in matching grave expressions. They share a knowing look and nod, and silently they form a wall, herding Y/n behind them. It was likely they had made a prior agreement, she realizes, but her worries still remained on her other best friend inches from the glass.

"Please, Max," Billy weeps.

"What did he make you do?" Max asks through a wavering voice.

"It's not my fault," He cries suddenly, sinking into the sauna bench. "okay, Max?! Please! Please!"

At the sound of his broken cries, Max's eyes squeeze shut, and hot tears slide down her cheeks as she faces the small window. Her heart is torn, but she tries to remain strong.

"Please, believe me, Max! I tried to stop him, okay? I did."

He's trying even now, but the darkness is closing in. Her tearful face is blurring from his vision and he's losing the grip on his body without realizing it. He can already feel the shadow breaking free from his hold when his arm creeps across the tile floor without his permission.

"Please, believe me, Max. Please believe me,"

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she reaches out to Billy; her hand on the glass and speaks through her breaking voice.

"Billy, it's gonna be okay,"

The darkness was spreading to his vision, closing in on his sister and he knew he had only moments. They had only moments. There was no telling when the shadow would let him resurface. As Billy disappeared, he spoke what little warning he could before the shadow stole his voice.

"Max please..." -get away, his mind screams. But the words didn't come. Go away. Get out while you can.

She hadn't heard him. It was too late. The hand that lied hidden beneath the sauna bench, had already found a weapon.

"It's gonna be okay, we want to help you," Max swears through stinging tears.

His fingers curl around the broken and jagged tile.

"We want to help you. You just have to talk to us, okay? You have to talk us."

All too well indeed. He felt it even now.

Will's eyes had never left the sauna door, drilling holes through the glass even when the man had collapsed to the ground. Billy's haunted cries had reached Will in a way it never could the others. He knew the feeling all too well.

An unnatural chill zapped the air despite the muggy atmosphere and his whole body seized up. His hair stood on end and the skin over his body tightened, goosebumps breaking out out all over his skin.

He's activated.

-"What?"

Will has little time to look at Mike and Y/n and realize he had uttered the words aloud before looking back to Max.

"Max, get away from the door," he cautions.

Taken by surprise at his sudden request, Max hesitates. "What?"

"GET AWAY FROM FROM THE DOOR! NOW!"

Max had barely heeded Will's warning when the glass burst inches from her face as Billy hurled his arm through the window. El jumped back, sweeping both her arms in an effort to protect her friends. And with miraculous timing, Max had dove to the left just in time to escape the confetti of glass shards but her arm had not been so lucky.

While he had dropped his tile shard his hand had caught her bandaged forearm in his iron grasp and yanked. She yelped in pain, using the traction of her shoes against the linoleum to keep herself away.

"LET ME OUT, YOU BITCH!" He howls, tugging her arm as she attempts to pry and claw her way free. "I'LL FUCKING GUT YOU!"

"NO!" Came the sudden angered cry of Y/n Henderson as she forcibly broke free from the wall El and Will had created. She pushed their shoulders aside and sprinted forward, throwing her hand out before her. "LET HER GO!"

A powerful blasts burst forth from her palm and Billy cried out, yanking his hand back. He withered for only a moment, a loud hissing breath sucked in from between his clenched teeth as he visibly shook in anger. His hair was still dripping and it hung like a dark curtain over his eyes, but she could see it - they all could. The whites of his eyes were harder and harder to see as he looked upon his festering arm.

Max had scrambled away from the wall, back into the safety of El and Y/n's protection but Y/n didn't flinch.

He was pissed, but so was she.

In an instant, he throws his head up to look at her, his drenched curls landing on top of his head and draping over his seething face. His darkened eyes locked on her, his gritted teeth clenched so hard his entire body shook with fury. His expression finally matched his eyes from the previous night and confirmed to Y/n it had been the Mind Flayer to have spoken to her at Heather's. Never Billy.

What followed next, had unfolded all at once.

His screams return and he bangs his fist against the door once before yanking out the lead pipe and chucking it at Y/n.

She ducks just in time, and El swipes it out of the way, sending it flying into the wall with the flick of her head before it could hurt any of the others. And Lucas releases the pull on his wrist rocket he had trained on the man since he scrambled to load it when the glass first broke.

With an audible snap, the ammo was released and sent flying into its target; crashing into Billy's forehead.

A second time he was sent tumbling to the sauna floor, disappearing from their view with an even louder thump.

"Y/n, come on!" Lucas cried.

She wasted no time, scurrying back to the safety of her friends who engulfed her into their surrounding figures. Their heads all snap towards the ceilings when the hum of the lights grow stronger and everything begins to flicker.

Billy's insides churn with a disgruntled choke, his mouth spitting out fluids as he comes to. With a groan, his body spits and writhes on the floor. The icy storm in his veins spreading. And festering.

Joined shoulder to shoulder, the huddled party backed up in one circle. Each of them faced away from one another, looking around worriedly as the rows of florescent lights flicker violently above them. They all close in on Y/n in a protective stance.

Billy's body twisted and thrashed on the tile floor as he attempted to heave himself up to his feet. The grip of the Mind Flayer had broken free from the barriers of his mind and was coursing all throughout his body, the dark mass staining the very blood in his veins and poisoning his system. Dark lesions broke out all over his back and arms, and black veins rippled out under his skin, all across his body as he clutched the wall. Throwing back his head, Billy released an inhuman, agonized wail before charging for the door.

A second time they all jumped, and a second time El's arms swept out to protect her friends - finally including her Max. Their horror-stricken eyes were fixed on the door as Will inched closer to Y/n, and Max spoke through a fearful waver.

"He can't get out, can he?" She frets as he barrels into the door a second time, the chains testing the pipe anchored to the wall.

Fear gripped his heart and Lucas shook his head, voice filled with doubt in his own words. "No way. No. Way,"

"Y/n, get back," El orders in a flat voice, her tilted head unblinking on the door. "Go with Will."

Y/n gawked over El's shoulder, frantically looking between the door, her best friend, and a pleading Will who grabbed for her hand.

"What? No! No, bullshit! We agreed!"

"Y/n, come on," Will urged, tugging a little harder on her hand.

It grew hot under his touch and she ripped it from his grasp. "No. I need to do this," Y/n cried, her head whipping back and forth between her boyfriend and the fraying thread that was the bowing sauna pipe; the last defense holding back the Mind Flayer's newest host.

The door stopped moving and one split, heart-stopping moment a thunderous cry barreled out deep from within Billy's chest.

The door was thrown open, the pipe bursting from the wall and expelling puffs of steam as Billy tumbled through the open door. The Party jumped back in shrieks, El on the front lines pushing everyone behind her, even still.

With a lumbering breath, the fluorescents still flickering madly above them, Billy rose to his feet to meet eye to eye with the wrong girl. With a fear-inducing glare and an overpowering sense of protectiveness, El had forcibly barricaded herself in between the Mind Flayer and her best friend.

He curled back his teeth, a growl growing in the back of his throat. He was ready to wring her neck but she simply rose a single hand in the air, and the nearest barbell rose with it. In the blink of an eye, Billy was pinned against the brick wall by his neck, gasping for breath.

Everyone watched on in a mixture of shock and awe as El threw another arm up, and the weights sunk deeper into the brick, crumbling them near his head. She was panting for breath, nose dripping with blood but she was determined.

And she wasn't the only one.

"Y/n-!"

But she ignored the Party's cries, as well as the pleas in her gut screaming for her to turn tail and run. But she couldn't stand by and do nothing as El faced it all alone - nor could she sit still when she saw the very monster she had faced the prior year, wearing the very face that plagued her dreams in her last sleep. Y/n Henderson didn't walk away. She couldn't.

Y/n stormed to El's side, throwing her arms up in sync with two large and billowing waves of heat that filled the entire room. Billy howled as the heat consumed him completely, the black veins festering underneath his skin. Across the sauna, Mike and Will watch on in a mixture of awe and worry as El and Y/n stand side by side, their arms extended as they fight with great strain and their guttural cries begin to blend.

Tears pricked Will's eyes as he watched the scene unfold, frightened not only for Y/n's life but El's. He truly feared what the Mind Flayer might be capable of in someone like Billy Hargrove. And already he had every right to be.

What came next stole the breath right out of his chest.

With a husky grunt and a terrifying spur of adrenaline, Billy heaved and broke El's telepathic hold, sending the barbell flying for their heads. With matching screams, they throw themselves to the floor, avoiding the otherwise inevitable blunt force trauma by a hair's width. He stormed to their bodies piled together on the floor. Learning his lesson and counting every precious second, Billy grabs a fist full of El's hair and drags her to her feet and off of Y/n's body. She yelps out in pain, clawing to get free but he had already thrown her into the wall she had just pinned him to. Her head collided with the brick and she sunk to the floor, fighting to keep her eyes open and vision clear but she was losing her battle.

Mike and the others cried out to her, unable to reach her but her blurring vision was fixed on the sight of Billy closing in on Y/n's body. She threw her arms up with a vengeful grunt, her skin beginning to glow. The ground begins to shake and all their hopes rise with Y/n as pulls herself onto one wobbly knee. The spidery veins adorned her eyes, lips, and ears, heat pulsing from her palms as her light began to illuminate the weight room.

And like a candle's flame, it was extinguished under Billy's hand.

Her grunts died in her throat when his hand encircled her throat, cutting off all her air. What strength he possessed as Billy Hargrove had doubled with the Mind Flayer and lifted the young girl above his head with ease.

Y/n tried crying for help but her voice was lodged in her throat with the rest of her breath, leaving her no choice but to claw at Billy's arms as she fought for air and freedom. Her legs were finally listening to her brain's signals, kicking and squirming as she tried to reach him or even the ground but they never did, no matter how close she got. Just as she had foreseen.

"Y/N!" The others cried.

She gasped and choked for breath, any whisp of air she could possibly manage between his fingers as she tried to conjure a fight, but she was losing concentration. She was losing air.

All she saw beside the white spots swallowing her vision were the seething eyes of the Mind Flayer peering up at her. And as he watched the life drain from her eyes, he hissed to the one he had been waiting in agony for all these months his final greeting.

"You."

Y/n could barely hear him over the cries of her frantic friends, nor could she barely register the repetitive snap of Lucas's wrist rocket as he sent rocks flying into Billy. But this time, Billy resisted. Out of spite, or with the aid of the Mind Flayer's mutation, none of them knew but with El out cold on the floor and unreachable without crossing through Billy, little options were left.

And Lucas was already running low.

Y/n's hands latched onto Billy's wrist, at first, seemingly trying to pry herself away as she sucked in as much air as she could capture. And as her bulging eyes began to flutter, she manages to speak through choking, gasping breaths.

"Fuck... you."

Latched hands had locked on and began to glow and Billy's eyes fell to her grip. The skin beneath her palms began to sizzle and a agonized cry grew deep within Billy at her searing touch. And yet still he held, but the same could not be said for Y/n. Like El, she was fighting to remain conscious.

And Lucas had run out of ammo.

Lucas and Will seemed to share the same thought as everything had unfolded within an instant. And with an angered cry, Will charged forward just as Lucas chucked his metal wrist rocket at Billy's head.

His grip still iron clad over Y/n's throat, Billy's head whipped to the party as fast as his other hand stopped in front of his face, catching the wrist rocket mid-air. And just in time for Will to reach him. Billy reared his arm back and smacked the butt end of the wrist rocket into the boy's head, knocking him to the ground without ever blinking.

"Will!"

Those that remained stood back, watching terror-stricken as Y/n begins to grow limp, her eyes rolling back in her head.

Tears prick Mike's eyes as the sights surrounding him become too much; one of his best friends dying before his eyes, and the two people he had probably loved most in the world, fading on the floor. And he snaps into action.

He looks around wildly, thanking whatever force was out there that the burst pipe from the sauna was near his feet. He picked it up in an instant, charging forward with a sudden surge of adrenaline, and crashed it into Billy's skull.

Y/n dropped to the floor, gasping for breath as she rolled away from Billy's fallen body. Mike towered over the man as Y/n came to, a vengeful look in his eyes as he swung the pipe back above his head.

"GO TO HELL YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"

With all the force he could possibly muster, Mike threw the pipe down at Billy's back but it had stopped inches from his face. In the blink of an eye, Billy had turned, catching it in his single fist with as much ease as the wrist rocket.

Mike gasped in horror as Billy seethes up at him, much too frightened to even flicker to the sight of Y/n wobbling up onto her hands and knees and risk giving her away. She was coughing on every wheezing breath, her lungs and throat burning but she still felt a spark big enough to hold onto.

Will had just started to come to, the sideways vision of the weight room floor showing to him two things: Billy chucking the pipe against the wall with an earsplitting clang and Y/n's heaving chest swallowing desperate, gulping breaths, the blood steadily draining from her face.

He tried to move to her, but his limbs were heavy. All he managed to do was hoist himself up onto his arms as tears fell from his eyes, slowly pulling himself along as the world began to steady. But he never reaches her in time. Billy had begun to rise, and yet the beginnings of a smug smile curled Will's lips as his eyes trailed her across the room.

Anger battled impatience within the Mind Flayer at the unrelenting children, but killing this one - the Wheeler boy - would be easy. At least, it would have been had it not been for the young girl emerging with the two hot blasts of searing heat raining down upon his exposed chest as Y/n unleashed her fury upon him.

A primal scream grew from deep within her belly, ripping up her throat as she circled back around to face him, arms outstretched before her in two taut claws. What little space he had created from himself and the weight room floor had vanished as the blasts intensified with her screams.

The fluorescent lights about their heads were flashing violently now, enunciating the matching veins each opponent bore. The buzzing of the lights was nearly as loud as the rumble of the shaking room and the cracking of the tile that sounded eerily like thunder. The two blurring bursts of energy were pouring from her palms and pinning Billy into the tile so hard the tile floor cracked beneath him.

His screams blended with hers, the light pouring from her skin illuminating his agonized face and she pushed harder. her arms dug closer to his chest and the deep and inhuman voice returned; the voice of the Mind Flayer cried out in pain.

Y/n felt the sudden force of Billy's untouched leg sweep under her own, knocking her off her feet. The Mind Flayer coughed and hacked once more, and threw himself over her as she lied on her back. His hands were around her throat again, yanking her up before slamming her back into the ground.

With the strobing, flickering lights disorienting their already obscured vision the others could barely make out Billy hunched over something on the floor. His haunched, vein painted back nearly in ribbons as blood drizzled down his back like rain on a window. It didn't take them long to put together the pieces, Y/n's name on their weeping tongues as Billy repeatedly threw her back into the tile until she steadily lost consciousness. Finally, after one last gust of power, he thrust her into the tile and releasing her throat. But only to raise one darkening, blistering fist into the air, ready to strike...

Horrified screams tore from their throats, each of them prepared to tackle Billy. Will had finally stumbled to his feet for the first time without falling, ready to do just that but something had stopped him.

Billy froze, growing horrified as he himself began to choke.

A body hidden away in the shadows that had finally fought her way back into consciousness for the sake of her loved ones

There she was in all her glory.

El, rising to her wobbling knees; the sound of Y/n's broken cries and gasping pleas for help that broke through her subconscious mind had been the final push of adrenaline she needed.

Like Y/n, El's grew from deep within as she pulled herself to her feet, arms outstretched. Steadily, Billy's body was pulled off of Y/n's until even his toes had left the ground. He was pulled far away from the young girl's body as El circled him, once again placing herself in between the Mind Flayer and the girl she couldn't lose.

Will took the advantage El had bought for them and closed the remaining gap, collapsing at Y/n's side. He breathed a sigh at unimaginable relief when he saw her chest moving with labored breaths. She was alive. Hoisting Y/n's bloodied head into his folded legs, he returned his worried sights to El just in time to see her give a great roar, hurling her clawed hands to the side and watching as Billy was thrown through the brick wall in an explosion of dust.

El's knees buckled beneath her, and she collapsed to the ground in exhaustion beside Y/n's limp body. Mike rushed to her side, steadying her arms and looking on with pooling eyes at his waking friend.

Y/n lays in Will's arms on the grounds of the cracked and broken sauna floor, her bloodshot eyes popping out of her skull as she coughs and chokes on what air she hopes to regain. Strenuous marks circle her throat from where she was previously held captive, and specks of blood drip from the back of her skull onto Will's leg. The others begin to crowd around in worry and fear as they jump in to help.

Will cradles her head softly, brushing away the stray hairs from her face as he weeps, desperately wanting to ease her pain though he does not know how. He's doomed to watch her lay suffering, her wails of anguish are strained and hoarse from the Mind Flayer's grip. A similar, deathly grip squeezed the hearts of the rest as they watched her suffer.

With flooded eyes, Will leans down and plants a shaky kiss on her forehead before resting his own against it. Her left hand comes to wrap around his wrist as it still holds her head in place. He breaks away to examine her once more, the puffiness of her swollen cheeks had already subsided a great deal but it was clear she was still in pain. Trembling, she looks out to each of them, her eyes watery and thankful. Reaching out her other hand, it finds El's, and they both let out a sob knowing the other was okay. Each sniffle tore right through his heart, and as if asking for help he looks up at his friends hoping for answers.

But they all stare at her, glassy-eyed and frozen, and that's when it dawns on them; Billy. Each of them, Will included, look frantically to the broken brick wall through which he was thrown. Everyone apart from the young couple on the ground rushed to see the young man, singed and bleeding making his escape into the trees far across the field and into the squalling storm.

Will's gaze is torn back to his lap when he feels Y/n begin to rise. Eagerly, and without hesitation, he helps Y/n to sit up. Tracks of thick tears stream down her face, cleaning her bloodied and dirtied cheeks in their path. His hand finds a home on her back, reflexively trying to run soothing circles into her muscles but she immediately whimpers, flinching. Her back had taken most of the damage, which he realized was preferable to her skull. But still, a plethora of apologies spilled from his lips, his eyes are filled with nothing but worry and heartbreak.

Y/n takes a moment to steady herself, the blood rushing to her head combined with the powerful forces inside her still hard at work as they desperately try to repair the gash in her head. She tries to smile, silently telling him it was okay, but it hardly showed. But Will still knew.

As she attempts to stand - one arm hooked around his shoulder, the other over Lucas's - the energy drains from her quicker than anything she had felt in a long while and when she blinks she realises she is resting her head on Will's shoulder.

Her sobs are weak and drawn out in her taxed state, yet they still demand to be heard even buried in Will's chest. The pain of seeing her this way makes him feel as if he has been torn in two, and yet worse, he knows it's dwarfed in comparison to whatever she is enduring. All he can do is hold her close, and hold her gently, assuring her safety.

Will wishes more than anything to take her pain away, and how cruel of fate to deprive him of this.

With the aid of Will and Lucas, Y/n hobbled to the gaping hole in the brick where Billy had disappeared. Her shoulders rose and fell as she attempted even know to even her breathing, her haunted glare stretching out across the dark and stormy night where the Mind Flayer had made his second escape.

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

"The girl, was it her?"

Heather's voice cuts through the silence is Brimborne as she sat opposite Billy.

"Yes," he answers with a hiss, eyes darting to the handprints seared into his skin. "Yes it was her, and she knows now. She knows about me. They both do."

Heather's hand and the cool wet handkerchief it holds reaches for his blistered wrists but finds her own entrapped in an instant but neither of them blink.

"She could have killed me." He asserted.

"Yes," she says. "But not us."

She looks out onto the darkened sea of the warehouse, where the very rot of the Mind Flayer had seeded and spread and multiplied. And the numbers were still climbing. Waiting, out in the shadows for their noble sacrifice to the monster of flesh bone known as the Mind Flayer.

Or more specifically, the Mind Flayer's army.

"Not us."

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47 notes · View notes

mysteryartisticwriter · 5 years ago

Text

Being Crowley’s daughter and dating Jack Kline would include...

Not my gif!! (Please tell me if you, the owner, would like me to take the gif down!)

Of course you were half demon, your mother was human but died when you were 10

You met the boys way back when you were a teen; maybe around 15 years old in season 8 or 9

You were half demon but your mom showed love, taught you to give it back and be kind

You were the ultimate princess of Hell duh

While the boys were hesitant around you, they eventually grew to love you

And ohhh...your dad always threatened them if you tagged along in hunts

“You let a monster lay one finger on my little bear’s head, and I will end you two.” “Daaaaaad….”

Rowena never admitted it, but she utterly loved and adored you. She thought of you as an apprentice since you sometimes practiced spells with her

During Kelly’s pregnancy with Jack, you became her protector as well as Jack’s

Kelly was also hesitant around you since you were half demon, she didn’t want you to maybe end up killing her and her baby or even using Jack as a weapon once he was born

Just like the Winchester brothers, she grew to care for you too. Kelly knew Jack liked you from the start because he always just happened to kick whenever you touched her stomach

You were there when your dad killed himself for the boys, Sam was the one holding you back

Your dad’s last glance at you was a small, simple smile. “Goodbye boys. Take care of my little bear.”

When he stabbed himself, you screamed so loud that Sam and Dean winced at the pain in your voice

When Cas died a little later, you were crying right next to Dean on the ground because he was practically an uncle to you just like Sam and Dean

You mourned for three people that night; your dad, Castiel and Kelly

You vowed to avenge your dad no matter what, you were angry and sad just like Dean for so long

You never went back to Hell and you were sure that you weren’t even the next ruler of Hell anyway, not that it mattered to you

When you guys found Jack, it was strange to see that he was actually your age

You barely talked to him, angry at him for what his father did to Cas and made your dad do

Soon, you slowly began to open up to Jack more and more because he was really one of the only people you could talk to

His innocence was actually kinda adorable, his questions about life were funny too

“(Y/n), what is this?” “That is a pair of headphones, Jack.”

You were still a little bitter towards him until you literally cried on his shoulder one night about how you felt

“I was too weak to save my father, to save Castiel and soon, maybe I’ll be too weak to save you and the boys.”

You half expected Jack to be a little angry at you but he was actually really kind and gentle about it

That was when you realized you were gaining feelings for the nephilim and you didn’t even bother denying it

Unknown to you, Jack was feeling the same way

Castiel coming back was amazing to you and Dean, your uncle came back from the dead!

“Two salty hunters, a half demon princess, one half angel kid, a guy who just back from the dead. Team Free Will 2.0, here we go.”

But the happiness didn’t last long when Jack ran away because he didn’t want to hurt anybody after he accidentally killed a man

Once you found him again, you almost slapped him and yelled at him

“How dare you leave like that?! Do you know how scared and worried I was for you?!”

That was when you had your first kiss with him

He was trying to calm you down but you just caved in and smashed your lips onto his own

Jack didn’t really know what to do but went along with it anyway since he really liked you too

Rescuing Jack and Mary (the Winchesters’ mother) from the other dimension was tiring but you did end up saving both of them later on

Seeing Lucifer again and Jack went off with him, you felt mildly betrayed and hurt

Lucifer tried to convince his son that you didn’t really love him, that you were just using him to get back at his father

Jack never bought it though, he knew you loved him more than anything

He felt so powerless without his grace, Jack was so tired and all he wanted to do was be with you again

When you were trapped in the church with Jack, Sam and Lucifer, you tried your best to kill the devil with your powers

“Poor little girl…left all alone by her daddy.” “Screw you.”

You felt so weak not being able to defeat Lucifer, so vulnerable and weak

Lucifer finally tired you three out and gave a small proposition; one of you dies by the archangel blade and the other two walks out alive

Sam gave you and Jack the blade and told you to kill him but you weren’t having it, so you took the blade from him and pressed it against your own stomach

“I love you, Jack. I love you both so much.” “(Y/n) no!”

Just before you could finish the job, Dean came in and began to fight Lucifer with Michael

Jack was holding you from collapsing becuse the blade had drawn some blood

“Why would you do that?” You smiled weakly at him. “Because I’m not letting either of you die for someone as worthless as me.”

The battle was won by Michael!Dean and finally after all these years, Lucifer was dead

The victory was short lived when Michael had taken full control over Dean and left

Dean was MIA for so long and Jack was feeling worthless without his powers, it was all so much

You, of course, comforted Jack about how he felt. He didn’t deserve to have his grace taken away by someone he thought cared about him

You were so scared when his illness was starting to take him over. Jack was dying and there was nothing you could do to help

When Jack died and went to Heaven, his own Heaven was with you and the boys until he (sadly) had to leave it to go to his mother’s

Jack brought you up to her, telling Kelly that he was in love with you to which she just smiled

“I’m in love with her, mom.” “I know, Jack. I know.”

Rowena was used as a suit for Michael and when he went to attack at the bunker, Jack killed him and gained his grace back….at the cost of burning his soul out

Soulless Jack was saddening to you, he was empty and wasn’t the same boy as before

You weren’t even sure he loved you anymore since he couldn’t feel anything at all

You set your feelings and concerns aside and continued to act the same as you normally would with Jack in your relationship, but it was never the same

After he killed Mary Winchester, you became much more worried about his condition and mildly scared at his actions

Jack being locked away by Sam and Dean was torture to you. Yes, he didn’t have a soul anymore but he was still the same boy you fell in love with. You missed him

When he escaped, God/Chuck came back and was the one who told you that you needed to kill Jack or it could be very dangerous

Instead of Dean, you were the one holding the gun to Jack’s head while he kneeled on the ground, ready to die

In the end, you couldn’t kill him. He was still Jack, he was still your everything and still the love of your life

But before you knew it, Chuck killed Jack himself and raised the souls from Hell

As you and the boys were trapped in the tomb with no way out, you sobbed and mourned over Jack’s dead body with his eyes burned out

The amount of anger you had for Belphegor when he had the audacity to use your boyfriend’s body as a vessel was only felt once for when your dad died

Sealing off the town was hard enough when you had a demon in your ass the whole damn time. Belphegor never left you alone

“Hey sweetheart...” “Belphegor, I am half demon and I will literally send you back to Hell no matter what.”

You went with Belphegor and Castiel down to the rupture in Hell in order to finally get rid of all the ghosts and souls

While down there, you found out that Belphegor was really planning on sucking up all the souls to be as powerful as God

You managed to get him down and punched him so many times that his lip was bleeding and his sunglasses came off, showing Jack’s full face

“Please (Y/n)...stop. It’s me...Jack.” “....You’re not him. And you’ll never be him.”

You killed Belphegor using your powers and needless to say, Dean was not very happy about going off-plan (which was stupid to you because you would’ve had to kill the demon anyway)

You had never felt so depressed and empty in all your life. Your mom and dad were dead, Rowena was dead because of the spell she had to use and Jack was dead as well. Everyone you ever loved was dead and you were just an empty shell of who you used to be

But when Jack was resurrected by Billie the Reaper, you felt the same way as Dean did when Cas came back

It wasn’t until you realized that he was the exact same as before, soulless. You couldn’t bare it, Jack didn’t love or care about anything anymore.

As much as you still loved him, you finally broke things off with him because no matter how much you tried to deny it, your old Jack was gone

When those hellhounds were after you all, Sam and Dean were the ones holding the doors shut while you, Jack, and Cas were in the main part of the chapel trying to activate the Occultum...until Jack swallowed it

“Where’s the Occultum?” “I ate it.” “YOU WHAT?”

Just before the hellhounds could maul the four of you to death, there was a bright light that killed them and Jack’s unconscious body appeared onto the floor

Later, Jack was found awake in the bunker’s kitchen, crying to himself and Cas told the rest of you that his soul has been restored

You couldn’t help but let a small tear escape your eye. Jack was so innocent and new to the world but already was introduced to so many horrible things within three years

You loved Jack, and you always would no matter what happens to him or you

A/N: Most of you might know about the BLM protests and the unjust murder of George Floyd but if you haven’t donated or signed any petitions yet, I would strongly suggest that you do! Black Lives Matter! I hear you and I stand with you.

Justice For George Floyd - https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd

TAGGED:

@shortwinchester

@coltcas

@urlaslongasafalloutboysongtitle

@irinazatyk

@meadow-melody

@eleventhdoctorsangel

@xsweetnsour

@gay-drian-cain

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reelybadfnafocs · 4 years ago

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Here I go (oh boy, sorry for the terrible English, I’m actually Brazilian so this is hard) (i was about to be like holaaaaaaaa otro latino but then i remembred yall speak porch of geese fml. anyway hi. mod mangles on the case)

Name: Dolly the Dog

Species: Dog

Gender: Female

Job: The narrator of the shows/babysitter

Purpose: To help with the narration during the shows and to take care of the lost children in the establishment. Children are instructed to, if they ever lose sight of their parents, stay close to the stage and play with her; the parents are instructed to look there first. If the parents don’t come back to take their child, one of the employees has to discover where the child lives and take the poor kid home. If the kid is not comfortable with the employee, they can take their favorite animatronic to accompany them (this was only permitted after one incident, in which a girl made a scandal because she didn’t wanted to go with the day guard to her house). while i think the concept of a kid showing up to someone’s house with like a 6 ft furry robot is funny, i don’t see this really panning out in practice. as iffy as i am about it, i think the “babysitter/lost child center” thing can stay as is, but i think employees would defer to calling parents first (if the child is old enough to have memorized a phone number/have a phone), local authorities, or CPS.

Creator: Sarah Brown (another OC), the owner of the establishment and the creator of all the animatronics.

Location: The Showtime Funland, a restaurant for all the family (but specially for their children). It’s a vibrant, cheery and colorful place, where there are seven animatronics: Ollie the Owl, Billy the Bird, Fany the Fish, Charlie the Cat, Dolly the Dog, Happy and Lucky. Happy and Lucky are the only human-ish animatronics, and both of them are out of order during the game, and the others are the main actors of the stage, where they tell stories with musicals during the meals on the restaurant or just stay on the playground with the kids; the only one who can’t go to the playground during the day is Dolly, who’s programmed to stay and take care of the children waiting for their parents.

Where: On the stage; she sits on the front of the stage, on the right, and narrates the story that’s being performed.

Age: She’s the oldest animatronic: seven years of functioning. Her character is older than that, because of her old version, but since it was malfunctioning in a way which wasn’t even possible to take lightly, she was replaced by her new version. Her character is 14 years old. this is a little unclear to me…has she been in service for 14 years, or is the character supposed to be like a 14 year old child? i don’t think animatronics really need ages tbh but i dont see any issue with this either, so you can scrap this detail if you feel unsure about it.

Haunted/not: She is not haunted, but her program is malfunctioning; her AI is not recognizing the faces of the employees during the night for “unknown reasons”, and she attacks them as if they are “threats to the establishment”, in a way that she wasn’t programmed to do; she was supposed to call the police if any intruder came, but she becomes aggressive during the night because of someone meddling with her system.

During the game: The first thing the game shows is a cutscene, where the night guard is guided through the whole building by the day guard (called “Steve Hughes” by Annie, but it’s not known if this is the same day guard or not), and is introduced to the animatronics and told a bit of the story behind the establishment. It was created by Sarah Brown, a famous inventor, and was a well known establishment since its opening during the 80’s. During its history in business, there where countless robbers and stupid teenagers trying to get in and mess around with the things inside Funland, so the night guard was supposed to deal with these problems; but the animatronics, after a terrible incident in which the night guard was attacked by a robber, received a new AI capable of recognizing the faces of the employees and to give the night guard an alert if there was any intruder. The night guard is left alone to watch the cameras while listening to “Annie”’s recordings, since she was the last night guard, and discover about the malfunctioning of the AIs. In the third night, Annie quits, leaving the player with her guide about how to avoid the animatronics and with some recordings of how to flee if there’s something happening during the night (like a fire, for example) without getting caught. First, only Ollie and Fany are threats, but through night two and three Billy and Charlie too start to malfunction; in the end of night three, Dolly starts to do so as well. In the fifth night, Happy and Lucky also leave the deposit where they are hidden to attack the player. On the sixth bonus night, Annie left an odd recording of her and Sarah talking about the AIs of the animatronics, and Sarah implies that she knows of someone who would “do anything to make his business bigger than mine again, and wouldn’t hesitate to sabotage my creations”, as if she knows about the malfunctioning.

During the nights (3-5 (and bonus night)): She is the most predictable and organized of the animatronics, always making this specific path: first she leaves the stage, where she normally is, then goes through the playground (and stays there for a while), passes by the kitchen, through the deposit (where the audio doesn’t work, but the camera does), and then to the left corridor to the night guard’s office. She never changes her path, but as the game progresses she begins to become more and more fast and, since the other animatronics are more unpredictable, it’s harder to pay attention to her movements. Annie says, on her second recording, that she’s afraid of all the animatronics besides Dolly, since she is “the less threatening”; but, on her guide to escape on night four, she seems to have changed her mind (or it was a previous recording, before she labeled Dolly as “predictable and almost harmless”), it doesn’t chronologically make sense to have this be a previous recording, unless you intend to imply that annie went back and remade recordings for nights 1-3 right before she quit in addition to the night 4 guide. saying that “it would be best if you pay attention to her, since she’s fast and difficult to see without the flashlights”.

Skill: She tries to kill the player, first at the end of night three until night five (and the sixth bonus night). Dolly has a very advanced AI and is equipped with a recognition system, at least a hundred plays and stories on her memory, a voice system that helps her to change her voice when needed, the ability to sing, dance and interact with humans properly, and a system that can regulate her body heat. i was gonna say a hundred seems a bit much but idk how many stories the storyteller-esque animatronics are programmed to have tbh. if youre aiming to make the restaurant one of those cheaper places, id recommend scaling this number down.

Personality: During the day, Dolly is incredible cocky and arrogant when it comes to her role as the narrator, and she proclaims herself the “star of the show”, something her old version had but was even worse, coming to the extreme of pushing another animatronic off the stage and destroying it completely after getting annoyed by the poor robot. She’s kind with the children and the adults alike, but acts more politely with the elder and more sisterly with the younger audience; she says, during the game, that it’s horrible to never be able to go to the playground, but that she loves to take care of the lost children. During the night, she becomes a very aggressive but organized animatronic, something that her personality has during daytime as well; she is often annoyed by the others, since they sometimes go against the script for comic relief. Dolly is the most talkative of the animatronics during their attempts to kill the player, often bragging about her role as the narrator and star of the Showtime Funland and threatening to “end the show” of the night guard.

Appearance: A black and white dog (white on her mouth, chin, hands and belly), with big, glowing brown-yellowish eyes. Her ears are long and fall by the sides of her head, and she has paws instead of feet, but still has hands. She wears a magician hat with a blue bow on it, and sometimes during her show takes it off, just to reveal something inside of it that can help during the play (for example, a sword so that the protagonist can slay the dragon or a pie to the little protagonist give as a gift to a friend); she also wears a blue bowtie that matches her hat’s bow.

ok, final thoughts:

i was going to comment on how high-quality these animatronics seem to be, but given that you go out of your way to describe Sarah Brown as a very competent mechanic(? is that the right term idk), i think ill let it go. this seems like one of those higher end fancy-ish restaurants so most of this can slide, unlike if you were to make the location be some sort of cheap or dirty diner.

no notes on the story, i think it works well. the game seems to have kind of a steep difficulty spike towards the latter half with nights 3, 4, and 5, but thats not really an issue i think because you deal with more shit on fnaf 2 anyway. there were some iffy bits here and there, but nothing too bad that was worth pointing out or changing, so overall this is a solid character! good job :D

~mod mangle

#WHAT WAS THAT THING WITH THE TAGS OH GOD WJFKSDKEKFKSKF #submission #mod mangle

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19mrs-barnes17 · 5 years ago

Text

Not Him

Summary: “A Billy x reader fic where the reader is engaged to another. She has been a part of his friend group since childhood. At a dinner, Billy brings a rude and unwanted guest which results in feelings being revealed.” -Anonymous

Part: 1/1

Pairing: Billy Russo x reader

Warnings: angst

Word count: 1,969

A/N:

You stared at the shimmering band on your finger with hesitation, heart unsure of the split second decision. It was a huge commitment to be making, and sure you loved him, but was he the one you couldn’t live without? Some part of you had begun to question it all as you sat in your empty dining room. The light was beginning to fade away and you knew it was time to go, you’d be late for dinner at Frank’s otherwise. When you arrived you sat for a moment, letting it all sink in before sliding out of the car and strutting up the driveway.

Frank had been your friend for so very long, he had introduced you to Billy and Curtis when you were just a kid, and you had been an unstoppable group. They protected you from bullies and threatened any guy who even looked at you wrong, teaching you to defend yourself when they weren’t there to. Those boys were the reason you joined the air force, serving your country in a different branch but with just as much heart. All three had been nervous about you going overseas, knowing the sort of thing that was waiting for you, but they helped you train nonetheless. And when you returned with a purple heart, an injury to your shoulder sending you home early, they were all waiting for you. They were your family, and now you had to tell them you were making an addition.

The last to show was Billy Russo, who was likely the reaction you were most worried about. He was the one that you had grown closest to over the years and it scared you that he may not approve. Though you didn’t need it, you very much wanted it nonetheless. If Billy hated the idea then it would be much more difficult to go through with, because that would mean he may not show to your wedding. And that, that would simply break your heart.

Scratch that, Billy and his supposed girlfriend were the very last to arrive. And boy were you ecstatic about her uninvited, rude self showing at a family dinner that was already going to be nerve wracking. She talked as though the sound of her voice brought her comfort, but it did so for no other. That is, it seemed, apart from her “dearest darling Billy”. The way she groped at him, hands roaming in front of everyone as though they did not exist, was uncomfortable to say the least. She kissed him when others drew the attention of the room and for some reason it made your stomach turn. You suddenly couldn’t wait for the night to end.

“So, what do you think?” Your eyes raised from the dishes, Maria still fussing with Frank about how she felt rude letting you. Billy stood in an evergreen long sleeve shirt and faded blue jeans, brown eyes gazing curiously into yours.

“About…?” You arched an eyebrow, returning your gaze to the plate in your hands. Next to you Billy grabbed the towel and began to dry plate after plate, nervously shifting his feet.

“My girlfriend.” He raised his brows expectantly as he leaned against the counter and you sighed softly before shutting off the water. “Wow, that bad huh?”

“I didn’t even answer you yet Billy.” You coked your head to the side furrowing your brow at him, you had fully intended to lie. “She seems attached, but are you?”

“What do you mean?”

“All night she’s hands on, but you were distant. It was almost as if she were the only one interested.” He took a step back at this and you instantly regretted your words, reaching out for him but he shook his head. “I didn’t-”

“You didn’t what? Mean it? I think you did.” He sighed heavily while running a hand through his hair. “You know not all of us can have someone like your boyfriend whose perfect in every way, can’t do a damn thing wrong.”

“What are you talking about?” A hand on your hip and a finger to his chest, you were fuming at the man before you. How dare he insult your fiancé like that. “What does he have to do with your taste in women, Billy?”

“He has you.” You dropped both hands and froze in place, eyes softening. “My taste in women? It’s women like you.”

“What?” You took a step back, anxiety rippling beneath your skin. “Billy do you… love me?”

He couldn’t even look at you, his head hung in shame. Billy Russo had never looked smaller, never looked so defeated. Not in a very long time at least. A certain weight began to sit on your chest as you watched him break slowly before your eyes. He was very clearly doing all he could not to crack, to not cry in front of you. When he finally turned back to you he looked colder, more distant like before.

“What does it matter? I’m not him, and even if I was… hell I don’t know if you would have chosen me anyway.” That one stung, it felt like a prick to your heart and it made you defensive.

“That’s not fair. You never told me you loved me, never even asked me on a date. How was I supposed to know you felt that way?” The way you looked at him seemed to send shivers down his spine, perhaps your eyes were revealing more than you wanted.

“I’m not the only one who could have done that. This isn’t all on me.” He was backing away, his defensive mode kicking in as well. “You chose that prick instead of facing the idea that you like me too, love me even.”

“That prick told me he loves me. That prick asked to move in with me. That prick expressed his feelings for me.” With each sentence you took one step closer until you were in his face. “That prick asked me to marry him. So yes, I chose him. Because I didn’t know you were even an option!”

Billy was baffled, eyes widening as your confession sank in. He stumbled back into the wall and gripped the doorway for support. The man almost looked like someone had some him point blank in the chest, someone he loved. It broke your heart to see such an agonizing look on his face, but he had pushed too far.

“You’re getting married?” Frank was in the doorway with an arched eyebrow, his arms crossed tightly over his chest.

“I had planned to tell everyone in a much calmer setting, but I guess the cat’s outta the bag.” You smiled softly at him, the man who had become one of your two older brothers and protectors. “I’m getting married. He would have been here to tell you all with me but he got called into an emergency at work.”

“You, marrying that business guy? Really?” Your face dropped and Frank immediately backpedaled. “No no no, I don’t mean I’m not happy for you. I am. I just never pictured you getting married so quickly.”

“We’ve been together 2 years, that’s not as short as some others.” Your brow furrowed once again before an epiphany emerges from the back of your mind. “You knew.”

He nodded and you decided that it was time to call it a night, your mind and heart were much too conflicted to keep up a charade. Quickly you said your goodbyes and apologized for the abrupt exit, but they simply nodded in understanding. On your way to your car you were stopped by a hand grabbing yours. There, standing absolutely shell shocked, was your fiancé with a solemn expression.

“I was coming to surprise you. Work let me out earlier than I anticipated, we resolved the issue pretty quickly.” You wanted to smile at the news, glad he was here because you really needed someone to hold you. However, that dark look in his eyes kept your smile under lock and key. “I heard your fight with Billy out the window.”

“Oh, that? I-”

“Don’t. Please.” He held your hands gingerly in his, eyes falling to the ring on your finger before sighing softly. “It’s okay Y/N, really. I understand, you love him.”

“I love you too.” You softly placed a hand on his cheek and his lips formed a sad smile. “I really do.”

“I know. You just love him more.” A tear slid down your cheek as you began to realize what had to be done, you didn’t want to let go. “Shh, love. It’s alright. I’ll be okay someday, and so will you. I’d rather you be happy than settling for me.”

“And I’d rather you find someone who will love you completely for the wonderful man you are. But that someone isn’t me.” You placed one final, bittersweet kiss to his lips before setting the ring in his hand. “I’ll always love you and I wish you well.”

“Likewise. You take care of yourself.” He began to walk away and you turned from him feeling lighter and less bruised inside. “Oh and Y/N.”

“Yes?” You turned to see him in his car, the window half way down with a soft smile on his face.

“Let him come to you. He’ll realize what he let slip through his fingers.” You nodded, watching as he pulled out of the driveway and disappeared on the horizon.

Figuring it was best to give your ex-fiancé an hour or so to collect the few things he had moved into your apartment, so you went on a drive. You let yourself wander until you found a place you didn’t realize your mind had been leading you to. The park where you and Billy used to come alone and talk for hours on end, where you would sometimes lie and look at the stars but speak no words, and where you had fallen in love with him but hidden it away.

Your eyes were closed as you breathed deeply, inhaling and exhaling to relieve the stress that the past few hours had left your body full of. They didn’t need to be open to know whose boots were crunching the leaves behind you, or who sat on the swing beside you without saying a single word. You knew him, the only one who would be here after closing hours. The only one who knew where to find you when things became rough and you needed a moment to breathe.

“I went to your apartment to apologize. Your, uhm, your ex ran into me in the hall and told me what happened. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin something good for you. It was selfish of me.” You chuckled softly, confusing the poor man to no end.

“Don’t give yourself so much credit Russo. I think we would have ended up here eventually, and it's better now than after signing a legal document and standing before everyone only for it to crash and burn. At least this way we part on good terms, still in control of ourselves and our future.” There was a certain sense of catharsis in this moment, a realization that this was a good thing. That didn’t make it any less hard, but it helped you to carry the weight.

“I love you Billy Russo.” His eyes softened, body losing its tension as he stared into your eyes with such fervent love.

“And I love you. That girl wasn’t actually my girlfriend by the way, she was just doing me a favor.” You laughed, eyes crinkling at the corners.

“I should have known you’d pull something like that you idiot.”

“Yeah well, I’m your idiot now. Right?”

“I suppose you are. Maybe you always have been.”

Tags: @qtmeryr @broken-hearted-barnes @cantnkrusshedevil

#marvel #billy #billy russo #billy x reader #billy russo x reader #punisher #requested #anonymous #kayla answers

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chickensarentcheap · 5 years ago

Text

Sanctuary -Chapter 45

WARNINGS: MENTIONS OF DEPRESSION, PTSD, CONTEMPLATED SUICIDE (NOT GRAPHIC, JUST A BRIEF MENTION)

Tagging: @alievans007, @c-a-v-a-l-r-y, @thunderintheshadows, @innerpaperexpertcloud, @valkyrie-of-the-light

He gets back to the hotel an hour later; anxious to see her, hold her, kiss her. The weight of what Michael McMann had so brazenly told him hadn't fully hit until he was on his way back. He'd dropped the van off at Billy Flynn's bar and had only been behind the wheel of the rented SUV for mere minutes before it hit out of nowhere. The brutal truth hitting him square in the gut, the play by play of McMann's words tightening his chest and filling him with crippling terror and anxiety. The realization of how close he'd actually come to losing the one thing...the one person...that had given him a second chance at life rocking him to his very core. Had they'd been only minutes slower coming out of that bunker, there would have been no way of getting her out of there in time. They would have used her as leverage; to convince him to give himself up in order to save her. And there would have been no hesitation; he would have done it in a heartbeat. But that wouldn't have been enough. Not by a long shot.

They would have made her suffer. Tremendously. They would have inflicted horrific pain and torture on her, even worse than what they'd done to Erin Ferguson, and he would have been forced to watch and listen as they did it. And it was that reality that had seen him having to pull over onto the side of the road; forearms resting against the steering wheel, chin tucked into his chest and his eyes closed. Attempting to breathe through the enormous sobs that shook his entire body; unabashed and vicious tears streaming down his face. Consumed by guilt. The painful realization that it was his choices that had almost led to disaster. That if they had gotten a hold of her, if they had brutalized and violated her, it would have all been his fault. His children would have lost their mother and he would have the only one to blame. His life didn't matter. If was to die on the job and she was left behind, she'd be more than capable of raising them on her own. It wouldn't be easy, but she'd be able to do it. They need their mother a lot more than their father. They were used to his frequent absences, after all. But they'd never been away from Esme. Until he'd fucked it all up and called her needing her help.

For several minutes he'd stayed there on the side of the road. Until the tears had finally subsided and the anxiety had begun to dissipate; until his heart no longer threatened to burst out of his chest and his lungs became willing to draw normal breath.

Tanis is sitting in the hallway, leaning back against the door to the room when he steps off the elevator. Knees bent, an iPad resting on her thighs. And he thinks about what McMann had said. About there being more 'rats in the ship' and that someone was getting too close for comfort and they wouldn't be trusted. Although Tanis had been the first suspect that had crossed Yaz' mind, nothing stood out to Tyler that suggested the woman was a threat. She was friendly, mild mannered, even tempered. Had an impeccable service record with the Corps. Normally his instincts are able to pick on even the slightest hint of suspicion, but when he looked at her...noticing the way she carries herself, how well read and passive she is...he felt nothing. Not even the slightest inkling of trouble.

“You don't have to sit out here all the time, you know,” Tyler says as he approaches, fishing his key card out of the back pocket of his jeans. “You can actually go in the room.”

“I know,” she looks up at him with a wide, bright smile. “But she'd fallen asleep and I felt weird just sitting there watching her, so...” she shrugs. “...here I am. How'd it go?”

“It went,” his reply is simple, straight to the point.

“Have you started beating him into submission yet or...”

“Keep your fucking voice down,” he snarls, and she blinks at the vicious tone in his voice.

“I'm sorry. I was just...”

“She doesn't know. About what's going on. She thinks the Marines are in control now. That you're holding him somewhere until the IRA makes up their mind. She doesn't need to know anything else.”

“You don't think she'll figure it out? That she won't wonder where you're disappearing too all the time? I mean, you are planning on following through with it, right? You're not thinking of backing out are you?”

“He needs to pay. And he's going to. But you need to keep your goddamn voice down and not breathe a word of this to her. She doesn't need to know. She's got enough on her plate already. She doesn't need to know about this. I've got things under control. I know what I'm doing.”

Tanis cocks her head to the side as she regards him, “Do you? Because this is a hell of thing you're about to do. I don't know how anyone can be in total control in this kind of situation. Haven't you already lost control if you're willing to do something like this in the first place?”

“Listen, you don't even know me. All you know about me is the a bunch of fucking stories that you've heard.”

“I know that you saved the kid even though you could have given him up for five million dollars. I know you put your ass on the line to get him out of Dhaka even when you knew nothing was going to come of it. That doesn't sound like a guy that gets him off on torturing someone. That sounds like someone with a conscience. A heart.”

“He was a kid. A fucking kid. He was innocent. I wasn't going to leave him in the street or hand him over. For any amount of money. This shit with McMann? This is different. He's a sick fuck. He's sick and twisted and he took advantage of his own kids and he's letting people do fucked up things to them. And he threatened my family. That's a line you don't cross.”

She frowns. “I notice you didn't mention that he did all of this because he wants to kill you.”

“I don't give a shit about me. I care about those kids. I care about my own. I care about my wife. Those are the only people who matter to me. So you need to keep your goddamn mouth shut. She doesn't need to know about this. Especially now. Not with the baby. I just need her to stay relaxed and calm and have everything go nice and smooth for the next seven to eight months or however long we still have go.”

“She's not stupid you know,” Tanis informs him, as she gets to her feet. “She's going to know that something is up. When you're wandering off in the early hours of the morning or during the day. Making up lame, bullshit excuses that she's going to see right through. You really don't think you can hide this from her, do you?”

“I think you need to mind your business and stay out of things that go on between me and my wife. You're just here to protect her. That's it. You're not here to be her friend. You're just here to make sure she's safe. So just keep your mouth shut and do your goddamn job.”

“This is protecting her,” Tanis argues. “Worrying about her. It's not just physical protection that's important, you know. What's going to happen when the truth does get out? When she realizes what you've been keeping from her? When she realizes you've been lying to her? When she realizes just what you're capable of? That won't be a good ending. Not for her, and certainly not for you.”

“That's something I'll worry about when it happens. I'm doing this for her. For my kids. And she'll understand that.”

Will she though? Will she really see it that way? Or is that wishful thinking on his part? It was more likely that it would terrify her; the person that he's become. The one he'd warned her about five and a half years ago when he'd told her in that dirty hotel room in Dhaka that maybe it was best they left things the way they were. If they just walked away when the five days were over and never thought of each other again.

“I think it's a reach to expect her to understand why you felt the need to drug, abduct, and torture a man. Do you realize how insane that sounds? How insane you sound? That you're okay with this? Doesn't this make you just as bad as some of the monsters you've had to go up against? How does this make you any different than them?”

“I'm nothing like them. I'll never be like them. I'm doing this for a reason.”

“They had reasons too,” she points out. “Reasons that made sense to them at the time. In the same way this is making sense to you right now. But I am telling you, she's going to know something is going on. She's been with you for almost six years. She knows you better than you know yourself, I bet. So you're a goddamn fool if you think you're going to get away with this.”

“I think you need to leave,” he nods towards the elevator. “I think you need to shut your mouth and get the hell out of here.”

“There's a very line between fighting the monsters and becoming one ourselves,” she says. “Maybe that's something you need to think long and hard about.”

“Maybe you need to just mind your own business and fuck off,” he suggests.

“You're going to regret this.” she warns him, as she heads down the hall. “This is going to come back and bite you in the ass. And you're not going to like how it ends.”

****

She is just emerging from the bathroom when he steps inside, clad in one of the hotel's terrycloth bathrobe, vigorously drying her hair with a towel. And the bright, ear to ear smile that she flashes him is almost enough to erase all the mental anguish and torment that's been plaguing his already troubled, weary mind. But he pulls it together. For her. Because she needs him to be the strong, stoic, seemingly unbreakable one. The one person that -by her own admission- has always made her feel safe and secure. Protected. And he can't let her down. He doesn't want to disappoint her.

He doesn't want to fail her.

“Hey,” she cheerfully greets, and perches herself on her tip toes to wrap her arms around his neck. Even then it's a stretch, and he still has to either bend or lean into her. “I was wondering what took you so long.”

“There was a couple of loose ends to tie up. Nothing important,” he places his hands on her hips and kisses her; the soft, long, unhurried press of closed mouth upon closed mouth. Loving the way she presses herself against him, how she steps up onto the top of his feet so he doesn't have to lean down as far. And one hand moves to the small of her back and the other to the space between her shoulders, pulling her tight against him.

He closes eyes as he feels the scrape of her nails against his scalp; where his hair is clipped tight to his head. It's a comforting act. One she'd stumbled upon -and he found soothing and effective- when he'd been in the hospital. On the nights when the nightmares, the pain, and the withdrawal from Oxy were especially bad, she'd climb into the bed alongside of him and just hold him with all the strength she possessed inside that tiny body. And she gives him this moment now; sensing that he needs it. That he needs that chance to be the one that needs to be soothed and comforted instead of the one that always provides those things. Maybe she even feels it. The way he holds her with a sense of urgency. A sense of desperation.

She pulls away; just enough so she tilt her head back and look up at him. “Are you okay?” she asks, a frown tugging at her lips and creasing her brow. “You seem a little...off.”

He attempts a reassuring smile. “I'm fine.”

She cocks her head to the side and her eyes narrow skeptically.

“It was just a little harder than I thought it would,” he admits, and presses a kiss to the bridge of her nose. “He said some things. That I wasn't ready to here. It fucked with my head a bit.”

“What kind of things? About you?”

He shakes his head.

“About his kids? Did he tell you where they are?”

“I couldn't get it out of him. It wasn't about his kids.”

“About our kids? Please tell me he didn't threaten them. Please tell me that he's not going to send people after them. That they're going to be okay with Ovi. That...”

He presses his lips to her, effectively silencing her. “It wasn't about our kids.”

“About me?”

He nods. And once again he can feel that anxiety setting in; the emotion that chokes him, the tears that threaten, the blinding rage that serves as proof that he has to follow through with his plan. That no matter the short term or long term consequences, McMann has to pay for what he's done. For what he could have done.

“Tyler...” she reaches up to lay her hands on the side of his face; liking the way his beard feels against her palms. Thumbs drifting along his bottom lip, then down onto his chin and across jaw. “...what did he say?”

“I can't tell you,” his voice is a near a whisper. How could he ever possibly tell her what he'd heard? It was bad enough that he'd have those words stuck in his head for the rest of his life, never mind the graphic and vile images they'd painted. He couldn't possibly burden her with that.

“That bad?”

“That bad,” he confirms.

“It had to do with that Erin girl, didn't it.”

She's not stupid. Far from it. She knows the things that trigger him the easiest; senseless violence and abuse of any kind towards women and children. But it's a fine line between triggering sorrow and fear and intense rage. He always walks in between the two; never fully falling on one side or the other, but dangerously close to succumbing to the latter. The anger is always there. A byproduct of his PTSD. Lingering just under the surface, always on a slow boil. And it won't take much to set it off.

He nods.

“What did you see? When you found her? What...?”

“I can't tell you. You don't need to hear that. It's bad enough that it's stuck in my head. You don't need it stuck in yours.”

“It was horrible, wasn't it.”

Another nod.

“And he told he that he'd do the same thing to me. If not worse. And you'd have to watch it.”

“I don't want to talk about this. You don't need to know these things. I don't want you knowing these things.”

“You know he only said that to fuck with your head right? To get you to lash out at him. Did you? Lash out?”

“In a way, yeah.” He wants to tell her. The burden of his decision weighs heavily, and he knows if he gets it out sooner, rather than later, the damage won't be as catastrophic. The longer he holds it in, the worse things will be. For himself. For them.

“Don't let him get to you, Tyler. It's what he wants. He wants you to react. And react badly. Don't do that. Don't let him get you to that point. Because I've seen you at that point and it's not good. For anyone. But especially for you.”

“I can't get it out of my head. The shit that he said. It's fucking stuck in there. And it just keeps playing over and over again and it won't fucking stop. I need it to stop. Because when I think about what could have happened, how bad things could have gotten the other day...”

“Stop,” she gently orders, thumbs brushing along his jaw once more before her hands slide down to his shoulders and onto his chest. “Don't do this to yourself. You're your own worst enemy. You have to just take it from the source. You know he's messed up. You know he's liable to say anything to get you riled up. Don't let him start living up in your head for free. You have enough going on up there.”

“He wasn't just saying these things. He would have done them. In a heartbeat. And he would have made me watch and...”

“Stop,” her tone is firmer now, harsher, but her hands are soft as they travel over his chest and over to his ribs. “You're doing it. You're letting him in. Don't do that to yourself. It doesn't matter what would have happened. It didn't happen. That's what's important. You're here and I'm here and fuck what he says. Why torture yourself like this? Why think about what could have happened to me when I'm right here in front of you?”

“Because.”

“Because? That is what Millie says when we ask her why she does stupid shit. And she's five. You have to give me more than 'because'.”

“Because I don't want to lose you. Especially like that.”

“Tyler...stop...” she admonishes. “I'm right here. Nothing is going to happen me. I'm safer here...with you...than anywhere else. You need to stop this. You need to get out of your head. Nothing good comes from you spending too much time up there. I love you, but you have to stop this. This obsessing over things. Because it's eating up inside and I hate seeing what it's doing to you. Have you been taking your meds?”

“Don't start with that.”

“Because you get like this when you don't take them for a few days. You get agitated and moody and you're constantly on edge. You know you're supposed to take them every day. Not just when you feel like it. Just because you have one or two good days doesn't mean you stop taking them.”

He scowls. “I'm not a fucking child, Esme.”

“I never said you were. I worry about you. Maybe I want you to be okay. Mentally. Have you ever thought of that? That maybe I don't want you to be like this? Not for me, but for yourself? I don't want your brain constantly torturing you and putting you through needless bullshit. The meds help and you know they do. So quit fucking around and just take them. Because you know you're in a better place mentally when you do. And when you're in a better place mentally, everything is better. We're better. And that's what we're trying to work on, right? Being better for each other?”

“Yeah, but...”

“There's no 'but' in this. I want you to take care of yourself. Up here,” she taps the end of her index finger against his forehead. “Because that's just as important as everything else. And you don't just need to it for me or the kids. You need to do it for yourself. Can't you see I'm trying to help you, Tyler? You're not in this alone. This fight you have with your own mind? You don't have to do this by yourself. It's been five and a half years. You'd think by now you'd realize that I'm fully capable of putting up with your bullshit.”

He grins. “In all fairness, it's not that much bullshit.”

“Oh please. You have enough bullshit for half the planet,” she teases, and then runs her hands up and down his rib cage. “Stop being so stubborn and let me take care of you.”

“You took care of me enough. When I was the hospital. When I first got home. When...”

“It doesn't stop. Honestly, stop being so goddamn pig headed and just let me love you and take care of you. Why do you have such a hard time doing that? Letting me all the way in? I'm your wife, Tyler. I'm the mother of your children. Of all the people you should be comfortable with...”

“I am comfortable with you,” he assures her. “That's not what this is about. This isn't about you. This is about me. And my fucked up head.”

“And I'm here...right in front of you...telling you that you don't have to deal with that alone. I took all this on when I married you. Willingly. It's not like you held a gun to my head.”

“According to your mother, that's exactly what I did.”

“This is a woman with more issues than the both of us put together, so take what she says with a grain of salt.”

“You know she thinks I have women all over the place? Stashed all over the globe in the different places I go to? She told she knew I was cheating on you. That day I went over to her place.”

“When would you have the time and the energy to cheat?”

“Exactly what I said. Not that I want to cheat,” he quickly adds. “You know I would never do something like that.”

“Because you know I'd cut your dick off.”

“Well yeah, but because I love you and I don't want anyone else but you. I've got my hands full with you, why the fuck would I want to take on more?”

She frowns. “You started it out so good and then it went so bad.”

“You know I'm joking,” his hands move from her hips to her back; travelling up to her shoulders, then cradling her face in his hands.

She can feel the callouses on his palms against her skin. It's so familiar. Comforting, even. And she no longer can remember what any other man's hands had felt like. Whether it be during a tender moment such as this, when they're languidly exploring her body, or when he's rougher and more aggressive.

“I don't want anyone else,” he says. “I haven't wanted anyone else in a long time. Since Dhaka.”

“I thought I was just a booty call,” she chides. “A five day booty call, but still...”

“I didn't know what you were,” he admits. “But I knew you were more than that.”

She smiles.

“And I'll never want anyone else. This is it for me. You're it for me. Even though I told your mother that I had another wife and six kids back in Australia.”

“What?” she laughs. “Why would....?”

“She's hell bent on thinking I've got women all over the place.”

“She's also mad we had premarital sex and I got pregnant before we were married.”

He smirks. “I guess maybe we shouldn't let her know just how wild and crazy the premarital sex was.”

“That's probably not a good idea. Although it could push her even closer towards her much needed mental breakdown. Maybe then she'd chill the fuck out.”

“She's just worried about you,” he reasons. “Do you blame her? If she wasn't worried about you before, she sure as fuck is that she knows exactly what I do for a living.”

“I'm safer with you than anyone else. I've never doubted that. I know how capable you are of kicking ass. I don't worry about someone trying bullshit with me. I'd know you'd wreck them.”

“It would go beyond just wrecking someone,” he says, and thinks about McMann back at the storage facility, drugged up and chained to a metal chair, restrained with zip ties. It should sicken Tyler; that he'd not resorted to the means he had, but that what his future plans entail. It should trouble him that it's come down to this...that he's come to this.

But he feels nothing. Not even the slightest bit of disgust or remorse.

“Are you sure you're okay?” she asks, concern darkening her once again. “Because you don't seem like you're okay.”

“I'm not,” he admits. “But I will be.”

****

He can't sleep. The pain in his shoulder and behind the right knee intense. A throbbing, incessant ache that seems as it is burrowing straight through the bone. It had been a relaxing night; dinner out followed by a walk along the river, slow and intense love making that had been more powerful than anything they'd experienced lately. As if that bond they share was finally on the road to repairing itself; the weathered and tattered edges being stripped away, in hopes of things beyond made stronger than even before. That bond was something that they'd always shared; strong, unbreakable, reliable even. The result of two broken people coming together to not only heal one another, but save each other. But over the last two years it had begun to unravel, no matter how hard they tried to keep it from happening. There was always something they couldn't quite get past; an invisible, yet powerful force that just wouldn't let them rebuild things.

But he'd felt it. When he'd been buried deep inside of her; feeling the way she clawed at his back and his shoulders, hearing it each time his name escaped her lips, see it whenever he would pull back to look at her and their eyes would lock, gazes never wavering. It was different this time. It was needy and it was desperate but it was different. In a way he couldn't quite explain yet he knew was a good sign.

He sits out on the balcony; the cool breeze that lingers on the night air is refreshing and effectively clears away the perspiration that had gathered on his forehead and the nape of his neck. It's the detoxing; he'd gone cold turkey when it came to the meds for his PTSD and his pain. He hated how they made him feel; reflexes slow, brain foggy, impaired judgment in situations he needed to have a clear head in. But he'd never expected this kind of reaction; the chills, the tremors, the all over body sweats and the nausea. He'd dealt with it before; when being weaned off the Oxy after years of relying on it. And he'd hoped he'd never have to deal with again.

He texts Yaz; the other man taking the night shift at the storage facility. McMann had woken briefly, began panicking with the hood over his head and immediately began thrashing about in the chair in a desperate attempt to free himself. Yaz had given him he remainder of the drugs, which had effectively knocked him out cold. Afterwards, he deletes all the messages in the thread. He's never felt the need to have a lock on his phone, and Esme is free to go in and out of it as she pleases, in the same way he's able to do it with hers. Trust has never been their issues. They struggled with many things, but that has never been one of them. But he withholds downloading the software that would enable him to watch the feed of the storage site. That's the next last he needs her stumbling upon.

He messages Ovi next. They're hasn't been any cause for concern or worry, but they have moved into Oklahoma, where Chloe has family; given refuge in an empty house while the family is away in Florida. The kids are struggling; they miss their own house, their own beds, their backyard, even the chickens and the goats. Most of all they miss their mom and dad, and are starting to worry that they're never going to come home. And Ovi shares a video of the kids; singing some camp fire song that Chloe had taught them, and tearfully telling their mommy and daddy how much they love them and can't wait until they're all together again. He has a good cry over that; missing his kids with a level of intensity he's never experienced before. And then it turns into rage once again. Adding even more fuel to the fire that burns inside of him. The one that is dangerously close to being completely out of control. And he remembers how Gaspar had said that tears were for the weak. That only fragile, soft men show that kind of emotion.

He closes his eyes and leans his head against the brick wall behind him, a grimace on his face as he reaches across his body with his left harm and massages at his aching shoulder. It's gone way beyond the lingering discomfort of a recently relocated separated shoulder. There will be specialist appointments, CAT scans, probably another surgery.

I'm going to old for this shit, he internally laments, wincing as he attempts to roll his shoulder, hearing the pops and the cracks that accompany the movement. Cracking an eye open when he hears the scrapping of the patio door on the track; watching his wife steps out onto the balcony, clad in one of his hoodies, a bottle of water in her hands.

“You should be asleep,” he scolds.

“So should you,” she counters, as she journeys over in her bare feet, holding out the bottle of water, then reaching into the pocket on the hoodie and pulling out a bottle of prescription meds.

He frowns. “I don't need those.”

“Bullshit. You do need them. You can take these ones, Tyler. These aren't Oxy and you know it.”

“So I go and get addicted to something else?”

“They're Tylenol three. With codeine. These are nowhere near as addictive as Oxy. You can't go on like this. In constant pain. You deserve some relief.”

“Then fuck me again. That always makes me feel better.”

She sighs. “That's temporary.”

“So are those. At least fucking is fun.”

“It's three in the morning. I'm not in the mood for your bitchiness. Here...” she drops the bottle of water in his lap, then uncaps the bottle of meds and dumps two into her palm. “...I'm trying to help you here.”

“What the hell do you you think two is going to do? That won't even take the edge of.”

“It'll help. Don't try my patience, please. Just humour me. Take them. Or I'll force them down your throat.”

He snorts. “I'd like to see you try.”

She glares at him.

“Okay, maybe I wouldn't. I know you're not above kicking me in the balls and then shoving them down me throat while I scream.”

“You're worse than the kids. Just take the damn meds. Please.”

He finally relents, angrily scooping the pills out of her palm and dropping them into his mouth, swallowing them with a half of the bottle of the water. “Do you want me to open my mouth and stick my tongue out to prove I actually took them?”

“Don't be a fuck head,” she says, and then tousles his hair. “You're going back on those others one tomorrow. For your PTSD.”

“Esme, you're not my mother.”

“No. I'm not. But I am a concerned wife and I worry about you. You're going back on them. You're not the same person when you're not on them.”

“And I'm the same person when I am on them?”

“You're calmer for one. You're not so combative.”

“I'm a fucking zombie. Is that what you want? That I'm so doped up I can't function properly?”

“I'd rather you doped up than suicidal,” she says. “I've been there, remember? When you've been in that really dark place. And I don't want you going back there. Ever. Because I worry the next time you get there, I won't get you back out. So you're going back on those meds. Because I kind of like having you around. And so do our kids.”

He sighs.

“You're going to take them because you need them. And I know that when you're thinking straight, you don't want to go back to that dark place either. And I know you don't want to leave your kids without their father.”

He nods, eyes downcast. “You're right.”

She stands between his thighs, holding his face in her hands as she drops a kiss on the top of his head. “You're going to be okay, Tyler. I promise.”

Normally it's him saying those things. Assuring her that things are going to be alright. That no matter how dark and desolate things seem, they'll get through it. Together. Like they always have. And he places his hands on her hips and pulls her towards him, resting his forehead against her warm, comforting body.

“It's going to be okay,” her voice is soft, reassuring, as she scrapes her nails against his scalp. “You're going to be okay. You know how you always say 'I got you' to me when I'm feeling like shit?”

He nods.

“Well I got you, Tyler. I got you.”

The tears come now. Hot and bitter. And he knows he should be ashamed of them; for being so weak and vulnerable. But for once in his life he has that one person he can let his guard down with. Who won't call him 'soft' or 'fragile'; who won't judge him for being human.

“When is it going to be enough?” she asks, combing her fingers through his hair. “When are you going to stop giving everything you have to other people? You can't do this forever. You're tiring yourself out. Mentally and physically. You're so busy fighting other peoples' battles that you're not fighting your own. When do you finally walk away? When you can't walk away anymore? When you're dead? When I'm dead?”

“Don't say that.” his voice is muffled against his body. “Don't ever say that.”

“You can't keep doing this. Breaking yourself down for other people. You just can't. It's going to kill you, Tyler. Maybe not physically. But it will kill you mentally. It's already starting. It's already starting and all I can do is sit and watch it happen. Watch it consume you. When am I enough?”

“You are. You are enough. You've always been enough.”

“You need to walk away. Right now. We need to get the hell out of here and just go home. There's no shame in that, you know. In saying enough is enough and worrying about yourself for once.”

“Those kids, though. I haven't found those kids.”

“And what if you never do? How long do we stay here? Another week? Another two weeks? Another month? Six months? We need to go home. To our own kids. To our own life. You can't save them all.”

“Just a few more days. That's all I need. Just a few more days.”

“And then this ends. Whether you find those kids or not. We get out of here and we go home and we go on with our lives. Killing yourself isn't going to save them. And you know that.”

He nods in agreement.

She pushes her hands through his hair, gently tugging on the longer strands and pulling his head back, so he's looking up at her. “Seven days. That's all I'm giving you. And then I go home. With or without you. Understand me? I'm done, Tyler. With this life. I'm done. I can't do this anymore. And now you have to decide what you want. It's this life or it's me and the kids. We can't coexist with the job anymore. And we shouldn't have to.”

“You,” he immediately responds. “I want you. And my kids.”

She manages a small smile, then kisses him softly. “A week” she stresses. “That's it. I can't give you more than that. I've already given more than I give. And I'm sorry. If that hurts you. But I don't have anything left to give you. This version of you, at least.”

“Okay,” he says, and then buries his face in her stomach once more.

Seven days. A week. Or life as he knows it is over. With no chance of getting it back.

#tyler rake #tyler rake fan fic #tyler rake fan fiction #extraction #sanctuary #chris hemsworth character

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saedii-gilwraeth-simp · 5 years ago

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I Knew I Loved You ~ Chapter 7

Yay, new chapter! Life update: iso is getting me down and sucking any and all motivation and inspiration from my soul so if my Jules x Emilia fic isn’t ready for ages, I apologise.

Chapter 7: Billy

~Glasgow, Scotland~

Three weeks later, Billy is woken by the loud trilling of a phone call an hour before his alarm was set to go off. He didn’t even bother looking at the contact, assuming it was Arsinoe calling from one of her morning runs. She was the only person he could think of who would disregard his sleep schedule.

“Hello?” He says groggily.

“CHRISTINE PROPOSED!” His sisters loud voice yells down the line, successfully waking him up.

“Go again?” He said, sitting up and rubbing his face.

“Christine proposed. I’m getting married Billy,” and then she squeals so loud Billy has to move the phone away from his ear but he can’t help but laugh before bringing the phone back to his chin so he could get out of bed.

“When did she propose?”

“Last night in the park and she had rose petals and lights and a sting quartet and Billy I died, you know, died,” she speaks quick and excited and Billy can’t help but smile at his sisters ramblings as he tugs a shirt on and walks downstairs to make breakfast.

“What date should I put on the calendar?”

“We haven’t decided but Billy,” her voice got serious when she said his name, “could you walk me down the aisle? I really want you there and I know dad won’t show up nor do I want him to and-“ Billy chuckled before responding gently.

“Jane, of course I’ll walk you down the aisle. You never have to ask,” she let out an audible sigh.

“Thanks Billy. I have to go but I just wanted to let you know. Oh, and Arsinoe’s welcome, Chris and I agree that she’s awesome,” the line went dead and Billy smiled. It was a good way to start his day, smiling. He was glad to hear that Jane was so happy and he carried that energy all the way through his morning until he got to his office and Christine told him a call had come in from a past client and he picked up the phone.

“Hello?”

“Hello, William,” Billy scowled.

“Father. I see you couldn’t get my personal number from Arron so you wrangled my work one. What do you want?” He said tersely.

“I want to be back in your life. You and Jane both have soulmates and I want to meet them,” his father sounded oddly cheerful and Billy’s scowl deepened.

“Not gonna happen and if you go near myself or Jane, I’ll put restraining orders on you so fast you won’t even know what’s happened. The same if you call me again. Goodbye, father,” and then he hung up way too harshly. He took a deep breath in and held it before turning towards where his phone had just dinged. A photo text from Arsinoe.

The photo was of a painting he vaguely recognised from somewhere, but he couldn’t figure out where until she sent a caption.

I finished it said the text and it dawned on him. The painting was hers, a work in progress he had seen in her art room the last time he had been at her place. He had been happy to just sit and watch her paint. Christine had teased him the next morning for how chaste they were, commenting on the fact the two hadn’t gone any further than making out and sleeping in her bed - just sleeping.

But this painting had confused him when she had told him the subject. He now understood it perfectly. An impressionist style blue hallway, too clean to be anything but from a hospital. In the hallway, there were two blurs. One gold, the other red and finally, one black dot in the centre, the only clearly defined part of the painting. It was a beautiful piece and he said so back.

She sent him a smily emoji and then ‘have fun at work’ He couldn’t help but smile. How was it that she could turn his mood around so quickly.

~Six weeks~

The engagement party was in full spin by the time Billy and Arsinoe had arrived. Christine was fielding questions from people who looked like relatives and Jane was talking with some of Christine’s friends from work. But when she saw him, she excused herself from the group and skipped over to him, letting him pick her up in a hug.

“How you doin’, trouble?” Jane laughed as he let her go, moving to wrap Arsinoe in quick hug.

“You spoke to me yesterday, idiot,” he dodged as she punched his shoulder. Jane turned to Arsinoe next, “you should come meet some of our more liberal relatives. They’re eager to meet you,” and then she was pulling Arsinoe towards the centre of the gazebo they were in. Billy laughed and instead chose to greet Christine with a hug.

“Hey, future brother-in-law,” she said with a smile brighter than the sun.

“Hey, future sister-in-law. You excited to have this party over with and spend the next few months planning?” She pokes her tongue out.

“If you and Arsinoe ever get hitched, I’m gonna pull the same jokes.”

“We’ve only been together a couple of months.”

“Yeah and you have done nothing of actual note,” Christine wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and Billy narrowed his eyes.

“Give up on that. It’ll happen when it happens,” Christine laughs.

“You are such the opposite of the guy I dated before I realised I was gay,” Billy hugged her to his side, talking amiably with her until Jane and Arsinoe approached. Billy’s shoulders clenched when he saw the frightened look on Jane’s face and a worried one on Arsinoe’s. Jane didn’t speak for so long that Arsinoe had to clarify the problem.

“Your father’s here,” Billy saw red as Arsinoe pointed across the crowd. Christine held Jane’s hand and Billy walked towards the monster that was his father. He could feel Arsinoe at his shoulder as they pushed through the crowd.

“William. There’s my son.” Billy was a patient person, a diplomat at heart but when someone threatened his sister, he got angry. And so when his father went to hug him, Billy punched him in the mouth.

“I told you to stay away from Jane, you piece of shit,” William Sr.’s face scrunched up in a way Billy knew meant he was about to be hit. His father lunged at him and Billy held an arm out to deflect the hit only for it to never come.

Because his father was being held down, one knee on the floor, by Arsinoe. Everything went silent and everyone just watched to see what would happen next. All Arsinoe did was lean down and whisper something that made William go completely pale. Arsinoe released his arm and he stood and fled, tail between his legs. Arsinoe stepped back to Billy and took his throbbing hand between her own scarred ones.

“Let’s get you some ice,” she led him out of the gazebo, catching a quick hug from both Jane and Christine.

“What’d you say to my father back then?” He asked, wincing slightly as the ice touched his knuckles. Arsinoe smiled gently.

“I told him I knew how to pull his spine out through his mouth and that if he came near you, Jane or Christine again that I wouldn’t hesitate to do so,” Billy looked at her, obviously so shocked that it made her laugh. “I’m kidding. I told him that I was a combat trained soldier who would show him just what it takes to survive in a war-zone if he hurt you or Jane again. I let his imagination do the rest. Imaginations are always worse,” Billy chest constricted at her words and he leaned forward and kissed her, pouring all of the love he felt for her into it. She kissed him back, one of her hands resting on the nape of his neck.

When he finished kissing her, he didn’t move all too far, instead pressing his forehead against her own.

“Would you like to stay the night at my place?” Arsinoe smiled, pressed her lips together in a line and then kissed him again.

“I would really like that. But first we should probably get back to the party,” she kisses him again before standing and, taking his unbruised hand, led him back to the party.

She was kissing his neck when he woke up the next morning. The night had been long and sweet and passionate and she had stayed the night, tangled together with him, her bare chest pressed against his ribs.

“What’cha doing?” Billy asked, groggy and only three quarters awake.

“Repaying you for all of the hickeys you put on my neck last night,” her voice was raw and gentle and she kissed him when he turned on his side.

“You know, I still don’t know the story behind all of your tattoos,” his fingers traced the Capricorn symbol on her left hip. “The rule was if I could see it, I could ask. Well, I’m seeing all of it so…” he said and watched as she took his hand.

“My sisters names so I could have them close to me, my rising sun to commemorate my time in the army, the J infinity because Jules and I were drunk and wanted to celebrate 17 years of friendship, the zodiac symbols represent my birthday, being right on the edge of both, and the paw is Braddock. And that’s it until I get another one. Maybe one for you. Haven’t decided yet,” she shrugged.

“Don’t they hurt?” She shrugged again.

“Not anymore than getting these scars did,” that was evidently true. Arsinoe’s face was not the only part of her with scars. Her right shoulder had a large burn spanning to her shoulder blade and she had a bullet shaped scar just to the left of her upper back. He traced her shoulder and kissed it. “Did you ever consider getting a tattoo?”

“Once. The first time I went with Jane to pride, I sat with her to get her tattoo and I considered getting something,” he said it casually, with very little for her to question. But of course, she did.

“Where, what and why?”

“I wanted a shield and sword just here,” he moved her hand to trace his ribs, just under where her names were. “I wanted it because Jane said that I really lived up to my name and when I looked it up the shield and sword felt right.”

“What does William mean?” She asked, her hand not moving even as he let it go.

“It means protector,” she smiles and leans forward to kiss him before rolling out of bed and pulling her underwear on, throwing one of his t-shirts over her head to wear.

“Let’s go then,” he furrowed his eyebrows and sat up.

“Go where?”

“To get your tattoo. You have so many of mine and if you would let me, I would like to have one of yours,” she goes to his drawers and rifles through, pulling two pairs of shorts out. She threw the blue ones at him and pulled the black ones up her own legs, tying them high up on her waist. She pulled a hair tie off her wrist and tied the hem of his shirt in a knot at rib level. “Come on, let’s go,” she admonishes, tilting her head at him and smiling. Feeling almost giddy, he smiled back and slid out of bed.

#three dark crowns #one dark throne #two dark reigns #five dark fates #kendare blake #queen arsinoe #billy chatworth #billy x arsinoe #jane chatworth #christine hollen #ikily

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moonlitwings1 · 6 years ago

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He Doesn’t Deserve Steve

Requested: Love your fics! Any chance for an established and newly out (to the Party anyway) Harringrove where everyone's giving Billy the shovel talk and it goes from amusing to annoying to depressing real quick and he's secretly wondering if anyone cares enough about him to give Steve the shovel talk?

“You know that we’re all gonna kill you if you hurt him, right?”

Billy snorts.

After he and Steve admitted to dating each other, Billy has been attacked by all of the kids nonstop. He’s currently surrounded by Max’s friends on the couch, smoking a cigarette, listening to them rant about their babysitter (who just so happened to be his boyfriend).

Max invited all of her little friends to their house without permission (again) and they were all blocking his view of the TV. Trying to look intimidating. It wasn’t working.

It was kind of funny actually. They were all convinced that he was going to murder Steve or some shit.

“I’d like to see you try and kill me, twerp,” Billy laughs.

“Don’t underestimate our power. You don’t stand a chance against the four of us. We could take. you. down.”

“Yeah, I don’t wanna be a part of that,” Lucas says.

“Me neither.”

“I wasn’t a part of it, to begin with.”

Billy throws his head back against the couch and lets out another laugh.

“Are you serious guys??” Dustin shouts, throwing his hands into the air. “You’re all just gonna leave me hanging here. What fucking great friends I have.”

At least the rest of the kids had some common sense. Even if they all came at him, Billy’s pretty sure he could fight them all off. After all, they were just puny little teenagers.

“I just don’t get what Steve sees in you,” Wheeler boy blurts out.

Billy smirks around his cigarette and looks up at Mike. “Watcha mean? Who wouldn’t want this piece of meat?” The kids scrunched up their faces.

“You tried to kill him, Billy,” Max cuts in.

“I wasn’t trying to fucking kill him, Maxine. You don’t know shit.” Billy hates when people assume that he was trying to kill Steve. He's a jerk, but he ain’t no murderer. But then again, he wasn’t stopping. If Max didn’t step in, who knows what would have happened to Steve.

“Either way, you were a jerk,” Lucas says. “You’re still a jerk, actually.”

“Fuck off. I’m only jerks to annoying little shits like you. Go bother Steve or some shit.”

“We can’t. We have to make sure you’re not trying to hurt him,” Curly says.

“Didn’t we get this out the way? I’m not going to do shit to him.” Billy’s growling at them now. They just won’t fucking leave. He just wants to be left alone.

“I’m not talking about beating him up!” he shouts, exasperated. “You’re gonna break his heart or something. Like what you did with your other girlfriends.”

Where the fuck were they getting this shit from? He’s never been in a serious relationship in his life. He used to get with a girl once in a while, but nothing more than that.

“I’m not a fucking player, Henderson.”

“Yeah, well...Max told us that you’ve had like five different girlfriends.”

That pisses him off.

He looks up at Max now. More like glares up at her. Stands up. Gets close to her face.

“Don’t talk shit, when you don’t know shit.” He grits out between his teeth.

He never had a girlfriend in his life. He just brought a bunch of girls over and used them (even though that was a dick move). But the point was, Max wasn’t right. She was never right. She didn’t know shit. He’d only had one relationship before Steve, and that was with a guy. It wasn’t serious. Max never even knew about that, so he didn’t know where she was getting five girlfriends from.

“Chill out, man. We’re just trying to look out for Steve,” Wheeler says, bringing him back from his thoughts.

“Yeah. Making sure that you’re good enough for him,” another one of the rats says. He’s not even sure which one. They were all saying the same thing over and over.

Don’t hurt Steve.

Don’t be a dick to Steve.

Be good to Steve.

You don’t deserve Steve.

It was always Steve. Never him. Sometimes, he wished people cared about him as much as they cared about Steve.

Billy knew, deep down, even though he would never admit it to himself, that he wanted someone to do to him what the kids were doing to Steve. To defend him. To care enough that they would threaten someone for him. Even though it would have to be against someone who was bigger and stronger, and who they didn’t have a chance against.

Just like him.

But that would never happen because he was Billy Hargrove. The player. The dick. The guy who doesn’t deserve anyone. Who doesn’t deserve Steve.

And fuck it because they were right. He doesn’t deserve Steve. He’s a dick. He hurts people. He hurt Steve.

“Billy?” a soft voice from his step-sister brought him back to reality.

He stands there for a moment and just looks at her because he can’t remember the last thing they said. All that was flooding through his head was thought that he didn’t deserve Steve.

“Fuck,” Billy says, his hands going up to his head to pull at his locks. He couldn’t think.

“Um,” she hesitates, and nervously pulls a strand of hair away from her face. “We can stop talking if you want.”

A flood of guilt coursed through him. Of course, he snapped at the one person who could see right through him. The one person who probably cared the most about him in that house, even if she didn’t care that much.

But there’s no point in trying to fix a relationship that would never get fixed. Nothing he could do would fix their relationship because nothing he’s ever done has ever fixed anything. He only breaks. Breaks people. Breaks things. That’s the only thing he’s good at. Why try any differently?

“What the hell are you thinking Maxine?” he sneers down at her. “You think I’m hurt by you and you’re little friends?” he laughs, loud and scary. She backs up. “You think I’m sad because I’m not good enough for Steve?” She shakes her head.

He’s not mad. He just wants to start a fight. He wants to her to do something. Anything that would make him mad. Hell, he wanted her to hit him. Make him feel something that’s not hurt.

“Well guess what, Maxine? I’m not.” He’s too close to her face now. He can see the tears filling up her eyes, but he tells himself he doesn’t care. “I don’t give a shit about--”

He feels four arms pulling him away from her. He lets them. He wasn’t going to hurt her. He just needed to take his anger out on someone. Scare her a little bit. Make it clear that he wasn’t hurt and that he’s not sad. Even if he is.

“Jesus Christ, dude! Get away from her.”

Billy turns around fuming. “Get out.”

They all look at him as if they didn’t hear him.

“GET THE FUCK OUT!” He startles them enough that they all head out the door without a word, leaving him alone.

He ruined everything. Again. He couldn’t do anything right. But then again he knew that already. Only about time before Steve notices how bad of a person he is and leaves him. A part of Billy wants Steve to leave before he can hurt him too. He would just be another person Billy’d scared away when all he wanted was to be loved.

Before he could feel any real emotion, he storms to his room. He just needed to stop feeling, then everything would be ok.

He slams the door of his room shut, turns up his music until he can’t hear his own thoughts, and wills himself not to cry.

He doesn’t deserve Steve.

#sorry this took SO long #also sorry if the plot seems rushed bc i feel like it is #let me know if ur not understanding something #requests are open #harringrove #billy hargrove #steve harrington #max mayfield #dustin henderson #mike wheeler #lucas sinclair #my works

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we-are-only-halfway-home93 · 5 years ago

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Beautiful Trauma 3- This Love Is Pain- [Billy Hargrove x OC]

Summary: Billy and Valerie have an encounter at Tina’s Halloween Party.

Characters: Billy Hargrove x OC, Steve Harrington x Nancy Wheeler, Jonathan Byers x Nancy Wheeler, Mike Wheeler, Will Byers, Lucas Sinclair, Dustin Henderson, Max Mayfield, Eleven, Joyce Byers, Jim Hopper

Warnings: Child abuse, underage sex, underage drinking, implied cheating, step-sibling incest, step-sibling relationship, violence, language

Ch. 2

"Love me still but know not why."

~ John Wilbye

The party was in full swing when Valerie arrived. Bodies crowded the entryway and she had to throw elbows to move around. The music was thumping throughout the house, shaking the walls and ringing in her ears. The chatter between people was white noise in her ears as she moved through the rooms.

Her red hair was brushed back with a purple headband. She had on a lavender dress with a green scarf and purple high heels. Her sheer tights did little in the way of warding off the cold but Max had told her to go as Daphne and she didn’t have any better ideas.

Billy had left an hour before she had. She didn’t ask for a ride and he didn’t offer. She had no desire to be around him after his stunt on the way home from school. She berated him at home, told him he could’ve killed those kids but he shrugged her off, claimed he wouldn’t have hit them. Valerie didn’t tell him that she thought he was lying.

She had convinced her mom to drop her off at the party on her way. Susan was dropping Max off in the wealthier part of Hawkins to trick or treat while she socialized with the other moms as they watched their kids with negligent eyes. Susan hadn’t said anything when they stopped in front of Tina’s house but Valerie could tell by the look on her face that she didn’t think it was a good idea.

Valerie had waved them off with a floppy hand and a firm, “Billy will take me home” before Susan drove off down the crowded lane. Valerie had watched her taillights disappear before she ventured inside the house.

So far, she’d seen five faces that she recognized from school. She gave herself a pat on the back considering so many people were wearing masks and face paint of some kind.

She looked towards the back of the house when she heard chants of Billy’s name. She saw him walk inside from the backyard, his leather jacket open over his bare chest. His chin was shiny with beer that ran in trails down his neck and chest. The ends of his hair was wet as well and she could see a streamer of toilet paper wrapped around his hand like he was going to wipe his face.

His eyes were focused on someone down and to her left and, when she looked, she saw Steve and Nancy leaning against the wall. Billy and his new entourage approached and she looked away.

She ventured into the kitchen and found a foggy bowl of red punch. She took a cup from the overturned stack and dipped it deep into the murky liquid. She sniffed it once and, finding it appealing enough, took a long drag. She coughed once and licked her lips, savoring the burn of the liquor as it traveled down her throat to her belly, the burn warming her from the inside out.

She turned to leave and stopped at the glistening chest in front of her. She looked up and met Billy’s droopy blue eyes. He grinned down lazily at her and reached around for a cup. He dipped it into the punch bowl and drained it in three swallows. She pretended not to be transfixed by the muscles of his throat working beneath his skin.

“Hey Daphne, where’s Scooby?” He drawled. She sneered up at him and pushed passed him. She didn’t need to see to know that he was following her.

She pushed through the crowd and found a staircase. She gripped the knob of the banister and took the steps two at a time. Her calves were burning when she reached the top but she didn’t see him behind when she checked.

She sighed and walked deeper down the hallway, examing the pictures hanging on the walls.

She ignored the sounds of sex as she passed by the various rooms. She stopped in front of a door that was surprisingly silent and twisted the knob. She had it open a crack when she felt hands at her waist. She shrieked and turned violently, hands up to strike her assailant.

She felt a righteous anger well up in her chest when she heard Billy’s familiar laughter. She shoved him back and he stumbled half a step.

“You’re an asshole, Billy.” She spun on her heel and entered the empty bedroom. He followed her and closed the door behind him. He was still laughing, wiping away fake tears as he leaned up against the door. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Mayfield, but it was too easy.” He sighed and copied her stance, his arms tight across his chest. She ignored the way his jacket strained against his arms and shoulders.

“What are you even supposed to be?” She scoffed. Billy smirked and pushed off the door, doing a dramatic spin and bowing. “I’m a rebel without a cause.” He snorted and shook his head. She couldn’t help the smile that began to stretch across her face.

This was the Billy she remembered. The one who could laugh at himself joke around with her. The one who wasn’t afraid to be himself.

“Well, I’m sure every girl here’s just dying to be the Natalie Wood to your James Dean.” She snarked. She moved to go around him but he pressed back against the door, again, blocking her way. She huffed. He tilted head and narrowed his eyes.

“What about you?” He asked. She narrowed her eyes and shook her head, confused.

“What about me?” Her voice was sharp and Billy’s jaw tensed. He turned his body to face her fully. She was level with his collarbone and didn’t appreciate having to look up to meet his eyes.

“Are you dying to be my Natalie Wood?”

She sneered and shoved at his chest, trying to move him. For someone who’d been drinking, he was remarkably steady on his feet. He didn’t move an inch when she shoved him. He just looked down at her with his piercing eyes and a straight face.

“Move.” She shoved him again for good measure.

He shook his head. “No.”

She glared at him, willing him to feel the heat of her gaze and the anger that burned in her chest. “Move.”

He lowered his head until they were eye to eye. “No.”

“Where do you get off, huh?” She scowled at him, her voice low and resonating. He reared his head back and gazed down at her, giving nothing away.

“You nearly run three kids off the road today, you scream at me and Max, you ignore me at home and at school, you treat me like I never even mattered.” She shrugged and brought her hands up towards him in a placating manner, bringing them down with a slap that echoed through the room. “It’s like you blame us for moving to this backwater town when you know that none of us had a say in this.”

Billy shot off the wall and pointed a threatening finger at her. “You don’t know anything, Mayfield so stop acting like you do. We both know who’s fault it is for moving to this bum fuck town.”

Valerie snorted. “You think you’re so tough, pointing fingers at me, yelling and screaming.” She moved into his space, forcing him back. “It’s all just a show. You’re putting on this grand performance to keep people from looking at you. You’d rather they see this arrogant, wild boy from California so that they don’t ask questions ‘cause God forbid they want to know anything about you.

“If they don’t ask questions you don’t have to remember.” She poked her finger into his sticky chest and felt his breath heaving. He was trembling with rage and she could see color rising up in his cheeks.

“If no one digs deep you don’t have to think about what you’re missing. You don’t have to think about me, what we had and how happy you were. That makes it easier, right?” She nodded, clenching her jaw. She could hear the breath rushing from his lungs through his nose. It was sharp and exploded across her face in a stream of cool air.

She stood up on her toes, brushing her nose with Billy’s. “Well, fuck you, Billy Hargrove.”

She pushed passed his waist and wrapped her hand around the doorknob, turning it. He wrapped his hand around her wrist and jerked her around, pressing her back against the door.

“You don’t know shit, Mayfield.” She opened her mouth to retort but was silenced by his lips.

He pressed hard against her, shoving her back with his body, pressing fully against her. She moaned and thrust her tongue against his, tasting beer on his breath.

His hands raked down her sides, sliding down her thighs and hoisting one up around his waist. He snaked his hand around the inside of her thigh and ghosting his fingers across her panty line. She shivered and groaned against his lips, wrapping her arms tight around his neck, holding him to her.

He groaned and tilted his head, moving his lips across her cheek and down her neck. She clenched her eyes shut and dropped her head back agains the door. Billy tugged the edge of her panties aside and slipped his fingers against the seam of her core. She gasped sharply, a high whine trailing off against his ear.

He groaned at the wet heat dripping over the pads of his fingers. He brushed his nose against her ear and tugged gently on the lobe. She shivered and tightened her arms around him. “Tell me to stop.” He whispered.

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and shook her head, clutching him closer to her. “Keep going.” She said. He moaned low into her neck and didn’t hesitate.

His hands moved rapidly to unfasten his jeans and in less than a minute, he was sheathed inside her. She gasped and tensed against him. The entrance was slick but tight. He stretched her to a point that was familiar and yet not. It had been months since they’d been together so she was a little out of practice.

In time, her body became familiar with the burn that came with taking Billy inside her and she nodded against him. He pistoned in and out of her with rapid strokes, building himself up.

She felt a simmer deep in her belly, centered around her core and she raked her nails through his hair. Billy licked a stripe up her neck and brought a hand down between them, pressing rough fingers against her clit.

She groaned against his neck and felt goosebumps rise up along her arms and legs. He pumped his hips three more times against her before he shuddered. She felt him spill inside her and she pulled roughly on his hair. He growled and circled his fingers against her, finishing her off.

As soon as she caught her breath, she shoved him away.

He gave her a hard stare and scoffed, pushing himself back inside his jeans and zipping up. “What?” He scoffed.

She adjusted the skirt of her dress and rolled her eyes. “You can’t just jump me every time I piss you off.” He snorted and shook his head, pushing his curls back away from his face.

“I don’t. Just when you’re being difficult.” He smacked his lips and rested his hands on his hips, arching his back and cracking his spine. He groaned at the relief and smirked at her downturned expression. He stepped forward and cupped her chin in his hand.

“Cheer up.” He said before planting a smacking kiss on her lips. She shoved him back and wiped roughly at her lips with the back of her hand. “Next time you’re being difficult, I’ll just push you up against a wall and make you come. Maybe then you won’t piss me off as much.”

Her nostrils flared and she pushed her hand flat against his face, shoving him back. He cackled and reached around her for the doorknob. “Stop being such a buzzkill and have fun, Mayfield.”

To anyone else, he would’ve sounded like he meant it. Valerie knew that he was patronizing her. She snorted and pushed passed him out the door. She ignored the sound of his laughter and instead looked for a bathroom.

She was halfway down the hall when Steve Harrington stormed out the door ahead of her and disappeared down the stairs. She huffed and turned to the door he came out of. She approached and knocked.

She heard a feminine grown and pushed it open.

Nancy was leaning unsteadily over the sink, wiping futilely at the giant red stain on the front of her white sweater. Valerie felt a small smile come over her lips and she laughed lightly.

“Nancy, do you need help?” The girl in question looked at her through dazed eyes and shook her head. She looked like a bobblehead. Valerie suppressed her laughter and came in, leaving the door open behind her.

“Here, Nance, let’s get you downstairs.” Just as she made to move Nancy’s arm over her shoulders, a figure loomed in the doorway. Valerie looked up and was met with the puppy dog eyes and droopy face of Jonathan Byers.

#billy hargrove #billy hargrove x OC #nancy wheeler x steve harrington #nancy wheeler x jonathan byers #nancy wheeler #steve harrington #jonathan byers #mike wheeler #dustin henderson #lucas sinclair #will byers #max mayfield #eleven #joyce byers #jim hopper #stranger things #step sibling relationship #beautiful trauma

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thecomicsnexus · 6 years ago

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FRANK MILLER’S RONIN JULY 1983 - AUGUST 1984 BY FRANK MILLER AND LYNN VARLEY

SYNOPSIS (FROM WIKIPEDIA)

In feudal Japan, a young, nameless samurai has sworn to protect his master, Lord Ozaki, from assassins. Ozaki is assassinated at night by a demon called Agat in the guise of a geisha, in an act of revenge for Ozaki stealing his sword. The sword is powered by blood — if it can be fueled by the blood of an innocent, the sword will become powerful enough to destroy Agat. Ozaki has hidden the sword, so Agat cannot find it. The young samurai prepares to perform seppuku at his master's graveside. The spirit of Ozaki appears before him and demands that he find the sword and keep it from Agat until his skills are great enough to destroy the demon lord. The young samurai becomes a rōnin, wandering the countryside for many years. He comes to Agat's castle, and fights his way inside. Since the sword has never killed an innocent, it is not powerful enough to destroy Agat, so when Agat approaches him from behind, the ronin thrusts the sword through his own abdomen, impaling Agat. As Agat dies, he curses the ronin, and both their souls are trapped inside the sword until someone releases them.

Eight centuries later, social and economic collapse has left New York a lawless wasteland, populated by squatters, factions, and mutants. In the heart of the city is the Aquarius Complex, the headquarters of the Aquarius Corporation. The Aquarius Corporation is an idealistic company founded by three people: Peter McKenna, inventor of biocircuitry, his wife, Casey McKenna, Aquarius' head of security, and Mr. Taggart, who funded and controls Aquarius. The company is successful developing and marketing biocircuitry as a means of saving a world on the brink of war. Biocircuitry is a new model of plastics-based electronics, capable of self-organization and self-repair under the direction of Virgo, the artificial intelligence at the heart of the Aquarius Complex.

Aquarius's ward, Billy Challas, was born without any limbs due to a genetic defect and has telekinetic powers. Virgo works with him to develop his psionic abilities and Billy tests cutting-edge prosthetic limbs for Aquarius. Billy has been having vivid dreams of the story of Ozaki, the ronin, and Agat. Billy and Virgo are confused by the detail and historical accuracy of the dream since his education had never covered feudal Japan.

Back at Aquarius, Virgo explains what has occurred to Casey McKenna, who assumes Virgo's logic units have been affected, but begins an investigation anyway. Agat infiltrates the complex, where he murders Taggart and assumes his form. In this guise, Agat begins negotiating a weapons deal with the Japan-based Sawa Corporation. Peter McKenna is outraged; he had created the technology under the agreement that it would be for non-violent purposes only. He confronts Taggart and realizes that he's an impostor. He informs Virgo, who is not only unshaken by this revelation, but immediately informs Taggart, forming a pact with him. Peter infiltrates Virgo's memory bank and forces her to show him what happened to Taggart. Even with the video replay, Peter refuses to believe the story and accuses Virgo of killing Taggart. He is kidnapped and held prisoner by Agat.

Head, an aging hippie who realizes that the ronin is his ticket to security, tells the ronin that he'll 'manage' him and take care of him; the ronin passively acquiesces. Head plans to sell the ronin as "The Elvis of Violence", and makes deals with the heads of both the Nazi and Black factions to kill the other faction's leader in exchange for rice, beer, sterno, and a place to sleep.

Casey McKenna gets authorization to pursue and retrieve the ronin, understanding from Virgo that Billy Challas has somehow been transformed into a killer, and that the absence of effective law enforcement means that capturing him is Aquarius' responsibility. The three man team who finds the ronin, however, is killed without hesitation. Convinced of Virgo's story, Casey seeks permission to kill the ronin. Taggart denies this when Virgo informs him that the ronin is, in fact, Billy, complete with telekinetic power and, as such, might be useful in cybernetics. Casey finds the ronin dealing with the Nazi and Black factions and, despite her orders, attempts to kill him. Casey is knocked unconscious by the two factions before she can accomplish this and is thrown into a pit. The ronin kills both faction leaders, discards Head, and goes to rescue Casey.

The pit leads into sewers infested with cannibals, who swarm and kidnap Casey and the ronin. The ronin breaks free and slaughters the cannibals. Casey is surprised to find herself falling in love with the ronin. It snows shortly thereafter, for the first time in five years, and the ronin speaks English out of the blue. Casey and the ronin sleep together in the snow.

Peter, bound and gagged, is met by therapist Sandy. Peter convinces Sandy to free him and they try to make sense of all that has occurred. Peter concludes that Virgo kept the extent of Billy's powers a secret in order to exploit them, and that Billy created the ronin based around the television programs he loved so much as a kid, using his powers to create arms and legs built for himself and control Casey. Sandy, hearing this, thinks Peter is insane, and leaves him alone with Virgo.

Robots sent by Taggart attack the ronin and Casey, removing the ronin's mechanical arms and legs. Virgo, controlling the robots, starts a mental attack on the ronin, bringing forward Billy's repressed memory of murdering a local bully. Billy, enraged, regains his limbs, but a horde of flying robots subdue him and blast the subway tunnel where Casey had been trying to make her escape. Trapped, the ronin mentally reaches out to Casey, who regains consciousness within the rubble and kills a robot. Casey breaks into Aquarius, which by this point has engulfed the entire city. The ronin causes a blackout that allows Casey to escape the guards and find Peter. Virgo forces Agat to restrain himself, and address the workers about the blackout. Virgo confronts Billy mentally. Virgo soothes Billy and convinces him to stop helping Casey.

Casey, with the help of Learnid and Sandy, whom Learnid convinces of Peter's sanity, finds Peter. A physical wreck, Peter informs Casey that Billy is being manipulated by Virgo into turning fantasy into reality. A Virgo robot attacks and kills Peter. Reinvigorated by Casey's sadness, Billy begins questioning Virgo. When Casey is attacked by another robot, Billy is enraged and lashes out, destroying it. Virgo verbally castigates Billy, threatening to send him away (as his mother did after she saw him murder the bully) if he doesn't stop. Billy backs down.

Taggart, trying to calm the workers, is confronted by Learnid who accuses him of having been corrupted. Before Taggart can attack, Virgo orders him away, stating a life-threatening hazard has occurred. Learnid notes that regulations give him authority in such situations to evacuate non-essential personnel and forces Virgo to carry out the order.

Casey runs into Peter, now a deformed half-man/half-machine, who attacks her. Peter explains that Billy's powers gave Virgo a consciousness and Virgo wanted more. In order to increase his power, while keeping him under control, she manipulated him into creating the ronin, thereby releasing his power, but trapping him in fantasy. Virgo wants to make biocircuitry the new dominant life form on Earth. Casey kills Peter and tells Virgo to take her to the ronin. Once near him, she is transported back into fantasy, and keeps playing along. Kissing the ronin, they are confronted by Agat. Casey turns to confront him but rather than taking out her sword, she shoots him in the head. Agat's wiring explodes, revealing him to be a robot.

Sensing danger, Virgo tries in vain to talk Casey out of acting, to no avail. Casey frees the ronin, then humiliates him, as a woman had avenged his master where he had failed. Casey then gives him a sword to commit seppuku while acting as his second. As the ronin guts himself, Billy cries in agony. Virgo tries to scold him to take control but Billy can't control himself, blaming Virgo for making him feel worthless. The ronin shoves the sword into his heart, Casey decapitates him, and Billy unleashes a telekinetic blast which destroys Aquarius, and by extension, New York. The only ones left standing are Casey and the ronin.

CONTEXT

REVIEW

There are too many things to have in mind with this novel, I do not recommend analyzing individual chapters, while this was published as a mini-series, it is pretty clear that it has to be read like a book.

This is important, because for the first three episodes, it felt pretty much like the average Frank Miller “toxic masculinity” western adventure. But then, everything changes completely and you no longer know what is real or not. Even the ending is a bit ambiguous. Did Billy survive only to live in a fantasy world?

There are also many references to social problems of 1983, like the world going to hell, world war III and humans feeling replaced by machines. Half of this story feels like many other Frank Miller’s stories where big corporations are free to bend the laws and nature for a profit. (RoboCop comes to mind).

But then, the second part of this story blows up into a very different story that doesn’t even match the premise of the novel. It’s like the last three chapters are not the ending of the first three. And the fact that it’s all a fantasy, makes up for what could be considered artistic errors (like a Japanese having blue eyes).

Frank Miller’s art is polarizing. His faces are not always human, and much like John Romita Jr. his characters tend to look to much alike. But this fluctuates a lot and sometimes we get perfectly human faces. So my guess is that this is intentional. I read somewhere that Miller was conscious about the similarities in his art with Moebius. This is notorious, in fact, I would say that the whole novel has an European feel to it. But it also draws from manga, and his influences are balanced enough not to look like he is copying others.

Lynn Varley takes advantage of the print technology used for this book (not Newsprint), and while not making the comic full of colors (the one thing the change in technology allows), but full of shades. So while her palette is still limited, there are many tones of each color. She also decided for a bi dimensional feel that matches Miller’s art. Other graphic novel at the time had gradients, I don’t those would have look good with the art.

As with many westerns, female roles are complicated. They are either a sexual distraction or macho women. This case in particular shows inverted roles in Casey’s home life, with her husband being a bit more effeminate (and possibly bisexual). At the same time, she falls prey for a macho fantasy, and while she puts an end to the bigger menace, one would have to think that she is still prisoner of Billy’s imagination. So I don’t know, you tell me...

I give this novel a score of 10

#frank miller #ronin #lynn varley #dc comics #comics #review #1983 #modern age

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dreamwritesimagines · 7 years ago

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Bad Habit 19 - Runaway [Billy Russo x Reader]

A.N.: Your feedback makes my day! Thank you so much, please keep it coming! <3

Tags are at the end!

Characters: Billy Russo x Reader, Matt Murdock

Summary: Conversations after breakups are difficult.

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Warning: Explicit language, cussing, violence.

Word Count: 2779

Please tell me what you think!

Gif’s not mine!

A silence fell upon you as the anger pulsed through your veins, and you tried to see through the fury.

He was actually here.

“Are you planning on putting that thing down?” Billy deadpanned and you arched a brow,

“Come a little closer and you’ll find out.”

He didn’t seem threatened and he lowered his hands, shooting you an almost amused look and he took a step, then froze when you cocked the gun.

“You’d get in trouble.”

You clicked your tongue, “Worth it, asshole.”

“How’s your leg?”

“Ready to kick your ass, thanks for asking.”

He shot you a reprimanding look, “Babe…”

“Don’t call me that.” You spat as he took a step towards you, “Billy, I will fucking shoot you if you take one step closer.”

“For fuck’s sake…” he muttered, “You shouldn’t be standing, you got shot-“

“Looks like we’ll actually have something in common then.” You muttered as you tried to ignore the ache in your leg. Billy ran a hand over his face,

“Okay, why don’t you threaten me while sitting down?” he offered, “You could still be pointing a gun at me from the couch over there.”

“Can’t you at least act like you’re intimidated?”

“Yeah.” Billy’s voice was lacked any sort of emotion, if anything it was just sarcastic, “This is the first time someone is pointing a gun at me. You’re right Y/N, I’m very intimidated right now because I have no idea how to disarm you.”

You narrowed your eyes and pointed the gun between his legs, making him take a step back,

“Okay, let’s just think straight-“

“Walk the fuck away, Billy.”

“You’re crazy if you think I’m leaving here without you hearing me out first.”

You clenched your teeth as the ache in your leg started getting worse and you tried to put all your weight to your other leg.

“If you don’t sit your ass down I’ll take that gun from you.” Billy said with the same calm tone as one would use with a temperamental toddler, making you grit your teeth.

“You look very sure of yourself, dickhead.”

“Last warning.”

Oh who were you kidding, really? It was more than obvious that with his years of training, he could probably disarm you without having to remove his expensive jacket. You huffed out and took a step back, then perched on the edge of the couch, still pointing the gun.

“There you go.”

“Don’t get too cocky, I can still blow your dick off.”

He heaved a deep sigh, as if praying for patience.

“Y/N,” he said, “Listen, I know you’re angry-“

“Angry?” You repeated, “Understatement of the fucking century. Why are you still here anyway? I’m pretty sure there are many more girls who have problematic relatives-“

“I’m done with that shit.”

“Yeah let me guess, you’re a changed man now.” You let out a bitter chuckle and raised the gun higher the moment he took a step towards you, “Not so fast, buddy.”

“This is Murdock’s doing, isn’t it?” he motioned at you, making you frown, “He- he somehow managed to convince you that-“

“That you’re a two faced piece of shit? Nah, figured that one by myself. It isn’t that hard-“ You were cut off when you phone started buzzing and you took a look at the caller I.D, then answered it, still pointing the gun at him, “Yes, my favorite vigilante?”

“Hey, you okay?”

“Why, your devil senses are tingling?”

Matt chuckled, “You left a note. I was worried.”

“Nah, no need.” You pressed the phone between your ear and your shoulder as you pulled your bag closer to yourself, still glaring at Billy. “You’re at your office?”

“Yeah, do you- would you want to come by?”

“Sure, I can bring coffee and cake. Oh, do you want chips? I want chips!”

“You’re supposed to eat healthy.”

Your eyes snapped up to Billy’s as your heartbeat got faster, but he didn’t seem to have picked that up. Instead, he had pulled his brows together, as if he didn’t understand how to interpret this conversation. You bit on your lip and cleared your throat.

“Yeah, um- not happening. So I’ll- uh…I’ll drop by okay?”

“Okay. Be careful.”

“I’ll see you there.” You hung up and Billy crossed his arms, looking angry all of a sudden.

“So this is actually happening?” he motioned at you and you raised your brows.

“What?”

“Murdock?”

You rolled your eyes, “Fuck off, man…” you grabbed your bag from the couch and stood up, stumbling for a second because of your leg and he rushed in to help you, but you shoved him back.

“You do not touch me!” Your voice rose before you could even control it and he held up his hands, but stepped in front of you as soon as you took a step.

“I don’t wanna talk to you.” You felt like you were swallowing acid, “Or see you again. Ever.”

“Y/N, I-“ he shook his head, “I- I fucked up, okay? I know I did but I can’t just let you leave without knowing what actually happened-“

“I was there, remember?” You said through your teeth, “I know what happened just fine.”

“I said some shit-“

“Yeah, and it feels like that was the only time you were ever honest with me, since we’ve met.” You blinked back the tears, there was no way you would cry in front of him. “You were right, you know? I didn’t even think of questioning it-“

“Because there is nothing to question!” he snapped, “It- yeah, okay, it started out that way but later on-“

“You never gave a shit about me, I was just your fucking mission-“

“You were my mission.” Billy nodded, “Until you weren’t. You know I’m telling the truth, deep down.”

You tried to swallow the lump in your throat and scoffed.

“Right.”

“Don’t you know?” Billy asked, and for the first time you’ve known him, he actually looked almost-

Hesitant.

Lost.

“Nah man,” You clicked your tongue, “I was just- you just used me. I mean…” You let out a bitter laugh, “I’m to blame as much as you, I guess. I didn’t exactly object, did I? I let you-“ You had to stop talking as soon as your voice cracked and you sniffled, trying to pull yourself together.

“I killed that guy.” Billy said lowly and you looked up at him.

“What? Morty? Yeah I was there-“

“Not him. The uh…the guy who stabbed you.”

“The guy you sent after me.” You corrected him and he nodded slowly.

“He wasn’t supposed to…” he ran a hand over his face, “He wasn’t supposed to hurt you. Just- I thought if he scared you…”

“That I’d talk.”

“When I heard about it-“ he shook his head, “I saw red. You weren’t supposed to-get hurt. You’re not supposed to get hurt.”

“That’s supposed to make me feel better?”

He shrugged slightly, “Just- you need to know.”

“Need to know what?!” You snapped, tears filling your eyes once again, “What exactly? Everything that’s happened, Billy, everything- do you have any idea how- how disgusting I feel right now?! How- how worthless, like it’s my fault?!”

“It’s my fault.” Billy shook his head fervently, “You wanna blame someone, blame me. You did nothing, I was the one who-”

“But I don’t wanna blame anyone anymore.” Your voice cracked “I’m just-tired. Aren’t you tired?”

He stared at you, and took a deep breath.

“I am.”

You nodded, wiping your eyes.

“I just-“ You cleared your throat, “For what it’s worth, after everything- It’s all fucked up, but I just… thought you loved me. That’s why I trusted you. It’s stupid, I know. Like I said, you’re a good actor.”

Silence filled the room for a couple of seconds and you could only hear your heartbeat before he spoke.

“But I do.”

Your eyes snapped up to his and your heart skipped a beat. You had never seen him that vulnerable, not even during sex. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think he was heartbroken, if he had a heart, that is.

A sob escaped from your throat, “I should kill you right here and right now…” You whispered and he let out a shaky breath, then slowly reached out to pull you closer, making you lower the gun. You didn’t know why but you let him, his scent filling your nostrils as his hand caressed your hair, as if he was trying to soothe the pain you were feeling. He buried his nose into your hair, taking a deep breath.

“Hey, I’ll make it better,” he whispered as you leaned deeper into his touch, and he pressed a kiss to the top of your head, “I swear I will- you know I always do. I’ll make it better, Y/N.”

You sniffled, trying to pull yourself together and pulled back to look up at him, shaking your head.

“Don’t.” You managed to say, “No need.”

“Y/N-“ he said shakily and you tried to smile, then shrugged.

“Like you said back there, Russo,” Your voice was low, “You’re as pretty as they come, but you don’t mean anything to me.”

Even after everything, the look in his eyes was so heartbreaking that you couldn’t bear to be in there anymore with him, so you grabbed the bag and walked out of the apartment, barely aware of the pain in your leg.

“I don’t know why you’re doing this.” Matt stated as you both walked into Karen’s apartment, and you raised your brows. Karen was called back into the work, chasing a story in the middle of the night but thankfully you still had a spare key, so it wasn’t that much of a problem to move some of your stuff into her apartment. Karen had even left you a plate full of cookies along with a bottle of vitamins, with a note that said Enjoy both of them!

“I can’t stay at your place forever, Murdock.” You said as you put the bag on Karen’s couch and he heaved a sigh.

“I mean you should though. At least until we figure out what to do.”

“Can I not figure out what to do?” You grabbed a cookie from the plate, “Can I just- have no idea what I’ll do for a goddamn day?”

Matt didn’t answer and you heaved a deep sigh, biting on your lip.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine-“

“No, I’m being a bitch.” You shook your head, “I just…” you cleared your throat “I um- I saw Billy today.”

Matt’s head shot up and he frowned, “Wait, what?”

“Yeah. Before I dropped by your office.”

“Y/N-“

“Everything’s fine.”

“No it’s not!” he said, “That bastard could’ve hurt you!”

“He’s not gonna hurt me.”

“I wouldn’t be that sure.”

“He won’t.” you said slowly, and Matt took a deep breath,

“How do you know?”

“Because he loves me.” You mumbled, making Matt pause for a second.

“Y/N…”

“I’m not naïve, Matt. I know as much as you do that it doesn’t make anything better. I’m just saying.”

“Why do you still trust him?”

You let out a laugh, “I don’t trust anyone anymore.” You muttered, “Want a cookie?”

“Y/N-“

“Matt.” You cut him off “Doesn’t mean anything. I’m just saying, it’s fucked up, but… It is what it is.” You chewed on the cookie, “Jesus, is there anything Karen is bad at? If the journalism thing doesn’t work, we should just raise money to open her a bakery or-“

“Do you?”

You raised your head, “Hm?”

“Do you love him?”

You hesitated only for a second.

“Sit down and have a cookie with me.” You said, making him smile slightly before he shook his head,

“I can’t, I have- stuff to do.”

“It’s the middle of the night and you’re a- oh.”

Daredevil duties.

Your heart skipped a beat and you sat up straighter, “Are you- are you gonna be safe?”

“You sound worried.”

“That’s because I’m worried, asshole.” You chuckled, “I’m serious- oh my God, Matt, do you need a sidekick?”

“Nope.”

“I could totally be your sidekick!”

“No you really couldn’t-“

“I would wear a similar costume-“

“You’re pregnant.” Matt reminded you, “You’re gonna sit here and eat cookies and get your vitamins. Sidekick thing can wait.”

You huffed out and leaned back, “Spoilsport.”

“I’m taking you out to eat healthy food tomorrow, you hear me?”

“You’re pushing your luck, Murdock.”

He chuckled, “See you tomorrow.”

“Call me when you’re done with the…vigilante thing tonight, okay? I’ll be waiting.”

“Stress isn’t good for the baby.”

“Fuck off, Sexy Costume.”

He chuckled again before he kissed the top of your head, and walked out of the apartment. You smiled softly before you ran a hand through your hair and tried to find something to watch on Karen’s TV.

You were almost forty minutes into the cooking show when your phone buzzed beside you and you chewed on the last cookie before you grabbed it and opened the message.

It was from an unknown number and you frowned when you saw the text.

Y/N Y/L/N?

You hesitated for a second before you typed,

Who’s this?

The reply came almost too quickly.

There’s something you need to know about your baby. Can we meet?

Your heartbeat got faster in a minute before you put your phone down, trying to repress the panic.

Your brother.

Of course it was one of your brother’s tricks.

“Fuck…” You said through your teeth, and stood up to walk to the window to open it, you desperately needed fresh air, but as soon as you did, the jet black sports car caught your eye once again.

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” You couldn’t help but to yell, then grabbed the keys and stormed out of the apartment to walk downstairs. You made your way to the car and slammed your hand to the window.

“Open up, asshole!”

Billy pushed open the door and stumbled outside, making you take a step back at the sight of him. He looked like a mess, his eyes were red rimmed, his hair was all tousled as if he had been running his hand through it and overall he just looked so unlike his usual self.

“Please tell me you’re not drunk-“

“I’m not.” He cut you off, “Get back in the apartment.”

“…Excuse you?”

“Get back in the apartment.”

“You get back in your own fucking apartment, instead of spying on me!”

Couple of people walking by shot you weird looks but you were way too exhausted to care, and Billy ran a hand over his face,

“Your brother got away.”

“As if I don’t fucking-“

“Which means you’re still in danger.”

“And what, you- you’re here to protect me?”

He shrugged slightly, “You don’t love me, fine. It’s still my mess, and I’m still gonna clean it up.”

“Go home, Billy.” You started walking away from him but turned around when he followed you, “I’m serious.”

“Do you really not love me anymore?”

You shut your eyes for a second before you took a deep breath and opened them again.

“Hurts like a bitch, doesn’t it?”

His jaw clenched “You… you left Murdock’s apartment.”

“For fuck’s sake-“ You stopped yourself, “I don’t need you to protect me.”

“Like fuck you don’t,” he said, “Your brother is gonna come back, you know he will.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“So why-“

“He’s not gonna kill me, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“He shot you!”

“He’s not gonna find me, because I’m leaving.”

His head snapped up, “Leaving?” he repeated, “Leaving where?”

“Leaving New York.”

“No no no, you can’t leave-“ Billy looked almost frantic, “You need to stay-“

“I really don’t.”

“I know you’re angry, but New York is safer-“

“For me.” You corrected him, “Yeah, maybe. It’s not just me I’m worried about anymore.”

He pulled his brows together “I don’t-“

“I’m pregnant, asshole!” You snapped, and his eyes widened as he lowered his glances to your stomach, then raised them to look at you, “And both you and I have way too many enemies in here so I’m not dragging a baby into this mess. So yeah, I’m leaving.”

“I-“ he stammered, still gawking at you completely dumbfounded, “Y/N, I need to think-“

“Oh you don’t have to think about anything, buddy.” You took a step towards him, still glaring at him, “No worries at all, because you’re never seeing me or this baby once I get the fuck out of New York. You get that? Ever!”

He looked like you had just sucker punched him as he stared at you in shock, and you turned around to walk into Karen’s building, then slammed the door behind you.

Chapter 20- Good News, Bad News

Special thanks go to: @lilywoood@baernthal@completeshippertrash@theskytraveler@lostkizzy@badwolfsupernova@dyingformyships@asongofmarvelanddc@thespectacularjasmine@ninjathrowingstork@onyour-right@hightechvigilantes@the-doctor-9-10@just-another-potterhead@itsjustmylifeconfessions@221bbakerstreettardis@sleepyyweepy@mightymelly@xsarahlouisex@anolympianhero sylviebret @timeless-flogging@vixsyncynco @fictionalthrill@megame@itssherlockintheair padfoots-princess @ravismorgue @hogwartisism @hellostarposts@pandalandalopalis@archaichannah@katjusja@lieutenantdanielle@fictionwillneverdie@thesandbeneathmytoes@mellxander1993 @siriuslyimmoony @romanceyour-ego @hoodedhavok @nostalgic-uncertainty @gamegulliza @gallysroses @marauderskeeper @whoarumancek lindatelevangelista666 and lovely anons! Your support means so much to me, you’re amazing!

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saruma-aki · 6 years ago

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Some Nonverbal Miscommunication (pt 2)

Maybe he didn’t think about it hard enough, then, or maybe he didn’t think about it at all then—but he’s thinking about it now, looking down in surprise at Will Byers as he wields his box of crayons like a weapon, wedging himself in between him and Billy. He’s at the Byers house, and he doesn’t remember what it was they were arguing about now in the face of Will’s righteous anger.

“Will,” Jonathan called out, sitting up in his seat in surprise, Nancy standing next to him, eyes wide. Steve meets her eyes, and they’re as wide as his are, as all of theirs are.

Will doesn’t listen, or doesn’t react, reaching behind himself to grab at Billy’s hand, and Steve watches as Billy, jaw clenching and setting, tilts his hand so that it’s easier to grab and allows—actually allows—Will to push him back in the direction of the door, box of crayons held in front of him like some sort of weapon, threatening to open and spill everything that gives it weight. It’s only when they’re near the door that Will drops the box to grab his coat and Billy’s before they’re both out through the door.

It swings shut, and there’s a moment of silence before they’re all bursting into action, rushing to the door and out to the porch, looking at Will in the car with Billy, Billy’s head pressed into the steering wheel. Will’s saying something, but none of them can hear. They all move as a unit, though, to surround the Camaro, tapping on the windows.

Steve really should know his boyfriend better, he figures, as he visibly sees the tension increase in Billy’s body, and he barely has time to shout at the others to get back before Billy’s hand is lashing out and cranking to reverse, Camaro turning and wrenching out of the driveway, tracks scoured into the earth.

“The hell was that,” Jonathan finally breathes out, turning accusatory eyes on Steve who can only raise his hands in defense, the same thought running through his head. “Well, get your coat. Your friend,” Jonathan spits the word out, “just kidnapped my brother.”

Steve winces internally, hurrying alongside Nancy to grab his coat and keys. It’s as he’s slipping his arms through the sleeves, though, that he stops, looking down at the keys grasped in his fingers. Why did Will get between him and Billy? They weren’t doing anything. It was a small fight—they don’t argue often. Why would Will—

“Steve, come on,” Nancy calls, and he hesitates again, bottom lip pulled between his teeth.

“Go ahead with Jonathan. I’ll be right behind you guys,” he calls back, and he hears the questioning noise she makes, but after a few seconds, he hears her exit the house. Once he’s sure he’s alone, he stumbles over to the phone, dialing the number for Joyce, foot tapping impatiently on the floor.

He knows Billy, knows he would never hurt any of the kids—especially Will. He had developed a weird fondness for the kid, much like Steve’s own relationship with Dustin, and Billy had been more entertaining himself with Will’s drawings during their conversation just now than actually participating with Jonathan, Nancy, and him. He only piped up once, and then that devolved into an argument, and an argument wasn’t conducive for getting them all to be friends, so Steve moved to shut it down quickly, and then—

“Hello,” Joyce’s voice comes through, staticky and warm.

“Hey, Ms. Byers,” he responds, feeling awkward in his own skin. “Is Will there?”

“He is. Billy just dropped him off.”

He hums in response, twisting the cord around his finger, only letting himself feel a little victorious that his hunch was correct. “Is Billy still there,” he whispers, and he feels antsy, like there’s electricity buzzing along his nerve endings and is refusing to let him stay still. Joyce makes a soft noise that sounds like affirmation, and he sighs shakily. “Did Will say why they left?”

There’s silence on the line, and it feels like judgment, like Joyce somehow knows exactly what it is what made Will react like that and it’s linked to Steve.

“Sweetie,” she starts with, and it has bile rising in his throat, palms sweating, “I think you and Billy need to have a serious talk as,” she pauses, “partners,” she continues, and Steve’s stomach twists tight because she knows—of course, she knows, but the way she says it, in the context of the conversation, makes it sound like he’s being given ‘the talk’ and has anxiety racing down his spine.

“About—about what, exactly,” he gets out through the ball in his throat.

Joyce is quiet, and it makes him even more anxious. “Look, Steve,” she begins, pauses, breathes, continues, “I haven’t seen a lot of you and Billy together, and you guys seem happy.” She stops again, and the pause feels a lot like a sniper taking aim. “But Will says that you’re very aggressive when you guys fight.”

“A—aggressive,” he repeats dumbly, heart plummeting. When was he aggressive? “I think he just misunderstood, Ms. Byers. I’ve never—I would never hurt Billy. Billy would never hurt me. It must’ve just seemed—I—I’ll talk to him. Can you,” he breathes, brow furrowed, headache building in the base of his skull, “can you tell him to go to my place?”

Joyce agrees, and he hangs up with a shaking hand.

They don’t end up talking about it. Billy is at his place by the time Steve gets there, sprawled on his bed, and a soft kiss turns into two and that turns into three until Steve can’t remember what it is he’s supposed to be doing.

He remembers two weeks later, staring into watery blues, hand pressing hard into solid bone and soft skin, fingers digging into delicate flesh—flesh he’s brushed kisses against and sucked into his mouth. And there’s no Will—there’s no one—near them, and Steve is watching a crystalline drop slide down a bruised cheek, and he feels sick.

“Billy,” he whispers, sounding loud in the seemingly deafening silence, hands loosening their hold, but Billy doesn’t move from where he’s pressed into the wall.

Steve hadn’t hit him—he would never. He would never hurt Billy. But Billy—Billy looks scared, looks downright terrified, his blue eyes wide with tears dripping down his cheeks, unbidden, and Steve doesn’t know what to do. He doesn’t know what he did.

“Billy,” he repeats, and his raises his hand to brush away the tears, desperation making his own eyes burn. And that—that’s when he finally understands.

The wide baby blues shutter as Billy flinches back hard, head knocking against the wall from how quickly he moves, watching Steve with wide eyes. And the anticipation he could never understand finally makes sense.

Billy was expecting a hit, was waiting for Steve to smack him around—was dreading a blow being delivered.

And that—that was everything Steve had never wanted, ever, and he feels sick, hands shaking as he cups Billy’s face, ignores the tremors that ripple through Billy’s body as he presses closer. “Fuck—fuck, Billy,” he gasps, hoarse, as he drops his head forward to rest against Billy’s. “You know—why didn’t you—you should’ve—I should’ve,” he flounders, searching for the right words, searching for the right way to apologize for not noticing, not thinking, not asking. “You know I would never hit you, right? You know that, right?”

Billy doesn’t answer, and the tears are hot against Steve’s thumbs as he wipes them away with gentle caresses until Billy’s relaxing and pushing away from the wall and into Steve, seeking out of the comfort Steve wants so desperately to provide—because how had it gotten so fucked up so fast?

“Billy,” he whispers, brushes a feather light kiss to his forehead, just above his eyebrow, feeling the skin shift as Billy scrunches his face up, sniffling silently.

“I know,” he grumbles, and he sounds annoyed at himself, like he’s somehow at fault for this, and Steve wants to shake him and tell him that none of this is his fault, but the words won’t come out. So, they’re quiet for a bit, and Steve almost wants to pull away, to hide away and mull over every single fight and catalog every detail he missed and didn’t understand—look at how Will and Joyce reacted, how Max reacted, and feel sick because he should’ve seen it because the signs were so clear, and they were coming from more than just Billy.

He almost wants to do all of that, but then Billy is shifting closer, letting out a shuddering breath, hands shoving themselves into the pockets of his leather jacket, using his mitt-ed hands to lightly grip Steve’s hips, head tilting to the side and down, hiding his face from Steve. “I should’ve said something. I’m sorry,” he whispers finally, and Steve stiffens, frowning.

“You should’ve—Billy, I’m the one that should be sorry. I should’ve noticed; all the signs were there, and I didn’t even think—”

“You’re not a mind reader,” Billy interrupts, pulling away, and Steve takes a small step back so that Billy doesn’t end up against the wall again, but he’s reluctant to let more than that little bit of space grow between them. “We’re supposed to tell each other things. How else is this supposed to work? I just,” Billy lets out a little laugh, a scoffing sort of sound that grates on Steve’s nerves with its deprecating tone, “I couldn’t.”

“Why—why did you even think I would ever—I mean, you know I wouldn’t,” he stumbles, fumbles, as he mumbles the words, fingers hooking in Billy’s belt loops, hidden by the fall of the leather of his jacket.

He shrugs his shoulders almost helplessly, hip cocking and foot tapping in a way that tells Steve that Billy’s itching for a smoke, that he’s stressed and worried and vulnerable. “My dad—it’s a whole thing. And I would’ve deserved it, if it—if it was was you. After what I did—have done—it was, I would’ve deserved it.”

“Fuck that,” Steve grumbles, tugging Billy a reluctant step closer, casting a cursory look at their surroundings as he tilted his head, let their noses rub together just slightly. “You would deserve none of it. And you don’t deserve it from your dad either. No one deserves that,” he whispers with a vehemence that surprises him a little bit—not because of the topic, but the passion behind his statement, pulled from deep inside of himself and unloading itself onto Billy.

Laughingly enough, for all of the unloading done, Billy looks like a weight has been removed from his shoulders—tilts his head and lets their lips lock for a second in a brazen move of affection that they never risk in public. And it has Steve soaring, high up in the clouds, one hand coming up to cup the curve of Billy’s jaw, thumb brushing along dried tear tracks.

“Hey, guys,” Nancy calls, and Steve and Billy shift in unison, Billy turning so that his back is to Nancy, shoulders hunching, and Steve rotates so that he’s facing her, body half hiding Billy. It looks like they had been having a chat and not standing pressed front to front, lips a few scant centimeters apart. “El’s waking up,” she tells them, and her gaze is wary, but when Steve nods, she leaves—although not without a glance back.

“So,” Steve whispers, turning to meet Billy’s gaze, tilting his hand to lock fingers with him—if only for a brief moment, “are we good? I promise I won’t get all up in your space when we argue—and I definitely won’t put my hands on you, either.”

Billy meets his gaze, and his jaw is doing the clench, jut, thing that Steve knows so well—knows it means Billy’s trying to be brave, knows that it means that even if he says he believes Steve, a part of him still doubts it regardless of how small that part is—but he nods and smiles that small, private smile that always makes Steve want to curl up against him and never leave. “Yeah, we’re good. And I promise I’ll try not to brea anything, too.”

“Good,” Steve answers, returning the smile with one of his own. “Although if you absolutely have to, try to make it that brown vase downstairs. I hate that thing.”

Billy snorts a laugh at that.

***

http://saruma-aki.tumblr.com/post/180972345985/some-nonverbal-miscommunication-pt-1

#harringrove #pt 2

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kalinara · 7 years ago

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It’s interesting to scroll back through character tags. I found one for Stranger Things from a while ago that basically argued that “from a story perspective” Billy Hargrove should have gotten Steve Harrington’s redemption arc because it would have been interesting to see him overcome all of his obstacles in life.

It’s stuff like this that make me realize that a lot of fans don’t understand how character redemption actually works.

There is no such thing as a redemption arc.

This is not to say that a character cannot achieve redemption. But it’s not a matter of an “arc”. It is not a closed off plotline that starts off with a vile human being and has him travel from point A to point B, to magically become a good person at the end, end of story.

I feel like a lot of fans treat redemption like some kind of modular attachment that they can attach to the character of their choice. Heck, that character doesn’t even have to WANT to be redeemed, some other character like Steve, or Rey or Princess Leia can somehow DRAG them from point A to point B and it will somehow still work.

But if we look at the times when characters have genuinely redeemed themselves, it becomes apparent that redemption isn’t some sort of separate modular plot device. It’s simply one potential aspect of character growth.

Since the post I’m vaguing about mentioned Steve Harrington, let’s look at Steve Harrington’s general story arc. Steve starts off as a boy who is self-centered, shallow, and seemingly has very few interests outside of having fun with his friends and his girlfriend. He is oblivious to the fact that his girlfriend has just lost her friend, and reacts in a selfish and cruel way when he thinks she’s cheating on him. He says some truly hurtful things to both Nancy and Jonathan and allows his friends to behave badly as well.

Afterward, Steve regrets his actions and, unprovoked, decides to take steps to atone. He makes genuine apologies, he works to repair the damage: cleaning the paint, replacing the camera. And he also learns that there’s more going on than he thought when he helps face the demigorgon. In season two, Steve continues to grow. At first he tries to deny/ignore everything that happened, and then he takes proactive steps to help these weird kids. By the end, he’s somehow a third surrogate parent.

And that’s why Billy getting Steve’s “redemption arc” is a ridiculous idea. Because Steve didn’t really have a “redemption arc” per se. Steve is just a character that kept developing throughout the course of the two seasons. There’s no indication that he ever consciously said “I don’t like who I am, I want to change.” He just gradually became a more self-aware, empathetic, considerate and altruistic person as the series continued.

This was a very organic growth that had its roots in who Steve was at the start: Steve was self-centered and shallow, but he wasn’t malicious. He was sweet and funny to Nancy, and made her laugh. He was friendly to Barb, and until the scene with Jonathan, we never saw him act intentionally cruel. And therefore it was believable that he grew in a positive direction.

Let’s look at another example of a redeemed character: Prince Zuko from Avatar. Now, unlike Steve, who was at worst an inconvenience and an obstacle, Zuko was a legitimate adversary and he’d done some nasty things to our lead characters. Over the course of four seasons, we see how he is pulled back and forth between them, how he makes good decisions and bad.

Unlike Steve, we can pinpoint a specific time where Zuko decides that he wants to change for the better and he begins to act accordingly. Leaving the Fire Kingdom, joining the team, earning their trust.

But I personally wouldn’t consider this a “redemption arc” either, because it really isn’t self contained. It was a logical development from the very beginning, and we could see the roots in his confused motivations and conflicting impulses. And we could see it in the way that Zuko generally tried to conduct himself honorably. He was occasionally childish and angry, but he valued his uncle’s guidance. There were lines that he wouldn’t cross. He was never a torturer or a murderer. He was never deliberately abusive or cruel. Zuko’s “redemption” with the team was less about turning Zuko into a good guy and more about Zuko figuring out his own path. His redemption was just one part of that journey.

It wouldn’t make sense to give Ozai Zuko’s story arc, because Ozai is not a child, he’s not lost, and there are definitely lines that he’s willing to cross: including hurting his own children.

So let’s look at a legitimate monster. Someone who IS a murderer and torturer and has crossed almost every line available: Darth Vader.

This one is a bit more controversial, because, understandably, not everyone agrees with the idea that Darth Vader has done enough to redeem himself. And certainly there’s truth to that argument...if you’re looking at it in terms of a “redemption arc.”

Vader didn’t have a redemption arc. He made ONE non-evil choice at the end of twenty years of atrocity. And then he died without ever having to follow up on it.

Whenever I look at Vader’s redemption, I try to do it from the perspective we would have had when it originally aired: namely what was established in the first three movies. No slave backstory, no unhappiness with the Jedi Order. Those were all inventions after the fact meant to help explain and expand on what happened in the original movies. So let’s look at the original movies.

The interesting thing about Vader’s arc is that it definitely wasn’t planned from the very beginning. So there really aren’t any roots to be seen in A New Hope, there isn’t much of anything to be seen there really. He seems vaguely interested in Luke’s force potential,

In Empire Strikes Back, he’s different. He goes from being vaguely interested in Luke Skywalker, to being fixated. He stalks him, terrorizes his dreams, captures his friends, tortures them, all to bring Luke to him. Then he makes him an offer: power and an alliance. Ruling the galaxy together. Luke refuses. And then in Return of the Jedi, Luke comes to him, trying to convince his father to come back to the Light. Vader seems more hesitant, regretful, but still gives him to the Emperor. It is only when Luke refuses to kill him, and the Emperor is killing him, that Vader chooses to act. And he does.

This one act doesn’t begin to make up for Vader’s atrocities. It doesn’t bring back the lives he’s destroyed or the people he’s killed. And Vader never even apologizes for them. As a redemption arc goes, well, that’s not one at all.

Vader’s choice saved Luke and it proved him right: there is “some good” left in his father. And thanks to that choice, Anakin Skywalker was able to rejoin the Light. But nothing is fixed. Nothing is repaired. And except for Luke Skywalker (and maybe Leia, in some universes), no one alive will see him as anything but a monster.

And of course, he’s dead now. So it’s a moot point.

Vader’s choice has its roots in Empire Strikes Back, possibly even in A New Hope, if you’re willing to stretch your interpretation a little. The contrast in Vader’s behavior between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back is the difference between a man who thought that he’d lost everything that mattered a long time ago, and a man who discovers that that’s not the case. Vader, in Empire Strikes Back, is a man who genuinely does want a relationship with his child. But he’s become so twisted and evil that he can’t conceive of this relationship except in terms of power, betrayal and alliance. And because Luke won’t join him under Vader’s terms, Vader starts to very slowly be more receptive to Luke’s. He goes from angry and forceful in ESB to weary and resigned in ROTJ.

But, he can’t make that leap until the Emperor almost kills his son.

This is the dynamic that people keep wanting to recreate with Kylo Ren. And that doesn’t work. Vader was a man whose character development took him from a dispassionate mechanical monster in ANH, to a very human monster in ESB, and then finally to a regretful and weary old man in ROTJ, which finally enabled him to make a choice.

Now, Steve, Zuko and Vader aren’t the only characters with a lot of growth and development. Billy, Ozai and Kylo have gotten their own share of development. The problem is, so far, their development has gone too far in the opposite direction.

Billy starts off being cruel to a child, threatening (hopefully jokingly) to run over children while creating a dangerous scenario, and escalates to the point of attempted murder. Ozai has become even crueler and more power hungry. And while Kylo hasn’t necessarily gotten worse (it’s hard to get worse when you START with mass murder of innocents), but by killing his father, he specifically and deliberately rejected the redemptive choice that his grandfather made. He wants more power and is intentionally going deeper into the dark to get it.

I’m not going to say that these characters can’t ever develop in a direction to make redemption a feasible part of their story arc, but I don’t really see it as part of their current trajectory. Sometimes villains just continue to be villains.

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chandlers-third-nip · 7 years ago

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Badass- Imagine

Fandom: Stranger Things

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Reader

Warning: sexual assault, fluff

Word Count: 1728

Summary: Billy threatens the reader and Steve finds out and wants to protect them.

A/N: This is my first Steve Harrington imagine, let me know if you want a second part of this one or any more.

“I’ll pick you up in a couple of hours okay, babe?” Steve whispered in your ear with his arm wrapped tightly around you. You nod and press a quick kiss to his cheek. You start to pull away when he grabs your hand and smashed his lips to yours. You redden and quickly pull away, embarrassed by all the other people around you that could have seen.

Your relationship wasn’t a secret, you were just not a huge fan of PDA. He chuckled at how shy you were and squeezed you to his chest. “Jonathon is gonna be with you, right?” he asked, concern showing in his eyes.

“Yes, Steve, he’ll be there the whole time, I don't understand why you’re so paranoid, it’s school after hours, no one is gonna be there.”

“I know (Y/N), I just worry about you, what if something happened to you and I wasn’t there?”

“You’re being silly.” You giggle and look around quickly before pecking his lips and turning toward the dark room where you and your best friend, Jonathon Byers, will be developing some photos.

You stood there comparing who's photos turned out better for the better part of two hours. So far, you were winning and Jonathon was not happy about it. “I think I have some more in my car that will bring me smirking across the finish line.” You laughed and snorted, “Okay, Byers you’re on.” He grabbed his keys and left the room, mumbling something about you going down under his breath.

You turned back to your photos and swished them around for a couple more moments. Then you heard the door opening and you began laughing. “Wow, okay Byers, someone is eager to win.” You turn around and gasp when you see that it was not Jonathon who opened the door, but Billy Hargrove, the scary new guy at school.

Billy stepped toward you, “Win? The only thing I wanna win is the school, King Steve needs to be taken down a few notches and what better way than to ruin his girl.” You shrank back, only to hit the cabinet. “Steve is on his way, you should leave before this ends badly for you!” you snarl with all the anger you can muster underneath your fear.

Billy only laughs and continues to advance towards you. “No one except for that freak Byers boy is coming and his car is across the lot, which means that we have plenty of time to chat in here.” He has you cornered and grabs your wrists in his one hand. You squirm and attempt to pull away but he readjusted his grip on your wrists and it becomes impossible. With his free hand, he tangled his fingers in your hair and yanks you closer. “Billy, let go of me! Let go!” you screamed. Billy silences you by sloppily kissing you. You are able to yank one of your arms free in his distraction and slap him across the face. He pulls back and recaptures your wrist in his hand and grips your hip with his free hand tightly.

“You better shut up, you little bitch. If you don’t I’ll kick this shit out of your pretty boy Harrington.” His hot breath wafts in your face and you shrink away nodding, a single tear falling down your cheek. He pushes your hair to the side and attaches his lips to your neck, sucking harshly causing you to whimper your discomfort. His hand on your hip continues to dig into you and you are almost positive they will bruise. As much as you wanted to, you refused to beg him, you will not give him that satisfaction. Before you know it, Billy’s face waves in front of you and he whispers, “See you tomorrow, same time?” before pecking your cheek and disappearing from the room. You sink to the ground your arms clutching your knees tightly to your chest.

Jonathon found you like that, frozen staring off into space with tears slowly making their way down your cheeks. He immediately fell to his knees and lifted your chin. His eyes went to your neck and then he stood up, “Did Steve...did he do this to you?” His fists started clenching and unclenching.

More tears poured out as you shook your head, “No, it was Billy, he said he wanted to take down ‘King Steve’ and he kissed me and threatened that if I told Steve he would hurt him.” Jonathon held out his hand and helped you to your feet, “Let’s go get cleaned up, okay?” he said gently. You leaned into him as he led to you the nearest bathroom and lifted you onto the counter and started to wipe away your tear stains.

“You have to tell him, (Y/N). He’s going to find out anyway,” Jonathon whispered.

“No, and I forbid you to tell him, I am not gonna be one of those girls who goes crying to their boyfriend at the drop of a hat. I can handle Billy.”

“This is not the drop of a hat! He is harassing you! Billy hurt you!” Jonathon nearly shouted.

“This is not your problem, let me deal with this, without Steve!” You stomped out of the bathroom and nearly ran into Steve.

“Hey babe, there you are, I went by the dark room and no one was there.” You smiled half-heartedly and pulled at your collar and your hair to hide the mark Billy had branded on your skin. He didn’t notice and pulled you back toward the dark room to collect your stuff.

ΦΦΦ

As soon as Steve’s car pulled up outside your house, you gather your bag and open the door. “Hey,” he reaches out and touches your knee, which causes you to flinch and pull away. “Are you okay?” his face laced with concern once again. “Yeah, I’m fine, you just startled me is all.” He breaks out into a huge smile and he presses a kiss to your cheek. “See you tomorrow, I love you.” This causes you to smile despite your nerves and nod. “I love you too, Steve.” You get out of the car and turn as he speeds away.

ΦΦΦ

You lay awake looking over your notes for one of your toughest classes when you hear a knock against your window. You jump and tiptoe to your window and pull back the curtains to reveal Steve leaning against your window. “Let me in or I’ll freeze.” You open the window and he pulls himself in and purposefully oversteps so he comes crashing down on top of you. You shriek and fall back on your bed and pull him down on top of you.

“I missed you,” he whispered and nuzzled his face into your neck. Realization dawns on you and you sit up quickly and reach to turn out the lights, hiding your bruise from view. Steve pulls back at this, and asks again for the second time that day, “Are you alright?”

“Oh yeah, I’m fine,” you say quickly, “I just don’t want my parents coming up here and seeing you, then we’d both be in trouble.”

“Well since we’re alone in the dark, come here you.” He snakes his arm around your waist and pulls you closer. Steve’s fingers touch the marks Billy left on your hip and you suck in air through your clenched teeth. “Did I hurt you?” he gasps and reaches out to turn on the light. You roll away quickly, “No, I’m fine.” but not quick enough before he sees the darkened skin on your torso.

“Who did this to you? Did I do this? Today? When I hugged you?” He immediately starts to tear up, “I never meant...you know I would never hurt you on purpose...how could I do this?” He sits up and rakes his hands through his beautifully styled hair.

“Steve it wasn’t you, I swear.” You say, tears brimming.

“Then who?” he demanded, his fists clenching, just like Jonathon’s. You drew back away from him leaning against the headboard.

“Steve, you’re scaring me.” you whispered. His face softened and he slid across your bed and reached his hand out. You didn’t hesitate to take it.

“Please, (Y/N), baby, tell me who did it.” he whispered. You sighed as more tears fell down.

“Today while me and Jonathon were in the dark room, he left to go get more photos from his car and...that new kid...Billy came in and he wouldn’t let me leave…” you sobbed, hiding your face, “he grabbed my wrists and told me he wanted to dethrone you, and he wanted to ‘ruin me’ and then he...he kissed me.” Steve reached out again and gently pulled your hands away from your face.

“Let me see, it’s okay, I’m not mad anymore, you know I would never hurt you.” he speaks softly to you. You nod and allow him roll up your sleeves and examine the finger shaped marks on your wrists. He kisses them softly in between his murmurings, comforting you. He continues to gently pull on your hand until you lean into him. You bury your head in his chest, sobbing.

“I’m sorry, so sorry,” you cry, “I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen to me.”

“Shh, baby,” he stroked your hair, “I’m here, it’s okay.”

“ When he kissed me, I managed to break free and slap him-”

“Whoa, whoa, wait babe, you slapped Billy Hargrove? The new kid? Oh my god, I’m dating a badass. They’ll be calling you royalty now.” He shook his head in disbelief, staring at you with such admiration.

You sniffled and looked up at him, “You think so?”

He wiped your tears away and kissed your nose, then both your cheeks, then your mouth. “I know so.”

He swept your hair to the side and glared at the hickey standing out of your neck. You quickly laced your fingers through his and moved your hair to hide it. You pushed him down and and curled up next to Steve. You laid down and he squeezed you tightly, careful to avoid your injury.

“I’m so lucky to have you,” he whispers and kisses your forehead.

“I love you too, Steve.” you smile in the dark and fall asleep, feeling safe in his arms.

Hey guys hope you like this, it’s kinda different!

-flawlessara

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that-terrible-writer · 7 years ago

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You Never Know

I feel as if I cheated y’all by not giving you a story with over 2.5k words. I’m so sorry. I’m finishing up work before heading back on the long journey to the States. I will try and use my time wisely and write while I’m on the plane but no promises. Also, sooooooooooo sorry about this gif. Usually, they are somewhat connected with the new part but I couldn’t find a good one and, sadly, had to settle for this. I deeply apologize.

Part 10

Part 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

| Steve Harrington x Reader |

“i love your blog. i love your writting. i love steve. i looooooveeeeeee! thank you so much for keeping me happy you have no idea how much it means to me.”

“The “you never know” imagine is probably one of the best series I’ve ever read. It’s brilliant and it gets better each time!! Keep it up!! xx”

Thank you for the words of encouragement! I love reading them, they mean everything to me! <3

You were on edge. The encounter of Eight and with Billy didn't sit with you well. Every time you went out, even to go get the mail down the driveway, you would check every direction to make sure none of them were around. Will warned you about the bad men, the people at Hawkins Labs, but you were sure that Eight and her gang had to be far more threatening. Not only them but Billy too. His temper was nothing that you could imagine, witnessing him beat on Steve was a true horror movie.

You kept your distance from Billy for the past week but he still weaseled his way in. He wanted your attention, more than before, but you knew it was only to rattle up Steve. You decided to end it: for good.

"I don't see what the big deal is." Billy huffed, extending his arm out, lifting his shoulders in a shrug.

"Are you kidding me?" You blinked more than necessary, baffled by his statement. You crossed your arms, tilting your head; any way possible to show your frustration with Hargrove. "You beat my friend senselessly; he didn't even fight you back." You spat.

"He came into my territory." Billy chuckled, hitting his chest with his hand, puffing his chest as a way to impress you. It did not. "I had to show who you belong to―"

You quickly raised your finger, silencing Billy during his alpha talk, "Yeah, that's where I'm going to stop you. We were never official, you made that decision, remember? You went off sleeping with every other girl at this school, but when I talk to Steve; that's suddenly a problem for you. He's been my friend long before you came along."

"You're not going to end this," Billy smirked. He took a step forward, touching your arm lightly, "I treat you so well."

Your smile was not able to project the amount of sarcasm that you had wanted to show, letting out a weak chuckle; you shook his hand away from you, "Is that a challenge?" You questioned, raising a brow.

"Steve will never be able to provide you the full satisfaction that I know I can give you," Billy plead his case, "Why do you think Nancy left him for that creep?"

You rolled your eyes, not wanting to waste any more time with him. You gave him the benefit of the doubt, you wanted to believe that he was a decent guy but after seeing him behave the way that he did with Steve: that crossed the line for you. You drove past Billy, wasting your breath when it could be better wasted on a mirror. You felt his hand yank on your arm, his arm gripping harder; forcing you to direct your attention back to him.

"You're not ending this." His tone made it clear that he wasn't joking anymore. He was telling you simply that you were his. You sank your nails into his skin, causing him to pull away.

"I think a toddler understood that I just did." You denied, finally stepping away from him.

You sat in the Byer's living room, the four of you were working on your homework together. During a break, Jonathan took Steve into his room to show him, what he called, 'what good music really is'. Which lead you being alone with Nancy, the moment the boys left, your eyes flickered to hers. She already had a grin on her face, wanting to address the elephant in the room.

"What's going on with you and Steve?" Nancy enthusiastically asked you. She quickly placed her textbook to the side of her, crawling her way to you to sit by your side. She placed her hands on her lap as she waited for your answer.

"Huh, I got the square root of 5." You responded, slowing peeling your eyes away from your homework, looking at Nancy and her puppy dog eyes, "Nothing has happened."

"He took a beating from Billy, that's not nothing." She gossiped. She grew more quiet, making sure that only the two of you could hear each other.

"Which he kind of started," You questioned, "He knew that it would make Billy angry but either way, he was out of it when I told him I loved him back."

"Why not say it again then?" Nancy stated the obvious.

"Wow, Nancy, why haven't I thought of that myself?" You snapped at her. You took a deep breath, rubbing your temples, "I'm sorry. Billy has been on my case about the whole ending it ordeal." You glanced over at Nancy, who looked at you wide eye.

"You finally ended it with Billy?" Her voice dripped with happiness as if her smile wasn't clear, "Because of Steve."

"Steve was beaten." You corrected her, raising your voice in the slightest, "Him beating anyone is a clear sign of 'what the hell was I thinking'." You grabbed your glass of water from the table, taking a sip; Nancy taking full advantage of you not speaking for the moment.

"You told Steve you loved him, he clearly is head over heels for you why can't you two be reasonable and just date?" Nancy explained. You pressed your lips into a thin line, not being able to come back with a snarky remark. She had a point, a good point, and there was no way to deny it. You understood your feelings, you came to terms with that. You, as clear as day, were in love with the Steve Harrington.

You were acting foolish but you tried a couple of times to get Steve alone; to talk about what you had said. Though everytime you were left alone, you would freeze up. His gaze captivated you, made you forget everything in the world: including your words or what you wanted to speak to him about. He just made you feel giddy, the butterflies appearing everytime his smile was directed towards you, your lips quivering as they missed his on yours; every sign that showed that you were in love―was happening.

"Because I'm stupid," I mumbled, picking at the edges of your notebook, tearing away a corner. You were startled, by the sound of his voice; the voice that made your heart pound and cheeks flush. You looked towards the hallway to see Steve and Jonathan returning from their talk.

Steve glanced down at you, giving you a smile, "What were you guys talking about?" Steve asked.

"How Y/N broke up with Billy." Nancy utterly said, shrugging her shoulders softly. Your head snapped in her direction, glaring at her as you slapped her shoulder with your notebook. Nancy stared at you, puzzled why you would hit her as she was only trying to encourage you.

"Oh?" Steve perked up, sitting upright in his chair; clearly concentrating on the conversation. "Since when?" He asked. He couldn't take his eyes off of you. Biting his thumb, trying to stop himself from asking more questions.

"Since last week," Nancy retold, "I think it may have been the day after you got the shit beat out of you." Nancy couldn't hold back a grin, rocking herself in her spot as just giving you both the push you needed to make it more official.

Your eyes went to the floor, trying to hide your face; blushing, making you bright red, in embarrassment. You fiddled with your notebook more, turning your head to look at anything else in the room rather than on Steve. The moment Nancy touched your arm lightly, you let out a small scream; taking you out of your thoughts and into reality. That it was definitely happening that she had confessed, for you, that you ended things with Billy. Something that Steve had been waiting for since that day in the parking lot, seeing you leave with him on your first date.

"I―I" You stammered, trying to collect your thoughts; trying to make sure you didn't make yourself an idiot, "Got to poop." It didn't work. You bolted to the back of the house down to the bathroom, where you quickly shut the door. You pressed your back against it, shutting your eyes trying to collect your breath. You felt your heart race, pounding against your ribs, wanting to get out. The knock on the door scared you. You turned, hesitant to open it as you knew exactly who was on the other side.

When the door open, it showed that boy in front of you. Steve looked concerned, but there was a tug at the corner of his lips; giving him a smile. "Hey, you're ok?" He questioned.

"Uh, yeah." You returned, "False alarm." You shook your head, cursing to yourself for letting that be the answer you gave Steve. Your eyes wandered up to see that he was laughing at you. He leaned against the frame, bringing up one hand to play with the sleeve of your shirt.

"So, I did hear it." He softly spoke, so quiet that you almost didn't catch it. He finally gazed into your eyes, seeing the confused look on your face, "The night when Billy beat me." He clarified. You felt like you were about to pass out, forgetting to breathe: forgetting to function. His hand had made its way up to your cheek, cupping it. His thumb lightly brushed your bottom lip, leaving it partly open, "That you love me."

You found no words, your mind forgetting how to speak, only being able to give him a slight nod. The confirmation made Steve beam in happiness, not giving it another second to crash his lips onto yours. Your hands quickly went to his shirt, clutching on the material to pull him closer to you. The kiss still had the same amount of passion as the other times. They had the same amount of love and admiration as the ones before them. The electricity that your lips felt, the tingle of his touching yours, again and again, made you feel invigorated.

You let out a whimper when Steve parted away from you. His eyes fixated on yours, "Tell me." He whispered.

"I love you," You panted, tugging on his shirt to come closer, "I love you, Steve Harrington." You pull him down, brushing your lips against his but you heard a faint yell coming from the living room. You tried to ignore it, to go back to the person in front of you.

"Steve! Y/N!" Until it was Mike's voice that came into the room. You and Steve quickly pulled away from each other. Scratching your arm as he with his head. Looking away from each other. You directed your attention down the hall to see Mike making his way to you.

"What's so important, Wheeler?" Steve shouted, clearly annoyed that he was interrupted yet again by him. Every time something important was happening between you and Steve: Mike was in the picture.

"Dustin!" Mike snapped. The name made you come out of the bathroom to stand next to Steve. Your face was written with worry, Steve's copying. Mike looked at the both of you, clearly out of breath from running, "They have him." He said, his voice shaking a bit.

You looked up towards Steve. His gaze was intense and clearly not leaving Mike. You saw that Steve had held his breath, his hand tightens into a fist and a frown tugging at his mouth. Mike looked away for a brief moment until returning; his speech more steady.

"Eight took Dustin."

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