#but making him a dad took him straight to an 11/10

[colinrobinsonscardigan]

Best decision Arcane ever made was making Silco a dad

[explosionkatsu]

“Age doesn't matter” 2

Dad!Bakugou x F!Babysitter!Teacher!Reader

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

It was now 6 am in the morning and usually, at this hour, Katsuki would be carrying his snoozing son in his arms while he got his things to drop him off to his parents and left for work. But today is different.

“I’m dropping you off at school tomorrow,” Katsuki said turning his back to his son and proceeding with cooking.

“Really!?” His son excitedly said, eyes gleaming with joy. “My classmates get to see you!”

“Yeah, yeah. Make sure you got the things you needed for school so there won't be a problem tomorrow morning.” Katsuki said.

Once he was done cooking, he took two small bowls from the kitchen cabinet and a pair of chopsticks before placing them all down on the dining table. He then moved back to the kitchen and grab the dish he made and place it on the table as well. “Oi. Time to eat.” He called out. But as soon as he went to check the living room, he saw no one.

“Tch.” He tched. “Kazui!! Get down here and eat!”

“Yes! I’m coming, i’m coming!” His son yelled and arrived, running downstairs from his room. “I was just packing the stuff I need as you said!”

“Don’t run down the stairs, brat!” Katsuki crossed his arms as he watched his son make himself comfortable. Hearing a small sorry from him made Katsuki ruffle his child’s hair before sitting down beside him.

Katsuki was taking his time preparing their breakfast. A simple egg and fried rice in the morning would be healthy enough for both of them. Once breakfast is done, he searches for his son’s school lunch bag before grabbing the bento box from its drying shelf. Settling the bento box on the kitchen counter, he made his way to his fridge where he grab three pieces of strawberries and sliced them into bite sizes, two pieces of bread pudding, and an orange juice box. He brought out the sausages he prepared earlier from the microwave to keep them hot and place all his son’s lunch in his bento box and put it inside the bag along with the chopsticks.

Katsuki was used to this manner by now, especially since he is convinced that him, preparing his son’s lunch would be so much better rather than his mother who he was a hundred percent convinced that Mitsuki would give Kazui sweets that were unhealthy. The only difference today is he’ll be dropping him off at school.

Thanks to Kirishima taking an early shift, he manages to fit this into his schedule.

Once everything was completed, Katsuki made his way to his son’s room. Knocking oh so quietly before inviting himself in.

“Oi. It's time to wake up.” Katsuki said as he stood by the bed. Although, seeing his son didn't move an inch made him raise his voice a bit. “Brat. Time to go to school.” His second attempt at waking him up seems to work when he saw him shift under his blanket before slowly sitting up, hair disheveled.

“Papa..” Kazuo mumbled rubbing his eyes.

Katsuki's gaze softened. Boy, he was glad that his son looks exactly like him. The only difference he can see was Kazui’s hair looking a bit smooth due to his ex-wife's straight ones unlike his spiky ones, and no permanent scowl.

“Come on. Breakfast’s ready.” Katsuki said. He saw his son raise his arms asking to be lifted up which Katsuki did without breaking a sweat. “And there I thought you were a big boy now,” he mumbled. He exited the room and went down to the kitchen where he seated his son on his chair.

An hour and a half passed and both father and son were now ready to leave. Kazui has his backpack on and Katsuki was now wearing his work clothes. He got everything ready before they both depart their home and directed straight to their garage where his auto was waiting.

While Katsuki was arranging his son’s car seat, he felt Kazui tug his pants from outside the car. “What is it?” He asked while concentrating on what he was doing.

“Why aren't you in your hero costume?” Kazui asked a bit sad that his classmate won't be able to witness his dad wearing his hero suit.

“My suit remains inside my office where I change. Plus wearing my suit while dropping you off at school would be risky. I don't want any villain striking your school just because they saw me drop you off.” Katsuki said. “Get in.” He added and secure the belt around Kazui who was now seated and closed the car door once the belt was secured. He then gets into the driver’s seat and fastened his seatbelt before he starts the engine and drove off.

The drive was peaceful and quiet. Katsuki is focusing on the road while his son watches everything pass by. Although, this quietness of his son sometimes makes him wonder where he got it from. Not from him, nor his mother that's for sure.

His train of thought was cut off when the school was within his eyesight. Katsuki slightly stepped on the gas and reached the front of the school where he saw a lot of kids being dropped off by their parents. Once he saw where he could park, he turned off the engine. But as soon as he exited his car, people around him started looking.

"Oh, my god. It's Dynamight."

"Mommy look! A hero!"

"Dynamight is here!"

Katsuki tched at this, especially when he saw they started coming closer. But he paid them no mind and went to the back passenger seat where Kazui was waiting for him.

Katsuki open the car door, unfastened his seatbelt, and then helped him get off the car. When Kazui was off, Katsuki slam the car door shut. It was loud enough to let the people around him hear.

"Didn't know there would be a lot of people around here at this hour. Should've fucking gotten my disguise." Katsuki mumble.

"Papa, language." His son scowled at him grabbing his papa's hand.

"Shut it," Katsuki answered and grasp his hand as they both crossed the road.

Once they get to the other side, Katsuki saw a woman that seems to be younger than him exit the building. Her (Hair Length) (Hair color) hair swayed with the wind as she greeted every parent with a smile.

"Look, papa! It's Ms. Y/n!"

[presidentdisastraofgallifrey]

Companions Ranked by how Much the Rest of their Life was Ruined

Not included: companions who only went on one or two adventures or popped in and out of the story on their own

Also not included: Dan and Ruby (not enough info on the aftermath)

Also also not included: Mel (not to the end of her run yet) and Ace (not to her at all yet)

1. Bill: had a good time traveling but then was kept prisoner in a creepy hospital for 10 years and then turned into a cyberman so she still wins

2. Adric: blew himself up at like 15 trying to impress the Doctor, who had been a decent parental figure but then changed and was never around when he was needed and not at all supportive. Also he got tortured a lot

3. Romana: held prisoner and tortured for 20 years and then had to lead Gallifrey through some of their most chaotic episodes with no trauma support at all. To be fair that wasn’t really the Doctor’s fault, but he also didn’t offer the support she needed

4. Peri: had a terrible time traveling where he insulted her constantly and never took her discomfort seriously. Then was not just left behind she was straight up abandoned mid-adventure when she was about to be killed for science. And then she didn’t get an explanation and he didn’t come back and she had no way to get back to her own planet or time so really her only practical option was to hitch a ride from the sleazy blood thirsty warlord who wanted to marry her. And this was only supposed to be a fun 3-month trip, not even a way of life for her

5. Stephen: this isn’t really the Doctor’s fault, but the eu is awfully hard on him. He was a king and had a family only to lose a child, see the others tear the family and kingdom apart, and become a depressed hermit

6. Dodo: the eu is just as hard on her. Apparently she ends up institutionalized, interrogated by the Master, homeless, and then assassinated

7. Martha: gets points for having been completely alone in a hellscape that never happened for a year, and for having to recover from that with her family, but the rest of her life was pretty alright actually

8. Zoe: she was smart enough to realize she’d aged two years and pretty much destroyed her own life and ended up at the center of an experiment conspiracy because she was so desperate to remember

9. Clara: honestly she’s only this high because of the making the Doctor forget her bit. Being stuck dead is awful, but also she has a companion and a tardis and full run of the universe first and that’s really the only way her story could end without her actually staying dead

10. Nyssa: her life was hard but in a way she chose and she got to help people

11. Amy and Rory: It sucked being thrown back in time but they got to stay together and live out full lives

12. Sarah: she’s the type of person where regular life could never bring her joy again after everything she’d seen. Also she did pretty regularly get stalked, kidnapped, and shot, but she brought most of that on herself

13. Donna: gets some points for the initial impact of her ending where she lost all the confidence and experience she had gotten and went back to an aimless and unsatisfied life. But she did find love and have a kid and eventually get her memories back so she ended up alright

14. Susan: she’s in the middle because she did live a decently full life but she also lost her husband and son in horribly violent ways and then got drafted into a universe-wide war where a lot of people saw her as untrustworthy because her grandfather was a draft dodger

15. Rose: got trapped in an alternate dimension but like, with her mom and dead dad and eventually fake version of the guy she loved. Overall it wasn’t that bad for her

16. Jamie: he lived a fairly normal life but apparently as an old man ended up the weird guy on the edge of town that everyone thought the war had driven mad because he’d remembered the Doctor

17. Vicki: she was sort of fine, but also living that far in the ancient past had to be pretty hard on a daily basis

18. Harry: I don’t think the Doctor had really any effect on his life. He’s only this high because he did vanish fairly young

19. Tegan: by all accounts the rest of her life was completely uneventful and she hated every moment of it

20. Yaz: it was sad but in the way you know she’ll be ok and find happiness

21. Polly and Ben: their lives were kind of rough but in very normal human ways so it’s fine

22. Turlough: literally nothing ever happened to him again. I think the eu forgot he existed

23. Victoria: lived a pretty quiet and normal life

24. Jo: there are differing canons on whether or not she got divorced and how many kids she had, but she was alright

25. Graham and Ryan: they were good. They got to be each other’s family and the world’s heroes

26. Ian and Barbara: they were fine actually. I don’t even think their careers suffered

27. Liz: I think she actually ended up better off because of her association with the Doctor

[crossfandomskylines]

In the Space Between Us: Chapter 13

OTHER CHAPTERS:

Chapter 1 I Chapter 2 I Chapter 3 I Chapter 4 I Chapter 5

Chapter 6 I Chapter 7 I Chapter 8 I Chapter 9 I Chapter 10

Chapter 11 I Chapter 12 I Chapter 13 I Chapter 14 I Chapter 15

Chapter 16 I Chapter 17 I Chapter 18 I Chapter 19 I Chapter 20

Pairing: Glen Powell x OC

Summary: Gabby meets the rest of Glen's family.

Word Count: 5.3k

Warnings: Mentions of Parental Loss.

A/N: Please continue to let me know what you think with Hearts, Comments, and Reblogs! Also if you'd like to be tagged please let me know, and I will get you added to the tag list!

Tag List: In Comments - Tumblr for some reason doesn't like linking more than 5 usernames so I'm just going to use the tags in the comments to make sure you get the notification!

Glen parked his truck in the driveway, the gravel crunching under the tires. He turned off the engine and glanced over at Gabby, noticing how her shoulders were just a bit stiff. Her hands rested in her lap, but the slight tension in her posture didn’t escape him.

"You ready?" he asked, his voice low but warm.

Gabby gave him a small smile, but there was an edge of nervousness in her eyes. "Yeah," she said, though it was more of a half-hearted confirmation. "I think so."

He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "It's gonna be fine."

She nodded, but he could tell it wasn't the confidence she wanted to show. He didn’t push her, instead offering her a soft, understanding smile before climbing out of the truck and meeting her at the door.

With one last glance at her, he took her hand, the weight of it grounding her, and led her toward the house. As they approached the front door, Brisket started running full speed inside, his tail wagging like a blur. Glen opened the front door and Brisket made his way straight through the door rushing inside.

As they pulled away, Glen Sr., his dad, emerged from the kitchen, a welcoming smile on his face. He extended his hand to Gabby, his voice deep and kind. “Nice to meet you, Gabby. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Gabby shook his hand, a little more formal, but the smile she gave him was sincere. “Nice to meet you too, sir.”

Glen watched them interact, feeling a mix of pride and relief. It was the first time Gabby had met his dad, and though she seemed a little quiet, it was going smoothly.

“Let’s go see if Mom needs any help in the kitchen,” Glen said, giving his dad a brief nod. “You good with that?”

Gabby glanced at him and nodded. “Yeah, sounds good.”

Glen led her toward the kitchen, where Cyndy was already busy preparing lunch. “Gabby if you want to come help with the potatoes I could use a hand. Glen, honey, would you mind setting the table,” she said with a smile.

Gabby and Cyndy worked side by side, chatting comfortably as Cyndy showed Gabby how to make her “famous” mashed potatoes just right.

After finishing setting the table, Glen leaned against the counter, surveying the scene. Gabby was laughing quietly with Cyndy about something he hadn’t quite caught. The ease between the two women was obvious, and that put him at ease. A small smile tugged at his lips. Gabby was doing great so far. 

Just then, the front door opened again, and Leslie, Glen’s younger sister, arrived. She smiled brightly as she spotted Glen, rushing over to give him a big hug. “Hey, big brother!”

Leslie pulled away and turned her attention to Gabby, her smile widening as she extended a hand. “Hi, I’m Leslie. Glen’s much cooler younger sister.”

Gabby laughed, shaking her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Gabby.”

“Oh, trust me, we’ve all heard about you,” Leslie said with a playful glint in her eye.

“Alright, Leslie, don’t scare her off,” Glen said with a mock warning tone, earning a laugh from his sister.

Before Leslie could say something else, the front door swung open again. A blonde woman came into the kitchen, her lips curving into a smile when she saw Gabby and Glen.

“Good to see you, little bro,” the woman teased giving him a playful nudge before turning her attention to Gabby. “And you must be Gabby. I’m Lauren—the responsible older sibling.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Gabby said, smiling as Lauren offered her hand.

Lauren shook her hand firmly but quickly turned back to Glen with a mischievous grin. “So, this is the girl who’s somehow putting up with you? Miracles do exist.”

“Ha, ha, very funny,” Glen replied dryly, though his lips twitched with amusement.

“Uncle Boom Boom!” a pair of high-pitched voices suddenly rang out, drawing everyone’s attention to the hallway.

Glen barely had time to turn before two small figures barreled toward him—a boy and a girl, their matching smiles wide with excitement.

“Whoa, hey, slow down!” Glen said, laughing as he crouched to meet the twins at their level. “How are my favorite little troublemakers?”

The twins tackled him in a giggling hug, their arms wrapping around his neck. “We missed you!” his nephew said, while his niece chimed in with, “You promised to play with us!”

“I always keep my promises,” Glen said, ruffling their hair. “But you gotta give me a second to say hi to everyone else first, okay?”

Gabby took a small step back, watching the scene unfold with a soft smile. It was like watching a switch flip in Glen—the way he seamlessly shifted from composed boyfriend to caring brother, to fun, goofy uncle. His grin widened as he teased the twins, tickling their sides and making them squeal with laughter.

Lauren sidled up next to Gabby, nudging her gently. “He’s a natural with them, isn’t he?”

Gabby nodded, her chest tightening at the sight. “He really is.”

“And just wait—those two are going to be glued to him all day,” Lauren added with a laugh. “It’s like he’s their personal jungle gym.”

Gabby chuckled, her nerves easing as she watched Glen scoop the twins up, one under each arm, and carry them toward the living room, their laughter filling the house.

Lauren’s eyes shifted to Gabby, a sly smile creeping onto her face. “So, Gabby, has Glen told you that Mom’s homemade rolls are basically a rite of passage? If you survive the food coma that follows, you officially become part of the family.”

“Food coma?” Gabby asked, intrigued.

“Oh yeah! They’re so good it’s impossible to eat just one. We all end up with a food coma after one of Mom’s meals.”

Gabby laughed softly, her nerves slowly unraveling as the sisters’ teasing banter filled the room. “Well, I think I’m up for the challenge,” she said, glancing over at Cyndy.

“Oh, she’ll do fine,” Cyndy said with a knowing smile. “Besides, she already passed the harder test—Glen brought her home.”

“That is saying something,” Leslie added with a grin. “He doesn’t usually bring people around.”

Gabby’s cheeks flushed, but Cyndy waved off her daughters with a chuckle. “Don’t listen to them, Gabby. They just like to give their brother a hard time.”

“It’s a sibling duty,” Lauren added, taking a sip of her coffee. Then, with a teasing glint in her eye, she said, “But seriously, Glen’s been a different guy lately. Happier. Relaxed.”

Gabby felt her cheeks grow warmer, but she managed a shy smile. “I hope that’s a good thing.”

“Oh, it is,” Cyndy said warmly. “You’ve got him smiling more than I’ve seen in years. That’s a very good thing.”

The conversation flowed naturally from there, with Cyndy recounting childhood stories about Glen, and Leslie jumping in with exaggerated embellishments that had Gabby laughing despite her lingering nerves. Lauren chimed in with tales of Glen’s high school escapades, including an ill-fated attempt at building a treehouse that left him with a sprained ankle and a bruised ego.

“I told him not to climb on a ladder with one hand holding a toolbox,” Cyndy said, shaking her head.

“But does Glen ever listen?” Leslie added with a smirk.

Gabby couldn’t help but laugh, her nerves easing further as the sisters’ teasing painted a vivid picture of Glen’s childhood.

Through it all, the sound of laughter from the living room drifted into the kitchen, mingling with their own. Gabby glanced toward the doorway and caught a glimpse of Glen chasing the twins around the couch, their giggles echoing through the house.

“You know,” Cyndy said, drawing Gabby’s attention back, “you fit in here like you’ve always been part of the family.”

The sincerity in her voice caught Gabby off guard, and her throat tightened as she blinked back the sudden rush of emotion. She managed a soft, “Thank you,” her voice barely above a whisper.

Cyndy reached over and patted her hand gently. “No need to thank me, sweetheart.”

Gabby felt the truth of those words settle deep in her chest, the warmth of them lingering even as the laughter from the living room pulled her focus back to Glen and his role as “Uncle Boom Boom.”

As the conversation continued, Leslie leaned against the counter, her mug of coffee cradled in her hands. “So, Gabby,” she said, a teasing smile on her lips, “has Glen met your family yet? Or are you keeping him a secret for now?”

Gabby chuckled softly, shaking her head. “No secrets. Glen just hasn’t met him yet. I’m an only child, so there’s no sibling gauntlet for him to run through.”

“Lucky Glen,” Lauren quipped, smirking. “I bet he’s relieved he only has your parents to impress.”

Gabby smiled, but then added, “We’re planning for him to meet my dad soon, though. We just have to figure out the dates with Glen’s schedule.”

Cyndy perked up at this, her interest piqued. “That’s wonderful. Where does your dad live?”

“Iowa,” Gabby said.

“And your mom? Is she in Iowa too?” Cyndy said with a warm smile.

The question hung in the air for a moment, and Gabby’s smile faltered. She hesitated, her fingers brushing the edge of her coffee mug. When she spoke, her voice was quieter, more measured. “She uh, passed away a few years ago.”

The mood in the kitchen shifted instantly, the lightheartedness giving way to a softer, more tender atmosphere. Both Leslie and Lauren immediately murmured their condolences, their teasing replaced with genuine warmth.

“I’m so sorry, Gabby,” Cyndy said softly, reaching out to place her hand gently on Gabby’s arm. Her touch was steady, and comforting, and Gabby felt a wave of emotion rise in her chest.

The kitchen filled with a comfortable silence for a moment, the weight of the previous conversation lingering but not in a bad way. Gabby felt something shift, like she’d been pulled just a little closer into their circle, welcomed not just as Glen’s girlfriend but as someone they genuinely wanted to know and care for.

In the background, the sound of Glen laughing with the twins drifted into the kitchen, grounding Gabby in the present. She glanced toward the doorway and smiled, realizing just how lucky she was to have found him—and, by extension, his family.

As the sound of Glen’s laughter and the twins' excited giggles carried through the house, Gabby sipped her coffee, feeling a comforting sense of warmth in the kitchen. Cyndy and Glen's sisters had seamlessly included her in their conversation, making her feel welcome despite the lingering ache of her earlier admission.

Moments later, Glen appeared in the doorway, his hair slightly mussed and his cheeks flushed from playing with the kids. He paused, his gaze sweeping over the scene in the kitchen. Gabby caught his eye, and a soft smile tugged at his lips as he crossed the room.

Without saying a word, Glen placed a hand gently on Gabby’s back, his thumb brushing small, soothing circles over the fabric of her shirt. It was a subtle gesture, but it sent a wave of calm through her, grounding her in the moment.

Gabby glanced up at him, her eyes meeting his in an unspoken exchange. Glen tilted his head slightly, his brows lifting in a silent question: Are you okay?

Gabby’s lips curved into a small, reassuring smile, and she leaned ever so slightly into his touch, letting him know she was fine. His presence—steady, quiet, and protective—was all she needed to steady herself completely.

Cyndy, Leslie, and Lauren exchanged knowing glances, their smiles softening as they watched the interaction. There was something unspoken but undeniable in the way Glen and Gabby were with each other—a quiet intimacy that spoke volumes without the need for words.

“He’s smitten,” Lauren murmured to Leslie, not quite low enough for their mom to miss. Cyndy smiled but didn’t comment, instead focusing on the way Gabby seemed to relax under Glen’s touch.

Glen caught the faint murmur from his sisters and gave them a side glance, narrowing his eyes in mock warning.

“Don’t start,” he said with a playful edge, though the slight blush in his cheeks betrayed him.

Leslie grinned and held up her hands. “Who’s starting anything? I’m just making an observation.”

“Mm-hmm,” Glen muttered, shaking his head before turning his attention back to Gabby. “You okay?” he asked softly, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

Gabby nodded, her smile growing. “I’m good,” she whispered back.

“You sure?” he pressed gently, his eyes scanning her face for any lingering discomfort.

“I’m sure,” Gabby said, her tone more confident this time.

“Good.” Glen gave her a quick, reassuring squeeze on the shoulder before pulling his hand away. “I’m gonna go wrestle the twins away from the couch before they break something.”

As Glen went to leave the kitchen, his hand lingered on Gabby’s back for just a moment longer than necessary. She leaned back slightly against the kitchen counter, her eyes following his movements as he moved towards the living room.

It wasn’t until she heard the soft clearing of a throat that Gabby realized the room had gone quiet. Cyndy, Leslie, and Lauren were all watching her with amused, knowing expressions. Gabby flushed, feeling a bit caught off guard.

“You really like him, huh?” Lauren asked, a playful glint in her eyes but her tone carrying a bit more weight.

Gabby nodded without hesitation. “Yeah,” she said, the smile tugging at her lips again. “He’s really great.” She found herself smiling wider than she intended, warmth flooding her chest at the thought of Glen.

“Gabby, we’re not trying to scare you, but we just want to make sure you’re on the same page with him,” Leslie said, her tone soft but firm. “Our brother’s been through a lot, and when he opens up like this, it’s not something he does lightly. He’s not someone who lets people in easily. So just…” Leslie paused, looking for the right words. “Just be careful, okay? We don’t want to see him get hurt.”

Gabby swallowed, nodding slowly, unsure of how to respond. She wanted to assure them, to let them know that she wasn’t going to hurt Glen, that she really cared about him. But she wasn't sure what were the right words to say to them to settle any doubts they may have about her.

Lauren chimed in next, her tone still warm but with an underlying sincerity. “I know it’s not easy. But Glen’s been different with you. We all see it.” She glanced at Leslie before turning her focus back to Gabby. “The way he looks at you—it’s like he’s certain. Like you’re it, you know?”

Gabby mfelt her stomach flutter with a mixture of excitement and nerves. She knew Glen cared about her, but hearing it like this—hearing it from his family, who had witnessed his other relationships and could see things so clearly—made it feel even more real.

Gabby nodded again, feeling the weight of their words but also their support. As the sounds of Glen and the twins continued to echo in the living room, she found herself more certain of her feelings for him than ever before. And, for the first time, she realized that maybe she was ready to let herself believe in what they had.

Glen’s family had made it clear—he was all in for her. Before Gabby could overthink his sisters’ and mom’s words, Cyndy’s voice rang out. “Alright, everyone, lunch is ready!”

The four women made their way towards the dining room. Glen smiled as they walked in, Glen pulled out a chair for Gabby, his eyes full of affection as she sat down. She smiled up at him, appreciating the simple, thoughtful gesture. Once she was seated, he took the chair next to her, the soft clink of chairs moving against the wooden floor filling the room as the rest of the family settled in.

Glen’s mom took her seat at the head of the table, a proud smile on her face as she looked around at her family. 

"It’s good to have everyone together," she said warmly, her eyes glancing around at all of them. The table was filled with laughter and chatter, everyone eager to dig into the hearty meal Cyndy had prepared.

“So, Gabby,” Leslie started, grinning at her brother, “do you want to know what Glen was like growing up?” Her eyes sparkled.

Gabby glanced at Glen, who was already shaking his head, clearly sensing the teasing coming.

“Oh, I’d love to hear all about it.” Gabby said, smiling.

“He was a perfect little angel, right dear?” Glen’s mom chimed in.

Leslie raised an eyebrow, looking at her brother with a sly grin. “Perfect little angel? Are we talking about the same person here?”

Glen groaned, burying his face in his hands in mock defeat. “Leslie, don’t you dare,” he warned, though his tone was full of amusement. Almost like he knew what story was about to be told.

Leslie turned to Lauren, clearly enjoying the moment. “Well, I think we all remember when Glen was in high school, right? The time he tried to sneak into the movie theater and got caught by the manager. What was it, Glen? Trying to get into a rated R movie with a fake ID?”

Glen’s face turned a little red, and he groaned louder this time. “You’re killing me, Les,” he muttered, shaking his head.

Gabby couldn’t help but laugh along with them, the lighthearted teasing making the moment feel easy. 

“Well, I didn’t always make the best decisions,” Glen admitted, his tone light but with a slight shrug. “But hey, I’ve turned out okay, right?”

“Oh, you’ve turned out great,” Cyndy chimed in, her eyes soft with love. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t still have a little fun at your expense.”

The family continued to laugh, and Glen’s cheeks flushed a little more, but he seemed genuinely pleased by the comfort and joy in the room. The teasing was all in good fun, a sign of how much they cared. Glen caught Gabby’s eye as she smiled at him, her eyes soft and warm. He could tell she was enjoying the moment, and it made his heart swell.

“Well, I have a few stories of my own,” Lauren said, her tone shifting to one of mock seriousness. “Like the time Glen got so competitive at family game night that he threw the board at my husband’s head.”

“What?!” Gabby gasped, eyes wide with surprise.

“Oh yeah,” Lauren said with a smirk. “It was one of those trivia games. Glen was winning, and when Will got one answer right, Glen lost it and sent the board flying.”

Everyone at the table burst out laughing, including Glen, who rubbed his temples in exaggerated frustration. “Alright, alright, I get it. I was a little competitive.”

“Just a little?” Leslie teased, nudging him playfully.

Gabby couldn’t hold back her laughter, the warmth of the family’s love for Glen apparent in every shared story. It made her feel closer to him, to see how much of himself he had given to them over the years.

“I bet there are a hundred more stories like these, huh?” Gabby asked, a playful glint in her eye.

“Oh, absolutely,” Lauren said with a grin, “but we’ll save those for later. We don’t want to embarrass him too much in one day.”

Glen gave her a mock glare, though there was no malice behind it. “You’re lucky I love you all,” he said, his voice filled with affection despite his embarrassment.

Gabby smiled, leaning slightly into his side, feeling the easy, comfortable rhythm of the moment. The teasing, the laughter—it felt like the kind of family environment she had always dreamed of. And seeing Glen in the center of it all, surrounded by people who clearly cared so much for him, made her heart swell with something deeper than just affection.

As the meal continued, they shared stories, laughter, and even a few more lighthearted jabs at Glen, but underneath it all, there was an undeniable sense of love and acceptance that made Gabby feel like she belonged here, too.

The laughter and warmth from the meal spilled over into the afternoon as everyone gradually made their way outside to the backyard. The yard was wide and open, bordered by a line of tall trees that provided just enough shade to keep the late afternoon heat at bay. Leslie and Lauren’s twins were already darting around the lawn, tossing a football between them while Brisket happily chased after it, barking with excitement.

“We should play a game,” Leslie suggested, grinning as she looked around at everyone. “It’s been too long since we all played a little family football.”

“I don’t know if it’s fair,” Glen teased, shooting her a playful look. “You all know I’m the best athlete here. It might be too one-sided.”

“Oh, please,” Leslie shot back with a snort. “You peaked in high school. Don’t get cocky now.”

Lauren stepped forward, hands on her hips. “Alright, teams then. Gabby, you’re with me and Les. Glen, you’re with Dad and Will,” she said, motioning to her husband.

Glen turned to Gabby, his lips quirking into a mischievous grin. “Guess we’re rivals now,” he said, his voice dropping into a playful, competitive tone.

Gabby raised an eyebrow, feigning confidence. “You sure you can handle losing?”

“Losing?” Glen echoed, stepping closer. “You’re cute, but you’re going down.”

Gabby smirked, feeling the energy between them shift into something both fun and charged. “We’ll see about that, Boom Boom,” she teased, earning a laugh from Leslie and Lauren.

“Oh, she’s good,” Leslie said, clearly impressed. “I like her. already”

With the teams settled, they quickly outlined a makeshift field, using jackets and chairs to mark the end zones. The game started with lighthearted chaos—Lauren’s twins weaving in and out of the adults, Brisket darting after the ball whenever it hit the ground, and plenty of playful trash-talking between Glen and his sisters.

Gabby surprised herself with how much fun she was having. The competitiveness in Glen’s family was infectious, but it was all in good fun, with plenty of laughter and shouts echoing through the yard.

As the game progressed, Gabby found herself holding her own, even managing to intercept one of Glen’s passes to his dad, much to everyone’s surprise.

“Oh, come on!” Glen called out, throwing his hands up in mock frustration as Gabby smirked at him, holding the ball above her head triumphantly.

“Better luck next time!” she teased before tossing the ball back into play.

It wasn’t long before Gabby found herself in the spotlight again. Lauren had the ball and spotted Gabby open near the end zone.

“Go, Gabby!” she shouted, tossing the ball to her.

Gabby caught it with a slight stumble but quickly recovered, sprinting toward the makeshift goal. She could hear the cheers of encouragement behind her, but she also heard heavy footsteps rapidly closing the distance.

“Not so fast!” Glen called, his voice filled with playful determination.

Before she could react, Glen caught up to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her off the ground as she let out a surprised laugh. 

“Glen!” she protested, squirming in his grasp as he spun her around.

“Can’t let you score that easily,” he teased, his grip firm but gentle.

The two of them stood frozen for a moment, Glen still holding her as her feet dangled just above the ground. Gabby’s laughter softened as she looked up at him, her cheeks flushed from both the game and the warmth of his attention.

“Put me down,” she said softly, though there was no real urgency in her voice.

Glen smiled, his eyes locked on hers. “You sure you want me to let go?” he asked, his tone teasing but quiet, as if the world around them had faded into the background.

Gabby nodded, but there was something unspoken in the way they looked at each other. Glen gently set her back on the ground, his hands lingering for just a moment longer than necessary before he stepped back, clearing his throat.

“You know that was definitely a penalty, right?” Leslie teased, her arms crossed as she walked over to where they stood.

“Blatant holding!” Lauren chimed in, grinning as she pointed at Glen. “You’re lucky we don’t have an official out here.”

Glen smirked, his gaze locked on Gabby as he stepped back. “What can I say? I play to win.”

The game had hit a natural pause as everyone caught their breath and grabbed bottles of water from the cooler Glen’s dad had brought out. The twins ran around chasing Brisket, their high-pitched laughter ringing through the backyard, while Leslie and Lauren teased each other about their next strategy to beat Glen’s team. Gabby stood off to the side, near the edge of the yard, taking in the scene. The chaotic energy of his family surrounded her like a warm hug, but she needed a moment to herself to process everything.

Her eyes found Glen, and she couldn’t help but smile. He was crouched down in the grass, pretending to let the twins tackle him. He made a dramatic show of being "defeated," sprawling onto his back while they piled on top of him, laughing uncontrollably. Gabby could hear their shrieks of joy even from where she stood. Then, with seemingly endless energy, Glen scooped both kids up into his arms and stood, spinning them around while they squealed in delight.

When his mom called something from the patio, Glen turned and shot her a thumbs-up, one of the twins still clinging to his shoulders. It was so effortless—the way he moved between playful uncle, competitive teammate, and devoted son. Watching him like this, Gabby felt something shift inside her.

She’d been falling for him since practically the moment they met, but seeing him here, surrounded by his family, made her feelings undeniable. He wasn’t just kind and funny and protective—he was the kind of man you could settle down and build a life with. He loved so deeply, so fully, and it wasn’t just his family who received that love. It was her too. She could see it in the way he looked at her, in the way he always seemed to know when she needed reassurance, in the way he made her feel like she belonged, even here, surrounded by people she’d only just met.

Her chest tightened as the realization fully hit her. She loved him. She loved Glen Powell with her whole heart, and the weight of that truth was almost overwhelming. She’d thought about love when it came to Glen before—how she might be falling for him, how she might love him. She’d even said it once a few days ago, in a moment of shy honesty, when he’d accidentally confessed his feelings while asking her to come with him to Austin and meet his family. “I think I love you too,” she’d told him then, uncertain but hopeful. But now? Now there was no thinking, no wondering. She knew it. She loved him completely, deeply, without hesitation.

And while the realization filled her with warmth, it also scared her. Loving Glen felt like handing him a piece of herself she wasn’t sure she’d ever given to anyone before. It felt real—and she wasn’t sure if she was ready for how much it mattered.

There was so much they hadn’t faced yet—his grueling filming schedule, his fame and the way it sometimes bled into their private lives, the inevitable times they’d have to spend apart. The longest they’d been away from each other so far was a week, and even that had been hard. Could they really navigate all the challenges waiting for them?

“Hey,” Glen’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts, and she blinked, realizing he was standing right in front of her now. His brow furrowed slightly, his hazel eyes filled with concern. “You okay?”

Gabby nodded quickly, but she could tell by the way his expression didn’t change that he wasn’t convinced.

“I’m fine,” she said softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I was just… watching you with your family.”

His lips quirked into a small, lopsided grin. “Yeah? What’s the verdict?”

She smiled back, shaking her head. “They’re wonderful. And you’re…” She paused, searching for the right words. “You’re amazing with them. It’s easy to see how much they love you.”

Glen stepped closer, his expression softening with concern. “You sure that’s all that’s on your mind? You looked a little lost in thought back there.”

Gabby hesitated, her heart racing as the words sat on the tip of her tongue. She wanted to say it—to tell him how she felt—but the weight of it, the vulnerability of laying her heart bare, made her chest tighten. What if she messed it up? What if saying it changed everything? Her silence stretched a beat too long, and she saw Glen’s brow furrow slightly, worry creeping into his eyes.

“Hey,” he said gently, his voice low and steady. He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his touch grounding her. “Whatever it is, you can tell me. You don’t have to be nervous.”

She swallowed hard, her pulse thundering in her ears. “It’s not that,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s just... hard to say.”

Glen tilted his head, his gaze steady and reassuring. “Is it bad?” he asked, his voice soft, but she could see the flicker of unease in his expression, as if bracing for something he didn’t want to hear.

“No,” she said quickly, shaking her head. “It’s not bad. It’s just... big.” She took a breath, trying to steady herself, and when her eyes met his again, the tenderness in his expression unraveled her completely. 

“I love you,” she finally admitted, her voice trembling.

For a moment, Glen froze, his eyes widening in surprise. Then his face broke into the most genuine smile she’d ever seen, so warm and full of quiet joy that it made her knees feel weak. “You love me?” he repeated softly, his voice filled with wonder, as if he needed to hear it again to believe it.

Gabby nodded, her cheeks flushing as the weight of her confession gave way to relief. “I do,” she said, her voice steadier now. “I’ve felt it for a while, but I guess... I just realized it for sure.”

Glen’s hand lifted to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing gently across her skin. His smile didn’t falter as he leaned in closer, his voice low and steady. “You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that,” he murmured.

Gabby leaned into his touch, her chest tightening as he continued.

“I love you too, Gabby,” he said, his voice filled with conviction. “So much. More than I can even put into words.”

Gabby’s eyes fluttered closed as she let the moment wash over her, the overwhelming emotion settling into something warm and steady. She knew there were challenges ahead—his career, his fame, the uncertainty of the future—but none of that mattered right now. All that mattered was this. Him. Them.

[luvangelbreak]

Deprived | Twenty

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 matthew sturniolo x layla venita (female!oc) summary: everyone knows the story of the bad boy and the good girl but what happens when the school's most popular boy, Matthew Sturniolo, and the girl who notoriously is never there, Layla Venita, cross paths. warnings: swearing, smoking, suggestive? word count: 3.3k a/n: this series has been longer than I anticipated but I'm living for the slow burn so it's gonna be a while till we're done folks.

pov: layla

I spent the next week couped in my room, refusing to leave as I quickly smoked the bag of weed Wes had given me. Allie had messaged me in concern multiple times and I finally built up the courage to reply to her a day after her last message.

Allie <3 Monday hey girl are you okay? matt has been off all day 1:30pm Tuesday if u wanna talk im here <3 5:37pm Wednesday im getting concerned pls message me if u need anything 3:47pm

You sorry just havent been feeling good im okay just need time alone 10:21pm

Allie <3 im sorry :(10:23pm

You its okay i'll be at school tmrw 10:27pm

Allie <3 okay! see ya then <3 10:28pm

I locked my phone and threw it lazily on the bed beside me, rolling over to face the wall where my window was cracked open. I was glad my dad was out tonight, having to deal with him for over a week straight was draining and I felt like it didn't benefit my self-loathing in any way. I sighed as my mind always travelled back to the look on Matt's face, the pure hurt in his eyes that I knew I caused.

Part of me was glad he hadn't messaged or tried to talk to me. It meant that I could push him away if I wanted to. I did just that without even consciously meaning to. I got scared and made it his fault in my brain but as I continued rotting in my bed, I realised I hurt him more than I ever meant to. It wasn't his fault that I was afraid of someone being close, it wasn't his fault that I let something so small set me off. I needed to make him realise it wasn't his fault and I was just not used to the affection and accommodation he offered me daily.

I barely slept over the past week and this night was no different. My alarm went off in the early hours of the morning and I knew I had slept a total of 4 hours from the way my brain had constantly been reeling. I dragged myself out of bed and trudged into the bathroom. I took an extra long shower to attempt to rid the disgust I felt towards myself.

After scrubbing my entire body head to toe, I jumped out of the shower and walked to my room. My entire body felt heavy and I felt tears prick my eyes when I looked over to the pink sweater that was still laying over my bag. I picked it up, realising it was the only clean sweater I had since I hadn't been bothered with laundry. I quickly slid it over my head before sliding on my black sweatpants and combat boots. I slid my leather jacket over the top, not bothering with any makeup as I lazily tied my now damp hair into a low ponytail. I grabbed my bag, quickly sprayed on some perfume and grabbed my phone off of my bedside table.

I quickly exited my house without food or water in my stomach and as I began walking down the road, I decided to light one of the last few cigarettes I had pre-rolled. I grabbed my headphones from my bag, slid one into my ear and plugged them into my phone. I clicked shuffle on one of my playlists and I let my feet drag on the asphalt as I slowly made my way down the streets of Massachusetts.

After an hour, I finally arrived in the parking lot of the school and I scanned the cars, my eyes landing where I saw the familiar silver minivan. I paused, letting out a heavy breath as I collected myself and began walking to the group of people in front of the car.

Nate was the first to notice me and he just looked at me with no expression before he turned back to the group. As I got closer I noticed the fact that Mia was standing beside Matt with her head leaned on his shoulder, his arm wrapped around her back lazily and I felt a pang of pure jealousy run through me. I tried to shake it off as I got closer, knowing I had no right to be mad about it right now since I was the one who caused the riff between the brown-haired boy and myself.

"Speak of the devil," I heard Nick say when his eyes caught mine and I was a few feet away, standing uncomfortably as I looked between all of them. All of their heads turned to look at me, Allie being the only one who didn't seem like they were looking right through me.

"Matt, can I talk to you?" I asked quietly as I didn't dare to meet his eyes yet and there was an uncomfortable silence that fell over us, "Please."

"About what?" he asked, his tone short and I looked up to see his face completely expressionless but his eyes held such hurt and aggravation that it felt like it cut right through me.

"Last week," I mumbled, ignoring the pain in my chest of seeing Mia looking at me with a slight smirk. I focused in on the boy I had hurt, his blue eyes piercing in the sunlight.

"Now?" he questioned, not taking his eyes off of me and I just looked at him, the judgement of his friends radiating off of them. He sighed heavily before swinging his arm out from around Mia and I felt a weight lifted off of my shoulders but there was still a pressure on my chest, "I'll be back."

I looked at the ground as he pushed away from the hood of the minivan and he walked past me. I followed behind him, not daring to look back at his friends as we walked to the back of the parking lot before he stopped to face me.

He didn't say anything for a moment as I looked up at him and he scanned me head to toe before murmuring, "That's my sweater."

"Yeah. I left it on my bag all week but I didn't have any clean hoodies for today," I explained and he hummed as I picked at the skin around my fingers, my nails too short to bite now that I had been picking at them all week. I nervously chewed on my lip before I said, "I'm sorry."

"It took you a week to say that?" he asked, his voice quiet but his words laced with pain.

"I didn't mean to hurt you. I know I reacted to what you said horribly but I just-" I cut myself off as I took a breath and looked down at the gravel below us, "I haven't had anyone take care of me the way you do. It scares me. I'm sorry."

I squeezed my eyes closed, chewing on my bottom lip far more aggressively than I intended but my heart raced as I waited for his response. I felt his hand fall under my chin and he lifted my face to look up at him, noticing now that he was slightly closer to me. He used his thumb to gently pull my lip away from my teeth as I fidgeted with the hem of the pink sweater.

"Why didn't you just talk to me?" he asked, his tone softening as he looked down at me and I shrugged dumbly.

"I am bad at talking about that sorta stuff," I answered quietly, my throat closing from the sadness that invaded my body as I looked up at him. I had no right to be upset right now, I was the one who fucked up and made this so difficult, but I felt guilt invade my entire body when I realised I didn't want to push him away. It was habit and I was always bad at breaking them.

"Don't do that again," he demanded softly and I pursed my lips as I pushed my sadness down the best I could as tears sprung to my eyes, "Or I swear to god I won't talk to you again and I don't want to stop talking to you. Ever."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to push you away. I just don't know how to deal with everything I'm feeling and I know it's shitty but I promise I'm trying. I have no right to be sad right now because this is my fault but I feel so horrible for making you upset. You deserve so much more than that and if I can't give that to you I understand if you don't want me to be around anymore," I rambled out all of my feelings and conflicting voices in my head but I was cut off by his lips on mine.

I paused for a moment to register what was happening before my body melted into his, his arms wrapping around my lower back as I snaked my arms around his neck. I pulled him into me, missing the way his body felt against my own more than I anticipated. It felt like a breath of fresh air after being stuck in my room for the past week with smoke-filled lungs. He gripped my hips, pulling me impossibly closer to him as I tangled my hands in his hair before he pulled away to breathe for a moment.

"You're an idiot," he mumbled before he leaned back in to kiss me gently again.

"I know," I mumbled against his lips and he ran his tongue against my rough lips, the sting of his saliva hitting the open splits on my lips from chewing them. I hissed and pulled away as he looked down at me.

"You need to stop biting your lip," he muttered as his eyes travelled all around my face, "And stop picking your nails. You're not gonna have any left soon."

"I've been stressed the past week. I can't help it," I whispered as I looked up at him in awe. I had forgotten the pure oxytocin that ran through my system when I was with him and I refused to let it go again.

"Pretty girl," he gave me a sympathetic look and I shook my head as I pulled away from his face slightly, my arms still slung over his shoulders.

"Don't feel bad. This was my doing and I will make it up to you," I answered sternly and his face broke into a small smile. I sighed, the weight being lifted off of my chest now and my body tingled with joy.

"All I'm asking is that you talk to me next time," he whispered, leaning down to place a peck on my lips and I let it linger before I pulled back and nodded.

"I will try," I scratched the nape of his neck lightly and he bit his bottom lip as my face dropped, "Don't look at me like that before we have to go inside. I'll drive us back to your house right now."

"I don't see you for a week and you're ready to jump my bones already," he chuckled and I raised my eyebrows.

"How else can I make it up to you, ya know?" I joked as let my mouth form into a smirk and he shook his head as he pursed his lips, "Does this mean I can come to your game this week?"

"Of course baby," he smiled down at me and I felt the butterflies erupt in my stomach again, promising not only him but myself to never let myself ruin this again.

"By the way," I let my right hand trail from his neck to his chest, playing with the necklace that sat comfortably on his collarbones, "Allie's brother was just dropping me home. He tried to flirt with me but I shut it down. I wasn't lying about that."

"I know. I overreacted. I'm sorry about that," he said softly and I shook my head, twiddling the pendant between my fingers as I looked up at him.

"I know how it looked. I would've been just as upset. You don't need to apologise for it," I mumbled, trying hard to convey my feelings as best I could to which he didn't respond verbally. He instead placed another kiss against my lips and smiled against me as he squeezed my hips.

"Matt!" I heard Chris's voice call from only a few feet away and we both broke apart to look over at him, "You guys done? We gotta go to class."

"I forgot about that," I joked and Chris just gave me a deadpanned look as Matt chuckled.

"We'll be there in a sec," he called to his brother who just rolled his eyes and spun around to walk back to his friends, "They're more pissed at you than I was."

"I can tell," I mumbled as I watched their eyes pour directly into me, "Allie messaged me though."

"She was the only one defending you," he told me honestly and I hummed as I looked back up to him, "I'll talk to them."

"Don't sugarcoat it. You can tell them I'm a dumbass who doesn't know how to deal with her emotions," I stated and he shook his head with a smile, placing a kiss on the top of my head before swinging his arm over my shoulders.

"Come on," he said nodding towards the group and I hesitantly began walking with him by my side. Their eyes stayed glued to us as we approached and Mia gave me nothing but a scowl with her arms crossed, "Chill out. We talked about it."

"That didn't seem like talking," Mia spat and I remained silent, letting Matt handle the situation as I looked at Allie who gave me a sympathetic smile.

"Don't Mia," Matt deadpanned and she only scoffed with a roll of her eyes, "We talked about it and I don't wanna hear it."

"Only took you a week," Nate raised his eyebrows as he spoke and he looked at me. I pursed my lips while glancing between them.

"At least it happened," Matt retorted before the bell rang and he sighed, "We'll talk about it later. Let's go."

He began walking with his arm around my shoulder still and I followed suit, Chris moving to stand on the other side of Matt as everyone else followed behind. We made our way to our classes and once we sat down, a weight fell back on my chest.

Not only did I have to make it up to Matt, I had to win back his brothers and his friends.

+++

Pretty boy where did u go?? 12:23pm

You 🚬 be there in a minute 12:24pm

I locked my phone, sliding it into my pocket as I finished off my cigarette, throwing it onto the ground before I wedged it into the ground with my boot. I made my way back inside and straight to the cafeteria where I saw the group of friends sitting together.

"Hey," Allie beamed as she scooted closer to Mia to make space between her and Matt for me to sit. I smiled at her as I swung my legs over the bench and sat down. Matt placed his arm around my lower back as he continued his conversation with Nick.

"I don't want to wear a tie. That's why I got the red shirt," Matt groaned and Nick gave him a deadpanned look.

"It's prom. You're supposed to look fancy with a tie," Nick stated and Matt ran a hand across his face.

"We're all wearing a tie. Don't be a bitch," Nate pointed out and I tuned them out as Allie tapped my shoulder to gain my attention.

"You okay?" she asked quietly and I nodded with a hum.

"Yeah. Thank you for checking on me," I answered in a hushed tone and she shrugged with her sunshine smile that warmed my heart to know she wasn't annoyed with me.

"Of course. That's what friends are for," she said casually before she turned back to listen to the group conversation. I let her words hang over my head like a cloud.

That's what friends are for.

I don't remember the last time I had a genuine friend and her simple words struck me right in my heart. She had always been kind to me and from the moment we talked, she had been such a light in my life. I realised I not only wanted to share my emotions and feelings with Matt but also with Allie to show her that I appreciated her.

I wanted to be better for both of them.

"How long do we have to stay there?" Chris whined as he threw his head onto the table dramatically and Allie rolled her eyes.

"You're acting like you're being held hostage. If you don't wanna go it's fine," Allie responded, her tone quietening at the end and I could sense the slight sadness at Chris's distaste for prom.

"Al, I told you I'm going and I'll stick to that. I just don't wanna be there for five hours," he lifted his head up to look at her and she shrugged, eyes glancing at the table.

"We can leave early and go back to my house," she offered and Chris's mouth broke into a smile as he nodded.

"Works for me," he said triumphantly before sitting up again, resting his elbows on the table in front of him.

"How are we getting there?" Mia asked, looking around at the group and I just sat there in silence, deciding to go along with whatever plan I knew Allie had already set up.

"Meet up at my house at five thirty so we can take photos and make sure we have everything and then we will leave at like six-thirty to get to the hotel," Allie explained the plan and everyone seemed to hum along in agreement. I felt Matt's arm snake further around my back as he scooted closer to me.

"How are we getting there?" Nick asked and Allie smiled as she adjusted her ponytail.

"I got us a limo," she announced happily and Mia showed her first sign of happiness of the day as she squealed excitedly, "You guys won't drink right?"

Matt and his brothers shook their heads with a firm no and Allie turned to look at me and I shrugged, "Depends on what it is."

"Bottle of champagne in the limo?" Mia asked Allie and Allie nodded causing Mia's smile to widen.

"You're dad won't arrest us if we drink?" Nate asked, the half-hearted joke not landing well with Mia as she rolled her eyes.

"Not if he doesn't know," she pointed out with a slight smirk and Nate raised his eyebrows before nodding in agreement.

"Did you find a dress?" Nate asked, turning his attention to me as he attempted to make conversation. I assumed that in the time I'd been in my other classes and was outside Matt had talked to Nate, Chris and Nick since they weren't glaring at me anymore but they still felt slightly standoffish.

"No. I'm just gonna make my own," I explained and he nodded, his smile in a downturned smile.

"Mad impressive that you can do that," he complimented me and I gave him a half-hearted smile as Matt traced circles on my hip with his thumb.

"Thanks. I just hope I can finish it in time," I explained and I could sense Mia's disgust towards me radiating off of her but I was learning to tune her out like I had always done before Matt came into my life.

Suddenly the bell rang for our next classes and everyone began getting up. I stood up from the table before Matt spun me around and kissed my lips gently. I froze for a moment, shocked at the fact he did that in the middle of the cafeteria but I quickly reciprocated the action before he pulled away.

"See you after school pretty girl," he smirked at me before he walked away and I stood still for a moment as I watched him walk away with Nick, Chris, Nate and Mia.

"You guys are so fucking cute it makes me want to throw up," Allie rolled her eyes playfully beside me and I looked around to see people staring at me once again. I pursed my lips, my cheeks tinging red as I hid a smile and shook my head before I began walking out of the cafeteria.

tags:

@dsturniolo @chrisstankyleg @lov3bug @pinklittleflower @thatcrazybitch-69 @trinity2058 @alorsxsturn @chrizznmetswife @ilovechrissturniolo1 @leprechaunbirthdaygirl @sturnfix @lilsstvrn @sturniololol @sturniolowhore @jebbie-project-blog @jaxyy219

[sadie-bug345]

how the gang drives🤡☝️✨🤭

shhhh let's pretend i’ve been active this whole time🧍‍♀️

ponyboy:

surprisingly safe but WHITE KNUCKLING IT THE WHOLE WAY

guy needs to calm downnnnn

seems like he’s super chill on the outside but his whole back and neck is mega tense

takes two tries to pass the drivers test but pony dgaf and just drove without it

prays he doesn’t see a cop cause when he does he gets terrified they’re gonna pull him over and ask for his license and registration

“…does a learners permit count😀☝️?” type beat😭😭

road rage score: 3/10 focuses too much on himself

johnny:

genuinely chilled out

doesnt know anything abt the technicalities of driving though

two-bit once mentioned something abt the “right of way” and johnny turned to him like

“🤨if you don’t stop makin made up words n shit i’m gonna crash this car right now”

two said “so you’re crashing it on purpose this time🤨☝️”

gagged johnny

but anyways yeah johnnycake did hit a socs’ parked car once in a neighborhood and sped off SO FAST

poor guy never heard the end of it from the gang

road rage score: 5/10 solid horn user

sodapop:

i feel like realistically no sensible person would ever let this boy behind the wheel but ANYWAYS

WAY TOO RELAXED like he WILL talk to you about super deep stuff and get real into the conversation if you’re in the passenger seat

like bro will fully turn his head and look at you when you’re talking or smth for minutes on end

guy LOOK AT THE ROAD😭😭

it’s just cause you’re so stunning pookie trust✨🙏

road rage score: 2/10 prob yells in the car but barely anyways

darry:

he’ll talk in the car for sure but it’s usually about what’s going on in the road

like he’ll just make comments about everyone else’s driving skills

also super road rage-y but in a dad typa way

i DESPISE it when people act like darry has a fucking boomer grandpa geriatric ass but in this circumstance it’s true😔

he doesn’t drive like an old person at all but if you cut him off in traffic and you hear some random man yell from behind you “HEY WATCH IT BUDDY” followed by intense honking..

it’s darry and you better speed on outta there real quick 😭

road rage score: 10/10 he’s stressed and works too damn hard to be treated like this by the general public😔

dally:

my MANNNNN🥰🥰🥰

we already know how he drives like bro stole bucks car and i think when buck realized dally took it buck just knew it would be totaled by the time he got it back

like bro takes reckless to another level

speeding, driving w one hand (🫢🫢BADDIE ALERT🚨🚨), not using blinkers and almost totaling the car 20 separate occasions before arriving at his destination

also he totally does not fill up the gas tank as often as he should like bro grinds on empty for miles straight

you’re like “uhhh the gas light just turned on..”

and he’s just like “nahhh ill make it work you jus see”

and he does🤷‍♀️

road rage score: 11/10 doesn’t yell at you w windows rolled down like darry but will tailgate you like there’s no tomorrow. also brake checks people CONSTANTLY

two-bit:

goofy ahh driver😭

when he sees a friend on the street or next to him at an intersection he will do some stupid honk thing like yankee doodle type shit💀

swerves in and out of empty lanes cause he thinks it’s funny to scare the other people in the car

”pity the backseat” got a whole other meaning istg😭

will bang his head against the steering wheel if you’re going too slow

also pimps out his car like there’s no tomorrow bros got all the dumbest most useless decorations possible

road rage score: 6/10

steve:

car nerddddd🤓☝️🫵

only puts premium gas in his tank cause he’s a bit of a snob but it’s steve and his life is cars soooo yk he treats the engine right

that sounds super weird😭

probably the most normal driver during the day but when it comes to drag races he’s absolutely bonkers like nothing held back

cries if someone scratches his car

road rage score: 9/10 super quick to honk and to flip you off like you get into his space one second and then you get death threats i don’t make the rules🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

OK TYSMMMM ILL TRY AND GET MORE ACTIVE AGAIN REQUESTS ARE OPEN OK BYEEEE

[lionlena]

Unforgivable mistake (JoelMillerxreader) Part 10

Summary: Reader is much younger than Joel and is in love with  him. One night, after arguing with Tess and getting drunk, Joel spends  the night with a reader, but in the morning he breaks her heart…  She  runs away from Boston hoping that she will never meet this cold bastard  again in her life. But almost six years later, she unexpectedly sees  Joel in Jackson. She decides to hide herself and her little secret from  this asshole.

Warnings: age gap (reader is about 28 years, Joel 58),  strong language, swearing, past trauma, bullying, attempted rape, memories of sexual abuse, unprotect p in v,  dom!Joel, Joel is asshole, ANGST, hurt, sadness and heartbreaking, sexual harassment, women abuse, violence, injury, sickness.

I'm sorry you had to wait for this new chapter for so long. I hope I will write 11 much faster ;)

Part 10

You spent a few more days with Anna and Toby, helping them and making sure they would be ready for winter.

You were surprised at how well you all were doing. You fell into a nice rhythm. You got up first and made breakfast for everyone with Anna's help. Ellie also helped you sometimes. Teddy would get up and go straight to Joel. He often spent a few more minutes napping with his dad. Then Joel came to the kitchen with his son. Meanwhile, Toby also showed up. You ate breakfast and together planned the work that needed to be done. Once you were ready to go to work, Teddy was left in the care of Ellie and Toby.

You were positively surprised by how you all worked together. No arguments or misunderstandings. You worked together like a family.

In the evening you came back for dinner and you all spent time together playing games and having fun. If you weren't very tired, you went for a short walk with Joel.

You noticed that he was trying to give you space, but he still couldn't stop himself from hugging you and kissing your cheek, but you didn't mind.

The day always ended the same. You fell asleep in Joel's arms wearing his T-shirt and woke up in the morning.

But last night you couldn't sleep. You lay next to Joel, who was snoring lightly, and you thought about how surreal this moment was.

It's as if everything Joel did in Boston happened to someone else.

Sometimes you imagined things would have turned out differently. Joel approached you at the bar and asked if he could walk you home. Of course, you agreed. On the stairs, Joel tripped and you held him. He kissed you… Passionately and gently. Then he took you to his apartment and made love to you… No, he didn't fuck you… He was gentle and caring, and after it was all over, you fell asleep together in each other's arms. But in the morning Joel sobered up and realized that he had made a mistake. He apologized to you and told you that he wouldn't leave Tess, that you were just a child to him and he shouldn't take advantage of your naivety. Of course, that would break your heart too, you would scream and cry, but then you would calm down. The next day you would set out with Claudia into the unknown and... What would happen then? Did you fall in love with someone else?

You sighed heavily and rolled over. After a while, you felt a gentle kiss on the back of your neck and heard his hoarse, sleepy voice.

"Is something wrong, darling? Can't you sleep?"

You were silent for a moment, not sure if you should share your thoughts with him. You knew that was what a good relationship was all about, but… You also knew that Joel felt really bad about himself. He wanted to forget about how he treated you. But the problem was that it was impossible to forget. This had to be worked through.

“I think,” you finally said. "Would... Would we be here now, together, if our first time had been different? Or maybe I would have already had someone... A boyfriend, a husband... I don't know, these are stupid thoughts..."

You could feel how Joel was tense. Like you caused him physical pain, but he still wanted to be supportive of you.

"Hey, hey baby, it's not stupid… I…" His voice became almost a whisper. "Sometimes I think what would have happened if you had stayed in Boston... I don't know if it would have been better... I'm actually happy that Teddy was born here. He wouldn't have had such a happy childhood in Boston."

You nodded because you knew he was right. You wouldn't want to raise Teddy in this dirty and violent place.

You felt Joel hug you tighter and press his face into your back. You didn't want him to be so sad. You gently stroked his hand that rested on your stomach.

"Joel?"

"Hmm?"

"What happened... It had to happen... for us to be where we are now and... We just have to live with it and move on."

Joel placed a gentle kiss on the back of your neck again.

"I don't deserve you. You're too good, too sweet, too caring... You're perfect."

You smiled softly.

"You may not deserve it, but it's what you get. Deal with it."

After a while, you added:

"There's something else."

"What?"

What you were going to say was a distortion of reality, but you felt the need to say it.

"If Teddy ever asks about our beginnings, we will lie to him. Do you understand? I'm not doing it just for you, but mainly for him. I want him to know that he was created because his mom and dad loved each other... Then we argued over something stupid and we broke up before we discovered I was pregnant. But we wanted to have children, we loved each other..."

Joel murmurs softly into your neck:

"Thank you."

You couldn't see his face, but if you turned around you would see tears in his eyes.

*

The next day you said goodbye to Anna and Toby and promised them you would come back soon. Even Ellie seemed sad to leave them.

When you entered the gates of Jackson, it was already evening and you were all tired. You hoped that you would put your baby son to bed quickly and rest, but... Tired Teddy was sometimes cranky. You helped him get to the ground and he immediately was clinging to Joel, whining and looking at daddy with pleading eyes. Joel picked him up and rubbed his back soothingly.

"What's the matter 'bear cub'?"

"I want you to sing me at bedtime." The baby boy whined.

Joel laughed lightly and ruffled Teddy's hair.

"Of course."

You just rolled your eyes, already knowing what was coming. And you were right. It didn't end with one song. Teddy also wanted you to tell him a story and hug him. Then he wanted his dad to bring him something to drink and hug him. Then he wanted both of you... Then again only dad. And he said all this while looking at you with those sweet but tired brown eyes of his, so neither of you could even get angry at him.

Joel sat down next to you on the couch with a huff after singing a song to his son for the fourth time.

"He fell asleep..."

You giggled slightly.

"Well, apparently he inherited my fondness for your voice."

Joel smiled to himself. He couldn't deny that your words brought a pleasant warm feeling to his chest.

"I think that's not the only thing he inherited from you. He's sweet, but sometimes he's…"

Joel looked at you and you frowned. Feigning indignation you said:

"You mean he's stubborn like me."

Joel looked at you, flustered, and scratched the back of his neck.

"No... that's not what I meant...what I meant was that he's relentless."

You laughed and gave him an amused look.

"Relax. I'm just joking."

Joel sighed and leaned further into the couch. He closed his eyes.

"I'm tired."

You nodded.

"Me too. I'll fall asleep as soon as I put my head on the pillow."

With a groan, Joel stood up and leaned down to give you a kiss on the cheek.

"Good night. See you tomorrow."

You closed your eyes and whispered.

"Good night."

*

However, some time later you discovered how wrong you were. You were tired, and yet you were rolling over on the mattress for an hour. You couldn't find a comfortable position on the bed and it was ridiculous. The bed at Anna and Toby's house was uncomfortable, and yet you slept perfectly well... Did you really get used to Joel's presence that quickly?

You groaned in frustration and got out of bed. You remembered Joel's warmth and scent, his solid chest...

“Ugh…Y/N, pull yourself together.”

You decided to go to the kitchen and get something to drink. You poured yourself some water and leaned against the kitchen counter. You felt that your drowsiness had completely left you. You were still extremely tired and wondering what you could do when you heard a soft knock. At first, you froze. A shiver of fear ran through your body. Who could be knocking on your door so late? You carefully looked out the window and immediately took a breath. Even in the dim light, you would recognize who this silhouette belongs to. You opened the door with a slight smile.

"Joel, what happened?"

You were sure he had gone to bed long ago. You stepped aside to let him in and you noticed that he looked tired.

"I wanted to ask the same thing, I noticed you had the light on in the bedroom and the kitchen and... I wanted to check if everything was okay with you, and Teddy."

You nodded and looked at him gratefully. It was nice to feel that someone cared about you and your son. You led him to the kitchen, where you sat down across from each other.

"Teddy's sleeping... I can't sleep..."

And then suddenly something hit you. Joel wouldn't be able to see your bedroom window and kitchen from his house, which meant...

"Joel? What were you doing exactly? Wandering around? I thought you were already asleep."

Joel shrugged and rubbed his face.

"I can't sleep," he muttered quietly.

You raised your eyebrows and huffed in amusement.

"You? You never have trouble falling asleep."

He looked at you as if you had offended him. "I don't fall asleep on watch." Then, a little shyly, he replied: "The bed seems too big to me."

You felt your heart beat faster, understanding what he meant, but you decided to tease him some more.

"Have you tried falling asleep on the couch?"

Joel gasped in surprise. "I... Umm... Maybe I really should."

You started laughing and stood up from your seat. You walked up to him and stood in between his legs, resting your hands on his shoulders and looking down at him.

"I think I slept better with you next to me."

Joel sighed in relief and gently placed his hands on your hips. "Me too, honey... Do you think... Do you think we can sleep in the same bed tonight?"

You bit your lip and smiled. You had another idea.

"It does not make sense."

Joel looked at you with sadness, even fear. He started to wonder what he had done wrong and was about to remove his hands from your body when you said:

"Living next to each other, instead of together." Joel's eyes lit up. "I think I'm ready... The last week we spent together showed me that this would be the best and easiest thing. Let's be honest, Joel... We won't be able to sleep tomorrow either... And the day after tomorrow."

Joel very carefully began to stroke your sides. "Do I understand this correctly? Will you and Teddy live with me and Ellie?"

You smiled and replied, "Yes."

Joel pulled you closer to him and hugged you tightly. You started stroking his hair and slowly felt sleepiness coming back to you. You were about to ask him to go to the bedroom with you when you heard his hesitant question.

"Y/N, what are we exactly? Don't get me wrong, I don't want to force you to define our relationship... I just don't know. Are we boyfriend and girlfriend?"

You giggled at his expression. Joel wasn't the best at these kinds of conversations, but he sure was sweet.

"I don't know." You answered honestly. "We are the parents of a wonderful baby boy, that's for sure. We've become friends, despite our complicated past... And I guess we're partners... You know, I mean... Friends don't do that..."

You leaned up and lightly kissed him on the lips and he grunted in pleasure. His hand ran through your hair. When you pulled away from him, you both sighed in contentment. You rested your forehead against his and sighed. His large hands caressed your sides and back. You felt the heat coming from his body and for you, it was like sleeping pills. You moved away from him a bit and muttered:

"I don't know how to define exactly what's going on between us. But does it matter? We'll figure it out later but for now... Let's go to sleep."

Joel eagerly followed you to the bedroom. He stripped down to his boxers and t-shirt. As you lay down next to him, a wave of peace immediately washed over you. All he had to do was wrap his arms around you and you immediately began to drift off to sleep. Before you fell asleep completely, you felt Joel kiss your head tenderly.

*

A few days later, you officially moved in with Joel and Ellie. You were sure of your decision. You really felt like it was the right thing to do. Not only did it make taking care of Teddy easier, but it also made your relationship with Joel stronger and took it to a new level. Not to mention that your son went crazy with joy. You've never seen him pack his things so quickly. And he didn't even complain. With a broad smile on his face, he moved his things to the new house and new room. Seeing his happy face filled you with joy and peace.

You thought that nothing could disturb your peace. But you were wrong.

*

You were feeding the horses when Ellie ran into the stable.

“Y/N!”

You looked carefully at the teenage girl. She looked nervous and you immediately stopped what you were doing.

"Something happened?"

Ellie took a deep breath as if trying to steady her nerves.

"Well... Did you hear that new people have arrived?"

You nodded and wondered why that would be a reason to be nervous. You thought it was good that the community was growing. You calmly replied:

"Yes, Sofia has already told me everything. Two older women, one younger with a little daughter, and two teenage boys. Is that right?"

Ellie still didn't look calm.

"Yes and umm... This young woman..."

"What about her?"

Ellie opened her mouth, closed it, opened it again, and took a deep breath.

"She's fine, she's just..."

“Y/N!”

You both looked at Maria as she entered the stable. You smiled slightly when you saw her pregnant belly. You still had a tense relationship from the moment you stood up for Joel, but you still wished her the best.

Maria gave you and Ellie a weak smile and immediately decided to get to the point.

"Is your old house available now?"

Her question surprised you. The truth was that you left a few things behind because... Despite the feelings you felt for Joel and the certainty that you had made the right decision, you wanted an emergency exit. You felt you had the right to do so after everything you had been through.

"Uh... Actually... I left some summer clothes there and... A few other things."

Maria raised her eyebrows. "I thought your move to Joel's was permanent."

You felt an unpleasant pang in your chest. "Because it is." You said quickly and maybe a little too loudly. "I just didn't have time to move everything, so I decided some things could stay there for now."

"I understand, but I would like you to take everything away. Your old house will become a new home for our new resident, her daughter, and her elderly mother."

You felt like you were out of breath. You were sure that you would have a happy future with Joel, but... The uncertainty was still inside you and it was hard for you to come to terms with losing your safe oasis that was your home so quickly. But you knew there was no point in arguing about it. You tried to look casual as you said,

"Oh... Yeah, sure. I'll do it soon."

Ellie looked at you sympathetically and quickly added, "I'll help you."

Maria nodded. "Okay. I'll come with them soon."

Before you left the stables, Ellie grabbed your arm.

"Maybe let's talk to Joel so he can talk to Tommy. It's not fair that Maria is taking your house. There are several other empty houses in the city. She's doing it maliciously."

You sighed heavily and shook your head. "No, Ellie... I don't want Joel to know that I wanted an escape route. He's trying so hard to make things better between us. I don't want him to think that I doubt him... That I assume that it won't work out. Maybe it's for the best."

Ellie nodded and you both started walking towards your old house. You saw that the teenage girl was thinking about something. She obviously wanted to tell you something, but she didn't know how. But you didn't have time to ask her about it. You focused on getting all your things as quickly as possible.

With Ellie's help, it went really smoothly. You were just taking the last box outside when you noticed Maria with three new Jackson residents in front of the house. You almost dropped the box and looked at Ellie. You realized that was what she was trying to tell you.

The young woman who stood next to Maria looked like a younger version of Tess. You felt a knot in your stomach and swallowed hard. You wanted to scream at the universe and ask why it hated you. Then you woke up. Just because she looked like Tess, didn't mean Joel would abandon you. But still, you couldn't help but feel uneasy that a woman who looked like your partner's former lover would be living next door. You heard Ellie lightly clear her throat as she tried to bring you back to reality.

"Oh, hello... The house is empty now."

Maria nodded. "That's great. I present to you Emily, her mother Lucia, and her daughter Rose."

The little girl waved at you shyly and you tried to smile. She was a similar age to Teddy, so Joel... You mentally cursed yourself for your ridiculous thoughts. Joel was in love with you and Teddy was his world. He wouldn't abandon you just because some woman looked like Tess and had a daughter.

“I'm Y/N, this is Ellie…” You felt your voice shake slightly. "We live next door with my son Teddy and... My... My partner Joel."

You tried to make the word "partner" sound as loud as possible. Ellie looked at you with her eyebrows slightly raised. Well, you will be going to explain to her what "marking territory" means when she is older.

"How old is your son?" Emily asked.

"He'll be seven soon."

"Oh, that's wonderful. Rose turned six a month ago... I hope that once we get settled and rest, we'll get to know each other better."

You stuck a fake smile on your face.

"That would be great, now... Let's go now. We still have a few things to do, right Ellie?"

The girl nodded nervously. "Yeah, sure... We have to make dinner for Joel..."

"That's right. See you later."

As soon as you entered the house, you threw the box in the corner and immediately stood by the window in the living room, where you could see your 'old' house.

"Is this what you wanted to tell me?" you asked, quickly glancing at Ellie.

The girl nodded and carefully approached you.

"She is not that similar... On closer view, she is actually completely different."

You smiled slightly at her attempts at comfort and looked out the window again.

"She's very similar" you muttered sadly.

Ellie immediately tried to distract you from your bad thoughts.

"Hey, let's go to the kitchen... I'm hungry and... Standing by the window won't change anything."

You nodded and moved towards her. Ellie was right. Standing by the window and staring at Tess's doppelgänger didn't change anything. But there was something else you needed to know.

"Ellie, has Joel seen her yet?"

The teenage girl shrugged.

"I do not know, probably no."

"Okay. Let's go get something to eat."

For the rest of the day, you tried to keep your mind occupied. But no matter what you did, you always glanced towards your former home.

When Joel returned, you began to watch him carefully and waited for the right moment to talk. He acted very normal. He gave you a kiss on the cheek to greet you, he played with Teddy and, unlike you, he didn't constantly glance towards the window. You started to wonder if he had seen Emily. If not, maybe you can somehow maintain this state longer. Then you rolled your eyes... That was a ridiculous idea. How would you implement this plan? You would lock Joel in the house, or maybe you would cover his eyes? Tess's doppelgänger literally lived on your doorstep.

"Darling?"

His deep voice brought you out of your thoughts. You were sitting on the couch and looking out the window.

"Huh?"

Joel sat down next to you and gently placed his hand on your knee. He looked at you worriedly.

"This is about your house? Right."

You blinked your eyes in shock. Well, Joel may not have gotten to the heart of the problem, but he was close.

"I... It's not..."

Joel gave you a reassuring smile.

“It's okay that you wanted to still have a safe place. I don't blame you for that and…” He gently lifted your chin so you were looking straight into his eyes. "I want you to be aware that if things don't work out between us, I will move out. You don't have to worry about not having a home."

You felt a surge of gratitude. It was surprising how well Joel already knew you. But not being able to return to your previous home wasn't the only problem. You had to bring this up. There was no point in running away from it anyway.

"Have you seen our new neighbor?" you asked quietly and he nodded. “She reminds me of Tess,” you said even more quietly and swallowed.

You watched Joel's face carefully for any signs of nervousness, but he still looked at you calmly. Not a muscle in his face even twitched at the mention of Tess.

"I don't know... Maybe a little. Does it matter?"

You gave him a look like, "Seriously?"

"You were in a relationship with Tess."

Joel looked at you surprised. He was still trying to figure out what this had to do with your new neighbor.

"Yes, I was in a relationship with Tess and it was... A specific relationship. We were comfortable together. You know? Tess was a convenient option for me in Boston. We worked and slept together." Joel grabbed your hands. "But I don't know if that relationship would last here. I think I would probably be too interested in you and would like to spend time with Teddy."

You could hear the genuine sincerity in his voice and it calmed your nerves a bit.

"Okay. I guess I got a little carried away with anxiety and the ridiculous idea that you and Emily... It's stupid."

Joel pulled you to him and kissed your forehead.

"Wait... What were you afraid of? That I would abandon you as soon as I saw someone like Tess." Joel couldn't hide the slight amusement in his voice. "Honey, she's just a woman of similar looks like Tess... I don't know her. And her looks don't matter because I only have my eyes on one woman."

He gently brushed his lips against yours.

"Only you."

You sighed and relaxed in his arms. For a moment you forgot about your anxiety. Joel wrapped his arms around you and hugged you tighter. You rested your head on his chest and tried to focus on his heartbeat, but deep inside you still felt this unexplainable fear. You felt the shadows of your past return and you were afraid they would consume you.

Part 9

Part 11

Taglist: @casa-boiardi @noisynightmarepoetry @ihavetwoholesforareason @sloanexx @creedslove @orcasoul @o-sacra-virgo-laudes-tibi @i-workwithpens @milla-frenchy @liatome @jojo-munson @pascalislove @goldenhxurs @elliaze @aestheticangel612 @cheyxfu @prestinalove @stevengmybeloved @faith-alons26​ @harriedandharassed @this--is--music ​@joeldjarin @elliaze @ajeff855 @anislabonis-love @quality-lust @sarahhxx03 @sofiparallel @misshoneypaper

*I don't know if tags work ;( If anyone knows how to make them work, let me know

[ladykailitha]

Can Anybody See Me? Part 14

This part is longer than my usual so I hope it makes up for that evil cliffhanger from last time. Also, they were supposed to wait until the end of this thing to get together but they weren’t going to wait any longer.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13

*

Eddie chewed on his nails as he waited in the van. He kept checking his watch every thirty seconds or so. He was starting to think that time was actively going backward. It shouldn’t be possible, but as he sat in the cold, looking up at the window, begging for it to come on, he was willing to believe anything was possible.

And then shouting started. He looked at his watch. It had only been eight minutes. He chewed on his lip. Steve had told him to wait fifteen minutes before storming the castle. But if he could hear the shouting from the streets, then the neighbors could probably hear it, too.

Eddie got out of his van and immediately discounted going straight up to Steve’s window. There weren’t any trellises or trees that he could climb in the front. He skirted around back and looked around. There was a glass enclosure that had a lower roof than the rest of the house. He of course tried the door first, but wasn’t surprised when he found it locked.

It wasn’t going to be that easy. He tried jumping up to see if he could catch the overhang on the “viewing room” or whatever the hell it was, but he couldn’t quite reach it.

He looked around and spotted a lounge chair. He dragged it over to the side of the house and climbed on it. Getting up on his tiptoes he was able to grabbed the roof and pull himself up.

Eddie checked his watch. It had been ten minutes since Steve entered the house, five minutes to go. The shouting wasn’t as loud from the back, but he could still hear it. It seemed to be only the one the voice. Mr Harrington’s.

He chewed his lip again and made his way back to the front of the house. He knew he should try the other windows, but figured that Steve’s would be the safest option, having been in it and he knew the layout.

Eddie tugged on the window and breathed a sigh of relief when it slid open. He jumped through and landed softly on his feet.

*

Steve took a deep breath and walked through that door, even though he wanted to run. He wanted to tell Eddie to take him home. Back to Forest Hills. Back to the trailer park. Back to Uncle Wayne. Back to safety.

But Steve wasn’t a coward. He had faced demogorgons, demodogs, and racist bastards. He itched to pull out the nail bat from the truck of his car. But going in as threat would only make his dad more riled up. He knew from experience that the best thing to do was to pretend to be as small as possible and hope he was ignored.

His dad came storming out of his office and he had been drinking.

Fuck.

It took every ounce of courage Steve had not to take a step back. Back to Eddie.

“Where have you been?” Mr Harrington snarled. “Do you have any idea what time it is, boy?!”

Steve gulped and knew looking at his watch would make things worse. “Before ten? I made sure to be home before curfew.” He actually had. Even though he didn’t know his parents were going to be home, he instinctively knew to be home before ten o’clock.

Mr Harrington looked at his watch and sneered. “Barely. It’s 9:57.”

Steve nodded, he bit down on his bottom lip to keep it from quivering.

“So where were you?” Mr Harrington asked again, tapping his foot impatiently.

“A couple of friends from my drama class has a band so I went to go see them,” Steve said. He forced his volume to be as normal as possible. Too loud and he was mouthing off, too low and he was being a sissy.

“Drama?” Mr Harrington growled. “Why the fuck are you in drama?”

Steve was starting to shake. “I told you. After that concussion I got pulled from the basketball and baseball teams...” He gulped as he watched his dad turn purple with rage.

“I thought that was some joke!” Mr Harrington said, his voice not quite to yelling, but loud.

“I wouldn’t joke about that, dad,” Steve said. “I got hurt really bad and had to quit. I’m still in swimming though. We both know that was the better sport. It’s where I got the most trophies.”

Mr Harrington took a step forward and hissed, spittle spraying from his mouth, “But basketball is where the scholarships are, you feckless moron.”

“I’m still working really hard,” Steve said, doing nothing about the slime that now decorated his face. He couldn’t move he was frozen to the spot.

“And now you gone thrown it all away!” Mr Harrington bellowed. “And for what? Do you know what the neighbors say?”

Steve shook his head, thinking of all the horrible things that the could have said. About Eddie. About Marty and Janice.

“You’ve been having parties out here every weekend!”

Steve’s head rocked back. He wasn’t sure the last time he had a party here. Well not one that the neighbors would notice.

“I–I haven’t,” he stammered. “I’ve had people come over for a movie once but that was weeks ago. I swear, Dad. I wouldn’t. You told me not. I haven’t.”

Mr Harrington got in his face. “You better not be lying to me, boy.”

“I wouldn’t!”

“I want you to drop this drama business right away,” Mr Harrington snarled. “Drama is for fags and queers. You fag or a queer, boy?!”

“I can’t,” Steve said, his whole body shaking. “Otherwise I won’t be able to graduate. Mrs Hall says that I need two electives to graduate. And she wouldn’t let me get out of pottery, so I doubt she’ll let me out drama.”

“What did you just say?” Mr Harrington shouted. “Did you just talk back to me? Did you!”

Steve shook his head. “I wouldn’t. I’m not. I’m just–”

“You’re just what?” Mr Harrington asked, grabbing Steve’s wrist. “Useless? Worthless? A disappointment?”

“Dad, please...” Steve pleaded. He didn’t know how long it had been since he walked in here, but he prayed to whatever god would listen to him that it had been fifteen minutes.

A movement above them caught his eye. The door to his bedroom creaked open and quickly shut. Steve’s breath caught in his chest. Eddie. Steve moved ever so subtly so that his dad’s back was to the stairs. Making sure his dad couldn’t see what was going on behind him.

“I’m not friends with Tommy and Carol anymore,” he blurted out when it looked as though his dad was about to turn around.

“What the hell did you just say?” Mr Harrington bellowed.

“Tommy started hanging out with this guy that transferred from California. Real trailer trash.” He sent a silent apology to Eddie. “He’s the one that gave me the concussion that caused me to be thrown off the team. He wanted the captain role for himself and did whatever it took to get it.”

Complete revisionist history. But nothing that wasn’t untrue.

“And you just let this fucker beat you?” Mr Harrington growled.

“Well, he’s three inches taller than I am and forty pounds heavier,” Steve said with a shrug. “It wasn’t from lack of trying.” Okay, it was from him trying not to kill Billy. Even if he privately thought the world would be better off without him.

Steve knew his strength. He knew he could tear Billy limb from limb. Quite literally. But demonic monsters from another dimension were different from human monsters. Less bodies to hide for a start.

“Get out of my sight!” Mr Harrington snarled after a moment.

Steve waited a beat to make sure his dad meant it before dashing up the stairs and into his room. He slammed the door shut and instantly Eddie’s arms were around him.

“Holy shit,” Eddie whispered. “I’m here, baby.”

Steve fell apart instantly, crying and shaking. Eddie led him over to the bed and laid him down, wrapping Steve up his embrace.

“I’ve got you, sweetheart,” he murmured, rubbing Steve’s back in small circles. And kept doing it until he could feel the other boy relax.

Once Steve had calmed down enough to stop crying. Eddie untangled himself.

“I’ll be right back, beautiful,” Eddie murmured. “I need to move my van, so you don’t get into more trouble, okay?”

Steve nodded.

It had only taken a couple of minutes to do just that but when he crawled back through the window, Steve was sound asleep. Eddie smiled down at him. He got under the covers and bullied Steve under them as well.

He was grateful that Wayne worked the night shift so that he wouldn’t worry when he didn’t come home.

And he drifted off to sleep, arms wrapped around the boy he loved.

*

Eddie had decided years ago that he hated alarm clocks. But no more so than he did today, because it forced Steve out of his grip to turn it off.

Steve turned back to snuggle in Eddie’s arms.

“Morning, baby,” Eddie murmured and kissed the top of Steve’s head.

“Why is it I sleep better when I’m with you?” Steve asked, honestly.

Eddie mock gasped in shock. “Are you calling me boring, Stevie?”

Steve laughed. “No, you are anything but that.”

Eddie pulled him closer and held tightly. “Honestly?” Steve nodded. “I think it’s because you feel like you’re safe with me.”

Steve sighed. “I think you’re right.” He was silent for a moment. “I decided to finish that comic I started. The one about my trauma?”

Eddie twisted his head to look down at him. “Yeah?”

Steve nodded. “I want you to read it when it’s done.”

Eddie kissed the top Steve’s head again. “I’d love to.”

“I love you.”

Eddie pulled back so that he could see into Steve’s eyes. They were shining with unshed tears, but the soft tender smile was like the sun coming out after a storm. He struggled to get his arms out to cup Steve’s cheeks. “I love you, too, sweetheart.”

He pulled Steve’s face to press their lips together. It was everything Eddie loved when kissing for the first time. Warm, gentle, sweet.

Steve sighed happily. This was the ending he had hoped for last night. He loved every second.

Finally they came up for breath, panting heavily as they pressed their foreheads together.

Steve looked over at his shoulder and cursed. “We’re going to be late for school!”

Eddie laughed but let Steve scramble to find something to wear. He did a sniff test a recoiled a bit. He usually showered after a show (well, practice really) because of how much he sweats when playing.

“Hey, Stevie,” he said, hopping off the bed with two bounces. “Can I take a quick shower? I smell awful.”

Steve nodded. “I don’t think I have anything you can wear, though.”

Eddie nodded back. “At least the sweat from my body will be gone.”

“Fair enough,” Steve said. “Feel free to use whatever you need in there.”

Eddie grinned and skipped into bathroom.

Steve got dressed quickly, not quite ready for Eddie to see him like that, yet. He then gathered his homework and shoved into his bag. He scratched his cheek as he thought for a moment. He grabbed the black sweater he had only worn for less than hour a couple days ago.

He stopped and frowned. Was it really only two days ago that Eddie came over to help him sleep? It seemed like a life time ago.

He shook his head and went to his closet. His mom had bought him a bunch of jeans completely forgetting that he had three sports where he used his legs. He couldn’t get the damn things over his thighs. But they might fit Eddie.

He chewed on his lip. He pulled out three of them and set them on his bed. They were all grey. Just varying shades. A light acid-washed pair, a grey untreated pair, and a pair like the ones he’d worn last night. Dark grey with black seams.

He knocked on the door to the bathroom. “Hey, Eds. I’m going to go see if my parents are still here. I’ll be right back. I left something for you on the bed.”

*

Eddie peaked his head of the bathroom, towel in his hair as he dried it. He looked at the bed and smiled softly. The options wouldn’t be too far out of his wheelhouse as far as clothing choices went. He tried on all three pairs but chose the acid-washed ones. He pulled on the sweater and held the collar up to his nose.

Steve cleared his throat from the doorway. Eddie looked up, blushing at having been caught out sniffing Steve’s clothes.

“I like seeing you in my things,” Steve admitted, walking into his room.

Eddie shoved hair in front of his face to hide the further embarrassment. “Are your parents home?”

Steve shook his head. “I saw a note on the counter from my mom telling me they were on their way to South Korea. But that she would call on their layover in France.”

Eddie came over and gave him a hug. “That was so intense, baby. I didn’t know if I should interrupt or not.”

“If things had gone on longer, I think you would have,” Steve said. “But finding out that Tommy was hanging out with actual degenerate instead of whatever he thinks of poor people, meant he had had lost and he knew it. You live in the trailer park, so does Max. Does that makes either of bad people? Not even fucking close, man.”

“You’re sweet, baby.”

Steve blushed, tucking his head into the space between Eddie’s shoulder and neck.  

“Let’s get to school before Mrs Hall throws another fit about us,” Eddie said, gently pulling away.

Steve nodded.

Part 15  Part 16  Part 17 Part 18  Part 19  Part 20  Part 21

Tag List: @shrimply-a-menace @strangersteddierthings @throwbackthrowaway @novelnovella @cursedfoxteeth @babyblender @lifeisnotsobadonceyoustopcaring @swimmingbirdrunningrock @steve-the-hairrington @winterbuckwild @spectrum-spectre @matchingbatbites @garden-of-gay @anaibis @thing-a-ling @fandemonium-takes-its-toll @artiststarme @sundead  @nelotegreitic @gregre369 @butterflysandpeppermint @thedragonsaunt @kodaik97 @messrs-weasley @scarletzgo @deadlydodos @renaissan-vvitch @evix-syne666 @emly03 @justforthedead89 @ashwinmeird @huniibee @phantypurple @stevesbipanic @shucks-yuckyuck @awkwardgravity1 @bookbinderbitch @reportinglivefromsoda @chasinggeese @be-the-spark-bitch @jinxjinn @kohlraedirectioner @cr0w-culture @xjessicafaithx @whimsicalwitchm @jaywhohasthegay @dangdirtydemons @lovelyscot  @howincrediblysapphicofyou @the-redthread estrellami-1

[sinner-sunflower]

P.2 HH Lucifer-centric AU 8/?

STORY 1, PART 1, PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, PART 5, PART 6, PART 7, PART 9, PART 10, PART 11, PART 12, PART 13, PART 14, PART 14.5, PART 15, PART 16, PART 17, PART 18, PART 19, PART 20, PART 21, PART 22, PART 23, PART 24, PART 25, PART 26

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

When Keekee suddenly showed up at the hotel without her dad, Charlie had a slight moment of panic. Thoughts of 'oh my god, did they kill him?', 'is he locked up in Heaven???', 'I knew I or someone should've went with him', and 'please don't be dead dad!' went through her head.

Thankfully the cat familiar took pity on her and relayed her master's message and whereabouts. It didn't really stop Charlie from worrying but it eased her just a little bit to know that her dad is safe back home.

Charlie: I should go to him, right? To make sure he's really fine?

Angel: Toots, I think short king just needs a little time to himself. Just cos he said you can go doesn't really mean you have to go now.

Vaggie: I hate to say it but I think Angel is kinda right, surprisingly.

Angel: Oh fuck ya! I can give sound advices too, yaknow.

A chuckle from Cherri Bomb is what started a whole roasting session that they will surely laugh about later.

Cherri Bomb: Pfft, sure.

Angel: I do!

Husk can't help but join in on the teasing too.

Husk: Angel, just give up. You're gonna give that Fizzarolli guy a run for his money telling those jokes.

Angel: Gasp! Huskie, you too?! Betrayed by my own boyfriend.

Husk: I'm not your boyfriend!

The blush on the bartender's face could rival Alastor's outfit's shade of red. It became redder when Nifty let out a sinister-like gremlin laugh that no one in the hotel would like to hear if they can help it.

Nifty: Hehehehe. Not yet~

Angel: Husk, baby, have you been talking to others about your feelings fo' wittle old meeee?

Husk: No!

They continue to bicker and Charlie can't help but look at them with adoration. All of them have come so far and she can confidently say that they have evolved into somewhat of a family unit. A bit dysfunctional but she won't have it any other way.

Vaggie: Why don't you let the man sleep for a bit.

Charlie: I just worry, Vaggie..

The soft look her girlfriend gave her would've melted Charlie into a lovesick puddle if she wasn't so preoccupied with her dad.

Vaggie: I know, babe.

Alastor: I do have to agree with them, dear.

The ex-exorcist yelped in surprise at Alastor's sudden presence beside them while Charlie had grown accustomed to the man's nasty habit of sneaking up on people. Maybe she should invest a bell for him. Hmm... She wonders if her dad can make Al wear one.

Vaggie: Jesus, Alastor!

Charlie: You too, Al?

Alastor: Why don't you join us for a meal first, hm? That should give your father enough time to rest. I seem to remember that it was your turn to set the table, isn't that right, Vagatha?

Vaggie grumbles something in Spanish that Charlie is sure is a curse word but doesn't argue anymore.

Vaggie: Everyone, dining hall. Now!

And just like that, everyone stopped talking and went straight to the kitchen, leaving just Keekee, Charlie, and Alastor in the lobby.

Charlie absentmindedly pets Keekee who climbed up in her arms while looking at her family fondly. She takes notice of Alastor next to her sporting the same look as hers.

She's glad that he's opening up bit by bit. She wonders if her dad had anything to do with that or if Alastor just learned to trust on his own.

Speaking of Al and her dad. That's a can of worms that she was, at first, afraid to open. She's happy for her dad, don't get her wrong, but there's still days where she misses her mom. Sometimes, if she's in a really bad place, she imagines her mom coming back and all three of them living happily ever after again.

With Alastor in the picture, she became a bit afraid. Of being replaced as the most important person in her dad's life or how her once dream happily ever after will never be reality, she doesn't know.

But seeing Alastor's genuinely care for her dad; never leaving his bedside after the Roo debacle, leaving Marigold's everywhere (how romantic is that, Vaggie!), and providing solace for her dad that she knows she can't always give. Those actions told her that maybe despite not getting her original happy ever after with her mom and dad, she can always dream of a new one.

There's something different about Alastor right now, though. He looks more stiff than usual but sagging at the same time. It could be also be worry but Charlie thinks she knows Alastor enough to tell that he's irritated. And he's definitely leaning into his cane more.

Alastor, probably feeling her stare, sighs.

Alastor: What is it, my dear?

Charlie at least had the decency to be flustered for staring.

Charlie: Sorry, Al. But um... are you okay?

Alastor: Whatever do you mean?

Charlie: It's just- you look, I don't know, irritated? Or like annoyed? I know I sound hypocritical but dad's gonna be alright.

Alastor: I appreciate the sentiment, Charlie, but I have full faith in your father. He is not the source of my... mood. Not directly, anyway.

He accidentally said the last part instead of just thinking about it but thankfully it was quiet enough that Charlie didn't caught it.

His answer just made Charlie more confused. Tilting her head, she looks at the radio demon quizzically.

Charlie: So you are in a mood?

Alastor: Nothing for you to be worried about, my dear! It might just be my cravings.

Charlie: For... human flesh?

He gives her one of his more sinister grins, the one she's seen when he's hungry for blood (and not the cannibal kind). He's just being silly, she thinks to herself. She made a note to ask her dad about partner choices later.

Alastor: Fried fish.

And with that, Alastor disappears into the kitchen. Keekee purrs in Charlie's hold as her eyes trail the retreating shadow.

Charlie: What a creepy guy, huh.

Her pet only meows in response.

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

This wasn't how this chapter was supposed to end but I decided to cut it in half anyway.

Tomorrow is some meal moments and Charlie going to see her dad.

Don't worry, we'll get back to Luci in a bit!

[pbandjesse]

I really wish I could sleep at night and not wake up so often and breathe correctly. Because being so tired all day sucks. I feel a lot better right now but the majority of the day was really tough on me. Not ideal at all.

When I woke up at 9 I just didn't feel very good. I desperately wanted cereal. I literally had it in my dreams. I texted James and they went out to get cereal and orange juice for me. Which was super kind. They are such a good husband. I want for nothing, they always make sure I have everything I need.

While they were at the store I got up and made the bed and got dressed. Long dress and sweater combo continues to be the best outfit. I started with a fleece but it was just a little bit to much. It was soft but to fluffy.

I was waiting on the couch when James got home. I had two bowls of cereal. They were sitting at the island working on some notes and research for their podcast. But would eventually come and lay on the couch with me.

But I was feeling miserably exhausted. Just so tired. I told James I had to go upstairs and lay down. And they decided to join me.

It was nice being held. But all of a sudden there was a crashing sound from downstairs. Sweetp had knocked a pan off the stove, which also got the grate and it was very loud but not a huge deal.

James told me to go back upstairs. And when they came back up to join me they closed the curtains and I was out.

I don't even really remember them leaving at 11. And I slept through 1.

I did feel a little better when I woke up. Not for long but at least for a while I was okay. I tried to have a hotdog for lunch but we still don't have buns and the white bread kept sticking to my teeth and I just hated the entire meal. I had half the hot dog and gave up.

I laid on the couch. I tried doing my makeup. I switched bags. And around 230 I headed out.

I had a $10 voucher for Michaels so I went to buy some felt. I also got dunkaroos. I got back to the car and had my snack and headed to value village.

I completely struck out there though which was super frustrating. I was looking for blankets for making bears. And they only had 2 I would use but they were $9 a piece?! Insane. Plus the line was crazy long and a woman was yelling at the workers. The whole thing stressed me out so I just left.

I went to the goodwill down the street. I found two small pieces I could use but I found out I have 13 sign ups so I will have to go to savers or something tomorrow. We'll see what happens.

I spoke to my dad on the phone while I walked around the store. He told me my brother is doing better. Steve would even text me this evening to tell me he loves me. He did the same thing my whole family does and downplayed the whole thing. I understand no one wants to upset me but I can tell when they are holding back. It was nice to hear from him. And my dad. I saw a picture of my dad today and I'm he was looking good. Everyone needs to be healthy and strong and be here for my baby in the spring. That is the only acceptable option.

When I left the goodwill I could smell the Burger King across the street. I thought that would be nice. Sadly I was wrong. The woman at the register was really nice. But the food didn't make me feel good. I sat inside and ate and tried to eat slowly but I just felt super bad. It was not a good time.

I had thought about going somewhere else to waste more time before the event at the main but instead I just went straight there. Traffic was bad, there were a few accidents, but I got there around 5 in one piece.

I was happy to see James. And I went to find Jesse to discuss the print shop type. One of the volunteers sent an email that the tape I'm using could be damaging to the typeface. And I was super confused about that because it's not true? So me and Jesse went to look at the type tray I keep and it's all fine. I took all the tape off and there was no residue at all. I was pretty upset that someone would say I would do something to hurt the collection . But Jesse and Meagan (who also got the email from the volenteer) both know everything was fine with the type. And I spent most of the next half hour sorting all of the letters and making them all nice. Putting away anything else that I didn't use.

Meril would come in and she joined me in the print shop to gossip and catch up. Apparently she was really mad that someone accused me of doing something to damage the type. She was also included in the email and stuck up for me and it was super validating to know she was on my side. And it was just nice talking to her. Her sister is also pregnant and just found out she has gestational diabetes. Which sucks. I am more and more sure I'm going to test positive for that. Mostly because I am so wildly thirsty. I'm going to try eating more fruits and yogurts and lighter foods. It's hard when it's so cold out, but I think it'll help me feel a little better.

Meril would leave. I would say hello to friends around the museum. I checked out the mural. Which was the entire reason I came. It was really moving. I am very curious how they are going to display it long term in the musuem. I didn't sit in the audience when they had their panel. Instead I sat with James. It was nice just being with them while they worked. We talked a little bit mostly I just enjoyed being in their company.

I stayed there until 730. I was starting to feel a little unwell. And my eyes hurt. I got a package delivered and it was Christmas gifts so I was like let me go home and get these out away before James gets back. So I gave them a kiss and was off.

I got back here at 8. And sorted my gifts. And fed sweetp. And now I am sipping water and planning on getting a shower and getting in bed to wait for James.

Tomorrow I have my workshop in the evening. And so I'll spend the day preparing for that and resting. I think it will be a good day. I just really hope I sleep well tonight. Wish me luck. I love you all. Goodnight!

[fgfirenation]

THE NARCISSISTIC ASSHOLE IS READY!

I tried a ( sort of ) semi realism for this and my knees are weak-

THIS IS MY DESIGN FOR HIM!

I USED TOO MUCH OF MY SANITY FOR THIS! LIKE SRSLY, YUI'S DESIGN WASN'T AS HARD AS HIS- ( JK, Yui's design will always give me a mental breakdown. My OC is a shitshow- )

OK. Firstly, some things about Helen from my universe :

Helen Otis was born on the 1st of October, 1980, in Wisconsin in a small town.

His parents were rich and popular around the area, but manipulative and narcissistic fucks ( mostly... kind of, you'll see ), who decided to treat him like a girl until the age of 7.

The mom and dad were gaslight, gatekeep, but no girlboss.

Helen had a huge identity crisis in his younger years ( and later- ), because of this. And everything else.

The reason why his parents didn't choose to adopt or have another child is, because his mother's health took a sharp decline right after birthing him.

His parents really wanted a biological daughter, but due to the situation and even after visiting dozens of doctors, Ms Otis wasn't able to have anymore children.

Either this or die.

So they decided to raise his son as a girl and named him Helen.

As I said, until the age of 7, because his neighbours were growing suspicious of the situation by a thousand.

After that they tried to change their lifestyle and treat him like a boy, but Helen already was showing signs of lacking some emotions and morals.

Helen had ( and still has ) zero shit how to express his emotions properly.

But he's much better now than when he was a kid.

During his years in junior school he managed to make one friend named Phil, who was killed later by his alcoholic mother by being thrown over the bridge near their town.

Phil's mother went to jail as there was a witness btw-

Hel continued to stay aside from other kids, because of them making fun of his name and his feminine traits.

Unfortunately, his mother passed away a few months after Phil's death, because of a heart attack.

Yeah, Helen had it rough, but surprisingly his father was a decent parent. ( If we don't count the damn ' pretending his son was a girl ' stage- )

But shit hit the fan, when Ban was transfered to Helen's school and the physical bullying started.

Technically Ban was older than Hel and wasn't really in his class, but he loved to terrorise the lonely kids.

Helen would come back home with bruises and one time with a broken nose.

Mr Otis did try to report this straight to the police, but unfortunately for them... Ban's stepparents had the whole police department in their pocket.

Soooo yeah, even tho Helen and his father were from a rich family, it didn't matter. It was a dead end.

Corrupted system and everything-

But Hel wasn't going to be alone forever.

In 1992, a year later after Ban's arrival, four other people were transfered to his school ( one of them in his class ) all the way from Japan.

Helen learned, that they are Ban's siblings, and his blood ran cold.

He thought, that they were gonna be as bad as their brother.

Oh boy, how wrong he was.

These four were the TOTAL OPPOSITE of Ban.

And after he was saved by them from another one of Ban's bullyings... well...

You know the meme of the extrovert yoinking the introvert in a bear hug and saying : " You're my friend now! " ?

Yup, that's exactly what happened.

One in particular was attached to him like a koala, whenever they were together.

The names of the four idiots were Keiko (18 years old, the oldest sibling), Michael (16 years old), Victor (11-12 years old) and Yui (10 years old).

The Hasegawa siblings never judged him.

That one in particular, that I was talking about, was Yui.

Yui defended Helen from Ban and even ended once with a broken hand, which caused Hel to faint from worrying so much.

Basically these two were around each other 24/7 like they were glued together.

You could never see one without the other.

The friend group eventually grew bigger.

New people joined in like Judy, Tom, Susan, Jimmy, May, Sonnie, Jonathan, Emra, Riv and one interesting non-human individual (Hobo Heart-).

( If you want to know more about these idiots and how tf they became part of the group, just tell me. Also yes, Judy has more lore in my universe. )

So long story short : Helen at that time had a huge friend circle and even his father liked the group. (Despite half of them being the embodiment of a living tornado.)

That was all until an incident with a huge forest fire, which happened in April of 1994.

The Hasegawa siblings vanished without a trace in it, including Sonnie and Riv.

Having his best friend being ripped from him and other of his friends disappearing broke Helen mentally a lot.

His father tried to comfort his kid, but Helen's brain was blank and not responding, even when his remaining friends tried to speak to him.

The snowball slowly turned into an avalanche, when Tom framed him for stealing Judy's watch.

Judy, the lesbian queen (Yes, Judy here is a lesbian.), was skeptical about the whole situation with the watch (because she's smarter here-) , but unfortunately Ban's bullying upped to a 1000 and the avalanche turned into a huge armagedon. Maggie joined Ban in this too.

And after Tom's accidental death, when he confessed on the rooftops of the school, that he was the one behind the watch thingy.... Helen snapped completely.

And you know what that means.

The massacre on 31st of October, 1994, when Helen killed 13 people and injured 5 others at one party held by one of his classmates.

How did he hurt so many people? His family had a few guns, so he took one of them, reloaded it and took a baseball bat with nails in it to bash some heads.

Susan, Jimmy, Jonathan, Riv, Emra and May weren't at the party, because they moved away in different states 4 months after the huge forest fire incident. Hobo vanished too not long after the fire incident too.

Judy was critically injured in the massacre, along with Ban and Maggie.

Helen was put in a mental hospital after the court trial.

He stayed there for 4 years and was released, because of signs, that he was getting better.

But we all know he wasn't the same after all of this shitshow.

He continued to live with his father until 2000, when he moved away from his hometown to Milwaukee.

You know? In this story his father is very tolerant of his son's behavior. (Man, you're not always supposed to be on his side-)

Helen found out, that he was agender and he didn't care about the gender, when dating somebody... Motherfucker still hadn't dated anybody...yet.

In 2002 and 2003 Helen committed a few murders, the grotesque corpses of the victims portraited in poses like Michelangelo statues, flowers and organs put around them, in the hands or mouths.

The only victim, that didn't have their guts ripped away and only had knife carvings onto the skin like flower markings on a painting, was...

You guessed it. Judy.

Helen couldn't do the same thing to her, because she actually defended him against Ban.

So he killed her as quickly as possible and carved the patterns onto her skin, leaving her in the woods.

(Jud comes back later as a demon, but that's a story for another time-)

Unfortunately for Hel, the police caught a track of him rather quickly and he was forced to flee deep into the woods.

Since then the police hasn't been able to catch him, although there were a few sightings of him here and there around Wisconsin and rumors about somebody helping him to blend again with society.

[jollyinha]

50 (+3) Facts About My Rook Listener (aka Félix)!

Because I love him in a hiperfocus kind of way 😭💙 If you want to see how he looks like, go to my yuurivoice tag, and you will find all my listeners! Although I probably should make an updated version, he has gotten a 2.0 version ever since... Also, tagging @itsargyle since they suggested taking other YV fans! I'm... Too shy to tag anyone else tho lmao

Anyway, here goes my big infodump on my favorite sunshine boy:

1 - Hey, I'm Félix Torres... Or not, because that's my middle name, and my actual name is Victor. But I'm not that fond of Victor, so I go by Félix!

2 - Victor was my mom's grandpa's name, and Félix is a tribute to my dad, whose name was Feliciano.

3 - Thanks to the acute accent, the correct pronunciation of Félix would be "feh-liks", not "fee-liks". Oh, and the "c" in Victor is mute. It's Vitor. But sometimes even I forget that it isn't supposed to be spelled like the gringos do, haha!

4 - My mom is Brazilian and my dad was Colombian. I was born in Brazil (Aracaju in Sergipe, to be more specific), but have been living in the USA for most of my life now. I used to spend the holidays in Colombia as a kid, but haven't been there ever since dad passed away... I really should pay it a visit again soon, though. It's a real nice country.

5 - I speak native Portuguese, fluent English and intermediary Spanish. I've been studying ASL (as of right now I just know basic stuff like "hi", "how are you?", how to introduce myself... But hey, at least I know the whole alphabet off the top of my head!) and French too, but it has been hard to find some free time... And when I do have it, I always end up drawing, crafting, cooking... Duolingo's owl wants to eat my ass.

6 - Speaking of which, these are my favorite hobbies! Drawing and painting are main passions in life, though. I've been in love with art as far as I can remember. I was in a few-years-long hiatus when it came to painting, only came back to it recently, but have been drawing non-stop ever since I was a little boy!

7 - When it comes to crafting, I enjoy many aspects of it... I've been really into papercraft these days. Origami, paper dolls, collages... But I also really like jewelry making and fabric painting (even if I find it so damn hard, haha!). I just love personalizing things in general. Sometimes, I see a piece of furniture, have an idea and just have to put my personal touch.

8 - I also know how to sew, but I can't say that I'm a big fan. I've tried crochet once, per example, and almost fell asleep on the couch. It's just a bit boring to me... But I'll gladly sew back a button or fix a hole if you ask nicely!

9 - And, last but not least, I love cooking! Not as much as I love to eat, but anyway. I picked up cooking as a way to deal with my pyrophobia and to bond with my uncle (he owns a restaurant!), and really took a liking to it... And modesty aside, I'm damn good at it!

10 - Speaking of which... I'm a bit of a bottomless pit when it comes to food! I'll eat (mostly) anything, am willing to try (mostly) everything and am hungry 24/7. Please, feed me.

11 - My favorite food is kind of specific, but: I love Thanksgiving pies. And breakfast foods. But anything that's chicken or has corn is also very damn good.

12 - I don't really like fruits. Most of them feel either bland (apples taste like NOTHING!) or straight up gross. I hate, HATE peach. Mango, guaba and pineapple too. Disgusting. I'm team vegetables all the way. Lemon and watermelon are the only ones that get a pass.

13 - My favorite ice cream favorite is chocomint!

14 - When it comes to drinks... I like coffee, as long as it has milk and unholy amounts of sugar (hate bitter coffee, as contradictory as it is). And while I'm not too big on alcoholic drinks, I like champagne.

15 - I also like biking, but, much like studying ASL and French, I don't have enough free time nowadays to really get into it again... But I try to bike every weekend I can!

16 - As a kid, I was in singing classes! I really enjoyed it and was pretty decent at it, but nowadays I do it just for fun. Love singing and listening to music around the house while doing other things.

17 - I have eight tattoos on total: Flower sleeves on both arms (featuring a clock among the flowers on the left arm and a bird on the right), music player symbols on the left side of my chest, "keep going" on the right side, an anchor on my upper back, a sun and a crescent moon on my lower back, a sea monster's tentacles going through my right hip and a paper plane on my left ankle!

18 - I also have a bunch of moles. On my face, on my back and on my chest. I used to be embarrassed by them, but nowadays, not nearly as much.

19 - I have been dyeing my hair blonde ever since college. I'm actually a brunette! I like being a blondie, but I'm considering going back to my roots... My hair is screaming for help. [He goes back to being a brunette and lets his hair grow after the events of Escape]

20 - Oh yeah, speaking of college... I have a Law degree. And am working on this field. Ya-hoo... Unfortunately, I needed a more lucrative career to support my family. But my long-term life goal is to be able to quit and live from art! And I like to believe I'm almost there.

21 - I pierced my ears in college too! I usually only wear my lucky sun earrings, but if I'm feeling fancy, I can go with a larger one.

22 - I considered becoming an English major for a while, but didn't happen either.

23 - I have a weird love for plaid jackets (of any color, but especially blue ones) and grungy bracelets. If you wanna give me anything that's wearable, going with either of these is the safest bet! Can't ever have enough of these!

24 - My favorite animals are octopuses (I had an obsession with sea monsters as a kid and this love never really died) and peacocks (they're just awesome)!

25 - My lucky number is sixteen, because my birthday is on February 16th, and because if you put "Félix Victor" together, there's a sixteen in Roman numerals right in the middle: XVI!

26 - Also, I'm 30 as of 2024, and... It's terrifying, to be honest. Buuut I'll find comfort on the fact that I look like I'm 20, hehe.

27 - This one will be hard to explain, but... I really like the sun. From summer to sunflowers to sun imageries... I like the sun. And all because of my dad. It's a long history, but yeah.

28 - I have a younger sister, her name is Alice! She's in college right now, she's History major! And... She's my pride and joy.

29 - And I also have five younger cousins: Ariel, Rafael, Leon, Joyce and Mercedes! I love them all, they're like my siblings. [Joyce is actually my Sunflower listener!]

30 - I... Have a... Weird relationship with my mom. It has been getting worse these last few years... Ah, nevermind, I shouldn't have brought this up.

31 - I had three relationships in my life... Well, three and a half, if you count that high school fling, but I digress: My first boyfriend lasted, like, half a year of my freshman year in college. It was nice, we just realized quickly that neither of us were serious. And my second boyfriend... Ergh. Tristan. We began dating in my junior year, and had a pretty messy break-up right after my graduation...

32 - ...But, nearly a whole decade after that, he sent me a DM on Instagram asking me how I was, and I mistakenly thought he became a decent human being. Hell, he was the one who got me my current job. He works in the Marketing department and was kind enough to tell me that Legal was hiring. I thought that we could at least be friends again, but... He's still a pain in the ass, at the end of the day. And still wants me back. ERGH...

33 - ...But, actually, I should thank him for that. Ironically, by trying to get back with me, he got me my third and current boyfriend... And... I won't talk too much about our relationship, but... This is the happiest I've ever been with someone. I mean it.

34 - Ok, how do I say this? I... Have been told that I... Have a pretty high libido. Or, if you want to be meaner, I'm a horny bastard. I... Will not elaborate if that's true or not. [It Is Literally Canonical]

35 - But even if I WAS a horny bastard, I'm a romantic at heart, believe it or not! I like being swept off my feet! I like flowers! I like cheesy pick-up lines! I like cuddles, god, I really like cuddles... Anyway.

36 - I'm a petite lil' guy. I'm 1m69cm tall... Or 5'8ft.

37 - I have ADHD. I was diagnosed when I was 20. I've been taking meds to help with my lack of focus, and it really has been helping.

38 - I also have insomnia. It isn't as bad as it was a few years ago, but it still sucks.

39 - My favorite song of all time is "Don't Stop (Color on the Walls)" by Foster The People!

40 - My favorite movie of all time... It's a tie between Footloose and Burlesque.

41 - My favorite animated movie of all time is Ponyo!

42 - My MBTI is ENFP, my Enneagram is 2w3, and I'm an Aquarius!

43 - In my opinion, my biggest strengths as a person are that I'm pretty charming, I can get along with nearly any kind of person (given enough time), and that I'm notoriously hard to piss off. As long as you're not messing with my loved ones, it takes A LOT to make me actually angry.

44 - And my weaknesses... Well, I let people get away with stepping all over me pretty frequently... And I'm very restless. And I don't mean only physically, I mean like... Mentally. I feel like I'm a shark: If I stop moving, I'll die, y’know? Oh, I've been told that I can be pretty shameless and a bit nosy... And, welp. I... Can't really deny that.

45 - I hate the cold. I hate winter. I hate snow. Fuck you, northern hemisphere.

46 - I really like sitting on the floor, ever since I was a little boy. It just... Grounds me. No pun intended.

47 - My favorite color is blue, but yellow and orange are also lovely... And I've been getting real fond of red these days. Hehe (Can't believe that it took me this long to say my favorite color, we're on fact 47th...).

48 - I'm a dog person! I never got to have one, though...

49 - I, not-so-secretly, really like cute things. I may or may not have a big octopus plushie on my bed. And may or may not love Pompompurin and Gudetama.

50 - I'm overall pretty confident on my looks... Except for my smile and my laugh. My ex-boyfriend (Tristan) once said that my smile is wide enough to be scary, and my mom said that my laugh is too loud, and I've been restraining myself from truly smiling and laughing out loud in public ever since. But I tend to let go when near people I trust.

51 (bonus!) - I have a very sensitive neck... Now, if I see it as a good thing or a bad thing... Depends on what your intentions are... If you know what I mean.

52 (bonus!)² - I'm also pretty great at typing. My words per minute game is insane, modesty aside.

53 (bonus!)³ - I... Can be a little bit jealous when I'm dating someone. I was never a pain in the ass about it, I mostly just sulk in silence, but... Yeah. It's my toxic trait.

[multishipperofgaydeadwizards]

*clears throat and pulls up with a powerpoint* (/jk im making this uo as i go and spilling whatever comes to my brain)

Peter/Sirius *jazz hands*

1) Plant. Dads. There is no other way around this ok? They're plant dads. Peter got Siri into it and now they're both obsessed and are at the top of the class in Herbology along with Alice.

2) They would such a beautiful dynamic omg like Sirius "I say whatever that comes to my mind/ I blatantly flirt" Black and Peter "I have a hard time coming to terms with my feelings/ I can't flirt at all but if someone flirts to me I'm dying on the spot" Pettigrew mhmm mhmm

3) The heartbreakkkk Peter pining over Sirius. And Sirius "I'm in my denial phase I'm not gay" Black going around hooking up with every woman in sight

4) ooooh wait no let's switch things up. Peter is very upfront about his feelings. It takes him time but he gets there eventually. He'll go to Sirius straight up and say "I fancy you. Do with that what you will" and Sirius is just standing there dumbfounded.

5) Sirius would make the first move tho, he would kiss Peter and then he'll move away unsure and Peter will just be like JSKSKDLSMDKDNDKNF externally and internally

6) they'll have picnic dates after they raid the kitchen and its all cute and cottagecore and fluffy

7) the betrayal oooh just imagine how heartbreaking it'll be omg like watch as Sirius spends his time in Azkaban being in denial and then slowly becoming a being of pure rage

8) he leaves Azkaban half cause he wants to hunt down Peter and make him pay but also cause a part of still believes in Pete and wants to hear it from him that he was under a spell or that it a mistake. Something. Anything.

9) ok also thinking about this now I feel like if Startail had happened then the betrayal would have happened? Cause like Peter's flaw was that he kept feeling left alone even tho he actually wasn't as much as his brain led him to believe. He felt left alone with James being Sirius's other half and Remus being Sirius's love of his life right? So now it's like- I don't see a point in the betrayal

10) oooooh wait Dark Pete mhmm mhmm. He is jealous of James because as long as James was there Sirius could never be fully his so he does what he has to for love. In his eyes, he did the right thing.

11) But he miscalculated and ended up losing everything. (And that's why he helps Harry in TDH2)

12) soft top Peter and trying to be bratty but incredibly failing cause of all the softness and care bottom Sirius

I rest my case, your honor.

welcome back to my inbox. I'm glad to see your ideas are still incredible

1) YES!!!! they have so many plants. sirius doesn't get the hype at first (he thinks it's dumb that peter named all of his plants), but then one day the love for the plants hits him like a punch to the face. he hasn't been the same since

2) delicious. they're perfect, for eachother and in general

3) yeah, poor petey :( james tries to support him through it but he doesn't help all that much. marlene tells peter to get over it bc sirius isn't worth the heartbreak (she has one-sided beef with sirius bc of it) (Sirius doesn't know why she suddenly hates him)

4) hsisbidurbo you can combine those two. peter at first waits for sirius to realise that he's not entirely straight... but then he gets tired of it and just tells sirius. the flabbergasted look on sirius's face was an extra

5) bright red peter bc sirius just kissed him. finally. only took him seven thousand years or something

6) yesss. hc that peter is an honorary hufflepuff, and the house elves LOVE him (almost as much as sirius does)

7) the hurt he must be feeling :( he probably refused to believe that peter framed him. there was no way his peteyboo would do that to him, right?

8) yeah. he'd be sure that there must've been something. peter would never do that to him. not his peter

9) maybe sirius and peter go through a rough patch and voldemort or someone else (cough cough jealous ex-lovers rosekiller cough cough) is in peter's ear telling him that sirius is going to leave him if he doesn't do something about it

10) + 11) hdbdoebaobe9ebeos sod o eow e9rbekwze9eb9r dark!peter omg I love this sm. yes, that terrible terrible miscalculation. costing peter both his childhood friend and lover

12) personally I view peter more as a bottom... they're switches. that's how easy that is. but yes, soft dom peter is so real. my boy could never be mean (he murdered people) he's a total sweetheart (he was part of a murderous and pretty much racist cult)

this amazing. I'm excited for the next time you stumble into my asks

[dumbass-duo-showdown]

DDS mod here with an update!!!!

So I was planning on doing a most submitted post. BUT I MADE THE LASAGNA SCALE! And here are the stats!

HERE IS THE FORM! TRIOS ARE OFFICIALLY ALLOWED BUT THEY NEED AT MINIMUM 6 SUBMISSIONS

LASAGNA STATS

Basically if you would trust your duo on making lasagna

With 33,1% of the submissions. 1/3 of the characters are probably banned from the kitchen. WITH A SIMPLE 0

After that with 17% of the votes. Comes duos with a 2 on the scale with 52 submissions.

Now our least voted options are 6,7,8,9 and 10 on the scale. Let’s reveal those characters

Now I won’t reveal how many submissions each got. Some got 4, some 3, some are just solo submissions

6 on the scale

We have

The Dr & Donna from Dr Who

Porsche and Pete from Kinnporsche: The Series

Henchman 21 & Henchman 24 from The Venture Bros

Yor & Loid Forger from Spy x Family

Elder Price and Elder Cunningham from Book of Mormon

@gregorygerwitz & @kitthekazoo (yes I allowed real people and people submitted themselves)

Bill Preston & Ted Logan from Bill & Teds excellent adventure (this was the second highest score they got)

Walter White & Jessie Pinkman from breaking bad

Pete Wentz and Gabe Saporta from Bandom

Calvin & Hobbes from uhh… the comic of the same name

Now for our 7, where 11 duos landed

We have

Bill Preston & Ted Logan, again!

Jack O'Neill & Daniel Jackson from Stargate SG-1

Mayday & Zuke aka Bunk bed junction from no straight roads

Laura Hollis & Carmilla Karnstein from Carmilla

Allison & Paige. I still need your URLs please DM me

Kotetsu T. Kaburagi & Barnaby Brooks Jr from Tiger and Bunny

Alec Hardison & Elliot Spencer from Leverage

Rean Schwarzer & Crow Armbrust from Trails/Kiseki series

Madoka Kaname & Sayaka Miki from Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Mayday & Zuke, again

Eustass "Captain" Kid, Trafalgar D. Water Law, Monkey D. Luffy from one piece (oh yeah about uhh Luffy is in another duo with like an equal amount of submissions and I won’t allow him to go in twice. Hes stupid but not a cheater)

7 duos have gotten an 8 on the save

We have!

Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took from lord of the rings

Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter from Agents of SHIELD

Jessie & James from Pokémon

Lup & Taako from the adventure zone (credit to @arojovela for the fanart!)

Nathan and Jacob from drawfree

Shadow/cid kagenou & beta from the eminence in shadow

Monkey D Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, Sanji from one piece

Time for the 9s!

We have 6 characters here!

Romana(dvoratrelundar) & Leela from Gallifrey (Doctor Who expanded universe)

The Bros from the bro duet

Mary Quinn & Sarah McCool from Derry Girls

Dana Scully & Fox Mulder from the X-files

Sokka & Zuko from Avatar: the last airbender

Someone’s mom and dad (they said I could draw stick figures)

Now for the 10s, let see who we can trust in the kitchen

Here. They. ARE!

TK Strand and Evan "Buck" Buckley from 911/911 lone star (I know I make jokes about being followed by OP fans but buck has followed me more. I CANT escape him)

Lanz and Sena from Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (credit to Illius on pixiv for the fanart)

Spongebob & Patrick from SpongeBob SquarePants (they also got a 0)

Nozaki Umetarou & Mikoto Mikoshiba from Monthly Girls' Nozaki Kun

Billie and Thea from Bill & Ted Face the music

@mb-blue-roses & @sungsyc-amore

Rin Okumura & Kuro from Blue exorcist

kirika akatsuki & shirabe tsukuyomi from senki zesshou symphogear

Mario & Luigi

TK Strand and Evan 'Buck' Buckley, again

(Btw sup @tournamentdirectory)

[oliverreedmasterass]

Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Interlude | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Second Interlude | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Epilogue

Chapter Summary: Jake and Kelly but heads. Rae is like 98% sure she's gonna die.

Words: 1.4k

Warnings: blood/wounds, violence

Notes: Thank you to @infinisonicosm for the fic idea! Also so sorry for the shorter chapter, I'm hoping to post a lot more this week because things are heating up!

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

Rae looked at Kelly in fear from her knees, and Jake held a hand down to help her back to her feet. As Rae shakily stood upright, Sam leaned into her side.

“Tell him you’re a fairy,” he whispered. Rae knew that Kelly would see straight through that lie and didn’t feel like testing her luck, especially since she was so numb to everything around her. Kelly looked at her expectantly, an eyebrow raised with his broad arms crossed over his chest. Rae opened her mouth, but no words came out. 

“She's a friend of mine,” Jake answered for her. Rae was grateful that he spoke up, but she was nervous by how soft his voice was when he addressed his father. It was apparent that this was something that didn’t come naturally to Jake, and he was terrified out of his mind. That, of course, didn’t make Rae feel great. 

“A friend, huh?” Kelly cocked his head to the side. He took in a deep inhale and Rae winced. The truth was going to come out whether any of them liked it or not. “A human friend,” Kelly concluded, his face crestfallen. “How much does she know?” 

“She knows what she needs to know,” Jake said to his feet. 

“Jake,” Kelly growled, “Don’t tell me you did it again.” 

Jake’s eyes remained glued to the foliage laying limply on the ground. 

“It’s mistake after mistake with you, you should know better at your age, after all you’ve been through, after all you’ve put your pack through,” Kelly continued, his face growing progressively more red. The more Kelly talked, the more Jake retracted deeper and deeper into himself, practically folding into a ball to hide away from his father. “When will you learn?” Kelly demanded. 

Jake shook his head and shrugged his shoulders, unable to utter a word. 

“I don’t know what to do with you,” Kelly continued. “I really don’t. I wish you knew the troubles you’ve caused me, all the sleepless nights.” 

“Kelly, ease up,” Karen tried to tell him, though her words didn’t reach Kelly. He was now facing Rae, which made her heart thunder in her chest. If he had passed Rae on the sidewalk, she wouldn’t have given it a second thought, but having his piercing green eyes focused on her sent shivers rattling through her body. 

“I’m sorry it has to end this way, but it will be fast,” Kelly told her, his voice gruff and frustrated, like he had to complete a tedious task. “I sincerely apologize for my son’s carelessness.” 

“Dad!” Jake yelped out in horror. 

Faster than Rae could react, Kelly transformed. He bent over with a grunt and, as he straightened back upright, Rae watched patches of fur unravel from his skin, expanding outwards with his growing muscles. By the time Kelly was done, Rae was gaping up at a 10 foot tall wolf, standing on his hind paws, glaring down at Rae with red eyes. 

“Oh fuck,” she whispered. This was the first time that she was really and truly feeling over her head. 

Beside Rae, Jake sprung to action. His newly hairy body leapt in front of her and stood like a barrier, separating her from his bloodthirsty father with his claws out and ready. 

“Jake, move,” Kelly growled in a low rumble. Jake silently held his ground. 

Beside Rae, she noticed that Sam was keeled over, grunting and panting. 

“Hey, no need to force it, kid,” Josh told him. 

“I need to help Jake,” Sam sputtered out, still trying to change. 

“You need to stop or you’re gonna burst something in your brain,”  Josh countered. 

“I’m not gonna tell you again, Jake, get out of the way,” Kelly said. “You know this has to happen.” 

“Kelly!” Karen hollered, rushing to stand in front of Kelly with her arms up. “It doesn’t.” 

Kelly had a gargantuan paw held up, ready to swipe through his son in order to get to Rae, but he held it in place the moment he noticed Karen in front of him. 

“Drop it, Kelly,” Karen told him with a level of authority that even Rae felt she had to abide by. Kelly continued to hold his arm up in the attack position, but stood stiff, unable to move, his ears focused on Karen. “The girl deserves to live, she’s as much a part of this problem as we are now,” Karen spoke firmly. “Our pact with the town leaders no longer matters. They have punished us, so there is nothing at stake. We need to focus on saving our nest, our pack.” 

These words finally reached Kelly because, in a whoosh, he was back to his human form, his face scrunched, deep in thought. 

As everyone waited to hear his response, Rae finally took in Jake’s wolf form, which was still stationed in front of her. Though she couldn’t see the front of him, his frame had grown significantly, impressively toned and wide-shouldered. His coat was a similar caramel shade to his normal hair color, and the gashes and wounds from his run-in with the mysterious beast were still visible, appearing as rivers and canyons in his thick fur. 

“You’re right,” Kelly sighed. “We have bigger fish to fry.” 

With that, Jake turned back to give Rae a reassuring smile. It was strange to see on the face of a wolf with razor sharp teeth, but his eyes were familiar, and Rae smiled back. Jake tightened his fists together, squeezed his eyes shut, and then shrunk back down to his human size. 

“Are you okay?” he whispered to Rae. Rae definitely wasn’t, considering that she had nearly been killed by a werewolf, there was a murderous beast wandering through the woods, and her brother had been taken, but she nodded back at him. Jake glimpsed beside Rae at Sam and frowned when he saw his younger brother still struggling to turn. 

“Hey, don’t force it, Sammy,” Jake called to him. 

“I should be able to transform!” Sam grunted back, still trying. “You could turn when you were my age, I can feel it within me, I just need to push it out.”

“Please don’t do that,” Josh looked down at Sam in worry. 

“It’ll come when it needs to,” Jake assured his younger brother. As Jake went over to comfort Sam, Kelly looked at Karen with a glimmer in his eye, which Rae found to be odd. 

“You’ve still got it, huh?” Kelly asked as he bumped shoulders with Karen, who was smirking back at him. “You still know how to work your charm on me. Was that some hypnosis you threw in there?” 

“A magician never reveals her secrets,” Karen replied with a small grin. Rae looked over at Josh, who was watching the same interaction, and they both exchanged confused glances. From everything that Rae had heard about the vampire nest and werewolf pack in Frankenmuth, they weren’t exactly chummy with each other. Vampires had killed Jake and Sam’s mom, and Rae could only imagine what other conflicts the two groups had. Therefore it was peculiar that Kelly and Karen seemed like they were pretty familiar with one another. 

Kelly and Karen shared an extended look at one another which finally caught Jake and Sam’s attention. Jake had been giving Sam a comforting rub on the back but stopped and stared at his father with wide eyes, like he was committing some kind of crime. Sam, on the other hand, watched his father and Karen with deep fascination and then, to Rae’s surprise, seemed to light up as if something had struck him. He watched between them with a newfound grin. 

It felt as if they could have continued standing in place like that forever, trapped as a tableau, but a sound began to grow beneath their feet as the ground trembled. They all snapped their heads down to study the earth, which was shaking more violently, the dirt expanding and contracting around them. The deep groan of the soil grew louder, and then they looked around at each other in panic when an animalistic howl sounded from the hole Jake had dug. 

The thing that had taken Morgan and Danny was close by. 

“We need to break through the ice. Now,” Jake was the first to speak, pointing back at the hole. 

As a group, they stumbled over the moving ground to the hole and stared down into it. It seemed as if it had gotten deeper since Jake was last in it, like a tunnel leading down to nothingness. Rae’s stomach turned in worry, but then Morgan’s face flashed in her mind. Whatever it took, she was going to get him back. 

Whatever it took.

****

Taglist:@lvnterninthenight, @writingcold, @myownparadise96, @i-choose-the-road, @psychedelicsprinkles, @mama-likes72, @ascendingtothestarssasone

[margokesses]

Thoughts/ questions I have about tbosas and someone who has not read the book but plans to eventually:

The only thing that I knew about the book is that snow is straight up evil and that Lucy gray escapes at the end btw

Snow is not as evil in the movie? Like his story feels like a decent guy's descent into villainy. Like you can tell that originally he does not care about Lucy and just wants the prize money but he does end up truly loving her. But from what I hear from book readers that's not the case?

Sejanus and snow have close/initmate moments together? I'm usually not a fan of just throwing 2 random white dudes into a ship together because 9 times out of 10 its boring as hell. But they did have some moments where I genuinely thought they were gonna kiss? Also it seems like they have a genuine friendship here that I would like to be explored a bit more. Especially bc they're ideologies going against each other is interesting. But from what I hear from book readers: snow cannot stand sejanus' ass

Marcus and sejanus relationship? Like we're told that they were friends in district 2 and sejanus is obviously upset when Marcus dies but I do feel like the context of who they are is missing? Like it feels like it should be a bigger point and not just something explained in 2 or 3 sentences

Lucy Gray's singing randomly? Okay so I wouldn't say that it's random. It's clear that she's a performer in her district and it's apart of her culture as being from the Covey. And i guess she sings whenever she's expressing big emotions like when she's being reaped or when she thinks she's about to die. But I do feel like we got a little more backstory to her character outside of a few lines

Also I wish we got to see a bit more from the tributes for the games. I don't even remember their names but I know they're faces and I only know that the cape guy and the sick girl are from district 11 bc that's where it seems like there's a majority black population in the movies

The guns in the shed. Did Lucy gray plant them there herself or were they already there? Bc the way she acts about seeing the guns is very... casual? Like she's not surprised or anything that they're there. What was that about?

Snow's little meltdown at the end? I am not surprised that he reacted that way but did he actually see Lucy gray and shoot her or is that just like... him imagining her? But then we do see footprints of her escaping so like?? Idk I'm a little confused about that part ngl

Snow's transformation into his dad? When tigirs says "you look like your father" to snow at the end it doesn't hit me the way that it should? Like obviously he's gonna turn evil at the end and stuff but we don't really know who his father actually was until the ending

Peter dinklages revelation? We can infer that snows dad was an evil person bc peter dinklage character mentioned that he himself thought of the games when he was drunk and snow's dad took the credit for it. Which is fine but I wish we got to know more about snow's dad and what the homework assignment actually was? Was it like what snow had to do when trying to help make the hunger games better? Did the government genuinely ask some random 18 year Olds how to punish people for making an uprising?