#but she’s cozy and warm by the fire and she just falls asleep like this

[forestborg]

[caitified]

late nights

caitlin clark x reader

warnings:none, i’ve been loving writing kate’s family, so i wanted to try caitlin. if you like it i’ll continue!!

the energy in the arena had been electric tonight. caitlin was on fire from the start, pushing herself harder than ever to secure the win against the chicago sky. it had been an intense, aggressive game – elbows were thrown, bodies collided, and caitlin stayed laser-focused, channeling every ounce of her drive into the court. by the time the final buzzer sounded and the fever claimed victory, the crowd was roaring, and she’d been swept up in the thrill of it all.

but now, as the two of you finally got home, the fire that had fueled her on the court was replaced by something softer, more tender. caitlin’s gaze softened as she looked over at you, your baby girl, bella, nestled in your arms, babbling contentedly after a long night away from her mom. the moment caitlin set down her gym bag, she moved over to you, wrapping her arms around you both in a quiet hug, pressing a gentle kiss to bella’s forehead.

“hey, you two,” she murmured, her voice gentle and warm, a complete shift from the fierce competitor you’d seen on the court just hours before. she held bella’s tiny hand, smiling as her daughter cooed and grasped her fingers.

“you did amazing out there,” you whispered, reaching up to run a hand through her damp hair. “but she missed you.”

“i missed her too,” caitlin admitted, brushing her thumb over bella’s chubby cheek. “and you.”

together, the three of you made your way to the kitchen to fix bella’s bottle. you watched as caitlin, still in her game attire, settled into the rhythm of parenthood with such ease, gently cradling bella as she held the bottle for her. the sight made your heart swell – there was something incredibly grounding in these quiet, simple moments.

“she’s a natural, isn’t she?” you teased softly, watching caitlin’s eyes never leaving bella’s face as your daughter drank happily.

“she takes after her mama,” caitlin replied, a proud smile spreading across her face. “already a fighter, already a little intense. i can’t wait to see what she’ll be like.”

after feeding bella, the two of you moved upstairs to the bathroom. caitlin carefully prepared the warm water, her hands steady as she tested the temperature before gently lowering bella in. she looked completely different from the fierce athlete who’d been in the game earlier, her expression tender as she softly washed bella, her movements gentle and practiced.

you helped rinse bella’s little arms and legs, sharing a soft smile with caitlin as you both tended to your daughter, lost in the simple, precious routine you’d built together. when bella was finally clean, caitlin lifted her out of the tub and wrapped her up in a fluffy towel, pressing a kiss to her damp forehead.

“all cozy, baby girl?” caitlin whispered, rocking bella as she fussed a little, calming instantly in her mother’s arms.

the two of you settled in bella’s room, carefully tucking her into her crib as she drifted off to sleep, her tiny fingers clutching onto caitlin’s as her eyelids grew heavy. you watched as caitlin’s thumb brushed over bella’s tiny hand, her expression filled with a love and gentleness that made your chest ache.

when bella was finally asleep, caitlin wrapped her arms around you, pulling you close as you both looked down at your daughter, a peaceful silence filling the room.

as the two of you lingered in bella’s room, the peaceful silence settled deeper, wrapping around you like a warm blanket. caitlin’s hand rested on the small of your back as you watched your daughter sleep, her tiny chest rising and falling in that calm rhythm only babies seemed to master.

finally, with a soft sigh, caitlin gently pulled you back, her hand finding yours as you left bella’s room, careful to close the door quietly. the house was quiet now, save for the occasional creak of the floor beneath your feet. it was the end of a long day, and you both felt it, the weight of the game and the late hour settling over you.

once in your bedroom, caitlin pulled you into her arms, her embrace warm and strong, grounding you as you stood together in the soft glow of the bedside lamp.

“you know,” she murmured, her voice a little hoarse from the game, “this is my favorite part of the day… just coming home to you. to bella. nothing beats it.”

with that, she kissed you, slow and sweet, pouring all the love and gratitude she felt into it.

you eventually crawled into bed, cuddling close, her arms wrapped around you, holding you tightly. she buried her face in your hair, breathing in the familiar scent of you, letting it lull her into a peaceful state after the adrenaline-filled night.

“goodnight, babe,” she whispered, her voice barely a murmur, soft and comforting.

“goodnight, caitlin,” you replied.

more? requests are open! thanks for reading.

[mapiforpresident]

Would you please write prompt 3 with Patri x reader x Pina? Thank you!!

Cozy winter cuddles

patri x reader x pina

~~~

You were currently making hot chocolate for you and your girlfriends on the small stove in the kitchen. The three of you had rented a quaint wooden cabin in the Swiss Alps for Christmas this year. You had already individually celebrated with your families a few days ago, and today was your first full day of holiday in the cabin.

“Amor, hurry up! The movie is about to start!” Claudia yelled, even though the cabin had an open floor plan and you were not even ten feet away from her.

“The hot chocolate is almost ready! And don’t talk with your mouth full of popcorn!” You shot back, trying to stifle a laugh as you heard her muffled reply. Claudia gave you a sheepish grin from over the couch, then turned around, attempting to land a piece of popcorn in Patri’s mouth.

With a playful sigh, you turned the stove off and poured the hot chocolate into three matching mugs that Patri had gotten you as an early Christmas present. You grabbed two of the mugs and walked them over to your girlfriends.

“Gracias, amor,” Patri said, smiling up at you as she took the warm mug, her fingers wrapping around it. You handed Claudia her mug, planting a soft kiss on the top of her head before heading back to grab your own.

As you walked back into the living room, Patri patted the spot in the middle of the couch. “Come here, I missed you!”

You sat down between your girlfriends, setting your mug on a coaster before leaning into Patri’s side. She wrapped her arm around you, pulling you closer, and you took a handful of the popcorn from the bowl Claudia was holding towards you.

“Perfect,” you murmured, sinking further into Patri's warmth. You loved the feeling of being snuggled up between your loves, the crackling fireplace adding a cozy ambiance to the room.

Claudia shifted slightly, resting her head against your other shoulder, and you couldn’t help but smile. “Alright, let’s get this movie started,” you said, grabbing the remote and hitting play.

As the movie played, Patri’s fingers played with your hair absentmindedly, while Claudia reached for more popcorn, occasionally tossing pieces into the air, trying to catch them in her mouth. The room filled with laughter, and the light-hearted atmosphere made everything feel perfect.

As it got later, you found yourself getting sleepy, the warmth of the cabin, the soft sound of your girlfriends’ laughter, and the steady flicker of the fire creating the perfect atmosphere.

Claudia noticed, nudging you gently. “Hey, sleepyhead, don’t fall asleep on us! We still have half a movie left!”

“I’m trying! It’s just so cozy,” you murmured, stifling a yawn.

Patri chuckled softly. “We can pause it if you want to rest a bit. We’re in no rush.”

You smiled up at her. “No, I want to enjoy this moment with you both. I love our cuddles.”

With that, you leaned into Patri’s side again, and Claudia put her feet in your lap. You continued watching the movie, but about ten minutes later all three of you were out like a light.

[dollycxre]

Fem Mortal Reader x Yandere Hestia, but the reader isn't a pushover.

:)

yandere! Hestia x fem! mortal! Reader - ♡ general hcs

warnings -> none....it's hestia...actually, slight clinginess??

paring/s -> yandere! Hestia x mortal! fem! reader (gender of the reader isn't mentioned or relevant tbh)

a/n -> rising from my grave to finish this

————————————————————

-> meeting her as a mortal means that you're probably gonna meet her in your fireplace

-> the most likely scenario is that you had just faced one of the worst heartbreaks in your life— losing a family member, a regular breakup, whatever

-> Hestia, being who she is, would probably not be able to bear the sight of someone in pain, guiding the fire to warm you up, flames flickering up towards you as if in a comforting manner

-> her presence is a very comforting and homely feeling and when she concentrates on a particular hearth, her power increases tenfold

-> probably resulting in you dozing off in a cozy armchair, fast asleep like your world hadn't just come crashing down around you

-> she watches you sleep so peacefully (but like- in a non creepy way)

-> she keeps on at it for a while, watching you do your daily chores for a while, admiring you from a safe distance and slowly falling for you

-> I don't think Hestia would even bother trying to disguise herself as a regular human to you, she just pops up in your fireplace one day and shyly starts a conversation

-> Depending on your reaction, she'd either cool you down or happily continue your conversation like literally nothing ever happened

-> I'm not gonna go into details but she'd win you over pretty damn quickly and starts dating you as soon as possible

(now for some domestic fluff...cuz it's hestia)

-> I have this headcanon that because Hestia is the goddess of family, she'd know all the best picnic spots

-> like you cannot tell me that she wouldn't know the most gorgeous cliffside overlooking a sea view in the world and take you there as a date

-> she likes baking for you because she adores how your face lights up when she makes you those cookies you love so much

-> she already knows your allergies and taste in food so don't even bother telling her, she's already got the best recipes she has set in mind :)

-> she likes taking you on peaceful walks with her while she's disguised as a human

-> watching all the different people walk by with their dogs, significant others, etc, etc makes her very happy

-> she'll point out to you all the small, gorgeous details your eyes might've missed

->she wants to show you the beauty of the world you live in!

-> definitely takes you to visit her favourite places in greece

->dresses up like a local that the people know well by now and takes you to her favourite parts of her homeland <3

->wants you to try all the native food, 100%

->when it comes to the issue of her being an immortal goddess and you being a regular ol mortal with a short life span (compared to her anyway), she'll try to convince you to let her feed you nectar

->obviously, you say something along the lines of 'fuck no'

->she's devastated when you abandon her at the table in the restaurant she took you to, to run away

->keeps popping up in the hearth whenever you light your fire (only for you to extinguish the flames with water)

->she finally gets you to have a normal, healthy conversation with her when she catches you off guard while you're napping by the fireplace

->would probably end with a compromise (somehow) that she'd make your closest friends and family immortal with you so that you'd all be able to live together

->after that, your relationship is pretty much smooth sailing

->Hestia isn't a very possessive or jealous person and she usually communicates that she's uncomfortable when she is

->cuz, y'know...she's actually sane (unlike the rest of her siblings and nephews and nieces)

->adopts an animal with you, a hundred percent <3

->likes cuddling you in her hearth, because it's so warm and cozy that you always end up falling asleep on her chest

->and she likes that :)

->takes you up to Olympus because she isn't scared of someone else taking you away

->none of the gods would even try because who would want to make Hestia upset? (especially cause it's mostly out of fondness, rather than terror *cough cough* Athena *cough cough*)

->anyway, she's probably one of the best girlfriends in the world <3

->can't and doesn't marry you because of her vow, but gives you a promise ring and lets you give her one if you really wanted to <3

->mostly just overly clingy, staying by your side whenever she can and hearth-hopping to wherever you go— work, out with friends, etc

BONUS!

-> she leaves you with Aphrodite if she's busy, because Aphrodite thinks you're adorable and always spends her time with you helping her doves make you all pretty for Hestia, Cinderella's fairy godmother style :)

[galaxysupreme17]

Echoes of the Past

Y/n = Your Name

AgathaRio X daughter!reader

The night had been peaceful. After a cozy movie marathon, Y/n lay fast asleep on the couch, wrapped in blankets. The soft glow of the TV cast shadows across her serene face as Agatha and Rio quietly gathered empty bowls and mugs, careful not to wake her.

“She’s growing up so fast,” Agatha whispered, her voice filled with pride and a touch of melancholy as she gazed at Y/n. “I feel like we’ve barely had any time.”

Rio smiled softly. “I know what you mean. It feels like just yesterday we were hiding from the world, wondering if we’d ever have a family at all.” She set a mug down I the shink, glancing at Agatha with a thoughtful, bittersweet look.

But before they could linger on the memories, a strange warmth began to ripple through the room, accompanied by a faint, otherworldly hum. The space around them warped and twisted, and when the haze lifted, they found themselves in a place all too familiar.

“Salem,” Agatha murmured, her heart racing as the past surged up to meet them. The cobblestone streets, earthy scents, and the oppressive silence transported them to a time long gone, a time when they were just beginning their journey together.

Rio looked around in awe, gripping Agatha’s hand. “We’re really here. This is… this is where it all started,” she whispered, her voice filled with reverence and wonder.

Before them, a younger version of Agatha stood in the shadows of the coven’s circle, barely more than a girl, her wild curls framing her nervous face. The younger Agatha watched the proceedings of the coven with a wary, guarded posture, clearly keeping herself at a safe distance from the others.

Rio squeezed Agatha’s hand, watching her own younger self step into the circle confidently, her head held high. “I remember this night,” she whispered, a faint smile on her lips. “The night I first saw you.”

Agatha watched her younger self with an aching heart. “I was drawn to you, even then,” she murmured, her gaze softening as she watched young Rio challenge the coven’s traditions with a boldness that had always set her apart.

They watched in silence as memories unfolded before them—stolen moments in the forest, whispered secrets, and soft laughter shared in hidden corners. Agatha and Rio exchanged glances, smiling as they relived their first moments of falling in love, the thrill of discovery, and the fierce loyalty that had bonded them together.

The scene shifted, and a chill filled the air. They found themselves in a dim, candle-lit chamber, watching young Agatha face her mother, Evanora, who loomed over her with a cold, disapproving glare.

“You are a disappointment,” Evanora spat, her words laced with venom. “A child born wrong, drawn to corruption and darkness.”

Agatha flinched at the memory of her mother’s hateful gaze. Rio moved her hands to rest on Agatha's waist, squeezing it, and she whispered fiercely, “You didn’t deserve that. She didn’t see who you truly were.”

A voice broke the silence in the memory—young Rio, stepping forward with fire in her eyes. “Leave her alone!” she shouted. “You’re supposed to be her mother. How can you speak to her like that?”

Evanora scoffed, dismissing young Rio with a wave. But the defiant look in Rio’s eyes never wavered, her strength radiating as she stood her ground. Watching, Agatha’s heart swelled with gratitude for Rio’s bravery. That night had been a turning point, the moment when she knew Rio would fight for her, no matter the cost.

Suddenly, the colors shifted, and the streets of Salem faded. They found themselves in a warm, softly lit apartment, surrounded by the sounds of the early 2000s. They looked around in awe, seeing themselves reflected in this new world—no longer the naive young women they had once been, but adults who had fought for their freedom.

Agatha turned to Rio, smiling as she looked her over. “We made it here together,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Rio nodded, brushing a strand of hair from Agatha’s face. “We really did.”

As they took in the cozy surroundings, they were drawn to a familiar figure—Agatha, visibly pregnant, seated comfortably on a couch. She wore a loose dress, her hand resting on her swollen belly as she exchanged soft smiles with Rio, who leaned close, tracing gentle patterns on her stomach.

Rio felt her eyes well with tears as she watched her younger self press a soft kiss to Agatha’s temple. “Do you remember this day?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Agatha nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I do. You’d spent all afternoon reading to me, trying to calm me down because I was so nervous because we were so close to her being born.”

“You were adorable when you were worried,” Rio teased, her eyes sparkling. “I’d never seen you that flustered before.”

“Are you saying you enjoyed it?” Agatha raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at her lips.

Rio chuckled softly, drawing Agatha closer by her waist. “Maybe a little. But more than that, I was proud. We’d come so far… our little family, our life.��

Agatha leaned her forehead against Rio’s, their eyes locked. “I was so in love with you,” she murmured, her voice trembling. “I still am.”

Rio gently pulled Agatha into a kiss, their lips meeting in a tender, heartfelt moment. The world around them seemed to blur, but they were anchored in each other’s presence, wrapped in a love that had endured time and darkness.

But the peaceful scene didn’t last. A shadow loomed, and they found themselves transported again. Now, they stood in an alleyway, where a cloaked figure awaited—Evanora, her presence cold and menacing as she confronted young Rio.

“Do you really think you can protect her? Or the child?” Evanora’s voice dripped with malice. “Leave, or I’ll take the baby myself. Agatha will be broken, destroyed by what you’ve caused her to lose.”

Rio’s younger self looked at Evanora, horrified. She clutched her fists, struggling to hold back tears. “You wouldn’t.”

“Oh, but I would,” Evanora sneered, her gaze cold and unyielding. “And you’ll be the one to blame when Agatha loses everything.”

Agatha’s breath hitched, watching Rio’s struggle, the heartbreak etched on her face. Rio’s younger self was forced into an impossible choice, and they both knew the devastating outcome that followed.

The scene shifted once more, and they were back in their apartment. Young Agatha lay peacefully asleep, unaware of the storm about to descend upon her life. Baby Y/n, just a year old, slept soundly in a crib beside her, innocent and untouched by the darkness lurking outside.

Rio’s younger self stood over them, her face wet with silent tears. She leaned down, pressing a kiss to Y/n’s forehead, then turned to Agatha, her hand hovering over her beloved’s sleeping form. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, voice choked with grief. She stepped back, her eyes lingering on her family one last time before she slipped into the shadows, leaving behind a quiet, heartbroken goodbye.

As suddenly as it had begun, the visions stopped. Agatha and Rio found themselves back in their kitchen, the familiar hum of their home returning as though nothing had happened. But both of them stood in silence, still absorbing the weight of everything they’d seen.

Agatha turned to Rio, her voice trembling. “You didn’t leave because you couldn’t handle our life… you left because of her.”

Rio nodded, guilt and sorrow shadowing her gaze. “I thought it was the only way to keep you both safe. Evanora would have done anything to tear us apart. If I’d stayed, I would have put Y/n and you in danger. I thought… leaving would protect you.”

Agatha’s heart ached with the revelation, seeing Rio’s pain laid bare before her. She stepped forward, taking Rio’s face in her hands, gently wiping away a tear. “You should have told me,” she murmured, her voice soft but filled with understanding.

“I didn’t want you to choose,” Rio whispered, her voice breaking. “You deserved to be free from her, free to live without that constant threat.”

They stood there, their foreheads resting against each other’s, allowing the silence to hold all the words they didn’t know how to say. Finally, Agatha leaned in, pressing her lips to Rio’s in a kiss filled with both sorrow and love, a promise to move forward together.

When they broke apart, Agatha took Rio’s hand, her gaze steady. “No more secrets, not between us.”

Rio nodded, squeezing her hand. “No more secrets.”

They looked to the living room, where Y/n lay undisturbed, peacefully sleeping. Relief filled them, but their peace was short-lived. A sinister laugh echoed through the room as they turned back, chilling them to the bone.

[coopszqi]

\\ ᗰEET TᕼE ᑕᖇEEᑭEᖇ! \\ Ticci Toby. \

ꕥ \\ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴇᴇᴘᴇʀ, ᴅɪɢ ɪɴ ᴅᴇᴇᴘᴇʀ!! \\ ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ʏ/ɴ ʟ/ɴ, ᴀ ʏᴏᴜɴɢ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇᴇ ꜱʟᴇɴᴅᴇʀ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ, ʜᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪꜱꜰᴏʀᴛᴜɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴍᴀɴ ᴡʜᴏ'ꜱ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴏʀᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋɪʟʟ ʜᴇʀ.

*+:｡.｡　　｡.｡:+*

𝓒ℛ𝓔𝓔𝓟Ⴘ𝓟𝓐𝓢𝑇𝓐. | ᴛɪᴄᴄɪ ᴛᴏʙʏ x ꜰᴇᴍ! ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ | chap 1.

ꜱʜᴏʀᴛ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Detective Y/N L/N, a young woman investigating thee Slender case, encounters a man ordered to kill her. The story involves Slenderman, a supernatural entity responsible for child disappearances and killings. One Of Slenderman's in famous proxy's, Ticci Toby, has been assigned to kill L/N. But complications arise when the Detective develops what seem to be feelings.

ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴄʜᴀᴘ: ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴꜱ, ꜰᴏᴜʟ ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ, ɪɴᴀᴘᴘʀᴏᴘʀɪᴀᴛᴇ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ.

༶•┈┈୨♡୧┈┈•༶

You're driving through the dense forest in Maine, heavy rain beating down on your windshield as you navigate the winding roads. Fog obscures your view, but you're not concerned. You've made this drive a hundred times and know every twist and turn like the back of your hand. Plus, the GPS on your phone guides you the rest of the way. As you venture deeper into the woods, the road narrows and turns to gravel. You slow down, carefully avoiding the large potholes that dot the winding path. Rounding a curve, you spot a cabin tucked away in the woods. It looks old and weathered, but you know it's solid and well-built. It's one of your favorite places in the world—a peaceful retreat from the busy world, especially with all the recent disappearances.

As you pull into the dirt driveway, a sense of comfort washes over you. You've made it, despite the torrential rain and fog. Stepping out of your car, you take a deep breath of the fresh, damp air, inhaling the scent of pine trees. You grab your keys and hurry to the front door, eager to settle in for the night and dry off. "Finally back home..." you sigh with a soft smile, closing and locking the door. You've been in New York for a case since last month—you didn't like being away for so long, but you agreed anyway.

As you make your way to the kitchen, you hear the sound of paws racing towards you. Turning, you see a large black Labrador retriever bounding your way, tongue lolling and tail wagging enthusiastically. You smile as the happy pup leaps into your arms, snuggling against you for warmth and attention. You pet its head and scratch behind its ears, feeling the dog's warmth and love radiating from its body. "Hello to you too, Giz," you chuckle softly, a warm smile spreading across your face as the dog grins back. Your sister took him while you were gone, though you suppose she came by not too long ago to drop him off. You head to the fridge, grabbing the jug of Sunny D and pouring it into a glass.

You've spent many joy filled days in this cabin since you were a kid, far from the bustling city and its hectic pace. The cozy, rustic atmosphere is a welcome change from the noise and chaos of urban life. Yet there's something haunting about the cabin that you can't quite put your finger on. Rain pours down outside, and wind howls through the trees, creating an unsettling atmosphere. Despite your exhaustion, you can't help but feel uneasy. You light a fire in the fireplace and sink into a cozy armchair, trying to ignore the feeling that you're being watched. As you drift off to slumber.

Grabbing your phone, you sigh at the time. It's 5:30. Unfortunately, you've got work in an hour. Great. It's not that you hate your job—it's just tiring. You wanted to follow in your mother's footsteps as a detective, and you did just that. Now you're officially a detective helping the state of Maine. You groan and reluctantly pull yourself out of the armchair, stretching your limbs with a small ‘POP’ as you do so.

"Did I really fall asleep here last night?" you grumbled, hands instinctively reaching for your face, attempting to rub the sleep away.

You now make your way up the wooden stairs, each step creaking beneath your bare feet. When you reach the top of the stairs, you walk down the long hallway, admiring the nice, long deep red rug your mother had bought you before her passing.

Finally making it to your room, you walk over to your closet and pull out a white button-up shirt and a pair of neat folded bootcut jeans. Still feeling quite sleepy, you sigh deeply and slip on your picked out undergarments and your outfit, the fabric cool against your bare skin. You feel a twinge of pride as you smooth the barely noticeable wrinkles in the shirt, your rightfully earned badge gleaming on your brown belt in the dim light.

You walk over to your vanity and comb your hair, smiling slightly at yourself in the mirror. Sliding on your black leather boots and grabbing your service weapon, you take one last glance in the mirror making sure everything is in its place.

As you walk out the front door, you feel a mix of excitement and bravery. Your senses tell you that today will be challenging, but you're prepared to face whatever comes your way. After all, you're a special agent, sworn to protect lives and property, and to serve and protect the public, and ready to prove yourself once again.

༶•┈┈୨♡୧┈┈•༶

Once I made it to the station, I clocked in and sat at my desk. I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. "Hey hon, sleep well?" Valerie asked, grin stretched across her lips, dimples on her slim pink cheeks, her dark brown wavy hair was pulled back in a ponytail, caramel highlights running through her thick hair. Val was my partner in crime—we'd gone through criminal justice together, and we'd been friends ever since.

"Eh, it was okay. Crashed out on the recliner, so my back hurts like hell. You?" I replied, leaning back and spinning my chair to face her.

"Good," she chuckled, holding two coffees. She handed one to me, then rested her free hand on my desk. My mouth practically watered at the steam rising from the cup, a smile playing on my lips.

"Just what I needed. Any news on Cromwell's case?" I asked, taking a sip, the warm liquid hitting my tongue.

"Nah, but.. there was another disappearance last night. At Narrow Gauge this time," she replied, her smile fading slightly, thin dark pink lips pursing together.

"Damn, that's the ninth one this week," I sighed, sitting my warm drink down. "Sure is. And you know what's even weirder? All the bodies have some sort of connection." “How so?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow in curiosity.

"On most of the bodies, there's a recognized X symbol carved somewhere on the corpse," she explained, frown displayed on her lips. “Children have been disappearing in and out as well, parent are worried sick and we have no trace of where these kids have gone.” She exhaled, thin dark brown brows furrowing. "Sounds like a cult thing to me. Nothing out of the fuckin’ ordinary around these parts," I replied with a quite snort.

"I'm starting to think it's more than that," Val countered, finally bringing her drink to her lips, her dark lipstick leaving a stain on the plastic cup. "Detective Cromwell talked to each family and asked around—friends, therapists, etc. They all said the victims were experiencing hallucinations a few weeks before their deaths. Coincidence? I think not."

"Maybe you're right. Maybe it is connected," I mused, resting my cheek in my palm. "But if so, what kind of mastermind is behind all this? Running people to insanity? And the kids?, it doesn’t make any sense" My brows furrowed in thought, picking my cup up for another sip, hoping the calming liquid would sort my thoughts.

“I'm not sur—" Val began, but was cut off as the Sergeant burst out of his office, bellowing my name.

"Well, you're fucked," Val snickered.

"Apparently so, Wish me luck," I let out a breathy chuckle, standing up.

༶•┈┈୨♡୧┈┈•༶

ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 1,110.

ɴᴏᴛᴇ: ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ!, ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ꜱᴏ ʜᴀʀᴅ ꜰᴏʀ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ😓🙏, ʙᴜᴛᴛ ꜱᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜱʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ, ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ʟᴏᴛ ᴏꜰ ɪᴅᴇᴀꜱ ꜰᴏʀ 2 ᴀɴᴅ 3🗣️

[scrimbini]

tw: polyamorous relationship, 刘康 liu kang x reader x 琦塔娜 kitana (fluff only headcanons)

#1 ; *heavy breathing* hnnnnggggg just imagine how well they would treat u; their favourite little sweetie, lover, soulmate, imzadi, beloved- listen they're just obsessed with u ok.

#2 ; they love u so much and they are sickeningly sweet about it. treating u so gently, always giving u little kisses and holding u any chance they can get.

#3 ; it doesn't matter how strong (or weak) u are, they treat u like u're a little piece of fluff that they must put in their pocket to keep safe. don't think that they don't thoroughly enjoy watching u beat ppl's asses though. they're so proud of u no matter what u do <3

#4 ; u would cook for them and they will always eat up every last bite of the meal u prepared for them.

#5 ; kitana loves to take u shopping and buys u heaps of new cute clothes and get ur nails and all that girly stuff done hehe :3 liu would come along with u guys just to hold all of ur bags.

#6 ; sometimes u and kitana would stay up rly late gossiping and liu would have to tell u to go to sleep lol. he just wants his loves to be well rested <3 and he also needs to cuddle u two to sleep so pls hurry up and get in bed with him.

#7 ; liu kang worships his two goddesses like he gets paid to do it. he just loves u guys so much 🥺🥺🥺

#8 ; he would also teach u and train u whenever he gets the chance. and he would teach u anything u wanted to know, he is so smart!!!

#9 ; u guys have designated the kitchen as a KITANA-FREE ZONE. SHE WILL SET SOMETHING ON FIRE. DO NOT LET HER NEAR THE STOVE.

#10 ; also they both love reading to u. bring them ur favourite book and curl up into their side. they’re so cozy and warm. u’ll fall asleep so fast.

#11 ; so yeah basically u're all in love and they would die for u 🤍

[madangel19]

Mushy May Day 9 and 10: Warming Them Up and Quiet Nights

Combining two days from @forlorn-crows mushy may list! We got Dewdrop warming up Phantom on a quiet winter night :3

Pairing: Dewdrop/Phantom and implied Cumulus/Aurora

Rating: Everyone :D Lots of cuddling and fluff up in here ya'll ^-^

Word Count: 655

Dewdrop had been hearing whispers amongst the siblings of sin that it was going to snow soon. The very thought made him shudder. He never really enjoyed the snow. While the rest of the pack was out playing in the snow and getting cold and wet, he preferred to stay inside either by himself or with Rain who had mixed feelings about the snow. 

The fire ghoul walked by Cumulus and Aurora who stood in front of a window, the older ghoul educating the younger about snow. Aurora was amazed as she pressed her face against the glass, looking out at the snowy night in awe.

“It’s amazing! We can play in it too?” She asked.

“We sure can, hon. It’s so much fun and we can drink lots of hot cocoa after,” Cumulus chimed. Aurora looked absolutely delighted at the mention of hot cocoa.

Dewdrop kept walking, eager to turn down for the night. He walked into the ghoul den and felt a chill in the air. It didn’t affect him that much. He just needed to rub his hands together and take several deep breaths before he was warm again.

He got to his room and made quick work of undressing and getting into bed, curling up with his blankets. He couldn’t help but think about which of his packmates would join him after getting too cold. Swiss would most likely join him. He played the hardest in the snow and would need warming up. There was always Aether who loved spending cold nights with him and made those nights all the more cozy. 

Dewdrop slowly closed his eyes, his soft purrs filling the air. He looked forward to the treats the elder siblings of sin made on snowy days. He just knew they would ask him for help with heating up the hot cocoa and that he would have the privilege of getting the first cup.

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a knock at the door. He groaned and sat up in bed, rubbing at his eyes. That was quick.

“Come in,” he grumbled. 

The door opened and Phantom walked in, shivering nonstop and looking miserable. Dewdrop sighed, ready for the inevitable whenever a new ghoul joined the pack and experienced winter for the first time.

“Um…Hi…Dewdrop. Can….Can…Can I join you? It…It’s really cold and Swiss…he said that staging with you…when it’s snowing…can help,” he stammered, rubbing his arms. 

“Get over here, Bug. I’ll warm you up,” Dewdrop said, lifting the covers.

Phantom chirped happily and quickly crawled into bed with him. The younger ghoul wrapped his arms around his middle, nuzzling his warm chest with a happy sigh. Dewdrop let the blanket drop and he held him close, purring softly while slowly running a hand through his hair. 

“I didn’t know that snow was so cold. It’s so pretty to look at,” Phantom murmured. 

“It is,” Dewdrop replied, his tail slowly thumping against the bed before curling around Phantom’s. 

Would it just be the two of them together tonight or would another ghoul join them? Either way, Dewdrop couldn’t complain. He slowly moved his hands up and down Phantom’s back, making him sigh in content. 

“You’re a lifesaver,” Phantom said, smiling up at the fire ghoul. 

“Anything for a member of my pack,” Dewdrop smiled back.

Phantom chittered happily before snuggling closer to him. Dewdrop continued rubbing his back, purring softly. They didn’t have to talk anymore. Both of them were tired from a long day of chores and rehearsal and needed some much needed rest. 

Dewdrop looked down and noticed that Phantom was fast asleep. Good. He had heard from Swiss that Phantom took forever to fall asleep most nights. Some cuddling and warmth on a cold night was just right for the new member of the pack. 

“Sweet dreams, Bug,” Dewdrop whispered, kissing the spot between Phantom’s horns. 

The younger ghoul’s smile grew in his sleep. 

[hxney-lemcn]

Imagine going to a cave with Finn and Huntress wizard for one of their outing and everything goes well, in fact too well to the point that Finn falls asleep against your shoulder and Huntress wizard just lays her head on your lap to relax and you're just in the middle having a bi panic moment with your face like 0_0

tw: none.

a/n: sorry if this is so short. I'm starting to get burnt out and I've been getting a quite a few requests. But! This idea was really cute! I hope I didn't totally ruin it T_T

wc: 0.2k

Master List

❥You all had to find shelter from a sudden knife storm. Luckily, there was a cave close by. 

❥As the clouds darkened the sky overhead, Huntress Wizard created a fire. With the cave lit up, it was obvious there was no danger, as it was a small cave. No animal marks or people marks.

❥You sat down, feeling tired from a long day of adventuring…also from the now cozy atmosphere. The fire crackled cozily as Finn polished his swords on your left. Huntress Wizard sharpened her arrows on your right. 

❥You just stared into the fire. Orange, red, and yellow flames licked upwards, only to fall back down. It was mesmerizing. 

❥It seemed that the other two agreed. As Finn had startled you when his head fell onto your shoulder. Glancing over to him, he seemed to have fallen asleep. You tried your best not to move, not wanting to accidentally wake him up.

❥Only for Huntress Wizard to deem that she had a right to lay her head in your lap…which she did…but still! Now you have two tired adventurers resting on you. Cute ones at that! 

❥You leaned your head back on the harsh rocky wall behind you. Although the position you were in was uncomfortable, you were more focused on trying to cool your heated face. In fact, the entire cave seemed to be uncomfortably warm.

[hippiegoth97]

Into the Fire: An Eddie Munson x Reader Story Pt. 13

Collage by me :)

Master List

Part 12

Tag List: @rafescurtainbangz @voyeurmunson @xxbimbobunnyxx @taintedcigs @mediocredreams

@slowandsteddie @angel-munson @eldermayfield @munsonsbtch @babygorewhore

@rattkween86 @violetpixiedust @bimbobaggins69 @purplehazed-h @morning-rituals

@eddie-van-munson @msgexymunson @munsoneightysixx @impmunson @mysticalstar30

@jenniquinn @oneforthemunny @succubusmunson @ddeadly-succubus @prettyboyeddiemunson

@sanctumdemunson @stalactitekilla @s6raphic @hellfirenacht @birdysaturne

@ohmeg @h-ness1944 @pretendthisnameisclever @ahoyyharrington @micheledawn1975

@costellation-hunter @josephquinnsfreckles @leelei1980 @yourdailymemedelivery @spacedoutdaydreamer

Content Warning 18+ Only, Minors DNI: swearing, alcohol use, anger, anxiety, smut, masturbation, squirting, unprotected sex, praise/degradation, slight voyeurism/exhibitionism, crying, mild arguing, mentions of a dead parent

Word Count: 8.8k

Divider by @strangergraphics

Part 13: Human

Wednesday, April 12th, 1989

Your alarm clock wakes you up at 7:30am, blaring its harsh trill in a persistent rhythm. The sound hurts your head, your wound throbbing at the back of your skull. Eddie grumbles beneath you, not wanting to get up. You place a whisper of a kiss on his cheek before slipping out of bed to shut the alarm off. His good eye flutters open when the room is quiet again. "Come back to bed, love. You're so warm and cozy." Sleep saturates his voice, it's really adorable.

"I can't, Eds. I have to shower and get ready for my exam. You can stay in bed if you want. I know you're really tired." You stroke his hair, which makes him smile warmly at you. He just nods in reply, closing his eye to continue resting. You don't blame him one bit. If you didn't have your final, you'd be knocked out right next to him all day.

You go through your usual routine, taking your time as your head is pounding again. You take a shower first, carefully letting the water run over your stitches. It doesn't feel great, but the doctor said to keep the area clean and you don't have time to deal with an infection. You return to your room wrapped in a towel, quietly digging around your drawers to pull out some fresh jeans and a t-shirt.

Eddie's snoring again, you watch his chest rise and fall in the mirror's reflection while you dress. You hate to leave him alone all morning, you're sure he'll be a bit stir-crazy without you or anything to occupy his mind. Maybe he'll get curious and dig around in your room, if he hasn't before. You giggle quietly at that thought, picturing Eddie attempting to glean new information about you from old stuffed animals and journals you've long since neglected. You walk over to him, giving another kiss to his forehead. He stirs slightly, an indescribably cute noise escaping his mouth.

You tiptoe out of the room, not wanting to disturb him. You slowly close the door behind you, traveling down the hall to the kitchen. Dustin is at the island munching on some Eggos, and Mom is frying up some bacon and eggs. You see your portion, but she's making more than usual. It's probably for Eddie. "Mornin' kiddos! How'd you sleep?" Mom asks with her back turned.

"I slept alright, Eddie's still asleep." You reply, which makes her face drop slightly. Dustin also gives a worried glance.

"Is he alright? He looked like a zombie when you brought him home last night." Dustin asks, concerned about his friend.

"He's alright. Yesterday really shook him up. He did wake up at first, but I told him he can stay in bed if he wants."

"Well, I'll put a plate for him in the microwave. I'd hate for him to go hungry." Mom says, clearly nervous about today. You've scared the hell out of her with yesterday's incident. And tonight she has to break bread with her ex-husband's mistress and their kids. You feel so guilty for putting her through all this, you wonder if she still thinks Eddie is the right man for you.

"I'll leave a note before we go, I'm sure he'll appreciate it." You keep conversation light, getting a plate from the cabinet to serve yourself. "You ready for your tests today, Dusty?" You ask, Mom's focus has drifted away from him lately in favor of you and Eddie. Another thing you feel very guilty about.

"Born ready!" He says cheerfully, luckily he doesn't seem to have taken the shift in attention personally. He knows Mom has been doting on you for years to get into a serious relationship. And now that you have, she's over the moon. Well, at least she was. The jury is still out on whether that sentiment remains.

"Good." You smile at him, taking a bite of egg into your mouth. The three of you finish eating, and you go back to your room one last time to retrieve your bag. You scribble out a note for Eddie, which reads:

I'll be back in a couple hours, love. There's a plate for you in the microwave, please be kind to yourself today.-Your Girl ♡

You set it on the nightstand, hoping he sees it instead of freaking out when he wakes up to an empty house. You give him one last kiss, unable to resist. He hums lightly, and you worry you've woken him up now. He doesn't do anything else besides shift a little in the bed. You sling your bag over your shoulder, glancing back at him one last time before heading to the front door. Mom leads the way to the car, you in the front and Dustin in the back. The ride is pretty quiet, you can sense a different tense energy growing in your mother.

Dustin is dropped off first as the high school is closer. Claudia pulls away after saying goodbye, and she glances at you oddly. "What's up, Mom?" You ask, your voice faltering.

"Nothing, nothing." She shakes her head insistently, but you're not convinced. You look at her purposefully, and she sighs before speaking again. "I'm just worried, that's all." She says, a tinge of judgment hiding just below the surface of her tone.

"About what?" You want clarification as there's many things she could be referring to. You pick at your hands, anticipating what she's going to say.

"You and Eddie." She says plainly, knowing you're onto her.

"In what way?"

"Well, sugarpuff...I just, I worry that maybe he's not what you need right now." There it is. The other shoe finally drops. You scoff, not in disbelief of her feeling this way. It's more that you had hoped she'd be better than this.

"What's that supposed to mean? You think he's not good enough for me?" You're getting defensive, you've already told her it wasn't his fault.

She sighs again, considering her words carefully. "I don't mean it like that. He's a sweet young man, and he clearly cares for you. And I know you love him, honey. But...yesterday was easily the worst day of my life. I was worried to death. Getting the call at work that you were at the hospital scared the shit out of me." She can't help tearing up a little, the initial thought when she received that call was that you'd been in a car accident or something.

"I know, Mom. It was no picnic for me or Eddie, either. I've already told you, it wasn't his fault. Jason was being a piece of shit because we wanted to do the right thing." Your heart is sinking as this talk continues, you really hope she doesn't ask you to break up with him. You won't, no matter what she says. But to have her even ask would crush you both. Eddie already worries about being good enough for you. If Mom gives even a hint of that sentiment to him, he'll surely save you the trouble and cut himself out of your life.

"I understand that, Y/N. But I need you to understand something, too. You are my child, and it's my job to do everything I can to protect you. This mess had me and Dusty in shambles yesterday. So, if Eddie gets you hurt or in trouble again, I don't want him in my house. And I certainly won't keep that promise I made if that happens. Do you understand me?" Her question rings through the air just as you pull up to the college. She looks at you fully, her face hardened as she expects a quick answer.

"Yes, I understand." You say begrudgingly, resisting the urge to roll your eyes. This is so fucking unfair, she's treating you like a little kid again. You get where she's coming from, you truly do. But she should know by now that Eddie does everything in his power to take care of you. One little mistake, and she doesn't trust him anymore. She's no better than every other fucker in this town that takes one look at Eddie and only sees trouble.

"I can tell you're not happy with me, sugarpuff. You get your bull-headedness from me, ya know. But I'm serious. One more mess-up, and you're on your own in regards to him. Now, go ace that test. I'll be waiting right here with my novel." She attempts to smile, but you don't buy it. The anger in your eyes shines through crystal clear. You get out of the car without another word. You'll say something you regret if you open your mouth.

You make your way to the exam room, unable to calm the seething feeling inside you. Great, now your testing flow is thrown off. Part of you wants to flunk this test on purpose, just to spite her. You could always blame it on your head injury, you could even get a redo if it came down to it. You're just so upset that she would threaten to ban Eddie from your house if he 'screws up' again. This wasn't his fault. Why can't she see that? You dread going back home after the exam. Eddie will know you're hiding something. But you can't possibly tell him what Mom said.

You take your seat, forcing the rage into a deep recess of your mind as you wait for the go-ahead to open your test booklet. You take your time, drawing out every answer in an effort to stall facing your beaten boyfriend. You have a secondary thought process going in your mind as you fill in the scantron bubbles, coming up with a way to hide what Mom said from Eddie. You don't want to lie, but he can't handle something like this right now. He's hanging by a thread as it is, so you'll have to put up an act. The very idea of doing this makes you sick, but what choice do you have? Ugh, maybe I should just tell him. You really don't know what to do at this point, turning the attention away from the subject for now.

You finish second to last, with only fifteen minutes left in the allotted time. Mom will be worried again, this plan is backfiring already. Your professor gives you an odd look when you return your testing materials, she expected you to finish way before everyone else. She's about to ask if you're alright, it reads plainly on her face. You can't take another person worrying about you, so you leave before she can speak. You make your way outside and get back in the car, clicking your seatbelt in place.

"That took a while. How'd it go?" Mom asks while glancing at her watch.

"It went fine." You reply shortly. You don't even look at her, you can't. She's really pissed you off this time. She sighs again, becoming rather annoyed herself. She wonders if she shouldn't have said anything at all. She doesn't mean to be harsh, she's just looking out for you.

"Okay." It comes out of her mouth barely above a whisper, and she puts the car in drive to take you both home. The whole ride is silent, suffocating. You hate it, but you refuse to let this go. There's certainly no hiding this from Eddie now, you're far from a good actress. Let's just hope everyone can calm the fuck down before dinner later on.

Mom stalls the car in the driveway, and you leave her behind to go inside. You leave the front door open for her, though you're tempted to slam it. You find Eddie eating his plate of food in the kitchen, struggling to avoid touching his nose or busted side of his lip. "Hey, darling. How'd the test go?" He asks as his fork stabs the split in his mouth. "Fuck." He mutters, letting the utensil clatter onto his plate.

"Oh, Eds." You gasp, setting your bag on the island to tend to his bleeding lip. You grab some paper towel, folding it for him to hold to his wound. "Here. And it went fine, there's something I have to tell you when you're done eating, though." You say cautiously, not wanting to spook him.

"Well, that doesn't make me nervous at all." He replies, raising an eyebrow at you as he holds the towel up to stop the bleeding. Mom shuts the door and walks past you without saying anything, retreating to her room as she imagines you aren't wanting her company at the moment.

"I know. It's not something I wanted to hear, either." His eyes widen at your words, curious what that means. Did Claudia say something? He starts to panic internally, hoping you're not going to dump him or something. "Eddie, don't freak out. What it is does not change a damn thing between us. Okay?" You take his free hand, emphasizing your point by giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Okay." He says, letting himself relax a little. The blood flow mostly stops, and he finishes his plate before putting it in the sink. You take his hands, pulling him along behind you back to your room. You really don't want to tell him what Mom said, but hiding and lying isn't something you want to be in the habit of doing. Eddie means too much to you for you to deceive him. You sit side by side on the bed, still holding hands. "What's up?" He asks, reminding himself of what you said. Nothing will change between us. He really hopes you mean that.

You nod awkwardly, preparing yourself. You don't want Eddie to be upset, or decide he can't be with you anymore. You can't lose him, he's your everything. "Okay, just gonna reiterate that I highly disagree with this. I have no intention of letting you go, ever." You look deep into his eyes, trying to drive home the fact that you can't live without him. He gives you a nod, nudging you to keep talking. "Mom was driving me to the exam. She told me how scared she was yesterday, that she thinks you're not 'what I need right now'. And she said...that if I get hurt again when I'm around you, that she won't let you in the house anymore." You flinch as you finish speaking, it's like the air has been sucked out of the room.

You glance at Eddie cautiously, waiting for him to respond. He takes a minute to absorb this, you have no clue how he's going to react. "Fair enough." He shrugs. Well, that was easier than you expected.

"Really?" You ask, confused.

"I mean, she's not wrong to say that, Y/N. You're her daughter, and she's worried about you. I know you don't think it's fair, but you're forgetting that this isn't the first time you've gotten hurt because of me." You're surprised he's taking this so well, but you suppose it's better than him trying to leave you.

"But that wasn't your fault, either. I was being a dumbass, biking into the road when I shouldn't have." You retort, unsatisfied with how this is all panning out. You still think it's bullshit that Mom said what she did. Eddie would never hurt you on purpose, it's been your own fault every time. You cross your arms, and Eddie scoffs.

"What do you want me to say, princess? I feel like you're looking for a fight here, when there isn't one." He searches your eyes, and you avert your gaze in annoyance.

"It's just not right, Eds. Hearing her say that, she sounded like every other asshole in this town that judges you unfairly." You hate the way Eddie's treated in Hawkins. He doesn't do or say anything to anyone. But because of his outward appearance, they assume he's a monster, or something.

Eddie sighs, using his thumb and forefinger to gently lead you to look at him. He speaks seriously, hoping he can help you understand. "Whether you like it or not, your mother holds me responsible for your safety since I'm your boyfriend. And so do I, Y/N. Clearly you don't agree with us on this, and that's fine. But you deserve better, and I damn well intend to be better."

You want to protest, shout and scream that he's perfect just the way he is. You don't need him to be better, he's everything you need already. But you're outnumbered, so what's the point in fighting it? "Okay." Is all you can say, anything else will surely lead to an argument. And you're too tired to handle that right now, especially when you have to deal with Angie in a few hours. "We've got a while before dinner, is there anything you wanna do?" You ask, wanting to spend as much time with Eddie one on one as possible.

He thinks for a moment, his features softening once he realizes you aren't going to fight him on the previous subject. He smiles kindly, letting your chin out of his grip. "Anything you want, sweetheart. I'm just happy to be around you." He wishes he could kiss you, but his busted face has taken his favorite things to do to you off the table.

Noticing his wanting for contact, you lean over and plant a warm kiss on his throat. He sighs, his hand snaking up to cradle the back of your neck. You leave a trail of wet marks on him, nipping the skin just below his jaw. He moans quietly, wanting more. "I love you, Eds." You whisper against his flesh, poking your tongue out to lick his sweet-spot.

His breath hitches, the next six days are going to be very trying for him. It'll take every last iota of willpower to keep himself from diving face first between your legs. "I love you too, baby. You're killin' me here." He whimpers, which only pushes you further.

You move his hair aside to purr against the shell of his ear. "Well, lucky for you, my mouth is fully capable of giving you what you want. Let me please you, darling." Slipping a hand down his front to graze over the bulge forming in his pajamas, he moans in your grasp.

"What about you?" He asks, meeting your lustful eyes. Your heart soars at his consideration for your own pleasure, he's always been so invested in it. You shrug, not finding it particularly important at the moment.

"You can watch me get myself off, if you want. Your mouth and hands are kinda out of commission at the moment." You take Eddie's earlobe between your teeth, nibbling on it just the way he likes.

"I think you're forgetting another vital part, princess." He chuckles lightly, and you stop your movements on him.

"Are you sure, Eddie? I don't wanna hurt you." You'd hate to make his injuries worse by engaging in such a strenuous activity. Though the wetness gathering between your legs tells you what you truly desire.

"I have an idea, if you're up for it." He gives you a devilish smirk, a glint of mischief in his eye.

"Shoot." You say, anxious to hear what he has in mind.

"There's still one more page in the book I made you that we haven't tried yet." He gestures for you to retrieve it, and you find the position Eddie is referring to. Number six: Conquest. You can't help going slack-jawed at the illustration, but it's perfect for the current limitations you both face. You look at him with widened eyes, and he laughs at your reaction. "It's good to know I'm still able to shock you, baby. You wanna lock the door?"

"Uh...yeah." You snap yourself out of it for a second, hopping off the bed to click the lock. You hear Eddie shuffling out of his clothes while your back is turned, he's very eager it seems. You turn back around to find him getting into position. He's laying his head on the pillows, knees tented together. You eye his stiff cock waiting for you, the tip leaking sticky precum. "Fuck." Your breath catches in your throat at the sight, your hands instinctively pulling at the hem of your shirt to lift it over your head.

Eddie watches as you undress, he'd be stroking himself while he waits if it weren't for the bandages on his hands. He wishes his left eye could look at you along with his right. The swelling has gone down a little, but it's still in pretty bad shape. You unbutton your jeans, making a show of sliding them down your legs. "You're so gorgeous, love." Eddie says, sending a flare of heat to your cheeks. You're standing in your bra and panties, reaching behind your back to undo the clasp. The straps fall down your shoulders, and you let the bra plop to the floor. "Can you stop for a second?" He asks as you're about to take off your underwear. His tone is needy, almost desperate.

You raise an eyebrow, before realizing why he asked. "You want me to play with them for you, Eds?" You bat your eyes at him while biting your lip. He nods wordlessly, and you apprehensively bring your palms up to squeeze your tits. You moan lightly at the contact, watching his reaction to you touching yourself. You feel bad that Eddie can't do this himself, but it's also very hot to have him helplessly observe you like this. It reminds you of your birthday, which was easily one of the best days of your life. "You wish these were your hands instead, baby?" You speak teasingly, walking closer to the side of the bed.

"I really do. Can you tease your nipples a little, sweetheart? I love the face you make when I do that." You do as he requests, your eyes fluttering shut as you roll the sensitive buds between your fingers. Your mouth falls open, letting out a low moan of his name. "Fuck, just like that."

"Should I touch something else, baby?" You open your eyes again as you pose the question. You really want to feel how wet you are, and tell him all about it. It'll drive him even crazier than you already have.

"Please, take off your panties and tell me how wet you are for me." You can't get enough of the begging in his voice, it's practically a drug to you. You slip your final piece of clothing off, kicking it away with your foot. You watch his gaze follow your hand as it seamlessly glides over your breasts, down your stomach, until it reaches between your thighs.

"Fuck, Eddie." You whine as you finally touch your slick folds. Your fingertips ghost over your clit, before dipping inside your entrance out of reflex. "I'm absolutely soaked for you." You pump your fingers in your pussy at an agonizing pace, preparing yourself to take Eddie's dick when he's ready for you.

"Such a filthy girl, fingering yourself while I watch." He says lowly, unbearably wound up by your little performance.

"Can I have you inside me now, baby? I want your cock so fucking bad." You whimper, tying a knot of pleasure inside yourself that won't hold much longer.

"You can if you want to, sweetheart. But I'd love nothing more than to see you make yourself cum. Can you make a mess for me like a good girl?" Oddly enough, he's the one in control now without even touching you. Shit, he's an evil little genius sometimes.

"I'll be a good girl for you, Eds." You pant, increasing your speed as he stares you down like a starving animal. "Oh, god, I'm so close already." You try to keep the noise down, biting your lip to stifle the moans. Your juices drip down your fingers, gathering into your palm. Eddie's taking in every last detail as you bring yourself to climax, holding back his own high for your sake. He wants you to ride him relentlessly, and the perfect way to get you to do that is to give you an orgasm first. For some reason, one is never enough for you. You always need at least one more to be fully satisfied, and that fact makes him positively wild inside.

Your eyes have screwed shut, and your lips stay parted just enough to let the sweetest noises escape. Your hips begin to buck forward every so often, jolts of pleasure striking your most sensitive parts. You're sheened over in sweat, he can sense you're just on the edge of total bliss. "That's it, keep going. Such a perfect little slut for me. Look at me while you cum, sweetheart." You force your eyes open, chest heaving as you feel the knot you've tied snap into smithereens.

"Eddie一" You bite your free hand to hold back the scream that's trapped within your lungs. Your legs shake, blazing sparks shooting through your body. Arousal rushes from your cunt, spilling onto the carpet. Your walls clamp onto your fingers, trapping them inside as you convulse through your high.

"That's my girl, you did so well." Eddie coos, it takes everything in him not to blow his load at the sight of you. Your knees buckle, and you slump onto the floor for a moment to recover. Your digits are still stuck inside you, you try to release them through your aftershocks. You finally pull them free, moaning at the loss of being filled up. "You ready for me, baby? Or are you done?" He asks, though he knows you're far from finished.

"You really need to ask?" You say breathlessly as you stand again. You climb onto the bed with your back to him. You rest on your knees on either side of him, taking his swollen cock in your hand. He groans at the contact, overly sensitive from waiting so long. You slowly drag his tip through your slippery folds, moaning just a tiny bit louder than you mean to when he touches your clit.

"Shh, gotta be quiet, angel." Eddie warns sweetly. He doesn't imagine Claudia wants to hear you two having sex after what's happened in the last twenty-four hours. You nod, savoring how good he feels against you. You sense he wants you to stop teasing, guiding his length to slowly push into you. His tip disappears into your dripping cunt, and he moans quietly at the beautiful image. You let him out of your grip, sliding yourself down onto him fully.

"Oh, my god." You gasp as he fills you up in the best way possible. You hold his knees just like the picture in the book, using your own as leverage to lift yourself up before sinking back down. "This is so fuckin' perfect, Eds." You confess to him, your stomach rubbing against his thighs as you start to ride.

"Wish you could see the view from here, my cock sliding into that pretty pussy of yours. God, it's fuckin' beautiful." Eddie groans, wishing you'd go faster. You're so hot and wet around him, hugging him the way he likes.

His words fuel your fire, and you bounce on him harder and faster. He hits your g-spot just right every time you land on him, you're quickly building up to come crashing down again. "You feel so good, baby. I'll never get enough of you." You confess, needing Eddie to know everything you think about him.

"I'll never get enough either, princess. Are you getting close?" He doesn't want to rush you by any means, but he's so very near to losing it. He wants to give you what you need, wishing he could use other parts of himself to help you get off. You increase your speed in response, which he takes as a big fat 'yes'. He might not be able to do much, but he can hold your waist to pull you harder onto him. He grips your sides with his bandaged hands, making you gasp. Your skin slaps against his, the two of you sweating profusely.

"Shit, Eddie. Just like that, fuck." You groan through clenched teeth, forcing yourself to keep the noise down. Eddie's tip kisses your sweet-spot harder and faster with his hands guiding you, pounding you into your next orgasm. "I'm gonna cum, baby. Have I been a good little whore for you?" You ask, tempted to look back at him for his response. But you don't want to disrupt the delicious sensation you're feeling.

"Always, babydoll. I'm right behind you, cum for me." He yanks you even harder into him, which sends you flying over the proverbial cliff into a chasm of ecstasy.

"Eddie!" You cry out, before biting down into his leg to conceal any further noise. You shake uncontrollably once again, with Eddie still rutting you into him. You try to keep up your movements to bring him down with you, which only extends your pleasure. Cum gushes out of you, flowing down your thighs, and onto Eddie's stomach. But he doesn't stop, despite the fact that you're both becoming very slippery.

"Shit, Y/N." He grunts, unable to contain himself. He keeps an iron grip on you as his load empties into your cunt. You continue moving until both your highs run their course, relishing every last thrust before collapsing against his thighs. Your breath comes out harsh and ragged, fighting for air.

"Well, looks like we'll need another shower." You joke, letting yourself melt into a satisfied pile of goo. You lay your head on his knees, sighing in contentment.

Eddie chuckles beneath you, caressing your sides with his hands. "That we do, angel. Not to mention some clean sheets."

"Mhm. What time is it?" You ask as your eyes drift closed. Eddie's gone soft inside you, but you can't be bothered to move just yet. He doesn't appear to be in any kind of rush, either, still running his large fingers along your waist and back. It's very soothing, therapeutic, even.

He turns his head to glance at the clock. "A little after noon. How about we get cleaned up and have some lunch, love?"

"I suppose we should, although I'd much rather sit on your dick all day." You say cheekily, clenching around him to emphasize your point.

"Jesus, Y/N.'' He groans, overstimulated from being sheathed inside you longer than usual. You giggle at his reaction, bracing your hands on his knees as you slowly remove yourself from your favorite place. The two of you hiss at the sensation, rather worn out now. You manage to stand, walking over to the closet to retrieve your bathrobes. Eddie gets up after you, taking the frilly garment to cover up with.

You scurry to the bathroom, shutting the door behind you. You go over to the shower to turn on the faucet, before helping Eddie remove his bandages. "I'll help you put on new ones once we're all clean, baby." You realize his hands are completely bare, something you've never seen before. "What happened to your rings, Eds?" You ask, hoping he didn't lose them.

"Left ‘em in my jeans pocket. I forgot about them until just now, actually. I can't exactly wear them until these cuts heal." You inspect his knuckles, which are all split open pretty deep from him punching Jason so hard. You tut at the state of them, you hate to see him injured like this.

"I'll dig them out of the laundry so they don't get lost, I know they're important to you." You say, unable to hide your sullen tone.

"Not nearly as important as you, sweetheart." Eddie's words cheer you up a little, a slight smile twitching on your lips. "There's that smile I love. C'mon, we've gotta wash up." He leads you over to the shower, stepping in after you. You assist him in washing his hair, making sure he's turned away from the water so he doesn't mess up his cast. You wash your own hair and body, which Eddie watches closely. He can't help getting a little hard again, but he has no intention of acting on it. You've both had enough, there has to be some energy left for tonight. This dinner will be far from easy for you, and he has to be giving 100% to support you.

You finish off the shower by sudsing Eddie down, smirking when you notice his erection. You let him be, you've got to show restraint at some point. He rinses off, and you help him dry off and put on fresh bandages before returning to your room to get dressed. You reach into the laundry basket to locate Eddie's dirty jeans, feeling around in the pockets until you pull out his rings. You hold them in your hand, noticing the true weight of them for the first time. "How do you wear these all the time? Don't your fingers get tired?" You ask curiously, the metal clinking in your palm as you toy with them.

"I dunno, I've had 'em for years. Got used to it, I guess." He replies, pulling on some clean pants and snaking his signature belt through the loops. You place the rings on your nightstand, standing in front of Eddie. He hasn't put a shirt on yet, a couple drips of water from his hair running down his chest. You wrap your arms around his middle, laying your cheek on his warm skin. "What's up, angel?" He asks, putting his arms over you to keep you close.

"I just like holding you, Eds. Is that okay?" You feel silly even asking, he loves it when you show him affection.

"Of course it is, princess. Always." He says sweetly, sighing when you nuzzle against his shoulder. "You're real cute, you know that?" He muses.

"Mhm, always." You quip, making you both laugh. "You're very cute, too, among other things." You say as you playfully twirl the tuft of hair on his chest with your finger. You pull away after a moment, letting him fully dress. Your stomach is begging for food, the sound growing louder as the minutes tick past.

You and Eddie spend the next few hours having a simple lunch and watching TV on the couch. You anxiously wait for your mother to corral you into the car for dinner, hoping this evening won't turn into a blowout. You lay against the armrest with Eddie between your thighs, stroking his hair mindlessly. His hands run up and down your legs in a gentle rhythm, you're both very touchy without even thinking about it. Dustin returns home from his own tests, giving you two a brief greeting and heading to his room to change his shirt. He comes back out to join you and Eddie in the living room. "How'd it go, Dustin?" Eddie pipes up, and Dustin beams at him.

"Easiest. Tests. Ever!" Dustin says, which earns him a high five from Eddie. He plops down into the armchair, crossing his ankles as he smirks in self-satisfaction.

"Good to hear, big guy." Eddie replies with a chuckle, shifting in his spot to get a little closer to you. The three of you talk for a bit, shooting the breeze. A little bit later, Mom emerges from down the hall. She's dressed nicer than usual, and she's wearing a full face of makeup. That's not like her at all. You assume she's trying to impress Angie, for some strange reason.

"Alright, kiddos. Let's hit the road." She says, eyes shifting nervously between your faces. Everyone gathers their shoes and belongings, heading outside to pile into the car. Dustin sits shotgun this time, with you and Eddie in the back. You stare out the window, knee bobbing as your heart rate steadily increases. Eddie notices your nerves, taking your hand in his from across the backseat. You glance over at him, plastering on a smile. He gives you a sympathetic look, telling you everything will be okay in his own special way. Mom pulls the car into a new restaurant at the edge of town, it just opened a few months ago. 'Applebee's Neighborhood Bar & Grill', the large sign with an apple in the logo says.

The parking lot is pretty full, you imagine it's very crowded inside. Mom glances at her watch, telling you that Angie wanted to meet up in the parking lot before heading inside. You all step out of the car, looking around to find a woman with two kids parked somewhere in the crowd. Your eyes fall on an elderly couple leaving after the early-bird special, some young adults going in to watch 'the game', until you land on a woman with bleached blonde hair. She's standing beside a cherry red convertible, with two small children that look the spit of her. "Found them." You say to the group, pointing to let Mom lead the way. Eddie stays glued to your side, not letting go of your hand.

"Hey, Angie!" Mom calls as the four of you walk over. The woman turns to meet her gaze, and you take in her appearance. She's exactly how you pictured. Blonde updo, trashy cheetah-print clothes, gaudy jewelry, and far too much makeup. The typical slut all the married men love to cheat with. Eddie notices your face hardening as you get closer.

"Relax, baby." He whispers in your ear, which softens you slightly. You nod without looking at him, squeezing his hand a little tighter.

"Claudia. Glad you could make it." Angie speaks in a high-pitched, nasally voice. Shit, the jokes are writing themselves. This is gonna be even harder than you thought. "I’m sure your Mom has told you, I’m Angie. And these are my kids, Jake who's seven and Polly who's five." She gestures with her spindly, red fingernails to acknowledge the children who stand silently at her sides. Jake is dressed in overalls and a striped t-shirt, whereas Polly is wearing a pink frilly dress with matching bows. They don't seem to understand who you are, or why they're in this strange place. They clutch Angie's stocking-clad legs, clearly very shy. You feel bad for them, their faces are a little puffy from crying. But then you remember why they even exist, averting your eyes to stop giving them any sign of sympathy.

"Hey there, kiddos! It's nice to meet you! I'm Claudia, and this is my son Dustin, who's seventeen." Mom nudges Dustin to say hello, which he does awkwardly. "And this is my daughter Y/N, who's twenty-one. And her boyfriend, Eddie."

Angie inspects you and Eddie suspiciously, smirking at how battered and bruised you look. You can sense a particular term blossoming in her mind, 'daddy issues'. Well, you're the one that gave them to me, bitch. You think as you glare at her. "Hi." You say incredulously, trying to set her hair on fire with your mind.

"It's nice to meet you, kiddos. George told me about you all the time. Both of you have gotten so big!" You want to punch her, knock that stupid smile off her overly-painted face. How dare she say such a thing, and how dare your father even pretend he gave a shit about you or your brother. Everyone stands in silence for a moment, not sure what else to say. Angie pipes up again, steering clear of the tender subject for the time being. "Well, I called ahead and got us a table! Shall we head inside?" She gestures with her hands to the entrance, clicking on her heels as she walks ahead with Jake and Polly.

"If she keeps up like this, there's gonna be two funerals this week." You mutter through clenched teeth, feeling your blood pressure rise as the seconds pass. Eddie stops the two of you walking, falling behind the group.

"What's wrong?" Mom asks as the others stop to look at you.

"We'll catch up with you, Ms. Henderson. I think Y/N needs a second." Eddie calls, and Mom shrugs before turning to walk inside with the others. Eddie turns to you, putting his hands on your shoulders. "Sweetheart, you've gotta calm down." He says, worried that you'll attempt to kill Angie before you even get your order taken.

You sigh harshly, trying to steady your pounding heart. "I know. I just- I can't." You look at him with pleading eyes. You just want to turn around and leave. You don't care what Angie has to say, you don't care about any of this. There's no way you can sit down and eat a meal with that woman.

"Yes you can, Y/N." You shake your head, holding back frustrated tears. "Look, let's take a breather, 'kay? But I'm not letting you back out of this. You're the bravest, and the strongest woman I know. Are you really gonna let that bimbo get under your skin in the first five minutes?" Eddie smirks to encourage you, knowing you're more than capable of handling this. He also knows if he frames this in a way to play into your petty side, you'll be on your best behavior just to spite Angie.

"I hate how good you are at pep talks." You pout, crossing your arms dramatically as you hide a smile. He always knows exactly what to say. "C'mon, let's get this over with." You sigh deeply, pulling him along. The two of you step inside, the restaurant is absolutely bustling. You see Mom and the others at a large corner booth at the back, pointing the way for Eddie to keep up.

"There you two are! I hope it wasn't something I said." Angie greets you when you reach the table. Anger flares behind your eyes again, but you feel Eddie's thumb stroking your hand to soothe you.

"Not at all. It's just been a hard week." You say in a sickly sweet tone, hiding your fury behind fake happiness. You're nauseated by this little act, but you know the saying: 'Fake it til you make it'. Dustin and Angie's kids are sitting on the one end, with Mom and Angie in the middle. This arrangement would force you to sit right next to the whore, when Eddie takes the lead to sit there instead. It ought to keep you from stabbing her with your fork.

"Thanks, Eds." You whisper in his ear, and his hand goes to your thigh to say 'you're welcome'.

"Well, the waitress came by with the menus already and I ordered both of you a beer. I hope that's alright." Angie says, handing two menus off to you and Eddie.

"That's fine. Thanks." You reply, taking a look to see what to order. You really aren't in the mood for food, but it would be rude to not get anything.

"Thank you." Eddie adds, avoiding Angie's gaze. She's taking a closer look at him now, from what you can tell.

"You've certainly picked a handsome one, Y/N." Her nasal squawk rings in your ears. You imagine her scream is probably only audible to dogs.

You notice Eddie's cheeks burning, he must be very uncomfortable under her stare. "Yep, he's absolutely gorgeous, even when he's beaten and bruised. And he's all mine." You can't help getting territorial on your final word, reaching over so she can see you grip Eddie's thigh roughly. He holds back a groan, regretting his decision to put himself between the two of you. "What sounds good to you, darling? Maybe we can share something? I'm not very hungry tonight." You look at him, drawing his face to yours.

"Um...I-I'm not sure. I haven't had a chance to look yet." He says sheepishly, fumbling to open his menu. The conversation turns to how school is going for you and Dustin, plus a few more questions about Eddie and how he got his injuries. The waitress comes by with your drinks, and you happily down a third of your beer in one go. You need some booze if you're gonna make it through this meal. You all rattle off your orders, and you notice Angie ordering a salad. Of course, to keep her slutty figure, right? Eddie struggles to drink from his glass, so you open up a straw and stick it in his beer. "Thanks, baby." He says, bringing the plastic tube to his lips.

Angie brings up your dad a lot more now that the food is going to take a while to be ready. It's odd, you know Mom hasn't told her anything about the last nine years. There's no way. But the manner that Angie speaks in, it's almost like she knows everything about you. Where the hell did she get that from? What is she playing at? The problem you're having overall, though, is that she doesn't seem that bad. Outside of her cheap hooker looks, she's a sweet, caring woman. There's nothing inherently wrong with what she's saying, or the way she's saying it. She's just trying to relate to you. And you hate her for it.

The food arrives a bit later, and the conversation dies down in favor of filling your bellies with burgers, salad, and macaroni and cheese. You and Eddie split a cheeseburger with fries, with you cutting the sandwich in half this time. Eddie's nervous about you holding a knife, but you seem to have cooled off a little for the time being. He glances at your beer glass, noticing it's almost empty. Oh, princess, he thinks to himself, knowing you're trying your best to hold it together. There's moments where he catches a glimpse of you fighting back tears, or concealing a potentially snarky comment towards Angie. He rewards you with some light caresses on your thigh, and your eyes snap to his for a moment.

I hate this, love. You send the words telepathically, hoping he can read your expression. He just nods, moving his hand to your back instead. Your lip trembles occasionally outside your control, it's taking all your inner strength not to fall to pieces. You can't let her see you cry. You can't let her think you're mourning George for a single second. You take a glance at Dustin, who's currently entertaining the little ones. They're actually smiling, giggling even as he shows them some basic magic tricks. Quarter behind the ear, severed thumb, simple stuff. The display is rather cute, and you forget how awful every other part of this evening has been.

The check comes around finally, and Angie insists on paying for everyone. Dad must have been rolling in it at the car dealership she was telling you he worked at. "Hey, Claudia? Can you take Jake and Polly with you to the car? I wanna have that talk with Y/N I was telling you about." She gives Mom a knowing look, which makes your eyebrows knit in confusion. What the fuck is going on here? Claudia leads the kids outside, leaving you, Eddie, and Angie alone at the booth. She scoots down a foot or so, giving you some space. She can tell you weren't too keen on being squished next to her during dinner. She looks at you anxiously, twiddling her manicured thumbs. "So...you're probably wondering what this whole thing is about." She says, waiting for a response.

"Yeah. I truly have no idea what the hell we could possibly have to discuss." You reply, letting your attitude come out to play a little bit. She scoffs, admiring your spunk.

"Well, there's some things I felt you should know before Friday. I can tell you don't like me very much, Y/N. I wouldn't either, if I was in your shoes. You have every right to be angry with me. But I want you to have all the facts before passing judgment." You watch her closely, wondering where she's going with this. When you don't say anything else, she turns to her purse to pull something out of it. It looks like a bundle of letters, envelopes torn open and creased at the rubber band binding them together. Angie slides them across the table, and you catch them in your hand.

"The hell are these?" You ask, assuming they're love letters your father wrote to her or something.

"Those are the reason why I know so much about you, Y/N. When George left your mother, she made it a point to track us down using a private investigator. Once she did that, she started sending those. Every birthday, Christmas, graduation, et cetera, she sent a letter to let him know just what he was missing." Your jaw drops at this revelation, Mom never told you about this. You look at the envelopes to find that, sure enough, they're all addressed from Mom to their new home in Chicago. "She also made a point to tell him to never write back, or call, or visit. She said he lost the right to be your father, and George agreed."

"You're damn right he did." You blurt out, unable to hide your frustration any longer. You lean forward, narrowing your eyes. "So...what? You want me to feel all warm and fuzzy inside after showing me this shit? He felt so awful about leaving my mother for you, his secretary, that he kept these fucking letters as self-punishment?"

"I don't expect you to do anything. I just一 I wanted you to see that he still cared for you, despite his mistakes." Her tone changes, she really expects you to buy this horseshit. Eddie watches wordlessly as you two Duke it out with your words, keeping his hand on you as some form of comfort.

"Well, clearly he cared more about getting some young pussy than being there for me, or Dustin, or my mom." Angie's mouth falls open at that, making her look like a blowup doll. Maybe that was part of her appeal to your father. "Is that all? Because I think we're just about done here." You almost spit your words, wanting to hurt her. You start to stand, before she speaks again.

"I want you to give the eulogy, Y/N." She almost shouts, an effort to keep you from storming out. You plop back down in your seat, looking at her like she's grown a third eye on her forehead.

"What?" You ask, hoping you’ve imagined that last part.

"I want you to give the eulogy at George's funeral. You can say whatever you want, no matter how brutal. I see now how much he hurt you, and I don't take your words personally." She speaks carefully, fully aware that you're brimming with anger and resentment. "I loved your dad, whether you like it or not. You can call me a whore, like the rest of this town does. I probably am one, if I'm being honest. It was wrong of me to break up your family."

"Did it take you a whole decade to figure that out?" You cross your arms, slumping back against the seat.

Angie sighs, placing her hands on the table to regain focus. "Look, obviously things didn't pan out how anyone thought they would. But please, I want you to have this chance to say goodbye, and to let go of the suffering we put you through. Not for my peace of mind, but for yours. That pain you're holding onto for dear life will eat you alive from the inside out, I promise you that." She implores you to listen, to at least consider this idea.

You just gawk at her, wondering if you've gone insane. The one thing you've wanted to do since you found out Dad died, is to tell everyone exactly how you feel about him and what he did. And here is the woman you’ve blamed for all life's problems, offering you that exact opportunity. "I'll think about it." You reply, standing to leave once again. You glance at the letters sitting on the table, before looking at Angie one last time. "Can I keep these?" You ask, wanting to know what exactly Mom wrote. You hope she didn't hold anything back.

"Yes, please. I've probably read them a thousand times. I don't need them anymore." She sniffles, carefully wiping away tears.

You take a second before speaking again. "Just, answer one question for me?" You ask, your own eyes beginning to water.

"Anything, hon." She gives you a small smile, which you can't help returning.

You're unsure why you're about to ask this, but it's like you're being compelled to. You have to know the answer to the one question you've had all these years. "Did he ever want to come back?" Your lip is trembling again, but you don't care if she sees you let go this time.

"Every day, sweetie. Even if it was only to say goodbye, one last time." She assures you, making your hand clench tightly around the bundle of papers.

To be continued...

[lacyscabinet]

Day 6: Cuddling on a cold night

LACYXMAS MASTERLIST

The bitter wind howled outside, causing the cabin's windows to rattle. Inside, a crackling fire fought against the icy chill, casting a warm glow across the cozy space. You and Natalie huddled together under layers of blankets in a corner, trying to hide your affectionate gestures from the others and seek refuge from the extreme cold that had taken hold of the night.

The temperature had plummeted, turning the surrounding landscape into, as Nat would say, the North Pole. However, the chill in the air also meant that cuddling for warmth was not just a luxury but a necessity.

As the wind whistled through the trees and the snow kept falling, Nat pulled you even closer, wrapping her arms around you like a protective shield. The soft flickering of the fire played on her features, revealing a gentle side rarely seen by others.

"You okay, babe?" Nat whispered, her breath warm against your ear.

You nodded, nuzzling into the crook of her neck. "Yeah, just trying to warm up, you're pretty much a heater."

Nat chuckled, the sound vibrating against your ear. "Well, I'll take that as a compliment"

The blankets cocooned you both, outside the blizzard was still going strong, while inside, the cabin echoed with the sounds of a crackling fire and the soft snores of the girls who had already fallen asleep.

Nat pressed a soft kiss to the top of your head, her lips warm against your cold hair. "You can fall asleep Y/N, I'll look after the fire and make sure the blankets don't fall off"

You tilted your head to meet her gaze, appreciating the depth of her kindness "You need to rest too Nat, you've been out with Travis the whole day."

"Nah, don't worry, I'll stay awake for another bit"

Needless to say, she fell asleep minutes after.

So as the night wore on, you and Nat remained wrapped in each other's arms, finding solace in the simple act of cuddling. The quiet symphony of your shared breaths echoed in the room ,and even in the coldest nights you still managed to find warmth in each other's heart.

[elmoslungcancer]

Howl x Male reader

Angst? Happy ending

Lowercase when words should be uppercase is probably common. As well as there is probably incorrect punctuation.

Big ass paragraphs as well.

Went to look at my drafts and saw this calling my name.

It was peaceful and quiet. Calcifer's fire makes the room feel warm, cozy, and safe. You don't wake up because of the quietness, you wake up because there is no chaos hell even Calcifer isn't talking up a storm.

Howl had a break down earlier and ran off somewhere you were waiting for him, lately every time something doesn't go his way it seems to set off a bomb inside of him. He isn't the best with expressing his feelings all you wish he would do is talk it out as a normal couple. Though it is better than screaming at you and having to clean up the green goo.

As you toss another log to calcifer even though he already has three, you sit back on the rocking chair, and you wait hoping to hear the click. You want to see his face; you want to scream at him, you want to be angry at him, you want to ignore him, give him the silent treatment when he tries to act like nothing happened, but who are you fooling to think you'll just ignore him.

You hear the wheel click at least you thought you did. It could be anyone though. Was it Sofie? She's a sweet girl, but lately she's been working on her hat business. Plus it was too late for her to be coming here. You've tucked Markl into bed already. Even though he claims he's a big boy that can take care of himself, he still loves it when you tuck him in, read him a story, give him a kiss on the forehead, and wish him sweet dreams as you shut his door.

You start to feel drowsy so you get off the rocking chair and give calcifer another log, even though he insists he will be good for the night. You tell him it's a treat, to think of it as a thank you for keeping you company, and keeping you warm. While you walk up to the table you pick a plate and lay it on the table, and you grab a box of some pastries you got early from a bakery. The ladies there were so sweet and kind it made you smile a little while setting some on the plate for when he returns.

You close the box and leave the it on the counter, not on a shelf too high in case Markl wakes up in the night, and wants a quick snack before he goes back to bed. You rinse and dry your hands off and walk upstairs, but not without saying goodnight Calcifer. As you lay on the bed you stare up at the ceiling where clocks stare back at you. You know this isn't a healthy relationship. Yes fights are common in relationships healthy or not. Not being able to talk about them because your partner is having a tantrum, and you have no clue where he is not normal.

You want to set boundaries no you need to. You can't be the only one wanting to make this work out. You hear the door open and hear Calcifer screaming, "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? DO YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED M/N WAS?" There was no point it was a cycle. After Howl comes back home from wherever he decided to head off to. He ignores Calcifer, heads upstairs takes a shower and comes to lay down in bed with you. You start to fall asleep but then you feel a body next to you hugging you from behind. You try to ignore it as he always does this but then you feel him start to cry. You feel shocked because he usually just passes out, but this is new.

"m/n.." he mumbles in-between your shirt and his hiccups. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry! What I'm doing is wrong..I want to break out of those habits...but I can't it's hard. It's not right for me to drag you with me. Please let me make it up to you." He says as he buries his head deeper into your back and holds onto you tighter. So you tap his arms signaling him to let go, he does as well as scooting back to give you some space. You turn to face him, but seeing his tear stained face hurts you. You always hated seeing Howl cry. You cup his face and nuzzle noses together.

"Howl, yes I am upset you keep running away instead of talking this out like adults. I want you to try to stop doing it, I know it won't happen right away as it's a cycle for you, but I want you to try to break that cycle." You say as you pet his hair and move it out the way to give him a forehead kiss. His eyes widden and start filling up with tears and he buries his head in your chest. You pet his hair as his body shakes.

"I love you Howl and I want us to work, but it takes two. We will talk more later in the morning. I want us to set boundaries, I want you to tell me what's a clear no in your book, and what's in mine. Let's rest for now, but I want you to know I love you very much Howl and don't forget it." As you finish you kiss his head and wrap your arms around him.

How writing this made me feel:

Anyways thanks for reading

[lostiolite]

I’m so glad to find another writer who wrotes skeptic content.

If it’s alright? Maybe as a good starter and my first ask form you, a sort of office enemies to lovers. Reader was recently transferred and tomo and them do not get along. But overtime they started to get close.

I’ll let you run wild with the rest of you like

🫶

I dont think i ated with this one sorry cw: OOC!!!! 600?ish words

You were apprehensive to say the least. Being transferred to Feelgood inc. gave you the jitters. Being such a meek person meant taking a long time to warm up and get comfortable. And for some reason the moment you got cozy at your old office you were transferred. Life was a joke, and you could only hope your boss wasn’t a prick.

The lady who filled you in on the job was rather nice and accommodating. She reassured you that if you were in need of assistance to go and seek her out, making you feel much more relived. Though, that peace was disturbed when you hit a roadblock and sat there stumped for a bit. Deciding after a while to go look for her. Walking around such an ornate and maze-like building only made you feel more anxious by the minute. You couldn't find her and you may or may not have gotten lost. Panicking you stand there, at a loss for words but your mental gears running at such a fast speed you fear you may overload.

“You there, what do you think you’re doing?” the voice kicks you out of your thoughts. Turning your attention to the visibly displeased long black-haired man. You (attempt to) let out a jumble of words. Unfortunately you couldn't get farther than a simple “I”. It seems the man grows even more unpleased at this. He lets out a sigh and you swear you could feel him roll his eyes. It seems like you’ve been graced when the ginger man accompanying him smiles.

“Oh Tomoyasu, don't be like that, they’re clearly new”.

“Since when did we hire such incompetent employees?” His voice a mummer, but tis clear he doesnt care wether or not you hear. It makes you feel shameful.

That man, you learned turned out to be the ceo of feel good inc. Wow, how lucky were you to make such a horrible first impression to your fucking boss. You ended up working overtime to make up for it, you cant loose this job afterall. The job was actually pretty easy once you got the hang of it, despite being a newbie you were on par with people who had been there for a while. People even started asking you for help! But, whenever that man comes by… hes just so condescending it angers you. He doesnt take you seriously and belittled you. If it werent for Rikiya, you would’ve been fired. How reassuring.

You decide to butter him up, or try to at least. It seems that prick always has a stick up his ass for whatever reason. You try and offer him coffee whenever your free, which he accepted quite reluctantly at first. And the conversation (if you could even consider it one.) was very awkward, considering it was him bashing your brewing skills. . However, it became routine. Thank god, because his attitude did tone down, just a bit. Unfortunately walking to and from his office was a hassle especially because you were constantly being called on. So your trips decreased and eventually just kind of stopped. Who knew that setting high expectations and trying to keep up with them was so draining?!

Youre tired, so tired you could fall asleep. But, you cant, so you try to power through… very slowly, and drowsy. Your co worker asks you for help, to which you oblige. Helping them took a while, mainly because you were fighting the urge to just pass out. But, you persevered… and fell asleep at your desk once you sat down.

You find yourself awake in the middle of the office, the atmosphere is noticaly darker, then y up ou realize its fucking night. You jolt up awake, taking awhile to process it all. You rapidly blink a few times hoping this is just silly dream and that you didn’t sleep the whole day away. You bury your face in your hands. Sighing, your fucked. You look around and face a tall… tall black haired man that may or may not be your boss. Is he just getting off work? Does he know?-

“How was your nap?”

You shuffle a bit, before apologizing. Getting up and bowing, preparing yourself to get berated. Only to be surprised when he just gruffs and walks away.

The next morning you arive to the office much earlier than usual, hoping to get a head start on yesterdays missed work. You slam down on your desk, shakey with every move. Clearly sleep deprived. You almost miss the knock of a coffee cup on your desk. You're very surprised to see him looming over you for while, before he promptly turns around and head towards his office, speeding by Yotsubashi.

[attic-club-sandwich]

"you look so cozy" with mammon and Shae please👀

Ahh thank you for the request, Hack! 💛 I thought those prompts were so adorable i'm so glad you sent one in! I hope you like it, it's just a short little drabble of what immediately came to mind!

Anon, yours is next it's waiting in my inbox for me <3

List of Gentle Prompts

Shae x Mammon

Summary: A short little piece about Shae and Mammon having a cozy evening in after being out in the cold winter air of the Devildom. (Where I headcanon that the Devildom seasonal conditions are way more extreme than a human world seasonal conditions lol)

Taglist: @amberrskiies, @obey-me-posts @sassykattery @delphi-dreamin, @a-hidden-gem @otomefoxystar @todothedodo @marvelous-maniac @nonbinary-disaster @selfmadender @animeismyhappyplace @vampire-tr4mp @ana-dear @gaychaosgremlin @sidgethegamer @meiloorun-tea @temnuk0 @starshineandbooks

You Look So Cozy

Shivering, Shae breathes a puff of hot air into her hands in an attempt to warm them. Even the thick wool of her gloves isn't enough to keep out the bite of the cold, winter air of the Devildom. They had just gotten dinner at Hell's Kitchen, and despite having a full stomach she was no where near warm. "You doin' alright, Shae?" Mammon asks, guiding her down the snowy streets of Deviltown. . "Y-Yeah it's just s-so cold..." Shae said, her teeth chattering. Mammon's eyebrows furrow together as he pulls her into his side. He knew Devildom winters were pretty extreme compared to what Shae was probably used to. "Don't ya worry, the Great Mammon will keep ya warm until we make it home!" Shae giggles, leaning into him as they made their way back to the House of Lamentation.

The warmth of the house welcomes them with a cozy embrace as they wander through the doors. Shae sighs, feeling herself begin to thaw out almost immediately. "I've never been so cold in my life." She mumbles, stripping off her jacket. Mammon chuckles, plucking Shae's hat off of her head, leaving her raven black hair tousled and messy. "Ugh, Mams, why-" but her words are silenced as his lips meet hers. "Cause you are just so damned cute, ya know? I can't help it." Shae blushes, leaning in to bury her face into his chest. "Well you don't have to mess up my hair." Mammon laughs, reaching his hand up to mess up her hair even more. "Go get into something comfy and meet me in the living room, I'll get us something warm to drink."

Shae makes her way to her room, slipping out of her cold, damp clothing. She pulls on a pair of leggings, along with one of Mammon's hoodies she had kept after she had asked to "borrow" it one day. Lastly, she pulls on a pair of fuzzy socks, hoping that they will help bring feeling back to her toes. Grabbing her blanket off of her bed, she hurries back down the hall to claim her spot on the couch in front of the fireplace. Snuggling down in her blanket, she waits patiently for Mammon.

Her eyes begin to droop as her body relaxes, finally feeling warm again from the fire. "Oi, you ain't gonna fall asleep on me already, are ya?" Mammon's voice startles her, causing her eyes to shoot open. He's standing above her, staring at her over the back of the couch as he holds a mug in each hand. She notices he's also changed into a pair of sweatpants and a t shirt. Shaking her head, Shae pulls the blanket up past her nose, attempting to hide the blush that she's pretty sure has formed on her cheeks. "Of course not, I was just bored waiting for you!" Mammon chuckles, his golden gaze shining down at her with adoration. "You look so cozy." Shae reaches a hand out from under the blanket to pat the vacant spot next to her. "Then come join me?" The white haired demon doesn't hesitate as he sets the mugs of tea down on the coffee table. He slides comfortably onto the couch next to her, his arms instinctively wrapping themselves around her. Shae sighs softly as he gently pulls her into his familiar embrace. "I love you, Mams." She murmurs, resting her head against his chest. Mammon hums, leaning in to press a kiss against her forehead. Shae's heart flutters in her chest as she feels his lips form into a slow grin. "Now don't go tellin' anyone or anything but uh...I love ya too."

[kentwells]

in a world of boys, he's a gentleman!

someone (aka bestie love angel @clatoera) wanted glimmer/marvel content and i am a woman of the people!!! this is based on her lovely fic awrbfb and based off of many, many silly and sad dm brainstorms!

i also wanted to write something short and fun and happy to get back into it! title from slut! by taylor swift :) i hope y'all enjoy

tw: mentions of sexual assault

When Glimmer leaves the bath, her skin is on fire. Her arms are bright pink from the scalding heat, her head light because of the thick, delicate florals of her bubble bath. A few weeks ago, her preference on the cover of a gossip magazine, bright yellow letters on top of a smiling picture of her. She’s not quite sure who told them, but it’s not true. The baths hurt, the water as hot as she can possibly get it. At least it replaces every other hurt of the night, and forces her muscles to relax.

Glimmer wraps herself in an unbearably soft white towel and steps out of her room. Her heart jumps when she sees the bed – a plush light blue sweatshirt, red flannel pants, and a mango pudding. She’d stared at the platter of pudding all through dinner, but the glittery lipstick she was wearing made it impossible to eat. She won’t let herself get used to these little comforts, but it’s nice to have.

She doesn’t have much of a choice but to put on the pajamas – everything in her cupboards is small and silky, and she’s too tired to figure out the complicated straps. Besides, they have that perfect fresh laundry smell. She looks ridiculous – the pants pooling at her feet, the sleeves hiding her hands – but it’s nice. Warm and soft, not exposed to every tiny gust of wind like she usually is. 

Before she can stop herself, she eats the pudding. Next to it is a carefully folded piece of paper. The strangely familiar, terribly messy scrawl reads:

Hey Glimmer,

If you’re tired of being awake or being with people, then I hope you have a good night! But if you want to talk to anyone or be around someone, I’m awake. 

– Marvel

Warmth floods her stomach, and she’s standing before she realizes it. She doesn’t know quite why she finds so much comfort in this strange, silly boy, and she thinks she knows exactly what he wants from her, but she doesn’t want to be alone. She wants to lie on the soft red couch in his room and watch nature documentaries, giggling as he does his best to imitate the loud roars of the animals. 

His door is ajar, and he’s at one corner of the couch. “Hey, come on in,” he says. “Do you want a blanket or anything?”

“Yes please,” Glimmer says, grabbing the white fur blanket from his bed. Because she has a favorite blanket in his room – the one she got him for his birthday, the one he’s barely used because she curls up in it every night she can. 

She wraps herself in the blanket and settles in next to him. No longer keeping her distance, sitting as far away as he can, because there’s something steadying about him. She can almost imagine that there’s no pain in her throat from being pushed forwards on the dick of a man four times her age, and that her thighs won’t be bruised when she wakes up tomorrow. She’s just a teenage girl watching a movie with her friend. 

“I just had this on,” Marvel gestures to the action movie on the screen – something with a lot of cars. “But I’ll watch whatever.”

“I’ll watch this if we can watch Lovestruck next?” Glimmer suggests her favorite romantic comedy. She doesn’t mind this – her brain is too hazy to focus on anything. But the comfort would be nice.

“10 minutes left, and then absolutely.” Marvel says.

They don’t make it to Lovestruck, because Glimmer falls asleep on Marvel’s shoulder. It means nothing – she’s in a cocoon of the softest fabric known to man, so cozy and comfortable that she’s lulled into a state of bliss. She wakes up to a soft hand on her shoulder, another carefully pushing her hair away from her eyes.

“Tired?” Marvel asks.

“Do you mind if I sleep in here?” Marvel has that look of surprised joy behind his eyes, the one he has whenever she lets him in a little bit. There’s something so endearing about it. Besides, she doesn’t want to be alone right now.

“No, of course not!” 

࿏

When she wakes up, Marvel is playing a game on his phone. In her barely awake mind, she decides it’s okay if she asks “Are you gay?”

“What?” Marvel looks over at her, a hint of amusement curling in his smile.

“Are you gay? Are you at all interested in women?” She pushes herself up, her back flush against the headboard. 

“Not gay,” Marvel pauses. “Definitely interested in women.”

“Any other guy would have fucked me last night.” She says, staring at the wall. She sounds like a petulant child, even if she absolutely did not want him to fuck her last night.

“When you were half asleep?” He says, incredulous.

Glimmer crosses her arms. “Yes.” It’s happened before. She’s pretty, she was in his room. That’s normally enough.

Marvel rubs his eyes, exasperated. “Glim, that’s not normal. That’s like. Date rape. Or I don’t know if it’s date rape, exactly, but it’s definitely some type of rape.”

“Do you think I’m pretty?”

“God, yes,” the words tumble out before he can stop them. “Sorry. I know you hear that a lot. You are, objectively, really pretty.”

“Pretty girl in your room… didn’t do anything.”  Her voice sounds so small.

“Because, Glimmer. You’re the kindest person, and you’re so smart, and so funny, and I like talking to you. And if I had had sex with you last night, you would have stopped talking to me. And you would have had every right to, because that would have been a shitty thing to do. And I would never want to hurt you.” He looks straight at her, blue eyes meeting bright green. She can feel herself tearing up a little bit, and she blinks to get the tears out of her eyes.

She kisses him. She kisses him, and it’s the best a kiss has ever felt. She’s never kissed a boy, only been kissed, over and over and over. But his hand is gentle on her back instead of possessive, his mouth open and soft on hers instead of hard and taking. 

“Can we talk about this over waffles?” She asks when she pulls away.

Marvel beams at her, all soft hair and shining eyes and a smile that makes her miss his mouth. “I would love nothing more.”

[theladycarpathia]

“Do I have to work with her?” Eddie asks, casting an anxious eye through Hopper’s office window to the redhead waiting anxiously outside. She was pacing up and down but now she’s lingering like a ghost. Held in limbo. Waiting.

“Mayor sure seems to think so,” Hopper says, and he already looks like he’s lost interest in the whole thing. But Eddie doesn’t appreciate being blindsided. And finding the writer girl waiting for him at his desk, wringing her hands like she expects to be sent away again, is blindsiding him. 

“It’s a distraction!” Eddie hisses, mindful that Chrissy doesn’t hear. “I have work to do, and there’s murders to solve and I don’t have time to babysit!” Hopper’s fingers twitch, like he wishes he could still smoke inside the station. He probably could use one, what with Nancy’s ability to accrue overtime, Tommy’s aversion to paperwork and Eddie’s…

Eddie just has stuff going on. He can’t afford to have Chrissy around with her huge eyes and soft voice. He can’t be responsible for another person. 

Hopper sighs heavily, in a tone that makes Eddie suspect he’s not about to get his way.

“Look, kid,” he says frankly, as though Eddie isn’t a young man in his thirties with an apartment and a detective shield and fucking tattoos. Their captain has always been like that, with an air of having seen too much and seen it all. They don’t know a lot about Hopper’s home life, but they can guess at enough. Everyone here has lost someone, their grief the driving force behind the desire to hunt down murderers.

“The mayor has pushed for this. The Cunninghams are a big presence in this town, and if their daughter - the established, famous novelist - wants to write a new series on you, then the mayor thinks that it’s good PR.” Eddie scowls. 

“She’s a romance novelist,” Eddie points out, even though everyone knows the name C.E. Cunningham. Her books are on every shelf, available at every airport, and have been made into countless Lifetime movies. The girl was born wealthy and made her own money a thousand times over at least. She could stop writing altogether and live out her days in peace. Not waiting by a scratched desk, staring at Eddie’s rubber band ball like it holds the secrets to the universe. “She’s not a crime novelist.”

“No, but she’s going to try,” Hopper counters. Eddie frowns. He’s not sure about the whole idea himself. He went home and read one of her novels the night that they met. The warm, cozy romance, with likable, quirky heroines and just enough plot to keep you from falling asleep was a jarring contrast to the pale girl shaking in the rain that lives in Eddie’s memory. Try as he might, he just can’t get the image of her, white shirt smeared with blood, out of his mind. The first time he saw Chrissy Cunningham and it felt like being struck by lightning. He felt like he was awake for the first time in twelve years, every nerve and sense on fire. Maybe Eddie hadn’t been the only one not wanting it to end. 

“Why did she have to choose us as inspiration,” Eddie mutters, picking at the loose threads on Hopper’s spare chair. Hopper just raises an eyebrow.

“You,” he says, the word landing like a blow. “She chose you as inspiration. Fuck knows why. You’re a good detective but…” The words go unspoken, because they don’t need to be said aloud. But you’re damaged. But you have walls. But you don’t let anyone in.

“Look,” Hopper says, keeping his voice low to avoid drawing the attention of the bullpen. Detectives are a nosy bunch and that’s not even getting started on the receptionist, the guy in archives, or the girl that delivers their lunch. Nancy and Tommy have already given him shit about the new girl. He’s never going to hear the end of it after this. “I think this could be good for you. Nancy has her photographer boyfriend, Tommy has friends he sees regularly…but you just…never see anyone.”

“I do!” Eddie protests a little defensively. But it rings hollow and even he knows how pale and empty his life has become. “I have the band and Hellfire…” Hopper rolls his eyes.

“Those are the same people, more or less,” he says bluntly and digs around in his top desk drawer for gum. The lack of nicotine must be getting to him. Hop doesn’t speak again until he’s unpeeled a piece and shoved it into his mouth. “The same three guys you went to high school with. Do you hang out with anyone you’ve met in the last ten years?”

When Eddie doesn’t answer, Hopper triumphantly smacks his gum.

“Thought not,” he says and leans forward over his desk. “You need to come out of your shell. I get grief, especially when you don’t have answers, but this isn’t the way to do it.”

“He was the only family I had,” Eddie says stiffly, because even a decade later, this wound is still raw. The sound of the sprinklers turning on. The door swinging in the late night breeze. Uncle Wayne lying on the trailer floor. And still, no answers. Eddie has followed every lead, chased every piece of evidence, hunted for any possible clue…and still, the only person who ever looked out for Eddie doesn’t have justice. 

“I know,” Hopper says softly, so softly that Eddie can see the thread his mind is following. His daughter died, and it wasn’t murder, but it was no less a violent death. 

But Hopper doesn’t understand it, the desperate need that has its claws hooked around Eddie’s throat. The need for answers, the need for revenge. To have someone to focus his anger on. He needs to put a face to the person who took his only family away from him, instead of the shapeless ghoul who broke into their trailer and murdered Wayne in cold blood. 

Eddie’s gone round and round in the usual way - he should have been there, he shouldn’t have stayed out so late, why was Uncle Wayne even home at that time when he worked night shifts - but all these years later, none of it helps. There’s just a cold case file and a well-polished photo on the bedside table. Uncle Wayne’s favorite baseball cap sitting on Eddie’s desk.

“I’ll try,” Eddie says, because he doesn’t have a choice. And they’d worked well on the Driscoll case after all. He’d even go so far to say that he might not have solved it without her help. For a girl that deals with love triangles and happy endings, her mind works like a homicide detective. She’s sharp. “For a while. If it doesn’t work, she’s out, mayor or no mayor.”

“Sure," Hopper says, as though Eddie has any say in the matter. The mayor would do anything if it meant the town got good publicity. Crime rate keeps rising and that doesn’t look good for his re-election campaign. Sweet little Chrissy shadowing the department has a good spin. “But if you two work together anything like the way you did yesterday, then we won’t have a problem.”

Eddie looks up through the window to catch Chrissy staring right back at him. She can’t possibly hear them but the way her eyes stare right through him make him feel like she already knows everything. His empty apartment. The murder board he hides in the closet. That solving the Driscoll case with her was the most fun he’d felt in years. His job has turned into something dry and repetitive, something he uses to get through the day. Uncle Wayne may not have justice yet but there’s other people who need it. 

Chrissy has never known anything other than a charmed life. There is no reason for her to want to follow a disillusioned detective round to the darkest parts of town to see people at their lowest. Some people might think that it’s a gimmick, a sick fascination, a means to sell more novels to a wider audience. But Eddie knows differently. There was something in her eyes that night, some pain that went deeper than the shock at the blood smeared across her hands. It was the look of someone having the veil of the world ripped away and needing to do something about it.

She’s a distraction. She’s a liability. She’s an antidote.

“It already is a problem,” Eddie says and finally, Chrissy turns away.