#but then at the end it gets kinda quiet and almost sorrowful

[not2beeaten]

Cal and Andre loved Nero’s day at Disney land. Believe me. No it dosent matter that their first song came out four years after they died. No it doesn’t matter it would make their ears bleed. No it doesn’t matter it doesn’t match their aesthetic at all. Trust me. I am Smart.

[targaryen-dynasty]

IN THE SPACE BETWEEN.

Modern!Aemond x female!Reader

You we’re happy your friend Floris got to marry her longtime boyfriend Aegon… if it wasn't for the sake of you being the plus one of her groom’s brother and also your ex boyfriend, Aemond.

WARNINGS: SEXUAL CONTENT–MINORS DNI; exes to lovers, p in v, balcony sex, kinda voyeurism, fluff, angst, smoking

WORDS: 4.6 K

NOTES: with the famous one bed trope.

The more or less dreaded day of your friend Floris’ wedding came as quickly as never. 

You were happy she finally got to marry her longtime boyfriend Aegon, more so because they were celebrating on Koj, one of the Summer Islands you always dreamt of visiting… if it wasn't for the sake of you being the plus one of her groom’s brother and also your ex boyfriend, Aemond. 

You had been together for roughly three years and only had broken up shortly after you had booked everything for the wedding for reasons you couldn’t quite recall anymore. 

For the longest of time, or rather for the time you drowned in sorrow and self pity, you had forgotten about the upcoming wedding and the fact you had to share a room with Aemond, if the two of you wouldn’t cancel the reservation. 

The flight wasn’t the problem, because you could easily switch seats with someone else, but the hotel was. Apparently, they were so far booked out that there was not a single room available–of course it wasn’t–besides the one you had already booked, and on top of that, you and Aemond would lose your deposits if you would cancel the booking. 

Being the good friend you were, you couldn’t just skip the wedding, so that was how you ended up exactly where you were right now: standing in front of the reception desk in the pristine hotel lobby, the handle of your suitcase tightly clutched in one hand with a tensed Aemond standing right on the other side. 

Up until then, everything went according to plan. You were able to switch seats on the plane with an older man that wanted an aisle seat instead of sitting at the window, and you were quick to give him just that. The ride to the hotel was quiet, too, because Floris was attentive enough to send two separate cars to pick you both up. 

So, you and Aemond hadn’t spoken a word beside a polite “hello” when you first met at your aisle in the plane, and even then it didn’t last long, because that man was already waiting for you to clear his new seat. 

It wasn’t that you did not want to talk to him–you just didn’t know how well you were able to handle any contact with him, considering you didn’t break up due to bad blood.

“You don’t happen to have a second room available? Could be a Single, a Suite… whatever,” Aemond asked without so much sparing you a glance, just as desperate as you to get some space between the pair of you. 

The receptionist, a tall man with black hair and almost equally dark eyes, shook his head. “Only one room,” he replied, the Common Tongue slipping past his lips with an amber, liquid accent and broken syllables. “Room 351 for you and… wife.” Both your eyes widened in surprise at the man’s statement, but neither of you made any effort to correct him, either not really caring because it didn’t help with the overall situation or just too tired from the damn long trip. 

The key cards–at least you didn’t have to approach him whenever you wanted to get back to the room–were slid over the marble of the counter without another word, a small card that held the WI-FI password and general information next to it. 

Aemond’s sigh was barely audible, and maybe it was the sheer annoyance you held or your silent despair to have him speak to you about whatever topic he wanted, but you heard it, and couldn’t stop rolling your eyes. 

“Does it at least have two separate beds?” 

It was very brief, but the man’s eyes flickered over to you, before darting back to meet Aemond’s mismatched ones, the sapphire blue of the prosthetic one not really matching the lilac of his other. If you didn’t know better, you’d say the receptionist flashed him an apologetic gaze with the way his lips pressed into a thin line, followed by another shaking of his head. “Only one bed.”

Aemond set his jaw, and you really thought if he hadn’t at least once thought about the possibility of you two having to sleep in one and the same bed. You had booked the room as a couple, so, of course it only had a single bed. 

You must have side eyed him a bit too obvious, because when he turned to hand you your key card, he just shrugged his shoulders and brushed past you. 

Aemond had reached the room first, the door left slightly ajar to make it easier for you to get in, and sat at the edge of the King size bed. 

With the realization slowly settling in that you indeed had to share a bed with him, you came to the conclusion that it somehow seemed too small nevertheless, especially beneath his tall frame. 

Anxiety spread throughout your body and you already cursed your sleepy self should she decide to snuggle up against him at night, no matter if it was on purpose or not. 

Being in the same room as him felt suffocating enough already, hence you were quick to grab your fanny pack and head towards the door again once you stored your suitcase next to your side of the bed. “I’ll… I’ll take a walk, looking for the black beaches and the venue,” you announced.

If it wasn’t for you all but darting out of the room, you would’ve caught the somewhat hurt expression that flickered over Aemond’s features with his mouth silently opening and closing without any words leaving it at your sudden departure.

Much to your surprise, you had found the wedding venue and the black beaches rather quickly with both being at the same spot right in front of your hotel. You stood on an elevation with a wooden railing in front of you embraced by several branches of the local trees. The wedding took place in the North of Koj, and if you squint your eyes just tight enough, you were able to make out the island Walano, or more so Lotus Point, one of its cities. 

With the sun slowly setting, the volume of the tropical birds’ chirping, making the whole surroundings all the more beautiful… and romantic.

You barely heard the zipper of your fanny pack as you opened it, retrieving a pack of cigarettes and the lighter Aemond had gifted you back when you started dating. It was black and red, their family sigil engraved into it. The pad of your thumb absentmindedly brushed over it, feeling the small ridges, before you brought it up to light the cig.

Even before you could exhale the first puff of smoke, the quietness and peace of your solitude was broken.

“I thought you quit,” your stomach dropped as you heard the voice. His voice. 

The beautiful scenery of Koj was left behind you as you turned to look at him, shrugging your shoulders. “Started again when I had trouble falling asleep after… you know,” was all you said in return, pressing your lips into a thin line as you inhaled yet another cloud of smoke. You half-expected him to lecture you about it, saying how he was disappointed you had returned to smoking after successfully quitting for two years, but it did not happen. 

Instead, Aemond stepped closer to you, still keeping a fair distance though, and merely held out his hand. “May I?” He asked, which caused you to cock an eyebrow at him in suspicion. Your body acted on its own when you handed him the cigarette, and the familiar heat that felt like home filled your body as your fingers brushed, your heart fluttering. 

Being quite taller than you, he had no trouble looking over your head to admire the beauty of Koj’s nature, all while taking a deep drag of your cigarette. It was almost melancholic. Aemond was looking at the nature, and you were looking at him, dwelling in the past and many unsaid things.

“I feel like we have some catching up to do before we can celebrate the wedding without any problems,” he finally admitted, and only when he met your eyes, you figured you had shamelessly stared at him for a tad too long. 

Your body tensed at his words, and you shifted your weight from one leg to the other. “What is there to catch up on?” You asked, eyes darting to the ground as you couldn’t bring yourself to look at him. 

Aemond pinched the back of his nose, exhaling a deep breath that was accompanied by some faint smoke from his last inhale. “Listen…,” he started, seemingly fighting for the right words to say. “The fight we had was so stupid and irrational, fuck, I… I don’t even know why we were arguing.”

It was visible in the way his jaw clenched and unclenched, and his fingers quivered, that Aemond was far from being comfortable having this conversation, and you were so close to just reaching out and taking his hand into yours to soothe the nervousness. It was an anchored instinct you had even after being separated for seven months. 

One of his hands ran through his silver-blonde hair, a lot shorter than the last time you’d seen him, pushing the strands out of his face. It had taken you a long time to get over him, at least you thought you were, but now, seeing him in the dim light of the lanterns with the reddish light of the sun illuminating his features as he looked at you with the soft gaze you had grown so fond of, everything was flooding back. 

Aemond had always had trouble speaking about his emotions. It was one of the things that came with his fucked-up childhood, growing up with a father that didn’t love him and such, so you really appreciated him at least trying to reconcile. 

“It was the right thing at the time,” you said in a reassuring manner, flashing him a smile that didn’t reach your eyes. “We… I wasn’t ready for it.” He exhaled sharply through his nose at your words, not quite a snort and not really a laugh. “We is quite right,” he replied. 

While you had been talking, you hadn’t noticed how close you both had gravitated towards each other. Your heart started to beat at a rapid pace, almost bursting through your ribcage you were sure. 

But before you–or him–could do anything stupid, your voice of reason pushed itself into the front of your mind, reminding you that you were still sharing a room with him if he wouldn't accept your advances. 

Aemond seemed to sense your restraint and held your cigarette out for you. He rubbed the back of his neck, eye flickering between yours, the ground and the distance. “So…,” the awkwardness of the moment was unmatchable. Aemond felt it, too, because his face was covered in crimson that also ran down his neck already. “We arrived quite late today and I still want to grab something from the late night buffet… see you later, I guess?” 

You nodded your head with a forced smile on your lips, muttering a “see you later” and finished the cig. While he left, you pressed the butt against the reiling to extinguish it and looked around for the next closest ashtray.

Your evening wasn’t ruined, but there was no way you could focus on the beauty of Koj’s nature with Aemond lingering in the back of your mind. 

———

You stared at the ceiling in your hotel room for hours before you finally gave up. There was no point in continuing to lay there, tossing and turning, getting absolutely no rest. 

Maybe it was the obsessive worrying of you scooting a tad too close towards Aemond in your sleep or the unresolved words that hung between you after your more or less reconciling at the beach. 

Exiting the bed as quietly as possible to not wake up Aemond, you slipped into a thin caftan and tied the belt around your waist, keeping you warm on your way to the small balcony since you only wore a silk top with matching shorts. 

You slowly pushed the sliding door open, looking at his sleeping frame from over your shoulder to make sure he was still asleep, and stepped outside. It was unusual for him to not stirr awake with you leaving the bed, considering he always was a light sleeper, but you figured you weren’t the only one whose habits had changed after the break-up. 

From the balcony, you could spot a few people still setting up some things for the wedding venue at the beach, and you were certain you could also hear the baritone of Aegon’s deep voice, followed by the voice of Floris. 

But even then, it brought you more peace than lying in bed with Aemond could ever bring you, despite the air being somewhat chilly with a light breeze blowing through the knotted fabric of your caftan. 

It was completely dark, safe for the few lanterns that lit up the distant beach for the people to continue their work. The hotel had dimmed most of the lights surrounding their resort, granting everyone the sleep they needed. 

“Do you think we are now?” The raspy voice of Aemond drawled, thick with sleep and startling you. Your confusion must have been evident on your face as you turned around, because he repeated his question slower and a bit louder while he sleepily rubbed the back of his neck. “Do you… Do you think we would be ready now?” 

You had thought about it ever since you came back to your room, pondering over how you had changed the past seven months, and if things between you could finally work out. And a part of you was certain you could, while the other part was anxious, afraid it would end the same way it had ended before.

The pregnant pause between you two was not at all comfortable, practically urging you to say something… anything. Yet Aemond beat you to it–not by speaking, but by acting, and when you noticed what exactly he did, you figured you were a goner. Everything suddenly flooded back, and you needed him. You still loved him. You were still in love with him.  

Something in your body language or facial expression had to give away how you felt, even if it only was for just the slightest of seconds, but it still had to be enough for Aemond to grasp how you felt. 

He silently held out his hand, but this time for you to take it, and you took it without hesitation, interlocking your cold fingers with his warm ones, allowing him to pull you into his embrace. It was when your face was buried in his chest with his all too familiar scent flooding your nostrils, that a sudden wash of exhaustion overcame your body, his proximity bringing your body the peace and comfort it had always longed for the past seven months. 

“Y–Yes… absolutely,” though your voice was somewhat muffled by his firm chest, you knew he had heard you well enough by the way his arms tightened around you, hugging you as if he was afraid to let go, fearing you’d leave him again. 

Your face was buried in his chest, but you could feel his nose nuzzling along the crown of your head, taking in your scent before it were his lips pressing a tender kiss to it. The hug was full of emotions and soothed all your worries, erasing the memories of loneliness you went through after your break-up. It was just like in the past, when he would comfort you on sleepless nights. 

As you tilted your head back, you were met with his face dangerously close to yours, despite the high difference you shared. The natural attraction of his lips made it difficult for you to look at his eyes, yours always straying back to his lips. And it was obvious it was the same to him, not knowing if he should look at your lips or eyes. 

No one of you said anything as your heads bowed towards each other like magnets, irresistibly drawn together, until eventually your lips met and your bodies melted together. Even though you hadn’t seen each other in seven months, the kiss was shy of restraint and gentleness. It was fierce, passionate even, begging to make up for all the months you hadn’t spent alongside each other. 

The heat of your kiss ran down your spine to your legs, hells, it even reached the soles of your feet, leaving a fire everywhere it touched. Aemond was a Dragon, liquid heat, molten fire, seeping into your bones and consuming your very being. You melted in the hold of slender fingers sliding down your body, caressing every inch they could grasp, and the warmth of his embrace.

You ached with need–your body crying out for more. It was soft under Aemond’s hands, so fragile, even if your kiss was so desperate, and yet he greedily took whatever was offered, devouring you like you were the sweetest Arbor wine. 

His hand lazily drifted over the curve of your hips, fingers curling into your flesh. The soft gasp you released was drowned by his lips, drinking it down as though it was meant to spur him on even more. 

You were distracted enough to not notice his other hand slipping beneath the elastic waistband of your silk shorts to cup your ass, squeezing the flesh with the same ferocity he had used to grope your hip. You gasped yet again, but not without breaking the kiss to hiss a warning “Aemond”, slightly shoving at his chest though it was not hard enough to seriously push him away. 

“‘M sorry,” he replied with a scoff, but the smirk on his lips told you he wasn't–he was enjoying it. The roll of your eyes at his poor apology didn’t receive a teasing comment, too eager to capture your lips again and continuing where you had stopped. 

The hand on your ass gave it just one more squeeze, before his deft fingers pulled the lace of your thong aside to drag through your swollen folds from the front to the back, collecting some of your arousal. 

Your reactions couldn’t be more opposite. 

You whined against his lips, while Aemond just growled like an animal, the last threats of his patience snapping as one digit eased into your hole. You clenched around him, but he didn’t move his finger–it just stayed inside of you with barely more than the tip buried.

“Fuck – You’re soaked for me, Y/N,” he pulled back to catch his breath, voice raspy, strained. “All for me, or were you this wet for the other guys you had after me, too?”

His words were lewd, and if you weren’t already embarrassed by your body’s reaction to him, you sure as hell were now. It was bad enough that you weren’t even able to form any coherent sentence as a reply, stuttering out the words with a whiny voice. “N-No other guys… only for you.” Upon realizing, you just pressed your eyes shut and silently cursed yourself for falling victim to him… again. 

You anticipated him scoffing, and he did, but you didn’t anticipate him grabbing your hand to guide it towards his crotch to where his hard cock was bulging against the fabric of his boxers. You were looking at him with wide eyes, almost as if you couldn’t believe it, but when another wave of arousal gushed out of your core, you certainly knew it was real. 

“Good,” Aemond purred. “Because I haven’t been with anyone else, too. And you have no fucking clue what that does to a man.”

You were just able to whimper in return, kiss-swollen lips slightly agape, and squeezed his hard cock lightly before he proceeded to turn you around, seizing your body between his and the railing. 

“Aem, what–”

The words inevitably caught in your throat at the feeling of his lips on your neck, nibbling and sucking your skin. “‘M gonna have you right here, Y/N,” he rasped, making you shudder in his embrace. “Can’t waste anymore time getting you back in bed.”

As he drew your earlobe between his teeth, you melted into him right then and there, not even once worrying about anyone hearing or even seeing you two doing inappropriate things in an even more inappropriate place. 

“Oh,” you only whimpered in return, bowing your head back against his shoulder as his hand tugged on your shorts to pull them down to your knees. His body was pressed so tightly against yours, you felt the outline of his length snugly wedged between your ass cheeks, twitching every time you whined and whimpered. 

While your hands clasped around the railing in front of you, his were busy with your body. The fingers of one hand hooked underneath the string of your thong, playfully pulling it back to allow it to whip back against your skin, causing you to take in a sharp breath, whilst the other snaked around your body to push the fabric aside, exposing your soaked pussy to the chill air. 

“I have dreamt of fucking you ever since I’ve seen you in that damn plane,” Aemond confessed, but you were so lightheaded, barely mumbling a “yes” and “please fuck me” in return. And when his knee nudged your legs apart, you knew your prayer finally came true. 

Knowing you were wet enough and eager to take him, Aemond waited not one second longer to free his cock out of its painfully tight confines, sighing in relief as he proceeded to fist himself. 

He cursed himself for only having two hands with one of them being occupied by himself, because otherwise he would have bent you forwards and grabbed your thighs at the same time. But now it was a firm hand applying pressure between your shoulder blades to level your body, before it then lowered enough to splay across the outside of your thigh. 

A shuddered breath escaped your throat when you felt his tip prodding at your aching entrance, and the memories of the delicious stretch his length used to bring you clouded your mind���only to be revived a split second later with him slowly but surely pushing in. 

Every ridge and vein of his cock was palpable with how slow he eased into you, claiming you inch for inch and causing you both to moan out in unison. 

Now it was him breathing shakily, almost as if he could not believe his luck. “Fuck,” he grunted under his breath. “I’ve forgotten how tight you are.” 

He was buried inside of you to the hilt and didn’t move, though you weren't the one that needed time to adjust. “I’m not gonna last long… fuck,” it was audible in his voice how much restraint it took for him to not cum right then and there, more so because it meant he had to restrain himself from pounding into you if it meant he could fuck you just a few minutes more. 

“It’s… It’s okay,” you panted, reaching behind you to cup his face with one hand, pressing it tighter against yours. “I’m not going to last any longer than you.”

One of his arms wrapped around your waist, keeping you steady, while the other moved to cup your chin, keeping your head bowed back against his shoulder. Your earlobe was back between his teeth when he started to thrust his hips into you, each snap slow but deep enough to hiccup your breathing. 

At one particularly harsh thrust, the moan you made was a tad too loud for his liking and you quickly figured why he kept his hand on your head–because it made it easier for him to press it over your mouth to silence you. 

“We don’t want to wake someone up, do we?” Aemond teased, his amusement perfectly audible. Another harsh thrust was served, resulting in you biting back a loud moan that got lost into the palm of his hand, and it was clear he had done that on purpose to test your obedience. “Be quiet,” he warned, his lips against your ear. 

You mewled in return and each time you had to moan, you would sink your teeth into your bottom lip to stifle it–Aemond did the same, though his teeth were sinking into your earlobe, making the grunts and groans he released only audible for you, which drove you insane. 

Maybe it was the possibility of being caught, or reconciling with Aemond, but your orgasm approached you at a laser-speed, especially as he adjusted his hips to make his cock reach an angle that had you gasping, whining and clenching around him ever so tightly. 

It was easy for him to lose himself in you, almost too easy. Despite the chill of the air around you, he couldn’t stop entering you over and over again as you bit back on every strangled sound of bliss his thrusts issued forth from your lips. The hand from around your waist was braced on the railing to allow him to thrust harder into you, each thrust forcing you against it, though you didn’t seem to mind.

To you, it felt as if you weren’t even unclenching around him, body so tensed and overwhelmed that every fiber felt as if it was on fire, and he seemed to sense just that. 

“Cum for me, Y/N,” Aemond commanded softly, tilting his head forwards slightly to lick from the curve where your neck met your shoulder up to the sensitive spot behind your ear, before sinking his teeth back into your flesh. 

And you did just that as the pace of his thrusts increased, your orgasm washing over you with soaring pleasure. Your toes curled and you were glad his hand was still over your mouth, because otherwise everyone would’ve heard your moans, the volume not lowering once. 

“Mh, that’s it,” he cooed, coaxing you through your orgasm. “Making a mess all over my cock–just how I like it.” 

With how tightly you were clenching around him, it was only a matter of time until Aemond followed behind, keeping his ministrations despite the aftershocks already trembling your whole body, knowing it would make you sore. 

One final thrust sent Aemond over the edge into oblivion, his orgasm shaking deep within his bones. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t move any further, hips stilling as his twitching length spilled his load deep inside of your quivering walls. 

Collapsing against your frame, he released your mouth to support his body with both hands on the railing, gripping it as if his life depended on it. Both your pants were loud, but not nearly as loud as your grunts and groans before. 

Now you were the one cupping his chin, gently turning his head to force him to look at you, while he was just blinking hazily at you in the dark. “I’ve missed you,” you confessed, a slight tint covering your cheeks. 

He rested his forehead against yours, meekly nodding, “I’ve missed you, too.”

A content smile spread over your lips at that, but as he pulled out of you to turn your around, it dropped into a pout he all too happily kissed away. 

“Let’s get you back in bed now… I have seven months to make up for.”

[certifiedlovergirlsstuff]

can we get a fic where r is a nurse or med student and she just had a terrible terrible day at work and steve just comforts her? ly <3

i know nothing about the medical world so forgive me. kinda basing this from a breakdown i had after orientation for my job then texting a friend for some help.

masterlist

silence. peace and quiet after a twenty-four hour on call shift. no beeping monitors, no patients getting angry with you, no messes to clean up; just you sitting in your car letting your brain melt. and then the tears started to sting, face pinching to withhold yourself but letting the floodgates free. your breathing was labored and your head was getting fuzzy, you hoped no one was a witness to your breakdown.

fingers death gripping onto your leather steering wheel, head falling forward and almost hitting your horn. you squeezed your eyes shut, trying to take deep slow breaths, needing to steady yourself before making the thirty minute drive back to your apartment where steve was waiting for you.

steve. with his name popping into your head you reached into your bag, pulling your phone and flipping it open then pressing one to speed dial the landline. the dial tone rang twice and then you heard his voice.

“harrington residence.” just those two words from your husband lifted your sorrows for a moment, allowing you to calmly speak into the receiver. “hi honey.” a sigh of relief before a wet hiccup followed.

you could hear the concern when steve asked, “hey, you off? need me to pick you up?” already knowing you had your car with you, but also knowing you would be exhausted to drive.

you shook your head even though it wasn’t seen, “no, no. just… just wanted to see if you needed anything?” closing your eyes as the welling tears continued. “want something for lunch? was gonna stop by-“

“it’s fine, honey. i already cooked something for you. just get home safe. i love you.” and he didn’t hang up right away, waiting for you to respond back. a croaked “i love you,” then quick to press the end call button. you took deep calming breaths, five in five out, before starting the engine and cutting the radio off.

you kept to the speed limit, sometimes going three over or even five under causing people to honk and speed past you. you didn’t have the energy to care about their pissed stares, just counting the stop lights until you hit your block, rolling into the complex then pulling into your parking spot.

your bones felt like liquid as you gathered your bags and drinks, locking your car then heading up the one flight of stairs. a quick left then past three doors and you stood outside yours, number 736, a lovely floral reef circled the peep hole.

with a heavy hand you slid your key into the lock, turned the knob and was greeted to the warm lighting and laugh track blaring from the tv. the lingering smell of mac and cheese with some baked chicken and steamed veggies caused your stomach to gargle.

“hey pretty.” steve’s smooth voice slid into the hallway with you, his hands reaching out to take your load off your shoulders.

he made sure to keep your belonging organized and hang your coat on the rack. he knelt to the floor and helped tug your sneakers off your aching feet before ushering your further into the apartment to the couch.

reruns of your favorite sitcom light the room as steve leaned in to press a tender kiss on your left temple, eyes closing in contentment. “i’ll be back with our food.”

steve was gone less than five minutes and you could feel your eyes growing heavy as each second passed, head lulling to rest on the back of your couch. you smiled and chuckled low at a joke you already knew, but it still tickled you pink.

“kept it in the oven to stay warm. hope it taste good, i followed the recipe for the mac and chicken, but you know me.” steve set the two plates on the small table covering your feet. “how’s my girl doing?”

he rested a palm to your left thigh and rubbed over your scrubs comfortably. you took a deep inhale before sighing out, “draining.” the one word sufficient in summarizing everything.

steve hummed, “sorry. but luckily you’re taking the next two days off. how about we just rot in bed for one day and then be slightly adults the next day. how’s that sound?” his browns eyes darkened and shaded with the flickering light.

leaning your head onto his right shoulder and fighting sleep you yawned out, “sounds perfect.” the laugh track and commercials becoming your white noise.

[cryptic--writing]

Uh Dave x reader. Dave wants reader but unfortunately reader is already dating (any member from Metallica) so when reader broke up with (Metallica member) for some reason, he started talking to reader and eventually ended up together. reader is way happier with Dave.

(Kinda basic but I know you’ll make it great 😍)

hihi!!

omg I'm actually posting a very long fic after threatening to quit writing..

also ily Kay this is a good req I LOVE James and Dave dynamic stuff (anything having to do with revenge or jealousy, if youre a writer PLS write some and tag me..) so i loved this req

anywayssss

word count: 4,515 (I think my longest one to date)

warnings: angst, break up, cheating, drinking, fluff, mention of drugs (once), kinda corny, rushed but slow at the same time, way too similar to that one mustainegf fic

A CHANGE, FOR THE BETTER. (1987-1990)

Once again the apartment was cold and empty. It wasn't actually empty; it was filled by James and me. We were on opposite sides of the couch, avoiding each other. IT had been like this for months. We hadn't hugged, kissed, held hands, gone out, anything that normal couples do. He was quiet, which differed from how he was with his friends, including me. Though, this hadn't been different for a while. I've almost gotten used to it, but not emotionally. No matter how hard I try, he seems like he isn't there. The more I thought about it, the more it settled in, the more it hurt. The more I felt I needed to talk about it.

I finally broke the painful and dead silence between us, “What up with you, You've been weird with me for months?” I asked, finally turning my head to face him. He wasn't looking at me, or anything. He was hunched over, his blonde locks blocking the view of his face as he stared at the floor.

James let out a huff in response, shrugging.

This was going to be a long, and very difficult conversation.

James would get like this when there was something on his mind. Something big, but normally it would spill over before this point, he normally would just be like this for a week or two before confessing whatever was hurting him, and I would hold him and comfort him as he cried.

I sighed, moving closer to him, and placing my hand on his back, but he retracted from my touch, something I had gotten used to.

“James, talk to me, please..?” I asked softly, though I was willing to beg to have what we had back.

He just shook his head, adjusting slightly and sitting back, letting me see his stressed and confused expression. “What's bothering you? Tell me, I know that something is wrong..” I tried again, my eyes on his, but his were on the black TV screen.

I tried to move closer to him, my hand on his knee as I tried to get him to even look in my general direction, “James, look at me,” I asked more than commanded.

His eyes wandered in my direction, but landing on the couch cushions under me. It was a start at least. “Can you just say something, please?” I asked again, keeping my tone gentle.

He took a deep, long sigh, mumbling something I couldn't hear, couldn't understand.

Or maybe I did, but I didn't want to.

“What?” I asked, refusing to believe any of this was real as tears stung my eyes.

James just repeated himself, the words falling from his lips like shards of glass.

I shook my head, standing from the couch as the tears began to fall down my face. Knowing of the other woman, I was broken. I was pacing, and he didn't even look at me.

“Are you serious?! Why?! Was I not good enough for you?! We could've talked, we could've worked things out!” I cried, my stomach twisting in a tight and sorrowful knot.

He didn't look like he had any emotions on his face, but I could sense and feel the guilt and pain that clouded him. Every word he spoke only brought more tears to my eyes, each one punctuated with a sharp and sad pain I felt in my heart, eyes, mind, everywhere.

I was trembling as I shook my head, for some reason I refused to believe any of this, or that this was real. I began to waddle towards the kitchen counter, filled with hurt and rage, grabbing my car keys and purse.

“Where are you going?” James asked, his own voice shaky with guilt and regret.

“Away.” I answered harshly, beginning to walk back to the door.

“Please, we can fix this, just.. Just stay with me, ok?” James begged almost, though he wouldnt even stand up to face me, eyeing muy figure from the comfort of the couch. One that held many memories of us.

I shook my head, “No, no, I.. I need to go..” I mumbled, reaching for the door handle and leaving hearing James call out for me as I shut the door, stumbling to my car, getting in and beginning to drive fast and far, no clue where I was headed. It was late at night, probably past ten pm. Tears strung down my face, puddling on the shirt I was wearing, which I realized was James’ shirt. That didn't help, making me sob harder as the faint and musty smell of beer and smoke fumed from his shirt, reminding me of him too much.

After twenty minutes or so of driving, I came past a run down hotel, hearing the soft pitter patter of rain hit the roof of my car, the clouds matching my eyes. I parked, scurrying into the lobby, an older and tired woman at the front desk, noticing the clear sadness that radiated off me.

We had a brief interaction, paying for my room before wandering up to the beat door, the well cleaned room before me.

I stepped in, shutting the door behind me before falling onto the bed, everything hitting me as I began to break down and cry. The man I had once cherished, loved, my everything and world was gone, no longer who I knew. No matter how guilty he felt or regretted it, or how drunk he was, he still did it. It hurt, and it hurt horribly. Someone I poured every ounce of my love and my being into threw me out for some shitty drunken fling with some random slut.

It wasn't long before I cried myself asleep, awaking with a harsh headache, trying to put back together everything that had happened. The words rang in my ears, twisting in me like a punch to the stomach. Instead of sadness, it was just anger and hurt. Tears couldn't come to my eyes, just a cruel, upset feeling I couldn't name.

I laid on that bed for a few hours, the soft hum of electricity filling my ears as I got lost in thought. I had woken up at three pm, and it was now six. I had to get out, do something, talk with someone. Why not go to a bar, get a drink, take the edge off and maybe talk to someone to distract myself.

I went into the bathroom, wiping the black streaks of mascara and other smudged makeup off my face, fixing my hair as much as I could without a brush or any products before checking out and walking back down to my car.

I just drove around, going a bit further out of town on the off chance I may run into James.

Then I saw it, the dark building with a pink neon sign on the outside, not looking too busy on the inside but still a good amount of people. 

I felt I had been here before. Maybe a few years back, maybe a few nights ago.. I wasn't sure, but there was a comforting familiarity as I walked in.

I ordered a drink, sitting at the bar as I picked at my nails, watching the football game on the TV. Not that I cared much for sports, but it was a start for a distraction.

I sat in there for maybe several minutes before my drink was ready, the bartender handing it to me as I began to sip on the bitter liquid, sighing softly as I tried to relax.

I felt a tap on my back, confused and surprised, I turned around.

Then I saw him.

Dave Mustaine, a man I hadn't seen in person for about four years. He was on the rise of the metal world, finally earning his own independent name. Our eyes met, and we instantly recognized each other.

Dave smiled, chuckling to himself, “Where the hell have you been?!” He asked happily, and I forced a smile back.

“I haven't gone anywhere, still been here. Where the hell have you been?” I asked back, hoping this conversation could take me away from this ruin I have been placed in.

He shrugged, “About, just becoming the next big face in the metal scene..” He answered back in a cocky way, as usual.

Seeing him in this bar, made all those old memories flood back. This is where I first met Dave, finally realizing why this place seemed so familiar. James and I had been friends about a year before he formed Metallica, and I remember him asking me to come to this bar with him to go meet his bandmates. I met Lars, Ron, and of course, Dave. 

Dave was still fiery as ever, never changing from his previous self. 

We began to talk, catching up on the years of missed time together, the once strong bond we had slowly reforming.

I remembered the first time I came to one of the band's practices. It was at James’ garage, and Ron and Lars had already left. It was just the three of us, but James was in the house. Dave and I chatted for what felt like hours, and quickly became close and good friends. We had a lot in common, so we got along well.

Then, Dave asked me a question, snapping me out of my thoughts of the past.

“So, how’s things with James? You guys still a couple?” Dave asked, clearly not meaning anything negative, but I felt it.

The question made my stomach twist in a knot, reminding me of the bitter end I had with James last night. I glanced to the floor, my expression shifting from positive to anxious in a way.

Dave quickly took notice of my change in demeanor, his expression softening, “Did.. did something happen? What’s up?” He asked, clearly worried.

I sighed, shrugging. Should I tell him this? Ruin our night together? Force him to feel guilty?

But I didn't want to lie to him either, it would be easier to just rip off the bandaid and move on.

“Uhm, we kinda broke up last night..” I mumbled, staring down at our shoes.

Dave's face was struck with realization, nodding slowly with a solemn expression, “Oh shit, sorry to hear. What happened?” Of course he had to dig deeper. And again, who am I to deny him the truth? He wasn't really one to judge.

“Well.. things had just been rough the last few months.. And then he told me that.. He cheated on me..” I answered with a sigh, feeling a slight weight taken off my shoulders as I acknowledged it, but a fifty pound boulder crashing down on my heart.

Dave looked upset, frustrated even. “I told you that fucker was never any good,” Dave reminded me, which brought me back to the night when James had asked me out.

It was the night of the first Metallica show I got to go to, not having work or anything, and I had to be a supportive best friend. After the show, I went backstage, waiting for the band, when James had ran towards me, grabbing my hands and pulling me into his dressing room, very rushedly confessing to me, which had me smiling wide, as I had felt the same from when we first met, but he had as girlfriend at the time.

It was just us, sharing another happy moment together. No one had known that we were official, but I'm sure someone caught onto his crushing, or mine.

It wasn't just that someone caught on, Dave knew. I told him after a few too many drinks, but of course he remembered that one thing.

After we had come out of that dressing room, I went to go talk with Dave, to tell him that everything seemed to be going perfectly for me at that moment, but then he spoke before I could.

“I don't think you should be around James too much man, he enjoys the life on the road a bit too much, if you get what I mean,”.

It was one of the last things he said to me before he got kicked from the band. After I told him we were dating, we drifted apart, and then he was kicked out.

I hadn't thought of those words until tonight. And it only proved that Dave was right. James did enjoy the drinking, groupies, drugs, all of it. It was only a while until I found out, which I did.

I was snapped back to the present hearing the loud whoops and clapping of other patrons of the bar, who were watching the football game on the TV. I nodded in response to Dave's statement, “I know, you warned me the minute after I started dating him.. Guess you were right..” I admitted, and Dave nodded back.

“It pisses me off, y’know?” He began, “You're too good for that shit, especially from a jerk like him.” Dave added.

I just nodded again, and he kept talking. “I guess he just can never see what he had, always wants ‘better’ but he already has what's best. I mean, he threw me out for that Kirk guy, he's no nowhere as good as me! And I’m sure whoever he slept with is just some whore,” He concluded, and I just nodded again.

“You're right… as always, it seems,” I answered back to him, before my thoughts drowned out the world around me once more.

Dave probably understood this better than anyone, at1 least when it comes to being mistreated and betrayed by James. Someone who he considered a brother, a close friend, kicked him to the curb for someone else. And in similar was me. Someone I considered a lover, and closest friend I had, traded me in for another.

“Do you have a place to stay?” Dave asked, calming after his rant.

“No, not really.. I'm staying at a motel a few miles away,” I answered back, and he thought for a moment before speaking again.

“If you want, you could come stay at my place, I wouldn't mind the extra company, it gets pretty lonely there anyways,” He offered, and my eyes lit up, a small hope in my heart.

“Yeah, that'd be great, thanks,” I said with a small smile, a weight lifted off my shoulders.

“We could leave the bar now and get you set up, it's a one bedroom, I don't mind taking the couch until you've figured something out,” Dave suggested.

I quickly shook my head, “No, don't take the couch, it's your place, I'm the guest! I'll take the couch,” I rebutted.

Dave just nodded, “Exactly, you're the guest, you get the best treatment. Plus, it won't be forever, I'll be fine for a few nights.” Dave still noticed hesitation in my eyes, “I insist.” He added.

I sighed, “Fine, if you insist. But don't hesitate asking me to take the couch once in a while, alright?”

Dave just smiled, “Sure.”

After that, we got in our cars and I followed him to his place, a decent apartment complex in the outskirts of town. We parked and he led me to his door, unlocking it and allowing us in.

“Make yourself at home,” He said, setting down his keys and walking towards the bedroom, and I followed him.

“Hope you don't mind the mess, but it'll do.” My nose was overwhelmed with the strong smell of cigarette smoke and liquor, something he had never been able to get rid of even after not seeing him for four years.

It reminded me of James, which made me feel solemn once more. “Thanks, it's fine, I don't mind, you're already offering me all of this,” I added, sitting down on his unmade bed, which he joined me on.

“You alright? You still seem upset,” He questioned, and I could feel tears pricking at my eyes once more.

“Yeah, I'm fine..” I forced out, my voice choked as I wiped the stray tear from my cheek, avoiding eye contact with him.

Dave noticed, tilting his head slightly as his concern grew, “Hey, look at me, you can talk to me, y’know?”

And just like that, I crumbled. Tears filled my eyes, and they spilled right over as I broke out into sobs, and he just wrapped his arms around me, holding me as iI leaned closer to him, soaking his worn and faded shirt with my tears as he gently comforted me and shushed my cries, wiping my tears with his thumbs when he could.

We stayed like that for what felt like hours, just him holding me and caring for me, but in a way James never could, never did. James was sweet when he wanted to be, but he never held me like this and heard my cries and answered them with comfort.

After a while, I had cried myself to sleep, my cries lessening and silencing as my breathing began to even out, and Dave laid me down gently and got me into bed, wrapping the blankets around me before he headed out for the couch.

That was the night where it began, the rekindling of our once close friendship. Even though we had agreed that this wouldn't be permanent, we had now been living together for a few months, and it felt like we had never been separated, as if we had been friends for the last seven years.

Today, we were planning to go back to that bar, the first time since that night we bumped into each other. We both needed to get out, and Dave was beat and stressed over all the touring with Megadeth, and we could both use a drink.

Dave had been out for a bit today, and I was busy getting ready for tonight since he would be home within the hour. It wasn't a fancy occasion, and I was definitely over-dressing, but I hadn't had any reason to look pretty in forever, getting to wear my favorite black dress, once that complimented my figure and hugged my curves, flowing down to a bit above my knees.

I did my makeup, nothing too glam but noticeable, and for the first time in a long time, I felt beautiful. Even when I thought I had previously when I was with James, he never showed an appreciation or complimented me often.

I shook the thoughts of James out of my head, knowing I had to move on, even though much of myself was still left in that past of what we once were.

I was snapped out of my thoughts as I heard Dave open the door, entering the apartment with a sigh. “Im back,” He called out as I finished clipping on my earrings, walking out to Dave.

“Hey, are you ready to go?” I asked him, seeing his face slightly surprised as he took in my figure.

“Yeah, totally.. You, you look great, by the way..” He answered, still taking in my appearance.

I smiled widely, “Thanks! Let's go then, yeah?”

Dave nodded and we headed out to his car, driving back to that bar, per his choice. The drive was filled with conversation and laughter, as we found that there was rarely a moment of silence between us. His hand rested lightly on my knee, and I didn't think much of it, just a sweet and friendly gesture.

When we arrived at the bar, he offered me a hand and helped me out of the car, walking me in the dim lighted and busy establishment as we searched for somewhere to sit, finding an empty table in the corner, quickly scurrying over there before someone else could snag the spot. 

It was a large table, one meant to seat probably around six people as it was a booth. The leather of the seats were well worn, torn in some places. The table matched, scratched up and old, though it held many memories. 

Dave got up to go order us some drinks, returning soon after and sitting down in front of me. We began to talk, but there was something different, and what I hated most about it is that I couldn't put my finger on it. It wasn't anything negative, but everything felt heavier, like I could feel my heart pounding in my chest for a reason I didn't know.

Dave acted off too, like something was bothering him. He was fidgety, his eyes avoiding mine but at the same holding long term eye contact. What was going on with him?

I tried to not think about it as I was probably over analyzing the whole situation. I took a sip of my drink, and for once, there was a lasting silence between us.

I didn't know what to say. The bar wasn't my idea, it was something Dave had planned on a few days ago, and he seemed excited at the time. “Everything ok? You just seem all.. Jittery.” I commented, snapping Dave out of whatever haze of thoughts he was in.

“Yeah, totally,” He muttered, which only grew my curiosity, and sparked a new worry.

Was he on drugs? Well, I knew he was, but was he on too much?

“You're not… on anything right now?” I mumbled out in a question and he shook his head.

“No no, it's not that, I swear.” Dave reassured me, and I had to take his word for it.

Dave tapped his fingers on the table a few times as he thought before speaking up.

“You uh, you remember anything in specific about this place?” Dave asked me out of the blue.

“Uhm,” I paused to think, “Yeah, isn't this where you picked me up a few months ago?”

“Well, yeah, but anything else? Think as far back as you can,” Dave instructed me, and I tried to think.

Until it hit me.

“Oh! Yeah! Isn't this where James took me to meet the rest of the band? We even sat at this booth, right?” I finally remembered, and the memories flooded back as clear as day.

Dave hasn't changed much since then, but I do remember how he was when we very first interacted. He was crazy and animalistic, yeah, but he seemed shy around me, until he had a few beers, and then he was way less tense and boxed up. That was the beginning of our friendship.

“Yeah, I think about that a lot,” Dave informed me, and I nodded.

Dave still seemed off, like he was hiding something from me.

“Dave, what's on your mind? Like actually, something is clearly bothering you,” I was growing impatient with his vague answers, I wanted to know the truth.

Dave sighed, thinking for a moment before speaking, “Well, you remember that night, tha=e first Metallica concert you attended, when I warned you about James, even though you two were already together,” and I nodded.

“Well, when he told you in that dressing room, I overheard it all. I was uhm.. Looking for you too. I got pissed that James had got to say something before I did, and uhm.. I had like.. The fattest crush on you when we first met.. And now that we've grown close again, I think I feel the same wa-” Dave was cut off as I kissed him on the lips, all of our unspoken feelings coming out for each other.

After I pulled away I moved some of his long ginger hair out of his face, gently caressing his cheek as I smiled softly at him.

“I've felt the same since we met too.”

Another influential night, all in this bar. The three times I've come here, three big things happen, always having to do with Dave.

That night was about three years ago now, and Dave and I have been together happily for those three years, now engaged and happier than ever. With the success of MEgadeth's latest album, ‘Rust in peace’, things have been going great for us. He showed me what real love felt like, to be cared for and cherished, all without getting judged.

I had gone to multiple shows with Dave at this point, and this was just another one. They were one of the headliners for a weekend-long festival, and I was more than thrilled to support my fiance.

I listened to loud chords of ‘Holy wars’ as the band began to finish their set, with me sitting backstage. I was at a table, my left hand that wore my gorgeous engagement ring was digging in my purse, until I heard familiar steps behind me.

And then a voice.

“Are you..” I cut them off.

“James? What are you-” I was now in turn cut off by him.

“I'm playing a show. What are you doing here?” The frontman asked me. I was so shocked to have seen him, personally, that is. I knew Metallica would be having a show here, but it wasn't until the next night.

As if the timing was perfect, after James questioned me, Megadeth had come off stage, Dave rushing towards me. “Hey baby, did you like the show?” He asked, leaning down to kiss the top of my head.

“Yeah, it was great..” I answered, still dumbfounded. James looked even more dumbfounded than I did.

Dave looked up, curious at the silence, “What's wro-” He cut himself off, his eyes meeting James.

Daves lips curled into a smirk, knowing now he has the best form of revenge for kicking him out all those years ago. That revenge was me.

“Nice seeing you, James. What's going on with you and my fiance?” Dave bit back a cruel snicker, watching as James just grew more and more confused.

“Oh.. I was just, uhm, saying hi,” James answered, trying to process everything.

I was avoiding James' eyes. How would I explain that after I broke up with him, I met up with his ex bandmate, moved in with him after remeeting, dated after a few months, and engaged after three years.

“Uh-huh… You guys know each other, yeah?” Dave teased, knowing the answer, just wanting to get a rise out of James.

James didn't want to give Dave anymore attention, just nodding.

“Gotta thank you a bit man, I doubt we would have ran into each other again if it wasn't for you being a prick like always,” Dave said bitterly, enjoying this game of shame on James.

James looked slightly guilty, just trying to ignore him.

Dave looked back to me, “Well, I need to go clean up a bit, you can find me if someones bothering ya, sweetheart,” he said to me sweetly, my eyes meeting his before he kissed my cheek and walked away.

James just stared at me for a moment before walking off in another direction, the rest of Metallica showing up finally, Lars leading the three of them, his eyes landing on me.

This was  going to be a long, long weekend.

[13eyond13]

Hii! I don't know if you were asked this before, but I'm curious whether you prefer the manga or anime ending of death note and why? Also, your berserk meta posts are always such a delight to read!

Hi hi! It's admittedly been a long while since I've either read or watched the series at this point, so I took some time going back over my asks to see if I could find one where I'd talked about this before. Didn't come across one, but I've definitely contemplated this before, so I'll just do my best to remember what I thought.

So I like both of them in different ways, basically. But if I had to choose one over the other I'd choose the manga ending as the one that I prefer.

Here is a quick rundown of what I think are the biggest strengths and weaknesses of the anime ending:

The best things about the anime ending to me:

-Portrays the horrific awkwardness and tension in the warehouse between everybody leading up to and including Light's confession extremely well. I get so on the edge of my seat and anxious during the buildup to his big breakdown every time!

-Excellent voice acting and iconic laughter during Light's big dramatic Kira confession scene. Who DOESN'T remember that moment, it's definitely one of the anime's best

-Takes a slightly more gentle and merciful and quiet and melancholy approach to Light's death scene with the sorrowful music and the pretty sunset behind him, and takes the time to do things like flashback to his pre notebook innocent self, which is actually the only scene in the series that always makes me cry. Lets Light have a certain dignity and sadness to his death by allowing him to escape off by himself from the others and look as though he's drifting off slowly to sleep. For audience members who still empathize with Light on some level or see the sad side of how he was corrupted by the notebook this can be a choice that they prefer

-Gets so ridiculous and campy at certain points with things like Mikami stabbing himself to death with a pen and then exploding like a bag of blood that I can't help but laugh through the pain a bit

-Makes some nice aesthetic choices like having Light die symbolically on a staircase (which seems like a nod to the fact that he's going to Mu / an in-between or "nowhere" sort of place after he dies, or that he was stopped halfway up in his journey before he could truly attain the "godhood" he desired, and also seems like a bit of a parallel to the rain scene of him sitting on the staircase with L – also gives a little visual flashback nod to L during Light's final moments).

The worst things about the anime ending to me:

-Cuts a lot of important moments and stuff out of the conversations between Light and Near that really enhanced the overall meaning of the story and added to making Near a much more interesting and sympathetic character to me in the manga (particularly stuff like Near talking about what they have in common, and about letting other people have agency and freedom of choice, something that Light was uh not super great at)

-Did Mikami pretty dirty and cut most of his awkward interactions with Light in the warehouse (I feel like he doesn't even get to yell "you're not God!!" at Light in the anime, does he? I'm kinda forgetting now)

-Makes the SPK and the Task Force look a bit dumb and useless in how they're just saying stuff like "there's nothing we can do, he will be dead in a few minutes" while Mikami's bleeding out on the floor and just letting Light escape and run away from them all... also kinda makes it look like Light was SO wounded by the gunshots that he would've died soon anyway. Which takes away some of the dramatic impact that comes from Ryuk writing his name in the notebook!

-In the anime Ryuk seems almost to be writing Light's name in the notebook as a mercy killing, or like he's trying to put him out of his wounded misery, which I find detracts a bit from the whole idea in the manga that Light is forced to experience the same cold and cruel fate of somebody deliberately taking his remaining years of life from him with a death note against his will... something that he remorselessly inflicted upon so many others previously himself. The two of them also don't have any discussions before Light's death in the anime like they do in the manga, which were some pretty interesting and chilling parts of the ending to me (especially Ryuk saying stuff like "you're no longer entertaining me, so you should die right now" to him)

-There is no flashback in the anime to Light and Ryuk talking about EVERYBODY going to Mu after they die no matter how they behaved on earth, which was kinda hugely important as part of the point of the story to me (because I think it forces the audience to draw their own conclusions about who they think was truly good/bad or right/wrong in this story without pigeonholing any of them into one category or another, or by sending anybody to rewarding or punishing afterlifes... I also like that it doesn't treat the notebook users as any special category of person)

-As brutal as the manga ending is in how humiliated and frightened and alone Light is while he dies, I also think there's a certain poetic justice to the horror and embarrassment he experiences during that time. He was constantly taking other people's lives and treating them like pawns in his games, backstabbing and deceiving and discarding them once they were no longer useful to him, and even cruelly gloating over watching them die. I don't particularly enjoy watching him suffer except for how it is a bit narratively satisfying, in a tables-turning "you live by the sword you die by the sword" sort of way

-In general the anime kind of gave me the vibe that it thought Light losing in the warehouse was more about L's team finally winning against Light and getting revenge on him for L's death than about the deeper and more interesting philisophical/ethical questions and themes at play, and about all the entire cast of characters' journeys as a whole

--

Overall I'd say if you want a more narratively satisfying and logical ending with more food for thought and cruel irony and deeper character interactions and existential dread and poetic justice going on then the manga is superior in basically all of these ways

HOWEVER I do still also love the final episode of the anime, I think it's one of the best and most memorable episodes of the entire show, and if you decide to turn off your nitpicking brain a bit and simply enjoy the emotions that it conjures there are some very good dramatic/aesthetic/symbolic choices that it makes

[cherryc1nnam0n]

Coffee for your head | Eddie Munson x FEM!Reader

Summary: Eddie is in his death bed... He has so much to say...

Cw: Major angst warning!! Major character death, sad topics, illness, death bed, agonizing, little smut

Writer's note: This is based off Death Bed by Powfu. I was listening to it when coming home from work, and I wanted to write it as Eddie and you

Don't stay away for too long, don't go to bed

I'll make a cup of coffee for your head

It'll get you up and going out of bed

"I'm sorry, you don't have long enough... Maybe, 4 months"

That was the moment their lives changed

Only at age 25 Eddie Munson has been diagnosed with lung cancer, terminal, there was nothing the doctors could do to safe him

"Eddie... No..." You had whispered grabbing his hand

A lonely tear had left his eye without him noticing, he just let out an anguished breath

Yeah, I don't wanna fall asleep, I don't wanna pass away

I been thinking of our future, 'cause I'll never see those days

I don't know why this has happened, but I probably deserve it

I tried to do my best, but you know that I'm not perfect

"I would recommend enjoying the last moments you have together, do the things you love, eat what you like, just, make good memories in the mean time"

The couple had gone home in silence, quiet sobs being heard from her as she held his hand during the ride home

They had moved together 3 years ago, making a small apartment their safe home, but now it had became all moody and sad

It was no lie that Eddie smoked a lot, since he was a teen, but his cancer had been too aggressive and it was taking him out really fast

"What am I gonna do without you Eddie?" You said sobbing into his chest as he held you close to him

"Live..." You cried even harder

"I can't live without you Eddie, you're my whole life"

I been praying for forgiveness, you've been praying for my health

When I leave this Earth, hoping you'll find someone else

'Cause, yeah, we still young, there's so much we haven't done

Getting married, start a family, watch your husband with his son

That night he tried to calm you down my making love to you, slow and tender, with lots of love in each move he made, his kisses filled with sorrow and pain, he knew he didn't have long to do this so he had to enjoy the moments he had you

During the days his health went downhill, he couldn't move a lot, his breathing would be different during the night, you prayed every night to whoever was out there to save him but they never seemed to answer back

Soon he had to use oxygen to breath properly, moving out of the bed was too much work as time went on

"It's almost time for me to go baby..." He had said to you one day

You had cried onto his chest, begging him not to leave you

I wish it could be me, but I won't make it out this bed

I hope I go to Heaven, so I see you once again

My life was kinda short, but I got so many blessings

Happy you were mine, it sucks that it's all ending

"I love you so much Y/n..."

"I love you too Eddie"

"You'll find someone else baby, someone who will love you so much" you shook your head

"I only want you, you're my only love"

He caressed your cheek

I'm happy that you here with me, I'm sorry if I tear up

When me and you were younger, you would always make me cheer up

Taking goofy videos and walking through the park

You would jump into my arms every time you heard a bark

"Remember that day at the fair? When you got lost and I found you near the fountain?" You nodded "I'll find you again in another life baby"

Cuddle in your sheets, sing me sound asleep

And sneak out through your kitchen at exactly 1:03

Sundays, went to church, on Mondays, watched a movie

Soon you'll be alone, sorry that you have to lose me

"You can go Eddie... Rest my love" you had finally accepted what was to come

"I love you..."

"I love you too..."

With one final smile he closed his eyes and finally left this world...

Don't stay away for too long, don't go to bed

I'll make a cup of coffee for your head

It'll get you up and going out of bed

[h-didanart]

The time none of you were waiting for has come… it is time for me to dump lore on you all. ‘Who is it today?’ I hear no one ask, why our vengeful pal Agony Ghost Bloodmoon of course!

Agony Ghost is a variation of the Quiet Throes au, in which Bloodmoon ends up dying after The Bastard’s murder attempt. They are extremely fucking pissed and will basically do everything in their power to make Ruin’s life as miserable as it can be. Though I haven’t shared more lore than that, and what I just said wasn’t exactly stated out loud mostly just assumed, and I do have some more lore about how the events at the end of October would play out. So without further ado, here is the lore dump:

As always purple = always has been, blue = recently came up with, green = I just made it up

Trigger warnings- referenced and implied torture and sa

They woke up and immediately were in pain. Every single joint in their body ached, moving hurt, they were given no time to even process where they were.

After a few minutes of them getting used to the ache they looked around and were confused by their sudden change in location, they had been in the Daycare hadn’t they? Why were they at this dusty old lab— Solar’s dusty old lab?

They got up, wincing at their unsteady legs and just now realizing their clothes felt different, just as much as their body. They had been freaking out before and they were freaking out now, they had no idea what happened. They tried to make sense of it all, tried to remember anything that could help them.

And then they did remember. The bad day they had, them blowing up at Ruin, Ruin immobilizing them… all the pain

Their reaction was about the same as chapter five’s, ie. they had a really bad panic attack. Only this time no one came to help them.

It then hit them what could possibly be their situation: they were dead, and Ruin had killed them.

They wanted to believe they weren’t and this was all a weird out of body experience or whatever, Harvest did at least, but when Solar walked into the room he didn’t even spare a glance at them, more focused on a table in the back. They followed him in confusion and on the table saw… themselves.

And that is how they knew.

They were dead.

And Ruin had killed them.

They kinda just stayed in that room for the most part. They watched Solar come by and do stuff in the computers, they watched as their unmoving body remained lifeless, they tried to bring one another comfort but for once it didn’t work.

No matter how hard they tried they couldn’t stop the overwhelming distress and sorrow, it was almost like that’s all they could feel. And anger, in small bursts, towards themselves for letting it get to this point.

It would also be good to add at this point, between having the memories from the start and being able to see the damages their body sustained, the twins are able to figure out what exactly Ruin put in them and what he did with it.

Disgust and horror wouldn’t even begin to describe what they felt.

They laid on the ground for hours on end, not having anything else to do, hopelessness eating away at what remained of themselves. After a while Solar walked by, mumbling something about tools or whatever, quieting down as he spotted the twin’s corpse on the table.

They thought he’d finally put it in the trash, or take what was salvageable to use as spare parts.

They did not expect for him to approach slowly, placing a hand on the table, taking a deep sigh and barely whispering, “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you”

This was their enemy, someone they’d only made a deal with to deal with an issue for them both.

They killed his family, they tried to kill him, and when they are the ones to die he apologizes?

They think for a bit, remembering Solar’s daily check ups since their deal, how they hadn’t seen him that damned day. They remember their senses slipping away slowly as the oil dripped from them, pain dulling and darkness turning to static. They remember a faint shake, something wrapped around their waist, and a feeling of weightlessness before everything truly went away.

He tried to save them.

He did save them.

He just couldn’t save their lives. He… cared enough to try.

He cared.

There was someone who cared.

They had someone who cared.

They follow him around since then, watching him work, curling up beside him, just being around. He makes their anguish lessen.

Through the confrontation they stick by his side. And after the fact as well.

They eye the “cured” Ruin warily, glad that their Solar wasn’t fool enough to fall for the charade. Who would after knowing the shit he did to them? They glare at the broken bastard, for once their anger not directed towards themselves.

It’s a while later when Solar has some free time, he goes back to the lab for their body.

They follow him to a place they faintly recognize, some sort of place to look at the stars, and watch as he buries it under a leafless tree. They both stand there, staring at what would be their resting place.

It feels bad but is also kinda nice.

He had covered them before they died, he had gotten them a pretty grave.

They sometimes wonder what could’ve been if they had lived, if in death he showed this care.

They keep following Solar for a long while, discovering their ability to float, and how they can move things if they really focus. This second one was tested on Ruin, they pushed him off the balcony. It was very funny.

The twins got ideas from this, and having nothing better to do, decided to act on them. Moving things around, a shove here and there, messing with the environment, they started stalking Ruin and making his life difficult.

It was relatively light punishment for what the bastard did, but it brought them glee nevertheless. And then one day, as they were in the Fazcade, they watched the Bastard sneak around, Solar coming by a few moments later, only for Ruin to knock him out. Bloodmoon stared, and a moment later were by their Solar’s side.

It was the first time they showed themselves to someone, and the real start of the haunting.

They’ve been tormenting The Bastard ever since.

Only he can see them, they only speak to him. His patience has deteriorated, it is harder for him to act. They enjoy watching him struggle to keep the facade, watching as he frustratedly cries over whatever plans he had being delayed.

They’ve inadvertently delayed both the creation of Eclipse III and the multiversal collapse. They didn’t even know Ruin was still scheming, though they did figure out he had a clear mind all through October, his reaction to seeing them was all they needed to know. They felt oddly vindicated by that, that it was actually him and not some easily cured virus.

Their feelings of dread and sorrow have mostly shifted to rage and hate, something they’re more familiar and far more comfortable with.

They’ll keep him alive and suffering for as long as they can.

They’ll make him pay for what he did, it’s really only fair.

AND that’s their lore story wise! I’m cheering them on quite frankly, they deserve to go feral on Ruin, make his life hell. Anyways, I’m gonna go on a ramble about their design now because there are a bunch of little details that are there and I want to point out—

First off, the clothes. They are wearing what they had on when they died, so the hoodie, gloves, scarf(?), and the cape Solar tied around their waist, granted I did make that longer both because of the more ghostly look and because I don’t want to draw their legs. Speaking of, their legs are just as messed up as what’s described, basically mutilated, they will fall over if they fully materialize. Their right wrist is broken, hand always in some uncomfortable looking angle, it’s hard to control but they still can move it. Their left eye’s light fully went out, so it’s just a black socket with the occasional white pupil when they’re extra mad or trying to be scary, y’know, FNaF style. The tear tracks in their face are both because of the FNaF ghost style and because they did have those as they died. And not in their physical design but their voice box is broken, static comes out alongside their voice, and they also cannot speak very loud.

More doodles of them :3

Yes that Moon plushy is meant to be an indirect way of representing how messed up their legs are.

:3

[ad0rechuu]

hiii 👋 may i please request prompt 58 "forever mine" kisses (+ prompt 3 hiding face in neck, only if it's okay!!) for lucifer? thank you so much and warmest congratulations on 100 followers!! 🥺💙

❪ # x ❫ : LUCIFER. ━━ PROMPT 58 & 3

volcanic love by the aces

🏷️ gn! reader , angst (?) / comfort , tw: spoilers for the end obey me part 3, it’s kinda bittersweet , wc: 584 , notes: thank you so much anon thats so sweet and i really enjoyed writing this request so thank you for that too, i wanted to make it sadder but i didn’t how that would turn out lol !

Begging lord Diavolo proved to be useless.

You knew he had his reasons but the fact that all the seven demon brothers were willing to throw their pride out of the window (even the literal Avatar of Pride) to have you join the family made you a bit willing to throw hands.

They wanted you stay with them and you wanted them to stay with you.

And yet, you couldn’t. Because life is never that simple.

It hurt. It wasn’t surprising, but it hurt nevertheless. You knew you were not the only one hurting. Five of the seven brothers made that very clear on the ride home (Belphie too, but he fell asleep almost immediately).

Their drunken whining and complaining would normally make you laugh. But today it made your heart ache.

You noticed that Lucifer had been quiet the entire way home. Even when his brother cursed Diavolo’s judgment, he stayed uncharacteristically silent. He also didn’t say a word when you reached Serenity Manor and everyone excused themselves to get some sleep.

You stayed behind, expecting him to go straight to his room as well. Instead he surprised you as you watched him disappear to the backyard. Curiosity and worry got the best of you as you followed the demon.

By the time you reached outside he was already sitting on a lawn chair, his glasses in hands as he looked up at the sky. You would’ve spent more time admiring him but you had to remind yourself that that wasn’t the goal right now.

You walked up behind him, careful not to startle him on accident, even though he’d probably sensed your presence already.

“Are you disappointed?” You asked, making him turn around and face you. Demon Lord, you were going to miss those ruby eyes.

He nodded to you, acknowledging your presence as he stood up, eyes still on the night sky.

“Disappointed? Disappointed isn’t the word. I can’t say that I did not expect his answer.” He spoke, sorrow in his tone. “I’m closer to dissatisfied.”

One arm snuck around your waist as he used the other hand to hold your chin, making sure you kept looking at him only.

“I’m dissatisfied that I have to leave, I’m selfishly dissatisfied that I cannot keep you by my side forever and I’m dissatisfied with the current conditions that keep us apart.” A rare desperation sounded from his voice as he held you close.

His face neared yours when he turned your face to closer his liking. “Why did you have to make me feel this way about you Mc? I cannot imagine a life without you anymore.” He breathed on your lips and closed the gap between your two.

Lucifer was known as stoic demon with a tight grip on everything, including his own emotions.

The Lucifer in front of you was nothing like that, he reminded you of the Celestial Realm Lucifer that you heard stories about; pouring all his feelings and emotions into the passionate kiss. As you moved in sync, you felt a tear fall from his once impenetrable eyes. You felt your soul yearn for him like never before.

As you parted, slightly out of breath, your hand found the back of his head. He hid his face in your neck as you combed through his raven hair.

His arms tightened around you at the calming gesture, like you could disappear at any moment.

“I wish I could make you mine, Mc. For the rest of eternity.”

[industria-adastra]

Ideal Heaven (Let's become one in mind, body and soul)

Summary: To her, to love, and to act upon that love, was a very simple thing. Because there were exquisitely ugly beings in this world. Because she always knew best. And because she loved anyone and everyone, and because she knew anything and everything…

Kriemhild Gretchen’s love was overpowering, because she only wanted what was best for those whom she loved.

And Kriemhild Gretchen loved humanity.

-

L-O-V-E L-O-V-E

(Listen to me)

Note: I am held in a chokehold by Vampire Knight rn (It literally rearranged my brain chemistry as a kid) but it doesn't mean I can't write for other fandoms. Like PMMM. And for MadoHomu (kinda) Listen to DOKUZU by Nakiso for a better feel?

------

Today, like every other day, was quiet. Below, the people rushed to get to their destinations, eager for another day of heaven. As always, their hair was perfectly styled, and perfectly coiffed. Their buttons shone and their eyes were glassy. 

The sun shone brilliantly, the sky was a perfect blue, and the flowers were blooming—just like every other day. Nothing was out of place: the floor was as polished as a mirror, and the air was as clean as could be. Together, they breathed as one in unison; the air cycling through to be used again and again. 

No one was sad, no one was angry. There was no suffering to be found in the empty expressions of her most cherished denizens. Mercy had been given freely, and the consequences had been clear to see.

The birds above in perfectly formed, perfectly trimmed trees sang in pitch-perfect harmony, and Kriemhild Gretchen was happy. 

So, so, very happy.

It was a joy only amplified by the peace of the people. 

She could feel the happiness of the people—a stagnant emotion like tar. It enveloped every one of them, coursing through their veins and pumping within their hearts. Subsuming them all to elevate their happiness to new heights. Their happiness fed hers, and so out of kindness she fed it right back to them, over, and over again—a negative feedback loop that would never end. 

There was no sorrow, no malcontent, and certainly no monsters here. She’d cast the light down, swallowed the darkness and gave priceless salvation. Ugly things did not exist within Kriemhild Gretchen’s world, for neither was there a place for them, nor were they ugly anymore after her mercy. Only beautiful things existed within Kriemhild Gretchen’s world, shining gloriously as a testament to all the good she wrought with her mercy. Because from beauty came rapture, and from rapture came euphoria. 

Euphoria meant happiness. Euphoria meant that nothing, nothing would ever colour her pristine world with dreadful, filthy despair again.

Their hearts beat together as one, steady, steady—light and free—and Kriemhild Gretchen knew that all was well.

(But down, down, down, deep below the surface, she could hear that irregular rhythm, all out of sync. And yet—

The world was perfect, perfect, perfect. Trees swayed gently, the vibrant colours dulling further and further as Kriemhild Gretchen dove deeper and deeper within her perfect world.

And yet still, opening the doors, travelling down the path within her steel-cage heart, she found a single blemish. 

Not on her, of course. Kriemhild Gretchen was the perfect being who loved all. Her love brought salvation, but salvation had to be wanted. And yet, she supposed she could not blame this blemish within her. For it was that spot of corruption that taught her of the idea of “love”. Love, which was encompassing and all-powerful. Love, which she could take, take, and take.

A love that centred only on two.

For some odd, odd reason, warring with a part of her that screamed to purify that corruption, Kriemhild liked that spot within her. Somehow, she preferred her that way, imperfect and so lovely on her own—her little crow in a sea of doves. 

That Girl was so strange. Some days, she wept. Some days, she screamed. Some days, she was almost just content—just enough to sink into Kriemhild’s loving embrace, staining her lovely, lovely skin before yanking herself out. A pretty little bird with contradictory feelings and actions.

Unbinding the chains, Kriemhild Gretchen gently pushed open the doors. Of course, not before ensuring her mask was picture-perfect. In earlier times, in her haste, Kriemhild often came in with the wrong shade of pink, or an unfortunate melted mess of some poofy pink dress amalgamated with neutral beige, or even with hair all too long and ribbons all too mismatched. She even practised her expressions too, moulding her “face” to suit those flashes of images of that other girl. 

That being said, all those failures still wrought better behaviour than when she came in as herself.

Passing through those doors as if gliding on air, the Witch of Salvation beheld her one and only sinner. There she lay, sleeping on a bed of soft silk and flesh, eyes closed and her hands clasped over her chest. Kriemhild thought a delicate little crown might suit those elegant features, to complete this image—her own little sleeping beauty.

Slowly, slowly, Kriemhild crept closer; hands outstretched from the walls, closer, closer. She admired the black dress contrasting the pallor of her skin, head tilted as she stared. Yes, the Witch thought. Black truly did suit her slumbering doll.

Closer, closer, closer. Her hand moved to brush lightly against that girl’s cheek. Carefully, Kriemhild willed herself to simply grow out of the bed instead, painting legs on either side of the girl. Hands moved to open the crossed palms on her chest as the girl sunk deeper and deeper into slumber. Kriemhild went down, down, down, pressing her ear against that irregularly beating heart.

Thump, thump, thump. Pitter-patter, pitter-patter.

A wonderful, sublime sound.

Fingers reached to trace a line from her jaw to her heart, talon-like nails skimming over the unprotected flesh of her neck—lamentably marred by a singular, savage bite. One hand slid between raven black strands of hair, tensed, waiting.

And then Kriemhild yanked. 

The girl’s eyes snapped open in pain, shiny, dulling amethyst meeting with Kriemhild’s own brightly pink ones. At that, she grinned, ecstatic to see her most beloved sinner singularly focused on her. (What a terrible harbinger of salvation she was, having favourites. But then again, did prophets and apostles not exist?) 

“Helloo~ Good morning!” Kriemhild’s hands moved to roughly cup the girl’s face, nails pressing on delicate skin. Her torso moved forward until their noses were only centimetres away from touching, still keeping that manic grin on her “face”.

“M— Mado…ka?” Her poor darling slurred, still ever so out of it. But it was oh so adorable, and all Kriemhild wanted to do was eat her, swallow her down, and meld the two of them until she stopped calling her by the wrong name.

But Kriemhild Gretchen was salvation and mercy personified, so instead, she giggled—a soft, tinkling sound that would reverberate within your ears. Over and over again. She wasn’t angry. No, no. Her little birdie just needed a little…reminder.

In low sotto voce, she responded, “Silly… You know that’s not my name, don’t you?”

And then, a kiss, for the pretty princess. Soft but intent, leaving no other option than for the spell to be broken. Kriemhild’s hands fisted black hair, entangling it within her fingers. The scent of roses filled the air. Then she drew back, watching the fog recede from those purple eyes. 

“What’s my name?” Kriemhild calmly asked, seeing sparks flickering once more. The girl didn’t answer. The walls pulsed, contracting flesh and bone. Once, twice.

Thrice.

“Come on, I’m quite sure you know it by now, don’t you? I believe you’re smart enough to remember something as simple as that, right? Come now, say my name.” Kriemhild’s voice was poisonously sweet, a sign of her waning patience. Even a being as magnanimous as her was bound to have a limit to patience. Especially when it came to her name. 

Eyes more red than pink bore down at the figure beneath her. She could hear that irregular heart, fluttering its wings like a hummingbird.

“My name, Dear.”

The girl’s eyes darted around, searching for something Kriemhild couldn’t see. Didn’t she know there was nothing here but Kriemhild and her? Nothing else but the two of them (forever, forever, forever). A small, pink tongue quickly swiped at chapped lips, before a light, airy voice came out. “Kriem—” She paused, taking a small glance at Kriemhild’s current, waiting expression. “Kriemhild Gretchen.”

As always these days, her words came slow, not quite the sharp blades they once were. It was indeed a testament to Kriemhild Gretchen’s own mercy and patience, to wait as long as she could. But the reward at the end was always worth it.

“Good girl!” Kriemhild was as quick as always to hand out praise, arms wrapping tight around a thin torso before she squeezed with suppressed euphoria. Little laughs trickled out from her mouth, muffled only by the fact that her face was pressed against the girl’s chest—deforming as it was right now. Minutes passed by before Kriemhild deemed herself safe from melting before her raven’s eyes.

Once again, her hands moved to cup her little birdie’s face before she spoke. “You’ve been becoming more and more of a good girl these days, you know? Before, it would always take such a long time for you to remember that I’m. Not. Madoka.” White noise hung in the air, buzzing with an intensity that only grew and grew.

Her name was Kriemhild Gretchen.

The girl only ever called her “Madoka” when unprompted.

Yes, Kriemhild Gretchen was mercy personified. Yes, she was the most perfect, pure being in this corrupted (now violently cleansed) world. Yes, she only ever did her best to turn this world into paradise. But Kriemhild Gretchen did not share.

These people, this girl most of all, were all hers, hers, hers.

(Because she loved her, and her little birdie loved her too but only through a mask, no matter how inelegant and diminutive it was. Kriemhild Gretchen loved with a ferocity that belied an all-consuming desire for her beautiful raven to love her madly, truly—to allow Kriemhild one day fully swallow her whole, subsuming her so she would never, ever leave. Never, ever cry once more. Kriemhild Gretchen loved this pitiful sinner of hers and no one would take her from Kriemhild.)

It took her much less time to notice the blood leaking from the girl’s nose, eyes, ears, and mouth. This time, she didn’t even have to be told by the drip drip drip of crimson life. Kriemhild shifted in the girl’s lap, noting the subtle wince at the changing weight. She must’ve twisted and broken her legs again.

Gently, Kriemhild wiped away the blood nearing those soft lips, smearing it on her knuckles and her raven’s fine-boned cheek.

What a pretty picture.

She kissed her again.

“You know you’re mine for all eternity, right?”

Her caged bird did not respond.

----

Once, she held in her heart an ice-cold body, perfectly preserved in all its beauty. Mangled yet healing, Kriemhild’s hands held that small heart of her bird’s near her own makeshift body, wondering if she should simply eat it bit by bit or swallow it whole.

For some reason, she’d returned that glowing heart of purple glass back to its original body instead. Staring at the girl who should’ve only been another sinner to her, Kriemhild had not yet understood why she kept her—nor the three other bodies she’d consumed—inside her heart.

Yes, they’d come a long way from that moment.

And yet, and yet… It really wasn’t enough. Kriemhild could feel it in her very soul.

----

That girl… No, “Homura”, was still not content within this world, within her. 

How much longer until they would be one? How much longer would she come in, always hearing Madoka, Madoka, Madoka first? How much longer did she have to put up with that mask?

As she pondered those questions, Kriemhild Gretchen swallowed Homura deeper in, creating more doors, creating more thorny vines to keep her most beloved sinner. Perhaps Kriemhild Gretchen’s heaven was imperfect (and oh, how it stung to know so) for Homura. Perhaps Homura only needed to understand her more, by delving deeper into her world. 

Perhaps, one day, she would no longer be called “Madoka” first.

And perhaps one day, her heart would not feel so empty.

(Three bodies in, and yet still Kriemhild wanted, wanted, wanted)

[bleper]

Live with the pain of your decisions my boys (Owen and Time both sitting on the ground c-r-y-i-n-g)

Tw: death(I regret nothing), kinda sorta implied suicidal thoughts

The fierce blast of heat that danced across his already scorched skin made him wince in pain. Where were his brothers when he needed them? The quiet scratch of claws on stone sounded like the loudest thing imaginable in the silence left with nothing but the noise of him panting for oxygen in the smoky depths of the volcano. The magma bubbled nearby, his sword dangerously close to falling into it on its own before a rough scaled talon slowly pushed it into the thick molten rock soup. Well there goes that route.

No sword, no brothers, being Wolfie won't help him outrun or fight the damned dragon. He just needs to think right? Surely there's something he can do other than…dying.

Wild has his shield because he just HAD to insist that his cub would need it, his pouch was more or less vaporized by the dragon when he found him, no potions, no fairies, no weapons, this isn't looking good.

Oh fuck.

The great stinking corpse of the rapidly cooling dragon rested almost dramatically on the ground. The large wings that once lifted the behemoth off the ground now lay crooked and broken at it's sides, the hulking head of the beast twisted at a gruesome angle from the same force that had snapped it's neck. Fierce regretted nothing but not getting there faster.

His body was shaking with rage and sorrow as he held him in his arms. What was left of him at least. The last thing he ever said to him was that he was a disappointment. Not good enough to be his descendant in a fit of rage. Now look where he is. He'd never get to apologize, to say that he didn't mean it. Maybe he'd do better off joining him.

The tears that slid down his face and evaporated in the heat before they could ever touch his poor child’s skin was a fleeting moment that Fierce couldn't quite comprehend and yet, he didn't trust Link to be alone. So he would stay, he'd carry the broken and scorched body of Link's child back so that he could have a proper burial. He couldn't leave Link to do it himself. He knew he couldn't, lest he end up mourning two souls instead of one.

[boldlyvoid]

Midnight Runner part 2

18+ Steve Harrington x Eddie Munson

Summary: having a crush during the end of the world was difficult

Warnings: season 4 canon scenes just fruitier, coming out, teasing, flirting, overprotective steve

word count: 9.4k

Fic Masterlist

Steve convinces Robin to take a trip to the grocery store before heading over to pick up Dustin and Max. She doesn’t question it, she thinks it’s actually kinda cute that he wants to take care of Eddie as much as he can. He gets mostly snacks, things for breakfast and a pack of cigarettes for good measure.

Withdrawal isn’t fun and he was stressed as fuck, Steve would want a smoke too.

They didn’t talk much about it last night, not that Robin didn’t try and ask why he was being so quiet, Steve just didn’t know what to say. He has had these mixed feelings about Eddie for years… he was loud and opinionated and seemingly fearless. He had no problem biting back, sometimes he started shit for fun and he always knew how to end it. He’s probably been in more fights than Steve and yet Steve has never seen him with a black eye. Anytime Steve saw him on the bench outside the principal's office, he was waiting for his uncle to pick him up after another suspension with an icepack on his ringless fingers. He can't remember if he had his rings on that night… he was so caught up in the feeling of everything else that he can't place those little details anymore.

He couldn’t wait to see Eddie again. After a long night of only thinking about him, he wanted nothing more than to be in his presence and see his eyes and hear his voice. He knew he was pretty before, but now he was everything… he’s almost glad he never believed Robin that his mystery man was Eddie because a year of this crush he was feeling would’ve killed him. One day is already almost unbearable.

In the car, Dustin and Max explain everything they heard on the radio that night and Robin tells them that they couldn’t get a hold of Nancy, apparently, she was working late at the newspaper and must’ve stayed out… Mrs. Wheeler was worried about her, and wanted them to call if or when they heard from her, just to be safe with everything going on.

At least one of their parents was worried for them.

Everyone takes a bag out of Steve’s trunk and walks them back towards the boat house. The street is quiet, the lake is empty apart from the ducks that can be heard… and what sounds like a loon?

“Delivery service!” Dustin announces their presence as soon as the door opens.

They find Eddie in the corner, broken beer bottle still in hand, terrified, “Jesus Christ!”

Steve just smiles and gives him a little wave, the kind where all his fingers wiggle and he can’t help but smile harder. “Hi…”

Eddie sighs and relaxes, “hi.”

“We come bearing gifts,” Robin says, walking over to him while opening one of the bags, “you’re not lactose intolerant right?”

He laughs, “no… what did you bring?”

“We thought you’d like some cereal and chips… and goldfish? There’s some water, a few cokes and chocolate milk,” Robin explains.

Eddie takes a seat with his things and immediately rips open the box of cereal, he accompanies it with chocolate milk, alternating between handfuls of cereal and swigs of milk, he eats like a feral dog.

"So we’ve got some good news and some bad news. How do you prefer?" Dustin asks before diving in.

“Bad news first, always,” looks at him like he should know that already.

“We tapped into the Hawkins PD dispatch with our Cerebro and they’re definitely looking for you… also, they’re uh, pretty convinced you killed Chrissy.” Dustin explains.

“Like 100% kinda convinced,” Max adds, having been there in Dustin's room when the transitions came through.

“And the good news?” Eddie looks at Dustin with a glimmer of hope still shining in his eyes.

“Your name hasn’t gone public yet,” Robin answers, drawing his attention that way, all while Steve is leaning against the post, watching Eddie with a sorrowful feeling in his chest. The poor boy didn’t deserve this and there was no way for Steve to make it better for him.

“But if we found out about you, it’s only a matter of time before others do, too, and once that gets out everyone and their shallow-minded mother is going to be gunning for you,” Robin keeps rambling, knowing much more about Eddie than the other kids, she knew what things the town was going to say about him and the name started with and F.

“Hunt the Freak, right?” Eddie look her in the eye, he could tell she meant a different word but it still fit.

“Exactly.”

“Shit.”

“So, before that happens,” Dustin, ever the optimist, jumps in to soothe his anxiety. “We need to find Vecna, kill him and prove your innocence.”

“That’s all, Dustin? That’s all?” Eddie almost snaps because that doesn’t seem simple in the slightest.

“Yeah, no, yeah that’s pretty much it…”

Eddie looks like he could reach over and strangle him, it wasn’t going to be simple, not now, not ever. Even if the plan worked, the cops weren’t going to believe it was a monster from another world that did it. There were monsters in America doing crimes just as bad as this shit every fucking day, no one ever thought it would happen in Hawkins, but it is. Bringing justice to the victims, especially the pretty little white cheerleader, is going to come at a price and sometimes that price was paid by someone the jury of his peers simply didn’t like.

Him.

“Listen, Eddie,” Robin draws him back out of it. “I know everything Dustin is saying sounds totally delusional, but we’ve actually been through this stuff before— I mean, they have…”

Eddie turns to Steve, shocked that this was something he had lived through… which means all the stories Dustin had about Steve being a badass were real. He really did know how to kill anything, he really has protected Dustin from a pack of wolves… even if they were actually from a hell dimension. Steve kept him safe. Steve fought for him. Maybe he’d fight for me too?

“A—a few times, and I have once,” Robin keeps talking, still clearly traumatized by it all. “Mine was more human-flesh-based and theirs was more smoke-related— but bottom line is, collectively, I really think we’ve got this.”

Steve finally chirps in then, “yeah, see we usually rely on this girl who has superpowers, but uh, they went bye-bye, so…”

“Sore we’re technically in more of uh…” Robin tries to keep the assurance up, but everyone else also struggles to find a silver lining.

“Brainstorming phase?” Max finally finds the word.

“Brainstorming!” Steve snaps his fingers and points at him with a smile.

“There’s—there’s nothing to worry about?” Dustin’s voice goes up a pitch like it usually does when he’s lying, causing Eddie to roll his eyes.

Steve scoffs, laughing because he felt awkward, it felt like there was very little hope… especially without Nancy and Joyce. They always knew what to do.

The sound of the siren draws their attention away from Dustin's failed attempt at comforting Eddie. “Tarp! Tarp now!” Robin points to the boat, ushering Eddie over to it and pulling the blue sheet over him.

They rush to the window of the boathouse, crowding the pane, Steve stands on his tip-toes to watch an ambulance head up the road with two cop cars close behind. It isn’t even really a question if they’re going to follow it or not, Dustin simply grabs his bag and heads to the door with Max and Robin in tow. Steve stalls, knowing they have to leave Eddie if they want to go investigate, and he hates leaving him alone, but who else was going to drive the kids towards the danger? Max? Never again.

He takes a moment to tell Eddie it was just an ambulance and they’re going to check it out, he kneels beside the boat and pats Eddie on the shoulder just as he pulls the tarp back, ready to talk but Eddie grabs his wrist, keeping his hand there, “radio me later and tell me what’s going on? Me and Dustin use 96.6 on the AM frequency, no one else should be on it if you have his walkie…”

“Yeah, I will,” he gives him a sweet smile, “don’t worry.”

Steve had the worrying covered for him.

—

They’re alone in the car for maybe 5 seconds before Dustin brings it up, “so… are we gonna talk about… it?”

Steve is too busy watching the door, making sure Max is safe, “huh? Sorry, talk about what?”

For a moment he panics, thinking Dustin saw the way he looked at Eddie, or maybe picked up on all the things Steve bought for Eddie with his own money to make sure he was fed while hiding… or the way Eddie touched him before he left? But no, he once again thinks Steve is in love with every woman he speaks to.

“Your temporary insanity earlier today when you basically threw yourself at Nance?” Dustin exaggerates what just happened at the trailer park.

“First of all, that’s not what happened,” Steve corrects him.

“Pretty sure that’s what happened,” Dustin shrugs, always having to be right.

“No.”

“It was pretty public, there were like a lot of witnesses.”

“Are you implying that I still have a thing for Nance?” Steve just gets it out in the open for him.

“I’m not implying… I’m stating,” Dustin teases as if he’s trying to piss him off. “AND as it relates to your steadfast refusal to date Robin, it’s pretty much the only logical option…”

Steve huffs, that’s the part that makes his blood fill with rage, “thats not the only one… And as for Nance, I was just trying to protect a friend.”

Dustin bites the inside of his lip so he won’t laugh, not believing him at all.

“A friend, Henderson. A Friend. Okay?”

“Okay,” Dustin agrees to settle it but Steve can see in his face that he’s just going to bring it up another time, he wasn’t going to let go of it that easily.

“I don’t want to find her in the morning with her eyes sucked out the front of her skull by this Vecna creep!!” Steve panics and tells him half of the truth. He wasn’t sure if the real truth would bode well with him… sure, Mrs. Henderson was a democrat but that didn’t mean their household was okay with gay people.

The last thing he needed was to lose Dustin at a time like this.

Dustin laughs at him, it’s always funny when Steve is the one to get into these panic rambles. “You’re like bright red in the face right now.”

“No I’m not, I don’t want to talk about it— I’ll punch you so hard in your face your teeth’ll fall back out.”

Mean girl Steve jumped out before he even has a chance to realize the cage was open, he reels her back in and turns to Dustin as he registers what was said, a look of pure regret on his face.

“Woah, too far,” Dustin stares back at him, worried… he’s never been on the receiving end of Steve’s bad attitude.

There’s a pause, they look at each other completely seriously, understanding it was all a bit and it’s over now. “Not cool. Sorry,” he apologizes immediately.

“Not cool, but it’s okay,” Agrees and accepts, nodding softly and smiling, “seriously though… why is it that you’re just friends with two of the prettiest girls I know?”

It's now or never. The last thing he needed was Dustin asking him about the girls in front of Eddie. He didn’t need Eddie thinking he was just some one-time jock in the forest who wanted to try something and never talk about it again. He really liked Eddie. When this is all over, he wants to get to know Eddie better than ever before, better than anyone else knows him. And Dustin was his key to doing that.

“Did you ever consider the fact that maybe girls aren’t the only people I like…?”

Dustin is a bit taken aback by it, he purses his lips and thinks about it for a sec, and then he smiles “really?”

Steve nods, “yeah, so I spend a lot of my time talking to Robin about boys I like… and girls too. I’m just hung up on someone who isn’t Nancy, and it’s not Robin either, I’m just not ready to talk to you about it.”

“Okay,” Dustin is super understanding, “sorry for bugging you all the time, before, I never would’ve thought… but it’s cool. It’s really cool, you’d be a great boyfriend to another dude.”

“Thanks,” he manages to smile. “It’s only you and Robin who know… so don’t tell anyone—

“I would never,” Dustin reaches over and lays his hand on Steve's arm, “I promise.”

“Good,” he pulls Dustin into a hug and pats his back before he lets him go. “Thank you.”

“No problem, man,” Dustin leans back in his seat and looks out the front window as if nothing happened. “Can you not tell me because he’s not out yet and you want him to choose when I find out?”

“No… it’s kinda one-sided right now,” Steve admits. “I would call it a crush but I don’t want you to tease me.”

“No, no, it’s cute,” Dustin smirks, trying not to laugh at him. “Do I know him?”

“Maybe?” He lies, he thinks it’s convincing enough. “I barely know him.”

Dustin looks at him with a smirk, “you know, I have other gay friends who I could hook you up with?”

Steve looks at him funny, “you know other gay people?”

He nods, “yeah, why else do you think we’re all searching for fantasy worlds? This one isn’t accepting, trust me, I know… so we made a cool world in our game where we can all be different and it’s allowed… and I have a feeling based on who has a boyfriend in the game, I know who would love to have a real boyfriend.”

“Are you… gay?” Steve can’t help but ask, they’re more similar than Steve realizes, sometimes.

Dustin shrugs, “never thought too hard about it but it doesn’t gross me out to think about kissing a boy, so, who knows? I’ve just always been bullied for my disability, so in dungeons and dragons I can be both smart and agile, I don’t have to worry about breaking something or being in pain for days after a big game. I feel normal there. Everyone else does too.”

“I’m glad you have that,” Steve smiles thinking about how happy Dustin is after every game and how much that has to do with Eddie. “We really need to find a way to get the police to believe that it wasn’t Eddie… we can’t have you losing that.”

“Right,” Dustin, once again, see’s through him. “So you can take him out on a date after?”

“Do I need to take it too far again?” Steve teases, looking at him with a fake sense of dominance while holding his fist up. He smiles, breaking character and the two of them crack up. Laughing almost too hard to notice Max running towards the car.

—

If Vecna wanted to curse people with sad home lives, why didn’t he just pick Steve?

He’s the only one awake still, involuntarily taking the first watch while the rest of the party went to sleep. Mrs. Wheeler was fine with everyone staying now that she knew where Nancy was, she just made them separate at night. Steve had Dustin and Lucas with him down in the basement while Max and Robin were sharing a sleeping bag on Nancy’s bedroom floor.

Steve has been watching them sleep for about 30 minutes, they’ve been snoring the whole time, he doesn’t think they’ll wake up if he moves but he still gets up slowly. He reaches for Dustin's bag and pulls the walkie out from the front pocket and backs away from their sleeping spot. They don’t even budge, thank god.

In the back corner of the Wheeler’s basement, behind the stairs, is the laundry room and the utility closet, just far enough away from the boys that he wouldn’t be heard. He sits down with his back against the dryer and uses the light on the water heater to see the frequency gauge on the radio.

He moves it to 96.6 and holds down the talk button, “Eddie, you there?”

“Steve?” Eddie questions, knowing for sure it’s not Dustin’s voice coming through. “What’s going on?”

“Do you remember a kid named Fred Benson? He was on the newspaper team with Nancy?”

“Yeah, I know him,” Eddie says with a sigh, he could already tell where this was going.

“So uh, Fred died just like Chrissy. He was at your trailer with Nance to interview Wayne and then he disappeared into the woods and they found him this morning where Cornwallis meet’s Lover’s Lane,” Steve explains and then lets go of the button.

The radio static is all that can be heard, and Eddie is quiet. Too quiet. “You copy?” Steve asks, worried he never heard him.

“Yeah, yeah sorry… Do you think the trailer park is cursed?”

“That’s what I asked when we went back to get Nancy’s car,” Steve shares with a slight smile on his face. It was weird talking to him and not playfully pissing the other off. “But uh, we’ve got more bad news… both Chrissy and Fred were getting headaches, bad dreams and visions before they died, it started gradually and then got worse until they died. It’s probably why Chrissy wanted drugs, she couldn’t handle it alone…”

“She seemed really fucked up, I mean, she’d have to be to come to me?” Eddie believes it, “I guess the trailer park isn’t cursed then because they got sick before coming to the park, they just all happened to die near it?”

Steve hates that he has to tell him this next part.

“Max admitted to us that she has all the symptoms and we were there for her vision… it was so freaky, I’m sorry you had to see the whole thing with Chrissy.”

Eddie bypasses the niceties and goes right to the issue at hand, “So we’re 3 for 3 on connections to just my trailer now,” Eddie says with a sigh.

“Yeah, but at least that gave us somewhere to start looking,” Steve assures him.

“Did you find anything?”

“When Nancy was there with Fred, your uncle told her all about Victor Creel and how he killed his family in the 50’s… she went to the Library and found some articles about it and they’re going to look into it more tomorrow, so I’m not sure if we’ll be able to come see you at all?”

“That’s okay,” Eddie replied, he didn’t really mind.

“Are you okay being there all alone?” Steve asks, still worried for him. It’s just his luck that the first person he’s crushed this hard on since Nancy would end up being wanted for murder. The last thing he needs is for Eddie to get cursed too. “You’re not feeling any of the symptoms?”

“I mean, I have a headache from being up for almost 3 days and when I do sleep I get nightmares because I’m processing the trauma… but yeah, I’m fine. It just sucks being here ‘cause I’m a little afraid of the dark… I’m not gonna lie, Steve, it’s a lot scarier now that I know what’s out there,” Eddie admits.

“I’m sorry…but you’re okay? You still have snacks and you’re warm enough?”

“Dustin wasn’t kidding when he said you were like a mother hen,” Eddie teased him.

Steve laughs then too, holding the button down so he catches the end of his giggle, “yeah, yeah, I take care of the people I care about, sue me, Munson.”

“You care about me, Harrington?” Eddie asks with a fondness in his voice that Steve can hear.

“Yeah,” Steve answers, squeezing his eyes closed with regret. “I mean, Dustin loves you so if anything happened to you he’d be deviated… I have to take care of you for his sake.”

“Yeah, no, I get it, you’re doing it for the kids…” Eddie sounded disappointed almost. “Um, thanks again for the groceries, you didn’t have to do that.”

“I’m sure Reefer Rick doesn’t have anything edible— I mean, he probably does, I should say he doesn’t have anything that won’t get you high when you eat it in his house,” Steve teases, “I wasn’t going to let you starve, it’s bad enough you’re wanted for murder.”

“Do they really think I was able to kill Fred too? Why don’t they think I’m a victim too if they can’t find me?” Eddie asks, “it’s just straight-up bad police work to think it’s me?”

“If only Hopper was still here, he knew all about this shit,” Steve admits. “He died closing the last gate that opened under the mall.”

“From the girl with the superpowers?”

“No, actually the Russian’s made it but thats another story,” Steve doesn’t want to get into it either. “El closed the first one and Hop died closing the second…. he like adopted her and everything before he died but now she lives with Jonathan Byers and his mom and brother,” Steve explains, “and we can’t get ahold of them in California, so I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

“I should’ve known there was more to that zombie boy story…”

“Yeah… it’s just gotten crazier each year,” Steve can’t believe it either, and this is his 4th go-around. “But we’ve won 3 times, so…”

“The odds look good,” Eddie agrees, somewhat optimistically. “Can you give me the stats, what kills this thing? What’s its weakness?”

“Well, the mindflayer doesn’t like heat so we’ve been just lighting everything on fire, we used fireworks last time cause the monster was fucking huge when normally they’re like either little dog size things and their mouths open like those flowers that eat flies— Venus fly traps, thats it, and there’s some that are like 8 feet tall scary men sized dudes, we call them demogorgons, they also have the big opening mouth for a head, it’s fucking horrific,” Steve doesn’t mean to ramble but he’s never really been able to tell anyone about this stuff, other than Robin.

Eddie stays quiet on the other end, “they’re cold-blooded if they don’t like heat… which would make sense cause you said their world is nasty and dark, right?”

“Yeah, only Nancy, Joyce, Hopper and Will have actually been in the upside down and come back alive, I was in these tunnels between the worlds with the kids— once again, setting shit on fire, to give the others an upper hand… It all works like a hive mind if you burn one thing the whole system suffers.”

“So this Vecna fucker must be the puppet master,” Eddie agrees, “were the other monsters just feelers for what he could do or do you think this is an evolutionary thing?”

“Evolutionary?”

“Yeah, like in my games sometimes one villain has multiple evolutions, it starts small and then gets bigger and badder as time goes on and they take more souls and shit,” Eddie explains. “Maybe that’s why Chrissy and Fred ended up so broken like that… it’s like Vecna is sucking their life force out of them for his own gain?”

“The thing we fought last time was a bunch of infected people from Hawkins who all turned to mush and then formed one big monster with a gaping mouth and 6 legs… it was huge, like the size of a monster truck.” Steve shares, “So it’s like he found a cleaner approach to absorbing them?”

“Make sure you tell Nancy that in the morning,” Eddie says as a way of agreeing with him. “That could be really important.”

“I will, they’ll figure something out with it, I know it,” Steve assures him.

“You should get some sleep,” Eddie cares about him right back. “Those kids need you at your best.”

He can’t help but smile like a fool, “okay… are you going to sleep tonight?”

“Honestly? Probably not,” he admits, feeling a lot more comfortable with Steve now… “but I’m going to let you go, have a good night, Steve.”

“Try to sleep for me?” Steve asks, softer than ever before. “Head back into the main house and crawl into Rick's bed and just try… take care of yourself.”

“Thanks, mom,” he teases Steve one last time and then he’s gone. Radio off, hopefully heading back inside to sleep.

Steve sits there for a few more minutes with the radio pulled to his chest in a semi-hug, he wanted this to work out more than anything in the world.

—

Eddie hears a car pull up to the main house just after 3 pm that afternoon, one that doesn’t sound like Steve's or Nancy’s, it sounds bigger. He thinks maybe they brought a different vehicle after whatever they were up to that led to their radio silence all day… but he can’t see the road from where he is in the boathouse.

Sure enough, he heard 3 doors slam followed up by the worst voice he knew.

“Come on out, Freak!” Jason called out, letting him know they were coming for him.

He crouches by the window, staying low and still so no one sees him back there. He takes his walkie in hand and holds down the button, “Hey, Dustin? You there? It’s Eddie. You remember me, right?”

Nothing.

“Hey, uh, if… anyones there, I really think I might be in a bit of trouble here. Okay?”

Still nothing.

“Wheeler?” He begs, peaking out the window to see if the jocks have spotted the boat house yet.

“Steve?!” His voice gets a bit louder, more panicked and then he reaches a new level of desperation, he smacks the radio and almost yells through gritted teeth, “anybody?!?”

Still absolutely fucking nothing.

He shakes his head in disbelief and quickly gets back under the tarp in the boat, he’ll just pretend he’s not there as long as humanly possible… he hears them shouting his name and other derogatory terms around the yard and from inside the house, threatening to kill him if they find him. After about an hour, they quiet down. It becomes a once-a-half-hour thing for one of them to yell for Eddie as they tore the house apart worse than the police when they arrested Rick.

The sun eventually goes down around 8:30, after hours and hours of hiding, he finally hears Jason say what he’s been so afraid of.

“Has anyone checked the boathouse?”

He takes a deep breath and accepts his fate, he could either sit there and wait and hope they’re not as smart as Steve to start poking around where they didn’t belong… or, he could grab an oar and he could start to paddle out across Lovers Lake, towards Skull Rock. Before he can even think it over, his instincts kick in and he’s rowing his boat away from the dock.

He gets about halfway into the lake when Jason spots him, once again, calling out for the freak. Shit.

Now that he’s been seen, he doesn’t give a fuck about being loud with the motor running, so he pulls the cord on the engine as hard as he can… and nothing. “Come on! Just come on!!”

Jason is ripping off his suit jacket, newly returned from his girlfriend's funeral, he was manic as fuck and scarier than ever. In a moment of desperation, Eddie leans towards the engine and begs her to cooperate, “come on, sweetheart, you’ve gotta help me out here…”

And to no avail, she’s dead in his hands too. Nothing seems to be going right for him. Not now. Not ever.

His anger builds the more he yanks on the cord, “you… piece… of.. shit… Goddamn it!!” He finally smacks the engine and grabs the oar again, he had to do everything himself.

By now, Jason is in the water and swimming towards him like a piranha that smells blood. Eddie paddles as fast as he can, just hoping and praying he makes it to the other side and Jason gets a fucking cramp or something so he has enough time to run. He really needs to be able to run. He was not going to die in the hands of Jason Carver, that would be fucking pathetic.

They’re so close to grabbing onto the boat and slowing him down. One wrong move and they could tip him out, grab a hold of him and drown him before he even has a chance to swim. He paddles faster and faster, always getting just a mere metre ahead of them when Patrick stops.

“Hey, come on, let’s go! We almost have him!” Jason calls out to him, causing Eddie to stop too.

He stands with the oar in his hand, waving it like a sword, “stay back!! Stay back, you hear me?!”

“Patrick?” Jason calls again, more concerned. “Patrick!!” He turns to Eddie, treading water and breathing heavily, “what did you do? What kind of devil work is… oh my god?” Jason's attention is pulled to his friend who is now floating out of the water and into the air.

“Not again,” Eddie doesn’t want to be there when it happens this time. He sits back down and paddles faster than ever before.

He runs before he can hear the sound of their bones breaking, the cartilage twisting and that awful snap and crunch… it’s the worst sound known to man and he hears it every time he closes his eyes already. He didn’t need to witness it again. He doesn’t turn back when he hears Jason's screams and cries for his friend, or when there’s the inevitable splash that indicates it's all over.

Vecna took yet another life in close proximity to him.

He gets all the way to the other side of the lake and jumps out of the boat, he doesn’t tie it down or give a shit where it ends up, he’s got to go. He runs like a bat out of hell through the woods while his mind races in a million different directions. He didn’t even realize he left the radio in the boat until he reaches an all-too-familiar spot in the woods.

The tree where it all started.

He stops dead in his tracks and turns towards it, he grips the bark like his life depends on it and then wraps his arms around it. He holds onto the fucking tree like it's his lover after a long war, his chest is heaving, and he’s so tired and out of breath and scared. He’s so fucking scared he could have a heart attack and die right here… but right here is where he belonged. Right here is safe and holy and good. He drops down to the ground, still leaning against the tree as he takes a deep breath and another one, he rubs the tree bark to ground himself with the texture and returns all rational thought back to his brain.

He would stay here tonight. No one will be cruising with a murderer on the loose and the cops had better things to do than dish out public indecency charges tonight. He was truly safe here. In the morning, however, he’d go back to the shoreline, he would get the radio from the boat and he’ll call for Steve… or Dustin. Either way, he’ll probably see Steve tomorrow.

He knew Gareth was right about his mystery midnight runner being Steve, he accepted it a while ago, actually. He just never expected Steve to be anything more than a jock. He didn’t expect him to be soft and caring and funny… he knew he was pretty sure, but his soft heart made him beautiful.

And to think that just last year Steve was playing basketball with the same kids that are trying to now kill Eddie right now… it was a strange double life that Steve led. He was both cool and responsible. He was a babysitter and a whore. He sucked dick like a god and left most of the women in Hawkins satisfied too.

He’s a bloody mystery that Harrington, boy.

And if Eddie liked anything for sure, it was a challenge. Getting Steve Harrington to like him back was going to be just that and so much more… he just had to live long enough to see it through.

—

Eddie called and asked Nancy for more food yesterday morning, they didn’t have time to visit him at all during the morning and then everything with Max got worse so Steve was preoccupied. By the time Steve sat back down by the dyer to call Eddie, it was almost midnight again and he didn’t pick up the radio at all… it left Steve with a pit in his stomach that wouldn’t go away.

Dustin was snoring with his mouth wide open, snuggled into a pillow on the floor, he let Lucas have the full couch tonight. Lucas stayed up a bit longer than he should’ve, worried for the girl he loved, he stared at Max until his eyes got heavy and sleep took over… which was exactly when Max stopped pretending she didn’t still love him, she walked over to the couch and wrapped a blanket over him, she kissed his forehead and went right back to the desk in the corner as if nothing happened.

Steve saw it all happen from the laundry room, she saw him talking to the walkie and just turned her music up louder, giving him the privacy that he didn’t need because Eddie wouldn’t pick up. Every few minutes he asked the same question on the radio, “hello? Anyone there?” Not wanting to say his name because he had no idea who else was on the line, anyone in the town could be on this frequency. Yet no one answered.

He moves back over to the couch with the radio on a low volume so he could still hear Eddie if he called but it wouldn’t startle the kids awake. He watches Max in the corner, her headphones on and music blasted, she was drawing in the corner with a little light on, perfectly fine.

Dustin's watch starts to beep at 4:30, Steve watches him sit right up and rub his eyes with a groan. He lets out a huff and then turns to Steve, “my turn to keep watch.”

“I’m good,” Steve waves him off. “Go back to sleep.”

“Nope,” Dustin stretches, his voice almost disappearing as all the air in his lungs is expelled. He takes another deep breath and then stands up, “I’m going to pee, your eyes better be closed when I get back out.”

“Fine,” Steve wasn’t going to fight with him, he simply clutches the radio a bit tighter and settles into the chair in a comfortable position.

His eyes are closed for barely 2 minutes when his brain wanders into sleep, his head drops forward and his breathing picks up. It makes Dustin smile when he comes back from the bathroom, he puts a blanket on Steve’s lap and leaves him be. He needed this rest.

He wakes up clutching a pillow like his life depended on it, startled and alarmed by how peaceful the sleep was until now. He stared at the black nothingness of his closed eyelids for 4 hours straight before Nancy was waking him up with a shake.

“We’ve gotta get ready to go, I’ve still got some of your clothes in my room if you want to change,” She admits. “Track pants and a yellow sweater?”

“Kay,” he hums, rubbing his eyes until he sees blue and green dots and his head starts to feel like he’s spinning. “Anything happening?”

“There are reports of another body being found, we need to go see—

“Eddie?” he wakes right up, realizing he doesn’t have the walkie anymore, he looks around the room and he’s the only one still downstairs. “Has anyone contacted him?”

She shakes her head, “still nothing.”

“Let’s go,” he rushes past her up the stairs to the main floor and then up more stairs on her way to Nancy’s room. The boys were rifling through Mike's drawers for new shirts while Robin and Max wore something from the bags they packed days ago, at the start of all this. They came prepared.

He changes in the bathroom as quickly as possible and returns to Nancy’s room with his keys in hand, “I’m going to take Dustin to the store, Eddie said he was hungry yesterday… we’ll be back in 15?”

“Okay,” Nancy doesn’t care that he’s all concerned for Eddie like he’s his lover, but Robin smirks at him. “Remember, he asked for beer when he called and with this news… he’s going to need it.”

—

When they roll up to Rick’s house, there’s a media frenzy and a million and 1 cop cars lining the streets. They all rush up behind a news van just in time to hear the inevitable. “We have named a person of interest… Eddie Munson.”

“Ah man,” Steve groans. “This is not good. Really not good.”

Everyone agreed but no one says anything, they just glance at each other, feeling a bit more than defeated. They felt hopeless.

“Dustin, can you hear me? Wheeler?” Eddies voice crackles through the radio about too loud for where they are.

Dustin is quick to pull the radio out and turn the volume down, “Eddie, holy shit? Are you okay?”

“Nah man, pretty… pretty fuckin’ far from it, actually,” he admits, sounding totally and utterly devastated.

“Where is he?” Robin asks just as Dustin hits the button to talk back. “Where are you?” He asks.

“Skull rock, uh, do you know it?” He asks, probably because Dustin's a kid, he shouldn’t know the most popular make-out spot in Hawkins.

“Uh, yeah?” Dustin answers and turns to Lucas, “that’s near Cornwallis and—

“Garrett,” Steve finishes his sentence for him and pats his shoulder, running back to the car. “Yeah, I know where that is.”

Nancy tosses Steve the keys and they all follow him back to her car, he drives like a crazy person when he needs to, and they needed him to. They all pile back into the station wagon and he basically burns out, leaving tire marks on the asphalt.

He takes them down lover's lane back to Cornwallis for just a mile until he turns onto Garrett, heading up another mile to an all too familiar spot. The snow was long gone but the snowmobile trail was still there, he takes the car off the road and onto the trail, making everyone in the car scream and hold onto things to stay steady. He’s only off the road not even 20 seconds when he comes to an abrupt halt behind some bushes, “it's north from here.”

“Got it,” Dustin replies, digging out his compass while the gang gets out of Nancy’s car.

“And you said I was a risky driver!?” Max complains, straightening out her shirt and taking a deep breath. “That was insane?”

“I’m sorry, but we’ve gotta find him before the cops do?” Steve reminds her, feeling snippier than ever. He doesn’t stand around to listen to her answer, he starts walking in the direction he knows they should be going while they all follow.

“Damn, okay, what happened to you thinking he could’ve done this?” She can’t help but ask as she runs up beside him.

“He means a lot to Dustin… I’m not letting another one of you go through what you and Nancy have,” he admits… it’s not a lie, but it’s not where his true intentions lay either.

“Yeah, no, I get it,” she backs down. “But who’s going to take care of you?”

“What?” He stops.

“Who’s going to take care of you so that he doesn’t lose you? You’re the most important person he has, Steve, killing yourself to keep us safe is going to hurt him just as badly,” she reminds him, sounding a lot wiser than she should at 14.

He wraps his arm around her and keeps walking, “you can, how about that?”

“Deal,” she laughs and shoves his arm off of her, still not a touchy person.

Lucas catches up to them, hands full of groceries, Robin has another bag only she has chosen to walk with Nancy. Dustin has his compass and takes the lead, and it’s all fine and dandy until Steve starts to notice the same tree again and again… he tries to tell Dustin this, but he makes Steve look at the compass, he gives him a snarky lesson on how they work and Steve shoves him into a bush lightly.

“Hey!”

“Dude, I’m telling you, you’re taking us the wrong way,” Steve argues. “I know these woods better than any of you. This is the wrong direction.

“It’s north, I’m positive, I double-checked the map.”

“You do realize Skull Rock is like a really popular make-out spot?” Steve starts to lose his cool.

“Yeah, so?”

“Yeah, well, it wasn’t popular until I made it popular,” Steve brags. “Alright? I practically invented it… we’re heading in the wrong direction.”

At this point he’s fed up and anxious, he cuts to his left and just starts going out on his own. He jogs downhill, jumps over twigs and keeps going no matter what Dustin says.

“Steve?!” Dustin simply calls after him, not wanting to admit he’s wrong.

“Stop whining and trust me!!” He starts to run, making up for lost time.

These were his woods. He played pretend out here as a kid, he followed his idiot friends out here to party and smoke, he had his first beer by the lake with Tommy… he had his first time by the lookout in his Beamer… and he met Eddie at that tree.

He stops just for a second to look at the tree, knowing skull rock was just a stone's throw from where they are. He keeps going, through the bushes and past the overgrown branches, “oh, boom!” He cheers when he finally sees it. “Bada-bing bada-boom, there she is, Henderson, skull rock.”

He holds the branches back so that the rest of the party can make it to the clearing in front of the giant rock formation. “In your face, man, in your stupid, cocky, little face.”

“It doesn’t make sense?” Dustin stares at him like he grew two heads and then back to the rocks.

“Yeah, yeah. Even with it staring you right in the face, you can't admit it. You just can’t admit it that you’re wrong, you little butthead,” Steve drags on, eyes trailing the place for any sign of Eddie.

He drops down from the rock then, “I concur,” he announces his presence, drawing Steve's attention right to him, he has to try not to smile, instead, he turns away and rubs his face. “You, Dustin Henderson, are a total butthead.”

“Jesus, we thought you were a goner,” Dustin sighs, walking into Eddie's space and stealing a hug from him.

“Yeah, me too man,” he sighs, patting his back while staring at Steve, he lets him go and keeps staring.

Steve gives him a smile and a nod, playing it cool when on the inside he wanted to run over to him and wrap him up in a hug, himself and make sure he was okay. He wanted to hold his face in his hands and look him over, he wanted to brush his hair out of his face and look into his eyes and— and he really needed to stop thinking about it.

Robin walks up to Eddie then, “hey, you’re okay?”

He nods, “yeah, as good as I can be.”

Steve didn’t even realize that Robin and Max were carrying the groceries for Eddie, not until Robin started handing him things, “how long have you been out here?”

“Since like 10 pm,” he explains, ripping into the bad for literally anything, he was so hungry he could eat a horse. “Tweedle dee and dumb chased me into the lake and then Patrick started to float and I couldn’t be there… I couldn’t handle it again so I did the thing that I do now. I ran.”

Eddie takes a box of cereal out of the paper bag, they’re cinnamon toast crunch this time because Steve thought he might like something different. He all but moans when he sees the box, “oh I’m so fucking excited to eat, I haven’t had anything since I called Nancy yesterday morning…”

“Dustin ate most of your Pringles,” Max teases, handing him the other bag of groceries and Lucas hands him the pack of beer, too.

“You’re a godsend,” he thanks Nancy, his eyes are like 10x bigger than normal, and he’s so happy he could cry…

“Steve got it all,” Nancy points and Steve straightens out, looking terrified as all eyes shift to him. “He’s the only one that can get beer…”

Eddie gasps, knowing he’s older than Steve and still not able to buy beer himself… “Harrington, do you have a fake ID?”

He nods, “yep… one of my dad's business partners is 27, he gave me his old licence. Don’t expect me to get you booze all the time now.”

“Well, thank you,” Eddie gives him a sweet smile. “But what the fuck took you guys so long?”

“We have a lot to tell you,” Nancy sighs, she takes a can of Pringles from Eddie’s snacks and leans against the rock. “We’re going to be here a while, dig in.”

—

“Sick, thats just fucking sick,” Eddie’s sarcasm is palpable, he shakes his head and rubs his eyes, it was a lot of information all at once and the only thing that really stood out was the now Eddie was wanted for not 1, but 3 murders.

The whole time they’ve been talking, Dustin has been pacing, talking to himself and smacking his compass in his hands. He looks distraught, he’s thinking so hard smoke might start coming out of his ears while the rest of the gang immediately starts discussing how they’re going to kill Vecna before he gets Max too.

“Well, we’re one step closer, we know how Vecna attacks,” Robin, once again, tries to make it seem like they’re got it all under control.

“And where he attacks from,” Lucas agrees, standing so close to Max you’d think they’re dating again.

“So, now we just need to sneak into his lair in the upside down and… and drive a stake through his heart?” Max suggests, arms crossed, a smug look on her face, she thinks it’s going to be easy.

“If he even has a heart,” Robin jokes.

“A stake? Is he like a vampire— is he a vampire?” Steve's voice lowers with excitement, it’s both cool and terrifying.

“It was a metaphor,” Max looks at him like he’s an idiot and Eddie jumps in to save him

“A bullet should work on him, right?” Eddie suggests, knowing where they could get some guns.

“I say we chop his head off,” Lucas throws in for good measure.

Steve looks like he’s about ready to ask how that would help when Nancy steps back in… Eddie only knows because he’s been watching Steve talk and switching his attention over to Dustin every few seconds. He’s still pacing, still talking to himself, it’s strange, sure, but Steve is too pretty not to stare at when he talks.

“yeah— I say all the above, but we can’t do any of that,” Nance reminds them. “We need to find another gate.”

“We need to get El’s powers back,” Max follows up, it seems like the most effective way to win this.

“Everything was like way easier. We had this girl… and she had superpowers—

“Superpowers, yeah, you mentioned her,” Eddie cuts him off, he remembered perfectly everything that Steve has said to him these last few days. “But, hey uh, Henderson’s no uh, cursed? Is he?”

Steve looks at Eddie and then Dustin and back to Eddie, catching his eyes and staying there, “cursed, no, no… mental? Absolutely.”

“BOOM!!!!” Dustin suddenly pops off, everything clicking in his head.

Everyone jumps out of their skin for a moment, startled to their core by the sheer volume of his voice. “Badda… badda… boom!” He points at Steve and walks toward him. “I was right. Skull Rock was north.”

Steve's blood starts to boil, like a real brother, Dustin never fails to find a way to grind his gears and piss him off. He crosses his arms and sighs, “seriously? You’re serious?”

“Mhm,” Dustin smirks, holding back the key information so he can wow them in a sec.

“THIS IS SKULL ROCK?!” Steve freaks out, pointing at the fucking rock formation and then down to Eddie who’s squatting on the floor like a fucking champ… (he’s been squatting for so long, Steve is a lot more than impressed, he was invested in seeing how long he could go. But that’s not the point.)

“You’re totally, absolutely, 100% wrong! Right now!!” He speaks with his hands, gesticulating with anger.

“yes… and no.”

“Oh my god,” Steve has to fight off the urge to swing at him, he instead turns around and covers his face. He takes a few deep breaths while Dustin continues.

“This compass worked correctly when we left the Wheelers, it was correct when we got in the car on Kerley but it started to slip the further east we went,” Dustin explains. “Now! it’s… way off?”

Steve turns back to him, looking at him with an expression Dustin can read as ‘and your point is?’

“When I was leading us here I wasn’t wrong!” Dustin assures, pointing to his own chest, he stares into Steve’s eyes for approval. “The compass was.”

“So you’re using faulty equipment? Dude, you’re still wrong!” Steve can’t believe him, or his fucking tone.

“It isn’t faulty… Lucas, do you remember what can affect a compass?” He asks as if he’s Mr. Clarke and this is grade 7 all over again.

“Any electromagnetic field!” Lucas clues in immediately, validating Dustin's theory.

“Yep,” Dustin smiles, ego bubbling inside of him and reaching a boiling point that they can’t return from.

“I’m sorry…” Robin steps in, “I must’ve skipped that class?”

“In the presence of a stronger electromagnetic field, the needle will deflect towards that power… so either there is some super big magnet around OR—

“There’s a gate,” Lucas cuts Dustin off, remembering how he was the first one to ever find a gate to begin with.

“But we’re nowhere near the lab?” Nancy is trying so hard to comprehend all this, but geographically, it’s not working in her mind.

“But what if, somehow… there’s another gate?” Dustin hypothesizes. “A gate that we don’t know about…? It’d have to be smaller. Way less powerful.”

“Snack-sized gate!” Robin teases, remembering all the little labels on the snacks Eddie just ate, it fit the situation and even made Nancy smile a bit.

“Okay but how? Why?” Steve is the last to really get on board with it.

“No idea?” Dustin admits. “All I know is something is causing this disturbance, and the last time we’ve seen anything like it, it was a gate. And I hope it is because then we’d have a way to Vecna and a shot at freeing Max from this curse…” and with that, Dustin makes his grand exit from stage one and heads into the woods.

“Hey! Where are you going?” Steve yells at him, but he doesn’t stop. “Hey! Hey, hey, hey! Eddie's still a wanted man! We can’t just go for a hike in the woods??” Steve panics, his voice even cracks.

Robin looks at him with a knowing smirk, Nancy even picks up on it, they knew Steve more than anyone else in the party. Eddie however, he’s never seen Steve react like that… in fact, no one has ever really cared for his safety like this. No one but Wayne. Wayne would probably like him.

“This little steal capsule might be the key to saving both Max and Eddie,” it’s incredibly pointed at Steve, and then he turns to said wanted man. “What say you, Eddie the banished?”

Everyone turns to him and he looks away, staring off at the ground, he bites his lip and thinks about it. “I’d say you’re asking me to follow you into Mordor… which, if I’m totally straight with you, I think it’s a really bad idea…”

He catches Steve nodding along, clueless, but agreeing.

“but the shire… the shire is burning,” Eddie exaggerates, hyping Dustin up unintentionally to the point that the 15-year-old starts to jump up and down like a toddler, rustling the leaves under his feet.

Eddie places his hands on his knees and stands up straight, “so Mordor it is.”

He walks right past Nancy, just as clueless as Steve, but she doesn’t care, she follows Eddie. And Robin follows Nancy, and soon, everyone is following Eddie who isn’t ready at all to be a leader. He turns back around and notices he left all his shit by the rock just as Steve is catching up with everything.

“The fuck is Mordor?” He asks himself, absentmindedly following everyone when Eddie bumps into him on the way back to the rock, “get your shit man, let’s go.”

“Sorry, sorry,” Eddie picks it up with haste and runs back in front of Steve, slipping on the dewy grass and almost falling when Steve places his hand on his back to keep him steady.

Dustin takes the lead again, explaining the science to Nancy and Robin who followed him the fastest. Lucas and Max have heard it all before, so they just trail behind and no one cares that Steve stays back with Eddie, about 10 feet behind everyone else, he bumps Eddie’s shoulder and smiles at him. “You’re not going to thank me for breakfast?”

He laughs, “just add it to the things I have to thank you for.”

“Huh?” Steve doesn’t know what he means.

“You know,” Eddie references towards the trees, “just everything you’re willing to do for me… without anything in return.”

Steve almost stops breathing, stopping dead in his tracks, “you know?”

He nods, “yeah, I’ve known for a while… why when did you figure it out?”

“When you almost killed me 2 days ago?” Steve admits, he bites his lip and then shakes his head as he laughs. “I mean, Robin was saying it was probably you, but… I don’t know, I was kinda building him up in my head and then I couldn’t—

“Separate fact from fiction,” Eddie cuts him off, knowing all too well what thats like. “Gareth accused me of the same thing.”

Steve sighs and pats his shoulder, making him keep walking so they don’t lose Dustin and the gang. “Come on, we can talk about it later… I have a lot to tell you if we make it out of this.”

“I’m honestly surprised you’re not freaking out?”

“I had my time to freak out,” Steve teases. “Robin heard it all.”

“So she’s…”

Steve nods, “yeah. Is Gareth?”

Eddie nods too, looking forward to see everyone so far ahead of them. “Are you?”

Steve smiles, “yeah, couldn’t you tell?”

Eddie chuckles, “yeah, which is why it was so hard for me to come to terms with the fact it was you… cause like where the fuck did that come from, Steve?”

He shrugs, “I don’t know. It’s pretty easy to replicate once I’ve had one… and I’ve had quite—

“You whore,” Eddie whispers as he bumps his shoulder, smirking away. “But it paid off…”

“You’re going to give me an ego,” Steve shoves him right back.

“At least we’ll know where Dustin gets it from,” Eddie teases him once again.

And Steve loved every second of it.

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[imheretoreadandpostart]

Missing

An Invader Zim grimdark fic.

WARNINGS: Missing cases of both children and adults, death of background characters i made up on the spot, gore, emetophobia, i'm basing Dib's area code somewhere in Montana (I know that's not a warning but i feel it's necessary info.), kinda short, BAD ENDING!!!!

A strong wind blows through the area as storm clouds can be seen approaching in the distant sky. It's not too often they get storms, for the surrounding trees and mountains are usually more than enough to keep them safe. That doesn't matter now, though, for Professor Membrane has yet to figure out how to control the weather, maybe someday, but not today.

Dib flinches as he's hit in the face with a missing poster as Gaz looks on wordlessly, there seems to be a concerning influx of them lately. He struggles to get it off when the wind has it so firmly pressed against his features, he does eventually free himself from the clutches of the sheet. The image of a little girl and pigtails sends a surge of... a feeling hard to describe. not strong enough to be sorrow, but a sense of sympathy with undertones of paranoia and grief. He lets out a sigh.

No amount of looking at the sidewalk beneath him on his way to the bus stop will help these feelings. The feeling of a lingering guilt. He couldn't help but notice how unusually quiet Zim has been lately... he's been more... collected, as of late. Every time Dib has confronted him about it, he was either given some lousy excuse, an outright lie or a fake plan to throw him off. He stopped falling for it after the first three times or so. He almost jumps at the sound of his sister's almost monotonous voice, laced only by the venomous dislike she holds for everyone around.

"You're plotting against Zim, aren't you."

"You don't think it's weird that Zim hasn't come out with some evil plan or scheme?? And the amount of people going missing!"

"It's probably just a serial killer or something."

"That's no better!"

"Anything's better than your paranormal claptrap. Now quiet, your voice is giving me a headache."

He lets out a defeated sigh as he steps onto the bus to be driven to another slow, soul draining school day of nihilistic lectures from the almost snake-like teacher known as Ms. Bitters. It would be unbearable if he didn't have his notebook to sketch in during said rambles of imminent death... or a nemesis to watch over.

Dib isn't exactly surprised when everyone on the bus moves as to not sit near him, nor does he make any effort to move closer to anyone. Gaz, thankfully, is kind enough to sit next to him. her focus is more on her videogame than anything else, Dib wishes he could at least read without the threat of carsickness over his shoulder, so he has no choice but to stare outside at the passing buildings and occasional tree.

Throughout the day, Dib has done nothing but watch Zim's every move. Every blink, every shift of his mauve eyes, and every student he even glanced at. This wouldn't be completely necessary if the cameras he's hidden in Zim's house weren't broken, no matter which camera Dib switched to, all the screen would ever show was static. Of course though, Dib didn't rely on cameras alone, he's been following Zim nonstop for the past two weeks. To his dismay, there was nothing too out of the ordinary.

Tonight though.. is different. He's noticed a pattern in Zim's strange schedule. Every Thursday without fail, he goes out for a while and comes back dragging grocery bags full of snacks from the nearby convenience store, probably to keep Gir's screaming at bay. The insane little robot never fails to keep both of them guessing. So after weeks of stalking and the feeling of monomania clinging to the back of his mind, Dib is finally going to take advantage of this small window of weakness.

Under the blanket of night.. and a bush outside of Zim's house. he lies in wait for Zim to leave. it's almost 11:00 at this point, he's been waiting for almost an hour, but he eventually spots Zim poking his ugly mug outside to look around. He runs off off down the road and out of sight. Dib wastes no time running to the side of the house before picking the lock to one of the windows, he jumps onto the ledge and falls on the other side, cracking one of the lenses in his glasses. At least he's in.

Nothing seems to have changed at first glance, the interior looks exactly the same, the strange decor, the monkey picture above the couch staring forward with soulless eyes. He turns to leave.. but notices something out the corner of his eye... a bloodstain near the trash can, it looks like human blood. He freezes as a chill runs through him... rather than the rush of excitement he would usually get at being right, at having evidence, he feels... horrified. Yes Zim has hurt people before... but... if he really was responsible for all those missing people.. oh odds.

Dib cautiously creeps closer to the trash can to investigate, hesitantly opening it and flinching in anticipation of the sight of human flesh.. only to find nothing, a panel of buttons with Irken words on them on the inside, two of which having arrows, one pointing up, one pointing down. It doesn't take a genius to guess what it is. He looks around before stepping into it and pressing the down button. It starts to descent rather quickly through a cylindrical shaft, surrounding him is darkness, lots of darkness and a tangled mess of wires, tubes, and cords only illuminated by the lights on the almost claustrophobic elevator.

The further down he descends, the more his heart sinks in fear. He soon reaches his destination... wherever it is. The constant whirring and beeping of the surrounding machinery does nothing to calm his wild thoughts and active imagination. He wanders around, looking everywhere he can for something out of place... though he didn't have to wander for long. He comes across some kind of work room? research facility? It certainly looks the part. This raises so many questions... but he stops in his tracks when he comes face to face... with one of the missing persons. A girl presumably somewhere in her teens... lying on a table with an open ribcage and her organs placed around her. Dib lets out a small squeak of horror at the sight of the poor girl, unable to say anything.

Blood drips on the metal floor, the sickly scent of rot hitting his sinuses. The dissected victim laying lifeless in the early stages of rot. Looking around, he finds multiple others of the missing people, including the little girl with pigtails. All torn apart with methodical precision, some kept in massive containers of formaldehyde, others left out for observation. Dib feels a wave of nausea as his breathing speeds up, he backs away before the burning sensation of stomach acid stings his throat, he spills his stomach on the floor, coughing and gasping only to be met with the stench of death yet again.

He gathers whatever strength he can get get up and run... only to be met with the sight of Zim standing in the doorway behind him. Dib lets out a scared gasp and backs away from the small Irken.

"Zim?...."

Zim doesn't respond.. only staring at him.

"What have you... why... why would you do this... even for you this is..."

Dib can't think of how to describe it... it's out of character, even for Zim. Five metal limbs extend from his PAK, four lift him off the ground, one holds a syringe. Though Dib has seen the robotic legs a multitude of times.. for the first time, this act intimidates him, causing him to back away further. Without warning, Zim lunges at Dib. Everything goes black.

He lets out a gasp as he snaps awake, though Dib can't move his arms, can't move his legs, his shirt and trenchcoat are missing and there's a red dotted line running down from the bottom of his sternum, to the top of his pelvis. He struggles and thrashes in his restraints, though he stops at the voice of a familiar Irken.

"Are you trying to dislocate your human-paws?"

"Listen, i-i'm sorry, i won't say a word, let me go, Zim!"

Zim only laughs, it starts out quiet but evolves into his signature villainous fits of hysterics.

"This isn't about witnesses, Dib-worm.. it's about figuring out what makes the human body... tick."

At the last word of that sentence, Zim digs a bare claw into Dib's sternum, puncturing the skin and drawing blood. He lets out a yelp in response.

"What're you... on about??"

"You and I both know that I will take over eventually.. i figured in order to be a truly good ruler, i would have to know the inner mechanics of you DISGUSTING pigbeasts. While i did accomplish that, yes, i figured one last victim would do me good. Especially since this time it's more personal than before."

Dib is speechless, he feels nothing but horror and desperation as Zim approaches him with a scalpel.

"NO! ZIM PLEASE!"

He's cut off when the scalpel pierces his skin and glides down his stomach, letting out an agonized scream as it does so. Zim pulls apart the edges of the incision and gently delves his hands into the slimy, warm, writhing mass of organs in his interior. He takes a moment to feel the movement of each organ in his three fingered hand before setting each one aside. It's not long until Dib passes out from the pain.

He never wakes up, kept in suspended animation with his chest cavity still open for Zim to look at, a reminder of victory. Though it's not long before Dib's image ends up on a missing poster like the rest of Zim's victims.. and just like the rest of them, he was never found.

[changelingsandothernonsense]

For Sydari and Teldryn: 11, 33, and 45!

Time for me to actually work on them as a couple!

11. Do either try to hide their emotions if upset? Can the other still tell?

Sydari has been trying to express how she feels verbally. She used to drown her sorrows out in a skooma-enhanced haze but a very close call made her stop doing that. She's gotten better at talking about it but it doesn't come naturally. She's afraid she'll be judged and tends to just... word-vomit the problem.

When she's upset she'll be silent, fuming, calculating Teldryn knows this because he does it too. Her shoulders tend to slump and she shrinks back into herself quite a bit. She becomes small, and it scares him a little, she's usually so bright and energetic. He's not used to her getting quiet like that, that's his job. He's, he's not good at the emotional stuff but he knows when she's quiet, she needs comfort. He can manage that. He can listen. He likes to feel needed, it's become another addiction.

Teldryn has so much turmoil locked up that it'll just spill out. He's in a near-permanent mood. He mostly relies on drinking his feelings until he passes out. He'll do it again as soon as he remembers why he started doing it in the first place. If he's mad he has some trouble controlling his pyrotechnics. Things have a tendency to catch alight.

Sydari has started to notice that the alcohol isn't just harmless fun. He's taken it too far a few too many times but he won't tell her why. She's been trying to coax it out of him. Something that happened in Morrowind a long time ago. Like a really long time ago. If she's honest, she's a bit confused because his timelines don't match up. He doesn't look like he was "around before Red Mountain". She's confused by it and she can't get any info out of Geldis or Aphia about it. Something about "when he's ready, he'll tell you", she just wants someone to give her some insight.

He's been trying to tell her in his own way, he thinks leaving some history books around might give her a hint. He doesn't know that she can't read the language in any of those tomes that he's left on her nightstand.

When she finds out it's explosive.

33. Who's the better cook?

Sydari is the one who does the cooking when they're on the road, Teldryn has almost no sense of taste and his sense of smell is iffy unless the scent is particularly pungent. If he's cooking he'll add way too much chili oil to the food, it's all he can taste. Everything just tastes like ash, ash and salt. If he's cooking no one else can eat the food. It's absolutely ruined. He doesn't think that that's everyone else's problem. No, Sydari makes the food, she'd actually like to taste something outside of burning! Ideally, the two of them would hit Geldis up for food. Geldis is the cook. Geldis actually knows how to cook, that's why he runs the inn. Plus he knows how to cook for Teldryn's preferences (You add his preference at the end, at the goddamn end with plating!).

Severin Manor has colour-coded dishes now, and so does their travel gear. It's been switched way too many times and Teldryn can't deal with dairy so... It's better if their things are separate. Separate but together.

45. Can they fall asleep without the other?

They're used to sleeping alone, they've always slept alone. It's been an adjustment since they're both quilt hogs and they spend a lot of time in the cold. Teldryn tends to hug during the night and he runs hot. It's a constant fight between being too hot and then freezing after kicking off the blankets...which then get stolen.

Sydari talks in her sleep and flails a bit. She's also a light sleeper so every noise wakes her. Teldryn snores and sleeps like a log. You can't wake him, he's dead to the world.

They have their own separate beds and their own rooms. This is mostly because they travel together prior to actually defining their relationship (it just sorta merges into a romantic thing organically, they kinda do things a bit backwards though, certain milestones happen out of order, get forgotten and then happens again... whoops).

When they actually do make things official towards the later part of the Main Quest they compromise. They're doing a lot of travelling between holds so the tent situation remains the same. They just put up one tent, one of them takes watch whilst the other sleeps. If they're staying in a tavern or in one of Sydari's homes they use two blankets. They kinda get used to their weird way of sleeping, so when Sydari leaves to go to Sovngarde and Teldryn can't follow her well he stops being able to sleep of his own volition. He stops sleeping, Sydari isn't sleeping much either but for different reasons.

They'll get their normal, one day.

[theallenshorefangirl]

I have made an In Sound Mind Oc(well, maybe Self insert???)

The Sorrowful(Sorrow for short)

The Sorrow is an interesting shadow form based on sleep deprivation, and having Allen's schizophrenia is shy and almost quiet as a mouse.Like Allen's Shade form, she hates lights and loud noises. Her level is like a mix of astrology and gothic like architecture (since I'm a sucker for that kinda stuff) The real self works at Homa Mart during the day and at night she fills in at the Lighthouse for her friend she calls more of a brother Allen Shore.

Attack:Sorrow uses the loud noise to track Desmond,if he's in sight, she uses her ability to make Desmond sleepy, causing him to slowly take 5-10 damage depending on how long he can get out of her line of sight.Use hiding spots,Lights and Stealth to avoid her.Another attack is her wax jacket,when on the hunt for Desmond,she's alittle peeved off causing her jacket to drip wax which is a trap like liquid (kind of like the dark asphalt Shade has) it can trap Desmond til he uses either his flashlight or flare or the level item.She has mask that she flip flops around one when no one's around and one where you piss her off.If Desmond is down she can drag him into a "Danger zone" it is a room where you have to escape before he falls into a forever sleep (Rainbows there waiting for his chance to attack)which using the vents is key to escape.

Level Item:Flash Beacon found in her astronomy telescope room.

Tape:Her tape is a purple and yellow tape with black speckles on it

Level Photo:It's the Sorrow and The Shade doing a peace sign on the photo it has "Siblings of the Dark"

Tape intro-

Desmond:All right, I'm recording if that's ok with you miss?

Zoe:it's Zoe I don't like using my last name *yawns*

Desmond:So do you do work that tires you? You look very tired?

Zoe:Well, I work at Homa Mart during the day, and I fill in for a friend who isn't at the lighthouse right now......*nodding off*

Desmond:Oh, Mr Shore,I mean, I know what happened. I'm guessing he showed you the ropes?...Zoe? *he snaps his fingers*

Zoe:Huh.....oh, sorry....

Tape ending - ???????

[legitalicat]

The Dragon of Valhalla

AN: This chapter was originally 4k words oops so I split it hehehe. also there is not a particular part where the song kicks in, it is just in general the theme song of this whole chapter.

Series Masterlist is here!

Song of this chapter

Eve by Precious Pepala

CW: Uhtred on trial (as they do in AC Valhalla), public defiance by Anya, she don't care if it ain't about Sihtric though, angsty kinda maybe?, Uhtred swearing another oath, divinity, destiny, religious fighting and such, Osferth is low-key kinda dumb it's okay though, Skade

Word Count: 1.4k

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Chapter 4

Ravensthorpe, Kingdom of Mercia

Anya and Sihtric had only just gotten to the longhouse when Uhtred was brought before Eivor. They could only give each other a look of sorrow. Inexplicably, they both knew where the other belonged in this. Sihtric took his place among Uhtred’s men, settling behind Finan. And Anya stood to her mother’s right.

Both groups lined a half circle in front of Eivor’s throne. A soft hum could be heard as everyone mumbled to one another. Aemond, among the Raven Clan, tried desperately to get Anya to look at him, but Anya’s eyes could only find Sihtric’s. She only just found him, she needed more time.

“Uhtred of Bebbanburg,” Eivor said, silencing the room completely. “You stand accused of the murder of Ubba Ragnarsson, ally to Raven Clan. What do you say to these claims?”

Uhtred’s jaw clenched as he stared at Eivor. He had thought that this matter had long been dead. A matter that had caused him much strife.

“I did kill him. But it was not murder,” Uhtred said firmly.

He and Eivor stared at each other. Tension was thick between them. It was almost as if they dared each other to speak next, to act out of the slightest anger.

Anya looked to her father. Hytham shook his head, only slightly. He was trying to prevent his daughter from doing anything stupid. But, she couldn’t risk her destiny.

Stupid may it be, she couldn’t risk Sihtric. There was something inexplicable about the connection she already felt with him. She was desperate for him, in a way she had never been before. In fact, just thinking of it made her cheeks hot.

“Anya,” Hytham whispered warningly.

“Sorry da,” she whispered to him before stepping forward. “Lord Uhtred, it is true you have a man sworn to you named Sihtric, yes?” she asked him.

Many from Raven Clan whispered at the way Anya interrupted her mother. None of their conflicts, if you could even call them that, happened in public. She had always attempted to keep it between them.

“Nidhogg,” Osferth whispered from beside Sihtric. Sihtric punched him in the shoulder, only hard enough to grab his attention. “Ow! It’s her, Sihtric, the one they call The Harbinger of the End.”

“Do not call her that, for your sake,” he muttered, glaring at Osferth in such a way to keep him quiet.

Uhtred, who had heard Osferth, raised an eyebrow. “I do, lady.”

“Bring him forward. Valka, if you will,” she said, looking to Valka.

Sihtric moved to stand beside Uhtred. His eyes looked to Anya, who looked back. Neither of them could look away.

Hytham, suddenly, stepped in front of Anya. He broke their eye contact, Anya looking to Hytham panicked.

“Your father,” Hytham said darkly. “He was Kjartan, yes?”

Anya felt a chill run down her spine. It was years ago, before she had ever even left. Hytham had gone on a mission to gain information on Kjartan’s connection to Sigurd’s disappearance. Kjartan had been involved in the Order of the Ancients, those who sought to convert people to fight for the Christian God, especially if they took the trial and initially survived.

Before Sihtric could speak, Anya stepped around Hytham.

“The men under Uhtred of Bebbanburg are under my protection,” she said to her mother and father, to her people. “None are to touch a hair of them.”

“Anya, he killed Ubba. And that boy,” Hytham said angrily, glaring at Sihtric. “Do you understand what his father would have done to our people? To you? And you think he is not the same way?”

“They are under my protection,” she repeated. This time her words were louder, firmer. “Crimes of the father should not be punishable to the son. And Uhtred is just as much a victim of Kjartan’s crimes as anyone in Raven Clan, does his opinion not matter?”

“Uhtred has to answer for his own crimes, until then his opinion on other matters does not carry weight,” Eivor told her.

“It is a death from years ago, the matter is at rest. Ubba Ragnarsson died as he prepared to assault Wessex, it does not matter who swung the blade! He, Kjartan, Kjotve, they are dead because they were fools who thought more with their cocks than with their brains. Whose lust for power greatly outpaced their ability to wield it,” Anya told her mother. “And if I am to accomplish my destiny, Uhtred and his men are to be my men. Sihtric is to be at my side.”

Anya turned to look at both Uhtred and Sihtric, then to the group behind them. There was maybe one person there who was her age, not including the blonde woman who looked on in amusement.

“Since it matters so much, tell us of what happened,” Anya said. She stepped closer to Uhtred, dropping her voice low. “Do not make me regret this, Uhtred of Bebbanburg.”

It was the only time she had ever fought against her parents so hard. In truth, it was the only she had ever argued against Hytham at all. None of them, Anya included, knew how to proceed.

“When my father, Earl Ragnar, was murdered by Kjartan, I went to Ubba for help avenging him. He denied me in favor of lies spun by Kjartan. He swore to me he would kill me, take my head. Until he finally challenged me to a holmgang, in which I stood the victor. Despite his constant threats and turning his back on his duty to avenge my father, I allowed him Valhalla” he said loudly.

Eivor stared at Uhtred. She had fought along Ragnar the Fearless, years and years ago. He had been a good, honorable man. And she remembered Uhtred when he was younger, too. When he was but a boy who thought too much of desire and didn’t understand what a leader truly was. Even so, she could see he had changed. The weight of his destiny had morphed him into a decent leader.

“Valka,” Anya said, not giving anyone the chance to respond to Uhtred’s words. “Is Sihtric the man you saw in your visions?” she asked the Seer.

Valka stepped closer. Sihtric watched as she looked him over time and again. Something about how she held herself assured him that she was a truthful woman. She was the opposite of Skade. Her darker hair, the tattoos she had extended further across her body, her jewelry made of metal and bones. A true and proper wise woman, not a witch.

Valka’s face flickered with something Sihtric could not recognize. But he did not move. He stood still, tall and firm. Unmovable.

“Yes, Honor-Bound. He is the man you need to accomplish a united England,” she said, smirking slightly at Sihtric before turning to face the Raven Clan.

Eivor looked at Valka. Valka nodded to Eivor. It was a small, nearly unnoticeable to anyone. Certainly to Anya and Sihtric, who looked at each other as though they were already in love. Aemond was too focused on Anya, as always, to notice anything else. Even Hytham did not notice.

Uhtred still looked at Eivor. She was who decided what happened next. They both knew that.

“What did you come here for, Uhtred?” she asked him.

“My father spoke highly of you. I merely sought alliance, shelter for a night or two at least,” he told her.

“My daughter’s fate seems to be intertwined with your man’s. It is that, and the respect I bore your father, that lends to my reasoning. Swear an oath to my daughter, to her cause,” Eivor told him, “and you will be given a chance to prove yourself.”

“And her cause?” he asked.

“Alfred of Wessex will be dead in seven years time. Valka has seen it. And she has seen that Anya will be the one to take Wessex, and unite England under Danelaw. She is to be the Champion of Asgard,” Eivor announced to the whole hall.

She had been waiting for the right moment to tell all of Raven Clan. This was not something that needed to be announced until all the pieces were in place. And now, according to Valka, they were.

Uhtred looked to Skade. He brought his men here because she swore to him his destiny would be found in Ravensthorpe. And then she nodded to him, wordlessly telling him his destiny truly started here.

So, then he looked to Anya. This girl was younger than any of his fighters. Yet, he knew of her already. She followed in the footsteps of her mother, being a near unstoppable force if rumors were to be believed. She scared Saxons, and many Danes themselves felt a respect for her that went past her mother’s name.

“My sword and my men are yours,” he told Anya.

Taglist: @foxyanon @zaldritzosrose (if you want to be added let me know!)

[neomedievalistbr]

the fire bosses (chaos witch queelag, ceaseless discharge, centipede demon, demon firesage, the bed of chaos) would all work really well to cook everything, but also probably end up cooking it till its almost coal, so 6/10 to the first 3, 7/10 to demon firesage bc he can also cut the carne, and 3/10 to bed of chaos bc she would probably toss you into a hole with those big ass hands

bell gargoyles would be the guys your parents invite that you dont really like but they do so youre just forced to deal with them. 5/10 they at least bring the good beer

asylum demon and stray demon are the guys that bring in their kids who you dont know but bc youre all there you just end up talking until you guys have to leave and forget abt the existence of one another. 6/10

capra demon has those big ass swords so hes probably an expert in cutting carne. automatically 8.5/10, he even has dogs

taurus demon probably ends up passing out from drinking. 6/10

sif is a dog. and has a sword. 10/10

moonlight butterfly is the one person who brings their sound box to the churrasco and knows how to use it. unfortunately she gets points reduced bc she only ever plays orchestral music. 7/10

iron golem. 10/10

gaping dragon is that dog that you keep feeding the carne to bc it wants some so badly. 5/10 bc it later vomits it out

pinwheel probably freaks out everyone. 3/10

crossbreed priscilla is the one nice person in this whole thing, but shes kinda boring so 6/10

dark sun gwyndolin is the one cool aunt of yours that isnt actually your aunt but bc she and your mom are friends you just call her aunt. she makes some kinda racist comments (gwyn. yknow how it is) tho. 7/10

ornstein and smough are two blokes who do fuck all, but smough DEFINITELY knows how to work the churrasqueira, so 8/10

four kings. four guys. 4/10

seath the scaleless makes everyone uncomfortable with his really weird talks. 3/10

gravelord nito is really quiet most of the time, hes just chilling honestly. 6/10

gwyn lord of cinder probably invents some new kind of racism. 0/10

sanctuary demon is the weird cat you see that dislikes everyone and tries scratching you when you approach it. 4/10

artorias the abysswalker is just really sad and drinking his sorrows away but hes cool as fuck so 9/10 just bc its artorias

black dragon kalameet is the carne. 10/10

manus father of the abyss is surprisingly not racist for an old man. 7/10

ranking dark souls 1 bosses on how good it would be to invite them to a churrasco no domingo