#eggnog swamp

[tompoose]

My artist friend (from well remembered hits such as nixon's nails and bongfield,) has created a piece commemorating the @presidenttyler blog's one year anniversary. Happy birthday Mr. President.

[redroomreflections]

Out of Office

Natasha Romanoff x fem!reader

Summary: R gets a special surprise to her office

The Loud House Universe (this is not an au of the au. This is real life =))

W/c:3.8k

Play this when you read it https://open.spotify.com/track/4isk4UYRcmslphcTq61xUg?si=1vKGqQ_uQ2-Go9CEdnRq_g

Warnings: 18+ Minors DNI

One of the perks of being the Assistant District Attorney of New York City is having your own corner office. The large windows offer a stunning looking of the bustling skyline of New York City. Of course the perks go beyond just the offices. There’s the satisfaction of tackling high-profile cases, the thrill of courtroom victories, and the respect that comes with the title. Today, you’re enjoying one of those benefits that’s seeming to be more like a con.

This meeting was boring to say the least. The topic had been on a rise of criminal activity in the area and how to prevent it. Normally, you would have been all ears. However, this meeting was anything but normal. It was the first meeting after the holidays and your coworkers were still in the post-Christmas mood.

The usual professional atmosphere was gone.

You sit in a chair across from the head of the long table, listening as best you can to the discussion.

"How about we continue this tomorrow?" Alex Cabot, your DA and overhead suggested. "Y/n? Any objection to that?"

You look up in surprise, wondering if you had missed something.

"No, not at all."

Alex smiles at you and then at the other two women.

"I think that's a good idea." You agree. "I'll get back to you with my thoughts on the Coleman case."

The three other women begin packing up their bags and heading out.

"Thanks for the meeting." You say as you get up and gather your things. "It was very informative."

Alex chuckles, clearly seeing right through your fib. "You used to be a much better liar than that."

"I'm just trying to be polite." You smile. "After all, we are in a room full of lawyers."

Alex laughs. "That we are. I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"Tomorrow."

You leave the room, feeling like you could breathe again. You head to your office and stop by your assistant's desk in order to check mail and messages. The meeting was supposed to be thirty minutes and lasted more than an hour. You were more than tired. You were ready for the day to be over.

"Hey Y/n, a message came in for you earlier." Your assistant, Haley says. "You still need to review the police report for Jones and Jones. Also, an interview with Cass Daniels."

You sigh and look down at the file you're holding.

"Great, I'm swamped. Is the file with the Jones's case available?"

Haley nods and hands you a brown folder.

"Anything else I can help with?"

You shake your head and smile. "Unfortunately, not this time around."

"Hey, y/l/n, “ Your colleague Doug Stone greets. He does a little jog over to the desk.

"Hi, Doug, " You return. "Just the man I was looking for."

He looks confused. "Really?"

You hand him the file. "I just spoke with Alex. She says she wants you to handle the Jones case."

"But what about the-"

"I already reviewed it and made notes." You interrupt. "Just make sure to check out the new witnesses and that'll be it."

"Okay, so no problem." Doug nods, looking unsure. "Anything else I can do?"

You smile and shake your head. "Actually," You smirk. Just to get under his skin.

"Oh no," Doug shakes his head.

"I need you to get me a copy of the police report." You finish.

"You have one."

You shrug. "I think it would be a good idea to double check."

Doug rolls his eyes. "You know I came over here to see if you could ask the misses to go ahead and make some of that special eggnog she made over the holidays. Special order just for me."

You move to rebuttal when you hear a familiar husky voice behind you. You turn to see your wife standing there with that familiar smirk on her face. Natasha stepped further into the floor, her presence commanding attention. She had chosen a slightly floral midi dress that hugged her curves, the soft fabric contrasting with her typical demeanor. With her red hair pulled back and her eyes sharp and observant, she exuded a mix of elegance and strength.

"You can ask me yourself," Natasha grinned. She stepped closer to you and wrapped her arm around your waist. You landed a quick kiss to her head before looking over at Haley with questioning eyes. She's supposed to remind you if something important like your wife visiting.

"Sorry," She apologizes, quickly. "I was just about to tell you."

"It's okay, Haley," You wave off, smiling. "What brings you by, baby?"

"Can a girl come visit her wife in her office? I'm sure Tammy comes to see you all the time right, Doug?" Natasha tilts her head.

"Uhh..um, yes," Doug stumbles over his words.

Natasha gives him a smile. "Good." She looks up at you. "So, how's your day, babe? I didn't catch you at a bad time, did I?"

"Not at all," You answer.

"Actually, y/l/n has some errands to run," Doug cuts in.

"And Doug has a case to take over," You reply. Natasha looks suspiciously between the two of you.

"We're not going to have a problem, are we?" She asks.

"Of course not." Doug assures.

Natasha nods and smiles. "I'd hate to have to break up this lover's quarrel you two are having. But I would like to spend some time with you before your lunch is over." By the look in her eyes, you know exactly why she's come to your office so unexpectedly.

"Not a problem," You nod.

"I'm free for the rest of the day," Doug says. You send him a glare. "I'll just get a start on those files." He adds before making himself scarce. 

You give him a thumbs up. "Perfect. Haley, cancel my meetings for the next hour."

"Sure thing,"

You take Natasha's hand and lead her down the hallway towards your office.

"I love it when you get bossy," Natasha whispers, biting her lip. You feel the blush creeping up your neck.

"That was nothing," You wave off. You walk before her into the office to clear up a few things on the couch. The last thing she needs is to see how messy you are at work. "Where's Luke and Paige?"

"I left them with my mom today," She says disinterestedly.

"Oh, that's cool then," You nod.

"Now do you want to hear about Luke's diapering schedule, or should we talk about other things?" She steps over to you. It's then you notice the heels she's wearing. Those sexy Manolo Blahnik pumps in a deep blue that accentuates all of her curves.

"I think I want to talk about whatever you want to talk about," You answer honestly. You place your hands on her hips and pull her close. She giggles, placing her hands on your chest.

"Good," She leans in for a quick peck. "You're in a good mood today."

"That's because you're here." You hum. "You taste good."

"Lemon and ginger," She smiles.

"That's what it was. You taste delicious." You lean in again and capture her lips in a deeper kiss. Your tongue glides over her lips, coaxing them open. "Mm, I think you should surprise me in the office every day."

"If only I could." Natasha sighs. "Your coworkers would get tired of me or become jealous of you."

"I don't care." You whisper against her lips. "I only care about what's happening right now."

"Oh, is that so?" Natasha bites her lip.

You nod and reach around, smacking her ass. "That's what you're here for right? You couldn't wait for me to come home?"

"Something like that." She grins. She leans forward to kiss you again. This time as a distraction while she unbuttons your silk button down with her nimble fingers. Her lips are soft and warm against yours.

You pull away from the kiss and smirk. "We can't have sex in the office."

"That's a first." Natasha chuckles. "Why not?"

"I don't know if I'll want to stop after one round," You sigh when her hands find bare skin underneath your shirt.

"Hmm, we'll have to be quick then." Natasha murmurs, pressing her lips to your neck.

"I don't know," You groan when her teeth scrape across your pulse point. "You're quite loud."

"I guess you'll just have to keep me quiet," Natasha bites down on your neck. You let out a whimper, your body shivering.

"Damn it, Tasha," You growl.

She pulls back and flashes you a wide grin. "Do you think you can keep me quiet?"

"I don't know if I want you to be quiet," You open your eyes.

"Oh, is that so?" Natasha grins. She pulls your shirt down off of your shoulder, revealing your lacey black bra. She moves to do the same to the other side.

"Natasha," You warn.

"I'm just looking," She says as her eyes roam over your torso. "Admiring."

"Yeah, admiring is going to get us in trouble," You shake your head.

"Fine, fine," She steps back, taking her warmth and heat with her.

"Are you pouting?"

"I am," Natasha lowers her hands onto her hips. "You're denying me what I want."

"Come here," You offer a hand. She takes it and you lead her over to the couch. You sit down and pull her onto your lap. She settles her knees on either side of your hips and rests her hands on your shoulders. You begin rubbing her thighs, smoothing your hands across the smooth nylon of her leggings before you rip them. The sound drowning out the harsh breaths both of you are taking. You're so glad this office is at the corner and also doesn't have glass windows. Of course, she always gets what she wants.

"I thought you said we can't have sex."

"We're not," You murmur, your eyes focusing on the swell of her breast. "But we can do other things."

"Other things," Natasha nods. "Like what?"

"Just sit there and let me touch you," You say, pulling her down for a kiss. "You don't have any objection to that, do you?"

"None," Natasha says softly, her breath fanning over your lips. At the first press of your thumb against damp panties, Natasha lets out the sharpest squeak deep from the back of her throat.

"Told you that you would be loud."

"Shut up." She moans, her hips canting forward, chasing the contact. You give her another rub through the soaked material, her wetness seeping through. "Are you going to tease me?"

"Yes," You answer simply, kissing the exposed skin of her chest.

"Fuck, baby." Natasha groans.

"Shhh," You tsk, "Be a good girl and stay quiet for me."

"I want you inside," Natasha lowers her head to look you in your eyes. She reaches behind her back to unzip herself. She lifts her dress over her head and drops it onto the floor. She leans back over you and presses her chest to yours.

"I have a feeling this isn't going to end well." You groan, your eyes focused on her soft and supple breasts.

"I don't think we're going to get caught."

"Maybe." You murmur.

"Y/n, are you listening?"

"Huh?" You snap out of your daze. It's then you feel another wave of arousal as she releases her hair from its ponytail. She leans back on her hands and gives you a smug smile.

"Are you listening, Mrs. Romanoff?"

"I'm listening," You swallow thickly. You can't help but take her in.

"So, how about it?"

You look at her confused. "How about what?"

"I knew you weren't listening," Natasha laughs.

"I was thinking about how gorgeous you are," You admit. "How sexy you are. All the things I want to do to you."

"Oh yeah?" She grins. "Like what?"

"Well," You start, running a finger across her cheek. "First, I would have you sit there and watch as I undress."

"I'm interested," She looks you over. You should probably take those pants off unless you want them to be ruined with her juices. Not that you would mind it that much.

"I would go slowly. I would leave on my heels and my bra."

"Your bra?" She arches a brow. "No, take off your bra."

"Are you going to be difficult, or can I finish?"

"I'm sorry, continue," She waves a hand.

"Anyway, I would leave my heels and bra on. Then I would lay back on the couch and spread my legs for you. I'd want you to use your mouth and fingers."

"Mmm," Natasha hums.

"I'd have you fuck me with your fingers until I came all over them." You whisper, tracing her lips. "Then I would do the same to you. Just how you like it."

"How many times would you make me come?"

"Until you can't take it anymore." You answer. "Then I would clean you up with my mouth. Would you like that?"

"Fuck, yes," Natasha moans, her hips bucking against yours.

"Are you turned on, Tasha?"

"I'm beyond that," She admits. "I've been thinking about this since this morning."

"Yeah? You couldn't wait to have my hands on you."

"No," She whines.

You tap her thighs, instructing her to lift up so that you can strip yourself of your clothes. You rush over to the office door, locking it to ensure you won't be disturbed.

"What are you doing?" Natasha calls.

"Just making sure no one comes in and sees you like this," You explain, stepping back over to her. "They can't see what's mine."

"Would you let them watch?" She dares to ask.

"No," You growl, pulling her into your arms.

"And here I thought the idea would turn you on." She teases, trailing a finger along your collarbone.

"It does," You answer truthfully.

"But," She raises her brow.

"It turns me on to know that they can't have you," You admit. "Only I can touch you and see you."

"Touching has been minimal," She raises a perfectly arched brow.

"You're right," You smirk.

"How about we fix that," She whispers.

You nod and sit back down, taking her with you. You help to slide her panties off, tossing them to the side, before you get an idea. You pull her over to your desk, her eyes following yours quizzically before you bend her over. Your hands rub against the expanse of her back. You can't take your eyes off her perked-up ass and pussy on display for you.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting an idea."

"For?"

"This," You say, sliding a finger inside of her. Her walls tighten around the intrusion, and you let out a low moan.

Natasha's back arches and she hisses. You know it's not a sound of pain but pleasure. She wasn't expecting you to do it but she for damn sure loves it.

"I knew you'd be turned on by this," You tell her. You pump your finger a few more times before adding another.

"I am," Natasha agrees.

"Is this what you want, Tasha?” You slap her ass. "For me to fuck you like this. Have you dripping all over my desk?"

"Y/n," Natasha groans. "Stop teasing and give me what I want."

"What do you want, Natasha?" You question, curling your fingers. Twisting them as you thrust back into her.

"I want you to make me come."

"Not yet." You tell her. "I want to hear you."

"Baby," She whines, her hips rocking against the desk.

"What is it?"

"You're driving me crazy." She pants. "You have no idea what this is doing to me."

"I have some idea," You say cheekily as you watch your fingers, glistening with her slick, slide in and out of her with ease.

"Stop teasing and fuck me," She hisses.

"You want me to fuck you?"

"Please, y/n." She moans. "I'm so wet for you."

"I know," You hum. You push her legs open a bit wider. "Stay still for me."

"Fuck," She whimpers.

You lean over and pepper her back with kisses. Her skin is so warm and soft. You wish you could take your time, but you're both already on borrowed time. You speed up then, using your hips to add the slightest bit of force behind your thrusts. You know she likes it, her body shivering beneath you.

"That's it," She coos.

You place a hand on her back and move your thumb to her clit. You begin rubbing it in slow, circular motions. Natasha turns her head against the cool surface of the desk, her nipples becoming hard pebbles against the wood.

"I love seeing you like this," You whisper. "Taking everything I have to give."

Natasha's only response is a deep whimper. Not good enough for you.

"You love taking my fingers," You taunt. "But not as much as I love giving them to you."

"Shit, y/n, fuck." Natasha's body begins trembling. Her breathing becomes uneven. Her pussy walls fluttering against your fingers.

"Are you going to come, Tasha?"

"Yes, fuck." She cries. "Make me come, baby."

"Fuck, I love it when you call me that." You groan. You add a third finger, pumping faster. Her body quakes as you hit the right spot. Her toes curl as her orgasm tears through her body. Her moans are unbridled now, and you reach forward to press a hand against her mouth. That seems to turn her on more. Her body shaking beneath yours. Her body jerking from the aftershocks.

"Are you okay, baby?"

"I'm better than okay," She grins. "But if you don't fuck me again in the next five minutes, I'm leaving."

"Turn around," You instruct her. You help her on shaky legs to turn around and sit on your desk. This is going to be a bit more difficult to maneuver but you do. You drop to your knees and grab her thighs to pull her to the edge of the desk.

"I've need to taste you all day," You murmur to yourself.

"Baby," Natasha whimpers, her fingers resting atop your head. "I need you."

"You have me," You reply before swiping your tongue through her folds. She's so warm and delicious.

"Don't tease," She gasps, her legs trembling.

You look up at her from your place between her legs. Your eyes never leave hers as you wrap your lips around her clit, sucking.

"Just like that," She adds the gentlest bit of pressure for you to bob your head. The slurping noises for added effect have her head dropping down she can't handle it. "So close, baby. Don't stop."

"Never," You murmur against her. "I love this. Love eating you out."

"Y/n," She gasps, her hips lifting off the desk.

"Come for me, Natasha," You coax her.

She's so close to the edge, and she can't help it. She's helpless against the orgasm that rips through her body. She can barely hold herself up as you suck her through the orgasm, lapping up the juices spilling from her.

"Fuck," She whimpers.

You stand and kiss her, your tongue tangling with hers.

"Let me," She finally pulls back. She pulls you down to the floor before she pushes you onto your back. Rug burn be damned.

"Tasha," You gasp when she wastes no time in slipping two fingers inside of you.

"You're so wet," She groans. "I love you." She nuzzles your neck.

"I love you too." You murmur, reaching down to guide her thumb to your clit. "Harder."

Natasha's body covers yours. Her lips latch onto your neck. Her teeth scrape along the flesh. You know you're going to have a hickey there tomorrow. It doesn't matter. You're hers and she's yours.

"Tasha," You groan. "Please."

"Shh," She whispers, her other hand caressing your breast. She pinches your nipple, delighting in the shiver that runs through your body.

"Please," You beg her. "Make me come."

"Anything for you," Natasha smirks, curling her fingers. She thrusts harder. Faster.

"Fuck, I'm going to come." You warn her, your body tensing.

"I've got you," Natasha tells you. "I've got you, baby." She coos as you whimper pitifully.

"Don't stop," You beg. "Oh my god, don't stop."

"Never," She growls. "Come for me, y/n. I want you to soak my hand."

You cry out as you reach your peak. Your back arches off the carpet, and you ram yourself onto her fingers. You don't want to lose this feeling.

"Fuck, I can't," You sob.

"You can," She whispers, her breath fanning across your lips. "One more. Come on, baby."

"I can't," You sob. "Tasha, please."

"I've got you," Natasha promises.

Your body begins shaking as a second orgasm rips through your body. You're unable to form words as you're consumed by your desire. You don't even remember that you're at work and the possibility that if anyone were to come by your office, they could probably hear you.

"There you go," Natasha smiles, her eyes focused on you. "I'm right here, baby."

"Tasha," You whimper.

"Right here."

"Don't move," You pant.

Natasha uses her unoccupied hand to open the bottom drawer of your desk and take out a towel.

"What are you doing?" You ask her.

"I'm going to clean you up," She says, gently wiping your inner thighs.

"Thank you," You whisper.

"Always," She smiles.

"You're so good to me."

"You're pretty good to me," She winks, kissing the top of your head.

"What time is it?"

"Time for us to get the hell out of here." Natasha laughs.

"You're right," You sigh. "Can we go home?"

"I was thinking maybe we could order a pizza, put on a movie, and have dessert later."

"I think I could deal with that." You nod. "I can't walk just yet."

"I'll carry you," Natasha teases with a smug look. 

"Shut up," You laugh, swatting her away. "You know you're a little cocky after we fuck."

"And you're cute."

"Stop," You groan.

"I don't want to," Natasha replies.

"What do you want?"

"You," She answers. "Always."

"I'll be yours forever."

"Forever," She repeats.

"We should go," You whisper.

"I'm ready when you are."

"Let's get out of here."

Coming out of the office would be a little awkward. You should probably open a window. Your cheeks heat up at the thought. It was some of the hottest sex you had with her, and you can't believe that it happened here.

"You look nervous," Natasha notes.

"I'm not," You say.

"Liar."

"Tasha, come on. Let's go home."

"Whatever you say," She grins, taking your hand in hers.

"You're annoying," You mutter.

"And yet, you still love me."

"Unfortunately," You grin.

"I heard that," She calls.

"I meant for you to hear it."

"Brat," She says affectionately.

You really do love her.

[hotluncheddie]

Memories of somethin' even smoking weed does not replace.

wc: 3.3k | cw: alcohol, weed | rated: E | part: 2/2 | tags: pre/post s4 au, handjob, hurt/comfort, raised catholic steve harrington

part 1 | ao3

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00:20 January 4th: Basement 

It’s nice, Steve thinks, down here in the basement. Where theres a hazy cloud of smoke from a group in the other corner, cigarettes and weed mixing. Where Steve can relax, let his mind wander to how it smells the same down here as Eddie’s hair had when he leaned towards him on the staircase. 

His mind floats there. In the pews, thinking about Eddie. It makes Steve’s knees itch. 

He slipped down to the basement because he had to. Too many people up there with solid plans of how to get out. Too many who already made it, visiting Hawkins like a novelty, a little trip to some place you can associate with the past, separate from the present. 

They kept trying to draw him in, upstairs, wanted to get to know the guy with the good aim. Some of them don’t even know about King Steve. He’s just some guy, too some, up there. Steve doesn’t know what’s worse. 

It all made Steve start to fidget, uncomfortable. He doesn’t have a plan to get out, doesn’t think he could even if he did. Hawkins isn’t a novelty, not to Steve, it holds his leash. He knows he’s tethered to the place, anxious and afraid to step too far over the thresholds. Knows it’s a little pathetic. But he can’t escape the fear that it’ll all fall apart, crack open and gape and he’ll be locked out. Fail those people who he can’t. Loose the barely there grasp he has on their attention already.   

But, even in the muddy swamp of his thoughts, he’s enjoying his spot in the corner, on an empty sofa. 

He’s definitely feeling the beers now, feels floaty and heavy at the same time. But he also downed a cup of water before sneaking away. So, it’s not taken him too far, not lowered his inhibitions enough to remind him of flower faces and underground fortresses. 

It’s more, just, suburban wallowing. A familiar tipsy sort of buzz. A burning in the back of his throat as his brain jumps from brown eyes to varsity hoodies and back to long dark curls. 

He does the breathing exercise a nurse taught him. Breaths in, holds it, breaths out, sinks into the couch. 

He’s okay. Robins okay. She’s having fun. He’s here and it’s okay. 

‘What was that about not liking attention Stevie, hm?’ Eddie asks as he sits down next to him, handing over a plastic cup and knocking their knees together. 

Steve starts, tries not to show how his heart rates gone up. How Eddie’s fingers brushing his own makes his blood fizz. ‘What’s this?’ He asks, clearing his throat, blinking to clear his head. 

Eddie wiggles his eyebrows, all drama and mischief. ‘Eggnog.’ Then he taps his nose. ‘Special eggnog.’

Steve raises his, takes a sniff. He almost asks Eddie why he’s down here but that would be stupid, and make Eddie leave. He’s not drunk enough to do the first and, also not drunk enough to admit how his chest caves in a little at the thought of the second. ‘Where’d you even get this?’ He settles on. 

‘Fridge. Said it goes off tomorrow so, figured I’m kinda doing them a favour.’ Eddie smiles. He speaks so easily, deep and lilting and musical, drawing Steve in with every breath. 

Steve shifts on the couch. Lets their knees touch, slide together. It’s heady, and viscose, like swimming through stained glass. Steve wants more. Steve decided to take, wants to take. Can kneel and see what he gets given. Smooth wooden pews. A basement at a party. 

Steve downs some, it’s sickly. It’s strong. That buzz seems to double. 

He steps into the robes of who he used to be, who kissed Nancy in the girls bathroom. Who’d whisper in girls ears at parties, make them moan. Blow a kiss up at the stands at baseball games. Did it all, like it was nothing. 

He sucks air in through his teeth, wincing at the taste. ‘This is gross Munson.’ he says, laughing. He reaches over and pours the rest of his cup into Eddie’s, pushing their shoulders together and feeling the heat radiating off of Eddie’s bare neck. ‘Plus, if I drink any more my dick won’t work.’ He doesn’t think, just says, low and murmured. 

The rosary beads are back, circling his throat, Steve thinks he likes the way they bite. 

‘Is that so?’ Eddie ask, smile obvious in his voice, gleeful and surprised. Speaking almost in Steve’s ear. 

‘Yup.’ Steve turns his head fully to the side, so close to Eddie’s face. Lets his eyelids droop, licks his lips. ‘What about you, King Freak, that never happen to you?’ He’s pushing, treading from shallows into deep muddy depths. 

‘Do not fucking call me that dude.’ Eddie shoves him lightly, the way girls used to, push just so they can pull him back in. ‘But yeah, obviously I do know, it’s science man.’ 

Steve slouches back next to Eddie on the sofa. Still close, still sharing body heat. ‘Dude, man, what’s up with that, bro?’ Steve teases, set alight. 

‘What’s up with that, bro?’ Eddie slides a hand down his face with a groan. But Steve can see he’s fighting a smile, hiding it behind his palm. Eddie’s rings glint in the lamplight. 

Steve thinks he could get used to this, being so close to Eddie. Watching his face split in half with his grin. Wide open, pink and white. Steve wants to taste. 

Eddie looks at him, incredulous, but his eyes are sparkling. ‘For a smart guy, you’re kinda dumb when you drink.’

Steve smirks, but something in him feels porcelain and breakable. ‘Dunno how I fooled ya into thinking ‘m smart. But ok.’ He says, smirk falling, he swallows, remembers again who he is, who he is now. 

‘Well you’re the only person on this sofa with a diploma.’ Eddie says, something hard in his eyes, but eggshell thin. 

‘Technicalities.’ Steve moves in closer again. As if reaching out.

Steve sees it now, they’re hard-soft. Church wafers before the spit. So similar in their differences. And Eddie knows. 

Eddie doesn’t say anything. He stands slightly to pull at the legs of his jeans and put his cup on the floor. When he sits back down Steve notes that they’re definitely closer than before. Hip too hip, shoulder to shoulder. He can feel Eddies bony elbow and the muscle on his thigh, weed-cigarette filling his nose, along with something warm, something Eddie. His eyelashes are long and thick. Steve swallows. Fiddles with his empty cup. 

‘Your question before, about attention?’ Steve starts, shifts so he can look up at Eddie’s profile better, take in the line of his nose. ‘I still like it, attention. Just, only when it’s from, certain people.’ And Eddie turns to look at Steve, eyes a little guarded, but Steve takes a chance, glancing at eddies mouth, for just a second, licks his lips. Watches as eddies lips curl up at the corners. 

Eddie stands and Steve feels sticky, hot and cold. But Eddie turns towards him, reaching into his jacket and pulling out a perfectly rolled joint. 

‘You wanna come outside? Help me smoke this?’ Eddie asks. 

Steve looks at it, looks up at Eddie. ‘No.’ Steve looks at Eddie’s handcuff belt buckle. ‘But I’ll come outside with you.’

Steve looks back up through his eyelashes and Eddies eyes are hungry. 

00:59 January 4th: Eddies Van

‘Shut. Up. Harrington.’ Eddie says into Steves lips, tugs at the back of his hair and Steve feels his eyes roll back on a moan. 

Nancy used to do that to him sometimes. He doesn’t want to think about Nancy. Eddies hands are bigger, stronger. Nancy seemed to get flighty if Steve ever let go too much, unmoored and untethered, she didn’t like to swim in the deep end. 

They’re in the back of Eddie’s van, Steve leaning against the side, legs sprawled out in front of him, Eddie in his lap. 

He can just hear the the music coming from the house still, its muffled but, they’re not that far, Eddie’s right, Steve supposes. 

He also doesn’t really care. He just wants. Smells varnished wood, and incense. 

‘Make me.’ He goads and his insides light up at the dark fire enveloping Eddie’s eyes. 

‘I knew you’d be dangerous.’ Eddie murmurs to himself. 

Steve desperately wants to know what the fuck that means. But Eddie just stubs his blunt out and pinches the end to save it for later. ‘Hold this’ he taps it against Steve’s bottom lip and Steve opens immediately. Tongue darting out to wet his lips, taste Eddie on them. ‘Don’t let it fall, okay Stevie?’ 

Steve nods, rock hard. An intense, soul crushing need to be good has him clamping his lips tightly around the joint, ear ringing. 

The clack of his belt being undone makes Steve close his eyes and breathe deep through his nose. Eddie palms Steve’s cock over his jeans, eyes hooded and dark. 

Eddies nimble fingers go for his fly, he lifts one of Steve hands to rest on his shoulder. Gets his cock out of his boxers so fast Steve feels himself sink, the van melting away until it’s just Eddie. Just Eddie in his lap and the smell of smoke and ash. Steve holds on for dear life. 

He lets his other hand come to Eddie’s hip, thumb stroking where his t-shirt sits at his waistband, dipping to feel skin. Eddie’s hand on his cock is making him feel desperate, but he doesn’t make a noise, just feels his eyes wet. 

‘That’s it, staying so quiet, take what you need.’ And Steve’s lets his hand roam. He wants to feel, touch skin. He strokes Eddie’s neck, fingers trailing over his torso, searching up under his shirt. Slips his hand around to Eddie’s back pocket and squeezes. Eyes rolling in his head again over Eddie’s lean lines, his sharp edges and soft parts. The hand twisting his dick so perfectly. He’s not gonna last. 

He opens his eyes again and Eddie’s bore into him. Dark and big and eating him whole. His mouth is open, slack, relishing in taking Steve apart. Steve whines weakly in his throat, Eddie’s hand comes up and grabs that handful of hair again, tugging once. 

Steve tips over the edge, spilling into Eddie’s hand. Shuddering through his orgasm with a muffled groan, his hands still squeezing what they can reach of Eddie. One hand under his t-shirt, fingers in ribs, Steve wants to crack Eddie open, reach inside. 

Eddie tucks him back in his boxers. Takes the joint from his lips and places it behind his ear. Steve’s breathing still not back to normal but he leans in for another kiss. Needs to feel tongue and heat and know that this is really real. Really happening. 

That it’s not Steve of ’84 or ’85, that he made it to ’86. That he survived, that he didn’t nail himself on a cross and leave the rest up to fate. That he chose, he offered and took. 

Eddie kisses back holding his jaw with a clean hand and sucking on Steve’s lower lip. Steve goes for Eddie’s fly but his mouth gets pulled off, Eddie pinching him at the chin. 

‘S’all good sweet thing. Can’t cum when I’m crossfaded, mind gets all muddled and I can’t focus enough.’ And he says it with a smile, like it’s no big deal, just a fact. Steve feels his insides churn with need. 

He needs to repay the favour. That’s how, how he can show it. Show how he needs, how he wants. How his hearts is just begging to be ripped out, bloody and still beating. And he can give that over, he can. He wants to. 

Eddie pecks his lips again and moves off of Steve’s lap, tossing the hanky into a corner. 

‘I gotta find Rob first but, uh, you wanna come to mine? Hang out? My parents aren’t home.’ Steve asks, maybe he can still fix this, keep it. His voice is higher than normal, still breathy. He clears his throat, swallows, tries to feel the van under his feet. 

Eddie’s settles across from him, holding his lighter. He looks over with a little lazy smile. ‘Ah, sorry toots, that’s a little too close to romance for me.’ 

Steve tries not to let his cracks show, but he knows his valleys can open, sometimes the maw in his chest can’t be close quick enough. ‘What’s wrong with romance?’ He asks, his bandaged up heart lodged in his throat. 

‘Just not something I do, it’s no stress, I’ll just see you around Harrington, yeah?’ And it’s so casual. So final. 

Steve swallows and nods and checks his fly is done and slips out the back door. Hopes his cracks weren’t too blatant, too ugly. 

He aches. He needs to confess. 

6:15 July 15th: Hawkins General, Room 136

Eddie was finally healing. His blood had been drawn and his skin had been grafted, he’d taken his meds and even attended a couple government mandated therapy sessions. 

He’d admitted in them that yeah, he didn’t trust easy. But no one other than Wayne had shown him they cared with such consistent acts of kindness. Everyone else left him in the dirt. So no, he doesn’t trust easy. 

They’d said you have to give people a chance to be kind to you, and if they do fuck up you’re always within your power to leave. But that sometimes kindness goes both ways. 

Eddie knew that. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t still terrifying. 

Even more terrifying because Eddie had a face for the kindness. A place he aches to send his own, packaged and pretty and waiting to be unwrapped. 

See, Steve Harrington was kind. Steve Harrington gave Eddie some of his blood, he’d helped the nurses change his bandages once or twice when the staff numbers were too sparse during a shift. Filled his water cup and cut his ugly but actually pretty good hospital meatloaf for him. 

He’d kept Eddie squeaky clean, no chance of being kicked in the dirt, left dead in a ditch, whatever metaphors works best. 

Steve was good. Eddie knew it. He did. But that doesn’t mean he’s not scared. 

Because Eddie wanted to be kind back. He hoped holding Steve’s hand though getting his blood drawn, and letting him nap half curled on Eddie’s bed were enough for now. To let Steve see. See that he always wants to stroke his hair if a nightmare hits, not just when they’re fresh from hell. That he always wants to hold his hand, not just when there’s needles involved. 

It’s actually, like, all the time that he wants to hold it, it’s really bad. Terminal. 

The first time Steve filled his water unprompted Eddie honestly thought he heard a church bell ring, like, how can someone be so good? 

And, even worse maybe, is that Steve Harrington was also a dork. 

A genuinely silly guy. Cracking jokes unprompted just to get someone to laugh, someone to groan which makes someone else laugh. And he sits amongst it, this happy little chaos he’s created, and he beams. 

Eddie thinks about it sometimes. That night in his van, at that random house party he can’t remember. He only remembers Steve, where Steve was, what he was doing, how he looked. Eddie thinks about that. 

Thinks about his face when Eddie said he couldn’t hang out, how he seemed to masking tape himself back together, disappointed and fragile. But Eddie just couldn’t take anything further. Couldn’t risk letting Steve see him. 

Sometimes Steve follows Wayne to the hospital chapel. He doesn’t ask, but he wants to. Wants to know who Steve prays to, what about, why his knuckles are still bruised when most of his other injuries are healing. Why he never talks about his parents. Why he hates the colour red. Where he goes when he zoned out and his whole face mangles into a frown, into an aching maw, Eddie wants to know, if just to help a little, ease his pain. 

Eddie thinks about Steve, as he knew him and as he knows him now. About people being kind, about a therapist saying it goes both ways. And Eddie thinks he wants to be brave. 

For Steve Harrington, Eddie can be brave. 

‘Look what I snuck in for you today, fit for a king, no?’ Steve slips two Yoo Hoo’s from the inside of his jacket. Coming to sit in the plastic chair by Eddie’s bedside.  

(Covered in crochet blankets that Robin brought over the moment she clocked that Steve fell asleep here sometimes. Steve likes to stick his fingers through the holes while they watch tv. Eddie likes to watch Steve’s fingers.) 

He looks tired, Steve, deep purple stains under his eyes. But Robin said he’s brighter when he’s here, knowing Eddie and Max are alive, getting to see them. She said it was like he forgets when he’s not here, ghosts clouding his vision. Maybe it’s just more distracting here. Eddie doesn’t know. He just knows Steve’s here now. That he brought him chocolate milk and that he’s smiling. 

Eddie holds the drink up to the light with two hands, opening his eyes wide, like it’s something holy. ‘Ah, the stuff of angels.’ 

Steve snorts and reaches up to open it for him. Eddie’s heart clenches. 

Steve is kind, and good and brave. Eddie can try and be half that, for Steve. 

He takes a sip, watching Steve do the same. ‘This kinda reminds me of eggnog.’ He muses, heart rate picking up. 

‘I’m not putting whisky in it Eddie, Wayne would skin me alive.’ Steve says, flat. Beaming when Eddie snorts. He’s so wide open, so eager, and bright. 

‘I know that.’ Eddie says. ‘Just, I guess it’s you then, reminding me, of eggnog.’ He tries, hiding behind his riddles.

Steve looks confused, glancing between their drinks and Eddie’s face. 

He needs to spell it out, Steve deserves his plain honesty, Eddie takes a deep breath. 

‘I’ve been thinking.’ Eddie starts. 

‘Dangerous’ 

‘Shhh!’ Eddie fights down a grin. This is serious. He, ugh. 

‘I’ve been thinking about uh, changing opinions’ Eddie tries again, folding his hands in his lap and squeezing the pads of his fingers with his nails. 

‘Oh yeah?’ Steve’s still wide open, still pleased and bright. 

‘Yeah, first is that maybe, ah, maybe I do want to try romance. Now, actually.’ Eddie forces. Holding his breath. 

Something flickers across Steve’s eyes. half hopeful, half guarded. He turns his head, but his eyes stay trained on Eddie. 

Eddie flounders, for a second. Aware suddenly of where they are, how this is maybe not the most romantic place to talk about it. Them. But, Eddie also doesn’t want to wait any longer. He’ll be able to leave soon, he just, he wants. Needs Steve to know, before everything changes again, while he’s between worlds and mostly healed and Steve it here. Steve was smiling. 

‘Maybe I’ve found someone who, who deserves it.’ Eddie takes a deep breath. ‘Who I couldn’t be there for before, but I want to be here for now.’ 

Steves eyes soften ‘Oh.’ he whispers, fighting down a smile, looking down at his lap. He fidgets, pulls at his jacket, takes another swig of his drink. 

He moves his chair closer to Eddie. Won’t look him in the eyes but he grabs Eddie’s hand that’s sitting on top of the bedsheet, linking their fingers together.

‘Wheel of Fortune’s almost on’ Steve’s says, looking ahead, still not letting his smile fully bloom. He’s squinting. It’s ridiculous. 

Eddie grins. ‘Yeah, right right, of course’ He squeezes Steve’s hand and grabs the remote. Vows to not let go unless he has to, vows to keep Steve safe, help his bruises heal. Show him romance and kindness and love. 

˚♱₊✩‧₊⋆｡‧˚♱⋆₊✩‧₊

written for Lex’s Spicy Six Winter Challenge! run by @thefreakandthehair and using the prompt: 'spiked eggnog'. it’s finished! ty again for organising!!!

Tag list (open): @pearynice @xxfiction-is-my-realityxx @scoops-aboy86 @chickensinrainboots @cheesedoctor @marvel-ous-m

Also tagging: @museumgiftshoperaser @kas-eddie-munson @ellietheasexylibrarian @sofadofax @i-amthepizzaman @estrellami-1

title from 'stick season' by noah kahan (edited slightly to fit better)

[caplanbuckybarnes]

Writing Challenge Entries from an old blog

I've been snooping around my old URLs and found TONS of old writing challenge entries that I wanted to bring back to life. This list (which isn't finished) is a mixture of all types of writing challenges that I had hosted on an older blog back when Tumblr Culture was rampant with people being interactive with each other. As I locate more of these, they will be added. Currently, I've found things from the years 2017-2018ish. if y'all have any more from my older challenges, let me know, and I can add them to the list!

updated September 2 2024

I'm still missing a bunch of these entries. Check your blogs for either this URL or @caplansteverogers.

The Cookie Baking Disaster || Summary: You forgot to bake your famous cookies when Christmas dinner is at yours and Sam’s house, but trouble comes from your forgetful nature @anaboo-thewriter

Frozen Date || Summary:  You ask Wanda to build a snowman with you and that leads to an interesting result @kjs-s

Would You Just Listen To Me || Summary: Reader found out she’s pregnant and Bucky is to busy to hear the important news from his soon to be wife. @buckys-other-punk

Holiday Magic || Summary: Summary: Christmas is a magical time of the year. Bucky and Y/N meet under odd circumstances. A friendship ensues! With the new year, there’s a possibility romance will bloom! @buckybarnesappreciationsociety

Please Come Home || Summary: None @meganlpie

The “Unexpected” Christmas Gift || Summary: You are ER Nurse at Stark Hospital & friends with EMT!Bucky. Bucky harbour’s a crush on you but it is brought out accidently by his friend. @lostinthoughtsandfeelings

"My dog ate your christmas present” || SUMMARY: Bucky's dog ate the present for reader. Bucky had to invent something ad hoc. @thepaperpanda

Hooky || Summary: It was a long day at work and Reader and her friend decide to unwind at their favorite dive bar, until the friend brings up something that Reader had forgotten. @ruckystarnes

The Duchess || Summary: The Duchess of Manhattan likes her men regal. Y/N Stark grew up loving the king, but when the tables turn and the lovers are torn apart, she aims her arrows at the second in line for the throne. @hellomissmabel

Line of Duty || No Summary @maggyme13

Unhappy Memories || Summary: Love was a mortal concept, so the poets said. @writeshite

Sugar, Spice || Summary: Summary: Frank Castle x reader. This is based on the scenario prompt: “I’m a waitress and it’s busy. Thank you for being kind.”  Frank notices his favorite waitress having a rough time, and even though things aren’t going great in his life either, he offers up some solid company and a listening ear. @emotchalla

I'll Drink to That || Summary: Prompts: “Did you spike the hot chocolate?” & “What? You don’t like eggnog?” @buckys-other-punk

I Just Want to Be Like You || Summary: (y/n) is working for the Avengers. She didnt want to bother the others and so she got in a bit of trouble. And all of that because she just wanted to be a bit like Natashe

A Spot Shaped Like You || Summary: Tony Stark loves you. You’re a mystery to everyone, you keep to yourself, and you always wear clothes that swamp you. Peter expresses some concerns to Tony one day, which prompts him to ask, “what are all these scars on your body?”

A Thousand Food Dates || Summary: Waking up next to Loki has never been this sweet. @hellomissmabel

Simple Mornings || Summary:  After admitting your feelings for Wanda you two spend an amazing night and quiet night together. @supersoldierslover

Mistletoe || Summary: The team goes out on a mission, leaving you alone to decorate for Christmas with Loki @faithers10911

Love Story || Summary:  Your whole life you spent doing what is right and pleasing your parents, But one day you face one of the hardest decisions of your life. (MODERN ROYAL AU) @supersoldierslover

Razzy || Summary: “I’m gonna be a dad!” @thesharkapologist

Aerials || No Summary @aikibriarrose

When I Was Your Man || No Summary @winterschild999

To Whom It May Concern || Summary: How Steve Rogers meets his soulmate, you. Set to To Whom It May Concern by The Civil Wars @thesoftdumbass

Memory || Summary: Steve Rogers and his wife recall special moments during an anniversary party. Written for Caplans Drabble songfic challenge. Story based upon the George Strait song “Rockin’ in the arms of your memory tonight”

Commercial Break || You just couldn’t remember what he reminded you of, but corny, repetitive holiday commercials had a tendency of sticking with you forever. Especially when they were so memorably relevant. @antivigilante

Sunshine || No Summary @me-a-hopeless-romantic

Ask Me How I Know || No Summary @winter-time-writing-blog

You vs. Ice || Summary: You are last-minute gift shopping on a very snowy day when you slip and face plant right into a national figure. @your-highnessmarvel

The Calm After a Storm || Summary: Reader was excited for a couple days of peace as everyone leaves for a mission. But the storm was not the only thing that caught her by surprise as a shy Steve confesses the reason why he stayed behind. @steve-rogers-personal-hell-blog

Choices || Summary: Steve finally takes the courage to ask [Y/N] to marry him - only to learn he’s out of time.

Desperate Prayers || Summary: With the recent death of his mother, Steve feels so alone.  He desperately prays for someone to understand and love him like his mother did. @fantastic-fantasy-fanfics

Jingle Bell Hell || No Summary @haven-in-writing

The End of Love || Summary: Summers in New York are magical. It’s a time for new beginnings and adventures. This new beginning is coming to an end, whether you like it or not. @haven-in-writing

Starlett || Summary: Stars are so beautiful.  They’re even better with the love of your life right next to you. @fantastic-fantasy-fanfics

Ring of Fire || Summary: AU. An all-consuming love like theirs can either keep them warm at night, or burn everything they know to the ground like a wildfire. @justsomebucky

Quick, Kiss Me || Summary: Agent Peggy Carter is on a mission, finding out what are Daniel and Agent Thompson doing. They are always sneaking off at odd time together. @superfandomdqueensnook

Blue Christmas || Summary: No friends, no family, and nothing to do make for a really crummy Christmas.  Good thing the Brooklyn boys have a big soft spot for you. @fantastic-fantasy-fanfics

Come Home || Summary: you and your girlfriend had a big fight and she stormed out.  Now you’re worried she’s hurt!

A Monster Like Me || Summary: After an incident, a young man remembers how he met his fiancée and the hard path they had that led them to that moment. @writing-mermaid

Risky || Prompt: “I will protect you.” @smoreal

Sick Day || Summary: You fall ill and Bucky leaves his mission to make sure you have the best care possible. @faithers10911

Untitled Fluff || SUMMARY: Reader is having a stressful day at work, but when she gets home her boyfriend surprises her @ruckystarnes

The Big Gesture || Summary: Making first public appearance with your date, at most anticipated movie premier, you thought was a Big gesture. But your date makes even Bigger Gesture by surprising you @lostinthoughtsandfeelings

Would You Mind If I Kissed You? || Summary(which I suck at sorry): Steve finally convinces Bucky to attend one of Tony’s parties. Bucky isn’t too happy about it until he meets a woman who has a less than ordinary request. Maybe this night will be more interesting than Bucky thought. @workingforthewidow

Anyone Who Knows What Love Is || Synopsis: Clint comes home after a long mission with a simple request. (Italics is flashback, per usual) @fan-maddson

Trouble || No Summary @kaunis-sielu

The Brit || Summary: After a dreadful day at work you hope to spend time with your boyfriend Bucky but things REALLY don't go as planned. @kaleenjackson

What Makes a Hero || Summary  Steve found you on the rooftop during a party celebrating a successful mission and tried to find out what’s wrong. @kjs-s

Chapter 1: The tour || Summary: Have you ever wanted something so much that the fear of not getting it makes you wonder if you ever should have wanted it at all? Steve Rogers is the last one of the royal lineage. The moment he got crowned King, the court and his mother pressured him to get married and have an heir. But he wants to find love in this cold world where everyone is moved around like a chess piece. @randomstoriesofabunny

Disappeared || Description: This is another writing challenge! Basically, it’s ‘How to train your god of mischief’ @battlechicklovefanfic

“Ew, that’s disgusting!” || Summary: You learned your soulmate wasn’t from around here. Never would have guessed they’d be an Alien, but when SHIELD knocks down your door and doesn’t give you a choice in the matter, you know you’ll just have to follow along until they figure out if you hate humantiy. So, what happens when your first meeting doesn’t go as you’d dreamed as a child? @haiky-u-lously

With You || Summary: Loki is being his usual grumpy self and you do everything in your power to make him smile again. @your-highnessmarvel

Boundless || Summary: Sweet loves with a bittersweet ending. || modern au @captainmarvels

Bitter Christmas || Summary: I’m out shopping at the worst time of the year and I see you with your new gf at a jewelry store AU

Side to Side || Summary: With your loud music playing, you wake Bucky up in the middle of the day but the song seems to grow on him. @buckysmetallicstump

Miláčik || Summary: Pietro x Reader. You met Pietro in what had to be the most hopeless place @witchymarvelspacecase

Naught Girl || Summary:Bucky's fiance' has a special surprise planned for him when he arrives home from his mission. @laprofesoratinacita

Bridge to Forever || Summary: Bucky and Y/N reminisce about their relationship. Everyday wasn’t wine, roses and caviar. In the end, the unshakeable bond they shared prevailed. @buckybarnesappreciationsociety

Dirty Laundry || No Summary @thefandomimagines

Talk Dirty || No Summary @buckysmusculararm

Shape of You || Summary: It was one of the many parties Stark liked to organize. The motive behind it was simple, he is and I quote: ‘A genius, billionaire, playboy and a philanthropist,” so he could throw all the parties he wanted. Sam spotted a beautiful woman at a party and he fell in love with her. Inspired by the song Shape of you by Ed Sheeran. @randomstoriesofabunny

Blue Ain't Your Color || Summary: Tony walks into a bar and finds himself in the presence of an angel. If only he could get her to smile. @haven-in-writing

Bad Things With You || No Summary @axidental-pol

What About Us || Summary: Based on the song ‘What About Us’ by P!NK. Here’s a link <3 @jennareedus

I'm Yours || Summary: Out at the bar, with karaoke @superfandomdqueensnook

Sorry Not Sorry || Summary: You live in Asgard and are the daughter of an esteemed general. You have to go to a banquet being held by Odin. Loki just broke up with you, and you’re feeling insecure. After talking with your friends, they convince you to go to the banquet and just to ignore him. However, that’s not what actually ends up happening. @xx-multi-fandom-fics

Accidentally in Love || No Summary @lostinthoughtsandfeelings

Vienna || Summary: Sebastian and Y/N are taking a time-out while Sebastian finishes up filming for his new movie. They’re not splitting up for Sebastian it feels that way and in one final attempt at making amends, he shows up unexpectedly at Y/N’s door. @hellomissmabel

Jealous | No Summary @buckys-other-punk

Amnesia || Summary: You and Bucky have broken up recently, however, he can never forget the relationship you both had.After you suddenly move on he’s is hurt about you finding someone new, and wishes to wake up with amnesia to forget the pain it is causing him to see you with another and regrets ever hurting you. @skywalkerwitch

Only You to Trust || Summary:  All the glitz and glam that LA was known for only served to hide the painful truth about people. Based on the song ‘The Hills’ by The Weeknd. @justanotherbuckydevotee

Turf Wars || Summary  You found out your girlfriend works for the mobster queen of your part of the city after an attack on your old neighborhood @kjs-s

Puppy Love || Summary:Pietro talks to the reader about the girl he just met making them jealous but they are up for a surprise. @kjs-s

A Marshmellow World || Summary:  In which being caught in an embarrassing moment by your crush leads to a date with him. – Steve x Reader

Sandcastles and Dreams || Summary:  Just after he was finally ready to move on Bucky starts getting vivid dreams, about the life he always wanted with you. @lostinthoughtsandfeelings

Unbreak My Heart || Summary  Steve found you on the rooftop during Peter’s birthday party. @kjs-s

Secret Santa || Summary & A/N: This was part of @caplansteverogers Christmas Challenge – my prompt was “they did secret Santa at work, and I got you and I have no idea what to get you so I’m pretending that I’m not stalking you when I am and I learn all these cute things about you.” So here it is!

Because I Really Like You || Summary: The reader moves to New York, knowing no one. Until her handsome neighbors makes an appearance and shows her she is not alone anymore. @americaswritings

Failed Movie Night || Summary: You fall asleep on the couch after a full day with Steve Rogers. He helps you out and carries you to bed when you tell him it’s too cold to get out from under the blankets on the couch. @surrounded-by-superheroes

Love Wins ||  Summary: A drunken night out, feelings and make up sex in the kitchen. What could be better??? @prettyyoungtragedy

“I would have did anything for you...” || Summary: Sometimes love just isn’t enough to keep the pain at bay, sometimes it better to love someone from a far. @prettyyoungtragedy

I Miss You || Summary: Three little words have always held so much importance for you and Bucky, and in the end, you’ll miss him more than you could’ve ever imagined. @beefybuffybucky

His Best Friend || Summary: Takes place during Civil War. The reader had been friends for a long time with Steve. He has told her about the Winter Soldier but ever since the day that she met him, she couldn’t get him out of her mind. @xx-multi-fandom-fics

Piece By Broken Piece || Synopsis:The reader has been released from your duties as a H.Y.D.R.A. agent, the contract agreed upon by your father fulfilled. Now free, you have found yourself living at the Avengers Compound, piecing your life together with the help of Tony Stark and B.A.R.T. You knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but coming face to face with Bucky Barnes, the man who trained you, was a massive bump in the road to recovery. To your surprise, Bucky remembers you, the life you had together. And he is wracked with guilt, blaming himself. @fan-maddson

Puppies Summary: The Team was gone on a month long mission, and y/n was finding staying in to be boring. But when she finds a box by her coffee shop, she can’t wait to show her girlfriend, Nat, what surprises await. @emergenciesstory

Him & I || Summary: You and Bucky Barnes have been dating for a few months and developed a bit of a routine. Who knew Rory Pond would help you realize your feelings? @nosleeptillbucky

Love Me Like You Do || Summary: Bucky Barnes is the bar manager where you work as a bar maid. You’ve had a decent crush on him since he started working there. It’s karaoke night and the bar is almost empty. What could happen? @ela-loves-you

A Piece of You || No Summary @ellaxvasiliev

Control || Summary: Loki’s wife comes home to a quiet house, far too quiet. @kaleenjackson

Why Are You Wearing My Sweater? || Summary: Lance's girlfriend finds a way to "keep him close" while he's away @laprofesoratinacita

Bad Bitch || No Summary @buckysforeverprincess

One Call Away || No Summary @nerdy-bookworm-1998

New Rules || Summary: The aftermath of your break up with Pietro @kjs-s

Here || Summary: You’re at a club that you didn’t want to go to in the first place, but a man named Steve makes things better. @anaboo-thewriter

[lonewolflupe]

Last Life Day I Gave You My Heart (One-Shot)

This is my entry for week 8 of The Clone Wars Winter Spectacular 2024 / @clone-wars-winter-challenge !

I recently wrote my first attempt at crack and I had so much fun with the dynamics between Fives and Dogma, so I decided to continue it in this story.

Summary: Dogma is enjoying some solitude when he gains some unwanted attention Rating: Teen and up Tags: crack, Torrent Company, vode bonding, drinking, teasing, karaoke, Life Day Words: 1.238 Characters: CT-6922 Dogma, CT-5555 Fives, CT-5597 Jesse, CT-5385 Tup Prompts: Karaoke Night / Eggnog Read this one-shot here on AO3 week 7 < | ↓ | > week 9

Shore leave was becoming rare these days, and whenever the clones from Torrent Company were allowed some time off, Dogma felt like distancing himself. He preferred being alone with his thoughts; away from the mayhem his brothers caused. This particular evening, he was in need of a drink and found himself on a bar stool at the counter of Coruscant’s clone bar.

With his elbows perched on top of the counter, Dogma had a pensive frown on his face as he was lost in the contents of his glass, silently swirling his drink around. He knew 79’s wasn't the best place to find a little solitude, but at least they served clones here. And no one had bothered him so far; maybe he was lucky tonight.

He couldn't have picked a worse evening.

There were posters all around the bar promoting the event later that evening, but he had ignored everything apart from the server droid and his drink. A gnawing feeling crept up inside him when the place was getting more swamped with clones than usual, but dread took over when he noticed some Torrent Company among the masses. It was defeat when one of them noticed him too. One very specific clone.

Instantly, Fives found his way through the crowd and made for Dogma. The latter hunched over, trying to hide himself behind his elbow that was arched upon the counter, but it was too late; the ARC trooper had already spotted him. With a force that nearly knocked the drink from his hand, Fives patted his brother on the back. He noticed how Dogma regained himself, balancing on top of the bar stool in order to remain seated. He managed, but barely.

Fives’ lips slid into an amused smile before he addressed his already annoyed brother. “Don't get eggknocked off your chair,” he grinned at Dogma, leaning his back against the counter and casually sliding his elbows on top of it. Without looking him in the eye, Dogma's irritated expression shifted into a confused one. “Eggnog..? What..,” he muttered softly, grabbing the counter abruptly when Jesse’s sudden appearance startled him. He appeared out of nowhere and positioned himself at Dogma’s other side.

“Don't mind Fives, he's getting ready for the holly-days,” he tried easing Dogma, but the smirk on his face was not comforting Dogma at all. Fives bumped his fist playfully into Dogma's shoulder, making him tense his knuckles as he tightened his grasp on the counter. “Yeah, it's the season to be punny!” the ARC trooper laughed.

Dogma's knuckles started turning white, which wasn't lost on Jesse. He put a brotherly arm around him, whilst gesturing towards the knuckles to make Fives aware of them. “Fives, give him some slack. Dogma here is holding on for deer life!” Jesse tried sounding genuine, but Dogma shrugged to free himself from Jesse's embrace when he heard him snicker from amusement.

The credit had dropped by now. Dogma had caught on to his brothers’ wordplay, and the irritated frown had returned to his face. “So what are all of you doing here tonight?” he grumbled under his breath, just loud enough for his brothers to hear as he tried holding his composure.

Both Fives’ and Jesse's faces lit up with enthusiasm in an instant. They both moved closer, and to Dogma's utter irritation, met him in the middle. “It's Karaoke Night! Life Day edition,” Jesse shot in excitement, resulting in vigorous nodding by Fives. “Oh, skrag,” came Dogma's reply with a sigh, as he hid his face behind his hands. He should have given some attention to those promotional posters after all.

With a smooth movement, Fives pushed away from the counter and positioned himself behind Dogma, grabbing his brother’s hanging shoulders and starting to rub them in a rough attempt at a massage. It made Dogma’s face slip from his cupped hands, and he nearly collapsed face-down on the counter. “Come join us on stage, brother. I'm sure you'll sleigh it,” Fives cooed at him, a content smirk appearing on his face after coming up with another wordplay.

With some effort, Dogma managed to sit upright, violently shrugging his shoulders to get rid of Fives’ touch. With such force as to make his point clear, he spun the bar stool around in order to face Fives. “No thanks,” he bit at him, the irked frown on his forehead making his tattoo wrinkle. Fives spat out an utterance of disappointment. “But.. but what about our great chemis-tree?” he asked whilst putting his hand on top of his chest, as if Dogma had just shattered his heart in a thousand pieces.

With a deep sigh, Dogma rolled his eyes and spun the stool back around to show Fives his back. “Kriff off, Fives,” he muttered in the process, hunching over the counter again and ordering a fresh shot to drink away his newly created sorrows. “Dogma, you're breaking my heart!” Fives cried out theatrically, resulting in chuckling from Jesse. “You're supposed to wrap your presents, not your emotions, Dogma,” the latter proclaimed with a grin so wide his teeth were visible.

Suddenly, a comforting voice erupted from the crowd behind them. “Stop tree-ting him like that,” Tup’s voice carried above the crowd. Dogma’s face lit up for a very brief moment, happy to be saved by his brother, until he noticed the wordplay he was using. “Not you too..,” he whispered, shaking his head and hunching over even further, as if he could hide himself inside the counter.

Fives jumped around to welcome their brother with the broadest smile he could manage. “Tup, vod’ika, I knew it was love at frost sight,” he said to him, almost in a sing-song voice. The two intertwined in a brotherly embrace, and with a genuine smile on his face, Fives whispered to him: “Glad you could make it.”

Jesse walked over to them and greeted Tup with an enthusiastic forearm shake. “Alright you two,” he grinned at last, “you snow the drill!” The others snickered ominously, resulting in another head shake from Dogma. “I sure do. Time for a mistle-toast!” Fives grinned, right before grabbing some shots from the counter and handing them to his brothers. “To Dogma. I gave him my heart, but the very next day, he gave it away!”

They clinked their glasses and downed the drinks. “Alright, let’s goooo!” Fives shouted with such enthusiasm, it shook Dogma in his very seat. With the empty glasses back on the counter, Fives and Jesse put their arms around their shoulders and determinedly made their way to the karaoke stage. Tup lingered behind a little longer, gently placing his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Dogma, no need to hang around like some Life Day ornament, vod,” he said softly, a kindness to his voice that would have eased Dogma at any other moment. But he was too riled up already; he could only reply with some unintelligible mumbling as Tup walked away with an affectionate smile on his face.

As soon as Last Life Day by Womp! started playing, Dogma knew Fives had entered the stage. He granted the act one look, and when Fives stared straight back at him whilst intensely singing the chorus, Dogma could only give him the finger. He grabbed his newly served drink, downed it in one big gulp and left the bar.

He most definitely hadn’t been lucky tonight.

[brokenmusicboxwolfe]

ugh, im so sorry about that phone call from that guy with the metal detector who got all pushy, that really sucks. I hope you have a wonderful holiday and a merry Christmas and i wanted to say that i really love your artwork. your sculptures are so incredible and it always makes me smile when they come on my dash

Thank you so much!!!

Anyone telling me that like what I make means the world to me. I’ve felt very discouraged lately, and between that and being busy it has been hard to feel motivated. I’m not just having trouble making things, but photographing and posting them has been an exhausting prospect. But for folks like you I will put a bit more effort into at least getting caught up sharing things.

As for Christmas, well, I tried. You can’t fault my effort.

I put up lights at both houses (battery powered window light’s at Mom’s since there is no electricity.

I made a wreath for one house and a garland for the other.

I mailed out Christmas cards, even knowing I would be lucky to get any back (I got 3).

For an entire month I only watched Christmas things and listened to seasonal music.

I baked so many Christmas cookies my freezer is now all cookies, grape juice (from our grapes), and pumpkin (from my jack o’lantern). This is a real problem when you need space for frozen peas!

I went out and cut a tree, then decorated it in our traditional style with many, many, MANY lights and kinds of ornaments.

I made gifts I gave to people and bought special treats for all the animals.

I wrapped gifts for myself using various freebies and dollar store stuff I’d saved up during the year.

I bought apple juice I mulled with spices and made eggnog.

I made a full Christmas dinner (well, the turkey has another hour too cook.

I sent messages and texts to anyone I could to wish them a Merry Christmas. And, as usual, I called Mom.

Basically I did everything I could think of or afford, clinging to the traditions like a lifeline, desperately wanting to at least feel the ghosts of Christmas past.

But in the end I felt…. I dunno. An emptiness tinged with loss. Is the fact I know what it feels like to be loved something that makes it easier or harder to be so alone now? I dunno.

I know what I’m missing, and it kinda makes my attempts at Christmas feel all the more hollow. I’m like a child trying to reenact something an adult do. Or maybe someone gone a bit round the bend, living in an imaginary world in a case of extreme denial.

Anyway, it hasn’t totally sucked. I have a nice meal waiting and the tree is pretty. I only cried once, on a sunset walk to the swamp. I just need to stop wanting to have company and feel loved, and maybe then I can enjoy holidays again! LOL

Thank you again. This really made my day better!

[queen-of-writing-bad-things]

Henry Danger Reader Insert | Captain Man x Reader: SEASON 5

Episode 30: Holiday Punch

Season 5 Masterlist

~The Man Cave~

T'was the afternoon before Christmas, and all through the Cave, the mood was jolly yet panicked, festive but stressy, merry yet messy. 

There should've been peace on Earth, good tidings, and flowing eggnog for all the men, women and children in Swellview since the town was decorated down to the last doornail, decked with twinkling lights, pretty ornaments and a light powdering of snow. 

However, to say Christmas was two days away, and a grim mood hung over the city, repelling any seasonal cheer and making people sneer at their neighbours rather than exchange gifts. 

It started with a tree. And then, another. And another. And then, an entire forest. Y'see, Swellviewians argued that they couldn't have Christmas without a tree to decorate, put presents underneath, and rock around. So, when the tree slowly started to brown, shrivel and decay, the mobs hit the streets. 

"Yes, ma'am, I know. I appreciate your five-year-old son is in tears, but we're currently swamped with dead Christmas tree calls..." (y/n) said politely as she listened to the furious woman in Downtown Swellview. 

It took a lot of resilience to take the abuse and hysteria reported from the city's every corner, but the woman could only be so courteous. Everyone's tree was dying, whether they were still on the tree farms or cut down and decorated by the fireplace. 

"Well, if that's your answer, you can shove your tree up your chimney! And a very Merry Christmas to you, too!" She replied snappily before slamming the phone down on the supercomputer, pinching her eyes to stem the pounding ache between her temples. 

"Another rude one?" Charlotte asked as she touched (y/n)'s shoulder, comfortingly stroking the soft wool of her new, festive sweater. 

Ray bought it for her, loving how cute and snuggly it made her look at what was a significant time of year for them, but the man mysteriously disappeared just as the first dead tree reports came flooding in. Therefore, Charlotte comforted her, though she wouldn't do any cuddling, kissing or touchy stuff. 

"An absolute bitch. What does she want me to do? Snap my fingers and magically bring her tree back to life?"

"Stay with me, tree!" Schwoz called out from across the room - as if he'd heard them through his focused, adrenaline-fuelled rampage before the phone rang again. 

Having been distracted by their task, the three at the computer had ignored the genius, who'd been tasked with reviving any tree found clinging to life. Like an extra from Grey's Anatomy, he battled to keep the withered evergreen alive, hooking it up to an EVS monitor as he pumped its branches like he needed to circulate the sap. 

He didn't give up, not even when the vital signs began to plummet to dangerously low levels, which didn't make sense, but this was the Man Cave at Christmas - nothing was normal. 

"Captain Man hotline," Henry answered the chiming call, just for a bit of variety and to give (y/n) a break. 

"Your Christmas tree is dying? Yeah, we've been getting a lot of those calls. Every Christmas tree in Swellview is dying." Children were crying, trees were dying, and no one could catch a break as another phone rang, engaging the girls with more angry, distraught people.

"Come on, tree! Fight!" Schwoz bellowed as he worked tirelessly to bring its stats up, but he was fighting a losing battle. As was Trent on KLVY, who knew he worked with a child, but he still expected her to maintain a level of decorum and professionalism.

"Stay strong, Mary. This is the news. People are counting on us," he said in an eerily calm voice to the sobbing woman, who crumpled over the desk as her mascara smudged down her damp cheeks. 

"I don't want to lose you..." Schwoz pleaded over the ongoing news report, but his fists stopped beating against the tree branches when the monitor flatlined, echoing the infamous, continuous beep around the room. Heartbreaking. 

"I lost him."

"You tried your best, Schwoz," (y/n) said softly, using her kindest smile as she, Henry and Charlotte tiptoed over to offer some consolation. He looked devastated, but a new hope emerged as quickly as the heartache hit. 

"We're back!"

"We got another one!" Piper and Jasper proclaimed as they returned from a successful mission. Their task was simple; find a barely-alive tree, bring it back, and pray Schwoz could pump some life into it. Lo and behold, the resident lumberjacks carrying a specimen straight from someone's living room. 

"Oh, good!" The small man grinned, pushing the old, dead tree onto the floor to be forgotten before he beckoned them to put the new tree in its place. 

"This tree's lost a lot of sap! I don't know how much longer it's got," Jasper reported as he used those big, old muscles to put it down, acting as though he was in the middle of the ER. 

"Branches intact. I think you can save it!" Piper clashed with him, seeing the slightest hint of emerald green clinging to the dried-up leaves. 

"Don't get your hopes up, rookie. We can't have a repeat of last time," (y/n) warned her, remembering the heartbreak Schwoz felt moments ago when he got too attached, only to lose his "patient" at the last hurdle. But the girl was determined and hopeful, holding and squeezing the woman's arm with fire in her eyes.

"This one's a fighter. I can feel it!"

"Watch out!" Schwoz butted in as he shuffled through the small gathering, holding a strange device - a big, golden, antique gramophone speaker and gas canister mushed into one. 

"What's that?" Piper asked, tilting her head as her grit and determination mixed with curiosity. 

"I have a plan to find out why all the Christmas trees are dying."

"What are you gonna do?" Henry questioned, the same inquisitive expression on his features as his sister - curiousness always got the better of the Harts, but that's what made them fit in  

"I'm going to ask the tree what killed it, and it's going to tell me!" Schwoz replied with a tenacious gaze, and the teens nodded enthusiastically. Even (y/n) understood what he was talking about, knowing Schwoz's skills were out-of-this-world but in a good way. But Piper was still new and didn't know the ways of their world yet. 

"Whaaaaaat?" She frowned, thinking he was talking like a crazy person or, perhaps, pulling her leg. Trees can't talk - right?

"This horn can turn tree vibrations into human speech. Once I attach it to the tree, it will be able to talk to us just like a person," the genius explained as if it was the simplest thing in the world, but Piper still gave him a sceptically dry look. 

"Yeah, that's gobbledygook," she said, not believing his word. 

"Welcome to the Man Cave, rookie," Schwoz retorted, shocking Piper at how that word kept cropping up, but before she could question it - having been in the Man Cave for weeks - he plunged a spike-tipped hose deep into the tree trunk. 

The blow gave the tree life in a sudden and unexpected move, making it leap as if it needed to breathe again. The group recoiled, terrified of the tree and its strange ability to bend like it had a spine. Piper screamed louder than everyone as she hid her face in (y/n)'s Christmas sweater, who'd protect her to death, but the tree was still weak and edging on its fate. 

"Uh...ahh...I can't feel my roots," its pained croaking crackled through the gramophone as it laid back against the table, resting its dying, bauble-lined branches. 

"Just tell us what did this to you," (y/n) told it gently, not having the heart to explain that humans like to cut down things at their proudest and prettiest just so they could watch that beauty fade away after a couple weeks of enjoying it. 

"It was...mohhhh..." the tree groaned, but his final words never escaped his mouth. Instead, it went slack on the table as the monitor flatlined again, earning melancholy, disappointed sighs from around the room. 

"He's gone..." Schwoz stated, thinking they were just too late and there was nothing they could do now. 

"Did he mean mohhhh like moooohhhnsters?" Jasper suggested, assuming there'd be some horrible, grotesque beast at the heart of this crisis, and Captain Man and his sidekicks would have to fight to the death to return cheer and season's greetings to Swellview. 

"Or, like the mahhhhhfia?" Piper proposed in an equally shaky voice - like a tree in its final seconds. Unlike the boy, she saw the heroes fighting bad guys in dark suits with handguns, like in that rom-com she watched with (y/n) where the bookworm falls for the most dangerous man in the city. Less romance, though, and more blood, guts and action. 

"I was saying moths!" The tree corrected them, scaring the group at its sudden resurrection. The machine said it had died, yet it could still twitch. Schwoz's science was so weird. 

"I thought you were dead!" Piper exclaimed, clutching her chest and feeling her heart thumping wildly against her ribcage. She pressed into (y/n), seeking safety in her super-regenerating friend, who patted her arm as the tree returned to its pitiful state. 

"No, but I am dying...now," it wailed as the machine flatlined again. Surely, it was over this time around. 

"So, moths are, like, eating the trees?" Henry guessed...just as the EVS monitor ticked back to life. With the tree. Again. Honestly, it didn't know if it was coming or going. 

"That's right!"

"Dude!"

"You said you were dying!" The kid and (y/n) snapped, unsure if they could take more jumpscares without needing a heart scanner. It seemed cruel, but she wished the perishing conifer would kick the bucket - get it over with now they had a clue what was happening. 

"And so, sweet lady, I am. Uh!"

"Are you, though?" She replied suspiciously, squinting as the monotone beeping filled the room for the millionth time. No one knew what to think, assuming the tree would wake again, but Trent Overunder piped up before it could.

"Swellview has a new menace!"

"Uh, guys? I think the tree's right. Look," Charlotte said, pointing at the computer monitor, where a breaking story had emerged on the news. 

"It's moths. That's right, moths," Trent reported as they gathered around the computer, focusing on the image of a seemingly innocent, brown moth to the right of his face. 

"Told ya!" The tree gibed, returning from the dead to feel smug, but the little family shushed him. 

It was hard enough to concentrate without going cross-eyed from all the glitzy decor (y/n) had strung about the place. Ray wasn't one for decking the halls, so to speak, but she loved everything Christmassy, from the tinsel around the monitors to her giant polar bear plushie to the gingerbread chapstick on her lips. 

"I'm coming, Elizabeth!" Anything to keep him quiet. 

"Never before seen in Swellview, Yerban tree moths have been running rampant, killing all of the Christmas trees in town. They're gone!" The news anchor exclaimed, his words upsetting Mary even more. 

Clearly, Christmas was important to her, as shown by her garishly bright and festive, present-patterned jumper, which she'd customised with glittery pom-poms. 

"Christmas is ruined!" She sobbed, streaking more mascara down her cheeks until it mixed with her smudged wine-coloured lipstick. It was a sad sight, but not even Trent could keep her calm. 

"Mary, please--"

"You can't have Christmas without trees!" She wailed, shaking uncontrollably at the thought of the shattered holidays, even if they didn't solely revolve around decorating a tree. 

"That's right, Mary. Holiday historians say that without decorated evergreen trees, we're just a bunch of weirdos giving things to each other," the man stated as his cohost began pulling the pretty pom-poms off her sweater, stroppily throwing them across their desk without a care in the world. 

"Authorities say that without the Christmas season ruined, Swellviewians will soon turn on each other and start destroying the city they once loved."

"You're awful! And I hate everything!" Mary spat in a babyish, throaty tone, sobbing as she childishly began to ruin the papers, folders and knickknacks scattered across the desk. Trent was right; she didn't care about him, getting up with her head thrown back to go and weep somewhere else. 

"You two gotta do something," Charlotte said as she turned off the news, seeing enough to know they had a big problem and (y/n) and Henry were the ones to solve it. 

"Us? What are we gonna do?" (y/n) asked, sharing a confused look with the boy since neither knew how to remove moths or protect trees. People wouldn't listen to them when they were rampaging and rioting in the streets. 

"Miss Danger and Kid Danger are celebrities, so go on TV and tell people what to think!" Piper instructed her friend and brother, but he still didn't look sure. Yeah, he and (y/n) were famous, but they weren't natural performers in front of the camera, the latter tending to freeze up with so many watching.  

"Yeah! Tell them even without trees, you can still have the holiday spirit," Jasper went on, speaking the truth, but Henry hated the thought of going on the news just to bleat on about togetherness, love and the essence of Santa. It wasn't his style, but he knew one guy who didn't mind acting like a soppy, touchy-feely idiot. 

"Why me and (y/n)? More people will listen if Captain Man says it!"

"Uh, first, I haven't seen Ray all day," Charlotte spoke, looking at (y/n) for answers since it was bizarre to see the couple separated and even stranger; she seemed perfectly content. Despite having few answers, she wasn't worried, stressed or upset. Just smiley and bubbly. 

"He went off somewhere about an hour ago. Seemed suspiciously excited about something..." (y/n) told them, secretly missing her doofus every minute he was away, but he promised he'd be home soon - with a surprise for their very special day, no less. 

"And second..." The girl moved on, turning the news on again so the sidekicks could see the unfolding chaos. Mary had genuinely turned on Trent, chasing him around the studio with a boom mic.

"Good God, Mary! We're live!"

"I don't know what else to do!" The woman cried as she tried to whack him, meaning Trent had to run for his life because she'd gone crazy. That's how much Christmas meant to her. 

"You have strikes against you. Think of your cat!" Charlotte turned it off again before things got ugly, and Henry found himself the focus of many pairs of eyes. (y/n)'s included; she knew they'd have to help since no one would, and her fluttering eyelashes got to the kid's heart almost as quickly as they got to Ray's.

"Okay, fine! We'll do it!"

"Great!" Schwoz grinned as he moved to cross the room. "While you're doing that, I'm going to take a little trip out to the woods to see if I can find some of those Yerban moths."

"Oooh, do you need some help?" Jasper asked, enthusiastically offering assistance because he loved to make himself useful. However, he was infamous for cocking things up, often making the slightest hitch into a colossal crisis.

"Sure do! Peeper, wanna come with me?" The genius asked, bypassing the cheery boy for the new girl, who was infinitely more helpful and less annoying--even if he couldn't quite say her name. 

"I'll drive! I have a license."

"Established!" The tree muttered, suddenly returning to life again, simply to remind everyone that Piper could drive - illegally. Everyone shouted at it to shut up and decide whether it wanted to live or die, growing tired of the constant interruptions. 

They couldn't have an evergreen freak butting in on the news - (y/n) was already nervous enough. Saving Christmas was no big deal, right?

~A little while later~

Having donned their uniforms, Henry and (y/n) prepared to livestream on KLVY. Of course, they weren't going in blind, having formed a very sneaky plan to dupe everyone into thinking they were sincere, honest and speaking from their hearts. 

They were sort of. It was just that no one wanted to go into this blindly, say something stupid and ruin Christmas forever. If that happened, the only lights on Christmas Eve would be the city on fire as the backdrop to the mad mob with the burning torches. 

So, they had cue cards to replace flashcards with sentimental nonsense scrawled on the back, so they knew what to say. All they had to do now was not vomit on air, which was easier said than done for (y/n) and her flip-floppy tummy. 

"--I'm being told that Miss Danger and Kid Danger would like to say something about the tree situation," Trent noted as the tiny voice in his ear updated him about the impromptu interview. 

He'd been working away, telling everyone about some poor woman having been eaten by a snake, when Mary lifted her head up with hope in her eyes, knowing the sidekicks always saved the day. 

"They're celebrities! They'll tell me what to think!" She whimpered, slowly retreating into her chair, ignorant of how messy her face was, as she smiled for the first time since the tress started withering. 

"Miss Danger, Kid Danger. Can you hear us?"

"Uh, ahem--yes! We're here!" (y/n) greeted them cheerily, ignoring how her stomach felt like a bag of cats as Charlotte switched on their camera. Jasper, who'd been busy powdering their faces to avoid unwanted greasiness, quickly made himself scarce before anyone recognised him. 

"Yo, hey, Trent, Mary! How are you doing?" Henry said, too, straightening himself out and flashing his signature boyish grin, no doubt sending thousands of teenage girls into a swoon. 

As they waved and smiled back, the sidekicks cleared their throats, glancing down at the flashcards in their hands like they were trying to remember their lines, but that was just part of their carefully calculated plan. 

"Our fellow Swellviewians. Tonight, we speak to you with tidings of--y'know what, kid? I can't speak to them from some tiny cards..." (y/n) sighed, tossing the deck to the floor as if she wanted to be open and honest when really, she was just following the directions on Charlotte's big, off-camera cue cards. 

Henry looked at her with a faux-sympathetic gaze, like he felt the same way, so he turned to the camera again, determined to "try again" and convince people in the good, old-fashioned spirit of Christmas. 

"I know what you mean, M-D. Tonight, we're going to speak to you from the heart," he said softly, tapping his chest as the heroine pretended to wipe away a tear. 

"We know a lot of you out there are distraught over the loss of so many brave, patriotic trees," the boy noted, sending Mary into another fit of sobs before (y/n) carried on with the mushy stuff. 

"But the holidays aren't just about trees," she explained, clasping her hands together to try and make her voice steady.

"All kinds of holiday traditions have nothing to do with trees. Traditions like arguing with your family at dinner, watching the Christmas episode of your favourite TV show, or reading a Christmas chapter in your favourite book!"

"She's got a point," Mary whispered to Trent, who also pondered over her words. His family did all sorts of things during the holiday, and Mary turned up to work looking like a Christmas tree, so were they necessary?

"I do love Christmas episodes and chapters," Trent returned her smile, silently thanking the sidekicks for quelling the anxiety in their stomachs. 

"None of those things need trees!" Henry told them and all the viewers, thinking they'd managed to curb any worrying or revolting until they worked out how to stop the moths. 

However, that was the moment Ray and his impeccable timing decided to reenter the Man Cave--well, him and what had to be the world's most enormous fir tree. How it fitted in the tubes or alternative stairway was beyond his baffled family, who could barely pick their jaws up off the ground to tell him to stay hidden. 

"Check it out! I got the only healthy tree in town. Christmas is back on, baby!" He exclaimed as he lugged the giant tree into the centre of the room, where it would take pride of place for him and his sweet girl to decorate. Unfortunately, it also happened to be precisely where the camera, and thus, the entire city, could see it. And hear him. 

"Miss Danger, Kid Danger, what's going on behind you?" Trent asked, seeing the big, green blob shuffle into the background of the livestream, but he didn't want to assume it was a tree. Captain Man wouldn't be that dense and tactless...

"Uh...nothing?" Henry offered, hoping no one could see the oaf behind him fussing with the branches and straightening them out, but he stuck out like a sore thumb, especially when he didn't shut up. 

"Oh man, that's heavy!"

"Back to our original point about not needing trees," (y/n) cleared her voice and resumed their sentimental speech, unsubtly whacking her doofus behind her back to try and make him shut up. She was happy to see him, though...

"Healthy, beautiful trees! Full of life!"

"You don't need trees. You just need family!"

"Can you imagine not having a Christmas tree for Christmas?! It would be ruined! Ruined!" Ray bellowed, not realising he was being boorish like a bull in a china shop. His girl made him fall in love with Christmas again, loving how he spent a few endlessly happy days with her in his arms, warm and safe, every year. 

"Doofus...doofus...doofus..."

"My guy...my guy...my bro guy..." Henry and (y/n) tried to interrupt him before he said anything else clumsy and miscalculated, but Ray was running on adrenaline born from his eternal need to make his pretty girl smile. He just couldn't stop. 

"The last healthy tree in Swellview! And we got it!... Don't tell anybody, though, 'cause they would be upset--"

"Captain Man!" (y/n) snapped, grabbing his shoulders to make him stand still, but it still felt like a joke to the big doofus. He grinned down at her, feeling dizzy and dopey after not seeing her for an entire hour, meaning he didn't notice the setup they had going on. 

"What? What? What, sweet girl?" He asked before sighing, gazing into her eyes as he looped his arms and brought her into his chest. He'd missed her so much--he just hoped she liked the tree he picked. 

"We're, uh...talking to the news about the tree problem?"

"The fact that they're all dead?" Henry added, scrunching his nose at the blatant PDA, but Ray didn't let her go when he turned and saw the camera. His mouth fell open, clocking how brash and impetuous he'd been, but it was more in curiosity than fear. 

"Oh, would you look at that? We're live!" He whispered in (y/n)'s ear before pecking her cheek, which would undoubtedly be turned into hundreds of fan edits by their online shippers. 

"Yes, we were just explaining to everybody that you don't need trees to celebrate the holidays," she explained, eyes flashing like fire as she pictured their annual tradition tied to Christmas, but even with her stoutest voice, the damage was done. 

Who'd believe them now that Captain Man had spoken?

"You really need to be quiet when we tell you," she added quietly, watching as her lover looked from the camera at the tree and then at the camera again, realising his mistake. 

"Oh my... Sweet girl... Um..." he stammered, dithering between his choices. He could deny it all, saying he was wrong and the tree behind him wasn't a tree. He could stand by his words, tell everyone to suck it up and trim the tree with his fiancée. Or, he could shoot the camera lens, kill the livestream and forget about all that--save for the decorating bit. 

So, he chose the last option. Of course, he did. 

"Problem solved!" Ray grinned after lasering the camera, leaving them all reeling from the disastrous interview and how moronic he could sometimes be. 

"Raymond, that--that's not helped us!" (y/n) exclaimed, practically speechless at the events she'd just witnessed, but Ray swept her up in his arms, and as it always was, nothing mattered after that. He tenderly held her cheek and giggled mischievously, knowing he'd done something terrible, but he couldn't care less. 

"Sweet girl, would you rather spend our kissaversary running around saving already dead Christmas trees, or do you want to help me decorate ours?" He asked, watching her mouth twist into a shining smile at the memory. 

"...Let's decorate this tree, doofus!" She exclaimed, jumping into his arms and pressing their foreheads together. It wasn't as affectionate as she wanted, but they swore not to kiss until midnight. 

After all, it was almost four years to the day they shared their first - the one that changed everything. 

~

Ray and (y/n)'s kissaversary happened every year. Obviously, it was what they called the anniversary of the first time they kissed. Not their first kiss as boyfriend and girlfriend, but their first kiss--when their lips first met on Christmas Eve in a jail cell. 

It was funny looking back on when Henry and Charlotte concocted a devious plan to try and make them see how blind they were. Ray had been so nervous, furious that they'd try and back his "best friend" into a corner so he could force himself on her. 

(y/n) had been equally scared, thinking she was the last person he'd ever want to kiss since she'd never paid attention to the unmistakable signs that he'd sell his soul just for one peck. 

"Y-you don't have to d-do this." 

"You don't have to either." 

"It's all right." How had they not seen the signs? They were right there. He kissed her, she kissed him, and it became a lifelong addiction, leaving them hopelessly in love with the other and sure that no kiss would ever have the same passion, intensity or devotion behind it. 

Who knew they'd share another a few months later - only that one told them the truth. The rest was history after that, and Ray and (y/n) had never looked back, falling deeper and deeper until the universe decided they should stay together. Forever. Things were better that way. 

Yet the anniversary stuck - a fun reminder that they'd come from humble, shy beginnings and were now on track to be tied in holy matrimony. Honestly, Ray still had to pinch himself to see if he wasn't dreaming as he brought his old family tree decorations out of storage. How did he get so lucky? 

"No, doofus. You can't have two on the same branch. You have to spread them out evenly, so no branch feels left out!" (y/n) warmly scolded her lover when he placed two baubles too close together, meaning they looked too cramped when the rest of the humongous tree was too sparse. 

He chuckled at her fevered efforts to separate them, showing him how to space them on individual branches, even though he already knew that. They had the same argument every year, not because he didn't learn but because he loved her reasoning and attention to detail. 

He was confident the branches didn't feel left out, but he let her have it because it was just so damn cute. He loved doing this with her, reaching around her body to adjust the trinket's positioning, pecking her temple for good measure. 

Not kissing her for another few hours would be difficult since they liked to savour the tradition, but he'd do it. Sometimes, it was lovely to feel the domesticity of it--him, the ex-womaniser, decorating the Christmas tree with his future wife. He couldn't wait until they had a house and children...

"Of course, darlin'. You're the boss," he grinned, squeezing her soft body as she fixed the tinsel and hung a few more ornaments. If it wasn't perfect, it would annoy her all night until she got up to fix it, so it had to be correct. 

"Someone's trying to get on Santa's nice list..." she remarked, aware he was buttering her up and deliberately "helping" just to feel her up. The hands sliding to her butt said that, but he was too gorgeous to resist in his tight, blue shirt. 

"More like yours. Do I get a present tonight?" He flirted, hearing her naughty giggle as the teens looked over with disturbed expressions. The holidays always brought out their cheesy, relentless addiction to romance - ugh. 

"Keep being a good boy, and you'll find out," (y/n) replied quietly, turning in his arms to chastely kiss his neck, pushing down the urge to taste his lips. It was strange to feel the urge to kiss him but be unable to again, but it just made the air between the fizz and crackle, readying them for that night. 

Ray swallowed thickly and released her, feeling his control slipping the longer she looked at him so beautifully. How he did it for so many years without going mad was beyond him. 

He distracted himself by walking to the decorations box, a sign saying "Ray's deeply personal Christmas decorations. Do not touch--except (y/n)" written on the side, whistling to the tune of Jingle Bells as he went. 

"Hey, sweet girl, wanna help me put the Rayngel on top of the tree?" He asked as he plucked a - (y/n) was sorry to say it - frankly hideous tree-topper from the box. What started as a joke was now a yearly custom; he was sticking a modified doll of his alter ego, wearing a glowing, flowing blue tulle skirt, enormous, white, fluffy wings and a halo on the tree.

"Get it? I call it a Rayngel. Sweet girl, get it? Rayngel."

"Yes, doofus. We do this every year--it's still punny, and you're still adorable," she sighed, fighting a smile as she took the ugly doll from his hands and began climbing the step ladder. She would rather throw it in the incinerator, but it made him happy. Therefore, it made her happy too, so it stayed.

He could've put it on himself, but where was the fun in that? This way, he got to hold her steady as she fiddled with getting it stable...by putting his hands on her hips and ass. 

"Yeah, more like you are," he muttered, making sure she didn't fall and getting a cheeky feel simultaneously, which she didn't complain about.

Henry watched them with secret joy, glad to know they were the byproduct of his and Charlotte's hard work, but come on. Shit was going down, and they were so...in love, and it was revolting. 

"Dude, how can you be so happy?" He asked, making Ray turn around with a slightly confused but mostly overjoyed expression. He thought it was obvious...

"'Cause of our awesome tree and my incredibly hot fiancée. Was that not clear?" He asked, patting (y/n)'s butt as she adjusted the Rayngel's skirt.

He'd been whistling, smiling like an idiot, and saying please and thank you for the last hour and a half - they were signs he was in a good mood. And he was being a regular guy, doing ordinary things with the most beautiful girl in the world. Who wouldn't be happy?

"Okay, I know you're always a lovesick puppy around (y/n), but your awesome tree got everyone in town mad at us 'cause we have one, and no one else does!" 

"Surely, not everyone's mad. We said some nice stuff before this doofus came along," (y/n) supposed, floofing the skirt one last time before she patted Ray's head to let him know she was descending again. The interview had gone poorly, but she would bet half the city wouldn't even care, but she didn't account for the online youth. 

"Well, the Internet's mad," Charlotte replied from the computer, having been scrolling through a lot of juicy content whilst they got all cosy and kissy. 

"Let me guess. Angry comments?" Henry guessed, but they hadn't been so kind. 

"Worse, angry memes," Jasper corrected him, making his friend grow pale and nervous. Sticks and stones won't break his bones, but memes would always hurt him. That meant people were mocking him--Ray and (y/n) too--they were a laughing stock. 

"No..."

"And they're dank ones, too!" The boy added, causing Henry to march to the computer immediately. He had to see this for himself, and the nervous note in his voice drew the couple's attention, even if Ray was running the tip of his nose down the column of his sweet girl's neck, making her giggle.  

"Show me..." Henry breathed out, so Jasper pulled up one of his favourites. It was a classic the man checking out another girl with his horrified lover appalled by his behaviour, only Henry's face had been pasted over the guy, Ray was the other woman, and the scorned lover was "rooned Christmas". Someone couldn't spell. 

"Oh... That's so dank. It hurts," he winced, massaging his upper stomach and chest as the words hit him hard. Ray, however, didn't get the hype, thinking he was overreacting since they'd been abused online hundreds of times before. He needed to toughen up and ignore the children calling them mean names. 

"Please. It's the internet, kid. You gotta have a thicker skin."

"Ooh, here's one about Captain Man!" Charlotte gasped, instantly pulling Ray away from his careful remapping of his fiancée's soft hair and skin and making him race across the room.

Gone was his need to rub his hands everywhere, and in its place was a fervent urge to see what people were saying about him, much to (y/n)'s amusement. 

"What?" He asked as she enlarged a photo of his face - the exact moment from earlier when he'd realised he was on the news, acting like a moron. His mouth was open, his eyes were full of fear, and someone had put the classic meme font on top. 

"TFW, you realise the entire town is about to hate you?"

"That's actually pretty good..." Henry snickered with his friends, finding the couple's clueless faces were even funnier than the meme. They were too mature for trivial things like fooling around on the internet, so they didn't know about abbreviations. 

"What's TFW?" (y/n) asked, feeling so old, but she had to ask. All that techno, cool speak the kids used these days was too confusing. 

"That face when," Charlotte winced, knowing her boss would hate it, and her suspicions were confirmed when he blindly felt the air near his hand, looking for his girl's arm to hold and the comfort she provided. 

"But that's my face..." he whined, looking so puzzled, hurt and adorable that (y/n) couldn't help but slip her arms around him in a gentle side hug. 

"Yeah..." Henry said, not knowing what else to say, save that the hero had to be bullied too if he, the sidekick, was mocked. In fact, the only person to get off lightly was (y/n), who wasn't at the heart of the tree scandal, but a tidal wave of memes about how Captain Man was on his knees for her. 

"Hey, if it makes you feel any better, there's some about Miss Danger too... Sort of," Charlotte added, moving on to the third and final meme, which was about (y/n) in a way but mainly about Ray. 

*yes, i did make this. no, i'm not ashamed.*

"Aw, that's so sweet!" She grinned, taking in the dual Drake meme, where he was grumpy one minute and happy the next. Drake's face had been replaced with Ray's, switching from angry when he faced a single life to smiley when given a chance to be with his sweet girl. 

"Well...no one's actually paying attention to these, right?" Ray asked, feeling a deep blush rise under his collar because of how annoyingly accurate the meme was. Yes, he was a simp, and no, he didn't miss the bachelor life, but he didn't want it to be discussed and ridiculed online. 

But before his precious girl could reassure him that no one, save a few annoying foetuses, would see anything embarrassing, Piper and Schwoz returned from the woods. Something had clearly tickled their funny bones, judging by their cackling. 

"That's exactly Ray's face when the whole town hates him!"

"I know, right?! And they're so accurate with this one! Have you ever seen a more whipped guy than him?" Piper giggled, loving the Captain Man x Miss Danger memes more than any other. Honestly, they set the standard for all her future relationships; what was the point if she didn't find love like that?

"Stop laughing at memes about me!" The hero snapped, pinkness colouring his cheeks as his handyman and the brat teased him. He was in love, no shame in that, but they still laughed. 

"How can we not? These memes are sweat!"

"So sweat!" Jasper agreed with the girl, hitting Henry in the heart again because they were about him too. That was it; the trio knew everyone was laughing at them, and suddenly, Ray cared what people were saying. 

"We gotta fix this," he whined, looking at his sweet girl since she was smart and could help them out. And she could never resist his pouty face, thinking he looked so cute when grumpy. 

"Okay, where did you get this tree from, doofus?" (y/n) asked, turning to their pretty, half-finished tree, hugging his arm as Henry inspected it. It was perfectly fresh, straight out of the ground, and untouched by any moths, which hinted it hadn't come from Swellview since all the farms had been ravaged.

"I found a lot over in Neighbourville that still had healthy trees," the man explained, feeling his lover lean into him further at the mention of him travelling all that way so that they could have a tree. Neighbourville was an hour's journey, so (y/n) couldn't help but feel her tummy flutter from his kindness. 

"Then, we gotta go to Neighbourville, buy a bunch of trees and bring them back to Swellview," Henry said, forming a reasonable, straightforward plan that was almost certainly gonna be ten times more complicated than it sounded, and that confused his boss. 

"Huh?"

"I said, then, we gotta go to Neighbourville, buy a bunch of trees--"

"Yeah, I heard ya!" Ray snapped, not wanting to hear all that again because he wasn't deaf. He was, however, a man saving for the happiest day of his life, and that tree had already cost him an arm and a leg. How much would a bunch cost?

"I just...don't wanna go spend a bunch of money buying Christmas trees for other people. I wanna stay here and decorate my tree with my sweet girl..."

"Well, how much would you spend to make people love you and start making good memes about you and your sweet girl?" Piper asked, snatching the man's attention almost as quickly as (y/n) in a short skirt could. He wanted that - to be adored and gloat about being the guy who hit the jackpot. 

"All of it. All the money. Any amount of money," Ray rambled, even though he'd never spend all his money on that. He had everything he needed in those four walls, but fixing things would be nice. 

"Come on, then, doofus. We need to be back for our kissaversary, though. Can't miss that," (y/n) said giddily, eagerly anticipating when the clock struck the correct minute, and they could reenact the magical moment. She wouldn't forget it for the world, and neither would Ray. 

"Of course not, darlin'"

"Can I point out one problem with your plan?" Charlotte spoke up from the supercomputer, acting as the voice of reason since her friend had gone all goo-goo-eyed when Ray wrapped his arms around her in a sweet embrace - a good substitute since they couldn't kiss. 

"Oh my God, Charlotte. Whaaaaaaat?" Piper groaned, throwing her head back in irritation because she was always there, raining on everyone's parade with her intelligence and common sense. And, funnily enough, she hadn't been told to act annoyed - it was just something she'd picked up. 

"She's starting to fit in around here," Ray mumbled to his sidekicks, making (y/n) smile because he always warmed up to the new kids eventually. He cared deep down since he was practically destined to be a fun, slightly irresponsible, yet endlessly fun father figure. Be still her beating heart. 

"I was just going to point out that even if you guys come back with a bunch of trees, they're just gonna get eaten by Yerban moths again," Charlotte argued, holding her hands up in defence. 

"Actually, Peeper and I collected some Yerban moths from the woods," Schwoz noted, holding a jar with a small pine tree clipping and a few moths. They'd shredded all the needs from the branch, leaving it no more than a twig in a pile of dying greenery. 

"While you guys are out getting trees, we'll work on getting rid of the moths."

"Yeah, Charlotte."

"Yeah, Charlotte," Ray and Piper told the girl firmly, making her roll her eyes and back off, confident that whilst they were cocky and ungrateful now, they'd come crawling back to her when they were stuck. 

"All right," Henry moved on before his boss and sister started a fight, and he had the "kissaversary" to think about, "let's chew on these and get some trees."

"Nice pun, kid!" (y/n) grinned, fishing for her gum tube since it was time to head out, but before she and Henry could knock back some gum and walk to the tubes, Ray locked his arms around her waist. 

"Oh, wait, wait, wait! I didn't get to show you my lights!"

"What?" Henry frowned, wondering what he was talking about, but the sudden paling of (y/n)'s face suggested it wasn't good. Her fingertips held onto her lover for as long as possible, clenching when he slipped away from her, heading toward his box of deeply personal decorations. 

"Doofus, please. I know you love them, but those things are a death trap," she whined, following him to the tree, where he pulled a string of old, rusting, frayed, cracked, sparking lights from the box. 

They'd been in his family for decades, adorned every tree since he was a little kid, and he was very attached to them. So, it was a shame that they risked setting the place on fire every year when he insisted on using them.

"Don't worry, darlin'. You patched them up last time, right?"

"Yeah, but--"

"Then, they'll be fine...and look amazing," he grinned, pulling the lights out of the box slightly too rough for (y/n)'s liking. Sure, she replaced the odd blinking bulb and soldered the wiring yearly, but that didn't make them safe. She was just waiting for the fire to start, and even then, he had an outdated solution. 

"Dude, those lights are jank," Piper chuckled as her friend went to help the man, loosening the knots caused by a year in the box without shredding the ancient copper. 

"What? Old Blinky?" Ray asked, a fond smile on his face because these were his family traditions; it only seemed fitting to share them with them - his found family. "This light string belonged to my grandad, Pappy Manchester."

"Yeah, those things even gonna work?" Jasper asked (y/n) as the man bent down to plug the lights into the wall. She knew all about electronics and stuff and was probably itching to tell the man that just because the lights worked fifty years ago didn't mean they could withstand modern electrical systems. 

"Well..."

"Pffft, of course, they will," Ray scoffed before (y/n) could give him a safety warning. 

He connected the lights to the power cable, and it was like a domino effect as the sudden surge made the lights pop and fizz, sending sparks across the floor. The group shrieked, and the woman jumped into her doofus' arms as the line of mini bombs went off, trailing toward the box until the electricity set the cardboard alight. 

"Whoa!"

"Dude, that's fire!"

"Raymond, I told you! I told you! Why do we always have to do this?!" His family shouted at him, panicked by the sight of the flames licking their way up the sides of the box. 

It would get bigger and bigger, and suddenly, images of them running for their lives flashed in front of their eyes, but Ray didn't waver, except for rocking his pretty girl from side to side and kissing the top of her head. 

"Relax--just take it easy! This always happens. It's part of the charm," Ray smiled softly, squeezing his fiancée a final time before moving closer to the box. 

When he stuck his hand in the box, the flames illuminating his face, they thought he was mad, but he brought out another relic from a bygone age. "And it's why we have Old Extinguishy!"

"Oh, Raymond..." (y/n) sighed, hand propping up her cheek as her dumb, adorable fiancé took an old-fashioned fire extinguisher from the box. 

To make it more festive, the first owner had knitted a little red sweater and stitched some jingling bells on it, making the sound of him cranking the handle and squeezing the pump a bit merrier. It wasn't gas or foam like modern extinguishers, but a strange, gloopy liquid that squirted from the handpump like runny custard. 

"Ah, this takes me back..." he grinned at his family as he tackled the blaze, making them turn to (y/n) with perplexed faces. She looked so exasperated, wiping a hand down her face before sighing, but also strangely content. 

"You sure you want to marry into this madness?" Henry whispered in her ear, watching his oddball boss delightfully squirting the fire with goop. Most guys wanted to watch movies, make gingerbread houses or go to Christmas markets - he was a special case, though. So very weird. 

"More than anything," (y/n) replied dreamily, thinking any tradition was wonderful with him, no matter how weird. She got to spend Christmas with the man she loved, surrounded by the children they raised and friends they met along the way. For her, the holidays couldn't be happier. 

~Neighbourville~

Having made the arduous, boring trip cross country to Neighbourville, Ray had directed his sidekicks to the lonely Christmas tree farm where he'd bought a healthy tree. 

It was in the middle of nowhere and a little shady if you asked (y/n), but the men who ran it were friendly enough with their colourful, red, Santa-like uniforms and bright accents. They even helped load their multiple purchases onto the Man Rig - Ray's recent purchase of a fucking huge truck, big enough to transport a mini forest home. 

They didn't have to do anything as they hauled the last one into position, stacking it against the other evergreens as Henry scrolled through his phone and Ray talked lovey-dovey gibberish with (y/n). 

It was his favourite pastime, muttering how much he loved her in her ear just to make her giggle, pushing her hair out of her face, and kissing her cheeks since they were still waiting. She loved being in his arms, ignoring the burly men wandering in and out of the trailer as she said some tooth-rotting mumbo-jumbo that nearly made Henry sick. 

"That is last one," the man in charge panted as they released the final tree, arms aching from all the lugging themselves whilst the heroes texted and...romanced. 

"What?"

"Aw, I was just to help you. Hey, I'll help next year," the boy groaned, acting as though they hadn't been stalling for time. He separated from (y/n), who dabbed a finger against her lips to fix her smudged chapstick, and Henry tucked his phone back into his belt. 

He could tell Ray that there was a suspicious, gingerbread-smelling stain on his cheek, or he could leave the man as he was. Oh, the power he wielded...

"Real quick, Big Dog. You sure this is all the trees you got?" The boy asked the tree farmers as he decided to leave his boss alone, given that it would just burst his happy mood. 

"Yeah, we're gonna need all of them 'cause a bunch of moths killed all the Christmas trees in Swellview. Weird, right?" (y/n) explained, trying to keep a straight face, even when Ray's hand in the small of her back drifted a little lower. He had no shame - she just hoped the man in the fluffy hat didn't notice. 

"Yes, I hear of this story," the man chuckled in his thick, Russian-like, Yerban accent as if the tree crisis wasn't just that - a disaster. 

"Yes, such a shame about your trees," his associate nodded, but like his friend, he was anything but sympathetic. They giggled like schoolgirls on laughing gas, causing the trio to exchange confused glances. 

"Ha, ha, ha, not sure why that's funny," Henry said flatly.

"Uh, due to the completely accidental death of all trees, the prices have, uh, go up!" The men said, acting a little too pleased to not be suspicious, at least in (y/n)'s books. She squinted at them cynically, her gut telling her that they were hiding something, but Ray and Henry trusted them. 

"Smart!"

"Makes sense."

"Makes dollars and sense," they shrugged, thinking they were talking to two very clever businessmen. (y/n) remained silent, shelving her distrust by putting it down to their slimy personalities, and then, the conversation turned towards money. Clever businessmen, indeed. 

"So, how will you be paying for trees?" One said whilst the other rubbed his hands together at the thought of such a payday. 

"With...the Man Card!" Ray exclaimed as she whipped out a specially-printed credit card the city issued to Captain Man and Co for any heroic purchases. 

Miss Danger was the keeper of the card since she was the most sensible and responsible and remembered where she put it, but she did make some exceptions for her doofus and fellow sidekick. Namely, she hated the name, but Ray had to have his theme. And for Henry--and Ray, secretly--it included a photo of them smiling into the camera to remind everyone who got to use it. 

"Ey! You have your faces on card!" The leader exclaimed, taking the credit card from (y/n)'s hand for closer inspection as if it were the world's most extraordinary thing. 

"Very impressive!"

"You like that? He likes that!" Henry giggled, deeming the men amusing and friendly, but his grin quickly fell when (y/n) plucked the card back. She didn't like other people touching it, given that the city gave them thousands of dollars - not to be squandered. 

"Yeah, let's keep this safe--oh my god!" She smiled sweetly, holding the precious plastic to her chest, when a small, fluttering, brown...thing drifted into her vision. It took a second for her eyes to adjust, but it was unmistakably a moth when they did. 

A Yerban moth, if she was correct. Oh shit...

"Dude, dude, dude, dude, dude, moth!" Henry gasped as he spotted it, too, pointing at the critter when it landed on the floor. One call to its mothy friends and their trees would be kaput. 

"Oh...make peace with your moth-gods!"

"Nooooo!" The tree farmers shrieked as Ray swiftly lifted his leg and brought his boot down heavily on the moth. They cried and cringed as the winged creature became nothing more than a brown, smudged paste, but the heroes couldn't understand why they grieved over something so trivial. 

"Oh no! Lucille!" One whimpered, scraping what was left of the moth's body from the floor when Ray was finished squashing it. 

"Hey, bro. Chill out. It's just a moth, all right? Let's not make a bigger deal of this--" The hero tried to calm them down, still not understanding why they were crying, but he still wanted the trees, and angry sellers don't sell trees. 

"She was not just a moth! I raised Lucille myself from moth-birth!" The blond Yerban sobbed, jabbing a finger at the guilty tree as his friend wept over the corpse. "Of all my thousands and thousands of hungry moths, she was my favourite!"

"Wait..." (y/n) paused, the man's words making something click in her head because part of that didn't sound right. Her gut feeling was back, telling her that having thousands of hungry moths wasn't the average Joe's hobby, nor the pursuit of a Christmas tree grower. 

"Uh, doofus..."

"I am so sorry," Ray apologised, leaning past his sweet girl to be humble and ashamed since he couldn't work things out like she could. Henry was slowly piecing it together too, but she needed to speak with the boss - now. 

"Doofus, can I talk to you for a second?" She whispered in his ear, placing her palms flat against his chest to guide him toward the back of the trailer for a private word. The vendors kept yelling at him, no matter how repentant he was. 

"Sweetheart?"

"She's in a better place now! The big lamp in the sky!" Ray kept shouting as the men climbed off the trailer to go and plan a moth-funeral, too upset to keep talking with him. 

"Dooooof! Dooooof! Doooooofuuuuus!"

"He's grieving, sweet girl. What's wrong?" The hero broke out of his grovelling ramble, hands cupping her cheeks as he looked down at her. He didn't know why she seemed so serious, but whatever the moth aficionados said wasn't meaningful anymore. 

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" (y/n) asked cryptically, looking at Henry as he thought hard for a moment. He got further than Ray, who couldn't work anything out for his life, not when she looked so pretty, and Lucille's death still weighed heavily on his heart. 

"Yes. We should help them pay for the moth's funeral. I love how kind and thoughtful you are, darlin'," the large man sighed, relaxing into her arms to have her confirmation. It was just the sort of thing he expected from his sweet girl, and of course, he didn't expect her to want to pay for it from their happiest-day pot. 

"What? No!--"

"That's fine, sweetheart. We'll just put it on the Man Card and then dispute the charges. I do it all the time--I was going to do it for the trees anyway--"

"Listen to me, you big doofus!" She shouted, thumping her fist against his pec since it only got him to listen. Ray instantly buttoned his lip, assuming he was about to be scolded for splashing the town's money on personal purchases, and he was. Later. 

"These guys are shady, okay? They've got all the trees that didn't die. They're from Yerba--"

"Hey, we're all people..." Ray told her gently, knowing she was above petty prejudices. But (y/n) wasn't out to be offensive; the Yerban tree sellers were the ones with the agenda. 

"And they've got thousands and thousands of Yerban moths!" She exclaimed the fishiest point, thinking she couldn't have made it more apparent. It all made sense to her, but Ray was trying to see the best in people - maybe they just really loved insects?

"Yeah, but you can say that about anybody..."

"No, you can't! Don't you understand what I'm saying?" She groaned, yanking at his tunic to make it go into his dense skull. Next to her, Henry broke out of his deep thought and looked at her with wide eyes, suddenly seeing what she was driving at. 

"I think I do..." He muttered, getting the sense they'd been betrayed somewhere in the haze. 

"Yes! These guys released all those moths on purpose so they'd kill every Christmas tree in Swellview," she elaborated, etching a frown on Ray's forehead, so she reached up to smooth the lines above his baby blue eyes. He wasn't innocent; sadly enough, he knew the world's way but was so thick sometimes. 

"Why would they do that, precious girl?"

"Because then everybody would have to come to Neighbourville and buy their trees at jacked-up prices!" She hissed, the realisation dawning on Ray's face as he pieced their devious plan together in his head. His look of wonderment turned into a hateful glare--not at his sweet girl, of course--as he thought about how those velveteen hyenas made him look like a fool and took advantage of the city he loved. 

"That face when I'm about to save Christmas with my fists!" He growled, squeezing his hands into fists in a show that definitely didn't make (y/n)'s tummy swoop low. 

"Hashtag Season's Beatings!"

"Hashtag Merry...Fistmas!"

"Pound sign, pound time!" She and Henry retorted, getting too into the puns, but it was okay since it got them all hyped for the inevitable fight. 

"Here's the plan," Ray said, his sidekicks listening eagerly because they were keen to go after those assholes. Anything to save Swellviewians from being ripped off, and Ray's plans were nearly always over-the-top, ridiculous and outrageous. 

"You pretend to drop your phone," he said to Henry, who nodded at the simple instruction, "okay, and while they're utterly baffled at your sloppy phone handling..."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah?" The teen bounced up and down giddily, hoping they got to use swift, flying fists for sweet vengeance. And boy, Ray delivered. 

"...We pull out our laser remotes, force them to admit their guilt, and just walk them to the Neighbourville Police Department," Ray smirked, sending a devastatingly hot wink his fiancée's way. It was his usual style - hotheaded and impetuous, but that was precisely what they needed. A bit of violence. 

"Hashtag on board!" (y/n) grinned, reaching up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek--although her giddiness made her aim a bit askew, so it was actually his jaw. Ray wasn't complaining, though, pecking her nose before they straightened themselves out and sauntered to the men at the door. 

"Aw! Whoops--I accidentally dropped my phone on accident," Henry gasped as his PearPhone fell through his fingers, as per the plan. The Yerbans frowned at each other, thinking he was a moron when it was actually more of the reverse as Captain Man and Miss Danger rested their hands on their belts. 

"Such a sloppy phone handling--"

"Body kick! Yeah!" Ray bellowed as his boot met one of the men's chests, sending him flying out of the truck with a grunt. His sidekicks looked at his snarling face in shock, wondering why he'd diverted from the plan so dramatically without telling them first. 

"That's not the plan, doofus!"

"Changed my mind, darlin'!" The hero growled, finding himself in the thick of battle as he punched the other unsuspecting Yerban. The guy slumped against a tree, meaning the Captain could seize his winter jacket, drag him to the floor, and roll him over his body and out the door. He sprung up with renewed vigour, knowing they wouldn't stay down for long. 

"Lock the door. (y/n) and I will get us out of here!" He ordered Henry after he sprung up with renewed vigour, knowing they wouldn't stay down for long. Seizing the heroine's hand before she knew what was happening, they raced towards the cab, leaving Henry to do the manual labour. 

"Okay, just don't drive away until I'm up front with you!"

"You got it, kid!" (y/n) called after him, scuttling into the front with her doofus. It was a cosy space with a seat for the driver - Ray - and a longer, but not much longer - mini loveseat across the walkway. That's where she and Henry would be rubbing elbows--or sitting on each other's lap. 

"Okay, doofus, just wait a minute until Henry's shut the--" she told Ray, wiggling through the tight space as he quickly jammed his keys in the ignition, turning them and putting the truck in drive before he even put his seatbelt on--or before his sidekicks could even sit down. 

"DOOFUS!" She shrieked as the rig roared to life, moving off the mark at record speed as his foot pushed the pedal to the metal. The change in velocity toppled her body over, causing her to face-plant his lap and Henry to fall on his butt. 

"I said don't drive away until I'm up--"

"Changed my mind!" Ray shouted when he heard his younger sidekick's grumbles from the trailer, honking the horn to show his excitement. "And it worked better than I could've hoped for. You okay down there, sweet girl?"

"Peachy, Raymond. Warn me the next time I'm about to fall to my knees," (y/n) grumbled, patting his before using it as leverage to lift herself onto the seat across from him. She didn't want to look at him, knowing he was grinning from ear to ear from the impropriety of it. 

"You've never complained before..." he gloated, earning a stern yet mirthful glare and a slap on the shoulder before they burst into laughter, high on endorphins after a successful mini-mission. They were still on time to meet their kissaversary, even if Henry stomped up Anger Avenue. 

"Thanks for waiting!" The kid snapped as he entered the cab, frown deepening at the cramped conditions. He certainly didn't want to sit on Ray's knee, so (y/n) had to stand up and let him slip into the window seat, knowing the nice view would help calm him down. 

"Yeah, yeah, just get in..." (y/n) told him, bumping his shoulder as he slid along the minuscule loveseat, leaving half a centimetre for her to perch on. Oh well, it wasn't for too long, they were excellent friends, and Ray liked having her closer anyway - it meant he could reach across and hold her hand. 

"What's so funny, anyway? I could hear you two laughing all the way back there," Henry asked, looking between the couple, who just blushed and giggled.

"Trust me, kid. You do not wanna know," Ray smiled, glancing at his sweet girl and smirking at her darkened cheeks. He'd never tire of those flirty jokes, no matter how much Henry screwed his nose up and stared at the window, assuming it was something for gross, disgusting adults. 

"Whatever," he shuddered, settling deeper into the seat and (y/n)'s side before he allowed himself to smile a little, "we saved Christmas, man!"

"Hashtag Holidays Are Happening Again Because Of The Awesome Work By Captain Man, Miss Danger and Kid Danger, So You Can Stop Making Memes About Them!" Ray replied excitedly, making (y/n) look across at him and sigh. He was so cute...and the world's hottest driver. 

"That's a long hashtag, doofus," she giggled. 

"Yeah, well, I think I've earned it since we just saved Christmas!" Ray exclaimed, pulling the horn chain before reaching to clutch her hand. He couldn't wait for the second he could taste her honeyed lips again. 

"Yeah, we did! We did!" Henry grinned, too, thinking they were home and dry when a mysterious thud rocked the lorry. The cab lolled a little, making the sidekicks' happiness disappear - that was not normal. 

"What was that?" (y/n) asked ominously, nervousness flooding her eyes as they met Ray's, but he gave her a reassuring smile and squeezed her hand again. Just because her tummy felt weird didn't mean anything, and besides, he was right there next to her; he'd keep her safe, no matter what. Not that there was anything to worry about. 

"Don't care, so don't worry, precious girl! We've got a truck full of healthy trees, an open road, a sick mix tape I made in the late nineteen-eighties..." Ray sighed nostalgically as he picked up a retro tape with his unrecognisable scrawl written across the front. 

Teen him had great taste in music - something that would help him bond with a beautiful, freshly graduated student ten years later when he used it to break the awkward ice between them. However, before he slotted it into the old stereo, another thud rattled the rig, making the boy and woman gulp. 

"There it was again..."

"Ray, I think someone's trying to pry the back door open!" (y/n) gasped, hearing the sound of the metal levers being wrenched and yanked, but when she went to unbuckle her seat belt, the hero stopped her. She couldn't go by herself; anyway, he wasn't worried. 

"You know what? Could be squirrels," Ray suggested casually, earning two perplexed looks from the sheer impossibility of a squirrel pulling the door open.

"A lot of times, squirrels will jump on trucks and try to get inside. That's just a fact."

"Wait a second..." (y/n) muttered, raising a hand to the partition window that allowed them to peek into the back without opening the door. She slid it open, peering through the plastic only to see an ugly, Yerban mug staring back at her. Shutting the partition in a split-second, she slumped in her seat, frozen like a statue at the prospect of...road pirates. 

"I--i-it's not squirrels, doofus," she stammered, shaking in her chair, making the boys look at her in concern. Ray had to keep his eyes on the road as they cruised down the highway, so Henry leaned across her body to look for himself, also turning pale when he saw the stowaway tree farmers loitering in the trailer. 

"We got a problem!" He clamoured, gulping at the thought of those moth-loving weirdos alone with their lovely, healthy trees. 

"Just open the back door. The squirrels will jump right out. You know, sometimes, they can fly. That's just a fact," Ray told him, noting that his sweet girl was scared of the critters, something he didn't know about her, even after nearly thirteen years together. 

"It's okay, my love. I'll protect you from the squirrels. They can't get you in here--"

"Don't be a doofus all your life, doofus! Here are two facts. I'm not scared of damn squirrels, and there are four Yerban elf-goons about to throw all of our trees out the back of the truck!" (y/n) replied snappily, tapping his bicep repeatedly because he was such a moron sometimes. 

She appreciated the offer but could hold her own against furry little animals, not that it mattered. 

"Huh?" Ray muttered, checking his left side mirror to see if he could spot any Yerbans or trees. However, the road was dark, and if the trees were leaving the truck, they'd already sped away from them. This called for action; he was just the man for the job. 

"That's it! I'll go take care of them!" He snarled, moving to roughly unbuckle his seatbelt and go teach those assholes a lesson, but he was the only one present who could drive a truck. 

"No, no, no, no! Dude, you have to drive!" Henry panicked as the rig swerved across the road once the man released the steering wheel. (y/n) prevented him from leaving, knowing she could drive a car, but trucks were too complicated - fitted with a complicated clutch, a million gears, and God knows what else. 

"Uh...aw, man... I'll just pull over!" The man suggested, but they needed more than that when they had such precious cargo. 

"No, Ray, no! We have to get these Christmas trees back to Swellview in time for Christmas," (y/n) told him, glancing at the shitty digital clock to see that it was nearly eleven, so very close to their kissaversary and Christmas Day. They had to get back, but Ray wasn't sure. 

"But, darlin', we can't miss our kissaversary!"

"We won't! Come on, we're saving Christmas, doofus!" She insisted, knowing that she and Henry could take out the goons whilst he drove. That way, they'd keep moving and make it on time, even if they lacked Captain Man's muscle. 

"All right, fine! You guys fight, I'll drive," Ray conceded, pouting for a few seconds before he had a brilliant idea. Even if he couldn't drive, he could at least make it an epic fight for his sidekicks--and it wouldn't hurt him, either. 

"Hey, hey! You want me to put on some awesome fight music from my mix tape?"

"Sure, hit us!" Henry grinned, knowing the hero was only a good sport because his lover sat beside him, but he'd take what he could get. Ray had good music, so he and (y/n) eagerly awake the sick guitar riffs and classic drum rhythm as he pushed the tape into the stereo. However, the first song wasn't a rock hit; more like Santa's favourite song. 

"Doofus, what is this?" (y/n) asked, listening to the traditional, festive tune. It was the sort of thing she'd hear on one of her crappy Christmas rom-coms when the main characters walk around a cosy, gold-tinted market or wrapped presents - not something she associated with her doofus' playlist. 

"Dang it! I took Jasper's stupid Christmas tape!" Ray groaned, instantly recognising the relaxing, uncool tape since the annoying boy liked to clean to the sound. He went into (y/n)'s cleaning cupboard, borrowed her dusters, sprays and polishes, put on his tape and got cracking. The man just never expected to get them mixed up. 

"We'll make it work!" Henry told him, copying (y/n) in unbuckling his belt, except he didn't lean over and kiss the guy's forehead, whispering, "I'll be back soon, sweetheart". He'd rather die. 

Scrambling out of their seats as the rosy-cheeked hero concentrated on the road, the sidekicks swiftly opened the door, hoping to take their enemies by surprise. At the other end of the trailer, the Yerbans had made quick work of the trees, slinging them out of the open door due to their policy of "if we can't have them, neither can you". The punching incident didn't help, either. 

"Hey!" (y/n) shouted as she and the kid watched them ditch one of the few remaining trees, having cleared all but a handful of them. 

They looked surprised to see them, but their shock quickly melted into stern determination as the duo approached, ready to fight to the steadily building Christmas music.  

"Let's dance, ya Christmas jerks!" Henry bellowed as (y/n) took the first swing, punching a woman in the face so he could kick her stunned body out of the truck. It would be a bumpy landing, but they didn't have time to think about it as they each picked a target and got to work. 

Henry dodged a poor jab from a man, ducking and hitting him in the stomach and across his face. He blocked another blow, grabbing the sucker's arm before bending it behind his back, making him flip onto the floor. 

Meanwhile, (y/n) caught a flying fist in a firm grip, pushing a punch away from her face and opening a guy up for her to knee him in the crotch. She'd rolled him out of the trailer a swift uppercut later, smirking when his ass hit the tarmac and gradually became nothing but a small blob on the road. 

"Nice one, kid! And sweet girl, you are so hot when you fight!"

"Aw, doofus, that's so sweet of you..."

"Wait...what?" The sidekicks gasped as a voice congratulated them on their skills. (y/n) responded on instinct, knowing that voice anywhere, so she turned to see her adorable fiancé standing near the door, a dopey, lovesick smile on his face after watching her hips move in that skirt. 

She could get over his obvious leering, but she and Henry's jaws dropped when they saw him there. If he was with them, did he not understand the plan? Were they not clear enough?

However, they didn't have time to ask as the Yerban lying on the floor from Henry's blows kicked out at the man, meaning he was busy, and they were distracted when two more came running in. Acting quickly, the sidekicks jumped and grabbed the railings over their heads, pulling themselves up to repel the men with brutal kicks to the chests. 

Ray pulled his guy back and got him on his feet, pounding him in the gut before yelling, "up the chimney!" and swiftly kicking him right in the...Christmas log. He really knew how to bring a man to his knees. 

"What are you doing?" Henry shouted above the noise of the rickety rig and brawl, but his seriousness didn't translate to Ray, who was glad to be involved. 

"Truck fighting!" He replied giddily, hitting his wounded goon across the face and sending him to the floor. 

"You're supposed to be driving, doof!" (y/n) exclaimed, she and Henry taking their eyes off the ball momentarily because it was so surprising to see him. That allowed the two Yerbans they were fighting to grab their elbows to restrain them, just as the man's opponent stupidly chose to get back up. 

"Eh...changed my mind!" Ray told them flippantly as if his leaving the wheel unattended was no big deal. The sidekicks could deal with the men trying to kill them, but knowing they were in a runaway truck was terrifying. 

"Well, who's driving the truck?!"

"Relax, I took care of it!" He replied, punching a Yerban in the face as the other two tried to drag Miss Danger and Kid Danger out the door. He meant he'd tied Pappy Manchester's stupid, ratty light string around the wheel and gearstick, meaning the truck couldn't veer off into a ditch. They fizzed, sparked and shortcircuited, but the long, empty road meant they were safe. Sort of. 

"Those crappy lights are what's keeping us safe?" (y/n) yelled, hoping that was not what he was saying, but his proud smirk said otherwise. 

"Yep! Don't worry, darlin'! I've got everything under control!" The hero said calmly as his sidekicks pushed against their enemies, sending them flying backwards before they could fall out of the door. 

(y/n) didn't trust those lights, even if she had soldered them to perfection, but she couldn't press any further as Ray returned to the fight, blocking a punch and returning the fire. 

They slapped, booted, blasted--anything--to keep their trees safe, and the lights held up for a few minutes as they cruised toward Swellview. But the longer they waited, the more anxious Henry grew, knowing he and (y/n) could finish things here, yet he wouldn't survive a truck crash. 

"It's been five minutes! Can you please go back to driving now?" He asked, kicking a guy in the stomach whilst (y/n) pinned the other down, and the hero was amid a punch-up--namely, he was punching, and his goon had to take it. "I don't trust a string of janky Christmas lights to drive a truck!"

"Relax!" Ray said for the fiftieth time during the fight, thinking the boy was being paranoid. 

"Those lights have been in my family for years. They've never let us down!" He said after a strong kick took down another thug, but he jinxed them with his words. Seconds later, the truck lurched off the road, making everyone in the trailer hit the righthand wall with a thump, and (y/n) knew that the lights were a poor substitute. 

"Just please go back to driving, sweetheart! We got this!" She begged, stepping over the body on the floor to place her hands against his chest. With her best eyelash-fluttering and pouty bottom lip, she melted his heart, using his weakness for her to make his return to the cab, and Ray couldn't help but crack. 

"Ughhhhh...fine!" The man relented, but not before he spotted a Yerban getting up and stalking toward his sweet girl. He threw a brutal swing over her shoulder, one strong arm wrapped around her body to shield her from the violence as the guy fell back down. That would teach him not to hurt his pretty fiancée. 

"Thank you..." (y/n) grinned, feeling the urge to kiss him again, but she stayed strong, giving him nothing more than a peck on the cheek before he disappeared again. That left her to rejoin Henry's side, glancing an eye over the final three Yerbans. 

"Now, where were we? Oh, right..." The teen asked casually as a dude snuck up behind him and grabbed his shoulder, turning him around and landing a hard blow on his jaw. With the boy dazed, the Yerban wrapped his arms around his chest, immobilising him as (y/n) tried to free her friend. 

"Let me have the girl!" The blond farmer from earlier growled, and his friend was more than happy to seize the heroine by her arm and shove her into the guy's grip. She struggled against him, pushing down the instinct to flail and instead, tried to land a controlled punch, but before she could, a lasso of Christmas lights hooked around her target's neck. 

"What the--"

"I'm back! Hands off my girl, moron!" Ray shouted with a beaming smile as he pulled the asshole away from his precious girl before he could lay a finger on her. 

He had no doubt that she could defend herself, but he wanted the satisfaction of beating the man to a pulp, even if it meant he and the lifeline keeping the truck in control were now away from the wheel. 

Henry freed himself, too, knocking an elbow into his captor's ribs as Ray fished his catch and landed a sucker punch on his nose. That sent him wobbling toward (y/n), who grabbed his lapels and pushed him to the kid, who then sent him to his final destination - out of the truck and onto the road. 

"Doofus! Why are you here?" (y/n) asked breathlessly, undoubtedly overjoyed yet terrified to see him. He smiled at her flushed face and heaving chest, thinking she always looked radiant in the middle of a fight, and he couldn't help but saunter up to her and place his hands on her hips. 

"Can't stay away from you, darlin'... Hurts too much," he flirted, making Henry roll his eyes because they were still in a fight. There was no time for flirting, and he couldn't believe that one dashing grin from the man could make her forget where he was supposed to be. 

"Quick question, if you and your lights are back here, who's driving the truck now?!"

"Nobody!" Ray revealed, appreciatively running his fingertips up and down his girl's hips in time to the music, wishing he could kiss her. However, her bashful smile soon fell when she heard him, eyes widening at the thought of the empty cab and the truck running down anything in its path. 

"What?!" She exclaimed, losing her balance and falling onto his chest, which didn't help her argument. Standing upright as the truck swerved and rocked was impossible, but even if Ray wrapped his arms tightly around (y/n)'s body and wore a smug look, it was hard to ignore more protests. 

"Sorry, my English only okay, but did he just say nobody driving this truck?" The Yerban leader asked in his thick accent, struggling to keep his footing as the truck ran over an inflatable snowman, a speed bump, and someone's mailbox.

"He did, yeah! And your English is great!" Henry confirmed that despite being a jerk, the man's language skills were good, even if he dropped a few verbs and pronouns on the way in. 

However, after a few friendly seconds passed, the remaining tree sellers exchanged terrified glances before screaming at the top of their lungs. It was every man for himself after that, and the trio watched in horror as the men abandoned ship, preferring to clean the road with their faces than stay and become mincemeat. 

"We hate you, but Merry Christmas!" The blond snapped at them before he dived out the open door, hitting the tarmac at tremendous speed, but at least he was free from the runaway truck. The heroes, however, weren't. 

"I think this truck is going to crash!" (y/n) exclaimed, edging her way to the entrance and encouraging Henry to do the same when they felt the terrain change to something suspiciously gravel-like. 

"It's okay, darlin'! You have super-regeneration, and I'm indestructible!" Ray yelled as if that would ease her fears. She didn't give a toss about herself; she was more concerned about her poor, precious baby, who had grown quite pale after looking at how quickly they were going. 

"I'm not!" He replied, looking worriedly at (y/n), who patted his shoulder and promised they wouldn't leave him to become human jelly. 

"Ray, we gotta do something!"

"Ugh...fine!" Ray said, knowing she was right. Leaving the kid behind wasn't an option, so he quickly looked around the truck to form a plan. It was stupid, reckless and would undoubtedly hurt him more than anyone else, but he had to safely get Henry, his sweet girl and a Christmas tree out. He didn't have much choice. 

Taking evasive action, he grabbed a tree, sad that they could only save one, but it was better than nothing. He dragged it over to his sidekicks, who couldn't work out his plan save that he was determined to see it through. 

"What are you doing?"

"Saving Swellview's Christmas!" He told Henry, pushing the tree into his arms. Then, he moved his precious fiancée close to the boy, telling her to hold onto him for dear life as he bundled her up and held her tightly to his chest in a weird, three-hero, one-tree sandwich. 

"This is cosy..." (y/n) muttered as she wrapped herself around the kid, clutching his uniform whilst Ray formed the bottom layer - the indestructible bread in their sandwich. 

"Hang tight!" He told them, and suddenly, it all became clear. There was only one way out. He was the only one who wouldn't be shredded. They were going out, and they were taking a dive. Together. As a sandwich. Oh, god. 

Henry hugged the tree with all his strength, Ray doing something similar with his sweet girl, knowing he couldn't live with himself if she got hurt, even if she'd be okay. 

Sqeeuzing their eyes shut, they stumbled backwards, falling out of the truck and landing on the road with a painful bump, but if it knocked the wind out of the sidekicks, then they hated to think about how Ray felt. 

At least he could say they saved Christmas. That was something to be proud of, but more importantly, at least he could tell that he took the hit to save his surrogate brother and darling girl. That made him smile brighter than Pappy Manchester's lights ever could. 

~A while later~

It wasn't precisely the haul they'd been planning on. 

Back at Swellview's Christmas Tree Lot, the shelves were barren and lifeless, all the merchandise having been bought weeks in advance or withered where they stood after the moths moved in. The empty yard was pretty spooky--a world away from the happy, festive place it usually was on Christmas Eve - full of families making last-minute purchases. 

Still, they'd tried their best, and Ray, (y/n) and Henry could be proud again that they had one healthy tree displayed in the middle of the snow-covered ground. Having removed the netting, they quickly arranged the branches per the heroine's instructions, remembering she had to make it perfect, even if this wasn't their tree. 

They looked terrible. Genuinely, they looked awful after hitting the road at speed, meaning their hair was stuck up in places, and the dirty, slushy snow and ice stained their uniforms. The night air froze them to the bone, too, causing Ray to huddle close to his pretty girl, although Henry suspected an ulterior motive. 

Whatever - he could let it slide. It was almost Christmas Day, after all. 

"Only one tree, but I think our friends here in Swellview will appreciate it," Ray noted, looking extra goofy with his messy, fluffed-up hair and dishevelled suit. 

"Yeah, it's the thought that counts--" (y/n) agreed, separating two branches to make them look pretty, but a scream interrupted her in what had to be the strangest thing to happen that night. And that was saying something. 

Looking over their shoulders, the trio's mouths fell open when they saw Jasper running through the farm, a brown cloud clinging to his body. His arms flailed around his face, and his screw-up expression told them he was in pain, but when he got closer, they realised the cloud was made of moths. Hundreds and hundreds of Yerban moths. 

"Hey, guys!" That didn't stop the kid from greeting them, though, using his classic Jasper friendless as he stopped swatting the insects chasing him to look at the healthy evergreen. Oddly enough, the moths didn't seem bothered by it; instead, they preferred to chase him. 

"Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas!" They called after him, not knowing what else to say. Going after him was an option, especially since he shrieked long after he left them, but their tree was still alive, and the moths had found a new target--their work was done. 

All right. I guess the moth problem is solved!" Henry grinned, clapping his hands together at the thought of finally being able to go home for the holidays, but there was one job left. 

"Let's light this tree before everyone in Swellview wakes up!" (y/n) said hurriedly, knowing they were at a good vantage point - high on the hill - for the whole town to see them. She was just anxious about the time...

"I just wish my Pappy Manchester were here to see this," Ray muttered as he bent down to plug in the light string, which had only been saved from the truck since he'd wrapped it around his body before they jumped.

Henry looked at him fondly, thinking it must be hard to be without some of his loved ones at Christmas, so as (y/n) hugged his arm, he patted the hero's shoulder. 

"I'm sure he's up there somewhere," he said softly, giving the man a kind smile at the thought of the old man smiling down on his grandson for passing down his traditions. However, it wasn't quite as spiritual or celestial as the kid first thought. 

"Yeah...yeah, he probably is. He's an airline pilot, so he's probably working tonight," Ray replied, causing some of the magic to disappear, but at least it wasn't as depressing as Henry first thought. Moving on, Ray connected the lights to power, turning them on in a burst of colour, which was a nice last touch on their success. 

"My god...it's beautiful," (y/n) sighed, glad that they'd been ambitious for once without screwing it up. Ray smiled down at her, draping an arm across her shoulders, thinking she was infinitely more so, but he agreed for the moment's sake. 

"Sure is, darlin'," he smiled, but the peace and happiness didn't live very long. Suddenly, the lights began to blink, shorting out for a second, so the tree went dark again. 

That wasn't the plan, but things got worse. Much worse as the electricity surged and superheated, meaning the branches began to smoulder and burn until the entire tree went up in flames. More like a bonfire than a beacon of all things Saint Nick. 

"Not our day..."

"Nope," Henry confirmed as their shoulders sagged, watching all their hard work burn away. And as if that wasn't bad enough, the crackling of the flames was also interrupted as a truck came barrelling down the road, honking into the night. And it looked very familiar--a little too familiar. 

"Dude, that was our truck," Henry gasped as he watched the Captain Man logo emblazoned on the side go by. How it was still going was beyond him, but he couldn't help but worry that it was about to slam into a little old lady's house, a baby hospital or something. 

"I know, right?" Ray smiled, too enchanted by the beauty next to him and the warmth from the torched tree to realise that they had another emergency. 

"No, it's still going by itself!" The boy stressed, trying to make him see the seriousness of a rogue, runaway large goods vehicle, but Ray still wasn't listening. He was gross, sweaty, and dirty next to a burning tree, and he'd just watched a truck race past without killing anyone. That was a typical Christmas for him. 

"It's a Christmas miracle..." he sighed, pulling his sweet girl into his side and kissing her temple as they all turned to admire the blazing tree. Its glow was pleasant and helped fight the cold, although they still rubbed elbows since the moment was so touching. 

Henry brushed off the worry from the truck, thinking it would be fine for another minute or two, and he wanted the feeling in his fingers to return after fiddling with the lights for so long. He was tired and needed a shower and a long sit-down, but he indulged Ray simply for the season's sake. 

Christmas was always so hectic with his family - both of them, always had been - so it was nice to enjoy the serenity for a bit...until (y/n)'s phone buzzed. 

"What's up, sweet girl?" Ray asked quietly and absentmindedly, not paying attention since he assumed it was a text message. However, when the woman pulled out her PearPhone and read the notification, he wasn't prepared for her choked gasp. 

"Doofus! It's time!" She squealed, practically jumping up and down in his arms as the boys looked at her weirdly. Whatever she'd been sent must've been exciting, so when he returned a blank stare, she sighed and rolled her eyes. Was she the only one who saved a reminder for important dates on her phone?

"Time for what?" Apparently, yes. 

"Duh! It's midnight! Our kissaversary!" She giggled, showing him her lock screen - a blurry selfie of them snuggled up in bed with messy hair, bleary eyes, bare skin and goofy smiles. Whilst the perfectly imperfect photo made his grin appear, the time made it explode across his handsome features. 

Midnight. Christmas Day. Four years to the second when he had his wildest dreams realised. 

"Come here, sweetheart," he murmured, turning to face her properly as she stood before him, sliding her hands up his chest to cup his jaw. Henry took a step back to give them some privacy, but he watched it the first time around--there was no way he was missing it now. 

Putting his hands on her waist, Ray pulled his sweet girl close, recalling how nervous he'd been all those years after assuming he'd ruin everything just to satisfy his selfish desire. But when he looked now, all he saw was his future, leaning in with a soft smile. 

"You want to do this?" She asked, eyes fluttering to look at his lips, which had always been softer than any others she'd felt. Unlike some, Ray actually used lip balm, and he did that thing where he stroked the small of her back with his thumb to soothe any nerves coming from the intensity of the moment. Although, now, it was more excitement than fear of the unknown. 

"Do you?" Despite being millimetres from her lips, he whispered back, their noses brushing as she leaned in. Desperate to taste him after hours of holding back, she didn't dare pull away, knowing the feeling all too well after waiting to do this the first time. Never again - they would never go back to how things used to be. 

"It's all right," she promised him and closed the gap between them. 

Every kiss they'd ever shared always felt like magic, but perhaps that was something to do with the bond they shared. But this felt like the very first time all over again. 

They went back to the beginning, starting tenderly and innocently as if they were exploring the clash of honey, mint and bubblegum and fearing rejection around every corner. Ray hummed at the remnants of gingerbread on her lips, quickly growing addicted after hours of dreaming about having her in his arms again, and he didn't waste his chance. 

Feeling a wave of desire wash over him, his arms wrapped around her back, crushing her to his body as they moved together, drowning in her sweetness and the feeling of her thumbs stroking his cheekbones. 

(y/n) sighed and allowed his tongue to sweep over her bottom lip, jaw falling open so he could guide the kiss. She allowed herself to be indulgent and held his face close to hers simply because she had let him go back then - before she memorised how the mint hit first, and then the bubblegum followed. 

She never wanted to forget, so when they separated for a split second to swallow a gulp of air, she went straight back in. A growl reverberated in the back of Ray's throat as a large hand gently gripped her jaw, allowing him to explore the deepest cavities of her taste whilst the snow began to fall. 

Neither felt the cold as they kissed in the firelight, wrapped up in each other after four years of shaky confessions, shy kisses and tear-jerking proposals. Perhaps it wasn't exactly as they planned, but as Henry sneakily snapped a photo of them, hiding his phone before either could spot him, they knew their kissaversary couldn't have been better. 

"Merry Christmas, doofus," (y/n) said breathlessly when they pulled away, resting her forehead against his as bright, beaming smiles graced their faces, feeling joy like no other. 

"Merry Christmas, sweet girl," Ray replied, finally making a move after seeing how she pined for him--taking her in his arms, telling her everything he felt for her, and kissing her until he had her tattooed on his heart. 

He brushed the hair from her eyes and held his hand against her flushed cheek, marvelling at the beauty he'd soon get to call his wife. When she looked up and smiled, he was sure his heart had stopped, remembering the night when everything changed - he'd never love anyone else, not after feeling heaven like that.

That first kiss changed everything; from it, he could see everything. Not the chaos - the burning tree turning to embers, Henry shivering from the dropping temperature or the truck running off into the distance - but he still saw everything. 

All he saw...was (y/n).

[redheadspark]

Christmas Prompt Session!

Hello Lovelies!

We are officially in Christmas Season!

This is my favorite season of the year, so I figured we can get a small head start in the next Prompt session that I promised I would bring you all!

I wanted to do this session now before we are all swamped with Christmas, and I wanted to also make sure I got this Prompt Session out before I would head to Oregon for Christmas with my family in 20 days!

This Prompt Theme is:

Christmas!

Here are my rules with this prompt sessions:

1.) You maybe chose ONE character from my list that I have Here. It’ll have the list of characters that I write for or have written for in the past.

*(If you have a character not listed that you wish for me to write, PLEASE MESSAGE ME AND CLEAR IT WITH ME FIRST TO SEE IF I CAN OR WILL DO IT!)*

2.) The Prompt list found below has two sections: Scene and Dialogue. You may choose ONE FROM EACH, not two from one and two from another. Also, Please provide the number AND the line that you wish for me to write for you so I don't get confused!

*I write out the request I get as first come first serve. I will try my best to fulfill every request that comes my way, but please bear in mind I work full time as a teacher. Because of that, I’ll be busy most of the day so please be patient and I’ll write on my spare time as much as I can :) *

3.) You can request in my ASK box neither as yourself or anonymously. Although I would LOVE to give you a shout if you request as yourself, anon is perfectly fine!

4.) I will close this prompt session Sunday, December 11th, at 3:00 PST (Pacific Standard, or USA California Time

5.) Have fun and enjoy!

Prompts created by @geek-girl7

Scene Starters

Gingerbread house

Cookie baking/decorating

Christmas dinner

Christmas/winter party

Snow

Snowman

Snowball fight

Christmas tree

Gift giving

Presents

Present wrapping

Santa

Fire

Reindeer

Bells

Shopping

Cold

Ornaments

Lights

Eggnog

Christmas movies

Christmas music

Mistletoe

Curled in front of the fire

Peppermint mocha

Mint

Hot chocolate 

Matching Pjs

Singing Carols

Decorating the Christmas Tree

Ice Skating

Sweater Weather

Grinch

Elf

Blizzard

Hat, scarf & mittens

Shoveling snow

Sledding

Ugly Christmas sweater

Dialogue Prompts

“Merry Christmas!”

“Happy Holidays!”

“Um, I got you something.”

“You look cold.”

“What are you looking at?”

“Ho ho ho”

“Baby, it’s cold outside.”

“Is that mistletoe?”

“All I want for Christmas is you.”

“Here, take my coat.”

��It’s literally blizzarding outside.”

“You’re like my own, personal space heater.”

“Don’t forget the peppermint!”

“What the hell is that supposed to be?”

“I love it...” “No, no you hate it.”

“Are you wearing socks... to sleep?” “My feet get cold!”

“For the last time, Die Hard is not a Christmas movie!”

“You got a little something, right there.”

“Your hands are freezing.”

“Yeah, very funny, I slipped on the ice, asshole.”

“Watch out!”

“Can we just cuddle all day?”

“Looks like we’re snowed in.”

“Wonderful, stuck with you for hours.”

“That tree just looks sad.”

“Do we have enough decorations up yet?”

“Whatever you’re making smells amazing.”

“Just one more.”

“Do you have every Christmas song memorized?”

“Hey! That was mine.”

Once again, This Prompt Session will close on Sunday, December 11th, at 3:00pm

Have fun, and Happy Holidays!!!

Tagged: @a-lumos-in-the-nox @heartofwritiing @basicrese @heliosphere8 @botanicalbarnes @hottpinkpenguin @virtueassassin @pemberlyy @vinvantae @the-darkwing-dragon @thedarkestgreys

[retrofatale]

Redyed the #greenhair, I am just full on embracing this look. We’ve made a few #swampwitch jokes, but as I’m not from the #swamps and grew up in #appalachia #forestwitch or #mountainwitch is probably more accurate which is weird for an #aries, I know. I gotta #taurusmoon it’s cool. Second pic I normally wouldn’t post but I sent it to Brigette and she laughed her ass off and decided if I ever go in a dating app it should be my profile pic to weed assholes out. So enjoy me dying my hair with a #facemask on while drinking boozey #eggnog straight from the bottle. #tistheseason #selfcare #rainyday #idlehands #ihadadayoff #idlehandspendtimeatthegenitlesandbabyjesushatesthat (at Little Five Points) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6ZmFzGJmWo/?igshid=6ktey3osuzmc

[pigeoncoffee]

ultimate single word island names list

as you all know i loved single word town names on new leaf.. whilst ive been brainstorming names for my new horizons island i’ve compiled the ultimate single word island names list!

enjoy!

Ocean/water words: • Brook • Bay • Boat • Canal • Coral • Cove • Creek • Current • Deep • Dock • Drench • Driftwood • Drip • Drain • Gulf • Kelp • Lake • Marine • Pond • Reservoir • River • Rinse • Rill • Rockpool • Sail • Sailboat • Scuba • Spring • Snorkel • Stream • Sea • Seaweed • Seabed • Surf • Swamp • Tarn • Tide • Tidepool • Water • Yacht

Summer/Beach words: • Coast • Conch • Dock • Dune • Harbour • Palmtree • Pier • Summer • Sand • Sandcastle • Shell • Seaside • Shore • Sunburn • Sunscreen • Wharf • Vacation • Voyage

Fish/Aquatic animal words: • Barnacle • Clam • Carp • Crab • Eel • Fin • Flounder • Herring • Limpet • Lobster • Mackerel • Otter • Oyster • Plankton • Salmon • Scallop • Shark • Shrimp • Starfish • Stingray • Squid • Sunfish • Tadpole • Trout

Animal/habitat words: • Antler • Ant • Anthill • Burrow • Bee • Beehive • Bumble • Barn • Bat • Bug • Cobweb • Den • Fleece • Fur • Gull • Hive • Hornet • Honeybee • Ladybug • Ladybird • Nest • Paddock • Raven • Roost • Rook • Seagull • Snail • Toad • Web

Plant/flowers words: • Aloe • Bud • Bamboo • Bloom • Clover • Cosmos • Daffodil • Fern • Heather • Lily • Lilypad • Leaf • Lotus • Orchid • Orchard • Palm • Petal • Primrose • Rose • Stem • Seed • Sprout • Tulip • Wilt • Wilted

Forest words: • Acorn • Birch • Branch • Bramble • Bark • Chestnut • Elm • Elder • Fir • Grove • Juniper • Maple • Oak • Sycamore • Stump • Sap • Sapling • Spruce • Tree • Twig • Thicket • Wood • Yew

Other outdoor words: • Acre • Bury • Barren • Cavern • Cave • Cliff • Coal • Dale • Dell • Earth • Field • Fossil • Garden • Hill • Henge • Hedge • Isle • Island • Lawn • Leaves • Mountain • Meadow • Marsh • Moor • Moss • Nature • Peak • Pebble • Rock • Root • Stone • Shire • Thorn • Uproot • Vale • Valley • Vineyard

Food words: • Avocado • Berry • Butter • Chai • Cider • Cake • Coffee • Coconut • Currant • Egg • Eggshell • Eggnog • Fig • Fudge • Honey • Honeycomb • Icecream • Jam • Jelly • Lemon • Mushroom • Muffin • Mocha • Nut • Pancake • Pear • Pea • Pie • Peanut • Pickle • Popsicle • Radish • Rice • Raisin • Rum • Sesame • Sushi • Syrup • Toast • Walnut

Herb/spices names: • Basil • Chive • Cinnamon • Clove • Dill • Fennel • Herb • Mustard • Nutmeg • Parsley • Saffron • Sage • Spice • thyme

Calm words: • Airy • Away • Awe • Aura • Calm • Drowsy • Dream • Hope • Haven • Haze • Lazy • Lull • Nurture • Quiet • Relax • Rest • Safe • Soft • Serene • Slumber • Silent • Yawn

Cosy Words: • Blanket • Boots • Cotton • Cosy • Cinder • Flannel • Glove • Knit • Knitted • Mitten • Quilt • Raincoat • Sweater • Slipper • Teapot • Teacup • Warmth • Weave • Woven • Yarn

Cute words: • Adore • Blush • Bonny • Cupid • Cuddle • Dainty • Delicate • Ethereal • Fluff • Giggle • Glitter • Lovely • Precious • Sweet • Wonder

City/Town/Building words: • Cabin • Camp • Campsite • Cottage • Home • House • Igloo • Inn • Loft • Mill • Market • Park • Road • Shelter • Street • Tunnel • Tavern • Village • Ville

Weather/time of day words: • Blizzard • Dusk • Dawn • Draft • Drizzle • Downpour • Fog • Flood • Flurry • Gust • Hail • Humid • Mist • Misty • Midnight • Noon • Night • Overcast • Rain • Rainfall • Raindrop • Rainbow • Rise • Storm • Soleil • Sunset • Sun • Season • Sleet • Typhoon • Thunder • Weather • Wind

Seasonal words: Spring/Easter: • April • Crisp • Dew • Dewdrop • Easter • Farm • Farmyard • Floral • Florist • Flourish • Grow • Growth • Hatch • June • Plantpot

Autumn/Halloween: • Afraid • Bale • Bonfire • Cackle • Casket • Creep • Coffin • Costume • Carve • Cemetery • Chilling • Disguise • Eerie • Fall • Fright • Frighten • Firework • Grave • Ghoul • Ghost • Grim • Gore • Hay • Harvest • Howl • Haunt • Haunted • Halloween • Lantern • Morbid • November • Phantom • Rake • Strange • Scream • Scare • Spook • Tomb • Trick • Wicked • Witch • Warlock • Zombie

Winter/Christmas: • Arctic • Chill • Carol • Elf • Festive • Frost • Frostbite • Firewood • Gift • Garland • Holly • Holiday • Ice • Iced • Icy • Icicle • Jingle • Jolly • Merry • Noel • Nativity • Ornament • Present • Reindeer • Rudolph • Scrooge • Sleigh • Snow • Skate • Snowman • Snowball • Stocking • Tinsel • Winter • Wreath • Yule • Yulelog

Mystical words: • Amulet • Cauldron • Chalice • Conjure • Coven • Charm • Cherub • Enchant • Fairy • Fairies • Gargoyle • Goblet • Goblin • Golem • Gnome • Hidden • Hex • Imp • Myth • Nymph • Potion • Spirit • Sprite • Spell • Secret • Shadow • Siren • Wand • Wander

Gem stone words: • Amethyst • Amber • Jasper • Jade • Onyx • Opal • Sapphire • Topaz • Quartz

Colour words: • Bronze • Blush • Fuchsia • Hazel • Ivory • Linen • Ochre • Pale • Peach • Pewter • Sepia • Seafoam • Tawny

Space words: • Aurora • Asteroid • Cosmic • Crescent • Eclipse • Gravity • Luna • Mercury • Meteor • Moon • Nebula • Orbit • Planet • Solar • Star • Venus • Zodiac

Direction words: • Around • Across • Above • East • Far • North • Over • South • Under • West

Other words: • Ash • Ablaze • Beam • Backpack • Dust • Ever • Edge • End • Echo • Cranny • Comb • Frail • Gutter • Hole • Lune • Lush • Letter • Nimble • Nook • Old • Plain • Paper • Rinse • Range • Ridge • Rust • Rusted • Rot • Rotted • Silk • Set • Settle • Sponge • Swelter • Swell • Smog • Urn • Umbrella • Vain • Vile • View • Way • World

[hopelessromanticspoonie]

Congrats on 750 and thanks so much for doing this! Can I please request “4. I need to know that you can trust me. Please.” for Tom? Angst to fluff with maybe a dash of smut at the end? I could see either Tom or the OFC say this under different circumstances, but I would leave that choice up to you! Thanks again and also thank you for creating such a wonderful blog:)

Thank you so much for sending this request! I will admit that this is incredibly long at 3.4k words and it 100% got away from me to take on a life of its own. As it stands, I couldn’t make any smut work in it, but I do hope that you enjoy it nonetheless!

Thank you to @vodka-and-some-sass who gave me some very helpful insight on this fic! It wouldn’t be what it is without you!

Warning: language!

Five Stars

“Ben, I can’t. I’m sorry, but I’m swamped working on the cues for-”

“Too busy to pop into our Ugly Sweater party? Nonsense! You must come. It has been ages since we’ve seen you.”

You made a noncommittal grunt, scouring the thoroughly marked script in front of you, ignoring the pixelated face giving you a very stern glare from the screen beside it.

“It starts at eight. Sophie will be so pleased to know you’re coming.”

The screen went blank after his unceremonious goodbye. You rolled your eyes before pulling the pencil from behind your ear to make another note. Ben was a force of nature, had been since you’d met him starting out in theatre, and it was easier just to go along with whatever he wanted whenever he got an idea into his head. Maybe a few hours of fun might do your exhausted mind a bit of good. Clear the clutter and whatnot. What could it hurt?

~

What was the line between a sweater being so ugly it was awesome and just being embarrassingly terrible?

You were sure you had crossed that line with the getup you were wearing, but there wasn’t time to change as you had already knocked on the door to the Cumberbatch house. You were swept inside from the soft snowfall into a pair of long, lanky arms and crushed against an almost skeletal body.

“It’s been so long! Come on, Sophie can open the wine you’ve brought, and then I need to introduce you to some new friends.”

You followed along without getting much of a word in edge-wise, nursing a glass of red wine thrust into your hand by Sophie before you made the rounds at Ben’s side. Names and faces went in one ear and out the other. Hands were shaken, cheeks of old friends were kissed, and small talk was made. The cheery Christmas music in the background and the slight buzz of alcohol in your system helped to loosen you up, and soon you were sitting on the arm of a couch, contentedly people watching when Ben confidently strode up to you, ushering along someone behind him.

“You look positively bored out of your skull, and I have just the solution. I’d like you to meet Tom,” he said with a grin and a flourish, stepping out of the way to present ‘Tom’.

“Tom Hiddleston,” he said, the familiar face sheepish as he held out a hand for you to shake. “Ben has regaled me with great tales of your running around together years and years ago.”

His hand was warm when you took it, smooth and firm and completely enveloping yours with the length of his thin fingers. “I’m sure they’re highly edited versions of what truly happened, all spun to put him in a more attractive light.”

“On the contrary,” he smiled, running his hand through the auburn locks curling behind his ears before shoving his hand into the pocket of his dark jeans, “they were tailored to do so for yourself. Perhaps you can tell enlighten me with your perspective?”

And that was how you spent the evening chatting with Tom Hiddleston. You had known that he and Ben were close friends, he’d been mentioned in passing before, but it was one thing to hear about ‘Tom flying to the States to work on a film’ and another to have the full force of Tom Hiddleston and his breathtaking rapt attention clothed in a gaudy Christmas sweater directed at you from close range. It was secretly thrilling to hold the focus of someone so beautiful, to watch his eyes sparkle and mouth pull back into a grin at your jokes and anecdotes. His hands spun tales in the space between you, as expressive and vibrant as his many impassioned tangents. You couldn’t deny the twist of butterflies in your stomach when his hand settled onto the middle of your back and his head craned down to better hear your point over a sudden burst of laughter from the other party guests.

But the night couldn’t last forever, and the glass of spiked eggnog Ben had slipped into your hand was in cahoots with the late hour to make you drowsy. Your poor attempt at stifling a yawn behind your hand did not go unnoticed by the keen blue eyes that hadn’t left you since you’d been introduced what felt like an eternity ago.

“Perhaps we should call it a night,” Tom offered, standing up and stretching languidly. It was pure force of will that kept your eyes from lingering on the peek of pale skin at his hip revealed by the gaudy red bottom of his sweater riding up from the innocent movement.

You slipped your phone out of your pocket, nodding in agreement. “You’re probably right. I’ve been working myself to the bone. I’ll just call an Uber and then make the rounds.”

His hand closed over your phone, pushing it gently down to your side. “I was about to leave. Allow me to give you a ride, in payment for monopolizing so much of your time?”

How could you say no to such an earnest face? With his brows lifted into a hopeful smile, you were hooked. “Let me say goodbye?”

You left Tom to wind your way through the mingling crowd, the music and murmuring having leveled off to more intimate levels as the evening wore on. It was easy to find Ben stationed in the kitchen, packing away the leftover finger foods.

“Heading out?” he asked when you handed him a cheese platter, glancing around you before turning to the open refrigerator once more. “Sophie wanted to say goodnight before she went up to bed, but she couldn’t find you.”

Their home wasn’t that big, but you let it slide with an exaggerated roll of your eyes. You carefully put your empty glass into the overloaded sink. “Yeah. It’s getting late, and Tom offered to give me a lift back to mine.”

“Oh, Tom?” The interest on his overly expressive face was impossible to miss. “Hit it off, did you?”

You swatted at his chest before pulling him into a quick hug. “Oh hush, you. You’re about as subtle as a slap to the face. He’s nice. Come say goodbye, you meddling fool.”

He acted overly offended, hands clutching his chest as he led you back toward the front door where Tom was waiting, already buttoned into his black pea coat. “Meddle? Me? Never!”

Tom’s answering chuckle was filled with warmth as he pulled your coat from your hands, helping you into it without any fuss. “I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about, but I’m inclined to side with the lady. You are far too meddlesome for your own good, Ben.”

“Would it be considered meddling to inform you both that you’re stationed underneath the mistletoe?” Ben asked, a devious smile on his face as he pointed above your heads.

Sure enough, he had cheekily planted that festive decoration right above the front door. Heat flooded your cheeks when you dropped your gaze down to Tom and shoved your hands into your coat pockets awkwardly. “That bastard.”

He shifted just a breath closer to you, so the masculine scented warmth of his body fought against the chill seeping through the front door at your side. “It is tradition. May I?”

When you quickly nodded your silent reply, his hand came up to cradle your cheek facing the room, permitting you a bit of privacy. As soon as your lashes fluttered against your cheeks did he kiss you, a quick, almost chaste brush of his lips, leaving you with just the barest taste of the chocolate he sampled earlier. It wasn’t enough.

You ignored the inferno set inside of you at the simple action and opened your eyes, startled to see Tom still so close to you. His breath fanned across your face, sweet and quick, and his thumb stroked your cheek softly before he released you from the captivating spell of his blown light-blue eyes.

“Right,” he cleared his throat, adjusting the collar of his jacket up around his neck, shooting Ben one last glance. “Thank you for inviting us to the party this evening. I’ll get in touch soon.”

You waved your goodbye before following him outside, mind trying to wrap around being included in Tom’s farewell to your mutual friend. It was surely nothing, as was the way that his hand lighted on your lower back to assist you into the car. You were exhausted. That had to explain why you were so tongue-tied and nervous for the entire drive back to your home.

“That’s me,” you gestured to the side of the road, sitting up straighter in the soft leather seat.

He pulled to a slow and careful stop on the curb. The tense silence that filled the small space threatened to choke you, but you couldn’t make yourself reach for the door. Doing so would be a definite cap on the evening. The spell would be broken and you would go back to the mundanity of daily life without the captivated ear of a handsome gentleman.

Tom broke your sorrowful train of thought, unbuckling his seatbelt. “Allow me to walk you to the door.”

In the spare seconds that you had to compose yourself, all you managed to do was thoroughly inspect a smudge on his rear-view mirror. Cold rushed into the haven of his car when he opened the door, drawing you out by the guidance of his gentle hand. He followed you to the door, towering above you and ducking his shoulders against the frigid breeze that ruffled your hair.

“Thanks for the ride.” You fidgeted with the keys in your hands, worrying the worn metal. “It was much more pleasant than an Uber ride, that’s for sure.” So smooth.

“Will you give me five stars?”

The joke gave you enough confidence to lift your face to his. You startled slightly at how close he was, the fog from your breath swirling together to mix with the scattered snowfall. The tenderness in his gaze made your heart race in your chest. Your tongue darted out to wet your lips against the wind, and the darkness that flooded his pale blue eyes made your breath catch in your throat. Snowflakes caught on his light lashes and tinted his now rosy cheeks. You heard yourself ask, “What have you done to earn them?”

Uncertainty flashed across his face for the briefest of moments before determination ticked in his temple. He stilled the clink of your keys with his hand over yours, using the contact to shift that much closer to you. Hope and the desire that clenched in your stomach bid you to tilt your pouted mouth up to him in offering. He accepted, giving you a warm, gentle kiss that warmed you from the top of your head to the tips of your curled toes. The sensitive skin around your mouth tickled from the rasp of his short beard, wholly masculine and surprisingly soft.

“Goodnight, darling. I’ll call you in the morning.”

He stayed on your doorstep until you fumbled the keys into the lock with trembling fingers. The last thing visible through the slowly tightening crack in the closing door was his kind smile crinkling around his eyes, bright and full of promise just for you.

If he called the next morning, which would be impossible because you had forgotten to give him your number like a pining idiot, you wouldn’t have been able to tell. You woke to your phone blaring out your ringtone nonstop. It had vibrated itself right off of the bedside table onto the floor so you had to practically fall out of bed to silence it. As soon as you did, another call came through from an unknown number, followed by several texts and emails in quick succession.

“What the?” Rubbing the sleep out of your eyes, you leaned back against the side of your bed, opening your texts because you were definitely not alert enough to speak to a living person yet.

’ARE YOU DATING TOM HIDDLESTON?!?!’

‘Was that you in the papers with Tom Hiddleston?’

Practically every person under the sun that you had ever come in contact with had sent you a message or called you, flooding your phone with notifications you were instantly too overwhelmed to handle.

You grabbed a change of clothes, answering the phone on the next ring and shoving it into your ear, not even caring who had called as you gathered your things for a shower.

“Are you alright?”

Ben. “What in the ever-loving fuck is going on?”

“I sent you a picture taken by the paparazzi yesterday. It’s all over the gossip magazines and websites. I haven’t been able to get a hold of Tom. I assume he’s been tied up with Luke all morning. Are you alright?”

You didn’t answer him, tossing your clothes onto the bathroom sink so you could flip through your overload of messages to find what Ben was talking about. There, on the front of some tawdry magazine, was a slightly grainy picture of you and Tom from the previous evening. There was no mistaking it. There you were, locking lips with the internet’s perpetually single boyfriend.

Shit. You placed the phone on top of your clothes, hitting the speakerphone so you could turn on the water for the shower. “Nothing happened, Ben.”

“I know that, you know that, and Tom knows that. But the world doesn’t, and several hundred-thousand opinions hold more weight than the truth in this instance.”

Hitting your head repeatedly against the tiled bathroom wall was suddenly far more appealing than the current conversation. “I can’t deal with this right now. I’m going to take a shower. Thanks for checking in, Ben.”

Hair damp and decked out in your softest lounge clothes, you had foolishly expected that the situation would somehow magically improve. But it only seemed to worsen upon leaving the sanctuary of your bedroom. When you peeked out from behind your curtains to see what all the shouting that you heard was about, dozens of men with cameras bigger than your face were visible across the street. They perked up at the movement and their huge black lenses all turned in your direction.

You were trapped. Grumbling, you turned on your heel to retreat to your room when loud knocks pounded straight into your skull, making you practically jump out of your skin with shock.

“Who is it?” you called, pressing your ear against the front door. Who would brave the field of paparazzi to visit you?

“It’s me! Please, let me in,” Tom called.

You hurried over and ushered him in before closing the door against the blinding flashes shot in your direction, blinking the spots from your eyes.

He held his hands out in front of him, palms up. “I apologize for showing up without an invitation, but I didn’t have your number, and I was concerned.”

You crossed your arms over your chest to hide the trembling in your limbs at the sudden spotlight thrust upon you, shrugging your shoulders in what wasn’t exactly a convincing act of nonchalance. Desperate to hide from his earnest, ever-observant stare, you went into the kitchen and set the kettle on the burner. “It’s fine, I’m fine. It’s whatever.”

His heavy footsteps matched the roaring pulse in your ears as his long legs quickly closed the distance between you. He carefully took your hand in between both of his, turning you to face him. “You aren’t fine.”

“No, I’m damn well not fine,” you huffed, pinching your nose with your free hand. You dropped your chin onto your chest, closing your eyes as you fought the anxiety gripping your lungs like a vice. “I woke up this morning to my phone blowing up because of a stolen picture with you. I’m sure half of the internet hates me because they think we’re this serious thing now, and any illusion of privacy that I had is dwindling by the second as they try to figure out who the heck I am to either crucify me or congratulate me. It’s just…”

He released your arm to curl his fingers underneath your jaw, lifting your gaze from the burgundy cable-knit jumper covering his chest. The genuine concern that creased his brow and tugged on the corners of his mouth would be your undoing if you allowed yourself the weakness. “It is quite the ordeal, and you didn’t ask for this aspect of our relationship.”

“There isn’t any relationship at all! It was only a kiss. Well, two, but still. It would be one thing if there was,” you paused, allowing yourself the luxury of fully savoring his electrifying touch before pulling your face out of his featherlight hold, “but there isn’t.”

His hand scrubbed over the whiskers muddying his razor sharp jawline before falling to ghost over the curve of your hip. “If there was, what?”

You didn’t know what you were saying, what you had just said and alluded to. Your thoughts were a blur and you couldn’t discern whether you wanted to hide from him or into him. Quickly replaying what you had blurted out in your distracted state, you sighed heavily, the weight of what could not be dragged down your shoulders. What would it hurt to say what had been lingering on your mind all morning? “If there was something between us, maybe all the scrutiny would be worth it. If we were together, and I didn’t have to face them alone. If there was a reason behind terrifying men shouting awful things at me outside of my home. As it is, I’m a prisoner in my home for no damned good reason.”

He took a step away from you, arms crossing over his chest. “A consolation prize, then?”

You wanted to slam your fists onto the countertop, scream and tear your hair out at the confusion and frustration of it all. Instead, your hands flailed uselessly in between you. “No! No, not that.”

“Then what?” he asked, silken voice as tight and guarded as the rest of him. Steely blue eyes held you captive as he demanded an explanation.

What did it hurt to admit your fledgling feelings at this point? “Being with you, it wouldn’t be some consolation prize. You aren’t a-a prize to be won, Tom. I like you, okay? It was fun to talk with you last night, and you sure are one heck of a kisser. Five stars, for sure. I just…” you waved your arms at the throng of paparazzi you could faintly hear gathered outside. “That’s a lot to take on, especially for someone I hardly know.”

His arms fell to his sides and he took a small step toward you. “If it weren’t for the fame, for the fans and the celebrity and the madness of it all, would you hesitate?”

“Not for a second,” you answered instantly. The answer came from deep within you with no thought.

“Well, then…” His hands came up on either side of your face, cupping your jaw. He moved with absolute care, slow and steady with plenty of time for you to stop him at any point. First his forehead rested lightly against you, then his nose nudged along your cheek, and finally his mouth slanted over yours in a kiss so full of passion and intensity that your knees buckled. He held you upright between his body and the counter behind you, hands splayed over your sides and fingertips molded to the soft flesh of your waist.

He tucked your head beneath his chin, nuzzling his cheek into your damp hair. “Give us a chance? Give this a chance.”

You dug your fingertips into the worn wool of his jumper, inhaling the dark and soothing scent of his cologne from your nose pressed into his chest. “Tom…”

“I will handle this, I promise,” he assured you, reaching up to cup the back of your neck, holding you to him. “I need to know you can trust me. Please.”

The tension slowly left your shoulders at the caress of his hand down your spine. You melted into him. “Ben is going to be insufferable when he hears,” you said, doing your best to keep the happiness from your voice, but you were no award-winning actor.

“Let him,” he growled, hooking his thumbs underneath your chin, tilting your face up to him so he could further prove to you with his pillowy-soft lips and coffee-laced tongue exactly why trusting him would be worth all the sorrow and strife waiting just outside your door.

~~~

Whole Shebang Taglist: @just-the-hiddles @yespolkadotkitty @nonsensicalobsessions @vodka-and-some-sass @he-is-chaotic-she-is-psychotic @myoxisbroken @blah666 @brokenthelovely @myworddump @polireader @wiczer @littleredstarfish @the-broken-angel-13 @arch-venus25 @xxloki81xx @jessiejunebug @tinchentitri @sllooney @devilbat @vikkleinpaul @bouquet-o-undercaffeinated-roses @angelus80 @wolfsmom1 @kthemarsian @toozmanykids @claritastantrum @princerowanwhitethorngalathynius @sabine-leo @lovesmesomehiddles @silverswordthekilljoy

[violetwolfraven]

It’s A Romcom Cliche

@gendistic42 here’s something I wrote as a Christmas present for you! I’m a bit swamped right now as far as writing projects but I may expand on this later. For now, enjoy a holiday piece. :)

I’ve never written from Mike’s perspective before, so this should be interesting.

Tw: underage drinking, general teenage chaos, vomit, who knows how to write that kind of party that doesn’t actually exist anywhere but in movies? not me!

Mike was definitely a bit drunk right now, but in his defense, he didn’t actually know the eggnog was spiked until he’d already had a huge cup and Ike told him matter-of-factly that he was going to throw up later.

In hindsight, Mike really should have seen that coming, but honestly he probably would have drank it anyway. It wasn’t like he didn’t usually leap before he looked.

That was what made life fun, after all. Taking risks without thinking. Thinking just lead to doubting yourself and doubting yourself just lead to not doing fun things and not doing fun things meant you were wasting your life. You had to seize the days you got, because otherwise why even live?

That was most of Mike’s friend group’s philosophy. Their little (junior, according to Elmer’s big brother who claimed they were too young to be a real motorcycle gang) motorcycle gang was full of impulsive, slightly-eccentric kids who lived in the moment. Of course, they looked out for each other as much as they could, confirmed excuses and alibis when necessary, but none of them worried much about their own safety.

Hence why they were having a huge party with spiked eggnog in December, meaning there was a likely possibility a lot of them would be staying overnight. Not that it mattered much.

Spot’s dad was at a conference in Boston and wouldn’t be back for at least a few more days. And if he did come back early for some reason, he’d probably just give them a lecture and then not tell anyone’s parents. Denton was cool like that. As long as nobody died, ended up in the hospital, or got anybody pregnant, he favored having the group’s trust over busting them, probably so he could be sure they’d come to him for help if there was a serious problem.

So far, through taking care of each other as best they could while having fun, there hadn’t been a serious problem.

Mike jumped as a tipsy Elmer grabbed his arm.

“Mike, buddy, this song fuckin’ slaps!”

Mike hadn’t noticed what song was on, given that his reaction time was currently a little slow, but he had to admit that Turn Down For What would always be a banger and being drunk just made it better.

He didn’t know how long he was bopping to the beat among his friends before he stopped, realizing that Ike’s prediction was about to come true, and barely made it to the toilet before puking his guts out.

Mike groaned. This was already becoming very un-fun, but throwing up was making him think about the killer hangover he was going to have in the morning. Also about how Ike had probably been drinking, too, so they’d need to stay the night at Spot’s. They could get a ride home, but hiding two drunk twins was significantly harder than just one.

In short, he was thinking ahead, which was reminding him why he didn’t like thinking ahead.

“Whoa, Mike, are you okay?”

Someone was rubbing his back as he retched, and Mike was officially shitfaced, because he could swear when he looked up that was Jojo de la Guerra.

He’d been joking when he invited Jojo. Not because he didn’t want Jojo to come, but because he’d never in a million years thought he’d actually show up.

“Did I pass out?” he groaned, hoping his words weren’t too slurred, “Am I dreamin’? Is that what’s happenin’ right now?”

“No?” Jojo looked confused, “You invited me.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t think you’d actually come.”

“Wait, are you drunk?”

“Yeah, that’d be accurate.”

Jojo now looked extremely nervous, “Ain’t everyone at this party underage?”

“Uh... I thinks one of Albert’s older brothers stopped by, so no. Wait, he left a couple hours ago, so yes.”

Mike was a little surprised when he slipped standing up and Jojo had to catch him. That was, he was a little surprised that Jojo could catch him. The nerd didn’t look like he had that much muscle on him.

Well, Mike was sure he was blushing, it wasn’t just the alcohol making his face flushed, but he wasn’t sure if the pink in Jojo’s cheeks was his imagination or not.

“Uh, do you need a glass of water or somethin’?” he asked nervously, “Why is there alcohol at a party where everybody’s underage, anyway?”

“Cause it’s fun,” Jojo said simply, “Ya think Mush and Blink’d be makin’ out against a wall in front of everybody if they wasn’t absolutely sloshed?”

“Okay, well, do ya need water?”

Mike thought about it, and he was pretty sure it wouldn’t take him so long to decide if he hadn’t drank so much.

“Nope. But I could do with some air.”

None of the others were sober and/or focused enough to notice as they made their way through the party to Spot’s back porch.

The air was icy cold, but Mike was overheated, so it felt good. And the snow was beautiful, reflecting light from the windows of the house. A few small icicles were hanging down from the roof above.

He wasn’t quite drunk enough that he didn’t notice when Jojo leaned against him, just a little, because of the cold. After all, Jojo was beautiful, too. Probably more beautiful than the snow.

But he didn’t say that.

“I love winter,” he said instead, “Ike and I used to play in the snow till we damn near froze to death. Or until one of us got a headshot in a snowball fight.”

“Sounds fun,” Jojo muttered.

“Oh, it was. And we’d stir our hot cocoa with candy canes when we went inside, so’s it’d be all minty.”

Mike smiled at the memory. They never did that anymore, whether it was because they were busy with homework or because they just... forgot, what with TV series to binge and Among Us games to win and friends to meet up with for a big snowball fight.

He liked their life now. He really did. Mike wouldn’t trade his friends for anything. But he had to admit, it had been simpler back when the only people he and Ike had were each other.

“And here you are now,” Jojo noted, “Drunk at a high school party on a back porch with that nerd ya partnered with for a science project once.”

“Well, that nerd happens to be my friend, so I counts that as a win.”

Jojo didn’t respond for a few seconds, and Mike realized.

“Wait, are we friends?”

They were close enough together that he could feel Jojo take a deep breath.

“I thinks so.”

That felt nice. And he could tell now. Jojo’s face was definitely flushed and it had been since before they came outside, so it couldn’t be from the cold. That sent a pretty clear signal, and...

“Mike, stop. What’re ya doin’?”

“I was gonna kiss you,” Mike said. He’d been pretty sure it was obvious.

Had he... been reading Jojo’s signals wrong?

“Mike, you’re drunk. Ya probably ain’t gonna remember this tomorrow. You don’t really care, it’s just that I’m here and no one else is. You don’t mean it.”

“I do mean it. Jojo—“

“You’re a boy in the biker gang all the girls and gays swoon over and you’re goin’ for me, the nobody from science class,” Jojo scoffed, “Sounds likely.”

“Jojo, it don’t matter who my friends are,” Mike tried to insist, “I like you. Like, like like you.”

“Even if I could believe you, there’s no way I’d kiss you while you’re drunk.”

That was worse than straight up rejection. Because Jojo was kind of saying that he did have feelings for Mike and just wouldn’t believe that Mike had feelings for him.

Mike had to focus on not crying for a good few minutes before he started realizing just how fast the snow was coming down.

“Hey, Jojo, how deep do ya think that snow is?”

“Shit.”

That made Mike laugh. He didn’t think he’d ever heard Jojo swear.

“It’s gotta be at least a foot, and still comin’ down. There’s no way anybody can drive home through that. Most of you’s is on motorcycles, and—“

That was when the lights inside went out abruptly, and more than a few people screamed.

Mike got up carefully, trying not to stumble too much, “We should find out what that was.”

They made it inside just in time to hear Spot holler, “A fuckin’ power line went down! And that don’t just mean no light and no WiFi—that means no heat! We ain’t got long before it starts to get real cold here!”

“I found the candles!” Hotshot (Spot’s little brother) yelled.

“Oh, that’ll help a ton,” Jack said sarcastically before Davey ran up.

Naturally, Mike’s mind chose that moment to go off on a tangent of how if Jack Kelly could get a smart boyfriend who was way too good for him, maybe he could too if he could just get Jojo to see that he really liked him, but he still caught what Davey said.

“There’s a foot of snow on the hood of my car. Nobody’s goin’ anywhere, so everybody text your parents before your phones run out of batteries.”

“What if my mom can tell I’m drunk?” Romeo shouted.

“I’m textin’ Mom, dumbass!” Jack shouted back, “For all of us! I’m the soberest person here!”

Race, Romeo, and Crutchie all called their thanks to their big brother.

“I think that’s me, actually,” Davey pointed out, “Soberest ain’t even a word, Jackie.”

Mike cupped his hands over his mouth and yelled into the darkness, “Ike, ya wanna text Mom and Dad, or should—“

“I’ll do it, moron! You’re shitfaced!”

“Shit,” Jojo was muttering as he typed a text, “Shit, shit, shit, I told my dad I’d only stay for an hour. Shit.”

“It ain’t your fault ya got snowed in,” Mike pointed out.

“No, but if my parents find out there was alcohol at this party—“

“Good news, y’all!” Spot hollered from the stairs, the multiple phone flashlights pointed at him the only thing making him visible, “Me and Hotshot’s dad has a big stash of blankets and sleepin’ bags and stuff, so we’s all gonna make a big nest and huddle together in the living room. Hopefully nobody freezes to death. If anybody don’t wanna sleep in what they’s wearin’, come find me!”

With that, he disappeared to go grab blankets.

“My parents are gonna kill me.”

“Don’t let ‘em,” Mike said, “I’d have to avenge you. Then I’d go to hell and I wouldn’t see ya in the afterlife! Plus you’d hate me for killin’ your parents, so—“

“Mike, please stop talkin’.”

“Wanna sleep with me?”

“What?!”

It took Mike a full 10 seconds to realize.

“Not like that!” he exclaimed as soon as he did realize, “Like if we’s all makin’ a nest to keep warm, ya wanna sleep next to me? For not freezin’ to death?”

Jojo was still looking at him pretty weird, and that made Mike sad.

“I’m sorry. Ya don’t have to. That was stupid. I’m stupid. I shouldn’ta said that, but I did cause I’m stupid. I’m sorry for everythin’. Like, everythin’. Everythin’ I’s ever said and—“

“Stop,” Jojo interrupted, “That’s... this is just gettin’ sad. Mike, it’s fine. Just... I guess I can’t expect ya to say things in a less weird way—you’re drunk.”

He didn’t seem especially annoyed or even uncomfortable. Just... blushing. Definitely blushing.

Mike could barely see him in the dark, but he still was pretty sure Jojo de la Guerra was the prettiest thing he’d ever seen.

“Uh, yeah, I’ll sleep with you. Next to you. Ugh. Just don’t barf on me.”

“Okay,” Mike mumbled. God, now that it was dark, he was already yawning. He didn’t remember where he’d left his hoodie. He should probably ask Ike about that.

It was already getting cold in the house, and the candles Hotshot was lighting definitely weren’t helping that much.

Mike didn’t mind how Jojo was sticking close to him even if it was probably just for warmth.

[deliasbabe]

I’ll be Home for Christmas- Cordelia Goode x Reader

Requested from my prompts list, “You're so cute when you’re half asleep like this.” by @lummaland 

Send me more requests!

Summary: Cordelia gets snowed in on Christmas Eve, and Reader decides to take it into her own hands. Literally just fluff on fluff.

Warnings: None? suggestive language if you squint

Word Count: 2,031

___________________________________________________________

“Delia, love, relax.” You said, trying to soothe your obviously stressed girlfriend, “I’m sure it’ll clear up. You will be back in plenty of time to spend Christmas with the girls.” It was the night before Christmas Eve, and Cordelia was away on business. She and the rest of the council were supposed to return two days ago, but a sudden winter storm had stranded them in Seattle with a series of cancelled flights.

“I know, but what about Christmas Eve? It’s some of the girls first Christmas with us, it’s your first Christmas with us. I wanted it to be special, everyone was so excited. We always have craft day.” Cordelia said, on the verge of tears. You knew Christmas was always a big deal for her, as most holidays at the coven were. She had been planning everything for months, all the activities, the games, and your heart broke at the sadness in her voice. She just wanted everything to be perfect. Most of the girls didn’t have families to go home to over the holidays, and Cordelia really made a concerted effort to make up for lost memories whenever possible, taking on a motherly role. You two had been dating for a little under six months, and in that time you too had stepped up to fill in the gaps, at least where you could. You knew the girls would appreciate the supreme doing anything at all, especially given the circumstances, but you still hated to see the love of your life so upset.

“Delia, please don’t cry. I can’t be there to hold you.” You whined, knowing if Cordelia cried then you were sure to follow. Cordelia let out a little laugh and you could picture her nodding as she wiped her eyes, making your heart hurt at just how much you missed her. As much as you appreciated being able to sprawl out in her queen sized bed and not have to worry about someone stealing all the blankets, it really didn’t compare to actually having her in your arms, not even close. “What if I handle Christmas Eve? You already have everything planned, right?” You asked, hoping it would bring her even the tiniest bit of solace. It wasn’t the same as her actually being there to witness it, but it was the next best thing.

“Y/N, no. You can’t possibly do it all by yourself. It’s too much.” Cordelia argued from the other end.

“I think you are severely underestimating my abilities.” You teased, knowing she was rolling her eyes.

“Babygirl, it normally takes three of us to keep everything running smoothly.” Cordelia teased back, and you let out a scoff.

“I never said it would run smoothly. It’ll be a mess, but I can make it happen. What’s the holidays without a little chaos, anyway?” You joked, Cordelia snickering on the other end, “Maybe I can get Madison to help me.”

“Yea, fat chance of that. It would be a Christmas miracle.” Cordelia snorted.

“Well then I guess it’s all up to me.” You said with an airy tone.

“Why are you so sweet?” Cordelia gushed as you let out a laugh.

“Just like to see you smile.” You said sweetly.

“Are you sure you’re ok with this?” Cordelia asked.

“Yea, I can handle the rugrats. You just focus on getting back to me. Our bed is too big without you in it.” You flirted. After your girlfriend had given you the rundown of all the activities and what you would have to do, you headed off to bed, knowing you would have to be up early the next morning.

You were up before any of the girls, trying to figure out how to organize this whole thing by yourself. Cordelia would have been much better at it, and you knew if you had the people to help you would divide the girls into groups and have them rotate between activities, but alas, you were a one-man team. You knew you would spend most of your day standing by the oven and baking cookies for the girls to decorate, so you quickly threw some cranberries and popcorn in bowls for the girls to make garland, gathered all the items so they could make their own ornaments and stockings, and set up stations along with the other small crafts Cordelia had planned.

As you started to whip up mass batches of dough for your cookies, Madison wandered down to the kitchen in search of breakfast, staring wide eyed at the mess you had created. “Holy shit, you really are trying to get laid.” She snarled, “I didn’t believe Cordi when she called me.”

“She called you?” you asked, ignoring the first part of the girl’s statement, “Why?”

“She wanted me to help. I told her the only shit I would help with was spiking your eggnog to get you through this shit show. I’m more of the moral support type of person.” Madison said.

“I don’t think anything having to do with you would be considered moral.” You teased, watching the actress roll her eyes.

“Whatever, I’m just here for the entertainment.” Madison spit back before sauntering out of the room.

A shit show would be a drastic understatement. It was completely bananas, and you were trying your best to keep on schedule, throwing trays of dough into the oven as fast as humanly possible, then trying to get the cookies to the girls to decorate. You didn’t stray father than three feet from the oven all day, you didn’t even know what the girls did with the rest of the crafts. While they all seemed to enjoy it, by late afternoon you were coated in a film of flour and just tipsy enough to not care. You headed upstairs to change your clothes, opting for a pair of pajama shorts and Cordelia’s worn grey jumper. It was way too big on you, making you look like you weren’t even wearing pants, but it was comfortable and smelled like her, so you really didn’t care.

After hanging the garland and placing the ornaments on the tree you wrangled the girls into the living room to watch an endless stream of Christmas movies, although you only made it through the first two before you felt utter exhaustion pulling you under. That’s how Cordelia found you when she got in a little after midnight. All the Christmas lights on, a fire blazing, and curled up on the couch, buried under the heaps of blankets the girls placed on you as they headed off to bed. She thought you looked adorable, with your peaceful face and wisps of hair framing your features. After the council had bid her goodnight and headed off to their rooms she wandered over to you, staring at you for a minute with a soft smile and adoring eyes.

She rounded the couch and leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to the tip of your nose and brushing the hair from your eyes as your lashes fluttered. You gazed up at her with sleepy eyes and immediately smiled possibly the cutest smile she had ever seen, then pulled your tired body up just enough to tug her into your lap and wrap her into a hug. “Well hello to you too.” Cordelia laughed, pressing a kiss to your cheek.

“You’re home.” You whined happily, holding her tighter as you sank further into the couch, like it was swallowing the both of you whole, but you welcomed the feeling.

“I’m home.” Cordelia said, chuckling at your sleepy antics, “How was your day?”

“It was good, better now that you’re here. The girls had a blast.” You said, snuggling into her chest as she dropped a kiss into your hair.

“It wasn’t too stressful?” Cordelia asked, eyeing you carefully.

“No,” You said with a yawn, opening your eyes to give her a soft smile, “It went really smoothly.”

“Really? Because you have batter in your hair, Y/N.” Cordelia teased before glancing down at your jumper, gently grabbing at the hem around your neck, “And is this mine?”

You felt a blush creeping up your cheeks as you gave a sheepish smile, “Maybe.” Cordelia grinned, “It was really cold and I missed you, ok?”

Her grin faded to a soft, heart melting smile as she gazed at you adoringly, “You look cute. It suits you.”

“It swamps me.” You said with a cheeky grin, the woman on your lap chuckling softly.

“That it does.” She said, pulling you impossibly closer as you closed your eyes and relaxed, “Why is the garland mostly cranberries?”

“The girls kept eating the popcorn, but they wouldn’t touch the cranberries, so we had to improvise.” You said with a shrug, fully focused on falling asleep in the woman’s arms.

Cordelia let out a laugh, “It looks great. You forgot one thing, though.”

Your eyes opened and you shot straight up, starting to panic, “Oh my god what? What did I miss?” Cordelia laughed before grabbing the hem of the sweatshirt and pulling you close, kissing you softly. “I forgot that?” You asked once she pulled back, making her grin.

“Well, yes, but you also forgot the presents.” The woman teased, standing up as you flopped back on the couch and let out a groan. “Come on, I’ll help you.” She said as she tugged you up.

You were standing in front of the tree as you placed the last present, stepping back to admire it slightly as Cordelia admired you. She had to admit, this was quite possibly her favorite way to see you, with your sleepy eyes and messy bun, your hands tucked inside the sleeves of her sweatshirt. You always were stunning in her eyes, but something about the Christmas lights and the fire going just made you look impossibly cozy, like she could drown in the ethereal glow radiating off of you. She just didn’t understand how she could have gotten so lucky, how she could possibly love someone as much as she loved you. In her eyes you were perfect, a little slice of heaven just for her.

She quietly crept up behind you and surprised you by tickling your sides lightly before wrapping her arms around your waist, her chest pressed to your back as she rested her head on your shoulder, leaning in to kiss your cheek. “You’re so cute when you’re half asleep like this.” She whispered in your ear, making you smile and lean back into her.

“It’s been a long day. A good day, but a long day.” You said, your smile growing when she nuzzled into your neck.

“Thank you.” She whispered sweetly, pressing a kiss to your neck, “And I’m going show you just how much I mean that.” You let out a laugh as she spun you around, quickly pulling you into a soft but passionate kiss. “Now you,” she teased, smacking your butt lightly, “Need to head off to bed. I’ll be up in a minute.” You tilted your head to the side, smirking as you rolled your eyes, then nodded and gave a slight chuckle. You kissed her one more time before heading up the stairs, knowing she was watching you intently, and she was. In fact, she was fairly certain it was criminal for you to be walking around looking like that, especially when she was gone for most of the day, but she didn’t really mind it now, not when her heart was nearly bursting with sweet affection.

When Cordelia wandered upstairs only five minutes later, she found you to be fast asleep, looking absolutely adorable all curled up under the blankets. She laughed to herself before rounding the bed and opening her nightstand drawer, slipping a tiny black box into the back corner before closing it. That could wait a little longer, and you two seemed to have all the time in the world. She glanced at your sleeping form one more time and smiled as she quickly changed, before shutting off the light and climbing into bed, kissing your forehead delicately before forming her body to yours. Oh yea, it sure was going to be a Christmas to remember.

Tag List:

@emilyprentissisababe

[carry-the-sky]

these heavy words, your open heart

summary

“You told me once that I was honest. That I don’t lie to you. But the hospital—you asked me to start over, and I said I didn’t want that.”

Karen sucks in a breath. Frank’s eyes are still on her, wide and bright. It’s the most vulnerable she’s ever seen him look.

“I lied,” he says.

a/n: merry kastlechristmas, @kastlenetwork​​​​​​! i’m normally an angst machine, but i tried to do something a bit softer to fulfill your prompts (not sad + new year’s, hahaha). i hope you enjoy, and thank you so much for organizing this event! <3

chapter one

Frank’s in the wind, but he’s not really gone. He’s in every bouquet of flowers, each hole-in-the-wall diner she walks past on her way to meet with a source. She pictures him, bloodied knuckles and bruises smudged under his eyes, the low gravel of his voice when he tells her the war is what he wants. She hopes that no news is good news, that maybe he’s found some measure of peace and what it means if he hasn’t—

He’s been dead before. Karen blinks, and the diner is just a diner.

He’s everywhere, at first. Local gangs, exposed drug rings, a city councilman with ties to sex-trafficking—the Punisher is all over the news cycle for a solid month after his escape from police custody at Metro General. It’s a shitstorm, but Karen wades through it the same way she always has. The city’s still rotten, still reeks of corruption and scandal and bad people doing bad things, so she follows her nose. Frank’s not the only one who has a job to do.

Time soldiers on. The steady deluge of news slows to a trickle, then stops altogether. The Globe tries to regenerate some of the hype by running a story that pins a string of uptown murders on Frank, but it’s a flimsy attempt at best. New York has moved on.

Karen tries to do the same. Her schedule is more flexible now that she’s freelancing full-time, so she doesn’t feel guilty saying yes when Matt and Foggy invite her out on the weekends. She digs for stories and chases leads, writes and investigates and writes some more. It’s hard work, less than stable—looking at her bank account makes her want to cry—but it’s good. For the first time since moving to the city, she feels free.

Frank’s in the wind, but he’s not really gone. He’s in every bouquet of flowers, each hole-in-the-wall diner she walks past on her way to meet with a source. She pictures him, bloodied knuckles and bruises smudged under his eyes, the low gravel of his voice when he tells her the war is what he wants. She hopes that no news is good news, that maybe he’s found some measure of peace and what it means if he hasn’t—

He’s been dead before. Karen blinks, and the diner is just a diner.

.

Winter hits the city hard. The temperature plunges to single digits in the week leading up to Christmas, with a few inches of snow in the forecast. Karen works from home as often as she can, trading her pencil skirts for fleece-lined leggings on the days she’s out running down sources. She just barely makes the submission deadline for a piece about embezzlement in the county tax collector’s office. 

Karen hasn’t really celebrated Christmas since Kevin died, but she makes a conscious effort this year. She digs her old tree out of storage and strings cheap lights around the window and spends the better part of an afternoon making eggnog and cookies for Foggy and Marci’s holiday party. It feels almost normal, until she starts thinking about Vermont and the gingersnaps Mom used to make. Karen remembers swiping a handful of them at a time and escaping to the hall closet, crunching them extra loudly to drown out her parents’ arguing. They always fought more around the holidays.

Christmas comes and goes, and Karen dives headfirst back into her work. The new year looms, equal parts uncertainty and possibility, but she keeps herself tethered in the present. Whatever happens, she’ll roll with it. She always does.

.

There’s a dog in the alley next to her apartment. 

It’s nosing through a couple of discarded take-out boxes, but snaps its head up when Karen steps onto the sidewalk. The dog—she, Karen’s gut says—is definitely a mutt, lean like a lab with a boxy pit bull face. Her coat is brown with grime, but there’s a smudge of white over one eye, like an upside down heart. 

“Hey, there,” Karen says, crouching. She holds a tentative hand out, freezing when the dog growls low in its throat. “Easy, it’s okay. I’m on my way out, but I’m gonna call someone to come get you, okay?” 

Animal control is swamped. There’s a high volume of calls coming in, typical for this time of year. The earliest they can come out is tomorrow morning, and Karen’s heart clenches thinking about how low the temperature’s been dropping at night. She glances sideways at the dog, making a mental checklist of all the food that’s currently upstairs in her apartment. No kibble, but anything she has is better than garbage. If she could just get the dog out of the cold—

Karen takes a step towards her building’s front door at the same time that the dog bolts, scrabbling down the alley in a blur of kicked-up snow and dirt. 

“Shit,” Karen hisses, watching the dog disappear around a corner. (“She’ll come back.” Kevin—he’s ten years old, cradling a stack of lost dog flyers under his arm. “Right, Kare? We’ll find her.”)

Karen stares down the length of the alley for another second. She’s already running late for a meeting with a volunteer at the regional VA office—her one and only lead so far on this new story she’s trying to crack open—but she makes a note to grab some treats on her way home. With any luck, the dog won’t go too far.

The meeting goes well. Her volunteer confirms the rumors of negligence in the treatment of veterans across the tri-county area—understaffed facilities, falsified intake records, and in one instance, a vet dying while on a hospital waitlist. Nothing overly shocking, but it still makes Karen sick to her stomach. The system is broken, and sometimes fixing it feels like an impossible task.

“I’ll be in touch,” she tells the volunteer as she’s getting ready to leave. “Thank you again for meeting with me, Curtis—”

“Curt,” he replies, cracking a grin. “My mom’s the only one who calls me Curtis. Hey—” he gestures to the folding chairs stacked in the corner. “I host a support group here for vets in the area, and our weekly meeting is tonight. You’re more than welcome to stay, maybe chat with a few of them about their experiences with the VA office.”

“I have to head out,” Karen says, “but maybe another time?”

“Absolutely. No pressure.” Curt reaches out to shake her hand. “Take care, Karen.” 

Take care. 

Two words. That’s all it takes, and she spends the rest of the day brushing away memories like cobwebs. He’s backlit in the frame of Schoonover’s shed, he’s standing by the water, he’s pressing his forehead to hers—she closes her eyes and all she sees is Frank. 

The thing is, even if she wanted to get in touch with him, she has no idea how to. The burner number he’d given her the last time he came back from the dead isn’t good anymore, and it’s not like she can just look him up in the phonebook. She could try Madani, but Karen has a hunch that even if the newly-minted CIA agent knew where Frank was, she wouldn’t be partial to sharing.

She has some dried flowers at home, leftover stems from a bouquet that her neighbor was making for her granddaughter. They’re the only flowers Karen has allowed herself to have in the apartment since she last saw Frank. As soon as she gets home, she sticks them in an empty vase and moves them to the windowsill. Not exactly white roses, but they’ll have to do. 

He’ll come back. He always does.

[weaselle]

pay no attention to this collection I just need to post it so I can find it

hit walls and floor... tall inside of my skull; if I never fall at all, clever's awfully dull - so if "push" says the door you'll be watchin' me pull - 'cause I only shop for china when I'm walkin' with bulls

Order me sit? dope, I'm askin' how high; I out right hope my notes are causin' outcry - where do I fit? miles as the cow flies - statistically shit, climbin' slopes to outlie

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I can juggle knives, and proselytize, and wink my eyes in flirth (or mix words like mirth and flirt, like, ask what planet Dirt is wearth) I can lift a person by their soul, or... even let them down; I can fit myself to any role: demon, prophet, clown. I can write like frightened squid, or read a book from any shelf- but a lifeguard out at sea can drown, and I can't save myself

_____________________________________________________

I want an adventurous crew, less than 100 and much more than 2; I've got an idea or four to do and believe that "to lead" isn't "ordering you" - I want be thicker than thieves: if one of us cries, everyone grieves; stacked deck for success, form small companies so that every ace dealt goes up all of our sleeves - I wish I had Boromir's horn; I stand full of arrows, small and forlorn I'd summon an army as sure as you're born and we'd rend every obstacle / mend what is torn

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yo when it's late I don't know if debate is a pro that I'm prone to or con I conflate; yawn ok great it's the dawn of new date too soon gone like a pawn in a perilous state - do I wander or wait, keep closed yonder gate or transpose these ten toes 'til exposing my fate? if not off to bed nodding off head berates and refuses to do more than snooze/obfuscate

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I don't have time enough to tell the clock to stop its ticking talk, while I'm sublimely sleepy, still ensconced in twos of shoes and socks; I'm staring off in awful need of themes that breed these searing thoughts- I breathe more air when all unfair reality congeals and clots; when sleep is claustrophobic, fear near stoic in its static stay, I ride my nightmares into mounts more suited to the dreams of day

_____________________________________________________________

time for me to be known from home to home, on the campaign trail like when Romans roam, I'mma do the damn thang, prevail and own every twist in this life-line vine I've grown

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sick like a little bit with a bad tum and sniffle it's not a badda-boom bat beating but a wiffle hit; sleep like the bleeping sheep gotta wring it outta me, sore like a freaking score that you sing without a "c".

________________________________________________________________

i got nothing to say, i'm all bluff in this play, i mean i'm here to swerve some verse it's clear i'm thumpin' away at the buttons with the letters on whenever it’s day like a cat attacks a sweater, just pretending it’s prey - I need to catch the thing I’m chasing, like, it’s gotta get caught, and so I jot it down a lot to try to capture the thought; but though the plot is often written out in dashes and sketches, i rarely cash in those checks, i need more carry than fetches, so I’m dreamin’ and dumpin’ out all the schemin’ or somethin’ and like, even if it’s meaningless these keys I’ll keep thumpin

__________________________________________________________________

with the internet i’m magic and i’m casting a spell call a song out of the air to here as clear as a bell private playlist from the A-list like i’m famous as hell making music moving quickly so I’m faster as well

_________________________________________________________________

“oh no” I shout “Where’s Trusty my phone?” I don’t know the whereabouts, must be shown- adjusted the tone of the ring to silence now trying to find it brings me to violence; really need to locate as I motivate to go today I throw the flippin’ sofa pillows hopin’ for a stowaway... but oh no way it’s gone I pray this song will make a tiny spell; a lesson less on lost forlorn and more intent on finding cell

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pocket full of humbug, some'll argue/ some shrug but damnit my whole planet's stupid like it's on the Dumb drug will there be a U.S. war? (I mean ANOTHER on our list) maybe something civil: neo-drivel vs. power fist... maybe accidental, mental trump insulting china's boss I fear these pale tears will steer us straight into a giant loss

so many people on the earth are searching for a safe life the rich'll keep their swords but lord they'll take away our steak knife Nothing free for you and me our banking fees are never waved; an act by black or poor is "crime" for white or rich it's "misbehaved" They're pouring us an ethanol and calling it an eggnog - time to run away and trade these reindeer for a sled-dog; the season of the commie christ whose message hasn't landed yet: money only isn't evil if the people's needs are met

______________________________________________________________

no thanks on the news, yo crank up the tunes, don't bank on the crankiness taking a snooze unless I get dressed from neckless to shoes and charge the horizon more wise than confused __________________________________________________________

hear the too late beep, missing two days sleep, and the road to a dream is a two way street; so the mood stays bleak though I do make sweet this coffee with cream and the brew ain't weak

____________________________________________________________________

been a While since I styled out the verbs and tenses, went around the Gates and straight hopped the fences; penUltimately gotta be a sultan of self: master mind, rule body, find my worth-and-my-wealth; if i'm quiet too long I'll have sloth not stealth so I try to move along and get my words off the shelf.

my projects: objects I invent/books writ - that shit won't pay the rent; throw fits, I have, it don't prevent: what's real from feeling devil-sent.

so I must be clever, do each: sum total; whatever needs eating this dead-beat goat'll; ask what is the art in a pace grown sickly? cut to the part where the chase goes quickly

Now hook or crook I must prepare, to tell each truth/take every dare stand hand on hips, and one in air, you can kiss my lips, or my derrière

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got me a hit list, swear i'ma get this done til the sun goes under the business; witness, this is crazy and witless, lazy lately: maybe the wiz kid just hid restless - put to the test his quiz is bested get to the rest it's now or not again, get that got and then kill it til the whole damn lot is a slaughter pen, sweat til the wet drip drops gettin' hotter than the metal that your kettle corn kernel keeps poppin' in; hoppin' and hippin' and readin' what's written i gotta be gettin' to the List no skippin'! slippin like fall, new leaves i'm flippin - givin' my all just to keep on grippin'; breakin' what doesn't bend wrong way through, as i make it to the end of the long To Do

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i post at the prompt, chew big what i've chomped; grew kid to a ghost haunting most of this pomp; listless within this to do list i'm swamped - spirit in fits, corpse slow to go romp

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incautious swatches of saying; watch as he washes the playing: switching the swerving and swaying into some terms of conveying wishes conditions occurred in which this envisioned un-blurred digit could get itself heard and flip politicians the bird

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in the trace of the face off you tasted last, is the scent of the sense made fading fast, so your dreams leak sieve-like hiking past a scared nightmare crew of an all-you cast

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got me a pallet of shall get around to, climb out of shallow kie, it's not about you; just look at the play and see where the props ain't, take out a brush but don't rush it you'll drop paint; stop sayin' you're praying for planet like damn saint but get out and do, do it, do, 'til you feel faint; yes do it, true get into some writing, what you must chew is how much off you're biting, i dust off the lightning and plug it right in, if i play hard enough then my bluff just might win, all this tin in my pocket while walking about til the hat-caving camptown will clean me all out- my ten other projects, pretend money fudge it, i'll sell all my objects and end up with budget; i'd love it if some of my ideas ran, but i'll finish the one and be one happy man

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each piece is news, new peace in reach; tho a few of you choose nude tweets of Preach- but the rest got best bits fittin' here, what tests my pets must sit and hear: forget that past rush last two years going mash-gas fast 'til we're clashing gears, it's clear no room for fear to be, but the info flash is a blast to me- from the crashing sea to the land locked loam, we're lashed to the new word womb to tomb; and it's all fantastic like plastic foam that'll patch like magic a tragic home, or a tech part heart in 3-d print that'll let docs talk too intelligent; it's so elegant, that an elephant could do operations like he hella went: to harvard med my head is full but the school yard's sharp like a shaving tool; i'm a raving fool, but i drink it in, article particles 'til i sink and spin, win wonder i'm under delusions grand- will i sunder illusions and understand? or is it too much fuss will i cuss and worry, will i do what's just 'mid the dust and fury all i know is i go with the flow i find, tryna rein in my brain while i fill my mind

_______________________________________________________________________

so often was the A.M. spent prayin' for mayhem, like seeing riots firing inspired me to 'amen'; i'd hate when the job sucked, my robbed luck, i'd get stuck- attempts at free society my hopes and dreams were all fucked; but lately (don't hate me) the game is less crazy- i bust twice as lustrous if bosses don't make me; So new to the bragging, i catch up from lagging and write down solutions more lucid less nagging

_______________________________________________________________________

no sleep awake i sit and wait until the mill will dim/abate some whim shall take my fancy fate is to be sleeping dreaming state my eyes won't close i'll type i 'spose i'll write a night time rhyming prose those words i've heard but rearranged their meaning seeming weird and strange i've changed but how i could not say i only know no other way yet days gone by then who was i my mind was mine but what i tried to bind untied it flies! it runs! i rue what once i 'knew'; so dumb- untruth undo what time has done i can't so chant of what's to come oh spin oh sing oh show such things oh paint me what the future brings if won't be still then say your fill i pray my brain abstain from frills and spill the beans and give me scenes of things that help divine the means which plan to make which paths to take? i sit and wait no sleep awake

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rework this

i want things to be different, starting with me; like to find me a new mind, with new eyes to see; like to start a new life, with new ways to be; can't be hard to do right, or this dude might flee- but i like the older version, no aversion to he: the kid who up and did lots, and got up from knees; who figured bigger sub-plots, and thought it was neat; who questioned syncopation, by stepping off beat; so i'd like to start a nation, a tribe or a team; one with no reservations just, a vibe and some steam; a group think to shout out 'thou shalt know peace' and to try it they're provided with some elbow grease; what i mean is, i think it's, so nice to be me; and the thing is the scene seems a singularity; but my brain goes, down more roads, than the branches of trees; and with more crew, i might do, more glancing with ease; so for multiples of loyal, one/two/three: i might try it royal, and become true We

___________________________________________________________________

[killervibe]

Where the Love Light Gleams

I’m sorry this is 2 days late!! 

Written for 12 Days of Killervibe and gifted to @ciscoscaitlin

Notes: This was supposed to be my big! Christmas! Fic! but then Candy Canes and Silver Lanes sort of spiraled out of control.  

Summary: Cisco needs a perfect gift for Caitlin. 

~.~

“This is a disaster!” Barry rolled his eyes at Cisco, shifting the weight of his twelve shopping bags with a weird little hopping motion. “Cisco, calm down.” “I can’t!” Cisco exclaimed, throwing his empty arms out wildly, nearly knocking down a row of Bath and Bodyworks perfumes.

 “If I don’t find something in the next fifteen minutes Christmas is ruined.” “Not finding a gift for Caitlin in 15 minutes will not ruin Christmas,” Barry muttered, beating a lady from snatching the last Vanilla Bean Noel shower gel from off the shelf. “Caitlin doesn’t even technically celebrate Christmas.” “That’s not helping,” Cisco snapped, “that means that I’m already late in giving her a gift.” “I thought you agreed on just swapping gifts at our Christmas party at Joe’s?” “We did.” “What’s the big deal, then? Just get her some nice soap or something. That’s what I’m doing.” Barry waved a bar of soft lilac in his face before depositing it in his basket. Cisco scoffed, “I can’t buy Caitlin soap.” “Cecile says you can If it’s very nice soap.”

“Ohhh my god.”

Barry stopped his frenetic shopping to pause and give Cisco a funny look. “Am I missing something? You’ve never been bad at presents.” Cisco studied some pine scented hand lotion and shrugged. “I guess I just want to get her something special this year.”

“Why?” Cisco shrugged again. “I don’t know. I just feel like I should. Don’t you feel that way with Iris?” Barry lifted his 13 bags sheepishly. “Iris is easy to shop for. She usually says I spoil her too much.” Cisco glared at Barry’s haul. “You’re kidding,” he deadpanned. Barry missed his sarcasm by a mile, “Oh yeah, I mean Christmas is just that time of year where you get away with buying way too much—It’s fun and—“ Barry stopped abruptly in the queue for the cash, causing Cisco and then a series of five other people behind them to stumble into each other like dominoes. “Barry,” Cisco warned, pushing him forward to prevent a public outcry. Barry shuffled forward but spun on his heel to give Cisco a feral smile. “What?” Barry hummed, looking smug. The cashier called for the next in line and Barry started to unload his basket. Cisco leaned his elbow against the check-out counter, frowning at Barry suspiciously. “What?” he asked again. “Nothing.” That very clearly did not mean nothing. “That’ll be $56.98, sir,” the employee chirped, and Barry tapped his card with his charming Barry Allen smile. “Merry Christmas!” Barry beamed at her when she handed him his 13th purchase of the day. Cisco watched him struggle out the door. “You need help with that?” “Nah, I got it,” Barry replied, looking left then right and Flashing away. Cisco blinked and then blinked again to find Barry back, red faced and empty handed. Clearly he put his stuff away in the car. Barry smirked at Cisco, folding his arms over his chest. 

“You’re stressing over finding Caitlin the perfect gift.”

“A little,” Cisco agreed. “Because you want to impress her.” Cisco scratched his hair, “Uh...no? Because I want to get her something she deserves?”   “Because...?” Barry prompted. “...Because I love her?” Cisco replied in the same tone. Barry waggled his eyebrows triumphantly. “Say that again?” Cisco’s brain lagged, “Because I love her—Oh shit.” Barry cackled At Cisco’s dumb struck face. “I’ve been waiting five years for this.” Cisco stopped to drop onto a bench in the middle of the mall meant for the sick and elderly. “Oh Barry. This isn’t news. I know.” Barry’s mouth dropped open to talk and Cisco held out his hand, interrupting him. “I didn’t mean to tell anybody.” “What? Why not?” “Because Barry, no offence, but I’m friends with people like you and Ralph and Sherloque. You suck at secrets. Please don’t blow this up.” Barry sat down on the bench beside him. “It doesn’t have to be a secret. You should tell her.” Barry started to grin, “Do it on Christmas!” Cisco bristled. “Don’t say that.” “Why not?” Barry supplied, “This is amazing. You can get her something romantic and then confess your feelings.” Cisco looked at Barry as if he had three heads. “....No?” “No?” “Rejection on Christmas? I don’t think so.” “Oh come on, Caitlin won’t reject you. She has feelings. Trust me.” “Yes, she can, she absolutely can. She’d be allowed to, and she might.” Barry put a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Dude.” Cisco crossed his arms over his coat and shook his head. 

“Can we just work on trying to get her a good gift? I want her to have that regardless of my feelings.” An old man with a cane hobbled down the mall, and Cisco quickly hopped up to offer him his seat. Barry bumped his shoulder with his own as they made their way back to the centre of the mall. “Sure. Where to next?” Cisco twirled around, taking in all of the commercialism and wrinkled his nose. Nothing about this screamed Caitlin to him, and of course it shouldn’t, none of this was Caitlin at all. Besides, he doesn’t want to fall upon the perfect gift for her because some salesperson smoothed talked him into it or because it was on sale. It needs to be more than that. They passed by a Build-A-Bear full of children and a swamped Pandora. An idea struck him, and he tugged Barry along the way to the nearest exit. “You know what Bear, let’s go home.” Cisco waited for Barry to drive down the road after dropping him off at home before he breached back to Star Labs. He switched on the light to his workshop and plopped down at his desk, carefully depositing all of the materials in front of him. He pulled out his tools, then looked at the time. Two days. That was enough to turn these scraps into something special, right? Of course it was. He’s made gizmos that defeated evil villains in less than a half hour from scratch. A gift for Caitlin couldn’t be that hard. He’s made Iris’s explosive earrings and Caitlin’s solar power dampener necklace. This shouldn’t be a big deal. Two hours later, Cisco was banging his head against his desk with a long drawn out groan. It was. It was. It was. ~.~ What Cisco liked best about Christmas time, was the smiles on everyone’s faces. He sat nursing a strong cup of eggnog as everyone opened their gifts around the West’s tree. They were being lazy, knowing that the majority of the boxes here were for cute little Jenna, who was too young to open them anyways. She’s barely a year old, but that doesn’t stop them from catering the infant like she’s royalty. Cisco was guilty himself, having got her both a play pen full of age appropriate stuffed toys and custom made The Flash, Kid Flash, Vibe and Killer Frost onesies. Cecile lifted her up in the air from the floor where she had changed her into the sixth outfit of the day and blew a raspberry into her belly. “Oooh look how cute this hairband is!” She cooed. “Thank you, Caitlin! Say thank you Caitlin, baby! Yes, we’re saying thank you!” Cisco pressed his socked foot against her folded legs on the couch they were sharing. She smiled at Cecile. “It’s my pleasure. She’s adorable.” “It’s yoooooour turn,” Iris sang, rummaging under the tree for a gift with Caitlin’s name tag. That’s how they made it work. Whoever gifted a present were then next to receive, unless it was for Jenna, then they placed the baby in front of the gifts and picked whichever one her chubby fingers reached out for first. She picked a simple green box. She shook it, “Oooh, this one’s from Cisco.” Caitlin took the gift from Iris and inspected the red bow. “Complimentary colours,” she commented, giving Cisco a little smirk. Barry shot him what Cisco could only assume was Barry’s idea of a sneaky look. Cisco pressed his toes into Caitlin’s legs again, and she swung her leg out to retaliate as she opened the box. A simple purple scarf tumbled out. “Wow,” Caitlin said, “this is very nice.” Everyone oohed and ahed. Except Barry. His eyes bugged out like Cisco just infected her with a terrible disease. What stunned Cisco the most was that she wasn’t faking it, even though that scarf had very obviously been the plainest gift anyone had received today.

Cisco fiddled with the box in his pocket, aching to just stop and swap them all with a “gotcha!” but he knew that he couldn’t do it properly with everyone’s eyes trained on them. 

He had meant to, but then chickened out, and ran to the mall last minute yesterday to grab a random nice scarf and wrapped it to put under the tree instead.

“Thank you, Cisco.” She leaned forward to give him a hug. “You welcome,” he replied, looking down at his lap. Iris went digging under the tree for a present for Cisco. There only was one left for him, having had already opened most of them a while back. Iris handed him a decently sized gift box.

“And this one is from Caitlin.” He glanced at her, who was staring back anxiously, her nails close to her mouth. He lifted the cover and removed the tissue paper. A beautiful expensive black leather jacket. She knew his old one was although well-loved, worn out and not warm anymore. “Oh, Cait,” he murmured, picking it up in his hands. It was gorgeous. He could wear this everyday. “Try it on,” she urged him. He had to shrug himself out of the swaddle of blankets they were cocooned under, and slipped his arms through the sleeves. Joe whistled, damn impressed. “Mr. Ramon, look at you.” “It’s really very nice, Cisco,” Iris agreed, a little distracted at how it fit against his biceps.   Cisco was slightly alarmed by that, giving Barry a look, which Barry shared with him in equal measure. “Barry you should get one of those.” Barry coughed. “Hey! I think Iris that present is for you! Nora, help me find one,” he said quickly, speeding under the tree for one that was for her. Iris frowned. “But it’s Caitlin’s turn again.” “Nope! This one’s for you. It’s your turn. Caitlin won’t mind.” Caitlin shook her head, visibly amused. He got off the couch to pull Caitlin into a real hug. She held him tightly when he thanked her, and it made his heart thump in his chest. He took the jacket off and folded it back neatly, placing it next to Caitlin’s new scarf. 

Now he just felt crummy.

 He knew that wasn’t all he had for her, but she didn’t yet, and he very much hoped she didn’t feel disheartened by it. A half hour later, presents were over and everyone had dispersed throughout the house. Cisco stretched his arms over his head as he untangled himself from the couch and had not had even four seconds of peace before Barry came barreling into him, Flashing him outside in the cold. “What the hell, man?” Cisco groused, shivering in the snow. “A scarf!?” Barry seethed, “A scarf? That’s what you call special? You may as well have gotten her the soap!” Cisco took a step back, rolling his eyes at Barry’s self-righteous anger. “Okay, first, relax. Second, I appreciate your protectiveness of Caitlin, but you don’t have a clue as to what you’re talking about.” “Oh yeah? Because it looks to me like you just gave Caitlin the most pathetic excuse of a gift after a whole afternoon of giving everyone else nice stuff.” Cisco cringed. When he put it like that... “I get that’s how it looks like, which is on me, okay, I know. I panicked so the scarf became a deploy.”

“So you have a better gift then?”

“Yes, Barry.”

“Good, because Caitlin deserves better than that from you.”

That was a tad too intense for just a concerned friend invested in his bffs’ relationship.

“Okay,” Cisco replied patiently, “But let’s say I did give her the scarf and that’s it, why are you so mad?” Barry’s face screwed up. “Um...” “Oh no.”

“Uh…”

“Barry!” Barry scratched his head. “It may have come up in a conversation yesterday.” Cisco’s felt his heart drop to his shoes and became overwhelmed with dread. “Bartholomew Henry Allen, what did you tell her?” “Not that you’re in love with her!” he shouted out quickly, to which Cisco smacked him hard. “Just that you were stressed about getting her something special. And then you proceeded to get her something lame. And very un-special. And then she gave you that jacket!”

Cisco groaned, burying his head in his hands. “Barry. I love you and it’s Christmas, so I’m going to be nice, but this is exactly why I didn’t want to tell anyone anything about this.” “As long as you’re not lying about that scarf not being the only thing you have.” Cisco’s hand went straight to his pocket, clenching the box in there. “I’m not.” “Then good,” Barry repeated.

The two stared at each other before cracking smiles, beginning to laugh. “Also what was that back there? Were you actually jealous that Iris, your wife, was looking at me in that leather?” Cisco shoved Barry and Barry shoved right back, rolling his eyes at his own stupidity. “Yeah, yeah. Caitlin knew what she was doing. You looked good!” “Hey Bear,” he said, freezing to pieces, but struck with the sudden need to tell Barry. “Yeah?” “You know how Dante and I never really got along...” Barry leaned against Joe’s brick house, furrowing his brows. “I thought that’s just what it meant to have a brother. That there’s just always animosity and friction underlying the relationship because that’s how things were.” Cisco smiled at Barry. “And then I met you. I guess what I’m trying to say is, Merry Christmas, hermano. You annoy me to no end but you call me out on my shit and still do your best to protect and encourage me. It’s what I love best about you.” Barry was a bouncing ball of grinning fluff. “You’re my brother too, man. Can we hug?” Cisco laughed, opening his arms, “yeah, I better get a hug if I end up catching pneumonia because of this.” Cecile opened the door. “Boys, enough with the bromance out in the cold, I’m not sending anyone to the ER this Christmas.” They stomped off the snow from their shoes obediently and singled filed back into the house. Cisco went beelining to the kitchen for some of hot chocolate as an attempt to regain feeling in his fingers. He found Caitlin there, messing around with the fillings of one of her pies. “Hey you. Want a pie assistant?” She startled, nearly dropping her spoon of chopped apples. She looked up and bit her lip. “I’d never say no to a man offering help in the kitchen.” Cisco took a chug of his hot drink then rolled up his sleeves. “Can you poke holes in that one so it can breathe?” Cisco took the fork and began stabbing. In ten minutes, they had all three pies in the oven. Caitlin washed the dough off her hands as Cisco refilled his lukewarm mug. His other hand went back to the box in his pocket. It made sense to do it now. There wasn’t anyone else in the kitchen, the turkey still needed an extra hour and a half anyways, and the last Cisco heard was that they were setting up a movie to watch in the living room. Cisco leaned against Joe’s creaky cabinets. “So, I’ve got to be honest with you. I didn’t give you your present yet.” Caitlin’s hand stilled over the soap dispenser, leaving the water running down the drain. She turned her head over her shoulder. “What do you mean? You got me that lovely scarf.” “Not really. That’s the fake gift.” Caitlin looked down at her wet hands and frowned. “Oh,” she said softly, her face falling even more. “Do you want it back?” “No no!” Cisco rushed, “Keep it, it’s for you!” “Then what do you mean?” “I mean, what I really want to give you, I wanted to be in private. Not in front of,” he made a frivolous gesture with his hand, “All of this.” Caitlin took off her apron and twisted her hair to the side, uncertain. “Okay.” “Okay,” he said, and closed the door to the kitchen. He pulled out a chair from the kitchen table.  “Sit.” He took the opposite chair and sat across from her. Cutting straight to the chase, he asked, “Be honest. What did you think of the scarf? I know Barry spoke to you about my gift. Did he rise your hopes up?” Caitlin dug her fingers in to ends of her dress’ sleeves. “A little. I really do like the scarf, but it was a bit...Bland...compared to what you gifted everyone else. It made me feel a bit.” “Icky?” Cisco guessed. Caitlin shrugged. “I didn’t want to feel that way. It just happened.” “Yeah, Caitlin that was never my intention. Barry shouldn’t have said anything. I wanted to surprise you.” “With what?” “Close your eyes first.” Caitlin raised an eyebrow. “Really?” “Yes!” He insisted, it would be easier for him to say what he needed to without her eyes all tender and pretty on his while he did it. She listened to him, closing her eyes with a little smile played on her lips. “Hold out your hands.” She cupped them in front of her. Cisco removed the box from his pocket to place it gently in the palm of her hands. Her finger instinctively curled around the edges. “Keep them closed,” Cisco said, as he put a hand over her jiggling knee. “So, there’s a few things I want to explain first. Before you see your Hanukkah/Christmas/Holiday present. The first is that Barry was right. I was stressing over your gift. I usually do, actually, but this year was different. You had a tough year, losing Killer Frost, then finding your dad. And I wanted you to—I don’t know, it’s silly, I guess, because it doesn’t have to all go in a gift, but I wanted something for you to see how much I cared about what you went through. Something that was special enough to be uniquely for you, so that you looked at it, you’d always know it was from me.” Her fingers twitched against the box, her mouth parting open slightly at his words. “The second is that you are absolutely my best friend in the entire world, and so you should know that I’d always treat anything for you from me as important. You’re never an afterthought, Caitlin. You’re my number one on speed dial, my go-to. My partner in do good, instead of crime.” “Cisco please let me open it, this wait is killing me.” Cisco chuckled, “Alright, fine. Open your eyes.” Caitlin did, and he watched her eyelashes flutter as she blinked down at the box. She took off the cover and picked up the bracelet fastened on the little cushion inside. “Is this a....” “A charm bracelet.” “It’s gorgeous,” she breathed. It took him 18 hours to wield, carve and meld the bracelet and each intricate charm. It wasn’t pure gold or silver or bronze, but he had alloys sitting around in his workshop taken from shrapnel of tech, suits and finite Earth 2 metals. It was still shiny, and beautifully made, if Cisco thought so himself, gleaming in the light. Cisco unclasped the bracelet when she held out her arm for him to put it around her wrist. She inspected it as all the parts clinked gently against each other. She picked up the first charm. A slim, delicate C, that ended with a swirl. “C for Caitlin,” Cisco explained. “For Cisco too,” she said. He shrugged, fighting his blush, “If you want.” Caitlin dropped her elbow onto the table, laying her arm in between them. Cisco took the second charm, holding it up between his index finger and thumb. “A snowflake for Dr. Snow, Killer Frost and your powers.” He dropped it and went for the third. “A star for Star Labs. Where we first met everyone.” “Our home,” she smiled softly. “Exactly.” The lightening bolt that dangled next to the star was self-evident. “Team Flash?” She guessed. “Team Flash and Barry,” Cisco confirmed. “Who knew our coma guy would become our family?” Caitlin shook her head fondly, and picked out the charm shaped as glasses. “They’re my vibe goggles. For me. You know, when Barry first suggested the name, I was like, hmm, that’s not bad, but...It was when you repeated it, whispering it brightly, your eyes all aglow that I knew it was the one.” “Cisco...” She said, sounding speechless. “And of course, because this is me, I connected an itsy bitsy extrapolator in the goggles so you’d have a way to breach.” “Wait, you made this. The whole bracelet. From scratch.” “Yeah.” “Oh my god,” Caitlin sat up straighter. “No! Really?” 

She turned the figuring in her hand. It was the metal switch on the arm of goggles. To anyone else, it’ll just look like they fold open and close, but truly, that was the signal of a breach opening.   She opened the arm of the charm and sure enough that vibrantly blue swirl of a breach popped up in the middle of Joe and Cecile’s kitchen. She closed the arm and the breach disappeared instantly. “That’s amazing. Cisco this is just...You’re fantastic.” There were two more charms left. Caitlin studied the miniature microscope. “Your STEM roots,” Cisco supplied. 

“We wouldn’t be here without them. You’re intellect and strength in medicine has saved us all so many times.” “You have too!” Cisco tapped his knuckles against the green tablecloth. “But this is about you.” There was only the last one left. It was by far the most detailed and noticeable. A showstopper piece that would make someone pause to say: Wow, that’s really nice. It was the charm Cisco spent the most time on, pouring all his feelings into it. He debated whether or not he should even include it on the bracelet. Despite what Barry said, Cisco genuinely planned this to be simply about Caitlin and their friendship, not what Cisco was grappling with. But that wouldn’t have been honest. They fell silent, looking at the heart charm, the soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas seeping through from the living room. He played with the bracelet, avoiding her actual hand. “That one,” he started. “Um.” “You can tell me.” Cisco knew he was a sensitive person, but this was making him feel vulnerable unlike anything before. Caitlin lifted her free arm and took his hand. He looked at her, surprised to see the tears welling in her eyes. “You have my heart, Caitlin. You always will. I just thought you should know.” A little noise escaped from her mouth, and she let go of Cisco to cover it. In that moment, he knew that she knew. “Please tell me if that’s not okay.” She retreated her arm with the charm bracelet from off the table to throw them around his neck.

Cisco held her burying his face into the crook of her neck with baited breath.

“Cisco,” she whispered, “how could you think I don’t love you too?”

“What?”

She leaned back, wiping the tears from her eyes as she looked at him like he hung the moon, like, Cisco realized, how he’s always looked at her.

“Caitlin…”

“I love you.”

Barry opened the door, startling both of them violently. “Hey guys—I just wanted to know if you wanted to watch—“ 

He stopped abruptly, assessing them, how close they were and their particularly irritated faces. 

“Oh.” His face lit up and he pumped his fist. “Yes! I’ll give you another fifteen minutes! Yes!” 

He closed the door and they heard him holler, “Nobody go in the kitchen for the next 20 minutes!”

They stared at each other after Barry closed the door, growing slow smiles.

“Cisco,” Caitlin said softly. “Close your eyes.”

He did, feeling her hands brush against his neck, the charms chiming next to his ear as she kissed him breathless.

He inhaled sharply, wrapping his arms around her waist against the smooth velvety material of her sweater dress. He tried to convey the way his heart was bursting, his head was floating, how she made him feel, how she has almost always made him so indescribably happy.

He broke the kiss only because he seriously wasn’t sure he’d make another ten seconds of her mouth on his without dying. He was already addicted to her taste.

“Wait,” she panted, after grabbing his face to kiss him harder. She leaned her head against his, brushing their noses together.

“Having you is better than anything I could ever ask for.”

FIN