#from the times they called it sounded like they were having a blast :) I’m glad they got to go

[divorcedyaoi]

my mom n sister are coming back from their vacation today!

[shangchiswife]

logan howlett- little black dress

summary: after seeing logan and jean together, you feel jealous and decide to get even.

logan x fem!reader

warnings: smut, cursing

word count: 2952

....

The annual gala at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters was always an exciting night, with mutants and humans in their best outfits, enjoying themselves and having a blast.

Tonight, however, you had a little more on your mind than just a good time. 

You and Logan had been dating for a few months now, and while your relationship was strong, there was something about the way he and Jean spent so much time together recently that had sparked a pang of jealousy in you.

You had chosen a little black dress that hugged your figure perfectly, accentuating every curve with its elegant design.

As you put on your earrings and took one last look in the mirror you felt a rush of confidence, a smirk forming on your lips. 

You were ready to drive him absolutely insane.

As you walked into the grand ballroom, the atmosphere was full of energy and excitement.

The soft glow of chandeliers highlighted the glittering attire of the guests, the air buzzing with the sound of clinking glasses and lively conversations.

Your entrance did not go unnoticed.

Heads turned, and conversations paused as you walked confidently through the crowd. You could even see students whispering and pointing at you. At one point one of them even wolf-whistled at you.

“Looking good, Miss L/N,” one of the students called out with a grin.

You shot him a playful look. “That’s a detention for you, Richard,” you said with a smirk, watching as his grin faltered.

From the corner of your eye, you spotted Logan, deep in conversation with Jean which made your smile fade.

Game on, you thought as you scanned the room and spotted a handsome mutant dressed in a dark suit talking animatedly with Scott.

When Scott excused himself, you saw your opening.

With a purposeful stride, you approached the man, your eyes sparkling with mischief. His attention shifted to you as you neared, and you flashed him a warm smile.

The mutant’s eyes widened as he drank in your appearance.

“Good evening,” you purred, your voice laced with a hint of playful charm. “I hope you don’t mind if I join you for a moment.”

“Not at all,” he said with a friendly smile. “I’m Stan. And you are?”

“Y/N,” you said, offering a hand to him which he graciously took. 

“So, Stan,” you said, your eyes sparkling, “What brings you to this splendid event tonight? It’s not every day you meet someone with such an intriguing presence.”

Stan seemed to appreciate the attention, his smile widening as he ran a hand through his blonde hair.

“I was actually looking for a bit of excitement,” he said with a wink. “And it looks like I’ve found it.”

You laughed lightly, making sure to touch his arm casually as you spoke. “Well, I’m glad to be part of your exciting evening. It’s always nice to find someone who knows how to enjoy themselves.”

As the conversation continued, you noticed Logan watching from across the room. His gaze was intense, and you could see his frustration growing. He kept glancing over, unable to tear his eyes away from your interaction with Stan.

His gaze darkened, intense and almost feral, as he took in the sight of you. You saw the way his hand tightened around his drink, the barely restrained hunger in his eyes. 

It was exactly the reaction you had been hoping for.

Jean said something to him, but he didn’t respond, his focus entirely on you.

You smiled, just a hint of satisfaction curling your lips before you returned your attention to Stan.

 “You know,” he said, his voice lowering slightly, “I’m really enjoying our conversation. How about we leave this party and continue it somewhere more private?”

Before you could respond, you saw Logan storming over, his face red with anger.

“Hey, Y/N,” Logan said, his voice clipped. “We need to talk,” 

Stan looked between you and Logan, sensing the sudden shift in the atmosphere. “Is everything alright?” he asked, clearly unsure of what to do.

“We’re fine,” Logan practically barked at him, his eyes not leaving yours for a second.

You glanced at Logan, your expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. 

“I think I’ll handle this,” you said to Stan, giving him a reassuring smile. “Thank you for the lovely conversation.”

“Of course,” Stan replied, stepping back. He cast one last, disappointed glance at you before exiting the ballroom.

Logan’s intense gaze remained fixed on you, and you couldn’t help but feel a little bit of wetness pooling in your panties.

“What’s the deal with you and Stan?” he demanded, his voice low and edged with frustration. 

“You’re driving me insane, flaunting yourself in that hot little dress and flirting with him like that.”

“I didn’t realize I had such an effect on you,” you said, attempting to sound playful despite the blush creeping up your neck.

Logan took a step closer to you so that your chests were practically touching. The air between you crackled with tension.

“You knew exactly what you were doing,” he said, his voice dropping to a growl. “Watching you with someone else is pushing me to my limit.”

You felt a rush of exhilaration at his dominant demeanor.

“Maybe that was the point,” you said, leaning in slightly, your voice dropping to a whisper. “To make you remember what you mean to me.”

Logan’s eyes darkened with desire, his hand reaching out to grasp your arm firmly. 

“You’re testing my patience,” he warned, his voice thick with barely restrained need. “And I’m done waiting.”

Your heart skipped a beat at his words and the assertive way he was holding you. You tilted your head slightly, your lips close to his ear. 

“Maybe it’s exactly what we both needed,” you murmured, your voice laced with suggestiveness. “To see where this tension leads us.”

Logan’s grip on your arm tightened just enough to send a shiver down your spine. 

“We’re going somewhere more private,” he declared, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“Now.”

With that, he guided you firmly but gently through the crowd, his hand never leaving yours. 

The vibrant energy of the ballroom faded as he led you swiftly and confidently towards a quieter, more secluded area.

Your heart hammered in your chest. This is what you were waiting for.

Logan’s hand stayed firmly on your back, leading you towards a quieter, more private corner.

When you reached a quiet corner, Logan wasted no time. 

He pushed you gently but firmly against the wall, his body pressing close to yours, his breath hot against your skin.

Logan’s gaze locked onto yours, his eyes full of lust.

“Do you have any idea how much you’ve been torturing me tonight?”  he growled, his voice low and rough, sending a thrill of excitement through you.

You could barely keep your composure as his words made you even wetter. 

“Maybe I wanted to see just how far I could push you,” you replied, your voice soft and teasing, “to remind you of what you mean to me.”

Logan’s lips curved into a predatory smile. 

“Well, you’ve definitely made your point,” he said, his voice dripping with authority. “Now, I’m going to make sure you feel exactly how much I’ve been waiting.”

Without another word, he cupped your face with one hand, his thumb brushing lightly over your lips before he captured them in a deep, demanding kiss. His lips moved against yours with a mix of urgency and hunger, his hands exploring the curves of your body in a possessive manner.

You responded eagerly, your hands sliding up to his neck, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened. Butterflies formed in your stomach, yielding to his every move. 

When the kiss finally broke, you were both panting, your chest heaving as you tried to catch your breath.

Logan’s eyes were dark with desire and dominance. 

“I’m not letting you go until you’ve made up for every second I’ve had to wait,” he said, his tone leaving no room for disagreement.

You looked up at him, your breath catching at the raw intensity in his gaze.

“I think I said something, sweetheart,” Logan said, his voice lowering to a soft but commanding murmur. “What do you say?”

Your pulse quickened as you met his gaze, the fire in his eyes fueling your own excitement. 

“I’m ready,” you whispered, your voice trembling with anticipation.

A satisfied smirk tugged at the corner of Logan’s lips. 

“Such a good girl,” he pressed a chaste kiss to your lips that left you craving more.

You whimpered softly as he began unzipping your dress, the cool air brushing against your skin as the fabric fell away, leaving you exposed under his hungry gaze.

The sensation of his fingers brushing against your bare back sent shivers through you, making you breathless.

Once the dress was loosened enough, he guided it off your shoulders and let it fall to the floor, his eyes never leaving yours. The look of hunger in his gaze made you feel both vulnerable and incredibly desired.

Logan’s hands roamed over your bare skin with a possessive intensity, each touch sending waves of pleasure through you. 

His gaze was unwavering, filled with a deep, primal desire that made every touch feel electrifying.

He took his time, savoring the way your body responded to his touch. His fingertips traced patterns across your skin, exploring and teasing as he gradually shifted his focus to your bare breasts.

“So fuckin’ pretty,” he praised before taking one of your nipples in your mouth.

You moaned in delight, your hand instinctively moving to grip his hair, pulling him closer as you arched into his touch.

Logan’s mouth worked expertly, his tongue flicking and sucking with a rhythm that drove you wild.

After a few moments, he pulled back slightly, his lips still lingering on your skin. 

His breath was hot against your ear as he whispered, “You have no idea what it did to me, seeing you in that black dress. It made me want you more than I thought was possible.”

Logan's hands gripped your hips, pulling you closer until you could feel the hardness straining against his pants.

You whimpered as you started grinding on his clothed cock making him groan. You began to grind against his clothed erection, the friction causing both of you to moan. 

His grip tightened, guiding your movements with an urgency that made your breath hitch. 

“That’s it,” he murmured, his voice thick with desire. “Show me how much you want this.”

You could feel his need growing, matched by your own as you pressed harder against him.

As you continued to move, Logan’s hands slid down to cup your ass, pulling you closer and deepening the contact. 

His kisses were fierce, trailing down your neck as he held you against him. The heat and urgency in his touch made every moment more intense, heightening the pleasure for both of you.

Logan’s breaths were ragged, his voice low and feral as he groaned against your skin.

“I need you,” you whispered between kisses, your voice a desperate plea. 

With a growl, he bent down so that his face was level with your black lacy panties. Without breaking eye contact, he leaned in, his fingertips grazing your inner thighs before his teeth caught the edge of your panties. In one swift, deliberate motion, he pulled them down, the fabric sliding away like a tease.

You moaned as the cool air hit your bare pussy.

Logan’s gaze remained fixed on you as he tossed the panties aside. His hands cupped your hips, pulling you closer. 

He pressed a heated kiss to your inner thigh, his breath warm against your skin.

When his lips finally brushed against your core, the shock of pleasure made you gasp.

Your hands carded through his hair making him grunt.

“Taste so fuckin’ good, peach,” he murmured eating you out like a man starved, his praise sending a wave of pleasure that made you moan uncontrollably.

He continued his assault on your pussy with his tongue. The way he alternated between teasing licks and firm strokes made you see stars, your moans growing louder with each passing second.

“Lo I’m gonna-” you shut your eyes with contentment as he flicked your clit with his tongue, his movements becoming faster.

“Cum for me baby,” he coaxed, his voice rough with desire. His command sent you over the edge, your body surrendering to the powerful waves of pleasure that crashed over you.

Logan straightened up, a satisfied smile playing on his lips as he licked his lips.

“I could eat that pussy for hours,” he said before undoing his belt.

Your eyes widened with anticipation as his cock sprang free, thick, and ready.

With a swift motion, he pressed you against the wall, the cool surface brushing against your bare breasts.

You felt him line his cock against your entrance making you mewl.

“Don’t worry, peach, I’ll take care of you,” his breath brushed against your ear before he playfully nibbled it, causing a light shiver to run through you.

He entered you with a groan.

“Always so fucking tight,” he hissed as your mouth contorted into an o shape from his length stretching you.

He didn’t even give you a moment to adjust to his size before his hips began to move, thrusting deep and relentlessly.

“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?” he panted, each word punctuated by a sharp thrust that drove you higher and higher. 

Your only response was a high-pitched moan, your body arching involuntarily.

“You wanted me jealous, wanted me to fuck you like this,” he growled, one calloused hand wrapping around your throat while the other found your clit, teasing and tormenting you.

“Well, sweetheart, you got your wish,” he snarled, his cock twitching inside you as your screams urged him on, driving him deeper with every thrust, each one perfectly hitting your g-spot.

He groaned, eyes closing momentarily as he felt you tighten around him. 

“Keep making those pretty little sounds, baby,” he commanded, quickening the pace of his hips, and making you squeal even louder.

“Logan, I’m gonna cum,” you gasped, your breath hitching as your walls fluttered around him.

“Then cum for me,” he demanded, his voice thick with desire.

The heat between you grew unbearable, and you could feel your release building, your body on the brink of release.

Logan's grip on your throat tightened slightly, just enough to remind you of his control, while his other hand continued its merciless assault on your clit. The rhythm of his hips became erratic, his own need evident as he pounded into you with increasing urgency.

"Come on, baby," he rasped, his voice rough and filled with dark promise. "I want to feel you cum around my cock. Let go for me."

That was all it took. 

Pleasure shot through you in waves that left you breathless and shuddering beneath him. Your walls clenched tight around him, milking his cock as you rode out your orgasm, the world fading into nothing but intense, consuming bliss.

Logan groaned deeply, his own restraint slipping as he felt you convulse around him. 

His hips snapped forward one last time, burying himself to the hilt as he let out a guttural growl, releasing inside you in hot, pulsing waves.

He held you there, still and breathless, his body pressed tightly against yours as you both came down from the high. 

Slowly, he released his hold on your throat, his fingers brushing over the marks he'd left behind. His other hand stayed between your legs, gently soothing you as you both caught your breath.

"That's my girl," Logan murmured, his voice softer now, laced with a tenderness that made your heart swell. He leaned down to press a kiss to your forehead, his breath warm against your skin. "You did so good, baby."

“Maybe I should make you jealous more often,” you panted, a smile coming to your lips.

Logan chuckled, the sound deep and rough, as he brushed a stray lock of hair from your face. 

“You think you can handle it?” he teased back, though the edge in his voice told you he wasn’t entirely joking.

You bit your lip, feeling the lingering aftershocks of your orgasm still pulsing through your body.

“Careful what you wish for, sweetheart,” he murmured, his thumb tracing the outline of your swollen lips before leaning down to capture them in a searing kiss. 

“Maybe I should make you jealous more often,” you panted, a smile tugging at your lips as you looked up at him, your body still trembling with the aftershocks of your release.

Logan’s eyes glinted with a mixture of amusement and warning as he let out a low chuckle. 

“You might want to be careful with that, sweetheart,” he replied, his voice rough but tinged with affection. 

He leaned down, brushing his lips softly against yours in a kiss that was surprisingly tender after the intensity of what you’d just shared. 

“Because you know I’ll always give you exactly what you ask for.”

You smiled into the kiss, your heart still racing but now with a warmth that spread through your chest. 

“Maybe that’s what I’m counting on,” you teased, your fingers threading through his hair as you pulled him closer, deepening the kiss.

He groaned softly, his hand trailing down your side, fingers tracing lazy patterns on your skin. 

“You’re something else,” he murmured, his tone full of admiration as he pulled back just enough to look into your eyes. “But you’re mine, and don’t you forget it.”

“Don’t worry I won’t,”

[one-piece-aus]

Hi there! I’m glad you’re still doing Whumptober, so I’m here again to get my annual dose. (hope you’re doing good too!)

May I ask for Day 23 & Trafalgar Law? I’ll leave it up to you if you’d prefer to write it yandere or not. Thanks in advance and may you have a lot of fun with this year’s prompts! 💙🌹

Of course! My apologies for the delay Michelle, and I do hope you enjoy the story ^-^

Whumptober Day 23

Yandere Trafalgar Law x Reader

"Father's a fool if he thinks I'm going to marry," you mutter under your breath as you tread carefully through the woods. Holding up the lantern, your path can be seen even in the dark of the night. "Hopefully I can get far enough so they can't find me when they notice I'm missing in the morning."

"So who can't find you?"

"AH!" You jump, startled by the male voice. You wave your lantern, trying to find the source. "Who's there?"

Blast, here you were fleeing through the woods in the middle of the night, escaping the arranged marriage your family set up for you, and someone already discovered you. Dread weighed your thoughts of being dragged back home. Frustration clenched your jaw.

"Show yourself!" If you were going to be taken back, you'd at least like to know who to resent.

"I'm right here, [Y/n]-ya." The male's voice purrs right in your ear.

You flinch, turning around and raising the lantern, highlighting the ravenet man. Silver and gold eyes shine as they peer down at you. Stepping back to properly gander at the tall man, you notice the strange circular golden earrings and the carefully trimmed & small beard (goatee).

"Wait... you're the doctor by the outskirts of the town."

"Dr. Trafalgar." He bowed in greeting. "Though I've been your family's doctor for a long time now, you may call me Law."

"Law... right," you said averting your eyes and moving the lantern away from your face so he doesn't see the blush forming around your cheeks. Oh, how you wish your heart didn't flutter so much when looking at his face.

"What are you doing out here at night?"

"I- I was just about to ask you the same," you said, unsure if he was here because of your family.

"Me? I'm just out here collecting a few herbs. A few... patients of mine have gotten sick. I need to cure them from everything."

"O-oh... I see." You wanted to question further, like 'Why would he collect herbs at night?'  Alas, you held in your tongue in hopes he would do the same. "I'm- I'm running away. I need to get far enough or else it's gonna get me by the end of the night."

Law hummed in a tone that sounded pleased, perhaps your ears are playing tricks on you. He places a hand on your shoulder, smiling down at you. "If you need a place to stay, [Y/n]-ya, I have a place suited to your needs."

"...You won't tell my family will you?"

"Not to worry, [Y/n]-ya. It'll be doctor-patient confidentiality."

And just like that, you're in his arms, thanking him. He places the herbs he collected into his bag and begins escorting you away to his place. You're not aware the herbs he was collecting were nightshade, unaware of the plague doctor mask he has at his hip, and unaware you made his job of taking you all too easy.

His darling won't have to worry about being found, by tomorrow, there will be no one looking for his darling.

Tags: @bookandyarndragon

[writingroom21]

Sweet Escape

Pairing: Rafe x single mom reader

Summary: Moving to Kildare with your best friend and daughter was the perfect move. The little island is perfect, the people are nice, and you are finally at peace. Then Rafe comes in with his perfect smile and charm, sweeping you off your feet. The only issue is if you are ready to let someone else in.

Warnings: None

Wc: 5.1K

series masterlist

Chapter 1: You again

The breeze blows your hair, obscuring your vision from the boxes in the back of the moving van. The weather was nice here in the outer banks, different to what it felt like in New york. Moving here right when Spring is in bloom was the best decision. Back home it’s still cold, barely even warming up. But here it’s so beautiful. The waves from the water behind the house hit the dock, the lapping sound making its way to the front.

“Grandma is having a blast with Vi right now. I know she’s glad to have a baby in the house again.” Jo your best friend says as she walks into the van to grab another box. It was her idea to move her. Her grandma was getting older and she wanted to come take care of her. When she figured it all out she just handed you tickets, telling you that you weren’t going to stay there longer.

Without consulting you she had talked with her grandma to let you and your daughter Violet to move in with them. She wanted to get you as far away from New York as she could. Jo is the type of best friend that feels responsibility for her friends. It was that way when you were children and it got worse when you had your own child.

The moment you found out you were pregnant she was there to cry along with you. She was there in the delivery room when your precious little girl was born. Every step of your life has been with her, never allowing you to go through it alone. You couldn’t be more grateful to have her in your life.

“That’s good. I’m sure Vi is going to love being around her. Two peas in a pod probably.” You try to not get into your head as you pick up a box of Vi’s things. When you told your parents you were pregnant they weren’t happy. To be fair you were eighteen, fresh out of highschool. They tried to be supportive but couldn’t look past it when their friends from church started to talk.

They had kicked you out right before you gave birth, leaving you to be stranded. The father was a nightmare to say the least and that wasn’t an option for you. He was a mistake that you wish you could take back. A reminder of being what your family wanted to only be their disappointment. He seemed perfect to them but deep down he was a monster, no one you want around your baby to begin with.

The only option you had was Jo. Her family wasn’t like yours, they took you in with open arms. Embracing Violet as one of their own. Even though you lost your family that night they forced you out, you found another that loved you more. For two years it was perfect, Vi was growing up nicely, hitting all her milestones. You had a good job and had saved up enough money to move out on your own. Which was perfect timing since Jo was going to move here.

Then a week after she informed you of her decision you got a call from a lawyer. “Hello?” You answered. “Hi, I'm looking for.”  He says your name for clarification. “Yes, that's me.” You were confused on what this could be about. Worried that it was your ex. “I’m sorry to inform you that your parents passed away the other night in a car accident. The wake will be this week and the Will reading is after.” The shock of their death didn’t settle in fully until the reading.  

They had left you everything, they had abandoned you yet they left you everything. The next few months of winter were filled with you selling their house and settling the bank information. Getting the move ready so you and Vi would be comfortable once in your new home. Leading to now, standing in front of the house that is yours.

Grandma June had a pretty house in a nice neighborhood. The backyard was big and the water was right behind. A complete contrast to what you had growing up. You grew up in a townhouse, Jo right next door. It may have been more room then a regular apartment but you still had little room. There was no backyard to play in, the only time you had outside was going to the park. 

Your life, even if it may not have been bad, wasn't perfect either. Your parents preached religion and the bible until it was shoved down your throat. Telling you what you can’t and can’t do by the eyes of God. Introducing you to their friends' sons to meet the proper boy, look at where that got you. This move was a chance to continue to better yourself and give Vi the chance of being herself. 

You set the box down in the room that is now Violets. June had moved herself to the guest house outback stating that she doesn’t need all of this space. She had given the deed to the two of you, gifting the home as a thank you for not sending her off to a home. That meant you all had your own rooms. Vi still tends to sleep with you so her room is more decoration. 

“Who would have thought we would be here?” Jo’s voice says from the doorway. You turn to look at her. “Me a twenty-one year old with a two year old or that we moved out of New York.” She pounders for a moment, finger tapping her chin. “Hmm I was going to say us moving here but the toddler thing works too.” She laughs walking into the room more.

“We should paint the walls this week. Grams said there’s a paint store we can get it at. Should be near the shop.” You smile at her as you both go to get more boxes. Before moving here you wanted a stable job where you would be able to be with Violet more often. In New York you were a receptionist so you would have to leave her with Jo’s parents. So it was important for you to have the freedom to be with her since you can’t rely on June.

When you were looking around for jobs online you had seen that a flower shop was going for sale. Growing up you had always loved flowers. Books of plants, flowers, and gardening stuffed your bookshelves. With the money that was left to you from your parents you decided to buy it. Was it a long shot? Maybe but it couldn’t hurt to try. This way you will be able to have Vi with you at the shop without paying for a sitter.

With the van unpacked it was close to dinner time. Too tired from the day you and Jo decide to order pizza. But you make Vi her own meal on the side to have. You’re stirring the noodles that are in the pot when tiny footsteps can be heard. “Momma.” A little voice yells. You drop the spoon, turning to squat down. “Vi. How’s my favorite flower doing?” She giggles as you blow kisses on her neck and squeeze her tight. “She’s been such a little angel. Are you sure you don’t want to just leave her with me during the day.” June asks as she walks into the kitchen.

“Oh no I couldn’t ask that of you. Anyway, I want to spend as much time with her as I can. She won’t stay this small forever.” You finish up Vi’s food just in time for the pizza to get there at the same time. You all sit down and eat. You cut up tiny pieces of your pizza to let Vi try to see how she will like it. The table laughs when she smacks her lips and signs for more. 

The rest of the night was pretty uneventful. Your routine consisted of giving Vi a bath and putting her to bed. Then finishing up some things before tucking in for the night as well. Before you know it the alarm is going off and it is bright outside. It’s seven o’clock so you have roughly thirty minutes before Vi gets up. 

Quickly you head to the bathroom for a shower rushing to head downstairs and start breakfast. When breakfast was finished it was time for her to wake up and you go to her room. Which she actually slept in last night. She’s rubbing her eyes, burrowing her head back into her pillow. “Goodmorning baby girl.” You softly say as you rub her back to gently wake her up more. “Hi momma.” Her voice is like music to your ears, always making you smile.

Slowly but surely she gets up, both of you entering the kitchen to eat. “Morning.” Jo yawns over her coffee mug. “Morning.” Strapping Vi to her chair, you place her plate in front of her before grabbing yours. Jo sits down across from you as she sips from her mug. “Any plans for today?” You finish chewing the piece of toast and look up at the girl in front of you. “Going to the shop. Want to work some stuff out before it opens again.”

“Bug and I can chill her with grams while you do that. I have the day off.” A sigh of relief is released. “Thank you. I need to make sure the ship of flowers is accurate. I need to restart the garden in the back.” Jo let’s out a “damn” while shaking her her. “Good luck with that. That sounds like a lot of counting. Counting yucky, right Vi.” The end is talking to the toddler. Her giggle lighting up the room. 

After finishing Vi’s morning routine you change into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. The weather was nice but there was still a chill in the air. You walk down the stairs to see Violet on the floor of the living room playing with some toys. “Hi sweetie. Heading out?” June is sitting on the couch smiling at you. “Yup I’m going to the shop today. Do you need anything while I’m out?” She shakes her head and laughs when Vi hands her a toy. “I’m okay. Now go ahead before we keep you here.”

June has been in love with Violet since she was born. She had visited Jo’s family right after you got back from the hospital. From that moment on she was always asking about her and buying her things. She said it was the first baby since Jo so it’s like she has a great grandbaby. Everyone was so kind about you having a baby so young and you couldn’t be more grateful. Which is something you wish you could say about this flower delivery. 

The flowers were delivered yesterday right before you all started to unpack. You had rushed to let them in and place everything inside that you didn’t pay attention to when they did. The previous owners of the shop were older and couldn’t keep up with it anymore. The garden they had in the back that grew some of their flowers was dead and the others wilted a long time ago. So ordering flowers to fill the story was the only option you had.

Which seemed really great at the time but now it doesn’t. You had come in and set your bag down on the counter. Looking around you see the endless sea of flowers staring at you. You go to the back to the office and get the clipboard you had placed there yesterday. Painfully slow you separate the flowers by their species. Having to count every single one was starting to prove to be a difficult task.

One that got even worse when you found out you were short on some flowers. This wouldn’t have been a problem if it wasn’t for the fact that they were popular flowers. Roses, tulips, baby’s breath, carnations, all flowers that people love. You were opening up the store in two days and you need to make sure you have a good supply. June had said that a lot of the rich folk like to throw parties and will buy flowers. You need to be prepared just in case.

You were in the middle of counting the Anemone when the store's front door started to rattle. Stepping into view of the door there’s a tall man standing outside with his back to you. He’s on the phone and using his hands to talk wildly. The man turns around again to try the door and sees you standing there. He snaps his fingers at you and points to the door handle that’s locked.

You walk over and unlock it, opening it slightly to ask him what he needs. “Can I help you?” The guy is tall, handsome, his hair is growing out from a previous buzzcut. He has on a shirt that is too tight on him and a pair of khakis, not usually what you find attractive but he pulls it off. “Yeah. For starts you can let me in and second you’ll put my order in.” He holds up a pointer finger at you.

“I know. I’m here right now, if the new girl would let me in it could go faster.” He says into the phone. “Listen, I gotta go. I’ll let you know when they will be delivered.” You give him a complex look. “Sorry but we aren’t open right now. You have to come back in two days.” You try to close the door but his foot catches it. “Look, I really need an order for tomorrow. The florist we were using canceled and I need them. There’s a banquet and the stupid tables need flowers.”

 You look back at the store and at him again. It wouldn’t hurt to do this order but you haven’t finished inventory yet. He could be asking for flowers that you can’t even give him. “I’m sorry but I’m not even open yet.” He interrupts you. “Well just open the store up and ring me out. I get you are new here but come on.” His tone is rude, annoyed that this is taking longer than he wants. “No, I can't just open up the store. I’m new here because I just bought it and I don’t even know how many flowers I have yet. So no I can’t help you, I’m sorry.”

He scoffs at you. “Do you normally buy things you don’t know if you can handle or is this a spur of the moment thing? I need those flowers.” This guy really has some audacity. “Do you normally talk down on workers or are you just a asshole?” Your head tilts to the side, looking up at him. The sun is burning your retina is making it hard to see anything but the lower part of his face. Even through the pain you can see the smile that crept on his face.

“Good luck with opening this up. I can clearly see the customer service is subpar.” With that he’s walking off down the street, pulling out his phone to probably call someone else. “Hey asshole, the flower delivery was short with some. So that’s the main reason I can’t help you. Don’t just assume shit.” Without looking back he calls out to you. “Sounds like an issue you need to fix. Try calling them up next time.”

Fuck. Of course you could just have called them this whole time. Quickly, you get back inside to finish the inventory to see what else is missing. After another hour you are done, exhausted from all the back and forth. Sitting down in the back office you call the distributor that you had used, explaining to them which flowers were short and how many you would need. Thankfully the lady on the other end didn’t give you any trouble, telling you she would have them delivered tomorrow. 

By the time everything was done it was around 5:30, which meant you should head home for dinner. The drive back to the house was peaceful. In New York you really didn’t need a car, you had spent most of your time in the city so you took the subway. Every now and then you would have to drive to family in the suburbs, this reminds you of that drive. Seeing the trees and greenery is like a breath of fresh air. 

It was a reminder that your old life was left back States away, no monsters here to haunt you. It’s refreshing knowing you got a new start and that Vi will get to grow up in a good place. When you get home it’s ten minutes until dinner should be served, at least for Vi. She’s on a strict schedule and will get fussy if she doesn’t eat or sleep at the same time.

You were greeted with shouts coming from the living room, footsteps playing the floorboards like a piano. “Momma!” Vi screams when she sees you in the hallway. “Hi pretty girl. How is my favorite doing? Had a good day?” She nods, tiny hands wiping her hair off her face. “Ya. Jo play.” She points to your friend who’s standing behind her. “She’s been making me run around for hours. How do you do this all the time?” 

You pick Vi up, walking towards the kitchen as you give her a bunch of kisses. “Lot’s of coffee and I have amazing people who help me.” Jo throws an arm around your shoulder walking with you. The table was already set, plates filled with food. “Yeah we are pretty amazing. So amazing that grams are giving us the night off.” You place Vi in her seat and look at Jo. “What do you mean?” 

She puts Vi’s food down in front of her before sitting to eat her own meal. “She means that you two are young and need to have fun. So I’ll stay here while this angel sleeps. Have fun for once.” June says as she makes her way back from what you assume is the bathroom. “Before you even try to say anything I told her she didn’t have to. She won’t take no for an answer so tough luck.” You don’t even argue, Jo’s parents always say she got her stubbornness from June so that is not a hill you want to die on.

Over dinner you tell them about your day. Explaining how you found out there were flowers missing and that you had to call for new ones. Finishing off your story telling with the asshole who thought he was special so that made him entitled to your flowers. “Sounds like a dick.” Jo said without thinking about the two year old sitting next to her. “Sorry.” June thought it was hilarious. Saying “it’s about time someone told those snobs the world doesn’t revolve around them.”

After dinner you spent time with Violet. Playing some more with her toys, then a bath to get the dirt off of her, and then reading bedtime stories to her. After each one she would let out a “nader'' informing you she wanted another story. The third one is always when she falls asleep, as soon as the first words are out so is she. Slowly and quietly you slip out of her bed and room.

“Ready?” Jo’s voice scared you, jumping from the fear shooting through your body. “For fucks sake Jo. Let me just change into a different shirt, I have Vi drool.” The other girls face twists in disgust as you pull that part of your shirt to show her. Not the worst thing you’ve had on you since becoming a mother but she still finds it gross. After changing the two of you head over to a bar.

The place actually looks really nice. There are lights strung up on the outside seating and the inside has amazing decorations. “What do you want? I’ll go get us the first round while you find us a table.” The first round? Damn Jo meant it when she said we will be living up the night. You haven’t really been out since your 21st, having a daughter doesn’t give you a lot of time to go out.

Plus you never really drank in highschool so this is a whole new ballpark for you. “Um I don’t know. Just get me something you will think I’ll like.” With that she was off to the bar as you found a table to sit at. The drink she came back with was in a tall glass and is yellow. You take it from her hands inspecting it. “What is it?” She rolls her eyes at you and takes a sip from her drink. “It’s a passion fruit mojito.”

You like passion fruit so this should be good. Oh yeah, that drink is delicious. You take a good few sips of it. “That’s fucking delicious.” Jo laughs at you. “Told you.” The two of you sit there for a while. Taking your time to finish your drinks. When they were done it was your turn to go up and get drinks. Since Jo is driving back she just wanted water but she insisted that you had to keep drinking.

The bar is a little more packed now, so you’re stuck waiting for the bartender to come around. Tapping your fingers lightly on the counter surface you space out, not realizing that the seat next to you was moving. “He won’t notice you for another five minutes. Blaire just sat down so he’ll be chatting her up for a bit.” The voice next to you sounds familiar, turning your head you can see why. “You again.” The guy from earlier smirks at you. “Now why does that sound like a bad thing?”

You look down at the other end of the bar to see the bartender flirting with a girl. Crap. “Maybe because you were rude and entitled. But hey what do I know?” Your brain is telling you to leave, just tell Jo you’ll go back up in a little. Then there’s a little voice in your head telling you to stay. For some reason there’s a part of you that is curious about the stranger.

“Pfft me entitled or rude? You’re the one who said that you wouldn’t let me order flowers.” Your eyes narrow at him, his arms shoot up in defense. “I know your shipment was fucked up.” He gives you a curious look. “I’ve never seen you before.”

“That’s because I just moved here. Don’t really know anyone besides my friend and her grandma.” You point back to Jo, his eyes following to see your friend with a wide eyed expression. “I don’t think I know her. Think I’ve seen her before but years ago.” He looks back at you, examining your facial features. You’re really pretty, he was too wrapped up in frustration earlier to notice. He’s sure noticing it now though. 

His chair seems to get closer to you, scraping against the sticky floors. “Where did you move from?” You had expected him to stop talking to you yet here he is asking you questions. “New York. I lived there my whole life.” He leans his arms on the counter, looking at you from the side. “Nice, I’ve been there a few times. Do have to say the pizza wasn’t actually good.” You gasp at his outrageous statement. “What? You’ve got to be joking, it's the best. You just didn’t go to the right places, probably some fancy restaurant that sells those tiny portions.”

He’s cracking a smile from your mini rant. You’re right, it was one of those restaurants. The ones where it cost $400 to just get a table and everything is super expensive even though it's a meal for ants. He’s never seen anything wrong with those places, grew up his whole life eating at them. In this moment he wishes that wasn’t the case, that he knew how to be a normal person and not someone with money. He would have never been caught at a dingy restaurant eating food yet here he is longing to experience that. An experience he didn’t know he was missing until your reaction.

“Oh my god it was one of those places. You can’t say you’ve been to New York if you haven’t really tried their food.” He turns on the stool so his legs are facing you. “Wouldn’t that technically be their food as well? They have high class restaurants there.” He likes the way your eyes roll at him, wanting them to do it in a different way. “That’s like going to Italy and eating at fast food places we have in America. Yeah it’s their version but it’s not actually Italian food.” “I would never. Italy is too perfect to not eat their food.”

You look at him, a smile plastered on your face. “Please don’t tell me you’ve been to Italy and I’m making a fool of myself.” He can’t help but to chuckle at how cute you are when you are nervous. “Alright I won’t say anything.” He shrugs. You let out a groan, of course he has. He looks like he has money so what else did you expect. “What can I get you?” 

The bartender cuts the moment the two of you were having. “Can I get a whiskey and whatever she’s having.” You look back at Jo and she sends you a thumbs up. “I’ll just have a passion fruit mojito.” The bartender leaves you two as he goes to make the drinks. “Wouldn’t have taken you as a mojito girl?” You look at him, blush forming on your cheeks. “Yeah? What kind of girl would you take me as?” He doesn’t know if you are flirting but he sure the hell hopes so. “Maybe a margarita. I feel like you’re a tequila girl.”

You giggle at the implication. “The last time I had tequila it got me in trouble.” It did, that’s how you ended up with a baby and being kicked out. “I like trouble.” Fuck. You had told yourself when moving here to just stick to yourself and everything will be fine. THen this guy walks in and you want to throw it all out the window. It’s not fair, he’s too hot to even say no to.

“You know I got to say I never met a florist as pretty as you” He tells you, leaning in closer but keeping a good distance. “Are you flirting with me so I can change my mind about those flowers?” He laughs, turning so he is now facing you, resting his weight on the counter top. “No, just flirting. Would it help me get them though?” Now it’s your turn to laugh. “You are not getting flowers. I would still have to prepare them and I wouldn’t get it done on time.Plus who knows if the reshipment will get here on time” You take a sip of your drink. 

“What if you had help?” Your eyes look into his. They're pretty. A shade of blue that in this light somewhat seems gray. They remind you of Vi, she had pretty blue eyes too, that she got from your mom. “You would hire help for me?” He scoots closer, his hand playing with the ends of your hair. “I could help you.” His fingers brush against your arms. The words seem to have an undertone of something. Simply suggesting something else. “How?”

The smirk that forms on his face makes you want to kiss him. His hand clears your face from stray strands of hair, eyes locking to yours. “However you want me.” This isn’t really feeling like you’re talking about flowers anymore. You aren’t sure if you should shut it down or keep going. The drinks were placed in front of you, he doesn’t take his eyes off of you as he hands the bartender his card. To relax yourself you take a sip of your drink, which only makes it worse. Now your relaxed mind can only think about dragging him off somewhere to see how much he could really help.

You’re interrupted before you can make a mistake. “Yo country club we gotta go.” A man walks up to the two of you. He nods at the guy. “Give me a sec.” The man looks at the both of you and shakes his head. “Aight five minutes.”

“Have somewhere to be?” He downs the rest of his whiskey. “Wish I didn’t.” Your blush intensifies. Shifting in your chiat you rest a hand on his lap. “Too bad. I was just starting to like you.” He stands up, catching your hand as it falls. “Guess I’ll have to refresh your memory tomorrow.” Your hand tightens around his. “Wait tomorrow?” 

“Gotta help you with those flowers right?” He actually meant it. “Fine.” He smiles and drops your hand, backing away from you. “I’m Rafe by the way.” You tell him your name, grab your drink and get up as well. “See you tomorrow beautiful.”

You smile all the way to the table, meeting Jo whose mouth was wide open. “Dude you were just flirting with Rafe Cameron.” You shrug your shoulders at you and sipping your drink “So what?” Her face flashes with different emotions. “So what? Dude he’s literally the richest person on this island. After his dad passed away he inherited the family business, he’s dumb rich.”

Jo won’t shut up about how hot the richest guy in Kildare was flirting with you. She gave you some of the run down on him from her “sources” on the island. Those sources being friends she made when she would visit. He apparently has a mean streak, causing fights with people. How he would sleep around with every girl and on top of that did drugs. It shouldn’t have shocked you but it was surprising to hear.

You thought over everything as you laid in bed. Rafe seemed funny and sweet when he talked to you in the bar. Those two versions of him do not seem to align together. Yet again you had only met him today and you don’t have the greatest track record with guys. It doesn’t matter anyway. You weren’t looking for anything anyway, all you needed to focus on was yourself and your daughter.

Taglist: @haruvalentine4321 @namelesslosers Let me know if you want to be added

[ladykailitha]

The Magic of Christmas Part 1/8

Here it is, guys! My first Christmas steddie story. It was a blast to write even though sometimes it was struggle to get words down being so close to the holidays.

Summary: Steve doesn't play D&D, not really. But he's been a fan of Eddie Munson's artwork for Wizards of the Coast for years. So after he inherits the business from his dad, he decides the best use of all his dad's money is spend it on a five piece painting for the Party of their characters fighting a purple dragon. So he hires Eddie to do the work, but because it's so labor intensive, Steve offers to pay all of Eddie's bills plus any expenses he has for the paintings. How is Eddie to say no to that, so he doesn't try. He also doesn't try not falling in love with Steve. Will Steve reject him or will Eddie get a little magic for Christmas?

Words: 17012 CW: none Rating: Teen for swearing mostly Relationships: Steddie, background Buckingham, Jancy, Eden/Argyle, Dustin/Suzie, Lumax, and a surprise later in the story. Mike and El aren't dating in this, but neither is Mike and Will. They're single.

Also, Steve comes off as mildly autistic in this. He's based on a lot of my own experiences, so I hope this doesn't scare you off.

Essentially this is Eddie falls first, Steve falls harder over the course of six months. June and July aren't strictly mentioned, but you know it's happening during those two months.

***

Eddie walked into the high rise office building feeling a little out of place. All right, maybe a lot of place, if he was being honest with himself.

Here he was in a faded leather jacket and ripped black jeans in an actual fucking glass elevator to the top floor.

The doors opened up to warm outer office. It was dark woods and deep reds and golds. He had been expecting it to look like the rest of the building. He skipped forward to the woman at the desk a little unsure if he was in the right place.

“Hey, um...” he began, tilting his head. “I think I might be in the wrong place. But I’m Eddie Munson and I have a two o’clock appointment with Steve Harrington?”

She blinked up at him in shock. “This is Steve Harrington’s office, let me look at the schedule. I vaguely remember him making sure I didn’t schedule anything for this time.”

Eddie handed her the card that had Steve’s name on the front and the date and time on the back. She took it from him and nodded. He bit his lip nervously as she fiddled with something on her computer.

“All right,” she said, “I do see that he has an hour of time blocked off, but let me call him.”

Eddie nodded.

“Steve,” she said into the receiver. “I have an Eddie Munson here for you.”

“He’s here?” Eddie could hear the excitement in the person’s voice. “Send him in!”

She smiled. “Will do.” She hung up the phone. “Looks you’re good to go.”

Eddie smiled back. “Thanks.” He leaned over the desk for a moment. “I’m guessing you don’t know what this is about anymore than I do.”

She shook his head. “Nope. But he sounds excited to see you so you should really do that.”

He nodded back and skipped over to the door where it swung open as he reached it. He turned back to her. “Neat trick.”

She grinned back.

Eddie walked through the door and found that the inner office was very much the same as the outer one. All warm and cozy. And...well. Friendly.

Behind the desk leaping to his feet to greet him was the most gorgeous human Eddie had ever laid eyes on. He had floppy dark golden hair with hazel eyes behind neat glasses. His smile was easy and infectious.

“Eddie!” the Greek Adonis in a smartly tailored suit said brightly, sticking his hand out to him. “I’m so glad you came. When I spoke to your agent I got the impression you don’t usually do commissions.”

He half shrugged taking the outstretched hand and shaking it. “It’s been a slow year and I don’t taking the odd commission when it intrigues me.”

Steve blushed. “I intrigued the great Eddie Munson, I’m flattered.”

Eddie raised both eyebrows. “I didn’t realize you were a fan of my work.”

Steve nodded eagerly. “Oh hell yeah. I managed to get a picture of that lovely mural you did to cover the gang signs in the neighborhood before the cops destroyed it.”

Eddie blinked. Well fuck. He didn’t realize anyone had known that was him.

“You didn’t tell the cops it was me, did you?”

Steve laughed, clear and bright. He sat down and gestured for Eddie to do the same. “Rule number one. Don’t tell cops shit.”

Eddie sat down with a thud. “That’s good to know.”

Steve grinned wickedly at him and pulled out a picture of the mural from his desk drawer. He handed it to Eddie for him to look at.

“Usually it’s on my desk,” Steve said. “But I didn’t want to come across as too much of a fan boy right away.”

Eddie ran his fingers over the glass. It was of a pack of wolves howling at the moon rising over a tall mountain range.

“It’s nice to see that it’ll be remembered in some small way,” he murmured.

“I’ve got an photographer friend who can make a copy for you if you’d like,” Steve said softly.

Eddie’s head shot up. “You’d do that?”

This time it was Steve that gave a little half shrug. “I mean I can tell it was important to you so...”

He grinned. “Thanks, man. So what’s this commission you’re wanting me to do?”

Steve blushed again. “Do you still do illustrations for Wizard of the Coast?”

Eddie’s jaw dropped. That’s where Steve knew his art from, fucking D&D? This day couldn’t get any weirder.

He cleared his throat. “Like, sometimes. Right now I’m not happy with them for trying to take the game away from little homebrew gamers like me and my friends. But yeah, beggars can’t be choosers.”

Steve nodded. “God, I wish we could go back to the days were stupid rich people would hire poor artists to paint for them for a year or whatever. Free paint, free room and board.”

“Lack of freedom of expression though,” Eddie laughed.

Steve laughed with him. “Not if you’re sleeping with the mistress of the house.”

Eddie laughed harder. “Sorry, I’d be more likely to be sleeping with the master than the mistress.”

Steve smiled with a little shrug. “I’d probably end up doing both if they were hot enough.”

Eddie’s eyebrows went up. All right, noted. “Though I suppose in the scenario you’d be the master, so you’d be sleeping with the artist and the mistress.”

Steve grinned. “Well that’s certainly true.”

Eddie needed to get this meeting to move on before he leapt over the desk to fuck this gorgeous man senseless. “You want to be paint something in my D&D style?”

Steve lit up and Eddie had bite the inside of his cheek to stop himself from saying something stupid like how hot he found that look on Steve’s face.

“Yeah, I have these...” he said, “well they aren’t kids anymore. But they were when I first met them. They’re really big into D&D. In fact Dustin, the one I’m closest to is the one that got me into your art. They were so well done in the books and then found out you had a website and well...” he blushed. “I really liked the fantasy stuff.”

Eddie smirked. He knew exactly what Steve was talking about. There was a section on his website where you had to put in your credit card information to even view it. Did he know that kids stole their parents’ credit cards to view that part of his site? Sure. But at least it made sure most of the time that the viewer was over the age of eighteen.

There was more to fantasy then elves or dragons. Eddie smiled.

“Did you now?”

Steve blushed deeper. “Not that I want you to do that for this!” he said waving his hands. “They maybe adults now, I’m not that insane! But they have these characters that they’ve had since they were twelve and I was hoping you could paint them fighting a dragon. Especially a purple dragon. Because they are so cool.”

Eddie ran his tongue over his teeth thoughtfully. “What were you thinking in terms of size?”

Steve pulled out another picture and slid it over to Eddie. Eddie picked it up and looked at it. It was one of those wall paintings that were split into separate pieces but if put together it would form a cohesive picture.

“I was thinking 10x18 for the side pieces and 18x24 for the middle piece which would have the dragon,” Steve explained.

“And each of the side pieces would have a different character?”

Steve nodded. “I was wanting it by Christmas, would that give you enough time to do it?”

Eddie sat back and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I’m mean, I guess. A month for each of the smaller ones and two months for the larger piece. It’s doable. If it’s the only thing I work on for the next six months. So I would require at least half the payment up front.”

Steve nodded and pulled out a piece of paper from a leather folio on his desk and handed it over to him.

Eddie started reading and was about half way down when he realized it was a contract. He usually had his own contract to give clients, especially for projects this big. But looking over Steve’s contract, not only was it better worded, it was a lot better offer for Eddie.

“Do you mind if I take this and show my agent before sign?” he asked.

Steve smiled. “No, of course not. Be my guest. In fact, I insist.”

Eddie relaxed. “Thanks!”

Steve ducked his head bashfully. “I really hope you’ll do it. You’re my favorite artist. Dusty’s too.”

Hoo-boy did Eddie know that look. It was the look of someone who was used to being shut down for their interests because they got too excited talking about it.

It was starting to look like regardless of what Chrissy thought about contract, he was going to do it. Because fuck, no one should have to feel like they were too much.

He stood up and shook his hand. “Is the end of the week okay?”

Steve’s head jerked up in shock. “What?”

“For the contract?” Eddie said, holding up the piece of paper.

“Oh!” Steve murmured. “Yeah. That’ll be a fine.”

Eddie got up and shook Steve’s hand. He walked to the door, but paused at the doorway. He turned back and tilted his head down and around. “You don’t have to limit yourself with me, okay? You can be yourself with me.”

Steve’s jaw dropped. “What? I don’t know what you mean...”

“The look on your face when you were talking about me being your favorite artist,” Eddie explained. “It’s something I see all the time with my friends and even myself. You close yourself off because you think you’re going to be shut down and told to shut up or at the very least dial it back. And I’m saying you don’t have to. Not with me.”

Steve blushed and ducked his head again. “You just want to me flatter the hell out of you.”

Eddie laughed. “I won’t deny that flattering works on me. But I mean it, okay? Don’t limit yourself. The people that mind don’t matter and those that matter won’t mind.”

Steve smiled. “Dr. Seuss. I’ll try to remember that.”

“See that you do,” Eddie said with a laugh. He tapped his hand on the door frame and then walked away.

He was almost to the elevator when the secretary said, “I heard what you said just now. About him not needing to hold back with you. Thank you.”

Eddie paused in his step. He whirled around and then skipped up to the desk. “You don’t need to thank me for that. He deserves to gush about the things he loves.”

“His parents would shut him up every time he would gush about anything,” she said. “Even sports. Which you would think would be the one thing that a boy should gush about, but nope.”

Eddie nodded. “Bastards.” He cocked his head to the side. “You are more than just his secretary aren’t you?”

She laughed. “Best friend and soulmate, Robin Buckley.” She stuck out her hand.

Eddie shook it with a wide smile. “Please to meet you. I’m guessing you’re president of the Steve Harrington Appreciation Society. Where can one sign up?”

Robin laughed. “Signing that contract will do the job I think.” She jutted her chin up at the paper in his hand.

He shrugged. “I got have my agent look at it before I sign anything. She’d murder me otherwise.”

“Fair.”

“See you around, Birdie,” Eddie said with a salute.

She frowned. “Birdie?”

He made a bird with his hands or at least tried with the contract in his hand. “Robin. Bird. Birdie.”

“Oh god,” she sighed. “You’re one of those.”

Eddie threw back his head and laughed. “Yup!” He skipped into elevator and pressed the button to the ground floor. He waved as the elevator lowered him down.

***

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8

Tag List: @spectrum-spectre @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog @artiststarme @swimmingbirdrunningrock @gregre369 @pyrohonk ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @chaoticlovingdreamer @maya-custodios-dionach @goodolefashionedloverboi @messrs-weasley @val-from-lawrence @i-must-potato @danili666 @carlyv @rozzieroos @wonderland-girl143-blog @justforthedead89 @emly03 @bookworm0690 @itsall-taken @vecnuthy @bookbinderbitch @redfreckledwolf @littlewildflowerkitten @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @scheodingers-muppet @mira-jadeamethyst @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @genderless-spoon @anne-bennett-cosplayer @irregular-child

[unformula1]

sun and earth (LS2 x reader)

sun and earth (LS2 x reader)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ synopsis: you love him. he can’t love you back. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ pairing: logan sargeant x reader w/c: 1077 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ a/n: kinda poorly written but i hope it still makes you cry!! i'll edit it soon. sorry for lack of fics, i've been sick (very). masterlist(read more) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You love Logan. You definitely do.

“You’re such a dickhead.” Logan says as he punches your shoulder gently, but hard enough to cause you to stumble.

“I’ve got a very strong point there!” You regain your balance and punch him back.

“I do not… look like a cat.” He says, his smile growing as he does so.

“You’re literally doing it right now.” 

“I am not.”

“You definitely are. Look at yourself.” You shift to the side so Logan can see himself through the glass panel.

“Okay… well I don’t see it.” Logan crosses his arms, making his chest bulge in a way you would never get over.

“Well…” You stutter slightly, keeping your eye on his chest.

“Well?” He questions, causing you to snap out of your staring.

“I’ll put them side by side, then maybe you’ll see!” You quickly regain your composure.

He scoffs and ruffles your hair which sends a weird chill down your spine, you shiver slightly.

“You know, I think you’re like… the sun in my life.” Logan stuffed his hands into his pockets as he says.

“What a weird analogy.” You comment, scoffing as you do so.

“Shut up. I’m trying to compliment you.” He says, rolling his eyes and punching you on the shoulder.

“Fine. If I’m the sun,” You drag the last word, “Then you are the Earth!”

He raises an eyebrow and gives you a blank stare that screams ‘I don’t know what you just said’.

“You’re pretty, and gorgeous, or something like that.” You say, trying to sound as nonchalant as you can.

“Aw…” He drags the aw and scrunches up his face.

It’s adorable, you’ve never seen anything like it and you don’t think you will. Logan makes your heart flutter in ways you never knew could ever happen. Before him it was always you in charge, but somehow, someway, Logan changed everything.

All of a sudden you were killing to get him to look in your direction and nothing meant more than him smiling at you. You knew you liked him but did he like you back? You didn’t know and you weren’t willing to take any chances.

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

“Hello?” Logan’s voice comes from across the phone when he finally picks up your call.

“Hi.” You say back, loud music blasting in the background.

“What’s up?” He asks you, concern rising in his voice.

“I need… uhm… a ride back home.” You reply.

“Send me your location, I’ll be there in 10.” He says.

“Thanks Logs.” You say as you hang up and send over your live location. 

You clutch your phone tightly as you wait outside the door. The party had gotten hectic and chaotic within minutes and you don’t think you have the energy to deal with all of that.

Leaning against the wall, you wait patiently for Logan to come over. 

It takes him about 20 minutes to get here, which felt like forever, but when he pulls up, you waste no time before getting in the car and slamming the door shut. You take a huge sigh of relief as you lean back into the chair.

“Jeez, was it that bad?” He says, driving off.

“Horrible I say.” You sigh loudly as you buckle your seatbelt, “Thanks… for coming to get me.”

“No problem. Sorry I was a little late.”

“Don’t worry, you were- like the 50th person I called.” You admit, leaning back further into the comfort of the chair.

“Really?” He says with a tint of confusion.

“Yea, no one else was free.”

“Damn… glad I could help you out.”

“You’re an amazing friend. Sometimes you feel like my boyfriend.”

What.

What did you just say?

The words that escaped your mouth finally process and your eyes widen as you pray hard Logan doesn’t react too much about the words. 

“What?” He says with a chuckle.

“Nothing.”

“Boyfriend?” He teases, wiggling his eyebrows up and down.

It’s hot, unbearably so, but you push the blush that wants to surface back down. You take a deep breath and try to quickly diffuse the situation.

“Yea, because you’re- like really close and really protective and all that,” You start rambling, “Not because of- like, romantic or anything, you know?” 

“Mhm…” He says, clearly suspicious.

The next few minutes are awkward, the tension could be sliced with a knife.

“Do you… want me to be anything more than a friend?” Logan breaks the silence.

You shuffle your feet and fiddle with your seatbelt. You know your answer, and you’re pretty sure he does too.

You clear your throat.

“Right…” Logan responds, turning the corner, getting onto the street your apartment was on.

“You know…I have to make quite a lot of sacrifices to be where I am and to maintain that.” He starts.

“Yes, of course, and I don’t want to get in the way of that.” You desperately hope this doesn’t go south.

“And you know how it’s sometimes really hard to make those sacrifices.” He continues.

It’s starting to become draggy.

“Well, I hope you understand, that you and I being friends… is going to have to be one of those. Those hard sacrifices.” Logan says, his tone growing solemn.

“Right… you can’t exactly… be something with me because of… things.” You reply, shuffling your feet more.

“I love you.” Logan says as he pulls up to your apartment.

“But sometimes, I can’t love the people I want to.”

You nod, the tears fighting their way out, streaming down your cheek. You look down, hiding the tears from Logan as he stops to let you exit the car.

“I’m sorry…” Logan says. He doesn’t strike any eye contact and his face is gloomy. He hates that he has to do this and you know that.

“It’s…” You say between the sobs, “Yea no, It’s fine.” 

You don’t make any eye contact as you exit the car. The tears become real and you try your best to wipe them away as you walk into your apartment. Once you’re in the safety of your house you break down. Falling to your knees, you drop everything else and just cry.

It hurts you knowing you could never have Logan.

The Sun and the Earth. The Earth needs the sun for its life, but if it gets too close, it burns; so whether they like it or not, they’ll remain the same distance apart for their entire lives, never being too close to each other.

[s1utforfictionalmen]

Violent Night - Part 2

Summary - Rafe is there to protect you when your abusive ex shows up to the party.

Warnings - Violents Rafe, fighting

Part 1

-

Ever since the night you broke into the Cameron's house, you and Rafe were inseparable. Mainly because he was worried about you and didn’t want you to be alone. He also didn’t trust Greg in the slightest. He wanted to make sure you were as far away from him as possible. Greg had tried to call several times, but you never picked up. Even came by your house once, and luckily, you weren’t home. Rafe wanted to kick his ass, but per your request, he said he wouldn’t go out of his way to do it; but he secretly hoped there would be an opportunity. Luckily for him, the opportunity came.  

-

Two months had gone by since the night of the incident and your relationship with Rafe progressed. Nothing more than soft kisses, cuddling, and nicknames. You hadn’t slept together yet, Rafe was doing his best to respectful your boundaries, but man did he want to bend you over. The two of you hadn’t officially labeled it yet, but he made sure that the whole island knew you were his. Tonight, Rafe invited you to join him at Topper’s party. It would be your first outing since Greg, and since you two had become an item. You loved the idea of going out with him, but you were also nervous about the possibility of Greg being there. As if reading your mind, Rafe spoke up. 

“I doubt Greg will be there, he doesn’t even know it’s happening. Plus, he never shows up to Toppers parties anyway, and if he does, well I’ll kick his ass into next week.” 

“Rafe” You said with a giggle and head shake as you applied your makeup, still debating if you wanted to go or not. Rafe comes up behind you and pulls you into his chest. 

“Please baby, it will be fun. I want to make it public that we’re together. Plus, you won’t leave my side once, I’ll even take you to the bathroom.” You laughed at that. 

“Rafe, I am plenty capable of going to the bathroom by myself. Also, the whole island already knows I’m yours, you’re not very discreet” you spoke with a smile “but you’re right, I need to get out.” 

“So, we’re going?”  

“We’re going” You smiled to him. He stepped back and through his fists in the air and let out a whoop.  

“I’m going to text Top and let him know we’re coming”. As he exits the bathroom you hear him holler “I finally get to take my girl to a party!”  

By the time you arrived at the party, your anxiety hit you like a 1000 pounds. Your grip on Rafe’s hand got significantly tighter.  

“Hey baby, you’re okay, I’m right here. We can leave whenever you want, but let’s get you a drink first, yeah?” You just nod. A drink sounds perfect right now. You make your way over to the drinks table and see a bottle of vodka, you grab it without thinking and take two huge swigs of it.  

“Woah settle down baby girl, don’t want to get too drunk, too fast.” 

“Yes, I do.” You said with a straight face, Rafe just laughed. 

“Alright, well I’m here for you.”  

“I know” you said with a shy smile before grabbing a seltzer and heading back into the thick of the party. The liquor was finally hitting, and it was hitting good. You drank the perfect amount to get you right on the cusp of being drunk but not reckless. You pulled Rafe to the dance floor and the two of you were moving like no one was watching. Grinding heavily, but you would stop occasionally to dance in some obnoxious way to whatever song was playing. Rafe would laugh and then pull you back into him. After quite some time you needed a break. 

“I need to get another drink, maybe some air.” Rafe just nods and grabs your hand directing you to the patio. Kelce and Topper were sitting out there with some girls and a joint.  

“Well hello gentlemen” you said with a giggle.  

“Hey y/n, glad you could make it out tonight” Top said with a smile. “Are you having fun?” 

“Yeah, I’m having a blast! I really need to do this more often.” You all started to laugh when you noticed Topper and Kelce's faces immediately drop. You and Rafe's heads turn to follow their line of sight and your heart sank. There he was, Greg, clearly drunk and pissed. Rafe stepped in front of you. 

“What do you want?” Rafe’s voice suddenly scary. 

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t THE Rafe Cameron with my girl.” Greg turns to you.  

“She is not yours” 

“Come on y/n, really, Rafe fucking Cameron.” He stumbled closer and Rafe took a step forward. 

“You don’t get to talk to her.” You could feel the tension in Rafe, and his hands were in fists. You grabbed his arm to encourage him not to do anything rash.  

“Wow really y/n, you need Rafe to be your knight and shining armor? Hm? What, do you think I’m going to hit you again? Baby that as an accident, I will never do that again” he reached a handout to you “please come back to-”  

“I said don’t talk to her.” He was yelling. Calling you baby was crossing the line. At this point Kelce and Topper were on their feet, realizing the situation was about to head south. Frankly, they were shocked Rafe hadn’t beaten him already. He must really care about you to ignore his instincts just to keep you smiling. Gregs deminer changed when you didn’t go to him.  

“God, so pathetic. Both of you. I never thought I would see the day that Rafe Cameron is pussy whipped. Especially by someone like her” He gestures to you, his drunk gaze lingering a bit too long. Rafe stepping in front of you fully now. “She is hot and great for fucking.” You grabbed Rafe’s arm, pulling him back. “Don’t you agree Rafe, I know someone like you would only be with her to fuck” you heart shattered at that. Was that true? You hadn’t even fucked yet, but would he leave after you did? “She’s got the sweetest pussy-” Rafe lost it, he didn’t care how badly you wanted him to avoid this fight, he would not stand by and let some drunk, abusive, asshat talk about his girl like that. He charged Greg at full speed. You could see the pure fear in his eyes. Greg knew what Rafe was capable of, but the idiot somehow thought he could get away with it. At this point you were glad to have Rafe pound his face in, if it meant he would finally leave you alone. The sounds of Rafe’s fist colliding with Gregs face we’re getting to be too much. Greg got one good swing in, but it wasn’t much of a fight. You turned to Top. 

“Get him off.” You said through a sob. Him and Kelce run over and grab Rafe, pulling him off a very bloody Greg. You hated the bastard but seeing him fucked up still made your stomach twist. In a low and eerie voice Rafe said. 

“If you ever come near her again, I will kill you. I will fucking kill you. Got it?” He turned towards you, everything in him softened when he saw you. Kelce and Topper go to pick up Greg and throw him out of the house. Rafe steps closer to you, afraid to touch you.  

“You’re bleeding... and you’re knuckles...” You said through tears. Rafe couldn’t believe you were concerned. He expected you to be upset that he beat the living shit out of Greg. 

“Hey, I’m okay... really” He held your face now. Whipping away a tear. “Look I know you didn’t want me to fight him... But baby, I couldn’t just let-” 

“I know. It’s okay” you spoke softly, he smiled down at you.  

“He will never come near you again okay.” 

“I know, but Rafe...Please don’t actually kill him. I know you could...but just... maybe don’t do that.” You said with an uncomfortable laugh, Rafe’s smile grew.  

“I won’t baby, just needed to scare him that’s all. But you’re safe now, okay.” You just nod. After a moment you looked up into his stunning eyes. 

“Okay now it’s my turn to clean you up.” you spoke. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to your lips before you grabbed his hand and led him to the bathroom.  

You sat him on the edge of the bathtub and started to dab his lip with a wet cloth. His eyes piercing into you, which you did your best to ignore.  

“Can I ask you something?” he just hums in response. 

“Are you only looking for sex from me?” you finally look up to meet his gaze. He looks at you, with a tiny hint of pain in his eyes. 

“Is this because of what that prick said?” You look down again. Rafe takes your chin and holds it up so you’re looking at him. 

“y/n, I have been in love with you since we were kids.” His declaration made your mouth fall open. “I never did anything about it because you were my little sisters best-friend, and then you were with that fucker. His hands dropped to your waste to pull you closer. “I want to be with you because you have always made me smile, you’ve made me want to be a better man, and you have so much love inside you despite all the shit you have been put through.” he took a beat “and I mean, yeah, of course I want to fuck you, you’re sexy as hell” he chuckled “but I want to do it right, and when you’re ready.” The sincerity in his eyes is something you’ve never seen from him. “y/n, I really do...love you” it was his turn to look down. Rafe Cameron just admitted he loved someone, something most people thought was impossible. You grabbed his cheeks and forced his head up.  

“Rafe Cameron, I have been in love with you since the day we met. Even if you were a little punk, who gave me and Sarah a hard time.” You both laughed, but tears started to form in your eyes. “I never dreamed in a million years you would see me as anything more than your sister's friend, and the night I came over, I knew that there was something real here. I love you Rafe Cameron and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop.” Rafe grabbed you and pulled you into a deep and passionate kiss. You finally pulled back for some air, and Rafe put his forehead on yours, not wanting to let you go, ever.  

“Let’s go back to your place, yeah?” You spoke. He just smiled and nodded.  

It was only a few months after that night that he proposed. A lot of people on the island were shocked that it all happened so fast, more people were surprised it hadn’t happened sooner. It didn’t matter what anyone thought though. You were his, and he was yours. How it was always meant to be.  

To this day, you thank the heavens that Rafe was home that night you snuck into the Cameron's house.  

[shmorp-mcdurgen]

Aftermath au: Red Letter Day

Barney gets a call that Gordon Freeman had been found after ten years of being missing in action.

Word count: 4382

Notes: Another fic for my au "Aftermath" because I think its neat. I'm not sure what else to put here, enjoy the fic

Barney was beginning to remember how much he hated Winter as he stared through the warehouse window in front of him. Despite it being the beginning of March, spring was yet to come, meaning the snow was still falling with the temperature following suit. Barney had always hated the season, and as much as he tried, he could never come up with a proper reason. Maybe it was the fact it was cold, wet, and dreary, making any trip outside miserable, or perhaps it was the fact he was mainly cooped up inside all day, leaving him to get cabin fever. Or maybe it was a mixture of those two at the same time, along with the loneliness that came from them. No matter the reason, Barney kept quiet about it, realizing he had no ability to change the weather. All he could do was drink his hot coffee and put on a few more layers than usual. 

Barney took a sip from his mug as he looked away from the window, instead focusing his attention back into the room he was in. It was a storage room, full of random junk and scientific doodads Barney had no knowledge of. Boxes and crates were stacked up in piles taller than he was, stacked in such a way that it made Barney nervous even being near them in the case of them toppling over. Due to the lack of a radiator in that room, it was even chillier than the rest of the refurbished warehouse, making Barney glad he was wearing the warmest sweatpants he could find in his closet, along with a worn out grey hoodie, with the logo on the front being so faded that it was hard to make out as Black Mesa’s logo.

As he looked around, he was startled by the sound of a box slamming against the concrete floor, along with a short exclamation. “Oh, blast it!” “You alright, Doc?” Barney asked the other man in the room, watching as he bent over to pick up the fallen crate.

“I’m fine, just…hoping whatever was in here isn’t fragile…” 

Dr. Isaac Kleiner, or “Doc” as Barney referred to him as, was wearing a white lab coat over a robin-egg-blue dress-shirt and black tie, trading warmth for safety at his place of work. His glasses were slipping off his face as he moved boxes and rummaged through everything in the storage room, making it even more of a mess than it was before. 

“Where on earth could she have gone?” Kleiner asked, not necessarily expecting an answer. “There aren’t any vents she could have crawled in, are there?”

“I hope not,” Barney stated. “Last thing I want is that thing to fall on someone.” As Kleiner looked under a table, Barney spoke up again. “You think it ran off or something?”

“Oh no, I don’t believe so,” Kleiner stood up straight, “I’m sure she wouldn’t. After all, she needs to get fed eventually, so I imagine she’ll come out for that.” “If the thing didn’t eat someone's cat or something.”

“Hush!” Kleiner held a finger up to his mouth, causing both he and Barney to become silent as he listened closely. Barney attempted to hear what Kleiner was listening for, but to no avail, hearing nothing but silence. “Fie! I could’ve sworn I heard her moving around…”

Barney let out an exhausted sigh, “Doc, please, there’s plenty of those pests out there–”

“But there’s only ONE Lamar!”

“...Right.”

“Now, are you going to help me look?” Kleiner adjusted his crooked glasses, “Or are you going to simply stand there, doing nothing?”

“Uh…” Barney glanced away, thinking for a moment. “...No thanks.”

“Oh, you act like she’s some kind of wild animal.”

“It kinda is.”

“She’s been de-beaked and trained, and you know this!” Kleiner stated as he walked towards a filing cabinet near the corner of the room.

“‘Trained;’ I don’t think that thing is really…trained. My dog is trained, and I know you can train cats, but I don’t think you can train a literal parasite–”

“Oh! I think I’ve got something!” Kleiner said excitedly, “Help me move this cabinet, would you please?”

Barney reluctantly approached the metal cabinet as Kleiner positioned himself to the side of it, ready to move it as soon as Barney was. As soon as Barney placed his free hand against the side of it, he pushed, with Kleiner on the other side pulling it towards him.

Barney let out a loud yelp when something leaped at him from behind the cabinet, causing him to fall on his back and drop his mug on the floor. It was Lamar, the “Pet” headcrab that Kleiner had lost, and it was even uglier up close. As it laid on Barney’s chest, its six small, beady eyes stared back at him as he remained absolutely still, afraid of it trying to attack him. Its teeth on its stomach prodded at his stomach, along with its chipped, large front claws, which had colorful duct-tape covering the tips of them to prevent them from being too sharp. After a few moments of tense silence, Kleiner came to the rescue, picking up Lamar from where it rested on Barney’s torso, allowing him to take a breath.

“LAMAR!” Kleiner exclaimed, looking at his pet with relief in his eyes, “Oh, delightful! I’m so happy to see you weren’t left out in the cold somewhere…”

“Mm-hm…” Barney lifted himself off the ground, looking at his feet to see his knocked over coffee cup, with its contents spilled over. “Ugh…” 

Barney picked up his cup from the floor as Kleiner let Lamar go, watching as it waddled across the floor before jumping up onto one of the tables. Barney stared at it with contempt, the opposite reaction to Lamar’s rediscovery compared to Kleiner’s joy. 

“Do you even have a license for that thing?” Barney questioned as Lamar sat down on top of some loose documents. “If you don’t and animal control finds it, they’ll kill it–”

“I’m…in the process of getting one,” Kleiner stated, voice stumbling slightly. “And I hope no one finds her, cause if they do…I’m afraid of what you said coming true. I’m sure it will be fine regardless, at least she knows to stay inside.”

“...Sure.”

“Is everyone safe?”

Barney and Kleiner turned towards the doorway that led to the rest of the warehouse, seeing a lone, albino Vortigaunt staring back at them with her four maroon eyes. She was wearing a similar lab coat to Kleiner’s, with a borrowed pair of black dress pants, along with a fitted light brown sweater, with a hole in the middle of her chest for her third pseudo arm. She stared at Kleiner and Barney for a little while before Barney answered her question. 

“Yeah, we’re fine…” Barney sighed, glancing towards Lamar, “We just found Kleiner’s…pet.”

“Everything’s under control, Violet, you can get back to work!” Kleiner added.

“I see.” Violet’s gravelly voice seemed quieter than usual, making Barney’s brows furrow a bit.

“You alright?” He asked.

Violet seemed puzzled. “Hm?”

“Are you doing alright? I have noticed you’ve been a bit…closed off for the past few hours.” Kleiner inquired.

“We have been…distracted…” Violet responded. “I imagine it will be cleared up soon.”

“We?” Barney asked.

Violet didn’t answer. “I must get back to helping the others…the teleporter is nearly ready for its first test...”

“Oh! Wonderful. I’ll be there in a little bit.” Kleiner stated as Violet left the room. Barney remained puzzled, looking back at Kleiner with a feeling of unease in his chest.

“She said ‘we’.” Barney stated.

“I’m aware,” Kleiner responded. “You see, the Vortigaunts are able to tap into something they refer to as the ‘Vortessence’, and are thus all conne–”

“I know, Doc, I just…” Barney paused for a second. “If she’s talking about all the Vortigaunts, then wouldn’t that be a bit worrying?”

“...Maybe, but I'm not sure.” Kleiner stated. “Though, one of the members of the survey team we sent earlier today was a Vortigaunt, and that team hasn’t returned yet so…maybe there is a connection there.”

“Maybe.”

“Either way, I believe i’ll go and speak with her, just to make sure everything’s alri–”

Barney’s phone ringing from his pocket interrupted their thoughts, and when Barney pulled it out of his pocket and flipped it open, he saw the number was from one of his coworkers at the hospital. “Sorry, I gotta take this.”

“You’re fine, you go ahead and I’ll go check in with the others.”

Barney nodded, watching Kleiner leave the room before he answered the call and put his phone up to his ear.

“Hello?”

Barney listened closely to the person on the other end of the phone, barely processing what they were saying. 

“What’s going on? 

Not going to believe what? 

So what, why are you telling me this?”

Barney listened closely, all before he felt his heart skip a beat. The sinking feeling in his chest was enough to render him silent, all before he let out a meek “I’ll call you later.”

Barney rushed out of the room, running past Kleiner in the process, nearly pushing him over as he approached the exit. “Barney? What’s going on, are you alright–” “They found him.” Barney’s voice shook as he spoke, with him barely being able to make out the words from how tight his throat was.

“Found who?”

Barney was already out of the building by the time Kleiner asked the question, leaving it unanswered.

Barney saw his own breath clouding in front of his face as he sprinted across the parking lot of the warehouse, nearly slipping on ice multiple times but not giving any time to care. When he reached his car, he swung the door open and crawled inside, starting the engine and speeding off without a single word. His thoughts ran through his head faster than his car was capable of going, slurring together without a single cohesive thought coming through. He didn’t care if he was a few miles above the speed limit; he needed to get to the hospital as soon as possible. He needed to see if what his coworker said was right.

If it was truly Gordon Freeman that was brought into the ER, he needed to be there.

When Barney made it to the hospital lot, he rushed through the front doors, looking around before approaching the front desk, out of breath from both the physical and mental strain that was put on him. Through harsh breaths, he asked, “Is Gordon Freeman here?”, with pleading eyes focused on the woman behind the desk.

“Oh, hello Mr. Calhoun, I can look through the system for a ‘Gordon Freeman’, if you’ll sit tight for a moment.” She looked towards the computer in front of her, typing in something and looking through files as Barney waited, his impatience building up inside of him.

“Fuck this.” He pushed himself away from the desk, storming down one of the hallways despite the woman at the front desk telling him he wasn’t allowed to as he was off duty. Barney rushed past hospital workers, asking them if they knew where Gordon was, only to be met with worried and frightened looks along with no answers. Barney’s frustration only grew as he ran through the hospital halls, with the familiar building beginning to feel like a maze meant to confuse him. As he ran further into the hospital wing, he slammed against one of the doctors in the hall, causing him to topple to the ground as Barney tripped over his own feet.

“Sorry, I just have to–”

“Barney? What the hell are you doing back here?” The man questioned as Barney sped past him.

“I’m looking for Gordon Freeman,” Barney answered, turning around. “Have you seen him?”

“He’s in the ER right now,” The man snapped back as he slowly stood up. “You can’t see him until he’s out of surgery.”

“Surgery? Is he safe? Is he alright?” Barney questioned, walking closer to the doctor. 

“Yes, he’ll be fine, just…” The doctor let out a tired sigh. “Get out of here, you’re off duty and risking your job with a stunt like this.”

“I need to see Gordon, alright?” Barney explained. “He’s been gone for a fucking DECADE, and he’s been found again, I can’t just leave him–”

“Calhoun.” The man raised his voice as he glared at Barney with a look of both contempt and pity. “...Listen, just wait until he’s out and I’ll see what I can do, do you understand?”

Barney remained silent for a moment, letting out a sharp breath before nodding. “Alright,” He stated, defeated. “But he better be getting the best treatment in there.”

“I’m sure they’re doing all they can, they understand his reputation–”

“I don’t care about his reputation, if i’m right, that’s my goddamn friend in there.” Barney spat. “...Let me know when he’s out. I need to at least…make sure it’s…the right guy.”

“I’m sure someone will let you know.” The doctor stated. “...Now please go back to the waiting room before I call security.”

Barney did as he was told, reluctantly walking across the hospital premises and back into the waiting room, where he will stay for another few hours. He paced around the room, bounced his foot up and down, fidgeted with his hands; anything to try and pass the time as the minutes passed by agonizingly slow. After he had already been there for what felt like days within the timespan of a few hours, he saw a nurse walk towards him. “Mr. Calhoun?”

Barney’s head lifted up, looking towards the nurse before following her down a hallway. After a couple-minutes walk, they stopped in front of a door leading to a recovery room. “He’s in there,” The nurse stated. “He’s currently sleeping, so I ask you to be quiet and not attempt to wake him up.”

“...Yeah.” Barney hesitated before walking through the door, stepping into the room, seeing a curtain blocking his view of the bed. He paused, standing in place for a moment as he wondered if the face he was about to see was truly Gordon, or simply someone mistaken as him. He wondered if he wanted the answer, or if he’d rather live in ignorance, avoiding the crippling disappointment if it wasn’t the man he thought it was, but as he walked past the curtain, every worry in his mind ceased and his thoughts became silent as he looked at the man on the bed.

Sure, his body was covered with blood-soaked bandages, his right leg was in a cast, he had medical equipment around him, and he was missing his glasses, but his face was painfully recognizable. Barney choked back a sob, covering his mouth when he saw Gordon’s face again.

“Are you alright?” The nurse behind him asked, noticing Barney’s teary-eyed look.

“I’m fine.” Barney whispered before letting out a short chuckle and a forced smile. “It’s just…he didn’t change a damn bit.”

Barney hadn’t even noticed it had been an hour since he entered the room, being surprised when he glanced at the clock and saw it was nearing 10 PM. He sat on a chair beside Gordon’s bed, having moved it from the corner of the room to right beside it. His leg bounced up and down as he looked at Gordon, all before lowering his head and letting out a deep sigh. He wished to speak to him but he was out of words he could possibly say at that very moment, not to mention the wish to stay quiet so Gordon could recover without being woken up. He wanted to tell Gordon everything that had happened in his absence; how Kleiner started up another lab to continue Black Mesa’s studies, how Eli also set up one on the other side of the city, and how Barney had finished college and was able to become a nurse. Gordon missed so much, and even though Barney wished to dump every piece of information onto him, he realized that even the realization that it had been ten years would be overwhelming enough. Thus, Barney figured to start simple, and just talk, like friends, for the first time since the Black Mesa incident.

As Barney leaned back into his seat he felt the back of his head hit something that wasn’t there before, feeling bitter cold yet organic at the same time, like a corpse’s fingers curling around the top of the backrest. He swung around, half expecting someone to be there, yet he saw nothing of the sort, seeing only the beige wall behind him. Barney let out his breath, looking back at Gordon before realizing he should head back; his stress and emotional state must have made him paranoid, not to mention the feeling of his hair standing on end. He stood up, walking towards the door out of the room before taking one last look back at Gordon before he finally left.

Later that night, Barney paced around his living room, being watched by his pet rottweiler as he talked on the phone. “The Survey team were the ones that found him?” he asked.

“That’s what they said,” Kleiner stated from the other side of the line. “The Vortigaunt was apparently the one that found him, specifically.”

“I see.”

“Quite Miraculous,” Kleiner continued, “The fact that Gordon had survived there for ten years before being found.”

“Yeah…” Barney unsurely stated under his breath.

“Nevermind that, what are you planning now?” Kleiner asked. “Should we have some kind of party? A celebration should be in order for him being back, I’d say–”

“I think he needs rest, he’s…been through a lot.” Barney stated. “I’ve thought of him staying over at my place until he can find a place of his own or until he recovers, but we’ll see how he’s feeling.”

“Are you sure? I’m sure we can find a spare room in the lab for him.”

“I dunno if he’d wanna live in a loud lab with a headcrab, doc.”

“...I suppose you have a fair point.”

“It was just so…strange.” Barney stated. “They say it was a ten year coma, but I don’t buy it. I don’t buy it at all.” “What makes you believe that?” 

“The fact he was bleeding. The fact he had fresh wounds from Black Mesa,” Barney elaborated, brows furrowed and his free arm crossing over his chest. “Not to mention the fact he was found with that…suit on.” “What kind of suit?” Kleiner questioned. “Oh, do you mean the Hazardous Environment Suit?”

“Yeah. Why would he be wearing it ten years after the incident was already over?”

“Who knows,” Kleiner sighed, “I’m sure I can talk with Eli to see if he has any ideas on–” Kleiner was interrupted by a loud crash and squeaking coming from behind him, audible through Barney’s phone. “Goodness gracious, LAMAR, NO–”

“You alright Doc?” 

“I’ll have to speak with you later, Lamar got in the vents again–Lamar get DOWN from there, that’s not safe!” After that, the call ended, and Barney was left to himself once again. Barney sighed, putting his phone back in his pocket before he heard a deep ruff coming from his dog, who was laying next to the couch in the living room, with its white patches of fur on its snout showing its age.

“You hear that, Gordon?” Barney said. “You might get a new roommate…a…different Gordon.”

The dog yawned and rested his head on his paws as Barney walked towards the living room couch, sitting on it and resting his feet on the coffee table in front of it. He leaned over the armrest, scratching the top of the dog’s head. “Guess I’ll have to explain to him why you’re also named Gordon, huh bud?”

Gordon didn’t respond, instead just letting out a soft ruff again. Barney leaned back in his seat, staring up at the ceiling before folding his hands on top of his stomach. He wasn’t looking forward to explaining why his pet was named after his friend, he realized. After all, it’s not very easy to tell someone you thought they were dead for years.

As soon as Barney received the call that Gordon was awake the following evening, Barney rushed back to the hospital to visit him once again. As he drove across the city, worries he didn’t think about before began to creep up inside his brain. Even though he didn’t necessarily believe the coma theory the doctors had, nor did he believe even they believed it fully, he thought of the possibility of it being true, and if Gordon would even remember who Barney was after a full decade of sleep. It would be a surprise if Gordon remembered anything after that amount of time, but Barney pushed down his pessimism, trying to be optimistic just this once.

After making his way down the hospital hallway once again, he found himself back in front of the door to Gordon’s room, with a nervous feeling deep in his gut as he prepared to walk inside. He took in a breath and stepped inside, looking towards the bed in which Gordon was laying on, only to have his gaze met by two bright green eyes, ones Barney hadn't seen since ten years prior. Barney froze in place, staring back at Gordon, who appeared to be surprised to see him. As Barney sat down in the chair beside the bed, he swallowed hard, wondering what he could possibly say now that Gordon was awake. As he thought to himself, a question left his mouth that he wasn’t initially planning on asking:

“Where were you?”

The question lingered in the air like a foul odor, with Gordon’s brows furrowing lip quivering slightly, all while he curled his hands into fists. He turned away from Barney, looking down at his feet, thinking of something to say, though his hands didn’t once lift up to sign a single word.

“You…disappear for 10 years without warning,” Barney continued. “Leaving everyone to believe you were dead.”

Gordon didn’t make eye contact with Barney as he spoke.

“I thought you were dead and buried somewhere, Gordon,” Barney choked. “But…You’re here in front of me now.”

Gordon glanced at Barney before he felt arms being wrapped around his shoulders, tight, but not too tight to make it hurt.

“I fucking missed you, Gordon.” Barney said as he hugged Gordon, feeling the gesture being returned to him. Gordon’s hands shook, feeling weak and cold, yet he didn’t want to let go of the single shred of kindness he had felt since what felt like eternity. After a few moments Barney let go, sitting back down with red, tear-filled eyes. 

“...You…missed a lot.” Barney stated; Gordon nodded knowingly in response. “I’d tell ya’ everything, but…I don’t even know how to start.”

“Are they safe?” Gordon’s hands were shaking, but Barney could make out the message regardless.

“Who, like…Kleiner? Eli?”

Gordon nodded slightly, lips pursed in anticipation. 

“They’re alright,” Barney assured, allowing Gordon to let out a breath. “In fact…they’re excited to see you again. Kleiner especially, he’s hoping to get you back into his lab…don’t know if you want to do that, but the offer’s there.”

Gordon appeared to have had a weight lifted off his shoulders at the news, but the cold yet somber gaze didn’t leave his eyes. Barney planned to tell Gordon that they were among the few survivors of the Black Mesa incident, but he bit his tongue for the time being.

“...Never thought you’d be in the history books, did ya?” Barney let out a lighthearted chuckle in an attempt to lighten the mood. “You’re a hero in everyone’s eyes, now.”

Gordon shook his head, looking down and away from Barney’s gaze as he clasped his hands together on his lap. Barney stared at him with a look of confusion and worry, all before forcefully clearing his throat. 

“I’m just…happy to see you alive, Gordon.” Barney stated. “After…a few years I began to…to lose hope.” Barney paused for a second, realizing Gordon was still not meeting his gaze. “...Should’ve known you were a tougher son of a bitch than that, I guess.”

Gordon scoffed slightly before shaking his head again, still staring at his feet. Silence fell as Barney attempted to think of something else to say to ease the tense atmosphere, though his thoughts were blank and void of any ideas. Barney looked towards Gordon yet again, seeing he was raising his hands up to sign something:

“Missed you too.”

Barney smiled slightly, despite feeling as if he wanted to cry right then and there. He never anticipated he’d be this emotional in his life, yet here he was; about to cry for the second time that day. Seeing his legally dead friend after ten years of being missing in action was enough to warrant it, he supposed.

“I’m sure the others will be happy to show you everything they’ve been working on,” Barney said, with Gordon finally looking back up at him, before looking directly behind him, “They’ve been working on a new telepor–”

Gordon flinched, staring at something behind Barney before attempting to crawl backwards, nearly ripping off his IV in the process. Barney looked behind him, seeing nothing but the wall before he heard a loud thud coming from the bed. He turned, seeing Gordon had fallen off of the bed and onto the cold linoleum floor. “Gordon!” Barney quickly ran to his aid, holding out an arm for Gordon to grab, lifting him off of the floor. When weight was put onto his right leg, Gordon grimaced, using Barney as leverage as he was put back onto the bed. “Jeez Gordon, what got you freaked out so ba–”

Barney was silenced when Gordon hugged him without warning. Barney could hear him quietly sobbing into his shoulder, and as he returned the hug, he wondered if he had ever seen Gordon so touchy before; It was as if he hadn’t had human contact in days. This time however, Barney wasn’t quick to let go. The last thing he wanted to do was leave his best friend behind again.

Not this time.

[redheadspark]

Hi! Could I request #5 from the May Prompt with Oliver Wood, please?

A/N - Thanks for requesting this, anon!

Let You In

Summary - Oliver had a hard time letting others in, until you came along.

Warnings - Fluff

Oliver felt like a breeze could knock him over when he finally made it back to his apartment.

His muscles were screaming from the intense practice he had at the Puddlemere United practice field.  This year was particularly rough since they were up against some great teams who were moving up the ranks, Puddlemere handing on by a three in second place.  Oliver was even considered to be placed on the first string of players when the regular seasoned Keeper was getting under the weather.  Although it was a great opportunity for him to showcase his flying and Keeper tricks, which he had been perfecting for months on end, it also meant he had to stay longer after practice and work ten times harder.  Oliver wasn’t going to complain though, this was what he wanted and craved ever since he left Hogwarts.  Then again, maybe he underestimated the work and dedication it would take to be on a pro team.

Sacrifices were made in his life to make it to where he was: moving into an apartment that was closer to the stadium that was a bit too cramped, being away from that cramped for long hours on the field or in the clubhouse with the other players.  Sure he missed his old home closely with his parents, but he was trying to remind himself over and over that this was good.

It was a major shift for him, and he felt like he wasn’t the only one feeling the shift.  

Unlocking the front door of his apartment with a tap of his wand, the door unlocked and creaked in slightly. Oliver immediately breathed in the delicious scent of a roasting chicken from the kitchen, probably from the oven, and his stomach turned and grumbled so quickly.  He kicked the door shut after him, taking off his duffle bag from his shoulder and placing it on the ground in a heap.

“Oli?!  How was practice?!” 

Oliver smiled at the sound of your voice, his wife of a few years and his biggest supporter was always behind him with his quidditch career.  Ever since you two met back in the Hogwarts years he was over the moon in love with you.  Something about your quick wit and your upbeat view of life grabbed his attention instantly when you two were introduced by Angelina Johnson, not to mention the sparkle in your eyes and how cute you looked with your Hufflepuff scarf tucked around your chin to keep the chill-out.

“Rough, but I’m glad I’m done.  How was yer day?” Oliver asked as he stripped off his jacket to hang it up on the wall hook.

“Better now you’re home!  I have something for you back here, come on then!” You called from the direction of the bathroom that was connected to the master bedroom.  Oliver had to chuckle, playing along with whatever you had planned for him.  Oliver had to hand it to you, you knew how to keep him on his toes and never make things boring or mundane.  You made your relationship together playful and light, nothing too heavy or nothing too boring that would lead Oliver astray.  In fact, he found more comfort in you than he ever did with anyone else in his life.  It didn’t take long for him to propose to you, and you two then found a small flat together with the small amount of money you two scrapped together.  Those memories you had together as newlyweds were filled with nothing but happiness and positivity.  

Oliver found himself in the master bedroom, hearing the shower turning on in the bathroom and your bare feet on the tiled floor.  Oliver ruffled his hair which was now getting a bit too long, poking his head in the bathroom and seeing the steam already rise up from the stand-in shower that was in full blast.  You were grabbing a towel from the cabinet, wearing your cotton pajamas and an old Hufflepuff Quidditch practice shirt.  Oliver smiled widely at the sight of you in your raggedy PJs, he thought of you as beautiful than with the curves that were seen under your shirt and along your soft thighs as you finally heard him at the opening into the bathroom.

You eyed his appearance up and down, seeing the sweat still on his skin and along the shirt he was sporting.   You giggled, “I take it that practice was easy today?”

Oliver snorted as he looked at the clothes he was sporting, noticing the sweat stains on his shirt and he sighed, “It was a bit brutal,”

“I figured, which Is why I got a shower going for you,” You stated, Oliver tilting his head to you as you shrugged, “I know the hours you put in and how much you love playing, I think it’s high time for you to simply relax and unwind,” 

If there was someone who knew about Oliver and his devotion to Quidditch, it was you.  Even when you two started out as friends, you knew that nothing else would come first in his life than the sport itself.  You played too on the Hufflepuff team, which in return caused a huge scandal amongst each other’s teams when word got out you two were dating.  The Weasley twins even joked that Oliver was willing to go out with the enemy, though that was shot down real quick from one look from their Captain.  

You simply liked playing the sport, Oliver breathed it.  That never stopped you from supporting him and pushing him to be a better player, giving him sound advice when he was feeling low, and going to all his matches to watch him though half the time he wasn’t playing.  Oliver felt that love from you always, and he was grateful and considered it a blessing that you still loved and adored his quidditch-obsessed life.

When times were tough, you were there to help him and bring him out of the darkness.  Plenty of rejections and judgmental comments from other players, being sent to the bench over and over without a chance to prove himself and even dealing with some of his family drama and a massive health scare with his father.  You were with him, right by his side and making sure he knew that he was never alone.  Oliver already felt enough pressure going up as a quidditch player and later on, as a captain, he was used to the building pressure that would sometimes overwhelm him.

Not when you were there with him, it was almost like you had your own sense of magic on him that brought him more peace than chaos.  Maybe it was your calmness that would wipe out his stress, or perhaps it was your gentle tone that would replace his sternest.  But Oliver knew he changed for the better thanks to you and your love for him.  

Oliver stripped off his sweaty clothes, you doing the same with your own pajamas as you both were bare under the steaming hot water in the shower.  He leaned against the wall as you washed his back down with a washcloth.  He breathed in the eucalyptus that was floating in the air as the cloth you held was running along his muscled shoulders and then down his back.  Letting someone else take care of him was a first for Oliver, but he never minded it since you were amazing at taking care of him.  

He would always let you in.

The End

May Prompt Session

[strange-little-spy]

Tickle Fight ~ Gentle!Winter Soldier fluff

Summary: You have a hard day at work and Bucky tries to make you feel better, but it just winds up turning into a tickle fight

Content: FLUFF, FLUFF NOTHING BUT FLUFF, implied married couple activities but not mentioned.

Word Count: 4159 words

a/n: So there is some French in here, but it’s translated. I am personally not yet fluent in French, but I know the phrases used. Anyway, this was inspired by @ebbarnes’s fic called Gentle Hand and part of @buck-star’s writing event

Strap in for some good old tooth rotting fluff…

You didn’t mean to slam the door, but it came out as you dropped your jacket on the floor, absolutely drained from the day.

“Hey, baby-“ Bucky called from the kitchen as he sat with his laptop, still working on his paper for his degree. You and Sam had convinced him to go to college for a bachelors at least. So, he picked New York University. It took some pulling of strings, but they finally accepted him into the classes, but only online. 

“Hey, whoa, whats wrong?” He stood up, closing his computer when he noticed your expression and quickly came to your side like a clingy dog. 

“I’m okay, Bucky.” You tried to sound okay, but those blasted tears welled up in your eyes, betraying your troubles.

“Doll..” He looked hurt, he always did when you were sad. He hesitated before hugging you close, his real hand rubbing circles into your back. “I’m glad your home, baby.”

You nodded, your arm wrapping around his shoulder, feeling his metal arm under the shirt he wore. The tears spilled over at his affection, staining his shirt. 

“I’m so-sorry, Bucky,” You sighed, rubbing your eyes. “I feel so stupid-“

“No, no, honey,” He ducked to meet your eyes, his hand cupping your cheek and wiping the tears away. “You’re beautiful and amazing, and I love you for it.”

“But I can’t do anything right!” You fussed, stomping your foot. Bucky paused, his expression wavering at your outburst.

“I- I’m sorry, James. I didn’t mean to shout-“

“Shh,” He pulled you close to him again. “You could never hurt me, doll. Don’t worry about me, okay?”

“But you’re my world, Bucky. I have to worry about you.” You frowned, feeling like absolute trash.

“Look,” He placed a kiss on your cheek before looking at you. “How about you go take a long shower, wash your hair and then we’ll have diner, okay? I’ll make your favorite.” He flashed a warm smile, making you smile(with difficulty) back. You took a breath, wiping your eyes and sniffing. 

“Okay, bear.” You nodded. “I may be a second or so.”

“Take all the time you need, love. I’m not going anywhere.”

You decided to keep the light off while you showered for multiple reasons.

1. You didn’t want to see yourself in the large mirror

2. It was soothing for some strange reason

3. Plus why not

The hot water washed all the sweat and tears from you as you sat down on the tile, worming your fingers through your scalp and scratching at the roots. The steam cleared your sinuses out along with your lungs. You felt as if you could breathe clearer as you stepped out onto the mat, wrapping a fluffy towel around yourself. You could smell the scent of meat rising through the vents. Bucky couldn’t bake to save his life,  but boy, he could grill like a champ. So his steaks were the ones you practically lived for. You smiled and took a long breath, feeling lightheaded as you let it out again. You giggled as you remembered when he tried to make you a pie for your birthday the year you two had met. It was a failure to say the least. 

You turned on the blow-dryer, but also the string lights above your sink just to see what you were doing. But on the mirror, there was a square sticky note.

You leaned closer, reading the handwriting. It was definitely Bucky’s.

“You are beautiful, enough, worthy, lovely, and chosen.”

You had to laugh to keep the tears from overflowing again. He left notes like this, but never with this message. He must have really thought it out before putting it up.

Ah, you loved him.

You finished drying your hair and let it hang loose over your shoulders as you tugged on your warm leggings and one of Bucky’s hoodies. For some reason, his were way comfier than yours. And he never minded when you confiscated one.

You could here the timer going off from the kitchen as you moved into the living room. Bucky had already turned on the soft lights that emitted from behind the furniture and behind the TV which was already set for your favorite movie. But before you sat down, Bucky came running into the room telling you to hold on before you sat down.

“Don’t move. Do not move a muscle-“ He ordered before running back into the laundry room, just as the dryer buzzer went off, and tugged out your queen sized blanket, immediately wrapping it around you, scooping you up, and gently dropping you onto the couch. 

“Bucky!” You squealed, his grin making you smile ear to ear.

“Not a word,” He said before handing you your phone, now charged mostly.  “Dinner will be served shortly, madame.”

“Merci bea coup, mon mari.” You smiled back at him as he gave you another forehead kiss and then went back to the kitchen. The smell of steak wafting from his wake. You hummed and snuggled deeper into your blanket, he had stuck it in the dryer on high heat for at least 15 minutes, making it a burrow of warmth and comfort. You had an obsession with soft and fluffy things, blankets were no exception. Bucky had given it to you as a wedding present last year.

Your phone pinged in your hand, Natasha’s ringtone sounded. You unlocked the device and found the text. It was a selfie of her and Steve next to the Effiel Tower, a grin plastered on each of their faces.

“So good!!” You replied, typing quickly. “Happy honeymoon!! <3”

“Thank you!” She was quick to respond, surprising you. There was a large time difference from Paris and New York, easily eight hours- “Hope to you see you and James soon!”

“Sameeee!”

Natasha was your bestest friend ever. Not withstanding the factshe introduced you and Bucky, but she was kind otherwise. 

“Dinner has arrived,” Bucky said from behind you as you sat up and began to tie your hair back so it wouldn’t get in your way, but he sat the plate of steak, mashed potatoes and kernel corn into your lap, taking the hair tie off your wrist and whipped around to your back, gingerly pulling your hair into a low bun.

“James!” You giggled, trying to turn to look at him, but his metal arm reached around and tapped your plate. 

“Eat.” He ordered with a smirk as he finished off your hair. 

“You’re the most wonderful man I ever knew.”

“I should hope so,” He leaned against the couch. “Otherwise methinks I got some questions.”

You giggled through a mouthful of potatoes. “Oh, salt please.”

“Yup.” He pushed himself off the couch, speed-walking into the kitchen. When he returned, he carried your salt and his own plate, flopping down next to you, taking in the blankets warmth for himself. 

“Oh, c’mon, James.” You rolled your eyes. “You’re a personal radiator, why do you need the blanket?”

“Because I’m your husband and I wants blanket. Now gimme.” He practically growled, but there wasn’t a trace of gruffness in his tone. You snickered as he shoveled a forkful of steak into his mouth, still holding eye contact.

You shook your head, amazed that he hadn’t broken into laughs same as you. “Your steak is amazing, as always, bear. Thank you so much.”

“Anything for my girl.” He genuinely smiled, making your heart soar and speed up at the same time. To see him smile meant the world to you. After everything he’d gone through, he deserved to have a reason to smile. “Feeling better than the little cloud of rain that walked in here earlier?”

“Much better,” You finished off your plate, setting it on the coffee table in front of the couch. “I’m sorry I was so upset earlier..”

“Whatever is was, I’m sure it wasn’t your fault.” He reassured, mimicking you and then wrapping his arm around you so you were only separated by the thick, fluffy blanket and his hoodies. “Do you want to tell me about it now that you’re all cleaned up and feeling better?”

With this atmosphere and his adorable way of being with you, how could you not?

“Okay,” You sighed, getting comfy -er. “Well, I don’t think you’ve met my boss, Mr. Carmichal.”

“I’ve heard you mention him once or twice, but I don’t think I’ve met him.”

“Alright, well, if you’ll pardon my language, but he’s the biggest suka I have ever met.”

Bucky snickered at your choice of words. “Go on.”

“So today he demands to see me on work hours, and secondly, he’s refusing to grant me that raise that’s been coming to me for the last three years.”

Bucky’s expression hardens, someone was neglecting you? He would be ‘meeting’ this Mr. Carmichal…

“Alright.” He said, urging you onward.

“And you’ll never believe what he wanted to see me about.”

“What?”

“Apparently, I am using too many coffee stirrers at work, so I am now being fined for each second stirrer. And apparently he knows all and sees all, so I owe the company—“ You raised your palm to see the scribble on your arm that didn’t completely come off in the shower. “—1456 dollars and 98 cents.”

If you weren’t so serious, you would have snickered at Bucky’s shocked expression.

"One thousand, four-hundred fifty-six dollars and ninety eight cents???” He repeated. “You could by a car for that much.”

“Well, probably a hot-wheel. But nothing bigger.” You sighed, rubbing the figure off your skin. 

Bucky was silent for a long moment as you rested your head on his shoulder, his hand fingering through your scalp, soothing you.

“Do you have your boss’s number?” He finally asked. 

“Yeah, of course.”

“Give it to me.”

“What? What are you going to do, James??” You sat up.

“I’m going to call this guy, and you’re going to quit your job.” He held out his metal hand. 

“Are you insane? I can’t quit just like that!” You objected.

“Why not?? You can work with Potts! I bet she and Stark wouldn’t mind having you! You’re one of the best hackers I know of!”

“Software programmer, James.”

“Baby, I watched you track down HYDRA using this—“ Hetouched your forehead. “—And a laptop. I think you can work for Stark. I’d really don’t like the idea of you working for a guy like this Carmichal for four days a week.”

You sighed through your nose, looking at your phone. “But what will I say? He’ll have me to a contract.”

“Does your piece of paper say you can leave whenever you want and they can fire you whenever they want, with good reason?”

“Sure, down at the bottom. I had to ask Pepper about it before I signed it.”

“Then you’re not forced to finish that contract.” He held out his hand again.

You looked at him and then at your phone. “I hope you know what you’re doing, bear.” You said as you handed him the phone.

His lips turned up in a smirk before he unlocked your phone and scrolled through your contacts.

“Here we go.” He hit the number and held the phone up to his ear. 

“He may be at home by now.” You reminded, noting the time.

“Do I look like I give a darn about this suka?”

You held back your chuckle as the other end picked up.

“What do you want, Barnes??” Carmichal snapped. “It’s 9 o’ clock at night!”

“I have a working clock,” Bucky shot back, maintaining his eye contact with you. “This is (y/n)’s other half. I’m looking for a Mr. Carmichal.”

“Oh, I wasn’t aware Barnes was married.”

“Where do you think she got her last name?”

You held back your giggle by burying yourself into the blanket. 

“Look, you,” Carmichal snapped. “What do you want!? Its late!”

“Well, aware, mister.” Bucky continued without missing a beat. “Its what happens when the sun goes down. Anyway, my wife has been coming home after work with the worst case of an inferiority complex I have ever seen. It seems to me, someone has been treating her like a piece of garbage.”

“She doesn’t work like she’s getting paid for!”

“Oh? I thought she had a raise coming too.”

“Get to your point, man! I’m about to hang up.”

“I called you, mister. Lets not get sidetracked. As I was saying, no one treats my wife like that. Understand?”

“She’s a lousy worker!”

“She tracked down HYDRA and now works for the Stark Industries.”

Silence on the other end.

“She hasn’t informed the company—“

“Isn’t there an item on the contract she signed that explained in detail that she could terminate her employment with your company at any time?”

More silence and more giggles from the lump of blanket that you were. Bucky was working him like a champ.  Maybe you should give him all your scam calls…

“There is, but—“

“Then she terminates it.”

“And who the hell are you to quit your wife’s job???”

“Oh I dunno. An agent for SHIELD and part of Avengers, but nothing too important.”

Your hand reached from the blanket and flipped the bird, only to be smacked by Bucky.

“Wait- Barnes… NOT THE WINTER SOLDIER—!”

“`Bye.” Bucky hung up, dropping your phone on the couch. You let out a peal of laughter, throwing the blanket off you. 

“There, was that so hard?” He shrugged, also unable to hold back his own grin.

“You were beautiful, Bucky.” You squeezed through your giggles. “I’m gonna make you answer all my scam calls from now on.”

“Please no, I’d better not quit my day job.” He smiled as he pulled you onto his lap. 

You couldn’t stop smiling and snuggled close to him. “Love you, bear.”

“Love you too, sweetheart.” He brushed his metal hand against your cheek, his touch feather-soft. You were always fascinated with his arm, the way he could rip metal apart like paper, but he could also thread a needle like he’d done it before eighty times before. His fingers were cold against your smooth skin, a contrast to his other hand which was just as warm as yours. He’d always run hot.

But his flesh hand trembled under your arm, tickling you. You giggled, squirming away.

“Bucky—“

“Who me?” He smirked devilishly. “I didn’t do anything.” He ticked again, making your squeal.

“James Barnes,” You tried to sound sincere, but there was little fight against his attack. “Stop it-“

“I’m not doing anything, doll.” He leaned closer, reaching to your legs where your most ticklish places were. You squirmed and squealed, feeling rather trapped as he continued to tickle you.

"James!” 

“Who??”

“James Bucky Barnes!” Your legs railed inside the blanket as you kicked to get away. And when he finally let go, you bolted like a doe to the bedroom, his loud footsteps following close behind.

You let out an excited squeal as you hurdled a pillow at him which of course did nothing but it made him grin as he chased you. His eyes bright as he nearly caught you but you rolled over the bed, landing with a flop on the carpeted floor with a grunt. 

He jumped around to pin you to the floor, but you were ready.

When he leaned over you, you grabbed his right underarm and relentlessly tickled, laughing in triumph as he let out a laugh as well, his face turned up in a grin. 

“WHO’S GOT WHO NOW, HUH SOLDIER??” You heckled, still tickling down his torso. He would have collapsed on top of you if you hadn’t of wriggled out of the way and planted yourself on his knees.

“I fight back, Bucky.” You warned, your fingers curled as you held your hands above him. His eyes sparkled with his amusement, his metal arm laid to the side so he wouldn’t hurt you by squeezing too hard. 

“Terrifying little thing,” He smirked, shaking his head and sitting up on his elbow. “I’m so scared.”

“As you should be,” You slid off and eased yourself closer, giving him a slow kiss.

He moaned when you pressed your lips to his, he practically melted onto the carpet. You could feel his trembling under you, making your heart miss a beat.

When you broke apart, he gasped for breath, completely flushed. 

“Holy smokes,” He whispered, still breathless. 

“I’ve kissed you before, baby.” Your brows knitted together. “What’s so differ-“

But you couldn’t finished as his metal hand slithered to your neck, pulling you gingerly toward him. He met your lips with his, his warm breath making your cheeks red along with the blush that filled your face. You had only been married a year and he STILL did this to you. But you weren’t complaining. 

“Love you, angel.” He whispered, his lips brushing your cheek as he took in your scent. You knew he could feel your heart rate speed up through the layers of fabric that separated you. It wasn’t as if they were about to come off either, cuddling was all you needed.

“I love you too, James.” You smiled, your eyes meeting his. You could never really read his eyes, but you knew he was so, so down to the ground over you. Literally and figuratively.

You pecked a kiss on his lips again, making the appropriate ‘mmmwa’ noise to follow it. 

“You taste like steak.”

“Ya think?” You raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. “Huh, wonder why, you smart man.”

Bucky rolled his eyes as he nudged you off so he could sit up. “So are you fine with working for Stark?”

“Personally I wanna work with you and the Avengers.” You titled your head, your mane of hair was now loose from the bun Bucky had styled it into, so it tumbled over your shoulders. You recalled when Bucky had long hair. But he rarely let anyone touch it.

“We’d distract each other.” He scrunched his brows together.

“But your a pretty distraction!” You countered, trying to look innocent.

Bucky chuckled and flopped back on the floor. “I’ll talk to Steve when he gets back.”

“Oh-!” You bolted from the floor to the living room and snatched your phone off the floor from where you had kicked the blanket. You heard Bucky’s firm footfalls as he followed you. 

“C’mer-“ You waved him over trying to find the picture Natasha sent. “Look!” You held up your phone.

“Ooh, thats a good picture.” Bucky nodded. “Clint still owes me ten dollars.”

“What- why?”

“Him and I made a bet that it’d be a lot more dates before that punk would marry Nat.”

“Ha!” You snickered, setting your phone down. “He’s just old fashioned, James.”

“I’m older than Steve!”

“I know, but do I look like I care?” You touched your bottom lip and tugged on it, making doe-eyes at Bucky. 

He sucked his teeth and rolled his eyes. “Do that again and I just might climb all over you.”

You squealed and fell on the couch again, absolutely elated. He smiled and eased next to you, his eyelids dropping sleepily. You took a breath and tunneled your fingers through his hair, giving small scritches. He seemed to melt under your touch, his small moan making your heart twinge. He adored the little moments of affection you could spare him, anything. A hug in the middle of the night, head-scratches, the rubs you gave him after his intense workouts you so cheeringly encouraged him with. Everything. He relished it. He couldn’t live without you.

“I love you, Bucky.” You soothed. 

“Love you too, doll.” He rumbled, his metal arm resting over you while his other one roamed behind your back and rested on your hip, taking in your warmth. You intertwined your fingers with his metal ones as a hum escaped your lips as you nearly fought to stay awake. Whenever he cuddled with you was enough to send butterflies into a hurricane, but tonight was softer. After a crappy day, you merely wanted affection and fluff. 

And no one could give better affection than one mister Bucky Barnes. 

“We should really put the Christmas stuff up soon.” You mumbled as your hand burrowed under his shirt so your warmth could sooth where his metal arm met the flesh. 

“Tomorrow, sugar.” He replied, sounding just as sleepy as you. 

“Tomorrow.” You nodded.

It wasn’t long before you were both sound asleep.

The scent of toast woke you from your light sleep as you crawled out from your cocoon of the blanket and blinked. You had no idea what the time could be but based on the scent and the cold light coming in through the closed blinds of your bedroom, you guessed it was early morning. You yawned as you slid out of the bed. You remembered falling asleep on the couch so you assumed Bucky had placed you and the blanket back in your own bed. When he did, you couldn’t have guessed. True, he had habits of waking up and taking a short walk around your house just to calm down from a nightmare, and neither of you could really time them in order to make them less worse. But he never complained. That was another thing you loved about it.

You shivered slightly and looked at the time before you pulled a discarded hoodie off the foot of the bed and tugged it over yourself. 6:47. Not bad. That gave you enough time to shower— 

wait, no,

Bucky had quit your job meaning you were going to the Avenger’s compound today to ask Pepper about a job. 

“Right,” You mumbled sleepily as you pulled your socks on and ambled toward the kitchen where Bucky was looking at his computer as a mug of coffee cooled down next to him. You carefully stepped over the squeaky spot on the floor and began to pull the French press out of the cabinet. But cold fingers quickly slipped under your hoodie and pierced your skin as you let out a surprised scream.

“JAMES!”

He laughed behind you before he drew his metal arm away and hugged you from behind. “Good morning, angel.”

“You are naughty, James.” You tried to sound stern but not with him.

“Hmm, do tell.” He nodded as he buried his face in your hair. 

You smiled and shook you head as you heated up the water for your coffee. “How progress on your thesis?”

“Slow and excruciating.” He grumbled as he let you go, (with evident objection) so you could finish your process. “They want something done exactly how everyone else does it and I don’t understand why it has to be done just that one way. I can think of two other easier way to get it done in twice as less time.”

“Poor Bucky.” You stuck out your lower lip. “But I know, its hard to have to conform to their standards. But thats how society judges people. So what if so-and-so has a doctorate? That just means they went to school longer and can regurgitate the right information onto a piece of paper. Big whoop.”

Bucky just watched you and smiled as you went on your rant while you poured the steaming water into the French press. He loved it when you went on a tangent. It was cute in a way to see you get worked up over something.

“What?” You asked as you pushed the small plunger down. 

“You.” He smirked. “You’re cute when you’re pissed.”

“James,” You sighed and smiled at same time, resting your free hand on the counter, but you were quick to facepalm to hide your blush. “Why are you so adorable right now?” 

“I was about to ask you the very same question.”

You shook your head again. “Will you get me the cream and sugar please?” You pointed to the place where the items were kept as Bucky reached around the set them in front of you. “Danka.” You said before adding just the right amount to your morning coffee. Clint’s wife, Laura, had taught you a perfect combination of sweetness and the bitter flavor of the coffee beans for a soothing and yet invigorating drink. That reminded you to get a girl’s night together after Nat got back from Paris.

“Any suggestions how to approach Tony about a job?” You slowly took a sip of coffee.

“Uh, nope.” Bucky deadpanned. “He’s not hard to approach, baby.”

“Guess I’m too used to Carmichal.”

“Our friendly neighborhood suka.”

“Oh yes.” You snickered. “We need to get Tony to get him a nickname.”

“Nah,” He shook his head as he finished off his own coffee and shut his laptop. “I’ll drive you to the compound.”

“Thanks, Bucky.” You smile and go off to shower and change for the day.

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

Thank you for reading! Dividers by @strangergraphics

<3 Sandy

@oh-to-be-a-murderer, @fictionalmenjusthitdifferent

@crazyinlovewithmarvel, @teafangirl

If you want to be tagged(or removed!) Whenever I post fics or one-shots, send me an ask and I tag you! :D

[anyasathenaeum]

if requests are still open, maybe something for wolfwood where the reader gets injured pretty badly and he accidentally confesses? there’s been a lot of this kind of request lately LOL sorry- I’m rewatching badlands rumble and his little widow phase of destroying his hotel room then swapping his shades for vash’s is doing something to my brain… that and how brutally he internalized livio’s “death” in stampede.. like, maybe reader tried to hide the injury at first not wanting to hold whatever they were doing up, and he doesn’t really get any time to process so he doesn’t really realize what he’s saying until reader comes to in the hospital and gets to coyly tease their grumpy unhappy-but-very-happy but still somewhat stressed and upset over the “ok but what if you *had* died” wolfwood over how sappy and soggy he’d been lol (very “subtly” adding in the trope of sharing a hospital bed but if someone asked? totally wasn’t my idea)

A/N: HEY ANON, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS. WHAT A GOOD IDEA. Also not the widow phase omfg poor Wolfwood. Let's be real, Wolfwood really internalizes all his pain and grief and he needs a hug. Anyways, have this! Hope you like it, and sorry it took so long. Warnings: Mentions of violence, injuries, blood, death (almost), Wolfwood being bad at feelings (he's trying, okay?).

You weren't really sure how this had happened.

One of the downsides of travelling alongside Wolfwood was that he somehow managed to find himself trouble wherever he possibly could. This only worsened when he met Vash.

So, here you were, hiding behind an abandoned building in the middle of some crazy shootout between law enforcement, an undertaker, and a wanted fugitive with the biggest bounty on his head that No Man's Land had ever seen. Although, it seemed like law enforcement and the undertaker you called your best friend were the ones doing all the shooting.

At some point, a stray bullet ricocheted and lodged itself in your side, causing you to cry out in pain. Thankfully, neither Vash nor Wolfwood had been near you at the time, so they hadn't been there to witness you getting shot. Gritting your teeth and biting down on the collar of your coat, you quickly dug out the bullet, silencing your screams as white-hot pain coursed through your veins. Thankfully, the bullet came out cleanly with minimal digging, the small "plink!" as the metal casing hit the ground announcing your success in getting it out.

Sweat coursed down the side of your face and beaded your forehead, your chest heaving from the pain of your wound. With shaking hands, you fumbled through your coat pockets, digging out the piece of cloth you used as a handkerchief. It was clean enough, so biting down once again, letting out a groan of pain, you clumsily packed your bullet wound using your handkerchief. Once you were satisfied, you wriggled your coat off and tied it tightly around your waist, directly over your wound to apply pressure and stop the bleeding as best as you could.

"Move, (Y/N). You have to move," you gritted out, trying to get your body to listen to you.

You could still hear gunfire, and you heard Wolfwood's voice yelling various things at Vash between blasts and shots, so you knew both of them were still alive. In a moment of calm, you got to your feet, scrambling over to where the two of them had taken cover as best as you could, trying to ignore the pain radiating through your body with every step.

"(Y/N)! There you are!" Vash exclaimed, clearly glad to see you. Wolfwood, however, was otherwise occupied, using The Punisher to keep the law enforcement at bay and said nothing, merely glancing at you and nodding in acknowledgement of your arrival.

"Y-Yeah! Sorry, guess I got separated from you guys!" You shouted back over the sound of gunfire, glancing around and trying to figure out how to escape.

After a couple moments, Vash and Wolfwood managed to orchestrate an escape, and you followed as best as you could. However, the more you ran, the more you felt bile rising in your throat, the pain from your wound overwhelming you. Your vision began to fade in and out as you struggled to keep up with the two men, and just as you believed you would pass out, they stopped, giving you time to catch up.

Your chest heaved as you stumbled to a stop, your entire body in pure agony, sweat pouring down your face.

"Well, good job keeping up, sweetheart!"

You heard Wolfwood's teasing voice addressing you, and as you looked up at him, you could see him smiling at you with a crooked cigarette hanging from between his lips. His face was covered in ash and dust, but thankfully, he seemed unharmed. You felt a weight lift off your shoulders as you processed this, your heart all but singing in relief in your chest.

While you refused to acknowledge it openly, you knew, deep down, that your feelings for Nicholas D. Wolfwood had long since changed from simply friendship. Somewhere along the way, your heart had become his, and your feelings deepened. Somewhere along the way, you had fallen in love with the man who was your closest and best friend.

However, now, as you gazed at the man you loved, your vision began to blur. Your entire body suddenly felt light, and you felt dizzier than ever before. You could make out Wolfwood's face, his expression changing almost in slow motion, his teasing smirk falling away as he looked at you, his eyes widening in fear as he realized that something was desperately wrong.

"N-Nick..."

'I must've lost more blood than I thought.'

The thought vaguely crossed your mind, but you didn't pay it much attention as you felt yourself stumble and fall forward. Before you could land face-first into the sand, though, you felt strong yet gentle arms wrapping around you, supporting you and catching you before you could fully collapse.

"(Y/N)!"

You could make out a voice calling your name, their tone frantic and clearly frightened, and as you looked up, you could just barely recognize that it was Nicholas who was holding you. You could no longer make out his entire face, parts of vision fading in and out, but you caught glimpses of his expression, and you could see that his lips were moving.

"-tay awake! Ya hear me?! Stay awake! Goddamnit!"

His voice sounded far away, muffled as though submerged beneath water, but the panic in his words was evident. You could feel the pressure of his body against yours as he clutched you to him, but you could no longer feel the warmth that should've been radiating from him. The pain had disappeared, but so had just about everything else, too.

"(Y/N)! Look at me, just look at me, doll! That's it, just-"

You could no longer hear him, the only remainder of your consciousness the fragments of your vision and some ability to feel. You could see blood on Nicholas's hand, but somehow, you knew that it wasn't his - it was yours.

'Nicholas, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.'

You watched as Nicholas reached into his suit frantically, clearly searching for something. You could just barely make out what looked like one of his vials in his hands as he broke it open - would that stuff even work on you?

You felt your head being tilted back, strong but surprisingly gentle fingers on your jaw and your cheeks trying to open your mouth so he could tip the regenerative drug down your throat. It must've proven difficult because you could see a frustrated expression on Nicholas's face, sweat beading on his forehead as he struggled, unable to get the vial's contents in your mouth.

Before you could process what you were seeing, you suddenly felt something pressing firmly against your mouth - something soft and supple, and you could taste something strangely cold dripping down the back of your throat.

When your vision cleared slightly, you realized what you were feeling - Nicholas's lips were pressed against yours in a desperate kiss, a frantic attempt to get the drug that could potentially save your life into your system. While you had been guilty of imagining what your first kiss with Nicholas might've looked like, this certainly wasn't it.

'A kiss?... Nicholas...'

And then the darkness swallowed you, taking Nicholas and the world with it.

---

Darkness.

That's all you knew and all you could make out - the darkness that surrounded you completely. Somehow, though, you knew you weren't dead. Not yet.

Slowly, over time, you felt yourself beginning to regain bits of your consciousness - you hadn't yet opened your eyes, but you had become aware of the sounds and goings-on around you, wherever you were presently.

You could hear a steady beeping from whatever machine was beside you. You could hear the footsteps and voices of whichever healers had come in to check on you. You could feel the ache from your wound, no longer the sharp, agonizing pain from before but still painful and uncomfortable. You could feel pressure of something warm laying in your lap, and something rough yet soft and warm enveloping your hand.

The darkness seemed to ease bit by bit, slowly giving way to more and more of your senses and allowing you to piece together information about what happened and where you were - you were in a medical center a couple towns over from where you, Vash and Wolfwood had gotten caught up in the shootout with law enforcement.

By the bits of conversations you had caught from healers, you'd lost quite a lot of blood by the time you were brought in, and you were on the brink of death for a time before stabilizing. You had also caught snippets of conversations referring to "your visitor", a person who had apparently not once left your side and whose identity you weren't entirely certain of until you'd heard them speak.

"You idiot."

'Nicholas.'

His voice was low and gravelly, and to your surprise, his words were slightly shaky. You had only heard his voice do that when he was afraid or overwhelmed.

"Y-You... you got shot, and you didn't think to tell me? You idiot, we're supposed to trust each other. You're supposed to trust me! We always have each other's backs, don't we? Just like we always have. So why didn't you tell me, (Y/N)? Why didn't you say something? Instead... I watched you die."

'But I'm not dead! I'm right here, Nick!'

You wished you could speak and reassure him, explain why things happened the way they did, but you were still just waking up, not yet fully conscious.

"Do you have any idea just how afraid I felt, (Y/N)? Seeing you like that, bleeding in my arms, unable to get you to wake up or to stabilize you? I thought you HAD died, I was convinced that that was it - I'd lost the one person in the world who meant absolutely everything to me, the one person I loved."

Your heart all but stopped when you heard those words - he loved you? Nicholas D. Wolfwood loved you? Was this reality, or were you simply dreaming?

Before you could begin to process his confession, you heard Nicholas continuing to speak, his voice still low and even shakier than before.

"This world is crazy, a-and terrible, and you were the only person who ever made it make sense, (Y/N). W-When I thought you were dead... God, I wished I were dead, too. So you don't ever get to do that again, do you hear me?! You don't ever get to do this to me again. I'm not losing you again."

Nicholas's voice was so filled with a mix of emotions - anger, fear, sadness, grief, frustration, and so much pain. Had you been able to cry, you would've, guilt flooding through you as you realized just how much you had affected him.

You hadn't intended for this to happen. You just hadn't wanted to worry him in the middle of a gunfight, but afterwards, things had just moved so quickly that you hadn't had a chance to alert him or Vash to your injury.

'Wake up, (Y/N). Wake up now, you have to.'

You let out a soft groan as you struggled to open your eyes, wincing as the light stung after however long you had spent in darkness. As your eyes adjusted, you looked over to see a very unshaven, rugged-looking Nicholas sitting by your bedside, his eyes wide in surprise as he looked at you.

As soon as you made eye contact with him, you gave him a soft smile. Your throat and mouth were dry, and your voice was extremely hoarse and ragged.

"H-Hi."

Nicholas just stared at you, not saying anything as you slowly sat up in your bed with a groan, your wound aching as you shifted. You struggled to sit up, your muscles weak as you tried to move for the first time in a while, and you suddenly felt an arm around you, helping you sit up. When you glanced over, you saw that Nicholas was the one helping you up.

"Thank you," you whispered hoarsely, your face darkening slightly from embarrassment as you processed everything that you'd heard. You reached over to your bedside table for the glass of water, finally taking a sip to parch your throat.

"How are you feeling? Any pain?"

Wolfwood's voice was quiet, no longer shaky as it had been before. Instead, now it was concerned, his gaze looking you over from top to bottom. He was surprisingly good at keeping his emotions hidden when he needed to.

"I'm achy, but otherwise, I think I'm okay," you replied, smiling at him a bit, "H-How long have I been out?"

"A few days. Almost a week, now."

"That explains a lot," you sighed. "I'm sorry, Nick. For everything. I..." You looked down at your hands in your lap. "I got shot in the middle of the gunfight, and both you and Vash were busy. I just... I didn't want to distract either of you or worry you in the middle of it all. I figured I could tell you afterwards, but then... things went so fast. I'm so sorry..."

Wolfwood just sighed heavily, shaking his head as he spoke, "You scared the crap outta me, (Y/N). You know that?"

"I know..." You felt ashamed as you continued to look at your hands, unable to make eye contact with Nicholas just yet. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you like that. I hope that you forgive me, eventually."

Wolfwood just sighed again, standing up from his seat and walking over to your bedside once more. He gazed at you for a long moment before asking, "Well? Aren't ya gonna move over?"

You blinked.

"W-What?"

"Move over, idiot," Wolfwood scoffed, rolling his eyes at your lack of understanding.

You blinked again before feeling heat rising to your face and shifting over in the medical bed, making enough room for Wolfwood to climb in next to you. The undertaker got comfortable in the bed next to you, his arm wrapping around you and pulling you close to him, hugging you close to him. You immediately wrapped your arms around him in return, burying your face into his chest and taking comfort from his presence. Despite his rough exterior, the man was a huge softie who needed this just as much as you did.

"I missed you, Nick," you mumbled softly, letting your eyes fall closed and allowing a small smile to appear on your face as you continued, "And I love you too, by the way."

Now it was Nicholas's turn to blink, clearly stunned.

"What?"

You couldn't help but giggle softly, "I heard your words, Nick. Including your confession of love."

"What confession of love?"

Now you were properly laughing at the expression of confusion on Nicholas's face and the fact that his face had turned a shade of deep crimson.

"You didn't even realize that you'd said it, eh, Punisher?"

You couldn't help but tease the man who was your best friend, stifling your laughter as best you could as you watched Nicholas trying to figure out exactly what he had said to you and the colour of his face only darkening.

"You said "I'd lost the one person in the world who meant absolutely everything to me, the one person I loved" when you were talking to me. You thought I was still unconscious, but I could hear you, Nick - I just couldn't answer you then," you explained softly, reaching up and tilting Nicholas's face so he was looking at you as you spoke, "I love you, too, Nicholas D. Wolfwood."

"Seriously?" Nicholas replied cautiously, studying your face as if to ensure you were telling the truth.

"Yes, you moron, seriously!" You laughed, tapping his cheek playfully. "I've loved you for a long time, I just never told you. And now, I'm glad I never told you. Otherwise, I never would've heard your dramatic love confession. I never knew you were such a hopeless romantic, Nick! Didn't think you had it in you."

"Oh, shut up," Nicholas muttered under his breath, his blush darkening as he looked away from you in embarrassment. "You're lucky I love you."

You couldn't help but grin teasingly, "Oh, I'm sure. By the way, I really wasn't expecting my first kiss with you to be when I was borderline unconscious and with you pouring whatever is in those vials into my mouth."

"I-wha-you-!"

Nicholas was spluttering, his face crimson as he tried to argue or contradict your statement, and it only made you laugh harder than you had been previously. You burrowed into his embrace, holding him as tightly as you could without worsening your injury.

"Splutter all you want, Undertaker, you're not escaping this. Although..." You trailed off with a mischievous grin before saying simply, "I'd be happy to do a retake of our first kiss."

After a moment of recovery from his embarrassment, Nicholas ran a hand through his hair before chuckling slightly, "Yeah? That so, doll? I think I could be persuaded to do that... for the right price."

"The right price? What price is that?" You asked, looking at him curiously.

"I dunno yet. I'll think of something later."

Without another moment of hesitation, Nicholas leaned down, his hand coming up to cup the back of your neck as he pressed his lips to yours in a surprisingly gentle kiss.

Unlike before, this kiss wasn't desperate and filled with fear of you dying. This kiss was tender and gentle and loving, chaste and almost unsure. You felt your heart fluttering in your chest as you happily returned the kiss, the rest of the world falling away for the moment.

When the two of you pulled away, you snuggled into Wolfwood's embrace, at last feeling content and safe.

"Hey, Nick?"

"Yeah, (Y/N)?"

"Where did Vash disappear to?"

Nicholas just chuckled.

"Blondie's been chillin' in the inn in town. I haven't seen him much since you ended up here."

"Well... maybe you outta go shower and take a nap and shave or something. Because as much as I love you, you look rough."

"Hey! That's a rude thing to say to your hero, sweetheart!"

You couldn't help but smile.

"My hero, indeed."

[the-himawari]

A3! Hyodo Kumon - Translation [SR] Bright Star of Blooming (1/2)

*Please read disclaimer on blog; default name set as Izumi

---

Kumon: …

*door opens*

Kazunari: Hey, what’s hanging? I wonder if anyone's here?

Misumi: Ah, Kumon’s here~!

Muku: What are you watching there, Kyu-chan?

Kumon: Videos from “Journey to the Colours”! I thought I’d re-watch them before the screening party. I was still a high school student back then, huh~? That’s a blast from the past~.

Kazunari: Oof, not sure enough time has passed for you to be saying that, fam!

*notification sound*

Kumon: Ah! It’s a LIME from Yamaguchi!

Muku: Is Yamaguchi-kun doing well?

Kumon: Yep! We’re gonna play backyard baseball together next time!

Muku: It’s great you’re still close after starting university.

Kazunari: If they're gonna play a backyard baseball game, should we go cheer them on again?

Misumi: Let’s go, let’s go~!

Kumon: Really!? That’d be awesome! Thanks, guys! But we have do to the screening party first!

Muku: I’m looking forward to that too!

Kazunari: Is Gucchi gonna come to the screening?

Kumon: He said he’d pass since it’s not an actual performance~.

Misumi: Aw~, that's too bad!

-pause-

Kazunari: Yay! Rocking the long hair again~!

Misumi: I have red hair~.

Kumon: Sumi-san’s red hair looks so fresh! “Journey to the Colours” is great ‘cause we get such bold hairstyles. Azami never misses! Of course the colourful costumes Yuki made are the best too!

Yuki: Yes, yes. I know.

Izumi: It’s almost time, everyone. Are you ready?

Kumon: Ah, hey! It’s been a while, but since we’re wearing our costumes, let’s do a huddle! C’mon, gather ‘round, everyone~!

Misumi: I’m down. Let’s do it~!

Yuki: It’s not a play though.

Kumon: Man, it’s too bad Ginkaku and Kinkaku aren’t here…

Yuki: Well, those two are the bad guys.

Kazunari: Right!

Misumi: Lead the cheer, Kumon~!

Kumon: Alriiight. Here goes… LET’S GO, TO TENJIKU!

Troupe members: YEAH~!

-pause-

Kazunari: Everyone~, thanks for coming today!

Kumon: We were just talking about this in the dressing room, but it kinda feels like we’re missing something without Kinkaku and Ginkaku here… sorry about that!

Yuki: It’s fine this way. If they were here, they’d be calling me char siu.

Audience: Ahaha!

Kumon: Hey, Ginkaku would say that, but Muku wouldn’t! We may be wearing our costumes today, but we’re not acting like our characters!

Misumi: That might be fun too though~?

Kumon: You mean speaking in character? If we did that, then this whole thing would become improv—.

Kazunari: …Goku, please. Quiet down.

Kumon: HUH!? Kazu-san totally transformed into my Master…!

Misumi: Goku’s bouncing off the walls like usual.

Kumon: WHAAA!? Now Sumi-san’s Gojo…!?

Guest A: Ahaha, that’s the Summer troupe experience!

Guest B: They’re the best!

Yuki: See, we’re getting off track now. Goku, I mean, Kumon. Pivot back.

Kumon: Right! Um… what should we talk about? Maybe some behind the scenes stories from the show?

Yuki: In that case, you have to say something about your time as the lead.

Kumon: You think~!? Lemme see… I guess it was really fun getting to do proper action scenes with Summer troupe~. It felt cool having Banri and nii-chan train us too. It was super exciting for all of us to use long weapons and do fight scenes together!

Misumi:  It also felt new having an enemy team in one of our plays~.

Kazunari: I know, right! Paul from Sky Pirates was all alone in the first run. I was super jealous Tenten and Mukkun got to be a team~!

Yuki: In Summer troupe’s plays, I guess we appear more often as one team rather than splitting up into enemies and allies.

Kumon: During the run of this show, I was supported by not only my co-lead Kazu-san, but also everyone else in the Summer Troupe during both the rehearsals and on stage. I’m truly happy that I get to act together with Summer troupe in this theatre company! Once again, thank you so much for everything!

Kazunari: Kumopi…!

Misumi: I’m glad you’re here too, Kumon~!

Yuki: I can’t believe he can say all that without feeling embarrassed.

Guest C: All of them get along so well…!

Guest D: Summer troupe is so precious…!

Kumon: Ehehe!

---

| next

[blackstargazer]

Mid-Week Snippet

Thank you @snarky-magpie for tagging me. ♥️

This one is raw so if you see any mistakes, no you don’t. It’s from an unposted fic called “Swimming Through the Void” for the amazing @themoonthesunandthestarsbetween coming (at some point) in 2025.

Thunder rumbled, the sound of it vibrating against 12 Grimmauld Place and shaking the wall Regulus’ four post bed was pressed against. A flash of light cracked in the sky, temporarily illuminating the room forcing the monsters to hide behind the chair, under the bed, in the closet for a brief moment. Regulus could still see their shadows and shuttered, fear wracking his tiny body. The hairs on his neck and arms raised along with his pale flesh. Before the thunder had a chance to respond to the shouting match from his parents down the hall, salvation came in the form of a yellow light peeking through an open door. “Reggie?” A small voice pierced through the black void Regulus was swallowed in. His mother didn’t allow for a nightlight, claiming it was for his own good. If she allowed such childish comforts, he would grow up to be afraid of the dark. “Siwi?” Regulus called, stumbling over the hook of the “r” that refused to roll off his tongue. Sirius took his name as an invitation and hastily entered the room, closing the door behind himself to hide the evidence of his midnight escape. Little feet padded against the hardwood and Regulus pulled back the cover and scooted over to make room for his brother. Sirius climbed in and wrapped his tiny limbs around an even smaller Regulus. The pair shuttered against each other as the sound of breaking glass echoed down the hall, slipping through the crack at the bottom of the door and into frail incomprehable ears. “They’we so angwy.” Regulus cried, nuzzling his nose into the crook of Sirius’ neck, breathing in the honeysuckle scent, desperate to smell the sunshine buried there. Cannons and a flash blasted at the same time as the rain poured down drowning out the sounds of domestic turbulence within the dark home and the two boys clung to each other in solidarity. “Siwi?” Regulus asked, pulling his brother closer to him, “can you sing me the song?” Regulus knew his brother wouldn’t have to clarify. There was one song that always cheered Regulus whenever he was feeling the least bit poorly. He had found comfort in the melody, the words, and the animated way Sirius usually performed—often on top of a high surface, as if he were on a stage performing just for Regulus. One star to another. Sirius ran an open palm over dark curls that sprang up as his fingers passed by them. “Yeah, alright. Climb over,” Sirius said. Regulus obeyed and climbed over his brother to snuggle into the open arms. Assuming his normal position, Sirius cradled Regulus in his arms, back to chest and rested a chubby cheek against long dark curls as he began to hum a sweet and happy tune that soothed the exposed nerves of Regulus’ ears. “I was sick and tired of everything When I called you last night from Glasgow All I do is eat and sleep and sing Wishing every show was the last show.” Sirius’ voice was low and shaky and his eyes were ever watchful on the door, as if he were anticipating a monster ti rip him away from soothing his brother. “So imagine I was glad to hear you comin’ Suddenly I feel alright And it’s gonna be so different when I’m on the stage tonight.” Regulus sang along, quietly echoing his brother in all the right spots, tripping over those pesky “r”s that tasted foreign on his soft palate. “Tonight the super trouper lights are gonna find me Shining like the sun, smiling having fun Feeling like a number one Tonight the super trouper beams are gonna blind me But I won’t feel blue, like I always do ‘Cause somewhere in the crowd there’s you.’ Time slowed, and the melody with it, giving the usually happy song a melancholy sound; still, the familiarity of the tune and his brother's arms alleviated the tremors that wracked his tiny frame, and soon, the littlest star was asleep.

Tagging (with no pressure to participate) @star-liit @cassetteinability @roadsidehorror @wormvirtues @jessonsundays

[klausinamarink]

I’m Still Here, Boys

rating: T | cw: offscreen physical assault | tags: wound care, hurt/comfort, post S4, Steve lives with the Munsons, Wayne being the best uncle | wc: 654

written for @steddieholidaydrabbles | Dec 26: Who did this to you?

When Wayne pulled up to his new government-paid house and saw Steve’s car on the driveway, he thought nothing of it.

But once he walked through the front door and saw two pairs of jackets with bloody sleeves lying on the floor, Wayne’s thoughts veered to the worse.

“Boys?” He called out urgently. There was a muffled thud down the hall. Wayne immediately followed the noise, leading him to a closed door to the bathroom. He threw it open just after he heard Eddie started calling, “Waitwait, Wayne-!” 

He froze at the sight before him.

Steve and Eddie were both sitting in the tub, their faces a mess of cuts and bruises. Steve looked like he had a broken nose while Eddie had a strip of gauze over his left eye and cradled his right arm suspiciously close to his chest. They had also taken their shirts off so Wayne could see bright purple bruises covering their ribs and arms. 

“What happened?” Wayne heard himself speaking, but it held more restraint than his own body as the embers of anger started to overwhelm him. “And don’t even say it was nothing because it sure as hell looks like none.”

The boys looked at each other, having one of their silent conversations. Finally, Steve’s gaze fell to the floor while Eddie looked at Wayne. Christ, he looked more awful with the new injuries overlapping his scars. It made Wayne clench his fist, though behind his back so his nephew wouldn’t get the wrong idea.

“We-” Eddie stopped, licked his lips with a wince (there was a cut there too, sweet Mary and Joseph-), and started again, “We got… jumped.”

“Who did this to you?” Now Wayne’s voice began to tremble. Eddie looked away with a shaky breath. “Who?”

“It- Wayne, I swear we didn’t even know them! Steve and I were just, uh, minding our own business out of town when-” Eddie clamped his mouth shut, wrestling his hands together. Even from a few feet away, Wayne saw the blood underneath. 

“They knew Eddie from the news.” Steve said, sounding too quiet and distant for a young man. “They said he should’ve died in the earthquake. I got in front of Eds, told them they could go to hell or go through me.” He gave out a dry laugh and pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly holding back tears. Eddie looked like he was even there anymore.

Wayne couldn’t handle just standing here anymore, so he took two large strides and threw his arms around the boys. He hugged them tight, blood be damned, though he had to be careful when they both winced in his ears. But Eddie lifted his arm around Wayne, Steve following suit a second later.

Wayne took several deep breaths before he pulled back slightly and looked at his boys, both of his hands lightly gripped behind their heads so they all held eye contact. “Listen to me. First and foremost, I am so glad as hell that you two even managed to make it home alive. Second, let me help in fixing you boys up. I don’t trust either of ya to keep your eyes open for long.”

Eddie and Steve both looked close to damn-near sobbing that Wayne hugged them a little longer.

Much later, once the boys were properly cleaned and bandaged, Wayne sent them to bed with water and Tylenol, along with a firm order for them to holler if anything happened during the night.

After a moment of contemplation, Wayne went to his own bedroom and took out his rifle. It was old and hadn't been shined in a few years, but he still had some ammo left.

He promised himself that the next time Eddie and Steve go out, he’ll tag along so just in case if those bastards show up to dare and hurt them again, Wayne will blast their faces off.

[klaprisun]

One Sunny Day

(Stardew Valley)(Haley x Female Farmer)

Chapter 34

For some reason on my walk to the saloon, I saw nobody. There was nobody walking around, nobody doing yard work, nobody running errands. I know it is pretty late out, but people are usually still out and about. It’s giving me a really weird vibe.

Today is also the first day of fall! I had a lot of crops to clear out for the new season, but thankfully my project is still intact. I don’t know what I’m waiting for at this point… it’s really not a huge thing.

I kick a pebble from my path as I venture closer to the saloon. Still no sign of anyone. But as I get closer and closer to the building, I start to hear really…really… loud country music coming from inside. My curiosity is immediately in full gear, so I rush the rest of the way.

Bursting through the door of the Stardrop Saloon, I couldn’t even hear the bell over the sound of the jukebox at full blast. All the tables have been pushed aside creating what seems to be a dance floor. To my surprise, the dance floor was completely full with everyone dancing in rhythm to one another. Bodies were flying and twirling all around so quickly that I couldn’t keep up. What I really noticed was everyone changing partners every couple of minutes.

“A fucking hoe down?” I mumble in exasperation. I already had a tough time keeping up at the Flower Dance and that required no skill. This is another level for me.

People started noticing I was looming by the door and tried waving me over. First Gus, then Marnie, then Lewis, then what felt like the rest of the town. I had to wave off so many people in embarrassment.

I thought I was safe until Leah came swirling like a tornado my way. I couldn’t even object before she yanked my arm and tossed me into the mix of bodies on the dance floor. My arms connected with someone’s immediately and they swung me around to the beat of the music. When there was a pause in the dance, I could finally see who I landed with.

“Hey Danny,” Alex greeted me as we did a weird side step dance move while he held my hand up. I tried my very hardest to concentrate on his foot work so I could keep up.

“What’s all this about?” I question loudly over the sound of the hand claps echoing through the room.

“Not too sure to be honest. People kind of showed up and then Gus turned the jukebox up and it summoned the rest of the town in a weird, creepy way. It felt like being lured by a siren call,” Alex joked.

“How are you doing?” he twirls me around with his hand holding mine above my head. It’s really weird to be dancing with a dude, especially since we are both bulky, stone, statues.

“If you mean about Taylor and all that, I’m doing well. It’s going well. We might even officially put a label on our situation eventually,” we slide to the left a little awkwardly and my boot gets caught in a splitter on the floor board. I have to pry it away.

“That’s really good news. I’m glad to hear,” I give him a sincere smile and he gives me one in return.

“So you and Haley..? How is that going?” I see his eyebrows raise from the corner of my eye since the dance is everyone facing forwards in a line dance style now.

“It’s going better than great.” I feel my face heat up as I recap the previous night. Just as Haley suspected, I can tell Alex somehow figured out what happened because his face lit up as his jaw dropped. Just as he opened his mouth to say something, I was yanked away into someone else's arms.

“Look at you go! You are a natural!” Marnie sings as I spin her around. Somehow I fell right into the flow of the dance now. I’m not really thinking about it too much.

“It took some concentration at first, but I am slowly getting the hang of it,” I shrug.

“How are your chickens doing? Are you ready for some cows in a barn yet?” Marnie laughs. Once again, the clapping nearly drowns out our conversation.

“They’re growing so fast. I miss them as little chicks already. I’m nearly ready for some cows though. I can’t wait.”

“What are their names again? I have such a bad memory these days.”

I trip a little in the middle of the side step I was doing as I think of the names. On their own, they sound like normal chicken names… but together there is a bit of a pattern.

“Well… there is Coconut…Pinkie…Fruit Cup… and… Sunflower.”

“Oh those are such lovely names! I just know you take great care of those little rascals,” Marnie exclaims. “Time for another partner swap!”

Marnie must do this a lot, because a second after, I was pulled into the crowd by someone else for another round of the dance.

“Look at those hips move, girl!” Leah hollers as she holds my hips and starts rocking them back and forth a bit more than I was already doing.

“They ain’t even moving that much. You’re doing that,” I chuckle. I’m really working up a sweat at this point. This dancing is no joke.

“I bet Haley’s hips have been moving this much,” Leah pokes my side causing me to recoil, then lets go of my hips to line dance to the next part of the song.

“Maybe more,” a smirk forms on my lips and I give Leah a telling look. That causes her to clue in immediately. Just like Alex, she was also cut off by me getting pulled away before she could say anything.

“How have your injuries been? Have you been taking care of them? How is your head?” Harvey bombards me with questions right off the bat.

“No complaints yet…” I jokingly answered.

“What?”

“Never mind.”

“So you are doing good?” He asks again. We hesitate a moment in the dance as we kind of get confused about who twirls who around which ultimately ends with me twirling Harvey.

“I have been taking care of myself. Don’t worry, doctor,” I flash him a charming smile. Harvey’s face distorts into an unreadable expression, and his cheeks go slightly pink. It throws me off and makes me get flustered. I trip over my own foot for a second but quickly regain balance. I guess I just have that effect on people..?

“C’mere,” Elliot pulls me away from Harvey so I can now be his dance partner. I didn’t even realize it was time to switch already. Each dance sequence feels like it's getting quicker and quicker. But I think I’m just getting used to it.

“That was so weird. I think I just made Harvey blush?” I say with uncertainty.

“I don’t think you know how attractive you are. Don’t cut yourself short,” Elliot says firmly.

“Well I don’t know about THAT,” I roll my eyes as I click my heels and toes against the ground to the beat.

“You literally made Haley rethink her sexuality,” Elliot points out. We shimmy past one another with our knuckles placed on our hips. I tip my hat down at him as we pass by each other.

“See. Right there. You’re attractive whether you agree or not. I’m not into you, but I see how you got Haley’s panties in a twist-” Elliot's sentence gets cut short as Leah spins by us and whispers into his ear. He listens intently, but his eyes widen and both of them look my way directly after. Leah gets swung back away from us by her dance partner, Caroline. Elliot is left gawking like an idiot as everyone changes dance partners again.

My next dance partner turned out to be Pierre. He was a bit off beat and that caused me to be thrown off a bit.

“I don’t know why I keep trying to do these dances. I’m getting too old for this,” he sighs.

“What are you talking about? You’re still plenty young!” I nudge his shoulder, trying to get his spirits up.

“Caroline has so much energy and a free spirit. I wish I could keep up with her and her hobbies.”

“I’m sure you guys have some kind of things you do together?”

“Yeah I guess we do. I just feel like she doesn’t like me as much anymore.”

“Why don’t you get her a bouquet to let her know how much you still love her? I’m sure she’d love that.”

“Good idea, Danny. Haley is a lucky girl.” And with that he gives me a wink and the dance is already over for this partner rotation.

I try to make eye contact with someone in the crowd so I know where I’m getting dragged to next. All I can see is an ocean of dancing people, no one person is looking back at me. Suddenly I feel my arm get tugged into the next dance.

“You looked like a lost puppy,” Maru giggles as we start clapping.

“I feel like one. I just keep getting whipped around from person to person. I can’t keep up,” I huff as I wipe a drip of sweat from my forehead.

“It's nearly over. Just a few more partner swaps!”

“I bet it will feel like forever. I’m going to sleep good tonight though that’s for sure.”

“Well it’s already time to switch! Good luck out there!” Maru lets go of my hand and I’m washed back into the crowd.

Instead of being spun, swung, or twirled away by someone, I find myself line dancing beside good old, energetic Sam. He looks over at me when he notices I picked my pace up to match his. I see his eyes narrow and he starts getting more aggressive with his dancing. The beat starts picking up in the song, and the two of us start “dance battling” each other. We are the only two paying attention to our intense dancing. We even join hands at some point and act like we are actually dance partners, but really we were competing.

We keep that up for the entire round, not speaking to each other once. I did look away a few times to gaze around at everyone else having fun. I also notice Leah and Elliot whispering to people from our group here and there. They are such gossips.

Sam and I’s competition really took the last wind out of me. I’m starting to get absolutely pooped. Sam dances his way into the wave of bodies out of my sight, and I’m left dizzy, brain spinning in circles. I feel my body slowly start walking me off course, causing me to bump into someone.

“Oh my Yoba. Willy!?” I say as I crash into Willy’s open arms. He must’ve been expecting me to lose my senses and stumble around. I rarely get to talk to Willy. He likes to spend time out at the pier and in his store. I haven’t really been focused on fishing or anything lately so it’s been a while.

“Ahoy lass! How ye been?” His grumbly sounding voice and gruff appearance always makes people afraid of him. But he is one of the sweetest people I’ve met.

“Living the dream. How ‘bout you?” Willy twirls me around, more gracefully than anyone else had tonight.

“Still tryin’ to keep the fishing business running. Some may say I'm trying to keep it afloat!” he starts chuckling at his own pun. I joined in on the laughter as it was a good pun.

“You been having any luck in these local waters? You were a great angler there at the beginning,” Willy asks.

“I’ve been a bit... preoccupied,” I say sheepishly. “I promise I’ll try to get out there again soon.” I recognize the vibe in the air that means it is time to change partners. Willy and I tip our hats to one another and spin away.

This time, I’m dragged into a dance with Penny. Although, It was more like we bumped into each other and just went with it.

“Penny! Hi!” We grasp hands and hold them out to the side. My other hand is lightly holding her waist while hers is just kind of resting on my shoulder. We bounce to the music, sticking our feet out every which way, trying to keep in sync with everyone else.

“Hi Danny!” You are a great dancer!” she admired my footwork for a minute but then dance required us to spin next.

“Meh, this part is easy work. I get so lost when the line dance part comes up. I think I’ve tripped like three times during that bit.”

“It took me years to learn how to line dance. We haven’t even gotten to the fastest song yet. That’ll throw you off for sure. I still get lost during it,” she laughs.

“How is the teaching going? Are the rascals behaving for you?”

“Jas and Vincent are truly great kids. I love teaching them. Sometimes they are a handful but I can take it.”

“You are such a kind person for doing that for them. Everyone is so thankful for all that you do.”

“Awww thank you. It’s something I’m really interested in doing for the rest of my life. It would be nice working with pristine, good condition textbooks. The ones we have here are very rickety, old things. They basically fall apart in your hands.”

Before I could respond, I felt someone slide their hands up my arms, over my biceps, to my shoulders. Penny gives me a smirk as she can see who has walked up behind me. She gives me a slight nod and dances away.

The hands on my shoulders start twisting me around so that we are face to face.

“I know those hands anywhere,” I whisper to Haley. She had finally arrived at the saloon, making me have to suffer all this dancing by myself until now.

“I’m sure you do,” she seductively whispers back, wrapping her arms around my neck. I tuck mine in around her waist, holding her close. Suddenly the synchronized dancing doesn’t have my attention anymore.

Before we could even settle into a nice, slow dance pace, she flashes me a bright grin and picks up into the line dance choreography. I let out a sigh, but excitedly went to join her as her partner.

“Isn’t this fun!” she shouts over the loud music. We are holding hands, bobbing in and out as well as doing some fancy footwork.

“You’re just lucky I decided to join in with you. I’ve been dancing this for a really long time. I was starting to feel exhausted there before you came in.”

“You saved just enough energy for me?” She says as I twirl her around.

“Of course I did. I have to have at least one dance with the pretty misses,” her face reddens and she suddenly becomes shy. “What’s the matter, did I embarrass you?” I pinch her already red cheek, making her face go a shade darker.

“I’m just happy you saved a dance for me. I was hoping you did.”

“Of course! Who do you think I am?”

“Which, does anyone know about…” she waves a finger between her and I as we start line dancing again.

“Only like a few. I didn’t tell EVERYONE.”

We continue line dancing side by side, only really paying attention to what the other is doing. I sometimes take her hips from behind and dance behind her, but only once and a while. I can tell the end of the dance is coming up, so I take Haley and dip her to the ground. Just as I pull her back up, the song abruptly stops. The two of us are frozen, gazing into each other's eyes.

Everything is immediately snapped back into reality when we hear Shane shout from across the room.

“I WAS RIGHT!” He starts waving a stack of money our way, with our entire group standing behind him, staring at us. Some still had money in their hand, waiting to pass to Shane. 

[phantomphangphucker]

Phic Phight - Dal′ton-izm

@tourettesdog

Danny should not be trusted with self care and clean up duty, especially if he couldn’t tell the goddamn difference between ectoplasm and blood.

Danny growls down into his arm, struggling a little to keep all the skin more or less together. Damn, he hated getting nastier injuries, it was always a freaking pain... literally and metaphorically. He’s busy using the other arm to fire off ecto-blasts and make shields to block the return fire. Stupid Skulker and his stupid homing missiles. Stupid ghosts destroying any sense of a normal fucking sleeping schedule. Ugh. 

“I will wear you down eventually! And when I do! Then you’re mine!”. 

Could he at least get some new lines? Danny snapping back, “tha oni ‘ay ya be owl ta cah eee ‘ine’ is ‘hen Ine ackin’ as a ‘and ‘ine fah ya!”. That wasn’t his best line and it was probably impossible to understand him, but his arm is in his mouth, so he’s kinda focused on things other than puns right now. 

Skulker sends off another rocket at him, unsurprising. What is at least slightly surprising is that right when Danny puts up another shield Skulker gets shot by what’s borderline a freaking taser. Danny glancing down at a smirking Tuck peeking out around a corner and congratulating himself. Danny making quick work of capturing the ghost after that and landing on the ground with his arm still in his mouth. Sam popping out in a second and pointing at the ground aggressively. 

“You better sit down or so help me”. 

Man they were both always so aggressive about making sure he got patched up as quickly and cleanly as possible. It was both touching and annoying, sometimes he still had ghosts to chase! Or he just wanted to go to bed instead of dealing with being bandaged up or stitched or wiped down. Granted the stitching was usually a little more necessary, like it definitely was right now. 

So he floats himself down to the ground, back against a wall and opening his mouth to let Sam inspect it and get to work doing patch up. 

“Zone Danny, way to really fuck up your arm”.

Danny pouting, “hey blame Skulker, not me. I actually tried to protect myself pretty well I think, it’s not my fault he managed to spear a goddamn grappling hook through my arm”. The guy nearly took his arm off entirely with that shit, dumb jerk. Though that was probably part of the point since the dude wanted trophies and shit, he could absolutely see Skulker freaking mounting his arm on a wall or something. 

Sam sighs, wiping his arm down overly thoroughly, “I know I know, it’s just a pain to clean up this level of damage and I’m allowed to worry about your dumbass; also, nice fang marks”. 

“Worrying about my ass is fair, sitting on this hard ground is gonna make it go numb”. She smacks him over the head for that one before getting to work on the stitching. 

Tuck’s off spraying some of the ecto mess on a wall, that dissolve crap Danny’s folks made works like a freaking charm, like well enough that he’d be legit worried they’re could get away with murder. All three going still for a second at the sound of a hover board, Danny turning him and Sam invisible while Tuck goes and crawls himself under a dumpster. Val/Red doesn’t do more than fly by at least, good. Danny grumbling quietly, “you know, if we didn’t stick around alleyways for cleaned up time, we wouldn’t have to worry about that so much”. 

Tuck crawling himself out, whisper hissing, “dude, we can’t leave your mess everywhere. The other ghosts are one thing, you’re different”. Sam only huffing and working a little more quickly on her stitch work, it looked like she was nearly done at least and fuck is he glad his pain tolerance could solidly kick ass these days. 

Danny whisper hissing back, “I don’t see how? Even if my parents, so called ghost experts, stumbled upon this, how would they even tell my stuff from any persons or ghosts stuff? My folks aren’t nearly thorough enough to take literally millions of samples”. 

Sam pausing a little, “don’t be stupid”.

“I’m not being stupid. Like yes I’m sure stumbling across massive messes and stuff would be very upsetting for the towns folk but people have gotten used to weirder. I mean, I’ve overshadowed Jason, like, eight times now and the guy isn’t even surprised anymore”. 

Tuck, scrubbing the edge of a newspaper stand, chuckles, “okay yeah that guy has terrible luck with you, didn’t you also accidentally set his water heater on fire?”, shaking his head and looking underneath the newspaper stand, “and it’s less about people freaking out and more about them wondering why there’s freaking human blood mixed in with the ecto”. 

Okay now Danny just goddamn confused. Glancing around at what little remained of the mess as well as looking his -slightly messy again- arm over without moving it, “the heck you talking about? Everything’s glowing, why would anyone think any of this was human”. 

“Okay sure, yeah, your human blood glows too but it’s clearly human blood, man”.

“No? It’s not?”. Literally the only difference between ghost ectoplasm and human blood was wether or not it glowed. If his human blood glowed then how would literally anyone know its wasn’t ectoplasm unless they went around sampling literally every drop they could find. Even then if some traces of human blood showed up in an ecto sample it could just be written off as freaking transfer or whatever. 

Sam looks up at him like he’s stupid, while grabbing out the wrapping, her pausing at Danny pretty clearly looking goddamn legit confused. “Danny... are you seriously saying you can’t see a difference between your ‘mess’ and everything else?”; she sounds actually worried about him. 

Well that was concerning, is he not seeing something they are? Because of the half dead thing? Sure, obviously goddamn dying changed his body, like duh, but he’d like to think he didn’t really lose anything a fully living human had. Or maybe it was because of the life long ecto-contamination? Danny shaking his head results in Tuck rubbing towels in some of the mess in different spots and holding it up at him with a head tilt. 

Okay Danny’s going to guess that the towels, or the mess that’s on them anyways, look different to the guy. Still don’t to Danny... “if you’re trying to ask me if I think those towels look different from each other or something, they don’t”, tilting his own head, “how the heck do they look different to you?”.

Tuck drops his arms and the towels right on the ground, fully gapping at him, “dude”.

“Okay now you’re starting to worry me. They’ve both got a glowing mess on them so obviously ecto, the glow is literally the only difference between ecto and blood”.

Sam buries her head in her hands and actually starts laughing, “oh- oh my zone- no, Danny. Oh- ha!”. 

“Sam stop laughing, damn it, you’re gonna make me laugh and this should be serious”, Tuck snickers a little anyways before clearing his throat, “Danny, man, Zone, how can you not tell they’re two completely different colours”. 

Danny blinking owlishly, “what”. Tuck just losing it at that, sitting on his ankles and laughing into his hands. Wait a minute, Danny blurting out, “are you saying I’m fucking colourblind and just didn’t goddamn notice?!!?”. How???

Tuck wheezes a little more while Sam struggles to contain herself and actually clamp Danny’s wrapping in place. Tuck walking over while fiddling on his pda, shoving it in his face, “okay okay, we, ha, should definitely make sure this isn’t a half-dead thing”, wiggling the pda. “So what numbers in the circle?”.

Danny blinks at the screen. Oh damn it, screw him. There’s no damn number at all, he is so totally colour blind. Groaning and rubbing the hand that isn’t attached to an injured arm down his face, “ugh”.

“Well?”.

Danny sighing, “it’s just a circle, dude. Fuck my half life”. Rubbing his face some more as both of them snicker at him mockingly but also clearly in pure goddamn surprise. Well, at least it wasn’t a dead thing. Yay? Dropping his hand and then using it to gesture at the somewhat still there mess, “so all of this doesn’t look all the same?”.

Tuck laughs, shaking his head and then snorting, “no, man. It’s mostly ectoplasm, which is green by the way. But there’s also splatters and swirls of your human blood, which is red”, he chuckles again, “those two colours are about as different as yellow and black”.

Danny winces, okay so it was noticeable. Shit. Sam patting his shoulder, “you’re patched and at least now I know why you suck at cleaning and were always so lax about it. You would be so screwed without us”.

Okay that Danny can’t help laughing at himself, “oh yeah! my blood and ecto mix would have gotten found out in a month!”.

“Try three days, you combative little shit”.

Danny absolutely sticks his tongue out at Sam for that, but watching his two friends get up and start cleaning the area again; occasionally shaking their heads in disbelief or snickering some more. At least they usually didn’t try and make him help since he was usually supposed to be spending his time healing aka not moving around a ton. Tuck actually left him his precious pda so Danny fiddles with it looking up random colourblindness tests.

…

He doesn’t seem to have any other issues but he fails every red/green one horrifically. Even the ‘super easy’ ones. The universe must really goddamn hate him to make him extremely colourblind but literally only to basically his own blood/ecto. Stupid body, stupid eyes. Wait, him blurting out, “holy shit does this mean that Vlad doesn’t have the same eye colour as me?!?”.

Both of them burst out laughing and fall over each other, smacking each other and random things. Tuck wheezing, “NO!”. Sam snickering, “oh that is too good! I mean it’s sad but ho!”.

Danny sticking his arms out to the side, pda cradled in his lap, “but that means we have literally nothing in common physically? Who would want a son that looks zero percent like them?!?!?”. Their laughter only gets louder and eventually he’s laughing again too.

“What is going on here?”.

All three still, still goddamn laughing though because shit you can’t just stop that shit on a dime. Danny snorts, coming up with something on the fly before Red -fuck is her outfit even actually red????- decides to start shooting him, “I, ha, am apparently fucking colour blind and, ha, these two citizens decided to absolutely lay into me for not realsing there was human blood here”.

“I just flew through here! I thought someone got hurt and was looking for them! You jerk!”, she actually sits down on her board, “so this is how I find out that the only other remotely decent sorta coworker in this town can’t tell if something blood or ectoplasm. Zone that’s stupid and I hate it”.

Danny snorting while Sam and Tuck continue making half assed laughter-fuelled attempts to clean. “What? You gonna give me a way to beep you in case I ever stumble upon a mess again?”, and chuckles to himself.

She groans loudly, “i hate that that’s a good idea”. Which makes Danny bark a loud laugh, “oh man is being fucking colour blind what gets Red to stop ridding my ass! Ha!”, clearing his throat and tilting his head at her in a way he hopes looks puppy-like, “is your suit even red? I will whole ass admit to thinking you picked your colour because the ecto blended into it”.

He can tell she’s staring at him, “I’m going to kill you a second time, Phantom”.

“Been there, tried that. Do something more original”.

Red goes from glaring bloody murder at Danny to looking at the teens who’ve basically cleaned everything, meaning that Val won’t realise the RED human blood had been glowing. “Will you two care if I end the town menace?”.

Sam glares but is still too amused for there to be any real bite to it, “this is the funniest shit I’ve ran into all week don’t you dare sully that”. Tuck just giving an agreeing thumbs up while snickering and wiping off a storm drain.

Red sighing, “that’s fair”, pointing aggressively at Danny, “it is red and ectoplasm does not blend in, zone I hate you”, gesturing at random bits of wall and ground, “now is there an injured person or not?”.

All three shaking their heads immediately, Tuck giving the crappy excuse of, “bad nose bleed plus sudden ghosts plus face-planting into a wall. I’m fine”.

Red scowl could be heard in her voice, “good, now I’m going to bed”, her moving to fly off with a grumbled, “my suit was supposed to remind him and the town of my human blood, stupid ghost jerk”.

Okay fine that is hilarious, eventually Tuck comes over and gives him a high five, “congrats on not getting shot”. Sam shakes her head, “I’m more impressed she’s chilled out even remotely”, pointing at both boys, “but you know that excuse will never work again, right?”.

Danny blinking and smirking, “so what you’re saying is I should start being super cautious and just constantly send photos of murky liquid for a colour check?”.

“As much as I have no problem with you filling my phone with gore, I don’t want the cops to one day question me about that”.

Tuck elbows her, “eh I can set up a fully secure time deletion. Start lowkey stealing all snapchats users after I release it on the masses”.

Danny stretching and swatting Tuck one, “that sounds like you’re attempting to take over the world big brother eye in the sky style”.

“I totally could”.

Sam rolling her eyes, “I don’t even disagree”, her glancing around before nodding to herself, “looks like we’ve dealt with everything. How’s the arm?”.

Danny gives the limb a shake before grinning, “healed as fast as ever. And no seepage on the bandages so no, you don’t need to redo it”.

She puts her hands on her hips, “i don’t think you should ever be the judge of that. But fine, I guess it looks fine. Meaning we should get outta here before someone changes their mind”.

“Yeah yeah yeah”, rubbing his neck, glancing around, and changing back human. Eyeing his arm for changes and shrugging when he doesn’t see any olive murky liquid, “is my blood always a weird mix of colours?”.

Tuck patting his shoulder as they all begin to move out of the alley, “yeah, hence why we always try to hide you or cover it all the time. Did you just think we were being weirdos?”.

Danny rubbing his neck and glancing around, “I mean, yeah? More overprotective than weird”. They both shake their heads and chuckle at him and his generally stupidity.

In the future Danny did absolutely become just as cautious of others seeing his blood as his friends were, much to their relief and amusement.

End.

Prompt: Danny is red-green colorblind. This never caused him much trouble before the accident, but now, well... It would have been nice to know beforehand that his blood was the wrong color.