#gotta put links on these eventually

[bigfatbreak]

Birds of a Feather previous / next

[luck-of-the-drawings]

[<==PREV PAGES] [NEXT PAGE==>(not out yet.wait a year.or maybe more.imagine.]

saw alot of comments on prev pages; saying 'i HATE that mean teacher! im gonna FIGHT HIM!!' & i LOVE the energy!! it WOULD be nice. to have that catharsis. but the story of young tidestrider is Not one of catharsis. it is a story of being so small and so special and sucking so bad.

[msnihilist]

hii, we've never really interacted with each other and I hope this doesn't come across as weird or pushy, but I finally read one (1) too many asks from an anonymous anti and just couldn't keep my mouth shut anymore. WHY do they come to your ask box and act as if you are responsible for the education of every single person out there?? especially the last ask, where the anon just cannot wrap their head around the fact that you don't write about incest in an "educational way" that teaches people how it's "wrong and immoral". THAT'S NOT YOUR JOB??? they act like children who expect you to play the job of a parent, to take them by the hand and be like, "this is very, very bad and you should NEVER do this in real life." like, i'm sorry, but if "bad" topics can only ever be explored for the sake of teaching others that such things should never be acted upon in real life, then people like those anons should not be engaging with anything but media for very young children. how can one trust such people to consume anything that has a character doing something remotely bad without the character, in the end, turning to the camera and saying, "and remember kids, what i just did is very, very bad and should never be acted upon in real life" like some one-dimensional character fable written for people whose minds cannot yet distinguish between fiction and real life???

and to then come to YOU, who always offers content warnings and who certainly forces NO ONE to consume your content, who writes primarily for their own sake & pleasure, and who is not damaging a single fucking person over it, and complain about how you "never explore other relationships" and how you "never only write to teach your readers it's wrong and bad", i'm about to rip my hair out!!!

does hannibal ever turn to the camera and remind his audience that cannibalism is actually bad???? does any slasher ever turn to the camera and remind people they shouldn't kill???? do, idk, villains ever turn to the camera and remind others they shouldn't hurt anyone???? no??????? are topics of violence and death explored in media without serving the message of morality on a silver platter for its audience??? and do people complain to those content creators and accuse them of romanticizing killing & torturing, etc??? NO!! and yet 😫 and yet, the moment something sexual is involved, everyone and their mother clutches their pearls because to them, it's unfathomably disgusting and the idea to see it as fiction just as with other topics becomes impossible to actually understand, much less accept.

i wish i could reach through your screen, have access to those anons' computers, and install a program to only allows them access to websites that are friendly for children under 10 years old, because APPARENTLY, that's the only type of media they are mature enough to consume.

anyways. i respect and admire you for always staying so calm. i personally start having a high blood pressure for you whenever i read some of your anons, and i know in the end there's no point in engaging them bc i might as well try to have a complex, multi-layered discussion with my cold, unresponsive wall, and it would be less of a waste of time than arguing with antis. so, yeah. i hope you never let them take away your spark and ruin your fun. we live in sad times and writers who have not yet lost the courage to engage with creativity as it's SUPPOSED to (in an explorative way) are becoming much too seldom. have a lovely day!! 💕

(and P.S. sorry if i made you uncomfortable, that was not my intention)

You know, what's funny about that question aimed towards my own writing is that I actually do have fics where it's serious and awful.

Whisper Your Love is a Black Butler fic I wrote where Ciel (stubborn and prideful) attempts to force himself to overcome his sexual trauma (he was kidnapped and raped repeatedly and often) by forcing himself to have sex, and it doesn't work because trauma doesn't work that way. It's rated E, and I didn't write it to be erotic.

Playing Hard to Get is a Homestuck fic in which Dave is raped by his guardian, and it's blatant and victim-blame-y as hell. If you come away from this thinking that the rape was somehow a good thing for him, then that just shows you're going for the Olympic gold at stretching and reaching.

Mama's Boy is a Miraculous Ladybug fic where Adrien is clearly being groomed by his mother. It's so obvious that what she's doing is cruel.

Fly in a Web is an Astro Boy fic in which Tenma grooms and molests his son as a method of controlling him. Hell, even the title of this fic alludes to how "not okay" everything that happens here is.

That's just four of my older fics that I quickly combed through and picked. I have 15 pages of fics, and I only went through the last 5 to find those. (The reason it took five pages to find four fics? Because the vast majority of my fics are gen.)

62% of my fics are gen. 21% are teen. 9% are mature, and only 6% are explicit.

6%

It is honestly incredibly rude, entitled, and parasocial of antis to complain about what I spend my time writing, let alone 6% of my time.

Of course I have fetish fics. Taboo is hot! But the point of something being taboo is that it is wrong.

When I asked my ex to roleplay a rape scene with me, it wasn't a polite thing we had in mind. It was restraints and being held at knife-point and it was violent and rough because it's bad. Shocker!

But to circle back to your ask — if these antis actually do want something blatantly bad to read, I have plenty to choose from! But that's not what they actually want, because they see "rape" and "E" tagged and automatically assume that I wrote something to get off to, not that something sexually explicit might also have a greater story/point to it. (Although, don't get me wrong — writing something just to get off is super based, and I do that, as well.)

But they don't actually read my writing, and they won't, either. These complaints actually remind me of that PTA mom in Texas a few years back, who successfully complained and got books featuring sex pulled from the shelves — even though many of the books she complained about featured sexual assault/harassment.

The context doesn't matter, Christofascists— Sorry, I mean, fandom antis will always consider the content to be morally reprehensible. Sex is uniquely bad and not at all comparable to violence because the Church says so— Sorry, I mean... Because the Church says so, lol.

I appreciate you getting frustrated on my behalf! And don't worry, lol, this ask wasn't weird, haha. I actually think it's very kind of you. Yeah, that "unresponsive wall" bit is why I won't have a good faith conversation with random anon messages, anymore. If someone wants to talk to me like a normal person, my DMs are open!

Don't worry, I've been writing what I want for far too long to let randos online get me down. I get told to kill myself at least once a week, lol. They'll have to do better than that.

[bbeelzemon]

🌈 PWYW Comms!!

Hello!! @llatimeria and I are both opening our commissions to help keep us afloat while we get our situation all sorted out! This time around I'm gonna go with a basic minimum price for each tier, and the more you pay beyond that, the more details/rendering/etc i can add!!

SKETCH - $15+

Sketches start at $15, which will get you a fully monochrome bust like the first one! (Can be any color, not just b/w!) The second one (fullbody with separate lines + 1 color) would be around $25. The third one (detailed bust with shading) would be around $50! This sketch tier is definitely the most variable of all of them, so we'd have a discussion to figure out a quote that works best for both of us!

I can also do sketches with multiple characters, interacting or otherwise! Each additional character in the image gets a discount of 25% from the original base price for the level of detail you wanted

-----

ICON - $40+

These are more or less a flat rate! I don't have any current icon examples without shading, but $40 will get you flat colors, while $50 gets you shading like in these examples!

-----

FULLBODY - $70+

Fullbodies come with flat colors by default, but can be discussed! The example on the left would be $70, while the example on the right (the same detail/rendering, but with multiple characters) would be $175! Each additional character in the image gets a discount of 25% (so an additional $52.50 per character for this example)

-----

REF SHEET - $70+

Ref sheets start at $70, which will get you one like the first example! Ref sheets also come with flat colors by default. Each additional form/outfit/pose/angle/etc in the image gets a discount of 25%, so the second example here would be $122.50 total!

-----

[BONUS] DOODLES - 100% PWYW

The doodles tier is the most wildcard tier, the effort put into them will reflect how much you pay :) This is the only tier that doesn't include any in-progress updates - you can request whatever details upfront, but the final drawing will be a surprise! You really just get what you pay for with this tier - if you pay a dollar, you're getting a $1 doodle!

If you, for whatever reason, want to put more than a couple dollars in for this tier, I'll most likely draw multiple characters in this style, like in my imp oc examples here, or i might throw some basic colors on it. Let me know if you have any preference!

-----

What I will draw:

Humans, Furries/anthro, Mecha, Character interactions, Backgrounds (discuss for pricing)... Basically anything!

I will also draw Nsfw/18+ content at an additional cost, message to discuss and for examples!

What i won't draw: Hateful or offensive content, Heavy gore (can be discussed though!), Ship art involving minors or real people, things like that

-----

Feel free to send me a message here (or at virtualbeetle on discord, just be sure to let me know who you are!). Payment is accepted via paypal by default, but we can discuss other options if necessary :]

Be sure to check out latimer's comm post here as well, if you're interested!

[livvyofthelake]

ohhhhhh my god my lead actress's big brown eyes...... girl you're killing me......

[apencilandpen]

January is among us sweat suit Hongjoong! 

Actually super excited about this calendar project; it’s a personal challenge that I’m looking forward to working on!

[sweetlesson]

{So tempted to allow Haruto to still go into his rat form in his pokeverse. I couldn't think of a single reason why he should be able to, but I mean}

{Look at him.}

{I'm posting all of this here because I don't feel like logging into his acct until I have his full story ready to go. It's going to be like... Really rough because I still don't really know what all went down in BW/BW2, so y'all are just gonna have to be patient with me. I probably will avoid referencing canon events until I actually like, finish the game. OTL}

{I should probably make like, a real promo, too, huh? Drawing hard. D:}

[goldfades]

I’m just saying…. headcannons for paige with a bestfriend to partner who’s an introvert.

And I mean those introverts who seem quiet but the moment they get comfortable around you it’s over, but like only they get to see that side.

Paige seems like an extrovert that adopts introverts, like just imagine her having to drag her partner out of their room all the time cuz they’re a damn hermit.

-🐹

─ warnings | mention of drinking, teasing, fluff, nothin' else?

─ taglist | @xocherishxo @iienstein @yazmunson @euphternal and here's a link to my taglist if anyone would like to join!!

honestly, you are so right in that assumption

she definitely gets closer with more introverted people, bc opposites DO really attract

when you guys first met it was your freshman year at uconn, at first you'd probably think she's WAY too much ─ maybe even cocky LOL (but who can blame her she's the best)

but when you spend more one on one time with her, you realize she's really funny and sweet

because you're so quiet, paige would be naturally drawn to you cus she gets to know you

so she just pesters you until you eventually give in and hang out with her

from that point on, the one is never seen without the other

you guys would always be together

but like... usually, you're just WITH paige so people don't really acknowledge you cus you're so quiet

but then paige would like force you to socialize

"this is y/n, i promise she's fun you just gotta put a little liquor in her-" "PAIGE."

she would push you toward her close friends the most, def like ice, azzi, nika and kk

ESPECIALLY kk!

and then you eventually would get really close with them, you all have your cute little friend group

you and ice would make fun of paige and kk together, you and azzi are kinda similar so you find yourself hanging out with her alone a lot more, and nika would force you out your shell a lot too

after a couple months of being friends, paige would definitely find herself catching feels

like i've said in my other headcanons, she just thinks you're such a big source of comfort for her and it slowly just becomes full-on adoration cus

she adores you

and you compliment her personality so well she is just like "i NEED to have her right now"

she ends up confessing one night after a really terrible game and then y'all kiss ...

and the rest is history 🤗🤗🤗

jk here's some relationship headcanons

again, you are so right nonnie

like i mentioned, one is never seen without the other

so you're always tied at the hip, especially at parties

at first she has to force you

like FULL force

she calls backup ofc ice and kk come and then its 3 vs 1

they end up winning

and this happens time and time again, you just get so worn down you'd rather just endure the damn party then listen to all three of them scream at you

which was the goal 🥰

and you're definitely the sober one 95% of the time so you will be taking care of a very drunk paige

(maybe some separate headcanons for her if yall want)

and sometimes even ice/kk but it's mostly just your girlfriend

anyway, yeah you take her home, take of her and then get her into bed

and when you try to leave she will be so dramatic, she forces you to stay with her

you don't mind cus you love cuddly paige

but the 5% when you're the one who's blackout drunk, paige is gonna take such good care of you

because you're so introverted when you're sober, you're probably gonna be such a rowdy drunk

yes im her shes me

so paige makes sure you don't get into trouble and gets you home safe and sound

but if you do something stupid, she will never ever let you live it down

"remember that time you jumped into the pool and-" "SHUT THE FUCK UP"

↳ make sure to check out my navigation or masterlist if you enjoyed! any interaction is greatly appreciated !

↳ thank you for reading all the way through, as always ♡

[eyelessfaces]

deep crust

firefighter!poe dameron x reader

happy poevember<3 here's this little alternate universe oneshot as a treat! it takes place not too long after the events of ashes to ashes, but you can read this even if you haven't read it (though it's probably more enjoyable if you have the whole context!)

summary: poe is utterly horrified to hear you've never tried a chicago pizza.

warnings: none<3

tags: poe being a drama queen, poe being absolutely whipped, fluff, kissing, just sweet stuff and moments tbh

word count: 1.2k

I gotta admit, my non american ass had heard of chicago style pizza but had never seen what it looked like before writing this so I realized it lowkey looks unappetizing (I'm so sorry chicago people)

heat me up masterlist

masterlist | taglist | ao3

updates blog: @eyelessupdates

The topic comes around the first time you officially invite Poe to have dinner at your new apartment. He's properly appalled, his jaw dropping in shock as he lets go of his fork.

“You’ve never had a deep dish?”

You smirk, knowing it would draw this reaction from him – or from anyone you know here, as a matter of fact. You know from experience, and it being so amusing each time kinda participates in the fact you’re refraining yourself from trying those famous Chicago style pizzas.

You give him a shrug of your shoulder, indifferently keeping on chewing on your salad. 

“That’s fine. I’m doing fine living this way” you chuckle. 

“Oh but you’re missing out.” he shakes his head, his hand closing around his glass of wine. “You don’t know it but you’ll realize and you will hate yourself for not trying them sooner.”

He sips on his wine and you scoff, looking at him, at his handsome face bathed in the warm glow of your apartment light. “You’re so dramatic.”

He points a finger at you, a stern expression over his face. “This is a proportionate reaction.”

You huff out from your nose.

He shakes his head in feign disappointment. “I can’t believe I kissed someone’s mouth who’s never had Chicago pizza” he mutters under his breath, a laugh escaping him when you playfully swat him with the back of your hand. 

From there, Poe takes it as his personal mission to get you to try a Chicago pizza.

At first, it’s just a running joke. Every time he sees you, he manages to smoothly slip it into the conversation. 

“I still can’t believe you’ve never had a deep dish,” he’ll sigh, shaking his head in fake dismay as you roll your eyes. Or he will go off on mini monologues, exaggerating the “wonders of Chicago’s pizza crust” – as he calls it, then proceeding to babble out an elaborate description of the layers of cheese and sauce with a genuineness that borders on comical. 

And each time, you brush him off with a laugh, stubbornly sticking to your claim that you’ll get around to it eventually.

But Poe is nothing if not persistent. And the principle of making you try a Chicago pizza is also what would be considered a date with you.

One evening, you receive a text from him, a link revealing “the top ten pizzerias” in Chicago, even though he knows which one is his personal favorite. 

“It’s so you have multiple options to choose from. Whichever seems the most appealing to you” he attaches to the link.

You receive another text not long after. “I’m willing to drop my favorite place but I know the owner and he would be pissed if he learned that the man that put out his kitchen fire went to another pizzeria.”

You can’t help but laugh and text him you will think about it, but he still doesn’t let up, because he has not won until he's leading you arm in arm to a pizzeria. 

Finally, the very next morning, you receive another text from him while he’s on shift at the firehouse. “Even my crew thinks it’s crazy you haven’t had a real Chicago pizza. Don’t let us down here.”

You smile, shaking your head as you type back, “You’re relentless, Lieutenant”

Seconds later, his reply comes. “This is important. History is watching”

Characteristically dramatic. Then, a picture pops up. His face, mouth twisted into a small pout, and a something in his pleading eyes that makes you think he knows exactly what he’s doing because you’re quick to text back,

“Fine. Pick me up on Friday”

—

“I’m gonna show you the best in town” he assures you on Friday, his face lit up with excitement and a hand at your back as you get close to his pizzeria of choice. 

You raise an eyebrow at him. “You know, I have high expectations now” 

“Yeah, maybe I’m overselling it,” he laughs. “But trust me” he grins, pushing the door to the place open. 

Comes the time you’re served and you take your first sample of your awaited first Chicago deep dish experience. Poe has pushed his own plate aside, waiting for the conclusion, the denouement of that whole affair.

“So?” he asks after a while, forearms leaned against the table as he intently awaits your reaction. His teeth sink into his lip, gaze thoroughly focused on every micro expression of your face as you take your time chewing on your first bite.

You lightly clear your throat once you’re done, taking the time to wipe your mouth with a napkin. 

Poe impatiently shifts his position onto his seat, and you take a deep breath for the dramatic effect and impending suspense.

“Don’t get mad,” you start, pinching your lips. He stammers, his expression turning into a remorseful one at the idea you think he would truly be disappointed for you not liking it, his hand reaching for yours over the table. “–I should have listened to you. You weren’t lying” you smirk as you continue, witnessing his face clear up almost instantly, a startled laugh escaping his mouth. 

“You had me in the first half” he admits with a grin, leaning back in his seat. “See? I would never lie to you.”

You glance up at him when you savor your next bite, but he’s not eating – he’s just watching you. There's a soft look of satisfaction and an underlying sweetness in his gaze, and the expression is so open and so unmistakably Poe it makes your stomach flip. 

“You can breathe now,” you tease, lightly nudging his foot under the table. “Come on, eat before it’s cold” 

—

You keep on teasing him when you exit the restaurant, telling him that maybe his reaction was a bit too excessive and dramatic for something that is “just pizza.” Only he’s quick to exaggeratedly counter, telling you that “it’s not just pizza, it’s a life experience”

It’s cold outside as you walk side by side down the street, in a comfortable silence between the both of you. 

Your hands lightly brush and Poe's smoothly slides into yours, taking a glance over at you to make sure it is fine, and without even looking over at him, you squeeze his hand in silent assurance, firmly looking ahead of you as the feeling of his touch makes something flutter inside your chest. 

His hand is warm and his grip is steady against your fingers numb from the cold, and it feels undoubtedly right to be holding his hand.

When you finally reach your building, he pauses, still holding your hand as he faces you, a soft smirk tugging at his lips. 

“Can I kiss you again now that you’ve tried Chicago pizza?”

You laugh wholeheartedly, spontaneously nodding, a wide smile over your face as you lean into him. His lips are soft as they press against yours, his grip on your laced fingers tightening when you rest your other hand at the side of his face. 

“Goodnight,” he says quietly, the feel of him lingering as he pulls back with a soft smile.

“Goodnight, Poe.”

You feel hollow saying this, already missing his presence.

You only let him go after kissing him again.

—

any and every feedback/reblog/comment is greatly appreciated and keeps authors going!!

poe dameron taglist:

@lockleysgrl @my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction @alexxavicry @mystinky-butt @anightshift

@whatthefishh @dameronshandholder @campingwiththecharmings @mintgreen24 @spider-starry 

@jakecockley @cocodiem @spxctorsslxt @friedwings @luxisluxurious 

@stvnnie @dowbastan @il0vebeingdelulu @hammerhead96 @unear7hly 

@pigeonmama @c-losur3

[joeys-babe]

Joey B Blurbs: Joy Of My Life

————————————————————————-

Summary: You try out a trend on Joe to test his husband's skills.

Warnings: Fluff, funny, trends!

Pairing: Joe Burrow x reader

Imagine Universe: Into the Mystic

A/N: Part 6 of Blurb Night! This is a shorter one.

————————————————————————-

No particular date for this fic!

You should totally do this with Joe!

I opened the link sent with the text from Gracie McPherson, Evan’s wife.

It was a TikTok where this girl called her boyfriend and asked him to get pads with wings.

Now, Joe has some knowledge when it comes to feminine care since I've asked him to get it for me before, and he wasn't awkward or shy about it.

He had just texted me saying he was leaving the gym, so I called him up.

Answering before the second ring in his usual fashion, I smiled at the sound of his voice.

“Hey, Mama.” - Joe

“Hey, baby. Can you pick something up for me before you come home?” - you

“Of course. What do you need?” - Joe

“Well since we’re moving and we have a bathroom in the nursery at the new house, I was going to buy one of those drawer towers for stuff I’ll need after giving birth.” - you

“Mhm.” - Joe

“So I need you to pick up pads.” - you

“Okay… any certain brands or size I need to look for that's specifically for birth?” - Joe

“I already have the big hefty ones I need, I just need like regular ones for later on.” - you

“Oh okay, so like the ones you usually get?” - Joe

“Yeah but with wings, please.” - you

There was a long pause, and I had to hold back a giggle.

“Wing-” - Joe

“Tyson!” - you

I pulled the phone away from my ear and pretended like I was getting on to Tyson.

“Bye, baby. I gotta go catch your son. I love you, and thank you!” - you

“I love you too.” - Joe

With that, I hung up and texted Gracie back.

Just did it! LOL. Let's see what he comes home with! 😂

Oh, girl! Message me updates! 😂😂

—— Joe’s POV

Pads with wings… pads. with wings?

Like pads that have wings? Or pads and the food wings?

They make pads with wings?

Oh god.

I need to get this right, I don’t want y/n to think I'm a helpless goof.

Walking into the store, it was a certain time of the day when there weren't many people there.

Finding the feminine care aisle, I looked around until I saw a type of pad that looked like it had wings.

What if she meant the food wings and regular pads?

Oh god.

I've been in this aisle for like ten minutes, so it's gonna be awkward if someone recognizes me.

In the end, I got a box of pads that looked like they had wings and a box that I know is the ones y/n regularly uses.

Next, I went to the nearest Wingstop and ordered what wings I thought y/n would like most.

Now time to head home.

—— back to y/n’s POV

I was sitting at the kitchen island, eating lunch with the twins when Joe got home.

When Tyson and Miles heard the garage door open and shut, they knew Daddy was home.

Soon, Joe came striding through the door from the garage with a smile on his face and multiple bags in his hands.

“Hey, baby.” - you grinned

“Hey.” - Joe

I puckered my lips and Joe rushed forward to kiss me, putting the bags down on the counter after.

“Okay, so I was kinda confused by your request, but I tried my best.” - Joe

“Let's see it.” - you smiled

“Okay so first I thought you meant you wanted pads that had wings so I got these.” - Joe

He whipped out a box of pads of the brand that I usually used, only a bigger size with the wings.

“Good job, babe!” - you

“Yeah?” - Joe

“Yup!” - you

“But I wondered also if you meant a regular box of pads and chicken wings. So I got you Wingstop and these.” - Joe

He pushed a box of wings toward me and reached into a shopping bag, eventually handing me a box of regular pads.

“Did I do okay?” - Joe

I looked up at him and smiled at the look of hopefulness in Joe’s eyes.

“You did perfectly. It’s a little TikTok trend that’s going around. Most guys just bought regular pads and wings, but you got the winged pads plus wings and regular pads. I'm proud of your hubby skills, Joe.” - you

Joe stepped back from the counter, and I laughed when he fist-pumped.

“You’re so goofy.” - you laughed

“I know, but that's what you love about me.” - Joe

“Yup.” - you grinned

He ended up sitting on the barstool next to me as I munched on my wings.

“I love you.” - you

“I love you too, Mama.” - Joe

Joe slowly leaned in to kiss me, but before our lips touched, Tyson threw a potato chip at the back of his head.

My laugh matched Tyson’s as Joe lept up and grabbed him out of his seat.

Tyson’s giggles filled the house as Joe chased him around the kitchen.

“My life is never boring.” - you mumbled before taking a bite of a wing

————————————————————————-

Authors note: Last fic of blurb night one! I'd love some feedback!!

Request for this fic;

[aticklishpercivalwriter]

What Are you Hiding There, My Bee~? (fic)

Link to Full Art (credits go to @lyrieeeee): Sethos/Scaramouche

Summary: During a picnic, Scaramouche discovers that Sethos has a back window and takes full advantage of it :P

A/N: This is the first fic of a series of SethoScara fics I have planned out. A total of three (maybe more) including this one. Though, you can consider My Honey ♡ My Bee as part one establishing their relationship. Inspiration for this fic comes from this artwork along with this submission from @vaporized-dimsum. I hope you all enjoy reading this one! It was very fun for me to write it! Though the title of this fic was hard to create :( Also, proud to say I typed 51% of this while I was on vacation on my iPod Touch 2nd Generation ;) One last thing, be sure to complete the poll at the end to have a say where Scara should be tickled. It is time for Sethos to get revenge~

Word Count: 2561

Also on AO3!

—

Sethos and Scaramouche were having a picnic. Scara initially refused but eventually gave in because of Sethos’ persistence. So here he was, running his fingers through his lover’s hair and feeling the soft strands.

“Having fun over there, honey~” Sethos teased.

Are you having fun with my hat, annoying bee?” Scara huffed.

“Aw, still sulky about having a picnic with me?”

“You are so annoying.”

Wanderer refused to admit that he was actually enjoying this mundane activity of a picnic.

“Lighten up. Here,” the leader of the Temple of Silence set down Scara’s hat and turned around, handing him one of the cooked dishes he packed. “You haven’t eaten yet. Try my signature dish. I know you’ll like it.”

“And what makes you think I’ll like your cooking?” he asked, dropping Sethos’ hair in annoyed disappointment. Why do I like his hair so much?

“Because I only make the best of the best for my boyfriend!~”

“Tch,” he felt his face start to heat up and grabbed the food from Sethos’ hands to hide his incoming blush.

“Stop saying words like that,” he mumbled, taking a bite from his boyfriend’s cooking.

Oh shit. It’s good.

The former god’s eyes widened in disbelief at the explosion of tastes hitting him as he took another bite.

“So, you like it?”

“It’s really-” he was about to compliment him, but he saw the smug look in his eyes.

“Actually, it’s really terrible.”

“Now, now love~” Sethos singsonged. “I know you’re lying. I saw the look in your eyes~”

“You saw nothing.”

“What about that bite you just took?”

“That was for your pride, so it won’t take a hit.”

“Oh, don’t be like that, Wan,” Sethos laughed and leaned on him.

“Hmph,” he grumbled.

Sethos dropped his teasing and went to grab and admire his lover's hat instead. Laying on his belly, his long locks covering his entire back.

“What’s your deal with my hat anyway?” Scara asked, ignoring the craving to just comb his fingers through his bee’s hair.

“It’s so cool! The patterns, ornaments, and accessories are so detailed!”

“If you want it, you can take it.”

“Really?!”

Sethos giddily grinned, putting his lover’s hat on with a cheeky smirk as he faced him.

“You want to use my hat as an umbrella?” Sethos imitated him.

“That’s not how-”

“The fucking audacity to make that request.”

Sethos burst out laughing and fell forward into Scara's lap.

“That’s not how I sound like,” Scara glared at him.

“Noho, that is hohow you sound lihike.”

Sethos continued to laugh, making Scara’s hat fall off and parting his long locks. Scara’s eyes widened when he saw a sliver of skin shine in the sunlight.

“I didn’t know you had a back window,” he reached out in awe. “Why do you even-”

“HYAHAHA!”

He jolted in his lover’s lap, letting out a bright shrill of laughter, distinct from his laughing right before.

“That was…uh…” Sethos’ eyes darted up towards his lover who had a hint of mischief running through his eyes.

“What are you hiding there, my bee~?”

“Eek! I-I gotta head out now. Haha! N-Need to run some errands so bye!”

Sethos made a run for it, activating his Electro powers. Wanderer just watched him, slowly getting up and picking up his hat. A shit-eating grin grew on his face. It hasn’t even been a week since he tickled Sethos, but he has been craving to hear his delicious laughter and just get his hands on him.

“Get back here, little bee~”

Sethos felt shivers travel down his spine as he heard those words and ran even faster. He saw Wanderer’s shadow in front of him and went into panic mode.

“I’m getting closer, love~,” he heard from above.

“N-No you’re nohohot!” he squeaked out, reversing his direction to throw his pursuer off.

But he knows he’s winning a losing battle. The sounds of Wanderer’s clothing becoming louder with each passing second.

Scara was having the time of his life making Sethos let out little squeaks and giggles trying to run away from him. He also had a great view of his physique and his muscular arms. The way the sweat made his skin glisten and- What am I thinking!? He shook his head and eyed his prize, the back window. His lover’s hair swayed back and forth, his back window coming in and out of view as if teasing Scara.

“Dumb little bee,” he huffed to himself.

By now, he was right on top of Sethos and smirked devilishly.

“Coming down~”

Sethos didn’t have time to react as he was tackled down to the ground from above.

“Oof! Hon- Whoa-whoa-whoaah!”

Sethos lost his footing and Wanderer managed to shield his head in his arms right before they started tumbling down the hill. Thankfully it was a grassy hill as they rolled and rolled until they reached the bottom.

“Ugh,” Sethos groaned, face down in the grass as he turned his face to the side once he felt Scara get off him. “At least it wasn’t saAHAHAHA-!”

Sethos let out a shriek as he felt a finger scratch the patch of skin exposed on his back.

“MoCHIHIhi!” He tried raising himself but immediately felt his lover straddle him and a sudden squeeze on his sides. “EYAHAHAHA!”

His hands gave out and his body shook with laughter as Wanderer scribbled his fingers over his back.

“Ihihi dihihidn’t eheheven dohoho ahahanythihihing! Why ahaham ihihi gehehetihing tihihickled?”

“Oh, you did do something, little bee,” he said, grazing his fingers against his clothed shoulder blades. Eheheheek!

Wanderer couldn’t help but chuckle at Sethos’ reactions. He’s cute when he laughs and giggles like this.

“Whahat dihihid ihihi- WAHAHAIT!” Sethos yelped when he felt Scara lift up his clothing, exposing his back to the warm breeze. “Hohonehehey! Dohohon’t dohoho ihihit! Plehehease!

“Do what?”

“Tihihihickle mehehe! Whahat elSEHEHE- NOHOHOHAHAHA!”

“I thought you would never ask~”

His devious lover smirked as he now properly tickled his back. His fingers scribbled over the ticklish real estate.

“WAHAHA! T-ThAHAt’s NOHOHOT waHAHAt I MEAhaHANT!”

“You said, ‘Tickle me,’ didn’t you? What else am I supposed to do, not tickle you? You asked for it, little bee~” Scara smirked, planting kisses on the ticklish skin as his fingers trailed down his spine.

Sethos shook his head in ticklish mirth, grass falling out of his hair as he tried to reach behind him to fend off Scara’s fingers but to no avail.

“Youhu arEHEHE usIHIHing myhy wohohords aga- AHAHAHA! ahahagainst MEHEHE, MOCHIHIHI!”

He scoffed, “Since you care so much about words, try to spell what I’m writing then.”

He slid his fingers meticulously across his lover’s back, focusing on his shoulder blades.

“AHAHAHA!” Sethos screeched. “IHIHI’M NOHOHOT REHEHEHADY!”

“Wrong answer~” Scara grinned, squeezing his side.

“NAHAHA! OkaHAHAY! OkAHay! Uhh, ehehe! ‘L’ Ahaha! ‘O-’ GAHAHA! NOHOHO!” Sethos let out a loud laugh when Scara traced the third letter on his spine.

“You want to give up?”

“NEHEHEVER! ‘VehEHEHE!’”

“What was that? I couldn’t hear you~”

“‘VEHEHE!’ ’V!’ aHAHand ‘EHEHE!’ ‘E!’ MOCHIHIHI!”

“And it spells?”

“LOHOHOHOVE!”

“Wha-”

“LOVE! LOHOHOVE! LOVEHEHE!”

Scara’s hands stilled in surprise, not expecting him to answer correctly.

“Yeah,” he said, continuing his onslaught of scribbles. Hehehey! Ihihihi answerehehed correhehectly! “How about this one?” he asked, ignoring his lover’s protests.

He increased the pressure of his writing and instead of letters, he started drawing a few shapes.

“WHAhahat arehehe thOHOSE!? ThOHose areHEhen’t WOHOHORDS! AHAHAHA!”

“Well, use letters to create a word to name them. Shouldn’t be too hard since you are a master spelling bee, aren’t you~?” Scara knows he is being cruel, but he can’t help but want to take victory in this game.

Sethos had tears of mirth threatening to fall but that wasn’t going to make him back down from the challenge. He tried to focus, focusing on his lover’s fingers. How they know their way to make him laugh and draw out the reactions they want.

“NOHOHOHOT THAHAHAT FOHOCUS!” he pounded his fists into the ground as a guffaw of laughter left his lips.

His lover just raised an eyebrow in amusement, fluttering the feather on his vision in place of his fingers and enjoying the way his back repeatedly arched up and down.

Ticklish shocks ran through Sethos’ body, but he wasn’t ready to give up. He focused once again, visualizing the shapes that Scara was tracing on his back. A circle, ahahaha! He’s merciless! Nehehe, a heart. And…a zig-zag? Heheahaha! Darn, my ticklish back!

“Ahaha! A ciRIHIcleHE! CIRCLEHE! HEART! AHAHAHAND! ZIHIHIG-ZAHAHAG! ZIG-ZAHAG!”

Scara was yet again surprised, more so than last time.

Shit, he is really good at this. Tch, I’ll just need to trick him then. Use his ability to my advantage.

“Dihihid Ihihi wihihin?” Sethos giggled, a hint of smugness laced in his voice.

“You are a cocky, little bee,” Scara dug into the back of his ribs in punishment.

“HAHAHAHA! WAHAHAHA! I’M SOHOHOHRRY! I’M SORREHEHEY! I’M SAHAHAHARRY! NAHAHAHA!”

Scara roughly tickled him for a couple more minutes before letting up.

“Nohoho mohohore, plehehease!”

“Serves you right.”

Scara placed his hands on his lover’s back once more, making him yelp in surprise.

“Mohohore?” he whined.

“Mhm,” Scara hummed. “You guess this right, you win.”

Scara traced Sethos’ back more lightly this time, almost like a caress. Sethos happily giggled, his head resting on his arm as he turned to the side with a carefree smile on his face.

“Thihihis ihihis prehehetty nihihice, ehehe.”

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Scara said, tracing down his spine.

He twitched in Scara’s hold in surprise. “AHAHahaHA! OhHOHo rigHIhigHT!”

Scara snorted and started tracing the letters again.

“’Tehehe’ ‘Ihi’ uhuhum ‘C’ ‘KehHEHE’ ‘L-Ehehe’ ahahAHA! ‘M’ ‘Ehe!’”

“And what does that spell?” A smug expression crossed Scara’s face as he continued his soft tracing.

“Ahahahaehehe! ‘Tihihickle Mehe!’”

“Come again, little bee~” Scara teased, stopping his tracing.

“Tickle Me!”

A beat passed before Sethos’ eyes widened like saucers in realization and he turned to look at him.

“Honey. You are so eHEHEVIHIHIL! NAHAHAHA!”

He shoved his face back into his arm as Scara ruthlessly scribbled his fingers on his skin.

“I honestly can’t believe you fell for it twice, my ticklish bee~”

“YOUHUHUHU WEHEHEHERE DIHIHISTRAHACTING MEHEHE! I-I COHOHOULDN’T THI- AHAHAHAHA! THINK!”

“Doesn’t change the fact you still said it,” he stuck out his tongue at him even though he couldn’t see him.

“MOCHIHIHI!” he shrieked when he felt him target the spot where his back window would be if his clothing were not lifted up. “YOUHUHU PLAHAHAYED DIHIHIRTY!”

“How could I have played dirty? You correctly said the two words I was drawing, and you won.”

“WEHEHELL, HAHAHAHA! Y-YOUHUHU STIHIHILL PLAHAHAYED DIHIHIRTY! THIHIHIS IHIHIS YOUR EXCUSEHE TOHOHO TIHIHICKLE MEHEHEHE! YOUHU JUHUST COUHULDN’T ACCEHEPT THE FAHACT I WAS BEHEATING YOUHU AT YOUR OHOWN GAHAME! AHAM IHIHI RIGHIT?”

The tickling suddenly stopped and Sethos gulped in some much-needed air. He took the time to catch his breath and regain his energy. A few minutes passed of him just panting and the wind brushing the blades of grass around them. It was then that Sethos realized that Wanderer, who was still on top of him, wasn’t saying anything.

“Lov-Ow!”

Scara suddenly shifted forward and nipped at his ear.

“What was-”

“You just couldn’t keep your mouth shut, could you?” Scara directly whispered into his ear making him shudder. His voice was much deeper and threatening, making Sethos gulp in nervousness.

"You want to see how I really play dirty?”

Sethos could hear the smirk in his voice, and he felt butterflies in his stomach. Whether they were from excitement or fear or even both, he didn’t know. He tried to speak but no words came out.

“Where is all that bravado now, my bee?”

Scara grabbed Sethos’ chin and turned his head towards him. Sethos saw the look in his lover’s eyes and audibly gulped, heart pounding in his chest. Scara's violet eyes shined with hunger and that smirk turned into a devilish grin when he saw his reaction.

“I have one word for you,” he leaned even closer to him, making him squirm in his hold. “Raspberries.”

Before Sethos could even process what he said, he immediately succumbed to laughter with Scara blowing raspberry after raspberry on his back.

“BWAHAHAHAHA! AHAHAHAHAHA! HOHOHON- AHAHAHAHA! PLE- HAHAHAHA!” Sethos couldn’t even finish his words as Wanderer mercilessly wrecked him with raspberries.

“Pfft!” His spine.

“NAHAHAHAHA!”

“PfFFTt!” His shoulder blades.

“GAHAHAHAHA!”

“PFFFFTTT!” His back window.

“BWAHAHAHAHA!”

And to make matters worse for him, he started drilling his fingers into his sides and armpits along with scribbles on the back of his ribs.

“EYAHAHAHAHA!”

Sethos was in hysterics as he pounded the ground with his fists and kicked his legs out.

“SCA- AHAHAHAHAHA! SCAHAHAHA- HAHAHAHA! SCAHAHAHARAHAHAHA!”

“That is my name, ticklish bee.”

“STAHAHAHAHAHAP! I-I’M GONNA DIEHEHEHE! AHAHAHAHAHA!

“Apologize.”

“I-I CAHAHAHAN’T- GAHAHAHAHAHA!”

“Guess you chose death.”

“NOHOHOHO! WAI- AHAHA! WAHAHAHAIT! OKAHAHAHAY! I-I’M SOHOHOHORRY FOHOHOR SAHAHAYING THOHOHOSE THIHIHINGS TOHOHOHO YOUHUHU!”

“Hmm.”

“WHAHAHAHAT EHEHEHELSE DO YOUHUHU WAHAHAHANT MEHEHEHE TOHOHOHO- BWAHAHAHA! NOHOHOT THEHEHERE! STAHAHAHAP!”

“Beg.”

“WAHAHAHAHAT?”

“Plead for it, nicely.”

“AHAHAHAHAHA! NOHOHOHO WAHAHAHAY! snort D-DOHOHOHOHON’T- GAHAHAHAHAHA! snort”

“I’m waiting~”

“N-NEHEHEHEVER! Y-YOU- snort NAHAHAHA W-WOHOHON'T GEHEHET IHIHIT OHOUT OHOF MEHEHE!"

"Oh, you're going to wish you never said those words. Laugh before me, my ticklish bee~"

Scara mustered all the breath he could take before letting out the biggest and loudest raspberry he could right on poor Sethos' back window and repeating it over and over all while spidering his fingers all over the rest of his back. The last of Sethos' defense came tumbling down soon after.

"GAHAHAHAHA! snort NONONOHOHOHO! FINE! snort FHIHIHINE! WAHAHAHANDEHEHE! STAHAHAHAP! PLEHEHEHEASE! snort SCAHAHAHAHARA! MYHYHY BELOHOHOVED HOHOHONEHEY! I’M BEHEHEHEGGING YOUHUHU! snort BWAHAHAHAHA! IHIHIT’S TOHOHOHOO MUHUHUHCH! snort PLEHEHEASE! HAHAHAVE MEHEHEHERCY! MEHEHERCEHEHEHEY!”

Oh my archons, he is so adorable.

Scara smiled endearingly at him, at last giving him mercy. He trailed little kisses and raspberries from his back to his neck and eventually turned him over onto his back and went in for a slow, sensual kiss which Sethos immediately melted into.

“Mmm~ Scaraah~ mmph~”

“Mm~ Sethohh~ Hahh~”

They made out for a few minutes, combing their fingers through each other’s hair and exploring each other’s mouths before pulling away. Breathless, they stared at one another taking in each other’s flushed face before Sethos started giggling.

“Your tickling was ruthless!” Sethos managed to say in between giggles.

“But you liked it~”

Sethos looked away blushing but didn’t deny it.

Wanderer chuckled, lifting himself up and picking Sethos up bridal style.

“Let’s finish our picnic.”

“Oh, when did you become such a romantic?~ Ack! Sohohorry!”

“If you don’t shut up, I won’t do this again.”

He was blushing and looking straight ahead as he went up the hill. Sethos glanced at him before closing his eyes in exhaustion with an understanding smile on his face.

“I love you, honey.”

A smile tugged at Scara’s lips.

“I love you too, bee.”

Sethos fell asleep in his arms soon after and curled in towards his chest. He shook his head fondly.

“Let’s go home instead.”

He silently called upon the Aranara to pack up their things and that he’d pick them up later. After thanking them, he set off towards their home and he looked back down at Sethos’ sleeping form. He smiled lovingly at him and planted a kiss on his temple.

“Sleep well, my lovely, ticklish bee.”

—

Google Form Link!

[harmonictechnicality]

*no rest for the wicked*

my teensy contribution to @thefreakandthehair's spicy six summer collection 💖 | word count: 3k | rating: T | ao3 link | also, this wouldn't exist if @chocoarts didn't send me a sketch that immediately set off sparklers in my brain so bless youuu ✨

Twenty-six hours. That’s how long Eddie has been up. Twenty-six hours and twelve minutes. The heaviness hanging in his eyes is medieval-level torturous, and the cramp in his left calf is probably permanent by now. 

A sane person who enjoys sleeping might be asking, ‘Why? Why put yourself through this when there’s a perfectly decent bed down the hall?’ And Eddie would be forced to reply back with two, simple words:

Concert. Tickets.

That’s right, Eddie is actively murdering his own brain cells to win two vip tickets on the radio. Twenty-seven hours ago, it seemed like a grand idea. Genius, even. It’s free and minimal effort - he just has to call the station every hour on the dot. No biggie, right?

Ha, sure. Tell that to the muscles in his eyelids.

“How much longer do you have?” Chrissy asks, snagging a magazine from the stack on the couch.

Eddie checks his watch. Huffs out a laugh. “Let’s just say, I could watch the entire Star Wars trilogy including the credits for each one.”

“Translating to...?”

“Seven-ish hours.” Robin quickly chimes. She pops out of her bedroom and joins Chrissy’s side, instantly threading their hands together. They share a look, one that makes Eddie believe in nice things, even in his state of misery. It’s their superpower, injecting their optimistic outlook into the atmosphere. Infectious in the best way. 

“I always forget that you speak fluent nerd.” Chrissy snorts.

“Ouch.” Robin gasps and pulls away, stomping off to their room. Too dramatic to be believable. “Get back to bed before I actually feel offended by that.”

Normally, Eddie is charmed by how hopelessly in love his roommates are with each other. But right now, they are his mortal enemies (well, tied with The Clock), because they get to sleep and he gets to stare at the lightbulb in the ceiling fan. Every now and then, it flickers, which never fails to startle him. 

Good. He desperately needs the extra alertness. 

Another forty-five minutes go by before anything noteworthy happens. Eddie’s other roommate gets off his night shift around one in the morning. The front door squeals as it opens, crackling all the adrenaline leftover in Eddie’s body. 

“Scared the shit out of me, man.” Which could’ve been a literal statement if Eddie hadn’t just taken a bathroom break.

“Gotta get this door fixed.” Steve says. That’s what he always says when it creaks. The reaction never changes, always skating his fingers over the door hinges, mouth twisting to the side. Hands on his hips in disapproval. Eddie has to look away before Steve breaks out his insufferably cute ‘foot tap’ routine. “Hey - why are you still up?”

Ah, yes. Just what Eddie needed. A reminder that it’s fucking late. He finds the energy (or common decency, who knows) to point at the phone. Then to the radio.

“You’re still doing that, huh?”

Eddie nods twice.

“Damn, I’ve never heard you this quiet.” Steve sounds genuinely surprised. A little too smug for Eddie’s liking. “Didn’t know your mouth could stay in a straight line for this long.”

There it is. The rich boy smartassery that will never die. Always lurking in the depths of his genetic makeup.

Eddie claps, total deadpan.

The conversation lulls while Steve messes around in the kitchen for a bit. He’s noisily opening cabinets and clanking dishes around in the sink. Eventually, he walks back into the living room with two beers. 

Both for him apparently. “Well, listen,” he starts out. Kicks his feet up on the coffee table. “I’m pretty wired after work, so if you need some company-”

“Six… hours… left.” Eddie musters out.

“Okay well, I doubt I’ll last that long. But I can give it a shot.”

Eddie smirks, raises both eyebrows. “There’s a dirty joke somewhere in there. Too tired to find it though.”

“Good to know the horny part of your mind is still awake.” Steve gives Eddie a small pat on the head. 

“Oh? That’s a good thing?”

“Depends on who you ask.”

“I’m asking you.” It’s too direct, Eddie hears it. And now it’s just Out There - his inability to flirt in a subtle way. And yeah, he could blame it on sleep deprivation, but he’s never been known for his mastery of ambiguity so…

The pause goes on long enough for the light to flicker again, the room growing darker with it. Steve takes a swig of his drink and smiles. “It’s good to know, Ed.”

The light flickers even darker.

Eddie is fully awake after that. Which could’ve been part of Steve’s plan - stimulate his brain with flirty comments and keep him up with those melty smiles. It’s no secret that Eddie turns into a hair-twirling loser around this guy. 

Even after living together for a year and seeing one another’s most disgusting habits, he still feels this way. Tight throat, stomach flips. Purely smitten in a way that would nauseate deadbeat poets.

In this moment, however, it’s a wonderful remedy to staying awake throughout the rest of the night. Much more effective than energy drinks and Tootsie Rolls.

Steve ends up on the floor, leaning against the edge of the couch. He sips another beer, recounting some bullshit that happened during his shift at the hotel. Eddie does his best impression of Listening to Steve’s stories, but the words are just buzzing around the glow of Steve’s hair and the shine on his lips. Nodding at seemingly appropriate times is all Eddie currently can offer.

“Sleeping with your eyes open, Munson?”

Eddie blinks hard. “Huh?”

“Creepy, but impressive.” Steve laughs, tapping his hand against Eddie’s leg. “You should add that to the Special Skills column on your resumé.”

“Bold of you to assume I have a resumé.”

They spend the next hour doing just that - adding useless skills to Eddie’s nonexistent resumé. It keeps them busy. Content. Steve smacks Eddie’s knee anytime he laughs, leaves his hand longer every time. Maybe that’s all in Eddie’s semi-dormant mind, especially since Steve shows casual affection to all of his friends. But the warmth of his palm is real enough to have Eddie fully committed to making Steve laugh as much as possible.

“What about… Expert Paper Clip Chain-Maker?” Steve suggests. 

Eddie stares at the chain in his hand, the one he was oblivious to creating. He whips it around like a lasso and then shrugs. “A bit wordy.”

“So you’re saying length matters?”

“Christ on toast, Harrington. You’re awfully quick to jump to that conclusion, aren’t you?”

Steve doesn’t answer, just starts laughing again. Eddie didn’t even need to tell a shitty joke this time. 

And when Steve’s hand hits his knee, sliding slightly up his thigh, Eddie laughs along with him. It’s the only way to cover up the heat rushing to his face.

Eddie enters the realm of delirium with three hours left in his challenge. He slumps onto the floor next to Steve, nudging his shoulder, staring into his sleep-heavy eyes. It’s four in the morning, inhibitions be damned.

“Do you think if you ever visit Europe, they’d call you Harring-metric-ton?” Eddie picks a piece of lint off Steve’s sleeve. Perfect excuse to reach out, move in closer.

Steve groans. “Yikes. But yes, that question keeps me up at night.”

“So that’s why you’re still awake. See, I knew it wasn’t because of my silly little concert tickets.” 

As soon as the words leave his lips, Eddie convinces himself that it’s the truth. Which is so dumb, so stupid. But this seed of insecurity keeps him going, fully projecting his assumptions onto Steve’s harmless comment. Somewhere deep down, buried underneath his exhaustion, Eddie knows it was a joke. But he can’t seem to shut up anymore.

“The riddle has been solved, folks! We finally know why Stevie here is still awake.” Eddie exclaims, flinging his arms out to the side. “Alert Scooby and the gang at once! Mystery Incorporated can finally pack up their magnifying glasses and pursue careers with better health insurance. Ones that covers vision costs this time. It’s what dear, ol' Velma deser-”

“Eddie.” Steve places a hand on Eddie’s arm, holding him still. Was he moving? Oh god, was he shaking? 

Fucking mortifying.

Steve’s thumb swipes across Eddie’s skin, tracing diagonal lines back and forth. “You’re rambling.”

“And you’re…” Eddie loses focus. He looks down at the hypnotic patterns that Steve is making. “There. Doing that.”

Steve stops briefly to flip Eddie’s hand over, starts tracing the lines in his palm instead. The pressure makes Eddie’s heart lurch up into his throat. He can feel it thumping in his neck, faster with every stroke of Steve’s fingers. All he wants to do is close his hand around them, keep Steve there for the rest of the night. Longer if he’d let him.

“I can stop if it’s weird.” Steve’s voice is so much quieter than it was earlier. 

Don’t stop. Eddie thinks. Can’t say it like that because gross. Humiliating and gross. “It’s not weird.”

Steve keeps his focus on the motion, Eddie does the same. They stay like this for a while, just watching. Intently staring over the invisible lines like pages in a novel. Eddie is pretty sure he’s breathing too loud, can hear it above the whistle in the air conditioner. Wonders if Steve can hear it too. 

Probably.

“That’s not why I’m staying awake.” Steve says, never breaking the pattern.

“No?”

“It’s who I’m staying awake for.”

Steve finally stops, right in the center of Eddie’s hand. The air in the room goes dense, weighted with acknowledgment. Something has changed and Eddie can feel it everywhere. 

He tilts forward, pulling his gaze away from his hand and up at Steve’s lips. If he weren’t stuck between half-awake and total-delirium, Eddie would just do it. Kiss Steve the way he’s always wanted to. Syrupy slow and deep. Savoring every second.

He could do it right now, right this second. But his focus starts drifting as he closes his eyes. “Did Chrissy tell you?” Eddie grumbles, almost unintelligible. 

“Tell me what?”

Eddie’s head falls, landing somewhere on Steve’s chest. He inhales the scent of laundry detergent (because Steve and Chrissy are the only avid laundry-doers in the apartment). It’s so soothing, drawing him further into a dreamlike place.

“Tell me what, Ed?”

“That I…” Eddie is nearly asleep before he can finish the thought. The confession:

‘That I’m crazy about you.’

Sunlight hits Eddie first, startles him so much that he jolts upward. Fully awake. It takes a few seconds of furiously rubbing his eyes before the dread kicks in. 

Morning.

It’s morning.

“Shit.”

Eddie fell asleep.

Steve fell asleep.

“Shitshitshit. So many shits!” He fumbles through the labyrinth of blankets and pillows around him, snatching his watch from the coffee table:

10:24 a.m.

“Goddamnit!”

Eddie sinks back down to the floor, clutching the phone that serves him no purpose anymore. All of those hours of waiting and calling for nothing. Even if general admission wasn’t already sold out, it’s not like Eddie could afford tickets on his own. He can barely keep up with his share of the rent. Chrissy had to cover for his grocery run last week and he still hasn’t paid her back.

It’s just so expected too - for him to fuck up like this. Always letting opportunities slip through the cracks, making careless mistakes. No one will be surprised that he failed at such a simple task like calling a fucking radio station.

Eddie sets the phone back on the table and cleans up the living room in a daze. Every now and then, he mutters under his breath about being a total moron. He stays relatively quiet for the most part though. No use in throwing a bitchfest while Steve is blissfully conked out three feet away.

Of course he looks good sleeping too, even in the midst of Eddie’s breakdown. Unfair.

Just before heading back to his room, Eddie hears that familiar door creak. Same one that always sets off Steve’s inner handyman tendencies. 

He looks back to see Chrissy padding towards him with a blanket wrapped around her. For someone who hasn’t had their mood-altering cup of coffee yet, she looks extremely pleased to see him. Maybe she knows about the fate of the concert tickets. Maybe this is an early-risers pity party.

Fucking yay.

“Chris, please don’t try to-”

His words are muffled by Chrissy throwing her arms (and blanket cape) around him. She’s so bouncy, the way she always gets with Robin whenever their favorite song comes on at the karaoke bar. He pats her on the back and clears his throat, still trying to piece together what this exchange could be about. However, Eddie is functioning on a few hours of sleep, so his cognitive skills are groggy at best.

She gives him one more squeeze and then looks up, positively gleaming. “I knew it! I knew it would finally happen!”

“That I’d screw up for the umpteenth time in my life? Gee thanks, Chris.” Eddie says.

“What are you talking about?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about you and Steve!” She whisper-yells back.

Was she snooping on them last night? He wouldn’t put it past her, snoopiness is the foundation of their friendship. Well, whatever Chrissy thought she saw, she’s wrong. Sure, Steve and Eddie flirted, both letting some potentially mutual feelings slip out.

But it was all cut short by Eddie passing out mid-flirt. God knows how Steve took that reaction. Probably assumed Eddie was so bored that he would rather sleep than makeout with him. Or worse, that Eddie was pretending to sleep to let him down easy.

Christ, he doesn’t wanna think about that right now. Not while he’s still mourning the loss of his precious tickets.

“Hate to break it to you, honeyjam, but nothing happened.” Eddie shakes his head, gesturing to Steve who hasn’t budged from the recliner. “It’s just me over here and Steve over there. No conjunction connecting us together in that way.”

He can already tell Chrissy isn’t buying it. She’s getting that little forehead wrinkle right above her eyebrows, just like an angry cartoon character. Her best attempt at intimidation. “You didn’t see what I saw.” 

“Gay desperation?”

“No, you jackass. Come here!”

Chrissy yanks Eddie into his bedroom, demanding for him to lock the door. He listens, mainly because the intimidation is starting to work a little. They sit at the edge of the bed and she begins to explain everything she saw:

Steve constructing a wall of blankets and pillows around Eddie to ensure he slept comfortably. Steve waiting by the phone, tapping his foot in that insufferably cute way that Eddie loves so much. Steve scoring the tickets, celebrating quietly to himself.

“How long were you standing at the door, weirdo?” Eddie teases her to avoid the way his stomach is twisting around her words. 

Chrissy shushes him and squeals. “And he kissed your cheek!”

“Liar.”

“He did, I swear! He kissed you on the cheek or the chin or the nose. I don't know which one for sure because my view was obstructed by all of your hair.”

Eddie instinctively combs his fingers through a few strands, undoing the knotted pieces. Not all of them, but enough to keep his hands busy while he thinks through this. Processing. “And you’re sure it wasn’t a dream?”

“Positive.”

“What about a hallucination? Didn’t Byers make a batch of those infamous brownies again?”

Chrissy gives a deep sigh. “Whatever. You’re hopeless.” She shrugs the blanket back over her arms and heads toward the door. More than a fair assessment, Eddie can’t argue even if he wanted to (he always does). 

He stares at the line of posters along his wall, letting Chrissy’s words replay over and over. Imagining what it might have felt like. If Steve’s breath was warm or if his lips were soft. Eddie wonders how it looked to have Steve dipping down to his level. Staying so quiet, so careful not to disturb him. The visuals swarm his head until there’s nothing left but Steve. 

Him and Steve. Connecting them together in that way after all.

So, Eddie gets up and walks back into the living room. He takes in the view of Steve curled up in the recliner, mouth slightly parted open. Chest falling with every sniffle, not quite a snore.

There’s so many emotions while looking at him. Eddie can’t just pin one down to fully comprehend what's going on. All he can do is repeat the scene that’s occupying his mind, settling in his bones.

“Here,” he whispers, placing another blanket across Steve’s lap. It’s feathery gentle, more than he intends for it to be. So gentle that Steve doesn’t shift or stir. 

Eddie takes a deep breath and bends down, close enough to notice all the little details. The ones he’s been too sheepish to indulge in before last night. 

The tiny hairs on Steve’s forearm. The creases in his t-shirt. The bit of dried toothpaste on his chin. None of it should make his cheeks feel this flushed, but they do.

He lets the rush of bravery wash through him as he kisses Steve on the tip of his nose. Just the way Steve must’ve done to him. It’s swift, lighter than he means for it to be. Barely touching. But it’s enough to switch his heart rate up a few notches, pulsing jumping in his wrist.

Eddie steps away, waiting to see if Steve wakes up. Not entirely sure if he wants that or if he’d rather keep this memory to himself. 

“Thanks… by the way.” Eddie adds, brushing the tips of his fingers over Steve’s hand. Wishing he could trace the lines in his palm. Rewind back to last night and pause it there indefinitely. “I’ll tell you again when you’re up, but yeah.”

“Thank you, Steve Harrington.”

[skullvgirl]

language barriers | barou

incl. a very confused barou shouei ᡣ𐭩

warnings. fem reader, fluff, suggestive dialogue, established relationship, ooc

an's. bold letter is your native language & japaneese

10:32 AM

"shouei" you called. your boyfriend came almost immediately, although he wasn't far.

"we should try this" you handed him your phone, letting the video of a couple speaking in their native languages as a challenge play.

he raised an eyebrow and gave you back your phone.

"why would we wanna do that, i don't speak (native language) and you don't speak japaneese"

"uhh, tuh-eyeah—that's the point silly, come on we should do it, it'll only be for today and tomorrow!"

barou thought too himself for a moment,

"and we can see who can go the longest without cracking, i call dibs on going first!"

and then eventually.

"sure why not"

"yes!"

11:36 AM

"shouei, give me the remote", you asked politely, motioning for him to give you the object.

your boyfriend stared curiously at you for a moment before you asked again, only this time in a more demanding tone.

"the remote shouei, right next to you" you started pointing at the black box, smiling because of how innocent he looked at the moment.

a look of revelation crossed his face before finally, "this?" he asked unsure of himself, but he was picking up the right thing.

"yes," you nodded your head, "bring it here please", you held your hand out and waited for barou to cross the room.

"sit down" you said, patting the open space next to you and he did so immediately, staring directly into your eyes as a way to show he understood you.

aw, he's so cute like this...maybe ill tease him a bit

"good boy" you purred, linking arms with him on the couch, occasionally glancing over at him and commenting on the movie playing. he nodded his head like he understood you but you were sure he didn't.

"shouei" he turned his head, he understood that.

" am i saying right now?" he began to nod his head again but quickly stopped as the grin on your face grew.

he bit his lip instead , his eyebrows knitting together to form a concentrated look on his face. "uhm...i don't...i"

you giggled at his reluctantly to say the word. "what you don't know? come on tell me love, what aren't you getting hm?"

barou blushed at your words, he didn't know much of ( native language ) but he did know one thing : pet names, and this one was the easiest to remember.

love? he thought. is she saying she loves me?

wow, this was more frustrating that he thought, he regrets not putting any of his own conditions on the game beforehand.

well its no use now might as well give it a go...

"i love you too, yn...?" you burst out laughing and his face began to turn red. you began speaking again but it was reduced to gibberish and nonsense because of how little ( native language ) he knew.

gosh, i really gotta learn some ( native language ) one day...this is killing me

"shouei you're so sweet you know that? the best boyfriend in the world in my opinion"

the confused look on barou's face persisted and he couldn't even read your body language properly because of one: how much you were giggling and two: you were staring directly into his eyes, not to mention a third thing, three : ( although he doesn't like admitting it ) you made him quite nervous sometimes. right now was definitely one of those times.

his heart picked up speed.

"fuck, i can't, i give up, talk to me baby whatter you saying?"

he broke, holding your hands in his, lookimg just as deeply into your eyes as you were his. you touched foreheads.

"oh i don't know, what am i saying shou? something good i hope" you grinned cheeckily.

his face was troubled, but only for a moment. he had an idea.

"fine, you're being that way?" and before you could say any more you were suddenly seeing the couch cushions with your hands held securely behind your back.

"guess im gonna have to force it out of you", barou began lifting your shirt, twirling his fingers featherlight on your skin.

fuck, you didn't know any japanese, what was be saying. "wait wait wait, okay im sorry you win"

"nahh...i dont think so...what goes around comes back around sweetheart, sorry"

fuck, you really didn't know japanese !

an's. this isnt sexual btw, yn got tickled to death.

[satansapostle6]

Kids | Rodrick Heffley

Spotify Playlist Link

Rodrick Heffley becomes obsessed when he finally meets his thirty-five year old band mate, Bill Walter’s, younger sister.

Warnings: Mature themes/language. Drug use. Violence. Almost smut. Choking. Semi-public. Knee riding.

“The Angel From My Nightmare”

“10 Things I Hate About You”

“Alright, go have fun. Come get me if you need something,” Sara told her younger brother.

“Do you have to stay?” Connor complained as she and Lauren sat at a table.

“Sorry, kiddo. We gotta have fun too,” she teased. “Go. Have fun. We’ll be all the way over here, you won’t even know we’re here.”

That turned out to be completely wrong.

“It’s super crowded in here… Even Heather Hills and her friends are here tonight,” Lauren observed.

“Ew. She puts the ‘bully’ in bulimic,” Sara muttered.

“Yeah, even I’m not that far in denial,” Lauren agreed, turning as everyone noticed a loud feedback coming off of the DJ’s microphone.

The music stopped, and no one knew what was happening.

“Alright, enough of that,” Rodrick Heffley’s voice blasted over the speakers, replacing the music that had been playing.

Everyone at the roller rink stopped to see that he and the rest of the band had set up near the DJ booth, completely hijacking the music.

“Oh my God,” Lauren whispered, looking to Sara. “Did you know about this?”

“No,” Sara hissed, looking at Rodrick in horror.

“We are Löded Diper, and we’re here to blow your minds,” Bill joined in.

“Oh my fucking God,” Sara murmured, trying her best to blend into the crowd as she scooted as far down the bench as possible.

But she quickly found that anonymity definitely wouldn’t be in the cards for her tonight.

“I’m Rodrick. Rodrick Heffley,” a shaky voice breathed into the mic.

“Hurry up!” someone’s dad yelled, more irritated about not hearing music than the whole music hijacking situation.

“Alright, uh… I’m here to sing one song. It’s a very special song, that goes out to a very special girl. Sara? Sara Walter?” Rodrick desperately searched the crowd for her.

He eventually found her, staring right at her as everyone in the roomed stared, including Heather Hills and the other ‘popular’ girls. Sara’s eyes widened with rage as her little brother and his friends all stared in her direction.

“Sara,” Rodrick stared, his eyes full of fear. “I… I’m sorry. You’re the prettiest, smartest girl in the world.”

Sara’s face went pale as she slowly turned to Lauren with all eyes on her.

“What the fuck?” she mouthed silently.

It seemed no one had anything to offer.

“Sara, I know you’re probably mad at me, and you probably should be. You’re beautiful, and you’re kind, and I don’t deserve you,” he blurted out as everyone watched.

Heather and her friends were now whispering and pointing in disgust.

“Listen, Sara, I get it if you never wanna talk to me again… But I really, really like you,” Rodrick announced in front of the entire building.

“Get on with it already!” another impatient onlooker shouted.

“Right, yeah, here goes,” he continued, rambling as he signaled to the band to start playing. “This song is for you, Sara Walter.”

Bill waved to her excitedly, completely unable to read the room as he tried to make the situation less intense. She watched, completely frozen as the band started playing. It was a bit rocky in the first few seconds, but then, she immediately recognized the song after the first few chords.

Struck by the effort that went into coordinating the entire thing, Sara could hardly control her racing thoughts. She didn’t know whether to be angry at Rodrick for the spectacle, or charmed by the gesture, or creeped out by the entire thing.

“And I’d give up forever to touch you…” the sixteen year old boy sang shakily in front of the crowd, his vocals questionable at best.

“'Cause I know that you feel me somehow

You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be

And I don't want to go home right now,”

Some people in the room, namely Heather’s group, laughed and whispered as Rodrick took the stage. Eventually, the teasing throughout the room got to be brutal, but he still persisted, trying his best not to break.

“God, he’s an idiot, but I still feel kinda bad,” Sara murmured.

“Sara. I’m gonna be completely honest with you,” Lauren raised an eyebrow. “You need to go kiss that boy right now.”

“Seriously? I’m just gonna run back into his arms because he made a fool of himself for me?” she reasoned. “That’s his whole brand!”

“Sara,” Lauren reminded her, her approach stern but caring. “Would Jake Anderson ever have performed your favorite slow song for you in a room full of people, even if his singing was pretty dog shit?”

Sara sat in silence for a moment as everyone still looked over at her, trying to gauge her reaction.

“What about Tyler Hayden? Or Lenwood Heath?”

“Okay, I get your point,” Sara said softly.

“I haven’t seen anybody give this much of a fuck for you since you were with Nadine,” Lauren admitted. “And you know how much I liked you guys.”

“Yeah,” Sara thought, considering her options.

“I think he really means what he says. Even if he’s fucking stupid,” Lauren told her.

Sara just sighed, looking up at Rodrick on the platform as he sang for her, never taking his eyes off her even once. It was the only thing keeping him grounded.

“And I don't want the world to see me

'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am,”

He sang like his life depended on it, which it kind of did. As much as Sara hated to admit it, she saw a look of genuine regret in his eyes that day. All she could think about was how much she really did like Rodrick, all the way until the end of the song.

It ended and a complete silence washed over the room, as just about everyone just stood around waiting for a resolution. Even security had been waiting until the spectacle was over to intervene. This wasn’t the first time this had happened, but it was the first time that yielded any interesting results.

Of course, Heather and her friends wouldn’t stop whispering, but Rodrick refused to pay them any mind. He cleared his throat as the song ended, staring out at Sara with a sad, dopey look in his eyes as he prayed she’d forgive him.

“Fuck it,” Sara muttered to herself, walking out onto the rink.

She marched up to the platform looking both angry and confused. Rodrick didn’t know what to expect, and slowly stepped down in shock. He stood right in front of her, walking up to her as he waited for her to react to him in some way.

“I’m sorry,” he started to apologize, “I didn’t know how to make it up to you—”

“I don’t care,” she said finally, a resolve in her eyes.

“What does that mean?” Rodrick asked, ignoring the girls who were pointing and making fun.

“That means, fuck it, Rodrick Heffley, I’m really starting to like you too.”

Rodrick’s grunt of surprise was muffled into a spontaneous kiss as Sara jumped into his arms, which was met with a mostly positive reaction from their audience. He was hesitant at first, slowly warming up to her again as he scooped her up in his arms, kissing her lips like he’d never get the chance to again.

After a moment, they remembered where they were, and Rodrick awkwardly set her down on the ground with reluctance. He looked up and down nervously, not sure what to say now.

“Can we go?” Sara asked, uncomfortable as she looked around.

“Yes,” he nodded automatically, willing to comply to her every whim, “Yes. We can.”

After being kicked out of the roller rink, again, Rodrick and the rest of the band walked out to the parking lot, reviewing their performance that night.

“You know, I know we’re metal and all, but that was fucking beautiful,” Ben seemed to be teary-eyes.

Rodrick and Sara stepped outside for a moment, as she leaned against the wall in silence, trying to think. Knowing what might comfort her, Rodrick pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, opening it as he offered it to her. Nodding appreciatively at the gesture, Sara took one and held it in her mouth as he lit it for her.

“I’m sorry,” Rodrick blurted out finally, a pained but far away expression on his face, “I, uh… I didn’t know how else to show you I meant what I said. That I really, really like you.

“It’s okay,” Sara sighed, just hoping to move on from the issue, “I understand. Really. We all backtrack. I’m over it.”

“No, really. I don’t want you to think I made a scene just to distract from the way I acted,” he said slowly. “I really meant what I said—”

“Rodrick,” she said, eyes wide open, “It’s fine. It’s done. I’m over it.”

“No, I owe you an explanation,” he sighed, “I… I’ve just never had a real girlfriend before…”

“Dude, this isn’t exactly breaking news,” she looked at him with dead eyes.

“Okay, can you just not be a total fucking asshole for like one second?” Rodrick demanded with laughter.

“Okay, fine,” she threw her hands up in surrender, “I’m listening.”

The look on her face was less than convincing.

“You’re a bitch,” Rodrick laughed, no longer able to take himself seriously, “You’re a fucking bitch,” he pointed at her, his finger less than an inch from her face.

“Oh yeah?” she teased with a light chuckle, cigarette butt dropped to the ground and forgotten.

“Yeah.”

He stood in front of her, trying to remain serious as he leaned against the wall, his hand resting just above her head.

“You’re a fucking bitch,” he repeated playfully, trying to perfect his more serious demeanor.

“Am I a bitch, or are you just a little bitch?” Sara proposed, intentionally provoking him.

“No. You’re just a bitch,” he promised her.

Neither were sure exactly how it happened, but as he got in her face and challenged her, he attempted to jokingly pin her to the wall. At first, this entailed his arm resting on her chest, but then suddenly turned into something else entirely.

Rodrick didn’t intend it at all, but suddenly, the both of them found his hand slipped as he held her by the throat, still grinning.

“You’re such a fucking bitch,” he told her, before coming to and realizing that he was actually choking her.

First, his eyes fluttered as he realized the mistake he’d made, but once he saw he’d reaction, he felt himself giving into it.

“Fuck,” he moaned out loud, his finger pads pressing on her pressure points harder.

She softly sighed in excitement, the contact with the pressure points heightening the experience even more. Rodrick looked at her with pleading eyes as he choked her, admiring her gratuitously.

He leaned in to kiss her, groaning into her mouth as he pressed her against the wall with his large hand wrapped around her neck. She reacted by pulling him in by the collar, making him feel something even more euphoric. She deepens the kiss, tongue slipping into his mouth as he slowly moved his leg up her body, not stopping until his knee trailed down to her center.

For just a moment, he stopped kissing Sara, huffing softly into the warm skin of her neck.

“Is it bad that I kinda wanna see you fuck my knee right now?” he wondered.

“Yeah,” she nodded. “And it’s hot.”

He chuckled happily as he sucked on her neck, roughly biting and sucking. He pushed his knee against her, practically fucking her with it against the wall behind the roller rink. She quietly groaned in frustration as she tried to align herself perfectly on his knee.

“You’re so fucking hot,” he gasped, eyes closed as he kissed all over her neck. “I hope you know you could ask me for anything. I’d do anything for you, or to you.”

“You’re so sexy,” Sara whined.

“I’m serious. If you wanted me to, I’d eat it from the back, and enjoy it,” he said completely deadpan. “All I wanna do is take you home and lay you down and make you come any way I know how.”

“We should probably stop this,” Sara thought intuitively, “Before this wall ends up pregnant.”

“I can’t control myself when I’m around you. And not cuz I think you’re hot,” Rodrick stated. “Honestly. I just see you and I wanna give you everything.”

“You already have,” she confessed, never having seen anyone so willing to risk things for her.

-

A/N: not sure if this is good, wrote it after doing a line

-

[writing-until-i-drop]

What's In A Name? Chapter Ten

Meg Harding and Kate Carter were inseparable until their friends died five ago, then she ran to New Orleans to save lives as a paramedic. But when Javi calls on his two oldest friends to help him collect data, counting on their matching natural instincts for tornadoes, Meg goes home for the first time in years. That's where she meets Tyler and the rest of the Wranglers, the YouTube storm chasers her dad likes to watch, and finds herself fitting in more with them than with Storm PAR. Meg only plans to stay for the week but will it be easy to leave when the dust settles?

If a certain cowboy has a say in it, nothing about leaving is going to be easy.

A/N: It's time to say goodbye.

AO3 Link

Previous Chapter

Meg came to with a groan, pain radiating through her body. Her first instinct was to reach for Kate, who was also starting to wake up.

“Are we dead?” Kate grunted.

“You in pain?” 

“Yeah,” Meg chuckled, wincing in pain.

“Not dead yet. Can you undo your harness?” It took a few minutes but they managed to release themselves. “Crawl out your window but watch out for the glass.”

“I don’t see any-Ow!” Meg’s laugh turned into a cough. “There’s glass.” Kate was halfway out the window when they heard the shouting.

“Kate! Meg!” 

“We’re fine,” Kate announced weakly to Tyler and Javi, who helped pull her out the window. Meg was next.

“Wait, I need to get my kit.”

“Screw your kit, Meg,” Javi said as he pulled her fully from the truck. Tyler was hovering over her immediately, checking her over for injuries. Kate was asking if everyone was okay and Meg was relieved to hear that they were.

“Y’all did it,” Tyler was crying. “You stopped it.” 

“And this is why we never let you drive anymore, Toad,” Javi used her old nickname, squeezing her hand. Meg smiled weakly at him, seeing for the first time in a long time, her old friend standing before her. “You wreck everything you drive.”

“I plead the fifth,” Her chest ached when she laughed. The harness had probably bruised her ribs. Her mind switched gears, cataloging her own injuries and how they were probably mirrored on Kate. 

“Baby, where are you going?” Tyler stopped her when she tried to move. “You gotta stay put until the medics get here.” 

“I am a medic,” She reminded him. “I need my bag.” Tyler shook his head, kissing her forehead.

“You’re not climbing back into that truck.” 

“Don’t tell me what to do, Arkansas.” The rest of the Wrangles joined them, sharing their love and praise for the two women. Eventually, Tyler agreed to help Meg to her feet, keeping a strong arm around her waist. “I ain’t gonna break, Ty.” 

“Baby,” He whispered in her ear, “I thought you were dead. Just shut up and let me hold you.” 

“You’re lucky I love you,” Meg leaned back into him but pulled away when she heard him hiss in pain, remembering what had happened before the theater. “Your leg! Tyler Michael Owens, sit your ass on the ground right now.” 

“Shit, yeah man,” Boone rushed over, guiding Tyler to the ground. “Doc, how ya feeling?”

“Got my ass shaken like a martini but I’m fine.” Boone barked with laughter,, squeezing her shoulder.

“Got a little too close to that lion now didn’t ya?” 

“Just a bit,” She groaned, shifting onto her knees. “I’m gonna grab my bag.” 

“No,” Tyler and Javi said together.

“Careful, Meg,” Kate warned with a lopsided smile. “You get these two to start agreeing on things and we won’t be able to have any fun.” 

“Haha, very funny,” Javi rolled his eyes. “Meg, sit your ass back down and I’ll get the damn bag.”

“Thanks, Jav,” She sat. 

“So, he gets to tell you what to do?” Tyler teased and she shoved his shoulder, giving a heatless glare.

“You want to be invited to that weddin’ Boone’s plannin’ me or do you wanna keep runnin’ your mouth?” 

“Wedding?” Kate perked up.

“You told her?” Boone ran a hand through his hair, “You agree with me on the roses though, right?” 

“You guys recorded this?” Javi shouted, backing out of the truck. Kate and Meg looked at each other, eyes wide.

“Don’t watch that!” The exclaimed in unison. Javi hesitated.

“But this could prove that what y’all did really worked and it wasn’t just a stroke of luck..” 

“Javi, Kate sntached her phone back. “You really want to hear what we thought our last words were gonna be before we died?” He paled, throwing up his hands in surrender. “That’s what I thought.” 

“I mean, I’ve got a morbid curiosity.” Boone looked between Meg and Kate, “But definitely not right now.” The girls shared a silent look, agreeing that no one would ever see or hear that recording.

“Ty, I’m gonna get my girl fixed up and then I’m comin’ for that leg, you hear?” 

“Yes, ma’am.” 

Once the doctors cleared them all from the hospital, the Wranglers and Javi made their way to Cathy’s house. Meg was giddy by the time they pulled in the driveway, spotting the extra set of cars next to Cathy’s truck.

“You didn’t,” Kate gasped, recognizing the cars, looking over at Meg who was driving since Tyler was now on crutches.

“I did,” Kate hollered in excitement.

“What did you do, darlin’?” Tyler asked, reaching over the seat to squeeze her shoulder.

“I’ll tell you later,” She giggled, Tyler groaned. The Wranglers all piled out of their cars, Meg honked a few times, alerting everyone in the house that it was time to come out. 

“No way,” Tyler’s breath hitched. Dr. Jo and Bill Harding were the first to walk out, the rest of the gang and Cathy following closely behind. 

“Thoughts and prayers, Cowboy. You’re gonna need them,” Meg kissed his cheek before running towards her family. “Mama, dad!”

“Hey there, Pumpkin,” Her dad lifted her into the air and Meg knew his back was going to hurt in the morning. “You brought a cowboy home.” 

“More like he brought her home,” Her mama kissed her temple, “You okay, sweetheart?” 

“Few bruised ribs, couple of scrapes, nothing permanent,” Rabbit stole her away from her parents, draping an arm over her shoulder.

“Not to interrupt the moment, but, Lawrence,” He held out his hand and it was filled with an open bottle of Jack Daniels that he passed to Meg. “I just have to say one thing,” Meg felt a surge of happiness bubble through her. “To the Extreme!” 

“To the Extreme!” The original gang, Kate, and Javi cheered. Meg took a swig of the liquor, grinning at the burn.

“To us!” Meg cheered, passing the bottle to Kate, “We did it.”

“We did,” Kate giggled, taking a drink. “We did it for them. We did it for our friends.” 

“So, who’s the Extreme?” Ben asked, pen and paper handy at the dinner table. There was a chorus of chuckles.

“The original or the remix?” Haynes asked, pointing her knife between Bill and Meg.

“Bill was the most out of control son of a bitch in the game,” Preacher announced, “Until little Meg over here.”

“I plead the fifth,” Meg laughed, leaning back into Tyler’s chest. “Plus, I still think mama is crazier than me.” Her mama rolled her eyes.

“Are we really telling this story again?” 

“It’s a classic,” Joey shushed Jo.

“There was a storm near Delton, right?” Beltzer started, “We were way too close and Jo had her camera out, videotaping the whole thing.”

“Then, this shitty green, what was it?” Lawrence, the only member of the original team who hadn’t been there for the incident, tried and failed to help tell the story.

“A shitty, green Valiant pulls up right in the way,” Haynes picked up where Beltzer left off. “Jo’s yelling and cussing the guy out when-” Rabbit jumped in, taking over.

“This naked loser with a bottle of Jack step out.” Tyler chuckled, kissing the top of Meg’s head.

“Naked?” Ben asked,

“Butt naked,”

“I was not naked!” Her dad defended himself but no one was listening to him.

“Naked as the day he was born,” Her mama kissed Bill on the cheek, “And he strolls up to the tornado and said-”

“Have a drink,” Her dad shouted. “Then I allegedly threw the bottle into the twister.”

“And it never, never, touched the ground,” Rabbit finished with a flourish of his hands. “That’s why we call him the Extreme.” 

“And it’s all lies,” Her dad shouted but the gang didn’t let him get away with it, launching into another tirade of overlapping stories. 

Once dinner was finished, Meg found herself on the porch, watching as the two teams interacted. Dexter was monopolizing her mama’s time, hanging on her every word. Ben, for better or for worse, was in deep conversation with Rabbit. Her dad and Tyler were sitting just a few feet away, animatedly trading stories and talking about Tyler’s truck. 

She wanted to spend every day like that, surrounded by her family and friends, watching them share years of tornado chasing experience. Her phone rang, Nick’s ringtone disturbing the peaceful atmosphere and for the first time in five years, she declined his call. She just wanted to be present in that moment, her heart filled with love.

Tyler glanced over at her and she smiled softly at him, then she crossed the porch and sat beside him, taking his hand in hers.

“Dad, what timeline did you bet on?” 

“Five months,” He answered with a grin, patting Tyler on the back when he coughed, choking on air. “Puts us in October.” 

“Okay then,” She stood again, kissing Tyler on the cheek. “Tyler, you should probably ask for his blessin’, I’m gonna tell Boone that the roses are out.” 

The next day, Tyler drove Meg to the airport, her flight coming in first thing in the morning as opposed to Kate’s later flight. 

“I’ll be back in a month,” Tyler kissed her desperately and she met his need. She poured every ounce of love she felt into the kiss, eagerly parting her lips for him to deepen their kiss. 

“That’s far too long,” Tyler said between kisses. Meg didn’t want to leave but she knew she had to. She had a job to quit, a partner to say goodbye to, and an apartment to pack up. All things that needed to be done in person. “I’m gonna miss you, darlin’.”

“I’m gonna miss you too, Ty. But I’ve gotta go.” He chased her as she pulled away, kissing her until her lungs burned for air. “Tyler-”

“Don’t go.” 

“I wouldn’t if I didn’t have to,” Meg pulled away, pushing at his shoulders to keep them separated. Tyler pouted at her. “This will be good for us.” He grunted in disagreement. “I’m serious, Tyler. We’ve been goin’ fast,” She squeezed his thigh. “A little time, a little space, it’ll give us some clear direction on where this is goin’.” 

Tyler looked uneasy all of the sudden.

“You’re coming back, right?”

“You’ll chase me if I don’t,” A smile toyed on Meg’s lips.

“Damn right.” 

Fin. 

a/n: I cried writing this chapter - I have NEVER written a story from start to finish and I am unbelievably proud of myself. Thank you to everyone who has been on this journey with me, encouraging me with all of your comments, likes, and reblogs. I love you all so so so much!! (that goes double for you, mom) I have a few one-shots in mind for Meg and Tyler but I don't think I'll be posting them soon, if there's any requests, please send me an ask

[gliphyartfan]

Rewrites of Four’s Reward bit!

Original: Here

Enjoy folks!

@stars-for-thought @eternadreeblissa @yanderelinkeduniverse @imprisioned-in-the-hole @screaming-until-god-hears-me @crestfallenmermaidan @ice-cream-writes-stuff @linked-heroes

For dear Anon who give me the suggestion to rewrite this!

——-

——

—

Four was still clinging tightly to (y/n) as she walked away from the Square.

his head resting against her chest, his arms wrapped securely around her shoulders. Her warmth, her gentle heartbeat, it was an anchor that kept his darker emotions at bay. His anger simmered quietly, a shadow just beneath the surface, but with her holding him like this, he felt it fade…just a bit.

“Are you gonna stay grumpy all day?” she teased, her voice light and playful.

He stayed silent for a moment, averting his gaze as he tried to wrestle his temper back into submission.

“…maybe…” he muttered eventually, though his tone was grudging. The anger still boiled beneath his calm facade, and he was only too aware of how close he’d come to hunting down that man himself. His fingers twitched, imagining what he’d have done if she hadn’t intervened.

“…you should’ve let me talk to that man,” he grumbled, the bitterness in his voice barely masked.

She chuckled, brushing a stray lock of hair from his face. “Oooh, relax, you,” she replied, her tone soothing but firm.

He knew she meant well, but letting that lowlife escape without his personal brand of justice gnawed at him. His fingers clenched reflexively, his mind flickering with images of what could have been. He could hear his fragments speak up in his mind, each one tugging him in a different direction.

“Should’ve run him through,” one murmured darkly, his voice edged with a bitter resentment.

“Left him crawling,” another one agreed, the idea pulled satisfaction from him.

“Make an example of him, he’d never speak to her that way again,” a third voice hissed, filled with a fierce protectiveness.

“Next time, we’re handling it. No one gets to breathe near her like that,” the final one growled, seething with possessiveness.

Four tightened his hold on her, his face pressed against her shoulder as he tried to quiet the chaotic voices in his head. Pain pulsing from the brewing headache.

“You guys and your constant need to be protective,” she said with a shake of her head, oblivious to the storm simmering within him. “You gotta learn to let words like that slip off you. Otherwise you’ll just keep being miserable. Besides I can take a few silly words.”

His lips twitched into a faint smile, though his eyes still held a glint of dangerous intent. “That doesn’t make what he did right,” he muttered, more to himself than to her.

They walked in silence for a while, her presence slowly soothing him, his grip on her loosening just a bit.

“…”

“…”

“…You know you can put me down now, right?”

She looked down at him with a playful glint in her eye.

“Do you… want me to put you down?” She asked, could not dare meet her gaze, though he could feel the smirk he knew would be there.,

He stiffened, holding her just a little tighter.

A rational, almost detached part of him thought maybe he should let go, maintain some dignity.

But every other part of him clung to her warmth, his grip firm.

“DON’T YOU. DARE,” the voices in his mind murmured in unison, the tone laced with a hint of desperation.

“…No, I don’t want you to put me down…” he mumbled finally, his face heating up as he tightened his grip.

“Thought so~” she cooed, giving him a soft squeeze that had the effect of pressing his face even closer against her chest.

His face turned bright red, and he hurriedly tightened his legs around her waist to make sure he didn’t slip. Her warmth surrounded him, and the rhythm of her heartbeat lulled him into a rare state of peace.

“So close…~”

“Feels nice…”

“Think she’ll let us stay like this for a while?”

“We’re certainly not moving an inch.”

She stroked his hair slowly, her fingers threading through his messy locks with a tenderness that melted the last traces of his anger. His eyes fluttered closed, and he let out a soft, contented sigh, her presence washing over him in a wave of calm.

“There, see?” she murmured gently. “You just let your temper get ahead of you. I’m not gonna let some silly guy get between me and my favorite group of boys.”

He let out a quiet chuckle, looking up at her with a soft, relaxed smile. She always had a way of making everything feel better, even when he was wound up and ready to fight.

“Poor you,” she teased, her eyes twinkling with mirth. “So many guys vying for my attention and only so many sticks to beat them back with.”

He let out a soft hum, nuzzling closer to her warmth. “Need to keep them away…” he mumbled, his voice a sleepy murmur as he let himself sink into the comfort of her embrace.

Her hand brushed a lock of hair from his face, her touch featherlight. “Just keep being you,” she whispered. “I’ll be just fine.”

He sighed, his anger fading into nothingness under her gentle touch. He never could stay mad when she was holding him like this,

it was simply impossible. He’d gladly trade his chance at revenge for this.

He looked up at her, a quiet, almost shy request in his eyes. “Can we… stay like this a bit longer?”

She smiled, nodding, and he felt his own smile grow as he settled against her, his body completely relaxed as her fingers traced soothing patterns through his hair.

This… this was everything.

———-

———

Here’s an expanded and more descriptive version of the scene, detailing the horrific fate of the man who insulted (y/n) earlier, and amplifying the heroes’ calm but unsettling demeanor as they discuss it.

“You’d think people would learn by now,” Twilight muttered, his tone oddly casual as he scrubbed the blood from his hands in the icy river. The water ran red around him, the stains swirling in thin ribbons downstream, but he paid it little mind.

Warriors gave a low, humorless chuckle, clapping Twilight on the shoulder with a hand that still bore smudges of crimson. “Upset, rancher?”

Twilight stared at the river with narrowed eyes, his voice a quiet murmur. “Not upset,” he replied, dipping his head to rinse the clumps of dried blood from his hair. “More… frustrated.”

Warriors shook his head with a grin that bordered on feral. “If I had any say, there’d be no filth left in the Land to need a reminder.” His voice was light, almost cheerful, but the malice beneath his words was unmistakable. “But we don’t get to be that lucky.” His grin widened as Twilight straightened, droplets of cold water trickling down his face.

Sky, who was calmly washing the blood from his arms, joined in. “Relax, guys,” he said, scrubbing away a particularly dark stain that lingered on his skin. “Besides, we didn’t waste much time with this one. Just enough to make it memorable.”

Twilight’s lips curled into a dangerous smile. “Yes, but I still believe the bag of flesh got off easy.” He ran a hand through his damp hair, his expression thoughtful as if considering whether he should’ve stayed to witness the man’s suffering.

Warriors raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms as he leaned against a nearby rock. “Because dumping an injured man in a starving Lynel’s den is getting off easy?” he asked, his tone dry, though his eyes glinted with a sinister satisfaction.

Sky returned his look, a faint smile playing at his lips. “I mean…isn’t it?”

Warriors only smiled at him in response.

Twilight let out a low hum, his eyes narrowing slightly as he recalled the man’s panicked, weakened form as they’d left him, half conscious and barely able to crawl. “It is a kindness, in a way. The Lynel will tear through him fast. But it’s a real shame if he managed to drag himself around and we weren’t around to see it, i bet it’ll give the beast time to play.”

“Yeah…like another minute…at most.”

The captain let out a deep chuckle, the sound rather off for such it topic as it echoed through the trees. “Don’t get me wrong,” he replied, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “I agree with you. But honestly, I’d much rather be back with our darling than waste my time on a bug.”

Twilight scoffed, his tone laced with grudging amusement. “Guess that’s the only good side to showing restraint. We get to see her sooner.”

Satisfied that most of the blood had been washed away, Twilight straightened, wiping his hands on his tunic. “All washed up?”

Sky nodded, brushing a stray drop from his cheek as he stood. “I spotted a few moblins near the Lynel’s den on our way here. They’re close to camp. Too close.” He said, pointing in the direction he was speaking of.

“Think they’re black blooded?” Twilight’s question was calm, detached, as if asking about something as mundane as their travel plans.

Warriors shrugged, adjusting his gloves with a faint smirk. “Gives us a reason for being gone so long, doesn’t it?”

Twilight nodded slowly, his lips curling into a dark smile. “There’s our alibi.”

“Well just have to meet with the others, regardless of our combined skill, better to have more numbers on our side.”

“Where are the others anyway?” The Rancher asked.

They were interrupted by the soft crunch of footsteps on leaves, and they turned to see Hyrule emerging through the trees, his expression calm but his eyes holding an edge of mischief.

“The others are finishing up,” he replied smoothly, as if speaking about a simple chore. His eyes held a glint of something unsettling as he continued, “Time, Wild, Legend, and Wind are clearing out his place. They’re taking care of any… reminders.”

Sky raised an eyebrow. “Reminders?”

Hyrule gave a faint smile, almost as if he were amused. “Evidence. Better to be careful in eras that we visit more than once, safer to get rid of anything that announces that we were there.”

“Trouble?” Warriors asked, giving him a lazy grin.

Hyrule shook his head, his lips quirking in a faint smile. “No trouble. Just came to see if you needed any help,” he replied. “I followed the trail of blood here.” He nodded to the ground, where smears of red still lingered among the crushed grass and leaves.

Sky grimaced, his eyes flicking to the streaks of blood. “Did we really make that big of a mess?”

Hyrule’s smile widened, an unsettling glint in his gaze. “Don’t worry. I took care of the more concerning ones.” He jerked a thumb back toward the forest. “Left a nice, clean path back to camp for (y/n).”

Twilight let out a low chuckle, his tone dark and tinged with satisfaction. “And Four?”

Hyrule let out a sigh, his expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. “Four’s happily keeping (y/n) distracted,” he said, his voice dry. “Much to our…dismay.”

Twilight deadpanned, “He’s clinging to her, isn’t he?”

“Yep,” Hyrule replied bluntly, his lips twitching in faint annoyance.

Warriors rolled his eyes, a grumble escaping him. “Let’s get rid of those moblins and get back to camp before the brat convinces her to let him sleep next to her.”

The foursome let out a collective sigh, some grinning, some pouting, but all with an sense of amusement.

————

————

Back at camp, Four nestled against (y/n) as her hand ran soothingly through his hair, his eyes closed, a serene smile on his face.

He was so utterly at ease, so wrapped up in her warmth, that he barely noticed the sound of approaching footsteps.

But when he cracked an eye open and saw the others emerge from the shadows, their expressions a mix of frustration and barely concealed jealousy, he couldn’t help the smug smile that spread across his face.

“Feel better?” she murmured, her voice soft and gentle as she stroked his hair, oblivious to the dark glares from the others.

He let out a contented sigh, leaning into her touch as he shot the others a satisfied glance. “I’d feel even better if you don’t let go…” he murmured, his tone soft, almost lazy.

She chuckled, brushing a stray lock of hair from his face. “Turned into a little cuddle monster, haven’t you?”

“Mmhm.” His grin widened, his eyes gleaming with quiet satisfaction as he nuzzled against her chest. He could practically feel the others’ irritation from across the campfire, and he relished every second of it.

“Well, enjoy it while you can,” she whispered, her voice warm and indulgent. “You’ve earned it for being so well behaved for me.”

Four’s smirk grew as he tightened his hold on her. He knew what they were thinking, how unfair it was that he’d left the dirty work to them and gotten the reward all to himself. But he didn’t care.

This was his moment, and he was going to savor it.

“This is the best…” one color sighed.

“Her touch is simply heaven…” another gushed.

“So soft…” the third said shyly.

“Look how jealous they are…” the fourth announced smugly.

From across the campfire, Warriors clenched his jaw, his gaze dark as he watched Four nestled so comfortably in her arms. “I’m gonna kill him,” he muttered, his tone low and threatening.

“No, you won’t,” Legend replied coldly, his arms crossed over his chest. “Because I will.”

“Get in line,” Twilight growled, his eyes narrowed, a dangerous gleam in his gaze.

Time shot them a warning look, his voice carrying a quiet authority. “Enough. He’s not dying,” he said, though his tone held a faint edge of reluctance. “Even if it is… tempting.”

Legend shrugged, his expression cold and indifferent. “We could always drop him in the lake.”

Wind’s eyes lit up, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “Yeah! I’ve got octorok balloons stashed away. We could dangle him and drop him right in the middle.”

Wild’s grin was equally wicked. “I’ve got an ice rod. We could keep him under for a bit.”

Time gave them a sharp glare, his voice low and stern. “No one’s freezing anyone under the lake,” he warned, his tone brooking no argument.

The camp settled into an uneasy silence as they turned their attention back to the fire, though their eyes still darted enviously toward Four.

In that quiet moment, Time glanced at Four, his expression softening slightly. As much as he envied the blacksmith’s position, he supposed he’d be just as smug if he were in his place.

But that didn’t mean he had to be happy about it. He let out a low sigh, his gaze lingering on Four, nestled so contentedly in her arms.

…Lucky bastard.