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redclercs · 1 year ago

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DELICATE✰ CHARLES LECLERC.

xiv. this feels like the calm before the storm.

— the one where the world is caving in.

warnings: cheesy pop culture references, aidan and victoria are back, more articles than usual. mentions of panic attacks, anxiety tics, spelling mistakes in the tweets that i am too lazy to correct, forgive me. 2.3k words (+articles!)

masterlist ✢ next

'Did Timothée Chalamet get y/n y/ln a role in 'Little Women'?'

By Bridget Thomas

As previously reported by various outlets, actress y/n y/ln has been cast as the youngest March sister for yet another remake of "Little Women", expected to be premiered by the end of next year. However, we can't help but wonder, how did y/n manage to get a role alongside actors of such high caliber, such as Meryl Streep and Best Actress Nominee Saoirse Ronan?

Despite the success of movies such as Supercut and The Hating Game, y/n's acting skills cannot even begin to compare to those of her co-stars, she's a romcom actress, and she's supposed to stay that way. But as Ringo Starr once sung: "I get by with a little help from my friends" and y/n is no exception.

Timothée Chalamet, Greta Gerwig's other main muse, has Hollywood eating out of the palm of his hand, and his influence goes a long way. So much so, that he was able to secure Amy's role for new friend (possibly new something else) y/n y/ln.

Right after they were seen mingling at a party in Paris with y/n's boyfriend (probably soon to be ex) Charles Leclerc, y/n got the call that they decided to give her the role.

Don't we all want a boyfriend who uses nepotism to our benefit?

Seriously, though, how does y/n manage to get this heartthrobs to spare a glance her way and do this stuff in her name? Somebody call the Winchester Brothers, we might have a witchcraft case right in front of our eyes.

Click here to go to the next article.

'Victoria Presley: I still miss my best friend, but all she did was use me.'

By Daniel Gomez

After staying away from social media and her job for a month and a half, beauty influencer Victoria Presley is back and she's not afraid of anything. Not even legal repercussions.

Back in July, Victoria received a 'Cease and Desist' letter from none other than former best friend y/n y/ln, demanding she stopped talking about her in public and to news outlets. This sparked the rumors that Presley had been selling her secrets to tabloids and was the one to reveal the engagement secret alongside actress Mia Kim, Aidan Kim's sister.

Victoria immediately removed herself from the narrative, deeply hurt by her ex-bestie's actions. Now, after gathering her thoughts and recovering from being stabbed in the back, she's giving us this exclusive interview.

"I can't help but miss y/n, she was my best friend for so long. But all she did was use me." Victoria is still in disbelief of y/n's actions, after giving her all her love and support. "I let her live in my house for months, and one day she leaves without any explanation. All to meet that Formula One guy."

Victoria has expressed her discontent with y/n's relationship with Charles Leclerc several times, arguing he is one of the main reasons y/n cut all ties with her and not the rumors that she revealed y/n's secrets to tabloids.

"He changed her for worse. Their relationship is so toxic, they breakup and get back together again and again, and they're just looking for ways to use the other's reputation for their benefit."

However, Victoria is certain the relationship won't last much longer, since y/n has her sight set on co-star Timothée Chalamet. "y/n has liked him for a while. When the rumors of his relationship with Kylie Jenner came out, she assured me she could steal him away with a flick of her hand."

Meanwhile, Victoria is focusing on her beauty line and its evergrowing sales. "I'm competing directly with Rare Beauty and Fenty. I'm in the big leagues, the way I deserve to be."

Click here to go to the next article.

'Aidan Kim reveals tracklist for "MIRRORS" and moves the release forward.'

By Paul Dean

Aidan Kim fans won't have to wait until October 5th anymore since their idol has decided to move the release date for his debut album forward by one month.

While we believe this decision was influenced by the news of ex-girlfriend y/n y/ln making her acting comeback in a high category movie, his fans also begged him to 'remind everyone of how awful y/n is' and judging by the titles of his upcoming tracks, we're sure he's leaving no crumbs.

Check out "MIRRORS" tracklist here:

In Your Pocket

All The Things I Hate About You

Him

Cry Me A River

Stabber

Stupid Love Letter

MIRRORS

Round and Round (Star-5 Reprise)

Yours and Mine (Star-5 Reprise)

Blinding Lights (The Weeknd Cover)

No Lie (With Mia Kim)

We can't wait for Aidan's insight on his relationship and breakup to y/n, we're certain the details are juicy! Don't forget to presave "MIRRORS" on Spotify and Apple Music!

Monza, Italy, September 3rd.

1...2...3... deep breath in, 4...5...6, breathe out.

You repeat the process five times until your heart has set in your chest and isn't trying to break free anymore. Until you've stopped squeezing your thighs with your palms and you can keep your eyes open without feeling like the red decoration is stabbing your eyeballs.

It's good that you can manage your anxiety before it turns into panic. You're still embarrassed about The Spain Incident, although neither Charles nor Carlos fault you for it at all. Still, every now and then, their panicked faces flashback in your mind and you feel sorry for them all over again.

You don't want this weekend to turn into The Monza Incident. Not when Charles' contract renewal was announced a few hours ago and he's on Pole Position, this weekend has to be perfect. Or as perfect as possible, for your boyfriend.

Boyfriend.

The weight of the word has multiplied by a thousand in your mind. Silly, when you really think about it. But palpable in a way that has butterflies flying around your stomach every time you think about the word and Charles' smiling face appears in your mind.

He's your boyfriend and you're his girlfriend, and this was a mutual agreement you reached with panic still holding you by the throat, only soothed by Charles' soft lips against your temple and his warm hands rubbing your skin.

You agreed to come to this Grand Prix because it will be the last one for you for a while. Filming for Little Women starts soon, and though they have a couple of races in the States, your schedule can be a little unpredictable. Also, you're hoping to score more roles soon.

You breathe again, deep enough that your lungs ache and lightheadedness threatens to rise through your body. You're overwhelming yourself, again.

According to the world, you’re not skilled enough to be in a movie with Saoirse and Timothée and should give up the role to someone who actually deserves it. Which you won’t do, of course. That someone who deserves it is yourself. It has taken a lot of pep talks in the bathroom mirror to brainwash yourself into believing it, but you’re getting there.

Plus, there are more things to worry about with Victoria back on her bullshit and Aidan's album coming out in two days. There are so many things to fix again, just when you thought you were getting there. Of course the two people that hate you most in the world have to mess with you again.

"Already here?" Carlos asks the second he crosses the door to the Suite. "It's way early."

"Good morning to you too," you let the air out of your already burning lungs and smile at Carlos. "I have nowhere else to be."

You could be at the Paddock Club, mingling with whatever celebrity or rich local is there. Or even visiting McLaren, since Lando offered to 'show you the garage', something Charles didn't like, of course. The secret of your newly earned girlfriend-boyfriend titles is one you try to keep close to your heart.

As if that has worked before.

A wave of anxiety runs down the back of your neck when you remember the tweet you saw this morning about a Deuxmoi tip on Charles and you. What could the exact price be, to reveal your relationship to the world?

"Have you had breakfast? Looks like you're going to throw up," Carlos says, sitting in the sofa opposite yours.

It's at least the fifth time he's told you that during the weekend. You know he does it out of a place of concern, but it still rubs you the wrong way. You also need to look perfect, not like you're going to throw up.

"I had breakfast back at the hotel, it's just the lighting."

"Sure?"

"I'm fine, Carlos. How are you?"

Carlos shrugs, he's not being the center of attention this weekend despite this being another home race for the team. "Good."

"Didn't you have to be at the meeting today?" you question, although it's obvious that by his getting there just now, he didn't.

"Had my PR reminders yesterday. Charles is different."

Of course. He has to know what he's allowed to say about his renewal and what he should not speak on at all.

Your own team advised you not to let yourself be seen at Monza. Mildred would have pulled you out of the plane if it had been up to her, and Walter would have helped her hold you hostage until the weekend was over.

They're both trying to find out about the Deuxmoi pictures too, although you doubt they can reach an agreement of any kind with whoever holds them to stop them from calling People Magazine up.

This whole avoiding being seen thing makes you feel wrong. As if you were doing something bad with Charles instead of just finally letting the love you've felt for him for months show. You hate it.

You're wrong to compare your current situation with your past ones. Aidan was your first really public romantic relationship, but before that, you didn't hide your partners either. Of course you weren't that famous, but even then, you didn't entertain the thought of scurrying around like criminals.

"He'll be fine, y/n," Carlos adds, looking at the way your foot keeps stomping the floor, like you're some kind of hyperactive bunny. "He's on Pole. You can pray for Max's downfall, though, maybe that'll help."

"I don't pray for people's downfall," you click your tongue, crossing your legs to stop the tic.

Karma and all that.

"Maybe you should." Carlos winks at you, and your conversation is finished as Charles leaves his meeting.

You can tell something's off just from the way his shoulders tense, but he smiles at you the moment your eyes meet.

"Everything okay?" you ask before he leans down to reach your height as you sit and pecks your lips.

"Yes, everything's good."

He's lying.

─────────

What was the point of coming to Monza if you're only watching the race through the screens?

You don't think the sun has touched your face at all since you got to the circuit, and you really want to be out there. But you stay put in your seat as the formation lap occurs right outside of the Suite.

It will make no difference, though, Charles is focused on the race, as he should be, rather than whether you're watching him through the TV.

Soon enough you know what will make a difference.

It's some kind of miracle that Charles has managed to regain the P1 position after the disastrous pit stop Ferrari put him through, and maybe Carlos was actually praying for Red Bull's downfall since Max has his very first DNF of the season and Checo can't get past George in P3.

Charles is going to win Monza again.

The decision making tree branches in front of you in a matter of seconds, people at the Suite are already talking excitedly and someone asks if you want to go down, there are four laps left.

You get up from your seat, aware that if life was anything like that videogame you played a couple times on the set of Parisian Valentine with your co-star, the "This action will have consequences" legend would appear on the screen right now.

You follow the Ferrari worker out, but even between the excitement and celebrations, you manage to hear what the PR Manager really thinks of your presence in the Paddock.

"She’s such a PR nightmare,"

She switches to Italian when your eyes fly to her face. And you can only wonder what cruel yet entirely accurate thing she said.

It's worse than a nightmare. It feels like the apocalypse all over again. And the weight of the world is back on your shoulders, feeling like you're messing up what was a weekend out of a dream for Charles.

You flashback to Monaco and the way Mati pulled you out of your head and locked your phone in her purse. You wish she was here more with each passing second. You cannot tear your eyes away from every single tweet speculating about your presence, about your relationship, about your intentions. It's overwhelming.

But Charles' happiness is what matters. He's absolutely ecstatic, even after the mishaps during the interviews where his PR training had to kick in and lead reporters back to Formula 1 related questions.

The thought that maybe you should have tried to make friends with more people occurs to you when you arrive at the celebration in the private club and Charles is dragged away from you. He tries his best to hold on to your hand, but the truth is people want to be with him and not you, so you let him take the spotlight he deserves and enjoy it.

"So, are you and Charles dating, then? Didn't you use to be engaged?"

You half-smile at the girl who just asked you the question, so boldly it takes you aback. But you guess her eyes are so bright from how much alcohol there is in her system, she's bound to be direct with liquid courage running through her veins. She's pretty in that dark hair, dark eyes way that has you momentarily doubting your own looks.

The extra heartbeat that takes you to reply, has her eyes shifting around the room before settling on Charles, who is finally walking back to your side.

Your boyfriend hands you a drink and smiles at the dark-haired girl and her friend, politely. "Are you having a good time?" the question is mostly directed towards you, but both girls jump at the chance of saying they're having the time of their lives and congratulating Charles for such an epic win. But they prompt you to join the conversation a few seconds later, so you're grateful for it either way.

There's a song in Spanish playing on the speakers and Charles is doing his best to sing the words while encouraging you to move to the beat with him. With his arms around you, things feel a little lighter, the whole in your chest that anxiety carved out is slowly filling with the love you feel for him, and the happiness of the day outshines the darkness of the thoughts in the back of your mind.

That is, at least, until the first notes of 'In Your Pocket' replace the previous song, after the DJ announces it's a special request. It's a remix, obviously, so people can dance to it, but a few of them have stopped moving altogether just to be a little less discreet about eyeing you.

"C'est pas amusant," you hear Charles say to one of his friends, who is hiding his mouth behind a tall glass of alcohol, his eyes still betray his enjoyement.

"It's fine," you squeeze Charles' arm, trying your best to smile although you're being put in the spotlight and there's nearly nothing worse than being the butt of a cruel joke. "It's just a song."

You wondered many times what those surrounding Charles thought of you. They didn't know you, after all. His brothers were nice to you when you saw them around the Paddock, and it wasn't like you'd hung around the rest of his friends. Did they mock him when tabloids called him a homewrecker? Or did they believe he'd just embarked on what seemed to be a dead-end relationship?

"I'm sorry, soleil, they're just— they're idiots," Charles adds, his hand reaching for yours. He looks genuinely upset and you can't help but hate whoever requested the song a little more for spoiling Charles' mood rather than for making fun of you.

"Charlie, it's okay, I've been through worse," your reassurance doesn't soothe him, so you squeeze his hand and he presses his lips to your temple. "I'd rather listen to Bad Bunny or something, though."

Charles laughs and pulls you out of the dancefloor, to a more private part of the club where you both can catch your breath and share a few kisses, unafraid of people staring at you.

New York, United States, September 7th.

You know you're in trouble when Mildred calls tells you that you need to be at her office ASAP. She also used that condescending 'I'm the adult' tone that sends you back to when you were fifteen and got in trouble with your mother, so it's another indication that she's angry at you.

Of course you know why, the words 'PR nightmare' haven't left your brain in days. And the moment you set foot in New York, Mildred was all over you about every single thing that was being said about the Monza Incident—aka seeing your boyfriend like any normal person would.

"This isn't ideal," Mildred says after a while, she has been explaining the public's perception of you for the past half hour. "It's like you—"

"Like I fucked up?" you cut her off, squeezing your knees to stop from biting your nails.

"We were rebuilding your brand, y/n. People think you waited for things to die a little so you could go public with Charles. Aidan's new album is not helping your case."

If you thought 'In Your Pocket' was bad, nothing compared to the rest of the songs. Some in which he called you a list of things including a homie-hopper, drama starter and said you settled for a 'bum' when you could have had a 'rockstar'.

"How is that my fault?" you don't intend to sound so whiny, but you can't help it. Why are Aidan's actions always your fault somehow?

"People are talking more about how you are dating a Ferrari Driver after spending months saying you weren't, rather than the fact that you landed an incredibly important role."

"We haven't told anyone we're dating,"

Mildred rolls her eyes despite her best efforts to remain professional. "Do you really think that's necessary?"

"What do you suggest we do?" you ask, knowing you won't like the answer.

─── team principal radio: ❝remember when I said it wouldn't take me one month to update delicate and then it took me longer than that? I'M SO SORRY LMAO. also not loving this chapter but i just want it out of my way for now i need it off my drafts, but don't worry this time i'll try for the next not to take me a century. thank you if you're still here, your patience means the world to me i love you all so muuuuch♡❞

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#charles leclerc x reader #charles leclerc fic #charles leclerc imagine #charles leclerc fanfic #charles x reader #charles leclerc fluff #charles leclerc series #formula 1 imagine #formula one au #formula 1 imagines #formula 1 fanfic #f1 imagine #f1 fic #f1 fanfic #f1 x female reader #f1 x y/n #f1 x you #f1 x reader

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stevie-petey · 1 year ago

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hi honey <3 what was going on in steve’s head while bug was driving him home from the halloween party? :) mwah!

finally have some time to respond to this blurb because a LOT was going through that silly boys brain </3

enjoy !

"i'll drive steve home." if steve had had anything to drink, those words wouldve sobered him up immediately.

however, hes stone cold sober as you stand before him, demanding him to argue with you.

he tries. he really does, but you have that glint in your eyes that steve had quickly learned meant youd get your way, no matter what.

for such a sweet and selfless person, you could be frustratingly stubborn sometimes.

steve is about tell you to just leave him alone, this is most eye contact hes made with you since july, but then you grab his hand and it all comes crashing back to steve.

your hand still fits perfectly within his, and for a second steve swears the pads of his fingers tremor when they graze against your palm, as if theyve exhaled with relief upon your touch.

when youve dragged steve outside, the tremors in his fingertips has become so uncomfortable that he has to drop your hand. hes afraid that if he doesnt, his knees will give out. after the shitty night hes had, he cant afford to spare any more of his pride.

steve sees the disappointment on your face when he drops your hand, and he feels the familiar pang in his chest. hes disappointed you again, upset you, but he figures its time hes evened the score anyways.

you hurt him first.

"not to make this awkward, but i kinda dont know where you live." you voice from the drivers seat. your tone is light, steve can hear how much youre trying to tell him without explicitly saying so.

hes tired of everyone treating him like a fucking idiot.

"make a left up here." he responds, staring out the window. he refuses to let you see him cry. nancys words are still ringing in his ears while your perfume clouds his mind.

its all so fucking confusing.

"do you want to talk about what happened tonight-"

steve once admired your selflessness, how open you are with what you feel and how deeply you feel it. then, you closed yourself off from him. shrouded your kindness from him and masked every feeling on your pretty little face without so much of an explanation. now, after finally being confronted with one another, you want to talk about fucking feelings?

yeah, sure. steve can do that.

"why do you only ever care about me when im some kicked fucking puppy?"

steve sees you flinch from the corner of his eye and the anger hes felt ever since july vanishes. "you know thats not true."

"its not?" steve remembers the look on your face that night the two of you saw jonathan in nancys bed. itd been the first time youd shown genuine sympathy towards steve, the first time hes ever truly had your attention.

then he remembers the alley, how youd begged him to not hurt jonathan and hed let his childish anger get the better of him anyways. steve remembers grabbing you and pulling you away from the others so that you wouldnt get hurt by the cops. he had just wanted to help you, and when he told you this he knew you saw the helplessness in his eyes. your lips had trembled as you looked at steve, you had cared about him, then.

you had almost stayed that day in the alley.

but then you left steve to go run after jonathan.

and this summer, steve doesnt know what happened between you and him, but you left again.

"then explain what happened this summer." steve knows himself. he knows that if you can give him any reason, anything, then hed welcome you back into his life with warm and worn arms.

your fingers tighten around the steering wheel. your eyes scan the empty road ahead and steve already knows what youll say. "i..."

nothing. you cant tell him a single fucking thing. delirious and heartbroken, steve laughs. "yeah, whatever. some real fucking friend you were."

and thats what hurts steve the most. you were his friend, you told him this yourself. minutes before you pulled away from him, youd been telling steve how much of a good friend he was.

you knew. he had told you how much hes struggled with connecting with others. you knew, and you still left.

nancy has provoked a different kind of hurt. she doesnt know steves deepest insecurities, or how hard he tries to be good enough for her. sure, steve felt a purpose being loved by her, but she couldnt have known this.

you were different.

and steve just wants to go home.

the silence settles, heavy. you take a shaky breath and steve has to pinch the skin on his arm so he doesnt reach out to hold you. "i got scared."

he cant help it. steve turns to you, your confession surprising him. "scared?"

"yeah, scared."

and just as quickly as youve opened back up to steve, you retreat.

anger rises again. "gee, y/n. that really explains a ton."

"im sorry, steve. i really am. its just... i got scared, ive never been good at letting people in. i know it doesnt excuse my actions, and you didnt deserve any of it, but you just... you scared me."

steve understands what its like to be scared of those around you, of giving someone the power to be vulnerable around them, but after everything thats happened with nancy tonight, he finds that he doesnt care anymore what vulnerability gets him. "turn right after this light."

something changes, then. steve notices your posture straighten, your jaw clenches and your knuckles are white against the steering wheel. theres a newfound spark now, a fight within you. "look, you came crashing into my life in such a violent way, and it became the best goddamn thing that happened to me."

steves heart is pounding against his chest.

your voice shakes still. he knows, he can feel it, just how hard this is for you. "there you were, spending every day at my job just to talk to me. you asked me questions about myself and noticed things no one else had before and i just... i couldnt do it."

a pause, you look over at steve and you soften your voice, lacing it with everything hes wanted from you since july. "i missed you."

i missed you.

steve whispered those words to nancy in the hallway only yesterday, but he knows he really meant them for you.

no ones ever missed him before.

"missed?" when steve was young, he remembers asking his dad if he missed him. missed implied caring for someone at some point, but long after theyve already left. to have missed someone means to have long settled the ache that followed the hurt of leaving.

"miss. i miss you,"

something opens within steves chest. he can feel it, this expanding that slowly overtakes his body. it crawls over him, clouds his brain the same way your perfume does, and steve has to close his eyes as it settles.

he feels like a little kid again, accepting whatever his father gives him.

steve is tired.

but he sees you wipe at your eyes. your hands shake, despite your best attempts of steadying them as you drive, and steve knows he could never, ever remain angry with you.

he recognizes, suddenly, how similar the two of you are. two lonely kids trying to walk everyone home.

#southelroy #ask #come home blurb #set in season 2 !#m speaks #m's writing #god i didnt mean to write so much #but this became soooo daddy issues coded #oops #all hot bitches have daddy issues

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narrans · 6 months ago

Text

Stellar Allies | Part Four

GT July | Stellar Allies | Part Four

Words: Sweet Tooth, Honey, Gamble

Plunged into darkness once again and aching from head to toe, Ol’oih stayed crouched in the corner of the box with his addon curled around him. His one shot had failed and now all of that energy had been lost. It was a miracle that his addon hadn’t broken, fractured, or, worst case, amputated instantly.

That boy had grabbed him so fast. He was so powerless. There was nothing he could do to try and defend himself. The experience was a jarring one, and he had no idea whether his plea for open communication would be answered.

Ol’oih curled in closer and continued heaving in breath after breath. He was starting to get drowsy. The heat was starting to have an affect on him and the lack of sustenance was making him weaker by the moment.

How could I be so stupid! I waisted my one chance. I shouldn’t have rushed. I should’ve just stayed calm. Just that one touch was probably enough. I could’ve tried harder to demonstrate what I was about to do. I rushed and now they’re probably going to end me.

Ol’oih flinched as he heard the sounds of stomping pass by.

They’re probably going to experiment on me. There’s no doubt. I caused harm, so they have every right to do the same. Oh Ove! Juthez! This is bad! This is so bad for me!

Ol’oih leaned over and laid down on the makeshift cot the humans provided which he thankfully had pulled over to the corner where he was huddled. As he laid there, he cleaned off the bits of skin from the end of his addon.

If this is the end, I’m not going out as a monster with blood on my hands or my addon.

Slowly, his eyelids were starting to get heavier and heavier. Ol’oih didn’t even bother illuminating his surroundings. It would take too much energy to do so, and he couldn’t spare it. All he could do there was stay prone and hope that his end would be quick and merciful.

He wasn’t sure how much time had passed. What he did know was the sound of footsteps approaching disrupted his rest. The sound of muffled voices nearby told him that those same two boys were nearby and possibly alone, keeping him in a precarious situation. If there was someone new, he could maybe prove himself to that new person. Those two boys, however, had probably already made a determination about Ol’oih’s demeanor and would proceed from there.

Once again, the light flooded into the box and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust as he looked up into the faces of those same two boys. His entire body thrummed, making him nauseous, but the one thing he clung to from his observation was the fact the boys didn’t look malicious. If anything, they looked determined and calm.

Moments earlier, Jax and Cliff had approached his room and had one last verification of the plan.

“So, give him the food and water, talk, and then hopefully not get poisoned or controlled by the alien leading to the domination of our species. Super simple,” muttered Jax.

“Yeah, super simple,” echoed Cliff. He sighed and started to remove it when Jax got his attention with a nervous cough.

“You know… it’s not too late. I’m not trying to chicken out or anything, but this feels like something that is way over our heads. I just… are you sure you want to try this again?” asked Jax.

Cliff sighed and stared at his bandaged, throbbing hand, part of it coming loose from him tugging at it. “Yeah, I think so. The other option is calling the government or some other authority. I’m not ready to do that, so I’ll take my chances.”

“Okay, but just to make sure he knows, maybe make it clear that we’re not messing around?” proposed Jax.

“You want to threaten the six inch tall alien?” asked Cliff.

“I mean, yes and no? Dude, I just don’t want to see you get hurt again,” said Jax. Cliff closed his fist and bumped his friend on the side of his leg.

“I don’t think it’ll happen, but thanks man. Now, let’s stop being chickens and let’s get excited. This is for science! Commence Operation: First Contact. Well, Operation: Second Contact. At the very least, I might go down in history as the first person to be kill murdered by an alien in our day and age.” Cliff’s attempt at a joke was ill received as Jax’s face fell. As Cliff led the way into the room, he heard his friend behind him.

“Not funny,” Jax grumbled as he led the way into Cliff’s room. Together, they entered the room and crouched once more by the sealed plastic box to attempt communicating once more.

Ol’oih, now once again face-to-face with the human boys, leaned his back against the hard edge of the container behind him. He didn’t have the energy to fight anyway. His body thrummed nervously and, sadly, his emotions were easy to read. He noticed his ciferi shifting from color to color with every emotional whim his mind and body experienced.

The one boy who had grabbed him turned his eyes away for just a moment, looking at something Ol’oih couldn’t hope to see, and turned his attention back to him. There was something in his hand and, instinctually, Ol’oih curled in tighter to himself, shying away from the arm extending down into the box a few inches from him.

What’s he grabbing? What’s he grabbing! He didn’t seem malicious. Neither of them did. Juthez! Was I wrong?

His fears, however, shifted cautiously to curiosity and relief as he saw that what the boy had in his hands was some kind of cup with a clear liquid inside of it.

Water!

The glass came up to Ol’oih’s waist and was more than enough to drink for the next few days. The boy quickly removed his hand, leaving the cup behind. Ol’oih scrambled up to his feet and approached the glass, gazing at the life saving liquid, when he stopped short.

These boys… what if they’ve poisoned the water? What if they tampered with it? I can’t take the risk. Not without testing it first.

Jax and Cliff watched, entranced and fascinated, as the alien paused for a moment as he eagerly gazed at the water before stopping himself. Then, from one of the pockets in the flight suit he was wearing, he pulled out a rectangular box and dipped it into the water, careful not to get any of the liquid onto his skin. He reached into a different pocket and pulled out some other small item which he poured into the water.

Then, he sat and rocked the box back and forth, swirling whatever he poured into the box with the water.

“Are you… testing the water?” asked Jax suddenly, making the alien jump a little.

Yes, not that you can hear me. It’s a basic test. I don’t mean offence by it, but I need to know you’re not trying to kill me. Wow… devolving into talking to myself. I guess it does happen faster than you think. I shouldn’t have besmirched all those stories they made us read in basic.

After a minute of swirling the solution around, Ol’oih examined the water and saw no change in color.

It’s pure, and it’s not been tampered with. Thank Ove!

With that, both Jax and Cliff watched in surprise as the alien grabbed onto either side of the cup and plunged his head directly into the substance.

“Wait… hang on! Cliff, he’s not drowning himself, right?” asked Jax as he went to reach into the container to pull the alien out of the water. Just as he did, however, Cliff reached forward and grabbed Jax’s extended hand.

“Wait! I don’t think so. Look. The water level is going down. I… think he’s just drinking,” stated Cliff. Jax scrutinized the water levels further and saw his best friend was right. The water levels were merely going down and, after a few more seconds, the alien pulled his head out of the cup.

Water dripped down his shoulders and over his body. He reached up and slicked back his liv, looking completely relieved, before turning his attention back to the two teens. Already, he felt rejuvenated. With water, he was sure to last twice as long compared to the few meager days he might’ve had without rations.

I can’t even thank them, thought Ol’oih, feeling a bit disappointed.

“Good?” asked Jax. He looked into the alien’s face and noticed how the coloration of his scaled skin had slowed dramatically and was hovering between the blues, grays, and blacks now. “Well, we hope you like these then. Sorry in advanced. We… had to guess. We didn’t know what you’d like, or what you could have.” Jax reached over to the tray once more and grabbed the five little dishes he and Cliff had prepared.

Unsure of what this or any alien would eat, they had a healthy debate in the kitchen and settled on five different items: tiny slices of ham and turkey, cream of wheat, honey, Greek yogurt, kale. It covered most of the main food groups and offered variety. Also, at the very least, the two teens thought that it would show they were trying to be considerate.

And Ol’ioh was beginning to get that impression.

They don’t know what I eat, so they brought a few things. At least they were up front about their intentions, and he even apologized for not knowing; not that they would. What… is this? Did they tamper with this? They didn’t tamper with the water, but perhaps that’s meant as a false sense of security?

Better safe than sorry.

Ol’oih pulled out a different testing container from his side pocket and approached the cream of wheat. Though the substance was foreign to him, it did look sustenance he and his crewmates had eaten for years in basic training. From consistency to scent, it was something he was most likely to trust.

Once again, he scooped a little into one of the containers and poured a mixture of solutions over it, swirling it around for thirty seconds until he was satisfied that it wasn’t contaminated. He crouched by the dish and, as he’d done all his life, scooped up a portion into his hand and smeared it onto his head.

Both Jax and Cliff’s jaws dropped as they watched the little alien take a handful of cream of wheat and smeared it into his hair.

“Wait! Ah, man. Does he think it’s meant for cleaning?” muttered Jax, which interrupted the alien briefly.

Is this… not how humans eat? Ol’oih wondered. Then what’s that stuff on their head? Are they not receptors for nutrients?

“I… no. Woah! Look,” Jax said as he pointed to the side of the alien’s head. “Cliff, I think that’s how he eats. See? It’s being absorbed. It’s drying out and vanishing. That stuff that we thought was hair has got to be something else.”

“I guess that gives the whole saying ‘brain food’ a whole new meaning,” grinned Cliff. “So, are they more like villi then? But more intense?”

“Then what’s his mouth for?” Jax wondered aloud.

Great… a couple of funny guys. I know enough about your language to know you’re poking fun at me. At least you’re making a joke about how I’m eating. And what is a “mouth”? That thing you keep using to disrupt the air waves around you? Ol’oih remarked quietly to himself. Though he thought the two boys gawking at him replenishing himself, he wasn’t about to complain outwardly. They’d found sufficient nutrients for him, which was more than he could’ve hoped for given their first interaction.

He was starting to get a better sense of these boys and honestly starting to believe that their first interaction was simply a misunderstanding. The nausea was finally starting to subside, much to Ol’oih’s relief, but there was a scent that he was detecting that was beyond pleasant to his senses.

Leaning forward, he extended his senses and inhaled deeply, realizing it was coming from the golden liquid in the center of the nearby dish. He approached and inhaled again as a sense of nostalgia hit him.

Ucos! Dear Ove! How did they get a hold of this? We haven’t had this for years back home. Ol’oih gazed at the golden, viscous substance longingly. They guessed right for this. Amazing. Even between our worlds, there are still similarities.

I wonder if it’s the same. The scent is the same, but what about taste? Ol’oih reached back and snagged his testing equipment once more. The edge of the tube was almost touching the surface when he paused. A thought occurred to him, and it was a risky one.

If I test everything, they will think I don’t trust them, which I don’t. At least, not entirely. I need to show them I’m willing to trust. It will do so much for opening a dialogue between us. Actions speak louder than words, and consuming something without testing it will show they’ve done something good. If this ends me… well… so be it.

Cliff felt his heart skipping in his chest like a stone across water. He watched the alien reach for that little kit that was in one of his flight suit pockets, nearly use it, and then deliberately put it to the side before leaning over the dish filled with honey and, like before, taking a handful of it and smearing it into his “hair.”

The sticky substance slowly vanished after a few moments of being on the alien’s head, and suddenly he looked like he was feeling better. When they first reopened the container to give the alien food, the little guy looked a little unwell. Maybe the food was doing that, and maybe it was because he wasn’t supposed to be in complete darkness for extended periods of time.

Whatever the case, the little alien looked like he was feeling better.

Whad’ya know. This little guy has a sweet tooth Cliff thought.

Now was the moment of truth. Their plan of giving food and then attempting to communicate again was onto the second part. Cliff prayed silently the whole third part about world domination and possession wasn’t even a possibility. Putting his trust in his instincts and in his scientific logic, he broke the silence that had settled over them.

“Feeling better?” asked Cliff. He watched the blues that dominated the alien’s scales shift subtly to the grays and blacks again, fragments of yellow flaring from time to time. His guess was that the alien could understand. Cliff hoped so anyway. He was going off of everything he’d witnessed so far and was relying on his intuitive leaps to guide their interactions. Now Cliff was stepping out on a limb with his conclusions, putting his own body on the line, and was eager to know if he was right.

When there was no response from the six inch tall alien, Cliff decided to continue, knowing his nerves would get the better of him if he were to stop now.

“I hope so, and I hope you’re not hurt or anything. I’m… well… we’re really sorry about our first interaction. We didn’t mean to hurt you and grab you. We were just a bit startled… and scared. We didn’t know what to expect, so we’re sorry about that,” apologized Cliff.

Sorry? What does… Ah! Apologies! It must mean apologies. They’re remorseful about everything that happened. Ol’oih thought, feeling cautiously optimistic as he looked between the two boys. He watched the one moving his head up and down, which he could only assume was a physical confirmation or agreement with what the speaking boy was saying.

“Honestly, I’d like it if we could start over. You know? We got off on the wrong foot and we want to apologize for our actions. We didn’t mean to hurt you and I’m sure this all has to be pretty scary all things considering,” stated Cliff. “And, if you want, we’d like to try and talk to you again. So…”

Cliff inhaled shakily as he pulled the bandage free from his left hand. The little plug where the alien’s tail hadn’t quite stopped seeping yet. If he was lucky, it would be a cool scar for years to come. If he was unlucky… well… he didn’t want to think about that.

Looking back at the little alien and then to his hand, he once again splayed his fingers and lowered his hand into the base of the plastic container as he said, “Hello, my name is Clifford Neilson, and this is my friend Jaxon Warner. It’s nice to meet you.” Cliff’s heart was pounding harder with every passing second. His eyes were fixated on the figure, whose breathing had seemingly increased, just like his. Cliff suspected he was nervous, and Ol’oih had every right to be.

The last time he’d approached the boys and attempted communication, he’d ended up flung in the corner of the box he was in and could have lost his addon. A great many things could’ve gone wrong, and yet they didn’t.

They could’ve ended me before, and yet I’m still here. They apologized, which makes me a little less nervous. It could be a trick. The food and water could’ve been something to lead me into a false sense of security.

At the same time, they obviously have the power and strength to not care. The food and water is a gesture of good faith, and they’re trying intentionally this time to communicate. They know how it happens this time, and they’re willing to try it again. Ol’oih glanced between the two boys and, try and he might, didn’t sense anything malicious from them. They were being genuine.

I’m here as a liaison. My specialization is communication. I studied their language for years for a moment like this.

Just as before, Ol’oih raised his hands in an almost surrendering motion. He kept his eyes specifically on the one whose hands were out of the container, considering it was that one who had grabbed him. His body thrummed with increasingly intensifying emotions as he approached the human boy’s hand.

If he was right, the human was just as nervous as he was because of the jittering Ol’oih noticed in his fingertips. A surge of guilt came over him as he stared at the puncture wound he had left of the boy’s hand from before and saw the considerable plug that his addon had taken when he was forcibly removed.

It gave this moment all the more significance.

I’m getting a second chance. I have to be patient and slow. I can’t rush this. At least they know a bit more about what’s going on this time and what I intend to do. Juthez! This is bad if I mess this up twice. I’ll definitely be an experiment if that happens. I have to take the gamble though. I have things I need to find out and questions that need answering, and they are probably my best chance at the moment.

Ol’oih was once again inches from the boy’s fingertips. Just like before, Ol’oih’s addon curled around and in front of him. He continued to make eye-contact with the human boy as he pressed the tip of his addon against his flesh. This time, he paused and looked to his addon and then back to the boy for confirmation, which he received with that same up and down shaking motion of his head.

Here it goes.

Ol’oih stepped forward and placed his hand on the base of his addon before pressing it further into the fleshy part of the boy’s hand, twisting to follow the ridges on the end. The boy audibly winced, making Ol’oih second guess his decision, but felt like the connection was secure. He saw the place where his addon had torn a hole out of the boy and guilt compressed his chest. Sadly, he couldn’t think about that now.

Now that he was here, he finally had his words sorted. That was what mattered.

He was ready to talk.

Cliff, in the meantime, winced again as he felt the pencil lead like tail tip push its way into his hand, but this time he was absolutely determined and kept his hand still as he watched the little alien secure his tail and then step away, hands once again raised in surrender. A weird sensation tickled the back of his mind before, after a moment, that sensation developed into that same voice he’d heard before.

“I, too, would like to apologize for my actions.”

Cliff’s eyes widened and every hair on the back of his neck stood on end. Jax glanced at him anxiously, but Cliff gave him a subtle thumbs up with his free hand which he hoped the alien couldn’t see.

“So, it was you who I heard,” said Cliff, speaking aloud. “Do… do I just think back to you? Or do I have to speak out loud?” Cliff started thinking really hard about saying “if you can hear me raise your right hand,” but nothing came of it. Instead, the male alien voice returned in the back of his mind in a direct, clear tone.

“I do not know. I think you may not have the ability to path back to me, so speaking aloud is your only option, as pathing is the only option for me to communicate to you,” Cliff heard the alien say in the back of his mind.

“Woah,” he grinned, already feeling his scientifically geared mind coming up with question after question.

“What? What did he say?” asked Jax.

“He said he thinks that me talking out-loud is the only option to communicate with him, just like this, what did you call it? Path? Well, this ‘path’ method is the way he can talk to us.” Cliff felt weird being a translator, but his excitement was overriding the awkwardness of the situation. He couldn’t stop smiling from ear to ear at this fascinating experience.

“That is correct term. Path. That is what we call it. But I digress. I want to apologize for injuring you. It was not my intention. My eagerness to communicate and overrode my reasoning and I acted irrationally. For that, I am sorry,” Ol’oih pathed. “I should have better communicated my actions so you were not alarmed.”

“What did he say?” asked Jax.

“He’s saying he was sorry for hurting my hand. He was just eager to try and talk to us and jumped the gun,” said Cliff as he directed his attention back to the alien. “I don’t think you said your name. We… kind of interrupted you before. You said something about Ensign?”

“Yes! Right. Apologies. I should have started with that,” Ol’oih pathed as he gave a customary dip of his head before snapping to attention as he’d done so many times before during his basic training. “My name is Ensign Ol’oih Namniels. I am a linguistic specialist, specifically analysis and translation, and am here on an informational expedition on our ship, the Rielkoh. I also did not thank you properly for finding me and my escape pod.”

“Ol’oih?” echoed Cliff as he thought about how the name perfectly reflected the little alien.

“Wait, how do you say that?” asked Jax under his breath. “Phonetically I mean.”

“I think it’s pronounced ‘all-o-ee,’ right?” asked Cliff as he glanced over at his friend and then back to Ol’oih, who nodded in agreement as he attempted to copy the human boys’ movements to better adapt to their communication style.

“The pronunciation in your language is a bit different than our home world, but translated to your tongue you said it perfectly,” pathed Ol’oih.

“Thanks.” Cliff felt a swelling of pride in himself as he glanced to his friend and then back to Ol’oih, whose sleek black eyes continued gazing up at the two boys. Cliff’s mind was whirring with dozens of possibilities now that they had reliable communication with Ol’oih, but the alien beat him to the punch as his voice once again emanated from the back of his mind.

“I… do not mean to sound ungrateful and am more than willing to answer your questions, if you have any, but could I ask you some direct questions? I… need to know a few things,” pathed Ol’oih. He hoped the boys would be compliant and helpful. They had opened a dialogue after all.

“Yeah, sure. We’ll try and answer them if we can,” replied Cliff.

“He has questions? For us?” asked Jax. “We’re not even going to do the ‘you ask one then I ask one’ scenario?”

“Seems only fair that he gets to go first,” shrugged Cliff. “Olive branch and all that.” Jax huffed a bit, but relented. Cliff knew immediately that his friend was feeling left out of the conversation, but it couldn’t be helped. Ol’oih only had one tail to use for communication and it wasn’t like they had a splitter they could use.

Jax will get a turn, Cliff thought. I’ll make sure of it.

“Okay, what are your questions?” asked Cliff. Ol’oih, for a moment, almost looked like he was bracing himself for what he was about to ask. Body thrumming all over, Ol’oih had one primary question that he was terrified to know the answer to but knew it took priority over all others.

Nervously, he looked to the ground to stabilize himself before looking back up and asking, “Do you know what happened to the rest of the crew?”

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Continue

Beginning

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@gianttol #gtjuly #gtjuly2024

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mermaidgirl30 · 1 year ago

Text

Look for the Light Epilogue

Series Masterlist

- Summary: Aly finds herself trying to escape the Boston QZ. What Aly doesn’t know is Tess is pairing her up with Joel to go on a dangerous mission to find Tommy. Will Aly survive the brooding, moody Joel or will she find herself falling hard for him?

- Notes: I am so so sad this story is over! I loved every second of writing this and put in so many hours on this masterpiece. This was my first ever fanfic and I hold it so dear to my heart. I can’t tell you how much I cried writing the epilogue. It ended perfect, and I just can’t get over that it’s over 😭🥹 My heart hurts

This is the song I played over and over when I wrote this chapter, fits so well 🥰🩵

You watched the rest of December disappear just like the snow on the ground. The last few weeks were magical as the town was donned in glittery Christmas lights and garland foliage. Joel had even decorated the living room with a little pine tree and splayed pretty Christmas lights all over it. It was the comfiest Christmas you’d ever had. Your favorite part was being wrapped up with him on the couch as you drank hot chocolate and sat in front of the fireplace on Christmas Eve, keeping warm as he kept you in his lap, running his fingers through your hair and sending light kisses against your temples.

You watched the seasons fly by in Jackson as the months came and went in the blink of an eye. You watched the frigid, snowy days turn to lush, rainy days as the spring flowers started to blossom outside the gates.

The town was quiet for the most part. You had settled into your normal routine in Jackson, taking care of all the horses and even some of the other animals like the sheep which was Joel’s favorite. He had always wanted his own sheep farm, so he’d stop by every time you were tending to them.

Joel started working on more projects in town, helping build new buildings, fixing things around houses, and even doing a little woodwork in his spare time. He always loved working with his hands and making new things. He had a knack for it and was good at it, too. Some days you’d just sit there in his woodshop and watch him work. The way his rough hands would cut the wood, the way he’d turn an ordinary item into a beautiful piece of art. The way his broad shoulders and massive biceps would flex each time he brought the hammer down onto the table. He was a masterpiece in himself. A gorgeous work of art.

And then there was Ellie. You got to witness the budding relationship between Joel and her take place over the changing seasons. That was your favorite thing to see. He taught her so many things, even taught her how to swim in the deep crystal lake that was nearby. He was so careful with her, so patient. You could see he deeply cared about her now.

He was always grabbing up comic books on patrols that he thought she’d like, always putting her needs before his own. He was quite selfless and so kind. You loved seeing him turn from that angry, brooding man into a protective, sweet, loving one. He was so different than the man you once knew. You liked this version of him. No, you loved this version. You loved him, intensely.

Most evenings were spent sitting on the porch swing as you watched Joel teach Ellie more songs on the guitar. He had found her her own acoustic guitar and gifted it to her at Christmas. The way he lit up when he saw Ellie’s face as she opened the gift under the dazzling tree was worth the trip to find the guitar in the first place. It made your heart burst at the seams. She had been so excited to have her own guitar, and she practiced every day as it became her new favorite hobby. Joel and Ellie had become quite the duo.

The crisp, spring days turned into warm summer days as July rolled around. Joel was taking you on an adventure today or so he said. He wouldn’t tell you where you were going. He wouldn’t even do so much as give you a hint. He kept his jaw locked tight as you rolled your eyes and gave up.

As he led Shimmer out of the barn, you saw Tommy and Maria smiling brightly at Joel like they knew something you didn’t. You saw Joel whispering to Tommy and Maria earlier in the week, even doing the same to Ellie. You didn’t know what all the secrecy was about, but you’d figure it out eventually. Your birthday was only a month away, so maybe they were planning a secret party? Oh well, you wouldn’t worry about it today. You’d just enjoy whatever adventure he was taking you on.

Joel was dressed in his usual attire, even though it was above 80 degrees outside. He had on a grey t-shirt and his green flannel shirt hung unbuttoned over that. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows as he showed off those thick veins that spread across the width of his arms and ended at his massive hands.

He had put on even more muscle during the springtime with all the projects he was doing, so his biceps were clinging to his flannel, threatening to tear the material at any given time. You loved those strong arms, loved being inside them as he held you close at night. It was one of your favorite things.

His blue jeans hung snuggly across his waist and showed off his muscular thighs. He was all ripped, all muscle. And he was all yours for the taking.

Before you could jump up on Shimmer, Joel put a hand on your shoulder and stopped you in your tracks. He clicked his tongue and smiled up at you. “Hold on, darlin’. Gotta put this on before we go.” He held out a big, oversized black ribbon in front of your face as you questioned the gesture of it.

“What’s this for?” you asked as your eyebrows furrowed together.

“You gotta put it on so you don’t see where we’re goin’,” he answered as he kept his hand in place with the ends of the ribbon flying softly in the wind.

“But why would I put that on?” you asked with a dazed expression.

“It’s a surprise. Don’t want ya seein’ where I’m leading you. Can I just put it on you?” he asked with a calm voice, trying to convince you the best he could.

You sighed and rolled your eyes. “Okay, okay. You win. Go ahead,” you said as you crossed your arms. He gently smiled at you and nodded.

“Alright, turn around for me,” he asked, delicately grasping you by the shoulders and turning you as he wrapped the ribbon around your eyes as you watched the sunlight disappear into darkness.

“Can you see anything?” he asked as he tried waving a hand in front of your eyes.

“No, think you wrapped me up tight enough,” you replied as you heard him chuckle under his breath.

“Alright, then up you go.” He lifted you up as you felt yourself leave the ground as you landed on top of Shimmer with your legs dangling and your hands frantically feeling for something to grasp. You felt for the saddle and held on tight.

“Joel, don’t you dare let me fall!” you yelled as you held on for dear life.

He laughed under his breath and jumped up to join you on Shimmer. “I’m not gonna let you fall, sweetheart. Just hold on to me and keep a tight grip. I got you,” he promised as he grabbed a hold of the reins.

You wrapped your arms tightly around his waist before he took off into the heat of the day, letting the wind catch your hair as Shimmer’s pace picked up. The sun’s scorching rays caught your bare shoulders in the white lacy tank top you were in along with the blue Jean shorts that grazed your thighs, making your skin glow with that shimmery summer tan.

You rode on for a couple miles until you finally broke your silence and laughed against the racing wind. “Where are you taking me?”

“It’s a surprise, darlin’. Can’t tell you even if I wanted to,” he replied as you could hear his smile and how it crinkled up at the corners of his mouth.

“Fine,” you sighed.

He chuckled again softly. “We’re almost there. Just a couple more minutes,” he promised. He squeezed your hand in response, sending vibrations buzzing through your body.

After a few minutes you heard Joel halt Shimmer as she came to a complete stop. He jumped off her back and gently lifted you off, bringing you safely back to the ground.

“Can you take this off me now?” you asked, anxious to take the blinding ribbon off.

“Almost, just give me another minute. Follow my voice, we’re almost there,” he promised.

He took your hands in his and led you forward. You couldn’t see anything, but you could smell sweet, fragrant scents of honeysuckle and floral aromas around you. The smell was overwhelming as it took over all your senses. Flowers were one of your favorite things, and Joel knew this. So you just wondered where exactly he was leading you.

What was he up to?

You could feel the lush grass underneath your feet with every step you took. The wind whistled through your ears as you heard the rustling of branches swaying gently in the breeze and could feel the faint touch of summer heat on your tan skin.

You felt the ground turn softer, almost like you were walking through moss. You heard Joel’s footsteps in front of you faintly, the sound of leaves and sticks crunching under his weight.

“Joel! Not so fast, I don’t want to fall,” you laughed as he led you further into the unknown.

“Do you trust me?” he asked, turning towards you with that soothing voice that could lull all your worries away.

“Yes,” you said automatically. Of course you trusted him.

“Then believe me when I say I’d never let you fall. I’ve got you, I promise.”

The floral scents became stronger as you wandered further into the distance, getting closer to wherever he was leading you. The hint of something sweet like candy filled the air. You breathed in deep and caught the scent of something you’ve smelled before but couldn’t quite grasp what it was.

What was that smell? Something soft…maybe roses? No…something else. You inhaled deeply and got another whiff of lush fragrance. It almost smelled like lilacs. One of your favorites. Joel had always said how much you smelled like lilacs, and it quickly became his favorite trademark of you.

Could it be? No…there weren’t lilacs around this area that you knew of. Maybe jasmine was what you were smelling? Yes, that’s what it had to be.

Joel slowly stopped you as he dropped your hands. “You ready?” he asked with a small laugh rumbling in his throat.

“More than ready,” you said prepared.

“Okay. Open you eyes,” he said softly as he untied the ribbon and dropped it, freeing you from the darkness as blinding light took over. You took a moment to adjust your eyes and then you saw just where you stood.

You gasped as you took in your surroundings. You weren’t just anywhere. You were in the middle of a giant field filled with lilac and violet flowers. The field was absolutely covered as vibrant purples blossomed all around you. Thick vines of lilac climbed up the sides of oak trees and got buried in the pinks and whites of wild flowers in the distance. You never saw such beautiful flowers before. The deep, rich shades of light and dark purple completely took over the area. It was like nothing you had seen before.

“Joel…how did you find this place?” you asked in disbelief, making a clear circle as you turned to face him again.

“This wasn’t exactly here before,” he answered as he raked a hand across his salt and pepper scruff, staring at you nervously.

“What do you mean it wasn’t here?” Your eyebrows furrowed as you took a step towards him, taking in the sweet smell of lilacs as it encased the air.

“I planted them by hand in the winter. Well, not just me. I had Maria help me since she’s a master at that sort of thing. She said they’d be fine over winter and wouldn’t take too long to start growing. They’re not fully mature yet, but it’s just the beginning. Another year and they’ll be fully grown. Thought you might like it….ya know since they’re your favorite flowers and all,” he said blushing, a small smile edging his lips as his dimples were in full effect now. Making you all warm and fuzzy from the view of him. That beautiful smile.

“You…you did this all for me?” you whispered, your eyes wide in shock.

“That’s right. All for you, sweetheart,” he answered affectionately.

Oh.

“Joel, that…that’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me,” you said quietly, still in a daze.

“So, ya like it then?” he asked with raised eyebrows, anxious for your answer.

“I don’t just like it, I love it!” you said excitedly as you beamed at him.

“Good, that’s good,” he smiled again as he scratched the back of neck restlessly.

What was he so nervous for? Was he afraid you wouldn’t like it? Because obviously you loved it.

You spun around as you glanced over the glorious flowers as they were on full display for you, their heavenly scents surrounding you as you drank in the sweet fragrance. You grazed your finger over a deep purple violet as you took in its delicate, velvety petals. Examining how succulent and pretty they all were.

You turned back around towards Joel as you were about to ask him a question. “Joel, do you…” You stopped mid sentence when you saw him down on one knee right in front of you. Your eyes went wide and your jaw dropped at the sight as you took in his sincere and longing eyes as he stared at you in awe.

Was he about to ask you to…oh my God.

He took both of your hands in his as he took a deep breath and smiled admiringly at you. “Alyson Harper, my love. Where do I even begin? You are the most beautiful, incredible woman I’ve ever met. You’ve taught me so much over the last year, so much about life. You’ve shown me how to be patient, how to be kind. Especially with Ellie. I could not have brought her all the way here without your help and support. And I definitely couldn’t raise her on my own without your help and guidance. You are incredibly patient with her, and that’s something you taught me how to be also. You’ve taught me how to be completely selfless, how to be gentle. You helped me find my way to the light when I was stuck in the darkness, unable to find my way out myself. You’ve taught me how to trust again, how to love again. You reminded me what it was like to live again. You’ve been exactly what I needed all along. You made me a better man, made me want to be better. For you and for Ellie. And I just could not picture my life without you in it. You are the love of my life, Alyson. And I don’t want to do this life without you.”

You felt a teardrop run down your cheek as you quickly wiped it away. His speech was so beautiful, it was like music to your ears. An entire symphony that was only playing for you, and Joel was the composer. You were internally screaming at his words, at how intimate and loving they were. The way he was looking at you with those warm, serene pools of honey in his eyes almost knocked you down by how intense it was.

He dropped one of your hands and dug around in his pocket for something until he found exactly what he was looking for. Once he grabbed it, he fished his hand out of his jeans and held up a glistening, purple amethyst diamond ring to you which made you about topple over.

You gawked at the sight as your eyes went wide and you quickly covered your mouth with your hand, completely stunned at just what was happening before your eyes. Joel’s deep brown eyes were watering as he continued on with his speech as he held your hand tightly and looked at you as if you were the only girl in the world.

“Alyson, will you please do me the honor of marrying me? Make me the happiest man in the world,” he asked as he poured his heart out to you.

You felt your heart skip a beat as happy tears fell down your cheeks. You bit your lip and held in anymore tears that were threatening to spill, wanting to compose yourself in the best way that you could.

“Joel, I don’t know what to say…” you said stunned, your voice carrying faintly across the soft wind.

“Say yes, baby,” he pleaded, his eyes honing in on you as they sank deep inside your soul. You swear you could feel that string attached to his heart connect to yours as you were pulled to him like a moth to a flame.

He was asking as if you needed enticing. Of course you didn’t. This was a hard yes, the easiest yes you’d ever have to say. Joel was your future, your best friend, your forever lover. And you wanted it with him as much as he wanted it with you. A life of happiness, full of love and joy.

“Yes, yes! A thousand times yes,” you yelled in pure bliss as you met him on his level and cupped his face in between your palms, pulling him in for a passionate kiss.

His lips tasted like honey as his soft, delicate lips crashed down on yours. He wrapped his arm around your waist and picked you up, spinning you in circles as he kissed you again and again, finally putting you back on the ground and keeping his arms around you.

“I was hoping you’d say that,” he said as he smiled down at you, brushing his lips against yours.

He took your left hand in his and gently slid the sparkling ring on your ring finger. It was a perfect fit. It was so gorgeous, you’d never seen anything quite like it before. The way the iridescent diamond was etched, you swear you could see Joel’s heart beating inside it. A clear marking of something you could wear forever that was a piece of him.

“How did you find this? It’s gorgeous,” you breathed out as he held your hand up and observed the ring.

“You know all those late nights I spent on patrols with Tommy?” he asked as he looked into your eyes with big, dreamy brown eyes, nearly taking your breath away at the sight.

“Yeah,” you whispered back.

“Well, turns out Tommy helped me search high and low for a jewelry store. He knew there had to be one around Wyoming somewhere. Took a long time, but we finally found one. It was pretty picked through. I didn’t have too many options, but I wanted to find the perfect ring for ya. You always said purple was your favorite color, so when I saw this I just knew it was the one. And it’s beautiful on you, really brings out the sapphire blue of your eyes. My little lilac angel,” he purred as he caressed your check with the base of his thumb, slowly easing you into a hypnotic lull that you didn’t want to shake.

“Joel…I have no words. This is…this is just so incredible. You’re incredible. You’re amazing. You’re everything I ever wanted.” A tear trickled down your cheek and Joel caught it with his thumb, wiping it away as he kissed the damp area on your face gently.

“You deserve the best, and I’m going to be that for you. I’m gonna take good care of ya, sweetheart. Gonna love you with everything that I have.”

He slowly brought his lips back down to yours and gave you a long, passionate kiss. You wrapped your arms around his neck and gently scratched along the tousled curls at the back of his head as he slid his tongue into your mouth, gently massaging yours in tune with his as you tasted a hint of coffee. That taste that you loved and couldn’t get enough of.

He wrapped his arms around your waist and brought you down to the ground playfully as he climbed on top of you and caged his arms around you, hovering just about you as he blocked the sun from your vision. All you saw were those magnetic, syrupy brown eyes and an infectious smile that played across the corners of his mouth, making him look like the gentle soul that he was. His eyes were lit up like he had just won the lottery the way he was looking at you. It made your heart melt all just the same.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” you asked as you laughed, taking a hand and running it up and down his inner arm slowly, making you want to pull him down on top of you.

“Because the prettiest girl just agreed to marry me, and now I get you all to myself,” he beamed as his eyes lit a fire in your soul.

“Oh, you get me all to yourself now?” you laughed, trailing your fingers against his salt and pepper scruff.

“Mhm,” he hummed as his lips hung just above yours.

“I am all yours. Now come here, handsome.” You grabbed a hold of his t-shirt and pulled him down to you. He landed on your lips as he placed a hand under your chin, keeping you glued to him as he explored your mouth with his tongue, lapping you up completely as he rolled over and pulled you on top of him, his arms going around your waist as he slowly ended the kiss.

You laid there on his chest and ran your hand through his dark, tousled curls, taking in his warm eyes and infectious smile as he stared up at you in awe.

“What are you thinking about?” you asked dreamily as you played with an out of place curl, gently running your fingers across his scalp.

“How I’m gonna get to call you Mrs. Miller,” he said with a sideways smile as a smirk etched the edge of his mouth, making him look that much more handsome.

“Why don’t you practice now?” you asked flirtatiously.

“Okay. Mrs Miller…” he whispered. “Or how about Alyson Miller?” he asked with a breathtaking smile.

“I like the sound of that. Actually, I love that. I love the way you say my name. The way it just rolls off your tongue without any hesitation. You just make it so melodic,” you replied in a dreamlike state.

“Alyson…” he said with a breathy, drawn out voice. Making your thighs squeeze tighter around him as he lit a fire deep inside you.

“Keep going,” you begged as you got closer to his lips. Just an inch from tasting him.

“Alyson…my love, my everything.”

And then you were on him as you dug your fingers into his messy curls and connected with his lips, tasting sweet coffee again as you got lost in his fresh mahogany scent. After a few minutes of kissing and showing him affection, he pulled you into his side as you wrapped an arm around his chest and placed your legs over his, getting comfortable against him.

“I can’t believe I get to marry you,” you said in a daze as his hand covered yours, slowly entwining his fingers with yours.

“I can’t believe it either, sweetheart. I’m just so happy that you’re mine. You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for you,” he said with a sigh as he kissed your temple.

“You’re incredible,” you whispered into his ear. “I want you to know you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And there’s not a day that goes by where I don’t just stop and go, God, I love Joel Miller,” you said with a smile pressed against your lips.

“Oh, sweetheart. You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to ask you. You know I told Ellie I was gonna marry you?”

You turned your head and looked at him with wide eyes. “When did you tell her that?”

“A few months ago. I’m just glad she didn’t say anything. I swore her to secrecy. You know she helped too. With the flowers. She was so excited when I told her what I was planning. Had her jumping up and down. That girl is a mess,” he laughed as he gently placed another kiss on your cheek.

He knew for months he wanted to marry you and planned it for that long? Wow… he really was incredible.

“I love you, Joel. You’re everything I could’ve wished for and more,” you said as you held back tears.

“Oh, Alyson. And you’re my everything. My favorite person, the love of my life. I’m never ever letting you go, sweetheart.” He placed a tender kiss across your lips and then pulled you in close as you closed your eyes and breathed him in. Your sweet, gentle lover. Yours.

You laid in the bed of lilacs and violets for several minutes as you took in all the sights around you. Soaking up the sunshine, memorizing every line on Joel’s body, getting lost in his warm brown eyes, and losing yourself in the delicious scents of budding flowers, pine cones, and mahogany. Taking it all in so you could remember this day as the best day of your life.

Joel ran his hand up and down your thigh slowly as his calloused fingers brushed up against your skin, making you sink into him even more. “You wanna stay here awhile?” he asked with a low drawl.

“Yeah, let’s just enjoy this. It’s peaceful out here, and I get you all to myself. Let’s stay here for a few hours, maybe watch the sunset go down. Doesn’t that sound romantic?” you asked in a sing-song voice, completely lost in the bliss.

“Whatever you want, darlin’. We can stay as long as you want,” he said as he drew a line of kisses down your neck, sending heat into the center of your body.

“I love you, Joel,” you whispered.

“I love you more, Alyson,” he said with a lull. And then you were covering yourself in him as both of you got completely lost in the other. Making love in a bed of lilacs as you confessed your undying love to each other over and over again.

And you did stay there till the sun set. You stayed there till you had nothing left to give as you laid tucked into his side with just his plaid shirt over you, basking in the scent of each other. You slowly watched the orange sunset as it lit up the sky with painted pink and deep purple colors as you got lost in his lips again, sinking into him like he was your lifeline. But he was. He was your everything, and you’d spend the rest of your life showing him just how much you loved him.

This is where you felt most at home. Wherever he was was where you wanted to be. And you’d follow him until the end of time. Show him day and night just how much you loved him. He was your guiding light, and you’d never let him burn out. Promising to keep him in the light forever. Your eternity.

Epilogue: Pt II

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bittenbyyou · 2 years ago

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hello i’m not sure if you take requests butttt if you doooo could we get a fourth of july thing where the reader gets anxious from fireworks and just wants to be with peter for comfort for us sensitive girlies🙏😩🤭 (also i love ur writing it’s so sweet and silly hehe)

Title: Sparkles and Surprises

Fourth of July!AU | Fireworks!AU | Boyfriend!Peter Parker x Reader

genre: fluff, hurt/comfort, lil comedy

description: requested

word count: 2.7k

warnings: Peter doing the most and having horrible time management skills, one Far From Home reference, just fluffy fluff.

a/n: THANK YOU FOR THE REQUEST! I've never done a request before, it was fun. I hope I did your request justice. Your compliment made me smile. :)

Peter checked his phone, alarmed to see the flurry of texts asking where he was. Time slipped by without him realizing and he had promised to be there for you tonight. He texted you back that he was on his way as he cleaned up his area in Mr. Stark’s lab. With a hurried thanks to his mentor, he was out the door swinging back to his apartment.

[Y/N]: Don’t text and walk!

Peter: 😘

Actually, he was texting and swinging, but you didn’t need to know that. Aside from almost crashing into a bus just now, he was fine. He couldn’t wait to show you what he had been working on because this Fourth of July was going to be perfect, thanks to his foolproof three-step plan.

In his backpack was step one, the thing he’s been working on at the lab for the past week. During the time you’ve dated, Peter learned you were highly sensitive to loud sounds. It startled you to the point of where you didn’t even like having balloons at your birthday party in case they popped. The very thought of today’s holiday brought you immense discomfort because you couldn’t stand fireworks.

So when your family said they were going to see the fireworks show, you sighed and accepted your fate of spending the night alone again this year. However, Peter couldn’t accept that. He didn’t want you to face your fear alone. He immediately offered for you to come spend the night over at his place. You feared you were holding him back from enjoying the night, but he didn’t care about fireworks. He cared about you.

“Okay, I’ll be at your place at 8:30,” you said over the phone.

“Great. Aunt May will let you in. I have some things to do with Mr. Stark and then I’ll be right there with you.”

“You promise?”

“I promise.”

“You promise you’ll get home before the fireworks show starts?”

“Of course.”

“Pinky promise?”

He laughed, putting his pinky in the air. “I’m pinky promising the imaginary you in front of me right now.”

“Is she pretty?”

“Very.”

You smiled to yourself. “Alright. Don’t be late.”

As he swung through the city, he spotted step two: your favorite place for take-out. He landed gracefully at the entrance and walked in, noticing how long the line was.

“Aw man…”

Checking the time on his phone, he tilted his head side to side, calculating if waiting in line was worth it. The thought of seeing your face light up with joy if he’d show up with your favorite food convinced him it was worth the hassle. He tapped his foot impatiently, deep down wishing Spider-Man got a free pass to the front, but he knew that’d be abusing his status. After enduring 15 minutes of waiting, he reached the front of the line and ordered your usual, making sure to include all the customizations and sauces you liked. Fortunately, the food came out quicker than the actual waiting in line to order. Peter rummaged through his pockets, pulling out a wad of crumpled cash and spare change. He attempted to pay, but disaster had struck as the coins slipped from his grasp.

His eyes widened in disbelief as the floor transformed into a sea of copper. He let out an exasperated groan as he hunched down to pick them all up.

“Of all coins, why did it have to be pennies?” he muttered.

“[Y/N] is calling, Peter. Do you want to take her call?” his AI aka Peter’s suit lady asked.

“Oh! Yes please!”

“Babe, where are you? The fireworks show is starting really soon. I already hear some people firing them nearby.”

“I’m coming, beautiful. I promise I’m almost there. I got off at the wrong stop and it’s a long story, I’ll see you soon!”

He ended the call, feeling guilty for the white lie, but his plan would make up for it. Speeding up the process, he used his webs and lumped all the coins into one big blob, presenting the bizarre creation to the cashier with an exaggerated shrug.

“Keep the change,” he said, giving him a playful finger gun gesture. Leaving the perplexed cashier behind, he left the shop and checked the time, knowing he was ready for step three of his master plan.

It consisted of going to your favorite cafe, just a short block away. Peter’s confidence soared when he noticed there was no one in line, as if the universe was on his side. Approaching the counter, he flawlessly ordered your drink, stunning the employees with his eloquence in listing all your favorite add-ins. The drink was almost done when a group of enthusiastic fans burst into the cafe, excited to see the iconic red and blue-clad superhero.

“Oh my gosh, can we get a picture? Please?”

“Do a backflip!”

Even though Peter attempted to decline, he ultimately gave in because Spider-Man was compassionate. He loved all his fans (even the relentless ones who couldn’t take a hint). Besides, there was plenty of time to get back to you because he had now completed all three steps.

“Thanks Spider-Man!”

“Yeah, no problem!” he shouted back as he ran out of the cafe after the impromptu photo session. He checked the time once again, sighing in relief that he had time to spare. Unfortunately, his heightened senses detected something amiss nearby. Peter groaned, torn between his desire to help and the urge to get home quickly. “Damn it.”

He turned a corner to spot a group of criminals causing mischief in an alleyway. Setting down the food and drink, he approached them, determined to bring justice.

“Guess crime doesn’t take a holiday, huh?” Peter quipped at the startled group. They stopped fighting momentarily, staring at each other before sending a hail of bullets his way. Peter evaded their attacks effortlessly with a perfectly executed backflip, dodging the projectiles with ease. With a mischievous grin, he shot out a series of webs, ensnaring the criminals and leaving them dangling like confused pinatas.

Things seemed victorious for Peter until more thugs suddenly showed up, almost like a hidden level in a video game. He threw up his hands in mock frustration and groaned.

“You guys are ruining my night, you know that?”

*BOOM*

*Thwip, thwip, thwip, thwip*

“Hey, let us down!”

“I think you should thank me for giving you a great view of the fireworks. Have a blast, fellas!”

Oh man, you were totally going to kill him now. His phone was spammed with texts from you, mostly asking where he was.This was not how it was supposed to go down; his plan was meant to be foolproof. Panic set in, and he hurriedly grabbed the food and drink, bolting home to change in the only secluded spot he could find. Then he sprinted up the stairs to his apartment, unfortunately spilling the drink on himself from clutching it so tightly against his chest.

“No, no, no, argh, ew. Ugh,” he groaned, drenched in the beverage. He persevered and unlocked the door, stepping in and calling out for you.

*BOOM*

“Babe, I’m here!”

Aside from the fireworks, only silence greeted him in response. He threw his backpack onto the nearest table, glancing around the empty living room and kitchen. Where were you? Wait, where was Aunt May?

“May?”

*BOOM*

He narrowed his eyes, seeing his bedroom door open. He headed straight inside, only to see his bed covers slightly wrinkled and his blanket missing.

“Babe?” he called out, voice laced with concern.

From the left, faint sniffles reached his ears, drawing his attention to the closet door. He set down his stuff on the dresser and then opened the closet to reveal you, cocooned in a mountain of blanket, tears streaming down your face. As your eyes met his, he felt his heart ache.

“Oh my gosh, baby, I’m so sorry,” he whispered, immediately lowering himself to your level and enveloping you in a tight embrace, feeling how much you were trembling. A whirlwind of emotions flooded through you—anger for his lateness, fear from the fireworks, and joy from the comforting scent of his hoodie. Yet one emotion trumped them all as soon as your chests collided.

“... You’re wet,” you managed to say in between sobs. “Gross…”

“Ah, yeah, I did this stupid thing and spilled the drink I got you.” He quickly took off his hoodie and discarded it to the side, hugging you once more.

“You’re late.”

“I know, I’m sorry.”

You pushed him off you and hit his chest repeatedly, your strikes were too weak to do any real damage. “You were late!”

*BOOM*

You jumped back into his arms, scared out of your wits. He couldn’t help but chuckle, holding you tight with one hand on the back of your head.

“This doesn’t mean you’re off the hook,” you muttered, squeezing him tight.

“I know,” he replied, his voice filled with understanding.

You two stayed like that for 15 minutes, giving you enough time to take some deep breaths and enjoy being embraced by your boyfriend. Somewhere along the line you allowed him to join you in your mound of blanket after he asked you with those beautiful brown puppy dog eyes of his.

“It’s so loud… and it’s not stopping anytime soon.”

“Well, I got you something. Wait here.”

You lifted your head off his shoulder and protested, “No, please stay.”

“I promise it’ll be okay. I’ll be right back. It’s just on my dresser,” he said, pointing to the furniture item that was only a few feet away.

*BOOM*

You shut your eyes tight, taking another deep breath before letting him go. Peter rushed to the dresser and grabbed all the stuff, then returned to you and closed the closet door. With a pull of the switch on the ceiling, he lit the closet with the soft glow of the lightbulb before settling down.

“This is your favorite drink, um… well half of it,” he said sheepishly, handing you the nearly empty beverage.

“Peter…”

“And I got you your favorite food. It might be cold now though, do you want me to microwave it?”

“No, that’s okay.”

“And I got you–”

“Peter, stop.”

He froze, sensing the seriousness in your voice. “Is something wrong?”

*BOOM*

You winced at the sound, but remained strong. “Aside from the constant explosions… yes. I appreciate you going out of your way to get me my favorite things. I’m thankful, really.”

Your eyes went toward the floor, your nerves getting the best of you. Peter placed his hand on top of yours. “It’s okay. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“You were late. And I really needed you here. You broke your promise to me,” you expressed with a tinge of disappointment.

“I know and I feel awful about it. I just wanted this night to go perfect for you. I wanted to impress you,” he explained sincerely.

Your head snapped up, surprise and affection in your eyes. “Impress me? You don’t need to impress me.”

“I don’t?”

“No. I’m impressed by you everyday. You’re sweet, thoughtful, so unbelievably smart, and…” you trailed off once you noticed how wide Peter’s grin kept growing.

“And~?” he prodded, his eyes sparkling.

“Cheeky. Irresponsible. Late,” you teased, unable to contain your laughter. His smile faltered, but you quickly reassured him. “Thank you for going out of your way to get my favorite things. But you forgot the most important one.”

Peter’s eyes widened as he held his hand rested on his head in a thoughtful thinking pose. What could he have forgotten?

“Oh! Wait! Here’s the last thing I got you.”

He whipped out a pair of headphones that had been hiding behind him. “I made these with Mr. Stark. They’re noise-canceling headphones, so you won’t be able to hear the fireworks. They have a 100% success rate while most store-bought ones only work 99% of the time (how is that any more impressive, you thought, laughing on the inside at his nerdy rambling). You won’t be able to hear anything. You can play music or call me and other cool features. And I made it your favorite color! Here.”

He carefully placed the headphones on your head and you couldn’t help but admire his concentrated face and how delicate he was with you. It made your heart beat faster, and above all, it made you feel safe. That's all you had ever wanted.

“Can you hear me?” Peter asked, his lips moving while you tried to read them. You shook your head. He was always very expressive with his body, shouting “yes!” while doing a fist pump in response.

“But babe this isn’t my most favorite thing,” you exclaimed, not realizing you were shouting louder than you intended because of the headphones. Peter closed his eyes and covered his ears, prompting you to tilt your head in confusion. He opened one eye, a smile playing on his lips.

“You’re shouting!” he exclaimed.

“What?”

“I said you’re shouting,” he said, mimicking the motion of Pac-Man’s mouth with his hands.

“Oh~. My bad!” you said, still shouting. Peter chuckled at how cute you were before your words finally registered.

"Wait, what did I forget?" You kept your gaze fixed on him, and he realized he had to ask you again. "What's the thing I forgot that's your favorite?"

The way he acted out every word made you giggle because it was like a game of charades. “You! You’re my favorite thing in the world! That’s all I needed tonight!”

His face lit up with joy as he leaned in for a kiss. You closed your eyes as his warm, tender lips gently met yours, igniting a spark that traveled through your entire body. The kiss was gentle and sweet, ending with a soft smooching sound. He pulled away just enough to rest his forehead against yours, his smile matching your own.

“Well, since I’m your favorite I guess you don’t need this.” He reached into the to-go bag and stole a few fries, eating them without remorse right in front of you. Your jaw dropped in shock at the betrayal as you pulled away from him.

“Hey, those are mine!”

“But you said I’m your favorite!” You didn’t register what he said or even cared, trying to get the food back from him, but he lifted the bag high out of reach. You nearly climbed over his seated body, making him nearly choke on the fry out of laughter. In a surprising move, he somehow got past you and opened the closet door, darting to the living room. You chased after him around the kitchen before watching him hop over the couch like it was nothing.

“Peter Parker, I swear…” Your sharp eyes then noticed his backpack, which was partially open and what appeared to be a sleeve dangling off it. The vibrant red and blue colors made you squint as your mind pieced the clues together. Peter followed your gaze and his face grew panicked. “What is that?”

“What is what?” he said, a tinge of nervousness in his voice. Despite not you being able to hear, his face said it all. You went over to his backpack, but he snatched it and hid it behind his back.

“Is that what I think it is?”

Peter held his hand up in a stop motion when you tried to grab it from him. “D-Depends on what you think it is.”

You took off your headphones, unfazed when the last firework crackled in the distance.

*BOOM*

“You’re Spider-Man.”

Peter scrambled to think about what to say next. “W-Well, Aunt May isn’t here. She-She’s Spider-Man. It’s hers.”

“Then why is there a suit in your bag?”

“I’m just her glorified sidekick Spider-Boy!” he spewed out frantically.

“But May’s watching the fireworks with Happy,” you countered, raising an eyebrow.

"Wait, they're dating? Aunt May and Happy? Wow, that's... unexpected. Gotta admit, I'm a bit out of the loop on this one."

“Don’t change the subject!”

He used his free hand to snatch the headphones back from your grasp and dramatically placed them on his head.

“Oh no, babe. I can’t hear anything you’re saying. Wow, these work really well, I can’t even hear myself. Hello~, hello~?”

God, you wanted to kill him and kiss him all at once. You grabbed the nearest non-threatening weapon and Peter started to scream.

“NOT THE BANANAS!”

*BOOM*

Thank you for reading! I would love to hear your thoughts, feel free to shoot me an ask or comment in a reblog. 💞

#peter parker x reader #mcu peter parker #peter parker x you #peter parker #peter parker fluff #my writing #peter parker imagine #peter parker x oc #peter parker blurb #sparkles and surprises

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stabbyfoxandrew · 9 months ago

Note

You said to send asks about your AUs, so here I am. Angel Neil basically died, sky daddy (or whoever) told him "protect this guy" and was sent on his merry way, no context whatsoever. Honestly, poor guy. Does he know the full extent of his angel powers? Did he have to try them out, or was he just gifted with the knowledge of how to use them? Sometimes I think about Angel Neil and how lonely he must feel, staying on all of those rooftops, and then I get sad. Do all the people who die become guardian angels, or only a sect of them? What happens to the others? Where is Mary? Hell, heaven, is she also a guardian angel, or is she just gone? This is why I don't send asks about your AUs because if I start yapping, I won't stop :')

Yes I did! Thank you for sending this! <3 I'm going to answer under the cut so my insane rambles won't annoy anyone.

So, yeah... Neil died, became an angel, and was told his job was taking care of Andrew. Then poof, he was sent to the Columbia house. (He died in July so they were out of class still.) Neil got his charge mixed up with Aaron a lot at first, because... Twins. But eventually figured them out. (Thankfully. Lol imagine if he'd accidentally appeared to the wrong one.)

He doesn't know about all his angel powers! He's figuring things out as he goes. On his own even in his afterlife. (So Neil of him.) So, yeah. It took him a while to realize he had wings. Longer still to figure out how to work them. He can miracle pain away. And the knife appeared suddenly with no warning. Like... He's got all these amazing things he doesn't know how to control that well. :') Poor baby.

Yeah. :( Most of Neil's spare time is spent just lying on rooftops and watching the sky. Sometimes he sleeps when Andrew does, sometimes he doesn't. He doesn't really have to, after all. Sometimes he'll watch games with Kevin, sometimes he sits on the roof of Andrew's car while they're driving and he almost feels alive.

Not everyone becomes a guardian angel. Just those who don't really fit in anywhere else? Neil didn't subscribe to religion. He didn't fit into Heaven or Hell because of things he'd had to do to survive... So it was either Angel or Ghost? But SOMEONE (I can't tell you who) realized that Andrew needed to be watched over and Neil just so happened to get the job.

Mary was Neil's guardian angel for a while after she died. Then she crossed a line (she killed a human for looking at her son wrong and said human wasn't going to hurt Neil) and was removed from her position for taking an innocent life. Not sure what her fate was, but she is gone now.

Also, if you read to the bottom, hi! <3 Thank you so much for asking these questions. I honestly really appreciate it and I would love to answer any more you have! (If I can do so without spoiling anything that comes later.) Seriously! I love talking about my writing and this sort of thing helps me world build a little if that makes sense?i

#seriously. thank you so so so much. i am insane and i will ramble for weeks if given the opportunity. :') <3 #answered #Guardian Angel Neil AU #bribery-of-monkeys #love #questions

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ourtearsofrain · 3 months ago

Text

The Barbarians (D.R.W/S.F.K) - Chapter 11

Pairings: Danny Wagner x Sam Kiszka

Genre: ANGST, hurt(literally)/comfort

Word Count: just over 6.4

Warnings: AU typical events/threats/violence, violent fighting/injuries/deaths, needles/syringe, thoughts of unaliving self

A/N: OOOOOO starting with Danny’s pov this ch I wonder whyyyy 🫣🫣🫣

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

The Wounded Warrior on This Battleground

Danny

Thursday, July 14th

“Hey, kid, time to get up.” Danny nudges Daphne’s shoulder gently, still feeling guilty about waking her despite knowing they needed to leave the fire portion of the arena. Their plans to leave the day before and head for the water section had been abandoned as the pair had taken turns sleeping through the day, the physical and emotional stress of the games draining their bodies and minds. “We should head to water, can cut through the forest to hunt again since all we ate yesterday was the last two rabbits. We need to keep our energy up, and I really need to clean the bones and hides before they get too gross.”

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she squints up at him, the harsh afternoon light filtering through the opening in the ceiling. “I hate that you’re right.” Danny laughs as she sits up fully, taking in their surroundings to see how much they had to pack up before heading out. “Hey, did you catch the fallen announcement yesterday? I didn’t hear any cannons when I was awake, and I think I slept through that too.”

“Yep, only one death. Girl from 10 but no one else. Everyone must have done what we did yesterday, laying low and recharging or gathering resources.” He pulls himself off the ground as he gathers the sharpened wooden stakes from where he had left them around their fire, shoving all but two into his bag. “If you see a stream in the forest, tell me. We have a canteen in here, but I haven’t filled it since after the bloodbath on our way here, so we have maybe one sip left.”

“Will do.” Daphne joins him on her feet, taking the hunting knife and one of the stakes as he offers them to her. He slings the bag over his shoulders before picking up his axe in his right hand, keeping the other wooden stake in his left.

“Alright, kid, lead the way.” Danny extends his arm, gesturing towards the opening that led out of the cavern as he takes a step back to allow her to pass him. “You do have a better sense of direction than I do.”

She lets out a quiet laugh as she takes the lead, offering a glance back as she speaks, her tone light and amused. “I’m pretty sure it’s hard to miss an entire forest, Danny.”

“Yet somehow, I think I’d get lost in here anyway. Once I’m in the forest, I have an excellent sense of direction, but put me in any another terrain and I’m useless.” Danny trails behind her as she moves through the twists and turns of the path, both staying relatively quiet. They stop as the canyon walls around them drop off to nothing, the open expanse of flat lava rock separating them and the tree line. “Looks clear this way.”

“Over here too.”

“On 3.” Danny spares a glance down at Daphne to see her nod before his eyes dart back to the space before him, checking one last time that there truly were no other tributes. “1, 2, 3!”

The pair break into a sprint, and it isn’t long before they reach the forest, the cover of the trees giving them both a sense of safety. “Think we should make our way closer to the center of the arena and walk along the forest edge or cut through the center of the forest?”

“Center of the forest, that way we can hopefully find some water and hunt.” Danny explains. “We aren’t in too much of a rush to get to water, just as long as we get there before dark.”

They say nothing more as they walk, letting the familiarity of the forest comfort them for even just a moment.

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After around two hours of walking, they come across a stream, the water clear and sparkling under the soft rays of sunlight filtering through the foliage. “Wanna stop here for a bit? Try and find something to eat, clean up a little?”

“I’m fine with that, I could use a break. Wanna give me the canteen and I can fill it?” Danny does as she asks, handing it to her as they both temporarily set their weapons down. As Daphne fills the canteen, Danny moves slightly downstream, rinsing the remaining grime off his hands from the rabbits that he hasn’t been able to completely get off. “What’s your favorite color?” Danny looks up at Daphne, amusement passing over his features at the random, simple question and the seriousness on her face.

“What? Why?”

She shrugs, taking a drink of water before answering. “I don’t know, I realized I don’t know that much about you. Obviously, I know you have a little sister and that you’re 18 and stuff, but I don’t know the little stuff about you. I wanna know the important stuff and the things people might consider unimportant too.”

Danny thinks for a moment, having a hard time deciding between the answers floating around his mind. “I want to say dark green, but I feel that’d be too stereotypical. I love purple, now that I think about it. I guess that’s my favorite color. What about you, kid?”

“Red, like a dark, deep red. Alright, next question. What’s your favorite animal?”

Danny smiles as he unpacks his bag, taking the contents from the tarp before washing it off in the stream. He quickly moves on to the bones and hides, scrubbing the dried blood and leftover tendons from the material. “White tailed deer. I’ve come across so many in the forests that some of them that haven’t been hunted yet have started to recognize me and they aren’t afraid of me anymore.”

Daphne gasps in excitement, her eyes going wide. “Have you ever pet one??”

“Not yet, but I’m not giving up. I can see in their eyes that they’re beginning to trust me, so hopefully I’ll be able to get closer when I-” Danny cuts himself off quickly, realizing where he had been going with his sentence. When you what? When you win and go back to 7? That’s not happening. “What about you?”

“Brown bears. Or ermines, they’re like cute little weasels. I found a baby one in the forest a year or two ago and mama let me keep him. I named him Cyprus cause I found him under a Leyland cypress tree.” She pauses momentarily, a sad look passing over her face at the memory of her beloved pet. “I miss him… my 10 ½ year old sister Cassandra is taking care of him until I get back. He’s super sweet and playful, he likes to chase a small ball of yarn around like a cat.”

Danny smiles at her before a wave of sadness crashes over him, and he looks down so she can’t see the tears brimming at his lash line, beginning to re-pack the now clean hides and bones in his bag. I can let them dry later, we need to keep moving. And find some food, I’m getting hungry. “I’m sure he misses you too, but it sounds like he’s in good hands. You’ll see him soon, kid. Soon as these games are over you can go home to him and your family.”

“What about you? I haven’t forgotten that there can only be one victor. Don’t you want to go home to your sister?”

Before Danny can try to come up with a response, he hears a branch snap to their left, the sound too loud and heavy to have been caused by anything but a human. His eyes go wide as he shoves the rest of his supplies into his bag, including the canteen as Daphne has the same realization. Another tribute was near, and they were headed straight for them. “Let’s go.” Danny’s voice is serious as he zips the bag up, fear coursing through his body as he all but drags Daphne to a stand and starts in the opposite direction of the sound. “Make as little sound as possible and stick with me.”

They make it about 20 feet before the male from 4, Neptune if Danny was remembering correctly, drops down in front of them from a tree, blocking their path. Danny’s eyes go wide as he sees a large, very sharp trident in his hands. He immediately turns and begins to sprint in the opposite direction, pulling Daphne alongside him. “It’s ok, don’t look back. I’ll keep you safe.”

He spares a glance down at her to see tears beginning to roll down her cheeks, her eyes alight with terror as she clings to his hand. He looks forward again just in time to see the male from 2, Vanil, swinging a massive war hammer towards his face. His instincts immediately take over as he drops to the ground, narrowly missing the weapon as he rolls.

“Danny!”

“It’s ok, I’m ok, Daphne. Keep running.” Danny recovers quickly, stumbling back to his feet as he tries to find his pace again. Something large and heavy slams into the back of his left shoulder then, sending him back to the ground as he reels in confusion. As soon as he sees Vanil’s hammer disappear into the underbrush beside him, his brain processes what had happened as pain radiates through his shoulder, flowing into his neck and upper arm as his head spins.

He pushes his nausea to the side as he sees Neptune race towards him, his trident raised and pointed directly at him. Just as it’s about to strike him square in the face, Danny raises his axe with his right arm, lodging the handle between the tines as his left hand comes up to grasp the butt of the axe head. Neptune drops to his knees on the ground, straddling Danny’s abdomen as he puts his full body weight on the weapon, the points slowly inching towards his face. Pain radiates through Danny’s left shoulder at the strain, his vision going black momentarily from how excruciating it was, feeling as if shards of glass had been lodged within his shoulder and were only being pressed deeper and deeper by the second.

You can’t hold him off this way forever. Think, Danny, fucking think. Daphne could be in trouble. The thought sends adrenaline coursing through his system, numbing the pain temporarily as he comes up with a plan in a split second. He steers the points to the left of his head slowly before letting go of the axe head with his left hand. The second the points sink into the ground only centimeters from his ear, Danny’s hand finds the wooden stake he had dropped in his fall, sending it straight towards Neptune. The point imbeds itself in the side of his neck, sinking into his jugular as his eyes go wide with pain and surprise, his blood beginning to drip down onto Danny’s face.

As his hands move to clutch his neck, Danny uses the opportunity to shove the other tribute off him before standing and finding his axe quickly. His eyes dart around his surroundings, praying to see any sign of Daphne or Vanil.

“DANNY!” The scream echoes across the forest, sending Danny sprinting in the direction of Daphne’s cries. A cannon booms in the distance, but he can barely process that it must have been for Neptune as terror claws at his heart. Just as he’s about to yell for her, he stumbles upon a clearing, seeing Daphne no more than ten feet high in a tree as Vanil swings at her with a machete, the small lower branches snapped as if he had tried to follow but had been too heavy.

“Get the fuck away from her!” The words rip at Danny’s throat as he raises his axe, swinging it directly towards Vanil’s head.

Vanil turns at the last minute, stepping out of the way and causing the edge to imbed itself into the tree trunk. Danny ducks as Vanil arcs his blade at his neck, succeeding in dodging that but not the punch he quickly sends straight into his nose. He nearly collapses as pain spikes through his skull, feeling blood begin to pour from his nose as he tries to blink his vision straight.

Somehow, his hand lands on the handle of his axe, managing to pull it from the wood weakly. Seeing Vanil slice his blade through the air, heading directly for Danny, he tries to raise his arm to block the blow with the axe in his left hand. He’s too slow, having forgotten the state his shoulder was in, and he can barely raise it above his waist as pain radiates through his chest and neck.

He chokes on his breath as the blade slashes across his stomach, searing pain shooting through his abdomen as Vanil grins at him. Danny’s hands come to grip the gash that was quickly staining his hands and shirt a deep red, before Vanil places his hand on Danny’s shoulder and shoves him down to his knees, his axe dropping at his side.

“DANNY!” No. Dear god please no. Please just stay where you are. Please. With Vanil’s focus still on Danny, he doesn’t see Daphne throw herself at him until she lands on his back, knocking the machete from his hands as he immediately tries to shake her off.

“No!” Danny’s voice is hoarse as he watches in terror, his blurred vision and seizing muscles preventing him from moving. Just as Daphne’s knife finds his throat, Vanil throws her from him, her body hitting the ground hard as she cries out in pain.

Vanil brings his hand up to his neck, pulling it back down to see it slick with blood from the small gash in his skin she had managed to make. “You little bitch!” The second he lunges for Daphne, Danny forces himself off the ground, nausea coursing through him as he uses the handle of his axe to push himself up in his desperation. Vanil grabs Daphne by her hair, drawing another cry from her as he pulls her to her feet.

Danny summons his remaining strength as Vanil’s other hand comes up to her neck, launching the axe at his head, fueled by his rage. He hears a sickening crack as Vanil roughly twists her head to the side before the blade finds the center of his face.

Both drop silently. A single cannon fires in the distance. Only one cannon. She can’t- she isn’t- Tears flow freely down his cheeks as he finds Daphne’s side, collapsing beside her and pulling her limp body into his lap. “Daphne. Daphne c’mon, we need to go.” He shakes her, his sobs and pleas growing louder as she remains still. “Daphne please, please get up. We need to go. Daphne. Daphne? Please.”

Bringing his shaking hand to her neck, he desperately searches for a pulse. Relief floods him when he finds it before it’s instantly ripped from him. He moves his hand under her nose, feeling no air coming from it. He severed her spinal cord; she must be completely paralyzed. I’ve seen this happen to men in the woods in logging accidents; she doesn’t have control of her respiratory muscles, she can’t breathe. She’ll die slowly if she doesn’t get medical attention.

Despair claws at him, no longer caring if he attracted other tributes. He needed to save Daphne, that was all that mattered. “HELP!” Danny turns his face to the sky, his vocal cords burning as he prayed that anyone in The Garden would hear his pleas. “PLEASE GET HER OUT OF HERE! SAVE HER! FUCKING KILL ME, I DON’T CARE! JUST SAVE HER!”

Met with no response, his head drops, his tears dripping onto Daphne’s cheeks as his forehead finds hers. They’ll never send help. They don’t care about her. The longer she suffers, the longer I suffer, the better for them. His knee brushes something sharp, Daphne’s knife, and he picks it up silently. I know what I need to do. I hate- I hate that I need to do it.

“I’m so sorry, kid. I’m so sorry. You deserved so much more than this.” His voice breaks as he places a gentle kiss to her forehead before positioning the blade of the knife on the side of her neck, just above where he knew her jugular and carotid arteries were. “May you walk peacefully into the woods, sister.” He closes his eyes as he sinks the blade into her skin, cutting as deep as he could as he drags it across her neck.

His free hand blindly finds the other side of her neck, her pulse fading rapidly beneath his fingertips until it stops completely. He feels as if his heart has been broken into a million pieces as a cannon booms in the distance. The combination of the pain ripping through his stomach and shoulder mixed with the feeling of her blood seeping into his pants finally sends him off the edge, and he moves Daphne off his lap as gently as he can before scrambling over to a group of bushes. Having not eaten anything in over a day, he dry heaves until he finally vomits up what little water he had drank, each retch sending pain slicing through his stomach as if he were being cut by Vanil over and over again.

Finally, he collapses in his exhaustion, letting out an anguished cry as his tears flow once more. This is my fault. She got hurt because of me. She died because of me. I promised to protect her, but I killed her. I did this. I’m a monster. In his despair, he remembers the knife still clutched weakly in his fist. Now that she’s- she’s dead, I don’t have to keep anyone safe in here. I’m useless, unnecessary. I don’t need to play their game anymore. He drags himself to a sit, tears still flowing down his cheeks as he brings the knife to his own throat, pressing down hard enough to feel the sting.

It’s ok. It’ll be quick. Less painful than what I’m going through right now. He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes as he prepares to drag the blade across his skin. That is until another thought pops into his head, causing his eyes to fly open as he freezes. Josie. I told her I would come back. She’ll be safe with Dave, but I can’t put her through losing the last family she has. I can’t do that to her, I have to try. The knife drops from his hand as he breaks down into tears once more, cradling his face in his hands weakly.

“I think I heard something over here.”

FUCK. Danny whips his head up, his eyes wide. He knew that voice; it was Samuel, no doubt about it. And if Samuel was here, his ally from 1 wouldn’t be far behind. As their footsteps grow closer, Daniel scrambles to shove the knife into his bag, taking up the axe and Vanil’s machete. He drops to his knees next to Daphne, placing one final kiss to her forehead as his last tears trail down his cheeks. “I’m so sorry.”

With that, he scrambles to his feet, stumbling off in the opposite direction of the voices growing louder by the second. He breaks into a weak sprint, finding he had made a grave mistake as he feels as if his body was shutting down. Pain radiates through his stomach, shoulder, neck, and head as he trips, dropping to his knees as he feels as if he had been set on fire. The distant sound of the other tributes is replaced by the mechanical beep of a Sponsor Gift slowly floating down to him, his blurring vision making it hard for him to pin down its location as hope flares in his chest. Depending on what’s in there, I could be ok. It could help.

Hearing it hit the ground, his body protests as he crawls towards the sound. The second his fingers wrap around the cool metal, relief floods him momentarily before his body finally gives out, the pain and exhaustion he was experiencing finally sending him crashing to the ground. The last thing he remembers before drifting into the blissful nothing of unconsciousness is the sound of two tributes approaching him, their footsteps heavy and quick atop the underbrush of the forest.

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With No Pride to Call His Own

Sam

Thursday, July 14th

“We can’t sit around here waiting for something to happen. We’ll starve or run into the tributes from 4 eventually.”

“You’re being overdramatic. There’s fish in that sea, I know it. We just need to try harder.”

Sam contemplates killing Hazel then and there, her dismissal of his fears nearly his final straw. They had remained in the cave since finding it after the bloodbath, only leaving for fresh water or their pathetic attempts at catching food. He knew if they stayed where they were, they were bound to die within days. “Who are you kidding, Hazel?! We’ve been surviving off kelp that I’ve been gathering. The only reason we haven’t left yet is because we’ve been too exhausted from lack of nutrition. If you want to stay here, that’s fine with me, but I’m leaving by midday.”

Rolling her eyes, Hazel pushes herself off the ground begrudgingly, beginning to gather what little “belongings” she had. “Fine. So, what’s your plan since you’ve decided you’re the leader of this operation."

"Hold on, I haven’t decided jack shit, I’m just the only one actually trying to survive. You wanted to be in this arena with me so bad that you volunteered, so fucking act like it. Start pulling your weight or I’m leaving your ass here. And we’re going to the forested area, that’s bound to have game and we have a bow and arrow.”

“I’ll choose to ignore the first part of that for your sake.” Pretentious bitch. “I thought you were worried about that meathead from 7 being there, why go where he might be?”

He isn’t a meathead. “Because one, we’re desperate; and two, he could have left that part of the area by now, or he’s dead. We both missed the tribute death announcement yesterday because someone fell asleep when they were supposed to be keeping watch, so we don’t know if he’s alive or not.” Sam snaps as he shoves the tools he had used over the last day back into his bag, leaving out the small canteen he had been beyond grateful to find in the pack.

“You can’t just blame me for everything!” Hazel raises her voice, nearly shouting at Sam as he passes her on his exit from the cave.

“For that, I can. You were supposed to be keeping watch; I understand getting tired, but you should have woken me up to take over. That can’t happen again, Hazel. Just think about what could have happened if another tribute had found us both asleep.” Stooping to fill his canteen with water, he glances back to see if she had followed him, not knowing whether to feel relieved or disappointed that she had.

“I’m not apologizing if that’s what you want.”

“I’m not asking for an apology; I’m telling you that it won’t happen again.” His response is short as he stands, brushing past her in the direction of the trees towering in the distance. He doesn’t slow as he hears nothing but an annoyed huff from behind him, the crunch of her boots on the sand following him after a few moments. I swear to god, I’m killing her if she keeps this shit up. With how she’s acting, I’d be more successful alone than with her as an ally. I’m giving her 24 hours to pull her weight, after that if she still hasn’t, I need to get rid of her.

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“Can we please stop for the day?” Hazel whines the words out, dragging her feet through the underbrush dramatically.

“Not until we find good shelter. I already told you; we need food, shelter, and water.”

“Ugh, fine.” The only sound they can hear as they walk is the crunch of their boots against the twigs underfoot and the various bird calls drifting between the trees, both tributes saying nothing as they trek on.

After another 20 minutes, Sam freezes mid-step, his ears perking up at the sound of a cannon firing. He says nothing as he looks to Hazel, only to hear another cannon fire only minutes after. Their eyes go wide at the sound, both wondering who those cannons had been for and where those dead tributes were.

Another minute passes before Sam picks up distant yelling. “Stop.” It sounds like a man. Could it be-? What does it matter if it is? “Do you hear that?”

Her eyebrows crease in confusion as she looks around them, yet still sees and hears nothing. “No? What are you talking about?”

“I thought I heard-” The sound of another cannon firing in the distance cuts him off, making eye contact with Hazel before he hears dry heaves coming from within the forest around them, setting off in the direction of the noise silently. “Is that- is that sobbing?”

“I can’t tell, I don’t know if I hear what you’re hearing, Samuel.”

“I think I heard something over here.” Just as he says the words, he hears faint rustling in the bushes before he catches a glimpse of something taking off into the trees. “Go! Follow them!”

Just as he takes the first step to sprint after whatever or whoever had made the noise, Hazel catches his arm, stopping him completely. “What if it’s a dangerous animal or tribute?”

“Then we kill them. It’s probably some weak tribute that’s hurt, I swore I heard sobbing.” The barely audible sound of a Sponsor Gift comes from the direction they had run in, and Sam’s eyes go wide. Neither of them had received a sponsor gift yet, so why was this tribute? “Now we definitely have to go. If it’s a weak tribute, we can kill them and take it for ourselves.”

“Fine. But if we die, it’s your fault.” Sam doesn’t respond, knowing better than to waste his breath on her as he quickly makes his way towards the mechanical chime until they finally come across the source.

Sam didn’t know what outcomes to expect of the situation; a weak tribute getting a pity gift, maybe even a trap to lure them towards a threat. But what he hadn’t expected to see was Daniel lying on his stomach alone, unconscious, and with a Sponsor Gift clutched in his hand. “What the fuck?” Sam approaches him cautiously, nudging his boot with his own as he waits for a response, thinking it could be a trap. When Daniel still doesn’t move or respond, he moves around the man, coming to a crouch by his side.

“What are you doing?” Hazel keeps her distance from them, eyeing the axe held loosely in his hand, a machete on the ground beside his other.

“Just checking something.” Sam brings his hand to Daniel’s right shoulder, pulling hard until he flips him to his back. He resists the urge to gasp at the sight before him. The shiny, dolled up pet of The Garden he had seen at the Parade and Interview was no more, now replaced with nothing but a broken man covered in grime.

“Holy fuck, that’s- that’s a lot of blood. Is he alive?”

Sam’s eyes roam over his body, from the gash across his stomach still bleeding, up to his left shoulder seemingly bent in an unnatural and extremely uncomfortable position. They finally stop on his face, blood not only covering the skin below his gorgeous nose and down his lips and chin, but also dripped across his face as if someone else had bled on him.

“I don’t know, let me check.” Bringing his fingertips to his neck gently, he feels for a pulse, nearly holding his breath as he waits. For some reason, relief floods him as Daniel’s heartbeat thuds weakly below his skin, finally seeing the light rise and fall of his chest the longer he stared. “He’s alive.”

“We should kill him.”

“What?” Sam whips his head towards Hazel, anger flashing across his features at the suggestion. “Are you kidding?”

“No. He’s dying, might as well put him out of his misery. And he’s a threat if he heals, we can’t risk him surviving out here and hunting us down.”

“What if we offer him ally-ship?”

Hazel deadpans at him, no amusement present on her features as she pointedly looks between Sam and Daniel. “Are you actually fucking insane?!”

“No. If we help him, he’d be in debt to us. He could be a powerful ally, you know how strong he is.”

“And how are we going to help him, Sam? He’s already on the brink of death and we don’t have any medicine.”

Sam’s heart drops before he remembers the gift, his eyes darting to the metal canister as he leans over Daniel to grab it. Inside, he finds a two syringes filled with a clear substance, a small jar of what appeared to be a cream of sorts, and a small piece of paper, messy words scrawled onto it as if they had been written in a rush. He slips the paper into his pocket before Hazel sees it, figuring he would read it alone when he got the chance. “With these. I would guess they’re medicine. His mentor did well getting people to love them.”

“Them.” Hazel repeats. “He had an ally, that girl. Where do you think she is?”

“I would guess that whoever did this,” Sam runs his fingers across the exposed skin around the slash on his stomach lightly, his fingertips drifting over the soft ridges of muscle beneath it. “Also did something to her. I think he’s alone, all his allies have been killed. He has no one else.”

“So what? You want to fill that hole for him? I think you just want him to fill yours.” She spits the last part of the sentence out, her cheeks tinging bright red in her embarrassment and anger.

“Excuse me?! What the fuck are you suggesting?” His blood boils as rage and panic courses through him, his cheeks burning as he rips his hand away from the other man’s skin. “I’m doing this for us. We suck ass at some survival skills, don’t deny it, he could help us stay alive. If he refuses our alliance or turns on us, I’ll kill him myself.”

“You know exactly what I mean… but fine. I’m holding you to that, though. Deal?”

Sam sets his jaw, the muscles twitching at the sheer force of it as he locks his steeled gaze on her. Who the fuck does she think she is, implying that like it’s nothing. She doesn’t know me, she doesn’t know him. I don’t know him. “Deal.”

Hazel looks around their surroundings, trying to find any place they could camp out for the night that wasn’t too far away, knowing that Sam likely couldn’t carry Daniel alone. “Alright well where do you suggest we take him? It’d be stupid to stay out in the open like this.”

Fuck. She’s right. We’re too exposed out here, and we don’t know what happened to the tribute that did this to him. Sam closes his eyes, taking a deep breath as he tries to think of any solution. With one sense gone, his others heighten slightly, the lack of visual input allowing him to notice the distant sound of running water. Opening his eyes again, he pinpoints the direction of it before looking back to Daniel and his belongings. “I think I hear a waterfall or something. Here, put his machete and axe in my bag blade down, then we can carry him over.”

“I’m gonna be so unbelievably mad if you’re wrong.” Despite her obvious reluctance, she does as he says before moving to stand at Daniel’s feet as Sam places himself at his head. “You take upper half and I take lower?”

“Yup.” Sam bends, looping his forearms under Daniel’s armpits as Hazel moves between his legs, picking each up at the knee as they hoist him into the air. “Alright, not too bad with the two of us. Let’s get moving.”

Rotating 180°, Sam takes the lead as he walks backwards, towards the sound of flowing water. The pair says nothing on their trek, not once making eye contact as Hazel makes her annoyance known through each huff and exaggerated grunt. Finally, after around 10 minutes, they stumble upon a small lake with a waterfall flowing into it, tall rocks surrounding the crystal-clear water. They set him down onto the river rock as both stretch from the strain of carrying him before Sam sees a small alcove cut into the rock towering over the water’s edge. “Hey, I know we just put him down, but over there is a little more hidden, less out in the open. Might be a little safer, y’know?”

“Fine. Let’s get this over with.” As Sam picks Daniel’s torso up gingerly, Hazel yanks his legs off the ground, already shuffling over towards the alcove as if she couldn’t get it over with fast enough, as if she had better things to do. “This is good enough.” Sam’s grateful that he had been the one to take Daniel’s top half as Hazel drops his legs, the extra weight now solely carried by him causing him to stumble. She rolls her eyes as she catches Sam’s irritated glare as he gently sets Daniel down, holding the back of his head as he lays him on the ground. “You’re lucky I even helped you drag him this far.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m going to go hunt. Stay here with him, don’t let him kill you when he wakes up. If he wakes up.” Sam doesn’t miss her smirk as she turns away from him, leaving the clearing without another word. Fucking bitch. He’ll wake up, she’ll see.

Sam tries not to let his thoughts wander as he carefully wrestles Daniel’s bag, jacket and shirt off, trying not to aggravate his shoulder or stomach too much. He sets in on cleaning him up immediately, folding his jacket neatly and placing it behind his head as a “pillow” before he takes the remains of his shirt and wets it at the edge of the small lake.

Kneeling by his side, Sam gently wipes away the blood covering his face, needing to scrub slightly as it had begun to dry. After rinsing off the shirt and getting it wet with clean water again, his hands move to Daniel’s stomach, his touch soft as he dabs at the edges of the large gash. I know I’ve wanted him dead for so long, I’ve wanted to be the one to kill him; but now that I see him like- like this, it hurts? I don’t know him, I won’t pretend to, but I would venture to guess he didn’t deserve this. He doesn’t deserve this pain. Sam finds himself tearing up as he’s unable to take his eyes from the slash, hating the way it split the perfect, soft skin of his stomach.

Pull yourself together, Samuel. Jesus Christ, what’s gotten into you? He’s thankful that Hazel had left them as he feels a blush spread over his cheeks, sure that they were bright red even in the dying light of the day. Suddenly remembering the Sponsor Gift and note, he retrieves both, placing the syringes and jar on the ground as he unfolds the paper.

“Inject into your shoulder, it’ll heal the shattered bones. Put a generous amount of ointment on the cut on your stomach.

It’s not your fault, Danny. You did everything you could, and in the end, you did what you had to. I’m so sorry. Keep going for her.

-Luna”

“You did what you had to.” What does that mean? What did he do? Sam looks back to Daniel, his confusion only visible to him as the other man lay unconscious. Deciding to move on from the thought for the time being, he sets in on uncapping one of the two syringes, his hands shaking slightly as he tries to figure out where to inject the substance. Is it his collarbone or shoulder blade? ‘Luna’ said ‘bones’ plural, maybe it’s both? Which shoulder? His left one looks a little fucked up, maybe it’s that one? Here goes nothing… He takes a deep breath before plunging the needle into the front of Daniel’s left shoulder, injecting half of the substance into the skin before pulling the needle out. Slightly lifting his upper body to the side, he stabs the needle into the back of his shoulder, just below the bottom of the blade. Should be good, right?

His attention moves to the ointment next as he replaces the cap on the syringe and unscrews the jar lid, taking a small whiff of the cream within. Pine needles and cloves; weird. Hope this works. I don’t have anything to do stitches with, and if this splits open again, there’s no way Hazel will let him live. Sam scoops a large amount onto his fingers, hesitating slightly as he brings the substance to the open wound. Expecting him to flinch, Sam’s heartbeat skyrockets as Daniel stays motionless, not even the hint of a reaction on his features. With his hand not covered in the ointment, he brings his fingers to his neck, frantically searching for his pulse. Oh, thank god, he’s alive. Just very, very unconscious. He’s alive.

Sam tries to calm his racing heart with these words as he covers the gash with the cream, praying that they would help speed up his recovery. Figuring he had applied enough, he leaves Daniel only to rinse his hands in the lake, the residue washing off easily. I probably shouldn’t just leave him like this in case he gets violent... but I don’t want to hurt his shoulder by tying his hands behind his back. He thinks as he retrieves the rope from his bag, deciding on carefully tying his wrists together in front of him before securing the other end of the rope to the trunk of a tree beside him. Shouldn’t be so tight it hurts him, but not so loose he can slip out or make a grab for me if he wakes up- when, when he wakes up. He’ll wake up… I hope he wakes up.

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

Taglist: @jake-whatthefisgoingon-kiszka @milojames16 @gretnavannfleet @aioba1503-sdm @sanguinebats @cheersdannyx2 @musicislove3389 @holdingup-fallingsky @freyjalw @Maddie-Rae

#greta van fleet #greta van fleet fan fiction #gvf fic #daniel gvf #sam gvf #sanny gvf #greta van angst #sam kiszka x danny wagner #sam kiszka #danny wagner #hunger games au

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shipskicksandgiggles · 6 months ago

Note

I’m sending you this in an attempt to get my writing brain going. This idea just came to me like five minutes ago and is poorly thought out but here we go!

It’s the Fourth of July and Steve is hosting a party at his house for all his kids and the rest of their friend group. Everyone had shown up relatively on time except for Eddie. Steve had expected the metal head to be late since he’d protested the idea of celebrating patriotic capitalist ideals the minute that Steve had told him about the party. So when the phone finally rang almost two and half hours into the party, Steve was expecting it to be Eddie calling to make some bull shit excuse about why he couldn’t make it.

Steve had not been expecting Wayne to be on the other line. Steve’s heart felt like it had stopped dead in his chest and like his stomach had dropped down to his feet as he listened to Wayne explain that some of the jocks from high school had apparently come up with a plan to burn down the trailer and stage the scene like a firework mishap.

Eddie had caught them in the act but hadn’t been able to hold his own against Jason’s stupid gang of jocks. They had apparently beaten Eddie to a pulp and tossed him just inside the trailer before starting a fire and booking it out of there.

Wayne explained that he’d been awoken by the smell of smoke, Steve had not been happy to find out that their fire alarms had apparently been broken for some time and neither Wayne nor Eddie had the spare cash to buy new ones but that was beyond the point right now. Wayne had woken up just in time to rescue his bloodied and bruised nephew before the fire could do any real damage. However, Eddie had been close to the point of ignition and had sustained some minor burns to go along with his other injuries.

Wayne had apparently gotten Eddie to the hospital as soon as possible and wasn’t sure what state that the trailer would be in when they got back. He knew that his neighbors had been trying to put the fire out as he hurried to get his nephew help but who knew how much of the trailer as well as their belongings had been damaged…

But anyway so yeah that’s all I got. Just imaging Steve being pissed and worried all at the same time and he immediately invited Wayne and Eddie to stay with him and he nurses Eddie back to health etc. as usual I didn’t proof read this so hopefully it’s legible lol

oh wow I love this. if I was in any state to get up and get my computer, I’d be half way to writing this into a fic where Steve uses the experience as inspiration to become an EMT, because the Fourth of July is one of the more dangerous holidays out there, and he wants to be able to prevent anyone else from getting hurt like Eddie did

he’d take to it like a fish to water, and now when Eddie goes on his anti-patriot spiel, Steve just kisses his head and agrees, because he works with real heroes every day who aren’t nearly as recognized as they should be given the lives they save

#ellis writes #asks #answers #dragon tag #steddie

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imtooscaredforthis · 1 year ago

Text

Tethered

Part III- Chapter 29: Weird

Mentions of: Anxiety, Discussion of substance use, smoking, and Frank being delulu

A/N: Just got to college and my classes started!! I also am doing a fall sport so I’m busy ash atm…

Tags: @prettycutebunny @dead-bxxxtch-walking @mama-miya @vandeaad @moonshineinasippycup

Lately, things have been different. Jake was acting strange ever since that trial. You tried to talk to him, not just about the trial, but about things in general, and he’d hardly respond. If he did, it would only be one or two word answers.

You tried to not get too bothered by it, even though it still hurt quite a bit. Instead you spent more of your time hanging with Susie and Joey.

After a while, Joey managed to warm up to you. He was fun to be around. He was competitive and funny, and watching him and Susie banter was quite interesting. You were also pretty sure Susie had a bit of a crush on him.

One afternoon, the three of you were just playing games like you usually did, when Frank came. After what happened with Jake…you couldn’t help but wonder what he did. He made you uncomfortable. Not to mention, whenever he and/or Julie were around, you weren’t allowed to be there.

“Uh, well, I’ll see you guys later.” You murmured nervously, practically shooting up to your feet, preparing to bolt.

“Wait.” Frank stopped you. “You can stay.”

“I don’t know. I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.” You replied. Your eyes darted to Susie and Joey, trying to get a read on their expressions. They seemed just as tense as you were.

“It’s fine. Stay.” Was all he said, so you settled back on the couch. It was awkward and quiet for a bit, before Susie spoke. “Oh my god, I’m really sorry about this, but I have to go to a trial.”

“Me too, actually.” Joey added. You looked at them in shock. No. No way this was happening. You could not do this alone.

“Are you sure you can’t just ignore it or something?” You couldn’t help but ask. They both shook their heads.

Susie gave you an apology hug before she left, and you swear if you don’t die, you’ll kill her yourself when she gets back.

Relax. Maybe he just had a bad day that time. He did spare you after all, and he’s being nice by letting you stay. He won’t hurt you…hopefully.

So, the others left, leaving you and Frank alone together.

—

Frank couldn’t believe you were sitting with him. He tried to act casual about it, but he could tell you were freaked out, especially after your last encounter. But he needed you to stay. Maybe if he just talked to you or something, Maybe he can find a way to let this all go.

He could have some closure, like you used to tell him. He didn’t know what he was doing, just that he had to make these feelings go away, and maybe this could be it.

There was just one problem. Your memory. Susie had mentioned you lost it a while back, but maybe you would recognize him. There was something about the way you looked at him when he first saw you again, some sort of feeling of familiarity in your eyes. He hoped you would recognize him, but he was also terrified.

This was a horrible idea, but he didn’t know what else to do.

It had been so much easier to hate you when he didn’t see you. When he had an idea of you in his head of you as that perfect uptight rich bitch in college, all priveleged and apathetic, just like the rest of them. But how could he hate you when he knew that was all a lie? How could he hate you when he had you so close? God, you were beautiful. You always have been, but you’ve grown and matured into..something else. He couldn’t put words into it, really. You just left him in complete awe.

You cleared your throat, snapping him out of his trance. He realized where he was and what he was doing. “So, uh, why do you want me here?”

“Just felt like it.” Frank shrugged, acting aloof. You fidgeted with your fingers, a nervous tic you’ve had since you were young, a tell that would let him know you were uncomfortable. Back then, he would’ve grabbed your hands and told you it was going to be okay. He kind of wanted to do that now, but he knew he couldn’t.

Instead, he slipped his mask off, revealing his face. Maybe if you got a good look, you would remember. You glanced at him a couple of times, before looking away…Nothing? Seriously?

Frustrated, he popped a cigarette between his lips, lighting it. He noticed you staring, and offered you one. You shook your head. There was a slight twitch of your brow. You never liked smokers, or alcoholics, or anyone who abused substances. You were such a goody two shoes, always rambling about how it was unhealthy, and you made him promise not to do it unless it was appropriate. Judging by the way you looked now, he had a feeling the real you was somewhere in there.

He blew smoke into the air above him, sighing. “So, am I just here to watch you smoke or….?”

“Relax, I’m not gonna hurt you.” He told you. Your lips quirked slightly. “I didn’t think you were.”

“Really? Cause you seem pretty nervous to me.” He teased. If he didn’t know any better, he would say you were flustered.

You scoffed in response. “The only reason why I’m nervous is because I don’t know what you want me to stay for. You didn’t seem very happy the last time I was here, and Susie says you’re pretty exclusive with your group.”

“The only reason why I was like that was because you caught me off guard. I didn’t expect you to be here. But now I know, and I want you to stay.” He told you.

“But why? Why are you being so nice to me? I don’t get it.”

“Can’t I just be nice?” He asked, and you grinned, shrugging. “I guess so, yeah.”

“You guess so?” He repeated in mock offense. God he missed talking to you. He missed joking around with you. He wished you could remember him. “What? Do I look mean to you?”

He was staring you in your eyes now, turning to face you, his face mere inches from yours. A shy smile crossed your lips. “Maybe a little. But, you did tear my friend out of the locker and scared the shit out of both of us.”

“Yeah, but he had it coming.” Frank let slip, making you frown. “What? What did he do?”

He tried to take what’s not his.

“I had my reasons.” You went quiet at that, reaching down and fidgeting with the locket around your neck. The locket he had given you all those years ago. The one he found you still wearing when he first saw you in that trial.

“I do want to ask one thing, though. What do you know about-” Before you could finish your sentence, Julie came in through the door, spotting you sitting on the couch beside him. “Frank? What are you doing?”

“You need to go, now.”

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harringroveera · 2 years ago

Text

Steve: Okay, so we get the keys, and then we turn the machine off and save the kids

Billy: That's what he says

Steve: All right, well, that shouldn't be too hard. We can do this

Billy: Harrington, did you hear the part where he said the place was like an impenetrable fortress?

Steve: Yeah, but there has to be a way in!

Billy: Yeah, there is. Our military

Steve: Who are coming!

Billy: Well, we don't know that anymore because you yelled at them like it was a parent-teacher conference, and then you hung up on them, so we don't know what the hell's going on, because now we're...Wait, wait, what are we do...Oh! Wait, that's right! We're on our way to rescue your damn kids from the big, bad Fourth of July celebration!

Steve: You know what, if you can't handle this, then just turn around and drop me off first, Hargrove!

Billy: What are you gonna do? You gonna walk back to Hawkins?

Steve: I will do anything if it gets me away from you!

Murray: Children! Children! Children!

Murray: This interminable bickering was amusing at first, but it's getting very stale and we've still got a long drive ahead of us

Murray: So, why don't you two cut the horseshit and get to the part where you admit your sexual feelings for one another?

Steve: Whoa!

Billy: You are way off base, buddy!

Murray: Oh, spare me, spare me, spare me!

Murray, to Steve: Yes, yes, he's a brute. I know. Probably reminds you of a bad relationship, and, gosh, you'd really like a nice person to settle down with, but, admit it, you're real curious to know what he's like in the sack!

Murray, to Billy: And you. Ha! Well, you're just a big manbaby who'd rather act tough than show his true feelings, because the last time you opened your heart, you got hurt. Owie!

Murray: And now, rather than admit these feelings, you're dancing around one another with this mind-numbing and frankly boorish mating ritual. So, please, for my sake, either quit your bickering, or pull over, tear off those clothes, and get it over with already!

Billy & Steve: …

Alexei: What was that?

Murray: I told them they should have sex

Alexei: They have not had sex?

Murray: No

Murray & Alexei: *start laughing*

Billy & Steve: …

#harringrove #this legit fits them idc #billy hargrove #steve harrington #billy x steve #steve x billy #billy hargrove x steve harrington #incorrect harringrove quotes #harringrove headcanon #harringrove meme #harringrove au #harringrove textpost #harringroveera #harringrove ship #harringrove memes #harringrove + text posts #murray bauman #source: stranger things

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vanillagalaxiez · 1 year ago

Text

Fandom - KinnPorsche | Paring - VegasPete

Title: Not Always A Monster

Tags: #omegapete #alphavegas

Ratings: General Audience

Date: 01st July 2023

Description: Vegas comes across Pete wandering drunkenly on an abandoned street at night. Surprisingly, he helps him

__________________________________________

When Vegas took a U-turn shortcut to get home on a Saturday night in one of Bangkok’s abandoned one-way streets he didn’t expect to see Pete, his aggravating cousin’s little helper, of all people, staggering in the corner like a drunken man, out of his luck. And although he rarely spared the bland bodyguard a second glace, after his father and uncle’s death a couple of years back, Pete sort of grew on him since he’d been visiting the Main Family’s compound more often to transact business deals with, ugh, Kinn. Pete always seemed pleasant to him. He always smiled at Vegas with his cute dimples; always referred to Vegas as, Khun Wegath, and Vegas always found it amusing rather than irritating.

Pete wasn’t anything special; they weren’t friends or chit-chat buddies. He didn’t care about Pete — or any of his cousin’s bodyguards. They were merely pawns, working men who were disposable. Still, what was he doing there by himself at this hour of the night?

Vegas frowned the closer to approached the bodyguard before he slowed down his car; headlights boring into Pete’s back through the darkened narrow street. Pete didn’t look over his shoulder like any sane person would in a sketchy area. Instead, he wrapped his arms protectively around himself, almost hugging himself, almost losing balance… Something definitely seemed wrong.

Instantly Vegas pressed on the brakes, parking his car in the corner before he got out; dressed in a pristine white suit from head to toe. “Pete?” he called, frowning deeper when Pete didn’t react to his voice. This was unlike Pete… Oddly enough, a rumbled growl threatened to rise from Vegas’ throat. “Pete — I’m talking to you… Where are you going?”

When Pete abruptly stopped, Vegas’ breath spiked. He didn’t understand what was happening, why his palms suddenly turned sweaty, or why the air suddenly turned tense, and sweet. Abnormally sweet — like honey. “Pete?” he said, much softer this time, cautious as he took a slow step toward the bodyguard.

Pete’s shoulders stiffened. “Khun Wegath?” he whispered in the smallest of voices Vegas ever heard come out of the bodyguard’s mouth. He didn’t turn around though, he just stood there with his arms wrapped around himself, trembling slightly. “I —” Pete dropped to the ground before he could get another word out.

Vegas' eyes doubled as he raced toward the bodyguard. “Pete? — Hey?” he stooped down, his voice trembling and his body heating, his insides twisting. He still didn’t know what was happening, however, when his fingers touched the back of the bodyguard’s shoulders, intending to turn Pete over so he could get a better understanding of the situation, he gasped.

As Vegas had suspected, Pete was indeed drinking; a drunk staggering in the streets at night.

What he hadn’t suspected was…

“An omega,” the words left Vegas’ mouth breathless. “You’re an omega?”

Big fat drops of tears pooled at the sides of Pete’s eyes, and his face appeared flush — with wobbled lips and an arousing whining sound that escaped his mouth, as though he might’ve been in unbearable pain. Pete looked so tantalizing, so desperate… He turned his face away from Vegas’ burning eyes.

Vegas knew enough about omegas, he had slept with his fair share of omegas to know enough about them… Yet he didn't know how he had missed this. His stupid cousins had an omega under their wing and no one noticed? Did this mean they were all equally stupid? Wait. This time the growl he had been keeping down managed to escape his mouth before his eyes found Pete’s hazy ones.

The omega had light bruises coloring on the side of his lips; his knuckles were bruised.

Had someone hurt Pete?

It shouldn’t bother Vegas — he didn’t know Pete on a personal level. And yet, just the thought of another alpha touching Pete made Vegas want to rip their heads off.

Immediately he tighten his grasp on Pete and shushed him when Pete gasped, trying to close in on himself.

Vegas carefully cradled Pete’s face. “Look at me,” he said; he commanded.

Instantly Pete obliged, opening his hazy eyes and staring into Vegas’ pointed ones; his pupils were slightly blown, staring back at Vegas. Yet he seemed almost disconnected, as though his mind lived elsewhere — his surroundings were foreign.

Vegas sighed and padded away the tears slipping out of Pete’s eyes.

“Khun Wegath?” Pete spoke with slightly closed eyes; still quivering and in obvious distress. “Please… Please don’t tell anyone about this. If they find out —” Pete’s head darted backward and a pitiful cry escaped his lips before he gasped for breath.

Vegas furrowed his eyebrows… What was Pete saying? Why would he tell any — oh. Oh. Of course. He could use Pete to his advantage — blackmail him, and threaten to expose this obviously important, detrimental secret if Pete didn’t do whatever he wanted. He could —

“Everything hurts,” Pete whined, sniffling back snot and tears after he seized one of Vegas’ hands, entwining their fingers together in a tight grip.

The touch warmed Vegas’ insides more than it warmed his palm. And suddenly… The thought of blackmailing this omega seemed absurd; every part of his being told him he needed to protect Pete.

“I was out on a mission in this club… Someone injected me with something,” Pete confessed through tears, and a choked-back sob. “I managed to escape after they beat me up… I’m going into heat, Khun Wegath… I don’t know where to go. I don’t want to go back to the compound — they can’t know.”

Someone had tried to hurt an omega in such a diabolical way? Pete, of all people? The man who only — as annoying as it might’ve been — often spread joy to everyone? Foolish. Vegas might’ve always been cruel and vindictive, but he would never hurt an omega. There were delicate, he always believed they should be protected and cared for, and cherished and loved…

"Do you know who it was?" Vegas asked while his eyes skimmed over Pete's body, searching for any more bruises. There was no more.

No, Pete nodded instantly.

Vegas gritted his teeth and his eyes went dark.

He wanted to kill whoever was responsible for this; his fingers itched for blood to spill, for death.

When Pete whimpered, Vegas snapped out of his thoughts. "It’s alright,” he whispered, smoothing back Pete’s sweat-soaked hair from his forehead. “I’ll take you back to my place, okay? I won’t hurt you… Do you trust me?”

Pete stared at him for a long beat, seemingly contemplating; seemingly questioning Vegas’ remarks.

Vegas stayed patiently, waiting for the omega to answer.

He didn’t know why he said those words… However, with Pete curled in his arms, he looked so fragile, so helpless and tempting — so, so perfect. Vegas knew he needed to protect him; help him, and care for him like any alpha should. It was a rather odd sensation though; one so sudden and troubling. And yet, when Pete whispered back, “Hm, I trust you,” before his eyes closed, Vegas knew he made the right decision.

With careful consideration, he helped Pete move his lax arms, urging the omega to wrap them around his neck before he picked him up bridal style, and carried him back to the parked car.

"Everything is going to be alright," he reassured.

And when Pete said, with a barely visible smile, "Thank you." A surge of contentment seized Vegas' body and warmed his hardened heart.

Apparently, he wasn’t an immoral man after all; he wasn’t a complete monster either…

As bizarre as it might’ve been, someone trusted him; Vegas looked down and stared at the omega's scrunched-up, pained face before placing him in the passenger seat; Pete trusted him.

Huh, who would’ve thought?

#kinnporsche #pete phongsakorn #vegas theerapanyakul #vegaspete #vegaspete fic #fandom ships #writing

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floosies · 11 months ago

Text

Radio

early 2000s au

eddie munson x poc!oc

warnings: mentions of drugs, cursing, eventual smut, mentions of abuse, friends to lovers 18+

a/n: i feel like i should explain i'm writing this the way i remember acting as a teenager and how i remember my friends behaving, i feel like teenage angst should be honest no matter how dumb is it looking back at it. also this is gonna be a longer chapter.

Junior Year, 2008

Something had happened during the first couple of months of junior year. Eddie wasn't acting the way he usually had been last year. She noticed it happening before her. He had started ditching again to the point he just wasn't showing up most of the week. His replies were either paragraphs long or nothing and no calls anymore. He wouldn't talk to her at parties anymore either, just sell what he came with and head out.

In his head, Eddie was trying to spare her from his bullshit. His dad been trying to get him to go clear his name at his upcoming trial. Trying to push some bullshit about his mom and how she would have wanted him to do that for her. He hung up on him then and there, he remembered the countless times the psycho smacked his mom around like a ragdoll. He never forgot how he would hold his mom after his dad would leave her with bloody noses or a busted lip. She died trying to get away from him and it was some shit Eddie would never forgive his dad for.

He wanted to do right by Julie and his uncle, but people around Hawkins already saw him one way so it didn't really matter what happened with school. The thing he had left was the band and that was gonna be his ticket out. This was the year he was gonna try to get them onto the warped tour setlist. Fuck school and a diploma, it wouldnt mean shit compared to a platinum record and touring around the world.

Still he tried to do some justice by her, showing up to his classes. Not really doing shit but not causing a stir either. Julie was happy to see him sort of going back to his old self. She tried to figure out what happened and why he'd been awol for the last couple weeks. He brushed her off, and while she didn't wanna admit it, it hurt like hell to have him treat her like that.

Jeff had noticed how his friend had been off with her and at one the band practices he did his best to let her know that she was probably the only girl he actually cared about. Still it didn't feel like it sometimes, and either way they were just friends. As she watched them practice she realized it was probably time to drop whatever she thought was happening.

That weekend she didn't even text him where she was going to be at. They had started going to backyard shows together, usually it was where they'd be if she wasn't feeling up to partying. He started wondering where the hell she was tonight, her calls were going to voicemail and she wasnt replying to her messages. By nine he had messaged everyone he knew about where the parties were at this week, but the only party was at some abandoned house in the woods.

Liquor and weed is a hell of a good way to forget whatever makes you feel like shit. That was something Julie had learned her freshman year of high school, even before Eddie was in the picture, she felt like she was fucking everything up. Her parents had no problem verbally and emotionally abusing her, telling her what she could do better or how they had gave up their dreams for her. None of that shit mattered here, the music was blasting her eardrums and jungle juice was being poured to her by people she never hung out with in school.

It took Eddie a while to find her in-between all the people she was around. Her friend was the first person to notice him, she tried to get Julie's attention, when she eventually did, she pointed at him. Julie turned to look at him waving at her. She just nodded acknowledging him, but not really caring. Maybe he had that coming for how he had been with her lately but it still hurt like hell.

He knew it looked weird to follow her around, but he did it anyways. He didn't want any weirdo near her, usually she was with his friends or nearby him at parties so it wasn't that big of a deal. Eventually she pulled him aside to an empty-ish spot, her head jumbled by everything she'd consumed, she tried her best to sound somewhat sober, "dude I don't know why you're following me. Go have fun like everyone else." Julie had resigned herself to whatever was going to come from this.

Eddie looked at her confused the music was too loud, his head tilting down and his right hand gently gripping her upper arm, "I don't know anyone here. I came because I wanted to talk to you, you havent answered any of my texts or calls." He pulled away, her gaze following his, frustration and every other emotion building up, "is there anything to really be said? I mean you've brushed me off all week. Like cool I know that life is shit but you don't have to be a dick." She shrugged, "listen I just wanna have a good night tonight, I'm not arguing with you here." He shook his head, his voice defeated as he spoke to her, "I don't wanna argue either. I know I've been a dick lately, I'm sorry. Julie you're the coolest fuckin person ever, please I don't want you to be mad at me. I'll do anything! I'll fuckin get on my knees and beg." To which he actually did, this making her laugh and forcing him to get up off the dirt beneath them.

She hated how she couldn't be mad at him. How quickly she made up with him, but Eddie was just someone she couldn't deny. He spent the rest of the night dancing with her and following her around. The night didn't end as planned, Julie had gone to go get her friend away from some guy who was overdoing it, to which he tried to yell at her about cock blocking. Eddie threw one punch and the guy was out, but it caused enough of a scene for them to leave the party early. Julie knew he meant well so she didn't really hold the situation against him and even her friend had thanked him.

What neither of them expected was that he would run into the guy at school the following week. He was mostly just shit talking Eddie and his friends, which they were all used to, but by Thursday it had gotten ridiculous. At lunch time Eddie had become fed up of the guy, it was the same insults and shit talk about how it wasn't even a fair fight because he was drunk. The guy followed them to their table in the back of the cafeteria and kept at his bullshit, so biting the bullet Eddie finally told him to "stop barking like a bitch and accept the fact he got knocked out" to which the guy threw his backpack at him. Both her friend and one of Eddie's stopped her from getting in the middle of it as soon as it had started.

Eddie didn't wanna have problems with anyone but this guy had pushed all the buttons. First there was the incident at the party and now he had gone too far, he let the dickhead throw the first swing, which he missed and then swung back. The punches kept going back and forth just trying to get a hit in where ever either of the two could land. He wasn't sure when it happened during the fight, but this guy had thrown his skateboard off him. He'd been carrying it between the straps of his backpack for most of the day before the guy knocked off him.

It happened in less than minute but the action felt like slow-mo. She saw Eddie grab his board and swing it at the guy's face, like that scene in Wanted. The board broke and all that anyone heard was the crack of the wood. People scattered, her friend and Eddie's tried to get her to scatter, but she couldn't or wouldn't, Julie was frozen in her seat at the table. Both the principal and some teachers had showed up, someone called for an ambulance and she was taken to the office as a witness of the fight.

The yelling could be heard from the nearly quiet front office, everyone was trying to find out what happened. Staff even tried asking Julie, who still chose not to say anything. She knew Eddie could have a temper but she'd never seen it like that before. He might have done it now, but she was hoping for the best. Eddie and his uncle had been in there for a while with the principal.

She was waiting on her mom to get there. It irritated her that they had called for their parents. Mostly because she knew her mom would hold this situation against her, use it as more ammo against her social life and reason to have her sent to a private school. When her mom finally showed up and sat behind her she started her rambling, "you know Wayne was the better half of him and his brother. Poor man, he should have left that brat to the system." Julie was sure she hated her mother by that point.

After nonstop claim after claim that Hawkins was heading down the drain, it came to halt as the door to the principal's office opened and out came the Munson men looking slightly defeated and annoyed. The principal then called for Julie to come in, her mother giving Eddie's uncle a small hello before entering the office. It didn't take long to figure out that whatever she said was going to royally fuck things up for Eddie if she didn't word it right.

Ultimately she ended up calling the situation self defense even if it did go too far, that she blamed on teenage boys being hormonal and dumb. Her mother wasn't buying it, she kept repeating to her to be honest, which Julie had to assure the principal she actually was being as honest to the situation as she could be. When it was over with Eddie and his uncle got called back in. By then Julie and her mom had left, and he was given a week's suspension, told that he got lucky he was still seventeen (by some months) and that he needed to get himself straightened out.

As Eddie and his uncle left the school premises, they walked out to a shouting match between Julie and her mom. He heard as Julie argued that she wasn't defending him so much as that's just how things really happened. He knew her mom like the rest of the town mostly hated him, but this was as close as he figured she could get to looking out for him. What he didn't expect was to see her mom smack her, before he could even react Wayne had already gone over there.

The two adults were having it out like they knew each other, which maybe in a past life they did. Julie ended up going to talk to Eddie while they spoke, "sorry you had to see that." He shook his head, "are you okay? What the fuck is wrong with her?" She shrugged, "so much for pretending to be a caring mother." He wanted to hold her then and there but he had to stop himself knowing it'd probably get her in more trouble. Eventually the conversation ended and Julie left with her mom still yelling at her. Wayne told Eddie that some people never change.

That weekend she didn't go out, she got grounded, her parents took her phone, but left her laptop so she could do homework. Again she was thankful they had no clue how the internet worked. She ended up messaging him on myspace for the rest of the night on Friday and learning that his band had a gig on Saturday. Julie didn't know it, but the way she had vouched for him had taken on a bigger effect on Eddie than what she could have imagined.

He spent that weekend dedicating the band's sets to her, one of his friends recording the videos for their youtube page while she was locked away in her room. Eddie knew he was fucked, he was falling head over heels for a girl he'd only met last year, but it didn't matter, in his mind, he'd known her a whole fucking life time. Even his friends hyped her up for the way she defended him and didn't leave the scene. His uncle felt bad for her, he said he'd known her mom when she their age and she'd really taken a turn. However, his uncle felt that what Julie had done meant a hell of alot more than what most would have done considering it was Eddie. That was all the reassurance he needed to have to know that she was the one.

At the same time as he was coming to realize this, the band was looking for a way in and while he was sure he could multitask, his focus had always been getting out of Hawkins. Now he had to account for an extra stowaway, which he didn't have a problem with at all.

#eddie munson #joseph quinn #stranger things #2000s au

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