#i forgot how cute they were early campaign

[telpelote]

you know, the way you turn into animals and stuff is really cool

[luvrxbunny]

hi, im loving your work and i'm not sure if this is like where your at cause it's just regular old eddie but i was wondering if you'd write something like reader and eddie are both really into each other but haven't said anything and she knows how into d&d he is so she makes on of his campaigns into a comic but shes been so busy she unintentionally pulls away and eddies worried she finally "woke up" and realized hes a freak. maybe something like she's from new york banished to her aunts in hawkins aunts cause she has to repeat senior year again and eddie immediately is like wow. but happy ending obviously, maybe some smut if the spirit moves you. i hope this isnt too specific i know your last request was more vague but i had the idea and thought it'd be cute, if your not into it though that's fine i figure it never hurts to ask right 😘

hi! thank you for requesting! there actually isn't smut in this one but if you'd like some you can request a part 2 kinda thing!

Pairing: Eddie Munson x F!Reader

Summary: Eddie feels you pulling away and assumes the worst.

Warnings: smoking (weed), misunderstandings and emotions (lmk if I forgot anything)

WC: 6.9k

A/N: idfk this might be word vomit- i tried please have mercy

Eddie was the first friend you made here in Hawkins after being abandoned by your family. The sting of failing your senior year was enough, but the pain of your family being too embarrassed to house you anymore made it even worse. You had to watch all summer as all your other friends packed up for college while you were packing to be sent away. You were forced to go live with your aunt, which wasn’t the worst situation you could’ve ended in.��

She’s nice to you, understanding. She doesn’t believe in traditional schooling, she says it’s ‘no wonder’ that you failed. She claims ‘You’re a special girl with the mind of an artist’ and ‘schools aren’t built for people like you two’. You love her, you just can’t stand some of her habits. 

She lives a very hippie lifestyle. She forces you to walk to school, even on the first day, saying it was good for your mental health but all it did was make you incredibly sweaty for your first day. Although it ended up working out for the best. 

You arrived panting and sweaty from your rush over. She hadn’t told you the night before that you’d be walking so you didn’t wake up early enough. You could not stand being late to first period, not wanting to deal with the entire class watching you find a seat. So you had to haul ass to school. You had planned out an incredibly cute outfit that was now ruffled, mussed, and damp with sweat. You wanted to cry as you sat down in the back left corner of the classroom, getting a nice view of the field beside the school, the trees and flowers that live there. You’re huffing and puffing, your breathing all out of order from you trying to regulate it as students pour in. You watched as the cliques formed themselves, having been established in the previous years. You took out a notebook and buried yourself in it, hoping no one would approach you. 

The other students settled down and the teacher began her orientation. You aren’t listening as she speaks, watching the rain that's pattering gently on the classroom window. She was going on about the syllabus, informing you of the incredibly boring things you’d be learning in her class when he burst through. Opening the door with so much force that it slammed on the wall behind it, he was huffing and puffing, nearly soaked in rain with a bag loosely thrown over his shoulder. The thing about him that stuck with you though, was the blinding, dimpled, smile that was on his face. Despite being drenched, late, and the current center of attention, he had the largest smile you had seen all day. It was so genuine that you were smiling along with him without even realizing it. 

“Mr. Munson. I see you’re in my class again…” She spat the words at him so venomously you expected to see his smile drop, falter at least but it widened instead. 

“I am! Yes. I am! And I’d like to focus more on what that says about my… my determination, rather than what I may lack in this particular subject.” Again? Maybe he’s a repeat like me?

Something about the thought made you feel a bit fond of him. 

“Mhm. That’s nice. Have a seat.” She continued to drone on as he looked around for a seat, his eyes widened at you, seeing you already smiling and staring at him. This snapped you out of your trance and you tried desperately to avoid his gaze, pretending like you hadn’t been watching him since he came in. 

He decided to sit next to you and you guys hit it off instantly, later finding that you had almost every class together. You felt so lucky, he was so, so kind. He spent your first two periods and lunch together. He introduced you to his friends, let you know the special ins and outs of the school, and even offered you a ride when he found out your aunt was leaving you hanging. He told you that you’d have to wait with him after school because apparently, he ran a club called “Hellfire”. 

Honestly, in the period after lunch, without him, you questioned if this was the kind of person you should align yourself with. In the next period, with him, when you walked in the door he waved you over and moved the backpack that was on the desk next to him. “Hey! I saved you a seat.” He had that shining, dimpled, smile again and you decided it didn’t matter what kind of person he was. He was kind to you and that’s what mattered. 

You learned a lot about him and you feel like that’s when you started falling in love with him. 

He told you about his struggles with his family, and why he lived with his uncle. He told you about his childhood and got a little teary-eyed, although he still kept his butterfly-inducing smile. 

He told you about his struggles with this town and warned you that you may be subject to ridicule by befriending him. That was the only time his smile fully dropped, he got this kicked puppy look in his eyes as he lied to you, telling you that ‘he’d understand.’ or that ‘you don’t need to feel bad’. You told him you’re not afraid of some small-town hicks. 

He apologized to you at the end of the class, saying it must’ve been awkward to listen to him blubber about his life all class but you, stars in your eyes and in love, adamantly assured him that you didn’t mind. 

You ended up loving his club, the planning, the theatrics, and the suspense, were unbelievable. You were engaged the whole time, obsessed with how Eddie told his story, and invested in the team and their survival. You told Eddie about how cool you thought it was the whole ride home. By the end of the ride, you were apologizing profusely for how much you had talked about it but he, red in the face and flustered, adamantly assured you that he didn’t mind. 

You guys have been almost inseparable since. It’s been about seven months here at Hawkins now and your little crush has snowballed into a bit of a colossal crush on Eddie. Nowadays, your Hellfire visits are filled with you just watching him. You don’t pay attention to the plot, to how the characters are doing, or anything… just him.

 It’s getting a bit embarrassing in fact, because you’ll have fewer things to say on the ride to your house than you usually do and he’s begun to question it, asking if you thought he needed to work on anything and not believing you when you say that ‘he doesn’t need to change anything’ or that ‘it was so perfect you have no notes.’

A secondary reason you’ve started staring at him more is because you’ve been working on something for him; a way for you to confess how you feel about him in a way that you hope he’d like. You’re completely unsure of how he may feel about you. You’ve noticed a few things… the way he’ll save a seat and always give it to you, no matter who arrived before you, how he seemed to be somewhat softer with you than he is with everyone else, but you chalked it up to hopeful thinking. 

You were trying to make a comic of the first time he invited you to Hellfire. You can remember it almost perfectly and for anything you don’t remember you can just refer to your journal. You’d written all about it after you got home. 

You’ve been spending most of your time in the art room now, trying your absolute best to make it the most professional-looking, homemade comic anyone had ever seen. You think about the smile that Eddie would wear, even if he didn’t reciprocate your feelings, you at least hope he appreciates the art. 

You’ve gathered help from a lot of unsuspecting people. You found out that quite a few girls on the cheerleading team are a great help when it comes to designing the outfits. They’ve started to meet you in the art room at lunch to help with the comic, slightly invested in the plot even though you’ve explained multiple times that it’s technically Eddie’s plot. They’ve also become quite interested in your love life, knowing that it’s for Eddie. They actually root for the two of you, they were all much nicer than you expected them to be. 

You’ve started to miss a few club meetings as well. To be fair though, you aren’t technically part of the club. Eddie explained that since you don’t play you’re technically just a consistent bystander. It had hurt your feelings at first, feeling left out of the group but now it’s just convenient. You don’t have to tell Eddie in advance that you aren’t going and you don’t need to tell him why. You always go to the art room instead to work on your comic. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the cheerleaders join you after practice to help you work some more. You started to fall behind in school work, not paying attention to anyone or anything in class in favor of working on your comic instead. This little picture book has consumed your entire life for a few weeks. Unbeknownst to you, Eddie was suffering the whole time.

He noticed it when it first started. At lunch one day, instead of eating and engaging in the conversation you kept opening your notebook and doodling little things he couldn’t see. He kept having to get your attention and re-explain everything that was happening whenever he tried to include you in the conversation. Eventually, you just told him, with a soft laugh, that you’re not listening. You giggled and went back to your doodling, not even realizing that what they had been talking about, was the idea of you joining Hellfire officially, even if you don’t play. Your disinterest almost broke Eddie’s heart, it hurt a lot actually but he reasoned with himself. 

Maybe she just doesn’t want all the heat, and bullying that comes with being a part of Hellfire. She’s soft, she just doesn’t want to say that right now, in front of the whole table. She’s so cute… She’ll tell me why, later.

You never did. You never explained to him why you cared so little about being in a club he cared so much about. 

You began to pull away more and more after that. He would plan campaigns with you in mind, creating twists and turns he knows you’d love, imagining the look on your face and the excitement in your voice when you’d tell him about it on the ride home. However, you started telling him you couldn’t make it to Hellfire. You never gave him an explanation and he never asked for one, you guys are just friends… he has no right. 

A little piece of his heart would chip away every time you canceled on him, breaking even more whenever he had to receive pitiful stares from everyone else when they noticed characters in the campaign that were so obviously you-coded. The confused looks from every member whenever they asked where you were, only to be met with a sad shrug, became a bit too much for him. He was still giving you a ride home, you’d arrive at the end of Hellfire with a shy smile on your face for it every day so you had to be staying somewhere at school. He was determined to find you. 

He ended Hellfire early one day and set on his quest to find you. He knows you love to read so the library was the first place he checked, only to find the doors locked. His next stop was the art room, stopping to peep inside the cafeteria on his way over and shaking his head sadly when you weren’t there. At this point, he’s sure that you’re in the art room, but what confuses him is that he can hear girly, popular, giggling coming from the very room that you must be in. He rushes over in a half-sprint, thinking that some girls were picking on you but when he gets to the door he can see you laughing along with them as you doodle on something. 

“I mean he’s… cute..” Chrissy Cunningham says to Eddie’s intense confusion. Who are they talking about..? What is she doing with Chrissy Cunningham? The other cheerleaders burst into a smaller fit of laughter at her words. 

“I think he’s cute!” You say and Eddie’s heart sinks at your words. Who? He waits there for a while but you guys never give specifics. He watches the cheerleaders giggle and tease you about your mystery crush. He only witnesses the way you fiddle with your pencil with the biggest smile he’s seen all day splitting your face. It hurts him to see you so happy over someone else, he watches you as a dark, numb, pain spreads inside his chest before walking away with tears in his eyes. His hands were in his pockets, shoulders hunched defeatedly as he heard you girls cheering behind him.

When you came for your ride he wasn’t in the Hellfire classroom waiting for you, instead, he was leaning on his van smoking. He never smoked around you, not cigs at least. You had explained your many bad memories with men who smoked and how it caused you to just despise the smell, that it even caused you a bit of anxiety before you even knew that he smoked. 

Out of kindness, Eddie just avoided smoking around you all together, but right now he was stressed, hurt, and on the verge of a breakdown and a cigarette was the only thing that could keep him from that. 

He didn’t care too much if you minded, you’d already decided you didn’t want to be around him anymore, choosing to hang out with the cheerleaders instead, letting them coax you over to the dark side from right under his nose. He should’ve held onto you tighter, he should’ve known they’d try and snatch you. You were so beautiful, and you’d be so popular under their watch but they’d also corrupt you, turn you into them, murdering the sweet, caring, and loving girl you were. The thought broke his heart, hence the cigarette in between his fingers when you approached him for your ride.

“Hey, Eddie! I was starting to think you left me!” You say with an adorable giggle that he wishes he could smile at. He blows smoke up into the air, avoiding your face, and puts it out. 

“Yeah. I was actually thinking the exact same thing.” He says with a humorless laugh that shocks you. You’re about to ask him if he’s okay when he gets in and starts the van. You rushed over to your side to get in before he drove off in silence. This is when you’d ask him about Hellfire and he’d give you the outline of what happened, but this time when you ask, he responds with “Same old, same old.”

You never thought you craved his voice as much as you do now. The drive is longer, some strange traffic blocking the way and the silence in the van gets to be too much for you. 

Forget about wrapping. 

“Eddie?” He hums at you, letting you know he heard you but doesn't turn to look at you. His eyes stay on the packed, unmoving road. “I- I made you something.”

His head turns to you so fast you can almost hear it crack. “You made me something?” The shock in his voice is surprising. It’s like he never, ever, had even considered that with all your artistic talent, you’d want to make him something. You have all of his attention now. 

“Yeah…” You reach into your bag and pull it out gently while Eddie gets off the road, pulling into a parking lot. “I- Well, I was going to wrap it but I’ll just give it to you now. I- I hope you like it…”

He’s smiling at you as you rummage through your backpack gently for whatever you have for him. He tried not to get too excited but he couldn’t help himself… 

“I’ll love it, sweetheart.” His heart is swelling at the idea of receiving a gift from you. That means at some point, somewhere you had seen something and thought of him, you thought of him so much that you just had to buy that item and you planned on gift wrapping it for him. 

Maybe it's a goodbye present. Fuck- be cool. 

Eddie tried to shove his thoughts to the back of his head, his heart was pounding as you pulled it out of your bag. It was a little book… A comic book? “Oh! What comic is this?”

He grabs it from your hand to read the cover and sees “The Brave, Bold, and Indomitable, Eddie the Banished VOL. 1” He reads it over again and again, believing that his eyes are playing tricks on him before slowly turning to look at you. You had a sweet, shy, and scared smile on your face as you awaited his reaction. “No fucking way.” His voice is a low, stunned, whisper as your smile spreads and he quickly flips through the little book. 

He opened the first page and felt like he couldn’t breathe, the art inside was breathtaking. “No fucking way.” He examined a character that was definitely him, running his fingers over the pages in awe. 

“Yeah, t-that’s you.” You scoot closer to him and lean over the center console to point him out on the page. “Here’s the rest of the party.” You point out more details to him, explaining why you picked some of the outfits you did, and why you chose certain trees and times of day but Eddie isn’t paying very much attention. He’s not even looking at the book anymore, he’s just watching you. You’re explaining every aspect of the page to him as he inspects every aspect of your face. Until you abruptly stop and he watches embarrassment creep into your features. His eyes flicker back to the page as you take your finger away from where you were pointing and he notices a little person in the corner of the page, almost hidden in the bushes as the party makes their way through a forest. 

“What-” He recognizes it on further analysis. “Is that you?” He asks with a chuckle of disbelief as he pulls the page closer to his eyes, admiring your little character. “Why are you in the bushes, sweetheart?” 

You’re stumbling over your words at the pet name. Eddie has used it twice in this car ride alone and you’re struggling not to lose your mind. “U- Um well… I’m- I’m just a bystander so… so I’m just by-standing.” You end the sentence with a sad giggle and your eyes shift to your fidgeting hands in your lap. Eddie’s smile falters at it and the memory of him inviting you to be more than. 

“Yeah. I mean- not for lack of trying y’know? I guess you’d rather be a cheerleader.” He tried to keep his tone light and jovial as he turned the page, now looking for you in every bush. He’s chuckling at your drawings as you’re overcome with confusion. “Eddie. What are you talking about?”

He doesn't look up from the book. “C’mon, love. We offered you a membership without gameplay and you just-” He takes a deep breath as he feels a small lump form at the base of his throat. “You couldn’t have been less interested.” He’s giving you that humorless laugh again as he flips the page. You’re searching your brain, racking your memories, trying to remember when this happened but coming up blank.

“Eddie, I don’t remember that happening.” He sighs, shuts the book, and shoves it under his thigh before starting the van back up, sad anger bubbling in his chest. 

“Listen, I get it. Y’know, you wanna be popular. I understand the pull, sweetheart. I don’t blame you at all.” You’ve never felt more confused as Eddie pulled out of the parking lot. Your silence makes him nervous, and nerves make his mouth run. 

“I mean… When you got here- poor unsuspecting, you- didn’t believe that the first friend you made was-” He lifts his hands from the wheel for a moment to make air quotes. “The town freak.” He gives you that laugh again.

“I’m honestly surprised that it took you so long to leave us losers for the popular crowd!” His voice is still upbeat, and light, as though he wasn’t breaking your heart and insulting you to your core at the same time. “OH! I- I guess you just needed a ride, right? It’s alright, sweetpea.” He’s so frustrating, that fake smile plastered on his face as he pulls up to your house. 

“Eddie.” Your voice is strained around the ball in your throat but still angry. “I don’t know what you’re talking about and I don’t even like what you’re saying so either explain or just stop talking.” He parks the van on your curb and stares at you silently. You take this as the ���stop talking’ option. “Okay. Thanks for the ride…” You hop out of his van sadly and turn around. “I- I hope you like your comic, Eddie…” With that, you slam the door closed and rush to your front porch. Eddie waits to watch you enter the house before pulling out of your driveway, trying not to let his guilt override his anger. 

On the whole drive home, Eddie is mulling over everything you said. Your seemingly genuine confusion over the invitation. He thinks over the original scene, you did say you weren’t listening. Eddie thought you meant it in the sense where you knew what the conversation was about but you wanted to stay out of it… but maybe you literally were not listening. Maybe you legitimately did not hear what they had said. 

Eddie pulls into his driveway and opens the comic book, deciding he needs to read it before heading in. He didn’t realize how long he’d end up spending in his van, reading your comic but when he finally looked up from the pages, getting butterflies from your art and how vividly you remember his campaign, the sky was dark. He chuckled to himself and headed inside to get ready for bed. 

Eddie flipped through the comic all night, noticing a pattern within your art. You were on every page that the Hellfire party was on, watching what he assumed was all of them. He was obsessed with your art, especially your character, and was psycho analyzing her when he noticed it. She was staring at his character. On every page the two of you were on, you were staring at him, your line of sight fixed on his character. 

He felt as though he was losing his mind as he frantically flipped through every page. His heart raced as he watched your character watch him. He loved it, whether you did it on purpose or not, it was doing something to him. Heat rushed to his face as he put the book away and calmed himself down. He didn’t want to read too much into it but he couldn’t help the way his heart raced when he approached you about it the next day. 

He wanted to work up to the subject, he wanted to pretend that it hadn’t consumed his every thought since he noticed but instead, he just blurted it out to you the moment he sat down.

“Why are you watching me?” His face goes red after the words shoot out, wishing he had taken more time to craft what he wanted to ask. He watches humored puzzlement bloom over your face as you giggle softly, giving him butterflies in his tummy.

 “Eddie, you just got here. I was gonna say hi…” Your voice is timid, still careful after the little argument yesterday and fear begins to curl in Eddie’s stomach. He forgot he had been an asshole to you yesterday. 

Maybe it’s a coincidence, maybe she was just drawing her “good side”. Why would she be staring at you, Munson? Get a grip, Jesus.  

He tries to play it off. “I- I’m just sayin’ you could’ve waved or something.” He tries to sound upbeat, and cheerful, but he can’t get it to sound genuine. All night he’s been fantasizing about what it would be like if you actually liked him back. How he would give you hugs and kisses no matter where you were. He thought about how in love with you he’d be, it’d be pretty annoying to everyone else but he wouldn’t even care. 

He knows you’d love it too, he’d give you everything he has, everything he had and ever will have. 

He shouldn't have gotten so far ahead of himself. 

He thought about how he would follow you to whatever college you wanted to go to- if you wanted to go. He would get a job nearby and you guys could rent an apartment together. He’d wait until you’ve graduated to ask you to marry him. He’d take you to your favorite spot, with all your favorite things, and propose to you in whatever way you’d want him to. He’d spare no expense on the ring- if that’s something you’d care about. 

He’d start a mechanic shop with Wayne and they’d be so rich that you wouldn't even need to work if you didn’t want to. He thought about your kids, he’d hope that they look like you, they’d get far in the world being as beautiful as you are. He wants them to be like you too, good, sweet, and caring. He spent the night going over your whole lives together, his cheeks sore from how long he’d been smiling. But you don’t like him like that. 

Eddie distantly hears the bell ring, not realizing he’d spent the whole class moping over the fact that you don’t like him. He looks around to see you’ve already left him. You usually wait with him, you like to chat on the way to the next class. Your absence has never felt so painful for him. 

Once he’s gathered his things he heads to the next class where he sees your seat surrounded by cheerleaders, a small smile on your face as they seem to dote on you. He decides he doesn’t need to sit with you today, you have enough people to keep you company. He actively avoids looking at you for the duration of the class, rushing out once the bell rings. 

He rushes to the bathroom, bumping into people and getting insults hurled his way in the process. He gets to his stall, with all his graffiti, and slumps against the wall to the floor. His mind is racing, his chest heaving as he tries to cope with losing you. She’s with them now I guess? But- 

His memories flash back to all the times you guys hung out, just the two of you. He felt as though you were just a better, female version of him. You were an outcast but in the best- or worst- way possible. You were like a gem he had found in this pile of shit town, everyone else had overlooked you, not wanting to wash the shit off to see you shine, but he had. He didn’t care about the shit, he wanted to be there for you in the way no one was there for him when he arrived. 

He thinks he fell in love with you the moment he found out you were also repeating your senior year, not for the third time like him but still. He thought it was cute how embarrassed you were about the fact that you were repeating, he loved the way he was able to help you be more comfortable and help you understand that it’s not your fault.

 He felt like- He thought that he was something special to you, he hoped he was something special to you. He treats you like you’re something special to him because you are- or at least he thought he treated you like that. 

Maybe he didn’t. Maybe he should’ve invited you to play in Hellfire more often, invited you over more, given you more of his lunch when your aunt forgot to give you money, and given you a better discount on his weed. Maybe he should’ve just been less of a freak. 

Tears are gathering in his eyes as he angrily rubs at them, feeling pathetic. Crying over a girl in a bathroom stall. I really am a fucking loser. 

He takes a few deep breaths before getting off the ground, leaving the bathroom, and heading to the cafeteria. He expects to see you at his table, and the butterflies in his stomach come back to life when he imagines the tone you’ll give him when you ask where he’s been like you always do when he’s late. He grabs lunch and sits down… you’re nowhere to be seen. 

“Where’s your better half?” Gareth asks, gaining a laugh from the table. It just hurts Eddie more. He stays silent, pulling out his Walkman and letting music drown out every voice or thought in his head until he sees people getting up to leave. 

“Hey, Ed.” Gareth is the only one who waited for him.

“I’m sorry if I was an ass earlier. I know you like her, I just- I thought you actually did know where she was.” Eddie feels his throat close up and almost rolls his eyes at himself. 

“It’s fine, Gareth. She’s probably off with Chrissy Cunningham.” He says with a gruff, tense voice, ignoring the shock that plasters on Gareth’s face.

“Cunningham? What- How does she even know her?” Eddie shrugs and starts walking to his next class, Gareth following close behind. “She’s like what? Friends with them now? She’s gonna be a cheerleader or something?” Eddie feels his emotions building inside him, like an overfilled balloon and he’s about to pop. 

He stops walking and turns to him. “I don't fucking know, Gareth.” Gareth’s gaze shifts from Eddie immediately. “I don’t know why she’s hanging out with them now. I don’t know why she doesn’t come to Hellfire or why she doesn’t talk to me on the ride to her house anymore. I don’t know!” Eddie is met with silence at the end of his rant. “Oh! I know.” His voice has dropped to a low, condescending, whisper. 

“Maybe she got tired of being one of the freaks, hmm?” He rushes off to his next class and for the first time, he’s grateful that you’re not in it. 

You’re in class and your thoughts could not be further from the material. You’re thinking about Eddie of course. The way he acted in the van yesterday, the way he acted in first period, and even second period. You noticed he came into lunch late and didn’t even speak to anyone when he did come in. He didn’t look at you, talk to you, or anything. It hurt. 

You’re anxious, leg bouncing and chewing on your pen as you watch the clock. You need to see him, ask him what’s wrong. 

Maybe he figured it out. Fear shoots through you. Maybe he figured out that I like him from the comic. I didn’t get to explain much but he’s smart enough to figure it out on his own. Is this his reaction to my liking him? No. It can’t be. Even if he didn’t like me back… I don’t think he’d treat me like this. I think he would let me down gently.  

It’s a nice thought but it just leaves you back where you started. What is wrong with Eddie?

You’re ready to ask him. You got there first and pulled his desk a little closer to yours, hoping to have a full, meaningful conversation with him. He never shows. 

This isn’t alarming to anyone but you, everyone scoffs when the teacher reads out Eddie’s name the second time. There are murmurs of “took him long enough” and “I’m so shocked” hurting you with their lack of care. You wait for attendance to finish before asking to go to the bathroom. You take your bag with you and no one questions it, knowing you as the ‘good girl’, not realizing you’re about to skip class for the first time. 

You roam the school looking for Eddie. You check Hellfire’s room, the band room, even the art room but you can’t find him. You check places he wouldn’t be, the library, the computer lab, and even the abandoned school basement. Your heart is racing as you rush out to the parking lot, hoping at least his van is still here and that’s where you find him. Coughing on what you assume is cigarette smoke by his van.

“Eddie!” You shout his name without thinking and his head whips in your direction, shocked. A smile spreads on his face as you stomp toward him. Despite all the unknowing pain you’ve put him through today, the butterflies in his stomach are still alive for you. 

“Eddie, what the fuck?” His smile falters but quickly returns as he goes to hand you the joint he’s smoking. 

“You’re skipping!? You look like you need this more than I do.” You take the joint and inhale the most smoke you can without burning your lungs, Eddie looks impressed. 

“I do need this more than you.” You speak as you exhale. Eddie is staring at the joint, waiting for you to pass it back but instead, you take another hit. “I need this more than you do because I’m not the one who is stressing you beyond oblivion! What is going on with you?” Eddie’s eyes are on the ground as he kicks the little rocks there. 

“Eddie. You know you can talk to me, right? If anything is going on with Wayne or- or maybe something else? I don’t know I- I just- I can’t figure out why you’re acting so… different.”

He laughs. He fully laughs at you. His hand on his chest, leaning back and roaring his laughter into the air. “I’m acting different?” He snatches the joint from your hand. “I’m the one acting different, sweetheart? Miss ‘So sorry I can’t come to Hellfire today! No! I’m not going to explain!’, you’re telling me that I’m acting different?” He takes a drag 

“You don’t care about my campaigns anymore, you never have time to come over, you never have time for me to come over, and now you- you don’t sit with me at- at lunch anymore?” His voice breaks at the end and he turns away to take a hit before you can see the tears in his eyes. “Don’t tell me that I’m stressing you out.” He scoffs and holds his hand out, passing you the joint. 

It strikes something in you; Eddie still passing the joint back to you even though he’s upset. You take it from him with a small ‘thank you’ and take a hit before responding. “I was- It was the comic Eddie… I was working on the comic. It was harder than it looked I guess. I- I couldn’t get your hair right and-”

Eddie hasn’t reacted, he feels like he’s in shock, like his heart has stopped, he’s having a stroke, something. Your voice sounds far away as he’s buried in his thoughts. 

I’m a dickhead. I’m an asshole. She was doing it for me and I’m- I was yelling at her for it. I’m a fucking asshole. She’s still talking to me so softly too. Fuck. Why isn’t she upset with me? Why isn't she yelling at me? Why aren’t I apologizing? 

“I’m sorry!” His voice is the epitome of pitiful, he didn’t notice the knot that had made home in his throat or the tears that had been sitting on the ducts. Your eyes are wide and you almost drop the joint to hug him, knowing he gets emotional when he’s high. 

“Why are you sorry? You don’t need to be sorry- what’s wrong?” His arms wrap around you, crushing you to his chest as he huffs out breaths into your hair. He’s trying to calm down, trying to not completely break down in front of you but he’s failing so far. 

Fuck- fuck. Stop crying- what the fuck happened to you? Stop blubbering like a bitch- She’s she’s so soft- oh fuck she’s so warm. She’s so fucking sweet. I fucking love her. She’s- She’s so stupid.

“I do ne- need to be sorry what are you talking about?” He pulls away, leaving one hand on your shoulder as he runs his knuckles and the back of his arm along the bottom of his nose. “I was being an asshole- an asshole. When you were just tryna do something nice.” He’s breathing out shuddering breaths as he speaks. 

She’s too sweet to me. She still has her arms around me- such a fucking sweetheart. I love her- I want her, I wanna tell her. 

You don’t know what the fuck is going on. Eddie is a blubbery mess in front of you, holding you close as he tries to calm himself down. He’s gripping your shoulder so hard you feel like he may puncture your skin but you never want him to move it. 

You should be focusing on the fact that he’s crying because he thinks he was mean to you but all you can think about is one thing.

His lips are wet and pink from his tears and his teeth.

You try to ignore it; the urge to kiss him. You try to think about how to comfort him but your arms are still around his waist, it would be so easy to just pull him in…

“Eddie. I don’t mind, I should’ve told you.” You separate from him and he gasps softly. 

“I was actually spending so much time on it for a more selfish reason.” Your heart is racing but not as much as it was the last time you planned to confess. 

How nice he is to you has to mean something, he gives you a ride home every day. That has to mean something. He gives you discounts on weed when you know he makes Gareth pay extra. How upset he is over possibly being mean to you. That has to mean something. The way he’s looking at you right now… That has to mean something. 

“Eddie, I like you.” You shove the words out of your throat, leaving you breathless after they come out. “I- shit.” You looked at him. His face is blank. “I really like you, so much that if you don’t like me back I- I don’t care- We- we can just be friends. We can- I can pretend that this never happened… It’s okay.” You’re a little frantic as you get the words out, nervous at Eddie’s silence. 

You risk a glance at his face and there are tears in his eyes again. “Can I kiss-” He inhales a gasp. “Can I kiss you?” His face is full of wonder like he’s genuinely in disbelief at what’s happening. 

You want to cry. “Yes. Please.” You try not to sound too eager but you’re already taking a step toward him and your hands are reaching for him. 

He’s all over you in an instant, whimpering into your mouth the moment your lips meet. His hands are covering both sides of your face, pulling you into him desperately. He’s twisted you up against his van, his hands moved to your waist to bring you impossibly closer. You pull away with a smile to breathe but Eddie whimpers and leans back into your lips. 

You can’t help the giggle that comes out, breaking the kiss and causing Eddie to whine again. “I thought you wanted to kiss me? Kiss me.” 

“Wait- I’m a-” Eddie pulls back to let you speak, although you can see he wishes he didn’t have to. “Eddie… You like me?” His eyes widen and his face turns red at the question. 

“How is that even a question you’re asking me right now? I- of course, I like you. I can’t believe that you like me.” His voice is gentle as he speaks, tense like he’s waiting for you to change your mind about him. You shake your head with a smile and pull him back in, humming happily as his lips eagerly press into yours. 

You guys left school then, Eddie drives you both to his place and you guys finish the joint on the way. His hand was on your thigh the whole time with that shining, dimpled smile, beaming at the road the entire ride. It was the best ride of your life, it had you thinking about your life with him. 

How much you’d love him. How you’d give him hugs and kisses no matter where you guys were. You thought about how in love you are, it’d be pretty annoying to everyone else but you wouldn’t even care. You know he’d love it too, you’d give you everything you have, had, and ever will have. 

Thank you so much for reading! and thank you even more for requesting!! Please please please give any feedback you may have! I want it all!

[eiseryn]

Those Who Leave, Those Who Remain

Description: After Lei's many near death experiences in the past three days, she gets a chance to gather her thoughts a little. She reflects upon the people she thinks she's lost or might lose, and also the people she has with her now. This takes place after the epilogue of the cyberpunk CoC campaign my friends and I have been playing from Jan 2023-Oct 2023.

Word count: Approx 19k words

Warnings: Some implied suspicious /spicy things but nothing is explicit. Some swearing.

In the cheesy and trashy movies she and Gigi used to watch in the cinemas Uptown when they were bored, the couple would ride off into the sunset toward their happy ending. But there is no sunset in the Mertalline slums, let alone a sun. And in this relentlessly cruel and seemingly hopeless world, a happy ending is simply something that does not exist. 

Vail drives fast and the neon-polluted city blurs to the point where Lei gets dizzy and needs to close her eyes. She presses her face to his back and holds on tightly to him as they zoom past everything. Under the many layers of his clothing, his waist is surprisingly solid with what she thinks is hard muscle. 

This realization only distracts her for a few seconds. No matter how she tries to think about other things, her mind continues to drift toward Ceres. Where is she now? Is she conscious in those test tubes? Is she in any pain? But even if she asks these questions and thinks these thoughts, there is nothing that she can do. 

“Where do you wanna go?” Vail’s voice pulls her out of her thoughts.

She sighs heavily. “Good question.”

She hadn’t even wanted to drink today. After resolving the war machine situation, she had wanted to see the smiles of her friends again and enjoy her evening somewhat sober. But fate, as always, has other plans. 

“Silver Tongue.” She finally decides. Maybe it’s the mere exposure effect again, but she has begun to like the place, as a sort of “safe” home base. Also, she needs to return the card Maria gave her for the backroom. 

After Vail parks his red bike on the street, they enter Silver Tongue together. The main colours of the bar seem to be the red of the chairs and bar seats and brown from the wooden bar and tables. Instead of harsh neon lightning, the bar is warmly lit with a more soft orange glow, although their logo is in neon red. It is still early in the evening and there are no customers except for the two of them, maybe because of how the slums were attacked not long ago. Lei enjoys this subdued and quiet atmosphere, like the calm before the storm. 

The android bartender, Sebastian, is cleaning glasses at the bar. She places the card for the backroom in front of him. 

Sebastian looks at her with probably programmed surprise. “Thank you. I thought we might have to get a new one.” 

“I’m sorry,” she says, “I needed to leave and forgot to drop it off on my way out.”

Sebastian comments no further, but Lei can tell he doesn't quite believe her. “Is there anything you or the gentleman would like to drink today?” He asks instead. 

Lei glances at Vail, who is standing beside her diligently. “One Rocky Road, no ice, and a Long Island Iced Tea, please.” She holds her credit chip out to pay. 

“On it.” The bartender puts down the glass he was cleaning, and then begins to mix their drinks with practiced ease. He slides the two drinks one by one: A short square-shaped glass with dark amber liquid in it and no ice and then, her cocktail in a tall glass with a cute red straw and lemon slice. 

After they have these drinks in their hand, she pulls Vail over to one of the comfy red velvet seats in the corner of the bar.

“Have you been here before?” She asks as she sinks into the plush seat. Maria and Laura, she remembers, had a conversation here just yesterday morning. So many events happened all in the span of three days it feels like a long time ago. 

Vail settles into the seat beside her and nods. “Yeah, this is Rose’s favourite place for drinks.” 

“Right, he was drinking here… just yesterday morning. And also in the afternoon. And also in the evening… what does he even do?” 

“He’s a sniper.” 

Lei scoffs a little. “A sniper? Who misses half his shots? I am no expert, but I thought that snipers were supposed to be extra skilled in shooting.” 

“Really? He’s usually pretty good at his job.” Vail sounds surprised. At least Rose has one friend who believes in him. 

“Unfortunately, I was unable to witness that on the mission.” Lei shakes her head. “He even had the audacity to say he had a little to drink before… ‘only a couple sips’ he said.” 

“Oh yeah, he does that sometimes.” 

Concerning, but alright. Lei suspects Rose might have a slight alcohol problem. Actually, she suspects Rose has a large alcohol problem and she is concerned for his liver. She’ll be pretty pissed if he keels over from alcohol poisoning before she has convinced him to speak with Ceres.

She continues on with her rant. “And he even told me that it’s “hard to fire a sniper in the darkness”. I am no expert, but if that’s a problem he should get night vision goggles.”

Vail takes a sip from his drink. “Sounds like he’s coping to me.”

Lei can only laugh. “Right? I thought so as well.” When her laugh dies off, she sighs heavily. “I should stop talking badly about him. We all survived, and that’s what matters. Maybe he really was having a bad day as he said.” 

Vail nods. “Rose has been through some shit…”

She doesn’t doubt this. All of the people in their group have been test subjects to an experiment that has a high lethality rate. And as slummers, their lives must not have been easy. Rose in particular, leaving his family in the Middle district at such a young age must not have been by choice. She cannot imagine what has happened to him, but it must have been something terrible.

“But… you too, right?” She looks at him with concern. 

His eyes seem to shift away a little. “Eh… it’s not so bad. I’m here right now, aren’t I?” 

You’re here for now, she thinks, but how much time do you really have? Even if you agree to stay with me, how high are the chances you’ll be taken from me too?   

Although caring for someone can be a beautiful thing, when you lose them, those feelings become a poison that has no antidote. 

And she only has so much to lose. 

She leans in closer so she can talk more quietly. “What were you busy with last night and this morning? Keeper said you were helping Lexi.” 

He glances around, but no one is here to listen to their conversation. He also leans in closer so now they’re having a very private conversation — practically whispering in each other’s ears. “The Jackals told Lexi to save the innocent people who weren’t involved in the E.S. experiment at Prism HQ.” 

“Prism HeadQuarters?” The words come out of her like a breathless sort of gasp. 

He nods. 

Her initial reaction is surprise that Tiger would provide this sort of mercy for the innocents who are simply doing as Prism tells them and have no knowledge of Prism’s true cruelty and corruption. People like Lei herself, without the kill count, of course. Tiger’s claim to have saved Lei that night in Laura’s apartment might actually have been the truth, and Tiger herself outside the Jackals might have been a kind girl whose kindness was ripped out and shredded to pieces by the corps. Lei wonders, just for a brief moment, that if things had been different, she might have been able to help Tiger and her brother.

What would it have been like? She wonders. If only she were more knowledgeable about their situation and had a voice that could reach their ears, hands that could heal their invisible wounds. If only the circumstances were a little different, maybe she could save them all. But in this life, this is only something she can speculate and something she will never be able to achieve. This happy ending they all deserve — is it something that can exist in this world? She so desperately wants to believe. But this world has crushed so many of her dreams. And yet, she will keep dreaming.

As she is thinking quietly, she remembers the person she used to know that works for Prism. Or did, to her most recent knowledge.

 “Do you think you'd be able to recognize someone if I showed you a picture?” She asks, a little hesitatingly.

“Maybe.” He says with a bit of a shrug. “My memory’s not that good, though.” 

 She sets her gallery to “oldest-to-newest”, glad she hasn’t replaced her phone for three years. Now that she thinks about it, she hasn’t really looked at her old photos in a long time. Perhaps, she did so to forget her past that she desperately wanted to abandon, but she realizes that she abandoned Gigi with it. 

The last picture she took with Gigi was a selfie in a park, where they are holding up bubble tea they picked up along the way — sesame for Gigi and matcha for Lei. They had watched a movie and did some shopping that day, and as they passed the park, they spontaneously decided to stop by. It was the spring right before she moved to the slums, and the last time she got to hang out with Gigi. Gigi had gotten busy with her promotion to an Uptown lab right after, and then Lei was demoted to the slums as well. 

This picture contains the memory of the last time she saw Gigi in person, the last time she saw Gigi smile. She stares at this picture for longer than she intends to, and then remembers she needs to show it to Vail. She peeks up at him, and he seems to have been looking at her patiently all this time. She turns the screen toward him. 

He looks at it for some time before shaking his head. “No, sorry. Anyone else you’re looking for?”

Her heart falls, but it is something she already suspected. After all, if Gigi was last in those salt mines where the Jackals and war machine was… It is hard to imagine Gigi having escaped, even if Lei never saw the body. 

She pauses for a long time, debating if she should ask about her eldest brother. The last time she had seen him, it was for his wedding around three years ago. “My eldest brother works at Prism as well — or did the last time I saw him. I don’t have any pictures of him though.” 

“What does he look like?”

Lei smiles a little bitterly, her gaze cast down to the floor, which she now sees is carefully overlaid with classy tiles that look like wood, but are clearly not wood itself. “He looks like me. He has the same hair, eye, and skin tone as me. We both look like our father.” 

Vail is silent for some time. Then, he says, “I think I did see someone with eyes like yours who got out.” 

Lei can’t tell if he’s lying or not. She’s not good at reading people. But since he promised to tell her truth, she will trust him. 

“He’s working at HQ now? He’s been elevated from his position as a surgeon.” Lei murmurs, like she’s thinking aloud. “My…my mother must be proud…” Her voice drifts off, much quieter at the end than it had started. She continues to look at the floor, refusing to look up. She is afraid to see his expression. 

As soon as the words have escaped her, she regrets bringing it up. There’s nowhere for this conversation to go and she’s left swimming in a pool of her own vulnerability. Drowning in her own pool of shame. 

“Isn’t that a good thing?” There is no judgement in his voice, only curiousity. 

“Maybe.” She says, and can’t help the bitter tone in her voice. “Sorry,” she sighs heavily, “I don’t have a good relationship with my family. My mother in particular, has probably disowned me. I don’t contact them anymore, but this is besides the point.” 

“Don’t be sorry. You can talk about whatever you want with me.” Vail tells her. 

She desperately wants to change the subject, but this topic has made her curious about his circumstances. So hesitantly, she looks up and asks, “Do you… have any family?”

He shakes his head. “Long gone. Caught in a gang turf war.” 

“I’m… sorry to hear that.” Lei says quietly. That is not uncommon in the slums. She wonders if he had a good relationship with his family, and she hopes he did. This is not the place to ask, though. 

“Don’t be. It happened a long time ago.” His expression seems unphased so perhaps it has been a wound that has already long been sealed — whether forcefully or not. 

Even so, she places her hand over his, in attempts to be comforting. Because sometimes you don’t need words to convey your thoughts and feelings. Hers are: I am here with you. 

While she’s finishing her third (and intended last) drink, the door to Silver Tongue opens and four very familiar people pour in: Zoey, Keeper, Rose, and Liam.

Since she has raised her head to look, she manages to make eye contact with all of them. Zoey’s eyes seem to kind of recognize her and Vail, but she quickly beelines for Sebastian at the bar. Liam seems to give her some sort of nod of acknowledgement before following Zoey to the bar. Keeper looks a little curiously at the two of them, tilting her head in a very cat-like manner before also going to join the others. Rose, however, seems to give them a very knowing smirk which makes Lei feel a little icky. 

“Wanna go?” Vail seems to make some sort of look at Rose she can’t read, before turning to her to ask this question.  

“When I finish my drink.” She’s already paid for it, after all. 

Their conversation dies off a little as they watch the four of them drink. Lei is a little concerned about the rate at which Zoey is chugging bottles of vodka in a way that is definitely going to get her blackout drunk. Rose seems to be pouring Liam some sake. Keeper seems to be sipping some sort of pink fruity drink and watching the others. Lei wants very badly to pat her head, and Keeper seems to look toward her direction when she thinks this. 

No, no, go back to enjoying your evening, Lei thinks toward Keeper, don’t mind me~ 

Keeper turns back and Lei watches Liam clink glasses with everyone and also Keeper, who seems to be a little shy about it. 

I was supposed to have a drink with them and Laura, Lei thinks. But since Laura’s gone now and Liam and Rose are leaving tomorrow, those plans will have to remain forever unfulfilled. She supposes, in a way, they’re kind of getting drinks together since they’re at the same place at the same time, although on separate sides of the room. It’s a little bit of a stretch, but it is better than nothing. 

“Is it a runner thing to get drinks after missions?” She asks Vail, turning back to her companion. 

“Yeah of course,” Vail says, “Since every job’s dangerous, gotta celebrate when we stay alive.” 

“That makes sense,” Lei sighs, “But it makes me worry for all of your livers.” 

“Eh, don’t worry about us.” He says in the frustrating way he always does. 

Instead of explaining that saying that makes her worry more, the alcohol in her veins makes her press her finger to his mouth. “Shush, you. Stop saying that or I’ll make you shut up another way.” 

“That sounds oddly encouraging.” He smiles a little at her. 

She shakes her head at him, but she’s also smiling.

Around twenty minutes later when she’s comfortably finished sipping her drink, Zoey is already very clearly plastered and now seems to be trying to get on the tables to dance. Lei hopes that someone will take her home. 

“Let’s go say goodbye to them before we go and get dinner.” Lei tells Vail, who nods.

They walk over to the four of them, who seem to be enjoying their night. Or perhaps the alcohol is helping them enjoy the night. 

Rose raises an eyebrow at her and Vail as they approach. “So these were your plans?” He asks, his tone a little bit teasing. 

She raises an eyebrow back at him. “And you’re drinking before going on a dangerous mission? Do you always drink before going on a dangerous mission?” 

“Can’t back down from a promise.” Rose gestures to the others, “the mission is future me’s problem.” 

“Right…” Lei feels a little guilty about not joining them. She usually keeps her promises with people, but she didn’t expect this one to take place at the same time as when she already made plans with Vail. Technically, she thinks, they did not tell me they would be getting drinks today here, so technically I was not invited, right? 

“Did you come to join us in partaking with the devil’s drink, followers?” Keeper is wondering. Keeper doesn’t appear to exhibit any drunkenness, so Lei suspects she might have been drinking mocktails. This makes her seem extra adorable to Lei. Keeper just seems so innocent and lovable, which reminds her of a certain someone… 

“Sorry, Keeper…” Lei begins to say, glancing at Vail. 

“We have plans, Keeper.” Vail finishes for her. “So, no, not today.” 

Keeper crosses her arms. “Hmph. To think that Shadow and Envoy of Death would abandon us and sneak off elsewhere to the unknown…” 

While Vail is speaking with Keeper, she turns to Liam, who is still drinking his sake. 

“Doc.” Liam gives her a small and firm nod in his usual gruff voice. He seems a little calmer and more composed than she last saw him. Perhaps she should say he looks more resolute. 

She nods her head back at him. “Hello Liam, hope you’re enjoying your drinks?” 

He makes some sort of noncommittal, gruff sort of noise that seems very typical of him to do. 

“Good thing I ran into you, Liam, I need a picture of you.” Lei says.

Liam’s mouth is set in a flat line. “Why.” His mouth is set in a line as flat as his tone of words.

Lei sighs. “To remember you in a photo where my brain might fail.”

“I don’t need people to remember me.” Liam deadpans once again.

Lei has realized Liam can be very difficult to work with, especially when it concerns his own wellbeing, health, or just any positive impacts on his life, really. 

She has to be smart about manipulating his feelings, in a positive way, of course. “Well, what if it’s as payment for all those times I gave you medical attention, then?”

At least a minute seems to pass where Liam doesn’t speak and she’s forced to simply look at him. But finally, he opens his mouth again: “Only one.”

So before Liam can take those words back, Lei whips out her phone and snaps an image. Luckily, she has steady hands, so the image is clear enough. The lighting of Silver Tongue is nice too, it is not as harsh as the darkness and neon lights outside. 

“Perfect, thank you~” Lei smiles, satisfied. She puts her phone back into her jacket pocket. “I guess we won’t be getting those drinks after all…” 

“You look busy.” Liam says, and since Lei is looking closely, his mouth might just be quirked up with the slightest bit of amusement. Maybe he’s picked up on the fact she’s on a date, which surprises Lei, as Liam doesn’t seem to be the most perceptive of people.

“That I am.” Lei says simply, “But we can get drinks when you’re back.”

He doesn’t correct her that he might not be coming back at all this time. “Sure,” he says, “take care of my things for me.” 

“I will.” Lei says, meaning it. “You take care of yourself as well.” 

Liam nods, and thus their last conversation ends. 

For now, she thinks. It’s their last conversation, for now.

 

When Lei turns her attention back to Vail, he seems to be speaking with Rose. Since she also wants to say one more (and hopefully the last) goodbye to Rose as well, she makes her way over to the two men 

Rose and Vail are staring at each other in a way that makes it seem like they’re squaring off. Lei realizes that despite them calling each other buddies, she hasn't seen them interact before.

"Good luck, buddy." Rose says, giving a hearty pat on Vail’s back. It’s easy for him when Vail is shorter than him. 

"I should be saying that to you." Vail answers, giving Rose a slap on the back as well. 

Then they do some sort of handshake that leads into a chest-to-chest hug. They don’t say any goodbyes or “see you again”s. As runners, perhaps those things are better left unsaid. 

“I feel like this is the third time I’ve said it, but take care, Rose.” Lei sighs. “We’ll see you when you’re back. With Ceres.” Because she is not a runner, she will say all the pleasantries she wants as manifestations for the future. 

“Yeah, yeah, you too.” Rose says, and then his smirk returns and he pats Vail on the shoulder again, “make sure to take care of Vail.” 

“Oh, I will certainly take care of Vail~ You don’t have to worry about that at all.” Lei pulls on Vail’s arm so that he’s standing beside her now. She loves that with just a gentle little tug, he already knows what she wants and does so willingly. “Now if you’ll excuse us, we have plans.”

“Yeah, yeah, enjoy your night.” Rose smiles. 

“You too. Take Zoey home too, she looks like she had too much.” 

On the way out the door, she catches the finger guns and wink Rose throws at Vail from the corner of her eye. She ignores this.

 

“You know why I like you, Vail?” Lei asks him when they’re having dinner. 

He tilts his head at her. “If you put it that way, I am a little curious. Why?” 

“It’s because you’re cute~” She gently boops his nose with her finger and smiles at his bewildered expression.

“Really?” His widened brown eyes are even more cute, she thinks. 

“Well yes, I think you’re cute, but there’s more than that.” Lei rests her chin in her hands and gives him a little smile. “I like that even in this seemingly hopeless and cruel world where most people’s hopes are crushed time and time again, you still allow yourself to dream. That isn’t easy. It’s easier to give up and keep your head down when you’re just trying to survive day-by-day, and this is me speaking from experience”

 “Ah.” He says. “To be honest, most times I don’t believe in them. I just like to imagine something better. It helps when you don’t expect anything.” 

“Even so, I admire that and I love that you are a dreamer. I too, want to hope for something better for all of us, and you showed me that I am allowed to think that way.” 

Especially since… you must have undergone so much pain being experimented on, and yet you allow yourself to dream. She wants to ask about this, but she doesn’t want to bring the trauma up, so she will wait until he brings it up one day. If he does at all. She is patient, she can wait. 

He rubs the back of his neck a little. Is it bashfulness or something else? She hasn’t really seen this sort of reaction from him before. She hopes that she will continue to learn more about him.

She changes the topic. “What kind of dreams are you having these days? Are you still thinking of what it’s like outside the city and or slums?” 

“Nah,” he says with a bit of a smile, “I promised someone I would stay here.” 

Although her initial reaction is to blush, it soon fades as the words settle in and sink into the murky and dark place in her heart. “I’m sorry.”

His smile drops. “What for?” 

“That we didn’t end up going to Adamawa. The Adamawa you described as a runner paradise sounded too good to be true. There’s clearly something sinister brewing there and that’s why Rose and Liam are going there. Even though you spoke well of Athena… in the end, a corp is a corp. Maybe they’ll start out as something beneficial for the runners, but corruption breeds true. In this world… I don’t believe there is such a thing as a good corp.” 

Vail nods, serious. “You make some good points. I didn’t really think about that. I just thought, you know, if it were really better there, it would be nice for us.” 

She nods. “I understand, after all I wanted to believe in it too when I first heard about it from you. But to be honest… after hearing about how dangerous it would be in Adamawa… I just didn’t want to lose anyone else important to me. Afterall Ceres…”

Has already been taken and is gone, Lei thinks. She tries to blink away the tears that threaten to fall out of her eyes all of the sudden. 

“You know, it’s not too late,” says Vail, “I could probably still go and help Rose look for her.” 

Suddenly it becomes difficult to breathe. Lei looks up at him, teary-eyed. She opens her mouth to plead for him not to go but no words come out. 

“Is what I would say if I didn’t already promise you I’d stay.” Vail finishes, as if he has suddenly realized something important. 

She wipes away some of the tears that have started to spill out. “Vail, I’m not sure if you understand the severity of the situation. Keeper said that even corpos have been taken, and the memory wipe has even affected CEOs. They managed to take Ceres from Paradise, which should be theoretically the safest place in this city and absolutely erase her existence from citizen records. It’s not something that can be easily solved. I want to believe in Rose and the other runners of Adamawa but…” 

“We’re runners, we do all the jobs no one else wants to do or can’t do. They’ll get it done. Probably.” Vail’s tone of voice is adamant and firm, but perhaps it is because he wants to remain close to the truth he never believes in any absolutes.

Lei looks down, biting down the bitter words on the tip of her tongue, tears of frustration gathering once more. To her surprise, Vail reaches out a finger to her eyes and gently wipes them away. 

“Lei,” he says gently in a tone she’s never really heard from him before, “don’t worry, we’ll figure something out.” He gently places his hand on hers. 

She frowns at him and looks away, but she doesn’t pull her hand away. “You don’t have to lie to me to make me feel better.” 

“I haven’t ever lied to you.” When she looks back at him, his gaze does not waver. 

She raises an eyebrow at him, trying to analyze his expression, but it is truly outside her expertise and she can’t tell. “Are you sure? Slummers are great liars.” 

He does not look away, his face is serious. “I already promised I wouldn’t. Just sometimes I can’t tell you the full truth. But I haven’t lied.” 

She thinks about it for a bit of time, and then nods her head. “I believe you. I want to trust you, so I will.” She turns her hand over and spreads out his fingers so that she can intertwine her fingers with his. 

They stay like this for some time, just enjoying each other’s presence in comforting silence. 

“You’re smart, I’m sure you’ll think of something.” Vail finally continues. “Plus, Lexi and her contacts are working on something, not to mention Keeper. We’re not fighting alone in whatever this is.”

Lei sighs. “You’re right. I don’t have the time to worry when there are more important things to do. I need to start working on a better medicine for you and the others. We don’t know the long-term effects of taking Whisper and Shiver, and I’d rather not have us find out through one of you.” 

“Eh, it’s fine, we’re used to it.” 

“No,” Lei shakes her head. “It’s not. It may be medicine to you… but in the end, they are drugs with side effects when overused. I don’t trust the work that Prism has done… so I will be the one to create an effective treatment.”

People might say she is being unrealistic with these expectations. But if she has nothing else, she is confident in her ability to make drugs. Before she was sent into the clinic in the slums, her job focussed on research. So she simply has to return to those roots again, and she has a few ideas where she can start. 

“Alright.” Vail says. “Let me know if I can help you with anything.” 

Lei makes a sound of disbelief. “You’re so busy, though. I won’t bother you if it’s not necessary.” 

“You’re not a bother. I can always make time for you.” His brown eyes are soft, like pools of melted chocolate. Equally sweet is his smile. 

Now she definitely feels the heat creep up to her cheeks. She has to look away from his eyes. “If you answer your phone.”

He laughs a little. “When I answer my phone.”

 

While they’re walking to his bike after dinner, the streets are still concerningly empty. Perhaps most people are still hiding away in their homes after the attack. There do seem to be a few more people who are on the streets than before, though. As they say, the city never sleeps.

“You said I could ask you anything, right?” She asks him. 

“Yeah, I did. What do you wanna know?” 

“The Whisper you bought,” She whispers to him, “Is it just medicine for your condition? Or do you really have trouble sleeping?” 

She already knows that both Rose and Keeper need to take Prism’s Shiver for their conditions. The Shiver Vail bought before was probably for them. He could be taking the Shiver himself, but she suspects that the Whisper is for him. 

“Ah, that?” He says, “Yeah, I need to take them when I use my power a lot. I usually don’t need them.” 

That explains why he hasn’t visited the Prism clinic for three months. At least, she thinks, he wasn’t getting them from someone else. 

“Well,” She sighs heavily and looks down at the dirty asphalt, “I’m just glad you’re not using them to sleep. Or drugging other people with them.” 

“About that…” 

She immediately whips her head to look at him. “So you do have trouble sleeping?” She hopes he doesn’t mean that he is drugging people with them. Although it is ironic of her to think this way when she has done so twice herself. 

“Eh…” Vail sounds unusually hesitant. “I wouldn’t say it’s that I have trouble sleeping. It’s more that I can’t fall asleep at all.” 

“...” She has no words. Yet again, she has been given another piece of information that feels like cold water to her face. “Then,” she finally says after some time has passed, “How have you been getting your rest?” 

“Sedatives, getting other runners to knock me out. Things like that.” 

“...” Once again she has no words. 

“That’s…That’s not healthy. That’s not even really sleeping but just going unconscious. Especially being physically knocked out!” She’s started to realize that Vail makes her worry about him a lot. Actually, all the people closest to her make her worry about them. 

He shrugs, seemingly uncaring, or seemingly without options. “What can I do? I can’t not sleep.” 

They’ve reached his red bike by now and Lei sighs heavily once again. That is another problem she’ll have to worry about as she develops a better treatment for the E.S. test subjects. There has to be something that will work on him… maybe melatonin injections or another similar hormone. Sleep after all, is one of the most important things a human body needs. 

“I don’t know if those sleeping techniques are going to work anymore…” She mumbles to herself. She was thinking that he had trouble sleeping, not that he couldn't sleep at all. The teas, essential oils, massages, and lullabies don’t seem so applicable anymore. 

“What was that?” Vail asks. He’s on his bike by now and is waiting for her to get on behind him. 

She doesn’t reply immediately and leans forward to hug him just as she had done the day before. It only takes him another second for him to reciprocate and wrap his arms around her. 

“Just talking to myself.” She tells him. After all, she still has a few more “techniques” that might help induce sleep. If nothing else, it will release some nice hormones like vasopressin, oxytocin, and serotonin or dopamine — assuming they affect his body the same way they do for others. That’s just an experiment they’ll have to conduct.

 

The drive to his apartment in the Middle slums doesn’t take too long. It should be an honour, Lei thinks, to be able to go to his place. It shows her that he trusts her quite a lot. But she is still a little nervous. 

She holds onto his arm as they walk toward the residential building that looks identical to all the others in the area. The three drinks she’s had have all worn off by now, but she'll take any excuse to cling onto him. Whether or not he is aware of this fact, he certainly doesn't seem to mind. 

“Thank you for the ride. I'll give you one later~” She is not nervous enough to not say things like these. The liquid courage in her stomach certainly helps. 

"I thought you said you weren't good at driving." Vail says, clearly confused. 

Am I being too subtle, or is he really bad at picking up innuendos? Lei wonders. She ends up justifying that it has been a long tiring day. She also has trouble processing information when she works overtime. 

 She gives him a little wink. "I'm not talking about a bike or car here." 

“Ohhhh, of course.” Despite saying these words, his face tells her that he might not quite understand what she means. She’s starting to suspect that he has no experience in this regard at all.

But it’s alright, she will show him what she means. That’s a promise.

As Vail opens the door to his apartment, Lei first hears soft jingling and then very loud and adamant meowing. They quickly enter the apartment and shut the door as a small cat comes barreling toward them, screaming its lungs out. The jingling sound is coming from an ice blue collar with a silver bell on it. 

The cat seems to not be fully grown, but is already quite fluffy and judging by its bushy tail, will likely be quite longhaired. Its base coat is off-white and has the darker markings around its face, paws, and tail that makes it look like a toasted marshmallow and makes it distinctly a colourpoint. Additionally, its eyes are ice blue. All in all, it looks quite like Cillin, the robotic cat she herself owns. 

Vail goes to a cupboard and takes out a plastic tube of what Lei thinks is cat food. He squeezes it out into a bowl and places it in front of the cat, who has been following Vail around and meowing all the while. The cat excitedly and immediately shoves its face into the bowl, and begins to eat messily. 

After slipping her boots off by the door, Lei walks over to the cat and crouches down to pet its head while it’s still eating. “When’s the last time you fed it?”

Vail seems to pause for a bit before answering. “This morning… I think?”

Well, that’s concerning. “We should get it an automatic feeder so that when we’re both busy, it’ll still get fed.”

He tilts his head at her in a confused and somewhat cat-like manner. “A what?”

Right, he seems to be bad with technology. “It’s a piece of technology that will drop food into a placed bowl at programmed times during the day. Since you're busy being a runner hero and my shifts as a doctor are at least ten hours long each, it would make sense. I like Keeper, but I don’t want her to have all the monopoly on our cat.” 

The gears in Vail’s head seem to be turning, which is very slightly endearing. She wants to pat his head, maybe she would be able to hear the braincells clunking around in his skull.

She shakes her head, smiling. “Don’t worry about it, it was my idea so I will get it.” 

From his position standing up, he smiles down at her. “Alright, I’ll count on you for that.” 

Lei notices there’s no tag on the cat’s collar. “By the way, what’s its name?”

Vail shakes his head. “Didn’t name it yet. Since it’s your gift, I thought you’d want to name it.” 

Aw, well that’s sweet. Lei scoops the cat up in her arms, who seems rather quiet and placated now that its belly is full. The cat, Lei discovers, is female, and she purrs in Lei’s arms. She seems to flop over as Lei holds her. 

So cute~ Lei thinks as she uses two fingers to scratch under the cat’s furry chin. The cat closes her blue eyes and purrs even more loudly. 

“Why did you pick this particular cat?” Lei asks him as they settle on the couch together. The cat is still complacent, resting peacefully in Lei’s lap, and she can feel the vibrations of the cat’s deep purrs. They both take turns patting her. 

“You have a robot that looks like this. Thought you’d like the real thing.” He replies simply.

Lei is a little touched that he remembers, or cares to remember. “That I do~ But I don’t think I want to name them the same thing.”  

Lei has to use all of her brain energy to think about it seriously. It sort of feels like she’s naming their child, and perhaps, it sort of is. Names cycle through her head: Whisper or Shiver? For the drug he always buys from her and sort of the reason why they met? Now that she knows what those drugs are for, it leaves a bad taste in her mouth. She could name it after insulin to match Cillin, but it doesn’t seem suitable. And she certainly doesn’t want to give the cat a human name. 

“What about Meng?” She finally says. “The Chinese word for “dream”. Afterall, owning her is a dream come true for the both of us.” 

He nods. “Sounds good to me.”

“Really? Are you sure? She’s our cat, so I want to make sure you like the name, too.”

He smiles at her. “Really. I’m sure.” 

“Alright,” She says, resting her head on his shoulder. “If you are sure, then our cat’s name will be Meng.” 

Lei then suddenly remembers that Keeper will also be a co-owner and that she should ask for Keeper’s opinion. It only takes her tired brain a few more seconds to remember that Keeper will probably give the cat a nickname no matter what. So perhaps it’s fine to not ask for Keeper’s opinion. 

“She’s getting sleepy.” Vail points at the cat, whose blue eyes are starting to droop and close. 

“It must be since she’s just eaten.” Lei gently slides the cat off her lap and onto the other side of the couch. She wants to make sure Meng sleeps as undisturbed as possible. Meng’s darker paws are tucked underneath her chin and her nose twitches cutely as her tail tip brushes over it. 

Lei makes sure to drop her voice to just a whisper as she looks to Vail. “Can I really stay with you tonight?” 

He smiles at her again. “Of course, already said you could.” 

She smiles back, and then in one smooth motion, she pushes herself up from the couch and swings her knee over his thigh so that she’s straddling his lap. From her partially standing up position, she’s able to look down on him. She holds her face gently in her hands, and now her hands are glove-free, the skin-on-skin contact feels a little bit electric. “You did say that, but are you sure you won’t regret it?” 

“Regret this? Never.” He’s still smiling widely, and she wants to reach out to touch his prominent, slightly-elongated canines. Maybe later, she thinks. 

“I’m glad to hear that.” And then she leans down to capture his lips in a deep kiss. To her delight, he kisses back with the same passionate energy, although a little more clumsily. His hands even migrate to the small of her back, where they rest comfortably and support her position. 

She only pulls away when she needs to take a breath. When she looks at his face in the dim light, she notices that she’s made him into a bit of a mess. Her red lipstick has smudged all over his lips and he’s breathing a little heavily. His cheeks are flushed a pretty pink and his pupils are dilated. She might be imagining it, but she is pretty certain she is actually sitting on a noticeable bulge now. 

“Why don’t we continue this in your room and I’ll show you those techniques I talked about~” Shifting slightly, she takes one of his hands on her back and guides it toward her thigh. She presses his hand against her thigh and helps him slip a finger into her sheer thigh high socks, showing him what she wants him to do. 

“Of course~ I’m looking forward to it~” He plays with the lace band. In the dim light, his brown eyes seem to sparkle. 

— INSERT VERY SUSPICIOUS LINE BREAK —

When she finally wakes to consciousness again, she is afraid to open her eyes and find Vail gone from her side. She is first reassured that it wouldn’t make sense since they’re in his apartment, but then she remembers that he tends to disappear a lot. Additionally, people have been disappearing from the city in general.

But when she finally gathers up the courage to open her eyes, he is blissfully still there. His eyes are still closed and he’s breathing softly. She lets out a breath she wasn’t even aware she was holding, and then worms over to him, nestling herself close to his well-defined chest so that she can listen to his heartbeat. The steady, constant rhythm is her favourite sound in the world. It is the proof of living. 

This seems to wake him up though, as he begins to stir and slowly opens his eyes. He blinks at her slowly, only opening his eyes about halfway each time. 

“Did you sleep well?” She asks, and her voice comes out much more croaky and hoarse than she expects. 

He nods, seemingly still sleepy, as his eyes flit between half-closed and completely closed. His arm slides over the blanket that’s covering the both of them and pulls her a little closer to him. “The best I’ve slept in a long time.” 

O-oh? 

 “Did you?” He asks her back. His morning voice is also a little hoarse. 

“I did…” Her voice drifts off and now that it’s morning, she feels a little more shy in his embrace. “Maybe because I was in your arms~” 

His grip seems to tighten a little, sliding down to rest on her waist. “Then we will have to make sure that it happens more often.” 

“I could say the same to you. Resting is very important for a runner hero looking out for the slums.” She places her hands on his abs and gently traces their outline. 

“It sounds like we have mutual interests.” He presses a gentle kiss to her bare shoulder, which she greatly enjoys. 

Both of them doze off for a little bit longer, as Lei is lulled by the comforting and consistent rise and fall of his chest, but now she’s been awake for a while, the soreness is starting to get to her. 

“I need a shower.” Lei slides off the bed, picks up her underwear from the floor, and turns her head around to look back. “Care to join me? To save water and all~” 

He sits up almost immediately. “Of course, you don’t need to ask me twice.” 

— INSERT ANOTHER VERY SUSPICIOUS LINE BREAK — 

When they are both actually clean and dressed, him in his usual black techwear, and her in his hoodie she’s borrowing, they venture in the kitchen for some much-needed food. Meng meows at them insistently as they both come out of the bathroom, clearly eagerly awaiting her morning meal. 

While Vail feeds Meng, Lei peeks into his fridge, which is concerningly empty. “You don’t cook much hmm?”

“Slummers don’t cook much in general.” Vail replies. “I typically eat out.” 

“It does take a lot of effort, and you do seem very busy.” She nods. “But it’s healthier. I’ll cook for you sometime. What’s your favourite meal?” 

“Food in the slums generally sucks, so I can’t say I have one.” 

“Well, you’re not wrong about that.” She sighs. “But maybe if you eat my cooking, you’ll change your mind~” She winks at him.

This may be just an excuse to get him to come over so that she will see him more often. But that’s her little secret. 

He tilts his chin up a little and smiles. “Yeah? I’m looking forward to that then.”

“Do you prefer rice or noodles?”

“Both are fine. I’m not too picky.” 

“Hopefully I can impress you with both then~”

 “Oh, I’m sure you will~” He continues to smile at her, making her feel for just a moment, that things will be alright. 

Between bites of an energy bar, she tells Vail of her plans today. “Elise and I are going to be setting up our clinic today. Are you free to be our muscle?” 

“I’ll check if Lexi has anything she needs me to do. If not, then yes.” 

Vail pulls out his phone to text and Lei notices that he types very slowly, seemingly pausing to find letters on the keyboard. Lei herself remembers she needs to ask Elise for the address, so she also sends a text to Elise. 

LEI (9:34AM, Sept 21, 2332): Good morning, Elise! Where is the exact location of our clinic? 

ELISE (9:36AM, Sept 21, 2332): I’m still checking on the patients in the outer slums. I’ll send you the location, but it might take me an hour and a half to get there. 

Outer slums? Now that she is reminded of it, Laura’s friend Bayleaf was in one of the camps there. Even if Laura’s last words to Lei were like shards of glass that hurt something deep within her, Lei keeps her promises. 

LEI (9:38AM, Sept 21, 2332): No problem. I have some business there anyways so I’ll meet you at the clinic in an hour and a half. 

ELISE (9:42AM, Sept 21, 2332): See you then. 

She turns her attention back to Vail, who is still looking at his phone. “What did Lexi say?” 

He looks up from his phone to reply. “She said it’s fine for me to help you and Elise today.” 

“Well, I need to visit one of the camps in the outer slums, so you can go help her for a bit.”

“Are we going right now?” 

Lei almost nods, but then remembers Elise requested a resume from her. Elise probably was joking, but it might be funny if she actually brings something with her. However, she hasn’t been able to go back to her apartment, and she’s actually a little afraid to. So she might have to make one by hand. 

“In fifteen minutes or so.” She decides. 

As she pulls out her lab notebook to write a short little resume for Elise, the pages it opens on are the ones with Liam’s photos. She stares at them for some time, looking at the notes she wrote yesterday in her neat and bubbly handwriting based on the descriptions on the back of the photo.

Remembering, she thinks, is a responsibility that Liam gave me. 

But she realizes, there are many more people that she wants to remember. 

Lei pulls out her phone. “Vail, smile for me.” 

He immediately does so. She really likes how he follows her instructions without question, as if he trusts her. As if he believes in her. 

She quickly snaps an image of his smiling face. She likes his softer smiles better, the genuine ones that catch her off guard and make her feel all mushy on the inside. Fortunately, she saw some of them yesterday. 

“Can we have a picture together?” Lei asks, feeling a little shy. 

“You want one?” 

Lei nods and with a smile as charming as she can muster, she says, “Because you’re mine now, right~?” 

“Of course~” When he says things like that in that tone it makes her feel just a little weaker than she should. 

“You can’t be like this with other girls, alright?” She puts her hands on her hips. “Because I do get jealous.” 

“Eh, I don’t think you have to worry about that.” He smiles at her softly. 

“Really?” She can’t help but smile back when he’s looking at her like that. 

“Yeah,” Vail says, “I’m only like this with you. I promise.” 

Looking at his face, she nods. “I trust you.”

So she goes over to his side, pulling him close to her so they’re almost cheek-to-cheek and snaps a selfie. In this image, they’re both smiling in the way she likes.

 

After Vail drops her off at the building, she has to walk around and ask people with the picture Laura sent her. Most people eye her with suspicion and claim they do not know, but after much effort, she eventually is sent to a room where Bayleaf is supposed to be. 

She discovers the room is locked, so she knocks on the door. There is no reply, although when she presses her ear to the door, she can clearly hear the sounds of breathing and slight shuffling noises. 

“Mr. Bayleaf? Laura sent me here.” Lei calls out to the closed door. 

It takes a few minutes, and Lei waits patiently, but the door finally opens a little crack. The hazel-eyed man in the picture is sitting in some sort of wheelchair and he peers up at her curiously. “Who are you?” He asks.

“A doctor. Most people, including Laura, call me ‘Doc’.” Lei says simply. She doesn’t need to give her name to a stranger. “I understand I might seem suspicious, so let me play you the voice message she has for you.” After all, she doesn’t have a doctor’s coat on — as long as she can help it, she will never wear a Prism coat ever again. She’ll have to wait until she checks the clinic for any of Elise’s extras. They are approximately the same height, after all, although Elise’s clothes might be a little baggy for Lei’s very slight frame. 

She swipes through her phone until the bright, almost ear-piercing voice of Laura plays out. “Hey Bay Bay~ Since your leg is all busted ‘cause of me, I sent you a doctor to look at it. You could say it’s a last gift from your girl~” 

Maybe he’s trying to hide it, but Lei does notice that Bayleaf’s mouth twitches a little into what must be a smile. One he might be trying to subdue since Lei is here. 

“So, may I take a look at your leg?” Lei puts her phone back into her pocket. 

“I guess if she went through all the effort of sending you.” Bayleaf says, crossing his arms. “Not sure what you can do though.” 

Since he’s not shooing her out, Lei opens the door and steps in so that she can properly inspect her patient. The cast proves he has already received some sort of medical attention. The only question is, how proper and how good the care was. Judging by the cast, possibly not very good. 

“Did the doctor leave any notes about your leg when they treated you?” Lei has to ask. 

“Doctor?” Bayleaf scoffs. “Lady, I got my buddy Jim to fix me up.” 

She stares at his leg again. “Your buddy Jim is not very good at making casts. Mind if I redo his work?”

Bayleaf sighs. “Fine, since Laura sent you.” 

“Mmmhmm, your girl, right?” Lei means in it a way to just try to make conversation, but she notices the slight flush of his cheeks when she says these words. She takes out her portable medical bay and lets the nanotechnology do its thing. 

“Damn, nanotech?” His tone of voice suggests he’s slightly impressed, so hopefully Lei’s credibility has increased.  

Lei nods. “It cost me a minor fortune, but I’d say it’s worth it. Would you mind getting on it?”

Bayleaf struggles a little, but when Lei tries to step forward to help him, he brushes her off. So she waits patiently until he’s fully settled on the table.

She takes her tools, and snips away at the shoddily-made cast. Now that she’s inspecting it, it looks like it was done in a hurry. Underneath, the flesh is horribly swollen and horribly bruised purple. She sees some stitches in, which implies “Jim” has done some surgery for Bayleaf to hopefully set the bone in place, but she is not about to open him up and check. 

“You need a splint for this.” Lei sighs, and fetches the appropriate material. She makes sure the wound is clean, before applying the splint, and then starts to apply wrap his leg in preparation for the cast. 

“So how did you meet Laura?” Lei asks, trying to distract him as she begins the work. 

“I should be asking you that.” Bayleaf says. 

“Oh, you know, how meetings go,” says Lei, “By chance.” 

“You could say it’s the same for me.” Says Bayleaf. 

“You’re handling this pain surprisingly well.” Lei comments. 

“I’m a slummer, this is nothing.” 

But Lei did see a bottle of strong painkillers on the table, so she suspects Jim hooked him up with something. She is glad, since she doesn’t know if she’ll be able to prescribe things now she’s not working for Prism. 

“There,��� she says, when she’s finished her work a while later. “All done.”

He stands up and hobbles back to his wheelchair. “It feels a little less painful.” He admits.

Lei nods. “Glad to hear it. Try not to take those painkillers too much, they’re opioids, very addictive. Go with an NSAID like ibuprofen or acetaminophen as soon as you can.” 

Bayleaf stares at her blankly. 

Lei smiles sheepishly, realizing she is used to talking to other doctors. “You know what? Just talk to Jim when you can, alright? Ask him for weaker pain meds in about five days or so.”

“Whatever you say, Doc.” 

She’s about to leave, but she turns back right when she’s at the door. “Do you want the voice clip?”

Bayleaf seems to first freeze in place, and then he glares at her. “What?” 

She sighs. “The voice clip of Laura. Do you want that? You can say no.” 

He seems to hesitate for a bit of time. But he finally nods. “Sure.” He says simply. 

So she sends it over to him: One of the last things that proved Laura was once in this city. 

She shakes her head as she leaves Bayleaf’s room. See, Laura? No one told you to leave this place. You are the one who decided that yourself. And in doing so, you left some of the only people whom you formed connections with and cared for you.

 

Next, she goes to the camp they were at the day before, close to the Middle slums. It feels like Lexi hasn’t moved since Lei saw her yesterday afternoon. The aforementioned red-haired woman is still standing in the centre of camp, directing slummers and runners around.

“Did Liam and Rose leave already?” Then she adds an additional question, because Lexi is not the type to give extra information, if she answers the question at all. “And if they did, when did they leave?” 

Lexi nods. “Early this morning.”

“I see.” Lei says.

So, that’s it, she thinks. They’re gone now. Off on a dangerous mission to Adamawa where something apparently horrible is happening. And here, we can do nothing about it except wait, and search for more information about how and why these people are disappearing, and how and why some people still remember. 

She must believe that they will return. Otherwise… There is no hope at all. 

“Lexi,” Lei asks, “Can I have a photo of you?” 

Lexi stares at Lei. Really looks at her, and then turns back to doing her work. “Sure,” she says, simply. 

It seems the slums are truly being carried upon Lexi’s back. Lei is so very glad that Lexi was not abducted, since the collapse of the slums would likely be inevitable after. 

Since Lexi is very clearly busy, Lei has to take the photo from a slight angle, where Lexi is not facing the camera. The 3/4 angle she takes it in accentuates Lexi’s beauty and strength, and her red hair is like a flame that ripples behind her. She looks like the main character of those VR games people like to play in Uptown/Downtown. 

Why is everyone hot? Lei sighs. It is as if everyone is blessed except for herself, which just feels a little unfair, y’know? 

“Elise and I are opening a clinic, hopefully soon. So please let me know if you ever need a doctor for your work, Lexi. ” Lei says. “Especially one you need who can take shots herself.”

Lexi’s pretty lilac-coloured eyes shift to her for a second. “You and Elise should focus on saving lives. Leave that to us runners.”

That might be the longest sentence she’s said to Lei. Lei is honoured to have said something worth so many words from the Lexi who usually speaks as minimally as possible, or with actions instead.

“Sure, sure.” Lei smiles at Lexi, even if she’s not looking this way anymore. “If you have any needs for drugs, let Vail know and I’ll synthesize them for you. Or, If I can do anything else for you, please let me know.” 

After Lexi nods, Lei leaves to let Lexi do her work.

 

She finds Keeper on the roof of the residential building, looking over the rest of the camp with her arms crossed. It wasn’t that Lei was looking for the cute little cat girl or anything, but since she was in the area anyway, she thought it wouldn’t hurt to look at someone adorable. It is to increase morale, Lei justifies. 

“Envoy of death, we meet again.” Again, Keeper does not need to turn around to know who is approaching. Lei wonders if it’s because Keeper can somehow sense the brainwaves from those nearby. She can’t think of any other plausible explanation at the moment. 

Lei walks up to right beside the cat-eared girl, looking down at the view as well. “Good morning, Keeper. It was nice seeing you last night~ Are you feeling better from yesterday?” 

“This arbiter is as well as she could be. There is no need to worry, as this Keeper of Secrets has overcome a very minor setback.” Keeper lifts her chin up, as if she is proud of herself.

Well, she certainly sounds like how she was when Lei first met her. Although sometimes it may be a little difficult to understand the chuunibyou version of Keeper, Lei is glad because Keeper seems less in pain in this state.

“Do you want to see a picture of our cat, Keeper?” 

Keeper’s bright blue eyes light up, but she turns her head away. “There is no need, when fate has allowed it, I shall meet with the beast of darkness.” 

Lei shakes her head, smiling. “Let me rephrase my words: I am going to show you a picture of our cat, because I want to show her off. This is non-negotiable.” 

She pulls out her phone and pulls up the gallery and holds it toward Keeper.

Keeper’s ears twitch under her hood, and finally Keeper turns her head a little toward the phone. “If my follower is insisting, then I suppose I can indulge her just this once.” 

“Yes, yes, how benevolent you are~” Lei says to Keeper. In her head, she swears that she will break down Keeper’s walls in the future. She just has a strong feeling she will. 

After they’ve gone through all the pictures of Meng, Lei asks, “Are people still being abducted?” 

Keeper nods solemnly. “Mortals are still being consumed by the boundary as we speak. As it approached the early hour, I sensed the consuming energy coming from the skies above. The boundary of consumption still lingers. We must act soon, follower.” 

Lei sighs. “We really have our work cut out for us, don’t we? I’ll have to start my work at my clinic as soon as possible and start looking into this.” 

Keeper nods her head. “You will have my aid when it comes to it.” 

Lei wonders if Lexi would let her borrow Keeper as an assistant for the clinic. Keeper is able to borrow both Elise and Lei’s skills, which they might need as they don’t have any other employees at the moment. Also, Lei thinks that Keeper would be excellent morale support. This is something she’ll have to ask Lexi when Elise and her have the clinic fully set up. 

“Can I ask for one last thing?” Lei cannot leave until she’s obtained one more important thing. 

Keeper puts her hands on her hips. “What is it that you seek from the Keeper of Secrets?” 

“May I take a picture of you?” Lei holds up her phone. 

Keeper shifts her arms back to being crossed. “And what is it that you would do with a mirror image of myself?” 

“Didn’t you know? Seeing a cute face every day is good for your health~” Lei can’t help but tease. She isn’t really lying about this, it certainly does lift her mood when she sees cute things. Or cute people, whom she is certainly surrounded by. 

“Y-your flattery does not work on a Keeper of my caliber!”

She’s even more adorable when she’s flustered, Lei thinks. She wants to tease her even more to see more of this reaction. Lei wonders if she’s blushing under the mask she wears. 

 “It’s not flattery~ It’s the truth~” Lei continues, giving Keeper a little wink.

“You and your mortal, silver tongue will not cause me to waver! Your insolence knows no bounds!” Keeper says, but she seems to be sputtering a bit as she hesitates to find the right words.

“I am telling the truth in that I like to see cute things everyday~” Lei says, but her smile drops a little so that she can show Keeper she’s being serious. “But the other part of the truth is that I’d like to take photos of people I’d like to remember and print them out so that they’re affected by any digital wipes… I don’t know if I’ll be affected by the memory wipe but it’s my responsibility to remember.”

Keeper seems to calm down a little and her tense folded arms relax. “So you have finally admitted the truth, follower. It is a noble responsibility you have set on your shoulders but you need not burden yourself with such trivialities.” 

“It isn’t a burden at all. This is something I want to do for the people I care about or want to care about.” Lei says. “If it helps, I can offer a form of payment.”

“This keeper is beyond mortal currency and temptations.” She lifts her chin haughtily, which Lei still finds adorable. Lei finds almost everything about Keeper adorable. 

“Even if it’s a shiny holographic business card?” Lei should still have some from Gigi and Elise, back in her apartment, if it hasn’t been affected. Keeper probably doesn’t have one of Gigi. 

Keeper’s cat ears seem to twitch under her hood again. “Follower, you know of my mortal weakness and are causing me to toe a dangerous line.” 

“I’ll even offer unlimited headpats as a bonus~” Lei adds. 

“T-that is something I do not need.” She turns her head away a little.

“It’s a bonus thrown in~” Lei smiles, “No refunds. Now turn your head this way, please.” 

She ends up getting the picture, although she can’t tell if Keeper is smiling under the mask or not. Maybe she’s pouting. Or maybe she’s even blushing. Only the Keeper of Secrets herself knows this little secret.

 

On the way to visit the black market for drug materials, Lei runs into Zoey, who seems to be holding her head in one hand, and a little bottle in the other. 

Lei smiles at the blonde girl. “Oh, hello, Zoey, how are you doing? I’m glad you got home safe… you were pretty drunk last night.” 

“Hey Doc,” Zoey’s voice has an underlying weak groan to it. Her high ponytail seems a little wilted, as if it is a plant that has not received enough water. “That’s why I went to get a wake up shot. I fucking hate hangovers.”

She chugs it down right after she says this, and less than a minute later, her usual energy seems to return. 

“I’m okay. The slums are a mess, though.” Zoey says, now calm as ever. Lei wonders if she ever gets frazzled. “I did check my masks storage though, I have some in the Nekomata line if you still want one.” 

“Anything black or white with green accents?”

Zoey shrugs. “Yeah, probably. I didn't realize before, but I have a fuck tonne of masks.” 

"Uhm… that's… nice. Shall we go take a look at your mask storage?” 

"Yeah, sure.” 

When they go to where Zoey stores her masks, Lei realizes Zoey is not joking. The closet is almost completely filled with masks and they’re stacked up to the ceiling. 

“Now where were they?” And Zoey starts to go through the stacks, one by one, in a very inefficient manner. 

Lei can’t help but let out a little giggle. “Maybe next time you could set aside the ones you found.” 

“Ah, good idea.” Zoey says, as she continues to rummage through the piles. “I’ll do that next time.” 

While she waits, Lei inspects the room of masks closer, seeing all the assortment of shapes and colours that Zoey owns. She sees Zoey’s signature demon masks, dragon masks, bird masks, dog masks — name the animal or mythical creature and it’s probably here. She might even spot a Jackal mask, although not the exact same one the Jackals wore. “You could open a store with this many masks.” 

“Funny you say that, ‘cause that’s what the store owner thought when I bought his whole stock.” 

Lei is not surprised at this statement, but she does not comment. 

“Found it!” Zoey pulls out a white cat mask with black and green markings. Some of the markings are even flowers. It really fits Lei’s whole aesthetic, which she greatly appreciates. 

“It looks perfect~ I will take it.” Lei smiles at it, holding it up to the light to admire it better. 

Since it is immune to gasses and flashes, it would be good for her when she’s working in the lab, right? Much more fashionable than a gas mask, so you could say this is a business expense. 

After they make the transaction, Lei remembers that she should probably ask Zoey for a picture as well. “Can I take a photo of you?” She asks. 

“Yeah, sure.” Zoey doesn’t even hesitate.

After her difficulty with Keeper, Lei is surprised how easily Zoey agrees. “You’re not even going to ask what I’m going to use it for?”

Zoey blinks at her. "Am I supposed to?" 

“No… you don’t have to. I’m not going to use it for anything bad… just to… remember.” 

Zoey shrugs. “You seem decent enough and Liam seems to trust you, so that’s good enough for me.” 

Lei quickly snaps the photo before Zoey changes her mind — although she doesn’t seem like the type who would do that. “Thank you, Zoey. 

“No need to thank me.” Zoey says. Lei’s not sure, but maybe, just maybe, Zoey’s mouth quirks up a little.

 

After she picks up some raw drug materials, she meets up with Vail again so that they can go to the location of the clinic together. The materials are to synthesize Whisper and Shiver for Lexi’s group. She’s decided that because her main skill is organic synthesis, she’ll make sure they don’t have to pay for the medicine they need again. Like Elise’s code of honour where she does not take money from fellow doctors, Lei’s code of honour will be that she won’t take money from Lexi’s group for these drugs they need. Well, being realistic, maybe she’ll need to ask for funds for the raw materials, as they seem to have more money than she does, but she’ll definitely do the work for free as long as she’s able. 

When she sees him this time, his fingerless gloves and jacket sleeves have a few blood splatters on them. She raises an eyebrow at him, but doesn’t question it. The less I know, the better, she thinks, but she already can guess. 

It doesn’t bother her as much as she thinks it would. Maybe it’s because she trusts him and she still thinks he’s a good person. After all, this world does not allow for pure and innocent people with hands that are not stained. Those who are pure and innocent, if not protected, are extinguished like a light in this world of darkness. 

Elise is already there when they arrive. Clearly, she is more efficient than Lei with actual doctor work. Lei can justify that it is because Elise has six more years of experience and also does more patient care than Lei. In truth though, Lei knows she did not do that much doctoring around this morning. 

Elise raises an eyebrow when the two of them walk in together. “Brought a friend, Lei?” 

“Hello Elise,” Lei waves weakly, “I brought someone to help do some heavy lifting! Not... not just a friend though.” 

Vail waves from beside her. “Hey, Elise.” He does not correct her. 

Elise’s eyebrows rise even more. It looks like she’s caught on to the situation. “I see.” She says. 

For some reason, Lei feels more nervous not seeing much of a reaction from Elise. She isn’t sure what she was expecting, but this was not it. 

“Perfect,” continues Elise, “I started bringing over the equipment from the hotel, but there is plenty more that we need to fetch.” 

Lei looks hopefully at Elise and can’t help but smile a little. “Did you fetch the lab cart?” 

Elise nods. “It’s in the other room.” 

“Why don’t you show us around first?” Lei requests. Despite everything, Lei is excited at the prospects of being able to work in a clinic/lab again. It gives her the sensation of normality after all the adrenaline-inducing things she did outside her expertise the past three days. 

The clinic isn’t very big, which is expected in the Mertalline slums, but it’s a nice space. Lei has to be thankful to Tiger again. Whether or not an afterlife exists — if there is Heaven/Hell, reincarnation, or nothingness — Lei can only hope that wherever Tiger is now, she is in a better place than she was. She knows she’ll have to tell Elise about Tiger’s fate at some point, if Elise hasn’t already found out.

The main reception room has a space for their receptionist desk and chair, where they will put their computer and all the paper patient files. There’s a little room for a few chairs in case patients need to wait until they receive treatment, as well as a counter if someone really needs to lie down or if they need to administer emergency care at the door.

The reception room is attached to a hallway, which has multiple rooms. The largest room is hidden in a little alcove and Lei imagines that it will be her lab where she will be slaving away developing and synthesizing drugs. There are also two smaller rooms that are perfect for seeing patients, and two medium sized rooms where Elise already has some surgical equipment set-up. Aside from the two available washrooms, at the very end of the hallway and beside the storage room, much to Lei’s delight, is a little room where she assumes is the staff room with its own washroom. This is where she’ll force Elise to take breaks, assuming they take the same shifts. If Lei doesn’t do the scheduling herself, she feels like Elise will be stretching herself too thin.

“This is like a dream come true.” Lei says, her voice coming out a little breathless with wonder.

“It seems like a nice place.” Vail agrees. 

Elise nods. “We’re very lucky to have obtained this place. It’s in a good location, too.” 

When they’re back in the reception room, Lei turns to her two friends. “Vail, can you take a picture of Elise and I?” 

“Of course.” Vail holds out his hand for her phone, and she makes sure the camera app is already active before handing it to him.

She walks over to Elise and places a hand on her shoulder. “Smile, Elise! We need a commemorative photo for our new clinic.”

After Vail takes the photo, Elise and Lei crowd around him to see the results. 

“Vail, it’s blurry!” Lei exclaims, but she can’t help laughing. 

 Elise seems to be trying to hold back by covering her mouth with her hand, but it doesn’t help as giggles still escape her. 

They make him take another one, laughing all the while. 

When they’ve sent Vail with the car to pick up more of the equipment from Meowmare Hotel, Elise and Lei work together on moving the equipment Elise has already obtained — mostly stuff she fetched for the surgery room. Surgery might be Lei’s second-least favourite type of care, so she hopes they hire more specialists. 

“So, Vail, hmm?” Elise asks with a raised eyebrow. 

Lei hesitates for a little before answering. “... Yes.” 

“I guess you do not need me to set you up anymore?” Elise’s slight teasing tone is back, which Lei didn’t realize she missed until she heard it again. 

Lei has to look away in embarrassment. “... Please forget about that. I was very drunk. Clearly, I don’t have any cognitive functions when I have too much alcohol.” 

“Apparently so.” Elise murmurs in agreement. 

“You’re not going to question my choices?” Lei asks, a little surprised that Elise isn’t being more critical.

“He is not a bad person, so I have no reason to be against it,” Elise says. “As long as he is good to you and treats you well, I will support it.” 

Lei smiles a little bashfully and her cheeks warm up a little. “Well then, that’s not something you have to worry about. I think he’s rather sweet.” 

Elise seems to mutter under her breath something along the lines of, “we will see”. She says it so quietly that Lei is not sure. For all she knows it could have been “must make tea” or something. 

“The plans I had yesterday were with him~” Lei also adds. She doesn’t need to tell Elise this, but maybe she just wants to share the joy a little. She has no other close friends to tell, after all. 

Elise’s raised eyebrow returns. “Did you have a good time?” 

“I had a lovely time~ Thank you for encouraging me to follow through with those plans.” Lei will spare Elise of the dirty details. She imagines Elise would not want to know. “How about you, Elise? Did you get to rest up and sleep more?” 

Elise nods. “Ever since you gave me the E.S. drug, my fatigue has faded away. It’s like my body has been renewed.” 

Well, that’s a little concerning, Lei thinks. Now with such a superpower, Elise may be more tempted to not take care of herself, but even a superpower has its limitations, as evidenced by the Shiver and Whisper the other test subjects need to take. But she will not regret it, never. Not when this choice saved Elise’s life. Lei will simply have to learn to deal with the consequences of these actions. 

“But… you did rest and sleep, right?” Lei tries to confirm.

Elise looks away. 

“Right, Elise?” Lei’s voice grows harsh in tone.

“I’m just kidding, I did.” Elise turns back and smiles cheekily. “Last night at least.” 

I have my work cut out for me, Lei thinks. But she doesn’t mind that much.

 

When they’re cleaning up the reception room, Lei decides to ask about other employees for their clinic. After all, with just Elise and her — two people — this clinic will not be able to run. Elise had tried to shoulder everything by herself, and according to Ceres’ anecdotal evidence, was not successful. 

“Elise, do you have any candidates for other employees you want to hire for our clinic?”

Elise shakes her head. “Not particularly. I could call those from my old clinic. Why do you ask?” 

“I had some coworkers I liked back in Prism… if they’re still alive. I was thinking we could reach out to them… I don’t trust them as much as you and Ceres, but talking to them was bearable.” Lei says. 

Elise puts down the paperwork she’s sorting behind the desk. “Who were you thinking?” 

“Leon Lopez and Melissa Balm.” 

“Leon…” Elise has to think for a bit. “I think I have met him before. He came to the slums only a little before you did. Based on my perception, he seems decent enough. I don’t know Melissa though.”

Lei nods, expecting something like this. “Leon is a general doctor and surgeon like you are, so I thought it would be helpful for you to have someone backing you up. To be honest, I didn’t like him when I first met him… but under his prickly surface, I think he genuinely cares about people’s health.”

“As for Melissa? She’s a synthesist like I am, and it would be nice to have an assistant, especially one who knows Prism’s recipes. She does her work competently, although we can’t have her working reception. She’s a bit like an anxious little puppy. She kind of reminds me of Ceres…” 

And then suddenly she starts crying again. Even if she’s been trying not to think about it, pushing down her feelings continuously means that at some point, the pressure will build and they will suddenly explode outwards. 

Elise walks toward her briskly and envelopes her into a warm hug. “It’s alright,” she murmurs, “it will be alright.” 

Lei can only shake in Elise’s arms. “I miss her… I want to see her again… Ceres…” 

She hears the door opening and footsteps, which she thinks is Vail, but with her face buried in Elise’s shoulder, she can’t check. 

“What’s wrong?” It is Vail. 

She raises her tear-streaked face up and watches him put down the Prism computer he’s carrying by the door before walking closer to the two of them. She reaches out her hand to him and he comes over. Elise shifts over to make room for him.

“You two are all I have left.” She cries as she holds on to the both of them, “Please don’t leave me too, please… please…” 

But even if she is saying this to the two of them, perhaps she is begging the world not to take them away from her. She is praying, to a god she does not believe in, that no one else she loves will be taken from her. 

The two of them do not say any words, but they hold her, and here in this moment, she is safe; she is loved.

When she’s calmed down a little and has wiped away her tears, she feels a little very embarrassed to have shown so much vulnerability. After all, with how the city is going to be embroiled in further chaos, she needs to remain strong. “Sorry…” She murmurs to the two of them.

Elise gently strokes her back. “Do not apologize. We will take care of each other, remember?” 

Lei smiles weakly at Elise. “Thank you, Elise. I should be saying thank you instead.” 

Then she dares to look at Vail’s expression. It doesn’t look angry at her at all, instead of his usual neutral and unphased expression, she might even describe his expression as worried. 

“Don’t worry about me, I’m fine now.” She smiles weakly at him as well and reaches out to pat his head.  Despite the layered look of his hair, it is quite soft, although it does feel a little synthetic probably from the blue dye. 

“Now I kinda get what you mean about telling people not to worry.” He says, but he does lower his head a little for her to access it easier. Not that he needs to, he’s not much taller than she is. 

She smiles more genuinely after. “Right? It’s frustrating.” She shakes her head. “But I feel better now, so back to business. Do you know any deckers? There’s a computer I want to get into.” Lei points at the Prism computer that he put down by the door. 

Vail nods. “A few.” 

“Are any of them trustworthy? Or at least, somewhat?” 

Vail hesitates for a bit, as if he’s thinking that there is no such thing as a trustworthy decker in Mertalline. “Of the ones I know, Timberwolf seems to be okay. Her prices are a bit on the higher end and occasionally asks for favours instead, but she seems to keep her mouth shut.” 

Lei nods slowly. “I’ll trust you, since I don’t know any other deckers. Can you try to contact her once we have the clinic fully set up?”  

He nods. “Yeah, sure, no problem at all.”

  

“Sorry, I have to go.” Vail tells her a little while later. “Lexi needs me for something.”

“Don’t be, I understand.” Lei says. “I’ll walk out with you.” 

When they’re walking out of the clinic and onto the street, she tells him, “Thank you for your help today. Not just helping us with the physical setup, but for comforting me as well.” 

“Of course, it’s the least I could do.” 

They’re right in front of his motorbike now so she impulsively reaches out to hug him. “Come back safely, please.” 

“Of course,” he says, “I’ll bring the cat to you later.”

Despite everything, Lei still gets excited at the prospects of seeing Meng again. “Oh, sure, I’ll text you my address.” 

“Don’t worry, I know where it is.”  

Lei’s eyes widen. “You do? How?” 

“You told me?” 

She did not remember this event having ever happened. “I did? When?”

His eyes flit away. “You were drunk, around three weeks ago.” 

Three weeks ago was when they last went out for drinks, and it is true she doesn’t remember the majority of the night, including how she got home. If he knows her address, it’s likely he was the one who took her home. Lei is worried about what else she might have said three weeks ago when she was apparently so drunk she’s forgotten things. But perhaps she doesn’t have to worry about it too much if he is still talking to her. 

She quickly presses a kiss on his cheek before he puts on a helmet. “That’s for good luck.” She tells him.

He smiles at her. “Take care.”

She smiles back. “You too.”

 

She’s walking back toward the direction of the clinic, about to call the number of her favourite taxi driver, when she notices that a familiar yellow cab is parked on the street. She approaches it and peers into the window of the driver’s seat. Indeed, it is Flash who is sitting there. 

What a coincidence he always shows up when I need him, Lei thinks. 

“How’s my favourite taxi driver doing?” She asks him, smiling, but notices he’s looking in the direction where Vail left. 

“Oh!” Flash seems a little surprised to see her. “I’m doing good.” 

Something about his reaction doesn’t seem quite right for Lei. She tilts her head at him, thinking for a few seconds before something clicks.

“Did you… see that?” She asks him, a little hesitantly.

Flash seems to avert his gaze a little. “See what?” 

So he did see. How embarrassing. That's definitely not something she wanted him to see, although she supposes it's her own fault for doing so in a public space. People usually don't pay attention, but perhaps Flash is not your usual person. He is certainly someone a little extra special.

“Can you pretend you didn’t see anything?” She has to look down a little, since she can’t meet his eyes right now. 

“Don’t worry, I am good at doing that.” He makes an O.K. hand sign, which Lei sees from the corner of her eyes. 

Good at surviving, not perceiving, and driving? Flash is a man of many talents. 

“Good,” She says, looking back up again, “I actually have some errands to run and I might need a ride. Would you mind waiting around 5 minutes?

“Since it’s you, I don’t mind.” He smiles a little bit, but at this point she’s not sure if this is a genuine smile or simply one for customer service. She is assuming it’s the latter.

He’s probably just saying that because I give him a lot of business, but even Lei has to pause a little to properly process these unexpected words. 

“Thank you, I appreciate it!” She jogs back into the clinic.

The reception room is empty, so Lei walks down the hall and finds Elise in one of the patient rooms, putting equipment into cupboards. She turns around as Lei shows up at the open doorway.

“Elise, could I take about an hour off to run some errands?” 

“You could take the rest of the day off, we’ve already finished setting up the basics.” Elise smiles, the sort of fake lying doctor smile Lei can easily recognize.  

Lei places her hands on her hips and gives Elise her best angry glare. “I know you’re still going to keep working even when I leave. So I’m coming back for you right before dinner time to make sure you eat and rest and then we can continue working together.”

After all, she wants to synthesize some more Whisper and Shiver for the group, and Sunshine to sell. Since she’s always making large batches of drugs it often takes her three hours. The day is too short for all the work she wants to accomplish in one day. 

Lei continues speaking, since Elise hasn’t interrupted yet. “I promised, didn’t I? That I’d take care of you. So… I will.” 

“I suppose this is the type of compromise you were talking about.” A smile seems to creep on Elise’s face. “We’re going to take care of each other.” 

“Hold that face.”  

Elise looks a little surprised, until she sees Lei pull out her phone.

“Become a photographer, have you?” Elise teases, her cheeky smile is back. 

“Only to capture my favourite sights~” Lei teases back. “Now hold your lovely smile for me~” 

Lei isn’t that familiar with the Middle slums, but luckily Flash is someone who seems very knowledgeable about the city and he is able to recommend an electronics store where they print photos. 

She usually doesn’t mind sitting in silence when being driven by other taxi drivers, but it’s different with Flash. Maybe it’s because he’s saved her before, but she has really developed a fondness for him. Whether that is a good or bad thing, that is something that will only be uncovered in the future. 

She decides to be direct about it. “Those cyber saints you talked about, could you possibly know Lexi’s group?” 

His turquoise eyes meet hers through the rearview mirror just for a brief second before he turns his eyes back on the road. “Small world, eh?” 

“Apparently so.” Lei smiles a little. “You are right about them being good people, though. You’re surprisingly well connected.”

“It’s a taxi driver thing.” 

“I think it’s a Flash thing~” Lei says. 

“You give me too much credit.” Flash replies.  

“It’s important to give credit when credit is due~” She replies back. 

“You’re always very flattering with your words, aren’t you?” 

“Do you not like it?” Lei freezes in place. “I’m sorry, I can stop if it makes you uncomfortable.” 

“Nah, it’s fine. I don’t mind.” Flash says. “Just worried if other people might mind.”

“Other people such as?” 

“That’s a taxi driver’s secret.”

Suspicious… Lei thinks, but she doesn’t have any words she thinks will convince him to tell her what he might mean. Besides, he has been nothing but kind and courteous to her, so unless that changes, she has no reason to doubt him.

Lei pays Flash when he pulls up to the curb beside the electronics store, but before she leaves, she makes a small little request. “I still need a ride home… so if you don’t mind waiting for another fifteen minutes or so…” 

“Anything for my favourite customer~” 

“You know, I’m going to be really sad if it turns out you’ve been lying and saying that to all your recurring customers.” 

“Nah, only you, I promise.” Flash smiles.

Lei shouldn’t really trust the words of a man she met only four days ago, but Flash’s demeanor makes her want to believe him. So she does. She’ll deal with any consequences if they arise. All men are equal under the bullet of a gun, after all. 

“I’ll be right back.” She tells him with a little wave, and then walks into the store. 

The person manning the shop appears to be an android, which is good, because she doesn’t really want to talk to anyone right now. She cautiously walks over to the self-serve photo printer, avoiding the android as much as possible. The printer machine is clearly very old and rarely used, but it seems to be working, at least to her knowledge. She might have seen this type of device in her elementary school, years and years back.  

While she’s waiting for the printer to process and print her photos, she goes up to the vending machine near the door, and quickly buys a can of Spirit. 

“Here,” she passes Flash the ice-cold can of Spirit when she comes back outside with the photos. “Your tip for waiting.” 

He smiles. “Why thank you.” 

“My favourite taxi driver deserves only the best~”

 

“You’ve arrived.” Flash says when he’s pulled up to the curb right outside her apartment building. 

“Thank you as always, Flash.” She pays him for the ride with her credit chip, and then gets out of the car and walks to the driver’s seat window.

He looks at her questioningly. 

“Could you please do me a favour?” She asks him, trying to tilt her head in the innocent way Gigi had taught her before. 

His blonde eyebrows furrow a little, likely in concern. “What kind of favour?”

“Hmm… alright, maybe I won’t call it a favour. What about a paid request?” She tries her best to be reassuring. She doesn't know if it’s working. 

“What kind of paid request?” Flash asks again, more slowly, and his turquoise eyes still look concerned.

Lei gives up. “A picture. I’d like a picture of you.”

“... Why?” He looks even more concerned now and his eyes begin to widen a little. 

“Is it wrong to want a picture of my saviour?” Lei says. “I can hang it up on my wall as my reminder to try my hardest to survive each day.” 

Now he’s frowning. “I don’t think Vail would like that.” 

Now it’s Lei’s turn to furrow her eyebrows. “To be honest, I don’t think he would mind. He doesn’t seem like the jealous type.” 

Flash looks at her for a bit longer. “Yeah, you’re probably right. But if he kills me, my blood is on your hands."

“Didn’t you say you were a survivor?” Lei tries to be teasing, but then her smile drops a little so that she can show she’s being serious. “I really doubt he will for the purposes I’m using the picture for, but if he does, I will be the one to save your life instead~” 

Flash smiles at her, or maybe smiles at her ridiculousness. “Alright, I trust you.” 

So while he’s still smiling, she takes out her phone and snaps a photo. Looking at it, Flash appears rather photogenic, and not only does he have nice eyes, he has a nice smile. “Thank you, Flash, I promise I’m not going to do anything nefarious with it. I swear on the status of being your favourite customer.” 

“I’m trusting you~”

“And since your taxi rides are my favourite, I will not betray that trust~” She puts her phone away and holds out her credit chip toward him. “Name your price.” 

“For you? It’s free of charge.” He throws a peace sign and a wink and then immediately after, drives away. 

Lei can only watch his cab disappear down the street: He is gone in a flash.

 

It feels a little strange to go back to her apartment after these four days. After she presses in the electronic lock, she braces herself before she steps in, expecting explosions or an intruder waiting with a gun, but she finds the place empty and untouched. This place, which used to feel like a home, no longer feels safe.

Cillin, her robotic cat, seems to be vacuuming around the living room. The battery life on it is pretty good and it is programmed to auto charge when under a certain percentage. She leaves it be. After all, now she has the real thing.

After dropping her bag and newly printed photos on the table, she goes to her bedroom to find the pictures she has of Ceres. They are thankfully still there. At least physical photos haven’t been erased. She’s put them mostly on her vanity’s mirror, so that she can see them every day when she’s doing her makeup. There aren’t that many, only a few of her select favourites, because she always thought that she’d be able to see them on her phone. 

She carefully peels the tape off two of them and brings them back to the table with her. 

From a special compartment of her bag, she takes out her dark green hardcover lab notebook. It is not good lab practice, but there have been a few pages ripped out these past few days for her so that she could leave notes for people. She flips to the last page she wrote in, which isn’t hard, because it is bookmarked by other objects: photos.  

The photos that Liam gave her are creased and slightly faded with age. She picks them up to peer at the writing underneath, which is slightly messy but clearly written with care. 

She slides the newly-taken picture of Liam beside the rest of his family. He has his visor on, and is not smiling, but that is just like how Liam has been in those three days Lei has known him. She writes a few notes down on the thick pages: 

Liam: A runner of the street samurai type who has many cybernetics embedded within him. You didn’t get along with him at first, and he was probably quite tempted to kill you in the beginning, but it turns out he is quite kind at heart — to the right people. He has saved you countless times, and you have saved him some times as well. He is a man of very few words and generally very tough and stubborn and someone you would call a survivor. He has very cutely said that you were the best doctor he’s ever had. He also apparently has a darker past that he has not told you about, but you can assume that it is very bad, since he is a true slummer through and through. The person he desperately wants to protect is his brother whose name is Alba (see previous pictures). He left with Rose to Adamawa in attempts to bring his brother back, and seems to be willing to sacrifice everything for his brother. He asked you to remember his family and to take care of the only home he’s known, which is why you began writing notes about all the other people you care about or want to care about. You should thank him for that. You have also promised to get drinks with him when he gets back. 

She flips the page and slides the freshly printed photo of Rose. His smile is slightly awkward and clearly forced, as if she had held him at gunpoint or something. She struggles, she really does, to think of what she should write on Rose’s page. She has too many conflicting thoughts about him: Both negative and positive, and it is difficult to decide what she should truly say. She eventually writes:

Rose: A runner who specializes in sniping, although in the mission you took with him, he missed many of his shots (apparently he was having a bad day, which may be true). He is a part of Lexi’s group. You didn’t like him at first because he was being very sketchy and mysterious and doesn’t often tell the truth. You might still not like him that much, as he can be a little frustrating. But people say that he’s a “good guy”, and sometimes you can see those qualities from him. He’s the older brother of Ceres, which everyone seems to know about except for Ceres herself. He clearly cares for Ceres, but he is unwilling to tell Ceres that he’s her brother because “it’s best that she doesn’t know”. You think this is stupid. You think Rose is just being stupid. But that is besides the point. He left with Liam to Adamawa in an attempt to bring Ceres back to Mertalline. He has some sort of precognitive ability which means he can see the future (which is subject to change) and he is also quite good at reading people, which is also something you find quite frustrating. When he comes back, you’re going to keep trying to convince him to tell Ceres. Or maybe, you could just tell Ceres yourself, that might save you a lot of energy. It might be because something horrible happened to him in childhood that took him away from Ceres and his family, so don’t push this too much. You’re still a little thankful of how much he cares about Ceres and appreciates that he did go to Adamawa in an attempt to save her… So despite all the negative things you think about him, maybe you can come to understand him better when he comes back, if he lets you.

With the next page, she starts on the people who still remain in Mertalline. 

Lexi: A runner who seems to be carrying the slums on her back. She leads a group who are runner heroes of the slums, and she is quite protective of her group. Lexi in particular, is very powerful and wealthy, and you truly admire her strength and tenacity. She is a woman of very few words and often does not answer your questions directly, but this just adds to her mysterious and untouchable air of being. In the slums, there are likely very few people who do not respect her, but this is something she definitely deserves. Without her, the slums would likely be even worse than it already is, so you are glad the slums have her. You hope that you will be able to help her make the slums better in the future. 

Zoey: a runner who specializes in using shotguns who seems to be a part of Lexi’s group. She is very good at her job of destroying things, but unfortunately, is not the brightest of people. This actually makes her endearing in your eyes. She has quite a negative outlook on the world and seems to have no one she truly trusts, but it doesn’t stop her from enjoying her nights out getting drinks with her runner comrades. Apparently she likes to dance, or at least, her drunken self seems to like dancing. She is close with Liam and it seems like they’ve worked together for a long time. Her personality appears to be very calm and unphased by things. On runs, she often wears a demon mask which has many practical functions, and she even sold you one of a different design from her very large assortment of masks she’s purchased. You hope that you’ll be able to get her to open up to you more, or at least, that you’ll be able to look out for her as a doctor. 

Keeper: Her full name is actually “Keeper of Secrets” and her real name is actually Yunyi. She is the youngest in Lexi’s group. There are two forms to herself: A chuunibyou version who speaks in confusing ways (it’s still cute though, sometimes) as well as her original self which appears rarely and seems to cause her a lot of pain to be in. In either form, she can be a bit of a tsundere, which you find endearing. Since she has cat ear implants and is shorter than you, she has a head you enjoy patting very much, although it is a little difficult to convince her to let you sometimes. Her ability is similar to a neurolink where she can telepathically communicate with those who are connected (within 1km) as well as borrow abilities with those people. For some reason, she seems to know a lot of information but you’re not completely sure where she gets it from. But her information is quite useful, if you understand and dissect what she’s saying, which you might get used to over time. She also likes cats and co-owns a cat with you and Vail, because apparently, she has a lot of free time to spare! Since you find her very adorable, she feels like someone you would like to protect or help. You hope that she will lower her guard around you and let you pat her head and care for her more in the future. 

She hasn’t technically printed out the next picture, but she’ll definitely get to it within the next few days, so she makes sure to leave a page for this person. 

Flash: A kind (and very fast) taxi driver whom you met not long ago. Not only is he surprisingly charming, he is a man of many talents: driving, surviving, not sticking his head where it doesn’t belong, and seems quite knowledgeable of the city and its people. He seems to have a talent for appearing during times when you need him or times when you’re at your worst, and has even saved your life during one of those times. For that, you are forever grateful to him. Although he has said there are “cyber saints” who are even better than him, he is still a hero and good person in your eyes for saving your life. It is an honour that he calls you his favourite customer, because he is definitely your favourite taxi driver. Since you’ve grown a little fond of him, try to give him as much business as possible. 

When she was printing the photos, she hesitated to print out the next person’s picture, but she decided that despite all the years they have spent apart, she cannot deny that this person was very important to her in the past. She places this picture on the next page now, and the smiling bronze-skinned, red-haired Gigi from 2 years ago looks up at her. 

Gigi Legris: A pharmaceutical synthesist who worked for Prism, specifically in research. You met her in university where she was the one who approached you and you remained close friends with when you both went to the same med school, and later, when you both got hired by Prism. Specifically, you bonded with her over your mutual love of fashion, and you went shopping with her a lot both Uptown and Downtown. She loved to work out and was always telling you of her workout routines, which she worked very hard on during her days off. Although she always called you “honey” and “darling” and was generally a very sweet person, she would not take bullshit from others and had quite a fierce temper when provoked. But you admired her strength and tenacity so much. You loved her loud, booming voice, and the way she laughed without restraint. During those years in your twenties, she was truly your best friend, and someone who helped you weather the storm. She was someone you could wake up and call at night and someone who would beat people up for you. You didn’t realize it at the time, but you loved her like a sister. 

In the next two pages, she slips in the picture she took of Elise smiling, as well as the image of the two of them Vail took for them in the reception room. 

Elise Amaya: A general doctor and surgeon who once worked for Second Chance before opening up her clinic in the slums. You questioned why she would give up the prestige, but then when you got to know her, you realized she is very self-sacrificial. You used to put her on a pedestal where she was your ideal image of what a doctor should be, before you found out that her hands are stained just like everyone else’s. Perhaps she is so self-sacrificial because she feels immense guilt for the pain she has had a hand in during her past. You and her have now opened a clinic together, where you hope to develop regenerative stimulants (which Second Chance has the monopoly on) as well as a better treatment for the E.S. test subjects (see Lexi’s group). And of course, to hopefully save the lives of the slummers who need it. Although she is wonderful at taking care of other people, she is absolutely terrible at taking care of herself. This is why you need to try your hardest in taking care of her by forcing her to take breaks and making sure she eats and sleeps, of which she does little. She is kind and caring and a lovely person to be around, one who inspires you to be a better doctor. You would do almost anything to save her, and you have already done what you must to save her. To you, she feels like an older sister that you wished you had. 

The next two pages are dedicated to Vail. Similarly to Elise, she slips in both the selfie she has with him, as well as a solo shot of Vail smiling. 

Vail: A runner and formerly a patient of yours who you were concerned about for buying a large amount of drugs, he became your friend, and later, your boyfriend. You have to acknowledge that this goes against ethics, but unfortunately it’s a little too late to go back. The reason he was buying so many sedatives and brain stimulants is because he was also a Prism test subject, so you did worry for good reason. His ability involves sending people to the shadow realm, whatever that truly means. He does seem to be rather competent at his job and he is strong with nice muscles, which are all quite attractive. He seems to have trouble keeping up with technology, although he is younger than you. He is generally quite calm and seems to have very little to no worries, which you find comforting. But be warned: He tends not to answer his phone, especially when he’s on a job. He likes cats and his birthday present for you was a colourpoint cat you named Meng, although you have to share with him and Keeper as you are all busy people. You love how he can be soft, sweet, and caring, and how well he follows your requests/demands. Most importantly, you love how he’s a dreamer who can ramble about his dreams in this world where most people have stopped dreaming. You hope that he will stay by your side for a long time. 

And then her final set of pictures are two of Ceres — some of the last pictures she has of her, now that all the digital photos on her phone have been wiped. One is a selfie she roped Ceres into taking one time they hung out together. Ceres looks very shy in this image, and is trying to hide behind her hair. The other is a candid of Ceres that Lei took when they went to get drinks a few months ago. She’s smiling, looking at a painting that was on the wall of the bar. Lei would pay almost any price to see this smile in person again.

Ceres Solace: Allegedly a neurosurgeon, but you have only seen her as an ambulance driver, which is something she does very well. She is shy, sweet, gentle, and absolutely adorable. She seems to stutter when she’s nervous. She likes to draw in her free time, and has a beautiful singing voice. Her height and shape of her head makes her head one of your favourites to pat, and she tends to lean in, which makes the whole experience much more heartwarming. She has almost no confidence in herself and is very fragile and seems to have no way to fight and protect herself, which makes you want to become stronger so that you can protect her from the cruelty and ruthlessness of the world you live in. She is someone you view as the younger sister you’ve never had but always wanted. She might be your favourite person in the world, and you love her unconditionally.

Right now, she has been taken from you, but you strongly believe that her brother will bring her back. And when she comes back, you will teach her how to protect herself and help her grow stronger. You will tell her of all the stories that she’s missed in the time she’s been gone, and of all the words you could not say before she was taken from you. Those words that she deserves to hear: I love you. 

Remember, she writes on the margins of each page. Remember, remember. You have to remember. 

She gently caresses the last three pages with her gloved finger. She’s wanted to have a family for so long, but now she realizes that perhaps these three have been her family all along — or they will be. Only, one of her sisters is not here right now. 

Her lab notebook is closed shut and then carefully placed back into its appropriate storage. She’ll have to get a new lab notebook for the new research she plans on doing in her and Elise’s clinic anyways, so this one can now be a personal notebook for the memories she wants to store. It will become her personal treasured book of memories. 

She strolls to the balcony window of her apartment, where she often likes to smoke. With Ceres gone, she might be tempted to start again — or perhaps, she should try harder, so that Ceres will be proud of her when she returns. 

She leans onto the railing, her hands hanging over, and watches the scenery of the Mertalline slums: dark, dirty, neon-polluted, and filled with junk: The same as always. 

But the person she wants to see isn’t here.

I miss you, Ceres. Lei thinks, playing with the green emerald necklace hanging from her neck — her birthday gift from Ceres. I want to see you again. I want you to be safe and by my side again. 

Ceres, who used to always follow her around, has now gone to a place where Lei cannot follow. 

Maybe as time passes, this sharp pain will become a dull ache, and then later a wound with a scar on it that has healed, but not really. Or maybe the pain will be healed by the panacea of Ceres returning once more. 

She doesn’t know if she’ll be hit by the green gas that has been erasing the memories of those who are abducted from people’s minds, or if she’ll be able to withstand it. But it is the responsibility of those who remain to remember. To remember, and to wait, until those who have left have come home. 

[AUTHOR'S NOTES]

The title “Those Who Leave, Those Who Remain” refer to two groups of people: Those who left, and those who remain. 

Those who left are Rose and Liam, of course, who leave to Adamawa because something bad will happen there and they must rescue their younger siblings. 

Although she does not appear in this story, technically, Laura is someone who also left, but she is a different case because she always planned to leave. 

Those who remain refers mostly to Lei, but you could arguably put others in this category. The reason I didn’t say “those who stay” is because staying is a more active/conscious choice, but “remaining” implies being left over, implies more passivity and lack of choice. 

Those who stay would be more of the people who chose to remain here: Zoey, Lexi, Elise, Vail. 

Keeper is kind of in the “remain” category because uh she would die if she goes and we’re not putting our fave catgirl in danger. 

I’m also extra proud of the fact she started to make a little photo album with things that she wants to remember ;w; Her treasured book of memories as she calls it (which again, is a callback to the set of drabbles I wrote for her called “treasure box” of memories). She realizes that their time in this world may be short, so she wants to treasure every moment she has with her loved ones and those she has grown to care about. This also relates to the central theme in this story about “remembering” which is a responsibility she now has. Perhaps, a responsibility she placed upon herself.

Thank you for reading if you've gotten this far <3

[OTHER NOTES]

Yeah... so Lei's birthday is on Sept 17 and this post-epilogue story takes place on Sept 20 and 21, three and four days after. Imagine having a relatively decently good night and then being arrested the day after XD That was Lei's life. I also made the year 2332 to make Lei's birth year 2300 since the campaign's supposed to take place sometime in the 2300s or something. She has just turned 32!

Lei really likes younger sister vibe characters. She loves doting on them so Ceres is a great example, and then Keeper now. She might get another one, Artemis, which is my next Mertalline campaign character XD unless things change I don't plan on playing Lei again cuz she has 1/2 death rolls failed. So that's dangerous. I love her so much I don't want her to die 😭

I learned as a side effect of the E.S. experiment, Vail cannot fall asleep or dream which is why he talks about dreams so much. They don't exist for him the way they do for other people 😭😭😭 Best boi frfr

He calls her by her name now which was a request from the drunk! Lei story (Vulnerability) 🥺🥺🥺 Soft hours only in this household

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, Vail was NOT getting drugs from other doctors (not cheating on her???) in those 3 months he didn't visit the Prism Clinic. That's a 11/10 right there. We love a loyal man XD

Rizz 😎

Meng is a ragdoll cat!!! Some sort of colourpoint with ice blue eyes.

Yeah so the implied suspicious activities... welp let's just pretend it's an effective sleeping strat/ way to induce sleep. He's gotta fall asleep somehow right XD

I guess her dreams kind of come true? :') She now can run a clinic with one of her friends and a doctor she looks up to. She got her mans. But her bestie and younger sister Ceres.... she is gone. So you win some and you lose some in life. (still in pain about Ceres though)

There's lots of references to the text in the campaign which you won't see unless I copy/paste (some of which will be copy/pasted) into the vis novel. So look out for it then cuz I got high attention to detail.

The first time she admitted to loving someone (remember she struggles with the idea of unconditional love) was Ceres :') I'm so pain about this

I think her dream of family did come true in form of the people she cares about like the way she imagines she'd care about for a family. Her friends she views as sisters: Elise (older) and Ceres (younger). And her significant other Vail 🥺😭😭🥺🥺. If she and Vail lives they get their children too so Y'KNOW maybe her dream is still possible BUT WHERE'S AUNTIE CERES Y'KNOW

Really proud of the last line :) I think it envokes a sensation of hope which is what I'm trying to carry forward, and what I'd like to imagine Lei would want.

Thank you again for reading this far <3

[julessworldd]

I was thinking for an Eddie one where maybe the reader isn't popular but she knows everyone if that makes sense and everyone's a bit confused why she wants to hang out with "the freak" but really she's just as nuts as him just quieter aha

Warnings: drugs mentioned, drug deal, cussing, Jason 😷, Steve being a complete asshole. AfaB/Buckley!reader

The reader gives me Steven Hyde vibes, just imagine a fem!Hyde

Eddie Munson was known as the freak of Hawkins also local drug dealer(depending who is talking about him). Hellfire, he was the dungeon master, Dustin, another older brother to look up to. We all know deep down, Eddie is a just cinnamon roll that’s too cute for his own good. Just no denying!

Y/n Buckley, he was her best friend, soulmate, love of her life(he don’t know it yet)! But Eddie was just in love with her as she was with him. Both are total chickens. Robin was her younger sister, she was into art, theater. Really good in every subject, just don’t really brag about it. Also was a stoner, quiet but a good listener and therapist. She had beauty like Rita Haywood, a real looker. She got asked out by everyone: Jocks, band geeks, the stoners, Steve Harrington even tried it. But no one was Eddie or even compared to him.

Y/n’s pov

Robin busted in my room as I was throwing a Runways tee on, “Roby!”, I sighed as she just the door behind her. “I was gonna see if you could take me to school? Steve has to open the store early” “That’s fine, give me a minute to finish” “Does Dustin need a ride?”, I asked zipping my jeans. “He didn’t say but probably will after”, Robin said, sitting a cassette tape down. “Drop it”, I smirked. “Robin! You forgot your uniform!”, I yelled as she tried to book into school. Nancy giggled. “Girl’s feet run faster than her brain”, I rolled my eyes. Robin blushed coming to get her stuff. “Have a good day, Robykins. I love you, go learn something”, I ruffled her hair. “Y/n stoppp!”, she whined. “Hey Y/n”, Jeff smiled as he passed. “Heyy Jeff”, I replied.

It was lunch, I was sitting next to Eddie and Gareth as they were discussing the next DnD campaign. Eddie rubbed my back as Mike was saying something about Lucas. “Over my dead body!” I heard as the group got upset. The bickering went on for a second before Eddie raised his voice. “Shut up!”, Eddie released his hand from my hair. The look in his eyes screamed anger. “Please don’t be ticked off” I thought to myself. I watched as Eddie ranted about Mike’s idea to postpone the game tonight. “Y/n graduates this year, so does Jeff, Gareth has a year and a half. Me! I’m army crawling my way to a D in Mrs. OdOnald’s class, if I don’t blow her final.” Eddie said standing up. I furrowed my brows on why me graduating had anything to do with the game. Sure I’ve played but not much this year. Eds and I play one on one sometimes, but that’s it!

“Princess?”, Eddie asked as we left the lunchroom.

“Yes, Munson?” “Would you be able to sub for Lucas?” Eddie asked. “I’m sorry but I have to take Robin to work and run errands for mom. It would be mid game before I could possibly think about stopping by”, I sighed. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Just know you can play and the boys like you. It wouldn’t mess up the routine of the game”, Eddie smiled. “Seriously, I might sneak in tonight”, I giggled. “Wonder who they’re gonna find” “Hopefully someone decent” I said.

Chrissy was dozing in History, “Chrissy”, I whispered. She jumped a little. “Sorry, you were dozing. You know how Ownens is about sleepers”, I said. “It’s okay. Thanks” she smiled. Chrissy was my childhood best friend, we went to pre k together. But high school came and the cheerleaders took her time. Now Jason Craver as well. Hope she is okay, she never sleeps in class. “Class dismissed!” I was walking towards my car, counting down to Robin running to the car. “Y/n! Wait up!”, I turned around to Chrissy running after me. “What’s up, Chrissy?” “I was wondering if you wanted to hangout soon? I miss us”, She smiled. “Sure Chrissy, just call me sometime. We’ll figure something out. You been okay?”, I asked. She nodded. “Well, have fun jumping around at practice. See ya around Chris!”, I smiled. “Y/nn!”, Dustin yelled across the parking lot.

“Eddie has done asked, Henderson!”, I yelled back. “Yes? No?” I shook my head. “Son of bitch! He’s gonna kill us”, Dustin sighed. “No he won’t!” I giggled as I seen Eddie shut his door to his van. He was going on a drug deal looked like. Dustin had waddled off. “Y/n/n”, Eddie walked over with his metal “lunchbox” “Yes Edward?”, I giggled. “You’ll never guess who I’m meeting in the woods” “The Boogyman”, I rolled my eyes. “No, Dr Loomis. Chrissy Cunningham”, Eddie said. “You are not giving her drugs, Edward! She is a good girl, she don’t need your shit”, I hit his chest. “Why not? It’s a client, one with daddy’s money”, Eddie asked. “Cause Chrissy isn’t the drug taking type, she is a little innocent. She didn’t lose her virginity until 3 months ago to Jason”, I said, giving a serious look. “Calm down, mommy. It’s just weed, you said it yourself it’s a plant, God left it for us to smoke”, Eddie smirked. “It better be just pot, if I find out it’s even laced I’m kicking your ass”, I said, grabbing his his jacket labels. Eddie rolled his eyes as Robin walked up. “I meant it, Edward!”, I yelled as he walked across the parking lot to the woods.

“What’s he doing now?”, Robin asked. “Nothing, Rob. Get in the car”, I sighed. I pulled up to Family video, Robin ran inside, zipping her vest. “Oh shit”, I noticed the tapes I needed to return. “Hey Dingus!”, I rang the bell. “I’m at the counter, Y/n”, Steve sighed. “Yeah I know, Dingus”, I giggled. “What is it?” “ I need to return these”, I laid ‘Friday the 13th’ and ‘Carrie’ down “Y/n, these were due two weeks ago” Steve said. “Y/nn! I work here now, don’t your shit late now”, Robin groaned. “Fuck sorry! I’ve been busy”, I rolled my eyes. “Busy with the freak”, Steve smirked. “Didn’t know I need permission from you, Harrington. Gotta a problem?”, I lent up the counter. “No, just saying hanging out with the freak Munson isn’t an excuse. Robin works here you could have gave them to her”, Steve said. “What is your deal with him? What he isn’t a basketball jock like you, so you think he’s like gum on your shoe”, I got shakey.

“I just don’t get why you find him so fantastic? I mean he’s a repeater, drug dealer, just a freak bottom line”, Steve replied. “Maybe he’s not a prick like you. Sorry that Daddy stopped your funds until you go to college, don’t take it out on the rest of us. Here’s the money Robin, see ya later”, I rolled my eyes and slammed the door behind me. “You should have left it alone, Steve. She thinks of the world of Eddie”, Robin said.

[thebiscuiteternal]

Ahahaha, after telling Nonnie I was gonna post this, I completely forgot to actually post this and just left it sitting in drafts. Whoopsie. So! More little snippets and such from my twitter.

- Everybody mocks the sect descended from butchers until a boar demon the size of a city grain warehouse goes down and nobody else can deal with the carcass because it’s just too fucking big. By the time the thing has been taken apart and properly dispersed, the entire jianghu has had an Awakening to the fact that Some People (even the small cute one) are at their hottest when mostly covered in demon blood.

- Bitty!Huaisang tags along with his brother on some sect business to Yueyang and while he and his minder are eating lunch in the markets, he notices a street kid staring at the food like a starving wolf. Without thinking, he puts a plate of duck buns in easy reach and watches it and the kid vanish. By the end of the day, he’s practically forgotten about the whole thing, distracted by other stuff. But even more bitty!Xue Yang has just found himself a mark.

- Thinking about Nie Bros and how Huaisang decided early on that annoyance and exasperation were better than condescending pity and started playing up his lazy behavior to cover for his body’s failure to keep up and how Mingjue knows this, but has to make himself believe that Huaisang could do better if he actually tried, because otherwise he would constantly be swamped with guilt over the fact that he will inevitably be leaving his sickly brother to handle the sect.

- AND ON THAT NOTE, thinking about the fact that for all Huaisang is considered a pathetic cultivator, literally none of the adaptations have him “showing his age” more than cultivators who are supposed to be leagues more powerful than him, and even the novel just describes him as being pretty. Therefore, thinking of the possibility that all his desperate efforts to find Da-ge’s missing body pieces and/or soul wound up strengthening his golden core considerably (and he was Not Happy when he realized this) but no one noticed because he was that effective at keeping up the hapless idiot act.

- Rule 63!Huaisang where literally none of the Nie family dynamics have changed and everyone else is very ????? about it. Some Rando: “Shouldn’t your brother be getting you married instead of throwing a saber at you?” Huaisang: “Have you met my sect?”

- Nie-er-furen and Lan-furen were both yao, but Mama Nie was a cat and Mama Lan was a rabbit. Therefore, when the older brothers tried to introduce Nie Huaisang and Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan’s new instincts went “Predator!” and that is why Nie Huaisang has bite scars.

- Mo Xuanyu escaping Koi Tower and going to live with the (extremely grudgingly acknowledged) Yiling Wei sect, featuring Wei Wuxian being an absolute gremlin about his disciple’s crush on Nie Huaisang while still oblivious/in denial to Lan Wangji’s crush on him. WWX: “Follow your dreams and get your man!” MXY: “...Okay. So when are you gonna take your own advice and let Hanguang-jun court you?” WWX: “Haha, what? That’d never happen, Lan Zhan likes girls.” MXY (to NHS later): “So my sect leader might actually be an idiot.”

- Wei Wuxian in a Number Five situation. Fucks up an experimental talisman and winds up chucked  into an apocalyptic future (maybe even one demonic cultivation caused?) and is trapped there for decades before being slung back into his "just started raising corpses" age. Bonus points if it is a zombie apocalypse, but he doesn’t realize it because what evidence he was able to find pointed to the Sunshot Campaign having lost, so when he gets back to his present time, he starts working even harder at building up enough of an army to fight the Wens...

- So my personal headacanon is already that all of Jin Guangshan’s kids look more like their mothers than him because he doesn’t deserve anything good. But. Imagine the emotional/social fuckery if every single one of his bastards had at least some of his features, while Jin Zixuan is a male carbon copy of Jin-furen.

- The assumption that the original soul would be obliterated during the body sacrifice ritual was just that: an assumption. Wei Wuxian doesn't realize this until the first sect conference after Guanyin Temple when he sees his own reflection glare at him and then wrap the exhausted-looking reflection of Nie Huaisang into a reassuring embrace as the man discusses something or other with a minor sect leader.

aaaand everything else I was thinking about pulling over would be long enough for their own “Things I will probably never write” posts, so that’s all for this go round!

[absolutepokemontrash]

The Demon Bros Play DND!

Who’s ready for some Stupid Headcanons?

So, the Satanic Panic of the 1980s claimed that the tabletop RPG known as Dungeons and Dragons had the power to turn your children into satanists and devil worshippers. So of course, the brothers have totally played DND after hearing about all the human world nonsense.

Lucifer the Back-up Back-up DM

He’s too busy to play this game dammit, stop inviting him! What do you mean both Satan and Simeon can’t DM the one-shot? Ugh... fine.

Despite all his UUUUUUUUGGGGHHH, Lucifer is a damn good storyteller, prepare to be immersed as hell.

Also, sorry guys, he’s a rule whore. If something’s against the rules, YOU AREN’T DOING IT.

He’s also a complete sadist who will randomly get everyone to roll perception checks for NO REASON.

Lucifer has definitely stood up and slammed his hands on the table while giving a description for extra effect, Mammon screamed and nearly fell out of his seat which REALLY ruined the mood.

“Everyone, we’re rescheduling, I’m too busy.”

He’s been a player a few times, and he’s NOT good at it. All his characters end up being really generic and boring. He’s better at being the world and everything in it, not the dummy wandering around it.

Human/fighter lookin’ motherfucker

In conclusion, he’s a good DM, but he’s probably too busy to play.

Over-Powered Self Insert (Mammon)

This game is for nerds! He’s not playin’, Levi!

Fine, his character is great and amazin’ and is also him. MC! What do these numbers mean-

Mammon’s the type of player to make his character a self insert and not take it too seriously, then get really REALLY attached as the campaign progresses.

He’s the type not to make a backstory for his character either, so go wild DM MCs!

He also both purposefully and accidentally metagames a whole bunch. Like dude, YOU know this, YOUR CHARACTER DOES NOT.

Shit he forgot his dice, can he borrow some?

“Okay MC, that’s five points of piercing damage.” “I RUN OVER AND HEAL THEM! I’LL SAVE YA MC!”

Mammon goes out of his way to save MC’s character long before it would make sense in-character to do so.

“Well, as your first man it’s my duty to save your character! You’ll probably be a blubberin’ mess if I didn’t...”

He’s not the best role player, but he’s also not the worst at it either. He tends to break character when things get too serious and he doesn’t know what to do.

Notes who? He came in here with one sheet of printer paper and it’s for doodling only.

He and Asmodeus start the tavern brawls. No question about that.

Theft is very common, he’s stealing from everyone, including but not limited to: the party, the royal guards, the dead enemies, the giant fuck-you dragon that Satan dropped in there to deter Mammon from stealing...

“I’m gonna steal that crown from the dragon.” “Roll stealth.” “Nat 20 BITCHES.” “Fuck you.”

If his character dies, may the Demon King have mercy on his greedy little soul because he’s going to mope about it for a damn long time.

Over-Powered Self Insert Again (Leviathan)

His character totally isn’t a self insert, shut up! He just looks and acts like an idealized version of himself!

He’s the one with twenty pages of character info and backstory AND the amazing commissioned art.

Levi has about 40 sets of expensive blue dice that he claims gives him the best rolls but an average session with him usually leads to roughly 10 crit fails.

While his luck with dice isn’t that good, he’s the player who will get as much out of their turn as possible, AKA break out the calculators and notes we’re doing some math.

His turn goes on for at least ten minutes because of all the shit he’s doing. When you finally think it’s over he goes “I still have my movement!”

Takes notes like a madman, every bit of lore and character info is being written down, meaning it’s a headache for everyone involved if there’s a continuity error because Levi WILL point it out.

“So you all head to the east, the great Valley of-” “Hang on, valley? In the second session you said there was a mountainous area to the east.” “Levi, shut up.”

Levi is the self appointed “guys come on let’s get back on track!” player, and whoever’s DMing is grateful to have him.

Levi is kind of the opposite of Mammon in terms of character seriousness, at first he’s taking everything super seriously and then as the campaign goes on he slowly loosens up and has some fun.

Out of curiosity one day he searches up a magical girl DND class and he’s ALL OVER IT. PLEASE LET HIM BE A MAGICAL GIRL NEXT CAMPAIGN-

Damn good at roleplaying, he’s carrying the entire in-character discussion until everyone else gets into it.

The Done With Your Bullshit DM (Satan)

So, this is the game that’s supposedly summoning him all the time despite the fact that he hadn’t been up to the human world since the 50s... what the fuck is everyone on up there?

It was the 80s, probably a lot of drugs.

When Satan DMs, you can only break the rules if it enhances the story... or if it fucks with Lucifer’s really boring character.

He will fudge dice rolls every once and a while, he also gets very attached to the characters everyone has made so he doesn’t want to perma-kill any of them unless they roll a DND quadruple natural 1 sin or something.

As attached as he gets, he isn’t above completely raging, killing everyone’s characters, and ending the session if everyone’s being annoying.

Don’t worry, your characters will be safe and sound next session once everything calms down... just don’t mention how Satan burned your character sheet right in front of you. It’s your fault if you didn’t make a second copy of your character sheet!

He’s pretty decent when it comes to improv when a player stumbles into something he didn’t plan out, but that’s not going to stop him from getting a little annoyed.

Though, if you somehow manage to get to the big bad too soon... yeah sorry, he’s got a way more dramatic fight scene planned, your player’s getting conveniently blasted out of there.

As a player, Satan is pretty decent at the game overall, but he tends to be a little aggressive if there’s an overarching mystery to be solved.

He needs to understand what’s going on! He doesn’t care if it upends the plot or it’s too early to find out! He needs to know!

His character is actually distinct and different from himself, Satan thinks it’s more interesting that way. All the books he’s read have made him a pretty awesome role player!

Satan’s notebook both as a DM and a player is filled to the brim, no detail is too insignificant to be put on the page.

Satan doesn’t fear dungeon puzzles... dungeon puzzles fear Satan.

“Are you all stupid?! This puzzle is so easy a four year old could solve it!”

I ROLL TO SEDUCE- (Asmodeus)

At first he didn’t want to play, he doesn’t play these kinds of games, sweetie. He’s too pretty.

When he’s finally convinced he puts a decent amount of effort into his character, but leaves the backstory pretty open.

Asmo would probably be the bard... right? No. He’s the warlock with the magic sugar daddy patron, and the warlock patron is spoken to as such.

“Hey baby... how’ve you been? Have I been good~?” “...”

Huh! Who woulda thought that all the bedroom roleplaying would transfer so well to DND!

Simeon is the only DM that doesn’t immediately shut this down, so Asmo will be extra inclined to play if Mr. Nice Shoulders is DMing.

When he gets really into it he buys a bunch of sparkly and very pretty dice, they bring him good luck in every roll!

Asmo has a fictional harem, no question about it. It gets to the point where Satan, Lucifer, and Simeon stop describing NPCs as attractive.

He’s rolling to seduce either way, he’s turned many an antagonist into a lover. To be fair, Asmo’s horniness has gotten everyone out of a lot of jail cells... so they can’t complain.

His notes consist of really random comments about the plot and the other players. It’s also COATED with doodles.

‘Wow, this character is such an asshole, I hope Belphie kills them.’ ‘Shit.’ ‘MC looks so cute when they play their character!!!!!!!! :D’

Poor bab forgets the rules a lot... it’s just too much to remember, okay?! How was he supposed to know that he ran out of spell slots an hour ago?!

Please help him, MC...

*Dice Cronch* (Beel)

Homeboy has been given edible dice, no question. He has also eaten the non-edible dice...

Beel goes to Satan for help with making his character, and he ends up really loving the character! :D

Problem is, he’s not that good at roleplaying... D:

“Can my character eat that person?” “Beel, no- you know what? Let me check what you’d need to roll to do that.”

I’ll save you MC part 2 electric boogaloo, but when it comes to Beel, the entire party is getting protected, no matter how little it makes sense in-character.

While Beel does take notes, a lot of them don’t end up being very important for later events. For example, he’ll jot down stuff about the layout in one room, but it turns out he didn’t take notes for the room that was actually going to be used for a boss fight.

He’s always nice to the NPCs, shame Belphie doesn’t show them the same courtesy.

Murder Hobo (Belphie)

Chaotic evil.

“Belphie, your character’s alignment is neutral good, remember?” “Fuck that, this guy’s annoying me.”

If Belphie doesn’t like an NPC, it’s up to the rest of the party to stop him from derailing the campaign and killing them.

He has space themed dice because cow-man likes space and thought they were pretty.

Notes? NOTES? You think Belphegor, the Avatar of SLOTH, takes notes? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-

He’s drooling all over the notebook... ew. Someone wake him up and tell him it’s his turn.

He puts about 35% effort forth to make a halfway decent character, and approximately 4% effort to actually roleplay.

Belphie sleeps through important plot details so he’s almost always really confused. He’ll turn to MC and ask them to explain what he missed before not learning his lesson and going back to sleep.

Wake him up for the dungeon puzzles though, he and Satan love those.

“Okay, we can’t see what’s in the room because none of the conscious party members have dark vision?” “Nope, what do you do?” “...I shove Mammon inside and shut the door.” “WHAT?!”

Bonus! The Best DM (Simeon)

Our favourite angel has homebrewed this entire campaign and boy fricken howdy are these players going to enjoy it.

Simeon fudges the dice rolls to avoid anything too irreversibly bad happening, buuuuuuut he’s still a total asshole who does the random perception rolls to keep everyone on their toes.

Everyone gets a character arc god dammit, even if they don’t have a backstory, one will be provided!

He’s got a map, he’s got miniatures, he’s got dice and backup dice for the backup dice, he’s got DM notes for days!

Simeon could be a voice actor with the amount of character voices he can do, no one ever gets confused with who’s talking.

Did someone just uncover a massive bit of plot that was meant to be found out later? Good job! No harm done! Simeon’s DM improv is second to none, and the plot will adjust accordingly!

[rainydaydream-gal18]

(Clone Wars) Fives x Reader: My Star

   (Author’s Note:  What a week.  I’ve tested positive for coronavirus and am under quarantine.  The last few days were soooo frustrating because I had all this time to write, but felt too crappy and drained of energy to produce anything!  Well, today I finally made something happen, and I hope to write some more in the next week or so depending on when they summon me back to work.

This fic had me sitting here with a dopey smile on my face, so I hope you enjoy it)

   You snuck a glance over your shoulder, ensuring that no one from camp was following.  The evening was relatively quiet except for the occasional chatter of troops.  It was getting late, so some were starting to turn in for the night.  The glow of campfires shone around the boulders that were scattered across the stony ground behind you.

   The air held a chill that would have caused you to shiver if not for your cloak.  You pulled the dark material tighter around your form as a cold breeze moved through.  It wasn’t long before you reached your destination, a small clearing that was just far enough away from camp to not be spotted.  Just as you set foot in the space, a shadow on the right caught your eye.

   The familiar presence filled your senses, and you smiled.

   He was right in front of you, raising a gloved hand to take your chin between his thumb and forefinger gently.  “There’s my favorite jedi,” he murmured.

   “Fives.”  You reached up to take his other hand in your own as you met his affectionate gaze that was complemented by a warm smile.  “You’re here early.”

   “So are you,” he pointed out, leaning in to brush his nose against yours.  “I couldn’t wait to see you.”

   “Hm, me too.”

   “It felt like we’d never get this...to finally be alone again.”  He pulled you closer and pressed a kiss to your lips, making you melt into his embrace.  “Although I have to say it’s nice to be on a campaign with you.”

   “True,” you agreed.  “It’s better than being on the other side of the galaxy wondering and worrying.”  You leaned in to kiss Fives again, sighing as he returned it.  Both of you were reminded of those times you had missions apart, and it made this moment all the more special as he held you so tightly.  His ARC trooper armor wasn’t the most comfortable, but you couldn’t care less.

   “I brought you something,” you told him, pulling away to reach into the pocket of your robe.  You showed him a bundle wrapped in preservative paper.  Even though the baked treat wasn’t hot from the oven anymore, it still carried a delightful scent.  “I thought it would be a nice change from the usual rations.”

   Fives’ eyes lit up and he unraveled the baked treat to inhale its scent.  “Where did you get this?”

   “There was a stand selling these on Coruscant.  I picked one up before we shipped out.”

   He took a seat on a nearby boulder, patting the empty space beside him.  “Split it with me?”

   “I brought it for you, Fives.”

   He gave you a playful nudge as you sat down next to him.  “It’d make me feel better if you had some too.”

   “Alright, alright.  Just a piece.”

   He took the first bite, sighing at the flavor.  The look on his face was rather priceless, and you tried to conceal your giggle with your sleeve.  Of course, the realization that he amused you only fueled him even more.  He shot you a sideways look and took another bite, letting out an exaggerated groan that caused you to burst into laughter.

   “What?”  He feigned innocence as he mumbled through a mouthful of the sweet bread.

   “You are something else, Fives.”  You chuckled and leaned over to take a bite.

   “But you love me for it.”

   “That, I do.”  You leaned against his side, eyes fluttering closed as you exhaled.  Sounds of the night around you flooded your ears.  Chirps and pebbles being scattered on the rocky ground with each breezy gust sounded.  Fives had finished the snack and was simply enjoying your company.  You focused on each relaxed breath he took, the chest plate of his armor rising and falling gently.

   “You know,” he spoke up.  “I’ve been in space so many times.  Been on so many planets.  I never get tired of looking at the stars.”

   You glanced up to see his face lifted toward the night sky.  You followed his gaze to admire the dark canvas decorated with twinkling lights.  He was right.  No matter how many times you’d seen them, they never got old.

   “There are so many out tonight.”

   He hummed in agreement.  “I’m lucky.  I’ve got one sitting right next to me.”  He looked back down at you, lips quirking up in that charming smile of his as your cheeks grew warm.  You weren’t sure what to say to that, so you merely leaned up to capture his lips in a sweet kiss.  You pulled away to take in his tender expression before pressing your lips to his again.  His gloved hand trailed along your jawline to the back of your neck to draw you closer, sighing when you responded.

   “Fives,” you breathed against his lips.

   “Yeah?”

   “Nothing.  I was going to say something cute, but forgot.”

   You felt him smirk and stroke your cheek with his thumb.  “Come on, you didn’t forget.  Let’s hear it.”

   You chuckled, lowering your head a bit in embarrassment.  “I was going to say that you’re my star and I never get tired of looking at you.”  Finally, you lifted your eyes a bit to see him grinning back at you.  “I know, I know.  I tried.”

   “That was a good one,” he offered.  His tone would’ve been more convincing if that cheesy grin wasn’t still plastered on his face.  Still, there was no missing the look of endearment in his eyes as you tried to hide your face in his shoulder again.  “No, really, that was sweet.”

   “Oh, I’m sure.”

   He tipped your chin up, the grin replaced by a softer look.  You pressed a kiss to the patch growing on his chin before meeting his lips once more.  

   For a while, the two of you talked about different things.  The mission at hand was the subject of conversation for only a few minutes before you moved on to other topics like some of the cultures you’d visited and foods you’d tried. You shared funny stories and listened in amusement as Fives shared some of the mischief he’d witnessed in the barracks with pranks and whatnot.

   The night grew colder, and soon it would be time to get some sleep.  You didn’t want the time to end, but eventually troops might notice his or your absence and ask questions.  You’d still get to sit across from Fives at one of the campfires and see him, but it wouldn’t necessarily be the same.

   “We should head back,” he whispered, planting a kiss to your forehead.

   “Yeah, we should.”  You nodded.  “This was fun.”

   “Sure was.” 

   A groan left your lips as you stood to your feet, your rear cold and achy from sitting on the boulder for so long.  You stretched and watched as Fives did the same.

   His gloved hand went to your waist to pull you in for a final kiss, but you held onto him tighter and returned the token of affection with eagerness.  The spark flared up as he then moved his lips against yours over again.  Finally, he pulled away, breathless.

   “You make it so hard to leave,” he chuckled.

   You gave him a peck on the cheek.  “Well, so do you.”

   Both of you separated, and Fives stepped aside to let you return to camp first.  He’d follow shortly after to not raise any suspicion.  As you went back the way you came, you stole a glance over your shoulder and blew a kiss at the ARC trooper who stood watching to make sure you made it back safely.

   “Hey ________,” Echo’s voice made you jump the moment you entered camp.

   “Oh, hey Echo.  You startled me.”

   He gave an apologetic smile.  “Sorry.  I was just wondering if you’ve seen Fives?”

   “I just saw him.  He should be around here somewhere.”  It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t exactly admitting that you’d had a secret meeting with said trooper. The answer seemed to be enough for Echo because he simply gave a nod and continued on his way.  

   Moments later, Jesse waved you over from a group of troops sitting around the campfire talking.  Some had fallen asleep, but some still sat and watched the glow.  It must’ve been later than you thought.  You greeted them with a smile and gratefully took a seat amongst them.  While Hardcase filled you in on the conversation, you saw Fives talking to Echo out of the corner of your eye.

   You were careful to not let your gaze linger and instead turned your attention back to Hardcase.  Even though it was another ordinary night for the others in the GAR, it wasn’t for you.  You still heard the whispers, felt the kisses, and breathed in his scent.  They would be with you during the day and would even chase you into your dreams.

[arizonapoppy]

Star Wars Story List

I would love to hear your thoughts on my stories! Comments, likes, reblogs, and asks are always welcome! Link to my ask box

An omnibus link to all my stories on Ao3 can be found here: Poppy on Ao3 . Note: most of my Ao3 stories are members-locked.

Do not copy my stories to another site. These stories are 18+ only.

Ficlets and longer:

A Bouquet of Meaning

Words: 600; Rating: G; Genre: fluff, language of flowers, 5+1 things

Grand Admiral Thrawn bombards Governor Pryce with flowers at her workplace.

A Dog Too Far (story fragment)

Words: (in progress); Rating: E; Genre: highSchoolTeacher!AU, angst, smut

Arihnda Pryce is a dedicated teacher who wants her students to do well on their end-of-year tests. If that earns her an assistant principal position at her old high school, the more the better! Nobody- not the Student Council, and not the new exchange teacher Mr. Nuruodo- will derail her.

Double Helping

Words: 1142; Rating: T; Genre: domestic fluff, clone!Thrawn

What would you do with an extra Thrawn around the house?

The First Annual Thunder Wasp Charity Calendar

Words: 1141; Rating: T; Genre: fluff, humor

The Thunder Wasp has an ingenious plan to raise the most money for the Imperial Combined Campaign by creating a charity calendar featuring noted members of the crew. There's only a slight problem: they forgot to get their commander's approval first.

I-S-Beach

Words: 5.4k; Rating: E; Genre: adventure, spy!AU, smut

Arihnda Pryce is on beach holiday on Rion with her best girl friends. A side mission for the ISB gets more exciting than planned, leading to a dinner-dancing date with Thrawn. She decides some relaxation is just what she needs.

It Followed Me Home

Words: 1.5k; Rating: G; Genre: fluff, crack

Arihnda finds a cute massiff kit in the creature stall, and persuades Thrawn they should adopt her.

One Week

Words: 9.1k; Rating: E; Genre: established relationship, smut

Arihnda and Thrawn are planetside for Coruscant's annual Ascension Week festivities. A disagreement on how to handle the pesky rebels spirals into a full-blown argument. Can they settle their differences and get a nice shag on before the week ends? An unapologetic songfic of "One Week," by Barenaked Ladies.

Procrastination Vacation

Words: 2.4k; Rating: M; Genre: acquaintances to lovers, smut

While on a business trip to take mandatory training, Arihnda and Thrawn are forced to share the last available room at the resort.

Three

Words: 2.7k; Rating: G; Genre: angst, locked in together

Arihnda Pryce thought she left her mining days behind her when she moved to Coruscant, but she'll need all her old job skills to keep herself and Grand Admiral Thrawn alive when a cave collapse traps them.

Whatever’s Past the Stars

Words: 957; Rating: E; Genre: smut, pwp

Warnings: tentacles

A rendezvous in the desert.

Drabbles:

A Very Merry Winter Solstice(s)

Fall Into Thryce

Flourish

Morning Paddle

Nova Hejmo

Potato, Potahto

Slattum

Toes

Trapped

The Waterfall

Chewing Gum and Slickplast

Words: 200; Rating: G; Genre: fluff

On the plus side, the Spectres were able to escape the Imperials after Chopper temporarily deactivated the artificial gravity of the Ghost. On the down side, he forgot to tell Sabine to stop smacking her gum right before. Or was it all part of his scheme? Will Space Mom successfully rescue Kanan's ponytail?

Chief’s Compliments

Words: 1026; Rating: T; Genre: gen hurt/comfort, acts of kindness; post-Rebels

Hera Syndulla is struggling with the trials of early pregnancy, when she receives help and support from an unexpected source.

Repairs

Words: 200; Rating: G; Genre: fluff, humor

During repairs to the Ghost, Hera falls for Kanan. Literally.

A Present for Master Billaba

Words: 8.1k; Rating: Gen; Genre: Fluff, everyoneLives!AU

Caleb Dume needs all his creativity and network of friends to successfully barter for the perfect solstice present for Depa Billaba.

A Teacher’s First Steps

Words: 200; Rating: Gen; Genre: slice of life, AU

With the threat of the unnamed "shadow" hanging over them, Ahsoka decides it is too dangerous to leave four-year-old Hedala Fardi untrained in the ways of the Force, and begins teaching her employers' young niece in secret.

Cassian and the Coat of Many Pockets

Words: 1902; Rating: Gen; Genre: humor, everyoneLives!AU

As the Rebel Alliance works to establish a base on Hoth, the Master Chief has the warmest coat on the base, and Cassian will do anything to get it. The Master Chief won't trade for anything. What happens when the irresistible force meets the immovable object?

Dantoo Trek

Words: 7.1k; Rating: Gen; Genre: adventure, fluff, humor

When Chopper strands them in the wilderness, Ezra and Sabine have to put aside their argument and work together as a team. How will they get to their detail at Dantoo Base? This epic buddy road trip calls for a MacGyver-ed boat and the smooth skills of Lothal's most notorious flim flam man.

Fuselage

Words: 1536; Rating: E; Genre: smut, crack

Luke has a quickie in his X-Wing with a maintenance tech.

The Porglets Decorate For Life Day

Words: 254; Rating: Gen; Genre: fluff, fairy tale

The porg population of the Temple Island on Ahch-To work together to decorate the Jedi Force Tree for Life Day, porg-style. (A bedtime story fairy tale improvised for my young son and his porglet stuffies.)

Relicts

Words: 5.0k; Rating: E; Genre: smut

Luke and a Nightsister negotiate for a Force artifact on Dathomir. Their contest of strength leads to more a more intimate sort of interaction.

Snack Break

Words: 400; Rating: G; Genre: fluff, humor

Eli teaches Thrawn how to eat an Oreo.

Solstice:

Words: 100; Rating: G: Genre: fluff

Luke and Mara watch the sunset together on the longest day of the year.

The Storyteller of Esfandia

Words: 978; Rating: G; Genre: humor

Hondo Ohnaka overhears a tall tale in a cantina on the borderlands of the Unknown Regions that might provide him with a lead toward finding Ezra Bridger.

Tooka in the Meal Bin (hiatus)

Words: (ongoing); Rating: G; Genre: fluff, adventure

"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future," goes the quote. In the aftermath of the disaster on Hosnian Prime, an elderly Loth-cat who wants nothing more than to sleep peacefully in her patch of sunslight with her stuffed toy is called to help the fledgling Resistance on Batuu.

Waffle’s Tooka

Words: 193; Rating: G; Genre: fluff, humor

A fearsome death trooper adopts a tooka kitten.

Welcome to the Cosmic Force

Words: 300; Rating: Gen; Genre: mystery, missing scene, crossover!AU

Ahsoka emerges from her journey through the watery underworld into a paradise inhabited by a woman in strange navy blue robes and her unusual droids. Will they reach a mutually beneficial arrangement over a nice cuppa?

[darnittumbleweed]

Girls Night with Reid: A Spencer Reid Smut Prompt

This smut prompt is filthy, I won’t even make excuses for it. Featuring: some light degradation, tons of dirty talk, a daddy kink, dom Reid, overstimulation, and handcuffs. 

When Reader talked Reid into joining her and the BAU girls on a night out, she forgot to mention the nightclub. Reid has a pretty good plan to get Reader and he back home though.

45) “When we get home I’m cuffing you to the bed and going down on you all night until my jaw is sore.”

72] “Maybe I should leave you like this, that way anyone who wanted to use you could have a go with you. Would you like that?”

93] “It’s okay, honey, you can pull my hair as hard as you want while I’m between your legs.”

Y/N took a long sip of her amaretto sour the neon lights and the beat of the speakers filling the club floor making her feel energetic.

She moved through the crowd relieved she’d chosen to wear a pair of cork wedges instead of the heels she’d briefly considered putting on before she left the apartment tonight. She would like to believe that she looked cute. She’d worn a cute multicolored sundress that was honestly a pain to put on thanks to the complicated wrap style. She’d topped the look off with a pair of gold hoops and her favorite cork wedges.

She knew that she probably looked far too summery given that it was still early April and very much Spring in DC...as much as she loved the bloom of the cherry blossom trees she was hoping the summer look might entice Summer to come all the quicker to the nation’s capitol.

She allowed herself to continue drinking finding it easy to sink into the energy around her. It had been far too long since she’d done a girls night and she was determined to enjoy every second of this.

She was tempted to work her way back to the little round table she and the other ladies had settled down into a few hours before, but she decided to take a moment to enjoy the chaos of the nightclub. She was still very much sober which made it quite amusing to watch people who had far more to drink than her mingle and grind on the dance floor.

It had been far too long since she’d gone clubbing. She was pretty sure it had been at least five years, maybe closer to seven, since she’d gone clubbing. In fact Y/N was sure she’d still been in college still using a fake id to buy awful tasting cheap daiquiris the last time she’d walked into a nightclub. Spending her Friday and Saturday nights clubbing didn’t exactly fit into her lifestyle now days.

Y/N resisted the urge to smirk as she noticed her poor boyfriend attempt to work his way through the crowd. She could hear the “excuse mes” spilling from his lips he far too polite even in a moment like this. He felt the need to be polite even when it came to squeezing his way between people who were far too busy partying to care whether he minded his manners or not.

Dr. Spencer Reid stuck out like a sore thumb among the other nightclub patrons. He’d dressed as though he was having a day at the office instead of a Saturday night out at a nightclub. He had even worn a tie and a sweater vest.

Y/N loved Reid with all her heart, but she wasn’t above admitting that her boyfriend was an absolute awkward nerd.

Reid approached Y/N she clearly able to see him attempt to hide the frown on his features though he failed miserably the furrow of his brow all too noticeable. He leaned in close to her struggling to speak up to where she could hear him over the bass of the speakers. “This has been fun. Can we leave yet?”

Y/N shook her head as she reached up a delicate hand and gave his cheek a soft pat. “It’s only been a few hours Spencer. Don’t be a killjoy babe, not after I campaigned for you to join us on this girl’s night. Do you know how long I had to debate Garcia when she pointed out that a girl’s night meant we left our significant others at home?”

She paused stroking his cheek as she admitted just how hard she’d worked to convince the other girls at the BAU that her boyfriend should be included on what had been planned as a girls night on the town. “I had to point out that you never have plans on the weekend and you needed a fun night out just as bad as the rest of us. I guilted the girls hard to get you here baby, so please try to enjoy it...just for a few more hours. We can’t leave till at least one am.”

She paused spotting the grimace on his face at the words “one am” She spoke up before he had a chance to question why they had to stay so late. She wasn’t about to try to explain good girls night out etiquette to her boyfriend. “Just stick with me a little while longer, then I promise we can go home and do whatever you’d like. I promise if you smile and bear this just a little longer then tomorrow night we’ll stay in and snuggle with Chinese take-out and a Star Trek marathon...You know you love showing me your favorite things. I’ve only seen like two episodes and you’ve been dying to show me the entire series.”

Reid let out a groan wanting to point out that he didn’t think he could stand a few more hours of this. It was so loud and chaotic and the music was awful. The hip hop and pop hits blasting over the speakers made his head ache. He’d much rather be listening to some calm relaxing Mozart or Bach...not this utter tripe everyone here seemed to be enjoying so much.

He felt as though he’d been a few hours too long already. This wasn’t his scene. He’d only ever stepped foot into a nightclub for cases. He’d never chosen to go to one for fun. He shrugged his shoulders not helping but to whine that furrow still fixed into his brow. “You told me we were getting Indian food.”

Y/N moved her hand from his cheek as she leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek a small chuckle leaving her. “And I didn’t lie. We went to dinner and you got your Tandoori Chicken and judged my choice in Palak Panner because of your vendetta against all things spinach. I just left out the clubbing part because I knew you’d chicken out.”

Reid continued to frown a huff leaving his lips. “You promise we’ll stay in tomorrow night?”

“Promise, a quiet night with lots of cuddles on the sofa. I’ll even wear that thing you like.” She reassured him the mention of the “thing he liked” putting a small smile on his lips.

The thing he liked was a very sheer very pink pair of panties and one of his Cal Tech t-shirts. She could probably talk him into jumping off a bridge if he knew that Y/N wearing that particular combination of clothes was his reward.

She pressed another kiss to his cheek not missing the pout that appeared on his lips as his smile faded he reluctantly coming to realization that they had a few more hours left in this nightclub before she’d let him take her home. “Come on Spence, live a little.”

Reid groaned at this not above being over dramatic. “I feel like I’ve lived an eternity since we’ve started dating.”

Y/N chuckled at this giving his cheek another pat as she held up her drink to his lips. “And it’s been a fun eternity. Drink and relax babe.”

He scrunched his nose up not amused with the offer to share a drink. He let out a huff shaking his head. “Do you know how much bacteria can be passed back and forth between shared drinks? There’s so many different diseases that can be passed back and forth by the simple act of sharing saliva. A common way these diseases are passed is through backwash produced during the sharing of drinks.  Strep, the common cold, Mumps, and Mono are just a few of the diseases you can pass through saliva.”

Y/N gave him a small smirk tilting her head to the side not above teasing him. “We already swap saliva Spencer. Pretty sure I literally had your tongue in my mouth this afternoon.”

She paused knowing just what to say to make him more pouty. “In fact, I’m pretty sure you’ve had that tongue of yours pressed against some other more intimate parts of my body, especially when you bury your face between my thighs. That seems pretty dirty and not too sanitary at all, doesn’t it Dr. Reid?”

Reid let out a huff his cheeks flushing at this comment. He was for once thankful for the loud music playing over the club speakers. At least no one had heard that little bit of insight into Y/N’s and his sex life.

“The distinct thing that doesn’t make that activity dirty is the fact that I know we’re both clean in that area. We’re on the clear from that kind of infection at least. I can’t say the same thing for Strep or the cold though.” Reid grumbled working a laugh from Y/N’s lips.

She gave his shoulder a playful nudge a giggle leaving her, her nose scrunching at the implication behind what he was saying.

She still shook her drink in his face trying to entice him to had a sip as she spoke. “God you know the way to a girl’s heart Spencer, just remind me that we’re both STI free. You know how hot and bothered I get thinking about how neither of us have herpes.”

“You aren’t cute.” Reid remarked shaking his head leaning back away from her still offered drink.

She gave him a crooked grin already knowing this was just part of their love language. They enjoyed gently tormenting one another especially when Reid wanted to be difficult. He was too stubborn for his own good and she enjoyed pushing up against that stubbornness. “I know I’m not cute, I’m downright adorable.”

Reid rolled his eyes still ignoring her offered cocktail. He was almost wishing he’d convinced Y/N and the rest of the girls at the BAU that he should be the designated driver. That would have gotten him out of drinking.

Y/N had pointed out though that it was Garcia’s turn to be the designated driver this time around, so Reid wasn’t needed in that department.

Reid held up his own cup of cola giving her a sheepish smile. “I have my own drink.”

Y/N chuckled shaking her head as she spoke. “Okay suit yourself and avoid the lure of alcohol, you know you love me though Killjoy.”

Reid let out a small huff at her petname for him, though he couldn’t stop the hint of a grin from crossing his lips.

The smile faded as Y/N took his hand in hers dragging him off towards the tables where they’d left their belongings. She spoke a small smile crossing her lips. “Come on let’s go put our drinks down. You owe me a dance.”

“A dance, since when do I owe you a dance?” Reid whined not shocking Y/N at all.

She chuckled shaking her head as they neared their table placing their drinks down. Y/N ignored Garcia’s knowing smirk as Y/N spoke to her still pouting boyfriend. “You always owe me a dance, it’s a perk of dating me.”

Reid resisted the urge to roll his eyes relieved that at least a slow song was now playing over the stereo system.

He pulled Y/N against him his arms encircling her waist, her arms wrapping around his shoulders her head resting against his chest. They moved slow swaying knowing their movements were far more tame than most of the other couples on the dance floor who seemed to be doing more grinding than slow dancing.

As much of a fuss as Reid put up about the dance, he’d be lying if he tried to pretend that he didn’t love dancing with Y/N. The simple fact was that he just loved Y/N in general.

He knew it sounded horribly cliché but he was more than certain he’d loved Y/N at first sight. Or at the very least he’d experienced lust at first sight.

Though she’d been working as a technical analysis at Quantico for about two years at that point, neither Reid nor she had ever crossed paths until that moment. Y/N worked on a different floor entirely with an entirely different team. Most of her work actually centered more around ATF cases than BAU cases. So naturally Reid and Y/N had zero reason to even meet before they’d been forced to.

Reid and Y/N finally been forced to meet a few years before soon after Garcia had been shot and put out of commission from work for a few months due to doctors and the FBI’s orders. Garcia hadn’t been happy to take a sabbatical, but it had been mandatory according to Hotch.

Y/N had been brought in to do Garcia’s job while she was away. Everyone had been a bit hesitant of her when she’d first been brought in, after all no one could do what Garcia did as well as Garcia. Y/N had proven herself though.

Reid wasn’t lying when he admitted it had been love, or at the very least lust at first sight when he’d laid eyes on Y/N for the very first time. Y/N had been a bit difficult not to notice when Hotch had lead her into the conference room at the BAU that day to meet the team.

Reid couldn't help but to think that Y/N looked more as though she should be hanging out at a farmers market or a summer festival than standing there with an FBI ID badge attached to her dress. She’d been wearing a pretty pale yellow knee length peasant dress, a fake yellow daisy had been clipped into her hair, and the cork wedges she’d been wearing made her look even less like she belonged here.

As the days had gone on Reid had quickly realized that Y/N’s choice in outfits seemed to favor the more bohemian hippie side of things.

Reid had to wonder if perhaps all technical analysts that worked at Quanitco were just slightly on the odd side of the spectrum when it came to taste in fashion.

No, Y/N’s taste in fashion wasn’t nearly as quirky as Garcia’s but still...Reid could distinctly remember Rossi commenting that Y/N looked less like an employee of the FBI and more like she should be hanging out in a hippie commune making flower crowns. He hadn’t meant it as an insult, but it was true. Y/N did own a few tie dye clothing items, so if the shoe fit.

Though Y/N was a bit on the odd side, all it had taken was one smile from her as team introductions had been made, for Reid to fall for her. He knew it sounded so pitiful, but one little smile from Y/N and Reid had been all hers.

He hadn’t made any moves on her of course, he’d told himself it would be unprofessional. Besides hadn’t there been a recent rule pertaining to a ban towards fraternization among agents? Not that the rule was being enforced, but still.

Any romance between Y/N and he wasn’t meant to be Reid told himself, he would be foolish to even attempt to make any sort of move on Y/N. Fate apparently had different plans though.

Fate had decided that Reid should get injured while working a case and break his kneecap just a few weeks after Y/N had begun working at the BAU. He’d taken one rough tumble down the stairs while perusing an unsub and his knee had paid the price. His knee had been in pretty bad shape and he’d had pins placed in it to begin healing the fracture. He’d been placed in a brace and put on crutches. To make matters even worst he hadn’t been cleared to fly, which meant that he’d had to work cases remotely from the BAU offices for a short time until his doctor decided he could safely fly on a plane. This of course had meant that he was stuck in Penelope Garcia’s office sitting beside the very girl he’d been denying he had a big fat crush on for weeks now.

It had been an awkward experience to say the least. Reid had tried to keep it professional of course, but being cooped up in a room with Y/N wasn’t easy. He was stuck being that close for that long working on cases with her. It made it harder and harder to deny the fact that he very much wanted to shove her against a wall and kiss her.

She was sat so close to him the floral scent of her perfume making it so hard to focus on the case files spread out in front of him. He’d felt his heart rate pick up every time her arm accidentally brushed against his. He’d found himself gazing over at her more times than he could count his heart swooning as he watched her twirl a pen in her fingers her eyes locked on the computer screens in front of her. Morgan had spent more than enough time teasing Reid privately pointing out that Reid’s cheeks were the color of a cherry tomato any time Y/N so much as glanced Reid’s way while they did video calls to the rest of the team.

To make matters more awkward Y/N had seemed oblivious to Reid’s obvious massive crush on her. She’d been so polite and accommodating and just flat out sweet as Reid had been stuck at the BAU with her. He felt pathetic, it was so clear she’d saw him as some injured bird that she should fuss over. He didn’t have the heart to feel upset or insulted by it though. She made it hard to feel offended. She was just so sweet and worried about his comfort. She’d brought him a freaking pillow from her apartment to rest his knee on when she’d noticed that he was uncomfortable in the desk chair for heavens sake. How could be insulted by such a thoughtful action?

She’d assumed any awkward nervous energy seeping off of him was a result of pain from his broken knee and his refusal to take anything stronger than a Tylenol for the pain. She’d been totally in the dark about his more amorous feelings towards her.  

To be honest she’d pretty much convinced herself that someone as brilliant and as adorable as Dr. Spencer Reid would never look twice at her. Sure she was smart enough, not a genius, but smart enough to secure this job. She’d like to think she was cute enough. She’d had boyfriends after all, so she assumed she was attractive enough to attract the opposite sex. She felt cute in the outfits she wore at least. She put a lot of effort into looking cute and feminine wearing clothing she adored. She’d never had an issue attracting mens attention.

Y/N convinced herself that Reid seemed too pure and too good for someone as thoroughly as imperfect as her.

Her past relationships were disasters. She wasn’t known for always attracting the nicest guys to be honest. That was partially why she usually preferred to remain single. She couldn’t date jerks if she just didn’t date.

Y/N could admit that most of the time she felt as though her life was a total mess. She’d somehow landed her job, but to be honest it wasn’t something she’d planned for. She hated admitting that. Joining the FBI was a dream career for most people. She felt as though she was being ungrateful when she admitted that it had never been in her life plan. She’d spent the early part of her twenties feeling so restless moving from place to place never really knowing what her path in life was. She’d gotten herself into some trouble. She wasn’t a criminal, not really. She knew it sounded cliché when she admitted she’d just fallen in with a bad crowd. The people she’d surrounded herself with at the time had gotten her into a mess and she’d hacked into the wrong database.

Thanks to her screw up her current career had been less of a life goal and more of a case of her being recruited by the Feds. To be honest she’d assumed the offer from the Feds wouldn’t work out. She’d apparently impressed someone though, because she’d been hired. Though in reality she knew that in the case of some of her other coworkers at least on the technical side of Quantico her job offer had been more of an if you can’t beat the hackers force them to join you kind of situation.

Still though she could admit she was insecure about her place in Quanitco. She’d almost adopted a mindset that she didn’t belong here. She was only here because she had no choice in the matter. Accepting the job was better than getting in trouble with the Federal Government.

To be honest she kept expecting that she’d fuck it all up somehow and get herself fired. That’s usually how her life went. She had a particular talent in always managing to screw things up for herself.

That was where Reid and she differed. He’d been practically bred for this, the youngest agent to ever join the BAU being recruited by the famous Jason Gideon in his early twenties fresh out of the FBI academy. He was sure of his place in the BAU. He knew he belonged here.

Y/N didn’t feel that same sense of belonging. She wasn’t sure if she ever had felt as though she belonged anywhere. It was part of why she was so restless, that sense of not belonging led her to constantly be on the move. It had led her to attach herself to all the wrong people.

She told herself that Reid deserved something more than a girl who’d just somehow fallen into this job because of a stupid mistake. He wouldn’t want someone who always screwed up. He seemed like he should be dating some neurosurgeon... or maybe some other super prodigy. She had told herself that no matter how incredible and adorable and handsome he was, he would never even consider her to be a romantic option.

Sure, she’d managed to prove herself in her career in the few years she’d been in Quantico. She wasn’t a bad person. She just told herself that even if she wasn’t a bad person, she wasn’t good enough for Dr. Reid.

Y/N had begun bringing Reid lunch while he was cooped up in Garcia’s office with her until he was cleared to fly again. Y/N had told herself that she was just being considerate of him. He seemed to struggle on his crutches so much. It made her feel bad seeing him struggle to hobble around carrying whatever take out he’d ordered or whatever snack he’d packed from home. It seemed like it was the kind thing to do; bringing him lunch. They had become friends after all, she was just being considerate of an injured friend.

So, maybe Y/N had taken it upon herself to take care of his lunch for him while he was stuck uncleared to fly in Garcia’s office with her. The first time had been just a casual friendly offer of letting him have the other half of the turkey sandwich she’d brought from home...then the next day it had been that she’d packed some extra hummus and carrots...and then at dinner, when they were working late on a case, it had been just that she’d been craving take out and she felt weird ordering for just herself.

Pretty soon Reid had caught on that she was purposely bringing him meals, but he’d decided not to question it. He could admit it kind of felt nice, her doting on him like this...it was almost like he could at least pretend they were in a relationship and his adoring girlfriend was bringing him lunch. He’d of course not allowed himself to focus on that fantasy too hard. They were only friends after all. She didn’t see him as a romantic option, he’d told himself.

Sure JJ and Emily had mentioned that Y/N was single, but Reid was pretty sure he wasn’t her type. Still though it was nice to fantasize about it, for even a brief moment.

The shared lunches had continued even between cases when Reid had no excuse to be cooped up in Garcia’s office.

When Reid had finally been cleared to fly Y/N had tried to hide her disappointment as she’d spoken attempting to make a joke. “I’m happy you’re finally clear to fly, but I can admit I’ll miss having you by my side while you guys work cases.”

Reid still wasn’t sure how he’d worked up the courage, but the words had left him. “We can still hang out...and ya know, share lunches...we could share dinner too. I mean, if you’re interested.”

He’d paused taking a deep breath finding more courage as he worked the question from his lips. “Would you maybe want to have dinner with me Friday night?”

Y/N had felt the breath leave her feeling pathetic as the words left her, she just had to double check that he was asking her what she hoped. “As in a date?”

Reid had assumed the worst, trying not to let his shoulders slump too much his eyes turning to the floor unable to look at her as she was clearly rejecting him. “If you’re not interested in being more than friends, I understand. I didn’t mean to misinterpret the situation. I’m not too great with social cues sometimes, and I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable.”

Y/N had quickly jumped into action placing a hand on Reid’s arm stopping him before he had a chance to apologize more. “No, I mean, I am interested. You weren’t missing any social cues. I just, I wanted to make sure I was understanding what you were asking. Yes, I’d like nothing more than to have dinner with you Friday night.”

That had been that, Y/N and Reid had become inseparable after that. Of course, everyone had given Y/N and Reid a hard time, pointing out it had taken them long enough to admit they liked one another.

When Garcia had finally returned to work Reid and Y/N hadn’t let it put an end to what was building between them. Y/N returned to her own office and back to ATF cases. Reid had still made a point of spending more than enough time with her though. Y/N definitely found herself at Reid’s desk on her breaks and Reid had absolutely found himself creating reasons to go visit Y/N’s office on the floor below the BAU.

Things had been perfect. Their relationship had grown so strong over the past three years, for once in Reid’s life things seemed to be going well. He’d even taken Y/N to meet his mom and she’d taken him to meet her parents.

Y/N had been good for him in a lot of ways. Those closest to him had definitely noticed a positive change. He seemed lighter, more at peace. He’d been through a lot in his life, but for the first time in a while he didn’t feel as though the weight of his past was weighing him down so hard. At the very least he felt as though he had someone by his side to help him carry that weight.

Y/N could admit Reid had been good for her too. For the first time in her life she felt like she was right where she belonged. Reid had long ago shown her that she deserved far more than she ever gave herself credit for.

She managed to speak thankful he could hear her a little better the soft R&B playing over the stereo system much less intense than the electronic dance music that had been playing just a little while ago. “Thank you for coming out tonight, I know this isn’t your scene and I’ve been giving you a hard time tonight, but I am glad you agreed to come out with us tonight. I know you weren’t happy about the clubbing idea.”

Reid gave her a crooked grin not above giving her a hard time. “You’ve been giving me a hard time? I haven’t noticed.”

Y/N rolled her eyes a huff leaving her lips. “You’re lucky I love you, you smartass.”

Reid’s smile only grew as he was fast to respond. “I love you too.”

His smile grew more as a tempting idea popped up in the back of his brain, he had the slightest feeling this idea might just make Y/N want to leave the nightclub a bit sooner than later. “I can admit that the club scene isn’t my idea of a fun night, but I do have a pretty good idea of how you can make it up to me...you did say if I grin and bear this a little longer that we could do whatever I wanted when we get home, right?”

Y/N felt a small smirk cross her lips having a pretty good idea of what he had in mind. “I did say that.  What do you have in mind?”

Reid leaned in close to her his voice low enough sure that only she could hear the words that left his lips. “When we get home I’m cuffing you to the bed and going down on you all night until my jaw is sore.”

Reid’s request had the effect he’d anticipated Y/N’s eyes darkening with lust a soft moan leaving her. She leaned up just as close to him her voice just as low knowing two could play at this game. “I’d say that this is our cue to leave then.”

“I thought we had to stay till one am?” Reid teased not above throwing her words back in her face.

Y/N smirked knowing just what to say to make him forget anything she’d said earlier tonight. “I did, but I’ve changed my mind. I think I like your idea of how to spend the rest of our night much better. Let’s go grab our coats and my purse, Daddy.”

Reid couldn’t stop the moan from leaving his lips his hand sneaking down to her backside not shy about giving her ass a squeeze as they made their way off the dance floor.

Y/N was so in for it when they made it home.

….......................................................

Reid was a man of his word. Y/N and he had made their way into his apartment, that Y/N had moved into only a year ago, Reid’s lips locked against hers their kisses desperate and needy. Reid pulled from the kiss ignoring the little whine that left Y/N at the loss of his lips against hers. “Go to the bedroom and take everything off. Get the cuffs out of my nightstand.”

Y/N had nodded her head eagerly the words leaving her without any hesitation. “Yes Daddy.”

The Daddy thing had started as an accident, she’d never had a Daddy kink, not even once in her life.

It had started so unexpectedly a little over a year into Reid’s and her relationship. She still blamed Emily for planting the damn seed in her brain in the first place.

They’d all been having dinner at Rossi’s house, Y/N had been included though she no longer really worked with the team anymore, she was now family given her relationship with Reid and the friendships she’d built with the team.

She’d been standing in Rossi’s backyard a glass of white wine in hand her heart swooning as she watched her adorable boyfriend perform magic tricks for JJ’s eldest son Henry and Hotch’s son Jack. The scene was absolutely tooth rotting heart melting sweet. Reid really was like a giant kid at heart sometimes. He loved entertaining the boys with his arsenal of magic tricks and Y/N loved to watch him.

She’d almost jumped out of her skin as Emily approached her a knowing smile on her lips. “He really is in his element right now.”

“Tell me about it, those magic tricks helped him win over my niece though...which helped him win over my brother and my parents.” Y/N admitted taking another sip of wine her eyes turning back to Reid her heart swooning all the more at the memory she’d just admitted to.

Her family had found Reid a bit strange when she’d brought him home for Thanksgiving. Reid could sense their uncertainty of him. He knew he was a bit odd, at least most people outside of the BAU treated him like an anomaly once they clued into how intelligent he really was.

Any uncertainty had disappeared from Y/N’s family though once Reid had calmed her upset seven year old niece, who’d been weeping over a little cut on her knee, by performing a coin trick for her. That sweet little action had been all it took for Y/N’s family to place aside any reservations they had about the odd young man Y/N had introduced as her boyfriend.

She spoke again shaking her head a small laugh leaving her. “I think it’s safe to say that the Reid Effect is dead and gone at least when it comes to kids.”

Emily spoke up not helping but to ask the same question the team had occasionally teased Reid about once it had become clear that Y/N and he were in a serious relationship. “So, how long till you have some genius babies for him to perform magic tricks for?”

Y/N almost choked on her wine the question taking her by shock. No, this wasn’t the first time this question had been asked. JJ had already asked about kids the first time Reid and Y/N had babysit JJ’s boys for the night.

Reid and Y/N had managed to answer the question vaguely simply saying “someday.”

Y/N wasn’t exactly ready for babies, not yet. Judging by Reid’s dedication to being hyper-vigilant about condoms, even though she was on the pill, Reid wasn’t quite ready for babies just yet either.

Y/N couldn’t deny that the idea of genius babies had crossed her mind once or twice though. It had first popped up in her brain during the winter when she’d watched Reid play with Henry outside in the snow in JJ and Will’s backyard. She’d be lying if she tried to say she hadn’t envisioned Reid playing with a little boy with Reid’s pretty curls and his expressive eyes, maybe a little girl too who was just as beautiful. She couldn’t deny that the thought filled her with hope for the future.

Y/N was tempted to give Emily the same line Reid and she were so accustomed to giving when it came to the baby questions. She couldn’t deny how she felt though the words leaving her. “I mean...I’m not saying I want him to take me home and knock me up tonight...Kids probably won’t happen for a long time, but he really will make a good dad when it does happen.”

“The best dad.” Emily insisted a small smile crossing her lips a bit proud she’d finally worked the admission out of Y/N. Everyone could clearly see Reid had wedding bells and babies dancing around in his head, he just wasn’t ready to admit it.

Y/N nodded her head in agreement her heart fluttering as Reid performed another card trick to the delighted boys and Garcia. “The best.”

That night after a little too much wine Y/N and Reid had made their way back to his apartment and she’d found herself straddling Reid’s hips riding him out like her life depended on it.

The words had fallen right out of her, her lust and alcohol tainted brain apparently still feeling giddy from the conversation Emily and she’d had earlier. “Fuck Daddy, yes you feel so good!”

She’d been mortified as soon as she realized the words had left her, Reid had seemed just as shocked. She’d stilled her hips her face pink from more than arousal.

She covered her face with her hands an embarrassed groan leaving her. “Shit, oh God. I can’t believe I just said that.”

She spoke again rapidly shaking her head not daring to stare down her boyfriend almost sure she’d see disgust written all over his face, especially if he knew that seed had been planted in her brain from such an innocent non sexual conversation with Emily. “I swear to God I do not have some sort of weird fetish or Daddy issues or anything. Oh shit, I swear I do not have Daddy issues. You met my dad, my dad is awesome. Right? You know my relationship with my dad is fine? This is not some freaky fetish thing.”

Reid had placed his hands on her thighs rubbing soothing circles into her skin calming her. He reached up with one hand pulling her hands from her face his voice soothing. “I know baby, trust me  I don’t think this is a fetish thing or a Daddy issues thing. You’re right. Your dad is great.”

Y/N felt her cheeks flush darker shaking her head her voice an embarrassed squeak. “Can we please stop talking about my dad while your dick is still inside of me.”

Reid resisted the urge to chuckle at her comment and point out that she’d brought up her dad in the first place. He spoke still rubbing soothing circles into her thigh with the hand that wasn’t holding hers. “Talk to me baby, where’d this come from?”

Y/N sighed shaking her head almost sure this was about to all go south. She was almost amazed Reid wasn’t completely flaccid inside of her. She was sure this next conversation would make him feel absolutely freaked out. She hadn’t missed the way he paled when the girls at the BAU brought up babies. “Emily and I were talking earlier...and she asked the question, ya know the one everyone started asking after it became super clear that we were serious about each other.”

Reid sighed nodding his head providing the answer. “The genius babies question?”

Y/N nodded her head daring to look down at him relieved that his face seemed more curious than anything. At least he wasn’t panicking. She spoke her voice soft. “I know the kids thing isn’t something we’ve discussed that much, not in detail at least...I know it freaks you out, having kids and you said it’s something you want but you don’t want to rush into it. Trust me I’m still on the same page as you on the subject. This isn’t me asking to make a baby or whatever...I just, I admitted that I think you’d make a really good dad. I guess my brain hung onto the comment.”

Reid took her by shock the words leaving his lips not quite what she’d been expecting. “You really think I’d make a good dad?”

Y/N couldn’t hide the smile from her lips at the look of astonishment on Reid’s face nor the small dreamy smile crossing his lips. She nodded her head speaking without hesitation. “The best dad in the world. I know you feel weird about the entire subject, but I think someday, in the far away future when we are both ready for that step, you’ll be a pretty amazing father.”

Reid spoke his words soothing her neurotic brain stopping her from overthinking her slip of tongue. “So the Daddy thing, it’s a term of endearment. You just said it because you see me as the future father to your children.”

Y/N nodded her head her cheeks still a little flushed. “Yes, I think so...It might also kind of be a submission thing from me...I mean I let you take control in the bedroom, so maybe it’s just a combination of the whole prospective future father to my hypothetical kids thing and also me letting you have control in the bedroom.”

She paused her cheeks flushing further not missing the little smile on Reid’s lips at the new development in their relationship, no they weren’t playing totally into any sort of Dom/Sub lifestyle. Y/N had just quickly realized it she liked it if Reid got a little bossy in bed. Letting him be in charge and letting him manhandle her a little bit was a turn on.

She spoke her insecurities about this entire situation peaking up. “If you hate it or you think it’s ya know...weird, then I swear I will never call you that name ever again.”

Reid took her by surprise sitting up his lips pressing to hers the kiss so gentle his cock still buried in her the shift of his hips as he sat up making her whimper ever so slightly. He spoke his hand stroking her cheek as he gave her another kiss. “You better keep calling me Daddy.”

He spoke again testing the waters his hands resting against her hips encouraging her to return to their previous activities wanting to show her just how okay he was with this entire development. He was stunned by how okay he was with this.

He could admit that the little name was equal parts a turn on and a comfort. She wanted to have kids with him. She thought he’d make a good dad. She loved letting him take care of her. It was a nice realization, knowing that she trusted him so much. He liked the way the word daddy sounded on her lips. “Come on baby, move those hips for me. Let Daddy get back to making you feel good.”

That had been that, Y/N had continued to use the little term of endearment behind closed doors quickly realizing that it no longer made her anxious. If anything she loved the reaction the little petname brought out of Reid.

Y/N had followed Reid’s orders to strip down and find the handcuffs and that’s how she’d wound up nude on Reid’s and her bed her hands cuffed to the bed frame with the two pairs of fuzzy handcuffs that had been long ago given to her as a joke gift from an old friend.

Reid had discovered the fuzzy leopard print handcuffs when she’d moved into his place and they’d gotten some pretty good use out of them since then.

She whimpered as Reid focused on her breasts his lips wrapped around her nipple suckling enthusiastically Y/N whining at the realization that she was denied the ability to reach down and run her fingers through his hair.

He’d stripped down just as nude as her but he was somehow resisting the desire to grind his hips against hers as he focused on lavishing attention on her breasts. He had far more self control than Y/N ever would. Self control wasn’t even a word in her vocabulary when it came to Spencer Reid.

Reid shot her a small grin as he pulled from her breast the cold air making Y/N whine as it hit her damp perky nipple. Reid could spot how she was tugging at her restraints already frustrated that she couldn’t touch him. “It’s okay, honey, you can pull my hair as hard as you want while I’m between your legs.”

He paused smirking at the whine that left her arms once again tugging at the cuffs. “That is you can touch me after I make you cum a few times. You know how much I love eating you out. I can’t do it just once and be done with it.”

She whined a familiar heat washing over her her poor clit throbbing knowing just what Reid had planned for her tonight. “Please Daddy.”

Reid leaned in pressing an all too chaste kiss to Y/N’s lips before he spoke. “Please what sweet girl? Please eat that tight little pussy of yours? Is that what you want? You want Daddy to eat your pussy all night long?”

Y/N whimpered her body shuddering her clit still throbbing. Reid was so good at dirty talk. She almost couldn’t believe that the sweet shy prodigy that was so polite all day at work could say such filthy things to her behind closed doors.

Reid smirked his voice soft not helping but to scold her a little for being so keen on giving him such a hard time tonight at the nightclub. “Fuck, look at you, my quiet sweet girl. You had plenty to say all night, but you’re not talking so much right now, just lying there so desperate for Daddy to make you feel good. You aren’t calling me a killjoy now, are you? You were so mouthy tonight. Do you know how bad I wanted to take you into some bathroom stall tonight, let you put that smart mouth to a better use?”

He spoke again unable to stop himself from pushing her a little further though he was absolutely full of shit, he knew the words were just filthy enough to make her moan. “Maybe I should leave you like this, that way anyone who wanted to use you could have a go with you. Would you like that?”

He chuckled at the soft moan that left her lips just as Reid had predicted. He spoke again pushing a little further. “I bet you would love that. You’re my little slut aren’t you sweetheart? You are always just so eager for anything to fill that cunt up?”

Y/N smirked up at him knowing he was all talk though she couldn’t ignore the thrill that ran through her both at his threat and the name calling. She was always a sucker for just a tiny bit of degradation, as long as Reid didn’t go overboard.

She’d let him call her his slut or spank her or say filthy things like what had just been said to her. He kept it at a limit though, they’d already long ago talked about what their comfort levels with certain kinks were. She might let him occasionally refer to her as “his slut” but the key word in that sentence was “his”. She didn’t like to be called degrading names unless Reid made it a point of pointing out that she was his.

She knew just what to say in response to this comment. “You wouldn’t do that, you don’t like sharing Daddy. The last time a guy tried to flirt with me you took me home and showed me just who I belong to. If you left me tied up it’d be for you and you only to use.”

Reid chuckled nodding his head his lips brushing against hers far too lightly. “You know me well sweet girl.”

He paused his hand running along her body as he spoke again. “You’re mine. The only thing that fills that pussy is my cock. It’s made for me sweetheart, just made for only me to fill up.”

He spoke again giving her a small grin. “You were awfully mouthy tonight though. You didn’t warn me about the nightclub plans. You told me we were just grabbing dinner and maybe hitting a movie, you didn’t mention a nightclub was ever in the plans.”

He spoke once again his lips moving down her throat nipping at her skin sure to leave marks behind for her to cover tomorrow. “I think that you should let me do my favorite thing in the entire world, just to make up for making me spend hours in that horrible nightclub.”

Y/N whimpered knowing just what Reid’s favorite thing was.

She’d never met a man who loved eating her out more than Reid. The man was practically addicted to  it. He was so eager to bury his face against her pussy and eat her out for hours if she allowed it.

More than once she’d found herself physically shoving his head away after multiple orgasms her body shaking. Reid would just stare up at her his mouth and chin damp with her release a pleased smile on his lips his voice needy. “Please baby, just let me do it a little longer. Love how you taste, love making you feel so good. Love you, need to work one more out of you, please, just cum one more time.”

She’d quickly realized that Reid might have a little kink for overstimulating her and just flat out serving her in that way. As much control as she gave him in the bedroom, he adored serving her in this way.  

She knew what it was about it that got him off. He liked the praise she gave him when he buried his face between her thighs. He loved knowing that only he could bring her that much pleasure without even having to use his dick. He was so proud knowing that he could make her cum more than once. He loved knowing that he made her cum more than any man had ever managed to do before. It was an ego booster for him.

It was a bit shocking, most of her exes had complained when she asked them to go down on her. Reid had been so eager that first time he’d gone down on her. She’d been stunned when he’d been the one who’d offered it without her even having to blow him first. She’d barely had time to say yes that very first time, before Reid had buried his face in her lap and make her eyes cross as pleasure washed over her.

She had quickly realized that Reid was never satisfied with just one orgasm from her. She was a lucky woman.

She nodded her head Reid grinning as she spoke. “Please Spencer. Please do it.”

He wasted no time working his way down her body burying his face against her soaked center his tongue eagerly sliding along her slit slow and soft wanting to take his time and enjoy his favorite activity in the bedroom. He spoke his breath hot against her heated skin. “Fuck, you get so wet for me.”

“Just for you.” Y/N replied knowing just what to say to make him moan.

He placed his hands at her thighs encouraging her to rest them over his shoulders as he got to work lapping at her still keeping his movements so soft and slow the musky taste of her heavenly on his tongue.  

He stared up at her Y/N yanking at her restraints once again the action working a chuckle from him the laugh vibrating against her making her moan her hips bucking against him.

She was so beautiful like this; lying back her breasts heaving her jaw dropped her eyes staring down at him as he pleasured her. There was a reason this was his favorite activity to engage in in the bedroom. He loved knowing he could get her off.

He knew that most people viewed him as being sexless even after he’d begun dating Y/N. They saw him as being the innocent baby of the BAU. He was still the boy genius to his co workers even if he was no longer the awkward young twenty something year old prodigy Gideon had recruited to the BAU all those years ago. They still saw him as the timid socially inept young man who couldn’t get a real date.

He had grown up but his friends didn’t realize it, or at least didn’t want to admit that he’d grown.

Reid wasn’t some innocent little nerd, despite what his coworkers might believe. He knew exactly how to pleasure a woman. Contrary to popular belief he wasn’t the pure blushing virgin he knew his coworkers had assumed he was.

No he wasn’t the most experienced guy, but he was experienced enough for Y/N.

He knew how to make her cum. He loved making her cum. He had gotten her to admit that he was the best she’d ever had. That was enough to make Reid walk with a bit of strut to his step. Sex with Y/N had definitely been the best confidence booster available to Reid.

Reid allowed his tongue to slide along her clit flicking the swollen little nub a few times gently knowing too much stimulation too fast would be painful instead of pleasurable. He loved how sensitive his girlfriend was.

He loved overstimulating her until she was a shaking soaked mess practically crying because she was so blissed-out with pleasure that it was overwhelming. There was nothing more gorgeous on this planet that watching the woman he loved cum all because of him. It was even better when she squirted and made a mess, her cheeks flushed so embarrassed about the mess and stunned that he’d even managed to work something that intense out of her. After he managed to make her squirt she’d always murmur that she didn’t even think squirting was an actual thing and that Reid really was a genius.

Reid knew though that too much over-stimulation too fast wouldn’t be fun for anyone though, so he kept his laps and flicks to her clit soft alternating between quick little laps to long drawn out ones. The sounds that fell from his love’s lips let him know he was on the right track as usual.  

She continued to pull at her restraints knowing her poor wrists would be so horribly bruised but she couldn’t find it in her to care. The inability to run her fingers through Reid’s soft hair was maddening.  It was like the best torture imaginable. She couldn’t stop the whine from leaving her the sight of him still staring up at at her as he pleasured her so perfect. “Oh, God, Spencer, Daddy, feels so good.”

Reid’s only response was a moan the vibration against her once again making her whine he not letting up on his gentle laps to her center.

Reid resisted the urge to reach down and stroke his cock it standing hard against his stomach leaking pre cum and throbbing. He knew that this wasn’t about his pleasure, not right now. He wanted to own up to his promise to make her cum a few times before he worried about getting himself off.

He continued to lap at her going back and forth between alternating speeds his tongue lapping her from her entrance all the way up to her clit unable to stop himself from nuzzling her as he moved the action working moans from her she continuing to struggle against the restraints though she knew it was of little use. She wasn’t touching Reid until she was satisfied. She was only touching her boyfriend on his terms tonight.

He wrapped his lips around her clit suckling as two of his long fingers thrusted into her tight heat curling as he thrust them and out of her the action causing her to whine. Her hips rocked against him her words frantic. “Oh fuck, Spencer, just like that. Daddy, just like that.”

He gazed up at her pride shooting through him as she continued to rock against his ministrations his lips suckling at her clit enthusiastically as his fingers thrust in and out of her. She was so soaked that he could hear his fingers sliding in and out of her heat the sound and feel of it making his cock throb painfully.

He made sure to twist his fingers as the thrusted them searching for that one spot in her that he knew would get her to fall over the edge faster. He groaned against her as she spoke her voice still a frantic squeak that made his heart flutter. “You’re so good at this Spencer, so fucking good at this.”

She spoke again only making Reid moan all the more his sounds vibrating against her sensitive clit. “You’re gonna make me cum Spencer, oh God.”

He continued to thrust his fingers eagerly suckling at her clit with equal enthusiasm working her closer and closer towards the edge knowing if he had it his way it would be the first of several orgasms he was giving her tonight.

He knew she was getting closer and closer her back arching her thighs beginning to tremble as she yanked at the restraints harder than she had all night. Reid didn’t let up on his ministrations as she slid closer and closer cries of Reid’s name sliding from her lips the noise only encouraging him.

She spoke barely managing to work the words out as she felt her center tighten her toes curling her thighs squeezing tight holding Reid in place as she fell over the edge. “Spencer, oh Daddy, oh”

More noises left her lips incomprehensible cries of Reid’s name as he continued to thrust his fingers his lips suckling her clit as her tight center fluttered Reid happy to work her through her orgasm.

She whined Reid pulling his fingers from her as she finally managed to loosen her thighs her body shaking as Reid pulled from her clit. He stared up at her, a pleased grin on his face as he spoke. “That’s my girl, came so hard for me.”

She whimpered the words leaving her. “Fuck me, Spencer please. Want you.”

Reid gave her a smile not moving from her his voice teasing though her request made his cock twitch and throb desperate to give in and take what she was offering. “Not yet baby. I think you can cum a few more times for me.”

She cried out not having time to protest as Reid eagerly buried his face back against her center not giving her time to protest his tongue lapping at her groaning at just how soaked she was. This was going to be fun.

Reid did manage to work two more orgasms from her, Y/N shaking as the third one worked from her Reid pulling back a smile on his lips his chin and lips absolutely drenched with her release the sight making her shudder.

He worked his way back up her body his kisses soft and sweet sure that he was being gentle with her now that she was overstimulated and probably feeling overwhelmed.

He leaned over reaching into his nightstand finding the handcuff keys working fast to release both her wrists Y/N letting out a weak whine as her arms fell limp at her sides her wrists aching purple bruises already forming. She had a feeling she’d be wearing a cardigan until they faded.

Reid tossed the cuffs and the keys back into his nightstand blindly reaching around until he located the next thing he needed.

He ignored his own desire knowing she needed aftercare before he even began to think about proceeding further.

He filled his palms with lotion gently taking her wrists in hand gently rubbing into her sore skin a hint of worry flashing into his eyes as he stared down at his quiet girlfriend she still breathing heavy her body still shaking. “I didn’t go too far right? Talk to me baby.”

Y/N stared up at him her body feeling so heavy and her brain feeling just as heavy as she tried to recover from what she’d just experienced. “No you didn’t go too far. I just need a moment.”

“What do you need sweetheart? How can I help?” Reid asked Y/N shooting him a drowsy smile. He was always like this after a particularly intense experience between them.

It was almost amusing the man who’d called her his slut and eaten her out three times, now looked so nervous and hesitant, so eager to do anything to reassure himself that he hadn’t gone too far. She would forever adore the duality of Dr. Spencer Reid. He was just as fast to talk dirty and spank her as he was to cradle her in his arms like she was the most delicate being on the planet.

She guessed a little aftercare wasn’t just good for her, Reid needed it just as badly.

“Cuddle me. I want to hold each other, just for a while, until I recover.”

Reid did just that tossing the lotion bottle back into his nightstand wasting no time to lie by her side pulling her against him the couple clinging to one another their arms encircling one another’s bodies.

Reid pressed reassuring kisses to her forehead as he held her tight his voice soft. “Love you, love you so much.”

“Love you.” She murmured struggling not to fall asleep. She knew he hadn’t gotten off tonight. Or at least she didn’t think he’d cum yet.

There had been that one time where he’d cum against the bed sheets as he ate her out. That had been one of their first experiences into this little game he’d started though. It seemed the longer they had sex the longer his stamina grew.

She dared to gaze down at him a soft moan leaving her at the sight of him. He was still very much aroused his cock standing tall looking a bit angry that he hadn’t found release yet judging by how red he’d gone.

She reached down between them her hand wrapping around his cock her thumb brushing his tip not stroking him knowing that going in dry wouldn’t be pleasurable for him at all. Reid grunted as he watched her spread the pre cum still dripping from him he knowing he’d made a mess of their sheets most likely already.

She spoke her voice soft. “Still want you Spencer.”

“Are you sure? I mean, you’re not too sensitive?” Reid blurted out his cock throbbing at the suggestion the base more needy part of his brain screaming at him for double checking, his heart overpowered that voice though knowing he’d feel like dirt if he hurt her.

She gave him a soft smile nodding her head. “I don’t think I’ll be able to cum again...and that’s not a challenge. I’m pretty sure I’m all out of orgasms for the night.”

Reid snorted at this comment his cheeks flushing a bit embarrassed to admit it. “I don’t think I’ll last long enough to get you off baby. I’m kind of about to burst here.”

Y/N watched him reach over into his nightstand once again pulling out a condom a chuckle leaving him as she took it from him intent on putting in on him herself.

She ripped the foil package open pinching the tip before rolling the latex down Reid’s cock he hissing at the action it almost too much with how long he’d been dying to find a release.

He almost felt it was his first time all over again. He just hoped he’d last more than two thrusts this time around.

He moved over her his lips brushing along hers needing to double check. “Are you sure. If you’re not ready I’ll settle for a hand job or I can even take care of myself if you’re done for the night.”

She smiled finding his hesitance equal parts endearing and annoying. She pressed her lips to his her voice confident. “Fuck me Spencer. Bury that cock in me where it belongs Daddy.”

Reid grunted her words pushing him to do just that he not even taking his time as he buried himself in her balls deep a groan leaving him at how hot she was. She was still so tight from the orgasms he’d given her. He knew he definitely wasn’t going to last long at all.

Y/N smiled up at him ignoring the hint of pain she still a little oversensitive. Her desire to please her boyfriend outweighed any over-stimulation though.

She spoke knowing that she wanted nothing more than to make him cum. He deserved to cum hard after what he’d done to her tonight. “My pussy really is made for your cock Spencer.”

Reid grunted nodding his head eagerly at this comment he wasting no time to pull out of her before thrusting back in harshly his voice frantic and high pitched. “Fuck yeah it is. It really is my love. My sweetheart, oh shit.”

Y/N continued to stare up at him knowing he loved eye contact in moments like this. He had a kinky side but Reid was definitely a hopeless romantic at heart. He loved deep eye contact during sex. He liked feeling connected to her. He wanted to know that he was the love of her life, as was she the love of his life. Staring into his gorgeous eyes as he made love to her was the best way to remind him of this fact.

He thrusted into her roughly her hands tracing his back her legs wrapping around his hips encouraging his movements. She moaned knowing that although she didn’t plan on being able to cum again tonight, the feel of him inside of her still brought her pleasure.

She spoke knowing he loved the words that were about to leave her lips. “Tell me you love me Daddy.”

“Love you, love you so much.” Reid groaned his hips thrusting so frantically that the room was filled with the sound of his skin slapping against hers his cock throbbing as he thrusted in and out of her tight center.

Y/N gasped saying the words back to him. “Love you too. Love you Spencer.”

He grunted his balls already drawing close to him signaling that he was right to admit that he wasn’t going to last long. He had a feeling he was going to cum hard and he was going to cum soon.

He groaned working the words from his lips his hips still thrusting roughly as he chased his release. “I love you, gonna make me cum baby.”

She spoke pride shooting through her the realization that she was going to bring him so much pleasure the best feeling in the world at this moment. “Please Spencer, cum for me. Come on, want you to cum for me. Let go for me Spencer.”

Reid gasped his face burying against her neck as his orgasm neared closer and closer. He began to lose the rhythm he’d built up his thrusts growing sloppy as he rocked in and out of her chasing his end.

He made one final rough thrust into her her name spilling from his lips as he came spilling his release into the condom his body shaking as he tried his best to keep thrusting as his release continued to spill from him until the last drop.

He collapsed against her body his cock softening the both of them damp with sweat Reid shaking as much as Y/N had been earlier his orgasm just as intense as the ones she’d given him.

She ran soothing patterns along his back as he struggled to regain control of his breathing and will himself to move.

He grunted pulling out of her a whimper leaving him at the friction against his soft cock it too much now that he’d cum.

He rolled over onto his back weakly pulling the condom from himself and tying it tossing it into the wastebasket by his bed.

He opened his arms Y/N taking the hint snuggling up against him her head resting against his chest. Reid wrapped his arms tight around her his voice a drowsy pleased slur. “Love you.”

She smiled up at him her heart so overfilled with adoration for the man beside her. “And I love you.”

They laid in silence for a moment before Reid spoke up not helping but to give her a smile his eyes growing heavy as he struggled to stay away the post coital haze making him feel so sleepy. “I guess nightclubs aren’t so bad. If we get to do this I’ll go to a few more nightclubs with you.”

Y/N giggled at this her lips pressing to his cheek as she spoke. “I’m holding you to that promise Spencer.”

She smiled as she felt herself drift off. She wondered how many more times she could convince the girls into letting Reid join them on girls night.

[lalahbug]

Only One Night? Levi x Chubby!Reader

Fandom: Attack on Titan Word Count: 2,218

My Masterlist

Warnings/disclaim: general Modern AU! Talks about sex, but no actual smut

Author’s Note: continued under story Originally posted on DeviantArt, under the same username, on 10/26/2016. Revamped/edited in 2020.

___ is a blank for your name/oc/whatever you prefer Written in 3rd person

Line/header is to separate paragraphs to indicate time skips, as Tumblr hates my formatting.

Story under cut

         ___ slowly got out of the stranger's bed, checking the time on her phone, it was almost the time she had to be home. She cursed quietly before wandering the room, gathering her clothes and putting them on. Being as silent as possible, careful to not wake the stranger from his bed. She saw a notebook on his nightstand, she leaned over and wrote a quick note which read; ‘Last night was amazing, thank you for being gentle. It was my first time. I hope you have a wonderful life!’ She smiled to herself and grabbed her purse.          She opened his door, locking the handle, so he’d be safe. Then she walked out of his apartment, put her heels back on, then quickly walked to her car. In a hurry to get home before her dad got pissed off at her.

         Levi woke up with pain in his eyes from lack of sleep. He glanced over at his clock, 3:18 AM. The notebook on his nightstand grabbed his attention, seeing something written on it, he grabbed it. He furrowed his brow before glancing over at the other side of his bed. He honestly didn’t expect her to leave. He wanted her to stay, he didn’t even get her phone number or her last name. He groaned a bit.           ‘What the fuck does she mean, first time? Was she a virgin or was it her first one night stand.’ He thought to himself for a moment. He decided to change his sheets since he was up now. He spotted a bit of blood. ‘Okay, so she was a virgin. Then why did she want to lose it to a stranger and only do a one night stand? She had to be at least 21 because she got a drink from the bar.’ He tried to replay last night in his mind.

          ___ was in a simple black dress, drinking at the bar. Ignoring everyone and everything, obviously, she was there to just drink and didn’t have any intention of getting laid. That’s what caught Levi’s eye. She was beautiful, some might think she’s chubby. But to him, she was just very curvy, which wasn’t too common in this night club. Levi had gone up to her, saying hello. At first, she ignored him.          “Oi, brat. You can at least say hello back.” Levi glared at her, she glanced over at him. Before she looked to her side and behind her.          “Are you talking to me?”          “No. I was talking to your drink.” She giggled, she had a really cute smile. “So what are you doing here?” Levi took the stool next to her, to sit on it.          “Oh, I just had a really bad day, so I decided to try and make myself somewhat pretty and to go drinking. I brought a few friends, but they’ve all left with some guys.”          “Why didn’t you go with them?”          She gave him a dry chuckle. “I wasn’t invited.”          “Then why were your friends?”          “Because they’re pretty and lean. And I’m ugly and fat.” Levi wanted to lecture at her for thinking that, but the way she said it. It didn’t seem like they were her words, but words she’s heard a lot.          “Who thinks that?”          “My family, some guys, and almost every guy here.” She downed her drink.          “Your family says that to you?”          “Well, my dad. He wants to marry me off to a wealthy man, who is willing to deal with me. So far, every suitor agrees with him. That I’m not attractive and I don’t have an ideal body.”          “Your dad and those guys must have shit stuck in their eyes.” She giggled at his joke again. “Because you’re really beautiful.” He saw her face flush before she looked away. “Hey, how about we go talk somewhere else? I don’t want to be around these idiots anymore.”          She gave him a small smile. "Okay.” He took her hand and guided her out of the club. They went to a restaurant to chat and then they were at his place.

         Levi smirked thinking about last night while getting dressed for work. But then got annoyed because she fucking just left him alone. He groaned before grabbing what he needed and left.

         ___ was lectured once she got home at 2:30 AM because she was 30 minutes late home. Once again, her father told her that she had to stay pure, since she’s so unattractive, being pure is the only bargain chip left. ___ felt her heart almost break, realizing that she would have to tell him soon, that she is no longer a virgin. She quickly went down to her room, to the basement, where she lived. She was going to school, so she wanted to stay with her parents until she got her degree which her parents wanted her to finish. Since they both believed, she’d never get married so she’d have to support herself.          She was on a small break in between semesters, with no homework to do to distract herself. She decided to make herself happy by cleaning. She loved to cook and clean, usually only doing the downstairs, so today she would clean the whole house. Once her parents were gone, of course, dad at work, mom out with the girls.

         “Ackerman.” Levi stopped in his tracks and looked over to his boss, Mr. Lowells.          “Yes, sir?”          “We just landed a new campaign, I need someone to lead it. You will have to do a lot of paperwork with me for the next few days if you want it.”          “I’d be fine to do that.”          “Then after lunch, we can go to my home office. So it’s quieter and easier to get through everything.”          “Yes, sir.” Levi continued to his office before sighing with relief. “Finally, I won’t have to work under Shitty Glasses anymore.”

         Mr. Lowells walked into his home with Levi.          “Thought you said it’d be quieter here,” Levi stated with an annoyed tone, as music rang through the house, it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t quiet.          “___!” Mr. Lowells shouted. Levi froze as he heard her name then his eyes widened as she popped her head around the corner, the music was abruptly turned off. Her father walked towards where she had popped her head out.          “Sorry, dad. I didn’t think you’d be home this early, so I wanted to clean and make dinner. I’ll finish up polishing the floors. Then if you’d like I can get you and your partner something to drink. Then I’ll go downstairs, so I don’t bother you.” She rambled. Her eyes never leaving her father.          “I don’t mind your cleaning.” He stared her up and down, she was in a tank top and some loose sleep pants. “You look disgusting, though. If you bring us anything, at least make sure to cover your fat first.” ___ hugged her arms, trying to hide them.          “Yes, sir. I apologize.” ___ focused her gaze onto the floor.          “Come on, Ackerman, we have work to do.” Mr. Howells turned on his heel and Levi followed. Trying to process everything in his mind. Everything she had told him last night to remember little things he had heard about her before from Mr. Howells.          “Your office is nice,” Levi stated as he sat down on the couch in the room, spreading out his material over the coffee table.          “Looks like she cleaned in here first since there’s no dust.” He sighed before sitting down in his chair. Levi was pleased with her cleaning. “My daughter, she’s sweet and can cook and clean very well. She’s decently smart too. But, because of how she is and looks, I can never get anyone to marry her. I’ve been looking for years. She gets fatter and uglier as the years go by.” Mr. Howells ran a hand through his hair. Levi was fuming, trying to keep his composure.          “Anyways, sorry you heard all that. Let’s get to work.”

         About an hour had passed before ___ knocked on her father’s door. “Enter.”          “Hey, dad.” ___ only took a couple of steps inside, but Levi could see she changed into a loose-fitting baggy shirt and some jeans. “What would you like to drink?”          “Coffee, black. You, Ackerman?” Levi finally got her to meet his eyes, her whole face flushed.          “Black tea.” Levi gave her a small smirk.          “Okay! I’ll be back in a few then.” ___ squeaked before slowly leaving the room.          Levi was hoping that would be her reaction to remembering him.          “She’s so weird.” Her father grumbled. Levi ignored him and got back to work.

         Once again, a soft knock came, she was told to enter. She kept her eyes on the tray in her hand. She placed the coffee in front of her father. She completely avoided Levi’s gaze, placing his tea in front of him.          “Thanks, beautiful,” Levi whispered to her, once again her face flushed before she quickly left the room. Levi took a sip of his tea, it was perfect, just like her cleaning and her. “Sir, where is your bathroom?”          “Oh, it’s down the hall, the last door on the right.” Levi stood up and headed out of the room.          “Oi, brat,” Levi called out to her, making her freeze in her tracks, he walked up to her. “You could have at least left me your phone number since you ran away.”          “I didn’t think you’d want it. I didn’t want to make a fool out of myself.” She whispered nervously. “I didn’t mean to run away, I had to be home by 2 AM, I was still late back home, though.”          “Well, you made a fucking fool out of me. I got to be with a wonderful woman last night, then she disappeared into the morning. Because I forgot to get her last name and phone number. I was made a fool.”          “I didn’t mean to. Please don’t tell my father. I have to tell him or it’ll be worse for me.”          “Tell him, what?”          “That I’m not a virgin anymore.” She blushed a bit and focused her eyes on her feet. Oh, she's adorable.          “I can’t believe that my boss is your asshole father. I’ve wanted to hit him since I realized it was you. You looked really sexy while cleaning.” He cupped her cheek, pulling her face up to kiss her softly. “If you are so scared of what your father will say, why did you have sex with me?”          “Because I was weak, you were the first person to tell me I was beautiful. The care and love in your eyes. It was something I had never seen before. Even if it was fake to get a girl into your bed. I felt special for once in my life.” Her eyes were starting to water. “You don’t have to pretend anymore, to care I mean. Our one night, it made me really happy, because I felt loved and wanted for a few hours. So thank you.”          “Would you stop fucking crying.” Levi sneered. “I don’t fake shit like this. I said you’re beautiful because I think so. I said your dad is an ass because I think so. I had sex with you because I wanted you. I was pissed you fucking treated me like a one night stand because I want to see more of you. I want you. I want to have sex with you more than once. Even though we did it 4 times.” He chuckled as the crimson spread down her neck.          “So, you like me?”          “That’s an understatement. I fell in love with you the moment you down your drink. The moment you blushed at my compliment. Fuck, I think I fell in love, the moment I saw you.” Pulling her close to him. “You’re coming home with me tonight and you better fucking be there when I wake up.”          “Ackerman.” Levi glanced over at Mr. Howells's confused face. “What are you doing?”          “Trying to get her to come home with me.” Levi deadpanned, he wanted her to know he was being serious, that he honestly loved her.          Mr. Howells chuckled for a moment, before seeing Levi’s eyes scan back over her face.          “Are you serious?”          “Of course. You were complaining about her never getting married. Whatever offer you’ve made before on her, give it to me.”          “What?” They both looked at him in shock.          “You fucking heard me. Let me marry her. She’s beautiful, she gets my sense of humor, makes good tea, and loves to clean. If you would have told me about her and shown me a picture of her when you started all this shit. I would have taken her off your hands. I’m willing to do it right now.”          “Levi, shut up," she whispered.                    “Fucking, brat. Don’t tell me to shut up.” He looked over at Mr. Howells. “So? Are we planning a wedding or what?”          Mr. Howells smiled at Levi. “Yeah, we can start after we get this new campaign settled.”          “Good, because I’ve already had sex with her.”          “Levi!” She smacked his arm slightly.          “Is that why you were late home this morning?” She could only nod. “Well, you’re marrying him, so I'm not upset.”          “Do I get any say in this?” She asked.          “No.” Her father said sternly.          “You’re mine, don’t you dare think about running from me, again.” She squirmed in his arms from his glare on her. “Hey, sir. Are we done for the day?”          “Yeah.”          "Good.” Levi picked up ___, over his shoulder. "Then I’ll be taking her home with me now.”          Her face flushed again, trying to get out of his arms. She giggled a bit when he swore at her for moving too much. And for once, her father finally saw the beauty in his child. He smiled at her, as Levi walked out the door with her.

Author’s Note: continued (While editing this my tortillas almost burned, oop. Welp, time to eat some amazing tacos.) I feel like Levi would never be the type to do a one night stand. (That may be just blind love for him but it is what I think~) So thus this was born.

[nochiquinn]

campaign two episode FINAL: now that we’re here at the end

gdi I used all my hamilton and mcm references during the last campaign finale

(update from the future: found one!) (at least I don’t THINK I used this one)

at least I'm at a computer last time; I watched the last one on my tv, headphones plugged into the roku remote (the best thing about the roku tbh), crying silently on my sofa while my roommate very kindly did not make fun of me in the background

know what I miss? liam going "CRITROLE!" every time they had a coupon code for something

don't chat on twitch. I feel like that goes without saying at this point but don't do it.

laura's entire speech center shut down on that acronym

who's ready to watch taliesin fight himself

"alrighty - " "NO"

oh THIS is why it's 7 hours

a level in what now?

I'm so proud of him

mala: he did it. he won D&D

can you imagine

"skin cradle" banned word

darling!!

mala, attacking me directly: The M9 expressing what they've learned from Cad: sometimes things are unfair and you lose people and you have to accept it and move on Caduceus expressing what he learned from the M9: sometimes things are unfair and you get mad and fight back, let Molly live

cornelius: we will feed you caduceus: I ain't feedin SHIT

it would be hilarious if that just snapped molly right back how he used to be

oh SHIT that's right other purple boi

essek is in It's Complicated with the dynasty

"fetch me a goose!"

no it's too early for me cry

it's been like ten minutes

see I thought he was trying to get caleb to follow him

mighty nein cat cottage GO

he's a war criminal but he's cute so it's okay

he's a BABY

"I cast modify memory"

relateable

growth.gif

aka what I'm going to be doing at 5 am when this fucking episode finally ends

"it sucks when they photoshop you bald" pfff I forgot about bjald

that's matt as braun strowman

taliesin: molly will be asleep for the forseeable future, he cannot be woken or spoken to laura: o rly

caleb: what were you dreaming about? taliesin: fuck now I gotta come up with a dream

that's not an answer

fun fact, this is how my bf thought they were gonna break molly out of lucien during the fight

kingsley tealeaf

"you're cute, magic man"

"we have a habit of taking in strays" "very true" weH

CHAIRS

jester the fuck is that voice

"conversations"

"we have eliminated one of the 57 threats against us and therefore you"

jester

"he cares for you more than he's willing to admit" the jester lavorre experience

cry count: 2

"son of a WHAT"

cry count: 3

I fucking love Luc

I like the mental image of veth just hauling luc around like a football

oh goddammit

fuck OFF

caleb why haven't you blocked him yet

CALEB

santa beau

shoulda opened with fireball

just burn taliesin's house down in front of him

oh god I'm extremely slow I just realized the poetic whatever of trapping them in a house and setting it on fire

"trent saves" me, out loud, to no one: bitch

punch the fire, punch the fire

casts WHAT

NO

WE WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU

he does WHAT

no, no "actually", fuck you

WE WERE ROOTING FOR YOU TOO

liam confirmed blumendrei bc he knew this would hurt worse right

she casts WHAT

counterspell fiiiight

jester vs big scary monster

"there's no change in her demeanor" SUSPICIOUS FRY SQUINT

"you're having hex with each other"

shove the bomb up his robes

caleb, on the ground and bleeding: I'm so proud

[travis voice] YEAH YEAH YEAH

eadwulf doesn't get to run, he's either going to - dangit, liam, stop saying what I'm typing while I'm typing it

kamehameha

my boy :(

matt stop DOING THAT

samuel

matt: he's gonna roll acrobatics me: but he's a wizard matt: no, athletics me: but he's a wizard

AND THEY CALL THE THING A RODEO

YEAH YEAH YEAH

YEAHHHHH

laura WHAT

I'm shaking so bad

WHAT'S SEXIER THAN CLERICS

my GIRL

lay hands on eadwulf

(( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°))

oh SHIT

caleb takes psychic damage

ESSEK

this gives me vibes of the group hdywtdt on glintshore in campaign 1

"I'll SMASH them off"

nooooooo

YESSSSSSSSS

MY GIRL

FUCK IT [UNMAGICS YOUR WIZARD]

they did the twitch ad with liam doing shakespeare on purpose this week didn't they

"no sleep" yeah no shit there's another three and a half hours here

yeah, we already knew that, DICK

oh fuck off

that item? what item??? LIAM

that's the loudest taliesin has spoken all campaign

"I loved you both so much" lays on the ground

awwwWWWWWW

3.5 hours of rebuilding the clays' house

we found cad's angry button

I mean we knew what it was but we FOUND it

trent: I refuse to feel even one emotion

Good Is Not Nice

I love essek so fucking much

!!

secret service au

"intimidation.....in spades" marisha

and in a world where Zone of Truth exists, even their outstandingly batshit story will hold SOME weight

"COME ON, GROG"

"do you want a sledgehammer?" ".....LOOK at me"

beaurebar!!

veth ;-;

a pocket fairy

caduceus ;-;

cry count: 4

he has a seed vault!!

essek no

cry count: 5

every campaign matt makes himself a purple spellcaster that makes him cry

"how are you traveling?" segway

ducks from the shards of the tumblr tag exploding

(it is me, I am also exploding) (just a little)

there is so much I want to expound on in these but I also want to keep up with the episode

suffice to say this is the perfect place to pause their relationship until they're both in better places

two hour epilogues!!

"I CAST MODIFY MEMORY"

these awkward dorks, I love them

veth ;-;

"veth the brave" lays in the floor

god, they should be at the same table for this. fuck the pandemic.

JOY BUZZER

SYPHILIS BANDITS

SCRIBBLES

beau

"surprise, it's a child abuser!!"

tried by a library, throw ALL the books at him

GOD every time one of them closes their binders for the last time it fucks me up

"do you prefer bren or caleb?" THAT fucked me up

my GIRL. break ALL their shit FROM THE INSIDE

yeah, eat shit, beauregard's dad

EAT SHIT ZEENOTH

cry count: 6

I just love Jester and Artagan so fucking much

cry count: 7

I would be okay with artagan being a recurring character in every campaign

oh well shit

"she's wonderful" "she's a handful" both can be true

"what do you think france is like?"

lesbian farm LESBIAN FARM

beau "deflects serious conversations with horniness" regard

ugh sam has just completely dismantled his station, I hate it

put that shit back where it came from or so help me

stormdad says never talk to me or my daughter ever again

cry count: 8

wizard dates in the ancient magic city

caleb: I will take them to Tal'Dorei me: where they will take seats on the council

"of course it will work"

"I will help you"

"I will be an old man, and essek will be essek"

the other book!

the other book ;-;

cry count: one million

MAGIC SUMMER SCHOOL

kingsley has existed for what, four hours? and I love him SO MUCH taliesin you are too powerful

[marvelsswansong]

omg hi! I’m sorry if I’m doing this wrong.. but 40 with Bucky and the bodyguard au 👀 welcome back by the way! - @marvelousmrstark

word count: 1.6K

tags: so much fluff, bodyguard!AU, Bucky is cute while trying to be professional, lowkey presidential AU, stark!reader incidentally lol

a/n: a repost, b/c the original post’s tags were not working. inbox is open btw

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

“Do you want me to call Wanda and have her cancel your plans for tomorrow morning?” Bucky asks quietly, his low voice cutting through the silence. You rub your eyes and shake your head sideways.

“No, I’ve been looking forward to that brunch forever.”

“But you’re exhausted and because of the press conference tonight you’re not going to be able to sleep till late-” he starts, but you purse your lips and pout.

“I’m not sleepy.”

“You’re literally falling asleep on my lap.” he retorts, and you force yourself upwards momentarily.

“There. Not sleepy anymore.”

Bucky chuckles at your behavior and you can’t help but smile too, before an idea crosses your mind.

“Bucky, can we stop by a 711 and get a slushie?”

Thing is, Bucky knows he should say no. It’s already five past six and he’s been given strict orders to have you back at the white house in time for a press briefing with the whole family present and a crowd of media reporters by seven. And according to the rule book- the one he’s had to drill into his brain during training and vetting- you’re not allowed to be seen in public on days where there’s an important press conference.

“Sorry Ms.Stark, I don’t think we can. Rule 54 states that no immediate family member of the president’s family may be seen in public on days-”

You roll your eyes, now sitting straight up and looking out the window. The way you lean against the leather seats makes one of your tank top straps to fall to the side, revealing your collarbone. His eyes can’t help but gravitate towards that exposed area of your skin, only for the slam of the car door to break him out of his trance.

“Then how come I was allowed to go to the gym today?” you challenge, crossing your arms. He sighs.

“Because that gym we were just at is a private gym which only government officials have access to. It does not fall under the category of places which rule 54 forbids.” His reply is automated and rolls off his tongue, his professional tone masking the fact that his cheeks were feeling a tad hot from watching you squirm in your seat. You were still in gym attire, the leggings hugging your waist tightly and the tank top exposing more skin than he was used to seeing from your public appearances with your family.

He chuckles out loud when you groan like a child and cross your arms- he’s always marveled at how despite being in the public eye for the two year of rigorous campaigning and another two from being the president’s daughter, you still maintained your playfulness and child-like sense of charm from your childhood.

“Then can I at least skip today’s conference?” you ask, opening one eye sneakily. Bucky shakes his head sideways.

“Rule 34 states those mandated to attend a formal public event by the president must attend unless an emergency under section 1a or 1b is to occur.”

The car takes a sharp left turn and you huff, an annoyed but amused expression on your face.

“You really are amazing for remembering all the rules on that stupid rule book, Buck.” You pause and look at him. “Buck. Can I call you that, Buck?”

“Technically you’re supposed to refer to me as ‘agent’ or something of a similar nature-”

The smile on your face drops and his mouth is speaking before his brain can catch up with it.

“B-but, I mean, you’ve already called me Bucky in public so I supposed Buck wouldn’t be too…. bad.” He knows that’s technically a lie, his superiors would give him an earful for breaking several rules regarding formality and respect when addressing the president’s family and vice versa, but it’s all worth it when you give him that soft smile and his insides light up like a fire. You have such an effect on him and it’s like you never know, too busy trying to coax Bucky into breaking another rule.

“There’s the 711, see Buck, SEE!”

You grab his hand and tug on his sleeve, pointing to the establishment a few blocks away. He’s about to shut you down again but the car rolls to a stop, it’s a red light and you take your chance to convince him.

“C’mon Buck, I’ll wear my hoodie and sunglasses and trucker hat so no one can even recognize me. Besides, it’s only 6:20 right now, we don’t have to be back home for another hour and ten minutes.”

The driver looks at Bucky from the rearview mirror, questioning him on what to do. Bucky bites his lip, an inner war raging in his mind. On one hand, he has to follow protocol and the multitudes of rules stuck in his head and get you back to the white house as early as possible. But on the other hand, your warm hand is running down his arm and your voice is soft as you’re pleading and-

“Fine.” he exhales, motioning the driver to drive to the 711. “But, on one condition. The car parks a few blocks away as to not attract attention. You wear your hat and sunglasses the whole time. You don’t speak, a-and… you grab my hand the whole time.”

You’re eagerly nodding along to everything he’s saying until the last part, which makes you stop and grin proudly.

“You really want to grab my hand that badly?” you tease, and he can feel himself freeze up.

“N-no. It’s just, we would look far less suspicious if we were presenting ourselves as a couple.”

You throw the sunglasses and hat, as the car slows down. You smirk at him as he opens the door for you and you hop off the car with ease. Your hand slides into his, and it feels so natural, neither of you flinch or freeze up.

“You know, if you wanted to take me out on a date, you could’ve just asked.” you tease quietly as you two approach the 711. It’s Bucky’s turn to roll his eyes.

“You’re literally the president’s daughter. I’m pretty sure that’d be breaking at least half of the rules in the rule book.” he retorts back, shushing you as the doors slide open. You drag him to the slushie aisle and point at the blueberry one, and you also somehow coax him into buying you a hotdog- even though you’re supposed to have a formal dinner just before the press conference. Bucky pays for all the food and carries it in his arms as you leave the store hand in hand, all in a record breaking time period of five minutes.

“I don’t know how you talked me into buying you that hot dog.” Bucky says shamefully, shaking his head. You giggle, squeezing his hand and taking a sip from your slushie.

“I guess I’m your weak spot.” you say absent-mindedly, looking off into the distance. You don’t notice his soft gaze as he whispers back a quiet “I guess so.” He thinks you haven’t heard his response, too busy watching the cars drive by the highway in the night, but you definitely heard that.

“Are you cold?” he asks, noticing that you’re shivering. The tank top is not doing much to shield you from the winter breeze, so you nod. He’s quick to take off his suit jacket and slip it onto your shoulders, his cologne enveloping your senses.

“Thanks.”

He tries not to think about how cute you look in his clothes and looks away, nodding.

“You’re welcome.”

You’ve always thought Bucky was attractive, obviously. But his professional mannerisms and steel trap knowledge of the dreaded rule book made it pretty clear to you early on that nothing was ever going to happen. Or… that’s what you thought, until now. Looking up at him now, the red traffic light illuminating his face as the two of you stand by a sidewalk, you realize he’s actually let his professionalism slide over time. Letting you call him Buck, even in public. Bending the rules to let you have food. Sneaking you snacks in between meetings. Giving you his clothes when you were cold…

“Buck-” you call out to him, stopping him from crossing the road. The car is a few blocks away, but far away enough for the driver to not be able to see what you’re doing.

“Yes?”

“You like me, right?”

He chuckles.

“Of course I like you. Why else would I be working for you?”

You roll your eyes.

“Technically, you work for the president, aka my dad. You know what I meant, Buck.” you say, inching closer to him. He drops your hand and scratches his neck, not meeting your gaze.

“You know I can’t say that.” he whispers. “Because-”

“Because of the rules?” you interrupt him, frustrated. “Fuck the rules, Buck. Forgot about the fact that I happen to be Tony Stark’s daughter for one second and just tell me, from one person to another… I like you, Bucky. I really, really do. Do you like me back?”

“I… I do.” he says. The two of you are only inches apart now, and you grin.

“Then you should kiss me right now.”

It’s his turn to grin.

“That’d be breaking rule 2: no fraternizing with any member of the president’s family.”

You pull away to argue with him again but he doesn’t allow you to when he smirks and pulls you back towards him.

“But… I’ve been breaking a lot of rules today, huh?”

There’s no space for a sassy retort when his lips are on yours and he cups your face in his hands, dropping the groceries onto the floor. It’s sweet but a bit rushed, and he can taste the cold blueberry flavor of your drink on your lips.

Perhaps it was worth it to break a few rules.

[ughgclden]

bee, love, don’t apologise, please, it’s okay, and first and foremost, are you alright?? i hope you’re taking care of yourself, love, but i understand, i don’t think there’s been a year since third grade that i haven’t gotten pneumonia in the winter. I hope you’re feeling alright!!

honestly, dead poets society is one of my only personality traits anymore, i find myself drawing parallels to it constantly, for no reason but i love thinking about it. i’ve watched it so many times at this point, it’s,,, concerning. those tests always take me way less time than they give me, and i used to feel really awkward, i remember i took a bio one once, four hours they gave me, 45 minutes in, i was finished, and the moderator didn’t believe me. i aced it too, like the silly little neil kinnie i am. i’ve gotten used to the ‘worse’ side of being a neil kinnie, and honestly, now that my mum isn’t as controlling about everything as she used to be, it’s easier to deal with. i remember once, i’d gotten an 89 in algebra, and she threatened to pull me out of the fall show. that was a neil perry moment if i ever had one lol. the biggest thing these days is just imposter syndrome, imposter syndrome like oh you’re not hispanic enough, but also, you’re not queer enough, nonbinary enough, things like that. It’s exacerbated some days, but i try.

i watched the it movies on my cousin’s hbo,,, i may or may not have used it without her permission since she forgot to log out of my computer, but that’s neither here nor there. i remember having such a hard time taking the first one seriously initially, because of all the new kids on the block jokes, having a mum who was obsessed with them made it hard, especially when i actually got them all- in truth, the only midnight premiere i’ve been able to make was the force awakens, and i had school the next day too. i’m definitely a richie kinnie, and i have the internalised homophobia (only towards myself though) to prove it /hj my waterbottle has both a sticker of neil on it and a sticker of the r + e carving on it. in case there was any doubt about me lmao. stan kin makes sense for you, honestly, i can see it, i can see it.

okay so listen- no really, i’d bought them with the intention of only drinking half of one that night and spreading them out like that, but then came 9:45pm, and i had a research paper (on womens’ pockets/lack thereof) due at 10am that i simply hadn’t even started, so i downed them all in an hour and got the paper turned in at 5:56 in the morning. but i scare you huh? /hj bee, you’re too sweet, in truth, i’m fairly inelegant, but i try, as for the comforting and cosy, i’ll take you at your word, since that is something only someone interacting with me could discern. i do try to be kind to others for the most part. mainly i think because i’m usually on the other end of mean people.

i’m just perceptive like that bee, i dunno what to tell you, something just tells me, you know? /j and thank you, i always feel a little silly talking about it, because most of the tattoos i want are dead poets society tattoos, i guess some part of me, within the part of me that feels so incredibly tied to it, feels as if if i were able to get a tattoo i’d owe it to the movie in some way, if that makes any sense. i’ve already begged a friend of mine to go with me to get my first once i get to new york, the question though, is what to get first. i’ve got time to make a decision (for once in my life) i just spend a lot of time thinking about it.

honestly, i have never known a school rule to make sense. banning ripped jeans? banning dyed hair? it’s almost as if if they don’t stifle everything natural about kids expressing themselves they dont feel like they’re doing anything. but i digress. the same-sex couple rules were. awful. 12 year old me had enough going on without having an administrator yell at my friend and i for hugging in the courtyard and not leaving until we were a foot apart, but hey.

okay, jumping over a fence to go to a mcdonalds? how coming of age indie movie manic pixie dream girl of you /hj

200k words, is that a challenge? also ahaha not at all like my italian uncle up there just opened a ‘pizzeria’ /hj but mob!star au? might be a project i should start… granted, i’m not as good a storyteller as you, but i can try.

when i was little, i wanted to revolutionise things, i guess. i even actually wrote out a campaign, i wonder if its still somewhere. thank you for believing in me, but these days, bee, i’m thinking less about changing the world, and more about making it the next few weeks, and then the ones after that. little star was aware of so much, but also so little. i wonder what they’d think of me now, honestly.

i did, in fact, teach archery, it was so fun but my arms got SO SORE, and the kid who challenged my archery skills seemed surprised when i actually,, hit the bullseyes. my inner susan was happy then. incidentally the experience is also why i made a playlist called “touchstarved and wanting to teach you to shoot a bow” which low-key slaps when i’m lonely. and bee omg i cannot believe you said im better than susan pevensie i will be thinking about this for the rest of my life thank you- and yes, yes it was named aslan, however did you guess? /j prince caspian<33333

i’ll let you know my results from the tournament, as soon as they come out, and i say this having just put on pjs after taking off my suit, and sitting in the room with my cat in my dear evan hansen hoodie, frantically refreshing the results page because i’m anxious and impatient.

i hope you have a good night, with fitful and restful sleep, i’m sorry this got to be so long, but you know me, i certainly can talk. i’m honestly shocked i even made it to finals, considering i was running off four hours of sleep, having gone to bed at three last night. whoops.

all my love, hugs, and a warm mug of tea,

yours,

star✨

p.s i said yes so that?? happened?? it honestly feels surreal but we’re not gonna be in the same place anymore come the end of this year, so that’ll be something to deal with

P.p.s might just start adding spanish or latin or russian phrases to these if i keep having to translate your cute french bee /lh /hj

star my love, i know you said don't apologise, but i think the word 'sorry' makes up about 60% of my vocabulary. i'm okay!! was just a bit icky, but luckily i've recovered now!!

that's so nice - and again, makes so much sense for you. i think you would work perfectly in welton, i know it. i love bringing the messages from that film into my own life, as silly as it may sound. i'm astonished, and so fucking jealous of you. i used to finish tests maybe half an hour early, but hours is so impressive??? fun fact i did finish my physics final in about 45 minutes and slept for the other hour <3 neil would b proud my love!!! oh my god - i'm so sorry that happened??? but that is also so neil kinnie??? it seems futile me saying this, but i assure you that you are hispanic enough, and queer enough, and non-binary enough. you are enough, period. more than enough even. imposter syndrome is the worst, and i'm so so sorry you're dealing with it.

she did that to herself, you just saw an opportunity /lh a midnight premiere of the force awakens sounds so cute though omg - i hope you had the absolute best time. the r + e carving actually broke me. as a die hard reddie shipper since 2017, seeing the movie make it basically canon?! had me a mess in the cinema.

you are ridiculously comforting and cosy, everything about you feels like a warm hug from a familiar face and i love it. and the way you write is so smooth, it makes me think of a quill smoothly gliding across parchment, the deep black ink unsmudged and pristine. that seems a little pretentious of me, but oh well.

i also want some dps tattoos!! i desperately want "and still we sleep" from todd's poem, and was also so so tempted to get an outline drawing of meeks + pitts dancing on the roof. i love that, and i can't wait until the day you get it, whichever one it may be. my one concern is becoming addicted to them and making my bank account suffer - at least my piercing obsession is a little easier to fund /hj

i've NEVER gotten that - they claim it's 'distracting' but how on earth would it be?? when i got to college, no one was distracted by my dyed hair, and i certainly wasn't distracted by other people's outfits or painted nails. you were yelled at. for hugging. a friend.. what the fuck is wrong with these people??

just call me ramona flowers star /j it was possibly the highlight of my school career, sans hiding in the back room of the music room to avoid a maths test

i bet you're an amazing storyteller, if these letters are anything to go by. it would be a new york times best seller, i know it

we all have to take things one step at a time, i think. that's the only way i really get through things if i'm honest. one day after another and the cycle repeats. i love wondering what young me would think of me now - i'd probably be intimidated of myself, but i like to think i'd be proud that i'm still here, pursuing something i love

that playlist. sounds nothing short of sheer perfection. i too am touch starved and want to teach someone to shoot a bow - even though i.. cannot shoot a bow... but i can wield a sword so, it's close enough.

i saw your message about the tournament results - im so fucking proud of you!!!! you deserve it so so much and i couldn't be happier for you. see, your words and ideas are changing the world, even if you don't realise it.

ps; that is so fun???? omg im so happy for you star, you deserve tis <33 i hope towards the end of this year whatever happens leaves you both happy, no matter how far the distance.

pps; omg no.. please don't do that.. aha that would be awful... definitely wouldn't make my heart race.. haha not at all

all of my love, star. pardon the pun, but you are out of this world ;) i'll leave you with one of my favourite quotes;

il n'y a qu'un bonheur dans la vie, c'est d'aimer et d'être aimé <3

[kindofcashton]

𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕟𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕕  •  chapter 2  (Calum Hood AU)

THE REST OF dinner was much more enjoyable once Calum left.  Luke, Michael, and Ashton had no problem making me feel at home, and soon I was laughing and free from the stress of the day.  

From what I'd gathered, Luke and Michael about a year younger than Ashton.  They'd all finished high school and decided against university, much to their parents' pleasure.  Ashton however had landed a pretty lucrative gig at an advertising firm, even without a degree, and he said that it was the kind of job good enough to support him as long as he needed.  Luke and Michael had odd jobs here and there, preferring the care-free bachelor life to a scheduled, overworked routine.  I envied their easy-going attitudes; if only I could afford to live as freely as they did.

"We're not total bums though," Luke defended himself, blue eyes smiling.  The five us were sipping beers around the table, lights dimmed since it was so late.  "Mike is wicked good with video games and is helping this guy with his startup.  And I work down at the music shop, but the manager says he's gonna try to hook me up with an internship at a record label."

Michael snorted.  "I can not imagine you fetching people coffee.  And they'd probably force you take out that lovely lip ring."

Luke rolled his eyes and took a swig of his beer.  "You work for a guy with a purple tiger tattoo, of course you can keep your eyebrow piercing."

Ashton waved his hand dramatically, other arm slung over Hannah's shoulder.  She'd moved her chair so close to his she was practically on his lap.  

"Yeah yeah, you're little startup and you're little internship are cute, but I am working on the next campaign for Fido Feed."

Everyone burst out laughing, and I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.  "What's that?"

Hannah slid her hand down Ashton's cheek lovingly, and said, "It's a dog food brand, and he is single-handedly pioneering their success."  Ashton grinned and gave her a kiss.

"Hey, Ash, what happened to the wheat crackers ad?  I thought you were killing it with the cracker game."  Michael bat his lashes innocently.

Ashton flipped him off and I took a sip of my beer, happy and buzzed.  This was the most fun I'd had in a long time, and only hoped it would be like this every day.  Leaving university had been a difficult but inevitable decision, and I'd feared I wouldn't be happy for a long time.  Anxieties still plagued the back of my mind, but right now I found it easier than ever to ignore them.

"Alright, I don't know about you morons but I'm pretty tired."  Michael stood up from the table and motioned to me.  "How about I show you you're suite now, madam?"

I smiled and nodded, as Luke reached over to throw away my empty beer for me.  His blue eyes were so warm and kind, and I think I was most grateful for his calming presence.  

Michael led me up the stairs into a darkened hallway, and I noted four doors upstairs.  One was partially open, revealing the bathroom.  One at the end of the hall was shut tight, with quiet music reverberating softly from it.  I guessed this was Calum's room, and as Michael led to me to his my stomach sank.  I'd be right next to Calum, bumping into him as we went downstairs or tried to get to the bathroom.  

Great, more opportunities for him to hate me.

The room was fairly small, but not cramped.  The bed was big with dark blue sheets, and the gray walls were plastered with posters of all different types.  A closet had been cleared out for me, as well as a set of drawers and desk in the corner.  It was definitely a nicer place than I thought I'd be staying in.

"I don't know how to thank you," I admitted, still embarrassed at Michael's charity.

He crossed his arms, goofy smile on his face.  "You'll figure something out.  I like anything with cheese or frosting, so maybe start there?"  I laughed, and he gave me an encouraging thumbs up before turning out of the room.

"Night, Scar!" he called, and I closed the door gently behind him.

My bags were all arranged in one corner, and I reminded myself to thank Luke later.  Blowing out a sigh, I fell onto the bed.  The events of the past couple months truly felt like bricks on my shoulders, and every day was a struggle to get by.  The ache in my heart never seemed to subside, even during happy times like tonight.  Pulling the blankets over my shivering body, I simply hoped for a good night's sleep to be able to tackle tomorrow.

Unfortunately, my prayers were not answered.  I tossed and turned all night long, partly because of the unfamiliar atmosphere and partly because of my never ending anxieties.  Pale dawn light was peeking through the curtains when I finally opened my eyes, and I frowned.  

Quietly getting up, I checked my reflection in the mirror and yawned.  My hair was tousled, the hoodie I wore nearly covering my shorts.  I didn't look too great, but I decided it was better for people to see this me early on, seeing as she'd be around a fair amount.

Padding down the stairs, I didn't notice anyone awake.  Ashton had stayed the night with Hannah, both of them down in the basement on the futon.  Michael was passed out on the living room couch, red hair disheveled.  

Suddenly a sound from the kitchen made nearly jump out of my skin.  I whirled around to see Calum fishing through the cupboards, clad in only sweatpants.  He must have heard my surprised gasp, because he turned to me with a scowl.

"Of course you'd be up this early."  He faced away from me as I entered the kitchen, pausing as I gripped the back of a dining chair.  His back muscles were taut and tan, his bare shoulders rimmed with shadow in the dim light.  His hair was curly and messy, laying just over his eyes.  

"You're up this early," I countered innocently, meaning it more as a joke.  He gave me a distracted glance.

"Never really went to bed, I guess," he grumbled, moving to set up the coffee maker.  His movements were clumsy and confused, and I could tell he had no idea what he was doing.

"Here, let me," I offered softly, striding over.  His brown eyes tracked me as I dumped the ground coffee into machine, once again completely unreadable.  I worked quietly, my movements automatic as I had done this a million times at college in order to survive late nights and early classes.

"Ashton usually does this," he mumbled, rubbing a hand on the back of his neck.  I shrugged, flipping the lid down and setting the timer.  I turned so I was leaning against the counter, arms folded.  Calum backed away from me, choosing now to busy himself in the fridge.

I sighed, but was thankfully saved by Michael waking up over on the couch.

"I really hope that racket was coffee being made," he said, voice thick with sleep.

"Shut up, we weren't that loud," Calum snapped, finding the milk and grabbing some frosted cereal.  Soon Luke was awake and joined us in the kitchen, followed shortly by Ashton and Hannah from downstairs.  She looked lazy and happy, glowing almost.  Luke rolled his eyes and shot me a smile; we all knew why the two of them looked so content.

We all sat at the table, Calum included.  He ate his cereal silently, and didn't look up when I poured him a cup of coffee.  I took my mug and sat down, letting the warmth of the coffee seep into my cold hands.

"Cream and sugar?" Luke asked, but I shook my head.

"No, this is fine."

"You take it black?  Damn, badass."  He grinned, and I chuckled.  Calum snorted, and everyone turned to look at him.

He reddened at our stares, and said curtly, "What, she's some brave hero for drinking black coffee?  Please."

Luke didn't take his comment to heart, his expression amused.  "Right, I forgot no one is cool in your eyes.  You enjoy vodka straight out of the bottle."  Calum met his eyes, and for the first time I saw a spark of humor in the brown orbs.  Little flashes of the boys' friendship peeked through sometimes, and I knew despite his rough exterior the guys really loved Calum.

"What are we doing today?" Michael asked, stuffing some toast into his mouth.

"Some of us have serious jobs to go to," Ashton joked, and Hannah giggled as she ran a hand through his curls.  I was jealous of how close they were, wishing I had someone like Ashton to support me.  He would walk through fire for Hannah, and she for him.  Their bond was unlike anything I'd ever seen let alone experienced, and I wondered if I'd ever be lucky enough to discover that feeling.

"Ha-ha," Michael said dryly.  "Reggie doesn't need me today since we're waiting for a streaming service to get back to us, so I'm free."

Luke nodded.  "Same here, the Jared doesn't need me since he's training a new guy.  Looks like we'll all have the day together, eh?"  He shot me a wink, and I smiled.  I'd hoped to be introduced to the area, and what better way to do it then with all of them?  It would give me even more time to get to know the guys.

"Why don't we give Scarlett here a tour?  She's gotta know about all the good spots," Hannah proposed, and was met with sounds of approval.  The only one who didn't reply was Calum, who's eyebrows hung low over his eyes as he ate his breakfast.

"Count me out, I've got some shit to do."  No one questioned his vague answer, and I guessed this was routine around here.  Calum did what he pleased and no one pushed him.  To me it was peculiar, because I'd always been the kind of person to appreciate communication.  Clearly I had a lot to learn if I was going to stick around here.

They parted ways to get ready, but I stayed behind to clean up the dishes.  Small things like this made me feel better about staying at the house.  Calum was last to leave the table, and was watching me with steely eyes as I rinsed out the mugs.  Wordlessly, he stood up and stalked over to the sink, halting.  I stopped what I was doing and glanced up at him, intimidated when I met his gaze.  A beat went by, and then he set his bowl down and promptly left.

I let out a breath I hadn't known I was holding.

Soon after I'd changed and put on a bit of makeup, glad that my appearance looked slightly more acceptable.  I was nervous and excited for the day ahead; seeing a new city was always fun, especially one I'd be living in for a while.

Between the guys they had three cars, the nicest belonging to Ashton which he'd bought after his first promotion.  Luke and Michael shared an old station wagon since their jobs were fairly close together, and Calum drove a vintage mustang.  I whistled under my breath, wondering how he afforded such a nice car.  He climbed in and sped off within seconds, and I watched him disappear from view.

The rest of us piled into the station wagon with Michael behind the wheel and Luke riding shotgun.  

"Alright, where to first ladies and gentleman?"

"We gotta show her the music shop," Hannah proposed.

"Oh yeah, it's a real exciting place," Luke joked.  "Dusty, too."  

We drove off, and Michael lowered the windows.  The sky was sunny and blotted with clouds, a small breeze cooling down the warm air.  I rested my arm on the window, and leaned out to look at the trees blurring by.  Michael drove fast but controlled, and I could feel my heart flutter as we flew down the street.

The music shop was actually pretty cool, and Luke even took us to the back to show us where they stored the vintage and expensive stuff.  Guitars, basses, even a dismantled drum kit were hiding in the back room.  Michael and Luke were like little boys around all the stuff, itching to play and show us their chops.

"For a while we wanted to start a band," Luke explained, strumming a simple tune on an acoustic guitar.  "But life got in the way, I guess.  Besides, our parents basically told us we'd amount to nothing, so here we are."

I frowned.  "You shouldn't let someone else tell you what you should do."  He looked up, smiling sadly.

"Yeah, but when that someone pays for your entire life, it's pretty hard to say no."  I nodded, understanding what he meant.  Money was the ultimate decider in life, as I knew all too well.

After the music shop we drove by Michael's start-up, which he claimed was the "most legit garage in the whole city."  It was quite literally a garage attached to some guy's house, but Michael insisted all the geniuses started out small.

As we continued driving around, I briefly thought about Calum and where he could possibly be, and I even kept an eye out for his mustang.  But he was nowhere to be seen, and by lunch the thought of him had completely evaporated from my mind.

Lunch was at Michael's favorite place, which served the best cheese fries I'd ever tasted in my whole life.  As I was eating a thought occurred to me.

"Hey, do you guys know any places hiring?  I've gotta get a job now that I'm not spending all my time on school."  Back at university, I'd thrown all of my energy into schoolwork since my scholarships depended on it.  Now though, a job was a necessity.

They were quiet for a minute, thinking.  Then Hannah said, "Oh, I think the cafe on fourth street is looking for someone.  You have any experience?"

"I worked retail when I was seventeen back home, so I guess not.  But I think I'm a quick learner."

"Wanna swing by right now?"

"Nah, I'll go tomorrow.  Today's been too fun, I want to keep it going."

We finished lunch, and perused around town for an hour or so more, showing me various shops and places I'd want to know about.  When we finally got back home, the driveway was still empty.

"Think you're in the mood for a beat down in Smash, Lukey boy?" Michael goaded, and Luke shoved him good-naturedly.  

"Nobody's getting beat down here except you, my friend."

Hannah and I rolled our eyes, but followed them into the living room nonetheless.  We wasted the afternoon watching them play video games and arguing over it, until Hannah got so sick of it she begged me to do something else with her.

"How about we organize your closet?  I want to go out later, so we've gotta find outfits."

I readily agreed, excited at the prospect of going clubbing.  Hannah had been my partner in crime and always made sure to drag me out of my dorm so I had some fun instead of always staying in and studying.

We began to sift through my bags, and after emptying all of them I realized how little I actually owned.  Hannah didn't comment; she knew the reality of the situation, and gave me an encouraging smile.

"Don't worry, we'll go shopping once you get that job and fill this closet right up."  I knew I wouldn't be wasting my paycheck on party clothes, but I appreciated her idea nonetheless.

"Where are we going tonight?" I asked.

"Where we always go, it's a place Ashton discovered.  It's big, so it never feels cramped.  They have a killer DJ, which is rare in this town."  She pulled out a black skirt and long sleeved black crop top with a lace up back.

I raised my eyebrows in slight surprise.  "Kinda dark, no?"

Hannah rolled her eyes.  "Trust me, black is the way to go.  You look sultry and dark, and with the lights in the club it looks great."

I laughed but accepted the outfit.  "Who am I trying to look sultry for?"

Hannah put her hands on her hips.  "Scarlett, you're hot, you're single, and you've got nothing better to do.  Get yourself some."

I flushed, embarrassed at her confidence in me.  I'd never been the outgoing type of girl to go after guys I liked.  I'd been pursued only a few times, mostly by guys I found repulsive.  I'd had two boyfriends my whole life, one in high school who had no idea how to kiss with tongue, and one in the beginning of college who left me alone at a party where I knew no one and got thrown up on by a drunk guy.  Needless to say, I wasn't crazy about either of them.

Hannah left to get changed herself, and I sighed as I looked at the outfit on the bed.  You might as well let loose, I told myself.  Hannah was right; you have nothing better to do.

I pulled the skirt on and tied up the crop top flipping my hair over my shoulder as I combed through the reddish brown locks with my fingers.  Frowning in the mirror, I swiped some eyeliner on and curled my lashes, sticking out my bottom lip in a pout.  Hannah was right; I looked dark, but sultry was still up in the air.

Realizing I had no idea what shoes to wear, I went downstairs and saw Michael and Luke waiting to leave in the living room.  They both had dark jeans and leather jackets on, looking like hot bikers.  Luke whistled as I walked by, blue eyes tracking me.

"Looking good, Scarlett."

I blushed and thanked him before running into Hannah, who actually had boots in her hand.  They were the black knee high kind, and I snorted at her insistence of keeping to a black theme.

"Wear these, I'm going with heels tonight."  She looked hot herself; her black skirt was leather, and her shirt was off the shoulder and very low cut.  A wave of appreciation for her washed over me; I could always count on Hannah to make me feel good about myself.

We were all ready, and the sky was dark with only a few stars dotting the black canvas.  Michael had ordered a cab, and it was waiting for us as we descended the driveway.

As Hannah and I slid across the back seat, the driver glanced in the rear-view mirror.  

"And how are you ladies doing tonight?" he asked suggestively, making my face redden.

"Seriously, dude?" Luke said, glaring at the guy from the passenger seat.  "Just drive the car and don't say anything, please.  Or do you not want to get paid?"

He met my eyes in the mirror, and I hoped my expression showed my gratitude.  I knew I could rely on Luke to defend me if I needed it, and that was a comforting thought.

"Ashton and Calum are already there," Hannah told us, and I was slightly surprised to hear that Calum was coming.  He'd blown off the day with us, but I guess he couldn't turn down a night out.

When we arrived, I saw how big the club is and my jaw dropped.  I could hear the hammering music from outside, and watched as bodies waded in and out of the door.  Hannah stuck close by my side, with Michael and Luke leading the way.  I smiled nervously at the bouncer, who met my eyes with a blank expression.

Bright lights danced across bodies glowing with sweat, and a crowded dance floor pulsed with the heartbeats of dozens of people.  Girls hung onto guys, guys held onto girls.  Tables were piled high with empty glasses and bottles, and everyone's eyes were dull with a buzz.

I couldn't help but smile, and Hannah grabbed my hand as she led us through the throng of people.  My body itched to join them and dance, the music almost as intoxicating as the alcohol at the bar.

We found our way to the back, where Ashton and Calum were at the bar drinking.  Ashton spotted Hannah and grabbed her for a big kiss, whispering something in her ear that made her giggle and grip his bicep.  Calum emptied his glass and turned to greet Michael and Luke.  His dark eyes raked down my body, face barely illuminated by the roving lights.  He looked good; black jeans and boots, his staple apparently.  But today he had a leather jacket hugging his broad shoulders, and the glint of rings showed on his fingers.  He looked like a shadow ready to melt into the background.

"How was your tour?" he asked, leaning back on his forearms against the tabletop.  I couldn't tell if his question was genuine or mocking, so I decided to answer honestly.

"It was great, I think I'm really gonna like it here."

He didn't react to my response, instead motioned to the bartender to get him another drink.

"You good here?" Hannah yelled over the music.  "I'm gonna go off with Ashton for a bit, but I'll be back to dance with you later, okay?"  I nodded, and the two of them soon dissolved in the crowd.  Michael and Luke recognized someone, and went over to talk.  I was fine with being alone, and took a seat at the bar.

The bartender had a kind smile and bright eyes.  "What can I get you?"

I drummed my fingers on the table, thinking.  I don't know, what's good?"

Someone scoffed next to me, and I glanced over at Calum.  I hadn't realized he was still here, and suddenly regretted my juvenile question.

"Get her a juice box or something, Joe," he said, knocking back his second glass of dark liquid.  He was probably already drunk, but I knew he'd be mean even if he was sober.

Feeling like I had to prove something, I straightened up and said firmly, "I'll take a tequila."

Calum didn't react, much to my disappointment.  I wasn't a crazy drinker, but I could handle my alcohol.  I actually quite liked getting drunk; the buzz made me happy and loopy, and everything was funny when I was drunk.

Joe poured me the drink, and I inhaled deeply before taking a sip.  It burned as it slid down my throat, but I didn't wince.  Calum's empty glass was refilled, and he lifted it in mock cheers.

"Where were you today?" I asked, voice getting slightly drowned out by the music.  Calum scowled at my question.

"Why?"

Shrugging, I replied,  "I don't know, you missed a fun day."

He took a big gulp of his drink.  "Why do you care?"

I blinked, deciding to be candid.  "I don't, I was just trying to be nice."  My answer must have surprised him, because he actually shifted to face me.

"What makes you think I want you to be nice to me?"  His freezing stare sent chills down my spine, and I took another swig for some liquid courage.

"Generally speaking people are supposed to be nice to one another, but I can see how you wouldn't understand that concept."  With that, I finished my drink and flipped my hair behind my shoulders.

"See you later, Calum," I said before striding off onto the dance floor to find Scarlett.  I spotted her dancing with Ashton, and she gave me a big drunken hug before jumping around with delight.

As my hips began to sway and I danced along to the music, I could feel the heat of someone's stare on me, but it only made me dance harder.

[shigarakis-fifth-hand]

Ok picture this. Thief!Uraraka x Rich!Reader. And it's as angsty as possible? Like Uraraka really out here just looking for that coin, ya know? She didn't come to play!

Warning: Cursing, smut~ish, major angst, thoughts of suicide, kissing, gayness, cuteness overload

Uraraka sat in the kitchen, eating the last Christmas cookie in the entire building. “Ugh, I don’t see why you don’t want to go to your parents for the Holidays! I love your mom! We’ve gone to my family’s house for the past three years.” Kirishima argued as he and Bakugo carried their suitcases down the stairs. “No! You’re mom makes the best food for Christmas, and we get the pool house all to ourselves! Do you realize how much fucking we can do?!” Bakugo slapped Kirishima’s ass, unaware that Ochako was in the room. 

“Plus, we agreed that your mom does Thanksgiving and Christmas with the cooking. My mom does Halloween and the fourth of July with the decorations and explosions.” Bakugo kissed Kirishima before they walked back upstairs to get more of the luggage.

“Todoroki! Say hi to my mom!” Izuku yelled, running up to him with a phone in his hand as Todoroki walked down the other hallway. “Hi Inko!” Todoroki smiled as Uraraka saw Izuku’s mom on the screen. “Oh Todo, Bora Bora is lovely! Make sure to thank your sister for allowing me to use the family vacation house!” Inko exclaimed as the two boys nodded, smiled, and then hung up the phone. “Now, Touya is going to be here soon so let’s move!” 

Todoroki grinned, taking all the luggage in his hands as they walked, not letting Deku carry any of it.

Uraraka smiled, happy for her friends who were doing things over their holiday break. Her on the other hand... would be at the dorms alone. She was the only one in 1-A who didn’t want to go home. Her parents would be working their tail off, and she would just be forced to lug around heavy boxes, sweep, and do their office management for two weeks straight like she did every year. She would never tell anyone that though... how embarrassing.

“Ochako!” She heard behind her, turning around to look at you. “You were on the phone with your parents while holding your LV purse. Your Gucci slides shined on your feet, and the diamond earrings you had been given by Todoroki glimmered in the light. You were everything Ochako wished she could be.

You were an icon for a boss bitch, a model, powerful, brilliant, gorgeous... and as rich as someone could get. Sure Uraraka had the biggest crush, but more than not she wanted to be you. The luckiest human alive.

Your father, Endeavor Todoroki, and Tensei Iida been rivals growing up, eventually becoming pro heroes and starting their own agencies. Of all of them, your father had grown to become a millionaire by going to America instead of Tokyo, and starting his agency there where the competition was pitiful.

That had led to your family becoming one of the most wealthiest in all of Tokyo, above the Yaoyorozus and Iidas. In fact, you, Iida, and Momo had been close friends since toddler age.

“Yes Y/n?” Ochako responded, coming out of her trance. “My mom says I should invite a friend to our beach house. I know you said you didn’t want to go anywhere for the Holidays, but would you? My modeling agency is sponsoring our trip so we can get massages, go snorkeling, you know. All that fun stuff.” Ochako perked up more as you explained. “W-where is it?” She asked excitingly. “Ever heard of Hawaii? My dad’s main office is there.” Ochako hopped off the barstool and smiled brightly. 

“Sure! I’d love to go!” She hugged you before running to go pack her things. “Wait, I don’t have any bathing suits!” She yelled back as you just rolled your eyes, still on the phone with your parents. “Yes Daddy, email them about my plus one. Just borrow mine, I have a few you can use. No Daddy, it’s not a boy, it’s Ururaka.” You winked at her as she ran upstairs, hurrying as fast as she could as if you would leave her.

Once her bags with packed, Ochako came back to the room to see you on the phone still. She sat down, choosing to watch you adoringly and letting you finish your call. “Yes Claire, I’m having a couples massage with my bestie on the third, and snorkeling on the thirtieth. Now don’t get that screwed up with my photoshoot the sixth, and the fireworks for New Years. Yes, the maid went to the house earlier.” 

As you continued, she stared at you. Wow, she’s so... impressive. If only I could have a sliver of that... power. Or you. Honestly, you seemed to get more attractive as Ochako stared at you. ‘If only I could use this to help my family... I’m so god damn scared of what’s going to happen. Mom isn’t working, and Dad might have cancer. What can I do? I’m a student taking classes at UA full time. There’s no time to work!’ Ochako thought deeply, stressing out.

“Phew, I’m glad that’s over! Just called my manager to schedule our break.” You grabbed her bags happily, carrying them to the car outside. “Wonderful! My sister is waiting at the airport with our jet! Then we can zip over the Hawaii and get this party started!” Ochako found herself shaking as you two entered the large black car.

...

Walking out of the airport, Ochako found herself woozy. That’s what sleeping for 15 hours straight did to you after all. Of course... you looked beautiful. You had been drinking hot water with lemon the entire time, had moisturized every half hour, and had taken only four naps, being half an hour long each.

 You were literally the perfect human being, while Ochako had helped herself to your plane’s supply of cake and soda while watching videos on her phone.

“Look! There he is!” You pointed to the boy wearing only rainbow swim trunks and sunglasses standing on top of the blue Jeep. “Andrew! Babe!” You ran and hugged him. “Chance, this is my friend Uraraka. Ochako, this is Chance, one of the models I’m working with for the company’s LGBT campaign!” Ochako perked up, staring at you. You... liked girls??? She... had a chance?

“You bet it! Hop in ladies!” With ease, you lifted Ochako into the Jeep and followed her in. While you were driving, Ochako couldn’t help but relax greatly. The sea breeze and smell of the ocean salt consumed her, almost making her forget all her problems. But she couldn’t forget all her problems... she had promised her mom that she would fix everything by the new year. 

And here she was... going to party while she ignored her family.

“Here we are!” As you pulled in, Ochako almost passed out. “You like it? Daddy got it remodeled it last Spring. It has two pools, a hot tub, an amazing view, and of course... the beach is only a few steps away!” You exclaimed, taking your bags in and upstairs to your room. Ochako had her breath taken away completely. 

“You... live here? Like... you own this place?” Ochako found herself dying over the marble everything, the flowers everywhere, the splashes of color from the expensive art, and the views outside. “Don’t be silly. This is only our vacation home! Daddy lives here sometimes while he’s recovering from injuries since he stays in America, but Mom and I stay in Japan. I obviously live at UA.” You smiled, walking out to the balcony from your bedroom. “Oh, I almost forgot! Here, you can choose whatever you want!”

You opened the closet to reveal a room the size of Ochako’s bedroom. Filled to the brim with clothes, shoes, jewelry, mirrors, and led lights. “Over the years of modeling I get a bunch of cute clothes! You should only imagine how much I have from when I did child modeling. Oh, and here! Pick out some jewelry for tonight. We can totally play dress up while we’re on vacay. We have to look famous, right?” You laughed, hugging Ochako while walking out of the closet. 

“Oh, and the purse rack is to your left! We can use that when we go shopping or out to eat! I have a bunch of LV so you can use one! I never use them anymore!” You giggled, smiling as you looked back at the view. “Pick out what you want to wear tonight, and a bathing suit for night swimming at the pool! I’ll go downstairs and give the chef recommendations! Any ideas?” You asked, sticking your head in the doorway. “N-n-nope!” Ochako called out as you ran downstairs.

Ochako’s eyes led to the big case of jewelry. It had so many gold chains, so many rings. Dozens and dozens of real pearl earrings. “I can’t... no. I have to.” She grabbed two pairs of pearl earrings, a gold chain, two rings that both had diamonds, and then a pair of heels. You were a size 8, but these were a size four. They were Ochako’s mom’s size. 

Without thinking, Ochako shoved them into her bag and zipped it back up. In the heat of the moment, Ochako looked around, desperate for more. She had found her solution! Steal from the rich and give to the poor! She easily had just taken over 5k from you, and you probably wouldn’t even blink. You would never suspect her, right? Of course you wouldn’t. You two had been flirting with each other since you met. You trusted her.

Ochako stopped herself, slapping herself in the face. “W-what are you doing? She trusts you! You fricking like her you dumb idiot!” She yelled at herself, looking around. No, she had to help her family, even a little bit. Just little things you wouldn’t even bat an eye at.

She took a ten dollar bill under your desk, stuffed the pencil pouch you had gotten from Italy, and easily slipped a Gucci perfume bottle into her bag. “Hey, Ochako!” Uraraka turned around to see you smiling ear-to-ear. “Happy early Christmas!” You held out your hand, revealing a tiny box. “H-huh?” She exclaimed, slowly taking it from you and gasping. Inside was a simple silver ring, polished and perfectly fitting for her small finger. “It’s a promise ring.” You walked closer to her. 

“As to promise that once we become heroes, we will remain friends.” Ochako stepped closer to you, staring at your lips. “And... maybe...” Ochako couldn’t finish her sentence as you two slammed your lips into each other. The kiss was hot and passionate, as if it was releasing all the thoughts you two had had for four years straight of having to resist. “God, once I found out you were gay.” You kissed Ochako’s neck as she tried to talk, moaning in between words. “Once he said LGBT, I knew I had to...” She moaned again, turning you on. You bent her on the bed, running kisses up and down her neck. 

As Ochako was about to remove her shirt, you stopped her. “Let’s save that for after dinner.” You winked, leaving her feeling teased. “So, what are we Y/n?” She asked, blushing from what you had just said. “Well it depends. I’ll be whatever you want me to be. Just say the word.” You moved closer as she sat on your bed, getting closer and closer. “Be my girlfriend Y/n.” She whispered as you smiled, slowly kissing her lips. 

“Well then I guess that ring is more than a friendship ring. What do you think it means?” You asked, kissing her neck tenderly again. “I... don’t know. Once we have so many responsibilities next year, let’s stay together. Promise to make time for each other... and one day, settle down.” You sucked her neck extra hard as she said that. “We’re getting out of UA soon Y/n. Maybe we can move in together to... try things out.” She talked as you continued to kiss her neck.

 She had to admit you turned her on like nobody else could. “Awesome. Well, dinner is about ready. How about we go down and... introduce you to my family. I’m sure they’d love to meet my new... girlfriend. First, let’s get changed.” You walked over to your closet and pulled out an outfit you had prepared beforehand. A white t-shirt and black jeans, cute and tomboyish. 

“Oh, and I promise not to peek.” You winked, before facing away with your back to Uraraka. Ochako picked out a pink sweater and black skirt, thinking as she put it on. Is this wrong? Of course it is. But wouldn’t it be worse to deny this love for her and steal from her? At least she’s happy, look at her. The poor thing will never know, and eventually... you’ll forget all about it. Just... no more stealing.

But as time went on, Ochako found herself being the happiest she had ever been. She woke up to you two full-on making out in bed for at least half an hour, then would spend the entire day watching you model, then you two would eat, swim, walk around, and vacation. Of course... the days started to end even better. Nighttime was when you two couldn’t contain yourselves. There was a hot tub on the balcony right outside of your room, so you two couldn’t help yourself. Surely, you two had found yourselves naked while kissing once or twice. Sure you two were going fast, but Hawaii set the mood so much, and you two were so excited to release all the sexual tension from the past four years

Of course, Ochako also found herself getting more greedy as she adapted to the rich lifestyle. She slipped one of the nice soap dispensers, took one of you dad’s pairs of expensive sunglasses, stole another ten dollar bill she found under your bed, and had somehow managed to slip a Gucci robe from when you were six into her bag. It was stuffed to the brim, but she needed more. Her family would die if she didn’t.

Then, things turned for the worst that one night. “Ochako, let’s go night swimming!” You called out, reaching for her hand. “But I’m not wearing a bathing suit!” She yelled out instantly, still looking at herself in the mirror. You had straighten her hair, and she liked it. “Exactly.” You whispered into her ear as she grinded into you. “Okay then.” She responded, smiling as you two began to walk to the hot tub as you removed your shirt slowly, Ochako watching your every move. That was until you tripped over Ochako’s bag, falling to the ground. Along the way, a shatter could be heard from inside the bag. 

“Ochakie, I’m so sorry. What did I break?” Ochako blushed at the nickname you had given her, before realizing what you were doing. As you opened the bag, your eyes widened. Inside was your old Gucci robe, your new perfume, your soap dispenser, your dad’s sunglasses, and your old shoes along with a bunch of jewelry. 

Immediately your face turned bright red, looking up at her. “You...” You murmured angrily, standing up as she started crying. “I fucking trust you with everything and you stole from me!?” You yelled, not feeling bad at all. “You don’t understand! My family needs the money! They’re going to die if I don’t do something!” Ochako yelled, trying to defend herself. In an instant, you took out your wallet, slipping out five hundred-dollar bills and throwing them in her face. “Here’s your money Uraraka! Now where’s my trust! I was so ready to give you my virginity, give you my life! I wanted a life with you Ochako!” You began crying as she turned silent. “So that’s why you came? I wanted you, you wanted my money? Is that why you came? Is that why you kissed me?” You asked as she stared at you, trying to find words. 

“My dad has cancer! My mom is dying! I’m terrified Y/n! Please don’t be too mad at me! I needed all the money I could get quickly!” She yelled at you, still crying as you stopped. “Ochako, I could write you a check for a fucking hundred grand as we speak! You think that I would poor out my soul to you, but not help your fucking family?! Ochako, I gave you my trust and love! Do you know how hard that was?! But no, everyone just wants me for my money! Everyone! Even you!” Ochako tried to spill out words. 

She tried to tell you that she did love you, more than anything. She tried to tell you that she was obsessed with you, and that she wanted nothing more than to have you in her life. That the past few days had been the best in her entire life because of you. 

But no, all she could do was cry. 

All it took was one look in your eyes, your heartbroken eyes, for her to run out of the house. Out of the house, down the small path, and to the beach. The sunset was shining brightly, shimmering against Ochako’s tears. She was so mad at herself, and the fact that she had messed up the one amazing thing she had with you. Sure, money was great, but ever heard of love? Ochako had felt it only with you, and she had ruined it. Why hadn’t she thought of asking for your help? You were a hero god dammit, one of the most generous and giving jobs in the world. 

“God dammit! God Dammit! God dammit!” She kicked the sand, yelling as she stomped angrily. God... she should just throw herself into the ocean. After awhile of standing there, Ochako heard a noise behind her. “Oh dear, it’s just me. Tom and I are going to the country club’s cocktail party! We will be back around midnight sweetie. Y/n said to tell you to come inside, she’s getting worried. You crazy kids have fun!” Your mom called out as Ochako smiled before running inside and up to your room where you waited on your bed, a stuffed monkey in your life. 

“You know what I love about the Indian monkeys? They’re called gibbons. Funny name right?” You asked, looking up at Ochako as she nodded. She could see the mascara streaks running down your face, and she hated herself for causing that. “See, they’re cool though. Because, even if one of the monkeys makes a mistake like getting lost or eating too much of the food, they’re with their partners for life because they trust each other.” Ochako smiled sadly, understanding what you were saying. 

“When I went to India, I saw how they wouldn’t let you get close to their partners because they were protective, but if their partners walked up to you, they would allow that. It’s because they trust each other with their lives.” You got off your bed, setting the stuffed toy behind you as you walked towards your girlfriend. 

“I need to be able to trust you Uraraka. When- I mean... if we get married, all of this is going to be yours. There’s no need to steal it, you’re welcome to anything. Shoes, you bet. Want to use my perfume, go ahead. Wear my clothes, eat my food, live in my house. It’s all yours because I trust you. Right now, I need you in my life. I need to be able to trust you.” Ochako buried her face into your chest. 

“I’m so sorry Baby! It was the worst decision I could ever make! I got desperate and I did the worst thing imaginable! I’m so sorry!” She cried as you pulled her away. “In other news, both your parents are on my dad’s insurance and are going to start receiving medication right away. Don’t worry, my mom said they won’t have to pay a thing. 

She also said they can stay in our lake house if they want, it’s only a half hour away from UA.” In an instant, Uraraka started balling, pulling you into a tight hug. “Oh my god. Oh my god.” She freaked out, holding you as tight as she could. “I owe you so much! Let me do something for you! Anything!” She begged, desperate to do something nice for you like you had done for her.

“Get on the bed Baby.”

I felt extra gay while writing this but that’s not a bad thing sooooo. Honestly I’ve never found Ochaco cute until now so dangggg, thx bby. I always love your requests they make me so happy when I get one @drbumpkin

[pyralyte]

The Pre-Date

Word Count: 3,679 Genre: Comedy, fluff

A/N: I usually don’t write a lot as I don’t have the time to do much of this. This blog is also just a blog for everything random that pertains to my interests and not a kpop or any kpop group specific blog. I won’t be receiving requests, but feel free to continue reading! This was inspired by a conversation between me and a fellow Atiny/Monbebe friend and with the help of my Dungeon Master boyfriend, who writes stories all the time for his Pathfinder campaigns.

E A R L Y . E V E N I N G

You come back home to your apartment and find that your roommate had gone out to pick up groceries from the note that was left on the kitchen counter. You laid down your belongings gently before jumping onto the wide sleeper sofa squealing and wriggling uncontrollably.

"AHH!" You hug the closest plush next to you. It happens to be your cat, who is not thrilled and meows in a worrisome high tone. "Ohmigosh! I'm so sorry, Koi!" You let her go before grabbing an actual pillow to squeeze it tight. I can't believe it, you thought. He asked me out! My freaking crush asked me out! Oh, my God, oh, my God, oh, my God! You continue to squeeze the poor pillow, rolling around like a dog in grass gleefully. "Ah, shit," you utter under your breath. You noticed the lipstick stain and mascara smeared on the sandy colored sofa.

N I G H T T I M E

As you wash your face hurriedly before bed, you remember how he asked you out in such a cute way. It was almost too unbearable that you could have made a fool of yourself in front of your crush.

// FLASHBACK // "Y/N!"

You whip your head around to see Seonghwa jogging towards you across the large courtyard on university campus. Maintain composure, you thought. "Hey, what's up, Seonghwa?"

He catches up to you, barely out of breath. To be expected by someone on the dance team. "Y/N, I-I I need to ask you something." He looks away. You think you might have seen a very slight pink undertone just then. You watch him fiddle with a silver engraved ring on his finger.

"Y/N, I..." he takes a deep breathe. "I-really-like-you-and-I-really-promise-to-take-care-of-you-will-you-go-out-with-me!"

Stunned, you unravel each word one by one and realizes that he likes you as well. No, wait. He just asked you out! You stood there, frozen, red in the face as Seonghwa eyes you in worry, his pink tones also becoming redder by the minute. Your scarf covers your mouth just enough to not show how much of your jaw just hit the ground. You slowly come back to reality as his eyes lowered, preparing for a rejecti —

"Yes."

His eyes snap back to look into yours. "What?"

"I said, yes, Seonghwa," you say calmly, trying with all the energy in the world to not quiver your voice with excitement.

"REALLY —" He coughs and clears his throat, changing his demeanor from an excited puppy to that of a cool cat. "I mean, really? You will?"

You nod. Eyes glued to his.

"How about tomorrow afternoon?" he proposes. "I'll take you out to a really nice place."

Again, you nod. "Yes. Let's do that."

// FLASHBACK END //

M O R N I N G

Knock knock knock knock knock.

The faint noise causes you to stir from your sleep. You feel around blindly for your phone, eventually finding it under the pillow you were just sleeping on. Your eyes adjust to the room as light leaks in through the sides of your sun blocking curtains. You squint at the phone bleary-eyed, immediately stunned by the loud light of your device. Through a sliver of what you can see, you turn the brightness down and look at your phone again.

- 9:47 AM -

"Ugh," you groaned. "I bet Sabrina forgot her damn keys again..."

Knock knock knock knock knock.

"Okay!" You shouted. "I'm coming! I'm coming!"

You looked for Sabrina's keys but it wasn't anywhere to be found, so to the door you walk, sleepily.

You lazily unlock the door. "Hey, girl, I can't seem to find your k —" You gasped.

Sabrina's usually neat long blonde locks was basically a bird's nest once you saw her, presumably from attempting to pull her hair out in stress. She storms into the apartment, mumbling to herself.

"I can't believe I walked all the way to the salon just to find I didn't even have my Goddamn keys on me," she hissed. "Again." She rummages through the sofa, with Koi running away from the steam coming from her human’s ears. She sighs exasperatingly.

"Was it not in your usual spot?" You ask, rubbing your eyes.

"No, it wasn't! You couldn't find it either?"

"No..."

You help your incredibly stressed out roommate to find the keys in her room, your room, the kitchen, and the living room. Nothing. Then, an unusual idea popped into your mind. You look at Koi. Then to her cat tree. Then back to her. She mewls innocently. You walk over to the tree, eyeing it suspiciously. You reach above, feeling around the top bed. Nothing. The two middle beds. Nothing either. Then at the bottom-most bed, all the way in the back, far beyond sight, you find the coveted silver treasure.

"I found them!" You exclaimed to Sabrina. "I found them in the cat tree!"

"Oh, thank effing goodness!" She sighs loudly in relief. She smooths her hair out while walking over to you. You drop the keys into her outstretched hand.

"Okay, leaving for real this time, Y/N." She walks to and opens the front door.

"Alright, have a good one," you say wearily, walking back towards your bedroom.

"You too. And — oh! Y/N."

You turn around.

"Have fun... with your date." She winks as she closes the door and locks it from the outside.

The date? You wondered. Oh! The DATE!

"I gotta get ready! WHAT TIME IS IT?"

- 10:23 AM -

You sigh in relief. "I have time."

"Mreoooww!" Koi meows at her disgustingly empty food bowl.

"Okay, okay, I'll feed you, Koi."

- 10:35 AM -

Knock knock knock knock knock.

The sound of unexpected knocking, again, nearly made you choke on your toothpaste. Did she forget something else this time, you thought. You walk out of the bathroom, still brushing your teeth. You open the door and —

"Good morning!"

"Good mor —?!" You stopped brushing your teeth and sees a casual yet stylish Seonghwa at the door, carrying some kind of brown paper bag. He beams at you.

You slam the door on him. He can't see me like this! OH, MY GOD, HE CAN'T SEE ME LIKE THIS! You open the door again. HE'S STILL THERE! You slam it. Then open it again. His smile still shining radiantly, with a touch of confusion. Your toothbrush falls out of your mouth. You would let it land on the floor if you didn't remember that it was an expensive electric toothbrush. "Oh, shit!" You try to catch it while it bounces from one hand to the other. When you finally got it, it happens to bounce off your hand once more and hit Seonghwa's chin, leaving a residue. He flinches a bit.

OH, GOD, NO, you internally scream. Not only is this happening right before the real date, but you're obviously not ready. Your bun is a crazy rat's nest, your over-sized off-white shirt with a pink bunny design is awkwardly resting on one side of your hip and the other, loose. Your permanently stained basketball shorts with elastic that has long since worn out reveals your yet to be shaven legs. You quickly eye him up and down before taking cover behind the door. "Damn, you didn't have to be this punctual," you mutter, looking away from him.

"Oh? I figured," he begins, looking down at the bag he is holding, "that you might want some breakfast with me?"

Breakfast? You look down at the bag as he reaches in and pulls out your favorite kind of twisted doughnut. Two of them, in fact.

"Just for you," he says shyly. You salivate at the sight of the treat you rarely get.

"But what about you?" you ask softly, looking back at him through your bangs.

"Don't worry, I've got some myself too!"

You sigh in defeat. "Well, you're already here. I'll just have let you in." You open the door slightly. Just as he was about to walk in, you stop. "But don't look at me!"

He tilts his head to the side like a puppy. Why are you looking at me like that? Stoooop! You hold your composure to keep yourself from melting and clear your throat. "Okay?" you reaffirm sternly.

He nods.

You open the entryway wider for him to enter, albeit a bit hesitantly since you are just now realizing the state of the living room. "Oh, uh," you stammer, looking at the disheveled sofa cushions. "My roommate — she couldn't find her keys so we looked for them." You laugh nervously while closing the door and locking it. You hurried over to the sofa to fix them up before offering a seat to Seonghwa. Respecting your wishes, he looks down at the floor.

"Do you mind if I eat a little of my breakfast while I wait for you to be ready?" he asks. His stomach growls a mighty one. He scratches the back of his head with embarrassment accompanied by a nervous chuckle.

You giggled. "Of course not! Please eat. I, uh -- it, uh, I'll go get ready, but it'll take a while. I-I'm sorry." Your stammering is getting the best of you as you make your way back to the bathroom. But wait.

"My toothbrush!" you gasped.

"Oh, I set it on the dining table for you," he says, pointing to the standing brush.

"Oh, thank you!" You grab it off the table, almost stopping in your tracks to ask how did he manage to catch it, but decided to push that off to the side. You walk back to the bathroom to do your morning routine.

S E O N G H W A . P O V

Sitting down on the sofa Y/N just fixed, he wiggles his silver ring off and sets it on the glass table in front of him to eat his handheld breakfast. He was starving as he got up very early to practice his choreography with his dance team. Wow, her new place looks nice, he thought. He looks at the collection of eclectic cool hues of artwork between yours and Sabrina's that tie the décor together. His wandering eyes became distracted when he felt something pressing up against his leg. He looks down.

"Oh, hi there!" he says sweetly and softly to the calico creature. Koi rubs her head into his shin aggressively. He puts his sandwich down onto the table and bends over to scratch her chin. Her purr fills the room before being drowned out by the rushing water of the shower being turned on. She snaps her head in the direction of the sound. Her eyes grow big and runs off from his hand while making a short trill. He chuckles as he motions to pick up his sandwich again from the table.

- 11:02 AM -

He balls up the wrapping paper and throws it into the empty paper bag. Y/N's twisted doughnuts were set aside on the table. He leans back on the sofa and takes out his phone from his pocket. He flips through his Engstagram feed until he realizes his finger felt odd. He looks away from his phone and thumbs the barren spot of his ring finger. He leans forward to grab the ring off the table when he notices it missing.

"Wh-whuh, what?!" He frantically whispers. He looks around the table, under, and around the sides. His eyes darts around the sofa. Did it get lost here? He feels around for the shiny cold object. He sticks his hands between the sofa cushions and felt some gross crumbs. "Eugh..." He straightens up again with a calm demeanor — just in case Y/N would come out anytime — as his own mind screams at him. How could you lose the ring, you giant idiot! The only thing you had! He scans the living area with one hand on his hip, exasperated. He sighs as he runs his fingers through his full yet luscious raven locks.

Thud.

He snaps his head over to see Koi on sitting on the woolly carpet, green orbs staring back at Seonghwa inquisitively. She slow blinks at him and busies herself by licking her paw. He plops down on the sofa, defeated, with head in his hands. He gives out a loud, long sigh as the sound of a door opening caught his attention.

Y / N . P O V

You come out of the bathroom, hair very loosely curled with light make up on. You roll up the sleeves of your sweater that has been tucked into your partially pleated skirt. You heard Seonghwa's loud sigh and was surprised to see an unusually startled look on his face.

"Eh? What's wrong?" You ask, as you walk over to chair in the dining area to secure your socks. At this point, he has seen you at your worst, so you're just slightly more relaxed in front of him.

"Ah, it's nothing!" says Seonghwa, waving his left hand dismissively with his right hand stuffed in his jacket pocket.

You notice his voice was just a tinge higher than normal. I mean, why would you notice such a thing? It's not like you listen to his voice every night.

Your mind begins to stir up stories as to why he was acting strange. Did he hurt himself? Did he steal something from you? Was he looking at indecent things on his phone? No, his phone is on the table. But... wait... is he going to propose?! You couldn't bear the thought of any of that and shake your head vigorously. No, you dumdum! Why would he do that after just asking me out yesterday? You shut your eyes tight and open them again only for them to fall on a calm but with an edge Seonghwa. They narrow at the sight of him.

"Did you..." you begin slowly, "eat my twisted doughnuts?" You smirk.

"Oh!" he exclaimed. "No! They're right here!" He picks them up and briskly walks over to hand them to you. Single-handedly. Your eyebrow raises slightly as he doesn't usually like to give gifts away with one hand, but rather with both hands. Something is indeed amiss. You take the treat out of his hand slowly and decide to yourself that you will do some observational investigation. You look up at him, giving him a thankful smile. His eyes lit up when he sees your face up close and unguarded for the first time today. He blushes and smiles to himself as his eyes fell to the floor, out of shyness.

You sit down in the chair you used earlier to balance yourself while adjusting your socks. The familiar crinkling sound of the wax paper from your favorite bakery makes its way to your ears and instantly, you're hit with nostalgia. You bring up the cinnamon sugar delight to your mouth and take a bite, savoring the taste, with eyes closed. It's been years since you were able to have one of these again. You weren't able to go to the bakery anymore since you moved closer to your university and it was on the other side of the river near your parents' house. Unfortunately, the only transportation you have is your bike.

Your memory lane train derailed when you heard a soft chuckle. You open one eye to look at him. Your cheeks were ballooned with food since you didn't realize you practically inhaled the whole thing.

"Hmmf? Ith thumthing hwunny?" you ask, with mock annoyance.

"You look so cute with your cheeks like that," he points, smiling. "You're like a chipmunk!"

You cross your arms and pout while chewing slowly and carefully. He giggles again and pokes your cheek gently.

"Hmph!" You turned slightly away from him, eyes closed with nose in the air. You continue chewing and swallowing little by little. You covertly open your eye closest to him and see him trying to scan around your living area. He's looking for something. But what? You decided to use the process of elimination.

"Seonghwa," you say flatly.

He snaps his head back to you. Smiling, he replies, "Yes?"

"Are you looking to steal from me?"

"What?!"

"You've been acting strange since I've come out all ready and stuff."

He pauses for a moment, seemingly lost in thought before his eyes meet yours. The lengthy eye contact seems to stretch on for an eternity, growing more and more intense as he brings his face closer to yours. You feel the heat rush in your face along with a tinge of embarrassment since your chipmunk cheeks aren't completely gone yet.

"Yes, I've come to steal from you."

"What the f —!"

"I've come to steal your most precious treasure."

You look at him, befuddled.

"Your..." he points at your chest, whispering, "Heart."

You blankly stare at him. The eternal eye contact returns once again in awkward silence, until he threw his head back in laughter. The look of annoyance spreads across your face as you finally chew and swallow the last bit of doughnut left. You facepalm — while avoiding your eye make up — and stretch your eyes downward as you drag your hand in disgust.

"Ugh!" you groaned. "What the hell was that?!"

Seonghwa continues to laugh heartily. You see him clutching his stomach and leaning so far back in his chair, you almost didn't notice him about to tip over backwards. You frantically get up from your seat and scurry over to him, but it was too late. As he falls, his center of gravity was too low for you to have enough leverage, thus you falling along with him. Your arm is stuck between the floor and his back.

"Are you okay?!" You look down at him only to realize how close his face was to yours once again. Actually, even closer. He looks up at you with a soft gaze that could melt your all worries away. The apartment around you fades and all you see is the two of you. He lifts his arm up next to your head and gently tucks your soft locks behind your ear. His gaze lowers to your lips, then back to your eyes again. You're lost in the world that which his eyes held, slowly leaning in closer to —

"OOF!" A creature has landed on your back and pushed herself off to jump onto the table, which causes you to fall sideways onto the cold tile floor. You turn around to see Koi casually sniffing the wrap the uneaten doughnut is in, turning her head to look at you, slow blinks, then walks away, with tail high in the air. You roll onto your back, feeling a little dizzy, but somewhat defeated.

"You alright?" Seonghwa asks softly next to you.

"Y-yeah... I'm okay." You turn your face away from him to hide your red cheeks when you see something glinting in the shadow at the base of the cat tree. You tilt your head against the hard floor. Ow, that was a bad idea. You rub the slightly sore spot with your free hand. You gently tug your arm underneath Seonghwa and feel the weight being lift off your almost numb limb as you pull away. You get up carefully due to your skirt and walk over to the cat tree. You kneel down in front of it and feel inside the bottom-most bed. A slick yet cold texture grazed your skin. You went over the same area to feel it again and curl your fingers around it to pull it out. You open your hand and wondered, how did this get here? Seonghwa looks at your hand holding the ring and gasps. "It was there?! It was in there?! How—why—"

"Koi is like a magpie," you say while inspecting and cleaning the ring, "she likes to steal shiny things, particularly silver looking items."

You get up from the kneeling position you were in and walk over to him. With the ring in between your index finger and thumb, you place into the palm of his outstretched hand.

"Honestly," you chuckled, "I'm surprised you haven't managed to lose this in a year or so."

"It was..."He blushes. "It's because I've liked you for such a long time and this was the first and only gift you had given me."

"Oh!" You feel your cheeks heat up. "Well, I had given you other gifts too since then!" you pout.

He laughs as you walk over to the entry way to put on your chunky sole shoes. "Yes, but this is the only thing that isn't edible."

"Ha, well, you were practicing so hard, you needed to eat 24/7!" You finished tying up the laces on your shoes. You get up and grab your mini backpack off the sofa, along with your keys. "Let's go."

"Wait!"

You halt and turn to look at him. "Did you lose something else too?" you mused.

He slowly walks over to you and holds your shoulders. He scans over you and stops at your eyes, holding your gaze long enough that your cheeks begin to feel hot again. You’ve been blushing a lot today.

"I've always wanted to say," he begins softly. He leans in to your ear. "You look so beautiful."

Your whole being starts to feel like it's melting upon hearing those sincere words. Even after a couple of years of knowing him, hearing it like this from him, it felt like utopia.

"H-h-haaa, um, look, I swear if it's one of your cringy jokes again," you protest to protect yourself from completely dying. "C'mon, let's go!" You lock arms with him and drag him out of the apartment.

B O N U S × K O I . P O V

Sitting on top of the cat tree, she watches Y/N and that strange man leave, locking the door behind them. She hops down to the floor and makes her way into the kitchen. On her way, she finds a silver hair clip left behind on the floor where her human was just laying. She picks it up by the mouth and continues on. She jumps up on the kitchen counter and to the top of the fridge. She lays her newly acquired precious silver on a small mound of other miscellaneous silver objects. She trills in satisfaction.