#if i have to hear you talk about this stupid goddamn stuffed elephant…

[dennisplaidshirts98]

this scene is so fucking funny to me because the scene opens to dennis seemingly talking about his boyfriend before mac says he’s tired of hearing him talk about his childhood stuffed animal

[bookworlders]

the wedding date - ch. 6

a/n: hope you enjoy! heads up the next chapter will be nsfw 

part 6 of the percabeth fake dating!au 

part 1

“Cheers!”

Piper and her bridesmaids clinked phallic shot glasses with “P GETS J’d” engraved on the sides, and each downed shots of tequila.

The interior of Cabin 10, Piper’s old cabin, had been completely redecorated by Drew and Leo that afternoon. The pink walls and vanities that littered the floor were decked out in various penius paraphernalia. The bridal party, all decked out in clubbing clothes and bridesmaid sashes, all gathered around a truly impressive array of alcohols and cocktail ingredients to pre-game Piper’s hen do.

Leo climbed on top of a pink velour ottoman, “Ahem, attention!” He clinked a hot pink penis-shaped straw against his shot glass, “Welcome to Beauty Queen’s Final Night Out—”

“Ah, ah, ah, no, Leo, that is not what we’re calling it,” Piper chimed, sucking on lime.

“Fine, Piper’s Penis Parade—”

“No.”

“Rest in Peace, Piper’s Innocen—”

“Leo.”

“Fine! Piper’s bachelorette party,” Leo grumbled, “Got an exciting night for you ladies planned. Argus is gonna drive you guys in-land to the club, you’ll dance the night away with an open bar, and he’ll drive you guys back here when you’re all thoroughly blacked out. Be mindful, though, for those in the wedding party, we have a dance lesson in the morning so go crazy, go stupid, but you have to have a functioning body in the morning.”

Even though they were just going to the one-and-only source of night life in Montauk, Annabeth looked at her friends, they looked amazing. She felt extremely good herself in a short, black bodycon dress that showed off her athletic build and her “man killer” heels from college — the alcohol in her system helped too.

As Leo rattled off the list of things to be mindful of during the night, Annabeth leaned over and began to make herself a martini.

Piper, in white jeans and a flowy, low-cut top under her sparkly white “Bride” sash, nudged Annabeth as she plopped an olive into her glass, “Hey, make me one too. A double if Leo is going to keep on talking.”

Annabeth chuckled, glancing over to Leo atop the footrest who had been joined by Drew in listing off the acceptable songs to request to the DJ. She handed Piper the martini glass.

“Thanks,” Piper muttered, throwing it back, “I am exhausted after today, but Leo insisted I have my bachelorette party tonight with everyone here.”

“Today was so fun, though,” Annabeth said, “I forgot how much I missed this place.”

“Percy looked like he was having a good time.”

“Oh? I’m glad, I was a little nervous about bringing him.”

“I could tell. But he’s great, ‘Beth, really. I’m glad you brought him,” Piper said, “I know I only met him this morning, but you guys are good together. I just sense this easiness with the two of you. He seems to make you happy”

Annabeth flushed. Percy did make her happy, “Yeah, he’s—Percy’s a good guy.”

Thalia, who was downing her second drink, piped into their conversation, “We’re talking about Percy? Yeah, Annabeth, Percy. I mean, wow. That is a hot piece of ass, right there. And I like men and women so it takes a lot to catch my eye.”

Annabeth nodded in agreement and grabbed a hard cider from the cooler just to keep from having to respond.

“I mean you always got the cute ones, didn’t you?” Thalia said, taking the cider from her and handing Annabeth her empty wine glass. “Percy, Luke...”

“Thalia—” Piper said.

“But then again, it took you years of pining after Luke for him to notice you. It’s funny how you and Percy, how long did you say, a month ago? Only? And you already brought him to us. I can see why though, he’s so goddamn attractive.

Annabeth’s face and anger flared, “Thalia—”

Thalia rambled on, “Perfect timing so you could have a wedding date because gods forbid perfect Annabeth with her perfect career and perfect life not have a perfect date, too. It was easy though, right, because all the guys fall for Annie! He’s no Luke, though.”

“Enough, Thals. She’s just drunk, ” Piper muttered to Annabeth, rolling her eyes. She could tell Piper was annoyed with her fiancé’s sister. Thankfully, Leo had finished explaining proper night club dance circle etiquette and Drew started blasting trashy pop.

Knock, knock.

“Was anyone missing?” Piper asked, counting heads around the room, “No, all five of you are here, Calypso wasn’t feeling well and Reyna’s down with the boys.”

“I’ll get it!” Thalia said, crossing the cabin to the door, a fresh glass of rosé in hand.

It was Percy.

With the tequila and wine already flowing through their veins, Piper’s bridesmaids erupted in squeals when they saw him — an expected reaction for any attractive man who happened to fall prey to a bachelorette party.

Annabeth stood from Piper’s side and met him at the door, “Hi,” she said, her eyes bright and cheeks flushed from the alcohol.

“Wow,” Percy said, seeing her short, black dress and stilettos, “You look amazing.”

“Thanks,” Annabeth smirked, this dress was a killer every time. “What are you doing here?” Annabeth was acutely aware of all the girls staring daggers at them.

“You forgot your wallet in our cabin,” Percy said, holding out her black leather wristlet.

“Oh, thank you, I didn’t even notice,” Annabeth said, taking it from him. Percy glanced over her shoulder and also noticed their audience. He waved.

“Sorry to intrude, ladies.”

“No, no!” Drew said, clambering over everyone to meet them at the door, “Have a drink with us!”

“Nah, it’s alright,” Percy said, brushing his dark curls out of his face, “I should head over, Jason invited me to join his stag night.”

“What are you guys doing?”

“Just some beers down by the lake.”

“Don’t forget board games,” Piper called from where she was lounging, “Jason will definitely insist on board games.”

“Are you heading down to the lake now, Percy?” Leo asked, “I’ll join you.”

“You’re not coming with us, Leo?” Annabeth asked.

“Please, I may be the Man of Honor, but I still want to hang with my boys. Shall we Percy?”

Percy nodded as Leo ran down the itinerary again with Drew, the acting party planner in his absence. Percy settled his hands on Annabeth’s waist, kissing her lightly on the cheek, “Be safe tonight, okay?”

Annabeth flushed from the kiss, but retorted, “I can take care of myself.”

“I know you can.”

“Ready, Perce?” Leo said, striding towards the door. Percy nodded.

“Bye,” Annabeth said, waving with the hand clutching her wallet, “Have fun.”

The door had barely shut before Annabeth was attacked with squeals about how attractive Percy was.

“Where the heck did you find him, Annie!” “Where can I get one?” “It’s like you bought him at a Build-a-Boy.”

“You have no idea,” Annabeth muttered.

____________

“I will trade you two ballistae for your war elephant,” Frank said, pushing a pile of chips towards Nico.

“Fat chance, Zhang,” Nico said, “We’re not letting Hannibal go for some ballistae.”

Frank and Percy and Jason had gotten on well during capture-the-flag today and invited him to come along to the bachelor party. Percy had felt a little weird crashing since he had met all these guys just this morning, but there was something about being at a summer camp that accelerated friendships — like how when you would meet a kid at the playground and be playing like you were best friends five minutes later.

They had set up a nice spread at the lake dock, beer, chips, cigars (just for show, Nico was the only one he held one in his mouth and it was unlit) and, as Piper had promised, board games. They were playing a game called Siege that Frank had brought over for Camp Jupiter. It was super complicated with lots of pieces and points and bonuses so Percy had teamed up with Frank for the first round.

Leo pulled up a folding chair to their table and handed out beers, “Who’s winning?”

Jason grinned, pushing up his glasses, “Me, who else.”

“My bad, I’m slowing Frank down,” said Percy, “I just can’t wrap my head around the objective of the ‘Octavian’ card.”

“No one ever does,” Leo chuckled, “Doesn’t matter though, Percy came by the girls’ cabin earlier. You’re winning no matter what. The ladies love you.”

Percy grabbed a handful of chips, “Shut up, Valdez.”

Jason shuffled his cards, “He’s right, Percy. You got Annabeth, that is quite the respectable feat.”

“Oh?” Percy said. He recalled Rachel always talking about her roommate during Romeo & Juliet rehearsals, and he remembered seeing her and thinking she was them most beautiful person he’d ever seen at opening night so getting to know Annabeth today had been a dream. He could tell right away she was not someone to be messed with, but it was interesting to hear about her from her childhood best friends.

The conversation had finally pulled Frank away from his card game strategizing, “Annabeth’s scary.”

Will piped up from the edge of the dock where he was strumming his guitar, “It’s true. I’ve known Annabeth since we were seven and one time she punched this one camper in the face when he tried to give her a flower.”

“She always wins capture the flag. One, because she’s an awesome battle strategist, but also because everyone’s too scared to find out what’s going to happen if she doesn’t win.”

At that moment, Reyna, Jason’s best woman, came over, “I started a bonfire if you guys want to roast hot dogs.”

“Oh, heck, yes,” Jason said, abandoning the game, “You’re the best, Rey.” Jason pecked her on the cheek. She lovingly shoved him.

Leo followed him, “Yeah, RA-RA, you are the best.” He also leaned to peck Reyna on the cheek, but she held up a hand.

“Don’t even think about it, Valdez.”

“You want to grab some hot dogs?” Percy asked Frank.

“Nah, I’m good. Still stuffed from dinner.”

“Same.”

Will and Nico also decided to stay behind at the dock with them. Nico was on his umpteenth beer and nicely settled in his chair, and Will leaned against him, still strumming a tune on his guitar.

Frank set down his cards, “How did you and Annabeth get together if I could ask?”

Percy cleared his throat, he and Annabeth had repeated the story many times today, but he still needed to be careful to keep things as vague and close to the truth as possible, “Rachel directed a show I was in, and we met at opening night.”

“I’m glad you made it past her hard exterior, not a lot of people do. She is scary, but it’s because she’s guarded.”

Percy nodded, he loved hearing more about Annabeth, “How old were you guys when you met?”

“I was sixteen, she was seventeen. Being a teenager really just is the worst, I felt all awkward and huge, but she helped me out. She cares a lot, and once she cares about you, well, let’s just say she’s a great person to have on your team. But you know that.”

“Right.” Percy had of course noticed right away that Annabeth was a guarded person, but they were so easy together. He felt a jolt of pride that he too got to experience the softer, caring side of Annabeth that really only her childhood friends experienced.

“Who’s a great person to have on your team?” Luke had wondered over from the bonfire.

Frank reddened. Percy cleared his throat, “Annabeth.”

Luke paused. “Oh, uh, yeah. She is.”

“I know,” Percy said, holding his gaze.

“Look man,” Luke said, “I’m sure someone filled you in, and I know it’s awkward—”

“Oh, I don’t feel awkward,” Percy said, “Sorry if having your ex’s new boyfriend around makes you feel awkward.”

Frank’s head ping-ponged between Luke and Percy.

Luke’s gaze hardened, “I don’t know what you’ve heard about us—”

“Yeah, man, fuck you for real,” Nico barged in, slurring his words, “You really messed up with Annabeth, that was such a dick move. Wasn’t it a dick move, babe?”

Will stood up with his guitar, and hoisted Nico up from the chair, “I think it’s time for us to go and put this one to bed before he says anything else. Come on, babe.”

Jason, Leo, and Reyna returned with a plate of roasted hot dogs and buns. “You two leaving?” Jason asked.

Will nodded, motioning to Nico slumped against his side, “It’s time.”

Percy stood, too, “I’ll go with you. Jason, thanks so much for letting me crash your party. Goodnight everyone.”

As Percy walked through camp back to Cabin 3, he let his thoughts wander to the blonde that had been on his mind since opening night of Romeo & Juliet. He was so surprised with himself when he received that call from her and immediately said yes. Truth was, he had already been planning on asking Rachel for her number. He honestly would’ve been her date to this wedding for free.

_____

Annabeth was so drunk.

She had been pissed at Thalia, and flustered by Percy so she coped by being Piper’s drinking buddy and took shots with the bride all night.

The lovely bride-to-be was currently weeping in her sister’s lap in the backseat of the car. “I just, hiccup, love Jason so much, Drew,” Piper wailed, “There’s just, like, so much love in me for that stupid, hiccup, dumb blonde.”

Drew had taken her sister-of-the-bride duties well and took care of them that night, including rounding them all up from the dance floor to bring them home at midnight. She smoothed Piper’s hair, “I know, sweetie, it’s because of mom. She really fucked us up in the love department.”

Everyone else was also in various stages of inebriation — Thalia was pouty, Hazel giggly and happily, and Annabeth was feeling brave and confident and was laser-focused on one thing — Percy. She wanted to see him and his stupid hair and stupid green eyes and stupid cute smile now. They say sober thoughts are drunken actions, and she needed some action with Percy.

The car dropped them off at the Big House, and they stumbled as a sloppy, bachelorette amoeba to Cabin 10. Drew did her best, passing out makeup wipes and finding everyone sweatshirts to trade for their alcohol and sweat soaked dresses. Soon, Piper and Hazel were snoozing and tucked into a bunk bed. Annabeth had thrown her hair into a ponytail and pulled on a camp shirt and yoga pants. She could always hold her liquor so her peak drunkenness manifested as a confident buzz.

Drew had already slipped on a matching silk pajama set, “Annie, you wanna sleep here? There’s room.”

“No thanks, I think I want to sleep in my own bed.”

Drew grinned, “Use protection, Annabeth!”

_______

Percy’s dreams always took him to the water. He was surfing. He was swimming. He was a kid splashing in the water with his mom. He was swimming with a beautiful mermaid with long, flowing blonde curls. She was getting dragged by the current and getting tangled the seaweed.

“Hey!” bubbles spewed under his mouth, “The seaweed, watch out! The seaweed—”

“Percy.”

“Percy.”

Percy woke up to Annabeth sitting on the edge of their bed,  gently nudging him awake, “Hey, Seaweed Brain.” He sat up.

“Is it time to start getting ready?” he mumbled, wiping away drool.

“No,” she grinned, “It’s like two in the morning. You were dreaming.”

“Oh, um,” Percy flushed.

Annabeth stood and held out her hand, “Come on a walk with me, I want to show you around camp.”

[crazy-little-cool-cat]

Hand in Glove - Chapter 8 | Ben Hardy x OFC

A/N: Since I couldn’t post a sneak peek this time without ruining everything, I figured I might as well just post the entire thing and be done with it. Kate, my muse; Julia, my soulmate; Alex, my love - this one’s for you.

Word Count: ~2.2K 

Warnings: Angst. 

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7

It wasn’t cold, but Annie was shivering. Storming out on Ben wasn’t the smartest choice she made, but she felt trapped. She didn’t know if she wanted that baby. Their baby. Ben, on the other hand, made it clear that he’s all in. All it took was one bright smile, and Annie knew. She knocked on the door again, constantly looking over her shoulder. When the door opened, she heaved out a sigh of relief. After driving around for just over two hours, she was glad she could finally stop running.

“Hey!”

“Hi. You’re not busy, right?”

“No, no.” Rami stepped back and motioned Annie inside, closing the door behind her and leading her to his living room with a hand on the small of her back, “this is a surprise.”

“Things turned to shit.” Annie collapsed on the plush cushions, “can I just… hang around here a little?”

“Wanna talk about it?”

“Is there any point to do that?” Annie’s voice was barely over a whisper. Rami shrugged silently. “I’m pregnant. I think he wants to have this baby. I fucking know he does.”

“Makes sense. He’s ridiculously crazy about kids.” Rami scratched the side of his neck. “And, you know, he’s batshit crazy about you since that damn wedding.”

“This is not the reaction I was expecting…” Annie’s whole face scrunched up in confusion.

“I was briefed about it all,” Rami chuckled, “if you really thought those three gossips would just keep it to themselves you need to get your head checked.”

“Solid point.” Annie nodded solemnly. “Still, I can’t have a baby with someone I’ve just met a few months ago.”

“Says who?”

“Me.” Annie groaned and threw her head back. “I’m not some cookie-cutter girly girl.”

“Oh, believe me,” Rami chuckled, “no one ever presumed you are.”

“I don’t want marriage and a hoard of kids,” Annie closed her eyes, “I don’t want to be the lonely, bitter wife that stays home and waits for her husband all day.”

“Ben wouldn’t want to turn you into one of those, you know.”

Annie’s phone kept buzzing in her bag. She knew who was calling. She knew he was probably going out of his mind at her silence. She hated putting him through it all. She also hated the situation that caused her to run away.

“So, what’s your plan?”

“I was hoping to just crash here tonight? Hide in plain sight, you know?” Annie realised how pathetic she sounded, “figure out the rest of it later.”

“You’re more than welcome to,” Rami smiled softly, “are you hungry?”

“I could eat.”

###

“She’s at Rami’s?!”

Ben couldn’t help but scream at this point. He was up all night, replaying what had transpired with Annie, trying to understand what happened. He tried calling Annabelle, but she wouldn’t pick up. He sent around a million texts. No reply. He even drove around the places he knew she likes to go. No sign of her or her car. Then, his phone rang and he couldn’t answer the call fast enough; only to hear Gwilym say that Annabelle had ended up at Rami fucking Malek’s place.

“Ben, calm your tits, mate.”

“Don’t tell me to calm my fucking tits, Gwil,” Ben snapped, “I was up all fucking night!”

“I know, we all were.”

“Only to find out that she’s literally in the last place I’d ever…” Ben barked out a laugh, “she’s so fucking brilliant.”

“She was always a master of Hide’n’Seek.”

“That tiny little -”

“Watch it,” Gwil warned, “that’s the mother of your unborn child you’re talking about.”

“I’m calling Rami.”

“I strongly advise you don’t do that,” Gwil quipped, “she needs some quiet time.”

“She dropped a bomb on me, man!”

“On all of us.”

“I need to talk to her.”

“You will, in time.”

“How are you so calm about this?!”

“I’ve known her for her entire life. I know she’ll come around.”

“When?”

“Ben, I really have to hang up now.”

“Of course you do.”

“Don’t call Rami.”

“I won’t.”

“Do I need to send Joe over there to babysit?”

“Fuck off.”  

###

“You can’t avoid him forever,” Rami finished the last of his coffee and hurriedly stuffed things into his bag, “or the rest of the world, for that matter.”

“I’m not planning on avoiding him forever.”

“It’s been two days, babe.”

“Did you -” Annabelle looked absolutely bamboozled, “did you just call me babe?”

“Sorry, force of habit,” Rami grimaced and chuckled, “usually the only girl I have around here is Lucy.”

“I still don’t know what the fuck am I supposed to say to him.”

“The truth would be a great start!”

“Really, Rami?” Annabelle tossed a throw pillow at his head as he passed by her, “you did not just say that.”

“I did and you know I’m right. You can’t stay here forever. Lucy will get suspicious.”

“Just say that you’re kicking me out then!” Annie laughed for the first time in two whole days.

“Never, you are such an emotional delight.”

“Motherfu -”

“Leaving now!” Rami interrupted her and shut the door.

Annie leaned back down with a huff. She reached for her phone, turning it on. She couldn’t handle the constant buzzing and notifications lighting up her screen. She just needed everything - everyone - to stop. Now that she felt calmer, she was ready to gauge the damage she had done.

###

There was a very tense, awkward silence during lunch. The four boys sat around their usual table in the catering tent. Gwil and Joe tried to keep up appearances and break the tension with some banter and jokes. Rami and Ben, however, have not spoken to each other since Ben found out his girlfriend - his pregnant girlfriend - is hiding at Rami’s for the second day, now.

“Can we please discuss the elephant in the room?” Gwil said, looking from Ben to Rami.

“There’s nothing to discuss,” Rami started, pushing his food around, “she’s at my house. That’s that.”

“You really think that what you said makes perfect sense?” Ben scoffed, “or are you really just a bloody idiot?”

“Ugh,” Joe groaned, “here we go, again...”

“She doesn’t want to see you yet!” Rami rolled his eyes and dropped his fork, “get over it.”

“Rami…” Joe glowered.

“No, seriously! Ben’s out here throwing a tantrum because he knocked up his girlfriend,” Joe was about to interrupt but Rami held up his hand to stop him and carried on ranting, “and she needs some time to think about the fact that he’s thrilled about having a child with a girl he’s known for just a few months!” Rami held up four fingers, “Four. Months. Can you blame her for wanting to just -”

“You think I’m thrilled?” Ben snickered, “you fucking owl with your goddamn huge fucking eyes -”

“Ben!” Gwil smacked him.

“Oh, so now you don’t want that baby?” Rami raised an eyebrow and sipped his soda.

“No, I do!” Ben hissed, “I’m fucking scared but I still want this to happen!”

“Okay,” Rami nodded, “but what she wants is to be able to think without you pressuring her! As long as that’s the case, she’s staying with me.”

“No. No!” Ben looked at his three best friends, “she’s my girlfriend. She’s hiding over at your house.”

“She needs time!”

“But I need her!”

“Ben -”

“No!” he felt he’s at his wits end, “I haven’t slept in two days. At all. Her phone is off, I can’t reach her,” Ben’s voice broke, “I know where she is and I can’t fucking do anything about it. Because you,” Ben pointed at Rami, “won’t let me see the mother of my own bloody child.”

“Ben,” Rami smirked wickedly, “what if she doesn’t want to have your bloody child? Huh?”

“Did -” Ben’s green eyes widened in sheer horror, “is that what she said? She said she doesn’t want it?”

“No, you asshole,” Rami picked up his fork and stuffed his face full of Ravioli, “she didn’t say anything about what she wants. That’s why she needs time to think.”

Gwil frowned at his phone, completely detached from the entire fight. He opened his mouth to speak a few times and snapped it shut.

“Annie just texted me,” Gwil blurted out. His mouth agape, his green eyes shining with hope, Ben looked at his girlfriend’s cousin in utter shock. “She said you should check your phone.”

###

Annabelle didn’t know how her life got so out of hand. She felt like it was slipping out of her control and it terrified her. After trying to think about the entire ordeal and getting nowhere, she figured she might as well just talk to him. 

Ben wasted no time when his workday ended and he went straight to Rami’s doorstep. They stood outside on the stoop, so Ben could have a smoke. They have been going on and on for about an hour now, with no conclusion. Annie looked at her red Chuck Taylors, stuffed her hands in her oversized hoody’s pockets and shook her head, disappointed with herself.

“I honestly can’t believe you want this… this…”

“Baby? Yeah,” Ben inhaled a deep cloud of smoke and blew it out, turning his head away from Annie, “Me too. But I do.”

“This can’t be happening.”

“Why not?”

“Because we’ve been in this relationship for, what, four months now?” Annabelle felt like screaming at his stupid, beautiful face. “Because we don’t even live together, Ben! Because -”

“So, move in with me.”

“Are you even listening to yourself right now?!”

“Annie, your entire heap of shit is already at my house. You’re there every night.” Ben was losing his patience, “come to think of it, we do live together.”

“Shut up.”

“I’m serious. Stop paying rent for a flat you no longer live in.” He pointed at her with his cigarette, “it’s fucking wasteful.”

“And what,” Annie mocked, “we’ll get married, have our baby, I’ll be your happy little housewife while you’re never around because of your fucking job?”

“Other than that middle and last parts, yeah,” Ben dropped his half smoked cigarette to the floor and stomped on it to put it out, “sounds good to me.”

“Fuck off.”

“Annie, what do I need to do for you to finally be okay with the fact that I fucking love you?”

“You love the thought of me, you don’t love me.”

“Oh, great, you’re spewing shit out of your mouth again.”

“Ben, I will never, ever, be that girl,” Annie could feel rage bubble up in her veins, “I don’t want marriage. I don’t want to be the wife that sits alone all day and waits for her husband to come home after he fucked his mistress.”

“Mistress? Have you gone utterly mad? What are you even on about?”

“I don’t know, Ben!” Annie���s voice rose about two octaves, “listen to me. I am not what you want me to be.”

“What do you think it is that I want you to be, exactly?” Ben threw his arms out to his sides, “I won’t even dream of proposing to you, if you don’t want me to. I don’t care about any of it,” he glared at the tiny little ball of anger in front of him, “I don’t want to fuck anyone else but you. I’m not sure I ever will.”

“Of cou -”

“Shut up and let me fucking finish,” he growled, “you are so infuriating, you know that? Annabelle, I don’t love the thought of you. I love you, alright?”

“I can’t give you what you want and -”

“You can give me you. That’s literally all I want.”

“And that?” Annie pointed at her belly, “do you want that?”

“I do.”

“What if I don’t?”

“Then that’s totally up to you. It will make me so, so sad,” Ben pulled her to him, “but it’s your decision, bottom line.” He cupped her face in his hands and tilted her head up so they could finally look at each other’s eyes, “Annie, I would never force anything on you.”

“I just don’t know…”

“Is that what you’re afraid of?” Ben could see Annie build her walls up, “Annie, stay with me, here. I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Ben.”

“What?”

“Don’t say you’re not going to hurt me because you don’t know that.” Annabelle put her hands on his wrists, “you might hurt me. I might hurt you.”

“You’re right.”

“You say you love me now,” Annie’s thumbs rubbed circles on Ben’s skin, “but what if you just stop one day?”

“That would be impossible, be realistic.” They both giggled softly at that. “Annie, I love you.”

“People will talk about this.”

“Let them. I really don’t care about these people.” Ben pressed his forehead to Annie’s, “this is ours. Not theirs.”

“I know.”

“I couldn’t function these past two days, Annie,” he chuckled, “it’s like everything depends on your existence around me, now.”

Annie nodded slightly and sighed. She knew exactly what he meant, because she felt it too.

“I fucking love you, do you not understand that?”

“No,” Annie smiled, “I mean, I do. I fucking love you, too.”

TAGLIST: @ramibaby @xgoingdownx @clara-who @violetpond @sweeterthancheese @drummerqueenrmt @westansstuff @rogerinamainbitch @justgivemethekeys  @blondecarfucker @cheeseedreams47 @rogerspoison 

[flippyspoon]

Note: Just another version of a ficlet I’ve already written at least 3 times lol.

Dear Billy,

If you’re reading this, I’m dead.

Steve was not much of a letter writer. He wasn’t much of a writer at all. But once demogorgons made a reappearance in the form of a goddamn army and a few months after he made love to Billy for the first time, Steve decided to write a letter for Billy’s sake. Just in case.

If I’m dead I’m pretty sure you’re gonna think it was your fault because your dad was always blaming you anytime somebody close to you got hurt. But screw that. Whatever happened, I know it wasn’t your fault. Because you’ve become this man who’s brave and fights for the people he loves. Because you became this guy I fell in love with. And God, I fell soooo hard.

“Max, you get El and you get back to Billy-”

There’s rocks raining down on them. They’re far below Hawkins where the monsters are. Somewhere Billy’s helping lead Hopper’s charge at The Gate. He had to be dragged away from Steve.

So if I’m dead, I figure I can have a few dying wishes. So my wishes for you are that you go keep trying to be a good man. I know you’re going to be sad. I’m sorry, baby. Don’t let it make you angry, don’t let it make you like your dad. I know you won’t. Take care of Max. Let people care about you. Remember how we loved each other. But don’t be afraid to love again. Promise me.

“What about you!” Max’s eyes are big. The boys are dropping the line of charges along the tunnels. They girls have to get out of here or they aren’t going to win.

“I’m gonna hang back,” Steve says. He’s shaking. This is it. Well, at least he’s going down a hero, he supposes. His left ear is still ringing. He has to hold a hand to his side, he’s bleeding so badly. He’s probably going to die anyway. Maybe. Oh well. “I have to work the detonator manually. The remote doesn’t work. It’s the only way.”

“Steve!”

“Shut up shut up,” Steve mutters. The caverns are dark but there are flames coming up, there’s lava for Christ’s sake. Well, there’s going to be a lot more firepower in a minute. “I want you to give this letter to Billy.” Steve reaches into his inside jacket pocket and pulls out the envelope he’s been carrying around for two months and presses it into her hand. “Just get Billy this letter after…”

“No!” Max shakes her head. “Steve, no! It’s stupid!”

“TAKE EL AND GO!” Steve shoves her hard and she’s crying, grabbing El who’s trying to force as many demogorgons back as she can with the strength of her powers, blood gushing from her nose. But she can’t hold them all back. They need a miracle. Or the explosion. An explosion from a detonator that’s not working remotely. He figured this out ten minutes ago.

He watches her walk away. He holds the detonator in his shaking hands. He has a few minutes. The army of monsters is coming.

This part is for me. I want you to know what I was thinking about before I died. If there was some shit going down and I knew it was coming, here’s what I was thinking about:

The first time I touched you when I knew I wanted you and I wasn’t afraid anymore. I touched your cheek, that was it. And just from that, you looked like I handed you a few million bucks or something. I remember being surprised your skin was so soft under my fingers.

Steve hears caves collapsing and hunches in on himself. He figures it was always going to end this way. He figures he knew since junior year when he stood at his car looking back at the Byers’ house with its terrifying flickering lights and its monsters and thought: I can’t leave them alone, I have to help.

I was thinking about the first time you talked about Max like you were proud to be her brother. After she won the science fair and you puffed on your cigarette and said that of course she beat all those boys because she’s like a genius or something. I’m thinking about how you took her and Lucas out for floats and she rolled her eyes but she looked so happy that you were acting like a good brother. I couldn’t believe it. I was thinking about how that was when I thought I might fall in love with you.

Steve starts singing to himself, tapping the button with his twitching finger. He’s singing Electric Light Orchestra. It was playing in his car the first time he kissed Billy.

“I get a strange magic…”

I was probably thinking about how you went from ranting about the Pacers, all cocky and pissed, to this shy lover the first time I kissed you. “Strange Magic” was playing. That’s how I felt about it. It felt like magic. You looked like you were gonna break apart. You tried to cover, act like it was no big deal, but you kept dropping your cigarettes and I tried not to laugh.

“Oh what a strange magic… Okay. I’m ready.” He closes his eyes and thinks of Billy’s arms around him.

I know I was thinking about your arms around me in bed, your lips and tongue. Your happy whispers when you said all the things you could only say like that when it was just the two of us alone right after… I love you. I died loving you. Take it with you. Don’t let it ever hold you back but don’t ever forget it. I love you always, Billy Hargrove.

“HEY, ASSHOLE!”

Everything is dark and everything hurts. Steve groans. Or he thinks he does. He’s sure trying to.

“YEAH, I SEE YOU WAKING UP, YOU DICK!”

“Billy!”

“Shut up, Max. He knows what he did!” Billy’s voice cracks. He makes some kind of sniffing honking noise like a stuffed up elephant. “Goddamn…”

“He tried to save everybody.” That’s Dustin. He sounds really hoarse. Steve hears all the kids start talking all at once about Kali’s gang showing up and lab kids and-

Steve groans again. “Mmm….Billy…”

Steve hears something like a strangled sob, Billy he thinks, and Max is saying, “It’s okay, it’s okay, Billy. He’s alive, right? It’s alright now.”

Billy mumbles, “Fuckin’...” That elephant noise again.

Steve attempts to open his eyes but the lights seem impossibly bright.

Lucas is saying, “C’mon guys, we’ll come back. Let’s leave em’ for a minute...” “Yeah, c’mon…” That’s Max.”

A familiar calloused finger is stroking Steve’s cheek.

I’m dead, Steve thought. Or he was supposed to be.

Steve manages to open his eyes and make sense of the world. Billy is looming over him, looking like a human disaster. His hair is a mess, he’s got a couple of big bandages stuck to his temple and his jaw. He looks like he’s been sobbing for hours, like a wrung out rag. He’s waving the letter around.

“You-you just!” Billy stutters. “You! I! Fuck!” He plops down in an orange chair and sinks his head in his hands. “Jesus Christ, you’re alive. Fuck. I hate you.”

Steve reflexively blurts a laugh at that and it hurts like hell and brings on a coughing fit. His ribs. Christ.

Billy pops up again. “Be careful! God. You gotta get better. I’m going to kill you.”

“I love you too,” Steve mumbles, smiling a little.

“I know,” Billy murmurs, waving the letter again. “I mean I knew you did, but I didn’t know you… I mean I thought… You know what I mean.”

“That’s why I had to write it,” Steve rasps. He coughs again and clears his throat. “Should’ve given it to ya either way. So you’d know. How much I love you.”

Billy presses his wrists to his eyes and takes a breath. “Do you know how much I love you?” His voice is so thick, like he’s talking around a rock in his throat.

“Mmmm….” Steve smiles, pretends to think. “A lot?”

Billy snorts at that. “Fuck you.”

“A lot a lot?”

“Yeah sure, that covers it,” Billy mumbles, sniffing. Steve doesn’t press. He knows how much. It’s so much that it overwhelms Steve sometimes in the best way. He didn’t know anyone could love him that much. “Listen, asshole,” Billy says. “I die first!” 

“Billy!”

BIlly grabs his hand. “No, just shut up. I’m not saying I want to die. There was a time when I really didn’t give a shit either way but I do now, okay? I’m just saying whatever happens, I get to die first. Then you do whatever you want. Even if we’re like a hundred years old. Deal?”

Steve sighs and hopes they will be a hundred. “Fine. Deal.”

���Okay.” Billy nods, looks weirdly appeased by that silly promise and Steve doesn’t want to think about it now that they’re both alive. Billy grabs Steve’s banged up hand and kisses his knuckles. “Thanks, baby.”

“Well, you should’ve said something before,” Steve says lightly. “Wouldn’t be in this bed.”

“I really hate you.”

“I know. I think it about it all the time. Now are you gonna kiss me or what? I almost died for Christ’s sake.”

Billy shakes his head, chuckling now, and kisses Steve and kisses him again and doesn’t stop until Dustin’s pounding on the hospital room door.