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purpleheartskies · 4 months ago

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"Second Place. Second Place. Second Place."

After s5e5, s6e5 feels like a long time coming...

Robby's entire character journey is rooted in his traumas. He's hit such low points that he's said things that show how hopeless he is about himself and about how Johnny treats him.

"You were right. It was a mistake trying to help me because I can't change." (s3e2) "I screwed everything up... It just made things worse, and now it's never going to get better." (s4e10) "I'm sick of blaming you, Dad." (s4e10)

After everything Johnny has put Robby through and everything Robby has experienced including being beaten into submission by Miguel with Johnny's permission right before hearing the baby news, is it really that hard to fathom that this kid who has been losing hope more and more because of all the traumas and losses in his life just, essentially, shut down and gave up fighting for himself against Johnny, Miguel, and everyone?

Robby isn't even allowed to talk to Johnny about their issues, without Johnny getting defensive and deflecting, mostly turning things onto Robby. Johnny's always been this way. Like in s2e1, when Robby said he needed more time to forgive him, Johnny immediately accused Robby of training with Daniel to torture Johnny. And in s3e4, Johnny immediately got defensive the moment Robby got upset after Johnny admit that he had missed the scheduled visit because of going to the hospital. He got more defensive as Robby kept calling him out for choosing Miguel over him, and Johnny eventually deflected that Robby put Miguel in the hospital. Regardless, it's Johnny's responsibility as Robby's parent to be there for Robby first and foremost. In s5e1, Johnny apologized for tricking Robby into the trip, but then he started manipulating Robby in different ways (gaslighting and guilting him, again deflecting) just to get Robby to stay to help him find Miguel. That trip and the "stories" they made were regardless all so that Johnny could find Miguel and restore him as "first place" in Johnny's life. In s5e8, Johnny told Robby not to "be like that" when Robby passed the comment about fatherly advice.

This kid has had to put up with so much shit from Johnny. It's exhausting for someone to have keep fighting against a rival that they'll never win against. Like Robby had told Tory in s5e4, he and Johnny have some issues that are too big to solve. Yet, another assessment about the hopelessness of his situation with Johnny.

In s6e5, Robby once again spoke about his hopelessness:

"It's still better than always coming in second." The face he made as he said "second", as if it's so painful to think about.

Yes, the focus was on his tournament losses when he was practicing later on.

"Second place. Second place. Second place."

But the sheer intensity of Robby's anger can't be ignored. Robby's trauma of being second place stems deeper than just being second place in the tournaments. His whole life he's been second place in Johnny's life and in Shannon's life. Throughout the series, he's been second place to Miguel in karate and in relationships, especially with Johnny. Everyone sided with Miguel over him after the school fight.

Now, he's second place to this new family that Johnny has. How Johnny put together the family in s5 is already proof of that, but that continued in s6.

In s6, Johnny continued to treat Robby as if Johnny's never done him any wrong, like Johnny doesn't need to make amends or help him with his future, and that focusing on the new family is Johnny's priority and Robby isn't.

In s6e2, after Miguel read his letter to Stanford, all the adults, including Johnny, praised it. Miguel then asked Robby his opinion, and Robby commented that Miguel made him the bad guy in it. Miguel innocently said that he could remove Robby's name from it. Robby said it was okay because it's not like Robby is applying to Stanford or any college. Johnny then emptily said that both boys have good future prospects.

First off, all the adults are fine with Miguel framing Robby as the bad guy. They are all still actively scapegoating Robby for the school fight. This is not even a question. Yaya and Carmen are enablers. They're definitely going to scapegoat Robby and act like Miguel did no wrong. However, Johnny, specifically, has never cared at all about what happened in the school fight. In s4e4, several months after it had happened, Johnny threw in Robby's face that he'd gotten kicked out of school, and when Robby tried to tell Johnny what had happened in the school fight, Johnny dismissed Robby with an "I wasn't there", as in "I don't care".

Second, "I don't care" overshadows their entire relationship, even now. In s1e4, Robby told Johnny that he hasn't cared for 16 years and Johnny ended that conversation with an "I don't care". Johnny very clearly doesn't care about helping Robby with his future prospects. Robby has to figure that out on his own.

In s6e5, when Miguel tried to "convince" Robby that Miguel's future and life are more worth changing, Robby put him in his place. The pact that Robby had made with Tory earlier gave Robby some belief in himself again, that he can be more than second place. For the first time since s5e5, Robby was ready to fight for himself and for his future again.

Yes, kiddo! Don't trust this guy or his family. They don't have your back. You're the one they'll sacrifice for his future. They've been fine with scapegoating you and with how Johnny has been treating you this whole time.

Miguel gaslit Robby after their fight in s5e5. Here, in s6e5, Miguel was gaslighting Robby again. I know some will brush this off, but this is gaslighting. Miguel started by telling Robby that no matter what happens tomorrow, he's got no beef with Robby. This is to let Robby know that Miguel will do whatever it takes to win and Robby should be okay with that. Then, Miguel proceeded to "convince" Robby that Miguel really needs this. Robby rightfully countered that Robby doesn't? Miguel then said that he's thinking about Stanford and that, if they look at his application again, then this could be really life changing for him. Robby rightfully called him out for his assertion that Robby's life isn't worth changing because he's not going to college. Miguel immediately tried to claim that's not what he was saying. But that was definitely Miguel's assertion. Miguel wanted to convince Robby that Miguel needs this win more than him because Miguel believes that his own future is more important.

It's so important to note how alone Robby is. ROBBY DOES NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM. No one, other than Tory, truly believes in him. This is facts. We saw this in that simple, seemingly benign scene for Miguel's college letter. This is not surprising at all. I've been pointing out the dysfunction in this family for so long now. s6 continued with these characterizations to a tee.

Despite what fans claim about the toxic blended family, s6e5 showed once again that Robby is all alone. After the school fight, when Robby was at his lowest, no one was on his side. Everyone did take Miguel's side over his blindly, which was once again shown in s6e2. They still act like Miguel's the good guy and Robby's the bad guy in the rivalry that Miguel had started, continued, and ended on his own terms.

Robby is in a subtly toxic environment in which he can't be himself, has to settle for being "second place" to Miguel and the unborn plot device, and has to have his guard up all the time. Robby is still in survival mode.

Tory's mom said that life dealt them a bad hand. Life dealt Robby a bad hand too. Two parents who abandoned and neglected him for pretty much his whole life, even to the point of abuse. They're still neglecting him in some ways and emotionally neglecting him, giving him more trauma. A mentor who took him in, called him family but then discarded him after he screwed up and without even giving him a chance to explain. Who didn't even hear his side of the story for the most traumatizing experience in his life. A friend turned girlfriend turned person he barely talks to but just hangs out with who used him, turned on him, and then used him again, all while dismissing her own and her boyfriend's wrongs against him. Not to mention, being scapegoated by everyone for the fight in school between him and Miguel that Miguel himself started and escalated to the point it got to. A scapegoating that is still going on.

I find it interesting that they framed Robby's trauma as based on him being "second place". This is something Johnny and Tory both understand.

In '84, Kreese broke Johnny's trophy and strangled him for coming in second place.

"Second place is no place! ... You're nothing. You're a loser."

In s4e5, Kreese taunted Johnny:

"Has it really come down to this? Johnny Lawrence playing second fiddle to little Danny LaRusso."

In fact, in s6e5, Kreese told Tory:

"When push comes to shove, they'll always figure out a reason to keep you second fiddle to Larusso's kid."

Not to mention, Tory has technically lost all of her fights with Sam.

And, back in s4e1, Kreese told Robby about Johnny:

"He chose Diaz, and left you with that mark on your head."

In s6e5, Johnny, Robby, and Tory all were dealing with their trauma from feeling second, not good enough, like the underdog who'll never win. Johnny was feeling second to Daniel. Robby feels second always. Tory repeated Kreese's words to Amanda, that they would keep Tory second to Sam. Tory has always felt that she has to fight for every inch of what she has, and she had just lost the most important person to her. The person who had taught her to be a fighter.

Earlier, when Robby had told Tory that her "win" at the avt was better than always coming in second, Tory told him that this was their chance to win big. They then made a deal to stick together and win the Sekai Taikai together. That sounds like an "it's us against the world" pact. Later, when Tory lost her mom, she told the doctor that she had no one, which in the end was not true. The LaRussos, Robby, and Devon all wanted support Tory. Tory has been alone and unsupported for so long that she believes that she's still all alone. Kreese had been the first person in a long while to support her and help her (even if he had/has ulterior motives, which she isn't aware of). It's sadly understandable why she chose to go back to him and join Cobra Kai.

Their deal and the match later clearly indicated that Robby feels all alone too. He truly doesn't have a true family or support system, which has been shown. When Tory showed up at the match, Robby felt supported again. Robby didn't notice that something was wrong with Tory, though. It's understandable because of his own headspace at the time. He was very much dealing with his own traumas. Sure, Robby seems "happy" all the time on the outside, but the shadow boxing scene is Robby's raw anger on the inside. The self-hate and "hate" he has due to his traumas. It's still all there! Of course, it is! Robby's been lead to believe, by Mr. Balance (Daniel) who himself can't "find balance", that Robby needs to "let go" of his emotions to "find balance". But, he's just burying his emotions, like he instinctively buried the egg to protect it in s5e7. So when Tory came to the match, Robby was not in a good headspace at the time. After he had won his match, he was still exhilarated by that win. But, he did start noticing that something was wrong as he watched Tory fight.

Johnny's "second place" insecurities with Daniel were also in play. Johnny was first upset that Daniel kept treating him like they weren't karate sensei partners, until Daniel admit that they are karate sensei partners and Daniel should treat him that way. Then, during Tory and Sam's match, Johnny's insecurities intervened again when Daniel first intervened in the match and later when Johnny egged on Tory's assumption that Daniel and Amanda were taking sides, which was quite hypocritcal of Johnny. He himself has been giving his son "second place" trauma because he chooses Miguel over his son. He offered up Sam as Tory's punching bag here, just like he offered Robby up to Miguel in s5e5. Luckily, Daniel and Amanda were there to put a stop to it. Johnny was projecting his own past onto Tory and was not reading the room and not helping properly. Afterwards, Johnny was pretty riled up because of seeing how Tory wanted to deal with her mom's death by fighting it out. Hearing the news had brought back his own feelings for when his mom had died. He told Daniel that it would have been helped him back then if he was able to fight it out like he had wanted to. His mom's death had led to him making the worst mistake of his life: abandoning Robby. A mistake that Johnny has been trying to overwrite since s1e4, first by using Miguel and, since s5e3, by using the baby. Johnny hasn't been trying to redeem himself. He's been trying to cover up his past. That's why he so easily dropped Robby completely after the conversation with Ali in s3e10 about not living in the past.

The setup for part 2 for Johnny, Robby, and Tory is interesting. Kreese knows all of their weaknesses and traumas. Kreese is using Tory's grief to his advantage. In s5e9, Robby had walked into the CK dojo and confronted Silver to give Tory support. Robby is likely going to do what he can to get her out from Kreese's grasps. Tory's mom's death brought back Johnny's own feelings when his mom had died and he'd abandoned Robby. Will Johnny try to help Tory because Johnny doesn't want to see Tory go down that path that he himself once did and maybe because Johnny also wants to help Robby help her. (I know... wishful thinking on the latter, but Johnny's redemption needs to start at some point.)

Johnny's and Robby's stories have to resolve. Their character journeys have always been intertwined (despite Johnny being useless and horrible to Robby). Based on what we know so far, it sounds like those resolutions are finally coming in part 2 during the Sekai Taikai. "The Resurrection" stage of Johnny's and Robby's character journeys align with part 2. In this stage, Johnny and Robby will reach the goal of their character journeys. This is when the character stops believing in their "lie", gives up their "want", starts believing in their "truth", and achieves their "need", if these are meant to be positive change arcs. Part 1 was "The Road Back" stage. Interestingly, Robby's "lie" was challenged and his "truth" and "need" were explored in s6e5. Robby's "lie" is not believing in himself and his worth because of his traumas. His "truth" is believing in himself and his worth, and his "need" is to "find balance". When Robby accepted his "truth", he was able to achieve his "need". Even if though it was brief, it was shown.

It's interesting that they paced Robby's story in s6 to pick up in ep 5. This reminded me of how his story in s1 picked up in ep 5. Since watching s1e5, I've wanted Robby to get the world, but all he's gotten is pretty much loss after loss after loss.

s6e5 really brought home that some of the odds against Robby are that he's all alone. He doesn't have parents or mentors, a support system, that believes in him, will be there for him, or will fight for him. They didn't when he truly needed them to after the school fight. They scapegoated him instead and continue to act like he's the bad guy in the story.

It does make me sad. I've always wanted Johnny to step up for Robby and to start building a real relationship with Robby, but s6 part 1 continued to show that Johnny still isn't building a real relationship with Robby.

In s6e4, when Devon got upset with Johnny for arguing with Barnes, she told Johnny that Barnes missed all her "good moments". My immediate thought was that Johnny missed all of Robby's "good moments" in life. Johnny did that intentionally too. They're never going to get those moments back, and Johnny has been wasting the rest of Robby's childhood running after random people (and these are still random people to Robby, who has to put on a charade and be around them so that Johnny doesn't abandon him again).

And, yet, Johnny did see Robby win the match for captaincy and Johnny himself crowned Robby as captain. So, maybe this is where the turning point begins for them. Because this is the first important win Robby got in the series, and Johnny was there and was happy to see it, even though it came at Miguel's loss. For the first time, Robby was not "second place". He rightfully earned "first place".

Robby got the win and this "good moment" with his dad proud of him. This is seriously a huge moment for Robby. Johnny got to see this "good moment". Hopefully, Johnny will be there to see all of Robby's "good moments" from now on. And, hopefully, Robby will get many many more "good moments" in his life. (Yes, I will keep gloating about this win. 😊)

Don't know what to expect in s6 part 2, but I really hope Robby gets his big win. The sad thing is that this win and this moment in s6e5 happened alongside the plot that Tory's mom had died. No good moments last for Robby. (Hopefully, there is some context as to why Robby didn't immediately go after Tory. Amanda was not present at the headband scene, so maybe she went then and Robby went afterwards.) Seeing that Tory joined Cobra Kai for the Sekai Taikai means that Robby's not going to be in a good headspace as the tournament starts. He'll probably also blame himself that he hadn't told anyone that Kreese had approached and talked to Tory. Because Robby feels and is all alone, he's probably going to try to help Tory on his own.

A major theme in the story is the struggle to "find balance" due to dealing with trauma. It's not using karate to get into your dream college. That's a character motivation. Just like the pact that Robby and Tory made to win to get on the podium is a character motivation. Robby actually has a character journey that is exploring the theme. Robby will need to "find balance" in order to win. He will need to believe in himself and his worth. Without Tory, I don't know how he'll do it. We'll have to wait and see...

(As always, please don't comment or reblog with dismissive comments about the nuance in the story. The nuance is part of the story, and the story is exploring important topics like trauma, bullying, neglect, and dysfunctional relationships.)

#cobra kai is robby's story #robby keene

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skepsiss · 6 months ago

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For the @steddiesummerexchange to @stevesjockstrap!

Batter Up: Chapter 1 of 5

Read [Chapter 1] [Chapter 2]

Rated: Explicit

Summary: This fluffy story is about Baseball Player Steve Harrington, meeting Rock Star Eddie Munson and the whirlwind 1-week romance turned committed relationship. They're instantly obsessed with one another, but neither knows how to take things to the next level. Enjoy Steve being a love-sick idiot! (The story turns explicit in Chapter 4, other chapters are all fluff).

Read Chapter 1 below, or [read it on Ao3]

Big thank you to @thefreakandthehair for beta reading for me and helping me with my NBA terms!

Graphic made by me!

“I think I’m in love,” Steve said wistfully as he cradled his chin in his hands. “In love?” Robin asked incredulously, sipping her cocktail as she lounged on Steve’s patio furniture. She was visiting for the weekend, and Steve was happy to have his best friend around for even a short while. It had been a minute since the studio had released Robin from her filming schedule, and Steve had been keen to take up as much of her time as possible.

Despite his excitement, Robin seemed unimpressed by Steve’s confession. “I don’t know, Robbie. It feels like it. Like it really feels like it,” Steve sighed, leaning back and tipping his head over the backrest. “How long have you known this guy?” She asked, stretching her legs across Steve’s lap. “A week…”

Steve cringed at his own reply, knowing that stating he was in love and that he had known Eddie Munson for one week was a ridiculous thing. “I think you’re infatuated, Steve,” Robin chastised, finishing her cocktail and taking the olive out of the bottom of her glass. “You always get it bad. But you should go for it— you sure he’s into you?” “Oh yeah…” Steve breathed, closing his eyes and smiling as he recalled the memory.

He met Eddie a little over a week ago, and they had been occupying each other’s lives relentlessly ever since. They had met up at least four times in the last seven days, and Steve was planning to see him again tomorrow.

It had only taken until the second or third meeting for them to catch on to the fact that they were both obviously flirting with one another. Knowing who was and who wasn’t queer wasn’t always easy, and Steve had zero experience in that department. Actually, it was a bit scary, but he couldn’t shake the fact that Eddie made him want to try. He could tell that they were attracted to one another, so there wasn’t a risk there. The only risk was if they were found out. Steve was trying to will his mind away from that topic, though. He was just happy to be in love— infatuated— with Eddie. Really, his nerves were the only things that were stopping him from taking that last step toward more forward flirtation.

“He’s sort of a shit-stirrer, you know,” Robin offered. She looked amused as she spoke, as if she thought Steve’s current obsession was quaint, before popping her olive into her mouth.

“Well, he’s a rock star, isn’t he? Kind of hand in hand, right?” Steve asked, his stomach lurching just a bit. Logically, he knew all this, but he also knew he was being ignorant on purpose to help foster his crush. “He got out of rehab kind of recently, you sure you want this one?” Robin questioned, her tone not lacking judgment. Robin had never understood his taste in men, but it sounded like her comment was coming more from a place of concern rather than a true effort to dissuade him. “He’s actually really sweet, Rob. Like… he’s a giant fucking nerd. Like giant,” Steve replied, smiling at her. “You should have seen how excited he was to talk to me about Barbarella when I told him I had seen it.” “You’re welcome,” Robin nodded, and Steve gave her leg a little pinch in retaliation. Truly, the only reason he knew any oddball movies was because of Robin. She yelped in response and flicked the toothpick that had been holding her olive at Steve in retaliation. “Okay, just… be careful, yeah? Protection and—” “Robin,” Steve said sharply, cutting her off as if she was being ridiculous. “Seriously, Steve,” Robin sighed, using a firmer tone. “Rock star life— the chances of him… you know. You know I’m not judgy of that, I just don’t want you getting… sick.” “I hear you, I hear you. You don’t need to remind me,” Steve confirmed, soothing the spot he had pinched earlier. He understood why Robin was concerned, even if the last conversation he wanted to be having was about using a condom. She was right though… he didn’t want to get all wrapped up in love and lust and throw caution to the wind. As awkward as it was going to be, he’d ask whether Eddie was clean or not before they got into anything— if they got into anything. “When are you seeing him then? Where?” Robin asked, getting off the furniture and walking back over to the little bar cart nearby. “Batting cage,” Steve indicated, motioning for Robin to make him a drink as well.

“Steve,” Robin replied sharply, whipping around as she shook up another martini. “The batting cage?” “No, seriously,” Steve sighed, waving her off. “We were chatting and flirting and all that, it sort of devolved into me saying I could show him how to do it. Batting, that is, and he was like… all into it. At the time, at least. I think it’s just a… you know, flirty thing.” “Oh, come on. You’re not that corny, are you?” Robin asked, pouring their drinks. “You’re going to show him how to bat? Jesus Christ, Steve.” “Hey, when was the last time you pulled a lady for a week of flirting?” Steve retorted as he reached for the glass Robin was handing him. “Ass,” Robin breathed, plunking down beside him. “You know it’s not the same with girls.” Steve hummed in understanding before slinging her arm over Robin’s shoulder. She leaned into him easily as they both sipped their drinks. “Just don’t become too obsessed with him, okay? I don’t want a… fling with a rock star to end with you being outed,” Robin lamented, talking softly. “I know, Robbie,” Steve replied, kissing the top of her head. He understood… even though he also knew he wasn’t letting his brain go down that rabbit hole. He was too excited about Eddie, too wrapped up… too obsessed already. Steve had denied himself any attraction toward men for so long, even though he knew he was interested. Even though he fantasized about the kind of sex he would have with a guy, and how invigorating it would be. The fact that there was one guy all of that attraction was focused on felt amazing. He had never met someone that had sparked his interest so quickly and so completely.

It really felt like he was in love.

Chapter 2

#eddie munson #steddie #my_writing #steve harrington #stranger things #steddiesummerexchange #baseball player! Steve #Rock Star! Eddie #Batter Up Summer Exchange #art n' photos by me

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ssuperficialspacecadett · 2 years ago

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Escrito en las Estrellas (Written in the Stars)

Chapter Six of the Through the Scope series | Chapter Seven

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 4.6K

Chapter Overview: You celebrate your first month working at Brass Knuckles

TW: t*m in the gif (i hate this mf and i dont care who knows)

Notes: okay so this chapter is what started me on my 'through the scope' journey ! i was driving back home to visit family and the phrase "it's written in the stars" just came to me so naturally i had to write an entire Frankie fan fic just so i could birth this one scene (i had no other choice obviously). this chapter was originally twice its length, but i cut it in half so i could make two chapters out of it hehe. i updated the tag list so please let me know if i missed you !! as usual ... my asks are always open & happy reading <3

*no use of y/n & female presenting reader*

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

“So you two really haven’t hooked up yet? Not even a small kiss? You’re killing me right now. It’s been a month!”

You’re on the phone with Robbie this evening to keep you company while you fold laundry. When she says that you have already been in Florida for a month, you feel shocked. Has it really been that long already? You count up the weeks in your head and today, Monday, marks the start of your fourth week here. Four weeks of watching your dad get stronger, four weeks of working at Brass Knuckles, and four weeks of crushing on Frankie.

“I told you we haven’t done anything, Robbie! But fuck if I don’t want to. The only thing is that I think he’s in a weird place with his girlfriend right now. Or maybe she’s his ex-girlfriend that he’s sort of talking to again? Ugh! I don’t even know!”

You give up on folding, you are doing a terrible job at it anyway, and flop yourself down, stomach first, on your bed.

“Why don’t you ask Benny about it then? Maybe he can give you some clarity?”

“For someone that’s so smart, you are so dumb.”

“Excuse me?” Her tone is playful, but still laced with warning.

“Look, I can’t just ask Benny about Frankie’s love life. It would be a dead give away that I like him and it just seems like…it just seems like an invasion of privacy.”

“You’re just stalling, you fucking baby. They are your friends right? Benny and Frankie?”

“Well, yeah? I would say so.” You’re not following where she's going.

“Then you should be able to ask them about what’s going on in their lives. That includes their love lives. We ask each other all the time!”

God you hate it when her logic makes sense.

“Okay! Okay. I’ll ask Benny about it at work this week then. Would that make you happy?”

“No, that would make me content. What would make me happy is if yall finally fuc-”

“Woah!” You cut her off with a laugh. “Don’t you have some studying to do, miss. lawyer?”

“I resent you for changing the subject right when we were getting somewhere, but yes I do. Call me when you grow a pair and ask?”

“Trust me, Robbie. You’ll be the first to know.”

You laugh to yourself as you toss your phone on your bed and roll over onto your back. You would be lying to yourself if you said that you wouldn’t be happy if you and Frankie finally hooked up either. Since you have been here, you have gotten a small feeling that he might like you back. First there was him observing you when you two first met while his friends talked around him. Then there was him inviting you out with the guys for fight night. After that was him not shying away when you gave him the note with your number and a heart. Y’all shared a beer together, he dropped everything to help you with your car, and proceeded to spend the majority of the day with you eating and shopping. Did he almost kiss you in your apartment that morning or had you just romanticized his gentlemanliness? There had to be something there right? Right?

But there was Rochelle. The woman who came before you. The woman who was first in line. While she was bad news according to Benny, you still felt hesitant about stepping on anyone's toes. You wouldn’t want that done to you. And yet you found your mind exploring the possibilities of what y’all could be to each other. Acquaintances? Friends? Something more?

***

It’s Benny’s turn to buy lunch today and he pulls through with Chick-fil-a. The conversation is natural while the two of you eat. Each of you take turns spitballing ideas on how to make the gym stand out more, if they should start selling food during fight night, if you will be a ring girl.

“When pig’s fly, Benjamin Miller. That’s when I’ll be your ring girl.”

The conversation slowly shifts into a more personal one. He talks about how he and the other guys love going to the beach together, but their schedules haven’t allowed it in a while. How all the ladies there can’t get enough of ‘old Brass Knuckles’. You share about how you and Robbie love walking around in downtown Austin, Texas and hunting for the best coffee, or food, or book stores.

“The beaches back home weren’t really the best.” You confess.

“You should come with us then! Maybe we can all plan somethin’!”

“Yeah.” You say wistfully. “Robbie is coming down in March when her school lets out for spring break. What about then?”

“Sounds fuckin’ awesome to me!”

Your tongue burns with the question you have about Frankie. It’s Thursday, which unfortunately means, it has taken you most of the week to gain the courage to bring it up. In your defense you had tried earlier, but it just never seemed like the right time. It would be weird to casually bring that topic up at random, but now that friends are being discussed…

“I’ve got a question.”

“I’ve got an answer.” He takes a sip of his drink. “Shoot.”

“I was just wondering how Frankie and Rochelle were doing. I noticed that he has seemed happier lately. Maybe they worked things out?”

He sets his cup down and looks at you quizzically. You get a nervous feeling that he’s onto you.

“Now that you mention it, he does seem happier, doesn’t he? Which isn’t anythin’ to take lightly. Especially for a guy like Fish. But to be completely honest with you, he doesn’t talk about her much around us.”

“Wait really? Y’all don’t talk about who y’all are dating?” Now your nervousness has started to make you sweat.

“It’s not that at all. It’s just,” He rubs his forehead with his hand. “It’s just different when it’s Rochelle. I told you that she doesn’t belong in his life and I still stand by that. Do you remember when I mentioned that we were a fucked up bunch?”

You nod your head at him.

“Well, it’s not my place to get into all of Fish’s business, but she played a pretty big part in that for him. It took me, the guys, and the strength of whatever higher bein’ is out there to pry him from her grip. He knows we don’t like her much. I think that's why he keeps most of it to himself.”

“Oh.” Now you feel stupid for asking. There is clearly more going in that relationship than you previously thought.

“But, he would have told us if they were officially back together. That I know for a fact.”

You’re content with his answer. At least now you know that you aren’t being a homewrecker. Surely a little more innocent flirting wouldn't hurt. Well it might hurt if he doesn’t see you that way.

“So that’s the only reason you asked?”

You stop, a french fry in hand, and cock your head at your coworker. “What?”

“Don’t play around.” He snatches the fry from you. “What’s the real reason you want to know what’s going on with Fish?”

In this very moment you make an elaborate mental scheme of how to murder Robbie and get away with it when she comes down to visit you.

“I was just curious.” You shrug.

“God, you’re such a fuckin’ liar!”

“I am not!”

“You got a thing for him, don’t you?!”

“I-I…well I-”

“I knew it! You like Fish!” He looks as happy as a kid on Christmas morning.

“Fine.” You can’t help but laugh at your friend's glee. “I like Frankie. I think he’s great.”

“Hey, I’m just glad it didn’t turn out to be Pope. That man needs to be humbled every now and then.”

The two of you burst into a fit of laughter together at the front desk. The people currently working out probably think y’all need to be admitted into the loony bin. It felt nice to finally tell someone here. Granted, Benny is Frankie’s friend, but now he’s yours too.

“Please,” You pant. “Please promise me that you won't say anything to him, Benny.”

“I promise I won’t say anything to him.” A cheeky grin splays across his face.

“I don’t think I like the way you said that.”

“Then don’t think about it. I said that I wouldn’t say anything about it, so I won’t.” He holds up one of his hands. “Scouts honor.”

You breathe a sigh of relief as he cleans up the remains of lunch and walks over to the trash bin.

“I didn’t say that I wouldn’t do anything about it though!”

He takes off running as his words register in your brain. You stand and yell after him as he vanishes into his office.

“Benny I’m going to kick your ass!”

The door’s bell must have gone off in the commotion because when you turn around to face the front of the lobby a very bewildered woman is looking directly at you.

“Oh! Sorry about that! Welcome to Brass Knuckles! How can I help you today?”

***

Operation Catch-A-Fish Chat

Benny: It’s on boys! It’s fuckin’ on!

Will: Damn that was quicker than I thought.

Pope: Did she say something?!

Benny: She told me that she liked him while we were having lunch. Let's get this operation cookin’!

Will: I’ll be damned.

Pope: Told you we wouldn’t be pimping her out, Will.

***

Frankie lays on his back and watches the fan blades spin above him. The room is still stuffy as the hot air inside is only being pushed around. It makes him ache to be in a helicopter again. To feel the bone chilling air right as he climbs into the cockpit before a mission. He never felt cramped when he was in the air. Not like he does now on the ground.

He tries to pick a singular blade and count how many times it can circle the base of the fan in a minute, but he keeps getting distracted. You keep distracting him. He never manages to make it past 15 before you pop into his mind. Your melodic laugh, the way you furrow your eyebrows when you think, how it took you 30 minutes to pick one item off the menu at breakfast. He wonders how you’re spending your Thursday night. Guilt creeps in when he realizes how deeply you consume his thoughts. Although he doesn’t know if that guilt stems from the fact that he’s thinking of you while he lies next to Rochelle in her bed or because he didn’t feel guilty at all until he remembered she was there in the first place. What he does know is that he wouldn’t feel as cramped and lonely as he does right now if you were with him. You could have your limbs wrapped around him as tight as could be and he would still beg you to squeeze harder.

He turns his attention to the woman laying next to him when she breathes out deeply. She looks so much different in sleep. Her harsh features have softened. Her brows are relaxed and her lips aren’t contorted into a perpetual scowl. She looks, he thinks, kind. As if she is completely incapable of being the person that has wreaked so much havoc and heartache onto his life. She looks like someone who would want to be held as she slept. Someone who would want their lover to pull them in close and whisper sweet nothings in their ear that would be kept secret by the darkness of the night. Unfortunately, that wasn’t who she was. Rochelle never wanted Frankie to be affectionate with her unless she initiated it or when they were going to have sex. Even then she would groan in annoyance when he took too long kissing or going down on her.

“Just fuck me already.”

Although he would never admit it, he craved that intimacy. That closeness with his partner. He loved having his hands constantly on the woman he was with. It kept him calm knowing that she was close to him. He noticed that he also had less nightmares on the rare occasions Rochelle would allow him to hold her while they slept. She stirs slightly and rolls over so her back is facing him.

“God, what the fuck am I even doing here?” He whispers up to the fan blades.

He hated himself for winding up back in her bed. They haven’t officially gotten back together, but this is how it always started. She would slither back into his life and he would trip over her and fall right into her trap. It made him even angrier than he knew how she worked and he still wound up here. Yet, it’s so easy to slip into a routine you already know no matter how toxic it may be. The ball is still technically in his court. He still hasn’t given her an answer about the status of their relationship. He hasn’t completely sunk beneath the waves yet. He needs to remind himself that history doesn’t equate to longevity. He wants quality over quantity now.

The dinging of his phone pulls him from his thoughts. It’s a message from Benny in their group chat.

Benny: Sorry for the late message, but I’ve been doing some thinkin’. Since our girl has been here for a month I think we should celebrate. I know she wouldn’t want anything over the top, so maybe The Barrel this Saturday? Y’all down for that?

Pope: It’s about damn time she came out with us. I think I’m free then too.

Will: Benny, I’m literally awake in the next room. You could have just come and told me about your plan.

Benny: Text is easier. I don’t have to get out of bed this way.

Will: She definitely deserves more than a few rounds since she has had to deal with you for a month straight. I’m surprised you haven’t scared her off.

Pope: Same here. I would have run for the hills by now if I were her.

Frankie: Yeah I’m down too. Will and Pope can carpool with me and we can meet y’all after closing time.

Benny: Sounds good! See y’all then!

“Who was that, baby?” A sleep riddled voice asks behind his shoulder.

He feels his body recoil at the pet name. A pet name he once had to beg her to call him. Something to make him believe that what they had was good and sweet. How could something he longed for sound like nails on a chalkboard now?

“Just the guys. Go back to bed, Rochelle.”

Frankie falls asleep wondering if he will get the privilege of sitting next to you at the bar.

***

“I already said that I would come tonight, Benny! You didn’t have to keep asking every hour of the day.”

If you were being honest it was getting on your nerves. He told you last night that you absolutely, without a doubt, had to come to The Barrel on Saturday after work. You knew that you had been pushing it off so you conceded. You just wished Benny would get that through his thick skull. Although, having someone that invested in you is foreign so you put your annoyance out of your mind and focus on the good.

“I know. I know. I just want to make sure everything goes perfect. You told your dad that you wouldn’t be comin’ tonight?”

“Yes! I did everything you asked! I don’t know why you’re so worked up. We are just going across the street to get a drink after work.”

“I just want to make sure.”

“Aww!” You pinch his cheek as he waits with you in the laundry room. “Does Benny have a crush on me?”

“You wish you could get in on all this!” He flexes his left arm and blows a kiss at you with his right.

“Fuck off!” You shove him out of the room. “If you want to go get a drink you better leave me alone so I can put this load in the dryer. Long gone are the days of leaving wet towels to sit overnight at Brass Knuckles.”

“That’s why I love ya’!” He pokes his head back and kisses your cheek. A lovely juxtaposition to what you just did to him. “I’ll head over there and get us a table. Meet me there after you lock up?”

“If you’re lucky, Miller.”

Shortly after Benny bounds gleefully out of the gym, the washer announces that it’s finished. You hum to yourself as you toss the damp towels into the dryer and press start. It’s all a breeze from there. You collect your things from the desk, turn off the building's lights, and lock the front door. That’s funny you think my bag feels lighter than usual.

The night air is hot, but not uncomfortably so, as you walk across the street to The Barrel. The soft glow from the sign acts as your north star. You can hear how packed it is even before you swing the door open. How are you going to find Benny through all these people? Your eyes survey the room as you make your way through the crowd. A hand shoots up in the back and starts waving frantically at you. As you slip through more people you finally reach the clearing. It was all of them. All of the guys were waiting for you at a quaint table in the back.

“Happy one month!” They say in unison and raise their glasses.

“Oh my-”

You’re so starstruck that you can’t speak. They all beam as you make your way to the table and to the only empty chair. The one that sandwiches you right in between Pope and Frankie.

“Is this seat taken?”

“It is now.” The man with soft curls responds warmly.

“Are you surprised?! Did we get you?!” Benny can hardly sit still in his chair.

“Yes,” Your cheeks are going to be sore from smiling in the morning. “Y’all got me good. I can’t believe y’all remembered.”

“Of course we did, hon.” Will’s voice acts as a beacon of calmness in the bar’s chaos. “The gym was close to burnin' down before you showed up and saved it. Brightened our lives in the process whether you know it or not too.”

“Will…” Tears threaten to trickle down your face.

“It was not!” Benny bites back at his brother. “But, I am happy you called about my ad.”

“Cheers to you, hermosa!” Pope slides a bottle over to you. “Welcome to the group.”

As you raise your glass to clink with all of theirs, you look at each and every one of them. The genuine care they all have for you sprinkles your skin like a light summer shower. The kind of rain where it’s so soft that you don’t even realize you’re soaked to the bone until you reach your destination. It just kinda sneaks up on you. That’s exactly what they did and you couldn’t have been more grateful.

“Okay I need y’all to indulge me for a few minutes.” It’s somehow already 1:00 in the morning and you’ve lost count of how much you have had to drink. “I’ve been trying to figure out what each of y’all’s individual signs are and I think I finally cracked it.”

“Like our call signs?” Frankie’s shoulder presses up against yours when he leans into talk. You hope he doesn’t catch the way your breath hitches.

“You mean y’alls call signs. I still haven’t gotten mine.”

“You’re always going to be Brass Knuckles to me, Benny.” You offer to the man across from you. “But no, not y’alls call signs, I already know those. I mean your star signs.”

“Oh, shit! I was hooking up with a girl once that was really into all that mumbo jumbo!” Pope sounds even more excited than you do. “I already know these carbrons don’t know what they are. Google y’all’s birthdays and find out what it is.”

Once each of them confirms that they know, you crack your knuckles and pray that you have guessed correctly.

“I’ll start with you, Santi.” Maybe it’s the alcohol or maybe it's because you truly feel like his friend that you use his first name. “I think you’re a libra because you’re charismatic, you’re tactful-”

“You better stop before I fall in love with you.” He taunts.

“And you’re a whore.” The entire table erupts into boisterous laughter. “I didn’t need the stars to tell me that though.”

Next you move your blurry vision to Will.

“I think you’re a cancer. You’re someone who cares deeply about the people that are close to you. You always want to know how others are feeling, but ironically, you tend to keep your own emotions locked away. You think you will be a burden if you share them, but you won’t, I promise.”

“You hired a witch to work for you, Benny.” He brings his drink to his lips, but his eyes stay playfully trained on you.

“Do me next! Do me!”

“Alright, Benny. I think you’re a sagittarius. You have an enthusiastic love for life and adventure alike. You always lift the mood of the room when you walk into it. The life of the party if you will.”

“Freaky.” He whispers to himself.

You turn your attention to the man you have been most excited to talk about. “And last, but certainly not least: Frankie.” You are too drunk to notice the hush that has fallen over the group as you rest your hand on his shoulder. “I think you’re a taurus. You’re very hard working, a loyal and faithful friend, and you love physical affection.”

It takes Benny choking on his beer at your last comment to shake you from your trance. You slide your hand off Frankie's shoulder and turn back to the group.

“So…was I right?” Everyone is looking at you with wide eyes and open jaws. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Benny spends the next few minutes drunkenly pleading with you to tell him more about himself and his future.

“I’m not an oracle, you know. I just observe people and their actions and try to figure them out.”

“Well,” Pope arrives back at the table with the last round of the night. “Tell us what you have observed about Fish.”

“No, you don’t have to do that.” Frankie says shyly.

The alcohol in your bloodstream has made you more confident. “I want to.”

“Let the woman work, man.” Pope slides him a beer.

“You tend to be the glue of the friend group. A man with a hard exterior, yet a soft interior. While you'd never say it outloud, you enjoy taking care of people. You find it gratifying and it gives you a sense of purpose.” You have to stop to get your bearings for a second and acknowledge that maybe you shouldn’t have had that last drink. “Maybe that’s because you served or maybe that's just in your nature. I haven’t figured that out yet, but I’m working on it.”

Frankie hides his face with the bill of his hat, but everyone knows he's smiling under there.

Pope reaches behind you and claps his friend on the back. “Está escrito en las estrellas, hermano.”

As the bartender announces the last call, your group takes that as the cue to head home. Benny is more trashed than anyone realizes so Will says he will take him back home. He wrangles Benny’s keys away from him so he can use his car to drive them both. You were in no state to drive either and were too far gone to feel any embarrassment as the two men left point that out. With Pope grabbing your tote bag and Frankie grabbing your hand, the three of you walk to his truck.

“Come on,” Frankie helps you into the passenger seat while a very annoyed Pope gets into the backseat. “I’ll take you home.”

You can only mumble out a small ‘mmm’ to him because your body has become heavy with sleep. He takes it upon himself to gently buckle you into your seat. As he leans over to click it into place he gets a whiff of your perfume. It’s more muted now since the day is over, but it’s still just as potent to him as the second you put it on this morning. After he finishes, he hops down and closes the passenger door.

“He’s so nice to me.” You whisper to Pope in the backseat before you drift off.

“You have no idea. I just hope you remember when you wake up.”

Frankie climbs into his seat and cranks up the car. Both men opt to listen to the quiet sounds of the tires on the road instead of the radio for fear that it will wake you up. He pulls into your apartment complex and parks as gently as he can.

“Grab her keys from her bag, would you?” Frankie asks. He keeps his eyes on you while Pope looks. You look just as sweet in sleep as you do awake, he thinks. You really were as lovely as he thought you were.

“Uhhh, Catfish?”

“What?”

“She only has keys for the gym in here. I can’t find her apartment keys.” He hears Pope laugh dryly in the back seat. “I couldn’t have planned something more perfect if I tried.”

“What are you going on about?”

“The way I see it you have two choices. Choice one is to wake her up and ask her where her keys are.”

“I’m not going to wake her up, Pope. Mirar, solo mírala.”

“Choice two is to let her crash at your place tonight.”

They both look at you, sound asleep and ignorant about the current situation.

“I don’t know, man.” Frankie looks over his shoulder at his friend. “I don’t want her to wake up and think I kidnapped her or something. Won’t that be scary for her to wake up in a place that she has never been before?”

“It beats the hell out of waking up in the morning outside of her own front door.”

He knows his friend is right, but he’s still hesitant as to how you will react when you wake up. Reluctantly, he puts his truck in reverse and heads for Pope’s house.

***

Unlocking his front door while he has you in his arms bridal style proves a lot more difficult than he originally anticipated. Yet, he would do it a million times over if it meant that he got to hold you this close. When he finally gets inside he closes the door with his foot and heads straight for his bedroom. There was no question about it, he was going to sleep on the couch and you were going to get his bed. He walks into his room and leaves the door open so the hallway light can spill inside. Thankfully he didn’t make his bed this morning so the covers were already pulled back enough. He sets you down on the mattress like you were made of glass; one wrong move by him and you would shatter into a million pieces. A small cry escapes you when his body is no longer touching yours. He wants to capture that sound and keep it locked away in his heart. Before he tucks you in, he carefully unties your shoes and sets them down beside the nightstand so you will see them in the morning. He brings the covers up so that they rest just below your chin. Despite his initial hesitation to bring you back home with him, he can’t help but feel that you look perfectly in place in his bed. He kneels down next to you and tucks a rogue strand of hair back behind your ear. You unconsciously lean into his touch, seeking the warmth he provides. His lips find a home on your forehead and he whispers to you before he gets up to leave.

“Sweet dreams…mi estrella.”

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

{tag list: @cutesyscreenname @rsquared31 @smol-beb @bitchwitch1981 @avastrasposts @hoeslingz @saltybutteredtoast @javicstories @c-justhere @pimosworld @modernperplexity @beboldbebravethings @mxtokko @moonliqhtszn @tanzthompson @megcads @myloveistoolittle @casa-boiardi @jitterbugs927 @partyofone3413 @pedrit0-pascalit0 @golden-library @pati-et-vivere @pedro-pedrito-pascalito }

#francisco morales #frankie morales #catfish #frankie morales fanfiction #frankie morales x you #frankie morales x reader #triple frontier #triple frontier fic #benny miller #will miller #ironhead #santiago garcia #pope #through the scope #read on a03

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violivs · 2 months ago

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NMTDaily: Project III - Life of the Party

- Ursula’s video description has some interesting info. She’s practicing filming a long scene in one shot, so building off what she’s learned in prior videos, and I’m proud of her! Go Urs! Future filmmaker/cinematographer of the universe!

- She also says, “I got a bit of background to the big argument Bea and Ben had” which proves that the scene we get here is not the whole fight. A bunch of the fight went un-filmed and we have to rely on Ben’s videos to know what went down. We also know that Ursula knows it was Ben under the cowl, so would she have told Bea? Maybe. I’m still not sure when Bea finds out that was Ben, but I do lean to it being after the fight was over or possibly Ben taking off his mask mid-fight to confront her. Interesting.

- Ursula enjoys making friends with the cat. This is Pedro’s house. That means Pedro (and John), Ben, and Bea all come from Cat Families. Just an interesting detail to note. Many adorable headcanons to draw from this: Bea liking to come to Ben’s after the Hero’s Birthday thing to be with Ben but also to visit with his cat because her own is in Australia with her parents; John potentially getting along with the Donaldson family cat and considering her his favorite family member; etc.

- Finally, Ursula tells us that Meg requested for her fight with Robbie to be put in the video to “show everyone what a dick that guy is”- setting up MegRobbie as a toxic on again/off again thing and Robbie as a cheating ass. Important for later when he shows us more bad behavior.

- This show and the international friends/acquaintances I made through it really helped show me how universal US American culture is in the world, against the world’s will. I’m reminded of that by the girl at the party dressed as the Statue of Liberty. In NZ/Aotearoa.

- Note that Claudio dressed as a cowboy because he saw Hero say in a video that she wanted someone to dress as a cowboy. Note also that his face is covered by a handkerchief- he’s hiding something. His jealousy and insecurity.

- Verges and Dogberry as a mouse and an elephant is funny since elephants are allegedly scared of mice.

- Pedro the Robot comes over to Hero and Bea and gestures in a way that tells us he’s saying “can we talk?” He’s about to tell Hero that Claudio likes her. But as he opens the chest compartment to show a red heart in his costume, Beatrice walks away. Visual foreshadowing of Pedro opening his heart to Beatrice and getting rejected. (Also a symbol of Pedro showing Claudio’s heart to Hero, and possibly of Claudio thinking the heart Pedro is giving Hero is Pedro’s.)

- I don’t think it’s a stretch to imagine that Bea and Hero end up hanging out together again at this party, and Pedro sticks to them like glue because of his crush on Bea. Therefore, John is able to point Claudio at the tableau of Pedro in Flirt Mode talking to both Dukes, and convince him that the one Pedro’s trying to flirt with is Hero. It’s actually Beatrice the whole time.

- We get a couple glimpses of Ben moving through the party, and he is always alone. Telling. He’s uncomfortable at parties even when not getting yelled at by Beatrice.

- We see Meg and Robbie kissing. This means he made out with her BEFORE openly trying to pick up another girl at the SAME PARTY. What an ass.

- Bea is socializing with non-named characters. Proud of her for putting herself out there as the new kid!

- We see John lurking in the hallway holding a skull. Is the skull supposed to mean he’s dressed as Hamlet? It seems like he wants to join in the party but feels uncomfortable. He’s also looking for Claudio, though.

- Ben and Bea effectively dancing together! Okay, they’re dancing next to each other, just let me have this, lol.

- Is there a significance to Balth dressing as a gorilla? Is he one of the apes Beatrice will lead down to hell before the Devil tells her “Get thee to Heaven”? (A line from the masquerade scene in Much Ado)

- Aww Balthazar talking to Claudio and trying to cheer him up is sweet

- Beatrice and Hero dancing together is also lovely (and Pedro hovering ineffectually next to them)

- Benedick dancing like a dork while the “he is just an arrogant guy” song plays in the background xD

- AND THEN on the line “he’s just lonely inside” it cuts to Pedro! Who is lonely inside because he has an unrequited crush AND because he’s in the closet. Look at him trying to fit snack foods through his robot mouth aww

- It cuts back to Claudio on “he really needs to swallow his pride”. Interesting. Then immediately pans over to Ben again, who’s mugging for the camera under his Batman mask.

- HERSULA!!!! Hero and Ursula dancing together and holding hands, my heart! They look so happy!

- Aw shit, we actually SEE Robbie cozying up with the girl in the nun costume, how did they not notice the camera?

- “I want respect, I want to feel like I’m the only one” “well there’s plenty of others out there” brutal. Robbie deserves that drink to the face.

- It’s Beatrice’s voice in the background saying “oh, sexy, nice, nice” and cheering Meg on for splashing Robbie with her drink. (I think she meant to say “sick, nice, nice” but it sounded like “sexy”, so.) We also see her looking on with the crowd at the beginning of this moment before the camera pans to Meg and Robbie. She’s very pro-revenge on shitty guys.

- Meg looks and sounds very satisfied to have publicly told Robbie off. I’m sad that she goes back to him so soon after this.

- Now that I think of it: does anybody know what Meg’s costume is supposed to be? The white shirt and tie and suspenders make me think it’s supposed to be “sexy private-school uniform girl”, which, Ew. Please respect yourself and other girls, Meg. I know you’ll get there.

- We now cut to the start of the Beadick argument scene. Beatrice starts by asking the girl next to her if she knows where Ben is, not realizing that Ben is sitting right next to them.

- Incidentally, that extra is a Candle Waster. Hi, Minnie Grace! Thanks for doing this cool NMTDaily thing for us! (The other Candle Wasters can also be seen as extras at the party.)

- Ben cuts in and asks, “Who’s Benedick?” He sees his chance to find out what Beatrice really thinks of him, and he takes it.

- In the play, you can technically play it as either Beatrice knowing she’s talking to Benedick the whole time, or Beatrice having no idea the person she’s talking to is Benedick. The comment section seems unsure of which tack the Candle Wasters and actors are taking here.

- It’s worth noting that Beatrice doesn’t even really look at Ben before launching into her tirade. She doesn’t seem to notice or care who she’s talking to at all. She just wants anyone who will listen to her talk about how she wishes Ben was here in an embarrassing costume she can make fun of.

- It’s interesting that she considers her own princess costume embarrassing (“there’s evidence online”). She assumes he’s going to see it online and make fun of her for it, and she’s mad that she can’t make fun of his costume right back, because he isn’t here.

- As the comment section says, Bea misses Ben. It’s fun for her to spar with him. She was looking forward to it.

- “What do you mean you don’t know Benedick, he’s the biggest dick in the world” Yes, she’s being mean. But she also can’t conceive of anyone NOT being hyperaware of the existence of Benedick Hobbes at literally all times. Because she is. Which is very cute.

- “He’d go as Peter Pan, the boy who never grows up.” Savage, Bea.

- “That was quite hurtful” in a tiny version of the Batman voice. Awww Ben my poor baby :(

- Lol, why is Meg just dancing alone in the corner in the background? The dance floor is in the other room!

- “I heard he’s made some pretty good vlogs… I heard his bird one was quite insightful and poignant!” Oh Ben.

- Beatrice goes on her tirade about how she doesn’t watch his videos specifically because of that video, and the scene cuts off.

- I posit that after Bea rants awhile about “who talks about bird killing?” and how bad the video is, Ben gets mad and takes off his cowl and says something like “no, really, what is your problem with me? Everyone else seems to like me just fine, so what did I ever do to you?” And that’s when Bea drops all that stuff we hear about in Ben’s videos about no one really liking him and the whole school laughing at him. And he fires back before storming off to sulk.

- I just find the scene more palatable if she doesn’t know it’s him she’s talking to for most of it, and then the meanest stuff she says is because she feels put on the spot, on the defensive. That’s my take.

- We see more shots of Hero and Pedro hanging out and dancing together, and we see Ben slipping into the bathroom and closing the door.

- Then, we actually SEE John and Claudio in the doorway, looking in the direction of Pedro and Hero, as John whispers in Claudio’s ear. Claudio pushes John out of his way and stalks off to join Ben at the sulking-in-the-bathroom party.

- Pedro unmasks himself as the robot for the camera. Then someone else takes the camera and we end on a shot of a sleepy Ursula and the Donaldson family cat. Awww!

- The last words on the costume party episode are the lyrics to the song playing in the background: “I know you.”

Comment section boogaloo:

- People pointing out that Bea misses Ben, and feeling sorry for Ben.

- Mention that a piece of Kiwiana, a soft drink called L&P, can be seen on the beverage and snack table. I wouldn’t have caught that, being American, so thank you commenter for teaching me a thing! (And for calling John being dressed as Hamlet!)

- Praise for the music, which I agree with. It’s fun, dancey, AND thematically relevant!

- Apparently the nun costume is from American Horror Story, and also a potential reference to Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure.

- Is the cat Tibbles?!?!

- “why do I get extreme Taika Waititi vibes from this” …it is possible that Taika Waititi is just the only other kiwi this person knows. But I haven’t seen all of Waititi’s projects, so I can’t say for sure he’s never done a party scene like this or a teen drama in general. Sorry if he has, commenter! (It is of course too bad there aren’t any Māori actors in an Aotearoa-based webseries like this, although I think there are some in Lolilo and later TCW projects.)

- Comment awards: The person who wrote “poetic cinema” with a time stamp link to the shot of Ben dancing near some of the girl extras while the song in the background goes “he is just an arrogant guy, thinks he can catch any girl’s eye”

- And there we have it! One masquerade, in the books!

💖🥭🦩

#nmtd #nmtdaily #violivs nmtdaily liveblog #project III life of the party

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ck-17088 · 2 years ago

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OPINION: Why I think Transformers Earthspark will be remembered as one of the best Transformers shows of all time.

Long story short, Earthspark spoilers. Don't read if you don't want to be spoiled.

I'm delighted to say that Earthspark has again exceeded my expectations. Honestly, when the show was first announced, I expected it to be a TV show meant to pander to young children. It would either be silly or forgettable.

Nope.

The show has blown all expectations out of the water through its bold story-telling and animation. The characters all feel realistic- they have strengths and flaws, which are most apparent when they face difficult situations. Another strength is that this show is not afraid to tackle issues (war, moral issues- "how far are we willing to go for the sake of peace?", discrimination, etc) that have become a part of our society in the present and past several years.

In the new 8 episodes dropped, the central theme appears to be identity. Mainly about finding your identity (ex: finding an alt-mode), making up parts of your identity (ex: finding the right alt-mode that matches each character), and integrating new experiences into your identity (ex: Megatron's decision to gain an Earth-based alt-mode to earn the Autobots' trust)- those sort of topics. These are all important and wonderful topics to discuss and share in a show. However, what surprised me the most was that the writers were not afraid to show the ugly sides of identity-related topics.

The 17th and 18th episodes- "Home Part I" and "Home Part II"- subtly tackle racism and xenophobia. Robbie, Twitch, and Hashtag are visiting Robbie's friend in a skateboard park. While having fun, they stumble upon an anti-transformers graffiti- "Transformers go home". Twitch and Hashtags are shocked and upset over this. Twitch says "This just isn't okay" because they were born on Earth and have lived there for their entire existence. However, Robbie's friend insists that their existence on Earth isn't "okay" since "Invading the Earth wasn't okay either". He's essentially telling them that they exist because of the war, which was unwanted, so therefore, their existence "isn't okay".

That scene honestly emotionally destroyed me. Before I explain why let me say a few things.

I am Korean American. The experiences/feelings I will later talk about are my own and do not fully represent the Korean American and/or East Asian communities. Our community's experiences are varied; thus, one person’s is not enough to sum them all of them.

Throughout my life, especially in the past couple of years- during the COVID-19 pandemic, I have had all of these things happen to me:

- I have been called hateful slurs.

- People have made the slanted eyes gesture to me numerous times.

- A few people have greeted me with "ni hao". (This is offensive because they automatically assume I'm from China because I'm Asian. It supports the idea that AAPI communities are one monolith. Hint: They're not.)

- Many people have asked me if I eat dog meat… (I don't. Never have.)

- Too many times, I have been told to "go back home". (I don't even remember the exact number. That's an indicator of how many times it's happened)

- In college, I have had many academic and career advisors ask if I'm a foreign student. It doesn't appear be an offensive question, but if I were Caucasian, no one would have thought to ask me if I was a foreigner. But no, I am Asian, so there is a huge chance that I might not be American.

The fact that I am Asian, or Korean American, an ethnicity (Korean) not found in the Americas, is enough of an excuse to question my identity and my entire life - who I am, where I'm from, and my own habits. To many, it is an excellent excuse to ensure I feel like an outsider in my own home.

The "Transformers go home" scene destroyed me because it reminds me of the pain that comes from the fact that there will always be people who believe I do not belong in my own country- no matter how many experiences I have had and how ingrained they are in me.

These characters are experiencing that same pain, too, even when they shouldn't be. The insistence from Robbie's friend that their experiences aren't enough to explain their belonging to Earth because they are physically Cybertronian- or transformers- is especially heartbreaking.

However, Robbie stands up for his family and breaks ties with his friend. He refuses to accept the blatant discrimination his siblings are facing and leaves instead. This is significant because while the writers show the ugly side of human society, they also show how to combat it- by refusing to stand by and accept it.

This scene is likely why Earthspark will become and will be remembered as one of the best Transformers shows ever.

It's not just the animation or the stories/plots. It is the show's willingness to tackle issues that are difficult to discuss in real life.

In a world where Anti- Asian, Anti- Latino, Anti- LGBTQIA sentiments and (basically) any hate toward minority groups are on the rise, Earthspark is not afraid to go head-on with these issues. They are willing to show scenes to demonstrate the harm these ideas and beliefs can cause, as well as solutions on how to fight them.

The show embraces the beautiful sides of humanity- friendship, family, love, and hope- but is also not afraid to fight the ugly parts of it too.

Written by: CK17088

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strangerthingslover69 · 2 years ago

Text

One night stand

Dmitri + Female reader

18+ minors do not read!

Warnings ~Drinking, smoking, swearing & smut~

After five years away you find yourself back to Hawkins. It saddened you to be moving away from your parents but after you a pretty rough break up you needed to get away, so you decide where else better than where you grew up? You can’t wait to reunite with your old friends again, the first thing you all decided to do was go out and get absolutely wasted. You bump into someone on your drunken travels and one thing leads to another…

‘I can’t believe you’re actually here!’ Robin practically screams at you as you get out of you car. She brings you for a hug before you even shut your door. ‘Hey Robbie, I’m so happy to see you but you’re suffocating me’ you say laughing. She looses her grip stepping back, ‘Sorry I’ve just missed to so much, talking on the phone isn’t the same.’ She says poking your ribs. ‘I know I should have visited, it’s been a while. I’m sorry I didn’t but I’m here for good now!’ You say with excitement. ‘Do my eyes deceive me or is that you Y/N?’ You hear Eddies voice behind you. ‘Eddie!’ You say excitedly bringing him in for a hug. ‘You’re looking good Y/N, how was the ride over?’ He says hugging you back. ‘Aw Eds’ always such a sweetie. I’m loving this new tat by the way very nice.’ - you say pointing to the large spider on his neck- ‘It was long but worth it, I can not wait for tonight!’ You say with another big smile. You can’t help but smile. It was so good and refreshing to be back in Hawkins. You needed to get out of California after your break up with Issac. It just hurt too much to stay there. Everything reminded you of him. You were sad to leave your parents but they understood what you needed to do. They’d always been supportive of your choices. After talking about it with them you called Robin up and asked if you could move in with her and Eddie since Steve recently moved out to move in with his girlfriend. Everyone was fully aware of the situation with your ex. Robin was over the moon you asked and of course accepted, she even gave you a job at family video since she was now the manager. Everything seemed to be falling into place for you and you hadn’t even unpacked. You close the car door and grab your bags, Eddie and Robin helping you with your stuff. ‘So what’s the plan for tonight?’ You say making your way to the apartment complex. It was nice, lots of trees and greenery around. ‘Got a show in tonight if you fancy coming along to see it?’ Eddie says looking at you. ‘Are you kidding?! A chance to see Corroded Coffin for the first time in forever! I’d love to!’ You squeal with excitement. ‘Where we meeting the others?’ You ask as you get into the lift. ‘Oh, I’m, I’m not sure yet’ Robin says in a weird way. You side eye her confused. ‘Okay, well we best organise that, I can not wait to see everyone. It’s been too long’ you say feeling like you were going to burst with excitement. Eddie and Robin look at one another with a happy expression.

Everyone knew why you and fully understood why hadn’t been back. It was too hard. Your brother dying in the ‘earthquake.’ That’s why your parents decided to move away, they have you the option to stay but you didn’t want to be away from them after loosing your brother. But now you needed to be back, more than ever. It’s where you belonged. The lift door opens and you make your way down to your new home. Robin unlocks the door, you follow her and Eddie in.

‘Surprise!’ An eruption of voices shout at you making you jump, you look around and see everyone. Steve, Nancy, Johnathan, Argyle, El, Mike, Max, Lucas, Erica, Dustin, Will, Joyce, Hopper and Murray. You cover your mouth with your hands as the tears roll down. You hear some ‘awwws’ as you smile brightly at everyone. ‘What, what are you all doing?!’ You say in utter disbelief. ‘Robin and Eddie told us you were moving back home.’ Nancy says smiling. ‘How could we not surprise you honey? It’s been too long!’ Joyce says making her way over to you, she brings you in for a tight hug. ‘I can’t believe it! I’m so happy to see you all’ you say hugging Joyce back. Joyce has always been your second mum, especially with everything that had happened. Of course your parents didn’t know about the upside down, demogorgans, Vecna all that so it helped having Joyce. You loved her dearly. ‘What’s this?!’ You say seeing the shining diamond on her finger. Her cheeks blush a little. ‘Finally manned up and asked her to be Mrs Hopper’ Jim says kissing Joyce on the head. You smile at him. ‘Congratulations!’ You say with happiness. You reach up giving Hopper a hug. Like Joyce feeling like your mum, Hopper felt like your dad. Always being there when you needed him. You were like there other adopted daughter pretty much. ‘Will you two lovebirds be coming out later?’ You ask quietly hoping they might be, you’ve seen Hopper drunk, it amused you a lot he let go when he’d had a drink it was fun! ‘Only because I am forcing them, I told them they need to get out more. Have more fun’ El says appearing at your side. You bring her in for a hug. She’s looking so grown up you can’t quite believe it. ‘Look at you, look at you all, your all adults. How the hell did that happen!?’ You say to all the others who use to be so little. Now many of them taller than you. You mingle with everyone for a few hours till Eddie leaves to go start setting up for his gig and you say you’re goodbyes to the others as they go home. Yourself, Robin and Nancy all get ready together.

‘I am so excited to see Eddie and his band. It’s been forever since I’ve seen them!’ You say taking out the last curler in your hair. ‘They’ve definitely gotten better, not they were ever bad’ Nancy says applying her lipstick. ‘So Y/N what are you gonna wear?’ Robin says with a smile. You got to your suitcase and pull out the dress you’ve been waiting for a special occasion. There’s been numerous times when you wanted to wear it but your ex said to was too revealing so you couldn’t. Nancy and Robins mouths hang open, in a good way. ‘Y/N, that. That dress. Wow. You are gonna look fucking amazing’ Robin says still in shock. ‘I think you will definitely catch someone’s attention in that’ Nancy saying smirking. ‘Well Wheeler my dear. That is the whole point’ you say winking at her. You all burst into a fit of giggles. A hour later and you’re all ready. Nancy in a lightly baby pink dress, light make up, wavy hair, definitely a signature Nancy look. Robin as always rocking her trousers, shirt and vest jacket combo with sneakers, wavy hair like Nancy but shorter and minimal make up. You were in your emerald green glitter dress. Short enough if you bent over you’d show the whole world your ass as you decided against panties. It was lowly cut showing off your cleavage. Not leaving much to anyones imagination at all. Pairing with some black sandal strap wedges, hair curly and light make up, you weren’t the biggest fan of it but it make you feel good. You all definitely had a different style lined up next to each other in the mirror. ‘Guys, you ready?’ You hear Steve’s voice as he opens the front door. He has kindly offered to be your driver tonight. He smiles as he see you all appear from your bedroom. His smile drops and mouth hangs open when he sees you, you see him gulp and pull the top of his t-shirt. ‘Wow, Y/N you look, wow. Erm, you all look amazing’ he says trying to look away from your dress. ‘Dingus tongue back in. You have a girlfriend’ Robin says flicking his forehead as she walks past him. Nancy rolls her eyes and follows. You smile at him, ‘Thanks Stevie, ready to go?’ You say walking out with him, you lock the door behind you. ‘Y-yup already’ he says again trying to not focus on how short your dress is. It doesn’t take too long to get ti the hideout. Outside you meet Johnathan and Argyle. ‘Hey my dudes, Y/N that is one awesome dress’ Argyle says with redness in his eyes, most definitely high. ‘Thanks very much, hoping it’ll do some magic for me’ you say playfully bumping his shoulder. Once inside the place is just like you remember, even the same smell. You use to think it was disgusting but how you love it. ‘You guys go get a table, drinks on me’ you say smiling. ‘I’ll help you’ Steve offers. The others go find a table whilst you and Steve make your way over to the bar. It doesn’t take long for the bartender to come over taking your orders. You also order everyone two shots. Your mission tonight was to get mortality wasted. It had been a long time since you did. My god you missed it. ‘Y/N?’ You near a voice behind you. You turn to your surprise seeing Hopper, Joyce and Murray. You suddenly feeling very exposed. ‘Hey guys, you actually came! Good to see you all again’ you say with a smile. ‘We’re just here to watch Eddie, Johnathan won’t stop banging on about him and his show so thought come see what the fuss was about’ Murray says eyeing your outfit. ‘You look’ Hopper starts to speak as he point to your dress trying to find the right word. ‘Lovely’ Joyce cuts in before Hopper says something that may accidentally offend you. ‘Thanks, just trying something new’ you say in a small voice. ‘Enjoy the show guys’ you say turning around to follow Steve with your drinks. ‘Oh Y/N, if you bump into someone with in a leather jacket, blue shirt, jeans and a Russian accent can you let us know. We appear to of lost him’ Murray says side eyeing Hopper. ‘It’s not my fault!’ He says defensively. ‘Okay…I will be on the look out for the mysterious Russian man’ you say with a giggle as you make your way to your table.

Eddie and his band do an amazing performance, you were screaming along the whole time dancing and jumping around. You were having an amazing time. Safe to say the alcohol was most definitely having an effect on you. When Eddies done he makes his way to find you all, he can’t help but laugh at the sight of you all in your drunken ways, we’ll apart from Steve. ‘Eddieeeeee! That was amazing! You say leaping to hug him. He manages to catch you, ‘thanks Y/N, how much have you had to drink?’ he says steadying you back up. ‘Way too much’ Steve shouts over your shoulder. You throw him a glare, ‘No way Stevie. I’ve not had enough! Wanna do some shots Eddie?’ You say raising your eyebrows. ‘Sure, why not get more fucked up’ he laughs as you drag him to the bar. ‘Good bar tender man four shot of vodka pleaseeee!’ You say with a gleaming smile. ‘No, you’re too drunk, have some water’ he says unimpressed by you. You pout. ‘Please, just two? One for me and my friend’ you say leaning your chest onto the bar your boobs nearly spilling out. You notice him look down and blush. He rolls his eyes. ‘Then no more. Okay?’ He says pouring you the two shots. You throw him a beaming smile when handing him the money. ‘Thank you so much!’ You say as you down the shot. Eddie downs his shot feeling a little buzzed. ‘Fancy a smoke?’ He says bringing out his cigarettes. You nod eagerly. He brings your hand to his and scoots you through the crowd avoiding the men’s grabby hands they make at you. Once outside you feel the chill of the night, sending shivers over your exposed body. ‘No wonder your cold, you forgot to bring clothes’ Eddie joked as he lit his cigarette. He offers you one and you accept. ‘Haha very funny Munson’ you say rolling your eyes. You lean on the wall for balance as you feel the effect of the alcohol hit you now your not in that stuffy place. ‘You okay?’ Eddie asks as he notices you not looking 100%. ‘I, I’m okay’ you say taking a drag of the cigarette. You try to stand straighter but stumble, somehow you end up sitting down on the floor. ‘Shit, let me get you some water okay? Stay here Y/N’ Eddie says leaning down to you. You look up at his brown eyes and smile. ‘Okay’ yuk reply with dopy smile

You finish the cigarette as you wait for Eddie. But being very drunk you grow impatient and don’t wait for long. You try stand up using the wall balance, your hand slips and you begin to wobble. You feel some hands grand your arms and help you back up. ‘Thanks’ you say smiling. ‘How could I not help a pretty woman?’ You hear him say words a bit slurred like yours. You turn around to look at your savour. Someone you’d not seen before but you sure want to know him. He’s tall, moustache, leather jacket, older but very fucking handsome. ‘Well good sir what can I ever do to say thank you?’ You say with a flirty smile, your hand crawling up his chest. His hands move down to you waist. ‘I can maybe think of something’ he says leaning down to your ear. You think you hear an accent your about to ask him what it is but you feel his lips move down and press a kiss on your neck. It sends goosebumps all over your body not just from the cold. Next thing you know hands are roaming all over each other. You feel his hands squeeze your ass, ‘You look very sexy in this dress, I like it very much’ he says biting his lip. ‘I think I’d like it better in your bedroom floor though’ you say seductively. Yours and the strangers lips crash into once another for a hot needy kiss. You feel his teeth bite your lip making you moan. ‘There’s a hotel down the road, shall we get a room?’ He says into your mouth. ‘Fuck yes’ you reply feeling excited. Your hands intertwine with one another as you walk to the hotel. Excitement runs through out your body. This is not usually like you but you think fuck it, well fuck him

Eddie comes out with the water only five minutes later. It was mayhem trying to get the bar tenders attention, if he had tits it would have been no problem. As he makes his way outside he doesn’t see you where he left you. ‘Fuck’ he says rubbing his eyes. ‘Y/N?!’ He calls your name around hoping to find you. Eddie spends twenty minutes looking for you before going back inside to the others. As he reaches the table he’s filled with worry. ‘Guys I fucked up. I, I can’t find Y/N. I swear I left her for five minutes to get her some water. I can’t find her anywhere’ Eddie tells the other with worry in his voice. Even though they are all fairly drunk they all realise what Eddies saying. ‘Fuck sake man!’ We need to go find her, she’s fucking wasted!’ Steve says throwing his hands on his hips. ‘Robin call a cab and go back to the apartment in case she turns up. Nancy call Joyce in case she decided to go back to hers. Johnathan and Argyle look around here in case she’s somewhere. Me and Eddie will look around outside more.’ Steve says setting the plan in place. He was always good in a bad situation. They all do what Steve says and the search begins for you.

Meanwhile you and Mr Stranger are in the hotel room, one room left with a single bed but it’s not that you’d be sleeping much anyway. As soon as the door closed clothes were torn off and thrown across the room. Lips instantly find one another. Tongues collide with one another, sloppy kisses but both too drunk to care. You stumble back into the bed and he falls on top of you. His lips begin to latch onto your neck and mark it up, it feels so good, you can feel your pussy getting more wet. ‘Fuck me’ you whine as you buck your hips closer. He does not need telling twice. His cock bottoms out into you causing you to moan loudly. ‘Fuck! You’re, you’re big!’ You winch slightly as it stings. He laughs into your neck. ‘And you’re beautiful’ he praises make your pussy clench around him. You hear him moan and it’s so fucking sexy. He begins to thrust in and out of you hard and fast, he reaches places you didn’t know existed. His hands pin you down by your wrists, they dig in but you don’t care as you can feel an orgasm approaching already. ‘Fuck, g-gonna cum!’ You scream as you lift your legs higher. ‘Cum sweet girl’ he moans as you clench around and cum all over his dick. He doesn’t even have time to warn you before he shoots his cum into your pussy. ‘ебать!’ (fuck!) He pants heavily as he fills you up. You can’t help but clench at what ever the fuck he said, you lean up and sink your teeth into his neck like he did with you. You move your head back onto the pillow panting heavily. The man still in you, you feel him growing soft. He looks down at you and bringing his hand up to your chin lifting you into a soft kiss. You smile at one another until you winch as it’s starting to become uncomfortable with him in you still, he sees your facial expression. ‘Shit sorry’ he says slowly pulling out and squeezing next to you. ‘You know I don’t normally do this’ you blurt out. He looks to you and replies, ‘Neither do I, but I’m glad I did.’ ‘Me too’ you say smiling. Your head starts to spin as the alcohol starts wearing off, you yawn as your feel tired from being fucked hard. ‘You should get some sleep’ he says stroking your leg up and down. Your eyes give in as they close, you fall asleep in the strangers chest, he falls asleep next to you

You are woken up by bright lights peaking through the curtains. As your eyes adjust to your surroundings your head starts to thump. Where the fuck am I? You think to yourself. You see the clock on the side as it reads 9:38am. Looking around the room and do not recognise it, you soon realise you’re not alone. You turn your head slowly to the stranger you’re sharing a bed with. Who the fuck are you? You think. You carefully move his arm off your stomach and sit up, the room begins to spin a little so you move more slowly. As you sit up your have no idea what the fuck happened last night. You remember seeing Eddies band, drinking and dancing. You creep out of the bed and realise you’re naked as you see your dress on the floor. ‘Fuck’ you whisper to yourself. Then it floods back. You’re pretty sure you met him at the hideout then you came back here and by the evidence on the floor and wetness between your legs. You fucked this stranger. As you get dressed you can’t help but take sneaky peeks at him. He lays naked half under the covers, he’s a very handsome man, you want to pat yourself on the back but as he shuffles in his sleep you decide it’s best to leave. You see a paper and a pen on the nightstand leaving a little note for the mysterious man. Hello Stranger sorry I never actually caught your name? I’m sorry to leave you like this but my friends will be worried about me. I’ll admit I don’t remember too much of the night but maybe that’s for the best? Thank you for a fun night, I had a great time. Hopefully see you around? X

You end up scribbling out a lot as you don’t know what to say. You also think best not to sign your name. You admire him one last time before you open to door and sneak out. Once outside the fresh air hits you hard, you run to the closest bin and throw up. You get some looks from a group of mums with their children clearly disapproving you. Well you can’t blame them, you are most definitely doing the walk of shame. You find a pay phone on the hotel wall and call home

‘Hello? Y/N, is that you?!’ Eddie answers with panic in his voice

‘Y-yeah, it’s me. I, I’m so sorry Eds’ you say in a sad tone

‘Thank fuck you’re okay! I swear I only left you for five minutes, then, then you just disappeared. We all thought something had happened to you! We spent hours looking for you, almost called Hopper to report you missing!’ Eddie says voice slightly raised

You winch at his words and tone. ‘Ed’s I’m so so sorry. I, I didn’t mean to worry you all. I’m okay. I, I erm need to to come pick me up’ you say nervously

‘Y/N, where did you go?!’ You hear Robins voice through the phone

‘I will explain everything when I see you, please come pick me up. It’s cold, I’m hung over and people keep looking at me. Please’ you beg

‘Where are you?’ Robin asks

‘I, I’m at the Golden Leaf hotel?’ You mumble down the phone

Silence from both sides. ‘Guys please?’ You beg again

‘We’re on the way’ Eddie says hanging up

Only ten minutes later and Eddie pulls up in his van. You get in and are immediately welcomed by questions. It seemed everyone stopped over at yours and they all decided to come pick you up. You have not felt this embarrassed for a long time. You sit next to Robin at the front as Eddie drives back home. ‘Sooooo what happened?’ Nancy asks from behind you. ‘I think it’s pretty clear what happened, don’t you?’ You hear Robin say tapping your neck. You flick her hand away and rub your neck, pulling down the sun visor and looking in the mirror you see your neck all marked up with bruises. Your face turns bright red. ‘Y/N, I get you wanted to have fun. We’re glad you did. But you could have at least called’ you hear Steve’s voice say. You sigh sadly. ‘I, I’m so sorry everyone. It, it just happened so fast. I didn’t expect it. I know I’m a shitty friend. First night back and already leaving you all in the dark? Fuck it won’t happen again. I’m sorry’ you say as your bottom lip starts to wobble. ‘Hey, come here’ Robin says putting her arm around you. ‘Your here and safe now that the main thing’ she reassures you warmly. You cry a little into her as she comforts you. ‘So my dude, whose the lucky dude?’ Argyle asks. Your cheeks return to the colour red again. You lift up from Robin and look at everyone. ‘Well, I, I don’t know’ you say awkwardly. ‘Damn, who knew you had it in you Y/N!’ Eddie says laughing. The others all laugh with you. The rest of the drive home is more relaxed and your still bombard with questions you just can not answer, Eddie pulls up in the parking lot. The others all go out to breakfast leaving you and Robin in the apartment ready to join them after you showered. The water helps you feel a little bit better. You winch as you wash your lower area, it felt sore from the night before. ‘Y/N you want some coffee?’ Robin calls through the door. ‘Good yes! Will be out in a minute’ you call back. After cleaning yourself you head to the kitchen to have your ever much needed coffee

Dmitri wakes up his head thumping and his stomach churning. He feels a draft as he realises he’s naked, he looks up to see his clothes bundled on the floor. He thinks about the night before, he can somewhat recall it. Himself, Hopper, Joyce and Murray went first to the pub to have some drinks, however Dmitri had drank more than a few. By the time they made it to the hideout within twenty minutes he’d lost the others. After drinking more and watching Eddie perform he needed some fresh air and a cigarette. That’s when he remembers you. Yes how can he forget? Beautiful woman. Green dress. Curly hair. He helped you with something. Then you ended up here. His dick twitches as he remembers your moans. Dmitri’s memory is not as bad as yours. ‘Hello?’ He calls out wondering if you’re in the bathroom. No answer. He stands up and sees a note on the side

Hello Stranger sorry I never actually caught your name? I’m sorry to leave you like this but my friends will be worried about me. I’ll admit I don’t remember too much of the night but maybe that’s for the best? Thank you for a fun night, I had a great time. Hopefully see you around? X

He can tell you scribbled some parts out he can’t make out what they say unfortunately. And no name either. What a mysterious woman. He folds the note up and walks over to his clothes putting them back on and putting the note in his jeans pocket. He called down to reception asking them to book him a taxi to go back home. He unlocks the door and it greeted with a not so happy Jim. ‘And where the hell have you been?’ He asks slightly pissed off. Dmitri sighs as all he wants is a shower. ‘I, I met someone, went to a hotel. That’s it’ he says shrugging his shoulders. ‘You called off called man’ he says thumping his shoulder, not hard. ‘Sorry, lost track of time’ he says pushing Jim off. Jim’s no longer pissed off, after all he’s a grown ass man and can do what he wants but still a call would have been appreciated. As Dmitri walks through the house (he is currently living at with Joyce and Hopper as he saves for his own place) he like you is bombarded with questions like you were. ‘So who’s this mysterious woman?’ Joyce asks pouring him a coffee. Dmitri takes a long needed sip. ‘You can say that again I do not know’ he says a little sadly. Hopper and Joyce side eye one another. ‘Well done, you are now officially an American!’ Murray says laughing. Dmitri rolls his eyes. ‘I’m going for a shower, thanks for the coffee Joyce’ he says finishing it. ‘Hey we’re not done talking about this!’ Hopper shouts down the hall. As Dmitri showers he really wishes you’d left your name, he wanted to know who you were. Who the first woman he fucked since his wife was. Sure there had been opportunities but he was always too nervous. The drink definitely made his decision but he did not regret it at all you were so beautiful, unlike anyone he’s ever met. He wanted to see you again. He didn’t know how that was going to happen but he needed to make it possible

/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/ One month later -

You’d settled down nicely in your new home and job. As soon as you got your first pay check you bought dinner for everyone as a sorry for that night. They were all nice about it to you and luckily didn’t bring it up again. Today you and Robin had book the day off to go to the mall to go shopping. It’s been a while since you bought some new clothes so you were excited. After two hours of shopping you both decided it was time to grab something to eat as you were starving. You decided on getting some sushi, it was one of your favourites and you hadn’t had it in forever. You and Robin sit down, the smell of sushi hits your nose. Normally you’d love it but this time it makes you feel sick. You nose turns up at disgust. Robin sees your face change. ‘You okay Y/N?’ She asks. ‘Yeah yeah, think I’m just hungry. Skipped breakfast’ you say nonchalantly. Robin nods in agreement. Once the food arrive Robin tucks in making mmm sounds. You pick up your tuna roll with the chopsticks and put it in your mouth. As you chew something definitely doesn’t sit with you right. Your stomach churns at the taste. You look at Robin with a worried expression, before she can say anything to you, you are holding your stomach running to the bathroom. As soon as you reach the toilet you throw up. ‘Y/N? You okay?’ Robin asks making her way to you out of breath. You continue to throw up. Once your stomach is empty you flush the toilet and sit on the floor.m, wiping your mouth. ‘I don’t know what came over me. I love this place’ you say clutching your stomach. ‘Well you’ve been saying you’ve not been feeling great these last few mornings. Your not pregnant you?’ Robin says laughing making a joke

You look up to her, face paler than ever. Shit. Your late. Your never late. Since you were thirteen you’ve always been on time. Robin notices your change of colour and bends down to you. ‘Shit Y/N, are you actually pregnant?’ She asks shocked. You look at her with tears filling your eyes. ‘We need to go to the pharmacy. Now’ you say in a panicked voice. ‘Shit. Okay okay, we will go’ Robin says trying to be reassuring. You walk quickly out the bathroom leaving money for the sushi and grabbing your bags nearly running to the pharmacy. You look around and find a test. You hide it as you take it to the counter. Your in and out fast as you place the money down not bothering to wait for your change. You find the nearest bathroom to the pharmacy. Robin looks at you surprised. ‘N-now?’ She asks. ‘Yes now, I, I need to know’ you say closing the door dragging Robin in with you. She turns as you pull down your trousers and knickers, you open the test reading the instructions carefully. ‘Two for yes. One for no’ you mumble to yourself. You pee on the stick. ‘It says we have to wait three minutes’ you say pulling up your things. Robin turns to you as you sit back down on the toilet, your heart feels like it’s going to jump out your chest. ‘Robbie. What the fuck do I do?’ You say running your hands through your hair. Robin bends down rubbing your knees, ‘Why don’t we see what the test says first, then we can talk about it?’ She says with a small smile trying to help you stay calm. ‘I don’t even know who the fucking guy was!’ You say as tears start to roll down your cheeks. Robin brings you in for a hug as you sob onto her shoulders. You stay like this for a while until you calm down. You pull away and take a deep breath. ‘Can you look? I, I can’t’ you say passing her the test. Robin looks down and sees the two lines. ‘It’s, its positive’ she says showing you. You look at the test hands shaking. ‘Fuck’ you say not knowing what to do. You both stay speechless for a few minutes until you wipes the tears and shove the test in your bag. ‘Okay here’s what we’re gonna do’ you start to say taking a deep breath. ‘We’ve already made plans to go to Joyce’s and Hoppers house for the BBQ. We confirmed we definitely could yesterday. We can’t cancel. It’s a joint belated birthday party for Hopper and his friend. It will look weird if we don’t go. So this stays between us okay? I’m, I’m not ready to think about it yet. We got there and put on a smile. Promise?’ You say reaching for her hands. She takes them and holds them tightly. ‘Are you sure you want to Y/N? I’m sure they’d understand if we just say that your sick?’ She asks. You shake your head. ‘I’m sure, this is the first time in a long time I’ve been here for Hoppers party. I’m not gonna let them down. Let’s just get out of here please?’ You say pleaded. Robin nods, you both get up and leave your situation behind for now. The drive home is quiet, you don’t really know what to say. Once in the apartment you get ready for the party in your room. You chose a pretty purple dress with white flowers on it. Before putting it on you can’t help but look at yourself in the mirror. You look at your stomach and subconsciously your hands begin to reach for it. You quickly move them away when you hear a knock at your door. ‘Just a second’ you shout quickly putting on your dress. You open the door and are greeted by Robin. ‘Ready?’ She says with concern in her face. You shake off the feeling of wanting to hide and nod. ‘Ready. Let’s go’ you say grabbing Hoppers present. Robin grabs his friends, apparently he likes vodka. Just like before the drive over is quiet. Once Robin parks up your heart beats faster. ‘Y/N are you one hundred percent sure you want to do this?’ Robin asks turning to you. You take some deep breaths. ‘Yes, I’m sure’ you reply. You get out the car and begin to walk round to the garden, Robin quickly joins you side linking your arm giving you a warm smile.

The garden is decorated in balloons and a banner that says, ‘Happy belated birthday Hopper and Dmitri!’ ‘So is Dmitri Hoppers friend?’ You ask pointing to the sign. Robin nods. ‘Yeah, he’s a nice guy. Russian, you’ll like him’ she says with a warm smile. You smile back as you make your way over to Hopper and Joyce. ‘Happy belated birthday Hop!’ You say smiling. ‘Hey Y/N, hey Robin! Thanks so much for coming’ he says bringing you both in for a joint hug. ‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world’ you say hugging him back. ‘Where should we put the presents?’ Robin asks. ‘Just inside on the table, thanks’ Hopper replies smiling. Robin give you a look to make sure you’re okay whist she put the presents inside, you nod giving her a small smile. ‘Hi sweetie, so glad you could make it’ Joyce says bringing you in for a hug. ‘Thank you for the invite’ you say squeezing her back tightly. ‘Can I get you a drink? We’ve got some wine, champagne, beer?’ Hopper asks returning to the BBQ turning over the sausages. The smell makes your tummy feel queasy again. ‘Sure wine- actually water thanks’ you say quickly. Hopper and Joyce look at one another surprised as it wasn’t like you to turn down a drink. ‘I’m, I’m just trying to have one drink a week already. Gad it yesterday after a long day at work.’ You say hoping they’ll believe you. Before the reply you hear a voice coming from inside getting slowly louder as they come outside. Why do you recognise it? ‘Robin too kind of you to get me a present. Thank you’ Dmitri says as he and Robin walk outside to you. ‘Y/N, I don’t think you’ve met Dmitri yet’ Hopper says gesturing to you. You turn around to greet him. As your eyes meet one another everything feels like it is happening in slow motion. Your heart beating loudly. Sweaty palms. Face turning pale. This is him. This is your one night stand. You stand an stare at him in disbelief. ‘Y/N? Y/N you okay?’ You hear someone ask but everything sounds fuzzy. Dmitri can’t believe it. It’s you? After this long month of wondering it’s you? He’s heard Hopper and Joyce talk about you so much he felt like he already knew you. I guess in a way he did. As Dmitri opens his mouth to speak your stomach churns with the feeling again. You can’t stop what is happening. Your throw up right there on the floor.

‘Fuck, fuck’ you say as you see throw up on Dmitri’s shoes. ‘I, I’m sorry’ you run into the house crying. ‘I, I’ll check on her’ Robin says running after you. Everyone else stands there speechless. ‘Why don’t we go clean them up?’ Joyce says making her way to Dmitri avoiding your sick. Dmitri nods, ‘Yes please’ he sighs. That was not the reaction he was hoping for. The sight of him made you sick. It made him feel truly awful. You run to the bathroom slamming the door behind you. The tears start again. ‘Y/N! Open!’ Robin shouts banging on the door. Your hands tremble as you unlock the door. Robin quickly comes in locking it behind her. ‘What happened?! Are you okay?’ Robin asks as she watches you pace back and forth. ‘Y/N!?’ She says your name louder grabbing your shoulders to look at her. ‘Robbie. It’s, its him’ you say lip trembling. ‘What do you mean?’ Robin asks confused. ‘Dmitri. Dmitri was my one night stand. Dmitri is the father’

#dmitri antonov fanfic #dmitri antonov #dmitri antonov x reader #dmitri x reader #dmitri stranger things #enzo stranger things #enzo x reader #strangerthings #stranger things smut #eddie munson #robin buckley #nancy wheeler #johnathan byers #steve harrington #argyle stranger things #jim hopper #joyce byers #eleven hopper #murray bauman

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backtothefanfiction · 1 year ago

Text

The Angel In The Garden of Evil | Chapter Fourteen: Family Feud at the Funeral

Summary: As the team lay Felicia to rest, emotions get too much for Peter and Angel.

Warnings: 18+ Only, genre typical content, graphic depictions of dead body, bodily harm, funeral, grief, angst, complicated marriage, drug misuse

Word Count 2.5k

A/N: So I didn't say much in my authors note last chapter but trust me killing characters for the sake of it isn't my thing and I had no idea that that would be where the narrative would take me but we really needed something to break our characters and push them to the end. It goes without saying but don't abuse drugs.

FOURTEEN

Her funeral was held a week and a half later at the same cemetery Angel and Peter used to visit all those years ago. Although the group of them was small, the security detail they travelled with was large. It was the perfect place for The Vulture’s next attack but Angel knew he wasn’t that cruel.

When Peter and Hobie had gotten down to the Huntsman it wasn’t a pretty sight. Carl and a young bartender called Robbie, had carried her body inside from the alley, the young bartender the only one with a strong enough stomach to carry out the task. They laid her on her back on top of a table downstairs, a meeting room that never really got used anymore after Peter had expanded his operation and set up an official office across town. She had slashes all over her skin, her throat was bruised and across her chest had been carved a giant spider with a large X through it.

Peter thought he had a pretty solid stomach after all of these years, all of the bodies he had seen, the people he had killed and tortured; but seeing her body lying there like that, someone he held close, the only person who connected with him when he felt most shut off from the rest of the world when Angel left, his stomach turned, bile rising in his mouth.

Her Father’s body was still unaccounted for. They had just found out from Eddie that Felicia’s father, Walter, was suddenly missing after he got jumped in the prison yard at lunchtime, when they arrived home. Peter had gone to visit Lydia out of respect, to tell her what had become of her daughter and husband. A mother’s wails over losing a child never truly leave you.

Angel and Peter clung tight to each other at the funeral, each with their own reason. He wanted her close to protect her. It was the first time she had left the building since he’d transferred her from the hospital back home. It would be just their luck that someone would try to take her out again and Peter was determined to protect her at all costs, even if it meant sacrificing his own life for hers.

Despite her still healing injuries, Angel had tried to be by Peter’s side as much as she could the moment he had gotten home that night. It was three thirty in the morning and she remained sitting patiently in the living room until they had returned. She saw from the look on his face the moment he walked through the door that he was not okay. As much as he would deny it, Angel could see that Felicia had meant something to her husband. She had been there for him when she hadn’t been. Not to mention she knew better than anyone that you can’t just have sex with no strings attached, sooner or later, someone’s feelings always got involved; that’s how her and Peter had got to where they were in the first place. She was also still on a large concoction of pills to help her function through the pain in her still healing ribs.

Nurse Temple had stopped by again two days ago to check on her bandages, change them for some new ones and re-set and wrap her ribs. She also dropped off another prescription slip, written out by Dr Healey which Angel had used to full advantage, doubling up her dosage to get her through the next two and half hours of proceedings and the start of the wake, which was being held at the Huntsman. She felt like she was floating, holding on to her husband just to keep her grounded. She was grateful for the large pair of black Prada sunglasses she wore on her face, hiding her eyes so no one could see just how spaced out she was. She was trying to focus on the officiant speaking next to the casket, a jet black number Felicia would have been proud of, but her eyes kept wandering back and forth. They suddenly came to a stop, focusing in on a large figure standing by a set of graves a few rows over. She blinked hard, sure she was seeing stuff. Sure enough, when she looked again the figure had gone. She tried to turn her head back towards the casket and the picture of Felicia that was displayed on top of it but- there he was again. Her Father.

No that couldn’t be, he was dead. He was definitely dead. She had seen his body. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply. When she looked again, just as she suspected, he had gone. She slipped her hand into Peter’s squeezing it tightly.

Peter didn’t need his spider senses to tell him something was wrong. He knew his wife well. When the service was over he helped her to her feet but didn’t move, waving everyone else away, telling them to start moving back towards the cars as he turned her to face him. She was swaying slightly. His fingers reached out carefully for her sunglasses, lifting them carefully from her face. Her pupils were blown wide. “Fuck, Angel!” He sighed. “How much did you fucking take?”

“I knew we weren’t going back to the apartment for hours so I doubled up.” she said but she was clearly distracted. One second she was looking at him, the next she was looking at something over his shoulder. He turned his head but there was nothing there. She blinked heavily as she swayed and tried once again to get a handle on herself. “OH MY GOD CAN YOU JUST FUCK OFF!” she suddenly snapped. Peter gripped her face in his hands forcing her to look at him but she wouldn't; she just kept looking past him. “Great, now there’s two of them.” she huffed.

Peter looked around again but there wasn’t anything there. “Angel.” He said her name trying to ground her and get her to focus, “Princess. Baby.” Nothing, nothing was getting through to her.

“Go away! Leave me alone!” she said forcefully.

“ANGEL!” Peter snapped and her eyes locked onto him with one harsh blink. “What the fuck is going on?!” he said forcefully.

“My Dad.” she said.

“But your Dad’s dead.” He said. She was expecting for her to give him one of those looks she usually gave him. The ‘my husband is an idiot look’, but she didn’t.

“You don’t think I know that.” she just said to him as her eyes wandered again. She groaned as she forced her eyes closed. She breathed deeply and counted to ten under her breath, Peter’s hands moving to rub soothingly over the tops of her arms. When she opened them again her father was gone. Peter felt her breathe a sigh of relief. He observed her eyes closely. Her pupils were still big but not as large as they had been a moment before.

“You gonna be okay?”

Angel swayed again then blinked before saying, “Yep.” but Peter wasn’t convinced.

Harry and Hobie were stood waiting by their car as they approached. “Everything okay?” Hobie asked.

“Yeah, this one here’s just decided to start seeing dead people.” Peter deadpanned frustratedly. Angel rolled her eyes equally frustrated. “Harry, can you get her in the car?” Peter ordered as he sidled up beside Hobie.

“Yeah, sure.” Harry said as he reached a hand out for Angel to take so he could walk her round to the other side of the town car and help her into the backseat.

“She’s popped one too many pills.” Peter sighed as he began to have a muttered conversation with Hobie, his voice keeping low as no doubt he thought she’d be eavesdropping.

“I can do it, I can do it.” She said, holding her hand up to Harry who was stood awkwardly at her side with the passenger door open, trying to work out what he was supposed to do to help her in. When she was sat, his hand reached for the seatbelt. “I swear to god Osborn.” her voice chastised once more, stopping him in his tracks.

“Fine. Fine. Jeez.” Harry said as he let the seatbelt go, his hands thrown up in surrender. “I’ve got it.” she heard his voice quietly mock as he closed the door forcefully on her.

Despite the amount of painkillers currently flowing through her system, Angel rubbed a hand over her forehead, a headache forming. She allowed her eyes to close as she leaned to press her head against the cold glass of the car window, continuing to breathe deeply, once, twice- DING.

She knew who it was going to be before she even looked at the message. It was that unknown number again. Another picture attached. This time there was a little message with it. ‘Such a touching ceremony.’

It made her skin crawl. She had tried to message back multiple times but he never responded to her messages. Her questions. Her demands. She just stared at the screen, her eyes blurring at the edges. When the car door opened on the other side of the car, she quickly put the phone back in the pocket of her black trenchcoat.

She tried to ignore Peter as he unbuttoned his blazer and smoothed down his shirt as he climbed into the car beside her.

“I’m taking you home.” he said curtly, not making eye contact with her.

“Pete, I’m fine-” she tried to protest but he wasn’t having it.

“Angel, you are not fucking fine. I’m stressed enough today without having you hanging around like a fucking liability.”

She looked at him as if he had just slapped her. “Are you serious right now?” she shrieked. He continued to ignore her. “LOOK AT ME!” He finally snapped his head towards her. She noticed he had that look in his eye. “You’re fucking ridiculous.” she spat at him. Although he didn’t say anything, she knew her words were getting to him. Could practically see the bubbles under his skin as his blood began to boil. “Fucking man child.” she hissed. “However the fuck did you manage while I was gone, huh? You know ever since- I was the one- who got blown up, you’ve been acting like a lost little child without his Mommy there to hold his hand-” her rant was cut off by the feeling of his hand squeezing at her wrist.

His grip was tight and bruising and his chest heaved, nose chuffing as he tried to keep himself in control, trying not to lose it completely. She continued to meet his stare, not letting him intimidate her but she had never seen him look at her that way before. Never felt him touch her that way before. He suddenly released his grip on her, pushing her arm away as he turned to look out the window instead.

“You’re going home Angel, there’s no debate about it.” His word was final.

“Boss.” Miguel said as he came to a stop in the car park.

“I’ll be back in a minute.” Peter said as he got out of the car.

Angel snapped her limbs away from him when he tried to help her from the car. “I can do it.” She snapped but her legs wobbled as she stood and Peter had to hold an arm out for her to steady herself.

“And you called me a child.” He said as she rolled her eyes, frustrated by her body betraying her and needing to take his help after all.

He was a silent force at her side the whole way upstairs, helping her into their bedroom where he sat her on the end of the bed. “You know if you go back without me people are gonna talk more than they already do.” She said as he knelt to take off her shoes for her.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He asked her, exhausted.

“About you and her.”

“I told you, she meant nothing-“

“Really? Then why have you been acting like-“

“-BECAUSE SHE WAS STILL MY FRIEND ANGEL! FUCK!” He shouted, drowning her out.

“SURE!” Angel fired back. “IS THAT WHY HE KILLED HER THEN? JUST BECAUSE YOU WERE FRIENDS PETE? COME ON!” She fired back. “HE KILLED HER BECAUSE HE KNEW IT WOULD GET TO YOU.”

“Fucking Hell! It’s like trying to have a conversation with your FATHER!” He spat at her.

“You take that back right now! I am NOTHING LIKE MY FATHER!”

“REALLY BABY, Because you seem to act JUST LIKE HIM!”

“Are you KIDDING ME!” She said standing.

“You know I think this is EXACTLY what your Father wanted!”

“What’s that supposed to mean!”

“I mean, I think he knew he could turn you into a bomb and FUCKING DESTROY ME!” He said, hand beating at his chest. “Ever since you’ve come back, one second I think I know you and then the next BOOOM. You’re just a fucking grenade baby. Just another pawn in your Fathers game.” He said as they squared up to each other. “Even in death.” He hissed into her face.

She was silent as the words hit her like a slap to the face.

“What happened to you?” He asked softer. “What happened to the girl I pulled out of that burning building all those years ago. The girl who visited her mothers grave religiously. Who told me she didn’t want to have anything to do with her Father’s business.”

His words brought tears to her eyes but she swallowed them back. “She married a man who couldn’t help but get himself in her Fathers business and play his games so he could destroy him. How did that go for you Pete? Huh? Because I saw how you were with Jackson Brice. Seems like you became a real expert at the game.”

“ANGEL! PEOPLE ARE DYING! THIS ISN’T A GAME!”

“LEWIS! HAZEL! VERONICA!” She began listing off names. “DAVID! SANJAY! LIZ!” His hands flew into his hair as he paced away from her, realising what it was she was doing. “THEY’RE ALL DEAD PETE! ALL BECAUSE THIS SHIT IS A GAME TO THEM! DON’T YOU KNOW THAT BY NOW! IT'S ALL A GAME! ALWAYS HAS BEEN” Peter turned his back to her as she continued to rant. “MY DAD. THE VULTURE! THEY DON’T CARE!”

Silence. She watched him closely as his gaze moved to the floor as he shook his head. “I thought you knew that.” Her voice became wistful, the sadness of a long forgotten life, a long forgotten goal falling over them. She watched as he recognised it too, his fingers moving to play with the wedding band on his finger, twisting it back and forth.

Her stomach lurched as she watched him pull it from his finger. He still wouldn’t look at her. He took a long hard look at the ring, turning it over in his fingers. “Well maybe I’m done playing games.” He said and he walked away from her, placing the ring on a side table next to the door as he left.

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

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serenailith · 2 years ago

Text

i’m lying just to keep you here

for @dreamlingbingo

Square: c1, loud sex Rating: e Word Count: 6108 Ship(s): dream of the endless/hob gadling Warnings: none Additional Tags: alternate universe - human, alternate universe - university, friends to lovers, though they take the long way ‘round because they’re kinda idiots, heartbreak, anal sex, squint-and-you-miss-it semi-public sex, blowjobs, not actually unrequited love, requited unrequited love, fake/pretend relationship Summary:

It is less Hob convincing Morpheus that this was a good idea and more Morpheus's inability to say 'no' to Hob. Of course, life has a way of making sure that bites Morpheus in the arse.

Link: on ao3 masterlist

“Please pretend to be my boyfriend.”

Morpheus blinks stupidly for a moment then cocks his head. Hob stands before him with a pleading look on his face. Morpheus opens his mouth to respond, closes it, then tries again.

“Why would you need me to pretend to be your boyfriend?”

“My parents are coming to visit this weekend. I lied to them, saying I had a boyfriend just so they’d stop pestering me about dating someone. And Valentine’s Day is in a few weeks, so I know they’ll be worse if they knew the truth.”

“Your entire family knows we’re only friends.”

“Ah, but the best relationships begin with friendships.”

“Hob…”

“Please, Morpheus. I promise it’ll be the only time I ask this of you.” Hob clasps his hands in front of his chest beseechingly. “Please.”

Morpheus sighs and avoids Hob’s gaze. They’re friends—best friends, and have been since they were twelve—but this is a lot to ask of him. Hob can’t know how monumental this request is. But… Hob has always been there for Morpheus. There’s never been a time that he’s turned Morpheus away. The least Morpheus can do is help him this once.

“No cute nicknames for each other,” he warns. “They are nauseating.”

Hob chuckles and sticks out a hand. “Okay, deal. But, er, what about honey-butt?”

Morpheus snorts then dissolves into laughter. “Call me that,” he says once he’s calmed, “and your parents finding out we are not actually dating will be the least of your worries.”

“I’ll find something,” Hob promises with an appraising look.

Morpheus has no doubts about that. Hob is nothing if not imaginative, hopeful, and stubborn. Hob squeezes Morpheus’s hand before turning, calling out a goodbye as he sprints away. Morpheus watches him go then closes his door.

Maybe this won’t be so bad, a voice in the back of his mind says, and he scoffs. It’s going to be just as bad as he fears. There’s no way around that fact. He’ll end up looking foolish. But just think, you can pretend it’s real.

And that’s what will hurt the most.

True to Hob’s word, he arrives outside Morpheus’s room bright and early Saturday morning, parents in tow. Robert Sr. claps a hand to Morpheus’s shoulder, despite knowing full well that Morpheus doesn’t like being touched, while Elizabeth beams brightly and passes over a small box. Inside, Morpheus knows, are baked goods he will eat a quarter of before Hob takes the rest. He sets the box on his desk then turns back to his best friend’s parents.

Elizabeth tuts quietly and brushes a piece of lint from her son’s shoulder. Her hazel eyes pin Morpheus in place when she looks at him once more. “Morpheus, dear, tell us the truth. Are you really dating Robbie?”

Hob rolls his eyes before shooting Morpheus a Look. One that says Please for the love of all that’s holy, go along with this, or I might just lose my mind. Morpheus bites back a smile and nods.

“I am.”

“When did this happen?” she asks, frowning—Morpheus can see the disappointment in her eye. He only hopes she approves of the ‘relationship’. It would make life difficult if Elizabeth Gadling supported the friendship but not Hob and Morpheus dating.

Why is he even entertaining these thoughts? They aren’t dating. Morpheus knows this. He needs to remember it, or things are going to get uncomfortable.

“It wasn’t too long ago, Mum,” says Hob with a grimace. “It just… happened. Now can we go get breakfast?”

Morpheus takes pity on his friend, crossing his arms over his chest. Hunching in on himself, he weaves a tale of how he and Hob had been studying one night when Hob had looked at Morpheus and asked if he’d want to go out to dinner. Of course Morpheus had hesitated: What if it ruined the friendship? But Hob had been so adamant about nothing changing, not really: “All that will be different,” Morpheus claims he said, “is I get to kiss you whenever I want.”

“How sweet,” Elizabeth gushes before she allows her son to usher the group from Morpheus’s room.

Breakfast is a boisterous affair. Hob chats with his parents about his schooling, about how things are at home. Elizabeth carefully avoids asking Morpheus about his family, everyone but his older sister. Thana is never a sore subject, and he will talk about her as often as anyone will allow.

Morpheus barely manages to not jolt in surprise when a warm hand wraps around his; he glances at Hob from the corner of his eye, but Hob doesn’t look back. Instead, he continues eating with one hand and chatting as if there is nothing unusual about holding his best friend’s hand in front of his parents.

Thankfully, none of the Gadlings expect Morpheus to stay with them all day. He makes an excuse to leave, apologising for the mountain of schoolwork he has yet to do. He’s just turned to walk away when Hob pulls him back; Morpheus stares blankly when lips brush against his. Hob grins and releases him.

“I’ll come by when it’s dinner.”

“O—okay.”

Morpheus walks away awkwardly. His mouth burns with the gentle pressure of Hob’s kiss, and his skin prickles with the ghost of Hob’s touch. I am in trouble. He waits until he gets back to his room before closing the door, leaning against the wood, and letting out a heavy sigh. He truly is in trouble. So much trouble.

This was such an awful idea. He should never have gone along with Hob’s half-baked plan.

Morpheus can admit, only in the deepest stretch of night, that he has been in love with Hob since they were fourteen and he was clambering through Hob’s window after yet another disastrous dinner at home. Hob had always vowed to pull Morpheus away from the home life he was subjected to. Morpheus had always wanted Hob to do exactly that.

It was a dream never to come to fruition. Hob would never rescue Morpheus, but uni would. Morpheus struck out on his own—or, rather, not on his own but with Hob. They had no classes together, and they didn’t share a room. But they always made time for a weekly lunch, and more often than not, Hob could be found sat at the desk, head pillowed on his arms as he slept off hours of studying.

It was no wonder, really, that Morpheus would develop feelings for Hob. He had been a constant in Morpheus’s life for too long. Morpheus will never act on them, not honestly. This facade is as close as he will ever get to knowing Hob’s affection.

Hob’s parents leave shortly before sundown, and Hob slumps as soon as their car is out of sight.

“You’ve no idea how you’ve saved me, mate.”

Morpheus shrugs, tucking his hands into his pockets. “You have done enough for me over the years.”

“Film marathon?”

Morpheus only nods. His skin already prickles with the imagined heat of Hob’s body so near as they sit on the bed, side-by-side with their arms pressed together, as Morpheus’s laptop plays whatever film Hob has chosen.

He never lets Morpheus choose, not since he put on a documentary about galaxies. Hob had fallen asleep with his head on Morpheus’s shoulder and his hand on Morpheus’s thigh. Morpheus, for his part, had stayed as still as possible for as long as possible if only to enjoy what would never truly be his.

Lucienne stares at Morpheus the next morning over the table in the dining hall. “You’re bothered by something.”

“I am fine,” he protests.

He doesn’t know why he’s lying to her. She is as close to him as Hob is. In different ways, of course. Lucienne knows of his love for Hob, the dreams he has of one day Hob knowing and loving him back. She knows things that Morpheus could never tell Hob if he doesn’t want to ruin their friendship.

“It has to do with Hob, doesn’t it?”

“Luce—”

“Morpheus… What did you do this time?”

Morpheus opens his mouth to argue, but there’s no point. So he admits to the scheme and how it’s already hurting to pretend something he’s wanted for so long. Lucienne sets her spoon down and reaches across the table to hold his hand.

“You are one of my dearest friends, you know this, right?” At his nod, she squeezes his hand and frowns. “I say this with love: This is perhaps the stupidest thing you have ever done.”

“I don’t think—”

“I do. I absolutely do believe you are an utter fool for going along with this. It is breaking your heart, despite your saying otherwise.”

“Hob would never hurt me.”

“Hob doesn’t know he’s doing it, does he? He thinks this is a way of placating his family, but he doesn’t know you wish it was real. But he is absolutely hurting you.” She sighs and pushes her glasses up her nose. “I think you should put an end to this before you get hurt beyond repair.”

“I will follow through on my promise,” he all but growls as he yanks his hand away.

“I’m sorry, Morpheus, but… I can’t watch you destroy yourself just to make him happy. When will you ever put yourself first?”

She rises to her feet and strides away without waiting for an answer. Morpheus lays his spoon flat on the table, burying his face in his hands, and draws in a shaky breath. Lucienne has never walked away from him. Not like this. Not with such disappointment and disapproval in her eyes. She has always understood, even when she scolded him for being a pushover when it came to Hob.

Thankfully, Hob has decided that their charade should continue on campus though his family is nowhere near. “Easier to stay in character whenever they come around,” he says as he hefts his bag further onto his shoulder, “if we’re never really out.”

In character. Right. Morpheus wishes he could stop forgetting it’s just a game of make-believe.

So Morpheus does his damnedest to not preen whenever Hob holds his hand or presses a warm kiss to his cheek or pulls him in for an embrace that lasts a beat too long to be platonic. There is no stopping the skip of his heart and the fire in his blood with each touch, and he can’t control his dreams of which Hob has taken control. What were once idle musings, innocent ‘what ifs’, have now become things of want. Morpheus always wakes himself, but just once, he aches to allow himself to dream of what being with Hob might feel like.

“So where’s Lucienne been?” Hob asks as he drives them back to the house he rents with three classmates.

“We are… at odds with one another,” Morpheus admits, his heart sinking in his chest at the reminder.

It’s been nearly a week since she walked away from Morpheus that morning, and there’s been no contact since. She doesn’t even look in his direction anymore.

“Thought you two were close?”

“The same could be said about us.”

Hob huffs out a laugh and glances at Morpheus. “Trying to say you and I could be on the outs just as easily?”

No, never. I love you too much. “I have my doubts.”

Every light in the house is on by the time Hob parks, and people spill out through the front door, milling around in the freezing late-January air. Hob shakes his head with a snort of amusement, then he and Morpheus exit the car. They shove their way through the partygoers until they’re in the warmth of inside. Hob gestures toward the kitchen, disappearing when Morpheus nods an acknowledgement. He weaves around clusters of fellow students dancing, gyrating and bouncing on the balls of their feet; liquid sloshes from cups held in aloft, and Morpheus doesn’t manage to dodge a splash in time. The whisky drips down his right arm, and the young woman squeaks out an apology.

He ignores her and finds a place off to the side to stand. Hob will find him in this crowd. Hob always does.

“I just… I don’t get it,” Marcus slurs almost two hours later, waving his cup of beer around. “Hobsie has never dated anyone since unie started, and now he’s dating you?”

John snorts and nods vigorously. “Yeah. What makes you so special?”

“Just because you’re his friend,” Marcus adds, and if Morpheus didn’t know better, he’d say Marcus is pouting. That Marcus is jealous.

Morpheus swallows thickly, acid rising his blood. His cheeks burn, and he blinks rapidly. It would do no good for them to realise how they have affected him so. They need not know they’ve voiced doubts that should not exist. If Hob’s friends doubt the validity of the relationship, it’s only a matter of time before others do, too.

He shoves himself between John and Lyle, storms across the room.

Hob’s eyes widen when Morpheus cups his cheeks and tugs him in for a hard kiss. The first kiss Morpheus has ever initiated, and it’s out of spite. Hob exhales sharply, whisky-stained breath ghosting across Morpheus’ heated cheeks, as Morpheus drags his tongue along the seam of his lips. Are you sure? is spoken in the hesitation.

I am certain, Morpheus replies just as silently in the way he tilts his head.

Someone cheers while another whistles, the shrill sound cutting through the music. Hob wraps an arm around Morpheus’s shoulders and somehow deepens the kiss further. Morpheus’s stomach clenches. His knees could give out at any minute. He never would have imagined Hob as such a skilled kisser; certainly none of the chaste kisses prior to now indicated as much.

“C’mon,” Hob murmurs in Morpheus’s ear, “let’s get away from the audience.”

Morpheus lets Hob link their fingers together, lets him steer them toward the stairs amid catcalls and more whistles. People clap hands to shoulders and give winks and bright smiles as the couple passes.

None of them know how fake this is.

How Morpheus doesn’t want it to be fake anymore.

As soon as his bedroom door is shut and locked behind them, Hob seems to lose all confidence. He scratches at his brow then tugs at his left earlobe. Morpheus bites back a smile and passes him to sit on the bed. Hob hesitates, stands completely still, then moves toward Morpheus.

“Might as well make it seem more real, right?” he whispers before his lips crash to Morpheus’s again.

Morpheus closes his eyes as another crack runs through his heart. He keeps forgetting this is an act. That Hob doesn’t truly care for him like that. It’s only a beneficial agreement to get Hob’s family to back off. Morpheus pulls back, forcing a smile.

“If we want to make it seem real,” he whispers, lips brushing Hob’s, “we might as well give them something to gossip about.”

Hob’s brows furrow, mouth opening, but Morpheus moans aloud. Hob rears back, watches as Morpheus whines his name, as he crawls across the bed to smack at the wall. Intelligent young man he is, Hob catches on quickly and joins Morpheus at the head of the mattress. Morpheus wants it to be real, hearing Hob groaning like this, and he lets out a rumbled moan that echoes in the sudden quiet.

Music no longer filters through the floor, the door. They are listening, Morpheus thinks even as he opens his mouth. Out spills a litany of pleas; desire and want make themselves known in each word. Hob smacks the wall with his fist as he moans out a ‘You feel amazing’.

Morpheus’s entire world narrows to this—the tightening in his gut as his gaze runs along Hob’s body, the tenting of Hob’s joggers, the lust in Hob’s eyes most likely mirroring his own. It may be fake, this agreement, but Morpheus’s lust is overwhelmingly real. He reaches for Hob, hand clutching at his T-shirt, and yanks his best friend toward him.

Music blares from the speakers once more, drowning out the low groan that escape Hob’s lips.

Morpheus doesn’t know who leans in first, but it feels like no time has passed before Hob is sprawled, naked and straining beneath him. Morpheus’s hands make quick work of shucking his own shirt, his trousers, his boxer-briefs until he can straddle Hob’s hips with nothing between them. The heated point of contact spurs on the fire in his blood.

Morpheus knew of Hob’s thighs, his belly slightly soft but still so muscular, and the soft curls covering his chest. He knew of that—too many years in each other’s lives—but it’s nothing compared to what his clothes have kept hidden. He leans down to kiss Hob, gasping at the pressure against his cock, then slides along his best friend’s body until his mouth hovers over Hob’s dick.

“Do you want this?” he murmurs as he presses his forehead to Hob’s hip. “Hob… Tell me to stop.”

Hob reaches with one shaking hand to card his fingers through Morpheus’s hair. “Don’t. Please, don’t stop.”

Morpheus carefully takes Hob into his mouth, slowly draws him in further, until his nose brushes the thatch of hair at the base. Hob’s hips jerk, but he stills as Morpheus adjusts to the weight on his tongue. The strain of his jaw. The taste of skin and precum and everything Hob. He pulls back until just the tip rests between his lips, and he looks up at Hob through his lashes.

His friend’s head is dropped back against the pillows, hands spread to his sides and clutching at the bedsheets, and sweat glistens already on his bare skin. Morpheus hums in approval before swallowing Hob down once more.

One of Hob’s hands finds a home in Morpheus’s hair moments later. Morpheus lets him tug and push, guide him in a rhythm that pleases Hob. Saliva drips from the corners of his lips as Hob fucks into his mouth with such gentleness that Morpheus could cry. Somehow, Hob knows just how deep he can go without choking Morpheus, and isn’t that enough to spark a goddamn inferno in Morpheus’s chest?

“L—love, stop.”

Morpheus immediately does as asked, massaging at his jaw as he meets Hob’s eye. Hob reaches for him, and Morpheus goes willingly. Straddles Hob’s hips once more. Hob mumbles out an apology, an excuse of being too close already. Without speaking, Morpheus leans to the side and opens the drawer to the nightstand, pulls out the bottle of lube he knows is there. Once it’s in hand, he presses it to Hob’s chest and swallows harshly.

“Fuck me.”

The words are crass, inelegant, and they draw a groan from deep in Hob’s throat. “Oh, this must be a dream,” he says even as he fumbles for the lube. “This is a dream, isn’t it?”

You dream of this? The question doesn’t fall from Morpheus’s lips. Instead, he ducks his head to kiss Hob and allows the other man to pull him closer. Morpheus plants one hand against the wall, the other on Hob’s chest, as Hob slides a finger between his arsecheeks. A gasp stutters free when Hob’s fingertip catches on his hole; Hob smiles up at him, an interesting little curve of his lips and softened eyes full of something too close to wonder and love, and presses inward.

Morpheus doesn’t do this often. He hasn’t done this in over a year, and even then, it wasn’t like this. It was never right with Cori. There was just enough care that Morpheus wouldn’t be injured while Cori fucked him with fervour, but it didn’t feel as natural as it does now. Morpheus knows it isn’t real, it never will be.

At least he’ll have this memory when it ends. He isn’t sure if that makes it better or worse.

By the time he sinks onto Hob’s cock, inching himself slowly down until he’s fuller than he has ever been, Morpheus is nearly sobbing with want. He rolls his hips and digs his fingernails into the expanse of Hob’s chest as he loses track of everything but this.

He has never allowed himself to imagine what Hob looks like completely nude, but he gets to see it now. He gets to feel every inch of his best friend and the trembling between his thighs. He learns what Hob’s kisses taste like and what he sounds like with that first glide of their bodies.

The noiess Hob makes are more beautiful now. His moans and gasps are because of Morpheus, for Morpheus. Morpheus rolls his hips again, stealing the moan that splits the air between them, and does it again. Hot hands grip his waist, and Morpheus follows where Hob leads, rises and falls with his touch.

He has wanted this for so long. His eyes burn, tears building but not falling.

“Oh, God,” Hob moans as Morpheus moves more quickly, more insistently. “Fuck, this is—You are better than any dream, love.”

Morpheus would be his dream if Hob let him be.

“So are you,” he whispers, leaning down to kiss Hob again. His head spins with each thrust, each stroke of their tongues, each breath lingering between them. “Don’t stop. Please, I beg of you.”

“Never, my dream, never.”

The tear slips free before Morpheus can stop it. He sits upright as Hob’s hips snap up, as he buries himself even deeper. Pressing his palms to Hob’s shoulders, Morpheus rises until just the tip remains inside of him, stares down at Hob for a second. Dark brown eyes meet his, and brows furrow in concern—Morpheus will always be able to read those expressions so clearly. Before Hob can say anything and ruin the illusion, Morpheus lowers himself swiftly and forces away any words Hob might have had.

Hob pushes up onto one elbow, an arm wrapping around Morpheus’s shoulders, and plants his feet against the mattress. Morpheus keens with the change in angle, the forceful thrusts as Hob’s cock slides across his prostate. His nails dig into Hob’s skin as he lets himself be fucked until all he can think of is Hob, Hob, Hob.

Hob’s name is the sweetest thing on his lips when he comes.

As he stares down at Hob, body rocking as his best friend chases his own release, Morpheus’s only regret is that he can never make the look in Hob’s eyes last forever.

Morpheus leaves Hob’s room the next morning with a breaking heart and knowledge he can never come back from.

Though the act is meant to be of the two of them as a couple for Valentine’s Day two days after the party, Morpheus expects nothing for the day in question. What he gets, however, is a bouquet of cloth flowers, a box of chocolates, and an invitation for their first date. Hob sits far too close as his fingers lace with Morpheus’s; if anyone doubts the relationship now, no one speaks of it. Morpheus accepts the invitation as eagerly as possible, though he seeks out Lucienne as soon as Hob has disappeared off to class.

“You were right,” he says once he finds her in the library.

“Oh?”

“I should have listened to you. It was… It is such a foolish idea that I could do this for Hob without being hurt in the process.”

She finally looks away from her book, and whatever she sees on his face has her full attention. She pushes aside her notepad and pen, clasping her hands together before her. “Oh, Morpheus. What happened?”

“I made a grievous mistake,” he manages to utter. “I thought I would be fine.”

“But you aren’t.”

He squeezes his eyes closed against the burning, but the tears slip free. “I am not.”

“End this, Morpheus. Tell Hob you can no longer do as he wants.”

“I cannot break a promise. I never have before.”

“Morpheus…”

“You said you cannot watch me destroy myself. Please do not make me go through this alone.”

“How much longer?” she asks after a long moment, and Morpheus lets out a trembling breath. “When will this farce end?”

“We agreed it would happen sometime after today.”

“One week, Morpheus. For your sake, do not let it drag on longer.”

Morpheus readily agrees. Lucienne has always been pragmatic and so human. So knowledgeable. She’s right.

He doesn’t tell her about the date Hob has planned.

The date goes better than Morpheus expected. They go to dinner at a rather upscale restaurant; Morpheus pointedly doesn’t ask how Hob earned enough money to pay for such extravagance—or why he’s gone for something so… much. After, they go for a stroll through the city park, bundled up tightly in their coats and leaning into each other’s warmth.

Hob is the consummate gentleman the entire time, even walks Morpheus to his door at the end of the night. Morpheus shifts awkwardly as they stand in the corridor before Hob takes all chances from him: He leans forward and kisses Morpheus softly, tentatively, as if seeking permission. Morpheus gives it willingly, far more eagerly than he had accepted the date. His hand fumbles for the doorknob, but it finally twists beneath his palm, and they stumble over the threshold.

Hob manages to close the door behind him, apologising into the kiss when it slams into its frame. Morpheus doesn’t give a damn. He only nips at Hob’s lower lip and lets his hands roam. Thankfully, they both know the layout of the room, have had it memorised since Morpheus moved in, so it’s no hardship to find his bed without looking.

There are no tears this time, though there is a sharper, more violent kind of pain that curls deep in Morpheus’s chest. It digs its claws in more securely, scratching idly as his cum stripes across Hob’s belly. You’re beautiful. The beast snarls and sinks its teeth into his soul. Be mine. There is no dislodging the creature that eats through the cracks in his heart.

Hob comes with a bitten off “Fuck, Dream of mine,” and Morpheus feels the last of himself being devoured.

Unfortunately, ‘breaking up’ with Hob turns out to be impossible. The first time he tries at the end of the week, he ends up bare-arsed leaning over a desk as Hob fucks him quick and dirty. The second time, another week has passed, and he has Hob on his knees and is fucking into his best friend’s mouth almost viciously.

The third time… The third time damn near kills him, and it isn’t even him who does it.

“We should end this,” Hob says suddenly, as if they aren’t holding hands while having a pleasant stroll across campus to enjoy the rare warmth. “I mean… Valentine’s Day is over, right?”

“R—right.”

Hob shrugs and stares at the bare branches of the trees lining the paths. He doesn’t speak for a long minute. Even if he had, Morpheus would never have heard him. Not for the thundering in his ears and the beast screaming in his chest. Hob sighs and nudges Morpheus with his shoulder.

“No point in continuing the charade. So now we can go back to how things used to be.”

“What will you tell your family?” Morpheus chokes out; he’s oddly proud of how steady his voice remains.

“I’ll figure something out, I always do.” After a short pause, Hob speaks again, voice lower, “Thank you. For, er, going along with it.”

Morpheus carefully disentangles his fingers from Hob’s and steps away. Both come to a stop in the middle of the pavement, Hob with furrowed brow and Morpheus with shattering heart. Forcing a smile, Morpheus does the only thing he can: He turns and walks away.

Hob doesn’t call after him.

The ‘relationship’ is over. The friendship is over, and it’s all because he couldnt’ say no to Hob. If he had, if he’d just told Hob to find someone—anyone—else, Morpheus wouldn’t be losing the best friend he’s ever had. He wouldn’t know what it’s like to fall asleep beside Hob or to have Hob so damn deep inside of him, he can almost drink the love that doesn’t exist. He would be clueless as to what Hob’s release tastes like and what it feels like to open up for wandering, persistent fingers and a dick that fits so well.

To Morpheus’s surprise, Hob doesn’t try to find him over the next week. Then again, it isn’t as if Morpheus is off searching for Hob, though. He spends the hours between classes in the library with Lucienne or locked in his room. It’s easier this way. At least if he’s alone, he can’t be reminded of Hob or the incredibly poorly-conceived farce to convince the Gadlings that Hob needed no help in finding a partner. Morpheus doesn’t have to see Hob’s friends, he doesn’t risk running into his former best friend at all.

Former. How devastatingly lonesome a word can be. Morpheus thought that if he and Hob were to ever end their friendship, it would be over a mistake that Morpheus made. That Morpheus would be the one to walk away. That’s exactly what happened.

It isn’t satisfying to be right.

The friendship is truly over, Morpheus thinks, when it’s been over a month and there has been no sign of Hob, no word from him. They know each other’s schedules, the routines, so Morpheus is well aware of the fact that Hob is going out of his way to avoid Morpheus. The only reason he would do that is if Hob wanted nothing more to do with Morpheus.

The beast has grown larger, more violent, especially in the night. Though he’s washed his bedsheets dozens of times, he can almost smell Hob in the threads. The ghost of a memory brings with it the sounds Hob made that night, every time they touched and came together and found pieces of themselves mixed in the other. The creature has devoured Morpheus’s heart. Now it feeds off his soul, the love he yearns to share with Hob but never can.

Matthew, an audacious and quite persistent American student, somehow convinces Lucienne and Morpheus to come with him to dinner to “celebrate the end of exams”. Rather, he convinces Lucienne who convinces Morpheus. After the support she’s given him since the debacle with Hob, the least Morpheus can do is go along with her plans.

She admits, as she walks with Morpheus to Matthew’s room, that the American has grown on her.

“He’s… brash and crass, sometimes, but he could be worse.”

“Do you have feelings for him?” Morpheus asks, frowning when her peal of laughter rings out.

“Of course not. I don’t dislike him, but there is nothing there. Worry not, Morpheus, you would be the first to know if I harboured any feelings toward someone.”

For as bold as Matthew is, his driving is the complete opposite. He drives carefully, as if Morpheus and Lucienne are precious cargo, and Morpheus relaxes further into his seat the longer they go without an accident.

The diner is nearly empty when they walk in. Morpheus looks around—ignores Professor Dee sat at the counter with a cup of coffee—only to freeze when his gaze lands on the back corner. Matthew’s large hand shoves at his shoulder until he stumbles forward a step.

“Good luck,” Lucienne whispers as she and Matthew move to a booth off to the side.

‘Good luck’?

No.

But it’s too late. Hob has seen him. Morpheus can’t walk away now; it would look too much like running. So he straightens his spine and weaves his way around the tables until he reaches the booth in which Hob sits.

“Hello, Hob.”

“We need to talk.”

Morpheus glances over his shoulder. Lucienne watches closely. Matthew gives him a thumbs-up and a bright, encouraging smile. It hardly does the trick, but Morpheus appreciates the gesture. He sits across from Hob.

“I fucked things up, didn’t I.”

It isn’t a question, but Morpheus answers anyway: “No.”

“Don’t lie to me, Morpheus.” Hob shakes his head and stares at the tabletop. “I should never have asked you to pretend to be my boyfriend. I should have known it would only ruin our friendship.”

“It wasn’t—it wasn’t that.”

Hob’s gaze leaps to Morpheus’s face. Heat lives in the brown, and his lips are pressed into a tight line. “Then what was it? Because from where I’m sat—”

“We slept together.” Hob falls silent, and Morpheus swallows against the lump in his throat. The tears in his eyes. “We slept together, which was not what I planned.”

“You wanted it, too.”

“Hob. I am not accusing you of taking advantage of me.”

“Then what are you saying?”

“I’m saying it became too real for me,” Morpheus admits in a rush.

The words tumble between them. Hob sighs and picks at the corner of his napkin. Morpheus sits awkwardly, waiting for some sort of response. Eventually, Hob blows out a breath.

“It was real to me, too.”

“Then why did you—?”

“Because I knew you were trying to end it,” Hob snaps, and Morpheus rears back. This is a side to his best friend he’s rarely seen before, and never aimed at him. “Shit, sorry. Not… I just—I wanted nothing more than to make it real, to not have it be pretend anymore, but I knew you were trying to find the right time to give me the boot.”

“I thought it was nothing to you. That I was only hurting myself for your happiness.”

“Oh, love.”

Hob reaches across the table with one hand, and Morpheus hesitates. Can this actually be real? Or is this a dream he’s meant to wake from, to suffer through only to find himself alone in bed with only the monster in his chest for company?

But no, Hob is smiling something tender, hopeful, and Morpheus‘s heart jolts beneath his ribs. He knows that smile, though it’s never quite been aimed at him like this. Not so soft.

He takes Hob’s hand, face heating at the loud “Fuck yes!” that comes from behind him. He can hear Lucienne hissing something—most likely an admonishment—but Hob’s laughter distracts him. Hob clears his throat as all amusement fades.

“I… I guess I should have talked to you instead of making assumptions.”

“I could have done the same,” Morpheus counters.

“So now that’s out of the way, should we invite Lucienne and her friend over?”

“Why would we do that?”

“Because they brought you to me.”

Hob gestures before Morpheus can respond. This was all orchestrated by Hob? It makes a certain amount of sense. It would have been too much of an unbelievable coincidence for Hob to just be in the same place that Matthew and Lucienne would bring Morpheus. But why?

If Hob is telling the truth—if it was as real to him as it ever was for Morpheus—then…

Morpheus blinks back tears and squeezes Hob’s hand.

The beast yowls in protest, but it’s devoured by the warmth Hob has always provided.

The quartet are unceremoniously ushered from the diner at half-eleven. Matthew and Lucienne go to his car, while Morpheus follows Hob to his. The drive back to the dormitories is quiet, though Hob never releases Morpheus’s hand. Once they arrive, Morpheus leads Hob through the corridors to his room.

“I’m sorry it took such a mess to get us here,” Hob says with a wry smile, and Morpheus shakes his head.

“When have you ever taken the easy route?”

“Would you want to go on another date?”

Morpheus chews on his lower lip, nods. What a ridiculous question. Of course he wants another date. He wants more than one; he wants a lifetime’s worth.

“Pick me up Friday after Psychology?”

“Got it.” Hob leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to Morpheus’s lips. “Goodnight, my dream.”

Morpheus watches him disappear around the corner before opening his door. Closing it behind him feels a lot like closing a book on an unfinished chapter. Something doesn’t feel right about how they’ve left it.

He yanks open the door once more only to collide with Hob. He cradles Hob’s cheeks with shaking hands and meets his gaze.

“Do you mean it? Am I really your dream?”

“You are,” Hob manages before Morpheus is dropping a hand to his T-shirt, fisting the collar and tugging Hob inside.

#the sandman #dream of the endless #hob gadling #dream x hob #dream of the endless x hob gadling #dreamling #human!au #university au #my writing #dreamling bingo

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arkon-z · 1 year ago

Text

The inspiration fairy has visited me, and the result is a scene from Hidden in Shadow that I now want to share. Purah and Robbie are reflecting on their recent adventures in a Goron mine.

Somehow, amidst the shouting and laugher, Robbie noticed that Purah had disappeared. It wasn't like her to vanish at the start of a party. He saw Impa speaking amiably with the elders, and slipped away before anyone drew him into conversation. Hopefully, no one would notice his absence for a little while.

He found her not far from the main entrance to the chamber. She sat against the cliff wall, deep in thought.

"Hey P."

Purah glanced up at his voice, but her expression didn't change.

"Hi."

There was no emotion in her voice, and he knew it was serious, whatever it was. He sat down next to her.

"So, what happened?" he asked.

"Don't worry about it. It doesn't affect you."

"It's affecting you, though."

"Yeah." She gave a pained half-smile. "But I'm fine. I just need to think."

He frowned. "If you were fine, you'd be back in there enjoying the party. You never need time to think."

"Yeah, that's my whole problem," she said, scowling. "Not thinking. Like an idiot."

Now they were getting somewhere. "I don't think you're an idiot."

A myriad of emotions crossed Purah's face before she returned her gaze to the ground.

"I know," she sighed. "Look, it's nothing you did, okay? We don't have to talk about it."

"Right, I get it." He prepared to stand. "You probably want to talk to Impa instead."

"No!"

He froze at her cry. There was a flash of fear on her face before she looked away.

"I mean, I don't want to involve her. it's just…"

Robbie moved a little closer. "P, you can tell me anything. You know that. And it couldn't hurt to get this out of your chest."

Purah nodded. Several seconds of silence passed.

"…I screwed up,' she said, softly. "She got hurt because I thought I knew better. I should've listened to you both, but I had to be the smartest one in the room and try my stupid plan."

So that's what this was about. "Hey, it's okay-"

"No it's not! She almost lost her arm because of me! Gods, what the hell is my problem? Why can't I just think things through for once? I'm always screwing up because I won't slow down! What if the next time is worse? What if-"

"Purah!" snapped Robbie, shaking her shoulder. "Get a grip! You can't tear yourself apart over this."

She jerked herself away. "Why shouldn't I? I screwed up!"

"But you're losing yourself in it!" He shifted to look her in the eyes. "Look, you made a mistake. But you know what you did wrong, you apologized, and you're not going to do it again if you can help it, right?"

She gave a sardonic laugh. "I guess."

He leaned in. "And you're not going to dwell on this anymore, because then you'll be useless for the rest of this trip, and I know you hate feeling useless."

She sighed, but the tension in her face left with it. "You're right; I do hate it."

"Of course I'm right. I was right about you needing to talk about it, too." He nudged her shoulder with his. "And we didn't even need to talk to Impa!"

He gave her a bright smile, and she returned it.

"How do you do that?" Purah asked after a moment.

"Do what?"

"Pull me out of my own head when I get stuck in like that. You're the only one who can do it."

He shrugged. "Just one of my various talents, I suppose."

"One of your best." She rested her head against his. "Thanks."

He patted her arm. "Anytime."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while. He might have been imagining it, but the afternoon seemed a little brighter to Robbie, now that Purah was in a good mood again. There was a shout of laughter from inside, followed by cheering.

"I hate to spoil the moment, but they are throwing this party for us," said Robbie. "Maybe we should head back in."

"You can if you want," said Purah. "I don't think anyone will miss me in there. Especially if you're making excuses for me."

"I could," he said, stroking his chin, "But you'd be disappointing those young Gorons who were hoping for a sumo rematch."

"A rematch?" Purah brightened and jumped to her feet. "Why didn't you say so? I'll show those little brothers what's what! Where are the iron boots?"

#purah #robbie #hidden in shadow au #hwaoc #twilight princess #fanfic #my fanfic #robbie is somehow so hard for me to write #but i think i'm getting the hang of it

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jellypawzy2k · 1 year ago

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UTM AU IDEA?

OKAY SO WHAT IF THERE WAS AN AU WHERE ROBBIE FINALLY STANDS UP FOR HERSELF TO BLUSTER AND LEAVES TO FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO LIVE WHERE SHE CAN FINALLY MAKE THE RULES FOR HERSELF.

BUT SHE DOESN'T GO TO THE CARE BEARS FOR HELP AND REFUSES THE HELP TOO, BUT INSTEAD GOES TO HIDE IN THE SILVER LINING FOREST TO BECOME ONE WITH IT'S NATURE AND CREATE A HOME FOR HERSELF FROM SCRATCH, WITH THE WHIFFLES HELP, BY USING HER INTELLIGENCE AND BLUEPRINTS.

AND OVER TIME, SHE FINALLY HAS A HOME TO CALL HER OWN, WHICH IS MOSTLY DESIGNED BY HERSELF AND SHE BECOMES A SCIENTIST / INVENTOR.

SHE STOPS TRYING TO DESTROY THE SILVERLINING AND BECOMES VERY FACINATED INTO IT, AS SHE NEVER GOT THE CHANCE TO LOOK INTO IT BEFORE WHEN LIVING WITH BLUSTER. THEN STARTS CREATING INVENTIONS TO HELP THE WHIFFLES, AND ALSO FOR HERSELF OF COURSE, ONES SHE HAS BEEN DYING TO CREATE FOR AGES BUT COULDN'T BACK IN THE BAD CROWD.

AND INSTEAD OF WEARING A BLACK LEATHER JACKET, SHE WEARS A WHITE LABCOAT INSTEAD, THE CRACK IN HER GOGGLES HAVE BEEN FIXED, AND SHE GROWS A BIT MORE HAIR.

I ALSO WANT PLUNK TO COME BACK, AND HE BECOMES ROBBIE'S LITTLE SCIENTIST SIDEKICK, BUT HE ISN'T TREATED LIKE CRAP BY HER. ROBBIE IS FINALLY THE ONE IN CONTROL, BUT MAKES SURE NOT THE REPEAT WHAT BLUSTER DID WITH HER AND THE CROWD. (Plunk doesn't rly live with her, since he's got his own home, but he works with her as co-workers and visits her the most. They become besties.)

I'D ALSO LIKE TO THINK THE CARE BEARS VISIT SOMETIMES FROM CARE-A-LOT TO CHECK UP ON HER, BUT ONLY ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS BECAUSE SHE LIKES HER OWN SPACE AND SHE DOES THINGS A LOT DIFFERENT FROM THE CARE BEARS. BUT SHE WELCOMES THEM IN AND THEY SEE HOW HAPPIER SHE IS WITHOUT BLUSTER, AND SHE FINALLY KEEPS HER ROOM CLEAN CUZ SHE'S NO LONGER MENTALLY ILL. I ALSO WANT HER TO GET CLOSER WITH GRUMPY, SINCE GRUMPY IS THE ONLY CARE BEAR SHE CAN PROLLY FULLY TOLERATE SINCE HE DOESN'T PESTER HER ABOUT SUNSHINE, CUPCAKES AND RAINBOWS. HE FULLY UNDERSTANDS HER WAY OF LIVING, RESPECTS IT AND LEAVES HER TO IT. THEY CAN ALSO SHARE GADGET / INVENTION IDEAS TOO MWAHAHA

I am a huge enthusiast for mad scientists so she'd prolly have her own laboratory in the basement of her home and work on experiments / gadgets.

Also I'd like to think Bluster is homeless with barely nothing so he can't destroy the Silverlining again. He's probably living in a cave and eating wild plants or something. HE DOES TRY TO BEG ON HIS KNEES TO ROBBIE TO LET HIM LIVE WITH HER, BUT SHE'S LIKE: ''Naw bruh, you'll only boss me around again and mooch off my stuff. Here's some materials, go make your own home, squirt!''. SHE PROLLY LETS HIM VISIT SOMETIMES, BUT HE HAS TO GO BY HER HOUSE RULES, NOT HIS BUT SHE ISN'T MEAN ABOUT IT. THEY BOTH KINDA GET ON GOOD TERMS WITH EACHOTHER AGAIN, BUT NOT TO WHERE THEY WERE IN THE BEGUINNING, THEY BECOME MORE LIKE MUTUALS AND SHE REFUSES TO LET HIM LIVE WITH HER. BLUSTER HAS RUININED THEIR FRIENDSHIP TO EVER HAVE IT STRONG AGAIN. But that's prolly a few months or a year after she leaves the bad crew cuz he eventually finds out where she's living at.

And Malcom, I'm gonna give him the funniest future story ever. He's gonna have a wife and children and owns a huge company that makes something rly dumb, prolly like tooth brushes or massage chairs and he gets into co-operate greed in the care bears universe equivalent of New York. And Robbie's like: ''Lol, I saw that coming tbh. His eyes were always on the prize. Good for him I guess?'', whilst reading a news paper.

I'M PROLLY GONNA NAME THIS AU, Care Bears Beyond The Silverlining (Care Bears BTS for short)........ Uh oh... BTS... PFTYDFSUTGGJ BYE (Or maybe Care Bears BTSL)...

#care bears au #care bears utm #robbie utm #robbie bad croud #bluster bad crowd #care bears

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munsons-hellfire · 2 years ago

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All Your Fault | Platonic!Robbie Mercer

SUMMARY: You couldn't save Robbie -you're best friend- from death. And because of that you'll have to live with your own mistakes. However when the killer returns 11 years later they torment you with the guilt that you failed Robbie, can you survive the final act.

PAIRINGS: Platonic!Robbie Mercer x Platonic!Reader

CONTENT WARNING: NSFW, Ghostface killer, no spolers for Scream VI, Scream 2022, Reader is a survivor of the 2011 attacks by Jill Roberts and Charlie Walker, language, mentions of gore, blood, violence, knife violence, murder, mentions of y/n, mentions of anxiety and trauma, mentions of drugs, mentions of alcohol, mentions of she/her pronouns (only mentioned once)

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I am a hard core lover of Scream, but when I got this idea I knew it had to be a one shot. Anyway I hope you enjoy this! Feel free to put in a request for something. I did change a little bit of the ending because I wanted to add in my own plot to it rather than just writing out the rest of the movie.

WORD COUNT: 5.2K Words

The nightmares were always consuming your sleep. Never allowing you to get the rest you so desperately wanted. Though sleeping just hadn't been your friend since Jill Roberts and Charlie Walker went on a murder spree together, filming every kill. One that included the death of your best friend Robbie Mercer, and your almost death as well. Coming back to Woodsboro after graduating from college didn't help either.

You still kept in touch with Sidney Prescott, Gale Weathers, and Dewey Riley. Though you often visited him when you needed to talk about your nightmares, and the waking nightmares you had as well. When the killings started again, Sam Carpenter and her boyfriend Richie Kirsch came to ask for your help. You only agreed to help if they went to Dewey's who you knew for sure could help a lot more than you could.

When Dewey was killed in the hospital you blame yourself, you knew you should've stayed with him but he made sure that you stayed with the others. Losing Dewey, the only person who really understood your nightmares, then it happened again. You started seeing Robbie again. You ended up telling Gale and Sidney about what Dewey did for you, the years after you came back from college. Well, that's what you were getting ready to tell them anyway.

Sidney and Gale were staring at you, your knee was bouncing a mile a minute as you tried to gather the right words. The two exchanged a look with each other, and soon placed their full attention back on you.

"Y/N, it's okay, you can tell us." Sidney's voice was calming as she talked to you. Your eyes landed on her as she waited for you to talk.

"After I came back to Woodsboro, I hit rock bottom, like really badly. I was seeing Robbie's body in my sleep and while I was awake. Not to mention I kept seeing Charlie run at me with the knife after he had stabbed Kirby. The nightmares wouldn't go away, nothing would go away, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, the only thing I could do to ease the pain was drink and get high and that's what I did. Dewey found me one night, and I told him everything as I was throwing up what I couldn't keep down. After that he helped get back on track, and I was doing good, and than Tara Carpenter got attacked I started seeing Robbie again."

You looked away from them, and true to the statement Robbie was sitting across from the three of you, he had a bloody smile on his face as he waved to you.

"Hi, Y/N." He said, as blood fell down his lips.

You closed your eyes wishing he would leave you alone. But you knew deep down part of the reason why you were still seeing him even now was because you were still blaming yourself for his death, if you hadn't run away from him when he was attacked by the killer and hid for your survival maybe Robbie would still be here. If you had just stayed there and done something you could've saved him.

"Can you see him right now?" Sidney asked you.

You looked back to Sidney and Gale. "Yes, he's sitting across from us, waving at me." You didn't bother looking back at Robbie, because your attention was on them.

"You have to know that Robbie's death wasn't your fault. You were trying to save your life that night. And you did, you were able to survive." Sidney's words were kind, and just by the look she had on her face you knew she meant it.

"Does it ever get easier?" You questioned, in a quiet voice.

Gale and Sidney exchanged a glance with each other. "No, it doesn't, but it does get better eventually." Gale said with a soft smile. When the talk was finally over Sidney and Gale started to talk with each other. Your knee was still bouncing up and down on the carpeted floor as the three of you waited for Sam to come back down. Eventually she did, her sister was with her and Sam's boyfriend was also with them.

Sidney stood up and walked away from you and Gale. The two of you stayed at the couch watching Sidney talk to them. Since you had met Richie something had seemed off since you had met him. You knew of Sam and Tara, though you had never actually met either of them. You were a senior when Jill and Charlie killed your friends, which put Sam in 9th grade at the time of the attacks. You had seen her around but never really talked to her until she showed back up.

You and Gale stood up from the chairs and walked out of the hospital following Sidney and Sam who were still talking to each other. But it seemed like the conversation was going to be coming to an end soon.

"What do you want from me, lady?" Sam questioned turning back towards Sidney.

"Hey!" You and Gale called out to her. Sidney looked back at the two of you.

"Watch your tone, new girl." Gale added on. You two came to a stop next to Sidney, your eyes on Sam as she switched eye contact between you and Gale. "You know how they always say it goes back to the original? Here's the original."

"I want your help." Sidney said, looking back at Sam. "Because you're wrong, this is your life now. Which means whoever this is will keep coming for you."

"So?"

"So I want you to help us kill him."

"You want me to help you, the host of a morning show, and Y/N to commit murder?" You smirked at the question Sam had asked. It probably wasn't the best idea but this had to stop here and now before anymore damage could be done. Maybe just maybe it would help you to find more peace after Robbie's death.

"Correct."

"Yeah." You only gave a nod. You had now only gone through this twice, and so far you had lost a lot. You were feeling the pool, but deep down you knew it had to stop tonight, you had to get justice for Dewey.

"And I'm what in this scenario? The bait? The helpless " Sam questioned you three.

"If the shoe fits..." Gale trailed off.

"You're not helpless, Sam. He killed your friend, he killed ours." Sidney paused looking over at you. "He took away the only person Y/N trusted enough to talk about the past she had gone through. And I have kids, which means I won't sleep until he's in the ground."

"Look, I'm sorry about what this has done to your lives. But no matter what you or the killer or anyone says, this isn't my story." You watched as Richie pulled up behind Sam honking the car horn.

"All right. Let's get the fuck out of town, huh?" You rolled your eyes at Richie.

"Sorry. That's my boyfriend, Richie." You ignored Richie as he tried to talk to you and the others. Sidney walked up to the car, you watched her closely seeing her place a tracker on the car. A smirk fell to your lips but you were quick to drop it.

"Sam--"

"No. We're leaving. That's the only way I can protect Tara." Sam turned around and climbed into the car.

"Okay, good luck."

"You too." Gale looked back at Sidney as Richie pulled the car away from the hospital.

"Well, that went fucking horribly."

"Don't worry, I have a plan. She seems really tough."

"Honestly, Sid, who gives a shit? You said it yourself, he's gonna go after her."

"I put a tracker on her car."

"You did what?"

"I saw that, it's a good idea." You said, while Gale looked at you for a moment.

"It seemed like something Gale Weathers would do." Sidney started to walk towards her car and you followed behind her.

"Take that as a compliment."

When you were in the back of the car you looked to the seat next to you, Robbie was there, his head leaning against the window as he stared at you.

"I know I'm just someone you're seeing and I'll probably be gone before the sun's up but I need you to know this." Robbie said.

"Know what?" You whispered quietly, still keeping your eyes on Robbie. Sidney and Gale looked back at you for a moment.

"I don't blame you for my death, which means you need to stop blaming yourself for my death too."

"I left you alone to die, Robbie. The killer opened the door and stabbed you first, he got me but I still had enough power to run away and I left you behind to protect myself."

"You were scared. Someone was killing us off one by one and you reacted the way you were supposed to."

"I was going to save Kirby, but then it was too late. Charlie was already running towards me, he stabbed me before I even had a chance to react."

"But you survived, and that's what matters."

"They stopped." Sidney said, prompting you to look away from Robbie and lean towards the front.

"Gas station?" Gale asked.

"No. I-- Oh, shit." Sidney breathed out.

"What?" You and Gale questioned, wanting to know what she was seeing on her phone.Sidney showed the phone to both Gale and you. Though you had no idea where the location was.

"Oh, shit. How far are we?"

"Too far. Damn it." Sidney placed her phone up to her ear as the car went through.

"Can someone tell me who's house that is?" You asked, still clearly confused.

"You need to get out of that house right now." Sidney said the second the other end picked up. "You're in Stu Macher's house, where your dad and Stu killed everyone. Someone planned to get you there. You need to get the fuck out, Sam!"

"Oh, fuck." You mumbled, leaning back in your seat.

"Well, this might be a long night for everyone." Robbie remarked. All while you rolled your eyes. Gale pulled the car up to Stu Macher's house, where the original murders had taken place. You climbed out of the car and shut the door. When you looked around you noticed that Robbie wasn't anywhere to be seen anymore. You and Gale waited at the front of the car while Sidney walked to the trunk and grabbed the two guns that she had.

Sidney came back to the front handing one over to Gale. Screams could be heard from inside the house. You looked towards the door, suddenly feeling a pit of fear. The last time you had come in contact with a ghostface killer it had been at a house party at Kirby's house, and that night you had lost most of your friends. You and Kirby had really been the only survivors as Jill later died at the hospital.

"Sounds about right." Gale mentioned.

"I really don't like this." You whispered.

"You can stay in the car if you want." Sidney said, turning to glance at you.

"Nope. Not gonna happen. We're gonna stop this fucking killer tonight."

Sidney gave a nod and looked over at Gale. "You ready?"

Gale faced you and Sidney. "For this? Never."

"Here we go." The three of you started walking along the path that led towards the front door. You stayed behind Sidney and Gale because you didn't have any type of weapon to defend yourself with, you made a note to find something when you made it inside. Suddenly the door opened and Amber, as you remembered her, walked out limping and screaming.

"Well, someone's a little over dramatic." Robbie said, appearing next to you. It was like he was reading your mind, maybe that's why he had appeared again. Maybe he was helping you and the others determine who the killers were.

"Help me, help me! He stabbed me!" She screamed out. Sidney looked at Gale and glanced back at you.

"What do you think?" Sidney asked you and Gale.

"Trap."

"For sure." You whispered.

"Fuck it." She stood up and pulled the gun out shooting Gale right in the stomach. You reacted by covering your head with your hands as Gale tumbled to the ground and Sidney shot at Amber causing her to flee back into the house and shut the door. You and Sidney looked over at the woman who had landed on the grass.

"Gale! Gale! Wait. Let me see." Sidney kneeled down and you followed her. Blood was seeping out of the gun shot wound. "You got to go to the hospital."

"No. You said we were gonna finish this. Go finish it, Sidney." Gale looked over at you. "And you go with her, help Sidney."

"Gale."

"For Dewey." Those words hit you like a train, and suddenly you felt the wait of everything and why you were here.

"Sid, we have to go in there." You said, a shaky breath following behind your words. Sidney held onto her gun and stood up staring at the murder house. You stood up and followed behind Sidney, the two of you stepping into the house. Sidney closed the door while you looked around for a weapon to use. Sidney took the lead heading towards the first room and scouting it out for any killers.

You slowly followed behind her, meanwhile Robbie stood at the top of the steps staring down at you two. Sidney moved towards the kitchen and nodded her head at you. You ran into the kitchen and found a kitchen knife that you hopefully wouldn't have to use tonight. Then you turned around and followed behind the older woman.

"Anyone hiding, killer or not, you have five seconds to show yourself!" Sidney shouted loud enough for any occupants in the house to make themselves known. She came to a stop in front of a closet and shot at the door, then walked forward and kicked open the door and saw that no one was hiding in there. Sidney moved to the next entry and looked but saw nothing. A thud came from upstairs and you now knew why Robbie was at the top of the stairs. He was helping you too.

"I saw Robbie on the steps at the top when we came in, I think he's trying to lead us to the killers."

"He would know, I guess."

"Well, he is dead." You regretted the sentence as soon as it came out of your mouth but it was true. Robbie only knew who the killers were because he was dead. The two of you started to walk towards the stairs where Sidney's phone started buzzing. So you could hear it. She placed her phone on speaker, but lowered the volume.

"Hello, Sidney!" Ghostface's voice ripped through your ears.

"Hello there. Where'd you go?" Sidney asked, the two of you walking further up the steps. You looked behind you to make sure nothing was following you. But you took notice of Robbie by some doors.

"Oh, this isn't Amber. I'm the other one."

"Fuck." You mumbled, eyes on Sidney.

"Oh. there's two of you. Again. I've seen this movie before."

"Not this movie, Sidney."

"You really need some new material." Sidney moved ahead of you and turned towards the door. Once you were past it she shot at the door. You turned on the steps you were on seeing two doors.

"I got you here, didn't I? And I got Y/N here too."

Sidney walked up the steps with you. "You might actually be the most derivative one of all. I mean, Christ, the same house?" Sidney turned towards the first door and shot at it.

"Maybe so. But you forgot the first rule of surviving a Stab movie. Never answer the--"

"I'm bored."

"Wait!" Before Ghostface could get a say in it, you watched Sidney end the phone call. Sidney made a final shot into the door and you and her heard screaming from inside. The bullet had made an impact with another person. Sidney walked away from you and opened the door pointing her gun at Richie.

"Put your hands up! Show me your hands!"

"What the fuck?!"

"What are you doing in there?"

"Hiding from murderers." Richie answered with his hands raised.

"I told you to come out!"

"I'm not gonna come out! You're shooting everything!"

"With good reason, you idiot." You said, arguing with Richie whom you still didn't trust. Suddenly the killer came out from the door you were next to, the door swung into you and you felt the blade of a knife slide down your arm. Falling backwards down the steps, the knife if your hands fell to the floor. You groaned in pain as Sidney tried to fight off the killer.

"Come on, you gotta get up. Sidney needs your help."

You felt the tears brimming in your eyes. "What-what if I fail her like I failed you? What if I can't save anyone?" Your question was a serious one. Before your question could be answered, you watched Sidney and Ghostface fall over the railing. "Sidney!" You shouted.

You rolled onto your non injured side and tried to pick yourself up, but the pain in your other arm was too much. Soon you felt arms around your waist helping you from the ground, you looked to see Richie helping you up. You were quick to push his hands away from you. The two of you moved down the steps. Richie held onto the railing while you slid down the side of the wall holding onto your right arm even though it wasn't stopping any of the blood.

"Richie! Y/N! Gun. Get the gun." Sidney ordered you and Richie.

"Yeah, kind of hard since you shot me in the leg." Richie remarked.

"That was your fault, dude." You said, while he briefly glared back at you. In that moment you could see it, the look he had in his eyes. It was the same look you had seen in Charlie's eyes when he had stabbed you with the knife he had used on Kirby. You felt yourself lose grip of your footing and tumble down the rest of the steps passing Richie by. Another groan escaped your mouth and this time your hand went to your head when you felt something wet falling down it. Pulling your hand back you looked to see blood.

You turned yourself slightly watching Sam run back into the room and grab a hold of the gun, aiming it right at the Ghostface on the floor near Sidney. Richie made it down the last few steps with excitement, something could easily be overlooked. You knew Richie was for sure the other killer.

"Yes! Yes!" Richie shouted.

"Shoot him!" Sidney said.

"Do it, Sam." You said, in a hushed voice but you knew she heard you. Richie looked down at you with a knowing smirk, he knew you knew that he was the other killer. So he didn't hide the knife he had from you. "Sam!" You called out hoping it was enough warning.

"Thank God you're okay." Richie said, turning the knife around. You watched him slam the knife into Sam's stomach, causing her to groan at the sudden intrusion of the knife. "Cause I really, really wanted to be the one to kill you." He took the gun from her and aimed it at Sidney.

"No!" You mumbled trying to move, the blood from the knife wound on your arm wasn't helping any and the fact that you were losing blood from hitting your head on the way down didn't help either.

"Sit the fuck down, Prescott!" Richie shouted as he looked at her.

"You asshole." You said, eyes on Richie. He turned the blade some more causing Sam to scream in pain. Amber ripped the ghostface mask off and stood from the ground. She reached forward and grabbed the gun from Richie who handed it over. She moved back over to Sidney and yanked her hair holding the gun at her face. You saw an inhaler get tossed towards you, holding onto your arm you turned slightly to get a better look at Sam and Richie.

"I know. It's a bummer, it's me." He pulled out the voice changer device and held it in front of his lips as it was turned on. "But it really was the best choice for the movie." He said, laughing shortly after.

"This isn't a fucking movie." Sam argued.

"No. But it will be."

"You're fucking crazy, dude." You said, through gritted teeth.

Richie ignored you. "That's the point, right, Amber?"

"Right, hon!" Amber said. "Third act bloodbath, check. Killers revealed, check. Time for the big finale!"

You could hear Richie chuckle, while you were still attempting to move around. Amber would look at you here and there and point the gun at you. Which would in turn prompt you to stop moving.

"You gotta get up, come on!" Robbie said, right next to you. You looked over when you heard Sam groan, the knife had been pulled out of her.

"Let's get them into the kitchen. Let's go bitch!" Amber pushed Sidney away from you and Sam. Meanwhile Richie pulled you up from the ground, grabbing a hold of your right arm and causing you to wince in pain. He pushed you forward and held onto Sam.

"Someone has to save the franchise. You see, no one has made a great Stab movie since the first one." Richie pushed both you and Sam forward, Sam caught herself on the counter while you turned around and stared at the two. Amber was jumping up and down in excitement. "Not really. Hey, baby, you want to go get the very ex-Mrs. Riley?"

"Yeah, I do." Amber walked away, and Sidney took her chance to try and grab a knife.

"Hey, hey!" Richie said, holding the knife out her but keeping the gun pointed towards Sam and you. Neither of you were doing so good, you were starting to pale from the blood loss. "Whoa... whoa." You closed your eyes.

"You need to hang on." You could hear Robbie speaking to you but you just couldn't bring yourself to open your eyes.

"Sidney Prescott. You know... I'm a really big fan." Richie told her.

"Go fuck yourself."

"You see the last Stab movie?"

"Not really a fan of scary movies."

"That checks out. Anyway, it sucked balls. Because nobody takes the true fans seriously. Not really. They just laugh at us, and why? Because we love something? We're just a fucking joke to them? How can fandom be toxic? It's above love! They don't fucking understand that these movies are important to people."

"Richie..."

"We're gonna help them!"

"You are fucking insane, to do this just for a fucking movie." You said, opening your eyes and looking at Richie. He walked away from Sidney moving towards you.

"How about you fucking shut up. Tell me, what was it like when Charlie stabbed your best friend, when killed him in front of you."

"Fuck you, asshole." You were fighting the tears.

"If I remember correctly Robbie died like a bitch. And his death was all your fault."

Without saying another word you felt the blade puncture your stomach, your mouth opened up into a small 'O' shape as you looked down at the blade. Sidney and Sam gasped, Richie pulled the blade out and you collapsed to the ground holding onto your stomach. He moved back in front of Sidney holding the blade up to her again while he pointed the gun back at Sam. Tears started falling down your face.

"He's wrong, my death wasn't your fault. I need you to believe that. You didn't leave me, I pushed you back so you could get to safety." You knew it was true, but for a long time you never wanted to believe it.

"Hollywood's totally fucking out of ideas, so we decided we'd give them some new source material to follow. You know, bring it back to the basics. Because that's how you make a great Stab movie, Sam. "Based on actual events."" Richie finished explaining. Gale was brought into the house and pushed down into a chair, groaning in pain.

"Gale." Sidney called out to her.

"Back up. Back up." Amber walked up to Sidney, briefly looking down at you a smirk on her lips. Gale turned slightly her eyes finding you, they lowered down and saw the wound on your stomach, then she looked over to your arm seeing the cut from your shoulder down to your elbow, followed by the blood that was falling down your head slowly.

"I'm okay." You whispered to her.

"You did all this just to make me the hero of your fucked-up movie?" Sam questioned Richie.

"Sweetie, you're not the hero. You're the villain. The daughter of Billy Loomis who sees fucked-up visions of her dead dad?" You looked at her, shock crossing your face at the mention. Even though it was her dad she was seeing, it was nice to know she wasn't alone in seeing dead people. "Sidney Prescott killed your father. You... did all this just to get her back to Woodsboro."

"You know what the biggest problem with the Stab movies is? There's no Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees. No bad guy to keep coming back. But the illegitimate daughter of the original mastermind?" Amber scoffed, moving closer to Sidney with the knife. "Now that's a fucking villain."

"How did you know?" Sam questioned the two.

"About your father? I mean it's a small town, and your mom's a drunk! I met Richie on the Stab subreddit. I've been obsessed ever since my parents bought this house. We realized pretty quickly we had similar ideas."

"Wasn't that hard for me to find you in Modesto. It wasn't that hard for me to fuck you, either. But I guess being a sexually available woman is supposed to be empowering these days."

"Fuck you!"

Riche leaned forward slightly. "Well, now you're just quoting the original." He and Amber both chuckled.

"But it wouldn't work with just you, Sam. See, we had to bring the legacy characters back to make it matter. Can't have a bona fide Halloween without Jamie Lee!"

"Nope!"

"Dewey had to die to make it real." You looked at her with a burning passion at the mention of Dewey. "To show that this wasn't just some bullshit, cash-in, run-of-the-mill sequel. Because our movie has fucking stakes! Cause anyone can die in a requel." Amber looked away, giving Sidney a chance to run for the knife on the counter. However Amber shoved her knife into Sidney.

"Sid!" You and Gale cried out. Sidney fell to the ground, you moved yourself away from Sam trying to climb over to Sidney.

"Goddamn it. No, hey! Sit the fuck down." You looked at Richie as he kneeled down in front of Sidney.

"I'm so sorry, Sid. We can't let you live either. And as for Y/N, well, I'm sure she'll be happy to be reunited with Robbie."

"Is that why I'm here, so you can send me back to Robbie?" You muttered, looking through your hooded eyelids.

Richie looked at you with a daring smile. "You're only here because of Dewey, if you hadn't been with him when Sam and I showed up to talk to him well you'd probably be safe right now. But you were there and now we're here." Richie took a pause before getting back on track, his eyes right back on Sidney. "I mean, surviving this many times... that would just be ridiculous. This time the fans are gonna be the ones who win. That about cover it?"

"Nailed it, baby."

"Get Tara out of the closet. We got to start staging the bodies!" Amber walked out of the room.

"Stay with me, Sid. Stay with me." You heard Gale softly speak to Sidney.

"You really should've listened to Dewey. He nailed it in one! Dude, look at the love interest! Are you fucking stupid? I even had you convinced it could be your sister."

"Um, she's not here." Amber hollered from a different room in the house. You looked to Sam who gave you a smirk.

"What the fuck do you mean, "She's not here"?" Richie asked for clarification.

"She's not here!"

"I untied her. Guess you're not as persuasive as you thought." Suddenly the phone rang prompting the man to jump. He looked over at the ringing phone. "That's for you."

"Yeah. Like your gimpy little sister's gonna make a difference. She's our fucking pincushion at this point. Amber! Fan out. She couldn't have gotten far."

"I can't find her!" You could hear noises coming from the other room which meant that Tara was doing her job.

"Amber?" Richie questioned, pulling his attention away from the others. Sam picked herself up from the ground and attacked Richie.

You fell to the floor looking up at the ceiling, hearing all the commotion that was happening. Gale and Sidney made sure to avoid hitting you with Amber when they had gotten a hold of her. You could hear her trying to protect herself, then more fighting was going on. You blinked trying to see what was happening. Sidney moved over to you and lifted you from the ground. You held onto her watching Gale shoot Amber.

She fell backwards towards the stove and caught on fire. The three of you looked at her as she collapsed to the ground, her screaming dying out. "Enjoy that torch." You rested your head on Sidney's shoulder while she walked you with her. The three of you made your way to Sam looking down at Richie who was now covered in stab wounds.

"Dick." You muttered, with a grunt. Sam let go of the knife in her hand letting it fall to the ground.

"Careful, they always come back." Sidney told her. You watched Sam take the gun from Gale's hand and shoot Richie twice in the body and then once in the head.

"Okay, then."

Screaming came from Amber, you and Sidney turned around. Half her skin was burned off, but she was coming towards Sam with a knife. A bullet went straight into her head before she could make contact with Sam. You all looked up to see Tara holding onto the gun.

"I still prefer The Babadook." Sam walked away from the three of you heading towards her sister and hugging her. Meanwhile Gale and Sidney gave you a side hug, both of them soon staring at you. You looked at Robbie watching him wave goodbye to you and disappearing.

"You okay?" Sidney questioned.

"I will be." You exhaled. In the aftermath of the killings you had been able to forgive yourself about what had happened with Robbie. As you sat on the gurney in the ambulance you knew that this would be a new beginning for you and you intended to treat it right this time.

#robbie mercer #sam carpenter #richie kirsch #amber freeman #sidney prescott #gale weathers #tara carpenter #scream #scream 2022 #scream franchise #reader insert #plantonic #best friends #ghostface #platonic!reader

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hammity-hammer · 2 years ago

Text

Happy Holi-gays!

Here’s my spicy six holiday writing! (two months late (((:)

Thank you so much to @thefreakandthehair for the prompt, please go make sure to read everything that everyone else has been posting!

(i also made art that's on ao3 with the story- but im a sleeby boy and that shit's difficult to add in so-- go check it out on there! & my dividers were made by someone...... i cannot recall their user and i feel like a bag of dicks but if any of y'all can figure it out pls tag them for me so i know<3)

(second also-- ty to lou, ej, & cat for beta-ing for me<33 i love you guys so much!)

to read on ao3:

if you wanna read it here then here ya go!

10 days before Christmas - 1987

Eddie slams his fist on the door to apartment 2B, rattling the door on its hinges. He’s got his bottom lip bit between his teeth while he pops his knuckles, waiting anxiously for someone to let him in. After what feels like five minutes (which realistically was about thirty seconds, but when you’re nervous time seems to move exceedingly slowly, give the man a break), a very festive looking Argyle opens the door. Bells ring as he lazily waves a hello to Eddie, nods his head and takes a step back to let him inside.

“To what do I owe the pleasure, my herbaceous buddy?” He asks with a dopey grin on his face. Argyle closes the door while Eddie looks around, taking in the colorful lights and heavily decorated tree by the television.

“Well, okay, so here’s the deal. It’s our first Christmas, like, together, you know? Like, with everybody being in their little couples and no weird upside down related shit, and we’re real adults now, right? And we’re gonna have our little Christmas party together, but I was just thinking, everyone has like little traditions that they do for holidays, right?” Eddie rambles, his hands moving wildly around him while he meanders around his point. Argyle nods at him, hanging off of every word to encourage him to go on.

“What if, we all— you, me, Stevie, Jonny, Nance, and Robbie come up with our own traditions? Like, maybe we all bring one tradition that our family does or something, and we make it like a thing?” He starts again, a hopeful look on his face while he explains, “‘Cause me and Wayne have always gone and visited some of my family and like we spend a day making tamales and flautas together, and I was just thinking that I would really, really enjoy seeing everybody try and cook that shit. I like, barely have gotten the hang of it, and I’ve been helping with them and not hanging at the kiddie table for like, four years or something now.”

Argyle thinks for a second, nodding his head softly, while Eddie wrings his hands together and grins at him. Thinking about the few cousins he has on Wayne’s side always makes him happy, but when he thinks about spending holidays with them, his happiness expands tenfold. They don’t see each other often, but every time they reconnect, it’s like there was never any time in between their meetings.

“Okay brochacho, I totally am picking up what you’re putting down, and I think we totally could convince our funky little friends to do that! Just thinking about Big Byers covered in maza has me fucking excited,” Argyle laughs. He grins so wide his eyes basically close at the thought, but suddenly they shoot open, “Wait bro, where are we gonna do all this at? Jonny boy and I definitely don’t have a big enough kitchen, and I don’t think you and Nance would be able to hold all six of us, would you?”

“Don’t you worry your pretty little head, dearest Argyle, for we’ve got the Harrington Manor at our disposal for the foreseeable future,” Eddie grins wickedly, throwing his arms out in front of him as if he’s displaying something in the air. “Speaking of Harrington, I do need to go see my lovely boy, so I’ll smell ya later, dude. Is it cool if I call you later to confirm the time and everything once Jonny’s home?” He asks as he spins around to leave, opening the door and taking one step outside, so he can still hear Argyle’s response.

“Sure dude, we’re spending a night in for once, so we’ll be here,” He affirms, as if he and Jonathan ever leave their apartment for anything besides work and picking up their “supply” from Eddie.

Eddie basically skips to his van, throwing the door open and hopping in. He puts in his favorite tape that Steve made him, that has a perfect cursive “You suck, Eds” written on the front. He remembers when Steve gave it to him, acting all shy and trying to use his Harrington Charm to make Eddie swoon.

He’d batted his pretty round eyes at Eddie, hiding his arms behind his back while he asked questions about metal that he already knew the answer to. Eddie’d rolled his eyes and thrown a crooked smile his way, saying, “Now, now pretty boy, I’m pretty sure we’ve already gone over this. Do you just like hearing me explain things to you a million times?” He brought his hand up to push hair out of Steve’s face, basking in the deep blush that slowly spread from his cheeks to his neck.

“I- I um… I was just wondering because… Um- I made you this? And you know, I just wanted to make sure I had, like, remembered things correctly and everything,” Steve started rambling, his hands bringing the perfectly wrapped tape in front of him, a shy smile on his face. Eddie stared shell shocked at the gift in front of him, his hand still softly brushed up against Steve’s temple. Steve nudged the tape into Eddie’s chest, blinking his eyes very obviously at him.

Eddie took the present that was given to him, and held it carefully. With the utmost caution, he peeled the black wrapping paper back, his eyes growing even bigger when he realized it was actually a mixtape that Steve made. No one had ever made Eddie a mixtape before, and especially not a mixtape covered in goofy looking hearts and two stick figures holding hands on the bottom.

He glanced up at Steve, who was biting his bottom lip anxiously, as he did a little jazz hand, “Tada! I’ve been working on this for like… A few months, honestly. I just wanted it to be perfect for you? Because you’re perfect to me?” An awkward grin graced his face while he scratched his neck with the non-jazz hand.

“Steve Harrington… I know you didn’t actually make the little ole town freak a mixtape now, did you?” Eddie whispered, a teasing grin beginning to form on his lips.

Steve’s blush deepened even further while he looked to the floor, shrugging his shoulders.“I just wanted you to have a little piece of me with you everywhere you go? You know, like, you get to hear these songs and then think of…Steve,” He mumbled and rocked back and forth on his heels. Steve blew air out of his mouth and gave Eddie a goofy grin.

“Stevie, you… You are so unbelievable,” Eddie breathed and put the tape in his front pocket. He cupped Steve’s face with his hands and gently pressed their lips together. Steve immediately kissed him back, moving his hands to Eddie’s hips and stepping closer to him. They stayed like that, kissing in Steve’s bedroom and losing track of time. Eventually, Eddie pulled back.

“No one’s ever done anything this nice for me before,” He breathed, his face barely inches from Steve’s. “You are the most beautiful man I’ve ever met, inside and out, and I really, really don’t understand why you’d spend any time doing something so sweet for me.”

“Can’t you tell why I’d do this? I feel like I’ve been so obvious!” Steve laughed, moving one hand from Eddie’s hip to cup his cheek, “I like you so much, Eds. I know that it says you suck, but that’s actually a lie. You make me so, so happy, and you’re practically all I talk about. I’m pretty sure Robin was going to murder me if I didn’t figure out some way to tell you that I have feelings for you.” He grinned and poked Eddie’s cheek, “Plus, I was getting real sick and tired of not being able to do this.” Steve kissed him softly and pulled away before Eddie could kiss back.

“Now, if I said I wanted to be your boyfriend… would that be okay?” He asked shyly, moving his hands to hold Eddie’s. Steve chewed his lip while Eddie processed, spinning the rings on Eddie’s fingers.

“I would be over the moon if I got to call you mine, pretty boy.” Eddie nodded, his reserved smile turning into a giant grin.

Eddie uses his key to unlock the front door to the “Harrington Manor”, kicking his shoes off when he gets in and putting his keys in the bowl. He wanders to his boyfriend’s room, humming a little ‘Mr. Crowley’ while he swings open the door, finding a napping Steve on the bed. He’s got his glasses falling off his nose, and Eddie’s very loved copy of The Two Towers resting open on his chest.

“Stevie, baby… Good morning,” he whispers, lightly brushing hair from Steve’s forehead. Steve huffs and shakes his head, rolling over as he presses his face into his pillow.

“C’mon, I’ve gotta talk to you about some holiday plans,” Eddie laughs, plucking the book from his boyfriend and trying to roll him back over. “You aren’t even supposed to be sleeping right now, you’re gonna mess up your sleep schedule!”

“Eds… I gotta sleeeeep, get in the bed with me, please?” Steve mumbles into the pillow, not letting Eddie roll him. He reaches out his hands and grabs at Eddie, trying to pull him on top. “So sleepy… Waited so long.”

“Baby, it’s been barely an hour, I literally haven't been gone long enough for you to be asleep.” Eddie complains as he crawls over Steve, cradling his head, so he doesn’t accidentally hurt him.

“Tell me about it,” Steve huffs, opening one eye to look at Eddie as he cracks a sleepy smile. Eddie grins back, “Stevie, can we talk now? I have a question that’s kind of important.”

Steve yawns, “Go for it.” He rests a hand gently on Eddie’s head and starts playing with his hair.

“So… You know how we don’t really have any plans for Christmas? Because Rob and Nance are doing their Hanukkah thing, and the Hopper-Byers clan has decided to vacation to Cali, excluding Jonny, so we were just going to… do nothing?” Eddie continues, “I talked to Argyle, and we want to try and do like a holiday cooking party type thing. Here. Just the six of us, no kids, and we can make our own holiday traditions.”

Steve’s eyes shoot open, “You mean like… like a family? You wanna do family things with me, Eds? And, when would we do them? Christmas is in like… a week, and I think Robs told me that Hanukkah starts soon, right?” He moves his hand down to hold Eddie’s cheek.

“Stevie, of course I wanna do family things with you, I love you. I love you so, so much. You are my family, you and Wayne, but I want to celebrate with you. I want to celebrate every single holiday we can together. And we can have the party this Saturday? I’m pretty sure everyone’s got it off, and I have Friday off, too, so I can go and get supplies. Does that sound okay?” Eddie leans into Steve’s hand, giving it a soft kiss and smiling.

“That sounds perfect, love. I’ll go call Robs and check if that works for them. Do you wanna come with me, or do you wanna stay here and rest a little?” Steve asks, pulling Eddie close to plant a soft kiss to his lips. Eddie smiles and kisses him back.

“I’ll go wherever you go, pretty boy.”

---

“Buckley residence, this is Nancy speaking,” Nancy answers the phone, sticking her tongue out at Robin who wasn’t able to get there quick enough.

“Oh, Steve! To what do we owe the pleasure of your call?” She leans away from Robin, who grabs for her and the phone, “Nance! That’s my best friend, I wanna talk to him!”

“Oh wow, you guys are inviting us to your house for a… holiday cooking party…? Do you mean like Christmas, because you know Robbie doesn’t celebrate that, and if you’re inviting us to a Christmas party I will be offended on her behalf, considering you’re supposed to be her best friend.” Nancy scolds, squealing when Robin grabs her by the waist. Robin plants a kiss on the side of her head, giggling when Nancy blushes.

“Okay… So you want us to come over Saturday? We’ll just have to be home in time to light the menorah and everything, so you can’t keep us too late,” Nancy questions, looking over to Robin.

She puts her hand over the receiver, “Does Saturday at 3pm sound okay to make food with the boys?” Robin nods, resting her chin on Nancy’s shoulder. Uncovering the receiver, Nancy lets Steve know that they’ll be there before hanging up.

“Not even letting me speak to my best friend in the whole world? The love of my life? Nancy, what are you doing! Are you jealous of little ole Stevie?” Robin jokes, placing dramatic, slobbery kisses to her girlfriend’s shoulder. Nancy giggles and rolls her eyes, “Darling. You see him every single day at work, and I just wanted to get him off the phone so I could spend some time with my favorite woman on the whole planet.”

Nancy turns around, wrapping her arms around Robin’s neck as she plants a soft kiss to her cheek. Robin snorts and her face starts to turn a bright red as she wraps her arms tighter around Nancy’s waist.

“I’m your favorite woman on the whole planet, Nance?” Robin whispers, a cheeky smile on her face. Nancy nods, kissing her other cheek, “Robin Buckley, you may be my most favorite person on the whole planet, not just my favorite woman.” Robin kisses her softly, knowing that Nancy’s telling the truth, if the letter she’d received 6 months ago was anything to go by.

“Robbie,

I don’t think I have ever met someone who makes me feel the way that you do. I thought that maybe I was making things up, or that I was misreading our interactions, but I know that the way I feel about you isn’t anything that could be misread or made up. I think about you more than is probably sane, considering that we barely get to see each other as of late. I love listening to you ramble when you’re nervous, or when you’re really excited about something, or someone brings up a topic that you love. I love when you make snarky comments under your breath that you think no one can hear. I love when you protect your friends without thought, not caring what happens to you as long as they’re safe. I love when you smile, when you laugh, when you accidentally make noises because you’re so excited you have no other way to express it. I love that you love things so passionately, not caring what people have to say. I love you, Robin. I think that this may be the easiest thing I’ve ever done, although I guess I am copping out a bit, sending a letter and all. I hope that you get this soon, and I hope that I’m not wrong about your feelings.

Estaré aquí cuando me quieras, por siempre si es lo que quieres.

Para siempre,

Nancy Wheeler”

As soon as Robin finished reading the letter, she called Steve. She waited for about three rings until he picked up, “Harrington residence, this is Steve speaking.”

“Steve! Get over here, like asap! I really, really need to get to Nancy’s, like now, please,” Robin urged. She kept the phone between her shoulder and ear as she slipped her converse on.

“Nancy’s? Why do you need to go there now? It’s like… 2pm, what are you going to do at 2pm on a weekday?” Steve asked. Robin could hear him picking up his keys, though, which had her grinning.

“I think your ex-girlfriend is also in love with me? She sent me a letter? I really, really hope this isn’t some kind of sick joke, Steve. No one would do that, right? I-I mean… No one even knows, about me, I mean, so they wouldn’t know to confess to me as Nancy… Right?” Robin started rambling, almost dropping the phone while she tied her shoes.

“Robs. Calm down, dude. I don’t think anyone knows, and it’s definitely very like Nance to send you a letter like we don’t have cars and phones,” Steve laughed, “I’m leaving now, love you, see you soon.”

“I love you too, hurry your ass up before I spiral even further, please!” Robin rushed out, putting the phone back into the cradle.

It took him 20 minutes, but Steve finally pulled up to Robin’s house. He honked his horn obnoxiously, and Robin ran outside so fast she almost fell down the steps to her house.

“Dear lord, could you have taken any longer? How am I supposed to go profess my love to your ex if you take 20 minutes to get here?” She started speaking as soon as she opened the car door, throwing her bag in by her feet before throwing herself in.

“I’m sorry that I have to obey traffic laws? Would you rather I died on the way to get you to the love of your life?” He asked rhetorically, easing his foot off of the brake and heading for Nancy’s house.

“I dunno, dude, I think maybe that would not be so great, but I can’t think about anything right now besides the fact that your ex-girlfriend, one of the most literally smartest people in all of Hawkins,” Robin started, pulling down the passenger side visor and checking her hair. “Confessed her love for your current best friend and platonic soulmate, one of the most awkward and anxious people in all of Hawkins.” She continued, rubbing under her eyes and slapping her cheeks.

“You may be awkward and anxious, but you’re still a catch! Do you know how many languages you know? And, you have like the cutest freckles, and you get her weird nerd jokes! You guys are like, perfect for eachother!” Steve exclaimed, taking his eyes off the road to look incredulously at his best friend.

“I guess… you might be right. And, she wrote in Spanish! Do you know how many people have learned phrases in other languages for me? None, Steve, the answer is none. She went out and learned how to say something, just because she knows that I know the language.” Robin rambled, her hands moving wildly as Steve pulled in front of Nancy’s house.

“She totally is in love with you, please, please go get your girl, and keep me posted!” He yelled the last part as Robin got out of the car, waving her hand at him and flipping him off.

Nancy walked to her front door when she heard the bell ring, opening it to a red faced Robin.

“I love you, Nancy,” Robin started, glancing at Nancy’s face and then immediately looking at the ground. “I am so, so in love with you. I don’t think I’ve ever had someone tell me they love me, especially not the way you did, and I especially didn’t expect you to pull out Spanish on me. No one’s ever learned Spanish for me, Nance. I- I don’t think anyone’s ever really even written me a—” Nancy cut her off, kissing her quickly and softly, barely giving Robin time to react.

“You are so incredibly cute when you’re nervous,” She said, her voice barely above a whisper. Robin’s face turned an even darker shade of red and her eyes widened comically.

“I-I’m sorry, I just really, really didn’t know that you felt the same way I did, and I just got the letter and I wanted to see you as soon as I could, so Steve drove me over here and now I’m here and you’re here and I just love you.” Robin laughed nervously.

“Can we- can we do that again? Please?” She whispered, ghosting her fingers along her bottom lip when she realized that Nancy had in fact kissed her. Nancy reached her hand out to Robin’s face, touching her cheek softly.

“You mean kiss?” She asked, taking a small step closer to Robin. Robin nodded, so Nancy leaned in to press their lips together again. Robin let out a small breath, kissing Nancy eagerly.

They stayed like that for what simultaneously felt like five minutes and five hours, before breaking apart to smile at each other.

“It’s just you and me now, okay?” Nancy asked as she broke the kiss, cradling Robin’s head in her hands.

Robin nodded and took one of Nancy’s hands off of her face to hold it, giving it a soft kiss.

“Cara mia, could you please come here?” Robin yells across the house to Nancy. She ties the last bow on the small gift box on the table as she waits. Nancy makes her way to the living room with a little gift bag in her hand.

“Did you finish your wrapping, lovely?” Nancy asks and sets her gift bag next to Robin’s box. She wraps an arm around Robin’s waist and plants a soft kiss on her cheek.

“I did indeed! Do you like the little bow?” She responds, twisting to kiss Nancy as she grabs the present box to hold up.

“Oh! That’s so cute! You just did that?” Nancy exclaims, gently taking the present to examine it. “This has to be the cutest thing I’ve ever gotten and I haven’t even opened it yet.”

“It’s no big deal, really! Just some ribbon and scissors and time and I got it all done!” Robin laughs awkwardly, a light blush on her cheeks. “Do you wanna open it and see if you like the gift…?” She suggests, biting her lip lightly when Nancy nods.

Nancy gently undoes the bow on top and takes her time removing the paper to reveal a small, black, hand-bound leather journal. Her mouth opens in a little ‘o’ as she opens it to find that the first page has already been written in.

“For Nancy, my beautifully brained pearl in a sea of fish-scale imitations. I adore you and you are going so, so many places.

Xx Robbie”

Nancy puffs her bottom lip out and looks up at Robin, “I’m the beautiful brain? Robs, this is so thoughtful. I love this and I’m going to write only the most special things in it. I love you.”

“I love you too! I tried really hard and had to make Steve take me to like four different bookstores to try and find the perfect journal, because they all had like boring journals with flowers and like, girly things, and you’re girly but you’re not girly, and you deserve something that’s professional but sleek, but also sturdy, which is why I went with a hand-bound one instead of just a regular old machine-bound one, and Steve thought it was sweet and so did Eddie, but nothing that they think matters because they’re not you, even though Steve did—” Robin gets interrupted in her rambling by a swift kiss from her girlfriend, pointedly shutting her up.

“It’s perfect. You’re perfect. Open your gift now, please,” She whispers, pulling the bag from the table and lightly shoving it in Robin’s hands.

Robin nods quickly and takes the tissue out of the bag, squealing when she pulls out a rubix cube. “Nancy! Are you for real right now?” She asks as she drops the bag and starts trying to solve the cube.

“One hundred percent, lovely. I know it’s not a lot but I figured it would make you happy and keep you entertained,” Nancy smiles as she watches Robin hop from one foot to the other while she fidgets.

“I absolutely love it, please, please can we light the menorah so we can cuddle on the couch and I can play with this?” Robin whisper yells and looks up at Nancy.

Nancy nods and takes the lighter from the table, “Do you wanna do this or do you want me to so you don’t have to put the cube down?”

“You, please. Thank you,” She responds, smiling softly while Nancy lights the Shamash. After Nancy lights the Shamash, Robin recites the blessings and gives Nancy the go ahead to light the first candle. She lights it and places it on the very far right side of the menorah, smiling proudly at Robin. Nancy places the Shabash back in the middle of the menorah and lets Robin begin singing ‘Maoz Tzur’, closing her eyes to take time to just listen.

When Robin finishes, Nancy holds her hand softly, “Thank you for letting me be a part of this with you, Robbie. I really appreciate it. This was very special and I’m sorry your parents couldn’t be here tonight to help.”

Robin smiles softly at her and plants a kiss to her cheek, “It’s okay, it really is. Their jobs wouldn’t let them off early enough and we’ve got a big next few days, so I’m glad I got to spend tonight with you.” She takes the hand holding Nancy’s and leads her into the living room, dropping her off at the couch.

“So, querida, do you wanna watch Rocky Horror or The Apartment?”

---

Jonathan hums as he licks the rolling paper and seals it closed, twisting the end and grinning to himself.

“Argyle, babe, are you ready to smoke the prettiest doobie ever made?” He asks and turns to his side, holding the joint up proudly. Argyle laughs and kisses his cheek, “I was born ready, Jonny baby. This bad boy’s about to be so good!”

Argyle lights the joint, inhaling smoothly and holding in for a second before lightly grabbing Jonathan’s chin to give him a light kiss and exhale smoke into his mouth. Jonathan inhales the smoke and breaks the kiss to exhale, chuckling at his boyfriend’s antics.

They continue smoking, keeping up the puff-puff-pass routine and occasionally sharing kisses and smoke, smiling at eachother. When they’ve finally cashed it, Argyle puts it out in their Garfield ashtray, a gift they’d received from Eddie and Uncle Wayne.

“What say you to a holiday dinner with the mystery gang? Eds and I talked about it earlier because he just, like, showed up here, and we thought it might be cool to have everyone together,” He asks, taking Jonathan’s hand to place light kisses on his knuckles.

“Oh yeah, when are we gonna do that? Also, where? I don’t think our apartment is big enough for all of us…” Jonathan looks around with glassy eyes, his lips slightly parted. He squints and turns his head back to Argyle, shrugging lightly when Argyle grins.

Argyle laughs, “We’re gonna do it on uh… Saturday? I think? And Eds volunteered Stevie’s house! But… I think he’s supposed to call soon… I can’t really remember…” He shrugs, leaning his head onto his boyfriend’s shoulder and yawning. Jonathan wraps an arm around him, pulling him in close and closes his eyes.

Suddenly, the phone rings, pulling them out of their little bubble. Argyle hops up, almost hitting their heads together before running to the phone attached to the wall. He picks it up excitedly, cheesing at his boyfriend on the couch,“Thank you for calling the Byers-Alvarez residence, to what do I owe the pleasure of your call, my righteous friend?”

Argyle nods, seemingly very into what the other person was saying. Having piqued Jonathan’s interest, he gets off the couch to see who’s called them. He walks up behind Argyle, snaking his arms around his waist before gently placing kisses onto his shoulder. Jonathan does his best to eavesdrop, and Eddie makes it especially easy as he talks loudly and excitedly on the other end.

“Stevie said we can use the Harrington Manor, so you guys can get here at like, 2:30 so we have time to get things finished before the ladies have to go back to Rob’s?”

“You got it, bud! Jonny and I will be there, should we bring anything?” Argyle responds, and finishes their conversation before hanging up the phone. He turns in Jonathan’s embrace and wraps his arms around his neck, planting a big, slobbery kiss on his lips. Jonathan returns the kiss, smiling widely at his dorky partner.

Argyle hums softly, moving one hand to hold Jonathan’s cheek, caressing it softly. He breaks the kiss after a moment, touching their foreheads together.

“I love you, sweet thing.” He whispers, rubbing his thumb up and down Jonathan’s cheek.

“I love you more, Arg.” His boyfriend responds, lightly rubbing their noses together and letting out a little laugh. He gives him one more peck before reaching up to take the hand that’s on his face into his own, swaying to an imaginary beat. Argyle joins him, lacing their fingers together. He hums softly, resting his cheek against Jonathan’s as they continue their dance together.

Argyle rang the doorbell to Jonathan’s house, taking a step back so he wasn’t right in front of the door when it opened. He looked down at the pizza box in his hands, grinning as he thought about its contents.

Jonathan opened the door, with bloodshot eyes and a goofy smile on his face. He pushed the door open a bit wider and gestured for Argyle to come in.

“Hey man, I wasn’t expecting you! Come on in, it’s just me tonight cause Will and El went out with my mom earlier,” He supplied as Argyle followed him inside and stepped out of his shoes.

“Oh, righteous! I was at work and they let me leave early, so I thought I’d come see my favorite Jonny Boy and bring him some ‘zza,” Argyle held out the box to his friend after Jonathan closed the door. He took the pizza box and walked it into the kitchen to place it on the table.

“Thanks, Arg, what kind is it?” Jonathan walked to a cabinet and pulled out two plates, setting them on the table where they’d be sitting. Argyle thanked him and opened the box with a shy smile on his face.

“It’s uh… Veggie and pineapple, just like you like it!” He turned the now opened box to Jonathan, watching him for his reaction. Argyle had placed the spinach on his pizza to look like a little marijuana leaf in the corner, and tomatoes in the center in the shape of a heart. Next to the heart was a pineapple question mark, and a little note was tucked underneath. Jonathan’s mouth opened in surprise, and he removed the note from underneath.

“Jonny,

You’re my best friend in the whole world, my sweet cheese, my ride or die. I love you with my whole heart, and I put it on a pizza just for you! (Don’t panic, no hearts were harmed in the making of this pizza) I don’t think I’d rather spend my time with anyone but you. Please look up at me now!”

Jonathan chuckled lightly and held onto the note, his eyes moving up to look at Argyle who had a soft blush on his cheeks.

“Do you wanna maybe… be mine, Jonny?” He asked softly, chewing on his bottom lip while he waited on a response.

“Like… Your boyfriend?”Jonathan clarified. Argyle nodded, his eyes wider than they had been before.

Jonathan stepped closer to him, reaching the hand without the note up to cup Argyle’s cheek. He nodded quickly before moving in to press their lips together. Argyle immediately kissed him back, wrapping his arms around Jonathan’s waist.

Breaking away, Jonathan smiled at his now-boyfriend, “Do you wanna eat this masterpiece and roll up with me, boyfriend?”

Argyle laughed and squeezed Jonathan where he held him, “That sounds rad, boyfriend.”

Jonathan presses a tender kiss to his boyfriend’s lips, taking one step back so he can extend one of the arms connected to Argyle and spin him in a circle. Argyle laughs while he spins, his long hair gliding in the air like an aerialist’s silks.

“Aren’t you glad you stayed here now?” He asks, landing gently back in Jonathan’s arms. Jonathan smiles sweetly up at him, “I’m always glad I get to see you, babe. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

As they continue their dance, Argyle hums a soft string of notes, not seeming to match any songs that Jonathan’s familiar with. He moves their noncommittal steps into a consistent 4/4 beat, starting a shuffle as he begins to sing in a soft voice,

“Amor, adiós

No se puede continuar

Ya la magia terminó

Ahora tengo que marchar

Será mejor

Seguir nuestra soledad

Si hoy el cielo se cubrió

Quizás mañana brille el sol,”

Jonathan closes his eyes and loses himself in Argyle’s voice, letting himself be dragged wherever his partner sees fit. When Argyle begins the chorus with a dip and a dramatic,

“No sufras (más)

(Quizás mañana nuestro llanto quede atrás)

Y si me dices que tu amor me esperará

Tendré la luz que mi sendero alumbrará

Y volveré

Como un ave que retorna a su nidal

Verás que pronto volveré y me quedaré

Con esa paz que siempre, siempre tú me das

Que tú me das,”

Jonathan chuckles and kisses his boyfriend, making sure not to get him in the middle of the lyrics. Argyle smiles brightly at him, pecking his lips back. He finishes their dance, not by completing his song, but by spinning Jonathan one last time and planting an overly dramatic kiss on his hand.

“I bet you didn’t know I had that up my sleeve, Sweet Thing,” He laughs while Jonathan gives him an exasperated smile.

“I figured you could sing but… I can say I’ve never had anyone make me dance with them while serenading me.”

“Well, since you had to stay back here for me, I figured I’d let you know that even if you think we might be better apart, I’ll always come back for you,” Argyle says earnestly, making sure to keep a firm grip on Jonathan’s hands while he maintained eye contact.

“I didn’t have to stay back for you, I chose to and you know it! You totally could’ve had a fun holiday here with everyone, it’s not your fault your family decided that they suck and would rather abandon their only son than accept him,” Jonathan replies sternly, frowning and tugging his boyfriend closer.

---

It’s a quarter past three when Argyle and Jonathan knock on Harrington's door, eyes as red-rimmed and glossy as ever. They hold each other's hands while they wait, barely registering that the door had even opened before Eddie pokes his head out.

“What’s the password?” He croaks out in an overly dramatic voice.

Argyle jumps back a bit, and Jonathan’s eyebrows raise slightly in surprise, “Is it… Mary?” he asks tentatively.

Eddie holds a hand over his mouth, trying to suppress his laughter while he opens the door for them. “You’re fucking blitzed, dude. Is that what took you guys so long?” They both nod and giggle, sharing a look with each other before entering the household.

Argyle and Jonathan make their way through the hall before realizing that one of the doorways has mistletoe hanging from the top. Jonathan turns to his partner with a grin, “Aww shucks, Arg. Looks like someone owes me a kiss.” He winks and pulls him slightly closer by the hand.

Raising an eyebrow, Argyle takes another step toward him, “Oh, do I now?”

Jonathan bites his lip and nods slowly, completely enamored by the man in front of him. Argyle rests his free hand softly on Jonathan’s cheek, just above his jaw, and closes the space between them with a gentle kiss. Jon smiles against his lips, sighing contentedly through his nose.

After a few moments pressed together, they separate and Argyle drags Jonathan to the kitchen.

The other three are busy at their own stations, Steve sitting on a stool at the island with a big bowl of some tan mush that makes Jonathan feel a bit queasy. Robin and Nancy are working on grating potatoes and onions by the sink, getting them ready to go into latkes.

“Woah Eddie, we’ve got the white boy working on tamales? You didn’t wait to put Jonny to work?” Argyle asks with a laugh while Jonathan looks between them confused.

“Tamales? That’s what he’s doing? Why’s he got a spoon?” He stares at Steve’s hands, covered in masa with some weird looking yellow thing that he’s spreading masa on.

Eddie laughs and nods, walking behind Steve to watch his technique. “He’s making tamales, yes, I just taught him while we were waiting for you two slow-pokes. Get over here and we’ll get you making them great in no time.”

Argyle shrugs when Jonathan looks at him, “Go on, baby, Eddie won’t hurt you.” Jonathan sits by Steve and takes a spoon, watching Eddie with wide eyes while he explains tamal basics.

Watching as the women grate their vegetables, Argyle decides to walk over and help. Robin hands over some potatoes and a cheese grater with a grin on her face, “Welcome to holidays at the Harrington’s! Glad you two finally showed up, my hands are tired from doing this shit.”

With a roll of her eyes Nancy hip checks Robin and laughs, “You’ve barely been doing any of the work, babe. Just standing there staring at me the whole time.”

Robin scoffs, a bright red flush beginning to rise from her neck, “That is- that’s so not true! I promise, I totally have been… working on the latkes!”

“Ladies, ladies, it’s okay. I am here in all of my gorgeous glory to learn and to teach, I don’t care who’s doing what so long as my hands keep moving on this sacred food,” Argyle soothes, starting to grate his potatoes onto a plate in front of him.

“Eddie, I genuinely don’t think this is supposed to look like this…” Steve murmurs while staring wide eyed at the corn husk covered fully in goopy maza. Eddie walks back over to him and has to turn his head to laugh into his elbow at the sight in front of him.

“Babe- how did you manage to get maza so far up your own arm? It just- goes on the husk?” He half-scolds, amazed at his ridiculous boyfriend.

Steve shrugs and doesn’t move his arms for fear of making even more of a mess. Jonathan giggles from his seat, quiet and high pitched when he realizes just what exactly his faux-competitor has done.

“Man… I don’t know if there’s any saving that one,” He snorts as he lays his newly finished husk in the pile. Steve sighs dejectedly and groans, a dramatic pout on his face when he sees Jonathan finish.

Eddie takes a spoon and starts to clean off the husk so it’s salvageable, trying not to laugh more at his poor boyfriend. He gently kisses his cheek and moves the husk to the pile before finishing his cleaning with Steve’s arm.

“Thank you, Eds,” Steve whispers, his cheeks a bright red. He gets up from his seat and runs to the bathroom to clean his arms off and try to stave off his embarrassment, worried it may turn bad quickly.

Eddie just watches as he leaves, chuckling to himself before sitting in his chair and watching Jonathan continue with his tamales.

“You caught on really quick, Jon, I’m surprised. Argyle over there was saying he was all excited to laugh at you,” He mentions, keeping a close eye on how thick Jonathan keeps the spread while he works.

“Argyle doesn’t know anything- I help my mom cook all the time and this is just like a weird swiss roll!” Jonathan huffs out before placing more husks into the bowl. This earns another laugh from Eddie who decides to get up and take the bowl of husks so he can start filling them with meat.

“Hey man, I know some things,” Argyle shouts indignantly from across the room- taken out of his zone with the latkes.

Jonathan rolls his eyes with a smile, continuing on his work while Argyle keeps his snarky jokes audible to Robin and Nancy only.

---

Steve finally comes back to see that everyone’s already started actually cooking- the latkes being fried on the stove while Eddie places the wrapped up tamales in a giant pot to boil on a different burner.

“I really missed the tamales getting finished?” He pouts and stands behind Eddie, resting his chin on his shoulder.

“Yeah baby, that’s what happens when you run away for a while,” Eddie chides and puts the lid on the pot, turning around to press a soft kiss to his boyfriend’s forehead.

Robin pretends to gag, “Could you guys go be gay somewhere else, please?” Nancy giggles from next to Robin, knowing that they were absolutely standing almost exactly like that right before Steve came back.

“Hey Robs, can you do something for me?” Steve blinks his big eyes at her.

“Yeah, what’s up?” She sets the spatula she was using down and turns to him with furrowed brows.

“Fuck off!”

Eddie chokes on a laugh, completely caught off guard by his boyfriend’s hostility, “Babe- babe please, oh my god!”

Robin rolls her eyes and flips him off, grabbing her spatula again to keep cooking, “Literally suck my whole dick, Harrington.” Her girlfriend snorts at that and bites her lip to keep from laughing too hard.

“Wuh-oh! Lovers’ quarrel?” Argyle asks before he realizes that they were just kidding around with each other. Jonathan brings his hand to his lips and presses a kiss there, “You know they’re just being them, babe. It’s fine.” He soothes and Argyle laughs and nods.

---

By some holiday miracle, the food comes out unscathed and they’re finally able to sit down and just enjoy each other’s company. Steve and Eddie set the table, while Jonathan and Argyle start plating everything to be served. Robin and Nancy take a much deserved break before grabbing sodas and lemonade from Steve’s garage.

“All right, gays and gaydies, I present to you: our Wexi-ewish buffest,” Argyle finishes displaying the food on the table with a flourish.

“Did you really just…”

“Yeah, I think he did, Rob.”

Steve and Eddie giggle at their end of the table, having partaken in some purple palm tree delight before the food was set down. Jonathan beams at his ridiculous lover, excited to spend the holiday with his found family.

Argyle takes it upon himself to give everybody their tamales, latkes, and the various sides that they bought pre-made, before sitting himself between Robin and Jonathan. Everyone thanks him and digs in, exhausted after their long day of cooking.

“Okay, Eddie, where the fuck did you learn this recipe for the chicken? This shit’s schmackin’, I’m gonna need to kiss whichever abuela gave you this,” Argyle moans after his first bite of tamal. Eddie laughs so hard a bit of latke flies back onto his plate and he has to cover his mouth with a hand.

“I mean- if you really wanna call Wayne abuela, be my guest. I cannot control how that man reacts to you,” He responds before taking a drink of lemonade.

Jonathan giggles at his boyfriend before taking a bite. His eyes widen, “No man, I think Argyle might be onto something… this is really fucking good, man.”

Steve nods in agreement as he stuffs more tamal into his mouth, completely forgoing speaking for the time being. Robin and Nancy eat their food a bit more calmly, but still share the sentiment.

“This may just be the best tamal I’ve ever had. Not that I’ve had that many,” Robin smiles and takes another bite. Nancy wipes her mouth with a napkin, “It is really good, Eddie! Thank you for teaching the boys how to make them.”

Eddie blushes and ducks his head while he eats, “It’s just normal holiday shit- no need to thank me, guys…” Steve nudges his shoulder and shakes his head, “No sir, we are not doing that shit right now. You made our holiday special, with Argyle of course, and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to properly thank you.” He maintains eye contact with his boyfriend and nods his head seriously.

“You’re right… I’m sorry- I just am not used to all this,” Eddie laughs, “You guys make the holidays really great, too, you know.”

They spend the rest of the evening eating their food, cleaning up, and generally just basking in their togetherness.

---

“Promise me we’ll be together every Christmas?” Steve whispers to Eddie while they’re tangled together on the couch— everyone left hours ago, leaving them to cuddle and rest peacefully.

“Whatever you want, love, I’m yours.” Eddie seals his promise with a kiss.

#lexswinterficchallenge #steddie #ronance #jargyle #spicy six #jonathan byers #eddie munson #steve harrington #nancy wheeler #robin buckley #ham writes !#an actual fic for once????#im late as always lmfao #argyle (no last name poor man)

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