#it's so difficult to make friends here now. everyone is so hostile

[seinfeldforlife]

Found a USB with my files from my computer from 2014-17 and it's crazy that the internet used to work without twelve hundred flashing lights and advertisements conjured from your data and ninety superfluous updates to a site each week

[bandgie]

Hi! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED your Beast of a Man tarzan!smut. Seriously it was so engaging and you wrote him so well (HES SO HOT AGHH). He's such a hot character idk why others don't write about him, I'm starved for Tarzan fics...

Could you please make a part 2 to the smut? You have such a great/smutty idea going I would love to see you continue it!!

It would mean everything to me!

( ^◡^)

a/n: hi yes thank you so much and ofc! it's been so long since I've written smut on Tarzan so please bear with me! (fic anon is referring to here)

synopsis: You have successfully brought back the ape-man for research. Despite behaving like an animal, he's a lot more human in more ways than you originally thought.

warnings: MDNI 18+, recording during sex, oral (m!), 69ing, semi-public oral sex, cumming in mouth (m!&f!), rough throat fucking (f!rec), cum eating (m!&f!)

2.8k words

"Who the fuck is this?!"

Your colleagues screamed and ran upon seeing who, more like what, you brought back to camp. They hopped up on tables and held up papers as weapons. They eyed you both wearily, on the verge of tears as you stood just a few feet away.

"I think that's a bit extreme," you sigh. 

The ape-man was beside you, clinging onto your leg like a child would do with a mother. He, too, was very wary around these strangers. You could hear him grunting and pulling at you as if keeping you from getting too close. 

Cute yes, but this would mean it would take a lot of work to build trust in the entire group.

Slowly, the fellow researchers began to try and communicate with the man. Talking slowly and softly, just like you showed them to. All of you agreed that this being could be the missing link, the answer to the question anthropologists have tried to find for decades.

It took over a month for everyone to be comfortable around one another, but of course, another issue was raised. 

"So does he just not have a name?" Professor Porter asked. 

As of now, you all were just calling him 'the ape-man' or 'hey you' to get his attention. It never crossed your mind to give him an actual name. 

"We're not gonna name that beast," Clayton butted his way into the conversation. Clayton, as big and strong as he was, seems the most afraid of your new friend. He's hostile, rude, and arrogant. Even if the ape-man cannot understand the words thrown at him, he can feel them.

The best thing to do in these situations was to ignore Clayton, he just loves the sound of his own voice. 

"No," you turn your attention back to the professor. "Not that I know of at least. Should we come up with one?"

"Oh great," there's heavy sarcasm laced in Clayton's voice. "Here you are naming a dog you're not even gonna keep."

"With no due respect Clayton, please shut the fuck up," Terk, the youngest of you, speaks. Terk is small for his age, but he has built. A hairy man who's lively, talkative, and one of the natives that live here. He and the ape-man get along well, a little too well sometimes.

Clayton flips Terk the bird.

"A name for him would be nice, yes." The professor looks as though he's sweating from the tense atmosphere. "Do come up with one dear, I think the missing link would rather you do it."

It's no secret that the ape-man prefers you over the other researchers. He's constantly at your hip, following you like you have an invisible leash on him. Your colleagues, however, don't know how close you two actually are. 

The conversation stays in your head for the rest of the day. A name. A name. Something everyone has yet is unbelievably difficult to come up with. Hundreds of possibilities run through your mind as you carry out your daily tasks. Even the ape-man, who's used to you ruffling his hair, grows confused about your behavior.

Nightfall comes with everyone in their tents and you still haven't come up with a name. 

With a groan, you turn on your side to see the very person who's making you struggle already looking at you. His eyes are dark, but the candle in your tent lights up his features just enough. You reach out and brush a lock of hair out of his face, watching how he moves to try and get you to touch his skin.

You settle with resting the palm of your hand on his cheek, rubbing your thumb over it. 

"A name," you tsk. You narrow your eyes and let your gaze travel over his body. He needs to look like his name, that's a must. "Hey, do you know what a name is?"

He doesn't answer. 

"Something to call you. That's a name. Do you have one?"

He stares at you.

Well, this is going to be harder than you thought. 

Pursing your lips, you say the first name that comes to mind, "Edward?"

He reacts to that. His calm expression turns into a scowl, bushy eyebrows coming together. You quietly laugh and shake your head, "Not that one okay."

"Tony?"

He frowns.

"Taren?"

He pouts.

"Okay, okay. I think I got it...Garrett."

The ape-man groans, mimicking the behavior he's seen you do hundreds of times. It shocks you to see him act so human, so you. It's equally adorable as it is terrifying. 

He's gotten closer to you, a breath away. The proximity used to freak you out, but you've learned it’s how he shows his affection. His trust. 

The ape-man is waiting for you to say a word he likes, a sound that comes off your tongue magically. Judging from your facial expression and earlier absent behavior, this is an important task for you.

You want the name to be strong, versatile, and not easily replaceable. The being you've found is one-of-a-kind, it's only fair his name is as well. You play with a few letters in your head, bouncing them in your mind until you think of one that suits him.

"What about Tarzan then? Do you like that one?"

His pupils dilate, watching your beautiful lips pronounce the word. His word. 

"Yes."

You gasp, sitting up abruptly. Your sudden movements make him panic as he sits up with you. He scans the tent to find an intruder while you sit there stunned. 

He spoke. The ape-man no! Tarzan just spoke to you. He understood language and used it, even if it was just a mere word. A one-syllable answer that has shaken you to your core. 

"Oh my god. You just, Tarzan you just spoke. Holy shit, say it again. I need to capture this on video." You ruffle through your bag looking for your camera. 

Tarzan stops searching the tent and looks back at you looking as confused as ever. Like he didn't just display human speech in a mere month.

Quickly, you pull out the camera and hit record, aiming the lens at Tarzan's hard, yet beautiful features. 

"Repeat what you just said," you look at him through the monitor. Instead of complying, Tarzan stares blankly into the lens. "Do you like the name Tarzan?" You press.

No answer, his eyes flick from the red light to your eyes. 

"Come on! Just tell me whether or not you like the name." You're starting to grow impatient. At this point, you're convinced he's just being an ass.

Finally, he adjusts his seating position. Tarzan glances down at his crotch then back up to you, then back to his crotch. You follow his gaze, trying to understand what he's trying to say. Then it clicks. 

Compensation. If you want him to do you a favor, you have to do him one as well. 

"Are you being serious?" You sigh at him. Tarzan gives a faint nod to you. Even if he can't do so, you swear you see him smirk. Asshole. Setting the camera down, you angle it towards the two of you. Might as well have fun with it.

You crawl your way towards him, parting his thighs slightly before giving him a playful glare, "You're such a man sometimes."

Unlike before, Tarzan wears cargo shorts rather than a mere piece of clothes from last time. Professor Porter made it clear that if he was to hang amongst you all, clothes were necessary. 

They suited him nicely, even now. The way the material hugs his toned thighs, how his cock bulges through the shorts even when he isn’t hard. You couldn't help but run your hands along his muscular legs, finding his crotch.

He groaned as you palmed him, straining to not thrust his hips up. Tarzan learned to be patient with you, especially in the presence of others. Most animals didn't care whether they mated alone or in their pack. Even if Tarzan was raised by those animals, the thought of others hearing the sounds you make for him is repulsive. 

Instead, he has to settle for brushing your hair from your face as you undo his buttons. Delicate fingers unzipping the seam until his half-hard cock sprouts in your face. 

It doesn't matter how many times you've seen his dick, it makes your pussy quiver every time. All you can think about is how perfectly it stretches you, how the tip slides against your cunt deliciously. Your mouth salivates at the memory, and you let your spit drool off your tongue to land on his cock.

Tarzan loves the sigh. A pink tongue just hovering over his length. He also remembers the feeling of your hot mouth on him. The way your lips slowly come closer to the crown of his head, how your breath wafts over him. It feels euphoric when you finally make contact with him, mouth enclosing his flushed head.

It's so warm in your mouth, smooth as you lightly suck on him. The hand on your head slightly grips your hair, a sign that he likes the slow pace you've set. You hum around his cock, taking him a little deeper as you widen your jaw.

One of your hands makes way to grip the base, pulling the skin upwards in a stroking motion. 

This makes his hips jerk, gagging you for just a split second. Your wide eyes look up at him, small tears peeking at the corners. Tarzan gives an apologetic look, but the sight of your teary eyes and pretty lips around his cock makes him fuck up toward you again.

You pull away from him, earning a whine as Tarzan throws his head back dramatically. 

Maybe he thinks you're going to stop as punishment, but it's quite the opposite. Your cunt is sopping from tasting him, even if it was for a brief moment. Even if you have a task at hand, and your camera is still recording for 'research,' you have your own needs to take care of. 

Tarzan is none the wiser as you put a hand on his bare chest and lay him down. He eyes you curiously but lets you push him all the way down before hopping on top. His eyes widen as he's faced with your clothed cunt. Underwear the same color as your tongue that holds the strongest smell of you.

He doesn't need any directions as he dives his nose into you. Tarzan is obsessed with your natural smell. His nose immediately grows damp from your wetness, his tongue poking out to lick the juices that leak out.

Softly moaning, you take a hold of his cock once more. You pump it a few times before taking it into your mouth. It's surprising to see that he's not humping in your mouth like normal, but he's so distracted with your pussy that he can't seem to bother noticing his own pleasure.

It's hard to focus on his hard length as his teeth tear off your panties. You gasp when you hear the fabric split, but it turns into a whine when his tongue finally makes contact with your bare cunt. 

Tarzan has to grip your hips to keep you still. As much as he would love for you to grind on his face, he needs to have his meal first. His tongue runs over your folds, finding that little bud you love so much to be touched. 

He sucks on it and pulls, stretching your clit. Your legs shake and you have to pull away from his cock to catch your breath. Lazy hands stroke his hard-on as you look back. You clench at the sight of his unruly hair peeking above your ass, the sounds his mouth makes as he laps at you.

Turning back to your literal task at hand, you find the energy to take his cock once more. You unhinge your jaw and exhale, taking Tarzan deeper and deeper until your eyes roll back. You hollow your cheeks and suck, moving your head back up until just the tip remains in your mouth, and go all the way back down.

Now Tarzan can feel the bliss of your mouth on him. He moans into your pussy and slightly jerks his hips up, making you gag around him once more. 

Feeling you work so hard makes him want to reciprocate. He shakes his head left and right to try and bury himself deeper. He uses his grip to force you further onto his face. Tarzan's tongue finds the squeezing entrance that he's breached so many times. He digs his tongue into you, finally getting a taste of you from the source. 

He's guiding your hips so you could drag your pussy against him how you like. Tarzan can feel your hips trying to pull away from him as the feeling of his tongue has gotten too much. And it has.

You're trying to distract yourself by deepthroating him, but it's no use. All you can feel is his experienced mouth, how he remembers every detail he knows you like. You can feel your orgasm approaching, and how it builds in your stomach rapidly. 

Tarzan feels your legs shake. Your thighs trembling and giving out, full lower body weight on his face. He can taste how the wetness has changed, thicker and tart. Tarzan knows this taste like the back of his hand. You're going to cum, give him that white cream he loves licking out of you.

You've completely stopped paying attention to his dick. A part of you should feel bad for neglecting him, but you can't seem to care as Tarzan's tongue fucks you. Instead, you find yourself humping his face, his mouth following as you approach your high.

You squeal as you come, clamping a hand over your mouth as you finish. Warm gushes out of you, body quivering as the eager man under you happily drinks it all. Tarzan gulps and slurps until he's beginning dripping from the corners of his mouth. 

He takes and takes until you're the one having to tell him no more, that you can't handle another orgasm. 

Tarzan hears the desperation in your voice, the way you plead. It takes strength for him to pull away from your pussy, a soft growl emitting from his chest. 

Then his thighs wrap around your head, securing you in front of his cock. You have no time to question him as you involuntarily take his cock into your mouth.

There's so much pre-cum dripping from the slit that all you can taste is its saltiness. He's throbbing, fucking his hips into your mouth as he holds you still with his legs. 

All you can do is take it. Lips wrapping around his girth as he desperately slides his dick in and out. You gag and silently plead for Tarzan to be gentler, but he's having none of it. Your hands warp around his thighs to steady yourself, your head bobbing uncontrollably to match his movements.

Tarzan twitches in your mouth once, stilling his hips deep into your throat. Tears immediately prick your eyes and fall down your face, and you swear your vision goes black for a fraction of a second before he pulls out. You get the chance to gasp for air as he lines up his cock to your lips again and shoves it back in.

You think you might pass out. You're at the mercy of Tarzan, and he's still unable to see how much stronger he is than the average man. Your mouth is nothing but a fleshlight to him as he makes you choke around him. It makes you feel like a toy, a warm hole for him to fuck his seed into.

And you wouldn't have it any other way.

The familiar twitch in his cock occurs again. Once, twice, then three times before he unloads in your mouth. Hot spurts of his cum find themselves in your throat, forcing you to gulp it down. 

Tarzan's hips slow, letting his cock drag against your lips before he finally pulls out. You cough and pant as his orgasm drips from your tongue. 

His thighs release you and you promptly plop down on them. You feel his hands rub soothingly over the curve of your ass, up and down your thighs. And an extra apology, Tarzan presses a kiss to your throbbing pussy. You chuckle and kiss his thigh back before sitting up, hoping off his face. 

You have to crawl to grab your camera, breathing a sigh of relief to see the red light still shining. You aim the lens at his face as he too sits up. You can see the arousal on his face from eating you out, his swollen lips, and messy hair.

"So," you start. "Tell me, Tarzan, did you like that?"

Tarzan's lips quirk into what you think is a smile before he looks at you directly through the camera. 

"Yes."

a/n: holy fuck I dont think y'all know how hard this was. I kinda went all out for the first one so the second one was hard as hell to match lmaooo. I physically and mentally can't do a third installment. this is the final one sowwy also I added some characters from the film! hopefully you caught that, I made Terk human, Tarzan needed a friend even if it's a fanfic

[roosterforme]

Always Ever Only You Part 4 | Rooster x Reader

Summary: Two envelopes arrive in the mail. One makes you and Bradley smile, the other, not so much. But you'll figure out how to deal with what is out of your control just like you always do. And when it turns out you can help Cat in a big way, you're happy to do it. 

Warnings: Fluff, smut, angst, swearing

Length: 3800 words

Pairing: Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x Female Reader

This was written to accompany my series Is It Working For You? along with a bunch of my one-shots and other series, but it can be read on its own! Check my masterlist for the reading order. Gorgeous banner by @mak-32

Cat was still quiet around you, but it felt a little less hostile and a little more innocuous. You didn't need her to be your friend, and as long as work wasn't becoming a nightmare, you figured you could deal with it. Because being at home with Bradley was at times more stressful for you than being at work.

"Are you ovulating, Baby Girl?" Bradley asked when you walked inside after work with the mail in your hands. Your husband knew your cycle by now. He knew it well before you were even married. Before you were engaged. There was no point in trying to lie to him about this.

"Yes," you whispered softly. You sounded so needy with just that one word, no wonder he was all over you. When his lips met yours, you moaned and started to stumble toward the bedroom. The trail of khaki uniform components you left in your wake would make you laugh thirty minutes from now, but in the moment, you needed your husband to cum inside you.

And while you knew Bradley was trying to make every single time count now, he still felt the same as he always did. He worshipped every curve of your body, kissing your tattoo until you were breathless for him. His big hands were wrapped around your thighs, spreading you wide open so he could taste you before he started thrusting. 

"You're perfect," he crooned next to your ear, methodically coaxing your orgasm from you with his words and his body. You wanted this one to be the one that worked, because he felt so good. He was perfect, too.

With your hands on his shoulders and your body sated beneath his, Bradley dipped his forehead down to your shoulder and chanted your name until he was no longer moving. "Fuck," he grunted, still fully seated inside you as he grew softer. His full body weight made breathing a little difficult, but you didn't want him to move yet. He smelled good, and his skin was warm and slick with sweat. You slid your hands down to his biceps and whined when he started to move.

"Stop," you commanded, and he kissed your lips, not moving another inch until you were ready.

A few minutes later, when you came out of the bathroom, you pulled on his discarded undershirt and made your way to the kitchen. "So how was your day?" he asked, picking up all of the uniform pieces.

"It was pretty good, Roo. Jake came up to my lab for lunch since you were working with the instructors today." Bradley had been invited to help instruct several times recently, and you could tell he was cautiously optimistic about what that meant.

"Great," he replied sarcastically. "I'll bet everyone in your lab thinks Jake is your side piece."

You started laughing as you opened the mail. "Nah, here's in there more often than you are at this point. If anything, they think you're my side piece."

You bit your lip as he came up behind you at the kitchen counter and spanked your butt where it was bare underneath his shirt. "That's not funny, Sweetheart," he murmured next to your ear, but he sounded amused. He was palming your butt, and you started to wonder if he'd be ready for round two before or after dinner. 

"Oh look!" you gasped, opening the thick, cream envelope and pulling out the invitation to your promotion banquet. You squealed and spun in his arms. "It's in four weeks!" 

"I'm so proud of you," he promised, holding you as you read the full invitation out loud to him. He kissed the top of your head and promised he'd be there to pin you. "I'll pin my wife. Doesn't that sound nice?"

"Sounds ideal, Roo," you said, setting the invitation aside so you could add it to your calendar and text a photo to your parents. Then you opened the rest of the mail. A mortgage statement. Junk. A credit card bill. More junk. And then an envelope addressed to Bradley that made your heart stop for a few beats. 

You handed it to him without a word and watched him open it, but he was more focused on you. The bob of his Adam's apple as he read the first few lines had tears welling in your eyes. He tossed the paper aside and reached for you. As you clambered to get your arms around him as quickly as you could, you whispered, "When?"

He kissed your temple and said, "Two days after your banquet."

You sobbed and asked, "How long?"

"Two months."

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

Bradley only had one more month with you before he'd be spending two months on an aircraft carrier. He sat in the locker room on base and did the math. You were ovulating right now. And you'd be ovulating right before he left. He'd hate to miss a positive pregnancy test, but at least he knew he had two chances before he'd miss a few of your cycles completely.

When he strolled out into the hallway, he saw Nat, and he knew right away. "You got papers."

Her eyes went wide. "I did. So did Bob." 

He let out a long breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fuck," he whispered, falling into step next to her as she headed toward the tarmac. "I hate leaving her. But it's so much fucking worse when you're gone at the same time."

"I know," she replied, patting his forearm through his flight suit. "But Jake will be here."

Bradley still felt frustrated that you held back telling him the things that you told Jake right away, but he understood you needed your friend. "How the hell did I end up with Jake Seresin permanently in my life like this? It's fucking ridiculous, Nat."

She snorted. "Hey, just remember... he asked her out first. You could be standing on the sidelines watching a very different game at the moment if she hadn't found him so annoying."

"Nah," he replied with a smile. "My wife has excellent taste."

She smiled back at him as they walked out into the bright sunlight. When Bradley saw Bob, he held up his hand and gave him a thumbs down. 

"Oh, you got papers too? You're with us?" he asked, gesturing between Nat and himself. 

"Sure am," he groaned. "I should be thankful or happy. Being deployed with friends is always better. But I'm just... not."

Bob smiled. "I wouldn't be either if I was married to your wife." His eyes went wide, and he started stuttering, but Bradley just waved him off. 

"I'll take that as a compliment," he replied, grabbing his helmet and getting to work. At least he wasn't flying like shit this week. He and Coyote got eliminated first, but it was because of a risky move that didn't pay off, not because he felt out of sync. 

So when he saw Hondo on the tarmac, a smug smile on his face, Bradley gave him a fist bump. "You two almost pulled it off. Almost," he told Bradley and Javy. "Two hundred pushups, fellas."

"God damn, it's hot today," Bradley groaned, dropping into position and digging in while Hondo started counting them off. The first one hundred weren't too bad, but the back end really got to him. He was pouring sweat and huffing a bit while Javy looked completely at ease. Shit, the last fifteen were terrible, and he almost collapsed onto his elbows before he managed to sit up. 

"You okay, old man?" Javy asked him with a laugh after Hondo dismissed them both for the day. "Having trouble keeping up?"

"This shit used to be easier," Bradley grunted, letting Javy help him up. "Thanks."

"Careful. Don't let Mav hear you say that, or he'll get you a cane."

Bradley chuckled on his way back to the locker room. Damn, his shoulders were aching. He wasn't that old. Well, he was old compared to you. And most of the other aviators at Top Gun. "Fuck," he muttered, turning toward the elevator bank and pressing the button to go up. 

You usually made such a fuss over him, sometimes he forgot he was six years older than you. He wasn't bad looking or anything, but you definitely looked younger than him. He would have to hit the gym out in the garage more. And when he was deployed, working out would be pretty much the only thing he could do for entertainment. 

He pulled out his phone before he knocked on your office door, smiling at your name placard. When you opened it with a look of surprise on your face, he was playing your wedding song and singing along. 

"Roo," you sighed, smiling up at him. You pushed your door open wider with a soft laugh. "Did you come all the way up here to serenade me?"

"Something like that," he murmured. "Gotta make the next four weeks count. You free?"

"Yeah, I was just packing up to leave, actually." You bit your lip as you closed the door and ran your fingers through his hair. Your soft moan had him pushing you back toward your desk. "You're all sweaty. God, you look good."

"Do I?" he asked, leaning down to kiss you.

"Bradley, you always look good. The flight suit definitely doesn't hurt either."

He watched you squeeze your khaki covered thighs together while his phone played Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac. He set it on your desk and pressed his body to yours. "Shit. I love how you're reacting to me." He took your chin between his thumb and fingers. "Just look at you, Baby Girl."

"I'm so horny," you gasped. "You know how I get when I'm ovulating. And you're all sweaty. And you smell like jet fuel."

He tipped your chin up a little higher before placing the softest kiss to your lips. You were trying to get more from him, but he just gave you gentle kiss after gentle kiss until you were grabbing at the front of his flight suit. 

"Bradley," you keened. He certainly didn't feel so old now as you begged for more. 

"This isn't why I came up here," he whispered. "Just wanted to see if you left for the day." He let his hand drift from your chin back along your jaw to the back of your neck. You took the opportunity to throw your arms around his neck and place the filthiest kisses on his lips. You were tasting his tongue and pulling his bottom lip between our teeth. But when you actually licked a trail of sweat from his neck, Bradley spun you around and pulled you close so your back was pressed to his front. 

"Please?" you asked softly, and he reached around to the front of your khaki pants with both hands and unzipped them. You grabbed his forearms with both of your hands as he undid the button as well. 

"I can't say no to you," he whispered, easing his right hand inside your pants and running his fingers along your underwear. "These your black and white lacy ones?"

He knew all of your underwear by feel alone, and when he smiled against your neck, you moaned, "Yes. I love it when you do that."

Bradley slipped his hand down the front of your underwear, and you arched your back against him. When he took your left hand in his, he pulled it up to his mouth, kissing your rings as he grazed your clit.

"Fuck," you gasped, jolting a little bit against him. "This is like the first time you ever touched me. Up against your Bronco in the Hard Deck parking lot."

"Shit," he grunted, circling your clit with his middle finger before sliding it down your slit. "I couldn't get enough of you then, and I still can't."

"Bradley!"

"Keep quiet, Baby Girl," he warned, pressing his erection into you while he slipped his finger inside. "God, you're wet. You been thinking about this all day?" You felt like silk to his rough fingertips, and Bradley wasn't in any hurry. He just let you babble nonsensically as you pressed your thighs together again. 

Soon you were begging for release, riding his finger so sweetly, he added a second one for you. Then, with a soft swipe of his thumb on your clit, you were fluttering around him and whining his name. He sucked on your neck as you rode out your orgasm, shaking gently against him. 

"Oh," you moaned, lessening the grip you had on his left hand as he eased his right out of the front of your pants. When you spun to face him, he was licking his hand clean. "Do you want me to go down on you?"

"No," he grunted, leaning down to kiss you and let you taste yourself. "I want you to meet me at home so I can fuck you all night."

"Let's go." You were reaching for your keys and your bag, and Bradley had to pull you close to zip your pants up before he followed you out of your office.

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

You felt so good. Your husband had been treating you to his delicious cock at least twice a day while you were ovulating. On Friday morning, you were flat on your back in bed, full of his cum, watching him strut around the room naked with his bicep tattoo on display.

"Come on, Sweetheart," he rasped. "You'll be late for work."

"I've just been fucked within an inch of my life. I think my boss would understand."

Bradley barked out a laugh. "You want to call Bickel and find out?"

You sat up and shook your head. "No. Could you imagine? Sir, my husband was hitting my G-spot for like twenty minutes, so I'm going to just roll in after lunchtime, okay?"

Now he was doubled over in laughter as you climbed out of bed and adjusted your glasses. You kissed him on your way to the bathroom, and he told you, "Don't forget, Hard Deck tonight."

"I've never forgotten about a single Hard Deck night in my life, Roo."

"Yeah, because I always remind you," he called after you as he pulled on some underwear so he could let Tramp outside and start the coffee. 

It felt like the perfect day as he left with his travel mug after kissing you dozens of times. You were sipping your coffee and thinking about checking when your period was due, but you didn't let yourself. You thought about skipping breakfast after looking at your butt in the mirror, but you ate some yogurt instead. 

Then you got to work early, and your boss called you into his office to make sure you got the invitation to your promotion banquet. You ended up chatting with him for a while before you had to tell him you needed to get your work done. 

"I should be the one reminding you of that, Lieutenant Commander," he replied with a chuckle. You stood as soon as you were dismissed, smiling at your new title as you walked down the hallway. 

When you heard someone calling your first name, you turned to see your friend Cam sticking his head out of his lab door. 

"Hey, stranger," he said with a smile, adjusting his glasses. You strolled back to see him. 

"You guys never work with your door open," you said suspiciously. His boss was way more of a hardass than yours, and you didn't want him to get in trouble. 

He rolled his eyes. "He does hate an open door. It encourages making friends with and talking to people who work in other labs. Didn't you know?" 

"Oh shit," you said, looking down at yourself and wincing playfully. "God, I miss working with you. Are you coming to the bar tonight?"

"Maybe. I was just about to ask you if you were eating lunch in the cafeteria with your dreadfully sexy husband and his mustache."

"Yes," you replied, trying to keep your laughter quiet. "Come join us. You can sit across from the mustache and look at it."

He groaned and tipped his head back. "I wish I could grow one." Then he was suddenly shoving you away from him, and you saw his boss coming as you hightailed it back to your lab. 

When you rushed in with a smile on your face, Cat met your gaze. No, you wouldn't let her ruin your day. "Good morning!" you called out to her and everyone else. Of course she barely acknowledged your existence, but it didn't matter. You would just keep your head down until it was time for lunch. You were already thinking about a veggie bowl with some hot sauce, and your stomach was growling. 

But you ended up getting absorbed in some coding that you'd been neglecting, so you decided to tackle that. You were surprised when you glanced up to find everyone else had already gone to lunch. The only person left was Cat, so you locked up your computer and left before she had a chance to say anything. You made it all the way to the elevator when you realized you forgot your ID badge. It had been tucked under your computer. 

You groaned and turned back to go get it. But you came skidding to a halt, your boots squeaking on the floor a bit when you heard Cat on the phone. 

"I'm at work, but I'll get there as soon as I can.... I didn't know he had a fever this morning or I wouldn't have dropped him off.... Yes, okay. I'll be there soon."

She ended the call and then burst into tears, and you couldn't decide what to do. Part of you wanted to sneak away quietly and hide in your office, but you just couldn't stop yourself from at least trying to help her. You walked into the lab and cleared your throat, and she whirled around in her seat, a look of steel on her face as she wiped at her tears. 

"What do you want, Lieutenant Commander?" Her words were harsh, but she still sounded vulnerable too, and you held your hands up in surrender. 

"Just checking to see if I can help you with anything. I'm not trying to give you a hard time."

She laughed sardonically and looked up at the ceiling. "I'm beyond help," she said, shaking her head. "But thanks."

"Cat, if you need something, just-"

"I need so many things," she said, cutting you off. But you let her, because you sensed she just needed to get this out of her system. Like last time. "But right this very moment, I need to figure out how to pick my son up from his cheap daycare center on the other side of Coronado." She started  to close her computer as she added, "They'll kick him out if I don't get him soon, because apparently I'm a terrible mom who dropped him off there with a fever this morning. And I don't even have my own car."

You doubted she was a terrible mom. A terrible mom wouldn't even care in the first place. "Take mine," you told her. 

She eyed you skeptically. "Take your what?"

"My car. It's pretty shitty, and you need to jiggle it into gear. I don't have a car seat, but Commander Estevez keeps one in her office downstairs."

She just blinked at you, her dark eyes as expressive as always. You never chose to focus on them this long. 

"My car keys are in my office," you added. "You coming?"

Cat licked her lips and whispered, "You'd let me borrow your car?"

You just shrugged. "You can keep it for the weekend. But honestly, when you see it, you might change your mind," you told her with a wince. 

Cat swiped the last few tears from her eyes. "I need to go see if Bickel will even let me leave. I don't have much time off yet."

"Just go," you told her. "I'll cover for you. It's Friday afternoon, and he probably won't even check in again."

"Thank you," she whispered before pressing her lips together and slipping off her stool. 

"Let's go get my keys and the car seat."

A few minutes later, Cat had your car keys in one hand and the borrowed car seat in the other. "I'm parked on level two near the stairwell. It's old and red. You can't miss it."

She nodded once and then took off toward the parking garage. After a few seconds, she turned back toward you and thanked you again. 

You'd missed most of your lunch break, and when you rushed into the cafeteria, you found Bradley and Cam sitting together. 

"Your wife sucks," Cam told him, pretending he didn't see you. "She invited me for lunch and then bailed." He stood with his empty tray and winked at you. "Better luck next week?" 

"Yeah," you said, out of breath. "I'm sorry. Monday? With Maria, too?"

"Yep," he agreed before he walked away.

"Did you have a nice lunch with my friend?" you asked, sliding down into the seat next to Bradley.

"Of course. He likes my mustache." Bradley kissed you and pushed some food toward you. "I got you a burrito bowl, but it's probably cold. Where were you?"

"I was... just taking care of something. Make sure you don't head home without me later. My car is gone."

He perked right up. Honestly, he looked happier right now than he had when he was fucking you this morning. "It's gone? Forever?" 

You rolled your eyes so hard as you dumped hot sauce on your food. "Someone is borrowing it for the weekend."

He kissed your cheek. "I'll be praying that they steal it or wreck it. Why don't we spend the weekend looking at new cars?"

"Because it's Hard Deck night, remember? And you're golfing tomorrow. And my car is perfectly good."

"Yeah," he muttered, kissing your cheek one last time. "We'll look at cars on Sunday." Then he was gone, heading back to the tarmac as you ate your lunch. 

Later that evening, when you and Bradley were walking Tramp before going out for the night, you checked your phone and saw a text from an unknown number. 

Thanks again for your help. I picked Jeremiah up, and now he's feeling much better.

Cat's son was named Jeremiah. You wondered what he looked like and how old he was. You wondered why Cat had him in some shitty daycare across town. You wondered if anyone else knew she had a child.

"You ready?" Bradley asked, holding out his hand for you to take. "It's getting late."

"Yeah. Let's go."

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

Do you feel some ice melting? Ugh, I'm afraid for BG without Bradley at home. Thanks to @mak-32 and @beyondthesefourwalls

PART 5

@hotch-meeeeeuppppp

@swthxrry

@chassy21

@yaboid19

@solacestyles

@avoirlecoupdefoudre

@daisyhollyxox

@throwinsauce

@awesomebooklover17

@wintercap89

@whosyourgnomie4

@rosesinmars

@blog-name6996

@bcon24

@wishfulwithwine

@backinwonderl4nd

@tetragonia

@gingerbreadandpaper

@emptyloverofmine

@chaoticassidy

@missmirandafe

@changlingkhat

@sugarcoated-lame

@avada-kedavra-bitch-187

@katiebby04

@marantha

@averyhotchner

@abaker74

@heli991113

@k-k0129

@noz4a2

@tallyovie

@shanimallina87

@starlightstories

@teddyluvs2sing

@little-wiseone

@ccbb2222

@lilyevanswhore

@o-the-o-grim-o-reaper-o

@hecate-steps-on-me

@xoxabs88xox

[chasedbyunclewalt]

Hey everyone! So I finally wrote a thing!! I’m pretty sure is absolute garbage but 🥰 I’m here! Attempting to replenish the lack of DPS fan fiction!! So here it is (also I forgot how to add a Keep Reading bar on mobile help)

Summary: you’re new at Welton and your cousin Charlie’s friends take you in! Neil Perry x female reader x Platonic! Charlie Dalton

“She’s off limits, thanks.” A blunt voice sounds from behind me. It’s my cousin Charlie only naturally. I’ve just transferred to Welton Academy, now that they’ve begun accepting girls. The only downside of this is that my over protective older cousin Charlie won’t give it a rest. Of course there were ups and downs to the whole thing. Charlie had introduced me to his friends initially so I knew someone in most classes, but they were mostly boys, who flirt a lot, or act like they’ve never seen a woman before.

“I’ll decide if I’m limited!” I angrily turned to whisper yell at him, after giving a polite smile to Pitts who I was just speaking to. This obscure comment makes Charlie roll his eyes.

“Are you coming to the meeting tonight?” He asks casually as we all stand on the campus outside.

“Uh yeah If I still can.” I respond hoping the so-called “Dead Poets Society” meeting was still open to me. “Yeah you can!” Neil cuts in from looking at his book. He stands up from the brick wall he was leaning on.

For some reason this assurance makes me grin. I suppose if Neil says I can… I then turn back to Charlie. “I’ll come get you at.. let’s say 9?” He says in a hushed tone and walks away pointing to his watch.

I will admit. I’m appreciative to have a somewhat big brother on campus. Charlie and I spent most of our childhood when he wasn’t here, together anyway, so we really are family, cousins, and friends.

At 9 I’m waiting in my dorm. I’m in some comfortable slacks and a large coat when I hear a tap on my window. I open it expecting the boyish grin from my cousins. I open the drapes revealing a Neil Perry. I open the window curiously. “Hey- it’s you?” I ask. “Yeah! Charlie’s down there but Cameron forgot something so they went back they’ll meet us- hi..” he says with his typical smile and laid back demeanor whining with excitement. His brown hair is a mess from the hostile weather outside.

Later I sit in the cave. A mere observer for now since I wouldn’t have anything to share my first time here. I smile and shake my head as Charlie continues this Nawanda act. Neil who stands in the middle of us all looks toward me with a smile “I forgot to ask- Y/N would you like to share anything?” He asks with a warm inviting expression. Like he truly would love for me to get up there. I smile appreciatively and shake my head. “Not this time Neil thank you..!”

After the meeting we sneak back. To ensure I got back safely Charlie offers to be the one to sneak to the girls dorms with me.

“I’ll come too..?” Neil suggests softly. Charlie nods and quietly ushers us in.

“Goodnight guys!” I wave a bit as I quietly try to enter into my dorm which is extremely difficult with decades old door hinges.

As Charlie and Neil walk back, they enter a quiet hallway where Charlie mumbles grinning to Neil. “So you like her..?”

“What?” Neil asks with fake confusion. He figured he could pull it off because he’s never been much of a lady chaser.

“What?” Charlie mocks. “You like her! Y/N!”

Neil blushes knowing only Charlie knows him like that. They stop in the hallway by their dorm rooms.

“She’s a very lovely girl-“ Neil starts, attempting to be indirect. Charlie just chuckles and says. “Alright I know… it’s fine” he waves off “although…you should ask her about theater or whatever.. she’s into that..” Charlie says playfully but also with thought. It’s a bit funny Neil is the only person Charlie would even consider trusting in such a situation. They both say good nights and enter their dorms on opposite sides.

[heliads]

Read the pinned post and I'm so glad you're still taking requests for Star Trek!! I was wondering if you could do something for Bones with loads of banter and friends to lovers? Like they work together on the enterprise and are super close. They're always flirting and making fun of eachother, etc until one day R gets hurt and they both confess. I'm a sucker for sick fics/hurt comfort.

'Stay Safe' - leonard 'bones' mccoy

masterlist

There’s never a dull moment when you’re up amongst the stars.

At times like this, when everything is going south, it’s important to remember that you signed up for this. You were the one who decided that a simple life back on your home planet was too boring for you. You were the one who chose to put yourself through the most rigorous courses you could find in Starfleet Academy. You were the one who somehow thought that pestering Jim Kirk (that’s Captain to you) to let you onto the Enterprise would be the best possible career plan.

And now you’re the one finding yourself hurled into danger for what feels like the dozenth time this week. At least you’re not twiddling your thumbs, hoping for something to do, but at least boredom doesn’t get you killed. At this rate, with Jim’s latest half-mad plan to get you all out of the latest crisis, you have no idea if you can say that about your position on the Enterprise.

The Enterprise’s latest incident is going to take place in a few hours. There’s been a situation on a backwater planet where an escape pod from an imploding shuttle was accidentally stranded without any chance of rescue. Unfortunately, the travelers in the pod managed to crash land on a planet with a toxic atmosphere, so they’ve been forced to stay inside their pod lest they breathe in the poisonous gas. They’ve only got a short while before their life support systems give out, which is why it’s time for the Enterprise to step in.

The only problem is that this planet is way more hostile than original scans made it out to be. What was meant to be a one man mission has quickly unraveled into a far more complex plan. More crew members will have to be sent down, and you’ll need contact with the ship so you can quickly beam everyone up before they get hurt.

You suppose you shouldn’t be surprised to receive a summons to the bridge. You’ve known Jim for a while now, and in turn he knows that he can rely on you in dangerous times such as these. You’ve more than proven yourself capable of handling extreme pressure and risks, so your caution and quick thinking pay off by plunging you back in danger again.

Jim wants a group to travel down to the surface and retrieve the pod with its survivors. You’ll go along with Sulu, Uhura, and your captain, as all of you work well together and can handle tough situations like this. Jim gave you the option to stay back on the Enterprise, of course, he’d never force you into something as perilous as this, but this won’t be the first time that you’ve risked your life to save innocent lives, and it certainly won’t be the last.

Jim had known that, but he’d still smiled with obvious relief when you agreed to take part in the mission. “Glad to have you with us,” he’d said, clapping you on the shoulder, “Now, we’ve got to get moving, and fast. You’ll have to swing by the med wing to get cleared for surface interaction. Meet us back here as soon as you can so we can finish going over details before we head out. And thanks again, Y/N.”

You’d waved off his gratitude with an easy smile. This is what you do best, after all. You accept the risks and you take the challenges. All in a day’s work. Still, the more difficult part has yet to come. This planet’s atmosphere is no joke. Even a few minutes of unadulterated skin contact on the surface of that planet could burn away your skin. That’s why you’ll need to head over to the medical wing so they can decide you’re in good enough condition to risk it, as well as give you necessary supplements to provide some protection against the acidity of the atmosphere. Besides, it’ll give you a chance to catch up with a friend, and you’ve never turned that down, either.

Your footsteps are quick as you hurry out of the bridge and down the sprawling corridors towards the medical wing. It’s as busy as ever, with blue-shirted figures darting in and out wherever you look. Still, in all of their chaos and yours, you manage to locate the one man you’re here to see in record time.

Doctor Leonard McCoy, known to some as the most intimidating medical professional on the Enterprise and to his friends as Bones, has just finished sending one patient on their way when he’s confronted with the sight of another one. Unlike most of the invalids to cross his path, though, Bones doesn’t greet you with an unhappy harrumph, nor even a sarcastic comment about what you did to land yourself in the med wing. Instead, he almost smiles. 

“Y/N. Good to see you. I don’t suppose you’re here to help out or do something nice for me?” He says dryly.

You grin. “Afraid not, Bones. I need a favor.”

He arches a dark brow, crossing the room to replenish a container of syringes. “What favor? If it’s anything more than verbal, you’re going to have to join the patient waitlist.”

You wince. “See, I was hoping you wouldn’t say that. I need you to clear me for contact with the planet. ASAP.”

Bones actually stops moving for once in his life just so he can stare incredulously at you. “Are you out of your mind? I thought Jim declared any activity on that planet to be a risk to life and resources.”

“He did,” you admit, “but that’s why I’m joining the party. The more the merrier, apparently. Uhura says she wants someone down there with functioning critical thinking skills so she can balance out Jim. We’ll be fine so long as we stick together, but I need you to clear me first.”

Bones folds his arms across his chest. “So all I have to do to stop you from going into a trap this big is to just refuse to check your condition? Done.”

You pull a face. “Bones, I’m not kidding. We have to do this.”

“Neither am I,” he fires back. “This is a stupid move and Jim knows that. I’m not letting him lose half the superior officers of this ship all at once. You’re all going to get yourselves killed. Hate me if you want, sweetheart, but I’m keeping you alive. That’s what the medical officer is supposed to do, by the way, in case you forgot.”

You sigh. “I appreciate you looking out for me, but we have to do this, you know that. Besides, if you won’t clear me, I’ll just find someone who will. Would it make you sleep easier at night if you refused to take a look at me so I made an intern give me the meds I need to breathe down there? I’m sure they’d get the prescription right on the first try.”

Bones blows a sharp breath out, but when it becomes clear that you aren’t willing to back down, he purses his lips and relents. “Fine. You’re too damn stubborn for your own good, by the way.”

You crack a grin. “From you, Bones, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

He hems and haws while he runs the necessary scans, but when you walk out of the med wing, you do so with the perfect combination of supplements and injections to enable you to breathe the toxic atmosphere on the planet without dying. You’ll all be in thick suits anyway, but just in case, it��s important to take these steps to protect yourselves now. Hopefully, you won’t need them, but the downsides of skipping them are much worse than the inconvenience of a couple extra shots.

Bones makes sure to remind you of this before you go. He warns you to stay out of trouble, knowing full well that there’s no chance of that, but you nod along anyway. You glance over your shoulder right before you leave the med wing, and catch a glimpse of him staring after you, brow knit with anxiety. At this point, you have to return from this mission intact not just for your own good but his as well.

Jim and the others are finalizing the plan when you get back to the bridge. He feigns surprise when you walk in, although he can’t hide a broad grin. “Bones let you go that easily? Maybe he’s losing his touch.”

You arch a brow. “What does that mean?”

Your captain laughs. “It means he’s very protective of you. It’s cute.”

You make a face. “I didn’t think I’d ever hear you call Bones cute, and now I wish I never did.”

Jim rolls his eyes. “I’m just trying to connect to you, Y/N. I thought you’d agree with that. You two only ever spend time with each other anyway, aren’t you—”

He’s studiously interrupted by Uhura calling everyone to focus so you can get down to the planet as soon as possible. You don’t miss the pointed look she gives to Jim the second they think your back is turned, but you’ve been seeing a lot of those lately, and they only get easier to ignore. 

Contrary to what is apparently the popular belief on the Enterprise, you’re not in a relationship with Bones. It’s startling how many people here think you are, but you’re not. You’re just friends. No matter how many times Jim points out that Bones is oddly friendly and warm towards you, and offenses committed by Jim that earn hours of yelling only receive a small frown when you repeat them, the truth is the same. Jim may have a romantic goal for you and Bones, but it’s not happening. 

What is happening, however, is the mission at hand. After conferring for a while longer, you have Scotty beam all of you down to the planet surface. The ground underneath your feet is rocky and uneven, so you’ll have to be cautious. One bad spill could leave you with a torn suit, and even with your medical boosters, you want as little contact with the toxic environment as possible.

You and the others quickly make your way to the downed escape pod. Once there, you spread out, spreading a connective net between all of you before setting it on the ground and activating it. A temporary shield forms a dome in the air, sealing off the ground from the poison clouds floating low through the air. Once the life support cycles through, it’s safe for anyone without a suit to breathe. It’ll wear out soon though, especially while taking a continuous beating from the noxious gas outside, so you’ll have to move quickly.

You hurry over to the pod, knocking twice on the side before calling for them to come out. Slowly, a hatch on the side retracts, and five travelers come out, eyes wide and scared. Uhura hands them some suits, urging the victims to put them on quickly. They don’t need to be told twice, hurriedly pulling on the suits while you count down the seconds before you need to move again.

Although helpful when combating the toxic atmosphere, you won’t be able to beam up while you’re in the shield dome due to the energy signature currently keeping you alive. You’ll have to slowly let people out of the dome and hope that their suits stay stable long enough for Scotty up above to lock onto their signatures and safely retrieve them. 

One by one, the members of the doomed escape pod leave the safety of the dome. You watch them get beamed up one by one, listening to your earpiece to know when to send up the next one. Finally, the last of them is ready to be sent up, and you breathe a quiet sigh of relief. At last, an Enterprise mission that goes according to plan. 

See, you should have known better than to jinx it like that. It’s common knowledge around here that the moment you decide something is going according to plan, you’ll be proven wrong in a heartbeat, and the galaxy likes nothing better than to mess with all of you. 

So, of course, not a fraction of a second later than the time you think you’ll be alright, you notice a gap between the dome and the ground. The surface of this planet is rocky, you noticed it when you first landed. One of the escapees must have knocked into the dome generator while you were pulling them out. It wouldn’t have taken much to disrupt the field, not when it’s been fighting the acidity of the environment around you for so long. 

And, as you watch with horrified eyes, the toxic sludge from outside has already started to make its way in. All it takes is one drop. One drop, to start to wear away at the protective coating of the generators. One drop, to make its way inside the machinery. One drop, to cause a chain reaction that ends with the energy of the dome cycling back in on itself and exploding.

You have just enough time to shout for everyone to take cover before the thing goes nuclear. The last person stuck on the doomed escape pod is right beside you, and you fling your body over them to protect them from the blast. The impact slams into you a heartbeat later, knocking you to the ground. Your suit can take a beating from the toxic gas, but not a self destructing energy shield generator, and if it wasn’t already weakened from the blast, tumbling over sharp rocks is more than enough to tear holes in the side.

Instantly, the toxic gas rushes in. You scream out, feeling the poisonous fumes eating away at your skin. Everything is metallic and agonizing, the taste of copper radiating through your mouth. Somewhere in the background, you can hear Jim yelling for Scotty to beam you up now, but it’s hard to hear him distinctly when your vocal chords are taut in one constant cry of pain. You manage to endure another few seconds before blacking out, and although unconsciousness is always a bad sign when you’re on a foreign planet, your last satisfied thought before you pass out is that at least you won’t have to feel the pain anymore.

It’s quiet for a long time, dark and quiet. Peaceful, almost. You wake up slowly. It hurts to open your eyes because it’s so bright compared to the hazy blackness behind your lids, but it gets easier after a while. When you’re finally able to piece together the fact that you’re on a bed in the med wing, secluded from the main hustle and bustle so you can heal in privacy, you also realize that you’re not alone. Bones is sitting in a chair drawn up close beside you, head in shaky hands.

Bones. Oh, he must be irate. All those warnings about keeping you safe and then you went and hurt yourself like this. It wasn’t like you wanted to have your skin melted off by a toxic planet, but that’s how it goes when you try to save people. Bones, however, doesn’t care about the rest. He cares about you, as he’s put it plainly several times.

You reach over, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. “Everything alright, Doc?”

He jerks up, startled, although the panic in his eyes starts to abate when he realizes you’re conscious. “I think I should be asking you that. You’re the one who came back in a pool of your own blood.”

You wince. “How bad was it?”

“Very,” he says, and that one word contains with it the gravity of a lifetime.

You can imagine how it must have gone for him, then. Bones, biding his time up in the med wing, patching up patients to distract himself from not knowing what was going down on the surface of the planet. He would have told himself it would be fine because you said it would be fine, and just as he got halfway to believing it, Jim would have rushed through the doors carrying your unconscious, bleeding, actively diminishing body. What a ghastly scene.

“You patched me up pretty well, though. I don’t feel anything.” You tell him, mostly to try and lift that desperate look on his face.

Bones lets out a shaky laugh. “Yeah, well, that’s what a cocktail of painkillers will do for you. You’ll take a while to recover, though. I can’t stop that.”

From the way he keeps shooting nervous glances at your side, though, you can tell that he wishes more than anything that he could stop it. The two of you wait in patient, terrible silence, and then Bones gives in and says what he’s been holding back all this time.

“It’s just– Dammit, Y/N, I thought you were going to die. When they brought you in, you weren’t moving. Your heart was barely even beating. I can keep giving you pills and bandages when you need them, but that won’t be enough to bring you back from the dead. I can’t lose you, Y/N. I could lose the ship, I could lose the rest of the crew, I could lose myself, but I can’t lose you.”

Your breath is shallow in your chest, and not just because of the injury. “Why?”

“You know why,” he says, refusing to look at you.

“I want to hear you say it,” you tell him.

A silence. A drawn breath. “I love you,” he says at last, “I love you, Y/N. More than anything. Didn’t know it until I thought you were dead. Didn’t think I’d have to say it until you woke up.”

Bones is not one to beat around the bush, but he still waits a beat or too longer before forcing himself to look back at you. His eyes cut to you in one clean jerk, like ripping off a bandage. You’re not here to hurt him, though. Not anymore.

“I love you too,” you tell him. “Probably longer than you.”

“There’s no reason to make this a contest,” Bones chides you, but he’s starting to smile at last.

“Why not? Scared I’ll win?” You laugh.

Bones tries to glare, but the corners of his mouth refuse to tamp down into anything sober or serious. “Cut that out.”

“Make me,” you challenge him, and he takes you up on your word by leaning forward abruptly to kiss you.

Of all the things to make you go silent, that might be your favorite. It’ll take you a while to heal, but maybe it’s not the worst thing to be stuck in the med wing for a while longer. You and Bones have plenty of things to talk about in the meantime.

star trek tag list: @w1shes43

all tags list: @wordsarelife

[scenteddelusion5]

A Daring Creature - Part 4

Zestial x fem reader angel

Note: I at first wanted it to ba a longer chapter but I like the way it ended right here. I felt adding to it would make the sweet moment, like, POP less. If that makes sense?

Word count: 1462

PART 1 - PART 2 - PART 3 - PART 4

Two months went by, every other day did Zestial take Y/n out to explore the pride ring. The two grew closer and closer, he got enamoured by her antics and she started to appreciate his calm and stoic personality, even though she also liked to rile the demon up sometimes.

The new cloaked stranger that was always with Zestial did not go unnoticed by the masses. Demons either were too afraid to get involved or wanted to know everything about the girl, the latter of which were mostly fellow overlords.

It started to become more and more difficult to keep Y/n away from people like Alastor and Vox, avoiding them became a daily struggle. Zestial almost wanted to keep Y/n inside for a few weeks so the fuss would die out but after seeing how her face immediately lost her shine and became saddened, he scratched that idea. And thus they continued the hide-and-seek game.

And Zestial had to admit, he was pretty good at it. That was until one day the two were walking down the street and saw Alastor walking around the corner. Without a second to think, Zestial turned to two around to walk the other way, only to see Vox and Valentino on the other side.

He quickly grabbed Y/n by the arm and dug into an alleyway. If he remembered it correctly, he was pretty sure there was a backway entrance to Carmine's home there. Finding the door, they swiftly made their way inside without the overlords seeing them.

"I'm getting sick of having the hide every time we see one of them," Y/n complained, "I wish they would just leave me alone."

"I understand, however, we can not afford one of those finding out thy secret." Zestial straightened his own cloak.

"Zestial?" Carmilla walked into the little hallway. "It isn't like you to visit unannounced."

"Mine own deepest apologies Carmilla," Zestial greeted his old friend, "it was an emergency."

"I see." She looked Y/n up and down again, a hint of disapproval could be found in her stare. "Come in, now that you're here I would like to discuss something with you."

Y/n was about to follow the two overlords into another room, when Carmilla stopped her.

"I would like to discuss this alone." Her tone changed from disapproving to downright hostile. "Sit still and stay here, do you think you can accomplish it this time or should I call in someone to watch you like a pet?"

"I'll be fine," Y/n answered while gritting her teeth.

As soon as the two overlords made it to the office, Zestial gave the woman a glare. "Yond wast uncalled for Carmilla."

"It is true. You've been prancing this girl around town like a pet, showing everyone one of your weak links and for what?" She questioned, "we both know there would be easier and safer ways to go about holding up your end of the deal."

"I hast mine own reasons for doing this," he argued back.

"What reasons? Because of your deal you can ask anything of this girl, there is no need to butter up to her so she'll agree to spy on the heavens for you. She'll HAVE to agree!" She took a few breaths to calm down. "As long as you haven't decided why you are doing all this, I can't support you. I won't do anything against you but I can't risk my people's and my safety for a plan you yourself may sabotage."

"Carmilla, I greatly appreciateth thy concern and opinion, however, this is the way I hath chosen to handle mine own planeth." Zestial stood up and made his way to the door. "So thee and I shall not beest meeting eachoth'r for a some timeth."

"Unfortunately yes," the other overlord agreed.

Y/n had been sitting on a small chair in the hallway, brooding. How dare that bitchy overlord woman call her a pet? Who does she think she is? It's true that Carmilla was smart, strong, powerful and a badass business woman... But still, she couldn't just talk to others that way! ....Or maybe she could? Y/n was in hell after all, things like equality and basic respect for others didn't exist here, something Zestial had shielded her from.

Such thoughts plagued the angel's mind

If he had been walking through the streets with Carmilla, all if this wouldn't be happening... Imagining Zestial and the other overlord walking around, laughing, going on outings, it twisted Y/n's stomach. It was the unfamiliar, sickening feeling of jealousy.

That's when Zestial appeared back in the hallway with a scowl on his face, one Y/n had been able to draw out many times with her stunts. However, unlike before, she felt something heavy on her heart.

"Alloweth us wend." Zestial didn't give her glance as left the building, assuming the angel would follow him, which she did.

The two walked the streets in silence. Before Y/n had wanted to propose going to that lovely park with the flowers again but she was afraid their moods would just sour the good memories she had there. Instead she just looked down at the pavement and wandered behind Zestial aimlessly.

The overlord was barely paying attention to where he was going. All he could focus on were Carmilla's words ringing in his ears. It's true that all of this could be done easier but going around town with y/n was a good way to build up trust and a relationship with her. That he needed because, well because...

He needed it. He decided, not letting himself ponder further on the subject, too afraid of what he would find. Instead he noticed the unusual lack of disruption from the angel.

Looking back, he noticed Y/n. She was looking sad, hiding under the cloak and big hood. Zestial could barely see the girl's face. Had Carmilla's comment really bothered her so?

"Doth not beest bothered, Y/N," he spoke up, "I doth not bethink of thee as a pet. Carmilla was simply trying to behold out for me and becameth a did bite too hostile towards thee in the processeth."

"So, you aren't mad at me?" She asked in almost a whisper.

"I couldst never be angry with thee."

Y/n's face lightened up after hearing that. "Really? That's a very dangerous statement you just made there," she taunted.

"I am sure." Zestial had a small but sincere smile on his face. "I doth not maketh false statements."

"Alright then mister tall, dark and spidery, I'm taking your hat!" She jumped up and tried to grab his hat but was unable to reach it.

"Absolutely not." Zestial commented as Y/n made several more attempts to reach it, all of which the overlord was able to avoid.

"What's with the stern tone? I thought you just said you would never get mad at me?" She smirked.

It was truly a sight to behold, first the two were almost dancing around each other as the anger was trying to steal his hat and now she was on her tippy toes staring up at him. The sight made Zestial's heart beat faster.

"No one hast did dare to challenge me in such ways thee doth." Zestial blushed slightly. "Thou art a truly daring creature, Y/n."

"It's called banter." Y/n was swiftly able to snatch the hat off as the overlord had put his guard down.

"Banter?"

"Yes, banter." The angel was adjusting the hat, fiddling with the hem and turning it slightly. "Maybe you should buy a dictionary."

Zestial chuckled at the way his hat was clearly too big for her. "I owneth enough dictionaries."

"A modern one, I mean."

"Anon, thou art very much pushing it."

Having noticed how tired Y/n was, the overlord decided to bring her back home. They had a long day and he had to work on a few of his papers again. Zestial had to admit, he had been neglecting his duties a bit.

Zestial was sitting in his office. The old clock on the wall read 3 am. It had been a while since he had to work this late but it was the price he had to pay for his daytime outings. It did give him time to reflect on the eventful day.

"Edward." The overlord called upon his contractee.

The small demon appeared immediately. "Yes, sir?"

"How is Y/n faring?"

"She ate well and is now sound asleep," he reported, "would you like me to wake her up?"

"Alloweth her to sleep" Zestial sighed, "prithee wend out and buyeth a dictionary for me."

"A dictionary?" Edward mumbled to himself. "A particular preference? I heard the Store for Old Books and Testaments has acquired an old dictionary."

"No, I wanteth a modern one."

"A mode-"

"Yes."

"I'll see to it sir."

Part 5 - unfinished

I was finally able to work in the title!!!

Masterlist/Request guidelines

Taglist: @sirenetheblogger

[prongsfish]

it took very little encouragement to convince me so as described in this post here is the fake aita post i wrote from barty's pov while writing call me fate, call me karma... this was all written in jest, i do not use reddit nor care at all to try make this realistic to anything ever <3 don't take anything too seriously.

tw // transphobic & homophobic slurs used by a hostile commenter who faces immediate backlash/punishment. slurs are both censored and target identities to which i as the author belong to.

WIBTA for questioning my GF's distant behaviour when she clearly doesn't want to talk about it? ESH, 1 Update, [THIS POST HAS BEEN LOCKED]

I (18M) have been with my girlfriend (18F) for over 3 years now, and we'd been close friends for 4 years before that. We go to a boarding school, and due to the girls in our house and year being shitty, she moved into the boy's dorm with our friend and I before we even got together, and we're in our last year of school now before we graduate. We practically spend all our time together and our relationship is very strong, we've avoided talking too much about plans after graduation because we both come from very restrictive families (Without going into too much detail, we both face very specific expectations for what our adult lives will look like) and our relationship is a secret from everyone but our close friends, but I can see myself spending the rest of my life with her. She's everything to me and I've always gotten the idea that she feels the same about me, and honestly, whatever she wants to do after we graduate, I'd follow her. I don't really care where I go/what I do as long as it means I'm with her. I can't imagine life without her.

Lately, she's been acting really strangely. I guess it started during exams, but that's normal for her. We're both pretty academic people but she especially devotes everything into her schoolwork, so it wasn't a surprise when she was distant in the lead-up to and in the midst of our final exams. She didn't talk much, and spent practically all of her waking time studying. (Side note, she did amazing on the exams. I'm super proud of her.)

After, though, she was still distant. She started receiving letters at breakfast which she'd quickly hide, and never read in front of anyone. Sometimes she'd excuse herself entirely from breakfast, assumedly to read them, and wouldn't eat at all. She's been antsy and visibly stressed more often than not. Like I mentioned before, she has a difficult family life, and I'm not surprised that she's nervous in the time leading up to graduation, but usually she'd talk to me at least a little about that sort of thing. Plus, I know what letters from her family look like, and these letters look nothing like anything she'd ever received before. She's been less physically affectionate than usual, and sometimes she shows up after disappearing randomly looking like she's just been crying. I'm really worried about her, but I know that if she wanted to talk to me about it, she would, and she's been insistently ignoring any indication of concern from our friends or I. Even the slightest questioning look, she completely shuts it down. I don't want to upset her by bringing it up, because that's not really the way we function as a couple, but I'm starting to feel hopeless. We don't really talk about our issues, and when we do "communicate" it's only ever when we argue about things. I'm also really worried that I've done something wrong, or that she doesn't want to stay with me. I don't want to admit it because it scares me too much, but I can't help the nagging fear in the back of my mind.

Basically, I'm trying to ask if I should mention it, or if I should wait for her to say something on her own? Something has to happen eventually, because we've both known at least with graduation that we do need to decide on what we're going to do with that, so maybe I should just wait for it all to come up. There's only a few more weeks until we're set to go home, so I could probably just hold on. It's just really worrying me and I don't know how much longer I can handle the uncertainty, and I don't want her to be struggling alone. Would I be TA for bringing it up?

(122 DOWN)

Sounds like you guys need to learn how to communicate, holy shit. (467 UP)

If you're just gonna be a dick I don't want to hear it. This is just how we function and we've been fine for years. (531 DOWN)

I don't think you'd be TA for bringing it up, but in general it sounds like your relationship is somewhat codependent. Your entire life shouldn't be reliant on what she wants to do, bro. Sounds like you need therapy. (271 UP)

Look, I just want to be with her, okay? I've never cared about what I do. I don't see the issue, you're all overreacting. (113 DOWN)

It sounds to me like she's cheating on you, dude. (364 UP)

Fuck you. You don't fucking know her. She wouldn't do that, and I don't like you suggesting that she would. I'd beat the shit out of you if I knew who you really were. (210 DOWN)

Looking through these replies, you're being super defensive. Maybe she has a perfectly innocent explanation, but the main theme here is that you both have some issues that you need to work through. This isn't a healthy way for either of you to live, I recommend individual and/or couples therapy for both if possible. (545 UP)

Whatever, man. Not the god damn point of this point. If I knew Reddit would be so useless I wouldn't have bothered posting here in the first place. (478 DOWN)

Update

Hahaaaaa!! Fuck you guys. Reddit is fucking useless, but I'm here because I want to shove it in the face of everyone who told me I was being cheated on. Fuck you!! You don't know shit about my relationship!! I don't need therapy, assholes!! Me and my boyfriend are perfectly okay the way we are!!! Yeah, that's right, boyfriend! He's just trans!! He realised it during exams and freaked out because he was worried about losing me but he didn't lose me because I don't give a fuck if he's a girl or a boy I wanna spend the rest of my life with him!! The letters were between him and his estranged brother (19M), who'd ran away a few years ago because he hated their family, but he's gay, and my boyfriend didn't know who else to reach out to. And he'd been crying all the time because he was dealing with fixing his relationship with his brother and he was scared of what would happen after he came out. I didn't even need to bring it up, he finally told me! He finally told his brother a few days ago after exchanging letters for a few weeks, and told me after getting a letter back from his brother accepting him. His parents wouldn't accept him, so we're discussing fucking off away from our families and moving in together. Like I told you guys, I'd do whatever as long as I could stay with him, so that's what we're doing! We might be moving in with his brother for a bit while we find somewhere to live, which will be interesting, because he doesn't know we're together, and he hates me, and i kinda hate him too still for abandoning my boyfriend, but I'm willing to give him another shot if my boyfriend is. Anyways we're doing better than ever and I gave him a haircut and he looks amazing, I love him so much.

(73 UP)

Happy for you and him both but that doesn't negate the fact that you both still need therapy. Especially if he has to cut his parents off because they wouldn't accept him. You didn't give many details, but if his brother ran away (assumedly as a minor) because of their parents, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that it was an abusive environment. Even if not, therapy is still good. (175 UP)

Why would he need therapy if he's literally cutting them off lol. They're gone now it doesn't even matter anymore. (313 DOWN)

I truly am glad that it worked out well between you guys but it's so crazy reading these and all your comments. I mean this in the best way possible, you are both mentally ill. Therapy is a good thing. Just try it. (231 UP)

Jfccc you guys worry too much. I shouldn't have even bothered with this update. (282 DOWN)

Got invested just to find out she's a delusional tr***y and you're a f****t, wow. (278 DOWN)

192.158.1.38, Mr. John Doe. 123 Maple Street. Anytown, PA 17101 (263 UP)

Thanks OP for doing the hard part of the work for me, a swat team is currently on route to his house. (182 UP)

Thanks, mate. I knew there had to be some decent people on this website. (101 UP)

[deakyjoe]

There Are No Words Left To Speak

Pairing: Joel Miller x Reader (no pronouns used)

Category: unspecified

Summary: Joel watches you from afar and decides he needs to invite you in closer.

Warnings: they’re awkward but none (I think but correct me if I’m wrong)

Word count: 1k (short and sweet)

A/N: Joel Miller in HBO’s The Last of Us has consumed by brain and now every thought is about him. I wrote this with Pedro Pascal’s portrayal in mind but obviously feel free to think about Joel from the game if you prefer that!

Consider buying me a coffee :)

You were quiet, reserved, kept mostly to yourself. But you were never unwilling to help people out if they needed it, you just refused the assistance of others and didn't let conversations last for too long. Joel liked that about you.

You sent kind smiles to people, that were convincing to most but not Joel. He could tell that they were forced, good intentions behind them, but forced nonetheless. It didn't help that whenever you thought no one was looking, the smiles immediately dropped from your face.

When you’d arrived a few months before, no one paid much attention to you - Joel included. You’d stumbled in weak with the plan of leaving again once you’d regained some strength. You were just like many others around these parts, you all came and went. Nothing special. But once you were offered a role in the community, a place to live, guaranteed supplies and a job as a scout, it was hard to refuse.

So you stayed.

But still, people didn’t think much of you. It was difficult to make friends with a group of people who had clearly been through so much together and had trouble trusting outsiders. Because of this, you stayed to yourself.

That’s when Joel started to notice you more. Despite having no one close, no one who really cared for you, you seemed to care for the community as a whole. You always tried to give people your best, even if they didn’t return it. You helped people with repairs, with moving, farming, caring for young children, teaching - whatever was possibly asked of you.

And when you disappeared for hours, on rare occasions days, to outside the community in order to keep everyone safe by keeping an eye out for trouble, Joel couldn’t help but notice your absence. It just appeared that no one else did.

And when Joel asked his kind-of daughter, Ellie, about you to get her opinion, he couldn’t help but be slightly saddened when he was only offered back a “who?”

Joel Miller wasn’t good at expressing his feelings, so he had no plan for this, but he couldn’t stand by and watch you be excluded from a community that was so heavily focused on family. He knew what it felt like to be lost and he’d been lucky enough to find himself again in Ellie, discovering a new purpose for himself as a father figure for her. So, he figured that’s what you needed - a purpose with people. He just didn’t know what that would be yet.

When you returned from your most recent scouting assignment, reporting back that you’d found traces of a group of people a few miles out but no signs of life, Joel approached you. Still, he had no plan.

“Yes?” You’d looked up at him curiously as he stood in front of you but had said nothing. It was clear you wanted to go home, you were probably tired from the last couple days.

He looked at you, his ever permanent frown not shifting. “You should probably get a partner for scouting. It’s not safe out there.”

You’d scoffed and pushed past him, not unfriendly but not nice either. “I work better alone. I can handle myself.”

He didn’t doubt that. “I’m sure you can.”

You rounded on him, scowling. It felt clear that he had some other intentions here but you weren’t sure what exactly. “What do you want, Joel?”

The expression on his face didn’t move, like he expected the slight hostility. “Nothing.”

You didn’t believe him. So you told him. “I don’t believe you.”

“Why?”

“People don’t talk to me unless they want something.” You adjusted the bag you had slung over one shoulder, shifting from foot to foot as you grew anxious to go home. The confession was painful to admit but it was true, you both knew it.

“I don’t want anything.” He reaffirmed, noticing you take another step away from him.

You still weren’t entirely sure you bought it, but you wouldn’t question him further if he was going to insist there was nothing. “Then what?”

“Conversation.”

You laughed sarcastically, making Joel note he’d never heard you laugh genuinely. Although that wasn’t unusual around here.

“Conversation?” You repeated in a questioning tone. “I’m not much of a conversationalist.”

Something the two of you could relate on, he realised. “Neither am I.”

“We make a great pair then.” The corners of your mouth curled up and your feet stopped moving.

Joel said nothing more, confirming his statement of not being a conversationalist. You wanted to smile more widely at that but refrained - the man had struck up a conversation with you but was unable to carry it.

“Ellie’s your daughter, right?” You offered, seeing him straighten up at the young girl’s name. If he was going to try then maybe you could too.

“Yeah.” He’d explain the complicated relationship with the teenager to you another time. For now, he was glad you were talking.

“Bright kid.” You commented. “How old is she?”

“Fourteen.”

You nodded, lost for what else to say. “Listen, I should probably be going home…”

“Right, yeah.” He said, watching you take cautious steps away as if awaiting his permission to leave. “I’ll see you around.”

“Sure. Bye, Joel.” You averted your eyes to the ground and went to turn away from him.

“Bye.” He replied, keeping his eyes on your form as you scurried away back to your house and disappeared from his view.

He had no idea what his next move was but he supposed this was a step in the right direction. Maybe he’d ask Ellie to start talking to you. He just knew that he wanted you more involved in the community, this is what the place was for after all. You, on the other hand, were trying to figure out Joel’s game as you rushed back home. Why had he suddenly started talking to you out of nowhere? You vowed to find out.

So that left the two of you - one satisfied with his minute progress and the other confused at the strange event. But both of you determined.

A/N: Joel Miller makes brain go brrrrr

[midnightstar-90]

𝔻𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕞𝕤 & ℂ𝕦𝕕𝕕𝕝𝕖𝕤

Garfield Logan x Platonic! Reader

Taglist | Request | Wattpad

Main Masterlist | DC Comics Masterlist

Summary: Gar is an underestimated member of the Titans, and after recent events, he really needed someone.

Warnings: Nothing but Sad Gar and angst

A/N: This is set between the end of season 2 and the beginning of season 1.

Words: 1.9K

Out of all the Titans, Y/N was the quietest. She kept to herself most of the time and tried to stay out of everyone’s way.  But that didn’t stop her from observing the people around you.

She was hypervigilant and saw through all the crap that the Titans told each other. Like how Dick tried to see past his horrible childhood and refuses to believe that he reflects that on the other people in the tower. Or how Kory is such a badass on the outside, but on the inside she was struggling to find herself. But one of the most difficult things for her to watch was the number of times they put their needs before Gar’s, but he was always there for him.

It hurt the girl to watch them do that to the poor boy, so she took it upon herself to come to his aid. It hadn’t been long since C.A.D.M.U.S Labs basically kidnapped Gar and Conner from the tower and forced them to do their bidding. It took a lot out of Gar, especially with the loss of Donna that same night. Everyone was upset with Donna’s passing, but none of them paid attention to Gar or Conner’s feelings. They too had suffered a tremendous amount.

Y/N could hear Gar, at night, crying through the walls. He grew distant from the Titans, keeping to himself mostly. And not once did a single person try to do something about it.

The girl sat on the couch, listening to some classical music through her headphones as she randomly drew using her sketch pad. Classical music somehow brought out an artistic side to her. It was something she learned with Dick. Out of nowhere, a blank-faced Gar stormed into the large room, and into the kitchen. 

Seeing this, Y/N removed the headphones from her ears and placed them around her neck. She moved her art supplies from off her lap and uncurled herself from her crisscross position. She stood, walking over to a clearly upset Gar, as he aggressively pulled out a box of cereal, practically slamming it onto the counter.

“Are you okay, Gar?” Y/N asked, concerned for her friend who once again slammed a bowl on the counter, next to the cereal.

“Is that classical music?” Gar asked, glaring up at the girl. His head twitched and his eyes turned green. Y/N took that as a sign of hostility, but she wasn’t scared.

She nodded, “Yes. It helps me focus.” Gar was not happy with the music that was blasting through her headphones. “Well, turn it off,” he barked as he went to grab some milk. She respectfully obeyed Gar's orders, turning her headphones off, so no one could hear the music.

What’s wrong with you, Mr. grumpy,” Y/N joked, keeping a curious eye on the green haired boy. 

Looking up at the ceiling, he rubbed his face, letting out a loud groan. “I don’t want to talk about it,” he sighed, now looking the girl straight in the eye.

Y/N nodded her head, giving the boy a sad smile. “Well, if you need anything, I’m here.” Her loving tone seeped through the boy’s ears as a warm fuzzy feeling rushed through his body. A small smile appeared on Gar’s face as nodded and went back to making his food.

Y/N gave the boy one last look before collecting her stuff and leaving the room entirely. ‘If he wants to talk to me, I won’t force him. Just let him come to you, Y/N,’ Y/N thought to herself as she exited the room. Leaving the boy alone.

Gar watched the girl’s movement and contemplated her words. It was something he rarely heard unless it was him trying to help his friends. It felt nice to know there was someone willing to help him.

Later that night, Gar stood in Y/N’s door frame, watching as she made her bed, tucking in her sheets and covers, for that perfect hold on her as she slept. He knocked on the wooden door, catching the attention of the young girl. Her head flew up, breaking her concentration from her bed, and a warm smile appeared when she saw the boy standing in her doorway.

“Hey,” She spoke, in a cheerful manner. Gar didn’t smile back. The girl frowned, sensing something wrong. The boy stepped closer to the girl, allowing her to see the dried-up tears that ran down Gar’s face.

“Gar?” She asked, concerned for the boy. He didn’t speak. He, instead, walked over to the girl, making her jump slightly as he pulled her into an unexpected hug. She quickly wrapped her arms around him, patting his back.

“Gar, what’s wrong? You’re scaring me,” She spoke, hearing small sobs against her back. “Can I sleep in here?” The boy asked quietly. Y/N stayed quiet, feeling the vibration as Gar cried into her neck. 

She had a feeling she knew why the boy wanted to stay with her for the night. She felt her face warm up as she tried to imagine what the boy was going through. A tear ran down her face as she nodded. "Y-yeah, you can stay tonight," she stuttered.

Gar pulled back from her, wiping the tears, not wanting Y/N to see him cry, but she already saw everything. She saw the broken boy ages ago, it wasn’t until now that she saw how broken he really was.

Placing her hand on his back, she led him over to the right side of the bed, pulling out the cover to allow him to lie down. He did as intended before the girl went over to the other side, crawling in next to him. 

She turned off the light, and just lay with her back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Gar lay on his side, watching the dark shadow of her door. His mind wandered as he began to remember what it was like to not be in control. To be in the dark. He remembered the people he killed, and how C.A.D.M.U.S had hurt him. He remembered the pain he felt from the time he was taken from the tower to the time Rachel had released him from the mind prison he was forced into.

Y/N heard the familiar cries. Those similar to the ones she would hear through the walls. Gar sniffled as two arms wrapped around his figure, pulling him into their embrace. He relaxed, knowing it was Y/N comforting him.

“I’m sorry for snapping earlier,” Gar mumbled through his tears.

Y/N tilted her head as she looked down at the boy, calmly playing with his hair. It was something her mother had done when she was upset. She smiled and said, “It’s fine Gar. You went through some pretty traumatic stuff. We all have times when we’re scared to open up. No one blames you.”

“No, I shouldn’t have gotten mad like that.” Gar went quiet as he tried to muster up the courage to say what he needed to. “It’s just that… Classical music is what C.A.D.M.U.S used to brainwash me. Obviously, you didn't know that, and therefore it was wrong for me to get upset.”

Y/N felt guilty. She didn’t know any of that. Her breath hitched at the thought of all the things C.A.D.M.U.S did to the teenage boy in her arms. The torture. The mental and physical pain that he went through, watching as he uncontrollably killed many people, both innocent and guilty. She was sympathetic toward the boy, and it hurt, even more, to see that no one else cared as much as Y/N did.

“When I sleep, I hear their screams. I could hear the sound of myself clawing and biting into innocent people. Children running scared in fright. I never wanted that for myself or anyone for that matter.”

Y/N rubs his back in a comforting way, staring blankly at a wall as she listens to Gar’s words. “I wake up, and my pillow is soaked. I cry in my sleep. And every night, it’s the same thing. Sometimes during the day, I can hear them. Their pleas for me to stop. Their cries for help. I feel so disoriented nowadays.”

Y/N kisses Gar’s forehead and quietly says, “You just need a little guidance. And I may not know exactly what you’re going through, but everyone has been through some life-changing stuff, no matter how hard they push it down. Me…” she said pointing at herself, even though she knew Gar couldn’t see her. “I’ve always been in the background. Always listening. Always watching. And even though I’m able to live in the background, I still get lonely. It feels as though I know everyone else's struggles, but no one knows mine. And that’s where me and you are the same. You work so hard to make everyone else happy, but you don’t make time to make yourself happy… at least, not in the way you want to be happy.”

He silently cried into the girl’s pillow, taking it all in, listening to every word the girl spoke as if it were a scripture in a holy text. He thought about what she was saying, and he realized that he was right. He had been there to pick everyone else up, but who would be there to pick him up. 

He then remembered what Y/N had said about herself, only for him to realize that he had never noticed the girl at all. He didn’t really know anything about the girl holding him in her arms. 

‘Who is this girl?’ Gar questioned himself before sitting up, forcing himself out of the girl’s arms so that he could actually look at her. But when Gar turned to get a better look, everything around him changed. He wasn’t in Y/N’s bed anymore. He was on his own. And instead of the moonlight seeping through the curtains, the sun's bright beams of light blinded him. He looked down at where the girl once was, but she was nowhere to be found.

Gar stood from his bed, resting his feet on the floor below him. He readjusted his nightshirt before leaving his room. The green-haired boy looked left and right, both curious and confused about what was going on.

He walked through the tower to get to the living room, and he looked at the couch where Gar remembered the girl once sat. Behind him, Dick walked into the room, giving the boy a questioning look. “You okay, Gar?” Dick asked, stepping closer to the boy. Gar stood in his spot as Dick’s words ran on a loop in his head, each time sounding more and more like the girl.

Gar scoffed before turning around to face Dick. Dick called Gar’s name once more before Gar asked, “Where’s Y/N?”

Dick was utterly confused by his question. He didn’t know anyone by that name, and it worried him that Gar was so eager for the girl's whereabouts. “Who’s Y/N,” Dick asked as he tried to get more information out of the boy.

Gar shook his head in disbelief. He saw the girl. She was sitting on the very couch that was sitting right next to him. They talked as if they knew one another, and she held him in her arms. He felt as if he had known the girl. But did he really know the girl?  And it suddenly clicked in his head that before today, he had never noticed the girl.

‘Was it all a dream?’

Taglist: @esposadomd @avada-kedavra-bitch-187

A/N: I know the ending is a little bad and rushed, but I just wanted to add a bit of an element of surprise. It was more of a last-minute choice.

But, if any of you, and I mean ANY of you need someone to talk to, I am here. This story is inspired by my personal life, so I understand. Sometimes we don't know how to ask for help, or we have no one who understands us, but I want you to know that you have a voice when it comes to me. Just DM me, and I will listen.

[yanderes-galore]

Hello 👋 can I ask for a oneshot of transformers prime Megatron with an autobot cybertronian reader ❤️

I think if you are an Autobot you're Cybertronian by default 😅 Watched the TF:P backstory for Optimus and Megatron so that's referenced here.

Spoilers for the backstory of Optimus Prime and Megatron in TF:P.

Echoes of Cybertron

Yandere! TF:P! Megatron with Autobot! Darling Scenario

Pairing: Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Kidnapping, Torture, Attempted mindbreak, Obsession, Jealousy, Violence, Angst, Sadism, Darling may have PTSD but that's if you squint.

Back on Cybertron... you respected Megatron. He had been a skilled gladiator, one that showed power and skill. You weren't a fighter yourself but you found yourself often watching him.

Orion Pax, a close friend of yours, looked up to Megatron. As a result you had also began to look up to him. Megatron and Orion's views on the corrupted government of Cybertron were so similar to yours.

There was once a time on Cybertron where you and Megatron had shared conversation. Nothing hostile... just talks of understanding. You told him you admired him. Megatron, the fierce warrior he was, enjoyed your respect and thought you were a fan.

Even now... here on Earth... your memories echo stories of Cybertron.

You never bring them up with Orion... or as he's called now, Optimus Prime. There's wounds you don't wish to uncover for the both of you. So you comb through your memories alone.

You only liked to focus on the good parts. The times you could laugh with Orion and Megatron. The times you could discuss plans with each other....

However, Megatron was always one to use violence to solve problems.

A downside that tossed the entirety of Cybertron to fall into war.

Megatron expected you to side with him instead of Orion. Unfortunately you didn't agree with his violent means. You tried to talk him out of it... only for him to call you a hypocrite.

You once admired his fighting...! Yet now you ask him to stop?

War drove your group apart like everyone else. You and Orion watched Megatron become a monster out of jealousy. As a result... you helped put together the Autobots with the newly appointed Optimus.

Even after the war you can't manage to store away your regrets. You wondered if there was a possibility the fighting could stop. There was no functioning Cybertron to fight for now.

You tried to push aside the past of you and Megatron. In fact, you tried to focus on your new family. Optimus, Ratchet, Bulkhead, Arcee, Bumblebee, Rafael, Miko, Jack.... They're your family... and you love them with all your spark.

Optimus and Ratchet were even kind enough to help you cope with your memories if they did cause you trouble.

You could try to ignore what happened all you want. Megatron ignored most of the past except for you. The Decepticon, as insane and fierce as he is, strived to obtain you even after the war.

Megatron's goal is to kill the Autobots. You, however, will join him. He plans to let you know you chose wrong when siding with Optimus.

To change your beliefs will be a... difficult task. A task Megatron is determined to accomplish. Which is why your capture was inevitable.

Megatron had no problems with sending Decepticons to ambush you. He tricked you with a false beacon and had you damaged and with stasis cuffs in no time. Megatron did appreciate the fight you put up, however.

Like in the war, you fought enough to survive. Although you soon called Optimus and Ratchet for back up. That was when Megatron himself stepped in to put an end to your fighting with Soundwave and some vehicons.

The battle for your capture was long. As with most of Megatron's battles, energon was spilt. The Autobots were forced to make a retreat...

... and you had been captured with Soundwave's help in the end before you could be bridged back.

Optimus and Ratchet had already sustained dangerous wounds. You didn't want to cause them anymore pain. Which forced you to confront your age-old demon.

Megatron himself.

Megatron ordered you to be suspended in the air by your stasis cuffs. Knock Out and Breakdown offered to torture you for information, assuming that's what Megatron wanted.

Megatron turned them down, claiming he wanted the honors.

This was HIS time.

The room you're kept in is dark. Your optics can barely make out the dark purple walls of the room. Your spark nearly stops when you hear the heavy steps of your enemy.

"What a nice reunion." Megatron teases, red eyes staring into your blue Autobot ones. "Having fun with Optimus?"

You narrow your eyes, refusing to speak.

"Putting on a tough act now, aren't you? No wonder you became an Autobot. You're so similar to Optimus..." Megatron leans closer to tilt your head up "I hate it."

Megatron pulls away to pace in front of you.

"You should've never been an Autobot. You should've never helped HIM. I thought back then you liked what I did? You LIKED it when I fought!"

"We didn't need to use violence to change our world! Now look where that brought us! Cybertron's in RUINS-"

You feel him hit your chest harshly. It makes you flinch. He could've hit your face but decided against it. He couldn't ruin you too much... yet.

"Don't bring any of that up. I was doing what was right. Did you really think they'd listen to me if I used KIND WORDS like you said?"

Megatron laughs at you. You look away in shame. Back then you should've known expecting a gladiator to talk things out was foolish.

"Why have you brought me here? To kill me? To use me as a message for Optimus?"

"Kill you? No..." Megatron grins. "I have other plans."

Megatron steps towards a control pad. Mechanical arms with all sorts of strange tools on them point towards you. Torture instruments....

"You'll be a message... but of a different kind. I want the Autobots dead, yet you will not join them."

With the press of one button, the arms angle towards your limbs and chest. Your optics hold fear.

"You will join me. I know you won't give up your beliefs without some sort of reason. So... I plan to break you."

There's a mechanical whirring and you see an arm inch closer.

"Through our little sessions I'm sure you'll learn what choice you should've done back on Cybertron."

Megatron pauses the machine and walks over to you for one last taunt.

"WE were meant to rule. WE were meant to bring in a new age... together.... Since you like Optimus so much, I'll have to 'reprogram' that mind of yours."

Megatron gives you a sadistic grin before starting the machine.

"Take this as your... initiation."

Your screams were something he'd never forget.

[struggling-author]

Hey what are your avatar otps besides azulaang?

oh umm… I wouldn’t call them OTPs since that is exclusively Azulaang, but my bi Azula headcanon lives in a variety of ships. Azutara, Azuki, Maizula… not Tyzula tbh because that feels like… imbalanced? and not Tophzula because they are menace-besties but not romantic, but with any of the other girls I think it could be great. Azutara has the enemies to lovers from Azulaang but with more spice and less forgiveness, they‘d tear eachother apart first but that makes it even sweeter if they eventually fall in love. Azuki is kind of different because Suki is more rational and holds less of an emotional grudge, it‘d be difficult for Azula to earn her trust but she would not be openly hostile to her unless necessary. I imagine this one could only happen if Azula is already in the middle or post redemption though, because Suki would not put up with any EtL shit. I guess that is exactly why it intrigues me too, I feel Suki would be more willing to give Azula a chance, more than Katara for example, but at the same time it would be impossibly hard to win her trust and I‘d like to see if Zula can manage it. Lastly Maizula, and I prefer this one over Tyzula because I feel Mai is more capable of holding her own against Azula in a relationship. It’s a complicated version of childhood friends to lovers and I‘m kind of here for it. No idea how it would work though lol.

Aside from Azula ships, I think Zutara is pretty cool and works well alongside Azulaang. Kataang is kinda cool in theory too, but I don’t like shipping Aang with anyone except Azula, it feels wrong 🤷‍♂️ The only other Aang ship I can imagine liking is Zukaang, but I don’t talk about it much.

Oh and I have to give a shoutout to Sokkla, I don’t particularly vibe with it but they’re the sister ship to Azulaang and I do see the potential of the two genius strategists, so if Aang didn’t exist I would definitely ship Sokkla instead. Nothing but love to the comrades over there. 🫶🏼

edit: totally forgot this but I actually also love Tylaang aka Ty-Lee and Aang, it just has absolutely no fandom so it’s hard to get the ball rolling. I just feel they would be such a wholesome bubbly cute ship, and I dig the Ty-Lee airbender ancestry theory so she‘d love to learn all about airbender customs and they‘d have so much fun and probably a huge family 😅 anyway I think party of why I ship this is just because I think these two deserve the world and it represents my wish for them to be totally carefree and happy. you can also add Azula and make this a throuple, I think that would work because you have Tyzula as the polar opposites and Aang in the middle to bridge the gap.

speaking of throuples I enjoy the idea of… Azutaraang? (Azula/Katara/Aang) but it is very difficult to make work. The only way I can see it is if Azula and Katara fall in love first because nothing good could come of them fighting over Aang. or maybe I could see like a stranded on a deserted island AU where the three of them have to work together and learn to rely on eachother… idk, difficult but not impossible.

Oh and I love Zuki too (Zuko x Zuki) …damn I guess I do have quite a few non-Azulaang ships. anyway this is essentially a bodyguard AU and it’s actually my favorite Zuko ship (sorry Zutara) not much to say about it cuz I’ve barely engaged with it, but I love the idea and think they would just work really well together. I also can see this as a throuple with Sokka again. I don’t really vibe with Zukka on their own but if you add Suki then I love it, because Suki deserves two good boys and it’s more fun for everyone involved if those two good boys are in love with eachother too.

final edit hopefully: Sokka Azula Aang is good too, for the same reasons listed for Zuko Suki Sokka, I swear that’s it now. goodbye lol.

[parmawiolets]

Fruit Salad

Eddie Munson x fem!reader

Summary: Eddie Munson's ex-not-quite-girlfriend Hannah Newby is pregnant. But it's not his. And she won't say whose it is. Very slow burn. Exes to friends to (eventual) lovers.

A/N: This is my first ever fic! Thank you so so so much to @shybunnie20 for being absolutely wonderful and helping me so much. Definitely go check out her work, she's amazing.

Contents: No upside down. Pregnancy. Reader is called Hannah because I didn't want to use Y/N but no physical description of reader (so maybe an OC? I don't know). Bob is her dad, because I love him. The Byers are still in Hawkins because I love them too.

Word count: 6.3K

Next chapter

Chapter 1: Apple

Eddie finds out Hannah is pregnant and decides he wants to help.

September 1st, 1985 - 15 weeks pregnant

—

"She's WHAT!?"

Eddie smacks the cafeteria table as his front chair legs hit the floor from where he's been rocking back on it, not paying any attention to his friends until he heard that.

"Pregnant," Gareth repeats. "Hannah Newby's pregnant."

"Hey, didn't you two-" Jeff is cut off by the screech of chair legs across the floor as Eddie scrambles away and out the door.

The boys left behind look at each other; wide eyed and grimacing.

—

Five minutes later, Eddie is sweet talking Mrs Jennings in the school office. He can be really charming if he wants to be. Sometimes.

His uncle Wayne has always told him that office administrators are the ones with the real power. They can be your best friend, or they can make your life incredibly difficult. Keep them on side.

It's the first day of the new school year - Eddie's third attempt at graduating. Eddie still knew Hannah's schedule from last year, but that didn't help him now. He didn’t even know where her locker would be.

"Now, you let me know if you want me to take another look at your car sometime. Can't have my favourite person at this school breaking down on the way here! This place would fall apart without you." Eddie leans on the desk with a winning, dimple-filled smile.

"Oh, you are still such a nice boy, Eddie Munson." Mrs Jennings reaches out and pinches his cheek.

"Psh," Eddie waves her off bashfully. "Only to you, Mrs Jennings."

She tuts playfully at him and slides some papers across the desk. "Here you go, but remember, don't go telling anyone where you got that."

Eddie grabs it and clutches it to his chest. "Our little secret." He whispers and gives her a wink before he saunters away.

As soon as he’s out of sight, Eddie frantically scans the paper, and rushes off down the hallway. He rounds a corner and bounces off Connor Cunningham amongst a gaggle of jocks, all dressed in their green-sleeved jackets.

“Woah there.” Connor catches Eddie before he topples backwards. He is by far the nicest of the basketball team; meaning he doesn’t contribute to any of the bullying, just watches it happen.

Jason steps up and grips Eddie by the collar, shoving him away. “Watch it, freak!”

Eddie stumbles around them and carries on running down the corridor.

—

"No way! I didn't think it was really true!"

"She doesn't look pregnant. Are you sure she didn't just put on weight?"

"Does anyone know whose it is yet?"

Jules stands like a guard dog next to Hannah digging through her locker. She glares at everyone walking past who is whispering and gawking. Jules isn’t naturally intimidating, but maybe it’s someone usually so relaxed seeming so hostile that sends people scurrying along. 

She takes a moment to survey her best friend. Jules wants to know how Hannah is feeling, but knows her well enough to know she won’t say if asked. Ten years of friendship means that Jules is generally pretty attuned to Hannah’s emotions even when she tries to mask them. But right now, she’s shoved them so far down, Jules can’t tell what’s going on in her head.

Just as Jules is about to ask, she sees Eddie Munson hurrying towards them over Hannah’s shoulder. She coughs, “Incoming.” Nodding towards him. “You gonna be ok?”

Hannah nods and flashes her a tight smile. 

Jules hesitates; she wants to comfort Hannah in some way, but knows that anything she tries right now will just overwhelm her. Instead, she attempts a smile in return and walks away in the opposite direction to Eddie. 

Hannah takes a steadying breath and closes her locker door just as Eddie comes up beside her, shoulders tense and eyes wide with panic.

"It's not yours, Eddie." She glances up at him. "You can unclench."

"Oh," he sags and leans back against the wall of lockers, then perks straight back up again. "Are you sure? How far along are you?"

"Nearly 4 months. Fifteen weeks. Doctor says it's the size of an apple.” Hannah shakes her head. “I was already pregnant when we started hooking up." She ducks her head and focuses on her fingers fidgeting with a battered book spine. "I didn't know. I'm sorry." 

Still refusing to look at him, Hannah walks around Eddie. He stares at the spot she was standing for a moment before moving in front of her again.

"Wait, is this why you dumped me?"

Hannah stares at him incredulously; "I didn't- We weren't-" She sighs. "Yes, Eddie. This is why I stopped hanging out with you."

Eddie looks at her, studying her face for a moment. Her figure and her face are maybe a little fuller, the only visual indication he can see of her pregnancy. He thinks she looks as beautiful as ever, but stressed and tired. The usual crinkle between her brows seems almost fixed in place.

"You've got history now, right?" Eddie swoops in and snatches the books from her arms, grinning at her. "Come on." He cocks his head down the hall and starts walking backwards away from her.

"Wha- what are you- Eddie, give me those!"

"Nuh-uh! You can't be carrying things when you're pregnant!" 

"HEAVY things Eddie! I'm sure I'm fine carrying two books!" 

"Best not to risk it. Come on!"

—

"How long do you think until she doesn’t even fit in the seat?"

"It's Munson's, right? It's got to be. They were all over each other at the end of last year."

"My mom warned me not to be friends with her."

Hannah sits through her history class staring straight ahead, determinedly ignoring her classmates and counting down the minutes to the end. The only saving grace is Mr Wilson. He has always been Hannah’s favourite teacher: stern, but kind, with a wicked sense of humour he'll share with you if he likes you. Mr Wilson seems to realise that Hannah isn’t entirely present, but thankfully decides to leave her be for now.

The lesson finally comes to a close, and the students start gathering their belongings and making their way to the door. Hannah takes her time as she has no desire to be engaged in conversation by any of her fellow classmates. And it’s not like she can outrun them.

“Miss Newby?” Mr Wilson peers over his glasses. “Can I keep you for a moment?”

Mr Wilson is a lanky man in his late 40s and has been teaching his whole adult life. He has seen everything. Not surprised anymore by anything students do. Just sometimes which student did it.

“So,” Mr Wilson starts once they are alone. “Are you ok?”

Hannah’s head shoots up from where she had been eyeballing the floor. “What?”

“I’m guessing this wasn’t what you had planned for your senior year and I know this can’t be easy. People can be shit.” Hannah’s eyebrows raise at her teacher’s profanity. “I just want you to know that you can come to me if you need anything. I mean it. Academic or otherwise. I will help you.”

Hannah blinks. "Thank you." 

"Go on." He nods towards the door with a friendly smile. "Get."

As Hannah leaves the classroom frowning at the floor, she sees a pair of familiar Reeboks approach. Her gaze follows as her books are lifted from her arms again and she's met with the dimples of a smiling Eddie Munson.

"Hi there sweetheart. How was history?"

"Are you seriously not going to let me carry any books the whole time I'm pregnant?" Hannah's frown deepens. Eddie's smile only grows.

"Nope." Popping the p. "Art next, yeah?" 

Hannah squints at him, but follows down the hallway with a huff. "What, have you been buttering up Mrs Jennings again?"

"Sorry, can't reveal my sources."

"Well that means yes."

"I am sworn to secrecy! You will never get it out of me!" 

Eddie looks over at Hannah with a dazzling grin. She's still frowning, but there's a little sparkle in her eyes. Eddie thinks he would do just about anything to see that sparkle. 

That's how it goes for the rest of the day. Hannah stoically ignores her fellow students during class, then Eddie meets her outside her classroom and carries her few books as he escorts her to the next one. 

When Hannah exits her penultimate lesson of the day and she is greeted yet again by Eddie Munson's doe eyes, she finally asks what's been bugging her all day: "How are you even doing this? How do you get to my classrooms so quickly from yours?"

Eddie leans in conspiratorially. "That's for me to know, and you to figure out, sweetheart."

She narrows her eyes and points a finger in his face, making him recoil slightly; bemused. "Give me time."

Eddie lets out a booming laugh at that, and follows Hannah to her locker.

Eddie leans against the locker next to Hannah's. "How do you know it's an apple?"

"Hm?” Hannah is struggling with a giant sketchbook.

"This morning you said the baby is the size of an apple. How do you know?" Eddie guides Hannah out of the way and pulls the sketchbook free.

"The doctor gave me this chart that tells you the size of the baby each week and it has comparative fruits on it. This week it's an apple." Hannah shrugs. "Next week it's an avocado."

"Is that a fruit?" Eddie scrunches his face, puzzled.

Hannah shrugs again and starts towards her classroom. Eddie bounds after her.

"Hey,” Eddie nudges her shoulder with his. “You'll never guess what Jeff did." 

"What?" Hannah is watching him out of the corner of her eye, careful to keep her expression blank at his antics.

"Don't ask why. Maybe he had an itch, maybe he was just curious, who knows. But he stuck the end of his pencil up his nose, and when he took it out, the eraser got left behind!"

"Ew." Hannah wrinkles her nose.

"I know! But it gets worse."

"How?!" Hannah finally turns to him as they come to a stop outside their destination.

"He sneezed and it shot out.” Eddie cackles. “Hit Carver in the back of the head!"

Hannah snorts, then smacks her hand over her mouth, mortified. She grabs her book out of Eddie's arms then flees through the classroom door, waving over her shoulder without looking back.

Eddie is thrilled. 

"See you after class!" he calls out to her retreating figure, chuckling fondly to himself.

But when Hannah exits her last lesson of the day, Eddie is nowhere to be seen.

Hannah looks up and down the corridor, but still no Eddie. She knows she shouldn’t be disappointed; she shouldn't expect this of him when he doesn’t owe her anything. So she makes her way to her locker and takes out her backpack. 

Just as she is closing the door, Eddie slams up against the lockers next to her, panting.

"Sorry." Deep breath. "Mrs O'Donnell." Wheeze. "She hates me."

"Still? You'd have thought she'd've gotten used to you by now." 

Eddie squints up at her from where he's hunched over. "Rude." 

He heaves himself upright with a groan and grabs the belongings from her hands. Eddie looks her over, and shakes his head. “You know this stuff is supposed to go on the paper, right?” He rubs at some charcoal on Hannah’s cheek with his thumb.

Hannah’s face flushes. “Shut up.” She swats his hand away and buffs her cheek with the heel of her hand.

Eddie grins. He’s delighted at affecting her, but takes pity on her and changes the subject. "Is your dad picking you up or is Jules giving you a ride home?"

"Jules is doing an art thing."

"Already? It's the first day of school, can't the girl take a break?"

Hannah shrugs and starts walking.

"So where are you meeting your dad?" Eddie follows.

"He's working."

"Joyce?"

"They broke up."

"Oh, that’s too bad - wait, I don't understand. How are you planning on getting home?"

"The bus."

Eddie stops. Holding his arm out in front of Hannah to halt her too. She scowls down at his arm in front of her then lifts her gaze to his.

Eddie splutters. "Are you kidding me?! Do you know how disgusting those things are? You're pregnant! Absolutely not. No. Not happening."

"Eddie-"

"No." He turns her to face him and holds her by the shoulders. "There is no way in hell I am letting you get on that germ infested tin can."

She squirms out of his grasp. "As opposed to your germ infested tin can."

"I'm giving you a ride, ok?"

"Eddie-"

"Ok?"

"Ed-"

"Please, Han?"

She looks at him for a moment. Then huffs, rolling her eyes. "Fine."

"Thank you."

—

They're at a stoplight and Eddie is rifling through the glovebox, leaning across the centre console and Hannah's knees with his tongue poking out in concentration. Hannah's gaze travels over his face, chewing her bottom lip as she studies him.

"Aha!" Eddie holds up a cassette tape in triumph, startling Hannah. "Sorry." Eddie immediately looks sheepish.

Hannah tries to get a look at the tape, but Eddie is waving it around too much before he puts it on to play. 

Twangy guitar and a slow, steady drum beat fill the van as Eddie drives away. Hannah's head whips around to stare at Eddie, eyebrows shooting up her forehead before furrowing.

"The Chain?"

"It's your favourite song." Eddie shrugs, stealing a glance at her. Hannah sharply turns back to the windshield, but not before Eddie sees her bite down on the twitching corners of her mouth. Eddie's cheeks hurt, he’s smiling so wide.

Listen to the wind blow, watch the sun rise

Running in the shadows, damn your love, damn your lies

Eddie is slamming his palms on the wheel to the beat. He glances over and sees that Hannah's knee is bobbing along too. She doesn't even seem to be conscious of it. Eddie joins in with the next part of the song.

And if you don't love me now

You will never love me again

I can still hear you saying

You would never break the chain

"Come on sweetheart, you know you want to!" 

But Hannah turns further away, leaning her elbow on the passenger side window and covering the lower part of her face with her hand. This only encourages Eddie. He belts it out even louder.

And if you don't love me now

You will never love me again

I can still hear you saying

You would never break the chain

"You're a terrible singer, Eddie."

He cackles. "You're a terrible liar, Hannah."

"I think you're confused. It's humility that's a virtue; not wild unapologetic arrogance." She still hasn't turned away from the window.

"Good thing I have no interest in virtuosity." He keeps glancing at her.

"I don't think that's a word." 

"It's definitely a word, sweetheart." 

Eddie thinks Hannah is smiling behind her hand. He can hear it in her voice, even if she won't let him see it.

The chorus is coming up again.

"Come on," Eddie bumps Hannah's bicep gently with a closed fist. "Sing with me."

“Fuck off.”

Eddie runs his hand down her arm until he circles her wrist and tugs gently. He sings along softly this time, even as the music ramps up.

Hannah doesn't turn to face him, but peeks over out of the corner of her eye. She realises her mistake immediately when she sees his face. Those big brown eyes looking at her. Pleading with her.

She lets out a long, drawn out groan. The chorus is going round again. Hannah sings along too this time; much quieter than Eddie.

Eddie pulls up outside Hannah's house and throws the van into park, turning in his seat and pulling her to face him too. They're both shouting out the words this time, Eddie grinning wildly and Hannah's face scrunched.

And if you don't love me now

You will never love me again

I can still hear you saying

You would never break the chain

They're both breathing heavily; faces close, looking at each other as the bass line stretches out and the music starts to build again.

Eddie glances down to her lips. Just for a split second. But Hannah sees, and snaps back; away from him, out of the moment. 

"Thanks for the ride."

"Yeah, of- of course."

"Bye, Eddie." She's already out of the van and closing the door, giving him a small wave.

"Bye." But the door is already shut. And Hannah is already halfway up the path. 

"Shit. Wait!" Eddie kills the ignition, cutting off the music. He fumbles with his door and practically falls out of his van, scrambling to get to her.

"Nice landing."

Eddie's head shoots up. Hannah is standing by her open front door, but she is waiting.

"It's all about the recovery, sweetheart." 

"And when does that happen?" 

"Oof! Hit me where it hurts, Han!" He clutches at his heart. She rolls her eyes. There's that sparkle again.

But it's gone in an instant. As if she's remembered a reason not to.

"You wanted something?"

"Yes. Yeah," he swipes his hands on his jeans. When did they get so sweaty?

"How are you getting to school tomorrow?"

"Jules said she'd pick me up."

"Ok. Good. Great. Just… Please promise me you won't get the bus? I will give you a ride any time. Really. No bus."

An eye roll. "Sure."

"Promise?"

A sigh. "Yes, Eddie. I promise. No bus."

"Thank you."

A pause. "Do you think you could drive me home again tomorrow? Jules said her art thing might be a few days this week."

"Yes! I can do that." Eddie grins at her, and turns back to the van.

"Eddie?" Quieter this time.

"Yeah?"

Hannah furrows her brow and fixates on her feet. "People are going to… think it's yours." She glances up at him. "Don't you mind?"

"Sweetheart, I couldn't give less of a shit what this town thinks of me. Especially if it means I get to spend time with you."

She wrinkles her nose at him. "Gross."

Eddie cackles. "See you tomorrow, sweetheart."

—

Eddie is early to school the next day. He can't remember when he was last on time, let alone early. He sits on top of one of the picnic tables between the parking lot and the front entrance; smoking, legs bouncing. Waiting for Hannah.

Eddie finishes his cigarette and is debating lighting up another one when he sees Jules' car pull into the lot.

"Jules, please just drop it." Hannah slams the car door after her and walks off, only to stop when she locks eyes with Eddie. He gives her a smile and a small wave as he jumps off the table.

"Han, come on. I'm not trying to upset you." Jules catches up to Hannah and grabs her arm to turn her around. "You know I'm just worried."

"Yeah, I get it. You just," Hannah looks around and lowers her voice. "You know you can't say anything."

Jules sighs. "I know." She pulls Hannah into a hug. "I don't like it, but I know."

Hannah melts into the hug for a moment, before wriggling out of it. "Get off me, you loser."

Jules snorts. "Right, sorry. I forgot. Can't have people thinking you're actually a giant teddy bear."

"Fuck off."

Jules laughs and they make their way towards the school. She spots Eddie and nudges Hannah with her shoulder. "Your boy's waiting." 

"Fuck. Off." Hannah scrunches her face and pushes Jules towards the main entrance, walking over to Eddie.

"Love you too, see you later!"

"Yeah, whatever."

Eddie is rocking on his heels with his hands in his pockets, looking bashful. "Hi."

"Hi." Hannah looks at him with a soft, curious expression. "You gonna be my errand boy again today?" 

"Yes. Definitely. Absolutely. Here, let me…" Eddie slides Hannah's bag off her shoulder and hoists it over his own.

"Thanks." 

Hannah seems softer today, like she used to be with him. He loved that about her. Around most people, she was spiky and hard to reach. She often didn't like too much affection; would feel like she was choking on it and push you away. But she appreciated the little things. He could build up to it, make her gooey and pliable. She would melt into him and he would be allowed to shower her with affection, and she would give it right back. 

Hannah is looking at his right hand holding her backpack strap. She reaches up and touches the lone ring there, a small smile flickering on her face.

He's probably pushing his luck, but he wants to try. With the arm hanging by his side, Eddie brushes his hand against hers, watching her face carefully. She doesn't recoil; her small smile solidifies. So Eddie momentarily links his pinky finger with hers and squeezes. 

Hannah squeezes back. 

—

Eddie is waiting opposite Hannah's 4th period biology class. The class is letting out, but he hasn't seen her yet.

"She's not here." 

Eddie startles at Connor Cunningham coming up and talking to him, from a glance he thought it was Jason Carver. It always unnerves Eddie how similar the two jocks look; only Connor’s hazel eyes and strawberry blond distinguishing him from Jason. Both of them the cookie-cutter American teen dream.

"What?"

"Hannah. She's not here. She left like halfway through class. I think she was trying to hide it but it looked like she was crying."

"Shit, really?" Eddie looks around frantically.

"Her stuff is still in there. She spoke to Ms Petrelli before she left, maybe she knows?"

"Yeah, thanks." Eddie calls out, already walking into the classroom. Ms Petrelli, an older woman, is tidying up around her desk when she sees Eddie.

"Mr Munson, can I help you?"

"Hannah. Do you know where she went? I can take her stuff to her." Already making his way to the only desk still with belongings.

"She rushed out of here earlier. Said she needed to go to the nurse. Usually, of course, I don't allow-"

Eddie stops listening. He gathers Hannah's things and races back out into the crowded hallway. Shouting a loud "thanks" back to the teacher.

"Hey, watch it!"

"Ugh, probably running to his baby mama."

"Freak."

"Didn't you hear? Apparently…"

Eddie isn't paying attention to who he bumps into, or what abuse they're hurling at him for doing so. He just needs to know Hannah is ok.

Finally, he stumbles into the nurse's office, chest heaving from his run.

Hannah looks up as the door slams open with wide, teary eyes. "Eddie?"

"Sweetheart," he puts Hannah's books down on a table and crouches down in front of her. "What happened?"

"Nothing, it's stupid." Hannah swipes at her cheeks.

"Hey, if it made you cry, it's not stupid." Eddie wraps a hand around her ankle and strokes his thumb along the bone.

"No, it's definitely stupid. And now I'm crying more because I cried over something stupid."

Eddie's eyes flit back and forth, trying to follow. He shakes his head. "Huh?"

"She's hormonal." The school nurse drones, walking in from an adjoining office, perusing some papers.

"I really hate that word." Hannah scowls at her.

"You're pregnant, and you cried over bunnies. What would you call that, dear?"

"You cried over bunnies?" Eddie's eyebrows are up in his bangs. 

Hannah's scowl turns to him. He holds his hands up in surrender.

“Let me know when you’re ready to go back to class.” The nurse doesn’t look up from her paperwork as she walks back into her office.

Hannah groans and buries her face in her palms. "We were learning about the food chain and Ms Petrelli was using foxes and rabbits as an example. There was a picture in the textbook. It upset me, ok? I'm hormonal, I get it!" Her words are muffled.

“Hey, come on.” Eddie coos, trying to suppress a giggle, he gently pulls at her wrists to claim her hands in his. “What can I do to make this better? What do you need?”

Hannah’s looks at Eddie with glassy eyes, her eyebrows pulled up in the middle as she stutters. “I don’t know.” Tears start to spill over her cheeks.

“Ok, sorry, how about some options?”

Hannah sniffs.

“Food? Sleep? Water? A hug?”

Hannah shifts in her seat, not looking Eddie in the eye. 

Eddie runs his thumbs over her knuckles. “Please tell me, Han.”

“Can you- Please don’t make a big deal of this.”

“Cross my heart.”

“Can you give me a hug?”

Eddie tries not to show how thrilled he is as he stands up, knees clicking. He pulls Hannah into his chest and wraps his arms tight around her.

The pair sway a little on the spot, Eddie laying his cheek on the top of Hannah's head. He smiles as he feels her slowly start to relax.

"Better?"

Hannah hums in response.

"You want to get some food? That's a pregnancy thing, right? Cravings?"

Hannah hums again, her face still buried in Eddie's chest.

"Ok, options… burger, fries, bacon, milkshake-" He feels Hannah perk up in his arms. "Alright then, milkshakes." He smiles down at her warmly.

Eddie reluctantly peels himself away from Hannah, his hands on her shoulders, ducks his head down to hers and grins eagerly. "Let's get out of here." 

Hannah takes a deep breath and smiles shyly in response. "Does Benny still do those Oreo milkshakes?" 

"I don't think they're on the menu anymore, but he likes you. More than he likes me anyway. So he might if you asked." They start walking.

Hannah rolls her eyes. "He likes me more than you because I don't have ketchup fights in his diner." 

"I think you'll find I was on team mustard." Eddie raises his chin haughtily. "And really, he should blame you for leaving us unsupervised."

Hannah gapes at him; indignant. "I was in the bathroom for five minutes! You are not pinning that on me." She gives his shoulder a shove and marches away.

Eddie stops for a moment in the middle of the hallway, watching after her with a dopey expression.

Hannah calls back over her shoulder, “Are you coming or what? You promised milkshakes.”

—

The ride to Benny’s is quiet, Fleetwood Mac playing softly through the speakers again. When they pull up to the diner, Eddie jumps out and rushes around the front of the van to open the passenger side door before Hannah has even gotten her seatbelt off. He holds out a hand for her to take and helps her jump down.

Hannah thanks him. “You know you can listen to your music, right? It’s your van.”

Eddie shrugs. “Babies can hear stuff from out here, can’t they? I figured you’d want to indoctrinate them to Stevie Nicks ASAP.”

Hannah touches her belly and looks down at it, frowning. “I think they might still be too young. I don’t know if they even have ears yet.” Hannah ponders. “But you’re right about starting their musical education early.” She tugs lightly at Eddie’s jacket sleeve. Eddie smiles to himself, he recognises one of her small affections.

They reach the door, and Eddie holds it open for Hannah, bowing deeply as she passes through. Hannah scoffs as she passes but thanks him.

“Hi Benny.”

The diner owner looks up from where he’s standing at the cash register. “Haven’t seen you two in a while. Figured you’d broken up.”

Hannah skids her shoes against the floor; Eddie scratches the back of his neck. The awkward silence stretches out painfully.

“Right…” Benny draws out the word and grins wickedly. He is basking in their discomfort. “What’ll it be?”

Eddie looks at Hannah pointedly. She narrows her eyes at him, but steps forward. “Any chance of two Oreo milkshakes?” She smiles in faux sweetness. 

“Those aren’t on the menu anymore.”

“I know, but they were just so good. The best milkshakes ever. Better than any milkshake anyone has ever-”

“Alright, alright. If that’s what it takes to shut you up.” Benny frowns at Hannah, but there’s warmth behind it. “Anything else?”

Hannah thinks for a moment, swaying her head from side to side. “Onion rings, please. Oh, and cheese fries. And some bacon. Please.” Hannah looks embarrassed as she looks to Eddie, but he winks at her; pleased that she’s letting go a little.

“Cheeseburger and fries please, Benny.”

Benny shoos them away to a booth where they sit opposite each other. Eddie splays his hands on the table between them and looks up at Hannah. “So I was doing some math earlier.”

Hannah is looking at Eddie’s ringed fingers, trying (and failing) to be discreet about it. One of her hands starts creeping across the table top. “In math class?”

Eddie is trying not to smile; trying not to show that he has noticed her movements. He doesn’t want to spook her. “Uh, no actually. In geography.”

“Oh?” Her hand reaches his and she starts pulling at his rings and twisting them around his fingers.

“You said 4 months, right?”

Hannah stops her fiddling and looks up at Eddie. He winces.

“Um, yeah. Nearly. Fifteen weeks.” She pulls back to her side of the table and tucks her hands under her thighs. 

Eddie curses himself and reaches after her. He didn’t mean to make her retreat again. “Han, I’m sorry, I don’t want to talk about anything you’re not comfortable with. We can talk about something else.”

“No,” Hannah shakes her head. “I’m not uncomfortable. It’s just…” she exhales and grimaces. “I’m not exactly happy about this whole thing, you know.”

Eddie makes a sympathetic noise, then leans back in his seat as Benny arrives with a tray full of food and milkshakes. Hannah brightens up immediately; her eyes shining.

Benny distributes the food on the table with a grunt and walks back to his position in the kitchen.

Hannah springs forward the second he leaves and grabs her milkshake. Her eyes roll back as she slurps through the straw.

Eddie beams and grabs his own. Giving Benny a thumbs up as he drinks.

Hannah hums happily as she digs into her various plates; wiggling in her seat slightly. Eddie watches her fondly. He knows she doesn’t always like showing how she feels; being vulnerable. But he wants her to feel safe with him and open up, like she did before.

Hannah pauses her munching, her eyes flitting from fries to milkshake. She picks up a fry, dunks it in her milkshake, and quickly shoves it in her mouth. Eddie chokes on his own food as Hannah lets out a loud moan. 

“Oh my god, you have to try this.” She dunks another fry and holds it out for Eddie, waving it in his face when he doesn’t move.

“Uhh, I’m alright sweetheart. You have it.”

Hannah shrugs and pops it in her own mouth. “Your loss.”

“So have you had much of that? Weird food cravings?”

“I don’t think I’ve really had any.” Hannah picks up an onion ring this time, and gleefully dunks and eats it. “Mmpf. You sure you don’t want to try this?” 

“I’m sure, thanks though.” Eddie hides his smirk behind his burger.

Eddie takes a large bite, and talks through his chewing, “What about nausea? Morning sickness. That’s a thing, right?”

“Don’t talk with your mouth full, you pig.” Hannah throws a cheesy fry at him. Eddie jumps to try and catch it in his mouth, but misses. Hannah stifles a snort. "Yeah I had some morning sickness, but that stopped a few weeks ago thankfully. I had a lot of heartburn too, that's-"

"You're going to have a hairy baby." Eddie mumbles through his mouthful again.

Hannah stops. A milkshake coated onion ring halfway to her mouth. "Excuse me?"

Eddie swallows thickly. He doesn't know if the lump in his throat is from the burger or the way Hannah is looking at him like he's lost his mind. He rushes through his explanation: "You remember Nanny Pat? The nice old lady a few trailers down from me. Well, her daughter is pregnant too. Every time now, when I take over her weekly shop, she'll tell me all about how excited she is to be a real grandmother and tell me how the pregnancy is going. She said that her daughter had loads of heartburn, so that means her baby is going to have loads of hair!"

Hannah hasn't moved. Melted milkshake is running down her thumb. "You do her shopping every week?" 

Eddie flushes, bright pink. "No." He scoffs.

A blinding smile spreads across Hannah's face and a short laugh bursts free. Eddie is awestruck. 

Hannah scoops up the milkshake on her hand with her other index finger. She leans over the table and boops his nose, smearing it on the tip. "You big softie!" She stage-whispers, sitting back with a giggle. Eddie splutters and swipes at his nose with the back of his hand.

"Anyway," she guzzles her milkshake, trying to fight back her smile. "I don't think that's true. How would that work?" She mulls it over, finally putting the onion ring in her mouth. "I don't think those two bits of you are even connected." 

"I dunno. You're talking to Hawkins' resident super super senior, so…." He shrugs.

Hannah throws another fry at Eddie and it hits him in the face. He looks at her, affronted. She glares back. "You're not stupid, Eddie."

"Mrs O'Donnell would disagree with you, sweetheart."

"Yeah, well she's an asshole."

He snorts. "You're not wrong." 

Eddie stirs his milkshake with the straw; staring. Wondering how to ask his real questions. Whose baby is it? Why aren't they here looking after her? Will she let Eddie look after her? Or at least try?

He looks up at Hannah. She seems to be just as stuck in her own head, her gaze burning a hole in her cheese fries. She seems so totally lost in thought that Eddie is startled when she speaks softly.

"You don't have to do this, you know." Hannah sighs and fiddles with her plate, but still doesn't look up. "You don't… It's not yours. You don't owe me anything." 

"I'm here because I want to be."

"But, why?" She finally looks up at him. "Doesn't it bother you that I got knocked up by someone else? That I was pregnant the whole time we were together?"

Eddie considers his words and speaks carefully. "Han, the only thing that bothers me about all of this, is that whoever it was has left you to deal with it on your own."

Hannah is visibly upset and squirms in her seat. "That's not… That’s not true." She shakes her head. "I have my dad, and Jules."

Eddie's voice is still soft, "That's not what I mean, and you know it." 

"I can't-" Hannah takes a shuddering breath. "Fuck these hormones!" She hisses and presses the heels of her hands to her eyes. "I don't know what you want from me, Eddie."

"Just the pleasure of your company, sweetheart."

"This isn't a fucking joke!" Hannah slaps the table as her voice rings out in the diner, the other patrons give her disapproving looks. She looks sheepish, and continues in a whisper. "I'm scared, Eddie. I have no control over any of this and I don't know what I'm doing." Her eyes are glassy. "I can't- we can't…" 

"Hey, hey, I'm sorry." Eddie reaches out and places his hand on her side of the table. "It was a bad joke, but it's true, Han, I promise." He ducks his head to catch Hannah's eye. "I'm not here to try anything. I'm here because I like spending time with you, regardless of what we are to each other." Eddie smiles at her encouragingly. "I am more than happy to be your friend. And your errand boy." 

Hannah lets out a wet laugh and wipes her eyes. 

A mischievous look comes over Eddie’s face. He shuffles out of the booth and drops to his knees on the floor next to Hannah, holding his hands in a plea in front of him. “Please Han,” Eddie declares, loudly. “Please will you let me be your servant for the next 5 to 6 months?!”

“Oh my god you need to stop!” Hannah jerks away, clambering to the other end of the seat. Eddie crawls up onto the seat after her. “No! No no no! Get away!” She pushes him away with a hand to the face.

“Please? PLEASE, Hannah!” 

“Get the fuck away from me, asshole!”

Eddie throws his head back and cackles, still advancing.

“WHAT do you idiots think you’re doing?!”

Hannah and Eddie freeze at Benny’s booming voice. They scramble to sit on the bench properly; backs straight and eyes wide as they peer over at him as they both mumble, “Sorry Benny.”

Benny curses and slams back into the kitchen, grumbling about “stupid teenagers”.

Hannah stifles a snort and slides down in her seat. Eddie giggles and looks down at her with pure adoration. Hannah shifts slightly and nudges her head against his bicep. His heart leaps at the small show of intimacy. He decides right then: He can wait for her.

Next chapter

[ternfic]

Reboot

Chapter Thirteen

Sweet was surprisingly easy to talk to, it turned out. Lucy listened intently as Sweet detailed the Queen’s plans to merge their worlds together. It was Watevra’s hope that, if their peoples lived together, if they each had one of their own to co-rule, maybe the hostilities would finally die down. Not that it should be difficult now anyway, Lucy thought, now that we know this was all just one big misunderstanding.

“I always wanted to be able to do something like this,” Sweet admitted, giving Lucy a shy grin. “To be at the forefront of forging an alliance with another world. I studied for it my whole life, you know.”

“And you planned your contact with us based on what you observed.” Sweet nodded. Lucy sighed. “I guess that whole fiasco wasn’t entirely your fault then.”

“So if your people really aren’t all tough and aggressive all of the time, what are they really like?”

“It’s… hard to say, honestly,” Lucy admitted. “It’s really only been since the Duplos first came that we’ve had such a united culture. We kind of had to, to survive when they started wrecking everything. Before that… everyone was pretty segregated, and Master Builders were outlawed. I spent a lot of that time fighting for our freedom, and to stop Lord Business from Kragling the whole world. And before that…” She shrugged. “I was the lead singer of a pretty well-known pop band.”

“You really used to be a pop singer?” Sweet sounded disbelieving.

Lucy gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Yeah, a long time ago. I wrote the song Lord Business used to keep everyone too distracted to catch on to what he was doing. I was so embarrassed that I left the band, dyed my hair, and tried to find a new identity.”

Sweet tilted her head. “I thought you said your hair was naturally black?”

Lucy frowned, only vaguely recalling the near-meltdown she had over it. “Well of course I said that, I’ve spent so long trying to hide who I used to be…” But she didn’t feel quite as convinced as she tried to sound.

“I’m sorry you had to go through all of that.” Sweet paused. “Wait, did you say ‘Business’?”

“Yeah…? Why?”

“Like the former president of your world, Business?”

“Yeah?”

“Huh,” Sweet mused.

“What?” Lucy demanded. “Why do you want to know?”

“We found him and brought him here, he’s actually been working as the Queen’s advisor for a few years now.”

“What??”

Sweet winced. “I guess it would sound bad, after what you’ve hinted at, but he’s actually been a huge help to her, here.”

“Is that why she promised everybody stuff if we went along with this ceremony?” Lucy huffed. “Certainly sounds like the sort of thing he’d do to win people over.”

“Possibly,” Sweet admitted. “I wasn’t privy to that conversation if it is the case. But the Queen genuinely does want you all to be happy, and she thought that might be what would make you happiest.”

“Except for me.”

“I’m sorry,” Sweet murmured. “You are hard to read, though. Neither my scanners nor the Queen’s empathy could figure you out.”

Lucy ran her fingers through her hair. “…I suppose it would be nice, to finally be able to relax for once, to not have to constantly be tough and angry and on guard. It was… exhausting, living like that on a constant basis.”

The General smiled. “After this wedding, we can all finally have that.” Lucy gave her a weak smile in response. Sweet held a hand out to her. “And it’s about time for it to start. Are you ready?”

“Yeah, I think so,” Lucy agreed, taking her hand.

“Wyldstyle!” Unikitty chirped as the two of them joined Lucy’s friends. “We wondered where you disappeared to!”

“I was… having a chat with the General,” Lucy said. “I think we’ve come to an understanding.”

“But now I have to go,” Mayhem added. “I still have to find the other rebels, and put a stop to whatever Dangervest is planning this time.”

“Dangervest?” Benny echoed. “Who’s that?”

“He’s been harassing Systar for years,” Mayhem sighed. “Seems to hold some sort of grudge against us but no one can figure out why. But I just know he’s going to try to stop the wedding. It’ll ruin everything if he succeeds.” She bid them a brief good bye before leaving once more.

“…So she actually convinced ye of their good intentions?” Metalbeard asked, staring Lucy down.

Lucy shrugged. “She seems genuine.”

“T’ain’t like ye to be changin’ yer mind so easily.”

“Oh, now you want to be suspicious?” Lucy huffed. Metalbeard held his hand up in defense.

“We’re just saying… you were right about the brainwashing,” Benny explained. “Bad Cop crashed into our party bus, and uh… ‘woke us up’, for lack of a better description.”

“I still can’t believe we forgot him…” Unikitty mourned.

“Where’s Bad Cop now?” Lucy demanded, realizing the officer wasn’t among their numbers.

“Uh. Trying to stop the wedding?” Benny said, giving her a sheepish grin when she turned her intense stare onto him. “Even if the Systarians aren’t intentionally doing it, they are actually still brainwashing everyone- and the wedding will make it all permanent.”

“And you trust Bad Cop to do it.”

“He’s not gonna be all violent about it or anything!” Unikitty defended. “We came up with a plan! He’s gonna play the violin!”

“Wait, what?”

“We figured that since music is what’s doing this to everyone, it should be music that undoes it, and… he was kind of the best candidate.”

Lucy sighed. “That’s… unexpected, but. Alright. Whatever. I just hope he knows what he’s doing.”

Business parted ways with them upon reaching the Temple, on account of being a member of the Queen’s wedding party. Rex didn’t even argue as he took off. “Still nothing?”

Emmet sighed and shook his head. “I thought of maybe singing like the Queen did, but you know I’m terrible at coming up with words like that…” Rex patted his shoulder.

“Maybe you should just sing ‘Everything Is Awesome’ at her,” the rogue teased. Emmet huffed at him.

“Yeah, poke fun. That was your favorite song too, once.”

Rex snorted out a laugh, but quickly sobered up once again. “You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be. Let’s do this.”

They marched out into the crowded stadium. Emmet glanced around, and was surprised to see Lucy standing with the rest of their friends near where Bruce stood waiting for the ceremony to begin. Had they gotten to her again?

“Focus,” Rex reminded him.

Emmet nodded and listened as the ice cream cone spoke, almost immediately going into the vows. Emmet’s breath caught; was there no option to object during a royal wedding? But just as he drew in a deep breath to shout anyway, the Queen began to transform, and any objection died in Emmet’s throat when he saw her true form.

A heart.

His peace offering.

Rex fell utterly still. “What…”

“Rex, I can’t do this-” he started to panic, only to be interrupted by an unexpected sound filling the air. The ice cream cone fell into stunned silence as the soaring notes of a violin rose up from the crowded stadium.

Emmet’s gaze was drawn to the source of the music, and his jaw nearly dropped to see Bad Cop playing. “No way,” he breathed. Never in a million years would he have ever guessed the big scary police officer could play something so beautiful.

And it seemed to be waking up their fellow Bricksburgians.

Though the ceremony was thoroughly disrupted, the Queen didn’t seem the least bit upset- rather, she seemed intrigued. “To be continued,” she told her groom before shifting her form into a bird and soaring her way toward Bad Cop. The other guests cleared a spot for her to land, and she settled onto the bleachers in front of the officer. They stared at each other for a long moment. “…I didn’t know,” she said at length. “I didn’t realize… I was so caught up in trying to put an end to the fighting, I never thought to ask why. I’m sorry.”

“You never thought to ask, period,” Bad Cop gruffed at her, and she flinched. “But now that we’ve got your ear, let’s talk.”

“No,” Rex growled. “No! You’re supposed to hate them for what they did, to take them down!”

“Rex?!” Emmet let out a started yelp.

“I’m not letting you win again!”

“Rex, no-!” Emmet reached to grab him but he leapt off the bleachers to fall into space and Emmet’s fingers only closed around empty air. His heart sank as he watched Rex’s space suit fly toward him and carry him upward, far over their heads. Emmet had a bad feeling he knew where Rex was heading.

“If you want something done,” Rex muttered under his breath, “do it yourself.”

He dove straight down for the center of the Temple, throwing a punch as he came down to meet it.

The Temple exploded.

[karimationkat]

Consider:

GLADIATOR AU

The RGBY group were literally created to fight, so, why not make them literally gladiators?

(they're all adults in the main story, tsc&tco&vic are brothers and only them)

Tsc is the son of a noble called Noogai (didn't feel like calling the father alan) and is called Secundus.

Despite Noogai trying to have TSC become a senator, TSC still longs for fights and arts. One time during a gladiator fight his eyes got caught on the RGBY. Idk where to go from here on.

I haven't got names for the RGBY group but they'll probably be called after their signature colour, let's just say people have colourful hair just because

Ruber, Viridis, Caeruleus, Flavus (pretend this is yellow) are despite different backgrounds friends and are gladiators duh

Now, there are different ways to end up as a gladiator is by being a slave forced to, criminal whose punishment it is or sometimes just someone who wants the fame and glory of a gladiator.

First thoughts:

Red is the son of a criminal and one himself too. Not because he wanted but because he was forced. (Herobrine is the father and it's more or less based on avm)

Green was someone who had nothing and decided to give it a try and became gladiator because of that.

Blue might have had severe debts, either because he tried to help people or because of his addiction or both. So, he had to become an gladiator.

Yellow. He was a slave and the son of a former wealthy citizen, therefore educated. Thanks to that he was to tutor for the children of a wealthy family. Later, due to trouble he kept causing because of his curious yet careless nature, he was just sent to a gladiator school.

Not sure if I want to stick with these ideas.

Anyway...

In ancient rome if the father did not accept the infant, they could be left to die.

So. In Victim's case this is what happened. Despite being left to die, he was found and adopted by a lower family. Everyone knew that Vic was the abandoned child of Noogai and so did Vic. Which made him resent Noogai and fuel his determination to become a wealthy merchant/citizen/senator idk.

Idk what his latin name will be. Maybe one he gave himself? Victor. You see what I did there right?

The chosen one however was the first accepted child. But TCO was a difficult and rebellious child, which was why he got mistreated by Noogai who tried to use violence and strict measures to discipline him but it never worked. At one point, to gain freedom, him and TDL run away together.

Maybe we can call him Electus?

The dark lord. I'm not sure what to do with him yet. Because technically he did serve under Alan, so, he might be a former noble turned slave and because he was educated, he was Noogai's assistent. However because of Noogai's cruelties, he understood why TCO was so hostile towards him and both of them bonded over that and ran way later.

They're both currently wanted.

I'm not sure where to put the mercenaries, purple and king orange yet. Maybe later.

[somacruising]

TALES OF THE RAYS: ION’S 3RD SKIT (ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

This is a direct continuation to Sync’s Side.

Since Ion’s side was finally put up on the Rays Wiki, I can actually take a crack at it now.  Here is the Ion side of the skit released with the debut of his xMA \ Dual Mystic Arte with Sync. I got the screenshots from 八雲貴大 on YT.

    [ SYNC AND ION ARE LEAVING THAT MEETING ]

Ion: How do you think that went, Sync? What did you think of Ix’s gathering? * どうでしたか、シンク。イクスサロンの感想は。

Sync: It was a waste of time. The end result of thought experiments and harboring delusions is a mental breakdown, isn’t it? That’s what the Necromancer is for. 時間の無駄だね。妄想と思考実験のなれの果ては精神の崩壊ってやつなんじゃない？こういうのは死霊使いの得意分野でしょ。

Ion: Hehe… フフフ･･････。

Sync: What? 何？

Ion: Jade said something very similar to you. He said: “Don’t you think you should take a break from your bad thoughts and pay attention to where you’re going?” ジェイドも同じようなことを言っていましたよ。「下手の考え休むに似たり、もっと足下を見た方がいいのではありませんか」って。

Ion: Jade doesn’t have much interest in the humanities. ジェイドは人文科学には興味がないそうです。

Sync: How about that. Well, I’ve already thought about this plenty while I was falling into the Planet’s Core. どうだかね。考え尽くして一度深淵にでも落ちたから避けてるんじゃないの。

    [ LUKE AND LIBERA ENTER ]

Luke: —What the hell are you guys talking about? The meeting is over and you’re still talking about hard stuff. ――何だよ、お前ら。サロンが終わってもまだ難しい話をしてるのかよ。

Sync: You poor thing. You were made with a degraded brain, it’s natural you find this kind of talk difficult. 可哀想に。お前は脳みそが劣化して生まれたからこの程度の話を難しく感じるんだよ。

Libera: Sync, it’s not good to tell people they’re inferior! Anise said so. シンク！人に劣化なんて言ったらダメなんだよ。アニスが言ってた。

Sync: Shut up. We’re not people, anyway. We’re replicas. うるさいな。どうせ相手は人じゃなくてレプリカだ。

Libera: Replicas are people, too. Claire told me that we all share the same heart that thinks peach pie is delicious. Now, apologize to Luke. レプリカも人なの。クレアが言ってた。ピーチパイのことを美味しいと思う心は同じなんだよ。ほら、ルークに謝るの。

Sync: I told you to shut it. *sighs* Whatever, I’m sorry for telling the truth. うるさいな。あーあ、本当のことを言って悪かったね。

Libera: Sorry, Luke. Come on, Sync. As a reward, let’s get some sweets from Nevan. ごめんね、ルーク。さ、シンク。ご褒美にネヴァンからお菓子をもらおう。

    [ LIBERA BOUNCES TOWARDS SYNC ]

Sync: I already told you, quit yanking my arm! You’ll dislocate— だから、腕を引っ張るな！肩が―――

    [ SYNC IS DRAGGED OFF SCREEN ]

Luke: …That Sync, he’s the same as ever. ･･････シンクの奴、相変わらずだな。

Ion: I agree… Or, well, I do think that Sync might have changed a little. そうですね･･････。いえ、でも少し変わったかも知れません。

Luke: You think? そうか？

Ion: I think that Sync would have refused to even be in the same room as me back in our original world. 元の世界にいた頃のシンクなら、僕と同じ空間にいることすら拒絶したのではないかと思うんです。

Ion: But now, Sync seems to be starting to make compromises with himself. けれど今のシンクは、少しだけ譲歩してくれているように感じます。

Luke: I guess that’s because we have no reason to be hostile anymore. 今は敵対する必要がないから、とかかな。

Ion: Yes…that might be right. そう･･････なんでしょうか。

Ion: I don’t know exactly why he’s changed, but I’m glad. I feel like Sync is starting to find more meaning in being himself, rather than just being another one of our original’s replicas. 理由はわかりませんが、嬉しいです。シンクがシンク自身に、被験者イオンのレプリカであるということ以上の意味を見出し始めているような気がして。

Luke: I hope so. I feel like I’m starting to finally feel like I am who I am because of my friends—you and everyone else. そうだといいな。俺は仲間が―――イオンやみんながいてやっと、俺が俺であるって思えるようになったから。

Ion: Including me? But I haven’t… 僕も、ですか？僕は何も･･････。

Luke: What are you talking about? You’re super important. 何言ってんだよ。イオンはすげえ重要だぜ。

Luke: After all, no matter how many replicas there are of Ion, no matter how many Luke replicas were made, you and I are the only ones who met in the Cheagle Woods. だってイオンが何人いても、ルークのレプリカが何人いても、チーグルの森で出会ったのは俺とお前だけなんだから。

Ion: !!

Luke: That’s what makes you special. だからさ、特別なんだ。

Ion: You’re right. You and I are proof of each other’s unique existences. Thank you, Luke! はい。僕たちはお互い、唯一無二であることの証明者ですね。ありがとう、ルーク！

* NOTE: the actual term Ion uses is “Ix’s salon”, which confused me until I found out that a salon can also be an “informal gathering of artists at a notable figure’s house.”

[olivieraa]

and you know what, I always have to pat myself on the back for two things.

critical thinking and questioning everything.

there are posts on my blog that go back as far as 2014 that were very pro what I happen to be anti now. some I reblogged and said nothing, and some I reblogged and voiced my confusion in the tags. I dont plan on finding them and deleting them bc they're a part of the past.

when you're friends on here with a bunch of people who all had, not even similar mindsets but the exact same mindsets, and you were the only one who thought differently, it was kinda difficult to figure out how to think for yourself. questioning things got me in trouble. I was supposed to think the exact way everyone else did or I was wrong and a bad person.

the pro-porn posts, the pro-prostitution posts, some very specific pro-trans posts, and a lot more, I'd be questioning some of what was said in those posts down in the tags and people either sent me anons or pm's and it was less so about like educating me, and more so "how dare you even question this post". very... hostile.

I was experiencing two different worlds. the online world aka tumblr's brand of feminism, and facebook and youtubes pro-mra bullcrap. and then the real world, with my real friends, who were just... normal. and coming on here was like... going to work. in a job I hated. wondering what I'll be "taught" today. what's the right way to think.

but throughout 2016 I was liking a lot of posts that just made sense. common sense. like normal humans were actually writing these posts. but I never reblogged them.

by the end of 2016 and start of 2017 I'd had enough. and I finally started reblogging them. not even in bulk, just here and there. and exactly what I thought would happen, happened. the sensitive Americans go bye-bye.

it was eye opening bc it justified so many things for me, but also, when I'm close to my friends I'll do anything for them. but never for a friend I could never be myself around. that the friendship was a lie bc I held my tongue. that a conversation could never happen bc I'm wrong and they're right and if I dont agree then end of friendship. no discussions, just... the end.

the unfollows were so immediate, and yet it felt like I could breathe again. and so I continued watching anime at the time, but then I started working, and then moved away, and so tumblr slowly drifted away from me.

and then I'd come back here and there.

but I was always, always wondering, and still do. "was I wrong?", "are the things I reblog actually wrong?", "if 10 people unfollowed me over very specific opinions that they all agree on and I'm here with the opposite opinion, am I wrong?"

but I basically answer my own question every time.

in that, its not about being right or wrong. its about questioning everything. questioning why you think that way. being able to justify why you think that way. being able to use critical thinking and have discussions, not have a fucking cult ass way of thinking and just point at someone and tell them they're straight up wrong for having a different opinion than yours.

and that's why I'll never regret the friendships that died on here. bc they are all still stuck that way, whereas I grow and learn and change.

I'm not telling anyone what's right or wrong.

I defo have a couple of boundaries for sure. there's a few things I have solid ass opinions on that I am adamant about. but for anyone that ever wanted to talk, not argue/want to fight, I'm always open to hearing the other side.

but with people like that, from back in the day, that wasn't possible.

and so if the things I reblog make sense to me, I'm gonna keep doing it. cause unlike the earlier years of tumblr where I'd reblog things with questioning thoughts, I'm finally seeing posts that just make sense.

and its amazing