#joe keery x original character

[ash5monster01]

Lifetime Tour Teaser

Steve Harrington x FemReader

Masterlist

“Billy Joel huh?” Steve looks up and nearly freezes. There you are, the prettiest girl he’s ever seen, and something about the world stops. He’s not one to be shy but it’s as if the words somehow can’t leave his mouth. There was just something about you. “Since when do boys your age listen to Billy Joel?”

“Hey, he’s still rock n’ roll to me” Steve defends, and it’s cheesy. He knows that, but it doesn’t stop you from laughing. You’re wearing the most perfect smile he’s ever seen and he wants to make you do it again.

“I’m not saying he isn’t, just most guys these days don’t know good music anymore” you say, pulling the record out of his hands and he almost gasps at the way your fingers feel against his.

“Well good music to me is just Billy, always has been”

coming 4/5/24

a/n: just a small taste of what’s to come and I hope you are all as excited as me to explore this series and the relationship between these two

taglist: @slvtforstve @keerygal @goosy-goose @livsters @blckburd @loveshotzz @ohwauwdoritos @superblysubpar @southereads @amataadriana @violet2022 @mxrcjqckspnchqsc @madaboutjoe @thunderstomp-and-tequila @justdamnpeachy

comment if you want to be added to the taglist :))

[xxmayxx05]

Just the Three of us

pairing: eddie munson x fem!reader x Steve Harrington

Contents: Smut 18+, oral (giving/receiving), unprotected sex (Please be safe irl), manhandling, praise kink, pet names, multiple orgasms

a/n: Hi everyone! I hope you guys like this second part of the mini series. If you guys have any recommendations of what you want to see on the third part please comment. Reblogs and comments are highly appreciated, I hope you like it. - May<3

word count: 2,8k

After two hours of hard studying everyone decided that a break was truly needed. Eddie and Steve couldn’t keep their eyes out of your beautiful curves. Robin rolled her eyes when she saw Steve putting a hand on top of your thigh, when you both were talking. Eddies gaze hardened and tried to chime into the conversation and put his hand on your other thigh. 

“I have a question for you y/n” Robin said with a little smirk, she was going to get the boys very riled up. 

“What’s up Robin?” you asked as you looked up at her. Noticing her small smirk, you knew that you had something on her mind. 

“Let’s say that hypothetically, what would happen if two boys that you like and hypothetically they like you back. Per se, what would happen?” she asked while leaning back on her arms and waited for your reply. Eddie and Steve have now sat themselves straight and waited with a lot of anticipation to your reply. 

“That is a very odd question to ask Robin” you said and kept eye contact with her. A burning sensation over came you body when you felt Steve’s and Eddie’s gazes burning through you. “I’m very open minded, if I like both and they like me as well. A trio doesn’t sound bad at all” you said and got up. “Help me serve some lemonade Robin” you said and walked to the kitchen. Hoping that the boys got the hint. 

—-

“Fuck, Harrington” Eddie whispered shouted. He couldn’t believe that you were the kind to be okay with a trio. He was surprised but then again he thought that it would be perfect. Eddie knew that Steve liked you as well but never even thought that there could be a possibility of you three becoming a trio. 

“I know Munson” Steve said quietly and looked at him. “I didn’t think she had it in her” he said surprised, deep inside he felt excited. The though of having you in bed, your body all exposed for him and Eddie. Your back arching and the sound of your sweet moans filling the room while they both made love to you; made him go crazy. 

“I would be okay with it” Eddie said quietly and looked at him. “You like her and so do I. I don’t want to keep competing over her” he said and extended his hand toward Steve. Eddie knew that  he was crazy for accepting to be in  trio but he liked you a lot, ever since he saw you for the first time. 

“Let’s keep this civil Munson” Steve agreed and shook Eddie’s hand. 

Right on time you walked in and handed one glass of lemonade to Steve. 

“Here you go” you said and sat between them again. 

“Here you go dufus” Robin said and handed one glass of lemonade to Eddie. She looked up at the clock in the living room and faked surprised. “Shit, I have to go” she said hurriedly and packed up her backpack. Leaning down quickly she hugged you and said her goodbyes to the guys. 

“Oh yeah, she had to go meet up with Max at the arcade” she said and took a sip of your lemonade and looked at both boys. Hoping that one of them would make a move just like Robin had told you in the kitchen. She plotted a small excuse so that she could go and you three could have some privacy to yourselves. 

Steve and Eddie looked at each other and leaned back against the sofa. The three of you drank your perspective lemonades and sat in silence. There was a lot of sexual tension in the living room and they didn’t know how to break it. 

“So, you are okay with being shared?” Steve asked confidently and turned to look at you. He knew that Eddie was too shy to make a move. 

“Mhm, you only live once” you said and put your glass down between you thighs. “Two is better than one, I guess” saying softly and bit your bottom lip when you felt Eddie put a hand on your left thigh. 

“It’s good to know that you think that way, we both really like you alot” Eddie said quietly and massaged your thigh softly. 

You turned your head to the left and looked at him. He was blushing softly and leaned in to peck you lips. Finally you thought. 

“He is right, love. We wouldn’t mind sharing you at all” Steve said and leaned down. He left small kisses on your exposed neck and smiled softly when you let out small moans. 

“I would love to be with the both of you” you said and leaned your head back in pleasure. Eddie had grabbed the glass between your thighs and put it aside. He leaned down and left kisses on the right side of your neck. Giving a small wink at Steve, both of them left kisses on your neck and massaged your inner thighs. 

“Can we go to my room please?” you asked quietly and caressed both of their cheeks. Leaning in to the right you pecked Steves lips and then to the left pecking Eddies. Both boys nodded their heads and got up. Carefully they helped you get up and you grabbed their hands. Leading them upstairs to your room.

“Sit down” you told them as you closed your door and locked it. Both listened to you and sat next to each other in bed. Walking up to them, you decided to stand between Eddie’s legs. Leaning down you kissed him passionately, a needy moan escaped his mouth. Steve bit his bottom lip at the sight of you both making out. His member was growning within each second and he felt his jeans becoming too tight for his growing member. You heard Steve hissing softly and you leaned back. 

“Are you okay Steve?” you asked innocently and caressed his cheek. Looking down, you saw the outline of his member through his jeans. You stepped back from Eddie and went between Steves legs. Getting down on your knees, you looked up at him and Eddie. “Remove your clothes” you ordered them both. 

They quickly and quietly obeyed your commands. You watched them both remove their clothes and watched in awe at the sight. Steve cock was long and hard the tip was leaking with precum. Eddie’s cock was thick and long. Immediately you became even more wet then you already were. Letting out a small whimper, you brought your right hand to your mouth and spit on it. Bringing it to Eddie’s member, you wrapped your hand around it and motioned it up and down. 

Eddie’s deep breathes escaped his mouth, he felt on cloud nine when he felt your hand wrapped around his needy cock. He moaned when he saw you leaned down and licked Steve’s tip. 

“Fuck baby” Steve moaned softly when he felt your wet tongue lick a small strip from the bottom of his cock all the way to the top of his tip. His fantasy was finally going to come true, he was going to have sex with the girl of his dreams and a threesome. “Oh fuck!” he cried out in pleasure when you wrapped your plump lips around his hard cock and began moving your head up and down. Your mouth felt heavenly around his cock. 

You moaned at the praise and the way Steve reacted to your mouth around your cock. Feeling a lot of pride that you had both boys on the palm of your hand, you looked at Eddie while you kept giving Steve head. Tightening your grip softly on his cock, he moaned at the feeling and looked down at you. He brought a hand to your cheek and softly smacked you. 

“Such a needy slut” he praised your and smacked you again.  Eddie didn’t know what took over him but he needed you to become vulnerable for them both. “Look at you being a needy slut, letting me and Steve use your pretty body from now on” he said and looked at Steve. “We own this slut, Harrington” he said with a smirk. 

“Fuck yes we do” Steve said and gripped your hair. Pulling your it up, you removed your mouth from his cock and gasped to catch up with your breathing. 

“Remove your clothes and lay in bed baby” Steve ordered and helped you get up. Him and Eddie were mesmerized by your body, little by little as your removed the only two pieces of clothing you wore. Surprised that you didn’t wear a bra or panties, both boys were falling more in love with you by the second and they couldn’t wait until they finally had a taste of you. 

You took a small breath and laid down, waiting for one of the two boys to make a move. Steve was the first one to remove his pants and got on top of you. Leaning down he looked down at your plump red lips and caressed your cheek. 

“Are you sure, you want this?” he asked softly and looked deeply into your eyes. Hoping that you wouldn’t regret what was to come later on. 

“I really do Steve” you whispered and removed his shirt. Smiling softly when he brought his arms up, helping you to remove his shirt. You looked at Eddie and chuckled softly when he just stood there with a cheesy small smile. “Join us, Ed” you said and leaned your head to the side when Steve started leaving kisses on your neck. Moaning softly when you felt him suck softly against your soft skin, he was marking you and you loved that. 

“Patience baby” Eddie said and removed the remaining of his clothes. He got on the bed and softly wrapped his hand around the base of his cock. “Open that pretty mouth of yours baby” he said and tapped the tip of his cock on top of your plump lips. Eddie groaned softly when he finally felt your warm and wet mouth around his cock, something that he has dreamt about ever since he met you. 

Steve left kisses all the way down from your neck, into between your inner thighs. He smirked softly when he saw how wet your pussy looked from his angle. Leaning in he gave a soft lick between your wet pussy lips and moaned at your sweet taste. You tasted like heaven, just like he thought you did. He knew that he was going to be addicted to your sweet taste and he couldn’t wait for more. Wrapping his arms around your thick thighs, he spread them about and began eating you out as if he didn’t eat for days. 

You were a moaning mess, around Eddie’s cock. Steve was eating your pussy out in such a delicious way, the sounds of him licking your wet pussy, your sweet moans, and Eddie’s praises filled the entire room. Eddie softly held your hair into a pony tail while he thrusted his cock in and out of your warm mouth, the way he praised you made you fall in love with him even more. Making eye contact with him, you started meeting his small thrusts inside your mouth. Gagging around his cock made him moan loudly and fill your mouth with his cum. 

“Oh Fuck” he panted and he brought a hand to your cheek. “Swallow my cum baby” he cooed softly when he saw how fucked you looked. 

You swallowed and leaned upward to kiss him passionately. Feeling a lot of pride that you had that type of control over Eddie. 

Steve had gotten on his knees and spit on his hand. He loved the sight of you and Eddie making out infront of him, but felt a little jealous at the tiny lack of attention that he was not receiving. Wrapping his hand around his cock, he brought it up and down. 

“It’s my turn baby” Steve said and aligned the tip of his cock against your wet pussy. Smiling softly when you turned to him with a drunken gaze and nodded your head. 

“Please, I need you” you said in a pleading matter. Gasping softly when you felt him insert his tip inside of you. He was stretching you out up to oblivion, and couldn’t control your moans. His hips started gaining control as he slid in and out of you, his fingers dug deep into your hips and thrusted deeper. 

Eddie brought a hand down to your clit and began to rub it fast. Your loud moans became music to his ears, he loved how you were so desperate for him and Steve. Loving the sight of your head thrown back in pleasure, back arched and your breasts bouncing with each of Steves thrust. He knew that this was going to be one of many more nights like this. Leaning down he began leaving kisses on your exposed neck and marking it just like Henderson did. 

“Liking my cock baby?” Steve teased and smacked you softly. You looked like a fucked mess and he loved the sight of that. Loving the thought that you were cock drunk, with his cock.

You whimpered when you felt him smack you. Couldn’t put words together, you just moaned and nodded your head. 

“Use your words, princess” Eddie said and wrapped his hand around your neck. “Behave for him” he said and gripped his hand more around your neck.

“Y-Yes daddy” you gasped for air and let out a scream of pleasure when Steves thrust became harder and faster. With no warning, he cummed and filled you up with his warm seed. 

“F-fuck!” Steve moaned and slowed down his thrusts. The way you called him Daddy was unexpected and made him cum right then and there. Steve loved the way Daddy rolled out of your pretty mouth in such a innocent but dirty way. 

“Eddie, I need you” you said quietly and pecked his lips. 

“My baby didn’t cum?” he asked teasingly and got on top of you once Steve slid out. Eddie didn’t care about the mess that Harrington made inside of you and slammed his cock without any warning. Your moans got louder with each thrust that he made inside of you. 

“D-daddy” you gasped and wrapped your arms around his back. Your nails digging on his back, leaving small crescent moons but you couldn’t help it. Eddie was fucking you so well, him and Steve knew how to fuck very well. 

“Mm cum for me baby, cum around my cock” Eddie praised you as he grabbed one of your legs and put them around his shoulder. Sliding even deeper inside of you. 

“Fuck baby fuck!, you are only ours” 

“Y-yes daddy!” you say moaning loudly. Looking to your side, you look at Steve. Feeling that you needed his approval to cum as well. Once he gave you a small nod, you gave into the pleasure and cummed all over Eddies cock. 

Eyes rolled back and your back arched in pleasure. Tears rolled down your cheeks at the intense orgasm that took over your body, it was all too much for you after a long time of being celibate. 

Eddie kept fucking you into oblivion until he moaned loudly and cummed inside of you. His cum mixing with Steves and your wet juices. 

“Fuck” he panted harshly and carefully brought down your leg from his shoulder. Sliding out carefully and laid down next to you. His orgasm hit him the hardest. 

Steve let you both calm down and went to you bathroom. He grabbed a cloth and brought it to the sink. Wetting it a little, he came back into the room and up to you. Steve carefully cleaned up the huge mess that was between your legs and left kisses around your chest. 

“You did so well for us baby” he praised you softly as he looked at your fucked up state. 

All you could do was nod your head carefully and let him clean you up. 

Eddie got up to clean himself up and looked outside the window. He was surprised that it was night time. After finishing cleaning himself up, he turned off the bathroom light and walked inside your room. Smiling at you fast asleep, cuddling with Steve who was also fallen asleep. Eddie grabbed the blanket from the end of your bed and extended it over both of the bare bodies. Turning off the late of your room, he walked to the other side of your bed and got under your blanket. 

“Goodnight baby” he whispered and wrapped his arm around your bare waist. Letting sleep take over his tired body. Dreaming of what was going to happen next.

[toobusybeingdelulu]

look who is speaking…

[seabreeze1969]

Strawberry Pancakes

Summary: Gator Tillman meets OC stripper. She is reluctant to give him a dance, but ends up enjoying it a little too much. He is more than happy to break some rules with her.

Tags/Warnings: strippers, thigh riding, lap dance, power dynamics, paid intimacy, dirty talk, teasing

Chapter One

~Gator

It was the second Friday of May. Every other Friday he found himself sitting in the back of The Tender Trap, a local strip club, with an envelope in his pocket as he waited for a militia man to collect the hefty support of Sheriff Roy Tillman, his father. It was an easy job. That’s why his father gave it to him. At least it was supposed to be easy. But things never came easy to Gator.

As his lazy gaze glossed around the small club, his heart caught in his throat. He wasn’t met with Roxy or Crystal, the usual dancers who would throw him winks every now and again. He saw a young woman he’d never seen before. He was sure if she had been there any of the other Fridays he would’ve known.

Her legs were toned, but covered in stockings forcing him to imagine the bare skin underneath. As his gaze slithered further up skipping over her bare stomach to her breasts he started to feel his pants tighten. The white laced cups pushed up her small tits and had them spilling out over the low top. And finally he reached her face. Her bouncy brown curls framed her soft face, and he couldn’t help but let his mouth fall open as he caught her big doe eyes.

He knew he must’ve looked like a moron sitting there with his jaw on the floor, but he couldn’t help himself. She was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen in person. Something straight off of one of those raunchy old bikini posters he tacked behind his bed.

Before he could stop himself his feet carried him over to the seats closest to the stage where she was entertaining two other men. The closer he got the more her eyes narrowed at him and she suddenly seemed familiar, “Wait a minute. Aren’t you the doc’s kiddo? Miss Grey?” He’d seen her only a couple times when he had to visit the local clinic after a job went sideways, and she looked vastly different in layers of clothes and thick rimmed glasses. But she had given him that same narrow look.

“No, sir,” she shook her head, her full lips turning into a pout, “My name is Candy.”

“Hah, yeah sure it is,” he huffed a laugh, “Anyways, aren’t you a little too smart to be dancing around half naked?”

And then it was her turn to laugh, “If smarts had anything to do with it you’d be the one in heels up here, sheriff.”

“Ouch, sour Candy. You trying to hurt my feelings, girl?” Gator mocked hurt feelings, putting his hand over his heart.

“Were you trying to hurt mine?” She shot back.

“No. How about you make it up to me with a dance?”

“Aren’t you on duty?”

“Nah, I just dress like this for fun,” he hooked his thumbs into the bulky sheriff’s vest, showing it off.

“Won’t it be a bad look for your father?” It was true his father’s election was going to be up soon.

“He’ll be alright. You running out of excuses?” Gator checked.

“I could just say ‘no.’ If you don’t want to take a hint,” she condescended, and that just made him want her all the more. No way in hell was she gonna say ‘no’ to him. He had all the power he needed in the envelope, who would even notice if a couple of the hundreds were missing? Taking less than a second to decide he pulled out the envelope and started counting out the hundred dollar bills that he definitely should not be spending at a strip club.

“Are you deaf? Or just dumb?” Candy frowned, but as he continued to count them she changed her tune, “Holy smokes, where’d you get all that?”

He waved three hundreds at her, “How bout that dance?”

Her mouth opened and closed a few times, struggling with the decision, but then she nodded in defeat, “Let’s go.” She hopped off the stage, and took his hand in her own. Her hand was trembling, until she squeezed him a little harder, and he pretended not to notice it. Pretended he was far too preoccupied with the way her ass swayed back and forth in her little white lace underwear.

In the private room there was one lone chair in the center with dark velvet couches surrounding it. As she stepped into the room her white undergarments turned dark red with the lights. She led him to the chair in the center of the room, shoving him down roughly. He made a show of it for her, collapsing into the chair even though he was barely moved from her hands pushing his chest, “Take it easy, baby.”

She ignored him, sliding her hands across his chest into his leather jacket, to slip it off, taking his vest with it. She hooked it on the back of the chair, which still left him in his bulky hoodie.

“That’s more like it, sweetheart,” he grinned as she walked in front of him again. He drank her in once again now that he had her all to himself. Her slim ankles wrapped in the white plastic straps of the clear high heels that were giving her an extra half foot at least. She looked a little unsteady as his gaze raked up the stockings, lingering on the smooth bare skin of her upper thigh. He imagined for a moment how her legs would wrap around him, how he’d grip her hips. The swell of her hips was accentuated as she took a small step toward him, shifting her weight. As his eyes moved up he found her chest rising and falling in quick breathes, her breasts spilling out of the wired corset cups on every intake. Her blush went all the way down her neck, and when his gaze flickered up to her eyes she cast hers to the floor.

“Don’t get all shy on me now,” he admonished half-heartedly, pleased with her little show of innocence. It was charming.

She took another deep breath, drawing his attention back down to her breasts once again, and unballed her fists, starting to undo the bottom of her corset top. He watched her struggle with the little wire clasps that ran up the front for a long minute before he finally huffed a little laugh, “You need a hand?”

She looked up at him with those big brown eyes, and he wondered if it was more than just a show. Then she frowned and gritted, “Shut up.” And he knew it wasn’t. And that made his cock twitch in his pants. She finally got all the clasps undone and then tossed the offending garment on the couch beside her, unable to hide her pride at getting the damned thing off. She locked her arms in front of her, covering up her exposed nipples. He barely caught a glimpse of the pink skin. And then she seemed to realize what she had done and forced her arms behind her back, sticking out her chest.

“I’ve never done this before,” she finally confessed, but he had gathered that.

“I can tell,” he chuckled, “This might be the worst strip dance I’ve ever seen.”

That seemed to set something off in her. He was good at setting people off. Her cheeks were puffed out in anger as she slowly sank down to her knees, not bothering to hide her disgust at the old tile floors. And then she crawled on her hands and knees to him, swaying her hips and holding his stare like it was a challenge. He kicked his boots out on either side of him, making room for her between his thighs. Then he locked his fingers behind his head and reclined a little, the picture of unbothered, indifferent to her. And he saw exactly what he wanted. That angry determination swirling in those narrowed eyes as she let her cheek rest on his inner thigh.

She ran her hands up his shins, to the expanse of his muscular thighs. He felt the heat of her palm reach the bulge of his hardening cock, straining under his cargo pants. Her brow went up in accusation, “For the worst dance you’ve ever had, you seem to be enjoying it.”

“I’m easy,” he shrugged. Then her tongue was licking a stripe over the outline of his dick and his mouth fell open as he was unable to maintain his cool attitude toward the half naked woman between his legs. That had to be against the rules.

Before he could recover she was swinging her hips to the low vibrations of the bass that penetrated the room. She came up to her full height, giving him an eyeful of her breasts, making his mouth start salivating. Maybe he had just fallen for an act of innocence. Massaged them in his face, letting her head roll back as she let a small moan slip past her lips. His hands were moving on their own, in an attempt to assist her, when she slapped them away, “Hands by your side, deputy, or I’ll use your stupid cuffs on you.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he drawled out slow, gripping the sides of the chair to keep them there, but her threat just turned him on even more. Having her handcuff him sounded like a damn good time to him.

She swung one leg over his so her back was to him, and crawled down the slope of his leg, leaving her ass high in the air, and his hands squeezing the sides of the chair as she bounced a little on his leg. And then in time with music she was snapping back to sitting upright and grinding her hips just an inch above his thigh, letting him see that she was actually getting wet. Then she stepped out again, twisting to face him and kicked one of his boots so his legs came together before she sat in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and playing with his hair just enough to make his head lull back and seek her fingers. He hadn’t felt a touch like that in years, something intimate and gentle. Hell, if he knew a strip dance felt this good he would’ve started skimming money a long time ago, but he had a feeling it was just her making him feel this way.

She bit her lip, trying to contain a grin, and he felt like he was losing the game he had set up. But she made losing feel good.

Then the song switched from fast paced to a slow jam and she lit up, standing to dance in front of him once again. She was familiar with the song, mouthing the words as she ran her hands up her body and tangled them in her hair the way his hands wanted to. While she mouthed the explicit lyrics, he imagined her in his ear whispering filth only he would ever hear.

Her body rolled in time with the slow beat and she ran her hand down between her breasts, over her flat stomach and dipped between her legs for just a second before she pulled her hand back and ran her tongue over them, her tongue that was nearly on his dick when he had ticked her off. “You want a taste?” she asked, tilting her head curiously, and only then had he noticed his mouth had fallen open in want. He only nodded, sticking his tongue out as she stepped closer to him again with her outstretched hand. Her fingers were glossy from her spit as she brushed them gently over his upper lip, avoiding his tongue, and then pulled back, leaving him running his tongue along his lip trying to taste her. He thought maybe she was wearing some kind of strawberry chapstick as he savored a distant artificial sweetness.

He hummed his approval, and when he caught her eye again her pupils were blown wide. He could nearly see himself reflected in them. He was in a similar state. And then she stepped one leg between his and slowly lowered her hips onto his thigh, grinding on him in time with the music. Her skin was hot, like her entire body was blushing. It gave him goosebumps under his jacket where her warmth couldn’t reach.

And then she made a noise in the back of her throat that had him choking on the air in the room, which was suffocating him with a palpable heat. It wasn’t an over the top moan like from the porn he usually watched, it was a whine she had tried to hide but it slipped past her lips anyways. It was the sexiest thing he had ever heard in his life.

She bit her lip and looked at him apologetically, “Hah, sorry.” And the weight of her lifted up, before his hands flew out to stop her.

“No, don’t stop,” he lifted his knee in a jerk response, applying more pressure to her clit. He pulled and pushed her waist back and forth over his thigh, making her breath quicken. She was so sensitive, shaking like a leaf as he pushed his thigh up hard against her, with intention. He wanted to give her that friction which clearly affected her. His eyes traveled down her body to find a wet spot on his camouflage, “Gonna make a mess on my trousers, girl.”

She looked away in embarrassment as he looked up at her in awe. Her lower lip trembled as he leaned forward, bringing his hand to cradle her cheek. He was completely entranced in her glowing red face. He wanted to stop the anxious tremble of her lip, soothe her embarrassment away however he could. But he found no words, instead leaning in, and letting his eyes slip closed as he brushed his thumb down her bottom lip. He could feel her sharp intake of breath nearly against his mouth. He can’t remember wanting something as simple as a kiss with such an intensity before.

She shoved at his chest and stumbled backwards, catching herself on the edge of the couch. His head was spinning from the whiplash as he watched her catch her breath moving as far away from him as the couch would allow.

“No kissing the clients,” she finally spoke after a few beats of heavy breathing.

“No? Just everything else?” He joked a little, trying to recover his own breathing and will his raging erection to go away. He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she started clipping the corset back on.

He stood and slid back into his leather jacket and vest, slicking his hair back which had gotten a little disheveled when she played with it earlier. Then she awkwardly put her hand out and he remembered what he had promised her for such a nice private dance and handed her three hundred, “That’s some technique for your first time.”

“I’m a quick learner,” she nodded, gripping the cash like he was going to snatch it back from her and run. She led him back out into the main room without so much as looking at him and then ran back to the locker rooms, still a little unsteady as his eyes followed her out.

“I’ve been waiting out here for nearly a half hour,” complained Henry, getting up from the bar when he saw Gator. He barely understood the words, too busy thinking about how there was no way in hell he could wait another two weeks to see her again. She gave him a high he knew he’d be hooked on until the day he died. He figured he’d be a married man and still jerk off to her.

“Boy! You hear me? When your daddy hears about you fucking around--” Henry started to threaten, finally pulling Gator’s attention away from the girl. The shove of the white envelope into Henry’s chest cut him off.

“My daddy ain’t gonna hear about it, unless you want me burning this money up and telling him you fucking backward ass hillbillies lost it,” he said it softly with a half smile, contrasting the shouting of the older man who got even angrier as he lost his power.

“We’ll see about that. Don’t make me wait while you’re getting your dick sucked. If you’re daddy don’t make you answer to him. I’ll make you answer to me. Understand, son?”

“Maybe if your wife was better at it you wouldn’t have had to wait so long,” Gator leaned into the man, his hand hovering over the gun in his thigh holster.

“Alright, your time's coming, boy. Your time’s coming.”

“Whatever you say, Henry,” Gator grinned at him, “I’ll see you later.” He waved himself out and hopped into his truck.

He reached for his vape in his pocket, taking a long drag reigniting the buzz in his head that was worked up in the back room of The Tender Trap. He was trying to remember the way her face looked when she moaned, but his memories weren’t coming out right. He needed to see her again. And soon enough he was hard again as he drove back to the Tillman Ranch. The road was lonely and dark that night as he started to touch himself.

[bethecliche]

best friends l steve harrington x f!original character

summary: it is very difficult to be in love with your best friend and feel jealous every time another boy approached. masking his feelings with arrogance and dating other girls to forget her, steve reached his limit. word count: 3.9k content: female reader (no mention of genitalia), no mention of skin color (but mention of hair color), no use of y/n, non canon

In Steve's mind, he never had a chance for romance. At least not when it came to Nicole.

He had been in the girl's hands for a long time, he would do anything and more for her, everything. This included carrying her backpack with the excuse that she was too weak for the weight or sitting in the backseat of Keith's car because he knew she hated feeling left out of the conversation going on in the front seat. He also offered her his coat every time they went out with the excuse that her health was shit and she could get sick easily, when in reality he just wanted to see her wearing his clothes (and not get sick, of course). Although his attitudes were somewhat affectionate, she didn't seem to notice the signs.

They remained in a flirtatious relationship, always close to each other, even when nothing was happening. Of course he preferred them to be together, but he didn't have the courage to open his heart to another girl only to be rejected again. This dynamic was comfortable for Steve for months, however, he had to admit that lately seeing so many interactions between the blonde and his best friend made his fists clench.

The Incredible Q (short form Incredible Quartet, as they liked to call the group) was extremely functional. Steve and Robin were the unbeatable duo and they were more than happy when they met Keith and Nicole working at Family Video. The girls became close very quickly, while with Steve, he created a love-hate friendship with the blondie. He never interpreted the other pair's friendship as something more. For Steve, Keith and Nicole were like him and his lesbian best friend: it would never happen, they just got along really well.

Despite this, everything has changed in recent weeks. Keith was planning to work as a lifeguard over the summer and invited her to join him, which she agreed to immediately. The two were also always at the counter together, exchanging secret matters. It even got to the point where customers commented that the two were very cute together and made a great couple. He would be a liar if he said he wasn't bothered by it.

Today, in particular, this was clearer. The foursome had agreed to watch a movie at Keith's house and nothing bothered Steve more than the two of them talking during the entire plot being shown on television. They always did this, they always needed to analyze action films and plot their escapes in horror films, as well as incorporating each character's personality to decide whether or not to root for them. For whatever reason, that was not the case of the day. Nic was distant and barely opened her mouth to participate in the conversation. In Steve's mind, she was angry about something and in order not to be talking to her friends, one of them had to have done something and he was shaking his foot nervously thinking about what it could have been.

Nic sat on the floor with her knees drawn up to her chest, frowning as a murder scene played on the television. It seemed to be an important scene for understanding the movie, but Steve wasn't able to watch it, as it meant taking his eyes off the girl and having to focus on something that wasn't her. Could he have done something wrong to upset her? He talked nonsense all day long, he never got tired of being the group's comedian with his unwanted and off-key comments, but she was used to it... wasn't she? Nothing ever made her so angry that she was cold and distant. It was as if she was isolating herself from him on purpose. But why would she do such a thing?

“It's almost nine o'clock, Steve.” Keith said slowly, so distracted by the movie that he didn't bother to look in his friend's direction. “Didn't you need to be with the chosen girl of the night around this time?”

Looking at his wristwatch, Steve stretched his arms and glanced at Nic, trying to see if she was interested in the side conversation and the answer was no, she wasn't. Her eyes were focused exclusively on the television, not moving an inch since the last time he looked at her. For a moment, Steve remained motionless, waiting for someone to do or say something else. Maybe ask him to stay or make a joke, but the friends remained quiet. He sighed and got up from the floor where he was, wiping the back of his pants.

“Yeah, cool. I'm leaving now.” He said. “We’re going to the drive-in, I think I have a chance to make out with her.”

This was supposed to be a joke, something to lighten the mood or at least make Nic smile while rolling her eyes, but all the girl did was continue to be distracted by A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 playing in the back of the room, a new release that Robin snuck in from the video store.

“Have manners, asshole. The girls are here.” The boy rolled his eyes and Robin continued speaking with a jocular smile. “And if Chloe has a brain, I doubt she'll come up with anything involving you. I'll be impressed if she shows up.”

“Hilarious, Robs.” He pretended to laugh. “Do you need anything before I leave?”

Steve said half-heartedly wanting to stay. Keith raised his finger asking him to be quiet for a minute, paying attention to the exact moment he could pause without disturbing the immersion of the film. After the scene cooled down, he turned to his friend.

“Why would we need anything from you?”

“I don't know, man..” Steve shrugged, a little uncomfortable with his hands in his jeans pocket without looking directly at anyone. “I can bring some water, get more beers, make more popcorn…”

“We're good, Steve. You can enjoy the night your way.” Keith turned his attention to the TV and put his arm around Nicole, who rested her head on his shoulder.

“If you want privacy, just say it. I even give you some of my condoms, if you're going to use them, of course.” As if a demon had possessed his body, Steve began the greatest nonsense he could say with mockery in his voice. What was a joke in his head came out much more offensive than he expected. “Just don't do anything in front of Rob, she could be traumatized.”

“Fuck you, man.” Robin, who was lying on Keith’s bed, threw a pillow at the tall man. “Just get out of here and don't do anything stupid today, you hear?” She took a quick look at her friends sitting on the floor, who chose to ignore Steve in favor of peace. She knew what was wrong with her friend and wanted to make sure Steve didn't make the same mistake with another girl.

“Me?” He placed his hand on his chest, pretending to be offended. “I would never do something like that!”

Once again, he waited to see if anyone —especially Nic— would say anything. Anything. A goodbye or see you later, at least, but when he saw that wasn't going to happen, Steve rolled his eyes and left the house in long strides.

“Are you okay?” Asked Rob, getting out of bed and pausing the film to support her friend. Keith tried to calmly stroke her hair, showing that he was there for her.

The two of them were the only ones in the world who knew her true feelings towards Steve. Keith, as a great friend, noticed that she was enchanted as soon as the boy started working with them. Shortly thereafter, Robin caught her admiring him on her lunch break and connected one dot to the other. She didn't need to admit her feelings out loud, they were very clear and, like fate, her friends tried to protect her from the foolish things Steve did, especially not engaging when it came to the boy's love life, something she didn't like to know at all.

“Nic, how will he know how you feel if you never tell him? It's better than staying like this.”

“Hell, K. As if it were as easy to do as it is to say, don't you think?” The tears began to accumulate more in her eyes and she finally let out her tears in her friend's arms. “This idiot has a different girl drooling over him every day of the week. What can I do? Show up with a ring declaring my crush while he's there sticking his tongue down Saturday's girl's throat? I mean, does he need to show off the way he just did? This drives me crazy.”

“The atmosphere became very tense today, very quickly. Didn't you notice there was something strange? He acted more of a jerk than he usually does.”

“It's getting harder and harder to be around him... I've been thinking about taking a break from Family Video, you know.”

The two looked in shock and started talking over each other about how she shouldn't make that mistake.

“I need to go to the bathroom, like, now, but just wait, we'll have a serious talk about how you can't quit your job because of a boy. Especially for an idiot like our friend!” Rob ruffled the blonde's hair in a friendly way before running out of the room.

Nic nodded and got up from the floor, walking to the bedroom window to get some fresh air. Keith followed, smiling awkwardly, not knowing what to do.

“Hey, Harrington is a fucking idiot who doesn't see what's an inch from his own face.” He murmured, placing his hands on her face to wipe away her tears. She didn't always get to see Keith's loving side, so she took advantage of his friend's affection in his moment of weakness, letting go of his hands to hug him tightly.

“I can't take this anymore, liking him hurts too much. I need to move on before it hurts me more and damages our friendship.” Nic said between sniffles. “I swear, if he-”

“Wow!” Steve's voice echoed in the room and the two friends quickly separated. Nic turned her back so Steve wouldn't see the tears and her red eyes. “You two are fast, huh? I think you should go to the drive-in too, if you're looking for that much privacy… You waited until Rob left the room, didn't you?”

Nic rolled her eyes and went towards the bed, to sit away from the two. How audacious that stupid boy had to ruin the moment between friends.

“Hey, you don't need to be so ashamed, so shy.” He raised his hands in a sign of redemption. “I didn't want to interrupt you.”

“You didn't interrupt a damn thing and you know it. What are you doing here, anyway?” Keith complained.

“Made the girl give up? Five minutes seems to be the new record for how long someone can last being around you.” Murmured Nic. She didn't want him to notice her comment, but she also didn't want to stop speaking her mind.

“I forgot my wallet, hothead.” He went to Keith's nightstand, putting his wallet back in his pocket and while heading back to the door, he stopped in front of Nicole. “And what's your problem today? Are you having PMS? Or did you happen to fail to catch the attention of someone on the football team today?”

“Harrington, seriously, man. You're not being funny today and it's best to keep quiet while we're still cool.” The taller one warned, taking the remote control to play back the movie and distract his best friend.

“No, Keith, I want to know what her problem is. I'm curious to know why she has to treat me like shit all day long.”

"You know what? Enjoy your date, asshole." She grabbed her bag from the corner of the bed and stood up, looking Steve straight in the eyes. "I hope today's STI is different from the ones you may already have."

Steve watched in complete confusion as the girl left, but before he could follow her and continue to insist on the obvious problem, Keith pushed him to the other side of the room. A long, deep and heavy sigh escaped the taller's lips when he had to, once again, pause the movie. His eyes twitched with irritation and his arms crossed his chest in anger.

“I just wanted to watch the fucking movie. Is that too much to ask?” As soon as he finished the sentence, Rob returned to the room asking why Nicole had left suddenly.

“What's her deal?” Steve asked, ignoring their comments.

“‘What's her deal?’ You are really that stupid.” Rob cursed, lying down on the bed again and giving Keith a look that meant it was time to talk.

A few hours after the whole mess, Nic was home wearing her pink pajamas and ankle socks as she headed downstairs for a snack to watch a rerun of The Facts of Life on NBC. Since she hadn't finished the movie with her friends, at least she could end the day feeling like she did something.

A knock on the door made her stop in her tracks. Her parents had gone out for the night, and when she noticed the time, her stomach lurched with anxiety at who might be bothering her around midnight. She hated being alone.

Since the lights were off and she could just pretend not to be home, Nicole debated whether or not she should open the door. Already with her hand on the doorknob, a familiar voice shouted from outside.

“It's me, idiot. Open the door!” Steve shouted.

“What the fuck?” Whispered the confused girl before opening the door wide open.

There was Steve Harrington with his hands in his pockets and his shoulders forward, a little uncomfortable and with a worried look. For the first time in a long time, he looked like he didn't know what to say.

“What are you doing here at this hour? My parents could be here. Do you know how pissed they would be if they saw you knocking on the door late like this?” She shouted.

“Yes, sorry, but that couldn't wait.” Steve nodded asking for permission to enter the house and Nic granted, slamming the door behind him and turning on the lights in the room.

“What couldn't wait? Is Keith okay, Robs?”

He rolled his eyes.

“Yah, nothing has happened to the two of them since the last few hours you saw them. I'm fine too, thanks for asking.” He shook his head, already regretting having said that. “Sorry. I... Nic, I heard something today and I just need to know if it's true.”

Nic frowned at the request and tried to search her mind for a possible answer.

“If it is true? What are you talking about?” The only thing that could have happened since the last time they saw each other was Steve’s date. Anger was already starting to course through her body just thinking about him with another girl and even more so talking about her. Annoyed, Nic pointed her finger in his face. “That preppy said something about me, didn't she? I'm tired of your girlfriends picking on me or Rob.”

“No, Nic, it wasn't like that at all. I didn't even show up for my date with Sophie.”

“Chloe. There are so many that you can't even remember them.” She said the last part very quietly. Steve closed his eyes in annoyance and gestured with his hands for her to stop interrupting.

“Chloe, Sophie, it doesn't matter who it was.” He said with a shrug. “The important thing is that I didn't go. I stayed and talked to Keith and Robin after you left.”

His eyes showed a raw intensity and Nic could feel something different in his posture after he finished his sentence. Steve ran his hands through his hair, a little nervous, but he didn't look away, waiting for his friend's reaction. He did not reveal in her speech what he talked about with their friends, but by his attitude of coming to her house and wanting to question her, it was a little implicit what it was about.

Nic turned away and walked towards the other side of the room, leaning against the top of the fireplace and pretending to be interested in anything other than to keep the subject.

“Okay, you didn't need to come here at midnight to tell me what we do all the time, which is talk. That's it? You can go now.”

Steve got out of his stance and went to the other side of the room, where she was, pulling her by her shoulder so that she faced him.

“Stop this shit, Nic. You know what I talked to them about. It's been months, almost a year... Every day, at work or among friends, we were together and always had this atmosphere between us. We held hands the entire trip to Indianapolis in the fall and you know the looks we exchanged to the sound of Daryl Hall & John Oates. They were singing to us.”

Nicole looked down at the floor.

In early September, on a warm fall day, the Incredible Q took their first and only car trip to another city to enjoy a festival together. The long drive to Indiana's capital brought Steve and Nicole closer, who sat together in the back seat humming Out of Touch, their favorite song, eager to hear it live. As soon as the instrumental started, they jumped at each other, happy to be living that experience. Robs was flirting with a girl she met at the entrance and Keith was fixated on the performance, both too distracted to notice the passionate looks their friends were exchanging. If it weren't for the crowd pushing the two at the end of the song, it was quite possible that they would have kissed there and that the situation today would not have existed in their lives.

“But you and Keith... lately it feels like there's something more there and I don't want to get hurt again, so I shut myself down and act like I did today, like an idiot. Forgive me, please, I will never talk to you like that again.”

“Keith is like a brother to me, it's so obvious. Why on earth would you believe anything other than that? You are always by our side, seeing our relationship which is the same as yours and Robs!” She shook her head in pure confusion. “What has been happening to you recently?”

With long strides, she began to walk away, heading towards the door to ask Steve to leave and let her sleep in peace. The conversation was already making her stressed.

Once again, Steve tugged on her shoulder, although now he didn't let go. She bent forward, so she would be looking into his eyes and showing her sincerity.

“I'm in love with you, Nicole. Extremely in love. I don’t get how you didn’t realize this before. Soon I'm going to start charging you for running around my head all day.” He smiled, hoping to lighten the mood with the playful comment. Nicole, however, didn't move her face. Afraid of losing his attention, he cleared his throat and continued sternly. “After Nancy, I felt like I was losing the girl I like to the other guy once again. But now the pain wasn't going away, I couldn't think about anything other than you. I want you.”

The first time they watched movies together as a group, the work chosen was The Thing. Everyone there had already seen it, except the blonde, who wasn't used to the horror genre. Noticing the girl's fear, Steve covered her eyes every time a scary scene appeared. As soon as she regained her vision, the first thing she saw was the smiling boy looking at her, saying everything was fine.

Since the day she realized she was in love with Steve, since that movie session in '84 at Keith's house, Nicole dreamed of hearing from him that she was also in love. However, in the context they were in, the taste was bitter.

“When you went out with that guy from the team, I freaked out. I thought... I thought you would feel jealous if you saw me with another girl too. I know I'm an idiot and I don't owe you an apology alone. I enlarged a lot of things to look like a lady killer. In my head, for some reason, you would see me as someone experienced. If I wasn't going to be with you, I thought I would eventually move on with another girl, but I can't. The truth is, I don't even want to. So tell me, what they told me… is it true? Do you like me too?”

No response was given at first. She couldn't think of what would be more appropriate to say. Her body trembled the more she stared at Steve, but she also didn't have the courage to look anywhere other than his eyes.

“For months, have we been fooling ourselves about our feelings when the truth is that we could have been together from the beginning, no problem?” She took a step closer to Steve.

She wasn't sure if her heart was pounding or if that sound she heard was coming from the boy. On her face, validation of her confession, with the worried look of what his response might be. Taking a deep breath and gathering courage, Nicole spoke out the three words she had been holding back for so long.

“I like you. Like, a lot.” Her voice was soft and Steve started to smile when he heard the sentence. He was already melting inside when he pressed his forehead to hers. “Do you believe we can work it out?”

The answer they were both looking for came in the form of a kiss. Their first kiss.

The bitter taste of the day became sweet, chocolate to be more specific. Fulfilling a great wish, her hands went to the boy's hair, who smiled at the kiss and moved away.

“It's always been your dream to mess up my hair, hasn't it?” She nodded yes, also smiling. It was a relaxed moment they needed to calm down. “I'll let you do it again, then.”

His hands were initially on her back, cradling her gently in the comfort of his arms, and then went to her face, caressing the teenager's flushed cheeks. She shivered under his touch, feeling her body heat up more and more. She didn't go back to ruffling his hair, she was too distracted by how gently he was slowly kissing her. She was very shy, as if she had never kissed before, afraid of making a "mistake", however, it flowed naturally between the two.

She was feeling so good, enveloped in his presence, in his scent, in his touches as she deepened the kiss. His fingers slid from her face back to her body, specifically her waist, pulling her closer.

“Steve. We're not doing anything wrong, are we? Aren't we going to wake up tomorrow and fight again or are you going to forget everything you said to me out of the blue?” She murmured against his lips.

“We're kissing and there's nothing wrong with that. In fact, that’s the only right thing I did all day.” He replied with his eyes closed, whispering back, before returning to the kiss. It was as if he was hypnotized. “I want you to be mine, because I am completely yours.”

They could have a serious and detailed conversation the next day, pointing out all the failures of the past and the promises for the future. The feelings now, however, could no longer wait.

[floredaqueen]

The Girls Are Fighting

This is a wip of what I decided to do with Steve! Also, I'm finally drawing Gator again! I hope he.. yknow.. It looks like Gator, lmao

Enjoy! And I hope to get the finished product soon♡♡

[werdlewrites]

masterlist - ao3 - twitter @ djomamma

summary: “Y’know the rules, Harrington.” The teen puffs out his cheeks, blowing a raspberry as he raises a fist and begins to count every finger that extends. “Don’t stay out late. Keep the walkie-talkie on. Don’t talk t’strangers. Don’t do drugs. Always be on high alert.” The two men locked eyes, one almost beaming with enthusiasm while the other seemed entirely unimpressed. “How’d I do?” Hopper says nothing in response to the boy. He takes another sip of his coffee, eyes now on the Autumn as he nods in approval. “Dress warm.” wc: 3,530 warnings: STEVE FLUFF, hallucinations, panic

So, this was 17.

She remembers what it was like to wake up on her 16th birthday. The smell of warmth and cinnamon in the chilly morning as her father plated pancakes for the two of them. A gesture not often shown and accepted with great appreciation. There was an entire day planned out for the two of them. She would unwrap the small presents he’d been collecting over time, learning from hard lessons that he could never shop when time wasn’t on his side. Autumn would wear something new he had gotten her, and they would travel outside of Hawkins to her favorite shop. She spent at least over an hour scouting out various books, crystals, and instruments she had a fascination with. She would pause and stare at something for just a little too long in debate, and he would swoop in to pay the price.

Steve wasn’t in the picture, then. His absence felt like a dagger buried deep in her chest, twisting and pulling until she found herself on Jonathan’s doorstep, ready to continue the celebration with laughter and warmth. But she would lie awake in wonder if he was thinking about her and the smiles they shared, just as she did.

The bitterness of coffee seeps into the darkened wood of the cabin. It bleeds through and pulls her from a quiet night of rest, yet still too lazy to roll out from her bed. There’s no sweet syrup, or the sizzle of batter on a hot pan. Just the gentle thud of his heavy footsteps as he moves down below, trying not to disturb her. No soft sounds from the radio as her father plays a classic tune. Autumn lies there for an unknown amount of time, heavy eyes locked on the beams above and the eyes of nature imprinted through the structure. They stare back. Mocking and pointing out the drastic change in her life in such a short amount of time. How she could no longer recognize the girl she met in reflections.

So, this was 17.

A rumble of hunger has her turning over–inching toward the edge for her feet to rest upon the chilled flooring. Her head rolls from side to side, letting bones crack and settle before her focus shifts to a familiar object across the way. It’s set just by the edge of the attic–tossed aside as she climbed in for bed. The brown wrapping paper was still fully intact, with small animals beckoning for her. She obliges.

The box is carted back toward her bed, illuminated by the glow of morning as she begins to tear at the paper. Slowly, she reveals a checkered pattern along a wooden surface. It’s nearly pristine. Shining beneath the sunlight. She could have mistaken it for something brand new if she hadn’t noticed the small scuff marks along the edges. Or the small loss of sheen as pieces rubbed away at the finish.

It had been well-loved once upon a time. Had this belonged to Dr. Owens? Did he no longer find a use for it, thinking she may give it the love it deserved? It was one of the oddest things been given, for sure. But, she still slides the game board free from the box to peek inside - and her heart slows to a halt.

The girl's veins fill with shards of ice, aching as her body slowly locks up with a mind empty of thought. Unable to turn away–unable to hide from another nightmare as it slips into reality.

Various birds lay in an organized fashion. Perfectly placed and nestled into their felt bedding. She’s seen them all before - in dreams or hallucinations. In that place, she’s constantly pulled back to–the darkness. Where the world peels away little by little - like old, rotten paint falling away to reveal what's beneath. The white walls decorated with the brilliant color of a rainbow and proudly displayed drawings from children.

The voices of people she cannot put a face to yet finds a familiarity with as they go over the rules of the game. Her hands are much smaller compared to her opponent. Small, and frail. She moves every piece to mirror his own, facing down enemies without confidence. But, she finds trust. Piece by piece, they shift. The man acts as a guide at first, letting her find comfort before she moves the pawns across the board, no longer needing his aid.

A small hand raises, finger hovering just over the raven and watching as it begins to slide across the surface with ease, and without contact. “No,” he interrupts. Tiny fingers coil back, hand slipping away with hesitation before the other continues. “You can do better.” And so the hand falls to the girl's lap, fist wound tight against thighs as she stares at the piece - pressure building at the center of her mind until the raven settles in its new square. There’s a breath of relief and a chuckle of approval across the way, “Good.”

Victory is short-lived. A chest swelled with pride deflates the moment a white raven swoops in without mercy. He plucks the girl's piece from the board to set aside with his building collection. “But not good enough.”

A thunderous noise from below shocks Autumn back into the present. Her vision was hazy yet locked in a trance on the checkered boxes. The wooden pieces had been pulled from the depths - by her hand, or something else, she cannot tell. They lay scattered across the board, some rolled off onto the comforter. A lone king remains - a tall eagle entangled in the chains that hold him down. Keep it contained and imprisoned.

It stares in her direction with purpose, bringing attention to the ache in her fingers as they strangle a blackened bird in her hand. Trembling fingers work to pry themselves apart, revealing that same peacock that has followed her through dreams - through another time.

“Autumn?” Hopper's voice rings out, calling to her from the main level and the bird falls from her hand. It clatters along the floor, rolling from her sight as she moves with desperation. The board is pushed back, along with the king and other fallen pieces. They all vanish in the storm that rips through her body. A breath of life finally fills her chest, though it’s panicked. She tugs at blankets until she can no longer see the brown and white squares, shoving at the pieces until they all slip away from her mattress, eager to forget what she’s seen.

“Everything okay up there?”

“Fine!” The lies continue as she calls back. The sound of her voice was shockingly frail and cracked. She stares down at her hands, making sure they are truly…hers. Not of a child, but of someone who’s seen what reckless teenage behavior can do. The small scars from careless actions or the dented nails of anxiety.

“You have a visitor,” his tone is more irritable. A low grumble of something incoherent as he waits at the base of the ladder.

“Tell them t’come back later. I’m not really-”

He scoffs at her response–just barely on the verge of laughing as he pulls away from the wall to move elsewhere. “That’s not likely,” is how he ends it. Leaving the girl in total silence, still struggling to come down from the high of what she’s just seen, and now a budding frustration toward her guardian.

When her chest stills and her mind has cleared itself of fog, she puts on a brave face. Bury the troubles in the corners of her mind like she had always done, so that she could make it through another day. So no one could see the burden she carried. But as she peeks just over the edge of an open attic, the mask slips. A familiar brunette stands awkwardly in the small living room. Hands perched on cocked hips as he sways back and forth impatiently. He’s avoiding the narrowed stare of the chief of police. “Steve?”

Doe-like eyes dart in her direction, curved lips stretching to a soft grin. The boy is unphased by her expression of surprise or the baggy pajamas she still wears. “Want me t’come back later?” he teased, still wearing a look of amusement as she quietly pondered what to say.

She hadn’t seen or spoken to him in days. Not after what happened. Not after she fell into his arms with blinding tears in her eyes. She waits at the edge, convincing herself that this is no hallucination or bad dream. This was the real Steve. His warmth and bright eyes. Nothing like the coldness she had felt in that awful place inside her mind. Hesitantly, she climbs down to meet him with arms crossed over her chest. Remaining cautious and distant.

“What’re you doing here?”

For a moment, his face blanks. Forgetting that things are different - more than just different. More than a reunion between two friends. Her life was entirely altered and off-kilter, not knowing where to stand or where to go. “It’s your birthday.” He states plainly.

Steve finds his spirit lightened when he hears her snort. Lips pulled to a timid smile as she mutters, “I know that.”

“Well,” his hands rub frantically together, the excitement bubbling up until he spreads his arms out wide with a toothy grin. “I’m here t’celebrate!”

The girl's smile falls to a flatline, brows furrow together as she eyes him carefully. Her old friend was not typically the most eager in the morning, especially on a holiday vacation. “Steve, it’s 10 AM.”

The boy's arms fall to rest in a familiar place. One hand raised to confirm the time on his watch, and then he waved her away defensively. “I know. We’re starting late. So, go,” he gestures towards her figure. Fingers twirling midair as the words lodge in his throat, reddening his skin. “Put something on.”

A crooked, disbelieving smirk shines on the girl's face. Neck twisting to catch sight of Hopper's lack of amusement. Steve’s done a lot for the two of them while her world crumbled and slipped through the gaps. He’s provided a helping hand. A shelter when the sheriff couldn’t stand at her back for protection. He’s given comfort and smiles when it is most needed. And despite all he’s done, it gives the older male little comfort in letting her go.

But, he gives his blessing with the tilt of his head and shrugs of his shoulders. “Y’know the rules, Harrington.”

The teen puffs out his cheeks, blowing a raspberry as he raises a fist and begins to count every finger that extends. “Don’t stay out late. Keep the walkie-talkie on. Don’t talk t’strangers. Don’t do drugs. Always be on high alert.” The two men locked eyes, one almost beaming with enthusiasm while the other seemed entirely unimpressed. “How’d I do?”

Hopper says nothing in response to the boy. He takes another sip of his coffee, eyes now on the Autumn as he nods in approval. “Dress warm.”

Attention is locked on the contents of her bag, checking that nothing had been left behind in the diner when she notices the ground is no longer painted in the glow of a setting sun. The light is gone–swallowed up by an eclipse as ash rains down from the sky. It dances through the air with every step, quickly coating the top of her boots and dirtying her jeans. Autumn truly sees the world, then. Buildings collapsed and were pulled into the Earth by living vines.

It’s all so familiar. The cracks of lightning as they whip through the sky, illuminating the nothingness. The rumble of thunder that follows goes unheard, drowned out by a racing heart as it pounds in her ears. It’s a dream–it’s only a dream.

It’s not real.

But his presence is hard to ignore. That same chill radiates from his frozen form as he stands at her back, waiting just outside the now-empty diner. Her eyes close, and she recites the order of events in hushed whispers to herself. She had left that place - it had been days. He reluctantly let her go back to the cabin once her sobs had ceased. The sun had set and risen - she counted the hazy stars. Teeth chewed her lip raw from anxiety as she faced Dr. Owens for the first and second time.

She couldn’t be back in this place.

Not with him–whoever he truly was.

“Autumn?”

She can hear him at her back, his voice soothing and full of worry. The teen can’t help but feel as though it were a trick. Luring her in with familiarities before striking. She knows he’s not really there. Not the boy she once knew. Something twisted and evil lurks in her shadow, waiting for her to accept him.

“I could have saved you.”

Not real.

Not real!

“Aut?”

Focus snaps in the boy's direction, blinded by the sudden light that fills her vision. He’s shed the puffy winter coat, leaving it discarded somewhere in the back. The heat glides along their skin, leaving their cheeks tinted but blissful as it thaws frozen limbs. The run out to his car was short, but the snow had piled high enough to slip inside her boots as they trampled through the path.

Dampened toes curl, brushing up against abandoned boots, reminding her that this was real. His look of concern was real. Not the emptiness the other version of him held. Not the bitterness that dripped from that stranger's tongue. “You with me?” he questions, his eyes glancing from her to the road ahead on repeat.

All she can do is shake away the nerves, urging a smile to the front as she basks in the moment. The words “this is real” loop in her mind. “Yeah, m’good. Just thinkin’ about how long it’s been since we’ve done this.”

Those few words seem to shift the atmosphere by force. Taking hold and twisting it until the boy grows uncomfortable in his seat. “Yeah, it’s long overdue.” There’s visible discomfort in his expression, eyes forward but mind elsewhere as he muddles over the right words to say. A silent battle in his mind while his empty hand grips a denim-clad thigh. The nerves rise with the growing tides until they spill out. “Is this okay?”

Confused, she spares a glance his way. Noting how his eyes dart frantically between her and the journey ahead. “Y’know, this? Doing this? I didn’t like–I didn’t make you feel pressured t’go, right?”

Autumn’s tense shoulders sag, face softening as she watches him come undone before her. His vulnerability was proof enough that this was no dream - no nightmare. Just the same boy who panicked and stumbled over himself. Needing to be accepted by the people he gave his all to. King Steve was dead. Not just the title, but all of the false adopted traits he gathered over time. It was simply Steve.

“I mean, I don’t want t’assume that we’re-I don’t know. I–I just-”

“Steve,” the girl interrupts, eyes unreadable as they connect over the center console.

“Yeah?” he seems almost breathless as he responds. Hoping that in some way, they could just move on. Forget about this moment and how embarrassed his ramblings had made him. Skin flushed with knuckles white as they grip the wheel.

“Shut up.”

The boldness in her reply throws the boy off balance. There’s no more heated anxiety or timidness - just an empty mind as it rings out in his ears. Echoing and filling the gaps. In all of the years he’s known her, he’s always been able to pinpoint when Autumn was full of shit. When she was teasing, being a jerk, or seeming sincere. But now, with time and the erosion of her life, it’s unclear what it all means.

“I’m in your car, aren’t I? Like you said. No one, not even you, can make me do anything.”

It all takes a moment to sink in. A smile slowly inches toward the surface, full of light as he begins to relax in the driver's seat. Aching fingers release their strangled grip, letting the blood flow with ease. She chose to be here–wanted to be here. There was still a glimmer of hope, no matter how dark the world all seemed.

“Where the hell are we going, anyway?”

The pair had driven through town, passing every possible spark of interest for Autumn. Hawk Theater, the library, or even a place of peace and comfort just at the cliff of Lover’s Lake. Admiring the view as sunlight captured the glow of icy water and fresh snow. He wouldn’t spoil his plan–insisting she just sit and be patient. However, his encouragement to wear multiple layers was…alarming.

He had even promised that if she wasn’t happy, they could turn around and find a last-minute movie to enjoy. She spent the entire ride guessing, only to be shot down every time. Eventually, she ran out of ideas. Instead switching the conversation to Nancy, which he immediately began to fumble. His answers were short but honest. They were working on things, yet he was too shy to fully go into the details, unlike his somewhat ex-girlfriend who found confidence in confiding with another girl.

The conversation slowly fades out once his speed reduces, curiosity reaching its peak. He’s pulled into a lot, and it’s packed. Cooled cars sit along the treeline, entirely abandoned or the drivers mingle around with their children as they button up their heavy coats. They all seem to follow after one another - moving towards a park that no one seems to be taking advantage of. And as she spots the multiple, large inflatable tubes and sleds, she begins to understand why.

She calls his name, and all he can do is smile as he finds an empty spot toward the back. Telling her to get her shoes back on before he’s out of the car, jacket in hand as he moves toward the passenger side. Her door opens without thought - like it comes second nature to him. Unphased by her puzzled gaze beneath fallen hair while she forces each foot back into her boots.

“Unless you have a sled in your trunk, I think we’re pretty screwed.”

He scoffs, leading the way toward the snowy field with his fingers fiddling with his wallet. “Don’t worry about it. It’s covered.”

An older man stands with a smile on his face, speaking to parents as they exchange a few dollars for an inflated tube he keeps just at his back. They all move on, preparing their child just at the edge of what Autumn believes is a small hill. Steve does the same, ignoring her words of protest as he forces the handle into her hand.

There’s hesitation as she stands along the lineup of people, staring down a white expanse that is far longer and steeper than she pictured. And Steve can’t help but notice the sudden tension in her shoulders, or clench of her jaw. “What? Afraid of heights now?”

“No,” she bites back. “I’m afraid of what comes after.”

Steve can’t bury the smile so proudly on display, though there’s a teasing look in his eye as he suggests they go together. It’s all for her benefit, so she’s less afraid. But she scoffs at him and slams the object down, her torso pressed to the surface and in a matter of seconds, she abandons him at the top of the hill. She can hardly hear his cries of excitement as the wind overwhelms her senses.

It feels like it did all of those years ago. Careless and free. No longer imprisoned by her mind as it was filled with impossible things or voices from the unseen. Weakened wings were gaining their strength, reaching out to the sun so that she could finally fly. But it’s all over in an instant. She reaches the bottom and her pace begins to slow to a halt, a wild heart rate drowning out the sound of joyful children all around her. Or the hiss of plastic as it grinds against compacted snow, inching closer toward her with every second.

She’s breathless from the sudden adrenaline, aching eyes staring out into nothing until Steve slides into her view, just a few feet beyond her. There’s tension in his neck as he pulls at one handle, trying to shift the tilt before it surrenders and tosses him off to the side. You can hear his body collide with the ground, and a forced “oomph,” before he erupts in a fit of laughter.

“Well,” he grumbles between every huff, now up on his damp knees. “That could have been more graceful.”

The boy notices her intense stare and the quivering twitch of a smile. It all seems to speak for her when the words don’t reach her lips. She’s having genuine fun—excitement flooding through her veins to leave her dizzy. “What?” He asks, mimicking her expression as he finally stands, dusting away the snow.

“I want t’go again.”

[springfaekohaku]

A Rabbit Cannot Pretend To Be Bigger Than Itself

Chapter 1

Darkness was something Gator became quite acquainted with since Ole Munch, an immortal sin-eater gorged out his eyes with a heated knife.

The last thing he saw was the red burning tip of the blade, screaming that he didn’t realise was coming from his own throat and deafening his ears, the pain made everything go white and his remaining eye roll at the back of his head.

He thinks he saw stars, the world go all distorted and in the midst of blinding pain and adrenaline, losing his voice as his screams becomes hoarse, he almost has this moment of pure reprieve, bliss and euphoria…but it was all torn away as Ole’s voice soothes him, so calming and pitying; he wasn’t done with just one eye. Gator feels tears begin again in his right eye, not sure if he can even produce tears in the eye Ole just took, but he sobs, knowing it’s not over yet.

Gator wanted out at this point, he’d rather be dead. He wanted Dot, he wanted her freshly baked cookies and warmth.

It felt like hours, no, an eternity since Ole’s gentle yet firm grip on his face is holding him still and Gator is helpless as Ole directs his last vision to his face and finally that same red hot knife shows itself again. Gator knew Ole wanted him to remember this moment, to have this scene and memory engraved in him, never to forget. The second time, it’s worse. He doesn’t know how, but his nerves are set alight, he’s definitely lost his voice at this point, the white burning pain in his eyes and face is too much; yet he stays conscious. He thought that the second time would be something he could handle, but the break in between as Ole put Gator’s eye in a jar made Gator put his guard down and his body slumped in response.

He definitely doesn’t like the colour red or any warm colours for that matter anymore. He definitely doesn’t want to come across anything hot or heated for a while either.

After his eyes were taken, his eye sockets now caved and carved, he recalled the smell of burnt flesh, blistering like pain and his body going limp in defeat and exhaustion. The phantom feeling of Ole’s hands and fingers holding him upright, the constant pet name of “Rabbit” being said and addressed to him. How he actually preened and loved the attention, he was down a sense and all he can feel, hear, smell and touch was Ole. The very man who was his target, who he tried to hunt down to make his father proud. A man who even though afflicted the pain, soothes his wounds and bandages them with cloth around his head. A small comfort.

Gator will never forget how powerless, small and insignificant he felt in that moment, his first moments of eternal darkness and how much of a prey he truly was. Was this the only way for him to be humbled, to finally have this eyes opened and see truly how much his father has corrupted him? He was no longer the predator he thought he was, he was not a winner, he was never going to be the som his father would be proud of. He should’ve known ever since his father told him why his name was Gator in the first place, how stupid and delusional he was to even think he had a chance to redeem himself in hopes that he’ll be Roy. That he’ll be deserving of that name.

Unfortunately, Ole is right. Gator is not this opposing and threatening predator, but a rabbit who tried to go against its nature and pretend to have claws and sharp teeth.

The rabbit is forced to take off its fake claws and teeth, retire the wolf fur it disguised itself as and mourn the loss of its eyes. In any other of case, a rabbit that is deprived of one of its senses is a death sentence in the wild, however, this rabbit will live. The rabbit will live as how nature intended it to.

Gator doesn’t remember the events that happens next, he vaguely recalls himself being tied and lead like a dog in a leash. His father’s voice, Gator calling out to him and being pushed into him and feeling cold everywhere. Everything is black, he calls out again but really, he wanted Dot. He wanted to cuddle up to her again.

Which is exactly what he got after everything was done and over with. The sound of sirens, voices everywhere and his brain going overdrive at the events that had just taken place. How he turned his father in and redeemed himself. Not entirely, but he felt it was the right path to take in order to get there. It’s only as he asks Dot for a hug, that when she encloses her arms around him and promises she’ll visit him in prison with his favourite cookies — that he finally lets himself break. He cries, he sobs with his whole body, he doesn’t think he cried any tears, which felt weird but his nose begun to run and he had to sniff a bit to keep it from running more. At least to him, that proved he can still feel, react and show emotion; the way his throat had that painful lump and whimpers screamed for someone to help him and love him. Gator finally feels a mother’s love once more.

He feels the warmth and sense of safety be taken from him as he’s cuffed to the stretcher and escorted by paramedics to the hospital. It takes a long time months perhaps, he would loose track of time and dates a lot. He doesn’t remember much, but it was cold, which he liked, but it was only bearable because Dot returned by his side and kept him company until their trial date. Their relationship was on the mend and they had a lot of time to recover and get reacquainted again. After Gator was cleared medically and prescribed medications for his treatment and road to recovery, he was also assessed for other concerns regarding his psychiatric state and was diagnosed with abandonment issues, complex PTSD, depression and anxiety. It’s honestly not surprising but to have it officially confirmed and on paper (which he couldn’t even read) felt all too real to him. His eyelids are permanently glued shut as well and he finds it more comfortable because of it.

After the trials, court, case and whole legal ordeal, his sentencing and hearing his fathers sentence being incarceration. Gator was sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment, due to the tampering of evidence and his other actions.

However, being the key witness and main accomplice to his father, being the one that turned him in and attested against Roy in court; Gator was able to have his sentence shortened. Not to mention that Dot was able to help shed light on his upbringing, how manipulative and corrupt his father was and how it was hard without his mother. It turned in his favour. He will serve 3 years in jail and because of his conditions, he will be placed in the Federal Medical Centre in Texas. A 2 and a half hour flight.

He thanks Dot for making sure they transfer him to the FMC rather than a normal prison, he knew that as the rabbit he was, he would’ve been eaten alive if that were the case. Fortunately, he has a better chance at surviving prison in a more protected environment, which will cater to his mental and medical needs. He also has Dot and her cookies to look forward to, he feels like that is his primary light in the dark, his willingness to keep living and be better.

He has much to atone for and even more to heal from. Which he’ll do in his time of isolation, even though being blind is basically isolation in itself. He just hopes he doesn’t go crazy in there. He has a lot to learn, to grow and adapt to.

The rabbit is in a new cage now. It doesn’t have its eyes, but it sees more clearer than ever before.

He feels more freer than ever in his life.

[dancingsunflowers-ocs]

Wyatt Weaver x Kurt Hummel

↳ for @carmens-garden as part of her happiness gift exchange! 🎁

[strangerficsx]

Full Stranger Things Series Masterlist

Midnight Rain

Genre: Sci-Fi; Drama; Horror; Mystery; Drama; Romance Warnings: Violence; Fear; Anxiety; Swearing; Gore; Substance use; Drug use

Jennifer henderson's biography Phoebe cromwell's biography

cassatt tape (one | two | three | four | five) style (S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5) relationship timeline (season 1 ~ 4)

SEASON ONE

prologue i

chapter one : the vanishing of will byers

chapter two : the weirdo on maple street

chapter three : holly, jolly

chapter four : the body

chapter five : the flea and the acrobat

chapter six : the monster

chapter seven : the bathtub

chapter eight : the upside down

SEASON TWO

prologue ii

chapter one : mad max

chapter two : trick or treat, freak

chapter three : the pollywog

chapter four : will the wise -

chapter five : dig dug - as the henderson siblings frantically clean and attempt to trap dart, dustin decides to leave and get help as jennifer stays behind on look out when phoebe suddenly arrives at her place. she tells the other female what's going on in hopes of having her believe jennifer and make sure she's not crazy.

chapter six : the spy - believing it is some halloween prank, steve indulges in the search for dart, learning that it was for a girl jennifer's brother likes as they lead a trail of meat to capture the dog at the junkyard. however, the yard needed some cleaning up and protection as they all wait the night out and are sitting ducks while awaiting the arrival of dart... until things go wrong when more demodogs show up to terrorize them and the kids.

chapter seven : the lost sister - after the death of someone she cares deeply about and getting to know max, jennifer offers to be a big sister / role model to her since billy is a huge jerk and isn't willing to do that since he holds a lot of anger.

chapter eight : the mind flayer - after reuniting with nancy and jonathan, the teen and children meet hopper, joyce and will as they regroup at the byers' residence to make a plan on how to close the gate.

chapter nine : the gate - after eleven reunites with everyone, she plans on closing the gate as her and hopper escape to hawkins lab. secondly joyce, jonathan and nancy take will and try to fight the mind flayer within as jennifer and steve babysit her brother and his friends until trouble shows up.

SEASON THREE

prologue iii - jennifer comes home from visiting her aunt in michigan, leading her to the newly built starcourt mall where she starts working at an ice cream parlor to keep herself busy from thinking about the death of her best friend.

chapter one : suzie, do you copy? - with a sudden power outage, jennifer begins to suspect something bad is coming, suspecting the gate has been opened, things turn upside down when she go through a bought of depression -- hiding her feelings from steve.

chapter two : the mall rats - jennifer's brother comes home from camp nowhere, revealing that he intercepted a russian code the night before as he asks for help from her, steve and robin.

chapter three : the case of the missing lifeguard - jennifer, steve, and dustin keep a look out for russian spies in the mall as she begins to feel somewhat better.

chapter four : the sauna test - after robin finds a useful map of starcourt mall, her, jennifer, steve and dustin bribe erica with 'free ice cream for life' as she crawls through startcourt's ventilation system. later, she opens the lynx transportation door, and the small group comes down from the roof to join her.

chapter five : the flayed - after falling down the elevator shaft, the scoops troop make their way through the russian base as they come across the gate being reopened.

chapter six : e pluribus unum - with robin and steve trapped by russians, jennifer, her brother and erica stage a daring rescue.

chapter seven : the bite - the teens and kids prepare for war as they regroup with joyce, hopper and newcomer murray bauman.

chapter eight : the battle of starcourt - terror reigns in starcourt mall when the mind flayer comes to collect. However down below, in the dark, the future of the world is at stake.

SEASON FOUR

prologue iv - with jennifer's relationship on the rocks, she meets metalhead eddie munson at a lone picnic bench behind hawkins high school as soon become friends.

chapter one : the hellfire club - jennifer begins working at family video alongside steve and robin when she gets invited to eddie's trailer, only to be a witness to a crime by an unknown entity.

chapter two : vecna's curse - while jennifer tries to tell her friends what happened, they don't believe her and begin searching for eddie. that night, he reveals to the gang what happened.

chapter three : the monster and the superhero - jennifer, steve and dustin take max to talk to ms. kelley before traveling to the high school to retrieve answers on her condition.

chapter four : dear billy - max is in grave danger... and is running out of time as jennifer, lucas, dustin, and steve accompany the teen as she writes and hand delivers goodbye letters for family and loved ones.

chapter five : the nina project - while the hawkins kids comb a crumbling house for clues, billie is in danger when she becomes vecna's next target.

chapter six : the dive - while searching for another gate to the upside down, the police catch dustin, lucas, and max as the young adults dive into lover's lake to rescue steve.

chapter seven : the massacre at hawkins lab - jennifer, steve, nancy, robin, and eddie are trapped in the upside down. jennifer later learns from nancy that the day is stuck in november 6, 1983 -- the day will byers went missing.

chapter eight : papa - after getting back to the real world, the gang gather supplies and prepares for battle.

chapter nine : the piggyback - from russia to california to hawkins, heroes fight to save hawkins -- and the world itself.

Crazy For You

Genre: lgbtq; sci-fi; horror Warnings: violence, past trauma, swearing, fear, gore, alcohol consumption, light smut

kathryn harrington's biography phoebe hopper's biography

THREE

001. missing keys - after arriving at starcourt mall, kat finds her brother's keys as he returns them to where he works, coming in contact with his co-worker robin buckley.

002. the mall rat - kathryn begins to develop feelings for a fellow classmate, coming to scoops ahoy all the time just to talk to robin.

003. the stakeout - kathryn gets dragged away from her crush to have a stakeout with her brother and dustin in starcourt mall, almost revealing too much information.

004. test - kathryn follows robin to a nearby store to retreive a map of the mall's ventilation system, and begin to get to know one another.

005. flayed - kathryn, robin, steve, dustin and erica get trapped beneath the mall in a russian base.

006. the rescue - steve, erica and dustin come to kathryn and robin's rescue, saving them from the russians.

007. war - after running off, kathryn and robin are enticed by the mall's lights before purging the truth serum out of them, later coming to terms on how they feel about each other.

008. starcourt - everyone regroups to plan out how they can fight the mind flayer and close the gate once and for all.

009. is this love? - kathryn and robin give the relationship between them time as kat mourns the loss of her best friend.

010. trauma - the grieving process is hard cause there's a lot of feelings to uncover, however, a dark entity begins taking over students of hawkins high.... unfortunately, kathryn is one of them.

011. cursed -

012. hawkins past - kathryn, nancy and robin venture out and delve into hawkins past demons.

013. running out of time - the gang uncovers the symptoms that vecna's victims suffer from before eventually dying as kathryn worried for her future.

014. the creel house - the gang investigate clues in the creel residence to try and find something to save kathryn.

015. the dive - after kathryn, dustin, max, and lucas get caught being out after curfew, they eventually figure out a way to communicate with them from nancy's bedroom before escaping to rescue the gang.

016. vecna's motive - nancy reveals vecna's past to the others as everyone fears for kathryn's safety.

017. prepping - the gang prepare for battle as robin commemorates her love for kathryn one last time.

018. the fight - being a prime target, kathryn sacrifices herself long enough for the gang to fight vecna

epilogue - what come next for kathryn now that she's saved?

[travelingtwentysomething]

✨Are you new here?✨

✨🌚)))))(✨Hailey on AO3✨)(((((🌝✨

🪩 Let's Be Honest, If You Could Hop Dimensions, You'd Save Eddie Munson Too (AO3 // REBLOG // My Art: Eddie in Disguise/Comparison) - A Steddie+Original NonBinary Time/Dimension Traveler Character Fix-It Comedy/Adventure

🌚 Devotion Tastes So Sweet On Your Lips (AO3 // REBLOG) - A Spooky Steddie Horror One-Shot (Maybe Series...) Steve Prays To The Old Gods And Eddie The Banished Answers

🕸️ A Sticky Situation (AO3 // REBLOG) - A Harringroveson x Spideypoolverine Crossover Comedy One-Shot +Inspo Post for A Sticky Situation

—+++—Some Bonus Tumblr Only Ficlets—+++—

+Steve Throws Eddie His Yellow Sweater, Eddie Throws Steve His Vest. It's a Whole Thing (It's Canon. Gone a bit Viral, this one🤘) +Further Evidence: Steve Puts on The Vest and Eddie Checks Out His Ass, Also Canon. +Bonus Canon: Every Time Eddie Puts On His Steve Smile

+Eddie Realizes Steve Is More Than A Babysitter (w/ Inspo Post Steve Slays Demo-Bats, Eddie Reacts, This One Has Gotten Popular, But I Mainly Attribute That to Steve's Titties 🤘)

+Rockstar!Eddie in a Case of Mistaken Identity Gets Dragged to Dustin's 21st "Rockstar Hotel After Party" Themed Birthday by an Oblivious Steve +Bonus Robin Has Something To Say About That (An Add-On Ficlet Inspired by Whathehonestfuk 's post🤘)

+Rockstar!Eddie Meets His New Personal Assistant Steve and Is a Little Shit About It, But Steve Takes No Shit And That Fucks Eddie Up (An Add-On Ficlet Inspired by Urdreamgirls-dreamgirl 's post 🤘)

+Rockstar!Eddie, Meets Server Duo Stobin, is an Asshole and Gets His Just De'Soup- Later Eddie Comes Back to Apologize and Gets Steve's Number- Then, A Misunderstanding and a Proposal (An Add-On Ficlet Started by Two Very Talented Writers Sabbathbloddysabbeth and Estrellami-1🤘)

+Steve is Afraid to Scare Eddie Away by Treating Him 'Like a Girl,' Eddie is Frustrated, Thinking Steve Just Can't Bring Himself to Cuddle Him Because He's a Guy.🤘(Until Eddie Opens Steve's Closet and a Mountain of Dead and Drying Bouquets and Boxes Fall All Around Him. An Add-On Ficlet Inspired by Strawnger 's Post) +BonusThe Add On Where They Go From Idiots to Lovers

+Steve is Mad That Eddie Can't Seem to Warm Up to Him and Finally Asks Him What's His Problem? Eddie Indicates the Problem is Sexual Frustration. (Steve May Be Slow On the Draw but He Ain't Shooting Blanks🤘😏 An Add-On Ficlet Inspired by Steddiecameraroll 's Post)

+Steve Is Emboldened to a Life of Crime by His Association with Chief Hopper, and Drags Eddie Along for the Ride (An Add-On Ficlet🤘 Inspired by Morganbritton132 's Post)

+Steve is Drawn Into a Life of Crime with Eddie, Stealing Cars, Until Eddie Gets Caught and the Judge Offers Prison or Military. Years Later, Steve Gets Knapped and Trafficked and Undercover Agent Eddie is There. (Sounds Wild, Is Wild. A Steddie Ficlet Prompt, Hoping Someone Takes This and Runs With It🤘)

+Stephanus Concubinus, Emperor Geta's Vita (Steddie x Gladiator II AU Blurb Inspired by Kingsandsaints ' Gorgeous Painting of Joe Keery Wearing Laurels and a White Sheet🕊️)

+S4 Cut Scene: Steve Pines For Eddie, Dustin is Excited For Two Dad's, or Whatever, He's Not Picky (Eddie Witnesses This Interaction From Afar, Wonders Fondly, an Add-On Ficlet Inspired by Tellme-astory 's Post)

+Steddie!Little Mermaid AU Blurb-let (It Started With a Whisper- *Steve Herrington* and Ended When Prince Eddie Kissed he- er, uh, no wait- That's Actually Henry the Sea Witch with Prince Steve's Stolen Voice... Violence and Magic and A Happily Ever After, Oh My!)

+Rogueddie Famous!Steddie, Eddie Reads Tumblr RPF of Steve, Steve Gives a Rec (Rogueddie Wrote A Blurb, I Wrote A Blurb, an Add-On Ficlet)

+Eddie Doesn't Give A Fuck About Sleep Paralysis Demon Steve (Bit Personal, Turned Into a Steddie Prompt Blurb)

+Eddie, Post Apocalypse, Joins The Military Supernatural Special Forces, Until He Receives a Call from an Old Friend in Hawkins (a Steddie Prompt Blurb Inspired by Frecklesjoes ' Post)

✨everything else you need to know under the cut✨

📜A Tale in Gifs🍿

—++++—Stories Told in a Montage of Gifs—++++—

+Steve Definitely Doesn't Have A Type: A Steddie Tale in Gifs (+Because I Can't Leave Well Enough Alone, Emotional Damage) (Learned how to make gifs for this post lol took me hours give it some love, my first sort of popular post🤘)

+Steve: All My Homies Love Boobs And Hate The Government / Robin Looks At Eddie: *Gay Silence* / Steve: Right?! (Robin Looks At Eddie: *Cringes* / Steve: *Bi Panic Sets In*)

+Eddie Munson the Lunchtime Menace... He Does All His Best Menacing at Tables: A Tale in Gifs (A Montage of Eddie Being Menacingly Innocent 😇👀)

+Steve: If He Fuck Me Good I'll Take His Ass To Red Lobster / Steddie Version / Metal Sandwich Version (🍨⛵🦞)

+The First Time Little Eddie Munson With The Buzzed Hair Gets Called A F*reak, He Is Too Stunned To Speak (Literally, just a sentence ✨with gifs✨ but now I need 100k words, on my desk by Monday morning. Prompto.)

🪩My Original Posts🪩

#op

+My 2010 1D Tumblr Origin Story (🤣The true story of how I ended up on Tumblr)

+My Singular Piece of Art (Eddie in Disguise/Comparison)

+Jack Whitehall Incorrect Quote/Shipping Gays is the Glue That Holds Fandom Together🤘

+Harry Styles Raps to Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Video (if you've never seen this, you're not fully realizing your potential)

+Joe Quinn is Dating Doja Cat? (It only took me a couple minutes to make this gif, skill issue defeated)

+Someone Asked Me "Favorite word?" And I Am A Comedian, So I Said- (you won't regret clicking on this one, here's your first clue that I am hilarious.)

+My Theory on Why Hollywood (And Men™) Thinks All Women Over 30 Are Witches (added to this already hilarious post about the Disney Movie Freaky Friday, your second clue that I am actually the funniest person you don't even know)

🪩Gems You Missed🪩

+A Break-up Cake Commissioned By Me From The WM Bakery: Mario Kart - "Welcome Back To The Streets" (If We Are Friends, This Is The Kind Of Moves You Can Expect From Me, Indisputable Proof That I Am Occasionally Hilarious.)

+My Halloween Tree and Blockbuster Wall (About 4,000 DVDs lit up by my Halloween Tree, it's a Spooky Vibe, ask me for a Movie Rec... When I die I'm fixin to haunt the Criterion Closet👻) +BONUS: Top Ten Favorite Movie Memories (The ONLY Get To Know Me Posts You Need To See)

+ I just realized I caught the GHOST in my haunted house on video 🫥👀💀

+15 Minute Roast Beef and Potato Soup (I make up easy recipes sometimes, ask me about my rotisserie chicken enchiladas with cilantro lime sour cream sauce)

+I'm Allergic to Cats, But I Would Get A Blue Russian to Name Them Comrade, Nickname: Commie (Big Brain Name Game™, Give me some credit and reblog this post🐈‍⬛)

+My High Thoughts About Pyramids (Higher Thoughts💭)

+My Ridiculous Laptop Sticker Collection (feat. Some Steddie Stickers from Raynecreates)

+🍯My Dog Honey Watches Scooby Doo / Honey Cuddles Then and Now / Honey Plays Then and Now 🍬 / Honey's Pug-pies: Scooby, Momo, Pickle, and Ponyo / Honey Helped Make Better Pugs 😂

+My Review of the Movie A Real Pain with Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin (An Ode to Real Pain, My Stream of Sleep Deprived Consciousness Sounds Like Beat Poetry🥲)

+My Epitaph (My Personal Philosophy, It's A Banger™)

👇Check the #Tags below to narrow down the fun👇

(I go a lil ham with the tags, trying to be thorough, so I'm a safe blog if you utilize tag blocking, search my blog for any of your own interests, you'll most likely strike gold 😂 give it a try if you're curious, or scroll on down and click on a tag, if it's not clickable use that tag in the search bar to search my blog)

I RECOMMEND:

#op - posts that I created or I contributed a significant comment to

#personal - if you're trying to see more than just fandom- really get to know me 🥹 also #is it me, #tism, #tis me

#trauma dump and #dream journal - the drama, the tea, the weird dreams that are so ridiculous I had to tell someone, even if it is just shouting it into the void to hear the echo, basically over sharing. #childhood memories

#interest - anything that is of interest to me, stuff like #therapy, #linguistics, #anthropology, #sociology, #psychology, #archeology, #movies, #film theory, #politics, #house hunting, #location scouting basically anything that interests me outside pretty people and shows

#my recipes - I occasionally make up something easy peasy, you like cooking quick churched-up struggle meals?

#thoughts - my own comments/thoughts or posts that made me think, try #high thoughts, #higher thoughts

#comedy - anything that made me #lol

#writing - my own fics and posts I actually contributed commentary to or a lil blurb, or writing inspo and prompts I am interested in, as well as writing resources, tips, etc. #fic prompt

#steddie - probably my most common tag I love them but there's a plethora of tags #steddie art, #steddie fic, #steddie comic

#pretty - it's the boys and the girls and the #aesthetic stuff too

#boys - any of the pretty boys I like to reblog

#femme fatale - pretty girls, alternately #laissez faire

#smile - if you wanna smile, I heard they're contagious and this tag has some beautiful smiles 😁 and a few things guaranteed to bring joy

#spooky - It's #spooky season baby and #halloween is in my veins. We got #spooky art, #house hunting, #halloween decorations, and best of all #spooky steddie

🤌Like this post and I will definitely follow you (*except minors soz)👀

✨REBLOG✨ and we will be ✨MUTUALS✨

[ash5monster01]

hihi, for ur requests could u do 15/20 for steve harrington/joe keery (you can choose which) ? with an emphasis on plus size reader pleaseee

Unexpected Greetings

Valentines Celebration Prompt

Paring: Joe Keery x FemReader!PlusSize

Warnings: nudity, body image issues, language

20. The last thing you want to do is leave your apartment on Valentine’s Day and see all the happy couples but instead you discover your neighbor across the hall has been locked out with only a towel around his waist.

word count: 1.6k

Masterlist

Being a bigger girl meant never celebrating a Valentine’s day. Normally you were single and if you did have a boyfriend, somehow the relationship never overlapped with the holiday. So the last thing you wanted to do was step outside this apartment and see all the happy couples handing each other red teddy bears and boxes of chocolates. You wanted to love the holiday, oh so desperately, but how could you when you were never the one receiving stuffed bears and chocolates? Instead you went to the store after Valentines and bought all the half off candy for yourself.

So knowing you only had to hold out for one more day of this torture you prepared to open the door to your apartment and find romance on the other side. Instead, you’re met with a bare ass that has you yelping out loud and turning around. The boy jumps and turns, trying to use as much of the small towel around his waist to cover himself.

“God, I’m so so sorry. I just, I got locked out. I figured everyone would be gone at work” he profusely apologizes and you slowly rub at your eyes, now preferring to see all the hearts decorating the streets.

“Yeah, I have the day off. Can I ask how you even got locked out like that?” you question, still refusing to turn around and look at him.

“I was grabbing my mail, the door swung close and apparently I never unlocked it” he said and you can hear the clink of the metal mailbox hung on the wall by his door.

“You needed the mail so desperately you came to get it in a towel?” your voice has a teasing tone and you can hear the boy sigh behind you.

“I just got my script delivered. I was a little excited” he explains, voice defeated and shoulders hung low.

“Is it safe to look?” you ask, tired of staring at your kitchen table as you talk with the boy.

“Everything that can be covered, is covered” he answers and you turn around, met with shaggy hair and a lopsided smile leaned against his door. A striking white towel covering him from his happy trail to just above his knee caps. You’d be lying if the sight of his chest hair didn’t make you want to run your hands through it.

“Well neighbor, let’s get you inside before Miss Johnson down the hallway is also greeted with your bare ass. You can borrow some sweatpants while I call the super” you urge, hand waving him inside and the surprise that crossed his face is an adorable sight to see.

“Thank you, oh my gosh thank you!” he grins, shuffling towards your door and once he’s inside you shut it behind him, avoiding seeing any bareness again at all costs.

“I’ll be right back” you say, going into your room and finding black sweatpants amongst the huge pile in your room. Normally you wouldn’t want a handsome man like that to discover you more than likely wear the same size or possible even bigger than him but you also couldn’t leave him bare naked and alone.

“You’re the best” he says as you return with the sweatpants in hand and all you can do is nod.

“Bathrooms first door on the right, I’ll call Jim. He owes me a favor anyway so it shouldn’t be long” you tell him and he nods, shuffling down the hallway while you pull the phone out of your pocket and find the number.

Jim the super answers after only a few rings and when he hesitates to come right away you remind him exactly why he should come this instant to which he agrees after saying he was only ten or so minutes away from the building. You could handle ten minutes alone with the handsome neighbor, right? Yet you don’t believe you can when he finally returns from the bathroom now clad in your black sweatpants, chest and broad arms on full display with the white towel now hung over his shoulder.

“What’d he say?” the handsome boy asks and you smile and shove your phone in your pocket.

“He’s on his way, should only be about ten minutes. You want coffee or anything?” you ask and he smiles before nodding. You don’t hesitate to move to the machine and start brewing a fresh batch for you two to share.

“I’m Joe by the way” he says, taking a seat at the counter as you free two mugs from the cupboard.

“Nice to meet you Joe, you live here long?” you say after telling him your own name. You ask because to be honest you don’t remember him and based on his looks he is definitely someone you would remember.

“Two months I think, I’m away for work a lot though” he says and you nod, leaning against the counter.

“Explains why we haven’t met. I’m usually pretty good about keeping up to date with newbies around here” you tell him and Joe laughs lightly.

“Well I’m sorry we had to meet like this” he offers and you shake your head, waving a hand at him.

“Don’t worry about it. We used to have a guy that flashed people intentionally. Miss Johnson pressed chargers and he got booted fairly quickly. I just figured your girlfriend locked you out for forgetting Valentine’s day or some shit” you say with a snort and Joe laughs heartily.

“Is that your way of asking if I have a girlfriend?” and a deep blush covers your cheeks because that really wasn’t what you had meant but you’d be lying if you weren’t curious as well.

“No, actually. There’s just not many other reasons for me to find a bare ass in the hallway” you say and now he’s the one blushing, embarrassment filling him completely.

“No girlfriend, just not a very well thought out guy is all” he says and you crack a grin at that. “What about you, on your way to see your boyfriend for Valentine’s huh?”

“No boyfriend and in no mood to celebrate Valentine’s Day” you offer and his eyebrows furrow as he looks at you with curiosity.

“What, get your heart broken on Valentine’s day or something?” he asks, a hand coming up to run through his hair and you chuckle.

“No, try never had a boyfriend on Valentine’s day” you say with the shake of your head, finally moving to fill two cups now that the coffee was done brewing.

“That feels like a lie” he says and you give him a confused look, sliding the fresh mug across the counter and pushing cream and sugar his way.

“No lie here, not many men want to date women like me” you tell him once you’ve done up your coffee the way you like and take a sip.

“Well I find that hard to believe because from my side of things I’m a little disappointed I never realized how gorgeous my neighbor was” his words catch you so off guard your spluttering coffee back into your cup and coughing lightly. He wears a concerned look as you calm yourself down.

“I mean no offense but I don't appreciate flattery if it's not honest" you say, napkin wiping the stray coffee drops on your chin.

"Who says I'm not being honest, I have no reason to lie especially after you just caught me in a very vulnerable state and was kind enough to help me out" and the intensity in his eyes proves that what he is saying holds a truth to them you had never quite experienced before.

"You're serious?" you say, possibly ruining your chances with this attractive man even further but he doesn’t falter one bit.

"You're surprised?" he says with a soft chuckle, a bit bewildered by his neighbor. He had flirted with many girls in a life time but he had never ha one react quite like you.

"Yes, I'm surprised. I'm a big girl, I normally get looked over or in worst cases harassed. I never get told I'm gorgeous" you say with a soft shake of your head and the breathy chuckle that falls from his lips is one of surprise.

'Well then you haven’t quite found the right man yet because you’re gorgeous. In fact I figured I didn’t have a chance after how you found me this morning" the soft blush the boy wears on his cheeks is authentic and suddenly you’re a bumbling idiot unsure of what to say because to be honest you don’t recall a man ever flirting with you.

“You didn’t ruin it, I mean you have a chance. Not that I’m actively looking, but the sight wasn’t terrible. Oh God why did I say that, I’m sorry. I just didn’t expect this, you’re very kind. I’m a-“

“Hey, the doors open” Jim’s voice bellows through the door after a hard knock.

“Thank you Jim” you call back and now the sweet boy is standing from his seat and you’re hoping you haven’t ruined things to far.

“I better get some of my own clothes on. Thank you for saving me. Maybe we could see each other tonight, let me return these sweatpants?” and you’re grinning, more comfortable with him then you ever expected.

“Yeah, I would like that a lot” you say and he smiles, taking one more sip of coffee before heading towards the door.

“I’ll see you” he says with a soft smile before disappearing behind the door completely and you curse yourself for being such a fool. You knew you had to redeem yourself.

So when he stops back later that night in his own grey sweats and black T-shirt you try your best to stay cool. Which seemed to have worked when he kisses you goodbye. Valentine’s day turned out to not be such a bust after all.

[queenbeerps]

hey, hi, hello! i haven't been on this blog in a century, but the writing bug has bitten me. SO, this is me reaching out for some 1x1 partners. i write on discord or here on tumblr. i greatly prefer doubles and mumus and i write m/f and f/f ships. i prefer one to two solid paragraphs for reply length, as well. right now, i'm craving both original plots and some specific fandoms (mostly oc x cc!) : the walking dead, stardew valley, stranger things, glee, and dead by daylight. but i could be persuaded into some modern disney stuff. anyway, i'm putting a bunch of details for what i'm looking for specifically under the cut! so go ahead and like this and i'll reach out or feel free to message me. thanks! ʚ♡ɞ

below i have listed some specific cravings i'm having at the moment. i am happy to double and give you whoever you'd like in return! i have bolded the role i'd like to play. if there are no bolds, i'll play either.

FANDOM WANTS --

♡ THE WALKING DEAD ;

female oc x negan. (BIG HUGE WANT.) female oc x siddiq. female oc x rick. female oc x shane.

♡ STARDEW VALLEY ;

female farmer oc x sam. female farmer oc x sebastian. female farmer oc x alex. female farmer oc x leah.

♡ STRANGER THINGS ;

female oc x billy. female oc x steve. female oc x hopper. chrissy x eddie.

♡ GLEE ;

female oc x sam. female oc x finn. quinn x puck. quinn x finn. mercedes x sam.

♡ DEAD BY DAYLIGHT ;

meg x nea. kate x dwight. sable x mikaela.

ORIGINAL CHARACTER WANTS --

♡ PLOTS ;

crime plots of all types. a plot based on the movie 'sweet home alabama'. plots based on taylor swift songs. big city mumu. apocalypse mumu. anything with a good mix of fluff and angst! (legal) age gap plots.

♡ WANTED OPPOSITES ;

jeffrey dean morgan, dacre montgomery, joe keery, michael b jordan, george mackay, andrew lincoln, m shadows, john boyega, theo james, jon bernthal, bill skarsgard, zacky vengeance, henry cavill, gregg sulkin, avi nash, jack quaid, adam driver.

[steviestits]

So glad to see you back!! Just curious if you have any thoughts about the Joseph Quinn character (Geta?) in Gladitor 2 being shipped with Steve (or that Sean Lockwood character Joe Keery plays?)? If not, are there any moments in particular for the WIPs you have that you are the most excited to write/share?

YES! I have seen it! I think I need to fix my queue since it's getting a little backed up, but I saw the amazing stuff for it. Especially a gif set that was really well done! But I have been thinking thoughts about the emperor and his gladiator.

TW: Slavery, some non-con mention

I'll probably just call them Steve and Eddie if I ever do write it, but maybe I'd use their character names? -shrugs- Anyway, Steve isn't originally a slave, but his family has fallen from grace, so as a former soldier, he volunteers to fight in the arena to raise their social standing by gaining glory and victory as, unlike the slaves, the Roman volunteers were paid. If they survived, of course. But during a fight, Emperor Eddie notices the gladiator and takes an interest in him. He buys from his family, turning him into a true slave. Instead of fighting in the arena, Steve is tasked to be Eddie's bed warmer. Steve doesn't want to disgrace his family, so of course he complies. Eddie takes pleasure in turning the harden soldier soft, working him until he's practically in tears under him. Then I don't know, I guess Eddie eventually takes it to the extreme, dressing the soldier and gladiator up as a woman and taking him with him to events and the arena. Maybe Eddie then takes it a step further and goes to Juno, the goddess of childbirth, and somehow magics Steve into getting pregnant? After that, all hail their new empress, Steve? I mean, it feels wrong not to get Steve pregnant, tbh.

As for my other WIP, I don't know if it'll see the light of day since it's really unhinged, but about Steve who got sick and was frozen until a cure could be found. Eddie, who was dating Steve at the time, doesn't take it too well, and goes to extreme measures, taking over several illegal businesses then eventually grabbing some big pharma companies to all work on finding a cure. Since we're playing fast and loose with science here, it's a sickness that is deadlier in men, so they use gene therapy (I know that's not how it works in real life, but this is how it works in the fic's universe, so hush) and morph his Y chromosome into an X, which makes Steve's body develop in certain ways... Steve then wakes up to Hawkins essentially being turned into the alternate future verse of Back to the Future 2. Steve isn't happy, but of course Eddie has grown past morals and does what he can to keep Steve with him, since he's become so obsessed with him, even more so than when they were first dating.

[floredaqueen]

I know the oc ask is for stranger things but would you be willing to answer 7 for Chrysanthemum?🫣

Of course I'll answer!♡

7. What attribute of them (some facet of their personality, their history, their look, or whatever etc) would you find most important to somehow preserve if they were transplanted to an AU fanfic?

A)Everything about her would be transported into an AU, except for how her father died. If she lived in a would without the supernatural he would've died of natural causes and/or murder of a regular mortal.her father has to die for her to take that drastic change in her personality and skill set, so that's pretty important I'd say!♡

[werdlewrites]

masterlist - ao3 - twitter @ djomamma

summary: “Why can’t I remember? What—what’s wrong with me?” Owens becomes defensive of the girl at that moment. Brows knitted together and a hard stare that says he’s displeased. His palms press down into the desk to push himself up to her level, leaning forward to show assertion. “There is nothing wrong with you.” The pacing stops to face him head-on. Her hands held out and she took a step forward in aggression. Feeling her soul become thunderous and fueled by fire. “No,” the girl spits out. “You don’t understand what’s happening t’me. You don’t get it-” “So tell me.” warnings: therapy? can't think of anything else wc: 2,734

December 25th comes faster than Autumn anticipates. Sure, it’s all routine. She turns another year older, and then just days later, there’s another celebration. It’s all a little tiring. More effort is given to the day she took her first breath of air. The day the world was blessed or cursed with her existence. The tree is up, and a few gifts are scattered beneath. It’s a day to cherish the extraordinary small family they have, as she wasn't raised beneath a religious roof. It’s just another day, now. Hardly missed in the tight confinements of the cabin.

Autumn can hear the sound of Hopper rustling about below, getting ready for work, which is exactly what she had hoped for. She had spent the morning in silence, plotting out exactly what she knew she needed to do. Eyes burned from the long stare locked on checkered squares. The pieces had all been collected—all accounted for, lying dormant beneath the chessboard, nestled in their little compartments.

She had forced herself to do it. Drowning out this vision—this memory, whatever it was—until she could withstand the feeling of them in her palms. Fearful of what else they may bring to haunt her thoughts. But nothing more comes, and she slams the lid shut and backs from it like a trap had been set. The girl stares in waiting for something to strike out. Images forced into her mind that she rejects, planting herself against the chilled wood with fingers tracing the intricate patterns of nature. Something to assure herself that she was here, in the present, and not in that sterile place.

Autumn grows impatient from the lack of urgency down below. Hopper takes his time, grumbling and sighing his way through the morning, unwilling for another day at the office. He had warned her it could be a busy day for him; it’s not easy to predict. Some hours are peaceful as families gather together, and other times are full of madness as frantic drivers crash in the stress of the holidays or teens taking advantage and slip a few items into their pockets.

The girl chooses to no longer wait, bagging up the game and dressing for the winter air just beyond the door. Upon hearing her landing on the main level, Hopper emerges from his small room to greet her. His brows are furrowed, lips pulled to a thin line beneath his mustache as he studies her, clearly ready for plans he wasn’t aware of. “Where’re you off to?”

“Therapy,” she grumbles, struggling to pull her boots on at the door.

“Therapy? Today?”

The teen only nods in reply, sending the man into a spiral of panic and confusion. He hadn’t planned for this. They had days scheduled so that he could be with her should she need him. Or should he need to intervene. But she was already at the door, letting the wind kiss and nip at her skin as snow danced across her feet. “Hold your horses for a minute. He wants t’see you? On a holiday?”

“He said it was up t’me.” Lie. There was no session planned, no doctor waiting for her at that lab. But it wouldn’t stop her. And, if Owens wanted to maintain the small amount of trust she had given him, he would answer her call, regardless of the hour or any bullshit holiday tradition.

“I-I can’t go with you,” his admission sounds nearly defeated. His shoulders sagged with a pleading look in his eye, silently begging the girl to change her mind. Control was slipping right through his fingers and out that door, and all she can do is smile.

“Don’t worry, Hop. I think I can handle myself.”

Autumn spends her car ride in a restless and irritable state. The music plays briefly before she’s easily overwhelmed and surrenders to total silence. The traffic is light, yet drivers move too cautiously across the slush, while she aches to race through town and beyond the forbidden gates. But as the people thin out and the trees fill her view, things seem to shift into a blur. Time slips right by her. Before, she had been counting down every second to this very moment.

She doesn’t remember speaking to the man at the gate. He tells her to turn away—that Dr. Owens is one of the lucky ones to be at home for the celebration. Words fly from the girls lips without thought, her face burning hot from anger. Whatever she says leaves the officer in a state of unease, shifting on his heel and maintaining the distance between them. The gates open, and Autumn finds herself seated in that familiar office with the ticking clock her only company.

They had promised to call him, and she refused to take “no” for an answer. So, the teen waits in the seat that was meant for her, just across from his desk. Noting just how empty and clean it had become once their sessions had ended. Would he sweep all of his notes away, keeping them secure somewhere in this room? Did he take her darkness home with him? To study like a newfound beast he had yet to understand. Gawking at the pages in horror and awe.

There’s an itch to go digging through the drawers. To uncover what he truly thinks of her and what his intentions had been from the very beginning. Hopper said he trusted no one but to give the man a chance at saving this drowning girl. But a man does not have to be good or kind to offer out a hand. A man can still pull you out from the depths after pushing you overboard. He can still betray you and force you beneath the surface after giving a sweet smile.

An hour passes—maybe more. The hands on the clock have spun, every tick a lullaby to soothe her nerves just enough to survive the long wait. And then, thunderous steps. They echo down the hall paired with frantic voices. Just barely beneath the chaos, Autumn can hear someone offering to escort the girl from the building by force. His suggestion is shot down, his presence entirely dismissed once Dr. Owens rounds the corner, cheeks flushed and breathless from the hurry.

His smile is unwilling and weak. It trembles, clearly unsettled by the sudden call he received on a quiet day at home. Meant to be enjoying hot meals and the company of his wife, now frantic and hastily dressed with his trousers still wrinkled from the dryer. But he puts a brave face on for her, shutting the door at his back despite the warnings not to.

“Well, Ms. Reid, what a nice surprise.” His hands are clasped together before him, moving through the room with caution yet attempting to appear more confident as her glare threatens to break him on the spot. “I didn’t think I would see you until later this week.”

She remains silent, replaying the scene over and over again in her mind. The pieces glide across the board with little effort by little hands. Then, nothing at all. The invisible force guiding them into place to be taken by someone unseen.

“I’ll admit, I was a little worried when I got the call,” the doctor continues. “Is everything alright?”

The girl chews at her lip, her heart racing until it feels like it could nearly burst from her chest like a parasite. She stands from her seat despite the dizzying sensation, the connection between the pair unbreaking as she shoves the box against his chest. It’s forceful enough that he stumbles back a step, a bewildered look in his eye.

“What is this?” she questions.

With a gaze now cast downward, he studies the box as he casually tilts it back and forth. “It’s a game of chess.”

Autumn can’t help but let a small huff of disbelief pass before she’s moving in a flash. His desk rattles and the surface echos from the pressure she applies, slamming down the blackened peacock standing upon its pedestal. He had flinched from her sudden action, though upon seeing the piece, realization seemed to settle in. No longer confused, but standing strong against the storm she brings. Prepared for whatever she may bring. “Where d’you get this?”

His chest swells with air, steadying himself and wearing a small smile for comfort. Whether for her or himself. “Is there a problem?”

Her eyes are wide, her body nearly vibrating from the anger—the frustration at no one seeming to understand the insanity that ate away at her mind. Maggots to rotten flesh, devouring pieces of her at a time. She was truly alone in this. “Yes! Yes, there’s a big fucking problem!”

She’s pulled away from him, giving him a moment of relief as she paces back and forth a few feet away. Trembling fingers dig at her skull, attempting to soothe the voices screaming out warnings. They tell her to run. Tell her to stay. To show him the horrors in her mind so that he may lie awake at night, the same way she does.

“I-” she attempts to begin with a shaken voice. The pads of her fingers pressed into tired eyes, forcing back the aggravated tears. And when Dr. Owens thinks she’s going to collapse in on herself, a laugh unexpectedly escapes with hands falling from red eyes. “I’m either ready for the pysch-ward, or I am being followed by this.” She gestures out to the wooden bird on his desk. “Why d’you have it?”

Lips part to speak without knowing what to say or where to truly begin. A thousand thoughts all at once swarming in, seeking to spill out across his tongue, yet he swallows them all down. He carries the burden of truth, so she doesn’t have to. But the price of her ignorance is too great, and the stress tears at her insides, leaving her desperate for something. No matter the pain that comes with it.

Dr. Owens ignores her question, moving so that he stands just behind his desk with the board game now sitting before him. He pries open the lid with care, slipping the lone piece back inside its home in total silence while she looks on in frustration.

Hands find purchase on cocked hips, fingers digging deep enough to leave bruises along her flesh. Her tongue clicks against the roof of her mouth, blurting out, “What does ‘rêveur’ mean?”

The girl anticipates a prolonged silence. A resistance as she pulls at the strings to reveal his secrets hidden away behind curtains, but the word “dreamer” falls from his mouth without hesitation or thought. It had only been lying in wait until the opportune moment.

She sees him in that cold, dead place. His blue eyes were a shocking contrast to the gray walls and steel table before her. He wears a look of pride as he sits across from her. Elbows pressed to the surface with fingers locked. He speaks, but nothing comes forward, only a sharpened ringing tone as he sings his praise. She can see the way his lips form the word to address her. A slow-moving picture, just like in the movies, leaves her feeling lost and filled with a familiar hopelessness.

Then she sees him. His eyes hold something warmer, despite their icy appearance. They offer sunlight on a shadowy path she knows must be taken. Taking small steps at a time out of fear, though putting blind faith into something or someone unknown. At least for a time, she believed he was this unknown person. But it’s that same familiarity, without the boiling tension in her gut, that tells her she’s in danger.

“It was a game you used to play. I can’t exactly call it your favorite, but something you played frequently, once upon a time.” His tone is almost regretful. Something filled with shame and sorrow as he provides the clarity she desired, at risk of damning himself along the way.

His words take the shape of a large snake. The creature strikes and keeps her captured in its grip. She’s left frozen and unable to break from the confinement, while its venom seeps through her blood, acid scratching along the walls of her mind, words on an endless loop.

A game she played.

Something he had seen her play more than once.

A watery stare lands on his folded hands. Aged and scarred through time, with a wedding ring shining like a beacon in the dim light. A reminder that he had someone somewhere. A life outside of these walls, while she remained adrift in the unknown void.

She can’t place him. His hands don’t seem to hold any familiarity as she tries to place them in her visions, resting just on the other side of the board. Comparison is lacking, yet she still finds herself asking for the sake of closure. “Was it you?”

With fingers linked, those hands raise to press against thinned lips. Scrubbing along the surface with his focus elsewhere, trying to decide on how to answer. In the end, he shakes his head before meeting her gaze. “No. It wasn’t me.”

“But I-I do know you, don’t I? Somehow?”

A saddened smile is seen as his hands fall back to the desk. Seemingly reluctant to answer. The confession is heavy. Not just for the girl, but for the man as he pries open the once locked chest, holding the truth of her past.“I’m somewhere in there. Along with the other memories you’ve lost.”

Autumn doesn’t feel like she’s entirely there. An empty, floating shell as she nods along to his words without thought, unable to truly process. Her feet pace along the tile; the pressure barely felt beneath each step as she twists and turns. Her fingers wound tight together. They pull and claw at the skin as the familiar pressure of overwhelm creeps in, forcing out every breath until her skin is reddened. “What I’ve lost,” she repeats, though unheard. Her lips move with no sound escaping. She’s forcing herself to swallow his admission.

These hauntings—these visions or memories of being young and tormented under that man’s stare—were seeming more real. And yet, it’s still too far away to take hold of and pull the pieces back together. A part of her screams out to leave it be, while the other suffocates on ignorance, desperate for relief.

“Why can’t I remember? What—what’s wrong with me?”

Owens becomes defensive of the girl at that moment. Brows knitted together and a hard stare that says he’s displeased. His palms press down into the desk to push himself up to her level, leaning forward to show assertion. “There is nothing wrong with you.”

The pacing stops to face him head-on. Her hands held out and she took a step forward in aggression. Feeling her soul become thunderous and fueled by fire. “No,” the girl spits out. “You don’t understand what’s happening t’me. You don’t get it-”

“So tell me.”

The crushing sensation in her chest lessens, and she feels as though she can finally breathe. It leaves her lightheaded in the moment, vision a haze as stars fill her view. Autumn can hear Hopper’s words, begging for her to give the doctor a chance. So, as the world around her settles and her limbs no longer tremble, she discards the bag next to the chair and takes a seat across from him. Her palms run along denim-clad jeans, hesitantly meeting his kind eyes. “And you’ll…help me?”

He nods once he’s taken his place, hands folded up just like before and wearing a small smile. “Yes, I’ll help you. But, you should know, it may get worse before it gets any better.”

It’s a sickening thought. Autumn has already been pushed to the edge of madness and is now asked to step over the edge before a hopeful rescue comes for her. Just before the abyss of an endless ocean swallows her. “Will you tell me about him?”

It takes him a moment before responding. Discussing Brenner posed a risk of igniting memories the girl may not be prepared for. Reliving her trauma as the world unfolded before her was one thing. But pulling old memories from that box was another. But regardless of it all, he nods. “I’ll tell you what I can.”