#life kept happening and i dunno what i'm supposed to do anymore but i keep on keepin on for the gays

[allfleetingdreams]

gay

[batboymunson]

i've got my eye on you (ch.1) || e.m.

☾ synopsis; even after you graduated, you stuck around Hawkins to keep an eye out for Eddie. you never expected much, the most being a chauffer when his trusty van wasn't so trusty, but things never go to plan when it's the two of you together

☾ word count; 1705

☾ warnings; mentions of drugs

☾ a/n; here we go, folks! ST4 SPOILERS!

"SO." YOU PULLED INTO A SPOT IN the high school parking lot, shifting to park and looking over at Eddie. "Lunch? Or after Hellfire?"

"I got a deal to finish up at lunch." Eddie didn't look at you as he spoke, rummaging through his bag. "So after Hellfire, please."

Nodding, you drummed your hands on the wheel. "Gotcha. Am I driving just you or. . .?"

Eddie shrugged, zipping up his bag and placing it on his lap. "Maybe some of the pipsqueaks, depends on their situation."

"As long as they don't bring a shit ton of snack wrappers and crumbs along with them, that's fine," you warned. "You let them do that and I'm withholding your next tattoo sketch."

Eddie gasped, pressing a hand to his chest. You smirked at his dramatics, nodding as to drive the threat home.

"Now get going; last thing you need is another detention for tardiness." You waved him off. "I'll grab a movie if you're planning on hanging out afterwards."

Eddie scoffed. "What happened to you? We would always sit here in ol' Aragorn and smoke until third period. You're no fun anymore, (Name)."

"I graduated, Munson. I'm still just as fun," you teased, "but I know when to hunker down and be serious. You should try it sometimes, considering the fact now you've got those kids looking up to you."

Opening his door, Eddie swung his legs out and sighed. "I dunno, (Name). I'm trying my best here. Those kids should really look up to someone else, though. They got some good heads on their shoulders."

"It's because they have good heads on their shoulders that they look up to you, Eddie," you reassured. "I'll see you later. Try to -"

"Have a good day and stay out of trouble," Eddie finished, pushing himself out of the car. "No promises, (Name)."

Closing the door, he shoved his hands in his pockets and ambled amongst the crowd of students filing into the building. You waited til the parking lot cleared up before pulling out and starting the rest of your day.

First stop? The lovely café that was - and still is - your go-to spot for a caffeine kick. You greet the few baristas behind the counter as you enter, dropping money in the tip jar as you approached the register.

"No Eddie?" Judy glanced up from the till to take the cash from your outstretched hand.

"Not today," you replied. "I'm trying to kick him into gear to get his shit together, so that means actually going to his classes."

Judy snorted and handed you your drink. "Good luck with that. I just don't think he's the type of guy to take that sort of stuff seriously."

You frowned. "Look, I'll be the first to admit he's not the most school-oriented person, but I think he's actually willing to try if he gets his ass in line. I think he's got a good future ahead of him if he could only get out of high school."

"If only," Judy repeated, leaning against the counter and giving you a pitiful look. "You know, (Name), you're smart - you could be so successful if you did what all of us want to do and get out of this small town. Go to college, find a spouse, live the life!"

Your shoulders drooped a bit. "But I'm happy here for now. Maybe later in life, sure, but right now Hawkins is where I think I'm supposed to be."

"Just don't put your life on hold for anything or anyone - especially that Munson boy."

You bit your tongue and nodded curtly. "Have a good day, Judy."

Turning on your heel, you walked out and headed for your car. You stopped with your hand on the door handle, your whole day thrown down the gutter after that draining interaction.

"Fuck it, change of plans." You headed across the street where the town's Family Video stood, hoping that Steve had kept a copy of The Dark Crystal stashed away like you requested. Pushing open the door, you immediately turned and tossed your drink in the trash before browsing the shelves of tapes as you made your way to the counter.

"Got the goods, Harrington?" You placed your elbows on the counter and leaned forward, flashing a smile in his direction as he looked away from the computer screen at you.

"Yeah, yeah." He reached down and pulled out a copy, pushing it towards you. "Watching it tonight?"

You shrugged, running your fingers over the worn cover absentmindedly. "Maybe. Seems like today's just that kind of day."

Steve frowned, then brightened when an idea came to mind. "Why don't you come to the basketball game tonight? I'm going, gotta support Lucas."

You shrugged. "I don't know, Steve, I'm not the fondest of that place and you know that."

"Still, it beats spending your night inside, alone, and we can go grab some ice cream afterwards!" Steve offered one of his infamous charmer smiles and you sighed, shaking your head with a grin. "I'll take that as a yes! Let's meet outside the gym at six so we can get good seats."

You waved at him as you started to head back to the front door. "See ya then, Steve."

By the time you got back to your car, your watch read 10:32 A.M. With your whole evening set up for you, you pushed your movie night into a movie afternoon, heading home to curl up and shut out the world until it was time to get ready and head back out to Hawkins High.

The hustle and bustle of high schoolers and parents alike was all too familiar as you found a parking spot and made your way up to the open gym doors; luckily, Steve made it easy to find him, especially with the blonde on his arm. As you walked behind them, you winced at how humid the gym was thanks to the sheer amount of people crammed inside.

You tuned out a majority of the game minus whenever Steve would elbow you and try to get you involved and when Lucas was suddenly pulled off the bench, that's when things turned up a notch especially due to the overflow of excitement coming from Steve being the excited mom he was.

By the end of it, however, you were bouncing on the balls of your feet as you watched Lucas play and ultimately sway the tide of the game by shooting the winning shot. The wild, uproarious cheers and excitement swept over you as it did everyone else even as everyone was exiting the building.

"I'll meet you guys at the parlor," you called to Steve as you split from him and his date, heading for your own car. Twirling the keys on your finger, you weaved your way between people and found good ol' Aragorn(the name stuck after Eddie vetoed every other you could come up with). On the hood sat Eddie, impatiently searching the crowd, with an antsy Chrissy Cunningham standing off to the side.

"(Name)!" Eddie hopped off the hood and rushed to the passenger side, hurriedly waving you over. "C'mon, we gotta go before anyone decides to throw shit at me for being within breathing distance of Chrissy."

Eyebrows raised, you hopped into the driver's seat and started up the car, eyeing Chrissy as she slid into the backseat.

"You okay?" You asked her, meeting her eyes in the rearview mirror. She nodded, keeping her head down low even as you pulled out of the parking lot. "You did a really good job tonight at the game."

Eddie looked at you incredulously. "That's where you were?"

"Yeah, Steve Harrington invited me to hang out and watch the game," you replied, heading towards Eddie's trailer. "It was fun, actually."

Eddie slumped in his seat. "Great, Harrington's got you under his influence just like Henderson. Who next? Gareth?"

You chuckled. "Yet here I am, stuck driving you home all the time."

Feigning hurt, Eddie put his hand in your face and turned to the backseat, flashing Chrissy an apologetic smile.

"Do you need anything?" You looked back at Chrissy again, noticing the fact she simply couldn't stay still. "I've got a water bottle in my bag if you want."

Hesitantly, she nodded. "Yes, please."

"Eddie, the bag at your feet, the water bottle's in there," you instructed, turning into Eddie's neighborhood and pulling up next to his van. "Be nice to her, she's obviously going through something right now."

Eddie nodded, hurriedly grabbing his stuff and getting out of the car. You turned around in your seat, giving Chrissy a small smile.

"You're gonna need a ride home, right? Here." You reached back and gestured to her arm. "May I?

She rolled up the sleeve of her jacket and you took the pen from your center console, carefully writing your house number on her forearm.

"I'll be home all night, so call me whenever, okay? Doesn't matter the time."

Chrissy nodded. "Thank you, (Name)."

"Yes, thank you, now c'mon!" Eddie opened the back door for her and held out his hand, helping Chrissy out of the car. "See you tomorrow, (Name)!"

You waved and waited until the both of them were inside safely before backing out and driving back to your house - you'd apologize to Steve about ditching him when you dropped off the movie sometime this week.

You tossed your keys on the kitchen table and made camp on the couch with a bowl of popcorn after rifling through some VHS tapes and settling on Ghostbusters to keep you awake. You would constantly steal glances at the phone, an odd feeling gnawing at your stomach as the hours ticked on.

Maybe I should go check on them. You put the popcorn down, then second guessed yourself. No, they're fine. They're grown. Everything's fine.

Still, you couldn't shake the feeling that you needed to go back to Eddie's trailer. You went and grabbed your keys and shoes, throwing open the front door only to collide with someone.

"Jesus, who the fuck - Eddie?" You furrowed your brows as said boy grabbed onto you, face red and panicked expression. "Woah, woah, woah, what happened?"

[titlemewickedwonderland]

Mr. Sandman (Chapter 10)

Summary: Felicity Burgess, the adopted daughter of Alex Burgess and Paul McGuire lived a sheltered life from the dark secret that lay beneath her feet. But what happens when that secret is now her's to keep? Will her love for her family keep her from doing the right thing or will Mr. Sandman bring her a dream worth sacrificing everything?

Chapter Triggers: Slight fluff, maybe slight OOC? I dunno!

“I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?” -John Lennon

Click here for Chapter 9

Wonderland's Workshop

The water felt delightful against her skin. How long had it been since she'd indulged in something so simple as a shower? Well, time did move differently between worlds so she didn't even have the compacity to figure it out; like shooting into a dark room for answers. She wanted to stay here forever but of course, she could not. She had a friend waiting beyond the bathroom door for her and the answers that she seeks from him. So, with a regrettable hand, she turned off the shower head and pulled back the curtain realizing the steam of the bathroom made everything so foggy; a nice sort of sauna effect as she stepped out onto the old bath mat and grabbed one of the towels hanging off the door hook to wrap around her. 

She faced the mirror and wiped her palm against the cold glass to look at her reflection. She looked a bit better; perhaps in need of some sleep but otherwise, she looked like she was just any ordinary girl. But she wasn't normal, there wasn't anything normal about her or her life anymore. 

When she opened the door the steam from the bathroom nearly audibly hissed when the cold air greeted it and Felicity peered around the room taking a moment to look around since she'd sort of been quickly escorted into the shower when they'd arrived. The room was rather meticulous and pristine; as if no one truly touched this space even Corinthian which would make sense since he was not human, he didn't need sleep or food as mortals would. She wondered why he even rented the large studio apartment if he barely lived here. 

"Feeling better?" her head twisted to see the blonde man leaning against the open door frame of his bedroom; nursing a tumbler glass filled with an amber liquid. 

She squeaked and clutched the towel to her chest giving him a 'what the fuck?' look. "Turn around! Don't you have some sort of decency Corinthian!" she rushed out 

The blonde only grin and tilted his head as he raised his glass to his lips. "Aint nothing I haven't seen before honeybee, but if it makes you feel more comfortable." he drawled lazily turning himself around so that he was facing the hallway 

"I threw your clothes in the washer and drier for yah. You can pick something out of my drawers if yah like," he added 

Breathing a sigh of relief now that he wasn't staring at her Felicity padded over the soft carpet to a single dresser where she began opening and closing drawers to look at the clothing inside. 

"Sheesh Inthy, do you ever wear anything that doesn't make you look like candyman?" she teased seeing brown, tan, and green shirts "I half expected to find some pinstriped stuff in here," she added as she picked out one of his long-sleeved brown sweaters and tugged it over her head; it was long enough to go mid-thigh so she kept some sort of modesty from that at the least. 

"Aw, you hurt my feelings darlin'. I'm a simple man who enjoys some sort of comfort yah know!" Corinthian tilted his head over his shoulder to check to see if she was dressed. 

"You certainly aren't the little girl in your dreams that I'm used to. Since when did you grow a pair of legs like those?" Felicity felt the heat rise to her face as she tugged the shirt down further and glared at him. 

"Stop it!" she chided. "Aren't you supposed to be gay?" she added giving him a pointed look.

A toothy grin was her only answer before she turned away to rummage for a pair of pants. She found white sweatpants so she quickly tugged them up her legs covering more of her modesty before she turned to the man. 

"You know, it's been a very long time since you called me Inthy," he commented as he swirled his amber liquid in his glass watching her from behind his glasses. 

She shrugged with a sheepish smile that hid some sadness behind it as she slowly sat on the edge of his bed. "I'm not a little girl anymore Corinthian. The lenses that I wore have been ripped off my face long ago." she heaved a sigh and rubbed her face.

There was a pause between them; an oddly comforting silence before the man set his glass down on the edge of the nightstand in favor of walking over to her and sitting beside her on the edge of his bed. 

"No, I suppose yah ain't a kid no more honeybee. You've grown up into a fine young woman who hopefully has made something of her life," he said staring out the colorful glass window across the room. 

"Hardly. But it's mine...did you hear Alex died?" she turned her head to look over at the blonde who nodded slowly 

"I did. Not much gets past me nowadays."

"Yeah, I would imagine so if you're going around killing boys and running from your creator." the redhead quipped with pursed lips. 

Corinthian stilled beside her before his face slowly grew back that damned smile. "How'd you figure that one out?" he drawled a careful tone in his voice. 

She laughed, the kind of laugh that spoke of experiencing much of the unknown. "Nearly a year ago I would have told you that you were crazy and probably have called the cops on you; which you'd probably have killed me before I could. But then again, The sandman is real. Talking ravens exist, realms not of our own are somewhere beyond the veil and my best friend growing up who I thought was imaginary is a Nightmare created by the Dream King himself." she tilted her head giving him a small smile. 

"Trust me Corinthian. It's not a surprise to me anymore. My old roommate and friend is an exorcist and I grew up with the sandman in my basement. I shouldn't be surprised you go around killing guys around town and plucking their eyeballs out. Why I don't know. But there's one thing that I do know." 

the girl shifted to sit cross-legged next to him and her hands reached up toward his face and his own large hands shot up to grab her wrists to stop her movement. Instead, she rested them on his cheeks and smiled at him softly. 

"Your beauty," she said softly "Never scared me Corinthian." she stroked right below the dark glasses with her thumbs "You were the only friend I had, imaginary or not. Am I disappointed that you go around killing humanity, yes? But that is who you are. That is what Morpheus created you for. Without nightmares, there cannot be dreams, and vice versa. So you are important even if you think you are a monster." she told him firmly 

he snorted and leaned back on his palms. "So you know Morpheus hmm? Been playing hooky with the Dream lord now have yah?" 

She punched him in the arm. "He was stuck in my basement until I helped free him and then he found me months later with my friend Johanna searching for his sand. Sort of dragged me along with him in that endeavor." she defended falling onto her back with legs dangling off the edge of the bed. 

"Oh so you're the one I should thank for having to run for my life." there was a small amount of spite in his voice as his tight-lipped smile leaned over her. 

She squinted looking up at him and staring at her reflection in his dark shades. "You did that on your own when you chose to go rogue mister. Lucienne told me everything. Partly why Morpheus didn't return sooner."

"You worship the man!" her gawked and reached out to smack his arm again but he caught her hand 

"I do not! Don't be ridiculous! It's just circumstances that drew us together you know?" she shrugged watching as the nightmare played with her fingers. 

"Hey, Corinthian. Can I ask you something?" she asked watching him

"Hmm?" he hummed; head rolling lazily on his shoulders as he turned to look at her. 

"When you first appeared in my dreams as a little girl. Were you planning on killing me?" the question hung heavy between them 

"That was the plan." he finally replied "But I couldn't kill yah after I saw them purdy green eyes of yours." he reached out to stroke along her brows.

"But isn't that your thing? Eyes." she teased

"Not yours, honeybee. Something about yours made me not want to see them close; ever."

A warm smile graced her features as she reached up to grab his hand in her own and press it against her cheek; nuzzling into his palm like a kitten. 

"So, we are still friends then? You aren't going to kill me for whatever reason now that I'm not a cute little girl who pulls at your heartstrings?" Felicity said teasingly but secretly she wanted to know

She and Corinthian were not the same in many ways and she no longer held the innocence of a little girl. So whatever kept the nightmare from killing her every night he visited her in her dreams may not apply to her now that she was an adult. Corinthian studied her for a long moment with a contemplative look on his face before he shifted his palm on her face to boop her nose with a finger while never breaking contact. 

"No darlin', I don't believe I'd have the heart to do that. Metaphorically speaking at least. I don't own a heart." he snorted

"Liar." she rose to shove at his chest playfully. "Heart is not always a physical organ," she replied with an air of grace as if she was telling something grand to a room full of onlookers. 

Her dramatics pulled a smile from the man but their attention was turned to the window as a small shadow appeared and frantic tapping rapt at the glass as if a bird was trying to break through. There was a muffled voice shouting on the other side and Felicity scrambled from the bed to open the window. A black bird nearly hit her in the face as it hustled inside out of breath. 

"Matthew?! What are-" she began spinning around

"Boss!" the bird fluffed his feathers. "Morpheus is on his way to find you! He's close!" 

Her eyes widened and she looked over at Corinthian who had already risen. A lecherous smile on his face as if he was pleased to know his creator was coming to visit. 

"Wait, what are you doing with the rogue nightmare?" Matthew piped up realizing just who stood in the room with them. 

"He's a friend." at the raven's caw she waved frantically "Doesn't matter, long story. How far away is Morpheus?" she demanded wondering just how much time he had until the dream king came storming in here to collect her. 

She should be mad at him for the way he treated her but right now she was scared. If Matthew was in a panic then it meant Morpheus was mad. Pissed. Kind of mad.  

"Corinthian you gotta hide before he gets here or he'll take you too. Don't you want your freedom?" she turned around to look at her childhood dream friend but before he could reply the room suddenly got darker and a voice so soft yet so cold spoke from the inkiness of shadows 

"My creation. Taking what is not yours to take. Let the girl go."

Felicity spun around to see the white pinpoints of starlight eyes staring from behind her and she gasped, stumbling backward into Corinthian's tall frame. He rested his palms on her shoulders to hold her steady as he stared at the man slowly approaching. Morpheus was shorter than the nightmare but he was a lot more intimidating by far. Unfortunately for the Dream king. The nightmare had been in the waking world for too long and he no longer coward to his lord's feet begging for mercy as he would have done once upon a time. 

"Morpheus-" Felicity began swallowing the dryness in her throat but the Corinthian didn't allow her to speak; instead one of his hands slid up to her throat and squeezed enough to stop her words but not enough to stop her breathing as if silently telling her not to speak. 

The action only succeeded in making Morpheus even more infuriated. Did he care? Did he think the Corinthian would harm her? Did he not truly know? The man of dreams who controlled and created didn't know that his nightmare had been tramping within her mind since she was a little girl but never to harm?

"Unhand the girl Corinthian, you do not know the power you hold." Morpheus's figure slowly regained a physical form as he stepped forward; his blue eyes darkened with barely concealed wrath. 

"Boss...." Matthew looked nervously between them. "I don't think this is a good time-"

"Power? What power? You mean the power I have of life and death with this pretty thing in my hands?" he was taunting Morpheus and it was working. 

Felicity swallowed; finding it rather terrifying to be between the immortal beings in a fight but she did not understand what Morpheus was talking about when he spoke of power. 

"W-what are you talking about?" she managed to breathe out looking over at the dream lord

"If you waited as I had told you to you would have been informed." the raven-haired man bit out before reaching with slow purposeful movements for his pouch of sand "Now, I think it is time we all returned home to the Dreaming."

"I'm not going." Felicity blurted as she reached up to grab Corinthian's arm that was resting around her throat. "You can't make me Morpheus. The Dreaming is not my home." 

"Felicity...listen kid we gotta talk! Don't make any hasty decisions ....just hear him out will you?" Matthew piped up trying to diffuse the situation. 

She inhaled a shaky breath and shook her head. "He had his chance to tell me what's going on. A-about me, about where he's been...what's been going on. I've been left in the dark about everything; we are supposed to be friends weren't we?"

she lowered her gaze to the floor; grip tightening around Corinthian's arm. "If he wants to keep the damned ring then so be it; if it means more to him than me. But I'm done listening." 

Morpheus stared at the girl. His jaw clenching as the unbidden tears glistened at his waterline. 

"Do you truly think an object means more to me than you ever could?" his voice was soft with disbelief. 

"Well, you haven't given me a reason to think otherwise Dream." the girl slunk from beneath Corinthian's grip who had been silent this entire time more just watching than anything. 

"Very well..." the ruler of nightmares replied slowly as he lifted his bag of sand and allowed the grains to pour down onto the floor. "Come Matthew. Hell awaits." 

The sand swirled around like a desert storm; a pale tornado that whipped Felicity's hair around and fluttered her clothing. She lifted a hand to her face to block the grains from entering her eyes but it was no use and she could not stand the strength of the cyclone of tiny particles. She crouched with her arms over her head thinking this didn't seem normal. The sand normally did not extend this much. But when the sand finally started to disperse she looked up hearing the odd sounds around her. 

Her heart sank. Sank low to her stomach because she wasn't in Corinthian's apartment anymore. No, she was standing in a wasteland of foul-smelling space. Rotting trees and stumps crumbled all around her and the way the ground seemed to wail every time she shifted her weight was something she felt in her very bones despite not truly hearing an audible sound. This land is a curse, this land is evil. This land is damned. What was worse than being transported to Hell? 

Whatever the hell her body was trying to tell her. Her lungs breathed in the burning air and it stung like acid in her chest. It was hard to breathe and it felt as if the fire of the condemned coursed through her veins. The longer she stood there the more her body weakened and she didn't understand. This was something entirely different than the energy The Dreaming held when she first entered it. Her human body thrummed with electricity that seemed to thrum with the land when she was within the Dreaming. Something like kinship the longer she stayed in that realm. But this place. It was utter poison to her body; that much was clear as she raised a shaky hand in front of her face to see her veins were turning dark as if black ink was injected into her bloodstream. 

When she took a step forward her knees crumbled and she fell on all fours into the dust. Choking on the air that would not circulate through her system. Blood thundered in her ears and her vision was growing blurry as she struggled to rise on weakened limbs. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear someone calling for her. A black shadow appeared in her foggy sight in the shape of something small. Matthew? Matthew was here. He was trying to say something to her but his words were not registering. Then another appeared in her line of sight. Morpheus kneeled quickly in the dirt his cold hands were a relief as they pressed to her face; lifting it so that he could see her face. Her ashen gray face was as if all color was being drained from her very body. 

He propped her up in his lap as he hastily dug in his coat pocket for something and produced the silver chain with the ring dangling off of it. He was quick to place it over her head. As soon as the ring rested against her feeble heartbeat it glowed a bright red. Little by little the color returned to the girl's face and her hand rose to shakily grasp the jewelry as if her life depended on it. Her lungs opened up and she gasped out a harsh breath as if she had been drowning and her body flailed as she tried to sit up.

The dream king's arm bracketed her back and pulled her against his chest; one hand sinking into the softness of her auburn locks to keep her head pressed to his neck as he allowed a sliver of relief to race through him. He did not realize his heart was beating erratically until it began to slow to match the pattern of Felicity's breaths that ghosted against his pale skin. Matthew cawed lightly and craned his head to peer up at the two with worried beady eyes. 

"You were not meant to be here." Morpheus's voice was soft as he stroked her hair. 

"The sand seemed to think otherwise." her whisper was hoarse as her free hand played with the lapels of his jacket.

"Well, now that we're all safe and sound...where are we going?" Matthew asked hopping into Felicity's lap.

Her head lifted from the dream king's neck to look up at him with a slight frown. "You're going after the demon who has your helm aren't you?" she said sounding defeated.

"I have to if I am to rebuild my realm. I cannot turn back now." 

Morpheus watched as the teen struggled from his lap. Staggering back to her feet before looking around seemingly out of breath before turning to look at the man still crouched in the dust. 

"Okay, Dream. Lead the way. You've been here before right?"

The man rose slowly to his feet; head shaking as he drew near. A frown pinched his brow. "I am taking you back to the Waking World. You are not safe here-"

"As long as I have this thing I'll be fine." she interrupted holding the necklace up. "Whatever magic it possesses is keeping me alive in this -literally - god-forsaken land. So, where to?" 

"What happened to you saying you will stay in the Waking World?" one dark brow rose on his forehead making him look a little condescending as he questioned her

Felicity blew a breath out "I'm a redhead Dream. I change my mind like girls change clothes." she snorted with a teasing smile on her face before she held her hand out to him; the smile was now gone. "Besides, I told you earlier didn't I? We help each other."  

He studied her a moment before his larger hand grasped hers and he began to lead her down a path. "You mortals are confusing," he grumbled under his breath 

Matthew cawed in amusement as he took to the air above them and his laughter was met with Felicity's as she squeezed the dream king's hand in hers. "No, not confusing. Simply good at teaching people hard-learned lessons," she replied airily

The Endless's blue eyes shifted to her with a bemused glint in them as he kept silent after that and instead chose to scan the surroundings for any threat. Never once allowing his hand to slip from hers in fear she would slip away somehow. Hell was not a place for mortals but Felicity was not a mortal. Should he tell her that now? It would be terrible timing but what if something happens and he does not get a chance to tell her of his findings about her? That is, after all, the deal they had made had they not?

"You're broody right now mister. Care to share what's on your mind? Perhaps, I dunno, tell me what you found and caused you to act like a dick earlier?" The girl tugged at his sleeve

"I found your birth father."

"Oh." 

"He is an old friend of mine...but his tales are...troubling and confusing." the king replied in the vaguest of ways. 

"What's that supposed to mean? Did he like sell my soul to the devil to get this fancy schmancy piece of jewelry or something?" Felicity laughed but when her companion did not her smile fell and she cocked her head. 

"Sorry. Tell me what he said." she urged 

"Another time; we are here." The man replied much to her dismay but she looked ahead of them 

"Where is here?" she asked looking at the odd-looking cavernous space they had entered in.

What she first thought were some twisted branches of decaying trees actually began to move and she gawked; stumbling backward into the dream lord as she clasped a hand to her mouth as her mumbled words muffled behind her hand spoke in horror 

"Are those...."

"Body parts of mortals who were condemned to hell? Yes." the way Morpheus said it sounded almost funny to her but she did not laugh and instead looked over as the Endless reached out a hand to what looked like a mean made from the wall and took a stick from his hands.

There was a beat of pause before Dream hit a drum in front of him with the end of the drumstick and Felicity shuddered as the wails of the souls stuck within the walls sounded in her ears making her cringe and tuck herself further against Morpheus's side. Hell was not made for her. She never could stand gory films and this was as morbid as it got. 

There were thunderous footsteps slow and purposeful as they began to move closer to them on the other side of a gate that they now stood in front of and out of the fog came a tall giant. A gravelly deep baritone voice akin to what Felicity could only imagine a demon sounding like spoke words of what? Prophecy or scripture of some kind? Did hell have its biblical scripture they followed or something? 

"Greetings Squatterbloat. I have come to seek an audience with your sovereign." the girl turned her attention to Morpheus. He was so regal despite speaking with a demon and a part of her wanted to swoon but then those demonic eyes turned to her and she shrank partly behind her black clad companion.

"What business does an angel have in hell?" 

Felicity blinked a bit surprised at the words and her hand tugged at the back of Morpheus's coat as she rose on tiptoes to whisper in his ear from behind. "What's he talking about Dream?" 

The man barely even gave an inch as he refused to look in her direction as he began to address the gatekeeper once more; completely ignoring her question and the gatekeepers altogether as well which made her kind of salty as she looked down at Matthew like 'what in the hell?'

Her attention was drawn back when the screech of the gates opening to allow them to enter; she was quick to keep a hold of her companion's jacket as she nearly tripped over his heels with how close she was pressed to him as they entered. Oh trust her, she didn't miss the way Sqautterbloat eyed her and even leaned down to sniff her hair as she passed. 

"Creep." she whispered thinking no one heard her. 

But with the demon leading the way several feet ahead Morpheus did hear as his hand slipped into hers once more; keeping her close. A squeeze to her fingers told her that he'd heard her; noticed even when he pretended not to and for that Felicity felt a little better.

Click here for chapter 11!

If you enjoy my work please consider reblogging to share with your friends who may like this series! Thank you! <3

If you wish to be added to the tag list for future chapters please let me know!

Taglist: @lizajane2 @kpopgirlbtssvt @stilledimperfections

[tinyboxxtink]

"Weird Secret Friends" *Chapter 8*

Chapter 7

Chapter 9

I know, I wait almost 4 days and now you gotta go through this bullshit. I can already hear your cries of anguish and suffering.

I love it so much. MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

That being said I promise regular chapters for the rest of the week! Okay I don't promise but I promise to do my best.

Note: Alright it's a fanfic people, alternate universes and all that. So you know what we're saying that all the Carisi sisters are younger, and Sonny was the big bro. Kay? I can't deal with all the continuity stuff.

Tag List

@madamsnape921

@lolliepopsicle

@chasingeverybreakingwave

@milkshqke

@wanniiieeee

@word-scribbless

@gibbs274

@sassyada

@aprildecker-blog

@bookishfanfic

@stars-in-the-skies-world

@stars-trash-18

@omgsuperstarg

@objection-argumentative

@thatesqcrush

@shittanyy

@mrsrafaelbarba

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

Sonny was watching TV with Amanda when his phone went off. He paused the movie and answered the phone:

“Barba it’s kinda late--”

“What's wrong with your cousin?” he flatly said.

“Excuse me?” Sonny asked. “What kind of question is that?”

“Just answer the question, Carisi,” Barba insisted.

“Well it's a loaded question, Barba.” Sonny replied.

“Okay then just answer me this,” Barba sighed. “Why did I come back to my apartment to find her halfway through my once full bottle of vodka and pouting on the couch. Oh, after she had gone through all of my things of course,”

“Aw shit,” Sonny muttered under his breath. “That's kind of on me, Barba,”

“One second babe,” He muttered to Amanda, while he got up and went into his kitchen.

“Babe?” Barba asked.

“It’s just Rollins,” Sonny dismissed it.

“So you have feelings for me, but you’re fucking Rollins?” He asked in a snarky tone.

“What, are you jealous or somethin’ Barba?” Sonny smirked.

“No, don’t be stupid,” Rafael rolled his eyes. “Why is it on you?” He changed the subject.

“I should have never filled her head with doubts and suspicions and then sent her back to your place; when I should have known that you would keep a full bar in your apartment,” Sonny sighed as he ran his hands through his hair.

“Well of course I would keep a stocked bar in my apartment Sonny, I entertain people and I'm a grown man,” Rafael scoffed.

“Yeah, again it's on me,” Sonny repeated.

“Okay so what is wrong with your cousin?” Rafael asked.

“I think that pretty much answers it, don't you think?” Sonny asked in a “duh” tone.

“... I see,” Rafael glanced at his bedroom door wearily.

“Where is she now? Did you send her away? Please tell me you didn't send her away,” Sonny begged.

“No I didn't send her away, she's sleeping it off in my bedroom,” He got up and walked to his bedroom door. “I didn't want to just kick her out because she was upset. I'm not that big of a dick,” He whispered as he watched you sleep. You looked so calm and peaceful, that’s the girl he remembered.

“ You know, this should probably be better explained in person,” Sonny walked back into his living room where Amanda glanced over at him. He motioned for her to get her stuff together.

“Can I come over?”

“Yeah okay, not like I have anything else to do,'' he rolled his eyes as he shut his bedroom door and walked back to his living room.

--------------.

Sonny showed up to Rafael's apartment with a loaded head and a semi heavy conscience. He knocked on the door and Rafael let him inside.

“Okay so what kind of long story is this,” Rafael asked while he poured himself a glass of scotch. He noticed Sonny giving him a weird look.

“What? It's not like she's in here now,” he rolled his eyes.

“True,” He nodded. “Do you have beer?”

“Yes, dark or light?” Rafael made a disgusted face while he asked. He couldn't stand the taste of beer but he always had it on him just in case he had barbarians over such as Sonny.

“Shiner Bock, if you have it,” Sonny requested. Rafael nodded as he went into his ‘party fridge’ and handed him one before sitting on the couch across from him.

“Alright so where do I start?” Sonny thought out loud.

“Well I guess first of all I wanted to say I don’t wanna say I told you so, but this is exactly why I didn't want you and Y/N to get involved in the first place. It had nothing to do with my feelings for you. It’s because I know that you tend to keep relationships with guys and girls chill and casual, but Y/N is a special case and special to me,”

“Yeah.. I wish you had expressed that before,” Rafael groaned.

Well what was I supposed to say in front of her, Barba? ‘Oh hey by the way, you probably shouldn't get involved with my trainwreck of a cousin? Sonny asked defensively.

“Maybe? I don’t know…” Rafael sighed as he put his head in his hands.

“Look, Rafael,” Sonny put a hand on his shoulder. “It’s not like she’s some kinda degenerate junkie,”

“Oh well, that’s great--” He started to roll his eyes.

“I’m serious Rafael!” He pounded the table.

“Okay okay, I’m sorry Sonny,” He finally used his first name, trying to be as soft with him as possible. He could see how much you meant to him, and it was really endearing. “Go ahead,”

“Alright,” Sonny sighed, ready to tell your life story. You would probably kill him later for it, but there was no hiding your...issues now, he might as well get the whole context.

“Well, first of all-- her dad died before she was born, overdose,” He began. “Then she was stuck with her junkie mother, my auntie. Who by the way at this point, nobody had heard from in years,” He took a sip of beer.

“So anyways,” He began again. “One day, she showed up at my mom’s doorstep with Y/N, and told her that she can’t take care of Y/N, or that she didn’t want to,” He sighed. “She was three years old by then, I don’t even wanna think about what happened before then,”

“Jesus…” Rafael muttered.

“I was eight years old at the time, my sisters were even younger. My mom and dad had enough on their plate with just us. So, I kinda took her under my wing,” He went on.

“We became so close, she wanted to go by “Sunny” just so she could be like me. I told her it would be confusing for the two of us, so I called her Sunshine, Sunny for short. That way if I’m calling her sunny, then obviously it’s not myself,” He chuckled. To this day, he still called you Sunshine.

“But as she grew up, she just...kinda had a rough go. She didn’t really interact with kids her own age, she was really defensive and untrusting with anybody but me. Not even my parents. And then we got the call that her mother died, and it ripped me up inside to see her body at the funeral. It was so fucked up, she was so fucked up. That’s why I-- I think something really bad happened to her when she was with her mother, Rafael. Like-- really, bad.

“Fuck..." Rafael muttered while glancing at his bedroom door. He didn't want to imagine what you had been through at such a young age. He wanted to run in his room right now and just hold you, but he kept his composure.

“So then I went off to college when she was ten years old, just about to start junior high. She begged me to stay, but I told her she had a good family and that my parents and sisters loved her as much as I did, and to stay out of trouble. But...kids are cruel. They made her harder, and harder. Without me there to be her-- I dunno, her guiding light or her-- protector, she just kinda fell into a bad crowd by the time high school rolled around,” He sighed while taking another swig of beer.

“...Right,” Rafael nodded.

“So when i came home from school my mom told me she was going to kick Sunny out. I asked her why, and she went on and on about how she had gotten in with these local girls who were like, I dunno some kinda girl gang, and they’d knock over liquor stores and then get drunk and stoned. She said she was never around anyway, unless it was to steal money out of her purse; And she just didn’t wanna deal with her anymore,”

“...But she was only fifteen at the time,” Rafael was stunned.

“Yeah, and that’s what I told her!” Sonny exclaimed. “Look Barba my mom is the salt of the earth, but like I said she had a lot on her plate and my dad wasn’t around a lot-- and she had three other daughters to watch out for,”

“Three of her OWN daughters,” Rafael clarified with a judgmental tone.

“HEY,” Sonny warned. “I know how it sounds. And maybe-- maybe you’re right, maybe that’s why she washed her hands clean of Sunny. Because she was just a by-product of her fucked up sister. But I-- I’m not gonna condemn her for it. And you sure as hell don’t get to judge her,”

“You’re right,” Rafael nodded while sipping his scotch.

“So I took Sunny in,” Sonny finished his beer as he wrapped up his story. “I took her in while I went through the police academy. I made sure she got sober, quit hangin’ out with those girls, I got her to do well in school, hell I got her to graduate high school!”

“And…?” Rafael pressed.

“...And when I started bouncing around precincts, she was finally a productive member of society so she started living on her own. She had a few jobs, but never really going anywhere. So once I got placed here in SVU and started making better money, I started helping her out with rent and her car, as long as she promised to start going to community college. Which she agreed to because she really does wanna make something of herself,” He half smiled thinking about how far you had come and how proud he was to call you his cousin now. You were so full of life with dreams and ambitions he never saw in you as a scared little kid.

“Okay so-- how does all of this lead to what happened tonight?” Rafael leaned back and crossed his arms.

“Because she’s still an addict, Barba!” Sonny tried not to yell, but didn’t understand why Rafael was still so flippant about you.

“Just because she got her life together-- I got her life together, doesn’t mean that she just got ‘better’. She’s on a daily see-saw of sobriety. I do weekly ‘drop ins’ just to check on her. It’s gotten a lot better as time goes on, and the less and less I worry about her, but--” He took a breath and looked at the floor.

“....Deep down she’s still that little girl with all of her walls and her distrust. She doesn’t have friends, I really don’t think she’s ever had a stable ‘boyfriend’ or ‘girlfriend,’ I mean she-- she doesn’t, talk to people,” He paused before looking up and into Rafael’s eyes.

“...Which is why it has been yankin' my chain tryin’ to figure out just why in God’s name she was so-- open, to you,” He finally admitted. “She’s never been that close to anybody else but me, not in her entire life,”

“Wait,” Rafael put a finger up. “So...you haven’t actually been jealous of Y/N this whole time, you’ve been jealous of me?” He half laughed.

“I mean, it’s a little of both,” He shrugged with a small smile, able to joke about his feelings now. “But I meant what I said when I first got here, I know the main thing that Y/N needs in her life right now is stability. And you-- you are not stable, in the least,”

“Oh I’m the unstable one?” Rafael raised an eyebrow.

“Relationship wise, yeah,” Sonny pointed out.

“....Fair point,” Rafael nodded as he finished off his scotch. He knew the longest relationship he had ever had was with the cute barista he saw every morning who knew how to make his coffee just right. And that relationship only took him five minutes a day to maintain.

“So…” Sonny knocked Rafael from his thoughts.

“So...what?” Rafael quirked an eyebrow.

“So, I think that--” Sonny took a deep breath, knowing you might hate him for this. But it was for the best, and it needed to be said.

“I think that if you care anything about her, or me for that matter, that you let me take her home, and forget about this whole weekend,”

“....I mean…” Rafael rubbed the back of his neck. He didn't want to let you go. Well, he didn't want to let go of the girl he had met at Forlini's. The girl who made him laugh, who he could be his true self around, the girl he might---

“Look the bottom line here Barba is that Y/N is-- a lot of work. I should know, I’ve been taking care of her for 19 years. But I don’t mind it, because I love her more than anything else in this world. Well, her and the rest of my family. But still-- I love her,” Sonny now stood up.

“And I get that you like her, but she--- she has gotten way too serious about you way too fast, and way too hard. And this?” He gestured around the room, referring to the whole night. “This ain’t even the tip of the iceberg with her, if she’s really fallen off the wagon,”

“...God dammit,” Rafael stood up and began to pace in his living room. He thought about every single second he had spent with you since he met you; you had never seemed so...broken, as Sonny was describing you.

“What I’m saying is, unless you’re ready to-- ‘deal’ with her, and everything that comes with that, please for the love of God, just walk away now,” Sonny pleaded.

“Because she won’t listen to me if I tell her to stay away from you. And if things get too ‘real’ for you, you’re just gonna freak out or-- or get bored, and throw her away. Her self worth will drop to shit. And if that happens, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get her back from that,”

“I would never just throw her away, Carisi,” Rafael rolled his eyes.

“You can’t say that, Barba,” Sonny debated.

“And why the hell not?” Rafael narrowed his eyes.

“Because you’ve never NOT just ‘thrown away’ someone,” He chuckled. “That front door might as well be a garbage chute,”

“You son of a--” Rafael started to yell at him but Sonny cut him off.

“Tell me I’m wrong, Barba. Look me in the eyes and tell me I have no idea what I’m talking about, and I’ll leave here and let you deal with her the way you want to,” Sonny looked at him pensively. Rafael looked at him for several seconds, then softened his glare into a sad concession.

“....Take her,” He muttered softly while looking at the ground.

“Thank you,” Sonny mumbled softly as he turned to go retrieve your passed out self from the bedroom. However, he was instead met with the most unsettling sight:

You were standing in the doorway of the room, glaring at the two of them.

“...H-Hey, Sunshine--” Sonny tried to appease you with an awkward smile.

“Don’t,” You growled, stomping into the living room and began packing your bag.

“Y/N, what are you--” Rafael went to put a hand on your bag but you snatched it away before you shot fire out of your eyes into his gaze.

“Oh, I’m sorry, did I misunderstand what you just said?” You barked at him with tears in your eyes. “Because I’m pretty damn sure I heard ‘take her’. You know like I’m some sort of defective Amazon package,”

“That’s not what I meant---” He softly spoke, the guilt of his words being heard by you was quickly eating him alive.

“No I know what you meant, Rafael,” You zipped your duffel shut angrily.

“I heard the whole god damn spiel. Which, by the way, thank you so much for detailing my entire little sob story, cousin,” You glared at Sonny as you started walking towards the front door, shoulder checking him.

“But neither of you have to worry about anything anymore, okay? You’re released from your ‘duties’. This trainwreck is leaving the station, so you can relax,” You looked at the both of them with pain in your eyes, tears cracking your words.

“Sunshine--” Sonny started after you.

“DON’T,” You glared at him while putting a finger up. “Don’t ever call me that again,”

“At least let me drive you home--”

“No,” You shook your head. “And you know what, cuz? I didn’t realize I was such a financial burden, so you know what? Cut me off. Because I’d rather be homeless again than take any more money from you,”

“What did I do?!” Sonny was now angry. “All I did was come over and try to protect you, that’s it!”

“I don’t need your protection!” You screamed. “This whole time...this whole time, I thought you were proud of me. That you trusted me,”

“I do trust you--”

“You don’t!” You stomped your foot while tears streamed down your face. “Y-You think that if . one single thing like a boy not liking me is gonna set me off, like I’m some kind of bomb you’ve kept from detonating for years. My life is not your responsibility anymore, Sonny! I don’t think it ever was!”

“Well who’s else was it gonna be?!”

“NOBODY’S!!!!” You finally dropped your duffel bag and kicked the wall, leaning your head against it. You were strangely quiet for a long pause before you spoke again in an eerily calm voice.

“...Do you know why my mother “dropped me off’ with your mother?”

“Because she couldn’t take care of you--”

“No I heard what you said,” You sniffled with a sad smile. “Because she didn’t want to,”

“Sunshine--”

“But leaving me with your mother, was her plan b,” You cut him off, still looking at the floor.

“What do you mean?” Sonny asked cautiously while looking at Rafael who had a terrified look in his eyes.

“She didn’t want to ‘burden’ her sister with me, but she had to when I wouldn’t die,”

“...W-What?” Rafael almost choked on the words in disbelief.

“She tried to smother me with a pillow, but I wouldn’t die. I kept screaming and crying, and I guess it touched her strand of humanity, so she stopped,” You rolled your eyes with the same sad smile.

That memory was forever imprinted in your brain. The terror of being woken up in blackness, unable to breathe. The smell of the cigarette smoke covered pillow being shoved into your throat and nostrils. Your mother crying and telling you it would be over soon, just to let go. And finally her sad, pathetic whimpers and sobs when she finally lifted the pillow from you, disappointed in herself that she couldn’t do one good thing in her life. That now she was going to have to pass you, her problem, onto her sister.

“Y/N, baby girl--” Sonny stepped towards you again.

“I wasn’t supposed to be raised by anybody, Sonny. I’m not even supposed to be alive!” You stomped your foot again while tears continued to flow.

“That’s not true!” He ran over and grabbed you in a hug. “You are not a burden,”

“Really?” You laughed sarcastically into his shoulder as you pushed him away from the hug. “You just said your mom didn’t even want to deal with me. Nobody did,”

“I did!” He argued. “I do,”

“Yeah well, maybe I’m my mother’s daughter. I don’t wanna be your burden,” You picked up the duffel and opened the door.

“Okay well you have no choice in that so you’re gonna have to let that go,” Sonny grabbed your hand before you could walk away.

“Fine,” You finally conceded with a blank expression.

“Guess I’ll just have to let a lot of things go, won’t I?” Your voice cracked as you looked at Rafael one more time with the saddest eyes.

He stared back at you with a stone cold face. He wanted so badly just to go and hold you in his arms, telling you how you didn’t deserve any of what happened to you, and that you deserved everything good and all the love in the world. But Sonny’s pleas were still in his head.

He didn’t know if he wanted the responsibility of your entire self worth and happiness, let alone your sobriety on his shoulders. He didn’t even like to get close to clients with that many issues, the pressure was too much. So instead he just stood there, trying not to show how much this was killing him, sending you away like this.

“Come on Sunshine, just-- let’s go, okay?” Sonny pleaded with you softly, pulling at your hand. You didn’t answer, you just nodded and started walking down the hallway towards the elevator, leaving Sonny at the door.

“...Thank you, Barba,” He mumbled softly, nodding at Rafael. Rafael barely nodded back before Sonny closed the door.

As soon as it was closed, Rafael dropped on his knees and began to cry. He didn’t know why exactly, was he crying because he felt horrible for all the shit you had gone through? Was he angry at himself for not being able to get over his own bullshit to actually open up and care about someone for more than a week? Was he really that big of a hypocrite, showing empathy to clients all the time but shutting out the one person he felt he might-- he couldn’t even think it. He wouldn’t let himself think it. He just composed himself and poured another scotch while turning on the TV, trying to forget what just happened.

His NETFLIX menu popped up; it asked him if he wanted to continue watching Bojack Horseman. He closed his eyes and muttered obscenities in spanish while memories of the night before flooded his brain, making him cry angry tears once more. He finally decided just to go to bed, maybe his brain would release him from torture if he could turn it off.

He wasn’t sure he could ever turn it off now.

[rjhpandapaws]

Canon hankcon, "birthday" for the prompt, and that's all I'm giving you lmao. Whose birthday? Party or no acknowledgement? Homemade cake with haphazard candles or storebought fancy pants cake? How many birthday kisses from Sumo? I dunno you tell me.

//:3

It wasn’t any particular news that Hank didn’t enjoy his birthday much anymore. It might have been the grief but he had a hard time remembering a time before Cole when he did. It was old news to everyone it seemed except Connor who was waiting by his desk the morning of with a box in his hands. “Connor, what is that?” He asked as he moved to sit at his desk. “It’s a birthday present Hank.” Connor set the small box on his desk, “Isn’t it a human custom to celebrate them?” Hank bit off the annoyed sigh and reminded himself that Connor didn’t know better, “Most people do. When you’re young making it another year is kind of a big deal, but when you get to my age its just a reminder of how many opportunities you’ve missed.” Connor fell onto red for a moment and Hank regretted his words, “Do you want me to take it back?” His LED flickered as he did something in that head of his. “No.” Hank shook his head, “I appreciate it Connor, it was just a surprise. I’m not used to people caring after I spent years asking them not to.” Connor narrowed his eyes as he moved to sit as his desk, “I know now, so it won’t happen again.” This time Hank sighed, “Connor, its okay, I promise.” Connor still didn’t believe him from the looks of it, and Hank hated that he was right. He knew Connor meant well, but they were dancing around an unknown something and every time Connor would do something like this it reminded Hank that the android could do so much better. When he finally climbed out of his own head Hank noticed Connor had gotten to work. His LED was yellow which meant he was thinking about something too, but Hank didn’t have the nerve to ask. He looked down at the small precisely wrapped box and what it was that Connor had decided was worth getting him.

He opened the box as quietly as he could, he didn’t want to pull Connor out of his focus, the brunette hated that. The last thing he expected was concert tickets, they were rested on top of a neatly folded t-shirt. The tickets were for a holographic performance by Frank Sinatra. He set them aside and took out the t-shirt and found it was a signed Knight of The Black Death shirt, it was from one of their older tours and had only been up for bid. He didn’t know how Connor had found it or how much he had paid for it but he knew neither of them had been cheap. “Connor.” He said firmly. Connor came back to himself and tilted his head in question, “You know birthday gifts are supposed to be simple right?” “Yes.” Connor responded, “But they are also supposed to be something you enjoy, and I figured that this would have been better than simple. Jazz is something I know you enjoy, I would have done Knights of The Black Death but they aren’t currently touring.” “So you bought two tickets to one of the best jazz clubs in Detroit and won a bit on an auction only shirt.” Hank remarked. “Yes, I figured you could take a friend with you.” Connor continued, “I figured you would have more fun that way, the shirt took a while to get, but that’s the perk of not needing sleep.” Hank bit back a groan and found himself smiling nonetheless. He didn’t deserve this kind of effort and certainly not from Connor. Not to mention that Connor had seemed to greatly over estimate the number of friends he had. Other than Connor and possibly Jeff he really didn’t know who would want join him. According to the date on the tickets he had until that evening to decide.

He tucked the tickets back into the box and did what he could to focus on his work. His mind kept tracking back to how much thought Connor had put into this, some stupid day of the year to commemorate the mistake that was his life. That Connor had found their friendship for lack of a better word worth burning a few paychecks on. It baffled him. On some level he understood that not many people viewed him in the same light he viewed himself, but the fact that Connor of all people saw him as worth this much effort never failed to knock him off kilter. The day was thankfully slow, his head wasn’t in the right place for case work as it was, he wouldn’t have been able to handle a live one. He was pulled back to attention when Connor began to pack up his things for the day. Hank still needed to talk to him about the jazz club. God, how long had it been since he had asked someone on a date? Could this really even be considered a date if Connor was the one that bought the tickets? “Your vitals say you are distressed Hank. Is there something I can do to help?” Connor was standing with his blazer over his arm, it was a charcoal grey number he had picked out to replace the branded one. “Ah no. I was just thinking too much.” He said, here went nothing he supposed, “Would you like to go with me tonight? To the jazz club?” He didn’t miss the small smile that flashed across Connor’s features before he replied, “I would love too.” Hank nodded as relief crashed over him, “Think you could be ready by eight thirty?” “Of course.” Connor agreed, “I’ll see you then Hank.” He gave a polite wave before he turned to leave. Hank was grinning at his monitor like a damn fool.

He got home with just around two hours to get ready and realized he had nothing to wear that would hold a candle to how Connor would probably wind up looking. He dressed sharply despite being a plain clothes detective so it was certain he would be dressed to the nines for this too. He dug through his closet like a damn teenager looking for something that would fit and look nice. He needed to shower as well but that could wait until after he found something to wear that would be presentable. He decided on black jeans at the very least because he couldn’t be paid to wear slacks even for a maybe date. Then it was on to looking for a shirt which took longer than he would have liked. He eventually settled for a dark teal button down that he didn’t remember ever buying but was thankful to have nonetheless. The shower came next since he did have time, and after that it was just a matter of getting himself to look presentable. He shaved figuring it was time the beard went anyway and then tied his hair back in a half ponytail to keep it out of his face. He debated his glasses for a long moment before he put them on, he technically needed them all the time but he only used them at home to give his eyes a break. Satisfied with the way he looked, he fed Sumo, grabbed his leather jacket, and headed for the car. If he was lucky he would only be a little late to pick up Connor. Hank was not in anyway ready for the way Connor was dressed. He had changed his hair to loose curls and an undercut. He was in a maroon button down under a grey suit vest with black slacks. He was absent of a tie and the first couple buttons of the shirt were undone, and he looked nervous. When he saw Hank his LED rolled yellow and blinked a few times and Hank could have sworn it was red for one of them, but just as quick as it happened it was back to blue. His smile was back in place as he walked to the car.

“You clean up nicely Hank.” Connor said with what Hank was going to take a as a friendly smile because if he looked too much into how Connor had looked at him he was going to combust, “The glasses are a nice touch.” Hank let out a dry laugh, “Only you would find not being able to see attractive.” Connor let out a sound that was distinctly inhuman but still very clearly flustered, “I didn’t- that’s not- its-” He sighed, “That’s not to say that I don’t find you attractive normally.” There was a long stretch of silence after that then Connor seemed to realize what he had said and his LED strobed red. The car was alight with his very clear distress, “Could we maybe pretend that I didn’t just say that.” Hank chuckled lightly, “Of course. It will be just like it never happened.” Of course Hank planned to keep the memory for himself. It confirmed that he hadn’t been imagining whatever this unspoken thing was between them. It was unfortunate that it seemed that for now it would stay unspoken. At least he knew glasses at the very least were the key to getting under Connor’s skin. Maybe he could wear them to the station every once in a while. “For what it’s worth Con, you clean up pretty nice as well.” Hank remarked earning another smile from Connor. “I was worried I might be over dressed.” Connor admitted, “I’ve never been to one of these places before so I wasn’t sure what the dress code was.” Hank shook his head as he pulled into the parking lot, “You look just fine, I promise. If anything, I might be a little underdressed.”

“I think you look nice.” Connor said almost under his breath. Hank didn’t know if it was meant for him to hear, but he responded anyway, “Thanks.” He doesn’t get anymore response than Connor’s index finger cutting into his line of sight, “There’s a parking space four spaces up and to the left.” Hank hummed his acknowledgement and pulled into the space once they got to it. He checked to be sure he had the tickets and then got out. Connor followed suit. They were close enough to bump shoulders as they walked to the doors and Hank couldn’t stop the smile on his lips even if he had been paid. It might not have been a date officially, but that didn’t stop it from feeling like it. There was just something in the air that made it feel that way. After they were admitted Connor took his hand and lead him to a corner table with a clear view of the stage. They were early, there was still about twenty minutes before the opening act so the good tables were almost full. Like the parking space Hank chalked it up to Connor’s keen observation, he always was a few steps ahead of Hank it seemed. “Is this alright?” Connor asked his voice was void of its usual confidence. “Its perfect Connor.” Hank reassured, “There’s nothing to be worried about.” “You seemed upset with this idea earlier.” Connor said without looking at him. He was turned in a way that Hank couldn’t see his LED, “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.” “Hey.” Hank said sharply which caused Connor to look at him and like Hank had suspected his LED was on red, “I was just surprised. Its been... quite a while since someone had put that much thought into a gift. I love it Connor, and if I’m honest I’m still trying to convince myself that this all is real.”

Connor’s LED flickered and Hank knew he was being scanned. Under any other circumstance he would have found it frustrating but he got the feeling Connor was just as out of his depth as Hank was. He needed to know that Hank was being honest and Hank could give him that much. He apparently found what he was looking for because he smiled. “Then I suppose its a good thing I did.” Connor said after a moment, “Someone has to remind you that you matter.” Hank let out a dry laugh, “Damn Connor, usually you buy a man a drink before you get to the sweet talking.” It was a deflection and a poor one at that if the way Connor narrowed his eyes was anything to go by, “Hank.” “Right, no self deprecating comments.” Hank grumbled, “Do they even have android friendly drinks here. I probably should have thought about that sooner.” “They do, don’t worry.” Connor informed, “But even then, tonight isn’t about me.” Hank’s response was cut off by Connor narrowing his eyes once again, “How about we order a couple of drinks before the show starts.” Connor smiled, “That sounds nice.” Hank took his jacket off and rested it on the table to mark it as taken. Connor stood as well and they headed to the bar together. They were bumping shoulders again and Hank was tempted to take his hand again, but he didn’t. When Connor had taken his hand it was so they wouldn’t get separated by the crowd had settled down for the most part in anticipation for the show. Connor stepped up to the bar to order, “Could we get an Old Fashioned and a Thirium Sunset please?”

Hank wasn’t nearly as surprised that Connor knew what he liked to drink as he was at the fact that he had ordered an alcoholic drink for himself, or at least the android equivalent. The bartender seemed surprised as well but got to work on both drinks. “I didn’t know you drank.” Hank found himself saying. “I don’t usually.” Connor admitted, “But its not very gentlemanly to let your date drink alone.” Hank blue screened at that, he was relatively certain Connor meant it as a turn of phrase but he still hung on the word. Connor was smiling, he seemed glad to catch Hank off guard. The night after that passed in a haze of good music and better and conversation. Hank still had to drive so he stopped after two drinks, but the more Connor had the closer he moved and by the end of the night Connor’s usual perception of personal space was little more than a myth. Hank found he didn’t mind. When it came time to leave Connor’s balance was off so Hank put on of his arms over his shoulder and half packed Connor out of the jazz club. Connor tried his best to walk so it wasn’t as much dragging him as he thought it would be. “You have like, really pretty eyes.” Connor said out of the blue when they were nearly to the car, “They are very expressive.” Hank laughed, “Thank you Con.” He found himself wondering if androids could suffer from hangovers but he found himself sympathetic just in case. He got Connor in the car and belted in which wasn’t all that much of a feat, it seemed the cold air had helped him recover some. He was quiet on the way home, and if it weren’t for the fact that his eyes were roaming around the car Hank would have believed him to be in stasis.

“I think I’m back to normal now.” Connor said as Hank pulled into his complex, “Sorry about that.” Hank just chuckled, “Everyone gets that way when they find a drink they like. On top of that I’m pretty sure its your first time drinking. Getting like that is basically a right of passage.” “I could have at least picked a day other than your birthday to get like this.” Connor sighed as he looked down. Hank found a place to park and reached out to ruffle Connor’s hair, “It was nice to see you let loose for once. Tonight was nice.” Connor smiled, “I’m glad then.” If Hank were to be asked about this, he planned to blame it on his drinks, even if he and Connor both knew it was a lie. It was an out both of them could take if they decided this was a mistake, but it wasn’t enough to stop him from leaning in. The kiss he gave Connor was chaste and not much more than a brush of lips. The one Connor chased it with was the exact opposite and Hank found himself breathless when Connor pulled away. “I’ll see you tomorrow Lieutenant.” He said with a wink as he got out, “Happy Birthday.” Hank watched him walk into the building still waiting for his brain to come back online. Of all the ways he expected tonight to end, this was not one of them. Happy Birthday indeed.

@irrelevantbutfabulous

(Prompt from this list)

[laceymorganwrites]

Ah fuc guess whose here with a request because she can't stop thinkin about it and needs it to be reality but also doesn't know the character well enough to write it? Meeeee

Anyway. Also pls hmu if this is unclear because I'm both tired n have a headache so I dunno if this is even English lmao. Or just hmu for like. Normal talkin if u want that

Could you do hc's or, a scenario or whatever you feel best fits, for Jean where his S/O is "eaten" by a titan, so now he thinks they're dead. But then, the titan writhes in pain, it's stomach is split open by S/O's knife, and S/O gets out alive but traumatized and just clings to Jean the moment he's close enough because holy shit they almost died n just u know pls provide me with that angst/comfort pls

Or don't, if you don't wanna do this req that's totes cool too no worries

Word count: 782

Pairing: Jean x reader

Warnings: blood n gore, swearing

A/N: I am so bad at writing action and gore but I tried lol, I hope you like it

It was routine at this point. Titans invaded more often than ever, the walls meant nothing.

You should´ve seen it coming, should´ve been more prepared.

But then again, all you ever did was train and watch out, still you were never prepared and you doubted you ever would be.

Then came the rage, wasn´t it the job of the others to ensure your safety? Why did you even build the walls if everyone knew that they´d be destroyed one way or the other?

It was no wonder people in high positions couldn´t control the civilians anymore.

You were a soldier like anyone else, nothing special, fighting to protect the people that would be killed in another week.

It all seemed pointless and you all knew it was.

But what the fuck were you supposed to do about it? There was nothing else to do but try.

Sure, the situation was hopeless but that didn´t mean you had to be.

At least you could keep up the attitude to calm down the citizens.

Death was always a companion to you, striking down your comrades you promised you wouldn´t get attached to since it would only bring you pain.

Every single one of you was going to die. It was only a matter of time.

But still you couldn´t help yourself, why did everyone have to be so nice?

Especially Jean…

You never would´ve imagined to fall in love in those times, living a life that was more fleeting than anything. But here you were, in his arms, the day before your next mission.

Everything was peaceful. For now that was.

You exchanged a few words before going to sleep. Sleeping next to him, all cuddled up, made you feel so safe. Safer and warmer than anything else you ever experienced.

The nights weren´t as restless with him by your side and for the first time in your life you felt like you could actually sleep through it.

The next day started like always, quick breakfast, getting into gear and riding outside of the walls.

It didn´t take long for the titans to show their grimaces, so ugly and visceral you just wanted to slay each and every one of them.

Something that always went through your head was: who?

Who would get eaten next? Who was the next one to die and lose their lives to those monsters?

This time it just seemed to be the one person you couldn´t lose.

Without thinking about it you jumped into action, protecting Jean and trying to attack it.

However you were in vain. You weren´t fast enough and instead took Jean´s place.

The titan swallowed you whole like you were nothing, like you weren´t even worth chewing, in the end it would be for your luck.

But even still…

It was an experience you would never forget.

The utter darkness inside of the titan, you could hear the screams outside, Jean calling your name, though it all was muffled.

You couldn´t move a lot in its stomach, it was filled with heads and limbs and some half alive corpses, the air was more than just damp, cutting at your throat. If you didn´t do something soon, you would end up like them.

Jean felt utterly helpless, watching you get eaten. He couldn´t move and slashed at the titan but no matter what he did, it wouldn´t let you go.

It was useless, he knew you were probably dead by now but he couldn´t let that happen. He wouldn´t.

If he couldn´t even protect you was he even any good of a soldier? He highly doubted it.

In the end he never has been cut out for the job… he didn´t save anyone like he was supposed to, he just slowed everyone down.

Connie tried to pull him away, tugged at him, but it was no use. He wouldn´t move.

Jean kept trying to rescue you, to get to you.

Meanwhile you were searching for your knife in your pockets, you would get out on your own, this wouldn´t be the end of your story.

After a while you finally found it and gripped it tightly, your hands were covered in more fluids than just sweat and you didn´t dare look down on them.

Determined you dashed forward, closing your eyes and slashing its stomach from the inside, bursting out of it into Jean´s arms.

You couldn´t even cry, your eyes were wide and you just knew that you both would need a lot of time to overcome the trauma that came from this experience.

Right now you were just glad you two were alive, that was more than you bargained for, more than good enough.

[ijustwritenope]

very gay

gay