#like all she needs to do is go cool dude and MOVE ON

[theprestigegirly]

when my mother gives me unsolicited criticism on everything i say for no reason

[fiendishartist2]

guys what if i want to make my own apollo justice game.

[cipheramnesia]

The Dungeon Meshi character I think about the most, not love the most but think about most, is Chilchuck. He is much more Some Guy than anyone else, he's got a wife and kids and he's gonna open a store. He's a little dude with sharp senses who knows about locks and traps, and it's all very straightforward compared to like, really anyone else in the manga.

But why I'm fascinated is that his whole core essence revolves around organization and function, around safety not in the sense of cowardice or excess caution, but in the sense of a deeply rooted belief that everyone deserves to live and everything has a place. One day he'll open a shop and retire but right now his people are being exploited and he needs to plan for his future, so he's unionizing half foots and reducing risk and that functions for society because it's dumb using the guy watching your back as bait. It's a broken system he has to fix.

And it's like that with Laios and Senshi and Marcille and Falin. Falin dies, it's a broken system, she was a vital component that kept the group healthy. Eating monsters departs from the system, it's wrong to him, but then he figures out how Senshi has created a new system with better survivability. Senshi interrupts his trap hunting and he goes ballistic because that's not how the system survives. Itzutsumi drives him bonkers because she refuses to be a part of his system. Laios' lack of people skills frustrates him because Laios' charisma has made him a leader. A leader needs to know how to see how people feel, and Laios can't do that.

I think a lot about how his approach and personality are so nicely interwoven with his skill at traps and exploration. Everyone else has big weird personalities, but Chilchuck, well he's not a cool head per se, but his weirdness is less grandiose. He's a puzzle guy, a problem solver, and everyone around him is a moving part he's trying figure out. People ditch the party early on and he's not bothered because that's mechanically sound. Laios and Marcille go back and he has to come too because they're more than friends, they're a part of something that works and survives and even missing a part, he knows he can keep this little machine running. But they won't thrive without him, and he won't work as well alone.

[evilminji]

"DO BETTER!" Says Now Televised Fanboy

He, Dash Baxter is a Phan-Stan!! It's kinda his thing. See, he's a fancy ass talk show host now. Married Paulie, moved out of Amity, actually DID something with his life. His parents? Did not approve. Long n short of it? He got kicked out.

Paulie's parents were PISSED.

Retaliated by giving him all the help he needed getting EVERY scholarship he qualified for. He went to a really nice college. Missed his girlfriend like mad. But she was off in Metropolis, terrifying weaker men. Conquering the fashion scene.

And SOMEHOW? Thanks to that long talk he had with Phantom (*incoherent fanboy gibbering noises* SO COOL!) he's worked to be... more of a LEADER, you know? Less of an asshole. Cause he's popular. People copy him. He can't be an asshole.

So, somehow, when he's punching out some try-hard that thinks he's hot shit for bullying a Nerd? He and the nerd get talking, right? Cause the guy got his glasses completely fucked up. And it's what Phantom would do.

But GET THIS? Guy's never HEARD of Phantom! Is super curious, cause he runs a small time Hero's show on the web. And, Dude? Is it your LUCKY DAY! Cause you just met THE number 1 fan of Phantom, hands down!! He makes his VERY spirited case, about why Phantom is THE best Hero to ever have lived. And this guy?

Entranced.

In AWE.

Just straight up BEGS him to join his show. Cause apparently? He was BORN for it. Which? Yeah. He HAS been giving speechs to the team for YEARS now. And Talking at fan meet ups. Leading fan meet ups. Hosting parties... actually, now that he thinks about it? He DOES do a lot of public speaking? Huh.

But still, he's about to say "no", when?

Dude mentions? He'll get to talk about Phantom.

SOLD!

It. Blows. Up. Absolutely EVERYONE is in love with his pretty face, hot bod, and STRONG opinions. But they ALSO have no idea who Phantom is! Paulie! This is CRIMINAL! Horrifying! What is going ON!?

Some bullshit information black out, apparently. At least according to her... friendly Nemesis? The Goth Dweeb. Who's engaged, apparently? So good for her. Unsurprisingly, it's too the OTHER Dweebs, but still. Bout time she started planning to drag them to a court house. She's the only one with any spine in that group! If she waited for THEM to propose?

Not even as Ghosts, man.

They'd get distracted by shiny nerd shit and whimp out.

Still... a world where NO ONE knows how Awesome, Phantom is? Not on HIS watch!

So he works it in. To every segment. It becomes "his thing". Oh? Super man saved a kitten from a tree? Cute. Well PHANTOM saved a bus full of Ghost Puppies from a shady, rouge, Goverment agency. Do BETTER, Superman!

The Flash, who is a cheap knock-off and stole his name, took down an Ice Villian? Adorable! PHANTOM stopped a Rouge WINTER SPIRIT with the help of YETI WARRIORS then assisted in giving FREE medical care for anyone who needed it! Here's a picture of him making GHOST ICE SNOWMEN for small children! Do BETTER, Knock-off!

What's THAT you say? Wonder Woman fought a GOD in down town paris?

Excellent work Wonder Woman. Flawless as always. But YOU, god-boy, are a disappointment! All that power! And WHAT do you use it for? Are you even supposed to BE here?? PHANTOM uses his power to HELP people! Is awesome and knows TONS of better gods! You're just salty you didn't make the cut!

DO BETTER!

And obviously? No one believes him. There's no record of this "Phantom" guy. The pictures look fantastical and vaguely glitchy/glowy. Not quite right. They GOTTA be photo shopped. Manipulated somehow. But? As a shtick? A fake "perfect Superhero" is kinda funny and unique.

And it's one hell of Fake Hero!

A Dead Champion? Who fights gods and monsters? Rouge agencies? Sassy and tragic? With a mysterious past? Pretty cool! There's even an Offical Comic from some guy that went to the same high-school as Baxter!

Of course, as Baxter get more and more popular? The "meme" hero, Phantom, get more well known? People get more interested in where Dash grew up. You know, just a bored Google. Maybe see if the hero was based off a local legend or something. But... huh...

The Town website?

Weirdly? Sanitized.

Like... like aggressively sanitized. All smooth edges and no details. Very "move along, citizen". Ha ha... it's part of the joke right? They get it! They'll just look up local restaurants or som-....

Wait...

Hey, guuuuys?

Are you finding ANYTHING?

And! Nothing. And I do mean NOTHING! Triggers the "oh? Secrets???" Instincts of a Hacker, like finding a hard blank wall of "KEEP OUT". Especially when it's somewhere it rightfully shouldn't BE.

All it would take? Is ONE person, of decent skills and an account on Certain Forums, getting bored enough to Google the Dude On The TV(TM)? For the GIW's lil walls to come crashing down. Because yeah, you can stop ONE hacker. Even two. Probably five or six.

But how about thousands?

Hundreds of thousands?

From every time zone. Competing. Just to see what you HAVE and don't want them to see. Maybe they do something with it, maybe they don't. But fuck it, you're being RUDE and now they're CURIOUS. And THEN? Oh. Oh holy shit.

Not a meme.

Very real.

Not a joke.

The walls come crumbling down, down, down. Ripped apart by hundreds of hands. Emails sent to every sort of agency. The JLU line inundated with emergency tips. Not a joke. Not A Joke. Holy Shit, IT WASN'T A JOKE!

Phantom is REAL!

And there, on TV, stands the Man. The signal FINALLY breaching containment. Fighting off the invading God of the week. Built like statue, hair like an aurora borealis of white fire held almost delicately in place by a CROWN of ice, a suit made of void and starlight. Inhuman. Beyond human.

Here to help.

A laugh that crackles like ice and the snap of winter, rolls through the air like coming storms, rich and somehow warm. A smile that bares teeth, yet turns so KIND when he looks upon humanity, as though we are precious and worth fighting for. A living star.

A... a once living star.

And in the center of it all? Wearing his BESPOKE, custome made, Number 1 Phan full body outfit? That's right. Dash Baxter. Ha! You fuckers doubted him! Behold his blorbo and WEEP, ya fuckin casuals! The BESTEST of boys! The FINEST of Heros! Superman? Could NEVER.

And now? The weather!

@babbling-babull @nerdpoe @the-witchhunter @ailithnight @hypewinter @hdgnj @mutable-manifestation

[wonderjanga]

Marvel and the YJ

So, Marvel in the YJ. He’s one of their den mothers and all that. So like, in this AU, and in fact in all of my posts so far, Billy’s kept it under wraps that he’s a kid. So, as a result, the YJ think he’s just this really cool big brother (dad (they just don’t know it)) type of dude. Like he’s so nice. And he’s so nice to them especially. Like, he treats all of them the same way he treats adults. He doesn’t doubt their abilities, and when they fail, he’s still there to encourage them to get back up and he doesn’t even make them feel bad about it.

Like, the one time he was asked to spar with the YJ cause they wanted to for funsies I guess, he positively whooped their asses and somehow, someway found a way to still compliment their abilities, even if they didn’t last that long because the battle was a little one-sided. To be fair though, they had asked him not to go easy, which he didn’t. In the end, he got promptly scolded by Canary heavily when she found out he quite literally used Kid Flash as a rag doll and threw him at Aqualad. She said that the entire tape of him having a “friendly spar” with those kids, was essentially just him bullying them. To which Billy tried to defend himself by saying those kids were plenty capable. The defense didn’t work.

Then, there was this time Kon mentioned he couldn’t fly and Marvel offered him a lift. This somehow ended up with Marvel sort of T posing mid air as Kon and Robin hung on one arm, Artemis and Aqualad hung on the other arm, then Kid Flash held onto one leg while M’gann held onto the other.

Flash: “Wow.” *looking up at the YJ and Marvel* “That’s… actually kinda majestic, not gonna lie.”

Superman: *also looking up at Marvel and the YJ* “Is it though? What if one of them falls?”

Flash: “Eh. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

Kid Flash proceeds to almost slip off and fall, which almost gives both the speedster and Kryptonian a heart attack. Thankfully, he catches himself by moving his feet really fast to boost himself back up. Worst part in their opinion is that Marvel didn’t even seem to notice.

Then, there was the time M’gann with Robin about something. Batman was also working nearby on a computer.

M’gann: “Hmm… We need advice.”

Robin!Tim: “We need an adult.”

Batman: *keeping an ear out cause he’s always happy to help one of his kids*

M’gann and Robin!Tim: *thinking before they speak up at the same time* “Marvel.” *they then both walk out of the room to find the Captain*

Batman: *a little upset that Tim did didn’t come to him for help but also a lot more concerned as to why they thought Marvel was a suitable choice to ask for advice, especially considering the fact that just earlier that day, he had caught the man scribbling on one of the meeting tables like a 5th grader scribbling on their desk*

Contrary to what Bruce thought might happen (I.e. something going wrong) apparently Marvel’s advice wasn’t too bad, seeing nothing had gone wrong yet. (He later found out that the two had asked for the best advice on how to incapacitate your enemy quickly. He found this out when he saw Tim throat punch a man. Said man went down almost immediately. When prodded for information for as to why he did that, he proudly proclaimed “Cap taught me”)

Also a little tidbit from the Marvel Cursing post about the YJ thinking that Marvel called one of them a dumb cunt. Courtesy to @helps-the-writing-brain-go

Billy’s recently noticed that the kids are acting funny. Though, he supposes it’s not a bad funny. If anything, whatever’s got them acting weird has got them doing better on missions, but still. It’s weird. What’s weirder is that whenever he compliments them, they shine twice as brighter than they normally do. What’s even weirder than that is that whenever they’ve messed up recently they look twice as nervous. Speaking of which, this was one of the moments they’ve messed up.

Marvel: “So… Uh- that didn’t go so well.”

YJ: *obvious signs of anxiousness on some and subtle on others*

Marvel: “But that’s okay! But that’s okay.” *trying his best to make the anxiety in them disappear* “We just have to try to be better next time. Like, and I hate to say this, maybe try calling in an adult next time? Like me? I could’ve zoomed over and helped you guys.”

YJ: *look at each other*

Artemis: “Wally’s the one who said that we shouldn’t call you in a try to do this on our own.”

Kid Flash: *dramatic gasp* “You know why I said that! It would’ve helped us all if Kaldur had tried to put the fires near the gas tanks out with his water powers!”

Aqualad: “I was busy being attacked by nearly five different people.”

YJ: *dissolve into arguing*

Marvel: “Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wally what did you mean by it would’ve helped you all? Me not being there would’ve been good?” *confused*

YJ: *immediate silence*

Kon: “Wally found out that you think one of us is dumb cunt.”

Kid Flash: “Dude! You guys need to stop ratting me out!”

Marvel: “What.” *stares in befuddlement*

M’gann: “And then he told us. So we’ve been trying to think of ways to not be uh… dumb cunts.”

Marvel: *blinks rapidly* “Again, what? Wally, where did you get this information from?”

Kid Flash: “When you were making cookies! I heard you say blah blah blah, what a dumb cunt.”

Marvel: *still staring in confusion*

Kid Flash: “Then, when I asked what you were talking about, Mary said you were talking about our performance on missions.”

Marvel: “…Okay. I’m going to be completely honest with you. I don’t remember a thing of what you’re talking about.”

Marvel then goes on to make a speech about how they’re wonderful heroes who shouldn’t let one person’s words guide them, especially in risky situations like a mission. He then told them that he was now going to stress bake and make some Minnesota cool whip, jello, fruit, not really salad, salad. (Courtesy to @jedipirateking) On the bright side though, the speech did leave the teens feeling better.

[livbedum]

one conversation

maybank!reader x rafe cameron

summary rafe comes to pougelandia looking for sarah and finds you

warnings profanity , season four spoilers , use of marijuana , illusions to alcoholism , rafe being good at conflict resolution? , our girl is not standing on business at all

a/n initially , this had smut at the end , but i’m just finna two part ts for y’all<3

18+ minors dni

you were left alone to man the shop while the rest of your friends went to charleston. kie stayed behind as well , but she was driving all over the island trying to find jj. so here you were , doom scrolling behind the counter. you couldn’t stop yourself from thinking the worst when it came to what jj was up to or how the trip to charleston was going , but you could distract yourself and get high.

half of your blunt was gone when you thought you heard footsteps. you sat up straight , looking around the pillar you were leaned up against to see if anyone was there. pulling your headphones off , you took a deep breath. “no one’s here. no one’s trying to kill you. ghosts aren’t real,” you assured yourself before taking another hit of your blunt.

another puff and you heard more footsteps along with one of those eerie creeks from the wood. the scuba killer dude is so after me now. you hold your breath , not wanting him to hear you , but now your heartbeat was pounding more.

your hand fiddled around under the counter , feeling around for the knife you knew was there. it wasn’t the only one in the shop. the cool edge of the blade catches your finger and you grab it quietly , preparing yourself to fight a grown man who was dead set on killing you. the footsteps are getting closer , pausing every now and then like the man was looking around for you too.

“sarah?”

the all too familiar voice got your stomach to drop , your hand loosening around the knife entirely before you come out from around the cashier counter. “rafe?” you breathed out. the sweat that formed on the back of your neck had cooled , sending a chill down your spine.

your ex boyfriend turned at the sound of your voice , eyes softening at the sight of you clearly disheveled. “y/n , are you okay?” he instinctively asked , stepping toward you.

“i’m fine,” you answered shortly , backing up, “what’re you doing here?”

rafe chuckled , looking around the store. “what? ya can’t picture me just stopping by at my local bait shop?” he joked , fingers fumbling with one of the keychains that dangled on its hook.

“i don’t picture you at all anymore , rafe,” you simply replied , crossing your arms.

“agh! right— well , i came here looking for… my sister. i’m looking for sarah,” rafe explained , taking steps in a small circle just dicking around, “and you.” he stopped and a smile almost pulled at his lips. god , you missed his smile.

“well , sare isn’t here , so you’ll have to come back another time,” you shrugged , moving your way back behind the counter, “or not! sure you’re busy with sofia anyways. you should probably head out.”

rafe audibly groaned , bending back in frustration. “god damn it , y/n! could you— could you stop being difficult for one fucking second?” he cursed , rolling his eyes, “i’m— i’m tryna talk to you , baby.” your heart pinged at the nickname and the way rafe’s voice cracked just a little. the last time he called you that wasn’t even a part of your memory anymore. he leaned on the counter , resting his arms on the countertop and flicking at the pens in a metal tin.

and then you could smell it on his breath. to be fair , it was obvious the moment he started talking with his slurred words. “you’re drunk , rafe.”

“and? you’re high ; i can smell it,” he countered , finger coming up and booping you on the nose with a small laugh, “so what?”

you didn’t want to have to tell him to leave in the state he was in , but he could not be here when kie or jj got back. “i think you need to leave , dude,” you sighed , rubbing your forehead with your palm, “you can’t be here.”

“you used to beg me to come around the cut!” rafe whined , sniffling shortly, “now you don’t want me to?”

your eyes locked , and it was like time stood still. you thought you couldn’t read him anymore , but up close again , you know you could. he missed you. “i do,” you whispered , eyes still not leaving his, “but that doesn’t change anything.”

“one conversation,” he pleaded , grabbing your hand when you went to pull back again, “please.”

you always had trouble saying no to him. “fine,” you agreed , picking his keys up from the counter, “one conversation while i drive you home.” moving around the counter , you gently guided rafe back outside and to where his truck was parked. you helped him get in the passenger seat before getting behind the wheel and starting the truck. you heard the chime of your phone connecting to the bluetooth , and you cracked a smile. “sofia ever drive the truck?” you questioned , backing up and driving down the road.

“hell no,” rafe scoffed , reaching in the back seat for something. you eyed him , trying to figure out what he was doing. “i did something,” he announced , pulling a beer out and cracking it open.

your lips curled and you grabbed the bottle from him. “what did you do?” you asked , rolling the window down and chucking the beer out, “besides form a bad drinking habit?”

“i don’t have a bad drinking habit , y/n,” rafe groaned , letting his head hit the headrest behind him, “i made a deal. a business deal , y’know?” you looked at him , wanting him to continue. “so , you remember mrs. robinson? well , she’s not mrs. robinson anymore — whatever. so she proposed this business opportunity to me , and i’m doing it.”

“okay?”

“for us.” his voice was quieter than before , eyes flickering up to your face , gauging what you were thinking. if he even could anymore. but you didn’t say anything , so rafe continued, “i’ve been having these , i don’t know what to call ‘em , but i’ve been thinking a lot. about everything. me and sarah. me and you. and i wanna have my family back,” he admitted, “i want you back.”

you were quiet for a moment , your music the only noise in the truck. “rafe…” you sighed. your heart wanted nothing more than to forgive him for everything and take him back like you always did. but things were so different now. “you have a girlfriend. i have my life here , and i— nothing has changed.”

“what do you mean ‘nothing has changed’ , y/n? come on! i have!” rafe argued back.

“no , you haven’t!” you laughed , volume matching his, “you haven’t changed at all. the last time we all saw you was when you were aiming a fucking gun at us after you kidnapped me and sarah! and then the other day at the enduro , and let’s not forget the swell day’s activities , rafe. you haven’t changed.”

you watched rafe sit up straight before adjusting to face you entirely. “i want you! i’m sorry for the shit that happened. that — that wasn’t me , and i think you know that. i’d never do anything to hurt you , baby.”

“stop calling me that , rafe,” you begged , looking at him for just a moment with tears in your eyes, “i can’t come back to you this time.”

“you don’t understand! with this deal with hollis? i’ll have enough money for us to go away and start our own life. just like we always wanted,” he explained , hand reaching your thigh, “it’s what you wanted. i’m doing it. for you.”

you could see rafe’s place come into view and let out a deep breath. “i didn’t ask you to do that,” you mumbled , pulling truck into park, “i’ve asked you to get your shit together. to not be a fucking mess all of the time. i’ve asked you to just be nice to me a thousand times! you’re too late.”

“no , but i’m not,” rafe rushed out , grabbing your hands in his, “this deal is perfect timing. you’re home ; i’m apologizing. this is good,” he countered , hopeful smile on his lips, “c’mon.”

it was taking everything in you to not just start bawling. about how much you missed him when you shouldn’t , about how fucked up everything is , about every single thing that has happened in the last two years.

“rafe , i love you,” you said , taking his face in your hands and looking him in the eyes, “i love you so much that i could forgive you for everything—“

“so forgive me,” he interrupted softly , slipping your hands into his again , missing the way they fit together.

“i can’t,” you shook your head, “i was legally a missing person for six weeks because you kidnapped me , and i had to jump off a fucking boat into the ocean to get away. you — you drugged me and took me , rafe. that isn’t something i can just get passed. and while i was gone fighting for my life , you started dating my coworker! do you think those things are easy to forgive you for? i have been trying to do that since i’ve been back. i have come up with every logical excuse that would help me forgive you , so i can come home. but you haven’t been doing the same , and you come to me now like you couldn’t have come earlier , rafe!” your rant was going on longer than you expected, “i love you , but right now you’re not the same person. look at yourself for a moment and really think if all of this shit you get yourself into is worth losing me ; because i’m getting to the point where i believe you think it is.”

rafe sat quiet for a moment , truly taking in every single word you spoke. you could see the gears grinding and sat patiently with his hands in yours while he thought. “i love you,” he started, “i have done a million things wrong , and i know that. i’m trying to sort those things out now. that’s why i came today! to talk to you and sarah,” he explained opening his truck door, “just come inside. we can talk everything out. i promise. just give me a chance.”

“okay,” you whispered , closing your eyes for a second before getting out of the truck with him. you heard the breath of relief come from rafe. “girlfriend not here?” you quipped.

“shut up,” rafe laughed , opening the front door for you, “welcome back.”

“been awhile,” you nodded , stepping into the house with your arms crossed over your chest. your bikini top became more notable when you stepped into the air conditioning. “uh , where do you—“

“we could go to my room,” rafe suggested , raising his eyebrows at you with a smirk before you reached over and smacked him. you tried to hide your own smile. it had been so long since you and him had talked like this— joked around. “kidding!”

“living room,” you decided , heading that way on your own. you climbed over the couch and plopped down , getting comfortable as if you had been here the day before , like nothing had changed. “get to talkin’ , big guy,” you huffed , gesturing for him to sit down as well.

rafe rolled his eyes before he came into your line of sight at the directions and that stupid nickname. he hated when you called him anything other than baby or my love or if you were mad rafe. “okay , bud. the fuck?” he mumbled quietly back as he took a seat.

you were quick to defend yourself from his tone. “why are you getting snippy with me?” you asked , eyebrows furrowing as a pout overtook your lips.

“never mind,” rafe sighed lightly, “okay— first thing’s first : sofia is not my girlfriend. she was never my girlfriend,” he started off , looking at you were more sober eyes now that the conversation you’d both been wanting to have was happening. “we met at a party , and we hooked up. it , ugh , we kept hooking up , and it’s just that. i don’t want to be with her ; i don’t have feelings for her. it’s not like that.”

“you wanna start off with this topic?” you questioned , knowing it was the most sore spot for you in the moment. yes , everything he did was monumentally worse than his thing with sofia , but this was picking at you constantly.

“yes , i want to start with this because it affects us the most. if you think i’m with sofia or whatever you won’t want to come back to me,” rafe explained like it was obvious, “and the most important thing to me right now is you. it always has been.”

you bit your lip , thinking about how you want to word what you’re going to say. “i… do not care what you think you and sofia’s label is,” you admitted with a shrug, “i think you found somebody else that doesn’t know you to fill a void that i left whenever i was stranded on an island. i think you found someone that you knew would bother me if i ever came back. and i think that it’s disgusting that you’re sleeping with the only person i got along with at the club. you know that i’ve seen her posting you all of the time.”

“i thought you were dead!” rafe argued, “i was drowning myself in liquor one night when she was working and we —“

“i don’t care to hear how you started fucking my friend , rafe,” you interrupted , holding your hand up, “why didn’t you wait for me? we have been through so much shit together. things we’ve done to each other or whatever the fuck argument we get into. shit with my brother. i just don’t know why you didn’t wait this time around.”

“i thought you were dead , y/n,” he repeated , quieter this time as though the words alone were making him think that way again, “and you came back and everything was already so different.”

“because you were fucking my friend,” you said again , trying to get your point across.

his hands came up and rubbed at his face , clearing accepting the fact that this was going to be an argument conversation not a talk this out conversation. “i fucked your friend , yeah. i was horny , and you had screamed at me that you hated me and jumped off of a ship in the middle of the ocean to get away from me. and then the next time i saw you , you let kiara fucking carrera shove me off my boat as we were getting away from singh. excuse me for wanting to let off some steam,” he shouted , standing up and pacing a few feet, “oh and then we’re all back home and you scream at me in front of everyone at the enduro and then again at the beach , so… yeah.”

“letting off so much ‘steam’ that your friends are letting a pogue hang out with you all of the time? i get sofia is nice , but rafe , you’re surrounded by jackasses twenty-four seven. they’ve gotta be under the impression you’re dating if they’re letting her come around,” you argued also standing up so he wasn’t towering over you as much, “that’s the problem!”

“would you rather me go around and fuck every girl on the island?” he scoffed , confused with the situation now.

“yeah! that would be more in rafe cameron fashion,” you answered, “you told me i was the only girl you’d ever let step foot in this house with you again!”

“and you promised me no matter what! we’ve made promises and we’ve broken them. that’s nothing new to us,” rafe countered quickly before taking a deep breath and holding your hands. he moved you both to sit down again. “i don’t want to fight , y/n,” he admitted, “i want us to talk.”

you looked into his eyes , really looked , and all you could see was rafe. you could see the sweet boy that used to take you to all the way to charleston for farmer’s markets and the boy that always made you laugh. you didn’t want to argue either ; it wasn’t fun for you. you were just so mad.

“i don’t know how to talk with you when i’m this angry , rafe!” you huffed , dropping your face into your hands, “i am so fucking angry all of the time.”

“how about we talk about what you want to then?” he suggested , hand reaching your thigh and rubbing it soothingly, “i want to talk , so if it’s hard for you , we’ll do what you want. all i want is you back. i’m willing to make this work.”

you eventually looked up again , a soft smile at the feeling of his warm hand forming. “i don’t want to talk , ray,” you confessed , covering his hand with yours, “i just wish things were the same as they were before all of this happened.”

“it can be,” he responded , a smile lighting his face, “we can be.” rafe scooted closer to you on the couch , gently pulling you into him. “i’m on your side. whatever you want to do.”

and you didn’t even realize that you had moved your head to kiss him. you were already kissing rafe deeply when you came to the realization that this was the dumbest thing you could’ve been doing at the moment , but he was there and you loved him as much as you shouldn’t. “i don’t want to talk,” you echoed , shifting to straddle rafe’s lap. and he let you.

“i don’t deserve you,” he mumbled in between kisses , letting his hands feel you for the first time in so long.

you pulled back for a moment , taking his hand in your face again to make him look at you. “don’t say that ; it hurts my feelings,” you smiled , pressing a kiss into his cheek, “i love you. let’s drop everything that’s happened. if you say you’ve changed , i’ll believe you.”

taglist @maybankslover @annatartastic @maroonz @ravenmedows @yootvi @icaqttt @inlovewithmorales

[bkgml]

hihihi!

idk if ur requests are open but i got an idea :)

bakugou/reader where they are in a secret relationship and the bakusquad sees them cuddling or whatever when they think nobody's around. maybe make them act like they hate each other infront of others hehe.

thanks in advance :D

oh yes yes i’ve already done two secret relationship posts u can find them on my masterlist :)) but i like this idea a lot so new one! lol

“hey kats.” you smile, seeing your boyfriend walk into the common room.

“shhhhhh.” he groans, agitated.

“hey?-” you frown.

“yeah yeah i love you, whatever. have a fucking headache.” he grumbles, crawling over you on the couch to lay his head on your chest, nuzzling into your soft shirt.

you smile, raking your fingers through his hair in attempt to soothe his headache.

“how come?” you say softly.

he stays quiet, unable to pinpoint what exactly caused this nuisance.

“..denki.” he says plainly with a deep frown on his face.

you laugh, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

“you can’t just blame denki for all your inconveniences.” you say giggling.

he looks up at you with a pout and you peck his lips.

“yeah i can. he’s stupid.” he replies grumbling.

you squish his face in your hands and he sighs, eyes closing.

“that feels nice.” he mumbles, words distorted from his squashed lips.

“what?” you laugh, moving to release his face.

“hey. i said it feels nice. stay.” he grumbles, eyes closed.

you place your hands back on his face and he sighs, the pressure releasing the tension on his temples.

you place kisses all over his face, his squished cheeks, his pouted lips, his pretty lashes.

“can i just get you an advil? we can nap in my dorm?” you offer with a grin.

his eyes open slowly, annoyed with the harsh lights of the common room.

“are you gonna play with my hair?”

****************************************************

“i knew it!!” mina whisper shouts.

she feels a pinch to her arm.

“you didn’t know anything!” sero whisper shouts back.

“okay fine whatever, i didn’t. but this is INSANE.” mina yelps, eyes wide as saucers.

“i can’t believe he blamed me for his headache!” denki pouts.

kirishima rolls his eyes at his friend.

“why are you so quiet?” mina frowns, jabbing her finger in kirishimas chest.

kirishima freezes, attempting to stay cool.

“i just… wanna respect their privacy.” he defends.

mina grabs hold of sero and denkis shirts, tugging them close to her.

“he KNEW!!” she says, filled with anger.

she jumps up and down while shaking sero and denki furiously.

“dude! are you serious?!” denki asks.

kirishima crosses his arms over his chest.

“well… bakugou might’ve said a little something.” he smiles sheepishly.

“UGH. i hate you so much right now!”

the pair continues to argue as you and katsuki obliviously move around in the kitchen.

“they’re going to hear you, dipshits.” sero states plainly, already bored of this newfound information.

mina pouts, crossing her arms over her chest and kirishima goes silent.

“i want to get a closer look, see how fast they switch up when someone’s close.” denki smiles devilishly.

the three watch him go, wait till he’s out of earshot and then start dying of laughter.

“he is not smooth enough to pull that off.” sero grins.

“he’s going to get his ass kicked.”

****************************************************

katsuki watches boredly while you rustle through the medicine cabinet.

he groans, resting his forehead on the cool tile of the kitchen island.

“i know.. ‘m sorry kats. i can’t find the advil.” you frown, moving denkis flintstone gummy vitamins.

“i don’t need it, just need to sleep. come on.” he sighs, fisting at your shirt.

“hey guys! what’s going on here?” denki cheers as katsuki tears his hand off of you.

“hey denki.” you murmur, continuing to move throughout the shelf.

“do you know where the advil is?” you sigh, turning to denki.

denki frowns, upset at the lack of drama in this room.

“no idea… why do you need it?” he questions.

“bak- i… have a headache..” you murmur slowly, catching your almost mistake.

denkis brows pull together, glancing at bakugou still hunched over with his forehead on the counter.

“what’s wrong with you then?” denki asks with a smirk.

“shut the fuck up before i knock your lights out.” katsuki seethes, remaining in his weakened position.

you giggle as denkis eyes widen.

“wow kami, he means business.” you say grinning.

kaminari’s ears turn bright red from embarrassment, frustration bubbling up in his veins.

“oh shit denki… don’t say it.” mina mutters and kiri and sero understand exactly what she means.

the three of them watch as kami’s hands ball into fists and his brows pull together.

“temper tantrum.” sero sighs.

“yeah?! well i know you two are going at it!” denki screams at bakugou.

“kats-”

katsuki lunges forward, gripping denki by the front of his shirt.

“well shit. come on.” kiri says quickly, hitting sero.

you watch as katsuki’s arms are restrained by kirishima and sero wraps his arms around denkis middle, the two pulling them apart.

“we’re sorry!” kirishima groans from behind your boyfriend.

“it’s fine.” you mutter, knowing katsuki’s only mad because of his headache.

“it’s not fine! get off of me shit stain!” katsuki screams.

kirishima looks to you for reassurance. you nod, and kirishima releases him.

katsuki lunges forward once again and you grab him by the ear.

“ah ah ah.” katsuki halts while groaning in pain.

you sigh, giving straight mouthed looks to your friends.

“upstairs.” you say forcefully to katsuki, pinching his ear hard then releasing.

he groans, giving a look to denki before turning on his heel and stomping up the stairs.

“we’re sorry-”

“-we didn’t mean to-”

you hold your hands up in front of their faces, effectively silencing them.

“night.” you mutter, trudging up the stairs behind your boyfriend.

****************************************************

as soon as you are out of earshot the four of them erupt.

“DID YOU SEE HOW HE LISTENED TO HER?!”

“HES DOWN BADDDD!!”

****************************************************

“fucking denki.” katsuki groans.

“yeah yeah just get in bed you big baby.” you giggle softly and katsuki glares at you.

he climbs in bed, reaching his hand out to pull you in by your shirt.

“im coming relax.” you laugh.

he frowns deeply, folding his arms over his chest.

you smile, climbing into bed beside him.

staring into his eyes, you search for answers in his tired gaze.

“how’s your head?” you whisper, leaning forward and brushing his bangs back to reveal his cute forehead.

he frowns and lets a groan slip from his lips.

“they just had to pick today to find out, huh?” he mumbles, grabbing your hand.

you giggle softly, leaning your head against his shoulder.

“right, cause any other day you’d be soooo understanding?” you smirk up at him.

he scoffs, pushing your face away with his big hand.

“just wanted you all to myself…” he says under his breath, as if he didn’t even want you to hear him.

you feel your heart melt, shifting close to his face.

his breath hitches subtly as you turn your face to press open mouth kisses down his jaw.

he reaches for your thigh, pulling your leg over his hips.

you continue to kiss at his neck and jaw, placing a kiss to his adams’ apple as it bobs in his throat.

“you have me, okay?” you murmur against his skin.

he nods, arms wrapping around you in a bear hug.

“right.” you giggle.

“forgot its past your bedtime.”

[wroteclassicaly]

Daddy Steve

(Steve Harrington x Female Reader)

Summary: Steve finds out you’re pregnant.

Warnings: Language, hurt/comfort, best-friends to lovers, Daddy!Steve, mentions loss of virginity, alludes to smut, nausea, throwing up, and pregnancy stuff.

Pairings: Steve Harrington x Female Reader

A/N: Ever since that Daddy Steve comment in season three, my brain can’t get a breeding kink addicted Steve outta my filthy ass head! And thus, I bring you more trash that you didn’t ask for, lol!! I might do a part two with smut?? Enjoy! - Kristen <3

“C’mon, you love this stuff, honey,” Steve mumbles around a mouthful of buttery popcorn.

You’re smashed between him and your shared best-friend, Robin Buckley—on the sofa, watching some newly released horror film that went straight to video, and right into Steve’s VCR. You have to fight everything inside of you not to gag on the smell of popped kernels, urges to inhale, an automatic reflex that only serves to make your predicament worse. Robin wrinkles her nose in distaste, reaching across you and shoving his wrist away.

“Because having greasy ass butter on your chin is really encouraging her to try it out, Harrington.”

“Mhm,” You say, a half whimper slipping out. Your stomach rolls, making you automatically grip onto your baggy denim over shirt, the small swelling of your tummy a comfort.

Fuck the morning sickness… when did this start happening?

Robin’s eyes glance at you with a pitying worry, raising a brow in silent communication. You shake your head, giving her an ‘I’m fine’ signal, dodging Steve’s last classic film snack advance. When you catch sight of his tongue working to clean off his mouth’s corner, that ache teeters between your thighs, a rush of words tumbling off your lips.

“I have to go pee.” You scramble from the couch, nearly tripping over worn converse in the process.

And, as it turns out, your excuse is an even more idiotic thing to say. Steve’s voice halts you in your footfalls.

“Again? That’s like, the fifth time in an hour. And unless you’re chugging from some secret flask, I haven’t seen you drink much of anything, either.”

“I…”

“Dude, do not ever question a woman again about her bathroom habits, okay?” Robin interjects, giving him the Robin look.

“If she’s on her period she can just tell us that. You think I give a crap? We’re all friends here.” Steve shrugs a shoulder, tossing the empty popcorn bag down and ducking his salty fingers into his mouth with a delectable ‘pop’.

You’re momentarily lost within the realm of your raging hormones. Your doctor had told you to expect fluctuating moods, surprising shifts in your appetite; sexually, emotionally, physically, and nutrition wise. That explains why you’re always stealing Dustin’s sour candy and eating spoonfuls of peanut butter at 3:00 AM, crying at reruns of Cheers, and currently ogling your best-friend like he’s always been yours, and isn’t currently pining for someone else. Steve isn’t yours, despite what he’s put inside of you after one needy night together. His dark irises suddenly find you gawking, leaving him confused.

The way his nose is shaped, his jawline structure, that delicious neck he permitted you to mark at one point, that gorgeously soft hair you spent all night pulling, to that sinfully beautiful mouth—you’re speechless and very overwhelmed.

I need him…

He starts to move, but you hold up a hand. That would be sensory overload. “I should definitely go home after. I’ve got an early shift at the store tomorrow.” You lie.

“After what? Peeing?” Steve laughs.

Another ever changing hormone snaps your irritation, causing you to roll your eyes, desire lightly dissipating. “Obviously. That cool with you, King Harrington? Or do you need to further bore me with your pathetic excuse for a movie pick?”

Robin starts to edge back from Steve, his own anger at your snapping at him seeping through, coming off him in dangerous waves.

“Okay, what is with this goddamned attitude? We always watch bullshit movies and you’ve never complained about it before!”

“Mr. Former Prom King isn’t keen on attitudes now? Sounds like a problem that’s not mine.” You push, unable to stop yourself. After all, it’s better than feeling like garbage listening to him go on and on about Nancy, not even knowing he took your virginity and got you pregnant in one go.

If Steve could tuck his eyebrows into his hairline then they’d be there. His hands pinch his hips, lips pursed as he’s clenching his teeth.

“You know what, you should leave. Between your bitching, constant bathroom breaks, and acting too stuck up to watch a movie and eat some popcorn with your friends, you’re not much fun to be around anyways.”

“Steve!” Robin scolds.

“What? Princess is allowed to act like she’s too good to hang out lately and we can’t be upset about it?” Steve motions to you with a tipped hand.

There’s a burning brimming your eyes before you can stop it. You’d prefer the anger. Steve’s hands tighten at his sides, jaw twitching, a biting question, battling his urges to comfort you and apologize for upsetting you. “Why are you even crying right now?”

“Let’s all just calm down and breathe, okay?” Robin stands now, tiptoeing to meet in the middle of you.

“I was calm. I think you need to talk to her about all this. As a matter of fact, call her tomorrow after I call her a cab and she leaves, because I know she’s not working in the morning, and she just lied to our faces.” Steve adds.

Your face flushes, stomach tightening. That sickness is overpowering you, taking control. You can’t stop that watering in your eyes, blurring your vision, making your two best-friends blobs in the distance. They start arguing back and forth, Steve’s evident confusion at Robin defending your behavior, and Robin pleading with him to give you a break. You don’t say anything, but turn on your heel and make the walk down the hallway, barricading yourself in the bathroom and taking care of your pressing bladder, head in your hands as you silently cry.

Being a simple band geek that harbored a crush on Steve for years, turning into his best-friend too when you and Robin began working at the mall with him, to leaning on each other when Starcourt fell into shambles and monsters became very real to you, finalizing one shared night three months ago—it all happened so fast. Steve never said anything more after, just thanked you for being there for him and checked in on you with phone calls and a work chat. You couldn’t bear staying with him that night, either, so you had left, leaving your virginity and your scent behind on Steve’s sheets. You wanted to, you needed him as much as he had to have you, but you weren’t sure how to feel about it, and Robin had picked it up right away—scolding you, before asking how it was and if you were alright. She’s been there for you through it all, and you’re double on the guilt at dragging her into this mess.

“Honey?” A heavy rasping of knuckles and a deep voice, a softer tone is sighing out on the other side.

You imagine him in that Steve Harrington lean, his ankle crossed over the other, palm on the framework, posture leaning into the doorway. Heaving out a breath you shouldn’t have held, you finish and wash your hands, throat constricting around a painful gulp as you unlatch the lock and pull open the door.

You’re right.

His lips making that familiar motion, dark eyes saddened, worried, guilt ridden. You don’t even let him speak, locking your arms around his striped clad waist, arms sliding down, wrists brushing his leather belt. You inhale his laundry detergent, cologne spritzed scent, sniffling your apologies in quiet words. He lets you go on, pulling away a minute later to grip your shoulders, squeezing. “If you are on your period… or you’re upset about something, or I pissed you off, will you please talk to me?”

Your heartbeat gallops full speed ahead, thrumming sporadically against your throat. “I’m not on my period, Steve.” The words feel dry, your lips too chapped to even speak.

“Then what is it, and why can you tell Robin but not me?” He sounds hurt. Really hurt.

You find yourself at a loss, tongue stumbling to scrape up scraps of words. Nothing comes.

“She hasn’t told me shit, but I know that she knows what’s going on?”

You escape his words, chickening out. “My cab ride will probably be here soon, I better go.”

“I never called a cab.” Steve crosses his arms over his chest now. “And I wasn’t going to, you just pissed me off.”

“Yeah, well… ditto.” You snark, not meaning to.

“Okay, care to share why? Because I do everything I can to make sure you’re safe and you’re smiling. It makes me feel like shit when you feel like shit.”

Every scenario you imagined telling Steve about carrying his baby in, you never thought it would be him hovering over your blubbering, nauseated, hot mess form. But as you look into those eyes of his—glittering with undiluted concern, pulse vibrating off your lungs, ping ponging off your jugular, the words come on their own.

“I’m pregnant.”

That very popular symptom of sickness overtakes you, having you abandoning Steve in the doorway with your confession, your knees hitting the floor, head over the toilet bowl as it all comes out. And you sob. Over exerted from physical exhaustion, mentally tired over a guilty conscious, and ready to go to sleep—you pathetically cling to the Harrington’s guest toilet, panting, mouth wet, trembling hand reaching for your hair, only to be swept away. When you look up your heart takes a painful blow, stuttering in your chest. Steve’s eyes are watering, teeth gnawing on his lower lip.

He looks wounded, defeated. Like you kicked him into a gutter and left him there. Alone.

Still, he helps you lean back, stretching his long arm to flush the toilet and reach for a decorative hand towel, using the bathtub faucet behind him to wet it and press it along your forehead, edging down your neck, finally cleaning your mouth. He’s so gentle, so delicate in his touches, aside from his own emotions. You grip his wrist, seeing the dried tears matting his gorgeous lashes, holding his hand in yours. “I’m sorry.”

“How long have you known?” Is all he can croak, voice shaky and damp. He settles back against the wall, you following suit, still holding his hand in yours.

“Two months.”

“We had sex three months ago.” He reminds you, as if maybe he’s unsure how to approach it.

He remembers?

“I found out when I was already four weeks. Besides, it can’t be anyone else’s when I’ve only slept with you.”

“But we were just together for one night.” He looks confused, scrubbing a hand over his face, sniffing.

“Yeah, Steve, we were.” You hope to god that he gets the message without you having to say it.

It takes him moments, which feel like eternity. And then you are very aware of his pointed stare. “Are you telling me I’ve been the only guy to ever take you to bed?”

“Looks like it. Congrats.” You mutter, lifting your knees, an indulging stance your little swollen bump won’t let you complete. You grab over it, an instinctive reaction. Steve’s directing a watchful eye over your bulky denim, swallowing, his words coming out meek, gently. “Can I see?”

You look like a deer caught in headlights, moving to drop his hand, but he holds on, fingertips drawing circles over the back of your palm. “It’s okay.”

It relaxes you enough to agree, using your right hand to lift the denim, your simple lavender top stretched over the small swell that’s nestled at your navel, expanding towards your hips. You feel Steve move your joined hands over the fabric, scraping, scratching, dipping down underneath the bottom, hovering. “It won’t hurt it if I feel, right?”

This makes you laugh softly, shaking your head. “You didn’t pay attention in health class at all, did you?” At his exasperated dumbfounded look, you continue. “S’ okay, Steve. Just please don’t push on anything, because I can’t promise you the front of your shirt won’t look like the Exorcist after.”

“That bad, huh?” He questions, sincerity dripping through his words.

“You have no idea.” You help him raise your tee beneath your breasts, that cute and developing bump in all its glory. Your skin, already getting a couple more stretch marks, shines in the low light of the bathroom, your breathing and Steve’s all that is audible.

Times like this you wish you had your Polaroid to take his absolutely fascinated stare in. His big hand closes over it, pressing feather light, his watch showing 10:01 PM. It feels so damned good to have him know, to have someone touching you like this. And oddly… it’s as if this is how it should always be.

Steve is on the precipice of unknown, a possessive derailment wiggling its way into his normally calm exterior. His baby. Parts of him that fused with parts of you, growing an entire human being. And the sheer fact that you’re swollen with his child? He has to fight every way that pummels a fire into the pit of his stomach.

“I took your virginity when we made this?” He is marveling.

You clear your throat, embarrassed. “You did.”

He sniffles once more, then he’s palming circles across your stomach, before respectfully tugging your shirt down and adjusting it. He makes a move to halt you from shaking the denim back down. “You don’t have to hide it anymore. Please, don’t.”

You give a watery look of incredulous admiration, grateful he’s still the Steve Harrington you have come to know.

And love…

But he doesn’t have to be privy to that part.

“They said I should be able to hear its heartbeat next week.” A lightened load off your chest has you audibly relaxing against Steve’s shoulder—unintentional, but natural—his arm resting around your shoulders, kneading out mounts of week long tension.

“How big is it? I mean… can they tell?” His fascinating questionnaires have you giddy.

Ever the inquiring man.

You move your neck from side to side, attempting to fixate on the knots, trying to get some squeeze off your muscles. Steve takes notice immediately, his fingers tucking beneath your shirt collar, pinching your flesh and rolling it under his easy grip. “Don’t worry, I got you. How’s that?”

“Mhm, s’ good, Stevie.” His nickname tumbles free, making him squeeze you affectionately. “A plum, by the way.”

He does rear back this time, bewildered, a ‘huh’ pressed into the line between his brows.

You laugh, his ministrations on your neck’s nape continuing. “The baby. It’s the size of a plum, is the way they described it to me. Or whatever I wanna think of that is that size.”

“Can I come?” When you frown, he’s quick to continue, his voice a raspy whisper, still tear-dampened. “To the appointment, I mean.”

You won’t deny how your heart is racing, how his wanting to be involved is both scary and welcomed, but you’re also on the defense, walls up. You can only imagine what his parents will think, what everyone will think. And Nancy… You don’t want to ruin anyone’s future from one one sided night of meaningless sex.

Steve can see the wheels turning in your head, your muscles tensing beneath his touch. It’s a bit frightening.

“Honey—“

“I didn’t need anyone’s permission in deciding to have or keep this baby, Steve. I don’t expect any help, I don’t want any pity support. I’ll be fine on my own.”

The familiarity of descending guilt slaps you in the face, Steve’s shocked look peppering his features. “You think I don’t want to help with my own baby? You think I’m that much of a fucking douchebag?!” He stands now, hands on his hips in that stern way.

You too attempt to stand, gripping the empty towel rack to keep steady. “I didn’t know if that’s what you’d want, Steve. We’re both still so young. It’s my body, so the decision to carry our child was up to me. If I wasn’t going to, I still would’ve told you. As for helping? Like I said, we’re both young and you’re attached… elsewhere.” You try, carefully avoiding her name. “S’ not like I was excited to be the Midwest mom that traps the former heartthrob.”

“Then that would make me the Midwest dad that should’ve worn a condom and taken care of you more. If we’re sharing blame here, let’s even it out.”

You’re very aware he meant something else, but it brings you right back to being beneath him, your legs wide open, thighs trembling, hands holding purchase, unsure, going with him, letting Steve lead. That burning loss of feeling Steve Harrington between your thighs is enough to cause you to squeeze your legs, drawing his attention. And whatever this fresh feeling is, he seems to be feeling it too.

Steve lets his arm shift, fingers combing your hair back behind your ear. “You thinkin’ about it?”

You’re pitifully admitting, hands cupping his back as you slink into his embrace. It’s warm, it’s safe, it’s Steve Harrington. There will be a time for talking, but now isn’t it, now is soaking each other in, being together, with your baby boy or girl.

“I’m thinking a lot of things.” Is your answer, but it’s enough for him to remember how you felt that night, the way you gave yourself to him and stayed right there with him.

There’s a soft air around you both, seemingly helping ward off your aching insides, letting the nausea vanish. Your hand wraps itself over the swell, Steve watching in admiration, hand lowering onto your own. It’s back and forth grins, and you’re pulling away as you remember Robin is still in the living room. Stepping forward and out of Steve’s too warm for your hormones to handle embrace, you turn on the bathroom faucet to wash your hands and cup some water into them, drinking and swishing the nasty taste out. Steve doesn’t take his eyes off you, even as you both find your shared best-friend in living room, brow raised in concern and amusement.

Your bump is on full display and she is shaking her short mane, eyeing Steve’s doe eyed gaze, the color on his cheeks. “Aww, congrats, Daddy Dingus.”

You burst into laughter, full on.

[keeryhours]

zombie movies & first kisses - steve harrington

Steve Harrington x female Henderson! reader

Masterlist

Steve Harrington Masterlist

Summary:

Dustin thinks Steve and his sister would make a great couple. They’re both obsessed with each other, they just don’t know it. They just need a little push.

Just first date fluff :)

Warnings:

None, just Steve fluff, kissing, zombie movie references

Word Count: 3,321

A/N:

Excited to get my first Steve story posted! Joe Keery holds my heart in every role. I hope you enjoy this little fluffy story! Requests are open.

—

“She does not like me.” Steve sighed, scooping the mint chocolate chip ice cream and placing it on the waffle cone. He handed the ice cream to the waiting customer with a forced smile.

“She totally does,” Dustin said with full confidence as he leaned against the counter, watching Steve work. “She has Mrs. Harrington doodled all over her notebooks. I’ve seen them in her room.”

Steve laughed. “For some reason I don’t believe you.”

“Why would I lie about that?” Dustin asked, throwing his hands in the air. “You think I haven’t snooped in her room to find all the embarrassing stuff she writes about?”

“It’s not that I doubt your level of nosiness,” Steve said, moving on to helping the next customer. “I just think you’re lying because you want me to embarrass myself by asking your sister out.”

“Oh my god,” Dustin groaned, getting frustrated with his older friend. “I am not trying to embarrass you. She likes you. You’re practically obsessed with her. You’re both obsessed with each other, really. But neither of you will make a move!”

Steve considered his words as he took another order. “You’re not messing with me? You actually think she’s into me?”

“Dude, I know she’s into you. Just ask her. She might pass out on the spot, but she’ll say yes when she wakes up.”

Steve laughed. “Okay, okay. Maybe when I’m not in this stupid uniform, though.”

Dustin asked Steve for a ride home after he and Robin got off work. Steve agreed, but took the time to change out of his Scoops Ahoy uniform and into a pair of jeans and a shirt with the first button undone before he left.

Steve’s mind was racing as he drove towards the Henderson house, his fingers drumming on the steering wheel nervously. Dustin didn’t miss it, watching his friend with a smile on his face.

When they pulled up outside of the house, Steve was relieved to see Dustin’s mom wasn’t home. She could be a little overbearing.

Steve walked with Dustin up to the front door of the house, following him inside as he let himself in.

You were lounging in the living room, dressed casually in a pair of jeans and a rainbow t shirt that clung to your body in just the right way. Steve gulped when he saw you, his heart rate picking up.

“Hey, sis,” Dustin greeted you, a big dumb grin on his face.

You looked up from the TV, a shy smile spreading across your lips as soon as you saw Steve. You worried all of a sudden that you should have picked a cuter outfit, should have done your makeup.

“Hey,” you greeted your brother. “Hi, Steve.”

Steve smiled at you, and you felt your heart flutter in your chest at the sight of it. He was just so cute, you could hardly handle being around him.

“I’m going to get started on my homework,” Dustin announced before scurrying out of the room before either of you had the chance to say anything. You briefly thought about how it was summer and he didn’t have any homework, but Dustin was always up to something weird so you just brushed it off.

Steve stood there awkwardly for a few minutes before he slowly walked closer. “Uh, how have you been?” he finally asked.

“Good,” you answered. “I’ve been working at the movie theater for the summer.”

“Oh, cool!” Steve said, and he seemed genuinely interested. “Do you, uh…like it?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty cool,” you said. It was pretty cool as far as jobs go, you got to see free movies whenever you wanted and your coworkers were fun. “How’s Scoops Ahoy?”

Steve felt embarrassed at the mere thought of you seeing him in his uniform. “Oh, it’s fine. Free ice cream, you know.”

“That does sound nice,” you said, smiling at him. “I’m glad you like it.”

“Yeah,” Steve said, smiling down at his feet. “Hey, uh, actually,” he began, his eyes moving back up to meet yours, “I wanted to ask you something?”

“What’s up?” you asked, looking at him curiously.

Steve looked nervous, which wasn’t something you had seen very much from him. “Um, I was just wondering, you know…if you’d want to go out with me this weekend?”

Your eyes went wide at his question. “Like- like a date?”

Steve smiled at that - you weren’t outright rejecting him, and you’re just so cute. “Yeah. I was thinking like a date.”

You blushed then, looking down for a minute before you met his gaze again. “Sure. Yeah, I’d love to.”

Steve’s smile grew. “Yeah? How about Friday night? At 7?”

“Sounds good,” you answered, butterflies in your stomach already.

“Well, I’ll see you then,” Steve said, the grin staying on his lips as he turned and walked back towards the front door. “Later!” he called as if both to you and Dustin, before he was out the door.

You waited a full minute after he left before you grabbed a pillow from the couch and pressed your face into it, screaming and kicking your feet.

Dustin came running into the living room.

“Did he do it???”

—

When Friday rolled around, you spent the entire day freaking out about the date. You started getting ready early in the day, starting with a shower, where you took the time to thoroughly shave, not missing a single spot. You dried your hair afterwards and spent ages styling it until it laid just right. You went with a more natural makeup look, which took a lot more time than it looks like. You finally dressed in a short brown skirt and white top.

Dustin was excited for your date with Steve, but even he was at his limit by the time you got ready. He was sick of you staring at yourself in the mirror and asking his opinion on a million different outfit combinations.

When the doorbell rang, you were still looking in the mirror, making last minute touches to your appearance. Dustin answered the door, a huge grin on his face.

Steve stood there, looking nervous and handsome. He wore a button down shirt and jeans, his hair styled perfectly. He held a bouquet of roses in his hand. Dustin just looked at him with that dopey smile on his face.

“Hey,” Steve greeted. “Is your sister ready?”

“Yeah,” Dustin answered, moving out of the way to let Steve inside. “She’s been done for at least an hour already but she won’t stop looking at herself in the mirror.”

Dustin yelled for you as he followed Steve into the living room. Your heart beat hard in your chest as you took one last look in the mirror before leaving your room.

Steve’s breath hitched in his throat when he saw you - you always had that kind of effect on him, but you looked especially beautiful tonight.

Steve told you so as you approached, and you smiled and blushed as you took the bouquet from his hand. Your fingers brushed against his as you took it, and it sent jolts of electricity through your whole body.

You brought the flowers to your nose, smelling them - they smelled lovely, fresh - before you said, “I should go get these in some water,” and scurried off to the kitchen.

Steve could hear the sound of water running moments later, and Dustin would not stop smiling at him like a crazy person. You were back before they knew it, smoothing down a piece of your hair as you walked.

“Ready to go?” Steve asked, holding out his arm for you.

You smiled as you linked your arm with his, and then the two of you were headed towards the door.

“You kids have fun! Don’t do anything too crazy!” Dustin called after you.

You rolled your eyes but laughed as you left the house. Steve smiled and shook his head, leading you towards his car parked against the road.

He opened the passenger door for you, and you smiled at him as you climbed in. You buckled your seatbelt as he walked around the front of the car, and you couldn’t help but admire just how handsome he was as he walked in front of you.

He climbed into the driver’s seat next to you, giving you a quick smile before he got himself buckled and started the car. He turned some music on, quiet enough that you could talk over it.

“So, where are we going?” you asked him as he pulled onto the road and began driving.

“I was thinking we could grab something to eat and see a movie? That is if you’re not tired of movies, working at the theater and all,” he said, suddenly second guessing his choice of a date.

“I don’t think I could ever get tired of movies,” you said, reassuring him. “I actually haven’t even seen one in a while.”

Steve smiled, your words making him feel better. “Well, good. I thought we’d see the movie first so we could talk about it over dinner.”

You smiled at the thought he’d put into this, the butterflies in your stomach going crazy. You resisted the urge to reach out and touch his hair.

The drive to the theater wasn’t long, its proximity to the house was a factor in you applying there in the first place since you didn’t have a car yet. Steve pulled into a parking spot, killing the engine and turning to you.

“We have options,” he said, before he began listing all the different movies playing.

“Day of the Dead!” you exclaimed when that option came out of his mouth. You didn’t need to hear any more. “I’ve been dying to see that one.”

Steve smiled. “Yeah? You’re into horror movies?”

“They’re my favorite,” you said, which made his smile grow wider.

“That’s cool,” he said genuinely, and then he was climbing out of the car, quickly jogging to your side to open your door before you could do it yourself. You couldn’t help but giggle at his effort. He was being so cute, a total gentleman.

“Plus I can hold you if you get scared,” he said, grin still on his lips as you took his hand and climbed out of the car. “Or you can hold me if I get scared.”

You laughed, which only made him smile bigger.

The two of you walked towards the ticket counter, and Steve bought and paid for your tickets. Your friend and coworker, Alice, was working the ticket counter, and she gave you a sly grin as she handed the tickets over.

“Have fun, you two,” she said, with an obvious double meaning to her words. You blushed, knowing there would be questions at work. Steve didn’t miss the teasing, either.

He encouraged you to pick whatever you wanted from concessions. You got a large popcorn to share, you each got a soda, and you both picked out your favorite candies. You weren’t sure if he was going to be paying, so you brought money with you, but Steve didn’t even hesitate to pay for everything himself.

Steve had the huge tub of popcorn and a million snacks balanced in his arms as you carried the two drinks to the theater. You were relieved that it wasn’t crowded, and you found two seats together towards the back that gave you privacy and had a great view of the screen.

You got settled next to each other, drinks in the cup holders and snacks distributed between you, and you realized just how close he was. His knee brushed against yours, the rough feeling of his jeans against your bare skin sending chills through your body.

The movie began, and you shared the popcorn, your hands brushing together whenever you’d reach for some at the same time. It would send a jolt through your body, and the way his eyes would dart to yours made your heart speed up.

You were loving the movie, it was just as good as you had hoped. About halfway through, Steve shifts closer to you, wrapping his arm around your shoulders. It’s the oldest trick in the book, but it makes you smile, and you shift further into his embrace, which makes him squeeze your shoulder.

You have an even better time watching the movie snuggled up against Steve’s side. You take in just how good he smells, something you had never thought about before, but of course he was perfect in every way.

By the end of the movie, your nerves had gone, comforted by the feeling of being pressed up against Steve. It felt right, like it was where you had always belonged.

“What did you think?” Steve asked as the credits rolled and the lights came back on in the theater. He gathered up the trash from your snacks.

“I loved it,” you answered honestly, standing as he did. “The special effects were so cool.”

“Definitely,” Steve agreed with you. “That part where they pulled that guy apart was crazy.”

The two of you left the theater, dropping your trash in the can on the way out. As you walked together out of the building, Steve reached down and grabbed your hand, intertwining your fingers. It surprised you, but you certainly didn’t mind, holding his hand back and smiling to yourself.

Steve opened the door for you again before he climbed in on his side. You had been chatting about the movie since it ended, both of you having enjoyed it a lot.

Steve began driving again. “What are you in the mood to eat? I had somewhere in mind, but if you want something specific, we could go anywhere…”

“I’m sure whatever you picked out is perfect,” you gripped his hand over the center console, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

He smiled back at you. He loved the way you always put him at ease, even when he was so nervous about impressing you.

Steve pulled into the parking lot of a steakhouse. Not too fancy, but not super casual either. Despite the theater snacks, you felt your stomach grumbling at the idea of getting something good to eat.

“They have all kinds of stuff here, if you’re not into steak,” Steve said quickly as he unbuckled his seatbelt.

“I’m a big fan of steak,” you laughed. You were already thinking about what you’d order.

You waited for Steve to come around this time because you knew he’d want to open your door for you. He helped you out again, and the two of you walked hand in hand into the restaurant.

The hostess greeted you both with a big smile. “Just 2?” she asked, which Steve confirmed. She led you to a booth, giving you both a menu.

“This place is nice,” you complimented as you opened up your menu, examining the many options.

“Yeah, I’ve been here with my parents a few times, it’s good,” he said, looking over his own menu before he looked at you again, smiling. “Never brought a girl here, though.”

Knowing you were the first girl he’d brought on a date here made you feel something. You didn’t consider yourself to be a jealous person, but you had been jealous when Steve dated Nancy. You didn’t love the idea of Steve with other girls, so the knowledge that this was new territory for him too made you smile.

Your waiter came by and took your drink orders. You looked over the menu for a while longer before you were satisfied you knew what you wanted.

You were in a deep discussion about the movie when the waiter came back to take your orders. You ordered a steak, of course, with fries. Steve ordered the same thing, shooting you a smirk.

“You look beautiful tonight, by the way,” Steve complimented when your plates were placed in front of you. “I think I already said that tonight, but I couldn’t tell you enough times.”

You blushed as you looked down at your food. “Thank you,” you said. “You look really handsome. I mean, you always do.”

Steve smiled bigger at that, beginning to cut up his steak. “I always do, huh?”

Your blush grew deeper. You didn’t mean to make it sound like you had been obsessed with him, even though you have.

“You always look beautiful,” he added softly.

That made your heart flutter in your chest. He had noticed you. You always thought he didn’t know you existed.

You ate together, talking about the movie, other movies you liked, how your summers had been going, all kinds of things. Steve made you laugh a lot. He was so naturally funny, and he’d really become more of himself since school ended. He didn’t care so much about being popular and impressing his friends and looking cool. He just cared about being authentic.

When dinner was over, Steve got the check before you even had a chance to see how much it was. You offered to pay half, but he shut you down quickly.

Back in the car, he drove with one hand, intertwining his free hand with yours over the center console. You sang along to music together on the way home, and you thought this may have been the best night of your life so far.

Steve pulled up outside your house, turning the car off.

“I really had an amazing time,” he said, turning to look at you. “You’re so great to spend time with.”

You smiled at him, your cheeks heating. “I had an amazing time too, Steve.”

Steve grinned at you. He placed a hand gently on your cheek, his thumb caressing the soft skin there.

“You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen…” he mumbled, almost as if only to himself.

You didn’t know what to say to that. You didn’t think he could have possibly meant it, but his face and eyes show only sincerity. It makes your heart thump harder in your chest as you look into his eyes.

He leaned in, slowly, giving you ample time to push him away. You don’t, of course. You never realized how kissable his lips were until you were this close.

His lips pressed against yours, and they felt so soft. You practically melted into his kiss, your lips moving against his as you kissed him back eagerly. He led the kiss, being more experienced than you were, you gladly let him.

You could have kissed him all night, you think, but your mom was home now and she’d be coming out to check on you if you lingered in the car for too long.

Steve finally pulled away, looking at you with adoration in his eyes. His thumb traced over your lips, wet from his kisses.

“I want to see you again,” he said, his eyes finally moving from your lips back up to your eyes. “Soon.”

“I’d like that,” you said. You were surprised how weak your voice sounded, you cleared your throat.

“Are you free tomorrow?” he asked.

“Tomorrow?” you raised your eyebrows. “Uh…yeah. I’m off work tomorrow, too.”

Steve smiled. “Good. Me too. I’ll come pick you up at around 12, yeah?”

“Sounds good,” you smiled.

Steve opened your door for you one last time before he walked you to your front door. He leaned in and placed one more quick kiss to your lips. “See you tomorrow,” he said.

“See you tomorrow,” you echoed back to him, and then you let yourself into the house, giving him a little wave as he turned to walk back to his car.

You sighed as you entered the house, feeling like you’d been holding your breath all evening. You couldn’t wipe the dreamy grin off your face.

The living room lamp turning on and Dustin speaking nearly made you jump out of your skin.

“Tell me everything.”

[bleedingoptimism]

Steve likes to watch youtube videos of a guy who restores old consoles. It soothing to him, it relaxes him. He likes watching how he restores them, fixes them, makes them look brand new.

He also enjoys watching him work for… other reasons. Weirdly, he thinks the guy is kind of hot, even if he never shows his face. He looks fit, with the way his shirts stretch over his chest and are loose on his tiny waist and he’s always wearing cool belts, black leather with studs or chains. He likes the way he moves around, manic and a little clumsy but incredibly precise when necessary.

Steve especially likes watching his hands, thick strong fingers, bony wrists, noticeable veins, and short clean nails that sometimes have chipped black polish adorning them.

He sometimes thinks about those hands when he's alone, but, well… no one needs to know about that.

🎮🤲💖

Eddie has a fairly popular youtube channel… And a huge crush on his next-door neighbor. He simply cannot decide if the dude is cutter than hot or vice-versa.

'He sure is nice, though,' he thinks, when one day he gets a large package of replacement parts that he’s struggling to get inside and the guy walks up to him, asks if he needs any help, and takes the heaviest box with no effort at all.

He says his name is Steve and then stares at Eddie's hand for a really long time when Eddie extends it for him to shake after getting the boxes inside his studio.

He hears Steve’s little 'oh', under his breath and then sees him blush prettily before mumbling ‘He needs to go, now.' And stumbling out of Eddie’s place.

Eddie chuckles to himself as he watches him leave, definitely cute AND hot in equal parts.

🎮🤲💖

A few weeks later Steve's mom tells him she needs help getting rid of some of his nonno's old things and he finds a LOT of cool stuff that look just like the ones Eddie restores on his channel.

He and Eddie have been slowly getting friendlier over these last couple of weeks and he’s been dying to have an excuse to talk to him more, so he takes the items home and then goes to Eddie's and very nervously tries to offer them to him but doesn't know how to explain he knows he's a youtuber without looking like a weirdo because Eddie’s never shown his face.

He stumbles and blushes a lot, barely making any sense and Eddie mistakenly thinks he's trying to ask him out and says, 

"I'd love to go on a date with you," Smiling and hiding his dimples behind a lock of hair he's been playing with since the moment Steve started stuttering.

Steve completely forgets what he was trying to say or do and says he'll pick him out at 6.

The date is amazing, it feels like they are meant to be. They get along so well, talking, laughing, and already making fun of each other as if they’re old friends. And they are definitely attracted to one another. If the way Eddie practically tackles Steve with his rush to get his mouth on him when they get back, it’s any indication.  

Steve is very on board with this and he enthusiastically kisses him back. They kiss desperately as he fumbles with his door handle to get it open. When he succeeds, he walks them backward into his place not wanting to stop kissing Eddie, but stumbles and falls flat on his ass.

When Eddie turns on the light he sees Steve sprawled on top of a bunch of boxes full of old technology. A lot of emotions go through his face, ‘he’s so expressive’ Steve thinks a little enamored, having still not realized how much trouble he’s in.

But Eddie looks confused, then shocked and scared, and finally, angry,

"Steve, what the fuck?"

‘Oh, shit…’

“I can explain!” he says immediately, standing up and walking toward Eddie as he backs away,

“I didn’t want to ask you out-” Steve starts but interrupts himself when Eddie huffs, turns, and starts walking towards his own apartment, “Shit, fuck! No- That’s not what I meant, Eddie! Wait-”

He turns again and glares at Steve but then his eyes go wide, “Steve,”

“Please, let me explain-”

“Steve-”

“I did- do! Want to ask you out! I like yo-”

“Steve!” Eddie screams and Steve stops, shocked, and finally focuses. Eddie is staring at him and he’s so pale even his freckles have changed color. But no, wait. He’s not staring at him, he’s staring at his arm and Steve looks down to see… a lot of blood.

“Oh,” he says faintly. He must have cut himself on a sharp edge when he fell. Too worried about Eddie, he hadn’t even noticed the pain, but now that he’s seeing the cut, it fucking hurts.

“Oh,” he says again, realizing he’s feeling kind of dizzy, ‘that's way too much blood,’ he thinks.

“Jesus Christ!” Eddie huffs, takes off his flannel shirt and wrapping it around Steve's arm, he pulls Steve by his other hand toward his van.

“Oh no, your cute shirt,” he mumbles and hears Eddie snort before he slams the door of the passenger seat and goes to the driver’s one.

They go to the hospital in silence. It's tense. Steve tries to explain himself but Eddie shuts him up harshly, tells him to save his energy.

Even so, when they get there, Eddie still holds him gently by his good arm as he helps him inside. He tells the nurse what happened because Steve is having a hard time focusing right now and then tells him he’ll wait outside for him.

He gets stitches and a tetanus shot just in case because he doesn't remember when was the last time he got one and gets weird looks when he refuses painkillers, but no arguments. He’s given a little juice box and is told he can't get up until he finishes it.

A few seconds after the nurse leaves, the door opens and Eddie walks in. Steve looks up and smiles at him, but Eddie doesn’t smile back and Steve shrinks a little on himself.

Eddie sits on the chair facing the overbed table Steve is perched on and sighs, moving his hand in little circles motioning like, ‘Well go on. Explain yourself’

Steve looks around the room and thinks about where to start. He can't look Eddie in the eye, so he stares at the little juice box in his hands. It's got a cartoon orange in the front. The drawing it’s awful and kind of scary.

Taking a deep breath, he starts, “I've been watching your videos for a long time now. I have- I am- I-”

He fumbles for what to say, even if this date is already ruined…it's not exactly a good first date topic, is it? How fucked up he’s inside.

In a flash, images of his father’s violence, running from home with his mom, going to live with his nonno, taking care of him as he slowly lost his mind with age while his mom worked her ass off to feed them, getting cheated on, losing his “friends” because he didn't want to bully freshmen, working as a babysitter and getting almost beat up to death by his kid’s stepbrother… he shakes his head and shrugs,

“I've been through some…stuff” is what he says in the end, looking up at Eddie. He doesn't look mad anymore, his expressive eyes look concerned. Steve worries about what was it Eddie saw in his own expression, but it surprises him how easily he read him. He’s usually so good at hiding it. 

He breathes in again and keeps going, “Your videos, they calm me down when I've, sometimes I get anxious and-” he clears his throat, again, not wanting to tell Eddie about the panic attacks, the nightmares.

But it seems he doesn't have to, Eddie looks at him like he gets it.

It makes Steve want to keep talking, “Watching you work, seeing you fix things, leave them like new, no sca- marks, no problems, just working again and beautifully clean. It makes me feel better.” 

Eddie gives him a small smile and Steve returns it, “I really like your hands…” he blurts out and then closes his mouth quickly, blushing furiously.

Eddie’s eyes go wide and then he smirks and stands up slowly walking up to him and taking Steve’s hands on his own, they both stare at their joined hands for a while, the touch feather-like and soft.

“You recognized me because of my hands?” Eddie asks him a little incredulous.

Steve giggles, “I saw the logo for your channel on your studio that day I helped you with the boxes,” he clarifies sheepishly.

Eddie blushes and opens his mouth in a silent ‘oh,’

Steve draws small circles on Eddie's knuckles with his thumbs, “When I came over today, I was just trying to offer you those stuff at my place, they were my grandfather's” he explains, “I didn’t know how to say I knew who you were without looking like a weirdo and I got nervous and you thought I was going to ask you out and I wasn’t planning to but you are so beautiful I-

Eddie kisses his cheek and Steve shuts up and looks at him surprised,

“I’m sorry I freaked out,” Eddie says, “I thought- I don’t know what I thought- I was just upset you didn’t actually like me.” 

And Steve immediately answers, “I like you” a little too excitedly.

Eddie smiles at him so warmly it makes his heart rate pick up, “Good. I like you too.”

He blushes and looks down at their hands again unsure, “Do you really? Even tho I’m…”

“What?” Eddie asks, squeezing his hands reassuringly.

“Broken?” Steve whispers.

Eddie hums and drops his hands to hold his face, “Not broken, baby” he says lovingly and kisses the crease between Steve’s brows, the top of his eyelid, his nose, and the corner of his mouth. Then hugs him and Steve buries his face on Eddie's neck, and breathes him in.

A minute goes by or an hour, Steve is not sure, and Eddie leans back enough to kiss him again softly and whispers, “Some things don't need to be fixed Steve, just held.” 

𝒻𝒾𝓃

coffee? a hug? ☕🥐💕

[loveinhawkins]

was this written to solve my own inconsistencies because i keep forgetting Eddie literally hotwired the RV, they don’t need keys, why do you keep mentioning keys, you fool? maybe. do i also think they’d be this stupid? yes. ❤️

“Oh, son of a bitch,” Dustin says, midway to The War Zone.

Steve, who is used to this sort of outburst for things as mild as Dustin forgetting just one out of the eight pens on his person, does not react.

However Eddie—Hellfire rants aside—is not quite as familiar yet. He jumps practically a foot in the air.

“Jesus Christ, what now?”

All Dustin offers by way of explanation is an accusatory, “You,” pointing his finger right in Eddie’s face.

And then Eddie sees what’s dangling from said finger.

“… Oh.”

“What?” Steve says, glancing at the rearview mirror; Eddie quickly blocks Dustin from view, goes right up on his tiptoes and spreads his arms wide, curses when Dustin throws the keys—

—to Max, who catches them one-handed, who gives Eddie a grin that’s not so much pitying as it is evil, and then she—

—throws them to Lucas, and he somehow gets the metal ring to land on his finger, like he’s in a movie, and he twirls them round and round until Max snorts, and he grins like that had been his aim all along.

“Sinclair,” Eddie says, “I am begging you.”

“I’m not hearing much about what’s in it for him,” Erica says.

Aha! Eddie zeroes in on Erica and blocks her from Lucas, like a very unjust game of Keep Away.

“Dude,” Lucas says, affronted, “that’s not fair.”

Eddie has the decency to look a bit ashamed. Not too ashamed to stop because he is a pathetic man, but at least Steve still hasn’t noticed the—

“Lucas,” Erica says, in the aggrieved tones of a sister who’s despaired at him many, many times. “You’re on the basketball team. Just do a pass fake, nerd.”

Lucas feigns to the left, and Eddie falls for it—but, in what he’s sure is a completely unsportsmanlike move, he uses his height to his advantage, jumps…

And drops the keys with a clatter.

Steve must instantly recognise the sound for what it is, because he starts to cackle.

Eddie’s only saving grace is that Steve is driving, so at least he can’t see—

“Eddie’s going, like, super red in the face right now,” Dustin narrates helpfully.

“Scarlet,” Lucas says.

“Vermillion,” Robin pipes up from the floor.

“Ooh,” Dustin, Lucas, and Max chorus, impressed. Jesus Christ, they almost harmonize.

“Yeah, Eddie,” Steve says dryly, “you fucking moron. How did you miss those, it’s not like you had literally anything else on your mind.”

“You’re a real gentleman, Harrington, anyone ever told you that?” Eddie says weakly.

“Maybe once or twice,” Steve says, drawing it out teasingly, as if he means not often enough.

“Well, at least we got on the road,” Nancy says. Her voice quivers like she’s trying not to laugh—perched on the table, eyes shining with amusement. “And it did look pretty cool, Eddie.”

Eddie thinks this is an incredibly generous assessment, considering his main thought while breaking into the RV had been don’t get stuck in the window, Jesus Christ.

And then… like, he didn’t expect Steve to actually come up and watch him hotwire the damn thing, like, with rapt attention, so close that Eddie was kinda concerned he’d electrocute himself instead. Honestly, it was a miracle he got the engine started.

“That’s sweet of you, Wheeler, but I’m self-aware.”

“Since when?” Erica says.

Underneath everyone’s laughter, Steve grins and says, “Hey, don’t worry, man.” He catches Eddie’s eye in the rearview mirror, winks. “It was an educational experience.”

“Oh, wow, your face is even redder.”

“Henderson, I’m gonna put those goddamn keys so far up your ass.”

[echobx]

The Spins - bsf!JJ Maybank × fem!reader

summary: y/n and JJ get high like they usually do, but this time y/n doesn't have as much control over herself like she usually would

word count: 1.5k

warnings: weed usage, smut, p in v (protected), fluffy

author's note: inspired by the song The Spins by Mac Miller, because I've always wanted to write something with that song in mind bc that song is sooooo JJ coded to me, and now I finally did and I think it's pretty good for once

kinktober masterlist

“Dude, the trees are singing,” you call out and start to giggle, nearly falling over if JJ didn't have his finger hooked in the loop of your jeans since you stood up.

“You for real?” he's just as dazed as you, but way calmer. That's how it is, when you get high together, you switch personalities, apparently. JJ starts to focus and talks less like himself, and you start to ramble until your tongue feels numb. Your mind is running haywire, going practically 60mp/h for all you know.

“Listen!” you exclaim, and he pulls you back into his arms, falling into his hold and letting the heat overwhelm you a bit.

You've smoked with JJ ever since you were old enough to get away with it. He introduced you to it, and back then you just wanted to not be a chicken in his eyes. He is your everything, your best friend, partner in crime, and while drunk one night you promised each other to get married if both of you turn out single at 36. That last part is your future, you don't doubt it happening, but you do doubt that he even remembers the deal.

“It's sooo beautiful, J,” you hum softly, trying to imitate the melody you hear.

“Sure is, cupcake,” JJ smiles and runs his hand over your back. This high, you have a hard time to not give into your impulses. You wish on a daily basis that he would make a move and give you more than friendship, but he won't, and you love him for it, for not making it awkward.

“Would you- no, do you want to be a tree? That's not right either,” you sigh in frustration, not being able to form a coherent thought.

“Would I want to be a tree if I could?” JJ smiles sweetly, and you nod, biting your lip while staring at his.

“Trees don't do much,” he considers, and you watch him; taking your hand up to draw lines over his face. “I don't know if I could stand still all day every day.”

“No, me either,” you sigh. “I want to be an elephant.”

“Why's that?” He entertains your high thoughts as if they were sober ones, never letting you feel stupid, because you wouldn't do that to him either.

“Huge ears, fans, so hot,” you say and hold your hand to his forehead. “So hot.”

“Maybe that's your fault,” he says, and you know it's a joke, it has to be.

“Gotta cool you down,” you nod and he smirks.

“How’r you gonna do that?”

“You remember-” you stop and stare into the distance, the sea looks so pretty and calm at night.

“Y/n, darling?” JJ brushes his hand through your hair, resting it at the edge of your jaw and brushing his thumb over your puffy cheek.

“Orgasm,” you nod, having finished your thought solitary.

“What?” he chuckles, and you tilt your head a bit, leaning into his touch without noticing.

“I just told you. Science says masturbation makes cool bodies. Do you not listen?” you huff, and he blinks a few times before he even tries to fully grasp your intentions.

“Maybe you should go inside then, help yourself out,” he says, letting go of your body, but you stay seated.

“JJ?” you ask, and for some reason you feel a little clearer at that moment.

“What’ya need, gorgeous?” he asks, and you blush.

“Wearing off,” you say, and he leans forward, making sure to not have you fall from his legs as he picks the bong from the small table and hands it to you. “Thank you,” you smile and close your mouth around the glass while he flicks his lighter on and lets the water bubble up inside the device.

“Better?” he asks after putting it back down, and you nod, but what you do next hasn't been part of his plan now or ever, at least not like this.

You take his head in your hands and press your lips to his, letting him taste some of the weed you'd just inhaled. But mostly he's filled up with how good it feels to finally kiss you and hold you and — have you rut against his growing erection? That can't be true.

But he's right and wrong as you pull away and stumble backwards and fall to the floor of the porch as if you regret all you did. JJ is still trying to fathom what just happened when you scramble up and start to rant about how you fucked everything up and how he must definitely hate you and everything is just the worst ever-

“Can you shut up?” he asks calmly, head in his hands, and you stop pacing to look at him.

“I'm sorry,” you say, eyes red and glossy, but your lips, your perfectly sweet and delicious lips, are trembling.

“I'm not,” he says, looking you straight in the eyes as he stands and takes your hand to lead you inside. He's overcome with need and love, and he feels most lucky; you making the move on him when he has never had the guts to, and doing it on a night where you guys have the Château for yourself with JB being at Sarah's. It's like he hit the jackpot three times that night.

“What are we gonna do?” you ask him, trying to not seem giddy, but you don't manage it well with how fucking high you actually are.

“Reduce the heat or something,” he says before picking you up and practically throwing you onto the bed.

JJ is kissing down your body, removing every piece of clothing that is in the way of his hungry lips and your delicious skin. He's humming and mumbling things that you can't fully register because your body feels like it's floating and burning up and suffocating at the same time.

“JJ? Do you wanna fuck me?” you giggle, and he lifts his head, a line of spit connecting your tummy and his lips, as he looks up into your widened eyes.

“Oh, baby, I never wanted to do any less than that,” he's basically growling at this point.

“I'm very high,” you're still giggling when he shifts upwards to be at the same level as your head. Your hands find his waist, and it's the first time you notice that he undressed not just you entirely, but himself too.

“I know. Will make you come so hard, baby,” he says as if it's a promise, but you can't reply as his lips lock with yours. Your eyes roll back just at the simple feeling of his tongue forcing itself into your mouth.

“Fuck me, please,” you gasp, lifting your hips to meet his, and he hisses.

You can't remember if he put a condom on when he starts to push into you, and you couldn't care less. Your back is arched towards him, and he presses you into the mattress with your fingers intertwined and his lips sucking on your neck. And he was right, you could come just from the way he bottoms out, gently pressing against your cervix.

It's when his eyes finally find yours again that you believe you might've died and gone to heaven. JJ is so gentle, and he looks so beautiful while fucking you, and you don't think he minds that your brain is blocking out all the noise to focus on the pleasure he's giving you.

“You feel so perfect, baby. I would die for this pussy,” he moans, and your unresponsiveness isn't what he wished for, but he knows you well enough to understand what's happening. “I won't be able to stay away from you now, cupcake. You own me,” he whispers in your ear, and you gasp.

“You own me,” you repeat, searching for his lips to prove to him that you're devoted to him and no one else. JJ is amazed by you, always has been, but this is different. He's fully aware that he will not survive if you can't remember this night by tomorrow, or if you choose to deny what happened, or worse if you think it was a mistake altogether.

His hands leave yours to rub over your thighs and hook them around his waist before torturing your clit. And by God, he'd never imagined you scream so beautifully when he brings you to your high. A thousand angel choirs wouldn't sound as beautiful to him as you do.

But the definition of love takes a turn for him when you come, squirting all over his cock and not stopping until he can't hold back himself. A part of him is annoyed with himself for using a condom, but the more rational side of his brain thanks him for it, because he doesn't know if you could've gotten pregnant.

And while he fights himself to keep fucking you through both your orgasms, you feel like you finally reached clarity, like the mysteries of the universe have just revealed themselves to you.

“That was the best sex in my life,” JJ pants as he falls to your side.

“I think I met God,” you sigh, but before he can ask what you mean with it, you've fallen asleep and are nuzzled into his side like you've never belonged anywhere else in your life.

please don't copy and/or post my work onto other platforms! ~e©ho

taglist: @redhead1180 @spideysimpossiblegirl @drwstarkeyy @princessmaybank @ijustwantttoread @kys4-20 @immyowndefender @julczimozart @m2m2m2 @mochimms @dorkyfangirl24 @itsme-again @maybankslover @th3eternalersi

[mechaknight-98]

Deep in the Water (NSFW) FT Minju

Operator’s Notes: “Said you wanna take control of me but I got all the answers”

A fist hit my face and sent me to the ground. Unsure of where the fist came from in the bar brawl I found myself in I got up to face the first person directed at me, an angry man approached me and said, "You look like a bitch."

I laughed and said, "You look like a snitch" before tackling him to the ground. I got a couple of strikes on him before shotgun fire rang through the bar. I stopped striking the man and turned behind me.

A girl with a wolf cut and an angered look stared into my eyes and said, "This brawl stops now. You!" (she pointed at me.) You told me that you would not get rowdy.

I scoffed at the young woman, "The hell are you talking about this dude attacked me first," I responded defiantly. The girl rolled her eyes and said,

"NOT you the one under you. He is the one I am mad at. The person you're bashing." The girl points back at me and says, "You're fine Sparkles," I nod and get up. Before paying my tab. The lady with the wolf cut smiles cutely and says, "Now go handsome before I change my mind." I smirk and she shoos me away I get out of the bar and start heading home before I feel someone grab my wrist. I turn back to see the young lady, "Um hey can you help me fix the bar? You were the only one who didn't make a mess, and I need help." I consider my options, and say "Sure why not"

At first, I considered my choice a mistake, but the Bar owner was cute and cool, so the time just melted away as we cleaned and restored the bar to its original shape. After we finished cleaning, we sat next to each other, and she slid me a Shirley Temple.

She smiles at me and asks, "So sparkles do you have a real name?"

I nod and reply "Dio it's short for Diomacho"

"What?" The young woman scoffed surprised, "does that even mean anything?" she asked confused

"My Grandma thought it would be funny to name her son, my father who I am the junior to, a name that could mean anything and nothing. According to her though she wanted to make the next great "African American name" So for her it means prosperity, wisdom, valor, and the ideals she believed made a strong Black man,"

the young lady smiled, "Hmm I like it." The young lady outstretched her hand, "My name is Minju. Nice to meet you." I nodded and smiled at her. She smiled back then said, "So what brings such a unique young man out here?"

"Young?" I questioned, as I turned to her, "I am tired like leather and old as dirt." I replied.

Minju smiled as she rolled her eyes, "No you're not. I looked at your ID before you got here. You're barely 3 years older than me." her smile was knowing, cute, and a little flirty maybe.

I scowled confused as I said, "Really you're only three years younger than me?" I looked deeper at her face and hands, "you look like you could be in college still,"

Minju smiled and said, "Black and Korean don't crack I guess." I laughed and she pouted, "What I thought the phrase was Black doesn't crack." she added defensively. Her hair bounced as she spoke expressively.

I nod and respond, "No you're correct It's just not what I thought I'd hear out here." Minju's pout disappeared and was replaced with a wide smile. She moved a bit closer.

“So Sparkles what brings you out here?”

I turn to Minju and she’s still all smiles, “you’re a curious one.” I respond. Minju smiles and nods before saying.

“So what brings you here?”

I sigh as I relent while answering her, “ Well, this was supposed to be a vacation but I got roped into a work thing,”

Minju leans in close and rests her arms on my shoulder, “Oh what do you do?”

“I am a part of the American Titan Fighting Force or the ATFF for short,” I answer as I shift to support her weight better. Minju smiles and leans in closer.

Minju leaned back slightly, her eyes still focused on mine. “So, you’re a Kaiju fighter… but you don’t seem too thrilled about it,” she said, her voice soft but curious.

I raised an eyebrow, a little surprised by the observation. “What makes you say that?”

She smiled knowingly, tapping her fingers lightly on my shoulder. “You’ve got that look. Like this isn’t exactly what you wanted to be doing with your life. I mean, you were minding your own business in the bar earlier. Doesn’t seem like you go looking for fights.”

I sighed, taking a moment to consider my response. Her gaze was patient but intent, and for some reason, I felt like talking.

“You’re right,” I admitted, leaning back in my chair. “I’m not exactly a fan of the whole ‘fighting monsters’ thing. I didn’t sign up for that part.”

Minju tilted her head, intrigued. “Then why are you doing it?”

I let out a small chuckle, shaking my head. “I was supposed to be a researcher. I’ve got a background in Titan/ Kaiju biology and ecology. I actually wanted to study them, you know? Understand how they work, and how they survive. Maybe even figure out a way to live with them, rather than always fighting them.”

Minju’s eyes widened slightly. “That’s really interesting. So how’d you go from research to… wrangling and fighting them?”

I sighed again, this time more heavily. “Well, let’s just say the ATFF had other ideas. I played football in college, so I was built like an athlete. When they found out, they figured I was ‘perfectly suited’ to do more than just research. Next thing I know, I’m not just studying Titan/ Kaiju—I’m out in the field, wrangling them, fighting them… basically doing all the things I didn’t want to do.”

Minju frowned, her expression softening as she listened. “That sounds… rough. It’s like they took advantage of your skills for something you didn’t even want.”

“Exactly,” I said, nodding. “I mean, I get it—someone’s gotta do it. But it’s frustrating when you’re dragged into something just because you’re physically capable. I wanted to use my brain, not my fists. But they couldn’t see past the fact that I’m big enough to fight.”

Minju’s gaze softened even more, and she shifted closer, her hand resting gently on my arm. “That must be hard,” she said quietly. “Being good at something you don’t even want to do.”

“Yeah, it’s not easy,” I admitted. “Every mission, I’m thinking about what I’d rather be doing. I could be learning more about how these creatures fit into the world, figuring out how to protect people without always having to kill them. But instead, I’m out there wrestling Kaiju into submission.”

Minju smiled, her touch lingering as she spoke. “You’re not just a fighter, though. It sounds like you care about what you do, even if it’s not what you want. That’s… admirable.”

I glanced at her, surprised by the sincerity in her voice. “I guess I try to make the best of it,” I said with a shrug. “But it’s hard to keep going when you feel like you’re not where you’re supposed to be.”

Minju leaned in a little more, her expression thoughtful. “You know, I think people can surprise themselves. Maybe one day you’ll find a way to balance both—fighting when you have to, but also using your knowledge to change how things are done. I mean, if anyone could do it, it sounds like it’d be you.”

Her words caught me off guard, and I found myself smiling a little. “You really think so?”

She nodded, her smile bright but sincere. “I do. You’ve got this… strength, but it’s more than just physical. You’ve got a mind for this stuff, and that’s something not everyone has.”

I stared at her for a moment, feeling something warm settle in my chest. “Thanks,” I said softly. “Not a lot of people see that side of me.”

Minju smiled again, her eyes twinkling with a mix of playfulness and understanding. “Well, I do. And I think you’re gonna find a way to make it work, Sparkles.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “You really don’t give up, do you?”

“Nope,” she replied with a grin. “And I’m not letting you give up either.”

I sigh, before my watch goes off. I looked at it and saw that the JADKF wanted me to go to the briefing tomorrow. I roll my eyes and Minju smiles,

“What’s wrong tough guy?” She teases.

“The JAKDF wants me to go to the briefing tomorrow about this new Kaiju. So I gotta wake up early tomorrow. So this is Goodbye Mini” I say. Minju eyes widened before she said

“Wait! Before you go give me your phone,” she says. I turn back and she smiles as I take out my phone. She quickly types in my phone and then looks at hers before handing me back mine. I look at it and notice I have a text from “my lovely Girlfriend Min” I turn to Minju.

“This is presumptuous,” I say to her. Minju laughs before kissing me on the cheek.

“I’ll see you tomorrow babe,” she says as I walk out. I put on my helmet, get on the motorcycle I rented for the vacation, and race off into the foggy autumn night.

I get back to the hotel a little later and turn in early for the night. Unsurprisingly I dream about Minju. In the dream, the sun was setting on a beach, casting the sky in hues of pink and orange. The waves lapped gently at my feet as I stood on the soft, warm sand. A breeze rolled in, carrying the scent of saltwater, and for a moment, I felt completely at peace.

Then, I saw her—Minju, standing barefoot at the water’s edge, the ocean reflecting in her eyes. She smiled at me, the same teasing, playful look from earlier, but softer, more inviting. Her wolf-cut hair blew gently in the wind, and she waved me over.

I walked toward her, feeling that familiar warmth in my chest. “What’s going on, Min?” I asked as I reached her side.

Minju grinned and held out her hand. “Come with me,” she said, her voice soft but with a hint of mischief.

Without thinking, I took her hand, and she led me into the water. At first, it was just the gentle waves washing over our ankles, then our knees. The water was warm, and with every step, we drifted further from the shore, the beach slowly disappearing behind us. Minju laughed, tugging me deeper into the ocean, her smile never fading.

“Where are we going?” I asked, my voice a little hesitant as the water reached my waist. The sand beneath my feet was giving way, growing softer and harder to stand on.

“Don’t worry,” she said, turning back to me. Her eyes were bright, reflecting the fading light of the sun, and I could see the playful glint in them. “Just trust me.”

I did. I kept walking, following her deeper and deeper. The water rose higher, up to our chests now, and I realized I could no longer feel the ground beneath me. Minju’s hand tightened around mine, and for a moment, I felt a strange sense of security, even as the ocean swallowed us.

“Minju, we’re getting pretty far out,” I said, glancing back at the shoreline, now a distant blur. “Maybe we should—”

“Just a little further,” she interrupted, pulling me along as she started swimming, her strokes effortless and graceful. “We’re almost there.”

“Almost where?” I asked, feeling the unease creeping into my chest. I started to paddle, keeping myself afloat, but the ocean felt deeper and darker now. The sky had shifted to a dusky purple, the stars beginning to peek through.

Minju didn’t answer, just smiled over her shoulder. Her hand still held mine, but it felt different—firmer, almost like a lifeline. I kept swimming with her, the water cool now against my skin, but something in me was starting to panic.

“Minju, we’re too far,” I said, my breath catching in my throat as the waves grew stronger, pushing us around. I couldn’t see the shore anymore. The ocean surrounded us on all sides, an endless expanse of dark, churning water.

She finally stopped, turning to face me. Her eyes were soft, but her smile was gone. “We’re here.”

I looked around, confused. “Where?”

“Here,” she repeated, her voice almost a whisper now. She let go of my hand and floated in front of me, her hair spreading out in the water like dark ribbons.

I tried to swim back toward her, but the current pulled us apart. “Minju!” I called out, suddenly feeling the weight of the water pressing against me. I kicked harder, but it was like the ocean was holding me in place, dragging me down with every movement.

Minju’s face remained calm, almost serene. She didn’t seem scared, but something about the way she looked at me made my chest tighten. “You always fight, don’t you?” she asked softly.

“What?” I panted, my arms struggling to keep me afloat.

“You’re always fighting,” she said, her voice carrying over the waves. “But sometimes… you just have to let go.”

Before I could respond, a wave crashed over my head, pulling me under. The saltwater stung my eyes and filled my lungs as I fought to break the surface. Panic surged through me as I flailed in the water, but I couldn’t find my footing. The ocean was too deep, too vast.

And then, through the chaos, I felt her hand again. Soft, steady, pulling me up. I broke the surface, gasping for air, and there she was—Minju, holding me close, her arms wrapped around me as if to anchor me to her.

“Let go,” she whispered, her breath warm against my ear, despite the cold water around us.

For a moment, I did. I let my muscles relax, and let the water take me. I stopped fighting.

Minju smiled again, her face inches from mine. “It’s easier when you’re not fighting alone.”

And then, everything faded—her face, the ocean, the stars overhead. All of it washed away like the tide, pulling me into darkness.

I woke up in a cold sweat, the sound of waves still echoing in my ears. The hotel room was quiet, and the early morning light filtered through the curtains. I blinked, disoriented, the dream lingering in my mind, as vivid as if it had just happened.

Minju’s voice, soft and playful, echoed in my head: “It’s easier when you’re not fighting alone.”

Sure! Here’s an expanded version of the scene with more flirting as they text each other and gradually get to know each other better:

I got up and started getting ready for the day when my phone buzzed. Another text from “my lovely girlfriend” flashed on the screen:

Minju: “Hey Dio, I don’t know when you’ll be done, but I wanna go on a date today. When you’re ready, come to this address.”

She had attached a location to the message. I laughed and shot back a quick reply:

Me: “Okay, Queen Min.”

There was a pause, and I slipped on my jacket, half-expecting to get another teasing text in response. Sure enough, my phone buzzed again.

Minju: “Oh, I like that.”

I smirked, knowing she was probably grinning at her phone, already planning the next playful retort. Just as I expected, another message popped up:

Minju: “I really like that. Careful, at this rate I’ll have to make you mine.”

I could almost hear her voice, the teasing lilt, and that mischievous smile she wore the night before. Rolling my eyes, I leaned against the doorframe and typed back.

Me: “You don’t waste time, do you?”

She replied almost immediately:

Minju: “When I see something I want, I go for it. What can I say? I’m decisive.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. Her confidence was magnetic, and I wasn’t sure whether I should feel flattered or slightly on edge. But I was hooked, no doubt about that. I decided to play along, raising the stakes.

Me: “Decisive, huh? Bold words for someone who doesn’t even know my favorite color.”

Another pause. I could imagine her reading the message, brow furrowing in mock frustration, but I knew she’d have a comeback ready. Sure enough:

Minju: “Well, that’s easy. It’s black—same as your soul.”

She followed up with another message almost immediately:

Minju: “But I guess I’ll find out for sure today, won’t I?”

I laughed at her reply, impressed by how quick she was on her feet. She wasn’t giving me any space to catch her off guard, and I liked it.

Me: “Touché, Minju. So, what’s my prize if you guess right?”

Minju: “Hmm… if I’m right, I’ll make you dinner. If I’m wrong, I guess you’ll just have to impress me enough to keep me around.”

I raised an eyebrow. She was challenging me, but also giving me a chance to step up. Something about the way she pushed and pulled made the banter exciting like we were already playing a game neither of us wanted to end.

Me: “So it’s a win-win for me, huh? Either I get dinner or I get to keep you around. Sounds like you’ve stacked the deck in my favor, Queen Min.”

Minju: “Consider it a gift for being charming enough to catch my attention.”

Her words sent a small thrill through me, and I couldn’t help but wonder what the day would bring. The conversation was light, but there was something undeniably real about the tension that hummed between us, even through a screen. She had me intrigued, and I was curious to see where this would go.

Minju: “Besides, I’m good at reading people. I’ll bet I know more about you than you think.”

Me: “Oh yeah? Prove it. What else do you think you know about me?”

Another buzz:

Minju: “You seem like the type who pretends not to care, but deep down, you’re the guy who fixes everything for everyone else. You’re probably really responsible, but hate being told what to do. And…”

There was a long pause, and I waited for her to finish. Finally, the next message appeared:

Minju: ”…I bet you haven’t gone on a real date in a long time, huh?”

I blinked, taken aback by how easily she had read between the lines. She wasn’t wrong.

Me: “Guess you’re better at this than I thought.”

Minju: “I told you, I’m good at reading people. That, and I like a challenge.”

I smiled at the screen, impressed but also feeling a little exposed. She saw more of me than most people did, even with our limited interactions. But instead of feeling uncomfortable, it made me want to know more about her.

Me: “Well played, Min. But let’s see if you’re still this confident after our date.”

Minju: “Oh, I will be. See you soon, handsome.”

I finished getting ready, anticipation stirring in my chest as I thought about the day ahead. If our banter was any indication, this date was going to be anything but boring.

After riding into the makeshift JAKDF office, I parked my bike and headed inside. The place was buzzing with the usual mix of officials and soldiers prepping for whatever briefing we had in store. Since I was early, I found an empty chair in the corner and pulled out my phone, figuring I’d kill some time before the meeting started.

With nothing pressing on my mind, my thoughts drifted back to Minju—my lovely girlfriend Min. I smirked at the memory of her cheeky text and suddenly realized that despite all the banter, I didn’t know much about her beyond what I’d picked up during our flirty exchanges. Curiosity piqued, I typed her name into the search bar and hit enter.

A sea of results flooded the screen, and I blinked, surprised by how much there was to uncover. I scrolled through the first few hits, noticing immediately that she wasn’t just some random girl who worked at a bar. No, Kim Minju was a full-on celebrity—formerly of IZ*ONE, a K-pop idol turned actress.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued as I tapped on one of the articles. She’d been on hiatus for a while, something about waiting for the right role to take her acting career to the next level. And apparently, she wasn’t alone. Rumor had it she was eyeing a potential action movie alongside one of her old group members, Hyewon. I chuckled, imagining Minju doing high-flying stunts in some action-packed blockbuster. She didn’t exactly scream action hero when I first met her, but then again, neither did I.

Without realizing it, I clicked on another link, and then another. Before long, I was knee-deep in everything there was to know about Minju and IZONE. My curiosity spiraled, and I wasn’t just reading about Minju anymore. My AUDHD latched onto the deeper threads, pulling me into the world of K-pop fandom. I found myself learning about IZONE’s music, their disbandment, and how the members had gone on to form or join new groups. The intricate web of connections between all these artists was staggering. Daughter groups, subunits, solo careers—I was way out of my depth.

But I wasn’t stopping.

Every article led to a new tangent, and soon I was clicking through random trivia about the K-pop industry, how group contracts worked, and how fandoms shaped the careers of idols long after they’d stepped off the stage. I dove into comment sections, reading fan theories, interviews, and even rumors about future reunions. The more I learned, the deeper I fell into the rabbit hole.

Time blurred as I scrolled through pages and pages, soaking in details about group dynamics, music charts, and choreography breakdowns. I was getting lost in it, fascinated by the mechanics of the idol machine and how it all worked behind the scenes. Hours felt like minutes, and by the time I surfaced for air, I realized I wasn’t just learning about Minju anymore—I was uncovering the whole universe she came from.

Eventually, my brain, as it often did, decided to connect the dots between two seemingly unrelated things. Somewhere between reading about IZ*ONE’s international tours and fan events, my thoughts drifted back to work. Kaiju and Titans weren’t so different from these idol groups, in a weird way. Both were massive forces in their respective worlds, with entire ecosystems built around them. That familiar itch for research started up, and I felt my focus shift.

From there, I leaped back into Kaiju biology. I pulled up some articles on recent Kaiju sightings and cross-referenced them with Titan ecological patterns. My mind was already threading together theories about why certain species were resurfacing, likely brought on by environmental shifts and human interference. One-click led to another, and soon enough, I was neck-deep in scientific reports on the breeding cycles of Titans, pulling apart the data like a puzzle I couldn’t resist solving.

It was wild how quickly I’d gone from K-pop idols to Kaiju migration patterns, but that’s how it was for me. One moment I was reading about Minju’s latest drama offer, the next I was knee-deep in an article on how Kaiju adapts to different environments based on territorial disputes. Everything, somehow, was connected in the weird, tangled web of my brain.

Here’s an expanded version of the scene, emphasizing the narrator’s dwindling attention and his intense focus once he’s challenged:

After my impromptu research session (and draining my phone battery), I sat slumped in the makeshift conference room, idly watching the seconds tick by. Three hours had passed since I’d arrived. I drummed my fingers on the table, my mind starting to wander, diving in and out of random thoughts. The ambient noise of the office—conversations, footsteps, and clacking keyboards—faded in and out of my awareness like background music in a waiting room.

Four hours. That’s when I’d had enough. I stood up, stretching my legs, feeling that strange mix of frustration and resignation wash over me. This meeting was supposed to take one hour, maybe two at most, they said. I made my way toward the exit, ready to cut my losses and leave.

As I reached the door, I nearly collided with two JAKDF officers—Kafka and Mina. Both looked startled to see me.

“Oh, Diomacho! You’re already here?” Mina said, her surprise bordering on confusion.

I glanced at my watch, suppressing a sigh. “Yeah. I’ve been here for…,” I paused for emphasis, “four hours now.”

Their eyes widened, and they immediately launched into a flurry of apologies, scrambling to explain the miscommunication. Apparently, they’d been waiting for me at the entrance this whole time, completely unaware I’d already arrived. After a bit more back-and-forth, they promised to gather everyone and get the meeting started. I nodded, returning to my seat, but not without a roll of my eyes.

Settling back into my chair, I checked my phone and noticed a new text from Minju.

Minju: “Babe, I’m hungry. When are you going to be done?”

I chuckled at her dramatic choice of emojis—angry faces, and crying faces, all perfectly encapsulating her impatience.

I smirked, typing back: Me: “Probably 90 minutes or so. You should see if any of your friends wanna hang out.”

There was a pause before her next message came through.

Minju: “I don’t have any friends, babe.”

I scoffed, shaking my head as I replied. Me: “I’m calling BS on that.”

Minju quickly fired back a laughing emoji, followed by another message.

Minju: “Ugh, fine, but text me as soon as you’re done. I can’t wait to feel you in my talons.”

I raised an eyebrow at that. Me: “That’s an odd turn of phrase.”

Minju: “I know, but trust me. Once you’re in my talons, you’ll never want to leave.”

I smirked, typing my reply: Me: “That’s pretty bold and presumptuous.”

Her response was nearly instant as if she’d been waiting for my text. Minju: “Aw, you think I’m pretty and bold.”

I was still grinning at her flirty response when Mina, Kafka, and a group of other officers entered the room. Among them was a tiny blonde woman who looked at me skeptically, her eyes narrowing.

“This is him? The American expert?” she asked, her tone laced with disbelief.

I let out a tired sigh and started to stand, half-ready to walk out again. But before I could move an inch, Kafka placed a firm hand on my shoulder, gently shoving me back into the seat.

“Kikoru, stop being so mean,” Kafka chided, his massive frame blocking my view for a moment.

Resigned to my fate, I leaned back in my chair, already zoning out again as Kikoru shot me a disdainful look. She clearly wasn’t impressed, and honestly, I couldn’t blame her. I wasn’t exactly giving off the ‘engaged expert’ vibe at the moment. I pulled out my phone again, figuring I could at least text Minju to pass the time.

Me: “What are you in the mood for?”

Minju: “Oh, you’re done? (smiley face emoji)”

Me: “Sadly no, close though. So, what food do you want?”

There was a pause before her reply came through.

Minju: “Hmm, pizza? Yeah, let’s go with pizza. There’s this little place near my home, you’ll love it.”

Before I could respond, Kikoru turned to me, her eyes narrowing even further.

“Um, excuse me, are you paying attention?” she snapped, her voice cutting through the dull haze that had settled over my mind.

I looked up, suddenly aware of the room around me again. The group discussed the Kaiju and theories about its behavior and location. I blinked, shaking off the fog as I pieced together what they were talking about. Thankfully, I’d already read all the reports and sightings, so I caught on quickly.

“Yeah, sorry. So, we’ve got a humanoid Kaiju hiding in Seoul and the Incheon area. Based on the sightings, it’s potentially female, with Garuda or Phoenix-like traits. Crimson, golden, and umber plumage accented with dark navy. It’s been attacking men who were in the process of assaulting women. Our mission is to capture or subdue it within the next few days.”

The room went silent for a moment, everyone looking at me, taken aback by my sudden burst of focus. I shrugged.

“Just because I don’t want to be here doesn’t mean I’m going to sabotage the operation.”

Most of the group seemed to accept my explanation, but Kikoru wasn’t convinced. She crossed her arms, glaring at me.

“I’m sorry, do you expect your studies to carry you through?” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I narrowed my eyes slightly, focusing on her now. It was like a switch flipped in my head. I leaned forward, meeting her gaze with an eerie intensity that almost made her flinch.

“Most battles are decided long before the first blow is struck. Planning and preparation are key. But more than anything, it’s the desire to win that counts.”

“Oh, really?” she shot back. “You want to prove that?”

I stared at her for a beat, feeling my pulse slow. Everything else faded into the background. My mind honed in on her challenge like a predator locking onto prey.

“No, not really,” I replied evenly, watching as her frustration mounted.

“Come on, smarty-pants,” she taunted. “Show me how far that know-it-all attitude has gotten you.”

I was about to brush her off when the door swung open, and a clerk poked their head in.

“Officer Mina, can you let Diomacho know his gear came in five minutes ago?”

I sighed deeply, already knowing where this was going. Kikoru smirked, her arms still crossed.

“Well? Are you going to give me that attitude adjustment or what?”

I exhaled, standing up from my chair. “Fine.” We made our way to a nearby arena for our little face-off. I was quiet the entire time, my mind already elsewhere, even as Kafka and Mina tried to get me to open up, offering words of encouragement or ways to calm me down. But I didn’t need to be calmed; I was already in a headspace Kikoru wouldn’t understand. When we faced off, Kikoru was still as cocky as ever, her posture loose and her grin wide as I slowly took out my weapons.

“You know, you can still back out, kid,” she teased, her tone almost bored as she held her axe at the ready.

I ignored her taunts and activated my nano suit, only at ten percent. It was more than enough for now. I dropped into my combat-ready stance, my body poised for motion.

“Oh, is that your ready stance?” she asked, amusement dripping from her voice, underestimating me completely.

I didn’t waste time with words. In an instant, I launched myself forward at incredible speed, closing the distance between us in the blink of an eye. Kikoru barely had time to react, managing to block my first strike with her axe. The impact sent a tremor through her arms, and I could see a flicker of surprise cross her face.

But I didn’t give her a moment to recover. I dashed behind her, aiming another punch toward her back, and again, she barely managed to block, her axe swinging around with just enough force to intercept my strike. She backed off, visibly rattled, her earlier confidence shaken.

“You’re fast,” she admitted, still trying to sound cocky, but there was something off in her voice now, a note of uncertainty that hadn’t been there before. “I’ll give you that.”

I didn’t bother replying. I just kept the pressure on, my focus narrowing until the rest of the world disappeared. The arena, Kafka, Mina—everything faded into the background. All that mattered was Kikoru and the way she moved, the way her axe dictated her strategy. She was good, but her weapon was slow and bulky. Every swing required commitment, and once she started a motion, there wasn’t much she could do to alter it. All I had to do was read where she was going to strike and not be there.

It was almost too easy. I weaved in and out of her strikes, dodging, waiting for the moment her fatigue would show. She was starting to realize that no matter how fast or powerful her swings were, I was always two steps ahead. Her frustration began to boil over.

“Would you just stay still?” she yelled, her movements becoming sloppier, more desperate.

Her breathing was heavier now, her stance a little less sure. I could see the fatigue creeping into her features—the way her grip on her axe was tightening as if she could will herself to keep up.

I decided I’d seen enough. “Nanosystem, activate 40%,” I commanded, feeling the suit surge with power. In a burst of speed, I shot forward, my fist aimed directly at Kikoru’s torso, intending to end the fight with one clean hit.

But before I could land the blow, Kafka and Mina intervened, rushing in to stop me, their arms outstretched as they pushed me back. I relaxed my stance immediately, taking a step back as I let the adrenaline ease out of my system.

Kikoru was panting, clearly exhausted, her earlier bravado replaced with confusion and irritation. She looked at me with wide eyes, finally realizing just how outmatched she had been.

I glanced over at Kafka and Mina, who were still standing between us. “Have I shown my capability enough?” I asked, my voice calm as if I hadn’t just nearly knocked Kikoru out in front of them.

Kikoru didn’t respond, still too stunned by the realization that, despite all her training, she’d been completely unprepared for the speed and power I had been holding back.

I left the arena went back home showered and got ready for my date. When I was ready I rode to Minju’s home. I knocked on the door and it opened. I walked inside but was confused when I saw it was not Minju behind it, but a person who looked like she could be her sister.

“You’re not Minju,” I say slowly.

the lady nods and says, “I’m Hyewon”

I nod and say, "Okay Hyewon do you know where Minju is…or is this the wrong address?"

"No, you are in the right place. Minmin is just getting ready for you," Hyewon says cheekily. it was at that point I recognized Hyewon.

"Oh you're Hyewon the actress and from Izone," I said. Heywon smirked as she nodded leaving the foyer/ entrance area. a few moments later Minju arrived in a cute blouse and nice jeans. I smiled and she gave me an annoyed but happy expression,

"You're late," she said exasperated,

I furrowed my brow in mock confusion as I leaned in closer, "Um I recall you said when I was done." I said before kissing her forehead.

Minju short-circuited as she tried to form a reply, "I did but…"

I cut Minju off before she could get going, "Um I don't think so Queen Min. You said when I was done." Minju rolled her eyes and then followed me to my motorcycle where I pulled out the jacket for her and a helmet. She graciously took both as we rode to the pizza parlor she recommended.

The pizza parlor was small, tucked away on a side street with just a handful of tables. It had a cozy charm, with the smell of freshly baked dough and melted cheese filling the air. The place had a laid-back atmosphere, the kind where you could unwind and forget the rest of the world for a while. Minju and I sat in a booth by the window, the late afternoon sun casting soft golden light over the checkered tablecloth.

As we waited for our pizza, I took a sip of my soda and glanced over at her. “So, why’d you stop being a K-pop idol?” I asked, trying to keep the conversation casual even though I’d been curious ever since my deep dive into her career.

Minju leaned back, twirling the straw in her drink. “Well, you know how it is. Idol life is…intense. It was fun, don’t get me wrong, but after a while, I wanted to do something different. Something that wasn’t so scripted.” She smiled softly. “Acting gives me a chance to play different characters and explore different parts of myself. With singing and performing, I always felt like I had to fit into this mold, but acting… lets me be anyone. Plus, I wanted more control over my life. K-pop is all about schedules, rehearsals, and appearances. I just…needed a break from that.”

I nodded, understanding. It wasn’t hard to see how the pressures of idol life could wear someone down. But before I could respond, she leaned in a little closer, her eyes narrowing playfully.

“Okay, your turn,” she said. “What’s been bothering you?”

Caught off guard, I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Minju laughed softly, her smile full of mischief. “I know you better than you know yourself. You’ve been distracted ever since we sat down. Something’s on your mind.”

I was about to deny it, but her confidence threw me off. “Oh yeah? You think you know me that well?” I challenged. “What’s my favorite color then?”

Without missing a beat, Minju grinned. “Teal.”

I blinked. “How did you—?”

“Because you’re obsessed with the northern lights and the sea,” she said, leaning back with a self-satisfied smirk. “Both of which have that teal shade. You're lockscreen has the northern lights and your wallpaper on your phone is a teal ocean. Your case is teal and I am going to assume that .”

I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head. “Alright, you got me.”

Minju’s eyes sparkled. “Your turn.”

I smirked, raising the stakes. “What’s your favorite ice cream?”

Her grin widened. “Ooh, a challenge. Go ahead, I’m waiting.”

I thought back to my impromptu research session, remembering a random tidbit from one of her old interviews. “Chocolate,” I said, watching her reaction.

Minju’s eyebrows shot up, and then a smile spread across her face. “Well, someone did their homework.”

I shrugged, playing it cool. “Maybe a little.”

We shared a laugh, but soon, the playfulness faded as I thought back to what had really been weighing on me. The conversation shifted, and I could feel the atmosphere get a little heavier.

Minju noticed the change. “Okay, spill it. What’s really bothering you?”

I hesitated for a second, unsure of how to put it into words. But Minju’s gaze was steady, reassuring like she could handle whatever I was about to say. “It’s the Kaiju human hybrid process,” I finally admitted. “They’re pushing me to undergo it. To…merge with Kaiju DNA. They say it’s to give me an edge, make me more effective in battle, but…”

She frowned, concern flickering across her face. “But what?”

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. “I’m worried I’ll end up like my friend. He went through it and…well, he’s not the same anymore. He’s a Kaiju supremacist now, convinced humans are inferior. He’s become a terrorist, Minju. I don’t want that to happen to me. I don’t want to lose myself.”

For a moment, Minju was quiet, her eyes searching mine. Then she reached across the table, placing her hand on top of mine. “You won’t,” she said firmly, her voice steady. “You have a good heart. A strong one. I know you. You’d never go down that path.”

I looked at her, trying to let her words sink in, but the fear still lingered. “You don’t know that, Min. That process, it changes people.”

Minju squeezed my hand. “Maybe. But it’s not just about the process. It’s about who you are deep down. And I know you, Dio. You’re not like your friend. You wouldn’t let it control you. You’re too stubborn for that.”

I chuckled softly, though the worry still gnawed at me. “Stubborn, huh?”

“Very,” she teased, but her tone remained soft, her expression sincere. “Listen, you’re stronger than you give yourself credit for. And I’ll be here. I’m not going anywhere, okay?”

I looked at her, feeling some of the weight lift off my shoulders. “Thanks, Minju.”

She smiled, a soft, reassuring smile that made everything feel a little less daunting. “Now,” she said, leaning back with a smirk, “about that pizza…”

As Minju and I were walking out of the pizza parlor, the night was quiet, almost too quiet. The cool breeze carried the distant hum of the city, and I felt a strange tension settle in my gut. Something was off. I didn’t say anything to Minju, not wanting to spoil the moment, but my instincts were buzzing, and alert.

Then, from the shadows of the alley across the street, I felt it—the heavy, oppressive energy of something far too familiar. The ground trembled beneath our feet. A low growl rumbled through the air, followed by the sound of something massive scraping against concrete.

“Min, get down!” I shouted, grabbing her arm and pulling her behind me just as a Kaiju emerged from the darkness, its grotesque form towering over the buildings. It was huge, with blackened scales and crimson eyes that glowed with malevolent intent.

I’d fought Kaiju before, but this one felt different. More vicious. More intent on destruction. My heart raced as I tried to assess the situation, my mind scrambling for a plan. I activated my nanosuit, but I wasn’t fully equipped for a battle this size. My weapons were back at the base.

The Kaiju roared and lunged toward us, and I prepared to hold it off as best I could, knowing the odds weren’t in our favor.

But before I could react, Minju stepped out from behind me, her expression deadly serious.

“Minju, get back!” I yelled, but she didn’t move. Instead, she looked at the Kaiju with a calmness that didn’t match the situation. I could see something shifting in her eyes, something I’d never noticed before.

In a heartbeat, her body began to change. Her skin shimmered, taking on an otherworldly hue, and her eyes glowed with a fierce light. Her entire form twisted and grew, morphing into something powerful, something that was…part Kaiju.

I froze, stunned as I watched her transform. She was beautiful—her humanoid form still present but adorned with iridescent scales, her hair flowing like molten silver, and her wings, bright and feathered, unfurled from her back. She looked like some kind of mythical creature, equal parts terrifying and awe-inspiring. Like a phoenix, or a garuda. I watched as she approached the creature awestruck and my heart raced.

She glanced at me, her expression uncertain. She expected fear. Terror. Rejection. But all I could do was stare in awe and admiration.

“Minju…” I whispered, but my voice trailed off as I marveled at her. I wasn’t afraid. I wasn’t disgusted. I was captivated.

Minju turned to the Kaiju and, with a powerful roar, charged at it. Her speed and strength were staggering. She tore into the creature with a grace and ferocity I’d never seen before, her movements fluid and calculated. It didn’t take long before she overpowered the Kaiju, forcing it to retreat into the shadows, defeated, and whimpering.

Breathing heavily, Minju returned to me, her form slowly reverting back to her human appearance. Her eyes, still glowing faintly, searched my face for a reaction.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice wavering. “I didn’t want you to find out like this. I’m…different.”

I shook my head, still processing what I’d seen. “Huh? What are you talking about? Min, that was incredible.”

She blinked, clearly taken aback. “You’re…you’re not afraid?”

I stepped closer to her, reaching out to gently cup her face. “Afraid? No. Why would I be afraid? You just saved both of us.”

“But I’m not…I’m not fully human, Dio,” she said softly, her eyes filled with uncertainty. “I’m a hybrid. A human Kaiju hybrid.”

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. “Okay and like that is going to stop me from liking you? Minju, I don’t care what you are. That doesn’t change anything. If anything, it makes me admire you even more.”

Her gaze softened, and for a moment, the world around us seemed to disappear. There was no Kaiju, no danger—just us.

I slid my hand down to take hers. “Let’s get out of here.”

We made it back to my hotel room, the adrenaline from the attack still thrumming through my veins. Minju was quiet, still processing everything that had happened, and I could sense the weight of her unspoken worries.

I led her to the couch, and we sat down. The silence between us was heavy, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was more like the calm after a storm, a moment to collect ourselves before diving into the next part.

“So when you told me I would be a great human Kaiju hybrid you were speaking from experience,” I said gently, breaking the silence.

Minju laughed and said, "Yes. You would."

I sighed and then smiled. Min smiled back.

"I can see with my job why you wouldn't have told me, and I appreciate finding out, but I'd have liked to know this earlier,"

“I know,” Minju admitted, her fingers nervously playing with the edge of her sleeve. “I wanted to. But it’s…complicated. My hybrid nature is something I’ve kept hidden for so long. Only a few people know. I didn’t know how to tell you.”

I nodded, understanding. “I get it. that's fair. However, now since you're my girlfriend you don't have to hide anymore.”

She looked at me, her eyes softening. “You’re really okay with this?”

“Of course, I am.” I reached over, taking her hand in mine again. “You’re still you, Minju. Nothing about that has changed. You're just hotter…literally. Are you a phoenix type?”

She smiled, but I could still see the lingering hesitation in her eyes. “ You are ridiculous…yes, I am a Phoenix type, I just…I didn’t want you to think I was a monster.”

I shook my head, my grip on her hand tightening. “You’re not a monster. You’re strong, and you’re brave. You’re…amazing.”

Minju chuckled softly, finally relaxing a little. “You really are something, you know that?”

I smiled. “better that than nothing.”

She leaned her head against my shoulder, and for a moment, we just sat there, the weight of the day slowly fading away.

“So…what happens now?” she asked after a while.

I thought about it for a moment before replying. “We figure it out. Together.”

Minju tilted her head up to look at me, a small smile playing on her lips. “Together, huh?”

I nodded, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Yeah. Together.”

She sighed, her expression softening. “I’m lucky to have you.”

I smirked. “You’d better believe it.”

Minju laughed, a sound that filled the room with warmth, and in that moment, everything felt a little lighter. A few moments later I said,

"You know my sisters would often tease me that the only girl I'd ever find who would like me would be a Kaiju. This was before we discovered Kaiju human hybrids of course but it is funny how they were right essentially."

Minju laughed at that for 4 minutes. After that, we fell into a comfortable silence, and in that silence Minju's hand found mine.

"your hands are really warm," I say. Minju laughs and says,

"Well I am a firebird," she says before cuddling me close.

Minju rests her head on my chest and she says I love your heartbeat. "it's so peaceful, this loud drum going boom, boom," I laugh as she nestles closer before drifting off to sleep.

The dream started like a memory I’d rather forget—blurry, disjointed. I was back in that lab, the one where everything went wrong. The sterile smell of antiseptic hit me first, followed by the low hum of machines working relentlessly. Arthur was on the cold metal table in front of me, tubes running from his arms and chest, his body already showing signs of the transformation. His muscles twitched, convulsing slightly as the Kaiju DNA fused with his own, patches of scales flickering in and out of existence. It was unsettling, watching someone I considered a brother turning into… something else.

I took a step closer, my heart hammering in my chest, but I couldn’t let him see my fear. He needed me to be strong. I had to be the anchor, the one thing in this madness that he could hold onto.

“Arthur,” I called softly, trying to keep my voice steady. “You’re doing great, man. Just hang in there.”

His eyes fluttered open, glowing faintly, and I felt my gut twist. His voice, once so full of life, now sounded strained, weak. “It hurts, Dio… so much.”

“I know.” I forced a smile, gripping his hand, though my own was shaking. “But you’re going to get through this. You’re stronger than anyone I know.”

He winced, his face contorting in pain as another wave of whatever the hell was happening to him hit. His fingers—no, claws—dug into the table, leaving deep scratches. “They said this would make me stronger, but I feel… like a monster.”

“You’re not a monster,” I said, more to convince myself than him. “You’re still Arthur, and we’re going to get through this. Once this is over, you’ll be able to do things we never dreamed of.”

Even as I said it, I saw the doubt in his eyes. The glow in them was changing, shifting into something darker, something I didn’t recognize.

The days blurred together after that, a nightmare on repeat. Arthur’s body transformed further, his skin hardening into scales, his face becoming… alien. His conversations with me became shorter, his words laced with bitterness. Every day, he seemed less like the guy I grew up with and more like something else. Something angry.

“I should have never trusted them,” he spat one day, his voice harsh, jagged like broken glass. We were back in the lab, though he was no longer on the table. Now, he towered over me, his form almost fully Kaiju. His eyes—dark, swirling with malice—bore into me. “They don’t care about us, Dio. They just wanted to use me. Turn me into a weapon.”

“That’s not true,” I said, even though I wasn’t sure I believed it anymore. “This was supposed to make you stronger, to protect people.”

He laughed, a hollow, bitter sound. “Protect? Do you really think that’s what this is about? Look at me!” He gestured to himself, muscles rippling under his newly transformed skin. “I’m not a protector—I’m a monster they’ll use until they don’t need me anymore.”

“Arthur, stop,” I pleaded, desperation creeping into my voice. “You’re still you. We can fix this. Don’t let it turn you into something you’re not.”

But his eyes had changed completely. There was no recognition in them anymore. Just anger. “I already am something else. And you—” He pointed a clawed finger at me, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. “You’ll see it too, eventually. They’ll try to change you like they did me. And when that happens, you’ll understand. You’ll see why I hate them.”

The dream shifted, and suddenly we were outside, standing amidst the wreckage of a city destroyed by a Kaiju attack. Arthur was standing on a pile of rubble, his monstrous form towering above me, flames licking the horizon behind him. His face was twisted with rage, his Kaiju eyes burning with resentment.

“They never cared about us, Dio,” his voice echoed through the chaos around us. “And now I’m going to make them pay.”

I tried to reach him, tried to pull him back. “Arthur, this isn’t you. You don’t have to do this. We can still fix this. We can make it right.”

But he was gone. The Arthur I knew had been replaced by something else—something consumed by hate and anger. His transformation was complete, not just in body, but in spirit. He was no longer my friend.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered as I watched him, powerless to stop it. “I couldn’t save you.”

His last words echoed in the dream, haunting me as they always did. “You’ll never be able to save anyone, Dio. Not even yourself.”

And just like that, everything faded to black, leaving me alone with the crushing weight of failure.

I woke up to the sensation of warmth, but not the kind you’d expect from the blankets. No, this was different—alive, almost. When I opened my eyes, I freaked out for a split second, seeing flames wrapping around me, flickering like they were sentient. My heart raced, and for that brief moment, I thought I was about to be consumed by fire. But then my brain caught up with reality. Yesterday’s events came flooding back—Minju, her transformation, her true nature. This wasn’t any ordinary fire. These were her flames.

I relaxed, my panic subsiding as I watched the flames float around us, not wild or dangerous, but gentle and serene. They danced in the air like little night lights, soft orbs of orange, yellow, and red floating along the ceiling of the room. They didn’t burn or release smoke; they just existed, quietly glowing like they belonged here. The sight of it made me smile—a new, beautiful part of Minju I hadn’t yet seen. Another reminder of how extraordinary she was.

I turned my head and saw her beside me, still half-asleep, her face soft in the flickering light. Her hair was a mess, strands falling over her face as she shifted slightly, the movement causing the flames to ripple gently, almost in sync with her. She stirred, slowly sitting up, rubbing her eyes groggily as if she didn’t realize she was surrounded by her own flames.

“What time is it?” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep as she clumsily tried to tidy her messy hair.

I glanced at the clock on the nightstand and saw that it was still early, around 5:30 AM. “It’s 5:30,” I whispered back, keeping my voice low as if not to disturb the peaceful moment we were in.

Minju groaned softly, her shoulders slumping as she lazily fixed her hair. “Okay… can we go back to sleep?” she asked, sounding like a little kid who didn’t want to get out of bed for school. There was something so endearing about it, this powerful, hybrid girl being so… human in this moment.

I nodded, smiling at her as I shifted back into the pillows. “Yeah, we can. No rush.”

She sighed in relief, giving up on her hair and snuggling back under the blankets. Her flames responded to her emotions, dimming slightly, and I could feel the warmth they radiated calming me down as well. Minju curled up close to me, resting her head on my shoulder, her breath evening out as sleep pulled her back in. Her fingers lazily intertwined with mine, her soft touch grounding me even more.

I lay there for a while, wide awake, just watching her. The way her flames glowed softly, the rise and fall of her chest as she slept, the way her lips curled into a faint smile even in her dreams. I marveled at how someone like her—a Phoenix-type Kaiju hybrid, capable of unimaginable power—could be so gentle and vulnerable in these quiet moments. And the fact that she trusted me enough to let me see this side of her? It made my heart swell.

As the minutes passed, the flames continued to flicker above us, casting a warm, ethereal light over the room. I couldn’t stop smiling, realizing how lucky I was. How I’d ended up here, next to her, in this strange but perfect moment. I eventually drifted into dreamland again.

In the dream, the vast cosmos stretched out around us, filled with stars, nebulas, and galaxies, but there was something more—something darker, deeper. As I floated in the endless space, I felt a presence behind me, a shadow that moved with me, wrapping around me like a cloak. It wasn’t menacing, but it was powerful, deep like the void between stars.

This darkness, however, wasn’t just empty. It swirled and moved in its own dance, creating shadows that formed intricate patterns, twisting and coiling like a living entity. My body glowed faintly with orbs of black and deep blue, darkness following me as I moved through the cosmos. It contrasted with the surrounding stars, like an eclipse casting shapes across the heavens, a night sky contained within me.

And there, floating in the midst of it all, was Minju.

Her flames were back, but this time, they burned brighter, more vivid, like they were responding to the presence of my darkness. Small orbs of fire—orange, red, and yellow—swirled around her, rising and falling in a rhythm that matched the beat of the universe. She radiated warmth and light as if she had pulled the very essence of the stars into herself, her movements fluid and graceful. Her eyes sparkled like galaxies, full of understanding, full of wonder.

As she danced through the stars, her flames reached out toward me. And without a word, I extended my hand, my own darkness following. The moment our hands touched, the cosmos reacted. My orbs of darkness swirled around her flames, twining together in an elegant, mesmerizing dance of light and shadow.

Shapes formed between us—stars born from the clash of fire and darkness, colors erupting where our energies met. Our flames and shadows combined, creating something entirely new, a swirling mix of hues that shifted between deep blacks, purples, and vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. It was as if we were creating galaxies of our own with every step we took, each swirl of our hands causing new nebulas to form and dissolve.

The dance we shared now felt different, more intense, a balance of opposites. As Minju spun and moved, her flames flickered and danced alongside my shadows. They twisted together, merging and separating, forming beautiful, intricate designs in the cosmos. Sometimes the darkness would wrap around her flames, dimming them, only for her fire to burst through, illuminating the void. Other times, my orbs would dance alongside her flames, weaving together to create new patterns, each one unique and fleeting, a creation of beauty that only existed at that moment.

As we moved, I felt the darkness pull at me, but not in a way that frightened me. It felt like an extension of myself, like something I’d always known but had only just begun to understand. Minju’s light balanced it, her flames pushing back against the void, and together, we created something neither of us could do on our own.

Our dance brought us closer and closer, the distance between us shrinking as the cosmos around us responded to our combined energies. The swirling lights and shadows formed a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors, like fireworks made of stars and galaxies, painting the universe with our movements.

When we finally stopped, we were so close I could feel her warmth, her flames flickering gently, wrapping around us both, dancing with my shadows. Her eyes met mine, and there was no fear, no hesitation, just understanding.

The orbs of darkness that surrounded me, which had once felt so isolating, now intertwined with her light in a perfect balance. My darkness no longer stood apart from her flames, but merged with them, creating something beautiful and powerful.

As we stood there, our faces mere inches apart, the universe seemed to be still. Her flames burned softly against my skin, and my shadows wrapped around her like a protective veil. I leaned in, and she did the same, the galaxies around us swirling in anticipation. Our lips drew closer, and closer, the fire and shadow blending in a way that was so perfect, it felt like the entire cosmos was holding its breath.

But just as our lips were about to meet, the dream began to fade. The stars, the galaxies, the nebulas—they all slowly dissolved into the darkness, pulling me away from her. The swirling flames and shadows that had danced around us melted back into the void, the colors and shapes vanishing as if they had never been.

I reached out, trying to hold onto the moment, onto her, but it slipped through my fingers like smoke, leaving only the lingering warmth of her flames and the quiet comfort of the darkness. And then, I woke up. For real this time. I blinked a couple of times as I looked around for Minju until I heard the shower start and guessed where she could be. At that moment my mind gave me a small spark of an idea to join her followed by an image of her nude in my mind. I felt myself hardening at the thought and almost did but I chose not to at least for now. I got up stretched and played my switch to wait for her. When she came out she was wrapped in only a towel and I found myself salivating over her. Her long legs seemed so perfect so inviting.

“Do you like what you see?” She teased, which snapped me out of my trance. I nodded slowly and Minju said, “Well then maybe I’ll let you see more tonight at my place.” I smiled and she quickly qualified that statement,

“If you aren’t late. I expect you at my place at 7:00 tonight.

I nodded and replied “Well I’m just going sightseeing tonight. You’re welcome to join me if you don’t have work,”

“…hmm that sounds like fun. Sure. I am taking a two-week vacation since I was able to hire a new person at my bar so I don’t have to be there 24/7.” She answered

I nodded and quickly got ready after that we were off. The sky was a crisp blue, the autumn air light as Minju and I strolled through the streets of Seoul. The city buzzed with life around us, but somehow, it felt like it was just the two of us. Minju had insisted on this date—a day of exploring the city, seeing the sights, and, according to her, “having some fun for once.” I had my reservations, but I wasn’t going to say no to her. I originally was just going to ride my motorcycle around the cities going from tourist trap to tourist trap but Minju said this would be more “intimate and fun”

We started at Namsan Tower, the towering structure looming above us as we took the cable car up. Minju was practically glowing with excitement, leaning over the railing to get a better view of the city below. I gripped firmly onto the side railing as my nerves worsened the higher we got.

“Look at that!” she exclaimed, pointing out landmarks, her eyes bright with wonder. I just nodded, content to watch her as she took it all in.

“You don’t seem that impressed,” she teased, nudging me as the cable car rocked gently.

I shrugged, keeping my expression neutral. “I’ve seen tall buildings before.”

She rolled her eyes, not buying it for a second. “You’re such a liar. I know you’re enjoying this.”

“Am I?” I raised an eyebrow, but the small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth betrayed me.

Minju then noticed my white knuckle grip and said, “Wait are you okay Dio,”

“Just a fear of falling from large heights,” I responded. Minju smiled and said,

“Why don’t you know I’ll catch you,” I looked at her and she just smiled and my heart hurtled at that moment. After that, I was able to relax my grip a bit.

Minju grinned, stepping closer to me in the confined space of the car. Her presence was warm, a quiet reassurance that I hadn’t realized I’d been craving. I felt her arm brush against mine, and for a moment, I let myself relax into it. She slowly and deliberately wormed her hands into mine and had my arms wrapped around her.

“You feel so cool like a nice ice-cold soju hot day,” she said as she tightened my grip around her.

Once we reached the top, we wandered through the observation deck, Minju dragging me to the love-locks area. She handed me a lock and a marker, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

“Go on,” she urged. “We should put one up.”

I stared at the lock, my hand suddenly feeling heavier. “You want us to do this?”

“Why not?” She tilted her head, her soft smile melting away my hesitation. “It’s a nice way to mark this moment, don’t you think?”

I couldn’t argue with that. I scrawled something quickly and handed it to her. Minju took one look and burst out laughing. “Really? ‘Dio was here’?”

“Hey, it’s to the point.” I grinned, but inside, something shifted. This was more than just a lock. It was a piece of me—something I didn’t realize I wanted to give.

Minju smiled at me and said, “Say something that truly comes from the heart, not just some declaration of presence,” despite her smile, her presence insisted she was serious so I wiped off the lock and wrote something else. I looked at Minju and remembered my last couple of dreams about her so I wrote, “Deep in the water it’s just you and me,”

I showed Minju and she blushed as she showed me hers it read, “In all of the cosmos I chose you and you chose me,”

I laughed and said, there are you happy?” Minju nodded before using her flames to discreetly etch our messages in the locks together. I smiled watching her be so focused on her work.

We locked it to the fence, side by side with thousands of others, a quiet symbol of something deeper I couldn’t quite name yet. But Minju seemed to know, even if I didn’t. She didn’t say anything, but the way she looked at me, the way her eyes softened, told me she understood.

As we left the tower, she looped her arm through mine, guiding me through the winding streets of Insadong, pointing out little shops, and stopping occasionally to show me something that caught her eye. Her laughter was light, her energy infectious. It felt like every wall I’d built up, every layer of distance I’d kept between myself and others, was slowly being chipped away with each step.

When we reached a small park by the river, Minju sat down on one of the benches, pulling me down beside her. The sun was setting now, casting a warm orange glow over the city. I felt her lean into me, her head resting against my shoulder.

“You’re awfully quiet today,” she said softly.

I shrugged, trying to play it off. “Just taking it all in.”

She didn’t buy it. “Come on, Dio. I know you better than that.” Her voice was gentle, with no accusation in it, just understanding. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

I hesitated, staring out at the water. “You really want to know?”

“Always.” She shifted slightly to look up at me, her eyes full of something I couldn’t quite place—trust, maybe. Or something deeper.

I sighed. “Well minus the constant stream of plans and ideas I tune out. It’s just… I’m not used to this. Being with someone like this. Letting someone in.”

I hesitated for a moment before saying, “You are radiant. I mean that both literally and figuratively. I am not the most likable even at the best of times so you being so close to me is odd, to say the least,”

Minju smiled softly. “I know. But I’m patient. I’ll wait as long as it takes.”

Her words hit me harder than I expected, and for the first time in a long while, I felt my guard completely drop. I turned to face her, and in that moment, it was like everything else faded away—the noise of the city, the hum of people around us. All that mattered was her.

“You make it sound so easy,” I murmured.

“It’s not,” she admitted, her hand reaching up to gently cup my cheek. “But I believe it’s worth it.”

I felt my heart clench in a way that both scared and exhilarated me. She wasn’t just someone I was dating. She was someone who saw through every wall, every defense, and still chose to stay.

Without thinking, I leaned in, pressing my forehead against hers. “You’re giving me your heart, aren’t you?”

“I already have,” she whispered, her breath warm against my lips.

At that moment, I knew I had already given mine to her too. Every defense, every hesitation, crumbled under the weight of what I felt for her.

“Well,” I whispered, brushing a thumb over her cheek, “you have mine too.”

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and she smiled, leaning in to press her lips to mine in a soft, tender kiss that felt like a promise. A promise of something bigger than either of us could have predicted.

As we pulled apart, Minju rested her head back on my shoulder, her hand entwined with mine. The sun had fully set, leaving the sky painted in hues of pink and purple.

“You know,” she said after a moment, her voice playful again, “I was starting to wonder how long it would take for you to realize you’re completely in love with me.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Yeah, yeah. Rub it in.”

She grinned, squeezing my hand. “I’m just saying, it’s about time.”

And with that, we sat in the quiet comfort of each other, the city lights twinkling around us, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I knew I wasn’t alone.

We arrived back at Minju’s place and as we crossed the threshold into her apartment and the door closed: she pounced on me. She grabbed my shoulders and I felt her transform. Her smile was as sweet as ever and I felt at peace in her arms. She brought me in close for a kiss and reciprocated.

It was innocent at first I swear but then I felt her tongue in my mouth and that’s when things get hazy. I let her tounge explore my mouth for a few minutes before returning the kiss with even more fire .(metaphorically of course cause you know Minju’s a firebird herself) our tongues clash for dominance as we try to get over on each other.

I noticed Minju’s kisses tastes like cinnamon and when we break the kiss I see the mutual love and admiration in her eyes that I felt for her. I plunge in back to another kiss with her before ripping her blouse open. She frowns and says, “that was one of my favorites?”

Caught in a haze I say, “I’ll buy you a new one. right now I you all of you,” Minju smirked then said

“Such a greedy needy boy,” her teasing only spiked my adrenaline more as I furiously yank her jeans and boots off leaving her in her bra and panties. We both stare into each other’s eyes panting as the heat simmers between us. She guides me to her bedroom and I tumble into the mattress with her. She brings me in for another kiss as this happens she wraps her legs around my waist bringing me in as close as possible. I feel her “talons” dig into my shoulders and she tears into my flesh but the pain surprisingly doesn’t come. Her touch is warm and only inviting. We break the kiss and she stares at me with a wild fire in her eyes.

“Get naked right now,” she demanded and I complied. Minju’s eyes hungrily tracked my eye my crotch until I was unclothed. She smiled when she saw my manhood.

“Oh you’re so hard for me.” She teases as she crawls at me. Her eyes glow orange as she approaches her wings furl and unfurl. When she closes in on me all I can do is salivate over her body her wide hips, her long legs, her petite breasts and her pretty face that always draws me in. She lowers me to between her legs. I dive in without any instruction as lap at her pussy. She tastes sweet and spicy as I carefully lick and inhale her scent. She pushes me into her welcoming cunt as I devour her,

“Oh fuck keep going,” I do as probe her walls deeper and deeper until I decide to take a little nibble of her clit.

Minju moans melodically as she lifts my face to her. She smiles at me as her hybrid from becomes more apparent.

“Keep going,” she says before lowering me back to her pussy. I continue to eat her out with the rapacious abandon.

Minju groans before she says, “oh you greedy needy naughty boy” as I go deeper and she gets closer I firmly grab her ass, which was pillowy soft. As I knead her ass she encourages me to eat her out more. At this point she had wrapped her thighs around me and was drowning me in her juices but I was so pussy drunk I didn’t care I could only want more, and more is what i got as I dove into until she couldn’t take it anymore. She pushed me from her pussy as she came violent squirting and squirming as her body was seized by tremors of pleasure I was still dazed as I watched. A million things and nothing raced through my mind. Minju panted as she came down from her high. A thick layer of sweat covered her pale body causing her to shine just a little bit brighter than normal. When her breathing returned to normal, She stared at me with an even hungrier look. She grabbed me and said, “You're fucking mine,”

A few days later Minju and I were caught fully in the throes of our whirlwind romance heading on all these cute little dates and just being stupid in love. I was at peace with her and found myself doing anything and everything I could for her. I guess nickname Queen Min was correct after all.

Minju and I were walking back from one of our dates, the warmth of the evening lingering in the air. Seoul’s city lights flickered around us, and for once, everything felt right. Minju was laughing at some joke I had made, her arm hooked in mine. Her laughter was like music, light and effortless.

Then, without warning, a shadow passed over us. A chill crawled up my spine, and I instinctively pulled Minju closer.

“You feel that?” I muttered, scanning the area.

Minju frowned, her eyes narrowing as she sensed it too. “Yeah, something’s off—”

Before she could finish, a figure dropped from the sky, like a bolt of lighting landing on top of me with a deafening crash. Dust and static exploded around his feet, and I recognized him instantly: Arthur.

His eyes were wild, glowing with a golden energy that made my blood run cold. He looked nothing like the friend I once knew. He jumped away from me and elegantly landed in front of me. I got up and felt my broken arm

“Arthur?” I took a step forward, confused. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Arthur didn’t respond at first, his gaze locked on Minju. He smiled—a twisted, malicious grin that made my stomach turn. “I always thought you were weak, Dio. Immature and too naive to see what was in front of you.” He made a move to Minju I kicked and he flew back disoriented.

“That really hurt,” he yelled angrily. I shrugged still holding my broken arm. Arthur laughed as he spoke again

“You always were too soft, Dio. Too trusting. But I knew you’d lead me to her.”

I looked at him even more confused before he grabbed me and slammed me to ground. I heard a few ribs crack in the process.

In a split second, he lunged forward, faster than I could react. I barely managed to push Minju out of the way before his fist collided with my chest, sending me crashing into a nearby building. The impact knocked the air from my lungs, and I coughed, trying to get back on my feet.

“Minju, run!” I shouted, struggling to stand.

But before she could move, Arthur was on her. His hand wrapped around her throat, lifting her off the ground as if she weighed nothing. Minju tried to fight back, flames flickering at her fingertips, but Arthur’s grip tightened, cutting off her powers.

“Let her go!” I roared, charging at him. But Arthur was faster—he slammed me into the pavement with a single blow. The pain was blinding, my vision blurring as I watched him drag Minju away.

“You don’t deserve a specimen this fine she’s mine now, Dio,” Arthur taunted. “And you’re too weak to stop me.”

I tried to get up, but my body refused to move. The last thing I saw before losing consciousness was Minju’s terrified face as Arthur disappeared into the night.

I came to a few days later in a sterile hospital room. I was back in America and judging from the looks of things in an ATFF Facility. I was rigged to several machines and tubes. As my recollection came back about what happened my anger began to burn and my heart rate spiked. A nurse ran in and noticed I was awake. She smiled and said

“Welcome back to the land of the living Dionacho when we found you, you were almost dead, but you fought through and are going to make a full recovery.”

I turned to the nurse and whispered into her ear.

“Where is Dr Kwon?” She gave me a worried look before fetching him. A few minutes later Dr. Kwon walked in, my anger barely contaminated as I watched the scientist who had once been my ally. Dr. Kwon looked up from his clipboard , his eyes widening in shock at the sight of me.

“Dio,” he began, “you shouldn’t—”

“Do it,” I cut him off, my voice cold. “Now.”

He hesitated, eyes flickering with uncertainty. “You know what this means, don’t you? If you undergo this transformation, there’s no going back. You’ll be bound to the Kaiju energy. Just like Arthur.”

“I don’t care.” My voice was hard, my resolve unshakable. “He has my girl. I have to kill him.” The room was silent on my declaration. Dr Kwon looked at me and I knew all he saw was hate and vitriol.

Dr. Kwon’s face tightened, but he nodded. “Very well. We will begin later today. Nurse please prep the patient I fear this is going to be an unpleasant experience for all involved.”

The procedure room was sterile, its walls lined with machines that hummed with an ominous energy. I lay down on the table, staring up at the ceiling as the restraints clicked into place. My heart pounded in my chest, but I didn’t flinch. I had to do this—for her.

As the machine whirred to life, I felt a cold surge of fear, but I buried it beneath my determination. The injection came first—a burning sensation that spread through my veins, followed by a pressure so intense I thought my body might tear itself apart. My vision blurred, colors and shapes distorted as the transformation took hold. As the pain grew more intense pain turned into tickles as my nerves burned out and reconstructed. This caused me to laugh uncontrollably. I watched as the doctors and nurses stared at me with concern.

Darkness swirled around me, a gravitational pull I couldn’t resist. It was like sinking into a black void, a force pulling at every fiber of my being, reshaping me from the inside out. My muscles twisted, my bones felt like they were cracking under the strain, and yet—I felt stronger.

I could feel the gravity, the pull of it coursing through me. It was overwhelming, yet I embraced it. The darkness didn’t scare me anymore. It was mine to command.

Finally, the pain subsided, and I opened my eyes. The restraints were gone, and I stood, feeling the raw power coursing through me. My hands glowed with a dark energy, shadows swirling around them. I stood up and began walking around looking for my clothes which I found a simple beige sweater, black jeans, and boots. I changed out of the hospital gown.

Dr. Kwon watched me, his expression unreadable. “It’s done,” he said quietly.

I nodded, clenching my fists. “Where’s Arthur?”

“We don’t know—” the doctor stammered.

“I don’t care,” I growled, cutting him off. “I’ll handle it.”

I knew where Arthur would be, A place he called “the titan’s nest I walked past a mirror and noticed dark leathery wings sprouted from my back. The Doctor approached and said,

“They should be retractable but I’m not sure.

“Don’t care,” I said as I gave them a few explanatory flaps to test them.

“This will do,” I responded as the lift was incredible. On the way out of the facility i grabbed a sword and flew off to find Arthur.

When I arrived, the area was dark, the air thick with tension. I could feel Arthur’s presence before I saw him, the familiar pull of his Kaiju energy. He was waiting for me.

“Well, well,” Arthur’s voice echoed through the abandoned docks, his figure appearing from the shadows. “I see you’ve made the same mistake I did.”

I didn’t answer, my eyes scanning the area for Minju. She was nearby, I could sense her, but she was hidden from view.

“You think you can save her?” Arthur taunted, stepping forward. “You’re just like me now, Dio. Embrace it.”

I breathe a heavy sigh before saying, “With respect to our friendship I’m going to give you one chance to let me take Minju and go back home with her,”

“And miss this golden opportunity to face you and prove who’s the strongest? Never!”

The darkness around me responded to my anger, swirling in a chaotic dance of shadows and energy. I wasn’t like him. I’d made this choice for her, not for power, not for revenge.

“Your funeral,” I said, my voice low and dangerous.

Arthur smirked, his body shifting, the Kaiju form overtaking him. “Let’s see if you can stop me.” I sigh lift three large rocks and use the darkness swirling around me to make 4 more blades. Arthur looked at me and laughed,

"God you're edgy,"

My wings flap angrily and my eyes narrow and I reply, "That's rich coming from the ashen-gray lighting dragon man," He laughs and launches a bolt of lighting at me that seems to move in slow motion. I slap it away, and he gives me a worried look. I open my backhand and use the darkness to pull him towards me. He looks at me terrified before shooting out more bolts of lighting. I slash away two and crush one in my hand. When I open my hand again I have Arthur gripped by the collar in my arms. He stares into my eyes. I look into his and see terror. I slam him into the ground and then throw him into the air before throwing him back to the ground.

Arthur, trying to get away, uses an emp field to blind me. I sigh as he resets our positions. I begin my approach. He tries to run away, but I use my darkness to keep him locked in a specific range near me.

I laugh as I watch him try to escape,"you wanna run away scared now?" I ask and Arthur tenses before turning to face me. He takes out a high-frequency blade and our weapons clash. I parry two attacks then land one on his chest. he tries to flee but I grab his leg and slam him behind me.

"Where is Minju?" I ask coldly as I close in on Arthur. Arthur looks at me in terror.

"What did they do to you?" He asks his eyes paint his terror as I close in. I laugh before using my darkness, and gravity wells to keep him there.

I shake my head, "No they didn't do this I was always like this. The ATFF didn't change me. You did. We were supposed to be heroes and help people with this power; not fight each other, but your cowardice fucked that to hell. So here were are stuck in combat against each other"

"They made me a monster." Arthur.

"No, they made you a bitch. Or more accurately revealed you were a bitch the whole time." I said as I kicked Arthur in his face knocking him out.

after incapacitating Arthur I went looking for Minju and found her in the next room. she looked at me and as I sauntered out of the shadows Minju smiled.

"I knew you'd come for me." she said smiling.

I laughed and said, "Well you probably didn'y expect this" I said gesturing to the black dragon wings flapping and folding behind me. Minju smiles and says, "I Love it regardless" as she spoke she ran to me and caught me in a hug.

in my mind the dream echoed, "Deep in the water it's just you and me."

[queenie-ofthe-void]

A follow-up to my Hanahaki Platonic Stobin drabble

Platonic Stobin, Steddie, past Stancy || rating: T || wc: 2.7k || tags: dialogue heavy, VERY excessive use of italics, fluff and flirting and humor, no beta

~~~

His sides are ripped to shreds, insides only kept inside because of the torn, dirty scrap of sweater Nancy wrapped around him. Steve’s been downplaying it as much as possible, mostly to keep Munson calm, but Robin knows better.

What’s wrong with your back?

Steve sighs, trying to mute his thoughts into a scramble like they’ve practiced so well over the past nine months, but the scorching pain on his shoulder blades, feet, and arms makes it rather difficult.

Don’t you dare ignore me Steve Harrington.

She glares back at him from her spot next to Nancy. They’ve been walking for miles, every rock and crack in the ground digging into his feet with every step. Munson’s next him, going on about something like bats, or metal music. Steve’s not sure, he’s having a hell of a time focusing.

But the guy crowds into Steve’s space, dipping in and out of orbit like he can’t help being as close as possible. Eddie keeps looking at him. Steve’s never been great with eye contact, but can’t help it when Eddie starts saying things like “the kid worships you, dude” and “insists on the matter, in fact.”

Told you the kid loves you even though he has another older adult male friend.

Steve can practically hear her giggling, but she’s just balancing her out-loud conversation with their mind-reading conversation. She’s better at it than he is, talking to two people at once. Hell, sometimes Steve has a hard enough time keeping track of just one conversation.

Their new super powers had been a learning curve, to say the least. It’d taken them months to learn how to tune each other out when needed, which was more often than not. Working Family Video shed a new light on how absolutely down-bad horny Steve was for almost every mildly attractive woman who walked through the front door. Including Joyce Byers, to Robin’s horror.

Steve was cursed with Robin’s almost near-constant thoughts about her newest crush, Vickie. He’s never met her before, doesn’t remember her from school, but could describe what she looks like down to the small, rust colored freckle on the corner of her left eye, just below the lash line. 

But even with the extensive learning curve, they discovered some severe consequences of their powers almost immediately. 

The first day Robin came over, bloodied and crying, with him no better off, Steve was so shaky he’d dropped a mug, slicing his hand as he scooped up the pieces. She rushed over, said she heard his pain more than felt it, like loud static. 

So, no sharing physical sensations, just mind-reading. Which is great for me, considering how slutty you are. She’d laughed when he lightly knocked her on the shoulder, but she’d thought it with such fondness that he couldn’t be mad if he tried.

The worst of their situation came to light when Robin’s parents called her home, said a weekend away after Star Court was more than enough. So she’d left him alone in that big, empty house, suffering from a severe concussion and dizzy spells.

Which only grew worse the longer they were apart.

Steve didn’t have anywhere to go, now jobless with the mall gone, and none of the kids came to visit. So he’d holed himself up in his room. The headaches grew worse, handfuls of pills doing nothing to help.

By the fifth day, he was vomiting again, shaking and crying, head throbbing, nose bleeding into the toilet bowl all over again when there was a knock on the door. The knock might as well have been inside his skull, but he couldn’t move, could barely see past the haze clouding his periphery like it had after his fight with Billy. He cried as the knocking grew louder, more persistent, until it finally stopped.

He slumped forward, pressed his head into the cool porcelain. Lifting his hand to flush, he noticed a small, vibrant white petal floating amidst the red and black water, all of which, presumably, came out of him.

–can’t find it. Must be… rock. The mat?

Robin?

There was a click, then the sound of his front door opening. Slow, heavy footsteps up the stairs.

Dingus where the hell are you? Not in the bedroom… Please, Steve, I need help.

That got his attention, but as he’d gone to move, the bathroom door opened to a bloodstained Robin, eyes rimmed red, hair a mess, pale and gaunt like a ghost. She dropped to the ground next to him, practically draped herself over his back. And just like before, the pain receded so violently he vomited one last time. A full, yet slightly crumpled, flower floated amidst the yuck inside the toilet. 

It was a daisy.

“Daisies are my favorite,” Robin whispered. She held out her hand to him, dirty and covered in the same green stains as the ones on her shirt, and handed him a very small, miniature sunflower. “So I’m guessing–”

My favorite.

Eventually they’d figured out what works and what doesn’t. Talking on the phone everyday never helped, back to throwing up flowers after only a week. He’d started to pull the daisies out to dry, which Robin said was gross. She took them home with her anyways. 

But he’d borrowed Robin a sweatshirt that she took home with her, and by the fourth day, she was in better shape than he was, only a slight headache instead of Steve’s encroaching migraine. So they started exchanging clothes and quickly learned it wasn’t necessarily their clothes or possessions, but their scents. 

You smell kind of like sunflowers

“Robin, sunflowers don’t have a smell.”

She was face first in his pillow, day seventeen after a two-week family vacation to Key West, returning his comforter, and a myriad of t-shirts. They’d both gotten migraines, but no vomit-soaked flowers or bloody noses. So it was an improvement, overall.

I know they don’t. It’s more like, I don’t know, sunshine. Or fresh grass. A warm rain… like summer.

He’d jumped on her then, smothered her into his mattress until she was tickling him to get off her.

“What do I smell like?” she’d asked, casual but not quite casual enough. He smiled.

Like daisies. An open field full of wildflowers. A new song, or driving with the windows down. 

She smiled back at him, wide and genuine, packed full of love. And he knew, in that moment, he was happy to spend the rest of his life with her.

“Harrington,” Eddie cuts through his reminiscing. The guy looks like he’s trying not to be annoyed, which makes sense considering he’s attempting to be nice and Steve’s completely zoned out. 

Do you have another concussion? Is it rabies?

He sighs, quiet enough that hopefully Eddie doesn’t assume it’s aimed at him. No, Robs. Just a normal dingus-where-did-you-go zone out. Relax.

She shoots him another glare over her shoulder, but ultimately lets it go.

“Harrington, you still with us?” Eddie laughs it off like a joke, but his eyes are wide, and he’s pressing in close again.

He’s warm, and without thinking, Steve finds himself leaning towards him, too– like magnets.

What magnets?

Never mind, Robs, shut up.

“Yeah Munson, I’m still here.” Steve chuckles, and Eddie relaxes a tad. “Can’t get rid of me that easy. I’ve dealt with worse.”

“Worse than an under-water tentacle monster dragging you through hell on your bare-back and almost choking you to death?”

When Eddie puts it like that, Steve really does have to think about it. “What about throwing fireworks at a giant, mind-controlling flesh monster and getting tortured under Star Court by Russian spies who shot me and Robin up with mystery drugs?”

DINGUS! If we haven’t told the Party about our super powers you can’t tell a goddamn stranger like Munson!

Eddie’s eyes are wide and dark again. He chuckles a little too loud, almost deranged. “Yeah, you know what, Harrington, that might be worse.”

They continue to walk in silence. Well, Steve’s silent. He lets Eddie ramble, talking about Dustin, something called a Munson doctrine. He calls Steve a ‘good dude’ at which Steve hopes the sky is dark enough to hide his embarrassed flush.

Eddie says something about the girls jumping in to save him, but he leans in again when he says it, and all Steve can think about is how close he is, the light brush of Eddie’s knuckles against the back of his hand–

What…?

– and the comfort that settles over Steve when he catches Eddie smiling at him. They stop in unison, Eddie leans in close to whisper like it’s a secret.

“But Wheeler, right there, she didn’t waste a second. Not one second. She just dove right in.”

Eddie’s barely shorter than him, just enough that he looks up at Steve through his dark lashes, big, brown, puppy-dog eyes hooked onto his own. He knows guys can be handsome, but he thinks Eddie might be more pretty than handsome.

I’m sorry? What the fuck is happening back there!

“Now, I don’t know what happened between you two,” Eddie says, low and slow. His voice full of honey that soaks into Steve’s brain, the actual words lost in the overwhelming sweetness of everything that is Eddie. “But if I were you, I would get her back. ‘Cause that was as unambiguous a sign of true love as these cynical eyes have ever seen.”

Steve can’t stop staring at his lips. They’re so pink and fluffy and biteable, so he leans in, like instinct tells him. Eddie looks surprised, but brushes his finger tips against Steve’s own. He whispers, “Steve…?” like it’s more revelation than question. Eddie’s so close that Steve just–

“Are you fucking kidding me, Steven?” Robin shouts, incredulous and much too loud. Eddie flinches away from him, hides behind his hair like a turtle shrinking back into its shell. Steve’s shoulders droop in disappointment.

Disappointment? Wait. Did I almost just kiss–

“Eddie Munson?” Robin finishes his not-out-loud sentence.

“Buckley?” Eddie asks, nervous as the girl marches towards them, her eyes locked on Steve.

“Yes, Dingus!” Robin completely ignores Eddie’s response in favor of barreling up to Steve, finger so close to his face he goes cross-eyed. “Yes, you were, and oh my god I can’t believe you!”

Robs, I’m kind of freaking out right now. Can you please relax?

“You’re freaking out?” she shouts. Nancy shushes her, but it goes unnoticed. “I’m freaking out! After all this time, after Tammy fucking Thompson, this is happening right now? With– with– ” Robin wildly gestures to Munson. “Goddamn, Steve, you reek of sunflowers right now, oh my god! Just like when Joyce came into the store.”

It’s as dark as it always is, but a flash of red lighting illuminates the red painted across Eddie’s cheeks as he bites on his lip, looking nervous yet almost bashful as he pulls another larger strand of hair across his face.

“Sunflowers? What’s happening right now,” he whispers to Nancy, who shrugs. She answers with a casual, “I’m not sure, they do this a lot.”

“That’s not fair!” Steve quietly shouts back at her. “What’s wrong with–” he glances at Eddie, who flushes again. He’s so pale I bet he’s red down to his…

“Shut up, shut up, shut up!” Robin throws her hands over her ears and pinches her eyes closed.

Steve forces a smile to cover his gay panic. Shit, am I gay?

“No!” Robin slaps both her hands on either side of his head, mushing his cheeks together. “You’re not g–” she mushes her mouth shut, catching her slip-up just before it tumbled out of her. “And that’s not what that kind of panic means, so don’t call it that.”

“Panic?” Eddie asks, stepping towards them. His eyes are trained on Steve, flashing down to his lips, then back up to catch his gaze. Steve sees something like hope buried beneath Eddie’s tough guy demeanor. “But I thought–” he glances at Nancy before quickly looking away.

Robin rolls her eyes at him, and Eddie backs off a bit. Except his look doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Me?” Nancy asks. “What about me?”

Robin, don’t–

But it’s too late, because at that question, everyone turns to look at Steve.

Over the past few months, Steve’s started growing out his hair. It’s not really in style, but he’s seen a few guys with long hair, and they looked really good. Right now, he wishes it was long enough so he could hide behind it like Eddie. But, then again, he’d also tried growing a mustache, since Freddy Mercury had amazing style– Steve’s always like Queen.

Except my mustache never looked as good as his, so I bet long hair wouldn’t either. Maybe the short hair helps highlight it, like his cheekbones.

Jesus Christ, you’re so obvious. I can crack Russian spy code phrases enough to break into an underground military base but apparently I can’t spot a bisexual within five feet of me.

Steve sighs, dragging his hands down his face at Robin’s inside-mind rambling. Nancy, however, takes it to mean something much different. “Oh, Steve, no.” Her voice is pitying and too nice and it reminds him painfully of the last few months of their relationship. Like she’s talking to a child. “Steve, I’m so sorry, but– I still love Jonathan.”

“I know, Nance, that’s not–”

“Are you kidding me, Wheeler?” Eddie screeches. Steve really doesn’t understand how they’re so lucky that they haven’t been hunted down and eaten by now. 

Eddie’s thrown his hands up in the air, all theatrics as he gawks at her. She backs off, surprised, but quickly recovers and squints her eyes at him, crossing her arms as he continues to ramble. 

“After everything that’s happened? Steve ripping off his sweater, jumping out of the boat and beating a bat to death, then biting its head off, all while soaking wet. I mean, the way he spit that blood out.” Nancy cringes, and yeah, Steve feels the same way, knows he'll be tasting that black sludge in his nightmares. 

Now that’s gay panic.

I thought that’s not what that means, Rob

Ugh, I regret teaching you things.

Eddie’s still on a roll. “He was so… I mean,” Eddie throws his arms out towards Steve, showing him off like he’s a prized cow, “look at him, Wheeler! And you’re picking Byers?”

To Steve’s surprise, the glowering ferocity in Nancy’s face morphs into a coy smile, eyebrows raised in question to an answer she’s already figured out. Because that’s how Nancy Wheeler, journalist extraordinaire, gets her story. She reads people.

Before Eddie well and truly freaks out at the turn in Nancy’s demeanor, she winks at Steve out of the corner of her eye. “Joyce Byers?” She giggles and rolls her eyes. 

Then, in a mortifying turn of events, Nancy pulls a strand of her brown, curly hair in front of her face, forces her eyes open, doe-eyed and almost brown under the dark sky, looking up at him through her lashes, then darts her gaze to Eddie. 

Ha! You have a type! Wait, how did Nancy clock you faster than–

“Okay!” It bursts from Steve’s chest, loud enough it shocks the rest of them. They stand quiet, listening to the mundane noises around them, and breathe a sigh of relief at the resounding silence. “This has been fun, really, but why don’t we all just keep going so we can get the hell out of here and go find my– I mean our– no, the little shits.”

This is why they call you mom.

“I’m not a goddamn mom, Robin, how many damn times do I have to tell you guys that?”

“If you’re mommy, does that mean I’m daddy?” The words slip through Eddie’s mouth and, unfortunately, bury themselves into Steve’s brain. Now Steve’s not sure who’s blush is hotter, his or Eddie’s. He’d guess maybe Eddie’s, judging by the way the man grabs Nancy’s arm and hauls her away at a half sprint. 

She laughs at him, lighthearted, and slings her arm through his as they walk side by side. Steve watches as she leans her head towards Eddie’s whispering something into his ear that finally has the man’s shoulder’s relaxing. He bumps his shoulder against hers, and she returns the gesture.

Robin turns to look at Steve, really look, with sad, concerned eyes and a twist to her mouth.

I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have freaked out like that. It just caught me off guard I guess.

Steve places a light kiss on her dirty forehead. She smiles, grabs his hand in hers, and squeezes once.

“I love you too, Rob.”

[solarmorrigan]

Okay, but imagine the absolute shit fit Eddie and Dustin would throw when it’s not either of them that finally manage to convince Steve to play D&D with them. It’s not Lucas, or Will, or even Erica, in all her terrifying, businesslike glory

It’s Mike fuckin’ Wheeler

Mike, who Steve has technically known longer than any of the other kids; who had never made a secret of when he’d thought Steve was a douchebag; who, even after Steve became de facto babysitter to the group and Mike could admit he didn’t entirely dislike him, had never quite warmed up to him the way the others had. Mike

Dustin has been on Steve’s case to join the game since they became friends, and Steve has said no every time. At first because it sounded complicated and boring and he had no interest, but later because he knows none of the other kids like him as much as Dustin does, and that’s fine, but he isn’t going to sit through something complicated and boring while a bunch of other kids glare at him

Sometime later, on one of the few nights neither Joyce nor Jonathan are available to pick Will up, and Steve is driving him home, Will mentions that it would be cool if Steve wanted to join in and play – since he has to schedule his nights around their games sometimes anyway, after all. Steve smiles and tells him thank you but no thank you. Will is kind, and patient to a fault, and Steve has no doubt Will would genuinely try to include him, but he doesn’t want anyone to feel like he should be invited as an obligation. He really doesn’t mind driving

After Steve starts playing basketball with Lucas, Lucas invites Steve in turn to play D&D with The Party. Steve turns him down, saying he’ll stick to what he’s good at. He wonders if maybe Lucas feels like they should do an exchange—Steve has given him some pointers on basketball, so maybe Lucas will give him pointers on D&D—but really, he’s happy spending his time playing with the kid. He doesn’t need to be offered anything else

Steve turns Eddie down flat no matter how much he wheedles, whines, or offers bribes of various favors and orgasms. He knows Eddie’s previous reputation, that he hasn’t been inclined to accept or be entirely patient with novices at the game in the past, so he’ll either sweep along as usual and leave Steve in the dust, or he’s planning to change his entire style to hold Steve’s hand and help him figure it out, probably to the detriment of everyone else’s enjoyment. Neither option is appealing

Erica asks Steve exactly once, telling him that the only way anyone is ever going to shut up about it is if Steve agrees to play. Steve tells her that, unfortunately, she’ll just have to continue putting up with their whining. She doesn’t seem happy, but she’s certainly not going to beg him to play, and that’s that

But then, one night, Mike watches the whole song and dance routine as Steve drops off Dustin, Lucas, and Erica; tells Dustin that no, he’s not going to stay tonight; kisses Eddie hello and also tells Eddie that no, he’s not going to stay tonight. Mike sighs loudly as Steve moves to head up the stairs and out of the basement

“Dude, we both know Eddie and Dustin have made, like, a dozen characters for you. Just pick one and play with us.”

And Steve stops

Because Mike has never pretended to like Steve. Mike has never pretended to like anyone. He’s jealously guarded membership into The Party, denying anyone he isn’t one hundred percent certain about. He’s about as protective over his nerd game as Eddie is (and as protective over his friends as Steve himself). And with no clear reason to, he’s asking Steve to join them

And Steve can’t help but admit that Mike may actually just want him to play – that maybe they all do (and maybe he sincerely does want to join them, even if it still sounds complicated and might still be boring; maybe he’ll just like spending time with them)

So he sits down and asks what the hell he’s supposed to be doing

(He’s never had so many people try to show him how to do something at once)

[toournextadventure]

a novel life pt.2

Summary: You're trying to make nice with Sam's little sister, for everyone's sake. Maybe it leads to an interrogation. Maybe it leads to more. And maybe you end up sucked into the unusual events that follow Legacies

Word Count: 4.3k Warnings: swearing, distrust, mentions of past trauma, mentions of blood, mentions of Scream typical violence Pairing: Samantha Carpenter x GN!Reader A/N: Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Yule, and whatever holidays y'all all celebrate 🫶 (pt.1) (pt.2) (pt.3) (pt.4) (pt.5)

“Are you sure this is okay?” You asked as you nearly tripped over your feet.

Sam gave you a look that was both sweet and condescending. “Yes, because I said so.”

“That doesn’t seem like solid reasoning,” you mumbled, but nonetheless continued following her up the steps to her apartment.

It was nearing Halloween, with the cooling air finally allowing for the use of jackets. Which you had few of, since Sam had decided to keep them for herself. Not that there was anyone to blame but yourself; it was what you deserved for offering her jackets every time she forgot one. She had simply decided it was rather nice to have an unlimited selection of jackets, both too-large and just right.

In all her wisdom, Sam had suggested the two of you, and Tara and her partner have a movie night. Tara got to choose the movie, and no one could object. All in all it should have been a win for the younger Carpenter; she could make you suffer if she truly wanted, and you couldn’t say a word about it. Which was going to cause the night to be very, very long.

Oh, the things you would do for her.

“Is she going to pick something scary?” You asked before you both approached the door. “Because I don’t like scary.”

“I have no doubt it will be scary,” Sam said with a barely-concealed smile. “I’ll hold your hand to keep you safe.”

“You’re my hero,” you said as you leaned forward to press a chaste kiss to her lips. She tasted strongly of the cigarette she had smoked on the way from your apartment to hers.

You tried to pull away, but she quickly followed, keeping her lips pressed against yours. Every sense was enveloped by her. Her smell, her taste, the feel of her body pressed against yours so tightly it was as if you would float away without her. There was nothing you could have ever wanted more than your Sam.

“We shouldn’t give Tara something to be upset about,” you mumbled against Sam’s lips when she finally pulled back just the slightest distance.

“Tara’s always upset,” she answered before sighing, “but you’re right.”

“Baby steps,” you said with a smile.

“For the big baby.”

“Samantha.”

“I’m kidding,” she tried to argue as she grabbed your hand and started finally moving into the apartment.

You both knew she wasn’t kidding.

“My dude!”

You had barely walked through the door when Tara’s partner called out to you, a genuine, toothy grin visible on their face. They had asked you to call them J, which you had happily agreed to. Sam teased that it was short for Joker - you assumed because of the scars - but the look on Tara’s face told you not to ever bring it up. Ever.

It was a rule you could oblige by.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again,” you said as you hung your coat on the back of one of the chairs at the dining table. It had only taken you dropping your coat once before you realised the Carpenters saw no need for a coat rack.

How utterly uncivilised.

“They think it’s a pleasure to see me,” J said to Tara, who rolled her eyes almost instantly. 

You would never say it aloud, but you noticed the small smile she sent their way. So, she wasn’t as heartless as she wanted you to believe. Exactly like her older sister. It would be simple enough to chalk it down to their past experiences with the world; it had taught them nothing but hardness. But maybe they both just needed a safe space to let those walls come down.

“What did you choose?” Sam asked. She very quickly made her way to the couch opposite Tara and J.

“Depends,” they said.

“On?” Sam asked.

J turned to look at you and held something up to their mouth. “What’s your favourite scary movie?” The voice came out almost robotic, sounding similar to… something you possibly recognised? Vaguely?

“That’s not funny,” Sam said quickly.

“Lighten up, Sam,” Tara said even though she pushed J’s hand - and the voice changer - into their lap. “We’re watching Hellraiser.”

“Thought you didn’t like that one,” Sam said. She reached over and grabbed your hand the moment you sat down beside her on the couch.

Tara’s eyes darted to where your hands were joined and lingered. “I don’t.” She looked back up at you with a hard gaze. “I picked it out just for you.”

“Oh,” you said, perking up instantly. “Thank you.”

You turned to look at Sam with a stupid smile on your face, missing the look J sent Tara. Well, this was turning into a lovely evening! Tara had picked out a movie just for you! Surely that was progress to the finest degree, was it not? If all it took was watching a movie with them every month, you were more than happy to do so. This was turning out to be a rather lovely evening.

At least you thought so until the movie started and you realised just exactly why Tara had picked the movie out just for you.

It was… well, it was a movie. Filled with hooks and needles and… blood. Oh gosh, so much blood. There was a singular blessing amongst it all; you hadn’t eaten before coming over. Thankfully the popcorn sat untouched between you and Sam as your stomach twisted and turned and tried its best to embarrass you.

Sam squeezed your hand as you did your best to keep your cool. Not that it was such an easy thing with all the… you couldn’t even think the word without feeling queasy. Surely there was no way they all enjoyed this kind of thing, right? It was grotesque! The creatures on the screen, the inhumanity of it all, how was it an enjoyable movie?

The room started to shrink around you. Oh, that wasn’t good, you didn’t want to feel claustrophobic, you were trying to be tough. You couldn’t let anyone know that you had an, um, aversion to blood. What would they say? They were all horror fans, how could you ever possibly mention that you just… didn’t enjoy it? Quite frankly, it made you sick to your stomach, like all those science experiments you had to do back in grade school.

The credits couldn’t have rolled a moment too soon. If anyone were to ask you what you thought, you wouldn’t have been able to answer. The only thing you were aware of was your heart beating loudly in your ear and the saliva that continued to fill your mouth. Maybe it would actually be better if you didn’t try to answer anyone for a few more moments.

“So, Professor,” Tara asked all too soon. “What did you think?”

“I-”

-You cut yourself short. There was a part, a rather significant part of your mind that said you should lie. Tell Tara it was a wonderful movie, and you would love to see more if it existed. But lying had never gotten you anywhere in the past, had it? It certainly wasn’t going to assist you in winning over Tara, not when she was already sceptical of you. How was a lie going to assist you?

It wasn’t. 

“It’s not my cup of tea,” you finally said before swallowing the remaining saliva in your mouth. “I don’t really enjoy scary movies.” You nodded to yourself. “Or blood.”

“Oh my god,” Tara huffed, “why can’t you just lose your shit about something?”

“Tara,” Sam warned.

“No, this is ridiculous,” she continued as she stood up from the couch, ignoring J reaching for her hand. “Why can’t you lose your shit?” She pointed at you. “Nobody is this level-headed about everything.”

“That’s enough,” Sam said as she followed suit, standing up from the couch. Similarly, you reached out for her hand but she moved just far enough away.

“Get out,” Tara said before promptly looking Sam dead in the eyes.

“Excuse me?” Sam asked.

“Get out,” she repeated.

“Hey, T-”

“-You too,” Tara interrupted J, who froze with a comically shocked expression on their face. “Both of you get out so I can talk to them-” she pointed at you “-alone.”

“Absolutely not-”

“-Sounds reasonable,” you interrupted Sam. She looked at you like you had grown a second head. “I would love to talk.”

“Come on, Baby Ghost,” J said as they stood up. You were starting to feel left out by being the only one still sitting. “I’ll buy you a new pack of cigs.”

Sam looked like she wanted to argue, but both you and Tara gave her a look. Differing looks, of course, but still. While Tara seemed to get her a death stare that was almost permanently etched onto her face, you tried to go the more convincing route. If Tara wanted to talk, who were you to tell her no? Talking was key, that’s what your family had always done and it had never ended poorly.

“Fine,” Sam finally said. She seemed resigned. “But you have 15 minutes and that’s it.”

“Deal,” Tara said. “Now get out.”

You stayed as still as a statue when Sam leaned down and pressed a kiss to your lips. A little more forceful than usual, but you wouldn’t complain. Any kiss from her was perfect. A sigh came from behind her, and you both knew who it was from, but she took her time before pulling away and standing back up.

“Don’t let her bully you,” she said.

“Sam,” Tara said forcefully. “Get out.”

“Fine,” Sam said, throwing her hands up. “But I mean it,” she said as she and J walked to the door together. “15 minutes.”

You and Tara both watched your partners leave the apartment, practically abandoning you to the force of nature that was the youngest Carpenter sister. It shamed you to admit you were a little afraid of her. You knew there was something going on deep down that she either wouldn’t or couldn’t accept, and you wouldn’t dare fault her for it. But she let her internal frustrations out in a very external way.

“What’s wrong with you?” Tara asked the moment the door shut behind the two. You stayed silent. “You don’t yell, you don’t scream, you don’t even freak out when I put on a movie I knew you would hate.”

You waited a moment to make sure she was finished. “I was raised by two very… pacifistic parents,” you said, gesturing for her to sit on the couch opposite you. “We talked through our issues, we didn’t yell about them.”

Tara opened her mouth as if she was about to argue, or complain, or something. Slowly, her mouth closed and she pursed her lips. She kept looking at you, but slowly took a seat opposite you. There was something going on behind her eyes, you could see it, but you knew better than to question her just yet. Just like your mom had taught you; let them lead the conversation.

“I don’t trust you,” she said slowly. Her eyes stayed locked with yours. “You’re too understanding and too kind.” You stayed silent. “Sam only ever falls for freaks.”

“Didn’t she date an FBI agent?” You asked. You could vaguely remember what Sam had said about her, but she had seemed nice enough.

“Kirby is cool, I’ve always liked her,” Tara said with a dismissive shake of her head. “But she was attacked by Ghostface twice,” she said, “so she’s a freak by proxy.” She looked back at you. “So what’s your deal?”

You shrugged. “I don’t know,” you said, “ask your questions and maybe you can find out.”

It had initially been your idea, but before Tara could even open her mouth you started to second guess yourself. Perhaps allowing her to ask whatever questions she wanted without any repercussions was… not the smartest idea on your part. You had nothing to hide, but what if she really started to ask unusual questions? What if your answers weren’t what she wanted to hear?

But when you thought of Sam, and being with her, you felt that, without question, it was worth the gamble.

“Have you ever used a knife?” Tara asked quickly. It seemed she wasn’t going to wait.

“Not outside of cooking,” you answered just as quickly.

“How about a gun?” So, it would be a rapid fire interrogation. Game on.

“Never.”

“Ever hurt anybody before?” A tilt of her head.

“Not on purpose.”

“What about animals?”

“No.”

“Not even in science class?”

“I-” you attempted to clear your throat to buy a bit of time “-I fell ill that day.”

Tara paused and narrowed her eyes. “Because of blood.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yes,” you said anyway. “It makes me sick to my stomach.”

“You’re pretty pathetic,” Tara said as she leaned back on the couch. For the first time in… well, ever, you thought you almost saw her smile at you. “That’s exactly Sam’s type.”

“I thought you said it was freaks,” you pointed out.

“Pathetic freaks,” she corrected quickly. That quirk near the corner of her mouth rapidly disappeared. “Why did you choose Sam?”

You paused. It was uncertain what exactly Sam had told Tara about you both meeting. Surely she wouldn’t have overdramatised it, but had she told her the truth? The truth was… well, it was pathetic as well, but you weren’t entirely convinced Tara would approve. Not that it was entirely her place, but the two were the only family each other had. They both had a right to be cautious of anyone new coming into their lives.

But perhaps you could answer the question a little differently.

“She’s kind,” you said with a subconscious nod of your head. “And bold, and intelligent - god she’s intelligent - and brave.” You averted Tara’s eyes. “And she’s really pretty too.”

Tara nodded once. “What are your intentions with her?”

Another question that you believed was potentially a trick. You couldn’t very well say you loved Sam just yet; you hadn’t even told Sam that little piece of information. But there were other intentions with her even if you didn’t necessarily use the word “love.” There were other things that were just as important.

“I don’t want to sound overly self-important,” you started off, looking back up to meet Tara’s eyes. “But I would very much like to be the one by Sam’s side as she continues on this path she’s created for herself.”

Tara looked at you; really looked at you. She was so very difficult for you to read. Unlike Sam, Tara did a better job at hiding her emotions. While Sam would give it away with her facial expressions, Tara did not. No, her feelings came out differently, whether in the slight twitch of her fingers or the impatient tapping of her foot on the rug. You hadn’t been around her long enough to know what exactly those feelings were, you simply acknowledged they were feelings.

“I’ll give you a chance,” Tara finally said, her voice far softer than you had ever heard. At least when it was directed at you. “But if you do anything to hurt her, or upset her, or lie to her, I won’t hesitate to kill you.” You gulped. “I’m not afraid to kill again.”

“I forgot you’ve both killed someone before,” you mumbled to yourself before speaking up louder. “Those are acceptable terms.”

“Good,” she said with a single nod of her head. “But don’t think this means I’ll go easy on you.”

You could both hear the other two finally approaching the door, bickering in a way that mimicked biological siblings.

“I would expect nothing less,” you told Tara as the door opened and the moment ended.

—---

The rest of the semester went by without incident. Tara had stayed true to her word and gave you a fair chance to prove that you could be trusted with her sister’s heart, and it wasn’t something you had taken lightly. You knew how important the both of them were to each other, and you had done your best to prove that not only did you care for Sam, but you cared for Tara too.

She had finally eased up during classes, allowing you to properly teach without an ounce of disdain for you personally. In fact, she had even dared to come to office hours on more than one occasion to discuss certain pieces you had offered as optional readings. The Carpenters were immensely intelligent, no matter what the subject matter was.

You and Sam had fallen into a rather comfortable routine, always going for a date night on Thursdays to whatever new place your colleagues had recommended, and movies with Tara and J on Saturdays. You would spend the night at her place Thursday through Monday morning, and she would stay at yours Monday through Thursday morning. It was comfortable, and you were more than content.

But with school finally over for the semester, you could focus on the real gem; Christmas.

Both Carpenters - and J, for that matter - had been nonchalant with their decorations. A minimal Charlie Brown tree that had, at most, four ornaments on it. It was awfully quaint, and if they hadn’t been so blase about it you would have been content to leave it standing. Nevertheless, they had made it clear they didn’t care if there were any decorations, and you had taken that as a cry for help.

Your own apartment had, of course, been decorated since the day after Thanksgiving. It was a wonderful gift from your mother, learning how to decorate for the holidays, and you weren’t keen on squandering the skills and letting them fall off the wagon, so to speak. Sam had made a few comments, though you hadn’t taken her for a non-believer.

“It’s okay, really,” Sam tried to say when you and J finished bringing in what had to have been the seventh box of decorations from your apartment.

“Oh no, I insist,” you said with a smile. “Besides, my mother would be downright dismayed if she knew the decorations were sitting in my apartment unused.”

“Great,” Tara mumbled as she walked by without even offering to help, “we get to live at the North Pole.”

“Isn’t it exciting?” You said with a smile. “These are more neutral, so you shouldn’t feel too out of place, but they still embody the holiday spirit.”

“Well I think it’ll be fun,” J said with their own smile. “Do I get to hang the ornaments?”

“Why-”

“-the ornaments won’t be the only thing hanging this Christmas,” Tara said, tossing a mini marshmallow into the air and catching it in her mouth. “Especially with those blinding lights.”

You looked down at the ones in your hand and frowned. “I thought they were rather tame.”

“And they’re lovely,” Sam tried to cover, even though you could see the fake smile she had on her face. “You’re doing great,” she continued as she left a simple kiss on your cheek.

The decorating ended up being a one person job, you quickly realised when you discovered J could not, for the life of them, listen to instructions. More than once, the lights had been blown and you had to find the faulty one to fix it. Normally you would chalk it down to bad luck, but when it was only the ones that they were installing? You became a little suspicious.

At least they were all eager to help with the snacks and desserts, and that was something you could live with. Surprisingly, Tara was the one who had the most ideas. You knew you weren’t the best cook; you could follow instructions but that didn’t necessarily mean they would turn out nice. But with Tara at the helm? They were almost as good as your mother’s! Though obviously you would never dare to tell her that.

You also rather quickly discovered that they were not gift giving people. Understandable, you supposed, they had much more important things to worry about in life. It was still unacceptable. The moment you had found out, you had called your parents and told them the tragic news.

Gifts for all three of them - plus a gift each for Mindy, Chad, and Anika - had been delivered to your house within the week. Express shipping to be certain they would arrive before Christmas.

Which led to yet another tragedy; they had no stockings.

“It’s really not worth buying,” Sam attempted to persuade you over the phone on one of the rare nights you two weren’t spending together. “Just stay home tonight.”

“It’s no trouble, Sam,” you argued. “I’m heading out for a bit anyway.”

You didn’t admit you were already at the store, trying to decide which one would fit each person best.

“Just stay safe,” she said. You could hear car horns in the background but thought nothing of it. “I mean it.”

“I’ll be safe,” you insisted, “I always am.”

“Call me when you’re back home,” she said.

“Yes ma’am,” you said with a smile that she couldn’t see.

She hung up first, and you continued your search without any second thoughts. In the end, you had decided on a Santa stocking for J, a reindeer for Tara, and a snowman for Sam. They would look lovely hanging underneath the mounted television in their living room. But with the stockings, you needed things to fill them with.

Santa’s work was never finished.

It was dark by the time you finished buying everything you believed you needed. Stockings, fillers, and some snacks to make for a lovely evening. That should surely be enough to give the three of them a very merry Christmas, would it not? Your mother had already sent their Santa presents, and their other presents were underneath the tree, so as far as you were aware of at the moment, everything was taken care of.

You were still going over your mental checklist when you heard a commotion down one of the alleys on the way home. Every cell in your body told you not to bother looking; people got desperate around the holidays and it would do you no good to go poking your head where it didn’t belong. But if someone was getting hurt, then you needed to attempt to help.

Or at least make enough of a scene that someone else would come help.

“Excuse me?” You called out foolishly as you started down the dark alleyway. “Is everyone alright out there?”

You pulled your coat tighter around you as you continued walking. It hadn’t been raining or snowing recently, and yet something started to soak through your shoes and socks. The shocking cold that normally came from liquids in December wasn’t present; it was warm.

There was another noise. It almost sounded like something solid, but it was overshadowed by something metallic. You did your best to see something in the dark, even as your body continued to tell you to move along. But something didn’t feel right; you were feeling queasy again.

Something hissed in front of you, but it wasn’t a snake. No, you knew what those sounded like and this wasn’t even close. This sounded much more human, though that sound would only ever really happen in dire circumstances like if-

-a large white mask faced you. It was the only thing you could see in the dark, thanks to the lights behind you causing just enough radiance to make the mask almost seem luminescent. You weren’t a movie buff, especially not scary movies, but you weren’t stupid. Everyone knew what that mask was.

Ghostface.

All those cells that had been telling you to run? They were silent. Frozen in fear, just like your mind. The killer wasn’t moving toward you, simply facing you, almost as if it was the very reason you were stationary. Which, it was, but not in the typical way that most would be privy to. You felt like a deer in headlights, and if you moved then you died.

You supposed that was how all the movies went.

“Aren’t you going to run?” Ghostface asked, in that same voicebox that J had had during the movie night.

You swallowed the saliva filling your mouth. “No,” you said in a trembling voice.

“Why not?” He continued. “I like when they run.”

“I’m not very fast,” you said. “You’ll catch me before I get to the street.”

He still didn’t move, and your eyes finally adjusted enough to see the silhouette of a body slumped at his feet. Your throat constricted at the sight; you were going to be sick. The very image started to worm its way into your brain; there was a very simple explanation for what was still soaking through your socks. It wasn’t snow.

“You should get home, Professor,” Ghostface said.

You nodded, even though you weren’t sure if he could see you. “Yes I should.”

“Stay on the sidewalk next time,” he said.

“I- I believe that’s sound advice,” you said with more frantic nods of your head. Your palms were starting to get clammy.

Ghostface lifted up a hand - holding a knife - and waved. “Good night, Professor.”

“Good night,” you said with your own shaky wave.

You walked backwards out of the alley, keeping an eye on the figure until it was completely out of sight. Your feet were frozen on the ground once you were under a street light. There were no more sounds coming from the alley, not even the sound of someone leaving. Wherever Ghostface had gone, he hadn’t followed you.

In an incredibly brave moment, you leaned over and vomited directly into a storm grate before going back home. You called Sam the moment you got back into your apartment.

You couldn’t find the courage to inform her of the night’s mystery encounter.