#oh and wall-e they could never make me hate you

[pancake-fluffz]

I was given wall-e and all three sonic movies as DVDS for valentines I am very content

[streetlamp-amber]

bad time to be claustrophobic

bruce wayne x gn!reader

word count: 2k | divider by @saradika | requests are open!

CW: claustrophobia, panic attack NOTES: reader is gender neutral but it is mentioned they wear high heels

It had been two weeks since you started working for Wayne Enterprises and you were finally getting the hang of the job. At first, you felt like some sort of imposter, to be part of the famous company that overlooked the city and felt almost out of reach from every normal Gothamite. You had worked hard to get to where you were now and you deserved the stability this job brought to your life, as your roommate never failed to remind you every time you voiced out your doubts in the last weeks.

Your boss had needed you to bring some documents up to the top floor, where the CEO’s office was, and it was as you waited for an elevator to bring you down that you finally met Bruce Wayne. Of course you knew who he was – who lives in Gotham and doesn't know who Bruce Wayne is? – and you also knew of the playboy reputation he had that the gossip magazines could never get tired of. Although you had never really been interested in him before, one quick glance of the eye up and down his six feet two inches tall body was enough to determine that the media failed to describe how truly mesmerising Bruce Wayne was.

The two of you shared a brief eye contact when he came to a stop next to you in front of the elevator doors. He sent you a polite, tight lipped smile with a shy nod of his head as a form of greeting and you replicated his actions before turning your head forward again, hoping Mr. Wayne hadn’t noticed the beginning of a blush on your cheeks. You were no better than anyone after all, few could resist the natural charm that emanated from him.

The ding! of the elevator broke the silence floating in the air and Mr. Wayne, ever the gentleman, motioned with his right hand for you to step in first. He pressed the button for one of the basement floors as he entered before turning to you.

“Which floor?” He asked, and the sound of his voice caught you by surprise for a second.

“Oh! Um, sixteen,” you answered in what you hoped was a nonchalant way but was probably leaning more towards timid.

Mr. Wayne pressed on the button for your floor and the doors closed, the only noise that could be heard was the faint music of Mozart’s Horn Concerto no. 4 in E-Flat Major playing through the elevator speakers.

You watched with an anxious eye the floor numbers go down as you fiddled with the rings on your fingers, trying all your might to keep your hands down instead of divulging your embarrassing habit of biting off the skin around your nails to Bruce Wayne upon your first meeting. You hated elevators, or any kind of small closed space really, but your claustrophobia was just something you had learned (and still were learning) to live with. You usually avoided elevators, but Wayne Tower had more than thirty floors and you simply were not going to climb up all of those stairs in high heels for a bunch of documents. You could survive a minute long ride in an elevator, what’s the worst that could happen?

Well, the worst that could happen, happened.

The elevator was plunged into darkness as it shook to a stop, making you and Mr. Wayne almost lose your balance. It didn’t take more than five seconds for the lights to turn back on but the elevator wasn’t moving.

“No,” you whispered to yourself when you realised what was happening.

Mr. Wayne didn’t hear you, preoccupied with trying to get in contact with someone on his phone.

“Lucius, tell me what happened,” he spoke in an urgent tone, fearing that he was trapped in an elevator while Gotham needed his alter ego.

You were too busy trying to focus on keeping your breathing at a steady rhythm to listen to what the man on your left was saying. Everything suddenly felt hot and as you pulled on your white dress shirt in quick movements to air your torso, you started to feel like the walls were closing in on you.

“City workers were cutting a dead branch off a tree and it fell on the power lines,” Mr. Wayne explained as he closed his phone and put it back in the pocket of his suit, his eyes yet to see the state you were in. “Apparently there was some problem with the elevator when the generator turned on but a team is already wor–”

Bruce didn’t finish his sentence when he finally noticed that you weren’t listening to a single word he was saying. “Are you okay?” He asked, taking one small step closer to you.

“Yes,” you murmured, trying to sound as normal as possible. How embarrassing was it that the first time you meet the Bruce Wayne, you end up having a panic attack in front of him because of some ridiculous phobia that involves elevators.

“You’re not okay, you’re shaking,” he pointed out the obvious.

“‘S nothing,” you dismissed, clutching your shaking hands to your chest. You had your head hanging down and your eyes closed, unable to see the concerned look on Mr. Wayne’s face.

“Is there any way I can help?”

If your mind wasn't in such a frenzy, you would've heard the almost pleading tone in his voice.

“Not really,” you answered and your breathing quickened.

“Okay, okay,” he passed a hand through his hair as he tried to think about what to do. You were clearly in a state of panic and there was nothing he could do stuck in the elevator. He had to try to distract you while you waited for the team to fix the elevator.

You reached with your right hand to support yourself against the wall, the numbness in your legs making it hard for you to stand upright. Mr. Wayne was at your side in a second, holding your arms to keep you from falling.

“Let’s, let’s sit down, alright?” He suggested and you nodded your head.

He lowered the two of you to the floor and once you were sat up against the wall, he moved to sit in front of you, trying to catch your gaze.

“Hey, hey, there’s a team working on fixing the elevator as we speak, we’ll be out of here soon,” he tried to reassure you but you still wouldn’t meet his eyes. He observed the way your chest kept rising up and down rapidly and clocked that he needed to help you calm down.

“Okay, there’s this thing my… Alfred taught me when I was young. Just cross your arms over your chest and put your hands on your shoulders, can you do that?” He calmly asked you.

You nodded your head and did as he told you.

“Now I’m gonna put my hands on your knees, is that alright?”

You nodded your head once again and his large hands covered your bent knees over your charcoal dress pants.

“Alright, I’m gonna tap my hands to a rhythm, you’ll do the same with your shoulders and try to breathe along with the rhythm. Understood?”

Your distressed, teary eyes finally met his reassuring ones and in this moment, through all of the panic and the fear clouding your head, you were able to see that Bruce Wayne was a caring man under the playboy persona.

After you shook your head ‘yes’, Mr. Wayne started tapping his hands to a relaxed, steady rhythm like he told you he would. It took a minute for you to ground yourself in his eyes that never left yours and you followed his movements, tapping your hands on your shoulders to his tempo. He made a show of exaggerating the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed, for you to eventually fall in step with.

“You know, when I was a kid, I was playing in the garden with my friend and I fell in an old well,” he started telling you when a few minutes passed and your breathing had calmed down a little. The both of you were still continuing tapping a steady rhythm on your knees and shoulders. “I was stuck down there with a broken arm and then a colony of bats flew out of the darkness. Been scared of those creatures ever since.”

“Is that why you’re not Batman’s biggest fan?” You asked in a small voice and Bruce faintly smiled both at the secret he was keeping from all of Gotham and because he was finally hearing your voice not in a panicked state. He always made sure to make his displeasure with the caped crusader known to deter the press from making a connection between the two.

“Amongst other reasons,” he answered, one corner of his lip curling up to show you his tiny crooked grin.

The two of you stared at each other and it surprised you how easy it was to feel safe and comfortable while looking in Bruce Wayne’s eyes.

“I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure to meet you before,” he spoke up after a short moment of comfortable silence.

“I assure you I would’ve made a better first impression in any other circumstance,” you quickly said, eyes going wide like saucers when it sunk in that you almost had a panic attack the first time you met Bruce Wayne.

“I can tell you, this isn't even in the top twenty of the worst first impressions I’ve had,” Mr. Wayne tried to reassure you with a joke. The shy smile on your lips indicated he succeeded. “I’m Bruce, by the way.”

“I know,” you said, a little more at ease. You told him your name, to which he couldn’t help but compliment.

“How long have you been working here? I don't remember ever seeing you, and I try to say hi to all my employees at least once a month,” he asked you.

“A little more than two weeks,” you answered. “I’m in the PR department, specifically overseeing the funding of your charities.”

“You have the most important job in the company then,” Bruce grinned.

“I wouldn’t know about that,” you rolled your eyes and this time there was no way he didn’t catch the beginning of the blush on your cheeks. You could only wish your face was still flushed from your almost panic attack so it wasn’t too noticeable.

The doors of the elevator were finally pulled open, Bruce and you turning your heads in that direction at the new noise. You sighed in relief that you could finally escape this cage of nightmare and both Mr. Wayne and the maintenance guy helped you slide out of the elevator, which only offered a thirty centimetres tall opening since it got stuck before it could reach the floor below.

Once Bruce had also gotten out, he ignored the assistant who had been assigned by her superior to catch him up on what he missed while being stuck in the elevator to instead talk to you.

“You know, if you want to take the rest of the day off, it’ll be no problem,” he told you, lowering his voice so only the two of you could hear. “I’ll vouch for you, make sure you don’t get in any trouble.”

“That’s very kind of you Mr. Wayne–”

“Bruce,” he interrupted you, though his tone was warm and friendly. “Please, call me Bruce.”

“Thank you, Bruce, I really appreciate the concern.” You were still a little unsettled by the events and when you usually would push through whatever sickness or weakness to make it to work, this time you didn’t fight off the chance to relax and recover.

“Gotta make sure my most important employee is well rested and of sound mind to do the job,” he smiled at you and you smiled back at him. “I have to go back to my duties, but I’ll be seeing you around.” Bruce said goodbye to you and you waved at him until his back was turned on you.

The first thing you did when you got back home to your apartment was search for a good pair of affordable running shoes to help you climb the stairs of Wayne Tower comfortably until you were ready to get in an elevator again.

And ever since that day, Bruce made sure that the elevators were inspected once every week.

[30somethingautisticteacher]

Every Part of Me

"Th-that was amazing," Buck murmured, nuzzling into Tommy's shoulder. His voice was soft, still slightly breathless. "Thank you for...for taking such good c-care of me."

Tommy smiled, pressing a gentle kiss to Buck's temple. "Always, sweetheart," he replied, his tone warm and affectionate. "And your stutter? Absolutely adorable."

Buck froze for a moment, insecurity seeping into his veins. "O-oh," he said, tensing slightly in Tommy's arms. "Is it that...that noticeable?"

Tommy looked at Buck curiously, observing the shift in his demeanor. "I mean, it's definitely something I notice, but I think it's charming. Are you okay?"

Buck's next words came out slowly and deliberately. Tommy could tell he was doing everything in his power not to stutter. "I'm fine. I just didn't realize it was so pronounced."

Sensing Buck's discomfort, Tommy's voice softened. "Baby, relax and talk to me."

Buck met Tommy's eyes, and his walls came tumbling down. "I-I've never...never really talked about th-this before," he began, his voice trembling slightly. "I've had the st-stutter my whole...my whole life. My parents p-put me in speech th-therapy starting at three. I tried, so h-hard to do well. My-my parents hated... hated it, but it never really got b-better."

"Oh Ev-" Tommy began, but Buck continued, his words coming faster now as if a dam had broken.

"I remember my parents getting so...so frustrated with...with me. 'Just sp-spit it out, Evan, we haven't...haven't got all day,'" Buck mimicked, his voice taking on a bitter edge.

Tommy once again felt intense anger towards Buck's parents, fighting the urge to voice exactly what he thought of them. Instead, he listened intently as Buck continued.

"Dr. C-copeland said strong emotions...emotions seem to tr-trigger it," Buck explained, his stutter more pronounced as he delved deeper into his painful past. "And that it w-was probably w-worse around my parents because...because of how they make me feel."

"I was so...so lucky to have M-maddie," Buck said, a hint of warmth entering his voice for the first time since he began his story. "I n-never really...really got p-picked on about it because... because of her."

His lips quirked in a small, fond smile. "A kid c-called me Blabbering...Blabbering Buckley once, and she g-got so angry about...about it that it n-never happened again."

"Just... just recently I've r-realized that strong e-emotions doesn't n-necessarily mean negative...negative ones," Buck said, his eyes meeting Tommy's with a mix of vulnerability and affection.

He took a deep breath before continuing, "I feel...feel strong emotions w-with you all...all the time, Tommy."

"Oh baby, I feel strong emotions with you too," Tommy said, his voice filled with warmth. "I am so glad you shared all of this with me. I never, ever want you to feel bad about your stutter. It's something so endearing and so uniquely Evan. I love it, and..." Tommy paused briefly, his eyes locked on Buck's. "And I love you, Evan."

Buck beamed, hearing those beautiful words for the first time. "I love...love you too, T-Tommy. So...so much."

Tommy pulled him in for a heated kiss, pouring all his emotions into it. When they finally parted, Buck's eyes were shining.

"Thank you for loving all of me," Buck said softly. "Even the parts I don't love about myself."

[cxrdycxps]

Black Box Warning • Ellie Williams

☢️ toxic reader • toxic Ellie • bad for each other • sad reader • mentions of suicide • alcohol abuse • reader and Ellie are kind of rough with each other • grief ☢️

Main Masterlist • Ellie Williams Masterlist

The more of me you see, the less of me you’ll like.

You fucking hated Jackson. You hated starvation more so obviously you didn’t leave. But Jackson was the worst fucking thing that ever happened to you. It was everything your sister would’ve loved but she was dead in a forest in Virginia and here you were. The lone fucking survivor.

Jackson was full of happy people who laughed and smiled and enjoyed the normal life. Jackson was full of fucking actors. There was still a ravaged earth outside their walls and no dance nights in a run down bar would change that.

You went to them though because it was easier to get over served at the bar when it was crowded. Sometimes you’d actually get drunk before Seth cut you off.

There wasn’t much coming or going from Jackson, not in the six months you had lived there. There was a bit of fanfare when some girl showed up with a baby. She had used to live there and her kid belonged to the dead son of the school teacher.

You hadn’t stuck around to hear much more. You didn’t care. People died every fucking day, no one cared, not really or the world would stop. The world should pause for grief but it doesn’t. Sometimes you take a deep breath and you keep running.

Besides working and drinking, Jackson didn’t offer much in a way that let your exorcise your demons. Not until Ellie Williams returned and a couple of smart comments turned into a busted lip. Then you could taste the blood on her lips. Taste the sweat on her skin, taste her orgasm.

It wasn’t love. It wasn’t even like, not really. You ended up living together for convenience, she needed a room and you liked having access to fuck her when you needed to feel something.

There wasn’t a surface in that house that hadn’t been christened with nail gouging, biting, cursing sex. It was rough and ready and it never really helped. Not really.

A lot of people thought you were a couple. Ellie’s not-uncle Tommy thought it, Ellie’s not-right-now-not aunt Maria thought it, and Ellie’s ex girlfriend thought it. Neither of you corrected anyone. There was no point explaining how you both hurt each other to make yourself feel better.

“You were probably really good at this before you lost those fingers.” You told Ellie offhand and then gasped when her teeth punctured the skin of you bicep. “You’re like a fucking rabid dog, Jesus Christ.”

“Oh fuck off.” Ellie abandoned you across the arm of the sofa and you looked over your shoulder at her.

“You’re seriously going to stop?” You asked her, aghast. She only did that when she was really moody.

“Fuck off.”

You muttered under your breath as you pulled your jeans up. Ellie slammed out the door and you stared at the brown hunters’ jacket she had left behind her. The snow had fallen heavily and she had patrol today.

You had to walk by the stables to get to the watch tower and you pulled on your own jacket before grabbing hers and muttering under your breath. At the last minute you tossed the jacket back on the hook. She had left you hanging. Let her get fucking hypothermia.

You were half way to the stables when you met her doubling back and you weren’t too mature to laugh at her when she rolled her eyes at you. “Could’ve brought it.”

“Could’ve let me cum. Go fuck yourself, Williams.” You pulled your own coat tighter against the frozen drifts. When you arrived at the East gate you found your watch partner and tilted your head back to stare at the sky with a groan. “Not my fucking day.”

“Suck it up. Don’t care about your lovers tiff.” Eli snapped at you and you pictured him with a busted lip and several missing teeth. It helped the annoyance. “First Ellie forgets her fucking jacket and then you’re late and complaining.”

“Cut Ellie some slack.” Dina chided Eli and you chuckled to yourself. Always in her corner even when Ellie had abandoned her and her child. “You know what today is.”

“Oh fuck. It’s Joel’s dead day.” You swore before wincing. You knew it had to be something bad for her to leave you hanging like that. “Shit.”

“You forgot her father’s anniversary.” Dina stared at you, a disgusted look on her face. You looked at her with a shrug and her jaw dropped. “The most traumatic experience of her life and you forgot? You’re her fucking girlfriend.”

“I mean, the most traumatic experience was probably her girlfriend being pregnant. That would fuck with me for sure.” You scoffed and made to climb the scaffolding that climbed the wall.

“God you’re so fucking useless to her.” Dina didn’t let it go, following you closely. You blocked her out, wondering what was the point of patrolling the wall when you could barely see the tree line with the snow. “She needs you to support her.”

“Dina, you’re confusing me with someone who gives a fuck.” You told her, watching as the gates opened and the trail patrol groups set out on horse back. “So some old dude got his head bashed in. I didn’t know him. I don’t care.”

“You’re her girlfriend.” Dina repeated and you shrugged. You wondered if you were her girlfriend. That seemed to be too big of a title for housemates that fucked each other to avoid their grief. Ellie hadn’t remembered your sister’s anniversary. Why should you remember Joel’s?

“Look, you fumbled your chance with her. You came back to Jackson to start again without her. If you want her that bad then have her.” You checked the rifle left in the patrol hut and checked the bullets left for you.

“You’d give her up that easy?” Dina asked, astounded in that very judgmental way she had. You looked up at her, bored with the conversation. “You’d just pass her off?”

“I would and yet you still don’t want her.” You laughed. “That’s kind of telling.”

Dina didn’t say anything and you settled in for a long eight hours, the rickety chair creaked when you took a seat on it, rifle in your lap. You wondered if you could argue the cold had earned you an extra drink or two to warm back up. Sometimes Seth felt bad for you. Most times he just told you to fuck off.

“I didn’t just give her up.” Dina spoke what felt like hours later. You didn’t look away from the snow because you didn’t care enough to let her know you were listening. “She left me and JJ. I didn’t expect her to come back.”

“Is it cause she’s down those two fingers? Because let me tell you, that hand? A complete write off. It does nothing of note.” Dina made a disgusted sound and you laughed, incredulous. “I mean you’ve got a kid, you’re not exactly in place to play the blushing virgin.”

“Do you understand what it’s like to love someone who sees themself as a sacrifice?” You would never tell Dina but you understood. Every time you closed your eyes you saw her face as she made the decision to sacrifice her life so that you’d survive.

She was stupid. Your sister. She had so much more to offer the world than you could’ve ever. You’d spent every day for the last five years torturing yourself for her decision. You, better than anyone, related to Dina. You knew what it was to be left behind.

“I do.” You shrugged turning to face Dina. You didn’t tell her you weren’t talking about Ellie. “But I didn’t abandon her, so I guess that makes me better than you.”

“Or it just makes you more stupid.” Dina argued and you knew she probably had a point. You would never tell her. “Ellie ruined everything we had because of a man who she didn’t even like when he died.”

“Stop talking. Or I’ll throw you off the fucking wall.” You pinched the bridge of you nose to fend off the coming headache. It seemed that you had only encouraged her.

“She hadn’t talked to him in months when he died. She felt bad because she hadn’t liked him.” Dina insisted.

“You’re so fucking stupid. He saved her life. I know you’ve seen her fucking arm. They were gonna cut it out of her brain to maybe try and make a vaccine. He killed the fucking doctor and his daughter killed Joel. That’s how it works. It’s a cycle!” You snapped at Dina who looked shocked, leaning away from you. “She loved Joel, she just couldn’t understand his reasoning for choosing her over the rest of the world. He loved her more than the world. You don’t turn into what we are over someone you don’t fucking love.”

“I don’t know-”

“It’s a twenty foot drop. I will make JJ an orphan.”

///

“You sort it out with Dina or you tell her to fuck off.” You didn’t give Ellie a second to even get in the door, finger digging into her chest. “I had to her spend eight hours with her stupid commentary on how I should treat you better.”

“Tell her yourself. I don’t fucking care.” Ellie kicked her converse off and dropped her bag, shrugging by you. “Anything to eat?”

“Do I look like a fucking house wife?” You asked her with a scoff and she rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath. “Head on over to Dina’s, I’m sure she’ll make you something.”

“Stop with the fucking Dina rhetoric, I’m here, ain’t I?” Ellie slammed her hand down on the table in the kitchen and you laughed coldly.

“Should I be glad? Am I winning by eating off a plate that Dina licked clean?” Ellie narrowed her eyes at you and then your head hit the wall. Her hand was around your neck and you let your eyes shut slowly. “Finish what you started.”

“Jesus, you’re such a needy fucking bitch. Picking a fight because I didn’t let you cum this morning. You got fingers, don’t ya?” She asked, her free hand unbuttoning your jeans. She didn’t pull them down, just slipped her hand inside and laughed cruelly. “You been this wet all day or does my hand around your neck really do it for you?”

“Like three fifths of a hand.” You gasped and she squeezed tighter around your neck and pinched your clit cruelly. You would’ve been embarrassed with how much this was working for you if you cared at all what Ellie thought of you. Instead you ground against her hand as she pumped two fingers into you. You shuddered against her when you came and let her push you to your knees.

There was no smart comments when she shucked her jeans and boxers, pushing you forward by a grip on your hair. You didn’t bother to tease, paying extra attention to her clit, just how she liked it. She held you in place while she came and you stayed without complaint while she spasmed around your tongue. “At least you’re good for something.”

“Oh fuck off, Ellie.” You sighed and pushed yourself to stand up. You didn’t give her any further attention and moved for the shower, knowing she would bang on the door as soon as she realized. She preferred showering when she got home.

She got her revenge on you later that night. Hoarse screams came from the next room. Shouts of Joel’s name along with pitiful cries had you shoving your blankets down and making your way into her room.

She sat on the edge of the bed, her head in her hands. She was shivering in the cold and you watched her for a second. “Get out.”

“You’ve woken me twice already.” You told her, leaning on the door frame. She still didn’t look up and you realized she wasn’t shivering. She was crying. “Can’t save them all.”

She had said that to you once, when your told her about your sister. You had punched her and then fucked her for it. She didn’t even react to the words and you stepped into the room. “Get back into bed.”

“Fuck off.” She did as she was told and you slipped in beside her. “I’m not in the mood.”

“Shut up and turn around.” She faced the wall, her back to you and you pressed up against her, an arm around her middle. “It’s too cold to sleep alone tonight.”

///

Ellie was always awkward the day after you shared a bed. It didn’t happen often, it was never planned, and you preferred to pretend it didn’t happen.

“Hey,” Ellie spoke quietly from the kitchen doorway. You didn’t look up, letting your tea steep. “I’m sorry about last night. Yesterday was-”

“Joel’s death day. I know.” She paused in place and you finally looked over to watch her consider your words. “Dina reminded me.”

“Oh. Okay. Well I’m sorry for waking you anyway.” She mumbled and you shrugged. “And thank you.”

“I had to get to sleep at some point.” You told her blandly, turning back to your tea and removing the leaves. “Was the only solution.”

“Jesus, do you have a fucking off button for that attitude. Every time we do anything that might show this is more than fucking you shut down.” You laughed and turned to face Ellie.

“More than fucking? I’m just a hole and a mouth that you use to get yourself off. You are no different for me. If you want emotions go somewhere else.” You told her and she rolled her eyes.

“Imagine your sister sacrificing her whole life for you to end up this bitter fucking shell of a person.” Ellie laughed bitterly. “What a fucking way to honor her.”

“Oh, so that’s how you’re feeling this morning?” You asked with raised eyebrows. “Atleast I didn’t walk out on my girlfriend and kid to trek across the country and avenge my father just to let his killer go at the last second.”

“Your obsession with Dina is bordering on a mental illness.” Ellie accused and you shrugged, sipping at your tea. “She’s into women, you might have a chance.”

“Yeah? So she can turn me into whatever the fuck sort of lap dog she made you? I’ll pass.” You kissed your teeth when Ellie stepped closer. “You act all high and mighty but I know you got down on your knees and begged her to take you back and she said no.”

Ellie clenched her fists and you braced yourself for impact but she only shook her head, turning on her heel and slamming out the door. You stared at the brown hunting jacket for the second day in a row.

You would’ve brought it this time but that wasn’t very ‘bitter shell of a person��� of you.

///

Seth was distracted this evening. He had served you nearly double what he usually did. You let the music drown out your thoughts and sipped at your whiskey. You were bordering on what could be considered tipsy. Your toe was tapping along to the music and it could actually be described as a pleasant evening.

Of course, you never got that kind of peace for long. You weren’t overly polite when a grating voice started somewhere to your left. You ran a hand down your face and tried to ignore it. Everyone else was able to go on with their day and you needed just one good one.

You could have a few more drinks, if Seth was amenable, wait for Ellie to finish her night with Tommy and then get throughly fucked when you got home with Ellie’s hand around your neck and her filthy words in your ears.

“I’m beginning to think you two don’t even like each other.” Nope. There it went. Your pleasant buzz, your nice evening. With just two seconds and a handful of words, Dina had ruined it all.

You ignored her, sipping from your drink again. She didn’t like that and pushed in on your side and took the stool next to yours. You let your head tip back and huffed out a breath. “You never sit near each other in public. Any interaction the pair of you have is openly hostile.”

“Dina, I have worked by your side for four days this week, that’s thirty two whole hours I had to listen to your opinions. I don’t care. Now fuck off.” You told her, tracing your index finger around the rim of your glass. Your pleasant buzz was long gone and now the drink was fueling your anger, riling you up quickly.

“Why bother pretending?” Dina asked and you looked up. Your eyes caught Ellie’s first. She was watching you, half out of her seat. You turned away from her to look at Dina.

“Pretending what?” You asked her with a laugh. “We live together. We fuck. That’s all there is to it.”

“Except every time you looked at her tonight you got this serene little smile on your lips. Why are you pretending you don’t feel anything for her?” Dina asked and you blinked at her.

“Why are you pretending you aren’t mad at her for getting Jesse killed and then passing up the opportunity to kill the one who killed him?” You asked and stood from your stool, downing the last of your whiskey.

You were almost two steps away when a hand gripped your arm. Ellie almost barreled into you in her rush to get Dina’s grip off you. “Don’t fucking touch her.”

Ellie stood in your way to get to Dina and you shook your hands out, keeping your mouth shut now that people were watching. “She doesn’t like that.”

“Time you get on out of here.” Seth spoke from behind the bar.

“Time you stopped over serving her.” Ellie snapped at him, still staring at Dina. Seth only sighed and shook his head.

“It’s her sisters anniversary.” Seth spoke quietly and Ellie laughed bitterly.

“That’s in June. Stop fucking enabling her.” Ellie turned away from Dina and Seth and grabbed your hand in hers and dragged you from the bar. “Is it too much to ask for one nice night?”

You pulled your hand free and crossed your arms. You shouldn’t have to explain yourself to her. You always felt like a child when you did. “It wasn’t-”

“I’m not blaming you. That was all her.” Ellie assured you and you nodded. You stumbled a little, more than tipsy now the air hit you. Ellie’s hand shot out to catch you and you fell against her. “Let’s get you home.”

“Birthday. It’s her birthday.” Ellie paused in place and let you lean against her. She wrapped an arm around you and pulled you against her. “I was trying to have a nice day. Was just enjoying my evening.”

“I know. I was watching you.” Ellie didn’t say anything else but she did urge you to start moving again. You leaned against her and she kept an arm wrapped around you. When you got home she let you go and you wrapped your arms around yourself and made your way to the sofa. “You want a glass of water?”

You didn’t answer Ellie, tipping yourself to the side and pressing your face into the sofa cushions.

///

You woke on the sofa, your head tilted to the side and a blanket tossed over you. Ellie had put a bucket on the ground too. You weren’t the kind of person to puke while drinking but she was so you could understand it.

It was still dark and you were fucking freezing. Your teeth chattered and you shuffled up to your room, changing your clothes quickly and staring at your empty bed. Ellie’s would be warm. Ellie would be warm.

She blinked at you from under her blanket when you cracked her door open. She had left her lamp on and you wondered if it was just in case you came in. She didn’t say anything but she shuffled over and lifted her blanket. You took the offered place, pressing your face into her neck when she wrapped her arms and the blanket around you.

“Thank you.” She only hummed, her hand sliding under your top to softly stroke the skin of your back. It didn’t take her long to drift back off to sleep and you watched her in the low light from the lamp.

You wondered if you could ever be what Ellie needed. You knew she needed to heal, she needed to be forgiven for her imagined sins. You weren’t sure you had that in you. You still hadn’t forgiven your sixteen year old self for letting your sister die.

You had spent every single day since punishing yourself for her death. She was your age now when she died and you wondered if you would ever make that decision?

If you would’ve sacrificed yourself to save her?

You weren’t sure you’d ever done anything that didn’t serve yourself first.

///

“I should’ve fucking known that pairing you up would’ve resulted in this.” Eli sighed when you arrived to the stables without Ellie. “Where is she?”

“Fucked if I know.” You told him honestly. Ellie had been off with you since that night in the bar over a month ago. She disappeared for hours at a time and you hadn’t bothered to ask where she was going to escape you.

“I’m here.” She left the stables with Shimmer and Henry in tow, both of your preferred horses. Ellie shared a look with you but you had nothing to add so you just took Henry’s reins and boosted yourself up onto the horse.

You and Ellie had patrolled together a number of times. It was how you had both first met, back when she had just arrived back in Jackson. It had resulted in some of the best sex of your life.

There wasn’t much discussion between you both, mutters about directions and when to stop and take a break. You usually let Ellie make the decisions because she was outside the wall more often than you were.

She was distracted today though. She had missed two turns and an outpost that needed to be signed. You called her attention quietly the first two times and by the outpost your very limited patience was gone.

“Jesus fucking Christ. Will you pay attention before you get me killed!” You snapped at her, hopping down off Henry to sign the log book stashed inside the dilapidated farmhouse.

“Why do you hate Dina?” Ellie asked when you looked up from your signature. She was standing in the doorway, blocking your exit. “Like you really hate her.”

“I don’t hate her.” You sighed, wondering why Ellie chose now of all moments to bring it up. Maybe that’s where she had been the last month. With Dina. Maybe she was leaving you. Did you have her enough for her to leave?

“You really hate her. Like I thought you were going to punch her that night in the bar.” Ellie sighed and you shrugged. “I need to know why.”

“Why?” You asked her quietly. She wasn’t going to let you leave so you took a seat on a rickety arm chair, dust puffing up when you took a seat. “Why do you need to know all of a sudden?”

“It’s important to me.” She told you earnestly and you shrugged again. You didn’t hate Dina. You disliked her, sure, but you disliked everyone. “I need to know.”

“I guess it would make it easier, huh?” You asked Ellie with a cold laugh. “I tell you why I hate the woman you love and you can go back to her without guilt, right?”

“No. The part of my life spent with Dina is over. I’m not the person I was and it wouldn’t work any longer.” Ellie sighed. “I’m with you now. That’s not going to change because you hate Dina.”

“I don’t fucking hate Dina!” You snapped and Ellie raised her eyebrows at you. You ran a hand over your face and sighed. “I don’t.”

“You feel something very strongly for her.” Ellie moved closer, taking a seat on the sofa. The same plume of dust came up when she sat and she coughed. “I need you to explain it for me.”

“She thinks we’re the same. She thinks because she loved you that she knows what we are.” You told Ellie and she nodded. “She asked me once if I know what it’s like to love someone who sees themselves as a sacrifice.”

“And you do.” Ellie sighed softly. You nodded, your hands clasped tightly. “I don’t think I’ve ever told you that I’m sorry, about your sisters death and how it affected you.”

“I’m sorry about Joel.” You sighed, your head tipping forward so your expression was hidden. “Dina was wrong though.”

“About what?” Ellie asked. You didn’t look up at her this time, the conversation more real that anything either of you had shared before.

“She’s never loved a sacrifice.” You explained, clearing your throat didn’t help, the lump stuck. “You’re not a sacrifice. You’ve never been a sacrifice. Joel knew that, that’s why he stepped in that time. I can see it. You don’t throw yourself into fights you can’t win. You throw yourself into fights you will win.”

“I don’t thin- I don’t know if that’s-”

“You fight for the ones you love. You fight for those who fought for you. Joel risked everything to keep you alive. He was a fighter too. Both of you lost a fight the day he died. But with even ten minutes more of a chance he would’ve lived. The people fighting you both knew that. It took years to be able to beat you.” You explained to her. “That’s not a sacrifice, Ellie. That’s the unfortunate reality of the life we live.”

“I couldn’t save him.” She whispered and you nodded. “I won’t ever forgive myself.”

“I know. I couldn’t save her. She wanted to go. She had always wanted to go. She didn’t sacrifice herself for me. She wanted out and she took it in a way that looked meaningful.” You explained and Ellie blinked at you. “She was always sad. She always had been. She welcomed death. I’ll never forgive her.”

“I didn’t know that.” Ellie whispered and you looked up at last to face her. You didn’t say anything, wiping under your eyes. “You never told me.”

“I don’t discuss my feelings Ellie.” You sighed, exhausted. “So no, I don’t hate Dina. I’m jealous that she got this version of you, one that was full of life and she let you go over some misguided theory.”

“You wish I wasn’t like this.” Ellie wasn’t asking. “You want who I was.”

“I want who we were.” You explained. “If we had both met at eighteen we’d have been unstoppable. I would’ve had the love you needed.”

“You don’t love me now?” This time Ellie was asking and you blinked at her.

“Of course I love you. I think you might be the only person in this world that I love. But I don’t love you how you need.” You told her with a sigh. “We ruin each other every night and then kiss the cracks we’ve left on each other’s hearts like that will fix it. This ain’t healthy.”

“So you want to break up?” Ellie asked and you shook your head. You wanted her to understand so bad.

“I should want to. I should leave so that we can both heal but Ellie, I can’t live without you. So we’ll never get better.”

///

You thought Ellie would come home more after your conversation. You had never felt as exposed as you had returning from the patrol. She had walked back to the house with you, arms just barely brushing when you walked.

You hadn’t even made it in the door when she was pinning you against the wall, her face pressed into your neck. She had kissed her way down your body, undressing you tenderly. You hadn’t ever experienced this gentleness from her and you had to choke back the tears that welled in your eyes.

It had been so long since someone had been gentle with you that you had almost forgotten what it felt like.

She made you cum with her mouth and when you tried to return the favor she had only pulled you close and in a move she had never made before, she hugged you close and kissed your forehead.

She left you soon after, claiming she had something she needed to do. You let her leave, your own mind on what you had to do.

You pushed into the kitchen, pulling the bottle of whiskey out from the drinks cabinet and emptied the whole thing down the drain. You winced, watching the last of it leave the bottle.

You left then and headed straight for the Tipsy Bison. Seth met you at the counter looking stern. “Three is your cut off point tonight.”

“No, I’m not- would you, could you cut me off? Altogether?” You asked him, hesitating. “Even if I ask?”

“If you’re sure?” He asked you and you nodded. He shook his head with a smile and you gave him a weak offer of a smile back. “I’ll let the others know. This is a good thing, kid.”

“Yeah, I’m not sure if I believe it.” You told him and he laughed. “It’s an important thing though.”

“She’s worth every bit of it.” Seth promised and this time you laughed, amazed at how transparent you were being. “It’s time the two of you realized that.”

///

When you got home Ellie hadn’t returned. You wondered again where it was that she had been disappearing off to. You didn’t want to push her, waiting to see if she’d come to you. If things really had changed.

It wasn’t until you went to bed that you found the note on your pillow.

I need you to know that I know how this looks. I know it looks like I set everything up today just to let you down again. I didn’t know that you felt the way you did. I didn’t know that you could ever love me. I’ve been planning this for a while and I hate that we got so close to being normal and I’m going to ruin it. Maybe you’re right, maybe in another life or another timeline we would’ve been happy. I’m sorry that it isn’t this one.

I need to do this.

Love always,

Ellie.

[madaboutmunson]

Fluff

For @strangerthingswritersguild prompt : ‘Fluff’

Word count: 3824

——————————————————-

Eddie parked up and took a few grounding breaths before leaving his vehicle.

He knew he, Steve, was gonna be here today, and today he was gonna ask him out. It had been ten years and times had changed a little, and he now knew Steve wasn’t the kind of guy to knock him out if he found out he was gay. After Robin revealing her coming out to Steve story.

And, he’d totally wait until one of them was leaving so it didn’t have to be awkward.

But this was Eddie, and never mind the path of true love, none of his paths ran smooth and if it looked like it was, he’d better watch out for the sudden long drop to sink hole he was about to plummet into.

So when Eddie checked himself over in the mirror one last time, and was giving himself a pretty intense pep talk in it, he didn’t catch the dark green Jeep Cherokee pull up next to him.

He also didn’t see 1996 Steve Harrington hurry in to the building arms laden with things.

Eddie grabbed the card with wad of cash in it, for the new happy couple. He’d been doing pretty well for himself lately, and Dustin and Suzie were only just reemerging into the world after being in the academic world for so long. He wasn’t even sure if they had any intention of leaving it.

He hopped down out of the van and smoothed over his suit which he had to compromise on, suit he could do, but tie and buttoned up the collar? Absolutely not!

But as he slammed the door shut and locked up, he heard a way too close.

“What’s up, nerd?” Followed by a sweet laugh Eddie would know anywhere, and he knew full well that laugh continued because Eddie had jumped out of his skin.

“Steve!” Eddie can’t help the way his face lit up at the sure and happy smile directed his way, “Good to see ya man,” he beamed and stuck out his hand.

Steve looked down at the ringed hand between them, pulled a face as he scoffed a laugh, grabbed Eddie’s hand and pulled him in for a hug.

“Good to see you again, man. Sorry I hadn’t been in touch more,” He said squeezing Eddie tight and releasing him to step back and look him over, “Wow, you haven’t aged a day. Oddly strange to see your forehead,” Steve chuckled.

Eddie touched his forehead at the mention of it, “Couldn’t keep the bangs if not even Hetfield and Dickenson could keep ‘em,” he mumbled with an irrepressible smirk, “Glad to see a decade hasn’t flattened yours,” Eddie looked up at Steve’s much shorter at the back, but still elegantly swooped over hair.

“Yeah, at least I held onto all the good things from back then,” Steve smiled, “Well most of them. Where’s your date?”

“Ah, yeah, no date for me, for the wedding I mean, I can get dates, lots of them in fact when I’m not all caught up with work,” Eddie cringes internally, and tries to make a save, “Yours?”

“Inside,” Steve chuckled, and Eddie’s heart shattered.

“Cute is she?” Eddie tried to pull a distraction with conversation, whilst his inner minions swept to the shards in his chest cavity.

“The cutest!” Steve beamed, his smile was wide and bright, making his eyes narrow and sparkle. Eddie didn’t think he’d ever seen someone more happy. Maybe his uncle when Steve arranged a secret Eddie trade, after all the upside down business, to get him out of Hawkins and its pitchfork wielding residents.

Eddie nodded as they entered the main building, “I’m happy for you, man,” he said sincerely, because though he wished it was him, Steve really did deserve a happy ending.

“Hey I’m just gonna hit the bathroom before I get into the festivities,” Eddie juts a thumb at the sign in the wall, figuring he can use it as an excuse to reset and start the night over with a different ambition, “I’ll catch you inside, man. You can introduce me to your girl,” he said fondly.

“Yeah! We’d love that. I’ll save you a seat with us. Oh wait a second-“ Steve says back with way too much excitement. He must really like this chick, or maybe everyone else here hates her? But before Eddie can escape Steve is way too close. So close he’s inhaling his cologne, and obviously it’s exquisite.

“You had some fluff in your hair,” Steve smiled and handed Eddie the offending debris.

Eddie chuckled genuinely this time, “Ah, perks of the job free fluff with every stuff.”

Steve wrinkled his nose up adorably in confusion.

“I make toys, teddy bears, Eddies’s-“ Eddie starts to explain, but Steve’s eyes are wide with excitement and he’s pointing and talking over him.

“Eddie’s Teddies! That’s you? Oh my god! Oh my god . My baby loves those. I must have gotten her at least four from the fairytale collection. No more than that. We got some of the professionals' collections too. We’ve got the sailor, the baseball player, the stunt driver, the movie star, and the,” Steve pauses and his words slow down, “and the ice cream man.”

Steve is just staring like he wants to say something but the words won’t come out. Eddie swallows and quickly breaks the tension, “Yeah that’s me. listen I gotta go take a leak, I’ll be right with ya.”

Eddie’s hurries inside the cubicle, screws up his eyes and thumps himself against his head a few times. Idiot. Now Steve is gonna feel fucking awkward all night knowing Eddie had a decade long crush on him.

No. He could save this. Eddie could save this. He’d say it was a thank you. Yeah, a thank you for saving his life. Ok, cool. He was gonna go with that, and meet the love of Steve’s life and then get lost in the party, so he can avoid them for the rest of the evening.

With an emptied bladder, washed hands and an extra fluff check, Eddie entered the main room.

He is mobbed by a large section of the guests, leaving the other seventy percent of the room wondering who the hell he was and maybe he was famous or something. He catches up and then finally gets to congratulate the happy couple and heads to the bar to grab a soda.

He felt a tug on his bracelet.

“Gee mister, that’s pretty shiny. Where’d ya get it?”

Eddie looks down to follow the voice and is met with two huge blinking hazel eyes in a flurry of brown hair.

“I made it, when I was a kid,” he smiled.

“You made it?” the kid asked in awe, pushing the mass of brown bangs out of her eyes for a closer look.

“Sure did. Bit of chain, bit of leather, some snaps and Sabbra Cadabra a bracelet,” he smiled.

She giggled, “It abracadabra, silly!”

“Oh is it now? My mistake. I better go call up Ozzy and tell him.” Eddie played along with a sad sigh.

“Who’s Ozzy?”

“Only one of the greatest heavy metal singers of all time!” Eddie enthused and threw up the horns and made a silly face, which only further plunged the little girl further into the giggles.

“You’re silly. Like daddy, but you’ve got long hair like, uh, elif cub,” she smiled up at him.

Eddie looked around the immediate area and there did not seem to be anyone he would label as a Daddy in the vicinity.

He knelt down to her level, “Speaking of Daddy, shall we go find him?”

“Yah!” She said stretching her arms up to Eddie, which he took as a queue to pick her up, “I’ll show you him.”

And when this little girl points directly at a sweating, out of breath, clearly distressed Steve who was hurtling their way. Eddie’s heart couldn’t decide to soar for his friend being a parent or sink for himself as a kid meant this was serious.

“Honey, you can’t run off like that, ok?” Steve says softly though he was clearly very worried.

Eddie handed over Little Miss Harrington, to Steve, and he immediately relaxes with her in his arms, “Thanks Eddie, I had a bottle mishap and turned away for a few seconds and she was gone.”

He can see the way his brow creased that Steve felt like he really fucked up.

“Hey, it could happen to anyone, man. Kids are so fast, and if I’m anything to go by, very sneaky and creative,”Eddie offered him a friendly smile, and he watched as Steve’s shoulders relaxed one more setting, “How about I come over and meet your date and I can sit with the kid whilst you go get cleaned up and the bottle done, yeah?”

Steve looks confused, but walks towards a table in the corner which it’s strewn with toys, books, pacifiers, an open jar of applesauce with a spoon sticking out of it, a bag full of diapers and wipes and creams, and a spilled baby bottle.

But no one else was there.

Eddie sees the deep blush hit Steve’s face as he places his little girl in a high chair, and quickly tries to tidy up so Eddie can sit down.

But he can’t have that.

Eddie pushes Steve firmly into a seat, then cracks open and puts a soda in his hand as he begins to tidy up his own space. Making it all a show by pretending to sample the bottle and applesauce and finding them disgusting, much to the amusement of the little girl. Even reading passages from the books as if performing on stage. ‘A is for apple’ is performed with such dramatics, with Eddie propping on foot up on a chair, flailing his arms around, even Steve started to laugh.

Once he has two Harrington’s giggling he sits down with a big ‘mission accomplished’ smile. As he raised his eyes, they meet Steve’s sparkling ones, but this time maybe they’re a little for him too.

“Eddie, let me introduce you to my date for the evening. My daughter, Georgina,” Steve gestured to the little girl in the high chair currently chewing on the corner of a book.

“Hey sweetie, This is Eddie. He makes the teddy bears you like,” Steve beamed, but Georgina couldn’t be less interested, in Eddie right now, because the main lights had dimmed to make way for more colourful ones moving around the dance floor.

Eddie wants to leave it there. Accept the facts Steve is a family man now. Move on. But the way he’s looking at him, making him feel like a knight in shining armor, Eddie can’t help himself, and he has to know for sure.

“So-“

“There is no one,” Steve shouts quickly over the music and immediately shrinks back in volume, “I mean, I’m not dating anyone or married or anything. I really wanted to be a dad, and relationships just were not working out, you know,” he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, “So I got a surrogate,” he beams at Georgina, who is clapping her hands and kicking her feet to the music, but quickly casts his eyes down, “But being a parent is a lot harder than I thought.”

“Hardest job you’ll ever do, if you believe my uncle, who technically didn’t sign up for it,” Eddie smiled and Steve mirrored it, “But she’s happy and confident, you’re doing great.”

“Thanks,” Steve says quietly, and Eddie can tell he doesn’t believe him, so he opts for a change of subject.

“Who is Elif Cub?”

Steve’s eyebrows spring up, “Uh, well,”

“Hey man, you don’t gotta say, Gina, said I had long hair like them. I was just being nosy,” Eddie waves the question away, “You want me to grab you another drink or something to eat?” Eddie says standing up.

“It’s you,” Steve blurts out and in response to Eddie’s confusion, “Elif Cub. Has long hair like you because they are you. In a photo on my wall. From the hospital when we snuck people in to play d&d for a few hours.”

Eddie smiles in realisation, “Elif Cub. Hellfire Club.” He puts his hands on his hips and leans into Steve’s space with a smirk, “You have a lot of pictures of me on your walls, Steve?”

Steve’s Adam’s apple bobs in his throat, “Just the one,” he confirms, and Eddie leans back, “But-but I’d like more. I mean we should hang out more.”

Eddie raised his eyebrows in surprise, and slowly sat back down. He looks between Steve and the table a few times and taps on it, before asking, “Is this a pity thing because of the bears?”

A gorgeous smile erupted across Steve’s face and he laughed, “No, but I can’t believe I didn’t realise until today. Robin’s right I am a dingus.”

Eddie’s freshly glued back together heart is pounding ferociously in his chest, “So, by, more photos and hanging out. Do you mean, like, friendly hanging out?” He asked cautiously.

“Well of course it would be friendly we’re friends aren’t we?” Steve said with a furrowed brow.

Eddie was struggling with words, which was extremely rare. He wanted to know if there could be something more but also didn’t want to make Steve feel awkward, if it was a no.

“Ok let me preface this by saying I really love the idea of being closer friends, that is a definite thumbs up from me. Big fat yes,” Eddie laughed a little nervously mostly talking to the table, “But I wanna be transparent about something.”

He raised his eyes and Steve looked like he was hanging on Eddie’s every word, until-

“Daddy? I’m hungry,” Georgina asked sweetly.

“Oh my gosh. Yes. Yes! I’ll be right on it sweetheart, just let me find the… Damn I need to heat it up. I mean darn,” Eddie watched Steve deflate opposite him, and he reached across the table and took his hand.

“Hey, that was my fault, talking your ear off, ok? I’ll entertain Gina the best I can. You sort out whatever you need to ok? You’re doing great,” Eddie smiled at him.

“It was just. I’d just got used to the bottles and jars and now she’s on, like real food, which should be way easier right?” Steve shook his head as he searched through the bag retrieving a few Tupperware boxes, “I won’t be long youre a lifesaver Eddie, thank you. There is some fruit here, honey, ok? Steve said setting the tub of chopped up fruit and vegetables on the high chair, which her little hands plunge straight into, and she starts munching away.

Eddie watches her shovel the beautifully carved fruit into her mouth. Each piece perfectly sized, cut into stars, hearts, rainbows, even some melon balls carved to have a rose like texture.

Steve hurried back from the kitchen area wafting a small meal on a plate, trying to cool it down.

“Ah those Dino chicken nuggets never go out of style,” he smiled at Steve, who gave he a sweet sigh of defeat.

“I honestly tried to avoid them but she really likes them,” Steve shrugged.

“Steve, I see what you’re doing, and you're wearing yourself out doing it,” Eddie says gently. He wants Steve to know he’s not judging him, but he does care about how stressed he seems.

Steve turned his eyes up to his, “Is it that obvious?” He said a little defeated.

“Listen, all these cute things you do for her are great and they are special but make sure you’re in a space to enjoy them too, you know? That beautiful melon ball got chomped on just like the carrot stick in her fist.” Eddie pointed out, “And yeah sometimes I guess you gotta make food fun for kids to get into it, but it doesn’t have to Michelin star carvings every meal.”

Steve scoffs, “Come on it’s hardly-“

“You know what I’m getting at, Steve, and I think I know why,” Eddie said gently reaching over the table, “Your making two childhoods here, right?”

Steve looks at him a little guilty, but Eddie only smiles in response, “Nothing wrong with wanting to give your kid all the things you wanted as a kid, but not at detriment to your stress levels. Kids are emotion sponges. You get anxious, they might get anxious. So try to relax. You’re doing a great job, Steve. Maybe you don’t hear that enough.” Eddie turns his hand reaching across the table palm up.

He watches Steve carefully. Watches him stare at his hand the breath catch in his chest and suddenly how his hand tentatively reaches out and takes his.

He looks up at him, and Eddie knows he’s searching for what it all means, but Eddie just holds his hand, soothingly rubs his thumb on the back of it.

“It’s why I make the bears.” He smiled over at him, and looked out at the dance floor as he continued to talk leaning over the table so Steve could hear him, whilst Gina dunked her Dino’s in their ketchupy demise.

“I had a teddy bear when I was a kid. I took that thing everywhere. It used to make my mom laugh. She called me her Eddie-bear. When I lost her. All I had left was my bear. I couldn’t hug her anymore, so it was all I had,” he swallowed thickly, “You can imagine it got a little grubby and torn, but my Dad didn’t fix him up or wash him. He picked him up and threw him in the trash one day when I was at school. I cried my eyes out. Couldn’t find the thing. He got me a plastic truck to say sorry. Which wasn’t the same, but if you knew my Dad, you’d know that was him trying his best.” Eddie laughed and shook his head as he turned back to Steve, “So that’s why I make the bears, and every bear we make, I keep the instructions to make it. So if my business ever failed, or when I’m not around anymore. No one has to be without their bear. They can get an exact replacement. So I guess we’re both trying to heal our childhoods in different ways.”

Steve nodded, “And the outfits?” He said with a light smirk and a slight sparkle to his eyes.

“Hmmm, let’s just say when I got a little older, I found a different Teddy Bear I wanted for myself, but I wasn’t exactly sure if he would want me back,” Eddie shifted his glance between Steve’s eyes and the table, “And it’s absolutely fine if he doesn’t because-“

“The thing you should know about that Teddy Bear is, they don’t make them like him anymore. He’s a little fragile, and frazzled. A lot of wear and tear. Especially here,” Steve gestured to the centre of his chest, and looked at Eddie with a nervousness he had never seen before.

“So if you want him he’s yours, on the understanding that, he’s a pretty busy bear, and he’s looking for someone to care for, long term. He can’t have any more casual owners, especially not one like you.”

The air got heavy between them. Eddie hadn’t counted on making big promises so fast. He hadn’t counted on Steve singling Eddie specifically out as someone special. What if he screwed up or it turned out they didn’t like one another as much as he thought they might?

It was almost like Steve could sort of read his mind, “But if you’re not looking to keep him for a long time, maybe if he’s still alone in a few years, and gets fixed up a little. Maybe he could handle a play date?” Steve’s eyes had not moved from Eddie’s.

“No. He’s perfect right now. He always has been. I guess I’m just worried because he’s so rare and valuable to so many. To me. What if I accidently damaged him, or wasn’t the good owner I thought I’d be?”

Steve’s face relaxed at Eddie’s concern, “it’s not about predicting the future. It’s about intention.” Steve smiled, and released his hand.

Eddie sipped his drink and mulled it over. Half sort of impressed with the grace Steve is giving him to think about it. If it were the other way around he’d be gnawing on the table between them, in anticipation. Instead Steve cleaned up Gina and her plate.

Then as he looked around the room and his eyes fell back to Steve the answer was so clear, he couldn't believe he took a few minutes to think about it.

He got up out of his seat and walked towards the bar.

Eddie saw Steve’s face and shoulders drop for a second as he walked away, but his smile at his daughter didn’t falter.

As he pushed through the crowd he found Robin, “Hey, how well do you know Steve’s little girl?” He asked, unsure of the situation.

“Uh pretty well, you could say. I designed her last Halloween outfit. I had a ticket to her nativity. Basically co-parented when I watched Steve put a spoon of salt in his coffee and then drink it!” She responded with such affronted sarcasm that Eddie knew he had asked the correct person.

“I wanna ask Steve to dance. Would you watch her for him?” Eddie asked hopefully.

Robin’s eyes went wide, “Finally!” She added with a wide smile and yanked Eddie back towards Steve's table and basically shoved him into him.

“Uh, Steve, do you maybe wanna dance?” Eddie extended his hand out towards his dream guy.

Steve looked at Eddie’s hand and then at Robin snuggling Georgina tightly to her as she shooed him away with her hand like she was annoyed they were still there.

Steve nodded and took his hand.

It wasn’t exactly the slow dance Eddie was hoping for but it was close enough for him to hold Steve like it was.

“I’d really like to give it a shot if you haven’t changed your mind. I mean I’m not perfect, there will be challenges, but I promise,” he said holding their joined hands to his chest, “I will work hard at every single one to keep you safe, happy and in my arms.”

Steve smiled softly, “I haven’t changed my mind,” he said gazing at Eddie.

“I hope you realise this is going to cost me a small fortune now though?” Eddie teased lightly as Steve’s chest pressed against his own.

“What do you mean?” Steve laughed a little confused.

“Well now I’m going to have to make a new bear to look after the original model.” Eddie grinned as Steve rolled his eyes and they swayed to the music.

[aziraphales-library]

Hiiiii, i hope you're all having an amazing day on whichever day this gets seen, i owe you my life for running this incredible blog 💛💛💛

Would you happen to know of any meet cute human au fics in which Crowley is a cat dad? (preferably M or E rated, but im not that picky) There's just something very endearing to me about Crowley owning a cat that i can't explain...

Thank you in advance for your help!! 💛

Hello! Here are some fics in which Crowley has a cat...

with the help of a cat, or two by whicorzoo (G)

In which the cat in the window of the flat right across from Crowley's is unfairly perfect, so on a particularly whimsical night, he decides to put up a sign in his window to tell his neighbor as much. By morning, he's forgotten about it, until he sees it in his window and regrets the decision entirely. He expects to have his cool, intimidating facade never taken seriously again. He does not expect a response.

Pass the Star by mageofthepeople (E)

An Ineffable Wives roller derby AU Azalea Fell meets Antoinette Crowley at her first roller derby bout with a new league. After an incident leads to a trip to A&E, the two are drawn to one another but Crowley is reluctant to potentially ruin a great friendship for something more.

But, soft! by On1OccasionFork (M)

With love's light wings did I o'erperch these walls, For stony limits cannot hold love out; And what love can do, that dares love attempt. Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me. -Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene ii Crowley's life is going well. He's got his shop, his friends, and a new flat with a balcony perfect for a few plants. That's when things start to get complicated.

love like yours (will surely come my way) by CCs_World (T)

Dr Zira Fell is a new professor of theology at St Beryl's University. His first day there he meets the mysterious and enchanting Dr AJ Crowley, an art history professor and a painter. They almost immediately become friends, and spend most of their time getting lunch together, talking, drinking wine, making art, and falling slowly in love with one another. Featuring cameos of everyone's favorite (and least favorite) characters, gratuitous descriptions of paintings, long text messaging conversations, and one cranky cat.

Or Be Nice by charlottemadison (E)

Crowley and Aziraphale are neighbours. And...it does not go at all well, until it does. A human AU in which Aziraphale is a bookseller, Crowley is a drummer, and they are both petty disasters in the worst/best way. +++ “So what’s your deal?” “My-my-my deal?” Aziraphale stammered. “I’m a bookseller, is my deal.” “Oh,” Crowley replied, sounding as uninterested as it was possible to sound. “It’s just, I couldn’t help overhearing, and --” Aziraphale swallowed hard. “You really are an accomplished musician. But I thought -- for after 11PM -- perhaps we could reach some arrangement?” “Arrangement?” Aziraphale felt his his smile turning forced. “Such as, perhaps, playing the drums *before* eleven? Instead of after?” Crowley stared blankly at him. In fact he stared for so long that Aziraphale briefly wondered if he'd lapsed into ancient Greek again, which he was known to do in bad dreams or during panic attacks.

Whickber Street by Caedmon (E)

Anthony J. Crowley doesn’t think he’s ever been so happy. He’s finally quit his old job and is opening his childhood dream: a comic book shop. All of the neighbors are great, but the bookseller seems to hate him… Aziraphale Eastgate grew up in his great grandfather’s shop. Now he runs it and lives above it. He loves everything about his life on Whickber Street…. but the new proprietor down the street has him terribly, terribly vexed. Sparks fly when these two meet, and Aziraphale vows to hate him forever. Fergus, meanwhile, sets a timer. Looks like Cupid has come to Soho.

- Mod D

[iviorienne]

When I was your man.

Alastor x f! Reader

๑ | Tw : angst, toxic relationship, mentions of death, mentions of blood, gore!

Part one | part two ( final )

𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

Ever since you left, alastor felt lost, he have never once felt like this when you were still around, so what's happening to him now. Even the bed that he once shared with you felt a little too big for him, too big for his comfort that it kept him up all night trying to find what was wrong with the nights after you left on why he was sleepless.

Even at his work, everything doesn't feel the same. It feels there's void in his chest. Bidding goodbyes to his listeners on his broadcast and the studio, a certain song started playing. It was yours and his favorite song, yes even with the complicated relationship between the two of you,the both of you still shared some similarities to bond with.. Somehow.

But hearing it again knowing that you are no longer by his side, feels so wrong.

When did this song felt so sad?

He thought to himself. A heavy sigh escaped his lips and raked his hand through his brown locks and decided to pay his old friend a visit, Mimzy. Thinking the short blonde could fix the problem he's currently dealing with.

Unfortunately, the short woman didn't even helped his nor ease his proble. Not one bit. The only thing mimzy ever talked about is Y/N this, Y/N that. It's driving him mad, it felt like a hurricane building up to his chest and mind whenever your name is mentioned. Oh how he hated how affected he is by just the mention of your name. Alastor didn't stayed long at the bar and left mimzy's bar.

Alastor is known for his never faltering smile, but in that night. He had troubles with maintaining it.

On his way home, Alastors mind is clouded with nothing but you He doesn't get it, he doesn't understand it, why in seven rings of hell he's feeling this way now? He despise not understanding things. Bumping into a drunken couple. The two drunkyards didn't even apologize, even spilling their drink on his coat. Such filth.

A sinister smirk crept up into his lips as he slowly turned back at the couple just a few steps away from him.

Alastor breathe heavily. His eyes are wide,filled with bloodlust.h his smile looked a lot sinister then before. His grip on his dagger tightened that his knuckles turned white. He have already murdered the man, but left the woman was untouched. He doesn't know why, why can't he hurt this woman? Why? He have murdered a few women's before, so what's the different with this one.

The woman stared at him with complete and utter fear. Her back pressed against the alley wall, her E/C eyes never once leaving alastors form. Too afraid to make sudden moves to alarm Alastor and end up killing her as well.

E/C eyes..

Oh now he understand it.

The woman just below him reminds him of his runaway wife. Well not exactly but her eyes reminds him of her. Pretty big doe E/C eyes.. Ah how he missed it. But his heart stung once again upon remembering that she ran away with another man.

Alastor knelt down to the shaking woman, she tensed as she clutched her now deceased husband hat close to her chest. Her eyes never left alastors honey ones.

" such a pretty eyes you have, my dear. " he chuckled softly,voice filled with tenderness while admiring the woman's eyes. A whimper escaped her lips. The drunked look on her before left just after alastor advances to her lover. She's completely a sobber now.

" reminds me so much of my darling wife. " He murmured,his voice is barely audible. He reached out to her cheeks and wiped her tears. With his bloodied hands, the blood of her beloved is smudged against her cheeks. She let out a broken cry and clutched the hat tighter to her chest. A pathetic attempt of seeking comfort.

" but sadly, my darling doe left..choose to ran with a low life trash. Could you believe that? " he chuckled bitterly as he retracted his hand away from her cheek.

The woman let out a sobbed as she took a deep breath " w... Who wouldn't.. R-run away from a s-sacred man like you.. " what.

" pardon? " alastor tilted his head to the side as his eyes are blown wide, bloodlust seeping through his crazed smile as he stared at the woman.

More tears escaped her eyes as she hugged the bloodied hat of her deceased lover.

" you deserved it! She did the right thing leaving a man like you! A man like you doesn't deserve single ounce of affection in this world! She doesn't dese- " she was cut off by alastor slamming the knife to her neck, the sound of blood squirting to her neck and her gurgles was the only thing can be heard from the dark alley of Louisiana.

" a mere low life like you dont have ANY rights to give opinions about me and my wife. " he growled as his grin got a lot more sinister as he buried the knife to her neck, his eyes dugged to her E/C ones as it slowly lost it life.

" What a pity. If only you know how to keep your mouth shut I would have spared your life. " alastor sscoffe. He pulled out the knife in her neck, blood immediately oozed out from the wound.

Alastor admired his work at the two corpses below him. He heaved out a sighed. He carefully inserted back his dagger back in his pocket and swung the man to his right shoulder while the woman to his left. Alastor may appear as a thin and scrawny lookin man, but don't let that fool you, this man is packed with strength hidden beneath his thin and slim body.

Alastor stared at the fireplace, lost, with a whiskey in his hand. His mind running back to the times where you would bring him to a field of flowers, stopping in the side walk just to admire the flower shop. Oh how he missed how your eyes would brightened with a hint of envy everytime you saw man brings fgive flowers for their spouses. Regret swirled to his chest as he fights off a frown showing. More unwanted-yet-wanted memories flooded his mind.

Regret, sadness, longing, everything swirled to his chest.

He regretted not holding your hand in any time he can, he regretted not spending his time with you, he regretted not taking you out to parties and dance your hearts out,since he remembered how much you loved to dance, well it's quite funny.. That's how the two of you met.

You were dancing like a free bird with the biggest smile in your lips as you dance your heart out while he silently admired you from the bar with a beer on his hand. Alastor placed the emptied glass on the table as he waltz his way towards your figure, you flinchee when you crashed to a toned chest, when you tilted your head up, you're heart fluttered to see a very-good-looking man towering you. He bend down slightly with his left arm tucked behind him while his right was stretched in front of you.

" may I take this dance with you? Mon chéri? " he smiled charmingly, heat runs to your cheek before you shyly held his hand.

The two of you danced like there's no tommorow in that night with mimzy cheering for the bar stands.

He chuckled bitterly at the memory as he sip his whiskey. He misses you, he won't admit it, but he misses your company dearly. He feel so stupid. Stupid that he have never taken those chance with you inn the years of your marriage. He sighed.

His heart clenched more as the thought now trailed to you and your now current lover.

He wished for him to give you flowers when he couldn't, hold your hands and give you all his hours, when he couldn't, take you to parties and dance your night away.. When he couldn't.

Do all the things he should've done.

When he was your was man.

[soniclozdplove]

@quitealotofsodapop you thank you for helping me so much with this au

Wukong is playing to good host to the Pilgrims, even whilst they seemingly continuously made asses of themselves. To be fair to them, their reaction to a television could have gone worse. The only casualty to that anomaly of technology and magic is a broken VR headset at least, and Wujing had been profusely apologetic since they got it into his head that the machine wasn't some demon trap. And they were trying very hard to be gracious guests! There was just one singular problem that kept getting on the way.

This is not the Pilgrims Wukong had known at the end of the Journey. Not the brave and selfless Tripitaka, not the loyal and true Ao Lie, not the steadfast Wujing, and maot definitely not the rough around the edges but still very kind Zu Baije. And it was clear to them that they felt much the same about Wukong, flinching st every move he made as if e expecting him to attack if given the chance, much like he would have done had he been given the chance early on in the journey. Wukong was happy to see his brother's again, but instead of the family he had found along the journey, he instead has the cowardly monk, selfish pig, meek dragon, and unenthusiastic water demon he had started the journey with. The ones who hated and feared him and he hated and feared in turn before time and many enemies along the way broke through each other's walls and forced them to bond together.

At the very least Ao Lie was enthusiastic to see him and excited about learning about how life has evolved from the Tang dynasty. He took one glance at the many photos around the house and clocked onto Mei as being his decendant immediately. He's been enthusiastically talking about baby dragons since and asking about every little thing in the picture. Wukong was happy to tell him of the little spitfire hatchling thay inherited his sword and how the world has changed their view on many things, proper behavior of men and women included. He even showed Ao Lie some of the outfits Mei and he picked out together in their last shopping trip, dresses and skirts included.

That's when Zu Baije put his foot in his mouth by commentating on the fact Wukong was cross dressing, putting Wukong in a terrible mood. After reaming Baije out on his sexist ideologies and how out of date they were even amongs Tang era demons, frightening Tripitaka into hiding under the couch cushions in the process, Wukong had stormed out to where MK had been cleaning up a bit, havinf insisted on doing that to give Wukong time with his old friends, fur puffed irritably.

"Oh, that's not a good sign." MK paused from scrubbing the wall he was cleaning to comment the moment he saw Wukong's tail lashing about like a snake, "What happened?"

"I didn't hit any of them, if that's what your asking about." Wukong grumbled, grabbing a spare bristle brush and stepping up next to MK to help, "Just... forgot how people in the Tang dynasty viewed... certain types of dress."

"They found the dresses?"

"Yup."

"Baije make fun of you?"

"How'd you know it was Baije?" Wukong quirked a brow at his apprentice, fairly certain he'd never told him anything about the Pilgrims for him to come to that conclusion. MK gave him an awkward grin in return.

"I maaay have started reading the book. At least some of it. Macaque was bugging me about it."

"I see." Wukong frowned at that, because if MK had gotten far enough into the book that he'd know Baije was an asshole, then he probably knows about all the things Wukong had done at his worst. It makes him worry about what impression thay made on his young apprentice.

[lunajay33]

Change Part.3

•🩰🎀🩷•

Summary: Y/n is a loner but loves ballet but her family doesn’t have enough money for her to dance at the studio, Daryl is a redneck who hates people and prefers bikes, until one day these two run into eachother and their lives change drastically, will Daryl toughen her up? Will y/n soften Daryl? Or both? How will things go when people start coming back from the dead

Pairing: Young Daryl Dixon x f!reader

A/n: This is going to be a series, it’s gonna start with how they met eachother and their lives before the apocalypse, eventually it’ll blend with twd story line!!

Part.2

•Masterlist•

I woke up feeling groggy and exhausted from the events of the day before, rolling over to see Daryl still laid out on the makeshift bed of blankets on the ground by my bed

“Daryl?” I said reaching down and shaking his shoulder

“Hmm?” He groaned opening his eyes to look up at me

“It’s morning, do you wanna go get some breakfast?”

“Sure”

I got up and rummaged through my drawers pulling out a pair of black leggings and longsleeve white shirt that had a tiny pink bow on the collar

“Mind if I change here?” I asked seeing as Daryl was already looking at me

“Go fer it”

I turned around and undressed throwing my pajamas in my laundry bin then quickly putting on the new days outfit, when I finished I turned seeing him with a wide smile

“What?”

“Cute panties” he said laughing under his breath obviously talking about my pink panties with white little lace trimming

“Stop” I said lighting pushing his arm

“As if yours are any better” I said as we both looked at his plaid boxer

We went out to the diner and had some breakfast, I didn’t wanna stay in the house knowing Jackson was still there

May was there and took our orders when we sat at the counter

“Thanks again for staying with me last night” I said as I stirred my straw in my water hearing the ice cubes clink together

“ ‘s nothin, didn’ wanna leave ya there knowin those assholes were still there” he said shrugging

It was silent for a while after that as we got our food and ate in peaceful silence, then paying May and leaving

“Wanna come over?” He asked as the dinner door behind us rang as it shut behind us

“Sure I don’t have anything else to do!”

He showed me around, he lived in a little house on the edge of town near the woods, more like a cabin than a house and if it got cleaned up and decorated nice, it would make a cute home

“I know it ain’t much but it’s enough” he said obviously feeling ashamed as we sat on his bed facing eachother

“I’m not judging you Daryl” I smiled, he nodded as I saw a flush of red on his cheeks

I looked around his room never having been in a guys room before, but it seemed like the typical you’d expect, light brown walls, cross bow in the corner, plaids upon plaids hanging in his closet, a page ripped out of a busy magazine and tapped to the wall

“I see you got a type” I said trying to hide the laugh that was creeping up as he quickly turned to look at it by his bed post

He ripped it down and threw is in the trash in the corner of his room

“Damn Merle musta put that up”

“Suuuuuuure”

“Ain’t my type anyways” he grumbled under his breath

“Oh and what is?” He looked me up and down before looking back at his lap

“H/c, e/c, she gotta be nice a little bit more quiet, can’t stand lots o’ noise”

“Hmmm I see” atleast he kind of described me, I had the hair color, the eye color, I’m pretty nice I think and I’m pretty quiet but I’m not gonna read into it just to get my heart broken

“So Mr. Dixon what makes you Daryl, what do you like”

“Not much, like huntin, tattoos, bikes”

“Do you have tattoos?” I asked intrigued

“Got two on my back”

“Can I see?” I could tell he tensed up and wasn’t so keen on the idea

“Maybe another time” he said looking down again

“Okay no problem!” I said a bit cheerier to life the tension

It was silent for a while until he got up off the bed and crouched down under his bed by me pulling out a box and placing it infront of me and he sat back infront of me

“What’s this?”

“Got ya somethin, saw it in a store, cleaned em up as best I could” he was blushing again and I was beyond excited to even see what he got me

I opened the lid of the box and my heart stopped, it was a pair of ballet slippers, shiny pink with ribbons, the bottoms were a bit stained but it’s expected

“Daryl……..you got these for me?” I was stunned no one has ever done anything like this for me

“Was looking around hopin I could find somethin, don’t know if they’ll fit tho”

I hopped up taking off my socks and slipped them on, I stood up and they were a perfect fit, Daryl got on his knees before me and laced the ribbon around my leg tying it in a bow

“Ya like em?” He asked looking down at me as he stood up

“Daryl I love them, thank you so much!” I said so happy I threw my arms around his shoulders and pulled him into a hug, feeling his hands on my lower back, engulfing it, I pulled back slowly our lips so close I could feel his breath, smoky but mint

“Thought ya deserve ta feel like a ballerina” he whispered

I couldn’t hold it in anymore, I leaned in ever so slowly our lips just grazing each others…………when the door burst open

“Damn it Merle” Daryl groaned as we stepped back from eachother

“Woah sorry brother, didn’t know ya had a lady over”

“Get out” he said trying to push him out

“Just came ta tell ya, dads comin home soon” he stiffened and looked back at me as I stood there embarrassed

“Do ya wanna go out fer dinner or somethin?” He asked with pleading eyes

“Of course! We can go to the diner again!” I took my slippers off and put the in the box as I pick up my socks and we went to the front door to put on our shoes, then walking quietly to the diner

“Are you okay D?” I asked worried

“ ‘s nothin, old man just ain’t the meetin type”

“Oh well, you know I’m always here for you, you can stay at my place whenever you’d like!”

“Thanks, might take ya up on that, yer gonna have ta show me yer moves with yer new slippers” he smiled as he placed his arm around my shoulder

I couldn’t believe all this was happening, it’s been such a short time since I’ve really known him and he’s already done more for me than anyone else, and made me feel more alive, I might really like this Dixon

Part.4!

Taglist: @pinchofthetwd @bigbaldheadname @strawberrykiwisdogog @h0n3y-l3m0n05 @l0kilaufeys0n7 @welcumetomyescape @severelykinky @tesfayera @daryldixmedown @secretsicanthideanymore @lettersfromyourlove @mordilwen-of-mirkwood @secretsicanthideanymore

[yours-etc]

12 Days of Steddie-Mas

Day 1:

I’ll Have A Blue Christmas

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

The fresh snow crunches under his boots. Flakes fall from the sky, sticking to his hat and shoulders and eyelashes. A cloudy of mist fans out from Steve’s mouth when he gasps as he slips on a patch of ice. He grips the flowers tight in his hand as he regains his balance, the box of cookies he had falls from his grip and onto the ground. Luckily it stayed closed and the cookies mostly intact when he peaked in.

“God damn this fucking snow!” Steve exclaimed, kicking the white fluff in frustration. He loved Indiana, but Jesus Christ, he was so sick of Midwestern winters.

The cemetery is empty besides Steve, the headstones, and whatever ghosts of Christmas were lingering around.

Steve finds his was to the plot he was looking for. He lays out a blanket so he doesn’t have to sit directly on the cold ground. He takes the now dead and frozen old flowers from the small vase and replaces them with the poinsettias he brought.

“Hey Mom,” he breathes out, tracing the words Roasanne Harrington Loving Wife, Mother, Sister, and Friend.

“Sorry it's been a while, you know how I hate the cold,” Steve laughs out the second half, “But you always loved Christmas, so I had to come celebrate.”

There’s no response from the stone, but Steve doesn’t mind the silence.

“This isn’t the first Christmas without you, but it’s definitely the one that hurts the most,” he starts, “because I can almost pretend to be happy. There are moments where I forget you’re gone. And then there will just be a second, usually when I’m lost in thought, or when I’m watching everyone laugh, I just think about how much you’d love them all. I’m sorry you never got to meet them, my new family I guess you could call them. You would love Robin, she reminds me of you. Her love of the holidays, her sense of humor, the way she looks at the world,” Steve sucks in a deep breath trying to stop himself from crying, tears pricking at his eyes, “Oh mom, you would have adored her.” He loses his battle with his emotions. Tears flood from his eyes and sob shudders through his body.

“I’m sorry we never got to patch things up before you left. It- it felt like there— there for a moment, at the end— we were getting close to being able to. I think after the wedding we both realized how much we missed each other. And I want you to know I don’t blame you for sticking by Dad,” Steve didn’t acknowledge the headstone to his left that had his father’s name on it.

“You loved him, and I’m sure, at some point, he was good. It’s hard to let go of things sometimes.” Steve swipes away his tears with the back of his coat sleeve. He didn’t need them freezing on his lashes.

He opened the box of cookies and took a bite of one, “I never can get them to taste the same as how you made them, I’m convinced you purposefully left out an ingredient on the written recipe.”

Steve giggles as he remembered how protective his mother was of her recipes. He quite literally could not get his hands on them till she died. And like hell was he going to let Aunt Katie take them. They were more valuable than anything left to him in the will. After the accident Steve was left with a big empty house and a stack of note card recipes.

He sold the house and laminated the cards.

With the money from the old place, he was able to but his own quaint little home. With three bedrooms and two and a half baths, Steve had finally found a home. It was a fixer upper on the outside of town, but he needed a project to keep his mind busy.

He threw his heart and soul into painting the walls a soft cream color and tearing out the drab carpet to be replaced with ward hardwood floors and redoing the front porch to fit some chairs and a swing.

He had help from Dustin, Robin, and of course Eddie— Steve played with the ring on his finger at the thought of him— but the brunt of the work was done by him.

He wanted to make his dream home. And so he did.

On the day him and Eddie moved out of their shared apartment with Robin, lots of loving tears and hugs were shared and promises of a dinner party as soon as the house was properly set up were made.

The house was a bit empty at first. They only had enough to fill half an apartment, and now they had much more space to grow. Wayne had made them a kitchen table with four chairs as a house warming gift. More tears were shed that day when he dropped it off.

Slowly but surely they filled their home with cozy couches and pillows, music, and photos of their life.

Steve didn’t need to turn around to know the footsteps approaching behind him belonged to his husband.

Eddie leaned down to give him a warm kiss on the cheek. Steve leaned into his warmth, not realizing how cold he had gotten.

“Ready to go?” Eddie asks softly, “We have to pick up little Robbie from Chrissy and Robin’s before heading to Wayne’s for dinner.”

Steve nods and grabs Eddie’s outstretched hand to help him up off the ground.

Eddie gathers up the blanket and shakes it out before bundling up under his arms. He makes a swift dramatic bow to Rosanna’s stone, “Mrs. Rose, looking as gorgeous as ever,” He doesn’t look to the left, but throws up a middle finger to Robert’s grave, “Mr. Harrington, hope hell is awful as always.”

Steve laughs at his ridiculousness before giving his mom’s stone a small kiss. Leaning his forehead against the cold rock he wishers, “You really would have loved little Robin, she reminds me of you more and more everyday. Maybe I’ll bring her next time.”

He stands to his full height and walks over to Eddie lacing their fingers together and give their hands a squeeze. Eddie squeezes back. The two of them walk back to Eddie’s new mini van, which is “totally just as metal as the old one, Stevie.”

The radio plays Christmas music as they drive off to pick up their daughter from her first ever annual Auntie Christmas Eve Eve sleepover. And in the moment Steve feels content and maybe a bit lighter.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

HAPPY DECEMBER 1st!!

Throughout the month I will be posting 12 different Steddie Christmas/Winter themed ficlets!! Just short little things to bring on the Holiday fun. Now I know this one was a bit sad… I promise there will be Happy ones too!! Anyway I hope you all enjoy <3

Day: 1 2 3 4 5 6

[marshallsgirl]

i just wanted to request something 😭 can we get a long ish fic that’s angsty?? like can we get some arguing and then some good smut?? love ur fics btw 💗

Don't leave me

Pairing: Eminem x Fem¡Reader

Warnings: 🔞 MATURE READ AT YOUR OWN RISK

Recommended song: Sacrifice-Black Atlas feat. Jessie Reyez.

Author's note: I don't know exactly what is this but I hope you all enjoy it. I love you guys so much! Sending all of you a warm hug🫂🤍

•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•

"Did you sleep with her or did you...Did you just kiss her?" I asked him. I was so scared to hear the answer. I couldn't believe I was having this kind of conversation with him again. I still remember that time like it was yesterday. That time when he told me he was leaving me cause he wanted to marry Kim. I was a complete mess. I was feeling persistently sad for months.The next year he got divorced and came back to me. I forgive him almost immediately because I was so in love...Damn it! I'm still in love with him. I helped him and he went to rehab. Here we are, he is healthy now thank God but now...Fuck, now we are at my house. He wanted to talk to me about something important, something that happened with Kim. Oh, man I feel this is going to be really painful. I'm just so stupid. I want to stop loving him.

"I slept with her" he answered.

Here we go.

"Fuck! Okay, alright!" At first I didn't feel any pain but instead I was feeling really angry. I wanted to punch the wall.

"Listen, maybe this is how it has to be. She is the mother of my child. We need to try to do the right thing for Hailie, you know. But, hey listen I love you..."

"Shut the hell up, Marshall! That's not love!"

"No! you shut up when I'm talking to you! Y/n, I went to her cause I was too angry with you!" he said trying to grab me by the arms, but I managed to wriggle out of his grip each time.

"I was angry with you, Marshall! You know how much I want to be a mom and you saying no to me made me really sad and angry. I'm sorry if I lost it! I went mad, I know. But I was angry with you! You are always leaving me, Marshall!" I yelled.

"I fucked up, I know! But I'm here trying to apologize to you and I want you to know that...Fuck, I do love you y/n" he replied.

"Stop saying that shit, you don't love me. You never...Marshall, stop you are making me feel like shit. I fucking hate you!" I was crying now. There is no way I could ever hate him and that makes me even more angry.

"Y/n, I hate to do this shit. I know I need you. Fuck! You've always been there for me when I needed you. But you have to understand!" He said.

"I can't believe you are doing this" I said still crying.

"Why can't you be happy for me? Y'know what? don't think about me, think about Hailie. I'm doing this for her happiness. Why can't you see that?"

Of course I was happy for Hailie, she is an angel. I loved her a lot. But couldn't stop thinking how much it hurts me that Marshall is not thinking about me. Not even a little bit.

"Y'know what...it's just fine! I don't fucking need you, so get out!"

"Y/n"

"Marshall, fuck-I'm..." I couldn't control my tears. "Leave right now!"

"Y/n, you don't want me to leave" he said chucklin.

"I want you to get the fuck out of my house right now!" I yelled but he didn't move. "Marshall, leave now!"

"Alright!" I saw him walk to the door and I couldn't control my mouth and I said:

"fuckin' asshole!"

"Fuck you!" He said before slamming the door. I was about to go to bed and cry more when he came back. He is unbelieveable! Why is he doing this!?

"Hey, let's talk like adults!" He proposes with a strong voice. He's standing right in front of the door with his back turned to it.

"Now you want to talk? Y'know what? Fuck you, Marshall!" I say walking towards him while I try to push him to get him out of the house. But he doesn't budge and he surprises me when he grabs me by my forearms. I stare at him in shock, his eyes darkening as he holds me close. He's putting pressure onto my skin, tight enough not to let me twist out of his hold. I hold his gaze, not showing any weakness but it's hard when he stares at me with so much intensity while he's so close to me. "You're being ridiculous. Get out of my house, you idiot!" I grunt, doing a poor job at pushing against his firm chest that barely budges and if it weren't for the tension in the room, Marshall would probably laugh at me for being weak. "Leave now, Marshall! I won't..."  and just like that I'm being shut up with Marshall's lips. He has crashed our lips together in seconds, barely giving me any time to react as the kiss is aggressive and firm, just like the tension between us is. He's still holding my forearms, smirking into the kiss when he feels that I relax under his touch. It irritates me and it causes another bubble of anger to pop as I start slapping his chest, but he doesn't let me go. I won't deny it. The kiss is good, too good. I don't want it to end but I don't let it show. It'll just boost his ego anyway. He bites my lower lip, gently not cracking my thin skin with his teeth as if to show his dominance, before he detaches his mouth from mine.

"Now shut up." he rasps out.

Once I'm back to my senses, I glare at him and nudge his chest with more strength. Marshall's eyes widen for a moment before a cocky grin appears on his lips. This is a fucking game for him, he thinks he can kiss me and make me shut up which digs into my pride.

"How dare you!?" exclaiming,  I nudge him again. This time, he lets his huge body budge underneath my palms and eyes me with the same smirk that I wish I could wipe off his face. He's so enjoying this. He is no longer holding me as his back meets the hard wood of my front door. "Stop laughing in my face!" I yell, ready to jap at his chest again but with a quick movement, he's holding me by my wrists before that could happen.

"You done?" he chuckles.

Oh, he's devilishly hot and can use his charms very well. He is challenging me with a single stare and attitude. It's fucking pissing me off. He's doing this purposely. Before I could get some words out of my very shocked and open mouth, Marshall is already opening his mouth again.

"Don't act like you didn't like it," he chuckles, thumbs caressing my wrists which he still holds in his grasp. It irritated me that he just shut me up with a kiss. Fuck, I did like it.

"Fuck you," I scoff, "Don't flatter yourself." He nods along my words, cockily chuckling lowly before he grabs my wrists with one hand, the other one holding the back of my head. I could feel my heart in my throat, anticipating his next move as my stomach burns with excitement despite how distant the two of us are. He is kissing me again. Dropping his hold around my wrists, his hands are cupping my cheeks as he slowly backs me. My hands clutch the thin material of his expensive shirt. He's everywhere, tongue exploring my mouth, teeth biting my lower lip and tugging it before he's diving back for a kiss, barely giving me a chance to catch a breath. 

All of my thoughts are gone, mind empty with only one purpose: kiss him back. My own hands are over his back, nails grazing his back that's covered with his shirt and that's why I put a special pressure, causing him to groan. The kiss is aggressive, no matter how many times we've had quick sex or were making out, the atmosphere was never this aggressive and there was never this much tension. He's still backing me, my ass bumping into the back of my couch that's in the middle of the room, thanks to the spacious living room I have. When he pulls away, his forehead leaned against mine, I slowly open my eyes to be met with tongue licking his bottom lip.

"Should I still not flatter myself?" he asks confidently, cocking his brow at me as I glare at him.

"You're so fucking annoying." I remark, not having enough time to even add something as he's kissing me all over again. The kiss is heated, My body heating up from Marshall's lips and touch, a shameless moan escaping my lips. Fuck, my own body betrays me! 

"Marshall," I moan, his mouth on my neck as he bites me into the crook of it. Licking the faint mark of his teeth, he sucks my skin there while a gasps of pleasure resounds from me.

My hand goes between his legs, feeling the hardening bulge and I give it a squeeze, his body shivers for a moment. When I give him an intentional and hard squeeze, his deep growl of irritation is pleasing for me. Marshall doesn't waste time, growing annoyed at the fact I just grabbed his dick knowing it'll hurt, and he turns around quickly. So quickly that I almost get a whiplash, my body hovering over the couch as he bends me over it. Luckily, my arms catch me before my head can bump into it and if it weren't for the awkward position, I'd cuss him out for being so reckless. Surely, there was no real danger for me but it still caught me off guard.

It all happens quickly. First, I feel Marshall's hands on my sweatpants. They pool around my ankles, Marshall's fingers already tracing the hem of my panties. He takes off my panties.They pool around my ankles, along with my sweatpants as Marshall kicks my legs apart. Thank god I'm bent over, so I don't actually stumble from his action. I feel the tip of his fingers brushing against my heat, voice humming at the wetness that coats his fingers. One second he's rubbing his fingers against me, the next second I hear the rustle of his belt unbuckling, following the sound of a zipper before I feel his dick poking my ass cheek. My breath catches in my throat, thighs begging to clasp together so I can get at least some kind of friction. In my current position, it's almost impossible to get some relief.

"What did you say to me? That I should fuck you?" he asks lowly

"What?" I breathe out, not hiding how shaky my voice is. "I did say fuck you a few times".

"Yeah, fuck you"

I feel his dick. He starts pushing in. He always stretched me out, but this time he's splitting me open as I gasp at the sudden pressure of his thick length. He's not extremely quick but not slow either, just enough to surprise me with the pace he had chosen. Filling me up to the brim, I gasp as he starts pulling out before he smacks his length back into me. His thighs slap against my ass as he sets a rustless pace, as soon as he hears moans and gasps leaving my mouth.

"You feel fucking amazing, babe" he said. He delivers a few slaps to my ass and I'm a moaning mess. My body is pulled up by Marshall's strong arms as I bump into him, our bodies still connected as he stops his thrusts. I whine, wishing he'd continue as his hard length is pressing against my cervix. Marshall's fingers tap against my lips and I open my mouth.

"Put them in your mouth." I hear his husky voice

I swirl my tongue against his two fingers and he hums approvingly into my ear. Shivering, he pulls them out before I feel them circling my clit. And his hips are already working as he starts thrusting into me again. Throwing my head back, I lean against his shoulder as pleasure shoots straight through my entire body. It feels so fucking good. My walls wrapping around his dick while his palm is sprawled over my lower stomach. I glance down and I can see him moving inside of me.  I shut my eyes in pleasure. It's becoming too unbearable and he barely started.

"Fuck, Marshall" I gasp out, his hand disappearing from my heat and just as I'm about to complain, he's wrapping his hand around my throat. My eyes roll back, especially when he squeezes my neck and grunts into my ear.

Oh fuck, I'm going to be so sore after this. But I don't regret it and I chase my high. My nails dig into his skin, my body barely holding up as my legs tremble.

"So good." he moan.

He's making me feel so fucking good, my whole body shudders as I approach an intense orgasm. I feel so full that I just couldn't hold it up for much longer. His hand around my neck is just a huge bonus that makes everything more intense. My legs shake as I'm cumming, walls clenching repeatedly around his dick that still thrusts into me. The orgasm lasts long, longer than I thought it would but I'm not complaining. Marshall delivers a couple of harsh thrusts that makes me wince, his hips slapping against my ass for a few times before he's cumming, leaving his seed inside of me. He growls, his thrusts sloppy as he rides himself through the orgasm. Our chests move quickly, our bodies exhausted as his hold on me easens up and I no longer feel him pressed against me.

His warmth is gone as soon as he pulls out of me, my walls aching and heat already swollen, but I love that feeling. I've to clutch the back of the couch, holding myself for balance and support while I'm trying to catch a breath. Glancing at Marshall, I stare at him with my heart painfully twisting in my chest as I watch him getting into his clothes.

"Y/n, you'll always be one of the most important women in my life" he said and then walks away, making his way to the front door.

"Marshall, wait!" I called for him but he didn't look back. He leaves me. My heart just broke. I started to cry. "Don't leave me".

•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•

I cry a lot. I thought he'll be back. But he's not. He didn't came back.

And the night when I saw the news where they announced that Marshall was remarrying Kim, it was the same night I found out I was pregnant...

[dewdr0pz]

💜 Oh, Distant You. 💜

Summary: Tommy asked what happened between you two.

a/n: hello! i was in the mood to make a short angsty fic, so i present this to all of you! this was (obviously) based on "Oh Distant You"

contains: angst, a break-up with you & Wilbur, crying, flashbacks, cursing, a cliffhanger ending, mentions of presumed death, the reader is said to have had mental health issues in the past, & mentions of suicide.

words: 651

tags:@zuuriell @somebody-v @vibestillaxxx @ax-y10 @joviepog@themonsterunderurmom @ogelizasoot @wilburstan@smolsleepykitten@funnyreally2009@crows-death@dykepunz@aresriiots@0miamor0@defonotval@chipch0p@mazzistar16@unmellowyellowfellow@thosecolorfulsheets@vopix@aine-lasagna@merianakross@veeislost@urfav-sapphic-siren@shazbaz58-blog @wifiatthetrainstation@mcr-pr-fob@shd454@rqvii@idioticion@m0thza@artistphantom @lexx-the-gay-rubber-ducky @finleyforevermore @poraphia @radio-to-trenchcoat-demons @mysticalsoot @21-cats-in-a-trenchcoat @strangleetomz (let me know if u don't or do wanna be tagged)

[Wilbur's {3rd person} POV]

Tommy had invited Wilbur to his house for an "intervention". He'd been locking himself in his apartment for days without messaging or calling anybody, streaming, or going to the studio. The Lovejoy members called him & messaged him uncountable times, but he never responded. Some of his friends thought he had killed himself. Nobody had heard from Y/N, either; they were an active streamer, usually streaming twice or thrice a week, but they hadn't streamed for two weeks. Y/N wasn't on tour with their band, either, & hadn't announced a break, so it worried Y/N's followers & fans.

"What's going on with you?" Tommy asked him. "Nobody's heard from you or Y/N in a few weeks. Did you two have a secret wedding & a honeymoon without telling anybody?" While the light-hearted joke was obviously intended to make Wilbur feel better, it just made him feel worse.

"We broke up, Tommy," he murmured, covering his eyes with his hand.

"You what?" Tommy raised his brow, not hearing Wilbur correctly.

"We broke up, Tommy," Wilbur repeated, louder this time.

Tommy was shocked. "I thought everything was good between you two! Why did they dump you?"

"I dumped them, Tommy," Wilbur said shakily, holding back tears.

"Why the fuck did you do that?" Tommy asked.

"Because I'm an idiot, Tommy, that's why!" Wilbur shouted, removing his hand away from his now red & glossy eyes. "Because I'm an idiot who thought prioritizing my music & my career over them was the better option! & they could be dead right now, for all I know! Their mental state was terrible when I broke up with them, so for all I know, they could be hanging from a noose right now, dead as a motherfucking doorknob."

"Woah, woah, woah, Wil, take a breath," Tommy said, his eyes wide from how Wilbur reacted. "Tell me what happened."

"I just--I got in over my head & started panicking & being an anxious idiot like how I was when I was a kid & I thought that my career & my band needed to be prioritized over them," Wilbur explained shakily.

"Why did you think that?" Tommy asked.

"Because I thought my career was better than them," he said softly.

"Is your career better than being with them?" Tommy asked, his eyebrows raised slightly.

"God, no, Tommy," Wilbur said with a catch in his throat. "I hate the way I talk when I'm trying to compliment or praise them because it'll never give off the praised esteem they have. They're two stars from grace & I'm convinced that this world turns for them & nobody else." He paused. "No offense, Tommy."

"Were you looking for somebody better or--" Tommy started.

"If the Lord or the universe or whoever fucking controls everything were to whip up a clone of them," said Wilbur, "I wouldn't even glance at it, so, no, Tommy. & if I did date that clone, I'd have to take a month off work & everything to sit down in the kitchen, & explain all our in-jokes, & cry with them to Wall-E, & still, I'd fuckin' miss Y/N."

"So you regret it all?" Tommy asked.

"Of course I do!" he exclaimed. "I thought I was creating the solution to their problems, that I was being the fix-all, but I was just the villain. & every single modicum of energy that I gave to all the little things compounded all my placidity, & I drove out all the good things & made life so fuckin' heavy, & now I can't wake up & talk to them." He was crying at this point, having to pause a few times to calm himself down.

Tommy held his phone up & pointed at the screen. He was on a call. He was on call with Y/N. He had been this whole time.

"Hi, Wilbur."

reblogs > likes

[and-still-we-sleep]

I don t think I ll ever stop posting about Jegulus as Glue by Gigi Perez

I probably already did that but who cares

« You are my flaw

You are my thorn »

Is so Reg about James (because he feels like a traitor for loving him and he’s scared he s becoming like his brother)

« You are everything I've never needed and more »

Could be both of them

« And don't be too flattered

These songs are for you »

This is giving Reg to James with his poems (if you saw A Night’s tale or know some fics where he writes ykwim)OR James about Reg in pink lemonade

« 'Cause all I ever seemed to do

Was drive myself up the walls

I'd pace around until you'd call »

It s both of them I can ttt

« You're poison to the touch of my tongue

And I don't know why

But I should face the truth »

CHOICES.CHOICESSSSSS (iykyk) AND JUST THEM IN GENERAL IG ,AND CRIMSON RIVERS BUT SPECIFICALLY CHOICES BECAUSE OF THE ✨MONTY AND EFFIE INCIDENT✨ IYKWIM

« You found someone like you

Someone that'll get high the way I refuse to »

JILY?!BARTYLUS?!OR IF YOU RE AS CRAZY AS ME SUNKILLER (THIS WOULD HURTTTT)

« And maybe that's the flaw

We had all along

Trying to make it stick

When I am water

And you are glue »

BECAUSE THEY LL NEVER BE ABLE TO BE TOGETHER WITHOUT HURTING E/O + YES REG YOU ARE WATER WE KNOWWWW

« And In all that I do

You're dripping onto me

You don't know how to let me be »

James unconsciously trying to « change » Reg ,thinking he can « save him » like he saved Sirius (CHOICES AGAIN)

« And when you finally do

I'll hate you for that too 

Cause I am water

And you're glue »

1James loves Reg as he is and Reg hates him for it because he doesn t deserve it + James would be better w Lily

2James just gives up like Reg « wanted » him too but it hurts Reg

« I don't know what else to do

I wanna tell you everything

How I can't fucking sleep »

Choices again.And just Reg in general

He definitely doesn’t know sleep ,change my mind.

« How I cringe when I see green »

OK OK NO THIS IS BOTH OF THEM

JAMES SEEING GREEN AND THINKING ABOUT REG BECAUSE WELL…REG

REG HATING HIMSELF FOR BEING LIKE HIS FAMILY AND HURTING THE ONE HE LOVED

« How it hurts without Celene »

if you write it Celene or Selene it can mean moon / star

JAMES.JAMES JAMES JAMES .JAMES ABOUT REG AFTER HE WENT TO THE SWIMMING POOL

« 'Cause you are my glue

And in all that I do

You're dripping onto me

You're dripping onto me »

They changed e/o and can t pretend it didn’t happen

« No more green

No more Celene

No more green

No more Celene

It can't be

It can't be

No more, no more

'Cause you are my glue

And in all that I do

You're dripping onto me

You're dripping onto me

You're dripping onto me

You're dripping onto me »

Oh.

[kiyomitakada]

written for the prompt: "instrument players competing for the lead / first chair. bonus points if you go full whiplash with it"

---

There are three truths Kiyomi knows in life.

Some people deserve good things. Some people do not.

You must be better than the rest.

Do not give them a single opportunity to call you hysterical.

She is now considering a fourth:

4. Misa Amane cannot fucking play the violin.

"What's wrong, Kiyomi?" Misa bats her eyes at her, leaning against the door of the music practice room. Kiyomi can hear Mendelssohn wailing in agony from the other room as his Violin Concerto in E Minor is methodically butchered by some auditioning first-year. (They have thin walls here.)

"You can't fucking play the violin," Kiyomi informs her.

"That's weird," Misa says, hefting her case in one hand. "Because I could swear I could!"

"No you can't." Is it Opposite Day? Is reality playing a cruel trick on Kiyomi as karma from a past life? "You're a singer. You do vocals. You've never touched a string instrument in your life."

Misa smiles at her, eyes creasing into half-moons. "Oh, silly Kiyomi. I've been taking violin lessons since I was a kid! And piano too!"

"Play something, then," Kiyomi challenges, sounding remarkably calm if she does say so herself.

Misa pretends to consider it, casting her eyes up to the ceiling. Then she smiles again. It's somehow wider this time. "Hmm… Nope! I'll leave it a surprise."

"I swear to God—"

"Girls!" Ms. Kitamura pokes her head in from the larger music classroom. "Keep it down!"

"Yeah, Kiyomi," Misa says, eyes widening in faux-concern. "Keep it down."

Kiyomi Takada is not a violent person. Misa just inspires violent instincts within everyone, surely.

"I would've expected this from Amane, but not from you, Takada," Ms. Kitamura says, looking between Misa (grinning like the Cheshire Cat) and Kiyomi (who immediately schools her expression back to assured calm). "But I'm sure it's just nerves."

It's an out. A humiliating one, but regardless. "Yes, I'm sorry," Kiyomi says. "I suppose I am a little nervous."

Ms. Kitamura's smile is sympathetic. "We all have our off days. But I'm sure you'll get that first chair position!"

Kiyomi Takada does not have off days. She can't afford them; see list item #3 on her four fundamental truths. But she puts on her best polite-and-slightly-abashed smile, and nods.

"Hang on," Misa says with a frown. "Kiyomi-chan! You didn't tell me you were aiming for first chair!"

Of course she's aiming for first chair. What else would she aim for? (Also, Kiyomi-chan?) "It's only a goal," Kiyomi lies. "I'd just be happy for the chance to play."

"Oh, good!" Misa's frown turns into a beatific smile. "Because I'd like first chair too."

"You what?"

"Oh, Amane," Ms. Kitamura says in blissful ignorance to Kiyomi's ongoing crisis, "I didn't know you played the violin."

"THAT'S WHAT I—" Kiyomi coughs. "Apologies. I meant, I was surprised too."

"I'm a woman of many surprises," Misa says, and shoots Kiyomi a finger-gun. "Ehe!"

"Well, good luck to both of you!" Ms. Kitamura smiles at them both warmly. "May the best player win, am I right?"

"Absolutely!" And Misa honest-to-God winks.

"Thank you," Kiyomi manages before Ms. Kitamura is gone and she can slump against the wall in relative peace.

It lasts about three seconds. "By the way," Misa pipes up, "I'm going right before you."

"Are you now," Kiyomi says.

Misa's eyes widen again. "Ooh, is that some hostility I detect, Kiyo-chan?"

Yes, because Misa is exhaustingly bright and boundlessly annoying and the only person alive who somehow manages to see through Kiyomi's facade like it's air. Kiyomi feels — dangerous around her, for some reason. Like any chirped hello or swished pigtail could set off a chemical reaction within Kiyomi that would level all of Tokyo if she let it. Like if Misa ever jumped off a bridge, Kiyomi would do it too just to show her she could do it better. Like —

Misa makes Kiyomi feel alive.

God, Kiyomi hates her.

"I'm sure you're imagining things, Amane-san," she says at last, tilting her head up to look at the ceiling. The fan spins round and round. "Why would I have any hostility towards you?"

"I don't know," Misa says, putting a finger on her cheek. "But that's why you're interesting."

Kiyomi blinks.

"I'm interesting?"

"Well, duh," Misa says, rolling her eyes. "Don't play humble, Miss Refined To-Oh."

"Shut up," Kiyomi says without thinking.

Misa grins. "See? That's when you're interesting."

Kiyomi — doesn't know how to reply to that, at all. She fumbles for a safe topic.

"Aren't you going to practice?"

Misa looks down at her case as though seeing it for the first time. Then shakes her head. "I think I'm better spontaneous. Don't you?"

"I don't know," Kiyomi says. "You don't fucking play the violin."

Misa laughs. "You're funny, Kiyo."

"W-well," Kiyomi says, her face heating despite her best efforts to keep her heartbeat stable: "I'm going to practice."

"Yay!" Misa claps her hands together.

"…I was going to tell you to leave," Kiyomi says.

"But I came in here just to listen to you play," Misa pouts.

"You what?!"

"I mean," Misa says, "you sound really, really pretty considering you're someone who hates me."

"Oh," Kiyomi says weakly. At some point in this conversation she retrieved her violin and bow from her case despite having no memory of doing so. "Er. Thank you?"

Misa beams. "You're welcome!"

The Mendelssohn has quieted by now. Some pathetic fool who took the "you can play anything!" tip from the audition poster literally is now playing "Happy Birthday" next door.

"I'm not particularly good," Kiyomi says, as she rests her bow upon the strings.

"Oh, don't lie, Kiyo," Misa says. Her smile is sharp. "You think you're brilliant."

Kiyomi, for once, doesn't deny it.

She just closes her eyes and starts playing.

[ @deathnotetober day 17: music (late submission) ]

[finniestoncrane]

Almost There

Capullo!Riddler x Fem!Reader, word count: 4k commission: eddie desperately trying to get someone to like him, but failing a bit miserably before he starts succeeding, as he was always bound to 💚 commission me here! request info • prompt list • send me a request • kofi • masterlist minors DNI!! 🔞 cw: whiny/desperate eddie, teensy bit of angst

With a sigh of resignation, Eddie looked out of his window on to the streets of Gotham below. People, like ants, below the feet of a God they didn’t even know they worshipped yet. But he could take very little joy in that usually comforting fact, as he knew there was one ant of great subordination who refused to bend to his will. And that was despite knowing everything he could offer them in exchange for their undying and unquestioning devotion.

No amount of anything he had would fix this situation. This was him now. He was stuck. Edward Nygma. Stuck. Stuck on a puzzle, on a question, on a task, for which there seemed to be no possible outcome for. Or at least, not one that he deemed reasonable, not one that he would be happy with. Which, after all, in the mind of the Riddler, was not the correct answer at all.

The phone he clutched in his hand was quickly tossed onto the nearest surface. It was just a hopeless distraction at this point. A symbol of futility. Of his seeming failure.

Eddie’s fingers were getting tangled in his fringe. The greasy strands of his usually neatly swept back shock of red hair were getting caught as he twisted and pulled at them. Teasing at them nervously, he paced around his pre-furnished, and entirely impersonal, apartment. Looking at the extravagant wall clock he sighed and groaned, letting it form a soft growl as he ripped a few extra strands of his hair out in his closed and trembling fists. He was thankful for the thick, soundproof walls in this building. It meant he could talk, or groan, or yell, to himself as loudly as he wanted without fear of anyone hearing his plans. Or his pathetic whining.

“How long does it take someone to answer a text? Is she really that stupid? And if she’s that dull and so incapable of typing a message out, do I really want to be associated with her?”

His self-serving insults regarding your intelligence only helped to make him feel worse about himself. You were perfect. Beautiful, but in a way he’d never really seen before. Interesting, more so than any other woman he’d bothered giving the time of day or willingly chose to get to know. And you weren’t stupid. In fact, you seemed scarily competent and able to hold your own against him. Which he hated.

Another thirty seconds of anxious pacing, as he wondered what could possibly keep someone busy for this long. It wasn’t as if you could have anything important to do. Or anything more important than responding to his message. You weren’t him, after all. He was the busy one, the important one, the mastermind genius that had barely had time to focus on anything but himself. What could possibly be distracting you?

With a finger raised almost comically in the air, one floating light bulb short of looking like a caricature, Eddie shouted out.

“Unless! Unless… she’s really not as stupid as I thought. And… all this… is a clever ploy! Oh! Oh-ho-ho! That is… well, that’s frankly almost brilliant. I hate to admit it, but credit where credit is due, I suppose.”

He picked up his phone from where he had tossed it, laying on the polished marble surface of the sideboard he hated so much but refused to give up, as he’d been assured by the realtor that it was something a woman would appreciate. And of course “a handsome bachelor such as himself would definitely be looking to entice a woman”. He was glad that realtor was dead.

Gripping the soft velvet on the back of the sofa, he leapt over it, landing with a thud with his legs up on the cushions, head leaning back on the soft pillows as his red hair spread messily behind him. And he held his phone steadily in his hands, trying hard to exude confidence, even falsified, just to give himself something to cling to.

Behind him, the large, floor to ceiling windows gave view of the sunset, which was slowly stealing the remaining light from Gotham and sinking it once again into complete, dangerous darkness. And as that beautiful sight disappeared, wasted entirely on Eddie, he typed a quick message out, one that he felt sounded casual, despite it being agonised over in his hyperactive mind.

“Hey, you get my text? Maybe you missed it. Maybe you missed it on purpose. I’m on to you, baby ;)”

He paused for a moment, reading over the words on the screen with a twisted expression of disgust.

“Hm… maybe not baby… at least not yet.”

Deleting the final word, he read the text again. And then again. And then once more, before he decided to delete the whole thing. Throwing his phone to the floor with an exasperated grunt, he realised that you might have been watching his little ellipses, the telling dots that screamed “HERE COMES EDDIE! TYPING ANOTHER MESSAGE! LOOK HOW DESPERATE HE IS!”

Up until recently, everything had been going exactly his way. He’d scammed his bosses, embezzled expertly from the company that owed him everything and had until that point given him nothing, and bought himself a luxurious and ridiculous apartment that he had wild dreams of turning into a bachelor pad, with endless parties that revitalised every night with new guests and new drinks and new experiences. Money hadn’t quite been enough to buy him the necessary friends or women, however. Although, when he thought about it, technically his money had bought him the company of several pleasant enough women. But it felt like an offence to him that he had to pay for their services, to beg, essentially, for their affections, and then had to add on an extra few if he wanted to have them pretend to listen to him as he talked to them. By his calculations, women should have been falling for him. They should have been paying him for the opportunity to be talked at. He was Edward Nygma! He was intelligent, he was handsome, and now, he was wealthy.

Realistically, there was an obvious solution here. And an easy one at that. He could go out, flash some cash, and find the first suitably pretty girl who reacted positively to his shtick or his flaunted wealth and take her home. But that routine had gotten old, it felt like those cheap sudoku puzzle books you could buy at the corner store. Easy, too easy. Though he might be loathe to admit that to anyone, given that he felt it was part of his reputation, his lore, his borderline misogynistic use of woman as a status symbol as an essential aspect of his character by this point. In his illusions of grandeur, and his misinformed concept that everyone knew who he was, he felt like everyone knew that about him, this staple of his personality, especially the girls at the clubs he frequented when his loneliness became intolerable. What Eddie wanted in a woman reflected his desires for the entirety of Gotham, and eventually the world. He wanted immediate adoration with nothing in return. An endless willingness to please him. And key, above all: subservience. Complete and utter subservience.

So why was he all of the sudden chasing someone who refused to give him the time of day? Who couldn’t even reply to a text with due diligence? He mused out loud, pondering this interesting conundrum, before he spoke his assumed answer.

“The… challenge? Maybe?”

As he spoke the answer to his empty apartment, he realised the confusion within him. One part of him knew the answer, the other too stubborn to learn it or accept it. He supposed it was the right answer though. It made sense, after all. Everything had been too easy lately. Very little ever posed a threat or a challenge to him anymore. And life had, unfortunately, become boring. Perhaps the fact that his plans and dreams were falling into his lap made him question whether or not he was actually achieving anything. This one act, going against the grain, against everything that he was, and wanted, to his core, felt like the first time he had actually engage his brain in something. And that was good practice, because sure enough, when his greater plans were in motion, he would have to be well-versed in thinking on his feet. Especially if he wanted to outwit the GCPD and his future, pointy-eared nemesis.

And of course, besides all of that, he was Edward Nygma. There wasn’t a puzzle he couldn’t solve, no challenge he couldn’t eventually meet. The last thing he was going to do was let some ungrateful woman get him down. No way. Even if it took all of his determination and might, and every ounce of his brain power, which as previously concluded was not really up to much else at the moment, he would have you.

With a renewed, and somewhat misplaced, sense of confidence in his abilities, something he found hard to admit had even been diminished in the first place by your ridiculous behaviour, Eddie typed a simple message. Admiring it before sending it as though it were a piece of minimalistic art. A masterpiece. One to be looked on by the ages.

“Hey.”

That was enough. And quite frankly, it was all you deserved right now after your negligence and rude behaviour. He would let you come running to him. Let you get intrigued by his casual interest. You could – no­ – you would come to him. As he sat, grinning smugly at his self-congratulatory pride, his phone pinged. The small chime was enough to make him jump, his heart thumping as it missed a beat, a strange sense of arousal that surged through him at the mere suggestion of you paying a tiny iota of attention to him. And as he picked up his phone, he muttered to himself.

“A response already! See, Nygma, you know what you’re doing.”

Looking at the screen of his phone, his grin was immediately forced down by the immense emotional gravity into a large, comical frown, his brows scowling as he read the brief message you had decided to grace him with.

“What do you want?”

Seething, and through gritted teeth, Edward hissed into the empty apartment.

“Oh, you little…”

He managed o stop himself before he said something even he might have regretted. But still, enraged by your lack of interesting and your crude wording, Eddie felt his fingers tense around his phone painfully. Any more pressure, or strength in his slender body, and he may have cracked the device in half. Relaxing his digits, he typed a quick message in response, pleased with himself, but still deeply upset with yours. If that’s how you wanted to play it, then you could get ready to be met with a formidable opponent.

“Sorry, might be the wrong number. I have two girls’ numbers in my phone right now without names yet… which one are you?”

That would show you. False competition for his attention might engage you better. If you thought there was even the most slender, most remote chance, that you might not get to be with him, then it might encourage you to a little bit more receptive. Or at least, slightly more polite. But your response, coming incredibly quick, only served to snuff out that idea.

“I’m the one you should delete and block.”

“Fuck!”

Eddie tossed the phone once more, letting it land with a thud on the soft carpet on the floor as he rolled over on the sofa, burying his head in the cushions and letting out a variety of grunts and groans, though mostly mewling and pathetic whimpers. After a suitable amount of time spent feeling sorry for himself, and trying to convince his own ego that the backfiring of that particular approach was down to your difficult personality, he rolled back over. Staring blankly at the ceiling, he tugged nervously at his hair again as he tried to reason with the silence.

“Come on, Nygma. Solve the puzzle. She’s a Rubik’s cube, and you need to get your fingers all over her, twist her the right way until she makes sense.”

With an exasperated sigh, he reached to the floor and picked up his phone. There was a chance, he thought, that being himself might, for the first time ever, work when dealing with a woman. After all, it was foolish to keep trying the same methods and approaches, madness to think it might yield different results. Something completely different, something out of left field. A shock factor. It might just be the thing to loosen you up.

“Perhaps…”

Delighting in the idea that perhaps he was the solution to the puzzle after all, he typed out a new message. Very flirty, very cheeky, and typically Eddie all over.

“Oh!  It’s you. I’d recognise that attitude anywhere. Spicy. Off-putting. I won’t be deleting you, so what do you want your name to be in my contacts? Would ‘babe’ do?”

You were typing already. Hook, line and sinker. He had you, and even if you were only replying in order to tell him off, at least you were communicating with him. It was better than nothing. And it meant he might have another chance before you decided to block him.

“Absolutely not.”

“Ok then. What about ‘cutie’?”

“If you think ‘cutie’ suits me, then I think you still have my identity mistake.”

“Ok, fine then. If we’re going for descriptive accuracy, how would ‘Stone Cold Bitch From Hell’ suit you?”

The back and forth stopped. There was no immediate response from you, and panic began to settle in Eddie’s chest. If this backfired, it would take a lot to come back from it, effort he wasn’t sure he was ready to put into even a committed relationship let alone a hook-up with someone he barely knew. Even he might not be able to rescue this situation from the hole he had dug for it. Maybe, he should have clarified it was a joke. Text you back immediately with a smile and a laughing emoji. After all, not everyone was as intelligent as he was, and the nuances of his humour did often go unrecognised or misconstrued, through no fault of his own obviously.

When his phone finally pinged, Eddie held his breath as he looked at the screen, his skin dimpling and his hairs standing on edge as he waited for the disastrous consequences of his actions to rear their ugly head.

“Actually, that one kind of suits me. Maybe you’re a bit more perceptive than I thought you were. And don’t get excited, because that really isn’t saying a lot.”

With a smug grin washing over his face, Eddie elected not to respond any further than sending you one solitary winking face. That would do, for now. He had to take it slowly, even still. Weeks of pandering to you, of trying to be someone else. And now, finally, he found out that you were one of the rare few who responded positively to his true self. A woman of refined taste, it seemed. But he was still wary, cautious.

As he got himself ready for bed, he thought back on how much time he had wasted so far on you, trying to convince you that he was perfect for you from behind a façade that you clearly had no interest in. He’d learnt the lesson, yet again, the hard way. Be himself.

“Be yourself, Eddie. That’s how you’ve won everything you have so far in life. Who can resist your charms? I mean, come on!”

He grinned wide into the mirror above the sink, shooting himself a quick wink, sly smile spreading further. He brushed his teeth quickly, spitting into the basin before focusing his attentions back on his reflection, picking at his teeth and combing back his hair before stopping to pose in front of the mirror. He flexed his almost non-existent muscles, self-obsession and illusions of grandeur once again assuring him he had the body of an Adonis, and then he laughed.

“I am genuinely almost jealous of her. She gets to be with this! Hoe wonderful for her. I truly am a gift.”

Thoroughly enamoured with himself, he took his self-satisfaction and headed to his bed to celebrate it in the disgustingly lewd way only he could. And, surprisingly, beyond the thoughts of how wonderful he was, he was thinking of you as he congratulated himself over, and over again.

And he was still thinking of you in the morning when he woke up. It had been a long time, concerningly so, since someone other than himself, or that ridiculous vigilante with his tight-fitting costume and penchant for leather, had been able to steal the focus of his attention. The excitement at the novelty of the situation had him giddy as he got out of bed. Purposefully ignoring the pull of desire to check his phone for any notifications, he opted to primp and preen first. The longer he held off checking, the longer he could live in ignorant bliss of the true, and potentially heartbreaking, outcome.

“Schrödinger’s booty call…”

He winced at his own joke, the thought of it distressing him. What if that’s all he could get out of you, in the end, after all of this?

“OK, but do I really want more?”

Yes was the answer to that, although his empty apartment could hardly scream that back at him. This was beyond a quickie, a one-night stand with someone he found physically enticing. He had deeper feelings for you, maybe only slightly underneath his callous and crude surface. But they were definitely there. What they might amount to in the future even he couldn’t be sure of yet. But all he knew was that once with you would not be enough. Not for the trouble he considered himself having gone through for you.

Finally dressed and smothered in his obnoxious cologne, Eddie turned his attentions back to his bedroom as he left the ensuite to find out whether he had a reason to live this morning. And if you hadn’t replied, his plans to destroy Gotham would be enacted far sooner, spurred on by your cruelty.

Luckily, however, for the citizens of Gotham and Eddies own ego, given that with so little preparation he was sure to fall flat on his face if he commenced his grand scheme so early, he had one message and it was from you.

“Nygma. That’s right, consider yourself lucky that I remembered your name. You’re good with computers, yes? I seem to recall you bragging about it.”

“Ha ha! I’ve got you now!”

A typical ploy! How many times had he asked for help from someone, which he never needed given he was the smartest and most competent person who had ever lived, just to get closer to them or to spend time with them? Far too many for him to count. He was very aware of what you were trying to do. And he was more than happy to play ignorant, to play along and give you what you so clearly wanted.

On the edge of his seat, quite literally he realised as he shuffled back into the centre of his bed, his fingers tapped quickly, furiously, as he replied to your message.

“Obviously, of course I am. It’s kind of my thing. Although, you obviously knew that.”

Was he too smug? Maybe… But you clearly liked him. It was impossible for you to deny it now. It was only a matter of time before he lured you into his web and kept you there… willingly of course… unless…

Eddie’s more villainous daydream was cut short, thankfully, by the slight vibration of his phone against his palm, a tingle sent through him like an electric shock as he took a breath and looked to his screen, or looked to his future.

“Great. Is this guy any good? I need someone to fix my laptop and he looks competent.”

Attached to your words was a screenshot of some less man, the Computer King he was calling himself, who was offering extortionate prices for no doubt shoddy, subpar work, regardless of what it was that you needed.

Were you joking? He couldn’t be sure. It could be an effort to make him jealous, retaliation for his own efforts the night before. It felt as though you were goading him into offering himself up on a platter, detailing his skills and positive attributes like you were interviewing him for the job of “gracious boyfriend”. And that just wouldn’t stand, not even…

“It would stand though. Only for her. But still, irritatingly so…”

Laying back in his bed with a soft thump, he clutched the phone to his chest, reminiscent of how he had been the night before, and so many other moments leading up to this one. You were in his head, and he could feel you slipping into every other facet of his being. But still, he was slightly pissed off with your constant back and forth, your cold attitude, flaunting the concept of communication in front of him and then snatching it away cruelly with the suggestion that you’d be giving it to some other, lesser, man.

Fed up, and already annoyed at this early hour, he typed a droll message.

“Yep. He’d be good enough for you, anyway.”

With a falsified grin that faded into a genuinely emotional frown, he placed his phone down and went to the kitchen to grab some coffee. He managed to convince himself he’d done the right thing. Pretending to be proud of himself, he sipped slowly, a dramatic “ah” at the end of each slurp as he continued the farce. Who he was performing to, he wasn’t even sure himself. But given that he spent most of his time in solitary isolation, self-congratulatory arrogance with the aim of tricking himself into feeling comfortable was the least strange thing he did alone.

When he realised he hadn’t heard his phone chime, though, he began to feel tense and nervous. He was fidgeting, tapping the edge of his coffee mug with his fingers, shaking his leg, his foot bouncing on the ledge of the breakfast bar. One moment of, albeit in his mind rightfully placed, anger, and he’d undone his weeks of hard work.

“Idiot, idiot, idiot.”

In a rare moment of self-reflection that bordered on a breakthrough, Eddie considered his life as a whole, and how many things had actually gone right for him. The years of slaving away at a job that didn’t respect or value him, his tortuous formative years filled with bullying and excommunication from every social group he had tried to enter, his lack of luck in social situations with anyone he dared to interact with, his formidable and deeply unloving parents. The possible, but likely inevitable, end to his great schemes when the vigilante of Gotham decided to crack down on him. Surely, all of these amounted to an understanding that Eddie might just not be lucky, or made for good fortune. Or, could it be that Eddie was the problem? That he was the common denominator in all of the unfortunate things in his life?

It was a self-hating thread that he rarely pulled, for fear that his entire existence would become unravelled. But then, a glimmer of hope as he heard the chime, finally.

Tripping over himself in a bid to reach the phone as quickly as possible, he read the message wide-eyed and hopefully.

“I don’t want to regret this, Eddie. You seem to not understand. If I get another guy to look at my laptop for me, then I can meet you for a coffee while he works on it. You seem like you might be adequate entertainment for an hour. And besides, I feel like hating myself today. So?”

Eddie’s wide smirk pressed into his cheeks as he sighed dreamily. With any luck, you’d be willing to commit to hating yourself every day if he could just make sure this date went well. And since he had already managed to get this far with you, he assumed his natural charms would see him the rest of the way.

[tams-writeblr]

Love in a hopeless Place 6

Synopsis: She was barely grown up, when she stepped into the bar that was the center of Zaun's resistance. The people she met there would forever change her life, and one of them especially. Silco x reader/OC; first-person POV; overall rating: E for Explicit; canon-compliant (though I might make a stretch on the timeline here and there to make things fit my symbolism); age gap! (younger female, older male); 9 chapters; 45k; cis female reader/POV; no beta-reader; completed Chapter ratings/warnings: E for Explict! smut! inexperienced POV character, oral (f recieving), fingering, unprotected intercourse (wrap it up guys, pulling out isn't safe!) Wordcount: 2.1k Author's note: Welp, this is what we all came for, right? The right chapter before the weekend. Honestly I'm pretty nervous to put this out here, but I think it turned out well. Do you wonder how long Silco will stay a gentleman? Yeah, me too... I won't leave you with too much talking, just enjoy. Comments would be appreciated!

Today's music recomentation: Blink 182 - Fell in Love

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Act I

Chapter III

Part 3/3

By the time we reached Silco's house, we already weren't able to keep our fingers away from each other. We already had stopped a few times for an extended make-out-session in some shady lanes, behind containers and bothering bums. But we eventually reached his house, and we tried to get up the stairs as quietly as possible to not draw the attention of the other inhabitants to us. 

His apartment had only one large room; the bathroom was on the stairs.

"Comfortable," I commented into the resounding emptiness of his room. 

A bed, a sofa, a desk, a chair and a huge bookcase, as well as a small cooking niche, everything neatly aligned to one of the four walls and a huge empty room in the middle.

"Well, I'm never at home anyway."

I looked at him, scolding.

"Okay, I admit, it could use some loving hands for some last touches. And maybe the expert eye of a woman?" With that, he interlaced his fingers with mine, and I remembered why I was being here. We kissed again, this time slower and more meaningful than before. A silent promise. A glimpse of what was to come.

"I ask myself why we've been so quiet in the hallway. Your neighbors will know I'm here anyway, as wafer-thin as these walls are."

Silco growled onto my lips. "Quiet kid. You're ruining the mood." We kissed again, and just like that, he swept me off my feet and carried me the few steps towards his bed.

Instinctively, I wrapped my legs around his hips, feeling his anticipation grow with each passing second.

As he was about to lay me on the mattress, his one hand pulled down the zipper of my dress and unclasped my new bra in one skilled movement.

As I felt the support of my tits vanish, I also felt my self-confidence crumble, and I panicked. "Sil! Sil Silco!"

As he looked at me puzzled, I swallowed away the lump in my throat. 

"I have never done this before."

He let me glide on the mattress, but then pulled away from me. "You haven't?" Truly a face of shock. Long, slender fingers running over his face and through his hair. "Oh, of course you haven't. You're Claus' sheltered little princess." He stood to his full height, planted both hands on his sides, and looked down on me with worry in his eyes. "Well, that makes stuff a lot more difficult as I... you know, I have never done that." He made a vague gesture with his hand, and I knew what he meant. Being somebody's first.

"Not even your own first time?", I asked, and hated how thin my voice was.

Silco slowly shook his head. "Been the experienced one of all..." He stood above me for what felt like an eternity, as if not sure if I was worth the trouble. But finally he leaned back down. "It's gonna be okay. I promised I'm only doing what you want, okay? Are you really sure you want this?"

I nodded as eagerly as never before in my life.

"Good. Then we'll get through with this. I promise, I'll make you feel as comfortable as possible. I can't promise that it won't hurt at least a little bit, but I give my very best."

I had to laugh. "You're so cute, you know that? I'm not dumb or naive. I know what happens. And I want it to happen now."

Silco ran a hand over his face. "You're gonna be the death of me. Now, where were we?"

I slung my legs back around his hips and gave him a sly smile. "You were about to undress me."

With that, he raised me from the bed a little again, and with a swift motion of his hands first one sleeve was pulled down my shoulder, then the other.

The carefully picked bra just came off with the rest of the fabric, and as he placed me back down on his sheets, everything pooled together on the side of the bed in a sloppy pile. Only a second later, my matching panties joined them on the floor.

Silco stood straight, devouring my sight for a moment.

I tried to remain as splayed out in front of him as he had arranged me, yet my limbs involuntarily cramped towards my core, trying to hide my vulnerability.

"Gosh, you're so beautiful," he suddenly sighed, sending some of my nervousness flying.

I expected him to get undressed too, but to my huge surprise, he got on his knees and pulled me closer to the edge of the mattress. "What are you -", it slipped my mouth, but before I could finish my question, his long, delicate fingers were on me, grabbing my thighs that it made me hiss.

"You don't think I'll let you out of here unsatisfied, kid, do you?" His voice wasn't more than a low hum, right in front of my core, making me squirm.

I heard him give a dry chuckle, then he spread my legs even further and went down to business. I yelped at the unfamiliar sensation of hot, wet lips on my, let's say, evenly ones down there.

Silco's chuckle between my folds already made me shake.

My hand looked for something to grab. The bedding wasn't really doing the job, so I finally got a grip of Silco's long, raven hair.

"Oh, we're having a clingy one here, don't we?", he muttered, and every chilly puff of air on my hot wetness made shivers run down my spine.

"No teasing," I begged, pulling his hair to get him back to work.

He chuckled again as he took a long lick from all the way back to the front. There he found his favorite place. And mine. Sucking and teething at my clit, I felt like I was gonna explode any second now. 

Each time I felt like I couldn't last much longer, his movements got slower, softer, kinder, only to come back at full rate, once my pulse had settled a little. I finally felt like I'd be losing it when his long digit carefully slipped past my folds. "Oh, please, Silco, let me come. I can't take this any longer."

"Not yet, kid," he hummed against my core.

I released the grip on his hair, and for the first time since he was kneeling between my legs, our eyes met.

His pupils were wide from desire, and the determined look on his face washed a new wave of desire over me. A second finger accompanied the digit, readying me for what was about to come. His fingers opened and closed like a scissor and curled inside of me, driving me crazy. The rest of his hand cupped my privates, applying pressure to my throbbing clit. Silco rose from the ground without breaking contact. He now hovered above me, planing kisses on my naked body. "You're so fucking beautiful. How do I deserve this?", he panted, his hair hiding most of his face until he was right above me. "What do you want to come on, my mouth or my thumb?", he asked, locking eyes with me.

"Thumb," I pressed, pulling him down for a breathtaking kiss.

"Good choice," he breathed into my mouth. Pulling his palm away, his thumb soon found its way circling my clit with just about the right amount of pressure.

"I think, I'm gonna come," I hissed in between two sharp breaths.

"Yes, you are," he whispered, and so it happened.

My eyes rolled to the back of my head for a second, and before I could come down from my high, I found Silco standing above me, unbuttoning his shirt. "Ah, screw it," he cursed and just pulled it over his head.

"You need a hand?", I panted, still recovering. Confidentially, I reached for his belt to open it. In a messy fumbling of hands, we freed his boner from his slightly too tight pants and sent it flying to the other clothes on the pile.

When I felt his head on my entrance, a new wave of nervousness befell me, and I searched for reassurance in Silco's eyes.

One of his hands pushed my hair out of my face. "It's okay, you're doing great. Just relax. You've had a good time today, didn't you?"

I nodded quickly.

"See, we'll have so much more of this good time. We'll have great times. We'll have glorious times. Look, maybe there'll be not so good times or bad ones too, but the thing is... the thing is - fuck, you're so tight."

Over all his ramblings, I hadn't even noticed that he had penetrated me. As we lay there still for seconds, his eyes squeezed shut, mine wide open, I didn't even dare to breathe. When I finally let go of the breath I've been holding, Silco looked at me with one eye. 

"See, not that bad, huh? Mind if I move now?"

I shook my head, but instantly hissed from the stinging sensation as he actually pulled away a little.

"Hey, kid, look at me!" He grabbed my neck and pulled me into a long, tender kiss.

I still felt him moving, but after a few insecure thrusts, my body noticeably relaxed. We looked at each other through batted eyelids.

When he kissed my forehead, I chuckled and wrapped my arms around him. It was wonderful feeling him this close to me, having his intense look just on me, being each other's every world for these moments. He didn't try any stunts, no crazy moves, he just... made love to me. Even as he reached his own high, he focused on keeping me comfortable. Only suddenly he pulled away from my embrace, buckled up, pulled out and shot his hot semen above my abdomen. Noticing my shocked reaction, he panted an excuse. Arching his back like a cat, he placed his head on my chest. "I thought this was better than knocking you up on the very first time."

"Yeah," I croaked, still a little battered.

After regaining his composure, Silco got up, grabbed into his actual laundry box and took out a visibly old sweater. "Come, let me clean you up," he whispered, sitting down next to me and wiping away any liquids.

Slowly, the feeling of exposure returned, and my arms wandered to cover my bust.

Only that Silco wouldn't let me. His free hand grabbed both my wrists effortlessly and yanked them above my head. "Let me enjoy the view for a little more, will you?" He blanked his teeth, and I sensed there was something more dangerous within this man than he was yet willing to show me. As he released my arms, I kept them over my head as he requested. Just as he threw away the sweater, crawled next to me, and pulled me into a tight hug, I dared to press them back down. "You did really well," he murmured into my ear, playing with the hair on my neck. He pulled a blanket over us, and from how slow his breath was going, I assumed he was falling asleep.

"You didn't even notice them?" I fought against my own fatigue.

"What kid?"

"My new underwear. My best friend told me, I should buy new ones for this occasion. It cost me the money, I had planned to buy a new jacket so that you could have yours back."

The blanket ruffled, as he crawled over me, so he could look into my face again. "You did what?" His amusement irritated me. "Come on, show me, now I'm curious."

A wide smile crossed my face as I got out of bed and quickly got into my new attire again. "See, it's sky blue." I grinned like an idiot.

Silco sat up, also a smile on his face. "They're great," he made.

As I gave him a little show, he finally grabbed my wrist carefully and placed me right in front of him.

"But do you know my favorite thing to do with this stuff?" He reached for my back and unclasped my bra again. "They're nice to look at, but what else are they made for?"

"They're pretty," I tried a weak explanation.

"You're always pretty, kid. Now take that shiny stuff off and come to sleep."

I laughed as he fell to his pillow groggily, did as he told me and crawled under the blanket.

He squeezed me tightly again, snuggling his nose into my neck. "Good night."

"Sleep well, Silco."

"I will."

I chuckled. As I felt myself doze off, I refused my body a yawn. "You know, Silco, I think I... I think I l-"

"Don't say it, kid. Not now. You're full of hormones now. Say it when we've had our first fight. Then you can trust your feelings. And now shut up."

And so, I did.