#once again I use the prompt as more of a jumping off point that the primary plot of the thing | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

nycbaby21 · 11 months ago

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"So what if I was?"

prompt: “Aww. If I didn’t know any better I’d say you were worried about me. + “So what if I was?”

word count:2,139

warnings: blood, maybe two cuss words

“C’mon it’ll be fun y/n,” Liana begged me. “I’ll get on my hands and knees,” she added going down when I grabbed her shoulders and stopped her. “No it’s okay no need for all of that,” I laugh,” I’ll go. Just because I love you.” Everyone laughed and grabbed their skates and headed for the door. That was the thing about when Mat came back home for a visit, he was never alone. Someone always came with him, whether that be a girl or one of his teammates. Luckily for me this time it was the latter.

“Okay so how are we gonna do this,” Tito asked sitting down lacing up his skates. As I sat beside him on the bench right next to the frozen lake, I began to tie my own skates up. “Obvisouly the two of you can’t be on a team that’s unfair,” my best friend pointed out to her brother and his friend. “So it’s a lose-lose situation,” Mat groans stepping onto the oce. “What do you mean by that,” i snap back already sick of the constant attitude he had since he came home three days ago.

“Oh c’mon. You’re a smart girl, or is that just a front so you can go off and party your way through college,” Mat smirks throwing yet another dig my direction. We didn’t always have such a draining relationship. Once upon a time I considered Mat a friend, not just because I was best friends with his sister but we were friends. Something changed and as sad as it was to realize him stepping away and being cold towards me just made me realize something I had tried to push away for so long. I had feelings for Mat and everytime he has a smart remark or a comment about me it breaks my heart just a little more.

“Some of us actually care about an education rather than trying to get by on our pretty looks,” I quip back stepping onto the ice and doing a small turn. “You think I’m pretty,” he smirekd my way and I wanted nothing more than to swipe that smug look off of his gorgeous face. “How about you and Beau goof around while we skate for a bit,” Lia suggested. I knew that she missed her brother and playing hockey with him. I took and deep breath and then let it out. “No Li you play around with them for a little. I’m a big girl I’ll be fine skating by myself,” i smile at her and watch her face brighten. “Are you sure,” she asked and when I nodded she launched forward pulling us both down as she hugged me.

After some time I was growing bored so the same small circles so I started to do some spins and tricks, remembering some of the small details from ice skating lessons years ago. As I did a jump and turn I didn’t stick it and fell on my butt. Sighing I get up and dust off the ice. “Wow that was just sad,” I hear Mat shout from across the lake. I flip him off and try the jump again this time going harder. I landed it perfectly but with just a little too much force and the hit started to crack. I froze not knowing what to do. My eyes snapped up to meet the other three. They could all sense something wrong and they were a distance away. Mat slowly skated my way, Tito and Lia behind him. He was the closest to me so he would het there first.

“Hey look at me okay.”You’re gonna be fine,” his voice was calming and I nodded shifting my weight and hearing the crack get louder. I look down and start to wobble. “Hey no, look at me okay? You can’t look down,” I met his eyes and didn’t break my focus on them. He carefully made his way closer to me and surveyed his surrounding looking for the best way to get me out of this mess. He didn’t have anytime to think because the ice gave way. I tensed up waiting for the freezing lake water to surround me but the only thing i felt was a warm body colliding with mine and us both falling onto the ground a few feet away from the hole in the ice.

“Shit,” Mat hissed out and I looked up feeling a dull ache in my head from moving ti too fast. I realized that my forehead made contact with his nose on the way down and it was know bleeding. “Oh my gosh. Mat I am so so sorry. Are you okay,” I ask pulling some tissue from my pocket and applying pressure to his nose to stop the bleeding.

“Aw. If I didn’t know any better I’d say that you were worried about me,” he says forcing a laugh. I roll my eyes and hold the napkin onto his nose to try and stop the bleeding. I look down at him scanning his face for any other injuries, finally meeting his brown eyes. His forehead crinkles and he takes in my scared expression.

“So what if I was,” I whisper scared if I spoke any louder he would laugh at me or run for the hills. His hand came up and held the wrist of the arm helping stop his nose bleeding. He pulls my arm away from his face and goes to open his mouth when we are interrupted. “Oh my gosh Mat are you okay,” Tito asked rushing towards us quickly taking my place and observing Mat.

I step back and notice a group has gathered around us checking on the hockey player. As I move to make my way back to the house, I turn around and notice Mat’s eyes still on me. I feel a hand on my forearm and run to see Liana standing next to me. She gave me a sad smile. “Let’s get you out of these wet clothes and into something warmer okay,” she says sweetly leading me inside.

“How long,” her voice breaks me out of my trance and I snap my head towards her. “What,” I was shivering, not sure if it was from the cold or her question. “C’mon y/n. We’ve been best friends forever, I know you better than anyone else. And you know me better than anyone else right,” she asked waiting for me to respond. I nodded my head and pulled a sweatshirt over my head. I joined her on the couch and she tossed her blanket over to cover us both.

“So I know when you are upset and more so when you are hiding something,” her eyes give me a once over and I sigh knowing she is right. “A little over a year now,” I respond turning my head and not making eye contact. Of course, I knew what she was asking. She wasn’t dumb by any means and she was my best friend of course she could read my emotions better than anyone else. “You’ve liked my brother for that long now and never said anything,” she asked pity creeping its way onto her face. “Yep. It’s sad I know,” I sniffle fighting back the tears threatening to spill. I feel her presence and then arms wrapping around me.

“Oh, sweetie no. It is nowhere near sad,” she reassures me, hands running up and down my arms comforting me. “It is though. He has never seen me that way and he never will. Especially now that he is on the Islanders. He could have any model he wanted. Why would he pick me,” I cry finally letting all of the emotions I have had stored up for the past year out. “ No model holds a candle to you, babe. You are the most compassionate, generous, and understanding person I know. You have always had this glow around you and make anyone feel so seen and understood. Plus you are like smoking hot,” she says making me stop crying and laugh. “Thanks, Li,” I snort laughing and she joins in.

When everyone finally made their way back inside Mama Barzal helped Mat get settled in bed and finished up dinner. We all sat around the table and ate our soup trying to warm ourselves up from the exciting outdoor hockey game we held. Slowly one by one everyone finished and started to head to the living room for game night. I stayed behind to help clean up. “Hey, sweet girl. Would you mind taking this up to Mat? I need to finish this up and you don’t have to help me clean,” she smiles over at me, knowing I can’t say no to the woman who became like another mom to me many years ago.

“Of course I will,” I smile trying to hide the panic in my voice. I grabbed a bowl of the soup and put it on the bed tray along with a spoon. I carefully made my way upstairs and to his door. As I tried to steady my breathing and calm my shaking hands the door opened. “Oh shit y/n/n, I didn’t see you there,” Tito laughed moving over to the side and opening the door wider for me to come in. I slowly made my way into the room. I hadn’t seen the inside of Mat’s room since Li and I were like 17 sneaking out of his window because it was easier than using hers.

My eyes landed on the bed and then on Mat. His nose was bruised but the bleeding had stopped. He lay there in bed black compression shirt on under the covers. “Your mom asked me to bring you this,” I say quietly putting the tray on the bedside table and turning to walk out of the room. He reaches out and grabs my hand pulling me backwards and to him. “I’m gonna go see if Mama B needs any help,” Tito says excusing himself. Mat laughed,” Real subtle buddy.” My eyes drift down toward our connected hands. “Will you sit please,” he asked his voice shaking.

“Are you okay,” I ask sitting near the edge of the bed never once pulling my hand from his. “Physically yeah. My nose isn’t broken or anything just bruised up pretty good. Mentally not so much,” he sighs looking down at our hands, his thumb rubbing circles on mine. “Why aren’t you okay mentally,” I ask finding his eyes with my own. “Because I am an idiot. All of these years I never noticed. The one thing I was trying to find was here the whole time,” his voice wavers and he pulls his bottom lip in between his teeth, a nervous habit he and his sister share.

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” I say breaking eye contact and letting my eyes drift around the room until they land on a small picture frame on his dresser. It was of the two of us and Liana after his draft. “You wanna know why I kept that one,” he asked. I turn to look at him and nod. “Because no matter how hard I tried to hate the picture I couldn’t, because you were in it. You with that beautiful smile and those sweet eyes looking at me. I had the biggest crush on you growing up. I guess I just always hoped you felt the same way,” he said his brown eyes scanning my face for any kind of discomfort. “What,” I whisper wondering if I had heard him right.

“You have always been in my life, not always by my choice but you were there. Every good or bad memory you were there. And when I moved out and to the city I didn’t see you as much. So I got upset thinking you were only ever there because of Lia. I don’t know what I was thinking honestly. So whenever you came with them to visit or I came home I was an ass to you because I hurt my own feelings thinking something more.” After his long speech, I couldn’t help but lean forward and capture his lips with mine. It was a sweet short kiss and then when I pulled back he rushed forward grabbing my cheeks and bringing me back into him. I shifted forward and went to run my hands through his hair when he hissed and pulled away in pain.

“Oh my god Mat I am so sorry. I completely forgot about your nose,” I rush out grabbing his face and moving it all different angles to see if I caused any further damage. “So worth it,” he smiled leaning forward and connecting our lips again.

#nycbaby21works #nhl imagine #new york islanders #mat barzal #mat barzal imagine

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lafiametta · 4 months ago

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hey this isn't so much of a prompt more of a word vomit, I can't stop thinking about Igor in the final car scene.

Like even before she climbs onto his lap, his face is just so wide eyed and vulnerable and when she initiates sex he's almost bewildered and he's just so focused on her and you can tell it's about being WITH her and not just having her body like it was with Vanya.

Like even when he tries to kiss her, i know some people are like 'its so clear she doesnt want it and he's forcing it' but i dont think it's that simple. Like you pointed out, he moves very slowly when he first tries to kiss her and I noticed when she pulls back his reaction seems to be Confusion (also when having sex your brain isnt in the same rational place as it is when you're an audience watching a movie, what's SO CLEAR to us isn't always clear to the characters)

I dunno, Id love your thoughts or even a Igor POV of that scene I'd love if you wanted x

Weirdly enough, Anon, I had someone send an ask on almost this exact same question about five minutes after you did, so I’m just going to answer you both here! (Update: it was you, twice! Thanks for letting me know!)

At some point I’ll probably end up giving the fic treatment to the car scene from Igor’s POV, but for now, I’m more than happy to just offer my humble analysis of what I think is going on.

And it’s even more heartbreaking than I originally thought.

(This got long, so I put it all under a cut.)

From the moment Ani takes off her jacket, you can just see this mixture of confusion and surprise wash over him. He dropped off her bags on the porch; he clearly thinks she’s going to be getting out of the car shortly. But as she takes off her jacket and turns directly to face him, the seductive expression she makes for men at the club now firmly in place (which is the first time in the scene she’s smiling — or close to it), he’s realizing that she plans to stay in the car for a while longer. Once she climbs in his lap, it begins to click (“Oh, she wants to make out in the car”) and he’s obviously okay with that, based on the way that he tries to move his mouth closer to hers right before and just as she releases the seat lever. By that point, it’s clear he has feelings for her and while going straight to making out may seem like a bit of a jump, there’s the hope that maybe this means she has feelings for him too. And right after his seat falls back, he gives her this disbelieving little grin, and it’s like, oh no, Igor, this is not going to be the sexy little make-out session you’re envisioning right now.

(What makes it so much worse is that she has no intention of kissing him or offering any sort of display of feelings; he’s not even going to get any kind of foreplay besides a preparatory handjob before she gets right to what she sees as the primary transactional act.)

It’s when she starts hiking up her skirt that you can see him getting confused again (even more so when she moves his hands to her ass) and then, when she goes for his waistband, you can see him shift into complete disbelief (and not in the “I can’t believe this is happening” way, but in the “what the hell is happening” way).

I imagine that some part of him wanted to know what was happening enough to stop her, but he’s a man, and a girl he likes is suddenly stroking his dick, and that’s not really a place for rational thought, you know? (Watch his hands as she’s stroking him; he can’t help himself from instinctually squeezing her ass.) He definitely understands that if he says anything or makes some kind of “hey, hold on there” protest, she might stop touching him, and he doesn’t want that to happen.

So mostly it’s a mixture of shock and pleasure as she strokes him, with him closing his eyes and burying his face in her chest as he gives in to the sensation of it. He must know something’s off, but he just doesn’t want it to stop.

Even with all that, he’s still not prepared when she pauses to get her fingers wet and then reaches back down to maneuver him inside her. Whatever he had thought might happen between them at this point, this wasn’t even in the realm of possibility. (The night before she had accused him of wanting to rape her! And now they’re having sex!)

All he can do is just stare at her, wide-eyed, or else close his eyes and just feel what she’s doing to him.

When she finally gets him positioned, she leans back (to create a little more physical — and presumably emotional — distance between them, I imagine), but he continues to look up at her, as if he can’t look away, as if the intimacy of what he thinks they’re sharing can only be expressed through this kind of intense, continual eye contact. And maybe it’s there that he starts to convince himself, despite how fucking weird and off the rails this all is, that because she’s doing this with him, it must mean something, and he must mean something to her. He wants it to be real so badly and you see that hope just shining out of him the whole time she’s moving on top of him. (In an interview I read, Yura Borisov talked about how he saw Igor as a lonely person, and I think it makes sense that Igor would be more invested — or even desperate — to hold onto a connection with Ani.)

As she quickens the pace, she throws her head up and looks away, breaking the connection. That’s when he reaches up to her face, holding it in place and bringing her eyes back to his. He wants her to look at him, to see him, to acknowledge what (he thinks) is happening between them.

And if maybe if it’s real, if the connection they’re making with their bodies is an indication of an actual connection, then he can kiss her. It’s clear he wants to kiss her — he’s been trying to since she climbed into his lap. He arches up super slowly, but clearly intent on moving his mouth closer to hers. I don’t think he’s fully registered that she’s stopped moving on top of him, or that she makes these tiny jerking motions to get out of his grasp. As you said, it’s clear to us as the audience that she’s trying to resist, but to Igor, so caught up in the pleasure of her body and — perhaps even more powerfully — the sheer desire to make this encounter into something deeper and more real, it’s not something he has the capacity to notice.

And then she squeals and pulls away and starts hitting him, and at that point the spell (such as it was for Igor) is broken. He’s completely confused at first, then focused on trying to get control of her limbs so she’ll stop attacking him. This is the girl he remembers from their first meeting, the out of control one who screamed and landed those impressive blows to his face. But like that first meeting, he doesn’t fight back, instead simply restraining her so she doesn’t do any more damage.

For a moment, they just look at each other, barely breathing, and I think it’s here that with everything stripped away, he really does see her. He’s been watching and observing her for the past two days, but now he can see how much of a front she had really been putting on, how much her confrontational bluster and attitude had been hiding. Because underneath all of that, she’s a hurt and heartbroken girl, the pain of what she’s feeling written all over her face. The life she had imagined has been ripped away from her, and the man she married and thought she loved ultimately rejected her. And Igor, even though he must have been disappointed to realize that she didn’t climb into his lap and have sex with him because she had feelings for him, clearly gets that what she’s going through at that moment matters more. She needs someone to be there for her, to accept her and acknowledge her pain.

So he pulls her into his arms — and kisses the top of her head, just fuck me up why don’t you? — and lets her feel everything she’s been keeping in. She’s just sobbing her heart out in these spasms of despair, and in the emotional gut punch of it all we don’t even notice that he’s close to crying too. As he holds her, his eyes are wet and he keeps blinking, as if to keep his own tears at bay. (I didn’t even realize this was happening until I rewatched the scene to answer this ask; it’s subtle and absolutely phenomenal acting by Yura Borisov.)

So heartbreaking. So good. I hope the Oscar voters are taking notes.

#anora 2024 #anora movie #anora #anora mikheeva #igor #anora x igor #anigor #meta #ask and answer #anon asks

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xazse · 1 year ago

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scara would be such an asshole to bunny!reader (or hybrid!reader in general) lol, constantly pulling your ears and pulling your tail..

can I request scara teasing bunnt reader and then he starts to feel a little bad when he notices his bunny is all sad and sulking!

How can he not feel bad when he hears your sobbing in the middle of the night?:( He'd probably fxck you dumb and fill you as a sorry <3

SCARAMOUCHE X BUNNYGIRL!READER

Notes: you guys are killing me so good 😭, btw if you do want more scara stuff leave me some prompts like the first anon did, I’m kinda running short on ideas. And I decided to combine two asks

Pairings: Scaramouche x Bunnygirl!Reader

Tags: Hybrid!Reader, Crying, Squirting, Mean!Scaramouche, Biting, NOT PROOFREAD (lol none of my works are)

Oh he’s such a bastard some days, when he thinks you’ve been a little too annoying some days he’ll simply tap your nose, he knows how sensitive the damn thing is, it’s the only thing that’ll get you to give him some time to hear his own thoughts, it doesn’t last long before you’re giving him feather light kisses all over his face.

A day where he’s relaxing in his office, all his work finished you come prancing in yipping for his attention again… for the third time today. He’s sitting in his chair when you come wrap your arms around his neck and sit down on his lap. Scaramouche really isn’t in the mood

to entertain you, so he gently pushes you off.

“Not right now..” Scaramouche scolds, he can’t see the hurt in your eye but you make no move to leave the room, you’ve been with him for a while but still aren’t used to blunt attitude.

The rest of the week is spent him pushing you away, turning you away, barely engaging with you, it hurts you so badly, you want to be able to talk about your day with him, cuddle and kiss him but he just isn’t going for it.

Your breaking point is when you were both in bed, you were half asleep and attempted to move on top of him just for the extra comfort, it was fine the first few seconds, your long fluffy ears relaxing before he once again brushed you off of him, insisting it was way to hot for you to be ontop of him.

That really was it, you started to sleep in the living room, giving scara the excuse that it was too stuffy in the bedroom right now, he didn’t even double check to see if that was the real reason. Later that night he’s awoken by soft sobbing, he’s been waiting so patiently for this, for you to break down already. He knows it’s a terrible thing to do, make his own girl cry just for the sake of pleasure, he can admit it was a little hard but nonetheless his pants tighten at the sound of your sniffles.

He treads soundlessly to the living room where you’re under the cover, on your stomach. your sobbing becoming more apparent. You haven’t noticed his presence yet, not until you jump from feeling a hand rubbing your cunt back and forth, only the thin layers of your panties keeping him from directly touching you. A small whine leaves your throat in-between your sniffling, and it’s so fucking hot, he doesn’t stop the motion of his hands before he’s palming his heavy cock beneath his hand.

His eyes are half lidded looking at your twitching tail, the small thing visible even under the cover. You don’t make a move to look at him either, simply content with just the pleasure he’s giving you. He removes the cover off your form he can’t see your face due to it being buried into a pillow, you won’t allow him to see your ruined face, won’t allow him to see the progress.

That just spurs him on further, his breathing’s increased a tenthfold. He grips your hips and lifts them up, but he lets you continue to sulk in the pillow, a nice arch being showcased to him. He doesn’t want to rush into fucking you, he wants you a little dumb and numb.

He pulls his underwear down a little, letting only his cock free, his balls heavy with need looking at your clothed cunt. He grabs ahold of your hips again and pulls you right against him: agaisnt his cock, he starts slow when he rubs himself against your pussy, groans are already leaving his throat in short pauses. He’s guiding your hips up and down.

You looked so cute, the ultimate submission from your part has his hips speeding up, he’ll worry about apologizing later, right now he needs to be balls deep inside of you.

He quickly pulls your panties down, exposing your pussy to the cool night draft. His sweet bunny is oh so wet from the grinding: it makes the situation much easier. He jerks himself off a few times before lining up with your hole and pushing himself In all the way.

A sharp whine leaves your lips, it doesn’t even take another second before your clenching down on him, he doesn’t give you time, already giving you fast deep strokes, so deep he has to use a little bit of strength to hold your torso down. The way his cock drags along your walls is so good, so dizzying, he positions himself to press his stomach on your back, getting close to your head right in your ear.

“So good, you feel so good..” the way his voice shivers makes you feel a tad bit better but that doesn’t excuse the hurt, your tears have dried up, your sobs have stopped but the constant sniffling remains.

He continues to fuck you hard, whilst still whispering obscenities into your ear, he leans up just a little, seeing your ears twitch a sudden desire fills him, a mean one at that: he bites the fluff of your ear down hard. Your eyes flutter shut hard and you cry out in pain, he feels your pussy contract around him, and a liquid coating his cock, he feels his body flare up , he’s hammering into you even harder than before while you cry and babble out his name repeatedly, it’s the first time he’s made you ever squirt but it’s still an achievement, he didn’t even know your ears were just that sensitive.

#genshin smut #genshin x reader #zsworks #fem reader #hybrid reader #wanderer smut #wanderer x female reader #wanderer x you #scaramouche x female reader #scaramouche smut #scaramouche x you #dom scaramouche #kunikuzushi smut #kunikuzushi x reader #reader x scaramouche

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steddiehyperfixation · 2 months ago

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holding out for a hero

@steddiebingo prompts: superhero au + fly | 1.8k words | rated T

Eddie doesn't believe in superheroes. He may live most of his life in fantasy, playing fantasy games and reading fantasy books, but contrary to popular belief, he does still know the difference between reality and fiction. And some superhuman wonderboy flying through the streets of small town Indiana sniffing out crimes to stop is definitely fiction, no matter what the local news stations have been saying lately.

It's all just some angle, some sort of propaganda. “Something to make the ne’er-do-wells scared and the do-gooders feel safer,” as he'd put it in his lunchtime rant earlier this afternoon, stomping atop the high school cafeteria tables and laughing at everyone who jeered at him. He was being dramatic and theatrical, but the point still stands that these stories of a superhero in Hawkins are utter bullshit. Especially since the only evidence the news has been able to cough up on the contrary is a couple of fantastical eyewitness accounts and one singular blurry, grainy, heavily shadowed photo of a random guy jumping over a fence.

Eddie believes in what he can see, and if there really is a superhero running around Hawkins, he’s fairly fucking certain he would’ve seen it by now. He commits crimes on the daily and no one’s ever stopped him. No masked vigilante has ever interrupted a drug deal. No wonderboy has ever busted him for petty theft. They're small crimes, sure, but it's not like there's too many others doing too much worse around here. To that end, no one’s ever saved him either, when a deal goes south or a bully gets physical, but that’s a weaker argument. Eddie knows he’s not the kind of person most people would care to save.

He certainly doesn't expect to be saved now as he finds himself at a meeting that’s quickly shaping up to be more of an ambush. It was already shady to start with, the details of the deal set up through anonymous notes left in his locker that led him here to wait outside of an abandoned building in the middle of the night, but then the guy marches up with three extra goons behind him, guns on their belts, and it’s only getting shadier. Eddie straightens up from the wall he’d been leaning on, every muscle in his body tensing warily.

The guy in front gives him a derisive once over. “So you’re Al Munson’s kid, huh?” he sneers, and that’s when Eddie knows he’s really in trouble.

“Shit.” Eddie raises his hands and starts backing away. “Man, whatever beef you got with Al, it’s got nothing to do with me, alright? I don’t want any trouble.”

“Right…” The main thug’s lip curls up sarcastically as he advances. His goons advance with him, and as they step out of the shadows Eddie realizes that while two of the goons are respectably big and scary, the other one is just some fucking kid, no more than a few years younger than him. In fact, he’s pretty damn sure he’s passed him in the hallways at school before. That must’ve been who was leaving the notes.

“Oh, eugh.” Eddie wrinkles his nose in distaste, his stupid mouth running off in reaction to his moral disgust before his brain has the sense to stop it, “Did you seriously rope your fucking kid into this shit? You know the more you get him involved the more it could just as easily end up being him in a situation like this instead of me.”

He's answered, predictably, by Main Thug slamming a fist into his face. “Are you threatening my son?!”

“No!” Eddie yelps, cowering away as the pain blooms across his face from what is most likely going to become a black eye. “I’m just saying-”

“Well, stop sayin’.” Main Thug swings again and Eddie tries to dodge out of the way, even throwing up his hands in an attempt to block, but the blow still lands and it stings like hell. His momentary disorientation from being punched again gives Main Thug even more of an advantage, which he uses to grab Eddie by the collar to keep him from moving. “Stop sayin’ and start listenin’. I’d hate to have to kill you before you can make up for what your daddy owes us.”

“Okay!” Eddie raises his hands once more in surrender. “Okay. Take it easy.”

Clearly, fighting his way out of this is not an option. These aren’t some high school bullies he can scare away with a single show of self defense and a well-timed weird face; these, with the exception of the random kid, are full grown men at least twice his size who are hellbent on achieving either Eddie’s death or his compliance, and they aren’t picky which. Surrounded and outnumbered, shutting up and staying still seems like his best bet for the moment. Although, he’s not too sure he wants to find out what exactly they want to make him do to pay off his douchebag dad’s debt either.

He waits until Main Thug is satisfied enough with his surrender to let go of his shirt, and then, in a split-second impulse, Eddie turns and bolts. The half-second advantage of surprise allows him to slip through the circle of goons around him, but after that his luck dries up. His assailants recover too quickly, immediately swearing and chasing after him, and Eddie’s not fast enough to outrun them. He’s caught within moments, one of the big goons grabbing onto him and redirecting his momentum to throw him into a wall.

“Ow, fuck!” Eddie’s shoulder slams into the wall first, then his back; and even his head gets a good thump against the brick too. The wind knocked out of him, all he can do is brace himself for another hit. But it never comes.

Instead, the fucking Hero of Hawkins himself comes flying in out of nowhere to barrel down his attackers, very efficiently taking the heat off of Eddie as the thugs are now far more preoccupied with fighting off a goddamn superhero.

“What the fuck?” Eddie blinks the lingering blur of pain from his eyes, squinting to make sure he’s seeing things right. It’s dark and wonderboy’s wearing a mask, but Eddie would recognize that perfectly coiffed hair anywhere. “Steve Harrington?”

Obviously caught off guard by being recognized, Wonderboy/Steve falters for one fatal second. His startled pause is tiny and brief, all things considered, but it gives the thugs just enough time to regain their footing and draw their weapons.

“Shit.” Steve reacts in an instant. Within the blink of an eye, he dives towards Eddie, scoops him up bridal style, and launches into flight just before the first gunshot rings out.

“Jesus Christ!” Eddie yelps, clinging onto Steve’s neck as they rocket into the sky. “Take me out to dinner first!”

Steve, clearly, does not find this amusing. “We are literally being shot at,” he hisses.

“Yeah, and that’s very scary, so I’m cracking jokes to cope,” Eddie retorts over the sound of his racing heartbeat and the wind in his ears. “Sue me, Harrington.”

“I don’t know why you keep calling me that,” Steve lies, evasive gaze trained straight ahead as they stop flying up and start flying forward. “I don’t know who you think I am, but I’m not-”

“What, not Steve Harrington?” Eddie scoffs, rolling his eyes. “Suuuuure. You know, the mask is good and all, but if you really don’t want people to know who you are, you might want to consider wearing a hat or something too. You have very recognizable hair,” he informs him. “And moles,” he adds in an afterthought, continuing to study Steve’s face with the utmost attention. It’s a nice distraction, better than looking down or looking back. “And jawline…and eyes… So really you should probably just wear a whole paper bag over your head, actually,” Eddie decides. “But then I guess that would kill the whole dashing hero vibe you’ve got going, huh?”

To his surprise, that's what succeeds in making Steve laugh. “Oh wow.” Steve finally looks at him, eyebrows raised in amusement. “You seem intimately familiar with this Harrington guy’s facial structure. Does he know how much you've been looking at him?”

“What, no, I look a normal amount,” Eddie protests indignantly. “Those are all totally normal things to notice. Especially since they are, like I said, very recognizable features.”

“Sure. Which is why no one else has ever accused me of having the same jawline as Steve Harrington.”

“Are you seriously going to keep denying it?”

“I think you got hit just a little too hard tonight,” Steve says, simultaneously dismissing the validity of Eddie’s accusation and redirecting the conversation with such smooth and genuine concern Eddie almost misses the implied insult to his current mental capabilities. “Is your head okay?”

Eddie chooses not to be offended in favor of responding with a smirk and quip, “I’ve yet to receive a bad review.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he answers more soberly. “Just a little bruised, nothing serious. I’ll live.”

“Good.”

After a minute, Steve’s flying slows and he starts making a gradual descent. Eddie finally risks a glance down, watching the entrance to Forest Hills Trailer Park rise up to meet them. Steve's taken him home.

“Aw man, is the ride over?”

“Yeah. Go home, take it easy, get some ice on those bruises,” Steve says as he lands gently and sets Eddie back on his feet. “I’m gonna go make sure those guys won’t mess with you again.”

In the moment where his feet have just settled steadily on the ground but his arms are still around Steve’s neck, Eddie can’t help but press a quick kiss to Steve’s cheek before letting go and swaying out of his space. “Thanks.”

“Uh- yeah.” Steve stutters for a barely noticeable second before he recovers, nodding in a sort of farewell salute as he starts backing up to leave. “Stay out of trouble.”

“And pass up the chance to be your damsel in distress again?” Eddie grins. “I don’t think so.”

Steve huffs out a laugh, shaking his head. “Then I guess I’ll be seeing you around, Munson.”

With that, he turns and launches into the air. Eddie watches as he arcs gracefully through the sky and fades into the distance. He stands there staring after Steve even after he’s lost sight of him, the far away silhouette of him disappearing into the night.

“Jesus Christ,” Eddie mutters, blinking and shaking himself out of this trance. It still hasn’t quite settled in yet that any of what happened tonight was actually real, but what has settled in is that he’s exhausted and his face hurts. Everything else he can process in the morning.

He drags himself around and makes his way back to his trailer where he collapses onto his bed and passes out within minutes, sinking into dreams of flying.

#this is in fact set up for another part or two maybe if anyone's interested #no promises ofc but i do have some vague ideas and wouldn't mind writing more of this if enough ppl are vibing w it 👀#steddiebingo2025 #steddie #steddie fanfiction #steddie fic #steddie fanfic #steddie ficlet #eddie munson #steve harrington #superhero au #superhero steve harrington #stranger things #ficlet #mine

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beyondthesefourwalls · 1 year ago

Text

Something Worth Remembering

Summary: You were hopeful that you’d be moved into your new house before Christmas, but after another renovation delay, that’s not in the cards. To your credit, you make the most of the situation, and Bradley falls in love with you even more because of it. But he’s determined to make your first Christmas together special, and sets out to plan a surprise that ensures the holiday will be one both of you will always remember.

Pairing: Bradley Bradshaw x Reader (no use of y/n)

(can be read as Forgetful Boy and Pumpkin from RYEWID, but not necessary to read that first)

Word Count: 3.7K

Warnings: Warm fuzzy Hallmark feelings. Language. Allusions to smut.

Notes: Some holiday action for my faves. Written for @bellaireland1981's Winter RomCom Challenge with the prompt "home for the holidays”. Also as part of The Forgotten Moments Collection, but can very much be read by itself.

—---

____

Bradley stopped short when he walked through the front door, eyes widening as he took in the scene in front of him.

“Um…Pumpkin?”

“You’re home!”

You popped up so suddenly from the other side of the counter in the kitchen that he jumped slightly in surprise. “Am I?” he asked slowly, closing the door behind him and bending down to unlace and take off his boots. You laughed brightly as you stepped around some of the shopping bags on the floor to get to him. He accepted the kiss from you eagerly, feeling the stress from another work day dissipate as he wrapped his arms around you.

“Contractors called,” you told him once you pulled back, resting a hand on his chest. Your ring sparkled in the light streaming in through the open curtains, and Bradley couldn’t help but smile before he registered the words. “There’s a delay with the electrician and the flooring.”

Bradley groaned, the familiar annoyance of hearing the word “delay” coursing through him. The home the two of you had purchased was a fixer upper, tucked into the end of a cul de sac in a neighborhood not too far from base. There was work that needed to be done to make it everything you wanted, but neither of you had anticipated all the headaches that would come along with that. It would be a long project, you knew, but the contractor you had hired had promised it would at least be livable within the first few weeks.

That had been nearly two months ago now, and the delays kept piling up. Barely anything had been done at this point, and he knew he’d have to call the administrative office tomorrow to extend the lease on the on-base apartment, again.

“Of course there is.”

You smiled gently, and Bradley couldn’t help but let some of the annoyance slip away at the soft look on your face. He took a deep breath and let himself relax, pressing a kiss to your forehead before releasing you. He gestured to the tiny apartment the Navy had provided you with, smaller than the shoebox you had called home back in DC, that definitely did not look like what it did when he left for work this morning.

“Is that why it suddenly looks like Christmas threw up in here?”

You threw your head back as you giggled. The sound caused a full blown smile to cross Bradley’s face, warming him from the inside out.

“I was holding out hope that we would be able to spend Christmas in our new house, even if it’s not finished. But since the electrician’s are delayed, the floor people can’t come until the 28th. So I decided to finally cave and decorate here instead. But I didn’t want to spend a bunch of money on nice decorations, because I want to save that for when we’re completely moved in next year.”

“So…”

“So I may or may not have bought out a good portion of the Dollar Tree Christmas aisle, and spent way too long deciding on white lights or multicolored lights for the $20 table top tree that I bought.”

Bradley laughed loudly, looking around your temporary home once again. Red and green and gold covered the minimal available surfaces, and a small lopsided tree sat on the corner table in the living room, a bag of what he assumed to be decorations sitting beside it. Your cat, Florry, was curled up on top of a pile of bright green garland on the floor.

"Who needs a fancy new house when we can have our own little tacky winter wonderland right here?"

Your eyes sparkled with delight as you spoke, clearly thrilled by the idea, or at least incredibly amused by it. Bradley knew that Christmas was your favorite holiday, and how much you loved the festive season. This would be the first one you ever spent together. When you had toured the house months ago, you had pointed out the perfect place for a tree and where certain decorations could go. You had been so excited to spend the holiday in your new home. As the delays started coming in you had adjusted just how grandiose your plans would be, but you had taken it in stride. Now you were only six days out from Christmas itself and you were once again just making the best of the situation that neither of you could control.

Not for the first time, he wondered how he had gotten so lucky.

"Alright, Pumpkin," he said, "Let me go change, and then I’ll help you make this the tackiest, most magical Christmas ever."

You grinned at him, a mischievous spark in your eyes. "Challenge accepted."

_____

The Dagger Squad had an impromptu and unofficial holiday party the next night at the Hard Deck, and it still blew Bradley away seeing you intermixed so perfectly with his friends, both old and new. You floated from conversation to conversation and when he wasn’t by your side, he watched you with a smile on his face. He knew you were perfect for him, but seeing you fitting in like this just reaffirmed it.

“How’s the house coming along?”

He looked over at Mav as he leant against the bar beside him, handing him a fresh beer. He was still getting used to being around his godfather after all this time, but they had settled into a peaceful kind of hesitancy as they relearned what it meant to be in the other’s life, and it was nice, even if Bradley had to remind himself to breathe sometimes.

“Slowly.”

His tone must have relayed how he was feeling because Mav shot him a sympathetic wince. “Another delay?”

“Yup.” Bradley let out a frustrated sigh as he ran a hand through his hair. “They can’t get the electricians in until tomorrow, which is when the flooring was supposed to go in. So now that got pushed to after Christmas”

Mav clasped a hand on Bradley's shoulder, offering a supportive squeeze. "It'll all come together eventually. How’s she taking it?”

He snorted as he brought the drink to his lips, taking another sip. “She handles stress and shit like this better than anyone I know.”

Mav smiled, nodding in what looked like approval. “You got yourself a good one.”

Bradley hummed his agreement and let his eyes stray to you, chuckling softly when he saw you dancing with Nat. Sometime in the last few minutes, you had stolen the Santa hat that Coyote had arrived with, the red and white material perched on your head. You twirled around with his best friend to the Christmas song playing over the jukebox, laughing merrily. You really did love this time of year.

You had told him that you didn’t care where you spent the holiday, so long as you were together. It was your first Christmas together, after all. But Bradley still felt guilty over not being able to get you into the house sooner. You had only been married for a few months, and you had given up your whole entire life to move out to California when he got permanently assigned here. It’s a decision you would make again and again, he knew, but he still wished there was something he could do, too. You had made far more sacrifices than he had. He wanted this holiday to be special. Memorable.

You were just a little bit tipsy when you got back to the apartment that night. You had clung to Bradley’s arm with both of yours the whole way up to the third floor from the parking lot, but the moment you walk through the door, you’re releasing him to go plug in the tiny table top tree. You plug in the string lights lining the kitchen counters next, humming a christmas song he can’t quite place under your breath as you do. You turned to him once the space was illuminated, the soft golden glow highlighting your smile.

“Pretty nice, huh? These cheap decorations aren’t so bad - I may just keep them for the new house, too.”

Your ability to make the most of everything made his heart stutter. He was in front of you in only three quick strides, one hand landing on your hip while the other cupped your face. He bent to connect your lips in a kiss. He could still taste the peppermint from the candy cane you sucked on on the ride home, and the taste of the champagne Penny had broken out at the end of the night for a toast. You didn’t hesitate to wrap your arms around him and return the kiss, both of you getting so lost in it that by the time he pulled away, he was panting.

“You must really like the cheap decor,” you breathed, and Bradley huffed out a laugh at your joke.

“I just really like you,” he quipped, and he enjoyed how a shiver went through your body at his response.

As you changed into pajamas and settled on the couch together, an idea started forming in his head. He thought he might know just what to do to make this holiday memorable for you after all.

_____

“Are you sure you don’t mind me running out for a bit?” you asked for what was probably the tenth time as you slid your sweater on over your head. Bradley groaned to himself as your body was covered from his view as he lounged in bed. He had been watching you get ready, enjoying not for the first time how getting dressed was almost always the last step in your process.

“I’m positive,” he said, also for the tenth time. You gave him a dubious look and he couldn’t help but laugh. “Pumpkin, I promise it’s okay.”

“I know, but it’s our first Christmas Eve together!”

Bradley moved so he was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding his arms open. You stepped between his spread legs and let your hands rest on his shoulders as he looked up at you, squeezing your sides through your red sweater. “Technically, it’s Christmas Eve morning. And I think you getting brunch with Nat and Coyote’s wife will be nice for you. You’ve been so busy with work and the move that you haven’t really had time to make friends.”

“I was already friends with Nat.”

He rolled his eyes at you fondly. “You know what I mean.”

You sighed again, fingers playing with the hair on the back of his head in the way that always calmed him down, even when he wasn’t feeling stressed out. He thought maybe the motion soothed you, too. “I think it’ll be fun.”

“Yeah,” you admitted slowly, nodding hesitantly. “I do too.”

“Then go. Have fun. I’ll be here when you get back, and we’ll spend Christmas Eve together. The morning doesn’t count.”

You snorted, but nodded nonetheless. He accepted the kiss you gave him right as your phone started ringing from the bedside table. Nat was there to pick you up, just like he had requested her to when he asked for her help with pulling off this surprise by getting you out of the apartment for a few hours today.

He gave it ten minutes after you had left before he jumped up and started taking down all of the decorations you had strewn throughout the apartment. It was easy work considering how small the place was, only taking him a few trips to and from the Bronco. He grabbed the small tree last, carrying it delicately so that none of the ornaments fell off and wouldn’t have to be reconstructed.

It didn’t take too long to get to the house at the end of the cul de sac that was now in both of your names, traffic light despite the holiday. He let himself in with the key that was still shiny with how new it was. He let out a sigh of relief when he flipped the switch and the overhead light in the living room actually turned on - with everything that had gone on, he wouldn’t have been all that surprised if it hadn’t. He made quick work of bringing in everything from the car, including the items that he had purchased and kept in the trunk without you seeing them this week.

He knew he had limited time, as Nat could only commit to a few hours of keeping you distracted, but it would be more than enough with what he needed to do. His phone buzzed right as he was finishing up a little more than an hour later, your name flashing up at him.

Pumpkin🧡: Getting the check! Back soon❤️

He sent back a response telling you he’d see you soon, quickly finishing up. He locked the door behind him and jogged to the Bronco parked in the driveway, and he was only back at the apartment for less than 10 minutes when you walked in the door with a large smile on your face that quickly morphed into horrified confusion.

“What happened to our decorations?”

“Hey, Pumpkin. How was brunch?”

“Were we robbed?”

Bradley barked out a laugh, shaking his head at your wide eyes. “Of our dollar tree Christmas decorations?”

You just gestured wildly around the space, devoid of any hint of the holiday cheer that had existed in its space earlier in the day. He laughed again, closing the distance to where you stood at the still open front door. He reached around you to push it closed before pulling you into him. He kissed your forehead, your nose, and then finally your lips, pursued in an adorable pout. “We weren’t robbed,” he assured you. “But I do have a present for you. Go get changed.”

“What?”

He squeezed your hips, smiling warmly. “Trust me?”

You eyed him closely for a moment before your pout eventually settled into a soft grin, and you let out a long sigh before you nodded. “Always.”

He kissed you again, a little deeper this time, but pulled away before he could get totally lost in it. “Pajamas are on the bed.”

“Pajamas? It’s 2pm!”

He only chuckled in response, playfully smacking your butt when you started walking back toward the bedroom. “Trust me.”

You got even more suspicious when you emerged from the bedroom and saw that he had Florry in her carrier at the door and had changed into his own pajamas. He twirled his keys around his fingers and then held open the door for you. Once you were in the Bronco, cat meowing at your feet, he held out a red silk piece of cloth that made your eyebrows shoot up.

“Seriously? A blindfold?”

“Think of it like a Christmas adventure. Now let me put it on.”

You huffed a breath but he knew you weren't actually mad - you loved surprises, and there was a smile tugging at your lips as you turned to allow him to tie the silk at the back of your head. He kissed your hair when he was done and turned to start the vehicle.

“You know,” you said casually, just as Bradley was pulling out of the parking lot, “this blindfold might come in handy later. We should make sure the headboard we pick out has appropriate accommodations.”

He groaned at the implication, a flush creeping up his neck on instinct. You giggled happily, knowing the effect you had on him. He rested a hand on your thigh as he drove, yours covering his in a familiar move. The feeling of your ring on his skin was one he had grown to love in the last few months since you’ve gotten married.

You threw out guesses the entire drive over, each one more extravagant and ludicrous than the one before. By the time he pulled into the driveway that one day will be an everyday occurrence, he was grinning so hard that his cheeks were starting to hurt.

“Don’t move,” he said when he saw you reach for the door handle. He jogged around the Bronco to the passenger side, opening your door. He helped you down before reaching back in for Florry’s carrier, pressing it into your hands so you could carry her, while he focused on you.

"Alright, Pumpkin," he whispered, his voice laced with eagerness. "Keep your blindfold on, and I'll guide you." His hand tightened around yours as he led you out of the car and towards the front door of your new home. Excitement coursed through him as he thought about your reaction, and he loved that he knew instinctively that it would be positive.

He loved that he knew you so well.

“Stay here just a second,” he instructed once he got you through the door. He moved away from you to quickly plug everything in, coming back to you once the room was cast both in the sunlight streaming through the windows and the artificial LED lights.

He stood in front of you, a grin playing on his lips as he watched you fidget with anticipation. Your blindfold was still securely in place, blocking your vision from the surprise he had prepared. You were so damn beautiful, and he would never understand how he got lucky enough to call himself yours.

"Okay, baby," he said softly. He gently took the carrier out of your hands, setting it on the floor and letting the cat out to wander the new space that he had cleared of anything that might hurt her, before moving to stand behind you. Your back flush against his front, he moved his hands up your arms in a smooth caress, settling on your shoulders and squeezing in affection. "You can take off the blindfold now."

With trembling hands, you reached up and slipped the silk cloth from your eyes, revealing the scene before you. Gasping in awe, your eyes widened as you took in the sight that unfolded in the living room.

“Oh my God. Bradley.”

The room was still very much a construction zone, but he had moved all of the decorations from the apartment, plus a few more that he had gotten, to decorate the barren space. The tree you had bought sat on the floor in the corner. Blankets lined the unfinished floors, as well as humongous cotton puffs to replicate snow. An air mattress covered with bright red sheets and a green blanket was in the middle of the room. Everything looked straight out of a tacky high school Christmas play, but it was so bad that it was almost good - whimsical and unique.

He watched as you took it all in, feeling his heart beating double time in his chest. When you turned to face him, there was a wide smile on your face, and tears shining in your pretty eyes. You didn’t have to ask for him to know what you were thinking.

“I wanted our first Christmas together to be in our home, even if it’s not finished yet. I figured we could camp out for the day. You-” The words were knocked out of him as you launched yourself into his arms. He held you for a long moment, pressing a kiss into your hair as your laughter settled. “You deserve something special, Pumpkin,” he finally finished, voice softer than it had been.

You pulled back just far enough to meet his eyes, your hands cupping his face. “All I need is you, baby. You know that?”

He turned his head just slightly to press a kiss into your palm, nodding once. “I do.” A smirk twitched at his lips, his mustache twitching with the expression. “Does that mean you want me to pack all this up and return your gifts, too?”

The gasp you let out was damn near scandalized. "Oh, no you don't!" you playfully swatted at his chest. You motioned toward the tacky decorations with a mischievous grin. "We can't let these go to waste. It's our first Christmas, after all."

Bradley chuckled, arms secure around you. "It sure is," he whispered, his voice filled with affection. He leaned down to capture your lips in a sweet kiss, the taste of anticipation lingering.

“Besides,” you murmured quietly, your eyes sparkling with a familiar look that had him warming from the inside out. “This gives us a jump start on christening the place. That air mattress looks mighty comfortable.”

Desire flared through him, and he wasted no time in scooping you up in his arms, carrying you bridal-style towards the makeshift bed. Your laughter echoed in the space as he laid you down.

“You know I’m gonna make you pack all of this back up and put it back up in the apartment until at least New Years, right?” you asked him, slightly breathless as he moved his kisses from your lips down to your neck, nipping at the skin.

Bradley chuckled, his hands pushing your shirt up, revealing soft skin that he loved to touch. “Oh, of that I have no doubt.”

Later, you lay nestled together underneath the green blanket, the crackling sound of a virtual fireplace playing from his laptop on the floor beside you while Christmas music played lightly from your phone. You were basking in the glow of the makeshift display as your breathing calmed. You pressed a kiss to his chest, right over his beating heart. He was sure that it skipped a beat at the gesture, but if you noticed, you didn’t comment on it.

“I can’t wait until we’re in here for good,” you whispered instead.

He hummed in response, tracing lazy patterns on your bare back. “Me too.”

You snorted after another moment, propping your head up to meet his eyes. “Hell of a first memory to make here, don’t you think?”

Bradley laughed lightly, a contented smile spreading across his face. It certainly was, in all of the best ways. “I’ll remember this forever,” he said, voice filled with warmth and conviction, because he couldn’t fathom ever forgetting any moment with you, especially something as perfect as this.

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

Main Masterlist :: The Forgotten Moments Masterlist

Notes: It's been far too long since I wrote anything for these two. I hope you enjoyed it! Likes/comments/reblogs are always appreciated if you did🧡

Thanks to @roosterforme and @mak-32 for all their help!

Tag List: @roosterforme @mak-32 @wildxwidow @gretagerwigsmuse @lilyevanswhore @too-fangirl-to-fuction @fav-fanficssss @notroosterbradshaw @teacupsandtopgun @sometimesanalice @sunflowersteves @littlezee80 @je-suis-prest-rachel @khaylin27 @infamous-reindeer @yanna-banana @avengersfan25 @wkndwlff @sylviebell @lt-spork @indynerdgirl

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@greatszu @na-ta-sh-aa @callsign-magnolia @chaoticassidy @thedroneranger @cherrycola27

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midnight-mourning · 4 months ago

Text

One Winter Night

❄️❄️Midnight's DCA December Day 8❄️❄️

I will catch up with these, I WILL CATCH UP WITH THESE I SWEAR-

sigh, sorry y'all secret santa has me in a chokehold bc I want to make sure I finish both on time, going to work on getting caught up asap though! Hope you enjoy ^-^

Prompt: Um... Maybe a meet cute as a request? 👉👈 Adult reader is out at a freshly snow-covered playground/park leaning on a railing that overlooks the city below or out at a lake and then city; and it can be either faintly snowing or a clear somewhat chilly night. It's around midnight or getting close to it when the DCA (be it single bodied or the canon duo/trio in separate bodies) find Reader on their way home after their own little excursion (maybe from a party or late night groceries/gift shopping or even just getting off late from work) and go check on them. Have a little chat about life, where the DCA were at, why Reader is there alone, a bit of nostalgia feel, and perhaps have it develope into exchanging numbers or Reader being invited over or silly snow filled shenanigans (like a game of chase, snow angels, swinging and jumping into a pile of snow, maybe even a snowball fight) around the playground/park started by one accidentally getting snow on the other. Or even a mix of all three suggestions if it tickles your fancy Could be strangers meeting each other for the first time or childhood friends meeting once again after years a part from being on separate paths I hope this is an okay request, was trying to be a little specific but also vague enough to create easier 😅

Word Count: 2182

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

The chill of the night burns against your cheeks and nose, but not in an entirely unpleasant manner. After all, you were choosing to be out here at this time of night. You found peace in it, the quiet that fell over the city after a fresh snow, something of a comfort against the never-ending hustle and bustle of your day to day.

The night sky is clouded, snow falling gently in comparison to the storm that originally covered the landscape. You adjust your gloved grip on the railing, overlooking the water to the rest of the city across the way, the lights just a little dimmer tonight than usual. It's as if the city is actually sleeping, calmed by the winter weather.

There's a silence to the air that one can only experience after everyone else has gone to bed, leaving only a select few to revel in it. You included, very much so.

One would think with the amount of loneliness in your life, you wouldn't be seeking out more of it. They'd be wrong. There was a difference in being alone versus lonely, and in that particular moment, it was the former and not the latter you were feeling.

The peace is disturbed by the sound of laughter down the street and turning slightly you recognize the origin as your neighbors. Or well, you live in the same building, but don't interact much besides a passing hello or nod.

Animatronics, the two of them. Not uncommon in this day and age anymore. You'd never caught their names, but you had a pretty good guess based on their celestial appearances.

One of them, Sun, you believe, must have caught you staring, as he raises his hand in greeting from across the street.

Slightly embarrassed, you raise your hand back, hoping that'll be the end of the interaction. You're not great at making friends. Or small talk.

To your—slight—horror, he says something to his companion, and they both start making their way over to you.

"Good evening, friend!" The sunny one calls as they approach. "Why're you out so late on a night like this?"

The moon juts in. "What he means to say is, this weather is awfully cold for a human."

"Ah, yeah. It is. I um,"—you can't tell them that you're doing this to escape the crippling feeling of being alone during the holidays—"I enjoy it. You're um, the neighbors across from me, right?"

"That's us! Sun,"—the yellow bot gestures to himself—"And Moon." He points to the other animatronic, who nods.

You nod, sharing your name. "And what about you two? Why're you out so late yourselves?"

"Holiday party."

Sun holds up some bags. "Then gift shopping!"

"Oh! How fun." You nod, turning back to watch over the water.

"And what about you friend?"

You turn slightly. "What about me?"

"Any fun events coming up?" Sun leans forward, unintentionally breaking your bubble. But you let it slide because well, you're not sure.

"Oh, um, not really, no." You chuckle, eyes flicking to the side.

Sun gasps, but not in a mocking way, more in genuine surprise, and upset. "What? Don't tell me your friends aren't doing anything fun! It's the holidays! Why I outta-"

Moon puts his hand on his counterpart's shoulder, but that doesn't stop his muttered grumbling.

It makes you giggle, but your inner sadness drips through, and unfortunately doesn't go unnoticed, with both animatronics tilting their heads at you, slight concern in their stares.

It's a bit too much for you, especially from two people who are practically strangers to you.

You bite your lip, feeling a little pathetic in that moment, but lying isn't your style. Not to mention, you feel for some reason inclined to share with these two, even if you are a bit embarrassed.

"To be honest, I don't, have too many friends. None that I'm close enough for that kind of thing. So I just kind of do my own thing for the holidays and it works out, alright, I guess." You realize yourself, you didn't mean to share that much. You try to save the conversation. "Which, is okay! I'm not super great with people anyway. Haven't been for um, awhile." That did not save the conversation, that did not save the conversation-

Laughter, clear against the chill of the night erupts from Sun. You're surprised, and peeking briefly at Moon you note his own confusion.

Sun stops after a moment, looking to you, rays spinning. "Well, we'll just have to fix that, won't we?"

Before you can say anything, he's off, darting over to the playground, calling back at the two of you to join him.

You feel a smile quirk your lips then, and with nothing better to do, decide to follow. Moon falls in stride with you.

"We're not bothering you, are we?" He asks as you go.

You put your hands up. "Oh no, not at all. Besides he's got me curious now as to what—"

Your answer is just short by a snowball to your chest. You blink, and scanning find the source peeking around the corner a part of the playset. Moon snickers, but is soon pelted himself, causing him to grumble and you to laugh outright. He whips to you, and you cover your mouth to hide your giggles, but it doesn't help much.

He starts to chuckle then, bending slightly to scoop snow off the ground. You start to shake your head. "Wait, wait that's not fair. Hold on—"

From there, it becomes an all-out war. No one is safe, especially not you. At times, you team up with either of the two. Sun dragging you with him to hide in part of the play structure, bodies close as you try to contain your snickering while Moon stands confused down below. Moon instead chooses to use you as a shield and less of a partner in crime, which, as Sun states is "Cheating!".

But there's something in those moments, something that sparks a feeling in you that you haven't felt in a while, and not just in relation to your loneliness that's been eating at you for, a bit now, to put it lightly.

There's a feeling in your chest that reminds you of being a kid again, running around on the playground, filled with an adrenaline you can only get from something like a snowball fight. And mixing with these stirrings in your chest while being around these two, well, you're more than warm enough for several reasons.

Maybe it's the heat of your breath against the warmth of sun's chest as he holds you close with one arm. Maybe it's how Moon shoots you a grin everyone now and then when you catch each other's gaze. Maybe it's the squeeze they each give your hand that holds something you can't quite recognize as friendly, but anything more would be silly in your mind. Things like this can't happen in the span of an hour, and you'd be foolish to think otherwise.

Right?

But when you trip and fall back into a pile of snow, dragging Moon down with you, and your eyes meet, your heart flutters in a way you don't know it ever has.

It's only interrupted by Sun coming over, worry evident in his expression. He starts to help Moon up, only to be tricked, nearly trading places with the bot, but ends up on top of you instead.

It shocks you both, eyes wide as you stare at each other.

What makes matters worse is the way Sun's rays flick, eyes softening with a quiet. "Hi, friend."

There's something about it that makes your pulse quicken, heart pounding in your ears as you swallow. "Hi."

He seems to realize himself. "Come here often?" He tries to joke.

"Not really, no." You breathe.

A chuckle. "Pity. You should."

Your face is suddenly splattered with the remains of a snowball, which primarily hit the back of Sun's head. His expression sours, and when Moon starts to snicker is when the war begins again, Sun's hand tightly gripping your own as you follow his lead with your revenge.

When you become thoroughly cold is when you have to call it, but they don't seem to mind. In fact, to your surprise, they ask to exchange numbers, and you try to not be so eager to agree. You assume that'll be the end of it, but they invite you inside their home before you can get your keys inside your door.

"It's the least we can do."

"We may have gotten a little carried away..." Sun's rays shrink, then perk up again. "But we have coco! And snacks!"

You laugh at their sudden shared bashfulness, and nod. "You're alright. That does sound lovely."

The inside of their apartment isn't to unsimilar from your own, you're not quite sure what you expected though. It's definitely much more festive than your place, warm lighting, many decorations, a tree decorated to the nines.

It's not until you're bundled up in a blanket, borrowing a spare shirt and pants from the two—your clothes were totally soaked, they insisted—hot coco in hand as you chat and wrap gifts with Sun, that it hits you how nice this all is. There's music playing throughout the space, Moon is in the kitchen making something that smells amazing, and you feel just right at home.

It, alarms you, for a moment. Just a few hours ago, you knew nothing about either of them, and yet here you are, feeling as if you've known them forever. You're talking about things you haven't shared with anyone, parts of your life you'd near forgotten about due to the lack of connection. And the thing is, it's not just you, both animatronics spill as many stories to you, about what they did before moving in, their friends, it all just flows in a way that shouldn't be possible.

And yet.

"Something the matter, Sunshine?"

You glance up, and Sun nods to the half wrapped present below you. "Are you tired? You don't have to stay any longer if you don't want to. Your clothes should be done by now."

His words are kind, but there's a melancholy that hits your core, because of how similarly it matches your own.

"No!" You shake your head, taking a breath. "Sorry, no I'm, I'm more than alright, really."

Moon joins you finally, setting down a plate with really good looking food beside you on the coffee table, how did he even have time to make all that?

"Are you sure?" He asks. "I can always bag this up for you, if you'd prefer. We don't want to burden you any. You've entertained us more than enough."

Again, you shake your head. "No, it's not that at all. I just, if anything I,"—there's a tightening in your throat, come on, don't blow this, why do you feel like crying—"I don't understand why you're both being so nice to me. You have no reason to. I can't make sense of it." Your hands grip your head then. "And I just, I've never felt this way about anyone before and I feel like I'm going crazy and now I'm rambling, I'm sorry—"

You cut yourself off when a hand goes under your chin, tilting your head back to the night-themed bot on the couch behind you. And the breath leaves your lungs when he presses his smile to your lips for just a moment.

Sun grumbles from across from you. "No fair! You're not even the one who had a crush."

"I do now." Moon answers, then focuses back on you. "If they don't mind, that is."

Your face burns. "I, well I um—" You stop, sitting upright again to look over to Sun. "Crush?"

"Oh big time. If you had any idea how thrilled he was to see you out and about earlier—" He's interrupt by Sun shushing him instantly, and the bickering that ensues between them makes you giggle.

"You really mean that?" You ask once they settle down.

Both nod.

Sun puts his head in his hand. "I did have a crush, but, after spending the night with you I think it may have gotten worse. I'm sorry if you believe you were led here under false intentions, but we truly did mean nothing but the best."

"He's not really sorry he's just trying to gain sympathy." Moon mutters beside you.

"I am!"

You laugh again. "It's okay, I don't mind."

And as the mood shifts again, somehow even warmer than before, you find that really don't. Whatever this is, even if it's only for tonight, only for this brief moment in your life, it doesn't matter. You'll treasure it all the same.

But something about the way Sun laughs, and how Moon's hand rests on your shoulder tells you this won't be the end and is in fact, just merely the beginning.

And you're more than content with that.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

This was fun, a lil angsty, but fun! I hope you enjoyed @zoranight16 and thank you so much for the request! Loved the vibes of it, tried to capture the feelings as best I could bc I love this kind of thing ^_^

Masterpost link

Tag list (if you would like added, see this post for more info):

@scarletcowboy @beemyhuneybee @fishm0ther @deviouscrackers @elsajoyagent8

@luckyyyduckyyy @zenkaiankoku @jogimote @local-shrub @amarynthian-chronicles

@robinette-green @everlightreader @sinister-sincerely @starredeclipse @dangerva

@juukai @crystalmagpie447 @mothgutz236 @lizyxml

#hehehe i love writing fluff with a touch of longing and such #my cup of tea tbh #have y'all noticed there's been a smooch of some kind in all of these yet #bc i've been doing that intentionally lmao #fnaf dca #dca fandom #fnaf daycare attendant #fnaf sun #fnaf moon #sundrop #moondrop #x reader #dca fic #MM dca december #writing requests #midnight mutterings

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moxfirefly · 1 year ago

Note

I just saw your recent reblog, the ‘spicy action’ one

could I ask a fem!reader x bayverse!raph fic with the masturbate and oral prompts?

take your time 🫶

You got it anon 🫡

Rated explicit

Sometimes the ache was too much, the itch had to be scratched and sometimes nothing was enough.

He was missing you, desperately so.

Raph had thumbed through another picture of yours, salaciously showing off one of your purchases from the other day. It was a little number that showed legs and you had quite cheekily, pun intended, lifted the garment to show off your ass. It was a favorite picture of his, countless times he had stained his phone screen while admiring it.

Tonight was no different.

He had started off lazily stroking to the more take pictures you’d sent, the ones where he got to admire all manner of angles.

Because you’re beautiful in each of them, beautifully his.

By the time he got to the nudes, he was fully beating his cock. But to much of his disdain it wasn’t doing it this time. As he gripped and pushed the flesh down and then up, eliciting a moan between his clench teeth, the ache remained, the need to blow demanded.

Raph licked his palm for what felt the like twentieth time, hopeful the added moisture would replicate your cunt.

Which god he’d give anything to be buried in right about now.

The hand holding his phone tapped to zoom in, really admire the lace of your underwear, the cleft of your cheeks, the memories of burying his face between them. His cock leaked, another mournful gush of desire that couldn’t be satiated. He was past the point of boredom, he was stuck somewhere between chasing this high and growling in frustration. That filthy plap plap plap was mocking him, mocking how right now if you were here the sound could be so much more different. Desperate he flicked to a video you had sent him a few nights ago, you had been out of town and missing him.

Hearing your voice.

Hearing your noises.

Hearing your cunt.

Now we were getting somewhere, Raph felt the first tightening he hadn’t felt in an hour. Felt another embarrassing gush of precum dribble out of his abused head. Sweat had gathered at his brow, his hips jutted upwards with every intention of fucking hand. That crescendo of your sounds as you rode a toy, desperately seeking relief of your own…

The sound of his name as you came.

He could feel that pressure just close to cracking, something in him told him to quicken, to not miss video you falling apart for him.

But then again, real you was resting against the door of his-

Real you?!

Instinct kicked in, shutting the phone and trying to scramble for anything to hide his current activities (a practiced art from living with three brothers).

“No, no, I insist, I’m enjoying this just as much as you are.” That cocky smile only made his dick jump in need, in need to finish this.

“Jesus woman yer gonna kill me! …When ya get back?” He was elated to have you in the flesh, and although his question was ignore in favor of climbing onto the bed, he was so very happy to see you.

“In time to catch this show it seems.” You moved the pillow he’d used to modesty, and grabbed his cock. Raph hissed, so overstimulated from being so close.

“Need some help?” You dipped down, eyes on his as you wrapped your lips around the head and licked the slit there.

The very act made Raph’s mouth hang in a wordless answer.

His green eyes pleaded though.

You licked around the head before trailing down the base to the vein he loved getting extra attention on. The very motion made his toes curl, a hand shooting up to lay against the back of your head. He watched you take as much of him as you could, handle the rest with your soft expert hands.

Days without your touch had rendered him starved and embarrassed over how quickly he felt his release approaching after struggling for an hour.

He wanted to warn you, apologize and beg you to continue all at once.

So when that first hit of saltiness hit you and Raph moaned behind gritted teeth once more he thanked whatever was out there that you were here once again.

#tmnt bayverse #tmnt raphael x reader #tmnt raph x reader #tmnt Raphael #tmnt Raph #Raphael #Raph #raphael x reader #smut action prompts #anon #ask

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lustfulslxt · 1 year ago

Note

Okay could I request a Matt X Chris’s bsf! Reader. Like Chris knows his bestie has it BAD for his brother and he tries to set them up

Divulgence- Matt Sturniolo

warnings : idk, corny dad jokes that i legit died laughing over lmaoo

—

“What did the blanket say as it fell off the bed?” Chris asks, hardly able to hold in his giggles. “Oh sheet!”

Matt and I simultaneously burst into laughter, dramatically falling into one another as we struggle to catch our breaths. Chris starts rolling on the floor, his screams sounding throughout the house as he flails his limbs.

“What do you call a man with a rubber toe?” Matt asks, a goofy grin spread over his lips. “Roberto.”

I can’t help but repeatedly hit the couch as my laughter starts up again, completely amused at their corny jokes. Chris is back up for just a second, grabbing onto Matt’s shoulders before falling back to the ground, his face bright red due to the amount of laughter constricting his breath. After a few more minutes of silly giggles, both boys look at me expectantly.

I pause, thinking for a second, before I start snickering to myself. “What happens when you slap Dwayne Johnson on the butt? You hit rock bottom.”

Once again, the three of us are doubling over, unable to contain the joyous sounds coming from our mouths. Tears streaming down our faces, all of us feeling hot with the excessive laughter.

“Wait! Wait!” Matt shouts, attempting to catch his breath before continuing, “Why should you never fight a dinosaur?”

Me and Chris share a look with smiles on our faces, anticipating the punchline.

“Because you’ll get jurasskicked!” Matt exclaims, his voice booming as he starts howling.

Chris and I lose it, our screams echoing around the living room. My body shakes with giggles pouring out of me, left and right. I fall onto Matt’s lap, my head landing on his thighs, slowly calming down. I haven’t laughed this hard in a while, my breath is still erratic. His hands find their way into my hair, brushing it out of my face and wiping the tears from my cheeks. I make eye contact with Chris, who smirks at me as my face flushes pink.

Matt’s left arms falls over my side, his right hand still running through my hair, sending shivers down my body. Chris watches us, his smirk growing wider before sending me a quick wink, causing my cheeks to burn brighter. I turn my head to look up at Matt and realize he’s already looking at me. After he notices he’s been caught staring at me, he awkwardly looks away, a faint blush fanning his face.

“Hey, Y/N. Follow me real quick, I’ve got something to show you.” Chris calls out, beckoning me to follow him as he walks off in the direction of his room.

I give Matt a smile, patting his leg, standing up from him and following Chris. Upon walking into his room, he shuts the door and turns to me with a devilish grin on his face.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I ask, a small smile on my lips as I furrow my eyebrows in confusion.

“When are you going to tell him?” He asks.

My smile fades, a frown taking its place. “Why are you so insistent on me telling him?”

“Because you’re completely head over heels for him.” Chris points out

“That’s beside the point.” I mutter, dismissively.

“Y/N, I love you. You’re my best friend, but be so fucking for real.” He stares at me, his face giving off that he’s fed up.

“What?!” I exclaim, falling back on his bed.

“If you don’t tell him, I will.” He crosses his arms.

I shoot back up, immediately glaring at him, “You wouldn’t!”

He gives me a look and makes a move for his door, prompting me to sprint over to him, jumping on his back.

“Christoper Owen, stop it right now!” I shout, attempting and failing to get him to stop.

He ignores me, walking out of his room and up the stairs, me still on his back. He rounds the corner, entering the kitchen and heading straight for the living room that Matt still resides in.

“Seriously, kid. Knock it the fuck off.” I groan, hitting his back, though it was no use as he’s intent on getting me to spill my feelings for his brother.

Hearing my voice, Matt turns his head and widens his eyes at us, not expecting to see me yanking back on Chris, despite my futile attempts to do literally anything. Chris shakes me off his back, effortlessly, then turns to Matt.

“Follow me real quick, I want to show you something.” Chris says to him, just as he did to me five minutes ago.

I roll my eyes, “Chris, I swear to God.”

He holds his hand out to me, silently telling me to shut up, before waving his hand to Matt, ushering him back in the direction of his room. Matt, obviously confused, obliges anyways and heads downstairs with Chris in suit.

I sit back on the couch, anxiety building in my stomach, my nerves shot. I can’t help the slight tremble in my hands and the bouncing of my foot as I think of the worst.

Chris is my best friend, we’ve been friends for four years, and I’ve probably been in love with Matt for half that time. I never planned on telling him, as I was sure my feelings weren’t reciprocated. I cherished Matt and I’s friendship, and I didn’t want to jeopardize the dynamic. Sure, I, so badly, wanted to be with him and it hurt knowing that everything between us would only ever be platonic, but I’d rather have him as a friend than nothing at all.

Matt has always been so great to me. He’s so kind and loving, incredibly thoughtful, and we just click. I couldn’t help but fall for him and his pretty face, and I feel like an idiot for it. I can’t wrap my head around why I would let myself fall for him when it’s not necessarily the best of circumstances.

I don’t think Chris would intentionally fuck things up between us, but me not knowing what was being said between the two made me feel sick to my stomach. I‘ve always been an anxious person, but especially at times like this. My nerves are racked, and I can’t help the pit of anxiety and anticipation brewing in my stomach.

Before I can continue to dwell on my thoughts, Matt rounds the corner and makes his way to the couch opposite of me. He doesn’t say a word and doesn’t even spare me a glance. With a frown, I look back to the direction he came from, waiting for Chris to emerge, but he doesn’t. It hits me very clearly, as I now realize that Chris divulged my secret with him.

I can’t help the downward turn of my lips, my frown becoming more prominent. I can practically see the new awkwardness and tension that will be riddled throughout our friendship, making things slowly fall apart. I let out a loud breath, closing my eyes, and sighing as I throw my head back against the back of the couch. It feels like there’s a new weight on my shoulder, and I have no idea how to release it.

Suddenly, the seat next to me dips and I can feel a warm presence beside me. I don’t have to open my eyes to know that it’s Matt, I know his cologne like it’s oxygen. I slowly turn my head towards his direction, then open my eyes, immediately coming face to face with him. He stares at me for a moment, and I can’t read his facial expression, so I get a little nervous.

“Um.” He begins, pausing for a moment, before continuing, “Would you, maybe, want to go out? Like on a date? With me? Like not right now, but sometime? Whenever. If you don’t want to, that’s fine. It doesn’t have to be weird or anything, we can forget this ever happened. Like it’s totally okay, honest. Please say something, so I don’t keep rambling like an idiot.”

I can’t help the soft giggles that left my mouth, amused by his stammering. “I’d love to go on a date with you.”

His eyes widen and his mouth forms into an ‘o’ shape, “Like a date date?”

My smile grows, “Yes, Matt, a date date.”

“Wow. Nice.” He smiles back, letting out a breath. “I can’t lie, I was a bit worried you’d say no. Actually, a lot worried. Chris had to convince me to even say anything.”

“Is that what that was about?” I question, furrowing my eyebrows as I motion downstairs to Chris’ room.

He nods, “Yeah, he was basically telling me I need to stop being a pussy and just tell you how I feel.”

“Hmm. He led me to believe he was telling you about my feelings for you. I was straight up dying in here, like ready to throw up everything I’ve digested in the last 24 hours.” I admit.

He lets out a chuckle and scoots closer, placing his arm around me on the back of the couch. “So, how about you tell me about your feelings for me.”

A loud laugh escapes my mouth as I push his face away, him laughing in return as I say, “Maybe on this date you speak of.”

“Fair enough.” He shrugs, pulling me back into him.

He leans his head on my shoulder for a moment before turning it to look at me. When I turn my head in his direction, I notice our faces are only inches apart, causing me to slightly gasp. I can see his eyes flicker from mine to my lips and back, I knew what he wanted.

“Would you be upset if I asked to kiss you?” He whispers, his warm breath fanning my face.

My tongue runs over my lips, subconsciously wetting them as I shake my head from side to side, watching him watch my every move. He slowly inches closer, before his soft pink lips meet mine for the first time. It was a gentle kiss, only lasting a few seconds, before he pulled away to look at me. After taking in my reaction, he comes back in, pressing his mouth to mine. This one, being slower and longer, more passionate. After a minute, I pull back with a smile on my face as I took a deep breath.

“Give me like two minutes, and I’ll be right back.” I state, before taking off towards Chris’ room.

I quickly make my way down the stairs, and swiftly enter his room. Noticing he’s chilling on his bed, I run over to him and engulf him in a big hug. He’s surprised, but returns it nevertheless.

“You good?” He asks in a chuckle.

“Yes. I just wanna say you’re a great best friend and I love you so much. Thanks for keeping my secret, and I’m sorry I doubted you for a moment. And thanks for talking some sense into this kid.”

“Of course, I’d do anything for you.” He smiles, rubbing my back. “Now go back up there and spend some much deserved time with him. Love you, kid.”

With a giggle, I run back upstairs, leaving Chris to continue playing games on his phone. Once I make it in the kitchen, I stop for a moment and stare at Matt. He’s so pretty, I truly love everything about him. His eyes meet mine, a smile instantly pulling to his face. He nods his head at me, beckoning me to come join him once again. So I do.

“Hi.” I smile brightly at him, laying down on the sofa with my head in his lap, like earlier in the night.

“Hi.” He smiles back at me, running his hand through my hair as his other arm goes around me, pulling me closer into him.

“So, about that date.” I say, bringing my lips into my mouth to keep myself from cheesing embarrassingly hard.

The laugh he lets out ruins my attempt, as I can’t help but stare in awe at him. He’s truly everything, and I can’t be more happy that I get to indulge in that now.

—

a/n : ugh here you go! sorry i feel like this request was forever ago. it is a bit rushed, but only bc i had it all damn near finished and it didn’t save, so i lost basically the whole thing. i’ll do better next time, enjoy. send in reqs! xx

#lustfulslxt #joss speaks #sturniolo triplets #sturniolos #the sturniolos #chris sturniolo #matt sturniolo #imagine #christopher sturniolo #matthew sturniolo #matt sturniolo x me #matthew sturniolo x you #matthew sturniolo x reader #christopher sturniolo x you #besties #friends to lovers #request #fluff

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oneforthemunny · 1 year ago

Text

santa claus is comin' to town |janitor!eddie munson x teacher!reader|

prompt: oliver's first christmas with you and eddie, since the adoption, is off to a not so great start. luckily, eddie knows exactly how to make both your spirits bright <3

read the entire janitor!eddie and teacher!reader series here!

contains: parents eddie and reader. oliver is adopted by you and eddie. past talk of parent trauma and neglect. a little angsty, a lot fluffy <3

“Ollie, look,” You nodded, pulling the young boy’s attention to the center of the mall, right outside the food court, settled in mounds of fake snow and twinkling snowflake lights was Santa’s Village. Children of all ages jumped with excitement, giddy at the chance to tell the man at the end perched on a red velvet throne, what they desperately wanted for Christmas. Their parents handing over wads of cash for a photo, a framed memory they could cherish for years.

This was the first year you and Eddie would get the chance.

“Do you want to go see Santa?” You asked, grinning down at him with a smile so bright, it rivaled the lights around you.

Oliver didn’t match your excitement. Instead he looked over solemnly, head shaking in a sad bob that had your stomach plummeting. “No, ‘s okay.” Oliver shrugged.

You blinked, looking up at the lines. “It’s ok if you do.” You pressed gently, a soft smile to reassure him. He was still getting used to you and Eddie paying for everything, still skittish about it even after the judge made you his legal guardians. “I can go with you, if you want. I just want to make sure you tell Santa so he can get you what you want.”

Oliver shook his head again, bottom lip jutting gently, small enough to have your face dropping in worry. “No, it’s ok.” He shook his head. “Santa never comes to my house anyways. I don’t think he knows about me, or he forgets.”

“What do you mean, honey?” Your voice was strained with emotion, trying desperately to stay level, not to sound upset though your stomach was twisting in the most painful way.

Oliver looked up at you through long, dark lashes. “He never came to my house.” He muttered, a tiny huff of a sigh that made you want to sob. “I’d always send him the letters at school, but he never came.”

You felt every ounce of his disappointment, bore it heavy on your heart. Your throat constricted, unable to find the right words. What did you say to that? What could you say to make it better? You didn’t know, so instead you nodded, squeezing his hand gently, stopping for a cookie at the small corner kiosk and heading towards the music store Eddie was at. The once cheery, festive music felt mocking now, playing through the speakers.

Eddie stood by the counter, strumming the newly repaired string of his guitar to test it. His face lit up, excited to show you how they’d fixed it, how much better it sounded now with a proper tune up. Instead, his smile fell.

“Hey,” Eddie muttered, hand running over Oliver’s locks, ruffling them in an affectionate greeting that had him giggling. “What’s goin’ on?”

You didn’t meet his gaze, swallowing the burning bile that rose in the back of your throat, eyes downcast towards Oliver. “Hey, you alright?” Eddie muttered, his hand touching yours, calloused thumb gliding across your knuckles. “Somethin’ happen?”

“No,” He knew you were lying, your voice tight the way it was when something was wrong. “Did you get it fixed?”

“Yeah,” Eddie frowned, scanning your features carefully. “Are you sure-”

“-Can I go look at the CDs?” Oliver pointed towards the aisles of CDs, hand gently pulling yorus for attention.

You nodded. “Stay towards the front, ok? Where we can see you. If you can’t see us-”

“-Then you can’t see me.” Oliver grinned. “I will.” He chirped, giddily skipping over to the CDs. Somehow, his innocent happiness made your heart break more.

“Hey, look at me, baby.” Eddie muttered, knuckle brushing under your chin lightly, pulling your gaze into his. “What’s’a matter? What’s wrong?”

You pressed your lips together to stop the shake you felt coming. “I, uh, I asked Ollie if he wanted to see Santa. Tell him what he wanted for Christmas so we could get an idea for him.” Your gaze wandered to the small boy, on his tiptoes to flick through the CDs in the rock section- the ones he was starting to favor since listening with Eddie.

“He said,” You swallowed, voice quivering with emotions that you were trying your best to keep in. “He said Santa never visited him, Eddie. He thinks he forgets him every year.”

Eddie watched your face crumble, turning away to try and compose yourself. His own heart dropping. Rushes of his own childhood, the hope that maybe this year Santa would visit if he stole the Borden’s lights, threw them up on his roof instead so Santa could see. He even kept his light on so Santa would know he was home, but still, he never came.

Until he stayed with Wayne.

“Does he,” Eddie ducked, eyes cutting around the store. “He still, like, believes in him and all that?”

You paused, brows furrowing lightly. “Yeah, I mean, I think he does-”

“-I got it.” Eddie nodded, finality in his tone. “I got it, baby. Don’t worry.”

“Ed, wait, just-” You stopped him, eyes cutting to Oliver. “You can’t make him, ok? If he doesn’t want to, then we should respect that.”

“I’m not gonna make him, baby.” Eddie smiled softly. “I got it, ok. You trust me?” You nodded slowly. You did trust Eddie, in every way with everything.

“Then let me handle this, alright? Don’t worry about it.” Eddie pressed a soft kiss to your cheek, squeezing your hip lovingly, walking back to the counter to gather his guitar.

“Hey, Ollie, gotta ask you somethin’, little guy.” Eddie hummed, strumming his guitar, tongue poked out in concentration.

Oliver was in front of him, mindlessly playing with his own action figures while Eddie practiced, flipping Spider-Man off the couch cushions and launching him over the coffee table with pure childlike imagination. “Yeah?”

Eddie watched him carefully, trying to play it cool, easy- not to scare the kid. “Mama told me something,” The beloved name you’d adorned before the papers went through. Eddie had christened you with it happily, grinning at the way it made you gleam when he’d call you it. “Said you didn’t want to see Santa.”

Oliver stopped, action figure hanging in midair, eyes wide like he’d been caught doing something wrong. “Yeah.” Oliver said quietly. Eddie knew he was trying to read his tone, see if he was mad or upset.

Eddie smiled at him softly, playfully throwing a hand out to him. “Dude, why?” He grinned. “You gotta tell the big man what you want for Christmas.”

Oliver’s head lowered, dragging the plastic feet of the superhero across the coffee table. “Santa doesn’t come to visit me.” He mumbled. “He never has.”

Eddie tried not to let his face falter. He knew it was coming, and it still hurt. Instead, he tried to remember what Wayne said, exactly how he’d said it and convinced him years ago when he was in Ollie’s shoes, hurt and disappointed.

“He didn’t?” Eddie cocked his head to the side. Oliver shook his head, face falling. “That’s weird.” Eddie quipped, lips twisting in thought. He could feel Oliver’s eyes on him curiously, he wanted to play it up for him. “You know, I bet you’re not registered.”

Oliver blinked. “Registered?”

“Yeah, your parents,” Eddie cringed at the mention. “You, uh, you have to register everyone to Santa. There’s a lot of kids in the world, and he can lose count sometimes. If you move or if you have more kids, anything, you gotta get them registered so he’ll know. Kinda like attendance, y’know?” It wasn’t nearly as smooth as when Wayne did it, much more rambling, but Oliver’s eyes lit up.

“You do?” Oliver asked, setting Spider-Man down completely.

“Oh, yeah.” Eddie nodded, setting his own guitar down on the stand. “I’ve been meaning to call anyways, make sure they were sending me a form down so I could let them know that you’re here now. Let me just call really quick.”

Oliver followed him, close on Eddie’s heels into the kitchen, where you were cutting carrots for the soup. “Hey, babe,” Eddie called, opening the junk drawer by the sink. “Have you seen the phone book?”

“The phone book?” You frowned, turning to look over your shoulder at them. “It should be under the coffee table.”

“No, the one for the North Pole.” Eddie muttered, eyes lifting to yours, shooting you a wide eyed look.

You paused, tracking his sharp side eyed glance to Oliver, who’s eyes were wide and hopeful, hanging on Eddie’s every word. “Oh,” You squeaked. “Um, I think I put it in the address book in my purse.”

Eddie fumbled through the contents of your bag, swiping the floral printed contact book with a sloppy grin. “Ah, found it.” He muttered, tongue poking out when he thumbed through the names and numbers.

“Can I see?” Oliver asked, rising on his tip-toes to look over the edge of the book.

“Hey, no way, c’mon.” Eddie shook his head. “Santa only gives it to parents. So we can call when you’ve been bad, or when we move and stuff. Can’t give it out or he’ll be mad.”

Oliver hesitated, scanning Eddie’s face carefully. He was a little suspect, but Eddie said it so confidently, it was hard not to be convinced- hell, you were convinced, listening with careful amusement from the kitchen.

Eddie pulled the phone off the hook, dialing the number with a covered hand, winking over at Oliver playfully. The line rang and rang and rang, until-

“Hello?”

“Hi, this is Eddie- sorry, Edward Munson.” Eddie said cheerfully into the phone, just like he would talking to a customer service rep. “I was needing to talk to someone about registering a new house to Santa’s route.”

There was a pause, the rustling of the line on the other end. “Eddie, what the fuck- are you high?” Dustin Henderson’s confused voice rang from the other end.

Eddie grinned, jaw clenching at annoyance he tried to hide. Thankfully, Oliver didn’t seem to notice, eyes shining with awe at the phone call. “Yeah, we were just needing to talk to someone about registering our house for Santa to stop at.” Eddie’s tone was clipped behind feigned cheerfulness. “We have Oliver living here now, and we wanted to get the form sent.”

“Eddie, what-” Dustin laughed on the other end. “Are you messing with me? You’re messing with me.”

“Yeah, just a second-” Eddie covered the phone, leaning towards Oliver. “Ollie, can you grab my wallet? By the bed?”

Oliver nodded, scampering down the hall. Eddie waited before turning, cradling the phone close to his mouth. “Henderson, play the fuck along, ok? I told Oliver I was calling the North Pole.”

Dustin laughed, a loud cackle of a laugh, full belly and entertained. “Why? What are you doing-”

“-Because Santa has never visited him.” Eddie hissed lowly, ceasing Dustin’s laughter. “And I am trying to get the registration form just to make sure we get added on Santa’s route, so Santa will be sure to visit us this year.” Eddie’s tone lifted, changing instantly back to that cheery tone he had before when Oliver ran in.

“Thanks, bud.” Eddie grinned, taking the wallet. “Just my license number?” He hummed, flicking it open.

“Eddie, I’m-I’m sorry, man. I thought you were messin’ with me-”

“-Yeah, it’s W23-016.” Eddie cut the other man off through gritted teeth. “And it’s Oliver Munson. He’s eight, and his new address is 172 Azalea Lane in Hawkins, Indiana.”

The line was silent. “What do you want me to do here, Eddie? Like pretend-”

“Yeah, if you can send the form here, that would be great.” Eddie fought back an eye roll. He should’ve called Steve. “And my wife wanted me to ask, can Oliver go see Santa now and tell him what he wants, or should he wait until after we mail the form back?”

“Uh, now? Is that what you want me to say? Dude, why didn’t you call me before so I could prepare-” Dustin huffed.

“Great. We’ll get that filled out, and we’ll go next weekend.” Eddie smiled over at Oliver, heart swelling with warmth over the irritation he felt. “Thanks so much for your help, Nog. Have a good one.”

“Oh, wow, use my ninth grade dwarf name. Real mature-” Eddie didn’t wait to hear the rest of Dustin’s whining, slapping the phone on the receiver.

Oliver was bouncing, practically exploding with anticipation and excitement. You thought your heart might burst at the sight. “They’re sending it over.” Eddie clapped his hands. “Told you it was easy, Ollie. They said you just have to sign something when it comes, and we can send it back off to the North Pole, and can go see Santa next week.”

“Wow,” Oliver beamed, smiling at you. “Thank you.” He muttered, barreling into Eddie’s side, squeezing his thighs in a tight, loving hug.

“You’re welcome, bud.” Eddie smiled, patting his head affectionately. “Can you go put my guitar back in the garage? In the case, please? Make sure to fasten it.”

Eddie waited until Oliver was running back into the living room to slide over to you. Your eyes shining with adoration, awe. “That was the sweetest thing I think I’ve ever seen, Ed.” You muttered, arms wrapping around his torso. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so in love with you in my whole life.”

“C’mon,” Eddie blushed, rocking you gently, a half stepped sway. “Not gonna let the kid have a bad Christmas.”

“How did- How did you even come up with that?” You blinked, chin resting against his chest. “That was genius.”

“Well, gotta give credit to Wayne.” Eddie shrugged. “He, uh, he did it first. When I came to live with him the first time after my mom passed. Dad hadn’t got me a gift since she died, too fucked up to remember the whole Santa thing. So Wayne told me it was because he forgot to register my house after we moved. I believed it. Made me feel better thinkin’ my dad just forgot to register the house, instead of forgettin’ me, y’know?” Eddie muttered, voice dropping lowly.

Your heart ached in the most uncomfortable way, squeezing him tighter into your chest. “It was sweet.” You whispered, arms circling around his waist, pressing a kiss to the soft fabric of his t-shirt, right over his heart. It made him flush with heat. “Thank you for that.”

“Baby, do you have construction paper?” Eddie asked, sliding into your classroom. It was still early, the sun just barely lifting into the grayed Indiana morning sky, frost still fogging at the windows.

“Um, in the cabinet in the red drawer.” You pointed to the arts and crafts area, neatly organized safety scissors and crayons tucked away. “What are you doing?”

“I got this idea last night. Ollie’s real excited-” Eddie paused, scanning the classroom for the little boy.

“He went down to the gym with Mrs. Bronski.” You waved it off lightly, passing out the morning activity papers to each of the spots. “Excited about what?”

“Excited about Santa this weekend.” Eddie muttered, flipping through the stack of construction paper, shimmying out a sheet of red and green. “Anyways, I got this idea about making the form. I found these letter stamps and ink pads in the art room, asked Lois if I could borrow them and she’s letting me. I think it’d be better printed like that so it look more legit, ya know?”

You beamed, smiling brightly under the fluorescent lights of the classroom, making Eddie’s heart skip. “Yeah, that’s- that’s really sweet, Ed.”

Eddie paused, shoulder’s tensing slightly, that familiar wide eyed, scared look creeping into his features. “You- It’s stupid, isn’t it?” He asked, voice tight. “I, fuck- sorry- I just, I dunno I thought it would be cool. Better than… It doesn’t matter. That was too much, I’m sorry, I just got excited-”

“Eddie, what?” You lifted a brow, tone steady and calm, like it always was when he’d spin out like this. “Ed, I think that’s a great idea. I think it’s really sweet, and I think Ollie will love it.”

Eddie scanned your features, looking for any reason not to believe you- a quirk in your lips, a blink that felt off, anything. “Are you sure? It’s not… too much?”

“You think I’d judge you for doing too much?” You tilt your head to the side playfully. “I’m jealous I didn’t think of it because it’s perfect, Eddie. All of it. You’re just,” Your breath hitched, heart fluttering at the sight of him. “You’re just a really good dad, and it makes me so inexplicably happy that I get to be with you. Watch you be a good dad, and a good husband, and just be with you. I’m so happy with you.”

Eddie blushed, cheeks reddening at your words. If you weren’t in school, the looming threat of HR surrounding you, he’d push you up against the poster board, make out with you right there.

“Thank you.” Eddie muttered instead, looking down at his work boots, cheeks burning with the praise. “I, uh, I- yeah, I feel the same way, y’know. About you, and you’re a good mom- the best mom.” You rolled your eyes bashfully, grabbing his hand, squeezing it softly.

“Hey, lovebirds,” Steve grinned, head ducking in your doorway. Eddie rolled his eyes, scoffing with exasperation. “Gotta go get the kids. Do you want me to walk yours up too?”

“No, I’ve got it.” You smile politely. “Thanks, Steve. I’ll be right there.”

Eddie was already reaching for your lanyard of keys, dropping them in your hand, pressing a sweet, parting kiss to your cheek quickly.

He worked tirelessly in his tiny janitor’s closet, pulling out a broken ruler to make sure it was lined correctly, taking breaks in between the lunch cleanup and fixing a ceiling light, until it was perfect.

Oliver was thrilled when Eddie came home, the bright red paper in his hand. “Guess what came in the mail today, Ollie?” Eddie sang in a silly tone, a grin so wide and dazzling it made you want to melt.

Oliver signed the dotted line with careful, slanted handwriting. You thought you were going to cry seeing him sign Oliver Munson beaming with pride at the last name that was all his now.

Eddie snuck it back into your bedroom after going to “mail the letter back”, neatly laying it in your bedside drawer. That night, the two of you lied in bed, looking over every careful detail of the paper, your own prized possession.

“How long did this take you?” You muttered, fingertip tracing over Oliver’s pen scrawled signature, lip trembling all over again.

“Not too long,” Eddie’s chest rumbled under you, lips pressed into your hair, holding you against him as close as possible. “Worst part was trying to make sure I didn’t miss a letter or something. I started on green but fucked up Santa. Spelled Satan, so had to start over.”

You laughed, a small, watery giggle that had Eddie’s grin on you tightening, an affectionate squeeze to your hip. “Yeah, that might have him confused.” You beam, head lolling back on Eddie’s shoulder to look up at him. “He was so excited though, I don’t think he would have cared.”

Eddie’s lips curled in a soft smile, hand moving to cradle the back of your head, pulling you in for a sweet kiss- the kind that left your head reeling with devotion, letting him press you back into the pillows, body sliding on top of yours.

“Wait,” You panted, tapping on his chest gently.

Eddie frowned, rolling off of you. “‘M sorry. I thought you wanted to-”

You placed the paper back in your bedside drawer, neatly tucking it under a book so it wouldn’t get crinkled. “I didn’t want it to rip.” You smiled softly, flicking off the lamp.

Eddie could see your eyes, glowing with that devious hint that had his heart jumping with excitement. You crawled over him, legs straddling either side of his hips, your hands in his hair this time, pressing him into the pillow, pinning him with a feverish kiss that left him reeling.

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suitelif3 · 5 months ago

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Cabin Lover

rated t | 1.2k | ao3

For @steddiemas, prompts: cabin, cold

The dangers of the Upside Down were on rise once more.

Eddie and Steve got separated from Nancy and Robin while trying to investigate in the woods. It was pitch black as Eddie could barely see a thing in front of him. This just had to happen near Christmas, when they should be celebrating together instead of chasing monsters. Eddie clutched Steve’s hand in his so they couldn’t be separated, and stumbled along next to him.

Steve was the more practiced of the two with Upside Down terrors, so Eddie left the navigating to him. But they were still in the middle of the woods, the telltale signs of frost incoming, with no way to see. Eddie was starting to panic.

“Holy shit man! This is not good. We need to find the girls, they’re probably freaking out too, well at least Robin is. And I can’t see shit man, how’re you seeing anything?!”

Steve tugs on his hand. “Eddie, they’re probably fine. Nancy can take care of herself, she’ll make sure nothing happens to Robin. And I just have some practice lurking in the dark.” The nailed bat dangles from Steve’s other hand.

“We need to get out of these woods though. I don’t want anything jumping out at us when we’re not together.” Steve says.

They continue walking, trying to find any direction where the trees aren’t going for miles.

What if they die in these woods? Eddie would’ve never told Steve how he felt, how much all those hangouts with him when recovering meant to him. How much Steve took care of him when he needed it. How Steve is still taking care of him. What if he never gets another chance to tell him because they die in the woods by some creature that surprises them. Eddie squeezes Steve’s hand.

“Hey Steve-“

“Look!” Steve points to a dinky old cabin in the distance. The windows are dark, the wood splintering, and it seems pretty abandoned. But it’s shelter and it’ll do.

They walk faster toward the cabin, keeping aware of their surroundings. The wood creaks under their feet, but they continue in and slam the door behind them. Steve puts the bat down near the door.

It finally feels like Eddie can breathe. He can calm down without the vast darkness around him, not knowing what lurks in the shadows. Now they have this little cabin with walls, and is surprisingly furnished.

There’s a couch in the living room. A little coffee table in the center. Another room coming off of it, which seems to be the bedroom with just a mattress on the floor. Eddie really hopes it’s not as dirty as the one he had in his trailer nine months ago. There’s a bathroom attached to the bedroom, with a shower and everything. The kitchen is near the entrance, and only has a few canned items in the cabinets. But they have a stove.

All in all, not a bad place to spend the night hiding from monsters.

“Here.” Steve pulls a lantern from one of the cabinets, lighting it with a match.

The glow cascades softly on Steve’s face, orange from the flame bringing out the warmth of his eyes.

“Should we figure out the sleeping situation?” After trampling through the woods for so long, Eddie was thoroughly exhausted, he wanted to pass out as soon as possible.

“Yeah, good idea. I can take the couch, and you can take the mattress?”

“Sure, do you think they have any blankets in here?”

“Wouldn’t hurt to check.”

Eddie starts rummaging through the cabinets again, hoping to find anything he could wrap around and call a blanket.

“Aha!” Steve pulls out two thick woven blankets.

Eddie sags in relief.

He remembers to close the curtains so their light doesn’t attract anything waiting to kill them.

Steve hands him a blanket.

“Thanks Stevie.” Eddie smiles at him softly.

“Goodnight Eddie.” Steve stares at him for a beat, then turns toward the couch, pulling the blanket over.

Eddie dips onto the mattress, checking for bugs or stains. He gets comfortable after seeing nothing. He wraps the blanket around him like a burrito, trying to get every inch of his exposed body under the warmth of the wool.

About half an hour in, Eddie is still shivering more than he thought possible. The cracked wood of the cabin not offering much insulation. The darkness making him feel the chill down to his bones. He wonders if Steve is any warmer.

“Steve!” Eddie whisper-shouts. “You still awake in there?”

“Yeah!” Steve whisper-shouts back.

“Are you cold?”

“Freezing.”

Before he loses his nerve, he asks Steve, “Do you want to come sleep in here?” The with me is implied.

“Sure.”

He hears Steve creep into the room, seeing his silhouette near the mattress. Steve falls onto it, and splays the blanket over him. He immediately crowds Eddie, huddling for more warmth. Eddie’s face is red hot now.

Eddie unwraps the blanket from around him, and shuffles closer to Steve. When their skin is touching, Eddie whispers, “Can I put this over you so we can use both?”

Steve nods lazily. “That’s a good idea, we can use our body heat and have both blankets over us. Hopefully it’ll warm us up quicker.”

“Bright as always, Stevie.”

Steve brushes a hand down Eddie’s arm, stopping on his waist. Goosebumps rise on his skin and he brings an arm up to rest on Steve’s shoulder. They have the two blankets stacked on top of them lying together.

“You know, you’re one of the only ones that thinks I’m smart.” They speak quietly to each other, filling the barely left space between them with their words.

“What do you mean? The kids love you and Robin thinks you’re smart for sure.”

“The kids might love me, but that doesn’t mean they think I’m bright. And sure, deep down Robin knows I’m smart but her nickname for me is still dingus. You’re the only one that says I’m smart or bright to my face.”

“Well I’ll keep telling you that then.”

Steve pulls Eddie in by the waist, so they’re flushed together, Eddie burrows into his shoulder.

“Does it bother you?”

“What?”

They slowly tangle their legs together.

“That Robin calls you dingus?”

“No, not at all, I know she means it in a lovable way, and she’s not calling me stupid or anything, it’s just I know I have more stupid moments than smart ones and it’s just a constant reminder.”

“Hmm, I think you’re really smart, Steve. More than anyone gives you credit for, including me. You’re more than just the muscle fighting these monsters. You have good strategy and I-we need you.”

“I need you too.”

Steve squeezes his arms around him briefly.

“Steve…” Eddie looks up at him.

“I do. I need you to help me corral the kids, to be there with me and Robin. Just seeing you brightens my day, I love being around you, talking with you. I love you, Eddie.”

“I love you too.” He says breathlessly.

He pulls Steve in by his sweater.

Steve’s lips are soft, moving in sync with Eddie’s. He parts his lips and pushes his tongue into Steve’s mouth. It’s warm, Steve’s tongue pushing against his. Eddie brushes a hand over the back of Steve’s neck, tangling his fingers into the nape of hair there.

His sleepy mood makes him more pliable. Steve pulling him in, he barely resists. Steve’s hands travel, dipping into his hips, splaying across his back, tracing down his arm. Eddie has a hard time remembering how cold he was in the first place.

He just feels the warmth from Steve’s body, losing himself in the allure of Steve’s lips.

#fanfic #fluff #steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddiemas2024 #week 1 #cabin #cold weather #getting together #first kiss #cuddling and touching #steddie fic #steddie fanfiction #steddie fandom #steddie fluff

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thebestofoneshots · 1 year ago

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Gilded Constellations | (wolfstar x reader)

Series Masterlist | Previous episode

Pairing: Wolfstar x Reader Word Count: 7.3 K Warnings: ANGST! Prompt: Vixen tries to survive in the snow while Remus desperatly tries to find her. This IS a Wolfstar x reader fic, but it's incredibly slow burn. They won't start all dating each other until we're very deep into the story, but I promise the long wait will be worth it. Proofread by lovely: @aremuslupinsimp

Chapter 46: Comfortably Numb

Well, hold on, my darling This mess was yours Now your mess is mine

You had woken up hastily after seeing Nina, your eyes snapping open in hopes she really was there, but there was no one, just more snow, gently falling on top of the white layer already covering most of the fields. Your eyes started to close again until you felt something on your nose, you opened your eyes only to see a blue butterfly.

But here? In the snow? You wondered as you saw its wings bat desperate, tired, and cold. You could feel the crisp taping of paper-like, frozen delicate things against your cheek and lashes, urging you to open your eyes back up, to wake up and fight.

You moved your hand towards your face and the butterfly gingerly jumped to your finger, “You must be cold,” you whispered. You felt cold too, although it wasn’t as cold as before. In truth you were so tired and numb, you barely registered how cold it was until you felt her wings flapping against your cheeks.

“If I had my wand I could make us a fire,” you said, “but that was taken away from me, to help someone who helped me get here… You can stay by me if you want…” you added as you let your hand fall on your lap carefully. The small butterfly flapped their wings again, desperate to get your attention.

“Not warm enough, is it?” You asked and sighed. “I’ll try to get us there then,” you said as you pointed at the shack, you knew it would be warm. It was hard to get up, the stunning spell and how tired you were at this point had taken a toll on you. Your movements were strained and languid, it took you a full minute to stand. The butterfly kept flying around you, desperate. You extended your hand to help and she flew towards your shoulder, sitting just over the sleeve of your dress.

Oh right, you were only wearing a dress, perhaps that was the reason it was so cold. You managed to walk all the way to the door, with a slow and steady pace, but once you reached, the door wouldn’t budge. It was firmly closed, and you didn’t have your wand to pry it open, you didn’t even have the penknife you had made for Sirius. You leaned your back against the doorframe, you felt so tired.

“Looks like we’re staying out here, Blue,” you said as you looked at the butterfly, who flew rapidly towards your face in response. You sighed, “You wouldn’t make it, would you?” you asked and pushed yourself off the door, searching for another way in. That’s when you spotted one of the crossed-out windows. Perhaps if I try hard enough…

You used the walls to step down from the stairs and walked towards the window. It was covered with wood, but one of the slabs seemed at least slightly rotten, so you grabbed that one, ignoring the splinters digging into your palms and pulled.

Nothing happened. You frowned, took a deep breath and pulled again. There was a creaking sound, but the wood was still firmly glued to the side panels of the window. You nodded, hyping yourself up as you tried again. One, two, three, PULL!

The piece of wood came along with you as you stumbled back a good few steps. You looked at it and smiled, throwing the wood on the floor and leaning against the window. It was still as messy as you remembered, but the clouding against the window meant it was warm. You grabbed a fist full of the flowy fabric of your dress and punched on the window, you felt it shatter as your fist went through the crystal. When you pulled your hand back you allowed your dress and the tiny shards of glass to fall onto the snow.

You turned around and pushed your hand towards the butterfly. She placed herself in the middle of your palm and you carefully brought her inside. She seemed even more active once inside the warmer climate and you smiled. At least you could save a butterfly.

You swallowed again and tried to pull the wood slab just over the one you had managed to rip out earlier but it was useless, the wood wasn’t as putrid as the other one, and it was firmly nailed onto the window. You huffed and tried again, but the result was the same. The butterfly seemed to be flying desperately as it watched you struggle. You sighed after trying one more time and allowed yourself to fall on the floor, your eyes closed when you felt the flapping of the wings against your cheeks again.

“What are you doing here?” you asked as you stared at it. “Go back inside, it’s warm, you’ll diе out here.”

The butterfly stubbornly flew around you. It couldn’t talk, but if it did, you’d imagine it would be telling you the same thing you were trying to tell it. You sighed and stood up, helping her back inside. “I’ll find safety,” you promised as you looked at her. “But you need to stay inside.”

The butterfly refused. You carefully hurled her back inside. It wasn’t easy but you were gentle enough not to hurt her. Once she was inside you dug down and grabbed some snow, attempting to close the hole you’d made with it. You dragged the snow from the sides of the sill and pressed them against the opened area, ignoring the sharp pain when a shard of glass dug into the side of your palm. Or perhaps it was more than one, your hand was too numb to feel it all.

Once you made sure the butterfly wouldn’t be able to follow, you took a deep breath and focused on the snow. You used a similar spell to the one you had used on the snow fight, but rather than a projectile, you used the same type of magic to make sure the snow wouldn’t melt for a while. The butterfly was fluttering madly inside, as if desperate to come back out.

“It’s all right,” you reassured, “I’ll find a way to safety, I promise.” You smiled faintly and then turned around. If you couldn’t get inside the shack, then the closest way to safety was through the forest. You weren’t scared, you knew the most dangerous thing that roamed it already, and he wasn’t around tonight.

You looked up at the sky, the stars were impossibly bright, and the moon was waning. The path towards the forest was dark, but illuminated enough for you to see your way. You took in a deep cold breath and decided that if you’d have to get to the castle either way, you might as well do it now.

The snow was hard and freezing, your feet hurt as you tried to raise them so you were pretty much dragging them through the thick and cold snow. With no shoes, they felt colder than ever, you could barely feel them at this point, but you kept walking.

You fell more than once, but the ghost memory of the Blue flapping her wings against your cheeks got you to stand again. To keep walking, to keep fighting. But the castle seemed so far away, and the cold snow appeared as a welcoming blanket every time you stumbled onto it again. It was tempting, awfully tempting to just allow yourself to fall on it, to let it slowly drape over you and to become numb, not only your body, but your mind as well.

When would they find you if you did? In a week when they realised you were gone? In a month when other animals dug you out of the snow desperate for something to eat? In months? After the weather grew warm and the insects had made your skin their home. You wished you could shudder at the sombre thoughts, but the snow still looked beguiling.

Perhaps she would wash away your thoughts, perhaps she’d get rid of the pain inside like she had done with the one outside. The soft, white blanket, ready to wrap itself around you until you were completely swallowed by it, until you were one with it, and nothing more.

But the memory of the butterfly got you up again, you’d have to go back to help her out, if you stayed in the snow, then she would stay in the shack, and the two of you would be nothing more than a memory.

Remus had run to the Whomping Willow the second he pocketed the mirror. He didn’t even bother hiding the fact that he was going out at night, he didn’t sneak out, he didn’t care if he got detention, he didn’t care if he got expelled. Not after what Sirius had told him. Not after hearing how you were sitting on the snow, with your eyes closing and with the same cold he felt, so heavy around him. The snow was falling so hard he couldn’t see more than a few metres ahead, and he was scared.

No, Remus was terrified, as terrified as he had been that night you’d discovered he was a Werewolf, as terrified as he was when he saw you fall from your broom back at the game, as terrified as that night you insisted on turning into Vixen alongside the rest of the Marauders to be with Moony.

He had been terrified of losing you then, and he was hysterical over feeling the exact same way now. He sprinted towards the tree, not thinking twice if he would get hit by one of its branches as he ducked and jumped to get to the hole. He slid down and ran, so fast his legs cried for him to stop, his heart drumming in his ears and his breath short. It took some time, but when he finally made it, when he found the door, he busted it open and walked inside. He didn’t waste time, walking towards the entrance and using his wand to open the door.

“Sirius said you’d be there,” he whispered as he looked at the empty fence. The snow had already covered your tracks, but he could smell the same urgent, scared and terrified scent of you he was already familiar with. He looked around and spotted the wood slab you had ripped from the window. He could smell bIood on it and he cringed, taking it in his hands only to spot small droplets of it over the sides. He winced at the thought of you hurting yourself and then dropped the wood and looked around again. The snow, being so thick, had easily erased your steps, but even if he couldn’t see, he could smell.

His senses weren’t as keen as they were close to the moon, he wasn’t as good at tracking as Moony was, but if there was a time to take advantage of his abilities, it was now. He closed his eyes and focused on you. It was hard at first, the snow was thick and cold and his nose was freezing, but he managed to spot you, a trace of you. When he opened his eyes again, they were way more golden than normal, and he sprinted towards the source of the smell. He ran, ignoring the snow that had slipped inside his Converse, ignoring the complaints of his bones. The moon had been only days ago and he was still rather sore, but he ran.

By the time he spotted a faint dark dot in the distance, he was already panting, but he pushed through and sprinted all the way to you. By the time he reached you, you were kneeling on the floor, slow breaths and looking up, attempting to stand again. He kneeled in front of you and took you a minute to really see him, thinking for a moment it was just another game your mind was playing on you.

“Rem?” you asked, voice cracked and barely a whisper.

“Merlin, you’re all right,” he said as he dragged you towards him. You weren’t all right. You felt as cold as the place surrounding you. Remus panicked as he held you close to him. And he took off the coat he was wearing to wrap it around you.

“No, it’s cold, you use it,” you slurred as you shivered. Remus gave you a sympathetic look.

“I’m going to carry you, I think I can apparate you back in the Shack,” he explained.

“It’s closed, can’t open it…” you said as you shook your head, not quite thinking. “Must get to the castle, it’s safe,” you said, you had told yourself that over and over again as you walked, you were merely repeating it now. Not even thinking Remus could probably crank the door open if he wanted to.

“You don’t have your wand?” he said as he pulled you up from the floor and slung one of your arms around his shoulder. You shook your head in response. “I’m going to pick you up now,” he added as he passed his arm under your legs and pulled you up with ease. “I have my wand,” he added reassuringly, handing it over to you, he knew it would make you feel better.

And then he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and concentrating on the Shack. The shape of the walls, the window covered by wooden slabs, the run-down chimney and the scuffed floors, once the image was neat enough, he followed Dumbledore’s instructions, the world dissolved around him only for him to appear in the shack. The first thing he did was let you down on the floor carefully and make sure he hadn’t accidentally splinched you.

“You alright? Anything hurts?” He asked as he placed his hands on your face to check on you. They were warm and kind, incredibly reassuring to your still-fuzzy mind. You couldn’t have been dreaming that, could you?

You focused your gaze on his, still rather dazed and shook your head. He placed his hand over yours and took hold of the wand, closing the door with a short wave of it and then turning the fire to help the room heat up slowly.

He took a look at you, your skin was dull with the cold, the colour fading and stale. Remus carried you again and dragged you towards the room, the torn sheets from a few nights back were still on the bed and he sat you there slowly. He asked you a few questions, and you responded automatically, too numb to think properly.

“Luv, you’re not even listening to me,” he complained as he pulled your face into your hands. You blinked and tried to focus on him again.

“Sorry,” you mustered.

He sighed. “Listen, I’m going to give you my jumper, and then I’ll check your hands up. We need to warm you up slowly, okay?”

“It is cold,” you responded as your teeth clung together.

Remus took off his jumper and helped you put it on top of your dress. The dress was cold, but he used a spell to have it warm up slowly as he laid you on the bed. “Is it better?”

You nodded, jaw still quivering from the cold. Remus took a short breath and pulled your hands towards his. Some of the splinters of wood were still stuck in your hand and he was careful as he started to remove them. Your hands were cold and he could see small –now melting– crystals of bIood attached to certain sections of your palm. When he was done, he used a spell to aid the healing process, your hands had just started to get their warmth back when he heard a heavy breath coming from you.

You had fallen asleep. Peaceful, but still shivering. He frowned and pulled the mirror from his pocket. Sirius, taking the wand from the bed and using it to send to shine a light, Sirius instantly peaked his head on the other side.

“How is she? Is she okay?” Sirius mouthed desperately.

Remus smiled and nodded, showing him your sleeping figure. “She’s cold,” he explained. “I’m trying to warm her up.”

“Hug her!” Sirius said instantly. “Cuddle her! You’re always warm!” Remus gave him a questioning look. “You always cuddle her, it’s no different.”

It was very different. Remus had never cuddled you without Sirius in the bed too. James beside Sirius nodded supportingly. He didn’t see the issue, he’d cuddle you if it was necessary. Of course, James saw you as a friend and nothing more.

Remus nodded and left the mirror on the table, promising the boys he’ll talk to them later, with the radio to explain it all better. Then he leaned onto the edge of the bed. “Little Witch,” he called softly.

You didn’t react, eyes still closed and breathing slow. He placed a hand on your face, it was warmer, but still colder than it should be. He played with a bit of your hair and placed it behind your ear, allowing his fingers to brush over your face, “Little Witch,” he called again.

You were beautiful, even in the cold, even with the shivers, Remus thought you looked stunning. He wondered how you must have looked when you stepped into that party, with your hair perfectly arranged and your makeup freshly done, definitely a sight to behold. And then he sighed, here he was ogling at you while his best friend –your boyfriend– was at home, worried for his girlfriend. Asking him to cuddle you, and yet he felt doing so would be akin to betrayal, just because of how much he liked you.

“Little Witch,” he said again, this time you hummed, your eyes opening slightly, unfocused. “I think I should cuddle you to warm you up faster, is that okay?”

“It is always okay for you to cuddle me,” you responded, not quite thinking, and closing your eyes again before you noticed the blush on Remus’ cheeks. You couldn’t have meant that, or perhaps you did, in which case you really thought of him as your closest friend, which in turn, made him feel even worse.

Remus carefully climbed onto the bed and under the covers. He was on the side, and hesitated a little before leaning in to cuddle you. Most of the time, it was you and Sirius that leaned into him, not the other way around. He never wanted to seem invasive, and he really only moved you around when you were Vixen. It was easier to think of the two of you as different entities instead of the same.

But you leaned back to him almost instantly, allowing your head to rest on one of his arms and pulling the other one around you. You seemed a lot more comfortable, the shivering reducing significantly. It took a minute for Remus to untense, but eventually, he relaxed on to you, even daring to bring you closer as he rubbed his hand over your clothed arm to try and warm you up faster with the friction. Eventually, he too fell asleep.

When he opened his eyes again, you weren’t there. He stood up in an instant, terrified you had been a dream, that he hadn’t found you in the snow and that for some twisted reason, you were still out there freezing. But then he spotted the silhouette of a shadow, and he looked ahead. Crouched, looking impossibly small, you sat next to the fire, using a poker to liven up the flames, arm wrapped around your legs and using both his jumper and his coat to warm yourself up. He couldn’t see your face, but the way you were breathing… it looked like you had been crying.

He pulled the covers off of him and dragged them alongside himself as he sat next to you. He didn’t make a sound as he placed the covers around the two of you, and he hesitated before placing his hand on your forehead, then allowing it to slide down your cheek, and letting his thumb brush under your chin. You were a lot warmer now.

You didn’t react, you allowed him to touch you as you continued to stare at the fire. The dancing flames reflecting onto your glassy eyes.

Your temperature had risen, the cold was no longer clouding your mind, and you had struggled to hold back the tears for at least half an hour before you decided to step out of bed, hoping not to wake Remus up with your sobs. You didn’t want to cry in front of him, not after what you’d done, after what you’d caused. You didn’t deserve to cry.

“Little Witch?” Remus asked, tilting his head to the side when you attempted to blink back some tears.

You swallowed thickly, did you even deserve such an endearing nickname?

“Hey,” he leaned a little closer, placing a hand on your shoulder, you avoided his gaze, how interesting did the dancing flames seem, with their hues of yellow, red and bright white, with the sparkling bits floating off until they disappeared, with the ash of the wood piling at the bottom. It clearly hadn’t been cleared in a while.

Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry.

“Love, whatever happened, I won’t judge you, you know that, right?”

It was as if he had guessed your thoughts, Remus had always been incredibly perceptive, you sometimes underestimated just how much. But Remus understood, he understood exactly what you were feeling because he had played the scenario where he accidentally hurt those he loved over and over again in his brain for years.

And while he didn’t know much, Sirius did tell him about the fire and about your mother’s passing.

He was looking at you with such a kind-hearted look, trusting and kind. Like he would give you the world if you asked –he would– and you couldn’t help but break. You disliked being vulnerable, you hated having to show said vulnerability, but with Remus looking at you like that, with the night you’d had, perhaps allowing yourself to cry in front of your best friend wouldn’t be so bad. You knew Remus wouldn’t judge you, at least not for crying.

“Love?” he asked, you sobbed. Your face slowly scrunching up as you sniffed. It was hard to breathe as you opened your mouth to take in some air and then you sobbed again.

“I kiIled them,” you said, barely managing to open your eyes to look at Remus straight in the face. You wanted to see his reaction, half expecting him to pull back, to look at you in disgust, to recoil from you and to leave you crying alone in the room. A part of you wanted that, the part that wanted to cry and break everything, the one that needed to be alone.

But Remus didn’t do any of those things, instead, he opened his arms and wrapped them around you, bringing you closer to him, “I don’t care,” he said honestly.

You sobbed, and pulled back to look at him, “I kiIIed them, Remus!” you repeated, louder now. “My mum and Nina, they’re both dеad because of me!”

You felt Remus’ breath slow down as he tightened his arms around you and dragged you back into the hug. He didn’t know about Nina. “Did you want to kiIl them?” he asked simply. He wouldn’t have pushed you away even if you had.

“No,” you said in a whisper.

“Then it was an accident.”

You sniffed, trying to push him off, but he tightened his grip around you, not allowing you to snap out of his embrace. “But I still caused their dеaths! I’m a murderer!”

“I don’t care,” he repeated as he pushed you even closer to him. “I wouldn’t even care if you had done it on purpose, that would just mean they gave you a reason.” You sobbed, allowing the tears to slide down your cheeks, wetting the soft cotton shirt he wore. You didn’t realise it then, but it was the Sex Pistols shirt you had sent him as a gift.

“You don’t have to tell me what happened, you don’t need to tell me anything at all,” he said softly as he brushed his hand on your back and pulled you even closer, so close you ended up sitting on his lap as you leaned into him and cried. “But I’m here, darling. I’m here and you can cry with me all you need.”

You had no idea how comforting it could be to cry with someone, you had always done it alone. But Remus was soft and reassuring, whispering calming words into your ears as he continued to brush his hands on you. Over your back, on your head, almost like he did when you were Vixen, but with more purpose now, it wasn’t about making Vixen get the smell of the pack, it wasn’t about making her warm, it was about making you warm.

He was hugging you consciously, brushing his hands over your body in an attempt to make you feel solace, and while his touch didn’t have the amnesiac ability the Lethe offered –and that you might have gladly drunk that night– he did offer a comfort like you hadn’t experienced in your life. Crying into Remus’ arms was like crying in a bed of soft, feathery clouds. Like the angels had come down to earth to commiserate you and absolve you of your wrongdoings.

It was also comforting to know that no matter what, you had someone on your side. You had lost your father that night, you had kiIled your mother and your friend had diеd trying to protect you, even though Barty and Evan helped you escape, you had never felt so immeasurably lonely as you had while you tried to help that small butterfly, or when you had walked towards the castle, your feet on the cold snow feeling number as the minutes passed by.

And then you ended up with Remus, hugging you and whispering how things would be all right, how Sirius and James had been worried and how happy they had been when he showed them you were all right. That no matter what you did, he wouldn’t leave, that Sirius wouldn’t leave and that your friends would be there for you. That you were part of them, and not even dеath herself could change that.

You cried in your best friend’s arms until you ran out of tears. You told him in between sobs what had happened, and he had patiently listened to your rambling as he continued to hold you. He would tighten his grip when your breath ran short and your tears grew thick. Only to let it loose and look at your face when you relaxed into him again. He was warm, the cold you had felt initially almost completely forgotten in his embrace.

“Thank you,” you whispered after a while, after telling him everything that had happened and after realising that, even then, he wouldn’t leave.

“There’s nothing to thank me for, my love,” he said and dragged you closer to him. If anything, it should be him the one thanking you, for letting yourself be vulnerable in front of him, for trusting him enough to let him hold you and to cry into his arms. He didn’t want to admit it to himself, because holding you so tight shouldn’t make him feel as satisfied as he did, not when the reason he held you was how desperate and sad you were.

And he felt your anguish, and he felt your pain, but that didn’t stop that small, touch-starved part of him from loving the fact that it was him the one that got to comfort you. That you clung to him for dear life, not to Sirius, not to anyone else.

It was when your breath finally steadiеd that he realised you had fallen asleep again. He smiled and brought you back onto the bed. Cleaning the remaining salty water from your cheeks as he brushed your hair and accommodated you again. Your eyes were slightly swollen, you certainly looked like you had been crying, but he was sure Sirius would still be worried.

He called him through the mirror again, he wrote a short note, telling him about you waking up and about being very upset, that you had been the one to cause the Fiendfyre and that you were very tired. That you were finally warmer and that he’d see if it was possible to call him later when you both went back to the castle.

Sirius was a lot more relaxed now, especially when he saw Remus lying next to you in the bed. You had cuddled against the boy in the same way you cuddled to Sirius sometimes. He thought it was endearing, even if you were hugging someone else. It made him a lot more relaxed to think you weren’t alone, he had been alone many times. And you were with Remus, big strong and calm Remus, everything would be all right.

By the time you woke up again, there was light filtering through the slab-covered windows. Beams of bright yellow reflected onto the worn-out floors, you looked at it for a minute, enjoying the warmth and almost pushing yourself back against the firm figure behind you. It was comfortable, peaceful, and reassuring, you realised there was an arm around you as well, keeping you close to them and to their warmth.

You looked at the spores floating in the light beams, dusty, you thought as you stared, it took you a moment to really gather where you were, who you were with and how you’d ended up there. You had slept, you had slept a lot and yet you felt tired. The toll of the previous night, the weight of your now dried tears, still heavy in your mind.

Did you want to cry again? Did you even deserve to?

What else could you do if not that?

“You’re awake?” Remus’ groggy voice asked from behind as he brushed a piece of hair off your face, immeasurably soft and tender.

“I was trying to convince myself it all had been a nightmare,” you replied with a sad, breathy laugh.

Remus shook his head, “You’re in a better mood, I see.”

“At least I’m not out there freezing anymore…” There was a bit of silence, and then your brain started working again.

Wait a minute… how did he find you?

You turned around hastily, Remus almost pulled back from how close your face was to his now, but he stayed where he was, he didn’t want to push you away by making any harsh movements.

“How did you… How did you know I needed help?”

“Sirius,” Remus admitted. You frowned, it still made no sense. Remus looked at you and then down at your neck, he could see the map charm hanging inside the necklace Sirius had given you. He picked it up and carefully rubbed his thumb over the original charm, “I think it has to do with this.”

You looked at his hands with a frown, the charm looked much smaller in his hands than it did in yours, “The necklace from El Maleficio?”

“I suppose Sirius never got around to telling you?” You gave him a confused look in response. “He’s got a burn on his hand, the moment he touched it, something happened, the man in the store said it was connected to him now, he assumed it was some sort of bIood magic or something.” You listened to him attentively as he continued, “he had an awful nightmare, he was seeing everything from your point of view.”

You swallowed, “So… he knows everything…” you said, there was a horrified expression on your face, as if Sirius knowing would be the end of your relationship.

“He asked me to get you after he saw Barty use the stunning spell,” Remus added. “He was worried.”

“Worried? Not angry not–”

Remus shook his head, knowing exactly what you meant. “You couldn’t get rid of us even if you went all Grindelwald, Little Witch.”

“Merlin, I’d hope you would get rid of me if I went all Grindelwald,” you replied almost instantly. Still, the sentiment was nice, to know that you’d have them on your side, both Remus and Sirius, no matter what. You were lucky to have a boyfriend and a best friend like that.

“Maybe lock you up in a cage until you reassessed your choices,” Remus joked as he turned to look at the ceiling. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to just stare into your eyes like he had been doing much longer without leaning in to kiss you. Oh, how he craved your lips sometimes. You shoved him lightly on the side and he made a rather exaggerated sound of pain.

“Drama queen,” you said as you shoved him again. He shook his head and laughed, now you too turned to look at the ceiling. It was as worn as the floor, some of the paint peeling, some of it scratched and broken. You assumed that it had been Moony.

There was a comfortable silence surrounding the two of you. You were warm as you lay close to him, but more than that, you felt safe. As if, now that you were with Remus, there was no danger, nothing could touch you in the small bubble inside the Shrieking Shack. You weren’t sure you wanted to step out, to face the real world.

Would there be consequences? Would you be criminally charged? Could they even criminally charge you with all the things you had seen them do?

“Sirius will probably want to speak to you,” Remus said. “I got him a radio for Christmas, there’s another one in our room, and we also use the mirror to see each other.”

“You made holoprojectors? Like in Star Wars?” you asked curiously, turning your face to look at Remus’.

“Kind of,” he replied. “It’s not exactly the same, we don’t have holographic projections of each other but–”

“–I bet you could do it!” you interrupted, “there’s bound to be a way in which you can use magic to make holoprojectors happen… at least until science catches up.”

Remus knew what you were doing, you were completely avoiding the topic of last night, leaving it in the back of your mind, trying to ignore it. If you didn’t pay attention to it then, it couldn’t have been real.

He wasn’t sure if he should let you, you had cried so much earlier, and while he loved to be the one to hold you, that didn’t stop the pressure in his chest as he saw you struggle. He didn’t want you to cry because it pained him to see you like that.

“I assume we could,” he conceded. Perhaps he could let you ignore it for a little longer, for as long as you needed. You probably still had to process all of it. And there was a lot to process. You had told him everything, from the start of the night to the end of it, albeit in between sobs and sniffles, he had a pretty strong picture of all of it, perhaps stronger than Sirius’ who had lived part of it alongside you.

After all, he had heard your feelings, not just seen what had happened. He knew what Evan and Barty had done for you, which had been perhaps the most surprising thing of the night, the fact that either of them had some sense of debt and that Evan felt he owed you something for not telling the truth to his father, which had just been basic human decency.

“Do you want to go back to the castle?” he asked.

“No,” you said honestly and pulled the raggedy covers over your head, they still kind of smelled like Padfoot, Vixen and Moony, that too was comforting.

“You want some chocolate?” he asked.

You peeked your head from the covers to look at him, your nose still covered but your eyes wide open and looking straight at him as you nodded.

“You’re hungry, then?”

You sighed and nodded. You weren’t sure you were in the mood to eat, but the rumbling in your stomach said otherwise. The toll of magic used the previous night was finally hitting you, and as your body worked to fill you with magic again, the used-up energy showed in the form of hunger, and meat craving.

That craving had been gone for a while, the longer time you spent with Rem the more it seemed to go away, but today it had come back and it had come back strong. You wondered if it had to do with how much of your magic you had used up, or perhaps it was the moon, or Remus also wanted meat and he was projecting that onto you.

If he had been the one to scratch you, did it make sense? There was not enough information on werewolves.

“Then we must go to the castle.”

You pulled the covers over your face again and dramatically buried your head in his chest. “No, Remus,” you said, voice muffled by his shirt. “Just give me the chocolate.”

“I have no chocolate.” You dug your hand in his pocket. There was an empty wrapper. “Oi!” he complained as he squirmed to the side.

Did he really have no chocolate? That was impossible. You didn’t really care much for his complaint and leaned a little closer, resting your elbow on top of him to check the other pocket. There was a folded piece of paper and nothing else. You placed the paper back in the spot and pulled the covers to look at him, still leaning half of your body on his.

He had that very smug expression on his face that clearly said ‘I told you so’.

“Are you done manhandling me?” he asked calmly.

“No,” you said as you tried to lift him up to check his back pocket, but he didn’t budge.

“There is no chocolate,” he repeated. “I have some in the castle, though.”

“Why do you insist on taking me there?” you asked with a pout, now letting your arms and head lay close to his sternum.

“Because Pomfrey is there,” he said honestly. “You should get checked.”

Your face turned cold, emotionless even. The little bubble you had allowed yourself to rest in completely bursting at the thought of going to the infirmary. Of getting checked, because last night had been real, because last night you had almost diеd frozen in the snow and then earlier attacked by Lucius or perhaps tortured by Bellatrix.

“It’s okay,” Remus said kindly, resisting the urge to place his hand on your head and play with your hair reassuringly, “She won’t ask questions, she’ll just make sure you’re okay.”

You took a slow controlled breath, your eyes watering as you avoided Remus’s gaze for a second, turning back to look at him as you wet your lips, they were dry and chapped from how much you’d cried. Going out seemed like an immense effort, like stepping back into reality and into the war. You’d have to talk to Dumbledore, or at least to Nightshade, you had to tell them about the dinner and about all the people you’d seen there. You couldn’t be sure if they were all dеatheaters, but they had definitely been accessories to the crimes committed.

Should you let the papers know? Would they even care?

There were about a million things swinging inside your head and you were aware that you couldn’t just stay cooped up in Remus’ arms and ignore everything completely, but that didn’t make it any less tempting. Perhaps Remus was a lot more like the Lethe than you originally thought, not because he made you forget everything that’s happened, but because his company offered a solace enough to cloud those thoughts out of your mind.

Ironically, there was nothing more calming than your friend the werewolf. Perhaps he was so calm and collected because he was a werewolf, spending all of his life with the goal of keeping his temper down and maintaining it in check. Like Bruce Banner, who was the calmest of superheroes (when he wasn’t the Hulk).

“Can we eat first and go to Pomfrey later?”

“No,” Remus said simply. You pouted in response. “Not even with that pretty pout of yours, sweetheart, it is non-negotiable.”

“But Remus I–”

“You can have a chocolate first,” he said as he lifted his hips slightly and handed over a small bar of chocolate.

You gasped as he passed it over to you, “You said there was no chocolate.”

Remus shrugged in response and broke off a piece of the chocolate in your hands, bringing it to his mouth and plopping it in. You laid your head on his chest again and bit off a piece yourself. You still didn’t want to go, you wanted to stay in the bubble, but bubbles were beautiful because they were ephemeral.

They were meant to burst and sparkle leaving traces of soapy water on the floor. And that’s exactly what you had to do now. You closed your eyes before standing up. You didn’t feel as sore as you thought you would, but when you stepped down on the floor you couldn’t stop the hiss that erupted from your mouth. Remus threw you a worried glance as he sat up on the bed “What is it?”

You pulled your feet up to your knee, there were blisters, and peeling skin, like you had been burned. Of course, you had been walking with no shoes. You had gotten badly ice burned. Your knees weren’t much better either. You hadn’t noticed since your dress covered most of them, and the emotional pain had been much worse than the physical one last night but they were also scuffed, a section already getting a scab while the other was just badly bruised.

Remus leaned over your shoulder to take a better look, “And you wanted to eat first.”

“I’m still hungry,” you said, trying to distract yourself with Remus’ calming smell instead of thinking about how you’d gotten those. Probably when Bella stunned you and–

“Can you walk?”

“Of course I can walk,” you responded as you stood up. Did it hurt? Hell-a-fucking-lot. Could you manage? Well, you’d have to.

“Sure?”

“Very,” you responded, avoiding gritting your teeth against one another completely.

You wished you had your wand, perhaps you could use some pain reliever spell or something. Remus stood up and put on his boots. You handed him his jumper and coat, he returned the latter one to you “Keep it, it’s cold outside.”

In reality, Remus was the last person to want to burst the bubble you’d created. If it was on him, he’d have stayed with you in the Shack ‘til the end of time. He loved how much closer you had veered to him, while during the night it had been for warmth, once awake he knew it was you, purposely laying your head on his chest and digging through his pockets.

He was also happy to see you. Or at least glimpses of you, not that broken, and terrified version of you he’d met the last night. He loved both the same, but there was nothing more heart-wrenching than your sobs and nothing more warming than your laughs, even if they were still slightly strained.

You put the coat on and the two of you walked towards the door and entered into the hallway. The sprinkle of soapy water falling as you both stepped into the dark. The beautiful, and warm environment instantly switched for the colder and unforgiving passageway you’d have to walk through to get to castle grounds.

Bring me to your house and tell me "Sorry for the mess", hey, I don't mind You're talking in your sleep, out of time Well, you still make sense to me, your mess is mine

Series Masterlist | Next Chapter

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A/N: I feel like I've had you guys at the edge of your seats for two weeks and now you can finally breath. Gosh, Remus is insanly sweet~ How can I manifest a person like this in my life?