#one day I wish to be this good at vandalism

[beigetiger]

Went to Oslo, the sheer amount of gorgeous vandalism nearly made me drop dead right then and there

[wholoveseggs]

Hey lovely, your latest story gave me an idea. How about Reader and Elijah have been together for a while, but he is the one to avoid sex. Every time he has been with a human, it overpowered them or hurt them. He can't keep Red Door Elijah in check, which is fine when he's with a supernatural being, but not when he's with a human. Reader knows his backstory but is determined to show him that their love is different.

Control

{I've officially run out of gifs I want to use, so I'm in my moodboard era now}

18+ ---- {Masterlist} {Tag-List}

Plagued by nightmares of hurting you, Elijah avoids any form of intimacy, but you have had enough. You confront him about his rejection and Elijah finally learns how to let go and lose control.

♡♡ Thanks for the request @originals23, love love love red door elijah and his dark side ♡♡

6k words - Warnings: smut, fluff, lots of angst, red door Elijah, trauma, nightmares, visions of death, blood, blood drinking, rough sex, aggressive flirting, dom!elijah, jealously, masquerade ball, elevator vandalism...

Elijah needed control the way a drowning man needed air. It was as if it was a basic function, like oxygen, like blood. He had always been that way, even before he was turned, but it got worse when he was forced to take lives for food and to stay alive. His nature demanded he take what he wanted, when he wanted, but he was afraid of that, so he clung to rules, to discipline.

But no matter what he did, he was still plagued with the same nightmare. You, his perfect love, dead in his arms. Your body limp and lifeless, your eyes open but vacant. And all because he couldn't control himself. Your blood stained his skin, his clothes, his heart.

You knew better than to sneak up on a sleeping vampire, but it wasn't just any vampire. It was your Elijah, your sweet, loving, gentle Elijah.

All you wanted to do was surprise him with some coffee. It was going to be a long day, there was a huge party being hosted by Marcel. All of the factions were gathering for a masquerade ball, the first of its kind in centuries. There were rumors of a peace treaty in the works, and the festivities were the opening salvo.

You were beyond excited, you never experienced this sort of thing, and you were so happy that Elijah would be by your side. You picked out a matching set of masks for the two of you. For him, a sleek, black one with dark feathers at the tips. For yourself, a delicate, lace one in a deep crimson.

When you were younger, you had dreams of wearing beautiful, elaborate gowns, and dancing the night away with a handsome man. You couldn't help but feel giddy thinking about tonight.

You set the coffees down on a nearby table. Elijah's room was dim, only a small shaft of light peeking out from behind the curtains. He was curled up in the center of his large bed, his hair was disheveled and his lips were parted. The sheet was pooled around his hips, revealing his chiseled chest and toned arms.

He was beautiful, and you very much wanted to explore every bit of him. But he wouldn't allow it. He wouldn't allow himself to lose control. He had told you about his darkness, the red door, the place where he put all of the sins he couldn't live with.

When his control was frayed and his mind was weak, it would whisper to him, tempt him. Because there, in that space, he didn't have to feel guilt or pain. He was free. Free to do as he wished. He would be able to take you, claim you, love you the way his darker instincts screamed at him to.

You pulled off your sweater and boots, leaving you in just a mini dress and socks. You padded over to the bed and carefully slid under the covers, trying not to disturb him. You cuddled up next to him, your hand resting on his chest. You wished he would let you in, let you experience all of him, the good, the bad, the ugly. You loved him, and that meant loving everything about him.

Elijah had sensed your presence from the moment you entered his room, but he remained still, feigning sleep. His sweet little love, so utterly defenseless and vulnerable, alone in a vampire's bed. His fingers itched to touch you, to pull you into his embrace and never let you go. He could hear your heartbeat, steady and strong, could smell the sweet perfume you had dabbed behind your ears, and could feel the heat radiating off of your body. He was acutely aware of every aspect of you. It was hard not to give in to temptation, to pull you into his arms and kiss you until your lips were swollen and pink.

"Elijah," you said softly, in a sing-song voice. You brushed your fingers along his jaw, the stubble rough against your soft skin. He stirred slightly, pretending to wake.

"Hmm, good morning, love." He rasped, his voice heavy with sleep.

You kissed him softly, smiling into it. "Good morning. I brought us coffee."

He hummed, "That's perfect. Thank you, sweetheart."

"I can't wait for tonight." You sighed, tracing your fingers down his throat and along his collar bones.

Elijah was torn between letting his eyes flutter shut at the contact or watching your movements. You had him entranced.

"I can't either," he agreed. "You'll be the most beautiful woman there, I have no doubt."

You blushed at his compliment and kissed him again, your lips lingering against his. He groaned and rolled onto his side, bringing his hands up to cup your face, his thumbs stroking along your cheekbones. He let himself give in just a little, let the control slip a fraction. You gasped into the kiss as his tongue swept along the seam of your lips. Your lips parted, allowing him entry. You melted against him, your hand coming up to rest on his bicep.

His hands slid down your body, mapping every dip and curve, memorizing the feel of you. Your skin was like silk, your body supple and soft. You had a slight tremor, nervous, or maybe excited. He wasn't sure, but he loved how your breath hitched as he moved his hands lower and lower, until his palms were flat on your backside, his fingers flexing as he pulled you flush against him.

You hummed, a noise somewhere between a sigh and a moan. He drank it in, taking all of your little sounds and storing them in his memory. He rolled, pulling you with him so that you were under him. You moaned as he settled between your thighs, his weight a welcome comfort. He moved his mouth down, nipping at the skin of your throat and collarbone, careful not to let his fangs break the surface.

You tangled your fingers in his hair, pulling gently. You had fantasized about being with him in this way for so long, dreamed about how his body would feel pressed against yours, how his hands would feel on your bare skin. You didn't know what caused this shift in him, this sudden willingness to be intimate, but you were glad for it.

You tugged at the waistband of his boxers, trying to tell him what you wanted. You were not a shy person, you wanted to experience what it was like to be with such a powerful creature, to feel his strength and passion.

Elijah groaned and rocked his hips against yours, letting you feel how much he desired you. His control was slipping, and he didn't care. You wanted him, and he would have you. He leaned back to look at your beautiful face, wanting to etch this moment in his memory for all eternity. You were a vision, cheeks flushed and eyes dark with want.

Suddenly everything started to warp, your flushed skin turned cold, your warm eyes grew distant, and your heart slowed to a stop. His breath caught as a trickle of blood leaked from the corner of your mouth. He looked down at his hands and they were covered in your blood, the dark, rich liquid soaking the sheets and staining his skin.

"No, no, no, no, no." He chanted, trying to bring you back, willing the darkness to recede.

Your eyes were glassy, lifeless, bite marks all over your neck, your chest, your legs. You were covered in them, the evidence of his weakness, his inability to keep his desires in check.

Elijah threw himself from the bed, stumbling backwards. He clutched his head in his hands, a scream ripping from his throat. You were gone, dead, and it was his fault. He would never be able to look at your smiling face, never hear your soft laugh, or feel your lips on his again.

"Eli?" you said, stunned by his sudden departure. He was now across the room looking like a caged animal, his eyes wild and his hair a mess. You climbed out of the bed and slowly approached him. He looked like he was going to bolt, his muscles tense and his breath ragged.

"Are you alright?" you asked, reaching out to touch his arm.

"Don't!" he shouted, flinching away from your touch. "Don't touch me."

"Okay," you said, holding up your hands. "I won't."

He felt like he was losing his grip, the world was shifting around him, the ground threatening to give out beneath his feet. He felt like he was back there, back in that slaughterhouse that haunted him, the place that whispered his darkest desires, the place that taunted him with visions of what he truly was, no matter how much control he thought he had over it.

You reached out to him again, and he snapped. He grabbed your arm and pushed you against the wall, his eyes black and his fangs sharp. You gasped, but didn't struggle, trusting that he would never hurt you.

He released you at once, horrified by what he had done. He backed away, shaking his head. "No, no, no. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

He sank to his knees, his eyes wild and frantic.

"It's okay, Eli." You said, kneeling in front of him.

"You need to leave, please." He begged, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm not going anywhere." You said firmly, reaching out to touch him again. He tensed, his breath hitching as you made contact.

"LEAVE," he roared, his eyes flashing. You jerked your hand back, surprised by his outburst.

Elijah regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth, he watched you run out of the room and all he wanted was to chase after you, but his pride and fear kept him rooted in place. He couldn't let you be around him, look at what he did? If he couldn't control himself in a moment of passion, what would happen if he really let go?

Elijah stood in front of his mirror, adjusting and readjusting his tie. His hair was combed and his suit was tailored perfectly. But none of it felt right, the buttons on his shirt were too tight, the cufflinks too heavy, the material of his suit too coarse. He needed it all to go away.

He felt like a monster. A monster wearing a man's skin.

Elijah closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He could do this. He could get through this night. He didn't know if you were coming to the party, and he couldn't decide if he wanted you there or not. He hated the idea of you being away from him, but he also couldn't bear the thought of you seeing him like this, a man unraveling, barely keeping himself together.

He opened his eyes and forced himself to smile, but the sight was a mockery. His lips were pulled taut, and his teeth looked like daggers. He wanted to scream, he wanted to cry, he wanted to tear down the entire city and start anew.

"Elijah! we are going to be late!" He heard Rebekah yell from the courtyard below.

"Be right there," he called, his voice hoarse. He gave himself one last look in the mirror before he walked out of the room and descended the stairs. He could see his siblings all gathered, dressed impeccably with their dates on their arms.

Klaus was talking with Camille, they were dressed in matching shades of blue. Freya and Keelin were standing close together, their hands entwined. Kol was whispering something in Davina's ear, making her laugh. Rebekah was on the phone with Marcel, telling him she was on her way. And Hayley was chatting with Jackson, his arm wrapped tightly around her waist.

"There you are." Freya said, noticing his presence. "Where is y/n? She was so excited about tonight."

The sound of your name made his chest ache, he was about to explain, or rather, come up with a plausible excuse when he heard a voice from behind him.

"I'm right here."

He turned around to see you walking down the stairs, dressed in an ornate black gown, matching his suit, your mask hanging in your hand.

"Y/n," he said, stunned by how beautiful you were.

You smiled slightly and approached him, your heels clicking on the stones. He took your hand, inspecting your arm. It was bruised and there were small scratches from where he had dug his nails into your skin. He brushed his fingers over the marks, regret and guilt filling him.

"It's fine," you said, squeezing his hand.

"No, it's not."

You leaned in and kissed him softly, the feeling of your lips on his caused him to relax a little. He kissed you back, the contact grounding him, reminding him why he needed to stay in control, for you.

"Let's go," Klaus said, gesturing for everyone to follow him out the door.

You took your mask and placed it on, the crimson filigree complimenting the dark silk of your gown. Elijah put on his mask, the bold design making his dark eyes stand out.

The group arrived at Marcel's penthouse, finding the place already crowded. People were drinking, dancing, and mingling. It was a lively atmosphere, filled with music and laughter.

"It's nice," you commented, holding Elijah's hand.

"It is," he agreed, looking around the room. "Shall we?"

He gestured to the dance floor and you nodded, taking his offered arm. He led you to the center of the room, where couples were already twirling and spinning.

"May I have this dance?" he asked, his voice low and seductive.

"You may," you answered, giving him a shy smile.

He took your hand and placed his other on your hip, guiding you through the steps. The two of you swayed to the music, moving gracefully.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his lips brushing your ear.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," you reassured him.

He wanted to argue, but you didn't give him a chance. You captured his lips in a kiss, the world around you melting away. He wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close. The two of you stayed locked in the embrace, the music and the crowd fading into the background.

The two of you danced for a while, enjoying the feeling of being close to one another. The environment letting him relax a little. But when the music changed, becoming slow and sultry, his mind started to drift.

Elijah imagined pushing you against a wall, kissing your neck and leaving marks. He wanted to rip your dress off, and explore every inch of you. He wanted to bite you, to taste your blood. He wanted to claim you, to make you his.

He wanted to let go, to allow himself to give in. To experience the kind of pleasure and power that only came with a lack of control. But then he saw the blood again, the crimson of your mask, the ruby red of your lipstick, turned to the viscous liquid that both haunted and nourished him.

"What is it?" you asked, noticing the way his body tensed.

"Nothing," he said, his voice strained. "I just need a drink,"

He let go of you and headed to the bar, needing some strong alcohol to help calm his nerves. He ordered a scotch and downed it in one go, the liquid burning his throat. He ordered another, and another, until the world was pleasantly fuzzy and his thoughts were quiet.

"Mr. Mikaelson, so good to see you," a woman said, coming up to him.

"Madam," he replied, not looking up from his drink.

"How is business?" she asked, clearly wanting to engage in a conversation.

"Fine." He said shortly, hoping she would get the hint.

"The party is wonderful," she commented, sipping from a champagne flute, her mask was turquoise and silver, a few strands of her dark hair escaping her updo.

"Thank you, the decorations were my sister's doing," he replied, trying to be polite.

"Ah yes, your sister," the woman said, her eyes drifting over the crowd, landing on the blonde vampire. "She's almost as pretty as you," the woman added, a seductive smile on her lips.

"You're quite flattering, but I'm spoken for," Elijah told her, not unkindly.

The woman pouted. "So I heard, a human though? That must be...difficult," she said.

"How so?" He asked, not liking the direction the conversation was going.

"Humans are frail, their lives are fleeting," the woman replied, her hand coming to rest on his chest. He looked down at her hand touching him, her daylight ring a large sapphire. "And they are so easily broken," she added.

He clenched his jaw, trying not to let her words get to him. "That is why they are treasured," he replied, scanning the crowd in search for you.

"They are food. I thought an original vampire would know the difference," the woman grinned, enjoying getting a reaction out of him.

"Watch your tongue, Madam, or you might find it missing," he warned, his voice low and dangerous.

"Oh, feisty," the woman purred, her free hand went up and she ran her finger over the edge of his mask. "You could have any creature here, take them however you want. Break them in the best possible way," she purred, her pupils dilated.

"That's not how I operate, now if you will excuse me," he said, his anger starting to bubble.

"That's how you used to operate," the woman taunted, her fingers trailing over the buttons of his jacket. "I'm a little hurt that you don't recognize me," the woman pouted, batting her eyelashes at him.

"Should I?" He asked, trying to place her face.

"Paris, summer of 1783, you had me by the hair, bent over the side of a balcony, fucking me so hard that the cement cracked," she told him, licking her lips. "You were wild, rough, animalistic. And it was amazing," she breathed, her gaze unfocused as she remembered the night.

Elijah couldn't remember her, nor did he remember the event. It was amusing to him that this vampire thought she was special. She wasn't. He had bedded hundreds, maybe even thousands, of women. He only ever remembered the ones he loved.

"A shame you can't recall, I've thought about it many times over the years," she said.

He raised his eyebrows. "That's a bit pathetic," he said bluntly.

She laughed, not taking offense. "Perhaps, but the sex was fantastic, I can still feel your bite," she smiled, her eyes falling to his mouth.

Elijah shook his head. "My dear, I'm sure there are plenty of willing participants here, if you truly wish to relive the past, you'll have no trouble finding someone to assist," he said dismissively.

"I would prefer you," the woman said, her tone changing. "No one here matches your power, no one can fuck me like you did."

"Maybe try Niklaus, ask him to bite you," he smirked, watching as his brother and Camille were laughing together.

"Both of you dating humans, what a complete and utter waste," she said, her eyes flicking to you. "I bet I could make you forget all about her," she cooed, pressing herself closer to him.

You could see this vampire all over Elijah, touching him and speaking in his ear. You weaved through the crowd, wanting to put an end to it.

Elijah's attention turned from the woman, a smile spreading across his face as he saw you walking towards him.

"I'm going to have to politely decline, thank you." he said, reaching his hand out for yours.

"Come now, surely you could use some relief," the woman cooed, her hands trailing over his body, ignoring your presence completely.

You didn't quite know what came over you, but you reached up and gently slapped her hand away from him.

The vampire turned her attention to you, her eyes going to the bruising on your arm. She let out a laugh. "Oh my, perhaps I was wrong, looks like your little plaything can handle you," the woman mocked, a smirk on her lips.

"Don't," Elijah growled, not appreciating her words.

She just laughed and shrugged, turning her attention back to him. "If you change your mind, I'll be here all night." the vampire winked at him and walked away, joining another group.

Elijah let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose.

You gave Elijah a half-smile, hoping he wouldn't think you were stupid for hitting the vampire. She could have so easily crushed you, but you weren't afraid of her.

"Who was that?" you asked, annoyed by the exchange.

He shook his head. "An old lover, it seems," he told you, his lips pressed in a thin line.

"Oh," was all you said, sadness filling you. You weren't the overly jealous type, but knowing that vampire had Elijah in a way you hadn't made you envious and sad.

Elijah saw the change in your demeanor and realized he had not answered the question right. You misunderstood him.

"Not a recent lover," he explained. "It was a very long time ago, and I do not remember the night," he assured you, his hand cupping your cheek.

You sighed, his touch instantly easing the tension in your body.

He pulled you close, his arm wrapping around your waist. "That was very brave of you, that could have ended very badly" he said softly in your ear.

Your hands went to his shoulders, clinging to his jacket, the material warm from his body. "You make me feel brave, you make me feel safe," you murmured.

His heart constricted. He didn't deserve your faith or your trust. The bruise on your arm was proof enough of that. He should let you go, make you hate him and walk away from you before you get hurt anymore, but he couldn't. Not while you were looking up at him with all that trust and affection in your eyes. He loved you far too much to give up.

He leaned in and kissed you, the familiar spark of electricity passing between you. He deepened the kiss, his hand cupping the back of your neck. He was pouring everything he felt for you into it, hoping you could feel the depths of his love and devotion.

You returned the kiss, trying to convey all the things you couldn't say. You broke apart, panting slightly. He rested his forehead against yours, his eyes closed.

"Eli, I was hoping that we could...," you trailed off, biting your lip.

"What?" he asked, his eyes fluttering open.

"I want us to...you know," you whispered.

His eyes darkened, hunger and need filled him. All of the work he had done to push away his urges, to protect you, had unraveled in an instant. Now all he could focus on was the vision of your body beneath his, the feeling of skin against skin. The blood flowing through your veins singing a song to him that he could not deny, at least, not completely.

He pulled you a little closer, swaying you to the music playing, his other hand gripping your hip possessively. You watched his pupils dilate, saw the tension in his jaw and the bob of his Adam's apple.

"Not tonight," he murmured, trying his hardest to hide how much he wanted you, how much it would hurt to reject you again.

Your fingers curled around the lapels of his suit jacket, tugging on it a little harder than you meant to. He never wanted to give in, to allow himself a taste of pleasure. Even with his walls down, Elijah could never truly give himself to you completely.

His hands went to yours, prying your fingers from his jacket, his eyes dark and dangerous. "You do not understand how difficult it is," he hissed.

You pulled against his grip, anger bubbling up. "So, help me understand," you said in a soft tone, ignoring the fact that you were arguing in a room full of people and that you were both gripping each other hard enough to bruise.

"It feels like..." you started, shaking your head a little, "like, I am not enough. Do you not want me? Or have you realized that you need more and I cannot provide that to you?" You finished in a small voice.

His grip on your hands tightened, a warning look flashing in his eyes. "You are more than enough," he whispered, his eyes softening.

You took a steadying breath. "Then. Please. Fuck. Me," you said bluntly.

Elijah let go of you as if you had burned him. Your words cut him deeply.

You let out a frustrated sigh, his rejection stinging. "I... I'm going to go home," you said, blinking back tears.

He went to grab you but you moved out of his reach, his fingers barely grazing your arm. He watched you leave, his eyes following your figure until it disappeared into the crowd.

It was in that moment that he knew he had to make a decision, either he could keep trying to be gentle with you and risk losing you or he could give in and have you completely, but at the cost of hurting you.

Elijah drained his drink and placed the empty glass on the bar, his mind made up. He followed you, moving so fast that no one saw him leave.

You were upset, your feelings a tangled mess, waiting in a quiet hallway for the elevator to arrive. Your eyes were glazed with tears, your breathing shaky. You didn't know what to do, and you didn't know what you wanted from him.

You were lost in thought when the elevator dinged, announcing its arrival, but before the doors opened, hands were on your waist and you were pressed against the wall. His lips were on yours, hungry and demanding. You gasped and he took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, his tongue exploring your mouth.

You melted into his touch, your fingers tangling in his hair. His hands were on your thighs, lifting you up and pushing your dress higher.

You wrapped your legs around him, pressing your body against his. The heat between you erupting, causing a soft moan to escape your lips.

He broke the kiss, his mouth going to your neck, leaving a trail of kisses and bites. His hands were on your hips, pulling your body closer. He was rough and urgent, his nails digging into your skin. You gasped, arching into him, needing to feel more.

"You want me to fuck you?" he whispered in your ear, his voice low and husky. "I will," he promised, his lips ghosting over yours.

You clung to him, giving yourself over to the moment. He lifted you off the ground and carried you to the elevator. The doors slid open and he stepped inside, pressing you against the wall. His hands were all over your body, touching and teasing.

You were so caught up in his touch that you didn't notice the doors closing, trapping the two of you alone. He punched the panel, making the elevator come to a jerking stop. He kissed you, his hands finding their way under your dress, pushing the fabric out of the way.

He gripped your hips, grinding against you. The intensity and desperation in his touch was new, making your head spin. You wanted more, needed more. You moaned, the sound echoing off the walls. He groaned, his fingers digging into your skin.

He pushed your panties aside, sliding a finger into your wet heat. You gasped, arching into him. He pumped his finger in and out of you, curling it inside of you. He added a second finger, his thumb rubbing circles around your clit.

He groaned, the feeling of you tightening around him almost too much, his lips brushing your ear. "I want to hear you say my name when I make you come," he whispered, his hot breath tickling your skin.

All you could do was nod, your cheeks flushed and your eyes closed, it was all happening so fast and you couldn't get enough of it. He pressed his lips to your neck, nipping at your skin. He added a third finger, the heel of his palm pressing against your clit.

Your eyebrows arched, locking eyes with him, your mouth open and your hands clutching his jacket. The pressure was building and you felt like you were going to explode. You gasped, his fingers pumping in and out of you.

"Elijah," you said his name breathlessly.

"That's it," he encouraged, pulling on your earlobe with his teeth. "Say my name," he ordered.

"Elijah," you moaned, the pressure coiling tighter.

"Again," he demanded, his hand speeding up.

"Elijah," his name fell from your lips, your release crashing through you.

Your eyes slammed shut, your head thrown back, the muscles in your neck straining. You were trembling, a sheen of sweat coating your skin. He slowly withdrew his fingers, placing gentle kisses along your neck and jaw. You could feel his fangs graze your skin.

He was so hard, you could feel his erection pressing against you. You shifted your weight, trying to gain some friction, but he pulled away, his hands on your hips, pinning you in place.

You opened your eyes, looking at his face, his eyes completely black, the veins under them moving, his mouth open slightly, showing his fangs. You felt fear, but not the type of fear that made you want to run, but the kind of fear that sent a thrill through your body, the kind that made you crave danger.

You lightly traced your fingers over the veins, a smile on your lips. His chest rising and falling rapidly. You ran your finger over his lower lip, and he leaned in, his fangs scraping the pad of your finger. You could feel the sharp tips. He was so dangerous, so lethal, a perfect predator, yet here you were, trapped and wanting nothing more than to have him consume you.

You wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him closer. He pressed his body against yours, his erection grinding against you. You moaned, reaching between you, your fingers deftly working the button and zipper of his trousers. You tugged his boxers down, his hard cock springing free. You wrapped your fingers around him, stroking him.

"Fuck," he growled, his hips bucking, seeking more of your touch.

You tightened your grip, stroking him faster, twisting your wrist a little. He groaned, his hands on your thighs, his eyes hooded and his mouth parted slightly.

You released him and wrapped your arms back around his neck, grinding yourself against him. He growled, his hands cupping your ass, lifting you. You used the wall for support and wrapped your legs around him, angling yourself just right. You cried out as he pressed inside, stretching and filling you.

His breath was hot against your neck. "That's my girl," he said softly.

He paused a moment, giving you time to adjust. Then he started to thrust, his rhythm slow and measured, watching the way your expression changed as he fucked you. You moaned, your legs tightening around him, your ankles locking together, trying to pull him closer.

He pumped his hips, burying himself deep inside you. You tilted your head back, exposing the soft flesh of your neck.

It took every bit of control he had not to give in and bite you. He buried his face in the crook of your neck, feeling your blood pump just below the surface of your skin. His hips snapped harder, driving into you, focused on fucking you, on drawing more delicious moans and whimpers from sweet lips.

The coil within you grew tighter, the pressure increasing with every movement of his hips. You clung to his jacket, needing something to anchor you, feeling as if you were spinning out of control. He grunted with each thrust, the sound of skin against skin almost drowned out by the blood pumping furiously in your ears.

His eyes never left yours, a predatory look crossing his features, his fingers gripping the swell of your ass, pounding into you with incredible force, your head hitting the wall with each powerful thrust.

It was intense and consuming and you couldn't get enough of him, and neither could he.

You lost track of how many times you'd come, all you knew was the sweet, aching tension was building again and you didn't know if you could handle another. He held you so tight, your body pressed so close to his, his fangs threatening to pierce the delicate skin of your neck. You couldn't stop, you didn't want it to stop.

Then his rhythm faltered, his breathing becoming labored, his hips pumping furiously. He needed a release. It had been a while since he'd experienced such raw, carnal lust.

He could no longer keep himself from drinking from you, he'd waited too long, denied his primal urges. With a snarl, he sunk his fangs into the side of your neck. A guttural cry fell from your lips, your back arching as you came undone, the sudden pain mixed with the pleasure so intense, you felt your vision darkening as you blacked out.

Elijah gripped your thighs, his lips pulling blood from your body, sending your pulse racing, your blood so hot and sweet that he thought he would combust. He let himself go, cumming deep inside of you, your blood in his mouth, the sweetness coating his tongue and rushing into his system. Your body went limp in his arms, your heartbeat slowing.

Sudden panic consumed him, what had he done? The guilt and fear crashed over him in waves. You looked so pale, you were dying in his arms and it was his fault. The rage and self-hatred he had tried so hard to keep in check ripped through him, his true nature unleashed.

But then you opened your eyes, smiling at him dreamily and something inside of him snapped back into place.

Elijah chuckled, still inside of you. He grinned, the edges of his lips curving upwards. He kissed you softly, reverently.

"Holy fuck Elijah," you chuckled, panting slightly, your heart beating erratically, but you felt alive and amazing, and loved.

"You scared me for a moment," he confessed, resting his forehead against yours.

"That was.. You are..," you struggled for words. "Just wow," you laughed.

You held on to him, wrapping your arms around him, burying your face in the crook of his neck. He wrapped an arm around you, supporting you, the other stroking the side of your head. You breathed him in, savoring the moment, never wanting it to end. He smiled, nuzzling your cheek, his nose rubbing against your skin.

"Let's go home, I want you all to myself," you murmured, kissing his neck, the taste of him filling you.

He chuckled, his voice a deep rumble. "As you wish."

"We have a lot of catching up to do," you grinned, thinking of all the things you were going to do to him.

Elijah chuckled. "My sweet girl," he murmured, kissing you gently.

The elevator rattled, the emergency lights coming on. Elijah pulled away from you, adjusting your dress, smoothing the fabric. He zipped and buttoned his trousers, straightening his clothes. The panel was broken, slight electrical sparks coming from the metal. Elijah gripped the doors, forcing them open. He stepped out and helped you down. You smoothed your dress, looking at him shyly. He grabbed your hand, intertwining your fingers, leading you out of the building.

"I like it when you lose control, perhaps that was the solution all along," you teased, walking along the street, your fingers intertwined with his.

Elijah laughed. "Perhaps, my darling, you may be right."

And with that, he swept you off your feet and into his arms, carrying you out into the night.

♡♡ Tag-List ♡♡

♡ @gorgeouslydangerous ♡ @starkleila ♡ @lydia1369sworld ♡ @notleylaaa ♡ @vampiresluv ♡ @myanmy ♡ @xflowerbombxo ♡ @maryvibess ♡ @always-and-forever-daydreaming ♡ @criminallminds ♡ @theesexystallion ♡ @rosemarypotion ♡ @spnaquakindgdom ♡ @amournoir ♡ @loving-and-dreaming ♡

♡ @meeom ♡ @damienmorton ♡ @wickedmuse ♡ @sunkissedebony97 ♡ @idk00sblog ♡ @savannaounana♡ @cs-please ♡ complicatedandconfusing-25 ♡ @hamiltimes ♡ @akala6670229 ♡ @yeaiamme2 ♡ @itsjulzandmydiamonds ♡ @spideysbabe ♡ @witch-of-letters ♡ @elijahmikaelsonsboy ♡ @rosecentury ♡ @sekaishell ♡ @ziayamikaelson ♡ @amanda08319 ♡

[strangersteddierthings]

Bad News First, Eddie

Part One 🦇 Part Two🦇Part Three🦇FInal Part

"Bad news first, Eddie," Steve sighs as he leans back on his heels, cleaner in one hand and a rag in the other. "They vandalized your headstone again. Good news, I beat Wayne out here so he won't be seeing it."

It's been over a year since they'd had to leave Eddie behind. He'd been cleared of the murders. That had been the easy part, since the Upside Down had exploded out into the Rightside Up. When Vecna started killing people it had been pretty easy for people to realize Eddie was just another victim.

Or so Steve had thought.

Eleven saved them all, the people of Hawkins knew the truth, yet Steve still found graffiti on Eddie's grave.

Eddie's grave is empty, because Eddie's body hadn't been recovered. Too much had happened, no time to mount an expedition to retrieve it, and the gates were closed. Another regret Steve lives with.

Like not taking Eddie's face between his hands and looking him dead in the eye when he told them not to be heroes.

Late at night, Steve sometimes imagines he did just that. Looked him dead in the eyes and said, "there is no shame in running, in living to see another day. Don't be a hero because I need you to be okay tomorrow."

Robin says it's not good for his mental health, these what-if scenarios, but so what?

Steve isn't sure what started it but coming out here to talk to Eddie seems to help him clear his thoughts. He always starts with the bad news, Eddie's voice in the back of his mind. Bad news first, always.

The first time Wayne had caught him out here, Wayne thought he was vandalizing. Had scared Steve half to death being yanked back violently by his upper arm. It didn't take Wayne long for his eyes to process that Steve wasn't holding paint.

"You know my boy?" Wayne always spoke in the present tense about Eddie.

"Not as well as I would have liked, sir," Steve swallowed thickly. It was the start of a friendship, of sorts. Wayne seemed happy to have someone to tell stories about Eddie to, and Steve was happy to learn about Eddie.

Months pass and Steve goes every week.

"Bad news. The new guitarist is mediocre at best. Good news. Corroded Coffin lives on and they finally got a new guitarist."

"Bad news. Robin will not shut up about Vickie. Good news. Robin got that date she wanted."

"Bad news. Wayne had an accident at the plant. Good news, he's okay. I think... this might be weird to you, but I've convinced him to move in, at least until he's healed fully so he's not alone. He's staying in the downstairs guest room. Not that you know where that is. You've never even been to my house... bad news, you've never been to my house. Good news, I really wish you had."

So it goes. Wayne Munson moves in and never moves out. Steve's parents call once, to ask if he wants the house. Steve says yes.

Shortly after, Robin takes a room upstairs. Says she gonna take a year off school before college. The Party moves their dnd games to Steve's giant dining room table. His house is always full but part of Steve feels empty.

"B-bad news," Steve forces the words out around the lump in his throat, "I found out too late. Good news, I'm bisexual. Bad news, good news? I don't know man, the news is I could have loved you. I think I do, but that's the you Wayne and the kids tell me about, so who is to say really."

So it goes.

"Bad news. They're seniors this year, Eds. Seniors! Robin going away to college was bad enough. I don't know if I'll even know how to function when they do. 'Cause they're gonna, you know? They're smart. Too smart to stay in this town," Steve is crying, can feel the tears falling, but doesn't stop them. "I know I should go, too. Somewhere else. Anywhere else. But I can't leave. Wayne's here. You're here. And if I go, who will look after either of you?"

"Bad news. College acceptance letters have come in. They're not even graduated yet. This should be good news, but, heh, friends don't lie."

"Bad news, Eds. I can't remember your voice. I didn't think.... I feel like I remember it but I can't hear it. I want to hear it. I-i need-" Steve doesn't know what he needs, doesn't know how to end that sentence so he just sobs, fingers burying themselves into the dirt of an empty grave.

Wayne gets a phone call one day and says he's gotta go back to Tennessee. Eddie's father -that rocks Steve because while he knows Wayne was Eddie's uncle, he never connected that a father was somewhere out there- Eddie's father, Wayne's younger brother, needs him.

Steve drives Wayne to the airport in Indianapolis. Wayne promises he'll return but Steve won't hold him to that. This is family, and as much as Steve pretends, he isn't Wayne's nephew. Isn't Wayne's family.

As Wayne disappears onto his flight, Steve is left hollow. There's no one left in Hawkins that needs him.

"Bad news, Eds. I think I'm a danger to myself. I keep having these thoughts... like how easy it would be to drive my car into the quarry. Or just slip into the pool and take a deep breath. I don't know who I am, or how to be me, without someone needing me."

Wayne calls and tells him he's coming home. Bringing a guest if that's ok. Steve says okay because he needs to meet the man who taught Eddie how to hot wire a car but not play catch. Also, he hopes to hear Eddie in his voice when they speak.

"Bad news, Eds. I'm too much of a coward to meet your old man. Afraid of what he'll sound like. Because I want him to sound like you so fucking bad it hurts. So instead of being home, I'm hiding here."

And then, a miracle happens.

"Well, I've some bad news for you, too, Stevie. I got my voice from my mom."

[storiesfromafan]

I'm Sorry Baby - Benny x Reader

A/N: I am back! And with Part 4 of my Spitfire series. This one was fun to write...as I am throwing myself into a bit of smut 😅

Also, want to thank @strayrockette for reading and advising on my attempt at smut 😂 I appricate her opinion.

Warning: my attemtp at smut after 10+ years, which even then might not have been good. So please, go easy on me 😅 also, might be grammer and spelling mistakes.

Tag list: tagging those that previously comment, in case you were looking forward to the next part haha.

@redwitchbitch1 @bellesdreamyprofile @cherryaustin

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

A few days after his return, and you pretty much throwing him out, Benny had been staying in a motel. He had been thinking everything over, trying to work out how to get back in your good graces. So, here he was at the bar, currently sitting with Johnny. With a short glass in hand, half full of amber liquid, Benny's poison of choice. He was having a talk with the one person he could talk too. One married man to another.

“What did ya expect, kid? Her to welcome ya back with open arms?” Johnny chuckled taking a sip from his glass.

“Nuh...but I didn’t think I’d get the door shut in my face” Benny sighed.

Johnny softly laughed. “She’s hurtin’. If ya could have heard her” – a look of guilt crossed Benny’s face – “Well, ya get what I mean...”

Benny nodded, taking a sip from his glass, eyes looking off into a void.

“Look kid” Johnny began, sitting up and leaning in, “woman are tricky. Wives are trickier. In a relationship there is two of ya. Not just you, or her. The two of ya. Yeah, she told ya to leave. But it was you who made that choice”.

Again, Benny nodded his head.

“But I’m not sayin' it’s your fault. It’s both of ya's fault in some way. Why hadn’t you been goin’ home at a decent hour?”

Benny shrugged. “Dunno, I’ve always been here, I guess...”

“You guess?” Questioned the Vandal leader. “You’re crazy about the spitfire, yeah?”

“Yeah” was all Benny said.

“Then you should have been goin' home to her. The club will still be here the next day. The knuckleheads will still be knuckleheads. But your woman, she ain’t somethin’ to take for granted” Johnny pointed his finger at Benny as he said that.

And he knew Johnny was right. Benny was crazy for you, had been since he saw you. He was crazy for your sass and attitude, for your fire. But also your caring and warmness to him. You were something special, something he had taken for granted. Benny was determined to get you back, one way or another. He would fight for you, fight for your relationship.

“What do I have to do to get her back?” Benny asked the older Vandal.

“I’d say get on ya knees and grovel” Johnny downed the last of his drink. “A woman with her spirit, she ain’t gonna just roll over. Your gonna have to show her what she means to ya. Or pray for a miracle”.

Getting up, Johnny patted Benny on the back laughing. He knew his younger Vandal was in for a fun time. But he wished him luck, and hoped it all worked out. Benny stared at the last of the liquid in his glass, before downing it and placing the glass on the table. Now he had to think of what he could do to win you back.

Finally it was closing time at the salon. Your feet were aching, and you had a small headache from listening to client after client either gossip or complain about life. You loved your job, but women could be so catty. And then there was Benny, and his reappearance a couple days ago. How it weighed on your mind and heart.

Betty had called you last night to let you know where he’d been staying, and how he was going. Apparently she’d seen him that day and he didn’t seem himself, lost in his thoughts. And that he hadn’t gone to the bar for long. She thinks he was riding most of the night, or back in his motel room. She believes he was thinking of you, and your relationship. You thanked her for the information before ending the call.

Part of you felt guilty, and missed him like crazy. But that fire in you wanted to give him a taste of his own medicine, for him to realise what he did and learn a lesson. You helped the owner clean up while she handled the till and books. You both conversed on the day in the shop, laughing at bits of gossip you’d both learned about other clients.

“So, how are you doing?” Sophia – salon owner – asked peering over at you, as you swept.

“Yeah, I’m alright” you replied off handedly.

Sophia nodded. “I heard Benny’s back, I take it he came home?”

You nodded. “Yeah...but I didn’t let him back in. I need my space”.

With that you collected the hair and moved to the back, where you’d dispose of it. The conversation done with, for now. Sophia wasn’t blind. She’d see how the week without your husband effected you. And how closed in and shut off you’d been. But Sophia also saw how happy you’d been when you got with Benny. Compared to your ex, this relationship was much better and you were the happiest she’d seen you.

With all the end of day chores done, you and Sophia headed out the front door. You were the last, closing the door and locking it for your boss. She always struggled to get the lock secure, so you just do it, since it seemed to like you. Sometimes you’d even be the one to lock up, and gave Sophia an early mark.

“Well, that’s a sight for sore eyes” Sophia said softly.

You’d just secured the lock, before turning to the woman, that was looking to across the road. Following her gaze you were greeted to the sight of your husband, who was leant against his parked bike. It reminded you of when he’d pick you up after work, seeing him after you’d finish work. How he'd light up when seeing you coming towards him, and how you’d greet him with a sweet kiss. But now you weren’t sure what to do.

“Are you gonna go to him?” Sophia questioned, turning back to you.

You shook your head before heading to your car, Sophia followed, as her car was next to you. Once coming to the cars she stopped you, she gave you a soft, small smile.

“Look Hun, can I give you some advice?” – You nodded for her to go – “there will always be fights in a relationship. But I know how much that man means to you, and no doubt it’s the same for him. So, don’t let this fight stop you from being with him, alright?”

You let her words sink in before slowly nodding your head. “I’ll try not to Sophia...but right now, I need some time...”

She nodded. “I know, but don’t take too long. He’s too good looking to stay away from” she teased with a wink, which made you softly laugh.

You hadn’t laughed in a little while at a teasing remark about Benny. Maybe you were already beginning to get over it. But you would give it a little more time till you were completely ready to have Benny back in your house and your bed. With a see you tomorrow, you both got in your cars and left. Briefly you looked to Benny as you drove out of the car park, and headed home.

Benny had watched the whole time you left the salon, to getting to your car. He could see how you and your boss talked, and saw how the woman had looked to him first. And when you looked to him, he felt his breath catch in his chest. You didn’t look mad or upset, it was more a blank stare at him. And he understood you still needed time. But he would make sure to be close by, keeping an eye on you and looking out for you, ready for whenever you needed him. It was one way to show you he was there, and not going anywhere from now on.

The little things will show how I care, he told himself.

Benny watched you drive off, not moving to go after you, not yet anyways. Taking out a cigarette, he placed it between his lips before lighting it up. Taking a long drag, he removed the cigarette before releasing the smoke. Benny smoked the cigarette but didn’t enjoy it as much as he usually would, it was just a way to distract himself and fill time. It was you that he was craving more then the cigarette. Craved your attention, your smile, your lips, your warmth. He craved you wholly.

The following day you arrived at work just before nine, you knocked on the door and Sophia let you. With a morning to each other, you put away your bag and got ready for your day to begin. It was going to be a relative busy day, which you didn’t mind. It was yourself, Sophia and another woman named Ella. Between the three of you, you could get a good amount done.

When your first client showed up, an older woman who was a bit of a stick in the mud, you wasted no time in getting her set up in your chair. Draping the cape over her, you made pleasantries. Though you know she did not like you, just your work. She was a stuck up woman, who you knew talked about you behind your back. But you did your best work, that way she couldn't run you down on it.

It was just after ten, the salon bustling with activity, when a delivery man came into the shop, in his hand a lovely bunch of flowers. He stepped into the shop, a little shyly. You watched him in the mirror before you, thinking those flowers had to be from Sophia's husband for her.

Sophia spoke to the young man, taking the flowers before thanking him. He didn't waste time to leave the shop and move on to his next delivery. One of the clients, being nosey, asked Sophia if they were hers. She was looking at the beautiful flowers before spotting a card. A look of surprise crossed her face, before a small smile crossed her lips.

“Mrs Carpenter, I wish they were, but they're not for me" mused Sophia.

All the women in the shop looked to Sophia, then around at each other. All wondering which of them they were for. Some probably hoped their husbands had sent them flowers on a whim, to surprise and cheer them up as they got their hair done. But they’d be wrong.

With the flowers in hand Sophia stepped around from the counter. She moved across the room and came to stand beside you. She was smiling at you as she looked at you in the mirror. They were for you. You should have guessed from the various flowers that you liked, making up the arrangement.

“Seems these are yours Hun" commented Sophia, holding out the flowers for you. “Why don't you go put them in some water out the back. And read the card. I'll take over for you while you're gone".

Reluctantly you finished cutting the piece of hair you held in your fingers. “Ah, sure...” you replied, unsure and uneasy.

Taking the flowers from your boss, you slowly moved from the floor and into the back. All the time questioning who would have sent you flowers? You didn't wait, taking the card from the flowers and laying them on the counter by the sink. You held the small envelop in your hand, reading your name before turning it over. You took a moment, looking at it once more before shakily opening the seal.

Slowly you removed the card, and taking a breath before finally reading what it said:

Flower's for my girl, my wife.

I hope they brighten your day,

Just like you will always brighten mine.

Love Benny.

Your heart skipped a beat reading his words. Words that he couldn't always say. Word's he knew you needed to read. For Benny knew how your days at the salon could be. He had seen how you come home, tired and drained. How you would have good days and bad days. He would listen to you tell him about the bitchiest women, who were the worst to deal with. But also how joyous you were when you had a day of nothing but sweet, lovely women.

Benny sent you a reminder that you were the brightest thing in his life, just as he was yours. You smiled softly, clutching the card delicately in your hand. Your chest aching with thoughts of your husband, and missing him. Maybe it was time to start working on getting your relationship back on track. Yes, this was the start. But you would make sure that man knew he had some serious work to do if he wanted you back completely.

Fixing up the flowers in a make shift vase. You walked back onto the salon shop floor, silence rolling in when you came back. All eyes watching you as you placed the flowers on the front counter. They noticed the sparkle in your eyes, along with a small smile on your lips.

“Take it the contents of that card were good, huh?” Teased Sophia, various women giggling.

You rolled your eyes. “If you must know, it was...”

Sophia smiled brightly and giggled. “Guess he made a good peace offering".

“It's a start" you retorted before taking back over working on your client, leaving Sophia to go off to do what she had to do.

Locking up on your own tonight, you noticed no Benny waiting across the road today. Which surprised you. None the less you got into your car and drove home, the radio on softly and you hummed along. Your flowers were sitting on the seat next to you, every time you looked at them you would smile softly. You wondered where Benny was. Was he at the bar? Would you have to go to him? Or could he have changed his mind?

Turning onto your street, you slowly came closer to your house. Your concerns and worries died away upon seeing the person on your mind. He had parked his bike across the road, again he was resting against it. As you pulled into the drive way, you could see him watching you, cigarette between his lips.

Benny had chosen to wait for you at your shared home. He knew to wait outside rather then just waltzing inside. He didn't want to upset you, especially after sending you flowers at work. It could have got either way, in his favour or made it worse. He hadn’t long lit a cigarette and taken a few drags, before your car turned onto the street. He watched as you approached, and turned into the drive way. But Benny never moved, he was going to see if you would invite him in, back into the house and into your arms.

Getting out of the driver seat, you leant back in and grabbed the flowers. Once you were out and the door closed, you looked to Benny. Still he lent against the bike, but he straightened up once seeing the flowers in your hand. Looking to them, you brought them closer to you. After that you walked up the few stairs to the porch – the same ones Benny climbed before you slammed the door in his face – and came to the front door. You used your keys to unlock the door and pushed it open.

Crossing the threshold, you paused a moment. Then you turned around to look at your husband. You kept your face blank, but there was a calmness to it. You looked at Benny for a few minutes before closing the door, but kept it propped open. It was a way to tell him that if he wanted, he could come in. You were calm and ready to talk.

You crossed the lounge room and entered the kitchen. Placing your bag on the counter by the door way, you moved over to the sink. You placed the flowers down before fetching a glass vase. You proceeded to put some water into it, then began to undo the wrapping to the flowers.

Mean while, Benny had watched your every move from car to front door. When you stood in the door way looking to him, he was silently hoping you would call out to him to come in. When you didn't, and began to close the door, Benny thought he would have to try again tomorrow. But when the door was left open a bit, he released the breath he had been holding. Hope bubbled in him.

Benny stood up from his position against the bike, stretching out his arms as he began to walk towards the house. Taking one last drag of the cigarette, Benny removed it from his lips and flicking it away. The smoke slipping from his lips as he walked up the path to the stairs. Up he went, boots landing on the porch. He stood there for a moment, taking a deep breath before pushing the front door open slowly.

You weren't in the lounge room, but he could hear you moving around the kitchen. He closed the door before taking off his jacket and hanging it up the door. Benny crossed the room to the kitchen, stopping in the doorway. He lent against the wood frame, watching you silently.

You had most of the flowers in the vase, you were just putting the remaining in and moving them around when you felt his eyes on you. It sent a shiver down your spine. Who would speak first? How would this all go?

When you had finished, you picked up the vase and moved to place it by the window on the counter. You would figure out where to put them later, for now you had to have a conversation with your husband.

“Do you like them?” Benny softly asked, when you placed them down and stared at them.

“Yes" you replied, “I like them a lot, actually...”

He nodded, though you couldn’t see it. “Good...I remember you sayin’ how you liked those kinds of flowers...”

It was awkward, but it was something, right? To know Benny remembered what flowers you liked, it showed he had been listening. And he did, majority of the time. Slowly you turned around, choosing to lean against the counter. For the first time in days you took a good hard look at Benny.

He looked tired, maybe he hadn’t been sleeping properly. His clothes – different to what you’d last seen him in – were deeply wrinkled, most likely worn when sleeping or trying to sleep. From the way he was leaning, you could tell Benny was uneasy. Not because of you, but for what could happen between you right now. He was guarded, yet trying to keep his defences down just enough so you in turn would let yours down. You could tell he didn't want to fight, he wanted to sort this out like adults. No more running, for either of you.

“...I’m sorry for leavin' baby" Benny said, breaking the silence. “I shouldn’t have taken off like I did. Nor did I want to worry ya".

You nodded your head. “I know...”

“When I bring up leavin'...its somethin' in me that switches when a fight gets too much" Benny tried to explain. “I know its not an excuse, but I want ya to understand. But I promise I wont do it again...if I do, you can kick me out".

You chuckled. “Like I'd want you to go...” you said softly. “But Benny...you gotta know it did hurt. You just up and goin', no word of where ya were or if you were alright. I was worried sick".

Benny moved from the door frame to you, but stopped himself from pulling you to him, to hold you close and kiss away the hurt he caused. He looked at you with soft, guilty eyes. Waiting for you to give him the ok that he could touch you, hold you.

“I’m sorry for worryin' you, baby. If I could take it back, I would" Benny said softly, hands itching to rub up and down your arms.

“I know Benny...” your voice was soft, fragile. You looked at your husband with hurt eyes, only killing him more. You then looked to his hands and back to his baby blues. That was all Benny needed, for he stepped closer and pulled you to him.

Benny wrapped his arms around you, holding you closely to him for the first time in what felt like forever. Having you close felt right. You rested your head against his chest, your hands gripping his t-shirt. A few tears, that you hadn’t realised that had risen, escaped down your cheeks, they a mix of hurt but happiness.

“I’m sorry baby" Benny whispered into your hair.

You stood there for a few minutes, just letting Benny hold you and whisper sweet things into your ear. You felt better. You felt a part of you healing. Just like it was for Benny. Reluctantly Benny pulled back, moving to look at your face. Seeing the remints your tears left, he brought a hand up and whipped them away.

“Benny, you know we need to have a long talk, right?” You questioned softly, afraid he might get spooked.

He nodded. “I know, baby. I am ready for it...”

So, with a deep breath and standing where you were, not waiting to leave his space, you began. You told him how you'd been feeling, how him staying out effected you. That you wanted him to come home more, but not to take him away from the club. Benny heard you, he agreed to it. He told you how he adored that you respected his ties with the Vandals, and not trying to entirely change him, which made you laugh. Music to his ears after so long. Benny didn't ask much of you, as you had been perfect the whole time.

“I guess Johnny was right...” muttered Benny as he moved from you, as you crossed to the kitchen door way.

“Hmm?” you asked turning back to Benny.

“Johnny...I spoke to him the other day. I asked him what to do" Benny paused, gauging your reaction, with a nod he knew to go on. “He said I should grovel, or show ya what you mean to me...”

You held in a laugh at the suggestion of grovelling. “Is that why you sent flowers?”

He nodded, “but I meant them and what I wrote, baby. As well as watchin’ out for you, I wanted you to know I wasn't goin’ anywhere".

You smiled softly, moving to stand before your man. You cupped his cheek with one hand, thumb stroking his stubbled jaw. It was rough but soothing. You enjoyed feeling of it rubbing against your skin, be it your cheek, neck, inner thighs.

You moved your hand to back of Benny's head, gripping it firmly. You stared into his eyes. “I wouldn't mind you on your knees...but not necessarily grovellin’...”

You saw realisation flash in Benny's eyes when your words sunk in. Holding his head firmly, you pulled your husbands head down. Pulling his lips to meet your own, a firm closed lip kiss. The feeling of his lips against yours feeling like home. You closed your eyes, savouring your lips reuniting.

You moved to grip his hair, pulling a little. Causing Benny to groan in the most delightful way, which you had missed. His hands moved to your hips, pulling you close as he removed his lips for just a moment. Adjusting the angle, Benny brought his lips back to your waiting ones. This time it was a feverish, slightly open mouth kiss. Over and over, short and sweet. But soon Benny went in for a longer, deeper kiss.

He didn't wait for permission, his tongue delving into your mouth, seeking out your own. Tongues colliding, caressing the other in a fast paced dance. You moaned into his mouth, which only made Benny return with his own. Stepping forward, Benny backed you up against the small table in the kitchen. The edge digging into your backside. Without breaking the kiss, Benny picked you up and set you on the tables edge.

Your other hand moving to cradle is cheek, while its partner ran threw his hair before pulling it occasionally. That only spurred Benny on further. His hands moved to your slacks, unbuttoning them and pulling down the zipper. Pulling away from the kiss, you both took a moment to get some much needed air. And in that time Benny silently instructed you to lift your hips. You did, and he removed both your slacks and underwear, leaving you sitting in bare from the waist down.

Benny wasted no time falling to his knees, as you both had mentioned. This kind of grovelling was not for forgiveness, but for your own pleasure. Benny would worship every part of you, if it would make you happy.

His rough hands moved up your calf muscles, slowly over your thighs, pushing them open wider. His eyes drinking in the sight before him, Benny placed kisses along the inside of your thighs before coming to his destination. Slowly – tongue flat – he licked at the opening of your sex. Tongue finding your hard nub, applying the right amount of pressure as he caressed it. You moaned, head tilting back, as one hand moved to Benny's hair.

Benny worshipped you with his tongue, bringing moans and praises from your lips. When he would change movements with his tongue, you would pull his hair lightly, encouraging him further. Then when he added a finger inside of you, and then a second after sometime, he had you a mess upon the table. Your free hand moved to clutch the edge of the table, trying to ground yourself. Your man knew how to worship at your alter.

“I-I need you, baby" you managed to get out, between moans.

Reluctantly, Benny moved his head back. His baby blues, now dark with desire, staring at you as he licked his lips, tongue taking in your essence that had been resting there. After a brief moment of watching you, he rose to his feet, standing between your legs. Without delay, your hands moved to Benny's jeans. Undoing the button before pulling down the zipper. You pushed his jeans and boxers down his hips.

When he was freed from its confines, you wrapped a hand around his member. Slowly moving your hand up and down the shaft. The way Benny's breath caught in his throat, before a small strangled noise came from his parted lips, such noises pleased you. He leant in and captured your lips once more, sloppily and mindlessly at your touch and ministrations.

“Baby, I want you" Benny sighed against your lips.

You hummed in approval. “I want you too".

You guided him to your sex, Benny's hands coming to hold your hips. His tip brushed against your nub, drawing out a moan. He was teasing, but you'd allow it. You brought your hands up to his neck, one resting there while its partner tangled with the hair at the base of his neck.

Finally lining himself entrance, Benny began to enter you. The way he felt, stretching you, you sighed as you gripped his hair. That action cause Benny to buck his hips, finally sheathing himself completely in you. You both moaned in satisfaction of being one again.

Benny moved in, taking your lips into a deep kiss. He drew back his hips before snapping back into you, over and over. At first a gentle pace, but with your hold on his hair and nails at his neck digging in, Benny picked up speed. Before long you were head tilted back, moaning, as your husband slammed into you. His lips upon your neck, sucking and biting, while he too made beautiful sounds.

With the rise in pleasure that Benny was giving you, and feeling, it had to come to an end. The tension rising and twisting in the pit of your stomach. You tightened around him, only adding to Benny's please, and making him move more vigorously.

“Cum for me, baby" Benny said with a groan, fingers digging into the flesh of your hips. No doubt there’d be bruises later. “Ya gotta cum for me".

You nodded your head, whimpering at his words.

Benny placed his forehead to your own, his eyes staring deeply into yours. The pressure just building inside you both. Finally he hit that spot, and you tipped over the edge. You cried out, clenching tightly around his member, while you let your release wash over you. With a few more sloppy thrusts, Benny finally found his release. Buried within you, his seed coated your insides. His hands moving to the edge of the table, while catching his breath.

You opened your eyes, which had closed at some point, to look at your husband. He looked gorgeous, breathing heavily, trying to calm down after your vigorous activity. When his baby blues found yours, the smile that graced his perfect lips, melted your heart. You smiled right back at him. You both sharing a tender moment.

Those lips met with yours once more, but this time a chaste kiss. Pulling back, Benny reluctantly removed himself from you, which made you whimper at the lose. But with a promise that he'd gladly make it up to you later, you giggled with joy.

You watched as Benny pulled his boxers and jeans back up, fastening them before turning to you. He helped you down from the table, legs a little shaky from how well he had taken care of you. With some work and help, you had your own underwear and slacks back on. You kissed Benny's cheek to say thank you.

“Remind me to thank Johnny" you said off handily.

“Why's that baby?” Benny asked, confused.

You smirked. “For givin’ you the idea to grovel" was your reply before laughing.

Benny shook his head, pulling you close to him. “Oh”.

“And Benny" you said after a moment of silence. He waited for you to go on. “Next time you leave me, and hurt me, I will castrate you". Then you chuckled.

Benny softly laughed. “But what about kid's, baby. I'm gonna need them”.

Wrapped in his arms, you pondered Benny's words. “That is true...I will just take one then. You can give me kid's with just one, after all".

“Yes ma’am” Benny said in humour.

You both roared into laughter. Though you told him, as you laughed, you were serious. And it would be smart not to test you. Benny just continued to laugh before scooping you up over his shoulder, and carrying you off to your shared bedroom. Not without a small smack to your backside at you sassing him, as he walked up the stairs.

[brittle-doughie]

Dungeon Clearout

“I don’t get why you let Crowned Cupcake have reign over the dungeons. She keeps imprisoning innocent Cookies over things so trivial as wishing you a good morning.”

“You know Crowned, she doesn’t like when anybody is showing any sort of affection towards me, which leads to our situation here. We’ve got to clear out the dungeons of the innocents while keeping in the actual troublemakers…”

“I’ve got the list from Dumpling Cookie, it can help us with that. The last thing I want is any of the actual criminals to escape.”

“Then let’s just hope they weren’t thrown in with them…”

The two of you surveyed the cells, using the list provided with detailed information that helped you to keep the guilty locked up. One by one, you let the innocent free….

“Thank you, your Majesty! I-I didn’t know what I did wrong! I only wished you a wonderful day and then the princess later sent me to the dungeon!”

“No worries, but hey, don’t let Crowned Cupcake stop you from being cordial with me. I’ll handle her if she stops by for you the next time.”

———————————————————————

“I didn’t think I did anything criminal actually. Nothing wrong with calling you a treat, Your Majesty~”

“Yeah….try to keep that kind of talk under wraps when Crowned Cupcake is roaming about.”

…and kept the guilty locked up.

———————————————————————

“T-thank you, your Majesty…I was scared being here…”

“Nice try, Tutti Frutti Cookie. Wanted for prolonged vandalism to the Kingdom.”

Tutti Frutti Cookie grumbled as he dropped the scared and tearful front.

“Your Kingdom is dull and gray! Where’s the colors?! The life?! Maybe if you had more colors to this dreary dungeon, I wouldn’t have needed to spread my colors all over the place!”

“And look where it got you, unauthorized decoration is only going to get you into trouble! Besides, we have Gumball Cookie for that…”

———————————————————————

“Stay back, Salsa Cookie. She’s dangerous…”

“I know, Y/N Cookie. One sting from her is not good…”

The two of you stay back from one cell, where a jellyfish-like cookie was seen floating in the middle of.

“Brownie Box Jellyfish Cookie…”

“Wanted for hospitalizing many of our Cookies that were too close to the waters near our Kingdom. She was a pain to capture, fast in the water and nearly incapacitating the whole team sent after her…”

“Was that really all the Cookies you can throw at me~? I expected a challenge~”

“Big talk from a Cookie behind bars…”

“Such a shame I didn’t get to meet you on the beach personally, Y/N Cookie. I’ve always wondered what your screams would’ve sounded like when I stung into you~”

“Do it and I’ll put you in the ground-“

“Salsa Cookie….”

You see Salsa Cookie clenched her fist, which leads you to place a hand on her chili pepper shoulder pad. She stopped her moment of anger and took a deep breath.

“You’re right, she’s not worth my time…”

———————————————————————

“Oh, I don’t need the list for this Cookie, he deserves every second he has in his cell…”

“Salsa Cookie?”

“I..didn’t want to tell you, but…this Cookie was targeting..you specifically. Jackfruit Cookie.”

The two of you see the silhouette of a Cookie far back in his cell, leaning on the wall while he sat on a stool, a grain of wheat in his mouth.

“Wanted for various crimes such as the injury of personnel, sabotage of our security, and making threats towards you on wanting to “have you”. Believe me, I relished the moment I was able to put this Cookie into custody.”

“She was such a headache. I could see why though, their Majesty looked just as good up close as they are from afar~”

“QUIET!”

Salsa Cookie banged on the steel bars.

“It took everything I had to not just run you through with my blade then and there for what you did…”

“Hehehehe, so what? You win some, you lose a few dozen. Everything is fair game to bag the prize~”

“Give me one good reason to keep you alive, come on.”

“I…can see why you kept this from me. I’m used to fans, but few would go to such lengths like this…”

“Oh, I’m more than just a fan, Y/N Cookie. Such righteousness, a sense of doing what’s right, keeping Cookies with nowhere to go under your care. They say opposites attract, you know? I was looking forward to how I’d completely ruin you~”

Salsa Cookie inhaled sharply as she got ready to unsheathe her blade, but you stopped her fast.

“Let’s go…I get it.”

Salsa exhaled and stops herself, before heading off with you. A glance over her shoulder could see Jackfruit looking at her smugly at the corner of his cell.

“….Not yet….but when the time comes, I look forward to wiping that look off your face…”

[navia3000]

Cowboy Like Me - B. Cross

Pairings : Benny Cross x Reader

Warnings : Cursing

Genre : Angst, or, where reader and Benny cross paths (lol) after a nasty break up

A/N : I haven’t actually watched this movie, and this is a lot of word vomit, and I hated the ending, but I hope I did it some justice.

Masterlist

Requests are OPEN

⊹˚₊‧───────────‧₊˚⊹

⊹˚₊‧───────────‧₊˚⊹

The bar was alive with the chatter of its usual patrons. Vandals littered the floor, reminding the young girl of an all too open wound.

Y/N Y/L/N had a history with the Vandals, rather, a Vandal. Benny Cross. The man she dedicated a year and three months of her life to. The man who left her and threw their relationship away as though it were an empty cigarette box, old and useless.

Now, she had been struggling with a depressive episode ever since, and for the first time in months, her good friend Kathy convinced her to make an appearance in the Vandals favorite bar, but only after assuring her that a certain biker would not show up, her friend claiming he was off on some personal mission or whatnot.

So, there she sat, beer in hand, surrounded by some of her closest friends. Her favorite Vandals were surprised albeit excited to see her, being shut out from her life after Benny Cross was done with her.

She was hurt and bitter, that much was obvious, and the rest of the gang knew it. Before her arrival, Kathy had threatened everybody not to bring up Cross, and Y/N was grateful for it.

Any mention of him would be enough to bring her to tears, even being in the bar was toeing the line.

“So, how you been, Y/N?” Johnny, her prior second favorite Vandal which had moved up to first, asked her.

Her eyes wandered down to the beer in her hand, picking up on the underlying question in Johnny’s question. “I’ve been good,” her head nodded, “working a lot, but good.” She was lying. She was still picking up the pieces of herself which Benny broke.

“Well, either way, you know you can count on all of us in case you need anything,” Betty, sweet as ever, assured her.

“I appreciate it, Betty, I really do.” And she did. She knew the Vandals would be there for her always, and she did appreciate it, but, they would always remind her of him. And she didn’t feel as though she could move on with those little reminders of him.

Which is why, without telling any of her friends, this was a goodbye. She had already put in a transfer for her job, somewhere far, without any trace of Vandals or bikers or Benny fucking Cross.

As the conversation diverted from the topic of her wellbeing, she could feel herself getting sadder and sadder. She didn’t want to leave. She wishes she didn’t have to, she wishes Benny had never left, she wishes she could go back five months to when everything was fine.

And, as Benny Cross walked through the bar door, she felt her heart squeeze as it was brought back to the last day she ever saw him. The bar quieted upon his entrance. The tears sprung to her eyes. A soft hand reached for hers. But her eyes were locked on him.

She watched as his expression turned into a confused one upon the bar patrons staring, then into one of realization as his eyes traveled across the Vandals’ faces, only stopping when they reached hers. She watched as his mouth opened and closed, his body glued to the dirty floor.

The patrons eyes traveled back and forth between her and him, her and him, her and him. And they watched as he took the first step further into the bar, whilst she simultaneously shot out of her chair and sped towards the bathroom.

Her tears were flowing, her breath coming in and out, hyperventilating. She made quick work of the lock on the door, turning to grip the sink, knuckles white. She couldn’t hide in the bathroom from him, she knew that. But she couldn’t possibly face him.

What she didn’t know, though, was that in the room next to where she stood, was the boy who was just as heartbroken as she was. He was shocked to see her sitting there after all this time.

He didn’t know why he left. He felt lost and trapped, one day packing his stuff up and leaving without word. All he knew was that he regrets that day more than anything in his life, and he wasn’t known for being a sentimental guy.

He walked towards the table she evacuated, and listened as Kathy and Betty scolded him, even Johnny made some comments towards him.

He took a seat, hands patting down his pockets for his cigarettes, running to them for emotional support. Twenty minutes went by before she finally walked out of the bathroom. He immediately caught notice of her red eyes and smudged makeup. His heart physically hurt at the knowledge that he was the reason she was upset. Whilst Y/N didn’t know it, Kathy had updated Benny on her wellbeing, and he knew she wasn’t doing good. But, he was at a loss for what to do.

He stood as she sped past the table and out the door, racing after her. What he would say, he didn’t know, but he had to say something.

“Y/N,” he yelled after her, “Y/N,” his fingers curled around her arm, forcing her to stop and turn around.

Her bloodshot eyes drilled holes into his; he detected the anger and hurt behind her irises.

He hesitated for a couple seconds before speaking, “I’m sorry.” As the words left his mouth, he wished to put them back in.

“You’re sorry?” The question came out sarcastic. “That’s all you have to say? You pick up and leave without a damn word and all you have to say for yourself is ‘I’m sorry’?” She scoffed at his silence, turning to leave once again.

He was going to let her go, but watched as she stopped and turned back towards him. “I loved you, Cross. I was ready to fuckin’ marry you. But you broke me. And I fuckin’ hate you for it.”

“I had to, Y/N.” His words made her angrier. “I didn’t know what to do, I’ve never been one to settle down, but, I started falling for you and I got scared. I was a coward and I’m sorry.” His words held a sincere tone, and she couldn’t help but wanting to forgive him and hug him and kiss him.

“Yeah, well, because of you, I’m leaving, so, I guess I’m no better than you.”

He felt his heart drop at her words. At least, before, he could catch glances of her here and there, hear how she was doing from her friends. But if she left, he would have nothing.

“What do you mean?”

She took a deep breath, feeling the tears prick at the corners of her eyes again. “I can’t keep doing this. You’re everywhere! There’s reminders of you everywhere I go, I can’t even be around the Vandals because each time, I think of you. And it sucks. So, I’m leaving.” He didn’t know what to say, what to think, what to feel. “I don’t know what else to say to you, Benny. I’m probably never gonna be able to love anyone like I did you again. You broke my heart. And, now, I’m hangin’ up my boots.” And with that, she walked off, leaving her heart along with Benny.

⊹˚₊‧───────────‧₊˚⊹

[sebsbarnes]

6 months || benny cross

benny x reader

summary: so you stood there on the porch taking in the silent environment like you had every day for the last six months, trying to make sense of it. each night you sought solace in your sleep and would forget about the empty space in your heart that benny once occupied.

warnings: angst

word count: 1.9k+

masterlist

a/n; dialogue italicized as everything is a memory. based on austin's portrayal of the character, not the real person. saw bikeriders and had the biggest urge to write at least one fic hehe. i put this together in like 20 mins plz forgive mistakes i didnt correct :) set in the time he disappeared for a year but he isn't married in this. quick switch up from atj

spring turned into summer and soon enough, it was fall. with each season passing you found yourself pacing the porch, hoping to hear the sound of the motorcycle ripping into the air from a distance. you imagined that when you finally lifted your head you would see benny parked on the other side of the street, he'd carefully tip the bike gently onto the kickstand and readjust his leather jacket. he would reach into his pocket pulling out the pack of cigarettes before his lips closed around the end to inhale the smoke. benny would give you a boyish smirk and flick the cigarette to the ground, his heavy boots crunching across the cement and up onto the porch.

"darlin'," his voice soft, eyes scanning your face as if he hadn't seen you in days.

your eyelids would flutter down and a warm heat would rush up your face. you wish you could blame it on the illinois summer but the fallen leaves would protest your lie.

"benny," you'd say.

each day he'd hear his name called out many times by many people, but for some reason the way the consonants and vowels rolled off your tongue... it was different. benny would suck his teeth trying to suppress the pleased smirk before leaning towards you and planting a kiss on your forehead.

but as you paced the porch you didn't hear his motorcycle in the distance and when you lifted your head you weren't greeted by the smoke across the street or the sound of his boots walking towards you.

it had been about six months since you saw benny. he simply vanished one day. that last night together, you found home in his chest as you had for the past year. the two of you talked until sunrise before you whispered to him that you needed to get sleep for work that afternoon.

"sleep tight 'pea," his deep voice lulled you. however, when you woke you were not nestled in your home. your head was rested beneath his pillow, his lighter gone from the nightstand, his vandals jacket no longer hanging from the wooden chair by the closet. immediately it felt different, you knew this time he was gone for good.

town was small, so small in fact that everyone knew everyone, and if a new face showed up, the whole town knew within hours. benny was that new face. he showed up on his motorcycle with nothing but the clothes on his back and little to say to most people. you didn't care to meet the mystery man everyone was whispering about but it seemed like the universe had a different idea.

"come on!" you yelled slapping your hand on the hood of your car. you were pissed, to be frank. the frustrated groans and mumbles of being upset that you just spent a whole month's paycheck to fix your car was wasted as the engine stopped working. not only that, you were a couple miles from home, and in the measly attempt to see what was wrong, oil and grease stained your clothes.

your hands gripped the front of the car and you hung your head, "ma'am," a low voice called out.

shifting your head to the voice you saw an unfamiliar man. you straightened up, eyebrows pulling in as you gave the man a once over.

"do you nee-"

"who are you?" you asked.

he paused a moment, "benny. my name's benny," he held out his hand for you to shake. you said nothing as you hesitantly placed your hand in his. they were rough and calloused, seamlessly matching the rest of his appearance. his blonde hair slightly windblown, dirt on his cheek and white tank top, the leather jacket covering his wide shoulders appeared worn with patches scattered about.

"do you need help?" benny asked gesturing towards your car.

"quite friendly to a stranger, hm," you replied, skeptical of the man.

"well, hopefully not strangers for long."

a laugh flew from your nose as you raised your eyebrow at him. benny was handsome and bold and you could tell trouble loomed around him, "i don't even care for this," you gestured with a dismissive hand towards your car, "piece of shit anyways."

benny nodded his hand slightly, his eyes looking over your beige car. you slammed the hood down and dusted your hands on your ruined pants. walking around the side you grabbed your bag through the window and started to walk off in the direction of your house.

"i didn't get your name," benny called out, taking a few steps towards you.

"no need to," you looked over your shoulder with a grin.

this time benny laughed through his nose, his eyes trained on you as you walked away from him.

it pained you to think of the memory of first seeing benny. of course, you were hesitant, but immediately charmed by him. there was this air of confidence and mystery from benny that was missing from the men in your town. what surprised you most was the kindness that was hidden beneath the rough layers.

when you went to check on your car you found benny hunched over the engine, tools in hand and scattered on the floor. you didn't say anything to him but instead watched from a distance. you did this for two weeks as benny worked on your car, unbeknownst to him, with an audience of one the whole time. you could tell benny was making good progress so on day 16 you rounded the same corner as you did for the last 16 days with a case of beer in hand.

"i think it's time for a break," you said startling benny.

his eyes were wide and a hand flew to his chest, "jesus! you're lucky i had nothin' in my hand."

without much convincing and now with a working car engine, you and benny made your way to a large field. the two of you spent hours sitting on the trunk of your car and pouring the beer down your throats. you watched as the sun said hello to the moon on its way down to rest and the man on the moon observed you and benny's small chuckles and coy smiles.

"so why here?" you finally asked the question that had been on your mind.

"well," he sighed deeply adjusting the sleeve of his jacket, "truthfully, i ran out of gas."

you thought for a moment, "why not leave after getting gas?"

benny didn't respond right away. he found his head lifting towards the sky. a small smile adorned his face, yet, you hadn't noticed. benny stared at the moon, and the man stared back at him. he felt his cheeks heat up as if the moon had found out his secret, words he hadn't spoken out loud yet, simply a silent glace between the two knowing parties.

"i like it here, it's different... it's special," he finally spoke, head turning back to you.

you let out a fake laugh, "something special, here? in this town? are we sure we are both in the same place right now," you objected in disbelief.

benny didn't reply. he knew he was right. this town was special and so different from where he lived. so you both sat in comfortable silence, swirling the remaining bit of liquid around in the glass jar occupying your hands. benny knowing that it's not special here because of the open fields or good bars, but because of the person beside him, even if you didn't realize it yet.

that's why the pain you feel now is the same as the first week he left. the way benny made you feel was indescribable, something only the most skilled writer could articulate. but now, you felt suffocated in your home and everything reminded you of him. each time you step on the creaky porch steps you hear the echo of his boots. every time you open the fridge you see the stupid beer he likes, a single lonely can standing in the back corner. getting into bed every night, you refuse to touch the pillows on his side, but, you also refuse to get rid of them. each morning the dented wall beside your bedroom door mocked you and every time you tried to hang a picture to cover the damage, the photo fell. it was like a sick prank was being pulled, like from a far benny was forcing you to reminisce what happened in that spot 14 months ago.

"c'mon sweetpea!" benny laughed as you giggled behind him.

"i'm coming i swear! my feet are hurting benny."

benny immediately turned around, his expression playful but a bit more serious, "well why didn't you tell me that, silly."

you went to protest but benny interrupted by picking you up and holding you against his chest. you let out a small shriek, wrapping your legs around his waist and gripping at the collar of his vandals jacket.

"benny! it's only like twenty more steps to my room," you whined, hiding your face in his neck.

he tutted how he didn't care how close or far something is, he'd never want you to be in pain. during his small rant, benny opened your bedroom door but didn't notice the shoes at his feet and he tripped slightly. the hand he had pressed against your spine managed to protect you from hitting the wall, but his hand went through it.

"oh my god, are you alright?" you dropped from his grasp, immediately checking his hands for cuts.

"a lot worse has happened," benny smiled, trying to ease your panic.

"that doesn't make it okay benny. i don't care how small something is, i don't want to see you hurt," you said softly holding onto his hand.

benny felt something in his soul change. his hands cupped your cheeks and he leaned forward and pressed his lips to yours. his lips were soft and his tongue tasted like cigarettes, something you've become accustomed to now. benny pressed you against the wall as your hand snaked up to run your fingers across his scalp. the kiss was intense and passionate and you never wanted it to end, like his lips should've been kissing you every day and every night and they should never leave until the last shred of air burned at your lungs.

"i love you," he whispered in the brief moment he pulled away before reconnecting with clashing teeth. his words didn't register at first as you found yourself too enthralled with the kiss. soon enough, it hit you.

out of shock, you gave benny a slightly forceful shove back, "don't say that if you don't mean it."

"i wouldn't lie to you," benny's rough voice spoke softly, "i love you. i've been in love with you."

you wrapped your fingers around the silver necklace lying on his chest and gently tugged him towards you, "and i love you, mr. cross."

so you stood there on the porch taking in the silent environment like you had every day for the last six months, trying to make sense of it. each night you sought solace in your sleep and would forget about the empty space in your heart that benny once occupied. as you awoke each morning having forgotten, you would soon be reminded the full extent of his absence by the empty bed and dented wall.

[altocat]

Need soft glenn and miniroth headcanons 🥺🥺🥺

Time to ruin everyone's day I guess (with feels) ❤️

Sephiroth and Glenn get into stupid arguments all the time. Glenn is the only one who can influence Sephiroth into acting immature and petty, pouting and sulking whenever he doesn't win.

They make up by way of doing something selfless for one another--aka recklessly defending each other to the death in battle.

Glenn is fond of giving Seph a friendly nudge or ruffling the boy's hair, laughing when Sephiroth glares up at him, pretending to be annoyed and not secretly relishing the attention.

Sephiroth offhandedly copies Glenn's movements from time to time, including some of his mannerisms. The others notice with amusement that Sephiroth occasionally mimes a lot of Glenn's posture and battle stances from time to time.

Glenn brought bucketloads of snacks for the trip to the island. And he wasted literally all of it by shoving it onto Sephiroth to try.

Glenn is the first person to ever refer to Sephiroth as "Seph".

Glenn is also the first person who is instantly up and on his feet during the night whenever Sephiroth has one of his strange nightmares--you know, the one with the red-eyed monster that calls to him from the shadows. Seph's been having that one for a while now. Weird.

Sephiroth has saved Glenn from drowning eight different times. Glenn must have a death wish around water because Sephiroth is SERIOUSLY getting tired of plucking him out of the rapids.

Sephiroth envies Glenn's height. Glenn good-naturedly tells him he still has a lot of growing to do--don't worry! Sephiroth hopes he's taller than Glenn one day. Good news, he will be!

Sephiroth is very interested in Glenn's signature red jacket. Glenn has promised him that once this job's over, Sephiroth can keep the damn thing--it's already a wreck after weeks in the elements. Sephiroth covets the jacket greatly and holds him to it.

Sephiroth and Glenn occasionally train together, though it's mostly Glenn just trying to keep up. Sephiroth really does try to go easy on him.

Other times, they disappear out into the forest together, gone for hours at a time. They're patrolling, in a sense. But mostly just taking a long walk, neither talking. Glenn sometimes notices Sephiroth shuddering, likely triggered on by a bad memory or two. He keeps beside the boy, offers a quiet pat every now and then. It seems to help.

Sephiroth will never, ever say it out loud. But he wishes he'd known Glenn earlier. Being around Glenn is the safest he's felt in years, as well as the happiest. They've known each other for such a short time and yet it means so much.

And as it turns out, it meant more to Sephiroth than he'd ever begun to imagine.

There is a portrait of Rufus Shinra in the lower level of Shinra HQ. Word on the street was that it was vandalized in the quiet of the night, the only investigative clues at the scene being a few empty liquor bottles and the broken remains of a switchblade.

The eyes have been completely scratched out, the frame heavily damaged, a single line of jagged text lacerated beneath the young vice president's image.

M u r d e r e r

[jewish-vents]

I lost a good friend of mine because of the stupid conflict.

It happened on the Day of Rememberance, you know, the day Holocaust survivors and their relatives march down the tracks leading to Auschwitz in Poland. There were Palestinian protestors at the sight basically heckling at these people trying to honor their lost loved ones and I got so upset. I was friends with the person in question for over 5 years, and I thought I could confide in them.

I mentioned how inappropriate it was to wave the Palestinian flag in the faces of survivors and their families because The Holocaust and the March of Remembrance has nothing to do with the conflict. These are people mourning the loss of friends, spouses, children. It’s tasteless to heckle at them for something they didn’t even do. I started contemplating if this was a hate crime and she snapped at me. My former friend then accused me of being a complicit Zionist, she insulted my family. “It’s how you were raised, you were raised to believe all this bullshit”, insinuating that Jewish families are so possessive we can’t grow outside them. I had previously mentioned to her that I was scared of the college protests going on at the time and she shamed me for that too. I’m Jewish and I’m psychotic, and it wasn’t the movement making me uncomfortable- it was the fact that randos on the street were on my campus commiting vandalism where I go to class that made me uncomfortable. It was paranoia inducing. My elderly aunt and other family members live in Los Angeles where a lot of the antisemitic hate crimes occurred. A Jewish man in LA was recently beaten to death around the time this happened. I was scared for my family, we’re very visibly Jewish. I was even almost assaulted on my college campus for being Jewish. But she didn’t let me explain and she blocked me without letting me talk to her.

She then told our other mutual friends (around 12 people) of what a shit person I am and how I spew hate speech and I support killing babies. I had a depressive/psychotic break mixed episode for around 2 months after all that where I contemplated ending it all. I’m fine now, and I realized how idiotic all those former friends are. They were antisemitic all along, they just had pretty wrapping paper to decorate their hatred with now. Said former friend said they support Palestine and boycott but they go to Disney monthly, they have a Disney account, they work at Starbucks. If they’re gonna be such an asshole to me about not supporting Palestine enough they should quit their job and stop being a fucking hypocrite. I’ve been boycotting Disney since I was a child, it wasn’t allowed in my house, and it STILL isn’t. Fuck those people I once called friends, because the moment I didn’t blindly agree with them I’m suddenly an evil jew who kills babies. I’m not sad about it anymore. I just wish the worst for them. Antisemites are lower than scum to me. Thanks for this account.

.

[nanaminokanojo]

Nonsense ft. SatoSugu

Just a bunch of random and absolutely unrelated drabbles/scenarios that I think are so Gojo and Geto coded X Reader. Fluff, fluff, fluff!

CW/TW: mentions of alcohol | profanity/strong language | vandalism | slight angst | weird stuff lol | fluffy af | i'm sorry if i had more for gojo lol Word Count: 2.3k

MASTERLIST

GOJO

宇宙 (Universe)

You and Satoru, you were just like this.

“You’ll lose this time for sure.”

“You wish.”

“My eyes are kinda dry today.”

“Excuses.”

“Do you smell that?” He sniffed.

“The cookies are going to burn. I should probably take them out of the oven.”

“If you look away, you lose.” His mouth slightly curved upwards on the sides in a smirk.

“No fair!”

“Go take them out. The smoke detectors will go off if you don’t.”

“Okay.” You blinked.

“You lose!” he gloated.

“You little fucker.”

Staring contests. It’s a common thing where Satoru, the colossal brat, and you are concerned. You two would stare into each other’s eyes for long periods of time, your games sometimes lasting for as long as hours with neither willing to relent and admit defeat. You waste time like this on the regular like you had nothing better to do, swearing that one day you’d both go blind. You complain to each other when your eyes start hurting after then your banters would continue with your eyes screwed shut.

You don’t do it with anybody but him. It’s just something you two do. It’s like this thing that you cannot bring yourself to do unless it’s with him. Just him. It’s fucking weird and stupid, really, from the outside looking in anyway. You were both silly. Kinda stupid, too. Anybody who had the unfortunate fate to witness you two interact would think so.

You don’t know about stupid, but you liked these staring games with Satoru.

In those clear, glorious blue eyes, you see your whole world.

~*~

Good Morning

You trudge out of bed once your alarm goes off and start with your daily morning routine, usually ending it by grabbing breakfast.

It wasn’t a particularly good morning for you, feeling like you’ve woken up on the wrong side of the bed, so when you saw your cereal box on the topmost shelf, you couldn’t help but grumble out loud, cursing your petite physique when you realized you had to go through the trouble of pulling a chair from the dining area to the pantry to get it.

However, before you could move from where you were standing, staring up at the seemingly unreachable cereal box, you felt something, or rather someone, warm press against your back, and over your shoulder, a hand reached for the very object you were trying to get.

You turned around but immediately regretted it when you found Satoru standing just meager inches away from you, snow-white hair in an attractive disarray and his blue eyes bleary. He set down the cereal box by the sink, blinking at you adorably. You were trapped between his arms, frozen in place when he moved even closer.

“I told you to call me when you needed something from the top shelves,” his voice thick with sleep.

“Y-yes, but I was just -”

“Uh-uh, no buts.”

“Why is my cereal even on the top shelf?”

“I put it there ‘cause you left it lying around on the counter.”

You shrugged, realizing that he was just cleaning up after you. You turned away from him, taking note of how he still hadn’t taken his hands off the sink top. “Thank you, Satoru, but why are you insisting on this anyway?” you asked.

Instead of an answer, you felt a pair or arms snaking around your waist. Satoru then rested his chin on your shoulder.

“Satoru -”

His arms tightened around you possessively. “So I can be close to you every morning.”

~*~

My Dork

You lined up to order coffee at the counter. You were second in the queue, while third in line were a couple of freshmen girls, giggling and whispering amongst themselves as they glanced at one particular direction.

Following their line of vision, you saw that they were looking at the guy sitting at the corner table by the glass walls. He was softly smiling down at his phone, his silvery white locks falling over his eyes.

“Oh my god, look at those dimples!” one of the girls said, while the other said, “He’s so dreamy.”

You suppressed laughter when they caught you staring, too. They looked at you as if they were expecting your input so you said, “Yeah, Gojo Satoru’s gorgeous, isn’t he?”

They both nodded with bright goo-goo eyes, repeating his name. All that was missing was for them to drool.

“He’s a dork though,” you said with a fond smile, facing forward as it was your turn, but you didn’t miss the questioning looks on their faces. You finally placed your order and made your way to where Satoru was sitting.

“Looks like you made some friends,” he commented as you were sitting down.

You looked behind you and saw the shocked look on their faces. “I was just telling them what a dork you are.”

He pouted at you then. “You’re mean.”

“Well, baby, I’m just telling them the truth.”

“Do you really think I’m a dork?”

“Yeah.” You placed your hands on either of his cheeks, grinning as you gently squeezed. “My adorable dork.”

~*~

For Suguru

For some reason you cannot comprehend, Gojo Satoru always seems to make your blood boil. You thought it was natural since you were the polar opposite of each other. He’s popular among people, you weren’t. He’s a social butterfly, you abhorred humanity, well, slightly. He’s all smiles and happiness, radiating sunshine while you were quick-tempered and melancholic, surrounded with black miasma that made flowers wither on your path. You couldn’t be more different.

You only had one thing in common and that is your seemingly undying affection for Geto Suguru. The boy was all you cared about outside your family, but then Satoru came into the picture, all smiles and literally glowing. Your world turned upside down from that moment, but since it made Suguru happy, Satoru became a part of it all.

As time progressed, you both learned to tolerate one another especially after you argued in front of your common best friend that one time, realizing for the first time that you and Satoru opposed one another. Suguru decided to be Switzerland.

In truth, you didn’t really have reason to hate Satoru and honestly thought he did not really hate you either. For a while, you thought it was because you had competition where Suguru’s affection and attention were involved, but then you realized it was only because you were jealous of everything that the boy was, embodying everything that wasn’t you.

“That’s the third one!” you screamed at Satoru after popping the third balloon in a row. You were preparing for a surprise to celebrate Suguru’s birthday but he was just proving to be a hindrance despite being the one who initiated the idea.

He pouted, his lower lip jutting out. “Sorry…”

Ugh! He was adorable, too, you lamented in your mind.

You rolled your eyes, shaking your head and continued to stick the banner to the wall when you heard another pop, startling you. You paused, taking in a deep breath, about to say that three-word sentence you kept saying to him.

You quickly turned around. “You’re so anno -”

You were not able to say anything further as a pair of lips covered yours, your eyes becoming wide when you realized that Satoru was kissing you, his azure eyes drooping close as you blinked in disbelief.

The kiss only lasted for a few seconds but it was enough to make a train wreck out of your brain and an even bigger mess of your heart, stuttering in your chest in a weird staccato. “You…”

Satoru leaned his forehead against yours, his hands snaking around your waist as he pulled you closer. Just then, he opened his eyes to meet yours.

“I’m annoying, I know.” He sighed. “You don’t fail to remind me.”

You tried to step back but he wouldn’t let you. “L-let go, Satoru,” you stuttered.

He had a stubborn look about him as he shook his head in response. “Nope.”

“You’re so -”

Kiss.

“I didn’t even say it yet!” you protested, holding onto him as your knees turned to jelly.

A grin spread across his mouth. “Every time you say that, from now on, I’d have to shut you up.”

=======

GETO

Constant

Quiet laughter erupts in the silence of the empty street, your figures taking cover in the darkness that was only made less severe by a distant lamp post.

“You’re pure evil, Y/N,” Suguru whispered in between snickers, watching as you sloppily dipped a brush into a can of red paint, making the excess splatter on the floor and drip down the bumper of the rather pristine white sports car before you.

“I’ve never crossed anyone who didn’t deserve it,” you replied with a smirk as you painted two words on the hood: DICK FACE.

Your best friend was on the lookout as you carried out your revenge on your cheating boyfriend, by tomorrow, officially your ex. He didn’t know that you knew, and he sure as hell wouldn’t know what hit him.

“Hurry,” Suguru told you frantically.

You then poured the rest of paint on every other available surface of the car you could reach, relishing the prospect of the owner’s reaction the moment he finds out about the fate of his beloved ride.

You then turned to face Suguru, grinning as you bowed elaborately like a conductor after an orchestra concert.

“Let’s go,” you told him, taking him by the hand after discarding the now empty paint can on the well-kept rose bushes.

You both made a mad dash out of the property, but you let go of his hand in the middle of it, running ahead of him until your lungs hurt. You’ve kept your aplomb well until that time, and as opposed to how everyone thought you were made of stone, your eyes filled with tears, actually feeling hurt about the whole situation.

You stopped at a corner when you realized you’ve gone far enough and heard hurried footsteps behind you which slowed down as they got closer. You looked at Suguru who was panting, his raven locks which were on a half-up  falling over his face. Upon meeting his worried gaze, your eyes flooded with tears again. This time, you had no control over them.

“Come here.” He beckoned you over, meeting you halfway with that warm smile of his albeit a bit cynical. It was comforting being the only constant in your life.

You crashed against him, your face buried against his chest. “It fucking hurts,” you mumbled in between sobs.

He patted your head while his other arm held you close. You both stood there, cars and people passing you by but they all melted away in the warmth of the only person you trusted. In that moment you were glad you were with Suguru, feeling safe and sound although he couldn’t protect you from the pain of your shattered heart.

A low rumble emanated from his chest then as he chuckled without humor. “People come and go, I guess,” his arms tightened around you as if to emphasize his next words, “but you’ll always have me.”

~*~

Drunken Excuses

You made your way to the second room from the stairs, slowly and quietly pushing the door, or at least as quietly as you can in your drunken state. You didn’t turn on the lights, you were not confident you can find the switch anyway, so you just took your clothes off until you were just in a tank top and boxer shorts and finally fell into bed.

You could have sworn you heard someone groan beside you, but you couldn’t care less. You clung to that feeling of sleep starting to devour you, afraid that if you opened your eyes, your world would start spinning again so you screwed your eyes shut, and soon, you were dead to the world.

The next time you opened your eyes, it was almost daybreak. You were still dizzy, but not as you have been just hours ago. You, however, felt the bed you were laying on face-down shift, and you could have sworn you felt a pair of arms wrap themselves around your shoulder and the small of your back, gently easing you to your back.

In the seconds that followed, the cogs in your brain moved and you realized you made a bed out of someone, and when you finally came to full consciousness, you were confronted by the face of your older brother’s best friend merely centimeters from yours, slowly opening his eyes, faint dimples showing as he flashed you a lopsided smile. The action enhanced his features even in the semi-darkness, hot-wiring your already addled brain.

You wanted to bolt right out of bed, but his steady amber gaze held you there. “What are you doing here, Suguru?”

“I slept over,” he answered, grinning cheekily at you as he smoothed a hand over your back, his cold fingers brushing over the skin of your lower back since your shirt rode up. “What are you doing here?”

“This is my room.”

“No, sweetheart, this is the guest room.” His voice sounded so velvety, making you shiver visibly.

“Well shit…” You chuckled as you closed your eyes, willing the nausea away. “Give me a sec.”

You felt Suguru move closer to you, your foreheads touching as he wrapped his arms tighter around you. “I don’t mind.”

“Funnily enough, I don’t either.”

At that, he started nuzzling you on the cheek until your lips were mere millimeters away.

Then you thought of your brother. “But Satoru would.” You sat up, easing his arms off you gently, but then, the look of disappointment on his face made you stop.

He, too, sat up, his face inching closer towards you as if daring you to move farther from him, but you didn’t.

“I’m still drunk, right?”

Suguru snickered, nodding. “Pretty much.”

You leaned closer. “Good. At least I have an excuse.”

With that, he closed the distance between you, claiming your lips with his.

Okay...I have to get out of my SatoSugu funk for real.

© ORIGINAL WORK BY nanaminokanojo. CHARACTERS ARE INSPIRED BY GEGE AKUTAMI’S JUJUTSU KAISEN. [20231019]

PHOTO/IMAGE/GIF/FANART CREDITS TO THE RESPECTIVE OWNERS.

[ficzhub]

Well Then…

Chapter 1

X

"Is there any particular reason that you can't stand spending any time with me?" I ask finally after an excruciatingly awkward and silent dinner over Zoom. Wondering why my father just couldn't be bothered to see me. Not when I got into Nevermore, not when I got my first award for my art, not when Tyler and his shithead friends assaulted me and I was in the hospital with internal bleeding after they vandalized my mural, not when I and everyone else at school almost died last month because a psychopathic herbology teacher decided to reanimate her bigot pilgrim great-grand daddy.

"Please Xavier, can I be spared the dramatics? I've been very busy, you know this." He says, not even bothering to look up at the camera.

"Clearly, for the last ten years or so." I don't know what I did wrong. My older sisters got time with him.

"Enough with the snide commentary. If all you wanted to do on this call was chide me, this could've been done over text. At the very least that wouldn't have pushed back rehearsals." He whines

"What do you even need rehearsals for, oh Great and Talented Vincent Thorpe?"

"Talent isn't perfection. I hope you take that to heart, winning a handful of trinkets passed off as awards isn't enough to prove any kind of prowess at anything."

I can't help but roll my eyes at that. He wouldn't know what awards I have or haven't gotten, he's never seen them.

"Speaking of lack of prowess, your grandfather will be taking you back to school after the break is done in a few days." His voice coated in derision.

"What?"

"Your mother's father, not mine."

Well no shit, he's dead. "How come?"

"If this is another tirade about how it's traumatizing that I'm not holding your hand at all times-".

"Jesus dad, I just mean how come he's coming around? He hasn't been around much since Mom...you know." He cringed at the sentence, my mother is one of his father's least favorite subjects.

"Oh, I'm not sure. I didn't ask."

"Okay, thanks for letting me know."

"You're welcome. Now, I can't push back production anymore. Your report card was fine, you've been keeping your nose clean at school as far as I know and you ended up being some kind of hero last semester. Good on you for that, son. Anything else I should know about?" He asks uninterestedly

"Nope, you're pretty much caught up."

"Alright. I'll be putting some money in your account for school supplies and whatnot. Don't over do it, like last year..." he says still remembering how much I spent on Bianca "Make sure to call your grandfather and iron out your plans with him. Have a good night." He says and hangs up.

"Good night dad..." I say to a blank screen. I close my laptop and sigh. What did I expect?

I take my plate to the kitchen and clean it off to put in the dish washer. Staying alone at the manor always feels lonely. My father got us a maid but it feels so uncomfortable to have a strange woman washing my underwear and replacing my bedsheets or anything else for me. I'd rather just do it myself. She can busy herself sweeping and mopping or something, it's not like she pays me any mind.

I'll call Grandpa Ron tomorrow, I don't feel like talking to anyone. Well, there's one person, I haven't talked to her since my last day at school.

I can't even begin to wrap my head around what I should feel about Wednesday. Obviously she's not an easy person to deal with, she's selfish, manipulative and abrasive, but she's never pretended she's not. It's not like I didn't know to expect that. She's also brave, loyal and apparently fiercely protective. I don't wanna push my luck with her and make her feel suffocated, I wonder if the phone was too much. I send her a single text the day I got back home. Just a simple "See you when term starts." It hadn't marked at delivered, so either she never turned on the phone or she let it die. I wish I could go to therapy about all this but Wednesday's ex boyfriend killed her so, I'm shit outta luck with that. I haven't found another one near enough to school or home. I can't imagine I'd have an easy time building trust with them if I did anyway. New one might just die on me like the last.

That was crass.

Obviously Kinbott's murder wasn't about me, and her dying was senseless. Like that dick just wanted another body under his belt or Thornhill just felt like killing someone that day. Who knows, but I couldn't ignore that her death while tragic, really sucked for me.

I should just get my supplies and toke up. It's not like my dad would ever know and the help doesn't care one way or the other cause I don't leave a mess. I ran up to the studio and took my stuff out. The stash was still fresh from when I bought some with Ajax from some townie.

Keeping the puff in my lungs for as long as I can, I starts prepping my canvas...

This was a good idea. It had been a while since I'd let myself take a break from my own thoughts.

I painted Bianca. Her bright eyes and dark skin popping from each other. I still had so many unanswered questions about her. Seems minor compared to all the other things that have happened, but it's not nothing. I can't remember much right after meeting her. Getting coffee at the Weathervane before that asshole had gotten a job there and she was there too. We'd gotten the same coffee order and I accidentally grabbed hers. We'd cracked a few jokes with each other and exchanged numbers. Then suddenly I'm in a total fog and she's admitted into Nevermore. I'm paying for all her school supplies, and I don't remember offering, or her asking. Then I'm back to normal, we're chatting, she's joining clubs, making friends, we're bonding over our shared experience in neglectful or abusive parents, then I'm in a fog again and she's Ms.Popularity and we're Nevermore's Power Couple. When Divina told me what had happened after her and Bianca got into an argument, things cleared up. I didn't enjoy breaking up with her, I did care about her. I didn't wanna get her in trouble or kicked out of school either, it's not like she didn't deserve to be there. But I couldn't stand that I'd been manipulated for months. Am I really that bad of a judge of character? I mean, I had Tyler pegged right, but that one was hard to miss considering I'd tasted his shoe and one of his friends almost made my testicles reascend. I never really told Wednesday the whole truth, maybe if I had she'd have gotten it sooner. Violence isn't an issue to her, but bigotry never seemed her style. I partly blame myself for not being entirely honest with her all because I didn't wanna seem like a pussy. Maybe I deserved what happened. The beating, Wednesday ignoring me, the imprisonment, all of it. I could've prevented so much of it.

I'm spiraling. Maybe I should go to bed but painting was supposed to get this off my chest. This? What do I mean this? I wanna talk about a million things, there is no this. Shit maybe I can just text Wednesday's phone number. Kinbott's got disconnected so I get back that error message. Or worse, it could be reassigned to someone new, then I'm just traumadumping on some poor stranger who's probably got their own shit going on. What if they get confused and think they did something to me? What if they actually end up being someone I know that coincidentally got assigned the old number? They could trace back the texts to me if they already have my number. I'd never live it down. I know Wednesday clearly isn't using the phone, so no harm no foul.

W

"I'm so glad to hear that Wednesday!" My mother said emphatically, gently clapping her hands together.

"We knew you'd love it at Nevermore, Tormentita." Gomez brags "The flesh never falls far from the bone." as he continues his chess match with Thing.

"Yes well, it's not as if any other school in the country would admit me or be able to instruct me of anything new or useful to me. Why waste anyone's time." Not relishing in proving my parents right, I start walking up towards my bedroom.

"Darling, I suppose now would be as good a time as any to inform you of some new developments if you're set in returning." Mother says with my back to her.
Turning around I see her looking at my father.
"Mon cher, this is more your news than it is mine. You should tell Wednesday."

My father checkmates Thing and smirks "You almost had me old man. Next time."
Thing shrugs and hops off to reach his magazine.
Facing me he rubs his hands together "Do you remember your Aunt Dolores?" He asks

"Vaguely. She's not much older than me, but she was always busy with school."

"That's right, she's 25." My mother adds "She got her master's degree in phytology. Of course that was basically a formality, she's always known everything she'd ever need about plants."

"I still don't understand how she came to be. Mama Esmeralda and Papa Pancho must've been in their 50s when they had her, at the earliest." I ponder out loud.

"Oh both sides of your family have had abnormally long periods of fertility, Wednesday. Your Great-Grandmama Margaret, had my aunt Celia at 56 years old. Completely baffled the local doctor." Mother adds gleefully.

"Anyway, I bring this up because we've been notified that your Aunt Dolores will be joining you at Nevermore."

"How did that happen?"

"Well, as you know she had that big spat with my parents and ran off when she turned 15. She never really got to experience much time at that school, and despite everything she did love it so there. It was truly a pity I couldn't convince her to keep going there and not disappear on us. Fester tried to nab her and get her to see why they did what they did but to no avail."

"Understandable."

"We thought you'd feel that way." Mother smirks

"I meant more so how did she manage to get hired. They haven't even said they've gotten a new Headmaster or Mistress."

"The board would have to be riddled with complete fools if they pass up on Dolores, even despite her...muddled record." Mother says. She's always had an inexplicable soft spot for her little sister-in-law.

"What was their disagreement about anyway? I've never gotten a whole answer about that." I ask

"It would probably be best for you to ask her directly. We wouldn't want to speak for her." Father explains, shakily.

"Right then, what position will she be taking?" Noting how my father looked away and down when he said that

"The new herbology teacher. Oh, and your new house mother."

"Makes sense, the last one was an incompetent murderer. At least this time the teacher will be adequate. Thank you for letting me know. Will Pugsley be joining me as well?" Would be nice to practice my aim while still at school. He'd have a new selection of road signs to steal from.

"His grades aren't quite up to par, unfortunately." Mother grims "Rather like his Uncle Fester, brilliant but not booksmart."

"Pity. Will I be sent to school with Lurch, or will you two be dropping me off again?" I ask, waiting to turn around to finally get to the solitude of my bedroom.

"Actually Wednesday, you'll be carpooling with your aunt. She's bringing her own car so to not rely on buses and whatnot. She'll actually be fetching you a day or two earlier as she'll need to get situated."

"I thought she had an aversion to driving." I said, remembering how my father had tried to teach her to drive but my grandparents had already embittered her to the idea.

"She eventually got over it, not without struggle." My father winces "She got herself an old, red beetle and she's been using that little thing since she was 18. My parents were furious when they heard, of course I didn't let her know I'd told them. She wanted to be taken as dead to them."

"Can't wait to hear why from the source. When will she be coming?"

"Could you call Dolores about that, Darling? I have to see something about your brother and your father has a meeting to go to."

"A meeting? About what?" My father doesn't work really, not necessary for us.

"Some charity nonsense, I'm not entirely sure if I'm being honest. All I usually have to do is sign a check." My father explains, poorly.

"Fine, could I get her phone number?"

My mother scribbles down on a sheet her ten digits and sends me off. I'll finally have a use for Xavier's gift.

I shut my bedroom door and start looking for my cell phone, Thing has been using it to make a "TikTok" and "IG". I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes every time Enid would send him some asinine little video. I'm sure it's dead now as neither of us remembers to charge it. I find it in the dresser next to my bed, on 5% battery and 27 new text messages from Xavier.

******

I can hear her before I've even seen her. She came in her red Volkswagen Beetle, blaring music from its speakers. I'd hope she doesn't plan on maintaining that obnoxious volume, I can feel the migraine coming on already as she gets out to say hello.


"Wednesday, looking as malcontent and gorgeous as always." with her ever present smirk on her lips.
"Should I come in and say hey to the folks?"

"I'm sure they'd appreciate that, Mother hasn't stopped fawning about you since she knew you'd be my new teacher."

"Ugh, I've missed Tishy. I guess you'll wanna wait out here?"

"I'd prefer it."

"Here then," she hands me the keys, takes off her circular sunglasses and puts them on the neckline of her shirt "roll down the windows and do whatcha want. I'll be out in a few."

"Thank you, I'll be waiting. Thing will also be coming, just so you know."

"Aw, sweet. He owes me the story about the safe," She says, walking inside "besides I'll need me a few minutes to talk to Gomey and Morts about your new therapist situation."

My blood pressure rises immensely as a hear her last little blip.

"What are you referring to?"

She turns around to face me and looks more bemused by my expression than I'd like for her to be.


"What? Did you think that just because you saved the outcast population of New England from a bigoted zombie, his inept however many 'greats' granddaughter and your ex-boyfriend that everyone would forget you almost killed that normie kid from your last school? Law still applies to ya, dollface. Even heroes need therapy." She says, with her hands on her hips.

"This is waste of time. It's not like therapy did much the first time around, besides get the therapist killed by one of her patients." I feel my grip around the keys start pinching into my fingers

"And shockingly that patient wasn't you." She quips, smirk still on her face before it relaxes slightly "Jesus kid, you're acting like therapy is an actual punishment. Your talking out your thoughts with someone for an hour, get over it." As she turns around to walk inside and Lurch comes out to put my bags in her car.

She waltzes out just as chipper 20 minutes later

"C'mon, we're going from Princeton to Killington, Vermont, with any luck we'll make good time and get there by this afternoon."

"Five hours isn't so bad."

"I'm not generally fond of being extended company."

"Oh please, this little ride along could end up being a nice time for you." She says, getting in the car and starting it "Did you already say bye to everyone?"

"Yes, and I doubt it."

"Dude are you always this much of a downer? Get in."

I get settled inside "This whole happy-go-lucky thing you're doing isn't making you any happier."

"Is that so?" We take off into the path by my home leading to the main road into town.

"Yes. Happiness, or at least satisfaction in my experience is an equation: reality - high expectations. If you expect people to disappoint you, experiences to be subpar and life in general to not excite you very much, then you're never really disappointed." I finish matter of factly.

"Is that really happiness then? Or even satisfaction, as you say?"

"Sure. Can't miss what I never thought I had."

"Spidey, a lot of life is what you make it. If you go to a party, or say, a long car ride, with the expectation or intention to have a bad time then you'll just go, be moody and have in fact, a bad time." She counters, putting her glasses back on to shield herself from the sun coming off the rear view mirror.

"So I'm either right or pleasantly surprised? Sounds good to me."

"It's bad vibes." She says flatly

"It's realistic vibes."

"Expecting everything to be bad all the time also isn't realistic, Wen. There are so many reasons to be optimistic."

"Are you serious?" I ask, knowing some of her past.

"Yes! Life can be a wonderful thing, especially when you're the one in control of how you're living it."

"I can't agree, the natural state of things is chaos. Violence, war, rape, murder, abuse. Eventually we all end up ashes or worm food, the sooner we contend with that fact the better it helps me linger in the good times." I say, diddling the charm on my bracelet with Nero's stinger.

"Wens how often do you think about death?"

"All the time."

"Your family's? Your friends?"

"Sometimes, and it upsets me."

"Christ."

"Oh deliberately his. You can't deny that most things just don't work out."

"The magic of pessimism." She says sarcastically

"Almost everyone is mediocre at almost everything they do. All relationships we have will end, in death or in life. The only way to feel satiated and move on is to lower your expectations and not let it get to you. Optimism is stupid."

"But the stupid, optimistic conviction that things can and will get better by making it so is what makes positive change possible in the first place. If everyone walked around being almost certain that everything's going to shit then what's the point of trying?"

"Trying to what?"

"Trying. Period. Just trying at anything. Trying to be cleaner, trying to be smarter, trying to be faster. There would be no clear point and everyone would just settle and progress would stall."

I can't deny this.

"Spidey, I get that pessimism can feel safer."

"It's not my personal well-being I'm concerned about."

"Isn't it? When was the last time you had real hope about anything? Not deterministic persistence, not stubbornness, not pettiness and not settling because hey this is as good as it's gonna get let's hope it doesn't get worse. Real, deep hope about something. Or, someone."

"I don't like how often you're turning your head to give me sideways glance."

"Wednesday."

"Isn't hope just blind faith in a nicer tone?" I ask

"Yes. Can you answer the question?"

"...I suppose I'd hoped that Eugene would recover despite the odds of surviving an explosion not being great."

"Eugene is the little beekeeper friend you made last term, right?"

"The entomopathist, yes."

"Okay, I guess that's a good example."

"I'm not hopeless, I'm just selective in where I put my energy or hope."

"So with the Hyde thing. We're you betting that Xavier Thorpe was the Hyde or we're you hoping he was so you could say you're a good judge of character."

"I didn't really think it had much to do with anyone's character at all. When I was under the impression that Xavier was the monster, I thought he was doing it without knowing it. Or that he was doing it unwillingly."

"Guess it was an ugly surprise when you found out Galpin relished in it."

It bothers me how well she can gage me despite not having spent much time with me recently.

Most of the information she has must be second hand and yet she's reaching accurate conclusions.
We're obviously related, we look enough alike where it's clear by just looking.
Not exactly of course but she's small, only two inches taller than me and wears big shoes to compensate for it. Her hair also helps. A big, curly inch of her skull. But still, black hair, black eyes, and her skin is the color mine would be if my vitamin D deficiency didn't leave me with the grey cast palor I like now. A warm tan brown like Father.

"It was unsettling. Albeit certainly made my first kiss memorable."

"I'm sure. Mine was a shit show."

"What? Did the guy have braces and they got caught in yours?" I ask sarcastically, knowing her attempt as sympathizing won't measure up.

"No. His teeth were perfectly straight and white. He'd long past the age where braces would look acceptable."

"Couldn't have been that bad." I shrug off

"He forced it on me."

"...and I'm assuming you broke his teeth in retribution." I add

"Not even close. In the position I was in at the time it would've completely fucked my life up, I showed some disgust and that was enough for me to get a stern 'talking to' from my parents."

"This has something to do with why you ran off."

"Yeah. Well, this and a ton of other shit I don't wanna get into, no use dwelling on what's done." She mutters that last part.

"I'm never having kids."

"Pfft, me neither kid. Pregnancy and childbirth alone sound like a Lovecraftian nightmare."

"Hm...well when you phrase it like that..."

We spent most of the ride in relative silence, her music making so that it's not completely quiet but clearly neither of us felt like speaking. She let me control the music for a few hours and surprisingly, she introduced me to new music I actually enjoyed. Genres I'd written off and artists I'd misjudged. I found that I can enjoy some pop, like Shakira's older sound. My aunt is also obviously angrier than she'd like to seem, given how taken away she got by She Wants Revenge. We stopped once for a bathroom break and coffee at a small coffee shop in New Paltz ironically called The Bakery. As eye-roll inducing as the name is the coffee was good and the bathrooms were clean, so we couldn't complain much. She was nice enough to pay. "I'm your aunt and the adult" and other such nonsense being the excuse. Around half way through the ride I pick up my cell phone and text two people to let them know I'm coming. Enid, as we're still rooming together and I wanted to
make sure she kept her My Little Pony adjacent decor on her side, and Xavier. Might give him a chance to get his explanation clear about these messages. Altogether the ride went by much quicker than I expected. We'd headed out at 5:04 am that morning and got to the school at 9:50 am. Of course she drives like a mad woman constantly surpassing the speed limit, only pausing for a second at stop signs and hardly getting any red lights helps. Impressive that her car hasn't been totaled.

"So when are the rest of us meeting your aunt?" Enid asks over FaceTime while I unpack, I hadn't realized she wouldn't be at the school for another two days.

"The day you get here, I suppose. Unless you've other plans. I'd introduce you to her now on this call but she's in her room working on the lesson plan, I believe."

"Than to hang out with my bestie and her super cool aunt? Never. Well, except maybe spend some quality time with Ajax."

"Good to know he's still doing well with you."

"Total gentleman, no complaints here. He's been a little worried about Xavier though. I know he's a little moody, tortured artist persona and all. But during the break he barely communicated with Jax, or anyone else as far as I know."

As far as you know is a good way to phrase it, Enid. She doesn't need to know about his messages to me, I'm not even sure how to take them myself. The only thing he responded to me after my text was "Oh, cool."

"I let him know I was on my way here this morning, I didn't get a very enthusiastic responce from. Figured that was just his nature over text." Not even close

"Really? That's surprising. I thought if anyone could get more outta him it'd be you."

"Why's that?"

"No one believes you're that oblivious, Wednesday. His not-so-subtle crush on you? Maybe that's why?"

"Maybe the events last year sobered him up and he got over it."

"Or he's just depressed."

"Also possible. Not necessarily our business though, is it?"

"I mean, it kinda is. We're his friends and all, and most of us know what it's like to not have a whole hell of a lot of support at home. He needs to get it from somewhere." She clarifies

"Wasn't his father with him during this break?"

"Ha, yeah. I'm sure he was a whole lotta help." She says sarcastically

"Wasn't he? Xavier could've died last term." I point out

"Hm, I'm not sure that's all that important to the all too busy Vincent Thorpe."

"Well, that's mildly upsetting."

"Yeah, you could say that. I know he and I aren't close but I know what it's like to feel like the family you were born into isn't the one you're supposed to be in. At least sometimes." I can empathize with that. My parents are the epitome of present, supportive parents. Almost to a fault, that's what makes it strange. In my eyes, they border on intrusive sometimes, and lacking physical boundaries most times.

"I understand. Do you know if he's an only child?"

"Good question. I'll ask Ajax, I'm not sure. I know his mom wasn't his first wife so it's a possibility he's not. Well, I have my flight at 1:00 am tonight so I gotta get going. See ya in the morning, Bestie."

"Goodbye Enid, have a safe flight.”

<a href="https://archiveofourown.org/works/50759830"><strong>Well Then</strong></a> (69569 words) by <a href="https://archiveofourown.org/users/AliTerren"><strong>AliTerren</strong></a><br />Chapters: 13/20<br />Fandom: <a href="https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Wednesday%20(TV%202022)">Wednesday (TV 2022)</a><br />Rating: Explicit<br />Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings<br />Relationships: Wednesday Addams & Xavier Thorpe, Wednesday Addams/Xavier Thorpe, Xavier Thorpe & Wednesday Addams, Xavier Thorpe/Wednesday Addams, Xavier Thorpe/Original Female Character(s), Xavier Thorpe and Original Female Character(s), Wednesday Addams/Original Female Character(s), Tyler Galpin/Original Female Character(s), Wednesday Addams & Enid Sinclair, Ajax Petropolus/Enid Sinclair, Ajax Petropolus & Xavier Thorpe, Wednesday Addams & Original Female Character<br />Characters: Xavier Thorpe, Wednesday Addams, Enid Sinclair, Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Original Non-Human Character(s), Ajax Petropolus, Eugene Ottinger, Morticia Addams, Gomez Addams, Tyler Galpin, Donovan Galpin, Garrett Gates, Marilyn Thornhill | Laurel Gates, Vincent Thorpe<br />Additional Tags: Mildly Dubious Consent, Slow Burn, Slow Build, Friends to Lovers, Sexual Tension, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Unresolved Romantic Tension, Unresolved Emotional Tension, Wednesday is soft for Xavier, Xavier Thorpe is Whipped, POV Xavier Thorpe, POV Wednesday Addams, Possessive Behavior, Obsessive Behavior, Xavier Thorpe Needs a Hug, Xavier Thorpe switch, Jealous Wednesday Addams, Pining, Yearning, Lonely Xavier Thorpe, Smut, Eventual Smut, Fluff and Smut, Masturbation, Fantasizing, Prophetic Visions, Sharing a Bed, Sharing Clothes, Xavier Thorpe Has Daddy Issues, Xavier Thorpe has Mommy Issues, Xavier Thorpe has a praise kink, Discussion of sexual assault, Discussion of rape kits, succubi, Demonic Possession, Demonic Sacrifice, soul eating, Bisexual Wednesday Addams, Creepy Tyler Galpin, wet dreams, Our season 2, Subby Xavier Thorpe, Sub Xavier Thorpe<br />Summary: <p>New term has started, with it comes new people, new feelings and new duties. Let’s hope the unresolved doesn’t get in the way.</p><p>(This might be a part one, might make sequels. Also, take this as season 2 if you also miss having Xavier in the show.)</p>

[alaskan-wallflower]

Hiiii um, idk if this is in your rules, but could you maybe do hc with the gang meeting a male greaser who does makeup? Nothing crazy, but the dude wears eyeliner, smudged black eyeshadow, stuff like that. I love ur hc’s!!

Sure!! As for my rules (I really need to make a new pinned…….) it’s honestly just no ships, nothing that’s inherently wrong, no romantic stuff (on this blog at least, i plan on making an x reader blog tomorrow) so you’re all good! Also I appreciate the compliment! Thanks!

Ponyboy

Honestly Ponyboy would be a bit intrigued. I mean, he doesn’t often see greasers that wear makeup and aren’t girls. He doesn’t see a problem with it, but he may ask questions! He may come off as a little rude or sarcastic but he doesn’t mean it-he genuinely wants to know why you wear makeup! If you convince him maybe he’ll even let you show him how you do it. He genuinely is a sweet boy, just a bit curious!

Sodapop

I feel like Soda probably used some form of makeup at one point or another but he could never get it right. He likes experimenting with new things! So when he sees you he’s immediately like “WOAH” He, like Pony, asks a lot of questions, most of them being “can you do my eyes 🥺” (do it, he’ll live you forever)

Darry

Darry honestly doesn’t care. He doesn’t like getting into other people’s lives, so he doesn’t really bother. He was a bit surprised at first and maybe asked like “those your real lashes?” but if you wanted to talk to him about it I feel like he would try to listen. He wouldn’t really care-it’s not that he’s trying to be rude, it’s just how he is. He’s too busy in his own life to care what others do, so long as it isn’t hurting anyone!

Johnny

Johnny is like Pony too. Confused because he didn’t think greaser boys could go out with anything even remotely feminine without being jumped and mugged, so seeing you so confident makes him admire you a bit. He never talks to you, so you have to insinuate. Maybe he comes to you after a rough beating and asks you to cover his face with makeup so no one can see the marks (baby no :( ) but during the process he asks a lot of questions about the makeup and how you do it.

Dallas

Dally probably makes fun of you. Let’s be honest. He doesn’t really get things that are diffeeent. He’s probably vandalized your makeup before. But at the end of the day that’s just who he is. He will warn you to not go to the west side looking like that but when you do, he doesn’t stop you. God forbid you got mugged he’d be dragging you off and mumbling “I told you so”’s under his breath. Maybe he’ll buy (steal) you new makeup. But the chances are futile.

Two Bit

Two Bit is well acquainted with makeup thanks to his kid sister. He learned how to apply it himself because his sister used to beg him to help her put on “big girl makeup” and he wanted to practice on himself first. He himself looks amazing with eyeliner (musical!two bit would eat it up bffr) and if he sees another guy who can do makeup? You best believe he’s making a new friend. He maybe even brings you to his place so you can do his sisters makeup! He’s genuinely really supportive with it.

Steve

Steve doesn’t get it. He honest to god does not understand why you wish to wear makeup. But he doenst stop you. But he also doesn’t bother to hold in any snide remarks either (soda comes to your defense tho most of the time). Steve would probably ask questions about why you do it and what you like doing with it. In the end he may think it’s odd but he doesn’t really stop you. If it makes you happy, he’ll settle with being a bit of an asshole. But catch anyone else saying a nothing about you and his hands will be FLYING.

hope these are tood 🙏🙏 i didn’t really know what to do 😭

[muuurder]

I’m coming here after your gf’s propaganda, hi >:D

Could I ask about Modern AU (Gaalee)? *O*

(also while looking for your AO3 account in your carrd, I found out that the link is not working!! Just so you know è_é (there is just the “s” missing gbizeubguebgz))

Hehehehe You mayyy. Also thank you!! I'll be real honest I am pretty sure I have one fic on my AO3 Account.

Okay so this specific Au I have plans on writing a fic about but I do not have it written out just a loose plot with elements in my noggin.

But essentially it focuses on trans! Gaara raised in modern day with a conservative cop father.

After the death of his mother, things proved to get harder and his father began to dive deep into his work. Only time he's present is when he's home usually drinking. He's not exactly a good cop by any means. He has a temper and he has his stern beliefs and he quite literally hates his fucking kids, but he especially hates gaara who has always been tomboyish, always the reminder of his failures, and ever the stubborn mule even when he is trying to stay out of Rasa's way. Gaara was never one to listen, he always marched to the beat of his own drum anyways.

After a particularly nasty incident where Rasa went a little too far on the job, Rasa picked up the three kids moved them closer to the city (coughcough Konoha.) Gaara ended up getting involved with drugs, and between the dangerous mix of everything he becomes a spiralling mess as per usual, targeting anyone who breathes at him wrong or he percieves as a threat of sorts. On one ocassion, Our beloved Rock Lee (star track runner, i'm debating on making i'm former head of boy scouts or just a kid who goes to a dojo that Gai totally owns.) ends up getting involved for justice reasons (He's autistic your honor.) and it ends with Gaara beating him with a lead pipe. Obviously charges are pressed and Gaara is sent to a psychward and given community service instead of going to juvie (I do not know if this is even fucking possible tbh but I like it.) While Gaara is in the psychward ( I am so sure there is another reason why he got sent there but w/e I can't remember rn), His father dies in a shoot out with a notorious criminal in the area (wonder who that could be.) Leaving these kids slapped into foster care while things are figured out as Temari isn't old enough to care for her three brothers. Yashamaru works to get custody of these kids in time but in the meantime, it's rough and Gaara is picked up from the psychward not by family. He is picked up by a foster care agent (social worker???) and he is made to serve out his community service. There he meets Naruto, who is also doing customer service for vandalism and they do fight and Gaara forms a baby crush. There is alot that happens around here and then there is a time skip essentially where things change once Yashamaru gets custody of these kids and they find a new normal with a crusty white dog. Gaara gets a safe space to heal and explore who he is.

The plot really begins picking up down the line where essentially gaara post moving away from the city with yashamaru back in their home town, He decides to move back to pursue college. he wants to get into therapy to try to reach others like him and Naruto integrates him into his friend group (or tries rather Gaara is pretty stand offish even if kankuro and temari have done so easily) and Gaara keeps fucking running into Rock lee against his will. Lots of healing, lots of forced proximity for healing reasons. Slow burn. It's a very loose plot I'm still fleshing out. We may see nods to the Moss because I wish I was joking here, That fic altered my fucking brain chemistry. I am still figuring it out. I do know that the main relationships i plan on showing/mentioning are: Gaalee, kakagai ofc, shikatem, kankiba, the polycule themselves narusakusasu, nejiten, hinata is a lesbian idc, and so is ino also perhaps past sakuino I am really excited for this fic ngl but I want to like do everything justice so I don't want to publish till i finish rewatching naruto and refreshing everything so I can figure out what elements I want to bring in and the like. Ngl y'all can ask more about this fic I have thoughts of scenes that would be so cute. HEHEHEHEH THANK YOU FOR ASKING!!!

[silver-ink-iron-words]

T_T

This is so touching!

I was going to wait until tomorrow to post this. But then I was like, I've already made them wait long enough, and what's the harm of posting two things in one day?

Felt it'd be nice to have Part 6 be a little less plot-driven. You'll see what I mean

-------

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

QPR, Part 6

“[Hero], come on!” the villain called, from where they laid sprawled on the couch. “You said it wouldn’t take that long!”

“Hold on just a sec.” The hero’s voice floated from the kitchen. “They’ll be done soon.”

The villain scowled and flopped back on the pillows. “You never see Do-yun making Ha-rin wait around forever.”

“That’s because tv shows have this magical trick called the jump cut.” There was the sound of an oven door closing. “We'll just let them bake, and then they’ll be so good you won’t even remember the wait.”

The villain groaned.

Then they heard the sound of running water, and burst up, rushing into the kitchen. “Are you doing my dishes?!”

The hero jerked their head up like they’d been caught vandalizing. “I was just going to do a few while we waited.”

“Okay, one, you do not need to do my chores on k-drama night. And two, how long is the baking going to take?!”

The hero glanced to their phone on the counter. “’Bout fifty more minutes.”

The villain gaped. “That’s most of an episode!”

“Well I didn’t want us to have to pause the show during a big scene. This way we can – Jesus your hands are freezing!”

The villain had come up behind the hero to hug them, pressing their hands on the hero’s stomach.

“Come watch tv dear,” they said into the hero’s shoulder. “I’m cold without you.”

The hero shook their head, but also cracked a small grin. “You’re evil.”

The villain matched their expression and pressed their hands more. “Of course I am. It’s the only way I can get you to cuddle me.”

In the end, the brownies were, in fact, good enough to make the villain forget why they were annoyed in the first place.

---

“Oh my god,” the hero said.

The villain fidgeted. “Do you like it?”

“Like it?” The hero looked up. “[Villain], it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”

The hero was holding a small fluffy teddy bear, its fur the black, grey, white, and purple of the asexual flag.

The villain beamed. “Really?”

The hero nodded gleefully. “He needs a name.”

“I think the tag says its name is ‘Fuzzy’ or something. You could – ”

“Ferdinand,” the hero decided, assessing the stuffed animal. “Ferdinand Bearnsby. The next Prince of Denmark.”

The villain wrapped the hero in a hug. “I’m so glad you like it.”

---

“So is [Villain], like, a law-abiding citizen now?” the hero’s friend asked.

“Uh, sort of?” The hero gazed around at the restaurant’s outdoor seating area. “They still break minor laws, but I think they’ve really toned it down to stress me out less.”

“Hey, that’s great.”

The hero swirled their iced tea with their straw. “Yeah, I guess.”

The friend quirked an eyebrow. “You don’t agree?”

The hero sighed. “Okay, so don’t ever tell [Villain] this, but I think their ‘devil may care’ attitude is maybe, kinda . . . a little bit cool?”

The friend grinned. “Oh really?”

In return, the hero’s smile was sheepish. “It’s a little embarrassing to admit, but I secretly wish that they’d behave more like their old villainous self sometimes.”

“Hm, well I suppose that – ”

Something enormous crashed into the street, making all the dishes clatter. The hero and their friend both whipped their heads around to see the cause of the noise.

“[Villain]!”

“Oh hi [Hero]!” The fifty-foot tall mech waved at the two of them. “Fancy meeting you here. How did you know it was me?”

“[Villain], why are you in a giant robot?!”

“Isn’t it cool?” The villain spun around, their heavy feet cracking the pavement and the machine's hinges screeching with every movement. “I finally figured out how to get the power system working.”

“This is illegal.”

The villain laughed. “Ah okay, I see the issue. But, fear not my darling, for I have” – they pulled out a sheet of paper that looked miniscule in their enormous metal hands – “a permit!”

Soon after, the mech continued walking down the street, while the hero followed them, shouting at the top of their lungs.

The friend watched them go, and then chuckled. Those two maniacs were perfect for each other.

---

A-spec stories taglist:

@feline17ff , @piept , @doublericenobeans , @vioqueenofmushrooms , @pigeonwhumps , @thelazywitchphotographer , @taramacgay

[storiesfromafan]

Insecurities - Benny x Plus!Size Reader

A/N: I feel it was time I gave writing for a plus size reader a go. And Benny gives me the feeling he'd love a plus size girl 😅

Can say this was a small challenge. As when I write for a reader i usually lean for them to be smaller/thin. And i can honestly say I am a fat girly, who wishes I was how I described the plus size reader in this haha.

Hopefully this isn't too bad. I'm already working on a follow up, which will be steamy/smuty 😂😅

Also forgive if this feels like my other one-shots were the reader meets Benny 😅

Warning/s: reader is plus size, reader is down on themselves, low self-esteem(?), spelling/grammer mistakes

You’d always been treated differently due to your thicker build. As a teenager your frame was always different to the girls around you that were petite and slender, while you were curvier and stockier. Coming into womanhood you found you were thick, and not fat. With dresses you could blend in better, but jeans and slacks always showcased your wide hips, thick thighs but accentuated your smaller waist.

During your school days the boys, which is what they were, didn’t bat an eyelash at you. Opting for the smaller girls. With age, you found a fair number of men interested in you. But it never panned out. Either it was your own insecurities that held you back, or their insecurities arose, usually from their male friends making fun of you, or the guy for dating you.

Having moved to Chicago, you were lucky to find a place to live, becoming roommates with an interesting woman named Kathy. At first, you were unsure of her. As she seemed like a lot, but after weeding through her way of talking and her no beating around the bush approach, she grew on you. A week after moving in was when Vandals, men from a motorcycle club and their old ladies, started to hang out at her house.

Work had been stressful and disheartening, from the helping treat the sick and injured, to the few losses of life in the hospital. And knowing this, Kathy was persistent on taking you out tonight to Grand and Division. Not your typical haunt, but it was nice of her to include you. So with a little twist of your arm, you agreed to go with her. You looked forward to a few beers and being a wallflower, because rarely any man wanted you.

Arriving at the bar, you were greeted to the smell and sight of smoke floating around the bar. The space filled with bodies, but mostly men. Who seemed to notice Kathy and you, as you crossed the room to the tables at the back, you were surprised to have your behind slapped and grabbed. Of course Kathy said that was normal for these animals. She said to just ignore it as best you could. That was the worst they’d do, otherwise Johnny would have words with them. You figured this Johnny had to be high up or the head of the club.

Soon you both were joined by other Vandal women, which even brought you both beers. They were Betty, Gale and Debbie. They were warm in welcoming you, and had a blunt kindness to them. Just like how it had been with Kathy, you found them refreshing. A comfortable conversation surrounded the five of you. Each woman telling you an outrageous, yet true story. You were laughing and having a fun in no time with them.

You sat back, taking a moment to look around the bar as you took a sip from the bottle. The pool table caught your attention, and the group of men huddled around it in conversation and a game. You saw Benny for the first time standing with Cal, deep in conversation and taking a drag of his cigarette. His messy blonde locks catching every so often in the low light. He was pretty but rugged, like James Dean but with more facial hair. His muscular arms on display as the sleeves of his t-shirt were rolled up. He oozed sex appeal without trying.

It was stupid to stare at Mr Good-looking, but how couldn’t you? That was when you noticed the other women near him, doing exactly what you were doing, ogling at him. You didn’t stand a chance against most of them. They were thin and pretty. You couldn’t compete against them.

“Um, bathroom?” You asked, feeling the need to escape. Even for a few minutes.

Kathy gave you a look, which you just smiled at her, before she pointed towards the back. “Just past the bar, down the hall".

Nodding your head you got up and made your way to the women’s restroom. Once away from the people and majority of the noise, you took a few deep breathes. Settling your fast beating heart. Sometimes taking a moment is all you need to quiet your head. Looking over yourself, taking in the casual beehive do Kathy did for you. Paired with your light make up, you fixed your lipstick before straightening out the sleeveless button up shirt you were wearing. Along with dark jeans and flats, Kathy’s suggestion so that you’d fit in better. Though you wished you’d wore a dress, which would hide your body better.

But when Kathy said you looked perfect, you believed her. That woman always said the honest truth, even if it hurt. Exiting the restroom you straightened up before heading back to your table. You put on a smile as you took your seat. Questioning what you’d missed. Like those insecurities of yours never arose.

What you had missed was the moment Benny had seen you, walking back to your table. He was lining up his shot when you came into view. At first, he had seen your (colour) hair and beautiful face, before he noticed your body. Your curves were all he could look at. Your waist smaller which lead to your shapely hips and thick thighs. You had a womanly body that most men craved. And Benny was no different. When you smiled, he almost accidentally took his shot, but was able to stop himself. Fixing himself, Benny took the shot, sinking a ball and then moved to his next shot. All the while taking glances at you, the one he now had his sights on.

Benny had to play the game out. But he made sure to keep an eye on you. He watched how you drank your beer, how you laughed and smiled. You looked so sweet. But he chalked that up to this being your first time at Grand and Division. Kathy had told him about her roommate, that you were a nurse. How considerate and kind you were to her. As well as the ideal roommate. But not once did Kathy mention your heavenly body. The moment the game was over, Benny was off to introduce himself to you.

Kathy and Betty saw him before any of the other women. When he dropped into a backwards seat next to you, his arms crossing over the back of the seat, his stormy blue eyes were on you, and only you. And you were surprised to see Benny beside you. The way he smiled at you could have had you a gooey mess on the floor. But you kept it together, as best you could.

“Hey" came his gruff, deep voice. “I'm Benny".

You blinked a few times, trying to wrap your head around this gorgeous man sitting next to you and staring at you. “H-hi...”

The women around you all shared an amused look. Accompanied by a small laugh. “This is (Y/N), my roommate" Kathy informed for you.

Your face flushed as you turned to look at Kathy, who wore a smirk on her lips. She found your lack of words funny. As you generally never have an issue talking. But I guess put a good-looking man in front of you, and you are like the rest of the women who get tongue tied. Benny then noticed the other women, giving them a greeting. Yet his eyes landed back on you. He knew that the women around you knew why he was here. When he saw something, he liked, Benny would always come around.

Yet, you seemed nervous. And opting to look at the other women or your beer. Benny chalked it up to being shy. But really it was your self-doubt. Such as, why would Benny be interested in you? No man openly wants someone like you. Despite your attempts to not look at him, you kept taking little glances. Which Benny noticed, and would smile at. He even began to strike up a conversation with you, with the help of Kathy.

She had seen it coming. Kathy had seen the way Benny looked at you when he approached the table. And she was all for this pairing, so long as he didn’t hurt you. Kathy didn’t want to lose the best roommate she’s had, nor a dear friend who was like a sister. Plus she knew you needed someone. Benny could be that someone. He might look rough, but he had a good heart and cared about those close to him. You would be in safe hands.

“Wait" you piped up during Kathy telling you about Benny's recent run in with the law. “You’re the Benjamin Cross that caused the police chase through town!?” You were so surprised.

Benny smirked, “yeah".

You sat back in your chair, eyes locked with his. “Do you know how crazy that was? It was all the nurses were talking about for days!”

He chuckled. “Yeah”.

“Don’t be fooled by his bad boy nature" commented Kathy with a laugh. “Benny’s one of the good ones. He just can’t think right sometimes".

The other women laughed, but agreed he was a decent guy. Soon both Betty and Gale excused themselves, their partners were beckoning them over. And then Debbie left to see a few other girls nearby. Leaving just the three of you. With less people you felt more self-conscious. But you pushed through it. When you and Kathy had finished your beers, Benny offered to get the next round. Reluctantly leaving you to do so. As soon as he was gone you turned to Kathy with a worried face.

“What is he doing?” You quietly asked her.

She smiled. “What do ya think? He’s flirtin’ with you!”

You shook your head. “No, that can’t be. Men as good-looking as Benny, don’t go for women like me!”

Your roommate blinked, not believing the words that came out of your mouth. “Like you? (Y/N), you are gorgeous. Any man would be a lucky bustard to get you! And Benny, he knows what he likes. He will always go for it".

You didn’t believe her. How could you? Your track record said otherwise. You sighed. “Kathy, men might want me...but they don’t always want to be seen with me”.

Reaching over, Kathy squeezed your hand. “Trust me. Benny ain’t like the idiots you’ve dated. In fact, the Vandal men aren’t like those idiots. A man will always want to be seen with his woman, trust me".

With one final squeeze, Kathy withdrew her hand. While you were left with some hope, choosing to believe her. Even just a little bit. To be fair, when you entered the bar, you were groped and slapped on the behind, as well as the many looks you got. Maybe there was some truth to her words. These men were rough but they were just that; men. Sure many looked like they needed a good scrub, or had belly’s, they were a stark contrast to the squares and pretty boys you’ve dated.

Benny returned with beers, which he handed to both you and Kathy. You both thanked him, which he waved off. He sat next to you still, those blues of his still on you, while a thousand-watt smile crossed his full lips. The three of you continued to talk, many stories being told by Kathy of Benny and the Vandals. You were amused and laughed at some of the funnier and outrageous things that had happened. Benny defending parts of her stories. You could see their friendship in this moment, and it was nice. Being included felt good.

The night wore on, and the spark between you and Benny seemed to grow. He was so fixed on you, that you couldn’t believe how he ignored the other women around you both. Kathy’s words stuck with you, and you started to really believe in them. Benny moved his arm to rest on the back of your chair as he looked back to both Johnny and Brucie. It looked like they were silently communicating to each other, before he turned back to you with a smile.

“Looks like it’s time" he said with a bright smile.

“Time for what?” You questioned in confusion.

Benny didn’t say a word, just got up and went over to the two men. Leaving you even more confused, you looked to Kathy. She shrugged, not sure herself it seemed. Soon Vandals started to make their way out of the bar, women following with laughter and giddiness. That was when Kathy understood, she got up with her bag before telling you to follow.

“What’s going on Kathy?” You asked crossing the room.

She smiled. “They’re goin' on a ride".

You didn’t fully grasp her answer, but remained quiet and just followed. Exiting the bar you watched as the men took to their bikes, women getting on behind them. You saw Brucie and Gale get on his bike, they looked so comfortable and at ease. Then Johnny and Betty exited the bar, Benny along with them. Johnny looked to you and Kathy, saying something to Benny before leading Betty over to his bike. Benny then found you, watching you as he walked over.

He stopped before you, a small smile on his lips. “Come on sweetheart, let’s go for a ride".

Your heart skipped a beat at the nickname. Before reality sat in, and your insecurities came forth. You on the back of Benny's bike. You with him. You weren’t built to be on a bike. You stepped back from Benny, an awkward laugh leaving your lips while shaking your head.

“O-oh, that’s alright. I’m good” you managed to get out. “You should take Kathy. I’ll just get a cab home".

The smile dropped from his face, Benny's eyes drawing in on you. That was the first time he saw a flash of your self-doubt. And he didn’t like it. You had just as much right to be on the back of his bike, just like any woman. You were perfect in every way. Stepping forward, Benny grabbed your hand and began to pull you towards his bike, but you dug your feet down. Which stopped him. Kathy was doing everything to tell you to go, you’d be fine. But you weren’t sure of it.

Benny moved to stand before you again, never letting go of your hand. “What is it sweetheart? What’s stoppin' ya from riding with me?”

The way he looked at you, eyes honest and pleading. It almost had you tripping over your words, but you managed to quietly say, “wouldn’t I be too heavy for the bike? Wouldn’t I effect the ride?”

Benny couldn’t believe his ears. He figured you were self-conscious but this was more then he thought. Whoever did this to you deserved a serious beating, and he’d gladly put his hand up to do it. Squeezing your hand, Benny leant closer to you, never breaking eye contact.

“Sweetheart, hear me when I say this" he paused, making sure you were indeed listening. “You are perfect the way you are. Leave the bike to me, I want you and your arousing body on my bike. Up against me”. His tone was low and raspy, like Benny was holding himself back.

You blushed, your cheeks feeling warm at his blunt admission. Which no man had ever done before, not like Benny anyways. When you remained silent, he once more began to pull you towards his bike. And this time you let him lead you. Looking back you noticed Kathy wasn’t there, no doubt slipped away while you were caught up with Benny. You did eventually see her on the back of another Vandals bike, and she gave you a bright smile.

Upon reaching his bike, Benny let go of your hand before swinging his leg over the bike. He made quick work of starting it up, the roar of it coming to life made you jump, not expecting such a loud noise. Once ready, Benny looked to you, offering his hand. You hesitated a moment, before throwing caution and those damn insecurities to the wind. As soon as your hand touched his did Benny grasp it firmly, his way of saying he’s got you. You swung your leg over before resting behind him. There were cheers and hollering coming from around you. Other Vandals had been watching you both, enthusiastic about Benny's girl.

“Better wrap your arms around me, baby" Benny said with a gentle tone. “Don’t want nothin' happening to you".

Slowly you moved your hands to his waist, before sliding them around to rest against his toned stomach. Benny had to hold back the groan that rose in his throat. Just the feel of your hands against his clothed body was driving him crazy. He moved one of his hands back and grabbed your thigh firmly, he needed a moment to ground himself but he’s been wanting to do that all night. His touch seemed to relax you, and you moved closer. Front pressed against Benny's back. Which didn’t help him any more than before.

“You’ll be the death of me" he muttered to himself.

Pulling away from the curb, Benny followed Jonny with Brucie beside him. Gale shot you an enthusiastic smile and a chuckle. You only blushed more, even moving to press your face into Benny’s back. The denim of his colours rough against your face. But you still found yourself smiling. Picking up speed the group of bikes made their way through town, before hitting the expressway.

You pulled back when you entered the expressway. Looking around and behind you, you were amazed by all the Vandals and their bikes. The awe and amazement hit you in such a great way. The wind in your hair, and Benny's body, felt so good, so freeing. Riding around felt freeing. For it was something you never thought you’d do, and wouldn’t have done if Benny hadn’t been so determined.

The ride felt like forever. And you wouldn’t mind if it never ended. Enjoying the moments with the Vandals and Benny. How he took care of you. His gloved hand reaching back to grab your thigh from time to time, which only made your stomach flip. But it had to come to an end though. Separating from the group, Benny began the journey back to your house. The streets were quiet, the noise of his bike filling it nicely.

Pulling up out the front of your shared house, he cut the engine before putting down the kickstand. Of course he helped you off first, before following suit. Silently you looked at the other. You looked at him in curiosity, while Benny looked like he wanted pull you in close. But he was behaving himself, for now.

“W-well...thanks for that" you said breaking the silence. “And thanks for bringing me home...”

Looking down and then back up, a small smile on Benny’s face he said, “no problem sweetheart. With me, I’d always take care of you".

Your cheeks heated at the double meaning to those words. And the smirk to take over Benny’s face told you he knew it too. He stepped closer, moving some stray hairs from your face. His hand slipping to hold your chin gently. Then Benny leant in, his lips coming in contact with your own. His kiss was soft, closed lipped, just to get a taste. You of course were shocked and surprised, unsure what to do. Pulling back, Benny looked you into the eyes, silently hoping he could do that again.

You didn’t pull away or say a word, your eyes told him all he needed. Leaning back in, Benny’s lips collided with yours again. This time he pressed harder, hand moving to hold your neck. You closed your eyes, taking in this moment, the start of something. Benny’s free hand moved to your waist, pulling you closer. His tongue moving along your bottom lip. Without a thought in your brain, you opened your mouth. His tongue darting in, mapping out its new territory. Your tongues met, caressing the other, all the while Benny held onto you.

Finally he pulled back, you both breathing heavy while taking in oxygen. Slowly your eyes opened, brain trying to process what just happened, and why did it feel so good. Benny watched you, gaging your response to the kiss. His thumb caressing the skin of your neck, hoping to keep this soothed side of you. When you met his gaze, he could see this blank yet content look in your eyes. Which was better than panic or anger. One step closer to the bigger picture, you being his girl. And you would be his, he knew it. Even if he had to fight those insecurities of yours.

[fallingblueroses]

Part 8 of the Panic! story.

***

Kathy sat next to Geoff and waited with bated breath as the opthalmologist took the bandages off of Geoff's eyes. Geoff blinked at the light like he had yesterday, but this time the light didn't seem to hurt him. He looked around for Kathy and smiled when he saw her. "Hey, Kath. I can see your face now."

Kathy smiled back at him and squeezed his shoulder as the doctor examined Geoff's eyes. He'd been steadily getting better over the last day. His lung had reinflated yesterday afternoon and the chest tube had been removed. He still couldn't hear anything, but the ENT had told her that it could be several weeks before his ears healed. The infection was responding well to the antibiotics. If he continued to improve at this rate she could take him home in a couple of days. She'd have to drive him home since taking an airplane could make his lung collapse again, but she'd be glad to do it.

The doctor pulled back and nodded to Kathy. "Well, I think we can leave the bandages off for now. We'll keep going with the drops for today. I would advise keeping the lights dim and if he starts to feel pain in his eyes he should keep them closed until it goes away."

Kathy nodded. "All right." The opthalmologist excused himself and went off, and Kathy opened a note app on her phone and set the text to large before typing Can you read this? and showing the screen to Geoff. He read it and nodded, and Kathy typed out what the doctor had told her.

He smiled when he read it. "Okay."

She smiled back, but it faded as she typed again. They still haven't caught Tony.

Geoff sighed at that. "He's probably out of the country by now." A pause. "Where are we?"

Louisiana.

He frowned. "How long has it been?"

This is the third morning after. She picked her next words very carefully. The thought made her sick, but she had to know. Did he hurt you? Besides the obvious? A frown crossed Geoff's face, and Kathy typed again. When you woke up, you screamed "Don't touch me." Did Tony--She hesitated, then erased that last before typing What did he do to you?

His eyes widened as he got it. "Nothing. Nothing like that." Her doubt must have shown on her face, and he reached out and cupped her cheek. "I'm not going to lie for him. I remember him spreading some kind of gel on my face. I guess maybe he was trying to help the burns? And then he taped..." The energy drained from his face. "He taped my hands and feet. But that's all."

She smiled at him and held the hand on her cheek. She still had her doubts, but she was going to choose to believe him for now; she'd go crazy otherwise.

His voice broke into her thoughts. "Have you heard anything from the guys lately?"

She typed. They're all still recovering. Layne's arm and Earl's nose are broken. All of them had concussions. She paused and then typed Tony vandalized PattyCake. He did a lot of damage. Layne's taking it pretty hard.

Geoff nodded sadly as he read it. "...I wish I could talk to them."

Kathy frowned, understanding. It would probably be a relief for them to hear from Geoff too. She got an idea and sent a message to VoicePlay's group chat. Geoff's got his sight back. He can't hear yet but he's wanting to talk to you. Send pics too. She sent a similar message to Geoff's parents and waited.

The messages weren't long in coming. A picture of Layne and Cyndi. A text from J: Hey Geoff! Good to hear from you! A picture of Earl, his nose taped into shape, and one of Geoff's mother holding William. Kathy handed the phone to Geoff, then moved to where she could see the phone too. She watched his face more than the phone, and seeing how happy he was to text with his friends and parents made her heart feel a good deal lighter.

***

"Mr. Wakim?"

Tony awoke from a light doze and looked up at the white-coated doctor that came in. He slowly sat up. "...Yes?"

"I'm Dr. Paquet." The man sat down in the visitor's chair. "I'm from the psychiatry unit. I'd like to ask you a few questions."

Psychiatry? Right, the overdose. They were probably trying to figure out if he needed rehab or a therapist. "...Sure."

"Your ID says you're from Orlando, Florida?"

"Yes."

"What brings you out here?"

Well, you see, I tried to kill my friends and I'm running from the cops... He held back a bitter laugh. "Just a road trip."

The doctor didn't even look at him. "Your chart says you overdosed on Prism?"

Tony blinked. "Prism?"

"Mr. Wakim, playing dumb won't help you."

Paquet's tone scraped his nerves, and Tony had to take a deep breath and slowly release it to keep calm. "I don't know what those pills were. I bought them off the street. They were supposed to be painkillers."

Paquet finally looked up. "You didn't know what you were taking?"

"I get headaches. The doctor told me to take over the counter medicine for them. It didn't work, so I found a dealer and bought those pills. He said they were opioids."

Paquet looked at at Tony as if he were an idiot. "Next time ask your doctor for a prescription." Tony managed to keep from saying I did. "Prism is a fairly new thing. It's a hallucinogen mixed with a low-grade psychotic." Tony's eyes widened, and Paquet went on. "Unfortunately for you, it has a side effect of intensifying pain. How long have you been taking Prism?"

A pit formed in Tony's stomach as he tried to remember. "...A month. Maybe six weeks." Long enough for paranoia to set in. Long enough to find and buy a bomb. Long enough for him to shatter everything he'd worked for...all because he'd wanted the headaches to stop. And he'd given some of the pills to Geoff...hopefully Geoff had slept through the worst of it...

"Well, that's good for you. You'll suffer from withdrawal, but since you're not a long time user the symptoms shouldn't be as bad. You'll feel nauseous for a while, and you will have headaches. I'll order some Tylenol-3 and Zofran to help ease you through the withdrawal."

"...Thank you." He swallowed. "When can I get out of here?"

"If all goes well, tomorrow morning."

"All right." He'd have to find a way back to that hotel and get the truck, if it hadn't been towed away. He had his wallet since it had been in his pocket, but not his phone. Hopefully it was still at the hotel.

And then he'd have to decide where to go...

Paquet left, and Tony settled back on bed. His headache was at a dull ache, more of an annoyance than anything. The nurse eventually came with the medicines Paquet had ordered, and Tony swallowed them and lay down to wait. The pain in his head lessened, and then after some time went away.

He began to cry in relief. The pain would come back; he knew that, but he was grateful for even a brief respite.

Maybe now he could think.