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bettyfrommars · 5 months ago

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Ring of Fire

a biker!Steve au

Part 3: The Runaway

Masterlist

18+Only, adult themes, mention of an abusive relationship, mention of cheating (not on reader), mention of violence, alcohol consumption, yearning, reader uses she/they pronouns, it's the late 90's, but also time doesn't really exist in Hawkeye. Platonic Stobin Forever, biker!Hopper, and biker!Eddie. Reader has very specific skills and backstory that verges on OC.

Word Count: 5.4k Playlist

A/N: I was going to call this a very self-indulgent chapter, but they all are, lmao. This is my love letter to biker Steve and my yearning to go to one of Hopper's barbecues with the rest of the gang. There will be a future wlw relationship for Robin with a woman worthy of her love, and we'll see more of Wayne in the next part. Trying to decide if I should give biker Eddie someone too, but for now, we have this. I love those of you who have decided to join me in this world, truly. Also, the playlist is a work in progress, and if you stumble upon a song that makes you think of biker Steve, or this story in general, please let me know!

-----

Groaning as he rolled over in bed to face the green numbers on his digital alarm clock, Steve felt a strange satisfaction at the fact that he hadn't tossed and turned all night. Thumbing sleep from his eyes, he felt around the nightstand, and cursed under his breath to note that it was barely daybreak, and he was out of smokes. He knew the gas station would be open, and then immediately wondered if you would be there.

He tried to blink the thought away, desperate not to make thinking about you first thing in the morning a habit. Habits like that were hard for him to break once things inevitably went to shit.

On his back, he stared at the ceiling, recalling bits of a dream that were still floating behind his eyes. The images of the family he kept having were so vivid, he expected to roll over and hold the woman next to him and call her his wife, but that side of the bed had not been warm in years. He’d never had the urge to marry, and he certainly didn’t have any children. But when he slept? It was as if he lived a double life. Tears built on his lash line at the memory of one of the young girls holding his leg and calling him daddy, it made him shoot up into a sitting position with a jolt.

“Shake it off, Harrington,” he mumbled to himself.

Hissing at a sudden sharp pain in his knee, he made his way to the kitchen in his polka dot boxers, scratching his head with a yawn. Robin had been staying with him for a few months after her breakup, and it was the happiest he’d been in a while. There used to be dishes piled up in the sink, but now there was nothing but a single Chinese takeout container on the kitchen table and a pot on the stove with Velveeta cheese caked to the insides.

He’d thought about getting a smaller place or another roommate, but the rent Eddie was charging him was dirt cheap, and he’d surprised himself with how much he liked taking care of the yard and the domesticity of it all. He only wished he had someone to share it with.

The first thing he did was turn on the tiny 6-inch, countertop television near the toaster so that there could be some noise; the early morning silence was deafening, it made him uneasy. The only thing showing on all four channels was the news, announcing more rain over the weekend. One newscaster was talking about a rash of women disappearing around Hawkeye, but the murmuring was low, and he was busy searching around for the sustenance he needed to start his day.

He used the French press that was already there when he moved in to make coffee, and when he opened the fridge to get the milk, there was your dish of lasagna. Clear blue Pyrex dish staring him in the face, just one more reminder.

It made him feel warm for a second, as if you were also in the house somewhere. Like maybe you’d come around the corner and slip your arms around him from behind.

He pulled back the tin foil cover to be reminded that there was only a slice left in the corner since he’d been eating it for practically every meal the past three days.

He hadn’t set eyes on you in just as long, since the protection run with the Kings got pushed back a day and he had to cancel on his plans to pick you up and go for a ride.

It was all for the best, really. He wondered if it was too soon to show you what he had in mind.

But he promised he’d return the dish to you, and he needed cigarettes.

Was there a way to ask for your schedule without sounding like a stalker?

Eh, probably not.

The wall phone rang and he scratched his balls through his boxers on his way over to answer it. He’d shaved down there just to see what it would look like, but the new growth itched like a motherfucker. Even though it did make his dick look bigger, he’d decided to never get a sharp object so close to his sack ever again. Unless, maybe, you were into that sort of thing.

“Yeah? This ‘s Steve.”

It was Robin letting him know that she’d broken up with her live-in girlfriend yet again, and needed him to come and pick her up.

“You never should’ve gone and done that again, I told you,” he ran a rough hand down his face.

“I don’t need that from you right now,” she sniffed, speaking in a strained whisper. Her voice was raspy, and she hiccupped to hold back a sob.

This was the second time she’d tried to make things work with the newest one, Nicole or Nikelle or some shit. They’d decided to move in together a week after they met, and the last few months had been emotional turmoil. She hated her, she loved her, and then she hated her again.

Steve hoped that this time it stuck so that he could have his roommate back. He got busy doing the dishes and cleaning up, whistling while he worked.

“I’ll pull your sheets out of the closet,” he told her. “Be there to pick you up in twenty minutes.”

—---

“Your precious Steve is here,” Nic spat, pushing the curtain back to eye the truck pulling up to the curb. “I suppose you told him this was all my fault?”

“I haven’t told him anything,” Robin sighed, frowning into her bag, shoving her last few belongings in. “But I’m not the one who cheated again, am I?”

She swallowed, aching to explode, but not wanting to give her newly appointed ex the satisfaction of another tear or argument.

“Hey,” Nic took hold of her elbow, pinning her with an earnest look. Her complexion was olive, her thick black hair buzzed short, and the bright green of her irises had a long track record of melting Robin into submission. “You can’t hold that against me, you know I can’t help it.”

Robin scoffed, jerking out of her grasp . “You know, I can’t believe I fell for that a second time.”

Steve was halfway up the sidewalk when Robin shuffled out of the door wearing a backpack, and carrying too big duffle bags that had clothes spilling out of the open zippers.

“Get me out of here, “ she groaned, letting him take one of the bags from her to help.

He caught Nic’s stare through the kitchen window and she flipped him off. He mirrored the gesture with a wide, fake grin, hoping he’d never have to see her face again.

Robin slid the blue Pyrex dish over while she scooted in to throw her stuff behind the seat in the extended cab.

“What’s this?”

Steve got behind the wheel and gave a curious grunt as if he wasn’t sure. “That’s, um, you remember when she brought the lasagna.”

Robin’s tired, puffy eyes lit up for a second. “Interesting. You finally going to ask her out when you give it back?”

“Was thinking about it,” he put it in gear and peeled away, tires spitting gravel and dust. He pushed the sleeves of his flannel up. “There’s that party at Hopper’s place tonight.”

Robin sat ridgid, but her shoulders started to relax the further they got down the road. She rolled her eyes. “You’re going to invite her to a biker party as a first date? I’m sure you could do better. What about that Italian place?”

He agreed with the sentiment, but to be completely honest, he was nervous as shit to be alone with you. He didn’t get that way with everyone, but his heart fell out his ass with nerves every time he imagined what he’d say when he had you all to himself.

“I guess it’s not a bad idea,” she shrugged. “Casual, no pressure. Better than getting stuck on an awkward, uptight dinner date.”

“I really want to take her to the old Danvers place.”

Robin twisted in her seat to stare at his profile. “You sure she could handle that?”

“Dunno,” he got on the ramp to the freeway, rolling down his window as he went. “But I think she’s got secrets too.”

—-----

You stood behind the worn, yellowed countertop at work that morning selling smokes and gatorade and snacks for weary workers and travelers. A woman brought a batch of fresh sandwiches wrapped in cellophane and chocolate chip cookies every day, and they always sold out fast, so you set a turkey on wheat aside for later.

Earlier, you’d stood at the sink in your apartment with a razor in your hand, considering shaving all of the hair off of your head. Once the moment passed, you just stared at the blade for a long while, turning it over in your hand, wondering about its other uses.

A group of teenagers on their high school lunch break came through buying chips and beef jerky and soda to the tune of The Plimsouls singing A Million Miles Away, and while you were busy counting the loose change they paid with, you didn’t look up when the bell over the door chimed.

You were just closing the register after the last kid when your pyrex slid into view.

He thought about leaving it further down on the counter with a note for you to find later, but then he told himself to not act like a fourteen year old. Would you like to go on a date with me? Please check yes or no.

He had his wayfarer sunglasses on, showcasing the simplicity of a white Hanes tee, fresh pack of cigarettes rolled up in his sleeve like an old-time greaser, and worn jeans with a hole in one knee. The rolled up sleeve revealed more of the tattoo on his bicep; it looked like traditional Sailor Jerry ink, but you couldn’t tell what. He worked a piece of pink gum in his mouth, grinding it in his front teeth, but he didn’t say anything, he just moved the dish closer.

“Is this a robbery?” You adjusted your shirt, wondering if you looked okay.

He cocked an eyebrow high and held it there. “That’s right, put all the money in the dish and no one will get hurt.”

You gave a soft snort, tucking your chin to stifle a grin.

Pushing his sunglasses up into his hair to show that he had a clear sunburn line on his cheeks, he checked around the room as if it were illegal for the two of you to be talking. Scratching his chest with the LOVE hand you noticed the motor oil stained in the creases of his knuckles.

“So, um, if you’re free tonight and you get bored or something, there’s a party, at a place out near the lake,” he paused, trying to gauge the blank expression on your face. “I know the guy, he’s a friend of mine. Hopper, from the other night at the Blue Light. There will be plenty of booze, he’s got a pool. Burgers and shit. Just a few friends but I dunno, it might be fun.”

He closed his eyes for a beat, worried he was talking way too fast. He cupped his hands on the edge of the counter, exposing the muscles and veins on the underside of his forearms. “Unless you have plans or something. Thought I’d invite you cause you’re new in town and all, but if you’re busy, I get it.”

“I’m not busy,” you were quick to respond the second he gave you the chance. After he had to cancel the last time he wanted to take you somewhere, you wondered if he would ever try again. A grandfatherly gentleman came through the door and you greeted him while he shuffled over to the coffee station.

“Are you going?”

He made a fist and pounded the side of it lightly on the counter a few times. “Yeah, I was thinking about stopping by to check it out. If you want, you know, I could pick you up or something.”

Steve moved aside so that you could take the money for the older customer’s big styrofoam cup of cream and sugar coffee.

You put the quarters in the cash register with a metal clatter as you spoke. “I think I might take my own car,” your eyes flicked to him and then down again. “You know, just in case I hate it.”

“No, that's smart. I’lll take my own vehicle too, and then we can, you know, meet there.”

He heard how stupid the words were when they left his mouth, but it was too late. He took the pack of reds out of his sleeve and squashed it open to pluck out a smoke to put between his lips.

He didn’t light it, but he kept it pinned there, bobbing as he spoke. “You got a piece of paper?”

He took a pen from the collection at his elbow, and you ripped off a piece of cash register tape so that he could jot down the address to the place.

“It’s real easy. Once you get to the end of the road, go left, and it will be about a mile down on your right. Red mailbox, the house is tucked in the trees.” He straightened to look at what he’d written, and then bent down again to keep the pen going. “This is my number just in case.”

The side of your mouth jerked up in a smile while you watched his profile. “What time should I be there?”

He rolled the cigarette from one side of his mouth to the other and capped the pen. “Whenever. Around 6 or 7 if you wanna eat, but I’m sure the party will go on until late.”

“You can bring a friend if you want,” he added, praying you didn’t show up with another dude.

“I don’t have any friends,” you kept your eyes on the paper as you pulled it toward you, chuckling softly.

“That’s not true,” he turned away as he said it. “You’ve got me.”

—-------

You thought you were lost at one point, winding through the old highway through the cornfields, but the second you found the fork in the road, you knew exactly where you were. You hated that you’d spent almost two hours throwing clothes around your apartment trying to decide what to wear.

“He’s just some dude,” you mumbled to yourself, fixing your hair in the mirror. “It’s nothing to get all nervous about.”

You took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “It’s just a lame barbecue, nothing to get worked up about. He’s a friend from school, that’s all.”

But, was that all?

You had a blue and green stained glass bird hanging in one of the small windows, right above a trio of succulents in various planters, and you made sure to sprinkle a rare dose of water on them before you left.

You got all the way down to your car, realized you hated the shoes you had on, and went back up to change them. Donna eventually came out to ask you where you were going, not that it was any of her business.

“To a friend's house,” is what you appeased her with, feeling that it would be wrong to ignore your boss, even if she had no right to ask..

Hopper’s place was a brown and tan double wide surrounded with trees with an above ground pool out back, through the carport. The grill was back there too, and a bunch of friends downing beers in camp chairs. He’d gone over to the motel to invite Lorelei, but she was leaving on an out of town date with a regular that night, and a part of him wished he’d never known that. Now, he’d have to drink away how worried he’d be for her to make it home safe.

Or maybe he’d stay relatively sober, just in case she called.

He turned from the grill to catch his reflection in the living room window, rubbing a hand over the short beard there under the smoldering cigarette between his lips. He muttered out loud to himself that he needed to get a fucking haircut soon since it was long enough to tuck behind his ears.

“Sorry man,” Steve brushed by on his way around the house again.

“Hey Taz,” Hopper called after him, making Steve spin around, the heel of his Converse digging into the grass. “Why the hell are you so fidgety tonight? Have another beer, sit the fuck down. I’m gonna shove this burger down your throat in a minute.”

Steve raked a hand through his hair a few times, exhaling a ragged breath. This was only his third or fourth time going around front to see if he could get a view of your car coming down the road, but for some reason, Hopper was keeping track.

Steve wondered if it was wrong that he wanted to hug you when you showed up.

He moved his hand to the back of his neck, rubbing there. “I told you I got that friend that might be coming. Wanted to make sure she didn’t miss the turn.”

Hopper brought his attention back to the food, letting the ash from his smoke dust the front of his Magnum P.I. tropical shirt as he spoke. “What if she doesn’t show, what then?”

“Won’t matter to me,” Steve shrugged, hooking his thumbs into his belt loops. “I need to get the other cooler out of my truck anyway.”

He kept on his way before Hopper could say another word.

An hour, a burger, some potato salad, and several beers later, there was still no sign of you. A few people bobbed around in the pool as dusk bloomed on the horizon, while the rest settled in a circle around the campfire to the tune of Wild One by Thin Lizzy.

He was staring at the fire, thinking about getting up for a third beer, when he heard the distinct crunch of tires rolling up to the gravel of the driveway from the main road.

—----

You turned down the radio, taking a few calming breaths.

He’s just a stupid boy…you reminded yourself, pulling in near the red mailbox to park behind two Harley Davidson Fatboys. Steve’s truck was parked further up the road, away from the house, to give others more room to park, you assumed. Hopper drove a Bronco, as well as his Harley Softail, and there were two other vehicles you didn’t recognize.

Several tiki torches lined the way to the back of the home while the sunset blazed tangerine. You hadn’t even turned the engine off yet when you saw Steve appear at a slow jog, waving as if to assure you that you were at the right place.

Your heart tripped over itself at the sight of him, and you gave a quick glance to the rearview mirror to check your face. He waited for you to open the door and step one foot out before he asked if you needed a hand.

“I brought beer,” there was a 12 pack Schlitz on the front seat from the mini mart. A last minute choice since you’d forgotten to ask if you needed to bring anything. Steve stood holding the door open while you stretched over to grab it. He saw the way your shirt creeped up to show some skin on your hip, but then she quickly averted his eyes.

“Wasn’t sure you were gonna make it,” he took the case of beer from you as you stood. “Saved you some food if you’re hungry.”

Shouts and splashes echoed from the pool after it sounded like someone did a belly flop. Steve had on a nice, button down, grass green shirt with what looked like newer blue jeans. Had he just bought them that day? You liked the way the shirt was unbuttoned a few so that his messy patch of chest hair was on full display. That was the most “dressed up” you’d ever seen him.

“Think you might want to go for a swim?” He carried the case under his arm like it didn’t weigh a thing.

The question flustered you. “I didn’t bring a bathing suit.”

He smelled really good, not like strong cologne or anything but just clean and spicy and…soft. Like maybe you could bite into his flesh and honey would come out.

Most of the 12 or 14 other people at the party there were too tipsy and too busy deep in their own conversation to really care or notice when the two of you came around the corner. Hopper looked up from his chair across the fire, exhaling smoke from his cigar. It was a big, circular fire pit made of stone, and you had the feeling he made it himself.

There was an empty seat you assumed was Steve’s, and next to it was a younger kid with thick sideburns and a PROSPECT insignia on the back of his Coffin King’s leather.

Still holding the beer, Steve kicked the aluminum legs of the young man’s chair. “Get up.”

The guy snapped his head to see who it was and was quick to stand. You had your mouth open to protest taking someone else’s seat, but the guy was already off to find another one.

“I’m gonna go put these in the fridge,” Steve said. “You want beer or–?”

“Got any whiskey?” You could feel Hopper’s eyes on you.

“Coming right up,” he replied, squeezing your shoulder.

The whiskey tamed your nerves, and he handed you his cigarette for a few drags. He offered you one of your own, but you declined, citing that you didn’t want to get too comfortable with it. But really, you just liked sharing his; to hold it in your lips right after him, teasing the tip of your tongue across the filter. He introduced you to the ones around the fire, all members of the Coffin Kings, and a few of them had partners, or “old ladies” as they were affectionately called. You listened to the conversations buzzing around, and every once in a while, you’d find yourself chuckling at some story Steve told. What about the time he tried to steal a riding lawnmower from the hardware store, and four employees chased him through the parking lot?

“I was just a kid,” he leaned over to tell you so that you wouldn’t think it was something he did recently. “Barely sixteen I think. One of the guys dared me, and I never say no to those for some reason.”

“You never say no to a dare?”

He shook his head. “Nah, I figure if I’m not hurting anyone else, there’s nothing I won’t try once.”

You pondered that, wondering about the things you wouldn’t do if dared.

You must’ve shivered, or maybe it was just his intuition, but he motioned to his leather jacket on the backseat of the chair. “You cold? Wanna wear this?”

“No I’m fine, thank you,” but then, “maybe later.”

“What about you,” Hopper said over the tips of the flames, looking in your direction. “You got a story?”

For the first time all night, they all turned to you, expectantly, and your face began to sweat.

Steve’s hand found your knee. “You don’t have to,” he whispered.

You thought about the stories you had, and wondered if you should tell the truth or make one up.

“Um,” by then, the others had lost interest. Steve and Hopper were the only ones looking at you. “Well, I ran away from home once and joined the circus.”

Sparks popped in the fire, and Hopper tilted his head to squint curiously.

Steve went along with it. “Were you a dancer? Those women with the tassels on their—”

He was about to say nipples but stopped himself.

“I had a couple different jobs,” you took another sip. “I sold cotton candy at one of the kiosks, did tarot readings and fortune telling. The last job I had was as a magician’s assistant.”

“You serious?” Steve was fascinated. “You mean you’re, like, psychic or something?”

You rubbed your lips together, thumbing the rim of your beverage. “Not exactly, I’ve never been sure how it works, but I see things sometimes.”

“How old were you?” The woman with the bleached blonde hair next to you asked. She wore an American flag bikini top with tattered denim Daisy Dukes.

“Seventeen.”

Steve had his chin pinned to his shoulder, searching your face with deepening interest.

“That’s badass,” the Prospect that had once been in your chair said, but he was next to Hopper at that point. He had a full head of wavy hair, feathered off his face with some type of gel. come to find out, his name was Dino, as in short for Dinosaur. “I’ve always wanted to join the circus.”

The rest of them gave low chuckles, and one mumbled, “there’s still time.”

“Why did you run away from home?” Steve whispered it, wondering if maybe you might not want to answer that in front of everyone.

Dino went on to expand on what a good circus barker he’d be while you spoke only to Steve.

“I didn’t really have, you know, the best childhood,” you mumbled.

“Someone hurt you?” Just the thought made him upset.

You took another sip, and then raised your voice so the group could hear. “We had one of those big red and white tents, like in the movies. The Bearded Lady, Becky, she was one of the nicest people you’d ever meet. The lions were my favorite. The big one, his name was August, we’d go for walks together. I made friends with a trapeze artist, but one day she was up there doing a routine on the tightrope and she fell and there was a hole in the net. She went right through. Her name was Debbie.”

There was a hush, and then an older biker with a gray beard next to the blonde said, “that’s fucked up.”

“How long were you with the circus?” Dino asked.

“Only a few months,” you cleared your throat. “And then I was on the road for a while.”

“By yourself?” Steve’s voice was louder than he’d meant for it to be.

You gave him a soft smile and a shrug. “I’m always alone.”

What were the odds of two lonely fucks finding each other again the way you two had? Steve was grateful for Robin and Eddie, they were his only constants.

Robin had decided to stay home that night, to unpack some things and get her room situated again. Steve made sure she bolted the door and told her to use his gun if Nic tried to come around.

“She won’t,” Robin huffed, dumping the contents of her backpack onto the bed. “That would imply she actually gave a shit about me. She’ll have some new married woman from the bar in our bed by tonight, I’m sure of it.”

Back at the firepit, you got to your feet and Steve followed. “Could you tell me where, um, the bathroom is?”

The bathroom wallpaper was blue and white striped with ducks in bow ties on the trim, something you imagined was there before Hopper moved in. A mirrored medicine cabinet and a shower without a tub that had one of those frosted, glass front doors. Besides some mustache/beard trimmings near the sink, it was a tidy place, and smelled of cleaning supplies. You used the fairly new bar of green soap in the clear dish, and peeked around in the cabinet like any nosey person would.

Steve was lingering in the carpeted hallway to hand you a fresh beer. “Didn’t want you to get lost on the way back.”

There were photo collages in frames on the walls of what looked like Hopper’s extended family. In one, he had his arms hooked over the shoulders of Steve and an older man in their Coffin Kings kuttes. It might've been a decade old; Steve looked like a baby.

“How long have you and Hopper known each other?”

Steve let out a raspberry sound with his lips. “Who knows, forever. He’s been around since we were kids.”

He was just about to reach for the sliding door out to the back patio, when someone else pulled it open. Shirtless in his boxers, with a yellow beach towel wrapped around his waist, stood the person you knew to be Eddie Munson. Wet hair long over his shoulders with a handful of tattoos scattered over his torso, he was dripping wet, and in the middle of scowling about something you weren’t privy to.

“Hey man,” the two men bumped fists. His eyes darted back and forth between the two of you. “My beeper just went off, need to make a call real quick.”

Steve introduced you, praying to whatever god would listen that whatever Eddie had to do that night did not include needing his help.

You saw the metaphorical lightbulb of recognition brighten above Eddie’s head. “Oh shit yeah, I remember you. You punched Danny Rogers right in the jaw once on the playground. Dude went down hard.”

Steve seemed to beam with pride at that, exposing his gold canine, but you shifted nervously.

“I don’t like violence,” you admitted. “But he deserved it.”

Danny was one of those boys who liked to try and put his hand up girls shirts and make nasty rumors go around that one of them blew him in the supply closet. They were only kids, and you didn’t even know what “to blow” someone meant at the time.

Eddie shook his hair out like a dog. “Hey, I’ll catch you two out there in a minute, okay? Good to see you again, killer.”

It was dark enough that you could only see the shapes of the people in the pool, moonlight reflecting off the water, and felt the unmistakable weight of Steve leaning into you as you went through the door. He slid it closed once you stepped onto the concrete slab, and then you turned, not realizing how close he was, and accidentally bumping chests with him.

You didn’t move away, but you kept your head down until Steve put a finger under your chin to lift your gaze. The porch light was out, allowing you an extra veil of privacy from the party, and you snaked a hand up over his ribs.

“Are you gonna run away this time?” He mumbled, staring at your mouth, his lashes fluttering.

He didn't know about your dream but somehow, he did.

“I thought we were going together?”

He wondered if you could feel him shaking.

“I’m ready,” his mouth came down close enough to exchange oxygen with you. You shifted closer, pulling him in.

But then he abruptly cleared his throat and turned his head.

“Not like this,” he rumbled, glancing at the rest of the party.

“Not like what?” You sought his hand and intertwined your fingers.

He didn’t want to say out loud what he meant, that he wanted it to be special.

He was revealing himself to you, these things he’d been taught to hide, the ways he daydreamed about how well he could love you, if only you’d let him. If he could write for shit, he’d be one of those insufferable assholes scribbling out poetry in your honor.

He wasn’t like this with every woman he dated.

There was a special chemistry, something more spiritual than primal, that had only been activated in him a couple of times. The last one was a while back and she took all of his trust; he was sure he’d never lean into that feeling ever again.

Were the two of you dating? Is that what this was? Maybe the connection was all in his head and you were just going along for lack of things to do.

No, that wasn’t true. He could tell you wanted that kiss.

He should’ve taken the chance…

Shit

But then you held his hand all the way back to the firepit, and that was something.

----

Thank you for reading, I love you. Biker Steve will be back soon.

#biker!Steve #steve harrington #steve harrington fanfic #Ring of Fire #RoF #biker au #biker!Hopper #platonic Stobin #Stranger Things fanfic #steve harrington x reader

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ripplesoffate · 24 days ago

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LETS GO GAMBLING 🗣️🗣️💥!!

#ripples of fate #rof molten #rof scrapbaby #molten freddy #scrapbaby #fnaf #art #fnaf au #fanart #mod charlie #they are so stupid istg

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carly404error · 1 month ago

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Jeremy my beloved.

#I desperately need dark skin markers #I feel so little confidence using the regular ones #it makes me feel like it looks bad 😭😭#art #fnaf #fnaf fanart #fnaf au #ripples of fate #rof jeremy #jeremy fitzgerald #fnaf jeremy #fanart

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skyephobic · 11 months ago

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Good evening, I'm Aira Shiratori, the snow fairy of love! My job is to give the perfect advice to everyone that still hasn't decided on a present for their loved ones!

Let's do our best!

#ensemble stars #enstars #aira shiratori #tbhkstars #tbhkstars christmas #tbhk edit #original translation by rof #i edited the entire au.. but i don't wanna spam post so #“it's not christmas anymore” Who gaf #digital art

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carnation-damnation · 4 months ago

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Mirror my malady, transfer my tragedy

#rof au #<- BACK IN THE TRENCHES BABY!!!!#Renaicus Kingwelle #Nathanael Billeaud #Ruination of Faith #vampire oc #werewolf oc #werewolf to vampire and vampire to werewolf shenanigans...#art from the den #artists on tumblr

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thatbennybee · 9 months ago

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“I might not know what happiness feels like, but I know that it feels good to be your friend.”

I couldn't help myself!! I was writing this chapter and I felt obligated to show you what they were wearing for the party!! I think Branch totally pulls off pink :]

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cryptidblue1 · 2 years ago

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Reversal of Fate (It is Never Easy)

Title: Reversal of Fate (It is Never Easy)

Chapter: 1/??? ( Chapter List Post: Here )

Fandom: Hollow Knight

Chapter Character(s): The Pure Vessel/Sealed Vessel, mentions of Radiance, mentions of Ghost/Hollow Knight, mentions of Hornet

Chapter Warnings: Canon typical violence, gore, body horror, psychological torment, time shenanigans, Hollow (Sealed Vessel) is not having a good time and likely is not going to have a good time for a long while.

Chapter Summary: A cycle, a circle to not be broken until one or the other meets their end, or until another takes their place in this routine. Yet, unbroken circles repeat, and even one who is meant to be empty has wishes that may or may not be heard. For better or worse.

So, this may or may not ever be finished because oh god it's been ages since I did anything fandom related, but this idea would not leave my head after playing Limbus Company and reading the asks of @dairyfreenugget regarding their sixth knight AU and it made an idea go off in my head. Because the vessels are creations of three gods, and PV contained a fourth...what if this and the fact that they basically built their entire existence on saving people unlocked something in them.

Aka I'm torturing PV with being stuck in a timeloop until they figure out it is a timeloop they can control and then giving them the ability of Dante from Limbus Company to make things even worse/better.

Drip…Drip…Drip…Drip…

It was a constant almost hypnotic noise in the black and silence that was the egg. A black that remained, even with the harsh glow of infection as it spread and took root within the walls of the temple. Within them.

Drip…

It was a blackness that comforted them, even as it also cut deeply into old wounds when She would remember their existence and throw Herself at the confines of their mind and existence in shrieking rage and deep, deep hatred.

Drip…

Soothing and reminding of the only home that they could freely claim as home. The Void they had foolishly climbed out of in their curiosity and stubborn want to see what the light was that softly glowed above them and their siblings.

Drip…

What a fool they had been, they had known they would never be what the Pale King needed, what Hallownest needed. They had never been Pure. They had failed before they had begun, because they had wanted to please and that had been their greatest flaw. Nothing truly empty can ever want.

(Nothing empty can ever love, but was that such a horrible thing? To be alive and thus want what all that live want?)

Drip…

Existence in the egg was a cycle, a pattern, a routine…bone deep agony throbbing in time with the drip of infection leaking slowly and steadily from their own body, mixed with the crushing solitude and guilt of what they were failing at, breaking at. Then She would appear either a steady creep of orange tinting the inside of their mind until it was all they could see, or a rushing and crushing tide that buried and drowned them in Her anger and rage until they choked and sputtered on it. Only for Her to grow bored or find something else interesting outside of them, amidst the connection of infected that roamed the corpse of Hallownest.

SILENCE

Something cracked within them, the pain much like when their arm had burned and been pulled viciously from socket as the infection had clung and pulled like garlands on the walls when they had first slipped and She had rushed to push and shove Her influence into the world outside of the dark that was their existence. Yet they felt nothing give or fall, or felt the…amused satisfaction that She had given when She began to be able to break them both in dreams and in the physical. No, something else had happened and they had no clue what as images and sounds flooded in overwhelming in the silence that had suddenly overtaken. Amidst this was the feeling of being whole, but that was impossible. They had been brokenbrokenkilledSIBLINGRUNAWAY.

Silence

They dreamed in the dark, whole and still holding on to the facsimile of being a Pure Vessel. They dreamed of another so familiar and small. Of this tiny Ghost who had appeared and roamed the dying roads of this Kingdom they had failed to protect and in the end stumble on a way to them and they could not stop what She made them do, even in death their corpse was Her puppet and Ghost had fought and won and the chains had taken them and sealed them away with Her inside and they had SCREAMED.

Drip…

Ah, their mask was cracked again and they could feel the pain and pressure as the infection leaked and clung from the socket down their arm before creeping, pulling as it attached to a wall and yanked. The pop deafened by Her shriek of triumph as they felt the swell and flow of the infection seep and ooze somehow out of the egg and back into the minds and halls of the kingdom.

Drip…

Yet it was and wasn’t what they knew. They had felt this before hadn’t they? What of the dreams of a sibling? Oh, there was a sibling that escaped, a sibling that yet lives? Was this just a new dream of Her making? No, there was no triumphant over this new torture. No remarks or goading. What was it then?

Drip…

What was it then?

Drip…

The cycle repeated. Again, and again. Dark to Light to Dark to Light. Solitude to Pain to Solitude to Pain. Over and over.

Drip…

Over and Over.

Drip…

(The cycle reverses, yet the one it is meant to help is unaware. How long Hollow Knight, will you repeat your penance before you see?)

What?

SILENCE

A crack and images again, but different. They were whole and alone in the black of the egg once more. Yet the dreams were the same and yet different. The sibling the Ghost again, arriving and exploring and seemingly set on a path to open the temple. Yet it was different things were different while still the same and they were fighting dreams and they learned, and there was scarlet light flickering like flames in the shadows and tents of red and black in that little town above the well. They fought again and tried desperately to make their sibling fleefleelfee yet it did not end with their death and the sealing of their sibling. No, the gendered child, little Hornet, all grown and capable, had bound their infected fueled corpse and Ghost had done something and there was orangeorangorangeorange. She had died and they remembered helping void in the orange helping to hold Her still. Then they had shattered and faded, but were back here alone with Her in the dark.

Tick…Tock…Tick…Tock….Tick……Tock………….Tick………………….

Drip…

(What is it that you are truly wishing for? Deep in your heart that you would accept the pain of hell to see it come true?)

#Blue writes #Hollow Knight #some Limbus Company influences once we get going #Pure Vessel is not having a good time #fanfiction #Reversal of Fate AU #RoF AU

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hqmillioncorn · 7 months ago

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Never let this merciless world erase you!

'Why are you so determined to solve this case?" Someone had asked Tilika. It made sense for someone to ask. It didn't make sense for her to latch onto a case this hard, especially since it had only been a few months since she had joined. They probably assumed Tilika was just trying to prove herself by solving the first case she saw. That was a part of it, yes. The whole of it was her connection to the missing people. Her very own aunt and uncle.

Lalapril 4/26 Musical

Ai somnium files au! tilika and babycorn continue their journey on the mystery of where the hell babycorns parents went.

In the end Babycorn’s somnium provided the investigation with just the lead they needed.

As it turned out, just the night before her parents went missing she had seen them talking to a person she didn’t recognize. Babycorn had been half-asleep at the time which had the effect of making her memories a little muddy.

Neither Teteo or Tilika could tell who Babycorn’s parents were talking to, just like Babycorn didn’t. That was how it worked. Or they just had lousy luck.

While Tilika was a little frustrated they couldn’t see who it was, she was relieved at the same time. Babycorn had seen the entire conversation hiding behind the door to her room. She was taught not to approach any person she didn’t know. Which apparently could even happen inside of her own home.

Still, it wasn’t like hiding prevented Babycorn and Cherrypit from getting caught in this whole mess. They all were a part of it. And of course Tilika was worried about Aleria and Lalatov too. They were her aunt and uncle. Whether they left of their own volition or were taken, it didn’t matter. Tilika was going to find them safe and sound. She had to.

Inside the car, Tilika glanced at the backseat from the car mirror. Babycorn was sleeping, her head resting on her shoulder. Cherrypit was safe at a friend’s house but Babycorn was set on not sitting around and letting Tilika look for her parents all by herself. She had practically pushed herself into the investigation by force.

Tilika had her doubts of course, considering Babycorn’s age and the places they were going but there wasn’t much she could do after Babycorn threw a rock through her car window and crawled her way inside.

‘She’s rather tenacious isn’t she? Did she get that from her parents?’ Teteo asked.

“Pretty sure. She gets that from her mom.” From all the stories Tilika’s own mom had told her of her and Aleria growing up both of them had pretty much inherited each other’s hotheaded streak.

‘I see. Then with that information I’ll be glad to predict that Aleria and Lalatov are alive and well! Wherever they are!’

Tilika laughed to herself, “I’ll be sure to tell Babycorn you said that.”

‘No!’ Teteo panicked so much that she almost popped out of Tilika’s eye socket to yell at her, “You can’t let her know I exist remember?’

“I remember.” It’s not like Teteo ever let her forget.

‘I personally don’t think it’s fair that only one of us has to remember!’

“Hey Teteo? Are we almost there? How much longer?” Tilika asked, without any other ulterior motives.

‘Don’t just change the subject! Hmph!’ Despite Teteo’s annoyance she still calculated the time of arrival. ‘We should be there in abouuuut twelve minutes or so. Five if you decide to run every red light which I should advise against.”

“Then why even give me the idea in the first place?”

The destination in question was a theater located downtown. It wasn’t used for too many big shows lately, mostly being a place where theater majors from the local college were able to hold their rehearsals and the occasional class. Tilika personally had never been there but today was different.

Because while Babycorn had not clearly seen the person her parents talked to, there was some good news. Teteo noted that she still heard the entire conversation. She and Tilika were able to hear what the person sounded like.

Albeit the words coming out of their mouth were gibberish as Babycorn hadn’t understood a single word. But, they still had a voice. And Teteo was able to compare the voice until she found a match.

A retired actress, Priscilla Genesis.

Once a renowned performer she lived out her glory days performing all around the world. By all means she was lucky to be able to keep performing until she decided she was done. Nowadays she spent her time teaching acting classes, specifically at the theater where they were headed to.

Sure Tilika had heard of the actress, mostly from glancing at magazines at the supermarket check-out, but she couldn’t come up with any reason why the Starsingers would know her. Especially on a level where she would show up to their house in the middle of the night to talk to them.

The sound of a small yawn behind her interrupted her thoughts. For now Tilika decided to let Teteo take the wheel. “Babycorn? Did you sleep well?” Some of the medication they used for the psync machine must have still been affecting her. Hopefully that was the last of the side effects.

Babycorn rubbed her eyes, getting used to the light around her. “I’m fine.” She looked around, “Are we there yet?”

“No, not yet.” Tilika paused, “We’ll be there in like ten minutes though!”

“Oh. Okay.”

Babycorn rested her head on the window. Tilika guessed that she didn’t feel like talking. Who could really blame her? At the same time however, she wished there was something she could say to make Babycorn feel just a little better.

But it was a little too late for that.

The rest of the drive to the theater all Tilika could think about was; What if she had decided to visit the house that night? Would she have also been to stop whatever happened or would she have disappeared too? The only reason she hadn’t gone was because she had slept through Babycorn’s phone call.

That was probably another reason Babycorn was a little hostile towards her.

‘I wouldn’t think like that. What happened happened and now we’re here. It’s as simple as that.’

“If you say so…” But what if it hadn’t? What if things had gone just a little different? Was there somewhere out there where something completely different happened?

‘It’s not like parallel worlds exist Tilika.’

When they arrived at the theater Tilika had a surprising amount of trouble keeping Babycorn still.

The opulent look of the theater had excited Babycorn so much she almost took off running trying to see more of it. “Look! They got a popcorn machine!!” Babycorn yelled out. Sadly it wasn’t being used on that day but Babycorn was amazed by it all the same.

It made Tilika happy to see her cousin so excited about something again. ‘Teteo? Can you remind me to pass by a gas station to buy popcorn on the way back?’

‘Only if I can have some too!’

‘You don’t even eat!’

‘Caramel popcorn please!!’

As luck would have it Priscilla was at the theater that day but they would have to wait until they could question her, since her meeting was running a bit long. Her assistant had kindly offered them the chance to meet with her tomorrow but Tilika insisted on meeting her today.

‘You don’t think she’s trying to get rid of us? Is she?’

“If she is, we’re not gonna let her.” Time was quickly running out. Tilika wasn’t going to let another day just pass by without any progress. If her job wasn’t on the line she would have burst into that meeting room and dragged Priscilla out of there herself.

For now they were waiting for the meeting to end, which left them with a lot of free time to look around the theater.

‘What kind of person has a meeting at a theater? Seriously?’ Teteo commented.

Other than a few security guards and tourists there weren’t that many people around. Inside of the auditorium it was the same story, empty seats and empty aisles as far as the eye could see.

There wasn’t much any of them could do but wait until they could finally talk to Priscilla.

Unfortunately, it looked like the allure of the theater had run its course for Babycorn and she had once again returned to her familiar quiet nature of the past few days. There wasn’t much to do but think about her parents situation when there was nothing to do.

Tilika watched as Babycorn kicked her legs back and forth, she was sitting in a seat in the front row. Meanwhile, Tilika was just resting her back, leaning on the stage itself. ‘I wish my phone still had battery left. I could have let her play one of my games on there…’ Tilika thought to herself.

‘Don’t all those games have microtransactions?’ Teteo asked. She knew this very well as all of Tilika’s transactions had to go through her first. ‘If you let Babycorn loose in one of those games I’m sure she would spend at least one-hundred dollars.’

Tilika grimaced. Teteo wasn’t just making guesses. A few years ago during her mother’s nameday party Aleria had joked about how Babycorn had spent almost eighty-dollars while playing on her phone. Clearly there was a track record there.

But if gacha games wouldn’t help in this situation, what could?

Tilika decided to walk around a bit. That’s when she noticed that the staircase up to the stage was open and free for anyone to walk up there. ‘Rest assured, I’ve checked recent incidents at this theater and it seems that the stage is open access as long as there are no rehearsals scheduled.’ Teteo explained.

There was a playful glint in Tilika’s eye. That was all she needed to hear.

Her steps grew louder as she ran onto the stage. It was a pretty strange feeling, she had never done something like this before. There were those times she had sung in front of her parents with their karaoke machine but that paled in comparison to standing on a huge stage like this.

Babycorn still hadn’t noticed that Tilika had run up here.

Tilika cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled out a hearty, “Yooooohoooo~!” She surprised herself just how loud she had sounded. “Woah.” Hopefully she hadn’t scared anyone doing that. Or gotten them in trouble. Or a third thing.

Babycorn jumped from her seat and walked towards the stage. It was pretty obvious she was trying her hardest to look annoyed but she was really curious about what Tilika was up there for. “What are you doing? How’d you get up there?” She hopped up and down as high as she could to see if she could reach the stage like that.

When it was clear she couldn't, she stomped her foot down in frustration.

Tilika was about to go back down the stairs to lead Babycorn up to the stage when Babycorn’s voice stopped her.

“Are you supposed to be up there?”

“Well, no.” Tilika looked around, “But It’s okay I read the security guard’s mind and they said it was fine!”

“Y-You can’t read minds!” That had to be a lie! It just had to! Babycorn had been thinking of so many names to make fun of Tilika with, it would be a bummer if she knew them before Babycorn used them! “...Can you?”

‘I’d like to remind you that I actually can’t read minds. Choose your next words carefully.’

Tilika winked, “Guess we’ll find out”

‘I told you to choose carefully!!’

Babycorn had no idea what her cousin was going on about. “You’re weird…” Wasn’t Tilika supposed to be a grown-up or something? “If you go to jail I’m not gonna help you! And neither will Cherry!” Anyone would be lucky to have Cherrypit help chew their way to freedom.

Tilika walked down the steps to the stage and held her hand out to Babycorn. “I promise I’m not going to get us in trouble.” The two made their way up to the stage together. The steps were a little steep so Tilika made sure to hold onto Babycorn’s hand tightly. “I won’t let anything happen to you or Cherry. Promise.”

‘Teteo promises too.’

Teteo sniffled, ‘It’s true I do promiseee!’

Once Babycorn stepped foot on the stage her eyes became wide as she looked all around her. Her mouth was wide open as she kept walking forward, letting Tilika’s hand go. It looked so much bigger than it had from below.

Or maybe she was just small? It didn’t really matter.

Babycorn turned to face the empty seats in front. There were so many people. SO many that could be sitting there and watching her.

A memory in her head began to resurface.

When she was even smaller she used to perform for her mama and papa all the time. Whether it was singing, dancing or even pretending she was a weather reporter, Babycorn just loved doing it but only for her parents. That was until they got too busy to play with her anymore.

Before they started…

“Hey?” Tilika's voice cut through to Babycorn. When she looked up at her cousin she looked worried. “Babycorn are you okay?”

Why would she ask that? Babycorn raised her hands up to her face and felt something wet. In a stroke of horrible luck, she had been crying. She tried to wipe her tears away as fast as she could but it was too little too late. “I’m fine!” Babycorn shouted, crossing her arms and looking away.

Tilika decided to believe her, despite the clear evidence.

She walked forward and took a seat on the edge of the stage. “That lady sure is taking her sweet time, huh?”

“I think she should hurry up! We don’t have all day!” Babycorn huffed.

“You and me both…”

Tilika looked down at the empty seats and a thought crossed her mind. “You know, this place reminds me of the time I had to sing in a class performance when I was around your age.” Generously you could call it a performance but really it was just a bunch of kids seeing who could remember the words to the song they were assigned to sing.

A pair of small steps came up from behind Tilika. “Class performance? Do you mean like for mother’s day?” Babycorn asked.

“Oh yeah! That’s the one I was talking about!”

Babycorn groaned, the less she heard about that stupid event the better.

“When we sang it was our turn to sing, it was a total disaster!” Contrary to her words Tilika was laughing loudly, almost concerningly so. “I got really nervous in front of all those people that I started crying and ran all the way into the audience to find my mom! Of course I stopped crying once I found her but no one wanted to sing after I had just balled my eyes out.”

“Were they mad at you?” Babycorn got ready to hear the worst.

But the worst never came. Tilika smiled and shook her head, “No. I don’t think so and even if they were it doesn’t really matter to me. Bad moments are just that, moments. They don’t last forever.”

Babycorn silently sat down next to Tilika. “Good! Cause if those kids were mean to you I would have beat em’ up!” She gave the air in front of her a good ol’ two punch combo. “Like this! Shu-shu-ha!!”

‘Cute…’ Teteo wanted to cry.

“I don’t doubt that but I can take care of myself too you know.” Tilika pet her head, ruffling some of her hair up. “And I’m here to take care of you and Cherry too.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

At that exact moment Tilika had an idea and Teteo instantly agreed with her idea. Tilika jumped to her feet, her eyes shimmering. “How about this? Why don’t we do a little performance here together?” Tilika had a bunch of song lyrics in her head. Surely she knew at least one song that Babycorn also knew.

“R-Right here?!” Babycorn stood up and took several steps back. “C-C-Can we do s-something like that?!”

“There’s no rules saying we can’t.” Something Tilika knew thanks to Teteo’s quick search of the guidelines. “Come on it’ll be fun I promise!”

Babycorn believed her. It would probably be fun but…

“What if someone sees…?” Her stage fright had been the thing that ruined her mother’s day song in the first place.

Except instead of running towards her mother Babycorn had run off entirely, the entire event had to be canceled because she went missing. Everyone had told her it was okay but her classmates had all called her a baby for it. And they were right.

“Well then it’s perfect!” Tilika ran to the edge of the stage and turned back around with a twirl. “There’s no one here but you and me! So now is a better chance than any to go all out!” She ran back towards Babycorn and reached down for her hand. “I’ll be here with you no matter what you decide to do. So don’t feel like you have to do this. Okay?”

Babycorn nodded. “Okay…”

“Either way! If you don’t dance I’ll still put on a show for you!” Tilika did an incredibly outdated dance move that Babycorn didn’t recognize but she knew only old people danced like that. Even Teteo agreed that this was too much.

Babycorn burst out laughing. “Tili Tili stoooop! You’re so old!!”

She thought for a moment, looking out in the audience. Though a majority of the seats were empty her imagination managed to fill in two of them. Right there in the front row were her mama and papa, holding Cherrypit in their arms.

They cheered her on and told her to do her best.

Babycorn took a deep breath, and let it out.

“Okay! Start the music!”

#lalapril #lalapril 2024 #Tilika #Babycorn #Somnium Au #i should work on this document more its all in my head but i need to write it down #its ALMOST the actual games plot but moved a little to the right #and then back to the left #tilika is like barely in her mid 20's during this and babycorns 10 :) so shes actually not that old but to babycorn she is #then the 2nd part of the au is like 10 years later hehe lD #teteo is tilikas aiball and is based after actual rof tilika #when babycorn grows up she gets chelinka all while her actual name is Chelinka but its fine #oh yeah and her parents arent doing fine btw #sorry babycorn and cherry and tilika

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