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jtl-fics · 1 year ago

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Fluent Freshman - Part 29

“Neil, why do you have Smith’s phone?” Andrew asks as the two of them are setting out plates for lunch. Neil startled and looked down at the phone that he had just sat at the table and furrowed his brow.

“What do you mean? This is mine?” Neil asks. He knows his phone even if he’s not really the best with them.

The one that Andrew had given him his Freshman year had died after it got run over by the Maserati when Neil left it on the roof of the car by accident. The second one Andrew had gotten him had been destroyed in rather spectacular fashion earlier in the year when he’d had a bit of a freak out on January 19th. The team knew better than to text him on that particular day now but Andrew had said that he’d take custody of his phone this year. Wymack had stepped in with a phone that same day before Andrew could buy him a new one and that phone had been launched at the Baseball captain that summer.

All this to say, Neil is now looking at the phone in concern because it is highly likely he swapped his with FF’s.

“No it’s not.” Andrew sighs and points to a corner, “You cracked yours up here.” He opens the phone and then the contacts and sure enough Neil doesn’t see his own contacts but the ones that Nicky had programmed into FF’s the day before.

“Oh, I guess I switched them at the hospital.” He says with an embarrassed blush. Maybe he should get a little accessory to differentiate his phone from the other ones that Wymack has gotten.

There’s a slight commotion in the kitchen, “Kevin, stop trying to add vanilla protein powder to Smithy’s soup!” Nicky shouts.

“He needs protein to heal properly! That nutritionist might just feed him a loaf of bread since he is using an outdated model!” Kevin argues back.

“Kevin the doctor said clear soup also do you want to make Smiths sick? Vanilla protein powder and chicken broth?” Aaron asks disgust evident.

“I’d use unflavored but this is all that’s in the house and I am not going shopping until this weekend is over.” Kevin argues back.

“Smiths went out shopping on Black Friday and came back unscathed. He even went out into the worst of it just to get some groceries for baking and breakfast.” Aaron says with a huff.

“He still got stabbed!” Kevin returns.

“Kevin, he was definitely not grocery shopping when he got stabbed.” Nicky shoots back.

“He needs-“

“Przywiążę cię do krzesła.” Neil hears Smith’s Grandma cut Kevin off. Her tone is so sweet just like it has been the last couple times she has interrupted an argument between them all. She really has warmed up to them since Andrew confessed.

Nicky lets out a loud bark of laughter.

“Are you okay?” Aaron asks.

“Yeah, cutting onions make me laugh.” Nicky returns quickly.

Kevin walks out of the Kitchen with the same gooey expression he’s gotten every time Smith’s Grandma has said something sweet to him but considering how often and how hard Nicky laughs at what she says he wonders if she’s just sassing him in a sweet tone.

He really needs to pick up a phrase book.

He might like her even more if his theory is correct.

“It shouldn’t be a big problem.” Neil says but he is a bit more careful as he moves FF’s phone away from where it could get damaged. “Smith is definitely asleep. He looked really tired.” Neil says and it twists his own stomach to think about how FF looked in his hospital bed. FF wouldn’t take anything more than the bare minimum when it came to pain medication.

Each “I’m fine.” He gave had him coming to a deeper and deeper understanding of how frustrating it is to have someone who is CLEARLY not fine say they are.

“I’m more concerned about who might text you.” Andrew says.

Neil shrugs, “Ichirou is more the type to just show up.” Because it’s true. Every time he’s met Ichirou there had been very little warning.

Andrew frowns but then Nicky is coming out with lunch. It was nothing fancy but a home cooked meal always made Neil feel warm. Smith’s grandma had just been using what was in their pantry so far but the two other meals (and her pie) had been amazing.

“Lunch is ready. We’ll head back to the hospital afterwards to see when Smithy can get discharged.” Nicky says putting a large bowl of pasta in the center of the table. Aaron came out a moment later with the Parmesan shaker and the protein powder bottle.

“Here you go Kevin, add as much as you want to your own meal.” Aaron says in a sweet tone just like Smith’s Grandma.

“Eat shit Aaron.” Kevin scowls now knocked out of his gooey expression as fills his plate with pasta and reaches for the Parmesan.

Neil can’t help but let out a puff of laughter at the interaction and lets the worry of being away from his phone slide away. FF was sleeping, he was safe, and Ichirou had not expressed any interest in talking to him.

“Pass that to me when you’re done.” Neil asks pointing at the Parmesan as he fills his and Andrew’s plates.

***

There had been a plan.

Nathaniel Wesninski was supposed to be at this hospital at least according to his cell phone location. His future investment was not the best at keeping that device on him though so he was willing to wait when there were no signs of the Wesninski. There would, of course, be a cost for his patience. He had his men go seek out the uninvolved civilian. If Wesninski came back and found his friend threatened due to his lackadaisical nature with his phone perhaps he’d remember to keep it on him.

Except now that very uninvolved civilian is sitting in front of him. The ’Smith’ that Wesninski had spoken of.

He sees Wesninski’s phone sat on the table and his eyes go back to the young man in front of him. He wonders if this was some ploy by Wesninski, some statement. This young man in front of him took out one of the Butcher’s top men on his own.

He’d confirmed it when he’d gone to see Jackson earlier that day. He went to remind them what would happen if they tried to turn over anything to the Federal agents and to see how two of his biggest headaches had been taken out so suddenly.

Jackson talked about how Wesninski’s friend hadn’t seemed surprised to find him in the alley, had seemed like he had been expecting it and how swiftly he had been taken out. Wesninski’s guard dog had gone out afterwards and they’d lead Romero into a trap that resulted in his arrest and this civilian swearing up and down that Romero was the one that stabbed him even though Romero asserts that he never had a firm grip on the knife.

A great way to ensure he was held by the police while they were fully investigated. They wouldn’t have much time to investigate either of the Butcher’s remnants. Ichirou was only offering the choice between something painful or something easy.

The young man in front of him offered nothing, waiting for Ichirou to begin the talks. His expression clearly showing that he’d happily wait Ichirou out as if he was long used to tense silences. There is no doubt that this man in front of him knows exactly who he is but he still has the audacity to wait him out.

“Where is Wesninski?” He tightens his fist at having to ask first.

“That’s not Captain Neil’s last name anymore.” FF returns with the first hint of expression on his face being a frown.

The first piece of information given. So, loyal to Nathaniel and not to the Wesninski line. Loyal to Captain Neil.

“Captain Neil is getting lunch.” He answers, “I’m the only one here for you to talk to right now.” He adds after a moment putting his hands on the table.

Ichirou can understand what isn’t being said.

“Does, Josten, realize you’re here?” He asks taking care to use Wesninski’s new last name knowing he wouldn’t get his answers otherwise. He has a hard time imagining the man who was so loyal to his friends purposefully leaving this one to act as defense for him.

Wesninski had been very clear during his brief phone conversation with him, “Smith was just caught up in all of this. He’s not a threat to you Lord Moriyama.” He had said voice steady and without a hint of a lie.

“In the hospital? Of course.” He returns, “Down here talking to you? He’ll probably be upset.” he says after a moment.

“And yet, you’re here.” He says mirroring the man’s own relaxed posture.

Loyal but willing to do something that might displease the one he is loyal to if it would keep them safe. Ichirou stops himself from looking to his left where his most loyal man stood. Connor had stepped in front of threats he hadn’t seen coming plenty of times, had questioned him even when Ichirou had threatened to cut out his tongue for it, and had always had the courage to look Ichirou in the eye when he explained himself no matter how injured he was or how irate Ichirou was.

It’s something rare and it seems like it is something Wesninski has found unknowingly.

“Yes, I’m here to talk about Friday night.” He says, “I assume you’ve already spoken with Romero and Jackson.” He says moving the conversation away from Wesninski. Bringing Ichirou’s attention and possible ire to himself.

A truly rare find in his world.

“Yes, let’s talk about Friday night.” He agrees.

***

What was it about the Smith family and making great food?

It was just a simple combination of canned tomatoes, butter, pasta, onions, cheese, spices and garlic but it had Neil going for a third serving. Smith’s Grandma had really made enough to feed an army and when he’d commented Nicky had just reached over and tried to pinch his cheek fat only for his fingers to find little to grab onto, “You’re too thin! Eat more!” He exclaimed before repeating it to Smith’s Grandma in Polish who nodded earnestly.

Wymack was at the table after he took a shower. Kevin was still trying to convince Aaron of all people that he should be allowed to put protein powder into the clear soup that was simmering on the stove top for FF. The dietary restrictions someone faced while they were healing from stomach surgery was no joke.

The other Dealer had dropped despite Wymack and Neil’s best attempts to get Lisa to stay. Seemed determined to head back to her small town and rejoin the family cult she had escaped from. He’d been worried about her going home but she had insisted she’d be back.

It was unfortunate but it was also Lisa’s choice.

His stomach twists wondering if FF is going to go back to Washington with his Grandma when he gets released. There had barely been a whisper of danger from Neil’s past since Ichirou had put that bullet in Riko’s head and now one of his few friends that had been entirely uninvolved in that nightmare was in the hospital because of him.

Andrew elbows him.

Neil turns to look and Andrew is carefully putting a penne pasta on each prong of his fork, “I can hear you worrying.” He says in Russian.

“What if Smith leaves?” He responds back in the same language.

“He has the right to.” Andrew shrugs and shoves the pasta into his mouth.

“I don’t want him to.” Neil admits, FF is a friend. A good friend.

“He still can leave even if you don’t want him to.” Andrew says as he proceeds to once again put a penne pasta on each of his fork’s prongs. “I don’t think he will though.” He adds before shoving his fork into his mouth again.

Neil blinks, “Why?” He asks.

FF isn’t like how Neil was his Freshman year, he’s steady and sure but Neil wouldn’t blame the Freshman if ‘possibly being killed off by remnants of my Captain’s crime family’ is a step too far for FF. Wouldn’t blame FF if he runs.

“He still calls you Captain Neil.” He says reaching over and squeezing Neil’s knee with his hand.

Neil blinks.

He thinks.

FF laid out on the concrete as Andrew worked to stem the blood from his stab wound, “It’s a weird sex alley Captain Neil! I don’t know WHAT to tell you!” He exclaims ready to make a joke even as he’s bleeding because of a situation Neil’s existence put him in.

FF still floating from the initial large amount of pain medication he was on pulling on Neil’s sleeve, “I’m glad you’re okay Captain Neil.” Before falling back into his drugged sleep.

FF’s eyes softening as Neil offered to get a nurse to give him more pain medication, “Really Captain Neil, I’m fine.” He says.

He lays his own hand over Andrew’s.

“I guess he does.” He offers a small tentative smile.

“Eat your pasta Junkie.” Andrew says in English now.

“You’re too thin!” Nicky reminds him and Smith’s Grandma must have picked up on the terminology since she nods earnestly in agreement as the two of them were packing up leftovers and the soup Smith’s Grandma had made for him so they could head back to the hospital to keep FF company.

***

“Why did you go out into the alley?” Ichirou asks.

“Isn’t it better that I was in the alley?” The man across from him asks with a raised brow, as if Ichirou was asking a strange question. “If I had stayed in the club, who knows what would have happened or how many people would have been hurt.” He explains without Ichirou needing to lower himself to asking.

There’s truth to that.

It’s been on the news that the remaining Wesninski inner-circle had been captured but since there’d only been one injury it had been largely overshadowed by news regarding the mass injury incidents surrounding Black Friday. If Romero had started had gotten the general public involved this would be much harder for him to silence the ones involved.

Still…

“This has caused me quite a bit of trouble. It does not look good that I am not the one who found them.” He says because there’d been talks from some of the old men he had yet to rid himself of from his Father’s time. They had wanted the remaining Wesninski men to be brought back into the fold but there was little chance of that happening now. Ichirou planned on disposing them after showing that they were worthless and using it as an excuse to start removing some of the dead weight from his father’s time.

Ichirou was not a man who tolerated incompetence.

“Isn’t it better that they were taken into custody like this?” The man across from him asks, “They were some of the Butcher’s best from what Captain Neil has told me. The fact that it only resulted in me going to the hospital and they were taken out by Andrew and I is one of the better outcomes.” He says.

Ichirou pauses and considers it.

The two men that those relics had wanted for their ‘competence’ and ‘ability’ had been taken out in a way that showcased what Ichirou had thought of them. They were sloppy, they were over-confident, and worst of all they were incompetent.

“Before I forget.” Smith says and his hand goes to the bulge in his jacket pocket.

Ichirou can feel Conner tense behind him and he wonders where this had gone wrong or how the conversation had broken down but he doesn’t have long to wonder about it as Smith pulled something out that was unmistakable as a toy with it’s bright yellow coloring. Smith sets it on the table between them and Ichirou cannot help the confusion that must show on his face despite his many years of training to keep his face blank.

“What is that?” Conner asks sounding utterly bewildered behind him.

“I used this to temporarily blind Jackson during our fight. I figure it would be useful evidence for you.” Smith says.

He hears a bark of laughter to his right as Michael reaches for the toy.

Useful evidence indeed.

It would be easy to show this as a sign that those relics could hardly be trusted to have an opinion in how he ran his empire. Those men they so prized taken out by a children’s toy.

This has gone to his benefit.

“So it would seem.” He finally says, “I will make sure to reward your assistance.” He says wanting a stronger hold over the man in front of him, a tie of some sort to the Moriyama family.

Smith shakes his head in the negative. “I didn’t do anything noteworthy. Whatever it is should go to Captain Neil.” He argues.

Rare find indeed.

“It will be done.” He says and figures with the additional cash flow eliminating the search for the Wesninski men, the removal of his father’s hanger-ons, and the blood he can squeeze from the family Romero and Jackson had intended to go to ( a supposedly allied family) he could more than afford to drop what his three Exy investments owed him as a percent.

His eyes shift over to Smith across from him and finds that he was even more willing to lower those percentages if he could not only drop the dead weight of his father’s empire but perhaps gain someone useful. “Still, I like to reward those who have directly benefitted me. We will take care of any and all hospital fees related to this incident.” He looks to his right and Michael nods.

Smith’s face doesn’t give much away, his pokerface was quite exceptional.

“Thank you." He accepts and says nothing else so Ichirou decides to make his offer.

“I have heard that you are studying languages.” He says.

“I am.” Smith says.

“Which ones do you know?” He asks.

Smith blinks, surprised by the question, “Fluently? French, German, Spanish, Polish, Dutch, Italian, R-“ he pauses and shakes his head, “Recently, I’ve been studying Japanese, Chinese, and some Korean.” He says strangely stumbling over a word for the first time this entire conversation.

A useful skill.

“If you ever find yourself looking for work,” Ichirou snaps his fingers and Conner had a card in his hand in an instant, consider reaching out.” He says before he offers it with both hands and is pleased when Smith accepts it with a slight bow before taking it with both hands. “I see you are also studying the etiquette.” He adds.

Smith looks up from the business card and he looks paler but Ichirou chalks it up to the fact that bowing slightly with his current stomach status likely hurt far more than he had let on. “If you don’t know the etiquette you only know half of the language.” He says and Ichirou quite likes the sentiment.

“Tell Josten that I no longer need to speak with him. Our conversation was satisfactory.” Ichirou says as he rises to his feet.

“I will do that…Lord Moriyama.” Smith says bowing his head politely.

***

The sight of Ichirou Moriyama was always going to be one that made Neil nervous.

The only good thing about seeing him right now was that Kevin had gone with Coach and Aaron in a separate car so that the two of them could continue their argument about protein powder in FF’s soup and Andrew had snagged a spot up front while Coach would have to park farther back.

“Lord Moriyama, I did not expect to see you here.” He greets head down and he almost goes to his knees if it wouldn’t have attracted the sort of attention that Ichirou hated from the public. He just hopes that Andrew isn’t scowling and that Nicky and Smith’s Grandma can keep quiet.

“Perhaps if you kept your phone with you then my appearance would not be such a surprise.” Ichirou comments idly, “Though I suppose I did have a very beneficial conversation with Smith. Quite a bright young man you have as a friend.” He compliments and Neil’s head shoots up in surprise at it.

Ichirou had spoken with FF.

FF who was fading in and out of consciousness.

“I have faith that he will not reveal anything.” Ichirou adds and Neil clenches his fist and wants desperately to ask what happened. Wants to know what state he’s going to find his friend in. “I have not done anything to harm him, you are lucky to have a…friend like that.” Ichirou says as if physical damage was the only thing that Ichirou Moriyama was capable of.

“Yes Lord Moriyama, he is a very talented and skilled defenseman.” He says hoping that if nothing else Ichirou’s desire for Neil and Kevin’s future profitability would have him reconsider doing anything in the future to FF to ensure they would have good showings for the professional teams.

“Yes, he was quite talented in your defense.” Ichirou nods, “I will reach out with details of our new deal once some affairs have settled. Take care of your friend, Josten.” Ichirou says before continuing out of the hospital.

New Deal?

Neil banished the thought from his head. They needed to get up to FF’s room and he needed to make sure his friend was okay and find out what exactly had happened.

Andrew’s hand came to the back of his neck and squeezed, “Calm down.” Andrew ordered voice soothingly blank even if Neil could feel the way his grip stuttered. “Let’s go.”

***

The Nurses were saying something about ‘aggravating stitches’ and ‘lucky nothing tore’ but it was all white noise to FF as he continues to think about the business card burning a hole in his pocket.

Ichirou Moriyama.

He’d just had an entire conversation with Ichirou Moriyama.

His stomach was already hurting from his ill advised walk but the moment he’d seen that name on the business card he had accepted his insides had been pure acid. He missed his Pepto Bismol more than anything right now, what he would give for just a single hit of the sweet pink relief.

He couldn’t figure out what was worse.

The fact that he had given over EVIDENCE to the head of a Yakuza group (was it a yakuza group or was it a mafia group?).

The fact that he’d been right in his thoughts from the abyss that the man in the cafeteria looked like a Yakuza member (was it a Yakuza or Mafia?).

The fact that he’d just seen a Japanese guy and thought ‘Oh, must be the Japanese FBI guy I’m supposed to talk to’ which means he’d still been kind of racist.

The fact that he just realized that he had Captain Neil’s phone and not his own meaning that Ichirou had been telling Captain Neil to come to the cafeteria and FF just showed up like a dipshit trying to pitch their lie about the alley.

Finally there was the fact that Ichirou Moriyama had apparently been impressed enough to offer him a spot within his Yakuza group (Yakuza or Mafia?)

Would it be weird to ask during the interview process? Is there an interview process to join organized crime? Do they have benefits? Wait a crime family is paying for his hospital stay right now. This is too much.

He considers asking the nurse to yes please crank up the pain killers and just let him slip into a nice not embarrassing coma but then Captain Neil and Andrew were rushing into his room. “Smith!” Captain Neil exclaims.

Well, too late to ask for that coma.

MASTERPOST FOR ALL PARTS OF FLUENT FRESHMAN AU

@i-have-three-feelings @blep-23 @dreamerking27 @andreilsmyreligion @belodensetdust @rainbowpineapplebottle @yarn-ace @iwouldlikesometea @lily-s-world @obscureshipsandchips @booklover242 @whataboutmyfries @sahturnos @pluto-pepsi @dreamerthinker @passinhosdetartaruga @leftunknownheart @aro-manita-muscaria @hologramsaredead @Chaoticgremlinswishtheycouldbeme @tntwme @tayspots @nick-scar @crazy-fangirl2524 @blue-jos10 @stabbyfoxandrew @splishsplashyouropinionistrash @sammichly @the-broken-pen @bitchesdoweknowu @very-small-flower @ghostlyboiii @its-a-paxycab @bisexual-genderfluid-fan @cheesecookie @theoneandonlylostsock @foxsoulcourt @blueleys @adverbialstarlight @elia-nna @can-i-just-stay-in-the-corner @nikodiangel @foxandcrow-inatrenchcoat @hallucinatedjosten @satanic-foxhole-court @vexingcosmos @chalilodimun @insectsgetcooked @angry-kid-with-no-money @queer-crows @lillyndra @themundanemudperson @readertodeath @apileofpillows @mortalsbowbeforeme @hellomynameismoo @next-level-mess @youreonlylow @interstellarfig @notprocrastinatingatalltoday @percyjacksonfan3 @queenofcrazy27 @bsmr261 @ghostlyscares @spencellio @adinthedarkroom @harpymoth @sufferingjustalilbit @anxietymoss @oddgreyhound @ohno-myhyperfixation-itsbroken @ken22789 @atiredvampire @isoldescorner @not--a--pipedream @azure-wing @bushbees @roonilwazlib-main @crumplelush @foldedaces-paperbirds @thesenseinnonsense @let-tyrants-fear @ketchupandfries @legowerewolf @deadlydodos @but-we-respect-his-craft @cariniqe @zanypersonapricotbiscuit @lesbian-blackbeard @lesbiansupernatural @silvermasquerade @thepeachfuzz @minniemariex @kazoo-the-demjin @gaypomegranate @ji-nk-ies @neilimfinejosten @omgrubelangel @itsyouitsmeorpheuseurydice @percabethotplove @cozyrosykay @foxyatlas @theoneandonlylostsock @cindersapsecrets @scornedethnographer @hugemotherfuckingnerd @givemethedamnflowers

The requests to be added to the tag list keep being spread out across a few different areas. If I missed you please just ask again in the replies I promise I just missed you.

As stated before if you’re up here and I spelled it right but you didn’t get a notification there might be something switched around in your settings that won’t let me tag you properly?

If you didn’t get notified on the last part it’s probably because I used tumblr mobile to post and our most beloved garbage fire site just didn’t like that.

Polish in this chapter:

Przywiążę cię do krzesła = I will tie you to a chair

#Fluent Freshman AU #MAN that was a long one #Also just like having to build that misunderstanding took forever #I need a nap #which is to say that I'm going to bed since it's 2 AM #Not pictured is Michael pointing the McDonald's Happy Meal Toy at Conner and pulling the trigger #And Conner going Shit that's bright #And Michael now has to drive the car #The Moriyama men who were looking for Smith absolutely got a talking to #Like a man of THAT caliber got within spitting distance of Lord Moriyama? Unacceptable #Just be grateful he wanted to TALK.#Also not pictured is Kevin and Aaron continuing that argument in the car as Kevin tries to rope Aaron in #to making the perfect protein supplement for Smith's recovery #Kevin is thankfully so focused on this that he just flat out misses that they parked like four cars away from where Ichirou Moriyama is #Neil may Velcro his phone to him now.#Man can you imagine Neil having his Josten Jorts(tm) and he's added a velcro strip to all of them #Andrew just looking on like yeah I still think he's hot and sighing to himself #This is where you've laid your affections Andrew #DEAL WITH IT #Alright it's like 2:20 AM after doing the tags and @-ing everybody #AFTG #AFTG AU #AFTG OC #Andreil #FF - Pt. 29

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jadewritesficshere · 1 month ago

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What if for a moment

Steve Harrington x female!reader

Contains: drinking and being hungover, flirting, "unrequited" love (its not unrequited its just fear of change), female!reader wearing a bra, getting together, Steve calls reader "Honey", references reader (and Robin) stealing Steve's clothes.

18+ only

Your conscious slowly wakes up. Your head pounding, spinning even as you lay still. You inhale slowly, trying to steady yourself. Trying to remember what happened last night. The scent of Steve's cologne permeates your senses.

It's calming, albeit a little confusing. You start to open your eyes, but the light causes your head to hurt worse. You scrunch your eyes shut and shift in the bed. Moving causes you to notice the weight of something wrapped around your waist.

Your eyes snap open, Steve's sleeping face laid on the pillow next to yours. His arm wrapped around you, holding you close.

He looks so soft like this, so vulnerable. Hair messed up, sticking up in all directions. The subtle tension he holds in his eyebrows is gone, not a line of worry or stress on his face. His lips are slightly parted, soft exhales escaping along with a hint of drool.

You can feel your face warm. It takes everything in you not to fidget, you don't want to wake him up. You feel you shouldn't see him in such a state.

You've been friends for years, but waking up in bed like this? It's too much. Too...intimate.

You close your eyes, and for a moment, imagine this is normal.

What if those years ago, you didn't dismiss Steve asking you on a date because you thought it was a joke. What if at the last party, when you kissed, you didn't pretend nothing had happened the next day like you had the last five times it happened. What if you were honest about your feelings, your unfading love for him. What if you weren't afraid and took that leap?

You think it would be like this. Waking up wrapped in the embrace of your love. Soft smiles and kisses. You can see it clearly, you laughing as you push away, claiming you needed to brush your teeth. Steve would pull you closer and kiss all over your face. You would kiss back, brushing your teeth all but forgotten.

You'd make breakfast together. Hands reaching out and gently touching each other as you moved about the kitchen. He'd come up behind you, hands on your hips, pulling you into him. He'd gently sway with you to music, whether he hums a song or it's playing on the radio.

You'd giggle and turn so you could wrap your arms around him. You'd watch a smile spread across his face, corners of his eyes wrinkling from how wide he's smiling. Your eyes would dart down, you'd like your lips. You'd both be smiling, trying to purse your lips enough as you'd go to kiss-

"You're staring," Steve mumbles, snapping you out of your thoughts. He moves his hand off your waist and rubs his eyes. "Sorry," you whisper, feeling embarrassed at being caught.

"Don't be. I like it." Steve grins slightly at you before stretching," What time is it?". Your heart is beating faster- he likes it!- as you turn to look at the clock. You can't tell if he actually means it and is flirting or if he's just charismatic.

You told Robin that once. She stared at you for a full minute before calling you an idiot and walking away.

"It's almost ten," You sit up. The blanket tumbles down as you stretch your arms. You can hear Steve's sharp inhale. Your eyes snap to look at him. His mouth is slightly open, eyes wide, as he stares at your chest.

You look down, seeing your bright red bra. "Oh my god," you snatch the blanket up, covering yourself instantly. You hide your face behind the blanket, only your wide eyes visible. "Sorry!" You both exclaim in unison.

Steve clears his throat as his eyes dart off to the side, scratching at his cheek absently," You, uh, have nothing to be sorry for. It's a good color on you. You look good- great! Great just lovely-" Steve winces," I'm gonna stop talking now."

"Uh thanks...where's my shirt?" You ask softly. You like that Steve seems flustered, that he likes what he sees. But you also want to jump out the window and run down the street to get out of his sight. Yes, you've imagined him seeing you like this, but not in this context. This is just embarrassing.

"Uh...let me think," Steve's brow furrows as he frowns. "We were at a bar..."

"Celebrating Eddie's new job." You supply. You remember this clearly. Trying a fruity drink with Robin, doing shots as a group, getting your usual drink. It gets a bit fuzzy as the night goes on.

"Yeah yeah...did some shots, which damn i do not remember feeling this bad the day after." "Yeah, no, me neither."

Steve hums," There was a fight right?" "Oh yeah!" It's like watching a movie as the memory comes back. Two idiots at the bar started fighting, a glass getting thrown near you. Steve had pushed you behind him defensively. He was tense and ready to fight if need be, but you were more focused on how his ass popped in those jeans. You could not tell him that. But what happened next-

"Hopper showed up. He sighed real heavily when he saw us, cause we were drunker then a skunk." You chuckle slightly remembering his disapproving face.

Steve snaps his fingers and points at you," Yes! He took us home. Dropped Eddie off first, then Robin." You nod in agreement.

Steve pauses, looking at you as if he can see through the blanket you were hiding behind," Do you remember what happened in the car?" "No?!" Your voice comes out strangled, "Why, what happened?" Steve's face flushes and he looks away," Don't worry about it."

Then it hits you. You can see it all clearly. Like the last few times yall had drank together, you kissed Steve. Or Steve kissed you, you don't remember that part clearly. But you can remember his lips on yours. His hands running up your sides, you practically climbing on top of him. "Hey hey hey!" Hopper yelled. The slam of the brakes threw you off of Steve and against the front seats. "Don't you dare have sex in my car!"

You want to scream. Of course you kissed Steve, again, but in front of Hopper? With his disappointed angry dad vibes? You have to leave town and assume a fake identity, you can never face Hopper again.

"Well we made it home," Steve announces," And you said you were tired." You clear your throat. You had said that. Practically fell on your way up the stairs, Steve stumbling behind you trying to help.

"And we came in here and got in bed," you look around Steve's room and see your shirt crushed on the floor," I said I was hot and threw my shirt." "Yeah, and then you passed out. Not like actually passed out, you just said good night and went to sleep."

Steve gets out of bed, groaning slightly as his back and knees crack, mumbling something about "in my twenties...damn upside down.."

His feet make light sounds as he pads over to your shirt. When he bends to grab it you do NOT watch his ass. You don't dart your eyes to the ceiling as soon as he stands.

Steve tosses your shirt at you, hitting you in the face. "Get dressed, I'll make breakfast. If you want to wear something else, feel free to steal something." "It's not stealing if you give me permission." Steve scoffs," I'll never see it again, between you and Robin it's a wonder i have any clothes at all."

You hold your middle finger up at Steve's retreating form. The door shuts with a quiet click and you can hear him make his way down the stairs. You swing your legs out of the bed and slowly stand.

You pad over to his dresser. There are many things covering the top. A trophy from baseball, crumpled dollar bills and some loose change, a mini calender, and some folded clean clothes. You pick up the sweatshirt and watch as something flutters to the ground.

You look down at the picture looking up at you. Jonathan must have taken it at the last get together when you were drunk. Steve's arm is slung over your shoulders, he's staring down at you. You're leaning into him, arms wrapping around his middle. Your smile is wide. You look so happy to be there. And Steve looks at you with-

You inhale. Love. Adoration. The look on Steve's face.

You weren't looking into things. He wasn't just kissing you when you were drunk because he didn't want to make you sad or because he was horny. He was kissing you because he wanted to. He has been flirting. Robin was right, you were an idiot

You throw the sweatshirt on and practically run down the stairs. "Whoa, where's the fire?" Steve calls from the kitchen. You rush in, colliding with him as he's walking out. You almost fall, Steve's large hands grasping you to steady you. Your hands grasp his shoulders.

Steve's eyes dart all over your face. "What-"

"I remember. In the car." You blurt out. Steve's eyes widen slightly as he blinks at you. He licks his lips, your eyes focusing in on the movement,"You do?"

"I said I didn't cause I thought that you'd regret it. That you were just appeasing me. But you weren't, were you?" You bite your lip. Steve lifts a hand to rest on your cheek, thumb lightly pulling your lip out of your mouth, "I wasn't appeasing you, I wanted to kiss you."

"Yeah?" "Yeah, Honey." "Do you still want to?" Steve grins at your question. His thumb retreats from your lip, hand on your cheek holding you steady as he leans in. His lips are just millimeters away, you can feel the warmth of his breath. He pauses for a moment, as if to give you a chance to change your mind.

You surge forward kissing him. His lips are so soft against yours. Steve groans slightly as he deepens the kiss. Your arms wrap around his neck, hand finding his hair and carding through it. He yanks you closer to him, flush to his body.

You feel a jolt of energy down your spine, a warmth spreading throughout. You moan slightly, and Steve wastes no time. His tongue enters your mouth, brushing against yours.

You weren't expecting it but you melt into his touch. You press closer into him, gasping lightly. Steve groans into the kiss before pulling back to catch his breath. Your brain has turned to mush as you look at his slightly swollen lips and his face that's flushed.

You pant lightly as you look up at him," I'm sorry it took so long for me to say it." "I could have too, I'm sorry I didn't Honey. Thought you knew." Steve moves his thumb back and forth on your cheek. It's comforting but sends a thrill down your spine. You can feel his chest expand against yours with every inhale he takes. You can feel his hardness pressed against you, making you weak in the knees.

"You're staring again," Steve murmurs. "Sorry." "Don't be, I like it." Steve repeats. "I like you. A lot. Like like. I also like kissing you," you start to ramble but stop when Steve chuckles.

"I like kissing you too. You know what? All that time we spent apart just makes this so much sweeter. And uh if I knew at the end of the day, that by waiting I'd get to have you? I'd wait for eternity. Even if I could be with you for only one moment. Because one moment with you surpasses all the moments without. You're worth it."

You blink up at Steve as he looks away," Is...is that too much?" "No Steve. It's perfect, you're perfect for me." You kiss him lightly, heart beating fast. Because you don't want to miss this moment with him. As he said, one moment with him surpasses all without.

And you know without a shadow of a doubt that you love Steve. You always have and you always will.

#The fire alarm goes off and Steve jumps so high #He forgot about the breakfast he started cooking for you and felt real bad as you opened a window to let smoke out #He ends up just taking you to a diner where you get waffles and he gets pancakes which you both share to get “the best of both worlds”#Really you couldn't decide which you wanted but Steve was more then glad to share to make you happy #Even if he ordered the one he likes least it was worth it to see you smile at him #At work the next day Steve is all happy and sighing and smiling looking off into the distance and she's just standing there like okay spill #Robin is giddy because FINALLY but also because Nancy owes her ten bucks #steve harrington x reader #Steve Harrington/reader #Steve Harrington x you #Steve Harrington/you #steve harrington x female!reader #Jade is Talking #Stranger Things #This is the one that won the poll actually the best friend part really got cut except for one line so huh

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