#so here have a little nugget of a fic i guess??

[maruxee]

so.

I know we're all clamoring to see Knives get his ass kicked (by Vash) in the next ep - including myself. And we know it's not gonna end well for anybody. And I'd be nice if Knives actually realized the extent of the damage he caused his brother, y'know?. But good lord, what would that even take, to have him reach that point?

So with that in mind, I've started to imagine scenarios - not looking to be canon, but just in a "wouldn't it be fucked up if" "what if" sort of way.

like

What if -

(warning: major character death)

The portal flickers and threatens to collapse as soon as he gets in.

Nai notices just in time to get out before it closes. He is livid. Goes to Vash's blackened form, demanding to know what he's doing. Grabs him by the shirt and inky dust floats off, staining his hands. He shakes Vash, demands an explanation, and a crack spiderwebs across Vash's neck. By the time Nai notices through his haze of fury, pieces are crumbling in his fist, and he is shocked into silence before he screams. His brother's name in one long agonized wail that makes the glass panel rattle.

Rot.

It sticks to Nai's skin as he helplessly watches his brother dissolve. He can't hear himself, what he's saying, all he knows is that it hurts like losing a limb, begging like there's anything left to listen. He can't sense anything anymore, the body is empty, there's nothing there but void. He knocked down the pillars of Vash's mind to the point it collapsed onto itself, left it with nothing to fill up the black hole of self-loathing. And now it grows.

Anything he touches crumples even more. Vash is now an ink block melting in the water, staining it like an oil slick, spreading like a stormcould. The roots, attached to their sisters, spilling out the tank and into the city, they shrivel so violently they squeeze anything caught in their grasp. Flecks of rot fall off them to poison anything they touch. The ground and the walls rumble like an omen, an echo of a fall from long ago. The entire city of July in a chokehold, caught in Vash's death grip.

Yet all Nai can do is keep screaming at the pocket of void where his brother had been, blades creaking as the rot makes them rust. Through the static in his head, he hears noise from behind the glass, pounding fists and loud aggression.

He turns and sees a small young woman. Dark hair, dressed in white.

Another one.

Like that woman that his brother attacked him for.

Like Rem.

Through the plant-blue fluid and flurries of black dust in the tank, her eyes are bright with tears and fury. Through the ringing in his head, he can't hear her words, but he knows. His only thoughts are Vash's words.

"It's my fault?"

He screams and stabs himself to pieces.

[licorice-tea]

I Wish You Knew I Was Real

Pairing: Vinsmoke Sanji x reader

Content: strawhat! reader, fluff and feelings, confessions, midnight snacks (literally), mentions of WCI but no huge spoilers, reader has no specified gender

Word Count: 1.7k

A/N: first fic of the new year! i don’t usually write for sanji so i hope this isn’t ooc… anyway, enjoy! also lmk what you think bc idrk how i feel about this one 🤷‍♀️

It’s well past midnight when you sneak into the kitchen of the Thousand Sunny to fix yourself a snack. It wouldn’t really matter if you get caught, seeing as it’s your ship too, but you’d rather not wake up or bother your crewmates.

“Y/n?”

You pause your chopping to find the source of the voice, Sanji, standing in the doorway. He yawns behind his hand as he walks in, “It’s the middle of the night, what are you doing up here?”

“I just got hungry.” But as soon as he’s close enough to see your hands working on cutting up fruit, he seems appalled. “What’s wrong?”

In Sanji’s mind, you should never have to cook for yourself. At least, not when he’s there on the same ship. Not when he would always be so willing and ready to help you out; to use his skills to please you.

“Why didn’t you wake me up? You know I can do it for you, sweetheart-“

“That’s why I tried not to wake you up. You need to get your rest, but I guess I was too noisy, huh?”

Sanji shakes his head determinedly, then gently moves his left hand over yours to take the knife while also holding your waist with his right so that he can maneuver you away from the cutting board. You let him, and he explains, “I get plenty of rest; if you ever need something, y/n, you can come to me. Day or night.”

You hum in acceptance of his statement, and feel content with simply watching him cut the apple into slices from your place beside him. He finishes creating the perfect little slices quickly, then goes the extra mile by carving small triangles out of the peel of each. A smile grows on your lips as you realize they’re meant to look like little bunnies; and they do.

“Cute,” you muse quietly at his creation “Thank you, Sanji.”

The cook smiles to himself before looking over at you, “I thought you’d like them more this way.”

This makes you laugh before replying, “Like a kid who only eats dinosaur shaped nuggets?”

“No, no,” he chuckles as well, “but I know you have an appreciation for aesthetics. Besides, I was right wasn’t I? You think they’re cute, so that’s all that matters.” Sanji says while plating the bunny-apple slices.

You scoot closer, so that your sides are pressed against each other, in a futile attempt to reach across and grab the plate. But, Sanji stops you again with his gentle touch (he’s always so very soft with you, rather than overbearing and borderline obsessive. But, you’d like love him either way.)

His right hand stays on your wrist as his left reaches up into a cabinet to grab the honey jar. He makes a display of lifting a generous amount of honey using the honey dipper over your plate, and drizzling it over the apples. Enough to satisfy your sweet tooth, but not so much it will create a sticky mess.

“Perfect.” he gestures for you to go sit at the kitchen island, but you insist you can “carry the plate just fine.” To which Sanji replies, “I know, but I don’t mind. I like taking care of you like this.”

There’s a faint tinge of red on his cheeks, but you’d never mention it. Especially not when your own, not so platonic feelings for the cook seem to constantly be in the back of your mind these days.

You take a seat on one of the stools at the kitchen island, and Sanji presents your midnight snack with a flourish. “Enjoy, y/n.” He’s walks away to wash his hands, and you expect him to return to sit beside you, but then he walks toward the door.

“Sanji…” He pauses and looks back at you, “Do you want to stay?” You feel sort of awful asking, really, because he’s probably tired, but something inside you just can’t let him go.

And sure enough, his lips curve up into a smile. “I thought you’d never ask!”

He pulls out the stool next to yours and slides onto it, then rests his arm on the back of your seat. The proximity is not unwelcome- you felt it never could be when it came from him- but even if he was, he’s not invading your space. More so creating a kind of link between the two of you, and a feeling of closeness beyond the physical.

You take a bite of one of your apple slices, only to frown slightly when you pull the half eaten slice away from your mouth and realize you’ve destroyed the bunny. Sanji nearly laughs, for he has a similar empathetic disposition and knows how you feel, but then he notices something.

There’s a smidge of honey left behind on the corner of your mouth, which you have not taken notice of, because if you had you surely would’ve licked it up. Even the thought of that sight could make him act a fool, but he’ll try his best not to (just for you.)

“Look here.” he says in a near whisper, and you do. With no other words, he cups your chin and wipes the honey from your lips with his thumb. Your eyes go wide at the first action (when he touches your face to begin with), but they seem to soften when you realize what he’s doing. Sanji takes notice of this too, and just offers a smile. Because what else can he do?

He’s a flirt; he knows that, and so do you, and everyone else he’s ever met. So if he ever were to make a move on you, there’s no way you’d take him seriously. Then again, that’s why he tries to tone down his flirting with you in the first place. He can’t stand the thought of you being under the impression that you’re the same as every girl in the world is to him; because you’re not. You’re… special, in a way. He feels bad saying you’re his favorite of the many objects of his affections, because he has genuine love for so many people (you are though.) But, he can say with certainty that his feelings for you are the only serious ones. No matter how many women he tries to woo on all the adventures of the Straw Hats, he’ll always come back to you. Sanji will always choose you.

“Um, Sanji?” His hand is still on your jaw with his thumb on your bottom lip, so you pull it away with gentle force. “Sanji?” Hearing your sweet voice pulls him out of his stupor (the first time, he was concentrated on simply the sound of your voice.)

“Sorry, sweetness, I uh… Your pretty lips distracted me for a second~” Sanji purposely exaggerates his tone a little, so you just accept his reasoning with a giggle.

“Sure thing, Sanji.”

You eat your apple slices in comfortable silence for a bit, thinking of the aforementioned feelings you’ve been harboring for the chef since… Who knows- but you didn’t realize these feelings until you saw him for the first time after 2 years spent training apart. There had never been such a strong excitement in your voice as when you called his name that day, and he launched himself onto you in a tight hug. You had walked to the predetermined meeting place and entered the bar together, hand in hand. It felt so natural, too; like your hands were meant to fit together. Of course, you’d never voice these feelings, because if Sanji had feelings for you surely he’d tell you. Eventually, you hope. This brings about another question in your mind;

“Why do you like women? I mean, like, every woman we meet, even if she’s an enemy?”

He shrugs slightly, “At one point, the only people who were kind to me were women. Remember I told you about my mom and my sister?” During the Whole Cake Island experience, Sanji had in fact explained more about his relationships with his family members, and you recalled how his mother and sister were the only ones that showed him any sort of empathy.

“Mhm… That makes sense.” a moment of silence passes, as you’re a little nervous to ask this next question. “And why do you like me?”

The cook’s eyes widen like a deer in headlights, and he glances at you before concentrating on the surface of the island table. “I… I like this crew because you’re all my nakama. But…” It’s unusual to hear the typically very passionate man say something so quietly. You tilt your head as if to say, “Go on. I’m listening,” so he continues, “You’re important to me, y/n.”

“Good, you’re important to me, too.”

“Really?” Sanji seems a little shocked, “You know, I… I try not to be the way I am with women, with you, because I want you to take me seriously. I want you to know I mean it when I say nice things or do favors for you. I want you to know that it’s real.”

“I do take you seriously.”

Then, he takes a deep breath and puts both of his hands around one of yours, “And I want you to take my feelings for you seriously, when I confess them to you.”

“…Didn’t you just…?”

He grins and shakes his head, “No, y/n. When I confess the type of feelings I have for you and the extent of them, I’ll do it much more romantically than this.” Sanji looks positively giddy now, smiling and tightly (but not uncomfortably) holding your hand. “I just want you to know that what I feel for you is real.” And with that, he plants a chaste kiss on your cheek. It’s nothing like his occasionally vulgar and pg-13 methods of wooing women, but it makes your heart skip a beat. You’re sort of at a loss for words…

This time you’re the one pulled out of a daze by the other’s voice when he says, “Goodnight, y/n.”

“Oh, goodnight Sanji.” You smile at him, and he smiles back before nodding at you and leaving.

Even if that wasn’t a real confession, and maybe the timing wasn’t quite right, you were still biting back a smile as you rinsed off your plate and placed it in the dishwasher. But now you have a real confession to look forwards to, according to Sanji.

[fizziepopangel]

A Surprise For You, My Dear

* Author’s note: In this story, I’m going to interpret Alastor’s asexuality and aromanticism as more fluid than it seems to be canonically. Also, this is my first fanfic so please keep that in mind if it's shit... That being said, I hope you enjoy!

P.s. If you enjoy this fic, you can always request more with the Fic Request Form

Alastor. The radio demon. Everyone knew the radio demon, and though he had been gone for quite a while, most still feared him upon his return, but not me. Because he was different from me. Softer, kinder, more genuine. It wasn’t a relationship, at least I didn’t think it was, but I still enjoyed my time with Alastor; the dancing, the laughter we both shared, every moment left me in awe of the man that had come to be feared by so many.

“You gonna answer me or not?” Husk snapped, pulling me from my thoughts. 

I tried to cover my embarrassment that struck me when I realized that I hadn’t been listening to the old bartender at all despite having been the one that came and started conversing with the man. I sat up a little straighter and looked over at the bar cat. “Sorry, I… my mind was somewhere else. What did you say?”

Husk rolled his eyes. “I’m goin’ out with Angel tonight but that damn pig of his is sick. I think the little shit got into my whiskey when Angel brought him down here last night. Angel wants to know if you’ll watch him.” He takes a long sip of whiskey in his glass. “So you up for it?”

Although I loved Fat Nuggets and would usually jump at the chance to spend time with the sweet little pig, I shook my head. “Sorry, I have plans with Alastor.” I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. “Al said he has a surprise for me tonight…”

“Right.” Husk gives me an unimpressed look that seems to say something along the lines of fuck you without outright saying fuck you. “Your boyfriend and your date night.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.” I say awkwardly. “I mean.. I don’t think so…I mean, I… I just… I like him but its, it’s…” I sigh deeply, a heat rising in my cheeks. “Shut up, Husk.”

 “Whatever.” Husk says in his usual empty sarcastic tone. “Guess Angel and me’ll just stay in with the pig tonight…” I watch as he turns, grabbing a glass and beginning to polish it with a rag that ironically  didn’t all that clean.

“Oh… sorry, Husk…” I mumble awkwardly, suddenly feeling a bit like a dick for essentially denying the couple a night out. I knew they both deserved it but I just couldn’t bring myself to say that I would cancel on Alastor when he made the night out seem so special. “I…” I trail off for a moment, feeling the other demon’s judging eyes despite his back still being turned to me as he continues to polish glasses on the shelf behind the bar. “I’m gonna go get ready to meet Alastor. I’ll see you later, and maybe I can take Fat Nuggets another time?”

I receive a grunt in reply, but as I get off my barstool, I hear the old demon grumble under his breath…. A simple warning. “Just… Be careful around Alastor, kid…. You been having a rough enough time without his bullshit” He says, not even sparing me a glance as the words left his lips. I promise him I will, knowing that he’s only looking out for me… Husk always told me that, or at least something along those lines…. But this time felt different; this time it sent a spear of anxiety through my chest and made my mind wander to what everyone in hell knew about Alastor versus the Alastor that I knew. The Alastor that I loved despite knowing he probably didn’t and would never feel the same about me… when I really thought about it, I did wonder why the man had taken such a liking to me. I wasn't indebted to him, I had no real power in hell or the hotel, and even I knew that no matter what version of Alastor was on display, he didn't keep people around without a reason. 

My thoughts continued to wander from one shitty thought to the next as I went up to my room to change for our little hang out. I was so lost in the whirlwind of thoughts when a knock at the door jolted me from where I sat in my room.

“Darling,” Alastor’s cheery, sing song voice. “Are you ready to go?”

Despite the fact that I had just been questioning my entire purpose in his life and why my companionship was so valued by him, I practically tripped over my own two feet trying to get to the door. “Al!” I beam the second I see him. “I thought we were supposed to meet up? What are you doing here?”

Sporting his signature smile, the usually detached demon waltzed into my room, grabbing me and spinning me around. “I thought we could make our way to our outing together, hmm?” He says as I giggle. “What do you say, my dear? May I escort you to the roof for your surprise?” Alastor’s smile faded into a warmer grin as he held out his hand in invitation, waiting for me to take it.

When I took his hand and let him lead me through the halls of the hotel toward the roof, it felt as if all at once the anxieties that had been gnawing away at my gut just melted away ... it was like butterflies just swarmed my insides.

“What is this big surprise, Al?" I giggle as he whisks me up to the roof, stopping just outside the door. 

“Now, I know that you've had a rough week, and that you've been absolutely dying to see that new horror film…” He said giddily. “And I've set something up that I think you'll enjoy very much.”

A frown crossed my face for a moment. I had mentioned wanting to see the horror movie that came out last weekend, and I had been pretty having a shitty week, but I wasn’t sure where Alastor was going with this surprise since he wouldn’t dare touch a tv that would stream the movie. “Yeah…?” I laugh lightly as we stand in front of the door. “What, did you find someone to go to the movies with or something?”

“Not quite.” I can actually heat the excitement in his voice as he opens the door and pulls me through it. “What do you think?”

“Alastor…” I breathe, looking around at the rooftop. There’s twinkle lights strung up all over and blankets and pillows and wine sitting and a basket of my favorite snacks all sitting beside a projector pointed at the wall beside the door. “This is…”

“Oh, but wait, there’s more!” Alastor said, his shadow hitting play on the projector. The beginning sequence of the movie I had been dying to see popping up.

My eyes lit up and despite myself, I launched myself into the radio demon’s arms, eliciting a small ‘oof’ from the man before I felt his arms snake around me. “Alastor, this is amazing! I love it!” I looked up at the man who everyone around me seemed so terrified of, the man my friends warned me to be careful around. “Did you really do this for me?”

“Why of course!” The man smiled down at me, pulling me a bit closer than he usually did before his head dipped just a bit lower and I felt him place a soft kiss on my forehead. “I would do anything to make you happy, my sweet little radio wave.” 

My heart stopped for just a moment before it began racing, hammering against my ribcage as the butterflies in my stomach went wild. “Al…” Before I could stop myself, I found my lips connecting with his and despite his usual aversion to touch and romance and anything that could even possibly lead to sex, he pulled me a bit closer. 

When he didn't pull away, it felt like electricity crackling in my veins. I felt like every star in the sky aligned perfectly as he held me. It felt perfect, it felt right. 

Radio static cracked in the air around us and Alastor’s face was just a light shade of red, no doubt mirroring my own embarrassment at what I had just done.

“Well then, “ Alastor cleared his throat, the static seeming to fade a bit as he straightened his jacket and held his hand out to me. "Shall we sit down and watch the movie?” I take his hand and nod wordlessly, afraid that I would ruin what was certainly a perfect moment if I uttered even a word or asked him to define our relationship.

Alastor showed me to my seat on the blanketed area he had set up, I immediately sank into the soft pillows and blankets, and smiled as he sat down beside me. The movie began to play and as the opening credits began to roll, I knew I should at least thank him for all of this since I knew it was a show of care he reserved for only those he loved on some level, but before I could form a coherent sentence, I felt it… His arm snaked around my waist and pulled me closer to his own body.

“I don’t think I could’ve made this anymore perfect if I tried, Al.” I sigh softly, resting my head against his chest and listening to the quiet, steady crackle of radio static that always seemed to emit from the demon. Although he set this movie night up for me, I’m not even watching the movie, but rather, just trying to soak up this moment before it slips away. “Thank you.”

Alastor chuckles, his hand gently coming to rest on my chin. My breath caught in my throat as he leaned in, our lips hovering just apart from one anothers. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself, my dear.” The static completely stops and his whisper tickles my lips as he catches them in another soft kiss.

The week had been shitty, but this… This was perfect.

Alastor Tag list : @writersonicfan91

[apomaro-mellow]

Hot for Teacher(s) 2

Part 1 / AO3 Link

@babydollbaron I need you to know your tags basically changed the trajectory of this fic

In the mornings, Steve dropped Shawn off at the before care offered by the school and then went to work. Afterwards, Shawn took the school bus home and went over to a neighbor's house, Miss Robin, until his dad got home from work.

Because of this, Steve knew he would hardly have a reason to see Eddie outside school functions and conferences. Which was fine. It was totally fine. He absolutely was not spending nights thinking about those curls under his fingers. Whenever Shawn had a story from school to tell, he hung on every word. And it was only because these were the formative years of Shawn's life.

"Oh yeah, Mr. Munson asked about our practice and I got to tell him all about it", Shawn said.

Steve paused in his current task, which was the dishes while Shawn did his homework at the kitchen table. He knew exactly what his son was talking about.

"Oh? How'd that come up?"

"I told him about it before but I didn't get to tell him about it before Yasmin started crying. He asked me and I told him."

Steve currently taught middle school, but he'd had a little experience with the younger ones. When it got close to Shawn starting school, he did his best to make sure he was prepared. And to make things a little easier on whoever was teaching him. Steve tried to be subtle with his next words.

"Tell me more about Mr. Munson."

And then the floodgates opened. Mostly because it seemed Mr. Munson was very open about his personal life. Apparently, anytime the students had a question, he answered it. Just in this five minutes between drying the dishes and plating up dinner, Steve learned that Mr. Munson played guitar, loved the color red, played a game about dragons, and was single.

"Wait, how do you know he's not married?", Steve asked.

"Because Briana asked him and he said he's not married", Shawn answered easily.

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

Steve tried not to think too hard about it. Mr. Munson being single didn't change anything. Not a single thing. But a really hot alpha who was unattached and also happened to be really good with kids who his kid loved was kind of the ultimate wet dream.

For Halloween, the students were allowed to come in costume and before the day was over, Steve's email was blessed with a collection of pictures of the class, including one where several superheroes, princesses, and even a kid dressed as Chucky defeated the mighty Munson dragon.

It was so cute that Steve had half a mind to send a reply that said so but second guessed it. He didn't need to tell Shawn's teacher it was a cute picture that was the whole reason he sent it. He had to keep all correspondence professional. But it was a picture of Shawn so he was well within his rights to save all of them to his phone.

"You ha~ve a cru~ush~", Robin sang on the phone. She was pulling some dino nuggets from the oven in preparation for Shawn coming over.

"Shut up, I don't!", Steve hissed on the other end. School had just ended but there would be a staff meeting in about five minutes. "I didn't tell you so you could make fun of me-"

"Come on, you knew it was coming-"

"I told you because I just had to tell someone." Steve sighed and took of his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose. "It's not creepy if he's Shawn's former teacher, right?"

"Steve, I'm gonna be honest, I don't think it's creepy now." Robin picked up one of the nuggets and chomped on it. "It's kind of crazy how we have dino nuggets and animal crackers but not the other way around."

"Please save that for Shawn when he gets there. What do you mean? Wouldn't it be weird?"

"You're both two grown adults. I don't see the harm in asking him out", Robin said.

Steve slouched in his chair behind his desk. "That's not the only fact here. There's the fact that he's teaching my son. If any of the other parents find out, they'll think I'm sleeping my son's way to the top."

"....In first grade? That would be pathetic."

"Most suburban gossip is, but you already know this. It's not me I'm worried about really, it's Shawn. Kids talk too and what if they make fun of him?"

"Oh no! My awesome dad is dating my awesome teacher! Whatever will I do?!", Robin wailed.

"He thinks we're awesome separately. There's no telling what he'll think of us together. And I...I don't want to give him false hope."

"Steve...when was the last time you went on a date?"

Steve let out a puff of air. "Does that one guy who ogled me a few years ago count?"

"Gross! Steve! No! Do you mean the guy who was just staring at you breast feeding?"

"Serves me right for doing it in public. And in shorts."

"Hey, no, there will be no slut-shaming in this household." Robin paused when she heard the door open and the bounding of feet. "Your gremlin is here."

"I think you mean my precious miracle from above. And you will treat him as such. My only gremlins are my sixth graders."

"Whatever. Just get your shipwreck together and decide what you want to do."

Turns out, Steve didn't have to wait long for an opportunity. Shawn had come home that day with a flyer for a Thanksgiving performance and was asking for parent volunteers.

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

Eddie wasn't like, actively hoping that he would see Shawn's dad again. But when the fliers went home asking for volunteers, as well as an email, there was something going up. But it wasn't hope. It definitely wasn't hope. It couldn't possibly be hope. That way nothing could be dashed when nothing came of it.

So when he came into the auditorium after school, he was simply pleasantly surprised to see Mr. Harrington there. Not elated. Not ecstatic. Just appropriately pleased.

He greeted all the parents of his students, of which he only saw two others before coming to Mr. Harrington.

"Nice to see you again", he said with a handshake.

"And you as well", Mr. Harrington replied.

Eddie was sure he was imagining the electricity passing through their touch.

"Well, welcome to elementary theatre. Where we're gonna nurture any and all blossoming passions in the arts."

"Can't wait to see it. Um, so what exactly will they be doing?", Steve asked.

"The first grade class as the honor of doing a little song on what they're thankful for. Mrs. Clifford usually accompanies them by piano, but this year I'm hoping to get some more instrumentation for it."

"Oh, Shawn told me you play guitar."

Eddie's first instinct was to twirl his hair to hide his smile but it was still up in a bun, so he tried to fix his face to not be too obvious but he was sure it came out as a weird grimace.

"Yeah, yeah I do. Been playing for years. What about you, any instrumental skills?"

"None", Mr. Harrington shook his head. "My parents tried piano lessons, but I never took them for long. Just long enough to learn 'Mary Had a Little Lamb'."

"Everybody's got their talents. And no better place to showcase them", Eddie thrust his arms out around them.

"Well for now, I'm volunteering my time being a watchful eye and working on backgrounds and costumes. Plus snacks."

"Wait, did you bring the chips and sliders?", Eddie jutted a thumb toward the table near the stage.

Mr. Harrington shrugged. "It's just turkey and ham. And I know how ravenous kids can get."

"Are you guys talking about me?", Shawn asked, coming up to them.

Eddie watched the odd look on Mr. Harrington's face and was sure his must've looked similar. This was probably the longest he'd been talking to a parent without talking about their kid.

"I was just about to bow to your dad's culinary prowess", Eddie said. "Apparently, he made the snacks for this evening."

"I asked him to make his stuffing because, you know, Thanksgiving, but he said it was too early", Shawn said.

"I'm sure his stuffing is delicious", Eddie smiled down at him.

"You should come to our house and try it", Shawn beamed, leaning his head against his dad's hip.

Eddie looked back up at Mr. Harrington. "I'd love it if I could do that."

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

What the fuck what the fuck what the fuck

Steve was thankfully saved from replying to that by rehearsal starting and so Mr. Munson's attention was drawn away but seriously. What the fuck was that? Was that man inviting himself over to his house? Was it simple small talk? What was it all supposed to mean?

He was put on costume duty while the children practiced which kept his hands busy but not his brain, so he spent the next hour over thinking about that one line, which led to him overanalyzing the entire conversation. When practice ended, the teachers stood by the front entrance to wait for any parents that weren't already there or hadn't shown up toward the end to get their kids.

Mr. Munson waved off the last of his students just as Shawn finished in the bathroom and Steve helped him get his coat on. He looked hesitant before speaking up.

"Looks like you're my last one. I can walk you to your car if you want. It's pretty dark out."

Pretty dark was an understatement. It was near pitch black and the parking lot had bare minimum lighting. Steve definitely would've felt better about it if he had someone on the other side of Shawn.

"Yeah, that'd be great, thanks."

And without being told so, Mr. Munson put Shawn between them as they left the school and walked out into the parking lot. He gave a whistle once they got to Steve's BMW.

"Nice car."

"Thanks. She's been pretty faithful to me all these years." Steve unlocked the car and let Shawn into the backseat first. When he closed the door, he smiled at the alpha before him. "Thanks for walking us out.

"Consider it a routine then. At least until this place can afford to fully light up the lot."

"Thank you. I really appreciate it." There must have been the tiniest bit of a lull in the conversation because suddenly Shawn piped up from inside the car.

"Dad, can we get tacos for dinner?"

Steve snapped out of whatever staring contest he was having with Mr. Munson and looked down affectionately at his son. "What? My casserole not good enough all of a sudden?" He opened the driver side door and got in, turning the ignition on.

With them safely in the car, Eddie went over to his van and got in, waiting until he saw Mr. Harrington pull out before going his own way.

Later that night, after putting Shawn to bed, Steve was left alone with his thoughts again as he graded papers using an answer key at the kitchen table. It was easy to let his mind drift into just how...how wonderful Mr. Munson seemed.

He bit his lip and squeezed his legs together. Mr. Munson was handsome, and charismatic, and so safe, so much the perfect alpha that he'd been led to believe didn't exist. He could protect him and his pup... and Steve could give him more pups...

Steve's hand drifted down between his legs and he let it stroke a few times before freezing and closing his grade book. Time for something more mentally stimulating.

"Guess I'm lesson planning tonight."

Part 3

Tag Team

@anne-bennett-cosplayer @aol19 @lololol-1234 @hippieg1rl420

[sourcherryandsprinkles]

can i request a conrad fisher fic with ‘santa doesn’t know you like i do’ by sabrina carpenter? thank u smsm i love ur writing

I've been loving Sabrina Carpenter at the moment, thank you for the idea anon <3 It fits right with an idea I had in my list!

Warnings: mention of losing a parent (Susannah)

my taglists are here + you can send requests here at any time

—

Dressed in a red sweater and sparkly skirt, you were about to head to your aunt’s house for Christmas dinner. But just as you were reaching for your coat, you saw Jeremiah’s name on your phone screen. A frown formed between your eyebrows as you answered. 

‘’Hello?’’

‘’Are you with Conrad?’’ 

He sounded worried through the phone. You could feel the prayer for a positive answer in his voice, which made your frown deepen. 

‘’No. Why?’’ 

‘’He didn’t come home. He said he would. He promised Dad— He’s not answering my texts or picking up my calls.’’  

‘’Maybe he got held back at college because of the snow?’’

Jeremiah denied that supposition. ‘’I don’t think so. I called his roommate at Brown and he said he left last night.’’

‘’Maybe he went to Laurel’s? He’s talked about going to Pennsylvania this winter break.’’ 

‘’I already called her. We don’t know where he is. He hasn’t talked to anyone in the last few weeks. You’re the only one he talks to. That’s why I thought he might have been with you.’’ 

A heavy pause hung in the air as you recalled your and Conrad’s last conversations, trying to find a clue of where he was. He talked about finals and living off coffee and cup-o-noodles and how excited he was to eat a home-cooked meal, even if it was mashed potatoes or chicken that wasn’t in a nugget form. The sweater he got Jeremiah for Christmas. His roommate. His mom and the bike he got her last Christmas. It’s still in the garage, at the exact place she left it. 

‘’I think I might know where he is,’’ you said. 

It was a wild guess, but it was Conrad’s comfort place. 

‘’Where?’’ Jeremiah's urgency echoed through the phone.

You shook your head although he couldn’t see. ‘’I’m sorry Jeremiah, but I think it’s best if I go by myself. I’ll call you when I get there.’’ 

⁂

Armed with your double espresso, you braved through the snowy roads and drove to Cousins. It was a wild guess, but you were confident enough that he was there. It was the place he went to every time he wanted to be with his mom again. That house was Susannah all over. She had handpicked everything that was inside, painted all the paintings on the walls, and placed every little trinket just the way she wanted. 

Your family was disappointed that you had to cancel dinner at the last minute, but if Conrad was at the beach house, you couldn’t leave him alone. No one should spend Christmas alone. Especially not after losing a parent. 

Propped and clipped to your car’s air vents, your phone screen showed several texts from Jeremiah, all trying to get more information about Conrad. You ignored them all and focussed on the road and taking the right directions. 

After three hours, you finally arrived to Cousins. The small town was dark. Most small shops were closed — it was almost 11pm —, barely any houses were decorated for Christmas as most residents only came for the summer. 

You pulled in the familiar driveway and parked your car. A light layer of snow coated the grounds, allowing the grass to peek through. The air was crisp, and you could see your breath as you walked up to the porch. 

Using the spare key that was hidden under the doormat, you unlocked the door and let yourself in. It was dark and cold as the power was not turned on outside the summer months. The air was a bit stale too from being inhabited. 

As you ventured further into the entryway, you could see light coming from the living room — the fireplace. Using that light to guide you, you called Conrad’s name. He had to be there. If he wasn’t, someone else was in the Fishers’ beach house.

The tension in your shoulders dropped when you saw him asleep on the couch, a thick plaid over his curled up body. He looked so small like this. You got closer and gently said his name, not wanting to startle him. Conrad was a light sleeper. He stirred, slowly waking, a mixture of surprise and sadness in his eyes when he saw you.

‘’What are you doing here?’’ Conrad asked, noticing your skirt and sheer tights. He knew it was Christmas eve. You should be with your family, not in Cousins.

‘’Jeremiah called me, he was worried,’’ you explained briefly.

‘’How did you know I was here? I didn’t tell anyone...’’

No one knew Conrad like you did. You were there through the good and the bad — and there was a lot of this bad this past year. You were the one who had brushed his tears at his mother’s funerals. You knew all of his favorite songs and picked up every time he called regardless of the time. You always knew just how to make him laugh. 

You sat on the edge of the couch, giving your best friend a soft look. ‘’No one knows you like I do.’’ 

The smallest smile curled on his lips. ‘’I’m glad you’re here,’’ he admitted, a veil of tears in his eyes. ‘’I thought I wanted to be alone, but it makes me miss her more.’’

Your heart broke and you pulled him in your arms.

—

All and more taglist: @spiokybirdstarfish @kenqki @liidiaaag @hawkegfs  @gillybear17  @areaderinlove @acornacreacure @black-rose-29 @fudge13 @cece05 @rosie-cameron @Caxddce @laylasbunbunny @gemofthenight @beautyb1ade  @hi-bored-as-fcuk-rn  @lovelyy-moonlight @mellabella101 @vxnity713  @marzipaanz  @bisexualgirlsblog @queenofslytherin889 @thatbxtchesblog @softb-tterfly @ethanlandrycanbreakmyheart  @xyzstar  @graceberman3  @Heartsforneteyamsully  @aerangi  @hallecarey1  @bxbyyyjocelyn @mikeyspinkcup @jackierose902109 @daisydark @laurasdrey @mischieftom @fanatic4niall @peterholland04 @idkwhattonamethisblogs @grxnde-dwt @lexasaurs634 @teeeree13 @notasadgirlipromise @zoeynicolas @thejuleshypothesis @multi-fandom-bi-bitch @lexasaurs634 @teeeree13 @notasadgirlipromise @thejuleshypothesis@Shasta89 @sierraluvz @specialk6802  @CZARINERA @katherinejess  @cookielovesbooks-akie

TSITP taglist: @msmarvelknight  @maritaleane @dingus0401 @idontknowwhatimdoing777 @nomorespahgetti @lomlolivia @5sosbands @bloodyhw @depthsofdespairr @a-band-aid-for-your-heart @gilbertscurls @brandirouse86 @leilani-nichole @bloody-mf-bsc @papayaboyluvr  @bchindureyes @bellysbeach  @slytherinambitious @darylscvmdumpster  @johannelis2302nely  @aqshua @foockingasshole @straberryshortcake143 @luiise  @sickntiredtoo  @adrluvh @mymultiveres @Rosekar16 @hopeurokays @amysangrl  @hopelessromantic727  @beth-gallagher22 @lonelywitchv2  @arinexeisnotworking @cloudrainy342 @theflcwer  @alllriseabove  @angelxxrose @angelxxrose-blog  @r1vrsefx @sierraluvzz @rodriqos @cruzgrecia @evelestrange @aesthetixhoe

[libbytwq]

The Usual (part 1)

an SMGL:E x Karen fic

part 2 (N/A) part 3 (N/A)

-♡♡♡-

SMGL:E stepped into the McDonald's, as they did every afternoon at roughly around the same time, wearing a cocky grin on her face as they step up to the counter.

Sure, McDonald's was great, but there was only one real reason why they show up at that McDonald's every single day without fail, and that reason was right behind the counter, with tired eyes and cat ears.

Karen, the single mother and one of the two workers at the establishment, stood behind the counter, and upon seeing SMGL:E, chuckled softly in amusement.

SMGL:E found Karen to be an interesting individual. She was sharp and had an attitude, but wasn't unkind. In fact, Karen has never once been mean to them. And that was what drew SMGL:E closer to her.

Sure, the day they met her, she was obviously faking kindness to them to make sure they don't lose a customer, but even then, it wasn't like she was mean or hateful or anything. And customer service kindness is better than no kindness at all. It was more kindness than they've gotten before while in the Mushroom Kingdom, so he'll take what he can get.

SMGL:E grins and strolls over to the counter, with a cocky and playful attitude. They lean their hand on the counter and look down at Karen, who is a little shorter than her. Karen looks up at SMGL:E and their eyes meet.

SMGL:E can already feel their cocky attitude begin to crumble. How did Karen manage to be able to do that?! Always manage to make SMGL:E fall hard...

She was determined to not fall in love with her, but goddamn, it was difficult... Karen has always been so chill and wonderful to talk to, it's hard not to be smitten...

SMGL:E tries her damn hardest to not let Karen falter their stride today. SMGL:E would just order the usual.

"Heyyyy, Karen..." SMGL:E said, flashing a yellow fanged smile down at the feline cashier.

Karen chuckled softly. She seemed to be used to SMGL:E's shenanigans by now, and wasn't intimidated by their appearance in any way. Although, Karen was never intimidated by her to begin with.

"Fancy seeing you here, L:E..." Karen said, smirking softly and looking down at her cash register. "Lemme guess... you want the usual, right? 10 piece chicken nuggets with a small fry, and a small Coke?"

SMGL:E grins and nods. Their tanuki tail swishes for a moment and their ear flicks, making her large pearl earring jingle a little bit. This was the exact meal that SMGL:E has ordered every time they stepped into the McDonald's, for a few months now.

"You know me so well," he says playfully. "You forgot something, though."

Karen rolls her eyes playfully, knowing what was coming next.

For the past month or so, it had been an ongoing habit for SMGL:E to ask Karen out for a date, and it was also a recurring thing for Karen to decline. Neither's feelings were hurt or anything, but SMGL:E had been doing it so often that it would feel weird if they didn't do it when they came in and ordered food. It was sort of an unspoken tradition the two had kinda gotten used to. An inside joke, even.

SMGL:E grinned and playfully leaned closer across the counter resting an elbow on the countertop and resting their chin in their palm.

"How about a nice date?" she says, their tone a little quieter, but still very much playful. Her tail swishes behind them.

Karen looks into SMGL:E's three eyes and grins softly, silent for a moment longer than usual. She glances at SMGL:E's lips for a moment, then back to their eyes, before shrugging.

"You know what? I'll change it up a bit. Sure. Why not."

SMGL:E double takes, before his eyes widen and he stands upright, stunned.

Did...

Did he just hear that right?

"Wait, huh?-"

Karen chuckles at SMGL:E's stunned reaction.

"Yeah, I mean... I get off work a little earlier than usual today... my kids are gonna be at a sleepover, so I won't have to worry about them too hard... we could absolutely go on a date."

SMGL:E stares at Karen, stunned. Time seems to slow down. It almost felt like SMGL:E and Karen were the only two people in the world for a moment.

Eventually, SMGL:E gets a grip on reality after a moment, and grins flusteredly. Their confident demeanor has completely diminished, and a purple blush has risen to her cheeks.

"...Really?" SMGL:E finally says after a moment.

Karen chuckles softly and nods. SMGL:E cool and confident demeanor seemed to diminish instantly, and that was almost amusing to her.

"Yeah, why not?" Karen said, chuckling. "Could be fun."

SMGL:E blushes madly and glances away.

...No way.

The single mother cashier cat that SMGL:E's been hitting on half-jokingly-half-not for the past couple months has just accepted their half-joking-half-not date invitation.

...Why did they feel so nervous all of a sudden? She's never felt this nervous before. Normally he's so confident, so cool, so evil... this is different...

SMGL:E realized that she may or may not have been quiet for a millisecond too long and quickly clears their throat.

"U-Uh- ...O-Okay. Cool. Uh. Nice. Thumbs up."

Karen's ear flicked. She smiled and chuckled softly.

...She was so pretty.

"Heh. Well, where did you want to go?"

"Huh?"

"Well, you asked me. Did you have something in mind of somewhere to go?"

"...A-Ah."

SMGL:E had not thought that far.

"Uh. Maybe... uh... well. Heh. Uh-"

"You don't have a place in mind, do you?" Karen cuts her off, smirking and raising an eyebrow.

SMGL:E sighs. No use hiding it.

"...Yeah."

Karen snickers and thinks for a moment.

"...Maybe someplace simple. Your place, maybe?"

SMGL:E chuckles nervously.

"Uh, I technically don't have a place... I kinda crash over at someone else's place, I don't really have my own place..." SMGL:E says, fidgeting their hands together nervously.

Karen snickers softly.

"...What about my place?"

SMGL:E pauses and looks up at Karen.

"Really? Your place?"

"Yeah", said Karen, shrugging and smiling. "My kiddos aren't gonna be home for a while. You could hang out for a few hours. Maybe eat some dinner. How's that sound?"

SMGL:E blushes and their three eyes sparkle.

"...Yeah. Yeah, that sounds great-"

"OY!"

SMGL:E and Karen are both jolted out of their conversation as they hear Karen's middle manager call out at Karen. The tall, low-poly man with a mustache appeared from the McDonald's kitchen entrance and began shouting at Karen in a strange text to speech voice. SMGL:E thinks his name was Swag? Odd name.

"What are you doing?? You got a job to do! Get back to work!"

Karen rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Yes, Swag... on it..."

SMGL:E watched as Karen begrudgingly walked into the kitchen, but not before she gave SMGL:E one last glance, and one last small smile before she disappeared in the kitchen to ready his order.

After a few minutes, Karen came back with SMGL:E's 10 piece chicken nuggets and small fry in a bag, and a small Coke in a cup. She handed SMGL:E the order from across the counter as SMGL:E handed her the money.

Karen smiled at SMGL:E, making their heart skip a beat.

"I get off work at 6:30. Come over to my place at 7?"

SMGL:E blushes and nods flusteredly.

"Yeah... sounds good... where's your address?"

"What's your phone number?"

SMGL:E said her phone number aloud as Karen typed it into her phone, then she proceeded to text them the address.

Karen smiled and looked up at SMGL:E.

"Don't be late."

SMGL:E blushes and nods, speechless and flustered. They give a nervous smile to Karen and quickly leaves the McDonald's with their food.

A date!

With a girl!

As far back as SMGL:E can remember, which isn't very far, considering she remembers nothing from before her Guardian pod crash landed into the Mushroom kingdom, SMGL:E has never dated anyone before.

They begin to whimsically walk back home, sipping her cup of Coca Cola, before three little whisps of light and color whizz by their hair. A teal one, a blue one, and a pink one.

SMGL:E sighs. These little whisps were not unfamiliar, in fact they were a common occurrence. They used to freak her out, but at this point, they felt more like an inconvenience.

SMGL:E rolled her eyes, trying to ignore the little sparkles, before suddenly the pink sparkle caught them off guard, with strange hieroglyphic looking letters appearing in front of her.

SMGL:E furrowed their brows and stared at the strange letters. They looked foreign, yet familiar. Yet for some reason, their mind wouldn't let her figure out what the words meant.

They rolled their eyes and continued trying to walk back home, or what she considered home -- SMG1 and SMG2's place. SMGL:E just got a date -- they can't focus on whatever these stupid spectral sparkles right now.

The sparkles kept encircling her no matter how much SMGL:E tried to swat them away.

The pink sparkle showed up again and tried to get in front of SMGL:E's face, trying to get their attention.

More hieroglyphics appeared.

SMGL:E groaned and began to walk faster, away from... whatever these strange symbols were. They looked like some kind of letters, that's for certain. But what did it say?

SMGL:E didn't know, and SMGL:E didn't care.

The pink sparkle just couldn't let SMGL:E rest, it seemed.

SMGL:E audibly groaned again.

"You stupid... sparkles... things... please don't fuck with my good day..."

The blue, teal, and pink sparkles stopped whizzing around him for a moment, before the pink one whizzed around and formed more goddamn hieroglyphics.

SMGL:E sighs. These stupid hieroglyphics were gonna mess with her head if they kept up with this.

It was one thing to hear voices or see things, but it's another to see another language you can't understand.

SMGL:E continued walking on, as the sparkles slowly faded away, first the teal, then the blue, and finally the pink one, but not before the pink one created a few more hieroglyphics before disappearing.

SMGL:E sighed and continued walking onward with their McDonald's meal.

They had a date to get ready for.

She can worry about this shit later.

-♡♡♡-

end of part 1

[deedala]

🎼 weekly tag wednesday 🤳

thanks for the game this week @jrooc and for tagging me!! also @creepkinginc @mybrainismelted @lingy910y @energievie 💖💖💖

Name: deanna

What is the most listened to artist in your music app of choice this month?

chappell roan

What song do you know all the lyrics to?

red wine supernova (and most of the songs on the rise and fall of a midwest princess)

What song do you pretend to know all the lyrics to and sing along to even though you don't?

kaleidoscope

If you were to be crowned Queen/King/Royalty of listening to a band or artist, who would that be? (Shoutout Misobot)

well ACTUALLY...i do have the chappell roan crown on the fic server

What band/artist surprises you the most on your frequently listened to artists?

none of them surprise me, i know exactly what i have on repeat 🥲

Favourite line from a song (or one you have been thinking about lately?

"i want this like a cigarette, can we drag it out and never quit' (guilty pleasure - chappell roan) - i just think its so clever and poetic and it gives ian and mickey in a way i cannot get over

Guilty pleasure band or song?

i dunno!! i guess maybe all my silly little nerd songs from or about video games

Okay let's talk fandom music:

Fave band or song you've discovered from a Fan Fic?

i've not discovered any from fanfics but i have gotten some fuckin amazing songs from gifsets!! petey is the one artist who i have become extremely invested in the most after seeing lyrics in a gifset.

Fave Fanfic Playlist?

hi its me, one of the outliers?? that doesnt really dive into peoples fic playlists sorry 🫠

Fave Gallavich song?

like songs officially from gallavich moments in the show? if so, then: pink + white

Do you listen to music recommended by the writer or an included playlist?

not really, however i will occasionally add songs to my shameless playlist that are mentioned in fics. like i definitely have listened to i believe in a thing called love like 8 million times because of CG!

What song do you think is Gallavich coded?

surely i can shove the gallavich puzzle piece into any song hole?? here's one: sad to breathe - the japanese house

What’s a bop you want to share with your mutuals today? 

do i rec chappell when she's already spreading through the fandom like wildfire at this point?? 😆 here have something old:

circles - soul coughing

and now i shall tag some nuggets if you would like to play. if you would like to pass then please accept some awkward fingerguns from across the room ilu 👉👉 @heymacy @michellemisfit @tanktopgallavich @too-schoolforcool @darlingian @heymrspatel @thepupperino @metalheadmickey @softmick @callivich @vintagelacerosette @gallawitchxx @whatwouldmickeydo @mickeysgaymom @suzy-queued @crossmydna @gardenerian @mmmichyyy @the-rat-wins @sam-loves-seb @blue-disco-lights @sickness-health-all-that-shit @samantitheos @wehangout @squirrel-fund @loftec @iansw0rld @transmickey @tsuga-of-mars @lee-ow @ardent-fox @rereadanon @palepinkgoat @themarchg1rl @thisdivorce @sleepyfacetoughguy @purplemagpie @mikhailoisbaby ✨

[hlficlibrary]

Hey, I’ve read all the meet cute fits you linked in the pinned post.. do you have more recommendations?

I fell unloved with these kind of fanfics.

Thank you

Hi, anon! You're very welcome! I love meet cute fics, and there are so many great ones! Here are some more for you!

Stole My Heart by @haztobegood

“Oh my god, Niall.” The door slams shut as Harry rushes into the flat. He’s still panting from his rush to get away from the scene of his crime. “You won’t believe what just happened!”

Niall is sitting on the couch in their tiny living room. He looks up from his laptop. “What happened?”

“The worst thing. I’ll never recover. I just reached into a box of free samples outside that new chicken restaurant. Only it wasn’t free samples. It was a man. Holding a box of chicken nuggets. His chicken nuggets. I stole this man’s food, Niall!”

Stuck in Midnight Traffic by LetTheMusicMoveYou / @letthemusicmoveyou28

The curly haired man sniffles again, but the tears seemed to have stopped for now at least. “I was supposed to spend Christmas Eve with my boyfriend, that is until we got into a horrible fight.” He seems to wince at his own words. “I guess I should start getting used to calling him my ex-boyfriend. But anyways, we just couldn’t stay there any longer. Kevin and I had to get out.”

Louis blinks before looking around the empty tube car confusedly. “Kevin?”

The man nods and then squeezes a little tighter to the little potted plant clutched in his arms. “Kevin is a Christmas Cactus, but he doesn’t bloom.” He quickly adds. “Which is completely fine, because I love him just as he is.”

Louis’ not sure what most of that means. All he does know is that he needs to make sure this strange, beautiful creature is never sad again.

(Or the one where two broken people meet in an empty tube car on Christmas Eve. Can they find a way to heal each other?)

I Remember (The Distances We Covered) by @lululawrence

@ColleenisStylish: @LouisTomlinson my dad thinks he’s sat next to you on a train from Edinburgh right now, so if you could confirm that would be amazing. His name is Harry and he’s just had white wine and says you’re on red x

Louis glanced at the glass of red wine in his hand before taking a quick look around those nearest him on the train. Just across the aisle in a seat facing him was a man with graying, curly hair falling into his face yet somehow staying above his glasses. He was reading a book as he tapped his foot, seemingly oblivious to everything around him, and there sitting on the table in front of him was a half glass of white wine.

[sstwins]

Hot as Hell - Angel Dust, Valentino

Summary: Angel was really fucking hot.

Not just sexy hot. Which he was, obviously. But also fucking burning up and feverish. Apparently, you could still get sick in hell.

But even being sick wouldn't get you off work. Not when you worked with Valentino.

Word Count: 1,338

Characters/Ships: Angel Dust, Valentino

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Dub-con

Ao3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/53179879

uploading all my hazbin fics in the order i wrote them! i think they get better (and definitely longer) over time. follow me to read more! there's a general sensitive content warning for all of them.

Angel was really fucking hot.

Not just sexy hot. Which he was, obviously. But also fucking burning up and feverish. Apparently, you could still get sick in hell. Guess it made sense. God sending down the plague and whatever.

He would have loved to just take a day and lay in bed and do nothing. Snuggle up with Fat Nuggets and not move. But work was work, and he’d gotten a nasty call from Valentino ordering him to get his “sorry ass” over to the studio. Not even for a damn porno. Just because Val wanted to fuck him.

The call had told him to meet in Val’s bedroom. Not many people knew how to get in there, but Angel had special privileges. The room was dank and dimly lit by lamps all over, with a heart-shaped bed that sat in the middle. There were mirrors all around the place, and Angel caught a glimpse of himself in one of them. 

He looked like shit. His eyes were all bloodshot and baggy. And maybe it was the humidity in the room, or the fever, but everything felt like it was spinning.

Val wasn’t there yet, but Angel knew what was expected of him. Strip and wait on the bed. He shed his jacket and shorts, leaving only his stockings and collar. Angel fluffed his chest fur in the mirror, mustering a cocky smile. Still got it.

He sauntered over to the bed, falling into it and trying to arrange his body in a way that looked sexy. He didn’t know how long he was gonna have to wait. Somewhere between a few minutes and an hour. It didn’t really matter if the waiting was really fucking annoying and ruined his day. Things worked on Valentino's schedule.

Angel stared up at the heart-shaped canopy, trying to focus his gaze. There were a few things he would normally do while he was waiting. Masturbate with some of Val’s sex toys. Prep himself for getting railed. But none of that really sounded appealing right now. What sounded fucking great was sleeping, but that would definitely not be approved of. Things seemed a little blurry around the edges right now though. Plus, Angel usually was on high alert while he was here, so he was sure he would wake up from hearing Val’s key in the lock. Maybe if he just closed his eyes for a minute. It was just so fucking hot in here. But the bed was so plush… and dark… and…

“Angel!” 

Angel jolted awake to the sound of a snarling voice. He snapped to attention to see Val looming over him with a nasty expression on his face. Fuck.

“Is this a place you come to rest, or a place you come to work?” Val snapped as he started undoing his coat. His eyes glinted in the dark.

“W-work.” Angel stammered, sitting up a little. 

“So I must have been wrong in thinking that you were sleeping on my bed during working hours. Was I wrong?”

“I didn’t-” Angel fought to get the words out. There wasn’t really a right answer to the question. His head was fucking pounding now too. “I’ll be better,” he settled on.

Val’s lips curled up ever so slightly. “Good boy,” he purred. He sat down on the edge of the bed, leaning in to stroke Angel’s fur back from his face before looping a finger in his collar and pulling tight. “I know you know how to behave. But you know what happens to little boys who slip up, now don’t you?” His other hand stroked down Angel’s body, resting on his inner thigh.

Angel swallowed thickly. “Yes, Val.” 

“I only have a few minutes before my next appointment,” Val continued, his voice smoothing out. “And Daddy’s all pent up from working.”

This was easier. This made sense. Angel drifted two of his arms down to the tent in Val’s underwear. “Oh my,” he purred, the words practiced. “I’d love to help you out with that.” God, Val was so fucking big.

Valentino climbed into bed on top of him, pinning down his top two arms with his large body. He bucked into Angel’s grasp. “You feel hot, baby,” he muttered as he licked a stripe up Angel’s cheek. “Show Daddy what makes you so famous around here.”

Angel slid down Val’s shorts, wrapping his free hands around Valentino’s cock. He fucking hated being restrained at all, but that was how Val liked it. He loved having Angel pleasuring him and also being pinned down at the same time. When Val leaned in to kiss him, Angel couldn’t help but flinch back a little. “Val,” he whispered, all his nerves on edge. “Remember I told you I’m not feelin’ good. I wouldn’t want you to get-”

His words were cut off as Valentino forced his mouth open, diving his tongue in and swirling it around. Angel moaned into it, letting himself be pressed into the bed. When Val pulled back, he tightened his grip on Angel’s arms.

“Don’t fucking tell me what I can’t do,” he hissed, and Angel nodded quickly, refocusing his attention on Val’s cock. It was hard, and especially if there was a time crunch, he was sure Val wouldn’t be interested in foreplay.

Pinching his eyes closed from the pain in his head, Angel spread his legs, knocking his knees against Val’s hips. “Fuck me hard, Daddy,” he whimpered, flexing his hips. The sooner the better.

Val let his arms go, grabbing his cock in his hand. He lined it up with Angel’s entrance. As he started pressing in, Angel couldn’t help but let out a little whine from the pain.

Val smiled. “No prep this time, huh baby?” He licked his lips and ran his free hand up Angel’s chest, tangling in his chest fur. “You’re so fucking hot and tight,” he moaned.

Angel tried to force his face into a position that was more sexy and less ‘this fucking hurts’. Val liked it when he was loud, so he let himself moan with it. As Val bottomed out and started pulling back and thrusting in rough, he knotted his free arms in the sheets. It felt like being on a fucking weird trip. Everything was so hot but he was shivering at the same time. Val’s face was swimming in his vision, and everything was still spinning. He just had to take it and get through it. Thankfully getting fucked was more of a passive thing. If Val had wanted him to ride him, that would have taken so much more fucking energy.

When Val came inside of him not too long after, Angel wasn’t surprised. Seemed like his body was primed right now to get people off. Val didn’t really care if Angel climaxed or not, so he hadn’t even put in the effort. His dick had barely gotten hard the whole time, and it quickly softened again when Val pulled out, grabbing Angel for one more deep kiss. 

“Daddy’s gotta go back to work,” Val muttered against his lips as he pulled back. He swirled a finger in his cum that was dripping out of Angel and pressed it to the demon’s lips. Angel opened his mouth and sucked it clean, wrinkling his nose a little at the taste. 

Val patted him roughly on the face and straightened up, rising from the bed. “Don’t fucking be here when I get back,” he said as he pulled on his coat, voice hardening and losing any of the sexual allure from their roleplay. Then he walked to the door and was gone.

Angel lay back on the bed, taking in a deep breath. He was all sticky now from the cum, which was clumping into his fur. Funny enough, the substance felt almost cool right now. He stared up at the canopy, trying to muster up the strength to get up and walk all the way back home.

It really was so fucking hot in here.

[moonglide]

echoes of wisdom hours 12 & 13

-spoilers for end of the hyrule castle quest and for the goron quest, up until the dungeon.

-i fought ganon. i died to magic tennis. again. that's 9.

-realized that to survive magic tennis, i needed to go far away from ganon to have enough reaction time.

-i beat ganon! echo ganon, i guess.

-tri, you say that our opponent must have the echo power? gosh! who'd've thunk it? t'weren't like i suggested that or something.

-as we ascend to leave the wall BREAKS. i was scared. i did not want another boss fight.

-link comes out to save us with a baseball bat????

-oh he gets crystalled. nooooo

-the shadowy figure with claws is kinda creepy. it's probably that (endgame spoilers, probably) null guy people keep mentioning.

-god i love how supportive the king is. botw zelda would've killed for that kind of praise.

-love how i go back and i'm like whelp. time to sleep.

-wait can i echo my own bed??? I can!!! and it heals two hearts!!! i forgot to mention when i got the gerudo bed, but it was so useful. and now this is more useful!

-kitty!!! hello almond. how was being abducted into the shadow realm?

-throne room.

-hold up. rift in eldin volcano, sure. rift in faron wetlands, sure. rift in holy mount lanayru??? excuse me? where is that. there is only so much room on the map for a big-ass mountain.

-oh it's the region i thought was hebra. ok.

-prime energy? excuse me? just call it the triforce like a normal person.

-hi impa! what quest do you have for me?

-the pretty white horse is MY horse??? sweet! thank u impa.

-teleported to the ranch. horse is missing. can't find it. someone please tell me where the horse is. are they hiding the horse? will the ranch hands give it back if i apologize for making fun of them for their horse-finding skills?

-whatever.

-where to go first? I don't want to go to lanayru, because, you know. it's holy. it's wisdom. it's cold. it's definately meant to be last.

-i think i want to do eldin first because the gorons seem like the least serious. fun little volcano excursion instead of tangling with wood spirits in the mystical forest.

-kakariko! man is missing his cat. i get the cat outfit! it's fun.

-honestly i like the disguise more than the gear the king gave me.

-also since im in kakariko, let me talk about the slumber dojo real quick. i checked on ao3 for echoes of wisdom fics. guess what the one with the most kudos is. guess what. it's the slumber dojo guy banging zelda while she's sleeping. come on guys. i'm a lil disappointed but i'm not at all surprised.

edit: ok so it ain't anymore. but it was yesterday.

-found a fairy flower! how fun

-speaking of fairies, time to become more s t y l i s h

-damn you expect me to expand my accessory limit? in this economy? inflation is crazy. she jacked up her price by 3x. i still did it tho.

-business shrub! i made like ten smoothies.

-i finally made an unappealing one. it's two rocks. i understand that. but why does two sticks of butter make a radiant smoothie? that's not radiant. that's just gross.

-completed a small rift before i got to goron city. was i supposed to? idk. it never came up.

-oh dalton (or whatever his name is) is sweet. bro needs a confidance boost.

-went to the rock roast first. it was quick.

-lizalfos second. can't believe dalton's a nerd. i love it

-i was gonna use the echo that pushes out in all directions, but instead i sent out a redead and a tornando. it worked.

-sorry for destroying your dead dad's portrait. my b.

-ohhh i fly by grabbing the bird. that makes sense. i thought riding echoes would be something i needed to unlock.

-dalton how did you get here. you can't fly. i don't understand.

-bro is like 'according to my calculations' but my dude. you are just punching a rock. it is not that complicated.

-for a second i thought nugget of wisdom 52 was just 'HYAHHHHH!' and i cackled because that's just so goron. but apparently the shout was just a little interuption before the actual nugget. sad.

-tri wdym the limit is two. where did that come from.

-also i totally died again at one point. i don't remember what it was, but i remember i died. so that's 10.

-fave echo: ignacio or albatrawl.

-death count: 10.

[shanakin-skywalker]

Shanakin's Stranger Things Fic Recs

Stranger Things

🍦Steve Harrington🍦

Title: Do You Have The Soup?

Author: @hannuhbee

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Reader

Word Count: 865

Type: Fluff; Drabble

Warnings: N/A

Summary: Not Provided

My Thoughts: This is such a sweet drabble. Literally so cute to the point my heart almost burst.

Link: [Tumblr] https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/hannuhbee/690683013464506368?source=share

Title: With Cable-Knit Sweaters and Freshly Pressed Levis

Author: @cursestothemoon

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Reader

Word Count: 5700+

Type: Slight Angst/Hurt/Comfort/Fluff; OneShot

Warnings: Slight steam, some cursing, nothing serious.

Summary: You’re going off to college and Steve starts to feel a little insecure about where his life is going resulting in him saying something he regrets. Robin talks some sense into him.

My Thoughts: I love the writing. The characterization is great and this squeezed my heart in the best way possible. I also love the flashbacks throughout this oneshot.

Link:  [Tumblr] https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/acunningstargazer/690554846766661632?source=share

Title: You Shook Me All Night Long

Author: @pinkchubbiebunnie

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Fem!PlusSized/Thick!Reader

Word Count: 45091

Type: Fluff/Smut, Multi-Chapter(4)

Warnings: Inappropriate Work Boners, Masturbation, Smut, Mentions of Bullying, Mentions of Food, Oral Sex, Blow Jobs, Sexual Fantasy, Face Sitting, Subby Steve, Praise Kink, Multiple Orgasms, Shower Sex, Outdoor Sex, Mentions of Past Steve x Nancy, Mentions of Dieting and Diet Culture

Summary: Steve had never pictured himself eding up here – working for minimum wage at an ice cream shop, wearing a fucking sailor costume. But hey, life catches up to you and plans change. He also never would have guessed that someone who had been sitting quietly in the background of his life for years would secretly be the hottest babe of the century – and in the moent he found out, he had never been more thankful for ice cream minimum wage slavery and the stupid outfit you seemed to find adorable. Set Pre Season 3.

My Thoughts: This is such a satisfying read. Everything wraps up perfectly. There is no major conflict. Just Steve being a simp and I love that for him.

Link: [Ao3] https://archiveofourown.org/works/40074273/chapters/100363440

Title: Boy With Love

Author: @kxnobi

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 4569

Type: Smut/Fluff; Multi-Chapter (2)

Warnings: Smut, Sub!Steve, Dirty Talk, Dirty Thoughts, Breeding Kink, Dom!Fem!Reader, Dacryphilia, Service Kink, Masturbation, Multiple Orgasms

Summary: Steve got the emotional connection he’s been looking for! But now he’s too nervous to make a move so you take matters into your own hands.

Link: [AO3] https://archiveofourown.org/works/40685739

Title: Stone Cold Sober

Author: @fairyysoup

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 2222

Type: Smut; OneShot

Warnings: Smut, Mild Dubcon B/C Steve’s Drunk, Switch!Steve, Phone Sex, Mutual Masturbation, Intoxication, Mutual Pining

Summary: This isn’t the first time Steve has called you- it’s just the first time it’s led to this.

My  Thoughts:

Link: [AO3] https://archiveofourown.org/works/43608471

Title: Hot for Teacher

Author: @handfulofteeth(sonorous)

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 12960

Type: Smut/Fluff/Mild Hurt&Comfort/Angst; OneShot

Warnings: Cunnilingus, Car Sex, Blow Jobs in a Car, Blow Jobs, Porn with Plot, Porn with Feelings, Dirty Talk, Smut, Dom/Sub Undertones, Face-Fucking, Multiple Orgasms, Steve Harrington Really Loves Eating Pussy, Vaginal Fingering, A ‘lil Bit of Squirting, Mostly Just WAP.

Summary: “You know I heard Steve Harringtion can’t eat pussy?” It’s the day of your long-awaited date with Steve Harringtion, and your best friend chooses to drop that little nugget of information right on your head hours before he’s due to pick you up. But surely she’s just messing with you… right?

Link: [AO3] https://archiveofourown.org/works/42719895

Title: Have You Seen Her?

Author: @luveline

Pairing: Steve Harringtion x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 27772

Type: Fluff/Hurt&Comfort/Smut; Multi-Chapter (2)

Warnings: Fluff, Mutual Pining, Sick Fic, Hurt/Comfort, Smut, Eventual Smut, Smut in Second Chapter, Penis in Vagina Sex, Praise Kink

Summary: Steve finds out that falling in love can be really, really easy. You find out what it’s like when somebody wants to take care of you.

Link: [AO3] https://archiveofourown.org/works/43097013

Title: I Don’t Wanna Wait My Whole Life Through (To Say I’m In Love With You)

Author: @kazbrekker

Pairing: Steve Harringtion x Fem!Reader x Eddie Munson

Word Count: 8853

Type: Smut/Fluff; OneShot

Warnings: Fluff, Smut, Pining, Reader Loves Books, And Changes Hyperfixations At A Rapid Pace, Eddie and Reader Are In An Established Relationship, Spit Roasting, Oral Sex, Blow Jobs, Face-Fucking, Cunnilingus

Summary: You and Eddie start to notice all the things Steve does for you two. Or, alternately, sometimes things that feel too good to be true are true anyways.

Link: [AO3] https://archiveofourown.org/works/40359996

Title: Her Best Friend’s Girl

Author: @starlight_searches

Pairing: Steve Harringtion x Fem!Reader x Robin Buckley

Word Count: 5534

Type: Smut; OneShot

Warnings: Porn without Plot, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Vaginal Fingering, Oral Sex, Daddy Kink, Recreational Drug Use, Underage Drinking

Summary: Robin watches the wiggling of his fingers, grimacing. Maybe she’s gayer than she thought, but it doesn’t look like it would feel very good at all. Steve frowns at his own hand, and then brushes the confusion away in a puff of smoke. “It’s too hard to describe. It’d be easier if I just show you. “Ewwww. Steve!” Robin slaps him hard enough that he almost drops the joint, but even her disgust is tempered by the high- punctuated by a deep throaty laugh. “Gross, no. Not like that-“Steve’s laughing too, falling over until his hair brushes her shoulder. “No, god no. I meant, you know, on my girl.” He shrugs, like its totally not a big deal. Like he hadn’t suggested something insane.

Link: [AO3] https://archiveofourown.org/works/42437568

Title: You Shook Me All Night Long

Author: @pinkchubbiebunnie

Pairing: Steve Harringtion x Plus Size!Fem!Reader

Word Count: 45091

Type: Smut/Fluff; Multi-Chapter (4)

Warnings: Season 3 Steve, Plus Size Reader, Inappropriate Work Boners, Masturbation, Smut, Mentions of Bullying, Mentions of Food, Oral Sex, Blow Jobs, Sexual Fantasy, Face-Sitting, Subby!Steve, Praise Kink, Multiple Orgasms, Shower Sex, Outdoor Sex, Mentions of Past Steve x Nancy, Mentions of Dieting and Diet Culture

Summary: Steve had never pictured himself ending up here- working for minimum wage at an ice  cream shop, wearing a fucking sailor costume. But hey, life catches up to you and plans change. He also never would have guessed that someone who had been sitting quietly in the background of his life for years would secretly be the hottest babe of the century- and in the moment he found that out, he had never been more thankful for ice cream minimum wage slavery and the stupid outfit you seemed to find adorable.

Link: [AO3] https://archiveofourown.org/works/40074273

Title: Hold On Loosely

Author: @eratothemuse

Pairing: Steve Harringtion x Fem!Reader x Eddie Munson

Word Count: 10385

Type: Smut; OneShot

Warnings: Smut, Spoilers for Stranger Things Season 4 Vol 1, Unprotected Sex, Sex Pollen, DubCon B/C of Sex Pollen, Oral Sex, Fuck or Die, Canon-Typical Injury, NSFW

Summary: There’s next to nothing truly known about the Upside-Down, but after you get stuck there with Eddie Munson and Steve Harringtion, you learn one thing; don’t touch the flowers.

Link: [AO3] https://archiveofourown.org/works/39589479

Title: Come Together (Over Me)

Author: @kazbrekkcr

Pairing: Steve Harringtion x Fem!Reader x Eddie Munson

Word Count: 6327

Type: Smut; OneShot

Warnings: Smut, Porn Without Plot, Vaginal Fingering, Penis in Vagina Sex, Cunnilingus, Blow Jobs, Oral Sex, Face-Fucking, Dirty Talk, Unprotected Smut

Summary: You meet Steve and Eddie one at a time, and then all together.

Link: [AO3] https://archiveofourown.org/works/48148630

Title: Head Over Heels

Author: @underoossss

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Grumpy!Fem!Reader

Word Count: N/A

Type: Angst/Hurt&Comfort/Fluff; OneShot

Warnings: Mentioned Family Problem, Trust Issues, Angst, Hurt/Comfort

Summary: Steve falls for Robin’s grumpy friend, and he falls hard. Grumpy x Sunshine Trope

My Thoughts: Listen, this was so romantic, I swooned.

🎸Eddie Munson🎸

Title: Play Pretend

Author: @webslinger-holland

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 4647

Type: Fluff; OneShot

Warnings: Sexual Tension, Swearing, Some Kissing, Fake Relationship

Summary: To escape the likes of Jason Carver, the reader has to play a little game of pretend with Eddie Munson himself.

My Thoughts: I am such a sucker for fake relationship into real relationship and this ticked every box for me.

Link: [Tumblr] https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/acunningstargazer/690516408204967936?source=share

Title: N/A

Author: eddiendee

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader

Word Count: N/A

Type: Fluff; Drabble

Warnings: N/A

Summary: Not Provided

My Thoughts: -Sigh- This is honestly so cute and endearing. This is exactly the type of thing I can picture Eddie doing and it’s a short read but I highly recommend it.

Link: [Tumblr] https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/acunningstargazer/690146879466504192?source=share

Title: I Don’t Wanna Wait My Whole Life Through (To Say I’m In Love With You)

Author: @kazbrekkcr

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader x Steve Harringtion

Word Count: 8853

Type: Smut/Fluff; OneShot

Warnings: Fluff, Smut, Pining, Reader Loves Books, And Changes Hyperfixations At A Rapid Pace, Eddie and Reader Are In An Established Relationship, Spit Roasting, Oral Sex, Blow Jobs, Face-Fucking, Cunnilingus

Summary: You and Eddie start to notice all the things Steve does for you two. Or, alternately, sometimes things that feel too good to be true are true anyways.

Link: [AO3] https://archiveofourown.org/works/40359996

Title: Official

Author: @Bippot

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 22050

Type: Smut/Fluff; OneShot

Warnings: Mutual Pining, Masturbation, Eventual  Smut, Fluff, Friends to Lovers, Friends with Benefits, Jealously, Recreational Drug Use, Underage Drinking

Summary: So, yeah, Eddie has a little crush. Between working in the garage, school, and late nights thinking about a special someone, he doesn’t quite think he has the guts to do something about it. But, that’s okay. She might have them.

Link: [AO3] https://archiveofourown.org/works/40234191

Title: Maybe

Author: @eveatethefruit

Pairing:Modern! Older!Eddie Munson x Younger!Fem!Reader

Word Count: 12000+

Type: Fluff/Smut; OneShot

Warnings: Modern!Eddie, Older!Eddie, Dom/Sub Dynamics, Daddy Kink, Slight DDLG Themes, Choking, Slapping, Oral Sex, Smut

Summary: When the hot older man in the neighborhood becomes a regular at your coffee shop, you can’t help but let your shameless flirting take over. And maybe, the fantasies are reciprocate

🛟Billy Hargrove🛟

Title: Daddy? Sorry

Author: @fbfh(cheweduphoodiestring)

Pairing: Bily Hargrove x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 5576

Type: Smut; OneShot

Warnings: Smut, Breeding Kink, Daddy Kink, Mommy Kink, Neck Grabbing, Boners, Grinding, Groping, Teasing, Dom/Sub Undertones, Verbal Humiliation, Dominant Billy Hargrove, Forced Eye Contact, Temperature Play, Rings, Vaginal Fingering, Biting, Praise Kink, Degradation, French Kissing, Manhandling, Spanking, Hand Jobs, Restraints, Cervix Kissing, Size Kink, Good Girl, Multiple Orgasms, Misogyny, Nipple Play, Finger Sucking, Belly Bulge, Impregnation, Baby Fever, Dirty Talk, Overstimulation, Mating Press, Primal Kink, Cock Warming, Cum Plugging, Dumbification

Summary: You accidently call Billy daddy one too many times, and he’s now determined to level the playing field and make you a mommy.

Link: [AO3] https://archiveofourown.org/works/37652029

Title: Cow

Author: @M1nt_Chip

Pairing: Billy Hargrove x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 13818

Type: Slight Hurt&Comfort/Smut; OneShot

Warnings: Porn with Plot, Eventual Smut, Smut, Bullying, Name-Calling, Mentions of Over Eating, Mentions of Under Eating/Skipping Meals to Lose Weight, Almost Being Force-Fed Something Disgusting by Bullies, Other Slightly Triggering Topics Regarding One’s Body Image, Rough Sex, Breeding, Vaginal Fingering, Nipple Play, Vaginal Sex

Summary: Billy is intent on ‘pavlov’ing your brain into associating the horrible nickname the bullies gave you, into something that’d make you squirm.

Link: [AO3] https://archiveofourown.org/works/47859256

Title: Bully

Author: @billyhours

Pairing: Billy Hargrove x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 16375

Type: Smut; OneShot

Warnings: Bullying, Overprotective Parents, Strict Parents, Smut, Loss of Virginity, Innocent Reader, Porn with Plot

Summary: Billy Hargrove has a big ol crush on you but he’s kind of an idiot and doesn’t know how to process that so he just bullies you to get your attention. And maybe you like it.

🎺Robin Buckley🎺

Title: Her Best Friend’s Girl

Author: @starlight_searches

Pairing: Robin Buckley x Fem!Reader x Steve Harringtion

Word Count: 5534

Type: Smut; OneShot

Warnings: Porn without Plot, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Vaginal Fingering, Oral Sex, Daddy Kink, Recreational Drug Use, Underage Drinking

Summary: Robin watches the wiggling of his fingers, grimacing. Maybe she’s gayer than she thought, but it doesn’t look like it would feel very good at all. Steve frowns at his own hand, and then brushes the confusion away in a puff of smoke. “It’s too hard to describe. It’d be easier if I just show you. “Ewwww. Steve!” Robin slaps him hard enough that he almost drops the joint, but even her disgust is tempered by the high- punctuated by a deep throaty laugh. “Gross, no. Not like that-“Steve’s laughing too, falling over until his hair brushes her shoulder. “No, god no. I meant, you know, on my girl.” He shrugs, like its totally not a big deal. Like he hadn’t suggested something insane.

*Header Photo is NOT Mine. Credit to Owner.

**Will Continue to Update with More Recommendations

[andydrysdalerogers]

Sliding Into Home ~ On The Hunt For Mike Weiss

Pairing: MLB!Frank Adler x Abigail Hernandez (OFC)

Synopsis:

After a trade from Boston to Los Angeles, first baseman Frank Adler would seem to have it all. Money, women, an amazing niece, yes Frank should have it all. Except for one thing. One thing that left after a mistake five years ago. Los Angeles should be the chance to start over. Except she is supposed to be in Boston. Not his new medical director.

* A Frank Adler AU x Major League Baseball Story**

Warning: ANGST (i can't stress this enough), second chances, cheating, S~M~U~T!!, slow burn, drug use, abandonment issues, betrayal, domestic violence (i may have missed some), flashbacks

Dividers by me

I do NOT give permission for my work to be translated or reposted on here or any other site, even if you give me credit. DO NOT REPOST MY FICS. Reblogs, comments, likes, and feedback ALWAYS appreciated

Previous: Since When Is Ice Cream Evil?

Sliding Into Home Master List Main Masterlist

Mary Eileen Adler has only ever known two parents: Frank and Abby.  They were her dad and mom for all intents and purposes, regardless of the time Abby left.  She understood that her real mother was Frank’s sister, but she wasn’t her mom.  

And she understood that she had a father but that he never acknowledged her so really, he wasn’t anything to her.  

So why did Uncle Mike say he was her dad? 

As her grandparents drove them to their Boston house, Mary sat quietly, not sure how to ask the questions in her head. Uncle Mike was nice but not nice to Frank or Abby.  She remembered the bruises she saw on Abby and when she asked, she was told she was in an accident.  But she knew it wasn’t the truth.  

“Nugget, are you hungry?” 

Mary snapped her head up to Frank, who looked concerned. “A little,” she whispered.  

“Do you want...” 

“I want Abuela’s food. Because it's at home.  And I want to go home.”  

The sadness in her voice nearly tears Frank in half.  His little girl is scared and hurting. “Ok Nugget.  We’ll go home.  We have a flight to Los Angeles tomorrow.”  

Mary nodded. “You won’t leave me, right?” 

Frank almost lost it right there.  He lifted the girl out of her seat and into his lap, adjusting the seatbelt so she could sit the rest of the way home there. “I’m always going to be here for you.  And I’ll make sure nothing happens to you again, ok?  I love you Mary, so much. Abby and I are go so happy you are ok and that you are back home with us.” He kissed her temple and she snuggled into him. “You’re ours Nugget and we’ll fight every day to make sure of that.”  

May fell asleep in the comfort of his arms.  They made it to Abby’s parents' house and Frank took her right to the guest room.  Tucking her in, he moved to leave the room, but a tiny hand fisted his shirt.  “Please stay with me,” she whispered.  

Frank smiled, scooting her to the middle of the bed, took off his shoes and climbed in. Mary rested her head on his chest and went back to sleep, taking Frank with her. 

 Frank sat with a coffee, watching Mary a few hours later as she played in the back yard with Johnny, Susie, Marco and Scott, Dodger chasing her around.  He sighed as he took in the sight.  “Frankie?” He looked over to his wife, who placed some sweet bread on the table next to him.  “Are you ok baby?” 

“Yeah, Cricket, I’m ok.  I’m just wondering how I’m going to break this news to Mary.  We have to give her something and she’s too smart not to just start googling everything.”  He rubbed his forehead.  “I was hoping we could have this conversation when she was older, but I guess not.”  

“I know Frankie but its better it comes from us.” Abby kissed his head. “Our baby needs to know the truth.” She looked at the group and an idea came to mind.  “How about we do this with everyone here? If it becomes too much, she can lean on Scott or Johnny or Marco or us, whatever makes her happy. She’ll know that she is loved by everyone here.”  

“Are you ok with everyone knowing our past?” 

“I am not ashamed of how everything got out of sync, Frankie. We were manipulated and that the truth.  Is that something I wanted Mary to know? No, of course not because I never wanted her to be afraid of anything but if it makes her safer, then I will do what I need to do to protect our girl.”  She cupped his cheek and he leaned into her warmth.  

“We’ll do it when you parents come back,” he said. “I want her to have all of the support she can have.” Frank leaned into Abby for a kiss. “You said our baby. Did you mean that?” 

“Mary is ours, Frankie. Of course I meant that.” 

“No I mean, will we have a baby?” 

Abby sucked in a breath. “You think you’re ready for that?” 

Frank looked at her eyes. “Maybe we wait until this all blows over but yeah, Cricket, I want a baby with you.” 

“That good. Because if you wanted a baby with someone else, I’ll murder you.”  

After a dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, the family gathered around the living room, Mary sat between Frank and Abby, chatting with Johnny.  “Mary, we wanted to talk to you about what’s been happening.”  

She fell silent as her family quieted.  She looked around and swallowed.  “Okay.”  

Abby sighed. “You know how we’ve told you that your birth mom is Frank’s sister?” Mary nodded. “Well, we also told you that we didn’t know who your biological father is, right?” She nodded again. “The last couple of months have been enlightening to us all.”  

“What does that mean?” 

Frank swallowed. “You remember that Abby was in the hospital?” 

“You said she was in accident.”  

“She was, Nugget, but not the way you were thinking.  Uncle Mike,” he swallowed, “he...uh... he...” 

“Did he hurt Abby?” 

“No.” He said firmly. “No, he didn’t touch her, but he knew where your mother was and invited her into Abby’s old house. And she hurt Abby.”  

“Why?” Mary’s eyes filled with tears.  “Why would she do that? 

“We are not really sure Mary,” Abby said softly. “But Uncle... just Mike, sweetheart, Mike and Diane have their reasons for everything.  All we know is that the police are looking for them and they and we have a lot of questions. Do you have any questions?” 

Mary looked at all of the people in her life, her family. “Are they going to take me away?” she asked just above a whisper. “Will they...” tears trickled down her face, “will they take you and Dodger away?” She looked between Abby and Frank. “You’re my mom and dad, not them.”  She began to sob.  

Frank immediately got out of his seat in front of her. “Listen to me, Mary.” He locked eyes with her. “No one is going to take you anywhere.  You are coming home with me and Abby and Scott and Dodger.  Johnny and Susie are going to hang out with us. Your abuelos are going to visit and we ae going to visit in the off season but this right here,” he looked around the room, “this is your family. You are my girl,” he wiped around her face to remove the tears. “I won’t let anyone, or anything change that.”  

Mary threw herself into his arms as everyone calmed their own soft cries. Mary understood. Her home was with Frank and Abby.  

The two people who would do anything for her.  

The morning of their flight home, Abby and Frank sat down with the lead detective on Mary’s kidnaping case, Paul Diskant.  “I’m sorry I haven’t met with you sooner,” he said, after introducing himself. “I’ve been following up with some leads coming in.”  

“Any news on finding Weiss?” Frank asked with a hard edge. 

Detective Diskant frowned. “No, it looks like he rented a car when he arrived in Boston a week ago and turned it in, but we don’t know if he’s left town or has someone else helping him.  We found the house, just as Mary described. There were no signs that he was going to hurt her in any way. We did find some photographs, surveillance of your family. It was taken by a professional, so I am assuming Mr. Weiss hired a private investigator.” 

“Fuck,” Frank mumbled. “What is the next step? We’re flying back to Los Angeles this afternoon.”  

“Private?” 

“Yeah, after what happened to Abby, I didn’t want to risk a commercial flight.” 

“I would like to send some officers to escort your family to the airport, just as a precaution.” Detective Diskant sighed. “I’m going to contact LAPD and advise the detectives on your case, Dr. Adler, what’s happened.  I’m sure, with the coverage it received in the press, they are aware of something but not everything and I want to keep them in the loop.”  

“Alright, what do you suggest for personal security?” Frank asked.  

“Frankie,” Abby started.  

“No, Abigail, we are not discussing this again. I will not allow something to happen to you or Mary or Scott for that matter.”  

“Mr. Adler, Dr. Adler, let me make this clear. My recommendation is that your family take every precaution available.  It is clear that your sister and Mr. Weiss are not of sound mind.  He is desperate to get to you Dr. Adler.  Your husband is right.”  

Abby stared at the detective for a minute before looking at her husband. “You really think he might try again?”  

“Cricket, if it wasn’t for the fact that your entire family is with our girl right now, she would be here with us. I refuse to leave any of you vulnerable again.”  

Departing from the airport, Abby’s parents hugged their daughter, granddaughter and son-in-law hard. “Call us when you get home,” Ana said, cupping her daughter’s cheek.  

“It’ll be late, Mama.”  

“I don’t care.”  She turned to Scott and Johnny. “You boys behave. “ 

“We will Mrs. Hernandez,” Johnny said before picking up Mary and carrying her into the plane.  

Abby looked around.  “Where is Susie?” 

“I think she left her bag in the car,” Scott said.  “C’mon Dodger, let’s get on.”  

Abby walked back to the SUV and stopped. She smiled as she spied on Susie and Marco, holding hands and whispering to each other, heads bent closer.  Abby quietly moved away as Marco bent down to place a soft kiss on Susie’s lips.  

Frank waited for Abby as Susie came around the side of the car.  “You girls are always late,” he mumbled. He grunted as Abby elbowed him. “What?” 

“Leave Susie out of this. She just needed a moment,” she whispered. She pulled out her phone.  

Abby: You could always find work out in California  Marco: Why would I do that  Abby: Because a certain blonde may love it  Marco: I don’t know what you are talking about  Abby: Ok fine. Just know, Frank is looking for someone to run security for the family. This could be the opportunity you’re looking for  Marco: Really?  Abby: Call him.   Marco: I’ll do it tomorrow.  Thanks sis. 

Returning to the team and relative normalcy helped the Adlers get back into normal. Frank thought it was a brilliant idea to have Marco be the head of security for the family. He moved Marco into the guest house on his property and Marco took over interviewing and hiring security to protect the family.  

Frank had a good couple of weeks, the Dodgers on a run at the moment.  Mary was thriving with camp, Abby found time to work at USC and attend to her duties with the Dodgers and Scott had found a job that allowed him to take care of Mary and work from home.  He and Abby shared an office, which Abby loved as Scott was rapidly becoming her best friend.  

Yes, everything was going great.  

Unknown: enjoy it while it last  Frank: Who is this?  Unknown: a nightmare 

NEXT

@patzammit

@texmexdarling

@slutforchrisjamalevans

@firephotogrl74

@before-we-get-started

@tinkerbelle67

@jennmurawski13-writes

@bunnyforhim

[steddieas-shegoes]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

@zombiethingy tagged me right when I was about to exit tumblr to work on my final paper for this class and because I am a procrastinator, I'm doing it 😇

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

...136 (but to be fair that includes all of my one shot requests and microfics)

2. What’s your total AO3 word count? 597,089. I wanted to reach 750k by the end of the year, but I just don't think that's gonna happen and that is OKAY!

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Stranger Things only. I know in my heart I probably could go back and write some Stucky things, but with what time?

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

call me sunshine, send me to space (chaptered)

i thought we were more, why aren't we more? (ficlet request)

one little nugget (chaptered)

it brought us here (ficlet request)

it led me to you (chaptered)

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes! Sometimes I only have the spoons for emojis, but I do always respond. I want people to know I see their comments and appreciate them 💖

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Any of the works in the my heart has changed, my soul has changed series. I definitely want to continue that series, but life is angsty enough right now.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

ALL OF THEM. Truly can't write things that don't end happy or at least very very hopeful.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Uh nope. I have moderated comments turned on though, so I think that deters any hateful comments, and I have literally only ever gotten one negative comment on a headcanon post on tumblr and just blocked them. Here for a good time, not to please everyone.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Yeah. I laugh because I started writing in January and was like "I can't write smut" and then by March I had a fic started that was rated E for extra sex. Incredible what a little time on this website does to the brain. It's just whatever fits the moment.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

Hard no.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of. I'm pretty open about encouraging people to write their own versions of my stuff, but if I ever see a direct copy and paste it's on sight.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not that I'm aware of? I really don't think any of them except for maybe call me sunshine would even be considered popular enough for that lmao

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No, it makes me nervous. I always think everyone who I speak to on the regular is worlds more talented than I am and that I would be the deadweight in the group project (despite always being the leader of every school and work group project I've ever done). I wouldn't necessarily say no in the future with the right person!

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

Steddie, though Stucky was it for me from like 2012-2022 and I do still love them so much.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I really only work on one thing at a time, but I still want to write a part 2 to two request ficlets. They deserve the story being continued, but I don't know for sure when that will happen.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Strengths? What are those? I can lift my body weight, does that count? Okay, ummmm, writing strengths I guess would be finding ways to write these two idiots so in love in any situation. I will always always find a way to make them be in love.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

I'll be kind to myself and narrow it down to two things: Environment descriptions. I can see it in my mind, but can I put it into words? No. Somehow still getting so carried away?! Genuinely don't know how I manage to not describe a lot of things and still describe too much.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

It's very difficult since I don't actually know any other language. I really don't do it unless it is absolutely necessary and I usually warn that I use Google Translate (which is not accurate).

19. First fandom you wrote for?

The first I published for was Stranger Things. The first I wrote stupid little things that I immediately deleted was Captain America/Marvel.

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

I have to say I am so so proud of call me sunshine, send me to space. Not just because it's what's been most popular, but because I went so far outside my comfort zone to write and post it. It was the first time I felt like I had truly developed a universe for these characters and it's just a nice story.

No pressure tagging some people (seriously NO PRESSURE, we have ENOUGH PRESSURE): @wormdebut @wynnyfryd @messessentialist @steves-strapcollection @simplebtromance @stobinesque @starryeyedjanai @patchworkgargoyle @scarcrossdlvrs @ghostevie @yournowheregirl @thefreakandthehair @vecnuthy @theheadlessphilosopher @legitcookie @corrodedbisexual @flowercrowngods @vampeddie @matchingbatbites @judasofsuburbia @griefabyss69

[ticklystuff]

Hiiii! Its a fire emblem anon here!!

Can I request for lee Sedall with ler Alear please? ✧⁠\⁠(⁠>⁠o⁠<⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠✧

For the spot, can it be tummy? Like yk how he's always like "I can't eat this it won't be good for my dancing? 😔" Maybe Alear is like "But look, your tummy is asking for attention, and if you don't give it what it wants I'll have to give it attention."

Hehe, thanks!

Also, I'm glad you enjoyed the game to some some extent, even though the plot n stuff has kinda mid 😭

send no more, thx!

wc: 1.5k

HEWWO THERE I FINISHED i am not sure about how this turned out bc i feel like they are ooc but i was so happy you requested a fe prompt and i had so much fun writing it askldjflka pls request more fe in the future

also accompanying seadall tummy image for the fic:

---

"Well, what does it say?"

Seadall put a finger to his lips, gazing over the cards that seemingly glowed with the faint light from the campfire. "Though your days may be filled with plight, let laughter bring merriment for tonight," Seadall recited the fortune laid out in front of him, before looking up to see Alear's disappointed expression from the other side of the cards. "What? You seem.. unimpressed."

Alear gave a huff as he put his hand to his chin, seemingly in dumbfounded thought. "I guess, I was just expecting something a bit.. more? Like, something to help guide me through the war, or maybe even something simpler, like what I should focus on when it comes to training. It just seems too straightforward, I suppose."

"You should lower your expectations, then," Seadall said with a shake of his head, gathering his cards back together. "Fortunes are not meant to provide all the answers you might seek. Just be content that it's not something more ominous."

"Maybe, uh," Alear paused, motioning to the deck of cards by flipping his hand repeatedly, "maybe try doing another one."

Seadall scoffed with a raised eyebrow. "I assure you that the cards will read a similar result."

"Please."

"Divine One-"

"I asked you not to call me that." Seadall couldn't help but roll his eyes at the slight pout that Alear's face adorned, but he complied with a smile.

"Alear," he corrected himself, "take the fortune as a sign to just relax and.. enjoy the night." Seadall gestured with his arms to the surrounding campgrounds. "As of right now, you and your comrades are well, the Somniel is safe, the night is at peace, there's plenty of food to eat-" As luck would have it, the sudden guttural grumble emanating from his own stomach cut Seadall's words off, prompting the dancer to quickly slap his arms over his abdomen. He grimaced at the smirk that began to form on Alear's face, his eyes shying away from the smug glint in Alear's own.

"Plenty of food to eat, yet that excludes you, for some reason."

"You already know why," Seadall pressed his arms into his stomach, suppressing another growl as Alear continued to nag him.

"I know why, but that doesn't mean I have to agree with it," Alear huffed, before reaching for the bag next to him. "Luckily for you, I brought something that might just appeal to your interests."

Seadall didn't get the chance to question what Alear might be referring to when the other pulled out a separate paper bag, before rummaging through the secondary containment, pulling out what looked to be a little golden brown nugget-

Rice croquettes.

His eyes widened at the tiny little morsel that Alear held out in the palm of his hand, gesturing for Seadall to take it in his own. "I know these are your favorite, so I had them made specially for tonight," Alear said with a little wiggle of his eyebrows, an obvious sign that he knew exactly what he was doing. Intrusive thoughts of the rice croquette began to invade his mind, starting with the satisfying crunch of the flaky golden exterior that contrasted perfectly with the soft rice filling, followed by the spice combination that came together to create an exquisite experience of flavors. He could almost imagine that initial crispy layer just barely gracing his lips-

"NO!" Seadall suddenly blurted out, ripping his eyes away from the dastardly temptation just within reach and shoving those unholy thoughts back into the recesses of his mind. "Keep that thing away from me!" Maybe his reaction was slightly over the top, but anything to distract Alear and himself from the ever growing rumbles that his stomach was insistent on producing in both frequent and louder quantities.

"But Seadall, I made these with you in mind," Alear half-whined with a tease to his voice, hobbling over on his knees with the food still in his hand. Seadall scowled in response as he continued to push away from the approaching threat. It was absolutely imperative that he maintain self-control, lest he risk losing the perfect physique he had built over the years to hone his dance prowess. Submitting to temptation could easily set him back an exorbitant amount of time and, not to mention, he already did have his cheat day this week, treating himself to some creme brulee with other members of the army.

"I-I cant!" he insisted, though, it honestly felt like Seadall was more scolding himself at this point. The back-and-forth between the two continued until Seadall finally took the initiative, slapping out his hand to knock the rice croquette of Alear's own, followed by a brief moment of silence as the two watched the piece of food briefly roll away along the grass. A sigh of relief slipped past his lips as he felt the temptation begin to slowly ebb away, but that feeling of ease was short-lived the moment Alear suddenly pounced on him, grunting in shock with the sudden weight pressing him to the ground. "Alear! W-What are you- nohohOHOhoho! W-Whahahat is thiHIHIhihis?!"

This was not how Seadall imagined the night would go, pinned down by the Divine Dragon himself as Alear.. tickled him? What made things worse was that Seadall's exposed stomach seemed to have gathered Alear's full attention, a victim to the onslaught of pokes and squeezes that were dished out. He shrieked with each jab to the bare skin, flailing his arms in a failed attempt to stop Alear in his tracks.

"DivIHIHIhine Ohohohone, plehehehase!" he shrieked, feeling the tips of Alear's fingers dangerously approaching his navel. Why tickling of all things?!

"It's Alear," he punctuated the reminder with a solid jab, forcing a squeak from Seadall's mouth. "Besides, your stomach is clearly craving some kind of attention and if you're not going to do it, then I'll just have to step in."

With tickling?! "NAHAHAHA! W-WAHAHAHAIT! COME OHOHOHON!" Alear's fingers acted as individual claws, digging into the toned stomach with various techniques. His pointer fingers sank into the recesses of his navel, sending what felt like electric shocks through Seadall's body, while his thumbs pressed into the skin, massaging various pressures of blunt force. The rest of his fingers seemingly had varying agendas of their own, from randomly diddling against his stomach to a more synchronized approach of poking. Each technique was already bad enough, but combined together absolutely sent Seadall up the wall. His laughter was an assortment in response, from bellowing shrieks to high-pitched giggles and Seadall was at a loss with how to deal with the overwhelming sensations, choosing to instead sit there like a half-dead animal, allowing his laughter to take over.

"Y'know, all you have to do is feed your stomach one of those rice croquettes," Alear teased, resorting to giving the bare tummy multiple squeezes with each hand. "Can't have my teammates going hungry, after all."

"PLEHEHEHASE!"

"Hmm? Please? As in please feed my tummy food?"

"NOHOHO- OKAHAHAY!" Seadall finally conceded, giving into Alear's demands. "OKAY! FIHIHIHINE!"

"You sure?"

YehehHEHEhes!" Alear's hands had slowed to a more gentle motion, but still kept up their pace, until Seadall had given his final confirmation. Once done, Alear beamed and lifted himself off of the dancer to grab the paper bag, leaving Seadall in his drained state to recover on his own. It didn't take long for the other to return, however, and Seadall finally sat up, looking wearily at the rice croquette offered by Alear's hand.

"Well, go on," Alear motioned with his hand. As if on cue, Seadall's stomach went off once more, prompting Alear to give another nudge with his hand and Seadall took the snack with a sigh. He watched as Alear sat down next to him, pulling another rice croquette out of the bag for himself, before taking a bite of his own. Seadall gave his own rice croquette one final look, taking the tiniest of bites.

The croquette itself was fine, though Seadall admittedly could do better. It wasn't fair to hold Alear to a fault, however, as the prince hardly had any time to practice his own cooking, but the croquette itself was of decent quality and Seadall himself wasn't complaining. The dancer found himself taking faster bites and the pang in his stomach slowly subsided, realizing that maybe he was hungrier than he initially thought.

"Hey, do you know what I just realized?" Alear asked between bites.

"Hm?"

"The fortune," Alear paused to swallow, "it came true!"

Seadall paused for a moment, giving himself time to recall what the other was talking about. "Though your days may be filled with plight, let..." he grimaced as he realized what Alear was referring to, "let laughter bring merriment for tonight."

"You're such a good fortune teller, Seadall!"

Seadall huffed and furrowed his eyebrows, crossing his arms at the smug grin Alear was giving him. "I'm never reading another fortune for you ever again."

[incorrectcoldflashblog]

fanfic wip guessing game! "don't", "water", "grin", and "soft"? :)

Hi, friend!

I found “don’t” in pretty much every single one of my WIPs so here’s the first one that popped up, a “Bartender Barry” fic that somehow turned into “Len comes back post-Crisis and has a really hard time acclimating to the new world order” fic:

Lisa relents, but still shakes her head slightly. “I don’t want you to go.”

“Why not? Too broken to be trusted?”

Lisa stares at him. “Too dear,” she snaps.

I also found water in like 6 or 7 of my WIPs so I picked one from a fic I haven’t shared at all yet, a kind of coming out fic for Barry that as usual has grown way too much to be a one-shot:

He might scream into his pillow, for a while, before climbing into the shower. He stares at the wall, and curls a hand around himself, shuddering no matter how hot the water gets.

Found lots and lots of grins (the verb) and grinning but not that many “grin” singular so I went with this part from a fic I started writing to try and satisfy my need for a Coldflash Road Trip^^:

“There’s a motel across the street I was planning to get a room at,” he answers, forcing a seductive grin back onto his face. “I could be persuaded to share.”

Sam laughs. “I don’t think you need persuading,” he replies.

Len lets his grin turn into a smirk and unabashedly checks Sam out, eyes dark under heavy lids. “Then that makes two of us,” he says.

(Sam is Barry by the way.)

Soft was also in basically all of my WIPs (and God, I have so many, help) so here, have something from my Speed Force series because I really need to get back to it:

For a split second, Len’s face goes soft.

It’s fleeting. Like catching sight of a deer in the woods, gone so quick you blink a little, wondering if it was ever really there. Barry files the moment away for future consideration. A nugget of Len’s true heart that no one else gets to see.

Thank you so much for the ask <3

Fanfiction Work-in-Progress Guessing Game

[lightwise]

WIP Wednesday

Thanks for the tags @sunshinesdaydream and @ladyzirkonia 🤗

So I have been working on a long fic since the middle of TBB season 2 releasing. I have not posted the first chapter yet bc life and other things keep getting in the way 🫠 (but honestly I think some of those things like writing other fics/one-shots and having a lot of time to process the story I’m wanting to tell is only going to make it better!). I’ll leave in depth descriptions for when I officially publish, but when we got the two-part midpoint of TBB season 2, and Echo left the Batch to return to Rex, and Chuchi and the politics around the clone’s retirement, crazy assassins, etc all got dropped into our laps, I was like WELL, guess I’m writing the behind the scenes of what the show doesn’t show us 🤓

I’m following Rex and Echo on their adventures, mostly from Rex’s POV and a little from Echo’s. As the season progressed I realized that the rest of the Batch, Chuchi, and other characters would also make appearances. Currently this is not necessarily a fix it fic, but I am letting myself follow the story and see where it takes me. I do have some fun surprises up my sleeve for later on :).

Without further ado, here is a snippet from the first chapter:

Echo traced an invisible line on the concrete pad with the tip of his boot. “We were uhh…well. We were delivering nerf nuggets. 50 pounds of them.” He finally looked up and met Rex’s eyes, squaring his shoulders as if daring his former Captain to laugh. They stared at each other for a moment, until Rex couldn’t keep himself from cracking a grin. Things devolved from there until both of them were almost howling with laughter at the thought of two elite soldiers of the former GAR posing as food delivery boys.

“Please tell me that Hunter was as upset as I’m imagining the whole time.” Rex managed to gasp out as he tried to catch his breath again.

Echo shook his head as he also tried to compose himself. “Oh it was bad. I think he set himself a new record of how many groans of frustration he could let out in one evening.”

Rex smirked. “I’m sure you did too, vod.”

Echo smiled back knowingly. “What? Me? Look frustrated? Never.” He grinned even wider.

After giving one roll of his eyes, Rex shook his head affectionately. “Not just look frustrated–exude frustration from every cell in your body in the hopes that someone will actually do things to regulation standards for once.”

Echo’s shoulders shook slightly as he tried not to laugh again. “You know me too well. I’d say Hunter and I were sharing the title of thoroughly unimpressed. We were able to make jokes about it by the end of the day though. And once Tech commed me with how frustrated he was at Cid dragging them to Safa Toma to play bodyguard, I was glad to be elsewhere. Wish I had seen the looks on everyone’s faces when he won that race though.”

“I believe it. That must have been incredible to watch. I never doubt that Tech can do anything he puts his mind to.”

“Yeah, his brain is an amazing thing to behold. He’s pretty special.”

NPT: @freesia-writes @drafthorsemath