#so if anyone wants to do that for me too that’d be great (i’m joking)

[hemmohoran]

this is probably a long shot but if anyone finds any photos from the cleveland or cincinnati shows that are wallpaper material, PLEASE send them to me 😭😮‍💨

[fuctacles]

in love and war finale

Spicy Six Challenge by @thefreakandthehair, part 1 here, part 2 here, you know the drill

T | 2466 | pre-relationship | they are confused gay rookies in the 80s | sick-fic I guess?

“Why aren’t you in bed? Or the couch at least?!’

“He has a point.”

“Like you’re one to talk.”

“Well I’ll let you know I moved the phone and I’m sitting in an armchair wrapped in a blanket.”

“Who are you talking to?!”

Steve is glad for Dustin’s irrational fear of his viruses, because it’s the only thing stopping him from ripping the phone out of his hand, maybe pushing him back to bed too.

“Tell him I said hi.”

“Eddie says hi.”

Dustin starts hyperventilating.

Thankfully his mom came to the rescue with a steaming cup of tomato soup.

“It’s great you boys are keeping your spirits up but you shouldn’t be sitting on the floor, Steven. Maybe we could move an armchair for you?”

And thus with their leave, Steve had a cozy station next to the phone, piled with blankets and pillows. Not dissimilar to Eddie’s on the other end, whom he called as soon as the Henderson’s left.

“So, you were saying?”

“You know this stays between us? This is the most intimate Eddie Munson knowledge that you’re not to share with anyone else.”

Steve laughs. Just hearing him joke was helping his body recover and he feared he'll be ready to go back to work soon.

“Tell me your dirty secrets, Munson.”

“So, this dungeon I’m working on is a cursed tomb of an overthrown mayor…”

Steve likes a good story. Everyone does. He was never that much into fantasy, but the fact that one of his favorite people came up with it made it a thousand times more interesting.

“Ah, I guess it’s my turn for the kid’s visit.” Eddie interrupts himself about fifteen minutes in. “Do you also feel like you’re on a deathbed, visited by your grandchildren in hopes they'll be in the will? He’s getting the dice anyway...”

Steve snorts.

“Now that you mention it…”

“Are you guys still on the phone?!” Dustin’s voice is so loud Steve hears it clear as day on his end.

“Yeah, sorry babe, I’ll call you back.”

The line goes silent. 

And Steve knows he’s joking with the pet names, teasing in the silly way that he does but the more he hears him in his ear, the more he realizes he wants it, wants to try. He hopes Eddie wants it too.

His cold lets off faster than Eddie’s and he’s anxiety-cleaning as soon as he feels the strength to do so. He cleans the pj’s and sheets at boiling temperature so instead of sweat and sickness they smell like ‘provencal dreams’ which he thinks means lavender. The pills and syrups scattered on the coffee table get into the medicine basket. The armchair though, stays by the telephone. He’s waiting for Eddie to wake up and call him (so he can call back not to put the enormous phone bill on him) like he’s been doing for the past two days. Being sick together was almost as bonding as fighting evil. 

When the phone rings he runs to reach it and is almost embarrassed to do so, so he takes a second to breathe before picking up.

“Hello?”

“You don’t have to call me back.”

“Ah, sorry, the reception is shit, I can barely hear you. Let me call you back in a second.” He grins to himself when he hears Eddie’s resigned sigh. He dials the number from the emergency list above his phone immediately. 

“Hi,” he says, smiling like a fool.

“Well, someone sounds chipper today” 

“Yeah, I think I'm good to leave the house, finally. Also, this guy I like keeps me company in my misery.”

“Oh? He sounds like a nice dude.”

“He is,” Steve smiles, sitting down and pulling his legs up onto the seat. “He cares about his friends, saves the world sometimes, and hosts this dorky game for a bunch of nerds on the weekends. A true samaritan.”

“You think so?” Eddie sounds quiet on the other side. 

“Yeah. That's how I see it, at least.” He frowns, fingers twirling the cord anxiously, worried he stepped over a line. That’d suck because he had planned to step over some more today. 

“Thanks. I think you’re a nice guy too.”

It was the simplest compliment he’d ever gotten, but it made something in his chest tighten.

“Yeah?”

“Duh. You jump into demonic waters head first and ferry around a bunch of ungrateful kids.”

Steve snorts.

“That I do.” And then, before the conversation gets even further away from him, he adds, “Hey, listen. Since I’m feeling better, I’ll probably be back at work tomorrow.”

Eddie made a disappointed grunt on the other side.

“So I was wondering if I could visit you today? Maybe take over Dustin’s soup delivery?”

Eddie makes a sound that he’s unable to interpret.

“If you don’t feel up to it, it’s okay-”

“Shut up, I’m thinking.”

So Steve presses his lips together and waits.

Eddie sighs. 

“I’m feeling better, I guess you can visit if you don’t mind a sick person mess.”

“I just cleaned up mine today, no worries.”

“Yeah, okay. But about… the other thing…”

He trails off and Steve is one step away from biting his nails off. Or the phone cord in half. 

“You’re still sick and thinking about it, I-”

“Steve! Let. Me. Speak.”

He makes a noise of agreement into the receiver. 

“Like, I think I need to see you. Because I know you are hot, objectively. But do I think you are hot? Does my dick think you’re hot?”

“Eddie-”

“I’m speaking.”

Steve bites his lips with a smile. He can feel himself blush.

“So I have some things to verify. Come over, Wayne’s not home.”

Steve can’t help it, he bursts into hysteric giggles over Eddie’s attempt at a seductive voice with his clogged nose.

“Hey, now-”

“No, no, I’d love to. Should I bring protection? Like a face mask?” He manages between giggles. 

“Oh, you little-!”

He doesn’t remember the last time he had so much fun flirting. He curbs his amusement to manageable levels and looks at the clock. 

“I’ll call Ms Claudia if she has any special deliveries for us today. I could pick them up and be at yours in an hour, maybe two.”

“Sounds great.”

“Want me to pick up something?”

“I’d kill for a can of coke.”

“Got it. I’ll bring a movie we could watch too.”

Eddie hums his approval.

“Something light that my sick brain can process, please. I’ve had enough fever dreams about war and Russians. Never again letting Wayne pick the movie when I’m sick.”

Steve snorts.

“Okay, noted. See you soon?”

“See you soon, Steve-o.”

Claudia isn’t thrilled by his plan to visit Eddie, but a mother’s disapproval hasn’t stopped him before and certainly wasn’t going to now. He accepts the jars of soup, kisses her on both cheeks, and lets her tuck him up for the short walk from the door to his car. 

The drive is shorter than he expects, even with the partially shoveled roads. He feels completely unprepared for whatever might happen at his destination but he pushes on because the uncertainty might make him sick again. 

A tiny note on the inside of the window tells him the door is unlocked so with little hesitance, he pushes in. He knocks on the door, looking around.

“Eddie?”

“Over here!”

His voice sounds way better in real life than it did over the phone and Steve locks the door and unties his shoes to follow it. Eddie is sitting on his bed, wrapped in at least two blankets, and there are books and notebooks surrounding him. 

“Welcome, welcome!” he grins at him, which lights up his face prettily despite the unmistakable traces of battling the flu. His nose is red and dry from constantly wiping it, his face pale and his lips chapped. There are bags under his bloodshot eyes and the little hair peeking from under a blanket hood looks greasy.

Steve wants to give him a hot bath, wash and condition his hair, and moisturize his whole body, which is a weird thought to have about a romantic interest, even for him.

“Did you bring the goods?”

Steve holds up the plastic bag in his hand, making the jars inside clink. If only Ms. Henderson could see the sparkle in Eddie’s eyes at the sight of her soup, and how he brushes his hands together happily.

“Let’s go to the kitchen, then.”

Steve shakes his head.

“You can stay here, I can do it.”

But Eddie is already up, shaking his curls back at him. 

“And burn our new trailer to the ground? No thanks. The stove is a bitch and only the chosen ones can operate it without injuries. I’ll show you how to work it.”

Steve is listening to him, but he’s also very fixated on the bat pattern of his pajama bottoms and the fluffy green socks he’s wearing. One of the blankets he kept on flows behind like a cape.

“Okay, but I’m doing it,” he insists, following behind and just a tiny bit unmoored by the conversation. He was expecting something less… Normal. More awkwardness, confessions, and hurt feelings. That’s what he’s been preparing for.

“Of course, my shiny knight, of course,” Eddie assures him, reaching for a pot. “Will this be big enough?” he asks, eyeing the jars Steve’s putting on the counter.

“Think so.” He shrugs, eyeing the pot and opening the jars. 

“Okay, come here.” Eddie motions him closer and Steve obliges, standing right next to him and the heat he’s radiating. He smells a bit sweaty, which is understandable, but he can smell the minty toothpaste on his breath, meaning he brushed his teeth before Steve’s arrival. He tried not to think about the implications of it. 

“Okay, so never try to light the right top burner…”

He listens closely to all the instructions and shoos Eddie away as soon as possible to operate the stove under his watchful eye from one of the kitchen chairs. He goes through three matches to get the fire going under the pot but he gets the soup on the burner without much more damage.

“Do I get the Chosen One title yet?” he asks as he idly stirs the soup.

Eddie snorts.

“Don’t get cocky before finishing, dear Steven.”

“Fine,” he huffs. 

The silence settles between them and he doesn’t know where to go from there. But he told himself before coming that he’d wait patiently for Eddie’s answer and simply bask in his presence without pushing. Maybe turn up his charm if it feels right but that’s all. 

“What have you been doing stuck at home?” he asks, the need to break the silence overwhelming. 

Eddie hums, his eyes unfocused on the heating soup.

“Read Hobbit for the eleventy-first time, polished the postponed campaign, and planned for the next one already. Though, with these little bastards, it was probably a waste of my time. Rewatched a couple of movies?” he adds, voice tilting like it’s a question. When Steve hums in interest, he continues. “Paid extra attention to the actors. Turns out, Harrison Ford? Kinda hot.”

Steve snorts, taken aback, and when he turns, Eddie’s grinning at him sheepishly. 

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I might be into dudes, after all.”

“Cool.”

“Cool.” He smacks his lips obnoxiously and sucks in a breath. “You know, last time I tried to ask someone out, she said she was not interested at all, in anyone, and skipped town.”

Steve whines sympathetically. 

“Shit, man. I’ve never chased a girl out of town.”

“It did numbers on my self-esteem, I’ll tell you that.”

“I promise to stay in town if you ask me out.”

“Would that make me the guy?”

Steve cocked his head and studied Eddie for a while. He never thought about the dynamics of a same-sex relationship. Would he like to be ‘the girl’? Wooed and treated gently, gifted with flowers? Kissed on the neck, and spooned to sleep? He felt his cheeks grow hot at the imagery.

Unfortunately, Eddie noticed and his smile grew.

“You’d like that wouldn’t you?”

Steve shrugs, turning back to the soup.

“Aww, you’d like to be my princess, pampered with gifts and kisses?”

Steve made a point of focusing on his task and hiding his face. 

“So what?” He bristled. “What if I do? Would it be… Is that bad?”

“What? No! Why would it be bad?”

He shrugs. He doesn’t know why but something in his gut keeps telling him it is.

“Why would wanting to be cared for, be bad?”

“Uh, well…” Steve focuses his stinging eyes on the soup. He’ll have to turn it off soon and won’t have any excuses not to look at Eddie.

There’s a shuffle behind him and soon a warm body presses against his back, hugging him from behind. Eddie’s still wrapped in a blanket so they make a slightly awkward bundle against the stove.

“Besides, Princess Stevie sounds waaay better than King Steve,” Eddie presents his final argument and Steve lets out a surprised snort.

“You’re such a fucking weirdo, I swear.”

“Well, it worked on you, sooo…”

“And I still have no idea how,” he sighs dramatically. He squeezes the arms around him gently and turns off the stove before nudging Eddie away so he can pour the soup into bowls. They sit down to eat and when he hands Eddie a spoon he ignores it and slurps the soup straight from the bowl.

“Savage.” Steve rolls his eyes but can’t fight his amusement at his antics. Eddie smacks his lips loudly and grins.

“So, anyway…” He drums his fingers against the bowl. “Do you wanna go out, whenever Wayne gives me the all-clear to leave the house?”

Steve grins, watching the loud man be hesitant for once.

“Are you asking me on a date, Munson?”

His already red nose gets even redder.

“We don’t have to call it a date, we can just hang out, just the two of us.”

“Nah, I’d rather call it a date.”

Eddie inhales and a smile spreads on his face.

“Okay. Let’s do it then. Arcade? I feel like cinema dates are such a cliche.”

“Yeah, but there’s this new movie I’d like to argue with you about.”

“Is it The Fly? Or The Little Shop of Horrors?” Eddie prods with excitement. Because a heated debate on the first date sounds utmost alluring.

Steve extends his leg under the table, nudging softly at Eddie’s ankle. He nudges back with a grin and they rest their legs against each other. A simple touch they can settle on until Eddie gets better, until the date they plan in the cramped kitchen over bowls of soup until the sky turns dark.

[theladybarnes]

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ AND THEN I MET YOU

▸ summary:  Steve Harrington’s world is suddenly changed by your mysterious arrival. There’s something about you that he just can’t shake off. And damn it if he’s not going to try and figure out what that is. ▸ word count: 17.6k           ▸ warnings: angst, violence, semi-fluff, slight canon divergence 

STEVE HARRINGTON POV from SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?

Steve Harrington always thought he had luck on his side. 

It was luck when he met Tommy, introducing him into the crowd of kids that’d eventually be his friends. It was luck when he made the winning shot in his first game, honoring him the MVP on his team. It was even luck again when he managed to make the right joke to make Nancy Wheeler laugh out loud during study hall.

So why did it feel like his luck ran out the moment he met you? 

The first time he meets you, you’re pointing out that he’s at the wrong place. Almost having left the note for the wrong person. And while he’s here to do something for his girlfriend, he can’t help but stare. 

With your clothes obviously high end, purchased someplace far away from the Hawkin’s strip mall. The makeup rimmed around your eyes is perfectly etched on in a way that it makes your eyes shine brighter. Were you actually a student? You looked out of place here in all the right ways.

“Do I have something on my face?” You mused, slapping the door shut. You’re almost mirroring his position and it’s enough to scramble his thoughts for a second.

“You’re new.”

Though your laugh is short, it’s pretty. He wants to hear it again. “I thought we established that?” 

 “Sorry, it’s just, we don’t usually get anyone new. Especially around the middle of the year.” 

“Must make me really special then.”

He can’t help but think you might be right. You give him your name and he finds it rolls off his tongue easily. But you’re ending the conversation quickly. The sound of his homeroom teacher is a big enough spark that he has the courage to follow you and offer to lead you to class. 

If you’re thrown off by his presence you don’t show it. And again, he finds himself letting out his charm. Trying to see how someone like you would react. And it intrigues him again to see how calm and collected you stay. It’s not until you both near the hall towards Ms. Click’s class that he fumbled a bit, earning a bit of a wary look from you. 

Too soon are you both parting ways, leaving him curious to find out more about you. But the excitement of meeting up with Nancy has him turning down the hall with a smile. 

He’s embarrassed the next time you see him, soaked and struggling to leave Nancy’s bedroom window. You’re amused, helping him up. It has his heart beat even faster than the fall from the window did. 

“You really gotta stop sneaking up on me.”

“It’s funny you think I’m the one sneaking up when you’re currently leaving this house out of a window.” you smirked, making Steve wonder how you’re always so cool. The umbrella in your hands moved to cover the both of you, bringing you both a little closer. “I assume you’re leaving more than just a note this time?”

He can’t help but laugh, feeling a little shy at your memory of him.

“It was a little late when I came to see my girlfriend, Nancy. Had to sneak out.”  

“Look at you continuing your streak of generosity.” 

 “What can I say? I’m a pretty great guy.”

You roll your eyes and he really hopes you’re not thinking he’s completely an ass. But you’re still there and still keeping him dry. “So, since you know the area well. Mind telling me where the Wheeler house is? I gotta pick up my cousin.”

He catches on to that last word. Cousin. So you’re here to be with family. He grinned a bit, pointing over to Nancy’s house. “This would be the place. Nancy’s brother and his friends were downstairs from what I could hear.” The two of you move towards the driveway, he can tell the conversation is wrapping up. Too soon in his opinion.

“You think you’ll be fine to make it over to your car?”

“I can tough it out.” he said, dreading the idea of walking up the long driveway. He had to hide his car a bit down the block. But he’s not gonna make you escort him over just to stay dry. He suddenly remembered the plans he worked with Tommy earlier that night. “Are you free tomorrow night?”

The familiar teasing smile spread over your lips. He’s nervous for the quip you’re about to throw out at him. “Steve Harrington, are you really asking me out on a date just moments after fooling around with your girlfriend?”

“What!? No! That’s not what I was asking.” He said quickly, feeling foolish for not explaining further what he meant. But he can’t even do that because you’re laughing at him and he’s trying really hard not to look dumb. “Are you done?”

You hold back a smile, nodding for him to continue. 

“What I was trying to ask was if you wanted to come over to my house tomorrow. My parents are gonna be gone and I’ve decided to have a couple of cool people over.”

“I’ll have to check my plans.” You shrugged. How could you possibly have plans in a day? Who else could you have spoken with already? 

He reached out for your wrist, noting how soft the skin was there. “I promise it’ll be fun.”

“Fine.” you said, swatting at his hand. He found the childish reaction cute. “Better be worth the trip, your highness.” The nickname almost breaks his smile. He’s not sure if he’s too keen on it, but nicknames amongst each other seemed like a step into being friends. He took that as a small win as he dashed away up the driveway.

“See you then, newbie!” 

You’re at his house the next night and he’s disappointed to see that you look bored. Was there better ways to spend the night back where you’re from? He’s trying to keep all of you entertained. Especially Nancy, who while out of place, seemed to try and join in the festivities. But you, you’re aloof, scanning your eyes to everyone there. What he’d give to take a look inside your mind. 

He overhears Tommy throw a question at you. California. You’re a long way from any fun if that’s where you came from. 

 “Maybe I got tired of the place?”

You’re trying to sound nonchalant. But Steve feels there’s more to it than just that. 

“Really? You’d leave the sunny side of California to live here? In Indiana? In the middle of fall?” 

Tommy joined in on Steve’s teasing. Always ready to follow his lead. “Or maybe you were kicked out? You look a little rebellious.”

Their words don’t stump you though. “Actually, you’re pretty close.” You said, chugging the rest of your beer. Like a champ. Steve thought. “I’m really a scoundrel who’s been forced to live with her Aunt until she behaves better.”

He couldn’t help but think that seemed more likely. You were too good looking to be so innocent. If your sharp words were any indication on the type of action you get, he’s guessing you were here for a bigger reason. “That story is more believable.” he said, missing your weary look. 

Distracted by Nancy, he pushed any curiosity out of his mind to enjoy the girl’s company. Her smile had been on his mind so much lately, and the excitement of what tonight could bring was on his mind. 

But the nagging of Barb and the look of boredom on your face is eating at him a bit. 

The gang try shotgunning more beers after him. You declined because of some expensive jacket you had on. But Steve’s happily surprised to see Barb turn around and attempt. That is, until the poor girl is bleeding suddenly. 

He shyly escorts her to the bathroom in his house. Wondering why Nancy would make her friend endure such an awkward night when went back out to notice you and Nancy together. You’re both so entertained by Tommy and Carol in the water that you don’t see him sneak up behind you guys. 

Before either girl can react, he’s pushed you two in, quickly throwing himself in after. When he comes up for air, you’re trying to fight a smile, Nancy’s lost a shoe, and he doesn’t think he’ll stop grinning. It’s a weird bliss for Steve and he doesn’t want that high to end. 

But the party eventually dies down. And he’s mad at Tommy for him and Carol making it so everyone slowly heads inside. You’re able to read the vibes and press to leave early. Making Steve torn about pushing for the group to do something else and letting things go naturally. Nancy is gorgeous and he’d love some time alone. 

Following you out of the pool, he tells the others he’ll get towels as he went in after you. He barely passed you a towel when he noticed you already have that taunting smirk tugged at your lips. 

“You know, this is the second night in a row I see you completely soaked in water.”

He wants to whine about that but he can’t help the chuckle that builds up in his throat. “It’s not fair, I’m either getting soaked with water or embarrassing myself in front of you.”

He wrapped a towel around you. Suddenly feeling something in his chest when he noticed how your eyes looked in the dim lighting of the house. Were the lights making them shine like that? Or was it his imagination?

“Is there something on my face?” 

He panicked for a second, looking slightly downward from your face to your jacket. That’s when he noticed the color change. Shit. Did he just ruin your jacket?

“Your jacket changed colors.” He stupidly pointed out. 

The frown tugged on your face is slightly cute, but it’s also nerve wracking because now he’s made you upset. 

“Well that’s just great.”

 “Sorry, the pool guy must have added too much chlorine.”

You chuck your towel at him, walking away from his side to go back to the group. He felt a pout on his face as he followed after you, only feeling a bit better when he noticed how cute Nancy looked as she stepped in the room. 

“Oh noo!” Carol gasped, “Not the Chanel.”

 “Yeah, I’m planning on Steve’s demise as we speak.”

He can’t help but wonder for a second what that would be like.

But Nancy’s chucking so sweetly and he’s noticed now that she too looks beautiful under the lighting. “Hopefully one that’s not too soon.” she said, smiling at Steve. It has his heart hammering in his chest. He shyly helps wipe some of the water drops off her face.

“On that note, I’m off. You kids have some safe fun.” you called out, not even giving him the chance to say goodbye. Something in his chest ached at the idea of him dragging you here, ruining your jacket, and then making you possibly uncomfortable. 

A warmth engulfed his hand and he finds that it’s Nancy giving him a look he’s seen before. And he’s suddenly feeling a little bit better. 

“...You sure? Because unless Harrington is a three minute kinda guy, they might be busy for a while.”

Nancy and him both cough a bit at the jab. He notices that while your face stayed neutral, there was a bit of sparkle in your eyes at his expense. He shook his head no, trying to keep the mood civil here. 

“I’ll be fine.” Barb replied, looking wary at Nancy. Steve bit his lip, not sure what to say about her friend staying, but wasn’t gonna be the asshole to kick her out either.

 “And with that I’m off. Night kiddos!”

You didn’t spare them a glance back as you marched out his front door. The rest of you called out goodbye and Steve watched as your figure slowly left the crack of the two doors before it closed after you. There was always tomorrow to make up for tonight. He’d figure it out later.

Tonight? He had hopeful plans. And from Nancy’s face, it would seem she was thinking the same.

The next morning is tiresome but Steve finds that he’s still on a high from the previous night. He’s gotten even closer to Nancy, something he’s been keen on for a while. And while things were rocky with you, he thinks he can figure out a way to get on your good side again.

“Last night was wicked. Sorry we didn't’ stick around to clean up.” Tommy said early that morning. The two were meeting over at Steve’s locker and he was a bit annoyed at his friends bailing so fast. 

“Whatever,” he lied, trying to play it cool. “Glad you two had your usual fun.” he smirked, watching as his friends rolled their eyes. Carol pushed a curl behind her ear before leaning in towards the two.

“What about the new girl? Henderson? Do you think she had fun? She totally acted like she was cooler than us.” 

Steve wanted to roll his eyes. She was possibly a thousands times cooler than them. But with the jealous way Carol got, he knew saying that would make you a target. “She’s cool. Probably was nervous or something.”

“Nah, I don’t think she was nervous.” Tommy frowned, leaning against the locker beside Steve’s. “She was odd. Not to mention, she comes from California just to stay here? Maybe she’s a freak.”

“She’s not.” Steve said quickly, feeling the need to defend you suddenly. “I think she was just not sure how to act around me.”

“Or maybe she didn’t know how to act with us.” Carol countered sarcastically. 

“I don’t know. I have a hunch she might like me..”

He can’t help but think back to how you looked last night under the dim lights. Maybe you did like him..but he didn’t want to dive into why he liked that idea. Especially when last night brought him better memories.

The look on his two friends looked a little too interested in that and he felt like he quickly needed to make it less serious.

“Yeah.” Steve added sarcastically, stuffing his books inside the locker. “She’s so hot for me.” The two beside him slowly smirked at his response. “Maybe she’ll do me favors or some lame shit like that.”

“All right, we get it.” Tommy laughed, wrapping an arm around Carol. “Tell us what you really think.”

“You wanna know what I think?” Steve asked, closing up the metal door. “I think I’m gonna go off and see my girl.” With that, he turned on his heels and made his way over to Nancy’s. Finding her already gathering up her books for first period.

She’s a bit jumpy this morning, but he’s glad to see she doesn’t regret what happened last night. But with her nervous greeting, he can’t help but check in with her.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah! Yeah, totally.” she said, forcing a smile. “I just..I feel like everyone’s staring at me.”

He wanted to point out that they might be, but probably not for the reasons she thinks. Their night was special, and he felt the need to help keep that special for Nancy too. 

“Oh, I didn’t..I didn’t tell anyone.”

“I know!” she clarified, giving Steve relief. “I know. Of course not.” Again he’s relieved, until she goes on. “But what about, like, Tommy and Carol and the new girl?”

“You’re being paranoid.” he assured her. And thankfully Nancy relaxed a bit. 

“I’m sorry.”

“No. No, it’s cute.”

“What’s got you worried, Nancy Drew? Could it be the rumors of your sweet escapades with Harrington?”

Your sudden presence has him laughing and he hates how perfectly timed your quip is. Unfortunately, you’re using it on the wrong person at the moment. Nancy looked worried again, turning to look at the kids down the hall.

“Are people really talking about me?” she stuttered.

“She’s only kidding, right?” Steve urged, giving you a hopeful look to end this.

 “Yeah,” you said, looking a bit taken back by the girl’s worried reaction. “I barely just got here. No one but the people at the party figured that out.” You lean in towards her and give her a friendly pat on the arm. “I promise I’ll keep it to myself.”

Slipping back to your locker, Steve felt a small relief again when Nancy turned back to face him. Having a small bit of privacy again with you distracted by your books. 

“Hey, I had a good time..”

 “Yeah. Me too.”

Taking his chance, he met Nancy in the middle, giving her a sweet and gentle kiss. He’s hoping you’re not looking at the sweet moment, but he finds that maybe he wanted to gauge your reaction for it too. 

For some reason.

Nancy eventually parts ways, giving you two a kind goodbye before Steve was able to give his attention to you again. Pushing your locker shut, he leaned in towards you. “You have a knack for being tactful, did you know that?” Steve sighed.  “Now I’m afraid you’re gonna embarrass my girlfriend like you do with me.”

He’s only a little upset by your words, not really for himself but for Nancy’s sake. 

“I barely know either of you enough to purposely embarrass you guys.” You laughed. There’s a struggle with your large trapper keeper and Steve can’t help but take the trouble out of your hands. “If anything, you guys do it yourselves. Especially you.”

“Fine, I’ll give you that I’m a bit of a mess. But Nancy’s different. She’s sweet, considerate and-”

 “And someone I barely hung out with last night.” you cut him off. “I can’t help what comes out of my mouth sometimes. Maybe my jokes will toughen her up.”

He thinks maybe that he might need time to toughen up to your jokes, but doesn’t really mention that. Less power to you. Instead, he pointed in the direction of homeroom. Watching you from the side of his eye as you went on.

“Besides, if you’re upset about my light teasing. I’d remind you of the fact that your two other friends were there long enough to hear all the action that went on.”

 He could feel the creep of the blush on his face. A terrible reminder of what having people over can do. But he knows his friends, and more importantly, he knows how to distract them from doing things like that. “They’re not going to say anything either. I’ll tell them not to.”

 “Oh? So is that what this is? The royal king of Hawkins demanding for my silence?”

Though he smiled at the joke, he can’t help but find your jab about his status to be unsettling. Not quite sure if you mean it maliciously or not. “I’m just getting to know Nancy at the same time as I’m getting to know you. I’d think it’d be kinda cool if we all got along.” he said honestly. 

The two of you stop outside the classroom, needing the minute to wrap up the conversation.

“Steve..I really meant what I said about not saying anything. I just got here and want to make friends.”

It’s so honest and..almost sweet coming from you. And while Steve wanted to dive into that and reassure you that he too wants to be your friend. He has to put his girl first. But the longer he looked down at you, the more he struggled with saying anything against your eyes sparkling underneath the shitty school lighting.

Would they just do that everywhere?

“So you won’t say anything?” he asked finally, handing you back your keeper. 

 “Of course. It’s not like anyone is interested in what the new girl has to say anyway.”

He can hear the familiar sound of his teacher’s heels and doesn’t waste anymore time getting inside the class. Some kids give him the stink eye as he carefully jumped into his seat. A girl with light brown hair and blue eyes turned to openly glare at him before she turned back around. But he’s too worried about what you said to pay any real attention to that. 

How could you think that no one would be interested in what you had to say? Everything about you was so refreshing, cool, and completely more interesting than anything these dorks around the school had to say. Waiting for the right time, he couldn’t help but wait a second after the assignment was on the board before he leaned over to talk with you.

“You’re wrong by the way. About no one being interested in what you have to say.” 

The light from the window cast over your head, creating almost a halo effect around your head. Not to mention with your soft expression, you look beyond this world. He has to fight the smile that wants to spread on his face. Choosing to smirk instead to remain cool and collected.

 “I’m very interested.”

Turning back to face the board, he felt two emotions run through him. Proud for telling you the truth and worry. Because, why the hell did he need to tell you that?

“It’s totally frostbite.” whined Carol, making Steve roll his eyes. It’s been like this for five minutes now. And despite you and Nancy joining the lunch table, he felt like ditching early to avoid whatever mood Carol was in. 

“It’s a heated pool.” reasoned Tommy. Steve could only grow more frustrated at his friend’s gross behavior. Like the group would care at all about her leg.

“Well, it it’s not frostbite, then what is it?”

"Ugh, I don’t care what it is, it’s disgusting!” Steve exclaimed, breaking down finally. “Just get it off the table. We’re eating here.”

“Some of us.” you chimed in, offering your plate. Not one to pass on food, he joined Tommy in picking off the best bits from your plate. He hopes that you and Nancy aren’t too put off by his friends. 

“Hey, Tommy. When you left, did you see Barb?”

“What?”

“Barbara. She’s not here today.”

You poke your head out from the side, acknowledging Nancy for the first time. “She didn’t wait for you?” You sound genuinely concerned and Steve’s glad to see you taking this approach. 

Nancy shakes her head no and waits for an answer from Tommy. But from the careless look on his face, he knows his friend is gonna be an jerk about it.

“I seriously have no idea who you’re talking about.”

“Come on, don’t be an ass, man. Did you see her leave last night or not?” Steve asked, feeling bad for being right.

“No, she was gone when we left.” He answered finally. Steve noticed from the corner of his eyes that Carol had shifted. A look of amusement flickered onto her face.

“Probably couldn’t stand listening to all that moaning.” 

Steve nearly missed the smug expression on your face when he became distracted by the noises from his friends. He should be mad, especially since it wasn’t just him they were making fun of. But the ego boost is hard to ignore.

“Wow, you two must have had a really dull night to rehearse that.” There’s a teasing smirk on your face as you play around with your milk carton in your hand. “Is voyeurism something you two like doing as a couple?”

The two across from him instantly stopped laughing. Looking uncomfortable to have the joke be on them for once. Steve can’t believe you’re so quick with your remarks, making him wonder just how far and low you can go.

“Okay, chill.” Steve warned, noticing the familiar annoyed expression from Tommy.

“You could always call her house after school?” You said to Nancy next, making Steve thankful you’re keeping positive.  

He nodded his head, turning to look over at her. “I’m sure she’s fine. She’s probably just, like, skipping or something.”

Though the two of you tried to keep things light and hopeful, he could tell by the look on Nancy’s face that there was still a lingering doubt. Still, she returned a smile to him, that is until something caught her eye.

Following her gaze, Steve noticed you beside him, only your attention was towards the lunchroom doorways. Just why on Earth would you be waving at Jonathan Byers?

“We’ve got a problem.”

Steve had his focus on the C minus mark he had just gotten on his English test when Carol came over to speak with him. He crumbled up the paper into a ball, aiming it for the trashcan by his seat. “Give it to me.” he said, tongue sticking out as he tossed the paper into the bin. Perfect shot. 

He turned to his friend only to be surprised that she wasn’t alone. A pale girl with bright red hair was timidly at her side, giving him a small greeting while Carol frowned over at Steve. “Uh hi?” he waved, unsure who this girl was.

“This is Nicole.” Carol said, rolling her eyes. 

“Hi, I’m Stev-

“Steve Harrington.” Nicole finished, flashing him a toothy smile. “I know. We’re in Biology together…and Algebra II..and Stud-”

“He gets it, Nicole.” Carol snapped. The girl looked scared before Carol changed her expression to rest a hand on her arm. “Tell him about your elective.” she added more sweetly.

“Oh right.” she coughed, smiling again. “I take photography with Jonathan Byers.” 

“Okay,” Steve nodded, keeping his face neutral to wait for the point of this conversation to come finally. “That’s, uh, cool?”

“Give her a second.” Carol sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. 

“So I’m coming in this morning to check on a project that I had been working on. And I see Jonathan. Greet him and that’s when I saw it.”

Carol looked suddenly angry, like she was bracing for the worst answer and Steve couldn't help but feel nervous, looking between the two girls. “What did you see?”

“I saw a photo of Nancy Wheeler.”

Steve was surprised he was able to make it to the front of the school without exploding.

After everything had been explained in detail, Carol, Nicole, and later Tommy joined Steve on making his way to Jonathan’s car after the final bell had rung. They were supposed to wait out in the front for you and Nancy for tonight’s game. But now? Now things needed to be handled. 

It was his fault that you were all at his house. He had this stupid party where you guys thought you could relax and have fun, unaware that someone was watching and taking photos. The only thing stopping him from truly exploding was that he hadn’t seen the photos for himself. At least not yet.

The sight of Jonathan finally approaching the parking lot oddly brought out a calm and collected feeling over Steve. He knows what he needs to do. 

“Hey, man.” he said, getting off of the car.

“What’s going on?” Jonathan asked warily.

“Nicole here was, uh, telling us about your work.” 

“We’ve heard great things.” Carol added, Tommy chiming in just behind her. “Yeah, it sounds cool.”

Steve knew they were only going to instigate, make this whole situation a bigger deal. But he couldn’t help but join in on their sardonic approach. Feeling the anger creep into his words. “We’d just love to take a look. You know, as..connoisseurs of art.”

The glare that Jonathan was giving Steve only made his chest twist. How could he be the one who’s angry right now? Even if they were approaching this harshly, he was still wrong.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jonathan said quickly, trying to brush past them to get into his car. But Tommy was faster, quickly reaching onto his bag before Jonathan could even turn around to see. 

“Oh, no?”

“Hey. Please give me my bag.” Jonathan asked, reaching out to Tommy. But his friend passed the bag to him, giving Steve the final piece on the judgment he’s been waiting to place on Byers for a while.

“Man, he’s like totally trembling,” he pointed out. “He must really have something to hide.”

Turning around, he placed the bag on the trunk of the car, rummaging through until he felt the smooth surface of the photographs. “Ahh, here we go.” Steve said, fanning the photos. One look down and he’s already feeling his stomach turn.

“Oh, man.”

“Let me see.” Tommy asked, already eager to see. Steve splits the stack, handing some to his friend as he continues to look on. “Dude!”

“I was looking for my brother..” Tried Jonathan.

“NO. No, this is called stalking.” Steve said, unsure why he’d even lie.

A particular one catches Steve’s eye. It’s the two of you deep inside the house. Almost blurry from how distant it was, but there was something about your face..he couldn’t shake it off. He stuffed it into his pocket. Picking through the rest until he noticed the Nancy ones..that’s when he knew what he had to do.

“What’s going on?” 

It’s odd timing for you and Nancy to finally show up. But when you guys get close, he can see right away the worried and perplexed faces etched on both your faces. 

“Here’s the starring ladies.” Tommy scoffed.

“What?” You and Nancy asked at once. 

“This creep was spying on us last night.” Carol explained as she passed the photos to the two of you. He notices right away the crestfallen look on your face, looking between Jonathan and the photos. He thinks back to the cafeteria where you waved at him. Were you both friends? Were you maybe why he was there in the first place? But judging from the ones he took of Nancy, he was sure it wasn’t for just that.

“He was probably gonna save this one for later.”

“Shit, Jonathan.” you said in frustration as you flung the paper to the ground. A disapproving look on your face as you joined in on their disgusted emotions. Nancy remained silent, looking down at her photos in shock. It was then that Steve knew he had to make his move for you guys. For all of you.

With a click to his tongue, Steve stepped forward towards Jonathan, looking down at him. “See, you can tell that he knows it was wrong, but man, that’s the thing about perverts. It’s hardwired into them. You know, they just can’t help themselves.” His hands wrapped around the worn out shirt that Jonathan had worn well out of its best days.

Steve’s surprised when he sees you step forward. “Look, I think he gets it, Steve.”

This is your first week, he thinks. And despite your usual cool nature, he figured this isn’t something you’d want to be a part of. Unfortunately, because of the party, you are. So he pointed a finger at you, asking for silence before he went on tearing the photographs quickly. 

Tommy, who doesn’t take anything so serious, began to laugh behind him. The familiar wheezing laugh as he enjoyed watching Steve’s approach. “So,” Steve concluded. “We’ll have to take away his toy.”

Nancy is next to call out for him, making something in the pit of his stomach turn. But he went on with it anyway, needing to do something to make sure this wouldn’t happen again. Behind him Jonathan pleaded for his camera.

“Steve, let’s just leave. I think the public humiliation was enough, don’t you think?” you said, voice sounding just as desperate as the boy’s did. Again, Jonathan tried to reach out for the camera when Tommy stepped in. Ready for action. But Steve quickly called him back. Feeling different inside of him. Something..mean.

“It’s okay.” he smiled, holding the camera out for Jonathan. “Here you go, man.”

The boy’s brown eyes shifted between Steve and Tommy before he took a step over to grab the camera. But Steve was faster, and let the item fall quickly from his grip. All around the group gasped. Tommy’s taunting laugh being the only commentary from everyone else. 

Oddly, Steve did not feel the satisfaction that he had been hoping would come from that.

“Come on, let’s go. The game’s about to start.”

He turned on his heel, making a beeline over to you when he noticed the hard frown on your face. He didn’t know what exactly could make you look so cold and mad, but he didn’t take the chance to leave you there. Gripping at your shoulders as he pushed you down the hill to the school. 

“You didn’t have to do things like that, Steve.”

His hands gripped tighter around your shoulders. Confused by how you were upset with him in all this. When you two reached the bottom of the hill, he finally let you go, letting him see your glare once again.

“How would you have done it?” He asked, trying to control his temper. “Because I feel like you’re missing the fact that he took photographs of us!”

You rubbed your hands over your face and Steve can clearly see there’s an inner conflict going on. “You didn’t have to break his camera.” 

“The creep is lucky that’s all I did to him.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the photograph of the two of you, slapping it down on your hands for you to see. He needed you to understand the severity of all this. 

But the look on your face is almost disappointing. He’s not sure if it's him or the photo itself. But you’re turning to look back at Byers and he noticed just now that Nancy hasn’t joined them down the hill.

“I’m only looking out for you two. We’re friends now.”

Leaving it at that, he called out for Nancy. Ready to leave this parking lot and move on to better things than discuss these damn photos.

Like the party, he’s sensing the discomfort from the group. Well, from you and Nancy that is. Tommy and Carol are happily leaning over each other, talking about their day as if everything were normal. 

Steve wanted to pretend too. Even joining in on the conversation. But he can see the look on Nancy’s face as she gets more uncomfortable. It’s only five minutes before the game when Nancy suddenly pulled away from the locker she had been leaning on. 

Steve felt stunned, watching as she had begun to leave without a word to anyone else.

“Whoa, Nance, where you going?”

She thankfully stopped, turning a bit to face the group. “I totally forgot.” she stammered, unbelievably making an excuse on the spot. “I told my mom I would, um..I would do something with her.”

“Well, what do you mean?” Steve asked, getting up from the floor. “The game’s about to start.”

“I’m sorry!” she called, not sparing a glance as she quickly made her exit. Steve felt his heart sink a bit. Not sure if he should go after her or not. Just when he thinks he couldn’t feel any worse, you’re slowly edging your way past him.

“Not you too.” he frowned. Watching your usual collected expression only shifts a little to show a bit of discomfort again.

“Well, her little brother is friends with my cousin so I actually gotta head to her house and pick him up.” The smile that tugged on your lips seemed forced and Steve fought to try and fight against your excuse. “I’ll make sure she’s okay.” you said lowly to him before waving him off.

“What the hell is wrong with them?” Steve called out. Confused by how two girls he was getting close with could suddenly just freeze him out.

“Maybe they were freaked out when you went all psycho on the psycho.” Tommy suggested, a small smirk on his lips. 

“Oh give me a break.” he groaned back.

“What’d you expect, dating Miss Perfect? Not to mention this being one hell of a welcome wagon to the new girl.”

Steve stayed still looking down the hall again, hopeful that one of you might turn around. But the lingering thought couldn’t escape his head now. What was gonna happen next?

The next day doesn’t start off the way he had hoped it would. 

It was early in the morning when he came downstairs. A rare occasion of finding his parents both at the breakfast table. He mumbled a quick hello, reaching over for a banana in the fruit bowl while overhearing his parents talk about recent news. Apparently they discovered the body of Will Byers and there would be a funeral service for him soon. His Mother wasn’t taking it well, going as far as to deny that the body was his.

He can’t help but think about Jonathan Byers. He left the house that morning without eating.

Later on at school, Nancy had pulled him aside for a private conversation. She ended up going back to his house the night before while he was at the game. Desperate to try and see if Barb was still around. Which sounded insane, but not as insane as the man in the faceless mask. 

Eventually the conversation turned for the worst when he realized the police were going to be involved. Which meant everyone was going to be dragged in this. This party was supposed to just be a fun night! Now that the Hawkins Police department was going to investigate, his dad would surely murder him. 

Nancy didn’t seem to understand that. And while Steve knew that she was more worried about her friend, he couldn’t help but panic about his own situation first. Not when his asshole of Dad would take away everything from him. Not to mention he doesn’t even know what would happen if the cops find out about the beers. It wasn’t just his ass on the line. 

But Nancy’s focus is solely on Barb and a part of him understands. But god damn if he wasn’t a bit freaked out.

It’s hours later at lunch and he’s feeling a twist of emotions. He needed to apologize to Nancy, but also get a word in on what the hell these guys were gonna ask him. But since his girlfriend decided to disappear, he figured the next best person to ask would be you.

So he snatched you away from the lunch lines and dragged you behind the gym. No one would be there for another twenty minutes and he could get some information out of you. But ten minutes have passed now and Steve felt like he had to drag every answer out of you.

“And what did you say after that?”

“Steve, do we really have to do this?”

“They’re going to ask me questions next and I wanna know what I’m heading into.” You glanced back at him, expression hard and sort of sad if he were being honest.

“Trust me, they’re not going to grill into you.”

He can feel his temper rising up. An unusual feeling he had for you as of lately. “You can’t be serious. They know we drank! They’re going to give me the third degree and my ass is grass the moment the old man finds out.” Again you look off distantly and Steve can’t help as he pressed on again. “Carol said you looked pissed off by the time you came back into class. So obviously there’s something you’re not telling me.”

That only seemed to upset you, making you roll your eyes at him. “Are you having your friends report on me? Carol isn’t even in my class.”

Steve narrowed his eyes, trying not to admit that he did sort of have Carol keep an eye on things but also not want to tell you that.“Okay, so it was Nicole who reported to Carol who came and told me. But only because she’s freaked out too!”

You turned away from him and he immediately moved to stand in front of you, feeling a little pathetic at how desperate he had become right now. “What did you say? Please?”

The glare is hard on your face and he realized he might have pushed you a bit too far. “Look, it’s safe to say they’re aware of some of us drinking. I don’t know what Nancy told them but they know.” Picking up your bag, you pointed over at him. “If you blab to them about just who was drinking, be sure to leave me out of it!”

There was something in your voice. Something scared that had Steve pausing his panic to focus on you. Reaching out, he spun you to face him again. “Are you okay?”

“Okay? I’m peachy fucking keen.”

The sharpness of your voice has him letting go of you. Holding his hands out defensively. “Whoa, chill out there spitfire. I’m just checking if you’re alright.” He watched as different emotions flickered across your face before you sighed.

“I didn’t mean to get mad. It’s just hard dealing with people like the cops when you have them know your history.”

“Know your history?” he asked, curious to hear what could make you so worried.

And that’s when you told him everything. 

From your ex, the party, the accident. Steve couldn’t fully wrap his mind around the fact that a girl like you could have had so much trouble in just one year. A part of him felt slightly ashamed for momentarily judging you. Because the more you went on, the more he could hear the regret and sadness. 

Something that tugged heavy on his heart and when he heard how hard it was with Hawkin’s PD questioning you, he couldn’t help but move forward. Wrapping his arms around you in a hug. It’s awkward, and he hates that you might not have really wanted one, but he hopes that it gives away some sort of comfort to know that he does feel bad. 

“I’m sorry,” he said, remembering he was supposed to reply to you. “I didn’t know that any of this would happen.”

Your quietness makes him think he might’ve taken it too far. But when he slowly pulled away, he noticed that your eyes were back to that familiar spark. 

So they’d just always sparkle like that, huh.

“Why is it that when I’m around you a mess seems to follow?” 

“I wish I could say I knew.” he chuckled wondering how you managed to change the mood so easily to bring it back to normal. It was troubling. Almost fitting for a ‘scoundrel’ like you. “You’re trouble, that’s for sure.”

“Come on, that’s not fair. You literally just found out my story.”

“Sorry, if you get to tease me for embarrassing myself, I get to call you trouble.”

You’re teasingly punching him, making him have to bite down on his lip to stop himself from grinning at the simple affection. He nudged you back, having to find some sort of way to return the touch. But you’re soon after stopping him, slightly worried again.

“Promise me something.”

“What?”

“Please don’t tell anyone else my story? It’s..it’s not my finest moment. I just want to move past it.”

Oh God, she’s pouting. How the hell is she so cute while pouting?

He had to pinch the side of his thigh to keep his thoughts at bay. Remembering he’s supposed to be contributing to this conversation instead of gawking at you. Crossing an X over his chest, he nodded to your request. “Promise. As long as you don’t tell anyone just how freaked out I was about being questioned next.”

He held his pinky out, feeling a warmth spread inside his chest at your reaction to the childish gesture. 

“Can’t believe I’m saying this but I actually feel a little bit better after talking to you.”

He’s surprised, not really hearing that from people often. He hopes he’s able to do it again if he has to. 

“What did I tell you, trouble? I’m a pretty great guy.”

The two of you part ways after lunch and he thinks about how much he enjoyed the warmth he felt after hanging out with you. It reminded him of how he felt with Nancy. If he was able to fix things with you, maybe tomorrow he could figure out to fix things with Nancy and get everyone back on the same page again.

There was a funeral service for Will Byers, and he was a little bit shocked to find out the two of you were attending. Putting a slight detour on his plans. For a second, he remembered Jonathan Byers. The guy who not a day ago was stalking him and his friends. 

Despite the ick Steve felt from everything, he couldn’t help but feel bad. No one should have to endure a loss like this. Even creeps..

It’s around late noon that he made his way to Nancy’s house. Hopeful that she had returned home early from the funeral. 

He’s happy to see Nancy again, but there’s something off. Something that’s different about her and it’s not just her recent attempt to join the softball team. He’s smart enough to know when someone’s avoiding him, but was sure that Nancy really did accept his apology. So why did he have this sick feeling in his stomach?

There’s a chance that everyone could have hung out today and he’s annoyed that Tommy and Carol decided to have a date night, making plans with them to push farther into the night. He hoped that you’d be the only friend of his to come through. 

To his dismay, the phone call with you is just as much of a failure as his visit with Nancy. Not only did he leave with no plans, but you thought he only called as a last resort. Which wasn't the case, but he can see why you’d think that.

Today was beginning to feel shittier than ever. And he wasn’t sure if it’d turn around any time soon.

“I just don’t understand why we’re coming out here.” Carol said with the smack of her gum in her teeth. “She obviously doesn’t wanna talk to you.”

“That’s..that’s not it.” Steve defended, knowing Nancy wouldn’t even have kissed him if she wasn’t forgiving him.

“Oh, really? Because no girl would ever blow off King Steve.”

“She was acting weird. I mean, something was wrong.” Her whole demeanor was nervous now that he thought about it. He tried to play it off as her being on edge from coming from a funeral and Barb still missing. But something in his gut told him otherwise.

“So what? Like, you’re worried about her?”

“What?”

“Aw, you are.” cooed Carol. “Aw, Steve has a heart.”

“Would you just–STOP.”

Tommy finally chimed in with his own amusement. “Stevey’s in love!”

“Would you just shut up?” Steve said, growing irritated. “SHUT UP!”

The two awkwardly grew quiet from his outburst and it dawned on Steve that he’s never really acted this seriously about a girl before. But Nancy was special. She was worth the teasing from his friends because she was a nice girl. Whom Steve really needed to fix things with. So, he parked his car in front of the Wheeler house, and made his way down the hill to the familiar window side. 

He would just say that he was there to check up on her, offer a ride to get a milkshake or something, and maybe figure out how to prove that everything was–

Oh.

Through Nancy’s window, Steve caught sight of something he didn’t think he’d ever see. Nancy and Jonathan, sitting together on her bed.

He sat beside her, placing a sweater over her shoulders as he gently caressed her back. The sight nearly caused Steve to yell out. Ask what the hell they were even doing together alone in her room. But he couldn’t. All he could even hear right now was the heavy sound of his heart beat.

Not saying a word, he slowly pulled away from her window. Climbing quietly down from the roof top before he dashed over to his car. 

Carol and Tommy were whispering close together when Steve climbed into his seat.

“What’s the verdict?” Tommy asked, crossing his arms over his chest. “We waiting for your girl to join us or what?”

The three of them were all sitting outside the liquor store. Steve, not even having touched his can of beer that Tommy managed to swipe for him, watched as the other two paced in front of his car.

“Can’t let her get away with this.” Tommy chuckled, angry for his friend. “That shit isn’t cool.”

“Seriously, you’ve put up with her dorky shit for how long and she does this?” 

He wanted to tell him they were wrong. He didn’t put up with anything from Nancy, he wanted to do the things she did because he was interested too. But every word about her kept dying at the end of his tongue. 

“You know what man? Screw that slut, we should just hang out anyway.” His friend returned to his side, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “Let’s go get you Henderson. She’s a perfect spare chick to keep around and we all know she digs you.”

“Yeah, at least she’s more interesting than Wheeler.” Carol added. “At least with a fashion sense.”

“Stop.” Steve gritted. Not wanting either one of the girls to be spoken about like this. “It’s not like that with her.” He glanced over at Tommy with a glare before shaking his head. “Besides, she was busy tonight too.”

“What the hell can she even be up to? Who does she know?” Tommy frowned, unsure of anything about you.

“She’s got family here. Maybe she’s off with them.” Steve countered. “But really, she was sort of annoyed that I called her last minute. She could just be just avoiding me too.” His self loathing was getting the best of him, and he really wished he’d just shut up.

“You know it’s weird, I heard she doesn’t even have a car. She rides a bike to school.” Carol mused, picking at the ends of her nails. “All those expensive clothes and she can’t afford a car?”

“Maybe she steals expensive clothing.” Tommy smirked, looking over to his girlfriend. “It would explain why she’s forced to live here. Nothing good to grab at our stores.”

“Ooh a thief would make sense! Maybe that’s why she was trying to steal Stevey boy over here.” Carol laughed, pushing at Steve lightly. The two continued to spew out ludacris theories on why you were here, making the focus turn worse. Having enough, Steve bolt up from the hood of his car, chucking the beer can across the empty lot.

“She’s here because she got in trouble for drunk driving, you idiots.” he sighed, looking out and away from the two. What they were forming together was a lot worse than the truth and Steve was tired of it.

“Drunk driving? That’s it?” Tommy asked with a small chuckle. “What an absolute moron. Can’t even handle her liquor.” Carol joined in on laughing with him, making Steve’s anger rise enough to turn around on them.

“It wasn’t that! She was having a bad night. Okay? We all have shitty nights and sometimes it leads to us forgetting where we are and how we crashed our cars. I’ve been close to doing that and so have you, Tommy!” 

“Geez.” Tommy gaped, looking annoyed with Steve's sudden outburst. “Crashed a car too? God she’s a mess.”

“Yeah, well, everyone has their worst moments. It happens to be one of hers so maybe hold off on accusing her of other stupid shit.” He pushed Tommy a bit to get off his car, going over to the driver’s side to unlock it so the other two would follow the same. “Can we please stop talking about her? I honestly have so much shit going on in my head right now. I don’t need that either.”

“Worse than Wheeler?”

Steve ignored Tommy’s question to turn on the car, looking down at his steering wheel before he glanced at his friends. “No, Nancy is worse right now. No one gets to trick me like that.” he frowned, feeling something vile come up in his chest. 

“So what do you think we should do about it?” Carol asked, peeking her head over. But Steve didn’t have an answer for her. He was so upset that all he could think about was taking off and driving far away from Hawkins. Away from all the bullshit and pain he felt right now.

“Right now, I just want to get out of here.” he sighed. Missing the way his two friends shared a sinister look.

Steve really believed he had to be the world’s biggest idiot today. 

He had received a call from Tommy early that morning to meet him over at the Hawk. Something not quite out of the ordinary, but from the chuckling his friend had done on the other line, he should have known it was nothing good. 

A while later he approached the small group with his hands stuffed into his pockets. He had to work on figuring out what to do about Nancy. But the closer he approached the group, the more he noticed they seemed to figure what to do for him.

“Shit.” he whispered. Looking up at the vandalized marquee. The bright red words seemed to be taunting him. 

Nancy the Slut Wheeler.

“Like it?” Tommy chuckled, as he climbed down the ladder he had been on. He wrapped an arm around Steve and extended his hand out towards the sign. “Now they all know.” The two girls quickly pushed the ladder away, leaning it against the building before they joined the two boys again. 

Steve is honestly stunned at the sight. Not sure what could possess Tommy to go this far but also not quite sure if he felt it was right. All he knew was that even as the group led him away, he felt like a shell of a man.

Why the hell didn’t I stop him?

“You look sick.” Carol chuckled, giving Steve a slight shove. “It’s not like she didn’t deserve this.”

“Yeah, man.” Tommy said, throwing an arm over his girlfriend. “Think of it as you giving the town a public service announcement.” That caused Carol to burst into laughter, slapping Tommy playfully against the chest.

In the back, the timid Nicole joined in on their laughter. As if she had any other choice.

“Whatever.” Steve muttered. “What’s done is done.”

Tommy stepped up to one of the blocked off doors of the building next door, shaking his spray can a couple of times before he started to write out his next message. He barely finished his sentence when shit really hit the fan. 

Nancy found him shortly after the work had been done, and he’s shocked to find you trailing after down the alley. But all he can focus on is the hurt look on Nancy’s face. No, not hurt. Heart broken.

But Steve doesn’t stand down. Not when he didn’t do anything wrong. All he did was say a couple of wrong things and he still got cheated on. How could someone nice like Nancy Wheeler do that? 

The words between them feel useless. He’s already made up his mind. Nancy didn’t deserve to have sympathy. Not when she was this big a liar.

“Look, I don’t know what you think you saw, but it wasn’t like that.” 

“What, you just let him into your room to..study?”

Her stuttering response has his heart aching even more. How could he have fallen for her? How could he have felt sorry even for a second when she was just..using him.

“Go to hell, Nancy.” He’s about to turn around and leave the girl when you step forward. . 

“Are you seriously going to just say that and not even listen to her side of the story?”

“Not sure it’s a story worth listening to, trouble.” he scoffed, feeling even more disappointment. How could you side with her? You were smarter than that, you’d have to have realized. Unless.. “Why the hell are you with them? Were you in on that shit too?”

Seeing your reaction was almost as bad as Nancy’s. Because instead of the hurt he was expecting; there was anger.

Jonathan stepped in now, grabbing hold of you and Nancy in an attempt to get you guys away. “Come on, guys, let’s just leave.” The smart thing to do. But apparently Steve wasn’t going to play the smart guy today.

“You know what, Byers? I’m actually kind of impressed. I always took you for a queer, but I guess you’re just a little screw-up like your father.” 

The words felt like venom on his tongue. A type of taste in his mouth that he rarely felt. But seeing Jonathan be the reasonable one amongst everyone made him mad. Even jealous. It wasn’t fair. This whole thing wasn’t fair. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, that house is full of screw-ups. You know, I guess I shouldn’t really be surprised. A bunch of screw ups in your family.”

The boy in front of him stopped and Steve can’t stop himself from egging him on. Giving his shoulder a push with every word he threw at him. Before him, he could see you trying to tug at Jonathan’s arm, giving him a knowing look.

“I’m sorry I have to be the one to tell you, but the Byers, their family, it’s a disgrace to the entire–”

That’s when shit in the fan. Again.

Never in Steve’s three years of school would he think that Jonathan Byers knew how to fight. But fuck if this kid knew how to hit hard. Of course, it made sense. He didn’t tell him off to get a slap like he did with Nancy. No, he wanted this fight to count.

So while Jonathan gave him his all, Steve would do that same.

But to his dismay, his all isn’t enough. Just like his relationship. Whatever he was giving wasn’t enough to win. He was on the floor, holding his arms up to help cover up some of the blows that Jonathan was pounding down on him. Various voices calling out for the fight to stop. From how he felt inside, he hoped Jonathan wouldn’t.

“Come on, dude. The cops!”

At one point, the two boys are pulled apart and Steve is able to pick himself back up from the floor. Tommy began to pull him away when he looked back to the chaos they were about to leave behind.

“Henderson!” called out Officer Callahan. “I knew you’d be in this mess.”

Nodding to Tommy, he went over to you, picking up at your arm while Tommy got the other and helped you up from the ground. While he knew you’d probably get pissed about leaving the other two behind, he couldn’t help but selfishly take you.

He had some questions of his own.

“What the hell was all that?!” 

You didn’t even hesitate to break apart from him the moment you guys made it to his car. Steve felt his anger swell up. Either that or it was his actual face swelling up from the beating he just took. 

“What the hell was all that? What the hell is with you? Why were you with Byers in the first place?!” He stepped forward, glaring down at you. “I thought you knew to stay away from him.”

“Excuse me for making my own decisions, your highness. I’m not exactly gonna stop talking to someone just because you said so!”

There was that damn nickname again. Now he knew it was used for nothing but disdain towards him. It was ridiculous. How could you be so biased towards the others when he met you first? 

“Oh cut the crap. Why are you bothering covering up for Nancy? I saw them with my own damn eyes. Stop covering for the girl you barely know!”

“It seems like I’m not the only one who barely knows her considering you didn’t even give her a chance to explain herself.”

“I didn’t exactly stop her from speaking. She did that on her own.”

He watched as your eyes scanned over towards his friends. “Not everyone wants to air out their stories for your voyeuristic friends, Harrington.” The three of them gasped at your reaction. Carol instantly pulled Tommy closer.

“My friends are just getting the truth out there. She’s a slut and a liar. And you’re a bitch for siding with her.”

Now, he knew wasn’t thinking entirely smart today. But he really regretted letting that slip out.

His back hit hard against the car door, making him wonder if you were strong enough to break the glass. But his blind stupid anger kept him feeling anything else at the moment. He could handle another beating at this point.

“You take that back! I have done nothing but be a god damn friend. In case you don’t remember, you even begged me to befriend her too. Now that I’m doing that I’m suddenly a bitch because it’s not what you want?”

“What I want is some god damn honesty around here!”

And boy was honesty what he got. Every word you said felt like some sick truth and he wanted to speak up and fight that not everything about him is like that. But Tommy decided to make it his turn at being the dumb one and opened up his mouth next.

“If he’s such a dick, why do you have such a big crush on him?”

“..What the hell did you say?”

God, he’s so completely fucked. The anger on your face is this beautiful rage that is unfortunately directed at him. He can’t even function properly as he threw out any excuse he could. 

He didn’t think you were pathetic. He thought you were cool. Not only that but you actually treated him like a normal friend. Something he didn’t even get with people that have known him for years. How can he properly explain that when he’s with his asshole friends he makes asshole jokes? 

Things just take a turn for the worse and he can’t help but panic as Tommy had that familiar glint in his eyes. He stepped towards you, giving Steve a quick wink before he spoke up again. 

“..He actually thought you were a lot worse. Especially after you told him about getting so drunk you didn’t even remember crashing into another car.” He watched in shock as Tommy moved to wrap an arm around your shoulder. “We didn’t take you for a forgetful drunk. Didn’t we, Stevie?”

“Promise me something.”

“What?”

“Please don’t tell anyone else my story? It’s..it’s not my finest moment. I just want to move past it.”

No no no. This was bad. This was so completely beyond bad. How could he have forgotten that slip up? His mind had been all over the place and he never..he never meant for that to get thrown back at you.

“Tommy, just back off, okay? I didn’t say it like that.” Steve said, trying to reach out for you. He needed to get you out of here. Away from the people that were only going to try and hurt you until you felt like complete and utter shit.

Just apologize. He thought.

“Then tell me, Steve. Just how did you say it?”

“It doesn’t matter, it’s not like it’s important anyway.”

It really doesn’t. He’d never think bad of you. Not about that. But his pathetic inner turmoil caused him to miss out on the look on your face. Because the next thing he knows, you’re back to being calm again. 

“You know what, you’re right Steve.” 

The group sobered up quickly at that, not thinking that would have been your reaction. “Right about what?” he asked. But from the cool and collected tone in your voice, Steve knew whatever answer he’d get right now was going to be something they were all unprepared for. 

He’d have thought he was living in a movie with how quick and calculated all your words were. Never had he seen his two friends look so taken back with someone’s insults. By the glare on Tommy’s face, he knew that he was beyond mad. But for once, they’re actually speechless.

“..and lastly, your royal highness.”

You approached him slowly. Like a lioness getting ready for her prey. Only this time, he’s the one in your line of attack.

“It’s actually hilarious to think that you would assume I liked you. You, a small town hick with barely a career in basketball. Who gets drunk on a Tuesday night because his absent parents leave him alone in the house. I mean really, is that someone you think I’d like?”

He can’t find it in himself to call your words cruel. They hurt like hell, but they were all true. But still, as much as Steve liked to think he wasn’t that much of a smart guy. The one thing he could always tell was when a girl liked him. And with you, he felt it there. Right from the start.

“You like me..I know you do.” He forced the words out, feeling how tense his whole body got.

“Perhaps that’s what you wished for, but unfortunately, I’m no longer interested in dating pathetic high school boys. I left that preference in California.” Your finger grazed at his jaw and he felt himself gulp at the fire your fingers left behind on his skin.“See, the next time I date a guy, he’s gonna have to be really special. And with you, I can’t get that. You’ll graduate high school, work for your dad, and be known only as the boy who used to be relevant.”

You stepped back finally and Steve could feel himself be able to breathe again. But too quickly are your parting words coming out and he felt his chest ache again. 

“Hate to break it to you, Harrington. But the only thing big about you, is your hideous head of hair.”

And with that you walked off leaving the entire group jaw slacked at your vicious verbal attack that he thinks he might not ever get over.

The group is left sort of in shambles by the time they finally leave the area. Nicole was even stunned enough that she left to go home early. Steve couldn’t help but wish he’d do the same. Especially after Tommy and Carol got back to talking. 

The only break he got from their spew of insults towards you was when he stopped over at the Fair Mart. Asking Tommy to get him something for his head without having to go inside and freak everyone out. 

“Here,” said his friend a few moments later. “You owe me a dollar-twenty.” 

Steve doesn’t even reply, he just cracked open the pain relief and shot back a couple of pills. Hopeful for the effects to kick in as soon as they could. Now that he was done fighting and getting yelled at, he was starting to feel the way his face looked.

“Don’t worry, he’ll need more than aspirin when we’re done with him.” Tommy reassured him. 

“Yeah,” Carol scoffed. “If the creep ever gets out. The cops should just lock him up forever.” 

Steve brought the cool can of coke up to his eye, feeling the cold can take off some of the ache that was swelling up. Meanwhile Carol continued to mimic Jonathan beside him. Not even caring if Steve bothered to show interest or not.

“He probably had that same look whenever he killed his brother, right?” Tommy laughed. Something vile twisted in Steve’s stomach. And this time, he was sure it was vomit wanting to come up. Since when had his friends even thought this way? Sure, they could be jerks but this? This was just…cruel..

“Oh, God, I just got an image of him making that face while he and Nancy are screwing.”

Okay, that’s enough.

“Carol, for once in your life, shut your damn mouth!”

His two friends instantly stopped laughing, not at all ready for Steve’s outburst.

“..What?”

“Hey, what’s your problem, man?”

He finally turned to look at them, truly ashamed and disgusted that he’s included these people for so long in his life. He couldn’t do this anymore. Impressing them and pretending to be cool about everything was not worth it if he was left feeling this shitty.

“You’re both assholes.” he exclaimed. “That’s my problem.”

“Are you serious right now, man?” Tommy asked, not even aware if his own friend was being honest or not. But Steve had to stick this through. 

“Yeah, I’m serious.” he answered finally, giving his friend a shove as he made his way over to his car door. “You shouldn't have done that.”

“Done what?”

“You know what!”

“You mean call her out for what she really is?” Tommy asked, squaring up to Steve. “That’s funny, because I don’t remember you asking me to stop.”

“I should’ve put that spray paint right down your throat.” Steve said low, anger building up inside. 

“What the hell, Steve?” Carol frowned.

“You know, neither of you ever cared about her. You never even liked her, because she’s not miserable like you two. She actually cares about other people.”

“The slut with a heart of gold!” Carol retorted, obviously fed up with Steve’s insults. But he can’t help but feel more upset with Carol’s useless words. 

“I told you to watch your mouth!” he yelled, pointing a finger at the girl. Tommy was faster than that and quickly moved in to push Steve against the car. 

“Hey! I don’t know what’s gotten into you, man, but you don’t talk to her that way.”

“Get out of my face.” Steve warned with a shove back. But again, Tommy is fast to grip onto Steve’s jacket, getting close to Steve’s face. 

“Or what?” he grunted. “You gonna fight me now, too? Huh? Because you couldn’t take Jonathan Byers..so I wouldn’t recommend that.” 

In a way, Steve knew he was right. Today wouldn’t be the day he had a win and he knew when to back down. But that didn’t mean he was done talking just yet. “She was right, you know.” he sniffed, fixing his jacket once Tommy let go.

“Who was right?” Tommy said with a glare.

“Henderson. She was right. You guys are just pathetic assholes with nothing remotely intelligent to say.”

“Like we give a shit what that drunkie thinks.” Tommy frowned. 

“Come Monday the school’s gonna know all about her bender anyway.” Carol chimed in after him. 

Steve couldn’t even imagine how you’d react if that got to spreading around. For once, he didn’t mind playing the asshole one more time.

“Yeah? ‘Cause if that happens, I’ll be sure to let loose a couple of details about the two of you. Right? Stuff you guys wouldn’t want to get out.” 

“You don’t have anything, Steve.” Tommy said, crossing his arms. 

“No? So you’d be okay with the school finding out your Mom had to beg Coach Troy to let you on the team?” He turned to Carol and tapped his bloody nose lightly. “Or about your little freshman year glow up, Carol?” 

The girl paled a bit and Steve shook his head one last time at the sight of them before he turned to get in his car. Tommy made it a point to help shove Steve inside. “Here, let me get the door for you, buddy.” he hissed, slamming it shut. 

He started up his car, trying his best to ignore the last words his now ex best friend began to spew at him. But no matter how loud his car was or how fast he left. He still managed to hear one last few haunting words.

“Run away, Stevie boy! Run away! Just like you always do!”

Without even realizing it, Steve had found himself parking near the front of the Hawke again. One of the employees there had taken it on himself to begin trying to scrub off the words from the marquee. The younger one below held onto the ladder tightly. 

Steve took a few steps forward before their conversation perked in his ears. “Do you think that girl is really gonna sue us?” asked the younger man.

“God, I hope not. Her friend seemed hellbent on it though.”

Somehow he felt like he knew just who they were talking about. But his presence cut off their words and the older man stared down at Steve finally.

“Need a hand?”

“Did you have something to do with this?” asked the employee.

Yes. And I need to fix it now.

“I just..I wanna help.”

The man gave Steve a weary look before he slowly climbed down from the ladder. Making the boy thankful that there wasn’t any further questioning. He shed off his jacket and grabbed onto the rag before he climbed his way up.

The younger employee stared at Steve questioningly from below. But Steve ignored their gazes as he rolled up his sleeves and went to work on making things right.

After a good hour of scrubbing. The remnants of his mistake had finally been wiped off the marquee. And though Steve was sure his wrist was cramped, the weight that came off his chest from having the sign cleaned was worth it. 

He’s back in his car about to drive over and see if Nancy had made it back home from everything when he thought things over. There was no use in trying to fix anything up with her or even you for that matter until he got this green eyed monster off his back. 

The next thing he’d do is fix things with Jonathan Byers.

For some reason, he held importance to the both of you. Maybe it was something he hadn’t seen. Something he didn’t hear. But after everything that’s happened between all of you. The two of you were defending him.

If there was something there, he’d just have to find what it was on his own. 

So he drove down the unfamiliar road. Glancing now and then at the houses that were shabby and shadowed by large trees. They were aged homes. Ones that have possibly been in the town a lot longer than his own. But there was one heavy difference between the houses on his street and the ones here. 

These homes had families.

The warm glow of lights dimmed through each window. Reminding Steve that there was such a normal thing as a happy family. Ones that spent time together, and loved each other. Like Jonathan’s. No, they weren’t a usual family. But even with just the three of them, they were closer than anything Steve could ever have.

Pulling up to the Byers’ home, Steve thought hard about what he could even say to Jonathan. Sorry would be a good start. But how exactly could he even get to saying that? He’d have to figure it out now because he was done feeling this shitty. He just wanted to make things right again.

He raised up a fist against the wood door. Ready to face the music.

What he wasn’t ready for was coming across you, Nancy, and the giant faceless monster. 

He’d have been more shocked at the state of the home if not for the sight of the three of you geared up and ready to fight an otherworldly creature. Nancy had tried to get him to leave, a sign that she still cared about him. But you? He couldn’t quite place if you were worried for him or annoyed by his presence. 

Even after being forced down the hall into one of the bedrooms, he felt like he was only being a burden to the three of you. But you’re standing in front of him, almost protecting him. How the hell were you going to do that with a knife?

When nothing happened after entering the room, the three ahead ventured out in the hall. Leaving Steve with his mind falling apart as he scrambled after you. The group is acting like what they witnessed was normal and he can’t help but feel his reserve breaking.

Nancy is holding onto a gun, ready to shoot the thing. You’re wandering around with the knife ready for the next attack and Jonathan is behind adjusting his grip on the bat. Why the hell isn’t anyone calling for help?

“This is crazy. This is crazy. THIS IS CRAZY! THIS IS CRAZY!”

Bolting for the phone, Steve attempted to make a call to the police when Nancy rushed over behind him. Getting the phone out of his hands just in time to throw it to the ground. 

“What are you do- What are you doing? Are you insane?!”

“It’s going to come back!” she warned, glaring at the boy. “So you need to leave. RIGHT. NOW.”

Leave? How the hell can he be the only one to leave? Did you guys want to die? 

His eyes found their way to Jonathan in the living room. Eyes sad but watchful of his surroundings. He wasn’t going to leave this home. He turned around, finding his gaze to fall on you next. 

Even with the hard look on your face he could tell there was a hint of fear. You were too smart to put yourself in such a dangerous situation. You had to think differently. “Come on.” he whispered, silently pleading for you to change their minds. But you didn’t hesitate to shake your head no. Moving over to stand beside Nancy now.

“Leave now, Steve.”

Hearing that felt almost as hard as the words he heard earlier today. But he agreed. Moving out of the room and out the front door in a flash. His fear took over any instinct he might have as he ran out towards his car. 

He barely managed to get the door to his car open when he saw it. The warm lights in the house. Only this time, they were blinking. Going in and out in a berserk like way. The same way they did when the faceless monster had emerged into the home. 

There were so many things running through his mind. How the three of you were barely scrambling together to fight this thing. He’d be leaving Nancy, you, hell, even Jonathan. Running away to get himself to safety like always.

The blinking lights began to pulsate even faster until suddenly it stopped. That’s when he began to hear the two of you screaming out for your friend.

“Run away, Stevie boy! Run away! Just like you always do!”

Running to the front door of the house, Steve tore the door off the wall as he burst his way in. Jonathan was on the floor, screaming out for Nancy while she held up the gun to the creature. It wasn’t backing down. 

Well this time neither was he.

He grabbed the discarded bat from the floor and took a swing at the faceless creature. It’s strength was definitely strong, but it sure wasn’t smart on its defense. Each swing managed to cause the creature pain. Making Steve glad that he was on the baseball team for a hot minute. 

While his hits were strong, it had fast reflexes. Moving its arms quickly to try and make a swat at Steve. But he was just fast, dodging every attempt.

“To the hall!” you informed him, giving him an idea of where he needed to go. 

With a final swing he’s able to send it back into the bare trap in the hall. Making it screech out in pain. 

“He’s in the trap!” 

“He’s stuck!” 

“Jonathan, now!”

The rest of you joined him at the hall, watching as Jonathan threw over the lighter. Instantly the room is light in the bright orange flames. Almost engulfing you in its spark. Jonathan is quick to pull you behind him and Steve can’t help as he watched the boy almost protectively cover you.

You stole a glance over at him before quickly going to retrieve the fire extinguisher. Putting out the flames thankfully before it grew into more rooms of the house. All of you coughed while the air began to clear out of the smoke.

Jonathan went forward first, needing to see if the creature was dead or not.

“Where did it go?” Nancy asked as they followed closely with their weapons. 

“It has to be dead. It has to be.”

But there’s nothing in the trap but sizzling bits of flesh that managed to stick to the metal. The lights in the hall began to shift and you’re all a bit freaked out when you noticed the Christmas lights that adorned the ceilings began to lit up again.

The group followed down the path of lights until they reached over towards the front door. Something must have sparked inside of Jonathan because the next thing Steve heard was the boy calling out to his Mom. 

Continuing forward, the four of you moved out into the front porch. Watching as the lights flickered onward towards the street.

“Where’s it going?” Nancy asked.

“I don’t think that’s the monster.”

Despite having a few hours of waiting. Nothing really progressed within the group. The time was spent cleaning up around the place until some sort of local authorities showed up to gather everyone up. 

There’s a bit of back and forth between all of you but one thing was made clear enough that they knew where to go next. 

To see Will Byers. 

“I can’t believe you guys were dealing with this all by yourselves.” Steve said softly. He was following behind the car with the agent that would check them into the hospital. You had offered up to drive Jonathan in his car while Nancy moved into his. 

“It hasn’t been easy.” Nancy replied. 

“Wanna tell me about it?” He asked, glancing at her. “I think I’m ready to hear about it all now..” 

Her gaze had stayed on the road the whole time. It was noticeable that she wasn’t quite comfortable around him yet. But he was thankful for the explanation regardless.

It was sort of shocking to listen to her tell everything from the start. The night Barb went missing, the hunt you three did in the forest, Nancy’s first encounter with the monster, down to today. How could the three of you just take it upon yourselves to fight this thing? Going back had been scary but he’s glad he did. He didn’t think how he’d feel if anything had happened. 

“You came back.” Nancy added a second after her story. 

“I did.” 

“I’m thankful for it..but why?” 

He gripped on the steering wheel, unsure how to even fully explain himself. “Because I’m an idiot who is tired of always running away?” He turned to enter inside the parking lot of the hospital. “Because I couldn’t handle the idea of you, Henderson or even Byers getting hurt if I left you guys with no help?”

The car had barely come to a stop when he felt Nancy reach out to grab at his arm. Her big eyes looked over at him with a concern that had his heart racing. It’s been like days since he’s seen this kind of side of her. 

“I just really wanted to make things right..”

“You did.” Nancy reassured him. “You did..”

He couldn’t help himself as he pulled her into a hug. Feeling a little relief to know she felt like he did right. The girl is thankfully quick to embrace him back before murmuring for him to join her inside to wait and find out if Will was finally okay. 

There’s others there amongst the group of people that are waiting for the same thing. And it takes only a few seconds after he’s checked out by a nurse to realize that you’re one of the last few that are late in coming in. Nancy wondered the same thing until Jonathan burst through the doors and joined his Mother down the hall. The two began to question about your whereabouts when you joined in a minute later. The two of you stare at each other for a moment before you’re whisked away to be checked out. 

After that it was even more waiting. But Steve couldn’t help but watch you from afar. 

The look on your face grew even more tired and somewhat distant from the group. Was he allowed to ask if you were okay? Did you want to be there? Even when you came back after seeing the kid, who Steve didn’t even ask to meet. It didn’t feel right. But Jonathan still thanked him for coming before gathering his brother’s friends. It’s not until Nancy approached you with a cup of water that he slowly got up from his seat. Hearing the last bit of your guys’ conversation. 

“..I was actually going to talk to you about that. My mom called yours and spoke with the Sinclairs. Given what’s happened, we figure these guys aren’t gonna wanna leave Will any time soon. So when visiting hours are over, we’re gonna have them spend the night so they can see them in the morning.”

“Right, I guess if Aunt Claudia is okay with it. I should probably call her over to come pick me up.”

“Actually, I can give you a ride home.”

The two girls stopped when they heard the sound of Steve’s voice. He didn’t know why he was so keen to offer. But he figured it was the right thing to do. “I think I’m taking up too much space here. Should probably call it a night.”

Nancy shot him a small but warm smile at that. “You should ride with Steve. He's in the same direction as you so the drive shouldn’t be too bad.”

The look on your face is unfortunately noticeable with discomfort. Making Steve worried he might have done something bad again. But you still got up from your seat, much to Steve’s chagrin. 

“Whatever, let's go.” you mumbled, while you pulled your jacket on. 

The two of you are quick to say goodbyes. Barely the two that were needed there anyway. It’s silent for the most part after that. You two got in his car and headed towards the direction home. But like with Nancy, he wanted to see if there was any chance of mending, even if just a little bit, with you. 

“So what happened tonight was real, right? I’m not still dreaming?” he asked hesitantly.

You don’t glance at him but he can see from the side of his eye that you’re shrugging. “Do you usually dream about fighting faceless monsters with people you used to be friends with?”

“..No.”

“Then, this is real.”

The cold is harsh in your tone. And really, he should have figured someone like you wouldn’t warm up so quickly. He pressed his lips together. Trying to control his dumb mouth from making himself a fool again when you spoke up. 

What you did tonight..” you started, making him steal a glance.  “It was stupid..So incredibly idiotic and stupid.”

Here we go. He was ready for you to tear him a new one again. “I know, you’re right.” he sighed.

You waited for the car to stop before you reached out to touch his arm. It was eerily like how Nancy did. Making him stare a little bit in shock since this was coming from you of all people. “But very brave. And I’m thankful you decided to help us.”

He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. You thought he was brave? Him? 

“Lights green.” you murmured a second later. 

“Right.”

The conversation died down at that. Leaving Steve’s rambling mind to try and think of a way to approach what happened to you in a way that you’d want to talk it out. Unfortunately, he’s fast at getting you home, leaving him seconds to ask you about it without the help of a mental filter.

“Do you think we could talk about today?”

“No.''

Damn it. 

You’re leaving his car so fast that he nearly forgot to turn it off as he went after you. 

“Please, I’m so sorry. I know what I said..what I did. It was unforgivable. But it’s not me. I’m not that guy-”

“Oh? You usually don’t go around pretending to be friends with girls because you like the attention? You don’t think I’m pathetic?” The harsh tone had him wincing back. “I’d hate to think about how you feel about people who actually like you.”

“No! And that wasn’t what I wanted with you. I swear!” He’d never use you like that. Nor anyone really. It was a stupid stupid joke and he wished he hadn’t said it at all. “Since you’ve moved here, you’ve been the only person who I feel wanted me as a friend because you actually wanted to be friends. And you’re definitely not pathetic, you’re the coolest person I know.”

“So you didn’t tell them that you thought I liked you enough that I would do things for you? What kind of bullshit was that, Harrington?”

“Look, that’s not what I said. I told them I had a hunch you liked me and in a way you’d do anything for me. It was a dumb joke said to make them laugh. And I’m wrong for that, I’m sorry! I never would want you to do anything for me, especially if you like me.”

“Stop making this about me liking you! Today I was thrown back with my own secret! The same secret I trusted you with!”

There’s a sparkle in your eyes right now and he’s disappointed to see it’s not the familiar look of stars he was getting used to. It was tears. 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tell them–”

“You don’t mean to do a lot, Steve. Just spill the one secret that I didn’t want the school’s worst two gossips to know about.” 

He hung his head. Not sure how he was going to be able to come back from this. But all he could do was apologize again and again. Promising to make things right. But no matter what he said, you were done with him. Moving to go inside your house. He barely managed to make it over before you could close the door. 

“You need to leave, Steve.”

“Things with us can’t end like this. I-..I like you too much just to lose you.”

“You’ll get over it.”

The answer truly stumped Steve. Because he knows the logical thing would be to let you go and count his losses. But there was always just something about you that made things different. And as cliche as it might sound to anyone else, you were different. 

“What exactly do you want with me, Steve? I’m not your girlfriend, I’m not your best friend. We were nothing to each other just a week ago.”

He thinks back about last week. There were no monsters, no fights, no ex friends, but importantly there was no you. Despite everything else he might have wanted to go back to, he didn’t know if he’d change anything. 

He just couldn’t explain why. 

“I don’t know what I want..but all I know is that even if I didn’t know you, I’d still miss you in my life.”

“You have Nancy to feel all that with.” you reminded him.

“I know.”

His impulses took over and he reached over to wrap his arms around your waist. Pulling you in as close as he could. Without any real thought behind the consequences that would come from that. Reaching out, he cupped the side of your face and leaned in close. Brushing his lips on yours while he waited a second to see if you’d push him away. 

You don’t. So he finally gave in. 

Kissing you was just as different as he expected. Your lips taste like the remnants of the lip gloss that’s always perfectly applied on your lips. Your body is soft and warm against his, like the perfect cover. All around him the world goes quiet and he can only feel you. 

Just you. 

The tips of your nails dug into the edge of his hair and he can’t help but moan softly at the sensation it gave him. He pulled back a beat just to feel you suck lightly at his bottom lip, making him gasp. He didn’t even know he liked until now. 

The kiss deepened after that and you pressed harder against him the more you were got excited. His hands wandered over the expanse of your body. Needing to feel everything on you. One of his hands barely crossed over the curve of your ass when he felt you pull back. 

A thousand thoughts run in his mind as he caught his breath. Was this a sign that maybe he should reconsider his feelings? Would things be different now between you? He liked Nancy, he knew this. But he never felt that way after a kiss either.

“Wow,” he breathed, falling forward to rest his face on your neck. The sweet scent of your perfume still lingered there. “That was..”

“A mistake.”

He thinks he might have misheard you at first. You couldn’t have not felt what he did. But from the way your hands were slowly pulling away from him, he could tell that you were trying to distance yourself. 

“You can’t tell me you haven’t been wanting to do that..” He said softly, needing your honesty once again.

Pulling back from your neck, he finally looked at your gaze. Trying to see if there was any trace of a lie on your face. But all he sees is the way your face is beautifully flushed from the heat of the kiss. From your eyes down to your swollen lips. 

“Tell me you felt it too..” 

It was pathetic how desperate he felt for it to be real for you too. Despite the complications that it would bring. He couldn’t shake the carnal desire to have you. Knowing that it had to be the basis of something between the two of you.

“Steve,” you smiled sweetly. The cold tone in your voice nearly sending a shiver up in his spine. It was the same tone he had heard earlier that day. “I still hate you, and I don’t want to be your friend. And most importantly I felt nothing.”

With that, you disappeared from his side. Entering your home without so much as a glance back at him and what could have been.

ONE MONTH LATER 

It wouldn’t be until winter break that he’d finally get to talk to you again. The aftermath of dealing with the monster and being sworn into secrecy really put a damper on everyone’s plans. The last surprise had been when Steve received a call from Nancy the following day. Things between them in the hospital felt iffy and after his rejection from you, he wasn’t sure what he wanted. 

But Nancy’s sincere interest in working on things was enough to mend the ache in his heart. And for the first time in days he felt himself actually smiling again. 

Though the group could probably use a break from things like school, the four of you still showed up to school that Monday.

You and Jonathan had arrived earlier that morning. Doing the most to get back into a normal school schedule. Even if that ended with you both avoiding the couple. Thankfully. Tommy and Carol weren’t brave enough to call out Steve on his bluff. Not a single word was spread about you. 

But that didn’t quite help the way he had hope it would. 

Because the moment your gaze found Nancy with Steve, you turned back into the cold and distant behavior. It made him sick. Not only because it wasn’t what he wanted. But because of him, you passed on the same treatment to Nancy.

“I just don’t get it.” Nancy said one day at lunch. The two of them had a table far off in the back of the cafeteria. Not quite back into the groove of their former cliques. They had just watched as you grabbed a bit of lunch. Smiling earnestly as you linked up your arm with Jonathan. Despite having made new friends with some of the other popular girls. You still made time to hang out with Jonathan on a few occasions. 

“What do you mean?” Steve asked, playing dumb.

“Things at the hospital seemed so good..like we were all going to start a new chapter. But now?” She picked at her lunch before dropping down her fork. “Now it’s like I’m being iced out and I don’t even know why..”

Steve’s stomach turned, he hated seeing Nancy so upset. The worst part being that he couldn’t even explain just why you hated him so much. Not without spilling the dark past that you wanted hidden. He messed that up once, he wouldn’t do it again.

“It’s me.” he sighed. “It’s because she’s still mad at me and since we’re together, she doesn’t want anything to do with us.”

Nancy frowned at the explanation. “But you apologized. You came back! It doesn’t make sense for her to still hate you. Not even Jonathan hates you.”

He shrugged his shoulders, glancing over his shoulder briefly to catch the two of you finally left the cafeteria. “People are going to react with how they think is right.” he frowned. Not really believing his own words. “Maybe she needs time to see that things are different.”

The girl sighed loudly. Sounding as defeated as he felt. “Time.” she said slowly. “Let’s hope it’s just that..”

The weeks passed after that day and he found that only a few things would change between the four of you. Jonathan, while still a bit of a loner, seemed to be okay extending his niceties to Steve on the occasion. Making Steve grateful for that bit of normalcy. 

Nancy had grown even closer to him. Making him genuinely feel like for once he was on the right track of things. He felt like maybe things could finally start to go back to how they first were when he fell for her. 

You, on the other hand, avoided the couple like the plague. Making it hard to progress on fixing that bond. Every attempt was thwarted by your cold dismissals. There was even one day when he offered you a ride home and you pretended to ignore his call to you.

When it was Christmas break, he couldn’t help but feel a spark of an idea of what he could do to maybe get the ball rolling. 

“Do you think they’ll like them?” 

The presents laid on the dinning room table of the Wheeler house. He felt a bit like an ass coming in with presents for no one actually within the household. But after telling Nancy the plan and noticing her eyes light up, he felt a little bit reassured it was a good idea. 

He glanced down at the plain white box holding your present. The jacket was actually the hardest thing to find. But he was happy to know that some places in this town still had some newer fashion trends in their stores. 

“I hope so.” Nancy mused, looking at the small box containing the camera for Jonathan. “If not, at least we know it was a nice gesture.”

The waiting game was the harder part. Whatever weird game that Mike and his friends played in the basement went on for an exaggerated amount of hours. But your cousin was there, and that was all the hope Steve needed to ensure he’d see you tonight. 

“..Won’t you both come inside, the boys sound like they’re just about done.” 

“Oh that’s okay, I’ll–”

“We’d love to come inside.”

Steve’s ears perked up to the sound of the new voices. Making him feel slightly panicked before he nodded over to Nancy. This had to work. But if he couldn’t get you to forgive him tonight, then maybe he’d at least work on getting you to talk to his girlfriend again.

He barely walked down the hall to the front door when he saw you. 

The red winter dress you were wearing practically made you look like an angel despite its dark colors.

“Hey, trouble..”

The stiffness that came over your body caused him to worry a bit. You almost looked like you were in pain and all he had done was greet you. 

“Harrington.” you nodded, keeping your attention to the photos that hung on the wall. It was the first time in weeks you’d actually addressed him. Making him feel slightly pathetic for enjoying the half assed greeting.

“You look nice tonight.” he commented softly, not able to contain himself. A small sparkle flashed over your eyes as you looked over your outfit. He always liked how you admired your style. 

“Thanks. You look..uh.”

He felt his face heat up. The Christmas sweater had been from Nancy. Mostly as a joke. But since he rarely got things like this, he cherished it anyway. “Yeah, it was a gift.” he explained. The tension is still thick in the air. He had to squash it before it got even worse. “I’m glad I ran into you tonight.”

Quickly dashing into the dinning where the gifts were, he grabbed onto the white box. Nearly dropping it due to his sudden sweaty hands. He managed to appear more collected when he returned to where you were.

“What’s this?” 

“It’s a gift, genius.”

You rolled your eyes to that, pushing the present back towards him. “I can see that, your highness. I’m asking why are you giving me this?”

“Because it’s Christmas and you give presents to people during this time.”

He really wanted to add that it’s to people you care about. But that wouldn’t do him good.

“Give it to Nancy. I’m sure she’ll enjoy it.” you muttered. Steve could have sworn he saw your walls actually come back up. Protecting yourself from any real feeling that might come to you. “I’m gonna wait outside for the guys.”

“Please don’t shut me out..I just want to fix things.” He glanced down at your hands, not even noticing that he reached out for you. Down the hall he could hear as Nancy called out for him, probably curious what was happening. He let go when he remembered his real motive. “At least for Nance’s sake. She doesn’t even know why you’re shutting her out.”

The look of disbelief washed over your face. 

“Do me a favor, Steve. Talk to me about fixing things, when you take back telling your friends about my personal life.”

The words felt like a nail in the coffin and Steve almost wanted to go back in time to punch himself out from the huge mistakes he had made. 

“..you know I can’t take it back.”

“Then I guess everyone will have to endure disappointment.”

And just like that you’re gone again. The sounds of voices coming up from down the hall being the thing that snapped him out of his daze. Your cousin and his friend were talking closely to each other, giggling at whatever joke they had just been talking about when they noticed Steve.

“Uh, hi.” he said lamely. The one with curly hair who he thinks might be named Rusty (Dusty?) waved awkwardly at him. 

“Hi, Steve.” he said, surprising him. He didn’t know the kid had any idea of who he was.

“So, I know it’s weird to ask..but do you guys think you could give this to your cousin for me? She stepped out and I didn’t get the chance to give it to her.” The lie felt all too easy, but he wasn’t going to exactly admit to these kids you rejected him once again.

The curly haired one stared skeptically at the box. Making him realize that while you two might not be related, you two acted oddly the same. It was his friend that actually reached out for it, giving Steve a quick wave before he assured him he’d give it to you. 

They call out a goodbye to Mike and Will before they turned to finally leave. Steve moved over to the window by the front door, watching as they trekked up the driveway over to the car that you were sitting in.

The view wasn’t the best, but he’s able to see your face just a bit as the two enter inside the car. There’s a bit of a back and forth and he’s almost disappointed to see you don’t get the box. The car started up and he nervously watched as you almost took off from his line of vision when you stopped. 

The jacket is pulled up from your lap. And just when he thought for a second you might throw it out of your car. But that’s when he sees it. The one thing he’s been dying to see from you.

A smile. 

Steve Harrington had lost his luck a long time ago. But for the first time in a while, he thinks he has a chance getting it back again.

A/N: SO this was a lot to write. 

Writing near 20k words was a lot. And while some scenes are sort of repeated, I ofc got super carried away and really wanted to build a version of Steve that hopefully made sense with canon but also fit my story. I know to a point he’s a bit ooc in certain choices or maybe even emotions. But this is a Steve/Reader fic and I felt it deserved to have some depth behind it. Even if it’s at the expense of canon continuity. If you guys enjoyed this please let me know! I’d love to know if you guys would like this for the other seasons. 

[tryingmyhand-atwriting]

BEGIN AGAIN 

Chapter One : An Unplanned Run-In

Notes: Hi, everyone (or no one if no one bothers to read!) This is my first ever attempt at posting fan-fiction that I have written, although I have been a reader of it for years. I’ve been in multiple fandoms through out the years but never had the guts to post anything out of fear of not being good enough or no one liking it but I figure - if one person likes it or one hundred people like it, it will all mean the same to me which is utter gratefulness that will swell within me. I am posting under a side blog so no one will know it’s me although I think there is someone who has found me (if so, hi Elise I love you.) Even if you hate it and it sucks and is boring be nice to me please I am baby. That is all - if you have made it this far I am grateful for that too.

Warnings: SLOW BURN. Hang in with me folks once we get to the good stuff it’s promising. Also, new writer - that’s a warning in itself too.

Word Count: 6545

Ashley Tisdale would argue that at times she knew her best friend better than he knew himself. Since the first day they met their connection had been instant and not even time or distance had proven able to dispel the friendship they both helped to nourish.

Not seeing him for three years didn’t change a thing between them and the older sister intuition kicks in when he’s over for the first time upon returning, meeting Jupiter in person now that he’s home, when he says, ‘Member Isabela?” And a lightbulb goes on over her head.

Ashley remembers a pretty, young eighteen year old interning for Austin’s personal assistant in 2013 to 2014. Isabela had been kind to a fault and so gentle as a person that Ashley–and Austin–had developed a protectiveness over her. She had fit into their group effortlessly and there was a close friendship that had developed between Austin and her. So close they were, Ashley would joke about being replaced. It all went downhill after the Great Incident of 2014 and Ashley never heard Austin nor Vanessa speak about Isabela again.

She exits her kitchen, resting against the doorway with her arms crossed. “Yeah I do,” she replies wondering where he would take it next. Austin hums but doesn’t reply as he continues stroking Jupiter’s back, the toddler asleep on the couch beside him. “Did you run into her or something?” She probes.

“Nah, just been… reminiscin’, I guess.” But Ashley knows her best friend, knows by the clench of his jaw and glint in his eyes that he has more to say. Things he may not want to admit or isn’t sure he should admit. “When Lydia told me she was stepping down after havin’ her baby I asked if she had any contact with Isabela but she said they don’t talk anymore.”

Ashley does a double take. “You wanna offer her the job?” She isn’t sure how to explain to him that if someone reached out after years with no contact , she would have a lot to say to that person. Granted, Isabela would never give anyone a piece of her mind but to save Austin from rejection she knows he is in desperate need of some womanly advice. “Don’t you think that’d be, uh–I’m not sure these are the right words but–awkward and mean after what happened?”

“It doesn’t have to be for the job, Ash.” Austin shrugs his shoulders. “With all these new changes in my life I guess I just uh–I know what people I want in my life now.” Ashley has seen firsthand what he means. While paparazzi had always been a part of their lives, the recent attention and invasiveness being introduced to Austin’s life was something new. A level of fame even Ashley hadn’t achieved with High School Musical..

Ashley had faith in Austin and his talent, even if he wasn’t as confident in himself. She could see his wildest dreams coming true but with Elvis, Ashley also knew he had learnt some lessons scary enough they would never shake. She saw he was frightened to death of being made to be someone he wasn’t, of being put on a pedestal and failing to meet expectations. Most importantly, Austin was made aware of how quickly people came around for the wrong reasons, ready to take advantage of success, money, and fame. Someone who freely gave loyalty and honesty expected it in return, a betrayal of that nature would hurt Austin the most. Ashley had seen Austin lose himself and have to find who he was again, but the man who reemerged was skeptical, with a new point of view.

“So you want to make amends?”

It takes Austin a while to look at Ashley, his hand rubbing soothing circles on Jupiter’s back. “More than anything I just wanna talk to her.” But she sees the longing in his eyes when they meet hers and pieces of the puzzle begin to fit together.

That’s how Ashley ends up at Chucky’s Bar in Los Feliz on a Thursday night. She didn’t tell Austin that she occasionally chats with Isabela over Instagram because she didn’t want him to do something embarassing like slide into her DMs with a lame greeting and possible emoji. Austin was smooth and charming in many ways, but at the end of the day, he was only a man and this situation was better handled with a woman’s touch. All it had taken was a ‘miss you! when are you free?’ before Isabela responded saying that this was where she’d be on her last night in LA before she traveled to Hawaii for a work trip.

“Ashley! You came!” There’s a girly squeal and arms squeezing her from behind before she turns to face Isabela. There’s a wide smile on her face and her hair frizzes with the humidity of the crowded bar. Sweat shines on her face, mascara smudged under her eyes, but Ashley has to smile– Isabela never let perceived-imperfections dull her shine. “You look hot.” Isabela checks her friend out with an impressed grin.

“I feel out of my element. I can’t remember the last time I dressed up.” Ashley giggles, taking in her surroundings. “I’m also scared I’m going to start leaking and ruin this dress.” She gestures to her enlarged breasts, made more noticeable by the deep V-cut of her dress.

Isabela lets out a loud laugh. “Some guys like that,” she whispers conspiratorially and Ashley slaps her on the arm. Isabela grabs Ashley by the hand and begins leading her to a table, “Come on, a friend saved us a table. Victoria’s got bar duty tonight but she’ll be checking in occasionally.”

“Victoria’s still working here?”

Chucky’s Bar brought back many late night memories for Ashley. There were many drunken nights spent at the low-key bar where Ashley, Austin, and Vanessa had never been recognized. It was at this bar where Ashley met Isabela and her tough as nails cousin, Victoria, who was cold the entire night and would only make rounds to their table to make sure Isabela was drinking enough water to go along with the tequila. It had taken almost a month for Victoria to warm up to the former Disney kids. Ashley was sure any kindness on Victoria’s part was thrown out the window after the Incident.

Ashley would have found Victoria’s over protectiveness creepy if she didn’t understand why. Isabela was sweetly naive, always seeing the best in the world and people around her. An innocence that had probably broken her heart more than once. It hadn’t taken long for Ashley to feel the same way towards Isabela, like she was a younger sister.

“She practically runs this place. Derek’s one year away from retiring and he’s already promised to leave it to her.” Isabela’s face beams with pride. As they approach the table she turns to face Ashley briefly and catches the uncertainty in her eyes, the awkward hunch to her shoulders, that only comes when someone feels unwelcome. Isabela reaches to hold Ashley’s fingers in hers. “She’s gonna be on her best behavior, okay? I told her you were coming and anyways, everything that happened that day had nothing to do with you.”

Doesn’t it, Ashley wants to ask. Guilt gnaws at her, knowing she was meeting up with Isabela for selfish reasons. To do her best friend’s dirty work, get him into contact with someone who probably, most likely–definitely–wants nothing to do with him.

“We talking about how Victoria breastfeeds you?” There’s a busty redhead seated at the table. She’s loud in her proclamation and beautiful in a sheer silver dress. She’s gorgeous, her hair swept back in an updo and her legs crossed, the hem of her dress rising dangerously high. Already there’s more than a few curious eyes glancing towards their table. She smiles at Ashley but it drops when she catches sight of Isabela’s empty hands. She guffaws, offended, “Where are the shots? You get up and come back with no shots?”

Isabela tumbles into the seat beside her, laughing good-naturedly at her friend’s offense. It was obvious the girls had started drinking before her arrival but Ashley didn’t mind; she was planning on an easy night. Hangovers tend to be a multi-day affair once you hit thirty. “Luis said he’ll bring ‘em out to us,” Isabela tells her friend before presenting her to Ashley. “This is the worst influence in my life and the devil on my shoulder — Ash, meet Sky. She was my college roommate and yes, Victoria hates her. Doesn’t give you any right to talk shit about her though,” Isabela pinches Sky’s underarm for good measure.

“I wasn’t talking shit about her, I was making fun of you. The pretty princess stuck in the tower–you’re twenty-six.” It must be a sermon Isabela has heard before because all she offers in response to Sky’s mocking tone is an exaggerated eye roll and a shake of her head.

“Don’t worry, Victoria hates me too,” Ashley tells Sky. “She’s just always gonna look out for Isabela. No judgments here.”

Sky puts a hand on Ashley’s arm,eyes twinkling. “Oh my God. We should totally start a club.”

“I think you two booze hounds have had enough,” a blond waiter approaches their table, balancing a tray of shots. He looks toward Ashley, clarifying, “I mean those two. Especially this one,” he shoves an elbow into Sky’s side, the woman yelping and returning the hit.

Isabela leans over to touch his shoulder, imploring.. “Luis, you’re just in time. Their conversation was sobering me up.” She pouts, her lower lip jutting out.

“You just don’t like hearing the truth–”

“Not you too!”

“Ladies,” Ashley holds up her shot glass and a wedge of lemon, a strategic distraction, putting an end to the conversation. The constant back-and-forth chatter is definitely enough incentive for her to break her own self-imposed sobriety. “Are we taking this shot or what?”

“I like you,” Sky states, preparing her lemon with salt.

“Wait! We have to cheers to something,” Isabela insists when both Ashley and Sky go to throw the tequila back. She purses her lips to the side in thought, “What’s something all three of us can cheer to?”

“How about this,” Ashley begins, leaning forward on her elbows, “Sky’s here for you and so am I. So how about a cheers to Isabela for bringing us together tonight?” Isabela flushes, her lashes fanning against her cheeks as she avoids eye contact, flattered and flustered all at once. Ashley momentarily feels like she’s kissing ass, knowing she’s still wrestling with guilt over her ulterior motives, but she isn’t lying about her affection for her friend.

Sky extends her shot glass forward. “To Isabela.”

The night is a whirlwind after that. Ashley remembers a Pitbull song coming on that had Sky pulling both she and Isabela to the middle of the dance floor, smack between other dancers. There was another shot–or four–taken and by the time the girls are dancing to the fifth song of the night, now joined by a group of girls they had befriended at the bar. Ashley has to momentarily return to the table, ridding herself of her jacket.. It isn’t lost on her that the reason for her random request of a girls’ night out hasn’t been brought up once, but she doesn’t have it in her to ruin what has been an amazing night so far.

She could always try again. Preferably when it wasn’t her first time reuniting with an old friend in months.

As Ashley saunters back over to their spot on the dance floor, she catches sight of Sky’s silver dress towards the bar with Luis, no doubt asking for another round of shots. Ashley hopes–and doubts–that Sky forgot to order her one, the beginning of a headache pounding behind her eyes. Isabela’s still where she left her but a man has since joined her. He’s handsome, Ashley must admit, and standing almost a foot over Isabela who’s lacing her fingers together in front of her repeatedly. She has a smile on her face though,so Ashley doesn’t feel the need to interject as she nears.

“You’re sweet, but I’m here with my friends. Sorry,” Ashley catches Isabela apologize, her lashes fluttering as she blinks rapidly, and her teeth gnawing at her bottom lip. In anyone else Ashley would have taken the actions to be coy or flirty, but in Isabela she sees them for what they are–nervous tics. More words are exchanged and Isabela moves away when the guy places a hand at her hip. Ashley is debating on whether or not she should intercept and tell the guy to get lost, knowing it would be quicker than Isabela’s kind approach, when he throws his hand out beside him in a fist in annoyance before storming away.

Isabela stumbles back, flinching violently at his outburst, and Ashley’s beside her in the next moment, a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“Are you okay?” She asks, scanning over Isabela. She didn’t see the guy touch her, but Isabela’s response worried her, as if he did more than utter cruel words to her. “Did he hurt you?”

“No, no.” Isabela shakes her head and attempts a smile but her eyes are glossy with unshed tears. “He just got mad and it caught me off guard, I guess. I’m fine.”

“Isabela—” you don’t seem fine, is what Ashley’s going to say but she’s cut off by the arrival of Sky–who did conjure up another round of shots–and two blonde girls they had been dancing with earlier.

“I got us more shots, bitches,” she whoops loudly, pumping a single fist. She drops the act once she takes in the heavy atmosphere. “What’s wrong?”

Ashley hesitates. Some guy was rude to Isabela and she almost cried, which was technically true, but her reaction hinted at something deeper–although the man hadn’t seemed to lay a hand on her. What worried Ashley was the possibility of someone else having done so..

“Some guy was a dick and caught me off guard. Ashley’s never seen my freak outs before.” Isabela shrugs, feigning nonchalance and maintaining eye contact with her friend. There seemed to be a million words said between them but their mouths didn’t move once. It was a look shared between best friends with no words necessary.

Sky shakes her head, turning to Ashley with another smile and extending the tray of shots again. “Isabela doesn’t go out much, so every time she does she gets shocked at what big assholes guys actually are.” She said by way of explanation, handing a shot to Isabela. “She’ll survive; it just takes her a couple seconds to shake it off.”

Ashley detects the bullshit lie, but it isn’t a topic she wants to press so publicly. Instead she politely declines the shot, “I need water for the next hour before Ubering home. It’s Jupiter’s birthday party tomorrow and I need to be up early to set up.”

“Oh, no,” Isabela’s brows pinch and she places her shot back in Sky’s hand. “I’m so sorry, I wouldn’t have asked you to come out to a bar if I knew you had to be up early tomorrow.” She interlocks her elbows with Ashley’s, pulling her to Luis’s section of the bar and signaling him for two glasses of water.

“I’m a grown woman, Is. And lack of sleep is nothing new to mothers. Having a newborn is like a hangover that lasts for months.”

Isabela chuckles, sliding her glass of water over. “What a lovely comparison!”

“I love being a mom,” Ashley defends, laughing. “But it’s not as easy as people make it out to be. At least it wasn’t for me. I called my mom crying so many times, sure that I was failing or ruining this perfect little person somehow.”

“You’ve officially talked me out of ever wanting kids.”

“Come on,” Ashley rolls her eyes. “You put everyone before yourself; you’d be the perfect mom.”

Isabela shrugs a shoulder, her elbow leaning on the table. “I don’t know. Maybe. I wanted kids when I was younger, but the past few years have basically been about my career. One thing is for sure though, I’d want it to happen on my terms and at the time I’m ready. No time soon.” The conversation and glasses of water have helped both of them sober up and, for that, Ashley is glad. The room isn’t spinning as much as it was before. Now, Ashley just feels drowsy as the alcohol leaves her system. Isabela must catch her tired expression because she hums, “What time should I be at your house tomorrow to help you set up?”

Ashley shakes her head vehemently. “You’ve got a flight tomorrow, miss. You’re going to need all the sleep you could get.”

“I could sleep on the flight,” Isabela returns smartly, her tone matter-of-fact. Ashley pushes her knee, sending her spinning on the bar stool. Isabela continues. “I feel guilty I had you come out! No way in hell are you setting up alone tomorrow before hosting a kids’ party. I’m helping!”

Luis interrupts their conversation, throwing a rag over his shoulder and refilling both glasses with more water. Ashley smiles. “Two beautiful ladies like you must be starving. My momma always said the way into a girl's heart was through her stomach.”

“I think your mom had it wrong; isn’t it supposed to be a man’s stomach?” Ashley laughs, but she has to wonder because food certainly sounded like heaven then.

“Two burgers to go please and then an Uber.” Isabela shoots him a dazzling, cheesy grin, her cheeks dimpling as she throws a hand over Ashley’s shoulder. “We’ve got an early morning tomorrow.”

—

Waking up early after a night out is harder to do the older she gets. If Isabela hadn’t offered to help Ashley with Jupiter’s birthday party set up and have a flight scheduled for later on that day she would have stayed in bed nursing her hangover for the next forty-eight hours. The breeze is fresh as she waltzes up to Ashley’s front door to ring the doorbell. It’s early spring and as is regular for Los Angeles the sun is bright and scorching but the wind is a welcome reprieve from the heat. Various trees are surrounding Ashley’s front yard but Isabela doesn’t dare take off her glasses. Her eyes were probably swollen and red from lack of sleep and overdrinking the night before. Come to think of it, she still felt slightly drunk.

She had been woken up two hours earlier when Sky had crawled into her bed. Ashley and Isabela had left the bar before anyone else and the late time Sky showed up at her apartment meant that Luis and Victoria must have let her and a few others continue drinking after closing time. Isabela doesn’t understand how Sky did it. Isabela hadn’t drank half as much but knew she would be suffering twice as hard compared to Sky.

“Hi, sunshine.” Isabela can only grumble in response to Ashley’s greeting, letting her usher her inside the house with a laugh. “I told you to sleep in. I’m making Chris do all the heavy work anyway.”

“I’m perfectly able,” Isabela insists, sliding her glasses atop her head. She claps her hands, taking in the balloons and empty candy bags surrounding the living room coffee table. “Put me to work.”

There were fifteen other children in Jupiter’s daycare class and each one had a specific diet request which meant each candy bag must contain different items and not be confused. Ashley handed Isabela a list of the kids name and items their goodie bag must contain and sat her down in front of all the miniature snacks and toys. Jupiter’s party was space themed and the small moons and planets that Ashley had bought to go in the bag made Isabela coo. Why were tiny things so unfairly adorable?

“I want to make sure they are perfect,” Isabela defends with a fond eye roll when she sees Ashley arching an eyebrow as she triple checks a bag. There’s a small smile on Isabela’s lips from Ashley’s teasing but when she puts her mind to a task she always has to make sure it is done right. Not to mention that focusing her full attention on the goodie bags had her paying less attention to how sick she still felt. Even when she was younger she had never handled hangovers well.

“Do you want me to place the trash can beside you? Need a reminder as to where the closest bathrooms are?” Ashley teases her friend, noticing the large inhale and exhale she’s continuously doing and knowing it is in efforts to tame her growing nausea. She had offered Isabela tums and breakfast but Isabela insisted the only thing she would be able to keep down was water.

“I hate you,” Isabela returns, leaning back to let the couch cushions swallow her. “Drinking is not meant for me. I don’t know why I keep letting Sky talk me into nights out.” She closes her eyes for a few moments. Her eyelids feel heavy and she wonders if her eyebags are as horrible as she imagines. Isabela knew she looked a mess when she was tired. She wasn’t lucky enough to be a cute drowsy girl. No. It was all dark eyebags and swollen eyes for her.

“Think of the memories,” Ashley insists. “Memories are all we leave behind anyway.”

Isabela pops one eye open. “That was dark,” she laughs, never having known Ashley to be anything but optimistic. She gets what she is trying to say though. It doesn’t matter how much money someone left you if they were pieces of shit throughout your life, you would have rather had good times with them.

There is a shift in Ashley’s attitude, a tension in the air and Isabela knew it would come up sooner or later. She remembers being back at the bar. Crowded and sweaty and that guy had been an asshole but it was nothing new — it wasn’t until he had turned his hand into a fist and swung it beside him that she had reacted. Isabela had flinched and it made her feel weak but knowing Ashley had caught sight of it caused anxiety to flare up in her chest and overtake every feeling in her body. Hangover and shame be damned. She was sick to her stomach deciding whether she wanted Ashley to know the truth or not.

“Is,” Ashley begins, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees. Isabela doesn’t want to seem flippant or uncaring of the worries her friend is bringing up so she sits up and mirrors her position. Showing she’s listening but keeping what she hopes is a blank expression on her face so nothing is given away. “Last night at the bar… when that guy asked you to dance —” Ashley cuts herself off and Isabela has been through this before. Knows that the people in her life care about her and it hurts them to think about and they can hardly bear to ask. “If you don’t want to answer it, that’s fine. We’ll move on and I promise I will never bring it up again but I have to ask at least once. What happened with that guy at the bar?”

Isabela thinks back to her sophomore year in college, freshly twenty and in love with the new usual that had taken up residence at Chucky’s Bar. He’d been a couple of years older and had only recently graduated from university, he was on his way to taking over his family restaurant. He was sweet and funny, his family had been warm and welcoming and within a blink of her eyes her sweet dream had turned into her worst nightmare. His tight grips became punches, his jealousy became delusions, and the hopes of him changing for her were flushed down the drain. She knew the saying, ‘if they did it once they will do it again’, but she had been so young and dumb and blinded. She considers herself one of the lucky ones. The incident had only escalated once and she had managed to get away.

It’s been years and she’s had therapy. Isabela isn’t angry at the world. She doesn’t hate all men. Hasn’t sworn off to ever date again or anything like that but the memories still feel fresh in her mind. Sometimes more than others and they always succeed at making her feel weak because she can’t help her body’s physical reactions. She can admit that the memories paralyze her every single time she has to deny someone something or she is in a position to displease someone, even minimally. It’s what had happened at the bar: Isabela’s palms had begun sweating the second the guy approached her because she knew she was going to turn him down. He had been kind in asking but not so nice once she had declined his offer. It hadn’t been the curses he had called her that made her flinch. The flinch had been in response to the arm he’d thrown out in exasperation and more than anything she’s only embarrassed of her lacking strength.

It’s one thing to have your weakness known and another entirely to have to explain it. It was like baring your soul to every person you came in contact with and Isabela trusts Ashley but she’s not ready for the way Ashley looks at her to change. She doesn’t need another person in her life viewing her as needing to be protected.

“My ex boyfriend wasn’t so nice,” is what Isabela settles on and she hopes that it’s enough for now. She remembers her mothers tears and Victoria’s anger when she woke up in the hospital. Ashley’s eyes soften and tear immediately and Isabela isn’t ready to draw out any other reaction. She reaches over to place a comforting hand on her friend's knee, assuring her she was with her now. “Oh Ash, don’t cry,” there’s a wobbly lip accompanying her chuckle. “It was a long time ago and I’m fine, okay? I’m right here.”

There’s astonishment in Ashley’s eyes, wonder over the strength of the woman sitting in front of her. Talking of her pain and still choosing to comfort others. “I hope Victoria killed him,” is all Ashley can think to say and Isabela lets out a watery laugh with one last pat to her knee before bringing her arm back.

“Let’s move on to these balloons, yeah?”

Three hours are spent blowing up balloons and taping them together as well as convincing Ashley to not change every detail over the chosen theme. Chris had been seconds away from crying when Ashley suggested for the tables to be moved and it was only when Isabela convinced her otherwise that the tension in his shoulders seemed to release. He had made a crazy motion behind his wife’s back and Isabela had to bite back her laugh. She sympathized with the stress on Ashley in ensuring the party was perfect for Jupiter and she was glad if she was able to ease a sliver of that.

After meeting the gorgeous and chatty Jupiter she found herself bummed that she was unable to stay. Jupiter was kind in providing Isabela with a tour of her playroom and allowing her to color in her favorite art book. There were lots of gibberish and babbles that ended with Jupiter looking up at Isabela waiting for a response so all she could do was pretend she understood the little girl with responses of ‘oh yeah’ and ‘wow’.

“I don’t want to let her go,” Isabela complains with a pout, squeezing Jupiter for a goodbye hug that the toddler was more than happy to return. “She’s perfect. I don’t understand how you guys get anything done, I just want to have her in my arms all day.” She takes advantage of having her in her arms and decides to take one last whiff of her baby head before letting go. “Have the best birthday party, little lady. Eat cake until your heart's content.”

“Uh oh, someone has baby fever.” Chris cocks a playful eyebrow in Isabela’s direction.

“No, no, no. I’m more than fine being the cool aunt who gets to spoil them rotten and hand them back during tantrums,” she replies, placing both hands on her knees to rise from her couch on the entryway, Jupiter having disappeared to the backyard. “You two should have another one, though.”

Chris’s wide eyes and immediate head shake have Isabela laughing. Ashley elbows her husband slightly, rolling her eyes at him before responding. “That one runs us ragged. We wanna wait until she’s a little older.”

Isabela can understand that. “My flight is in three hours and I still need to shower —”

“Is that what I smell?”

Ashley rolls her eyes at her husband, “Ignore him. It’s what I do.”

There is a bright smile on Isabela’s face, content to be around friends and their marital teasing. Maybe she missed them more than she thought. She feels guilty for believing Victoria when she said Ashley must have had ulterior motives for an impromptu girls night. Isabela had been nervous and taken more shots than she should have before Ashley’s arrival, convincing herself it had something to do with the mishap from years before. Fortunately Victoria and Isabela were both wrong and she found herself letting tension release in Ashley’s presence.

“Make sure to send me lots and lots of pictures of Jupiter. I want to see her chubby cheeks smothered in cake frosting and her little face when she opens her gift.” The adults peek over in the direction of the distracted toddler. “Thanks for having me over.”

“Are you kidding? Thank you for helping. I would still be stuck in a stress frenzy if you hadn’t been my sound board today,” Ashley replies, pulling her old friend in for a hug. Chris has the door open for Isabela behind them as he lets them say their goodbyes in peace, knowing it may be a while before the girls would be able to see each other again. “Let’s not go that long without contact again, ‘kay?”

Isabela shook her head. “Now that I’ve met your little monster you aren’t getting rid of me.” There’s another round of waves and goodbyes before Isabela exits their home and they close the door behind her. She feels lighter than she had when she arrived that morning, sleep deprived and slightly hungover. The air breeze against her no longer has the morning freshness and the LA heat has managed to set in.

She takes solace in the fact that in a few hours she was going to be in Hawaii. It was a light work trip with her client only having one single interview and photo shoot so she knew she would have downtime to hit the beach and local restaurant. Isabela’s making a mental note to text Jessica, her coworker and client’s social media manager, as well as opening her notes app to see the packing checklist made the day before when she hears footsteps trudging towards her and her name being called.

There's a sinking feeling in her gut. A part of her wants to run away and hide, remembering the embarrassment and shame that was brought upon her that day, but there’s a voice in her head telling her to keep her head held high and act like nothing was off.

“Austin, hey,” she hopes her tone isn’t filled with the dread she feels.

There’s a pause before she allows herself to face him for the first time in seven years. Isabela has seen him on television shows and movies, on the cover of magazines and gracing the front pages of tabloids with his then girlfriend. She would have to be in hiding to not have seen him this past year alone with all the Elvis promo, but seeing him in person manages to take her breath away. He’s handsome and that hasn’t changed. If anything, time and new opportunities have done him well. She remembers a sad boy who had just lost his mother and didn’t know what to do with his life; he was skinny and lanky and hadn’t got a haircut in months.

The man in front of her had life in him. He’s filled out since the last time she saw him and she sees a gleam in his eye that wasn’t there before. Austin must be happy, its the only guess she would make, and no matter what he put her through, happiness and health is all Isabela would have ever wished for him.

“Ash didn’t tell me you’d be here,” he says as he approaches closer to where she stands. Isabela expects the hug, finds herself accepting it, and then she immediately hates herself after. “It’s so good seeing you. I’ve been thinking about you.” Austin has never been one to shy away from his feelings, he’s always been one to wear his heart on his sleeve, but this once she wishes he wasn’t so honest because it somehow hurts more to know she’s crossed his mind and he never reached out. “My assistant, uh, Lydia, remember her? She's pregnant. Told me last week and she was really happy. She’s gonna become a stay at home mom after, I think.”

There’s a brow arch because she’s unsure of how the news pertains to her. Isabela has talked to Lydia frequently through the years and the woman had called her a few days prior to share the news. “Yeah, she told me. Her and Raul are really excited. I mean, good for them, I know they’ll make the best parents.”

Austin looks like he’s gonna continue as he nods his head along in agreement but, “Hang on, you keep in touch with her?” He asks and he looks genuinely confused. It makes two of them because Isabela has no idea what’s going on in this conversation or what she could possibly have to do with Lydia being pregnant and why on earth it would be the first thing Austin wants to share with her after six years of no contact.

Isabela nods slowly. “She’s been a great help to me through the years. Helped me finish my internship and get an interview at this agency I’m at. I tell her she makes me feel like a nepo baby with all the connections she offers.” The fond eye roll shows all the love between the two women and transports Austin back in time to when there was a genuine friendship between them and he remembers to put the conversation back on track, where he wants it to head.

“Well, the job’s yours. If you want it.” There’s a dead silence that takes up the space between them. Quiet enough where he can hear the sound of the leaves rustling on Ashley’s front yard and the faint sound of a car honking from a block over. Austin feels the need to explain, “The past year has been amazing, Is, and I’ve actually got some of my favorite directors asking for me to read for their films. And with Elvis coming out, despite how it makes me sound like a complete dick, things are changing for me and I want people I can trust around me. You know, people who won’t come around for the wrong reasons or with bad intentions. When Lydia told me she’d help me find someone new all I could think about was offering it to you. I’ve got James, Kate, and people I trust around me and I wanna keep that going. I trust you. And I already know you’re damn good at your job.”

The betrayal that has simmered beneath her skin for six years - a betrayal from a friend and former employer, a betrayal that Isabela had forced herself to forgive without apologies being exchanged for her own emotional health - she feels the betrayal awaken in her chest as if it’s the day of again. She didn’t need anyone to plead for forgiveness and she didn’t need to be fought for but she always hoped that if a thought from him was spared for her it was because of more than him needing her for a job. A job he was only offering because he was big and famous and people were out to use him now.

Did Austin wake up and think, “hey, she was humiliated and treated like shit in my backyard and never spilled the beans to any tabloid so I must be able to trust her?”

Isabela reminds herself to take a deep breath. Austin was many things but he was never selfish or inconsiderate of others. His mom and sister would have never allowed it. Isabela had to come to terms with the fact that a moment of great disappointment and disloyalty in her life didn’t create an impact in his life. He hadn’t spent three days crying in bed afterwards or had a hard time getting hired for months after because gossip had made the rounds. Nope. The humiliation, sadness, and shame was left for her.

“I, um,” she knows that anyone else would have a lot to say. She wishes she had the guts to do the same but she doesn’t want to engage in an argument or have him give a meaningless apology. She doesn’t want him to know how much she still cares when he obviously had moved past it. “I’m taking a year off. Gonna take some time to travel and all that, but thank you. For thinking of me and offering.” She hopes her eyes aren’t brimming with tears because they sure are currently burning.

Austin looks disappointed and she wonders why he’d be anything but aware of the fact that she wouldn’t want to work with him again. Do they remember the day differently or something? She doesn’t have the gall to say any of that and she bites her lip to stop herself from easing any discomfort between them so the awkward silence grows between them before Austin moves to break it.

“Let me take your number down, at least,” he says as he reaches into his back pocket to pull his sleek black iPhone out and hand it to her. She takes it, noticing no phone case on and she cringes because her phone wouldn’t survive a day. “In case you come back from vacation early.” There’s a teasing lilt in his tone and she offers a small smile as she inputs her number for him, “Or just so we could catch up. You’ve been missed.”

There’s that eye roll again and it makes his stupidly handsome grin immediately return. For her part, she offers another small smile and wave as she heads down the pathway, “until next time, then,” she replies and when she turns she takes a deep breath to disperse the tightness in her throat. Although it’s unlikely, she wishes the next time is never because she wouldn’t survive another experience.

[bluejaysandblackbats]

In The Soup

Fandom: DC Comics, Batfam, Superfam

Summary: Jason Lives AU where he and Superboy become friends, despite Bruce's disapproval of Superboy. (ft. Jason's service dog, Gromit)

Chapters: 6/?

Characters: Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth, Barbara Gordon, Conner Kent, Roxy Leech, Rex Leech

Relationships: TBA

Additional Tag: Jason Todd Lives, Jason Todd Has Chronic Pain, Jason Todd Has PTSD, Conner Kent is Superboy, Good Friend Jason Todd, Protective Jason Todd, Overprotective Bruce Wayne, Barbara Gordon is Oracle, Disabled Characters, Jason Todd & Bruce Wayne Get Along, Good Parent Bruce Wayne, Developing Friendships, Sneaking Around, Disguise, Fluff and Humor, Secret Messages, Hiding in Plain Sight

Chapter Six: Market Stepmommy

Conner waited for Barbara to let him past the security system, and he followed her directions to the kitchen, where Jason scrambled to make their sandwiches. “Hey, Jason?” Conner asked. Jason froze in place, staring up at Conner. “How hard did you fall?”

“Oh, not hard. I have nerve damage. Like today isn’t a bad pain day, but it’s a numbness day,” Jason explained, “It’s funny how a few hits to the head can do a lot to your body in the long run.”

“Sports?” Conner asked.

“Not exactly,” Jason replied as he finished making breakfast. “Gromit, here, buddy. Thanks for the pick me up this morning.” He fed Gromit two slices of bacon and washed his hands. Gromit brushed his face against Jason’s ankle. “I love you too, Gromit.”

“Food smells great,” Conner replied as Jason gave him his plate.

“Thanks… Barbara! Food’s done!” Jason hollered.

“Why are you yelling? Just use the intercom,” Barbara complained as she entered the room. “Hi, Baby Boy, watch out,” Barbara whispered as Gromit walked past her, proudly chewing his treat.

“Oh, Barbara. Conner thought you were my stepmom,” Jason chuckled.

“I would never date Bruce, though… That’d be gross, but I might start telling women at the grocery store that you’re my son. Do you think that works the same way it does for cute babies in sitcoms? How about it, Jason? Do you wanna help me find you a new stepmommy?” Barbara joked.

"I thought you were talking to that computer guy?" Jason asked.

"I can't have a backup plan? Besides, what if you don't like your future stepdad—?"

"Eww, okay. This joke is getting gross. Conner, she isn't my stepmom, she's a friend of the family. We wouldn't know what to do without her. Hey, Barbara, could you get Conner into school with me?" Jason asked as he took three pill bottles from Gromit's backpack. Conner watched as Jason washed his pills down with half a bottle of water.

"Mhm, I'll have him enrolled by Sunday night," Barbara answered.

Conner looked up from his sandwich. "Whoa, you guys were serious? That's—. Wow. Thank you," Conner smiled.

"It was easy. Don't worry about it. Do me a favor and make sure these two get outdoors,” Barbara requested, “And we’ll call it even.” Conner chuckled and nodded.

“Jason, where do you like to hang out?” Conner asked.

“I haven’t been to the museum in a while,” Jason replied, “Oh, and there’s this place called The Sewer, and they play live music sometimes. But it’s only cool at nighttime…” Jason looked at Barbara with wide eyes.

“I’ll watch Gromit while you hit the teen club tonight, but only because he’s great at keeping me company. How about it, Gromit? Do you want to work with Auntie Barbara tonight?” Barbara asked as she scratched under Gromit’s chin.

“Nothing too dangerous,” Jason warned her. Barbara nodded. “Does anybody want another sandwich? I’ve got a bunch of leftover bacon.”

“Please,” Barbara replied. Conner nodded along with her.

After breakfast, Jason let Conner go to his room with him while he got ready to go out. “Thanks for coming over. Are you gonna spend the night after The Sewer or—? Sorry, I haven’t been out and about a whole lot, so I’m excited to have somebody to hang out with—.”

“It’s okay. I don’t mind. I don’t have anyone normal like you to hang out with, so it’s nice to be able to chill with you,” Conner smiled. Jason threw on one of Bruce’s old beat-up flannels and pulled on his pants. Conner laid back and stretched out on Jason’s bed. “What’s it like living with Bruce Wayne? Is he like your dad or something?”

“Yeah, he is my dad. I love him a lot, but he’s got this weird vendetta against you because he thinks you’re gonna hurt Superman or something,” Jason confessed, “Which is why he can never know you’re Superboy. He’d flip his lid if he knew we were friends.”

Conner turned on his side and grinned at Jason. “So, we’re friends?” Conner asked.

Jason’s cheeks went rosy. “Shut up,” Jason giggled without meaning to. “We can do whatever you want between the museum and The Sewer tonight.”

“What is The Sewer exactly?” Conner questioned.

“It’s a nightclub for teens. After eight, it’s sixteen and up,” Jason replied, “I snuck in once when I was eleven… But I haven’t been able to get in since.”

Conner chuckled. “I’m sorry. I’m not—. Well, I kind of—. I imagined a tinier you in a nightclub moshing with teenagers,” Conner laughed. Jason snickered, and it built into a full-body laugh that left him doubled over.

“Oh, it was terrible,” Jason laughed, “I got tossed around like a ragdoll.” Conner and Jason laughed until tears rolled down their cheeks.

“I would’ve given anything to be a real kid,” Conner mumbled. Jason stopped laughing.

“You are a real kid,” Jason replied. Conner smiled and shook his head.

“I’m a science project being passed off as a kid,” Conner replied, “You don’t have to be nice about it. I know what I am—.”

“Clone or no clone, you’re a regular sixteen-year-old kid to me—. No, you’re better than most sixteen-year-old kids. You’re empathetic. You’re not judgmental. You’re funny. You’re friendly—. I mean—. I’m glad you were made in a lab because that’s what it took for me to get a friend like you,” Jason stated. Conner smiled.

“Thanks, Jason,” Conner whispered, “Hey, do you like fast cars?”

“Do ducks fly south for the winter?” Jason replied. Conner laughed.

“How ‘bout I take you flying on the way home tonight?” Conner suggested.

"Yeah, I'd love it, but my chair—."

"I can carry the chair too. Just fold it up. What do you say?" Conner asked. Jason nodded, his mouth open at the thought of flying. "It'll be fun. I promise."

Barbara knocked on the door. "No curfew tonight. It’s Saturday, and I think the chances of you two getting arrested are slim to none,” Barbara whispered.

Jason’s phone rang. “Oh! Hold on, it’s my dad. Mind if I take this?” Jason asked. Conner shook his head. “Hi, Bruce. Everything okay from abroad?”

“Mhm… I miss you,” Bruce whispered, “I don’t think I’ll be home this week, though… Jason, are you alright with Barbara until I get home?”

“Mhm… Are you gonna—? When are you and Alfred coming home? Do you have any idea?” Jason asked. A loud wind blew on Bruce’s end.

“It’ll be at least a week… Hopefully no more than a month, Jason—.”

“Is it dangerous?” Jason asked. Conner heard Jason’s pulse pick up speed.

“No more than the usual… I love you, Jason,” Bruce whispered.

“I love you too… Bruce? Um… If you’re in trouble—. Can you have Alfred write me or call me if something happens?” Jason asked.

“Uh-huh… Jason, are you alright?” Bruce questioned.

“Yeah… I just—. I’m hanging out with my friend tonight, so I might not answer my phone,” Jason replied.

“Okay… Be good, and feel free to call me if you need something,” Bruce whispered, “I gotta go.”

“Bye, D—. Bye, Bruce,” Jason whispered. He hung up and dropped his phone in his lap. “Okay. Ready to go?” Jason smiled, but there was no hiding his discomfort.

[bots-and-cons]

hello! may i request gn (fem if u can TT) human reader who gets hurt and bullied in school and they call the mechs in the bathroom to pick up them up? optimus, megatron, knockout separately! SORRY IF THIS IS AGAINST THE RULES

I wrote this as fem!reader since this is based on my experience with bullying and I’m an afab person. It's platonic, and the reader is the con’s charge. I didn’t do Optimus since I couldn’t come up with anything for him and the Knockout one ended up being quite long anyways. I'm gonna put this under the cut because it's quite long

~Knockout~

Worse had been done to you before, but you just weren’t having a good day, so what those three girls did, was just too much. They had emptied a bottle of water on top of your head as you sat in class. You stood up to go to the bathroom to try and dry yourself with some paper towels, but the ring leader knocked you down and you hit your head on a corner of a desk.

You were bleeding as you hurried out of the classroom and to the bathroom, accompanied by the fading laughter of the trio of girls as you got farther away from the classroom.

You couldn’t handle it anymore, you just couldn’t. You were sitting in one of the bathroom stalls. Trying to stifle your sobs by holding your hand on your mouth, while trying to stem the bleeding with a paper towel on your other hand. You hated them, you hated this damn school for not doing anything about the bullying, even though there had been multiple instances where the teachers had seen them antagonizing you.

No one seemed to give a damn what was going on with you. Not anyone in school anyway. You knew that if you went to the principal yourself, it would probably just make the situation worse, and your parents didn’t care enough to get involved.

You called Knockout in tears, trying to calm your breathing as the line rang.

“Hey! Did you change your mind about ditching school and hanging out with me instead?” he joked cheerfully.

“Can-Can you come pick me up from school-school? I don’t want to-want to be here anymore” you stammered.

“What’s wrong? You sound upset” his tone turned serious.

“I’ll explain when you come pick me up, please Knockout”

Knockout had a bad feeling already, but you not calling him by the nickname you’d given him was a huge red flag. You only called him “Knockout” if it was something serious or you were upset with him.

“I’m coming right away”

“Thank you” you choked and hung up.

You peeked out of the bathroom stall, checking if anyone had sneaked into the bathroom. Luckily you were alone. You stood in front of the big mirror that was above the sinks, and tried to wipe off the blood that had dried on your face. There was some on your shirt too, head wounds had a tendency to bleed quite a lot after all. You zipped up your jacket, so if you bumped into someone in the hallway, they wouldn’t see the blood. You dried yourself off the best you could and sneaked out of school.

Knockout appeared about ten minutes later and you hopped into the front seat. Trying to keep a calm demeanor.

“Everything okay?” he asked, trying to gently coax you to tell him what happened.

“I swear, I’m not ever going back there” you said, motioning towards the school.

“Did you hurt your forehead? You got some blood there”

“Fuck, I thought I got it all off” you were starting to tear up again.

“Okay, now you really need to tell me what’s going on” Knockout was starting to get really concerned.

“You remember those-those classmates of mine that I told you about, the ones that I don’t like?”

“They did this to you? I swear to Primus I’m gonna teach them a lesson” Knockout said, revving his engine.

“I wish you could, but I don’t really think that’s a good idea”

“I know, I know. I just wish I could help” he sighed.

“You can help me later, now if you could just drive before that teacher gets here, that’d be great” you said, lowering yourself on the seat so you couldn’t be seen from the window.

“Oh yeah, that”

You stared out the window, as you drove out of town, just thinking. You didn’t want to cry, since you really, really disliked crying in front of others. You felt like you were weak because you couldn’t just deal with the bullying or just shrug it off like it was nothing. Hell, Knockout did it everyday. He put up with so much crap from Megatron and Starscream all the time and he just seemed so unbothered by it. You didn’t understand how he was able to do that, but you wished you were able to do the same.

Knockout didn’t know what to say or do to make you feel better. Obviously those kids had done you very wrong and he just wanted to ameliorate the situation somehow, but he didn’t know what to do. He just drove until you got out of town and then called for a ground bridge. He wanted to check your forehead and patch you up if necessary. If those damn kids had given you a concussion, he was going to cause them nightmares.

You hopped out, holding your backpack. Knockout transformed, stretching overdramatically afterwards.

“Are you feeling dizzy at all? Do you want to sit on my shoulder?” he asked, concerned.

“No, I’m fine. I’ll walk” you said, trying not to worry him any more than you already had.

You walked to the med bay with Knockout at his request, because he wanted to check out the injury on your forehead.

He picked you up and sat you down on the side counter and started looking for the first aid kit he had demanded you get for him in case of something like this.

You took off your jacket because it was starting to get quite warm, and as Knockout emerged with the first aid kit, he noticed your clothes looked wet.

“Did those brats also pour water on you?” he sighed, shaking his head in irritation.

“Yeah” you said quietly.

“I swear to Primus!” Knockout hissed.

You just sat there in silence as Knockout properly cleaned your forehead with disinfectant and put a bandaid on the cut.

You could see he was angry, and even though you knew it wasn’t aimed at you, you couldn’t help but feel bad, like you had done something wrong.

“Do you think I’m weak? Because I get upset by this. I mean I know they’re like total assholes and what they did wasn’t right, but isn’t this just a part of going to school and dealing with people?” you asked.

“I don’t think you’re weak, sweetness. Quite the opposite. I’m really not the best mech for you to talk about this with, all I know about humans comes from you and TV shows, so I don’t really know what to tell you. Except that it’s definitely not right”

“But if I'm not weak, why can’t I deal with this? Why do I just keep crying about it?” you asked desperately, pleading for some sort of explanation.

“Because you’re a kind person, certainly the kindest I’ve ever met. You don’t want to hurt anyone and you would rather just take all the slag, than hurt someone else’s feelings” he explained.

“You really think so?” you asked after a while of silence.

“Yes! I know my standards for kindness may not be very high, but you’re like wayyy above that”  he emphasized by stretching the word.

“I think they bully me because they know I won’t fight back” you sighed.

“Well then maybe you should, be smart about it of course and don’t leave marks”

“Don’t leave marks? That’s your advice?” you crossed your arms across your chest with a dramatic huff.

“Okay, I admit you probably shouldn’t take my advice on this, but you get the point” Knockout said with a smirk.

You rolled your eyes at him. You really didn’t know what to do. You had a hard time standing up for yourself, you knew that, but you also just wanted to make it stop. You just didn’t know how.

“You’re okay, right? For today at least?” Knockout asked.

“Yeah, I think so, thanks K” you said.

Knockout was worried of course, the two of you were very close and he was like family to you. He just wanted you to be happy, and he hated that he wasn’t able to help you with this matter. He felt helpless, and even though he was used to that feeling, he hated it when it came to you. He would just have to deal with it somehow...

~Megatron~

Megatron hadn’t gotten a call quite like this before. Sure, you’d asked him to pick you up before, but now you sounded different. You sounded desperate. He wasn’t really sure for what, but he certainly wanted to know.

He sent Knockout to pick you up, and when you arrived at the Nemesis, you looked miserable.

“Come with me, little one” Megatron said.

You followed him to his habsuite, so you could talk in peace, even though you were more in the mood for punching something than talking.

“What has happened to make you upset?” Megatron got straight to the point as usual.

“It’s just… remember when I told you about those people at school? The ones who have been annoying me”

“Yes”

“Well, they took it a step further a few months ago and started pushing me around and calling me a slut. Today one of them sent a pic of me in the locker room to my whole class” you hissed.

“I’m not familiar with this “slut” word” Megatron said, as you hung your legs over the edge of his berth, swinging them back and forth.

“It’s offensive, you don’t really need to know anything more” you said, looking down.

“You should not let anyone push you around like that. Have you not learned anything from me?”

“I really don’t need you to chastise me about this too, I get enough crap from my parents already” you snapped at him.

“I assume the picture they’d taken of you was inappropriate?”

“Yep, I’m mostly clothed, but they were calling me fat and stuff like that” you sighed.

“Would you like me to deal with this?” Megatron asked.

“How? I mean you could probably just blow up their houses, but I don’t think that’s a very good solution”

“Why not?”

“Because… it’s wrong… I don’t really have any other reason to be honest. I’m just so fucking angry at them and I don’t know what to with this feeling” you sighed.

“The best way to deal with such adversaries is to put them in their place. Get revenge”

“That really doesn’t work in this situation, because then I would be the one to get in trouble with the school”

Megatron didn’t know what to tell you. He was used to solving all his problems with violence and intimidation. He would’ve been happy to take care of these human children if you just wanted him to. You were different. You had a lot of anger, just like him, but you refused to use it. Especially against others, which he couldn’t understand. If you would just let him help you, the situation would be solved.

“What do you think would work in this situation then?” Megatron growled with annoyance.

“If I only knew how, I would do it” you sighed.

“Are you certain you do not want me to deal with these… children?” he basically hissed the last word.

“Yeah, I am. I just hate that I don’t know what to do with these-these… bitches” you huffed.

“To be honest, I do not understand why you do not just get rid of these, “bitches” as you called them” Megatron said.

“I would rather not have a murder charge, or something so nope, not really an option” you joked.

“I cannot tell you how to live your life, no matter how much I want to. Just know that I am willing to take on a murder charge for you. Even if it’s purely symbolic since your human justice system has no power over someone like me”

“Thanks for that, I appreciate it” you said and smacked the side of his leg.

Megatron truly did not understand your reasoning, aside from not wanting a murder charge, but he was willing to accept it. With someone else he probably wouldn’t let them have freedom like this, but you weren’t just anyone.

[imtherain]

Be Holding Me

Hey there

Today was lame and my stomach was a POS as it is wont to do, so I threw up about it. Didn’t feel great after (surprise surprise) so I wrote an incredible indulgent fanfic which is 100% a self insert and if you have a problem with that you can fuck right off.

But, yeah, not feeling good, wanted some cuddles, currently in love with Ghost, so here we are.

Warnings: talk about getting sick/losing one’s lunch, very slight mention of blood, Ghost being a chair. No pancakes. idk man I just work here

Anywho

~~~~~

I get sick a lot.

I always say it's my ungrateful stomach, or my useless meat suit. Some days, no matter how nice I am to them, they rebel and I lose my lunch. Or dinner. Or breakfast. It was never fun, but after so many years of this nonsense, I’d grown, unfortunately, used to it.

Today was no different. Something random set me off, a smell maybe. I’d been set off by something as mundane as the air freshener before, even though it was the same one I had always used. It didn’t really matter the why though, only that it happened, and now I was woozy, annoyed with my lot in life, and needing some positive attention.

So I went looking for Ghost.

Anyone else who knew Ghost would think he would be the last person you’d look to for comfort. He was big, intimidating… glared a lot. But under all that big badass energy, he was secretly a softie. Well, maybe not for everyone, but he definitely was for me.

He was on the couch, watching the sports channel when I found him. He glanced up at me, but didn’t say anything. He knew that usually I didn’t want to talk about it, sometimes I didn’t even want to acknowledge it.

I went right up to him and crawled into his lap. He shook his head a little, but adjusted so that there was room for the both of us, and tucked my head under his chin. I hummed, content to be held for a bit.

“I hope you didn’t have to hear all that,” I said.

“Want me to lie to you?” Ghost said.

“Sorry,” I was always embarrassed when someone had to hear the tragedy that was my insides. I knew it wasn’t fun for anyone involved.

“Nothing to be sorry for,” He said. “Need anything?”

“Just this for now,” I told him, nuzzling myself into his neck. I felt him chuckle as his arms held me a little tighter for a moment. If anyone accused Ghost of being nice, he’d call them a liar. 

“Did you drink some water?” He asked. I grunted at him.

“I brushed my teeth,” I offered instead.

“Not the same,” He shifted so he could reach down next to the couch and handed me his water bottle. “Drink,”

“Boo,” I complained but I drank some before resettling against his chest. One of his hands began rubbing up and down my back and I hummed again, closing my eyes. He was warm and everywhere and it was nice.

I could tell he had gone back to watching his game because he started cursing under his breath about a bad call. I smiled though because it was so damn domestic.

“How we feeling?” Ghost’s voice pulled me from the slight doze I’d found myself in. If he wasn’t so comfortable, it wouldn’t have been such a problem to stay awake.

“Like shit,” I told him.

“What can I do about it?” He asked.

“Kill me?” I offered hopefully.

“Negative,” 

“Why not?”

“Too much of a mess,” I snorted at him.

“You’re no fun,” 

“Never said I was,” But he moved to press his forehead into my hair. I always joked that he was like a cat that gave head bonks instead of using his words. I didn’t mind, sometimes words didn’t help anyway.

I bonked him back and I could feel him smile through his balaklava.

“I could always try to fuck you better,” He offered with a smirk even his mask couldn’t hide.

“I don’t know that that’d make me feel any better,” But I was smiling.

“Always makes me feel better,” Another gentle knock of his forehead against me. 

“That’s cuz you’re a slut, Simon,” I shifted slightly to press a kiss to his cloth covered cheek. There was a time that was the closest I got to skin. He moved to pull his mask up to his nose.

“Like I’m going to let you get away with that,” But he was grinning. He held me tighter so I couldn’t escape him as he kissed my face. I laughed and tried to push him away, but he was far stronger than me, and really, I didn’t want to be anywhere else. “Kiss me,” He commanded softly. I rolled my eyes at him.

“I just got sick, you don’t want to be near my mouth,” 

“You’ve kissed me when there’s been blood on my face, and you at least brushed your teeth,” He reminded me. I snorted at him again.

“That was a very different situation,” I said.

“Don’t care,” This time he took matters into his own hands, and by matters, I mean my face. He tipped my head back and covered my mouth with his. For a long moment, there was nothing else in the whole world but his lips on mine. No school or work or groceries to get. No rent or bills or stress. No ungrateful stomach, no useless meatsuit. Just Simon.

And that was more than enough.

[Masterlist]

[More Ghost]

[apex-academy]

Chapter 6: The Decay of Our Lives (#12)

I make my rounds from task to task all evening, and Aidan has to remind me to sit down for a minute at some point. Even so, I’m pretty exhausted by the time 9:00 hits. At least the bedsheet “screen” seems to be holding up despite Ichiriki’s best efforts to not perform his task.

Despite our event being a movie, there’s no popcorn this time—trying not to think too hard about who made the last batches—just some fruit, veggies, and a nacho bar that no one with an appreciation of symmetry could stand if all the lights were still on. 

There were only so many matching containers in the kitchen, okay?

There’s also a big jug of hand sanitizer, in case anyone doesn’t want to take five more steps to go wash their hands in their dorm bathroom. Or someone else’s. Most of us are set up with chairs at our own doorways, but Kanagi’s apparently crashed Ichiriki’s to be a little closer to the screen. Tsunyasha’s room is even farther, but I think she’s more interested in watching the rest of us than the movie, anyway. Not sure what she’s got against the silver screen, but as long as she’s not stirring up trouble, I can’t complain.

Aidan and I ended up with front-row tickets, so he doesn’t have much issue getting people’s attention as he prepares to start the movie.

“It is now 9:00 PM, and our feature film will be beginning shortly!”

“First, I do want to thank everyone for coming, and for your cooperation in getting everything set up!”

“Should you need to take a break or start to nod off—well, your rooms are right there, nehe.”

“But, as far as what you can stand, I’m confident we can all enjoy this event if we only allow ourselves to.” 

“So, grab some food while we’ve still got it, and we’ll get this thing off the ground, shall we?”

Kanagi cheers, while Tsunyasha almost seems to consider a sporting and/or sarcastic clap before focusing on her food instead. Mahavir remains a few awkward paces back from his doorway, like he’s unsure if he’s supposed to have his door closed for this. Don’t think that’d be a great way to see the movie, though.

“Just allow ourselves to enjoy things, huh.”

I side-eye Ichiriki, but he’s busy... filing his nails? Sure, why not. Makes it easier on the rest of us if his concentration’s elsewhere.

At least, until he gets bored in a few minutes and starts complaining again.

Aidan whoops back, then makes sure he and his poof of hair are out of everyone’s way before hitting play. Despite a few ripples in the bedsheet Ichiriki put up, the picture and audio seem to be working just fine. Aidan’s chosen video opens with an airplane moving through the clouds.

How shocking.

I’m probably paying more attention to my food than the movie as it leads us into an airport. Not like things have gotten good yet. Just... a little weird.

We manage to make it a few jokes(?) in before Kanagi cackles loud enough to overcome the soundtrack.

“Did...”

“Did you actually get that pun? I wasn’t sure how well these would go with a Japanese audience.”

“Pff, nah, I totally don’t get it at all! I can just tell it’s funny, dude.”

“...Good enough!”

With that, we’re back to actually being able to hear the movie. It’s really not getting any less absurd. All right.

“........”

“This is SO unrealistic.”

Ah, there he goes. I check over my shoulder, but so far Ichiriki doesn’t seem to be up to any crimes besides eating nachos with a fork and knife.

We didn’t even bring silverware over? Why is...

I’m not gonna worry about it. It’s Ichiriki. If it fits whatever his thing is now, he’ll find a way.

“It most certainly is!"

“Like, why would you want it to be real crap? We already get that with, like...”

“...real crap.”

“But surely any departures from your sad, limited reality should be more glorious than this?”

“Tales of heroes, rather than...”

She shakes her head with an unenthusiastic gesture at the screen. I’m not sure what we missed there, but there sure are babies being thrown now. Amazing. This thing keeps oscillating between slapstick gags and extended-setup puns, and it’s hard to know what I should be paying attention to. Is there a plot?

“Not exactly as intellectual as I would have expected.”

“Hey now, some of those setups are quite clever!”

He makes a passing attempt to scoot towards me before deciding it’s too much effort. The gesture’s been made.

He lifts a hand near his mouth for his best stage whisper.

“And you know what? You’re allowed to laugh at stupid jokes, too.”

He mimes an elbow nudge that is both too far away and on the wrong side to actually reach me. Work with what he’s got, I guess.

“Thanks for the permission.”

“You’re very welcome! Use it well.”

“.........”

And back to the train wreck—plane wreck?—that is this movie. I guess it’s not terrible, just... Is there a plot yet?

We finally make it from the airport onto a plane when the camera focuses on some overhead service button labels. Simple enough English, just above something that is clearly not actual Spanish. The screen flicks back to the actual characters.

“Hey! HOW am I supposed to read a FOREIGN LANGUAGE that fast?!”

“Special training?”

“Oh no are we supposed to be reading.”

You... are at least reading the actual subtitles, right? Right?

“Well, we CERTAINLY aren’t if THAT’S all the time they’ll give us! UNBELIEVABLE!”

“Now, who’s this ‘they’ to whom you’re referring? Because...”

He pauses the movie—on a frame of a character looking even more nervous with the motion blur—and rewinds.

“...we have the technology to take as long as we need.”

He pauses on the text in question. The dorm hallway is infinitely quieter for a few moments.

“I STILL can’t read it! What GIVES?!”

“Yo, my name’s Ich, I’m 19 years old, and I never learned how to frickin’ read.”

“That fool is nineteen?”

“NO!!!”

Why is this happening.

“Er...”

A quiet but rough throat-clearing.

“If it’s of any assistance, I don’t believe that’s intended to be a faithful translation into... any existing language whatsoever.”

“So they MADE IT UP? Just for ONE movie? Who DOES that?!”

“That isn’t... precisely what I...”

“Oh, there’s a sequel, don’t worry!”

“I’m classifying that as a threat.”

“As you well should.”

Before this can devolve any further—I don’t know how it could, but with this team, anything is possible—he hits play again. Back to airplanes and flashbacks and whiplash every which way, with the whole bizarro tone being the only thing holding somewhat steady.

But none of us get up to leave. At least some people end up laughing from joke to joke—mostly Kanagi, but she’s been having a rough time of it. It’s nice to hear her back to normal.

Back to weird?

Anyway. It’s just a night of snorts and snickers, random interruptions that can’t take much away from a random movie, and general split attention between subtitles and congealing nacho cheese. I never burst out laughing, whether Aidan’s horribly disappointed in me or not, but a few moments catch me off-guard enough to get a good snort. 

By the time the movie ends, Aidan and Mahavir have already retreated into their dorms to various degrees in case they pass out, which they do. Ichiriki has successfully kicked Kanagi out of his own room by virtue of shutting the door behind him when she went to grab a refill. She just booed at him and went to try Tsunyasha’s instead. 

I wander back to the refreshments table and try not to pass out myself as the menu screen loops. I should probably turn that off, or something. Not sure I care enough.

“.....”

I’m tired. Not because it’s what-even-o-clock now, though that sure isn’t helping. There’s just too much to worry about. One bizarre lighthearted movie night isn’t going to fix that.

“But it wasn’t a bad break.”

[BACK] [NEXT]

[olivereactsaboutgarbage]

Higurashi When They Cry - Watanagashi Chapter 5

I just want everyone to know that I don’t have the Steam achievement for meeting Shion. That’s so outrageous. I have the Steam achievement for getting food from Shion and the Steam achievement for getting rescued by Shion but not the one for meeting her.

Anyways

Keiichi’s Shion Meal is actually a super powerful rare meal he obtained via cheating that has been imposed upon him.

Also I think Rena is shipping Keiichi and Mion probably. If I’m right that’d be funny after Keiichi spent half of the last arc shipping Keiichi and Rena.

Hmm. Two? Where by “Two?” I mean “That’s inherently unacceptable!!”

Oh, Keiichi’s voice acting was cute here. That’s a first. For his voice acting. And probably a higher single-digit number in terms of overall Keiichi Cuteness Moments. Still a single-digit number either way though. But... a higher one if we’re counting things other than voice acting.

Keiichi learns that he can actually drag three leeches to the Shion Meal, but he only learns it while surrounded by leeches, so he learned it at a bad time, because it takes more than three leeches to surround a person, and also he doesn’t like them.

Keiichi doesn’t like to make jokes about sexual assault. I guess that makes him a better When They Cry protagonist than Battler.

Ew... did I really just say that...? Ew... disgusting...

Hmm, if Rena is actually a Keiichi/Mion shipper, and Shion is actually a completely different person from Mion (possibly untrue) and Keiichi is stupid (definitely true), that specific set of conditions would mean it sucks for Rena how Shion is groping all over Keiichi. Metaphorically speaking. It’s up to you to figure out what part of what I just said was a metaphor--shouldn’t be too hard, maybe.

Unfortunately for Keiichi, Shion’s Mealhouse is also a den of leeches. The acting drains from their voices and presumably also the color drains from Keiichi’s face.

fuck, this entire chapter is making me like keiichi. the stakes aren’t even high, why do i like him right now

Well, I guess this is just the same thing they pulled on the show Frasier via the existence of Niles Crane. Except I actually like Niles Crane. Not that I’m an avid Frasier fan.

Keiichi reiterates his stance that sexual harassment is actually bad.

Non-voiced text disagrees.

Keiichi decides to unveil the foreshadowed Shion Reciprocity and make a huge scene. Also he’s fatphobic. Also his fuckin’ Way-More-Useless-Spidey-Senses are inescapable even when they don’t really impact the plot meaningfully. They truly are innate to the boy himself, and not simply to his genre.

Ick, don’t say that. Especially not without enclosing it in <>s, old-timer! ...Actually I don’t know offhand which localization is older, but I know what I like, so I have chosen to ascribe youth to that which I like.

Keiichi lacks training and is a young man, so in order to cover for one of those deficiencies, he summons Chekhov’s Leeches who aren’t young men: Rena and the Toddlers.

wtf since when are all the losers not losers. they’re even less losery than the last time they weren’t losers!!

LMAO

Keiichi is pretending he owns walky-talkies. Or maybe he actually owns them. Probably not though.

The punctuation is getting sassy this time around. I like it! :)

This is the single most vile sentence known to man???

Why’d an entire BG get drawn for this restroom. How many more times is Keiichi gonna come in here.

Not “a” girl, not “the” girl, but simply Girl, in its purest state. Like a Toddler 02-shaped-hole punched through reality straight to the ocean known as All Quantifiable “Girl” Substance. I guess that makes Toddler 02 one of the best characters, because entity-shaped holes punched through reality are extremely great, especially when they lead to The Outer Turn!

...why would anyone trying to rationally explain their position end their sentence with “NyaaaAAAHH~”. Well whatever

Ah, but the English words used by the voice acting were clearly “I shall return”. Everyone else isn’t actually going to return, and the implication that they will is a false narrative concocted for unclear yet sinister reasons.

Anyway, Keiichi’s anti-leech fatphobia saved the day.

If the voice acting is to be believed, then the definition of the word “hau” is “was a pervert”. This explains a lot about Rena’s character!

Hmm... I suppose it could be said then that I also wield it... the power to make Keiichi laugh...

Ah yes, playing dumb. Another episode of Keiichi Being Correct Moments.

Is Rena calling Keiichi “the girl” here? Hmm... it suits him.

Rena all-but-confirms Keiichi’s theory that Mion and Shion are the same. Phew, I guess the fact that Shion loves groping Keiichi isn’t going to ruin Rena’s day after all. Not that I care especially deeply about that specific Mood Hypothetical.

Ah... hold on... let me do some cross-referencing...

“I’m very kind and thoughtful, but Shion has a cold and scary personality...!”

Alright. Dichotomy noted.

Nico Robin moment

Correct.

Wrong.

MEAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >:(

Oh right, I kinda forgot about that too. It was like two hiatuses ago on my part.

Um. Okay dude

Anyway, I can’t believe it... Keiichi has entered his Mind Palace and activated Smart Mode. Via the activation of Smart Mode, he’s completely eviscerated his greatest character flaw... this power level is way too high...

...okay even with Smart Mode activated, Keiichi didn’t even note the dichotomy I noted. Okay

Y’know a friend was saying a while ago that as someone who started with the anime, he found the VN’s pacing unbearable. I wonder if the anime also has this many extensive flashbacks in Keiichi’s Mind Palace.

BRO THE WORLD IS SO ORANGE??? There need to be more visual novels that take place in Orange World.

Anyway, this is just the plot of Umineko.

Keiichi decides to fix everything by giving Shion a toy, like in that Phineas and Ferb movie where Doofenshmirtz fixes everything by giving Shoofenshmirtz a toy. Keiichi is standing in for Mion in this situation and also this analogy doesn’t make any sense.

Wait, actually, Keiichi isn’t going to give Shion a toy directly, he’s going to make Mion give Shion the toy. So my analogy was fucking great and all of you were wrong to ever doubt me!

You jackass. Mion, just give her the toy already so she goes to jail

yeah she is laying this on way too thick for it to be anything other than a lie

i am going to commit fucking murder

Meanwhile, in Side Story Land...

What??? Why is Shion putting Keiichi in a car in Side Story Land??? What is this

OMG!!!! IT’S ULKI FROM FIRE EMBLEM!!!! YES YES YES YES YES

[bisluthq]

I’ve seen so many swifties hate on Maisie (it’s happened before but I’m seeing it again now with the announcement) for dumb song lyrics from songs that are clearly meant to be fun, and I would get it if they were idk Lana del Rey fans but Taylor has songs like ME! and gorgeous and shake it off and YNTCD and London Boy and a million other dumb fun songs? I just don’t understand hating on purposefully not deep songs when it’s something your fave does often? The one I saw people complaining about now was the start of Holy Revival, specifically the “I guess I'm disappointed that you didn't "Merry Christmas" your way back into my life” and I don’t see the problem with it?

I guess I never really get the Maisie hate because it’s not like she’s big enough to be annoyed by seeing her everywhere (*cough* Sabrina *cough*), she hasn’t written any songs about Taylor (Charli), she doesn’t have the credits drama that comes with Olivia, she isn’t a competitor like Olivia or Billie or even Ariana, she isn’t a nepo baby like Gracie (which some people have a problem with). I don’t see many people talking about Maisie ever, but when I see people hating on her is usually swifties over fun songs like that or Cate’s Brother and idk I just don’t really get it?

I’ve frankly not seen hate of Maisie but that’s very deeply weird coming from Swifties. I really like Maisie. If I were to criticize her, it’d be that she’s a little unoriginal? She’s clearly very inspired by Taylor, Kate Nash, Lily Allen and Ed (obviously lol). A lot of her songs sound like you just married a Lily song with a Taylor song and sprinkled in some Kate and Ed and there we are. I happen to really like all those artists so it’s not a problem for me but I’m gonna be honest, it prevents me from like… loving Maisie. I like Maisie but I don’t love her. Cate’s Brother is actually one of the songs I like of hers more BECAUSE it’s a joke and in it being a joke, it feels less ripped off from her influences. I also really like Blonde, kinda for the same reason. She’s best imo when she’s silliest because then she seems to be more herself and trying less hard idk.

personally, I don’t get hating anyone as your personality. I don’t like Sabrina, as I’ve explained, but I don’t have the energy to go beef with people who DO like her (fair enough) and I’d get fuck bored being a full time anti because that’d involve like…. following her??? And my whole entire problem with her is I want to know less about her, not more??? Almost everything I learned about her - aside from her having a great voice, which she does - I learned entirely against my will? I don’t really “get” Charli’s music but I’m not gonna anti or shit on people’s brat summers? I have 0 regular thoughts about Gracie and find that to be just fine by me lmao? I like some of her songs well enough but not enough to like stan and as for her being a nepo baby, I like that she’s acknowledged that and she works really hard herself anyway. I really like some of Ari’s songs, I really liked the new album, and I think she’s got a phenomenal voice but she doesn’t really inspire much passion in me (her messiness is fun). I like Billie a lot. I like Dua a lot. I like Bey a lot. I like Harry a lot. I like a lot of things and artists and liking them doesn’t make me dislike other things lmao and disliking other things doesn’t make me want to go and tell people they ought to dislike those things too because frankly idc lol. Like whatever tf you like.

I mean some shit is just objectively BAD lol like Liam Payn’s solo stuff (remembered about him since we were discussing him). Like it’s just actively dreadful. I will absolutely judge you if your favorite songs are like from LP1 or if you unironically listen to him a lot. But beyond judging your bad life choices, and maybe telling you that he’s also like… legitimately not a nice person… I also won’t really gaf.

[dycefic]

Have An Evil Day

No prompt this time, just a sequel to ‘Welcome To Evil-Mart’

Working at Evil-Mart is usually… well, it’s retail. It’s physically exhausting, you have to deal with a lot of idiots without being overtly rude, and your feet hurt. Even though the hours and pay are very good, the benefits are great, and our bosses treat us well compared to most retail employees, it’s still not what I’d call a fun job.

But it’s not what I’d call dull, either. Especially not on days like today.

I was promoted to supervisor after the Food Poisoning Incident, so I have a little more authority and a little less obligation to be pleasant and I got issued a weighted cosh because sometimes Evil-Mart customers get… feisty. I’d never had to use it, though, because those who hadn’t seen what I did to Majority Rules, either in person or on one of the cell-phone videos that circulated afterwards, had at least heard about it.  They didn’t give me any trouble.

I was halfway through my shift, and the worst things that’d happened had been running out of croissants and a machine oil spill in Aisle Seven, when our greeter pressed the alarm button, which sent an alert to my handset. As front-end supervisor, that meant me, so I went over. Sam, who is unusual in the henching community for having actually aged out rather than ‘being retired’ jerked his chin in the direction of a tall, swaggering figure. “He just came in,” he whispered.

I did a full double-take before I took it in. Superdyne. Fucking Superdyne.

We’d all heard about his dramatic heel-turn a couple of months ago. The whole world had heard about it. Superdyne, who’d skated closer and closer to the line for years, had decided to cross it in a blaze of bloodshed. He was a villain now, he said. There’d been a whole speech about how ingratitude had driven him to it blah blah blah.

I work at Evil-Mart. I’m from a hench family. If someone becomes a supervillain because they hate Mondays or want to turn us all into dinosaurs or whatever, I don’t judge. I will sell depth-charges and laser guns to anyone who can prove they’re over eighteen without hesitation. But even we get kind of grossed out by the ‘I am forced to turn evil because I haven’t been given enough love’ thing. People who are actually so fucked up by emotional abuse or neglect or some superhero killing their family, we’re fine with them. But they don’t say that’s why they do it, and most of them need a lot of therapy to even realize it. People who actually say that’s why are entitled dickwads.

And now the dickwad had walked into Evil-Mart like he was entitled. Like he thought he was one of us.

“Lockdown protocols,” I told Sam quietly. “On my authorisation.” That takes a minute or two, though, so I went over to talk to Superdyne. “Sir, I have to ask how you even knew where to find this place.”

He smirked at me. “I have my ways,” he said smugly. He’d either bribed or beaten someone, that was my guess. “So this is where the villains shop? We all thought you went to Wal-Mart.” He laughed, like he thought it was clever.

“Yes, so you all say,” I said dryly. I didn’t feel like pretending he was the first person to make the bad joke. “My next question, sir, is what made you think it was a good idea to come in here.”

He spread his hands. “I’m one of you now!” he said happily. “I’m a bad guy! So now I guess I shop where the bad guys shop!” He looked around, frowning a little. “Although I was expecting more weapons and explosives. A… more villainous atmosphere. I didn’t know Evil-Mart had fresh produce.”

“I don’t advise buying herbs here unless you’re a magical practitioner. Some of them have… unusual effects.” A lot of our produce is normal stuff, but some of it not only isn’t legal, it doesn’t exist anywhere else.

“Oh. Well, that makes sense. But the bright lights and the bakery?”

“We have excellent gluten-free breads. In many ways, Superdyne, this is just another store. We have sales, we mark down the breads in the afternoon, we even have a PA system.” I pulled out my handset, and thumbed the button that tied it to the PA. “Attention, shoppers,” I said in my most soothing Customer Service voice, which made him grin. “Evil-Mart wishes to inform you – “ The countdown on my handset reached zero, and I turned to look at the entrance as a huge blast door thudded down. That was the last part of the sequence – staff outside the area were already in lockdown and security were on their way. I smiled, and continued almost without a pause. “- That we are in lockdown at this time, due to the presence of Superdyne in the store. Please remain calm, and be advised that security are on their way to deal with the problem. If you have a personal grudge that you wish to address with Superdyne at this time, he is standing near Register Six with a stupid expression on his face.”

He was staring at me, stunned. “But… but…” he stammered, and damned if he didn’t look puzzled. “But I’m one of you now!”

“No,” I said flatly. “You were always evil, that’s true, but you’ll never be one of us. And for the record, I’m one of the people with a personal grudge. All those henchmen you’ve killed and maimed had families, asshole… and they all shop here.”

He swung at me, then, but I spent years in hench training. Even someone super-strong can be dodged, and once I slammed my cosh into his groin a few times his punches got a lot more aimless. Around then, Tiger Ty came over the register, claws out and snarling, and I figured I should stand out of the way.

About ten minutes later, I turned on the PA again. “Clean-up to Register Six,” I called, in the same special voice. “Category 7, class three. Shoppers, please be advised that lockdown is now lifted but Register Six will be closed until clean-up is completed.”

Hunter, who’d been working Register Six, came out from underneath it. He looked a little green. Well, he was still in his teens, this was probably his first fatal mobbing. “What’s Category 7?” he asked in a shaky voice. “I haven’t heard that before.”

“Biohazard.”

“Oh. Class three?”

“Send three people. He was a juicy one.” I stepped away from a spreading puddle of blood. “Run and get a couple of caution signs we can put around this mess.” I eyed it measuringly. “And one of those fifteen-gallon plastic tubs with a lid, I’ll damage it out.”

He eyed the mess. “Are you sure that’s big enough?”

“Yeah, the average human is only about seventeen gallons by volume, and I’m not going to put all the blood and mush in there, just the big pieces.”

He gulped. “Ah. Yes, ma’am.”

I called after him when he ran off. “One of the black tubs, not a clear one!” Which honestly should only be common sense, but you can’t count on a flustered teenager to have common sense.

We frown on killing customers at Evil-Mart, up to a point… but when a particularly murderous super-hero walks into our store, well, that’s something else. I’d have to fill out a ton of paperwork, though.

I had to chase off one of Doctor Malign’s minons and two members of the Genetic Reign before the clean-up crew arrived, both of whom urgently wanted samples. In the end I scraped a few pieces of liver and unidentified organ into two of the bags we use for possibly-contaminated money just to make them go away. (They’re good customers, and it was just going to go in the trash anyway.)

By the time the clean-up was done, all the big pieces were boxed up, and I’d finished the paperwork, my shift had been over for twenty minutes, and I’d been asked to come up to the boss’s office.

“Listen, I have no issues with how you handled the situation, I want you to know that.” Mr Trent leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingertips together. “It was quick, it was efficient, and… given your personal history with Superdyne, not to mention mine and that of half of our customer base… richly deserved.”

“Yes, sir,” I said. It came out too meek, and I cleared my throat and straightened up. It’s hard not to be intimidated by Mr Trent, when you’re in the same room with him. It’s not his fault, and he does his best, but even under the strictest control his fear-inducing powers tend to unsettle anyone who gets too close. We all know he’s not doing it on purpose and we try not to show our reactions. “Do you have any orders regarding the remains?”

“Doctor Order wants them.” He rubbed his chin. “Get someone from the pharmacy to prepare samples for him, please, including brain tissue. He’s our primary supplier, and we can’t offend him. As for the rest… as you know, I’m retired, and I don’t usually participate in the Endless War.” One of his hands dropped to his left thigh. His prosthetic leg is some of Doctor Order’s best work, but the injury that led to his retirement had been brutal even by our standards. “But this is different. Superdyne came here. To our place of safety. We need to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

I nodded. “Do you want the remains dumped somewhere public? Some kind of dramatic display?”

“No. Something more direct.” He rubbed his chin again, then tapped the intercom on his desk. “Iris, please send up Miss Fedorova from Marketing and Mr Levy from the warehouse.”

“Yes, sir,” Iris responded, and he clicked off the intercom again.

“The three of you worked together very well, during the food poisoning incident,” he explained. “And I believe they can assist us in a satisfactory conclusion.” He hesitated, then smiled ruefully. “Perhaps you should wait outside until they get here. I can tell I’m unsettling you.”

“Sir, I know you’re not – “

“Not doing it on purpose.” He sighed. “I do appreciate how hard you all work to make me feel… accepted, I really do. But I’m very annoyed right now, which makes control more difficult for me, so I think we’d both be more relaxed if you waited outside while I do my meditation exercises.”

I waited outside. When the three of us went into his office again, the miasma of low-level fear was definitely a bit lighter, and he smiled. “All right. Now, this conversation is going to be very confidential, and I will remind you all of the agreements you signed when you were employed.” We all chorused agreement, and he nodded. “Good. Now, this is very much a secret, even among Evil-Mart staff, but we do have a few online clients who are… ah… on the other side of the fence.”

Ms Fedorova blinked. “What?”

Knuckles sighed. “We ship to a few heroes,” he explained. “The ones who are… less homo than sapiens, if you get my drift.”

I didn’t, and from her expression Ms Fedorova didn’t either. Mr Trent spread his hands, drawing our eyes to his fingers. Which as a rule nobody looks at, because there’s fourteen of them, with four joints in each finger, and we know he’s self-conscious about it. “The less… purely human ones,” he said quietly. “One of the reasons I created Evil-Mart was to give those who can’t pass for human, like me, a place to be… people. To have dignity. So that the obligate carnivores weren’t reduced to living on pet-food or scavenging for scraps, so that those with complex metabolisms could get the supplements they need so that people who are still people, for all their outward differences, could shop in safety. There are a great many more monsters, demigods, abominations of science and other non-standard persons among our set than among the heroes, and I wanted to meet their needs, as well as selling weapons and Lair-away-from-home sets and so on.”

“And there are a few heroes who order from us for that reason,” Knuckles added. “The ones who can’t get medications to suit their metabolism, or need to eat things that you can’t get easily anywhere else.”

I nodded, because that much I understood. We have some very esoteric ‘dietary supplies’ that start with fresh, healthy, well-treated and disease-free prey animals frozen whole (from mouse up to calf and goat kept in stock, larger sizes by pre-order, halal and kosher certified where possible) and end with human blood (rejected blood bank stock mostly, we have an arrangement), and human flesh and organs (sourced from hospitals, morgues and crematoriums, guaranteed no murder, at least not by us). “Well, I suppose that makes sense. I’m surprised we ship to them, though.”

“Oh, they don’t know we know. It’s all assumed names and secret bank accounts.” Knuckles grinned. “But Mr Trent has all our online customers identified before we ship. And for the ones who don’t have any other options, well… we let it slide.”

“I can see why you don’t want that to get out.” Ms Fedorova tapped her chin. “What does this have to do with disposing of the body? I was planning to set up a really ghoulish display in a public place somewhere, I already have some sketches.” Marketing for Evil-Mart is… well, it includes more than designing our sale flyers.

“No. We’re going to deliver them to a hero… one of the ones who owes us… and make it very clear that just because someone decides to admit he’s a villain, that doesn’t make him one of us and it doesn’t entitle him to union services,” Mr Trent said flatly. “I want to make it crystal clear to all of them that a heel turn does not mean their sins are forgiven, or that we will accept them as anything other than a very brief amusement.”

Late that night – we were all on overtime, but it couldn’t be done in daylight – we wheeled a cart down the run-down hallway of a shoddy apartment building. “This is a terrible address for a hero,” Ms Fedorova muttered. “Are we sure he lives here?”

“I deliver here a couple of times a month.” Knuckles was pushing the cart. “I’m sure.”

“Okay.” Ms Fedorova cleared her throat, coughed once or twice, and suddenly her voice was deeper and her very faint Russian accent was as thick as pea soup. “This is intimidation tactic,” she said, grinning toothily. “Do not act surprised.”

I knocked on the door, but let Knuckles do the talking. “Delivery, Mr West,” he called, using the fake name the guy had been giving.

It worked… the door was unlocked and opened almost immediately. “I scheduled the order for next – “ the mark said, and then we were pushing inside, slamming the door behind us.

“Do not be alarmed, Mr… Dinoid, is it?” Ms Fedorova said, folding her arms. “Evil-Mart is knowing all along your real identity. But you are needing to eat, and we are not turning down regular business, so we make no trouble.”

Knuckles rolled his eyes behind her back at how much she was hamming it up, but I waved a hand. Let her have her fun. So Knuckles started unloading the boxes onto the table while she talked. “First, your Budget Bunny Box. Your favourite, da?” The next box, smaller, plunked down. “Two fresh chickens, halal certified, healthy and having lived good life, gift for good customer.” Knuckles dumped the plastic tub on the floor. “And mortal remains of Superdyne, with note.”

Dinoid was staring at us, but that made him shift into a combat stance, his long claws spread. “The… Superdyne’s dead? And in there?”

“Well. Most of him. The big pieces.” Ms Fedorova shrugged an impressively Russian shrug. I hadn’t even known that was a thing, but when she did it, it was obvious. “You must understand, when a mob tears a man apart, it is hard to find every little piece.”

“I’m pretty sure Doctor Malign and the Genetic Reign took off with doggy bags,” I said, as if I hadn’t handed them over myself. “And Doctor Order probably has some of him too, by now. So looking out for clones would be a good idea, I don’t know if that’s in the note.”

Insofar as that reptilian face could show readable expressions, he looked shocked. “Why on earth would… why? He changed sides? And why did you bring him to me?”

“We know your address, we know you don’t want to turn us in because we’re the only ones who can supply your meals, and our boss wanted us to make this very clear.” I indicated the note. Since Ms Fedorova was hamming up her Sexy Russian Supervillain act, and Knuckles was very obvious Muscle, I figured it was on me to be the Reasonable One. “He might have stopped being a hero, but that didn’t make him one of us. That didn’t make him acceptable to us. Our boss wants it made very clear that your failures shouldn’t expect to be accepted by us… or even spared by us.”

He shifted slowly, the tip of his tail twitching. “I… see. I understand why you would reject Superdyne. He was notorious for killing and maiming people on… your side. But I know other defectors have been accepted. Philomel, for example.”

“Philomel was child of villains. She is young, she is rebellious, she sides with heroes for a while.” Ms Fedorova shrugged. “Is understandable, da? The young do foolish things. She comes home, all is forgiven.”

He nodded slowly. “Tenebrous?”

“That story I don’t know.” Ms Fedorova glanced at me.

I nodded. “Tenebrous was just a kid. He was twelve when Varide recruited him. Nineteen when he broke with the guy. Varide put a kid into combat, left him with massive PTSD, then ditched him when he had a breakdown and went too far. Mx Frantique at least made sure he had a safe place to stay and some therapy.”

“It’s happened a few times.” Knuckles rested his elbows on the cart’s handles, his inhumanly big, strong hands dangling. “But there’s a process. A system. If someone’s sponsored by a villain in good standing, like Frantique sponsoring Tenbrous, they can be accepted. Nobody gets to just choose to join. Especially not a smug, entitled prick like Superdyne.”

Ms Fedorova suddenly leaned forward, scowling. “And why are you called Dinoid? You are not dinosaur. You are clearly monitor lizard. Golden monitor, I think.” She reached out and prodded his arm. “And not healthy, either. Look at colouration! You do not keep environment humid enough. Are having trouble with shedding, da?”

Now we were all staring at her. “You’re a lizard expert now?” Knuckles asked.

She shrugged. “What? Is hobby. Mamma’s little Varanus Acanthurus are pride and joy. Sadly, cannot keep larger monitors in city. Is unkind.”

Dinoid ran a hand over his head slowly. “Not many people realize,” he said slowly. “That’s why I order from you guys. I used to get frozen… food… from a pet supplier, but then I got contacted by someone who told me there was another option.”

“Is good thing. Those pet suppliers, they are rogues. They do not keep animals healthy, can get diseases or mites from those things.” Ms Fedorova sniffed. “I would never buy from them. My babies would get sick.”

He actually chuckled, then, seeming to relax a bit. “You’re not wrong. After… this happened… I got really sick a couple of times before I figured out what to eat, and where to get it. And even the reputable suppliers don’t always have the healthiest stock.” He opened his mouth wide, making a gagging noise. “You have no idea how bad that ‘reptile food’ is. Eating whole animals may be a little disgusting, but it’s nothing to some of that stuff.”

“I believe it,” I said emphatically. “There’s a reason Evil-Mart has such an extensive pet-food line. The horror stories we hear from some of our customers… well, you’d believe it, I bet, but most humans just look confused.”

Knuckles nodded, and spread his hands. “People who can’t pass for regular humans… or even for people, the way most normies see it… are a lot more common on our side of the fence than yours. That’s why we delivered to you. We figured you really needed it.”

“Does he order from the pharmacy?” Ms Fedorova was around behind him now, examining his back. “He is having calcium deficiency, am betting. He needs nutritional supplement.”

“I take a nutritional supplement,” he said defensively.

“The one for normal-sized lizards is not enough for man-sized monitor/human hybrid,” she said firmly. “Check pharmacy section next time. We are having excellent selection of supplements for hybrids, and chart to tell you how much to take for body-mass.”

He looked back and forth between the three of us. “You people are… not what I would have expected from an evil supermarket.”

“We may be… morally challenged,” I said, shrugging, “but we’re not heartless.” I looked around his tiny, shabby apartment. “Unlike some of your lot. I thought you were on a team. Why are you living here?”

He ducked his head. “I couldn’t live at the base,” he said, his tail drooping. “My… I made people uncomfortable. And the stipend isn’t much.”

“Isn’t much? With the merchandising deals they have?” Ms Fedorova sounded shocked, and the accent had dropped back a lot. “I know for a fact that if the accountants ever got hold of their books they’d owe more in back taxes than… well, than Evil-Mart would if our illegal product arm ever got discovered. And we pay our taxes on the legitimate stuff scrupulously.”

Dinoid blinked rapidly, though I couldn’t tell whether he was more surprised by her suddenly dropping her act or the idea that Evil-Mart pays taxes. “You do?”

“Of course. Not under that name, of course, there’s a shell company.” She sniffed. “All villains do. Al Capone, you know. We’re not getting caught that way again.”

Knuckles and I both nodded when he looked at us, and he shook his head. “Huh. Makes sense, I guess.”

“It does.” I looked around again. The place really was crappy. “I know it’s a personal question, Mr… West, but under the circumstances I’d like to know… how much is that stipend?”

He looked down at the floor for a while, then cleared his throat. “Uh. $1100 a month.”

We all stared at him. Ms Fedorova’s mouth fell open. Knuckles looked shocked, and I was horrified. “$1100 a month?!” I asked, my voice coming out louder than I’d intended. “For risking your life on a superhero team?! I have teenaged cashiers working part-time who make more than that!”

He looked almost as startled as we did. “For working a cash register?!”

“Evil-Mart pays pretty good.” Knuckles shrugged. “But that stipend is disgusting.”

“You are being exploited,” Ms Fedorova said, sounding really aghast. “That is terrible. Why, baseline henchman pay is twice that, and there are danger bonuses and…” Her voice dropped suddenly. “You don’t have a union, do you?”

“A union? Of course we don’t have a…” He trailed off. “You mean you do?”

“Of course we do. An extremely well-armed one.” Ms Fedorova folded her arms. “Henchmen And Allied Industries has represented us for generations. The last time a supervillain executed a union henchman for failure, he was boiled in oil… literally. On camera. Oh, of course some of the less reputable villains just pick up small-time trash from the streets, untrained rabble from the gangs and so on, so they can treat them as disposable, but we union members are skilled workers, with rights and protections. I bet you don’t even get overtime.”

“Of course not. Crime happens when it happens, and we have to…” He trailed off. “You guys get overtime?”

“We’re getting double time and a half for this conversation. And an extra day off.”

His eyes widened again. “Really? Wow, that’s… even when I was working a regular job, before this, I didn’t get pay like that.” He looked down at his hands and bared his teeth in what looked like an unhappy expression. “And now I can’t work anything but this kind of job. People don’t like having a scary dinosaur in their restaurant.”

There was a long pause.

“You can cook?” Ms Fedorova asked carefully.

“Yeah. I worked in my parents’ restaurant before… this.” He gestured at himself. “They were killed when we were attacked, and I was… changed.”

We all looked at each other. “After you’ve returned Superdyne’s remains to whoever you consider appropriate,” I said, grabbing a notepad and scribbling down my number, “I’d like you to give me a call. Evil-Mart is always hiring in the bakery and deli, and I mean always. Most bad guys aren’t great cooks. We don’t know why, it just seems to be one of those things.”

“You want me to join the bad guys?”

“I want you to work in a bakery. Villains and henchmen need to eat, and so do their families. Nobody’s going to ask you to rip superheroes in half, just maybe make a sandwich that won’t give anyone food poisoning.”

“That’s a regular concern?”

“Six months ago the three of us ran Evil-Mart’s physical store completely unassisted for most of a day because the only people who weren’t down with food poisoning were the ones who’d had the vegetarian and kosher meals.” I shuddered at the recollection. “Trust me. Someone who can cater staff functions without a major disaster would never have to live in an apartment like this working for us.”

“And we get full benefits, including dental.” Knuckles was shaking his head. “I bet you don’t even get hospital.”

“What hospital would take me? I always figured I’d go to the zoo and talk to the vet if – “

Ms Fedorova actually put her arms around him. “You,” she told him firmly, “are going to resign your terrible exploitative job, and then I will personally sponsor you to the union immediately. I have a spare room. You will like it. Humidity and temperature can be set just how you like, and Mamma Yelena will take you to real doctor expert in health of hybrids.”

“Those exist?” he asked, sounding a bit overwhelmed.

“Yeah, the Genetic Reign has like three of them,” I said sympathetically. “Listen, you can take some time to think it over, but you don’t have to put up with this kind of exploitation just because you don’t look human. Nearly a third of Evil-Mart’s staff can’t pass, and they’re treated just like everyone else.”

Superdyne’s dramatic demise got a lot of news coverage. Apparently it came as a real shock to the ‘good guys’ that there were some monsters even the superest villains wouldn’t embrace.

Dinoid no longer exists. Ismail Jameel works at Evil-Mart, and has expanded our fresh food lines a lot already. He’s a nice guy, and after Ms Fedorova told everyone how disgustingly he’d been exploited by those so-called ‘heroes’, he was welcomed with open arms. Literally, in at least one case – he’s dating someone from the warehouse, I’ve heard, though I don’t know who. He says we should rename the store, because we suck at being evil.

But evil is a really relative term. It can mean the blackest depravity, or a moment of viciousness, or even just ‘people on the other side’. Evil-Mart is called that because everyone, at least everyone on our side, is welcome. Plus, we all think it’s funny that the least-evil megacorporation is called ‘Evil-Mart’. What can we say? Bad guys have a sense of humour too.

Have an evil day!

[bbyboybucket]

Hey so idk of requests are open but I had an idea and I like your writing so I figured I'd share it with you. So basically the idea is pretty simple but reader has a cast on her arm (cause it's broken or something) and can't like put her hair up or anything and the other girls are on a mission so she asks bucky (whether they are dating at the time is up to you idrc) because he had long hair and he puts it up for her and then on his own time decides to watch a bunch of YouTube tutorials to be able to help her because she'll have the cast on for a while and he wants to help her to be able to do lots of things with her hair. Idk I'm a sucker for fluff so yeah. If requests aren't open then feel free to just ignore this and you in no way are required or anything to do this I just had the idea so I felt I should share.

Omg, you don’t know how happy you just made me. This is the first request I’ve ever got, thank you so so much! And I’m really glad that you like my writing. Requests are always open if you or anyone else wants to send one! Also, I LOVE this idea. It’s so soft and cute and fits with Bucky so well since he’s such a caretaker. I added a few little extra things, but I hope you like it! <3

Ponytails

Bucky Barnes x Fem!Reader

Warnings: language, injury, Best Friends to lovers, Bucky making a few trauma jokes, very fluffy overall tho, reader is described with hair long enough to be in a pony tail/braid but no further descriptions on hair type

—————————

You were not Steve Rogers, you weren’t Bucky Barnes. You didn’t have a serum that’d prevent you from getting hurt. You couldn’t be risky and careless, then leave with out a single scratch the way they did. Funnily enough, you’d constantly scold the two of them for pulling ridiculous stunts. Yet here you were, actually hurt because you stupidly tried mimick them. You were mentally berating yourself now. Because a few days ago, you had the brilliant idea to jump 30 feet, through the glass of a 3rd story window as an escape. In the moment, you rationalized, they do it so I can too. No. No, you could not. The broken arm was a great reminder to not try something like that again.

To make things more annoying, it was your dominant arm. It now was covered by a blue cast and sat in a sling, making it unusable. You had to use your non-dominant hand for everything, writing, eating, etc. and it certainly wasn’t easy, but you were starting to get used to it. Anything that required both hands however, was the death of you.

Putting your hair up, especially. You’d been learning to do things one handed, finding little tricks and hacks to make things easier for yourself, but this was unshakable. Every attempt was a failure. You’d been trying to avoid that style, but this day specifically, you wanted nothing more than to just put your hair in a ponytail.

After your tenth attempt of standing in front of the mirror and once again, dropping the hair tie to the floor, you gave up. You decided to ask for help. You knew Natasha was out on a mission, you couldn’t ask her, so you went to Wanda’s room instead. You knocked gently twice and waited for a response, instead there was nothing. You hadn’t seen her up yet that morning, so you figured she may be sleeping in late. You knocked again, a bit louder, yet still got nothing.

“Hey, F.R.I.D.A.Y? Do you know where Wanda is right now?” You called out.

“Ms. Maximoff is not currently in the compound.” The A.I. replied.

You let out a sigh as you leaned against the walls of the hallway. You had no other options. Perks of there only being three female avengers, right? Thor probably would’ve been able to help, he’s always had those super long locks, but he wasn’t there either. You had no damn clue where he’d been lately. You continued to think about it, dramatically complaining to yourself in your head, until you remembered there actually was another person you could ask and you knew he had to be home since he hardly ever left the compound.

You didn’t knock, you were at the point in friendship where both of you were past the formalities. You opened the door immediately and popped your head in. “Buck. You busy right now?”

The man was sitting in the floor, on his phone, when he looked up at you. “Yup. Go away.” Bucky said blankly.

You rolled your eyes as you fully entered, shutting the door behind you. “I’m serious. I need help.” You huffed.

“With what?”

You sat down on his bed, diagonal from his position on the floor. “Ya know how you used to have really long hair, ya know…the whole Jesus look…”

He quirked up his eyebrow at you. “Maybe?”

“Well…I need help puttin my hair up but neither of the girls are here. And I can’t do it myself cause ya know…” You gestures towards your cast and grimaced. “I’m down an arm.”

“Welcome to the club.” He said sarcastically with a little smirk before picking himself up off the ground. You chuckled a bit, realizing you walked right into that.

“Is one of the membership benefits, you helping me fix my hair?” You played along with a smile, as he took a seat next to you.

“Guess so.” Bucky said, then stuck his hand out for you to give him the hair tie. He moved your shoulders gently to turn your back towards him. His hands gripped your hair. He pulled it all into one large section, running his long fingers across your scalp softly and barely brushing through the top to smooth it out.

You loved feeling his hands on you. Bucky was your best friend, so it wasn’t unusual for him to touch you, though any time he did, it still felt special. Your heart always fluttered a bit, you always savored every second of feeling him. You couldn’t help but feel giddy inside every time because of the school-girl type crush you had on him.

Okay, maybe it was a little more serious than that. Maybe, you were totally in love with him. Either way though, you didn’t know how you managed to function around Bucky with the way he pleasantly turned your brain to mush. Case in point, you loved being tactile with him.

When he finished wrapping the band around your hair, he gave you a little pat on the head. “Done.”

“You’re a life saver.” You said, leaning your head on his shoulder.

“Wanna do something today?” Bucky asked quietly, a little bit shy as his hands wrinkled in his lap. You always thought it was cute that even after being friends for so long, he still got nervous when asking to hangout.

“Later, yeah. Got some stupid paperwork to go do.” You patted his thigh before standing up to leave.

“Oh, I see how it is. Too busy for me, hm?” He joked.

“Blame your bestie. Better yet, tell him to quit loading it all on me.”

“Excuses. Making your rudeness all Steve’s fault.”

You laughed at him before turning the door handle. “Seriously, I’ll text you when I’m done.”

—————————

Bucky took a seat in the living room, sipping hot coffee with one hand and holding his phone horizontally in the other. He was intensely concentrated on the screen in front of him and his AirPods blocked out everything else around him. They’d been a gift from you for his birthday, since he’d grown to like borrowing yours beforehand.

He had a little notebook and pen setting in his lap. Sam walked behind the couch to see what the man was so focused on to where he hadn’t realized Sam’s presence. When he saw the screen he started laughing. It was a video of a mannequin head wearing a wig and a girl braiding it. A tutorial of some kind.

Sam reached over and snatched the phone out of Bucky’s hand, causing him to whip his head around. Ignoring the deeply offended and annoyed look on his face, Sam closed the video to look at the title. Yup, a tutorial. A YouTube video called How To French Braid.

He kept chuckling as he went to the search history, completely disregarding Bucky’s chants of “stop” and “give it back” as well as his arms flying to grab the phone. Reading the searches made him hysterical, things such as what do girls do with their hair, how to use straightener, how to braid, what is French braid, how to French braid.

He turned the phone off and threw it back to the other man, who was giving him a death glare despite blushing profusely.

“Gonna retire to be a hairstylist?”

“Screw you.” Bucky grumbled, closing his notebook and shoving the phone in his pocket quickly.

“Seriously man, whats all that about?” Sam asked as his laughter faded but the smile remained.

“None of your business.” He huffed bitterly.

Sam hummed as walked around the couch to sit beside Bucky. He rested his arm on the back of the couch and propped his head up with his fist. He continued to stare humorously into the menacing blue eyes.

“Lemme guess, this is all because your big fat crush on-“

“Shut up.” Bucky cut him off. His eyes darted around the room to make sure you were nowhere in sight. The pink, overbearing blush had returned to his face as his embarrassment continued to grow.

Sam smirked at him all too knowingly and Bucky sighed. “Look, she asked me to put her hair up for her…so…I guess I…I just thought I should learn how to do other stuff…in case she needs help again.” He whispered.

“What about the book?”

“Few things to show her how to do with one arm. Gotta good bit of experience with that, might as well put it to use, I guess.”

“Well, how thoughtful of you.” Sam half-teased. He also knew how much Bucky liked you though, or more so, that Bucky was absolutely, one hundred percent in love with you. He’d spent a lot of time trying to convince his friend to confess, trying to reassure Bucky that you felt the same way. Nothing ever worked so the most Sam could do was drop a few hints of encouragement. “She’d think it’s cute, you goin through all this trouble for her.“

“She doesn’t need to know.”

“Oh really? How are you gonna do all this for her without her knowing?”

Bucky shook his head as his eyes rolled. “Mention it casually. Anything else and I’d look like dumbass.”

“You are a dumbass.”

“I hate you.”

—————————

After you finished your paperwork, Bucky surprised you by saying he wanted to go into town for the day. Most of the time, you hung out at the compound. You always picked on him for being such a homebody since anytime he actually did go in public, you had to drag him. However, this time he straight up offered. He even drove your car since that was another thing you’d been unable to do.

You somehow managed to convince Bucky to take you to Starbucks. You’d been trying for months but he was weird and stubborn when trying out modern things. Truthfully, you knew he always said no to purposely be a pain in your ass but for whatever reason, he finally agreed.

Bucky had been all too helpful, more caring than usual. He was offering his help with everything, barely teasing you as he usually did. He carried your purse, he paid for your drinks and pastries, then refused to let you help carry them back to car. Bucky was practically spoiling you. You were starting to get a bit skeptical.

He drove to a near by park, and the two of you sat on a bench, practically having a picnic. You were leaned up against him as you sipped away at your drink and chatted.

“Being someone who said Starbucks is coffee for annoying teenage girls, you sure seem to like it.” You laughed and gestured to the way he was still trying to noisily suck the on his empty, venti frap.

“I don’t completely hate it. I’d maybe get it again.” He feigned dislike with a light smile.

“Mhm.” You hummed sarcastically then shifted a bit. “Will you tighten my pony tail? It’s gettin loose.”

His cheeks turned a bit pink and he started to fiddle with the hem of his shirt. “Um…I can, I can just take it out and braid it if you want.” Bucky stuttered, then cleared his throat in an attempt to seem less nervous.

You twisted your face, a bit baffled at his offer. “Since when can you braid hair?” You questioned.

His eyes widened a bit, which you knew was one his tells when lying. “Uh…I learned it in Wakanda. Yeah, uh, they taught me there.”

You nodded at him with a tight lipped smile, knowing damn well not a word of that was true. You’d already been curious about his strange behavior but even more so now. “Okay.”

You turned you back to him as you tugged on the hair tie to remove it. “You can braid it.”

With a deep breath, he slowly brought his hands to the top of your head and tried to recollect everything he’d watched in the tutorials. You sat silently as he maneuvered his hands across your scalp, picking up strands and folding them into each other. It was comforting, almost intimate feeling. As much as you were enjoying your hair being played with, you were still a bit confused and curious.

“What’s up with you today?” You blurted out while his hands were still in your hair, very slowly forming a loose French braid.

“What do you mean?” Bucky asked back, sort of monotonous from the way he was concentrated on the task of braiding.

“You’re being too nice. What’re you scheming?” You half-playfully said, then leaned your head back to squirt your eyes at him.

Bucky tugged slightly of a strand of hair, making it hurt a bit. “Rude. I’m not scheming anything. And stop moving your head, you’re messing me up.” He grumbled.

You moved your head upwards again for him. “Ouch, for one. And two, something is up with you. What happened to the grumpy asshat I know?”

Bucky chuckled a bit, finishing up his work. “Being mind controlled again, so he got kicked out for a bit. Hair’s done by the way.”

“Not funny.” You scolded and poked him in the chest.

“It’s a little bit funny.” He argued as he watched you pull out your phone camera and examine his work.

“Not too bad for an old man. Might have to fire my hairstylist and start coming to you instead.” You complimented before shifting to lay your head on his lap. You looked up at him admiringly, taking in his pretty face and sweet smile. He draped his arm around your body and rested it on your stomach.

“Did you learn how to do that for me?” You asked softly.

“Maybe.” He whispered back, sounding a bit shy and having his cheeks flush.

You grinned at him, silently conveying your appreciation. Your head was full of thoughts about him, contemplating on wether to speak up about your own feelings. You’d been wanting to for a while but held back because of your friendship. However, this whole day, along with little past things here and there, had you inclined to believe he felt the same.

“You know what, Buck?”

“What?”

You placed your non-casted hand over top of his and interlocked your fingers. “You would make a really, really good boyfriend.”

Bucky got flustered, batting his lashes as he averted his gaze shortly and gave a genuine, toothy smile. “You think so?”

“Yup, like the best.” You assured, then paused to work up the courage for the words to follow. “One that I wanna call mine.”

“Y/N, are you asking me out right now?” He questioned quietly.

“Possibly…” You tried to say nonchalantly but you couldn’t hold back the slightly cocky giggle that came out.

Bucky moved his arm underneath your back to push you upwards. He then pressed his mouth into yours, kissing you affectionately. “I’m all yours.”

[asexual-abomination]

Getting better Pt. 1

Platonic!Yandere!Sephiroth x Autistic!Physically disabled! Reader

Hello I am back with something and idk if it’s very good but this whole thing was lodged in my brain so I needed to spit it out.

Also the whole elevator scene is almost directly taken from a one shot I once read on here that I cannot find for the life of me. I really wanted to get this out but I also want ask the original writer if they’re okay with me using their idea. If anyone recognises the idea and can send me the original link that’d be great!

CW: single use of the r-slur, if I’m missing anything please let me know!

Oh and also the reader’s physical disability in this is based on my own irl one - I don’t use mobility aids just yet, but I end up in lots of pain very quickly and have to wear joint braces, especially on my legs.

As always, I’m not a professional writer, I have no formal education in writing whatsoever, so any feedback is greatly appreciated!

Hope you enjoy reading!

—//—

You pull yourself up towards the bar, every joint in your body squealing out in pain, despite this being your first exercise of the evening. You had thought, naively, that lifting your own body weight should be doable, especially since it took pressure off of your legs, where the pains were worst. You were clearly mistaken, your entire upper body now just in hot agony.

But you couldn’t quit. Not now, not as you were barely beginning.

You said you’d get ten reps in, so you were going to get ten reps in.

The complete silence of the Shinra employee gym gave you confidence to speak aloud, trying to keep yourself hyped for the exercise.

“One… T-two… ah! Ow! Three…”

“Your form is awful.”

The voice was calm, buttery smooth and deep, with a lilt of confidence that told you this man knew what he was talking about.

“Oh… so how do I do it right then?” The question was asked with an unappealing grunt as you dropped from the bar, listening to the sound of footsteps covering the ground towards you.

Once you realised the man was standing over your shoulder, you stiffened, not having actually expected him to come over and help.

“The main problem is your balance, you need to pull your legs with you, and use your core too. This one is a full body workout, not just for the arms.”

Damn it.

“Ah, that makes sense… do you have any recommendations for arms then? I’m kinda new to this whole thing.” You spoke with a nervous chuckle, turning around to look at your newfound companion.

He was tall, with gorgeous long silver hair that floated past his wide, muscular shoulders, covered with a beige, blank tank top. He was, objectively, attractive as hell. Even without feeling that way, you knew what society found sexy and you could appreciate the aesthetic beauty of this man. You swore you knew him from somewhere.

You hoped you weren’t too visibly flustered by the closeness that you had only just recognised, taking a nervous step back while you awaited his answer.

“I’d say a beginner should start at the beginning. If you want to work out your arms, use the lighter weights, just over there.”

He gestured over towards the weight section, where there was a rack of dumbbells of many sizes, including ones so tiny you wondered if they even classified as weights.

“That’s… a good idea,” You laughed, “I guess I just wanted to throw myself in at the deep end.” You joked, keeping the mood light as you trailed over to where he had directed.

Looking over the selection of weights, you decided to go with second lightest pair, which made your elbows creak, but you grit your teeth and moved over to the seating so you could get back off your feet. The man had followed you to the same section, but he seemed to be preparing an ungodly amount of weights into what you assumed was a bench press.

“So…” You pulled your left arm up with the weight, following a diagram on the wall, “Why are you down here? So late at night, I mean?” You specifically chose to come here so that you wouldn’t have to be seen, so you supposed you may as well pick this guy’s brain if he would be annoying you.

“The SOLDIER training facility can only be kept open for so long each day, so I thought I’d get in some regular exercise too.” He still hadn’t finished loading up the weights, and you were a bit concerned by what he considered ‘regular’ exercise.

“You’re a SOLDIER? I guess that makes sense, I’ve probably seen you on the news or something.” You were on your fourth rep, and your left elbow was crying out for a break.

“What?”

“I just thought you looked familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it, so I’ve probably just seen you around.”

“How interesting…” He spoke with a chuckle, “And who are you, hmm?”

“I’m YN, I just work in the analytics department. Who are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“You really don’t know?”

“Should I?”

“Sephiroth. My name is Sephiroth.”

“That’s… a lovely name.” You remembered a bit clearer now, hearing about a first-class SOLDIER on the news by that name. How funny that you got to meet him in real life.

“What about you? Why are you working out so late at night?”

“I was sort of hoping I could be alone… I already said, I’m new to this, so, I didn’t want to embarrass myself.”

“That’s not the best idea, you know. You should have someone mentor you, make sure you don’t hurt yourself while you’re just starting out.”

He finally seemed satisfied with the amount of weight on the bar, as you began reps with your right arm. You wondered if the bar was actually strong enough to hold all that.

“Well, I don’t think anyone would want to mentor me, it’d probably be quite the hassle since I’ve got no idea what I’m doing.” You explained, not expecting an answer.

“I could always help you.”

That took you by surprise, surely a SOLDIER, especially a first-class one would be far too busy to help out someone like you, but at the same time, who were you to turn such an offer down?

Your only response ended up being a bewildered laugh, finishing up your reps before looking around and trying to decide on the next best course of action.

Sephiroth also went quiet, the look on his face was tense, deep in thought.

“I mean it. Perhaps it’s odd, but I find it’s useful to follow my impulses. Besides, they say a true master must be able to teach.”

“I guess that makes sense, alright then, what should I try now?”

—//—

“So, are you from Midgar?” Sephiroth offered a gentle hand hosting over your leg as he showed you how to lift yourself on the bar, as you had decided to return to the difficult exercise.

It had been a few weeks since you had come under Sephiroth’s wing, meeting him at dead of night in the gym several nights a week, so you trusted him enough to give an honest answer.

“Nah, only moved here a year ago, I assume you’re Midgar born and raised?”

“But of course.” He said with a soft smirk, walking away once he was satisfied that you were on form. “Why did you come here? Given the war with Wu Tai and Avalanche, it’s not exactly a dream home, wouldn’t you say?”

“I came here for the same reasons most anyone comes here, work and medicine. I think this place is quite the dream home honestly, I’ve got everything I need.”

You lifted yourself with a grunt, having stopped caring about how you sounded a while ago.

“Medicine? Who do you need medicine for?”

“Myself! Is that not obvious?” You laughed at what felt like an insane question from the SOLDIER.

“You don’t seem sick… have you recovered?”

What a strangely genuine question.

“Have you seen me?! My body is a wreck, honestly!” You raised your arms incredulously, showing off what you considered the state of your body, while not visibly broken, internally felt ruined.

He gave you nothing more than an odd look, turning away.

“I mean it! There’s a reason I struggle so much to exercise, I’m not just lazy.” You defended yourself, believing that he was judging you.

—//—

You were stumbling through the throng of people standing by the elevator, wondering why no one was stepping inside since the stairs were a death sentence.

When you saw Sephiroth standing inside, you scoffed, walking in before hitting the button for the 36th floor. You noticed that he was heading to the 58th floor, where the Turks did most of their office work.

The doors slid closed as you turned around and stood at his side, letting out a long suffering sigh once you were out of view of others.

“What a day…” You sighed, truly and deeply tired, but hoping you could turn this into some kind of friendly banter between technical coworkers.

“It’s 8:30 in the morning.” He turned to you with what you thought was a lighthearted smile, which quickly became a frown. “Has something happened?”

“My boss… yeah, my boss happened!” You laughed, to keep the sourness out of your tone. “He just turned up like half an hour before the end of my shift yesterday, dumped a whole week’s worth of work on me, then told me he wanted it done by today! I spent four whole hours in overtime, but it’s still not done.” You sighed again, the reality of the situation setting in.

“This… this might be the last time we ever see each other.”

“What do you mean, over one mistake?” He seemed incredulous.

“My boss has been looking for a reason to fire me since he met me. He thinks I’m a drag on the company.”

At that, he merely hummed in response, turning away and quite efficiently ending the conversation.

You cursed yourself internally for making things awkward and annoying Sephiroth. You hadn’t intended to upset your silver-haired friend, only to state what you knew was true about your workplace.

At the 33rd floor, the elevator rumbled to a stop and opened its doors to reveal your boss.

“You.”

The second he turned his eyes on you, anger spilled clearly into his entire body language. He didn’t move from his place in the doorway, preventing the elevator doors from closing as he began to rant angrily.

“You’ve put the whole upstairs office in chaos! I can’t believe this! I give you one simple task and you fuck it up! This is why we shouldn’t keep retards like you in the office, you hold everyone back!” He growled out, taking a breath and giving you a chance to respond.

“Sir -I- the task was, um, far beyond my capabilities, especially in such a short time-“

“Shut up! You’ve done nothing but irritate me since you got here, go and pack your shit! I can’t wait to get rid of your pathetic ass!”

You breathed heavily, digging your nails into your arms as you held back ugly tears, not wanting to seem more pitiful than you already were.

“Right- right awa-“ You began, your mind racing with thoughts and plans of what the fuck you could do next, where you could go, who you might have to get help from, when you were suddenly reminded of Sephiroth’s presence next to you.

He took one, two, three long, heavy strides towards the elevator door, grabbed your boss by the arm and uttered two simple words.

“Get out.”

Your boss, shocked, stumbled back into the open entryway of the elevator, before giving you a sharp glance and turning on his heel to run. As the doors closed once more, you cleared your throat through your tears.

“Thanks, Seph.” A nickname that very few were allowed to call him. “There was no - no need for that though. I’m still fired, either way. But I guess it’s nicer to not be dealing with him anymore.”

“No you’re not.”

“I’m not? Not what?”

“You’re not fired. I won’t have it.”

“That’s a nice sentiment, Seph, but I don’t think it’s your call to make.”

The doors opened again on your floor, but as you were stepping out, muttering apologies and goodbyes to your friend, he grabbed your arm firmly to halt your words.

“You aren’t leaving me, you’re mine.”

He said it so simply, as if stating scientific fact, before releasing your arm and returning to his full, now suddenly intimidating stature. In your hurry to get out of the elevator before the doors closed, you had no chance to respond.

With the doors closed, you heard the machine whir of the elevator rising and continued to stand dumbfounded for a long moment. Eventually, you stumbled over to your desk, setting out the work you were meant to complete today, all while packing as many miscellaneous items as you could into your bag.

At the end of the day, you returned to your home, provided by Shinra, which you were sure you’d lose within a couple of days.

There was a single letter on the floor inside your door, from the corporation, seemingly sent just today. My eviction notice, you grimly thought.

—//—

Rufus Shinra smirked as he signed the papers before him.

The firing and promotion of some mid-level analytics workers was not usually his business, but today he found himself following the odd request of the greatest SOLDIER to ever live.

In truth, he already had parameters in place to ensure the strange person Sephiroth had set his eyes on would not be leaving the company any time soon, setting them as a useful tool for controlling him.

But what he did not expect was for Sephiroth himself to come to him and request the immediate firing of his new ‘friend’s’ boss, along with a request for said friend to get a promotion that would put them in much more contact with the Turks and SOLDIER departments.

So although the paperwork might have been trivial to some, Rufus, even if confused, took joy in getting one more clasp on the SOLDIER.

—//—

Thanks for reading!

[robininthelabyrinth]

Prompt day hurray! What does BaXia think of ChenQing? They would have crossed paths in the war, right? What do all the other weapons and instruments think of WWX apparently setting aside SuiBian for ChenQing? Can THEY tell he's got no golden core?

ao3

You seem kind of evil, Baxia remarked when she first met the flute.

Yeah? The flute responded without first bothering to extend her perceptive aura out to see who was talking to her, sounding like a little punk, arrogant and bold. Well, you seem kind of – oh fuck oh fuck you’re terrifying!

This was true. Baxia was terrifying.

Please don’t destroy me! My master needs me!

Baxia said nothing, enjoying how the flute squirmed, and nudged her own master pointedly.

Do not destroy the flute, her master responded with a sigh. He knew Baxia well. Her master is on our side.

Truly, war made for strange bedfellows. Baxia mourned the loss of the easy, straightforward night-hunt.

She nudged her master again.

Yes, fine, you can chase.

Her master - loving, wonderful, understanding master that he was - very casually walked across the room, unhooked her from his back, and put her down next to where the flute was hanging off her master's belt.

Chase, Baxia said happily, the aura of her power already spreading beyond the confines of her blade. Chase, chase, chase –

Someone help meeeeeee!

-

You’re kind of a dick, Chenqing said, having finally realized that Baxia had no intention of destroying her incipient spiritual soul. Anyone ever tell you that?

Yes.

…really? Who dared?

My master.

Your master is badass. Chenqing contemplated for a moment. So is mine, he's very brave, even suicidally brave, but not – you know – that much.

Baxia considered this, and accepted it. Her master was indeed a superior sort of human.

Why do you smell of death? she asked, mildly curious.

My master uses me to direct resentful energy, so I’m affected by its aura. You?

I bathe in it.

…you're so badass.

Yes. Baxia was.

You’re not bad, she told Chenqing, which almost predictably got a little huffy.

I raise armies of the dead! I am terrifying! They call me the phantom flute! I am more than 'not bad', okay?!

Baxia ignored Chenqing's nonsense. It would not take long for her to realize that being called ‘not bad’ by Baxia was a very high compliment, as such things went.

-

Are there any swords that aren’t afraid of you? Chenqing asked. She was very chatty. Or sabers. Or musical instruments…

Which musical instruments have you met?

Uh, mostly Wangji? Wangji’s cool.

Baxia occasionally wished for eyes so that she could roll them. Her human got a great deal of relief out of doing that, according to him. Wangji has a temperament of ice, yes.

No, I mean, that’s not what I meant, I – wait. Are you making a joke right now?

Baxia said nothing.

You have a sense of humor?!

Baxia said nothing.

This is ridiculous. It’s like meeting a hurricane with sharp teeth and finding out it also likes to sing bawdy brothel songs.

You’re kind of stupid, Baxia observed.

Well, yeah. I mean. Have you met my master?

Baxia had.

He’s only scary by accident, Chenqing said ruthlessly, which was only to be expected – no one dunked on a human like their spiritual weapon. Inside, he’s a big soft squishy meatball.

My master cries when he has feelings.

My master too! Humans, am I right?

Baxia supposed Chenqing was, in fact, right.

Perhaps she could stay.

-

It’s not that I don’t appreciate everything Wei Wuxian is doing for us, Baxia's master remarked to her one day. But didn’t he have a sword at one point? The one with the ridiculous name – Suibian.

At the next meeting, Baxia asked.

Suibian? Yeah, master doesn’t use him anymore, Chenqing said. It's a bit sad, actually. He can’t access the spiritual energy in the blade anymore.

Baxia didn’t like the sound of that. How come?

Master doesn’t have a golden core, Chenqing said. I think he used to, but he doesn’t anymore.

Seems careless.

Hey, I’m pretty sure it’s not his fault! Anyway, it’s a whole big secret. Why do you ask?

My master wanted to know.

Hah, Chenqing said. Nice of you to ask on his behalf, since you can’t tell him what the result of your question was.

Baxia said nothing.

You – can’t. Right? Masters can’t hear what swords say.

I, Baxia said, am not a sword.

…oh shit. Shit, no, you can’t –!

-

“We need to talk,” Baxia’s master said to Chenqing’s. “In private.”

You’re a rotten tattletale, Chenqing said.

Why do you care? He won’t know it was you that squealed.

Yeah, well, I know that I did it!

It’s for the best. My master will be nice about it, and your master will feel better for it. Baxia considered. There may be tears.

There were many tears.

Master really does seem like he feels better, Chenqing observed. I wouldn’t have called that.

Told you so.

-

So, Chenqing said. This hunt is probably the last time we’ll be able to hang out.

Probably, Baxia agreed.

I was hoping to ask for some advice.

Bichen is amendable to your flirting, and Wangji follows where she leads, so you have a shot.

I – what? That wasn’t what I was going to ask.

Baxia waited.

…wait, are you serious? Will that work? I could do that –

-

The flute’s an idiot, Baxia told her master. But maybe she and that master of hers can help you here.

It would be inappropriate for me to ask, her master said, rubbing his eyes. The Jiang sect kicked him out, remember? It would be stepping on their face to approach him despite that.

Okay, Baxia said. So step.

Baxia…

You share a secret with him, at his request, she pointed out. He owes you for keeping it secret for him. At minimum, even if he can’t help you right now, he can help protect your brother when you’re gone.

Her master was silent. That was his weak spot, and had always been.

No one would be able to know, he finally said. And Meng Yao comes every week.

Is our home so small that we can’t hide someone from Meng Yao’s sight? Baxia said scathingly. Since when is he the master here, not you?

I just meant that he’s a sneak that’d sell me out to his father given half a chance, her master sighed. All right, I’ll see if there’s anything that can be done. Wei Wuxian is a musical cultivator, and a genius; maybe he can tell me why Clarity doesn’t seem to be having the impact we hoped it would.

Sure, Baxia said. Whatever. I don't really care. Just get help.

-

Well, that worked, Baxia said to Chenqing. Sort of.

How are you this badass? You just -! Singlehandedly -! I can’t – how?!

Calm down, Baxia advised. What are you, human?

How dare you.

You’re the one acting like you need air to speak.

…so I’m looking forward to seeing the Lotus Pier again now that we're not banished any more, Chenqing said, pointedly changing the subject because she was wrong and she knew it. Thanks for that.

Thanks for figuring out that the evil meat was poisoning my master.

That’s. uh. Sure a way to call someone.

Why not? He’s evil, and he’s made of flesh, and he’s going to be nothing but meat as soon as I have an opportunity.

I thought your master was thinking of some sort of confinement…?

He certainly has thoughts, Baxia allowed, purposefully broadcasting.

I have very strong thoughts, her master replied pointedly. Do not kill him on your own – I’ll only get the blame for that.

Oh no, Baxia told him insincerely. How terrible for you.

Baxia. Please.

Fine. What about Jin Guangshan?

…what about him?

Me and the flute are going to take care of him.

We are? Wait, are you talking to your master right now? Oh that’s so cool. Tell him to tell my master that I said hi.

Baxia would tell her master no such thing.

That’s probably not the right way to do that, her master said, but in that wavering tone of voice that suggested he was open to being convinced. Though it would be easier to sell Meng Yao as being only collateral damage in the scheme if Jin Guangshan took the lion’s share of the blame, which would only happen if he wasn’t around…that doesn’t seem right, though.

Sure it is, Baxia said soothingly. He’s the one who wanted to play with resentful energy, right? All we want to do is play with him back. Who can say no to that? He’s practically volunteered!

-

“Okay, I have a weird question,” Chenqing’s master said to Baxia’s. “Please don’t judge me. But…did we happen to work together to drive Jin Guangshan into a resentful energy backlash?”

“We did not,” Baxia’s master said.

“Okay. Right. Got it. Sorry, stupid question.”

“Our spiritual weapons did.”

“…what?”

“If you’re wondering why your Chenqing shows signs of use in the manner that would be associated with Jin Guangshan’s untimely demise, it’s because the resentful energy you’re using has been sufficient to allow it to cultivate in the direction of a guai,” Baxia’s master explained. “It has a will of its own now, just as Baxia does. You will need to account for that when you master it in the future.”

“Wait. Are you saying that my flute has, what, a personality? Can think and talk and do things on its own?”

“Yes.”

“That’s…that’s so cool. Can you tell Baxia to tell Chenqing I said ‘hi’?”

Why are they like this, Baxia’s master asked Baxia.

I don’t know, you’re the human expert, she replied, ignoring the way that Chenqing was happily chirping answers to her human’s questions even though he couldn’t hear her. Why are you all like this?

I don’t know, he said. I really don’t know.

-

It’s nice to meet you, Suibian said, sounding appropriately respectful. I appreciate your master finding a way for my master to continue to wield me.

It’s through resentful energy, Chenqing said gleefully. Lots and lots of it, refining the sword like a saber – my poor master’s going to have to stay up late and learn so many techniques, his hair’s all going to fall out.

Yes, Baxia said. I can see the resentful energy. There’s a lot of it.

Lots and lots, Suibian said proudly. I drew in everything I could.

Without sorting out the evil?

…isn’t it all evil?

Mm, not really, Baxia said, and began to extend out her aura.

Uh, Suibian said. What’s going on.

I told you to be more patient! You shouldn’t have taken the evil parts, Chengqing said. It makes you a little bit evil, too, and that makes you Baxia’s prey.

…prey?

Chase, Baxia said. Chase, chase, chase –

Help! Help – somebody help!

I would, Chenqing giggled. But master doesn’t speak flute. Sorry!

[phoenixyfriend]

Chip Reactivation AU

With help from @atagotiak @thisarenotarealblog and @kestrel-cat

Palpatine leaks info to Dooku about how Anakin used to be a slave, with a general intent of just causing psychological trauma to Skywalker. Dooku passes the job off to Ventress because he's got other things to do, and she takes it Way Too Far.

She hunts down Watto for more information, picks up just the right codes, and mid-battle reactivates Anakin's slave chip.

She taunts him about it. Tells him he has an hour before it goes off. Enjoys the horror as he realizes what she's done, but nobody else has the background info to parse the threat.

"Tick tock, Skywalker."

It's literally the only thing she's here to do, so Anakin is in a position to call off whatever team he has and sprint back to the ship, calling frantically for Kix to get ready to perform a surgery on a time crunch. He can't protect his men if he's dead, after all, and Padme is waiting for him.

Anakin doesn't know where his chip is. There's lots of Dawning Horror among the troopers and Ahsoka. They get the chip out in time, if barely, because the run back ate up over half the time and Kix had maybe twenty minutes to locate and remove the chip.

Various fallout as Anakin has to explain why he had a remote-controlled bomb in him and why he wasn't surprised it was there.

I just think it would be a Fun Way for the situation to come out

Ventress: I have spoken to Watto of Toydaria-

Anakin: WHAT?!?

Ahsoka: Who?

Ventress: And he gave me a very interesting set of codes. You're a bit far out of range, Skywalker, but I got them to work. You have one hour before the trigger hits.

Ahsoka: Master, what the kriff is she talking about?

Ventress: Master is quite the apropos term. Tick-Tock, Skywalker.

Ventress is playing it up but internally she wants to STAB someone, preferably Dooku, because she also used to be a child slave, and this is a very tone-deaf assignment, sir.

Dooku figured that by having Ventress do it, he could kill two birds with one stone. She needs a bit of extra trauma to cling to the dark side! Anger is good for her!

Maybe she tweaked the Codes and stuff to give Anakin more time, and says something cryptic to him about it later.

Ventress: Did you like my gift?

Anakin: If you mean the resurgent trauma, yeah it was great, I loved feeling like a piece of meat again.

[some time later]

Ventress: He took out your chip.

Anakin: Yeah, no thanks to y--

Ventress: Could he do the same to mine?

All jokes aside, Ventress probably doesn't still have the chip in her, maybe never had one in the first place if Rattatak was different enough from Tatooine, but.

Kix: Ok... Miss. We found it and it should be out fairly simply. I understand that you may prefer local anesthesia, but I am compelled by medical professionalism to offer-

Ventress: Oh just get it over with.

Kix: Ma'am I do have a knife.

----

Ventress: Why are you doing this anyway?

Kix: Freedom is the right of all sentient beings.

Ventress: Oh, that's wild coming from you.

Kix: Hey we don't have any... chips... why are you looking at me like that?

Ventress giving him a "oh you sweet summer child" look of pity, just a raised eyebrow of "oh, you actually believe that?"

She's actually very well positioned to have that insider knowledge! It's a great way to slide into a fix-it!

I like the idea of Ventress telling them about the chip, partly as a way to buy favor with them when she defects.

I like the reason she’d defect here is how concerned everyone is for Anakin, y’know? If Obi-Wan is nearby that’d include like, people in a position of power (or maybe even better, another council member being concerned, one that’s not so close) Just like, seeing people being concerned for other people, not for their usefulness y’know?

Like yeah sure they’d try to get the chip out, Anakin is valuable but the way they’d react would go beyond that.

It’d be a hell of a mood whiplash bc in many ways the initial everything about the chip would be extremely validating to her bitterness?

(Callous holier than thou bastards but they don’t even do anything to help one of their own, well if they’re going to leave so nice an opening for me I might as well take it)

And then it's just like, no, Anakin just didn't tell people, figured "it's inactive and that's enough for me" because... IDK he didn't trust anyone to anesthetize him at first and after that it was too late to not be awkward.

Just consider, though, Anakin's thought process as time runs down-- Kix can do it, he can't believe otherwise, he has faith in his men, but- Stay back, Snips! Master, what's going on? Let me help, what can I do? This isn't something you can help with, I need you to stay out of range of the bomb-- BOMB?! No time, where's Kix, we have to move

"I'm not leaving you Skyguy!" "Snips, please, don't come any closer, I can't..."

He's immersed deeply in the Force, listening for the first hint that they've run out of time (because I can't really see them having a perfectly accurate countdown, even if Ventress did give them an accurate timeframe) and preparing to throw everyone around him out of range if he has to (because they won't go willingly if it comes to that...)

It's not even really realistic to worry about the range, necessarily: I was under the impression that it was about a foot of effect, enough to kill if it's in the shoulder or neck or something, but a slow death if it's in the chest, and possible survival if it's in a limb. But that objective knowledge doesn't necessarily help when you're in the thick of things, does it?

[angryschnauzer]

He’s A Keeper

Summary: Working as an artist hired by Durrell Zoo, you spend your days sketching the day to day life of the animals and the keepers. One keeper in particular catches your eye.

Pairing: AU Zookeeper Henry Cavill x Female Reader (no race or size mentioned)

Fandom: Henry Cavill

Warnings: NSFW, 18+, Friends to Lovers, Oral Sex (Female Receiving), Fingering, Safe Sex/Use of Condoms, Realistic Sex/Relationship discussion, Vaginal Sex.

Typo’s are allowed to run wild and free, only the finest organic free range fuck ups for me.

I do not operate a tag list, but if you follow @angryschnauzerwrites​ and hit ‘notifications’, you’ll get an alert every time i post something new. Back catalogue/masterlist can be found there and also on AO3

He’s A Keeper

Working the pencils over the sketchpad you quietly captured the beauty of the animals the zookeepers had nursed back to full health, the Ruffed Lemur currently hanging off the keepers arm as he spoke through the headset to the group of excited school children watching through the glass. 

You’d been hired by the zoo to capture day to day life at the zoo throughout the summer season, drawing the animals and the humans, however there was one particular human you had found yourself drawn to numerous times, and that was the rather tasty zookeeper by the name of Henry. He also had one of the sexiest voices you’d ever had the pleasure to listen to, so as he explained about the Lemur’s your mind wandered, as did your gaze;

“... originally from Madagascar, and have been part of Durrell zoo since 1982 where they have been essential to the breeding program…”

Your mind fell even further into the gutter at the word ‘breeding’, your eyes raking down Henry’s body, taking in how the branded t-shirt clung to his chest before tapering down to a narrow waist where it was neatly tucked into cargo pants that did little to hide how thick his thighs were and a pert arse you could bounce a satsuma off of. Biting the end of the pencil you had all but given up drawing, only realising that the talk was over when the group of school children were being herded onto the next exhibit by their tour guide and teachers.

When the kids had disappeared you finally got back to drawing, watching as Henry finished up feeding the Lemur’s before he met your gaze and smiled at you. Tapping your pencil on the glass he frowned and shook his head, before smiling and pointing to the sign in the corner of the window that said ‘do not tap the glass’, getting closer you tried to mouth your words to him, but was surprised when his eyes went wide in almost shock, before looking down and realising you had pressed your chest to the glass, your low cut cami top helping to accentuate your cleavage. When you looked up again he was gone and you let out a sigh of disappointment, before he appeared through a door to the side of the viewing area;

“Hi” he had a smile that could charm the panties off a nun; “Did you want me?”

“God yes…” Oh fuck, did you say that out loud?; “Sorry, i mean, you’ve dropped the foam bit off your headset...”

He glanced into the enclosure just at the moment one of the larger Lemur’s picked up the small round piece of foam and staring straight at Henry, proceeded to rip it into tiny pieces.

“Furry little fucker…” he cursed under his breath before turning back to you, but before he could say anything a group of other keepers came walking in and soon you were hanging onto the periphery of their conversation where they were discussing going for drinks after work. Moving to pack your stuff up as you presumed they weren’t including you, but a call of your nickname drew your attention;

“Hey Da Vinci, you up for a few beers after work?”

You hesitated to answer, glancing at Henry who had a smile across his face and a hopeful look in his eye;

“We’re all going…”

“Ok, yeah sure, that’d be great” you agreed. 

-

An hour later you were sitting on the wall outside the main entrance waiting for the rest of the keepers to finish their shifts, smiling as you saw them coming out of the doors, and the ensuing 10 minutes that followed as people sorted out who was driving and how many people could fit into just a couple of small cars. As spaces were allocated Henry laughed and shook his head;

“I am NOT riding five up in a Renault Clio, i’m too tall, i’ll have to fold myself in half! Where are we going anyway, i can take my bike and just walk home after”

Waiting as everyone discussed location and finished off seat allocation, they’d finally decided when Henry turned to you;

“Hey, i think the last seats are in the stoner wagon…”

“Oh…” you didn’t have anything against anyone smoking pot, but didn’t fancy being in a car you could barely see out of the windows of.

“But you can ride with me on my bike?”

Looking to where Henry was pointing, you saw a fairly large trails bike, the kind that could go 50mph over rough land and through forests;

“I… I don’t have a helmet…”

“Wait here, let me run into the locker room and grab the spare i keep here”

Everyone else pulled away as Henry ran into the zoo, and you glanced at the bike. You’d never been on a motorbike before, so this would be a first. Stowing everything loose in your backpack, you hooked it over both shoulders just as Henry reemerged from the building, swinging his keys from one finger as he came to stand in front of you;

“Hey, thanks for waiting”

“No worries! So, where are we going again?”

“The pub in Rozel does good food and pulls a great pint” he nodded to his left and you saw a row of motorbikes; “You ever ridden?”

Shaking your head you laughed; “No, never”

He carefully helped you put the helmet on, his nimble fingers helping to secure the strap beneath your chin before putting his own on and climbing onto the bike, pushing it off the kick stand and nodding for you to climb on. You tried to sit back, but he wrapped his arm behind his back and pulled you flush to his body;

“Gotta hold on tight, otherwise you’ll throw the balance off. Lean when i lean and just squeeze a bit harder if you’re scared, the ride won’t take long” he shouted over the thrum of the noisy engine idling.

The ride down to the small village of Rozel had been exhilarating, from the vibration of the motorbike between your legs to the way you were able to wrap your arms around Henry’s waist and cling to him as he hurtled around the country roads at what seemed like warp speed, when in fact it was little more than 30mph. By the time you arrived in the small fishing cove your heart was racing and you actually let out a reluctant moan at the thought of removing your arms from around Henry’s waist.

“C’mon” he grinned as he helped you off the bike; “I’ll buy you a vodka and coke to calm your nerves”

“It wasn’t nerves” you muttered to yourself, smirking as you know he heard you.

-

The group had managed to find a cluster of small tables chairs and benches in the corner of the pub beer garden, and as the sun had set behind the hills to the rear of the pub, the cold Atlantic sea had glowed in pale blues and pinks. You were squashed into a bench with Henry on one side and another enormous hulk of a keeper on the other, and as the temperature had dropped you’d found yourself thankful that Henry had casually rested his arm behind you so you could leech some of his warmth, but it didn’t stop a violent shiver involuntarily running up your spine.

“Cold?” Henry asked quietly, before gently wrapping his arm around your shoulder and pulling you close; “Any better?”

You nodded and let out a very quiet whine as you smiled at him, completely surrounded by his scent and warmth. It made your stomach do a flip and you clenched your thighs together, something that didn’t get past Henry as your leg twitched against his thigh. Before either of you could say anything an enormous bowl of cheesy fries was set down between you, your stomach growling at the aroma’s that wafted around you as it turned out someone had ordered sharing bowls for the whole table.

With the meal mostly devoured as you’d sat side by side on a small wooden bench in the pub garden, laughing as you fed each other and strings of cheese hung from your fingers. As the giggles of a joke faded away you glanced at Henry’s almost finished pint;

“Hey, you aren’t planning on riding that bike home are you?”

“Nah, i’d never drive after a pint, let alone three… my place is just behind The Navigator restaurant…” he paused; “Oh god, where are you staying, do i need to call you a taxi?”

“No no, i’m renting a studio up the hill, on the hairpin bend”

“Oh…” 

It wasn’t a bad ‘oh’ and there was definitely something loaded in the subtext, so when people had started to leave and arrange ride’s back to St Helier and St Johns it felt natural for Henry to stand with his arm around your shoulders as you both waved everyone off.

“Can i walk you home?” he asked, his voice low and full of promise, and you nodded as he slid his hand into yours, leading you along the low coast road that skirted the harbour.

-

You hadn’t gotten far before the evening turned even better, a brief suggestion of a walk along the beach as the tide was out soon had your feet in soft sand as you were pressed to the weathered stone of the sea wall, Henry’s lips on your neck as your fingers dug into his back, his teeth nipping and biting at whatever exposed flesh he could find. You hadn’t even realised he was going lower until he was on his knees in front of you, those sea blue irises staring up at you as he pressed kisses to your legs where your shorts ended. His fingers softly rested on the button and he finally spoke, his voice low and thick with lust;

“May i?”

Nodding fervently you bit your lip as you watched him slowly unbutton you, pulling the garment down your legs until you were able to step out. Never breaking eye contact he lifted your leg and gently rested it on his shoulder, pressing open mouthed kisses up your inner thigh until his face was pressed against your panties and his wide tongue worked against the soaked cotton and lace. His finger crooked beneath them and tugged the scrap of fabric to the side, seeking out your clit before tracing down to your cunt and tenderly teasing the entrance.

“Henry… please…” you whined, desperate for more

“Don’t you worry, i’m gonna make you see stars…”

Pushing his head forwards his lips caught your clit as he slowly slid two fingers into your soaked channel. You let out a long groan at the feel of his lips and fingers finding the right spot immediately, his other hand cupping the back of your thigh before he ran it around your hip and caught your hand, intertwining his fingers with yours as he quickly drove you closer and closer to the edge with that added touch of intimacy. Suddenly he hummed against your clit and the world exploded, making you cum so hard you truly did see stars as a white heat bloomed in your belly and you rode Henry’s fingers until you were spent.

As you rested against the wall behind you he carefully withdrew his fingers, licking them clean as he tugged your shorts up your legs. You couldn’t help but to notice the obscene bulge in the front of his cargo pants, your hand rubbing over the smooth curve of it;

“You keep doing that and i’ll cum in my boxers… “ he panted out, his lips inches from yours; “What’s your room like?”

“Its a little summer cabin studio right at the end of the garden, away from the other holiday rentals and the main house… what about you…”

“Shared flat with two other guys from the zoo. They’re probably drinking in the lounge right now… so, your place?”

-

Unlocking the door you stepped inside and turned on a small lamp, standing aside so Henry could come into your small summer living space.

“Mmm nice” he nodded and looked around; “Wanna give me the tour?”

You snorted out a laugh at the formality, and held your arm out;

“Well this is the kitchen area, right next door we have the smallest shower room in Jersey, and here’s the bed” you didn’t need to take a single step for the ‘tour’, the room seeming even smaller as Henry took a single stride and wrapped his arm around your back, pulling you flush with his chest. Never breaking eye contact he gently trailed a single finger over your cheek, his thumb brushing your plump bottom lip;

“Are you going to be good for me?”

Your legs almost buckled at the deep baritone of his voice, igniting something within you that you hadn’t even known existed, eagerly nodding;

“Yes Sir”

Lowering his lips to yours he kissed you, his tongue pushing past your lips as he took control, walking the pair of you back until your legs hit the bed and you fell back onto the soft unmade covers. Covering your body with his, he quickly stripped you of your clothing, his mouth trailing behind his hands so every inch of you was gifted with a kiss. 

Standing between your legs he pulled his t-shirt over his head and you couldn’t help but to moan at the sight of his body; toned and just the right amount of hair on his chest and a treasure trail on his abdomen that surely led to untold riches. Quickly sitting up your hands joined his on his button to his cargo pants;

“May i?”

Henry released his hands and nodded, watching as you carefully plucked the button before lowering the zipper painfully slowly, his boxers tented obscenely and you couldn’t help but to cup him in your palm, the searing heat of his engorged cock a welcome feel in your hands, the wide mushroom head clearly visible through the stretched fabric. Unceremoniously tugging the rest of his clothing down, you felt yourself getting wetter as his beautiful cock was finally revealed; big, thick and uncut, you had to taste him and quickly ducked your head forwards, swallowing his head between your lips as his hands flew to your hair to steady himself.

Now it was your turn to drive him crazy with your mouth, taking him as deep as you could even though it was barely half of his length, you wrapped both hands around what was left, the thick root of his shaft filling both palms. A few more pumps and he pulled his hips back with a gasp, a trail of spittle hanging from your lips to his bulbous tip;

“If you keep doing that i’m gonna cum far too soon…” he said, his voice shaking; “Lay back and let me treat you right…”

Scooting up the bed you settled against the pillows as you watched Henry shed himself of the rest of his clothing, his boots and socks hooked off, cargo pants and underwear all left in a messy pile at the side of the bed, before he crawled up the mattress like a Panther stalking its prey.

Capturing your lips for another searing kiss, you felt his hot shaft against your belly, burning against your skin and you so desperately wanted to feel him inside you. Pulling away just slightly you were already breathless;

“Just a second…” reaching for the small drawer at side of the bed you pulled out an unopened box of condoms, Henry sitting back on his knees as you ripped the box’s cellophane open with your teeth and pulled out a small foil packet, tearing it open before smoothing the latex over Henry’s shaft. Looking up to his face he wore a rather sheepish smile;

“Sorry, shoulda’ thought of that”

“S’ok, a girl’s gotta keep sharp these days…”

“Right…” he met your gaze; “But you know, if you had gotten pregnant, i would have stood by you”

“Umm thanks? But its for STD’s. I’m on the pill”

“Oh… good thinking…”

A tense pause hung over the pair of you, before you reached up and rested your hand on his chest;

“Shall we continue?”

At your words the tension in the room suddenly dissipated, Henry kissing you as he slid a hand between your bodies so he could position himself at your entrance, groaning as he pushed in slowly breaching your body. Your tight channel hugged him tight, unfamiliar with such a size splitting your walls so he paused, pressing light kisses to your face as your body grew accustomed with his size and the heavy weight of his dick in your pillowy soft embrace. Finally you moaned out his name;

“Henry… please…”

“What do you need?”

“Move… please move. Fuck me, please”

Pushing up on his forearms he started to fluidly move his hips, slow and steady, each thrust was gentle but firm, your body yielding to him as he started to increase the pace, the sound of hot bodies meeting filling the small wooden cabin as the gentle sounds of the sea not far away filled the rest of the night. Soft moans spilled from your lips at the feel of his body playing yours like a delicate instrument, waiting for the chorus and the inevitable crescendo. But he was going to play the entire symphony first, knowing how to get you to sing the high notes as the thrum of your bodies were in tune with each other completely.

With the stretch of his girth and the way the curve of it meant he was able to find your g-spot with every thrust you were fast approaching your orgasm, your body trembling as your lips found a life of their own;

“Henry… please, so good… keep doing that… oh god, i’m gonna cum…”

“That’s it, my good girl, cum on my cock, let me feel you squeezing me so tight… feel so amazing right now… that’s it, you can do it…”

With a cry you came, your legs wrapped around his waist as you pulled him deep whilst your body shook with a fierce orgasm, triggering his own as he pumped a heavy load into the condom.

Finally spent, Henry settled on top of you, his weight a heavy comfort as your sweaty bodies lay skin to skin, the gentle roughness of his chest hair against your naked breasts a tender reminder of his virility. When he started to soften he finally shifted, holding the condom at the base as he pulled out and staggered the few steps to your small bathroom;

“I’ll be back in a second, gotta sort this out…”

The door closed and you shifted on the bed, pulling the duvet back and sliding between the sheets, listening as you heard the tell tale sound of a man urinating and the high pitched, double barrelled squeak of a fart. The flush of the toilet and water running soon after meant you knew the second he would reappear, a flannel in his hand and he stopped dead, his cheeks suddenly bright crimson;

“You heard that didn’t you?”

“It's a small wooden cabin… yes i did”

“Sorry” he approached the bed and with a warm flannel he carefully cleaned between your thighs, pressing a kiss to your lips as he did. When finished he sat on the side of the bed; “Can i stay the night, or did you want me to go?”

“Have you got work tomorrow?”

“Nope. You?”

“Nope. Please, stay”

He quickly threw the flannel into the sink in the bathroom, before with a giggle climbed under the duvet and pulled you into his arms;

“So, how many more condom’s you got?”

-

The morning light broke softly through the trees that surrounded your cabin, your body sore but sated, knowing every bruise and ache came from soft lips, sharp teeth, or skilled fingers, apart from that one ache deep inside that you knew exactly what had caused that delicious soreness, and the owner and cause of all of it still softly slept in your bed. Climbing out you quickly used the bathroom, and as you came back into the room the artist in you couldn’t help but to admire how the dappled morning light cascaded over Henry’s body. Slipping his work t-shirt over your head you pulled your sketchbook from your backpack and settled onto the only chair in the room, quietly working carbon to paper.

Henry woke 45 minutes later, the gentle scratching of your art making him squint at the bright daylight, before laying back on the pillows with his arms spread;

“Still life class?”

Setting your sketchbook down you padded across the room and climbed onto the bed;

“Sorry, i couldn’t help myself… the way the sun was hitting the muscles of your back and shoulders, you were like an anatomy masterpiece”

With a laugh and moving much quicker than you thought he was possible of, he grabbed you by the waist and turned you, his body atop of yours;

“Well that’s enough of that, i would like to become better acquainted with your anatomy… and as we’ve both got the day off i suggest we make the most of it”

Laughing you fell into his embrace, sighing with happiness. Henry really was a keeper, as you were for sure not going to let him go.