#so. my brother and his dog are gonna have to pack up and move in.

[paradoxgavel]

i would like life events to stop occurring for the rest of the year please. i have had enough life events for a year.

[dixons-sunshine]

No-Nonsense | Daryl Dixon x Fem!Reader

A/N: I am so sorry this sucks. I’m moving in a few days, Saturday to be exact, and I’ve been packing non-stop today. When I finally sat down, my brain was fried and I couldn’t really think of words lol. This was the best I could do. I hope it’s still somewhat okay!

The sound of a disbelieving scoff being let out had Daryl tensing up. His cerulean-coloured eyes trailed over to where you leaned back against the wall, his hard, steel-like gaze resting on your face. “Ya got somethin’ ya wanna say, Sunshine?”

“Yeah, I do.” Your own angered stare rested solely upon the crossbow-wielding archer, T-Dog, Rick and the kid, Miguel or something, not even being on your mind at that moment. “I want a gun.”

Daryl rolled his eyes at your statement. He didn’t even know why Rick had bothered asking you along. If shit hit the fan, you wouldn’t be able to protect yourself, and the archer didn’t feel like dying for some woman he didn’t even care for. Sure, you were a resident at Atlanta General before the world ended and had come along to check if Merle had potentially suffered from heatstroke, but other than that, you were useless. At least, to Daryl’s knowledge.

“Yeah, well ya ain’t gettin’ one. I ain’t ‘bout to have my head blown off ‘cause’a yer shit aim,” Daryl told you defiantly. Truth be told, he did not even know whether or not you could use a gun, but if your hesitance towards even looking at Dale’s shotgun back at the camp was anything to go by, it was best not to trust you with a weapon that could potentially lead to his demise.

Cleverly sensing that the situation would escalate without an intervention, the self-appointed leader stepped forward and between your’s and Daryl’s line of sight. “No need to get at each other’s throats.” Rick sighed, rubbing his eyes in exhaustion. The last thing he wanted was for blood to be spilled over something as meaningless as an argument. The main concern was getting Glenn back. Rick turned towards you, an understanding glint in his eyes. “Shane told me you didn’t know how to handle a gun. I’m guessin’ he’s got it wrong.”

“Shane doesn’t know shit,” you spat bitterly, pushing yourself off the wall. “I know how to use a gun. I just don’t like it.”

“Yeah, well s’the way’a life now, Sweetheart. Better get to likin’ it real quick,” Daryl interjected before Rick could respond. He picked up his crossbow and slung it across his shoulder. “‘Sides, how do we know ya ain’t jus’ lyin’ to us?”

“You don’t,” you began, your jaw clenching as you tried to suppress your anger. “I could be lying to you, or I could be telling the truth. Either way, I’m not walking into that place with nothing but my good looks. So we can continue to argue about this all day, or you can stop being an asshole, shut up, trust me, and give me a goddamn gun, or else you can tend to your brother’s wounds on your own if we find him. Your choice.”

If there was one thing Daryl had to give you points for, it was your no-nonsense attitude. Most of the women at the camp seemed to fear him, but you didn’t. Time and time again, you stood up to both Shane and Merle. You refused to be belittled, and he respected you for that. You could stand your ground, regardless of the person you faced.

Swallowing his pride, because he sensed that he could potentially have been in the wrong, Daryl reached forward and grabbed a handgun from the table. He offered it to you, and when you wrapped your hand around the handle, his hand lingered on the weapon for a few moments. “Jus’ so ya know, I ain’t gon’ carry ya when ya shoot yerself in the foot.”

Against your better judgement, you sent him a small smile. “And I’m not gonna carry you when that guy shoots you in the ass for shooting him in his.”

Daryl let out a small huff of laughter. Under normal circumstances, the archer would have still been pissed. However, for some reason, seeing your smile made his anger fade away and be replaced with another feeling, one that unnerved him beyond belief. However, he pushed that odd, fluttery feeling to the depths of his mind. There were far more pressing matters at hand.

Before he could speak up, Rick’s voice flooded the air, making you and Daryl practically jump apart. “Now that that’s settled, let’s get goin’.” For added emphasis, he cocked his gun, motioning towards the kid. “Let’s get Glenn back.”

You spared one last look at the brooding archer. He gave you a small nod, a stark contrast to his previously angered, frustrated state. “After you,” he mumbled, motioning towards the door.

You sent him a playful smirk as you walked past him. “Why, thank you. That was almost gentlemanly of you.”

“Keep up the smart ass remarks and m’shootin’ an arrow into yer behind.”

[chaimilkshake]

Brother’s Best Friend Part 2 - Nicholas Chavez x reader

summary: you make your return to LA to celebrate the success of your brother’s show

warnings: mentions of alcohol, cooper gets drunk

word count: 1.1k

a/n: got a little carried away because i got excited oops! but i hope you guys like this as much as the first one <3

It had been a couple weeks since you had gone to visit your brother in LA. You were back at school, back at your routine, yet everything was different. Ever since you met Nicholas, you couldn’t stop thinking about him. It was stupid, really. You talked to him for maybe two total hours while you were there.

Yet here you sat, in your dorm at UCSD, unable to focus. You groan, shutting your laptop and setting your forehead on your desk when your phone chimes. You slowly pick your head up, grabbing it to read the message.

Coop 🐥

You willing to come back to LA this Saturday?

You consider for a moment, glancing at your calendar and finding a blank space under Saturday. Your thumbs roam over the letters before beginning to type.

You

Maybe…what for?

Coop 🐥

We’re having a party for the show’s success. Thought I’d invite my biggest supporter :)

You

Aww, well after that I think I have to. When on Saturday?

Coop 🐥

Starts at 7, but if you’d be willing to help set up?

You

Be there at 5 :p

Coop 🐥

Yay! See you then <3

You smile at the conversation between you and your brother, until it hits you. A party about the show. Nicholas was bound to be there. Whether or not you were ready to see him after he’d been on your mind for so long, you weren’t sure. But supporting your brother was much more important to you than a boy.

That Saturday, you got in your car and drove the two hour drive to your brother’s house in Los Angeles. He promised to let you stay the night in his guest room after the party, so you’d packed an overnight bag with clothes and anything else you’d need.

By the time you got there, it was around 4:45 PM. You grabbed your bag from the back, going to knock on the front door. Before you could, though, the door swung open.

“I swear you’re like a dog. You know I’m here before I even get out of the car,” you chuckle as your brother pulls you into another hug.

“Hey!” He scoffs, pulling away to look at you. “How dare I love my sister,” he chuckles, moving to let you in. He showed you upstairs to the guest room, letting you settle in. “Is that…what you’re wearing?” He asks, gesturing to your outfit.

You look down at your sweatpants and tank top, then back at him. “What, you don’t like it?” You ask, laughing at his reaction. “I’m kidding. These are just my comfy clothes for the drive up here. I brought other clothes,” you assure him, nodding.

He put a hand on his chest, blowing out air dramatically. “Thank God, because I was gonna say…” You smack his arm playfully before beginning to settle into the room and changing for the party.

A couple hours later, the house was all set up for the party. Cooper had gotten drinks while you got the food. Varieties of chips, dips, crackers, cheese, and other snacks covered the dining room table. You took your time making sure it looked nice while Cooper set up an assembly line of sorts for the drinks.

“I think it’s all set,” you say, entering the kitchen and looking around. “Good work, Coop,” you hum, grabbing a cup to pour yourself a drink.

Cooper smiles at that, shrugging as he holds his own cup. “I know, I know.”

Before you have the chance to tease him, there’s a knock at the door. “Our first guest?” You ask, setting the cup down and going to answer it. You pull the door open, smile on your face until you’re eye to eye with Nicholas.

“Oh!” You say, not having expected him. “Hi.”

Nicholas smiles back, hands in his pockets. He looked amazing. Even just in jeans and a t-shirt. “Hey,” he greeted with a nod. “I didn’t know you were gonna be here.”

“Cooper texted me a couple days ago asking if I’d come,” you explain, stepping to the side. “Come on in.”

By 7:30, dozens of people filled Cooper’s house. You had to admit, you were a bit overwhelmed. You found yourself standing in a corner, simply observing everyone. Soon, Cooper came to relieve you of your misery. Albeit, a little drunkenly.

“I didn’t invite you to my party to be a Debbie Downer,” your brother slurred, leaning against the wall beside you.

You chuckle at his state, shaking your head. “Just not a party person, Coop,” you hum, watching him pout afterwards.

“You should find Nic! He’d probably loooove your company, y’know. He really likes you,” Cooper says, wiggling his eyebrows at you.

It takes all but three seconds for your face to go pink, ruining any chance of hiding how that information made you feel. “...He said that?” You ask, figuring there was no point in pretending.

“Oh yeah. Back when you visited the first time,” he nods, finishing off his drink. “Aww, my cup’s empty.” WIthout another word, he disappeared into the kitchen. You laughed at that, shaking your head. As you looked back into the crowd, you found Nicholas on the other side of the room, already looking at you.

When you made eye contact, though, it was clear he had no instinct to look away. His smile simply grew, holding your gaze. It was like staring at a car crash. You knew you really shouldn’t look, but you simply couldn’t look away.

You smiled back, raising your cup to him as a hello. Instead of responding, though, he began moving through the crowd towards you. You immediately stood up straighter, subtly trying to fix yourself up as he pushed through people.

Once he finally got through, you were stood up straight and already smiling at him. “Hi,” you said, noting the height difference between you two.

“Hi,” he replied, looking down at you, drink in hand, and seemingly thinking the same thing. “How’s school?” He asks, lifting his drink to his lips.

You chuckle at the question, watching him smile into his cup. He knew exactly what he was doing. “Good. We’re starting microscopic anatomy next week.”

Nicholas shakes his head, swallowing his drink. “Can’t say I know anything about that.”

You both share a look before bursting into laughter, your hand resting on his arm for stability.

“I’ll have to take your word for it,” you manage eventually, still recovering from the giggles.

“I mean…” he starts, watching you laugh. “You don’t have to.”

You stare up at him, then, realizing what he was saying. Before you could react further, he was stepping forward, tipping your chin up and capturing your lips with his. You melted into him, a hand resting on his arm that held your face.

You never imagined yourself as the type to make out in the corner of a party, yet here you were, with your brother’s best friend.

tags: @moonlgtflwr @candlestickmick

[yelena-bellova]

Twenty Years Later: Joel Miller x F!Reader - Chapter Two

Chapter Two: Strangers in the Night

Plot: Joel and Y/n try their hardest to ignore and avoid their past while waiting on the cover of night to leave the QZ.

Warnings: M for violence, gore, language, allusions to sex, alcohol, unwanted advances (16+)

Word Count: 6.9k

A/N: Okay, let me just say, did not expect such a big reaction to this little 2.2k fic I thought up randomly. You guys wanted a series, so here’s a series. It’ll be 16+ from here so please specify your age in your bio if you’d like to be tagged. I’m really excited to write this one, hope y’all enjoy it! It's gonna be a wild frickin' ride...

——————————

May 9th, 2002, Austin Texas

It was unseasonably warm for spring in Austin. Summer was making an early entrance and driving everyone indoors. The bars were packed each night, but especially on the weekends. Something about the heat always inspired people to drink more.

The Miller brothers were seated at a table in the far corner of Dane’s, each nursing a Budweiser. Despite it being a Saturday, they’d worked overtime on a garage apartment conversion. It was in Joel’s neighborhood and he needed the money. Jobs hadn’t been ripe for picking lately, in going the extra mile with the clients he did have, he could bank on a few referrals.

“We’re runnin’ short on the 2x4s,” Joel told his brother, “And it wouldn’t hurt to-“

“Dude,” Tommy made a slicing motion with his hand, “You’re off the clock. Switch off for a while.”

“I’m just trying to get ahead,” Joel replied.

Tommy smiled, lounging in his chair, “Look, you’ve got two modes: work mode and dad mode. And guess what? You never come out of either. It’s a Friday night, you’ve got a sitter, why not just try being a single, not-offensively unattractive, guy?”

Joel’s eyebrows were permanently furrowed, especially around conversations like this. Tommy meant well, but he’d been trying to get Joel to find something outside of work and his daughter for years. It wasn’t happening.

“So you’re sayin’ I should focus less on keeping a roof over my daughter’s head and makin’ sure she’s happy?” Joel asked, leaning back in his chair, “I get that right?”

Tommy chuckled and shook his head, “I’m just saying…you’re gettin’ more and more like an old man the longer you’re by yourself. Wouldn’t hurt to find someone that makes you happy.”

It was easy to ignore Tommy’s ramblings, but Joel couldn’t deny there was some truth to what he was saying. After Sarah’s mom up and left them, he kept his heart guarded from the world. Sarah and Tommy were the only ones he had the space to love. No, not the space. He had all the capacity in the world to hold someone else close to his soul, he was just too afraid of getting hurt again.

A few feet away at the bar, Y/n twirled her wine glass in her hand. Navigating a new city and a new job was taking it out of her. There had been no catalyst in her decision to move to Austin. She wasn’t running from a bad relationship nor did she need space from her family, she’d just wanted a change. So far, aside from the random heat wave, she was enjoying herself. The people were friendly, the neighborhood was quiet…she could see herself eventually calling the place home.

As she enjoyed her own company, a muscly man approached the seat next to her. He didn’t even do her the courtesy of asking if it was taken.

He flashed a pearly smile at Y/n, “Havin’ a good night?”

“Mm-hm,” she nodded, not looking up from her glass.

“Haven’t seen you around here,” the man continued, “You new to town?”

Y/n politely smiled, wishing he’d taken the hint. “Sure.”

“Findin’ your way around alright,” he put his elbows on the bar, indicating he wasn’t going anywhere, “Or are you thinkin’ you need a tour guide? Someone to show you around? Help make you feel a little more comfortable?”

Y/n was fighting the urge not to laugh, she’d seen dogs in heat more subtle than this guy. “I’m doing fine on my own, thanks,” she replied, her will to smile fading with each second he stayed.

“I don’t know,” the guy dragged his fingers up and down the condensation on his beer bottle, “You seem a little lost to me, darlin’. I got a hog outside, we could head out…night scene’s pretty wild here.”

Y/n took another sip of her wine, “Not really a wild kind of gal.”

The man’s lingering stare was beginning to make Y/n’s skin crawl. It was like he was staring straight through her clothes. He leaned in to her, his arm grazing hers, as if the close proximity was imperative to what he was about to say.

“I got this theory that inside every woman,” he lowered his voice, “There’s a wild girl just waitin’ to come out. She just needs the right cowboy,” he paused, a smile spreading across his lips, “To let her loose.”

Concealing her annoyance, Y/n looked down at her glass bashfully. She peeked back up out of her eyelashes, “What’s your name?”

“Jacob,” he answered.

“Jacob,” she repeated sweetly, leaning in closer to him, “Going around trying to prove how big your dick is ain’t gonna make any woman want to touch it.”

Jacob pulled back a little, shocked at both the comment and how easily being foul mouthed came to this woman. Y/n scrunched her nose and gave a sugary smile before moving to get up from her stool.

Jacob grabbed her shoulder, not prepared to lose the battle. “Hang on there, sweetheart.”

“Let go of me,” Y/n was quick to say.

“I don’t think you quite understand what I’m offerin’ you here…”

“Let,” Y/n gritted her teeth, raising her voice slightly, “Go of me.”

Jacob began to close the space between their faces, “What’re you gonna do if I ain’t ready to say goodbye to ya yet?”

“Hey.”

Y/n turned to the two men who had approached while she was fending Jacob off. The one with the mustache swung his fist and landed a shiner on Jacob’s nose. The whole bar gasped as he stumbled backwards, clutching his now bleeding face. The mystery man placed an arm in front of Y/n, making himself the barrier between Jacob’s advances and her safety.

Once Jacob caught his footing, revealing just how tipsy he was, he clumsily stalked back towards them. The second man stepped forward and effortlessly threw a punch to Jacob’s abdomen, knocking him off his feet and to the ground. The other patrons actually clapped and cheered at the knockout.

The man shielding Y/n and his friend grabbed Jacob’s arms and pulled him to his knees. Dane, the owner, came out from around the counter and marched towards the door. The men dragged Jacob through the bar, taking no care to his hands and feet as they knocked into chairs and tables. With Dane holding the door open, they threw him out, earning another round of cheers from the bar.

Y/n watched it all with a hand over her mouth. The whole thing had left her more anxious than she cared to admit.

Her two saviors made their way through the room, earning pats on the back from most of the patrons.

“Are you okay?” The man with the mustache asked when they reached her.

“Yeah,” Y/n answered, trying to hide how her hands was shaking, “Are you?”

“Not the worst we’ve seen,” the clean shaven guy smiled, flexing his bruised hand, “But I think you’re gonna have to take a shower to get that creep’s touch off ya.”

Y/n chortled, the feeling of his fingers digging into her skin hadn’t left yet. “I’m really sorry you had to step in,” she said earnestly, “I’m not great with following through on my smack talk.”

“Nah, you were holding your own,” the cheerier of the two men laughed.

“Hey, can I buy you guys a round?” Y/n asked, “It’s the least I can do.”

“There’s no need,” the quieter guy shook his head.

“No, I want to,” Y/n insisted, looking between the two of them.

The one who had done most of the talking so far was the first to relent. “Fine, but we’re spotting your next glass. Just to try and restore the ever-deteriorating reputation of men.”

Y/n laughed heartily for the first time of the night. She liked them.

“Hey, Dane,” the talkative man flagged down the bartender and turned to Y/n, “What’re you drinking?”

Y/n held up her dwindling glass of rosé.

“Another rosé for the rosebud,” the man finished, winking at Y/n in a way that felt more playful than flirtatious, “I’m Tommy, by the way.”

“Y/n,” she took his extended hand and shook it before turning to the other man.

“Joel,” he pressed his palm to hers.

Y/n smiled, her eyes lingering on the man as they shook hands. There was a peace to him that she already knew she liked.

Y/n ended up at Tommy and Joel’s table, each of them sipping a victory drink and talking up a storm. It was one of the easiest conversations any of them had ever had.

“So you just picked up one day and,” Tommy made a swooping gesture, “Came to Austin?”

Y/n shrugged, “Just needed a change.”

Tommy whistled, “That’s brave.”

“I mean, it’s Austin,” Y/n chuckled, “It’s not New York,” she took a sip of the free rosé, “What about you two?”

“Nah, we’ve been here forever,” Joel answered, holding his beer to his lips.

Tommy raised his bottle to his brother, “Can’t even get this fucker to take a vacation somewhere.”

“Workaholic or homebody?” Y/n asked.

Joel was inhaling to answer when Tommy spoke up, “Both.”

“Nothin’ wrong with working hard or staying home,” Joel replied, throwing back a swig.

“Nah,” Tommy replied, smirking, “Only when you do it.”

Joel glared out the sides of his eyes at his brother. Y/n laughed against the rim of her glass.

“Well,” Tommy leaned against the table, “If you ever need a tour guide, we’re at your disposal. We’ll show you the real grimy hole in the wall places. Best food or beer in the city are always in the places you’d least expect it.”

Contrary to Jacob’s thinly veiled advances, Y/n took Tommy and Joel for exactly how they presented themselves. They were funny, they were gentlemanly, and they were the first people in Austin she’d met who she felt truly comfortable around.

Joel, who was naturally more quiet than his brother, had never felt more lost for words. He was trying to keep himself in check considering the happenstance of their meeting, but all he wanted to do was look at Y/n. When she laughed, something inside his stomach twisted. When their eyes met, his chest tightened. There was something about being around this girl that felt very, very different than anyone else.

“Well,” Y/n checked her watch, catching the late hour, “I’ve got the morning shift tomorrow and I can’t be too hungover. Thank you both for the company and the wine,” she smiled at Joel, “It was a big improvement on how the night started.”

“Yeah, we’d better go too,” Joel announced, rising to his feet with Tommy, “Gotta get a head start tomorrow before the storm moves in.”

Tommy gestured to his big brother, smiling at Y/n, “What’d I tell you?”

“I gotta side with your brother here,” Y/n smiled, scrunching her face a little, “Everyone needs a break. That’s kinda what weekends are for”

“See?” Tommy said, “Maybe you’ll listen to her.”

Joel was on the verge of busting out in to a grin. “Not my problem if you two are lazy,” he shot back.

Y/n and Tommy each gaped with laughter. Joel smiled, he’d wanted to hear her laugh one more time before they parted.

“Well, you two have restored the name of ‘men’ quite admirably,” Y/n grabbed her purse, “Thank you for what you did, really. If you hadn’t stepped in, tonight would have ended much worse.”

Tommy shook his head, “Don’t mention it. Just learn how to throw a punch,” he slapped his hand against Joel’s shoulder, “And I think we’ll both sleep better at night.”

“I’ll get on that,” Y/n chuckled. She wasn’t sure if it was the kinship she felt or the rosé had simply relaxed her, but she reached over to Tommy and gave him a one-armed hug.

“See ya around, Rosebud,” Tommy said, keeping his hand respectfully high up on her shoulders.

“See ya,” Y/n replied, pulling back to look at Joel. She wasn’t sure what she expected to happen, only that she wanted to memorize his face before she left. “Goodnight,” she said with a small smile.

Joel tried to ignore how his heart was thudding in his chest. “‘Night,” he replied.

His eyes followed her all the way to the door, till she stepped out into the steamy evening air. He wasn’t sure why he had to urge to follow her.

“You,” Tommy gripped Joel’s shoulder a little tighter, “Are fucked.”

Joel rolled his eyes at his little brother’s laughter, “The hell’re you talking about?”

Tommy fell back down in his chair, a hand resting on his chest, “You were fuckin’ smitten with her.”

“‘Smitten?’” Joel cringed, taking his seat and his beer, “What’re you, 14?”

“Fine, hot for, taken with, enamored, mesmerized,” Tommy chuckled, “Whatever you wanna call it…you liked her.”

Joel shrugged and took another drink, “‘Course I liked her. You liked her too.”

“Not like you,” Tommy shook his head, still grinning, “I think she liked you too.”

Pushing down the way his stomach jumped when Tommy said that, he glanced over at the door again. He looked back to the table, checking to see if she’d left anything. Maybe she’d have to come back. What would he do if she did? Would he ask for her number? Or was that too forward? He didn’t want anything he did to remind her at all of the asshat they’d tossed out-

“She didn’t leave anything, dude.”

Tommy’s voice brought Joel out of his thoughts. He hadn’t realized how long he’d been staring at Y/n’s empty seat. There was no reason for her to come back.

“You’re fucked,” Tommy brought the conversation full circle, patting his brother’s shoulder and taking a drink.

Joel hid his disappointment, just like his infatuation; well, but not well enough. He looked down at his bottle, “Doesn’t matter. We’re not gonna see her again.”

Tommy shrugged, “Austin ain’t that big.”

Outside, Y/n was making the three minute walk down the street to her apartment complex. Her mind was no longer focused on the douche whose name she was already forgetting, all she could think of was how Joel smiled like he had a secret. How his laughter was reserved only for when he found something hilarious. How whether he was sitting beside his brother or punching out a handsy creep, he was completely relaxed. How his brown eyes were so warm, one gaze into them had given her goosebumps…

Y/n shook her head at herself, completely thrown for a loop. One encounter with one guy and she felt like there was some invisible string tugging harder with every inch of distance she put between herself and the bar. The chances of bumping into Tommy and Joel again in a city as big as Austin were slim. It was a reality she had to face. It was just one of those meetings that left you feeing like you’d experienced true magic. She was saddened at the thought of never sitting across from Joel again.

Into the night, with a total distance of seven minutes unbeknownst between them, Joel and Y/n each retired and prepared for their respective early mornings. Joel paid the neighbor who’d watched Sarah, Y/n called and checked in on her sister, who’d just had a baby. Joel kissed his daughter goodnight, Y/n finished up a load of laundry. They each changed into their pajamas, brushed their teeth, and turned out the lights. It was then, in the sweet space between sleep and consciousness that they let their minds drift back to each other….

—————————

2023, Boston

Of course it was raining. Rain made everything easier.

Joel, Tess, Y/n and Ellie trudged through the streets of what was once downtown Boston. Y/n kept a hand on Ellie’s back at all times, untrusting of both the people around them and the ones they were traveling with.

Even with the utter chaos they were in the middle of, Y/n’s mind was overtaken by the holes being burned into the back of her head. Joel’s stare was unfaltering. She wanted to turn around and scream at him, but that would garner the attention they were trying so hard not to attract. That was fine, she had more than enough anger and more than enough time to let him feel it.

Joel, whose every move was made with vigilante like precision, was struggling to keep his thoughts in order. The past was so easy to put behind you when you never had to look at it. Faced with the person who knew it all, had seen it all…the second he’d laid eyes on Y/n, it had all come flooding back. He had to get himself in check. Y/n’s unfiltered hatred was helping him there.

They made it to Joel and Tess’ apartment without any trouble, the four of them filing down the narrow hallway. Y/n pulled as far away from Joel as possible while they waited for Tess to unlock the door, which wasn’t very far. Once it was open, Joel impatiently waved for Ellie to enter, saving the same glare for Y/n. Ellie entered apprehensively, while Y/n knew enough to know that they were Joel and Tess’ leverage. Without them, they couldn’t get their battery. They were safe, for the time being.

“Give us a minute, all right?” Tess stated more than asked, heading back out to the hall.

“What the fu-“ Ellie started, the door silenced the last two letters.

Y/n put a finger to her lips, standing beside the door and listening to the other side of the door. Tess and Joel were discussing which route to take, something that infuriated her. There was only one child in their party, she refused to let Joel make her anything other than an equal.

She threw down her backpack and threw the door open. “If you two are planing on excluding me from the planning side of things, let me know now so I can strangle you both,” she said, smiling sweetly.

“You wanna tell us what we’re really doing with this kid?” Tess fired back.

“Not particularly,” Yn replied.

“Then you don’t get a voice here,” Tess looked to Joel, “We leave after dark. Stay with them.”

Joel took a step forward as his partner walked off, “Wait, why do I have to — Tess! Tess!”

Tess turned the corner of the hall without ever breaking stride.

Joel sighed loudly, eventually looking over to Y/n.

“She’s lovely,” Y/n snarked, earning a signature Miller scowl.

Joel nodded towards the door and Y/n slipped back inside, he kept an overly safe distance between them. Y/n unzipped her backpack and grabbed her first aid kit, sitting down at Joel’s table to tend to her bullet wound. Joel shrugged off his pack and threw himself on the couch. Ellie was splitting the distance between them, holding a large book in her hands.

“So,” the girl started, “Who’s Bill and Frank?”

Joel looked up confused, as if he couldn’t imagine how she could have possibly heard anything from the other side of the door.

“Oh, come on, Tool Time,” Y/n chortled, as she opened the bottle of disinfectant, “This whole place is paper thin.”

“The radio’s a smuggling code, right?” Ellie asked, “60s song, they don’t have anything new. 70s, they got new stuff. What’s 80’s?”

Joel got off the couch and ripped the book out of Ellie’s hands, throwing it to the side. He glanced over at Y/n, who was struggling to keep her grunts quiet as she cleaned her wound. A twinge of pain ran through his chest as she scrunched up her face, trying to keep her breaths steady. His fingers automatically twitched to help her, but it wouldn’t actually help anyone. Instead, he fought his instincts walked back to the couch and laid down.

“What are you doing?” Ellie asked.

“Killin’ time,” Joel said, his drawl particularly noticeable.

“What am I supposed to do?”

“I’m sure you’ll figure that out,” his eyes were already closed, just like the conversation.

Y/n began to use a q-tip to spread antiseptic cream over the wound, the cooling sensation dulling the pain.

Ellie took back the book and walked past Joel, “Your watch is broken.”

Four little words froze Y/n, hunched over the table with her supplies. She didn’t have to look to know that Joel’s eyes were open again. It was the second time today that they’d been perfectly in sync. The first was pulling their guns on one another and, to be honest, Y/n would have preferred to stare down the barrel of his pistol. Bullets were simple and easy to dodge, memories were more cunning and hurt significantly more.

Y/n finished dressing her wound, zipping the kit back up and throwing it in her backpack. She laid her jacket out to dry on the back of the chair and finally took a good look at her surroundings. She couldn’t have chosen a place more opposite to Joel’s 3-bed 3-bath in Austin. The floors creaked, the walls were stained, and the ceilings were uncomfortably low. Home was a fluid concept in the world they lived in, and the kind Y/n was thinking of was lost entirely.

“He’s fun,” Ellie grunted from her seat at the window.

Y/n scoffed, “You have no idea.”

If they’d be using the cover of night to travel, Y/n knew Joel had the right idea to sleep now. She pulled out a sweater from her backpack, bunched it up and set it on the ground across from the couch. Without any blankets, she made the call that a nearby rug would be the next best thing. She shook it out and placed it below the sweater.

“Try and get some sleep,” Y/n instructed Ellie, “You’re gonna need it.”

Ellie simply hummed and continued paging through the book. Y/n slipped under the dirty rug and sighed, she’d slept in worse places for much longer…

She took the moment of peace to finally take a good look at Joel. His eyebrows still furrowed as he slept, as if he was in a constant state of disapproval with the world. The rest of his face was softer, a strange contrast, but so very him. His chest rose and fell in a perfect rhythm. It was hard for Y/n not to remember how it felt to lay with her ear against his heart, lifting and lowering with him…

The QZ was small, and stories got around. Y/n had known for a while that Joel was in Boston. She’d also heard the stories of the things he’d done, the people he’d killed, and just how far he’d go to guarantee his survival. Despite not owing him anything, Y/n had refused to believe them. She adamantly denied the possibility that she could have ever loved a man capable of such hideous acts. The Cordecyps had changed them all in different ways, but she had to believe that Joel was still Joel��

————————————

“Hey.”

A mumble and a boot kick to the shoulder had Y/n startling awake. She rolled over to see Ellie, still sitting by the window with the book in her lap.

“How do you know him?”

Y/n squinted and sat up, her joints cracking as she stretched her limbs. The sky outside was pitch black, clearly she’d needed more sleep than she thought.

“He’s an…” she began to say, the complexity of the situation hitting her all over again. There was only one answer to give that wouldn’t invite any more questions. “I was friends with his brother a long time ago.”

Ellie’s seemed to accept it, “Where’re you from?”

“Texas.”

The girl’s eyes widened, “You lived in Texas?”

“Just for a little while,” Y/n replied, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes,

Ellie looked down at her hands and then out the window, “I’ve never been out that far.”

Y/n sighed, thinking about what it might be like to grow up never having known what the world used to be like. “You’re not missing much, kid,” she lied. She’d have gone back to Austin in a heartbeat, if it was at all possible.

“What’s ‘rosebud?’”

Y/n’s body went cold, as if she’d just been plunged into ice water, memories slamming into her like waves. A glass of rosé and belly laughter, a backyard game of football, soft lips whispering sweet nothings against her ear…

She looked over at Ellie calmly, “What?”

The girl nodded towards Joel, who was still peacefully sleeping. “He kept mumbling the word ‘rosebud,’” she replied, “Thought maybe it was a code word or something.”

It did serve as a codeword, containing secrets, laughter, and all the love that had once existed in Y/n’s world. Now the mere utterance cut her worse than any blade could.

“If it is,” Y/n got to her feet, not wanting to be anywhere near the word, “I don’t know what it means.”

Joel woke then, startling without any real physicality. He stared up at the ceiling, dazed from his dreams. No, nightmares. That’s what they were.

“You mumble in your sleep,” Ellie said, announcing her presence, “Something about ‘rosebud.’”

If that didn’t wake him up, nothing could. His eyes flitted across the room, looking for the woman who owned every inch of the word. When Joel couldn’t find her, he pushed up on one arm and found her sitting at his kitchen table with her back turned to him.

In his subconscious, he’d seen her as she used to be. Her eyes full of light, her smile like pure sunshine, laughter pouring out of her with a freedom so few people allowed themselves. He’d felt her soft skin against his, felt her lips pressed to his jawline, right between his neck and his ear. He’d known her for the first time in twenty years, only to wake up and find her ghost.

Joel swung his legs over the couch and rose, his knees and back aching. Getting older in a post-apocalyptic world felt extra cruel. He ventured over to the table, ready to test the waters and see just how bad of a time he was in for.

Y/n sighed in annoyance as Joel took the chair next to her. She needed distance she wasn’t going to get, from him and all that he reminded her of.

They sat in the most awkward silence either of them had ever known.

Joel was the first to break it, “You get some sleep?”

Y/n glared out the corner of her eyes at him, the first words he spoke to her after their confrontation and that was the first thing he said?

Joel’s chest tightened at her poisoned stare, he wasn’t going to get an answer. “Wound okay?”

“This whole thing’ll go a lot easier if you stop pretending to give a shit about me,” Y/n said quietly, the sharpness of her tone cutting through the volume, “We both know you don’t.”

The walls weren’t coming down. Joel knew that. He didn’t want them down. But after seeing her, full of energy and joy, he had to check and see if there was any bit of that woman left. His eyes scanned her skin, so many scars and scrapes where there had once been a smooth surface. Her hair was dry, streaks of oil laced like highlights through the strands. Her nails were chipped and caked with dirt underneath. But most noticeably, there were two prominent frown lines across her cheeks. That let Joel know that the woman he’d once loved was absolutely gone.

“What happened to Tommy?” Y/n asked. She couldn’t help herself, but she kept her tone frosty.

“Sent a message three weeks back,” Joel answered, his fist fidgeting against the table, “Haven’t heard anything.”

Y/n didn’t want to take any strolls with Joel down memory lane, but Tommy was…Tommy. She couldn’t deny that she still cared about him deeply. “Do you know where he is?”

“Wyoming,” Joel answered, looking past her eyes at the wall. He didn’t think he could handle speaking about his brother to her, of all people.

“Oh,” she said, “So you’re completely crazy now.”

That earned her a hardened gaze, as if Joel had anything else for her.

“I’ve never been on the other side of the Wall,” Ellie spoke up, “Look how dark it is.”

Y/n got up first, smoothing her tank top back down and leaning against the wall near the door. Joel followed, retaking his seat on the couch. They both pondered the same thing separately: how much life Ellie had missed out on just by being born in the wrong decade.

“You guys go out there a lot?” Ellie asked Joel.

“I guess,” he answered.

“When was the last time?”

“Maybe a year,” Joel quickly replied, he wasn’t enjoying all the questions, “What’s it matter?”

“But you know where to go,” Ellie clarified, looking too much like a kid, “So we’re gonna be okay.”

It was a fair question, and Joel couldn’t fault her for being scared. Fear was all she’d ever known.

“Yeah,” he answered, significantly softer than his last one.

Y/n’s eyes grazed the window, spotting the plastic butterfly that clung to the glass. After all these years, Joel had managed to keep it. It took all the self-discipline she had not to let her tears fall.

“So what’s the deal with you anyway,” Joel asked Ellie, “You some kind of bigwig’s daughter or somethin’?”

Both Ellie and Y/n knowingly smirked to themselves. “Something like that,” Ellie replied, “Oh, the radio came on while you were sleeping.”

“What?” Joel snapped to attention, leaning forward, “What was the song?

“He kept sayin’ like, “wake me up before you go-go?” Ellie answered, making Y/n and Joel feel much much older.

Joel knew what that meant, and it was nothing good. “Shit,” he whispered to himself.

Ellie’s smirk spread across her face, “Gotcha. 80’s means trouble. Code broken.”

Joel got to his feet, having used his patience up earlier in the day. “Listen-“

Y/n was between him and Ellie in a flash, sticking out a hand towards Joel. She was off limits, even for a light scolding. Luckily, the door opened up before anything could be said. Tess had returned.

“The spot under Lancaster looks good,” she reported, turning to Ellie after, “You got a jacket in your pack?”

“Yeah,” Ellie responded.

“Okay, get it. It’s time to go.”

Y/n stuffed her sweater back in backpack and went to retrieve her now-dry jacket. It had been a long time since she’d gone outside of the QZ, she couldn’t decide whether she was terrified or happy to step outside the fence.

Joel on the other hand felt like he couldn’t move. Between the fear over his brother’s safety, being close to Y/n once again and the daunting task ahead of them, he wanted to pause it all for a moment. Tess throwing his jacket at him was a good reminder that he didn’t get to take minutes.

As Y/n went to the window to check Ellie, her eye caught the butterfly in the window again. Much like ‘Rosebud,’ there was another name that she never said. She could practically see it weaved into the fine details of the creature, the bright blue against the dark black. When Joel’s back was turned. Y/n pulled the cling off the window and shoved it in her backpack. If they were going to do this, she needed to feel strong enough to do it. She’d give it back to Joel and face his wrath when the deed was done.

The four of them made it out and into the underground tunnels, landing in a lesser frequented area of the QZ. Joel climbed out first and scanned their surroundings, helping to pull Ellie out after. Y/n came through next, though Joel knew better than the extend his hand to her, and finally, Tess.

“Holy shit,” Ellie remarked, spinning around to take it all in, “I’m actually outside.”

Not half a second later, a helicopter made its round over them, searchlights shining off it. Tess pulled Ellie in and crouched behind a large piece of debris.

“Okay, we’re gonna take the left edge around the buffer zone,” Tess explained, “You stay close and you follow my lead.”

“Yeah, yeah, of course,” Ellie nodded in understanding, glancing over to Y/n as if to get approval. Y/n nodded back, placing momentary trust that Tess would protect the girl.

“Same goes for you,” Joel said from beside her, his voice low.

Y/n glared over her shoulder, “I really don’t think you want me where you can’t see me.”

“Let’s go,” Tess ordered.

The four of them crawled under an abandoned school bus with Joel bringing up the rear. Walking while crouched was hard, but they managed their best and paused behind a car when a FEDRA patrol vehicle passed by. Once it was clear, they made their way through a rusted, metal pipe, stopping when the chopper passed over them again. Y/n caught a peek at Ellie’s face as the light shone on them, she looked terrified. Through her own nerves, Y/n reached over and took Ellie’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Joel watched the whole thing, if he wanted a glimpse of the woman he’d once known, he’d gotten it. Her heart was still there.

Their team hurried out of the pipe, rushing to hide behind another big piece of debris. A storm was starting, the lightning acting as temporary lighting for their path. Joel was leading the way when their presence was detected.

“Hey,” a FEDRA soldier shouted, “Hey! Don’t, don’t, don’t move.”

Joel hurriedly looked around for more, pushing Ellie behind him. He held his hands up in surrender, along with Y/n, Ellie and Tess. If they wanted to get out of this, they needed to play along.

The FEDRA soldier opened the visor of his helmet, getting a look at Joel. “You gotta be shittin’ me…”

“Okay, let’s talk this out,” Joel said calmly.

“Turn around,” the soldier ignored him.

“Hold on-“

“Get on your fuckin’ knees,” the soldier yelled, “Get on your fuckin’ knees!”

Joel wasn’t giving up, “Now, hold on-“

“What did I fuckin’ tell you, man? I said stay the fuck home,” he pointed to the ground, “Get on your knees!”

Y/n knew if he fought any harder, he was going to get them all killed. Taking matters into her own hands, she dropped. “Ellie,” she said calmly, “Get down.”

“Just get on your knees,” Tess said to Joel, “Just get on your knees.”

Joel listened and kneeled between Ellie and Tess, turning his back to the soldier. Ellie finally followed Yn’s directions and got down next to Y/n.

“Listen, you let us do this run,” Tess bargained, “We’ll split the cards with you.”

The soldier wasn’t having it, “Oh, will you?”

Y/n’s breaths quickened, knowing their chances of escape were slim. There had to be something to do. If she gave herself up, would he let Tess and Joel leave with Ellie? She didn’t particularly feel like dying, but Ellie was too important to compromise. They could get her the rest of the way.

“Hands on your head, eyes forward,” the soldier instructed. It was the eyes forward bit that bothered Joel the most. They wanted to control what they couldn’t even see.

“Hands on your head,” the soldier screamed, startling them all into doing it. He came up behind Tess, holding a device to her neck. Checking to see if they were infected.

Y/n’s heart stopped in her chest. Shit.

“Really, man?” Tess complained.

The soldier was undeterred, “Yep, we’re doin’ this by the book.”

Ellie nudged Y/n with her boot, signaling she knew what was coming. Y/n wasn’t sure how to offer her any assurance that they’d be okay.

“Unauthorized exit,” the soldier reported, “They’ll hang you for that.”

“Fine,” Joel tried again, “Everythin’ off this run and half off of all the pills.”

Their voices faded in Y/n’s ears. If she could move quick enough, she could spin around and shoot the soldier before he knew what was happening. It would give Tess and Joel a few seconds to get away.

Before Y/n could make a decision, Ellie stole her move and stabbed the soldier in the leg.

“Ellie!” Y/n and Tess cried in unison.

The soldier was momentarily dazed, stumbling backwards and trying to figure out where the injury was. Y/n took the opportunity to shove Ellie behind her. Joel did the same, jumping to his feet and standing in front of Y/n. It was pure instinct.

“Get out of the fuckin’ way,” the soldier yelled, aiming his gun past the adults.

Joel could talk his way out of a lot, but this looked grim. That didn’t mean he wasn’t going to try.

“We can fix this,” he tried, holding up his hands as a barrier between them and the soldier.

The soldier was done listening to their pathetic attempts. “Move.”

Joel didn’t budge.

“Move.”

Y/n had been on the recieving end of a lot of guns, held by people who thought that God had abandoned the post-apocalyptic warland and it was their job to fill His seat. But the military regulated weaponry, the uniform, the expressionless face that wouldn’t fill with guilt the moment its body pulled the trigger.

It transported her back twenty years.

And she knew Joel was there with her.

He surged forward, letting out a gutteral cry as he tackled the soldier to the ground. He climbed atop him, pinning him, and began to throw one merciless punch after the other. The crunching of bone and squishing of flesh formed an awful, perfect, rhythm.

While Ellie watched and felt something awaken within her, Y/n felt something die. She watched the man she’d known in her past life as loving and tender become a necessary monster. People thought mourning was only for those who left the earth, but there were plenty of dead souls still breathing. If there was any debate as to whether or not her version of Joel Miller was truly gone, the proof was now and forever burned into Y/n’s mind. Someone else now inhabited in his body.

When the job was done, Joel sat heaving over the man’s body, looking down at his bloody and bruised fist. It was the closest he could ever come to avenging her. When he looked up, his eyes first fell on Ellie, who didn’t seem to mind the violence at all. It seemed she actually liked it.

Y/n’s eyes told a different story.

A well-timed lightning strike lit her up, and Joel saw tears pooling below her y/e/c pupils. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, anxiety mixing with terror. Joel knew exactly what she was thinking about him and for a singular second, he felt guilt. He felt guilt for causing her pain, for forcing her to see him as anything other than the man she’d known.

It passed as quick as it came. It had to.

Tess grabbed the dropped scanner and read the bright red screen. Y/n hurried back to the present pulled Ellie by her jacket away from Tess.

“No, no,” Ellie yelled, “No, I’m not sick!”

“Joel,” Tess called, beginning to panic.

“She’s not sick,” Y/n backed Ellie up, “She’s clean!”

“Joel,” Tess yelled again, putting space between Y/n and her.

Ellie pulled her jacket sleeve up to reveal her arm, “Look! Look! This is three weeks old! Nobody lasts more than a day! Does this look a day old to you?”

Tess examined the bite site, it looked more like a bad scar than an infectious wound.

“You would have fuckin’ killed me!” Ellie said in horror.

“I should fucking kill you,” Tess bit back, looking up at Y/n, “What the hell’s Marlene trying to pull?!”

“It’s true,” Y/n said, keeping one hand over her pistol in case Tess didn’t listen, “She’s clean.”

She looked past Tess’ shoulder and over to Joel, who was still watching her. It was a long shot to get him of all people to listen to her, but now, she was happy to bank on their history in hopes that he’d believe her.

“I swear it,” Y/n held a hand up, her eyes digging into Joel’s, begging for him to not raise his gun.

Joel stopped short at Y/n’s vulnerability, he was shaken in every direction just from the last thirty seconds. He felt his will to argue with her slipping away.

“They’re gonna catch us if we don’t run,” Ellie stated, she wasn’t wrong. They could argue elsewhere and keep their lives.

“Joel, we gotta move,” Tess called, interrupting the stare-off between Y/n and him, “We gotta move, Joel.”

Ellie and Tess were already making their way to the fence, but Y/n and Joel stayed a second longer. Neither one had much credibility with the other, not after the last time they’d been together. But at the moment, Joel had two choices. He could either die at FEDRA’s hands, or he could follow the woman he’d once trusted most in the world and believe her one more time.

He chose the latter, though he was far from believing.

Joel picked up the soldier’s rifle and gestured for Y/n to move, the two of them ran after Tess and Ellie, who were already slipping through a hole in the chained fence. Y/n pushed through it, coming to stand on the other side of the QZ’s limits and pausing for Joel. She knew he trusted her as far as he could throw her and she wasn’t totally confidant in turning her back to him. She waited till he came through and the two of them ran after Tess and Ellie, into the night and into the unknown…

————————

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Joel Miller Taglist: @xsnak-3x @xmoonknightlyx

[trashmouth-richie]

prequel to Honey I’m Home

master list

summary: a peek into the lives of our love birds back in 1985

w/c: 4k

tw: no minors, underage drinking, drug use, party behavior. hinted at: rape

Engine roaring hot with the early dog days of summer, Eddie’s van skids to a stop sliding against black asphalt of Piney Wood Lane.

“Eddie! What the fuck?!” A church mouse voice that resembled nails on a chalkboard shrieks when the van halts to a stop. Peach colored lipstick is smeared in a wavy line across her pale skin, Chrissy glares icy blue daggers into the curly haired metal head.

Stoned and nearly asleep, Eddie forced his tired lips into a grin, pearly whites gleaming against the backdrop of the setting sun through the dirty windshield. “Oh babe you’re so pretty, here let me help.” Grabbing the tube of lipstick Eddie draws a matching line across her other cheek, “all better,” he yawns as she snatches the lipstick tube back and shoves the lid back on slamming it into her purse. Using a dirty t-shirt by her feet that she knew was used to wipe Eddie’s cum off her stomach some time last week after one of his shows, she rotates it to a cleanish spot and works the black cloth gently across her face, muttering to herself.

“Where are these little shits anyway?” She grumbles as she avoids Eddie’s lips on her neck, shoving him away with the heel of her hand.

“Fuck Chris, relax,” Eddie says, arms up in a surrender and lowering slightly to light a cigarette and blowing the smoke into the open warm air through his window, “little Tooty said they have to sneak out of the basement window.”

It had been a full year since Eyeball had left town and graduated without Eddie. His best friend was always smarter than he was, never having to repeat senior year, he left Eddie’s trailer park ass in the dust— never to be heard from again.

A scoff breaks from Chrissy’s pastel pink lips as she swipes more powder blue eyeshadow on her lids in the mirror. “I don’t know what my brother sees in her.”

The high encompassing Eddie falters for a split second. Chad Cunningham? What the fuck would Tooty want to do with him?

“Damn, tell me how you really feel,” Eddie says, rolling his eyes and inhaling from his cigarette, “don’t hold back.”

Chrissy flips the visor up with a thud and crosses her arms, her lips twisted in a sneer, she opens her mouth to speak but Eddie shushes her when five moving figures run across the neatly mowed lawn of the Wheeler’s.

Opening the sliding door is a pimple-faced Mike Wheeler, accompanied by Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, Max Mayfield, and you.

“Whoa whoa whoa,” Eddie says holding his hands up in protest, “watch the carpet yeah? Won’t be a shaggin’ wagon if the carpet is stomped all to hell you little gremlins.”

“Fuck dude,” Dustin speaks, sliding next to Mike on the floor, “you gonna give us upholstery lessons or are we going to this party?”

Mike and Lucas laugh as Eddie takes off before the door is even shut. Screaming into the night like a bat out of hell. Passing out cigarettes from a crumbled pack you kept in the breast pocket of the same ratty flannel you wore almost daily, everyone leans forward to catch the flame at the same time. Inhaling deep and choking back smoke against baby pink lungs.

Eddie wasn’t your favorite person but if he was one thing: it was reliable. He’d show up in his van, rolling up on the last remnants of weed whenever you called him. Day or night, rain or shine wherever you were— he’d drop whatever he was doing to pick you up.

Like the time Mike had left you at Benny’s after falling asleep in the red cracked booth following a late night movie premiere of Cujo. A quick dial to the Munson trailer, with a worried Benny behind you, after a couple of monotonous dial tones an out of breath Eddie answered grumpily reassuring you he’d be there soon.

Ten minutes later the blaring tunes of DIO were heard faintly as his van roared down the street, foregoing stop signs and swerving all over the place.

Benny raised an eyebrow and gave Eddie a pointed finger grunting: get her home safe.

Eddie greeted you with a stupid smile and deep dimples, threatening Mike’s life and his Hellfire spot for leaving you behind.

“Don’t make this a habit,” he scolded lightly, eyes red and higher than a kite, his boots were untied and his hair was sticking out in every direction, “Eyeball will skin me alive.”

You roll your eyes and put your feet on the dash, “Kev doesn’t even know I’m gone.”

Tapping the brakes Eddie laughs deep when you lunge forward, millimeters from almost smacking your head on your knees. “You know my rule, feet down little T.”

The night was young and you were filled with a naivety that coursed through your veins. With Eyeball at college your parents were rarely home, and you spent every waking minute you could with the boys, Max and El. A group of unruly teens, knobby knees and bad haircuts. The summer was barely at its peak, and you couldn’t wait to live it.

“Alright you little brats,” Eddie joked, pulling into Rick’s driveway, “no humping, no grinding, don’t take anything if you aren’t sure of what it is, and you all owe me $5 for the ride here and supplying you little degenerates with the best weed and warm beer in all of Hawkins.” He goads with a warm smile and jumps out of the van, leaving Chrissy to readjust her hair and makeup for the tenth time in the fifteen minute drive to get out to Lover’s Lake.

Filing out of the van one at a time, everyone slaps an Abe Lincoln into Eddie’s upturned palm. When it’s your turn he quickly closes his hand and you give him an annoyed look.

A look of concern colors his brow as he peers into your face, “Are you seriously dating Chrissy’s brother?”

Turning your lip up in defense, you scowl at the accusation, “so what if I was?” You gonna run and tell Kev about it?”

Eddie didn’t want to be on the receiving end of Eyeball’s fury, having seen for himself how Eyeball could fight the biggest of assholes at the Hideout, and he damn sure as hell didn’t want to see you on that end either. “Nah,” he chides, pocketing the bills into his chain wallet and standing with his hands on his hips, chest out, “what the hell do you think I am some shithead narc? I just didn’t think that you’re old enough to date.”

Snarling a grin and pushing his shoulder you answer sarcastically, “Are you my mother? Stop smoking Munson, you’re turning into a softie.” Traipsing past him you quickly run inside to find your friends, feet crunching on the gravel.

What the hell got into him?

—

The party is buzzing and so are you, two drinks in and a hit from Jonathan’s blunt and you’re dancing with Max, El and Will around the living room.

Tears flood Will’s eyes but he won’t say what’s wrong. Lately when he drank, he always seemed to get a little gloomy and dark. Whatever was bothering you he’d never tell, just going on about how it’s not fair. Only for the next day to claim he didn’t remember.

In a blurring spin from El’s outstretched hand, you can make out Steve Harrington. His tongue was wrapped around some blonde girl’s throat. Hands cupping her ass like she might float away. He wore his sunglasses in the house pretending like he really was fit to be “King”.

King Douche of Hairspray Island

Nancy and Jonathan are whispering close together slow dancing to a song no one can hear but them. Her stylish hair and clothes always fit her like she was straight from a Gap catalog.

Eyeing you, she waves and blows you a kiss. One you pocket and blow back. You’ve come to know Nancy quite well this last school year. Being one of your best friend's older sister’s she was cool and grown up.

Showing Max, El and yourself the proper way to wear makeup without looking like a cheap tramp.

“I don’t care if it is popular, blue is not a shade for anyone’s eyes.” Her makeup lessons earned an eye roll from Max, but you and El took special interest in it.

Collapsing onto the couch after Girls Just Wanna Have Fun ended; Will, Max and El all fall into a fit of giggles, you are breathless and your legs feel like freeze pops before they’re frozen. Being drunk and spinning around wasn’t the best of combinations but it was a blast.

A wayward glance towards the makeshift poker table in the small kitchen has Will wiping his eyes, rushing to the bathroom, excusing himself with a rushed “gotta pee.”

Finishing the last swallows of a lone beer sitting atop the barely standing coffee table, Max tosses the empty can behind her and leans forward, turning her head towards your direction, her eyes squinting into a serious glare, “you really gonna date that weasel dick Chad Cunningham?”

El’s face lights with devilish delight and you roll your eyes. Chad Cunningham was in your grade, and more popular than anyone you hung out with. Exceptionally good at sports and school, he was a dreamboat for any girl to set sail with. A future of wealth and riches lying at your feet. And he had been laying on his advances thick.

Plucking a cigarette from the crumbled pack in your shirt pocket, you offer the redhead a drag after taking a long inhale.

“Jesus,” you breathe through a cloud of smoke, “I swear I’m gonna kill Lucas.”

Max only laughs, poking your ribs with a slight jab of her unpainted fingernail, red from a picked stubborn hangnail, “Lucas couldn’t keep a secret if someone paid him too.”

Lucas and Chad played on the same baseball team, and it was he who said he would put in a good word to you for Chad. Apparently they were talking about more than just batting averages at practice.

Stealing the cigarette from your mouth, Max slots it between her own chapped lips, inhaling and blowing the smoke upwards as she falls back into the couch.

Lighting another cigarette, you listen to Max’s scoffing noises as Eddie runs through the living room, shirt off wearing cutoff denim shorts and boots, a screaming Chrissy over his shoulder as he trots towards the dock. Her high pitched whines are faint as there are two splashes into the lake, one after another.

“We’ve talked on the phone once, maybe twice,” you offer the small information as a gift, waiting for your two best friends to pull the pink satin bow and open it revealing the secret surprise. “Just lucky my mom didn’t get to the phone before I did.”

“No shit,” El hums around a can of Pabst, a wicked smile evident on her lips, “so what did he say?!”

The three of you dive into a giggly drunk conversation about boys, laughing at how awkward they were, how dumb they could be, ending the conversation still unsure whether or not you would give in to Chad’s charm. He was cute after all.

He wasn’t like you, while your family wasn’t poor, Chad’s family was extremely wealthy. They were all matching outfits for family pictures and lately your parents were gone more than they were home. Hushed whispers and teary eyes from your mother.

You didn’t know what was going on, maybe they would be getting a divorce? Maybe you’d be like Max and live in the trailer park after whichever parent decided to stay in Hawkins. Between the choice of living with your mom or dad, you’d rather sleep in a dog kennel.

Of all the girls in the school, Chad had chosen you. The sleepless nights on the phone were nothing but sweet talk. Telling you how pretty you were, calling you honey bun, how he couldn’t get you out of his head. Teasing him and telling him he was crazy, his flirting only deepened. Creating a pocket of desire and questions of what if? burrowed deep into your skin. Warming your heart with each peel of his words cozying inside of it.

He even left flowers on your window sill in the middle of the night so you could wake up to the smell of wildflowers drying in the growing sun of the dewy morning.

He was a charmer. And he’d charmed you right to a fit of heated cheeks and butterfly stomach aches.

When you saw Chrissy’s blonde hair in Eddie’s van you almost expected to see him in the back. Stomach sinking when he wasn’t stuffed into the grungy van.

Last night he made you promise to call when you were done hanging out with your friends. A promise you weren’t sure if you would keep or not.

El slinked from the couch and joined Mike and the rest of the boys playing their drunken hands at poker. Losing every cent of allowance and weeks worth of mowing yards in Hawkins to Steve and a piss drunk Tommy.

Max and Lucas were wrestling on the floor now, his deep skin turning a violent shade of purple only seen on plums from Max having him in a headlock, making him swear to stop calling her Pippy due to her choice of hairstyle.

The scent of murky lake water infused with green algae and harsh whiskey fogged your brain, tiny droplets of water slid down your cheeks, making you question how many beers you actually had. Putting your head on the cushion and looking back revealed Eddie, standing behind you in all his stupidity and brainless head banging to Heaven and Hell. One hand clutched around a bottle of Jack Daniels by the neck, his rings clacking loudly around the glass, the other pinched a fat joint. One wet boot on the back of the couch.

“Trailer Park run out of water again?” you spit, making a show of wiping your face with the back of your hand and sitting farther away from the metal head menace. Kev’s friend or not, Eddie was a special kind of jackass. Loud, ruthless, a real mother fucker, but come hell or high water, he was loyal to his friends. But shit, even an old porch dog is.

Eddie made a voice and chuckled deep, taking a large inhale from the joint, the paper crinkling against the orange burnt end. Blowing big O’s around your face, he merely grins, “you’re too kind to me little T,” he gathers his hair and wrings it out over your head, leaping over the back of the couch landing next to you with a sopping squelch sound of wet denim slapping against polyester, “better ease up on that sweetness or someone might think you’re not made of piss and vinegar.”

Kicking him away from you he only laughs harder ow stop you’re hurting me ow, he breaks out through choked laughs at your attempt to throw him off the couch.

When you have him pinned against the arm rest, your dirty white converse pressed into the slab of graffitied alabaster that makes up his back, he gently grabs your ankle and tosses your feet off of him in a swift throw.

Crossing your arms in a stubborn fashion you deliver one more kick into his side before retreating your legs in a pretzel beneath you, taking the joint from his outstretched hand as a peace offering. Hard to deliver kicks when your feet felt like they were stuck in brownie batter thick mud.

After a few hits, droopy eyes, and Eddie’s dripping curls down his back and onto the woven beige fabric of Rick’s couch, Eddie lets out a loud sigh, taking a pull from the whiskey bottle he still was nursing.

“Thought Eyeball was supposed to come home this summer?”

The question is more of a statement from Eddie as you lazily shrug your shoulders and find intense concentration on the frayed edges of your shorts. Fingers rolling the edges until the fabric is warm and sweaty.

“Dunno, precious Kev hasn’t said much since he went out East, nobody has.”

“Ohh c’mon,” Eddies velvet voice hums deep through his high, eyes barely open, “your rents aren’t that bad.”

Blowing hot breath through your lips you mimic a balloon, giggling at the way your lips feel with each wiggly vibration against your them. “Next. I’m not talking about my feelings with you when you’re higher than Willie fuckin’ Nelson.”

“Rocky Mountain High,” Eddie grins, tipping the neck or the Jack Daniel’s bottle to his lips.

Heckling him you correct, “That’s… John Denver …dumbass— ,” a yawn escapes your mouth, brain functioning on low as the high creeps into your brain, an unannounced nap knocking on your eyelids.

The couch dips with Eddie’s weight as he reaches for a blanket and tosses it to you, “Kid, I don’t know how you and Eyeball are related,” he presses, laughing at the way your eyes heavily blink back at him, “you can’t hang.”

The slowest fuck you rolls of your tongue, the living room fading in your vision you can almost taste the insult rolling around your mouth.

His idle smile falls into a frown, eyebrows pulled inward, eyes looking over your head you train your eyes to follow his gaze.

The noise of Chrissy’s bubbly giggle as she emerges from Rick’s bedroom, catches your attention. She’s wearing a pair of his boxers and a worn heather gray shirt, faded kelly green writing reading, Hawkins Athletic Dept 1980. Her eyes are twinkling with each murmur from Rick’s slack mouth, bent low to her ear, neither of them seeing Eddie sitting on the couch.

Stepping into the low hanging lights in the living room, Rick quickly gestures to Chrissy’s nose and she hastily wipes at it with the back of her hand.

You knew very little of Chrissy other than her family lived on the golf course in a lavish house with a perfectly manicured yard. One boy, one girl, perfect cookie cutter JC Penney catalog assholes.

Last year, you, Dustin and Mike threw three dozen perfectly shaped, white eggs at their front door on Halloween. While Will and Lucas rang the doorbell and Max lit the brown papered sack filled to the brim of Forest Hills Trailer Park’s finest dog shit.

There were wanted ads in the Hawkins Post for weeks about any known whereabouts of the “hoodlums” who defaced private property.

And Joyce Byers stood her ground on not knowing anything when Chief Hopper begrudgingly stomped his way from his police cruiser to the lonely woman’s door. Nevermind her receipt from Bradley’s Big Buys that was identical to what was used in the Halloween crimes of 1984.

It truly was a mystery.

Chrissy didn’t talk to you or any of your friends when you all hung out with Eddie and that was perfectly fine with you, she seemed on edge and would scowl anytime Eddie wasn’t paying her attention or waiting on her hand and foot. At the very least she looked to be in desperate need to fucking relax.

Her wide pupils scan the living room and stop on Eddie. The innocence of Bambi struck the blues in her eyes.

The couch shifts as Eddie stands on firm boots and makes his way to Rick and Chrissy. And before you can crane your neck to hear the conversation, Dustin throws himself down beside you, grabbing the blanket in a yank.

“Pretty sure I’ve figured out the physics of the beer bong,” he says as he flips your legs on his lap.

Before long your eyelids have taken the shape of sandbags and you’re fast asleep. Left on the couch after Dustin’s lengthy explanation of the correct number of breaths taken before the beer bong rendered you to a peaceful dream state.

When you wake by being lightly shaken by a sober-looking Eddie, his warm dark eyes swim with anger and look too wet, and his smile doesn’t match his eyes, “let’s go, kid,” he looks around wildly, on edge, “you’re drunker than a skunk— it’s time to go.”

You’re incoherent as you try to stand, a dizzy spell capturing you in a wave and you feel like you're underwater. Looking around you don’t recognize anyone but Eddie. Rick’s is packed with faces you don’t know.

Not wanting to be there for another second, Eddie grabs your wrist, squats low in front of you and throws your arms around his neck. He wraps the smooth crook of his elbows into the back of your knees, wearing you like a drunk backpack.

A piggy back ride that left your face in the curly, tangled tufts of his drying hair, the tang of weed and lake water stinging your nose as you bury your chin into his shoulder.

A cool blanket is on you when you open your eyes and become a little more alert. You’re in the passenger seat of Eddie’s van, a cigarette hangs limply from his lips as he’s muttering something to himself. It’s dark, and no music is playing. An odd thing for him.

A quick glance around and you see that no one else is with you. A street lamp shines through the windows and you can see Eddie’s knuckles are painted with a deepened glossy red substance.

“Eddie?”

He doesn’t hear you immediately so you repeat his name. His head turns sharp towards you and the blazed look of rage emits from his face. If it were a look from anyone else you’d be terrified. He quickly softens his eyes.

“Everyone’s at Steve’s,” he says quickly, “the kids, Nancy, Jonathan.. we’re heading there—that cool?”

Confused but unable to concentrate a single thought on why the fuck Eddie would be taking you to Steve mop head Harrington’s house, you nod in agreeance. Fighting sleep but losing.

“.. okay okay okay! Explain to me again what the hell happened, I was helping Lucas get Max in my car when it went down.”

“Ouch! Jesus Chr—“

“Sorry!”

“.. they were eyeing her man, all of them! — it was— fuck!”

*glass breaks against a wall*

“Who Chrissy?”

“No, Tooty!”

“Oh my God.. Munson. Who were they?!”

“I don’t know man, I’ve— I’ve never seen them before… fuck this I’m going back there— gonna snap their fucking necks!”

“Stop, this needs to get cleaned or it’ll get infected!”

“Henderson, weren't you sitting by her? Where the hell were you?!.”

“I was Steve! fuck— I just had take a piss, I was gone for like 2 minutes and then I heard the yelling…”

“Christ! Did they touch her?!”

“No,” a tearful voice warbles, “Eddie knocked out that big fucker and the rest of them backed off.”

“I fucking swear to God— Harrington, I will slit their throats if I see them again!”

“I know dude I know, me too.”

“She’s asleep. Max and El are staying with her in the guest room upstairs, I think we should all get some sleep it’s fucking 3 in the morning.”

“Nope, all due respect Wheeler— I can’t.”

“Ed—”

“Fuck! I won’t go back there, alright? But I can’t just lay down and go to bed— not after this..”

The weary eyed stubborn watchdog waits til dawn, aching back from the wall he’s propped up against and bruised knuckles sting with tightness. Flipping the steel end of an old pocket knife open and closed.

Steve stayed up with him for a while, a bat with nails protruding from every which way in a death grip in his fist.

Eddie didn’t think he actually was all that bad, underneath all that hairspray he could tell he’s a genuine person— lost on the surface of money, name brand clothes and expensive cologne.

The two of them made a pact that night that the kids would be protected at all costs, two guardians in the halls for them in high school in the fall. The jock dickheads who crashed Rick’s party amongst them, but the threat behind Eddie’s fist evident in the broken jaw of the football captain behemoth. No longer able to to take the Tigers to a state championship or try to have his way with a younger drunk girl at a party.

Both Eddie and Steve decide that in the morning if you didn’t remember what happened— it would die there, a protective secret amongst new friends.

🧡

see you in volume xi

[lixzey]

SERENDIPITY, l. castellan

a/n: so sorry for the wait, but anyway, here it is! we are now at the official start of luke and maya's relationship! 💘

as you guys could see, this has also been rewritten. i've added a few more things here and there, so heads up for those!

to everyone that helped me with this chapter, thank you! wouldn't have done this without you guys! @lilmaymayy @jennapancake @mxtokko

If you guys wanna be added to the SERENDIPITY taglist, just ask!

luke and maya masterlist

Anyway, onto the story!

word count: 9,471

CHAPTER TWO: NEWBIE

June 15, 2016, 4:00 am

In the depths of the night, Luke Castellan lay beside his little sister, staring outside into the darkened velvet sky. Hours had passed since he and Annabeth stepped inside the camp’s borders, but the memory of what had just happened was still fresh, flashing in his mind again and again, haunting him. 

June 14th, 8:30 pm

“Luke, I’m tired,” Annabeth whined, tugging on the hem of his shirt. They had been walking for hours, unable to find a place to stay for the night without monsters finding them.

Luke sighed. Despite being tired as well, he knew stopping wouldn’t do them any good. “We’ll stop soon, I promise,” he managed to say, giving the girl a small smile. “Just hold on, okay?”

“But I’m so tired,” Annabeth whined once more. “My feet hurt from all the walking!”

Thalia stopped in her tracks, hearing the younger girl. “I’m sorry, Annie, but we have to get going or those bad monsters will catch up on us.”

Annabeth looked up at the older girl, electric blue, meeting hers. “But, I’m so tired….”

“I know, we all are, kid. But stopping won’t do us any good, the monsters we faced just hours ago? They’ll find us, and we’ll be too weak to fight. Grover said we’re almost there, so we need to get going,” Thalia explained, hoping to convince the little girl to tread just a little further.

“Thalia’s right, Annabeth,” Luke said, backing up the raven-haired girl. “Come on, you can ride on my shoulders, so you can rest for a bit.”

Annabeth stared at the ground, and eventually, after a few seconds, she nodded. “Okay.”

Thalia patted her on the shoulder before ruffling in the back pack she had in her arms. “Here you go,” she said, passing Annabeth the last granola bar. “Eat up; you’ll need it, kid.”

Luke smiled at the sight of Annabeth taking the granola bar from Thalia, relieved that she wouldn’t be whining again anytime soon and they could resume their journey.

“Come on,” Luke chuckled, taking a look up at the dark sky. “I think it's gonna rain soon, we better get a move on. We don't want the flying witches to catch up on us with their ugly dogs.” Despite being so drained and worn out, he picked up Annabeth and placed her up on his shoulders, continuing their journey towards Camp Half Blood.

If Luke had anything he was thankful for, it was the fact that he found family regardless of the circumstances.

“No, no, no!” Annabeth screamed, snapping Luke out of his trance. “Monsters!”

Luke whips his head around almost immediately, reaching for the little girl and wrapping his arm around her, pulling the screaming child close to his chest. “Shh, Annie, it’s okay,” Luke whispered, hoping to soothe the younger girl. “I’m,” he said, taking a deep breath. “...here.”

Annabeth buried her face in her older brother’s chest, sobbing. “Thalia…” she murmured, tears absorbing into Luke’s tattered shirt.

“It’s okay, shh,” Luke whispered, rubbing circles on her back in an attempt to calm her down. “There aren’t any monsters anymore; we’re safe, you’re safe….”

Luke choked back his tears as he comforted his sister back to sleep. He was hurting too; he had lost Thalia too.

June 14th, 11:55 pm

“Don’t, don’t be stupid, Thalia!”

“No time! Run!” Thalia screamed, hoping to buy Luke and Annabeth some time to get to camp unharmed. “Don’t stop until you’re inside the border!”

“But-”

“Luke, think of Annabeth! Go!”

Luke placed Annabeth on his hip, turning to run despite his sprained ankle from running from some cyclopes brothers and his desperation to stay with Thalia to help fight off the monsters attacking them.

“Run!” Thalia screamed once more, her voice cracking as she pushed Luke forward. “Run!”

Luke stumbled forward, wincing from the pain of Annabeth's form weighing down on his broken ankle as monsters roared, ringing in his ears. Luke tried his best to run, not daring to look back as he already knew what was going to happen.

Annabeth cried, clinging to Luke tighter. “No more, no more!”

“I-It’s okay..it’s okay, don’t worry, we’ll be safe soon,” Luke whispered, fighting back his tears as he limped badly towards the camp's borders with Grover running closely behind.

As soon as Luke crossed through the barriers with Annabeth, he finally dared himself to look back. Thalia was fighting off as much as she could, when one of the cyclopes grabbed her by her jacket and threw her hard against the ground with a loud thud.

“No!” Luke screamed, ready to run to Thalia's aid, but Grover stopped him.

Luke felt helpless as he stared at Thalia laying on the ground, gasping for air, slowly dying. Before Luke could react, there was a loud boom of thunder, scattering the monsters away from her limp body.

And right before Luke’s eyes, Thalia’s form slowly turned into a large pine tree, the barrier enveloping it as the rain continuously poured down from the darkened sky, thunder and lightning rumbling in the distance.

“No...no...no....Thalia!” Luke tried to scream, but nothing came out. He just stood there, helpless as he held Annabeth tighter as she sobbed on his shoulder.

“We have to get to the Infirmary,” Grover quietly interrupted, tears in his eyes as he placed a hand on Luke's arm. “Your ankle, Annabeth too.”

“Thalia...she...she's...she's gone.” Luke bitterly choked back his tears, glaring into the darkness where the monsters stood just a minute ago.

“There's nothing we can do anymore,” Grover sniffled, feeling guilty for Thalia's demise, failing as a protector. Grover let out a shaky sigh, before reaching to tap Annabeth on her shoulder. “It's okay now, Annabeth, you're safe.”

Luke took a deep breath, rubbing circles on Annabeth's back as she continued to sob on his shoulder, her eyes glued shut despite Grover's assurances. “We're okay, Annie, we're okay.” he tried to sound strong for his little sister, despite the pain, sadness, and anger he was feeling from the loss of Thalia. “Let's get you settled in, okay? Grover, lead the way man.”

Luke took one last look at Thalia's pine tree, before following Grover to the Big House.

“I'm so sorry, Thalia,” Luke thought, anger coursing through his veins. This wasn't supposed to happen. Thalia, she deserved to live more than anyone else. She was his best friend, his sister, Thalia was family along with Annabeth.

“We....” Luke choked out a sob, kissing Annabeth's forehead. “We'll be okay. No one's gonna hurt us ever again.”

“We’ll be alright,” Luke breathed out shakily to Annabeth’s now-sleeping form, tears pricking the corners of his eyes. “I won’t let anyone or anything hurt you ever again.”

Maya Williams has lived a relatively normal life as a demigod.

She was eight when she arrived at Camp Half Blood. Maya had run away when she was six years old, a scared little girl who didn’t have a clue why her mother abandoned her as a baby or why her father hated her so badly. She had been on her own for almost two years, fighting her hardest to survive in a world not fit for a child, let alone a child of the goddess of love and beauty.

Unlike other demigods, Maya was technically safe from monsters. Her scent was significantly sweeter than that of the average child of the gods, making her—or any other child of Aphrodite, really—safe from monsters. Still, Maya wasn’t safe from the monsters of the mortal world.

Children of Aphrodite radiate beauty, some more than others. Some would think it’s a blessing, but for the children of the goddess of beauty—at least for Maya—it’s a curse more than it is a blessing. While on the run, Maya had not-so-good encounters with older men—or, as she called them, monsters.

Maya tried to avoid men as much as she could, mostly hiding behind large garbage cans or running as fast as her little legs could carry her. One time, she resorted to biting and kicking, which ended up leaving her with a large scar down her arm because the man clawed at her in an effort to pry her teeth off of his arm.

And then Ferdinand came into the picture. 

At first, Maya was skeptical.

Ferdinand had the legs and horns of a goat, and that isn’t something she’s seen in her life before. And then he told her there was a safe haven for children like her. A place where she’d never get hurt again. She’d have someone—her half siblings—to guide her in the world she had no clue how to live in. 

It was a splash of color in Maya’s young life, solace in a world full of terrors. She finally had a place where she belonged.

Now, Maya is four months away from turning fourteen years old. The eldest out of ten kids that reside in cabin ten, which she was made head of when the former head went off to college when she was twelve years old.

Throughout the years, Maya has learned to be the perfect child of Aphrodite. The scared little girl who arrived at camp six years ago was long gone and replaced by a beautiful, smart, strong, and independent young woman who is the epitome of perfection by camp half blood’s standards.

At nine years old, Maya understood that beauty was a weapon—for the children of Aphrodite, at least. Children of the goddess of love are most known in camp for breaking hearts, as a rite of passage for a child of the goddess to prove themselves to their mother, like how her sisters and brothers had done before Maya had even arrived in the camp built for the children of the gods.

“Yeah, sorry, this isn’t working out,” Maya sighed dramatically, placing her French-tipped manicured hand delicately against her latest conquests' cheek.

The son of Apollo smiled, the look in his eyes saying otherwise. He’d been in a relationship with Maya for less than a week, and she’s already breaking up with him. He should have expected it. After all, Maya had a reputation for the last two years—breaking hearts like it’s nobody’s business. It didn’t help that she had charm speak, easily luring boys into her game.

“Can…can we still be friends, Maya?” He looked up, meeting her kaleidoscope eyes. 

“Hun, I think it’s better if we don’t.” Maya looked at him with a faux apologetic look in her eyes. “It’s for the better.”

The boy sighed, giving Maya one last smile before turning away—another heart broken by the vixen of cabin ten. 

“Maya, that’s the sixth one this month.” Nine, almost ten-year-old Silena sighed, watching another Apollo kid walk away, devastated after trying his luck with her sister and failing. “Poor guy.”

“Not my fault he wanted me,” Maya rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest as she started to walk in the direction of the Big House. “I really don’t know why it’s such a big deal.”

“He’s what? Guy number fifty? Sixty? I lost count,” Silena muttered, counting on her fingers.

There were the sons of Ares—who claimed that Maya should be theirs as her mother was their father’s partner—who would woo her with their fighting skills. There were a few sons of Demeter who’d give her an assortment of flowers—from roses to sunflowers, to tulips. A lot of sons of Apollo—just like the one Maya recently dumped—tried wooing her with haikus, poems, and musical numbers—a trick their father Apollo did to win over people he liked, which never worked on her because, in her opinion, they were annoying. A few of Hephaestus’ sons would give her contraptions, like that magical hair dryer that could dry her hair in five seconds or that vanity table she had in the Aphrodite cabin, which had a lot of drawers and lights easily changed by a click of a button. And finally, some of Athena’s sons—which was funny considering they were supposed to be the logical ones yet they fell for Maya’s charm. It was honestly quite terrifying how her sister could smile and boys would just fall at her feet, like idiots, despite knowing what their fate would be. 

“Sixty-five, Silena, keep up.” Maya chuckled, turning to face her sister and reaching to flick her long hair back.

“You are hopeless,” Silena said, shaking her head. “You’ve proved yourself to Mom two years ago, and you’re still at the game.” 

“You have to understand that it isn’t my fault, little sister,” Maya said, eyeing a son of Ares who was sparring with his siblings. “It’s mom’s blessing’s fault.” 

Silena rolled her eyes at her older sister. “You keep on blaming Mom’s blessing.”

“You’re too young to understand, darlin’,” Maya cooed, patting Silena on the cheek. “I’m going to go and ask Chiron about that fashion show,” she said, turning her heel and colliding with someone else—a boy. 

“What the-!” Maya almost shrieked, trying to regain her balance. Maya looked up, emerald green meeting chocolate brown.

“Sorry.” The boy apologized, his hand on Maya’s arm.

“Let go of me!” Maya snarled, yanking her arm away. “Next time, watch where you’re going, dummy!” 

The boy scowled. “No need to be rude, princess.”

Maya scowled, looking him up and down. He had dark, curly hair and a mischievous look in his chocolate brown eyes that held pain and misery at the same time, paired with a cocky smile. Maya had to—begrudgingly—admit that the boy in front of her was handsome.

“Are you done staring?” The boy teased, a smirk etched on his lips. “I’m Luke, by the way; we’re new.”

“Do I look like I care?” Maya snapped, crossing her arms over her chest. 

“I’m Silena!” Silena piped up from behind Maya, a wide smile on her pink lips. The boy—Luke—smiled at Silena, and Maya was sure she’d be hearing about him for the rest of the day. She gave her sister a warning look, as she didn’t need her babbling about this person.

“Luke?” A little voice asked. Maya’s eyes darted down to a little girl with striking gray eyes—a clear sign that she was an Athena kid (Maya dated a few Athena kids, so she’d know). She couldn’t be older than seven or eight—around the same age as Maya when she first arrived.

Luke smiled at the little girl, patting her on the shoulder. “Go on, Annie, introduce yourself to our new friends.”

“I’m Annabeth, daughter of Athena,” she mumbled, shuffling her feet, not daring to make eye contact with the older girls in front of her.

Maya had a soft spot for little kids, especially those who were the same age as her when she arrived at camp. She had a feeling that little Annabeth had the same childhood as her; the same pain she had was evident in her eyes. 

Maya kneeled down to Annabeth’s height. “Hi Annabeth, I’m Maya. It’s an honor meeting you, little one,” she smiled, her whole attitude just minutes ago fading—much to Luke’s surprise.

“Hi,” Annabeth said, giving Maya a tight smile.

“Wow, one minute she was rude, and the next she’s a saint,” Luke muttered, earning a glare from Maya. Gods, he’s annoying.

Maya stood up, the smile still on her lips—although this time, it was fake. A talent she’s mastered for the past five years. “Welcome to camp! Like I said, I’m Maya, and I’m one of the camp counselors-” 

“You’re a counselor?” Luke asked, cutting her off, his lips curled into a teasing smirk. “You’re the same age as me, aren’t you, princess?”

Maya glared at him, like it was the most natural thing that she was born to do. Who does he think he is? To talk to me like that. “As I was saying, I’m one of the camp counselors, being the head of cabin ten—the Aphrodite cabin. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to come to me.” 

Luke flashed her a boyish grin. “Oh, I won’t.”

This guy was really pushing Maya’s buttons. Normally, someone would never speak to her unless they were from cabin ten, or she’d be the first one to initiate—which was flirting, most of the time. “All right,” Maya said through gritted teeth before turning to face her sister. “I’m going to go find Chiron. My sister here would be glad to tour you guys around camp. How does that sound?”

Annabeth’s eyes  lit up. “Ooh, can we, Luke? Can we?” She pleaded, tugging on Luke’s shirt, her big gray eyes pleading with him. 

Luke chuckled, patting Annabeth on the head lightly. “Alright, alright, we’ll take that tour.”

“That settles it!” Maya clapped her hands, pushing Silena forward slightly, eager to get away as soon as possible. “I’ll leave you to it, sis.”

Silena rolled her eyes at her sister. At nine years old, she already has an attitude—much like Maya’s, although tamer than hers. “Alright. But you better get Chiron on the idea, Maya! Everyone’s counting on you!”

Maya grinned, tucking a strand of her auburn hair behind her ear. “I know, I know, I’m on it.”

“On what?” Luke asked, genuinely curious about what the Aphrodite kids were planning.

“None of your business, newbie,” Maya said, a little harsher than she intended in the presence of a kid. Maya sighed. He’s getting on my nerves. “It’s for our cabin, a little event for us.”

“Can we join?” Little Annabeth asked, big gray eyes looking up at Maya. Gods. Who was Maya to deny a little girl who’s reminding her of her when she was a little girl—alone and scared, just wanting to be loved and to belong.

“Tell you what, kid,” Maya chuckled. “I’ll try to get the idea approved. And when Chiron does, you’ll be the first one to know. How does that sound?”

Annabeth smiled up at Maya. “Thank you,”

Maya clapped her hands. “Alright, I’ll leave you guys with the tour.” She cast a look at Luke, rolling her eyes at him, before turning to leave—eager to finally get away from him.

“Damn, what's got her panties in a twist?” Luke asked, his eyes glued onto the redheaded girl as she made her way towards the Big House.

Silena let out a sigh, shaking her head at the thought of explaining her sister. “She’s, well, you know…”

Luke looked at her, brow raised as h waited for an answer. “She's what?”

“She’s a good person, alright?” Silena said, starting to walk opposite of the direction her sister went.

“Doesn’t seem like it. She’s a bi- I mean, she's snappy,” Luke said, almost calling the girl he just met a bitch, the scene of her snapping at him replaying in his head as he and Annabeth followed Silena. “Is she always like that?” Normally, he wasn't an ass when it came to girls, but this girl was something. Though, to be fair, Luke's experiences with the opposite gender were only limited to Thalia and Annabeth, so he was a bit biased with his thoughts.

“Actually, she’s the opposite,” Silena stopped in her tracks, turning to face Luke with a determined look on her face. “She’s the best sister anyone could ever ask for. She always makes sure we have everything we need. But yeah, Maya has an attitude, sometimes. Anyway, this is the dining area.” She pointed to a pavilion framed by large Greek columns overlooking the sea.

Luke scanned the pavilion in awe. He’d never seen a place so sophisticated, just as a place to eat. His eyes then darted down to Annabeth, whose eyes were as big as saucers as she looked around. Silena led the two inside, pausing abruptly in the middle.

“There are twelve tables corresponding to each cabin, meaning each cabin is supposed to sit at their designated tables. Aphrodite kids at the Aphrodite table, Apollo kids at the Apollo table, Athena kids at the Athena table, and so on.” Silena gave Annabeth an apologetic smile, who was gripping Luke’s arm, not wanting to be separated.

Luke kneeled down to Annabeth’s level, his hands holding hers. “Don’t worry, Annie, you’ll be alright with your brothers and sisters there. They’ll take care of you. And besides, I think they love architecture, like you! It won’t be so bad, I promise.”

“But you’re my brother,” Annabeth mumbled, refusing to at least take a glance at her own designated cabin's table. Luke sighed, his heart aching for his adoptive little sister. They were family, but Annabeth had siblings of her own that she had to at least try to get along with.

“I know, Annie, but you can have lots of brothers and sisters too, you know? Just like me and Thalia,” Luke explained gently. “And it’s not like I’m going to forget you while you’re with them. You’re my little sister, and I’ll always be your big brother, no matter what.”

Annabeth’s lower lip trembled, still wary of being with others and the possibility of Luke leaving her. “You promise?”

Luke chuckled, ruffling her mess of wild curls. “When have I ever broken a promise? It’s me and you against the world, kid. You aren't getting rid of me anytime soon.”

Annabeth seemed to relax a bit at Luke's words, her eyes darting towards cabin six's table, where twelve other kids were chatting with one another.

Silena smiled at Annabeth, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You want me to walk you to your table?”

Annabeth shook her head, making Luke laugh at her stubbornness. “I got it, thank you.”

Luke watched as Annabeth trudged forward to the Athena table, where her siblings were waiting for her with big smiles. Annabeth, so far was the youngest. Judging from the smiles the older Athena kids gave her, Luke knew she was in good hands.

“Don’t worry ‘bout her. She’s going to be okay. You see that girl with blonde hair?” Silena pointed to the girl at the Athena table, welcoming Annabeth. “Her name's Olive, she's the head of the Athena cabin. She’s going to take care of little Annabeth.”

Luke smiled, his eyes still glued to Annabeth, who was already smiling and talking to her older siblings. “She’s gonna be alright, I know she will. She’s a fighter, you know?”

“I bet she is. Anyway, so who’s your godly parent?”

Luke turned to face her, his face turning sour for a split second at the question. “Hermes.”

“There,” Silena pointed to a table with kids with the same mischievous look as him. “Just ‘cross ours,” She said, turning to table ten, across cabin eleven’s. There were very beautiful girls and very good-looking, handsome boys laughing together.

“Wow.” Luke muttered, staring at the members of cabin ten.

Silena waved at her siblings. “Hey guys!” 

The group of good-looking kids waved back, one of them beckoning Silena to come over. 

“Has Maya gotten it approved yet?” One of the girls asked as Silena walked forward, Luke following behind.

“Not yet,” Silena answered, sitting beside a blonde boy around her age. “She’s getting it approved right now, I think. She just went to the Big House.”

“I hope it gets approved. I’ve been dying to show off my new Chanel dress!” A brunette girl squealed. 

Silena laughed, absentmindedly forgetting Luke was standing behind her. “Oh, I almost forgot! Guys, this is Luke.”

Silena’s siblings turned to face Luke, and suddenly he felt his cheeks grow hot. Who wouldn’t when attractive girls were staring at you? Luke awkwardly waved at them. “Hi.” 

The girls smiled at him, batting their eyelashes at him. “Hi, Luke!” They squealed, earning the looks of everyone else in the pavilion.

“Easy, guys, he’s new.” Silena laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Don’t overwhelm him.” 

“I’m okay,” Luke smiled, causing the girls—minus Silena—to squeal. Luke was sure he had popped an eardrum at how loud a girl’s squeal could be. He was glad Thalia and Annabeth never did, or he would've gone deaf earlier in his life.

Luke turned to face the eleventh table, where he was supposed to be. Cabin eleven, the cabin of his father. Luke took a deep breath before making his way to the table. 

“Hi, I’m Luke.” The son of Hermes introduced himself to the oldest kid at the table, who looked around seventeen or eighteen. “Your brother, apparently.”

The older boy smiled, rising to his feet. “Welcome, newbie,” he greeted Luke, reaching out a hand for a handshake, which Luke took. “I’m Matt, head of eleven. Come on in, take a seat.”

Luke gave the older boy a nod, taking a seat beside a dark-haired boy around Silena’s age at the other end of the table.

“Hi, I’m Chris, Chris Rodriguez!” The younger boy introduced himself. “I just got here too!”

Matt chuckled, reaching for the goblet in front of him. “Chris, he got here two weeks ago.”

“I’m turning nine soon!” Chris raised up nine fingers, wiggling them in the air, making Luke laugh slightly. Chris was very different from Annabeth; he seemed like a normal kid, unlike Annabeth, who had been forced to grow up so early in her life, fighting for her life at almost seven years old.

Judging from how cheery Chris was, Luke thinks he had a good childhood, unlike him. Perhaps, he has a stable mother? Unlike what he had.

“Have you gotten a tour yet?” Matt asks, taking a sip from the goblet with orange fizzy liquid.

Luke shook his head. “Silena’s only brought me here, so far.”

“I’ll continue that tour for you,” Matt offered. “That is, if you’d like?”

Luke shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve got nothing to do anyway.”

“Oh, there’s a lot to do around here,” Matt smiles, his eyes shining with a familiar mischief. “But of course, we have to get you settled at eleven. It’s a little bit crowded, but it’s home.”

Luke raised a brow. “Crowded?”

Matt gave him an apologetic smile. “Undetermined kids stay at our cabin. That’s why it's often crowded. But don’t worry, I think we have an extra sleeping bag to spare.”

Before Luke could utter a reply, a loud squeal—which Luke was starting to hate—echoed throughout the pavilion. 

Luke whips his head around, only to see the girl who he was sure had called him stupid just earlier.

The girl—Luke thinks her name was Maya—ran forward to table ten, her hair dancing like fire in the wind. She had a huge grin plastered on her pretty face, her green eyes sparkling with excitement, making them shine like emeralds in the sun.

As soon as the girl was in earshot of her siblings, she started squealing again.

“Typical,” Matt says, rolling his eyes at the table next to them.

Luke keeps his attention on the fiery girl, absentmindedly smiling in her direction.

“Chiron approved the fashion show!” Maya happily announced, smiling from ear to ear. “He says we can start planning!”

Cheers erupted from the table, earning groans from some of the other campers. “I knew you could do it!” Silena beamed, mirroring her sister’s excitement. 

Maya sat down beside Silena, pushing strands of her out of her face. “I always get what I want,” she chuckled, reaching for a strawberry from the plate in front of her and popping it in her mouth.

“Don’t get fooled by that pretty face,” Matt warned. 

Luke turned his attention back to Matt, brow raised. “Why’s that?”

“That girl is heartless,” Matt simply answered.

Luke furrowed his eyebrows. “What do you mean? She looks sweet.” He said, quite the contrast to his initial thought of her.

“Sweet?” Matt snorts, rolling his eyes at table ten. “That girl is the devil.”

“Care to explain?” Luke asks, his gaze momentarily moving to the said devil.

“Aphrodite is known for breaking hearts,” Matt explained, glancing at the children of the goddess. “And it’s said that in order to prove themselves to their mother, they have to make someone fall in love with them and break that someone’s heart.”

“Break their heart?”

Matt nodded. “And that girl, Maya,” He jerked his head in her direction. “She has held the record for the most heartbreaks since she was twelve.”

“T-Twelve?” Luke choked on his own saliva. “Twelve years old?”

Everyone around the table nodded.

Luke turned to look at Maya again. She was talking to her sister when the son of Hermes noticed some boys looking at her like she was the only girl in the world.

Luke had to admit it; Maya was pretty—stunning, even. Beautiful like a rose forever in bloom, gorgeous like a summer sunset.

“I think I can handle her.”

Matt choked on his drink. “What?”

“Two can play the heartbreak game,” Luke smirked, turning to look at Maya, who coincidentally turned his way and rolled her eyes at him.

“Are you crazy?”

“Are you stupid?”

“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!?”

Luke turned his attention back to the table, a lopsided grin on his lips. “I can do this; don’t worry.”

Matt shook his head. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you, brother.”

“How hard can it be?” Luke mused, shrugging his shoulders. “I’ve got nothing to do anyway.”

Matt groaned, shaking his head. “It’s your funeral, man.”

"C'mon, let me prove myself,” Luke smirks at his older brother, adjusting his shirt and moving a bit too confidently to the girl with an attitude as ablaze as her hair.

“She’s gonna kill him, I know it,” Chris mutters, watching as Luke makes his way to the girl in question. “Never thought we would lose someone this early like this.”

“No, no, it's okay, Chris,” Matt replies, eyes narrowing and arms now crossed. “Guess he had to see it for himself. Maybe he’ll learn his lesson.”

As Luke reached the table, he directed his eyes to the girl with flaming hair, earning all of the members of cabin ten’s attention on him, a few girls smiling at his return, others snickering anticipating his next move.

“Hey,” Luke says coolly, only now earning a side glance from the head of their cabin, a quirk in her features suggesting he continue. Oh shit, Luke thought, mildly intimidated by the girl. “Uh, why don't you show me around?” He asked, softly smiling, trying his best to feign confidence.

Maya—now annoyed—sensing his intentions, raised a brow at him. “Didn’t Silena show you around?”

Silena shook her head beside her sister. “Only got to bring him and Annabeth here, sorry. ”

Maya sighed, tilting her head to the side. “I’ll be busy,” she said, then turned her attention to another one of her sisters—the ones who have been smiling from ear to ear at the sight of Luke. “Maybe Lou can show you around?”

“Oh, but princess,” Luke drawls, a cocky smile forming on his lips. “I want you to show me what this place is all about.” 

That shows her.

“Wrong move,” Matt mutters from table eleven, shaking his head, knowing what will happen next.

Maya stood up, smiling sweetly at Luke, which was never a good sign to anyone else. He was sure her eyes changed colors in a split second. “You want me to show you around?” She asked, her voice as sickeningly sweet as honey.

Luke nodded, looking a little arrogant as he leaned forward. “What do you say, princess? Are you up for the challenge?”

Maya’s expression turned changed, and before Luke could comprehend what was happening, the daughter of Aphrodite’s fist collided with his nose, causing him to stumble back as gasps filled the pavilion.

“Never ever call me princess again, yeah?” Maya smiled innocently at Luke, her green eyes shining mischief like dazzling emeralds. "Because, baby, I can hit so much harder than that. Got me?”

Luke groaned as he clutched his nose. Maya knew how to punch, he was sure that she had broken his nose at how hard her fist collided with his nose. But she didn’t seem bothered by the impact, as she didn’t even check her knuckles to see if they were bleeding like Luke’s nose was. The way she threatened him? It was enticing, as if her voice had power over him.

“Aren’t you just a little vixen?” Luke spluttered, blood still dripping from his nose.

Everyone around them started whispering. It was like Luke was in one of those movies he once watched as a child. He glanced at table eleven; Matt was groaning, Chris had his eyes closed shut, and the others were shaking their heads as they suppressed their laughter.

Luke faced Maya again, although he moved two steps back just in case. “Princess,” he lifted his head up, slowly looking up at her, still as arrogant as ever.

“You’ve got three seconds to run before I-” Before Luke could finish hearing Maya speak, someone pulled him from behind, dragging him away.

“Are you insane?” Matt hissed, pushing Luke to sit down. “We told you not to mess with her! Look what it got you!”

“What? I made progress,” Luke grinned, wiping off the blood oozing out of his currently broken nose and making a mental note to go back to the infirmary for maybe some ambrosia or nectar.

“Progress?” Matt says incredulously, shaking his head in disbelief at the new member of his cabin, who was just as annoying as their father. “You call that bloody nose fucking progress!?”

“I mean, I think she likes me,”

Chris snorts from beside Matt. “I think she knocked his head hard,”

Everyone around table eleven started laughing at poor Luke’s misery, making him scowl. “What’s so funny?” He grumbles, wiping his nose once more.

“You,” one of the younger kids chuckled. “Maya rocked your world.”

Fits of laughter broke out, as if they had just played off the greatest prank of all time. Luke sighed, taking another glance at table ten.

Maya was smiling and talking to her siblings as if she hadn’t punched him just a minute ago. The audacity of this girl, Luke thought. Being pretty and all that, who does she think she is?

Matt, as if sensing his thoughts, gave Luke a pat on the shoulder. “Come on, brother, let’s get that nose of yours fixed.”

Luke gave him a small nod before rising to his feet, feeling a little light-headed but managing to walk nonetheless. The son of Hermes took one final glance at table ten before Matt pulled him out, Chris following closely behind.

As soon as the trio were out of earshot of the pavilion, Matt stopped in his tracks, causing Luke to almost trip on a rock. “Hey! What was that for?”

“First thing’s first,” Matt started, taking a look around to see if there was anyone else nearby. “Amaya Williams is never a good idea.”

“Yeah, you told me the first time.” Luke rolled his eyes, mildly getting annoyed at his older brother. “Anything else?” He asked with a sarcastic tone.

“As I was saying,” Matt continued, grabbing Luke by the shoulders. “She is the devil reincarnate. I swear to the gods, Luke, that girl is more terrifying than Zeus.”

“You’re terrified of a girl four years younger than you?” Luke snorts, raising a brow teasingly.

Matt glared at him, letting go of his shoulders. “Yes, I am. As a matter of fact, I’ve been one of her victims.”

“Wait, isn’t that illegal?”

“Yeah, well, nothing’s stopping that girl when she’s set her eye on something,” Matt sighs. “She was thirteen; I was seventeen. I know, I know, it sounds wrong, but she managed to break my heart in a week. I don't know how, she just did.”

“A week?” Luke chuckles, impressed by how quickly Matt got his heart broken. “Wow, that might just be a world record.”

Matt smirked, turning to walk forward. “Her record is three days.”

“Three days!?”

“Come on, lover boy, keep up,” Matt called over his shoulder, laughing slightly. “We gotta get that nose fixed!”

“Yeah, keep up, Luke!” Chris grinned, walking backwards along Matt.

Luke watches his brother’s figure slowly fade from view as he stands there, dumbfounded.

Three days. Maya Williams’ record is three goddamn days.

This is going to be harder than I thought. Luke wasn’t one to be like her, breaking hearts and all that. He was rethinking his decision; he wasn’t sure if he could handle the girl—she was a hurricane of sugar and spice, and it was enough to lure Luke into her blazing winds like an idiot. Who on earth would get into a hurricane for fun?

Sure, Matt and the others have warned him about her, but when has Luke ever listened? He’s lost count of the number of times Thalia has called him a stubborn little shit.

Luke thought back to Maya, her pretty emerald eyes, and how they sparkled with the same mischief he’s seen in his own eyes. He was sure her irises changed into blue, brown, green, and even pink, like a beautiful kaleidoscope of colors. If Luke had stared at her eyes longer, he was sure that he’d be a.) hypnotized, or b.) attacked for staring at her for a long period of time.

“Luke, are you coming?” Chris’ voice snaps him out of his thoughts, remembering his broken nose.

Instinctively, his fingers touch his nose. It was crooked from Maya’s punch; the blood that spilled a few minutes ago was already dry from the summer afternoon breeze. “Yeah, coming!” Luke calls back, running towards his younger brother. “Where’s Matt?” 

“Matt went to the cabin, he says he’s gonna go fix a place for you so it’s ready after your nose gets fixed,” Chris explains, wiping sweat off his forehead. “Let’s go, I think Sofia’s still at the Infirmary.”

“Who?”

“Sofia, camp’s head healer. Don’t worry, she’s good! She’s healed me too, twice, I think?” Chris raised his arm up, revealing a long, just starting to heal scar. “I got this yesterday when we were training with swords with Patrick Leon.”

“You good with a sword now, Chris?” Luke asks, smiling at him as the Big House comes into view.

“I think,” Chris says, unsure. “I’m still getting the hang of it.”

“I can help you, if you’d like?”

Chris’ eyes light up at the offer. “Really?”

Luke nods, remembering the times he fought monsters with the sword he and Thalia came upon months ago. “I’ve gotten good with a sword, I guess. I mean, I'm not that good, but I think I can teach you the basics, and such.”

“Teach me, teach me, teach me!” Chris begs, causing Luke to chuckle.

“Of course,” Luke agrees, still chuckling. “Tomorrow, then?”

Chris smiles at his older brother, wrapping his arms around Luke, causing him to stumble back. “Thank you!”

Luke smiles back, patting the boy awkwardly on the back. He’s never had anyone else hug him like this other than Annabeth. For a moment, Luke thought about his little sister. Would she be jealous that he has another sibling? It was nice to have someone rely on him as an older figure. He felt that for the first time, when he and Thalia first found Annabeth, Luke felt responsible for the first time in his life—he had a family, one he didn’t have growing up.

“You’re welcome, kid,” Luke chuckles as Chris pulls away. “Now come on, let’s get my nose fixed.”

The two stepped inside the Big House, Chris leading Luke to the infirmary.

As soon as the duo entered, Luke was engulfed with the smell of freshly baked cookies. It must be the stock of ambrosia. There were cabinets—a lot of them—lining the walls; they were filled with jars of nectar and cubes of ambrosia wrapped individually and sitting in baskets. There were also tables with medical equipment—like bandages, gauze, antiseptics, and more. Luke wondered why he and Annabeth hadn’t noticed the contents of the room earlier; maybe they were just too tired to even notice.

“I see you have a broken nose.” A voice spoke, startling Luke. The girl looked around Matt’s age; she had short blonde hair with pink ends and was wearing scrubs. She reminded Luke of the nurse in the show Thalia showed him once. “Hi, I’m Sofia.” she smiled, reaching out a hand for him to shake. 

“Luke,” Luke smiles back, taking her hand. Sofia seemed kind; that was good. Luke had a fear of nurses before. When he was in kindergarten, he needed a flu shot, and the nurse who gave him the vaccine was not very nice.

“Let me guess, a certain daughter of Aphrodite?” Sofia asked, pulling her hand away with a knowing smile.

“How’d you know?”

“Well, with the number of kids I had to fix up in the past two years, I’d say I know who the culprit is. A pretty little devil, she is.”

Chris sat down on one of the beds, his feet swaying back and forth. “Maya punched him super hard, and today's his first day,”

“And on your first day?” Sofia chuckles, making her way towards one of the cabinets, grabbing a basket full of ambrosia and a few jars of nectar. She placed them on one of the tables; maybe it was a refill of stocks, but Luke wasn’t sure. “You’ve got guts, huh?”

“You could say that,” Luke laughed sheepishly. “I just tried to be friends with her.”

“Yeah, right,” Sofia laughs, not believing Luke in the slightest. “Sit beside Chris, I’ll clean that blood off,” she says, jerking her head in Chris’ direction.

Luke nods, making his way to sit beside his brother as he watches Sofia get some cotton balls and alcohol from the tables around the room.

“Here, eat this,” Sofia gave him half a square of ambrosia. It smelled like the cookies his mother used to bake—the good ones that weren’t burned to a crisp. Luke muttered a quick thank you before taking a bite.

Sofia poured alcohol onto the cotton ball. "Okay, so what did you do to earn a broken nose?”

“He tried flirting with Maya,” Chris answers with a grin. “We tried to warn him, but he wouldn’t listen.”

“You should’ve listened,” Sofia hummed, cleaning the blood off Luke's skin. “That girl? She’s a feisty one.”

“Yeah, a real spitfire.” Luke snorts, shaking his head slightly. His thoughts went back to the girl in question, her voice as sweet as honey replaying in his head. Luke wondered if every child of Aphrodite was like her, with a voice so enticing.

“There,” Sofia says, putting the used cotton ball to the side. “All clean! Just finish up the ambrosia, and you’ll be good, unless you plan to get acquainted with Maya’s fist again.”

Probably will. “I won’t, thanks.” Luke hopped off the table, Chris following suit.

“Thanks, Sofia!” Chris waves before getting out the door with Luke.

“Don’t get into trouble!” Luke hears Sofia call out, making him chuckle. Trouble, what a strange concept for a runaway son of Hermes.

“Come on, let’s go to our cabin. I bet Matt’s already got you somewhere to sleep.”

“Why is everything so far apart?” Luke mutters as the two walk out of the Big House.

“Dunno,” Chris shrugs. “I think everyone’s just gotten used to it.”

“You’re used to it?”

Chris shakes his head. “No, but I try to. I mean, I’m not gonna get anywhere if I don’t walk.”

“Fair point,”

The two continued to walk, passing by the volleyball pit with high school age kids playing a heated match and then the canoe lake, where a few kids were chatting and others were paddling on boats. 

Finally, they arrived at the cabins. There were twelve of them, nestled in the woods by the lake. They were arranged in a U-shape, with two at the base and five in a row on either side. Each had a large brass number above the door (odds on the left side, evens on the right), and they looked absolutely nothing like Luke expected. 

Number nine had smokestacks, like a tiny factory. Number four had tomato vines on the walls and a roof made out of real grass. Seven seemed to be made of solid gold, which gleamed so much in the sunlight that it was almost impossible to look at. They all faced a common area about the size of a soccer field, dotted with Greek statues, fountains, flower beds, and a couple of basketball hoops. In the center of the field was a huge stone-lined fire pit. 

Out of all the cabins, eleven looked the most like a regular old camp cabin, with an emphasis on old. The threshold was worn down, and the brown paint was peeling. Over the doorway was a caduceus. Inside, it was packed with people, both boys and girls—way more than the number of bunk beds. Sleeping bags were spread all over the floor. Luke thought Hermes was the god of money, and he can’t even afford a bigger cabin?

“Luke, over here!” Luke heard Matt’s voice calling him over. He made his way towards Matt while Chris sped off to some of the other campers who were all hunched over something Luke thought to be interesting to a nine-year-old boy.

“I got you a sleeping bag.” Matt jerked his head towards the sleeping bag on the floor. “And some toiletries from the camp store. Grover brought over your things too.”

“Thanks, Matt,”

“No problem.” Matt smiles, giving him a pat on the arm. 

Luke took a look around the worn-out cabin. All the campers were younger than him, even the ones during lunch were significantly younger too. He wonders how on earth Matt managed to look after a cabin full of kids. Since with Thalia and Annabeth, Luke was on the verge of pulling his own hair out.

“Hey, Luke?”

“Yeah?” Luke hums, his attention going back to Matt.

“I’m going off to college by the end of August,”

“Oh,” Luke murmured, wondering why he’s telling him that he’s going to college in two months. “Good for you.”

“You’re the oldest, after me,” Matt explains. “I think you’d be a great head counselor for eleven.”

“Me?” Luke asks, confused as to why Matt thinks he’d be a great counselor.

“Yeah, you’re the best candidate, since you’re fourteen and quite responsible.”

Luke sighs, shaking his head. “I’m honored, Matt, really, but I don’t think I can handle it.”

“Of course, you can! You’ve taken care of a kid before, right? Annabeth? It’ll be fine, trust me. And besides, you’ll get my bunk!”

Luke raises a brow at him. “That’s comforting, how?”

“Come on, it’s a good deal. I mean, you get a comfy bed.” Matt pushed, hoping Luke would agree.

“Again, how?”

“You’d have a few benefits, like staying out late, chaperoning trips to Olympus, and giving out orders and punishments.”

Luke thought about it. Staying out late did sound nice, especially when he wanted to get some time alone. Chaperoning seems a little overwhelming, but giving out orders and punishments is rather tempting. “Alright, I agree.”

Matt clapped his hands together. “Great! I’ll tell Chiron by the end of next month. But you’ve got to keep it a secret, alright? We don’t need people getting mad about the decision.”

“My lips are sealed,” Luke chuckles, running a finger over his lips, as if he were zipping them.

“Now, come on, let’s get you toured!”

6:00 pm

Luke stumbles into the dining pavilion with Matt and Chris, laughing heartily. The boys, sweaty and hungry, made their way to their table for dinner—barbeque brisket and mac and cheese, which made Luke’s stomach grumble at the smell alone.

“I’m starving!” Chris says, plopping onto one of the seats of eleven. “I think I can eat a whole bowl of food!”

Luke sat beside him, grinning from ear to ear. “Me too; I think I could eat a whole pegasus,” he laughs, reaching for a grape from the bowl in the middle of their table as he takes a look around the pavilion in search of Annabeth.

He spots Annabeth, smiling happily at one of her sisters, as she explains something—about architecture, Luke assumed, since Annabeth babbles about it most of the time—to her. Luke waves at his little sister, who beams at him and waves back before turning back to face her sister.

Luke's gaze then fell on the table right across his, flaming red hair settling into his view. Maya had her hair done in some sort of braid, Luke didn’t know what it was called, but it was pretty. It made her look like a Greek princess—duh—as she talked to one of her brothers, a strawberry blush on her cheeks and lips matching her locks.

“You’re staring at her,” Matt whispers in his ear with a chuckle. “Careful, you don’t want another broken nose.”

“I wasn’t staring,” Luke scowls at his brother, rolling his eyes. “I was thinking of how to make her fall in love with me.” 

“Tough luck, kid!” Matt laughs, shaking his head. “She’s a hard one; as I’ve told you, she’s the–”

“I know, she’s the devil reincarnate, you’ve been telling me the whole day.”

Matt sighs, taking a sip of his drink. “So, stop trying your luck, it’s not worth any of the trouble.”

“Yeah, but you’ve got to admit that it’s fun.” Luke chuckles, reaching for the goblet in front of him. “What do I do again with this?”

“Ask it for whatever you want to drink, non-alcoholic, of course,” Matt answers before chugging his own drink. “Like so, raspberry lemonade.”

Luke watches as the cup fills on its own with pink liquid. “Woah,” he mumbles, before turning to his own. “Cherry coke.” The goblet in his hands filled as quickly as Matt’s did, fizzy dark liquid right in front of his eyes. “So cool!”

Luke wonders what Annabeth asked for in the goblet. His little sister never liked fizzy drinks; she says it makes her tummy feel funny. Maybe she went for a lemonade, like Matt, or an orange or pineapple juice because of its benefits, as she’s told him and Thalia so many times to even count. Thalia would prefer a crisp root beer. No more questions with that; Luke’s learned that the hard way.

Luke’s eyes landed again on Maya, making him wonder what her favorite drink is too. Maybe strawberry soda? Or maybe she doesn’t like soda? Maybe she prefers juice, like Annabeth does. Whatever she preferred, Luke was sure it was delicious, like his cherry coke.

“You coming to the bonfire later or are you heading straight to bed?” Chris asks through bites of food, sounding a little unintelligible, but Luke manages to understand.

“What do you guys even do at bonfires?”

“Well, for starters, we sing,” Matt chuckles. “But usually, the Aphrodite kids request songs that are, in my opinion, better than what we got used to singing. Down by the Aegean? Hell no, Uptown Girl is better.”

“I heard Chiron’s going to announce whether we have Capture the Flag next week.” One of the campers in table eleven piped up.

“Capture the flag?”

“It’s a camp tradition, kind of like War Games,” Matt answers, seeming a little excited. “It’s a weekly game, although it’s been canceled for the last two weeks because of a flu outbreak. It’s where two teams are given a flag each to protect. To win, one team must capture the opponent’s flag and bring it over the creek, which is the border.”

“Sounds fun,” Luke comments. “Which team are we on?”

“Blue,” Matt grumbles, turning to look at the Ares table. “With cabins six and seven.”

“Athena and Apollo, right?”

“Yeah,” Matt nods, sighing softly. “The losing team.”

“Red always wins,” Chris says, a frown making its way onto his lips. “Ares, Aphrodite, Demeter, Dionysus, and Hephaestus. Matt says it’s been years since Blue won a match.”

“Aphrodite plays in the games?” Luke snorts. “Aren’t they supposed to be prissy princes and princesses?”

“I wish they were,”

Luke turned to look back at table ten. Maya was sitting on the table, legs crossed over each other, as she laughed with a boy around their age. Luke was sure that the boy wasn’t her sibling—judging by the way he looked at her, that weasel of a boy had intentions. Luke wasn’t that worried, since Maya looked like she knew what she was doing. Another notch on her belt, perhaps, that boy.

All of a sudden, an idea came into Luke’s mind. The son of Hermes stood up from his seat, fixing his shirt (as if that would help) and messing his hair up slightly. 

“Where are you going?” Matt asks, eyes narrowed at Luke. “Don’t you think about it, Luke,” he warned, despite knowing that Luke would.

“Watch me get the girl,” Luke smirks at his brother, before sauntering over to the table right across eleven’s.

Matt groaned, shaking his head. “Why must you give me stubborn siblings, Dad?” He mutters, running a hand over his face in frustration.

As soon as Luke arrives at table ten, he smiles at the daughters of Aphrodite before slinging his arm over Maya’s shoulder—who didn’t seem to notice his presence until now.

The head counselor of cabin ten glares at him, but before she could utter a word, Luke turned his attention to the confused boy in front of them. “Hey man, what are you doing talking to my girl?” Luke asks, raising a brow at the boy standing just a few inches away.

Maya scoffs, pushing Luke’s arm off of her. “I am not-”

“You can go now,” Luke tells the boy, waving his hand and dismissing him like a servant he’s seen in shows before. The boy glares at Luke before making his way back to his own table, which was Hephaestus’.

“You son of a bitch!” Maya hisses, pushing him away from her. Her eyes turned an angry shade of black, and she glared at him intensely. “Do you have any fucking idea who you’re messing with!?”

“My, my, princess, such vulgar language,” Luke grins, leaning forward, leaving little over an inch of space between him and the devil.

“Let's not repeat lunch, shall we?” Maya says through gritted teeth, her eyes shifting back to emerald green as she takes three steps away  from Luke.

"Oh, but princess, I don't think you'd want to hit me with Chiron and Mr. D around, do you?” Luke smirks, leaning against the table slightly, looking a little arrogant for Maya’s liking.

“You think I won’t, newbie?”

“I think,” Luke starts, rubbing his chin dramatically, like he’s seen Thalia do before when they acted out shows for Annabeth. “You’re pretty hot when you’re mad.”

“You’ve got some nerve, don’t you?” Maya scowls at Luke, folding her arms over her chest.

“What? I’m just trying to be nice, princess.”

“I swear to the gods, if you call me that one more time, newbie,”

“You’ll what?” Luke taunts, taking a step forward, a smirk on his annoying face.

“You’re fucking asking for it.” Maya growls, grabbing his arm and twisting it over his back with a hard downward thrust. Everyone was looking at them, and it got Luke thinking why on earth is everyone just staring at them rather than stopping her from breaking his bones like sticks.

“Ouch, woman! Violence is never the answer!” Luke struggled in her grasp; for a girl, the son of Hermes had to admit that she was strong—stronger than Thalia, perhaps? Luke wondered if he could beat the daughter of Aphrodite in a sword fight, though. 

Maya let go of his arm, pushing him slightly away. “That should teach you,” she smiled, that sickeningly sweet smile of hers that was beginning to grow on him. The head of cabin ten turned around, making her way back to her seat, her long braided hair looking like a blazing whip in the evening light.

“Damn, princess, you’re making this harder for me than it is for you,” Luke smirks, shaking his arm to make sure he can still move it after Maya’s attempt to break it. 

Maya stopped in her tracks, just barely a foot from her seat beside Silena, and before Luke Castellan could avoid it, Amaya Williams charged at him, her fist colliding with his face, again.

tags: @iliketopgun @sc4rl3ttdafoxx @ma1dita @pleasingregulus @jiyeons-closet

[remuslupinbutcooler]

PUPPY LOVE..

The final and last chapter, i will continue writing , hopefully some of you will stay but it’s ok if not !! Maybe i’ll return to the Lost Boys writing fandom !!

* Time skip from the previous chapter since this is the last chapter and i want to give you all a small gift for the love and appreciate *

SMUT WARNING

NSFW

~~~~~~~~

The usual moonlight hit your body perfectly, it’s shadows contouring every inch of you and adding a light glow to your face ; highlighting your lips and making your eyes practically pop out .

“W-woah Doll..” David was the first to notice you. His eyes practically mimicked that of a cartoon character, heart eyes and over dramatic hand movements.

“Oh my.. we’re so lucky omg..please mamas..” Paul’s attention was now grasped from the joint to you. His eyes shinning like a puppy dog ; hopefully and ready to play.

“We are.. you got that right Pauly.” Marko shot up from his slouched position on the couch, his lips glistening with lust and excitement.

“You going anywhere tonight or can we have some time with you?” Dwayne emerged from the shadows, his eyes dancing along your figure . Hands over his chest, torso brought forward while his legs stayed pressed against the cave walls.

You giggled before motioning towards your body and the cloth that fitted tightly around it .

“You think i’d go out dressed like this ? I mean I would!! But maybe i’m just spoiling my boys ?” You playfully rolled your eyes before strutting around the cave , presenting yourself almost to the boys.

Paul followed behind , whining slightly. Even more like a puppy ; just lost and needy now.

“Please please please can i ? oh mamas don’t make me beg..” He trailed behind , his eyes glued to your ass. A primal glint hidden beneath his now golden eyes, his head practically faced the ceiling. He needed you. They all did.

“Pauly you’re really that desperate?” Marko laughed before turning to see his brothers reactions ; Dwayne loomed closer than before , a needy yet dominate glint hung in his eyes meanwhile David was practically clawing at his chair, desperation and lust causing him to whine beneath the weight of your hotness.

Marko was hard, teasing his pack was just his way of trying to distract himself from his urges. He wanted to rip that pretty cloth off and just take you for himself. He never prayed to anyone or anything before until now. He was praying you’d notice him and take his dick first. Just like you’d taken his lips first . He was your first and he intended to be until the end.

You made your way over to Marko, after all he was your fist and you needed him the post. He was softer and less aggressive than the others . You could easily take and handle him , he was the soft blow of sea before the waves and storm. You loved it.

His hands soon grasped at your hips before pulling you onto him. You fit perfectly onto his lap, you giggled. Being able to feel him beneath you, you liked this. Loved it even. It felt good knowing you made them this desperate. It felt even better having them pressed against your perfect little ass.

“Need…need you..” He rolled his hips against you. His head pressed against your neck , small bites and kisses danced their way against it.

“You have me..I’m here..” You kissed his forehead before moving your hand against his now growing erection. “So needy for me Marko..”

“You gonna fuck him in front of us?”

“You gonna touch yourselves if i do?”

“Maybe.. we’ll try not to..”

You giggled at the overall hornies of your boys.

Your hand reached for Marko, grasping at his erection making small pleas and whines escape his now wet lips. You moved at a slow pace, teasing him even more.

Marko whined before pressing his nails into your skin causing the tight perfect cloth on your body to tear and ladder practically revealing your hips which lay covered in bruises from past experiences with your boys. Marko smirked at the sight of your once perfect outfit now being ruined.

You rolled your eyes before climbing on top of him, your breasts pressed perfectly against his chest the friction causing a small whine to run out of your throat and bubble to the surface. You rolled off your panties before pushing Marko in. Causing moans from both of you . Marko threw his head back before biting his lip.

You bounced against him, the sound of skin slapping filling the cave and causing your audience to run their hands against their clothed erections. Markos fingers found the outline of your nipples and slowly moved against , you weren’t wearing a bra. Marko hummed as if to tell you the pace was good . You moaned out for him to carry on playing.

He was close , you’d been teasing him to the point it was almost edging. Marko didn’t last long , which was good unlike David or Dwayne who lasted longest. Sometimes even from nightfall to daylight.

“Mhm..gonna..I’m gonna..” Marko pushed you against him causing a hard moan to escape your now open mouth. “Keep going.fuck..!”

You carried on, your skin hitting his and causing the cave to become louder with the noises from both you and your boys.

“Fuck fuck..i’m-“ You cut him off, pressing your lips against his causing him to moan into your mouth .

His legs shook almost. You fucked good, too good.

You climbed off Marko, planting a small kiss onto his now sweat covered face.

“My turn.” Paul pushed you against a wall , pinning you almost. His tongue pressed against the sweet spots on your neck causing you to push yourself against him. Your body begged for the roughness of Paul. He was big and hit practically every spot . You’d cum within seconds, there was no doubt about it.

“Paul..don’t go easy..”

“Trust me sugar… it’s hard not to especially when you look so good..” His hand glided against your chest . “ Let’s just-“

You gasped at the ripping sound bouncing from the wall into the cave. Your breasts now lay exposed, the cold creasing your skin. Paul laughed before grabbing your thighs , pushing you up . You understood, wrapping your thighs around his hips. His slid himself in.

“Perfect pussy.” He purred before harshly fucking himself into you causing a pleasured mixed with slightly pained noise to erupt. He carried on , fucking you rougher with each thrust. The vibrations practically causing your stomach to fill with the all too familiar feeling of being on the edge of a high. You dug your nails into him, causing him to act faster.

“You close Babygirl? hm? Gonna cum all over daddy’s dick?” You nodded before moaning again. This caused Paul to fasten his pace . Your legs shook, the high filling you slowly, your eyes rolling to the back of your head , throat filling the cave with pretty yet pained moans. Your high caused Paul to reach his own, his hands grabbed at your ass before he fucked you faster. You’d be covered in rock like shaped bruises all along your back tomorrow.

Paul took him self out of you and carried you over to a now jealous David who’s hand lay against his dick. Pulling it , his eyes slammed shut. He was close or atleast it looked like it. You whined , alerting him that you were now there for him.

“You’re doing so well. So so well. Taking us all so well pretty baby. You think you can handle me and Dwayne hmm? “ His hand lifted your face , his voice softer than usual. You nodded before reaching out for him.

He pressed you onto the couch, positioning you into a sloppy like doggy style position. His pushed himself in without warning causing your eyes to fill with slight tears . Dwayne stood before you. Dick in one hand while his other stoked your face.

“ You’re so pretty like this.. think you’d look prettier with me inside too.. come on.. place that pretty little mouth on my dick.” David pressed into you more causing your mouth open perfectly for Dwayne.

Your tongue pressed against the tip of Dwayne’s dick, small moans vibrating against it , you bobbed your head up and down all while David thrusted hungrily into you. Both of the boys praised you , overstimulating your pretty little pussy and causing more moans to fill the cave.

David sped up while Dwayne moaned letting you know he was close.

“Atta girl.. so good for you daddys “

“that’s it.. just like that baby..”

Dwayne shook within you, his cum filling your mouth and sticking to the back of your throat. David however stayed silent, his hips pressed into your ass harshly letting you know he was at his end…

[tmnt-fann]

|-VACATION DAY-|

Lately the Mad Dogs have been having a hard time, mission after mission. Villain after Villain. Raph noticed this and decided they needed a vacation. He gathered everyone in the living-room for a family meeting.

"What's the news big bro?" Leo said

"Yes, I must get back to modifying my tech for future missions." Donnie agreed

"Well, I decided we all need a break from hero-ing because of how things have been recently. So everyone get ready because we are taking a vacation!" Raph announced

Everyone seemed to agree and thought it was a good idea, but there was one issue. How would they enjoy a vacation day at the beach? For so long they have wanted to enjoy the sea air and bask in the sun in the sand.

"Yes yes, an amazing idea brother. But how shall one go to the beach looking like a mutant? *ahem* us..?" Donnie questioned

"Well.. Uhm, we will go at night!" Raph said, just coming up with the idea.

Everyone thought it was a good idea and went to go pack for the night ahead.

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

Everyone quietly enters the beach. Passing the security slowly, making sure not to make any sound.

"All right! Here we are!" Raph said

"Aww yeah! I'm gonna build a sand castle!" Mikey says as he runs off somewhere

Raph follows Mikey to help him build the said sand castle.

"Well, I will be basking in the moonlight. DO NOT bother me with one of your dumb puns Leo." Donnie says as he lays down on a lounge chair in his board shorts

Leo rolls his eyes at Donnie and puts his things down, setting up a little spot with his things. Leo grabs his scuba diving gear and heads towards the water. Once he enters the water a small blue fish swims up to him, it seems to think he's a friend.

However, after a few minutes the fish quickly swims away. This leaves Leo confused. Then he feels something swim behind him, he turns around to be face to face with a shark. The shark does not attack, but Leo is freaking out. Leo stays still, not moving an inch. The shark swims past him, leaving him in awe. Leo quickly goes to the shore to brag about what happened.

"Donnie! Guess what?!" Leo shouts at Donnie

"Sigh. What do you want? I told you not to bother me."

"Well.."

The conversation goes on and on, but while they are conversating a ooze-quito bites the shark from earlier. Turning it into a ghost like creature that still looked like a shark, but it was 10x bigger than a normal one and definitely scarier.

As Donnie and Leo continue to talk the shark gets closer and closer to the shore, then leaps out of the water blocking the moonlight. This catches everyone's attention. It roars at them as nearby seagulls or security are scared off.

The shark phases though the sand and attacks Donnie and Leo from below. It causes Donnie to fall out of his lounge chair and Leo to fall over. Mikey who is watching from afar, uses his weapon to catch the shark. The chain wraps around the shark with its fire and sun like glow. The shark whines at the light and turns into tiny fishes, then once out of his grasp, turns back into a shark. Mikey notices this.

"Guys! Guys!" Mikey says as he runs up to Leo and Donnie.

While he is running up to them, the shark attacks him. But right on time, Raph pushes Mikey out of the way as they both hit the sand with a thud.

Mikey rushes to his feet "Guys! The shark doesn't like light!"

Raph nods. "Mikey, your weapon could make fire. Why don't you use that?" Raph said

Everyone looks at Mikey.

"Oh yeah, heheh.."

Mikey swings his weapon around as it catches flame. He does this for a few minutes and then gives up.

"I cant do it! Its too big!" Mikey whined as he looked defeated

"Step aside , I got this" Donnie said as he pushes Mikey aside and steps foward.

Donnie pulls out his tech bo. He tampers with it and it turns into a large disco ball at the end of the staff. Also coming out from his battle shell is a flashlight that is around the size of his speaker.

"Begone!" Donnie shouts as he turns the lights on

The shark screeches at the light and flees back into the water once again. But as soon as the shark clears Donnie turns off his lights.

"Well team, good job. Now lats get back to out vaca-" Raph says as he is cut off by the sound of security

"Come on this way!" One security guard said

"It came from over here!" Another security guard said

Raph sighs. "Well, seems like our vacation day is cut short. Let's get out of here before they see us." Raph said

They all retreat with their items to the nearest sewer entrance and head home.

[zukishaylupo]

Been thinking about my life as Zuki a lot lately, so I'm gonna share some more shit about it. This is gonna be a long ass post, lol.

Class 1A was really close in my canon. We were a family [I would use the word pack]. There were 21 of us originally (everyone from the "actual" canon minus Mınət@ who didn't exist as far as I know, lol, and me and one other noncanon 'character' who's name is Hikari Kubo-Mori).

More stuff about how I got along with some other Class 1A students below

A bit after the dorms became a thing, Hitoshi Shinso joined our class. Now, I was always a bit of a 'nerd' when it came to quirks, lol. [Me and Izuku loved to analyze quirks together cause it's very interesting and just awesome to know more about quirks, lol.]

Anyway, I was very into quirk analysis, and Hitoshi's quirk was something that was very interesting and didn't really scare me (guess it comes with having a quirk that scared others and shit). So Hitoshi and I became friends pretty quick after they joined Class 1A cause I was also way more 'into' making friends at that point, lol. [I was also a part of the "I didn't come to make friends" club at first, lol]. Then, a bit later, I got adopted by Aizawa and Present Mic, who had adopted Hitoshi before me, so we became siblings.

I don't know why exactly I brought up Hitoshi first, besides the fact that he's my brother. But I'm gonna be moving on to others now.

Bakugo Katsuki, Izuku Midoriya, and I were all childhood friends. We were actually pretty close before Bakugo got his quirk, I got mine, and Izuku didn't get a quirk. [I'm not really going to go into the whole thing. Just know that for a while, none of us were really friends].

I re-became friends with Izuku at the end of our last middle school year (reminder that in my canon UA was a college type thing). Shit had happened before that made me realize shit. [I was never a bully, but I also never stood up for Izuku like I should've, I had my "reasons," but idc they were kinda dumb and shit but I was a dumb pup at the time].

A bit after the dorms happened, Bakugo found me on the roof of the dorms [don't go there, I liked it cause it was quiet and I could feel the wind on my wings and shit] and asked me a few questions that kinda suprised me at first. The main thing was asking about how it's like with a service dog, how to get over the feeling of not being good enough cause of needing a dog to help, how to deal with others when it comes to service dogs, and stuff like that. Turns out that in a session with Hound Dog, a service dog was suggested to Bakugo because of the training camp and everything. I told him the truth that I still had difficulty with all of the things that having a service dog brings/causes but that I loved Remo so much and was greatful to him. Me and Kats became friends again after that (I called him Kats because when I was younger [and could speak, so I was at least 7], I had trouble with his name so I called him Kats instead).

If you notice, I use both Bakugo and Kats for him, and that's cause I did then as well, lol.

Me and the rest of the Dekusquad that I haven't mentioned already [who I have mentioned already is just Izuku and Hitoshi].

The Dekusquad was mainly known to be: me, Midoriya Izuku/Deku, Uraraka Ochako, Iida Tenya, Todoroki Shouto, Asui Tsuyu/Tsu, Kubo-Mori Hikari, and Shinso Hitoshi [last names then first names]. Though we also had Yaoyorozu Momo, Tokoyami Fumikage, and Aoyama Yuga.

Some people I use last names more and some I use first names more. It's mainly based on how close I was to them specifically and which is easier for me. Like with Momo, it's easier with her first name than her last name, lol. But it's easier for me to use Tokoyami rather than their first name.

Now, with the Bakusquad, lol.

The Bakusquad was: Bakugo Katsuki, Kirishima Eijirou, Kaminari Denki, Sero Hanta, Ashido Mina, and Jirou Kyouka.

I already talked about Kats. So, with the rest of the Bakusquad, I was pretty close with all of them. I was not as close to Sero, not for any reason, I just didn't hang with him a lot.

Despite being close to Jirou, I tend to use her last name cause it's easier for me, lol. Same with Kiri.

Mina and Denki were the first of the Bakusquad to give me permission to use their first names, which is what I mainly use for them.

It terms of the overall class [not including Izuku and Bakugo ofc], the first one to give permission for their first name/a nickname to be used to me was actually Hikari, the second is ofc Tsu.

There are definitely people I didn't mention here. It's not cause of any reason, I've just already gone on for a while, so this is it for this post for now. I'll probably reblog if I want to add anything later, lol.

- Zuki Shay Lupo (They/it/hx)

[spooky-bunnys]

If it’s alright can I request a part 3 for south

Maybe the reader is still in the hospital and south does frequent visits and always brings the reader gifts, food, flowers and even sneaks in the cat (that was previously mentioned in part one) and the kawata are always keeping an eye on him and just when south thinks they aren’t looking he will try to give the reader a kiss only to be stopped by the kawata twins and they do lecture south with the gifts he gives the reader cause they are tired of taking all the gifts South buys to their house

Just a Friend FINAL!

South x Male Reader

It's been a few days since (Name) was admitted to the hospital. The twins have been taking turns watching over him at night, while South comes everyday to visit him. The twins thought it was cute at first. But now. "Aww your brought him! Wait. Whats in the bag?" But now, it's just annoying. The twins look over at their brother seeing him cuddle (Pet Name)-wait. "OI! You brought the fucking cat?!" Smiley was not amused.

Angry just stared at the gifts South had brought and groaned. It was his turn to go home tonight and that meant he had to carry those home. "Dude enough of the gifts. We get it. You're sorry. But your not the one packing them back to our house!" (Name) looked at his brothers shyly. "Sorry guys." He did feel quite bad. "Babe you need to stop with the gifts. My brothers are gonna get hurt trying to take them home."

South gave a short look to the huffing blue twin and te growling pink twin. "Then I'll have someone take them to your house instead." The twins groaned louder. "Fine." South rolled his eyes grumpily. "I'll just put them in our room at my place." The twins froze and (Name) blushed brightly. "O-OUR?!" South smirked and leaned in for a kiss only to get interrupted by the twins.

"OH HELL NO!" "We won't just hand over our precious (Name) so easily to you!" South groaned. He was getting real fucking tired of being interrupted. Especially by the twins. Angry started looking over the gifts until he realized something. Wait-"Am I crazy or is that bag moving?" His twin looked where he was looking confused until he realized. The bag was indeed moving.

With the twins distracted South gently covered (Name)'s face in kisses. (Name) smiled brightly enjoying the soft kisses and gives him a few kisses before he's almost thrown out of his hospital bed by his brothers jumping onto it. "Oi! You two almost threw (Name) in the floor! Hey Peachy! Your almost landed on (Pet Name)!" The brothers immediately begin arguing with South while (Name) holds (Pet Name) closer rolling his eyes.

He looked over the gifts and paled upon realizing one was moving. "H-Hey babe?" South quickly quieted down looking at (Name). "Why is that bag moving?" South confused turned to where (Name) was pointing before remembering something. "Oh yeah!" He walked to the bag gently picking it up and switches (Pet Name) for the bag.

(Name) confused slowly peaked into the bag and let out a quick squeal. His brothers go in defense mode before (Name) pulls out a small Shiba Inu. By small they mean the pup was tiny. "Oh my god!! Babe you remembered!" The twins paled. They had enough problems with the cat. Now they got to deal with a dog? "What the fuck dude!?" Smiley asked practically foaming at the mouth.

"You got (Name) a cat when you guys first started dating. Now you get him a damn DOG?!" (Name) was in his own world gently patting the pups head that's when he heard it. The jiggle. Confused (Name) lifted the extremely happy pup and sees-"OH MY GOD!" The twins whip to (Name) seeing him in tears a hand over his mouth. He removes his hand from his face and messes with the tag. That's when the twins realize what he hand.

".....Is that a ring?" Angry asked shocked while Smiley just damn near fainted off the bed. South looked at (Name) with soft eyes. "Now I'm not proposing-" the twins immediately jump up and are trying to reprimand South. But he's just watching (Name)'s reaction. "Then what's the ring for?" "It's a promise ring. It's my promise to you that I'll get over my shit and I'll promise to propose in the future."

(Name) still holding the pup leaned up to South. "I love you. I accept your promise." With a short kiss (Name) slips the ring on and continues to shower his new pup in kisses. The twins weren't the only unhappy one. While South looked jealous of the pup, (Pet Name) looked like he was ready to kill South. Although it could wait.

A knock interrupted the moment and everyone paled when they remembered the animals. Angry quickly grabbed both animals and practically dove into the bathroom when a doctor walked in. He looked around. Gave the three a smile before doing a few tests on (Name).

"Good news Mr. Kawata. You can go home tomorrow. Just mind your injuries. Take your prescribed medication. I'll also set up some appointments through the next few weeks to check your healing progress." South was nodding along with the older twin. Both remembering the information. The doctor nodded again and left. The trio let out a relief breath. Angry slowly came out of the bathroom. (Pet Name) on his head and the new edition in his hands.

His twin relays the information to him while he gives the animals back to (Name). Both cat and dog immediately get comfortable on (Name) and fall asleep. (Name) pulls South down into the bed and slowly moves around. Being extremely careful of his babies and fall asleep. Cuddled with his love and babies. The twins realize how quiet it is and turns to the duo. Noticing their comfortable positions.

The twins look at each other silently communicating. "He lives for now." The younger twin nodded to his brothers saying. Before eyeing the tall buff male. "You do realize aniki he'll probably trying crashing at our place with (Name) like this right?" Smiley groaned being careful not to be too loud. "Fuck it we'll call the brothers and kakucho is he gets too much. But this might be good for (Name)." They look over at their brother.

"Nevermind he could do SO much better." "Souya I've never agreed with anything you've said until now."

[t-h-i-n-g]

can you do some cute max mayfield x reader fluff?? Ik you get a lot of Max requests but i love her sm 😭

Come Over

(gif not mine credits to owner)

a/n: how I came up with this was just looking up fluff prompts and came across "Why'd you call me?" "I missed your voice," and just kinda went off of that. Ty for requesting :))

word count: 800

summary: max's original plan of spending the night at the wheelers is changed as she gets a phone call from a special someone and she is more than happy to take up their request.

warnings: none but some light swearing

st - masterlist m.masterlist

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

Max was tired.

Dealing with teenage boys hyped up on sugar and deciding to yell at a TV over a show that she didn’t care to know the name of was draining.

Max rubbed her temples when Mike once again jumped up from his spot on the couch, hand pointing at the screen in an accusatory matter. Silently she glared at him as it took him no longer than five seconds to watch the conflict be solved. Sitting back down he went back to zoning in on the action-packed bit.

Shifting her gaze she looked at the floor, where poor little El just sat in tranquility and a smile on her face, wrapped in a blanket.

Huffing to herself, Max just couldn’t comprehend how an overall sweet, caring human being could find peace in a wack-ass person that barely showers three times a week.

Dragging a hand down her face, she glanced at the clock resting on a side table. It was only 7:00 pm and she had signed up for a night full of binging.

Technically nothing was holding her back from leaving, but she had nothing else better to do. 

Billy was home tonight and she didn’t want to hear him bitching about the number of times she had brought her girlfriend over.

Who wasn’t even here. When Max found out you couldn’t make it she threw a little fit. Stating she won’t be able to stay sane if you didn’t go with her.

But she guesses, visiting your brother that lives in another state was a good enough excuse.

Still, she couldn’t help but feel a little empty not having you cuddled up next to her on the recliner like usual.

“He just needs to stop.”

“You’d think getting nailed in the gut would tell him to back off, but no.”

“There he goes again. Just give up, you’re gonna get pummeled.”

“He practically already did.”

“Literally though.”

This was the third time they’d had this conversation. Seemingly they have to continue to break apart with every little repeating event.

Just as Max was about to tell them to just shut up with the commentary, footsteps came down the basement stare.

“Max, somebody on the phone wants you,” Nancy informed. Not giving her time to ask questions Nance went back up the way she came.

Furrowing her brows, she pushed off the chair and stepped over the bodies littering the floor. Nobody paid her any mind, still too tranced by the TV in front of them.

Confusion crowded her mind with the thought of who wanted to talk to her. Opening the door, Max shuffled across the kitchen tiles, moving to the phone.

With slight hesitation she picked up the object, placing it to her ear.

“Hello?” She greeted.

“Hey.” Max’s heart jumped to her throat.

“Y/n? What are you doing?”

“Calling you duh.” Max’s face grinned at your playful tone.

“I mean why are you calling me?” 

“Missed your voice, shit kinda went sideways today,” you mumbled.

“Did something bad happen?” 

“Our flight was canceled cause the pilot wasn’t available and they weren’t able to get another one.”

“Oh, sorry to hear that.”

“It’s all good though,” you assured. “Just kinda ticked off that we had to drive like 3 hours just to be told to turn back around. But it’s fine. I called your house but Billy answered and said some shit like, ‘Skrew you and your dog, Max is at the Wheelers’ I don’t know why he dragged my dog into it but he told me where you were so it’s alright, I guess.” Max chuckled, twirling the phone cord around her finger.

“So you’re back home then?” She asked.

“Mhm,” you affirmed, “Was just calling to see if you wanted to come over or something tonight. It’s been a long day, I just want to see you.”

Max bit her lip to conceal her smile at your statement. She could never understand how you made her feel like such a giddy schoolgirl.

“But if you’re doing something with the party I get it-”

“No!” she cut you off quickly. She cleared her throat, shocked by her own little outburst. “I mean we aren’t really doing anything. They’re just watching some lame show. If you want I could ask Karen if you could come over.”

“Eh,” you sounded, “I was kinda hoping if it could be just you and me, but if you want to hang with them I get it.”

Max just knew she looked like the Cheshire cat with the way the smile on her face was splitting her cheeks.

“No, no it’s fine. We can just hang out. The others are too into their TV to miss me too much anyway,” she stated.

“Cool, I’ll pick you up in ten.”

“Cool,” she repeated.

“See you soon, Max.” Her heart fluttered at the sound of you using her name, but she quickly shook the fealing away.

Seriously she was getting way too into the school girl in love act.

However, she didn’t pay it another thought as she darted out of the room and down the stairs. Grabbing her stuff, she explained to the others you were coming to pick her up.

“But it’s just getting to the best part!”

“Shut up, Dustin. You’ve said that like seven times already.”

-----------

likes and reblogs are appreciated :)

[final-girl96]

Broken World: Chapter Eight

Month Later

I was getting ready to go into the city with Glenn, except this time we would be taking a group with us. Andrea, Morales, T-Dog, Jacquie, and unfortunately Merle. Daryl had decided to go out on a solo hunt yesterday and was still gone. Glenn had reluctantly agreed to take more people with us to try and get more stuff that the group needed. We were running low on food. Fortunately, we had an unlimited amount of water with the lake. We just needed to make sure we boiled it before using it. “Hey, is it okay if I come in?” Shane asked from outside my tent. “Yeah, I’m just getting my pack ready.” I looked up when he walked in. “What’s up?” I asked.

“I wanted to talk to you about Merle," he said. I stood up from my cot and swung my pack onto my back. "I'll keep an eye on him. I have my cuffs, so if I need to handcuff him somewhere until we're done, I will," I chuckled. He huffed out a laugh and nodded his head. "He needs to pull his weight around here since he didn't go out hunting with Daryl. He seems like he wants to be in charge, and the rest of the group won't be able to handle him if he decides to try and take over."

I completely understood what he meant. Merle liked to think he should be in charge of everything. He doesn't like how things are being run. I agreed to help Shane with keeping the group in order. I guess we were kind of the leaders of the group; the people who made the hard decisions. "Don't worry about Merle, I can handle him. I know how he thinks and what his telltale signs are when he's about to do something stupid."

After everyone was ready to go, we headed out. Since there were seven of us going and we didn't want to take a vehicle so we decided we would just walk; we were only a few miles outside of the city. It was still early in the morning, so as long as we got in and out with no problems, we should be back by dinner time. Glenn and I have been doing the run together and we haven't run into any problems, but with five other people with us, and one of those five being Merle Dixon, it might take longer than usual.

We were currently in a department store looking through everything. When the outbreak happened and when the city started to be overtaken by walkers after the military lost control and they bombed the place, people hid in the buildings to get away. Some people took refuge inside them instead of going to the FEMA shelters. So there was a good chance we would find cans of food and other useful things. It didn't hurt to check supply closets for toilet paper and clothes were always needed. It will be getting cold in another month or so.

"You hurt my baby brother when you left. I always told him you never cared about him." I let out a sigh and turned around to look at Merle. "You don't know what the fuck you're talking about, Merle, so shut your trap and do something useful for once. You're in a group and that means you pull your weight or you get kicked out." He scoffed and moved closer to me, reached his hand out, and picked up the badge around my neck. "This ain't gonna save ya now, sugar tits." I wrapped my hand around his and bent it back towards his wrist. "What the fuck did I tell you about touching me?" He forcefully pulled his arm out of my grasp and sneered at me. “Your time is coming,” he said, then he walked away. Before I could put too much thought into what he meant by my time was coming, there were gunshots from outside on the street. We all gathered in the middle of the store before running for the stairs that led up to the roof.

We looked over the edge of the building to see a man on a horse running down the street with a large group of dead stumbling after them. Unfortunately for him, they were cut off by more walkers, and they took the horse down. We watched as the man crawled away from the walkers that tore into the poor animal. The man crawled under the tank that sat in the middle of the street below, and for what felt like hours, we waited. There was no doubt in our minds that he was dead, that was until he popped out of the top hatch, looked around, and then quickly closed it. He was stuck inside a death trap surrounded by a sea of dead.

"What do we do now? The streets are crawling with walkers!" Andrea said. "We help him. He obviously didn't know that the city was overrun," I said. I turned and looked at Glenn. "What do you say? Think we can get him out of there and back here without anyone getting hurt?" I asked. Glenn walked around to the other side of the building, looked down at the alley before coming back over, and looked down at the street clogged with walkers. "Yeah, I think we could do something."

He came up with a plan, telling everyone exactly what he was going to do and what he needed us to do, then he got on the handheld radio we had to keep in contact with the group back at the quarry. He tried all the stations until we heard the voice of a man come through. Glenn talked to him and explained what to do and where to meet him and when he was finished we headed back the stairs, into the store, and to the back where the loading docks were, to the door where maintenance would have come in.

Glenn went over the plan one more time before we walked out the door and took care of the few walkers that were I'm the alley. Then he headed for the stairs on the building across from us. He would take them up to the roof and go down the other side to an alley that was blocked off from walkers, and that would be where he'd meet the guy. We could only hope that this guy made it and Glenn would bring him back here safe.

[diskaywrites]

WHUMPTOBER 2024

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭 #𝟏: 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐉𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐱 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐎𝐟: 𝐆𝐚𝐛𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐝, 𝐂𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐚𝐲 (𝐨𝐜), 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧

.✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽..✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽..✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽..✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽..✽✦✽.◦.✽

𝐼𝑓 𝑇𝑎𝑛𝑎ℎ𝑎𝑠ℎ𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑡 𝑎 𝑏𝑎𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑛𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑠𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑎 𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛, 𝑚𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒'𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒.

The answer had left David Finlay's mouth before he could even truly consider what he was being asked. The interviewer for New Japan Global had asked about the matches he would want to wrestle in AEW, about a potential match at the upcoming Wrestle Dream show in January. It had started with a joke about fighting Tony Khan in a Dog Pound match for his money, before his mind drifted to the man he had banished from New Japan once before. The name hung heavy without ever being uttered, everyone would know who he meant.

And judging by the glares from the rest of the War Dogs as he entered the locker room, so did they.

"Is something the matter, boys?" David questioned as he sat his bag on one of the plastic chairs in the room, raising an eyebrow.

"Ya ain't ever gonna be over the tosser, hm?" Gabe Kidd's nostrils flared, a look of disgust in his ice blue eyes, "No matter what, it's always gonna come back to-"

"He could have meant someone else," Cal, ever the dutiful younger brother, scoffed with a shake of his head, "he could have meant Juice."

Clark laughed, looking up from the video he was watching on his phone, "Sure. Sure he meant Robinson. I got some oceanfront property in Illinois I'd like to sell ya while I'm thinkin' about it, Cal."

The laugh shared between Clark and Gabe made David hot under the collar of his leather jacket, and his hand flexed and unflexed at his side. "The two of ya done? Ya have your laugh out?"

"It's not 𝒐𝒖𝒓 fault 𝒚𝒐𝒖 realized too late ya ain't nothing without Jay White," laughed Gabe with a casual shrug of his shoulder.

David rounded on Gabe, shoulders squared back as if he wanted to start a fight, "What was that, Kidd? You got something you want to say to my face?"

Gabe was never one to back down and he moved in closer, standing toe-to-toe with David, "You ain't nothing without Jay White."

The rational part of David wanted to admit that Gabe was right. He hadn't felt the same since he had sent Jay packing from the company. Jay and David had come up together, they should still be together. An even deeper part of his soul knew why. The moments spent between the two in private, the closeness of the New Zealander had been the only thing he had truly wanted in life. It had been his own pride, his own hubris, that had meant David couldn't admit that he loved Jay White.

It was David's own pride that sent his palm careening into the side of Gabe's face, the crack of the slap echoing loud in the empty room.

Clark and Cal were the first to move, Cal getting between David and Gabe while Clark held Gabe back with a tight grip to his arm, "Don't forget who the leader here is!" David shouted past his brother with a snarl.

Gabe was barely being held back by the cowboy, thrashing in his grasp like a man trying to get out of a straight jacket. "Don't hit me! Don't you fuckin' hit me for sayin' what you ain't man enough to say!"

"C'mon, man," Cal was practically dragging Gabe from the locker room, "Let's get a smoke, yeah? Let's calm down and get a smoke."

As soon as they were out of the room, Cal turned to his brother. Those cold brown eyes examined David for a moment, as if trying to decide what to say, "It's true, isn't it?"

David ducked his head, turning away from Cal, "I-"

With a grip to his brother shoulder and with surprising strength, Cal turned his older brother to face him again. "Ya didn't just slap Gabe over a rumor. Do you. Love. Jay White?"

With every poke to the chest, David took a heaving breath. He wanted so badly to lash out again, but he knew it wouldn't do anything but cause a fight he had no one to save him from. "More than anything."

There it was, his soul laid bare. He loved Jay White. He had always 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 Jay White. It was the only thing he had been unable to admit to the War Dogs, to even himself. David half expected Cal to laugh, to mock him, but he knew that wasn't his brothers style. Instead, Cal's hand squeezed his shoulder as an act of comfort.

"Then tell him."

[skzhua]

friends without desire | part 24 - i rather see you.

MASTERLIST

pairing: ex-boyfriend!han jisung x dance student!reader, brother!hwang hyunjin x sister!reader

genre: social media!AU, college!AU, exes to friends, exes to lovers.

warnings: none for now.

summary: where minho being a dumbass led to meeting him again.

“You’re stealing my girl again.” Hyunjin pouted at you while you tried to focus on your moves.

“You’re distracting me.” you responded, walking to your phone to replay the song.

“I’m finally with someone and you make her cancel her plans for you.” he continued to whine.

You let out a loud groan and glared at the man. Clearly, you wouldn’t be able to work on your choreography if he kept acting like a child. Giving up, you stopped the music.

“She made the plans, I didn’t suggest anything. And your girl? From what I’ve heard, you didn’t even talk about labels with her.”

“Neither did you with Jisung and he still claims you.”

“Nah, that’s bullshit.” you shook your head. “He’s having a fun date tonight, he’ll soon realize I haven’t been 'his girl' since we broke up.”

It was Hyunjin’s turn to groan in frustration. He knew for a fact his friend wanted nothing else than date his sister. However, both parties kept on making up excuses to avoid actually getting together.

“So you guys kiss, then you tell him you want to take your time, he agrees and supposedly goes on a date in the same two weeks he confessed?” You nodded at his words and he could only roll his eyes. “You’re so dumb.”

With that, he gathered his things and left the studio, leaving you alone. Well, alone with a sleeping Felix in the corner of the room. You decided you were also tired, so you started to pack your things back in your bag.

“Why did you help him for tonight if you didn’t want him to go?”

You jumped at the sound and turned around to see Felix, wide awake. “Lix! Don’t scare me like this!” you exclaimed and he laughed.

“No, seriously. You could have told him, no?”

“Seohyun and Minho already gave me this speech, I don’t need more of this.” you whined.

“Noted.” He held his hands up. “You’re going back home already?”

“Yeah, I need to clean up a bit before Seohyun comes. With the dog and all, the place is a mess.”

“I thought it was Jisung’s week to keep him.”

“I have my ways to convince him to keep him longer.”

He laughed and you waved him goodbye as you left the studio.

As for Jisung, he looked at himself in the mirror and frowned at the sight. Of course, he thought he looked good, but he didn’t feel good about it at all. If there would be a reason for him to dress up, it should be for you. At this moment, Changbin walked in his room and looked at the younger man in surprise.

“Uh, I never thought I’d get the chance to see you like this any time soon.” he laughed.

“Yeah, last time I was in a suit, it was prom.” he chuckled slightly. “I don’t know if I should really go, honestly.”

“I know. We all told you our opinion, but you do you. And it seemed important for you to go.”

“I don’t know. Things changed after the bubble tea thing. Then, she tries to change our work cause it won’t be appealing to the public?”

“Yeah, I can’t say I like her.”

“Yeah...” Jisung’s phone lit up and he quickly read the message. “Talking about her, I have to go. She’s waiting for me.”

“Alright, have fun! Don’t do anything stupid.”

“I won’t.”

With that, Jisung sprung out of the dorm, barely having time to say bye to Changbin.

As soon as she got out of the car, Ryung squealed at the sight before her eyes, much to Jisung’s ears' dislike. She greeted him, complimenting his look, and took a few steps back to let Jisung admire her dress. She did look good, but the vibe was not it. And to be honest, Jisung could not care less about the way she looked.

“We’re gonna be the highlight of the night! I think we look great.” she excitedly clapped her hands. “We should take a picture, don’t you think?”

“Sure.” He shrugged his shoulders.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Jisung was dragged inside the building by the arm and Ryung brought him to a corner where people could take pictures. She didn’t hesitate to push him onto the chair and sit next to him. Very close to him. She wrapped her arm around him and signaled to a staff member to take a picture. Even though Jisung could not feel more uncomfortable, he smiled through the pain. Her grip was so firm, it genuinely hurt him.

Once a few shots were taken, she walked to the staff member to check the photos. She seemed satisfied enough and gestured at Jisung to come see.

“We look good together! I like this one.” She pointed.

Once again, Jisung answered a small “I guess” with no sign of enthusiasm. He heard her say something, but he was not listening. Instead, his focus was on the grand room. So many foreign faces, some familiar, there was a lot of people. Han was never good with crowds, even less in this kind of context. He only knew the people from the company, and even then, he wasn’t friends with anyone. He was sweating in nervousness and he didn’t feel good at all. Anyone with eyes could notice easily how his pale face expressed pure panic and vulnerability.

“I’m going to the bathroom real quick. Can you go get us some drinks while I’m gone, please?” Ryung said, not looking up from her phone.

“Actually, I-” Jisung started, but Ryung was already walking away.

Catching a glimpse of the screen of her phone, his eyes widened. If she wanted to post a picture of them, she could have asked at least, no? Now, he was really questioning the reasons why he came here. His phone lit up at the notification he got tagged in a picture. 

Almost immediately after, he received a message from Hyunjin. The universe must have listened to his thoughts and sent him his friend to save him from this rather unpleasant situation. Reading the text, he sighed now knowing probably all of his friends saw Ryung’s post. What made him even more worried was your name displayed on his phone. If anything, he definitely didn’t want to make you feel bad. Not thinking twice, he left the building and ran to the nearest bus stop.

He didn’t bother to knock, he pulled out the key from his pocket and was quick to open the door. As soon as his eyes laid on you, his state of panic was gone. You, on the other hand, were so confused. Stopping your actions at the sight of Jisung standing in front of you, your mouth was full of popcorn as the movie Seohyun picked kept playing in the background. To say you thought he looked breathtaking was an understatement. However, this was the same man you saw all touchy with another girl on your phone barely thirty minutes beforehand. You chewed the popcorn left in your mouth quickly and approached Jisung carefully.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at the event with.. her?” you asked, ignoring Seohyun who was questioning the poor guy on why he was here.

“I rather see you.”

You huffed at his blunt statement. “Right.”

“I’m serious. I don’t know why I didn’t cancel on her. Heck, I didn’t even want to go to start with.”

“Why did you still go then? You did seem excited when we went shopping for the suit.”

“I don’t know, I didn’t want to be that kind of person who lets people down. And I was excited because I was with you. You were there with me, suggesting me outfits instead of calling me handsome every two minutes; you laughed at my bad jokes; you didn’t tell me to eat quieter; you took my ideas into consideration; you made sure I drank enough water throughout the day; you left the restaurant earlier because you noticed I didn’t like how cramped and crowded it was.”

“Why do I feel like this is not just about the other day at the mall.” you laughed a bit, a bit overwhelmed at his words.

“Because it's not.” he took a step closer before taking your hand. “I was sincere when I told you I want to give us another shot.”

“Alright.” you simply answered.

“Okay...” he said, a bit startled by your plain answer. “ What I’m saying is I want to be your boyfriend.” he precised, thinking you might not have heard clearly the first time.

“Yeah, I know. I said alright.”

At this point, even Seohyun -who was watching the scene from afar with popcorn- didn’t understand.

“So, we’re together?” Jisung pondered.

“Yeah. Now drop the act of romantic shit, it was very nice but it doesn’t suit you. It makes me cringe, actually.” you made a face of disgust before walking to your kitchen.

Jisung followed behind, not believing what he was hearing. “Just like that? I thought you were mad at me for the whole Ryung story.”

“I knew you weren’t interested, you literally confessed to me not so long ago. I was annoyed, that’s all. You look uncomfortable on the pic, she posted it probably without asking you and even if you didn’t come here, I would have figured your night was horrible.” you listed before opening another bag of popcorn. “Want some?”

At this moment, Jisung was smiling so hard, his cheeks literally hurt. He ignored your question and didn’t waste another second to kiss you. You smiled in the kiss and brought him closer by hugging his waist.

“I should have known you’re not the jealous type.” he said once you broke the kiss.

“Never was. I still have one last essay to submit before Christmas break. You’re down for a  study date tomorrow?” 

He nodded happily and kissed your lips again.

“This, right here, was cute.” Seohyun exclaimed, her phone in her hands as she captured the moment.

taglist: @mchslut​

[leegunn]

So, I had the idea a while ago to write a Gallavich fic set in the Being Human universe. I have tons of notes, but haven’t written much on it yet, and am currently focusing on other projects. I would like to pick it back up someday, but it will probably be a few months before I do.

I did write this scene and I kinda like it, so I thought I’d share it anyways. Enjoy this…. Meet-cute?

TW: Violence

Mickey hears the crowd before he sees them. Jeers and howls and punches and grunts of pain. He senses the victim’s werewolf status before he hears the pejoratives. “Mutt!” It’s the heartbeat, stronger than a normal human’s from this distance. “Dog!” It’s the smell. Foresty. Animal. “We’re gonna put you down, Old Yeller style. Got my silver bullets.”

He moves towards the noise, recognizing the voices of his brothers laying into some wolf who walked down the wrong street. He turns a corner and sees them gathered behind a dumpster.

The werewolf is curled on his side, holding his head while Mickey’s brothers kick at him. He hears the form mutter something but can’t make out the words. His brothers must not either, because they pause their assault. Colin leans down closer. “What was that, wolf?”

Mickey is still moving towards the gathered monsters when the wolf lifts his head to look up at his tormentors. His pale face is covered in blood, gushing from his nose and from an injury that seems to originate somewhere above his hairline. He looks young, Mickey realizes, maybe even still a teenager. He opens his mouth, almost baring his teeth which are bloodied and stained red between the cracks.

“Fuck you,” the wolf grits out. He spits out a mouthful of blood at Iggy’s feet.

Colin grabs a fistful of the redhead’s hair and hauls his head back sharply as Mickey finally joins the gathering. The wolf grunts in pain and glares up at Mickey with big green eyes.

“What are you?” The wolf pants.

Colin holds out his free hand, ignoring the question. “Gun,” he commands simply.

The wolf starts squirming then, breaking his staring match with Mickey to flail his arms in protest. Colin catches an elbow to his jaw and curses, letting go of the red hair. Iggy steps in then, grabbing under the wolf’s arms and dragging him to his feet. Colin’s fist connects with the wolf’s stomach, knocking the wind out of him. If Iggy wasn’t still holding him up, he would have been on the ground again.

Mickey rolls his eyes and lets out a huff of a breath at the scene. “Alright, you two done yet? The kid’s had enough.”

Colin gives him an incredulous look. “He’s still breathing, ain’t he?”

“What the fuck do you want to kill him for?”

“We can’t let him walk, he was sniffing around our shit. He’ll go tell his little pack buddies.”

Mickey rolls his eyes again. “He doesn’t even know who we are, moron.”

“Well,” Colin flounders for a reason. “Terry don’t like wolves. We’ll look like pussies if we let a stray loose after it waltzed onto our turf.”

“Yeah, you’ll look real tough picking him off two weeks before the full moon. Might as well beat down a ten year old fuckin’ girl.”

“Well,” the redhead pipes up, “It’s not exactly like beating up a ten year old fuckin’ girl.”

“Man, you need to shut the fuck up,” Iggy says as he shoves the wolf to the ground. He turns his attention to Colin. “Let’s just go eat. I’m starving.”

“Fine,” Colin concedes. He gets low again, closer to the grounded wolf. “Won’t be so lenient if we find you here again.”

Mickey watches his brothers leave the alley as the redhead pulls himself into a sitting position. He wipes at the blood under his nose. “You look like shit,” Mickey informs him.

“I look like two assholes just kicked the shit out of me, probably,” concedes the wolf. He accepts Mickey’s offered hand and allows himself to be pulled up to his feet.

“Seriously, what the fuck are you doing in this neighborhood?”

He eyes Mickey suspiciously. “Why shouldn’t I be in this neighborhood?”

“You know how to answer a fuckin’ question, Scooby-Doo?” Mickey shoots back.

“You never answered mine,” the wolf accuses.

“Alright, I don’t have time for chit-chat,” Mickey grumbles. “Just get the fuck out of this neighborhood and don’t come back.” He starts to follow his brothers’ path out of the alley when he hears the voice behind him pipe up again.

“Wait, I don’t—“ Mickey pauses, something in his tone convincing him to hear the other monster out. Finally, the redhead asks, “how did you guys know I’m a werewolf?” He sounds lost. Mickey realizes he really is.

“How long ago were you scratched?” Mickey asks, turning towards the wolf.

“If I tell you, will you answer any one of my questions?” The redhead sounds annoyed again.


Mickey nods. “Where are you staying?”

“Jesus Christ!”

“You smell like dog. Now, where are you staying?” Mickey asks impatiently.

“I smell like what?” The wolf brings his wrist to his nose.

Mickey sighs. “You asked how we could tell. You smell like dog. Where are you staying?”

“I smell like—“

“This conversation is moving way too slow for me.”

“I’m homeless, okay?” The wolf finally admits. “I just got in town from Chicago. I was hoping to find an abandoned warehouse or something to squat in for a while, maybe, uh, change in. It looked like an abandoned shithole neighborhood but I get it, okay, message received, you guys have something going on out here. I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

Mickey huffs out an unamused breath. “I’m not worried about you snitching.”

“Then what’s with the beat down?”

“Okay, you’re homeless,” Mickey says aloud like he’s processing. He feels sympathy for the wolf, despite the rivalry he’s supposed to uphold. He remembers being a new vampire, abandoned by his maker, left alone to figure out the harsh realities of his new monster life. “Come stay with me a few days, alright?” He finally says, surprising even himself a little. The wolf eyes him, hopeful but cautious.

“I thought I wasn’t supposed to hang around this neighborhood?” He asks as the other man leads him out of the alley.

“I don’t live in this neighborhood,” Mickey answers.

[targwh0re]

Thoughts on Teen Wolf the Movie while watching it pt.4

Not Eli just crouching in the corner

"Remember Simba" 🦁

Damn imagine that's how Derek introduced Eli to the pack💀 took him to the look out place/point? and held him up like Simba but he's a little wolf pup🐺 "and all the dragons roared as one" (srry I've been watching alot of Hotd)

Really fucked up of you to have Derek stabbed like that infront of his son who has no way of knowing his dad's not actually dead

Why'd they fall down the stairs?

nah grl ur fam got themselves killed

How poetic of Nogi 📜✒

"I can do this" or not

I stand by the idea that the only reason Eli didn't pass out was bc there wasn't a mirror around 😂

Poor Malia, she obviously cares about Eli very much

Oh, so we just out here stabbing ourselves now? Interesting development in our tale

Also that's the rock I'm talking about, the one where Derek could've brought baby Eli😂

"Can't we just call Stiles?" Is what he was going to stay

why is Jackson eating in every scene😂

...

....

🎶walk him like a dog, sis, walk him like a dog🎶

Second hand embarrassment 😳 Peter why they got you on the floor like that😭💀

I'm weak. Yes, Peter we can see the blood 5 feet infront of you, and you would've seen it too if you had been STANDING

What happend to that scene where Peter was reprimanding Malia "can you at least try to behave more human" We just throwing that out the window😭

Okay I'm done now, I swear

Jackson amd Malia both not understanding a word out of Lydia's mouth😂 (bc they were supposed to be the same person)

Anytime Scott opens his mouth Allison like *pokey stab* *pokey stab"

"...the moment you stabbed me" sir you stabbed urself 🤦‍♀️

If its all mountain ash then why could Malia, Parrish, and Jackson all walk on it?

Scott: "You remember" Allison: Bitch *kicks*

Malia and Parrish aren't bad, but one I don't think Malia should be in a relationship and two idk there's no background for it

Ahhh Victoria 😱

She is right, history does have a shit ton of handsome killers. So what have we learned? don't trust pretty people😂

I mean, personally I think Kate deserved it. Plus it's not like she stayed dead, so no harm done🤷‍♀️

Wonder how long Derek's been tryna wake Eli up 🤔

Just an illusion... I'll come back go this plot point later

Ew Scott put that thing away🤢

You know what Allison, if you think he's lying why don't you tell us how you think you died hmmm

Derek still being 🥇 supportive dad for Eli when they're in a hostage situation 💀

Hikari sounds so annoyed at this whole thing, I love her, she just wants to go back to her Ramen restaurant😂

Ain't nobody told Melissa about the devine move last time?

Nah, the other one Parrish 🙄

Boy it's been a recurring thing for years, you've just been too busy in London

Poor Isaac, did he get anything?

um Jackson, and Lydia, and Stiles. We just said his name sweetie

Well shit that's not his problem that you don't remember

"There's no such thing as fate" "There's no such thing as werewolves" why did you do this to me😭😭😭

If your a werewolf hunter shouldn't you know what ur supposed to do to help with wolfsbane

I'd be the same Eli. Gonna get a zillion diseases from his evil nasty ass hand🤮

He's trying, stop shaming him Nogi🙄

oop- Derek said I think the fuck not you trick ass bitch, here me roar

He has bad memories with road flares😬

"Scott you're my brother. So if you're gonna do this...your just going to have to take me with you then" ooooh now I just made myself cry😭😭😭

glowsticks😁

Derek: "Eli, did you see that? Did you see your eyes" Eli: "How the hell am I supposed to see my eyes, they're the things i use to see" 🤣🤣🤣

That is the best line! The best line!🤣

Damn Nogi why you so loud, it's not that deep 😒

That was kinda simple to bring Allison back to less homicidal

Oh we playing chess again, cool. Still don't know how to play😬

Scott got drampled by a herd of deer, Eli got trampled by a heard of hormonal, halfwits (lesser known Peter line) I'll take the deer thanks 👍

"I'm still in love with you" awwww 🥺❤ we know Scott, we know

So how could Jackson able to even touch the mountain ash? Is it bc he's a chimera even though they were supposed to be impossible unless they were genetically altered by the dread doctors?... Jeff explain.

Ow, poor Eli, now he knows the struggle😂

ahahaha Adrian woke up and chose violence lmoa

The main reason this is so funny to me is bc Mr. Harris was always so nice to Jackson wtf happend

How does he know about everyone? Oh well Monroe. But still, I like to believe he was a failed emissary & for people complaining about Harris "being back from the dead" they never actually found his body. I kept waiting for the series to finish that plot line but they never did so I'm pleased that he's the villian (which I predicted he was😁) I'm just confused on his motives and wish they explained it better

How did they ruin your life? And um didn't jennifer choose u herself 🤨 also I seem to remember you saying you helped crazy darach lady so u made ur damn self a loose end🥱

he's right he was in London 🇬🇧

but uh jackson honey, for future reference maybe don't talk when there's a man with a loaded gun, just you know, just in case he decides to shoot u👍

I say we yell fire 🔥

So what's the other layers and their purposes? Is the Nogitsune actually in their layer of the illusion bc remember when Scott, Stiles, Lydia, and Kira were in an illusion with the "Nogitsune" but he was just another illusion bc he was really outside w/ Derek and the twins🤔

Poor Derek, hasn't he been through enough, now he's afraid he fucked his son up by protecting him

i will add to this thou, I've seen a few people say that Derek is too much like Clarke Kent and that he would have a completely different parenting style and while I do somewhat agree we have to remember that people tend to act different around their family and especially with their kids than they are with other people. It's also been a lot of years where he has changed alot to fit having to raise a child by himself (who tf is Eli's mom and where is she?; Jeff said he wanted to explore that in another movie) plus he had to change, S2 Derek would be a terrible father and Eli would've been so fucked up

That cute little wave and the smile back 😊

Wish Stiles would've popped up, he could've been in Jackson place being threatened at gun point (it would make more sense bc Harris hated him) he didn't know why Lydia left, and he would've been the one to tell her it was just a dream

Even if it was a premonition (which I don't think it was, I think fear is a powerful thing and it manipulates you and when you've spent your whole teen years like them just constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop, well...) you can't outrun fate

They wail in grief 😔

*clink* *falls to the ground with dramatic gasp* 💀

I still wanna know who the hell Greenburg was

Also calling Scott Greenburg still would be like 30...

Yea ur sons on the field 😁👏👏👏

Flashes to when Stiles was scoring all thos goals in season 2 and everyone was cheering for him🥺👏👏👏

"My dad was actually right. I'm actually pretty good" 😎

omg not him forgetting about his currently hostage father😭💀

Wonder how Derek feels listening to all this 😂

well no shit it's not over, did you forget that ur dead ex ain't the problem anymore smh

Pt.4-5