#soft!cooper

[its-in-the-woods]

The Woman Who Couldn’t Die Part 11

master list

Part 1 , Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10

Pairing: The Ghoul/Cooper Howard x Original Character

Synopsis: Our rambling pair finds a comfortable spot for a night, but ends up trapped there

MINOR GET OUT. Rating/Warning: This is based on Fallout expect typical horror as well as: Blood, Self Harm, scars, mention of SH, lovely dovey, fluffy, horror, death, drugs use, soft!cooper, angst, slow burn, hurt/comfort, Dead dove,

Note: Thank you for all your patience this one was a battle! But I think I like how it turned out!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jade sits in the middle of the crossroads, they’d pushed hard the last three days, including walking nearly blind through the night. Today had been the first day they hadn’t heard that thing, having crossed some invisible boundary between the forest and the grasslands. Whatever it was, Jade had started calling it a Regen, it seemed that its power was tied to the forest. Jade had been watching the Ghoul closely, he had been doing the same, he never went out of her eyesight. His shoulders had finally slacked a little, the tightness between his brows relaxing, he had even slowed down on the chem for a moment. 

As Jade sat on the dirt and gravel she wondered what the man was thinking. They had traveled in near silence for the last three days, leaving Jade more on edge than normal. She also wasn’t positive he had actually slept at all, not that he seemed to need it. She was hoping there would have been somewhere to camp tonight, but at the moment it looked like they were out of luck. 

“Think we should make camp here,” Jade states, if she tried hard enough she could sleep right there. Maybe they could make a fire now that nothing was following them. 

The Ghoul sighs, looking south, his head tipping slightly as he listens ahead of them. “We should move, looks like there’s some wreckage we could use as shelter. Plus somethin' else is out here.” 

Jade lays back onto her pack with a groan, “You go,” She waves her hand in the general direction, “I will get there eventually. I am sure they are far enough away for me to get a nap in. ”

The Ghoul walks over so he is looking down at her, “Really? Think I'm going to let you out of my sight like last time?”

Jade frowns at him, sitting up and crossing her arms, “Fine. I am just tired.”

He rolls his eyes holding his hand out, Jade reluctantly grabs it as he pulls her up. She straightens herself, the Ghoul watching her, he was always watching, but the hard mask of self-control was hiding him from her. She didn’t like it, she wanted to ask him what he was thinking. Yet every time the words get caught in her throat. Hopefully, they’d get to a town and he could relax some, and get the rod out of his ass. 

“It’s not far.” He grumbles, starting down the southern path with his usual swagger. 

Jade jogs after him, catching up so she is side by side with him. Her fingers itch to grab his, but don’t, hating how much she was second-guessing everything. Feeling like something had broken when she decided to take off from the shack, even if it had been the right thing to do. 

They continue walking, the sun now starting to dip behind the line of trees. Jade’s fingers clutch at the straps of her bag, her footfalls on the dirt a steady thumping rhythm. Ahead of them, there is a pile of old cars on the side of the road. She guessed that was where they’d be spending the night, maybe there would be a few with seats, better than the ground anyway. The itch on her left hand grabbed her attention, she’d been avoiding it, but tonight might be the night to finally unwrap and see the damage that was there. It was still weird not having any fingers, even though it often felt like they were still there. 

“We should look at your hand,” Ghoul says as if he can read her mind. “Make sure it’s healing properly.”

“I am sure it's fine, but I’d appreciate it.” Jade swallows, rubbing at the numbs. “It’s really itchy.”

“Probably healin',” He shrugs, putting his hand up to stop her. “You go left, I will go right, meet in the middle.”

Jade nods, pulling out her machete, and making sure her clip is full. It had taken a bit to get used to handling the machete with fewer fingers, but she was still skilled with it. Moving as quietly as she could, hoping that reivers or feinds wouldn’t jump out at her. As she came around the corner the only thing she saw was the Ghoul. He was leaning against the hood of what was once a truck, somehow looking both relaxed and annoyed. Jade came to stand closer to him, looking at the truck hood waiting for him to move.

The Ghoul grips the top of the car hood and pulls it to the side, Jade’s mouth falling when it opens up, revealing an inner space. He gestures for her to go, she walks down a metal-lined corridor that leads into a somewhat roomy space. There were old seats that had been laid out into makeshift beds, the cars had been positioned so that there was a central space open to the sky, but the beds were covered from any rain. Which meant you could make a fire without having to worry about anyone seeing. Turning back Jade watches the Ghoul pull the piece of metal back into place before pulling down a large metal bar that slipped into two U-shaped latches. 

“Let me guess. You knew about this place?” Jade asks, dropping her bag on one of the benches. 

“Somethin' like that.” Ghoul shrugs, dropping his own bag, he digs into one of the cars pulling out some wood. She wonders how many other hidden compartments were in this place. The man crouches down to start working on a fire, Jade relaxes on one of the benches. Taking a moment to undo her boots and flex her toes, she hadn’t taken them off since finding them. 

“I appreciate the accommodations. Nice to have a fire for a change.” Jade chatters rubbing at her sore feet for a moment, watching him as he carefully sets each piece in place. 

“Was travelin' with another acquaintance, and they were kind enough to show me this spot.” The Ghoul said as he used an old metal lighter to light some small kindling. “There are dozens of these scattered all over if you know what to look'or.”

“Didn’t know you traveled with companions.” Jade stretches, enjoying the comfort of the somewhat soft bench. “Figured you were more of a lone wander type.” 

“Sometimes a job requires a second.” He says quietly as the fire starts up. “Though, I rarely travel far with anyone.” 

“Is that why you’ve been counting the days?” Jade asks, happy to enjoy some conversation again.

“Just like keepin' track of time is all,” Ghoul says, the dismissive tone not lost on her as he refuses to look at her.

Why couldn’t he just be open and honest with her? She sighs, her eyes closing as the place heats up. Her mind drifts to the Inn with that hot shower, what she’d do for a hot shower. Her head rests against a cushion behind her, mind slowly drifting away.

A hand touches her, Jade jerking up, her hand caught mid-swipe at the Ghoul. A smile crosses his lips, his hand holding her wrist up. The two stared at each other, barely inches between them. Jade desperately wanted to close the space but waited for him to move. Her stomach twisting, she couldn’t remember anyone ever making her feel the way he did.

“Easy there, Tiny,” The Ghoul chuckles, fingers moving over the bandages. “Just wanna take a look at your hand, k?”

Jade nods, a twinge of disappointment pools in her stomach as he moves away. She lets out a breath and relaxes against the wall. “Yeah, sure. Umm, sorry I am just tired.”

The Ghoul just grunts, as he crouches down to unwrap her hand carefully, each layer slightly cleaner than the next. The skin is an entirely pink and red color, Jade is surprised to see that there are nubs pushing at the skin. She holds it up and wiggles it, watching the nubs move in the firelight with her other fingers. 

“Huh,” The Ghoul turns his head, carefully removing his gloves, he gently takes her hand and runs his textured fingers across them. Jade feels herself shiver a little at the touch, watching him as he carefully inspects each part of her hand.

“Are those my fingers?” Jade asks, flexing her hand and in awe as they move. 

“Your fingers were cut to the knuckle, there was barely enough skin to close it.” He said watching her move them. “Whatta they do to ya at the Enclave?”

***

The Ghoul was perplexed as he watches Jade move her fingers. Well the nubs of her new fingers, the skin felt new, incredibly soft. It didn’t look like a mutation, or ghoulification, it looked like it was regrowing. His mind ran back to the critter, the Regen as Jade liked to call it. That had been able to piece itself back together. The only problem was Jade didn’t bleed black, and there was no black crawling into her skin. 

“I don’t remember a lot from Enclave.” Jade blinks, fingers running over the new flesh. “I’ve been cut before.” She lifts up her shirt to show scars, the Ghoul swallowing as he looks at her flesh, noting each pink-gray scar. “They always scarred, never regrew, and definitely didn’t look brand new like this.”

The Ghoul huffs, digging around in his bag to find a new bandage. Jade wasn’t lying, she was covered in scars and marks, some looking like they’d taken huge chunks out of her. So why was she healing now? What has changed? 

“Do you think it was Regen?” Jade asks as he wraps up her hand carefully, making sure to give room for the growing appendages. “I did cough up some of that goop.”

The Ghoul thought back, remembering when Jade had finally woken up how she’d coughed up the black goo. Was that enough to have changed her? To give her abilities to reheal? Was that even a possibility? He’d walked this land for so long, yet there was always something new to discover.  

The Ghoul pulls out a small knife, now that he has finished bandaging up her hand. Watching as Jade looks at it, before looking back at him. “Should we test it?”

Jade held her hand out, “If anyone is cutting me, it’s me. I’ve been cut up enough.”

“Fair,” He flips the knife around with practice ease, his stomach twisting as her face darkens. “I meant no harm.”

Jade shrugs, “Didn’t think you did. Just.” Jade licks her lips looking away as she grabs the handle of the knife. “Just not ready for anything too kinky.”

The Ghoul let out a chuckle, happy that she didn’t take it to heart, “Will save that for the second ate.”

Jade also lets out a laugh, he would never get tired of that sound. She moves the knife in between her fingers, Jade rolls up her sleeves and finds a spot with an old scar. Letting out a breath she quickly presses and slides along the mark. Red blood pushes past the skin, Jade grimacing as it starts to bleed. The Ghoul watches for a moment, happy to see red, normal blood coming out of her. He reaches to grab a rag to cover it but Jade stops him. He watches a few drops fall and can smell the iron in the air. To their surprise it slowly stops bleeding, it clots quicker than it should, the skin starting to knit itself closed. The old scar is now replaced with a neat red mark. 

“So you can heal.” The Ghoul watches, running his finger over the top of the clotted blood. Utterly fascinated with what was occurring right in front of him  “That’s unexpected.”

Jade laughs, “So my fingers are going to grow back. My skin is healing, does this mean I am going to become a ghoul?”

He felt his body go stiff at the statement, he sat down beside her groaning as he stretched out. Trying to cover how much that thought bothered him. The thought of Jade turning into a Ghoul was the stuff of nightmares. The ghoulification process was not something to want, it was more than painful. It was like being peeled alive and put back together over and over again until you couldn’t feel it anymore.

“No, you are not turnin' into a ghoul. It would scar. Take it from one, you’d know if you were.” Ghoul said, grabbing her bag digging out a can, and handing it to her.

Jade takes the cans and puts them by the fire. Grabbing her bag to pull out a sweater. The Ghoul strips off his duster, being able to feel the heat was a luxury he wasn't going to squander. 

“Would it be that bad if I turned into a ghoul?” Jade asks as she turns the cans over with a stick. The Ghoul wants to lash out at her for continuing to push the question, and for being so naive.  

He grits his teeth, biting back a harsh remark. “You aren’t dumb enough to want this.”

“You've lived for centuries. Why is that so bad?” Jade protests, playing with some of the embers.,

The Ghoul grabs her chin, turning her to look at him. She flinches but doesn't turn away, lips set in a firm but defiant line. Green brown eyes staring directly into his. It was something he’d always liked about her, her ability to not back down from anything, even him. It also irritated the heck out of him too. 

“I've lost everythin'.” He growls at her, “My family, friends, seen whole cities burn to the ground.” He makes sure to keep his gaze firm. “I wouldn't wish this curse on anyone,” He makes sure to put emphasis behind his words. “You deserve to live a life free of this torment.”

Jade just nods, leaning her head against his hands. She kisses his palm, her eyes looking past him, like she is trying not say something. Jade moves, and for a moment he thought she’d kiss him again, but instead, she fishes the cans out of the embers, rolling them to rest near the bench. The silence feels colder than it should, making the Ghoul want to climb out of the place. He doesn’t want the distance that has grown between them to keep growing. 

“You are all I have Cooper. If this healing thing means we get more time together I am not going to waste that,” Jade finally speaks using a shirt to place the cans in between them. “You can be as stubborn as you want. But-” Jade takes his worn hand in hers. “But this isn't something that comes around very often.”

Ghoul feels his heartache, hating how right she was. Whatever this was, Cooper wasn't going to dwell on labels much, it was something good. Something good in this shit world, he just wishes he could give her more. The urge to wrap her up in his arms and never let go made his hands twitch against his worn pants.

“Should eat, try to get some sleep,” Cooper swallows, opening the cans up with his knife quickly. He ate one-half of some green beans, Jade ate half of something close to chicken. The two swapped with each other like they had started to do nightly.

Once full of food Jade gets up smothering all but a few embers. The Ghoul gets up and grabs another bench seat, sliding the two together to make a makeshift bed. Jade crawls on top using the sweater as a pillow, gun above her head. Cooper scoots in, gun at his hip, using his duster to cover both of them. The girl quickly snuggles herself against him quietly. Cooper allows himself to wrap an arm around her. Waiting until her heartbeat and breathing had slowed down, his hand running up and down her back. Feeling the various scars, where different bones poked, how her muscles moved. He squeezed her a little tighter, not really knowing how to feel about any of it anymore. 

***

The banging at the metal door has Jade up, the Ghoul was already standing looking down the corridor. He looks at her putting a finger to his lips, Jade nods quickly packing their stuff and shoving her jacket on. She grabs her trusty machete flexing it in one hand, while she grabs the pistol in the other hand, the two of them both listening carefully. 

“Let us in,” Someone hollered from outside the door. “Please!” More banging, the door rattling but neither of them moving. “They’re coming.” The cries echoing in the hall, Jade wants to go and open the door and let them in. The Ghoul was standing stock still, shoulder tight, shotgun in hand, there was no way he would let her open the door. 

Cooper gestures for Jade to come closer, she moves quickly to stand beside him. He leans down keeping his eyes on the door, “Across from us, roll the window down, there is a lever that will close the roof.” 

Jade swallows and moves over to the opposite side of the shoot, she finds the window looking it up and down until she sees a handle. Grabbing it she rolls it down revealing a large switch, looking back at the Ghoul he nods his head. She grabs the large lever and starts pulling it down, a lot of screeching happens, both turning up to watch the iris of metal start to close. Jade grunts as she pushes it all the way down, a snapping sound as it hits the bottom. The banging outside stops as Jade quickly moves through the blackness. The only light small beams from seams and holes of the pieced-together metal. 

“What was that,” Jade whispers as she comes back to the Ghoul. Her eyes slowly adjust to the dimness. She peers past him down towards the metal door. Rattling now starts all the way around them like they are climbing up the sides of the structure.

The Ghoul looks up and around them, his face set in a firm line as he listens to the chatter. It was like the place was getting pelted by a hail storm, the whole place nearly vibrating with the thumping. 

“Not sure,” He walks over to the center of the room, the metal shutters vibrating as thumping continues. “But I think we are staying.”

Jade lets out a groan, “Damnit, could we get out of one place without something going sideways.” 

The Ghoul chuckles, “This is the Wastes after all. And you have a habit of drawing attention.”

“I do not,” Jade grumbles kicking her boots off, “Not any more than you do. You suggested this place.”

“So the roadway would have been better?” The Ghoul snaps back at her, walking around the place and touching various surfaces. Jade doesn’t reply instead grabbing her bag to go through things. Wondering how long they could go before they would have to find a way out. 

The rattling slowly stops, as the Ghoul opens up a door that has a small amount of cans in it. “Well, at least we won’t starve to death.” 

***

The banging had been going on for what feels like ages, the Ghoul had found a total of four more hiding spots. Unfortunately, no way out besides the door and the chimney. Jade had laid out all their supplies, carefully noting how much they had. Food was okay, water was another matter, and chems. Not low enough to be a worry for a few days, but any longer and it was going to get worse. He knew they were only a day at most from a town, but how long would they be stuck in here? 

Rubbing at his face he tosses his hat down on the bench, he already feels like he is stuck in a coffin. The rattling was not helping either. If it was just him, he’d be out the door already guns blazing. Jade would follow him if he asked, that was the danger. He paces the room one more time before going to sit on the makeshift bed bedside, Jade. She was lying down on the far side, her head covered by her sweater. 

He wants to reach out, drag her closer, kiss her, feel her kiss him back. Cooper’s hands clenches against the cushions, he was trying to put distance and it hurt more than it should. He was trying to stay focused, once they were in a town, they could figure out what to do next.

Cooper nearly jumps off the bed when Jade’s hand runs over his lower back. She lets out a small chuckle scooting closer to him, she leans so her head is near his hips, fingers resting on top of his thigh. Her other hand goes to his lower back rubbing up and down against the worn material. He does his best to relax against her touch, his instincts telling him to run in the other direction. Why couldn’t he just enjoy a little comfort? 

“They’ve stopped banging against the walls,” Jade says, voice mostly muffled by the cushions. “Think we could escape?”

Ghoul goes to push Jade’s hand off of him, instead he slots his fingers over hers. “No, I don’t think so. Could be waitin' for us to leave.” 

“I have an idea,” Jade says quietly, he hears her shifting around, so he scoots down so she can move to sit beside him. Cooper looks her up and down and she wiggles to press herself against him. “If you’re interested.”

He narrows his eyes at her, “Do yah have a shovel in your pack I didn’t know about?”

Jade groans, resting her forehead against his shoulder. “I was thinking of somethin' a bit more interesting. Way to pass the time,” She stands up in front of Cooper, leaning forward so her hands are on his knees. 

“No,” The Ghoul states, despite the heat in his stomach, and the way his stomach knotts up in anticipation. “We need to stay on alert,”

Jade stands back arms across her baggy shirt, walking away and circling the small room a few times. The Ghoul could feel the frustration radiate off of her as she stops and stands in front of him again.

“Is this some old-world thing that I don’t know about?” Jade asks, waving her hand in the air. 

“What?” The Ghoul replies, just as confused as she is. 

Jade moves forward so her legs are touching his knees, “Why you won’t have sex with me? Is it an old-world thing? Or do you not want that from me?” 

The Ghoul rolls his eyes, “We are currently stuck in a ramshackle stack of cars, that is surrounded by somethin' trying to get to us. It isn’t exactly what I would call romantic?” 

Jade puts her hands on his shoulders pushing at them, he refuses to move, Jade pushes off walking away. She throws her hands up, finding another bench to lay down on. 

“I live somewhere that is called The Wastes. I have no family, I have no job. My last, sort kinda, relationship was with a guy who locked me in a closet, pumped me full of chems, and sold me to randoms.” Jade muttered, shifting around on the bench, and staring up at the ceiling. 

Cooper gets up, peeling off one of the cushions, he places it on the ground beside her, groaning as he sits down. There was still no knocking happening, the place almost seemed too quiet. As if the walls were listening to them. 

He grits his teeth, fiddling at the worn frayed pants, “Jade.” He closes his eyes, “You deserve softness.”  Cooper twines his fingers with hers, “And before you start,” Jade lets out a huff of annoyance. “I don’t know what I want. But I know you deserve more than a ratty bench, a bed at least.”

Jade stays silent still looking up at the ceiling, her thumb rubbing over his skin. Her eyes close and her face goes slack as she squeezes his hand. 

“I don’t know if I deserve that, but I am not going to deny, a bed would be nice.” Jade sighs, bringing his hand up so she can kiss his rough skin. “You deserve softness too.”

PART 12

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Thank you all for the support and love, I cannot thank you all enough for sticking around as long as you have. This story does have an end in sight and an end written. Much love to you all!

@pixelatedprofilepic @hiddlebatchedloki @toogaytofunctiondangit @dionneroyal49 @dichromaniac

@whatsorceressisthis

[melodyoffire]

the lucy head-tilt

[evan-collins90]

'Soft-Countriana' style bathroom designed by Anne Cooper (year unknown)

"A luxurious Victorian theme and mood are established with the romantic lavender hue in this delicate bathroom suite. The complex authentic trim and openwork are featured with gleaming white that contrasts against the soft lavender wall pattern. Brass fixtures shine like jewelry and every color detail has been carefully planned to increase the effect of this regenerating space."

Scanned from the book, 'The Kitchen & Bath Color Book' by Melanie & John Aves (1999)

[fauxunraveling]

this is me if you even care </3

[jazz-artz]

guess who has a new comfort character from a previous hyperfixation

poppy likes to go to cooper for comfort cuz she can hide her face in his fur (she doesnt like letting ppl see her cry)

[wrr000]

"like a shadow"

Summary: The ghoul you hired for protection liked you more than both of you would expect.

Warnings: english isn't my first language; really short; it's from my Cooper x oc fic, but idk if I should post chapters here; pure soft; inner thoughts; reader is similiar to Lucy

»»————-　♡　————-««

You finally made it to town. Walking thru the wasteland felt like an endless journey while burning sun was always watching every step of foolish humans, who dared to cross these lands. And it wasn't the only threat waiting for your mistep. You earned that stop to rest and gather strength. He deserved it as well.

This place was pretty civilian. By the standards of the wasteland, of course. People were trying to live a "normal" life and some constantly pretended like The Great War never happened. You didn't mind it as long as they didn't act suspicious towards you. Besides, he was here and that made you feel... safe. Kinda. Weird nonetheless.

He was the one who announced parting ways in town and you kindly agreed (like you had a choice).

"I'm goin' to check what chems they got here, think you can handle things on your own, Vaultie" - usual smirk appeared on his fucked up face.

That ghoul was driving you insane. Even after paying him for escort and protection he was still threatening you and bitching around that he actually doesn't care about you and if something big is going to happened - his life goes first, not you. But the sad truth was - you couldn't really blame him.

Ironically, someone like him turned out to be the kindest thing you met since reaching the surface. He was terriyfing, cruel and nothing alike anyone from the Vault. But as time passed, you saw something more in him, under that hard shell and feeling of fear passed. His action were still shocking to you, but wasteland has it's own rules and you started to understand that.

It wasn't a suprise that Cooper didn't want to walk around the town. You felt like he couldn't stand you. But it was fine, you kinda enjoyed exploring and discovering the town alone. Just like the good old times as a child in the Vault.

Little you knew that you had a shadow. Unaware of a pair of penetrating eyes watching your every graceful move. Your smile was the brightest on the whole planet and every small gesture was full of passion. Analizing you very carefuly. You didn't saw him, but he saw you perfectly.

It was hard for the ghoul to admit it to himself that he grew fond of you during your journey together. Very hard. Worst, poor bounty hunter realized that he had a soft spot for a stupid naive Vaultie. Thankfully, you didn't notice anything and he could suffer in silence.

You reminded him of a long gone humanity. Always kind and polite, naive as hell, delusional and annoying. You even never judged him for being a ghoul! Ohhh, how he hated you, but loved at the same time. You were like his human half, a long lost part. He knew you wouldn't last long out there, people like you never lasted long.

Cooper took this job for money of course. You offered a good amount of caps and it was equal with massive stock of chems. But now, he thougth to himself, it would be a shame if something happened to you, right? That's why he was doing an "extra" job. Always watching, even if he didn't had to, always protecting you, even if you didn't noticed it.

In a long long long time the ghoul felt like a human again. It was pissing him off, but he missed that feeling. Well, he missed his whole previous life actually, more than he would like, but you kinda started to filling that void inside his ghoulish heart. Slowly.

[tj-crochets]

Blanket number seven this week is foxes! Next up: strawberries

[windwenn]

Audrey! Im doing a little series of some of the female twin peaks characters, mostly so i can use this nice brush lol

[non-plutonian-druid]

[ID: Drawings of the TUA Paranatural AU, mostly of the Sparrows. Alphonso and Sloane are both adults, wearing matching red and black suits. Both of them are spectrals, as indicated by the spectral energy rising off of them.

Marcus about twelve, the same as the majority of the Hargreeves. He is posing dramatically and wearing a polo shirt and khakis.

Fei and Jayme are both about 17, and are both vampires. Fei is wearing platform boots and an all-black outfit with a sheer skirt, and Fei is wearing a baseball tee and UFO pants.

The last image is of Umbrella Ben and Sparrow Ben. Umbrella Ben is a ghost, and looks about twelve. Sparrow Ben is alive, and a similar age to Fei and Jayme. End ID.]

I have decided what to do with the sparrows!

Alphonso and Sloane both work for the Commission on spirit-wrangling or whatever it is the commission does. They're a bit younger than Five (Sloane is 22, Alphonso is 20), and are roughly equivalent to Agent Day, for anyone familiar with the original comic. Basically, theyre there to snoop.

Marcus has some kind of band kid rivalry with Viktor. I don't know enough about band to determine what it is, but rest assured that they are very passionate about it.

Paranatural has vampires in it! I don't know what the deal is with vampires in paranatural so i wasn't going to include any, but specifically Fei and Jayme as vampires won me over. They probably spend their time trying to kill sparrow Ben.

Umbrella Ben and Sparrow Ben are both in this au! They're twins :)

[togament]

I just know Ume would ask you out in the cutest, sweetest way possible. Surrounded with friends, your favorite food, dishes he even cooked himself.

He even dressed for the event too.

He even asked help from everyone at Makochi to plan it out.

Sigh.

BIGGEST SIIIIGH.

[hitlikehammers]

on the radio

rating: t ♥️ cw: criminal-levels of softness, love beyond the boundaries of what it even meant to love before the spring of ‘86 ♥️ tags: established relationship, rockstar!eddie, teacher!steve, rockstar husbands, tour dates coincide with summer vacation because Eddie can't sleep without his Stevie thank you for your cooperation with this policy, soul-deep love, slice of life, softness

for @steddielovemonth day fourteen: Love is being late to work because you can’t ever say goodbye in a reasonable amount of time (@sharpbutsoft)

more codependent rockstar!husbands of the je ne regrette rien variety, you say? oh, well, I mean: I guess ♥️

Steve can fucking taste freedom, he swears.

He looks at the list of student records he needs to close out to transfer to the high school before he can pack away the last of his office and sign the hell off for the school year—and start the summer tour cycle with his husband through the Midwest, up and down the East Coast, and then they’re fucking breaking Europe, got signed on to a couple festivals, and Steve is goddamn vibrating with excitement and shit, just: are there parts of your heart that like, fit together? Like bones where they connect and shit, or is it all just one piece?

Steve thinks is more like one piece, but he is gonna go with that it’s more like stitched together or something, just so he can fucking say exactly what he feels, which is that his whole goddamn chest—heart and ribs and lungs and all the other fucking bones and shit there—all of it’s seriously bursting at the seams just with so much fucking pride, okay, because his Eddie’s goddamn made it. This dream of his isn’t just gold records; it’s a plane across an ocean to play for tens of thousands of people who don’t even all speak their language and that’s…that’s just like…

Steve’s so goddamn proud he’s split between wanting to scream about it from the top of the school and maybe sob about it with all kinds of sappy declarations peppered in as he messy-cries, so: bursting at the seams. Heart in his chest so full it’s primed to just explode like a goddamn confetti cannon.

Though time has kind of served as testament to the fact that that sensation’s less exclusively about Eddie’s music, or his success, and more just about Eddie.

Eddie, and loving him beyond the boundaries of any understanding Steve ever had about what it meant to love before the spring of ‘86.

He’s almost through the ‘V’s at the end of his alphabet of names when he notes the time—shit, he almost missed it.

He reaches for tiny radio in the corner of his desk that literally just lives there for the purpose of Eddie and the boys doing interviews on local stations every so often, and tunes it in 93.9.

…elcome to most of the infamous lords of midwestern metal, Corroded Coffin, the DJ’s introducing and good, Steve sighs and flips through his…fifth-to-last folder—just in time, he can listen to the interview the guys are squeezing in before hitting the road, then he can get home while the band’s getting their flight to the first venue in Chicago, they’ve got a couple of days there and he and Eddie are planning to look at some houses; Erica’s out of high school they’re ready to make the leap, and Steve will take the 6:10 flight and head straight to the show like the often do, it should work perfect; it’s great to have you guys back but Jeff, I gotta ask, the maybe most…colorful?

You can say obnoxious, Lenny, if anyone knows, we do, Jeff’s shooting playfully, and Steve snickers, distracted by closer folder-number-five and flipping open number-four.

I would never, the DJ gasps theatrically to laughter, and Gareth’s muted holler almost like he’s here! and then he continues on; that does open the line of inquiry, though: where’s your notorious frontman, Mr. Munson?

Steve’s hand slips on the folder; he barely catches it before it falls to the floor.

Eddie…Eddie’s not, not there?

Steve tries to talk down the adrenaline response that’s never wholly died at the idea of the love of his fucking life gone missing, and worse, the idea of something happening to him while unaccounted for: Jeff was playful. Gareth was teasing. They have to at least have known somethingabout Eddie’s absence, Steve talks down his racing heart to something just a little anxious as he listens for clues, and doesn’t have to mine little hints or anything even, it’s clear and plain:

Eddie’s got a sore throat, so like the diva he is, he’s resting it before showtime, Dougie chiming in and yeah, two points to that: one, the only reason Eddie’d have a sore throat would have been fine by sun-up, yeah, and it was, because Eddie was all sunshine and manic energy when they parted ways that morning, and then two: Steve actually knows these guys well enough to be able to tell when they’re talking out their asses.

And Doug is maybe the worst liar of the three on-air.

Steve’s chewing hard on his Bic, trying hard to keep a level head about this: if anything drastic had happened, he’d have heard, they all have his office number, they all know where he is, it would—

Steve startles when he hears rubber squeaking down the hall outside the office; as far as he knows, though, he’s the only person here—everyone else takes at least a week free from this place after classes end, but Steve has a timeline, and a flight to catch, so y’know: sacrifices must be made and whatnot.

He barely gets to turn in his chair to consider getting up to check when the culprit and his perpetually-trashed Reeboks skids to a halt in the doorway.

“Sweetheart,” Eddie beams at him, a little breathless, hair a fucking mess but smiling so big, those dimples popped so deep: shit, if Steve’s heart hadn’t been quick already, that’d fucking do the trick.

“Eddie,” Steve stands, and meets him in the middle where Eddie’s already crossing to him, kissing him immediately and hungrier than the maybe-five-hours since the saw each other really fucking merits. “What, you, why aren’t you at the station?”

Eddie’s eyes flick to the radio as he clocks the question and of all the reactions Steve could predict from him, the fake-sheepish grin with the glimmering fucking eyes?

Probably could have guessed that one.

“I forgot something.”

“You forgot something?”

“Yeah, something important,” he nods fervently and Steve frowns.

‘Babe, you could have called, I’m meeting you at the arena, I could drop it with security if needed to,” he offers, argues: but not really, and not like it fucking matters, because here Eddie is, and the boys were planning to run straight to the airport from the interview, both of which are in the city but Steve’s not, and Eddie’s gonna have to be fucking quick, here, if he doesn’t want to be late for his goddamn flight; did he already swing by the house for whatever it is he needs, it—

“Nope,” Eddie pops the denial like a bubble; “can’t leave it with security.”

Steve squints at him, because now it’s a puzzle. Now it’s Eddie being…kind of a little shit.

And Steve doesn’t even begrudge him the momentary panic before; he’s too adorable. Steve’s too fucking in love.

And now he’s curious.

“You kissed me goodbye.”

“Oh, always,” Eddies almost offended by the suggestion he could have forgotten that. As in: ever.

“Said you loved me.”

“Bigger than the universe,” Eddie says exactly what he came up with that morning, like he does every morning, some new outlandish way to describe the scope of his affections and Steve rolls his eyes but eats it up every fucking time; “and the universe is always expanding so I love you bigger than what it’s expanded to since this morning, too.”

Steve can’t help but kiss him for that, because; well.

Because.

“What the hell else then?” Steve asks, because Eddie has a fucking timeline here and then his husband’s grin stretches slow, and sly, and then he’s drawing Steve in, and kissing him deep, licking as far as he can reach and wrapping his arms around Steve’s waist tight, knocking him a little off balance by design and Steve goes with it, because he fucking loves it, and then—

“Goddamnit, Edward,” Steve growls between them into Eddie’s shit-eating fucking grin as he smacks Steve’s ass, again, and keeps his hand there to squeeze while he pecks at Steve’s lips with feeling.

“It’s good luck, baby, for the journey!” Eddie protests between kisses. “It would curse the whole shebang if I left without showing the appreciation duly accorded to a goddamn masterpiece,” and then he leans in and goes deep one more time, draws a moan out and drags it slow from Steve’s lips before breaking away to declare emphatically:

“Unthinkable.”

And Steve…Steve fucking loves this man bigger than the whole expanding fucking universe or whatever, so he kisses him back until Eddie’s the one moaning, then pushes him away, kinda hard.

“Get out of here, you fucking lunatic,” but then he’s quick to drag Eddie back for one last kiss to mouth against him: “have a safe flight, I’ll see you tonight.”

And Eddie smiles against him, and makes to actually listen, but.

Not before Steve slaps that ass as it makes its way out the door.

Turnabout’s fair play.

Or whatever.

tag list (comment to be added): @pearynice @hbyrde36 @slashify @finntheehumaneater @wxrmland @dreamwatch @perseus-notjackson

♥️

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[zishuge]

Obsidian won't exist forever... once the game is cleansed, that's when everyone will go their separate ways. Suddenly... I can't bear the thought of destroying this game. Mainly because I don't want to be separated from you. The Spirealm 致命游戏 (2024) | Ep. 59

[ginnyweatherby]

I've been having a lot of Shelnard feelings lately, and Pride Month seemed to be the perfect time to draw something for them ❤️

[ingravinoveritas]

Very much here for Jilly Cooper petting David's hair and living the actual dream...

[pupiwuf]

gay dogs going to hell

p.s. please don't forget to check my other art!! i draw women :]

[anamelessfool]

there ain't language for the things i feel

Full Art in Ch 21: Frozen Pines | Oversee Us: A Fallout Adventure