#the irony of my next door neighbors

[orangerainforest]

x

[reyadawn]

Dance With the Devil

*images used are not mine, credit to owners*

Summary: Noah Sebastian is a demon of the underworld disguised as a Priest to spy and prey on weak mortals...especially her.

Pairings: Noah Sebastian x Reader

Warnings: 🔞+, BDSM, language, some religious mentions, kissing, hair pulling, choking, fingering, bondage, oral, unprotected sex (fucking wrap it, kids), creampie

DO NOT READ IF UNDER AGE OF 18

Word Count: 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Please, please be kind. This took me quite a long time to put together. As always, happy reading! ✌️🤭

♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧

The sound of footsteps echoed lightly across the smooth slate as Noah "Father" Sebastian slowly skirted around the last row of wooden pews. The freshly polished wood glistened under the light of the floor length candleabras that lined the edges of the pews.

Noah's dark orbs slowly scanned the nave as most of the congregation had already left when the sermon was over. There were still a few people that lingered who were speaking with a couple of the other priests who remained behind. Noah chuckled as his ears picked up the voice of concern from a man talking with Father Folio about his financial hardship, yet in his mind was thinking about ploughing his next door neighbors' daughter. The irony of it all damn near had Noah bursting into untrollable laughter but resigned his decision. The last thing he needed was unwanted attention.

Noah continued to slowly walk the nave, eyes lingering on Father Karlsson as he straightened the red silk runner on the stone altar. His attention then landed on a couple who were sitting at one of the pews. The woman was crying as the man next to her held her. Her grief wrapped around Noah's heart like a vice and he smirked. They would be wonderful candidates but before he could approach them, his entire body froze.

Noah's muscles tightened, limbs rigid, feet rooted to the stone slate floor as he slowly drew in a breath. Innocence. Not quite virgin but it might as well have been, it was so pure. Noah scanned the pews, eyes finally coming to rest on her.

READER'S POV

The wooden pew was cold under the loose, thin fabric of the white summer dress I wore, despite having sat for over two hours. My fingers twisted around themselves in my lap as my left leg bounced up and down nervously. My hair fell over my shoulder, creating a curtain of privacy as I hung my head and tried to control my breathing.

I abruptly stood up and turned to leave when I crashed headlong into a very firm chest. Large hands laden with tattoos grasped my arms to hold me steady as I looked up into the face of the most beautiful man I had ever seen. Extremely tall, dark hair not quite chin length falling into his eyes, dark eyes and full lips that were slightly parted, giving me a glimpse of perfectly white teeth. I'm sure I was being rude by staring at him but Jesus, he was breathtaking. Go figure he was a priest.

"Are you alright, child?", he asked, voice deep with concern. Dear God have mercy, even his voice was perfection, the baritone sound vibrating through my body to squarely land on my clit and my breath caught. All I could do was nod as liquid heat filled the sheer fabric of the panties I wore.

"I'm Father Sebastian...but you will call me Noah", the man said. I nodded again, completely awestruck. My line of sight traveled from his face and down his neck, admiring the colorful tattoos that covered the majority of the skin exposed above the black shirt he wore behind the matching black blazer; odd attire for a priest. A silver chain hung around his neck, stopping just below his collar bone. The urge to grab it and hang on for dear life as he slotted himself between my thighs had me shifting my weight from one foot to the other.

Noah grinned...and it was sinnister. The edges of his full lips curled knowingly as he brought a hand up, fingers touching my hair softly. He raised his other hand in the air and snapped his long fingers once. The doors to the church slammed closed, causing me to jump, and all the candles were snuffed out leaving small tendrils of smoke in thier wake. What the fuck?Noah turned back to me, smirk still planted on his handsome features.

"Your innocence is intoxicating, pretty girl...I can smell it. You've hardly been noticed...or touched. Such a same, really, a beauitful creature left unattended to for so long", Noah said softly, his fingertips ghosting over the swell of my breasts above the bodice of my dress. My breathing became labored as I parted my lips in an attempt to inhale more oxygen into my body.

"Noah, please", I whispered. "Help me". Noah's fingers lifted from my skin and I whimpered at the loss. Those long fingers carded themselves into my hair before grabbing a fistful and tugging my head back. Noah's lips suddenly met mine in a soul searing kiss that stole the breath from my lungs. My hands shot to the lapels of his blazer and the pornographic whimper I let loose was practically embarrassing. Noah's hold on me tightened as he slanted his lips across mine, tongue pushing into the depths of my mouth to lick at my own. Holy fuck the man could kiss. My legs were jell-o, toes curling inside the heels I wore, my pussy oozing more slick into the now useless panties I wore. The fabric did nothing to stop my arousal from dampening my thighs.

Noah slowly pulled back and he brought a hand to wrap around my throat, applying just enough pressure to remind me who was in charge. His dominance, his demanding body language, the sheer power that radiated from him wrapped around every fiber of my being. It damn near sent me to my knees and I would have had no problem confessing all kinds of shit I've never done so long as he kept kissing me like that.

Noah once again raised his hand and snapped his fingers again. What the hell was he that he had this kind of power?This time I found myself laying down on the altar, naked, arms and legs bound open by the cold press of chains. I couldn't move as fear swept over me and I looked around wildly for a way out. Not that it would do any good if I found one considering I was chained to fucking stone.

Noah's form chose that moment to come into view and he was just as naked as I was. Body shrouded in tattoos, muscles defined and thickly corded along his shoulders, back and arms. The cock this man sported was long, thick and had my mouth watering. Not that I had much choice but I was about to fight for my place in Heaven, especially since I was about to either be killed for being stupid or fucked beyond an inch of my life and in the house of God of all places.

Noah climbed on top of me, his much larger frame barely fitting on the altar with me. His eyes roamed over my body, fingertips dancing over my skin burning hot trails of desire in thier wake. He reached between my thighs, fingers swipping through the slick that was present and brought his fingers to his mouth, eyes rolling back at the taste.

"You taste fucking delicious, pretty girl...I'm going to devour every inch of your mind, corrupt your soul...I'll have you crying and begging for anything and everything as my cock splits open this pretty little cunt...I'll fill you to the brim until you're a writhing mess beneath me and when all is done...I'll take you with me", Noah said darkly, the whites of his eyes now turning fully black. I gasped softly, fear and desire swirling in my chest as my pussy clenched around nothing.

"Who are you?", I asked. Noah smiled, his perfectly white teeth flashing.

He blinked once. "I'm a demon". I stared up at him in shock as my wrists and legs tried pulling free from the chains that bound me. As if I could go anywhere. It really was quite comical, if you thought about the situation from outside the box. That was exactly the line Dean Winchester used in Supernatural when he fought Cole. Lord I was in trouble.

Despite the fear rushing through my veins, there was absolutely nothing I could do to stop the reaction my body had to him. Noah dipped his head, lips once again pressing to mine as his fingers swept through my drenched folds, the rough pad of his middle finger softly rubbing over my clit. My eyes rolled back and my hips jerked. Noah moaned as his fingers slipped inside the tight confines of my body, my walls clenching around him. He pulled away and turned his head to watch his fingers scissoring me open, each time pulling out, glistening with my arousal.

"Fuck, you're so wet...so tight...how are you this goddamn tight?", he whispered rhetorically. Before I could answer, he moved off the altar, coming to stand at my feet and stared down at me, onyx eyes devouring me and he smiled devilishly.

Noah dove himself between my thighs, lips and tongue immediately going after my clit as his long fingers once again thrust inside me, curling against the spongy part right behind my pussy. I threw my head back and screamed as my orgasm rushed through my body, sending my nerve endings ablaze and shutting my brain down.

"That's right, pretty girl, sing for me", Noah said against my pussy. He sucked my clit harder, tongue flicking over the sensitive bundle of nerves as his fingers delved in and out of my pussy at a relentless pace, fingers still curled in a come-hither motion.

"Noah, I-", but I was cut off as another orgasm washed over me like waves, no doubt coating Noah's hand and face as my voice echoed around the empty nave. My limbs tightened against the hold of the chains and my thighs started trembling. Noah pulled away from me, not even bothering to wipe his mouth and crawled up my body as he planted hot open mouthed kisses in his wake, stopping to suck on my nipples in turn.

Reaching my lips yet again, he settled his narrow hips between my thighs and his tongue pushed his way past my lips as his cock found purchase in the tight depths of my sodden cunt. I gasped at the intrusion, his cock stretching me far beyond anything I ever felt, his head nestling against my cervix. Then he started thrusting and my entire body shattered.

Noah shuttled his cock in and out of my willing body as if he would die any second. Deep, brutal thrusts that had my body spiraling into another orgasm, my cunt gripping his cock like a vice.

"That's it...let go for me, pretty girl", Noah said between thrusts, as one hand shot to wrap around my throat and the other grabbing my hip so tight I was sure his finger prints would be marked permanently into my skin. I threw my head back, skull colliding with stone as I screamed again, washing Noah's cock in my release as it soaked the runner beneath us. This only seemed to spur him on even more, jackhammering his cock inside me.

"St-st-stop, Noah...too-too much...please", I stuttered, desperately trying to catch my breath and hold onto whatever semblance of control over my mind I had left. Noah refused to let up, eyes narrowing with determintion.

"Don't fight me, pretty girl...I'm more powerful than you can imagine...give me your mind...your body is already mine...surrender to me...", Noah said behind clenched teeth, fingers squeezing tighter around my throat, black spots dancing across my vision.

Whether I wanted to admit it or not, I was losing the battle. The longer Noah fucked me into that stone altar, the more I could feel my resolve slipping. I tried so hard to fight to keep my humanity...to keep myself but the tighter he held onto me, the tighter the chains constricted, it was only a matter of time.

"Yes...feel my power...feel it take hold...one more, one more, pretty girl and you're mine...", Noah said darkly, black eyes sparkling.

One last hard and pelvic-bruising thrust had me surrendering completely, my eyes closing, body going limp as Noah held himself inside my body. Warmth spread across my lower abdomen as he pumped so much hot come inside my body it was squelching out between us to splash on the runner that was already soaked. His inhuman shout was deafening as it reverberated through the nave, the painted glass windows vibrating and shaking.

♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧

Noah reluctantly and slowly dragged his cock from the tight recess of her body, wincing at the loss of her heat. Looking down at her, she looked so peaceful as her laguid body was thoroughly fucked out. He could feel her mind, completely fucked out and empty.

With a soft kiss to her lips, Noah raised his hand and snapped his fingers one final time, both of them vanishing. All that was left was the barely there presence of black smoke before it, too, disappeared...

🤭✌️❤️

@concreteemo @concreteangel92 @kissingarose @millie-aubs @artificialstardust @amourtoken @bloodylullaby @bluestdai @collidewiththesavannah @dsireland86 @dreamstyles @exitwoundsx @flowery-mess @iamamatus @iluvmewwwww75 @kaliforniahigh @lilhobgobbler @lovexsleepyhead @livingdeceasedgirl @philomenie @sacredthefran @fadingintothegrey @themodern-daywednesday @thisbicc @tikosblogg @xcllnt @xmads-omensx @yarasdead @lolitasangel @starsomens ❤️

[youthereader]

Near Zero part 5.

PAIRING: cillian murphy as j. robert oppenheimer x fem!reader

SUMMARY: 1.3k words. Brought on as part of the Manhattan Project, your old physics professor sees you in a new light.

RATING: E; (no smut in this part) mentions of infidelity

A/N: Although based on real life characters, this is J. Robert Oppenheimer as played by Cillian Murphy, a fictional character, and does not intend to be accurate. This is merely for entertainment. It's been months but I'm finally back! Thank you for your patience and Happy 2024!

masterlist

You remember Robert’s note every so often over the next week. You have little time to plan anything properly about your Santa Fe trip, but you fantasize when you’re alone enough. You have only been to the town on your way to Los Alamos months ago, and you were different then. You hadn’t known what this part of the world was capable of.

This dreaminess seeps into your life when you walk into the center of town to buy lighter fluid. You’re out of matches and may have to resort to a flint if you don’t hurry along to the store – and on the way in, you see Kitty, a basket in one arm full of packages from the butcher.

“You again,” she murmurs, flashing her perfect teeth.

She keeps the door open, people moving past both of you. She gives a nod to some women drifting past. It reminds you of high school.

“Robert mentioned something about you and the boys going off on a weekend trip next month,” she says, and you watch her face for any sign of suspicion. “But he can’t have you all to himself all the time, dear. I can’t have you over for my wives’ club since you’re so busy…”

Your eyes meet and you realize she absolutely does not see you as a threat. She’s trying to make friends.

“Unfortunately,” you say, though you’re pretending a little.

“There you go!” she laughs, hitting your arm playfully. “So, you understand my issue. We cannot go on knowing each other and not seeing one another. This town is small enough as it is…”

She trails off, looking behind her at the customers, something passing over her face.

“Did you know I’m a botanist?” she says eventually, glancing back at you. “I’m not just Robert’s wife.”

“Of course, you’re not,” you say.

“And I suppose you have no garden outside that godforsaken shack you’re in,” she goes on, having recovered from whatever she was feeling a breath beforehand. “I’m going to have to give you some type of succulent.”

“A succulent?” you repeat with a smirk.

“Yes, dear. A cactus. Something.”

You appreciate this, having someone that isn’t from T building to talk to. You give a shrug.

“I’m sure you’ll come up with something.”

“Yes, and then you can come visit us again to pick it up,” Kitty conspires, smiling again. “Or Robert can drop it off at yours…”

You think of him visiting your house under innocent circumstances, hoping the irony doesn’t show on your face. You clear your throat.

“I’ll let you go,” you say, and she nods.

“Suppose I ought to get back to the brat,” she sighs. “He’s with a neighbor. Unless you’d like to join me?”

You shake your head automatically. “I need to get back to work.”

Kitty rolls her eyes. “I’ve heard that one before. Ta-ta.”

You watch her leave, and then finally walk into the store. Your head is full of Robert again; he must have mentioned Santa Fe while passing through his house. You can picture him bringing up this idea as if he hadn’t come up with it the night of the dinner party. Your face feels warm, remembering his lips on yours, the way he caught your hand in his.

-

You light a cigarette as you leave for lunch a week later, almost running into a uniformed officer. He calls you by your last name and you glance up, confused.

“Ma’am, Colonel Nichols wishes to speak with you.”

You feel some colleagues’ eyes on you, aware of Robert being within earshot, too.

“Yes?”

You can’t think of what else to say, given that you see there’s little choice in the matter. The young officer turns his heel, and you follow him out. You suck on your cigarette, exhaling to the side as you exit the building, keeping a brisk pace so you’re not left behind.

You only feel mild irritation when you arrive at Nichols’ office, since he doesn’t care that your lunch break is only so long, and there are only so many opportunities to take it throughout a busy workday.

You should have gauged Robert’s reaction on your way out, as Nichols does not seem pleased to see you despite his request.

“Please have a seat,” he says, barely looking up from his papers.

You would rather stand. You would rather not be there at all by how cold he is, by how your stomach growls. You don’t often listen to your body’s signals when you’re in the labs, but now you can’t ignore your rising hunger. You take a short inhale of your cigarette before mashing it in the ashtray in front of you, taking the seat he offers.

“I understand you have requested a weekend pass,” he says, finally looking at you.

His eyes behind his spectacles are pale and assessing. The blue smoke of your cigarette still lingers above your heads as you place your hands in your lap.

“Yes, was my application efficient?” you ask, and he smirks.

“You have never requested a pass before this week,” he says. “Why is that?”

You glance away, unsure of whether this is a joke. He has no right to know such a thing, your cheeks burning with embarrassment, nonetheless. Admitting the truth, that you haven’t wanted to leave because you had no reason to, made your life sound so small and sad. You refuse the mortification.

“I’ve been busy, or is that not a good enough reason, sir?” you retort, and he blinks, unmoved.

“It has nothing to do with Dr. Oppenheimer being present among the visitors of Santa Fe?” he says.

You freeze, wanting your cigarette back, wishing you had known it would be this way. Was he insinuating something, had he seen something? Heard a rumor?

“Dr. Oppenheimer and several of my colleagues will be in Santa Fe,” you say, drawing in a breath. You let it go, to seem bored by his invasiveness. “Are we not meant to spend time with one another outside of a laboratory? I would have thought the Army endorsed that kind of morale building among its ranks.”

You’re laying it on thick and he notices it, frowning ever so slightly.

“Oppie might not even come, he’s so busy,” you add with a half laugh. “And Feynman was always more fun. He is not pathologically introverted.”

“I would have thought you have been described as such, before this pass request came through,” Nichols drawls.

“Not diagnosed as such,” you say, a smile on your lips that you let fall instantly, knowing it to be a disturbing sight to some.

You no longer wish to pretend.

“Will I be allowed to leave Los Alamos or not?” you ask, and Nichols looks down at his papers, an open file.

“For now, yes,” he says.

You stare at one another, waiting for the silence to be broken. You refuse to blink, to further unsettle him. You despise being controlled and have not felt this type of outrage in a while.

“You may leave,” he says, and you rise from your chair.

He adds as you turn your back:

“Be careful, with what you share about the project.”

You always are. You turn back, frowning at him.

“Of course. Loose lips and all.”

He gives his own false smile, echoing you: “Of course.”

-

You find Robert later, who takes your elbow and steers you back out, making a show of insisting you get something to eat like you originally planned.

“Will you have lunch, then, Oppie?” someone teases, and he laughs softly.

When you are alone in the hallway, you stop, your voices lowering.

“Nichols knows. How does he know?”

“A guard, perhaps,” Robert says, and he is not anywhere near as concerned as you.

You stare at him. “Robert, I am being serious.”

“As am I,” he says, and he touches your cheek, then your shoulder, sighing. “My darling, I’m sorry you’re put through this.”

“I’m a willing participant,” you retort, and he shakes his head, just the once. “Will you please enlighten me-?”

“I have a file. And they watch me,” he whispers.

You look towards the entryway to the hall you occupy, then back at Robert. A distinct fear settles into you, deep down, to your marrow. You suppress a shiver.

Thank you for reading! I know I vanished for a while, but I hope to write more consistently. I have a nine month-old baby and it's hard to find time for creative things, so I'm very grateful to anyone who's been hanging out for more of this story! If you'd like to be added to a taglist, hmu! 🥰

[griefabyss69]

Ample Fire Within

Hello everybody I hurt my feelings about Steve and so I've decided to inflict that on all of you as well <3

[AO3] [ Tip / Commissions post ]

Platonic Stobin - Rated: G - 1.7K

Angst with a happy ending It's short enough the full thing is under the cut!

"For all of the late night wishing on a star type of bullshit he does, when he's alone in the dark and doesn't even have to properly face himself, let alone anyone else, you'd think he'd be able to handle it when he finally gets what he wants."

You'd think that all of the near-death experiences and injuries and horrible secret knowledge they’d all had would make a group of people like, forthcoming about their feelings.

But when most of those people are hiding deeply under too many layers of irony, insecurity, and maybe an affected teenage distance, feelings come out in stupid little arguments and the decision to be as annoying as possible instead of like.

Talking about it.

The affection is just like that too – drenched in demands - and just like anything, Steve has to assume that being asked for shit means that someone somewhere cares about him.

If they need him, that means they'll think about him, remember him.

It means they won't leave and won't spit his feelings back in his face, drunk off of either expensive wine or spiked punch – he's since forgiven Nancy, and they're good friends, though she could never love him.

Forgiving his mom is something he thinks he'll get around to one day, if she ever gets around to deciding he exists again.

His dad is a lost cause, so he doesn't bother.

---

Robin's hand is tight around his, her nail polish alternating between a shimmery blue and a stark black. It works on her, makes her look cool in the way only she can be.

He studies the difference in their fingers, his nails are neatly trimmed out of habit, though the skin around them peels like he hasn't been taking care of the skin. Hers are doing pretty well, considering she's once again trying to fully kick the habit of biting them.

Despite how much smaller her hands are, he feels like the one who's protected, a bracing grip that keeps him grounded as some of his neighbors head out of the store, the sour feeling of being degraded by nothing but polite conversation about where he might go to school next year and “What are your parents up to these days?” sitting heavy in his guts.

"You want to pick the movie?" Robin asks, adding her other hand into the mix, squeezing his tightly.

He shakes his head, can't stomach the thought of having an opinion on anything right now, on being some kind of real boy who has to make a decision harder than breathe in – good – now breathe out.

She lets go of him to go wander around the shelves, and he misses the comfort deeply, but doesn't say anything about it because he needs to find a way to earn the next one, this one finished with it’s job even if it’s prematurely. He’ll find the next emotional punch he can take and will hope it makes someone notice he could use a hug or something.

He wants to think he's got people in his life now that notice him at least some of the time, really notice him, not like before when he'd sat concussed through his exams and managed to pass because the teachers didn't want to face down the wrath of Harrington Sr.

He tries not to mope, tries to shake everything off, and goes to poke fun at Robin for whatever movie she picked.

---

For all of the late night wishing on a star type of bullshit he does, when he's alone in the dark and doesn't even have to properly face himself, let alone anyone else, you'd think he'd be able to handle it when he finally gets what he wants.

But maybe it's the unexpected timing, or just the way he didn't think they'd ever be those people – but when Robin hugs him goodbye one night, the last one out of the house as Nancy waits up outside to take her home, she murmurs a quiet "Love you" into his shoulder and he only manages to hold himself together by a fucking hair until the door is shut behind her.

He wouldn’t have ever imagined that it would make him crumple to the floor beside the neat rack of shoes he never wears, but he finds himself flat on his ass with his forehead on his knees like someone's packing him away in a box.

Ugly tears already brimming and spilling down his face as his throat closes up around what might just be a banshee's wail.

He knows he's supposed to be happy, and he knows there's a part of him that is, but the rest of him is just hurt – there’s an empty hole that had dug through him until it had grown into a deep well of loneliness, and every little offering of care and attention and love drowns in it.

About thirty minutes and a big pounding headache later, his phone rings, and his voice is rough when he picks up.

"Steve," Robin gasps, out of breath like she'd run to the phone. "What's wrong?"

He frowns, wondering if he sounds that bad.

"Nothing, why?"

"Oh, you just sound… And I'd thought – I just had a feeling in the car and then it got worse and I got worried and I'm sorry I'm sure you're so ready to go get your beauty sleep and I know we'll see each other at work tomorrow – but you sound terrible, Steve. Are you really okay?"

Robin's voice is as soothing as much as it picks at him, all the little threads he'd found on the floor to put himself back together get snatched back up by her soulmate premonition feelings or whatever, and he feels his sore eyes start to sting again.

"Rob, everything's fine," he says, heading to the sink, stretching the phone cord so he can get a cold glass of water. "Just took a little nap."

"Oh, that's good," She sighs, clearly relieved. "I guess… I'll let you go?"

Steve's heart feels full of something that aches, but maybe it's not really in a bad way. He can't tell right now, but he blinks and blinks and blinks until his eyes aren't threatening to un-convince Robin of his fine-ness.

"Yeah, I'll see you in the morning," he says, and pauses, digging his toes into the tile floor to brace himself. "Have good dreams, love you."

Robin's voice is warm and thready when she replies, the phone doing a bad job of replicating it but he can still imagine she's speaking into his shoulder again.

"Love you too, goodnight Steve."

---

He does more crying in the shower, though this time it’s more of a relieved thing.

The little worry in the background of his mind that Robin had said it accidentally earlier is gone – and the larger worry in the front of his mind that he'd somehow ruin their friendship by saying the same thing back at her is gone too.

He's almost excited to get to work tomorrow, though his self esteem hasn't been doing all that great lately, with summer vacation and everyone he went to high school with coming back home from college.

Logically he doesn't care about the judgmental questions and the superior airs they put on, as if surviving another year of schooling could hold a candle to the crazy shit he's survived, but it still like, hurts.

At least the store’s been too busy for them to be scheduled for solo shifts, so he's mostly just working his full day with Robin, and aside from the retail hell of it all, it's been kind of nice just getting to hang out together for hours and hours.

---

Robin's too good at reading him, and he regrets his excitement to see her so soon after his weird love induced meltdown on the welcome mat.

"Oh my God, you lied!" She hisses as he takes his place behind the counter, leaning beside her. "Clearly something was wrong last night."

He knows his eyes are slightly fucked up still, but he's had nights of bad sleep that had him looking worse, so he's truly confused for a moment, and lets her know that, his perplexed frown out in full force as she sets her hands on his shoulders.

"C'mon, the puppy dog eyes aren't going to work," she says, squeezing and shaking him a little bit. "You let me think I was an over-worrier! That I was thinking too much. Tell me, Steve."

He sighs, closes his eyes, and wishes desperately they weren't at work for this.

"Any chance of letting me talk about it in eight hours?"

Robin scoffs, and digs her fingers into the meat of his shoulders.

It's probably meant to hurt, but it's a pleasant pressure, his muscles feeling a little sore from all of the tension he’s been carrying.

"No, tell me now before we have to flip the sign," she says, the little crack in her voice betraying her whole pissed off act.

"Fine just. Don't laugh," he says, wondering if it's more pathetic to ask her not to or more pathetic to experience it if she does.

She raises her eyebrows, eyes lasered in on his as he opens them, and she just looks sad.

"It hurt, you know, in the car. I just… I knew something wasn't okay but I had no idea what it was, but I was sure it was something to do with you," she says, subdued.

The soulmates thing gets pretty freaky sometimes, but Steve's heard of this happening to like, identical twins. So why not him and Robin, honestly?

"Sorry," he says, swallowing around the lump in his throat. "Just uh, when you. Said you loved me."

Robin winces, loosens her grip on his shoulders.

"Not good?" She asks, and Steve frowns.

"No, it was good," he says quickly, doesn't want her to feel bad for saying it, or worse, take it back. "I'm…"

He thinks about it, the little bright spark in his chest that's been flickering, fighting against all of the heaviness and general stress he's been feeling. It grows a little stronger every time he sees her, and he hopes that one day it can be a proper flame.

"It's just been a while," he whispers, thinks that this isn't fair to even tell her. "Since someone's told me that."

It sounds depressing as hell, and truly, despite whatever his 3AM wallowing would have to say about it, he's been doing fine, has a full enough social calendar with his friends.

"Oh," Robin says, the way it hurts as plain as a clear day on her face. "Well, I love you."

Steve finds himself blinking back tears again, and the smile that sneaks up on him feels like the lightening of a burden, an unpacked suitcase.

"I love you too."

[commander-heart-eyes]

Clexa fics if you're a masochist

Clexa fics if you want...

...angst

Personal Demons | Eyeofthehurricane

Marine Clarke Griffin shows up at Raven's apartment after a horrific experience. Closed off and all over the place, can Raven's mysterious next door neighbor help Clarke move forward and start to live again?

or...

The one where Clarke and Lexa meet in a stairwell.

we owe nothing now | ur_the_puppy

For as long as Clarke could remember, every year on the third of March, her soul would die.

(my) Destruction Within Your Mouth | KL_Morgan

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. Proverbs 13:3 

Clarke loses: her head, her voice, her heart.

(Canon divergent from 1x03)

what the ground grows | coldmackerel

There is nothing a little bedrest and irony can't cure.

Lexa is sure the only thing that heals Clarke's mind and keeps her heart thumping against her ribs is an ill-advised amount of the first and a frustrating amount of the second. But Clarke has never been anything less than ill-advised and frustrating. If anybody will survive a hole in their brain, Lexa is sure it will be Clarke.

(At Heda's expense, of course.)

[complete]

i fell from the sky (and then i fell for you) | orphan account

Fix-it (kind of?) canon-divergent from season 2 ep. 16 in which Clarke is not captured and brought to the commander but rather captured and brought to the Ice Nation….but not to be executed.

The White Queen Running | KL Morgan

Were you ever punished? “Only for faults,” said Alice. “And you were all the better for it, I know!” the Queen said triumphantly. “Yes, but then I had done the things I was punished for,” said Alice: “that makes all the difference.” “But if you hadn't done them,' the Queen said, “that would have been better still; better, and better, and better!”

Clarke wakes up wearing the tattoos of the Ice Nation.

(OR: Soulmates, parallel worlds, and Ice Queen Clarke; oh my. Canon divergent from 2x16.)

...slow burn

when my heart is at war | mopeytropey

Lexa is primed for great leadership and will not be deviated from her agenda.

Clarke is driven by her insatiable curiosity and is not easily deterred.

There is plenty at work to drive them apart, but the strength of their combined determination will change the course of an entire civilization.

Griffins Anatomy | Clexanation

Clarke was just trying to survive the first year of her internship. That was until she fell into bed with a beautiful brunette, who was running from her past. Maybe life should be about more than just surviving.

The 100 hospital AU that nobody asked for. Inspired by the hit tv show Greys Anatomy. All hail the great Shonda Rhimes. We will embark on this drama/love-filled journey through the eyes of our fan favorites in the medical field.

*THIS FOLLOWS GREYS ANATOMY STORYLINE, SO DONT COME FOR ME ACTING SHOCKED BY ANYTHING*

The shows been around damn near 20 yrs ppl 🤦♀️

[lavenoon]

I have nonstop been thinking about the newest chapter of AU for a few hours and now its officially Brain Rot hours (1 am).

Sun and Moon getting transferred because of a promotion to get more money to help out their brother is something I absolutely love! The boys having to move out and Robin learns of their identities is just icing on the cake.

But I raise you this: Instead of a young couple moving in, its Eclipse.

Eclipse had been wanting to pay a visit to his brothers after being away for so long that he begged for a transfer to their building that he got under the condition of doing a big secret project along with being unable to transfer back for a few months.

Sun and Moon are unaware that Eclipse has been transferred and Eclipse is unaware of the two's promotion.

Eclipse is sad to not see his brothers and struggling to find a place to live only to see Robin's listing for a tenant/resident (idk how it works/what it's called).

Robin is shocked to see another celestial animatronic but doesn't turn them away. Maybe Eclipse mentions his failing battery and that this place is his best bet at safe traveling to and from work; not to mention that because of the battery his work hours constantly change. Robin agrees because maybe this will help them overcome their sadness of the boys (it doesn't but hey new friend maybe).

A week later Robin is at work and catches on to whispers of a new lab guy and decides to visit the sector to see how good this new tech is (maybe they can get an upgrade they couldn't do themselves) only to see Eclipse making another explosion of a prototype.

Eclipse is so proud of their little explosion writing down his findings only to see Robin and introduces himself as Eclipse then remembers "Wait its Horizon".

Robin is a deer in headlights like "what do I do, this guy is my neighbor". They talk a bit with them to see how different he is only to see that Eclipse is just the same, if just a tad bit more explosive.

Maybe they talk and one night they both walk home late from work together (Robin revealed they were neighbors and Eclipse is just so happy to have a genuine friend) and it's a good thing too since Eclipse has a crash in front of them and Robin panics. Give it a few minutes and Eclipse is back online and explains that that is what he meant by safer route home.

Robin makes it a point from now on to keep an eye out for Eclipse when out to make sure he gets home safe. Maybe they hangout a lot more during the day so Eclipse can go explore the city more once they find out what's happening.

Sun and Moon don't learn about Eclipse moving/transferring until they try to contact him about his battery upgrade only for him to gush about his new neighbor and how great of a friend they are (whether he reveals its Robin along with their identity or not is up for debate. Honestly if he hasn't revealed who his brothers are to Robin yet would be a miracle)

At this point my brain has died from needing sleep since its now 2 am and I am 90% sure none of this makes sense.

Sorry for the long rambles in your inbox.

Hope you have a wonderful day/night dear! Take Care!

This is amazing and while it wouldn't quite work in canon, I'm eating this up!

Just. Oh my god. The higher ups finally got their asses into gear to prevent the identity leak of three agents living next to each other, trick two into transferring, and then their brother moves into their vacated home? The absolute irony. The hilarity. HQ is just twitching at this point.

A reveal with Eclipse that early on would go over a lot smoother - mostly because Eclipse just makes any secrecy impossible from the start. He recognizes his landlord, sees they recognize him, and just goes "Hey! Well that's a funny coincidence! :D" while Robin is caught between dynamics - currently they're the star agent, but in front of them is their giant golden retriever of a neighbor and it's just.

It's a lot.

But they're kind of used to "a lot" by now. Click the door shut for some privacy, and make sure they're alone, before just heaving the deepest sigh and asking "Let me guess, you have two brothers?"

"Oh, yes! I actually came to see them, but I haven't caught them yet."

And Robin kind of... They feel for him. They don't know much about him, but he got left behind (unbeknownst to Sun and Moon) just like they did. The communication between the three of them seems to be lacking, and that pisses them off, too.

Protective Robin, activate.

It distracts them from their own pain, too.

So they're still angry at their boys - but they just mentally adopted another, and boy did that go fast. Despite everything, befriending Sun and Moon lowered their walls, and if Eclipse comes in soon enough after the transfer, they haven't built them up again yet.

Gently (as gentle as they can be) they explain. The two transferred - got a promotion, and everything else. Eclipse listens, not quite sure what to make of it all, and just lets their name slip -

Robin immediately winces and shushes him - "Call me Robin when we're at work" "Wait, you're Robin?" "What do you mean, I'm Robin?"

Cue more realizations, when it clicks for Eclipse just how stupid his brothers were - he's a little nicer to his newest friend, who seems pretty angry at them themself, and doesn't ask why they didn't notice for over half a year

(*Sun and Moon worked there for a few months before moving in with Y/N - they had a temporary accommodation, and rose the ranks to already establish a rivalry with Robin before Sun every visited the place)

It gets even funnier should Sun/ Moon come back - the absolute terror of asking Eclipse for his new address ("When did you transfer??" "You didn't tell me about yours, why should I tell you about mine?") and getting their old one in return.

And then there's Y/N, somehow in the know about their messed up little family, bristling and ranting at them for not even telling their brother they're transferring - there's not even any need for secrecy, they're all three agents!

Wait.

They know that, too?

"Oh yes, Robin helps me out in the lab sometimes during slow days!"

"Well. I sit there with the fire extinguisher and we talk."

"That's more than the others do."

And Sun (bc it's probably him) just stands there, staring blankly, internally screaming loud enough to wake up Moon, who is VERY confused and then sees the situation at hand - and oop, now he's screaming too.

They got a lot to apologize for, now - and it's very awkward to suddenly have your brother and former crush rival/neighbor be besties and getting chewed out by the latter while the former stands behind them with the smuggest grin because, well... He didn't leave them. Will have to, at some point, yes, but not suddenly and not in a "leaving you behind" way, and there's no secrets anymore so they can just keep in touch.

There's still a happy end for them all, with Eclipse speeding that along, too, because he just keeps nagging Sun and Moon about "You're treating them right, yes? You're not being idiots again?" "No, Eclipse, we're being nice and we still apologize every day. Pretty sure they're sick of it by now, actually" "Do it again just to make sure"

In parallel, Y/N is texting Eclipse to "STOP TELLING YOUR BROTHERS TO BE SO APOLOGETIC IT'S WEIRDING ME OUT IF THEY KEEP LOOKING LIKE KICKED PUPPIES I WILL HAVE TO KICK THEM AT SOME POINT" "Glad to be of service (:" "If you want to be of service, send me one of those modified smoke bombs you made. I'm feeling vengeful." "Done!"

So it's a little awkward, and there's still some bitterness to address, (and also some realizations about the true nature of the promotion), but they'll all be okay <3

[whumpbump]

Eyes

Cw: major character death, gore mentions, knife and gun mentions, near death experience, fear, implications of future torture

Whumpee looked upon the carnage that was once their home with a pain in their heart that would go on to live there forever. Whumper ruined everything that they loved. They looked upon the decimated bodies of their Caretakers and adopted adult Whumpee siblings as Whumper nonchalantly cleaned the blood off of their custom knives with an impatience.

“Hurry up, Whumpee, I’m a busy person and I have places to be. Pack your things and get in the car.”

Tearfully, Whumpee packed some clothes, toiletries, and their beloved teddy into the old duffel that was tossed at them in the aftermath of what Whumpee considered to be their own personal apocalypse.

This was it. They would never see any of these people again. How could this have happened? Whumpee wondered as they tried to avoid the eye contact of the dead in the living room. The irony was lost on Whumpee but not Whumper as they smirked at their handiwork.

“Really, Whumpee, this could have all been avoided if you didn’t try to leave me. I told you what would happen, didn’t I? Get in the car now, I have friends waiting at home for us.” Whumper finished with their sinister intentions practically dripping from each word.

Wordlessly, Whumpee walked to the car with the duffel of their shattered safety. They tried to make a break for it but Whumper saw the look in Whumpee’s eyes and clapped their broad hand around the opposite shoulder of their treasure to ensure it’s security. They leaned down and whispered harshly “I wouldn’t if I were you. You’ve already got a hefty punishment waiting, and we wouldn’t want to tempt fate… would we?”

Whumpee met the eyes of their captor. Their dark eyes peered back into their tearful ones as they processed what would soon occur. They nodded slowly. Whumper smiled. It sent chills down Whumpee’s spine.

“Now.” Whumper took their hand off of Whumpee’s shoulder. “Get in the car, my dearest. Put your bag in the back.”

Whumpee started towards the back of the car to where Whumper held the door open for their bag when they swung it, clocking Whumper in the temple. Catching Whumper by complete surprise, they went down with a thud. What Whumper didn’t know was that while they were too busy cleaning their fancy knives, Whumpee packed some favorite books to keep themself busy, if Whumper didn’t destroy those in front of Whumpee as well.

Whumpee tore away from the front yard and glancing back, they saw one last look of their haven along with Whumper, slumped in the driveway starting to pull themselves up.

They looked back in front of themselves only to run face first into a tree. Of course. Dazed, they dragged themselves up and staggered into the woods. There was a road up ahead, if they could find it. Panting, they ducked behind another tree when they heard a roar of anger from their tormentor not too far away. They reached up to feel for the knot that was no doubt forming by this point and felt the warmth of blood. Great.

It was still midday so Whumpee had plenty of daylight left, but what if they didn’t find the road by night? They would be left to their own devices unless they could find their way back to the house in the dark and concussed. Their panting stopped when they heard a snap next to them. They turned slowly to see those dark eyes once more.

“Hello, dearest.” One of the knives plunged into Whumpee’s stomach. Whumpee slid down the tree onto the soft leaves that they thought would serve as their final resting place. Whumpee heard what sounded like a gunshot as their eyes slid shut. They felt numb as Neighbor pawed at them.

“Whumpee? Whumpee? Buddy, can you hear me? Oh my gods.”

Sometime later:

Warmth. Softness. Bright lights. Ugh. Someone turn those lights off.

Voices starting off as incoherent muffled became clear.

“Whumpee? Are you awake, Bud? NURSE!”

After much poking and prodding and discomfort and then more pain meds, Whumpee laid in the dimmed room with Neighbor sitting close by.

After some time of quiet, Neighbor cleared their throat uncomfortably. “So uh. You don’t have anywhere to go now. I know this. I wanted to um. Offer my house as a fellow safe place for you. I would understand if the proximity is too much to handle but I figure, hey. I can always move. Right? W-would that be ok-?”

Whumpee reached over and patted New Caretaker’s hand with considerable respect and consolation in their eyes as this was a big move for someone whom they always knew as a loner. “Kind, but alone.” Original Caretaker said of them.

Interrupting Whumpee’s thoughts, New Caretaker cleared their throat and rummaged through their dirty backpack. “I uh. Brought you something. I probably shouldn’t have taken this but the stupid coppers missed this when they took everything else.”

They pulled Whumpee’s most beloved teddy out. Whumpee’s eyes lit up for the first time in days. They looked quizzically at New Caretaker.

“Your bag broke open somehow. Not sure what you did but you sure uh. Did it. Get some rest kiddo. You’ve earned it.”

Whumpee closed their eyes. This was the start of a new beginning. Holding their teddy close to their aching heart, they drifted off.

[crawlingk1ngsnake]

murder house

our house was bought by the narcissist next door, the hollywood big shot on the end of the street whose house manager would call us when our beautiful vines would cross the threshold and snake onto the ugly stark white stucco that clashed with all the other warm brick houses on our block

my sister peeked through the mail slot last week

"gutted the whole thing; the floors the walls, everything"

even that crystal chandelier i thought was so chic, the one i thought belonged with eloise at the plaza hotel

he'll never know nor understand that this house harbors us even now, with all the mosquito bites endured with the windows open in 103 degree nights because we had no AC

the cracks on the ceiling that i feared would inevitably lead to Amy, our upstairs neighbor, falling into the center of my room with her small terrier lily yapping as she hit the floor

or even the cautious walks to get a drink of water at night and refusing to turn the light on out of fear of seeing a cockroach the size of an apricot splat in the middle of the linoleum tile

to him it's a flip, a money exchange, or worse, a nursery for his two children and the nannies whom he will surely not address by name

when we first lost it, my sisters and i plotted for days on how to steal the "16" number sign on the front door, whispering like children on how to do it without getting caught, planning on going out at 3 in the morning with a screwdriver

the irony is that my father walked up to the house in broad daylight and simply took it off. that "16" now rests on the table of our new entryway

what i didn't understand then is that this hollywood big shot could not care less - we could take the door off it's hinges and he wouldn't notice, he'll replace it soon enough with polished mahogany flown in from south florida anyways.

[lighthousekeepers-burner-blog]

I overlooked this the first few times, really have to pay attention to the lyrics so posting them:

When I look back, tracing fingertips over plastic bags

Thinking, "I wish I could extrapolate some small intention

Or maybe just get your attention for a minute or two"

Will I die? Or will I get to that ten-year mark?

Where I beat the extinction of telomeres?

And if I do, will you be there with me, Father, Sister, Brother?

Charlie, stop smoking

Caroline, will you be with me?

Will the baby be alright?

Will I have one of mine?

Can I handle it

Even if I do?

You said that I might

It's not fair or so they said

To carry a child

I guess I'll be fine

It wasn't my idea the cocktail of things that twist neurons inside

But without them, I'd die

They say there's irony in the music, it's a tragedy

I see nothing Greek in it

Give me a mausoleum in Rhode Island with Dad, Grandma, Grandpa and Dave

Who hung himself real high

In the National Park sky, it's a shame and I'm crying right now

To get to you, save you if I take my life

Find your astral body, put it into my eyes

Give you two seconds to cry

Take you home, I, I'll give you a blanket

Your spirit can sit and watch TV by my side

'Cause, baby, I ran through a time when I felt you were doing it

I couldn't handle it, I was in Monaco

I couldn't hear what they said on the telephone

I had to sing for the prince in two hours

Sat in the shower

Gave myself two seconds to cry

It's a shame that we die

When I was fifteen, naked, next-door neighbors did a drive-by

Pulled me up by my waist, long hair to the beach side

I wanted to go out like you, swim with the fishes

That he caught on Rhode Island beaches

But, sometimes, it's just not your time

Caroline, what kind of mother was she to say I'd end up in institutions?

All I wanted to do was kiss Aaron Greene and sit by the lake

Twisting lime into the drinks that they made

Have a babe at sixteen, the town I was born in and died

Aaron ended up dead and not me

What the fuck's wrong in your head to send me away never to come back

Exotic places and people to take the place of being your child?

I give myself two seconds to cry

Let it crash over me like

The waves in the sea

Call me Aphrodite

As they bow down to me

Sunbather, moon chaser, queen of empathy

I give myself two seconds to breathe

And go back to being a serene queen

I just needed two seconds to be me

[oliwialivvvia]

Fingertips

When I look back, tracing fingertips over plastic bags Thinking, "I wish I could extrapolate some small intention Or maybe just get your attention for a minute or two"

Will I die? Or will I get to that ten-year mark? Where I beat the extinction of telomeres? And if I do, will you be there with me, Father, Sister, Brother?

Charlie, stop smoking Caroline, will you be with me? Will the baby be alright? Will I have one of mine? Can I handle it even if I do? It's said that my mind Is not fit, or so they said, to carry a child I guess I'll be fine

It wasn't my idea, the cocktail of things that twists neurons inside But without them, I'd die They say there's irony in the music, it's a tragedy, I See nothing Greek in it Give me a mausoleum in Rhode Island with Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, and Dave Who hung himself real high In the National Park sky, it's a shame and I'm crying right now To get to you, save you, if I take my life Find your astral body, put it into my eyes Give you two seconds to cry Take you home, I, I'll give you a blanket Your spirit can sit and watch TV by my side 'Cause, baby, I Ran through a time when I felt you were doing it

I couldn't handle it, I was in Monaco I couldn't hear what they said on the telephone I had to sing for the prince in two hours Sat in the shower Gave myself two seconds to cry It's a shame that we die

When I was fifteen, naked, next-door neighbors did a drive-by Pulled me up by my waist, long hair to the beach side I wanted to go out like you, swim with the fishes That he caught on Rhode Island beaches But, sometimes, it's just not your time

Caroline, what kind of mother was she to say I'd end up in institutions? All I wanted to do was kiss Aaron Greene and sit by The lake, twisting lime into the drinks that they made Have a babe at sixteen, the town I was born in, and die

Aaron ended up dead and not me What the fuck's wrong in your head to send me away, never to come back? Exotic places and people don't take the place of being your child I give myself two seconds to cry

Let it crash over me Like the waves in the sea Call me Aphrodite, as they bow down to me

Sunbather, moon chaser, queen of empathy I give myself two seconds to breathe And go back to being a serene queen I just needed two seconds to be me

[poormara]

When I look back

Tracing fingertips over plastic bags

Thinking, "I wish I could extrapolate some small intention

Or maybe just get your attention for a minute or two"

Will I die? Or will I get to that ten-year mark?

Where I beat the extinction of telomeres?

And if I do, will you be there with me, Father, Sister, Brother?

Charlie, stop smoking

Caroline, will you be with me?

Will the baby be alright?

Will I have one of mine?

Can I handle it even if I do?

You said that my mind

Is not fit or so they said

To carry a child

I guess I'll be fine

It wasn't my idea the cocktail of things that twist neurons inside

But without them, I'd die

They say there's irony in the music, it's a tragedy

I see nothing Greek in it

Give me a mausoleum in Rhode Island with Dad, Grandma, Grandpa and Dave

Who hung himself real high

In the National Park sky, it's a shame and I'm crying right now

To get to you, save you if I take my life

Find your astral body, put it into my eyes

Give you two seconds to cry

Take you home, I, I'll give you a blanket

Your spirit can sit and watch TV by my side

'Cause, baby, I ran through a time when I felt you were doing it

I couldn't handle it, I was in Monaco

I couldn't hear what they said on the telephone

I had to sing for the prince in two hours

Sat in the shower

Gave myself two seconds to cry

It's a shame that we die

When I was fifteen, naked, next-door neighbors did a drive-by

Pulled me up by my waist, long hair to the beach side

I wanted to go out like you, swim with the fishes

That he caught on Rhode Island beaches

But, sometimes, it's just not your time

Caroline

What kind of mother was she to say I'd end up in institutions?

All I wanted to do was kiss Aaron Greene and sit by the lake

Twisting lime into the drinks that they made

Have a babe at sixteen, the town I was born in and died

Aaron ended up dead and not me

What the fuck's wrong in your head to send me away never to come back

Exotic places and people don't take the place of being your child?

I give myself two seconds to cry

Let it crash over me like the waves in the sea

Call me Aphrodite

As they bow down to me

Sunbather, moon chaser, queen of empathy

I give myself two seconds to breathe

And go back to being a serene queen

I just needed two seconds to be me

[elizabethintheskywithdiamonds]

Fingertips

When I look back, tracing fingertips over plastic bags

Thinking, "I wish I could extrapolate some small intention

Or maybe just get your attention for a minute or two"

Will I die? Or will I get to that ten-year mark?

And if I do, will you be there with me, Father, Sister, Brother?

Caroline, will you be with me?

Will the baby be alright?

Will I have one of mine?

And can I handle it even if I do?

It's sad that my mind is not fit, or so they said, to carry a child

It wasn't my idea, the cocktail of things that twists neurons inside

But without them, I'd die

They say there's irony in my poetry, it's a tragedy, I see nothing Greek in it

Give me a mausoleum in Krakow with Grandma, Grandpa, and Dawid

Who hung himself real high in the National Park sky

It's a shame and I'm crying right now

If I take my life, find your astral body, put it into my eyes

And give you two seconds to cry

Take you home, I'll give you a blanket

Your spirit can sit and watch TV by my side

'Cause, uncle, I ran through a time when I felt you were doing it

I couldn't handle it, I was in Vienna

I couldn't hear what they said on the telephone

I had to sober myself up in two hours

Sat in the shower, I gave myself two seconds to cry

It's a shame that we die

When I was fifteen, next-door neighbors saw me while driving by

Pulled me up by my waist, dragged me to the lakeside

But I just wanted to go out like you, swim with the fishes

That you and dad caught on the Southen Lake weekends

But, sometimes, I guess it's just not your time

Caroline, what kind of mother was she to say I'd end up in institutions?

All I wanted to do was kiss Jay and sit by the lake

Twisting lime into the drinks that they made

Have fun at sixteen in the town I was born in, and die

What the fuck's wrong in your head to send me away, never to come back?

Foreign places and people don't take the place of being your child

I give myself two seconds to cry

Let it crash over me like the waves in the lake when I was fifteen

Sunbather, moon chaser, queen of empathy

I give myself two seconds to breathe

I just needed two seconds to be me

[randomlylurking]

...

[noface-phantom7]

Bodysuit: Trying Again

(A Case of SCP - 4127: Head or Tails)

(Branching off from It Only Feels Right)

“Damn, Aaron.” I hear the rich deep voice spill out from my own mouth, still surprised and relishing the sound of it despite having been hearing it for nearly three weeks. I grinned at my reflection, and flexed my arms as I laughed to myself; if you had seen me two weeks ago, I wouldn’t be in the gym, nor would I be taking my shirt off, or even taking many pictures of myself. If you have known me, well, you’d also know that this is neither my reflection nor my form at all—or at least, until I found a way to own it.

I didn’t believe in miracles before, but you see, I’ve found my life unfathomably changed in ways I didn’t even believe possible. See, the one you see here is Kyle, if you’ve seen us a while ago, you’d know me as his plain neighbor in my fifties with graying hair and skin starting to loosen. I lived a content life—until I saw this young man and I was reminded that he led a better life than I ever did, and that he had better prospects in life. 

Not only that, I’ve never been one to put in work in my body. And when I saw him, I felt the burgeoning hot ache of envy inside me; I wanted that body to myself too, that life, that face in the mirror and everything it represents that I didn’t have and what I realized I’ve always wanted.

And as if by some irony of the universe, the solution came right to me one day by virtue of chance—in a flip of a coin.

—

The day my life changed hadn’t been extraordinary at all. On the contrary, it was my typical Tuesday night, getting off the bus from a local grocery store near my firm. It was a clear night, and there were people milling about in the streets towards my apartment building, conveniently close to the stop that I ride to my work. My life is simple, and I live alone; though content as I am, I find myself struck by doubts—those that tell me how my life could have gone differently if I made different choices than I did in the past, and what I’d do if only I had another shot, another chance. It’s an ache I’ve grown accustomed to for years, until a couple of months ago.

As if to rub salt to the wound, this dashing young man with everything I wanted moves in on the unit beside mine—I don’t think I’ll ever forget the day I ran into him in the stairs, carrying a few boxes with that easy goofy smile that reached his eyes with an odd and fond sparkle as he offered me an apology. If I ever believed it, I would have said it was a coup de foudre, like everything slowed down for me as he tilted his head and asked if I was okay. I recovered quickly, of course, and apologized as well before breathlessly running along.

The overwhelming beating of my heart felt odd that time, and I found myself trying to catch my breath at the steps outside the building. I didn’t know what went on inside me; it felt as if I had a brush with an angel, or a figment of my imagination that seemingly looked like he had everything that I could have had—was it the smile? I felt an immense feeling of warmth and affection, even at the tone of his voice. I haven’t had my heart set aflutter the same way for years as I beheld the man in question.

I learned later that night that he was Kyle, in his mid-twenties, when he came by knocking on my door to apologize for what happened earlier in the day and to introduce himself. I had calmed down significantly from that morning, though I still felt my pulse quicken and my breath kept getting caught in my throat. He carried himself with such confidence and seemed to be brimming in joy. He was tall as I am, though underneath that shirt I could guess he’s kept his body well and fit. We chatted for a little, and he also apologized in advance that he might have some people over in the next few weeks. I didn’t mind it, of course, and he left after a while.

It wasn’t until after I'd settled back on my couch that I felt it stirring in my stomach; an uncomfortable and unsettling feeling at my age—it was envy. 

And so try as I might to push it down and be as friendly with Kyle as he is with me, it grew inside me every night when I stared at my ceiling, imagining being young again, picturing myself in Kyle’s situation, and even a few passing thoughts of becoming Kyle himself. 

This feeling grew every day, every time I saw Kyle. Sometimes even reaching to a point of having manic and frenzied moments when I’d give in to both lust and envy where I found myself aroused by the thoughts of walking in his skin, flexing his form as mine, looking in the mirror only to meet his smile instead of mine—those nights were filled with splashes of white and stickiness, and an afterglow like nothing else as I lay sprawled on my bed. 

It grew fiercer by the day, and on that Tuesday night, it burned even hotter in my chest. 

I ran into Kyle again that morning, on his way to the gym. I woke up rather good this morning, but the moment I saw him walking down the steps with me to wait for his Uber, I felt the emotions stir inside me again and aflame. I returned his smile with a forced one, though I was sure he didn’t notice envy swimming in my eyes as I stared into his blue ones full of life.

I slammed the door shut that night once I made it back to my apartment, nearly dropping all my belongings on the kitchen counter from my temper. I felt a little hot, especially from my groin, as I could hear Kyle’s voice through the walls. At that moment, I found myself reaching for the coin that sat in my pocket. It had been a souvenir I got from one of my students, and I found myself mindlessly playing with it in one hand—a tic of mine.

I sat down on the couch, still rolling the coin on my knuckles, and then watched my hand as I flipped it aggressively through the air whilst my other hand reached for the remote to switch the TV on. I tried to pay attention to the local news, but the sound of Kyle’s voice echoed in my head the same time as the small metal did whenever I flipped it. I sighed, and stared at the coin in my palm for a while, to clear my head.

It was a 1936 USA Buffalo nickel that depicts a buffalo on one side and a human skull on the other. I stared at the skull head, traced the outline with my thumb, and I sighed as I slumped back on the couch. People flip coins when making decisions sometimes, right? What could have happened if I let a coin decide my fate instead of myself? I chuckled at the irony, and a fun idea crossed my mind.

“Heads,” I say almost aloud to no one, thinking if I could somehow also alter the universe with a flip of a coin. “All my fantasies will come true.” I grinned as I rolled my eyes, and then flipped the coin high up in the air.

I watched it sail above me, almost hitting the ceiling as it came down to me, landing square on my palm—head-side up. I burst out laughing at the result, though I found it cut off the moment I heard a loud shout from the other side of the wall, and they didn’t sound like the usual shouts of glee from Kyle, and I felt a sudden rush fill my body as I bolted out of my door quick.

I found his door unlocked, and I swung it open. I had been here once, so the layout was a little familiar as I tried to call out for the young man.

“Kyle?” I said over the open door. When I didn’t hear a response, I let myself in. “I heard a shout, are you okay?”

I had only stepped into his living room for a moment, when an almost grotesque scene greeted me: Kyle, with only a pair of sweatpants on and without a shirt, lay sprawled in the middle of the floor. His mouth was open, though I could only see dark inside as if it had been hollowed out. His eyes were a milky white, like he had no irises at all. I tried to touch him, and I drew back when I felt his hands a little too…elastic?

He still retained his weight, and shape, though he felt as if made of rubber once I pulled him up. This Kyle slumped on my arm, his glasses getting knocked off his face as his head lolled back. It was only then that I noticed and looked through his open mouth, with the inside looking as if it were hollow.

I didn’t know what came over me, but I found myself suddenly pushing one arm in, up to my elbow, and it seemed to have gone through. It looked as if he was a costume, and not a living breathing being. The same feeling came over me, as I pulled my arm out and tried to stretch the mouth open—and it did, just as I am reminded of a few of my fantasies.

I found myself stripping my own clothes off, my button down and pants came off rather quickly, and I was soon bare naked with Kyle lying slumped on his couch. Without another word, I stretched his mouth open again, pushing one of my legs in.

The inside felt as if I was merely slipping on some pants, though I could see the outline of my foot and leg going down his throat and chest, before slipping it inside of his. It elicited a gasp at me, and I wiggled my toes only to find Kyle wiggling his too. Excitement filled me, as I quickly let my other leg join in.

Soon, Ifound myself standing with his powerful legs—my old ones seemingly sucked in. Now came the next part, as I lowered the rest of my groins inside. I had been hard the moment I saw his form earlier, and it made it all the way easier to slide my member into his, pushing it out to its most impressive length that reached my new navel. I grasped it, and got a thrum of pleasure running through my veins. I couldn’t wait to put it all on.

Next came the arms and the torso. Once in, I felt this Kyle suit suck my gut in, shrinking it as if it were nothing inside of this body. The same happened with the flaps in my arms, pushing them inside of Kyle’s like wearing a glove and then feeling it tighten in me. I let my hands feel myself, the sensation was all too real for this to be a costume.

The head came last, and when I saw a mirror nearby, I couldn’t wait as I pulled it on. It was like wearing one of those halloween masks that went over the entire head, though this time, it felt like it had melded itself onto my face. In an instant, memories flooded my head—those of Kyle’s, though they did not rewrite my own.

I stumbled back a little, overwhelmed by the new sensations and memory, before everything became clear. I picked the glasses back up, wore them, and took a few seconds of staring at myself in the mirror before I broke out in a grin.

It was the same as Kyle’s bright smile that reached the eyes; those blue eyes that were filled with the spark of joy and youth, mixed with something new—my own spark of desire. I laughed, and I paused; it sounded much better this way, as it came from my own new throat, filling the room with Kyle’s musical laughter.

I stared at my new hands, lightly calloused from working out no doubt, and touched my face, ran my fingers through my hair, before I started to caress my torso and explore my body that seemed to look even better in this perspective. I was no longer just staring at him, hoping and hungry and lustful, instead I was inside him and it filled me to the brim with joy…and aroused me. It was then I realized that I’ve been granted a new lease in life, the second try I was hoping for, though in the form of my neighbor.

Rummaging through his memories, I came across Kyle’s fondness for me. I laughed at the thought, and found it a little endearing, until I am filled back with my late nights of manic climaxes when I could only envision this as I stroked myself silly. A grin played at my lips, thinking that I could live it now and not merely imagine.

And so I wasn’t surprised that I spent the entire night both acquainting myself with my new body, and with the tool that hungered for my touch until I filled this night with pleasure and afterglow that felt way more intense than I have just a couple of nights before.

– 

Some time ago, it was easy to make up some excuse that ‘Aaron’ or my old self had gone out on an overseas trip, and no one questioned a thing. I didn’t have many people waiting for me in my old life anywhere.

Kyle’s friend and family didn’t notice anything amiss, other than the fact that I started to take a lot more trips than ‘I’ usually did. It was easy to brush it all off though, and they didn’t question me too much. Now that I was in Kyle’s skin, I was free to pursue everything I hadn’t before, and to enjoy my ‘youth’—something I don’t believe I’ve done sufficiently in my old self. Perhaps they haven’t noticed how much I spent adoring my body, face, and my new identity.

I don’t know what became of the nickel I had a while ago, nor was I sure if it was what gave way for all of this to happen. Regardless, I’m beyond thankful, and I keep it as a fun thought that I may have just flipped a coin to change my own destiny.

[labarboteuse]

Plus one part two

Jake "Hangman" Seresin x f!reader

Summary: It's time for them to get their story straight to be credible with the other guests and this is the opportunity for Jake to learn something particular about his neighbor.. Part one Part three

Warnings: mention of smut? swearings

There comes a part two. I wasn't thinking of it when I wrote the first one but someone ask if there will be the sequel of what would happen during the wedding. Well, this isn't this part yet, I wanted to write it now but it would have been waaayyy too long , so the "during the party" part will be the next one ! It's not as funny as I wanted to but didn't managed to achieve like what I wanted. Hope it will be good enough though.

When the day came, Jake crossed the street to ring the doorbell of his neighbor's house and accompany her to her friend's wedding. He knocked twice on the door before stepping aside, readjusting his bow tie and glancing at his reflection in the window, running a hand through his hair. The sound of the doorknob was heard and he made a small jump to come to replace himself in front of the door. It opened on the young woman and Jake gasped. It was nothing like the pajamas and bunny slippers he'd seen her wearing when she picked up her mail. She was wearing a pale gray dress, which brightened her up and matched the color of his suit perfectly. The dress reached her calves, the top of the dress in fine lace up to the small sleeves and revealing her back and a flared satin skirt. Her hair was tied up in a loose, low bun in which were some flowers and thin strands of hair framing her face. He was dazzled so well that he didn't even find something to laugh at her.

She didn't even notice his dazed look, grabbed her small purse and a light cardigan before walking out and closing the door.

"Right on time."

For her it was only a chore, she had to go to her friend's wedding, and she was glad he was getting married. But the evening for her wouldn't be the same as his and it wouldn't necessarily be a party of pleasure. Still, she hoped Jake's presence would help.

"Very elegant Seresin." She finally said with a smile, pulling Jake out of his thoughts.

"Nothing compared to you. You look stunning." She turned her head so he wouldn't see her blush which made him smile in return and he walked down the few steps of the stoop before offering her his hand, which she took to walk down the steps in turn.

"What gallantry." She joked.

"I must be at the height of the woman I accompany.” This time she had no time to turn her face away and he saw her cheeks take on several shades of red before opening the door for her. "If you'd mind."

She addressed him a smile and took place inside the SUV, waited that he climbs in his turn and started to launch out in a briefing.

"Alright, so you're going to meet several different types of people today. It is the wedding of one of my childhood friends who will probably be the first one surprised to see me arriving with someone. But as far as he's concerned, any hints or reflections that will be made will be in all irony and kindness. The grannies and aunties will be the most nosy, and we won't have the right to make a mistake, otherwise it'll be all over the crowd in no time, and since I'm likely to run into these people again at other weddings, all my friends having decided to get married in the same year, it has to be impeccable, they have to believe it."

Jake looked away from the road for a moment to look at her.

"I'll just go with you to the next ones if it makes it more believable."

This proposal made her silent for a few moments, she hadn't expected it, for her it was only once, because he kind of had imposed himself a little.

"Don't burn the steps Seresin, we will already see what it gives." He smiled and returned his attention to the road. " Very well, get our story straight. Where did we meet?"

"A cooking class." This provoked a chuckle from the young woman. "I'm serious. A cooking class for singles, just to meet people." He smiled as he looked down the road, after all it was just another type of meeting.

"Or just tell the truth, we're neighbors, these things happen between neighbors." He arched an eyebrow and turned his head toward her a seductive smile on his face. "Don't dream, it's all a bunch of bull." "For now", he told himself.

"Alright, what do I do for a living?" He looked at her as if from outer space.

"You're... a dog walker?" He ventured to say, hesitating, having no idea.

"Wait, what? Why would you think that?" She asked in surprise.

"I don't know, I panicked! I have no idea what you're doing." He confessed completely lost and she burst out laughing.

"I am in the police Jake." She said between laughs.

"Wait what?" It was his turn to be surprised, pleasantly surprised. For a moment he imagined her in her uniform, way too tight, arresting bad guys with crazy class, and once she got home in the evening turning into a bad cop with handcuffs in her hand ready for him to -.

From her seat she watched his expression change to a perverse grin and a slight nod as if he was talking to himself imagining his salacious fantasies, her expression turning to one of dismay. He was brought back to reality by a snap of her fingers in front of his eyes followed by a "Whatever it is put it out of your mind and put it in a box to be thrown in the ocean." He chuckled and shook his head, far too proud.

"Oh believe me, I won't."

The drive took almost another hour and it wouldn't have been enough to get through this discussion.

"Make an effort Jake, how many siblings do I have?"

"Two." She gave him a poke in the ribs that made him wince.

"None! I've told you three times already!"

"Don't yell at me! You've told me so many things it's impossible to remember everything!  You're criticizing me, but are you going to do any better? I'm listening, what branch of the military am I a pilot in?"

She thought for a second no better than he did, hesitantly answering "The Air Force?"

"THE NAVY!"

"But what an idea too, what good are pilots in the Navy?!"

She turned her head to look out her window, letting out a sigh. "We're screwed."

"We'll have no credibility." Jake grumbled as he parked, arrived at his destination and kept his hands on the steering wheel turning his head toward her. She glanced at him before getting out of the car, not sure if this was still a good idea. He went around the car and came to stand next to her to give her his arm, she put hers in and looked up at him.

"Let's do our best."

The two of them managed to slide to their seats avoiding any contact with other guests. When someone called out to her from a distance, she signaled that they would talk later. The ceremony went on and then all the guests went to the large garden of the villa that the bride and groom had rented and that had been decorated for the occasion.

Jake grabbed two glasses of champagne from a tray that was passed in front of them and handed one to Y/N who took it and they toasted. Over her glass as she took a sip, she saw the first investigator walking in their direction, waving to which she responded with a forced smile.

"Ready to become the center of attention Seresin?"

[jon-astronaut]

Stranger Things Social Media AU - But I Knew You - (Ronance & Stonathan) - Chapter 17

Masterlist

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

Robin’s Tweet

Robin’s POV

This year Robin’s mom decided to host thanksgiving dinner which meant that her two aunts and their husbands and children were all staying at theirs through the weekend. All this meant that Robin was five seconds away from screaming and pulling her hair off. Just two more days, she thought and then, she could be back in New York with Steve and Eddie and Jonathan and, and Nancy. Shit, Nancy still wasn’t answering any of her texts and calls. Robin didn’t know what to do and as much as she wanted to go back the thought of Nancy keeping to ignore her scared the shit out of her. Robin was never supposed to take such a big risk. Her and Nancy were becoming close friends, and them plus Steve and Jonathan were becoming a great group. With one move Robin fucked everything up. For once, why couldn’t her life be like a movie where her crush liked her back, where she would have the most romantic montage in the setting of New York?

“What are you going to do when you graduate?” Her aunt asked distracting her away from her thoughts and Robin barely kept herself from rolling her eyes.

The most popular topic of conversation with her extended family was Robin’s life. Her cousins got off easy, the oldest one had just started high school.

“I haven’t decided yet.” Robin replied flatly. 

“What can you even do with a sociology degree?” Her other aunt asked mockingly and this time Robin rolled her eyes so her mom kicked her foot from below the dinner table. 

“Robin sit properly and don’t roll your eyes.” Her mom whispered from next to her.

So, Robin had to straighten (Oh the irony, she thought) and swing her other leg down instead of putting it up on the chair with her elbow resting on it. 

“There are many things she can do.” Her mom over-excitedly answered for her. “She can work in the university or become a writer.” 

“All very well paying jobs.” That aunt mumbled, but Robin heard it and tried to imagine that she was back at the dorm having dinner with Steve. 

“I hope next year you come up with a plan for your future and you no longer come to these dinners alone.” Her husband added on.

“I will try to keep that in mind, thanks.” Robin replied which earned her another warning from her mother. 

The table continued with their own conversation that still revolved around Robin’s life, like what career path she should choose or if it was too late for her to change majors; was their next door neighbor’s son single and could they fix him up with Robin or maybe the son of his uncle’s boss was a better match. 

She couldn’t wait to be back in New York even if she would never talk to Nancy. At least Steve was there and all he did was hype her up and talk about how smart she was. At least there she didn’t have to hide this huge part of her. Her phone buzzed in her pocket and Robin quickly took it out hoping that it was Nancy only to see Jonathan’s texts. Well, her hopes had failed but that gave her an opening and Robin excused herself to another room. 

Robin’s POV

Robin’s POV (continued)

Nancy’s POV

Nancy’s POV

“Do you ever think about how easy things would be if we were just together?” Nancy blurted out suddenly, and realized what she said too late.

Steve almost choked on his coffee and Nancy started to ramble, which never happened, as he coughed.

“I mean, it’s not that I want to be with you, I like you a lot but as a friend, but, you know how my parents are like and how-

“Nance, Nance.” Steve cut her off placing his coffee cup on the table between them. “It’s okay. I get it.” He added with a small but warm smile.

“You do?” Nance asked hesitantly and a little surprised.

She didn’t know how much Steve got exactly, just how much he could get. He probably related to familial pressure and micromanaging of his life by his parents but beyond that she wasn’t sure. Did he get what it was like to ignore a part of you? Did he get what it was like coming to that point, meeting that someone, that made you not want to ignore that anymore even if you felt like you had to? Did he get just how scared Nancy was of losing Robin, of chasing what she wanted, of getting out of the mold of the future her parents created for her?

“Yeah.” Steve replied quietly. “My mom was suggesting that I should take you to dinner some time.” He added with a laugh.

With that Nancy laughed too. She wondered if their parents had a group chat creating plans to get them together. No, she decided, the Harringtons carried too much pride to do that.

“It’s hard…” Steve started again once their laughs were over but, this time his voice was pretty serious. “…to be somebody else than what your parents made you out to be especially when they have so much to hold over your head like the money, the comfort they gave you, the future they planned out for you. You carry their surname and you think only way to be is to be like them. You say you don’t want to be them; you say you want to be somebody else, someone better but you don’t know how to be that person. Nobody ever showed you that you can be different and better. You are scared what would happen if you try to be not like them. Who would you be? What would they say?” Steve blurted out almost in one breath but he never once stumbled over his words, almost like this was rehearsed.

Nancy stared at him for a few seconds. Now, she didn’t know what to say because everything Steve explained felt eerily similar to everything she thought of. There were other things in her mind too, like if her dad would explode if he ever saw Nancy kiss a girl, but Steve was cutting it pretty close.

“I’m sorry.” Steve said probably because Nancy wasn’t saying anything. “I’ve been thinking a lot about this - like unnaturally much and it just spilled out somehow.” He added with a hand through his hair.

“No, no. It was-it was pretty much how I’m feeling.” Nancy said with a faint smile.

“Well, the good news is. I’m living proof that you can try to be not like them and still survive.” Steve replied with a bigger smile and Nancy gave him a confused look. “You think my parents approved of me blowing up my friendship with Tommy and Carol in high school? My mom talked my head off for a week about how she was friends with their moms so I should be friends with them. And, and, do you think they understand why I do everything I do for Dustin and Max and the other little shits? They never cared for anybody like that and they both have siblings.” He finished off with a shrug still smiling.

Nancy couldn’t help but chuckle a little. Steve had a point. It looked like he was still fighting with a lot of his parents’ expectations and demands and fighting with himself too but it was true that he had changed and grown in the opposite direction what his parents wanted for him. And, it’s not like Nancy was undermining Steve but a part of her said if Steve could do all this then, Nancy could do too. She could try to follow what she wanted even if it would take a little time to get there. She didn’t feel like texting Robin yet because she didn’t know what to say to her, because Robin looked like she was comfortable in her own skin when Nancy was so behind. First, she needed to talk with Max. Even if she was Mike’s friend, meaning a 16 year old, Nancy knew she gave good advice and well, she was the only person Nancy knew to like girls too.

“I’m glad I have such a good example in front of me.” Nancy said with another chuckle.

“You’re welcome.” Steve replied with a smirk.

Nancy was so happy she became such good friends with Steve. It was nice to have somebody that understood her, that articulated just how she felt. Maybe one of these days Nancy could talk to him about her crush on his best friend too.