#then they really asked 'how do we get a guy inside a rocket about to lift off in 5'

[wu-sisyphus-gang]

Motion Sickness War of the Roses Smut

Weiss was nervous. I could tell that she was trying not to be. She even put on a pair of lacy pale blue panties and brassiere. I wasn’t sure if she was interested in giving us something to look at or just trying to reassure herself of her own body though. I’m pretty sure it didn’t work so well if it was the later of the two. She still looked on edge in the dark blue slitted dress she was wearing.

It was a first time for her in a lot of ways and to be fair I hadn’t worked out the exact mechanics that would go into play here. For example if I was getting dicked down what would she be doing? And the reverse, if she was getting some what would I get up to? I wasn’t really sure and maybe it made me a little nervous as well. But not enough to overwhelm the excitement I felt at the thought of doing it with my two best friends. 

When Weiss and I arrived at the hotel we would be staying the night in Jaune was already there. He was in the pale yellow room and out on the balcony. He was just waiting out there in the chill night. He… the goofball, he scattered rose petals on the king sized bed and lit a few candles. Weiss exhaled a shaky sigh by the doorway. I stepped inside and pulled her gently by the hand with me so that if she really wanted she could resist. She didn’t. She followed me inside and shut the door behind her. The bed was white with a brown comforter. It looked big enough for four people really. There was a brown sofa couch to one corner and a brown chair along with it. Two small end tables on which three candles total burned. There was a table at the foot of the bed where more candles were lit.

Off to one side there was a full ensuite bathroom with a standing glass shower and brown and grey mottled tiling. 

Jaune turned around our entrance and stared at the two of us. He looked good with his hair ruffling in the breeze and those little diamond studs. He wasn’t full on masculine in appearance. More of a metrosexual look wafted off of him. Which I thought was really good. I liked that he was in touch with his feminine side in a lot of ways. He wasn’t afraid of his own emotions or expressing them. He wasn’t afraid of crying in front of me out of some twisted sense of pride. I liked that openness. I liked that strength. And standing there he seemed content to wait on us to make the first move. 

He stepped in and shut the door behind him and closed the tan curtains. Without the artificial Atlas lights it grew a little dim. Weiss reached a tentative hand over and turned the light bulbs in the ceiling down low such that the bright little six candles were the only lights in the room. She breathed a sigh of relief at that like it removed some little tension from her worries. 

“So,” Jaune began with a whisper. “I’m a little confused about the specifics… I think… two people will have to go first, though. And then the other person will rotate in.”

“But who’s going to want to be the odd one out?” I asked. I couldn’t imagine it going down like that.

“Me, of course,” he returned. “Let you girls get warmed up. It’s a shade more important for you than it is for me, isn’t it? Foreplay? I mean, too much foreplay for you isn’t really a thing in my experience. Too much foreplay for me and my night is over.”

“Is that how guys work?” Weiss asked.

“Pretty much,” he answered. “I could probably go two rounds in fairly short succession. But that would be it. It would pumping in a dry well after that. I mean, I could still go down on one or both of you but the ‘main event’ so to speak would be over.”

“Are you really worried about you finishing too soon?” I asked. “That’s never been a problem for you before.”

“I’m just saying that we have all night for me to probably go two rounds. One for each of you. But after that I’m going to be exhausted. Girls don’t really have a limit that way, in my limited understanding at least. I could be wrong but if I’m like a bottle rocket, ladies are like diesel engines. Once we get you warmed up you can keep going and going and each one is closer and more intense than the last. Is that wrong?”

“Well, not really,” Weiss agreed. “That’s sort of how it works. Girls actually have two different types of orgasms. One for the clitoris and one for the 'g'-spot.”

“That… I didn’t know…” Jaune trailed. 

“The ones for the clitoris are closer and more intense as things go on but the 'g'-spot is a finisher if that makes sense,” Weiss explained.

“Huh,” I said. “I didn’t know that.”

“Really?” Weiss asked. 

“Jaune and I… when he was Jaune… he sort of did both at the same time? It was pretty good. I won’t lie. I guess he made them sync up? Is that a thing?” I asked Weiss.

“I think so…” Weiss trailed with her eyes flickering between us. “The point is that Jaune is probably right. We could go first and have him join us. Foreplay is probably more important for us than it is for him.”

“With his size… yeah…” I agreed a little. 

“Is… is it a problem?” Weiss wondered, teetering nervously.

“I mean… it can be?” I phrased. “Not with enough foreplay.”

“Right. I suppose that makes sense,” Weiss agreed.

Jaune took a seat on the couch and folded his legs. He put his arms up around the back of the couch and looked relaxed. “You girls do what comes naturally. I’ll look for my opportunity to step in. But… I’m sort of eager to watch? I mean… who wouldn’t be?” 

“Oh is that how guys work?” Weiss rolled her eyes.

“Yeah. Little bit,” he said with a smile. “Lesbian porn is the most popular category of porn on the internet. So… chop-chop.”

“Well,” I turned to Weiss. “We can take our time then.”

“Ruby…” she trailed off. I took her in her slitted dress. I wanted her out of it as soon as I saw her in it. I leaned in and kissed her once on her bottom lip. She oozed into the kiss. I stuttered back a half step and I sat down on the edge of the bed. She pursued me. I ran my hand up her milky thigh up the slit in her dress to where her panties met her hip bone. She bent down and kissed me deeply. This time she hunted for my bottom lip and she gently licked it. I opened my mouth to her. Our tongues gently breezed against one another. She pushed me down into the bed as I lifted her dress. I was in a pair of yoga tights and a ‘v’ neck. Her knee came to the head of my thighs and gently pushed into my mound.

I rolled my hips into her knee encouragingly. I got some nice friction out of it. Not anywhere close to making me finish but it was a pleasant sensation. I heard Jaune let out a low groan at the sight but I didn’t look over at him. I was staring at Weiss above me. She ran a hand under my shirt and up to my breasts. She gave my left one a gentle squeeze and caress before hunting for my nipple under my bra and finding it. 

I squeaked into her mouth and her tongue pulsed forward. It rubbed harder against mine and she went deeper with her tongue into my mouth and explored the back of my front teeth. I kept running my hand up her dress higher and higher. I smoothed over the soft skin of her stomach but I couldn’t reach her modest chest. I whined into her mouth and she grinned down at me and pulled back a little. She helped me out of my shirt. Pulling it over my head. She turned around and I unzipped the back of her dress. It fell off of her and left her exposed in those undergarments I watched her put on. They were lacy, flattering on her, and matched her blue eyes and platinum hair. 

My own bra was black and a little lacy but not as much as Weiss’s. So were my panties but I still had on black tight yoga pants. 

She pushed me down onto the bed and straddled one of my legs at the same time her knee came back to my apex. I groaned and thrust my core over her knee for some friction. She rocked her hips into my thigh as she bent low and kissed me. She cupped my right breast and started working her way around my face and down my neck with soft airy and wet kisses. She sucked on my neck hard and my hands came up to stroke her breasts and find her nipples. She squealed a little. It was a very un-Weiss-like noise but it was good and I wanted to hear more of it. 

She pushed her own mound harder into my thigh and I felt a little wetness through the lacy blue and silver fabric. That was… that was just right. It made me push my thigh and my own groin harder up into her and I let out a low moan when our action graced my clit. The little bundle of nerves pulsed excitedly. She reached behind me and pulled my bra off. Her lips traced down my collar until she took one nipple in her mouth and sucked gently. She pulled it into her teeth just enough to graze it and I whimpered and let out a little gasp. 

“Weiss…”

She rocked her hips harder and down on me at my utterance of her name. I could really feel her heat and her wetness now. I traced a hand up her thigh and to her panty line. I pushed the material aside and pressed a finger between her lips. 

She let out a low moan and thrust her hips into my finger. Huh, so that was what it was like. I mean I sort of got it from the times Jaune had thrust into my hand when I held him but I felt so powerful. She felt so delicate. My other hand came up to her left breast and traced a gentle circle around the nipple there. She sighed. It was a shaky sound like she was struggling to breath. She cupped my face in both her hands and kissed me hard. 

She rocked her hips into my finger and I brushed her clit. I rubbed up and down against it very gently because I knew how sensitive it could be. I flicked gently against her flesh and she leaned away. She twisted and pulled her bra off.

I sat up and kissed between her breasts before moving over to her left one and taking it in my mouth. Her hands returned to my face where she pulled me hard against her. I slipped my finger inside her tunnel and she moaned loudly and threw her head back. 

“Oh, Ruby…” I thrust my pelvis up into her knees a little harder and in a circular fashion more than just a vertical one. 

I pushed my finger in and out of her wetness nice and slowly. I rubbed at the interior of her velvety walls and wondered at the softness of them. Her lips seemed so delicate. She sank her fingers into my hair and I whined a little at how fiercely she touched me. She pushed me back down into the bed again. She mimicked the thrusts of my fingers with soft rolls of her pelvis.

I heard Jaune groan again. He seemed to be enjoying the show and I honestly struggled to blame him. 

Weiss pulled back and away from me. I flicked her clit harshly as she pulled away. She gasped and subconsciously thrust her hips back at me. 

She glanced at me and I looked away innocently. She kissed down my body to my pants line. She sank her fingers in and pulled my tights off me in a roll. She took my panties off at the same time and left me exposed to the chill-cool air. She spread my legs so her face was right at my mound. I felt my lips part moistly as she pushed my legs apart. She had a look of intrigue on her face as she sank a finger into me. I moaned lowly and loudly with the slow gesture. She gave me a gentle thrust all while rubbing against where she knew my 'g'-spot was. The rough patch of wet skin on the upper side flexed under her pressure and I rocked my pelvis down onto her finger harder and harder.

She thrust gently again and sofly parted my folds with a graceful ease. Then her face came forward and she gave my inner lips a low long lick and a gentle kiss. I sighed. I was biting my forefinger hard to keep from moaning loudly. She found my clit and rolled it into her mouth. I moaned and tossed my head back. My hands came down to grip her platinum locks and she groaned right into my core. 

Her finger rocked into me and found that sensitive place and started rubbing a firm circle into it. Her tongue darted out and lapped at my folds and graced a circle around my clit before she sucked on it very gently. Her tongue then rubbed hard against it.

“Ah! Weiss!” I called out. Jaune had never gone down on me before. It was an entirely soft experience that had me pushing my lips hard against Weiss’s face. She fell back and kissed the inside of my thigh and gave her finger a push. Then she kissed my outer lips and gave me a harder thrust. Then she licked from her finger all the way to my clit and gave it a gentle kiss.

Then she really went to work on me. Her tongue pressed hard into me and started tracing against my most delicate skin. Her finger thrust harder and harder into me and she rubbed at my insides with some ferocity. I let out a long and low whine that I couldn’t really stop at all and I finished around her finger and thrusted into her face. I had her by her platinum locks harshly and I panted as I came. 

“Weissss…” I felt so unbelievably wet. Sure some of it was Weiss’s spit but so much of it was also me. I tugged and Weiss’s hair. She rose up over my body. “Take them off…” I whimpered. She did. She shed the last of her clothes and crawled on top of me. I scooted down at the same time.

“Ruby…” she trailed off. I pulled her up so that the apex of her thighs was right over my face. I kissed her mound and it kissed me right back. Her hands fell to my hair and I split her folds with my hands. I kissed her interior. Then I slid my tongue inside of her tunnel. It was wet but oddly sweet. It tasted of her sweat, that’s true. There was also a more musky flavor that came with it. And of course all around me was the rich creamy flavor of her aura. Some sort of smooth custard, whipped cream, and crisp crushed ice. 

My licked her from her entrance all the way to her most northern part of her folds. I found the bud there and licked a circle around it. She moaned loudly and her fingers sank into my hair. She thrust her hips into my face with some force and I tried to meet it with my tongue.

“Ha… Ruby… a little…” I flicked even harder against her clit. “Ah! Just like that,” Weiss ordered. 

I made firm love to her sensitive bud. She rode my face into the soft mattress with hiccupping thrusts into me. 

“Ruby… you’re...I’m about to… Ha, ha…” She fell over me such that she was on all fours with her legs spread wide and vigorously strumming down at me. Her hair fell over her rosy flushed face. Her eyes were fluttered closed and I knew she finished because I watched her entire stomach tighten and the abs there flex inwardly. 

“Ha...ha…” she panted. I flicked my tongue out again against her love bud. “Ruby!” I knew that she would be sensitive. I did it again and she flexed harder down onto my face. 

I flicked my tongue up and down her gash and sucked on her most sensitive region. I let my teeth graze it and her hips stuttered in place. Now I understood why Jaune had tormented me with his fingers whenever possible. I felt so powerful as she drove my face into the mattress. It was as though she couldn’t decide whether to pull her hips away completely or ride me harder. Her pelvis rocked back and forth quickly as I brought her to her second orgasm. Her face dropped totally into the bed above me and she pressed her hips down on my lips. Her hands fell into my crimson and black locks and she was so incredibly wet when she finished. The vague triangle of white hair above her mound itched at my nose when she fell. She just lay breathing hard into the bed.

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My legs were hanging off the bed with my legs far apart and Weiss still breathed hard over me. I heard Jaune stand up. I heard the sound of his belt jingle and his clothes hit the floor. I inhaled hard. I felt him walk over to me. His aura had been lurking in the corner of the room but it was out now and it felt like a current down my spine. The smell of ozone, spice, and torched sugar joined Weiss’s flavors. 

“I think… that’s my cue,” I heard him say.

“I need a minute…” Weiss mumbled into the sheets. She rolled off of me and lay spread eagle on the bed. Her left hand was crossed over her stomach. Her right was stretched out and still in my hair. 

Jaune laughed a little. It was a low chuckle. 

“Then you’re first if you’re ready, sweetheart.” I picked my head up and glanced down. Jaune was naked between my legs where they hung off the edge of the bed. It was tall enough that I couldn’t quite reach the floor even if I extended my toes downward. He put a hand on my right knee and lifted it up. I felt myself spread wide and heard a wet sound from myself as much as I felt it. I was soaked from Weiss’s ministrations. 

I felt him at my entrance. I could feel his heartbeat through the head of his erection. I rolled my pelvis upward to give him a good angle. His head entered me and started to stretch me. He reached out and grabbed my other leg behind the knee. Then he lifted up both my legs by the hamstring and my thighs. Just as every other time before, when he entered me, I felt like I was going to split in two and I couldn’t breath. I felt myself stretching to accommodate him and I gasped loudly into the room. He just kept going and going…

It felt like he was never going to run out of centimeters as he slowly glid into my core. I felt him hit something hard inside me before I felt him bottom out and his hips meet mine. He pushed against it firmly. I groaned and twisted my head.

It hurt so good. 

Fuck me but it hurt so good.

“J-Jaune…” I stuttered out. I almost mixed his name up. He stretched my walls to their absolute limit and I felt like they were going to tear but they never did. 

His dick was built like him. Tall but also with some girth to it that made it impossible for him to miss any part of my deepest insides. I could feel him in my belly. He slowly pulled out and I whimpered all the while. His length dragged out of me until only the tip remained inside me and gently and wetly kissing my entrance was the rest of him. He slowly slid forward. I moaned. It was a noise that grew louder and louder as he crept into me again. I thought he would stop and run out of length but he just kept going.

I felt my face flush harshly and fully. Forward faster he went for the furthest reaches of my flower. He rocked his hips into mine and once again our hips didn’t quite meet but I could feel his blond pubic hair against me.

My eyes fluttered a little as he kissed my ‘g’-spot and cervix at the same time with as much of his length inside me as he could get without shoving too hard. 

He yanked a gasp from my lips when he abruptly pulled halfway out and pushed it back in. He rubbed all of my interior walls and bumped into my furthest depths. “Jaune…” I whined. I looked up at him to see him grinning down at me. He gave me another quick halfway thrust. I choked a little. It still hurt a little but in a way that was stretching and good and so full . Gods above, I was so full of him. There was no room left for anything else. My breath kept being stolen from me and I felt like I couldn't get a good mouthful of air into my lungs because there was no room inside of me. He was so big . I couldn’t breath he was so enormous. 

He gave me a long pull out that made me whimper again. Then he provided a smooth slowly and gentle thrust that robbed me of the air in my lungs. 

I flexed my legs to try and wrap around him but he held me fast with my body spread apart and feeling like I might be divided in two. I almost sobbed. I twisted and turned my head on my neck. 

He moved my leg so my calf rested against his shoulder. I was still spread so wide for him. He then took his thumb and gently stroked my love bud. My hips jumped back onto him and made me hit my cervix onto his head. It hurt a little. But it was a feel good kind of hurt like using my muscles to exercise. And I really had no one to blame but myself. 

He pulled his length out and I held my breath and waited. He rubbed a circle into my clit as he pushed his way in and divided me once more. 

I felt my walls tighten and clench around him a little miniature orgasm. I cried out a little. It almost sounded like a sob. I had missed his body so much. He groaned and his hips stuttered a little at the sensation of my body closing around his dick. Yeah, that’s right Jaune. I had some power over you too.

He started smoothly thrusting into me for real and through multiple thrusts I let out a long quiet groan. It was dragged from my lips by his gentle thrusting and his rubbing of my little petals. I still felt like I was going to be torn apart but it was weird because he really was being gentle with me still and there wasn’t much more he could do. He was too big and I was too small. I thrust my pelvis to meet his thrusts as best as I was able with him holding me apart and in the air. 

“Ha...fwuh...fuck...Jaune...I’m going to… I’m about… Please…” I couldn’t get the words out. I bit my thumb hard. “Oh, Jaune!” I called out. 

I finished thrusting my hips back onto his length and against my cervix. He’d been roughing up me 'g'-spot at the same time he strummed my rose. He moaned my name, a low “Ruby…” as I collapsed around him and I writhed on the bed. I was still impaled by him and mostly held in place but I squirmed as best as I was able as the orgasm took me. My eyes fluttered about and I couldn’t see for a second. 

When my tears left my eyes it was still to find him between my legs. And he let them down to grab my hips but he kept thrusting.

“Oh my gods…” I managed. “Please… it’s too much…”

“Shhh,” he hushed. He bent low and kissed me and I kissed him back hard. “Just take it a little more… that’s it… that’s a good girl…”

Our aura’s flared and kissed. Petals shed like rain above us and blue wisps of flame trailed in the air. I could taste him.

I whined in time with four thrusts and I felt my eyes roll a little in my head. I felt like I was about to pass out. Jaune reached down between us where our cores met and started playing with my clit again. I almost screamed as I thrust my hips into his fingers and back away. There was no escape and my body betrayed me as it craved more than the rest of me could handle. I couldn’t get away and I wasn’t sure I wanted to. It felt so… It felt so… 

“I’m coming again,” I whispered and I almost cried. “Oh please, Jaune, I’m coming again…”

I was coming apart and all I could do was lie there and take it. He held my hips so tightly with his one hand as he stroked through my petals with the other. 

I came so hard that lights flashed and it was almost painful. Have you ever been hit by something like that? Something that felt so good it was almost a painful sensation but it never quite crossed over. I did scream and my fingernails dug into his back. I clawed at him desperately and my legs writhed. 

“Sweetheart…” he released at the same time. I felt him pulse inside me. He released one, two, three, four, five jets of hotness right into my belly. The warmth coated my insides as I felt myself unravel and become unmade and remade. 

“Ah...hah...hah... Ah... haha.” I breathed hard. I felt him soften inside me and slid out and right away I felt myself missing the sensation of him filling me so completely. But then I could breathe again and I felt myself gulp down air. I felt like I could really breathe for the first time since he entered me. My face was flushed so scarlet and all I could do was lay there as I felt him crawl off of me. 

I turned my head. Weiss was now lounging on the bed, her head was propped up by one hand and her elbow. And she was eyeing me with a bit of fascination and curiosity. 

Jaune bent down and straightened from where he was at the foot of the bed. I curled onto my side and let out a long groan. 

“Too much? Rubes?” Jaune asked.

I felt myself shake my head. 

“Just right… I think… I’m done…” I panted. 

Jaune looked down at himself. He was still partially hard but the tip was pointing down. He was… maybe five inches at the moment? I wasn’t sure. It was hard to judge how big he was at full mast based off of what I saw. I watched him reach down and give it a few pumps to try and reclaim some rigidity.

“Alright Weiss…” he breathed hard. 

“You can give yourself a minute…” Weiss murmured. “I’m still turned on at the moment. I came twice and that was quite the spectacle. I think I get what you meant about watching.”

“If I give myself a moment I might lose it,” Jaune confessed. 

“Do you-um- need a hand? Instead?” Weiss asked.

Jaune looked at her and nodded. Weiss crawled over the bed to near where Jaune was and Jaune walked over to her. She took him in one hand. Her hands looked tiny compared to even where Jaune was now. Jaune groaned. “Little hands…”

“Is that a problem?” Weiss asked.

“No, it’s sexy,” Jaune disagreed informatively. 

Weiss gave his dick an experimental pump with her right hand. Jaune moaned and thrust his hips into her palm. Weiss looked up at him and repositioned herself.

She took him into her mouth and she moaned at the taste. Tasting me, I realized. And Jaune. She took his head in and pumped the rest of his shaft with her hand. I watched Jaune’s knees jerk at the sensation. I watched his length grow harder as Weiss worked on him. 

She bobbed her head with her ponytail drifting behind her. Jaune reached out and took her platinum locks with both hands. Weiss groaned again when he tugged slightly on her hair. 

“That’s… that’s really good…” Jaune moaned and tilted his head back. His pelvis thrust a little forward as Weiss toyed with him. I realized he was holding himself back. Weiss’s free hand came forward to cup his testicles, something I had never thought of, and Jaune moaned again. “That should do it…” Jaune breathed.

Weiss removed him from her mouth. “What if I don’t want to stop?”

Jaune reached down and picked her up and repositioned her on the bed so she was laying on her back perpendicular to me and parallel to the headboard. I watched as Jaune gently manhandled her. “I’d rather not bore us and skip to the chorus.”

“You think my mouth is boring?” Weiss fired back.

“No, I enjoyed watching you use it. If you don’t want me to, you know, get to the main event, then you had better let me know real quick.”

“Or else what?”

“I’ll do the sorts of things I’ve always wanted to do to you.” Jaune positioned himself at her entrance and Weiss let out a whimper. Jaune didn’t know if that meant stop or go like he did with my noises and he hesitated.

Weiss reached her legs out and wrapped them around Jaune’s pelvis. She pulled him inwards towards her. “Won’t you, please?” She begged.

Jaune gave her this incredibly hungry look at that. It was as though he’d been starved all his life and was just now seeing food for the first time. 

He started to enter her and Weiss let out a moan. It was a womanly sound that increased in pitch as he slipped inside until it became a quiet and pathetic whimper. I knew where she was coming from with that. It was… a lot to take in.

“You alright?” Jaune asked.

“Give me… a second… it’s a bit to adjust to… you’re bigger than Ruby’s finger… by a bit,” Weiss panted out. 

“I felt you break… you’re bleeding!” Jaune said urgently. I had broken in training before Jaune entered me for the first time. Weiss must still have been preserved inside there. 

“That can happen.”

Jaune started to pull out but Weiss held him with her legs. She was breathing hard. I knew that feeling too. 

“You’re getting softer…” Weiss mumbled. 

“Well, you’re bleeding. It’s not exactly a turn on.”

‘I can’t help it.”

“I’m just… I’m concerned.”

“Don’t be. It’s fairly normal for a first time. It can happen. You can start to move now.”

Jaune tentatively rocked his hips all the way out of her. Weiss let out a longing sound at the loss. Then Jaune slowly pushed his way inside and Weiss gasped. “Oh… oh fuck…” she managed. I could stand to hear her swear like that more. “Oh, okay,” Weiss panted. “Wow.”

Jaune smoothly slipped out of her and as he did he dragged another soft noise from her lips. Weiss kept her legs wrapped around his waist but she slumped her right forearm over her eyes. She was a wonderful rosy color in the face. It was so different from her pale complexion. 

I watched her start to glow a little white. I could smell it. Cream, and, custard and crushed ice.

Jaune reached a hand down between Weiss’s legs. I knew what was coming. Weiss jumped where she was impaled on him.

“Good?” He asked. “Or bad?”

“Good,” Weiss sort of purred from the back of her throat. She was still struggling to breathe. 

He rocked his hips in and out of her and listened to her mewl beneath him. She moved her arm from over her eyes and sat herself up on her elbows. “Kiss me…” she pleaded. Jaune bent low over her. He draped one arm over her head so he wasn’t crushing her. He kissed her gently as he shifted his pelvis in another long and slow thrust which I knew from experience could be mind blowing. He played with her folds a little. She moved her hips in time with his fingers. She gasped when he entered her completely. He must have been at least kissing her cervix. “Okay. Okay,” Weiss whispered against his lips. Weiss tried to regain some composure or control but Jaune was totally in charge above her. He pulled slowly out of her body and she tilted her form in anticipation. Then I saw all the muscles on her stomach tighten as he slid inside. I watched them clench again when he flicked her bean gently. 

I saw golden lights shine around Jaune’s body. It mixed with blue wisps of flame to produce little green sparks. I’d never noticed them before if it happened with us. His body flickered like a candle light. It was caramelized sugar and pure ozone wafting off of him. 

He kissed her again and I saw his tongue slip into her mouth and pushed all the way inside her. He stretched her out and touched her in her deepest parts. I watched the muscles on his chest and stomach and legs tighten with restrained power. He wanted to rock her world. I could see that. He wanted to mindlessly thrust his way into her body. He held himself back and checked himself and slowly thrust his way into her tiny, by comparison, form. He had at least a head of height on her and was three times as broad at the shoulder. She looked petite and oh so small as she managed to consume his length. Weiss’s head fell back and she groaned. Her lips slightly parted and her eyes fluttering closed. Yeah… that was the stuff. 

She tilted her butt in time with his thrusts a little faster and yanked on him with her legs a little harder and in synchronization with the new rate she wanted him to go at. He read her and, drinking in her creamy cold aura, matched her rhythm. 

She let out a whine as he touched her insides a little faster. Her hands came up to her breasts and gripped them and rubbed circles into her nipples hard. Jaune thumbed her bud between her legs and she gasped. It was a loud breathy noise. 

“Okay… alright…” she managed. “Just… just like that…” she panted out. 

Jaune continued his more rapid assault on her opening. Quick thrust popped from their groins. Weiss moaned much louder this time. 

“Oh… that feels… that feels… ah…” she couldn’t totally get the words out. Jaune hit with three smooth, long, slow, hard thrusts and she called out. “C-c-Jaune. Oh, I’m…” she covered her flushing face with her forearm again as she took it all in. 

“Look at me,” Jaune gently commanded. “Look at me when you do or I’ll stop,”

“Oh please don’t stop,” Weiss whined.

"Look at me,” Jaune pressed.

Weiss took her arm from over her eyes. She looked him dead in the eye. “I’m about to… oh gods…” Her whole body tensed up. Every single muscle in her body clenched and she pulled him tight into her with her legs. Her fingernails came up and over him and dug into his back hard enough to leave welts behind. Her left leg was shaking at the mid thigh. She fell back and looked away from him.

Jaune rubbed at her clit at an incredible rhythm and didn’t stop his gentle thrusting. If anything he sped up a little. 

“Oh… Ah… Oh… Okay… that’s… that’s… oh no… I’m going to do it again.”

“Do it,” Jaune grunted. He thrust four smooth slow gentle thrusts all while rubbing her bud at a furious pace. He kissed her deeply and she shivered. It sounded like she screamed but it was muted by the kiss and both of their lips. Her muscles in her stomach all tightened up and clenched rapidly as she came while he impaled her.

I saw when Jaune finished inside her because he thrust in and tilted his head back in a moan they both shared. 

Weiss panted and gasped on the bed and Jaune almost collapsed on top of her but he caught himself. 

“So…” Jaune breathed. “Was it as good for you as it was for me?”

Weiss nodded rapidly and bit her lip beneath him. She was so red from the exertion I couldn’t believe it. She covered her face with her forearms and he rolled off her and left her legs spread wide open and her body devoured. 

pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq

-WG

[tojirights]

Prompt “❛ i love that no one else has seen you like this, that no one else has felt you before, been inside you. they don't get to have you, but i do. ❜” with alastor :3

Likke reader has been with multiple people but alastor is the first person to make her cum 0.0

prompt: Hii I really like your work! Can you do face sitting with alastor like reader mentions that she wants to sit on alastor face to angel and alastor overhears or angels says outlook to husk while his wasted thank youu

a/n: combining these two prompts!! ^ thinking maybe alastor overhears you talking with angel about your woes and offers to uhhh assist 👀

"the guys down here suck, angel." you sigh, sitting next to angel in the hotel lounge. you crack open your beer and hand him one as well. "yer tellin' me, babe." he chuckles. "whats got ya worked up this tIme?" he hums, reaching an arm around your shoulders. "thats the thing! nothing!" you groan, leaning into his body. "you know how many times i've tried hooking up with someone just for them to bust in 30 seconds and rub my inner thigh?" angel almost chokes on his drink.

"they're the worst. no one down here has been able to make me cum but myself." you mutter, taking a sip of your drink. "who do you want, hm?" angel asks. "maybe i can hook ya up with someone good." he wiggles his eyebrows, earning a giggle from you. the alcohol is making you feel a little brave, so with a sigh, you let your words free. "y'know who i think about all the time?" angel's eyes widen with interest, anticipation building.

"alastor..." you admit for the first time out loud. angel does choke on his drink this time before he laughs. "bitch! the radio demon?!" he barely contains his cackle. "stop! i mean, have you seen him? god, angel. i'd get down on my knees and bark if he told me to. i wanna sit on his face, hold onto his antlers for support. ughh, he's so hot." you whine into angel's chest, embarrasmemt finally setting in. angel tries to contain himself, but you've never said something so out of pocket but also very relatable.

unbeknownst to you, alastor stands not far behind you, his ears twitching as he listens in. a part of him does feel a tinge of guilt for listening, but you'd be quieter if you didn't want anyone to hear you. "well now, isn't that interesting?" alastor's voice makes you jump, almost tossing your beer straight onto angel. "oh fuck..." angel all but pushes you over in an attempt to get away.

"oh my god. alastor i'm so sorry, i was just-" you scramble to defend yourself, but alastor puts his staff under your chin to raise your eyes to his. "what was that you said about wanting to... sit on my face? about these worthless little demons not knowing how to treat a woman?" the sultry tone in his voice has you clenching your thighs together, which you blame on the alcohol swirling in your gut. you laugh awkwardly, trying to brush this off as alastor teasing you but there's a look in his eyes that tells you he's dead serious. "it's nothing! just venting some frustrations, that's all."

your eyes are a dead giveaway, desire flooding them as you peer up at alastor. "why don't you accompany me to my room for the evening, darling? we wouldn't want these inexperienced fools to try and make a move now, would we?" he extends his hand, and you decide to throw caution to the wind. standing, you let him pull you close. "blow my mind, radio boy." you whisper, watching alastor's eyes darken and his smirk grow. alastor uses the shadows, leading you straight to his room in a mere moment.

your heart rate sky rockets, realization hitting your gut as you start to strip. "how long has it been?" he asks, picking you up with ease and carrying you to the bed. "w-what?" you hesistate, watching as alastor ushers you to climb on top of him. "since someone else made you cum?" you swallow, straddling his chest. "i don't even remember al..." alastor's hands come around to grip your ass and pull you forward. with a gasp, you brace yourself on the headboard and then the feeling of alastor's tongue immediately has your brain turning to mush.

it's dizzying, the slide of his tongue up and down your slit was already far better than anything you've experienced in such a long time. "o-oh fuck." your body shudders, barely being able to hold still. alastor's tongue dips passed your entrance, lapping up your juices like a man starving. you already feel that familiar coil in your stomach forming, threatening to snap all over alastor's face. "that's, oh god alastor, that's so good." you moan, gripping tighter on the headboard as your hips start to stutter on their own.

then, you feel alastor's hands on your ass start to push and pull you, forcing your cunt to slide over his tongue. "y-you, i'm gonna-" you can't even think straight, pleasure blinding you to anything else happening in the entire world. alastor hums against your clit, sucking the sensitive bud into his mouth and that's it, you're cumming hard enough that your vision goes dark and tears well in your eyes.

you're shaking, barely being able to breathe as alastor's tongue runs lazy circles over your still sensitive clit to ride out your orgasm. before you're fully recovered, alastor quickly flips you onto your back and his fingers find your puffy pussy. "you have no idea the honor it is to be the only one to see you like this, my dear. the only one to feel you-" he pauses, pushing two fingers inside your needy cunt so he can hear your sweet moans. "cum. and i will be the only one to continue feeling that. you will cum on my face, my fingers, my cock... anything you please."

the desire burning in your core strengthens once more. not even your own fingers have ever made you cum twice, but alastor is about to pull a second orgasm from you almost completely back to back. "make me cum again." you whine, hips arching further off the bed as his fingers pump in and out slowly. "on your cock, fuck, please fuck me alastor."

alastor chuckles, his free hand unbottoning the front of his pants just enough to free his cock. "how could i deny such a good girl? cum on my cock, my princess." in an instant, alastor's fingers are replaced by the thickness of his cock. the first thrust alone has you teetering on the edge, while his thumb rubs tight circles on your clit.

your pussy clenches around his girth, pulsing with every sweep of his finger. each thrust of his hips pushes you closer to the edge, his cock filling you like no one else could ever. "y-you, gonna cum again." you cry out, spasms wrecking your body as your second orgasm hits even more intense with the feeling of his thick cock stretching your pussy.

alastlor groans, pumping his cock deeper, deeper until he's cumming as well. "such a good girl." he grunts, pushing each thick rope of cum further inside. "you won't ever have to worry about not being taken care of, my dear." he assures, pulling out slowly even as your cunt tries to squeeze him in. "there's plenty more where that came from, rest your pretty little eyes." he coos, pulling a blanket on your tired body.

you just know this is going to be the best sleep pf your fucking life...

[askshivanulegacy]

Omg, Ad Astra is the worst movie I've seen in FOREVER ahahahaha wtf. This is an MST3K winner. Tried waaay too hard. Good grief it was terrible. The utter pointlessness of almost every scene. You all should watch it. 😂😂😂

[sundrop-writes]

Hi! I hope this is okay to send because I’ve sent this type of request to others (and I know that’s normally bad) BUT it’s because I enjoy the different opinions of all the amazing writers!!! It’s not a fic request but just a request for your top headcanons for Spencer Reid.

The things that you’re like “this is canon and I’ll fight you over it” - smut, nsfw, tame, domestic, anything - just your opinions/rants!

(If it’s not okay to ask though please accept my apology!!! I’m still learning the social etiquette of tumblr requests! ) - 🌑

I definitely think this is okay to send to different writers, because you will usually get very different results - usually writers don't like it when you send a request that can only get similar results (asking for a narrative fic with a detailed, similar plot). But I love giving my random headcanons about characters.

Random Spencer Reid Headcanons

And okay, the first one I have in mind for Spencer is so weird.

One of the headliners that I always have in mind for Spencer - he wears tighty whities.

Like - the only kind of underwear that he wears are the classic hanes briefs (usually white, maybe heather grey, never black or any other 'fun' colour) - he doesn't wear boxer briefs, he doesn't wear boxers. Whenever I see a fic saying 'and then Spencer took off his boxer briefs', I'm like: "no, you don't know him like I do".

Spencer is a fucking nerd. Spencer is the type of fucking nerd who would insist on wearing the nerdiest underwear - tighty whities. And people probably write about him wearing boxer briefs because those are the sexy men's underwear and briefs are not like 'hot' to picture men in - but that is exactly why I HC him as wearing them and exactly why I mention that he wears them in every single one of my fics.

Spencer would wear the dorkiest underwear in expectation that he's not going into a sexual situation. He wears his underwear thinking that he's not going to fuck - he's not going to have to 'impress' anyone. Also, over time, of writing several fics about him and thinking about Spencer for 100s of hours a week - I have come to develop this kind of kink for picturing his giant nine inch cock trapped inside the crotch of a pair of briefs, hard and struggling to fit in there. It would be hot in its own way. (Which, Spencer always is.)

Speaking of his cock - you may notice that with a lot of my fics, I take the time to describe in depth what a male character's dick looks like. This is because I take the time to picture and think about what a characters dick looks like and how it is different from other characters (because no, not every characters dick is nine inches, thick and veiny. no) - I call it the Dickscription. And I think it's a very important part of characterization.

Spencer is eight to nine inches (when fully hard) - but he is skinny. His cock is a bean pole, just like he is. You would look at his dick and call it a snake. His cock is very smooth - the skin on it is baby soft and smooth, rather than veiny, and Spencer does not shave his pubes. Spencer is a full bush kind of guy - because he is terrified of putting a razor anywhere near his dick. He would only shave if you helped him and if he trusted you a lot. And he had a very thick, dark bush of hair near the top, around the base of his cock, but it gets more sparse around his balls, which even get soft and fuzzy in some places. (I have thought about this way. too. much.)

He is uncut, and when he gets really needy and teased or if you don't let him cum, then his cock turns a really bright shade of pink or even red, and the colour goes across his whole cock so his cock becomes like this beautiful bright pink rocket - and he leaks. Spencer is a very leaky guy, to the point where he gets everything so wet before he can even cum.

(These headcanons are getting out of control, lets get back to something more wholesome, shall we?)

Spencer is the kind of person to take himself on dates. On the rare occasion that he gets a day off, Spencer indulges in going out alone. It's not necessarily that he likes the solitude, but he's used to it because he spent his entire childhood pretty much alone, and there are a lot of activities that he likes that he thinks no one else he knows will enjoy. So he tries to enjoy treating himself to a day out alone.

He will bring a few good books to a cafe and drink a few expensive lattes (and probably eat a few pastries) and simply enjoy the peace and quiet of reading by himself for a while. He'll go to a book store and browse for hours before finally picking something. He'll go to a naturally history museum and walk around by himself, not tied to the whims of what someone else wants to see.

Hmmm

Maybe some relationship headcanons?

(Because we all love Spencer, lets face it.)

This is something I bring up in Careful (as you guys will see) - but I genuinely believe that Spencer Reid would treat his partner like royalty. He is someone who has spent years reading about romance - especially with his mother reading him so much classic literature, he regards the classics as the bar for romance (and he just hopes that his life doesn't become one of the tragedies where one or both partners die in the end). So he's not the 'Netflix and Chill' type - and he definitely doesn't bring you to the movies to sit in silence on a date.

He is the type of person to hire a violinist to play your favourite song by the table on a date, he will open doors for you, help you with your coat, pull out chairs for you, recite poetry to you (probably in other languages just because it sounds beautiful).

He will always think of the most unique dates to take you on. He'll take you to museums, to an observatory, to the orchestra - he'll take you to a large, elegant library that has rare books and recite lines from those classic books to you while you're there. He would take you to plays or a midnight picnic by a lake. Dates with him would never be boring or typical - it would be like living in a romantic movie.

A lot of people HC that Spencer would not be into PDA because he's too shy, but I don't think that's the case. Early seasons Spencer maybe, but I think that even he would get to a point where he's just so enamoured with you that he needs to touch you in public. But his PDA wouldn't be steamy or smutty, it would be romantic and soft and passionate.

He would keep a hand on your lower back while walking around, a sign that he's right there with you, a gentle signal to anyone around that you're with him. He would lean in close to speak right in your ear - showing that his words are only for you, that nobody else in the vicinity deserves to hear what he has to say, only you do.

He would graze his fingertips right across your arm, causing goosebumps on your skin. He would stare into your eyes with such intense, burning passion. And he would kiss you in public - lingering only long enough to leave you wanting more. And on occasion, he would lean in to kiss your neck or bring your hand up to kiss the back of it - gentle things to show his appreciation of you without giving away too much for prying eyes to see.

Dating Spencer would be like dating a prince from a hallmark movie, I swear to god.

(That's all I have for now, because if I keep thinking about this too much, I may explode because Spencer is not real and I can't actually date him.)

[mysecretlittlelibrary]

I Love You When You Don't Love Yourself

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Word Count: 2.3k

Warnings: Self deprication??? People talking shit I dunno

Genre: fluff and maybe angst

Summary: Bucky let's the opinions of random people get in his head a little too much on a night out

***

You take one last look at your makeup in the mirror before deciding you're satisfied with the look.

"You almost ready to go doll?" Bucky asks, leaning against the doorframe.

"Perfect timing. Yeah, I just need to put my heels on." You say standing up and walking over to your shoes which you'd left by your closet. Bucky meets you by them and leans down to slip your heels onto your foot. Oh, how he treats you like a princess.

"You look amazing." He tells you as he stands back up, kissing your temple softly.

"Thank you, so do you." You say. Bucky's hand settles against your back as it always does when you're walking.

"Alright let's get on with this." Bucky says as you leave the tower.

"Do you think everyone's already there?"

"Steve definitely is, Nat probably isn't yet, Tony definitely isn't, Wanda and Vis I'd guess yes. Everyone else is up in the air but everyone's left here."

"Last to go-"

"We won't be the last to leave. Telling you now." He tells you.

"I know." You laugh. "Trust me I have no desire to stay the latest."

The Avengers team has been invited to a charity gala which normally nobody would even think about going to, but after the last several months, you definitely think the team could use the positive press so a number of you are going, to represent the team. It takes you and Bucky 20 minutes to get to the venue and Bucky groans when he sees the red carpet lined with photographers.

"No way there's a red carpet here." He rolls his eyes.

"Of course there is. These galas are a gold mine for PR brownie points." You say. "Just smile baby, if they ask us anything worth answering I can do the talking."

"Works for me." Bucky says leaning over the center console to kiss you quickly before getting out of the car. Bucky hands the keys to the valet as he walks around the front before opening your door. He holds out a hand to help you out and then shifts that hand to your lower back, leading you down the red carpet. You can hear a cluster of voices shouting both of your names behind the disorienting flashes but it's hard to make anything out specifically. That is until you catch one voice above the rest.

"Y/n! What's it like dating the Winter Soldier!?"

You can feel Bucky tense a bit beside you though he tries not to let it show on his face. You flash a bright smile at the sea of photographers and slip your hand behind you to quickly squeeze Bucky's.

"Oh well I wouldn't know, the Winter Soldier doesn't exist anymore." You say easily.

"Are you saying you don't think your boyfriend is dangerous!?" Another voice.

"Not any more than any other avenger. I honestly think that the most volatile of us is Tony! But- for some reason, nobody's worried about the guy who can fit rocket blasters into a briefcase- just the... guy who can punch really hard." You let out a half laugh to lighten the severity of your words but you know you've done what you were trying to do when Bucky pulls you closer subtly and the questions stop. "Ciao!" You add with a light wave. You and Bucky walk the remainder of the carpet, posing every so often until you make it inside.

"The guy who can punch really hard?" He quirks an eyebrow at you once you're inside.

"Well yeah. Don't get me wrong you're plenty dangerous- but we have a god that can summon lightening, a witch that can completely warp reality, a kid who has the strength to throw an entire airplane- and I mean Tony's just some guy comparatively however- that suit of his has military grade weapons and he could at one point carry in a briefcase, I feel like you are not the biggest threat to humanity even in this room."

"You make us all sound dangerous."

"You are. We are. Honestly, the world is just lucky Tony thinks that being a hero comes with more glory than being a villain, and the rest of us have decent moral compasses. The line between hero and villain is pretty thin and when you have abilities people don't understand you are always walking that line. They could turn us into fugitives tomorrow. That's why we do things like charity galas so that's less likely to happen."

"You know we are so lucky you're around because I don't think anyone else would care to protect us in this way." Bucky slings his arm across your shoulders, pulling you closer to him.

"True but I suppose that's the good thing about a team, everyone offers a different skill set." You shrug with a chuckle.

"You're so amazing." He says kissing your temple.

"Well I have to be, my boyfriend's pretty cool you know." You smile.

"Oh, is he?"

"Yeah, the coolest." You nod.

"He's a lucky man." Bucky chuckles. 

"Sure is. But I think I'm luckier."

I think he'd disagree."

"I'm sure. Let's go find our seats."

"I'll get us drinks first and find you at our table after." Bucky says removing his arm from your shoulder but kissing your hand before he lets you go.

"You sure?"

"I could track you down in a sea of thousands doll, go. I'll see you in a few." He says.

"Something fruity please." You tell him.

"I know what to do." He winks and walks off. You pivot towards the tables to search the name cards for your and Bucky's seats.

"Y/n, hi I'm Noah, I just wanted to say that I'm a huge fan of yours." The man, Noah, appeared pretty much out of nowhere.

"Hi Noah, thank you. Just- trying to do what's right." You smile. You'll admit you've not had many adults come up to you and say they're fans?? It's usually kids so you're not sure what's the best approach here.

"Oh you don't have to be so modest! You're a hero! You've earned every right to brag."

"I'm not really the bragging type is all." You chuckle.

"That's so honorable." He nods. You hum in response.

"I'm gonna go find my seat, but it was nice to meet you!"

"Oh did you come alone? Is someone waiting for you?" He asks.

"What?" You blink at him.

"Well just that you're usually always with the one with the arm- the soldier."

"Bucky." You say.

"Right him. I'm just surprised to see you without him." Noah shrugs.

"Oh, he's here. He went to get us drinks."

"Interesting. I'm surprised."

"By what? Like you said we're always together." You shrug.

"Yeah, right, I know I guess I just thought by now you'd wake up."

"Excuse you?" You scoff.

"Oh come on darling, you and I both know you can do way better than that killer you're with now." He smirks placing a hand on your arm.

"If you want to keep that hand I suggest you keep it to yourself because if you touch me again you won't have to worry about 'that killer I'm with' I'll end you myself." You smile back at him.

"Fiesty."

"Yes, I tend to be when you insult my loved ones. Go figure. I'm going to go find my seat now before you dig yourself a hole too deep to climb out of, enjoy your evening." You say before walking away. Perhaps you should've mitigated that without threatening him, if it reflects badly on the team you could be undoing the very thing you came here for and that's usually Tony's area of expertise, oh there's your name but I mean that guy totally had it coming he was being an absolute jerk. How dare he say-

"Found ya." Bucky kisses your cheek as he sits beside you, cutting your train of thought.

"Hey." You smile giving him a peck on the lips. "What'd you get me?"

"I forget the name but it's a vodka cran with peach and lime basically, something from their specialty menu. I thought you'd like it." He shrugs.

"I'm sure it's lovely, thank you." You tell him taking a sip. It is pretty good. "What'd you get yourself?"

"Just a whiskey." He says. "Anything fun happen while I was away?"

"Nope, I ran into some guy before I found our seats but, that's an interaction barely worth mentioning." You roll your eyes.

"Uh oh, what'd he do?"

"Doesn't matter." You say with a kiss. "Have you seen anyone else yet? It looks like none of us are at the same tables." You point out.

"I saw Tony and Pepper's place cards but they're not sitting if they're already here."

"Oh, what table are they at?" You ask.

"It's over there, and don't worry I already told the bartender that Tony is only allowed one drink." Bucky says making you giggle.

"Well, that's a relief. Let's hope he didn't prepare for that restriction." You hum.

"I think Pepper keeps him on a pretty tight leash so it shouldn't be a problem. I just figured you'd rather be safe than sorry."

"When it comes to Tony's alcohol consumption absolutely." You nod.

"Oh my god is that the winter soldier?" You hear a voice whisper next to you.

"I can't believe they let him in here." Another hushed voice responds, making your jaw clench.

"Well I'm not about to sit next to him." Voice one scoffs.

"I'm sure we can get someone to switch with us it's fine. Come on." Voice two says and the two scuttle off.

"Fucking idiots." You roll your eyes. Bucky clears his throat and takes a sip of his whiskey.

"Oh look there's Vis." Bucky points out the red synthezoid at a table a few rows away from you.

"Okay so we're here, Pepper and Tony should be, Vision and Wanda are there, isn't Steve coming? I wonder where he'll be sitting." You hum.

"I bet he's already in his seat. Look for a bunch of giggling women hovering at a table and we'll probably find him at the center."

"I wonder why they sat us all apart."

"I imagine to promote mingling. All the Avengers at one table would be rather intimidating for the rest of the gala I think. No one would approach us." He shrugs.

"Oh maybe." You hum. You pick up the program sitting on the table to get an idea of how the evening is meant to play out. They'll start with an opening address, then serve dinner, then do the auction items, and the rest of the night will be dancing and mingling. You and Bucky entertain each other at the table until someone begins the night's todos with the opening address. The speech is about five minutes long, thanking guests and talking about the importance of the cause. Dinner orders from the preselected menu are taken quickly and food is brought out within 15 minutes.

"See I told you it was him." You hear a hushed conversation, not at your table but close. Bucky's hand hovers over the fork that he had been reaching for.

"My goodness you were right. That's scary."

"And to think he has a girlfriend walking around like that." That's the line. Bucky stands from your table abruptly and storms off. You hurriedly gather your purse to follow after him but you stop at the table you'd heard the voices coming from.

"If you guys are so bored with your lives that you have nothing better to do than gossip the least you could do is keep your pathetic opinions to yourself." You scoff before walking off to track down your boyfriend.

"Bucky wait." You call when you catch up to him just outside the venue.

"I want to leave." He says.

"It's barely been an hour-"

"And in that time there have been four separate instances of people talking about me like some zoo animal who can't fucking hear them."

"Four?"

"I heard that guy telling you that you can do so much better than the 'killer you're with now', so yeah. Four."

"We'll leave." You nod. Bucky hands his ticket to the valet and it takes almost no time at all for them to bring your car around to the front.

Your drive home is silent, though you rest a comforting hand on Bucky's thigh as he drives. Back in your room at the tower is where the quiet is finally broken.

"I'm sorry." Bucky frowns.

"What on earth for?" You shake your head at him

"I totally ruined the evening. I know this was- important to you that we go." He sighs.

"Don't be ridiculous. There are enough Avengers there to represent the whole team Bucky we didn't have to go, we didn't have to stay. Plus I never want you to be somewhere you don't feel comfortable. The gala is not nearly as important to me as your feelings." You tell him.

"Everything would be so much easier if it wasn't so-"

"Bucky don't. That's a dangerous path to start down. There is nothing wrong with you."

"Stop, y/n. Stop pretending that you don't hate it. If I could still have my normal arm I-"

"Well you don't." You snap, cutting him off.

"What?" He blinks at you.

"You don't have your 'normal arm' Buck, and I didn't even know you when you did. I fell in love with you with the metal one attached to your body, and it's the only you I've ever known. How could you possibly think I hate it?"

"You heard what people were saying tonight-"

"I'm not dating any of them or their opinions. And neither are you. Who gives a fuck what they have to say about it? Don't let them decide what parts of you are worth loving." You say grabbing his face.

"Don't you get tired?"

"No. I'd happily spend the rest of my life clapping back at people's ignorant comments if it meant always coming home to you. I've fought evils those peabrains couldn't even comprehend if they tried, their narrowminded drivel means nothing to me. They're like walking talking gossip rags. Who pays those any attention?" You roll your eyes.

"I love you."

"I love you too. All of you. Even with your metal arm and your chaotic history. Don't you dare let random noise make you forget that." You poke his chest.

"Alright alright." He laughs pulling you against his chest into a hug.

***

[rvzcvx]

I see your post we're you bored and idk what to write so another Idea :

Can you do Tom x(dom) m! Reader or non-gendered is not important (I prefer x m! Reader because I'm a guy obviously )During the 14th of July and we arrive in the evening at the time of the fireworks and Tom is really scared about firework (IDK LMAO, no judgment.) and reader tries to reassure him Fluff and maybe bonus where reader and Tom had sex because Tom can't calm down! As you wish

BYEE,LOVE YOU 💋

ANXIETY

pairing: tom kaulitz x male reader

warnings: smut

a/n: idk if thats what you meant, but i hope youre gonna like it!! its kinda long but I hope it will be a good to read!! you can send me more requests if you want me to write something

As the sun dipped below the horizon, we were walking through the crowded streets of Paris, my heart racing in anticipation of the evening ahead. Tom and I had planned this trip months ago, carefully timing our visit to make it in time with bastille day. But as we made our way towards the seine, where the crowd had gathered, Tom's grip on my hand tightened, and I could sense his growing unease.

We arrived at a place near the eiffel tower. People were everywhere, their excitement palpable. Tom's eyes darted around nervously, his usual confident demeanor replaced by an nervous tension. I squeezed his hand gently, hoping to provide some reassurance.

"You okay?" I asked, my voice low enough to be lost in the crowd. Tom forced a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, just a bit overwhelmed. I forgot how crowded it gets here."

I knew it was more than the crowd. Tom had never been comfortable around fireworks. The loud, unexpected bursts and the lingering booms always seemed to unsettle him. It was something he rarely admitted, but tonight, as the first rocket flew into the sky, I saw him flinch.

"It's gonna be fine" I whispered, pulling him closer. "We'll stay back here, away from the thick of it."

He nodded, but his body remained tense. The fireworks began in earnest, vibrant explosions of color and light that painted the night sky. Each burst was met with oohs and aahs from the crowd, but Tom's reaction was a stark contrast. His jaw clenched tighter with each boom, his eyes squeezed shut as he tried to block out the noise.

"Hey" I said softly, turning to face him and gently cupping his face in my hands. "Look at me, not at the fireworks." Tom's eyes fluttered open, meeting mine. "I'm trying" he muttered, his voice strained.

"Focus on my voice, on my touch." I ran my thumb soothingly over his cheek. "You’re safe. We’re safe."

He took a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly as he concentrated on me. "Thanks" he said, his voice barely audible over the people around us.

I kept talking, sharing random stories and memories, anything to distract him from the noise. Gradually, his breathing steadied, and some of the tension got off him. As the grand finale approached, the fireworks intensified, the sky a chaotic symphony of light and sound. Tom winced, but he didn't look away from me.

When the last firework faded, I could see the relief on his face. "Let's get out of here" I suggested, threading my fingers through his.

We walked back to our hotel, the cool night air a welcome change from the crowded riverbank. Tom was quieter than usual, his earlier anxiety still lingering. Once we were inside our room, I closed the door behind us and turned to him.

"Sorry I wasn't much fun tonigh" he said, flopping onto the couch. "Don't apologize" I replied, sitting next to him and placing a hand on his leg. "I knew fireworks weren't your thing. I just wanted to be with you."

He gave me a grateful look. "You always know how to make me feel better."

I leaned in and kissed him gently, letting my lips linger on his. He responded eagerly, his hands finding their way to my waist, pulling me closer. The kiss deepened, and for a moment, all the stress and tension melted away.

"I don't know what I'd do without you" Tom murmured against my lips. "You don't have to find out" I whispered back. "I'm not going anywhere."

We stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other, the world outside forgotten. Eventually, Tom pulled away slightly, his eyes searching mine. "Can we just stay here tonight? Just us?"

"Of course" I said, brushing his thick dreads from his face. "We can do whatever you want."

He smiled, a real smile this time, and pulled me down onto the bed with him. We lay there, holding each other, the faint sounds of the city outside a distant hum. Tom's breathing slowed, his body relaxing completely for the first time that evening.

"I love you" he whispered, his voice filled with emotion. "I love you too" I replied, kissing his forehead.

We lay there in comfortable silence, enjoying the peace of the moment. The anxiety from earlier seemed like a distant memory now, replaced by a deep sense of contentment. Tom's hand found mine, our fingers intertwining as we simply enjoyed being together.

After a while, I felt Tom's lips on my neck, his breath warm against my skin. "You make everything better" he murmured, his voice low and husky.

I shivered at his touch, my body responding instinctively. "I try" I said with a smile, turning to capture his lips with mine.

We kissed slowly, savoring each moment, the tension from earlier completely forgotten. Our hands roamed over each other, exploring familiar territory with renewed intensity. Tom's touch was both soothing and electrifying, a combination that never failed to drive me wild.

As things heated up, I felt the urgent need to be even closer to him. We moved together in perfect sync, our bodies responding to each other's every move. The connection between us was intense, fueled by the events of the evening and the deep love we shared.

Eventually, we paused, breathless and flushed, our foreheads pressed together. "Let's take this to the bedroom" Tom suggested, his eyes dark with desire.

I nodded, my heart racing in anticipation. We stood up, still wrapped around each other, and made our way to the bedroom. I pushed open the bedroom door, my heart racing with anticipation.

I laid him gently on the bed, placing my weight on his body. "You're so beautiful" I murmured, leaning down to press a soft kiss to his lips. He responded eagerly, his arms winding around my neck as he deepened the kiss.

I could feel the heat radiating off his body, and I knew that he wanted me as much as I wanted him. I broke the kiss, my lips trailing down his jaw and neck, peppering him with kisses as I went. He tilted his head back, giving me better access, and I couldn't help but grin at his eagerness. "You like that?" I asked, my breath hot against his skin.

"Yes" he moaned, his voice ragged with desire. "Don't stop."

I continued my assault on his neck, my hands roaming over his chest and stomach, feeling the muscles tense and flex beneath my fingertips. I could feel his cock, hard and throbbing, pressed against my thigh, and I knew that it was time to take things to the next level.

I pulled back, my eyes meeting his, and I saw the hunger and need in them. I reached for the hem of his shirt, pulling it up and over his head, exposing his toned, muscular chest. I couldn't help but let out a low whistle as I took in the sight of him.

"Fuck, you're so hot" I said, my voice filled with awe.

He blushed at the compliment, but I could see the pleasure in his eyes. I leaned down, capturing one of his nipples in my mouth and sucking hard. He cried out, his back arching off the bed as I teased and tormented him with my tongue and teeth.

I moved my attention to his other nipple, giving it the same treatment, and he moaned and writhed beneath me. I could feel his cock leaking precum, and I knew that he was just as turned on as I was.

I stood up, my eyes never leaving his, and stripped off my own clothes. He watched me, his eyes dark with desire, as I revealed my own hard, throbbing cock. I climbed onto the bed, positioning myself between his legs, and I leaned down to capture his lips in another searing kiss.

I reached down, wrapping my hand around both of our cocks, and I began to stroke them together. He moaned into my mouth, his hips bucking up to meet my movements. I broke the kiss, my lips trailing down his chest and stomach as I made my way to his cock.

I wrapped my lips around the head, swirling my tongue around it, and he cried out, his hands fisting in my hair as he held me in place. I took him deeper into my mouth, my throat working as I swallowed him down.

He was moaning and thrashing beneath me, his hips bucking up as I sucked and licked at his cock. I could feel my own orgasm building, and I knew that I wouldn't be able to hold back much longer.

I pulled off his cock with a pop, my lips wet and swollen from his abuse. I looked up at him, my eyes filled with lust and desire, and I saw the same need reflected back at me in his gaze.

"I need you inside me" he gasped, his voice desperate.

I nodded, reaching for the lube and condom that I had stashed in the bedside table. I quickly sheathed myself and slicked up my cock, my eyes never leaving his.

I positioned myself at his entrance, my cock throbbing with need. I looked up at him, seeking his permission, and he nodded, his eyes filled with trust and desire.

I pushed inside him, my cock sliding in easily, and he cried out, his hands reaching up to grip my shoulders as I filled him up. I began to move, my hips pistoning as I drove into him again and again.

He was moaning and writhing beneath me, his cock hard and leaking as I fucked him. I leaned down, capturing his lips in another kiss as I continued to thrust into him.

"You feel so good" I murmured, breaking the kiss. "So tight and hot."

"Yes" he moaned, his hips meeting my thrusts. "Harder, m/n. Please."

I increased my pace, my hips moving faster and faster as I drove into him. I could feel my orgasm building, my balls drawing up tight against my body.

"I'm close" I gasped, my breath coming in short, sharp pants. "Me too" he moaned, his nails digging into my shoulders.

I reached down, wrapping my hand around his cock, and I began to stroke him in time with my thrusts. He cried out, his back arching off the bed as he came, his cum spurting out in hot, sticky ropes.

The sight of him coming, of his body trembling and writhing beneath me, was enough to send me over the edge. I groaned, my cock twitching as I came, filling the condom with my hot, sticky load.

I collapsed on top of him, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close. I took off the used condom and threw it somewhere, wrapping my arms around him too.

"I love you Tom" I said, resting my head in the crook of his neck. "I love you too" I heard him say and I smiled, feeling myself fall asleep after a while.

[jungwnies]

✰ syn ’ safe for work a-z boyfriend for park sunghoon ✰ pairing ’ boyfriend!sunghoon x gn!reader

requested!

a ⋆ affection - how affectionate are they?

he’s not the most affectionate

especially in the beginning he is not the one to initiate it

he’s a very awkward person as we all know so don’t expect him to cling onto you start day one

once he’s warmed up to you though he doesn’t get clingy

but he gets very comfortable being physical with you

he’s better with his words than he is expressing his affection through actions

but he’s still cute so it’s okay

b ⋆ bonding - how often do they bond with you?

all the time

it’s the little things he does

like i said he’s awkward so he never really knows what to do

but he always makes time for you

sometimes you don’t realize what he’s doing is for you but it’s okay because he likes it that way

he’s secretly bonding with you all the time tbh

c ⋆ communication - do they keep in touch with you when they're away?

yes

he texts you a lot actually

his confidence sky rockets on text tbh

tries lame pickup lines on you when he’s on tour

takes pictures of everything just to show you

d ⋆ dates - how often do they set up a date for you two?

not often

he’s not a homebody but his dates are super spontaneous

so don’t expect them to be well organized because well

they’re not

but he does things for you often

it just doesn’t need to be classified as a date

e ⋆ essential - what is the thing that is important to them?

the relationships he builds with people are extremely important

he really values the people around him

he just has a hard time expressing his gratitude

f ⋆ friends - how did the friendship start?

i feel like he saw you around

inside of a store or something

he thought you were cute but he was too scared to flirt so he probably got someone to get your number for him

honestly he probably asked staff to get it

g ⋆ gross - what is the thing he hates in your relationship?

he hates when you lie

boy he hates liars so much

even though he lies sometimes and he’s a little devious

when it comes to lies about the relationship or lies that can ruin the relationship

it just makes him mad

he has no secrets with you

so hopefully you have none with him either

h ⋆ hugs - do they like hugs? how do they feel?

they’re awkward but safe

in the beginning it was definitely more awkward

he didn’t know where to hug you

how to hug you

how to make you comfortable

but when the relationship started to settle

it felt safe around him

he held you like he’d never let go

pause cus this is reawakening my sunghoon bias-ness in me

i ⋆ intercourse - how are they during intercourse?

oh oh oh

same with his hugs

they’re awkward

but why is he low key goood

like

he knows what he’s doing

he’s hitting on the right spots

touching all the right spots

he knows the anatomy of your body really well

j ⋆ jealousy - how jealous do they get?

oh ‘em geee

he is so jealous

but not toxic

but low key toxic

k ⋆ kiss - how good are they at kissing?

he’s great

he knows what he’s doing

they’re always so soft and delicate

but so passionate at the same time

loves being the one to deepen the kiss ugh

l ⋆ love - how do they show their love to you?

just little things

he doesn’t like making a big deal out of things

but he does small things for you that make a big deal in your life

he will remember everything you like tbh

m ⋆ mad - how often do you argue?

not often

but when you guys do argue

communication is soooo bad

n ⋆ naughty - how do they deal with you annoying them?

sunghoon ignores it

or tells you to stop

hes not into the annoying things

he has a short temper when it comes to things that bother him

o ⋆ open - how often do they open up to you?

honestly

i don't personally see him as an open person

he dozes off a lot and his problems don't really ever leave his mind

it took him awhile to be honest for him to be completely comfortable with you

but when he's at that stage he's super open

usually when he's upset he'll tell you, but his prefers to sulk

p ⋆ pet names - how are they with pet names?

babe

baby

and jagi

and sweetheart

sometimes prince(ss)

in the beginning it was just your name though >.>

q ⋆ quiet - silent treatment?

he doesn't give to you often to be honest

but usually he will when you guys get into an argument

sunghoon sulks a lot okay leave HIM ALONE

he has a hard time communicating how he feels :c

r ⋆ ramble - how often do they talk about you to others?

oh he is a BRAGGER

he loves talking about you

and how good you treat him

he's always like "hmp, you wish you had a bae like me."

LIKE ?!?!?!?

s ⋆ soft - how soft are they to you?

sunghoon is not soft with you

but when you smile

it melts him to be honest

he becomes liquid

and vice versa

i mean, have you seen his smile??? it's precious 😪

t ⋆ think - what reminds them of you?

clothes

every time he goes shopping

he thinks of you

and what he can bring you

he loves dressing you up

he's like a mini fashionista when it comes to you

it's so cute

his whole face lights up when he sees you wearing something you bought for him

u ⋆ unhappy - what makes them break if you break up with them?

i think the fact he got so comfortable with you

and now it's over

he doesn't know if he'd be able to open up like that ever again tbh

he doesn't have his favorite shoulder to lean on anymore

whose arms is he going to cry in when he's overwhelmed

literally the scent of your perfume/cologne lingers and sends him into tears

literally cannot forget you

v ⋆ vacation - how are they with long distance relationships?

he is so bad with this

his communication skills are already so bad

he doesn't leave you on read or anything like that

but when he's super busy he kinda forgets to text

he doesn't even see the message

but he's quick to apologize and make it up to you

w ⋆ wholesome - the sweetest thing they ever did to you?

when he realizes he hasn't been as good as a boyfriend

he will always find a way to make it up

and it's ALWAYS he sweetest things ever

it's those little things that are like "i can't believe you remembered this"

and he's just like "well of course i did, i love you." 😭😭😭

x ⋆ extra headcanon

the first time this boy said he loved you

he was a mess

he was so nervous oh em geee

he fiddled with his fingers and was so nervous

and when you said it first????

he basically melted in his chair

he literally disintegrated into thin air

y ⋆ young and beautiful - (how long does it last?)

i feel like in the beginning his relationships are short lived

he's not a long term kind of guy

but he actually feels that bond with you

well, you're stuck with him

for literally ever

z ⋆ zzz - how do they sleep with you?

he's very much loose spoon

he likes to big spoon but very loosely when it's night time

he doesn't like people all up in his sleep space

but for you he make the exception!!

he snores though not gonna lie

not loud

but sometimes

it can keep you up at night 😗

2022 © jungwnies thanks for reading! reblogs & likes are appreciated!

[vvmylove]

Simple Moments with Jake 😍

Can we talk about how fine this man is though- my bbg fr

Jake and Y/N were currently in the same room. Jake shifts his position, looking over at Y/N as she texts. He tilts his head, trying to get a good view of the device in her hands "Who are you texting?" 

Y/N rolls her eyes as she tilts the phone away from him, continuing to press her fingers onto the screen. “No one,” she says teasingly as she sticks out her tongue at him. She was texting no one in particular, but she enjoyed his current reaction. How close he was to her-

Jake's eyebrows raise at her reaction, leaning forward a little more. He reaches his hand out to grab onto the phone, but Y/N was quick to react. She slaps his hand away. “Nuh uh, why would I give you my phone?” she says sassily, tapping onto the screen once again. He sighs, shrugging at her reaction. “Who are you texting? Your boyfriend?” he giggles, trying to catch her off guard with the question.

Y/N tilts her head at his question, “Jealous much?” she giggles, playing along with him. She fakely smiles at him. Jake leans closer, as she curls herself onto the couch. He was hovering on top of her, his heart beating slightly rising as he looked down at her. Jake chuckles, sending a shiver down her spine, “Does he make your heart flutter?” he asks her, referring to the ‘guy’ on her phone. She removes her gaze from the screen, looking up at him. Y/N had not noticed how close he was to her, her cheeks tinting in pink. Her eyes slightly widened, turning her head away. Jake had noticed this, and slowly inches himself towards her. He gently places his slender fingers under her chin, forcing her to look over at him. Jake looks deeply into her eyes, scanning for emotions. Y/N couldn’t contain herself anymore, as her face started to redden like a tomato. She tried to dig inside of her mind for words, but her mind was blank. She ended up stammering instead, “wa- I-”

Jake’s face was only an inch away from hers now, and contemplated kissing her. He had felt this way for a long time, never really finding the perfect opportunity to do so. He could also feel the heat rising in his face, slowly pressing his body onto hers, relaxing himself. Y/N’s eyes widen, looking deep into his eyes. He could tell that she wanted this too.

“Y/N,” Jakes voice comes out as a low mumble, the warmth of his breath slowly blowing onto her lips. Her eyes divert down to his lips, then back to his eyes. Jake pulls her closer, finally pressing his soft lips against hers.  Y/N’s body stiffens, her eyes shut tight. She starts to snake her arms around him, unexpectedly, melting under him. Her heart rate rockets, his breathing becoming rapid against hers. For a few moments, both of them freeze into the kiss. Jake seems to follow along, pressing his body against hers as he places a hand on her waist.

Jake was the first to depart, looking lovingly into her eyes as his other hand made its way towards her face. He caresses her face, “You're so cute,” he giggles.

--

GUYS IM SO SORRY IVE BEEN DRY I SWEAR I WILL POST SOMETHING BETTER SOON PLEASE FORGIVE ME. So heres a drabble (?) until then.

[klausinamarink]

One Kid Gone, Another Up and Vanished (part 7)

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 next: Part 8

spoilers but a phone call gets through!

“You’re a thousand percent sure?”

Mike groans as he checks down the school halls, “Yes, Lucas. How many times do I gotta tell you that?”

“Well, maybe until I’m positive that we’re not having a collective auditory hallucination or the weirdo isn’t tricking us.” Lucas crosses his arms. Beside Dustin, El mutters “auditory hallucination” to herself with furrowed eyebrows.

“You guys hear that?!” Dustin exclaims too loudly, earning equally loud shushes. “Sorry, but El just said a scientific word without mispronouncing it! She really does have superpowers…”

“Not now, Dustin.” Mike hushes as they finally get to the AV club. He unlocks the door and lets everyone inside after peeking in. He guides El to sit in front of the radio while Lucas and Dustin turn it on.

Dustin won’t lie - he’s super excited to see El use her powers for the radio. He couldn’t believe it when she made Will’s voice come out. Will! Alive and singing!

But he’s still confused over Mike’s news of Will being with someone named Eddie. Eddie who? is their biggest question but El can’t say because she doesn’t know his last name or how to describe him.

“He’s a friend.” She keeps telling them.

Dustin prays it’s not Eddie Tremblay from fifth grade. The little sucker doesn’t deserve to be Will’s new friend after his football landed on their rocket project last month.

“Aaaand we’re in!” He announces, hopping behind El. Mike and Lucas squish against him even though they clearly have much more space.

El closes her eyes and listens to the whining static. Then the static changes through channels, voices quickly overlapping until they get more comprehensive. Then the voices get compressed into six, four, two-

“-Control to Major Tom..”

Dustin shoots his hand forward and grabs one of the speakers. But so does Lucas and Mike and now they’re slapping each other’s hands until Lucas finally takes it and yells, “Will, can you read us? Over!”

“‘Your circuit’s dead, there’s something wrong..’”

At the sound of the second person, Dustin’s first thought is oh thank God, it’s not Tremblay. Then his second thought is hm, this Eddie guy sounds kinda cool. Then his third thought is oh my god, we gotta talk to Will!

“Will! Do you copy? Over!”

“Will, where are you?”

“You feeling a bit better so far?”

“Tell Eddie we’re saying hi! Who is he? Over!”

“I’m getting cold again..”

“Me too. C’mon here.”

“Will! We’re right here!”

“How the hell are they not hearing us?”

“I wish I could go home…”

“So do I…”

El gives out a painful gasp and the radio explodes into flames. Dustin manages to extinguish it before the rest of the room catches, but the fire alarm goes off.

They all stare at the now-ruined transmitter, their only chance of connecting with Will and his mysterious new friend.

��

Eddie’s definitely missing.

It’s a fact that Jeff grows more sure of every day since Wayne Munson had asked him for Eddie’s secretive hideouts.

He keeps trying to ignore the seed of dread in his stomach, but it’s impossible now with the slightly somber atmosphere in the school after the morning announcement of Will Byers’ death. The fact that Eddie hasn’t shown up for classes or in the cafeteria again today isn’t helping either.

“If Munson’s still gonna be on his bender, he should’ve at least cancelled this week’s session.”

Jeff takes a half-open Skittles bag from Maya’s tray and throws it at Evan, making the two members jump. Maya because those are her Skittles and Evan because the bag hits his chest making more pieces fly out on the table.

“Eddie’s not on a bender.” Jeff hisses at Evan. Across him, Frankie is giving him one of his Don’t-Make-This-Any-Worse looks.

Evan huffs and crosses his arms, “Oh, yeah? Then where the hell is he?”

“Definitely not on a bender of any kind!”

“Gee thanks, that clears things up.”

Jeff’s about to snap back, but Frankie discreetly kicks his leg with a warning glare. It might be a good call because Jeff doesn’t know what to say next. Another defence of Eddie, for sure, but nothing to quench the rest of the club’s antsy-ness.

“Maybe he’s gone to a concert. Like hitchhiked to Indy or Chicago?” Maya asks after picking up her spilled candy.

“But he has a van?” Daniel, the senior member of Hellfire and their current drummer, frowns pointedly.

“What concert could’ve he gone to? Is there even any band playing in this bum state?” Evan raises his eyebrows.

“I dunno, Dio?”

“They’re touring in the UK right now.” Frankie says. Jeff shoots him a bewildered look that’s the equivalent to screaming are you kidding me? Frankie gives him a Play-Along-With-It look.

“Well, that settles it.” Evan raps his knuckles on the table. “Munson’s saved a fucking ticket to the goddamned Iron Lady’s territory and is breeding chicks in Dio’s mosh pit as we speak.”

Jeff stands up, no longer feeling hungry. He throws his half-eaten sandwich at Evan. The other boy gives out a disgusted shriek as the mayonnaise hits and stains his shirt. “Dude! What-”

“Shame on you.” Jeff keeps his voice even, just quiet enough for only Hellfire to hear him. Maybe it would somehow reach Eddie wherever the hell he is right now. “The only good thing about Eddie being absent is that he isn’t ripping the skins off of you and your characters right now. Especially you, Evan.”

He stares Evan down, who visibly gulps. “Eddie took you in the club’s open arms because he saw you were a loner who needed the right people to hang out with or you would’ve been one of the bullies. And this is how you thank him?”

He looks at the rest of the members and points at them accusingly. “When Eddie comes back from whatever he’s doing, I hope that rest of y’all feel guilty for thinking he doesn’t care. Because he absolutely does.” Then he grabs his bag and leaves the cafeteria without a second thought.

Outside is chilly as usual and the breeze helps relax Jeff’s nerves. For a while at least.

He stands at the parking lot, trying to think what he should do when he hears someone running over. He looks up and groans.

“Frankie, leave me alone, man.”

“So you haven’t heard anything from Eddie?” Frankie’s voice isn’t accusing but his look might’ve been.

“No. Not since the band practice days ago.” Jeff walks away but Frankie still follows him. “Then his uncle came and asked if I knew any places Eddie frequents. I told you guys that already.”

“Doesn’t stop Evan’s stupid theories.” Frankie mutters.

“You should’ve shut him up!”

“Are you kidding? You did better than what I could’ve done.”

“Words are stronger than death looks.”

Frankie snorts. He goes quiet as they reach the end of the school parking lot. Then he says, “Are you going to search for Eddie?”

Jeff stops. Turns and stares at him. “Uh, yeah? I mean, from what he said, Wayne’s probably already doing that. So, I dunno, I’m probably gonna do the bare minimum. Like where am I going to look, dude?”

Frankie doesn’t answer. His face is strangely pale and looking at something behind Jeff. He follows his friend’s phase and feels the dread well up in his mouth when he sees a poster on a nearby telephone pole.

He doesn’t need a closer look to recognize the black and white photo of Eddie from two months ago grinning at him or the large word MISSING written in Sharpie above it.

He tries very hard not to notice that it’s stapled right below Will Byers’ already wrinkled poster.

It’s a very strong feeling to see your best friend’s missing poster a few days after you last saw him alive.

Jeff forces to tear his eyes away from Eddie’s captured monochrome cheeriness. “Know what? Fuck it. Let’s find him. Wanna start at the woods?”

—

There’s something about singing quietly in the nightscape hell mirror version of your bedroom that makes Eddie’s fingers twitch to jolt it down somewhere.

After the meltdown at the house, Will had grew more quiet. Eddie had rocked him until Will complained of motion sickness and then Eddie had held him even when they slept.

After piggybacking the kid and singing “Should I Stay Or Should I Go?” (at least until Eddie admitted death by earworms and convinced a change to “Space Oddity”) on the way back to Forest Hills, Will seemed to be back in his original spirits. Still quiet but no longer on the verge of tears next to Eddie. Although his coughs started to sound more wet and shook his small frame like a leaf.

Eddie prays to god that he can speak to Wayne this time. He hopes his uncle to come up with a cooler code system than Mrs. Byers and maybe get them out somehow.

But the trailer is quiet, save for Will’s whistled breathing as he sleeps in Eddie’s arms, the old itchy quilt cocooning them both. He has to stay up. Keep a lookout for the demogorgon in this hell land and for Wayne in the real world. But he feels so tired. If he can rest his eyes for just a moment…

The sound of muffled crying wakes him up.

—

The longer Wayne stares at the posters, the bigger the impulse to rip them up grows.

After Hopper left, he had went back inside and started on making the Missing posters for Eddie. The hardest part of it had been trying to find the right photo of his nephew and he had held back tears at how much Eddie had grown. How happier he looks.

He had printed copies at the library, keeping his head down from curious and pitying eyes. Christi Waldon was nice enough not to charge him for the fees.

Then he started putting the posters up and Wayne had felt like he was making a mistake.

Nobody never said anything how difficult it is to go around town again, putting a poster with your child’s face silently begging strangers who may disliked them to find them, and to do all of this without the police helping.

Wayne had printed 100 copies. He only managed to put up 18 of them before it became too much and hurried home.

Now there’s a pile of 82 posters with Eddie’s face staring up at him on the table. Wayne can’t bring himself to rip them up no matter what his mind demands it. He has a new superstition that if he does, Eddie will never be found alive.

He checks the time. Seeing it’s only after six, he sighs heavily and takes out his cigarette. He’s briefly overcome with the memory of catching a fourteen year old Eddie trying to smoke and how his smart cookie of a nephew swallowed the lit cigarette, immediately threw up, and sobbed while Wayne had to sit down so he wouldn’t break his own ass from laughing so far. After they’d both calmed down, Wayne showed him how to smoke properly and said-

He said…

What did he say?

Something erupts from his mouth. He clamps a hand over, suddenly worrying that he just got sick. But there’s no taste of bile. Only wet salt. He takes his hand off and, ah. He’s crying.

Wayne gives a wet laugh. Then it gasps into another sob. He covers his mouth again, unable to hold the tears back.

Above him, the lights flicker.

It feels almost comforting.

Wayne sniffs, watching as the bulbs hang on to its dear life of electricity. Then one of the lamps next to the couch start flickering as well. Slow and rhythmic.

The sadness does go away, but it makes Wayne feel the back of his neck hairs stand up.

—

Eddie drops his hand from the lights, stomping over to the phone. “Fuck this, now’s the chance.”

Will glances at him from where he’s crouching by the lights, still tired from being jostled awake so soon, “Eddie?”

He turns to him and says, “Little Byers the Vanished, how does one make a landline in the Vale of Shadows?”

“You, uh, just pick it up-”

Eddie does exactly that.

“Wait! It won’t even last-!”

—

The phone rings with a shrill.

Wayne snaps his head over to it. He’s breathing slowly, watching the landline like it’s his childhood spider.

The atmosphere in his trailer feels suddenly colder. As if there are ghosts present. Waiting.

The phone rings and rings until it gets to voicemail, his gruff message for the last decade. “You’ve reached the Munsons. Leave a message after the beep.”

There’s nothing after the beep.

Wayne looks at the lights again. The ceiling light has stopped but ones over the kitchen and door are flickering this time.

The phone rings again.

He stands up slowly, walking over to the phone. It rings louder to his ears now. He tries to ignore the sudden sense of a presence behind and beside him as he picks the phone up and holds it to his ear.

He hears static as if the caller has a bad connection.

He clears his throat and speaks, “Wayne Munson speakin’.”

The static crackles with some kind of harsh breathing. It’s loud to make Wayne cringe away and hang up-

“..Wayne..”

He freezes. The anxiety vanishes in an instant. “..Eddie?” He chokes out.

“..Wayne!”

“Oh my lord…” Wayne clutches the phone closer. “You’re alive, right? Eddie! Tell me where are you!”

“..I’m-”

The phone bursts into literal shock. He drops it with a yell and it clatters to the ground, dead.

That was him. That was Eddie’s voice.

Breathing raggedly, Wayne’s gaze snaps up to the lamps flashing maniacally. The air around him feels desperate and sinks down upon him. Anxiety comes back as quick as it comes, squashing on the brief spot of hope he felt.

“Nah, fuck this.” He mutters as he swipes his keys and runs out of the door. He can’t deal with more ghosts at this hour.

—

“Nonono—NO!”

Eddie slams his hands against the lights too hard. The pulsing glass bulbs nearly crack under the pressure.

None of it stops the sound of the truck engine starting.

“Wayne, it’s me! Can’t you hear me?!” Eddie’s throat is already dry from screaming, but he doesn’t care about it. “UNCLE WAYNE! JUST STOP AND LISTEN TO ME!”

He runs outside to the ever barren yard. He tries not to think about Wayne leaving just like how his dad did in his very last visit. How he had tried to chase after his dad’s car until Wayne stopped him. How he had been a crying mess while Wayne told him that both of them will stay together from now on.

“WAYNE, PLEASE! YOU PROMISED TO STAY!”

The truck drives away, farther and farther. If Eddie can catch him-

His lungs constrict themselves again. He stumbles, scraping his knees and palms on the ground. He coughs, gulping in too many shaky breaths that almost tastes like glass shards. He calls out-

“Come back! Come back!”

It comes out as a hoarse whisper.

His throat hurts.

The truck disappears. The sounds of the trailers’ muted everyday life and his own painful wheezing replace it.

Eddie is vaguely aware of Will shuffling up next to him and wrapping his arms around his shaking shoulders.

-

Taglist: @unclewaynemunson @steves-strapcollection @hellion-child @sidekick-hero @mmmmwaffles94 @demolitionjetstar @hbyrde36 @princessstevemunson @sirsnacksalot @tartarusknight @lyriclight @kodaik97 @plsdontdrinkmylavalamp @bookbinderbitch @gutterflower77 @soaringornithopter @angeldreamsoffanfic @panicatthediaz @renaissan-vvitch @manda-panda-monium @newtstabber @little-trash-ghost

[ryp3004]

For the past week or so, Ryanne has been feeling… Off. Like there’s a string inside of her that’s being wound tighter and tighter. Like her skin doesn't fit her body. Like her joints are stiff and she’s primed for a fight.

She knows why. How could she not be affected after Ace betrayed her? Someone she thought was her friend, her family. It stung far more than she’s letting on. 

Luckily she’s had practice all her life at keeping her emotions in check, not letting a single crack slip out. 

It was especially hard when Wes snapped at her about her integrity. A lightning strike of hurt rocketing through her at the memory.

But… It's not Wes’s fault. It’s hers. She shouldn’t have said those things about her friends, even if she was upset. It wasn’t fair to them. She knows they all count on her, and that’s the way she likes it. She loves to help and she must have-!

Stop. She needs to calm down. She needs to be focused for this. Wes has a plan. Wes always has a plan. A plan that will work. It will be fine. She just has to get into a fight with him in the courtyard in front of everyone she knows. That way, Ace will think her and Wes broke up and he can get close to him again. It will be easy. Ryanne knows how to act. This is just… Stage fright, that's all.

With a deep breath, Ryanne enters the courtyard, swallowing at the whispers and stares of her classmates. Wes is in front of the fountain, just like they planned. Ace is sitting with a few of the student council members, not too close but not too far, just like they planned.

“Hey, Wes,” Ryanne starts softly, though with the quieting down around them it might as well have been a shout.

“Ryanne.” Wes regards her coolly. And even though she knows he’s faking, she knows it, she can't stop her breath from catching and her posture straightening. 

“You stood me up last night… Didn’t return my calls… Did something happen?” Ryanne tilts her head with a small, tense smile.

“Oh, don’t give me that.” Wes scoffs. “You know exactly what happened, Hunt.” Ryanne blinks, thrown off.

“After what you said about us?” A gesture to the listening classmates. “About me? I thought you knew better than that, Ry.” It’s fake. Ryanne steps closer, putting a gentle arm on his shoulder that he rips away from her. It’s fake.

“Wes, please, we can talk about this.” She says, and she doesn't exactly have to fake the hurt in her voice. “Tell me how to fix this…” Wes rolls his eyes. It’s fake.

“What do you want from me, Ryanne? I thought I knew who you were, but was it all just an act?” He takes a step towards her, pointing his finger accusingly. It’s fake. “I can’t believe I fell for it. Even now, you’re standing here, playing the victim yet again. I mean,” He laughs in disbelief, a hand on his forehead. “I thought you were smarter than this.” It’s fake. 

“Wes, you can’t just say that about me. That isn’t fair.” Her hands are shaking at her sides.

“You wanna talk about fair? How is it fair that you lied to everyone and still have to be the good guy? It’s actually incredible, Ryanne. Really, bravo.” He claps sarcastically. It’s fake. He doesn't know that that’s what they used to say to her.

Poor Ryanne, always the victim. Poor Ryanne, hurt herself yet again. Ryanne, haven’t you gotten enough attention? Ryanne, have you finished yet? Ryanne, Ryanne, Ryanne…

She slaps Wes, an angry flush on her face and a stinging on her palm. He doesn't have to feign his surprise.

“Fuck you.” She spits. “How dare you, Wes? After everything I have done for you? After everything I have done for all of you?” Her eyes snap to the classmates that were listening in. “When is the last time I have ever asked you for anything? When is the last time we hung out without you needing anything? When is the last time you even asked me about myself, huh?” She gets in his face, voice low and shaking.

“When is my birthday, Wes?”

Wes flounders for a moment, mouth open to prove her wrong but nothing coming out. Ryanne sniffs, the anger making way for tears. She wipes at her eyes. “We’re done. Don’t text me.” She turns on her heels, making a swift exit. She waves off Payton and Mia, both of their eyes wide. Julian and Nishan look almost impressed. 

Right.

It was an act.

Of course it was an act.

Then why does she feel like this?

Ryanne ignores the people trying to comfort her and locks herself in one of the empty classrooms. She doesn't want them to see her like this. She’s supposed to be a piller. She’s supposed to be a beacon. She’s supposed to be perfect.

With a shaking hand she unlocks her phone. There’s a message from Wes.

“That wasn’t all an act, was it?” is all it says.

“No. I think we actually need to talk.”

“👍” 

Despite herself, Ryanne snorts at her terrible, wonderful boyfriend.

“I’m in Mr. O’Brine’s room.”

“I’ll be there in ten. Ace is about to approach”

“👍” 

[tadcccallmyocs]

Bring back Tether part 2

Tether and Ashrani were still sitting together when the Portland opened again, and an orange furball rocketed through the portal and slid across the floor into the opposite wall. Ashrani hid behind her interdimensional sister as Tether stood to confront the strange presence.

Tether "wh--Who are you?"

Totes "Urk, that was worse than Caine's teleporting-- I'm Totes. And you must be Tether."

The ferret-person stood up slowly, looming taller than anyone Tether or Ashrani had ever seen. Needless to say, they were both intimidated. In spite of the newcomer's goofy smile.

Tether "h-how do you know my name?"

Totes "Well, it's a long story... one we don't really have time for right now."

Totes then reached for the zipper at the base of their neck, unzipping it to reveal a mostly empty pocket in their chest. It looked big enough to fit a person inside-- which, to Tether's horror, was the plan.

Totes "Alright kid, get in! I'm taking you home marsupial-style!"

Tether: "n-No way!"

Tether backed away from the strange animal, remembering her parents warning about going off with strangers. Besides the general bad vibes, this person reminded them just a bit of Jax between their toothy grin and mammalian appearance. She put on her brave face-- the one that was color-inverted-- and further confronted Totes.

Tether "Why should I trust you-- I've never met you before! Why would my parents send you, of all people?!"

Totes took a moment, smile falling away as they came up with an answer that would prove their intentions.

Totes "Well in truth it wasn't your parents that sent me... it was your best friend, Harley."

Tether "Then I don't-- did you say Harley?"

Tether's expression turned, and in doing so they notices that Tote's had also changed-- their serious expression had a touch of sadness to it.

Totes "Yeah, she's real worried about you. Every one in your server is, by the looks of it. Zooble was a bit too busy beating the [#$ಠ⁠益⁠ಠ!%] out of Caine for porting me in instead of you, so I went ahead and sent myself here. Which sure, maybe not the best idea, but how many servers have people with names that start with T? I have no idea what that chatterbox was thinking--"

Tether "Ok fine-- I believe you."

Tether gave Ashrani a quick goodbye hug and then climbed into the ferret's pouch. Once they were fully inside, Totes zipped the hole closed.

Totes "Ok, get comfortable-- oh, and if you find any chocolate bars in there, don't eat them. It's uh... mushroom-flavored."

Tether "Eww! Why would you have mushroom-flavored chocolate?!"

Totes "Well the flavor isn't really the selling point-- oh, here we go, portals activating! Hold on Tether!"

There was another lurch of teleportation, and once again Totes was standing in front of the same mix of half and full strangers. Kinger's finger was still pressing the recall button.

Kinger "Ah--! Sorry, wanted to see if it worked. Guess I pressed it too soon..."

Cathin "well at least you bring the guy back... but not the child"

Zooble "Where's my child, weasel?"

Gangle "Oh no, did you not find her in time?" Gangle asked, tears welling up from her eyes.

Totes "Relax, your timing was perfect-- and I'm a weasel of my word!"

Totes unzipped their pocket, and inside was Tether-- dazed from the teleportation, but fine.

Tether "h-Hi everyone. I'm really sorry about disappearing like that--"

Harley "TE-TE!"

Totes "Whoa!"

Harley didn't wait for Tether to get out of Totes, tackling both to the ground to hug her friend. Soon Zooble and Gangle joined in, and it became a group hug.

Harley "I'm so, so, SO glad you're ok! We were so worried when you started to abstract!"

Tether "y-You were?"

Gangle "Of course we were-- we love you Tether."

Zooble "You're still grounded... but, I'll count the days you were gone."

The hug may have went on forever, but then Caine hovered over.

Caine "Harley darling, your enthusiasm is delightful-- but it seems to have been a bit much for our new friend!"

They glanced over to Totes who-- between the disorientation of being recalled and the fall-- was out cold.

Harley "Oops... sorry."

Jax "Great, we're stuck with the weasel for a while.”

(totes and this writing is made by @enby-denby, this Collab has come to an end thanks to @spookykittyzzz to be so awesome to made this arc possible and I hope some of you have questions like Harley and Tether know what abstraction is or more things let me know have a nice day)

[greatwesternway]

what did the indoor exhibits think about the outdoor ones before they all came inside? did they even know there were other engines out there?

The indoor exhibits knew the outdoor exhibits existed, but they didn't really think about them much beyond the way one might think of the people who work at your job but on a different shift.

A thought occurs to me though that some of the older locomotives that were kept indoors might be a bit concerned for the ones outside, if they'd had any experience with being left to the elements. Aside from the Rocket replica, we've put off researching a lot of the other pieces of smaller equipment the MSI has since Pioneer doesn't need to know anything about the guys inside beyond what it would occur to him to ask for Pilot's benefit. You saw my stack of books; this is why we go back and edit the letters every time we update, so we can add in stuff we learned in the meantime.

Anyway, those guys might harbor a worry for the engines outside, but there's not much to be done about it. The exhibits outside are too big to be brought indoors. These little old engines simply wouldn't conceive a way that the bigger machines could be brought inside... until they dismantle that wall and haul 999 and 727 in. Sure, they had to cut off 727's wings to get her through the door, but they put her right to her new use and both of the girls were now safely indoors.

2903 coming inside didn't seem so farfetched now, but U-505 and Pioneer's train are surely too long to bring inside. They'd take up an entire gallery to themselves! Which was true. They were building the Henry Crown Space Center by then so the indoor exhibits probably assumed they'd build annexes for Pioneer and U-505.

That they started digging instead would have been a surprising turn of events. But they did and Pioneer and his train were indeed given their own gallery. They lowered them into their new parking garage exhibit and everyone agrees he's a fine ambassador for the museum.

But Pioneer is very light, as far as trains go. The idea that they could drop something as heavy as U-505 in a hole on the same kind of pulleys they used to lower Pioneer in? Iffy proposition, the small exhibits might have thought. 2903 by this time had been moved to the IRM, but had he still been here, they might have assumed this was why he hadn't been moved inside too. This is the reason given for why he was donated and it was true at the time. U-505 is much heavier than 2903 is, but he is also (not to disparage 2903) a much more valuable exhibit. They were already saying that Pioneer's exhibit was the model for how they wanted to treat U-505. So they sent 2903 off to his new home and began planning yet another logistically complicated move for U-505.

It did take ten more years for them to get U-505 underground as well, but they did it. And that was truly a feat! It just goes to show how great their museum really is. Like, there's not a standard operating procedure for lowering a U-boat into a subterranean exhibit. The MSI not only presents science and industry as it happens, they make their own.

The exhibits themselves may not necessarily appreciate it on that level, but they do recognize the dedication of their museum to their care and maintenance that everyone was eventually brought in, even the most unwieldy of them and even if they had to send them to a new home to ensure they'd no longer be getting rained and snowed on.

[softquietsteadylove]

How about more wildfire au? Maybe something tense?

Gil watched with a scowl. Two trucks, five men in total. He wasn't sure what they were doing here, but no one ever found his cabin 'by accident', it had to be said.

And Thena was in there.

They had gotten to a point where he could radio in and ask how she was doing without her telling him to shove it up his ass. He considered that a win! Every once in a while he would radio while she was in the shower or having a nap, and the worry that would consume was probably best kept to himself.

The five men walked calmly, looking around them and at what surrounded the cabin in its little clearing. They didn't seem to be here for any trouble, but Gil didn't want to rule anything out. They went up the stairs and knocked on the door.

Gil tensed, gripping his hatchet in his hand.

As soon as the door budged the men flooded into the cabin, their larger bodies obscuring Thena's tiny frame completely.

Gil ran from where he was hiding and up the driveway, almost slipping a few times in his hurry. "Thena!"

There were loud shouts coming from inside the cabin, the door left wide open.

"Thena!" Gil repeated as he slid over, hatchet raised, ready to defend his temporary and cranky roommate. "Get away from-"

"White Wolf! White Wolf! White Wolf!"

Thena laughed as they hoisted her above their heads, cheering her name. She patted their heads, pushing at their faces while she was seated on their shoulders. "Okay, boys, that's enough!"

"Well goddamn, Thee, we had to go through a hell of a lot of trouble to find this place!" More than one of them jostled her in a friendly matter as they set her on her feet again. They pushed and shoved, squeezed her shoulders and ruffled her hair. And each gesture would be reciprocated in the form of a punch on the arm. "When you hide away you hide the fuck away!"

"Hey Thee," the tallest one bent over to get closer to her face, "where's my welcome kiss?"

"Who the fuck are you?!"

Six heads turned as Gil tossed his hatchet aside loudly and pulled his own damn front door closed. The men traded looks, already looking agitated, "we could ask you that, buddy."

"Boys!"

Gil had to admit, he was impressed when one word from Thena had the men's backs straighter than a lightning rod. He watched as Thena parted the sea of meatheads and moved closer to him, as if to shield him from her little wolf pack.

"Leave him be," she said more quietly, but she obviously didn't need to shout to get her point across.

"But Thee-" Gil didn't like their nickname for her.

"Gil's been good to me, that's all you need to know," she said with some finality to it. She stared down each of them, "and it's his property you're barging into here."

The men - her boys, as it were - all looked at him. Gil didn't even blink, not willing to let any weakness show to the pack of wild animals with him. He shrugged a little, "it is my cabin."

The men nodded between themselves. Obviously their concern was with Thena, and Gil probably couldn't blame them for being wary of some guy who had suddenly offered her a home out in the middle of bum-fuck-nowhere while she was injured.

"So, you're the boyfriend?"

Thena positively smoked the big guy in his smallest ribs, hard enough for him to double over. "He's not some boyfriend."

"Okay," he wheezed, trying to catch his breath after the bony little rocket of a punch.

Gil wasn't sure if he should be grateful for her defense or offended by the vehemence of it. "Yeah, I'm just...a patrol fighter."

The most softly spoken one gestured among them, "we're Thee's old search and rescue team. Some of us have even been with her since the Montana fires a couple years back."

Gil nodded. They were more than just a work team. Out in the wilderness, even the most unwilling had no choice but to trust their crew. But these guys...they truly and deeply were bonded.

"Boys," Thena took a more stern tone and nodded her head between them. She looked back at Gil, and he really thought she looked at him a little differently from how she looked at them. But what did he know. "Gil. Gil--boys."

"Uh, hey," Gil greeted, although he didn't feel the need to move away from Thena to shake anyone's hand.

"Hey man," the tallest - the inappropriate one - nodded his head at him, as did the rest. "Sorry to, uh, bust in like this."

"We didn't expect to get word from Thee until she was on the move again. She said she was holed up in some cabin and..." the soft spoken one shrugged, "this is the only one for miles."

He supposed they had a point. Thena had basically gone completely off the grid, but obviously the bond with her team hadn't suffered from whatever made her leave in the first place. They were here for her, not for any trouble. He swallowed the lump in his throat which had crawled its way out of his twisted stomach, "no hard feelings."

Thena, however, crossed her arms at them, "still not a single fucking manner between the lot of you."

The quieter one shrugged, sliding away from his rowdier comrades. He was leaving them to the slaughter.

"Aw c'mon, Thee, we said we're sorry," the big guy practically whined at her. "How 'bout I...make it up to you?"

Thena herself gave him a pat on the cheek (maybe more like a gentle slap). "You keep asking that but I'd sooner fuck a wild bear than let you cop a feel."

Gil blushed.

"Why's the boyfriend allowed to!"

The gentle slap turned into a harder one. "Not the boyfriend!"

"Then why're you wearing his sweater?"

Gil blinked, but they were right, she was wearing his sweater. It was just a thick knit sweater he liked to wear around the house, but she had it on over her long sleeves and yoga pants.

She looked cute in it.

"Okay boys," she declared, skipping over the sweater comment entirely. "Patrol's in ten, party's over, say goodnight."

"Fine," the big guy grumbled but gave Thena an undeniably gentle pat on the shoulder, "glad you're okay, Wolf."

Gil stood back as the team gave Thena their well wishes and then filed out in an orderly fashion. He gave them all the same uncomfortable half-smile he would give a stranger at the gas station.

"Take care of yourself, Thee," the quiet one said, although between looking at her and looking at Gil, it felt a little like he was saying it more to him than her. "See y'around."

Gil nodded to him; at least the quiet one hadn't made any sex jokes.

Thena inhaled once the door closed behind them. She watched them pile into the two trucks again and slowly make their way back to the main road. "Sorry."

Gil blinked, surprised not only at the apology but at the quiet tone of it. She toyed with the sleeves of his sweater, obviously and hilariously long on her.

"I didn't exactly invite them in, but I guess they were a little worked up when I radioed the station to check in with them."

Gil shrugged easily, as if he hadn't been ready to fight every single one of them if they hadn't been on Thena's good side. "That's okay, they're happy to see you. I was a little surprised when I saw them pull up, but no harm done."

Thena still looked a little annoyed by it all. "I was always telling them not to traipse in places uninvited. They barged into my room enough times before I had to start beating it into them. Roughhousing is the only language most of them speak."

Gil rolled his eyes but chose to skip over the barging into her room comment. It technically wasn't his business--since he wasn't a boyfriend or anything. "Well, they could have wiped their feet, but that's okay. They're all search and rescue, right?"

Thena nodded as Gil moved inside properly, kicking off his boots and slipping on the birkenstocks he wore around the house as slippers. "Some of them were jumpers with me back in the day, too."

Gil chuckled, "then I can't be too mad at them if they're like your family, right?"

Thena smiled at him gently, maybe still energized from the reunion as she hovered close to him, "I guess they are. You can still be mad at them, though."

"Deal," Gil laughed as he sat down in his chair with a groan. It had been a long day, and the adrenaline draining out of him was pulling him deeper into the seat.

"Are you okay?"

He would be lying if he said he wasn't charmed by her softly asked question. So, they were becoming closer. He smiled, "I'm okay."

He had been completely terrified that something might happen to Thena in his absence. Not that she was helpless by any means, but it was hard not to feel protective of the woman who slept in his bed, shared his food, whom he heard trembling after her nightmares in the dark. Muttering about what made her quit search and rescue in the first place.

Thena shifted in her chair, angling herself away and changing her smile to a more playful one. "It was sweet of you to come charging in, all knight in shining armour."

Gil blushed, but also employed rolling his eyes as a means to avoid the feeling behind it, "okay, ha-ha, funny. I was worried, I'll have you know."

"I know." She was up and out of the chair before he could look at her. She moved behind him, and he almost felt as if she had put her hand on his shoulder, but maybe he had imagined it. "I'll put some coffee on."

Gil turned himself to try and look at her, "kinda late for coffee, ain't it? What about tea?"

"I'm not making your fucking leaf water, it's coffee or nothing."

Gil chuckled. That was more like the White Wolf he was used to. "Hey, Thee?"

"Don't call me that."

"Thena?" he tried again, and she did poke her head out of the kitchenette to look at him. He grinned, "that sweater looks good on you."

"I changed my mind, make the coffee yourself."

[love-is-a-pearl]

Miyamoto's legacy

Word count: ~2k Ao3 mirror: Miyamoto's legacy Warnings: Implied character death Pairings: none Referenced in this fic. #1 . #2

“Look at this!” Go said, holding a book with a red cover in front of Ash.

“The thing you wanted me to see was…. A book…?” He knew his friend liked reading and science and all that but…

“No, what’s inside of it is what’s important!” Goh’s eyes shone as he spoke.

“Words…?”

“No! The recordings of my research!” Goh flipped through the book. He had just recently been traveling to a distant region –which Ash forgot the name for– where it was said to be Mew’s birthplace. “I found so many interesting things but more importantly, a tape! It was beaten up, buried in the snow, but Ren said he may find a way to restore the contents of it!” Goh pushed the book in Ash’s face, words scattered everywhere, arrows and doodles that only Goh could decypher. He sure was a smart guy but gosh, was his organization lackluster. “I called you because he is about to finish the restoration!”

“Oh, cool!” Ash avoided looking at the words that made his head hurt from Goh’s journal and instead choose to look at his friend. “What do you think is recorded there?”

“No clue!” He closed the book. “But I know it will be something good. I feel it.”

As they finished their talk, Ren entered the room, eager to announce that he had indeed just finished restoring the contents of the old tape.

“Maybe some parts will be cut off, but I managed to save most of it. Good thing the tape hadn’t unreeled with the time. It seems old.” He guided the boys to his desk, where his computer showed an audio data of sorts.

“That’s fine. Any information about Mew is good enough.” Goh said as Ren sat down on his chair as both boys leaned expectantly at the screen while he hovered the play button.

As Ren was about to press play, an alarmed group of employees entered the room screaming, making the group turn their full attention to them.

“It’s horrible! The Pokemon at the park are being stolen!” One of them said, tense with the news he had just given.

“They came in a balloon and broke the dome!” The other cried, holding her head in shock.

“They are using a weird machine to suck in the pokemon into it!“ The shorter of the three screamed.

“Team Rocket!” Ash and Goh said in unison.

“We tried what we could to stop them, but it’s impossible! The machine is too powerful!” The short one said again, shocked by the villainous machine’s power.

“We’ll take care of it!” Ash said as he and Goh ran out of the room. Ren followed after them.

“You three stay here and be careful!” He said as he too left the office to help the boys in the fight.

The three ran as fast as they could to the park area, worried for the pokemon’s safety, thinking how they would deal with Team Rocket’s new machine without destroying more of the park, worrying about how many pokemon they had already taken. And when they arrived, they found... nothing?

Ren, Goh and Ash looked at the Park as the pokemon went about as they normally did, playing, eating, resting and training. The dome was completely intact and nothing hinted that Team Rocket had been around.

“I don’t get it, where’s Team Rocket?” Ash asked in confusion.

“Why would those new employees lie about something like that?” Goh added to the wondering.

“AH!” Ren shouted, remembering something very important. “We don’t have new employees!”

The kids didn’t understand, what he meant by that? They just saw three employees dressed in uniforms that told them about–

“TEAM ROCKET!”

They run back to the office, just realizing they left the computer with the very important recording about Mew whereabouts alone with a villainous trio! They arrive at Ren’s desk only to find it completely empty, they took it. They took–

“MY COMPUTER!?”

---

“Did we really needed to steal everything? Couldn’t we just copy the audio file into the Rotom Phone?” James asked as Meowth is connecting the CPU to the energy outlet of the cabin they were using as a hideout in the moment.

“Do what with the what?” Jessie asked. She didn’t understand how they could take something from that big machine and put on something as small as the Rotom Phone. Then again, she didn’t understand how a Rotom was put there in the first place.

“This way we don’t need to find another keyboard, mouse or monitor. Why make things harder for us when they had everything we needed?” Meowth finished messing with the wires and tapped the power button in the computer and climbed on Wobbuffet to be able to look at the monitor on the desk.

The quartet all stared at the screen. It made a pretty sound and the desktop screen lit up. Meowth started opening all the folders that were visible on desktop, trying to find where even the recording could be. They passed by lots, lots of photos of François, the Magnemite; some downloads of their radio show –aww, we have a fan–; information about Goh’s pokemon; a shopping list that included lots of antiques and finally! The file they were looking for! Conveniently titled ‘Misterious recording about Mew that Go found’. Meowth clicked the file, opening an audio player program and without waiting, pressed play.

“Hi everyone! I'm Miyamoto! This is the peak of the highest mountain in this–”

The audio was corrupted, like Ren said some parts would be .

“–ountain range. Now please look to your right. It's right before dawn, and is freezing cold. It should be sum– but the mountains offer only blizzards. But it's all right. I, Miyam–– will give my best!”

The woman in the recording sighs before speaking in a whisper.

“I wonder how many years it's been since then though...”

The recording is silent for a few seconds after that, only the sound of the wind howling and the occasional glitch caused by the restoration being heard.

“I've become separated from the other Team Rocket members.”

Team Rocket? The woman in the recording is a member of Team Rocket? Miyamoto.. from Team Rocket. Couldn’t be…

“The only pers– –ccompanying me is the picture of my daugh–“

The door from the cabin was kicked open. The twerps had found them!

Goh called out his Cinderace while Ash commanded Pikachu to attack. James pulled out a pokeball and told Jessie to get ready. She didn’t hear. She was paying attention to the recording that still kept going.

“–ter whom I left behind as a small child.”

It is her. That’s…

She couldn’t think as Pikachu’s thunderbolt made direct contact with her and her peers. They all fell on the ground, the effects of static taking place. She hears crying coming from the recording.

“Why didn’t you call a pokemon?” James asked as he twitched in the ground next to her.

“I’m sorry, I was..” She stared as the other twerp, the one that is not Ash, moved to the computer. He was going to stop the audio. “Please don’t!”

Goh didn’t press the button and both kids looked at her. The recording goes on.

“But even if I'm like this, I'm going to wait.”

“Let me hear the rest.” She slowly gets back up, the effect of static still taking place.

“I'm going to keep on waiting.”

“What, so you can hear where Mew is located at? No way!” Goh moves to press the mouse button.

“PLEASE NO!” Jessie cries. Ash had never seen her beg for something in all the years he has known Team Rocket. “I … I think that’s my mother…”

“Yes, I'm waiting for –“

“You really expect us to believe that?” Goh asks, embarrassed that he even believed the first time when they were disguised. When he is decided on stopping this mess, Ash put a hand over his, stopping him from doing so. “What?”

“Let it play.”

“Maybe I can see – if I wait here at th–––“

“You believe her?” Goh asks. Of course Ash would. He always gives them the benefit of doubt, but c’mon. It’s Mew they’re talking about!

“I believed such a legend.”

“If they try anything we stop them” He answered, looking at Jessie, who moved closer to the desk, as if looking at the screen would make the audio clearer. “But I don’t think she is lying.” Goh lets go of the mouse and Ash of his hand, he does admit she looks almost… vulnerable.

“A phantom Pokémon will definitely make money. I'm going to make –ney, I promise you that!”

“Jess?” James and Meowth move closer to her now that the effect of static is finally wearing off. Her focus is still completely on the image of the audio waves and how they move when Miyamoto speaks.

“Huh? The blizzard.. it stopped... Oh... it's sunrise... The sun is rising!”

Both the boys and their starters sit at the ground, near the quartet of thieves and start to pay attention to the recordings as well.

“The – mountain is gleaming silver. It's just like a mountain of coins! Now, that feels good!”

A chime is heard.

“–That's...”

A pokemon’s cry is heard from the computer. Goh’s ears perk up at the sound. He would recognize it anywhere.

“You're...you're Mew!”

Goh gets up, excited that that’s indeed Mew! He knew that the tape had good stuff in it. He is about to talk and gush and… And stop that audio! Team Rocket can’t know more than that!

“My, you look sooo gentle. So you're Mew. Oh, hey look...look at thi– icture.”

Goh stops when he sees Jessie slightly shaking.

“This is my daughter, her name is Jessie. Isn't she cute?”

She feels her breath trapped in a hiccup. But she doesn’t cry. Mew does.

“Yeah...oh hey –ill you let me capture you? Please? Nursery school, kindergar– child care cost money.”

Jessie can hear her teammates starting to tear up. But she pays attention to the screen still, how the images move as the sound of the blowing wind are heard again.

“Huh? Where are you going? –ou're leaving? Hey you! Wait up. –won't let you do that. Once I hear talk of profits, I'm not going let this chance go!”

As the sound of the blizzard picks up, James places a hand on his mouth, trying to muffle his crying. He can’t help but feel bad for Jessie. Even if she doesn’t show it right now, he knows this must hurt.

“Huh? Where are you going?”

A heavy crunchy sound can be heard. And It’s coming closer. Is that an avalanche?

“What? This ––ad! What? Am I going to fall? After all–”

The sound of snow overcomes Miyamoto’s scream. Mew cries one last time before the recording ends.

The room is silent saved for James and Meowth quiet crying. No one dares to speak for a while. Jessie breaths over the knot in her throat.

“Thank you for letting me listen to it.” She doesn’t look at the boys.

“I’m… I’m sorry for not believing you...” Goh feels so guilty now. “And.. for your..” He can’t say it.

“It’s fine. I don’t remember much about her anyway.” Jessie answers, understanding what the young boy was struggling to say.

“Doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.” Ash reply made everyone look at him. Even Jessie who was avoiding eye contact with everyone. “I, uh..” He was so nervous with everyone staring at him like that. What did he say that was so weird?

“It’s true.” Meowth saved him of explaining more. “I never had a family. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t want one.”

“Pika-pika pikachu-pika pikachu.”

“Exactly.” Meowth agreed.

“What did he say?” Goh asked.

“That even if you’ve chosen to part ways with someone, you are still allowed to miss them.”

“It seems all of us have some family problems.” James said mid tears. He couldn’t stop them from coming.

“I guess… I do miss her.” Jessie finally admitted. “Even if I don’t remember much about how she was. How she looked…” She stared back at the screen and smiled. “At least now I will remember how she sounds.”

[dude-why-3]

Who painted the sky?

Chapter 10: Friendly Strangers

Annie’s sitting on the pool house’s steps, waiting for the others to make an appearance, when a light blue wrapper is thrusted in her direction, a seal drawn in the corner, paws thrown to the sides, looking up at her with a big grin on its face. Annie arches an eyebrow and looks up, and is met with Armin, standing tall before her.

“Ice cream?” he asks, sketching a smile. “They only had this rum flavor, although I don’t think you can really feel the rum.”

She accepts it with no complaints, taking her time with the wrapper. Armin drops next to her and crosses his legs, quietly taking a bite of ice cream. He steals glances at her, scanning her face for any indication of how she might be feeling. Annie didn’t say anything after calling her father– which seemed more like a one-sided conversation. Instead, she asked him to return to camp, and he rambled about his books the whole way back. She barely spared him two words, but he knew she was listening, the gleam of her eyes told him that much.

Armin only notices someone has sat next to them when he hears the rustle of another ice cream wrapper. His head snaps to the side. He finds Hitch sitting there in a flowery swimsuit, a towel draped around her waist, munching on her own block of ice cream.

“They only had rum,” she says, her mouth full.

“I know,” he smiles. “I would have preferred vanilla, but this will do.”

“It’s so hot, anything would do.” Hitch scans the two of them briefly, her eyes stopping on Annie for a bit, narrowing at her silence. She exchanges a look with Armin, who presses his lips together and slightly shakes her head. 

“Neither of you look ready for a day at the pool,” Hitch notes, leaning back onto her arm.  She eyes Armin’s shorts, grimacing. “Unless those are your trunks, in which case I have to tell you that they are hideous.” 

Armin looks down at his midnight blue trunks, adorned with cartoonish stars and planets in shades of yellow and orange and red rockets, his face burning. “What’s wrong with them?”

“They’re very childish and don’t compliment your complexion at all,” his friend says matter-of-factly. “I’ll get you some better ones when we go downtown.”

“But I like these,” he protests. 

“Well, I don’t! They’re ugly.” Hitch crumbles her now empty ice cream wrapper and throws it in the bin as if it was a basket, but doesn’t get it in. She stands up sighing and picks it up. “Aren’t I right, Annie?” She sits back up, chin in her palm as she watches her roommate expectedly.

“They look fine to me,” Annie says quietly, ice focused on her ice cream. 

“Thank you!”

Hitch huffs. “You have no taste.”

Annie rolls her eyes at her antics. 

“Tastes can differ,” Armin argues, folding his wrapper in a small triangle.

Hitch huffs once again. “You guys missed lunch,” she says, a question hanging in the air.

Armin steals a glance at Annie, who’s still staring at her ice cream as if it had personally offended her. “We went on a walk and lost track of time,” he explains. He can feel the teasing coming, see it forming on Hitch’s tongue.

She arches an eyebrow. “For two hours?”

“It was a nice long walk.”

The girl smirks. “I’m sure it was.”

Annie rolls her eyes as she rises to her feet. She throws her wrapper away, two pairs of eyes burning into her back. “I’m going inside,” she announces, making her way up the stairs.

“You better have a swimsuit under that shirt!” Hitch calls. 

“I’m not swimming!” And with that, she lets the heavy door close behind her.

Hitch and Armin stare up until they can’t see her anymore. Then Hitch puts one of her legs over the other, then turns to him. “What’s up with her anyway?”

Armin sighs, his shoulders slumping ahead. “Her father called.”

She narrows her eyes. “Okay? And?”

Armin bites the inside of his cheek, thinking back at the events of the day. “She didn’t tell me much,” he eventually says. “Just said he’s in the hospital.”

Hitch’s frown deepens, eyes fixed on a pebble on the ground. She hums, rocking her leg back and forth. Armin fumbles with his fingers, interlaces them, taps them against each other– he's missing something. There’s something she’s not telling him, for she looks too concerned for it to be just a concussion. 

"I've decided," Hitch beams. "We're having a cartoon night." Armin arches an eyebrow at her. "We're ditching the party after the introduction thingy and having a cartoon night in my room."

He frowns. "You can't just fix people with cartoons, Hitch."

"Of course I can! It worked just fine with you and Mikasa!" she teases. 

Armin glares at her, his fingers coming to a halt. He can feel his eyes starting to burn at the reminder of that time, his lips pressing together. Without his consent, his mind takes him back to colder days, fumbled on the floor of a pink room, Mikasa’s weight on his shoulder and Hitch’s warmth engulfing them both, her small television the only light keeping them guard. Little words were exchanged between them at the time, the feeling of something missing sinking between them.

Seeing his distressed expression, Hitch adopts a serious attitude, sets her foot on the ground and brings her elbows to her knees. "I'm not trying to fix her," she says, looking at Armin with narrowed eyes, as if scolding him for even thinking of it. "I just need a pretext to get through to her and this seems like a pretty good one."

Before Armin gets the chance to argue– because, really, who does that? – Hitch hops up and says, “You two are quite similar too, so it should work!” before skipping up the stairs.

Armin’s head snaps up, his cheeks heating up fast. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Are you coming or what?” comes Hitch’s voice as she opens the door. She pretends not to have heard him, though the smirk on her lips says otherwise.

“Hitch.” Armin stands and follows her up, closing the door as she rushes down the hallway, giggling and laughing, only deepening his frustration. “What does that mean?”

~~~

Later that night, as they’re holding the prior to the last activity of the day, huddled in the warmth of their egg-blue attic room, Armin watches her arranging and rearranging the pens and crayons in neat piles, her eyes narrowed in concentration, as if her only purpose would be making sure those colorful things were put in order. As if the kids weren’t gonna mess them up again in no time.

Just as this thought passes his mind, a pig-tailed girl grabs the red crayon at the very bottom of one of the piles, causing all the other pens to come crumbling down. Annie’s gaze momentarily switches to her destroyed work, narrowing slightly but not paying much mind to it as she goes back to her new pile.

They have been given the simple task of designing a banner for their team, which will be presented in front of the others later tonight. Annie has barely said anything since entering the room a good forty minutes ago— she’s barely said anything all day for that matter. Whatever might have happened to cause his concussion has shaken her to the core, any glimmer of hope in her eyes vanishing. 

Armin tried to reassure her, but all he could offer were empty words of ‘it will be okay’, so futile neither of them fully believed them, promising lies passed between naive children. He wished he could have done more. He wished, watching Annie’s hollow eyes and methodical movements, faced with her refusal to speak more than pleasantries, that he could have done more than sell empty promises.

One of the children tugging at his sleeve snaps him out of his thoughts. They ask about the background of their banner, the colors they should use, if they should add anything or not. Armin smiles kindly at them, explains why the color they picked doesn’t really work with the centerpiece of their banner, suggests a more fitting color instead, but the kids are rather intrigued by his choice, so one of them turns towards Annie, holding the poster up. 

“Miss, don’t you think this would look better with green in the background?” 

Annie raises her gaze to look at the banner, her eyes narrowing slightly, not at the drawing but at the appelative— miss? She’s barely five years older than them; miss? 

But then she breaks into a short smile. The banner they'd made pictures two big ducks in the foreground, one in a slightly lighter shade of yellow and the other wearing glasses, surrounded by ten little ducklings of all colors— pink, red, blue, purple, brown— their team name written in cursive above their heads.

“Armin’s insisting on blue but we don’t like it,” the freckled boy further explains, switching his weight from one leg to the other. 

“It’d look good though,” Armin argues, a playful smile on his lips.

“I don’t think it would,” Annie disagrees. 

The children cheer when they see she’s on their side, earning a short smile from the blonde. Armin gasps theatrically, bringing a hand over his chest as if covering an imaginary wound, earning snickers from all around the room. Annie moves a stray piece of hair behind her ear, searching for something in her piles of pens. 

She holds up a light green crayon. “What if you colored the background in this—” she fishes about her piles again, holding another crayon up— “and used a dark blue to fill the team name?” 

The boy tilts his head to the side, squinting at the colors. Annie arches an eyebrow at the whispers going around the room. She exchanges a look with Armin, silently questioning their antics, and the boy helplessly shrugs his shoulders. 

The little boy from earlier clears his throat. “We like it,” he announces, the others nodding along. “But we’ll need more crayons in the same shades, otherwise we won’t finish it in time.”

So, with only ten minutes left, Annie and Armin get to searching through the piles as the little ones get to coloring.

Their team is the last one to showcase their banner, partially because they were the last ones to show up, but also because Annie has been assigned to take pictures of videos for the camp’s site. Sasha would take over when their turn would come.

Hitch went first, the kids dragging Reiner along. They pinned their neon banner on the board at the very front of the room and performed a silly dance, earning snickers from all around the room. 

Annie exchanged a look with Armin, one that said really?, but also conveyed confusion— what even was that? They just had to make banners. He just shrugged at the time, thinking it was just Hitch and Reiner going the extra mile to make a good impression. But then Sasha and Connie’s team walked in doing backflips and singing about potatoes, their banner— one big potato with a hairy mustache and a way too big hat slapped in the middle of an otherwise empty page— held up and passed from one kid to the other. That’s when it became obvious to Armin that they had missed something. 

He bent forward and tapped Jean on the shoulder. 

“What are they doing?” he asked in a whisper.

Jean raised an eyebrow at him. “Having their representative moments,” he said matter-of-factly. 

“Oh.”

He turned to Annie, his expression falling— they didn’t have a representative moment. They barely finished their banner. She put a hand over her mouth to muffle her short-lived laugh, holding the camera further away. Armin pressed his lips together as he joined the others in their clapping. As Connie and Sasha’s team took their seats back, Jean and Pieck brought their own team forward, starting on their own little moment. Armin racked his brain for something, anything that they could improvise. The kids started fidgeting, looking back at the two of them with wide eyes and questioning gazes, Armin’s forced smile doing close to nothing to calm their nerves. 

Next to him, Annie tapped Sasha on the shoulder and handed her the camera, instructing her on how to hold it. She then grabbed Armin by the wrist and yanked him out of the room. Despite their efforts to be as silent as possible, the sound of the door being pulled open drew Hitch’s attention, who’s eyes snapped to the exit only to be met with a closing door, her brows furrowed at the sight.

“We don’t have anything like that,” Annie said in a hushed voice, eyes narrowed. She backed him into the wall of the dimly lit hallway, gripping his wrist so tightly it almost made him wince.

“I know.”

Annie finally let go of his hand, leaving behind a faded red mark in the shape of her fingers. She crossed her arms over her chest, looked down at her shoes as he searched her face, his hand coming over his wrist. 

“I didn’t even know we had to prepare something like this,” she scoffed. 

Armin leaned against the wall. “They probably announced it during lunch,” he tried to reason. 

“They could have still told us,” Annie argues. “They must have noticed we weren’t there.” Hitch went the extra mile to tease them about missing lunch, couldn’t she be useful for once and tell them the information they’ve missed?

Armin opens his mouth to say something more when the door opens and the freckled boy tiptoes his way out, the rest of the group trailing behind him. They sheepishly approach Annie and Armin, looking between them as if making sure it’s safe. Annie joins him against the wall, crossing her arms over her chest, and beckons the kids to come closer.

“We don’t have such a moment,” the freckled boy says, fumbling with his hands.

“We’ll come up with something,” Annie tries reassuring them, to little avail.

“The Warrior Cats are almost done and then there’s only one team left before us,” the girl with dark brown hair says in a rather panicked voice.

Annie presses her lips together, scanning the group. She couldn’t care less about the introduction show, not with the newfound information about her father’s condition weighing on her shoulders and, frankly, probably not ever. But the kids cared, that much was certain judging by the concerned looks on their faces. Annie runs a hand through her hair and sighs. She eyes Armin, hoping he’d have something to say about the whole shebang, but he looks too lost in thought. 

She returns to the group. “Do any of you have any ideas? Maybe we can improvise something simple.”

“I think I have something.”

All eyes go to the boy next to her. He sheepishly faces the group, cheeks dusted with pink. He straightens his back and starts talking. 

Five minutes later, Annie finds herself marching up to the front of the room, banner in hand, the freckled boy trailing behind her, flapping his arms. She shoots him a glare when he starts quacking up at her, a fish-eating smirk on his face. Annie rolls her eyes. She stops in the middle of the room, holding the banner up for the rest to see. Snickers go around the room when the boy turns towards the door and quacks thrice, louder each time. The blonde wishes she could shut her ears and be swallowed by the ground right then and there.

Another quack is heard from the other side of the door. All  eyes snap to the door. 

And then hell breaks— well, not really. Laughter fills the room, so loud hell might as well have broken.

~~~

The rest of the team waddles up to the front of the room, all quacking and flapping their arms like little ducklings. Armin walks in last, silently closing the door behind him. He’s so determined to play a duck till the very end, hunching down and flailing his arms up and down, his walk unsteady to further imitate their mascot. It’s laughable, the amount of dedication put into such a silly thing. The kids line up in front of Annie, some sitting down, others standing still, with their feet still turned away from each other; Armin joins Annie behind them. He smiles cheekily at her, showcasing his teeth, a wave of warmth washing over her at the sight. His eyes search hers, pouring into them as if he could read right through her. His fingers brush against hers when he takes hold of one side of the banner. He then turns towards their audience and announces their team, the kids quacking twice as soon as he finishes talking, waving their arms towards their banner. Everyone bursts into applause and laughter, and Armin slightly bows forward, the kids following suit.

Armin finds that Sasha and Connie are a lot smarter than they let on. He found himself swooped by the two of them before he could waddle out of the mess that overtook the crowd of campers and volunteers once the activity ended and music was put on. 

He lost sight of Annie two minutes into this mess and was about to go searching for her when the comedic duo intercepted him and started asking about their performance. They somehow went from talking about the waddling show to the latest episode of Grey’s Anatomy, which the two were watching religiously, to how Sasha dropped out of college before even starting— because she found a culinary school near her house and decided to apply there in the fall—, and how Connnie somehow got into med school but wasn’t quite sure he wanted to actually go to med school. It felt nice, talking with people that didn’t seem to have any fixed plans either, that didn’t question him on his decision to take a gap year. On the contrary, they seemed more supportive than most, despite not knowing anything about his reasons. 

But, however nice it might have been talking with them, he had a mission for the night. He had to make sure she was alright. His eyes quickly scanned the room but caught no sight of her. He excused himself and made his way out the door, the hallway just as barren of the blonde as the showroom. He figures she must have gone to her room— that’d be the most Annie thing to do. 

He walks out of the Big House, the cold of the night hitting him in the face. Armin practically runs to their house in a desperate attempt to escape the cold. Faced with the dark once he closes the glass door, he stumbles for the light switch and turns it on, finding the common room in a state of chaos. Blankets and pillows are thorn around, Cards Against Humanity scattered around the coffee table in front of the sofa. The only somehow clean space in the  room is the desk in the far corner, an old computer resting gingerly on its surface. The door to the kitchen is closed, no glimmer of light visible from beneath it. 

Armin sighs, starting to make his way up the stairs, when he hears a yelp from above. He sprints up the stairs, his heart starting to race in his chest. Everyone else was still at the Big House, he’s pretty sure Annie’s the only one in the cabin now.

He approaches the staircase to the attic cautiously and, sure enough, there she is, sitting on the bottom step with her hands covering her face, knees tucked to her chest.

His heart skips a bit. He turns the lights on and she groans. “Annie?”

She doesn’t look up at him. “What?”

Armin kneels in front of her and puts his hands on her knees. “Are you alright?”

“Mhm.”

Armin furrows his brows, putting his hands over hers and tries to push them away so he could see her face, but Annie doesn’t budge. “Annie.” His voice comes out harsher than he would have wanted. 

“I walked into a damn wall,” she says, her voice muffled.

“Why didn’t you turn the lights on?”

Annie removes her hands from her face and looks up at him; there’s a red mark on her forehead, probably from the impact with the vile wall. “I couldn’t find the switch.”

Armin bites back a smile. He doesn’t think twice before placing a short sweet kiss on her forehead. Without another word, he takes her by the hands and helps her up, her visible blush not passing unnoticed. He loves that he’s the one making her blush, and the thought makes his stomach do backflips. What they have may be just play pretend, and it may end before it gets the chance to become anything more, but for now she is there, and her proximity is intoxicating, and she’s blushing for him, and, after yearning for even her slightest ounce of attention for so long, that might as well be enough.

“He said that I should stay here,” Annie says as they go up the last flight of stairs to the attic hand in hand, bringing Armin back from his thoughts. Armin looks back at her and presses his lips together. “He forbade me from going home.”

She stumbles with the key in the dark, trying to fit it in the lock, but that’s hard to do when the hallway is pitch-black. Armin takes the key from her and manages to unlock the door, pushing it open and turning the light on inside.

“Maybe it’s not that serious then,” Armin offers.

Annie clicks her tongue and steps in, pulling Armin with her; the door closes with a click behind them. He’s never been in her and Hitch’s room before, yet he could try and guess which side is whose and he’d probably get it right. Hitch’s side makes the common room look decent, her colorful pillows and blankets scattered around the bed, whereas Annie’s is spotless, not a wrinkle in her neatly arranged sheets. A pair of slippers  sits by the foot of the bed.

“Last time he said it’s not that serious, they had to cut his leg off,” Annie says in a cool voice. 

She starts taking her shoes off and Armin does the same, taking in the warmth of her room and— wait.

His head snaps up at her. “Your father had his leg amputated?”

“From the knee down.”

Armin blinks once, twice, thrice even. She doesn’t elaborate on the matter, searching through some cabinets in the makeshift kitchenette on the far wall of the room. She offers tea and he gladly accepts, awkwardly standing in the middle of the room. He’s not sure what to do nor say. Unlike his own room, there’s no chairs or desks in hers. She has a microwave though, and a small refrigerator.

“Um, can I… ask about it?”

Annie retrieves two mismatched mugs from the cabinet and fills them with water before popping them in the microwave. “I’m not sure, can you?”

Armin presses his lips together, switching his weight from one leg to the other.  “Well, will you tell me if I do ask?”

Annie narrows her eyes at the question. “Why would I?” she questions, glaring at him. “I barely know you.”

Armin hums lightly, burying his hands in his pockets. “I think that’s exactly why you can tell me, actually.”

Annie tilts her head at his statement, her frown deepening. 

A slight smile pulls at Armin’s lips as he continues. “As you said, you barely know me. And I don’t know you either. Although, I’m not lying when I say that I wish I did– you intrigue me, Annie.” His eyes find hers, curious ocean blue pouring into a much lighter and wilder shade with such intensity, Annie has to look away. Armin clears his throat. “We’ll part ways at the end of summer and will probably never see each other again anyway. So there’s no consequences if you tell me, I’m just a friendly stranger.” 

Annie lets his words sink in, bounce around her mind, settle. As she takes the now steaming mugs out of the microwave and drops a tea bag in each one of them, she wonders if she could really spill all her past and all her sins in front of this friendly stranger, gamble their blossoming friendship on the slight chance at fleeting understanding.

Armin finally decides to settle on her bed, careful not to disturb the arrangement, his eyes never leaving her, burning holes into her back. 

She sneaks a glance at him, her lips pressed together. His eyes are ruthlessly staring at her, making her breath hitch. Is that curiosity in his gaze? It looks like it, but it also looks like more, like he’d be a scientist starved to know more. It makes her feel somehow uneasy. 

She turns back to her tea and takes the bags out, throwing them in the bin. She frantically searches for sugar, finds a few bags in the lower cabinets and pours them in. She hands him his mug and sits on the other end of the bed, setting her tea on the nightstand. Armin switches so that he can face her, looking at her expectantly, and as much as she doesn’t want him to know, to look at her like everyone else in her hometown, she finds herself desperate to let it out. And Armin seems like a trustworthy bearer of her secret. And if he turned out not to be trustworthy of it, the consequences would be short lived anyway— just like he said, they’ll part ways at the end of summer anyway.

Annie sighs, her shoulders slumping forward as Armin sips on his tea. She thinks it over, plays with the words, arranging and rearranging them to make sure she gives him the picture in as little words as she can master. “He lost his leg in a car crash. It was raining. The road was slippery.”

Armin’s eyes widen but don’t leave her. He inches closer, his warmth making up for the chill overtaking her. She finds the courage to look up at him at last, and, surprisingly, there’s nothing but kindness in his gaze. Understanding, even. 

And before she knows it, the words “I was driving” escape her lips in a whisper.

And there it is, her secret, laid bare in front of him. There’s the look of pity she feared to see in his eyes, slowly taking over his features as the gravity of her words settles in. There goes their friendship, burning in the flames of her idiocy and the limits of his patience.

Annie looks away, staring into her untouched tea, not daring to look him in the eyes. She blinks rapidly, trying to chase away the burning feeling behind her eyelids, the unwanted memories unraveling in her mind again. 

The rain splashing on the windshield. Her father’s sharp voice, scolding her about something so silly she can’t even remember what it was. A sound so loud she thought her ears would burst. His voice growing into a harsh scream, his hand yanking the steering wheel out of her grasp. A pain so sharp she could barely bear it.

Annie didn't even notice when her hands started shaking until Armin’s much bigger and warmer ones came over hers and gave them a slight squeeze. 

“Were you hurt?” he asks, and his voice is so gentle it almost breaks her heart. No one else asked that, only ever asking about her father, pitying him, blaming her. No one asked about her before.

“I got out in one piece,” she shrugs.

“Yes, but were you hurt?” he insists.

Annie looks up at him with wide eyes, that somehow go even wider when she sees how watery his eyes got. There’s no pity in them, only worry. His grip on her hands tightens, he inches closer. She tries to swallow the lump in her throat and shakes her head. What does one more little lie count at this point? 

But before she can say anything, the door flings open.

“There you are, I was wondering where you guys ran to!” comes Hitch’s voice. 

Armin drops her hands, his head snapping to where his friend is taking her shoes off by the door. Annie wipes her nose, she herself looking away. She busies herself with her tea; it has run cold.

Hitch stops in her tracks, looking between the two of them, conspiracy flashing her face. “Am I interrupting something?”

“No,” Armin says, sketching a smile. 

He pats Annie’s knee almost unnoticeably, flashing her an understanding smile, his eyes bearing a promise of ‘we’ll talk later’, but shakes her head— there’s nothing left to say. There’s nothing else worth burdening him with. He narrows his eyes slightly, then turns back to Hitch. 

“Come in,” he says. “I was about to text you.”

Hitch beams, her face lighting up. She scurries over to her bed, stops when she notices the mugs on the nightstand. 

“You’re having tea?” She turns to Armin, eyes furrowed, an understanding look silently passing between them. “Since when are you a tea person?”

Armin’s eyes widen, mocking horror. “Oh, no! You’ve caught me!”

Hitch grins cheekily, makes a gun with her fingers and points it at his heart. Armin gasps and clenches his heart theatrically, letting himself fall backwards. His hand shoots up in one last attempt to grasp life, mumbling something about revenge and ending their friendship in such a way because of some tea, then falls onto his chest. Annie scoffs at their theatrical antics.

He makes some gagging sounds before finally closing his eyes and unclenching his jaw. 

Annie’s scoff now turns into full on laughing at their antics, hunching forward and holding her stomach. 

Hitch hardly suppresses her own laughter. “You’re laughing!” she exclaims. “Your boyfriend just got shot in the heart and you’re laughing!”

Armin scoffs next to them, hiding his face into his hands. He rolls onto his side and joins them into their laughing fit, which only makes Hitch’s laughter grow louder. 

Annie barely manages to stop, wiping away the tears that have formed in the corner of her eyes. Then she makes the colossal mistake of looking at Armin and Hitch, and their attempts to shut it only amuse her further. The three of them become a laughing mess next to Hitch’s mess of things, Annie’s mess of a past, and Armin’s mess of thoughts, and what was supposed to be a cartoon night crumbles in front of their spontaneousness.

[fukuokadivision1]

Tasuku's Thoughts on Katsushika Division

Akihisa Mashiro

"I've heard of this guy. Apparently, he's some hotshot assassin, or hitman, or something. Apparently, his work has taken him all across the globe, believe it or not. ...You know, I'm kinda surprised my parents never hired this guy. Back when my mom was alive, my dad didn't believe in assassinations and stuff like that. He felt that methods like that were underhanded and wrong. He preferred dealing with problems face-to-face. He would always tell me, 'Deal with problems head-on. Leave ambushes and sneaking around for gutter rats and cowards.' It's one of the few pieces of advice I've ever taken to heart."

"But after he married my stepmom, she somehow managed to convince him to start doing assassinations and stuff. When I asked him 'why', he refused to answer. He just said, 'Sometimes, we have to do things we don't want to do.' It really hurt me, ya' know? Finding out that my father was a fucking hypocrite..."

Touya Kisaragi

"...Honestly, I can kinda understand where Sanyu was coming from when she spoke about this guy. I mean, I can't imagine being used as a sex toy by perverted men and women for your whole childhood. And then to have your genitals cut off on top of all that?! Damn, that's harsh. I don't know if Heaven exists, but if it does, his mother and those sicko adults aren't going anywhere near it."

"...That reminds me of a guy here in Fukuoka who used to be a pedophile. When everyone here found out, we made sure he would never touch or harm another child again. We didn't kill him, if that's what you're thinking. But... well, let's just say there are some things that are far, far worse than death."

Rintaro Himura

"Ugh, this guy... I've met a lot of sickos in my time. And trust me, there's no shortage of those here in Fukuoka. But it takes a real sick bastard to commit arson. And an even sicker bastard to bomb buildings with people still inside. I mean, I know terrorists exist and that they live to spread a message. But you shouldn't be involving innocent people to get your fucking point across. I like looking at fire too, but I'd sooner set myself on fire than burn another person. That's just sick and depraved!"

Death Row Block

"Like Sanyu said, if the Prime Minister actually thinks she can keep these three lunatics on a leash just putting a bomb collar around their necks, she's in for a rude awakening someday. I mean, Japan is chock full of smart individuals. And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to remove a fucking collar. So, yeah, I hope the Prime Minister has a 'Plan B' involved somewhere. Because if these guys figure out how to break free of their bonds, its going to be 'open season' for them. And the blame will fall right on the Prime Minister's little head."