#this ended up being 3k of me gushing about echo sorry not sorry

[morethansky]

***TBB FINALE SPOILERS***

"The Cavalry Has Arrived" aka MY OTP IS CANON NOW

A truly absurd amount of meta and thoughts and screaming under the cut:

Overall

• I...loved it????? This is the biggest plot twist of all for me. Like I've said incessantly, I've had so many issues with the writing choices for this show, and I'm so grateful the brainrot set in so I could start watching it through a fandom lens and have way more fun with it than through a media critic lens and being a hater. But like...that was actually really satisfying to me within the parameters of where the show had led to in the last four episodes??

• As everyone on the planet probably knows by now, I would've been much happier if this show had led to the Batch choosing to do the right thing and joining the clone resistance, and if we never get another clone series, I will continue to be unbearable and salty about the lost potential of telling that story. But after Echo left and we stopped following his story, I gave that hope up. And ofc nothing about my criticism of this season is invalidated. But given the pieces on the board, I'd pretty wholeheartedly give the finale my stamp of approval!

• I'm ultimately glad that this show ended on a "We don't leave our own behind" note, because that's the clone energy and general Star Wars energy I'm looking for, and they did a great job of applying that theme to every non-villain in this episode, minor and unnamed characters included—but it's still so darkly funny for them to have continued to push this idea even though the first season is literally about them leaving their own behind and moving on. And then Crosshair calls them out on it. And then he just...leaves himself behind. Even in their first appearance in TCW, the Batch's entire vibe is that they keep trying to convince Rex to leave his own behind lmao. I just feel like the show wanted this adage to tie everything together, but then forgot to keep applying it somewhere along the way. But hurrah for this abundant use of it!

• My overall biggest criticism was that even within this one episode we got back on the rescue/captured/rescue/captured treadmill. It's the biggest plot crutch of the show. It's so goofy that Omega and Echo rescued both the children and the imprisoned clones by themselves. The setup made it so that by going to rescue Omega, Hunter, Wrecker, and Crosshair actually put her in more danger. And because they were there, more clones died, wtf!! But I do like the narrative flip—Echo and Omega were both saved by the Batch in their introductions in this era, and here are they are being the ones to save them in return. Omega and Echo also are the characters in the main cast who deserve the rescuer plotline the most, since they have been consistently portrayed as helping those in need no matter what.

• Hilariously, one of the most pivotal roles that the Forest Trio plays in regards to the GFFA at large is that they were essentially Rampart's rideshare drivers, thus enabling him to be there and force Nala Se not to hesitate to destroy Project Necromancer.

Rampart and Nala Se

• Hemlock saying his work makes him indispensable is fantastic dialogue; it just seems like some dickish thing he would say to shit on Rampart, but it ends up giving Rampart the idea to try to leverage his work to become indispensable himself, and in saying that line, Hemlock ushers his own ruin!!! This is the kind of script work I've been begging for.

• Also I was so right about Rampart being like a Kallus foil! That infamous shot of him in his sad, sterile room after Bahryn is mirrored here with Rampart sitting in pretty much the same position, except his path is the opposite from Kallus's.

• They did an EXCELLENT job with Rampart's fate. I was worried they were neutering him these last couple eps, even if the comedy was gold, but this was very well done. Everything that happens leading up to his death makes complete sense for his character, and it accomplishes the very key plot point of destroying Tantiss. At the start of the season I couldn't figure out how and why the Batch was going to end up delaying Project Necromancer for like thirty years, so I feel validated that they pretty much don't. Very typical of this show to not have the protagonists do the heroic work, but fuck it, I like this instance.

• The humanizing of Nala Se in this show has always been a bit of an interesting choice given that this is feels like such a direct successor to TCW and she was so clearly a villain there. But although they don't quite redeem her, her motivations and her fate were also artfully executed here. Her conversation with Omega pretty much takes into account every Nala Se scene in this show, which is a great way to wrap her character up. And I really like the mirror of Nala Se giving Omega her datapad in the season premiere, and Omega giving Nala Se a datapad here. Both times, Nala Se is determined to set Omega free.

• And I'm so glad there was a follow-up to the destruction of Kamino as well! Nala Se getting a bit of revenge against one of the beings responsible for the genocide of her people and destruction of her homeworld is not something I expected at all, and I love it. And the setup of Nala Se picking up the detonator and Rampart picking up the blaster is just fantastic, because you know from just those two shots that Rampart is willing to kill to gain Palpatine's favor for himself, and Nala Se is willing to die to make sure the being she loves will be free.

Echo and Omega supremacy

• Give me an Echo-led rebel show where he convinces all sorts of people in the Empire and the underworld to defect/help them, please!!! He's so good at it, completing Emerie's turn so efficiently! We have to assume Rex is also good at it given his cell and that he has clone spies and even undercover agents, but every time he sees Hunter he has tried and failed to recruit him lmao. Also REX'S NAMEDROP but him not showing up surely means...we'll see a continuation of his story soon after this...right??? Also this means Howzer still lives, oh, thank god.

• "Because it's exactly what I would do." Strategist Echo comeback yessss!! A nice little callback to the Techno Union arc that kicked this story off as well. And HELL YEAH Omega's relationship with Echo is my favorite out of all of her connections, and I'm living for their spotlight together this ep. I'm extremely invested in found family stories not relying on nuclear family narratives, and I love that you see throughout the show that Echo doesn't "raise" Omega like a kid—he trains her like a cadet. Like someone who he intends to be his equal, which is a nice and very appreciated contrast to others treating her like a precious sheltered baby.

• Their goodbye scene in "Truth and Consequences" is one of my favorites in the show, and I just adore that when Omega is upset, Echo doesn't coddle her—he reminds her of her duty to watch over the others, giving her a purpose and a reason to stand tall. When he conveys that he was worried about her and thinking of her while she was captured, he gifts her a weapon he designed and made for her during that time, so that she won't have to be defenseless after being defenseless for so long in captivity. It's so clone trooper, and I love it and the glimpses these details give us about clone culture and how the older clones cared for the shinies and the cadets and showed their love for each other.

• I also liked that Omega couldn't have escaped without Tech's training, since slicing was so vital. And all her stealthy stabbing is of course reminiscent of Hunter. And finally some emotional payoff for the ongoing bit about Wrecker being afraid of heights! I'm weak for inspirational Star Wars quotes, and this show hasn't had many, but "Just stay focused on what's ahead, not what's below," is a lovely one.

Forest conversations, my beloved

• The Kiners scored the fuck out of this episode!!! So many clever, thoughtful reprises. This is the first reappearance of Crosshair's theme that's played on the synths since he began healing! And then it segues into a soft violin tremolo version that makes me cry, and then it intertwines with "The Sacrifice" from Tech's death, ouchhhh. I have a lot of meta I need to write out about the tracks "The Reunion" and "They Always Work It Out" and how they say so much about Hunter and Crosshair, but I can't believe how well my analysis paid off in the cues in this scene! More on that in another post.

• Gosh, Wrecker's injury scared the shit out of me. But I love him so much and I'm glad he got at least a little moment, even if he didn't really have a story arc here. Or you know, in the entire damn show. And I ultimately liked that the purpose of it wasn't just to freak us out but to give them a plausible disadvantage and to give Crosshair someone to fuss over the whole time and act more recklessly because of it, thus reiterating this key character trait of his.

• I love Crosshair being worried about Wrecker and Hunter and them being worried about Crosshair. That's the squad content I crave and have been missing!! Unfortunate that it specifically has been happening when Omega is out of the picture. Writers, I swear to you, you can do both.

• Can't believe it took another half season for someone to say something about Tech's death, and it was Crosshair, who wasn't even there?? Cool line and sentiment, but man, so frustrating. I like this callback to his conversation with Rampart, though. "Depends on who's giving them" and in this first act he keeps trying to give those orders himself. Thinking of Rex on Umbara: "We're not programmed. You have to learn to make your own decisions."

• God the forest conversations in this ep and the previous one fed me so much. Hunter saying, "And so do those clones" had me literally jumping out of my seat and cheering. Baby boy, it took you so goddamn long, but thank you for finally actually giving a shit before the conclusion of your story. And "It's what I deserve," hnghhh that's the good shit, and it hearkens back perfectly to "I belong in here." And Hunter immediately telling Crosshair hell no made me very happy. And then later Hunter saying "Crosshair—" when he's worried Crosshair is still going to sacrifice himself, but Crosshair reassures him that he'll be right behind them... My heart! What a Crosshunt feast we got in this ep!!!

• Can't believe we also got so many Crosswrecker moments from the get-go and they kept coming! And my three precious little Techwrecker crumbs: the way Crosshair specifically chooses Wrecker to say the cutting remark about Tech to; the way Wrecker bows his head because that was right on target; and Wrecker being the one to watch Tech fall and to scream, "Don't do it, Tech!" in "Plan 99" yet the one to say with such conviction here, "We've always known the risks. And so did Tech." That's just so...finally accepting your beloved is gone ;_; Not really deserved by the text, which kept all but a total of like maybe one total minute of mourning off screen for some fucking reason, but.

Clone X, more like Clone Sexy

• There aren't nearly as many Clone X dudes as I expected?? I guess Crosshair's situation wasn't that rare after all? Or do they just run through them super quickly because Rex's team keeps taking them down?? Regardless, god, THEY ARE ALL SO SEXY. The way they animated their movements was so creepy and hot. And them not speaking was so eerie, I loved it. And then the moment that CX-2 did was so effective and terrifying!!! But remembering that those were clones in there is so, so heartbreaking.

• I really like that Echo really felt like both a clone trooper AND the resistance agent he is now this whole episode, and Hunter, Wrecker, and Crosshair actually briefly got to feel like commandos. The slick stealth and silent communication was also very sexy.

• MY GOD, I loved these action scenes. They were lit and choreographed so cool, they were super intense and had real consequences and close brushes with death, and the logic of the fight flow was really good, too. A character being incapacitated because they went to try to help an ally is always a wonderful driving force for action and gives it that crucial character-driven element that raises the stakes, and is great for making sure the main characters aren't too OP, and there was a ton of that here.

• Hunter and Wrecker getting shot by laser cannons and Hunter pushing Wrecker away from the blast made me shriek in terror AND THEN CROSSHAIR SHOOTING THE PILOT DEAD ON NO HESITATION NO ANXIETY NO TREMOR BECAUSE HOW DARE YOU HURT MY HUSBAND I'M FUCKING LIVINGGG. And then Wrecker stumbling over to Hunter and lifting the debris like he does in TCW. Boom, three pivotal character-driven action scenes in a row that divulge a key characteristic of each character! Excellently written and directed.

• Also I am SO SO SO HAPPY that we're getting to see this protective Crosshair come out in full force!!! This is the Crosshair who risked his life to try to save Mayday, who shouted hysterically when Hunter fell into the ice and was so desperate to get him out, who worried over Omega on Teth. I also really like this contrast with how he was about Echo—"Echo's on it." He knows Echo will get the job done and be safe and that's despite his former prejudice against regs. He's worried about Hunter and Wrecker and that's despite previously spending time trying to hunt them down. And when he suffers consequences, it's because of him worrying about them, and that's so delicious.

• Finally got to hear Crosshair screaming! And Hunter was already the screamer in this show, but goddamn does he get to scream in this episode. Thank you, directors, for this whump material! My man Steward Lee never lets me down.

• THE WAY THAT WHEN CROSSHAIR IS TRYING TO SAVE WRECKER HE REACHES FOR A DC-17 OMG!!!! I feel so validated! And just like with Mayday, he's incapacitated afterward...

• God the way CX-2 waits to be tossed the vibrosword and then leans down with it while Crosshair is already incapacitated is SO brutal, like this is not a battle injury. It's straight up what Anakin fucking Skywalker does to Count Dooku just before he becomes a Sith Lord, like holy shit, dude. This scene is so cool and I've watched it 10,000 times over the past 24 hours, but also why did he do that lol, is he just supposed to be particularly cruel?? Obsessed with tormenting Crosshair for some reason?? Also, these vibroswords are exactly how I've pictured Ahsoka's being in A Future for Us :D

• At this point I was like, uhhh, the messaging of Crosshair struggling with this psychomatic hand tremor since the first episode of the season and then the symptom literally being taken out of his........hands sure is a Choice, especially coupled with how they've treated Echo (or you know, not). When they showed him still with the symptoms later, I was very relieved, AND THEN HUNTER LITERALLY CURES CROSSHAIR THROUGH THE POWER OF THE LOVE AND FAITH AND TRUST HE HAS FOR HIM IS THERE ANYTHING MORE BEAUTIFUL IN THE WORLD???? But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Echo is the GOAT

• "You were helping us, Dr. Karr?" / "I am." I love this subtle line and how Emerie acknowledges that she wasn't sure of her loyalties before but is certain now. And I love that she says such a clone trooper thing, "You have my word," and then doing the clone shoulder pat, especially in direct contrast to the natborn kids hugging Omega just before.

• "Hey, kids. ...And other kids." is just so fucking 501st, I can't explain it. I'm just so ecstatic that they did Echo such justice in the end, giving a nod to everything about his character, even his dorkass cadet personality. And it wasn't just so he could die, thank god!!!

• Like Echo even got a DARTH VADER homage??? That's his mass-murdering general (affectionate). More on this here!

• Also is there anything more Big Dick Energy in the world than Echo eviscerating Rampart—who either the clones would recognize as a former vice admiral or at least see his captain rank plaque—with what may not be a theme this show really earned but is ABSOLUTELY a theme that Echo deserves and has shouldered for over two seasons...and then just straight up shoving him out of the way so that he can talk to his brothers???? And with his stormtrooper helmet—which is like Echo refusing to dirty his hands (including his new, long-awaited one) by touching Rampart oh my god??? Sexiest man alive.

• So the answer is no, there isn't. Fives is hollering from the afterlife. Half those clones immediately developed a crush on him in that moment. That one clone later placing a blaster in Echo's arms so gently confirmed this for me (remember the symbolism of Echo making the energy crossbow for Omega? He even gives her his borrowed blaster in this scene), but it's so sad that he died because of it, whyyy.

• Also I love the "Clones don't leave our brothers behind" riff on the "We don't leave our own behind" adage. It's very fitting that Hunter would put it that way because he only means his squad (+/-1), whereas Echo would see it as meaning his people.

• And I love how when Rampart first shoves Echo, the clone in front that Echo's been talking to prickles and makes brief eye contact with him, to be like, "Should we take him? I've got your back." I felt that girls (gender neutral) in the bathroom energy so hard.

• The clones helping each other out of their cells made me so emotional. And it's the same way that Hunter and Crosshair do later...

• Echo asking for volunteers, just like Rex did on Umbara..................

• I think this post is breaking and I'm still only two-thirds of the way through my rewatch, oops. And yesterday I stayed up until 8 a.m. after I put it on again after watching it for the first time... I'm so normal about this show. More tomorrow!

• Part 2!

[canumoveurseatup-no]

Baby Boy pt.2

Summary: After you took control in the bedroom, Tony can’t help but want more so he purposely sets you up in a situation that he knows will make you explode.

Pairing: Sub!Tony x Dom!Reader 18+

WC: 3k

Warnings: THIS GETS REALLY DIRTY!! pegging, anal play, a little bit of degradation, oral, smut obviously, pain kink, uh, I think that’s it

A/N: I didn’t think people liked Dom!Reader so much until I kept getting dms asking for a part two, so here it is! Hopefully you enjoy it just as much as the first part. Please reblog and comment!

You tried your best be cordial with the team but it just wasn’t working. You really tried to be the bigger person for Tony but you could never move past what had happened. Sure, you sat at the table with them during dinner finally but you wouldn’t say a word and would ignore them if one of them happen to ask for salt or to pass the rolls. Sure, you came to movie nights but complained when they picked the movie and would leave before it even got halfway through the film.

You were surprised they still were even trying to talk to you and make things better. But how do you make amends after something like that? 

It was game night and Tony was making the teams, he purposely put you with Steve, Natasha, Bucky, and Wanda while he had Vision, Sam, Bruce and Rhodey.

You were playing charades and when your “teammates” went up, you wouldn’t say a single thing to help them win the round, you would just sit there with your arms folded and a frown on your face, Tony would most definitely pay for this later.

“C’mon Y/N, at least be a team player and participate,” Steve whined as he stood in front of the room acting out what was on his card.

“You really have some nerve talking about being a team player,” you scoff

“Y/N,” Tony hissed at you, narrowing his eyes but you didn’t pay any attention to it.

“Guys, time is still running,” Bruce’s voice rang through the awkwardly silent room.

You kept your eyes glued on Steve and flared your nostrils, trying your best to abide by Tony’s wishes, “Gymnastics,” you huff, “That’s what he was acting out,” you roll your eyes and they land on Vision who held the card.

“Correct,” 

Steve sighed in relief and sat back down beside you, making you inch away from him. The games lasted for a good two hours and you participated here and there. You could see Tony smile out the corner of your eyes when you were being a team player. He could smile all he want but he was definitely gonna get it later. He was not out of the woods yet. He would pay for purposely putting you with them, knowing how you were feeling.

You told him you would try your best to work with them being back but you didn’t expect him to just throw you in like this. Yes, of course, you’re all adults but you didn’t find anything wrong with the way you felt and damn anyone who thought so. Tony would definitely get his.

----------

Everyone else had went to bed and it was you and Tony’s turn to do clean up, so it was just you picking up the candy wrappers, soda cans and chip bags.

“Thanks for being a little cordial tonight,” he kissed your cheek but all you did was turn around and grab a hand full of his dick, causing him to squeak in pain and surprise, lifting himself up on his tip toes a bit to try and get away from your grip but you moved right along with him.

“You thought you were really doing something tonight didn’t you,” your teeth were clenched and your face had grown hot. Tony just stood there, staring wide eyed at you.

“Answer me when I talk to you,” you tighten your grip around him, making him groan deeply.

“I-I just thought i-it might ease the tension considering game night is s-supposed to be f-fun,” He tried to move away again but you weren’t letting him go anywhere

“I want you in the bedroom, absolutely naked on your hands and knees waiting for me. Do you understand?,” you breathed slowly through your nose as he just nodded his head, making you grip him even tighter. He moaned out in a mixture of pain and pleasure.

“Use your fucking words, baby boy,”

“Y-yes, yes I understand,” 

You tightened one more time to get a rise out of him as you felt him harden in your hand. You let him go and he all but runs to the elevator to get to your shared room. You give him a few minutes and finish cleaning before following suit and heading to your room.

When you walked in you slammed the door shut and saw him jump at the echoing sound and the small click of you locking the door. You slowly stalk to him and watch as he waited for you. Perky, pale ass waiting to be played with. His dick hung, hard and needy, you could already see precum leaking and you smirked at it, it was so pathetic and cute. 

He flinched when your hands ran themselves across his warm cheeks, grabbing handfuls before smacking both cheeks at the same time. You heard him faintly moan and it prompted you to proceed with the spanking.

“You’ve been a bad boy tonight, baby. You gonna prove to me that you’re good?,”

“Yes, yes,” his tone was begging. He just wanted you to please him and he wanted to make you happy. 

You stripped yourself bare and walked around the bed to climb on and lay back against the pillows with your legs wide open. He watched your pussy glisten as you played with your clit, collecting the wetness before spreading it on his lips like lip balm.

“Go ahead and have your taste,” you tell him. He immediately licks his lips and moans at the taste of you, “Want more?,”

“Yes, yes please,” he gave you those puppy dog eyes and pouted. 

You tangled your fingers in his hair at the back of his head and tugged the roots tightly before pulling him closely, making him groan from the force. 

“Then be a good boy and eat my pussy. You better not stop until I say so. Get into it, I want your face dripping with my cum,” 

His tongue was hanging out of his mouth like a parched puppy, ready to make contact so he could hydrate. You brought his face forward he did as you said and got to work. You kept your grip tight on his hair as he slurped and sucked your pretty little pussy lips into his mouth, devouring you.

“That’s it,” you rolled your hips into his mouth, “Make me feel good and I just might reward you by fucking your cum out of you,” 

His groaning had created vibrations that went straight to your clit. He went harder, wanting to please you so he can get his reward. You felt his breath on you as you wrapped your legs around his head to get him in there good. 

“Fuck, Tony,” you watched as he had his eyes closing, practically making out with your pussy. The way he nipped at your clit had your legs shaking and you breathing heavily. 

“I’m gonna cum, baby. Don’t stop!,” you called out into the still air and you feel yourself cum, gushing out against his mouth, drenching his beard, “I’m not done, keep going like I fucking said,” and he had no problem with getting back to work. This time he added his fingers and relentlessly finger fucked you. You spread your legs once again and wrapped your arm around the back of your thigh as your dominant hand was still wrapped him his hair.

“Good. fucking. boooy,” you screamed as you came again, the stream being slurped up by his mouth. You opened your eyes and saw stars as you stared at the ceiling, panting. Tony was still licking you until you pushed him away. 

“Lay down, baby,” you instructed and he followed orders. You saw the way his tip was flushed red and dripping clear fluid. You grabbed his balls and more dripped out of him.

“Look at your little cock all ready for me,” you taunted. He was anything but little but you loved to tease, “My desperate little boy dripping already,” you rolled his balls in your hand and his mouth dropped to make a noise that never came. You smacked the heavy sac and he bucked his hips up and you snickered at him

“Look at my little pain slut, you like that don’t you? Look at your little cock dripping,” your tone was condescending and it all made Tony want more. You slapped his balls a few more times and he bit his lip groaning to try and keep from yelling out. 

“Y/N, baby, please,” he begged. You thought for a bit and went into your bed side table to take out your wand vibrator and turned it all the way up, grabbing some lube for Tony. You set the wand on the bed and added lube to your hand and started slowly jerking him off, picking up the vibrator and touching it to his head.

“F-fuck,” he turned his head away from you and covered his mouth as his legs shook. 

“Fucking look at me, Tony,” you tone was hard and he knew not to disobey. He turned to look back at you and his cheeks had gone red. You continued moving your hand up and down his length, wet sounds filling the room with the buzzing. 

“You better not fucking cum either. I don’t care how good it feels, if you cum you wanna know what’s gonna happen?,” you leaned in close to him, a sinister smile on your face. 

“W-what?,” he was struggling to keep his eyes open and you found it cute. 

“You cum without my permission I’m gonna ruin your little hole,” you giggle at the end of your threat and Tony couldn’t help but buck up into your hand. You swirled the vibrator around his leaking tip and he gripped the sheets into his hands, jaw clenched and breathing slowly through his nose. 

“Awh it’s too much for a little boy with no self control like yourself isn’t it?,” you titled your head and fake pouted at him.

He couldn’t answer you though. You turned the vibrator off tossing it back in its drawer before moving your hand even faster. 

“Y/N, please!,” 

“Shut up,” you tightened your grip and twisted your hand.

“Nnnmmm, I- I,” his voice was shaky and shrill.

“You what? You can’t take it? You’re gonna cum?, tsk tsk Tony don’t be a bad boy any more than you already have,”

“I’m tryiiing,” 

“Stop being a whiny bitch and try harder then,” 

Tony tried his best to warn you that he was gonna cum and he really tried not to so he whined when his white seed covered your hand, hips stuttering and breathing uneven.

“I’m so sorry,” he whimpered. 

“Turn the fuck over,” you growled. He mewled as he did as told. You swirled his cum around his little hole and he moaned at the feeling of your fingertip coating it.

“You okay, baby?,” you break character for a bit to check on him and wait for his reply.

“Stark,” he states clearly. That was his green light word. 

You took the slick buttplug from the drawer and coated that in lube as well before slowly thrusting the tip into his hungry opening. Working it into him slowly until he welcomed it completely and held it snug. 

You crawled under him and kissed his lips, “Fuck me until I’m cumming again, this is your redemption. Cum again I won’t be so forgiving,” 

He didn’t miss a beat before thrusting deep into you, making your eyes roll in your head, “Good boy,” you placed your legs on his shoulders so he could get deeper.

“Talk to me, baby boy. Tell me what you’re feeling,” you cooed. 

“I-I,” he tried slowing down his hips until you wrapped your hand around his throat and he took that as a direction to keep up, “I feel like I’m gonna bust again, Y/N,” 

“You bust in this pussy without permission I’m gonna ruin you, so think twice,” you moaned, Staring up up at him as he focused yet again on not cumming in your warm, slick walls, “You better hurry and make me cum before it happens,” 

It didn’t help him that the plug was nudging his special spot in his ass plus he was deep in you. He sat up on his knees and pistoled his cock into you, constantly hitting that sweet spot. You were close and you could tell he was too, but you didn’t care. He didn’t deserve to cum yet. 

“Fuck!,” he shouted, feeling you clench around him, “It all feels so good, Y/N,”

Hearing him crying for you had pushed you over the edge. You pulled yourself away as you started to cum, rubbing your clit fast to ride it out, calling out his name. Your juices had splashed against his aching cock and you tried so hard not to laugh at his tears. He was so cute, it was hard not to get turn on by it. 

“Ready for me to take you, baby boy?,” you kissed his nose and he rutted his hips into nothing, trying to find that release.

“P-Please.. yes please, Y/N please,” he was taking deep breaths to try and calm himself down. You got your strap from the drawer and harnessed yourself in, climbing behind Tony to take the plug out. He could have nutted right then and there as you took it out but he held off on it. Adding more lube to his ass and to the strap on, you talked to him.

“I bet you’re gonna blow a big load for me, aren’t you baby?,”

“Oh God yes, Y/N. Yes,” his words were slightly muffled as he bit into the pillow. You hadn’t given him a warning as you thrust the dildo deep.

“You’re so ready for me,” you rolled you hips in and out of him and he arched his back all the way down and cried for more. 

“More? You want more? You really want that cum fucked out of you don’t you, baby boy?,”

“Fuck yes! yes yes yes!,” he moved back against you and you turned on the built in vibrator, you loved that setting with this one. You both could receive pleasure

He could barely keep it together. You heard him sniffle as you smacked his ass and fucked it at the same time. You pulled his hair and pulled his back up against your chest to watch his cock. It was bobbing up and down and was hypnotizing. 

“You’re making such a fucking mess, bad boy,” you scolded and fucked him harder.

“I’m sorry!,” he shouted, “Please, may I cum. I-I’ll be good,” 

The slapping of skin had filled the room and was intoxicating, “Fucking cum, for me,”

You watched his cock as more white ropes covered the sheets. His thighs were shaking but you didn’t let up. You continued fucking him and talking to him.

“My little messy whore. You love me fucking you in your little ass don’t you?,”

“Love it so much,” he gasped. His voice cracked as a scream escaped, you two watching him cum again.

“Oh my God, baby. You have so much in you!,” you smiled as more cum flew out on the sheets. You pushed him back down and mushed his head into the pillows and went even harder, making sure to hit his little spot.

“Wanna see that pathetic little cock spit out more cum. One more and I’ll let up,”

His body was convulsing as he sobbed into the pillow, “Cry all you want, baby but this is what you wanted,” you grunted.

‘O-oh God. I-I can’t take it,” he was moving back and forth as you scratched down his back.

“Gimme that cum, Tony. Give me what I want,”

“Y/N! FUUUCK!,” his voice trembled as he raised up on his toes a bit, knees lifting off the bed and his ass was pushed flushed against you. He was cumming all over the sheets yet again. You cum right along with him, adding to the big mess, “O-oh God,” He collapsed in the bed, cock laying in his pool of cum, body still shaking. 

“Such a good boy,” You kissed his shoulder and rubbed the back of his head as he came down, “Gonna run a bath for you and get us some new sheets, okay?,” 

He just nodded but you wanted to hear him to make sure he was okay, “I need to hear you say it, baby,” 

“Yes. Thank you so much,” 

------

You let him sit in the bath for a bit as you put the sheets in the washer and put a clean bed set on the mattress. When you walked back into the bathroom, he was patiently waiting for you and looked so sleepy. You climbed in with him and ran the wet warm rag against his body before cleaning him with gentle soap and he relaxed into you.

“I understand the point you were trying to make tonight but you can’t throw me into the deep end like that. I get it, you care for them and I understand because I did too at one point but Tony, you’re my husband, I saw how you were when they left and treated you the way they did... so it’s still gonna take some time,”

He held your hand as you two just relaxed in the hot water that smelled of lavender and chamomile.

“I know, I know. I get that I shouldn’t have forgiven them so easily either but you know me,”

“I know, baby,” you kissed his shoulder and held him to let him know you were there for him.

“Thank you for tonight, I also admit I kinda did it on purpose because I wanted you to take it out on me tonight,” his voice was hushed and bashful, knowing he knew better than to purposely agitate you like that. 

“What sneaky boy you are, Tony. But you’re welcome and I love you no matter what and will continue to try and tolerate everyone,”

He turned his head to kiss your lips and sighed, “Yeah yeah that’s what you said last time,” he teased

“I’m serious this time, anything for you,” 

----------

Some of y’all personally messaged me and asked for more Baby Boy Tony and asked for it to be a little dirtier so that’s exactly what I did. Like I said, I am not a Dom or a switch, I am sub through and through so I did my best. 

Please comment and reblog!!

Tags: @mbaku-babygirl @reerrrrskillz @blackreaders-assemble @vozit @yournonlocalpoc @spideys-wife @chonisberonica @curlyhairclub @mokacoconut @unicornslothfish @crawlingnightmares @plussizedwriter @here-for-your-bullshit @blowmymbackout @valentinevirgo @meg-holland @thescarsweleave @micki-smiles @huh-i-guess @warmchick @posion-daisy18 @sideeffectsofyou @joyofbebbanburg @amethyst-dreams-and-candy-canes

[whitewolfbumble]

Wild Horses - Chapter 5/5

COMPLETED

A Bucky Barnes Biker AU

Summary: Kicked out of school and exiling yourself in a town time forgot, one little incident lands the sights of the locally infamous Avengers biker gang square on you. Wild horses run faster and there was no chance to turn back now.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Word Count: About 3k

Warnings: Language, shock

A/N: The last chapter is here! I really hope you all have enjoyed this as much as I have writing it. And of course this whole series is dedicated to celebrating the darling @softhairbarnes for her milestone and to highlight how beautiful a soul she is! Love you so much darling and hope this series made your days a little brighter.

MY MASTERLIST // WILD HORSES MASTERLIST // CHAPTER FOUR

You couldn’t say how long you stood there alone, watching the door and waiting for him to come back. Long enough for the blood to cool and turn frigid on your back and legs. Long enough for your shaking to stop. Long enough for your conscious working mind to ease the shock and take back a small amount of control.

He left you because he knew you could handle this.

That thought rung through your head dully and distantly at first, repeating over and over until action resulted from it, pushing cobwebs and haze from your mind.

You had seen a dead body before. You had had the blood of another person on you. You knew the sound of a knife cutting flesh. What happened tonight wouldn’t kill you. It wouldn’t even hurt you. It had been necessary, and you could handle it.

You can handle this.

Eventually you turned slowly, feet still planted, looking around you. Despite the minimal places in town, this looked familiar but you pushed that thought away quickly. You didn’t need to sort this out, you needed a plan. You needed a plan so you could get through this.

You were cold and wet. You wanted to be warm and dry. 

So that would be step one.

With clicking, chattering teeth you took one slow and tentative step as though you were walking on stilts for the first time, arms held up in front of you, reaching to hold on to nothing. After a couple more in the direction of a partially open door with what looked like a tile floor, you allowed your feet to take back control and get you across the room.

The old creaky door opened with the slightest pressure of your hand, a smear of blood where you touched it. The bathroom was old and tiled floor to ceiling in chipped, dingy tile. Just like at your house it had an ancient clawfoot tub and you walked right to it. You ran the shower, pipes groaning and spraying down a shatter of cold water until after a time it started finally warming.

You sat in that tub, back to the drain with steaming hot water cascading down your shoulders, eyes focused ahead on the decaying tile. You couldn’t allow yourself to watch the blood pouring off you in gushing streams. It was some time before the water wasn’t blood red anymore. And even longer after that before you stood up, stripping your clothes off and leaving them there without another glance.

Wrapped in a worn but clean towel you walked through the large room you had been standing in, shock and trauma easing after that shower, as though the water washed a little of the horror away too.

The room itself was feeling more familiar than you first realized, something about it ringing up thoughts of having been someplace similar. The space was like a loft and completely open, dark brown wood comprising the floor and walls and rafters, looking just the same as Anderson’s bar. 

It didn’t have a kitchen, just a bed against the wall in a broken and lopsided bedframe. A next to a small side table was next to it and a couple dusty boxes in the corner, and besides the bathroom and what looked like a closet door, that was it really. Nothing remarkable or homey to it at all.

You clutched the towel to yourself as you went to the closet, your nerves shut up for just a moment as you saw worn and clean clothes. They were huge on you, enveloping your frame, but the old sweat pants, shirt and hoodie was comfortable and it meant you didn’t have to either stand naked or get back into wet, bloodied clothes. It wasn’t exactly relief, but a kind of silent thankfulness that hugged you at finding the garments.

You changed in a rush, exposed in the wide open room, before sitting with the loud strain of old metal bedsprings under you, wrapping your arms around your knees. 

And again, for an unknown length of time, you waited.

_______

You weren’t stupid, but it did seem to you now that you were, in fact, a complete idiot.

In the space of the minutes or hours you were there, dark night refusing to give up its hold, you began to think through everything leading up to your being here.

And one thing you settled on was that the group of noisy, occasionally obnoxious, though always rather kind bikers were not there for Bucky’s sake. They weren’t there to see if he was alright, to make sure he was being taken care of, to keep an eye on him.

In fact, he seemed just fine, fighting off your attacker, getting you here and carrying you up to this loft. His movements had been swift and pain free it looked like, posture upright and moving without a hint of stiffness. And even his expressions, the way he smiled the morning after, the contentment he had… He must have been hurt like this before and this latest bout didn’t phase him in the least.

Bucky, just like the others, had stayed there with you. 

Had stayed there because of you.

And like an idiot, you concocted a lie and made them leave.

You sighed into your hands, not knowing the full picture or having every question answered, but you figured out enough for guilt to mingle in with the other innumerable emotions doing somersaults inside you.

And now where were the others? Where was Bucky? Out there in the darkness, fighting the people who came after you? Getting hurt or stabbed or killed?

If so, it was because of you. Maybe you weren’t the cause for the feud, but you were a catalyst. Bucky had said more than once that he would protect you, with his life if necessary. Looks like you had put that to the test already.

Now not so much alone, but accompanied by your thoughts and guilt, you continued to wait. The room around you settled and creaked, the night air brushed through the tree outside the windows, and in the dark you stayed.

_______

A freezing terror held you still as you heard someone come up the stairs two at a time, but that disappeared instantly when you saw his face. It was as though the memory of the time you spent alone vanished the second you saw him.

Those big blue eyes, white and bloodied shirt, rich brown hair… Just the image of him here with you was a balm to your tattered soul, blood and all.

His name was caught in your throat and yours in his it seemed, the two of you saying nothing at first as he crossed the expanse to you. Bucky sat down in front of you, and heavily your head hit his shoulder, breathing in the now comforting smell of leather, exhaust, and open roads that clung to him. You remembered when you hated this smell. You couldn’t possibly hate it now.

“I’m alright.” you whispered to his unspoken question, rubbed into your back with his large warm hands.

You turned up to him, weary but awake eyes on his. He adjusted as you did, one hand staying on your back and the other now on your neck, looking down at you softly and pained.

“I’m so sorry Bucky, I didn’t know,” you started. “I just didn’t realize it…”

You hesitated, rolling the next question around in your mouth, needing to ask it but not wanting the answer. Not if wasn’t the response you wanted.

“Is… How is Steve? The others? Is anyone…” you trailed off, not wanting to voice the end to your question.

“Everyone’s fine, it’s all fine,” he murmured gently. “We handled them.”

His words eased off a small fraction of guilt inside you. It was enough for you to be able to get off this rickety bed and pace out to the middle of the room.

Bucky stood immediately, moving to follow but your pacing steps to and fro kept him at bay. You needed space in all this it because you couldn’t have the feel of your skin to his- that intimate presense you shared when he was close- sway him to sugar coat this. You needed to hear the truth.

“It’s all my fault, isn’t it?” you said, less as a question and more a confirmation. “This is happening somehow because of me.”

“No,” Bucky said firm and kind, hands loosely on his hips in emphasis. “I can’t say that’s true at all. I’m the one that started this, if we’re being honest.”

From what you knew, Bucky had left the Avengers when he hit a rough patch and joined a rough crowd. This sweet man in front of you couldn’t have stayed with that group Hydra, even considering the deadly side you knew of him and tonight had witnessed to its full extent. 

But that was out of protection, out of need. A life of hate and fear just wasn’t where he belonged. So maybe his leaving had caused a rift in the gangs, maybe that escalated things to an all out war even, but you were involved in this somehow too.

“Well, maybe that’s true, but it’s not the whole picture Bucky,” you insisted. 

Internally you were bracing for the painful truth, waiting for the hammer to drop on you.

“Y/N, it’s not wha-”

“Don’t keep me in the dark anymore!” you shouted suddenly, voice ringing bitingly in the loft.

It was quiet for a few moments after the shrill echo of your voice died down before Bucky spoke.

“Alright,” he said, much quieter than you but just as firm. His eyes stayed glued on you, honest as always, and his body held back only by the insisted distance you kept from him.

“This town has what, fifty people living here? You think the other gang didn’t know exactly where you lived? It was always going to be risky, you taking the deal. Maybe the risks weren’t explained. Maybe you didn’t know the extent of the tension between us and them. They saw you as a weak link, a way to control us or take us down. But we weren’t about to let that happen.”

You focused only on his words and your breathing, ignoring everything else in the world or your past. In that moment it was only you and only Bucky that existed, and you took in every word he had to say.

“I knew when Rumlow came to the bar that he was a scout. He saw you with me, and that was all he needed. It was enough for Hydra. The meeting we had without you, after you fixed up my collar bone? About Hydra. The fight where I was stabbed by Rumlow? With Hydra. The protection you were under? Because of Hydra. They are a threat, Y/N. A serious one... Obviously.”

You had no idea you were running this race against this enemy. You had no idea this was all happening behind the scenes. You were caught up in this madness so fast you had the burning feeling of whiplash coursing through you, though you body was frozen still.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” you managed to make out, hoarsely.

You were to blame partly, of that you knew, but you couldn’t hold yourself responsible for all of it. Not if you didn’t have every piece to this puzzle.

He shook his head a little, starting out with words he had all but made clear to you before.

“Because you’re between two worlds Y/N. One foot in in ours and one out there,” He pointed out the window, to home and more distantly to your past life. “We weren’t going to force you into our bloody, rough one. The plan was to keep you out of the way. Hidden. No one thought you would want to be in on this whole thing, not really. But I-I hoped…”

He faded off with a big silent sigh and piercing blue gaze.

“Hoped for what, Bucky?” you said. “That keeping me in the dark was going to work out for us all? I wouldn’t have sent anyone away if I had known all this.”

He paused, arms dropped to his sides, no walls or pretense up around him. He wasn’t the old Bucky, hardened, pained, and deadly. He wasn’t the one most saw, closed off, distant, someone to distrust. He was real and true and soft.

“That you would want to stay because of me,” he said simply. “I asked you before, actually. At the bar. I asked you to stay, and I didn’t just mean there. I wanted you to stay with us… With me.”

Your face turned blank, not quite unbelieving just… more like unable to process it right this second.

“You... you don’t know me.” you stammered.

“I don’t know every single detail about you, no. You’re right, I don’t.” He took one stride right up to you and closed the distance, his large frame dwarfing yours and sucking the air out of your lungs, replacing it with an ache. “But I do know what I want is you, Y/N. I spent a lot of my life doubting anything. Everything. My decisions, my path. But I haven’t doubted you. I couldn’t.”

This was wild.

This was insane.

You had unknowingly been going a hundred miles an hour down an unknown path from the start, side by side with him.

... And deep down this was exactly what you wanted.

You wanted one world, not this divide within you. You wanted one person to call yours. Who understood. You wanted connection.

Before you could speak he did, needing to fill the silence with something other than what could be your rejection of him and this life.

“I’ll let you go, Y/N. If that is what you want,” His expression lay still, shutting down whatever emotions he could. It was only successful for a moment. “I can get you out of here tonight, back to you old life. To your friends and family.”

He paused briefly, eyes shifting to something almost pleading, searching yours desperately for an answer.

“Or you can stay. You can drop the pretense of belonging anywhere else, because I know you belong here. We can protect you. I will protect you. You could be happy, have a world you belong in, with a family you belong with… You could be with me because I… I want to belong to you, Y/N. And I want you to belong to me.”

His words hung vulnerable and thick between you, as raw and real as you had ever heard.

And for once you didn’t need to second guess. You didn’t need to talk it through. Even with the horror and blood you had witnessed, that didn’t compare- that couldn’t compare- or alter what you were feeling. What you had known but fervently wanted to doubt from the beginning. Something you just couldn’t push away anymore.

Maybe you should. Maybe you should have turned and ran from here the moment Bucky left. Gone to the authorities. Described the murder and terror of it all. Gotten away from all this. 

But you just didn’t want too. Logic aside, your feelings and your lifetime of longing won out.

“Okay,” you said simply, stunning yourself.

And with that one word, the dam inside you broke, releasing tension and panic, worry and nerves. It flowed down from your chest, tightness retreating with it, and dripped down your body into the floor, disappearing.

“Okay?” Bucky asked slowly, brows furrowed.

You looked to him, nodding and breathing easier than you had in what felt like your entire life.

“I’m in. I’m with you.” you said, light and honest.

Confusion spread on his face, but quickly mingled with realization and thread of  joy. He didn’t ask for details or question your few simple words or your intent. Didn’t ask for assurances or want to talk stipulations or boundaries. The calm and easy expression on your face, one he wasn’t sure he would ever see after murdering someone in front of your eyes, gave him confidence enough.

His smiling lips crashed into yours, more chuckling into you with joy than really kissing you. You couldn’t help doing the same, his infectious spirit overtaking yours.

“I have a suspicion you can’t go long without getting stabbed,” you said, buzzing with warmth and belonging at the arms wrapped around you. “So if you’re going after Hydra or they’re coming after you, I think you’ll need me.”

“I think I’ll always need you.” he whispered sweetly and hushed into your temple, kissing you gently, just like he had before leaving.

But unlike earlier, now you didn’t feel alone. You weren’t shocked or afraid or divided. You had a place, had a person, had a world to be free in. To run wild in without self-imposed boundaries or the weight of unmet expectations. It was you, him, and the Avengers against everyone else. And it felt right.

A/N: Thanks again so much for reading! Please let me know what you thought of this series with a reblog/like/message, as it really keep me motivated to keep writing!  There is a possibility for a sequel to this (in the distant future) with either Buckys POV through the fighting and events or Readers POV with what comes after this. I have a bunch of other writing and requests to get through first but if you would be interested, let me know!

Permanent Tags: @dontpanc @smodvocate @bungalowjamaica @buckybonky@methefandompanda @hangirl93 @captainrogerrsbeard @friendly-neighborhood-lich-queen @thisgirllikeme @jjsoccer11 @innerpandablizzard-blog @fanatic-fanfic

Bucky Barnes Tags: @bexboo616 @kaaatniss

Wild Horses Tags: @myshakespeareandarling @lunasayinprincess2 @disagreetoagree @lilypalmer1987@verygraphicink @jsmith509 @plumsforbuckxx @imnotcoolmasterrr

[nancyswhlr]

party tricks

jonathan x nancy, stranger things - 3k words

this is shameless au garbage & i’m not even sorry about it. (also i dont know if any of you watch new girl, but remember that scene where jess got all mad at nick because he kept ragging on himself despite how incredible she thought he was? yeah, i took no inspiration from that scene while writing this.)

dedicated to jackie & jonathan defense squad(TM) on twitter :)

“Don’t you think we’re a little old for seven minutes in heaven?” A 16-year-old Nancy Wheeler quipped from her spot in the circle.

Almost immediately she was met with a chorus of “no!”’s and boos, most prominently from Steve Harrington and his gang. In fact, the only two members of the group that stayed silent were beside her, her two best friends, who she knew would dread playing this game.

Because Barb was not only socially awkward to the point her sass was off-putting, but she was also gay. And Jonathan was socially awkward to the point he was called the town loner and freak, so isolated that he hadn’t even had his first kiss yet. He would’ve told her if he had, or if there was anyone he was even interested in sharing that with.

So her feeble attempt at saving them was overridden by the other kids at the party, passing around their solo red cups and sharing looks with the person they hoped the bottle would land on. She could practically feel her friend’s stomachs’ drop.

Tommy H went first, and Nancy wasn’t even going to bother to call out how the game was rigged when his bottle landed on Tina. The look on Carol’s face made the whole night worth it though, in her opinion. But she did shoot apologetic looks to her friends.

Barb seemed fine, despite her eyes not meeting anyone else’s. It’s not like she was out of the closet anyways, maybe she’d get lucky and get a nice guy like Steve, who wouldn’t pressure her to do anything. Barb could always handle her own.

It was Jonathan that Nancy was worried about. He also wouldn’t meet her eyes, and she swore she saw his hands shaking as he took another sip of his beer to calm his nerves. Her heart clenched, and without thinking about it she placed a hand on his knee.

“It’s gonna be okay,” She said to him quietly, while the rest of the group was distracted by Carol demanding Tommy to spin again. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll get your first kiss tonight?” She teased, gently. And felt a little bit better when his lips curled upwards in a slight smile, even if it was only for her sake.

“Maybe.” He shrugged, replying back in an even quieter tone than her own. For some reason, a small part of Nancy that she could barely acknowledge hoped he didn’t. He deserved a girl who really liked him, not someone drunk at a party pressuring him into it.

They’d always been friends. At least since the first time Mike had brought Will over and Jonathan accompanied him. She could recall their mom’s gushing as Jonathan was only supposed to come by with Joyce to drop his brother off, but Barb hadn’t been able to hang out that day and Nancy surmised Jonathan Byers would do. Unlike the rest of Hawkins, she didn’t care about their reputation or rumors. And, just like Mike, and she proved that by sitting with him at lunch the following Monday.

Ever since then, he’d been a constant in her life. He took her photos on the weekends, did their math homework together in study hall. He was there when she cried over Nathan standing her up at the eighth grade dance and she was there when Lonnie Byers had officially left his family for the last time. Through all of that, he never had a girlfriend. And she’d never been able to understand why.

Sure, he was quiet and liked being alone. But he wasn’t a complete loner, she was living proof of that. The right girl would understand that, understand him. He was so much more than Jonathan ‘the freak’ Byers. He was actually really cute, despite the fact the rest of the girls at school ignored him. He was kind, and a good listener. He was great at photography and was always down to do whatever her mischievous plans entailed. Last summer, it’d been her idea to break into the school’s pool after dark, and Jonathan was there to swim with her while Barb was too afraid of being caught. He always supported her, and she loved that.

Nancy shook her head, breaking herself from her cloud of thoughts. God, this is why everyone thought they were dating. Those rumors never let up, even when she was with Steve. They just shifted, saying she was probably cheating on him with Byers. Completely uncalled for, in her opinion, but it was Jonathan that was there rubbing her leg comfortingly when they had ultimately not lasted either.

“Who’s next?” None other than Steve Harrington asked the group. The usual rounds were made before the rest of the party finally noticed the close-knit group of three isolating themselves. Nancy didn’t really have anything against the game, but there was no one she wanted to be locked up with for seven minutes. Her best case scenario would be either one of her best friends. Or even Steve, who she’d ended things amicably with. She’d dare even say they were friends. “What about you three? Holland? Byers?!” Steve teased, wagging the bottle towards them.

Nancy instantly noticed the color drain from her friends’ face, her protective instincts kicking in while Barb was struggling to figure out an excuse not to play. Jonathan sat there silent, beet red. “I’ll go.” Nancy spoke up instead, not leaving any room for negotiation as she grabbed the bottle out of Steve’s hand. The rest of the group gave her weird looks, but she didn’t care if it meant she could save her friends.

She spun the bottle easily, and surprisingly steady for the few drinks she had. She could laugh in her ex’s face, she knew she wasn’t a lightweight. But she watched it turn several times until it eventually slowed to a stop. Right in between her and Jonathan, but close enough to count.

Nancy let out a relieved breath. That was easy, it was exactly who she wanted. Jonathan looked up at her nervously, the entire party’s eyes on them. “That’s not even fair, they’re already dating.” A girl at the edge whined.

Nancy forced herself to hold back an eye roll. “We’re friends.” She bit back, pointedly to the crowd. She didn’t notice how Jonathan’s eyes fell back to the floor.

“Well, then, it shouldn’t be a problem for you two to spend seven minutes in the closet together.” Steve interrupted, cheekily. “Common, let’s go you two!”

Nancy swore he acted like they never dated. Not that it bothered her, but he was also casual friends with Jonathan, so she wondered his agenda for pushing them together. Nancy let herself roll her eyes this time as she untucked her legs from under her, making sure her dress didn’t ride up. As she stood, she grabbed Jonathan’s hand and led him to the closet, Steve on their heels.

“Don’t have too much fun.” he barked out a laugh, Nancy shooting him a look of annoyance. She shook her head as they were pushed into the room together, a chair on the other side of the door locking them in. Just great, they’d forget about them in approximately two minutes, and it wasn’t like they could hear them over the thumping of the music. Hopefully, Barb would remind the group to let them out.

Nancy dropped his hand as her eyes adjusted to the dim light from one shitty light bulb. It had a warm glow though, and it made Jonathan’s features look softer in the somewhat darkness. Less sharp and angled, and it looked nice.

“So.” She broke the silence after a moment, hoping to get Jonathan’s eyes up from still being glued to the floor.

She let herself be proud when she got the smile she wanted from him, his shoulders untensing. “So?” He echoed, looking up at her.

“So,” Nancy shrugged, playfully. “I don’t know! Are you having fun?”

Jonathan laughed, trying to adjust himself in the small room. It was no use, no matter what they were on top of each other. Nancy let her back fall against the wall beside them. “I don’t know, I guess.” He shrugged, causing Nancy to raise her eyebrows in response. “I’ve never played seven minutes in heaven before.” He accompanied that statement with a small smile, letting Nancy know he was still being playful.

“Well I haven’t either.” She shot back, cocking her head to the side.

Jonathan laughed, and Nancy let herself smile at the sight. At the fact she was the only one he let see him so genuine and carefree. Besides his family anyways. “I can only imagine it’s not the kind of game you play with your best friend.”

His tone was still light, but Nancy could sense the disappointment behind his words. Again, her heart clenched. He deserved a cute girl that was crazy over him, but she couldn’t imagine anyone. No one seemed good enough for him in her mind. “Well, you’re right about that. Less talking normally, or so I’ve heard.”

Jonathan responded with a nod, and a lull of silence encompassed them for a moment. Nancy studied him in the bleak light, fidgeting and wondering how no one saw what she did.

“Sorry you’re stuck in here with me.” He said suddenly, Nancy looking up immediately. “I’m sure there are more...fun people you’d want to play this with.”

Nancy found herself floored by how down on himself he was. How could anyone else possibly see how great he was when he couldn’t even see it himself. “Hey.” She moved to him, putting a hand on his arm to force him to look at her. “Don’t do that to yourself. There’s no one else I’d rather be in this closet with.” Jonathan gave her a weak smile, and she knew he didn’t believe her. “I’m serious, stop selling yourself short.”

“Thanks Nance,” he mumbled, and she wished she could say more. “There’s no one else I want to be in this closet with either.” he admitted, causing Nancy to smile too. At least some of the tension was gone as she dropped her hand, but put no more distance between them. Instead, she stayed put, her eyes locking with his. “Even if it is just a friend.”

Nancy felt herself straighten. “You’ll find someone.” Now it was his turn to raise an eyebrow at her, but she looked determined. “I’m serious, you will. Someone who can see how...how incredible you are.”

Jonathan laughed, and she could tell even in the dark he was trying not to blush. “You think so?”

“Yeah. I do. Jonathan, there’s so many great things about you.”

“That’s why I’m tied with Harrington when it comes to how many girlfriends we’ve had.” he mumbled back, sarcastically, clearly not believing her.

Nancy shook her head, “Don’t do that. Don’t compare yourself to Steve. You’re nothing like him.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Nancy resisted the urge to groan. “Stop that Jonathan! You’re nothing like Steve, in a good way. You’re-you’re kind. And smart. And so talented at photography. You’ve always been able to make me laugh. And, you’re a great listener and friend, you’ve always, always, been there for me. Much less that you’re insanely cute, despite those girls out there that refuse to acknowledge that because of their stupid egos. And you deserve someone that knows all of that about you, that really likes you for you-” She was saying, but only snapped out of it when she looked up to realize just how close they were. Was he moving closer? Nancy forced herself to take a breath, to steady herself, but felt the air knocked out of her by the way he was looking at her.

She’d never seen such a look of adoration, everything he was feeling expressed in his warm brown eyes. She found herself completely caught up in it, and if she just pushed herself on her tiptoes, her lips would brush his. As if that thought occurred to her for the first time right then, it floored her. She could kiss him. She could kiss him.

She thought about it before. A little. He’s always been cute and a good friend. But he was always Jonathan, her loyal best friend first. Always there for her, never pushing her in any way. Did she actually have feelings for him? Did he have feelings for her? Wouldn’t he say something if he did?

Of course he wouldn’t. He was Jonathan. He’d never pressure her, do anything to ruin their friendship. She wondered if there was some truth to Will’s offhand teasing about how she was like his sister now (“or could be, one day” he’d hum lightly, and Jonathan would glare daggers at him). Based on the look Jonathan was giving her, she had a feeling there was.

Jonathan’s mouth parted, and Nancy, without realizing it, let her eyes follow the action. It didn’t even occur to her for a moment he was saying something, his voice quiet and full of doubt. “You really think all of that?”

Nancy forced herself to meet his eyes again, despite being a few inches on top of her. The idea of being close enough to kiss him still made her stomach do somersaults, but she forced her voice to stay even. It wasn’t that hard when she was talking so softly. “Yeah, I do.” She responded, ever so confident and collected.

Jonathan seemed to be at a loss for words as he struggled to reply. A blush covered his cheeks now as he spoke, but he didn’t seem to notice or care. “God, Nancy, you’re so incredible.”

She felt the wind knocked out of her (again) at how sincerely he spoke. She decided, however, she was sick of not knowing what it was like to kiss him despite the fact the idea only came to her a short while ago. Without thinking twice, she, slowly- still giving him an out, pushed herself on her tiptoes. She heard Jonathan’s breath hitch before her lips met his.

She decided immediately she liked it. His lips were just a little chapped but felt nice against her soft ones, and he was warm and tasted like the beer they’d both been drinking all night. She didn’t realize it was sweet, almost chaste until she felt his hands settle on her waist. She also didn’t miss how they were shaking slightly like they did when he was nervous. In an effort to hopefully calm him, and to bring him closer, she moved her hands to his neck. She tugged on his collar lightly, bringing him closer as she gave him a better angle to kiss her.

It then occurred to her again, when he did nothing to deepen the kiss, that it was his first. No one had taught him to kiss properly. That was fine, she decided as she brought him even closer by snaking her arms around his neck. She could do it.

And Nancy had to admit she was impressed by how fast of a learner he was. She found herself pressed against the wall she’d formerly been leaning on, Jonathan following her lead as his hands moved from her hips up to her hair, the kiss getting more passionate. She moved as well, bringing his hips closer as her arms went to his waist. It felt good, right. To finally be able to kiss him. She didn’t even know how long she’d been wanting this without realizing it, but she could tell Jonathan had too by how intensely he was pouring all he had into this kiss. Anything reminiscent of being chaste was a distant memory.

Somehow, her hands had gone back to his neck and tangled in his hair as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her even more impossibly close. Making no plans of slowing down, Nancy moaned as softly as she could. Her senses were so overwhelmed in the best possible way.

She nearly squealed in surprise when light flooded the room.

Completely caught up in the moment, it dazed her and took a minute for her eyes to adjust to the not pure darkness as Jonathan all but practically jumped off her. It was a futile attempt though. They’d already been caught. Despite this, her arms were still wrapped around his neck while his hesitated loosely at her hips.

The first face they saw was Steve, sharing an impossibly smug look with them. It only took them another second to realize the party had quieted down, everyone looking at them from their spots. Except for Barb, who didn’t know if she should look surprised or confused as she stood behind Steve.

Nancy forced herself to bite down a smile, her hand running down to Jonathan’s chest now. She couldn’t be bothered to care that she’d been caught making out with him, what these kids thought of them, but Jonathan wore an adorable shade of red all over his face now. In fact, she had half a mind to tell Steve to close the door and pick up where they left off, but she took pity on her poor partner instead.

Slowly, she untangled herself from him as she also removed his own hands from her hips. She couldn’t help but chuckle at how frozen and profusely embarrassed he looked. She didn’t lose all contact though, keeping one hand locked with his, before taking a steadying breath. She probably (definitely) looked hot and flustered, and her hair was probably (definitely) all messed up.

There was a variation of different looks given to them from around the party, ranging from judgment and disgust that she was making out with that freak Jonathan, to smug ‘we all knew you were dating’ looks from a few others. Most notably Steve, who grinned at them. Who still hadn’t said anything. In fact, no one had said anything. The room was still silent.

Biting down on her lip, Nancy decided to be the first one to break it. It’s not like anyone else would. Especially not Jonathan, who still looked like he wished the ground would swallow him up whole. Maybe Barb, who was still gaping at them.

Nancy instead just cleared her throat, turning to fully face the party. “Hey, Steve?” She asked, still breathless.

“Yeah Nance?” He shot back, still looking incredibly amused by this whole thing. Steve couldn’t keep a laugh out of his voice as he replied.

“Would you mind giving Barb a ride home?” She took a beat to fully interlock her fingers with the boy behind her, getting ready to lead him out of the closet. “Jonathan and I are going to get out of here.”