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boogiewrites · 2 years ago

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Cherry Bomb Part 8 (Final)

Characters: Eddie Munson x OFC Mary Cherry

Summary: The last chapter! Eddie and Cherry start the build-up to crossing the final thing off her list, having sex. While they're both excited about sleeping together for the first time, they're more nervous about the conversations they want to have before. Cherry finishes her list and starts a whole new chapter of her life. With Eddie.

Part 1 - 7 if you missed it!

Comment & Reblog to let me know you like it and want more Eddie content!

Warnings/Triggers: Sex. Losing virginity. FLUFF. So much gd fluff. Confessions of love.

The faint sounds of Dio came from the room where the Hellfire Club met. As ordered by their leader, Dustin made his way in early, a box in his arms. He looks to see Eddie, stretched to grab a box off a shelf, on tiptoes and shirt raised enough with his high arms to show his midriff. He grunts and bounces, fighting the stiffness in his ribs.

“You look like you’re doing better,” Dustin says making Eddie jump and then stare him down defensively. “Sorry.” Dustin holds his arms up in surrender. “Your ribs finally heel up?” Eddie lays the heavy-duty scissors he was after on the tabletop.

“By next week I’ll be back to normal. Whatever that means now.” He moves to throw his hands dramatically but only makes it halfway, as he didn’t want to bother his ribs again.

“At least you won’t be moving around like an old man anymore .” Dustin grins. “Bet you’ll miss Cherry waiting on you hand and foot though.”

“You’d be surprised how quickly it gets old.” Eddie exhales.

“Man I’d kill to have Susie wait around on me. Bring me food, talking in that baby voice when she gets all sweet on me.” A dopey smile moves across his face.

“There’s a fundamental difference between us Henderson. I don’t like the help, the babying. I prefer to do things myself.”

“Yeah the difference is I know having help is a good thing and you don’t.”

“I know it’s good to have it I don’t like the infantilization that comes with it.” He cuts himself off quickly and waves his hand to dismiss the conversation. “Did you bring the stuff?”

“Yeah.” He smacks the box in front of him. Eddie moves over next to Dustin to inspect. “You mean you don't like it when she baby talks you?”

“Henderson.” Eddie groans, otherwise ignoring him.

“You’re gonna say to my face that you don’t like it when Cherry starts in with that Eddie baby stuff?”

“How do you know that?” Eddie’s eyes shoot towards the shorter boy.

“Oh, I know plenty. I’m a ninja. People don’t notice me around.” He poses dramatically hunched over the table. “I was gonna ask her about something a few weeks back and you two were on the other side of your van I overheard.” He stands and admits after a stare-down from Eddie. “Plus she’s always touching you now anyway. I see how she rubs your back when you think no one can tell. Cause you wouldn’t let her otherwise. And how when she holds your hand under the table, and her lipstick leaves kiss marks on you sometimes.”

“You are observant.” Eddie looks him up and down.

“I’ll take it for the compliment it is.” He bobs proudly. “I however am not observant enough to know why I needed to bring my miniature paints?” Eddie was now collecting colors and holding the tiny glass vials in one hand.

“To paint something.” Eddie states, eyes concentrated on the box.

“No shit.” Dustin frowns at him. Eddie sighs first in response before finding the final color he needed. “But to add further to your mystery I also had to come early. Alone.” He states with a hint of agitation.

“Because I didn’t want anyone else to know what I was doing.” he announces, making his way back to his carved wooden throne chair. Dustin watches as Eddie pulls a denim jacket from his bag. He shakes it and lays it out, taking the metal scissors to the sleeves.

“Am I going to sit here and watch you make arts and crafts?”

“Are you going to keep asking questions until I answer or can you mind your own business?” Eddie bites back.

“You already know the answer to that.” Dustin states obviously. “You know I’m naturally curious and you can’t have me do some secret mission without filling in the details.” Eddie finishes a rough cut on the sleeves, leaving Dustin to stew for a moment.

“Here. Try this on.” He throws the denim vest at him.

“You’ve gotta tell me why, man.” Dustin shakes the vest at a slowly approaching Eddie.

“Can we swear a vow of secrecy here?” Eddie offers, arms crossed and his hand on his chin.

“If you want to invoke the sacred vow, I, as a party member have no choice but to obey the Master.” He holds his arms out and bows as is his dramatic flair. Same as Eddie.

“Then consider it invoked.”

“Do we need to roll for it or-“ Eddie rolls his eyes in response.

“This is real life not for the game. Try it on.” He snaps his fingers. Dustin does as he’s told, waiting for Eddie to spill.

“Should I- pose or-?” He stands with his arms awkwardly to his sides.

“No. Can you move okay? Move your arms around. Armholes too tight?”

“Nah can barely feel them.” He swings his arms and throws some fake punches. “Do I need to test drive it? What are we doing? Recon mission? Espionage?” He strikes a 007 pose.

“No.” Eddie shakes his head and motions for him to give him back the jacket. “You are the closest to Cherry's size. If it fits you I know it’ll fit her.”

“Ohhhh. So this is for her?” Eddie doesn’t respond as the answer was obvious. He returns to his chair and begins to mark on the vest with a pencil. “You’re making her a vest. Like yours?” Dustin tentatively moves closer.

“Yes and no. They’re called battle jackets. Or vests. Whatever.”

“Right, the metal head gear with the patches and shit.”

Eddie nods and continues drawing.

“So why are you making her one?”

Eddie lets out a loud sigh before moving his face to look at Dustin who has now sat in the chair closest to him. His face read as annoyed with its pressed lips and glaring eyes but he was also feeling defensive. A bit vulnerable. He was wondering what information he could trust Dustin with now that they were in the moment.

“This is under the secrecy vow. You got it?” He points a finger to the rapidly nodding and eager boy. “Besides me, you’re the closest guy in the group to Cherry. She likes you. Trusts you.” Dustin had a small and genuine smile on his face from receiving this information. “And I am… making her a present.”

“Anniversary?” Dustin blurts out.

“Sure. We’ll call it that.” Eddie quickly takes the scapegoat offered. “I wanted to get her something nice. But I don’t exactly have the money to go get… whatever the hell people with money buy their girlfriends.” He shakes a hand dismissively with a clear bite of anger for the fact of it.

“Like flowers and candy?”

“Exactly. Perfume and jewelry. Ya know.”

“So you two are really serious aren’t you?”

Eddie's eyes shoot defensively dark to Dustin’s inquisitive ones.

“I mean I know she’s nuts about you. And you like her more than you let anyone of us know so it’s gotta be. You got the shit beat out of you for her for Christ's sake.”

“Yeah. Maybe.” He moves his eyes back to the vest, back hunched over.

“So that’s a yes.” Dustin states. “And you’re making her something instead.”

“Right.” Eddie mutters.

“You aren’t really the letterman jacket and class ring type. Makes sense.”

“She’s worn my jacket a few times. She’s talked about wanting patches for shows we’ll go to and stuff like that. But I don’t think she’d get away with destroying one of her jackets so I dug around and found this old one of mine in the back of my closet and thought it would work.”

“Resourceful, I like it.”

“I think she will.” Eddie says it out loud but Dustin isn’t entirely convinced.

“Are you asking me if she will or convincing yourself?”

Eddie tossed the pencil to the table and huffed.

“Look man, I’m trying to help. I wanna help! I like you. I like her. And you are clearly… struggling with something and I wanna help.”

“Clearly?”

“Okay. Bad choice of words but you’re being defensive. Not the usual kind either. Plus you never talk about her to us so I know it’s gotta be something heavy going on.”

Eddie sighs and rubs his face. He didn’t like being told what he was feeling but it was true. Cherry would want him to talk to Dustin.

“I’m not good at this… girlfriend shit.” Eddie slouches back into the chair and finally meets Dustin’s eyes without them looking like he was thinking about killing him.

“You’ve… had one before…right?”

“Don’t be stupid, yeah.” Eddie rolls his eyes. “But those weren’t… they didn’t get… most weren't serious.”

“So are we talking marriage here or-“

“Slow your fuckin horses Henderson, shit.” Eddie pumps his hands at him.

“Okay! I’m just trying to translate Munson into English here.”

“I didn’t date most of the girls I’ve been with. Those I did I didn’t DO shit for them, ya know?”

“So you were a shitty boyfriend?”

“I mean probably but I didn’t try to do anything special or… make anything special for them. “ he was trying to walk around the real cause of why he was trying to do something significant. He would ask for his opinion but he was NOT going to discuss his sex life with Cherry. “I wanted to do something nice for her. After the shit we’ve gone through this year I wanted to show her… ya know, that I give a shit.”

“Ah. Okay yeah, I think I get what you’re saying. She’s special. You want to treat her special. You want her to feel special.”

“Pretty much yeah.”

“And you haven’t done this before?”

“Kinda but… not like this.”

“Uh-huh.” Dustin smirks.

“What the hell is that face for?” Eddie groans.

“Have you never been in love before Eddie?” Dustin boldly asks. Eddie blinks with a blank face in response. “C’mon a blind man could see it with you two love birds. You love her, you want to do something nice for her. It’s sweet! It is! I’m happy for you.”

“I really wanna punch you right now.”

“C’mon! It’s obvious. How you two look at each other. Standing up for her, I saw how she acted when they took you away man, I KNOW. She deserves something special she’s a cool girl. I get it.”

“How did she act?” Is the surprisingly quiet question followed

“Did no one tell you?”

Eddie’s eyes move around the room in thought for a moment. “I don’t think so. If they did I forgot.”

“Oh hell, she lost her MIND.” He stresses. “She was crying about you being hurt as people came down to help and she was IN the ambulance but the cops had to pick her up to get her out to keep her here for questioning. She kept grabbing you and screaming and crying and-“ he stops seeing Eddie’s face go soft. “Sorry.” Dustin stops and speaks with less excitement. “She fought cops to try to not leave you alone. I heard she snuck out of her room in the hospital to go find yours and didn’t leave your side. Sure sounds like love to me.” Dustin throws his hands up and shrugs.

Eddie’s eyes aren’t angry for once. They slowly glanced around the room before he moved to lick a tiny paint brush straight and pick the red paint from the bunch. Dustin could make out now that he’d drawn a pair of cherries on the chest.

“She’ll like that.” Dustin adds with a softer approach. “It’s cute.”

“Thanks for telling me what happened.” He offers and it meant more than it would appear.

“I didn’t see anything before you were knocked out, but I did see that. The least I can do is tell you how it went down. I can’t believe no one told you.”

“They might have but… pain medicine man. And concussions. Everything’s foggy.”

“Have you not talked to her about it?”

“I didn’t want to upset her it… was nasty what they were saying to her. She was a mess.”

“Maybe you should. Maybe it’s been long enough. Might help you get closer.”

“Yeah. Maybe.” Eddie purses his lips in thought. “Don’t really need any help on that front though.”

“Just need help when it comes to you expressing your feelings? That’s a new one.”

“Expressing anger and annoyance are very different from expressing-“

“Love?” Dustin interrupts, grinning like an idiot.

“Yeah.” He answers with a tight voice that isn’t completely full of annoyance for Dustin’s bold interruption. It was very subtly laced with a hint of relief the conversation had brought to him.

—

Eddie grunted as he pulled himself up onto the roof. For the first time in a while, it was from work and not pain. He moves as gracefully as he can, which had never been much, to draw as little attention to himself as possible as he follows Cherry's voice to one of her bedroom windows. With the window open, he rests his arms on the sill and sees her dancing around her room, headphones on with damp hair in nothing but panties and a Van Halen t-shirt she’d gotten at the concert.

“Du du du du du du du du du…” a familiar tune comes from her, eyes mostly shut and moving her body to the music as Eddie made his way through the window. She remains oblivious and he enjoys the show with a smirk on his face. With his elbows on his knees and poor posture, his eyes followed her around the pink and frilly room. It was twice the size of his, a four-poster bed with matching sheets and canopy, white wooden furniture with gold accents, every piece matching contrasted the look she had and the assortment of posters and magazine pages she’d recently put up on her wallpapered walls. The feminine childish energy of the space she’d now outgrown surrounded her as black panties flashed and her chest bounced singing a song about sex from a band who found themselves targetted in the middle of rising satanic panic. He chuckles to himself, a cross on the wall as she sang, “Tonight I’m gonna give it all to you. In the darkness. There’s so much I wanna doooo.”

The rebel in him ate it up, he was a very big fan of irony after all. Perhaps that’d been the main point of attraction at first. The girl with the ribbons in her hair asking him to help her with wide eyes turned into the woman holding him by the hair, pressing his face into her fluffy soft center and demanding more of him. He’d been fond of her at first, amused. He figured she’d chicken out and bail honestly. Those kept suburb girls usually think they want to rebel but when faced with new things they find they’re not able to handle the expansion of their worldview and retreat. But Cherry had plunged head first. She hadn’t looked back or given him any reason to doubt her ability to handle anything that came her way. It was early on he realized she wasn’t doing this for a thrill, she actually wanted to change. Then he started to appreciate her.

That’s when she started getting bolder, the kissing, the touching, the vulnerability of soul searching shared with him so seemingly easily. Then he admired her.

Then she blossomed into another person. She even moved differently than she had. She wore her new look, it didn’t wear her. She had confidence and energy to her that he wanted to be around, that he preferred being around more than anyone else. She was open and honest and for some reason, as confounded as he was about it, she liked him back. And as it goes from time to time, when luck and serendipity meet at a crossroads, both their feelings for each other grew. The physicality of it was a big focus at first, then as it happened more often it became a perk. He suddenly didn’t have a twinge of disappointment when she’d say she was on her period and they couldn’t do anything. He found he had just as good of a time listening to albums and talking to her, sharing smokes and drinks, and freely discussing any subject that came to mind. It was then he knew he was in trouble.

It hadn’t taken getting beat up to make him admit his feelings for her. It wasn’t even Dustin telling him about how she’d reacted to it all that made him realize it. It’d happened before that, and everything after had only sealed it. And now, as he watched her dance uninhibited he no longer felt like his feelings were a bad thing. He was ready to fall into the cliches of sex and love with her, and this was where he found himself being the one having a bout of personal growth, not her.

Interrupting his ruminations she turns and sees him and yelps, eyes going as wide as he'd ever seen them as she jumps back. The back of her leg knocks against the corner of her bed causing her to topple over backward, knocking her headphones off.

“Oh my god you scared the shit out of me!” she says exasperated, it quickly turned into a shared hearty laugh as they met eyes, and both couldn't help the bubbled-up laughter. “How long have you been there?” she asks, sitting up and switching off the walkman. Eddie rises to walk over and help her up.

“Long enough to figure out what song you’re listening to.”

“I'm sure my cat howling of the lyrics made it easy.” she gives a self-deprecating joke quickly followed by a hello kiss from him. “What are you doing here?” she asks, hands to his chest as he put his arms around her.

“Your parents are gone already, I wanted to see you before school.”

“Couldn’t wait?” she snickers and puts her arms around his neck.

“I’m impatient as hell you know that.”

“I wanted the new hair to be a surprise,” she says pulling away and one hand ruffling her damp hair.

“I know I’m not supposed to admit I don’t see what’s different but...”

“Well it’s wet so you get a pass.” she chuckles, moving to plug in her hairdryer. “Mom and I went out yesterday and I got some highlights and maybe a new dress I was planning on wearing for a certain special occasion coming up…soon? I hope? Not that I'm rushing you on feeling better I-”

“Impatient?” he interrupts her unneeded apology.

“For you? Always.” she coos and returns to him, a quick peck. “I mean have you seen you?” she looks him up and down he returns the compliment with a genuinely bashful smile, his smile lines deepened, the crinkles in the corners of his eyes growing into that controlled chaos of his hair.

“What about you?” he reaches back to grab a handful of her half-bare cheek, his thumb rubbing to find the fabric as silky as what it covered. “I got a show this morning. Are you sure you don’t want that special occasion right now? I mean I'm ready to go, you can check if you want.” he gives her the smile that had always sent a jolt through her long before she knew what the feeling was.

“Don’t talk like that, I’ll have to change panties.” she giggles as he leans in to kiss her with more intent this time. “Mmm…” she savors it for a moment, the warmth spreading in her body, the way his hands gripped into her bare skin. “Mmmph!” she breaks away. “Don’t get me started. We don’t even have time to do anything even if we could.” she scolds, a very light pat to his ribs.

“That’s what I snuck up here for actually.” he clears his throat and readjusts himself in his jeans. “Besides checking off one of the things on your list.”

“Are we still doing that?”

“Pretty sure I saw a line about having a boy sneak into your room.”

“True. But I was thinking more at night, you know? Not at 7 am while I’m getting ready for school.”

“Semantics.” he waves his hand. “Besides, I had to show off.” he raises his arms and stretches in every direction before giving a little jump, weight to one leg, and then the other before letting his arms fall with a slap to his sides. “I’m all healed up. Squeeze me.”

She gets closer, hands to his ribs, giving him the test they’d been doing the past couple of weeks to check on his progress. She does so and he doesn’t wince or make a sound. Nothing moves, nothing pops, he was solid again. She felt a rush of heat to her cheeks and chest.

“You’re finally healed up!”

“Good as new.” he pats his chest. “I mean I couldn’t have scaled that trellis if I wasn’t.” he offers as further proof.

“So that means we can…” she says it quietly as if the subject of them having sex hadn’t been openly discussed before.

“I’ve met all your requirements. I got better.” She gives a girlish giggle and puts her hands to his face to pull him down for a kiss.

“So…this weekend?” she offers between kisses.

“Whenever you want, babe.” he hums contently as she kisses away from his mouth to his jaw.

“I mean... I want it now.” another breathy giggle into his ear that made his cock jump. “But this weekend. We’ll go out. Then you can… go in.” she bites his ear lobe, hand in his hair and another tight to his back where she’d missed pulling him close. Instinct kicks in, arms wrapped around her body and his skin seeking out hers. “The problem right now is I don’t want to stop this.” she moans with a smile, returning to his mouth. She feels the cold of his rings on her face as he holds it. She’d refrained from kissing and touching him while he healed to specifically avoid this situation. But she hadn’t realized how badly she’d needed it until she had it again. “Fuck, I missed this. I missed you.” she exhales.

“You smell so fucking good. Mmph.” he inhales her, hand tightening his grip. “I don’t wanna stop either, Cherry baby,” he mutters into her throat. Her breath had picked up, and the small mewls of pleasure denied escaped with less and less hesitation. His hand moved to her chest, only covered by the thin t-shirt. He brushes his thumb over a hard nipple and she moans, chest heaving and a strong grip on his hair that forces a similar sound from him. “We can take the edge off. We don’t have to… rush anything.” he offers a compromise.

“I can't be late for school, Eddie.” she whines, still not attempting to push him away as he began kissing her after her objection.

“And you know how fast I can make you cum.” his hand slipped down her front to cup and soothe the ache between her legs. Her breath catches at the words first then the touch. “I won’t make us late.” his voice swings deep and he meets her eyes. She’d said yes with her body already.

“Promise?” she answers weakly, already kissing him again.

“Promise.” he whispers against her deprived mouth. “C’mon, let your Eddie baby get a reminder of what you taste like.” With that, her knees gave out with a whimper. He leaned down to pick her up and carry her to the bed where he laid her back and they both had quick reminders of what the other felt like under their tongues.

They cut it close. Sliding into class as the bell rang. Thanks to Eddie‘s driving which could be considered reckless endangerment he kept his promise. She wasn’t late.

Eddie worried about a lot of things. He acted like he didn’t. To anyone that didn’t REALLY know him, he gave a fuck about anything. But nothing had given him the knot in his stomach quite like wondering if his idea of a great night would equal out to what his girlfriend considered special enough.

She pulled away to get into her car to drive home after finishing up a session with the club. He grabbed her lightly by the wrist. He told himself he’d ask tonight, this was his last chance.

“C’mere.” he pulls her back in and she gives him an only slightly patronizing smile. “What do you think about camping?”

“Camping?” she wonders with pursed lips, both moving their arms around each other as they spoke without a second thought about it. “I’ve done it a lot. Church stuff.” she shrugs. “It can be fun. Why?”

“I thought about driving us out somewhere with a nice view this weekend. It wouldn’t be camping in a tent, we can use the van. We could move my mattress into it, bring some food, some tunes...”

“Some condoms?” she grins and teases him.

“Oh they’re in the van already.” he grins and nods enthusiastically. “One in my wallet.” he adds as if he’s going to count the number of places he’d stashed them. “We can star gaze if you want. It’s supposed to be clear that night.”

“You checked the weather?” her voice had a baby talk quality to it.

“Yeah?” he lets out a nervous chuckle. “I wouldn’t want to take you out somewhere if a storm comes through.”

“I dunno.” she shrugged and scrunched her nose at him mischievously. “Worked out pretty well last time.”

“That’s...” he lets out a deep almost dumb genuine laugh. “That’s true.” he gives her a playful peck on the lips. “But I wanted it to be… ya know, special. Nice starry night, under the sky… doors open and music going seemed like a good idea.” he sounded almost nervous and it made her heart skip a beat. Her big mean metal head trying to be romantic. “I thought it’d be better than my place. We can fuck there anytime, but since it’s your first time and all…” She hops to her tip toes to kiss him to shut him up.

“I only care about being with you. I don’t care where it is. Don’t worry about it.” she whispers, keeping it between the two of them in case anyone was lurking around. “You’re more nervous about it than I am.” she giggles and kisses his cheek.

“Well I’ve never done this before, I know you say you don’t wanna make a big deal about it, because yeah it’s not but also yeah it is.” he pauses, a concerned look on his face as he brushes back where her hair touches her face. “I don’t want you to regret anything. Not me, not how it happened, where it happened.”

“And I’ll tell you like I have about 100 times now. If it’s you I won’t.” she kisses his hand that gently caressed her cheek. “But what do you mean you haven’t done it before? You’ve… had sex before.” she states with raised brows to emphasize its obviousness.

“Yeah, I meant. I’ve never…” he looks around with a slight wave of paranoia. “I’ve never been anyone's first.” he almost mumbles it and it suddenly makes sense to her.

“Okay that makes sense.” she purses her lips and nods. “You were the one acting like the virgin, I couldn’t figure out why.” she laughed and pat his cheek. “What about your first time? You regret it?” she boldly asks.

“Do you really wanna know about that stuff?”

“I wouldn’t ask otherwise. I’m making a point here.” she bumps her nose to his.

“No… it was. It was…” he chuckles and looks away with a twitching nose for a moment before returning his face to hers. “It was good. It was sex so, of course, it wasn't bad.” he snorts a little in amusement. “It was fine.” he offers with shrugged arms.

“Did you make a big deal of it?”

“No. It just kinda happened.”

“Then see? Stop worrying about me. Like you said, it can’t be bad. I want you to be as excited as I am about it. I don’t want you to worry about me. I want this. I want you. Got it ya big sensitive sweetie?” she gives him the scrunched nose again, kissing him with an affectionate noise.

“I know it’s more of the fact that-” he winces and sighs, getting her attention. “I’ll just say it I guess.” he mutters and rubs his head. “I don't have a lot to give you, you know? I’d give you anything you wanted if I could and since I can’t I want the things that I can do to mean something. I don’t want you to think I don’t care because I’m not showering you in gifts all the time like other guys could.” Instead of answering she kisses him. She goes in deeper every time he tries to keep talking until he gives in to her.

“None of that had even crossed my mind,” she reassures him. “One kiss from you is worth more than anything any other guy could buy me.” she whispered against his lips while his eyes remained closed, kissing the corners of his mouth. “If I didn’t want you I wouldn’t be with you. That means all of you, exactly how you are.” she holds both sides of his face. “Understand?” he nods, feeling a flood of emotion and relief as their lips ghost against one another.

He could’ve said it right then. He almost did. He felt it in his bones at that moment. He shared insecurity and she took it by the neck and threw it out of existence. No one had ever been that tender with him, that understanding and accepting. He had a new thing to occupy his time with now, stumbling over drafts in his head for how he’d tell her.

A dopey smile spread across Eddie’s face the moment he recognized Cherry’s car come into view, sitting on the back of his van, he waited. Seeing her feet first as they stepped out of the car, her always pristine converse crunched into the gravel of the driveway. As she pushed the door open, a bare set of legs, as smooth and shining as he’d ever seen them appeared, his eyes following the line of her body up and almost catching a glimpse up the short hem. She stood, a shimmy to pull the dress down as he forgot to keep his cool and blatantly stared at her in the tight black dress. She spoke, but he didn’t hear her, she walked to get her bag from the trunk, and he was distracted by the curve of her backside as she bent over, leaning and head tilting as he watched. She stood with her bag at her side, her cheer duffel so out of place with the rest of what she was wearing. As she walked closer he leaned back, chin up and eyes gazing half-lidded until the snapping of her fingers with their red painted nails made him rapidly blink and then lazily wet his lips.

“I’m sorry… what?” he moves his face to meet hers, red lips and her hair as big and blonde as he’d ever seen it. She didn’t need the dark liner and eyeshadow for her eyes to smolder because she was scolding him with no intention of punishment with her eyes.

“I said I wasn’t going to not wear this dress, even if we were camping. So sneakers it was.” she twists her foot for a point of emphasis.

He clears his throat, thumbing his nose as he stood and kept looking her over. “Am I supposed to hear anything you’re saying when you look like this?” his voice was full of tease and a masculine grit to it even though he spoke quietly. A hand moved around her to snatch her close by the waist before a strong hand arched down her butt. “Who gave you the right to look this good?” he avoids the cherry red lipstick and kisses her jaw as her breath catches in her chest and her lids flutter shut for a few short moments, welcoming the kisses to her neck.

‘I was hoping you’d like it.”

“I like you in anything. And I love this. But you are so god damned sexy right now.” he keeps his face close to hers, one side of his mouth drawn back with his dark brown eyes looking at her made-up face flushed and affected. “All this is mine?” his lip snarls playfully, his nose wrinkling as he drives both hands back, a cheek in each hand as she lets out a giggle. “I better get you put away so no one else can see you.” he bites at her jaw as he scooped her up with a squeal, her arms wrapping around his neck and her legs around his waist. She shouted his name but only held on tighter. He walked her over to the back of the van where the doors were open, with one last good smack to her ass he dropped her on the mattress that took up most of the back. She fell into a pile of pillows and blankets safely, he tossed her bag into the corner before returning his attention to her. She looked around as he hovered half bent over her.

“Oh this is nice.” she says twisting to have a better look.

“Yes it is.” he pinches her outer thigh, just under the ridden-up hem of her dress.

“You big idiot.” she grins and grabs his shirt to pull him in for a kiss. He collapses on top of her and she laughs, getting squeezed in his arms with her leg splayed out. “We aren't gonna make it to the site are we?” she laughed as he pulled away.

“Oh were we goin’ somewhere? Cause I’m right where I wanna be.” she slaps his cheek and kicks his butt with her heel lightly and he snaps at her hand her with his teeth and a bark. Another squeal of laughter escapes her, feet kicking in the air as he gave her harsh little biting kisses down to her chest before finally rising off of her. “I put too much work into this for us to not go.” he shakes his head, fixing his clothes as she rises right behind him to wipe the lipstick off his face. “Although if you wanna get it on in the middle of the trailer park with the doors wide open honestly, I could be persuaded.” he offers as he watches a smile beam across her face, looking him over and then approving of her work.

“Wouldn’t take much huh?” she coos and nuzzles her nose to his, a hand grazing over his crotch where it was easy to tell he wasn’t entirely joking.

“Shit, babe.” he jumps his hips back to grab her wrists. “Already going to have enough trouble concentrating on the damn road with you beside me, don’t make it harder on a man.” he winces his face slightly and a sexy smile with naughty intentions meets him.

“But making it hard is my favorite.” she pouts and he gets her by the chin.

“Down girl.” he whispers. “Get that sexy ass in your seat. We’re leaving.” he punches a final kiss to her lips. She happily turns and crawls up to the front. He shakes his legs out as he makes his way to the driver's seat. A readjustment in his jeans he looks around to see if anyone sees.

“Buckle up.” he orders without thinking as he starts the van.

“Yes sir.” she smirks and wobbles her head.

“Save that for later, sweetheart.” he gives her a sharp nod, a bounce of his hair as she bit her lip and settled into her seat. She was hoping he’d ignore her advice for once and drive fast.

The drive mellowed them out, hands reached out and clasped together in the space between the seats. She was curled up and facing him in her chair, fingers soothingly rubbing on his rings as she watched him. With the windows cracked the wind whipped around the console and blew his hair back to show off his face. She’d loved pushing the curtain of curls away and admiring his jaw and cheekbones when they were alone. She watched him talk and sighed quietly, contently to herself with eyes that were surely shaped like hearts. The shadows of the downing sun and the coverage of trees on either side of the road danced across his features, accentuation his strong profile of a prominent nose that suited him and lips that were full and plush to add a softness to his pre-raphaelite beauty.

The audible growling of Cherry’s stomach led to them taking care of basic human needs first after they arrived. Eddie set up a little fire not far from the back of the van, the cliff’s edge a little farther out from that. He’d driven her to a lookout, a high point overlooking lakes and a valley that his inner romantic thought would serve as a good backdrop to spending the night together. He piled sticks by the back of the van to feed the fire all night. A full cooler sat next to it, keeping the door propped open to not obscure the view. On top of it rest a beer just out of Eddie’s relaxed hands grasp and a pile of ashes from the joint Cherry had let die continuously as she lazily puffed whenever she remembered it. Neither were looking to get wasted, but a soft buzz after a meal, wrapped in each other's arms as they watched the sunset seemed too good to pass up. She was absent-mindedly messing with his rings, turning one around his finger as her hand rested on top of his on her chest. He didn’t mind.

“It’s beautiful.’ she exhales, voice light and content.

“Yeah you are.” he smiles even though she can’t see it, leaning his head down to kiss the side of hers making her mewl and kiss his hand.

“Coming out here was a smart choice. “ she praises with a nod, watching the sky fade from its pinks and yellows to purples and navy. “It’s romantic. You keep surprising me, Munson.” she turns to face him, popping up onto her knees and putting her hands on his upper thighs. “Who knew you under all that hair and glaring there was a big softie.” she scrunches up her nose and nuzzles it to his as he playfully rolls his eyes, snapping at her with his teeth. “You’re hard where it counts, don’t worry.” she makes herself laugh.

“I’m glad you think it’s romantic. That’s what I was going for.” he wraps his arms around her and pulls her to his chest, collapsing her arms as she lands with an oomph on top of him.

“The seclusion, the sunset, the nice buzz, and tunes.” she sighs contently.

“Speaking of, what the fuck is this?” An almost twinkling sound played over the speakers.

“I love this song!” She shoots up to her knees again.

“I sure as hell didn’t add it on the tape.”

“You don’t like REO Speedwagon?!” her mouth falls open and she gawks.

“No, the guy sounds like a girl.”

“Well all the guys you listen to LOOK like girls!” she laughs and shoves him, moving out of his lap.

“That’s different!”

“AND EVEN AS I WANDER I'M KEEPING YOU IN SIGHT!” she starts singing, leaping past the van’s edge and standing with her arms spread wide by the fire as she did her favorite thing which was a combination of making Eddie laugh and simultaneously annoy him.

“Christ sake.” he snorts and raises with his arms out to grab her.

“...COME CRASHIN' THROUGH YOUR DOOOOR!” her out-of-tune voice shouts, hitting invisible drums in the air as he approaches. “BABY I CAN'T FIGHT THIS FEELIN ANYMOOOORE!”

“Cherry!” he barks out in between laughs as she eludes his grasps. Her bare feet kick up the dirt around the fire, her dress riding up as she spun, lit by the fire and moon and not much else with the sun having finally faded behind the mountains. She squeals and giggles as he snatches her up, her legs kicking into the air, both wrestling each other with growing breathless laughter.

“There’s a solo though Eddie!” she plays air guitar while he holds her from behind around her shoulders.

“You’re not even using the right hands for the right thing!” he snorts and shakes her. “What the fuck kind of guitar are you using?”

“The kind that fuckin’ SHREDS!” she declares obviously, being utterly ridiculous and making his face light up like a happy child.

“Not to this shit it’s not.” he growls and grabs her hands and spins her out to pull her into his chest.

“It’s a pretty song! It’s a love song! That’s why I added it!” she pleads between catching her breath and beaming up at him.

“Babe you’re great but you have questionable taste in music sometimes.” he kisses her forehead. Then the song switches to something slower. Something even less to his liking. This song barely even had a guitar in it.

“Oh this one is so NICE Eddie.” she pouts, putting her arms around his neck. “It’s from Top Gun, it’s so romantic.” she coos.

“Cherry, I’d like to apologize for failing you in introducing you to good music.” he shakes his head.

“Shut up.” she giggles and pops up to kiss him. “Dance with me.”

“I’m not a dancer, sweetheart.”

“You can slow dance.” she groans, putting his hands on her hips. “Indulge me. This is my special night remember?” she lilts, openly being manipulative and he gives in without a second thought. She hums and squeezes him, her cheek nuzzling into his chest as her lipstick was long gone between eating and kisses.

“I remember.” he exhales, resting his head on the delicate puff of her hair. It’d been easy to forget the conversations he’d been having with himself the past few days, easy to want to just enjoy himself and not pressure himself to be vulnerable. She certainly made it easier than he expected. From her sweet affectionate demeanor to her almost childish hyper spouts of energy he fell for her harder every time she made him smile. Which kept happening more and more often. He gives her the rest of the song in silence, a proper slow dance as she hugs him like a teddy. A familiar whubba of guitar fades in and he sighs in relief. “Now this I can handle.”

“Not complaining about Van Halen? You must be trying to be nice.” she raises her head.

“I told you a hundred times I don’t hate them.” he laughs and throws his head back in a groan before a light headbutt to her forehead.

“I know. I just like watching you get mad when I say it.” a devilish little giggle comes through as he pinches her cheek. She gives him another peck, her shoulders swaying. “I won’t make you fast dance. Don’t worry.” A more sultry smile comes across her face, holding him by one hand as she moves her hips. She mouthed the words, gaining courage now, having put the song on the tape for a reason. It’s not a point missed by him. So he scoops her back up and moves his hips and begins to sing the words back to her and for a moment she’s dazed, basking in his charming smile and dark eyes shifting in the firelight.

“And I can’t recall. Any love at all. Ah baby this blows 'em all away.” he spins and dips her as she lets out a squeal of laughter and her hair falls back around her shoulders. “It’s got what it takes so tell me, why can’t this be love?” they both sing to each other. It wasn’t exactly dancing, as she knew he wasn’t holding a lot of skill points in that area. But it was perfect. Rather it was imperfect. It was perfect for them.

With a back and forth, faster than before he moves her around the fire as they chimed in off-tune voices breaking for laughter. He shakes his head, his hair tickling intentionally into her face in the wordless parts, headbanging to the guitar as he held her close and she couldn’t escape.

“I wanna know why can’t this be love.” they finish with a loud and echoing final word before he squeezes her and spins around until her feet lower back to the ground. The music fades into Led Zeppelin as they pull one another into a kiss. The breathy laughter grew soft and sweet, back into a slow sway before she broke it off, looking over his face before his dark long lashes fluttered back open, halfway closed and dark in the flickering shadows. A chill runs over her bare skin, air from the night catching on the slight sheen of sweat that had gathered.

“I brought you somethin’,” she whispers, a soft caress of her nose to his before letting him go and moving back to the van.

“You did?” he blinks rapidly coming out of his haze of affection and endorphins. He follows her back with unsure steps, hands shoved into his pockets as he watches her almost disappear into the darkness of the body of the van. “I… brought you something too.” her head whips his way as he leans into the back of the van.

“You did?” she repeats his former question. He bites his lip and nods, motioning to one of the bags he’d brought. “Who first?” a hint of nervousness in her voice.

“Mine.” he nods and gives her permission to open the bag. “I know this isn’t really an anniversary, we don’t even know when that would be.” he huffs out a quick laugh. “Since tonight would be an anniversary, one we’d remember, I wanted to give you something for it.”

“You didn’t have to get-”

“Open it.” he sees her twitching fingers and gives her impatience its antidote. She pulled out the denim vest. “I didn’t get any patches since I wanted you to make your own choices on that. It’s yours after all.”

“You got me my own battle jacket?” her voice was feminine and lovely, a purr of surprise and happiness as she looked it over. “OHMYGODLOOKATTHELITTLECHERRIES!” she runs her words together they come out so fast. She quickly puts it on and crawls out of the van with her gift in her hand, hidden away. “Did you do this? They’re so cute!” he’d painted two red cherries with a sparkling highlight of white and bright green stems.

“I did.” he nods slowly, proudly.

“Baby!” she squeals out and hugs his neck, dropping him down to her level. She kisses his face. “I'm gonna look like we go together now!” she hops up as quickly as a bunny and stands to pose.

“Looks even better than I thought. Fits you good.” he gives a slight tug to the front.

“I look like a total badass, Eddie. I love it!” she bounces on her knees and hugs herself. “I didn’t… GET you anything per se and now I feel bad.” she laughs, half bent but smiling wide. “Mine is more of a… gesture,” she speaks with a slight mumble, her nerves growing the closer she got to reveal the content of her hand. She reaches for his hand and leads him closer to the cliff’s edge.

“I actually had a… a gesture too.” he adds, eyes looking away from her for a moment.

She waits for him to meet her eyes, trying to find what he was thinking in them.

“Let me go first? I’m afraid I’ll lose my nerve if I don’t.” she smiles, more with her eyes than her mouth. He nods seeing the vulnerability in them. He could wait a few more minutes. “Thanks,” she mumbles again, opening her hand to reveal two things, a ring and the worn and creased copy of her list. “This was my promise ring.” she holds it up first to the light, then turns to the darkness of the valley and the lake below. “I don’t know why I held onto it. I haven’t worn it in a long time now.” she shook her head at the gold-colored band, remembering everything it used to represent to her. He joins her by her side, arm around her shoulders, listening intently. “I don’t need it anymore though. This isn’t me now. I don’t believe what I used to. This stupid little thing meant so much and now it doesn’t mean anything.” she shrugs and huffs out a laugh. “I wanted a symbolic gesture of… releasing it, ya know? I wanted to send it away, banish it. The last symbol of who I used to be destroyed so it can’t hurt me anymore.”

“It’s no Mount Doom but… if you throw it in it'll be lost forever.” he motions with his hand out to the valley.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking.” she nods with intent, holding his eyes and determined. She held it in her hands, seeing it so harmless and inanimate in the moonlight as she looked at the subtly rippling water below. She lets out a sigh, then a deep inhale as she chucked it as hard as she could into the water. They waited, Eddie, stepping closer to her until slight tink of a sound was heard.

“Shit,” he mutters. She turned her head quickly to his, hair a wave around her face. “You could’ve pawned that.” he offers with a nod over the cliff. She bursts into a laugh and holds his face and kisses him.

“You’re so fuckin’ cute sometimes.” she chuckles and pushes his hair back, finding the statement a perfect mix of realistic and adorable, just like he was. “Not a bad idea though. But it wasn’t real.” she added quietly. A lop-sided smile stays on his face as she gave his cheek a soft pat. “I know we said we were done with the list but..” she slowly moves her hand away to hold the piece of paper between her hands, staring down at it like it might bite her. “I thought we… you should cross off the last thing on the list.”

“Ah.” he nods, knowing the last thing had been to have sex. “I will happily mark that off for you sweetheart.” he leans down to kiss her and she lets out a soft little sound he didn’t expect. “I’m… honestly flattered.” he gives her a soft chuckle and another charming grin. “By you letting me both literally and figuratively cross that off the list.” he elaborates with his hands nervously.

“I want you to start at the top, okay? Don’t read ahead. I wanna hear them, okay?” she had a white knuckle grip on the paper as she extended it towards him. He moves away only slightly, putting his arm around her shoulder and turning to have the firelight face the text. He clears his throat, shaking out the thin paper and shaking his head to clear back his hair, holding her tight to his side the whole time.

“Smoke cigarettes.” he giggles off, it seemed so far away now. She wraps her arms around his tightly, her face to his chest. He rubs her back reassuringly, caught off guard by the attentiveness but continuing nonetheless. “We’ve got our basics, steal something, Sneak out, Wear Makeup, drink, get drunk, smoke - not cigarettes.” he chuckles again. “Some of my favs rounding us out, Masturbate, watch porn, have an orgasm, etc, get off by someone else's hands, could be my favorite so far. “ He grinned and looked down at her, kissing her head. “Oral sex…” his voice starts to trail off as he read. “H-have sex...” he gulped and blinked going silent for a moment. A taken aback heave of his chest moves her face. “You want me to…” he wets his lips. “Cross-cross off the last one?”

“Yeah.” Her voice is soft as she looks up at him with big eyes that looked the same as they had months ago. “Would you?” her voice was a whisper.

“The… very last one?” she nodded, her eyes hopeful and fearful and his still processing. He turns back to the paper and feels his heart pound a little harder in his chest. “Fall in love.” he reads aloud. The silence is heavy, filled with the background of insects and a crackle of fire but none of it is noticed over the rush of blood in their ears. He folds the paper, putting it into his jean pocket and holding her by the shoulders. “You love me?” he asks as if it was the hardest thing to believe.

“Y-yeah?” she rasped out, her hands shaking as they rest on his forearms. “Is-is that okay? I mean-.”

“You love me? You’re in love with me?” a smile that as it grows melts any of the fear away that had built up.

“I love you.” she answers with a hesitant smile of her own beginning to bloom. “I’m very much, in love with you, Eddie Munson,” she adds with a subtle nod, her hands calming and grasping his arms. “I didn’t mean to it just ha-” He cuts her off with a dive bomb of a kiss. Two hands to her face, deep and desperate he took her. It grew, and not slowly, hands to his hair, wobbling tip toes to reach were steadied by strong arms that wrapped around her body.

“I was so fucking nervous. I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you I loved you.” he bubbles out the confession, stating his periods with kisses. “I knew I had to. But I didn’t know how.” he admits with a smile, hers mirrored his, nuzzling into his face like a kitten.

“Tell me.” she asks with closed eyes and a dreamy hum.

“I love you.” he kissed her temple. “I love you too.” he kisses her nose. “I didn’t mean to either.” he smiles. “But you made it so easy.” she feels a well of emotion in her stomach and swallows back tears.

“I didn’t even know it was love. Not for a while,” she admits. “I felt it and I knew it was impossible to ignore but… I loved you without even trying.”

“We didn’t have a chance did we?” they both laugh and kiss with less desperation.

“We had no choice.” she giggles as he kisses her cheek and squeezes her tightly. “Is it too cliche to want to have sex after this?” she asks with laughter building in her chest. “It only makes sense to follow up I love you’s with it.” he shrugs and they part, taking her hand and leading her to the van.

“Never cliche.” he reassures her. “Even if it was.” he raspberries his lips and throws his arms dramatically. “Who gives a shit.” He saw the look of confidence come back on her after slipping away briefly. “After you.” he bows and holds his hand out to help her up into the van and it amuses her greatly.

He stands, hands up on the top of the van, his lean form looking as she sat on her knees. His silhouette was almost black against the orange glow of the fire. “I don’t know what I expected.” She admits. “I had this plan- this idea of how we’d go about it but now that I’m here doing it I’m not as confident about it, to be honest.”

“What do you mean? What did you wanna do?” His voice was deep and reassuring as he bent down to crawl next to her. “I’m yours, babe, do with me what you will.” He plops down on his side, propped up on his elbow with a smirk as he ran his hand down his body to present himself.

“Can’t believe I'm in love your dumbass.” She laughed and leaned in to kiss him which he greedily accepted. “Ugh.” She lets out a sound and breaks away the kiss.

“Well, you don’t wanna hear that after you kiss the woman you love.”

She snorted and shook her head. “It’s just a lot. All good!” She reassured with animated hands. ”Now that it’s OUT there I expected to not feel as overwhelmed by it. But it’s like it’s done the opposite.” She explains and moves to look in her bag. She crawled past the blankets and pillows, the soft sheet on the mattress not burning her bare knees as she crawled across it. “Butterflies.” She bashfully admits and pokes her stomach.

“That’s what happens when you open up to things. Good nervous and excited all piling up on each other.” He elaborated. “If you’re nervous that’s totally normal too. But you know I’m not going to like-hurt you or anything right?” He reached out to touch her thigh. “I mean… in bed or between us.”

“You're sweet.” She turns to smile at him and takes out another tape. “I know you wouldn’t. I trust you. This is the first time I’ve felt like this and it’s like I wanna crawl out of my skin because I’m so full of good feelings. Instead of the yucky reasons like I’m used to.”

“So…excited?” He asked. She stopped her travels to the boom box propped in the corner to think for a second.

“I guess that is it. And also just… happy.” She smiles bashfully and turns to pop the new tape in, putting the other back into the holder.

“It feels foreign sometimes doesn’t it?”

“Yeah.” She huffs out amused. “I’m glad you get it.” She gives him a soft smile before looking to read what she’d written on the label.

“Should probably take back that dumbass comment then huh?”

“Nah it still stands.” She laughs. “But consider it a term of endearment. I wouldn’t want you any other way.” She insists with a shake of her head.

“I’d rather you call me a different pet name.” he runs his hand through his hair as she’s preoccupied, looking out to the fire before back to her.

“Like what?”

“I don't wanna admit it but I’m fond of Eddie baby.” He smiles her way. “A good old-fashioned baby works. There’s always the sweethearts and darling and sugars.”

“Honey, pumpkin, boo bear.” She grins and finally has the tape rewound.

“I see your honey and raise you a honey bunny.” She turns back to face him now. The tape quiet a few beats before the track starts.

“I was thinking more of something like sir?” She tries and watches his eyebrows raise.

“Sir huh?”

“Or master?” She suggests, crawling towards him. “Already my dungeon master.” She coos and slides in next to him. A smooth guitar leading into what would be a heavy sprinkling of Led Zeppelin songs begins. “But Eddie baby is my favorite.” She admits, bopping the top of his nose.

“You gonna make a man feel some type of way of you keep talking like that.”

“That’s the point.” She taunts. “I made this mix with the idea of how… starved I was for you. There’s sweet and romantic and I do love that but every time I’ve fantasized about being with you it isn’t about whispering sweet nothings. It’s about me riding you.” She trailed her finger down his arm.

“Oh?” She met his eyes since the surprise was clear in his tone. “You wanna be in charge?” He offers her the option. He didn’t want to make her decisions for her. Even though he’d assumed he would be taking the lead for the first few times and the wandering thought of if that was sexist or not popped into his head.

“Yeah.” She nods thoughtfully. “I can control it easier. At first anyway. I can always change my mind.” She shrugs as her fingers work up his arm and onto his chest.

“Yes ma’am you can.” he takes her hand into his and kisses it.

“C’mon then Eddie baby.” She whispers, leaning in closer to him, lips ghosting over his, seeing his dark eyes soften before she connects their lips. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this.” She feels him melt before regaining composure to puff up his chest and pull her against him. “Been waiting a long time for you.” she coos as his hands move down her body with steady pressure, curving over her hips and bringing a leg up over him. Their hands moved quickly to feel bare against them, seeking out the heat and intimacy. He cupped up over her panties and she slid her hand down the back of his jeans. Once the confined space no longer sufficed, Cherry reached down to under his buckle and jeans and he took the opportunity to ride the bottom of her dress up to her hips. Another heavy petting session over their underwear commenced, and when that became not enough, his fingers trying to reach her chest and her the same for him she huffed out. “Take these off.” and sat up, skinning off the tight dress which left him to gawk at her lacey black underwear. “You too.” she tugs his shirt. He blinks with realization and strips his off over his head as she yanks at the waist of his jeans.

“Shit, baby, just a second.” he laughs, tossing his shirt to the corner and kicking off everything else.

“Should we just..” she reached down to her panties and snapped the waistband.

“As good as they look on you I think so yeah.” he nodded enthusiastically as they both stripped down impatiently and quickly rolled back together. The moans grew, both basking in the feeling of a naked body against them. Obscenities were mumbled and kisses traveled from their mouths quickly. He trailed down her neck, greedy hands taking in her chest and smothering it in kisses and panting sucks. He momentarily forgets himself and stays latched and moaning contently until he remembers this isn’t just about him. He runs his hand down her stomach, her nails gentle on his back, loving on him and scratching his scalp and playing with his hair before his fingertips grazed past her hips to the thatch of hair, recently trimmed to his surprise. He explored her boundaries, hands massaging her inner thighs, the borders of her hairline, and an affectionate rub of her exterior before he felt her hips impatient nudge forward. Still nursing away at her, which she seemed to enjoy from the mewls coming from her between kisses to his forehead and hair. He slipped his fingers between her thick lips and found her as slick and hot as expected. It was so nice to feel wanted by her body. Her hard nipples ached for him to touch them, her pussy getting wet before he even touched it, he moaned at the welcome her body always gave him knowing once he slipped himself inside her it’d be an even warmer welcome.

He kept it simple, one calloused finger circling her clit, letting the feeling build and grow just like her moans were. A desperate grunt with a shifting up of her hips told him she wanted more. He obliged and slid one finger to satisfy her first, pushing into her with no resistance. The second finger was a slower process, but she greedily sucked him in, the grip on his hair tightening so he knew she was enjoying herself. He moves steadily, not curling and attacking, giving her time to adjust as her hips began to move on their own, finding a rhythm with him. He stopped his fingers and let her hips work to take them in. She whined at first, then started to enjoy the feeling of control. He breaks his seal around her nipple and kisses up her neck, reangling his fingers so she can easily bounce herself on them.

“Is that how you’re gonna ride me, sweetheart?” he whispers in her ear drawing a deeper moan out of her before she turned to kiss him. She surprised him when she moved, hopping on her knees and pushing his shoulder back.

“We’re not doing this without me getting to play too.” she cooed with a flip of her hair to one side, starting with kissing his chest, her hands kneaded him much the same way he had her. She briefly bit and sucked at his nipples making his cock jump and tap against his stomach. She was thorough as she kissed down his ribs, covering everywhere that had been bruised with noisy smooches and licks. A tickle of kisses down his stomach to his protruding hip bones where she turned her backside towards him and started nuzzling into his thick dark hair. She felt like an animal when she went down on him. There was something awakened when she smelled the mix of something distinctly him and his soap and tonight, a bit of cologne. She licked and played first, and he did the same, sucking her remaining wetness from his fingers to replace it with more before he slid his fingers into her as she knelt beside him. She moaned with him in her mouth, her tongue attentive to the underside of his sensitive head. The vibration ran through him and stopped as one soft hand cupped his balls. He admittedly was a little lazy with his fingers, sliding in and out to graze her clit as he watched her curly cloud of hair frame her mouth taking him in over and over. Her hands roamed, nails dragging on his thighs and balls, traveling up his chest to feel as much of him as she could while he was naked and bare to her. She unconsciously started to bounce against his fingers, eliciting whimpers and moans around his cock. She spoke with him almost in her throat but he couldn’t make out the words.

“Fuck.” escaped as she rose her head and began stroking him, focusing on her own pleasure for a moment. She looked to him, her hips more purposeful as she sat up and held his hand in place with one of hers, still stroking him with her other. She rode his fingers. He, in a horny trance, watched her tits bounce, the way her ass thumped against the mattress when she came down, and the way the heat of her enveloped his entire hand as he pushed up into her as she sank. “This is how I”m gonna ride you, sweetheart.” she gives a wicked grin while she pinched her nipples, pulling them until they snapped out of her grasp. He didn’t think about it, he acted on impulse as he sat up and caught her in a kiss, knocking her back and using his fingers harder on her. He loomed over her, a ravenous kiss before a few biting and sucking ones traveled down to her center. He engulf her clit greedily, head knocking her thighs apart as he growled into her.

“You can’t talk like that and expect me to not NEED to eat you alive.” he rasps out before zeroing in on her clit with a quick tongue and his fingers now beginning to curl inside her, seeking out the spots that made her shake. The fire left half their bodies in darkness, but they met eyes anyway, her propping up to see his dark lashes fanned out over pale cheeks as his full lips devoured the most sensitive parts of her. She was hypnotized by his big brown eyes, pushing his hair back to see them better as he lapped away at her like she was his last meal.

“Fuck, you look so good when you eat my pussy.” she whimpered, chest starting to heave. Her fingertips ran light on his temples, a tender, and affectionate gesture before sliding back into his hair for a handful of grip. His eyes rolled back for a moment at her words as he moaned and groaned into her, fingers moving faster with the praise.

She felt that familiar pull, that wave that warned her of what she was rapidly approaching. But as the song she’d listened to while fantasizing about fucking him started to play she gains the strength to make him stop. Using her hand gripped into his hair to guide his strung-out face away from her.

“I don't wanna come yet.” she rasps out, chest heaving. “I want to come with you inside me.” she sighs, his fingers pushed out of her by the tightening of her muscles as she moved her legs. She quickly got to her knees to kiss him, tongue lapping at his lips to taste herself before she turned him and shoved his shoulder back, throwing off his balance. “On your back.” she orders and he obeys, cock tapping against his lower stomach as she snaked her way up his body, straddling his middle, resting his cock snug against her pussy lips. The growl of guitar in Stranglehold fueled her, feeling it move into her body and her hips undulating with the bass. Her hand runs up his chest, as she hunched over him, moving his almost damp hair off his face, the other up his neck and to his jaw, her thumb sinking into his mouth. He immediately latched his lips around her. Both their brown eyes had blown black, intense under the half-lidded gaze they stared each other down with. He saw a snarl of her lip, a hiss as he sucked away at her thumb, his hands back on her body, strong on her hips, the metal of his rings dragging against her shining skin. Her silhouette was that of a goddess as she licked his lips, a brief twist of tongues as she ran her thumb over his bottom lip. She took a deep breath, sitting straight up, hands running through her hair and then down her body slowly. She reached between her legs, raising her hips to grasp him, and started stroking. He was throbbing in her palm, fingertips feeling out every popped vein in his cock as she moaned, squeezing and imagining how much bigger he’d feel inside her. She follows the song, just like she had in her fantasies, a tempo switched as she slid him between her lips.

“Fuck.” he gritted as she put her weight on him, her soaked lips searing hot around him as she got used to the feeling of moving her hips. A back and forth grind that slid his head right against her clit.

“Get the condom Eddie.” she smiled wickedly.

“Oh shit. Right.” he snaps out of his trance and reaches up, knowing exactly where they were. With a rip open of his teeth, she slides back, holding him at his base as he slid it over himself. She slipped right back over him and leaned in to kiss him, hips still feeling their way around, side to side, a bounce and wiggle here and there as they kissed in a way that before experiencing it she would’ve called nasty. Open mouths and pants with licking tongues and bites of lips as their hands clawed at one another. Once she felt her hips warmed up, familiar enough with the feel of him under her she raised back up and lifted a leg, angling him as he soothed her with his kneading hands. With the boldest eye contact, she’d ever given she licked her lips and as the song slid in tempo she slid him ever so slightly inside her. It wasn’t pain, it wasn’t yet pleasure, as her mouth dropped open, a slight whimper as he moved deeper when she shifted her knees back to the mattress.

“You good baby?” he asks, breathless, his thumb moving immediately to stroke her clit lazily, knowing it’d help if it hurt. She hummed and mewled, her insides tensing and eager as he stroked her.

“You are.” her face fell soft for a moment as she laughed and ran her hand through her hair, settling the other to his chest. “You’re bigger than I thought.” she gave a brief raise of her eyebrow and a smirk as he put his hand over hers on his chest. With a slow lick of her lips, then a bite she moved, fully notching his head in and the first moan escaped. Her mouth dropped open and she exhaled a heavenly-sounding expletive. With a determined brow and a wanton mouth, she moved inch by inch, lowering herself onto him. “Holy shit.” she whispered as something new hit inside her. “Oh my god.” she whimpered, her chest stuttering for a moment. She heard the smack of his lips and shook her head before he could ask. “Not pain.” she panted and moved a little more. “Fuck, it’s not pain.” she moaned as she met his eyes, calm for her but a tightly clamped down upon lower lip let her know this was affecting him too. He noisily exhaled as he felt her tighten around him, rubbing her clit making her body more and more eager to take him in. “It’s so deep.” a high-pitched voice escaped her, an almost laugh that turned into a mewl.

Eddie grimaced, holding his hips back from moving, hearing her praise, and feeling the trembling of her hands and thighs against him. He kept one hand on her hip, light back and forth to try to show her some sort of affection as she worked through the hardest part. She shook as she finally let the tension in her body go, full weight on top of him and having him fully inside her.

“Holy fuck, Eddie.” she exhaled, raising her head to catch her breath. Her hips twitched as he kept his thumb to her, reaching down to keep her clit stimulated. He didn’t want it to hurt her for even a second. “It’s so fucking deep.” she groaned, hands moving down her body to touch her chest, then a pinch of her nipples that caused her hips to spasm again. “I didn't know.” she let out a soft laugh. “Fuck I’ve never felt anything like this.” she giggled again, regaining her composure, another moan, and jolt that made her hands slap to his chest. “It’s so fucking good with you rubbing my clit.” she rises and lowers herself, moans that came up from deep in her stomach grew. She’d never felt those sounds before.

She started slow, trembling every time she lowered herself back onto him. She found a pace that she could handle, half grind and half bounce, leaning over him with a hand to the mattress by his body. She tries to be the confident and sexy siren she wanted to be but was quickly losing her composure. Her eyes rolled back as helpless sounds escaped her. She imagined her body snaking, sitting upright and bouncing her tits in his face and having him drool over her but that wasn’t what this was, and as a shudder overtook her body, her back bending to it she gave up on turning this into a fantasy.

She ground her hips to his, one of his hands tight to her to help her move.

“That’s it, baby.” he rasps out as she found her rhythm, “Fuck that’s it.” he groans, his throat tight as he watched her move on instinct knowing she was only doing what made her feel good and that’s all he wanted for her. She took him in with pulsing walls that wrenched around him in waves.

Her sounds grew more desperate, fewer moans and more whimpers and whines, gaining in frequency and rising in pitch. She held tight to his chest, steadying herself and moving her hips as quickly as she could manage. She wanted more, the building pressure inside her feeling like it could snap at any moment.

“Eddie.” she squeaked out with her eyes slowly starting to roll back into her head. “It’s so good.” she cried as her head fell back to gasp for breath before he felt her tighten around him drawing a deep grunt out of him.

“I know it is baby, you’re getting so fucking tight, you gonna come for me?”

“Uh-huh.” she knocked the sounds out of herself with bounces down on his cock. “I’m so close.” she whined, losing her breath as she worked her body against his. He felt her tense, struggling with the new feeling of having him inside her so he did what he knew would help get her where she wanted to go.

“Your pussy feels so good Cherry, baby. I want you to come on my cock. I wanna feel you. You’re so fuckin’ close baby, give it to me. Give it to Eddie.” he takes her cheek and has he look at him as he says it, holding her attention, giving her a body-covering blanket of goosebumps with his words. As soon as he nodded, his thumb to her lip, her mouth dropped open and a vibrating shake took over her body. “That’s my good girl.” she cried out, wordless, trying to keep her hips moving. Soft feminine and wordless she came around him, hands gripping his chest and her hair obscuring her face as she didn’t make a sound for a moment. She’d never come quietly before. It was so intense her throat froze and all she could do was feel the waves rush over her, one after another until they peaked.

She gasped, hair being flung back with a raise of her head as she felt a new sort of surge of energy through her body.

“Fuck.” she gritted out, a new level of hunger released as she dropped down the grab Eddie by the jaw and kiss him hard. “It’s so fucking good baby.” she moaned and laughed, getting his hair and exposing his neck as the new angle helped her discover a new way to enjoy his cock inside her. His hands broke away from her clit, not being able to withhold having both clung to her as she writhed away on top of him. She moved her hips up and down, his cock disappearing in a wet sheen and slap as she threw her ass back on him. She latched on with her lips to his neck, feeling his pulse so fast under her tongue. She kissed him and panted into his ear as she felt a different sort of pleasure from nothing but him inside her.

“You want more?” he asked, hands to her hips and squeezing harder than he would have thought she’d enjoy.

“More.” she hummed into his ear. “Fuck me, Eddie. I can’t get enough of you.” He couldn’t hold back like he wanted with her moaning into his ear about how good he felt. He gripped her by her hair and turn his head to kiss her, his other hand moving to her ass to pull a cheek away from her body as he pumped his hips up into her. “FUCK!” she jumped and yelped. He froze in fear he’d gotten carried away until a thrill of a giggle erupted out of her. “You surprised me.” she licked his lips and cooed. “You’re a lot to take Eddie, baby.” she hums and kisses him back. “Don’t stop.” she clarified with a shake of her head as they go back to kissing and she’s playing with his hair. Another pump up, not as harsh this time, then another to test her before he planted his feet and started thrusting up into her. “Ohhh mygod.” she moaned out from deep in her chest, hand frozen in a grip on his hair. “Ohmygod.” she squeaked before her voice dipped low as he’d ever heard it. “Don’t fucking stop.” she begged, unable to kiss him back as he found his rhythm as he pounded into her from beneath.

Every time he pulled out she felt an odd catch inside her, something that grew and felt almost like when he went down on her and used his fingers at the same time. He worked hard with grunts and groans that she matched with as much femininity as he did masculinity. This felt different, this felt deeper inside her, this was new. She wanted to tell him how it felt, what he was doing to her was changing how she knew her own body but she couldn’t. All she could do was moan and it grew louder, more swears and pleading of his name as she watches his face change. A furrowed brow and scrunched nose in concentration were barely visible as he lay in her shadow but the light caught off the beads of sweat gathering and making his bangs wet against his forehead. He looked so good, like a sex god rockstar, he looked as good as he was making her feel. She’d never seen anything as sexy as he was when he fucked her. She doesn’t feel it like she had other orgasms, it built up in pressure before her body hunched and seized over his, a roar of a moan escaping her, almost a scream as it brought tears to her squeezed shut eyes. He fucked her through it, hearing the ragged breathing he let himself slow down, not daring to cum yet. He pushed her hips down against him which earned another guttural moan. He sat up and took her with him, getting their arms wrapped around one another in a proper makeout as she swiveled her hips against him. He moved aggressively to grab her chest and take a harsh mouthful of her tits into his panting mouth.

“Oh fuck yes.” she giggled and let her head fall back. His hands held her back tightly, then shifted her weight, picking her up with a squeal before putting her on her back and latching back onto her chest. “Eddie, my goodness.” she wailed, pushing his hair back. “Such an animal.” she mewled and wiggled into him. “I love it.” she giggled in a high pitch. “I love YOU.” she sighed contently, wrapping her legs around him as he found his way back to her easily, cock right back at her entrance the moment she felt it leave her.

He bit her nipple and grinned, rising briefly to kiss her and see the sweet face with its long lashes and pink cheeks beaming up at him.

“I love you too.” he had to respond to her affection, even if he was salivating from wanting her tits in his mouth. He left her with a grin that made her openly swoon, he knew what to do to make her melt. He dived back in with a loud growl that made her squeeze his head and laugh. But he kept his cock grazing over her now, absolutely soaked pussy.

She wiggled her hips and pouted. “Eddie.” She felt his smile against her skin.

“HHmmph?” he asked, sucking harshly on her nipples.

“I don’t like it when you’re not inside me.” she rose her hips to meet him, to try to get him back inside her. She was met with a hungry growl in response.

“You want more of my cock, baby?” he asked between traveling bites across her full chest.

“Please.”

“Tell me.” he moaned into her cleavage. “I wanna hear it.” he mutters between mouthfuls.

“Fuck me, Eddie. Don’t tease me. I still have to make you cum.” she smiled. “I miss your cock filling me up so deep that I can’t breathe.” She saw his eyes roll back and disappear under fluttering lashes at that. And swiftly answered her with a solid thrust inside her.

"Oh fuck! That’s…that’s different.” she blurted out feeling yet another new sensation. “It’s good! Don’t worry baby, it’s… real fuckin’ good.” she giggles to shush any worry he might’ve had for her reaction. She got to see him in action now and she wondered why she ever wanted to be on top when she got to see him work his body into her.

Facing the fire now, he was lit with a warm glow as he rose and adjusted her hips. He took her legs, hands-on her ankles, kissing her calves before his hips started thrusting again.

“Ohfuck.” she said aloud, surprising herself. That spot he’d get with his fingers that made her make almost embarrassing noises was being directly targeted by him now. “Oh thats…” she raised to her elbows to watch him disappear inside her. “Fuck that’s it Eddie.” her eyes went big like a doll, head bobbing as he fucked her.

“Your man found your spot, huh?” she’d never seen him so cocky before. “That’s because I know what I’m fucking doing with this sweet little pussy, baby.” He felt her tighten around him at his words which only made the head of his cock grab her upper walls more tightly. “Fuck, you’re not gonna make me cum,. Not yet. I’ve got to make you cum again.” she shook his head at her, his hair bouncing and damp, curls so dark and defined around his timeless beauty of a face. “Can you cum again for me? Hmm?”

She nodded and spread her legs wider, moving them away from where he’d placed them on his chest.

“That’s right.” he groaned, hands running down her legs to massage her very inner thighs. “Open up for me baby.” he spread her legs further, knowing she was flexible. “Look at that.” he whispered, moving her knees back toward the mattress.

“Holy Shit.” she moaned, letting her head fall back.

“Fuck you’re taking my cock so well Cherry.” he rasped out, watching the pink soft lips swallow him up and soak him every time he pushed inside. They gripped around his cock like they didn’t want to let him go, he wanted to sink his teeth into her at the moment, everything so soft and plush he wanted to mark it. She felt so good it was messing with his mind. This must be what people meant when they said sex with emotion was better than sex without out. He’d never loved someone like he did her, and he’d never had anyone make him feel so good whether it was while he was inside her or not.

“I want it so bad, Eddie.” she begged, eyes gaining tears in them, her hands grasping the sheets so hard her knuckles turned white. “Just like that. Every time you…” she trailed off and moaned. “Yes like that.” she grits her teeth together and watched him fill her up over and over. A steady pace was hitting her where she wanted with every withdrawal. It felt so impossibly good. Her body was so sensitive, so swollen and raw that everything was heightened and intense. She’d never came more than once at a time. She didn’t know it could feel so good to keep doing it, or that she could even keep coming but she was still learning lessons tonight. “Fuck me harder.” she pants out and they meet eyes and he leans forward, hips creating a slap every time they met hers. Her head bounced and her mouth hung open. It just kept building. There wasn’t an end. It was like he was holding her at the crest and wouldn’t let her fall over it. “It’s so good.” he saw a tear slip down her cheek.

“Rub your clit for me, baby. Touch yourself.” his voice was deep and stern and she slid a quivering hand between their bodies, immediately shaking as she felt the raw switch under her fingers. “Fuck that’s it. Good girl.” he felt her start fluttering around him again. His hands were preoccupied with holding her legs back in the exact spot she wanted, and he wasn’t missing out on touching her because watching her small painted fingers disappear between her fat little pussy lips made him want to fuck her so hard she cried.

“Eddie…” she begs. “It hurts it’s so good.” she chokes an almost sob back. “I don’t know if I can cum again. It feels so good but I’m not-” He shushes her, one hand moving to push her hair off her face.

“Breathe baby. You’re doing so good. It gets harder to cum the more you do it sometimes. You’re fine.” She nodded and whimpered and nuzzled into his hand.

“It feels so good. Like I’m gonna cum.” she whined and he held her cheek to keep her eyes on him.

“Breathe. He instructed again. He felt her take in a shuddering breath and he knew it had helped already. “You want it harder? Slower? Tell me what you want.”

“More.” she pouted. “Faster.” she answered after he gave her a condescending look that she literally felt make her gush wetter at her vague first response.

“Whatever my baby wants.” he leaned down to kiss her, she was too in her head about it. He angled up her hips and started a skin-slapping pace that immediately got her making noise again. NOW they were both caught up in it. With so much skin to skin, there was nowhere to hide. He pushed her hair back and kissed her, held her face, and kissed her cheeks when she’d squeeze out a tear or two. He knew they were good tears and didn’t ask any questions, only savored them for their existence proving to himself he could make this night special for her. With one hand rubbing her clit, she found the most effective flick, the combination of the curve in his cock, the angle of his hips, and the intimacy he was giving her amidst a mind-shattering pleasure was too much to defy for too long.

“Eddie.” she finally spoke, and he knew the tone’s translation.

“Yes Cherry, give it to me.” he asked of her, hitching an arm under her knee to pull her back and watching their bodies collide, hitting into her hard and faster after the steady pace he’d had built up.

“Eddie!” she called out again, eyes shut and tears falling from both now, she started to tremble, it build into a convulsion neither expected as she cried out for him, stomach forcing her up, forehead to forehead with him, clutching at his neck to keep her steady.

“Fuck me baby, god damn.” he groaned feeling the rush of her around him, feeling her orgasm run down his balls. He had to look away and gasp for breath to not cum.

“Please.” she surprised him as he swung his face back to hers. “Don’t stop. Ohmygod don’t stop I’m -” her mouth dropped open before a scream was wrenched out of her and she came again.

“Holy shit babe, again? Fuck yes.” he groaned and gave her all he had left.

With her eyes rolled back and shouts that echoed through the valley she felt every inch of him inside her, bumping against the spot that made her see double. She didn’t know this could happen. This wasn’t in any Cosmo magazine she’d read. She felt like the women in porn moaning about how they were going to cum again and she’d rolled her eyes. And here she was, eyes rolling but only to make her a hypocrite. He just kept on hitting that. Fucking. Spot.

She called his name again, lost in what was known as a rolling orgasm that hits when you get the combination of internal, external, emotional, and mental hit flawlessly.

“You got another one for me?” he growled, hips hitting her as hard and fast as he could, chasing his own end now. The growl got her attention, meeting his eyes and yanking the back of his neck down to her, her shaking legs locked him against her as she shamelessly licked the side of his face before kissing him.

“Fucking cum for me Eddie.” she growled back, holding him by the back of the neck and he felt like he was the one on his back suddenly. “I’ll cum again, just fucking cum for me.” she moaned and their teeth collide in a kiss that gnashed together as he let out some of the sexiest sounds she’d ever hear.

There was the warning, the high-pitched fast grunts, and that first delicious thrust that he held inside her longer than the other. Then a moan through gritted teeth, another hard slam into her. His kiss swollen lips parted, a softer moan of exhaustion as he pushed himself inside her as deep as he could, smothering her in a kiss as he moaned and his body jerked against her. Their bodies were slick together, naked and gleaming in the firelight. They glowed with the sweat of effort and love, limbs tangled together and a writhing mess joined as one.

For a long time, they didn’t speak. They didn’t need to. The conversation with kisses, the gentle caresses of moving hair, and beads of sweat off their faces said enough. They shared the most intimate of moments, post-orgasm and swimming in bliss and oxytocin together with the crackling of the fire close by. They stayed close and kissed tenderly, hands now light and grazing, being held and kissed until he went soft and slipped out of her.

He made quick work of the condom, making it disappear as she laid back and gathered herself for the few moments he was out of sight. He appears again next to her, pen behind his ear and her list in his hand. He was laid out like a centerfold and she mirrored his body language, greedily taking in the lean lines of his body. He was so pale he almost glowed, tattoos patched on his skin and a plethora of curls starting lightly on his chest and gaining force as they moved south on his body. He was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.

“I think we can cross these off now.” his voice is slightly raspy, deeper than normal. The calm between them now was thick and heavy like a good blanket. She hummed in agreement and snuggled up to him. “Have amazing sex.” he grinned, his smile lines deep and showing off his cheekbones. “And fall in love with the coolest fuckin’ guy ever.” he scribbles and dots the paper so hard he stabs through it. She kissed his chest, face snuggling up into it.

“I saw we burn it now.” she adds softly, the tiredness heavy on her voice.

“A little arson to finish off the night?” he kisses her forehead.

“I know how to party.” she mumbles and it makes him laugh.

“I don’t think you want to get out of the van, do you party animal?”

“Nope.” he very happily says, putting her arms around him. “C’mon I’m gonna get cold.” she pouts.

“Can’t have that.” he says in a serious tone and works on folding the list into a paper airplane. “You think it’ll make it?”

“I’m feeling optimistic,” she says moving to look to the fire as he sits up and throws the plane. Luckily the fire wasn’t far and drifted into a flame and got sucked in easily. “It is done.” she says clapping her hands and holding her arms out. “So am I.” she collapses back down to the mattress.

“You gonna call it an early night?”

“No thanks to you.” she smiles as he moves to get her a pillow and fluff out some blankets. They drift over them softly as she puts her head onto a pillow that smells like him and hums contently. ”This is perfect.” she chirps like a little bird, getting pulled into his arms. “Fuck this is nice.” she groans, making him laugh as he got her settled in against him.

“It is.” she sighs and kisses her head. “This whole day was.” his voice gets quieter, softer as she burrowed against him. The skin-to-skin contact was needed, she only wanted more of him now that she had him to herself.

“Night too. Especially.” she smiles with shut eyes.

“I don’t think it could’ve gone much better.” he finally relaxes all his muscles letting the weight of his arm fall on her. “You were…” he hums happily and it gets a giggle from her.

“Me? You made it so good, baby.” she looks up to him to show her sincerity. “If I hadn’t loved you before I sure as hell would now.”

“Maybe love you more now? Is that bad to say? We just worked so damn good together.”

“Nah. Not bad. I feel the same way. You wore me out. I’ve never felt this tired and also happy before. And I just want more of you. The more I get the more I want.” she kissed him softly before returning to the comfort of his chest.

“You can have all you want. I’m yours.” he kissed her cheek and let his face snuggle into her hair, breathing her in, still smelling candy-sweet from her perfume.

“Mmm. I’ll never get tired of hearing that.” she kissed whatever bare skin was closest to her lips. “I love you, Eddie. Like, a lot.” she sighed out before a yawn took her.

“I love you too. Maybe more?” he smiled with closed eyes.

“We can fight about it tomorrow, kay?” she pats his side.

“We can fight about it forever if you want.” he kissed her head and curled himself around her. With the warmth in his chest and her a snuggled bunny against him in his arms, he did let himself be an optimistic fool in love and entertain the thought they could be lucky enough to get to argue about who loved the other more forever.

Epilogue -

Cherry rushed into her room, back from the weekend with Eddie and bursting at the seams with feelings about it all. She tossed her bag to the floor and shut her bedroom door, she plopped onto her bed and grabbed her phone, dialing a number she recently memorized.

“Hello?”

“Yeah, Donna?” Cherry greeted.

“Cherry? Hey! How’d it go?” she said excitedly.

“You know how you told me to tell you about it if me n Eddie ever…”

“Uh-huh.” she hears Donna laugh on the other end.

“Girl, have I got some stories for you.”

Hope you enjoyed this story. I know I did. If you'd like more Eddie content from me, let me know. I'm open to ideas.

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#Eddie Munson #eddie muson x reader #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson stranger things #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson fic #eddie munson x ofc #eddie munson x you #eddie munson smut #eddie munson au #stranger things #joseph quinn

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scarletarosa · 4 years ago

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Stolas

One of the goetic demons and a prince who serves under the High King Leviathan in his kingdom of desolation. This information was shared to me by Stolas and also gained through working with this fascinating infernal god.

Rulerships: Scrying in darkness, premonitions, omens, and astronomy

History: Countless ages ago, Stolas was once one of the Angels (entities who serve the Source and Queen of Heaven, the supreme deities). He was one of these Angels who were a god and was created with the task of being an infiltrator; his primary purpose was to be sent among the world of humans and take inconspicuous humanoid or animal forms in order to observe how people lived within nature. Every now and then he was to give his report to the Throne of the Universe, through which commands from the Source were given. So Stolas would particularly watch over rural areas and small towns, but some larger cities as well when the others became less common.

As time went on, humans became extremely greedy and corrupt. Stolas witnessed their cruelty towards nature, wildlife, and how they even massacred the entire elven race and other races of beings that once dwelt on the Earth. These acts of malice darkened Stolas’ heart greatly and he returned to the Throne to give this report. Yet the actions of the humans did not stop, and Stolas grew even more bitter until he eventually left and became reclusive. It wasn’t until the War with Jehovah began that Stolas reemerged, as he had heard about there being many casualties among his friends. As it turned out, Jehovah, an Aeonic god from the Void, was seeking to usurp the Throne of the Universe and have it give out his own commands instead.

Stolas saw what was occurring and then noticed how the Earth had become far more dark while he was away. A new religion was spreading across their world that sought to blot out all the deities, massacre their worshippers, and hold the Tyrant high as if he were the Source. Disgusted and angered, Stolas immediately left to join his companions in the Rebellion being led by Lucifer, becoming part of the most horrible war of this Universe’s history. Yet Jehovah, due to his great might as an Aeon (a deity who creates the physical and metaphysical Universes), eventually defeated the rebels after a terrible battle. They were all thrown into the wasteland of Hell where the strongest of the Fallen ones became the three High Kings: Lucifer, Satan, and Leviathan. Stolas was recruited by Leviathan, the draconic Watcher, and was eventually appointed as one of the princes.

Rank: Prince

Elements: Air and Akasha

Colours: Black and Silver

Appearance: A giant black tawny owl (but with ears), elongated legs, and glowing silver eyes. During battles, Stolas is able to make the feathers of his wings as sharp as blades, allowing him to pierce through his enemies. When appearing in his humanoid form, Stolas is a man in his late 20′s with short black hair, black eyes, and very pale skin. His clothing is all black with dark pants, shoes, shirt, and a black jacket. He is a bit eerie in appearance and looks as if he is a ghost.

Personality: Stolas is very curious and enjoys taking up many hobbies. He is pretty much always calm and quiet, disliking anything that it too loud or active. In his free-time, he often enjoys either observing people or indulging in one of his many hobbies such as clock-making, collecting animal bones, betting (especially on horse races), collecting acorns, stamps, keys, buttons, and other sorts of small things that interest him. He also likes quiet animals, antique cameras, old-fashioned photography, studying herbs and rocks, cloudy weather, and enjoys places of silence as well, especially cemeteries.

How to call him: Speak to Stolas as you would with any other god, be polite and considerate. Contact him through telepathically speaking in your mind, directing the words to him (you can do this verbally, but if malicious spirits hear, they may pretend to be him). When inviting a Goetic demon to you, try to dress well for them since they are divine and royalty.

What he can help with: assistance in night-time scrying, teaches astronomy, teaches information on herbs and crystals, gives premonitions on important matters, and can bring great misfortunes upon one's enemies (if justified)

His Enn (for meditation or devotion): Stolas Ramec Viasa On Ca

Offerings: chamomile tea, sour cherry juice, sake, limeade, pickles, horseradish, parsnips, tangerines, green apples, kiwis, cherries, watermelons, chestnuts, almonds, pinecone seeds, cognac, miniature eggs (of glass, metal, etc), owl statuettes, smoky quartz, cats eye stone, moonstone, blue agate, moss agate, ocean jasper, malachite, jade, parchment paper, black ink, unusual or transparent beads, buttons, animal bones, antique mirrors, acorns, stamps, keys (modern and skeleton), valerian, St. John’s Wort, belladonna, datura stramonium, poisonous mushrooms, black candles, and somber incenses (ones that cause a sense of calmness).

*don’t offer him anything with caffeine or lots of sugar since he does not like anything that causes activeness

#stolas #goetic demons #goetia #infernal gods #demonic gods #demonology #demonolatry #luciferianism #theistic satanism #deity work

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realityhelixcreates · 3 years ago

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Beta, Theta, and Me Chapter 10: Territorial

Chapters: 10/?

Fandom: Thor (Movies), Avengers (Movies) Marvel Cinematic Universe

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Relationships: Loki x Reader (But not right now),Drug Use

Characters: Loki(Marvel) Additional Tags: A/B/O, Sorta, More Of An Exploration Of Life And Self Expression Within An A/B/O Framework, Loki Does What He Wants, But Loki Does Not Actually Do What He Wants, Antagonistic Bosses, Loki Has A Throne Now, But It’s Not What He Wanted

Summary: You learn the reality of not being alone in the universe

You hunkered down in your soft, fold-out futon couch, shaken by what you now knew.

They were invaders. Loki, Thor, all the Asgardians, an invading force.

But they weren't invading this planet.

You didn't think you'd ever forget the blazing triumph in Loki's eyes, as he explained the plan. He might as well explain it to you. There was nothing you could do about it. There was nothing you would do about it. And Loki knew it.

Rain slammed into the glass like stones, flung by screaming wind. It had been pouring all day, even before you'd served Loki his breakfast.

“Did someone piss off your brother or what?” you joked. Loki swiftly grasped your hand before you could crush his pill for the morning.

“Yes, and I would have my mind clear when he comes to visit. I will bear the pain until afterwards.”

Thunder cracked the personable atmosphere of breakfast.

“You should retire to your rooms for a while.” Loki said. So you gathered up what was left of your meal and returned to your apartment. You had a nice little table in front of a window, where you sat with your orange juice and pancakes, watching the sheeting rain.

The sound of the Bifrost roared down louder than the rain. Thor had come by to discuss things with Loki several times now, you hiding out in your room each time. You weren't sure why you were never allowed to be seen-perhaps servants in Asgard were supposed to be invisible or something. Or perhaps Loki wasn't actually supposed to have you. Oh well, it wouldn't be the first time you were living somewhere illegally.

The two of them talked very loudly, almost shouting, but it didn't sound like a fight. It sounded more like enthusiasm, rising and falling, the foreign words and unfamiliar cadence. Thor stayed for several hours, keeping up their lively discussion, but you didn't once hear either of them laugh. Whatever their enthusiasm was about, it probably wasn't a cheerful thing.

You relaxed in your apartment, reading a battered old book while they hashed out whatever they were working on, making yourself a light lunch while the rain weakened and petered out. The Bifrost roared again, just as the sun struggled out of the clouds.

Not long after, you heard Loki calling for you, always as if he were right beside you. He was waiting at the table when you exited back out into his miniature kingdom, eyes bright with the exercise of thought. He waited patiently while you prepared fresh tea for him, and mixed it with his medicine, drinking it without complaint. Thor's Alpha scent hung around the place, somehow harsher than Loki's. You were tempted to dampen it with a scented spray, but you knew Loki didn't like them. 'Stinking, chemical concoctions' he called them.

You did chores around the penthouse, as he went over the contents of a notebook. You knew his medicine was taking effect when he suddenly started talking.

“How do you feel about this building?” he asked abruptly, shoving the notebook at you.

“How do I feel about it? Uh, well, let me see.” You took the notebook, full of runes and sketches. The sketch of the house Loki indicated appeared to you like a man-made hill, a cluster of little domes around a large dome, with no windows but several doors. It had a vintage science fiction kind of look, as if someone had designed a Hobbit hole for the far future.

“It's cute.” you said. “Looks like some kind of earth house?”

“Not quite.” he said, smug amusement coloring his voice. “Would you live in such a house?”

“Sure, I'd live in any kind of house. A house is a house, and I'm never gonna be picky about that. I do wonder about the inside lighting, since there's no windows.” “Oh, it would be lit by magic. Magic light it so easy to make that many forms of magic create light as a by-product! It would be bright as day on the inside. There could be no windows, because the structure would be partially underground, and the outside walls would be about nine feet thick.”

“Wow. I knew earthworks need thick walls, but that seems like kind of a lot.”

“But would you still live in such a home?”

“Well yeah. Still a house, after all. Look, I know you're high as a kite right now, but this is about something, isn't it? Is it what Thor was here to talk about?” “Insolent thing. I'm not that high. Am I? No, of course not. But yes, this is about our meeting this morning. Twice has my brother come bearing distressing news about the future of Asgard, and this time, we began planning. These houses are a part of it.”

“Is something wrong with Asgard? Are you guys gonna be okay?”

“Oh yes, we will be fine. I foresaw something like this happening, and my brother's pride is sorely bruised, but our people are in no danger. You see, the government of Canada set aside some land for Asgard to settle upon-a handful of islands off the coast of the larger island of Nova Scotia. This seemed quite generous at first, and quite in line with the kindliness that country is famed for. I could have told Thor that it would prove somehow false. If not humanity itself, then the governing bodies of humanity certainly are the least trustworthy things in this whole great galaxy.”

“What did they do?” you asked. “Are they trying to bilk you? Make you pay for it all? Force you into debt?”

“No, no. They gave us the land so that the native peoples they stole it from could never get it back. Settler's laws, or some such.”

“That's awful!” The disillusionment led straight to disgust, and no small amount of disappointment. Because Canada did seem so nice, and maybe it was just a form of American wish fulfillment to believe that Canada was somehow 'better' than the States. But realistically, both countries had been formed in the same way: European settlers sweeping from one coast to the other. And the only way it seemed that they knew how to do that was to smash their way through whoever was between the Here, and the There.

“Indeed.” Loki sneered. “Thor is enraged at the sheer ingratitude. Many times he has been involved in the protection of your backwater globe, and these fools seek to use him as a pawn. I may occasionally want to stab his face off, but he is still a god, and we are all of us above the petty greed and power games that humans play against one another.”

“What are you going to do?”

“It's very simple. We are going to secure the land, build a legal cage so tight that it cannot be taken away, make it ours completely, and without question. Then, when we have gathered the necessary supplies, we will turn the land over to the people it was stolen from, and Asgard will leave. We will invite them to live among us in the interim, and likely leave a small garrison behind to guard against Canadian invasion.”

“Ha!” you burst out. “Good! Fuck those guys! But where is Asgard going to go then? I can't think of anyplace that isn't already full of people. Except maybe Antarctica? It'd be pretty hard to live there though.”

“Asgard has the technology to make practically any rock a paradise.” Loki bragged. “But we will not be moving to Antarctica, no. We will not remain on Earth. No, Earth had it's chance, and chose betrayal. We will be moving to the planet you call Mars.”

“What? Mars? Like Mars, Mars?” you sat, shocked, the notebook in your lap. “You can't just...”

Loki silenced you with a thin, smug smile.

“Whyever not?” he asked. “Who lives there? What lives there? Nothing, and no one. We would not be pushing anybody out of their homelands, nor posing a danger to any ecosystem. There is nothing there but remote controlled toys. No one has claim over it. I know there is at least one fool who fancies himself a genius, and has convinced many that he owns the place, but how is he going to get there? In one of his constantly exploding vehicles? No, Earth has no power over Mars, and soon it will be ours. We are the ones who can make it a livable land. Humans simply don't have the technology or experience. Can you harness Bifrost energy to get the core and mantle moving again, to create a magnetic field? You do not. Can you live safely on the surface for long enough to get anything done? You cannot. In fact, for humans to be safe on Mars, you would have to hide behind around nine feet of Martian soil.”

“Nine-like the house? That design is for a Mars house?”

“Clever thing. Yes, it is for a Mars house. Part of a community partially above and partially below ground, connected by buried roadways. A city adapted to the planets unique characteristics. We will alter the landscape, reignite the magnetic field, cleanse the soil of radiation, perhaps use that as a secondary energy source for a while. The planet is rich in water: this whole system is so rich in resources that it would absolutely be under attack at all times if more people knew about it.

But you have us now. We know how to render empty planets useful. Once we have made Mars into our new Asgard, we will turn our eyes to the great potential of the one you call Venus.”

“You're gonna take Venus too?” you exclaimed.

“Take? Again, who owns it? No one. There is no one to take it from. Imagine thinking that just because you see something, just because you name it, that somehow means you own it. No one lives there, and there are no habitats to destroy, so why does this offend you so?”

You couldn't really answer. Everything he had said was true. And yet, you still somehow felt a sort of proprietary nebulous collective ownership over the planetary system that was your species only home.

“Do you feel entitled to the asteroids as well? The comets? The moons and atmospheres of the giant planets? The very dust of the stellar cloud? Your species once shared this backwater world with multiple other human species, but now that you are the only ones left, you've forgotten how to share with anyone.”

“Is it sharing? You can travel around better than we can. Will there be anything left by the time we're able to travel like you?”

He chuckled, the condescension like a thick layer of butter over bread.

“Oh, I understand now. You're so used to the overarching greed and cruelty of your own people, that you can't imagine that we could be any different. We aren't going to lock you little humans away from Mars, or Venus, or any other place. Indeed, why do you think we've been studying how thick a wall is needed for human safety on Mars? It is all but certain that humans and Asgardians will live side by side throughout this star system. You will join us sooner or later. It is inevitable. The instant the perceived challenge is issued, your desiccated space programs will flare back to life. You humans are incredibly competitive, though in a different way than Asgardians. We are more individual, but you drift towards teams. It will be interesting to see how the competition plays out.”

“You're looking forward to this?” you asked.

“I am counting on it.” he said. “Now, do you think that house would be big enough for you? It will be roughly three times the size of your current apartment, and partially underground. Would that bother you? Would you need more space?”

The notebook slipped to the floor. “You can't mean...” you whispered.

“Give it some thought. It won't be for a while yet, but I'm pretty sure it will be within your lifetime. Would you like to be the first human on Mars? Beat that so-called genius to the red planet? See us kickstart the world?”

It was a fantastic dream. Impossible. Completely impossible. But could you? “I-I don't know...”

“Think on it. But for now, I think this medicine is making me weary. I am losing track of time and thought. Take me to the window, and sit with me there.��

You did, making yourself comfortable on your special cushion, as he rambled about Asgardian building techniques, methods of energy storage, and how to contain oxygen in their hypothetical underground cities while working on building a sustainable atmosphere. He talked about Mars as if it were no more than a challenge, explaining all the resources that made the planet such a likely candidate for the transformation process. How they could alter the thin atmosphere with Thor's power to create ozone, split molecules to create oxygen, how to decontaminate irradiated soil, and even enrich it with naturally occurring resources. You didn't understand much of it, but the gist was that they had done this before, and only lacked the resources to build the tools they needed. As soon as they had that, there were no limits. According to Loki, it could all be done very fast.

And he was very fixated on the idea of you coming with him, seemed to have a very romanticized view of the human drive to explore. In some ways, he wasn't wrong. The thought of being the first human to travel to the red planet, to walk on its surface, to live there-it was thrilling. It was a dream humankind had harbored for a long time.

On the other hand, as far as you understood, Mars was kind of a shithole.

Yes, Loki claimed that his people could change that, prattling on about groves, and grasslands, and even tropics. He was also high. He could just as easily be talking nonsense.

Atmosphere notwithstanding, Mars was farther from the sun than Earth was. Wouldn't it always be colder? You could envision, after a lot of work and change, the planet hosting the kinds of things that grew in Siberia maybe. Lichens and short, scrubby grasses, possibly even conifers. Maybe seaweed, in the great seas and lakes he described the icecaps filling up.

But delicate tropical flowers, and big, soft fruits, and plants that needed three hundred days of strong sun and sweltering temperatures to thrive? No way. Better to leave the jungles to Venus.

Which was apparently part of the plan. The thinning of the atmosphere of Venus, would contribute to the thickening of the atmosphere of Mars. It involved even more technobabble that you couldn't grasp, but Loki was very sure about the viability of transferring resources throughout the solar system. From atmosphere, to water, to metals, to trace elements, Asgardians apparently knew how to do it all. It almost made you believe it.

Loki babbled like a bird all through dinner and the evening, and you were almost glad to be sent off the warm his bed. Your brain was exhausted, but he was as energetic as ever.

Stripped of your uniform, you snuggled into his luxurious bed, still trying to resolve the image of Loki-lover of opulent baths, rich clothing, and indulgent bedding-with that of an excited, daring, and rough living pioneer. You drifted off to a daydream of him, in a pith helmet and beige jodhpurs, standing majestically in a jeep that kicked up the Martian dust behind it...

******

...And awoke to Loki sniffing your hair.

He was pressed all alongside you, snuggled up with an arm thrown over your waist. And he was sniffing your hair.

He must have noticed a change in your breathing or physical pliancy, because he withdrew his arm immediately.

“Ah.” he whispered. “The jig is up, as they say.”

You scooted quickly away from him.

“What the hell do you think you're doing?” you demanded.

“Forgive me.” he said, yawning. “You just seemed so peaceful. I thought it a shame to wake you.”

“Did you turn off my alarm?”

He had the grace to look mildly ashamed.

“That...might have happened.”

“And there was nothing you could do but try to cop a feel?”

“I prefer to think of it as a friendly cuddle.”

“Well don't! Don't think you can just do whatever you want with me!”

“I shan't, I promise. As your master, I promise, I will not again overstep the bounds of our agreement. As my servant, I ask your trust.”

“...Maybe tomorrow.”

Face burning fiercely, you exited the bed, and hurried for the door. Your clothing was on the other side of the bed-the other side of Loki. In the dark, he might or might not getting a good look at your underwear clad rear, depending on how well Asgardians could see in the dark, so you booked it out of his room, across the hall, and into yours before he could say anything.

You threw yourself onto your futon, huddled down in your nice new blankets, and shivered. Your trust? He asked for your trust? He asked you to leave everything you knew, your whole world, to walk the distant sands of Mars? Something you couldn't even safely do until the planet had been transformed? He dared to lure you into a false sense of security in his sweet-smelling bed, and then ask for your trust? How much of your life were you willing to give?

#betathetaandme

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worldofsarahjmaas · 5 years ago

Photo

The Throne of Glass Miniature Character Collection books feature some amazing quotes on the back covers. What quotes do you think were chosen for the other books?

#throne of glass #The Assassin's Blade #assassin's blade #queen of shadows #heir of fire #empire of storms #tower of dawn #crown of midnight #kingdom of ash #aelin #celaena sardothien #aelin fireheart #Lysandra #rowan #rowan whitethorn #aelin x rowan

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fanfictrashdump · 4 years ago

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Queening a Pawn, 9

[Am I procrastinating? Damn right, I am! 2020 is just a throw-away year, y’all. Strap in, it’s a long one.]

Summary: During the Time Heist, Loki stole the Tesseract and escaped. He did not expect, however, to be pulled through a Time Loop that delivered him to a Midgard more than a decade older, wiser, and bitterer. Having just lived through his unsuccessful attack in New York, Loki must learn to live in Midgard after the defeat of Thanos (post-Endgame). The question is, who is Loki without a quest for a throne or total domination?

Pairings: Loki x OC

Delilah flipped through the papers in her hand, filing cabinet drawer open, as she put them away in their designated location. Her day had been the normal array of meetings and putting out imaginary fires before she had been left alone to her fortress of paperwork a half hour earlier. It was getting late into the evening, and though Lilah knew she should have called it quits hours ago, she had decided that finishing this menial, mindless task, would be the perfect excuse for sleeping in tomorrow.

She slid another file into its allotted slot, when the hair on the back of her neck all stood at attention. It wasn't that playful sensation in the back of her head when she felt Loki was trying to scare her, and it wasn't the cursory glance of the maintenance staff cleaning up, after hours. No, she was being well and truly observed. She couldn't see anyone out of her peripheral vision, but she could practically feel their heartbeat.

Bending to lower some files into the lowest drawer, she silently unholstered a pistol taped to the side of the furniture. She wanted to groan. That gun had been there since her first day of work nearly a decade ago and this was the first time she had ever needed to reach for it.

Straightening up, she took a few steadying breaths. Turning on a dime, she shot a single round, catching the intruder in the chest. For a moment, she debated between throwing up and screaming for help, but neither would do her any good at this time of night. Instead, she stepped lightly to the lifeless figure. He was dressed head to toe in tactical gear, several guns strapped to his person, and Delilah had managed to catch him just above the bullet vest. This was unlikely to be an isolated incident, and she didn't want to wait for his friends to show up.

With a weapon raised, she quietly hurried down the corridor, using any and every shortcut she knew to get back to the rooms. If she could have FRIDAY wake the agents, they could possibly live to see another day, but she did not enjoy the fact their fate depended on the least trained individual in the entire building.

"I really need to go to more voluntary training," she muttered to herself, turning down a hallway, only to find a group in the same tactical gear. She shuffled backwards, gasping. Her feet lost their grip on the ground below and she was forced back into a closet, hand over her mouth to keep her quiet.

"It's me. It's only me." Her struggles settled down to a bare pant at Loki's voice. "There was a patrolman coming up behind you." He turned her to face him, moving her face this way and that to assess the damage. "Are you alright? I heard gunfire."

"That was me." Loki looked oddly impressed at the response. "I'm not entirely useless."

"You're entirely too modest. Where were you scurrying off to?"

Delilah sighed, puffing her cheeks out as she thought. "They disabled FRIDAY. I need to reach a securely rooted computer to sound the alarm." There was shuffling just behind the door. Loki and Delilah held their breaths, trying to think themselves invisible as the intruders ran past. The echo of gunfire further away made her start, and she found herself clutching onto the front of Loki's shirt, rooted to the spot.

"Hey. Hey! Where's the nearest secure whatever you need?" Loki cupped her face with both hands, forcing her to focus on him, rather than the thunder-like sound of bullets. It was a helpful distraction, but it made her no less terrified of what lay beyond their door.

Delilah stuttered, her brain a mess. The adrenaline had started to fade and her fear had begun to take over. Not to mention the guilt of having put a bullet through someone's chest just a few minutes prior. "Um… I–I… er…" Her eyes caught the barest piece of an insignia for Stark Industries and lightbulb came on in her brain. "Tony. We need to get to Tony's case."

He rolled his eyes, groaning. "Nowhere better, really?"

"Loki–!"

He clapped his hand over her mouth. "Don't yell, you imp! You'll give us away!" Eyes wide, she nodded frantically, and he lowered his hand. "On the count of three, we'll go through the door, take a right and we'll walk as quietly as possible to the Memorial Hall. OK?" She nodded again. "If someone comes and they shoot, you get behind me. If I die, you run. Do you understand?"

"No, but–"

"Do you understand?"

There was a beat of tense silence between them before she nodded and Loki grasped at the doorknob with determination. He mouthed his count: One, Two, Three, and swung the door open. They crept away to the right. As they turned the corner, two figures were incoming. With a flourish of his hand, there was a dagger in one of their chests, but before he could reach for another blade, thunder rolled beside him, leaving him slightly deaf in one ear. The figure crumpled to the ground in a heap.

"Color me impressed," he whispered, taking Delilah's hand and pulling her along. He stopped only to collect his dagger, as well as the daggers attached to the fallen men. Loki sighed. No magic meant he had to police his daggers like a commoner, but it didn't mean his aim was any less true.

Down the hall, they could see the shining beacon of Tony's hologram in the darkened room. Lilah ran ahead, sliding to a stop in front of the case while Loki dealt with a couple of intruders who had just stumbled into the hall. She dropped to her knees, opening the panel just below the hologram as Loki rejoined her.

"Pygmy puff, what the hell is going on?" The hologram whispered, bending down to talk to her.

"Not sure. All I know is that someone's put FRIDAY offline. I need to sound a warning."

"Behind you!" Tony warned, and Loki spun, digging the blade of his weapon to the hilt before kicking the attacker back to retrieve it. "What's he doing here?" Tony eyed Loki distrustfully, and on any other day Delilah would have thought it was sweet, but right now, she had to figure out what the hell had happened to their security system.

"Saving my ass. What’s it look like, Tony?" She groaned. "Where the fuck is the keyboard!?"

"Jesus, settle down, Li! It's under the external drive." The projection held his hands up in defense. "Be gentle. It's my first time," he joked as she stuck her arm into the box and dislodged the keyboard from its hidden recess. "It's gonna get a little loud here, kids." From atop the box, two miniature missiles flew out and locked onto a new wave of attackers. Neither Loki nor Delilah were surprised.

"Tony, someone's been tweaking your algorithm." Delilah commented, her fingers a blur over the keyboard.

"What?" He bent over her work with a frown. "That's not my coding."

"I know! Do you recognize it?"

"No, I don't know anyone who's that sloppy," he retorted. "Other than Criss Angel here."

"Not the time, Tony!" A peal of automatic gun fire echoed the room. Loki had snatched her back so fast, she felt a little like a ragdoll, and the hologram was quick to wave them both behind the display. "Really? Bulletproof glass?"

"I'm worth it!" He said defensively. "You didn't seem to mind when I was saving your behind earlier."

"Well, yeah, but–" More gunfire followed, and Delilah let out a scream of pain.

Loki bundled her up, pulling her further behind the display, leaving the extra screen and keyboard forgotten. He smoothed his hands over her, looking for a source of pain. "Delilah? Talk to me."

"Fucking ricochet off the fucking glass," she hissed, holding onto her leg with a groan.

"We need to get you to the infirmary and–"

"I'm fine." She groaned, though he continued fussing over her. It took a jolt of her pulling on his shirt to rouse him from the panic. "Loki, I'm fine. I swear. It's just a graze."

"Oh, God. Are you two–"

"Shut up, Stark!" Loki and Delilah both echoed, narrowing their eyes at the projection.

Delilah reached for the keyboard and continued trying to restart FRIDAY from Tony's hub, to no avail. "Tony, how do we get FRI up and running?"

"There's a failsafe in the basement. It'll override any programming that they've coded into her. In it’s a drawer labeled Taxes. Problem is, you're gonna need Bruce for the final jolt."

She nodded, pulling herself up to test putting weight on her leg. It was blindingly painful, but she could walk. "That's fine. Lo, you go get Bruce, and I'll start the resetting FRIDAY downstairs, OK?" She had intended to just run the opposite direction to Loki, but he reached out to grab her wrist at the last moment, pulling her back roughly.

"I'm not leaving you, if that's what you're suggesting." Loki announced, decided.

His human companion growled. "For fuck's sake–we don't have time for this, Loki! Just go get Bruce."

"Are you mental? You'd have to navigate several floors on your own. They might be waiting to ambush you!"

Delilah pushed at his chest, trying to usher him the other way. "Loki, you are the patron sinner of logic and thinking three steps ahead and you know splitting up makes sense!"

His thumb, index and forefingers gripped her face at the hollows of her cheeks. In the low light, he looked eerily like a nightmare creature, angry and out for blood, but more importantly, worried out of his mind. The expression wasn't a particularly common sight on his face, and his hesitation sent a cold drip of fear down her spine. "I don't give a flying fuck what I would do on my own in the name of logic. Those rules are non-existent for you." Delilah raised her eyebrows in surprise. Cussing wasn't Loki's style (at least any cuss words used in the current century), so it was particularly impactful when he slung the phrase out like it was nothing.

Delilah bit her tongue, taking a deep breath and concentrating, instead, on the burning in her leg. "Where's Bruce, Tony?"

Tony looked like he was thinking as he accessed the building cameras. "Mess hall. Trying not to go savage." Loki and Lilah nodded to each other. "Hey, hey, hey. You keep an eye on her, Danny Phantom. Got it?"

"Won't let her leave my sight, I assure you," Loki called over his shoulder as he ran after Delilah.

He pressed her back against the wall as a group of soldiers in black, trying not to stare at the long swooping eyelashes that were fluttering against her cheek. Loki shushed her quietly when she went to say something, holding a finger to her lips. Another three watchmen strolled past and neither moved for a few seconds after the coast was clear. It was an open area to the mess and they'd be exposed all the way there. Not to mention, they didn't know what would await them on the other side of the door. Taking in a shuddering breath, Delilah offered her hand, waiting for Loki to thread his fingers through hers. With a nod, they shot off, Loki dragging Delilah after him because of his significantly longer strides, and they slid into the mess hall with a sigh.

Bruce swept Delilah into his arms and squeezed her as tightly as he dared before setting her back down, leaving her to teeter uncomfortably on her feet. "Finally! Are you OK? Who the hell are these people?"

"I don't know, but they took down FRIDAY. I need you to help me reboot."

"Are they with him?" His voice grew into a roar as he stared down at Loki, eyes dark.

"No," she assured, turning back to glance at Loki, who seemed fidgety around the gentle giant. "At least I don't think so. It'd be too much of a hassle to keep me alive all night if this were all him."

"It wouldn't be the first–" The snarky remark was cut short by a knife whizzing through the air beside him and finding its mark in the chest of an intruder who had attempted to sneak up.

"Not that I don't adore the scathing review of my character, could we please not give these people an opportunity to kill agents in their beds?" Loki rolled his eyes, his hand instinctually reaching for Lilah to have her lead ahead.

The basement was nothing remarkable. There were boilers, power switch boxes, and server panels that kept the compound running. Loki looked at the room as if it were the landscape of some distant planet. Delilah had tugged him to some dark recess in the room, past mountains of circuit boards and wires. She opened a drawer in one of the various cabinets against the wall, labeled Taxes, and just as Tony had promised there were two terminals and a set of relays with the words Smash Here written on some silver duct tape. Beneath, there was a set of laminated instructions which she quickly glanced over, bottom lip trapped between her teeth.

"Loki, I need some help!"

He was beside her a moment later, wiping blood off his knife. "Yes?"

"I need you to help me type. To reset FRIDAY, commands have to be typed into both terminals at the same time," she explained, pushing one of the keyboards towards him.

Loki hesitated. "I… maybe I should get Banner in. He's better at this–"

"You can drive spaceships. I'm pretty sure you can handle typing."

"We have no use for this crude technology."

"Yeah, well, right now this crude technology is all that's standing between us and reinforcements, and Bruce's fingers are too big for this keyboard."

He looked like he wanted to protest, but her narrowed eyes offered little purpose in complaining. "What do I have to do?" His dagger disappeared into a sheath behind his back and he reached for the keyboard.

"There's a reset code, but in true Tony fashion, it can only work if they're typed at the exact same time. I'm going to need you to keep perfect pace with me, or…"

"Or?"

"It might completely wipe FRIDAY's interface off the server, but, you know, no pressure."

"Just keep pace with you." He stared at her for a second too long, enough for her to shift her gaze at him and tilt her head in question. "I can do that." He studied the keys with rapt interest. "Norns know I try hard enough," he added under his breath, leaving Delilah to ponder the severity of his words.

"Alright. Take a breath and in 3, 2, 1…" She started calling out the code, line by line, watching as Loki carefully matched the clacking of her keys with his own. It was a long program and Lilah was sure the Science Bros™ had made it so infuriatingly difficult just for giggles– she didn't think they could ever foresee FRIDAY going dark because of some crappy Trojan. When the final return was entered, the screen flickered with the message Pressure realignment pending. "Bruce!"

A scuffle was heard just outside the door before Bruce peeked into the server room, carefully skirting towers of data to avoid collision and potential loss. Delilah set the relay on a countertop and gestured the green genius with her hand. Banner stared at the thing for just a second before letting out a roar and driving his fist down on it, leaving the counter creaking and slightly dented. A second later a beep, followed by a Good evening, Strongest Avenger echoed.

"Oh, thank God! FRIDAY, code purple. Security code three-six-eight dash fourteen thirty."

"It looks like someone jammed the locks on the agent barracks. Do you want me to remotely unlock the hallway, Del?"

"Yes, please!"

"It's too bad you won't be able to see them free, Lilah." The trio turned. At the door stood five men, guns raised with Dwyer leading the pack. Banner lumbered, ready to pounce, but a small dart cut through the air and stuck into his neck before he even had a chance to make any headway. He fell unconscious with a mighty thud.

Loki hastily shoved Delilah behind him and brandished his dagger. "Oh, I knew I didn't like you even before you drugged me."

"And if you had just died, Delilah wouldn't have to die now." Dwyer sighed.

A sadistic sort of smirk tilted the corners of Loki's mouth. "If you come near us, I'll slit your throat, you pustulous bilge snipe."

"Oh, I'm not going to do a thing. You are." If the Asgardian was confused by the comment, he didn't mention it. "Those drugs weren't just for me to watch you trip. They had a special little ingredient to help ply your mind. Thor will be so distraught, he'll beg to join our cause. Magic is the devil's plaything, after all."

Loki caught Delilah by the wrist, pulling her back behind him when her ire got the better of her and meant to smack the self-satisfied grin off his face. "Thor trusts me about as far as I can throw Mjolnir. Why would he be surprised if I went feral again?"

"I'm afraid you've missed a lot. It's not your fault, really." He sighed wistfully, though it was all for show. "I mean, he didn't even want you out of your prison cell. Said it was better for everyone if you were kept there or taken back to New Asgard. That you didn't belong in the world." Loki glanced over his shoulder. Lilah was staring at the floor with a frown and his heart sank. "If it wasn't for Delilah you'd still be rotting in the dungeons. Not that she's any better. I mean, she'll let you walk around with the rest of the humans, but will sure as hell leave you collared like a dog. When's the last time you even thought about doing magic?"

"He never asked me to take them off, so I haven't. He's already adjusting to a whole new decade, much less–" Delilah snapped, nearly growling.

"You don't fucking trust him!"

"Standing next to Loki is a risk. There's nothing he wants that he doesn't get and the bracelets can only motivate him. I wouldn't be in this room, with him if I didn't trust him with my life!"

"Then take them off!"

"No," she hissed, glaring daggers at the man. "If the choice is you killing me or turning him into a weapon, then shoot me now."

Dwyer laughed. "Oh, I’m turning him into a weapon regardless." He dug into his pocket and pulled a glowing yellow stone that made Loki blanch even paler than his usual self and take a half-step backwards. "What? You don't like your friend, anymore."

"You don't know what you're playing with, Dwyer," Loki said, carefully. "The Stone controls you as much, if not more, than you control it."

"Oh, this isn't the original stone. Stark got desperate, at one point, and tried to recreate the stones to undo everything Thanos had done. This was the only one he got close to replicating with Vision's help." He tossed it into the air, like a penny. "Much less fuss, just as effective. Now, ask her to unbind you."

"What?"

"She said she would do it if you asked. So, ask her. It's obvious Lilah already kneels for you quite readily. Might as well make it worth my while. I don't want to waste the stone's power on her."

"Keep her name out of your mouth or I'll relieve you of your tongue!" Loki growled and it was Delilah's turn to hold him back.

"It's OK." Loki pulled away from her, holding his hands to his chest. "It's happening one way or another. I'd rather consciously free you, if that's alright with you."

"You have nothing to prove to him," Loki whispered.

Delilah smiled and brushed his cheek with her thumb. "I know, Lo. It's not for him."

"Or me." He added, passionately.

Lilah sighed, looking between the men before gesturing to Loki's hands. "No. Keep the dagger," Dwyer urged when Loki offered her the hilt without hesitation.

Delilah slid her fingers over the pressured pins on his wrists, the metal detecting her fingerprints before clicking quietly and dropping to the floor with a deafening clatter. Her fingers twisted into his and squeezed reassuringly. As much as he tried, he couldn't find it within him to look away from soft eyes. It hurt how little fear he saw, the blind trust. When had he earned this no-questions-asked vote of confidence? He felt the magic trickle down his spine and couldn't even bring himself to feel glad to have it back. Not when he was sure that was coming would be awful.

"How's it feel to be a big boy again?" He hated Dwyer's voice for breaking through what should have been a private moment; that he too could see Delilah laying herself bare to his tempest. "It's not going to feel good for long." He whispered some words to the stone and it only glowed brighter, forcing Loki to look away.

"Loki," she whispered as he teetered, his head bowing. "Focus. You can do this."

Loki straightened up, his eyes wrenched closed. Blindly, he reached for her, closing his fingers around her wrist uncomfortably tight. "Delilah, please go."

"Don't give up on me, Lo. Just–"

"LILAH!" He snapped in a half-growl. He was gritting his teeth now and the hand on her was shaking uncontrollably with effort. "Lilah, please. My love, please run." He blinked his eyes up, eerie blue and shining with tears. "Go now. Run." She hesitated again, frozen in place. "RUN!" With a start, she stumbled back, bolting out the back of the room and into the emergency stairwell.

Despite the blood rushing in her ears, she could hear the pounding footsteps behind her, like a predator stalking her every move. A blade whizzed past her. Then another. And another. He was playing with her, enjoying watching her squirm as she feared for her life and scurried like a mouse. When she exited the stairwell at the next floor, he was standing right outside the door. She yelped, stumbling back against the slab of metal when he swung a blade at her head and just narrowly missed her.

Lilah drove her elbow against the still-sore ribs on his left side, watching him stumble back with a hiss, but return with even more fervor. A swipe of the blade cut a path across her jaw, just shy of slicing into her jugular. With a jolt, he rammed her into the wall, knife at her neck just barely skimming as he slowly pressed the blade into her warm skin. The pain radiated through her body, fueling her adrenaline and she kicked him square in the chest, knocking him onto the floor. The crack of his head on the floor jarred his brain enough that he blinked in confusion for a moment.

"Loki, snap the fuck out of it!" He hoisted himself back onto his feet and charged. Delilah remained in a fighter's stance, fists up, aiming at anything she could reach while also avoiding his daggers. She managed another jab at his head and stomach, slowing him down. "What are you doing? Letting your mind being invaded by some mortal with some sick delusion of grandeur to get you to act for him? You know me–I’m your friend!" He faltered. "Since when do you obey anyone other than yourself?"

The dagger ready to fly towards her head dropped to his side as he considered. Lilah would have laughed if she wasn't in active danger– leave Loki's ego to save the day. If she could count on two things in the Universe, it was that the Sun would rise and Loki would think very highly of himself. She inched carefully towards him, his ghostly stare following her across the hallway, though his body remained unmoving. He was now within arm's reach. He didn't react when she touched his chest, her palm sliding up his front, winding up his neck and onto his cheek. There was the slightest change of pressure and she realized it was him barely pressing his jaw onto her palm out of instinct.

"God, I'm so sorry for this," she whispered as she reared back and decked him in the jaw so hard it made her whole arm ache. Loki raised a hand to his face and hissed, turning his eyes back on the panting woman for her to notice that his eyes were the seaglass green she was so familiar with. "Good to know this stone has the same design flaws as the other one."

It was a minute or two of quiet contemplation and confusion before Loki managed to return to the present. There was blood on her neck that he knew he was responsible for. The reality of the situation flooded him with a gasp and he threw his arms around her form and pulled her into his chest. "I nearly killed you. Oh, gods, I very nearly killed you."

"You're OK. Everything is OK." She whispered, carding her fingers through his hair as he panted. Delilah bridged the gap between them with her lips. She had nearly died and she would be damned if she dared feel guilty for indulging in a kiss. Not when he tasted like cinnamon from the pastries he hoarded in his rooms, spicy and familiar. He clung to her form, fists grabbing handfuls of her shirt as if she'd disappeared if he let go.

"You're bleeding. I– I… you're bleeding and I nearly–"

Lilah smiled through tears. "You didn't. Thankfully, you obey no one but yourself."

"No," he objected, vehemently. "It was you. No one but you." His mouth desperately searched for purchase on hers repeatedly, as if it were the only thing keeping him from breaking. And it may as well have been, for all either of them knew. "I'm so sorry."

"I know you are, Lo. And you can make it up to me later, but right now, maniac with a Mind Stone– what are we doing?"

"Running sounds like a champion idea," he said after a moment's hesitation.

"Loki–"

"I know, I know." He was silent before reluctantly loosening his grip on her with a sigh. He rubbed at the marks where his manacles had been with a conflicted look in his eyes. "I may have an idea."

Ten minutes later, he marched back into the basement, eyes glowing blue and tossed the bloodied, carved body that was once Delilah onto the floor before Dwyer's feet. He let out a chuckle, nudging her slack head with the toe of his boot. "Oh, that didn't end too good for her, did it? How'd it feel, Loki? Dispensing with the only person who would have given you a second, third, or millionth chance in the world? You really are just a snake in the grass." Loki stood still, shoulders squared and awaiting his next command. "You seemed to fawn after her, too. Did you like her?"

"More than anyone," he replied, mechanically and the villain laughed.

"Oh, that's even better! You've always been such a good pawn– for your parents, for Thanos, the Avengers, me. Now, before you make your exit, how about you leave your brother a little goodbye note. Make it poignant, OK?" Loki flourished his hands and a projection of him glimmered in pale blue light, moving as it spoke a pre-recorded message of revenge on humans and vengeance on his enemies. "Good boy. Now, put the shackles back on." Loki collected the metal manacles and slid them onto his wrists, feeling the instant relief of no magic in his veins to cloud his judgement. "Any last words?"

Loki smirked, the expression looking manic on his bloodied face. He sank slowly to his knees with one fist over his heart. "My Queen. Precisely on time." Dwyer turned, suddenly. At the door, Delilah stood, gun loaded and raised with Sam, Bucky, and a dozen SHIELD and STARK agents, in tow. The body on the floor had lost its glamour and turned into one of the black-clad intruders.

"You tried to trick the trickster god? How stupid are you? Really?" Bucky asked, weapon at the ready.

Dwyer cackled, hands raised in surrender. "This is cute. You think this was the big one? You haven't even seen the tip of the iceberg. How's your Doctor Strange doing?"

"I'll check in with Stephen– you rally these people up and destroy that stone replica." Delilah's gun lowered, clicking softly as she put the safety back on and sliding into the back of her trousers. "Lo?"

Loki shook the cobwebs out of his mind and offered her a weak smile. He felt heavy and confused. The short freedom from his shackles should have been a breath of fresh air, and it turned into the worst nightmare he had had in a long while. Not to mention there was the issue of his brother. He had never expected Thor to simply give up on him, much less without a needlessly emotional conversation beforehand.

"Are you OK?" Lilah looked worried and it was actually painful for him to see her bleeding by his blade and still worried about him, of all people– Loki of Asgard, a snake in the grass.

He nodded, his eyes falling to the ground. "Mind is a little muddled, is all."

Delilah offered him a sad smile. “How about we get you home?”She gestured with her head to the door. "Come on. I'll call Stephen on my way to yours."

#Loki #loki fanfic #fanfic #fanfiction #mcu #mcu fanfiction #post-endgame #alternate timeline #loki x oc #loki x ofc

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alexiaugustin · 5 years ago

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So I just saw SJM's post about her Throne of glass miniature character collection. The deal with this collection is that the whole TOG series will be published in new editions and each book will feature on character whose name will be highlighted in a specific colour. And I am telling you now PLEASE DO NOT BUY ALL SEVEN BOOKS AGAIN IN CASE YOU ALREADY OWN THEM!!! Our planet is dying and the fact that SJM and Bloomsbury are using the population of this book series to grab money can't just be ignored and overshadowed by your love for this book series. This is a waste of paper which will ruin nature and if you don't belive me please keep on reading:

Deforestation is one of the main environmental problems (14% of global wood harvest is used for paper)

To print an edition of the New York times requires 75,000 trees. ONE SINGLE EDITION!!! Now imagine how many trees will be required to print the whole TOG series thousands of times just so a name of a character can be highlighted uuwu

The world has already lost 80% of it's forests and we're continuing losing 375km2 per day

Every tree products enough oxygen for 3 people to breath

Chlorine-based bleaches are used during production which results in toxic materials being released into our water, air and soil.

When paper rots it releases methane gas which is 25% more toxic than CO2

Paper waste leads to global warming

The paper industry is also the largest industrial user of water, the biggest water polluter

So before you blindly go out there and buy all TOG books for the fourth time or something you should rather donate your money to organisations which try to save our one and only planet. Damn

Sources: theworldcounts.com and stopwaste.org

#do not buy them!#save the planet instead #anti sjm #anti sarah j maas #anti tog #save the planet #paper waste

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artificialqueens · 6 years ago

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Sunshine, and Glory Too (Trixya) - Chapter 4 - fannyatrollop

A/N: I’m amazed with myself, for somehow managing to create unreasonable delays between updates for a fic that is 100% done. This thing has been fully edited from an originally posted/completed version and yet… the magic of poor time management. Anyway, here’s… more story in a rebloggable format.

Previously On: Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three

Trixie hadn’t been raised to expect love in her future. Her father was doing a dismal enough job of caring for his family in life, so when he would finally drink himself into the grave she could not expect to be looked after. Therefore, marriage was a necessity, and as her parents taught her in their own way, there was no need for love in marriage. She had always trained herself to expect from life what it could realistically give her, so as not to expire on the spot with despair.

None of that mattered to Trixie anymore as she and Katya plunged into loving each other instead. It was easy, for a while. Trixie’s days had always been entirely her own, and her life was on hold for as long as she was at the Academy anyway; Katya had practice enough ignoring the inconvenient shadow of expectations to last her another few weeks. Spring did away with the slight chill of winter, and though the pretty snowflakes were missed, mornings by the lake were pleasant once again. Trixie would watch Katya stretch, would watch her bend over backwards into a bridge and hold that position with much better insight into what she felt when she watched than before. She would pull Katya into a lingering kiss and stay a moment longer to take in the fresh spring air while Katya scampered off to lessons she couldn’t give a fig about.

When they lay together at night, Katya would talk about what her ideal future looked like at that point. Whatever shred of willingness Katya had possessed to fulfill her end of the bargain she made when she agreed to be educated at the Academy, even if only to benefit her family, had eroded completely. All she wanted, she said, was to travel and perform. She wanted to live freely, to see even more of the world than she had already because there had to be more, to leave the cage she felt she had been placed in.

She hoped Trixie would go with her, that she could show her every corner of the world, and not just through a magical glass. She wanted to pluck a Northern flower and let Trixie wear it in her hair, to bathe in the sea and meet some of Adore’s people if possible, to have Trixie play the harp for her parents so they could hear how talented her lady was.

That became Trixie’s ideal vision of the future, too. She wanted to take Katya’s hand, let her lead her everywhere she might wish to go, and stay by her side to soothe her to sleep when the sun set. She had learned that Katya slept better with a little help, and was more than willing to give it. She wanted to meet the family that Katya loved so well, and would gladly consent to playing for them. If it were possible she wished to visit Pearl in the palace, where she would surely live when all was said and done, to bring her delightful little things from her travels.

She had never wanted anything more. She could not remember having wanted anything at all before this.

***

As Ginger had predicted, there existed a prince who could look past Katya’s unwillingness to act en princesse despite her instructor’s best efforts and desire her nonetheless. Madame Visage, minder and haranguer of Academy-provided fae companions per Ginger’s description, paid them a personal visit to bring the good tidings.

It had been a great, but pleasant, surprise for the Academy that they had word of a potential suitor for a lady they had, quite frankly, been worrying about. Trixie listened to Katya and Ginger’s audience with Madame Visage from behind Katya’s bedroom door. She could not see the great lady, but the sound of her voice made her insides squirm a little. She sounded like a creature who could be soft as a lamb if she chose to, but would not hesitate to rend her to pieces if she saw fit to do that instead.

Katya was to be established in the South, where snow would never trouble her again, and where she could listen to siren song from the safety of her palace. Her husband would build a grand stage where her family could find an audience. She could watch them from her very own box, but would have to save her own skills for him. He may be persuaded to let her accompany him on royal tours. As it is cruel to sever the bond of a fae and her charge by force, no matter the circumstance in which it was established, Ginger would be permitted to accompany her into her grand future. Common wisdom said that a fae companion could make a significant difference when battling the perils of childbirth, so she could breathe easy about that, too.

“Of course,” bellowed the commanding voice of Madame Visage. “You must bid farewell to the ladies you have become fond of during your time here. You cannot expect to see much of them, as they are to rule over their own kingdoms, but you may write to them. It may be difficult, though, to maintain a friendship with a foreign queen’s lady. If I may give you some friendly advice, I suggest you sever ties Lady Beatrice sooner rather than later.”

Trixie could picture Katya’s face in her mind’s eye.

“And if I won’t have him?”

“I would be inclined to call you a fool,” said Madame Visage. “Why would you have gone to the trouble of coming here if not to marry a prince? In your world, there is no other way a girl of your origins could get a kingdom. Is that not what you wanted, or what you agreed to when you accepted our invitation? There are others who would have you as a mistress, but we promised your parents a throne for their only daughter. We like to keep our word.”

Madame Visage continued after a pause.

“You should not be a mere mistress. Think about that. As for the necessary preparations, we will soon have a miniature painted, to be sent to your prince. I will let Ginger know so you can be adequately prepared.”

Madame Visage complimented Ginger on the tea. Trixie waited until she could hear the door open and close, then crept outside the bedroom. Katya’s quarters were rather small, but there was a corner from which she could press herself against and peek into the sitting room.

She could make out Katya seated on her sofa, with Ginger beside her, but only from behind. She had no way of knowing if they had been seated so close together while Madame Visage was visiting, or if Ginger had noticed Katya’s mood growing darker and decided to wrap an arm around her then. Neither of them made a sound for quite some time.

“Katya, that was badly done.”

Ginger kept an arm around Katya’s shoulder, her voice soft yet stern.

Katya bowed her head.

“I don’t want him,” she said, simply. Trixie wanted to run to her, to drag her back to the bedroom and raise her spirits.

“Madame Visage is right,” said Ginger, rubbing circles on her back in Trixie’s stead. “It would be a waste for you to leave without the future you deserve.”

“What’s so great about being a princess?” cried Katya. She pushed Ginger’s arm away.

“You will have everything,” Ginger persisted, as if she’d practiced it softly to herself many times.

Katya stood to face her.

“You know what I want,” she said. “And you know this prince will never give it to me. I’ll be a prisoner.”

“A prisoner!” Ginger said, with a scoff. “Do you even know how many girls would kill to be in your position right now? Countless! And you’re saying you’ll be a prisoner because you’ve decided you’re in love with a common girl—“

“Trixie is not common!”

The words rang throughout the room.

“Katya,” Ginger started, after she had collected herself sufficiently. “Think of yourself as royalty, because that is what you came here to be. Never mind the fact that in Trixie’s world, in the world you’ll soon be a part of, marriage between two ladies is no common thing. She knows you could never be fully devoted to each other.”

She stopped to take a deep breath, and to course-correct the direction her speech was taking.

“You are approaching marriage as a princess would, and I know Trixie is no peasant but her father is only a baron. It’s not kind, and perhaps it’s not right, but this would make her an unsuitable match for you. I don’t dislike her, and I know she amuses you, but my job is not to suit your whims. My job is to take care of you, and to ensure that you will get the throne that was promised to you.”

She softens her tone, taking on a more earnest, loving affect.

“Don’t think that you don’t deserve to be adored as a queen, that you need to settle for a difficult life with a girl who can hardly benefit from her own high station in life. Your parents thought so, or else how could they have let you be parted from them?”

Trixie thought she could feel her heart contract into itself as Ginger spoke. A rogue tear rolled down her cheek, then another, and she let them take their course. She steeled herself against more, and continued to listen. She could not fault Ginger for being right, but it would take time to rationalize her hurt feelings away.

She did not seek Katya’s gaze, but for a moment she found it. Katya turned it back to Ginger, before she could be compelled to turn her head and find Trixie there as well. Trixie wouldn’t put it past a faerie’s talents to perceive the presence of a spy, though Ginger made no discernible effort to search for her.

“But Ginger,” said Katya, in a plaintive tone. “What if I don’t think of myself as royalty? If I listen to my heart… Can’t I approach it as myself? Why must I pretend to be something I’m not?”

“In that case, Lady Beatrice would be considered your superior.”

Having had enough, Katya then opted to flee the scene. Ginger called her name fruitlessly as she sped towards Trixie’s inadequate hiding spot. Taking her by the hand, Katya pulled them both back into the bedroom. Once inside, Trixie sat at the edge of the bed and watched Katya attempt to slough off her restlessness by pacing furiously.

She wanted to make Katya feel at ease, but could think of no other method than to let her tire herself out with her walking and come to her then. In the meantime, she put a hand over her own heart and tried to will herself easy. She could clearly picture herself following Katya to the very ends of the world, but any fool with an imagination can envision themselves as the hero in a story. Any fool can find in them the capacity to dream, but there is no medicine for the bitterness of reality.

Katya was the one to break the silence.

“Would you have me, even if I’m not good enough for you?”

Trixie nodded. “Only if you would do the same.”

“I’ve—“ Katya struggled to get the words out. “I’ve missed home a lot less since I met you. I can’t bear to lose you.”

Trixie stood, walked over to her so she could hold her dear face in her hands.

“Katya,” she said. “If I get my way, I will never leave you. And if we are to be separated—If you were to return to me, I would not hesitate to take your hand.”

Katya took Trixie’s hands, still cupping her face, and gently pushed them down while squeezing them in hers. She let go of one of her hands so she could free it up to caress her cheek. She kissed the tip of her nose, and let Trixie meet her lips with her own the second time. She settled her free hand on Trixie’s waist and led her back to bed.

They remained together, laid out in the sheets for the rest of the day. Ginger had the delicacy not to disturb them, and it was awfully kind of the world to quiet down and let them be as well. Lovers, especially those to whom fate has no design to be kind to in the end, deserve leave to be fully occupied in each other every once in a while.

***

It just so happened that Katya’s intended bridegroom was Lady Valentina’s eldest brother. As soon as Valentina heard the news, it became her order of business to impose her most tender feelings of friendship on Katya at every possible opportunity. She had scarcely spared a glance in her direction throughout their acquaintance, other than to compliment her on a stimulating performance at their little talent show back in autumn, but ever since she was singled out to marry her dearest brother she had become as good as a sister.

Katya was suddenly awash in invitations to join Valentina in some amusement or other most days, and although Trixie’s presence was tolerated, it was grudgingly so. Valentina’s friendly attitude towards Trixie had shifted slightly towards enmity in response to her increased regard for Katya. Her smiles were colder than they had ever been when Trixie was around.

“My dear, it really is baffling to me,” Valentina said, addressing Violet when they were all gathered at tea one afternoon. “How you allow one of your ladies to pay so many attentions to a foreign lady, when her upkeep falls upon you. I don’t believe such a thing has ever been seen before!”

She had only invited Violet and her small entourage, stressing that Trixie’s presence would be most appreciated, and so she had been summoned to fulfill this baffling request. Pearl had been missing her, too, so Trixie had been obliged to attend in any case. Her cheeks burned upon hearing Valentina’s words.

Violet appeared unperturbed. She coolly remarked that she preferred Valentina’s company when she did not pry as much into her private affairs.

“It is most unusual, though!” cried Valentina, not at all discouraged from pressing on. “Are you not the least bit bothered?”

“I am not,” said Violet. “So long as she does not cause too much trouble, I would not prevent my lady from making friends where she chooses.”

“I have observed the pair of them to be far too intimate,” Valentina pressed on, now choosing to speak in a whisper only slightly lower than her natural speaking voice. Pearl had, by then, drawn Trixie closer to her side and was glaring daggers in Valentina’s direction.

Violet sighed.

“If you are worried about your brother’s match, it is outside both mine and Lady Beatrice’s best efforts to prevent it, and I would not presume to even attempt such an endeavor. As for myself, I only wish to run my household how I choose without challenge, as it is entirely my own business.”

“I apologize if I injure you with what I am about to say,” said Valentina, depositing her teacup on its dish with noticeable force. “But if you had been blessed with siblings, you would understand how much their happiness might mean to you. Alas, your mother passed away before you could, and now you will never know.”

As much as she regretted them, Valentina paid no mind to the reaction her words caused before pressing on. All pretense had been dropped, and her every word was laced with ice.

“My brother’s heart is set on this match. You could stand to be less accepting of your lady’s conduct when it has ceased to be your private business.”

She looked past Pearl, who was at the precipice of despising her from the look in her eyes, over to her intended target.

“Lady Beatrice, you must be better equipped to understand me than your gentle mistress. You have a cherished sister, and I can imagine you would do anything in your power to ensure her happiness.”

Violet did not allow any further discussion. She politely thanked Valentina for the tea, and excused her party, stating that she did not wish to invite any further blows upon their friendship.

Once they had reached their quarters, she took Trixie aside.

“I do not wish to take away your happiness,” she said, looking her in the eye for once. “But it would be prudent for you to reduce the amount of time you spend with Lady Katya. I will call Kim back from her travels to make it easier on you.”

Having no choice but to comply, Trixie nodded stiffly. Violet let her go after vocalizing her intention to call on Katya herself, so as not to implicate Trixie in making the decision.

***

Katya was becoming resigned to her fate, and was thus fading before Trixie’s eyes. The liveliness of spirit that had so attracted her from the start was much diminished by the thought her impending nuptials. When she was able to spend time with Katya in private, it was most often for the purpose of engaging in desperate lovemaking, and holding her while she contemplated her future in fear.

Having Violet tell her that Trixie was obliged to distance herself at her request had shaken Katya, though she did not blame Trixie for it. It did make it more difficult for any professions of eternal love and constancy to hold much water, for as sincere as they were neither was in full control of keeping her word. It broke Trixie’s heart to see her so unhappy, and to have no possible way to ease her pain. Her own pain was buried as deep as she could, in the manner she was accustomed to whenever she had cause for unhappiness.

Valentina had presented Trixie with a beautiful harp, as a consolation gift for her sacrifice. She had included a note to express her continued regard for her, and to apologize for her harsh words. She was pleased to see that she was the sort of girl who could listen to reason, and thanked her for her part in ensuring her brother’s happiness.

With the suspicion that she would regret it, Trixie included a promise to play her new harp at teatime in her thank you note, so that Valentina would not think her ungrateful. She had hoped it would be ignored as a mere formality, but Valentina was quick to hold her to it. It was requested that she accompany Violet and the rest of her household to their next scheduled teatime engagement. Since Violet had been true to her word in summoning Kim, and now encouraged her to act as an extra lady-in-waiting out of sympathy towards Trixie, acquiescing to Valentina’s request did not trouble her too much. The harp could rot after a single use.

Trixie had never considered Valentina to be the vindictive sort, not until recently. Sure, she tended towards more extravagance than was required to denote her status, and was as excessively proud as any member of royalty might be, but never actively malicious. She hoped that there was no intent to harm on Valentina’s part when, upon arriving at teatime, she noticed that Katya had also been invited. Yet, considering her treatment of her as of late, Trixie would not put it past her.

“I hope you will allow me to include my dearest sister,” said Valentina, airily. “I have only ever had brothers, so it is quite a novel thing for me to enjoy the company of a sister. I trust you will be so kind as to not begrudge me of the pleasure.”

Trixie felt a derisive pang of sympathy for Valentina’s ornamental ladies, who surely could act as sisters if their mistress allowed them to. Pearl and Kim, who had been briefed on the situation by Pearl upon arrival, each took one of Trixie’s hands in case her feelings might overtake her. Katya had stood upon catching sight of her, eyes hopeful, but rushing over to embrace her as she wished to would be most unwise. Lady Valentina had decided to amuse herself by testing Trixie’s resolve, and Trixie was not one to bow before a challenge by nature. She cast tender eyes at Katya as she was led to be seated with her friends, too far to spare a single word for her beloved.

Violet used all the composure that had been drilled into her since birth not to show her displeasure, though Trixie could only guess at the source of her ill humour. Perhaps the tea was not to her liking. Valentina was engrossed in conversation with her dear sister Katya, who looked mildly distressed as she nodded along to Valentina’s advice about how to navigate life in her kingdom. Her eyes often darted over to Trixie, who was kept engaged by Pearl and Kim until Valentina urged her to keep her promise. Thus, she was led to her shiny new harp, which had made its way to Valentina’s sitting room through Fame’s kindness.

It was mortifying, but if Trixie focused on playing the harp and let the music remove her from her surroundings, it became easier to bear the indignation of being so blatantly put in her place. She was barely conscious of how she sounded, only of playing and letting the soothing quality of doing something she knows well ease her spirits. She did not attend to the passage of time, and was quite deep in her trance until someone laid her hands on her wrists to stop her playing.

“I was worried about your hands,” Katya said, softly into her ear. She brought her hands closer so she could check them for injury.

“Thank you,” Trixie said. “You are too kind, Lady Katya. I do not have very delicate fingers, though, so you need not worry.”

Katya let out a small laugh. “You’re right. Your fingers are like leather. I like the feel of them, though.”

Trixie couldn’t help smiling back, as she gently pried her hands out of Katya’s grip. She did this slowly enough that she could savour her touch for a moment longer, letting the tips of her fingers linger over Katya’s before pulling back.

Valentina cleared her throat.

“Lady Beatrice, you stopped so suddenly! Won’t you delight us a moment longer?” she asked, the very picture of guilelessness.

“I think she has delighted us long enough,” said Violet, sounding like the queen she would become one day. “I almost went to examine her poor hands myself. Any longer and she will surely wear her fingers to the bone.”

Valentina pursed her lips and agreed, summoning the sweetness back to her tone as she called for Katya to resume the conversation that had been interrupted by her chivalry.

When Trixie returned to her party, Violet advised her that she would look the other way if she wished to visit Katya later that night, shielding their conversation with a fan. Trixie was then able to apologize to Katya for any coldness in her manner towards her, while Katya laid kisses on her fingertips and blame for any unpleasantness on Valentina. Until then, she had only her sister, and her friend to comfort her.

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