#uh. how did you get the blood you keep in the cabinets?

[beevean]

Lenore: [Carmilla] showed me her maps. I made her angry, I think. She showed me maps of the world. Hector: I know, I know. A giant human pen from here to Braila. I've had the lectures. Lenore: Not anymore. Hector: She's been scheming. Lenore: And she showed me maps of the world, Hector. Hector: The world. Lenore: The pen was about securing our survival and safety for centuries to come. It was an insane idea, but we could stretch and make it work. But now she sees weakness everywhere. And we were a strong and stable community in a world that lost many of its vampire leaders at Braila. Hector: So what you're saying is if it's there, she's going to drink it. Lenore: She said she had one plan: to annex land from here to the sea. She promised me that was her plan, and then she was left alone, and then I made her angry and she showed me her maps. I think she lied to me. Hector: Just the way Dracula lied to me.

So this is another way S4 forcibly pushes a connection between Hector and Lenore for the sake of making us sympathize with her.

Lenore is panicking about Carmilla's new plan. I would say that she is worried about the kingdom's stability, or Carmilla's sanity, but as usual, she can't help showing her true self because she introduced this information by whining about herself: "But soon I'll have nothing to do. Nothing to offer. There's no diplomacy involved in making humans stand in line to be bled."

But for now this isn't really the point: the point is that Lenore, in her circular reasoning, somehow went from "we left her alone, and she started scheming beyond her original plan" to "she was lying to me, and only revealed the truth when I made her angry: if I didn't, she would have kept the lie". Now, this doesn't make sense in any way: why would Carmilla lie to one of her closest allies? Even if Lenore is useless, she is still an ally and a friend, and it would be both disadvantageous and impractical to keep her in the dark. The framing is very much that Carmilla went mad and got hungrier for power and her plan morphed in those six weeks between S3 and S4, and she just happened to choose that moment to rant.

(hilariously, the dialogue is extremely contrived too: Lenore just says "Please, would Dracula have kept [Hector] around in his own castle if he were that dangerous?" and that spurns Carmilla to completely forget about the issue of Hector behaving suspiciously and talk about the castle she didn't get, which wasn't even remotely Lenore's point. yeah no she didn't reveal the plan out of anger, but out of writing convenience lmao)

Now, I could concede this as the character being wrong. Lenore is allowed to be wrong, and the bias she's expressing make sense: the situation is making her feel insecure, unneeded and perhaps unwanted. Remember: this is the same scene where she appreciates Hector for not making her feel bad about raping him into slavery "wanting to listen to her", unlike everyone else in the castle. She is lost and confused and can't trust Carmilla anymore, and as I pointed out she is incredibly self-centered, so fine, I buy that she interprets her behavior as malice against her.

But the framing is not that. Because then Hector remembers he is a human being with a brain and says the only meaningful response to Lenore's rant.

lmao i can't take that frame seriously it's literally surprisedpikachuface.jpg

And this is bullshit.

The two situations are not comparable from this angle. Carmilla is being set to be Dracula 2.0, that much is true: an insane old woman who has lost her way, consumed by pain and hatred, and is no longer thinking about the consequences of her plan, risking the safety of her underlings. But that's the extent of it. Carmilla actually cares about her sisters, in her own way, even if she makes fun of Lenore for her love for animals. Lenore perceived Carmilla as getting angry at her, but in reality she simply got worked up, and had nothing against her if not her incompetence in making Hector work, which got resolved anyway.

We don't know how the other three got roped into her council, but there is zero indication that Carmilla ever used bold-faced lies like when Dracula promised Hector that they'd work to cull mankind when in reality he wanted to exterminate everyone, something he even admitted to do because "he's easy to lie to". He did not change his plan between his hiring of Hector and his death! He deliberately lied to him from the get-go!

Hector and Lenore have the similar situation of being considered the weaklings of the group for their softness. They could bond over that. But Hector's situation was still far worse: he got taken advantage of precisely because of his softness and his pathological need to be loved, something Lenore cannot share because, even with her soft façade, she is too cunning to be tricked, lives her comfortable life as one of the queens, and she was considered integral to the group until now. Hector was betrayed by Dracula, only the first of many instances: he got convinced that Dracula planned to kill him too, and we don't know if he would have done it, but the story seems to believe so. And that's not mentioning how this betrayal was the catalyst for all the hell Hector went through, which incidentally included Lenore. We see with our own eyes that Hector's reaction to being powerless is fawning and clinging, while Lenore's reaction to feeling powerless is exerting her power over creatures beneath her.

Tell me how can Lenore compare to Hector, just because her bestie is only now starting to go crazy - which, as I pointed out earlier, only concerns Lenore because boohoo she feels useless and not out of moral convictions like when Hector shouted that he didn't want to paddle in the blood of innocents?

You don't get to pull the 🥺 face on me, Lenore. You don't get to create a "you're just like me fr fr" moment by twisting the narrative to look more of a woobie than you are. Especially not right after you shushed Hector down when he dared to complain about being raped. You are not the victim here, you can't fathom the heartbreak Hector went through because of Dracula, Carmilla and you, and the relationship between you two is built on nothing but lies, both of your telling and of the disingenuous story itself which at this point is a bigger liar than all three of those characters.

And yes, this is a lie from the story, because this feels like a deliberate retcon! Lenore in S3 was a complacent cog in the machine. She agreed to help Carmilla, she admits in that scene in S4 that she saw the original plan as a way to secure stability which is what she cares about the most, and all of her gaslighting, manipulations and sexual abuse were for the sole purpose of turning Hector into the perfect tool to proceed with that plan (the pet part was just a nice bonus). There is the theory that she didn't like the plan much based on one frame where she frowns, but as usual, other expressions of hers betray her:

She seems quite happy with it! She just apparently didn't like Carmilla's "self-replicating food" joke, for reasons I don't understand - she too treats Hector like an animal, so I don't see why she'd be miffed at the dehumanization. Or maybe it's just her being not very amused at Carmilla's sense of humor in general. the joke was pretty stupid, tbh - all organic food is "self-replicating", your evil speeches need some serious work girl

The point is, she was not tricked into it like Hector! Unlike him who apparently didn't think much about the aftermath, she was fully aware of what it entailed! Carmilla just expanded her view later on! But of course, if we now say that Carmilla lied to Lenore and the story doesn't stop to remind us of what happened one season prior, Lenore suddenly becomes innocent, because see? She's better than mean Carmilla! She only raped Hector for his own good, but she didn't mean to harm mankind! It's literally the same logic that neutered the ring: everything must be sanitized to paint Lenore as this innocent, tragic figure.

Again, what irritates me is that the parallels are there. Carmilla is going insane like Dracula, yes, and she is endangering the kingdom. Lenore feels the black sheep of the group like Hector was (although he never realized it, even though Isaac always talked to him like he itched to call him the R-slur). They have traits in common! Use them! But no, this plotline is nothing more than the writers yelling "PLEASE FEEL SOWWY FOR THE WIDDLE RAPIST SHE DID NOTHING WRONG IN HER LIFE LOOK AT HER CUTE FACE 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 CARMILLA IS THE TRUE MEANIE HATE THAT BITCH NOT OUR LENORE WHO IS JUST A POOR GIRL AND NOBODY LOVES HER 🥺"

[fuckmymunson]

Can you do a story about Eddie having sex with the reader on her period then taking care of her!!!!

❥ a/n: Yes I can and sorry for answering this like a hundred years later—

❥ TW: 18+ smut!!! Period sex! Soft dom!Eddie, aftercare. Please give me some comfort I need it. Also, I get incredibly horny before I get my period so this is a bit self indulgent. Cozy ending because I'm a bit tipsy and so love starved 😁.

︵‿︵‿‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿ʚ♡ɞ‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿

Eddie's calloused hands are practically bruising your waist with his tight grip, his heavy breathings from behind you and the rather animalistic growls he exhales every now and then only make the coil in your belly (and pussy) even tighter and bigger and— oh fuck when he yanks your hair…

But he stops. Suddenly.

Abruptly.

Violently.

Making you whine in discomfort and annoyance.

"What the hell, Eddie?" You manage to ask, looking over your shoulder to look at your boyfriend whose eyes are big as plates— his brown eyes are fixated on your pussy, and all you can read in them is panic and nervousness. "Eddie?"

"Babe" He gulps but his gaze remains glued to his dick and your cunt. "Baby" Eddie exhales, visibly shaking.

"Eddie what's wrong?" You ask, resting your weight in your forearms. "You are scaring me"

"Y—You…" His eyes drift from your pussy to your face, and you witness firsthand how the color is drained from his face. "You are b—bleeding"

"I'm what?" You ask frowning, confused.

Then it hits.

The snarky replies at school, the uncomfortable feeling all day, the nausea, the stomach pain, the moody comments, and the unforgiving urge to fuck Eddie until his cock breaks in half—

"Shit, shit— shit" You curse and ran towards the trailer's bathroom, thanking God in his heaven that Uncle Wayne's at work.

You stumble around the trailer with uncoordinated steps as your wobbly legs make you look like a newborn deer. Locking the door behind you, you grab the box that you keep inside the mirror's cabinet, where your feminine products (as Eddie likes to call them) are kept.

Eddie follows you, naked as well. He knocks on the door holding back a laugh after he hears you fumbling with the pad's wrap.

He opens the door inviting himself in after the third knock. "Baby." He calls you, almost amused. "Did you just had your period while fucking?"

"Ugh, shut up" You throw him a death glare and he holds his hands up in defeat.

"I don't mind, sweetheart. It's— you know, your natural body uh, things. Yeah" He means good, but poor baby isn't good with words. "Although, now I can say I literally murder that pussy—"

"Edward, seriously. Shut up."

"Uh-Oh, first name calling. Yes ma'am" He nods and and knocks the teasing off.

"I'm sorry" You sigh, resting your hands on the sink.

"Why are you apologizing for?" Eddie frowns and tilts his head, a few curls falling over his face. "I literally don't care, princess. It's something completely natural"

"You don't think it's gross?" You ask with a pout.

"Sweetheart, nothing about you is gross" He chuckles and kisses your head, lovingly. "Well except when you eat with your mouth open, that is fucking disgusting"

"Thanks for ruining the moment, Munson" You roll your eyes. His hands caress your sides, stopping at your hips as he silently placed himself behind you in the bathroom mirror, towering behind your still naked form. "Eddie? What are you doing?"

"Nothing…" He says looking away, pretending to not be responsible or conscious of his hand sliding in between your legs, quickly finding your clit and circling it. "You know… I've heard that period sex helps with cramps and mood swings"

"Oh yeah, where?" You try to remain calm, but then he slides a finger between your folds, slick with a mixture of your wetness and blood. "Fuck— Eddie"

"Doesn't matter" He kisses your shoulder, locking eyes with yours through the mirror. "What matter is that, now that I know you are fine… we can continue…"

"Eddie, it's gonna be messy—" You try to protest, but when he sinks two fingers so easily...

"I like it messy"

He curls his long fingers making your wet pussy clench around them, you moan his name in a needy manner, making his cock twitch.

"Now, let's return this fat cock exactly where it belongs… fuck— that's it" He thrusts without warning, his dick slides even easier than before. Eddie moans at this new sensation, it's so warm, so wet, so good. "Good girl, always so sweet and precious, you really know how to please me"

Eddie wastes no time, resuming his unforgiving pace. His balls slap against your clit in the most delicious way, making you whine and moan and cry and fucking gush around him. He looks down again, this time completely and utterly hard as a damn rock at the sight of your sweet pussy clenching around him. He doesn't care at all about the blood, he feels so fucking amazing that you trust him enough to do this.

His right hand releases your waist and yanks your hair again, forcing you to look in the mirror.

"Look, princess. Look at yourself, being fucked like a naughty girl. Spread your legs a bit more yeah— oh that's it, good girl." He gives your ass a few playful spanks, enough to send sparks to your pussy. "Shit— can feel that little messy cunt clenching around me, you gonna cum, bunny?"

You nod desperately, mumbling. "Yes, yes, please. Let me cum Eddie" Not only begging with your words, you beg with your eyes, half lidded, glossy and breathtaking. "Please baby, lemme cum, need it so bad"

"Cum, cum for me sweetheart" He slaps your ass harder this time, the pain sending you over the edge. "Fuck yeah. What. A. Good. Little. Whore." Every word is punctuated with a snap of his hips, prolonging your orgasm.

The wetness in between your legs mixed with the blood runs down your thighs, but the sight of it makes him swallow so hard and cum so hard inside you. Eddie groans and slams his cock all the way in, painting your walls with his sticky load.

Between pants and giggles, Eddie kisses your shoulders, grinning like an idiot.

"I love you so much, sweetheart" He murmurs with pure adoration, helping you take a seat at the edge of the plastic tub of the trailer. "Lemme take care of you okay? I can wash your hair and all"

"Eddie, you don't have to" You say, blinking slowly as the sleep starts to possess your body. "And I love you too, darling, I really do"

He is a man of word, after all. Eddie scrubs your hair, massaging your scalp, kissing your neck, your shoulders. Rubbing your bodywash all over your soft body, caressing every inch of your skin, worshipping it and not only bathing you with your favorite products but with adoration.

"Night, princess" He kisses your nose, now safely wrapped in two blankets.

"Night, my love" You whisper kissing his lips and resting your face on his chest, listening to his heartbeat rocking you to sleep.

God, this is true love ♡.

[dr-spencer-reids-queen]

Can't Avoid It Forever

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~800

Warnings: fear of needles, fluff

Summary: Spencer needs to go to the doctor to get his blood drawn, but the most difficult part is finding him.

Square Filled: jack hotchner (2021) for @spencerreidbingo

Author’s Note: any and all comments are appreciated <3

x

“Have you seen Spencer?” you ask someone.

“No, sorry.”

You sigh and continue searching for your boyfriend who has to be in here somewhere. He’s not in the offices, you’ve already checked the garage, and the floor above and below the BAU. You walk through the double glass doors into the bullpen and see Derek by the filing cabinet.

“Derek, where is Spencer?”

“Uh, he’s not at his desk?”

You look over to see it empty.

“No. Where is he?”

“I don’t know. Last I saw him, he was at his desk. Sorry, mama.”

You know he knows where he is but instead of pressuring him to tell you, you move onto the next person you see. JJ walks over to Spencer’s desk to deliver some files, so you slink up to her side and a sweet smile.

“Hey, JJ.”

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Have you seen Spencer?”

“Last I saw he was in the break room getting some coffee. You know him and his coffee,” she chuckles nervously.

“He better be,” you mumble.

The only person in the break room is Emily who is sipping suspiciously on her drink. She barely looks at you when you enter which makes you narrow your eyes in suspicion.

“Hey, Em.”

“Oh, hey Y/N. What’s up?��

“Where’s Spencer?”

“Uh, last I heard he’s in Pen’s office.”

“Don’t bullshit me, Emily. I have been running all over this fucking building looking for him.”

“What?” she fake gasps. “I swear, I’m pretty sure he’s in there.”

You groan and leave the break room, missing the way Emily snickers in her hands. You walk over to Pen’s office and knock once before entering. She’s the only one in here but Spencer isn’t anywhere to be found.

“What’s up, sugar?” Penelope smiles.

“Where is Spencer?”

“Last I saw--”

“Do not lie to me, Penelope. Where the hell is Spencer?”

If anyone were to break under your stare, it’d be Penelope. The second she squirms in her chair you know you’ve got her right where you want her.

“He told me not to tell you.”

“Did you know I can hurt someone twenty-one different ways? Half of which you won’t see me coming.”

“Hey, no need to get violent.” You raise one eyebrow and she sighs in defeat. “He’s locked himself in the family bathroom.”

“Thank you,” you smile sweetly.

You leave her office and go to the only family bathroom in the BAU which is located outside the bullpen but before the elevator. You knock twice on the door without saying anything. If Spencer hears it’s you, then he won’t open the door. When he doesn’t answer, you knock three more times.

“Who is it?” Spencer asks.

Without answering him, you keep knocking until he gets annoyed at you. He opens the door to tell off whoever it is, but as soon as he sees it’s you, he tries to close the door on you.

“Oh, no you don’t.”

You slam your foot into the bathroom before he can shut it on you, and you push it open with all your strength.

“Oh, hey, Y/N. What’s up?” Spencer says casually.

“I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

“I’ve been right here.”

“Come on, we have to go.”

“I need to get back to my desk. JJ has some files for me to do.”

“You know damn well Hotch gave you the rest of the day off. Don’t lie to me.”

“But we need to babysit Jack. You know how Hotch likes us to be punctual.”

“That’s not until after school which is in five hours.” Spencer tries to think of another excuse as to why he doesn’t want to leave but you’re not going to give him the chance. “No more stalling. You need your blood drawn. You’re going to the doctor.”

You grab his hand and pull him from the bathroom to drag him all the way to your car. He’s been dreading this doctor’s appointment all week but his doctor needs this blood sample from him. Spencer bounces his leg nervously as you pull out of the parking lot. You reach over and place your hand on his leg to give him some comfort.

“Baby, I know you’re scared. I know you hate needles, but the doctor found something in your blood. They need another sample to make sure it’s not dangerous.”

“I know,” he sighs. Ever since Tobias and his use of Dilaudid, he’s been deathly afraid of needles. He doesn't care if it’s for personal or medical use. He is terrified but he knows this needs to happen. “That doesn’t make me any less nervous.”

“Would you feel better if we got ice cream afterward?”

Spencer’s leg stops bouncing at the thought of a sweet dessert.

“Will there be sprinkles?”

“Yes,” you laugh, “there will be sprinkles.”

“Okay, fine.”

He’s the biggest baby but he’s your baby.

x

Follow my library blog @aqueenslibrary​​​​ where I reblog all my stories, so you can put notifications on there without the extra stuff :)

[jusmango-shake]

Erm, I see requests are open ehehe :)

2012 Raph x reader who is a generally pretty calm person, but one day is involved in a fight with them and just goes absolutely apeshit crazy? Like his reaction or whatever. I don’t care how you interpret it. I just wanna see. :)

🥭: yES HELLO!! Congrats on uh being my first requester ion kno what it's called h, feel free to pick an emoji so yknow. You could be those emoji anons cuz, I think that'd be pretty cool

I hope you enjoy it though!!1!1 (love the 2012 turtles)

12!Raph x calm!Reader

Fictype: Normal

Mood: fluff

WARNING: reader scolds Raph for being reckless, one instance of Raph being called a good boy, cussing, Injuries/Blood, stitching/needles

🥭:I'm sorry for it being so short!.

Raph always liked the fact you were so cool. no matter the situation, you always made it seem as if it was just like any other day. He admired that about you, it rivaled his own hot-headedness in a way only you could.

But now as he sat on the toilet, all bloody and bruised up. He wondered where that side of you went.

He understood where you were coming from but it's like his ego prevented him from accepting it, any time he tried speaking up was immediately shot down.

He faked an annoyed sigh as he looked in the opposite direction, trying to ignore the stinging pain on his right bicep.

He nearly shivered at the heavy sigh you let out, the hot air tickling his skin.

“Raphael.” you spoke sternly, the mere tone of your voice enough to have Raphs heart pounding inside his chest.

He coughed, trying his best to keep up the bravado.

"Yeah.?" He felt your eyes bore into the back of his head, wincing at the slight pain of the needle penetrating his skin.

“look at me.” you ordered.

He gulped before shakily turning to look at you. not because he was scared, hell no! It's obviously because of the large gash you were currently stitching up. Yeah, definitely.

“What the fuck were you thinking? Did you seriously think you wouldn't get hurt? God, Raph. Sometimes I swear your ego makes you fucking stupid.” You stared daggers into Raph's eyes before continuing to stitch the gash.

He flinched once more, "But i-"

You turned your head sharply, glaring at Raph with the usual twinkle and calmness from your eyes completely gone. His breath hitched, it wasn't like you to be so...

“no 'Buts' Raph, what you did was fucking idiotic. if it weren't for Leo, I'd have to fix up more of your wounds. All that just to impress me?” you turned back to focus on finishing the stitch, the thread was severed with a quiet 'snip'

Raph's eyes widened at the last sentence, you couldn't have possibly known right? He never told anyone, he even tried his best to hide it.

"What?" Was all he could manage, staring at you with wide eyes. He followed you even as you knelt down to get the bandages from the cabinet under the sink.

“dont play games with me Raph, I see the way you act around me. The shit you pull off was practically upped tenfold, even your brothers could see that.” a faint blush making its way onto your cheeks, to which you promptly hid by applying alcohol on the cotton balls.

Raph's heart sank. if you knew all along, why didn't you say anything? Did you not like him back?

As he stared at the floor in thought, he only slightly registered the fact you were once again kneeling Infront of him. He hissed at the stinging pain of alcohol on the other cuts, you reacted by simply glancing at him.

You sighed, putting the used cotton balls in the trash, standing up. You cupped both of his cheeks, gently having him look at you. Your gaze still tense and sturdy, but a hint of empathy comforting Raph just a little.

Raph stared up at you, shock and guilt written all over his face.

“you worried me half to death, Raph.”

He felt himself shrinking under your stern gaze. Looking off to the side in an attempt to hide his embarrassment.

You took the bandages and wrapped them tightly around his arm, just tight enough to keep the wound closed.

“Raph?”

"Yeah..?"

You kissed the top of his head.

“next time, don't be such a dumb fuck. Be a good boy and stay safe for me.”

Raph sat there with wide eyes and rosy cheeks, barely registering the fact you had already left the bathroom. His fingers grazed over the spot you kissed him at, his heartbeat getting more and more prominent in his chest. But this time, it was accompanied with butterflies in his stomach.

Maybe he did have a chance.

[peaches2217]

Regarding a Certain Panda's Nightmares

AO3 Link!

~~~

“I just… I keep having these nightmares, y’know? Real stupid stuff.” Po scoffed and tried to pass it off as a laugh, as if that alone could convince Tigress — maybe himself, too — that those dreams were as meaningless as he wished they were. “It’s always the same. Like… it’s snowing, but there’s fire everywhere, and I hear screaming all over the place, but I feel fine. I’m not cold if I touch the snow and I don’t burn if I touch the fire.”

The smile he gave Tigress was empty, and his eyes, though glancing between the cabinets, the table, and her, were somewhere on the other side of China.

A part of him truly did die there, she found herself thinking, though she forced the thought from her head at once. 

“That’s, uh, that’s usually all there is to it.” Po propped an elbow on the table in the unlit kitchen and rested his cheek on his fist, looking over Tigress’ shoulder at an ever-darkening nothing. “Sometimes it ends pretty quickly. Sometimes I see bodies and, uh, blood ‘n’ stuff. And sometimes I just hear the screaming, and then eventually I don’t hear anything anymore.” He shrugged. “But tonight’s the first time I actually…”

He swallowed heavily and tried half-heartedly to hide it behind his cup of tea. It was still full, but it had long since gone cold.

Tigress glanced down at his paw as he set it back on the table. His claws had grown out. Nothing drastic, and nowhere near as sharp as hers, but the usually blunted tips were reaching a point. He used the tip of his index claw to trace meaningless patterns into the birch.

“She, uh… she recognized me. Called me her little lotus flower. Said I’d gotten so big. But it was like, right in the middle of the, uh… the attack. So that was weird.”

Po looked down at his teacup, maybe observing his reflection in the cooled liquid. He looked so tired. Not the kind of tired brought about by a single sleepless night; no, this was just one of many in the past three weeks. 

“Tried telling her to run. Tried getting her to run with me, y’know, but… she said that, uh, well, my story didn’t have a happy beginning, but she was… uh, she was happy with the way hers ended. Told me she was proud of me. Then I woke up.” He blinked a few times, then his shoulders lifted, like his departed soul was returning to his body. “Just a real stupid dream, y’know? Borderline wish fulfillment. I mean, who would say something like that, right? I know she wouldn’t say that.”

“Do you?”

“I don’t know, but like… how do you die and then say you’re okay with it? I wouldn’t be okay with dying like that, especially if it was because…"

And his eyes grew glossy again, going someplace that Tigress, try though she might, couldn’t reach.

“Y’know, I-I don’t know how many… I mean, dozens? Hundreds, thousands? However many, it’s too many. And they’re all, uh, they’re all dead.” Po smacked his lips and shrugged again. “Because of me.”

“Po. You were a child. Nothing you could have done would have stopped it.” 

Tigress kept her voice low, in part to ensure she didn’t wake their teammates sleeping just a few rooms over, and in part so that he didn’t startle and back down. Any semblance of judgment or any suggestion that he had upset her with his words, and Po would apologize and thank her for listening and go back to his room to feign sleep until the morning gong rung. 

For someone so hell-bent on being open and friendly with everyone he met, he was fiercely self-reliant. That much they at least had in common.

“Well,” and Po smiled ruefully as he spoke, “maybe if I was never born…”

Tigress bit her tongue so sharply she tasted blood, because that was all she could do to keep from shutting him down. No, scolding him for such harmful thoughts would get them nowhere, not yet, not right now. “You think things might be different then?” she ventured instead.

“Can’t wipe out all the pandas if you never get told a panda’s gonna kick your butt one day. And that can’t happen if the panda who’s supposed to kick your butt doesn’t exist.”

Tigress averted her gaze to the tabletop as well, breathing as deeply and steadily as her cracked ribs would allow. Though Po had always, to some extent, carried feelings of resentment towards himself, they had never run this deep.

Or if they had, he’d simply never told her. Tigress preferred to think the former was the truth.

“Fate works in odd ways,” she said at last, slowly, thinking and then re-thinking each word before they left her mouth. “We can’t stop it, and we can’t control it. I’m inclined to believe that your absence wouldn’t have changed anything.”

For a moment, Po didn’t respond, just kept staring blankly at the table. Were it not for the minute shifting of his eyes, Tigress would have thought he hadn’t heard her.

“...you think?” Something in the way he asked it, maybe the way his voice fluttered or his brows lifted and scrunched, suggested that he was really considering her words. That was a good sign, at least.

“If it wasn’t you, it would have been someone else.”

“But it wouldn’t have been me.”

“People would still be dead, but the Valley wouldn’t have its Dragon Warrior. That would just ensure even more deaths.”

“Maybe the other panda woulda been the Dragon Warrior. Beat Tai Lung, brought peace, kept everyone safe.”

“But we’ll never know, will we? Because you were born, and this life is yours alone.” 

At that, Po nodded, though his face betrayed his despondency. 

I wouldn’t be okay with dying like that, he’d said only minutes earlier. But Tigress knew better. If given no other option, he’d happily die to protect others, especially the ones he held dear.

A tickle in the back of her throat made her cough, lightly, but enough to send a sharp pain through her chest.

A death wish in exchange for the safety and happiness of their loved ones. That was something else they had in common, for sure.

“For what it’s worth…” Tigress mulled over her thoughts for a brief moment. Would someone just like him have come along had he never entered the world? Perhaps. Perhaps the days at the Jade Palace would still be made lighter, and perhaps the meals they shared would still be just as flavorful, and perhaps she would still have found comfort and joy when she had long since given up on such things being part of her life.

But it would still be a world without Po. And such a world was a world Tigress didn’t want to think about, much less be a part of.

“I’m glad that you were born,” was what she finally decided on. “And I know for a fact I’m only one of many who feels that way.”

Po smiled down at his paws. It was small, barely enough to be called a smile, really. But it was warm, genuine, almost alien yet achingly familiar.

“I’m… I’m glad you were born too.”

At that, Tigress smiled in turn.

They didn’t really say much after that. They sat in shared silence until the darkness lightened with the impending dawn, at which point Tigress suggested they at least try to rest, if only for an hour or so. And though these all-nighters had become routine over the past weeks, when Po bid Tigress a good night (“Er, uh— good morning, early morning, I guess”) and ducked his head in thanks, she noticed he looked less tired than he had since they’d returned to the Valley.

It wasn’t some miraculous recovery. But little by little, her best friend was returning.

The thought dulled the pain of her broken bones and quieted her racing thoughts, and it made an hour of sleep feel like a slow and blissful eternity.

[certifiedwhore4slashers]

Fool

pairing: gf!wes hicks x fem!reader

summary: you were a fool to believe he was innocent and truly had died.

warnings: possessive behavior, yandere,gore, blood, murder, manipulation, faked death, parental death(not reader’s family), toxicity, obsession, etc…

It was sort of an inside joke in your friend group on how whipped Wes was for Tara, always there for her even when it was obvious she wasn’t into him.

So it didn’t surprise any of you he was the first to be at her side in the hospital. Sam of course was there.

However as killings continued, suspicions were raised. “Sam being back sort of ruins everything doesn’t it? Amber said.

You snorted.”You’re only saying that because you don’t like Sam.” “True! Chad pipes in. “Shut up, Pokémon onesie! Mindy teased.

“Well, She’s coming, Wes said.”When’s the last time Tara even saw her again?” “Five years, Amber said.”Sam’s like a troublemaker.”

“Wasn’t she like like thirteen? Amber, give her a break, You say softly. “You know who should get a break? Liv said grumpily.”Me. Vince keeps being a creep again!”

“Oh god, not Vince, You groan.”He’s such a weirdo.” You hear whistling coming in your way from the jocks. More specifically, the asshole named Landon.

“Hey sweetheart, want a ride home? He asks.

“I don’t think she wants to, Wes replied defensively. Your best friend since birth pretty much. You met him first before meeting Amber, Mindy, Liv, Chad and Tara.

“Huh, I don’t remember asking you, Landon hissed. His friends laughed at his response. “I’m sorry, I’m not interested in douchebags, You say, crossing your arms. "You playing hard to get turns me on, Landon smirks. "See you later, baby."

"Gross, You scoffed. "You okay, Buddy? Chad asks Wes. "I'm fine, He replied. Mindy smirks. "You don't seem fine." "Okay, I don't like him, so what? He hits on Y/N like all the time, He finished.

You nodded. "Hm, sounds like jealousy, Mindy jokes. "Oh come on, Mindy, we've been friends forever! You said. "Y/n is right, I'm not jealous, everyone doesn't like him, Wes defended.

He did have a very good point. Plus, jocks in general normally sucked. A few exceptions, of course, one being Chad. "I should be going, You replied." My Mom and Dad are going out so they need to lecture me on rules."

Liv chuckled. You sigh, getting up. Being by yourself wouldn't be so horrible. No, You loved being by yourself. As you expected, you were lectured on rules. However, good consequence from it. You were home alone.

You ordered pizza, since you didn't feel like cooking. You binge watched horror movies, drank some soda, since your alcohol cabinet was locked, your mom and dad knew you would drink.

truthfully, you didn't exactly mind. "Oh god, why are the blonde ones always so dumb? you scoff, judging the horror movie. You sigh, drinking your soda. "See, like, why do you even go there? obviously the killer will be there."

Your phone ringing interrupts you mid rant, making you annoyed. "hello? you say, picking up.

"Hello."

"Uh, hi, who is this? You say, curiously.

"is y/n l/n home?"

"Oh, you're speaking with her, You smile, wondering if someone you knew was calling, though, using the voice from stab, really?

"good, i really was hoping i could talk. This is Landon."

"oh my god, sorry, not interested."

"You really believed I was Landon, huh?"

You sigh of relief. "Oh, thank fucking god. Nice joke, Mindy."

“I’m not Mindy.”

“What do you mean? You say.”of course this has to be Mindy, the only one who would do a joke like that.”

“What’s your favorite scary movie?”

“Definitely not the one you’re referring to, You sigh, getting the popcorn from the microwave.”Maybe My Bloody Valentine.”

“Good one. But don’t you like the Stab Movies? Best horror franchise of all time.”

“Sorry, but it sucked, You say.”It’s disrespectful considering it’s based on real events.”

“But you’re watching it right now. Hypocritical of you.”

Your eyes widen, you were. Not because you well, liked the movies, but because you would want to judge them over and over. It was something you did with movies you sucked.

“How did you know that? You say, looking out the windows.

“I’m watching you right now.”

You pause the movie and check everywhere the creepy phone caller was.

“Well, where are you?”

“Right behind you.”

You didn’t want to look behind you, but did as Ghostface grabbed your throat, throwing you onto the table, your snacks spilling over. Everything on the ground.

You whimpered a little as your oxygen began running out, coughing and struggling to get some air. You squirm.

“Don’t move.”

You nodded, and stop moving. He lets go of your throat, so that wasn’t how he’d kill you. You ask, "Could you just kill me by now?"

"Now would that be fun?"

You sigh, closing your eyes, preparing for your death, seeing it now. Only pain. You groaned feeling yourself being stabbed. "No! Please! You cry out. You were in so much pain.

However, he stabbed you a few times more. You still lived, though. Blacking out, accepting your fate. But you woke up, surrounded by your friends.

"y/n! you woke up! Tara said. "Huh? You say, weakly. "Um, how do we say this? She finished. Amber sighed. "Wes and his Mom died." You see Sam and someone you don’t recognize.

"hi, i'm richie, he says awkwardly.”I’m sorry for your loss.” “Thank you, You replied. You couldn’t believe your best friend died.

Your head hurt, badly. You hit your head hard you assumed. “Oh god, You groaned, tears coming out from the fact your best friend was gone.

“Hey, it’s going to be okay, Sam assured you. "i know, you frowned. You couldn't even imagine how he died. You felt horrible, you shouldn't have lived.

Amber seemed sympathetic but glared daggers at Sam. She didn’t like her. And made it fairly obvious. “I still am in so much pain, You groan.

“Maybe you need some sleep, Chad suggested. You nodded, deciding that’s what you really wanted. Some rest.

After a few hours you got some rest. You wanted to leave but you still had to recover, unfortunately. And by now you were by yourself.

Vulnerable.

At least you were filled with people around you. So not completely alone. You were bored, but having your phone, you would be fine. Something took you by surprise.

Wes had messaged you.

Or at least someone was using his phone to message you, taunt you. This was sick. But you couldn’t help but read the message.

It hurts doesn’t it?

This was confusing for a second, then you remembered he meant Wes.

Fuck you.

You were on read and didn’t get a response. Not for a while anyway. And you ignored further messages from Ghostface.

You eventually recovered enough to be discharged. And apparently the decision was to go to Stu Macher’s house. Why? You had no idea but went along because at least you wouldn’t be by yourself.

You sat on the living room couch, your friends with you. “I’m getting Deja vu, Mindy said. “You weren’t even born when Randy was here! You point out.

Liv and Chad sat together, though showing a bit more PDA than you can handle. “Whatever, you sigh. “Hey look, y/n, I get it, you’re grieving, Mindy said.

“I think I might just drink something, You frown, getting up and going to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, you hear something weird.

“Chad? Sam? You say, hoping it was at least one of them. But it wasn’t. Standing in front of you was Ghostface.

“Holy shit! Guys! You yell, as Ghostface lunges for you. “Y/n, what’s going on… FUCK! Chad said. Liv was nowhere to be seen.

“Look I have to find Liv, He said.”She accepted my request and-“ “okay! But it might be a trap! You say, Ghostface grabbing you from behind, scaring you as you screamed, violently kicking to get out of his grasp.

You should’ve seen this coming. But you didn’t. “Hey, asshole! Sam said, making Ghostface turn in her direction, hitting him and you getting out of his grasp.

It didn’t surprise you that there was another one. Richie seemed totally freaked out, and so were you. “I’ve seen this in like a million Stab movies! He said.

You had known that he hadn’t seen them prior, and watched them while supporting Sam. “Okay, but those movies sucked and aren’t accurate! You said.”So the most logical thing to do apparently was just run around and hope the killer doesn’t find you.

Nice.

You were already exhausted but nonetheless made sure you stuck by your friends. You didn’t trust Amber, and you hadn’t seen her so it was quite obviously her as Ghostface.

“Okay, it’s either Amber or Liv, I think it’s Amber though, You murmur. Tara would’ve been very offended if she had heard that.

When all of a sudden, Ghostface lunges out. And Sidney arrived. Out of everyone she pretty much knew how to deal with Ghostface the best.

“Run! Sidney said. You ran into Amber. Then apparently Liv, who was covered in blood. “Liv, what the fuck? You say.

“I found Chad! She sobbed. “We know it’s you! Amber yelled.”Stop trying to make yourself look innocent!” “Stay back, Sam said. Richie somehow appeared again.

That made you very suspicious. “Richie, maybe stay the fuck back yourself, You snap. “What did I do? He asks.

“The love interest is always a suspect, I said. “Calm down, Y/N, Sam said. Defending her boyfriend as usual. But everyone else, it seemed clear Richie was suspicious.

Gale had been knocked out and Sidney stood by you and your friends. “I swear I’m not the killer! Liv said.”Chad’s dead.”

Amber went from scared to smug.”I know.” She pulled out a gun, and shot Liv point blank, killing her. Everyone scrambled but Richie, who stuck behind, revealed to be the second killer.

“Ah ah, I wouldn’t move if I were you, Richie said to Sam, knife pressed on her throat, putting the voice changer on.”Surprise, Sam.”

Everyone steps into the kitchen, Amber cornering Sidney. “But that’s not even the best part! Amber said proudly, sticking by her older boyfriend, making you want to vomit.

She was fucking psychotic. But at the same time, Amber definitely was a victim in the sense she was groomed by Richie, but they both seemed fucked in the head.

A third Ghostface appeared. And that feeling appeared again. That dreadful feeling. Your intuition. Amber specifically looks at you. And that’s when you knew.

“Surprise, Y/N.”

Wes has a sick grin on his face, the mask off and his hand. “You killed your own mother? You ask, Jaw dropped.

“It wasn’t too hard, and besides, she was being a bitch, it had to be done, Wes said. He’d never call his mother that. He loved his Mom. It was sweet and, he was respectful.

This wasn’t the person you had grown up with and knew. This was a completely different person. “Don’t, Sam said.”Don’t let him get close, y/n.”

“I know.”

You wanted to, You so badly wanted to. But that wasn’t what you were going to do. You grabbed a kitchen knife, and when you really thought about it, you needed to kill him.

“Go on, do it, Wes smirked.”Kill me.” Amber and Richie only stood there like idiots but seemed proud. You put more thought into this. You needed to be logical.

It was clear that he was going off an obsession. Some fucked up feelings he had for you. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t kill you.

You were going to kill him, but not first. Instead, you plunged the knife straight into Amber, as she screamed out in pain.

“You’re next, you should run, Ghostface.”

You were such a fool.

[whumpshaped]

Im sorry does helle get the zoomies.

masterlist

tw vampire whumper

Beck couldn't ignore how jittery Helle was. They were constantly bouncing their leg, tapping their foot, pacing around way too quickly for him to keep up, talking a million miles per hour. They couldn't sit still for a single moment.

"Are you... okay?" he asked cautiously, and Helle waved him off.

"Yes! Yes, of course, why would I not be?" They picked up the Rubik's Cube again, spinning around chunks of it faster than Beck had seen anyone do, including people in those world record videos. They never stopped their circles around the living room, not until they once again finished one side of it and put it on the dresser. "What have you been drinking?" they suddenly asked.

"Um..." Beck thought for a moment. It couldn't be that Helle was actually affected by his choices, could it? "A bunch of coffee," he admitted.

"Ah, coffee, yes..." They disappeared into the kitchen so fast that to Beck, it almost seemed like they'd vanished entirely. "Not my favourite one," they called, and he quickly pushed himself up from the sofa to check on what the overgrown cat of a vampire was doing. He hated when they got into the drawers and the cabinets, it was a nightmare to put everything back in order afterwards.

"Well, I... I didn't buy my coffee thinking I would be... sharing," he said nervously as he watched Helle read something on the back of the pack. "I like it."

"I shall show you later what I prefer. I am certain you would not even notice a difference, but to me, it would be much better."

"I wouldn't notice it? If you can pick up on it just from the, the traces of caffeine in my blood, then–"

"Irrelevant," they cut in, dropping the bag of coffee beans on the counter and whooshing past Beck in the other direction this time. "If we are to share sustenance, you must be a little more accomodating."

"What–" By the time he turned around, Helle was standing right behind him, showing him the website of a semi-expensive coffee brand on their phone.

"You must acquire this, if you are to keep up this new habit of consuming way too much of it."

"That's out of my budget–"

Helle rolled their eyes. "I suppose I could give you a weekly allowance for it."

"B-but, but not even just that, maybe I don't even like it at all–"

"That is not my problem. You can choose to quit entirely."

And then they were gone. Beck heard a crash coming from the bedroom, and he rushed inside — but nothing seemed amiss. "What was that sound?"

"Nothing," Helle said way too quickly. "What sound?"

"Okay, don't give me that. Did you drop somethi–"

Blink. Gone. Helle disappeared again, and Beck realised with horror that if they kept this up the entire night, there was no way he was going to be able to keep up at all.

Maybe he should quit coffee.

~

taglist: @whumpsday @the-scrapegoat @hidden-dreamland @dismemberment-on-a-tuesday-night @delicateprincepaper @whumppmuhw @florissimps @nicolepascaline @oliversrarebooks @the-cyrulik @pirefyrelight @there-will-always-be-blood @pigeonwhumps @echo-goes-mmm @whumpycries @morning-star-whump @d-cs @watermelons-dont-grow-on-trees @tauntedoctopuses @blueyellow8green @typewrittenfangs @whumpsoda @steh-lar-uh-nuhs @auroragehenna @whumpedydump

[thecapricunt1616]

Blue Lotus - SxC Fic - Chapter 3

♡ Summary: Carmy actually has allowed himself FRIENDS?? Also- he gets to have like.. a normal day with Syd somewhat, outside of work, hanging out with people who aren't in any way involved w/ the restaurant.

♡ W/C: 6,919

♡ Posted Date: 04/08/2024

♡ A/N: Hayo ;D Here is C3 of Blue Lotus!!! I am v much like Carmy & got a alot of amusement AND enjoyment writing this chapter, so that makes my brain tell me I took it too OOC & I haaate writing these 2 OOC. So if its OOC I'm sorry, but at least it's funny LOL. The story Shayna tells is lightly based on Euphoria But the college version - so if you've seen it that's why it feels a little familiar - if you haven't seen it its a same vibe except high school so the father is much, much more disgusting. But I looove writing Shayna so much, I have friends like her & they are always the personalities to make you laugh until youre sore the next day - & Syd & Carmy deserves a friend like that so I gave them one! Without further ado, I hope you enjoy <3 As per usual this fic is inspired by Tucson that can be read here It was written by my lovely friend @gingergofastboatsmojito please be sure to read that one before you read Blue Lotus, also do give Ginger a follow!!!

♡ Warnings for BTC: Talks of ; a near physical assault, blood, sex, transphobia/outing, self inflicted wounds, actually contains; smoking cigarettes/weed, drinking alcohol, vomiting, swearing

➵ 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 ♡

➵ 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 ♡

“Hey! Im Sydney- sure! We were uh…we were gonna cook- do you wanna join? I just got back from the store” she got up, shaking her hand. 

“Totally -  my god this necklace! Where did you get it?” Shayna asked, leaning in and looking at the pendant “and you smell so good, lavender?” She said. 

“I thrifted it! I love thrifting. Carm does too- does it so much he has to keep extra jeans in his oven.. oh! And yeah this perfume it’s inside. I’ll show it to you” Syd replied happily. 

“Your oven?” Jesse asked Carm 

“Yeah uh.. not enough space- um Syd these are my…” he trails off 

“Friends. Were his friends- therapy friends I guess. I mean I hope he holds his word and texts me when we get out of here” Shayna nudged Carm’s shoulder gently. 

He cleared his throat “yeah- uh-my friends. Shayna and Jesse.” He said shyly. 

“Well it’s nice to meet you guys, have you ever had deer? They sell it at the grocery store here, harder to get in Chicago. I figured we’d try this recipe I thought up a while ago” she opened the door to the cabin and Jesse and Shana went inside making themselves at home right away. 

This wasn’t the first time they’d hung out, they would do this a few times a week before dinner and then sit and eat together before going back to their respective cabins for the night. 

“Never had deer before - aren’t you guys like super chefs or-“ Jesse is interrupted by Shayna’s whining 

“Carmen you still haven’t asked for a wifi box?!” She asked annoyed, putting her phone back in the pocket of her cargo jeans.  

“No I haven’t because I don’t need one I’m not addicted to Instagram or whatever the fuck” Carmy said, taking the door for Syd and she headed in, him following suit. 

“Oh yeah I forgot Carmy the little old man who likes to hide away from the online world- you look like you take fire Instagram pictures, how do you deal with that loser all the time?” She asked Syd jokingly, leaning against the counter and watching as she pulled various ingredients from the fridge. 

Syd laughed a bit, a big smile on her face as she moved around looking through various cabinets. “I do…um- Chef-“ she said and he sat up from where he was leaning against the kitchen doorframe 

“Where do you need me?” He asked her 

“Onions medium dice if you can manage the knives here suck” she took out one of the small knives they kept for him in the drawer and set it on the cutting board as she began to pick the rosemary, putting the sprigs in a bowl. 

“What the fuck is that” Shayna picked up a mortar with a deep black goop at the bottom. 

“Juniper berries…found a juniper tree when I was hanging outside. Made sure it’s the right kind so don’t be worried” Syd said and Carmen couldn’t help the small smile that curled his lips. 

“You found a juniper, and you just.. remembered this recipe?” Carmen asked, chopping the onions as skillfully as if he hadn’t been out of the kitchen a single day. 

“Thats hot” Shayna says “you’re hot as hell bitch! Oh my god! You just saw a tree and were like ‘let me make up this super cute berry deer coquette dish’ ” she said, causing Syd, her, and Jesse to crack up, but Carmen was lost. 

“The fuck is a coquette?” He asked, causing Syd to laugh harder when Shayna said between giggles 

“I told you! He’s so old!!!” She squeaked, leaning against the counter and wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. 

“Coquette is like… Marina and the Diamonds on Vinyl, pink bow, fairy princess, Sydney in the woods picking juniper berries aesthetic it’s like..a vibe.” Shayna explained.

“Oh my god- it’s a girl thing carm it’s like. I dunno- like pink frilly shit and like- Lacy shit?” Jesse tried to explain. 

Carm raised his brows, scraping the now cut onions into a bowl. “So Syd picking berries what does that have to do with- what did you say- pink bows?” Carm questioned and Shayna rolls her eyes. 

“It’s the vibe Carmen, the vibe. Ugh you are no fun I can already tell Sydney is the fun one. What music do you listen to?” Shayna sat up next to Syd on the counter as she dusted the board with flour and started to cut the meat into chunks. 

“I listen to…well- a lot. My mom loved R&B so I still listen to that but mostly 90s stuff that makes me think of her, I love SZA, HER, Jhené Aiko, oh Kali Uchis! Khelani of course… frank ocean is so fire I really like his stuff too..yeah just a lot of stuff.” She explained. 

Carm sat there digesting every word she said, it wasn’t unusual for him to do that. He tried tucking the unfamiliar names in the back of his mind so he could look them up or ask Shayna what she knew about them later. 

“Oh my god- we have to chill sometime!! Do you smoke?” Shay asked hopefully and Syd looked at Carm for a moment before her eyes flickered back to Shayna. 

“I do. But…not when I’m working. Because it fucks up my taste and smell..but I am on vacation so…” she said with a small shrug and a smile. 

“Dude! Oh my god Jesse cmon I need to go back to my cabin” she got down off the counter “I’ll be right back” she said and they headed out being sure to close the door behind them. 

“They’re fucking?” Syd asked and Carmen laughed a bit 

“No- no. Where’d you get that?” He asked, beginning to peel the carrots over the garbage can. 

“Why did he go with her? Aren’t the cabins all right here?” She asked. 

Carmen looked up at her for a moment “oh- yeah. They are. Shay has somethin about being alone. Somethin about her childhood- she came here because she said it’s like…the good version of where her dad sent her. Whatever that means. But she can’t be out and about alone it freaks her out. I guess she went to some… wilderness camp? She went on about it in one of our sessions. They were…they were fucked up.” He said, putting the now peeled carrot down on the cutting board and starting on the next. 

“Shit.” She said, putting the cast iron on the burner, starting the flame with the lighter that she’d found on the counter. “Like…so they left her in the middle of nowhere or something?” She asked and Carmy shrugged. 

“Kinda like that. She said that they like…would hike all day. And then at night they’d have to pitch their own tents. They took their shoes at night so they wouldn’t try and run. They’d like- send pictures back to their family- and if they didn’t smile they’d get in trouble. Pretty fuckin…sadistic shit t’do to a kid. Dunno how her dad thought it would change her ways - she said she went because their views on religion didn’t align…” he explained 

“Wow…” she said, after a long beat of silence “she’s like..I wouldn’t have expected her to be so friendly after that. I wouldn’t be” she said, salting down the meat. 

“Yeah Shayna is…a character. For sure. But she’s really sweet, and has a huge heart even though she loves to bitch people out. She’d cut someone if they tried to fuck with me, though. One of the newcomers showed me that” he chuckled, shaking his head a bit. 

“What happened?” She asked

“So we were at lunch, and before that day we just..sat at the same table but didn’t really talk. She talked, but I would mostly listen. And um, this new dude. Justin? I think? Total fuckhead. Guys a tank too, like fuckin’ 6’2? No joke. But uh he was like basically screaming at his table, talkin’ so fuckin’ loud, so I looked over- and he met my eyes and just went off hes like ‘you got a problem little man? What the fuck is up with you, you got a staring problem?’ And Shayna- you should have seen her!” He laughs at the memory. 

“What’d she do?” Syd asks curiously. 

“Oh, she picked up her mashed potatoes- like - a fist full of mashed potatoes Syd- bare handed- and screeeamed at him ‘YOU WANNA FUCK WITH HIM COCKSUCKER?! WHY DON’T YOU COME FUCK WITH A BITCH THAT CAN ACTUALLY LOOK YOU IN THE EYE, SCAREDY MOTHERFUCKER!’  then whipped it at the dude. It hit him right in the face- eeeeveryone was dying we were all cracking the fuck up. I haven't seen him again after that, thankfully, but then she just looked at me and asked me for my plastic knife so she could get the potatoes from under those huge nails she wears and went to wash her hands like nothing happened.” He explained. 

Syd laughs and Carm follows suit. “Wow. Well I guess I shouldn’t worry about you after all- you found a temporary big sister, you should keep her around. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who would pelt another in the face with mashed potatoes for me” she snorts a laugh, setting the meat in the pan. 

“I would. Without a shadow of a doubt, when Marcus was yelling at you I wanted to fuckin knock him out with a pan-“ he stopped himself and she looked over at him, the only sound now filling the room being the sizzling of venison on cast iron and the tick of the wall clock. 

She blinked a few times, unsure what to say before the memory of the drawing came back to her. 

Just say it now. Why else would he want to hit one of his employees with a pan if not for feelings he hasn’t made me aware of?

She’d thought to herself. 

But Carmen on the other hand was thanking god that Shayna and Jesse came back, boisterous as ever- 

“Pookiesss We come bearing gifts” Shayna drops a bag on the table, as well as a pink speaker that was playing some Spanish music Carmen hadn’t ever heard before. 

“You listen to Bad Bunny?” Syd asks as she turns around. 

“YOU Listen to bad bunny?” Jesse asks and Syd smiles big 

“Who doesn’t listen to Bad Bunny?” Syd laughed “he’s like- literally I think the most listened to Spotify artist or something? Top 3?!” 

“Who is bad bunny?” Carmen asks as he cut the carrots into matchsticks. 

“You need to train your dogs better, Sydney” Shayna teased, taking shooters of grey goose out of her tote bag and putting them in the freezer. 

Syd laughs so hard she snorts, covering up her mouth with her hand and shaking her head. “You are fucking insane” she said 

Carmen smiled big, looking over at Syd. “Chef, did you just snort?” He teased smugly and set his knife down, leaning against the counter next to her, smirking. 

“I did- because your friend thinks you’re my bitch” she teased, turning back to the meat and flipping each cube carefully with the metal tongs that were next to her on the counter. 

Carmen’s mouth drops and his cheeks go scarlett, Shayna snorts a laugh, sitting at the table casually, legs crossed as she picked the stems and seeds off buds of weed, while Jesse howls with laughter. “Fuuuck-“ he shakes his head with amusement “wow. I uh…” he snorts a laugh “I get you Carmen. Get you better now” he said. 

“Okay- fuck you shayna” Carmen shook his head, unable to contain his smile. He’d never heard Syd laugh so hard before and witnessing it made him feel on fire. 

“Sorry I can tell who wears the pants it’s a natural talent of mine” she shrugged, “Jess come do this” she slid the little container of picked apart buds over to the spot next to her and he sits next to her at the table. 

“So you guys aren’t..like you’ve not known eachother before this?” Syd asks them. 

“Oh! No we did actually. Jess and I met at this program when we were 14, restart. It was a pure chance though that we come here at the same time.” She said and got up, washing her hands in the kitchen sink of the sticky resin. 

“That’s so cool - where are you from?” Syd asked her as she takes the bowl of onions from next to Carm at the island, their hands brushing for a moment which caused Carmen to nearly cut himself because his focus was completely lost at her touch. 

“Were from LA. Aren’t you from Chicago? Why are you here? I mean- like it’s great you’re great I’m glad to have a sane member of society around, it’s refreshing when you’re only around only psychos, you know? But uh..” she laughed a bit when Syd got started “you must be…pretty close friends” she looked at Carm for a moment before looking back at her. 

Carmen suddenly felt something akin to anger sitting low in his chest. And it had to do with Shayna. He likes Shayna, so he wasn’t sure what was going on. But, Jesse saw the switch in Carmen- and read it right away as jealousy. 

“Uh…” Syd clears her throat nervously, suddenly not knowing what to say. 

“Like what is it? Jess? We went to restart in Wisconsin so Chicago? How far is that?” She asks. 

Jesse gave her the cut it out eyes, but Shayna hadn’t been able to play matchmaker in weeks, she was gonna push these two together the same way she made her Barbie’s kiss when she was a kid. 

“I’ll guess like - 1800 miles. Soooo- oh! And don’t you have that restaurant?” She asked and Syd nods. 

“Mmhmm we run it together. It’s fine though it’s being held down, I finally got my new Sous trained and his sister is working a lot lately she wants to get everything all together before she has her baby so…” she rambled on, trying to pull out any reason that made it sound like she was unneeded there - even though that couldn’t be further from the truth. 

“Right. I’m gonna go smoke would you like to come? I’m sure your…” she looks back at Carmen for a moment before looking back at Sydney “partner can hold this down until we get back?” She asked and looked at Carmen again, raising her brows. 

“Yeah- yeah Syd go. Go ahead go relax - got this chef.” He nods and went over to the stove, squeezing past her in the tight space, his hand brushing her waist momentarily as he did so. 

“Okay- okay sure” Syd nodded, following Shayna outside. She walked quietly for a few moments, lighting the joint and taking a drag before handing it over to Syd. 

They were about 30 feet from the house, Syd was taking a deep drag of the joint - savoring the taste since she couldn’t do it often, when Shayna said 

“You need to fuck eachothers brains out so he can go the fuck home. That- or tell him it’ll never happen so he can stay here for however long it takes him to break down and move on” 

Sydney choked on the smoke in her throat, quickly handing the burning joint back to Shayna and coughing into her arm. 

Shayna laughs before taking another drag, patting Sydney’s back sympathetically. “Sorry- people have told me I’m too blunt but I’d rather hear the truth so I give it to people straight” she said simply. 

“Dude! What if he heard you! Shhh!” Sydney said once she caught her breath. 

“Oh please! No! He didn’t! And if he did- he’d be leaned halfway out the door trying to hear the answer because he’s dying to know! You know he has the hots for you- please- don’t play stupid, girl” She rolled her eyes, handing the joint back over. 

“What - no- he’s- we’re business partners” Syd replied, shaking her head and taking a short drag. “He doesn’t. He’s just sick and clinging to me he’s - he’s depressed and I’m violating HIPAA or whatever by saying that but it’s honest! I’m not his type” She passed it back over to Shayna. 

She took it, laughing at her HIPAA comment “Chefs aren’t bound to HIPAA regulations, but nonetheless- I’ll be honest for you, since you can’t be honest with yourself. You flew here because you want to fuck him. There’s no other explanation- no not even just fuck- you love the guy. Why else would you fly across the country to be with him? Especially when he’s due home in 11 days. No dick is that great, especially attached to a guy on that many psych meds.” She said and took a long drag. 

Sydney’s heart began racing 100 miles an hour. She stopped walking, leaning against the fence, feeling like all the air had been knocked out of her lungs. She imagined this is how Carmy felt when Stardust threw him off. 

“Are you- what in the Hozier Adele ass fuck. You didn’t know? Or - realize- the L word? That you love him?” Shayna said, taking another drag of the joint. 

Sydney stared at the forest ahead, resting her hand on her forehead, shaking her head. “Fuck. Fuck. Oh fuck.” She swallowed hard. “Um-uh I- I feel sick? I feel- I’m gonna throw up.” Syd said, standing up and quickly walking over to the large oak tree at the end of the rows of cabins, hurling up the remainders of her lunch which was just a McDonald’s burger she’d gotten on her way back from the grocery store. 

“Jesus Christ. It’s you too? What are you waiting for?” Shay followed after her, rubbing her back gently  

“What do you mean-“ She’s interrupted by a gag she couldn’t hold back. “Fuck. What do you mean what’s me too?” She asked, coughing and spitting the bile taste in her mouth on the ground before leaning against the tree to catch her breath. 

“Like- you and him both don’t even realize you’re in love. It’s weird as fuck. It’s usually one person chasing - but you guys are secretly chasing eachother? But also at the same time trying I dunno. One of you has to make a move though” she said, leaning on the tree next to Syd. 

“What if he’s just sick? What if he’s clinging to me because he’s sick and…and I’m like manipulating him” she asked nervously 

“Ahh yes because you are manipulating a grown man into not breathing when he sees you? You can do that? Can you teach me? Except I’ll use it to kill creeps” she nudged Syds shoulder, finally earning a smile back out of her. 

“He doesn’t do that…” she looked at the ground sheepishly

“When we get back, I’m gonna count out loud because the oblivious fuck hears no one when you’re around, and watch he won’t be breathing. I swear it’s like the first thing I noticed looks like a fuckin fish out of water.” She said and finished the joint, stomping it out with her shoe. “Shall we put my experiment to the test?” She asks and Syd rolls her eyes. 

“I wanna see what’s going on with the food let’s go” she smiled a bit, heading back with Shayna to the cabin.  

It only took them 4 minutes back, Shayna walks in first and Carm’s head pops up from his conversation with Jesse at the counter, and as soon as Syd pops in behind her- Shayna quietly starts whispering “one…two…three…four..-OW!” She squeaks as Syd kicks her ankle just enough to hurt. 

That was enough to break Carm out of his trance “hey- hey- how was your walk, y’okay? You look…I dunno” he came up to her, feeling Syds cheek with the back of his hand “y’flushed…” he said and she pulled away from his touch, feeling embarrassed. 

“I’m fine” she said, walking back to the stove and making sure the meat was okay. “What did you do with the beef stock?” She asked, looking over the counter. 

Carmy swallowed thickly “uh- sorry, sorry. Here” he went to where he put it in the cabinet and handed it to her. “We…we good?” he asked quietly. 

“We’re good. Get the juniper berries please.” She said without meeting his gaze and opened the stock, pouring some in the pan. 

Shayna giggles and Carm looks back at where she and Jesse were sat at the table, Jesse making a circle with his thumb and forefinger and thrusting his other finger in and out of it, alluding to their sexual tension lacing the room. 

“Oh you are children.” Carmen grumbles, grabbing a beer from the fridge and rolling his eyes “want one- dipshit? Cabin check is tomorrow they all need to be gone” he said and Jesse nodded with a smug smile. 

“You love your crazy camp besties pookie!!! Don’t play games cause your cool chef friend is around” Shayna said, getting up and going to the freezer, taking out 2 shots. 

“Syd?” She asked and Sydney turns around, looking at the shots in her hand. 

“Uh- why not. Sure. Just one” she said, taking one of them and cracking it open. 

“Cheers” Shayna says, clinking her shooter with Syds 

“To?” Syd asked. 

“New beginnings” Shayna said simply before tilting her head back and swallowing the shot in one gulp.

“That was the best fucking food I’ve ever eaten. Have you guys ever been told you should open a restaurant?” Jesse teased, helping Carmen clear the empty dishes from table. 

“Wow you really should pursue stand up, Jess” Carmy said with a small smile, collecting the 4 disposable cups they used for wine and throwing them away. 

“You know who would fuckin love her Carm?” Syd motions to Shayna 

“Who?” He mused, rolling up his sleeves and starting the hot water on the sink. 

“Richie. They’d be menaces together but they’d be best friends!” Syd laughs a bit and Carmen gasps 

“Richie!!! Yes! They would- but- Oh my god how is he? I literally- fuck. I’m so shitty I haven’t even really…like been thinkin about everyone back home other then like you and I- I guess sugar” Carmen said. 

Jesse and Shayna gave eachother a ‘we’ll discuss this romcom fuckshow later’ look, before giggling amongst themselves. 

“He’s- he’s Richie. He’s never gonna let me stabbing him go. Every time I tell him to do something he’s like ‘right away chef wouldn’t wanna get stabbed’ - he’s scaring the new hires, carm!” She giggled in the way that made his heart flutter like butterflies were smacking it with their wings. “And he keeps calling me cousin by mistake!! It’s getting ..really weird” she shook her head, sitting down at the table. 

“You stabbed a motherfucker?” Shayna asked impressed. 

Carmen laughed a bit “on accident” he told her 

“Doesn’t mean it didn’t feel good he was grating my last nerve that day. But I mean…he’s okay so I’m not that bad for thinking it” she smiled and Carmen laughed, scrubbing the plates with the sponge. 

“I would have stabbed this motherfucker but I just did one better and made everyone afraid to fuck with me. Everyone thinks this was a result of my attempt but it’s not.” Shayna showed off a long scar on her forearm, partially covered by a large dragon tattoo. 

“You did that to yourself?” Syd asked, slightly impressed but mostly a little scared, her finger gently rubbing up the raised scar. 

“Mmhmm. In college. I went to this party, this guy-“ she shook her head with a small, mischievous smile. “So he comes in the kitchen, he’s acting like a fucking bull so of course I’m staring at the weirdo, right? He looks at me- and he goes what the fuck are you looking at, bitch. And I was new, so I didn’t know it was his house. So I was like I’m looking at some meathead loosing his temper like a toddler, what the fuck are you looking at. And he just asks me who I am- and…” she sits back “I didn’t know anyone? Like…I went there to meet people. So I was like oh I’m Shayna and he just starts screaming ‘who the fuck is Shayna, does anyone at this party know a fucking Shayna?’ And he was like in my face. So I told him I was like I’m not trying to start anything here I’m minding my business back up and he goes ‘no one that looks like you is minding their own business’ and then he- he told me he knew what I was.” She said and shrugged.

 “ And that I just wanted attention. And that he would give me the attention I was looking for. And then? He told everyone in the kitchen that someone better speak for me or he was gonna fuck me up.- so, I grabbed a knife from the counter, and he backed up like a pussy and was like ‘I’m kidding! I’m kidding it’s a joke I’m fucking with you!’ And I asked him if he wanted to hurt me, and he kept saying no - even though I knew he was getting ready to kick the shit out of me, probably worse. So I slit my arm, and bled on him. Then I left. And no one ever tried to out me there again.” She said and sipped her beer. 

“You’re gay?” Sydney asked curiously. 

“Yeah but that’s- Jesus Christ these Chicagoans” she said, and her and Jesse started laughing. 

“What? What’s funny?” Syd sat up. 

“she’s-“ Carmen starts

“AHT!” Shayna tisks “no, Carmen, we got to make fun of you for a month now we get to make fun of her until she figures it out. I think you’re smarter though, socially speaking” She said and Carmen gives her the finger, causing her to laugh. 

“Oh- ohhhh! Wow! I wonder how he thought he could tell” Syd said and Carmen looks back at her. 

“Really?! How did you figure it out so fast?!” He asked her 

Syd laughs “oh because it’s the 2020’s and if someone says they were outed and it’s not about being gay, there’s only one other thing to out” she said and Carm huffs, annoyed with his own pitfalls of refusing to make friends his first 30 years. 

“Yeah how would he know? I didn’t know” Carm asked her and she smiled big, looking at Jesse. 

“It was fucked. Up. What you did. But if you wanna tell them? Gooo ahead.” He said with a smile, drying the dishes as Carm washed and rinsed them. 

Shayna laughs excitedly, sitting up and pushing her long blonde hair back. “Okay, so. I end up finding out who this guy is, right? And apparently…his dad who was the football coach was like- DL- into trans girls- “ Carm interrupts 

“What does that mean?” He asked her 

“DL? Down low, like- they fuck us in private” she explained and Carmen scrunched his brows in confusion 

“Why?” He asked and Shayna looked at him confused. 

“Because…they think it’s gay?” She said like it was obvious, but to Carmen, it wasn’t. 

“But… Y’re a girl. So how would it be gay?” He asked 

“I’ll give you a ‘how humans interact with eachother’ lesson later, Carmen, for now it’s story time” she teased.

 “Anyway-“ she continued “so I find this out, because I look up his name on Facebook - see his dad tagged, and I fly to Grindr- because I swore I literally saw him there. Turns out I had. So I send him a chat, we hit it off, I go fuck him-“ she said, Syd starts laughing, Carm turns around with wide jaw eyes and a dropped jaw. 

“Like- oh I fuuuuucked that man. Multiple times. He didn’t fuck me- let me say that again for your cis ears to have it sink in, I fucked- this man’s father” she said - Carmen’s jaw drops further, and Jesse was howling with laughter at Syd and Carmys shocked expressions. 

“No- no- Shayna- hold on I need a cigarette - Jesse take this shit over” Carmen pulls open the front door, pushing up the glass on the screen door, grabbed his beer and cigarettes from the counter, and sat next to Syd at the table. “Okay keep goin- I’ve never heard this much-“ he shook his head in amusement 

“Tea? I know- it gets better!” Shayna laughs. 

Carmen smirked, shaking his head and taking out a cigarette lighting it between his lips and taking a drag. “So you fucked this man’s dad.” Carmen couldn’t help but laugh at how insane the words sounded coming from his mouth- and Sydney followed suit, head falling back and eyes squeezing shut, Carmen’s heart quickened at the adorable sight, having the urge to reach out and grab her soft, delicate hand that was just a few inches from his own on the tabletop. 

“Oh my god- were taking them with us back to chicago- I can’t remember the last time I laughed like this” Syd said, stealing his beer from next to him and taking a sip. 

The action made Carmen’s heart skip a beat. The fact that she was comfortable drinking out of something his lips had already touched, it drove him wild. They had tried food off of the same spoon at work just so they didn’t have to go through the hassle of washing two, but this felt…different. More intimate. 

“Did you- I’m sorry- did you want one?” He asked “I didn’t think you liked beer - I thought you said you like wine more” he said and she shook her head. 

“We can share…right?” She asked, a bit shyly. She wasn’t sure what made her do it, maybe it was because her white claw had been long forgotten and now was luke warm on the kitchen counter, or maybe it was the few extra shots she’d been convinced into taking earlier that was causing her to take the chat with Shayna to heart. 

“Yeah- course, always.” He nodded a bit. Unnoticed by Syd and Carmy, Jesse and Shayna give eachother another ‘we’re gonna talk about this romcom shit later’ look before Shayna clears her throat. 

“So- yes Carmen, I fucked this man’s father. And multiple times. He was married- I didn’t fully know that though before you both look at me shitty- he didn’t say that -“ Jesse cuts her off 

“Ohhhh- oh! No!!” He laughs “no- the real story- is that she saw a ring but didn’t ask about it - you may now continue” he said, turning back to the sink and rinsing the last of the dishes. 

Carm snorts a laugh “evil. That is evil the man’s marriage! Shayna!” He took a drag of his cigarette and she rolled her eyes. 

“It was already on the rocks- let me finish! You fucks! So then- I recorded it, and I held onto it- just in case. But. Get this- one of my girlfriends on campus? Guess who she ran into on Grindr?” She asks and Carm and Syd both lean in slightly, and Shayna can’t help but notice the way they were already so in sync. 

“The fucking guy from the party” she said and Syd gasps, Carmen cracks up. 

“He’s his fathers spitting image. Thats it. That’s why- that’s why he said that to you. He knows about you or whatever? Because he loves girls like you and is also a pussy.” Syd said and Carm hums in agreement. 

“Exactly! Exactly. So…I had her tell him to meet her in the park- but…” she smirks and Sydney covers her mouth preemptively, knowing whatever was going to say next was going to be off the wall. 

“I was there too- fucking his dad! And oops! he saw us! And I asked him if we should check and see who’s bigger- he dropped out of school the same week- and the dad resigned” she said and took another casual sip of her beer with a proud smirk.

Carmen sits there, dumbfounded, looking to Sydney who when she saw the look on his face cracked up. “Your face-“ she said, causing him to start laughing as well. 

“Shay-“ he looks at her, wiping tears that were gathering in the corners of his eyes from laughing so hard. “Shayna what the fuck” he managed to get out before laughing again, shaking his head. “You are a person that I won’t ever, ever get on your shit list if I can help it” he said, looking over quickly when Syd coughs from laughing so hard 

“Woah- arms up, arms up” he tells her and goes to the fridge, grabbing a water bottle and coming back quickly, opening the cap and handing it to her. She took a large sip. 

“Thank you- sorry- fuck you Shayna you’re gonna kill us both I don’t think I’ve ever heard him laugh this hard” she said and Shayna smiled 

“Well, that’s a good thing. this guys got a problem with having the dead inside look- at least before you got here” she nudged Carm with her elbow. 

He realized he was still stood, hand protectively on the back of Syds chair looking down at her as if she was the only one in the room. 

“Isn’t that why we’re all here?” Jesse countered, sitting in the empty chair next to Shayna 

“I’m very alive inside- I just get too manic and start destroying my life because it’s something to do” she said and finished off her beer. “I’m already on probation cmon I need to go to my cabin and you aren’t allowed to have fun without me” she told Jesse, standing up and grabbing her bag and speaker. “Nice to meet you, Sydney. And Remember our chat hot stuff” she said as she put her bag on her shoulder. 

“Yeah- we’ll probably run into each other again, I leave Sunday night.” She said, and Carmen’s heart soars. 

He wasn’t sure why, he just thought maybe she’d just fly in for one night to see how he was and then leave the next day, but the fact she was staying a whole other day and a half- and they would be alone. 

“Sick! Okay well we’ll link up tomorrow then, have a goodnight guys - and remember wrap it before you tap it, shortstack!” Shayna said as her and Jesse shut the door behind them and head off. 

Carmen blushed pink, shaking his head. “She’s a hack, but she’s a very nice hack” Carm said, rubbing over his face embarrassedly. 

“They’re super cool Carm. She’s..really fuckin out there but-“ she shrugged looking at the clock. “Oh- shit. Fuck- it is late, I don’t want you to get in trouble” she said, standing up and grabbing her coat off the back of her chair. 

“You- you aren’t um…staying?” He asked and got up, grabbing her backpack she’d brought with her from the kitchen table and bringing it over. 

“Oh well all of my- stuff..” she trailed off, eyes locked on his. They stayed there silent for a moment, and his heart started pounding in his chest so hard he could feel it in his stomach. 

“Uh-“ he started and nervously bit the inside of his lip, he’d been doing that a lot tonight. He was holding his tongue, he always did around her. He didn’t understand it, because unless she was around it was like a part of his brain switched off, and he didn’t have access to speech in the same capacity as when she was near. 

“I- so…I think um- I-“ he stops himself, grabbing his shoulder nervously and averting her gaze. His throat suddenly felt tight, this was it. He either said something, or he let her leave and he stayed up all night thinking about what he should have said when she leaves. 

“Did you draw me?” Sydney asks suddenly. 

Carmen feels his stomach doing flips, his palms got sweaty and all of the color drained from his face. “I-“ he crossed his arm over his chest, tightly gripping his hoodie. He suddenly felt as if he could be sick, “I’m sorry?” It came out sounding like a question. 

Sydney felt insane “you- when-“ she smiled nervously “oh god- Jesus- I- it must be the-“

Carmen cut her off before she could say what would shut his entire course of action that he was trying to lay out down fully before he could attempt to put it into motion. “I meant- I meant I’m sorry if that makes you uncomfortable. Syd. That’s how I meant it. I - you remind me of home.” He said, not breaking her gaze. “And I need a little bit of that, here.” He said softly. 

Syd just nods, holding on to the chair for stability. She wasn’t sure if this conversation was really happening or if she was in some insane dream. She could hardly believe Carmen was expressing himself to her, in a way other then anger or fear. 

“I..I draw you a lot.” He admits, running a nervous hand through his hair. “We do uh- art..art therapy. A few hours every day” 

“Can I…see them? If…if that’s okay?” She questioned. 

The color came back to Carmen’s face full force, he had to be sure whichever sketchbooks he would show her had none of the explicit themed drawings. “Uh- sure. Sure…gimme a sec- I’ll um” he headed to the bedroom, opening the desk drawer and grabbing the bigger sketchbook he usually took to art therapy, the safest one since the therapist would come and look at whatever the patients were working on.  

He quickly flicked through it to make sure, before heading back out to the living room where Syd had sat on the couch when he went to retrieve the sketchbook. “I’m- sorry…sorry if this is like. Weird-“ he said, feeling suddenly Insecure about his hobby that was the reprieve that got him through any of the sleepless nights he had here. 

“No- no its..it’s sweet Carm, can I?” She asked, grabbing the sketchbook in his lap, their hands brushing lightly. He felt that familiar fire in his chest, and nods with a hum of agreement. 

She opened it, eyebrows raising in surprise “they aren’t like-“ he started 

“This is incredible-“ she cut him off and leaned over him, turning on the lamp at his side to get a better look at the portrait he had committed to memory of her smiling. He nearly shivered when her curls brushed his cheek, the smell of the perfume on her neck mixed with the familiar scent of her causing goosebumps to appear over his flesh. 

“I don’t know if I should be offended that you remember the gap in my teeth so well. Because I know for a fact you aren’t on Instagram” she said. He smiled, rolling his eyes slightly 

“It’s one of your nicest qualities” he shrugged a bit. 

“Oh one of them? Are there many?” She smiled, flipping the page.

“I think the question should be if you have any flaws” he said, and her eyes flicked back to his. 

They were now sitting so close that their faces were less then a foot apart. “I think we both know that’s bullshit.” She said 

“To you maybe” his eyes flickered to her lips momentarily. 

“I always catch you doing that” she teased, smiling a bit. 

“Doing what?” He asked, his eyes meeting hers again. 

“I dunno…staring at me..like..” she looks at his lips for a long moment before meeting his gaze once again. 

“Why do you think?” He asked quietly. 

“There are alot of things I can’t seem to figure out about you…Carmy” she said just above a whisper. 

“Well what do you want to know. I’m uh…trying to be more open.” He said equally as soft. 

“Do you know why I really came here?” She asked 

“Because you saw the fuckin drawing, somehow.” He smiled a bit. 

“Yes” she chuckled “but- it just..it kinda confirmed something for me I dunno- I just wanted to come check if maybe-“ 

She’s interrupted by his lips on hers, she was surprised at first, but of course didn’t pull away. He cupped her cheek gently, his thumb rubbing over her supple skin. 

The way their lips moved together was natural, like they’d done this already a thousand times in a hundred lives. His nose gently nudges hers and she wraps her fingers in his dirty blonde curls, tugging gently how she’d fantasized so many times. 

He slid his tongue over her plump bottom lip, humming softly when she opened her mouth at the contact. His hands were nearly shaking. His entire body felt like it was exploding with tiny fireworks underneath his skin. 

The air between them both felt as if it was crackling with electricity. As if the universe was humming in approval that they had finally accepted their bond. 

Sydney had never felt anything so right. She felt as if every stress in her life evaporated, as if her and Carmy were the only 2 people in the world. She felt like she was glowing from the inside out.  “T’make sure I wanted t’do that…right?” He said softly when she pulled away. 

➵ 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 ♡♡♡ ⋙

[alyswritings]

Hurting

Request: tomdaya x daughter where they find out she’s self harming :(

Tomdaya x daughter!reader

Summary: Tom and Zendaya find out something heartbreaking about their daughter.

Warnings: talk of self harm

a/n: PLEASE DO NOT READ IF THIS CAN TRIGGER YOU!!! thank you for the request

(gif not mine)

Y/N and Tom are outside and he's helping her with volleyball.

"So, just make sure you keep your fist closed like this." Tom instructs. "That way you don't hurt your thumb. And then hit it like that." He hits the volleyball, it going up in the air and across the yard.

"That's what I do, but it still barely moves." Y/N whines.

"You'll get it, love. Don't worry." Tom softly chuckles.

"No. I swear, I'm athletically challenged." Y/N pouts, sitting down.

"Well, if you are, that's nothing to be ashamed of." Tom says, patting her on the head before walking off to get the volleyball. Tom gets the ball and walks back over, standing by his daughter.

He looks down, going to say something, but stops when he notices something on her leg. Tom's eyebrows furrow as he looks at her thigh, seeing the cuts. He glances at her other leg, seeing the same cuts on that one.

"Love, what happened to your legs?" Tom asks.

"Hmm?" Y/N looks up at him, confused.

"There." Tom points to her thighs. Y/N looks down at her legs, her eyes widening in panic.

"Oh, it-- it's just shaving nicks." Y/N dismisses, pulling her shorts down.

"In lines?" Tom asks.

"Yeah. Yeah, uh... still kind of suck at it." Y/N lets out a small, nervous laugh. "I'm gonna go get some water." She gets up and quickly goes inside.

- - -

Y/N is napping on the couch in the living room. Zendaya goes upstairs, hearing rummaging in the bathroom and she walks in, finding Tom going through the cabinets.

"Tom?" She calls and he only spares her a short glance. "What are you doing?"

"Looking for sharp objects." Tom mutters.

"Sharp objects?" Zendaya asks. "Wh-- why?"

"Y/N has cuts on her legs." Tom informs.

"Cuts?" Zendaya asks.

"Yeah. Like... she said they were shaving nicks but they looked like..." Tom stops himself, trying to not break down. "They looked intentional. Whether it was by her or somebody else. They were on her upper thigh. I--"

"Okay. I'm gonna look through her room." Zendaya says.

"That's invading her privacy. We--" Tom says.

"Well, if she's cutting herself, I need to invade privacy if she won't talk." Zendaya says, walking out.

After looking through the bathroom, Tom went to Y/N's room where Zendaya was still looking and Tom starts helping.

Tom opens a drawer that's full of random stuff and he rummages through it. Tom stops when he finds a bag that has three razor blades in it. His hand slightly shakes as he picks it up, holding it up.

"Babe?" Tom calls.

"What?" Zendaya turns, freezing at what Tom's holding. "Oh, my God." She whispers, her hand covering her mouth in shock, tears springing to her eyes.

Tom's sad eyes look back at the bag in his hands, his heart aching at the idea of where they've been and what they've been used for on his baby girl.

- - -

Tom and Zendaya waited for Y/N to wake up and talked about how to talk to her about it.

Y/N is sitting on the couch and scrolling on her phone.

"Hey." Zendaya greets her daughter, managing a small smile. "Baby, we need to talk to you." She says. Tom and Zendaya sit on the coffee table in front of Y/N.

"I didn't do it." Y/N says.

"You're not in trouble, love." Tom assures. "Get off the phone, please." Y/N glances between them, but listens, turning her phone off and putting it down.

"What?" She asks. "What, did somebody die or something?"

Her parents share a glance before Tom takes something out of his pocket. He puts the plastic bag of razor blades on the couch next to her. Y/N feels her heart drop and her blood runs cold.

"What, uh... what's that?" She tries to act clueless.

"That's what you need to tell us." Zendaya says.

"Mom--"

"Love." Tom cuts her off. "Are you..." He quietly clears his throat, doing his best to push his tears back. "Are you hurting yourself?" He barely manages to croak out.

Y/N glances between her parents who are both trying to hold their tears back at even the idea of their daughter being in any sort of pain.

"I-- n-no." Y/N mumbles, messing with the hair tie around her wrist.

"Y/N, the truth." Zendaya says.

Y/N sighs, looking down.

"Yes." She mumbles.

Both parents' hearts break and Tom lowers his head, covering his face as he feels some tears slip out. Tears fall down Zendaya's face and she blinks, trying to stop them, but failing.

"I'm sorry." Y/N starts to sob. "I didn't want to, I-- I don't know how it happened. I just... last year, my-my mental health just didn't... it got really bad. And I started struggling with everything -- school, social life, myself. I just... it made me feel something. I'm sorry."

"Last year?" Zendaya quietly asks, her voice cracking. Y/N nods.

"November." She whispers.

"Darling, if you didn't feel good, you could have come to us." Tom says, his voice raspy as he tries to keep the sobs in.

"I'm sorry." Y/N sobs. Tom puts the bag of razors on the floor and he moves to sit next to Y/N. He pulls her into a tight hug, cradling her to his chest. Zendaya sits on her other side and joins the hug, her head resting against her daughter's.

"I didn't wanna be a burden or anything. I just... I'm sorry." Y/N cries.

"Shh, baby. Shh, it's okay." Zendaya whispers, stroking her daughter's hair. "We got you, baby girl."

"We're right here. It's all right, darling. Let it out." Tom mumbles while he rubs her back. The two share sad looks, both shedding their own tears, but trying to not completely break down knowing their daughter needs them.

They continue to comfort Y/N for a few minutes until Tom pulls her up, having her sit up between them. Tom wipes some of Y/N's tears away before cupping one side of her face.

"We're gonna get you help, all right? We'll figure this all out and we'll get through it. We're right there with you." Tom tells her.

"Yes. Every step of the way." Zendaya adds, rubbing her daughter's arm and holding her hand. "If you feel like hurting yourself, we want you to come get one of us, okay? If you have the urge, come to us."

Y/N nods, sniffling.

"I'm sorry." She hiccups again.

"No, baby. Come here." Tom pulls her and Zendaya back into another hug, Y/N sandwiched between her parents. "We're sorry we didn't notice how much you were hurting."

"Let's just say I have excellent acting skills." Y/N comments.

"That'll be a lot funnier to us later." Zendaya says. "But still, we're your parents. We should've seen at least one of the signs."

"It's not your fault. I'm just really good at hiding it." Y/N weakly smiles.

"Well, no more hiding it." Tom says. "It's not healthy and we both really care about you and we love you more than anything. We want you to be okay. You got it?"

"Mm-hmm." Y/N nods, sniffling. Tom kisses her on the head.

"Tomorrow, we're gonna look into therapy and what we can do." Zendaya says. "How about tonight is just a movie night and all the cuddles in the world? You can sleep in our bed."

Y/N smiles a little and nods.

"That sounds nice." Y/N says, sniffling.

"We love you." Zendaya tells her.

"I love you guys, too." Y/N says as her mom kisses her temple, the two continuing to comfort their child.

Taglist: @glxwingrxse @venomsvl @wildieflower @aliciacat20 @allyson15 @gabbylovesreading @itsmaneskinbitch @mrvlxgrl

[untilwedont]

Peter x male reader where Peter just needs a hug

Just a hug

Pairings: Peter Parker x Male!Reader

Genre: Slight angst & fluff

Summary: Idk how to summarize it so just read it 😭

Warnings: Mentions of blood & bruises

Water dripped down from your face onto the floor of your bathroom tub. It was around 7:00 PM and you'd just gotten out of your steamy shower, now drying yourself off. You put on your warm clothes that you had laying on the toilet lid and did your normal skincare.

When you left your bathroom, you went through your closet to find another warm pair of clothing. Usually Peter would arrive at your place around this time, so you just wanted to make sure Peter wouldn't have to rummage through your closet to find comfy clothes.

Around a minute later, you heard slight knocking on your window. You got up to open it, knowing Peter was waiting outside. You thought it would've been like any other day. Peter would come through your window tired, ready to take a shower and instantly fall asleep by your side. You knew being a hero was hard, so you always made sure to provide the care he needed.

But this time was different. When you opened your window, you saw Peter with cuts and bruises through his suit that had rips it in, including some on his face. His suit had rips all over it, and some of his mask was ruined.

"Jesus Pete, what happened to you?!" You worried, urging Peter to come in. "Just uh- a few guys.. Strong guys.. That were taller and more muscular than me.." Peter removed his mask and you sat him on the bed. "Stay here, I'm gonna go get the medic kit." You quickly left into your bathroom, grabbing the medic kit from your cabinet and quickly returning to Peter.

Luckily Peter's face wasn't completely covered it cuts and bruises, but that didn't mean his body wasn't. You took a rag and rubbing alcohol out of the medic kit, "This is gonna hurt like a bitch, okay?" You spoke softly, trying your best to remain calm. Peter nodded and you placed the alcohol covered rag onto one of his cuts. Peter hissed at the pain, "I know, baby, I know."

After you finished his face, you told him to take his suit off. You yearned for this part, not wanting to see the rest of the cuts on his body. Pete was hesitate at first, but took his suit off. Your heart dropped to your stomach when you saw the condition Peter's body was in. There were obvious bruises all over his stomach and back, "Oh my God Pete, what did you do to those guys to upset them this bad?" You scanned his whole body, there was stained blood on his torso, and some of the cuts on his body still had slight blood oozing out if it.

"Nothing! They were just some bad guys trying to take this lady's purse. I tried to stop them.. and- well.." You cut his sentence off before he could keep going, "They beat your ass." Peter nodded and you began rubbing the rag onto his cuts. Luckily they were mainly on his torso and arms, hardly any on his legs.

After 15 minutes, you finally bandaged Peter all up. You made sure he took a warm shower so that he could soothe is body. When Peter was finished, he threw on the clothes you had laid out and sat next to you. "Pete.. I know you were only trying to do what's right but.." You paused for a moment, "Sometimes you have to realize the things you are and aren't capable of doing. I mean, those guys could have killed you if they wanted, you know?" You spoke, trying your best to sound like you weren't mad at Pete. You weren't, you were just worried.

"I know.. I was just trying to help people in need." He looked at his feet as he spoke. You placed your hand on his cheek and turned his head to face you, "I know Peter. Just try not get let yourself get killed next time. I love you." You kissed him on his lips and pulled him in for a hug.

That was all Peter needed. A hug and reassurance from his loving boyfriend.

[nothingbutaspaceman-writings]

It's Always Supernatural in Philadelphia (chapter 1/? WIP)

[Perhaps the dumbest project I've ever started. This idea has infested my head for over a decade. A couple years ago, I posted a pic of the cold open but recently decided to pick it back up. At about 1400 words, this is far more a proof of concept than anything. I've never written/read a fanfic. I know I need to look into posting this on a site more formatted for this stuff. I'll be mapping out the story soon so posted chapters can have some consistency. Should edit this chapter a bit too. I also haven't watched either of these shows in a long time. The story ostensibly takes place in 2016 but what's happening in either canon continuity at the time? I've no clue. AU, I guess.]

11 AM.

October 28th, 2016.

On a Friday.

Philadelphia.

Dennis made small talk while finding a clean glass.

“You guys from around here?”

“Nah. Passing through.”

“Don’t get a lot of suits in here. Don’t mind me askin’, what’s your business, fellas?”

Sam cleared his throat. “We’re, uh... P.I’s.”

“Any interesting pic-”

With a clatter, Charlie stumbles to the counter. “Dennis. It’s not dying. I keep whacking and-”

Shushing, “Did you use the spiked bat?”

Offendedly stammering, “Of course! Never seen a rat like this. And you know I’ve seen a lot-”

“Like what?” Dean interjected.

“Oh, hey guys. Green.”

_________________________________

The Gang Hunts El Chupacabra

_________________________________

Chapter 1

Charlie leads Dean toward the basement door.

“Okay, I guess it’s fair to warn you, seeing as how you’re a guest and all-”

“Warn me of what?”

“I have a shit-ton of crows down here. So, like. Please don’t spook them?” Charlie opens the door and leads the way down the stairs. “Ya know they’re more afraid of you than you are of them. Also, like, crows are super smart. I once saw one smoke a cigarette.”

“Cool. Now show me that rat.”

Blood pools in a spot a bit over a foot in diameter a couple steps away from the bottom of the stairs. Charlie is chuckling to himself repeating, “That rat, that rat, that rat” under his breath.

Dean crouches down with a flashlight to examine the blood then does a 360 checking for escape routes under pallets and cabinets. No tracks. He lightly dips his finger into the blood as he catches Charlie doing the same. “So you’re say-”

“What?”

“Did you taste the blood?”

“Nah, man. I’m just... Chewing my nails. Protein.” He stands up and puts his hands in his jacket pockets.

“This was a rat but not a rat?”

“Ima level with you,” Barely keeping his balance, Charlie hunches down and continues in a hush, “I’ve seen a lot of rats. A lot of rats in my day. But this was something else. Actually,” he claps his hands once and the crows squawk in a frenzy, “can I interest you in some Crow-Nog?”

“What?!”

Upstairs, Sam is trying to get his laptop working. He’s looking under each booth for a socket with power. The only one is being used by a couple charging their phones.

“Hey, do you guys mind if I borrow your socket for a minute? I can charge your phones on my laptop.” The young couple look across at each other waiting for the other to say something. “Alright. Um. Sir? If you wouldn’t mind swapping sides. Your lovely date would appreciate it, I’m sure.”

The young man gets up. “I’ll go order us a couple more drinks.”

“I’m okay,” Sams blurts before realizing his social faux pas. He makes eye contact with the woman and she smiles. He taps his fingers nervously and his eyes look to the table.

“Actually. I think the two of us are leaving. Come on.” The non-descript couple leaves with one rushing the other.

Dennis, watching the situation unfold, stands at the table. “Did you- was that intentional?”

“I’m sorry...”

“Dennis.”

“I’m sorry, Dennis, but I need to get to work.”

“Yeah. Yeah. Go ahead.” Dennis lingers a couple seconds longer than Sam would like but goes back behind the bar. As he does, Dean and Charlie emerge from the basement. Dean’s eyes quickly meet Sam’s and he slides into the booth.

Sam exhales, half annoyed he’s being interrupted again, half in preparation for what Dean is gonna reveal. “So what happened?”

“I think we’re on the right track. Freddy Got Fingered over there told me he has seen weird things around here. He tried to get me to drink something called Crow-Nog but there’s other witnesses.”

“Other witnesses? Friends with that guy?” Sam points to Charlie trying to open a bottle of super glue with his mouth.

“Yeah, why?” Dean returns assuredly. “Anything good in there?”

“Well, nothing to report as of yet.  I don’t know if this place even has internet.”

“Did you ask your friend over there?” Dennis is failing to look natural as he wipes and re-wipes the bar top.

“I’ll ask mine when you ask yours.” Charlie is trying to open a bottle of nail polish remover with his glued shut jaw.

“Fair enough. Didn’t we order drinks already?”

“Yeah. I’m going to let mine go. I wouldn’t drink anything here even if it was out of a bottle.”

“What do you mean? Alcohol kills all the germs.” Dean smirks. “Yo! Two beers. Your worst and your best.”

With a thumbs up, “You got it.” Dennis turns to the taps and rambles to himself unsure of how to fulfill the request. In one pint glass, he pours a pungent lager. He once read that good lager smells like rotten egg so, even if it is spoiled, he has the plausible deniability of it being fancy. “Charlie.”

Charlie is already right behind him, wiping nail polish remover from his lips in embarrassment.

“I’m not even going to ask. Charlie, what’s the best beer here?”

“Crow-Nog, duh, Dennis.”

“I’m not!” Hushing himself, “I’m not giving anybody your bird moonshine, okay?”

“Then whatever is in that third tap. I’ve been,” his eyes dart back and forth, “metaphorically sucking the spout.”

Another pint glass is grabbed and filled with a brick red tinted liquid. “This better be beer.” Dennis places the two glasses on the table. The lager in front of Dean. Charlie’s pick spilling over onto Sam’s laptop.

“They’re both for me, buddy.” The lager is already half-drank before the final syllable escapes.

“Sorry about my janitor over there. He can get a wee excited for guests.” They all look at Charlie as he licks a nail polish brush. “Let’s ignore him. So what are you guys working on?”

“Mr...”

“Reynolds.”

“Mr. Reynolds,” his empty pint is scooted towards the wall as he lowers his voice, “have you seen anything out of the ordinary around here.”

“Out of the ordinary,” a million flashbacks, “around here?”

“Yeah. You know. Strange. Unnatural.”

Ready to follow their monsters-are-real scripts, Sam and Dean both focus on Dennis

“Did Charlie put you up to this?” Dennis gulps and flatly repeats, “Did Charlie put you up to this, huh?” He chuckles, puts his hands on his waist, and looks at the ground before looking through Dean. “Wow. Okay guys. How about you finish your drinks and,” he clicks his tongue, “hit the old dusty trail.”

“We’re being serious.”

“So am I. It was nice, guys.” Walking away, Dennis scolds Charlie for eating nail polish. As Dean begins to drink the mystery drink, “And quit putting your whole mouth on the beer taps. I’m not going to tell you again.”

Deans spits out his drink and Sam laughs. “Let’s get out of here, Sammy.”

Mac holds the door as the brothers exit. He lets them by, straightens his posture, and sizes them up.

“Who were those guys?”

“Assholes,” replied Dennis.

“I thought they were kinda cool. Didn’t wanna try my nog but that’s okay. Can’t all be winners.”

“Dude, we need to move the nog.”

“Man, I know. Those guys were cool too. They were also super packing.”

Mac’s eyes widened. “No shit?”

“Definitely. The shorter guy,” he whistles, “was in the basement with me.”

“And?”

“And what. He had ‘I’m packing’ energy, dude!”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Dennis interrupts, pouring a red beer for Mac to get him to sit down, “Maybe that guy you talked with. Tall guy, nah. Don’t buy it.”

“I do. I buy it, Charlie. I was checking those- I was,” Mac takes a quick sip, “ assessing those guys. Tall guy. I bet he’s packing. I mean, did you see his hands?”

“Oh yeah. I was glad he stayed up here with Dennis.”

“Why were you in the basement together? Is it about the crows?”

“The murder?”

“The what?!” Almost spilling his drink, Mac stumbles to his feet. “I actually. I just remembered a thing. I gotta go.” Mac leaves the bar.

“You gonna finish that?”

“Mac’s beer that is infested with whatever diseases hide in your saliva glands?”

“Yeah.”

“Take it.”

Charlie pulls a plastic mini-bottle out of his jacket and pours the white substance into the beer. “I’ll be in the basement. Call me up if Frank comes by, yeah?”

[gumdropsss]

If You Cry, I'll Cry

TW: self-harm, detailed description of cuts/scars, blood, knives, stained carpet, sorry for any mistakes.

reader has no menitioned gender.

note: currently writing this with hot cheeto fingers, pls pray for my keyboard

note: I am no longer writing with hot cheeto fingers, but I am writing with cramps worse than a limb being ripped off <333

♡♡♡

"I don't even know why I opened my fucking eyes.." You moped around your room. It was unusually messy, for you atleast. Jax had already tried to open the door a couple times with his spare keys, yet you used your body strength to keep his sorry ass out.

"I'm not worthy of breathing."

You walked to the bathroom, and opened the cabinet that stood in front of you. You grabbed a little knife out. "Perfect." You sliced open your skin 5 times, letting the blood drip into the sink. Each plop made a 'doink' sound. The cutting never hurts as much as the washing..

"I'll just get an infection, i don't wanna wash these.."

Your arms were covered from your palm to the end of your forearm, with cuts. They went deep into the skin, making scars that looked like dry skin. you peeled open a dry scab out of boredom. You sighed, letting that drip into the sink as well.

"I'm too fucking tired for this bullshit.."

You walked out of the bathroom, blood staining the carpet of the floor. You got into bed, pulled the blanket over you, and closed your eyes.

--x--

'Jesus.. whats all that racket..?' you thought, opening your eyes. You could hear two people bantering outside, before it stopped. there was a quick twist on your door handle and it creaked open, then you could see Gangle peer through the crack, her hands on the side of the door. "D-darling..?" Gangle looked distressed as she opened the door a little more.

"May I uhm.. Come in?"

You gently smiled despite the pain of the cuts on your arm. Gangle always knew to respect your privacy, but she also knew she couldn't just.. leave you. "Sure, just.. uhm.. stay near the door, please.." You mumbled. Gangle did so, and walked in. She closed the door behind her and locked it.

"You're not okay, Sweetheart.."

Gangle sat on the side of the bed, ignoring your pleas to stay near the door. "And I know this.. I was just too afraid to say anything." You panicked a bit, seeing how close Gangle was from seeing the mess on the floor, and the bed. "Yeah, uh-huh.." You nervously laughed, which it seemed Gangle caught onto that.

"You're.. not hiding anything, are you?"

Gangle's eyes narrowed. She looked.. disappointed. "Why would I hide anything from my beloved..?" you mumbled. Gangle huffed, and got off the side of the bed. She then walked around to the side you were on, and her eyes widened. The blood that stained the carpet was (unfortunately) still visible.. "I-I was just uhm.. hurt a little.. Scraped my knee.." You smiled with a nervousness that could only be described as 'pls dont check pls dont check'. And guess what? Gangle checked. She removed the covers from you, and looked at your legs. She huffed again with even more disappointment.

"Don't you start lying to me.."

Gangle was obviously still worried about you, yet she had to atleast project some annoyance in her voice to tell you how disappointed she is that you were lying. You had your arms up to your chest, but it was only a matter of time before Gangle got suspicious of that. "I'm not hiding anything from you, Love.." Gangle looked at your eyes. "Show me those." She pointed to your arms that were tucked into your chest. "Could you- uh.. tell me what 'those' are?" "Arms. Show me, now." Gangle put her hands on her.. hips? whatever, she was mad. "I said now." You were.. ashamed of yourself now. But, despite being ashamed, you showed her anyways. You brought your arms up from your chest, and you could see where the blood now stained your nightgown. You turned your arms toward her, and mumbled a soft,

"Sorry.."

Gangle's eyes went wide once again, this time with a horrified expression. You could tell she was worried for you, but she also looked like she was gonna vomit. The brownish red scabs from old cuts, and the new ones from earlier, and the red that stained your arms.. it was all disgusting, but expressed a lot. It expressed how much you felt like a failure, or how you felt like you were just empty mass. Gangle's happy mask dropped. It didn't break, but it dropped off onto the floor with a 'clink'. She started to sob, and she took your arms gently into her ribbon hands. "Why..?" Tears fell from Gangle's eyes like a waterfall. Yet after awhile she stopped. This moment was about you.

You could hear Gangle huff.

She sat down next to you, taking your arms in her hands. She softly caressed the wounds, but not with pressure. She just.. Wanted to feel them. "I'm.. sorry I didn't notice it sooner." Gangle's voice was more toned down, and calm. "I truly am sorry." She gently put her 2d mouth onto the cuts, to gesture a kiss. The soft and cold mask touched your skin like you could break at any second. "Ribbon, I'm sorry.." You looked at the celing with guilt plastered on your face. "I should've told you.." Gangle turned her head towards your face. She took one hand off of your arms to turn your face toward her. "I know you probably wouldn't have anyways, so.. don't sweat it. I know I wouldn't wanna tell anyone that I did something bad.." She chuckled, then sighed.

"Is there anything else I should know about?"

You looked at Gangle's eyes. "No.. But.. Can we not talk about this right now..? I just.. It's a lot." You looked away, tears pooling in your eye sockets. Gangle looked at you, then pulled you up off of the bed. "let's wash these off.." Gangle's ribbon hand wrapped around your wrist gently as she guided you to your bathroom.

"It's cold.."

The water ran over your cuts like a soft breeze. It made your arms tremble. Once washed, Gangle patted the cuts with a warm towel to dry them. She wrapped your delicate arms in gauze and tape. Gangle guided you back to the bed, holding you as if you would run off if she didn't. She lied you down, and then climbed into bed with you. "I'm sorry.." Gangle sighed. "there's nothing to be sorry for, Dove.." It was obvious Gangle was having trouble saying the right thing.

"You don't have to say anything.."

Gangle looked at the floor.

"You being here is.. already enough."

taglist: @beesofink

[yanderegrizzsworld]

Hiiii! Was wondering if you could do a romantic Yandere!Shadow scenario where the reader dares to strike back after an escape attempt. Shadow's response to this makes him temporarily underestimate his strength and hurts them in the process. Then the reader has no choice but to let him tend to their injury as they're being reprimanded. If you want to make adjustments, I'm totally down! I love surprises and twists! If you don't wish to write this, I understand. Keep being awesome and get plenty of sleep! X3

Yandere Shadow the Hedgehog: You've left Me no Choice (Romantic Scenario)

TW/CW: Blood, injuries & implied anxiety

A.N: Hello to you dear!

You count the ticks of the clock as you eye the door from the kitchen counter. You synchronized your breathing with each tick that you counted, your heart pounding harshly in your chest as if seeking to break through your ribcage. You've memorized at what time he'd show up but... What if it doesn't work? Having been a brief member of G.U.N, he'd explicitly detect you planning something, but like a child discarding an old toy, you toss that thought out of your skull for the moment. You take your gaze away from the door & stare out a small window momentarily watching the leaves sway lightly, the sound of the ticks swirling in your mind as you slugged towards a cabinet & take out a glass cup.

Walling towards the sink tardily, you halt your movement staring at the sink before you lift the glass & turn the faucet of the sink. Inspecting the clear liquid fill the cup, you rub your eyes as you utter a sigh, the ticks of the clock starting to irritate you the more you listen to it, closing the tab harshly. The moment your ears catch the sound of footsteps getting closer to the front door your eyes widen.

This is it, it's now or never.

You continue to tally the ticks as you examine the door opening in which a black hedgehog with red stripes walks in, eyes scanning the area before landing on you. "Hey, how have you been?" He kicks the door close, its garish thud echoing slightly. You hesitate to answer keeping your gaze on him, thinking on how to get him further away. "I've... been alright, I guess" each word felt leaden & bereft of any ardency. As you observed the hedgehog turn to the door as if to lock it your breath gets caught in your throat, panic beginning to descend within you, clambering on what to do to hinder his motion at the moment.

Crash!

You stand by the kitchen counter, glancing at the now shattered glass for an instant before gawking at the ultimate life form who has now rushed in front of you. "Why did you drop it!? Are you okay?! Did you cut yourself?" He inspected your hands for any injuries in which you move your palm away before backing away slightly, he kneels towards whatever remains of the glass as if inspecting to see any blood spilled. You cautiously move around him, eyes flickering between him & the door as you strive to keep your breathing steady. "I'll go fetch the... uh..." You keep your gaze on the hedgehog as he snatches a nearby cloth & swipes away the shards to absorb the water spilled. You gradually inch closer to the entry, sentiments of Shadow hindering your plan plague your skull as you seek to keep yourself lull & tranquil.

You feel the frigid doorknob on your palm, tingling raising up your arm. "Hey" His voice that of a parent ready to scold a child, "What are you doing so close to the door?" The moment he finished the phrase you bolt it out the door as his screams of ire reach your ears.

♡♡♡

"What did I do?! What did I do?! What did i do?!" You repeat to yourself like a chant as you avoid running into the trees in the darkness, the snapping of branches below you echoing in the quiet around you. The only source of light of the moon is hardly seen by the twisted branches & leaves clustered together by the trees that made them seem fused together. The distant sounds of steps ring in your ears but you dismiss it as a fox or a deer, anything than to imagine him behind you, searching for you. The thought of the hedgehog chasing you within the trees forces you to continue running as the adrenaline pumps through your veins rapidly. As you take a turn by a tree, a sudden force is felt by your feet before spreading to the rest of your body, the faint taste of dirt & tiny pebbles cause you to hurl in disgust, spitting rapidly while shakily attempting to get on your feet again.

"C'mon...c'mon!" You continuously look around you in a frenzy, not knowing whether the shaking is from the cold outside or the adrenaline still pumping in you.

You feel a sudden force run into you & you collapse to the dirt below, you feel whatever knocked you down on top of you as you shiver in fear knowing who it was. "When we get back you have a lot of-" you land a blow towards his nose, a groan emitting from his throat as he falls on his back. Just as you manage to lift yourself off the ground, Shadow snatches your wrist with a grip that'll surely leave a bruise. You pull against his hold in sheer panic, when you notice him getting up, you bolted into him crashing against a tree in the process. Shadow gasps & grunts in pain, letting go of your wrist & bringing his hands to the back of his head.

You make a run for it while he's distracted, trusting it'll give you enough time to make it to seek help. A blur materialized from the corner of you eye, the only glimpses you could get were some red when it ran by where the moon managed to shine through. Before you could take a guess on who or what it could be, pain shoots from your leg as you collapse against your ground violently. You attempt to hit him with your elbow, yet he catches it & forces it down to the dirt below, "Let go!" Any attempt to crawl away becomes futile when you feel his weight on top of you, hindering your movements.

"What is your problem?!" You feel his hand grip against the back of your head, you hiss in pain before being silenced by having your faced shoved into the dirt, the chalky taste invades your senses as you squirm & try to fight back the ultimate life form. You gasp when your head is liftef & inhale the fresh air quickly, fearing he'll shove your face down again. You manage to move a bit despite his essentially putting all his weight on you, the rocks & pebbles rubbing against you harshly like rubbing a cloth against skin.

"Quit moving!" Shadow takes hold of one of your arms, you slightly push yourself up with the other, striving to get him off of you. As he gets closer to snatch your other arm, you elbow him in the jaw, leading him to gasp & grunt in agony. Even as he falls to the side from your sudden attack, his grip on your arm never ceases, instead tightening. Your muscles refuse to cooperate in aiding you in lifting yourself up, of which the hedgehog takes note of as he pulls you towards him. You clash with more rocks, you feel something warm yet cold run slowly down your palm & the taste of iron enter your mouth, yet you pay it little attention, your mind more preoccupied with the abrupt pain flowing in your ankle.

Even with your heart beating painfully in your chest, your eyelids feel heavy, closing tardily with each slow blink. No! No! No! You gotta move else you'll get taken back by him! Yet you're too sore to move more than an inch. You barely catch Shadow lift himself with your blurring vision as he lifts you upper body up, feeling the same warm taste of iron drip down your chin.

"We're going to have a long talk about this" You hardly process what he said as you finally let you eyes to shut one last time.

♡♡♡

The silence between the two of you feels suffocating. Your occasional low hisses & silent grunts are all you manage to emit, preferring to look at anything besides Shadow tending to your wounds. He moved his hands carefully, gently putting pressure on your cuts with the same cloth he used earlier, removing it from time to time to check if the bleeding ceased altogether. The sound of ripping swirls in you mind like honey in tea, every attempt to look at him fills you with dread & every glimpse just makes you quickly look away, your throat feeling dry.

That blood dripping down your nose & invading your mouth distracts you for a while, the salty taste seeping down your throat. "Done with the arms" Despite not looking at him, his gaze on you makes you momentarily squirm, your hands feeling clammy as you clench your fists against the carpet floor. You turn your head towards the windows, the sight of leaves flowing gently from the breeze outside bring you brief comfort until you recall the events that transpired.

The texture of gloves on your cheek return you to reality, your face being turned forward making you look at the black hedgehog. "Stay still, this might hurt a bit" His voice was low & quiet, almost fearful of raising it. You promptly hiss the moment the cloth came in contact with your nose, "Sorry, did I press it too hard?" You loathed moments such as this, always leading to you having mixed feelings. You shake you head slowly, swallowing a grunt when he pressed again to stop the bleeding. "...Why did you do that?" His tone going from almost soft to rough nearly arose a cough from you, swallowing heavily.

You refuse to answer, opting to play as if you didn't hear him in the hopes he'd drop it. "I'm waiting" you allow a sigh to slip through your lips before meeting his gaze again, "I...I, um..." You can't find nor think of what to say, fearing any way of explaining would result in the ultimate life form getting angry & forbidding you from leaving. "Uh...I just wanted to be outside...I guess"

You internally pray that he drops it right there, Shadow hums in acknowledgement of what you said, switching the cloth to the other end when the side got too much blood in it. "Outside? You could've asked me, you know" He rests his gloved hand on your shoulder, slightly rubbing his thumb in circular motions as if in a attempt to comfort you. "I guess" You eye his hand on your shoulder for a bit before looking straight at him, "Then why did you run then?" Your hands clench from his question, feeling your finger twitch slightly against your palm.

"I..." You look down at your bandaged arms, small blood spots painted the bandages like paint on a canvas. "If you'd just ask, none of this wouldn't have happen" You inhale slowly when Shadow removes the cloth from your nose, observing Shadow stand up with the bloodied cloth. "Do you think I liked having you try to fight me?" Each word was spoken slowly, making the swallow in your throat taste almost bitter, "Think I liked having you fight me? Make me accidentally hurt you?" His eyes, filled with sorrow & guilt, stared at you as you refused to look up at him.

"You left me no choice" His voice, laced with guilt & disappointment, felt like a stab through the chest. You squirm lightly as Shados sighs slowly turning around, "I'll make you some dinner"

You watch Shadow head towards the kitchen before turning your head out the window. The salty taste still lingering in your mouth as you watch the moonlight get absorbed by passing clouds. Your body aches of which it'll be a constant reminder, for which will consume your dreams the next following days, of tonight.

[crappymixtape]

i'll hold you together

Steve goes out to the bar without you because what if Tommy’s there? And he wouldn’t let Robin and Eddie go alone, but when they get home something’s clearly wrong | (  2k, angst, trauma, mentions of blood, fluff, friends to lovers, steve x you, steve x reader )

I ‘ L L H O L D Y O U T O G E T H E R 🎶 this version of you, ODESZA & julianna barwick

It was dark, the kind of dark where even the stars and moon feel dim in the sky, and you clicked on the light over the stove to grab a glass of water. Did you regret not going with Steve to the bar? Maybe. But Tommy was going to be there and you knew he’d say some shit, make some remark to you, and you didn’t feel like dealing with it so you’d stayed behind. Robin and Eddie promised they’d get him home safe, nothing to worry about, but as you placed your glass in the sink you saw lights pull into the Harrington’s driveway next door.

It was too early to be home. Too early.

Eddie got out first and he looked shaken, movements hurried, Robin following quickly after and shouting something at him. What happened? And then Eddie grabbed Robin by the shoulders and pointed right at your window. Your heart stopped in your chest. Steve.

Robin was at your door within seconds, but you didn’t give her time to knock as you swung it open, your pulse fluttering in your neck as you tried to stay calm. “What, Robin? What is it?”

She grabbed your hand and tried a smile, but it cracked. “He just can’t keep his mouth shut, you know? Especially when it comes to you, and Tommy was being such a dick, and even I wanted to kick his ass, but–”

“Robin! What. Happened?” you took her by the shoulders, just like Eddie had, and she squeezed her eyes shut trying to hard to focus for you.

“Steve’s hurt. Pretty bad.”

By the time you threw your gaze over Robin’s shoulder Eddie had gotten Steve out of the car and was holding him tight around the waist, walking him up the drive, and oh my god. Your poor boy. It was Billy Hargrove all over again and you felt your chest squeezing like it was being crushed in a vice.

“Sweetheart, look at me. He needs you. You can do it. Where’s the bathroom?” Eddie had made it to the front stoop, voice even and low, working hard to ground you so that the panic in your throat didn’t swallow you whole. You’d done this so many times before, but it never got any easier.

“What? Uh, it-it’s down the hallway,” your voice felt far away, like it didn’t belong to you, and you kept your eyes on Eddie knowing if you looked at Steve you were going to fall apart.

All four of you hurried down the hall, but then you heard him groan as Eddie pulled him along and you swore you felt your heart physically crack in half. You froze at the bathroom, tears prickling at the corners of your eyes.

“Hey. It’s okay, you can do this,” Robin’s hand took yours and squeezed as she flicked the light on, the soft pink of the bathroom tile mocking you with how pleasant it looked in the warm glow against everything that was happening. Gently guiding you in first she moved you both aside to make room for the boys and you screwed your eyes shut. God, you didn’t want to look.

“You have a first aid kid right?”

Slowly you opened your eyes to see Eddie looking up at you expectantly from the floor, still holding Steve around the waist, and you couldn’t help it. You looked at him.

At Steve.

Your Steve.

Sitting on the edge of the tub.

Bright red on the tile.

More red coming from his nose and mouth.

Metallic and red and more red.

“Babe, first aid kit? Where is it?” Robin’s voice shook you.

“Uh, cabinet in the hallway, top shelf,” fell out of your mouth, how were you functioning?

But then Eddie lifted a hand, fingers softly tilting your chin down to look into his eyes and he gave you one of his big, warm smiles, “Its okay. He’s okay. We can do this. Right, sweetheart? There’s been so much worse. I promise, he’s a big boy. Its okay.”

Your hands were shaking, but you felt yourself steel against it and when Robin came back with the first aid kit you knelt down between Steve’s legs.

“Hey,” his voice was soft and scratchy like he’d been yelling and, sweet boy, he tried to smile for you, but it just felt like some big horrible joke. Lip busted open, nose bleeding and you hoped to god not broken, left eye swollen, all deep purples and reds like plums in the summer.

You lifted a hand softly to his cheek and tried to smile back, but there were tears welling up against your lashes. “Hi,” your voice cracked and you took in a sharp breath. Keep it together. You can do this.

“Here, honey,” Robin knelt down next to you, holding out the first aid kit encouragingly as Eddie kept his hold on Steve, “Peroxide, right?”

Sniffing you hastily wiped your arm across your face and nodded, “Yeah. Yes. Peroxide first.” You’d done this so many times before, your muscle memory knew the motions.

After Jonathan.

After Billy.

After Starcourt.

After the demobats.

You gave Robin a small smile, a silent thank you, and took the first of many cotton balls from her. Turning back to Steve you cupped his face again and bit your lip in, throat still tight, “This isn’t going to feel good.”

“S’okay, I’m okay,” and then his hand was on yours, warm and steady and reassuring, and you slowly pressed the cotton ball against his lip.

“Christ,” he hissed, good eye squeezing shut as a small tear trickled down his cheek. His hand squeezed against yours and you held on tight. Sorry, you murmured through your own tears that had started to fall, but you kept going. He needed you to keep going.

You were as soft as you could be, slowly, patiently cleaning him up through the swears that hissed through gritted teeth. Cleaned up the blood from his beautiful split lip, the ones he kissed you with all warm like the sun. The blood from his nose, the one he brushed against yours while you folded into each other on the couch. The blood from his forehead, the one that pressed into yours when you found each other wanting in the dark. And when you were done you breathed a sigh of relief – you could see Steve again.

Eddie helped him up from the edge of the tub and down the hallway to your room while Robin hung back, waiting for you wash up. You watched as the water turned crimson, swirling around in the sink basin before trickling down the drain, carrying with it any proof of the trauma you all had endured. A reminder of all the times before.

“Hey,” Robin softly rubbed your back, “You did great.” And as you dried your hands you wanted to say thank you, wanted to be content with it, but anger gnawed at the pit of your stomach.

“What’d he do,” you asked then, turning to Robin and she let her hand fall from your back. She knew who you meant.

Worrying her lip between her teeth she fumbled over her words, not wanting to tell you, but the look you gave her then pushed her. Pleaded her to tell you and she cracked.

“Of course it was Tommy. It’s always Tommy. And he was running his mouth again to some shitheads he brought to the bar. Telling them about how you were down bad for Steve and how you were a shitty girlfriend and that he was sure if he got your drunk enough he could…” the words died in her throat as she looked up at you, willing you to fill in the gaps, and you did. It wasn’t hard.

Tommy hated Steve as soon as he said he wanted to fix things with Jonathan. As soon as he defended Nancy against his and Carol’s bullying. As soon as he scrubbed the graffiti off the theatre marquee.

As soon as he noticed the way Steve looked at you.

You dropped your gaze to floor and felt your hands ball into fists at your sides and you didn’t realize you were shaking until Robin took your shoulders and pulled you into a hug. “He’s such an asshole and Steve didn’t want to hear it and Eddie was right there to help out and he won, for once he did! And–”

“Its okay, Robin. Thanks,” you cut her off and pulled away, not mad at her, but at everything else and all you wanted was Steve.

“Yeah,” she said softly as you turned to leave, taking the steps down the hallway to your room.

Eddie was just leaving, closing your door behind him, but you caught his hand and kept it open. He gave you a small smile and pushed your hair, wild and haphazard, out of your face. “Told you, you could do it,” he said gently, giving your shoulder a squeeze with his big, warm, silver adorned hand.

It was then you were finally able to take Eddie in properly and noticed a cut on his eyebrow, his knuckles split and ruddy looking. “Eddie…” you said, taking his hand, but he pulled away and shook his head.

“Nah, love. Shh, I’m alright. Robin’ll take care of me, Stevie needs you,” he opened the door just a crack and gave you a soft push, “We’ll just be out in the living room.” Your eyes prickled again with tears and you couldn’t help pulling him into a hug, all cheap weed and pachouli and leather. Your best friend. Your best friends.

“Thank you,” you whispered to him, “Robin too.” But he knew and he gave you a smile before walking back down the hallway, your hand trembling as you pushed the door to your room open.

Soft, warm light from the lamp at your bedside washed everything in gold and for a moment things felt normal. You expected to see Steve sitting up on your bed, waiting for you, hands outstretched and ready to pull you in against him, but instead you found him lying down. Eyes closed. Chest rising and falling with steady breaths. Tired and broken. And you almost couldn’t do it, but one foot moved and then the other across the room like that until you were at his side.

“Mmm, hi,” he murmured when he felt you sit on the edge of the bed. His good eye opened to look at you and the corner of his mouth tugged up into a little smile.

“Hi, baby,” and you couldn’t help smiling back when you saw him in the light. His lip looked so much better and his nose had stopped bleeding, but the bruising had bloomed across his cheek in mottled yellows, lilacs, and deep plumy purples. Your brows knitted together as you brought a hand to his good cheek and you sighed, “Why’d you do it? He’s not worth it.”

He grinned, but immediately grimaced as his skin pulled and huffed a small laugh. “Yeah, he’s not. But you are.”

Your heart ached.

“I won,” he teased, Steve coming back to life under all the cuts and bruises, and you gave him a look.

“I heard,” you shot back, but it didn’t hold any heat as you slowly lowered yourself down at his side.

“What is that now, like 50/50?” he wondered aloud, voice still scratchy and low, his arm slipping under your neck and shoulders to pull you into him. He was so warm, like he held summer in his chest, and you took in the familiar scent of spearmint and cedar and boy.

“Not bad,” you joked, closing your eyes as his hand smoothed over your back.

“Not bad.”

It fell silent for a moment and you wanted to fall asleep with him, to just lie there with him in the warm dark of your room, but you couldn’t.

Eyes fluttering open you drew lazy circles against his chest as you tried to put words together and it was as if he could feel you thinking. “What’s wrong?” his voice startled you a bit and squeezed his arm around you with a small chuckle.

“Its just…I can’t keep you safe. Not even at stupid parties. Its bad enough with you almost getting eaten alive and here’s fucking Tommy Haga–”

Steve’s fingers pressed against your lips and you could feel him laughing against you. “Stop it,” he chided, moving his fingers to brush across your cheek, “You keep me plenty safe. I’m just returning the favor.”

You propped yourself up on your elbow to look down at him, at all the blues and purples and yellows and puckered cuts and swollen eye. He was still pretty. “When I see Tommy again, I’m going to kick his ass.”

Steve fixed you with a weak, lopsided grin, shaking his head against your pillow, “I already feel bad for him.”

Pushing a bit of his hair out of his face you leaned down and pressed a kiss to his forehead. And then another to his cheek. And another to the corner of his lips that weren’t hurting. “I love you,” you murmured.

Steve closed his eyes and pulled you down against his chest again, the thud thud thud of his heart grounding you, “I love you too.”

crappymixtape™ • steve harrington masterlist // stranger things masterlist

[sixhours]

Chapter 3 - The Ghosts of Babylon

Series Chapter Index | Read on AO3 | Complete

Rating: Explicit, 18+, here be smut and violence

Series tags: Joel Miller x You, Joel Miller x Reader, Joel & Ellie, mostly follows canon, LGBTQ+ characters, y/n is bi/pan, y/n is ~45, violence, pregnancy, abortion, medical trauma, emotional trauma, panic attacks, sex work, suicide, smut, slow burn, angst with a happy ending, hurt/comfort, romance, no use of y/n, reader has longish hair, Joel can lift you, smallish age gap (~11 years), I've probably forgotten some so please let me know <3

~*~

May 2024 Jackson, Wyoming

“Help!”

You’ve been in Jackson for three weeks. It’s late, not quite 3 a.m., and you’re dozing in your office when you hear a voice from the lobby. A man bursts through the swinging doors into the back of the clinic holding a young girl in his arms, frantically looking around.

The night nurse, Shiela, is coming down the hall to see to the commotion, but you wave her away.

“I’ve got it. Right here,” you tell the man, gesturing to the nearest exam room.

“She passed out,” he says, desperation threaded through a gravelly Texas baritone as he lays the girl down in a hospital bed. “She’s been sick.”

“You the father?” you ask, checking the pulse point at the girl’s wrist where her heartbeat flutters. Her skin is feverish, eyes ringed with dark circles, lips cracked. You’d put her at 12 or 13, but she’s small, thin.

“I’m, uh–yeah,” the man says. “She started, uh, throwin’ up–”

“Any allergies?”

He shakes his head. “I dunno–”

“When did this start?”

“Three, four days ago, maybe. It was just a cough and a fever, she stayed home from school–”

“Has she been able to keep liquids down?”

“Not since last night.”

“She’s probably dehydrated,” you start to pull up the girl’s sleeve. “I’m going to place an IV so we can get some fluids–”

You stop short. The bite scar on the girl’s forearm is ugly and swollen, a telltale cordyceps rash snaking its way to the crook of her elbow.

Oh, no.

Your head snaps up to meet the man’s eyes, and it takes him a moment to register what you’ve seen. You’re reaching for the cordyceps monitor in the cabinet, the little device that will confirm the presence of infection, when he levels a handgun at your face.

“Don’t.”

You let out a soft huff, hands slowly moving up.

“She’s infected,” you say. “And you can’t have a gun in here. How did you–”

“She’s not.”

“The bite–”

“It’s a burn scar,” he growls, reaching over to tug at the sleeve of the girl’s shirt, covering the evidence. “She’s not infected. Use the other arm.”

“Joel?” the girl stirs, and the gun falters, his gaze immediately on his daughter. You reach for the detector again.

“Don’t fucking move,” he growls, his attention snapping back to you.

“Joel,” the girl’s voice is more insistent now as she tries to sit up. “Joel, you asshole–”

His eyes dart between you and the girl. “Use. The other. Arm,” he bites out. 

You swallow hard, weighing your options. You think you could overpower him; he looks strong, but there’s a coldness in his eyes that tells you he’s not fully there . And you don’t want to be stuck in this tiny exam room when the girl inevitably turns…

“Fine,” you snap. “Fine. I’ll use the other arm.”

He nods once, not lowering the gun.

You back away, keeping your eyes trained on him as you make a show of pulling supplies from the cabinets, taking your time, trying to figure out how to proceed in a way that won’t get you shot or bitten. You pull up the girl’s other sleeve with shaking fingers and the man–Joel–seems to relax a fraction.

“What’s your name, kid?” you ask.

She looks at Joel as though asking for permission, then down at her arm as you insert the IV, watching with fascination as the needle penetrates the skin.

“S’Ellie,” she says, coughing roughly.

“Hi, Ellie,” you say, forcing a smile through gritted teeth. “I’m going to get this saline drip set up, I’m going to take your temperature, then I’m going to take a sample of your blood. And hopefully, your dad here won’t shoot me.”

The girl shakes her head. “S’like this with everyone.”

Joel’s jaw twitches and he shoots a glare at the girl, exasperation and worry in the deep-set lines of his forehead.

“How old are you, Ellie?”

“Fifteen.”

“Any recent injuries? Blood loss? Open up,” you say, inserting the end of a mercury thermometer. “Hold that under your tongue.”

The girl shakes her head, mumbling around the glass stick in her mouth. “M’ just tired.”

“That’s fine,” you say. “You can lay back, close your eyes. I’m almost done.”

Joel’s eyes are trained on you, watching your every move as you continue examining the girl, checking her lymph nodes, her breathing, asking her to swallow, pricking her finger to get a blood sample. You avoid her right arm, on high alert for any sudden movements, the twitching that signals the onset of infection, but Ellie remains still and listless. Joel is still holding the gun, but at least it’s no longer pointed at your head.

“You said this started last night?”

He gives a single tense nod.

“She’s in school, right?”

“Yeah…so?”

“Well, provided you’re telling the truth, and that scar isn’t what it looks like,” you say, biting out the words through gritted teeth, “I think she has the flu.”

Joel blinks. “The flu?”

“It’s early in the season, but it's going around. And the kids are especially good at spreading it.”

Joel’s shoulders sag; he finally lowers the gun to his side.

“This isn’t something to mess with,” you continue, moving to the sink, snapping off your gloves in irritation. “It’s not like before when we had vaccines. People die from the flu. Especially the most vulnerable, and she’s underweight, possibly anemic. I’d like to keep her overnight–”

“No,” he cuts you off. “No, she stays with me.”

“You can stay, too,” you say slowly, watching the panic in his face. He’s gone somewhere else in his mind, shadows moving behind his eyes. “But I want to get her hydrated and make sure this doesn’t progress to a secondary infection like pneumonia.”

He looks to Ellie, then to you, then back to Ellie. You watch his Adam’s apple bob under the scruff of his beard.

“Alright,” he says finally. “Fine. She can stay.”

You nod, turning to leave. “I’m going to run this to the lab, then I’ll have a nurse come in with–”

His hand is on your arm, gripping it, wheeling you around. “You’re not going to tell anyone…about the scar,” he says through gritted teeth. “Got that?”

You exhale sharply, narrowly resisting the urge to haul off and punch him. “Let go of me.”

“Say it,” he says.

“I’m not…going to tell…anyone,” you repeat, enunciating as though to a small child. Then, as a petulant afterthought: “But put the gun away, for god’s sake. You’ll scare my staff.”

He considers you, his grip loosening, receding. He tucks the gun into the back of his jeans.

“Alright. Go.”

~*~

“I’ve got a live one in exam room two. Think it’s the flu again. I just need last names–Joel and Ellie?”

“That’s the Millers,” Shiela says.

“Right, right. She’s staying the night, I want to keep an eye on her.” You swallow, turning away, hoping she doesn’t see the tremor in your hands. “Look, Shel, why don’t you go home? It’s not busy, I can take the rest of the night shift.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yeah. I have the walkie if I run into trouble. Go home,” you say, smiling in a way you hope is convincing enough. It must be, because she shrugs and packs up her bag.

When Shiela is gone, you lock the clinic’s front and rear entrances so no one else can get in. Then you retreat to your office, intent on finding the girl’s medical records, but there’s no Ellie Miller in the filing cabinet. On a hunch, you sift through the rest of the folders by first name and find the only Ellie in town–an Ellie Williams.

After a considered pause, you pull Joel Miller’s file, too.

You take them to your desk and spread them in front of you, all the while listening for sounds from down the hall.

Ellie Williams. 14 female. DOB: ??/??/2009. Intake: 12/16/2023.

Joel Miller. 56 male. DOB: 9/26/1967. Intake: 12/16/2023.

They came in the same day, so you’ve got the right kid. The forms are signed by Maria Miller, who you know is on the Jackson council.

A sister, maybe?

But there’s no other data, no medical history. Nothing helpful.

You toss the folders on your desk and head to the supply closet to grab blankets, Tylenol, and a paper cup of water. You hesitate over the surgical supplies, then tuck a scalpel in your pocket. It’s no match for a gun, but if the girl turns while you’re tending to her, you might stand a chance at making it out alive if you have a weapon.

Joel is pacing when you return. He looks at you nervously as you place the blankets at the foot of the bed, and the Tylenol on the counter.

“I sent the night nurse home,” you say quietly. “No one will be in until six.”

This seems to relax him a bit, enough that he finally takes a seat, deflating into the chair next to Ellie’s bed. His hands are shaking.

Ellie wakes up enough to swallow the Tylenol with a sip of water, then rolls over and curls on her side with a soft groan and a raspy cough. Joel is so intent on watching his daughter that he barely acknowledges you when you slip out of the room.

You sit stiff and upright on the cot in your office, fingering the scalpel in your pocket and waiting for the inevitable sound of infection from across the hall.

It doesn’t come.

~*~

They’re sleeping when you peek in on them over the next few hours. Joel’s lanky body is twisted awkwardly in the chair, jacket over his shoulders, his head resting on the bed at her side. Her right hand curls loosely in his hair.

By morning, the girl’s fever has broken, her breathing deep and even. Joel remains asleep at her side, snoring lightly.

You pause in the doorway, wondering if you should try to check the girl’s arm for signs of progression, but decide against it; Joel’s eyes flutter open as you reach to take her pulse. Your hand stops in mid-air, hovering over her wrist, half expecting him to reach for his gun, but he only blinks and raises his head, swiping a broad palm across his scruffy face.

“Just checking in,” you murmur. Ellie’s heartbeat is strong under your fingers, her lungs sound clearer. “She looks better.”

He takes this in, nods.

“I think you can go home when she wakes up,” you say, keeping your voice low. “We’ll give her another dose of Tylenol to keep the fever down, and you both need to isolate for at least a week…that means you, her, and anyone else in your household.”

“S’just us,” he says flatly.

“Okay. The staff will let the cafeteria know you’ll need meals delivered for a bit. If you start to feel sick–”

“I’m fine.”

You refrain from rolling your eyes. “Fine. But if you do feel sick and you have to go out, wear one of these,” you say, pulling two white face masks from your pocket.

“K,” he says, eyes drifting back to Ellie’s sleeping form. When he speaks, his voice is frayed. “So she’s gonna be alright? No pneumonia?”

You shake your head, crossing your arms. “Her lungs sound clear, but if the cough gets worse, bring her back in right away. And feed her. She’s borderline anemic. She needs to eat.”

He scowls, muttering at the floor. “She eats plenty.”

You fold your arms across your chest. “It’s not uncommon for kids her age to struggle with disordered–”

“She’s fine,” he cuts you off. “I’ll make sure she eats. Anything else?”

His eyes bore into yours like a challenge, a threat.

“If she gets sick, and I mean… sick ,” you say in a low voice, emphasizing the word until it’s clear you’re not talking about the flu. “I will make sure every single council member knows who brought it in. Understand?”

He considers you for a moment, then nods slowly. “I heard you.”

“Good,” you say, clipped. “One of the nurses can check you out when you’re ready. Maybe don’t hold them at gunpoint.”

[marco-newgate]

Marco X CisFem Reader

6

Marco: I fucked up!

Thatch: I'm trying to sleep man

Marco: I kissed F/N before I left for work

Thatch: Thats a hilarious string of autocorrects

Marco: She did my tie and we were talking and I just kissed her on the cheek

Thatch: on the cheek?!

Thatch: I could be sleeping right now and you're talking about pecks on the cheek?!

Marco: cmon man. You know there are reasons I never do that stuff with her

Thatch: yeah 10 years ago.

Thatch: she's an adult now

Marco: but she just got out of a relationship

Thatch:yeah... you never had good timing

Thatch: now leave me alone

___________

It really wasn't a big deal. Luffy, Thatch and Ace kissed your forehead and cheek all the time. Sabo even had a few special occasions like your birthday or the time you got caught under the mistletoe a few years ago. But never Marco. He'd ruffle your hair to make you mad or slap your back and of course if the time called for it, a good old innocent side hug. He hugged his brothers often and well, you'd seen him kiss more girls than you'd care to remember.

Now that you think about it why did you seem to be the one being singled out here? This was getting depressing.

Your thoughts shifted to his warm and surprisingly soft lips. How he gently swayed with you while you cried into his shirt two months ago.

Ugh. What is this?

It was just too comfortable, completely natural and required zero effort. Like everything you ever did with Marco. Though Ace was your best friend and by far the closest brother to you he was incredibly hard headed; as was Luffy. You'd swear they were related by blood. Sabo always did his own thing and was far too clean and polite to have been raised in this house. Thatch was the group mom despite his mischievous streak. He was always stopping you from making a mess and making sure you learned your lesson.

Familiar feelings bubbled through your chest.

It was nothing. It was nothing. It was nothing.

"I know that face." Ace smirked pushing the bottoms of his feet flush with yours as you laid on opposite ends on the sofa.

"You don't." You replied flatly.

"Mhm ~" He hummed, "You're thinking ab-"

"Ace," You interrupted raising your right leg, "If you ever want to have kids you won't finish that sentence."

"OK geez." The raven whined protectively cupping his groin.

"F/N!" Thatch shouted from the kitchen, "Set the table. Dinner is almost ready."

You pushed yourself off the couch and slinked into the kitchen. Marco was pulling plates down from the cabinet so you counted out and gathered utensils.

Family dinner was something pops made sure happened as often as possible. There were usually at least two or three of you missing during dinner on week nights which is why no matter what everyone came together on Sunday evenings, no devices allowed, for dinner. Tonight, Sabo and Luffy would be out and Thatch had to leave as soon as he was done eating for his shift at the bar.

There was a bit of awkward tension as you and the blond walked into the dining room to set the table.

"Uh about this morning yoi."

You didn't lift your eyes from the napkin you were folding.

Be cool. No biggie.

"No worries. It was like a knee jerk thing, right?" Your face was on fire.

Don't look up.

"Well - uh."

"It's just a peck on the cheek, everyone does it." You shrugged forcing your shaky hands to keep folding, "You just aren't as affectionate as the others so it caught me off guard."

You saw his shoulders drop a little in your peripheral.

"Ah yeah," He let out an airy chuckle, "I just didn't want you to be weirded out."

See me, no big deal.

"Of course not." You forced a smile.

Why did it feel so disappointing?

He made a speedy exit while you sighed and finished setting the table.

This was reminiscent of high school and that wasn't good. All of the teasing and weird feelings really strained your relationship with the pineapple. Things were finally sort of normal.

You passed through the kitchen door hushing the whispering brothers immediately.

Suspicious.

"What's going to the table Thatchy?"

"Marco will take it. Can you go get pops from the garage? Please?" The brunette smiled over his shoulder at you.

"Aye-aye." You sauntered out to the garage to fetch the old man.

"Nami called you while you were outside." Ace chirped following you into the dining room where Marco and Thatch already sat on either side of pops' seat.

"Did you answer it?" That was a stupid question, of course he had.

"Yup!" He grinned, "She wants to set you up on a date."

"I'll tell her no later." You sighed slouching down next to Thatch.

"Oh - I already told her you'd do it." He said gaining the attention of everyone at the table.

"W-hy would you do that?" You gaped.

"What? It's been long enough."

"Two months." You strained.

"Exactly." He nodded.

"You can't just decide things for her yoi." Marco swatted the raven.

"I'll just call her after dinner." You huffed.

"Well, maybe you should go." Pops suggested shifting the shocked glares from Ace to himself.

"I thought you loved me pops." You whined.

"Of course, I do!" The old man boomed, "A little date won't kill ya. You might even feel better after."

"It's not like you have to marry the guy." Thatch added.

"Would you like to add to the betrayal?" You crossed your arms and glared at Marco.

He sipped his beer and very calmly shook his head.

"We just want you to be happy lass." Pops added.

"I'm ... " You paused thinking about the last 12 hours, "Ugh. Fine I'll do it. But I'm gonna be an awful date."

_________

You sat nervously twisting a lock of your hair at the five-star hotel's bar/restaurant. It was an enormous opulent room with huge chandeliers dangling from the vaulted ceiling. You'd made sure to dress accordingly and had no problem getting your hair and makeup exactly how you liked. But you still felt out of place. This place was expensive – too expensive for a blind date. It was the kind of restaurant that you go to for your ten-year anniversary.

"Can I get you a cocktail miss?" The young bartender asked wiping the marble counter in front of you.

You weren't a cocktail girl... but you didn't see a beer tap or any bottles for that matter.

"Can I just get a white Russian?" You slid your credit card across the counter to open a tab.

"I've got this." A smooth baritone voice drifted over your shoulder as a tattooed hand slid your card back, "A white Russian? Would you like to go bowling after this?"

You chuckled at his reference, eyes trailing up his tailored sleeve to his ridiculously attractive relaxed face. What the hell was Nami thinking? Thick black hair shadowed his sharp dark features that were only enhanced by his seemingly glowing amber eyes. 

"Trafalgar Law." He stated evenly responding to your no doubt bewildered expression.

I AM gonna be a awful date.