#we did get this is eddie's house i'm not really a guest. but STILL

[eddiegettingshot]

Maddie bringing Jee over/inviting Eddie over boom we get Maddie and Eddie AND Eddie with Jee we can have it all

EXACTLYYYY

[cryonme]

𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐀𝐭 𝐔𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏

—graham dunne x fem!reader

—summary: the story of you and graham dunne was never simple, but his love for you never faltered.

— word count: 2.7k

—tw: addiction, implied drugging, alcohol, cursing, reader says she "doesn't wanna be here anymore", very obvious signs of mental illness, the works...

—a/n: so... I did not intend for this fic to be this long or this sad, but here we are. I'm breaking it into two parts so its easier to read, part two is coming shortly!! I apologize for how sad this is lol but I promise its a happy ending story! also, sorry for how I wrote daisy! she's my girl and I love her, it was just for the plot I swear! this is the first fic I've posted in about 6 months so im rusty, please be kind! and please, don't read if anything listed in the triggers is going to upset you, I want you all happy and comfortable! XO

(flashbacks in italics)

Nothing was ever Daisy’s fault, was it?

At least, that’s what Graham Dunne thought when he got a call from Karen saying his girl was wasted at a party with Daisy attached to your hip.

She should have known what you were struggling with, she should have known that you couldn’t handle a party, she should have known this wasn’t what you needed. Daisy Jones should’ve fucking known.

To be completely fair, they really all should’ve known. You’d been around since day 1. Everyone knew better, Daisy just happened to be the red corvette.

-

“You can’t keep doing this, my love.” Camilla whispered oh so gently, holding your hair back from your face, pressing a cold rag to your neck.

It was a small gig, at some shitty bar called Tony’s in Pittsburgh. The band always had a couple beers and maybe a shot or two before a show but you had begun to need more. You snuck vodka into your water bottles and begged the bartenders to sneak you a couple free extras by pulling your top down and leaning over the bar, using your forearms to push your tits up. 

It worked every time. Pigs.

“Can do whatever I want.” You slurred, cheek pressed to the toilet seat.

But damnit, you knew she was right.

Tony’s wasn’t the first time.

There was Rod’s, and The Ladie’s Room, and The Shiner Saloon, and some girl named Lisa’s 18th birthday party. It was becoming a pattern, everyone could tell.

You always went back to your house after a show. Your parents had been completely absent since you were 15, you never knew where they were. And after every show, their cars were never once in the driveway.

A safespace.

Billy would sit outside of the bathroom, head leaning against the door while Graham waited in the living room, arms crossed and head down, not wanting to listen to your cries and shakes of pain.

Eddie would retreat to the guest room, but he usually wouldn’t be able to fall asleep til he heard the click of your door next to his.

Warren would be passed out on the couch as soon as you all walked through the door, not that he didn’t care about you immensely, but the poor kid could just not stay awake if he was tired.

“I wanna go to bed.” You said.

Camilla sighed, “Are you sure you’re ready?”

You nodded and so did Camilla. She got up to get Billy like she always did, and he’d come and pick you up off of the bathroom floor, as he always did, and carry you to your room and lay you on the bed, letting Camilla make sure you’re comfortable, like she always did.

Graham would come in and ask how you’re doing, like he always did, and he’d make himself comfortable on your floor with throw pillows and spare blankets, like he always did.

But that night, after Tony’s, things changed.

“I can’t do this anymore, Graham.” You whimpered.

Fuck.

This was early days, Graham was still awkward as hell and didn’t know how to go about things like this.

“Do what?” He croaked, mustering up the courage to be there for you.

“This. I can’t live like this. I’m afraid I’m gonna kill myself.”

Graham was up in an instant, reaching for the doorknob. “Do you want me to get Camilla?”

You shook your head, “No, please. Just-” You wiped a tear from your cheek, “Will you just lay with me?”

“Anything.” Graham breathed as he settled into bed next to you. You immediately wrapped your arms around him, being too drunk to care about any awkwardness and Graham was thankful.

“We’ll get you out of this, promise.”

-

That was the last time anybody saw you drink anything besides a beer or two, following that was shirley temples and cherry cokes.

Nobody really knew the heaviness of addiction then, but they knew that you were happier, and that’s all that really mattered to them. You were even laughing at Warren’s jokes and Billy and Eddie’s lame bickering, everything felt okay.

“You don’t drink?” Karen had asked, the first time you properly met in California, while she was digging through the fridge searching for a beer. You shook your head, hoping you weren’t going to get some crazy reaction like you were a zoo animal in a cage like you got from most people.

She just nodded, a small smile playing at her lips as she pulled two coca cola bottles from the fridge, popping them open with her ring and handing you one.

“Cheers to that.”

You were sober enough to realize you were in love with Graham, and confident enough to tell him. And man, he could’ve exploded.

There was a celebration, at the house in Laurel Canyon, just the 7 of you.

Warren recalls later that Graham looked like he’d been dipped in sunshine and rainbows.

“Like he’d just smoked sunshine and been fucked by a rainbow. It was crazy, man.”

Well, almost.

You’d been around the band multiple times while they drank and it was never a problem. You’d have the first round of beers with them then tap out, but you always stayed and had fun, smoked a couple joints and cigarettes, never without a mocktail or coca cola in your hand. Sometimes, usually Karen or Camilla, someone would join you on the sober night, and that always felt really nice.

That night had felt different, you were scared.

-

“I’m gonna fuck him up Warren…” You said as you laid on the floor with the drummer as Down By The Seaside by Led Zeppelin played from the record player, Warren laughed.

“Yeah you are.” He said, his tone suggestive as he bumped his elbow with yours.

You rolled your eyes, fighting the heat creeping into your cheeks. “You know what I mean, man. I’m gonna ruin him.”

Warren had known you long enough and listened to enough of the songs you wrote to where he’d like to think he knew you pretty well.

And you never opened up out of the blue unless you were drunk.

“Have you been drinking?” He asked, not looking up from the ceiling. You scoffed.

“I still have a beer here and there, Warren.”

“You know what I mean, man.” He repeated your words back to you and you felt like you couldn’t breathe.

“I’m going to bed.” You said and stood up, trying your hardest not to stumble or slur.

“Honey…” Warren started, pushing himself off of the floor to try to stop you.

“NO!” You whipped around, flipping your hair so forcefully it stung your face but you were quick to pull it back.

“Don’t fucking- don’t fucking do that, man!” You started, holding a hand up. “My own friends don’t even fucking trust me i’m just constantly babied! Do you know how that feels?”

At that point, Karen, Eddie and Billy had tuned in, being in the kitchen. Camilla and Graham must have been elsewhere, he had always confided in her like a sister.

“Hey–” Billy tried to interject with a hand on your wrist but you were quick to pull away.

“Huh?! Do any of you know how that feels?!” You were borderline screaming now, and everyone was speaking to you so softly, hands slowly trying to grasp you and it made you want to scream even louder.

“How dare you ‘ccuse me of something like that asshole?” You were beginning to slur your words, the tequila you’d snuck from Warren’s room starting to hit pretty heavily, making your eyes droop and words slur.

“Baby, please-” Karen started, making the move to grasp your arm but you turned and lost your balance, nearly falling but Eddie was quick to catch you, he held on tight and didn’t dare let go until you calmed down or Graham came back. Billy had left minutes ago to find him and Camilla, who had taken a walk so he could freely gush about his new girl without the chances of anyone else hearing.

“Need you to calm down, babe.” Eddie whispered, running a hand up and down your arm for comfort.

“None of you even care!”

Warren shook his head alongside Karen, both of them had squatted in front of you, doing their best to provide what you needed.

“That’s not true.”

“I fucking hate you all!” 

“You don’t mean that.”

“I don’t wanna be here anymore!”

And then he said your name.

You froze.

He was gonna leave you, you were so sure of it. You worked so hard to be better for him and it didn’t work.

“No…” You whimpered and you swore you saw Graham break in front of your eyes.

“You can’t- you can’t see this.”

But he didn’t care. He knelt in front of you and Eddie and gathered you into his own arms, completely silent as he carried you to his room and you wanted to disappear into him so badly.

“‘M so sorry…” You slurred, and still he was quiet. You let him undress you and replace your pretty top and flared jeans with his own tee shirt and boxer shorts.

You watched as he changed into a similar outfit as you picked at your nails. “Graham, I-”

He sighed and placed his hands on either sides of your cheeks, placing a firm kiss on your forehead that only made you cry harder. You brought your hands up to grip his wrists, not willing to let go of the feeling of his lips on your skin.

“I’ve ruined everything, haven’t I?”

Graham was silent again as he pulled you into his bed with him, covering you both with the large duvet.

“Not in the slightest.”

-

That night was really the last night anybody had seen you get drunk like that.

Then, Daisy Jones came along.

And you learned how to keep bad habits a secret.

Tequila and mints in the bathroom, water and cherry cokes with the band. A shot of jameson to fall asleep. Champagne to wake up, brush your teeth. A beer in the shower after lunch, leave the evidence in Warren’s room since there were hundreds of empty ones anyway.

It’s not like Daisy was teaching you one on one, you just started watching her, and you liked the way she got away with it.

No one told Daisy about your issue either, you could hold your own and you had asked them not to, so lips were sealed.

But it took everything in Graham and Billy not to tell her to tread lightly every time they saw the two of you sneak off on your own.

And now here was Graham Dunne, sitting in the driver's seat of the van outside of God knows who’s house, with Camilla in the passenger’s seat and Billy in the back. Moral support. 

“Want us to come with you?”

Graham shook his head. “I need to do this alone.”

Billy scoffed, “I’m not gonna let you go in there with our two hot headed alcoholic rage sisters. Cam, you stay here.”

“Nope, you go I go. You two get our girl, I’ll handle Daisy.”

The three bickered a moment but finally settled on their plan. Graham and Camilla would take you, while Karen and Billy took Daisy, since the blonde girl drove.

“Fucking finally.” Karen exasperated as she saw her friends walk into the backyard of the party while trying her hardest to hold you upright.

“Where is Daisy?” Billy spat immediately, making eyes around the party. You had always been like a sister to him, in the way Camilla was to Graham, and he could’ve killed the redheaded girl in that moment.

“Beats me.” Karen said, passing off your deadweight into Graham, who was quickly supported by Billy. Your head lulled onto your boyfriend's shoulder, recognizing him as a source of comfort even in your inebriated state.

It made his soul ache.

“Is Simone here?” Camilla asked.

Karen shook her head, “Was. Split as soon as she and Daisy got into a fight. Offered to take this one” she nodded her head at you “home with her but I figured it’d be best if you guys came.”

Graham shook his head, “You made the right call, thank you.”

“Yeah, well uh, I sure as hell can’t drive. Got drunk as hell before even stepping foot in the backyard, soon as I saw (Y/n) I stepped in and called you guys immediately.”

“Do we need to get Daisy?”

“That’s a fight you sure as hell don’t wanna have. Yelled at me just for taking ‘her best friend’ away from her to get her some water.”

Billy rolled his eyes.

Graham and Billy began making their way out of the party with you slung around their shoulders, and Camilla walking arm in arm with a very drunk Karen who kept tripping over feet.

And suddenly red hair and sparkling eyes were in front of them.

“Ohhh no, what happened to my girl?” She tried to touch your face but Billy pulled you away, ready to say something before Graham spoke up, surprising everyone.

“Your girl, Daisy?!” His voice boomed, no doubt you’d be embarrassed if you were in any way conscious. “This is my girl, our girl.” He gestured to the rest of the group. “And I’d say it’s in your best interest to leave her the hell alone from now on.”

-

Graham was a mess when he got you home.

Daisy ended up at the house not too long after the rest, explaining she didn’t know the situation, apologizing profusely, informing them all you had been drinking for months. She told them in a sullen voice that you hadn’t been this bad last time she saw her, that she thinks someone must have done it to you.

Graham understood, he did. But he couldn’t look at Daisy. How could she let you out of her sight, to allow someone to do this to you? It made his stomach turn. Billy was next to his brother this time, in the living room, a hand resting on his shoulder, squeezing from time to time, and instead of standing Graham sat with his head in his hands, creating knots in his hair as he ran his fingers through it. Cam and Karen had you in the bathroom, after seeing the panic in Graham’s eyes they decided to take over that part, knowing it wouldn’t be easy for him to see. Warren stayed up, and Eddie didn’t retreat to his room, Daisy paced back and forth outside of the bathroom, biting her nails. Graham could hear it, it was driving him nuts.

“Would it kill you to be quiet for two seconds, Daisy?!” He groaned, running a hand over his red splotchy face.

Everyone knew that Graham was just upset and taking it out on Daisy, the red corvette, which wasn’t exactly fair, but they also knew better than to argue with Graham at that point.

“You know what, Graham?!” Daisy stomped into the living room, planting herself in front of the Dunne brothers with her arms crossed.

Graham didn’t look up.

“Hey, I’m talkin’ to you!” Daisy used her thumb and pointer finger to grip his chin and pull his face up to look at her and she immediately felt guilty at his tear stained cheeks and glassy eyes.

She sighed, and crouched before him.

“I know it’s hard, and I’m so, so sorry this is happening to her. But she makes her own decisions, Graham. No one could’ve stopped her.”

Graham nodded, but still wouldn’t look in her direction. “Will you go check on her, please?”

Daisy would later tell the story with a frown on her face, and she’d recall never being that scared for another person before, despite the smile she put on for Graham.

“I didn’t-” She took a breath, “I’d never seen it that bad before, at least not while I was sober. I thought she was going to die.”

Daisy retreated to yours and Graham’s shared room shortly after discovering she couldn’t stomach staying in that bathroom, deciding to make herself useful by getting the bed ready, fluffing the pillows and retrieving some fresh clothes for you to wear to bed, making sure she grabbed ones that smelled like your boyfriend. She dropped the clothes off in the bathroom, and passed along the message to Graham from Karen and Camilla that it was time to take you to bed.

This had been Billy’s job, since before The Six was even The Six, that’s how it went. But things had changed, Graham had grown, and it was his turn.

part two coming soon!

[strangersteddierthings]

Gut Instinct: Chapter 6 - Saturday

[Art] [Ao3] [Prologue] [Chapter One] [Chapter Two] [Interlude] [Chapter Three] [Chapter Four] [Chapter Five] [Chapter Six]

[This chapter is mature. MDNI. It does fade to black though because I got too shy about writing and posting smut]

Munson follows him upstairs. It'll be nice to have the help now, as much as he wanted space back in the kitchen. Munson can carry the pillows while Steve gathers bedding. The couches in the rec room are comfortable but the room itself gets colder than the rest of the house at night. Due to the proximity to the garage.

He enters his room with the intention of just pulling his comforter off and stealing the pillows, and Eddie follows after.

"Jesus, Harrington! What in plaid hell?"

Steve takes in his walls, the realization that it's been a long while since someone else besides him was in it. Well, Robin's been up here a few times, but they prefer to hang out in the living room.

"I didn't pick the wallpaper, man," Steve says even as he frowns at the walls, "but, uh, yeah. I really should move to a different room, huh."

Munson barks a laugh. "Just gonna move into one of the guest rooms instead of deal with this?"

"Sure," Steve agrees, amused, "I'll just shut this door and tape a sign up that just says Torture Chamber on it. Lock any of the gremlins in here for being too annoying or something."

That gets him a real laugh from Munson, who also looks surprised that he laughed. Which reminds him.

"Did you get to look at the note?"

Munson looks at him, confusion clear on his face.

“The one I gave you after the basketball game?”

The confused look clears and Munson says, "oh, uh, no. It's- I think it's in the van?"

"Your van!" Steve exclaims, suddenly remembering the abandoned vehicle. Macx had said she say Eddie flee in it. They should go get it before someone finds it. "we should go get it, while it's dark out. Where did you-"

Steve, who had turned on heel and was heading to the door, is stopped by Munson, a hand landing solidly on his chest even as he also moves to block the door. "Dude! No! It's hidden, and nowhere near your house. People are gonna know I'm here if they see it."

"Did you miss the empty three car garage we parked in somehow? No one will see it. Especially not if we go get it right now, in the dark."

Munson doesn't look convinced, as his eyes flick away from Steve to his window and back. It would have been missable, the tension in Munson suddenly, except his hand is still on Steve's chest and he feels the twitch of it as Munson seems to steel himself against his own thoughts and- oh.

Munson's entire life has been upended and it's just now coming up on the 24-hour mark. It was just last night that he watched Chrissy die. God, Steve's an idiot. Of course, he doesn't want to go on a midnight adventure to retrieve his van. He probably just wants to try and get some sleep.

Steve brings one of his own hands up to cover Munson's, and aims for reassuring and calm as he says, "Hey. Yeah, it can wait. We got more important things to do tonight."

That brings Munson's eyes back to his face, when they had previously been staring at Steve's hand covering Munson's own. Steve can see some of the old fight and fire back in Munson's eyes. It makes him look less like a traumatized man and more like the person he was when Steve was in school with him, ranting on cafeteria tables and unafraid of anything.

It makes Steve want to kiss him.

He pulls away before he acts on that urge and moves to his dresser. "I'll just get changed and then we can get cozy."

"What side do you normally sleep on? Or, do you have a favorite pillow I shouldn't use?" Eddie asks once Steve's retrieved his own pair of sweats and turned back around. Eddie is eyeing the bed but turns his gaze to Steve while he waits for an answer.

"Uh, no favorite pillow. Just, pick whatever. I'll be right back. Gotta brush my teeth," Steve dips out the room and down the hall to the bathroom.

He's not in the bathroom long. Brushes his teeth and changes, throwing the day’s clothes into the pile he made by the door earlier. He realizes he didn't bring a t-shirt and debates putting the polo back on but decides he doesn't need it. He can sleep without a shirt, it's not like Munson's never seen a guy without a shirt on.

“Okay, so I’ve got more blankets in the-” Steve starts to say as he enter his room, cutting himself off as he loses his train of thought. Munson has not stripped the bed, as Steve thought he would, but instead has crawled into it.

He’s on the far side of the bed, laying on his back, but his face is turned towards the door when Steve enters. He’s under the covers, his own shirt removed if the bare arms and shoulders he can see are any indication. His eyes are closed, so he doesn’t see that Steve is staring at him.

It occures to Steve only now that Munson might have misunderstood where Steve meant for them to sleep.

“Are you going to actually get in the bed, or stare all night?” Munson grumbles without opening his eyes.

Steve should probably clear up the misunderstanding. He should.

Except that he doesn’t feel bad about not doing it. There’s no churning in his gut that says this is a bad idea. Munson seems alright with sharing a bed, and Steve’s slept in the same bed with friends before.

Steve flicks off the light and crosses the room, crawling into his bed and settling on his back, mirroring Munson.

It’ll be fine.

It’s about fifteen minutes of what feels like awkward silence when Munson rolls over in the dark, and Steve does his best to not move. He's probably just rolling in his sleep. It’s been long enough to fall asleep, right? And Munson’s probably exhausted.

Fingers brush his side and goosebumps break out in their wake. Those fingers retreat, and Steve thinks perhaps it was an accident, Munson reaching for something in his sleep that isn't there. But then, the fingers return, press more firmly to his side, sliding along the waistband of his sweats. He feels his muscles spasm beneath Munson's hand and he doesn't know if he wants to pull away or push into it.

"Eddie?" he whispers into the darkness.

"Is this- do you not want...?" Munson whispers back, trailing off his question. He doesn't move his hand away but he does halt its movement.

Does Steve want? Yes, of course he does. He's been simmering on just this side of horny since Munson manhandled him into the wall of the boathouse, bottle to his neck notwithstanding. However, Munson's had a shit 24 hours and needs decent sleep, not Steve being a horndog.

Although.

Steve knows a good orgasm can help with falling asleep. And if Munson is wound up, he's more than willing to help.

He's been silent too long, it seems, because Munson's hand starts to retreat.

"No, no, I do want," Steve breathes out in a rush, bringing his far hand to land atop Munson's -Eddie's- hand, because if he’s going to get off with him, he’s no longer going to be just ‘Munson’ in Steve’s mind. Steve placing his hand on Eddie’s does halt Eddie, so Steve trails his fingertips up Eddie's arm to his elbow and back down to his hand. "But, do you? It's been a long day for you, I think, and we can just sleep."

Eddie let's out a harsh breath, "I'm in thee Steve Harrington's bed and the only thing that's going to be happening is sleep?"

Steve doesn't know what to say to that. Doesn't get why Eddie said his name like that or what he means. Is he being sarcastic? Is he teasing? "I mean, yeah. Beds are for sleeping."

"Do you want this or not?" Eddie asks, slipping a couple fingers beneath his waistband.

Yes, Steve thinks, but you do? His stomach clenches, not really nausea but certainly not the good feeling of the Just Knowing he's gotten used to. He grabs onto Eddie's hand, lifting it from his body and shifting it so they're palm to palm. Steve links his fingers with Eddie's but he doesn't fully return the grip. He hears Eddie's soft gasp as he scoots closer, rolling over and propping himself up at the last moment, taking the hand intertwined with Eddie's as he goes, pressing that hand into the pillow near Eddie's head so that Steve is somewhat hovering over him now. The light is dim but it's enough that Steve can see Eddie's face, see that his eyes are open and wide. "Do you want this?"

He watches as Eddie's brow furrows, like Steve's asked a complex question and not for simple consent. "I- isn't this what you wanted?"

"What?"

"You!" Eddie basically shouts, and if Steve didn't currently have one of Eddie's hands pinned to the bed and the other trapped between their bodies, he's certain Eddie would have thrown them in the air. "You've been, like, super suggestive all fucking night, dude, and I thought- it seemed like you were implying a certain way you'd like to end the night! I... Did I get the wrong read here?"

Steve's a little embarrassed that he's been this obvious. He did try to keep his attraction under wraps, if only to not make Eddie uncomfortable. But he doesn't seem uncomfortable about realizing Steve's little crush on him. And he reached out first. "Yes. Or, no, you didn't read this, me, wrong, but I wasn’t trying to- it's late and you just learned monsters exists, so we can-"

"Great. You want, I want, can we get on with it? You said there were plenty of ways to distract from the horrors. So, distract me, or whatever," Eddie huffs and Steve feels him half roll towards him, hooking a leg over Steve's before falling back to the mattress, a move which pulls Steve closer, his leg slotting in between Eddie's, who now rolls his hips to rub against his leg.

A grin spreads across Steve's face slowly. "Oh, I can distract." He shifts, clasping tighter at the hand already holding Eddie's, gets his leg into a better position for Eddie to roll his hips against and leans down to nose at Eddie's neck, drags his lips along its wake. He's pleased by the soft sigh Eddie lets out, head falling to the side to allow Steve more access. His hair, wild and curly, is in the way, so Steve places his weight on his elbow and uses his free hand to sweep the hair away before dropping a kiss on his shoulder, then another further up, and another. "You okay with biting?"

"Fuck, yeah," Eddie hisses out and Steve grins against his neck, placing a few more kisses there before opening his mouth to nip playfully. Never fully biting down, not in the way Eddie seems to want if the hand that's freed itself from between them and found purchase on the back of his head, trying to push Steve closer is any indication. But that's not what Steve meant by biting; he's more a 'little love nips' kind of man, soothing them quickly with kisses and licks.

"I thought you were going to bite," Eddie groans, sounding annoyed even as he rolls his hips against Steve's thigh.

"I am biting," Steve ends the sentence by nibbling up and down Eddie's neck quickly, which earns him an honest to God giggle from Eddie, who frees his hand from Steve's grasp to shove it into Steve's face, pushing him up and away from his neck. Muffled by Eddie's palm now, Steve adds, "what, too much?"

"Jesus Christ, you are the biggest dork on the planet," Eddie mutters but from between Eddie's spread fingers, Steve can see he looks almost fond. "is this how you treat everyone you bring to bed?"

"Hmm, no," Steve mumbles into the palm still in his face before pressing a kiss there, "just the ticklish ones."

"I am not ticklish!" Eddie squawks indignantly, dropping the hand from Steve's face down to Steve's shoulder. "It just felt weird."

"Pretty sure weird feelings that make you laugh means you're ticklish."

"Yeah, well, you promised biting. Not... whatever the fuck that was," Eddie rolls his eyes.

"Just getting a nibble," Steve grins down at him before grinding his leg against Eddie's cock. God, the feel of him. Steve wants to touch him so bad suddenly. The desire to feel the weight of him in his hand, the velvety feeling along his palm, how his cock might feel in Steve's mouth, how a different a dick not his own in his hand might feel, all of it hits Steve hard.

“Jesus Christ, you’re such a dork,” Eddie says, in a tone of breathless disbelief. Steve thinks the two, the breathlessness and the disbelief, are seperate from each other but he has no real way of knowing. “Have you always been a dork? Does this work for you?”

“It’s working on you right now isn’t it?” Steve lowers his head to whisper the words into Eddie’s ear, “you still want me to touch your dick, right?”

Eddie’s silence is enough to tell Steve that he’s right.

He turns his face into Eddie’s neck and presses his lips to the skin there once more. He drags his lips down to where neck and shoulder meet, pressing a kiss there and trailing them a bit across his shoulder before he finally bites down, pulling a pleased sounding his from Eddie then.

“Can I leave a mark?” Steve asks. He wants to, the possessive part of him wanting to leave a large hickey on Eddie’s neck for people to see and question. Nevermind that the only people who will be seeing him for an unknown amount of time is pretty limited.

“No,” Eddie is quick to say. Steve tries not to let it sting. It makes sense, after all. How would they explain the hickey when the only person Eddie’s been around is Steve? And no matter how much Steve trusts everyone, he still hasn’t come out to them. He wants to do it on his terms, and not because they put two and two together.

Also, Eddie definitely gets a say in whether or not anyone knows about him.

“Well,” Eddie adds, softer than his ‘no’ was, “I guess if it’s somewhere it’ll be hidden by clothing that’s fine.”

That sounds like a good compromise. “Good to know.”

Eddie’s snorted half-laugh turns into a groan as Steve’s hand, which he’d been slowly moving closer to Eddie’s dick, finally makes contact, rubbing teasingly through the boxers for just a moment. Steve adjusts his weight to get more space between his thigh and where he’s trying to slide his hand beneath Eddie’s boxers, tipping his head to look down between their bodies.

Turns out holding someone else’s dick in his hand does feel different. Everything he thought Eddie’s dick would feel like in his hand is true, though; the velvety skin, the weight of it, the warmth. The length is a pleasant surprise. Steve’s not going to whip his own dick out to measure right now, because he wants to focus on making Eddie feel good, but he would place good money on Eddie’s dick being a bit longer than his own.

Steve hopes that this isn’t a one-night, distract-from-the-horrors-only thing, because he really wants to have this dick inside him at some point. Despite the fact that all of Steve’s sexual experience has been woman, he’s experimented. He likes a dildo up the ass, so he thinks he’ll really like Eddie’s dick there.

“Fuck,” Eddie curses, reminding Steve that more than just Eddie’s dick is here in bed with him. A bit embarrassing to have forgotten the rest of the guy. “You’re quite a good distraction.”

Steve looks back up to Eddie’s face and gives a smirk. “I’m just getting started babe.”

[speckle-meow-meow]

STOP YOU DID SO WELL!!!!!!!!!

I know this is a lot all of a sudden but you're my favorite writer writing about my favorite fandom!

But if you aren't busy at all, can we get Eddie and Frank being parents to an emotionless (something happened and now they don't show any emotions) teen reader who only seems to show emotions around Wally or butterflies?

Like how do you think they'd react?

Your fine! I honestly didn't expect people to like my content so soon lmao!!

It took me so long to fine a goddamn image with these to together holy cap.

Edit: I had an idea that readers emotionless would relate to abuse but I completely forgot abt it so no trigger warning I'm terribly sorry about that.

Eddie and frank felt that their house was always missing something

It felt so empty

Until one day

You came falling from the sky

Right next to eddie

You of course startled him but he soon gained his composer

He was surprised to see a child? (again to them your still a kid)

But he realized that you might have been hurt due to the fall so he carried you all the way to him and Franks residents

Since Frank has a vast knowledge of many things Eddie thought he could help you

But they don't really have a concept of fleshy bodies nor injuries at least not cuts or blood

Only bruises

But he did the best he could

It's been at least 3 days since they brought you to their place

They fixed up the guest bed room to be yours since they figured you didn't have a home

When you woke up you seemed so neutral

Definitely not normal

At least to them

They asked you questions and you answered with a monotone voice

They practically adopted you after a week of having you

You were the thing, or person that they've been needing

To fill that empty space

After month you were able to leave their home with or without them

But you usually stayed by their side choosing to

The first person to really see your emotions was Frank

He was in his butterfly dome and you joined him

Frank was studying a new butterfly that he had captured, after a while he started to hear soft giggling.

Soon the giggles turned into laughs of joy

Frank turned to see you well a form of you, you were covered head to toe in butterflies, laughing, smiling.

He's glad you were able to show emotions to at least something, he was also extatic to know that it was butterflies.

After a while you decided to join Eddie on his journey to deliver mail to the other residents and friends

You went to every house

The last one was the home of Wally darling

A small yellow man with blue puffy hair

Puffy hair that you couldn't resist to touch

You stared in awe of the blue haired man or puppet.

And wally noticed

"Well hello neighbor!" Wally said greeting you.

You didn't say anything only stared

You didn't even hear Eddie say to wally about you being emotionless and a bit mute

Before both of them knew it you were touching Wally's hair like it was a cat, making sure not to rough it up or destroy it.

Wally of course was surprised but chuckled and invited you into his home allowing Eddie to continue delivering mail.

Before Eddie left he told you he'd be back to pick you up.

You spent the rest of your day with Wally laughing and smiling. He became your uncle.

It's been 2 years now you still haven't seemed to age but you didn't mind

Your parents still haven't seen any emotions from you

Unless your with Wally or the butterflies

Which makes them sad

But you slowly show them emotions little by little which is definitely progress

Progress that they will cherish

{Thank you anon for requesting another fic! And I'm glad you liked the last one! And as always hearts and re-blogs are always welcomed along with requests and questions!}

[anarcoqueer1994]

Is this something?

His mom was hired to work as a server for some extra cash at one of the fancy fundraisers the Harrington’s had at their house to shmooze whatever important politician they set their sights on that week. She couldn't leave her 7 year old son home alone, and her husband was on another drinking binge, so she had to bring Eddie. She set him up in the kitchen with some toys and food and asked him to be on his best behavior while mommy worked.

Eddie really tried. He tried to keep himself busy as she and the other servers rushed to and from the kitchen with hors d'oeuvres and drinks. But he got bored, so when no one was looking, he slipped out into the living room/dining room space where the guests were mingling. As he entered the room, he saw the guests were gathering around a grand piano. A tall, good-looking but scary man could be heard saying, "Steven, go ahead and play everyone a song." He flashed a fake smile at the crowd around him as his pretty wife stood nearby.

Eddie moved closer, careful not to draw attention to himself as he did, just so he could see what was going on more clearly. When he did, he saw a boy he had seen at school. He was in the grade below him, in first grade, Steve Harrington.

He watches as Steve pulls himself up on the chair in front of the piano. Steve nervously looks around the room at the crowd before his father clears his throat. "Go ahead, Steven." He quickly nods before starting to press down on the keys in front of him.

Eddie couldn't believe his ears. He had never heard anything like it. This little kid, only a little younger than him, was masterfully playing this song(later on, he finds out it was Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata). He watched intently as Steve’s little fingers slid from key to key. He was mesmerized.

When Steve stopped playing, the crowd of adults clapped. Eddie watched as Steve’s eyes shot to his own parents. He had looked so proud of himself, hopeful that he did well. But his face dropped as he noticed his parents weren’t even looking at him, more focused on the reactions of those around them.

Eddie knew that face, knew the face of disappointment. It was the same face he often gave his own father when he would be let down again. He wanted to make Steve feel better, to not feel sad. Without thinking, he pushes his way through the crowd, making his way to Steve.

"Hi, I'm Eddie! We go to school together and that was so cool, Steven!" He excitedly says as he walks up to the piano bench Steve was still sitting on.

Steve instinctively smiles. "Thanks! I've been practicing forever! Oh, and it's Steve, inly my dad calls me that." He giggles, showing the gap from where he recently lost a baby tooth.

"Well, okay, Steve! I think you did so good! I want to play music like that! I thought only grownups could play!" He says excitedly.

"I could teach you!" Steve's smile gets bigger, nose crinkling up.

"Hmm," Eddie contemplates. "I wanna learn the guitar like my mom. Oh and we can make a band together. You have to be the lead though."

Steve looks confused. "Why?"

"Because you're the pretty one! Everyone knows the pretty one is the lead." He says it like it is the most obvious thing in the world.

Steve looks like he is about to reply, happy to have a kid to talk to, another kid who actually likes him, when his dad suddenly says, "Who's kid is this?" This was technically a child free event, Steve only there because he lives there(and to be his parents' dancing monkey, apparently.)

Mrs. Munson comes running through the crowd, grabbing Eddie’s hand. "I'm so sorry, sir. He was supposed to be in the kitchen." Mr. Harrington looked annoyed, pulling her aside and sending her home early.

Eddie feels bad for getting his mom in trouble, but she doesn't take it out on him. He was a kid, didn't know better. He was too young to understand that people like them do not get to exist in the world of people like the Harringtons. If you step out of place, you get hurt.

Eddie doesn't really think much of the interaction after that, not wanting to risk getting his mom in trouble again by talking to Steve, even at school. But it is after that night that he begs his mother to teach him to play. His love for music grows and it becomes an escape.

As for Steve, he starts to resent playing music throughout the years. It was never something he did because he wanted to, but because his parents pushed him to do to show him off to their friends. And that's sad because he really did love playing when he was little.

Other things became clear to him that night too. That was the start of his first crush. But he doesn’t pursue it, doesn't reach out to Eddie. Even at a young age, he knew he would get in trouble for liking a boy. He doesn't even try to be his friend, afraid Eddie hates him for getting his mom in trouble.

So it's like a cruel joke when years later, Steve is laying in Eddie's arms, while the other man combs his fingers through Steve's hair, that Eddie whispers, "Why don't you play anymore, kitten?"

[thebestestofbees]

MORE TELEVISION AU!!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

You left your room. The puppets did not follow, which made you a little relieved. You sat down on your couch as you gave yourself a break to process what was happening.

Once you got your Barrens, you went to go get yourself a drink from the fridge. Only for the refrigerator door to open when you approached. You paused, your eyebrows furrowed.

Hesitantly, you grabbed your favorite drink from the fridge and you quickly pulled away as the door to the fridge closed.

Suddenly the light flickered in a pattern. It seemed to be in Morse code.

Are you fucking for real!?

Before you get too pissed off, you carefully put down your drink and walked back to your room, inhaling before speaking. "Which one of you are possessing my house?" You asked, keeping your voice calm as you pointed to the flickering lights outside your room.

"Home?" The shortest, Wally asked, peering into the rest of your house. The flickers turned into less of a pattern and Wally 'laughed', (can you really call it laughing though?) And turned to you.

"Don't worry, It's just Home." He said, looking up at you with half lidded eyes. Your hand held the doorknob tightly. He's fucking serious about this. "Okay." You said, straining your voice to be calm. "What are you all doing here?" You looked at the array of colorful puppets.

Surprisingly or unsurprisingly, Julie was the first to talk. "We were all helping Wally get out of that thing and we all got sucked in! And we saw you we've been seeing you for a while on the box thing!" Julie pointed to the flat screen TV as as she rambled, Eddie pressed his hand on the screen part, that still displayed static. "And it seems like we won't be leaving any time soon." Eddie chimed in as he sighed.

You bit the inside of your cheek. Don't get angry. They are all here against their will. "Okay. Okay." You said, your voice finally stabilizing as you put your hands in the air in a slight surrender position.

"You guys can stay here until the portal opens up again." The moment you said that, Julie squealed and ran up to you, hugging your middle tightly. "Thank you!" Julie squealed as you put your hand on her head, your face scrunching up at the sudden contact. "It's no prob." You said as Julie let go, hopping around the room as Frank tried to stop her.

Everyone wore smiles and Sally walked up to you. "I almost thought you wouldn't take us in. But who am I kidding! We've been watching you to know you could never. Thank you." Sally shook your hand firmly as If you were making a deal of some kind. "Uh huh... no problem." You blinked as the tall ones came up next.

"Thank for this squirt, that's really nice of you, I'll make sure to give you a 100% discount once we get back home." Howdy said as Poppy gave you a shaky smile. "Hey listen it's really no issue." You said as Barnaby ruffled your hair, chuckling.

"Hey, you've did a lot more than you think, I'm just glad you didn't close your doors on us, Oh wait." Barnaby chuckled and Howdy laughed. "That was a good one!" Howdy laughed. "I'm just gettin started so don't close your curtains just yet!" Barnaby joked and you sighed.

"Look I have things to do, you can wander around if you want, I have to sleep." You say. "I have a guest room with a bed, a mattress and a couch, the covers are there." You counted on your hands how much space that would take.

So two could go in the bed, two on the mattress and two on the couch that means six have somewhere to sleep. You walked to where your sheets, pillow cases, and covers and pulled out your sleeping bag when you were younger. Now that's seven. You looked back at the puppets. There were eight. Shit.

"Okay so, two of you can take the couch, I can get that ready for you, the guest room is already set for another two of you and I got a spare mattress I'll have to put on the floor, I also got a sleeping bag one of you could use, but someone is gonna have to sleep with me, who's ready to make that sacrifice?" You asked looking around until someone raises their hand.

I'm giving you a week to decide, so in the mean time I can answer asks!

[luv4byers]

nightmares - w.b.

heyyy! i'm literally listening to revolting children from roald dahl's matilda please don't come at me its an amazing song. i'm also really sick. i stole the van script and put little chips of it in here <333

warnings: will having a nightmare, mentions of death, and my bad writing

pairing: will byers x male reader

word count: 809

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

it's been a full week. it was all over, and we were sort of alright. after everything that happened, everyones still recovering from it. max is brain dead, her bones are broken, and she's blind. but her heart still beats, thanks to el. poor lucas thinks its his fault. dustin is still sad about eddie's sacrifice, but at least robin was able to take vickie for herself.

but what also worried me was will. jonathan would tell me how will would wake up in a cold sweat, scared that the beasts of the upside down would come back to cause harm to us, especially after dealing with his connections to the upside down.

but, will was visiting hawkins, and he was staying at my place for the night. ms. byers and my mom were best friends, because they graduated together and worked at the same place for a while.

and that's when i met will.

ms. byers, jonathan, and will would come very often to visit us. it was one of the best things that ever happened to me, because will and i grew up to be best friends. we grew up together.

we went through the tragedies of the upside down, getting bullied at school, and dark stormy nights together.

and gosh, i was happy to see him again, without having to deal with the upside down.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

jonathan, ms byers and will already arrived at our house. "ah joyce! i missed having you just around the corner, and having you at work." my mom said. "and make yourselves at home!".

i hugged will, jonathan, ms. byers, el, and hopper.

"will! i missed you! you'll be staying the night in my room, you can drop your stuff there." we climbed up the steps to my room. "my mom's still setting things up- and talking up a tornado with your mom, it's like they haven't seen each other in several years. it'll take a while, so you can go and change. i bet you had a long day"

"alright y/n, thanks!" he picked up his duffle bag, and entered the bathroom.

he came out of the bathroom. "y/n, sorry to ask, but i forgot to pack a t shirt. i have a sweater but it's a bit warm, do you mind if i borrow one of your shirts?"

"yeah, of course you can."

"thanks y/n."

he straight up pulled his sweater off, and wore my shirt. i had no idea why my face was heating up.

i mentally cursed myself for looking at my best friend like that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

we had dinner alongside a great conversation. ms. byers and hopper were gonna occupy the guest bedroom, and ms. wheeler offered to take el and jonathan for the night.

i pulled out my sleeping bag for tonight, and reassured will i was okay sleeping with a sleeping bag.

"are you completely sure you don't wanna sleep on the bed? i mean it's your bed, not mine, so you should sleep on it." will mentioned.

"it's fine, you're the guest here will. besides, it's one night. the sleeping bag won't murder me in my sleep." i responded.

"fine y/n. there's space if you change your mind."

"goodnight, will."

"'night y/n."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

i couldn't sleep, due to so many questions flooding my mind, such as:

was it wrong to love my best friend like this?

why did he mesmerize me so much?

but what if it was one-sided? will could choose anyone he wants.

stupid, stupid, stupid.

and i heard will's breathing get heavier, and heavier, until he stirs violently.

"will? will! will, wake up." i whispered loudly.

i shook him gently, which was enough to wake him. "will, are you okay?"

i feel dumb. of course he wasn't okay. "y-yeah i'm fine." i didn't believe him.

"you're not fine. i know it. just take your time, and it's fine if you don't feel like telling me."

i sat on the bed, right next to him, and hugged him. he was shaking. his breathing was unsteady. so i gently whispered in his ear,

"breathe in for 5 seconds, breathe out for 5 seconds. until you start to feel more steady."

i held his hand and he followed, and his breathing became more steady, and he stopped shaking.

"i'm sorry y/n, i've been dealing with this for a while already and i should be able to deal with it myself." he apologized, and for something that he can't control.

"don't apologize will. with experiences like that, it's hard to get it out. no one's gonna hurt you. as long as i'm here, i won't let anything hurt you."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"just get on the damn bed and sleep." will whisper-shouted

"fine.." i was spooning will, and fell asleep.

one thing's for sure,

that was one of the best rests i've ever had.

[allsassnoclass]

HIIII hazel u know what I'm going to say already let's do it mwah. BUDDIE - @team-118

hi team!!!!!!!!

buddie: you know this one HAS to be MAKES SENSE AND COMPELS ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Listen man, the will? the coparenting? it's eddie's house, i'm not a guest? the shooting??? the grocery store fight during the law suit? the way they match each other's freak? the way they're genuinely best friends and we can see why they get along so well but also they do really unhinged irrational things when they think the other one is dying? they make sense! and they have so many fascinating things going on that compel me too! i think another thing i love about them is that if they ever become canon, they'll be the only long-term will-they-won't-they ship in the show. hen and karen were already established, bobby and athena got together and solidified things pretty quick, and while chim and maddie had more ups and downs they still met each other, liked each other, and started seeing each other within the same season. shows these days don't trust that they're going to make it multiple seasons, so i feel like they have been speed running romances these days rather than drawing them out for multiple seasons. PLUS, due to the way that modern tv is structured to be more short form with renewals up in the air, if buddie ever becomes canon it'll be arguably the first and maybe last gay ship to be given the will-they-won't-they-partners-in-a-network-tv-show treatment that couples like booth/brennan (bones), mulder/scully (x-files), and luke/lorelai (gilmore girls) got. spn got close to this, but did it in such a homophobic way and then didn't actually make it explicitly canon on both ends, just had cas confess and die while dean shed a few tears. with more and more tv shows getting 8 episodes a season and getting cancelled randomly, i'm not sure tv is in a format that will cater to something like that again. i feel like shows with canon gay couples feel the need to speed run the process now (tk and carlos in lone star, lucy and whistler in ncis hawaii), so from a narrative tv format perspective buddie really appeals to me in that way, on top of the things that make them interesting characters and a compelling ship.

at the crux of it though, i really really love co-parents to lovers/single parent-best friend aus. that's actually one of my favorite tropes, so that's also a big reason that buddie appeals to me lol

[sidekick-hero]

I’m tired of asking to settle the debt

5 times Eddie warmed Steve's hands and the one time Steve returns the favor.

(note: this is part one of six, I will publish the rest over the holidays because I'm bad at time management and will not finish it in time for @thefreakandthehair Winter Fic Challenge.)

December 1972

The first time it happened, Steve didn't pay attention. Later, when all was said and done, he wishes that he did. But that's the thing with hindsight, isn't it?

The first time it happens, Steve is busy being sorry for himself.

It's the first week of December, and Steve wakes up to a world covered in white. He is six years old and all he wants to do is get out there and enjoy the magic.

And that's why he forgets. Even if only for a second, he does. Forgets that he is a Harrington. Forgets that his parents do not care about snow. About magic. About him.

He runs to the kitchen as fast as his little legs carry him without falling head-first down the stairs. His sock-clad feet skid to a halt on the hardwood floors as he rounds the corner. There, at the table, sits his father, face hidden behind the morning papers. His mom stands at the stove with a coffee mug in her hands and a faraway expression on her face. They don’t look up as he enters the room.

He walks over to his mother and his hand closes around the stiff material of her sensible slacks. She finally looks down at him. "What is it, honey?” her soft voice asks. Her brown eyes, so much like his, look at him.

He beams up at her. “It snows!” he exclaims. "Can we go outside? Maybe build a snowman or have a snowball fight?" his voice brims with excitement at the thought of all the adventures waiting outside in the snow. "Or I could go get my sled and we can..."

"Honey, slow down. We can't go out in the snow. You will get all dirty and sweaty when you play outside in this weather. And you know that your father and I expect guests later. And we want to make the best impression, don't we?"

"But, mom, I won't be long. And I will be careful, really. I promise," he pleads with her, his eyes big, round, and glassy. He may be only six, but he knows about the power of his sad puppy dog eyes. Their babysitter tells him that all the time, with a soft giggle and her hand ruffling his hair. He will marry her someday, he decides. She is always so nice to him.

His mom looks like she wants to give in. "I don't know, Stevie. Maybe...," but before she can finish her sentence, his father interrupts her. "Your mother said no, Steven, so you listen to her. Stop begging like a spoiled brat. You listen to us when we tell you something, are we understood?" his gray eyes bear into him, and they look like the sky outside. Steve feels pinned underneath their weight. He wills his mouth to move, but no sound makes it out. "I said," his father repeats, voice low "are we understood? Answer me when I ask you a question. Or are you too stupid even for that?"

"Yes, sir. I mean, no, sir," he stutters, and his father laughs at him. Steve feels the skin of his face burn with shame and humiliation. Before his parents can say anything else he runs out of the kitchen and up the stairs to his room. He doesn't stop, doesn't think, just grabs a jacket and his sneakers and runs off into the woods behind their property.

Shame and anger still cursing through his veins, he marches on for almost an hour before coming to a halt. When he finally stops to look around, he has no idea where he is. The neighborhood he is in is unfamiliar, the houses small and in differing states of unrepair. There aren't any people on the sidewalk or on the tiny lawns in front of the houses. In fact, there is no one around, the air eerily silent and still. Just as he decides to turn back and try to find his way home by tracing his steps backward, he hears laughter. He turns towards the sound and sees three figures approaching.

It's three boys, all older than him. Steve thinks they might be 14, maybe even 16. They walk straight toward him, and he doesn't think they want to build a snowman with him or have a snowball fight. But before he can make up his mind to just run away (like a coward, his father's voice whispers) they reach him.

"Awww, look at that, Troy! A baby!" croons one of them with false cheerfulness. His pimpled face does not look cheerful. It looks hungry; like a stray dog would look smelling food. "I wonder what the little baby does here all alone. Don't you have a mommy and a daddy, little baby? They already sick of you, huh?" the tallest of three adds as he smirks down at Steve. The words hit a little bit too close to home. His face burns again. They both laugh at the expression on his face, and he shrinks back.

The third boy doesn't laugh. He doesn't smirk or insult Steve, either. He just looks at him. At his clean clothes, so new they're still a bit stiff. His thick down jacket with the brand logo bold on his chest. His eyes are serious, calculating. "I don't think his parents are around. I think he is all alone. Aren't you, little baby?"

Before Steve can say anything to that - what, he has no idea - the third boy pounces on him. He grabs Steve's jacket and yanks on it. The zipper strains but holds, so the boy grabs for it and manages to pull it all the way down. Steve doesn’t wait to see what will happen next, he just turns around and starts running. The boy still holds onto his jacket, but it slips off his arms, and Steve is free.

He runs as fast as he can. The blood rushes in his ears, and he swears he hears footsteps, so Steve doesn't stop until he absolutely must. There is a small park in front of him, and he thinks that maybe he can hide between the trees and the bushes. He runs towards it and cowers behind the thick bushes, catching his breath.

That's where Eddie crashes into him a few minutes later.

Eddie is a Dragon. Eddie breathes hot puffs of smoke into the air. Dragons don’t think about what their feet are doing. And so, he walks straight into Steve, who still crouches behind the bushes. They both tumble to the ground.

They both yelp, startled and, in Steve's case, still scared from his earlier encounter. His hands form fists, and he is on his legs before he can think about it. His whole body is shaking from adrenaline. And from the exhaustion and the cold, but he doesn't think about that. Just knows that he can't let another stranger hurt him. "Whoa, hey. Sorry, dude. Didn't see you there," Eddie has his hands up, placating. He looks at Steve curiously. "What are you doing behind those bushes?"

And Steve feels silly now. Hiding behind bushes like a coward. The boy probably thinks he's a baby, too. "Nothing," he huffs. "Go away." And he turns his back to Eddie, dismissing him. Hopes the boy gets the hint and goes away so Steve can figure out what to do next. How to explain that he ran away, that he lost his jacket, and that he is, in fact, dirty and wet from his recent tumble. Steve thinks about his father and how this would have never happened if they had let him go outside to play for a bit. Steve is thinking about how he would sit in front of the fireplace by now, warm and cozy. Maybe with hot cocoa. Instead, he is God knows where. Lost and alone. And so cold, shivers ran through his tiny body, making it tremble.

"I'm really sorry, okay? I didn't see you there, I swear. I was being a dragon, you know? Look!" and with that, Eddie puffs again, his breath turning to smoke once more. And despite himself, Steve snorts at that. He can't help the answering grin either when the other boy beams at him proudly. There are deep dimples in his cheeks.

The boy with the unruly curls sticks his hand out towards Steve with so much enthusiasm that his whole body sways forward. His face is mostly eyes. Big, brown eyes, darker than Steve's own, and really pretty, with long lashes. Like a girl. "I'm Eddie, nice to meet ya." Steve looks at the offered hand for a second before grasping it with his own. "Steve", he answers, "it is very nice to meet you, too." And he sounds so formal, and so stiff, that he wants to hide away in humiliation. But before he can do any such thing, Eddie pulls him in. "Wow, dude, your hands are freezing! Why don't you have a jacket on?"

Steve huffs in annoyance. "Because they stole it."

"Who stole it?" Eddie asks incredulously.

Steve hesitates before he says "Three boys, a few blocks back. They just grabbed it. I ran away before they could do anything else." The admission brings a new wave of shame. Steve does not even know what else they could have done, but he trembles at the thought of those few minutes he spent in the company of the bad boys.

His trembling must have been stronger than he thought because Eddie says "You must be, like, super cold then! My uncle made me wear, like, three t-shirts and a jumper under my jacket. I can barely move." He sounds almost offended, like the thought of his uncle wanting him warm was somehow insulting to him. Steve thinks of his own parents and how they only care about how clean and nice he looks.

He's so lost in thought that he doesn't even notice that Eddie is still holding his hand in his until he reaches for Steve's other hand as well. Eddie's hands are nice, warm, and dry despite the cold. Soft. Steve looks at his hands in Eddie's in wonder. Notices that Eddie bites his nails and that there is dirt on his palms and under his bitten-short nails. It should bother him - his mother would throw a fit if his hands ever looked like that. But all he can think about is how he doesn't want Eddie to let go.

Eddie, meanwhile, pushes Steve's palms together between his own and starts to rub his hands over them like he wants to make a fire with Steve's hands. He starts chattering about his uncle Wayne, who lives not far away in the trailer park, and how he is going to spend the holidays there because "my ma's been kinda sick a lot and my da is really busy, y'know? So, I'm with Wayne for a bit. That's cool, Wayne's really cool." Steve can only nod along. A bit overwhelmed by the onstream of cheerful chatter. Thinks that he would also really like a cool uncle Wayne to spend his holidays with because his parents have no time for him. But something about the way Eddie talks about it tells him that he shouldn't voice this thought.

Suddenly, the movement along with the chatter stops and Steve notices that he hasn't said a single thing for several minutes. Big eyes search his for a second before turning downwards to their shoes. Eddie lets their hands drop, and Steve feels cold again. They're standing really close, otherwise, Steve would have probably missed the quiet "Sorry". The sudden shift in mood baffles Steve. "What are you sorry for?" he asks, curious.

"I know, I talk a lot. My da always says so, my ma, too. Not uncle Wayne, though. So, I'm sorry I'm so much." Steve has no idea what to say to that. Eddie does talk a lot. He is a lot. But Steve likes that. Likes that a whole lot. Only, he doesn't know how to tell Eddie that. So instead, he says "I need to go home.".

At that Eddie let’s his head hang even more. He looks like a kicked puppy, all the boisterous energy gone as it had never been there. Steve misses it already.

Just as Steve has gathered enough courage to reach out to Eddie (to do what he has no idea, maybe to take his hands again because that had felt nice), Eddie looks back up again and smiles. There are no dimples this time. "There is a bus not far from here. I can take you there. I bet it gets you home in no time. Wayne and I often take the bus because it gets you everywhere you want to go." And with that, Eddie grabs his hands again and marches him out of the bushes and towards the street. Steve has no choice but to follow.

They find the bus station just as a bus pulls in. Eddie goes up to the driver, bows in a silly, over-the-top way, and says "Dear good sir. My friend needs to get home. Can you take him?" The driver chuckles at that, clearly charmed by Eddie's antics. "If his home is on my route, sure. Where do you live?" that one goes to Steve, who has no idea how to answer that. But before he can make a fool of himself, the bus driver recognizes him. "You're Harrington's boy, aren't you? Oh boy, you're lucky I found you. This is no place for you, here. Come on in, I get you home."

And with that, Steve takes a step further into the bus. As he turns around to say something to Eddie, say anything but goodbye, maybe even ask him to come along, to come to his house and have some hot cocoa, the door of the bus closes between them.

The last thing he sees before they drive away is Eddie's hand, pressed against the dirty window of the door. Steve places his own above it, against the glass. It's cold.

[thatssonanii]

Like Mother

HAHN not so AU Fic

Treasure laid across her bed watching television until her phone rung. She thought about ignoring it in case it was Marco but looked just in case. Slowly, her smile grew wide when she saw her Daddy's picture and name. She answered excitedly putting the call on speaker.

"Hey, Daddy!"

"Hey, beautiful. How's my favorite girl?"

She laughed. "I'm... I'm okay, Daddy. How are you?"

"Nope, don't like that pause. What's going on?"

She sighed picking at her nails.

"Marco. He's annoying me."

A low chuckle escaped him. "Why is he even still around? You showed him that you are your mother's child and he's still trying."

"Don't know, Daddy. I turned down his date invitation to talk things out then he invited himself over here."

Mitch mumbled a few things under his breath.

"I know that your uncles and Caleb are there and you know me, your mom and your other dad like to let you handle things yourself but if need be, I can be there."

"No, no. It's bad enough Dad is gonna be here. The two of you together are far worse," she laughed.

"Thank you. We try," he chuckled. "But if you change your mind Daddy's always here. Other than that boy, everything okay?"

"Yeah everything is good. Oh, Dad wanted to know are you gonna go to the game with him?"

"Tell him I'll be there. I gotta go but I love you sweetheart."

"Love you back, Daddy."

As they were ending their phone call, there was a knock at the door and the doorbell went off. Cameron, Zion, Eddie and Benny sat around the living room with confused faces. Everybody that was supposed to be there just walked in so this was someone without an invite. They didn't like guests coming without an invite.

"I'll grab my gun," Eddie shrugged.

Zion laughed hurrying to get up. "Nope, I got it. If I need you, I'll call."

Again, Eddie shrugged, "Still gonna get it anyway."

Zion's laughter stopped when he laid eyes on the person on the other side of the door.

Marco.

Marco and his smug smile.

Chuckling, Zion leaned against the doorframe.

"What ya ass want? Cause it damn sure ain't my niece."

He chuckled attempting to step in, only to be pushed back by Zion. "Are we gonna do this every time I come over? I'm practically your nephew."

"Look like your eye healed up pretty good. I need to teach her to hit a little harder, maybe you'll get the message then."

"As I told my girlfriend, violence is never the answer, Uncle."

"It's gon be if you don't get the hell away from this house," Cameron threatened as he approached the door. "Take your ass on, little boy. No thank you, we don't want anything you got."

Marco shook his head. "No. I didn't come here to see any of you, I came to see Treasure and she knows I'm coming. Just take a deep breath, step back and let me through."

"Yo who the fu," Cameron started before Zion cut him off.

"Eddie! B! Come 'ere!" He yelled out.

Just as they approached the door, Treasure came running down the stairs. She ran to the door as she called for Caleb. After attempting to push them apart to get to the front didn't work, she huffed and called for him once more.

Eddie glared at the boy. "You got a lot of nerve showing your face over here. You must want me to shoot you. That what you want?"

"Alright, that protective Uncle stuff was real cute at first," Marco laughed, "It's not cute anymore. Just let us be."

"Yo, my man, you really wanna do this?" Benny asked adjusting his hat.

Caleb finally came from his mancave, he carefully moved his granddaughter out the way then easily moved through his sons to the front. Needless to say, he was less than pleased to see Marco.

"I think that you think because you're in high school that the rules don't apply to you. And if you do think that, I'm here to tell you that you're wrong." Caleb explained calmly. "When you stepped your ass up these steps and rung my doorbell, you decided that you wanted to play these stupid games. And what did I tell you about stupid games?"

"Umm ... umm."

"Spit it out." Zion barked. "You had all that mouth a minute ago."

"You said play stupid games and win stupid prizes."

"Yeah exactly and it don't get much more stupid than what my boys can and will do to you. Do you understand that?"

"Uh, I ... yes sir."

Caleb stared at him as he spoke. "Babygirl, do you want to talk to him?"

"I don't want to but I was going to, PopPop." She answered from behind her uncles.

"Whatever you want, babygirl. But you know to call us if anything. Right?"

"Yes sir."

Caleb nodded stepping slightly out of the way. "Come in, Marco."

Nervously, Marco passed Caleb and his boys flinching when Cameron jumped at him. He turned red when they began to laugh. His attempt to get a hug was thwarted by Treasure pushing him back and scoffing.

"I said I would talk to you. Not that you could touch me." She explained rolling her eyes. "Uuh we're gonna go to the patio, PopPop. That okay?"

He winked and smiled at her in response.

"Why can't we talk in your room?"

Treasure's frowned deepened but Benny spoke up before she could.

"You worried about the wrong thing, you need to be grateful she even agreed. And whatever you thought was gonna happen ain't happenin, my man."

Pushing him in front of her, Treasure hugged them and thanked them. The talking and laughing Marco could hear coming from the kitchen stopped as soon as his feet crossed the threshold. He gave the women standing around the island and stove a smile and waved his hand.

"Hey, Ms. Hanna and Aunties."

Cheyenne eyed him then went back to what she was doing. Marissa and Melissa hummed out a haphazard greeting.

"We are not your aunties, boy." Marcie spat as she chopped vegetables.

"Don't be like that. I'm trying to do better, I'm here to talk, aren't I? I'm working on getting things back to normal." He explained still smiling.

Treasure sucked her teeth. "No, you're here cause you clearly didn't understand that I broke up with you. Don't lie in my Nana Christian home like that."

"You're just saying that, I can make you change your mind."

"Sounds to me like you don't understand the word no," Hanna pointed out leaning on the island staring at him, "And that right there is a problem in itself."

Marco looked between them, his mouth opening and closing. "No, I do that's not.... I'm sorry."

"You're always sorry. You just a sorry ass lil boy, huh?" Marcie said with a raise of her brow. Her sisters couldn't help but laugh. Her and Marissa were the calm and nice ones, usually anyway. But with Marco around, that all went out the window.

"We're going to the patio. Won't be long." Treasure told them, pushing Marco once more.

The women waited until the door closed to continue their conversation.

"How did she even end up with that ... that boy?" Cheyenne asked.

"They went to middle school together. He didn't come into his f-boy ways until he got them braces off and his acne cleared up." Marissa explained. "I honestly don't think Treasure actually ever liked him or if she did, once they got together she changed her mind."

Hanna chuckled, "And that boy think if he keeps pushing that she'll change her mind."

"But she won't," Melissa laughed, "The only thing it's gonna do is piss her off. And if nothing else, she is a mini version of Lainey so pissing her off ain't a good idea."

Treasure sat on the patio banister with her arms folded waiting for him to speak. She stared a hole in him that quite frankly scared the shit out of him.

"You got ten seconds to start talking or I'm getting my uncles to put you out."

"Okay okay ... listen I don't wanna break up, Treasure. What I did was dumb but I'm dumb, okay? I'm dumb and I wasn't thinking."

"It's not even the fact that you did it, it's the fact that you're insulting my intelligence. How stupid do you think I am that I would believe anything you say?"

Marco started to approach her but thought better. "I'm not, I don't think you're stupid, T. I just," he sighed running a hand through his hair, "It's just our relationship can never be just us, ya know? It's you, me, your family and Josh. They always have their nose in our business."

A low groan escaped her as she counted backwards from ten. She was trying not to hit him again but he was slowly starting to ask for it.

As Marco went on and on unknowingly adding fuel to the fire, Charles and Lainey were walking to the front door with eleven year old Diego and nine year old Charleigh behind them.

"I had to mute the brother group chat and the sister one too," Lainey chuckled looking at her phone. "Marco is here and no one is happy about it."

Charles glanced behind him at their kids smiling. "Yeah, Mitch was texting me and so were your brothers. Gotta give it to em ... he's brave. Or stupid."

"My guess is stupid." Lainey laughed digging her key out of her purse.

Josh snuck up behind the kids and pulled Charleigh off the steps and picked her up. Her squealing made them all turn around but they all let out the breath they were holding when they saw who it was and Charleigh laughing. He sat her down just as Lainey got the door open and kissed her head then dapped Diego up.

"Josh, ima get you! You scared me!" She laughed clinging to him.

He laughed draping an arm around her. "That's payback for when you scared me the other night, lil one. What's up, Chuck? Hey, Mama. How you doing?

Charles slapped hands with him. "Nothing much. You came cause Marco here?"

"Nope, he's here to see his girlfriend," Lainey laughed opening the door.

Josh let the kids go ahead of him then followed the adults into the house. He did a fake laugh as he hugged Lainey.

"You and Aunties think yall funny with that, Ma." He told her pulling away from the hug. "I came to give Treasure something, Marco being here was just extra."

Lainey shrugged playfully. "Just saying. Di and Charleigh, go change your clothes and put your stuff away please. You can come back down when you're finished."

Charleigh pouted going to hold onto Josh. "Can I do it later, Mommy? Josh just got here and I didn't even get to speak to PopPop yet. Him and Di always outside with the cars."

Diego looked between them laughing a little. "I'm going right now, Mama. I don't want none of that."

Charles watched him run upstairs with a smile on his face. He slid between them, headed for the living room.

"I'm not in it," he called over his shoulder.

"You could always stay up there the rest of the day and night, Charleigh."

Josh squeezed her tight and kissed her head. "Ima be here for a long while, lil one. Go ahead and do what Ma asked you do to do then maybe she'll let me take yall for ice cream later. Deal?"

Squealing, Charleigh ran up the stairs so the way to her bedroom. Feeling her eyes on him, Josh smiled wide at Lainey and made a heart with his hands.

"Love you, Ma!"

Lainey couldn't help but laugh. "Uhuh, come on here."

As soon as Lainey and Josh walked through the living room Eddie jumped up. He safely put his gun away for the moment then approached them with a smile on his face.

"Boy, where has your ass been? I missed you and you ain't showed your face in a week."

Josh laughed as they hugged. "My bad, E. Every time I came only Pop and Nana was here with Babybop. I'll let you know next time I come so you can be here."

"You know you always welcome at my house. Don't even have to call." Eddie told him going back to sit down.

The brothers laughed. You have to be a great person for Eddie to invite you to his house with no heads up, without the intention of shooting you. Josh slapped hands with the other brothers then went to speak to Caleb.

"Pop, what's up? Heard you got a new car."

Caleb grinned. "I did, I did. I had to do a lot of making up after I got it but it was worth it. Babygirl showed you pictures?"

He nodded. "Yeah, it's tough too. I know Di and Uncle Zi loved riding in it."

Caleb frowned looking over at his grinning son. "Di will and so will you but Zion better not even think about it."

Zion threw his hands up laughing. "That's cold, Pop. Real cold. I like cars too!"

"Uhuh and you also like stealing."

"Mama said not to say that about me," he laughed, "Aye, nephew. Them some nice shoes. What size you wear?"

Cameron cut in.

"Do not answer that, Josh. He gon steal your shit."

Josh laughed. "I'm not, he already got me for two pairs. Unc, I found the caps you was ... nevermind."

Benny tried to stop him before Lainey caught on but it was too late. She looked between them.

"If you bring him anymore stocking caps, I know something, Joshua. Don't bring those in here."

Josh laughed choosing not to respond.

"Fine, he can drop em off to my house then," Benny joked dodging her hits.

Jumping at her brother, Lainey walked with Josh to the kitchen. Charles, her brothers and Caleb obviously wanted to talk to one another without either of them in the room. Mainly her. The women all smiled a little wider when they laid eyes on him. He made his way around the kitchen hugging and kissing their cheeks.

Hanna put her hands on his face, smiling up at him.

"You look tired, baby. You been sleeping?"

"Dang, Mama. How you smile and insult him like that," Melissa laughed.

"Wanna see me smile and hit you?" Hanna asked quickly.

The sisters all 'ooohed' childishly then laughed.

Melissa shook her head. "Nope, I'm okay with Benny getting hit and not me. I'm good."

"That's what I thought. Now back to you," she smiled again at Josh making him smile, "Have you been sleeping?"

He nodded even though he knew he was lying. "Yes ma'am, I been sleeping."

She smiled a little longer then snacked his neck making him hiss and the other women flinch. "I told you about lying to me, didn't I?"

"My bad, Nana. My bad. I just don't want you to worry your pretty head about me."

Quickly, he moved away to dodge the next hit that he knew was coming and went to his behind Marcie and Marissa laughing. The women laughed and Hanna couldn't hello but to join them.

"If I didn't know any better I'd swear you belong to one of my slick ass son's or my slick ass brother." She chuckled going check on the food.

He grinned.

"Thank you, Nana. That's so sweet."

"I ... you would take it as a compliment."

While he did enjoy being playful and talking to them, Josh used that moment to get their mind off of him not sleeping because that would lead to questions about whether he's been out working all night or not. With Marco here, they didn't need anymore unpleasant things or people around. Their laughter and talking was mostly covering the argument going on a few feet away on the patio.

"And I don't even know why of all people you let Josh into our business anyway," he ranted moving his hands as he spoke, "Why does your family even let him around you? They really believe he's your best friend and think it's okay."

Her eyes met his, he was too busy going on and on to notice the fire building in them.

"He's 18 for Christ sake! And he's hanging around a 16 year old! Nobody sees anything wrong with that!"

"I don't see anything wrong with it." She responded softly trying not to yell.

"I expected that from you."

Her head tilted and her eyes narrowed. "And what does that mean?"

He scoffed, frowning his face up.

"Seriously? Your dad is a freaking Malone, he's what ... 4 or 5 years older than your mom and your family didn't see anything wrong with that! They clearly want the same thing for you! They want you to be some criminal's baby mama too!"

"What?"

She heard him. She heard every single thing he said. All she was doing was giving him a chance to take it back or change it which he didn't take.

"You heard me! You're too blind to see it! And newsflash for everybody, if your Dad's looking for his replacement they'll never accept Josh as the head of the family." He spat with disgust. "They barely accepted your Mom. But you and Di pass the paper bag test so she skated by!"

In a flash, Marco hit the ground with a thud, holding his gushing nose. Treasure kicked him in his side a few times then jumped on top of him landing punches wherever she could. His yells for help caught Josh and the women's attention, prompting them to call out for the men and rush to the backyard.

Marcie laughed loudly as soon as she laid eyes on them. Marissa had to step away from a moment to catch her breath from laughing so hard. Melissa was wrestling with whether she should record or not.

Cheyenne cursed under her breath. "She is definitely your child, Lainey."

"Thank you," Lainey said breaming with pride.

Josh knew he should stop it but the last time he tried that she bit him.

The men rushed out, immediately busting out into laughter. Caleb tried to keep from laughing but failed causing his wife to pop his arm.

"You know that's not right. Stop her." Hanna chuckled.

"You're laughing too, lil mama but okay okay." He watched a few more minutes before tapping Benny. "Get her off of him, please."

Benny laughed. "You see what I see, she's just like her mama. Nope. Sorry, Pop."

Zion tried to cover his laugh, "I think the person that pulls Lainey off people should pull her daughter off."

Cameron stopped laughing and stared at his brother, "You mutha ... no. Since I have to pull Lainey off someone else has to get baby Mayweather. Charles, you her dad too. Get in there."

Charles looked at the beating then at Cameron and laughed. "Absolutely not but I'll get the person I would call. One of em anyways."

Everybody turned to Eddie, who had zoned out and into Treasure beating Marco's ass. He was living vicariously through her in that moment until he noticed they were starting at him.

"What? We were all laughing."

Charles laughed a little, "This is technically what you get paid to do. Soooo ... if you could. Please."

Sucking his teeth, Eddie mumbled under his breath going over to them. Quickly, he grabbed around her arms putting her into a bear hug and pulled her away from him.

"Calm your little ass down, Treasure. Yo mama can't ever deny you," he groaned trying to keep her from moving so much "Next time, Baby Danny better have his ass here! Aht, aye! If you bite me I swear I will ruin the rest of your summer!"

Cheyenne laughed, "I don't know why he lying he ain't gonna do that."

Benny snatched Marco up from the ground pushing him towards the patio steps. He raised his fist when Marco tried to turn around.

"Boy, what you gon do? What?"

Marco huffed as blood dripped from his nose and mouth. Both eyes were staring to turn purple.

"Look at my face! Look at what she did to my face!"

Zion and Cameron approached them to stand behind Benny.

"And if you keep yelling like you wanna do something to my niece your face gon be the least of your worries." Zion warned staring at the teenager.

Treasure attempted to get out of her uncle's hold. "Let me go! Let me beat him until he can't pass a paper bag test! Let's see how he likes it! Let go!"

Caleb frowned. "What? How do you even know about that?"

"Cause he said the Malones won't accept Josh obviously cause he's black and that they didn't wanna accept my mama but since me and Di passed the paper bag test they let her!" She huffed still trying to get loose. "And for your information, Marco, my daddy ain't just a Malone, my daddy is the Malone and don't you forget it!"

Marcie wiped tears from her eyes still laughing. "Not babygirl throwing her weight around."

"I've never been so proud," Lainey joked. "Almost makes me not wanna beat his ass. Still want to though."

"Between my daddy, my dad, my PopPop and my uncles, I can make you disappear! I told you," she huffed loudly as Eddie tried to take her in the house, "I told you not to mess with me! Nobody talks to me that way or about my family like that! You're done! You hear me? You're done!"

Her yelling turned to muffles when Melissa, Marcie and Cheyenne followed them in the house and closed the door. Josh stood back slightly in awe. He knew his best friend didn't play but he'd never seen her go to this place. Benny, Zion and Cameron ushered Marco out of the backyard with a few parting words.

"Okay, come on, Lainey. Let's go calm your baby down so Marissa can check for cuts and all that." Hanna said letting out a sigh. She stopped by Josh before going inside. "I didn't forget either. Don't leave without talking to me. Yes?"

He nodded.

"Yes ma'am." He answered quickly.

The door closed behind them, leaving Josh with Charles and Caleb. The latter out his arm around the young man, squeezing his shoulder tight.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Just uh," he paused to wipe his face, "Just never seen her that upset before. I don't ever wanna be on that side of her and don't plan to be."

"That's a smart idea. Very smart. Regardless of if you two actually like each other or doing anything about it, you're still her friend which means you have to make sure you can do what you need to do if she gets upset like that," Charles explained going to lean against the banister.

Josh chuckled.

"Yeah I know. I gotta get E to teach me how to do that hold and not get bit. Last time she almost bit a chunk outta my arm."

Laughing, Caleb adjusted his hat and his shirt. "Lainey got Cam like that a few times before he learned. Along with knowing what to do if that happens again, you gotta protect her the way you always have. Aight?"

"Yes sir, of course. Yall don't have to worry about that."

"We hope not. Caleb and I are probably gonna go talk to Mitch tonight. You wanna go?"

"Um yeah. When though? I promised Charleigh I'd take them for ice cream."

"Don't worry about that," Caleb told him. "I'll take care of smoothing that over. You just be ready to ride. Okay?"

[cartcop]

Concept that’s been floating around in my brain since I saw the guest cast:

Kameron & Connor involved in the disaster, baby survives but they don’t and Buck ends up with baby. Thoughts?

Honestly I don't see it happening for a few reasons, but that's not to say I wouldn't be down for it if it DID happen.

For one, this season has focused a lot on striking the balance between biological and non-biological family—we had Buck and Chim reconciling with their parents for their own well-being (or at least Chim; still not entirely sure what the resolution with Buck and his parents is) but at the same time, we had a whole episode really cementing Bobby in his role as Buck's chosen father figure. We've had Henren and their struggle with Denny's bio dad, ultimately culminating in them standing their ground as Denny's parents, but allowing Denny to explore that relationship because it's what he needs. With all that in mind, I think it would be a little bit off-theme for Buck to get Kameron and Connor's kid just because they died; they've really made it clear that Buck doesn't see this kid as his, and with the baby being very much theirs, I don't think the baby going to Buck makes much sense. Surely he would go to their next of kin, right? Unless of course there's something in 6x17 with Kameron where it's made clear that they've chosen Buck in the event of their deaths which would be a wild thing to do, but maybe also an interesting exploration of Eddie's will? Idk, seems like it'd be a lot to cram into 2 episodes, what with everything else going on. And then Buck would have a baby. Which would also be a lot for the show to deal with going forward. (don’t get me wrong, I want to get that man a baby asap. but im not sure the writers would agree with me)

The other thing is that it just feels....really dark for 911. Like orphaning a baby? Taking the opportunity to raise him away from the parents who wanted him so badly? I mean, lord knows there's been some dark plot lines on the show but ending the season on that would be....whew.

I do kind of love the idea that the pile up that causes the bridge collapse includes civilians that we've met over the course of this season. I saw someone else mention the disaster could start at the end of 6x17 and Marisol could be involved, and that's why she's in both episodes. Marisol (who's house Buck helped fix up) causes or is the first person injured in the pile up, injuring Chim (Buck's soon-to-be brother-in-law), Natalia (Buck's....girlfriend, maybe? Too soon to say), and Connor and Kameron (old friend and woman carrying a baby with his genetic material). Battle over his priorities ensues (save Kameron and the baby who's got half his DNA but leave them without Connor? Save his chosen family and the love of his sister's life? But if he does one or both he can't save his hot new death obsessed love interest? I mean, also exceptionally dark, but could turn out okay maybe? Idk, I'm very intrigued though.

send me your spec for the last two episodes of s6 (but don't be weird)

[ivoryminitower]

Echoes of Home: 41 - Steve ("vet")

Echoes of Home: FFXIV AU OC – WoLs on Earth

If I'm not careful, the town's going to be afraid of me.  Possibly both of us.

I got started at the diner last night, taking orders, cleaning the counter, when Tsu'na came in.  I heard her wheeling out the bucket, then everything got quiet.  I looked up and saw her staring at everyone staring at her.  Then she just ran out.  I've seen her run from things, but only in a practical sense.  Never from people staring at her.  I mean, maybe no one's ever stared at her like that before, so maybe she's never had reason…

At any rate, it ticked me off.  These people looked at her like some sort of sideshow.  Of course it was upsetting for her.  And that was upsetting for me.  I slammed my hand down on the counter before I got ahold of myself.  I'm glad I didn't break the counter.  I haven't a clue how to make formica.

I hadn't turned the music on, so it was dead silent after that.  After I got my breathing steady I said, "Closing early.  Five minutes."

"But I just got here!"  "I didn't get my order yet!"  "Can't I finish eating first?"

"Yeah, well, my wife just ran out of here crying because y'all were creepy at her, so I gotta go home and deal with that.  Take it to go!"

No one said anything after that, including me.  I couldn't manage "Thank you, come again" even once as I wrapped pretzels and pies in napkins and handed them out.  

I didn't think she was actually crying, and perhaps I should have planned with her whether to ever paint that picture in people's heads, but I didn't want those people walking out guilt-free.  I think a couple of them wanted to whine something like "What did I do?"  But none of them did.

I shut the place down and locked up.  When I got to the house, the Hartmans were sort of fussing outside the guest room door.  I told them what happened; Mrs. Hartman was sympathetic, while Mr. Hartman just looked grim.  I like to think they expected better of their fellow townsfolk.

I went in, joined Tsu'na in bed and held her for a while.  I could tell from her breathing that she wasn't asleep, but she wasn't talking either.  If being held was what she needed, I was only too happy to provide.

I made omelets in the morning. I kinda expected her to stay home, but she put on the beret and headed out to face the town again.  I went to work on the shed.  I wanted to tag along with her, but I didn't want to suggest she couldn't handle things on her own.

Got some gawkers at the shed...guessing guys wanting to see the catgirl. They didn't stay long when they saw I was alone.  They'd all cleared out by lunchtime when Sam came out with bottles.

"Heard about the diner."

"Yeah."

"She okay?"

"Think so, yeah."

We sat on the bench. We drank. We ruminated.

"Small town, ya know."

"I've really only ever heard stories."

"Don't b'lieve the flyin' saucer ones."

"What about the witchcraft ones?"

"That's more Nebraska."

"Huh."

The air was mostly still. Beginning of September, Summer starting to wind down a little, at least according to the weather channel.

"Mighta found you a wiring guy. Don't know him...Dave says he's good."

"Dave?"

"Works at the post office."

"Can this guy do breaker boxes?  Don't want to blow your fuses with a window AC."

"I'll ask."

You see this stuff on TV...couple guys on a bench, drinking, trying to find something to say. Especially when one of them has something to say.

"So...you meet Eddie?"

"Dunno. Which one's he?"

"Wears a cat hat alla time?"

"Cat hat?"

"Yeah, a hat that says CAT on it."

"Oh, like those mini-dozers?"

"Yeah. Anyway, he's a vet."

"Army?"

"No, like an animal doctor.  Does stuff fer the ranches."

"Sorry, a vet that wears a cat hat?"

"He thinks he's funny."

"...Sure.  What about him?"

"He, uh…"  Sam scratched his jaw, let his eyes wander over the yard. "...kinda wants to see yer wife's ears."

"So does half the town, I think."

"Yeah...uh...he doesn't think they're real."

"Whaddaya mean?"

"Somethin' 'bout the ear canals an' stuff."

"And he's saying this without having seen them."

"Yeah, well...he wants to see 'em."

"And by 'see' he means, what?  Look at? Touch?  Poke around in?  What would it take for him to know they're real?"

Sam fidgeted. "Dunno."

"My wife lost her shit when people just stared at her.  Why the fuck would I let some animal doctor poke around in her ears?"

"...To see if they're really real?"

"Of course they're real.  They're attached to her head.  She hears with them.  How real do they have to be?"

He was looking increasingly uncomfortable. "Eddie says you can't do that with plastic surgery."

"Well, maybe he can't.  That's why no one's gonna pay a fuckton of money to an animal doctor from, no offense, here to give it a try."

"You saw it happen?"

"No, she got the work done before I met her.  Why?"

He shrugged and studied his bottle.

"I'm sorry...are you accusing my wife of lying to me?"

He made himself look at me.  At the guy who'd said he was ex-military.  At the guy who could pick up a man with one hand and throw him through a table.  At the guy sitting a couple feet away from him holding a cider bottle.

"S'pose not."

"Is this Eddie going to be a problem?"

He stared at me.  "Whaddaya mean?"

I realized as soon as I said it that it sounded like something from every TV show ever about murder and organized crime.  I sighed, sagged a little, tried to look more tired and worried than menacing.  "I mean, she's had crap in the past, she had crap yesterday, she doesn't need any more.  Is this guy gonna be bugging her in the bar or wherever?"

Some tension bled out of Sam too.  "I can talk to him."

"Thanks."  I pressed my bottle against my forehead.  "She told me about how it was.  I tried to imagine it, but it's not the same as seeing it happen right in front of me…" I closed my eyes, gave it a beat, and looked at Sam.  "If this Eddie has any questions, have him come to me first, okay?"

"Sure."

I nodded.  "You're a good friend, Sam."  I clinked bottles with him.  Like every TV show ever about guy chemistry.

We sat a bit longer, finishing our drinks.  Sam got up and stretched. "Better get the bar open."

"In time for happy hour?"

He snorted.  "Yeah.  All them business guys in suits that swarm the place every day." 

He stood there, but didn't quite turn away.  He hesitated for a moment, then turned back to me.  "Can I ask ya somethin'?  Tell me if it ain't my business…"

"What?"

"It's…the way she calls you 'Husband' alla time.  Ain't nothin' wrong with it, it's just not somethin' I hear much.  Is that one o' those things like…ya know…"

"What?"

"...Master?"

I couldn't help but snicker.  "You think she's submissive?  Hah!  Try possessive.  That started happening a little after the wedding.  She grabs me, she's got this big grin on her face, and she's like, 'Husband!'  I'm like, 'Yes, my love?'  'Husband!'  'Yeah…?'  'Husband!'  'What?'  'You are my husband!  Mine and no other's!'

"And since I'd, like, just gotten done promising exactly that in the wedding, I was like, '...Okay.'"

A rather wicked grin appeared on Sam's face.  "So, it ain't that she's yours…it's that you're hers?"

"I mean…it's kind of the same thing, right?"

"Keep tellin' yerself that, son."  He grew a bit more sober.  "You take care o' her."

"That's the plan."

Just an overprotective husband.  Not a threat.  Just a guy.

Just a guy who doesn't know what the town's saying about his wife.

[casspurrjoybell-24]

The Alpha's Boy - Chapter 14 - Part 1

Book Two In : The Alpha's Trilogy

*Warning - Adult Content*

Alistair 'Star' Claymore-Phoenix

The alarm chimed the morning and though Miquel and Nana didn't want me working yet, it was Preston's last day before going away on vacation, he pushed his time back due to me being sick but I needed to get back there.

I felt enough guilt about this and I didn't want to hold Preston from spending his time off the farm and with his friends.

I gave a stretch, the breeze hitting my skin as my arms left the covers.

My ears rang from my movements, once I had lowered my arms I noticed a mumbling coming from outside.

At first, I didn't listen to it until I heard Riot's voice.

"I've got to go into the pack lands today, see the Alpha and get supplies," he said, referring to Eddy, the Alpha of the Jasper pack.

Though Nana and Miquel were on the farm and seemed to be on their own, they were still in a pack and Riot was presumably in that pack as well.

I wasn't sure if Preston was with him being a shifter but I could only assume that that's where his parents were from, though I guess I could ask.

"You should take Star with you," Preston's voice pipped in, I heard a clicking akin to the footsteps on their porch.

"I don't know man. Maybe he can stay here with you this time. I'm not sure we're ready to be alone together."

"Riot."

"Of course I waited all this time just for my mate to be a drug-addicted kid," he said with a sigh, their voices getting further away, going towards the coops.

"I know but he's a great kid."

"I'm sure he is but I don't know if I can handle that..."

The coop door shut, blocking me off from what they were saying now.

I felt frozen, I felt hot tears in my eyes as regret started to pool in my stomach.

Angrily I took to fists and rubbed my eyes, I wanted to scream, I wanted to growl and run but I couldn't, I couldn't even make a squeak to show my frustration.

I sat in bed a little longer trying to compose myself, It took a few minutes but I finally made myself get up and dressed.

It was awkward but I followed behind Preston, following his lead as he showed me everything I needed to know and watched me as I did things for myself. I was getting the hang of the whole farm thing or I liked to think I was, the animals didn't hate me and Preston didn't have any completes.

I wiped my brow as he called for lunch as I made my way to the guest house with him, I hadn't been in it or really inside of it.

My stomach churned, the smell of Riot taking over the space that used to be free of him the last few days while he was away.

He hadn't left yet, I didn't know if he would or if he had changed his mind but I followed Preston into the small home and was greeted by the modern set up.

A large T.V. was on the wall adjacent to the entrance that was walled off by a sofa.

It was pretty open, the kitchen was next to the living room with an island to eat at, and one halfway.

Riot was standing in the kitchen, eating a sandwich when we walked in.

"Afternoon," Preston said, going to the fridge and grabbing two water bottles, he tossed one towards me and I caught it effortlessly.

I gave Riot an awkward wave when he looked towards me, he mumbled a hey back and I bit my lip feeling silly for even walking into his space.

"Are you still going into town?"

"Yeah. Why? Do you need something?" Riot asked, as he swallowed his food.

"Yeah, I need to finish packing. So Star is going to town with you."

I supported, looking towards Preston, Riot looked caught off guard as well, his browns knitting together as he stood up with his plate.

"Um... I don't know if..."

'It's fine, I can stay here,' I tried to say."

"Nah, the farm will be fine. You go, it's a three-hour drive to Banff. It gets lonely. Plus the Alpha would love to meet you."

There was no getting away from it, Preston wasn't going to let Riot leave without me.

Riot nodded, washing his dish before grabbing keys off the island.

"Come on then," he said, he walked towards me, before walking out the door and towards a nearby blue pickup truck.

I didn't really want to go but yet, I did, I didn't want him to go without me, I wanted to be near him, learn things about him, be around his smell.

'Moon Goddess. Damnit. This was happening too fast.'

We sat in the truck, my palms starting to sweat as we drove the dirt road.

I didn't know what to do, so I did the first thing I could think of and took out my cell-phone.

I had been talking to Ivan earlier in the day but I hadn't had facetime with my Dads as we had promised, mainly because I had been asleep but they had been texting me.

That was enough to keep me busy for a few minutes replying to everything they had said to me.

I started with Silas, his blue messages lining the screen.

To:- Star Claymore-Phoenix [Nana told us you were sick. I hope you are feeling better, Buddy.] From:- Silas Claymore-Phoenix

To:- Star Claymore-Phoenix [We miss you. Text me when you wake up. Love ya' Stardust.] From:- Silas Claymore-Phoenix

To:- Star Claymore-Phoenix [Your brothers are dying to hear from you, sent some pics too. Do ya hear?] From:- Silas Claymore-Phoenix

To:- Star Claymore-Phoenix [Where were you hiding the extra phone charger?] From:- Silas Claymore-Phoenix

To: Silas Claymore-Phoenix [I'm feeling better. Thanks for asking. I am awake now. I miss you too. I am going into Banff, with a guy from the farm. I'm being safe. Stop going through my stuff in my bedroom. I'll send some pics when I can. I love you too.] From: Star Claymore-Phoenix

To:- Star Claymore-Phoenix [Get plenty of sleep and for the love of the Moon Goddess text your Dad back. He won't stop pacing.] From:- Silas Claymore-Phoenix

'Does he ever stop talking?'

To:- Star Claymore-Phoenix [I broke our phone charger. Where were you hiding yours? I bought a new one but he found the old one anyways. So you've got yourself a new charger, Yay.] From:- Silas Claymore-Phoenix

To:- Silas Claymore-Phoenix [Lol. Thanks.] From: Star Claymore-Phoenix

'Just talk to him? Is he better now?'

I rolled my eyes at my cell-phone, I darkened the screen and shut it off.

I wanted to speak to him, ask him questions but without my voice and his eyes on the road, it was the first time I actually felt mute.

Which was saying a lot because I didn't learn to sign right away.

I was three when I lost my voice and was taken in by Charles.

I had words beforehand but it was frustrating, though I can't remember most of it because I was a toddler, learning sign was slow and mostly in front of a screen with Elijah.

I tapped my fingers gently on my legs as Riot drove, the radio the only break in the silence.

His music played over the Bluetooth because judging from the static I heard when we first got into the truck, there wasn't much reception on the roads.

"Are you hungry?" he asked, eyes still on the road for a moment before he turned his head towards me, while his eyes were still facing my way I gave him a quick nod.

I wasn't overly hungry but I could use a bite to eat and if we ate, I wouldn't be worried about speaking to him because he would be able to see my hands without going off the road.

We didn't get off the road right away, but we pulled off soon and landed ourselves in a Tim Horton's parking lot.

I followed Riot as they left the truck and made their way into the small restaurant, the place was dim-lit and smelled like coffee, which was almost comforting and the fact it was nearly empty also helped.

"What do you want to drink?" he asked as we stood to the side of the empty line, the teenage worker stood on cash looking rather bored.

'Large triple triple and a chocolate chip cookie?'

"All you want to eat is a cookie?" he questioned, his brow arched.

I nodded to him and he gave me a shrug, making his way to the counter to give our order.

"Hey, I'll get a medium double double, large triple triple a chocolate chip cookie and a turkey club-sandwich."

Once we had our order, I followed Riot to a table and I felt like a lost dog, I couldn't help but be behind him, the idea of walking alongside him terrified me, especially with the fact that he intimidated me to no end.

I picked at my cookie once we sat, my fingers still shaking with the withdrawal.

Riot took a bite from his sandwich, his eyes looking down.

I tried not to look at him but I couldn't help it and because of that when he looked up as he swallowed, I was caught.

'So, how do you know sign?' I asked.

"Oh," he started, putting his sandwich down and grabbing his coffee.

"My cousin is deaf, we grew up together."

'Really? Are they older or younger?'

"She's older by about two years. You'll meet her when we get to Banff, I'm sure. Most of the pack is in the house there, give or take a few like Preston, your Grandparent and myself. There are a few members in Edmonton and Calgary too."

'It's a big pack then?'

"It's huge. We're the only other pack in Alberta. It's us and the Blackfoot Pack."

I nibbled my lip for a second, wondering if I should bring up what I was thinking.

It wasn't something that had come to my mind until he told me that he was just one of two packs in the province.

Not long after I was adopted, my dads told me about an Aunt I had to live in Calgary, from my mother's side but if I didn't ask now, then when?

'Do you know a lot of the members?'

"I good bit but not all because there's too many, from everywhere. Werewolves come in from all over the globe to find their mates here. Yeah? So knowing everyone is impossible."

'My mom's sister is part of an Alberta pack.'

"Is that so?" he said, a little smile playing on his lips as he sipped his coffee.

"Maybe we can find out which pack she's part of then, Yeah?"

[thehitchhikerguide]

Season 2, Episode 8: Man at the Window

After that last episode, the bar had been set pretty low. I had some high hopes for this one since I saw that Michael Madsen was one of the guest stars. I'm guessing this was well before he took any phone call from QT.

This episode made me wonder about the screenwriters of The Hitchhiker - did they get THEIR ideas from spying on people? I say this because that is what this episode is about.

Our "hero" (played by Edward Albert, son of Green Acres star Eddie Albert), is first seen in a town square. I totally got a kick out of all the NYC references they make in this episode, when one look will tell you, this ain't NYC. He is seen with his motorcycle. He pulls something out.

A breast pump? No wait it's a recording device.

He's listening to this couple gripe about old age. Great, this is like a less interesting version of The Conversation. But then he picks up something else.

This woman with a black eye is on the phone with her lover. Sounds like someone is stepping out on someone, which is intriguing our main character. He follows her on his bike, completely oblivious to this guy...

The Hitchhiker doesn't attempt to get a ride, as I think it's pretty tough to hitchhike on a motorcycle. However I do see room on his seat.

Instead he lets us know that "Arthur Bradley Brown steals the words of others and uses them as they were his own. But what he doesn't hear are murmurs of danger, that could warn him of the violence that can pound with the human heart."

Arthur is able to follow this woman to an apartment.

He uses this window plunger to hear what is going on inside. Really? No one sees this in broad daylight?

We see this young woman's lover is...another woman! Wow 80s HBO, I'm impressed! Well I was until I found out this is how brave they were with this:

For a show that who's tagline always seem to be "look at these," I was pretty disappointed there was nothing steamy with this couple. This cuddle is as far as they go. That's the 80s for you.

Well there is the titular Man in the Window. Come on, they don't see this?

He is able to record them talking about the whole sorted affair and how Diane is married to a brutish cop, John. The other woman is Carla, a photography artist.

The snooping doesn't end here as he follows Diane back home to her husband.

Wow this guy is good, even at a cop's house he is able to be completely invisible while staying totally in sight.

Fine, it's okay to show the heterosexual sex, but not the women. Whatever 80s HBO.

Arthur takes this newly developing story to his agent who loves the writing because the conversations seem so real. Strange they didn't seem real when they were acted out, but okay. However, it doesn't have an ending. Even Hitchhiker episodes have those!

Instead of making one up, he decides to try to make one happen using this love triangle to his advantage. He starts by calling Michael Madsen and pretending to be his wife's lover.

He even tries to send flowers to Diane. She gets angry at Carla and Carla lets her know it wasn't her doing this.

Ooo back rubs. Steamy stuff. It's a little strange this woman has this naked photo of her girlfriend just facing out the window. Arthur uses this to take photo of just the cutout, instead of the women getting cozy on the couch.

He breaks into Diane and John's house. You'd think a cop would have better security than this.

He puts some device in the phone...I'll record everything!

He also places the picture of a picture on the bed. This triggers an argument with the couple where predictably, John beats on his wife while Arthur listens.

On further examination, John gets a clue to where the photo may have come from and gets the address of Carla, while still thinking Diane is having an affair with another man.

What ensues is a somewhat tame chase scene, where John, Arthur and Diane all speed towards Carla's place to warn her/save her.

I have to say there were some interesting camera angles on some of the transportation shots. I mean, this was directed by the same guy who directed Teen Wolf Too, so we are dealing with some expertise.

John puts his police siren on, but still manages to fall behind in the chase as he crashes into another car.

This give Arthur the advantage as he reaches Carla and scares the crap out of her by yelling at her, telling her not to be scared of him.

Diane comes over soon after and the two are reunited.

But realize they have no idea who this creepy guy screaming at them is.

Then John shows up with a gun and assumes Arthur to be the lover.

Arthur tells John that his wife is actually having an affair with a woman, and John pistol whips him. I'm not sure if this is because he doesn't believe him, or because he's mad his wife is a lesbian. Carla clocks John over the head with a bottle.

Cop sirens are heard as Arthur grabs the gun and in a very dazed state, stumbles out of the apartment.

The cops yell at him to drop the gun and instead he makes this stupid face.

And of course the cops start shooting at him like crazy.

And then:

Nothing.

It just ends with this freeze frame of him as you hear gun shots! I guess they had spent all their budget on that car crash (credit to that joke goes to my significant other). Ah well, it ends up being the most unintentionally funny ending ever. I was waiting for the Police Squad credit music to come on.

Oh wait, not over yet, I forgot about him. The Hitchhiker wanders in to tell us "Arthur Brown thought he could play people like instruments. He rearranged their lives like so many notes and used their emotions as chords. But then somebody came along that didn't appreciate Arthur's music...and put an end to Arthur's song."

Wouldn't that have made sense if he was actually a musician and not a wannabe John Travolta in Blow Out? This music analogy seems to be for a different episode, it doesn't seem to fit. All in all, an okay episode. I would have liked to see more Michael Madsen and more same-sex romance. Maybe we'll see it sometime on The Hitchhiker, but I won't hold my breath.

[tbmunson]

Eddie's Best Friend pt 2 - Gareth Emerson x Fem!Reader

Part 1

Summary: Movie night with Gareth and Eddie.

Warnings: Fluff, flirting, insecurity if you squint really really hard. I think that's it.

WC: 2K ish

Check out my Masterlist for more from me!

It was nearing 5:30 when you heard the familiar rumble of Eddie's van speeding down your street with the too loud metal music blasting from it's speakers. You were dressed in your favorite sweater and a pair of running shorts. Your hair was pulled into a bun and your face was free of most makeup, save for some mascara and chapstick.

"Are you gonna be weird right now?" You asked, slinging the door to Eddie's van open, still unsure of his tone from the music shop.

"I don't know what you mean." He replied, raising a brow at you as you settled in.

You glared at him and sighed, deciding not to fool with him about it. "Can I ask you something, Eds?"

He could tell your tone was a bit more serious than usual so he straightened slightly. "Yeah, of course."

"Is Gareth a good guy? Like is he worth pursuing? Cause I know you know I'm crushing on him." You turned to face him, resting your head against the seat.

Eddie smiled and nodded. "He's one of the best dudes I know. And I happen to know he's crushing back because we had no plans to hang out tonight until he decided he wanted to have you over. Don't tell him I told you that."

You smiled, a small giggle escaping you as you pulled the seatbelt on. "Either you're a bad secret keeper or I really am your best friend."

Eddie glared at you playfully before slamming the gas and exiting your neighborhood.

You pulled up to a nice looking house with a detached garage. "Am I crazy for being nervous?"

"No. But, if you guys start making out I'm leaving." He cut the engine and looked over at you.

"Eddie, really? What do you take me for?"

"I'm your best friend. You're really asking me that after you've told me all about your-"

"Enough." You put your hands up, shaking your head at him. "Fine." You added before jumping out of the van and waiting for Eddie around front.

He joined you and lead you to the house, knocking as he opened the door. "Guests of honor have arrived!" He called as he entered.

"Kitchen!" Gareth called back as the refrigerator door closed.

You trailed behind Eddie, gripping the cuffs of the sweater as you did so.

"What movies did you get?" Eddie asked, propping himself against the kitchen island.

"Nightmare on Elm Street and Gremlins from Family video, and then I've got a few around here we can watch if you want." Gareth answered before making eye contact with you. "Hey, can I give you the tour?"

You went slightly wide eyed as the sudden question but quickly smiled. "Yeah. That'd be great."

He reached for your hand, pulling you from behind Eddie. "Oh, hey. Pizza should be here soon. Cash is there if we're not back." He pointed to the counter where a twenty dollar bill sat.

Eddie smirked and nodded. "Have fun."

You giggled as Gareth pulled your deeper into the house.

"Alright, so this is the den, where we'll watch the movies, and the bathroom is over there." He pointed to a closed door before leading you up the stairs.

"Awe, is this baby Gareth?" You asked, admiring a few photos that were hung there.

He blushed and tugged you gently away. "We're going to ignore those." He chuckled as he topped the stairs.

"You were a cutie." You pouted, pulling him towards you in a moment of bravery. "Still are too."

Gareth blushed brighter and looked down at you. "Yeah? You too, Sugar."

You blushed now, hiding your face in his chest.

He chuckled and wrapped his arms around you. "C'mon. Let me show you the rest of the place." He kept an arm around your shoulders and he pointed out the guest room and his sisters rooms before getting to his. The door was covered in stickers and song lyrics. It told you a lot about him and his parents. They accepted their son and loved him for who he was.

He pushed the door open and lead you inside, flipping the light on. "You can sleep in here tonight, if you want. Eddie usually takes the guest room across the hall. I can take the couch or one of my sisters beds." He said, looking around like he'd never seen his room before.

"No way. I'm not kicking you out of your bed. I'll take the couch, or we can share at the very least." You stated, coming to stand in front of him. "Actually, I wouldn't mind the second option."

He smiled down at you and nodded. "Yeah? I think I'm on board with that, under one condition."

You raised your eyebrows at him, prompting him to continue.

"You gotta play with my hair. It makes me all relaxed." He said, his face flushing again.

You giggled and nodded. "You got yourself a deal."

"Pizza's here! Keep your clothes on!" Eddie yelled up the stairs, making the two of you laugh and break away from one another.

You found yourself back downstairs, sitting on the counter with a beer in one hand and a slice of pizza in the other. "You're really spoiling me. Eddie didn't get me pizza and beer until our fourth jam sesh."

Eddie rolled his eyes and flipped you off. "The strays keep coming around if you feed them."

"That's why you kept coming to my place then, huh?"

Gareth laughed at this and scooted closer to you, his arm resting on your thigh.

"There you go bullying me again." Eddie sighed dramatically before downing the rest of the bottle, only to replace it quickly with a new one.

You finished off your slice and jumped down from the counter. "I'm going to the bathroom, then I'll be in the den when you decide to join me, gentlemen." You said, walking in the direction of the bathroom.

"Don't touch the recliner! It's mine!" Eddie called after you. Once you were out of earshot he turned to Gareth. "Did you kiss her?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.

"No, dude. I didn't wanna be pushy." Gareth answered, rolling his eyes.

Eddie nodded and tipped the bottle, pouring the amber liquid into his mouth. "Don't hurt her, ya know? She's like my baby sister and I feel like I have to tell you that. I love her, and she deserves happy."

Gareth understood, having two younger sisters of his own. "I don't think I'd be able to forgive myself if I did. I've known her a day and I feel like I can't live without her."

Eddie nodded, chuckling. "She's got that effect."

"You guys coming?" You called, settling onto the couch.

"Yeah!" Eddie replied, pushing off of the counter to join you, Gareth close behind.

Gareth started the movie and settled next to you, but not too close. He didn't want to make you uncomfortable.

As the movie played you gravitated towards Gareth. First you grabbed his arm at one of the jump scares, soon followed by his hand. He couldn't help but to notice how you'd squeezed him from time to time so he snuck his arm around your shoulder, pulling you into his side. You hid your face in his shoulder and gently made your way to his lap. He maneuvered your bodies to so that he was laying down, facing the TV and you were facing him, arms wrapped tightly around him.

"I got you, Sugar." He whispered into your ear before pressing a small kiss there.

This sent shivers up your spine and you fisted his shirt as you looked up at him.

He was focused on the movie and rubbing small circles on you back.

You reached up, planting a small kiss to his jaw before tucking your face into his neck. You felt his chest vibrate with a chuckle as he tilted his head down slightly, keeping you close.

"I know we've only watched one movie, but I worked 60 hours this week and it's only Thursday, so I'm gonna head to bed, cool?" Eddie asked as the credits rolled over the screen.

You nodded and moved to stand. "I'm not far behind you, I swear." You chuckled, wrapping your arms around Eddie's lanky frame. "Goodnight, love you." You pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"Goodnight, love you. If Gareth gets too handsy I'm sure he showed you my room." Eddie smirked before kissing your forehead.

You both laughed before letting each other go.

"Night, dude." Gareth said, waving him off.

"Night." And then Eddie disappeared into the darkness of the stairs.

Gareth reached up and pulled you into him to straddle his lap. "Hi."

You giggled and relaxed into him, resting your head on his chest. "Hi."

Gareth blushed sighed. "Can I ask you something?" He sounded a bit more serious as his hands rubbed up and down your sides.

You nodded, sitting up more to face him.

"I just have to ask for my sake. You and Eddie, it's just... It's nothing right? He says you're like his sister and I want to pursue you, but I wanna make sure you're not like holding out for him." His eyes held fear for the answer, scared you'd tell him you had feelings for Eddie.

"Gare, me and Eddie are strictly platonic. Brother and sister. I love him, but not like that. You have nothing and no one to worry about." You rested your hands on the sides of his face and looked into his eyes. "I promise."

He leaned towards you, connecting your lips gently and his hands wound around your back. "Can I take you out sometime?" He looked at you, absolute awe on his face.

You nodded, moving to stand. "I'd like that." You pulled him up and towards the stairs.

"What are we doing?" He chuckled quietly as you pulled him through the dark house.

"I wanna lay down." You pouted, opening his bedroom door and pulling him in.

He wrapped his arms around you and pulled you down onto the bed with him. "Fine but you're cuddling me."

"I can do that. Do you have a thinner shirt I can borrow, by chance?" You pushed a few strands of hair away from his face.

He nodded, reaching up to kiss you before moving from the bed. "You know, it's only borrowing if you give it back." He stated, looking over at you as he opened his closet.

You shrugged as he tossed a plain grey t shirt your way. "I might." You said as you stood, turning so your back faced him as you stripped your sweater off.

He sucked in a breath, looking at your naked back. He walked over, pressing a kiss to the base of your neck before you pulled the shirt down.

"Hi." You voice was soft as your turned to look at him.

"Hi." He replied, settling his hands on your hips. "You ready to lay down, Sugar?"

You nodded and sat on the bed, propping yourself on the pillow as Gareth shed his jeans, leaving him in a t shirt and his boxers. You opened the blanket and urged him to lay on your chest before covering the two of you.

He was settled between your legs, arms wrapped loosely around your waist, head on your boobs like a pillow.

One of your hands was in his hair, scratching lightly at his scalp as you hummed, the other rubbed up and down his back.

Gareth was the most comfortable he's ever been and he fell asleep quickly like that, you not far behind.

[eternal-armin]

yellow.

practice didn't go quite as planned, but eddie always has your back. no matter what. reader: neutral. i have fallen way too hard for this man, i am emotionally devastated to be honest. shoutout to all the athletes that are insecure or can't do everything perfectly because you are still incredible athletes. i really hope i captured the essence of this man ;;;

if you messed up during practice, you could usually laugh it off. with a smile, a bright smile, accompanied by a little glimmer in your eyes. it was such a beautiful expression. but the danger came when you didn't have the energy to laugh it off, when you hit your quota for the day.

you don't smile. you don't laugh it off.

admittedly, you do something far worse; you internalize it. how the hell can't you master this footwork? why can't you do four steps correctly? how have you asked three times and still don't understand it?

today... was one of those days.

the car ride back to eddie's trailer had a stifled, one-sided conversation. eddie asked how practice was, asked if you were hungry, talked about hellfire and his band. you responded to questions with a little smile, a nod, or a word. it felt worse not to give any real responses. you felt like shit all around.

maybe the best way to describe it was that you were a guest in your own body. the kind of guest which is uncomfortable with the house, pained and almost disgusted by how bad it creaks and shifts. and the actual host despises the place more than anyone ever could.

"so! how about we get, uh, takeout? for dinner?" eddie looked at you with a smile.

it didn't feel aimed at you, but you managed to return it. "yeah, sure. whatever you'd like is good." your criticisms even bit at the quiet level of your voice, barely audible above the music eddie was playing. you picked up your bag and got out of the car, unable to keep up your smile once you looked away from eddie.

your mind was swimming with everything but good thoughts.

you knew eddie found it strange. not that you always knew what you wanted to eat, of course you didn't. but you'd been dating for months and friends since kindergarten; he could read you like an open book.

he was good at keeping his cool, though. you wished you were the same.

"i'll keep it a surprise, then, rockstar," he cooed, and you cracked a short-lived little smile. you entered the trailer first, taking off your shoes at the door and slumping your bag against the wall.

"i'm gonna... uh, lay down for a minute. kinda tired." you did your best to modulate your voice, to sound perfectly fine. of course, the moment you stepped into his trailer, you wanted to cry.

"yeah, of course. whatever you need. d'you want me to order it now? or wait a bit till you're feelin' okay?" against your better judgment, you looked up at him. your heart ached, seeing how much care and admiration was in his eyes, the eyes that were looking only at you. that bright grin meant only for you. why couldn't you return his gaze? why couldn't you return his grin anymore?

"no. no, u-uh, you can order it now. i'll probably be fine by the time it's ready."

"probably? with your super-healing? jeez, practice must've been absolutely brutal today. what the fuck are your coaches on?"

"no, it wasn't a hard practice or anything," you mumbled, rubbing the inside of your elbow. "didn't sleep well last night so i was sluggish on the court, that's all. caught a ball to the head. so is it okay if i lie down?"

eddie looked at you for just a second longer before nodding. you weren't lying about the ball-to-head incident, he could tell that much, but you weren't telling the whole truth, either.

"of course you can, bunny! i'll call in the order."

even though the nickname was a joke, you had never felt more undeserving of it. you nodded, lacking the energy for a smile, dropping your gaze and heading to his room.

if you weren't already criticizing yourself to hell and back, now you felt terrible for how you had talked with eddie. barely able to meet his eyes with a voice like a kid who scraped their knee and was trying to act tough. you were such a coward. he was your boyfriend, out of all people you should be able to talk to him. but you couldn't, as with so much else in your life.

the moment the bedroom door closed behind you, your vision blurred. you collapsed onto the bed, greeted by a comfort you adored and desired most of the time. now it just felt so weird. laying in the bed of a stranger.

the only thing worse than crying, in your opinion, was having to cry silently. because there was someone on the other side you wanted to believe that you were okay.

it was so surprisingly hard to cry silently this time around. all you could think about was everything you had failed at.

how you couldn't even master four. steps. four steps and you couldn't do it? how could you ever call yourself an athlete or even a player if four steps got the better of you? how could eddie call you his bunny if you could barely manage to jump anymore? you were as deserving of that nickname as a snail.

you allowed yourself to be flooded with these thoughts, yet another mistake on your part, letting your body rest while achingly silent tears cascaded down your temples and wet the circles under your eyes. even though it hurt not to make a sound, it felt good to cry. it was an odd incentive to continue, the weight leaving your shoulders. a good cry sometimes was healthy. but still, you loathed how much of a crybaby you were being.

it was no surprise that you heard eddie knock on the door a few minutes later to a melody you didn't remember. the gentle hum of him ordering food had been silent for a few seconds.

mustering up whatever remaining strength you could, and swallowing the lump in your throat, you responded with the best "yeah?" you could.

why did you have to be so damn sensitive? why?

"may i come in?" eddie hummed in a sing-song sort of voice. as lively as he usually sounded, you could hear the worry lacing his tone.

you were a mess right now, but there was no way in hell you could turn him away. you harshly rubbed away your tears with the butt of your hand, taking a deep breath to try and steady yourself. "yeah, of course."

he poked his head in first. it was endlessly adorable, as it was every time. his grin disappeared once he saw you- more specifically, the fact that you were crying. you didn't meet his eyes.

"you doin' okay?..." he pressed his lips together for a second. "dumb question. i can see you aren't. yeah, dumb question, dumb as hell." eddie stepped inside, crouching next to the bed, as close to you as he could get. "well, first off, no one said any bullshit to you, right?" all of a sudden concern turned to a papa bear-esque protectiveness.

he knew how to make you smile.

"no, eddie. no one said anything to me." your voice was soft and hoarse. it was a far cry from the confident, at-ease voice you usually had. you turned onto your side, now facing him, but staring at the bed instead of hazarding a glance at eddie.

"ohhh, so you said it to yourself."

even after all these years, you were still surprised when he knew.

"from your silence, i take it i'm right on the money, honey." eddie's voice became a sweet mix of compassion and comfort. he knew how it felt to be insecure over shitty stuff and excessively beat yourself up over it. and just like you had done for him, he was determined to get you out of the funk of 'failure'.

you nodded slightly. he reached out and cupped your cheek. it was a greatly confusing gesture- on one hand, it brought you a level of comfort that made you want to cry happy tears. on the other hand, why did he care to do it?

"i'm gonna be straight with you. whatever voice is telling you that you did a shit job today, isn't worth a second of your time. i don't care what you think you failed at- which is nothing, by the way, you didn't fail at anything- you still tried, didn't you?" eddie spoke with such confidence it almost rubbed off on you.

"...i did try."

"that's my [y/n]." his eyes glittered with pride, same as his smile. he ran his thumb back and forth on your cheek, slowly, and you found yourself relaxing, heart beating to the rhythm he set. "you don't need to win every time, [y/n]- and you don't need to do it perfectly every time. perfect is bullshit, shortcake- it's okay to need to practice, it's okay to walk instead of run. you've got plenty of time to get better. and you're already damn talented! whether or not you can do everything doesn't detract from that. and that is a fact. alright?"

eddie's eyes never left yours, neither did they lose their care, their admiration, their love, and- odd only to you- their pride. it amazed you that he could still be proud of you after seeing you like this.

"thank you, eddie." and still hoarseness clung to your voice, but this time it didn't drag down the warmth in it. what more could you say?

well, you had so much you wanted to say. it was more like what more could you put into words.

"i'm always here for you, bunny!" seeing you happy again made the world seem brighter and more colorful. he rocked forward to press a chipper kiss to your lips, which you returned with a smile he could feel.

"also, also, don't even think about apologizing for anything, just- by the way. no apologies for the next 48 hours." lingering just a few centimeters away, eddie could read your mind clear as day. he still found it pretty.

"i... okay, fine, i won't." you exaggerated your defeat and your huff of a sigh, sharing a quiet chuckle with eddie.

"good. so, rockstar, d'you wanna come with me to pick up the grub? or do you wanna chill here with some fluffy blankets? i'm makin' it known now, if you stay back you're on movie duty."

honestly, either way it was a win-win.

"yeah, i could choose the movie, but i wanna watch what you wanna watch." besides, you really didn't want to be alone. it would be nice to go with him.

"holy shit, well aren't you just the most precious thing ever." pink dusted your cheeks from what he said- moreso the way he said it. this time, his voice softened. eddie certainly made you feel like the most precious thing ever, with his gaze and his compliments. his grin grew ever cheekier when he noticed your cheeks. not red from exercise, not red from frustrated crying, but red because he was teasing and praising you.

it was so cute.

you rubbed your eyes again, willing away the puffiness and tears that still managed to stick around. "makes two of us."

"damn right it does." eddie planted a kiss on your forehead. "wanna head out now? we could chill for a while and listen to music if we're early."

"that sounds nice. just, uh, maybe i should change out of my practice uniform before we go.."

"whatever you want, rockstar. i'll meet you outside." he pecked your lips a few times, each accented with a 'mwah', until you were giggling again. "love you."

"love you more."

"bull-shit, rockstar. said with lovvee."