#you didn't only defend Big Mouse

[lovehypegirl]

AT LAST

"MY LOVE HAS...COME ALONG"

In which Wriothesley adopts a child he found wandering around Meropide

pairing: adoptivefather!Wriothesley x adoptivechild!reader

wc: 0.7k

warnings: death of birth mother

request

Your childhood was spent in Meropide

Your mother was a convicted felon and gave birth to you in the prison and contrary to belief, you loved it there. All the hallways and elevators. Stalking the Duke and hiding behind barrels whenever he was out and about. Ducking out of the sight whenever he turned around. It became a game of cat-and-mouse that you played every time the Duke was out-and-about in the fortress

Post-natal care wasn't the best in Meropide due to the lack of childbirths in the prison fortress so your mother wasn't able to receive the proper care postpartum and she passed when you were six. Her weak health had a hand in her death as well

After that, you immediately went into the care of Fontaine's orphanage and was transferred into the system. You spent the next four years in the foster care system until you snuck your way back into Meropide through the pipes

You lasted the whole of one day before Wriothesley found you and questioned you as to what you were doing in Meropide

You revealed that you had been looking for him. All your ten-year-old mind was searching for was a person of comfort. A bond that had unknowingly grown in your early childhood drew you back to Meropide.

Wriothesley understood this took you in after the Guarde's had made attempts to shoo you away

He eventually adopted you, naming you as his child. He knew what it was like to be an orphan and the last thing he wanted was for you to live what he went through

Preparations were immediately made for the child of the Duke of Meropide to enter the fortress.

You got your own big bedroom with a giant floor to ceiling window that looked out the underwater life of the ocean. He was unable to give you a room with sunlight but you were content with the sea life and falling asleep watching the fishies swim around

He had bought you (or Cloriande and Navia) bought you new clothes. Clothes to accommodate the cold climate of Meropide. Little faux fur coats were Navias favorite to buy you. It was quite the Fontanian trend at the moment

You were placed in the best schooling immediately. Wriothesely hired the best private tutors for little you to ensure that you would have the best education

And alongside that, he taught you to defend yourself which you became very adept at

You learned fencing, chess, games of skill, and martial arts

And you loved, loved, loved to regale him with what you did that day. What classes you took, what you learned, what you want to learn.

And he was happy that you found comfort in his presence

Big tough guy won't admit that he loves that you're comfortable enough to crawl into his bed when you have a nightmare. He takes immense pride in being your safe space

Now, Wriothesley is a very busy man and you're nearly on the cusp on teenage years (being ten) so as an only child, you've tasked yourself of entertaining yourself

You quickly realized that you weren't confined to your room and that you had the whole of Meropide to explore at your will

And you loved it

The expanse of the fortress was immense and you constantly got lost but that just meant that you had to explore new areas

Wriothesley was worried at first so he had Guarde's trail your every move and ensure you weren't getting hurt. Once he realized you always came back when you got hungry, he was more lenient but still worried as you're his child

And once you realized he eased up, you began your little pranks.

You started by putting stickers on every. single. thing

And then you took his coat

Replaced his tea leaves with grass (this one earned you a one week grounding)

Tried to douse him with water by positioning a bucket above his office door (another two week grounding)

Drawing on the walls (didn't get far, walls are made of metal and Crayola doesn't last on those)

At this point, you started to run out of ideas as Wriothesley was always two steps ahead of you

So much for trying to outwit the Duke of Meropide

Better luck next time

© 𝙇𝙊𝙑𝙀𝙃𝙔𝙋𝙀𝙂𝙄𝙍𝙇 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 | modification and translation of my works on any platforms are strictly prohibited

[missmarveledsblog]

The one ( Bucky barnes x reader odindotter)

summary : just the grumpy teddy bear bucky pinning after thor sister that's been there through everything  

warning: none , Bucky being a cutie , John walker being an ass , sam being the best wing man , mutual pining

One person , one singular person was all he wanted to see after it all . after the blip , the war against the mad tyrant and yet he was now staring at the face of a man he loathed , one who didn't deserve to hold the shield his best friend and brother had for a century. John walker stood an ego based attention hog who had the wrong morals and ideal that steve would generally cringe at . even with all this their was one person that occupied his mind , one that could truly make sense of all the craziness that he was now landed in. He walked as johns chest puffed out appearing to make himself so much bigger that he was , the words spilling from his mouth all bullshit and that thing he pass of as charm well a bag of rocks could do better and possibility even smarter . Bucky came to see her , knowing she was the only one that could truly understand what it is like to be in a place so alien and having those feeling of they didn't feel they belong in a sense. She could of been in new asgard with the rest of her people but she like this strange place. What made it funnier was he was actually of this planet and same time if someone told him it was mar or some shit he would actually believe them because still even after everything this didn't feel like earth . He watched her pretending to care , even the scowl of annoyance that grace her face that would of had loki proud. "So i think that why cardio is so important" john finished off the suggestable comment . " you know my brother would love to hear stuff like this" she smiled letting the poor mans hope rise. " although i find it all a bit boring more into the intellect of everything" her head tilted she had the man like a mouse on a string . " i mean yeah science of things but at the end of the day brawn defeat the brain" he chuckled . " i'm a goddess your brawn wouldn't tire me nor my brain" she rolled her eyes clearly done with the conversation scanning the room . " i bet i could tire you out" he winked . " the only way you could tire me out is too keep talking because it kinda putting me asleep" she fake a yawn before adding the stretching her arms to prove her point . " wow you really add to the bitchy princess stereotype" he scoffed. " oh little man i made it" she walked off eyes lighting up when she saw the man before her . " finally someone interesting" she called making the other man scoff.

It wasn't her intention to be bitchy maybe it was having loki as a big brother or the fact the man before her didn't know his ass from his elbow and yet he held something so important in his hands. She could of kept walking , ignored it and she was going to til his mouth opened once more. " really the killer" that sentence that made the fires of hel seem small to how it made her feel. " excuse me you back of the warehouse version of captain america , you wouldn't know the real downfall of earth or it's people . you hold that shield yet don't know one thing it represents nor the man that held it before you and yet you try cast you opinions on someone who went through so much and still stand before us today , if my father was alive he would agree that not one of us would have the same kind of heart and fight if we went through what that man has went through , all that pain and torture that would break you in a click of a finger" she snapped. " doll seriously it's ok" bucky said although someone should told his face with the smile having her defending him . " jame buchanan barnes and many other saved this whole universe and you dare try insult him , that shows you don't deserve that title you parade" she scoffed leaving john walker standing almost speechless . " hey little princess" sam called cutting bucky from speaking. " hello shall we leave or midgard will need a new captain" she smiled brightly . " actually we need your help" sam winked . " i feel like i should say no but lets go" she chuckled .

She sat on the ledge of helicopter watching the idiot well her favourite idiot fall to the ground and sam following after liking the new and improved wings. " you gonna jump out now?" torrez asked in awe and well slightly nervous giving who the woman is before him. " nah idiots forget i could of teleported us" she giggle before she was gone from his sight. Leaning over bucky as he lay out on the ground . " that was very stupid" she smiled holding her hand out. " well i mean i got down didn't i" he smirked back up at her. " your an old man it's quite dangerous" she laughed . " how old are you again" he shot back. " times different i mean in earth human years i'm only what twenty five" she tapped her chin . " wait so how old was loki when you know tried taking over earth " sam came to their side. " earth years sixteen" she walked off causing sam mouth to get louder at the new found knowledge . " your telling me grown ass loki , destroying new york with his alien ass army was 16 earth years old " . " yeah i mean time was something that many asgardians had to get use to being here" she shrugged. " i like it better when you where the thousand year old princess" bucky teased. " so you didn't feel like a creep my little pinning buck" sam whispered she heard it yet kept walking pretending to be oblivious to sam's constant teasing . " no but seriously loki was sixteen" sam asked making her roll her eyes . which led to her spending the rest of the time trying to explain the time differences and space and time which was probably a waste of her time as he began asking to convert their fellow avengers ages to asgardian . which then she used to tease him then turning it around. " so would it make you feel better after losing to parker" she smirked watching his face fall. " we didn't lose" bucky spoke up . " yeah redwing came in" sam added. " so redwing did, what you couldn't" she smiled. " no no now don't spin this" sam huffed. " well i mean you're so concerned with ages" she smiled. " here's me thinking you were sweet and soft like thor but your like loki" sam chuckled . " i mean me and loki did get to chat a lot , great teacher glad he left something behind " she smiled softly as sam realised his words . " shit i didn't , sorry really y/n" he began rambling . " it's ok really lets get going" she walked ahead only for bucky to slap sam at the back of the head. " bird brain, and stop with the remarks she finds out i love her well i'm screwed i love my best girl " he hissed.

Even after all this time it was so hard , so stressful and completely heartbreaking to even think of her brother . loki and thor was all she had after her parents life had perished and granted she still have thor but through everything knowing once and for all that loki was truly gone , well sometimes it can take longer for a heart to heal after so much loss especially when your not fully over the others before it. The rest of the trip it was like she was somewhere else from the taunts of zemo to the fake disguise of the winter soldier it seemed as though the whole thing was getting worse bringing back scars for them all to the surface. All mentally dealing with something that was bigger then themselves . all dealing with pressures or ghost of their own past . he could see in her eyes thinking of all they lost , close friends and family behind the eyes he could stare into all day . she been around through it all , from when steve found him the first and second time . the day he pulled him from the river when she promised to take care of steve , through the battle of the airport, on the run while he was in wakanda she stayed learning how they did it and being the friend he needed. To the war how she held them all up loss after loss , she lived through the blip trying to find a way to get them back , a way to stop the mad tyrant and he wonder in that time was he on her mind like she would of been on his if the role were reversed. She would give her all for those she loved and still felt like she needed to give more it was another reason to add to that ever growing list of why he loved her .

Then now here they were louisiana celebrating the new captain america , the right choice , the one he couldn't agreed more not that he would admit that out loud . although he wish sam would shut up about y/n odinsdottir . he didn't want to scare her off being his friend , the whole time when everything was wrapped up in a bow it's all the new cap could bring up . he watched her laugh and play with the children , how even thought the sun was shining her smile was even brighter . " you know instead of still doing the whole mean steamy stare you could actually do something about it" sam nudged him playfully as sarah looked to the two. " oh if you don't i will" she winked . then the laugh got louder as he watched her walking towards him eyes locked on his and that damn smile that made him melt like a puddle. Her hand coming to his face , cupping his cheeks before her lips on his . " you know i can hear you both no matter how much you whisper" she winked turning to walk off only to feel his hand to wrap in her pulling her flush to his chest . " and you left it til now cruel doll" he smirked leaning forward . " hey girl can only wait so long plus again it's not like i didn't give you chances all these years " batting her lashes leaning up to kiss him once more only for clash of thunder shot through the sky making them jump apart. " he got the girl , my man buck nasty got the girl" sam cheered . " he always had the girl" she kissed him once . the one he wanted to see the most was truly and finally his ,his peace and his girl. 

[alliddewrites]

Schlatt x ContentCreator!Reader

Content disclaimer:

Fluff,

SDMP,

Gender neutral reader

The power of the schlanket compelled me to finish this.

Masterlist

“Chat… This is taking so long…” you sigh, pausing in your building to look at chat.

Ever since you’ve been accepted into the Sleep Deprived SMP, your viewership has been steadily increasing. You had a smaller, but dedicated following before, which you were already very grateful for, but this push really helped you go full time with streaming.

Everyone has been very kind to you, both in your streams and on the server. The other content creators were helpful and included you in a lot of bits to help you assimilate.

You get along with the other creators pretty well, but there is one particular person you favored…

“What if I asked Schlatt for a favor…?” you lean back in your chair, taking your hands off your keyboard and mouse, character now still.

Chat immediately split into two sides, people spamming variations of ‘NO’ and ‘YES’ at the same time, with a clear majority of agreeing answers. There are people defending your honor, telling you to not sink to his level and ones that just wanted to see their favorite duo interact.

“You’re really enabling me here, chat… He’s still on, right?” pressing tab, you see his name on the server list, getting your question answered. “Yeah, he is.”

“I’m going to call him.” you sit back up straight, pause the game and open Discord on your other screen, next to chat. Clicking on yours and Schlatt’s DMs, remnants of a previous, spontaneous conversation pop up.

After a few seconds of hesitation– “Fuck it.” –you click on the call icon. Covering your mouth with your hand, elbow on the table, you stare at the screen while holding back a grin.

After a few rings, he joins.

“Yeah?” he asks straight away.

“Big man! I have a… uh.. favor to ask of you. If you would be ever so generous.” you say a bit nervously after uncovering your mouth, grin ever present. “It’s a pretty big ask.”

“So you came directly to the man at the top, huh?” he counters, the teasing tone clear in his voice.

“I had to make sure my request was accommodated properly, by the one and only.” you say, trying to appeal to his ego, while also not wanting to seem too excited.

“And what would that be, toots?”

“Well… I really, and I mean really, want to build a magnificent base for myself, and I already have everything planned out, but there's just one issue-” began your over the top, formal explanation, “-I am lacking quite a few blocks for this endeavor.”

He lets out a light and humorous scoff as you continue on, “So I thought I'd ask you to grant me creative mode, so I could contribute to this beautiful server, with my beautiful build.”

He gives a big, over exaggerated sigh before he starts speaking. “I could do that, as the person who owns the server, but…”

You squint as when you hear him drag out that last word. “But what?”

“But, I would need some sort of payment. I can't just go giving out such things to anyone for free. Then everyone would be asking me for similar things.” he finishes up. Now it's your turn to scoff at him.

“You say that like chaos doesn't constantly happen on this server anyway.” you roll your eyes at the camera, shaking your head for chat playfully.

“Okay, well, this discussion is over.” he snapped back with a serious tone.

“Wait! No no no no!! Please–!” you quickly ramble, laughing between the words, “--tell me what you want.”

What you didn't expect, is for his reply to come at you with lighting speed and directly hit you in the face with its outrageousness.

“Maid dress stream.”

Your face heats up as you stare at the image of the call in shock for a few seconds, weighing your options.

Does he want this to humiliate you?

Get a rise out of chat?

He already achieved that, only with that response.

Stir some light trouble for attention?

…

Or maybe he wants it for himself…

‘Nah, no way…’ you shut down that thought immediately, looking off to the side, only a portion of your face visible on stream now.

“...Sure...” came your quiet response after a few long seconds, face burning up even more.

The moment you finish saying it, you see something pop up in the Minecraft chat.

Schlatt gave you creative mode, just like that.

You stare dumbfounded as he begins speaking again. “I'll pick one out and mail it to you. See ya, toots.”

All you hear is the sound of him leaving the call as you lower your head and put your face in your hands.

“I guess we got what we wanted, chat.” you mumble out after a minute of silence, not even sure the microphone picked it up.

Your shared ship name became trending on X that night.

It stayed that way for a few days.

Support me on Ko-fi or Patreon!

[serxinns]

Romantic Bakugo vs Yan Platonic class 1a

requested by @roxanndrummond (sorry for the wait)

• Now you were class 1s favorite sibling and you were coddled 24/7 like how the girls would invite you to big slesleepoverwhere the girls would constantly fight over what activity should they do with you and the boys were your overprotective bothers denki and Sero always ruffling your hair and play fight with you while shoto and Iida would spoil you with expensive gifts and needs

•But there was one boy in particular and it was no more then Bakugo Katsuki now Bakugo was 1st pissed and confused about why we were getting coddled and babied by his classmates so he decided to observe and learn more about you the morehe hanged out with you the more interested he was in you that which soon became an obsession he wanted you for himself and himself only

•By time passed he gifted you small things like all might matching keychains and an aggressive letter that was threatening but was an invitation to either his plate or somewhere nice he would always scold you for not doing simple tasks and would flick your head just to see that mad annoyed face dude almost exploded but fought it

•Everything was going swell for him until his classmates noticed his strange behavior but he wasn't gonna back down anytime sooner whenever Izuku Shoto or Iida "Scolded" Him to back off he'll laugh bitterly and tell them to fuck off, The girls would glare at him from afar whenever your happily chatting with him but he didn't care he didn't give two fucks he was memorize by your adorable face

•Your friends tried to warn you about Bakugo making him a cruel and mean monster but you would always defend him making your friends shocked and scared they all thought that the Angry dude had you wrapped around his finger and was gonna steal you away from them! But they weren't backing down they were gonna protect you and promised to pull you away from anger and katsuki was the danger

•Whenever katsuki would bring you small gifts Hakagure would sneak in your locker and steal the roesents and throw them in the trash but katsuki has a trick up his sleeve and would replace the trashed gifts with better gifts

•everyone was fighting over who would be your partner of your katsuki Partner then he'll go easy on you he didn't have the courage to hurt you he would never he only "hurt" you with little empty threats if your not then he'll REALLY go all out on you he'll flex his quirk and abilities on one of your friends always yelling "YOU SEE THAT DUMBASS THATS HOW YOU FIGHT DONT BE LIKE THESE EXTRAS"

• When your back is turn it's always a war katuski fighting with dekusquad telling them to back off while bakusquad and tokoyami are telling him that your theirs and they don't need you to date anyone they don't want their little sibling taken away from them they had to up their game

•they would spy on Bakugo to see if he was gonna try anything to ruin your innocence whenever Bakugo and you are alone when it's either studying or even sparing they would always barge in and try to ruin the moment for him asking if they would spar which you happily Agreed to which made bakugo even more pissed, whenever bakugo and you were busy chatting Mina or tsuyu would call you over for some help with some homework smirking at the blonde back while he's on the edge of ruling them apart with his two hands

Whenever you and bakugo wanted to go out and hang out kids would send a small animal like an ant or Mouse to spy on the two of you it worked for many times until you squealed at the cute little mouse and picked it up and bakug notice a mic on it so he rip it off and broke it

• Whenever your in class the bakugonsns the rest of the classmates all darting glares whole bakugo glares at all of them all with dark tendencies in their eyes like they were ready to pounce each other

•your friends and bakugo loved you the way you are that's will no matter what they will fight to get your attention affection and love!

[thestonedwriter]

His game

Daryl Dixon x. FemReader

Warnings: This story is 18+ has sexual content! Age gap, receiving(f), choking, kinda dark Daryl I mean he’s chasing you through the woods, begging, nicknames like (Sweetheart, darling)

This is the edited version!!

Here they were standing at the edge of the forest, staring off into the deep woods that could honestly have anything wondering around them, when he suddenly came up behind her, pulling her from her daze. "Remember, sweetheart, it's just a game. Say the word, and it all ends." He whispered against her hair, pressing himself against her as his hands began to wander around her body as if it were a work of art and nothing could compete with it. 

"Just say 'Arrow' sweetness, and that's all you have to say, and the game ends." He groaned against her ear, and he grabbed her hips, pushing herself even more into him as she let out a breathless moan from the back of her throat. "So what's the word? He stated this as he ran his hands across her stomach, slowly getting higher as he went "Arrow." She replied, still looking forward into the woods with excitement building up inside of her "good girl." He spoke as he bit the outside of her ear, leaving small kisses on her neck that sent shivers down her spine until he got to her shoulder. Before moving back up to her ear, she said, "Run." He whispered, licking her ear before pushing her forward, "Ya got 3 minutes ta run before I start chasing ya" He said with a low growl, taking his crossbow off of his back, "GO!" He barked, causing her to start sprinting to the edge of the forest before quickly looking back and seeing a sadistic glint in his eyes.

 

7 minutes have passed, and she hasn't stopped running, taking different turns and directions, hoping not to run into him. He put the fear of God into her with how he carries himself around Alexandria, how his sexy, strong arms can pick up his crossbow, how his deep, raspy voice makes her panties wet every time she hears it, or how he's not afraid to do anything, like when he beat the living shit out of Nicholas his first month here. It always seemed to her that nothing ever scared the hunter, no matter what the situation was.

 

12 minutes passed, and she slowed down from running. She looked around her surroundings to see if she could see him. To her, it felt like an exotic game of cat and mouse, where Daryl was the cat and she was the mouse. She felt the excitement fill her hot core. "I know you're around; I got yer trail. ya can keep running, but ya can't sure as hell hide." She heard it from the far distance behind her, causing her to speed up and keep running forward until she found a big old hazelnut tree and pressed her back up against it. Scared is something she never really felt before until this moment; the fact she can't hide from the hunter scares her. She wishes he had offered her months ago to take her hunting and teach her how to track and cover up her tracks if she ever needed to, but she would have said yes, but she never thought it would have been useful until this moment. 

 

30 minutes passed, and she still hasn't moved. She was scared but excited. That's how she's always felt when near him or talking to him. At first, she was nervous when she first saw him; he was new, sexy, buff, dirty, and mean, she thought, but she couldn't help but be drawn to him. The first time they were really around each other was the night of the party, but she didn't go; instead, she stayed home with her big brother Eric and his boyfriend Aaron, eating spaghetti, when Aaron looked out the window and said he was going to be right back.

A few minutes passed, and Aaron returned with a cleaned-up-looking Daryl. "Daryl, you know Eric, but this is his little sister, Y/N," Aaron said as he pulled out his seat beside Eric. "Only by what 7 years? I'm 22 now, I think, and you are what 29? 30?" She said it with a scoff, pointing her fork at the two. "Hey, we aren't that old yet," Aaron said, defending him, and Eric earned a small laugh from Daryl. "You can sit by Y/N Daryl and have some spaghetti; she doesn't bite," Eric said with a small laugh. "Not that he knows of," she said with a small scoff as Daryl looked at the seat, and then you went back to the seat before moving and taking a seat beside her just as she set a plate full of spaghetti down for him with a soft smile.

 

A whistling sound broke her out of her thoughts, causing her to quickly look around, only to see him off in the distance behind her. "Shit," she whispered to herself before starting to run to her left, where some big bushes lay for cover as she ran.

 

40 minutes passed like nothing with all this running she has been doing since the game started. She knows he is not that far behind her, and she knows he gets a thrill from this, but the bad thing is that so does she. The excitement of him chasing her, the thrill of what's to come once she's been caught���the thoughts alone were making her wet her panties even more than they already were. 

"Hey, Y/N, go take this to Daryl for me." Eric said as he handed her a glass of iced water. It's been a few days since dinner, and Daryl has been coming over every day to fix a motorcycle Aaron gave him for his new job, and she's been enjoying the view of having him over every day working, the way his arms flex when he's working, or how he mumbles while he's too focused on working. "Sure!" she said with a big smile, grabbing the glass out of his hand before walking to the garage, only to see Daryl's back arms flexing under the bike, trying to fix it. She couldn't help but wonder off her mind. He looked godly; he's been the hottest man she's laid eyes on since this all began. His blue eyes, longish hair, his facial hair—everything about that man she found hot. She couldn't just imagine his hands on her throat while kissing her. but quickly snapped out of her daydream when he rolled from underneath the bike and leaned up. "I brought you some ice water. It's a really hot day, so," she said once again, smiling at him. He couldn't help but stare and not say a word to her. She was a goddess. her long hair, plump lips, and god, her chest She loved the way her chest looked big with perky looking tits, the way her nipples poked out through the tee-shirt she was wearing, and the way her thighs looked because of the shorts she was sporting on her. Her eyes were a sweet golden brown, but she quickly stood up and brushed his hands off his pants, grabbing the glass of water. "Thanks." His raspy but sexy voice said, "You're welcome." She said as a blush flourished across her complexion, she turned to leave but stopped. "And if you ever need anything, Daryl, im just inside, so don't be afraid to ask for something to eat or drink," she said softly as her eyes scanned him up and down as she bit her lip before turning and leaving him to himself as a frustrated groan left his lips and he looked down towards his manhood that was supporting his half-hard erection.

 

The game has been going on for a total of 50 minutes now. She's tired of running. She slumps against a tree, thinking of just letting him catch her at this point because her legs and feet are tired, and she's also thirsty. She hasn't run into any walkers, just one or two. 

 

"You know better than this, Y/N." He barked out, getting annoyed with how long it took to get this close to getting her before she ran. "I can't run and hide forever, my love." He stated that the sound of his voice was getting closer and closer. trying to hold her breath, scared he could hear her heart beating out of her chest. "It's just a game, sweetheart." He spoke softly as she took off, running with him not too far after her.

 

She stopped dead in her tracks when an arrow hit the ground right in front of her. "You know what they say? You can run, but you can't hide." He said with a scoff as she turned around to face him, eyeing him up and down, but he looked different, sexier, and revealing his shirt was completely unbuttoned, showing off his amazing hard chest. But the most eye-catching thing was the trail of hair going down his flat stomach into his V-line that led inside his pants as he stood just a few feet away from her. Just the sight of him alone has her pushing her thighs together with need. Seeing that made him quickly drop his crossbow and make gentle strides until he was right in front of her. "It looks like it got someone a little needy," he said, grabbing the back of her head, tangling his fingers into her hair, and pulling her closer to his face, causing her to let out a small whine as he put his other hand on her hip, pulling her closer to him to feel his hard manhood against her pelvis as she let out a small moan with his action.

 

She doesn't remember how she ended up on the ground with him on top of her as he trailed small kisses from her jaw to her lips. His hands wandered around her body. He leans up and looks her in the eyes. "Just say the word, and it will end," he whispered, and he leaned down and kissed her neck as his hands found her waist and underneath her shirt, causing her to let out a course of moans as he started to suck on her neck as she quickly wrapped her arms around his neck, lacing her hand into his hair and pulling on it as he let out a small moan of his own, before pressing himself against her as he moved his head to face her once again. He looked into her eyes, then they slowly trailed down to her plump lips before looking back at her as she gave him a small nod.

 

That's all he needed before he smashed his lips onto hers, moving his hands farther up until his hands were under her breasts, kissing her with force as she opened her mouth for him. Hands touching each other like it will be the last time they will ever be touched, her left hand moved from his neck to his chest, feeling his chest as her right hand pulled his hair, causing a groan to leave his throat and into her mouth as they kissed as he quickly leaned up and removed his vest and shirt, leaving him in only his jeans. She leaned up and grabbed him by the back of his neck, kissing him again as he ripped her shirt off and threw it before pushing her back down onto the ground of the forest, leaving kisses down her neck to her chest. "Fuck." She breathes as she lets out a moan. Everything that he was doing was setting her on fire and leaving it a burning pit inside her core, filling it with need and want. The way his hands felt on her body, he took off her bra, leaving her chest exposed to him to do whatever he pleases. The sight alone was almost enough to make him go mad. He was harder than he ever was before. He was filled with excitement and lust for this woman, and he just wanted to fuck her like he's never fucked anyone before. "Ya like that, sweetheart," he said as a low groan left his mouth.

 

He slowly lowered his head to her breast and took one into his hand and one into his mouth as he bit her nipple. "Fuck, please, Daryl," she moaned in pleasure. He leaned up and pressed a kiss in between her breasts before looking at her. "Tell me what do ye want." He groaned as his hands trailed from her breast to her waist to the top of her jeans. "I want you, please, Daryl." She begged as she looked him in the eyes before he ripped her jeans off her legs along with her panties, leaving her completely bare for his eyes to see.

 

Trailing kisses from her stomach to right above her aching core, "Tell me, is this what ye want?" He growled while he slid his thumb over her clitoral area. "God yes!" She said that as she let out a moan and grabbed onto his hair, he finally slid his finger into her wet hole while keeping his thumb on her clit "So fucking wet for me, ain't you," he groaned as he let his hot breath hit her core, causing her to let out a breathy moan from the back of her throat. "Only for you," she said with a gasp as she bit her lip due to his warm breath on her core. 

 

Daryl dipped his head down, leaving small kisses on her thighs as he ruthlessly started fucking his finger into her, causing her to buck her hips to his fingers. "Stop," he growled as he placed the arm he wasn't using over her stomach, pushing her back down before adding another finger to her wet cunt. "Fuck please, Daryl," she moaned, feeling waves of pleasure washing over her body and mind. "Please what?" He spoke, eyeing her soaking wet cunt with hunger as he continued to fuck her with his fingers. "Please fuck me," she groaned out, trying to catch her breath.

 

He quickly pulled his fingers out of her cunt, putting one of them into his mouth and sucking all of her juice off it before putting the other one up to her plump lips. "Suck," he growled, pushing his finger into her mouth. He watched in astonishment as she sucked on his finger, cleaning it off. Making him harder than he already was.

He quickly removed his finger from her mouth, moving his hand to his belt and undoing it as fast as he could before pulling his pants down, exposing his hard erection, causing her to moan at the size and idea of him fucking her silly. "Like what ye see, sweetheart," he groaned as he palmed his erection, stroking it a few times. "God yes," she said as she leaned up on her elbows, watching him with wide eyes. Daryl slowly leaned down, catching her in another kiss as he slowly lined himself up to her soaking pussy as she let out a breathless moan into the kiss before he moved up and played with her clitoral area with the head of his dick. "ye want me to fuck ya dumb with my cock?" He groaned as he pulled away from her lips before attacking her neck with kisses and small bites. "Please, please fuck me dumb with your cock." She groaned in frustration, only to feel him put the head of his cock into her wet cunt. "Beg me to fuck ya. Beg me to touch ya." He asked against her neck before biting down, causing her to moan and look over and see he left a noticeable bite mark. "Please Fuck Me, Daryl." I don't think I can wait  anymore." She pleaded with him with a lust-filled gaze that made him want to melt right there and fuck her till she couldn't walk any more.

 

With one quick thrust, he was buried inside of her, causing them both to let out moans filled with pleasure: "Fucking hell, Y/N, yer so fuckin tight." He groaned against her neck as he slowly began to pull out and then push back inside of her "faster." She said as she grabbed his hair to pull on it that he quickly pulled out and thrust back in her tight, warm cunt. "Fuck!" he growled as he continued thrusting in and out of her cunt. "Yes, yes, yes, fuck me." She moaned, moving her hands to his back and grabbing on as he sped up his pace. Daryl quickly grabbed both of her hands and pinned them above her head. "Faster, please go faster!" She yelped out as she moved her hips against him. "Yeah, ya like my cock fucking into ya" he growled as he moved one of his hands down to her neck. "Fuck yes, I love your cock fucking into me." She moaned, throwing her head back as he sped up, thrusting harder and faster. 

 

This amount of pleasure was almost too overwhelming for her to handle as he continued to fuck into her as he moved his hand from her neck to the ground beside her head, leaving kisses and bite marks all along her skin. She felt as if she were on cloud 9. "Fuck Fuck Fuck!" she yelled as she felt herself reaching her peak as her walls tightened around him. When she then felt him smack her thigh, "You don't get to come till I say ye can," he growled into her ear, and he nipped at it with his teeth as he let out one of the biggest moans yet: "Fuck, please, I want to cum." She groaned, still feeling the pleasure build in her core and wanting to burst. "Not yet, sweetheart. Almost there," he said as he groaned into her neck.

 

She felt his thrusts get careless and faster. Chasing his release, "Fuck" He groaned as he pushed his head into her neck, biting down and causing her eyes to roll back and a breathless moan to erupt from her mouth. "Daryl, please, please, can I fucking cum?" She moaned as she tried to wiggle her hands from within his hold, only for him to tighten his grip. 

As he moved his head up to her ear, licking and biting it, he let out a breath against her ear. "Cum for me," he growled carelessly, thrusting into her as fast as he could, feeling her walls tighten and then feeling her release all over his cock. "Fuck, yes, yes, yes," she moaned while her eyes rolled to the back of her head all while he continued fucking into her, feeling his release build up faster than it ever  He quickly smashed his lips onto hers, ruthlessly making out with her as he finally lets himself go with a loud groan into her mouth as he fucks himself through his orgasm while shooting the ropes of his cum into her cunt before dropping beside her.

They both turn their heads, looking into each other's eyes, before breaking into smiles as he leans over and grabs her by the back of the neck, pulling her into a lazy kiss, to which she returns before breaking away from the kiss. "Mine," he growled. "Yours," she replied breathlessly while looking into his eyes with a fucked-out smile plastered on her face.

[moonknixght]

Chase of Cat and Mouse [Jake Lockley x Cop!Reader]

Summary: Jake Lockley is a smug bastard who enjoys watching you struggle to find the murderer responsible for Arthur Harrow's death. But it becomes evident that his overconfident façade is not that strong when you manage to catch him after work. Word Count: 3.5k Warnings: Enemies to lovers kinda, Suggestive, Swearing, no mentions of marc or steven (sorry guys), mentions of death (?) A/N: this took wayy to long and my sincerest of apologies to all my lovelies. I’m unfortunately a huge procrastinator, but I’ll try working in more fics in the coming days :) ! Requests are open, so feel free to talk to me or suggest something for the next fic!!

You lean on your chair with a distrustful look, eyes twitching at the cocky grin that your suspect, Jake Lockley had on his face. If only you could just reach over the damn table and smack it right out of his face, but unfortunately with no permission from the higher-ups to hurt people under custody, you were pretty helpless to his conceited expressions.

It's just been an hour of going back and forth with the male; where you would propose something incriminating that could possibly involve him, before he would defend himself with a cheeky statement, which worked a bit too well in his favor.

For example, When you pointed out that the man who suspiciously led Arthur Harrow away from the hospital to be never seen again was wearing a cap similar to his, Jake responded with a chuckle; "Is there no one else in London who wears a newsboy cap?"

And it didn't help that every once in a while, he would make a mockery out of you, arrogantly sneering as you struggled to find solid evidence for an arrest. You tried to pay no mind to it as you distracted yourself with the papers lay on the desk in front, trying not to be bothered by anything he says.

"Running out of hurtful accusations, amor?" It was getting increasingly frustrating, the periodic visits of Jake Lockley to the questioning room almost once every week, where every time you insisted it was him. Your superior, an old bloke named Martin was understandably getting tired of it, ever so slightly wishing that he had just taken this rookie case to his hands instead of having his junior over-analyze it so much. London is a big city; the death of another old man was no exciting news, but it seemed to be of great importance to you. A knock on the door snapped you out of your deprecating thoughts, breaking that eye contact that danced with a fiery spark of hatred between you and Jake while you jumped to your feet to answer the door. A familiar figure with a head full of grey hair with an equally grey mustache stood, with a fed-up expression on his face. Speak of the fucking devil. "Cut short for the day, I need you in my office in 10." Martin commanded, a breath escaping your lips quietly as he said so. "But—" "No buts. My Office. In 10. Let 'em go." You turn back to the male who was still sitting nonchalantly on the uncomfortable basin of the stool; but almost immediately as your gaze fell on him, he looked up with a tilt of his head, his lips curling at the end to form a smirk. He managed to get out of your grasp again.

Stepping into Martin's Lair, which most acknowledge as his office, you felt yourself think of the many ways he could possibly question you— as well as all the ways you could retaliate and justify your fixation on this specific suspect. All of your defenses led to a dead end, but how exactly were you supposed to explain how Jake looks at you when he sees you falter? How his sharp, tinted brown eyes sparkle with a glimmer of amused smugness to it every time you found yourself searching for more clues in front of him? You know he did it. You know that he knows very well you're aware of that. Yet, he seemed to be enjoying the effort put in to prove your conclusions.

Arms crossed, your supervisor eyed you as you walked in and did your regular routine of a salute to your higher up, before he motioned you over to sit. Martin never was a person who gave much trouble, and that was an understanding that ran between the both of you, but that didn't mean he didn't have moments where he would be highly critical of your actions and decisions.

"Where are the final reports, (L/N)?" "I.." You pause, bracing yourself. "I don't have it. Yet." The older male sighed in response to your answer, rubbing the base of his temple while you shifted uncomfortably on the cushion-y seat, preparing yourself to hear the lecture that was incoming. "I assigned this file to you nearly 3 months ago, (Y/N), and you have nothing except a raging suspicion on this one guy who you can't even prove is the culprit we're looking for." He leaned onto the desk. "What happened? You were one of my best students. That's why I trusted you with this."

Oh, Jake Lockley is done for once you catch him again. You part your lips to say something, but the guilt of letting down such a placid and reasonable figure that was your superior was really starting to settle down. Had it been anyone else, you would have stubbornly defended yourself about how you were absolutely sure of your intuitions. But it was a war that you would not come out victorious from anyways; possibly hurting the respect Martin gives you was just an added loss.

"Be more attentive, (Y/N). I know how hard these tend to get but I've been having people show up and make a fuss about finding the culprit—probably some distant family of the victim and—"

"I'll have the reports down to you by Sunday." Martin spared a look of surprise, taken aback by the sudden tone of determination. It took you 3 months to make even the slightest of progress, yet you seemed positive that you'll manage to nail the report and hold the felon accountable within the matter of a day and a half. How were you supposed to do that?

You would've been a little more confident if you knew the answer to that question yourself.

Stripped out of the authoritarian uniform, You found yourself clutching onto your jacket as the cold autumn weather in the streets of London brushed against your skin. The night was young as always, and you wished there was time for you to go stargazing, laying under the bed of shining pricks in the dark blanket that was the night sky. Barely 8pm by then, you realized as you checked your watch, but the gloom of a midnight sky was already settling in. It was an uncomfortable feeling since you've rarely never gotten out all that much, for a stroll nonetheless, ever since you started working on the case, with the exemption of the travel from and to home to the station or vice versa.

And that would have been the fate of today, if it weren't for the fact that you were hunting down Jake Lockley. This time not with the help of a colleague, but by yourself as you hurried through the busy streets of the city. You were given the location to an apartment towards the north of town, which was presumed to be his address and where you were hoping to run into him for a talk. Not another interrogation, at least in his point of view, but you were aware that this case was far from salvageable with just mildly threatening questioning.

You watch as the neon sign of a convenience store just below the building your heading for shine brightly; stopping momentarily to check your phone and prepare before taking a sharp breath to turn the corner— to almost immediately run into a figure in the dark and brooding alleyway.

Despite the crescent moon towering above his frame, Jake's face was lit solely by the cigarette hooked between his fingers, revealing a familiar facial structure that you loathed. But, despite having strong emotions which can only be described as hatred, you did find him to be conventionally attractive, but that's just stating the obvious.

Another thing that you took to notice was his dark, slicked-back curls that almost stuck to his neck, carefully combed as to not to seem disheveled and obviously missing his signature cap. It was.. certainly a look. Something out of the ordinary, which made you wonder if you even were looking at the same person.

At the echo of your footsteps, it was destined to catch the attention of the male, who squinted at the sight of you, before a relaxed expression took over his stiff posture. At his notice, you paused just a few steps away from him, pondering where you're gonna begin— only for him to beat you to it. "'m afraid I can't make it to another questioning, officer." He sneered, but shrugging it off has almost been second nature to you at this point. "I have.. plans for later tonight, 'Can't spend that time rotting away at the station." "You're not being taken to the station, I just want to talk." You say firmly, To which Jake reacts with a raise of his brow, prompting you to continue. "Look." You shift your gaze away, sighing. "I might've been wrong about you, but I think you know something I don't. And if you know, anything, and I mean- anything on Arthur Harrow, I need you to tell me it. Now." Jake looked at you with not much change in his expression, but his hand brought the cigarette back to his lips as he leaned by the hood of the car, facing you. If you were any hopeful about Jake abiding by your commands, you would have said he was considering it, but the silence was becoming overbearing and you still needed to pitch your case.

"His family's been very active in trying to find the culprit and.. It's—"

"Mentirosos.." ("liars..") He grumbled lowly, but thanks to a pretty good sense of hearing, you were able to catch it.

"Pardon?" "Do you actually believe them?"

Jake's question did falter your figure for a moment, especially since his voice was a little bit more.. commanding. But it did send you back to really put your thought into it. Arthur's file and your personal research on his background did not list any names that may be dear to him, so who were those claiming to be his family? Maybe even friends? "Whoever they are, They're concerned, and I don't have any answers but I know that you know something." Jake chuckled. "So, You're desperate." You glare at him, but at the same time, you can't exactly deny his accusation. The only other reaction was the sequence of words you managed to grumble out. "Spill it, Lockley." The manner in which you spoke was dominant, commanding as you were beginning to be reminded of all the trouble Jake has given you. The cigarette that brightly burned between his rough fingers was left neglected until now, when he opted to drop it on the floor before the heel on his shoe extinguished the leftover flame within it in order to make his way towards you. You stood firm in your stance as he took light strolls towards your frame, with a light tilt of his head. You stand firm in your stance as he lightly strolls towards you, with a slight tilt of his head. "I know you're not just a pretty face, You'll figure it out eventually. Without my help." You were almost face to face now, standing parallel against each other, the eye contact unwavering between the two of you. As always. "I did figure it out. Either you did it, or you were involved; So if I'm asking you anything now, it's because you know what happened." "Why didn't you just take me in again?" "Because I wanted to talk to you. Not to the unbothered, innocent cab driver who I'm apparently tormenting." The corner of his lips couldn't help but curl just a little bit, as he stared down at you for a moment. Jake was quite unsure if you had anything incriminating against him, or whether you were going off pure instinct, but for you to be so stubborn about being right, you got to have been confident about something.

Jake's intense gaze bore into yours, a silent challenge passing between you two. Despite how lightly he seemed to take everything, The air grew thick with tension, and you found yourself fighting the urge to step back. His proximity was disarming, but you refused to let him see any vulnerability in the stance you put out. "And If I don't cooperate?"

"You're dancing on the edge, Lockley. One wrong move, and you'll find yourself in a place you won't enjoy."

You warned, your voice low and laced with a subtle threat in the off chance he did have any malicious thoughts. He was a unpredictable character, despite the many interactions you've had with him. Jake's laughter rumbled, low and deep, sending shivers down your spine.

"I've been on the edge my whole life, Cariño. It's where I operate best."

His words hung in the air, and for a moment, it seemed like the world around you faded away. The charged atmosphere crackled between you two, and neither was willing to back down.

The dimly lit alley provided a secret backdrop to your confrontation. The distant city sounds and the occasional flicker of a neon sign were the only witnesses to what was unfolding. Jake's hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from your face, his touch surprisingly gentle.

"You're playing with fire being here, detective." he whispered, his lips dangerously close to your ear. The warmth of his breath sent a shiver down your spine.

Your heart raced, and for a split second, you forgot the reason you sought him out in the first place. The lines between rivalry and attraction blurred. The charismatic aura surrounding him was magnetic, and undoubtedly, you were drawn in. But perhaps, You could use this to your advantage.

"Maybe I prefer it that way with you." You retorted, your voice betraying a hint of defiance. You could feel the weight of his gaze, assessing, challenging. With a blink of your eye, you notice how close he is to you, your face nearly touching as his gaze bore into yours. It was hypnotizing, even if you were planning to play him entirely, your knees couldn't help but feel a little weak.

In a charged moment, the air crackling with unspoken tension, Jake closed the remaining distance between you. His lips met yours in a kiss that was both unexpected and electric. Time seemed to stand still as the world around you melted away, leaving only the sensation of his lips against yours.

The rhythm between the two of you was picked up almost immediately; led mainly by him, as he quickly dashed at the opportunity to deepen what already existed. Being amused as well as surprised, you allowed your hands to trail up his back with a smile, grazing along the rough fabric of his trench coat. Your hands didn't stick around there for long though, eventually finding it's way up to entangle itself in his astonishingly soft curls, earning a light moan of satisfaction from him.

With just a light push of your body weight onto his, you maneuvered him over to one of the stone walls that sandwiched the two of you in the alley, barely leaving any space for your lips to be left untouched. Back touching the wall in a firm grip, Jake's hands fell from cupping your face to having a rough hold on your waist, pulling you closer to the warm of his body in a mesmeric embrace.

"I didn't know you wanted me this badly, (L/N). Is this why you had me come in so often?"

"Would you believe me if I said no?" "With the way you're acting right now? Of course not." You engulf him in another bombardment of kisses, which he accepts greedily, like a man who's waited years to do this. If anything, It's almost like he wanted to hold you in such a way the moment he set his eyes on you. On second thoughts, Maybe that's why he's been obediently showing up every time he was summoned back at the room. Sly fuck. You separate for the second time, panting as you gently lay your hand on his chest, soaking in all of his perfect features. Amidst all the chaos of the case, the face you've seen almost once every week had way more to offer than you remembered. Whether that was his hooded eyes that loomed over his chocolate colored eyes, or his lips that glistened perfectly as he licked up the rest of your taste from the corners.

Perhaps you were lost a little too much in awe of his features, still breathless but unsure if everything was from the sudden fire of desire in your heart, or the intense make-out you just had with your suspect. "Harrow brought it upon himself." Jake murmured amidst his gasps to catch some air, giving into his temptation of giving you hints.

"What?"

"He's a cult leader."

Your nose crinkles at the information, brows knitting as you sunk in to the realization. Jake looked away for a moment, a clicking of his tongue could be heard as he cursed himself for just.. giving information to a police officer. Khonshu would probably eat his head for this later.

"So.. That means—"

"—The people bothering ya' at the station are his followers, and they're likely looking for me."

You were right, but you couldn't help but feel.. bad? Is that what that was? No, protectiveness, like you suddenly didn't want to give Jake's name away to the persistent visitors. But what if Jake is lying? He's still a conniving character. Maybe this is just justification for he has done. "They're looking for you.. so.. I was right.." "Felicidades, muñeca." ("Congrats, Doll.") Jake spoke with that same grin, but this time, with a clear admiration for your intelligence. It was hard holding back the same grin every time you accused him back at the interrogation room. "You got me."

To be elated or not, was the conflict that clouded your mind right then. This was it. Jake took the opportunity of your realization to swiftly move from under your grasp, knowing that sticking around would only trouble him more. Once again, He needed to disperse into the shadows of the night like the many times he's been completely caught, to go and only return when the dust had settled. Things were not as easy as that this time. Not when you were involved. "Wait." Before he could completely pull away, You held onto his arm, with a surprising amount of strength. With a slight struggle, Jake could've pushed you off and fled, but he didn't, pausing as he stared at you. You had a look that could only be identified as a mischievous plea, like you completely ignored everything he had just revealed. "Stay. I don't want us to be cut short." The male couldn't properly respond to that before you leaped at him once again, crashing your lips onto his with a more deeper passion. Your previous contacts were slow, yet this kiss bought in a new category of roughness that he could definitely get used to. His hands once again latched onto your body, admiring your sides while the same position was restored for a second time. The kisses from Jake were way more messier, his hands and lips trying to cover all of what it can reach in a restricted amount of time. He was hungry, and that's exactly where you wanted him. As he littered your jawline with sloppy pecks, you huffed in the stimulation as you felt his arms fall down and trace along your body. He was distracted in an effort to grasp at your rear, earning a soft grasp that escaped your lip at the sudden contact, which only bought a smirk of achievement in his features. In honest truth, all of Jake's little mannerisms when in almost full control of your body had butterflies fluttering in the pits of your stomach; heart racing while he maintained his pace in just driving you crazy. Though you promised yourself just a moment ago that you wouldn't falter, that pledge was getting way harder to keep with every passing second of indulging in him. On the other hand, Jake was enamored, savoring every sense of you he can get himself hooked on. Perhaps that was why he didn't notice how your hands brushed over his tight grip, pulling it away from the sides of your stomach or how there was mild jingle of something that echoed through the alley amidst their breathless pants of fervor. Click. Or maybe, He didn't notice how something restrained his hands together. No, that's a stretch. Pulling away from a kiss that he could have for an eternity more, his gaze fell the palm of his hands, sweeping down until it spotted the chained collars that strapped the two of his hands together. It didn't really take him long to recognize what it was. "Jake Lockley, You are hereby arrested for the murder of Arthur Harrow." Your cleverness of leaving him so vulnerable to you was undoubtedly smart, but that was an essence of your charm that Jake simply couldn't get enough of.

[scrunckled-idiot]

(chat please it took me so long to figure this out)

So uhhg ughm uh-

I got the idea of A survival tf2 horror game based off this post by @the-sound-of-progress (bbg please you haven’t posed in 8 months ☹)

Like my brain is fucked so I like um i- ghuh just hear my idea out please chat-

So the premise of the game is to steal a randomised amount of randomised weapons (min 10 to 15) scattered around the battlefield in 25 or something minuets while giant medic stalks around. Like the game description would be something like:

“what was going to be just a quick and easy heist of stealing some valuable weapons from that freaky base near your town, turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse. as the bases medic has found an interesting way to defend the base at night. Stay out of sight and evade his clutches as you navigate the abandoned battlefield, collect all weapons, and escape back to your vehicle.”

Or something. Like I kept thinking of game mechanics, unique death animations, and achievements for it to. Damn fucking autism. Like firstly how medic would function based on the images.

Medics mechanics and how to counter them:

medic is giant, which means he’ll be slow, right? Makes sense so you could probably outrun him… as long as your sprint meter doesn’t run out. (refillable with MRE packs). In that case, try and take cover in the nearest building.

You’re still not safe yet if you hide in a building. Either medic will wait until you come out (random chance that he will or not), which you can tell he is or not by listening for his breathing or watching for his shadow. Or he’ll try to reach his hand inside and grab you, counter this by pressing against the wall next to the opening.

If you’re atop of a building, he will try to swipe at you or use his bone saw to slash over the roof. Just go further to the middle of the roof to avoid them or just duck.

If he does manage to grab you, time will slow down and you will have a 5 second window to mash the jump button to “wiggle free” or something.

you can bait him to go somewhere else by using walkie talkies. can only use this trick a minimum amount of times before he learns ts a trick.

tid-bits:

At the end of the game it will tell you the total cost of the weapons you stole was, how long it took you, how many MRE packs you ate, and other cool stuff perhaps.

He will hide behind corners of buildings and jump out at you. No counter to this, just a cool jumpscare while he laughs like a fucking madman.

Some Cool and unique death scenes when you’re caught. depending on range:

Long range: shooting a big-ass needle at you from his crossbow, throwing a boulder at you.

Close range: stomped to death, crushed to death, eaten, getting picked up and thunder-cunted into the stratosphere like a baseball, sliced by his bone saw, getting carried away in a comically sized jar.

Player will restart in the spawn rooms or back at the gate if they die.

You’ll know he’s near when the ground starts quaking.

ending cutscene will either have you successfully drive away after stealing the required amount of weapons, or have medic stomp your car while you try to escape if you don't steal the required amounts of weapons. or a secret ending where he follows you home and kills you since you've seen too much (canon ending). not sure what triggers the endings yet.

THERE IS A TIME LIMIT SO YOU CANT CAMP IT OUT PUSSY!!!

Achievements (shitty names tbh someone come up with something better ong):

An apple a day, keeps the doctor away- don’t die once during the whole run

monk diet- don’t eat a single MRE pack during the whole run.

Wiggly woo- escape medics grasp every time you’re caught.

by the skin of your teeth- escape with the good ending.

midnight snack- get the bad ending

you didn't see anything- get the secret ending

Uhhhh… some other ones I cant think of yet. sorry :(

I wanted to do voice lines as well but I couldn’t do it, felt cringe. He’d mostly just use voice lines from the game anyway. Typical laughter and taunts. And Probably some cool things that im not creative enough to think about. Maybe deaths will also have a zestier variant just to awaken something in someone. But ye, just something I came up with within the span of a day. Now wanting this to be real and not fiction :( maybe some kids doing game design in my collage will bring my idea to life? Idk man no promises.

Thank you for listening to me autistically ramble about my tf2 g/t horror game pitch. that is all.

Well, off to hang myself! Watch and lear-

*gak*

[pricegouge]

That drabble was GREAT I'm imagining bear!bunny huffily leaving a review later on Yelp like "0/5 got a fish thrown at me didn't even let me stay to watch the game before they called animal control and my team lost. But the chicken is really good" and Price reading it and having to sit down because. The fucking bear knows how to type?

Oh my god keyboard karen bunny… 

Takes place directly after this. I used google reviews instead of yelp just cause I have more experience with it 

"Soap, what the hell is this?"

The man looks over lazily from where he's pithing lemon, but straightens up when he sees John's genuinely pissed off face. "What's what, sir?"

John slides his open phone to the man across the bar, recent zero star review on full display. "Very funny but you're fucking with my average. Take it down."

Soap frowns down at the phone, reading over the angry lines of text with a scowl that only deepens with every word. "Ah dinnae write this!"

"Then who did?" 

"Fockin' -," he glances back at the phone, scrolls up until he sees the reviewer's name, "Mama-bear-four-oh-six." John just glares at him, unimpressed. Soap huffs, waves the phone back at his boss. "Cap, ah clearly dinnae write this. None of this is in Scots."

"Shite," John deflates. He takes his phone back with a pat to the other man's shoulder. "You're right, sorry mate. But if you didn't, who did?"

"Si?" Soap sounds just as unconvinced about it as John is. "I dinnae ken. Did ye check the account?"

Of course he did. MamaBear406 was a brand new account as far as he could tell; as close to anonymous as Google allowed. One of the main reasons he'd assumed someone was taking the piss. Well, that and because aside from the three of them, the only creature present for the fish incident had been the bear itself. Herself?

"Must've been Simon," John hedges, just in time for the man in question to come easing through the saloon doors, quiet as a mouse save for the way he read allowed from his phone.

"'Zero out of five stars. A real shame about the service. With its beautiful open store front and kitchen I swear I could smell a mile away, I thought I'd found the perfect new watering 'ole. Boy was I wrong. They threw a fish at me! Didn't even let me stay until the end of the second period before calling authorities on me. So rude. Chicken was good.'" Simon eyes them from under his heavy brow. "Cap, you know what this means?"

"My ratings are now arse?"

"Our Johnny's learned to spell."

"Ye fockin' -!"

"Alright," John cut Soap off sternly. "Was it you, Si?"

"Please." The big man lumbers closer, tabling his phone as he leans across the bar to join their huddle. "If I wanted to ruin your reputation, I'd just stop coming to work."

John sighs, bewildered about their predicament, but believing his mate all the same. Soap, then. Meddling bastard. He hangs his head, catching a glimpse of Simon's phone in the process. "Oh look, we've got a defender." 

Soap leans past Simon's shoulder to read the comment below the review asking MamaBear what she did to deserve such treatment. "Ah know him. Regular. Ah'll 'spill' his first round next time he comes in."

"Good lad," John agrees. At a loss, he pulls his own phone back to himself and taps MamaBear's icon again, hoping to glean something new -.

And frowns in shock when he sees a new comment posted, thirty seconds ago.

"'Was just trying to watch the game!'" he recites.

The other men frown in confusion at him and John simply reaches over, refreshing Simon's page to display MamaBear's responding comment under the other one. Even Simon looks confused, eyes darting to Soap suspiciously. 

"How'd you do that?" he demands, and Soap starts whinging about never being believed or something, but John's not listening. Too busy coming to terms with the fact that he may be the kind of man who's willing to believe a bloody bear wrote a Google review.

next>>

[thepenultimateword]

2023 Writing Wrap

All these lists are based on popularity (number of notes) rather than personal preference. These may be familiar to a lot you, but if any of them are something you missed, I hope you enjoy!

Best Snippets of 2023

I didn't write many snippets this year, it was more a year of prompts, but hopefully this new year will be the year of stories!

Absentminded

Nice to Heal You

Claws and Fangs

Cat and Mouse

Lotus

Sweet as Sugar, Sharp as Fangs

Civil(ian) Marriage

Date or Die Part 10

Sea Foam

Old Bones Part 3

Best Prompts of 2023

This year, I wrote 158 prompts (not counting prompt lists). This is the top ten!

Prompt #165:

“Y-you’re not going to kill me?” Scientist said, barely daring to peek out from under the lab table.

“And splatter that big beautiful brain all over the place?” Villain said with a light tsk. “What an enormous waste.”

Scientist could have done without the imagery, but they edged a little further out of hiding. They clung to the table leg, cheek pressed hard enough against the head of a rogue screw to leave a little indent in their skin.

“Then what do want?”

“You. By my side. Doing whatever mad, twisted thing that gorgeous head of yours can think up.”

2. Prompt #148:

“Happy anniversary my love,” the god said, shoving the thief to their knees with little more than a light tap in the center of their spine.

With their hands bound, their balance tipped them too far forward and they landed roughly on their shoulder, a hiss of pain escaping past their gag.

“A mortal?” the other god gasped. “How incredibly thoughtful!”

“It entered my temple in attempts to steal my offerings. I took it as an offering in itself. After all, no mortal would actually believe they could steal from a deity, would they?”

The god’s eyes flashed in the thief’s direction and they shrank against the floor.

It was supposed to be easy! Temples didn’t have guards, so it should have been in and out with no opposition. The gods weren’t supposed to be real!

“[Prelate]!” the second god chimed crisply, summoning a previously unseen servant from the shadows and to their side. “You know what to do. Give it whatever it is mortals need to stay alive.”

3. Prompt #139:

“Why would you help me?”

“I have a weakness for little cute things.”

4. Prompt #217:

Supervillain slowly circled Hero's bound figure.

"Poor little Hero. All alone and no one to turn to. Abandoned by your team, kicked out of the agency..." Supervillain leaned in, the corner of their lip curled back in a wolfish smile. Hero's eyes widened. "What's your next mo--"

Hero surged up and kissed them.

Quick. Warm. Chaste.

Supervillain stumbled back, ears burning. "W-what..." They clapped both hands over their mouth, exclaiming muffled, "What are you doing?"

Hero cocked their head. "You leaned in. Weren't we leading up to the 'join me and I'll give you unimaginable power' speech anyway? I'm just speeding it up a little."

5. Prompt #175:

“Yeees,” Supervillain squealed from the couch, kicking their legs a little before flopping more comfortably onto their side. “Kiss kiss fall in love!”

Superhero lowered their mug to the kitchen table and stared. “What are you reading?”

Supervillain jolted as if just noticing Superhero in the room. Their face flushed, and they clutched their tablet screen-first to their chest. “Nothing. Just a cute fanfiction.”

“Oh?” Superhero rose from their seat and sauntered across the room. “Can I see?”

“No.”

No hesitation. Not even a stutter. The look growing in their eyes became less embarrassed and more feral, like a wildcat ready to defend its territory.

For a moment Superhero could only stare, mouth gaping. “Why not?”

“Because I’m evil. You can’t expect me to share.”

“Come on.” Hero closed in, kneeling on the couch cushions and leaning over Supervillain’s sprawled body. “Just a peek.”

Supervillain rolled on their stomach. “No. No! Stop that! I said no!”

Superhero tickled at the criminal’s sides and neck until they thrashed, tablet thrust involuntarily into the air. Superhero swiftly plucked it from their fingers, plopping down beside them to scan the open page.

“Is this fanfiction…about us?”

Supervillain went beet red. “It’s a good one!”

6. Prompt #140

“Don’t.”

The human froze, wobbling on one foot in front of the control panel. “What?”

“Touch anything,” the alien replied with a low growl, flashing their teeth long enough to show off all 8 extended canines .

The human gave a little scoff but backed up against the ship wall anyway. “From one predator species to another, you’re not that scary.”

7. Prompt #182:

Medic tried not writhe as the the villain finished stitching the gash between their shoulder blades.

“Hush,” the villain said, breaking the thread with their teeth. “It’s all ok.”

It was not. They’d just been attacked and left for dead by their own leader in the middle of a job. They were confused, weak, sticky with blood, and at the mercy of a dangerous criminal. They didn’t even understand why the villain stopped for them instead of continuing their pursuit of the field team. But here Medic was, frozen on the bathroom floor of deadly stranger, hands designed to hurt patching a wound made by hands designed to help.

Medic choked on an unexpected sob.

Hesitant fingers rubbed their back, careful not to come anywhere near the new stitches. How strange to be on the other end of the needle.

“They’ll pay,” Villain soothed and for a moment, Medic hoped it might be true.

8. Prompt #159:

Supervillain hadn’t seen Scientist in months.

After that hero raid on the base, they’d simply disappeared. And no amount of looking had done any good. It hadn’t been hard to guess what had happened; trying not to think about it was another story.

Now here they were. Thin, scraggly, and hollow eyed on their door step. Looking like they might be toppled by light wind.

Supervillain scanned them up and down before opening the door wider. “Have you eaten?”

9. Prompt #181:

“You’re so…” Supervillain trailed, scanning their partner in crime up and down.

“Reliable?” Villain urged eagerly. “Talented? Devilishly attractive?

“…domestic.”

Villain slammed the pan of mini quiches on the stove and flung their oven mitts one at a time at Supervillain’s face. “Well, you weren’t complaining when I packed your lunch last week!”

10. Prompt #184:

Villain blinked at the doll-sized hero on their tabletop, needle brandished like a sword in front of them.

“So is it a shrinking power or…”

“Shut your mouth before I cut you from throat to navel,” the hero said. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll prostrate yourself in surrender now, hands behind your head.”

Villain blinked again, then turned on their heel for the kitchen.

“Where you going, villain? Are you so cowardly as to retreat after a mere glimpse at your doombringer?

“I’m getting a jar.”

[onedaughterofman]

Writing sessions #4 (Part II) (Papa Emeritus II x g/n reader)

Summary: The hot stranger is back at the nightclub. He leads you to the back alley, and you let him be the boss. Tags/Warnings: +18, sexual content, oral sex. Smoking and drinking. Secondo being all dark and handsome. A/N: Based on @piaart Secondo fanart. This was meant to be in the first part, but I didn't have time to finish it so I had to divide it.

PART I

He’s back.

The hot stranger.

Well, you’re unsure if you can call someone who fucked you into oblivion a stranger anymore. He’s sitting at his usual table, green satin shirt glistening under the bright colored lights. His cold, calculating eyes scan the nightclub, burying into your figure when he finally spots you near the bar counter.

Under the fierce intensity of his unwavering gaze, you feel the blood run cold in your veins. Swallowing doesn’t help, because your mouth is dry and the air is too hot.

Tonight was such a calm, quiet night. And now, Secondo is here to ruin it.

Secondo. If that’s his real name or not, you don’t care. That’s what he told you to scream out, that night some weeks ago. Then, he completely disappeared. Until tonight.

“You got fire?”

There’s a glint of mischief in his small pupils. An unlit cigarette hangs loosely from his painted lips, black and white framing his face. You’re not sure when he stood up and walked the distance separating the two of you, but now he’s close. So close, you can see the wrinkles on his skin, smell the strong perfume he’s wearing.

Blindly, you reach into the apron. The lighter is cold between your fingers, burning in your already feverish skin. Secondo’s touch lingers on your hand for a bit too long before he takes it, immediately pocketing in his blazer. The upper buttons of his dress shirt are open, giving you a generous view of his chest and the dark hair that grows there.

“If you need it back, come and get it.”

He’s gone before you can protest. Again, there’s something dark coating his pupils, some fire deep within them. A game, he’s playing a game of cat and mouse, and at this point you’re not sure if you are ready for it.

If you follow him outside the bar, he’ll pounce on you like a wild beast.

You step out. The cold air hits the bare skin of your arms, sending shivers down your spine. It’s dark in the back alley, terribly so, and the only light comes from a lonely fluorescent lamp. That and the lit tip of his cigarette.

“So soon?” Secondo asks, through his teeth. His voice is a low rumble, muffled. “You’re really desperate, certo?”

No words come out of you. Of course, you want to play along, to flirt, to defend yourself or whatever, but he’s right. You’re desperate, yearning for anything he may offer. He’s bad, you know it. Terribly so, but he tastes like alcohol and cigarettes, like heaven on earth.

“Come here,” he calls, back falling on the wall. He lets out a huff as his body hits the cold surface, dark eyes glued to your face. Without permission, your legs move. “Do you want this?”

The cigarette fits well between your parted lips. Secondo’s thumb lingers for a moment on your lower lip, gaze heavy and full of lust. There’s fire in his eyes, just like the one that has ignited in your guts. “Good,” he whispers, leaning even closer. The last blow of smoke hits your skin, filling your lungs. “So good.”

It doesn’t take long for the cigarette to fall on the ground. He’s on you, demanding, not waiting for any answer. He already knows what you want, what you crave from him. Those big, strong hands close on you, one on your waist, another on your neck.

Fuck. No, this man is no heaven. He tastes like temptation, like damnation. You know this is wrong, but the liquor on his lips is intoxicating. No matter how strong you try to be, it’s a lost cause. He’s the boss, tonight and any time he wants.

The air is frigid when he parts away, palm moving from your neck to press over your cheek. If the gesture is meant to be comforting, it feels like anything but it. Under his stare, you feel small, a prey about to be devoured. “What am I going to do with you?” He muses, voice barely a grunt. “I have some ideas.”

A nod is all you give. His hand is heavy on your shoulder when he pushes you down, lower and lower, as you let him. You need him, as you never needed anyone else. He tastes bittersweet, like alcohol and nicotine. Addictive, intoxicating, so forbidden. The black and wait paint on his face glistens under the artificial light, shadows hugging his cheekbones.

On your knees in front of him, this man towers almost like a god. No, not a god. He’s something else, something wicked and evil, a presence that burns like fire and hypnotizes you to the very core.

This man is sick, he’s as close as you ever be to the darkness and raw sin. You like that, a lot. At this point, you could drown in anything he offers, in the mere aftertaste of liquor from his tongue. The heat pools on your stomach, swirls around your guts and between your legs.

A dangerous glint fills his mismatches eyes again. You see it clearly when he tilts your head to get a good look at you, damp skin bright under the pale light. The night clings to your hair and clothes and the ground is sticky under your knees, but you don’t care.

Secondo only stares for a long moment, taking in the sight of you. He’s big, all sharp edges and a bit of muscle under his skin. You want all of it, fantasize about wrapping your legs around his waist and keeping him close.

Blindly, your hands search for his belt. He slaps it away, holds your wrist over your head. “No, none of that,” his tongue clicks.“Let me enjoy the view first, si?”

Slowly, his hand lifts your chin. You let him maneuver to his liking, thumb caressing your lips. You open your mouth, let your tongue out to lick at his skin. Secondo’s eyes are obscure, dark pits of lust and desire. His free hand reaches for his belt, undoes it with natural ease.

When he said he wanted to enjoy the view, he meant it. This man works on himself slowly, teasing you with a smirk on his lips. Your fingers curl and uncurl, practically fighting the need to beg for him to let you pleasure him. You desire to feel his length on your mouth, to taste him on your tongue.

He listens to your prayers, so generous. When he finally allows you to suck him, there’s a wide smile on his face, a gesture that will haunt your mind for nights and nights.

You were right to distrust him. Secondo seems cold, calm, collected, but he is also wild, feral, a beast. It is too hard to breathe when he is pouncing on you, when one of his hands holds the back of your head as the other closes on your neck. Your nose is against his hips, making it so hard to inhale fresh air.

Craving oxygen, you choke and drool on him. The material of his pants is rough under your fingertips as you hold onto it for dear life. He lets out a grunt when your nails dig too hard, leaving marks behind.

Eyes rolling, you do your best to focus on his face. There it is again, that dangerous glint in his pupils, that heavy and dark gaze that makes you shiver. Your throat vibrates when you moan, making him pant out loud as he curses something in Italian under his breath.

Fuck, you could drown on him. You like him, like him a lot, and never want him to stop. And he doesn’t. His thrusts become faster, more rough. Secondo increases the speed to the point you’re staying in place by nothing but sheer wild, clinging to his thighs. As much as he likes playing it cool, he’s wild and you know he’s going to lose it soon.

When he crashes on you, it’s hard to take all he gives. He’s pouring everything on you, down your throat, on your face, hair and even clothes. Shit, you are a mess, a big one. And yet, he looks at you with half lidded eyes and a profound, soft gaze, as if you were a masterpiece in a museum and him the proud painter.

“Let’s do this again,” Secondo whispers, hands holding your arms as you rise. Your knees complain about the harsh ground, and there’s dirt all over your pants. “Somewhere nicer, maybe.”

He leaves not too long after. A part of you misses him instantly, and you wonder if he misses you too. He’s got a bleeding heart, you think. A romantic man at heart, he’s someone who tries hard not to get too attached. Maybe it’s for the best.

Still, your eyes catch the half consumed cigarette abandoned on the floor, a ring of black and white paint printed on it. You bend down, pick it, keep it in your pocket as a souvenir. Smiling softly, you realize he never gave the lighter back.

Well, it doesn’t matter. You’ll have to go get it, another time.

Ps: I want to thank Lana del Rey. Without her, this wouldn't have been possible. "You can be the boss, daddy," she said, and I saw the light.

[phantomoftheorpheum]

In my opinion, there were plot holes in the season that are really off-putting. But I also think the writers were just really unwise about their narrative time. With 2 episodes less than the first season, they did not balance their characters and storylines well.

I’m flabbergasted about the amount of time that was spent on the love triangle (I refuse to waste anymore brain power complaining about.. all of that). We could have had less of that in favor of:

- Giving Mouse a real storyline > making Ash more prominent, giving her grandmother an actual purpose or just cutting the character all together.

- Showing us the character development that they only tell us Greg has gone through.

- Follow through with Imogen’s mental health, hallucinations scares, and concerns for her child’s safety that were only relevant in the first half of the season.

- Make redemption house even more sinister and/or show characters like Kelly, Henry, or Greg noticing everyone around them becoming obsessed with Spooky Spaghetti. It would’ve been so easy to permanently write out Henry by making him one of Wes’/BR’s followers but of course they didn’t do that.

- Show at least a little bit of conflict between Mrs Langsberry and Tabby’s mom - opposing mothers defending the reputation of their children. Although I will say, this might have made it too obvious.

- Maybe even including more conflict by not waiting until the last episode to finally accuse each others partners.

Just some thoughts :P

I agree! I think the biggest issue with this season was the reduced runtime (I don't know if that was at all due to the writer's strike, but I hope they get an absolute minimum of 10 episodes if they do a third season), and the mismanagement of the time that they did have.

To address some of your points specifically- I also felt Mouse was super sidelined this season (yes, she is technically the person most intent on solving the mystery, but she's basically just around to info-dump at everyone else, not have any personal growth), and Ash was barely present. I was particularly disappointed by this, because I knew the actor's billing had been upgraded, so I thought we'd get noticeably more Ash.

Greg's redemption arc, if you can really call it that, since it seemed to skip the crucial "oh, he's questioning his ways and changing" part felt super rushed (as did Kelly's turn from 2x06-2x08). I think they did film more of it (since we know of some cut stuff), but since it didn't make it to the screen, it felt very strange that Faran suddenly liked Greg (I'm not saying they played it like she's in love with him or anything, but I feel like they skipped the middle bit between "he annoys the hell out of her and she really dislikes him" to "he's apologized and now they're hooking up,"). It was just too fast.

I definitely expected Imogen's mental health to ultimately play a bigger role than it did, considering how much time they spent on it.

It is hard to believe Mrs. Beasley, Pastor Malachi, Kelly, Greg, (and presumably Henry, since they never reveal him as an antagonist) didn't notice that there was an entire additional cult in their cult.

The scene where all the girls started bickering about their SOs was one of my favorites from the finale. It felt so realistic that they wouldn't all just be on board with these new people they don't know at all (and most of them didn't interact with the new love interests that weren't their own almost at all) and assume they're all great. It was refreshing to see the girls disagree and take a few jabs at each other, because while I love them supporting each other, those moments of coming together feel like they mean less when they're all just always on the same page.

As a writer and creator myself, I understand that it is much easier to criticize than it is to create, but one of the big advantages of collaboration is that theoretically you have a lot of people looking at your work with a critical and constructive eye and shaping the story into the best version of itself. This season felt like it really could have used some editing and refining (in the writing process, before you even get to the film editing) to streamline the storylines and not get too bogged down in areas that don't pay off.

To leave things on a high note- I really did have fun watching the show this season & trying to puzzle things out. I just feel there were some pretty glaring flaws, as well.

[slocumjoe]

what companions would be furries (+ what kind of animal they'd be)

Cait; Incredible trauma. Substance abuse. Questionable employment. This woman already is a furry in canon, Todd just didn't think it relevant to bring up. Not quite hardcore, but not a casual either. She has art and goes to conventions, but she's not getting a suit. There are a lot of good choices for a fursona, but I'm leaning towards a wolverine. They're small and they're fucking terrifying. Those bitches kill bears. They weigh about 30 lbs, give or take. Y'know what else is 30 lbs, give or take? A COCKER SPANIEL. Huge Cait energy.

Codsworth; Would not be a furry, but would find it endearing. Y'know, the same reaction an adult has as a child talks about their wolf roleplay during recess? "I am very confused but at least you have friends and fun, tell me more!" Robot Codsworth's fursona is an octopus, and a synth/human Codsy is a bird. Like...maybe an owl, or something similarly rounded/soft in shape. Think Owl from Winnie the Pooh.

Curie; She's a furry, not a Furry. She's not going to any conventions, and probably isn't drawing her fursona or commissioning art. Its likely she uses it to, like, educate children, like as a mascot for her clinic or something. Same situation as Codsy, two fursonas for her two different bodies. The synth body, that there is a mouse. Cute and very important to scientific discoveries, despite being often disregarded and more often, abused in the field. The Ms. Nanny bot fursona is a blue-ringed octopus, specifically.

Danse; Not a furry. Would find it very strange if it was explained to him, and would assume it was something kids do. Would be visibly disturbed if explained that, no, this is actually more of a teen-to-adult space. If he looks it up later and finds Certain Things, you will be receiving the bill for his next anti-depressants. However, entirely possible he is a closeted furry and has yet to realize this about himself. I'm leaning toward a bull? Bull-headed, obviously, but also, down to earth, reliable, et cetera...it fits his character.

Deacon; KING OF THE FURRIES. Has multiple fursuits, all homemade. Commissions every artist he can find, every Twitter furry artist has him on their waitlist. Does not half-ass his furriness. This man is the furry you only hear about, the one with all the art and custom costumes and all the money to throw at his hobby. His fursonas are plentiful and ever changing, but his favorite one? A chameleon, with holographic, reflective, ever-changing scales.

Gage; would not be a furry. Well aware of what it is due to exposure to Mason. Wouldn't have been into it even if his introduction wasn't him and his crew. He gets the idea, it's just that the idea is weird as fuck. He's a grown man and he has people to scam and/or murder. Obviously, Gage would be an iguana. They have a ridge and a naturally gruff, bored expression. And the skin texture is about the same, too.

Hancock; another casual furry. Its likely he was introduced to it and brought in by someone else, and just kinda stuck around. There are two options as to what he'd be. 1; a sphinx cat. He's lanky, the skin matches, he has some kitty-like traits. The big eyes are a huge part here. 2; sloth. He's a very chill dude, he's always high (sloths getting high is currently contested but the demeanor fits) and despite being very small and not outwardly threatening, is very capable of fucking you up (sloths will use their MASSIVE FUCKING CLAWS for defense).

MacCready; Is a furry. His fursona is a weasel. This is so obvious i don't feel the need to defend or explain this. Look at him. He's a furry. The only interesting thing to say here is that Duncan would also grow up to be a furry. But Mac? He would be a hardcore furry if he had the money. Funds keep him a casual fan. If he did...would be worse than Deacon.

Nick; A first-gen furry. An elder furry. The very old man at the con who sees that you're lost and confused but trying very hard, with your furry 2008 emo paw gloves and your cat ear headband and painted on whiskers, and shows you around. Takes you under his wing (literally, as his fursona is a raven, obvi) and introduces you to various artists, suitmakers, other furries your age he'd think you'd get along with...this community would be in shambles without people like him. He's been here since the beginning and has seen it all, truly.

Piper; dabbled, couldn't get into it. She'd be a passersby, a visitor of a con but not a participator. Interested in the art of furrydom, the actual art and the suits, but as an outside observer. If Piper were an animal...a ferret, a squirrel, a possum, some kind of street-smart rodent. Something clever and tricky, that's always where its not supposed to be. For a wildcard, I could also see her as a bat of some kind.

Preston; not a furry and completely neutral to it. It doesn't interest him, but he doesn't find it weird, either. It's people LARPing as animals, people have been doing that ever since they evolved from animals. He gets it, he really does. Preston would like nothing more than to be a cat that does nothing but sleep and yell for attention. The cat life is peak existence for him. It's just that Preston is very literal, and the furry thing is more exaggerated. He doesn't want cat ears. He wants to not be a human anymore, please for the love of god—

X6-88; furry. A secret, dignified furry. A pretensious one. A gatekeepy one. This furry judges you if you don't have a suit. He has one. He doesn't wear it, it cost more than some houses, it stays in a glass case like a taxidermied trophy hunt. X6-88 is a furry. His fursona? A Doberman, because they were bred to protect asshole tax collectors, which fits with X6 being a courser. Tall, all sharp edges, an arresting glare, and very loyal and hardworking.

[pinkrelish]

Prev anon here! You’ve done a great job in keeping reader non specific. I think part of the reason it resonates is because you’ve done a great job at keeping her relatable to so many people, which is not an easy feat. And I know this is a tricky topic(but an important one) but I do see the effort you put it and it’s def appreciated.

And you SHOULD rb all the amazing fan art that’s been made!! Every single one has been so so lovely!! And it’s lovely that people are inspired to make such art. It’s certainly not in your control how others want to depict anyone.

On that note, Idk where the line is in “we’re all just individuals making things!” And “wow somehow so much of the fanart within the fandom is white-centric” there is no easy answer, and it’s not one persons issue to shoulder or even address, but there’s certainly an awareness that can be had around it.

thank you for coming back! i realized after reading over my last response that i talked a lot about myself, and my fic, because i wasn't sure how to react to TYP specifically spawning this larger conversation, and didn't mean to put the sole focus on myself.

i've only contributed to one fandom before this and it was OC heavy, so the idea of people drawing reader inserts—who should be written as vague—is new to me. i've seen three other pieces of fanart for other writer's RI stories, and in two of them the skin tone was left blank and the head was cut off so no hair style could be depicted, and in the third it was chosen to be a white RI.

and even though i haven't been in a fandom as large as this, media in general leans, favors, and worships skinny white women as the ideal, and it's sadly not surprising when i scroll past header after header on fics that exemplify this. do i think writers do this maliciously? no. that's why i reach out in private with the intent to educate. do i also think poc have made RI art, written RI stories, and don't get as much engagement, and have received racist anons saying their art is not inclusive, and made to feel unwelcomed? absolutely. not even a question.

not too long ago when a big blog was pointed out for having an extremely white-coded fic, their response was to double down, call the poc trying to educate them "aggressive", and ultimately ignore them, and acted obtuse about the issue when all they asked for, at minimum, was for the fic to having a warning at the top.

and how many stories on here *don't* have warnings, but have multiple word choices indicating how pale the reader is? ....many. again, i'd wager most white writers aren't even conscious of these decisions until pointed out, but, yeah, poc have spoken up in the eddie munson x reader tag many times about getting part way through a story only to read something white-coded, and get thrown out of the immersion.

i'm not sure how to address the fanart with TYP specifically, and artists choosing to insert themselves, or representing themselves by choosing a skin tone close to their own to give miss mouse, other than to say i hope i'm making this blog a comfortable space for anyone to contribute art if they feel inspired and have the time, and know that i will defend anyone's interpretation because, in essence, she exists as a vehicle to tell a story about eddie finding love. i would love to see more representation for her so everyone can picture themselves in the story.

i'm clearly not an eloquent speaker, but i wanted to answer this with the audience i have, and as you said in the ask, bring awareness to an issue that exists in all fandoms, and is much larger than my story or fanart for my story, and is more about poc not feeling comfortable contributing, or even existing, in fandom spaces.

[writing-oof]

PJO Exchange Extras - Part Four

[TW: Kidnapping, Misunderstanding, Prophecy]

[luke castellan, kidnapping a literal seven year old as a literal fourteen year old: this is my only option

twelve year old thalia grace with a steel chair: you sure about that?]

---

"You kidnapped me."

"Yeah."

"You tried to kill me."

Luke swallows roughly. "Yeah."

The water drip, drip, drips out of the leaky pipe, splatting on the concrete like rain.

Percy sniffles, his bright green eyes wide and teary. *"Why?"*

"You were gonna kill *me!"* Luke defends, but it sounds a lot less reasonable when Percy's looking at him like that, curled up in a ball and whining like a kicked puppy. He's also like three feet tall, which definitely doesn't help.

"I was *not!"* Percy argues, his tiny hands balling into angry fists. "I wouldn't kill my friends, even if you *are* a stinky jerk!"

Luke scowls. "I'm not your friend," he spits like a venous snake, like a pit scorpion.

It's effective, if the immediate onflow of tears means anything. Percy shakes and shudders, going from a few stray tears to downright sobbing into his knees. Luke feels his mouth go dry, as the position they're in really sinks in.

He just kidnapped a kid, a kid who grows up to have mind control powers strong enough to get him to *stab* himself to death, if his visions are right.

---

Luke makes sure to stand far away enough that Percy couldn't even hit him if he wanted to, just in case, his face totally flat.

"Why would I be your friend?" Luke asks, a little curious. It's the one thing he hasn't been able to figure out. Maybe that's what the mind control powers are for? Maybe Percy just wants people to be his friends and then, once they are, he makes them kill themselves for him.

He's heard of gods doing crazier things for stupider reasons, and he doesn't doubt that demigods could be just as powerful and derranged. Even ones as little as Percy.

"What?" Percy asks bitterly, scowling up at Luke from where he's curled up in the corner of the mattress.

"Earlier, when we were fighting," Luke says, trying to stay casual and scary sounding. Scary sounding for a kidnapper, at least. "You said you wouldn't try to kill me because I was your friend."

"I was wrong," Percy snaps, but he really sounds more like a whiny little kid than a powerful demigod. "You're not my friend! You're just an jackass."

"Seven year olds can't say jackass," Luke says automatically, though he has no idea why. He doesn't think he's ever even talked to a seven year old before Percy, let alone one he'd tell not to say 'jackass.'

"They can too!" Percy says, scowling harder. Then, shouting so loud Luke flinches back, "Jackass! Jackass! Jackass, jackass, jackass!"

"Stop it!" Luke shouts, his heart thrumming to life and his hands shaking a bit at his sides, but Percy just gets louder.

"Luke's a jackass!" Percy shouts, standing up now and waving his free hand at Luke in wild gestures, his other wrist straining against chain tying him to the pipes. "Luke's a big ugly jackass!"

"Cut it out!" Luke screams, taking an angry step forward.

Percy flinches back, his mouth snapping shut like a mouse trap, and the room is eerily quiet save for their laboured breathing.

---

"What?" Thalia asks, her face twising like she's bitten into a lemon. "Percy didn't kill you."

"No, I know," Luke says bitterly, "I killed myself *for* him."

"Well, mostly I think it was to stop Kronos from taking over the world," Thalia says with a laugh. Luke frowns, the name like blood between his teeth.

"Kronos doesn't want to take over the world," Luke protests immediately and Thalia suddenly goes very, very still.

"Luke," she asks, her face flat and careful, "where's Percy?"

[mydisenchantedeulogy]

Blue Jeans [Chapter Six] Fission [Ace Merrill]

Warning(s): family drama, horror movie lore, OC, 21 questions, first kiss.

No Minors Allowed!!

The malty scent of fresh warm bread permeated the air as Elise rose out of bed on Saturday morning. She groaned in discomfort, feeling sore, and trudged down the stairs to the kitchen where Nana stood, looming over the stove. 

“Morning,” Elise somnolently said, holding back a yawn. 

“I didn't expect to see up til noon,” Nana admitted. “Not after Nan ran you about damn near ragged.” 

It wasn't her fault. 

“Comes with the job sometimes,” Elise stated as she sat down at the table. 

Nana snorted. “You sound like your father.” 

Speaking of which. Elise smiled widely. She felt like she had been given a second wind. 

“Is Dad awake?”

“He came down a few minutes ago, but went back up to wake the dragon,” Nana replied. She was referring to Madeline. “I told him to let you sleep for a bit longer, but since you're awake now, you should go on and freshen up before breakfast.”

Elise nodded and stood up, hurrying up the stairs. Before she reached the bathroom, she heard the muffled voice of her mother through the bedroom door. She sounded irritated. As often as she had been told not to eavesdrop, that it was rude, she could not pass up the temptation. 

Silent as a mouse, Elise listened in. 

“I have had all I can take of that woman. She's insufferable,” Madeline caterwauled. 

“You know Mom, hon. She's just…blunt,” Oliver defended. 

Elise tightened her jaw. They were talking about Nana. 

“Blunt is an understatement,” Madeline fumed. “She has been givin’ me nothing but shit since I got here. Look, I know I fucked up but I don't need it to be thrown in my face every time we make eye contact. My daughter won't even come to my defense.”

A low noise like a sigh came from Oliver. 

“You can't blame Elise for not saying anything. She…she needs time too. I'll talk to her about it, and I'll ask Mom to lighten up on you.” 

“I'd fucking appreciate it,” Madeline retorted. 

Elise turned up her eyes. Was he serious? He took so much crap from her; it was him after all who should feel the most betrayed by her. She gave up on the conversation and walked into the bathroom, shutting the door a bit harder than she meant to. As she was washing her face, she heard the bedroom door open, and then close. Assuming that her parents were headed down to breakfast, she quickly finished and hurried downstairs herself, but all she saw seated at the table was her father, the spitting image of an overworked Public Defender. 

Oliver looked defeated. His blue eyes, accented by a pair of round acetate reading glasses, were dull and half-lidded as though he had not slept in a week. But upon seeing Elise in the doorway, he forced a smile. 

“Mornin’, Sunshine. I heard you worked hard last night.” 

Elise hummed. 

“I got a job at the diner in town.” 

She was sure he knew that already, but she had nothing else to say about it. Venting to him about her issues, when he had his own, seemed insignificant. Elise tightened her jaw and sat down at the table across from him. 

“I also heard you had a date planned,” he brought up with a teasing smile. “A week in Castle Rock and already I have to shoo people off the front porch looking to woo you.” 

It was only one person. Elise pouted and tossed a glare at Nana who most likely told him. 

“He was just being nice,” she deflected. “We were supposed to go to the drive-in with his friends, but I agreed to work a double.”

She opted not to mention that a jealous ex of his played her like a fool, or that Ace drove her home last night after her shift. 

“And see what?” Asked Oliver with a raised brow. 

“A science fiction horror flick; The Cabinet of Caligari,” Elise answered with a grin.

Her dad was a big-time horror movie fan, even more than her; he was the one who introduced her to the genre with “The Monkey's Paw”.

“That movie Roger Kay directed?” Oliver chirped. 

Elise was not sure who directed it, but it was no surprise that her dad did. She shook her head. 

“Estelle Winwood's torture scene from the trailer looked groovy, right?” Oliver asked. 

Before Elise could answer, Nana tutted him. 

“No nasty talk before breakfast.” She brought a loaf of fresh bread over to the table. “I don't know how you two can watch those scary movies. They're too much for me.” 

Elise smiled. She liked the genre because it explored the unknown and the absurd. Creature features and slasher films were her favorite, but she understood Nana's dislike for them. Not everyone liked to feel scared. 

With breakfast being done, Elise made herself a plate and sat back down at the table to eat. Her father and Nana joined her, but her mother did not seem to be coming down. She was neither thrilled nor disappointed.

“What do you plan to get into today, Sunshine?” Oliver asked.

Elise swallowed a bite of bread with strawberry jam. 

“I'm going out later this evening with a friend.”

Nana raised a brow. “Mister Hunk again, huh?”

The blonde felt her face turn red. She ignored the curious look from her dad and nodded. 

“He's just a friend.”

Nana hummed, obviously not buying it. 

“I haven't met this ‘friend’ yet,” Oliver pointed out. “Is he picking you up later?”

“I'm meeting him at the pool hall,” Elise responded. She was happy that she asked Ace not to come by the house. It would be awkward. “I thought I would spend the morning here though.”

She was deflecting the conversation away from her, which seemed to work. Oliver snorted. 

“Groovy. I thought we could go see that movie before your big date.”

Was he serious? Elise ignored the obvious jest he made toward her and grinned. 

“Cool.”

–

After the movie, Elise was in a sour mood. It was not the film that deflated her - it was as campy and fun as she had imagined - but what happened after the theater in South Paris let out.

She was already on edge, finding out that shortly before they were meant to leave, Oliver asked Madeline to go with them.

Grin and bear it, hon. Grin and bear it. Advised Nana, seeing them off at the door.

Elise did her best. She tolerated the car ride; the awkward and silent tension. She even tolerated sitting between her parents at the theater, overhearing her mother sigh in disapproval every time something was said or done in an over-dramatic fashion that did not entertain her. That was tolerable. What happened next, though, pushed her over the line.

The car ride back was as quiet as it was on the 18-mile drive to South Paris. Elise stared out the window in boredom until her father broke the silence; she almost wished that he hadn't. 

“What was your favorite part about the movie, Sunshine?”

Elise grinned. 

“It's hard to say. I liked the corridor scene.” 

Madeline snorted. 

“That was ridiculous. I mean, was it even necessary to the movie?”

“It was a transition scene,” Oliver explained. “Not everything is straight forward in movies, dear."

No kidding, Madeline thought.

“I would have rather stayed at your mother's house and watched Breakfast at Tiffany's. That Paul Varjak is a hunk.”

So was Mr. Holbrook at the Derry Town Dump. It was not because of his money that she had an affair with him. Elise snorted an action that did not go unnoticed. She didn't realize that her mom had seen her and had given Oliver the ‘talk to your daughter’ look until he spoke up.

“I know this move hasn't been easy, Sunshine, but we came here to start anew. I think it's time we became a family again.”

Elise narrowed her eyes. She was not an outspoken person when it came to matters that irritated her. A time when she was a senior attending Derry High was a good example of her laid-back nature. Caroline Rourke, a mirror warmer was sore about her also being nominated to represent the drama department in the Homecoming parade.

Do you even own a dress? She asked, cornering her in the hall after class. 

Elise was furious, but in the end, neither of them won. The vote went to Ella Thurber, someone who deserved it more; someone who ate, slept, and breathed Drama Class. She could have been a bitch, she could have stooped to Caroline's level like a chided five-year-old, but it wasn't in her nature to lash at someone. 

Oliver Kensington's ‘turn the other cheek’ statement pushed her over the edge.

“A happy family,” Elise restated in disbelief. “We stopped being a happy family when Madeline decided we weren't good enough for her.”

“Elise Josephine, you know that isn't true,” Oliver argued.

He did not raise his voice, nor did he scold her, but he used her name. Elise Josephine. It was always Sunshine, never Elise Josephine unless she upset him. But why? Did the truth unnerve him? More than the lie he was asking her to commit to.

A stiff apology is a second insult... The injured party does not want to be compensated because he has been wronged; he wants to be healed because he has been hurt. G.K. Chesterton said this. She felt comfort in it.

“It is though. You know it, Dad. Just because you want to go on pretending like it isn't bothering you, doesn't mean I have to,” Elise stated. “Somebody should be mad - it might as well be me.”

Madeline did not say a word. Her shoulders were tense. Her face was red like a child about ready to have a tantrum, but she did not say a word. The rest of the trip home was as silent as the grave. 

When it came time for her to meet up with Ace, Elise did not even utter a word to the Kensington family as she stormed out the front door and down Willow Street toward the pool hall. 

By the time she arrived, she recognized Ace's Ford Classic in the nearby lot and stopped outside Irby's to take a deep and uneasy breath. Her heart was racing, partially because of the walk and partially because of the heated back-and-forth argument she had with herself on the way. It felt like there was an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other. 

You should apologize, Angel Elise insisted. A proper lady should not act like a scorned child. Forgive and forget.

Fuck that, Devil Elise snorted. You thought it yourself; somebody has to be mad.

In the end, she just chose to ignore them both. She would deal with it later. Like Ace had said, the rest of the day, you'll be mine. Elise intended to make good on his statement. It was the least she could do. 

Patting her warm face, she walked into the pool hall. There was a crowd of adults and teenagers alike, roaming around. It reminded her of the first time she walked in, only this time, there was no Eyeball or Charlie. There was only her and Ace. The latter, she saw, was looming over a pool table, dressed in a tight-fitting black shirt and jeans. 

He did not seem to notice her as she approached, watching him a moment as he took a shot, sinking a striped 11 ball into the center-left pocket. Elise clapped.

“Wow! It's hard to believe you lost that one time.”

Ace peeked over his shoulder and grinned. 

“Can't win ‘em all.” 

She knew he was lying. He could have one. It mattered not, at least not anymore. 

“Have you been here long?” Elise asked. 

She felt a little bad if he had, but fortunately, Ace shook his head. 

“What matters is you came,” he stated. He offered her the cue in his hand. “Wanna play with me?” 

Elise narrowed her eyes. “You know I'm no good.” 

She said the same thing when he first met her too.

“I'll make it more interesting for you,” Ace proposed. “If you win, I'll do whatever you want, and vice versa.” 

“Within reason, right?” Elise pressed.

Ace grinned, then nodded. He positioned the billiard balls in the rack, then took a step back, setting the triangle aside. 

“Cue up.”

“You can break,” Elise interjected. She was not confident in her ability to do so. 

Ace wet his lips, then positioned the cue and took the shot. He sank the striped 10 ball, then went again, missing the second time; Elise was almost certain that he did it on purpose. She took the cue when offered. 

With an uneasy breath, she aimed for the solid 1 ball but missed. Ace snorted in response, earning a playful glare from her.

“I told you so.”

She just needed to loosen up a bit.

“What type of music do you like?” Ace asked.

Elise hummed. The question was so sudden that it took her off guard for a moment. Her face heated up. 

“Um…rock, R&B, and country mostly.” The Temptations and Johnny Cash were two of her favorites. “Is this what we're doing? 21 questions.”

“Figured we'd continue our game,” Ace retorted. 

Elise did not see why not. She watched him sink another shot and huffed. “Do you have any siblings?” 

“I'm an only child,” Ace answered promptly. 

He rested his hand on Elise's lower back as he walked around her, grinning as she tensed. Lining up his next shot, he missed; this time for real. 

“Are you friends with any of your exes?”

She frowned. His question was a little personal, but she allowed it. Elise leaned in and aimed at the 5 ball, sinking it. She beamed. 

“There was one - Billy Collins. We started as friends, so after the relationship ended, we decided to stay friends.” 

Ace thought about asking her whether the two had fucked or not but opted against it. He doubted that Elise would tell him. She seemed a bit prudish when it came to things like that. He was almost certain that she was a virgin. 

Elise took her second shot, also sinking it much to her disbelief. She gave Ace an ‘eat that’ smile. 

“I thought you weren't good at pool,” Ace brought up. 

She seemed determined not to let him win for some reason. He assumed that she was nervous about what he wanted from her. She should be. 

“Lucky shot,” Elise retorted with a grin. 

Unfortunately, the third time was not the charm; she missed the shot and groaned, leaning against the table in defeat. The purple 4 would have been an easier shot, but she second-guessed it. She watched Ace sink the 13 in the corner pocket and stuck out her tongue when he returned the ‘eat that’ look she had given him. At this rate, she was going to lose. 

Elise sighed, “If I lose, what are you going to ask from me?”

Ace did not expect her to ask. He grinned. Perhaps he should tell her to wait and find out. A part of him, however, wanted to gauge her expression.

“I was gonna ask for a kiss.” Would she throw the game knowing this? Or play harder?  

Elise felt her heart begin to race. He wanted to kiss her. She did not know what to say. 

I had a feeling he might try, but I didn't know it would be so soon.

Did she want to kiss him? Elise swallowed hard.

“It…it's still your turn.” 

For the remainder of the game, she took each shot more seriously. It was not because she didn't want to kiss Ace, it was because she was a nervous wreck. There was no way in the state she was in that she would be decent. It was embarrassing. 

Luck seemed to be with at least. Elise managed to nearly even the score. She had one solid left. Ace had none; he had won. All he needed to do was sink the 8 ball. Easy peasy. And it was his turn. 

“What was the question again?” Elise asked. 

She hardly heard him.  

“What was your nickname as a child?” Ace repeated with a grin. 

She frowned. Another kiddie question. He might as well have asked what her favorite color was - purple. Elise knew what he was doing. Since he told her that he wanted a kiss, he had toned down his questions, even when she continued to low-key ask him about his life. Either he was doing it to ease her appreciation, which was not helping, or he was toying with her. Elise clutched her cue. 

“Sunshine. My dad still calls me that.” Unless he's upset. She frowned for a brief moment, recalling the events from earlier; the events that led to him calling her by her name. Elise Josephine. 

Ace looked at the 8 ball, at Elise briefly, noticing the frown, but choosing to ignore it, then back. “Sunshine, huh?”

It suited her. She had a sunny disposition that chased away the dark clouds over his head.

After losing the Brower kid's body to Lachance and his friends in the summer of 1960, Ace had a plethora of bad luck befall him. It was a breath of fresh air, after two years, for something to go right for him. 

It conflicted him, so when Ace took his shot, he purposely sunk the solid.

“Hey!” Elise exclaimed. 

“Bad luck,” Ace lied. 

He had the upper hand. This was almost the same underhanded tactic he used when she first met him.

“Play fair,” Elise grumbled. 

“Who says I'm not,” Ace argued. He motioned toward the table. “Your turn.”

She tightened her jaw. What game was he playing at? Elise stepped into position and studied the table. A win was too easy. She considered fouling, just to be a brat, but she was not like that. She was not like Ace, who sacrificed for a bigger game. No. She was honest. 

Elise took the shot and won the game. She was irritated. 

“The ball is in your court, darling,” Ace declared, meaning she got to ask something of him. 

He leaned against the table beside her, shoulders touching, but Elise did not look at him. A dusting of red covered her cheeks. 

“You could have won,” she pointed out.

“Yeah,” Ace agreed. 

Elise knitted her brows. So, why didn't he? She had a hunch, but she wasn't sure.

“An answer…that's what I want from you.” She faced him. “The truth.” 

“That was the deal,” he assured her. 

Elise was hesitant, but she asked anyway. 

“Why did you throw the game?”

Ace grinned. His blue eyes seemed to twinkle.

“To give you a choice.”

A choice. To what? The answer suddenly hit Elise like a bucket of cold water to the face. He was giving her a choice on whether she would allow him to kiss her or not. He could have won and asked for the kiss, but he wanted her to want it too. Her heart began to race.

Before she could figure out what to say or what to do, Irby announced the hall was about to close. It was Elise, Ace, and a group of friends who remained; she hardly noticed them roaming about. 

“Go on outside to the car and I'll clean up,” Ace commanded.

“Are you sure?” Elise asked in uncertainty. 

He shook his head wordlessly. Handing him her cue, she walked outside and leaned against the with a huff. What the fuck was she supposed to do? She did not want Ace to think that she was not interested, because she was. By the time he sauntered out, she had come to a decision.

“You ready?” Ace asked. 

Elise shook her head. “For what it's worth, I was rooting for you to win.”

He stopped short of the hood of his car and raised a curious brow; he was not expecting her to say that. 

“Yeah. Before or after I told you what I'd ask for?”

“After,” Elise answered with a grin. 

He was almost certain that she was lying, but he decided to roll with it. Walking around to the side of the car where she stood, he took her arm, feeling how tense she was, and leaned in to kiss her. 

Goosebumps littered her arms. If asked, Elise would say that kissing Ace was like listening to an instrumental, or a song whose lyrics and music raised an intense, but brief reaction of excitement. When they parted, she almost whined.

“I guess we both win,” Ace stated. 

Elise shook her head. “I'm still gonna tell everyone I wiped the floor with you in a game of pool.” 

Ace grinned and poked her nose, hearing her pout in protest, then leaned in and kissed her again. 

[madaboutmunson]

Again - Part 17 (Not to be confused with 17 Again ;) )

Part 1 | Part 16 | Part 18 | Full list of Again series links inc AO3 Link

Steddie fic where Steve and Eddie are in their mid 30's and everyone has sort of drifted apart

Notes: As per the winning option on the poll I posted here is your 10K+ part of the story :)

Taglist: @adaed5 @grtwdsmwhr @swimmingbirdrunningrock @mightbeasleep, @jewellthebooknerd, @fentiibratzz @rvllybllply2014

================================================

Well…Al-riiiighty then!

That is the only response Steve's brain seems to have to what just happened. Well, what just happened several times over. Well…actually.… not just now, just before he drifted into a euphoric slumber, for however long it's been. He doesn’t know what time it is, and for once, he doesn't care what time it is either.

Steve is very much in a battle in his mind, one part celebrating being the luckiest guy in the world, the other pure fear because Steve knew it was over for him. He was gone, so very gone. Not just hook, line, sinker but also rod, fisherman, his waders, the bait box, his chair and the car he'd driven to the lake in the parking lot, all currently drowning in Eddie Munson.

How was he going to be able to resist Eddie at all now? It's not like he had much in the way of resistance anyway, but now, he basically had none. If he looked at him a certain way from now on, it would send Steve's brain back to this, and he'd be a mess. Who is he kidding? He didn't care how badly he'd got it. Steve snuggles into Eddie's chest more and resigns himself to a happy future of being Eddie's pushover. Eddie's arm is already around him, and he sees his abdomen crease slightly as he gives Steve a kiss on top of his head, and Steve happily accepts his fate.

"Welcome back, honey," Eddie says, his voice a little groggy.

"Hi," Steve answers meekly and looks up at him, causing Eddie to scoff out a laugh.

"Oh, he's quiet now, is he?" Eddie smiles a little smugly, and Steve is mortified and taps him on the side in a vain attempt at annoyance.

"I was…how dare…I mean…ok, I wasn't that loud!" Steve defends, "Besides, you were no church mouse either."

"Hey, man, I don't care. They aren't my neighbours. They don't know my voice, but they'll get used to it quite quickly, I imagine," Eddie chuckles evilly.

"What are you talking about, neighbours? I don't share walls with anyone," Steve laughs.

"No, you're absolutely right, you don't. How silly of me," Eddie says, and Steve feels satisfied he's won this one for a second, "Except you do share a street, right?"

He frowns hard at Eddie but with a confused smile, "Well, of course, I do…." Steve starts with a very condescending tone until it hits him. His face drops, and he looks to the window. It's wide open, and now so is Steve's mouth. "The window!" Steve whimpers in horror. "Why didn't you say something before, Eddie? Jesus Christ!!" Steve exclaims.

Steve gets up to close the window, and he's immediately tackled back into bed. "Steve! You can't give them the audiobook and now the movie," Eddie laughs gesturing at Steve's naked body, "First of all, it was hotter than the firey pits of hell in here! I know you have AC, dude. Turn it on! And then I was busy! So forgive me for not making the window my priority!" 

Cursing under his breath, Steve grabs a sheet off the bed in one firm pull, almost flinging Eddie straight off the other side because he pulls it with so much force and wraps it around his waist before going to the window. Unfortunately, once there, despite being one floor up, he makes eye contact with one of his older neighbours gardening, Ms Montarello's best gal pal Mrs Kensington. He tries to give one of his big neighbourly smile and wave combos, but it soon becomes awkward. In return, she sends him a thumbs up. He just knows this will be on the agenda at their next afternoon tea. Steve wishes the ground would swallow him entirely. Maybe it wasn't too late for the Russians to take him away for real this time or for him to go live in his own alternate dimension of his own construction. Steve feels a weight on his shoulder. It's Eddie's arm leaning on him. "Sorry, my sweet, I didn't mean to leave it open. I swear. I was just trying to make light of it." Eddie genuinely apologises. Steve rolls his eyes and shakes his head.

"It's ok, it's done now. Can't have been that bad. She sent back a good review" Steve imitates her thumbs up, turning to Eddie with a big goofy smile, which suddenly falls from his face when he realises that Eddie has not even attempted to cover himself up, so Steve frantically tries to share the sheet with him, as Eddie spots Mrs Kensington and blows her a kiss, "Jesus Christ, Eddie! Cover up! She can see right in here."

"First of all, how good can her eyes be? Secondly, it's our window. She shouldn't be looking in here…" Eddie continues to reason the many ways this is not their fault, and instead, it's Steve's neighbours that are little perverts, but his brain has picked up part of what Eddie said and put it in a protective glass case in Steve's mind museum.

"Our window?" Steve interrupts gently.

"Yeah, our window, that's what I said. They shouldn't be looking in here," Eddie tries to continue before sighing and looking at him. "You haven't been listening to me, have you?"

"Not much after you said, our window, to be honest," Steve says softly, wrapping Eddie tighter in their shared sheet, pulling him towards him. He can see Eddie, whilst not unappreciative, is also confused for a few seconds, and he's trying to figure it out, and then he realises, and the faintest pink blush hits his jaw.

"Oh, sorry. It just kinda fell out of my mouth. I mean your window," Eddie corrects, but Steve shakes his head.

'Nope, No way. I will not sign off on that retcon. It's our window now. If you want, that could be our bed, and back there our closet. Our bathroom, our mirror, our TV, our love seat." Steve looks deeply into Eddie's eyes, "If you wanted that, that is?" Eddie scans Steve's face, and no reply comes, "but obviously no pressure at all." Steve quickly backs off as he tries to hide the excitement inside of him that is bubbling over.

"I mean, there would be a lot to figure out, but, shit, I'd really like that. I-I'd love that, babe," Eddie finally replies.

"You would?!" Steve checks with too much excitement and receives a dewy-eyed nod in confirmation. "Oh, well, in that case." Steve wrenches open the window again, "These are your neighbours too, now. It's only fair they get to hear how loud you can be, right?" Eddie's eyes widen, and Steve scoops him up in the sheet and pretty much body-slams him back into bed.

"Who are you? And what have you done with friendly neighbourhood Steve Harrington?!" Eddie laughs.

"Last I heard, some charismatic cult leader got their dragon claws into him, and he hasn't been the same since," Steve smiles hugely, caging Eddie in his arms. "Took out more than double his hit points, an insta-kill!" Steve adds, hovering over Eddie in their sheet tangle, diving down for a kiss before pushing up with his arms to pull away to look down at this beautiful creature, satanic or otherwise. It didn't really matter.

Eddie lets out an excitable growl and grabs hold of the sheet behind Steve to pull him in closer, "Gods be damned, Steve, this brisket is gonna be a shadow of itself, but you know I can't resist when you talk nerdy to me" Eddie adds before he's cut off with another kiss from Steve.

“Have I found the weakness of stone-cold heavy metal legend Eddie Munson? Nerdy talk? How did you get through your days surrounded by geeks, huh? Must have been a boner minefield,” Steve whispers, brushing his nose against Eddies, still in total disbelief that any of this was his life now, or at least had the potential to be. They had to work out a few other things with Jenny and the kids, but he pushes that to the side for now, focusing on the angel beneath him.

“Ok, first of all, ew! Images of the geeks I hung out with at school, or the games store have no place in my brain right now. Bad, Steve!” He attempts to reprimand Steve, but his voice is far too gentle, and his eyelids droop as he gazes into his eyes. Soon he is wiggling his arms free of the sheet and caressing Steve’s back tenderly, “And, well, it only works when a jock does it. A specific jock. ‘Bout time you caught up, though.” Eddie laughs softly, pulling Steve in tighter with the sheet, and leaning up for another kiss, but Steve pulls away playfully.

“Caught up? I’m in the lead,” Steve mutters, pouting his lips out so they almost brush Eddie’s, and his hooded eyes trail over his beautiful face. Fuck, you’re the luckiest and, at the same time, the most sorry-whipped guy in the universe, Steve Harrington. He finally makes eye contact with Eddie again, only to see his eyes roll.

“You are not in the lead, no matter how cute you are trying to be about it,” Eddie replies, unable to stop his eyes dropping to stare at Steve's mouth. Steve moves his arms further up the mattress so his hands dip into Eddie’s hair earning him an appreciative moan from his beau.

“I think you’re wrong about that,” he says quietly, “I’m in the lead. Nerdy shit, Metal, your hair, when I jump to your defence and when hold you just right. I’m miles ahead of you, Eddie. You’re still in the starting blocks,” Steve laughs gently as Eddie raises an eyebrow.

“Is that so? Hmmm,” Eddie teases. “Believe me when I say. I have many of your weaknesses tucked away, Sweetheart. I just don't use them all because it's not fair.”

“Not fair, how?” Steve says, confused, frowning and pouting a little at this revelation. Eddie leans up and kisses between his furrowed brows to relax them again.

“Holy hell, you’re cute. You know that?” Eddie sighs against Steve’s chest and blinks himself back into the subject at hand, “It's not fair because you don’t remember, and at the time, I really shouldn't have been logging these things. I should have just been being your friend. Can you forgive me for wanting to be your everything?” Eddie presses his soft lips to the side of Steve’s neck, making him see stars. “Can you forgive me for building a toolkit of what I imagined were all the things I needed to make you fall in love with me, even though I knew it was impossible?” Eddie mutters against his throat, and all Steve can do is close his eyes in bliss and attempt to concentrate on remaining propped up on his arms so that he doesn't fall entirely onto Eddie. Finally, Steve clears his throat and opens his eyes slowly with a quick breath.

“Now, that doesn't count. You said you had a whole bunch from before,” Steve tries to protest as Eddie stops mid-nuzzle against his neck.

“Oh, you want the big guns, do you?” Eddie grins, grabs hold of Steve, and turns them to the side. Steve can’t help his smile, and a trickle of giggles escapes his mouth. Eddie goes to speak, and Steve quickly puts a finger to his lips.

“With the backstory? Please?” Steve asks in an overly soft tone of pleading. Eddie crosses his eyes and bites his bottom lip, making Steve laugh.

“Can I get my turn? Backstory? Seriously!” Eddie shakes his head. “Jesus Christ, I’m beginning to feel glad this didn’t happen sooner. Limited-experience Eddie would definitely have struggled to survive a newly converted King Steve.”

“Get on with it!” Steve playfully pokes at him.

“Oh! Stefano! Never rush the storyteller! Rule numero uno!” Eddie says wide-eyed before narrowing his eyes and biting his lip, “How about a re-enactment?” Steve nods excitedly in agreement, hoping that he’ll gain another memory. “Ok, but it does mean you're gonna have to turn away from me” Eddie points over Steve’s shoulder to the wall behind him, making Steve’s eyebrows raise in disappointed surprise, “Trust me, it's only for a moment” Eddie reassures him, and Steve rolls to face the wall. He half expects Eddie to snuggle up behind him, but it doesn't happen. Eddie hasn't moved from lying face up on the bed.

“So backstory. You had come over to ours as usual, but it was clear to me you had been really upset about something, but, well, I wasn't sure if I should pry, considering you’d just been at home and I knew you're parents were back. I figured they’d upset you somehow. Anyway, I got you a beer, and we shared a few joints on my bed, nothing out of the ordinary until you rolled away. Then you opened up like a little clam, ever such a tiny amount. You said when you got home, your Dad had been drinking and was arguing with your Mom. Being who you are, I knew you’d stepped in to defend her and caught the sharp end of your Dad’s temper. You didn't tell me what he said. You just said he’d smashed one of your favourite records. I knew that a smashed record wouldn't have been enough for someone like you to get upset, and it wasn't the first time your Dad had been a drunk asshole, but it's all I had to go on. So I asked you what record it was. You told me it was Bryan Adams” Steve tries to remember what it might be but can't capture it. He twists his fingers in the sheet pooled in front of him. He definitely remembers his Dad being an asshole, but it was such the norm that Steve had trouble separating one occurrence from another. He expects Eddie probably did something sweet, like got him a replacement or offered him his own copy. Then, Steve hears Eddie clear his throat.

Oh, once in your life you find someone

Who will turn your world around

Bring you up when you're feelin' down

Eddie sings out quietly, the raspiness in his voice imitating the singer like it was an impression, and suddenly the wall in front of Steve changes, and it's dark now. The pillow he is on isn't as fluffy, and he’s curled up on Eddie’s old bed. He can see the guitar hanging there and the hazy smoke drifting lazily through the moonlight.

Yeah, nothin' could change what you mean to me

Oh, there's lots that I could say

But just hold me now

'Cause our love will light the way

Steve smiles as Eddie’s singing gets more enthusiastic and louder, and he hears himself laugh, and he expects that might have shut Eddie down back then, but as soon as he thinks that. 1986 Eddie has vaulted off the bed over him, stumbling to the floor. Steve gets up to help him, but Eddie is already dusting off his Batman Pajama bottoms. He picks up his hairbrush from the mirror and yells out the chorus, complete with eyes screwed up tight and air grabs.

And, baby, you're all that I want

When you're lyin' here in my arms

I'm findin' it hard to believe

We're in heaven

Then Steve hears something else, “BOY! IF YOU DON'T PIPE DOWN THIS GODDAMN INSTANT,” Its Wayne yelling from the bedroom across the hall of the new trailer. Eddie throws open his bedroom door and sings even louder and more dramatically.

Yeah, love is all that I need

And I found it there in your heart

It isn't too hard to see

We're in heaven.

Eddie's face quickly changes from imitating an 80’s rockstar to one of a kid about to get in serious trouble, but he has a massive grin on his face as he dives over Steve to hide behind him. Steve looks to his side, and he can see Eddie’s ringed hand holding onto his arm and his mischievous eyes peering over him, using Steve as a wall of defence against the incoming storm Wayne. And it does arrive, but as he steps into the room, he looks at them both, nods “Steve.” and then points a finger at Eddie. “Keep it down, you hear me?” he says seriously but much more gently. Steve feels Eddie nod against his side, and Wayne leaves, closing the door gently behind him. Then he reaches for Eddie’s hand.

“Thanks, man. That was pretty funny,” Steve says quietly with a laugh. Eddie shrugs.

“It was the only one I knew by him, if you’re, er, wondering about the weird choice. I don’t even know all the words” Eddie scratches at the back of his neck and then disappears behind him again, leaving his hand under Steve’s. He rolls onto his back to join Eddie, looking up at the ceiling, carefully placing their hands between them. 

“I can, uh, help you with the rest if you wanna sing some more? Just you know quietly so we don't disturb Wayne,” Steve offers nervously. He can feel his heart thundering in his chest but can hear his thoughts too. Eddie’s just being kind, don't make this weird. He was just trying to cheer you up. You’d do the same for Robin.

“Sure” He can hear the smile in Eddie’s younger voice, “What's the next line?”

He feels a pinch on his side, and suddenly the ceiling is his own.

“Hey, mister, you can’t go for that long. Even if I do look super cute in there.” Eddie says, almost sounding a little jealous of his past self.

“Sorry about that. It's just exciting to get all this new stuff. Well, old stuff back.” Steve defends bashfully, turning to Eddie.

“It was a lie, by the way,” Eddie utters delicately.

“What was?” Steve worries that somehow Eddie had made this all up, and maybe what he recalled didn't happen at all.

“You think with my sense of humour and love for playing guitar, I didn’t know Summer of ‘69? Pu-lease! Not that past-Eddie hadn't noticed him in your collection and studied that album at length. I knew all the lyrics too. I’d been practising them when you weren't around” He rolls his eyes, “In fantasy land, I was gonna serenade you with my guitar when you finally realised that out of everyone in the world, mansion-dwelling Steve Harrington was gonna settle for little trailer-trash Eddie Munson.” He laughs, “God, I was a piece of work back then.”

“Well, he wasn't wrong, was he?” Steve turns on his side to face Eddie and reaches out to guide his eyes to his own. “You’re not wrong either, though.”

“What do you mean?” Eddie smiles as he moves onto his side and shuffles against the bedding to be closer to Steve.

“Mansion-dwelling Steve Harrington did very much want little trailer….dwelling Eddie Munson” Steve corrects, holding Eddie's face in his hands, “And you were right, because you singing to me like that is definitely working for me, baby” Eddies eyebrows flash, and an excitable smile appears on his face. “Also, I lied too,” Steve barely says, leaning in for a kiss. 

“Whaddyamean?” Eddie's words are muffled against Steve’s lips, and Steve returns a tiny whisper of a laugh to Eddie’s before moving back the smallest amount.

“My Dad didn't break that record. He was probably being an asshole, though. I just wanted to hear your voice sing something sweet for me, and I didn't know how to ask for that without it being weird. I knew how kind a heart you had, and I thought the chances were slim, but I must have been so low I went for it, and you came through like you always do,” Steve says fondly, searching Eddie’s blinking bambi eyes. “With that said…Wanna make some noise?” Steve asks, trying to hold back his own laugh at his corny line. Eddie nods enthusiastically.

“Bur-a-rum”, Steve mutters next to Eddie’s ear, only to find himself clasped firmly by the shoulders and Eddie looking at him wide-eyed.

“Steve, did you just try and speak Entish to me?” Eddie asks interrogatively.

“See, I do listen”, Steve smiles mischievously.

“Ok, well, just so you know, that is a noise of disgust.” Eddie informs, but before Steve can pout about getting it wrong, his chin is scooped up between Eddie’s thumb and forefinger, “But that does not negate the effort, of the nerdiness of what you just did. I. Very. Much. Appreciate. It” he punctuates his words with kisses around Steve’s face, as he tangles him back up in the covers with him.

❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖

Much to their surprise, the brisket survived, and Eddie was absolutely correct. They were both starving, and it was a taste sensation. They didn't even carve the thing, just tore it apart in front of the TV. Both of them in actual shorts this time, in case Steve forgot another appointment, are sitting on seat cushions pulled to the floor. Eddie sat between Steve's legs whenever he tore off a piece splitting it in two and offering the other part over his shoulder to Steve. And whenever Steve stretched forward, Eddie would kiss his cheek quickly. Then once he leaned back and finished chewing, Steve would put a kiss on the back of Eddie's neck, where he'd already parted the hair, just for that purpose.

"You know, I was thinking about what you said earlier, and I just want to make sure I understand. You were asking me to stay longer than this week, right?" Eddie asks, and Steve can hear the cautiousness in his voice. Steve squeezes him reassuringly with his thighs.

"Yeah, Uh-huh, that is precisely what I meant," Steve answers confidently with no hesitation.

"But what about when the kids are here? I’m still kinda new to them, and will Jenny be ok with some stranger living with her kids?" Eddie asks again with that hint of worry.

"Hey, don’t worry. Here are my thoughts, ok?” Steve squeezes Eddie’s sides gently with his legs again. “How about this? You live in our home with me when the kids aren't here. When the kids are here, you can stay in a guest room or your RV if you want, ok? For however long you want. Until you and the kids are cool with you living here. Meanwhile, you can come with me to meet Jenny and Val. You can get to know them, and I just know they'll love you, babe. Jenny might be a bit prickly initially, but that isn't personal. She's just a mama and cares about me because we’re family." Steve leans forward, puts his arms around Eddie and rests on his shoulder, "It would be wonderful if, when everyone was comfortable with it, we added you to that concept too. Family." Steve knows maybe he's saying too much, thinking too far ahead, but this wasn't some stranger he'd met a few weeks ago. It was Eddie. His Eddie, and if there was anything he'd learned the past few days, it was this. No matter the layers that the last fifteen years had tried to bury him under, Steve's Eddie is still there, and what he knows about the Eddie he has now is also amazing. Sure, there were some bad spots for him over the last fifteen years, but that isn't who he is now, and the reason for him being that way is gone too.

There is a pause, and Steve feels Eddie's chest rise and fall quickly. It's not until a little droplet hits his arm Steve realises that Eddie is crying because he's doing it entirely silently. Steve closes his eyes almost to hide from the pain of realisation of why anyone would have developed a silent cry in the first place. So someone at some point couldn't hear them. He squeezes Eddie as tightly as he can with his whole body, "I got you," Steve whispers, "Like I said, not until you want it, ok, not until you're ready, even if that's never. Even if you only wanna be with me when the kids aren't here, and you wanna still have your slice of freedom. No matter the arrangements or weird convoluted plans, I'm not going to give us up unless you tell me it's over. So you're safe to be yourself. I adore you." Steve tries to comfort Eddie with his words too.

They sit like that in silence for a little while longer until Steve feels Eddie's body calm in his arms. Then through sniffles and sharp intakes of breath, Eddie manages, "A-and-and W-Wayne?" Steve doesn't remember hearing Eddie stutter this badly before. Then, in a repetitive, soothing motion, he gently rubs Eddie’s arms to try and help calm him down a little more.

"Of course, and Wayne, Jack and Morgan, Gareth and Annie, and all those huge lumberjack siblings of hers. A small frog you befriend on your way home. Whatever you come with, Eddie. As long as it doesn't endanger my kids, I don't care, and I know you would never do that" Steve smiles against Eddie's hair as he envelops him back in his arms again.

"N-never," Eddie repeats, taking a deep breath and quickly wrapping his own arms over Steve's, holding on tightly. "I-I-I," Eddie grunts in frustration, and Steve guesses it must be because of the stuttering. Eddie loves words, and Steve imagines maybe this was why. A little boy with a stutter, overcoming it and using that power to talk about anything and everything. All the way until storytelling and performance become an integral part of who he is as a person. 

He hears Eddie take another deep breath, "I'd like to stay." he manages and takes yet another deep breath, "When the k-kids are here, I-I-I," another frustrated sound before another round of deep breaths, "ssssstay in the RV. Un-until they're ok with it" another pause, and Steve can hear Eddie trying to form some words, but they aren't coming out. Finally, he huffs, breaks free of Steve, pushing his arms away, gets up suddenly and storms out of the living room, and Steve hears the front door slam open.

"Eddie!!" Steve yells after him. His heart is pounding. He said he wasn't going to run, but now Steve has pushed him too far too quickly, and he's just bolted. Steve's legs feel like they've filled with the weighted lead of absolute fear as he gets up to chase after him, but before he even gets to his feet, the front door slams again, and a furious-looking Eddie is back storming towards the Hi-Fi clutching a CD in his hands.

"Eddie, what the hell is going on?! Jesus Christ! I thought you'd gone," Steve exclaims with a sigh of relief, sinking back to the cushion on the floor, looking at a hunched-over Eddie who is hitting the buttons so hard Steve can hear him doing it. A song starts playing, and Eddie stomps over to a bewildered Steve. His nose is still scrunched up in frustration as he sits on Steve's thighs, his eyes ringed red from crying, and he captures Steve's face in his hands, clutching at it a little too hard, but Steve doesn't care about that, he's still relieved that Eddie didn't run away. Steve opens his mouth to apologise, but Eddie puts his finger against Steve's lips and forces him to look at the Hi-Fi. Steve doesn't know what's going on, so he just takes it as Eddie wants him to listen to the song, so he does.

I got to tell you what I'm feeling inside, 

I could lie to myself, but it's true.

There's no denying when I look in your eyes, 

Girl, I'm out of my head over you.

I lived so long believin' all love is blind

But everything about you is tellin' me this time

It's forever, 

this time I know, and there's no doubt in my mind

Forever, 

until my life is through, 

Girl, I'll be loving you forever

Steve feels Eddie's grip finally loose on his face, and he takes the opportunity to turn to look at him. Eddie is frantically looking at Steve for understanding. Steve's mind is a whirl, he doesn't know quite what to say, and he sees Eddie's shoulders sink in defeat as he hangs his head to start to turn away. Steve grabs Eddie's shoulder and lets the words fall out, without a quality control check, "I hear you. I mean, I heard you. What the guy is singing, right?" Steve sputters and hopes to God he's right that this wasn't a set of lyrics he's misinterpreted, but when Eddie's eyes meet his again, he's sure it's what they're saying, "You love me? Forever, right? Like he was singi-" Steve tries again, he probably should be more embarrassed about the desperation in his voice, but he isn't going to let this just pass him by. He wanted to be right so badly. However, the only answer he gets is Eddie diving in for a kiss, his tattooed arms thrown entirely around Steve's neck, and once the initial surprise is over, Steve wraps him up in his arms again, dipping him back into a deeper one. Steve takes the action as a yes, and his heart beats fiercely in his chest, afraid and eager simultaneously. His head swims with possibilities again. He loved this man so much, maybe too much and never enough all at once. He raises his knees and squeezes his arms to pull Eddie in as close as he possibly can. Physically wanting him to know that Steve would always keep him safe from harm of any kind. Forever. "I love you," Steve whispers against his mouth before kissing him again.

He hoists Eddie to his feet with him, leading him in a slow dance around the living room to the remainder of the song, with huge smiles on their faces. Steve holds him close, then twirls him around some until Eddie lets out a small laugh.

"I thought when you said you needed time, it would be longer than a couple of hours," Steve playfully teases Eddie, "But I suppose maybe something completely mind-blowing might have happened in those few hours to change that, maybe?" Steve mischievously tries to coax Eddie back out of his non-verbal state.

Eddie hits him on the upper arm with a light tap, "Again with this Ego", Eddie laughs, and Steve is relieved to hear him talk again. He’d never seen that happen to Eddie before, or at least he can’t ever recall that happening, but rather than dwell on it, Steve opts to continue easing Eddie back to normal. 

"You love it," Steve says with a wink as he gently sways him to the music.

Eddie pulls a face that looks like he wants to be annoyed but is too amused, "How I wish you were wrong about that, babe. I feel like I've roused up a monster from hibernation."

"A monster, huh? No one's called it that before," Steve says with a smirk.

Another arm tap, "That is not what I meant! And you know it!" Eddie laughs that light dusting of pink across his cheeks appears.

"Oh, how's it feel to have the tables turned on you, sweetheart?" Steve says in his best Eddie impersonation.

"Ok, now that's weird. Stop that immediately!" Eddie laughs and takes a deep breath looking into Steve's eyes, "I guess….I was confused because I didn't feel worthy. You said what you said, and I absolutely wanted to say it right back, but then I thought, Christ, maybe he's just all caught up in this, and he's not thinking about what I've done, you know? So I guess I didn't need time. I just needed courage, and then when I finally got the courage, I was so overwhelmed I couldn't even speak. Overwhelmed with good things, I mean. You're just so good to me." He says, leaning against him as Steve gently sways them around the room.

"Worthy? No, honey. If anything, you're the prize here. Smart, funny, beautiful, kind, and smoking fucking hot, by the way. Just ask our neighbours. Two of them would agree and might be plotting my assassination as we speak! Maybe more now?" Steve pouts out his bottom lip and shrugs.

"Ok, ok. We could fight this out all day. So let's call it even, shall we, Mr Most Eligible Divorcée? '' Eddie laughs.

"No way. Consider me Mr Most Ineligible, absolutely obsessed with his future husband," Steve smiles at his own joke. Half-joke. Not a joke at all.

"You know people are gonna think we're insane, right?" Eddie says against his chest, "We went on our first date Sunday night, it's now Wednesday, and we're moving in together."

"Let them!" Steve frowns as he protectively holds Eddie closer. "Let them think what they want. My whole existence has been doing things to fit into boxes, so I can get by in life. The few times I went off track, life was tough, but I made it. My little family made it in our own unusual way." He thinks for a second, "And, you know, maybe I'm tired of exhausting myself over what other people think when I'm often wrong about it. It's just that old mentality from my parents and their circles. I've been wrong about it twice today already. Monty loved ogling you in your underwear, and the one person I know who heard us earlier gave me a thumbs up. Maybe the only opinions that should matter are those of the people I love and those who actually make an effort to be in my life because they are the people I need. They keep me going every day." He presses his hand against Eddie's cheek and he looks at him. "Like that book said. The people that mind don't matter, and the people that matter don't mind. Even if they are right, and we are crazy," Steve smiles with a sigh. "So…just so I'm not running away with my own thoughts here, could you tell me what you wanna do regarding this," Steve gestures around them and then between them, "about us. Even if it's just like a brainstorming stage. I'm just very conscious I've been blabbing on for a while now" He laughs a little and guides Eddie back to the floor cushions, but this time they face one another cross-legged and hold hands.

Eddie beams at him, "Ok, well, I'm gonna try my best."

"Hey listen, you need to take a break or anything l, just say ok, or if you can't say, we'll get a signal like….um….I don't know….um… tap your bats. I'll always be able to see that, right? Or whatever you think is easiest."

"That sounds ok, sure" Eddie takes one pair of their held hands and taps them on his arm to check, "Yeah, that'll do for now" He smiles and takes a huge deep breath as if preparing himself to speak quickly "So, in case it wasn't abundantly clear. I am absolutely, totally, stupidly in love with you. I never want to leave you for longer than I have to. I wanna stay here with you. I want you to tour the country with me. I wanna be part of your family. I want all of you as part of mine." He smiles at Steve and laughs, "I want a lot of things…sorry…I must sound crazy. I feel crazy. This is crazy right?" His vast smile erupts with the most heavenly laugh Steve has ever heard as Eddie shakes them from side to side in excitement.

Steve squeezes Eddie's hands tightly in his own, "Maybe? I don't know. One person's crazy could be our normal, though, right? We could do all those things." Steve's eyes shoot down to Eddie's arm to see if he reaches for it, but he does not move their hands.

"Yeah, we could," Eddie says softly, with a sweet happy smile on his face, "We could definitely try" Steve's eyes move cautiously back up to Eddie's, and Steve nods in agreement. This. Is. Happening. He still can't quite believe it, and his brain quickly flicks back to that thought from earlier. Eddie pacing this living room, a babe in his arms, and he's singing, cooing, and then he looks up at Steve with that huge grin. Then it flicks to watching Eddie being walked down an aisle by Wayne. Then it's rolling over in his bed to a mass of curls, and he feels the tears prick his eyes but tries to blink them away quickly. He reaches forward, touches Eddie's bat tattoo with their joined hands, making Eddie laugh, and pulls him in for a hug. "Holy shit, Steve. This is wild." Eddie mutters into his hair as he holds Steve against his chest. "I think we should call someone. Make a royal proclamation," Eddie says grandly, flourishing his hand in the air. Clearly, overcoming an emotional blockage injects Eddie with pure fuel. What did the kids used to say? Something like he was revved up. Eddie gets to his feet, yanks Steve to the kitchen table, and starts looking at his cell phone. 

He taps the number into the conference telephone and puts his finger to his lips at Steve as the phone rings and a familiar voice rings out.

"STEVE?!! HOW THE DEVIL ARE YOU?" Dustin yells down the phone.

"No, it's not Steve," Eddie says seriously, hiding his silent laughter behind his hand.

"Whaaaaaat the fuuuuuck?" there is a little rustle over the line, which must be Dustin rechecking the caller's name on his phone, "Eddie?"

"Yes, it's me, you little shit," Eddie scolds, desperately trying not to laugh. "I notice you haven't even bothered asking how I am, not like your precious Harrington, huh?" Eddie pretends to be insulted.

"But wait…what the hell…hang on! Hang on! How are you calling me but my phone says Steve."

"Oh my god, it's like I don't even fucking exist. Steve, Steve, Steve. I don't know why your phone is being a dick. You know what, man. Forget it. I'll call you back when you've stopped daydreaming about Harrington. Urgh" Eddie ends the call and bursts out laughing. Steve looks wide-eyed at him. "Look, that kid cannot resist a mystery. He'll call back shortly, guaranteed!" And as the words leave his mouth, the conference phone rings. Eddie gestures for Steve to answer.

"Yello, Harrington residence!"

"Steve?"

"Henderson!! How are you?" Steve says enthusiastically, shrugging at Eddie, who is indicating with his hands for Steve to continue.

"Fine now, I think. The weirdest shit just happened," Dustin says, taking a breath.

"Can I go back to planning my campaign now? Or do I have to babysit your phone calls some more?" A familiar voice chides Dustin.

Steve and Eddie turn to one another with wide eyes and open mouths.

"Erica?!" Steve blurts out in surprise.

"I told you to keep your voice down! Now Steve knows everyone will know," Dustin complains.

"Oh, thanks a lot!" Steve huffs.

"What do you mean? Everyone already knows! Because my brother can't keep his stupid mouth shut, and you stupidly told him at Christmas after too much of Joyce's eggnog," Erica states 

"I'm not gonna keep us a secret from my best friend, your brother. That's just deceitful. I would never do that. It's family." Dustin raises his voice, and Steve can almost hear the hand gestures.

"You keep talking to me like that. You're gonna have something else to tell everyone when I leave you all alone by your nerdy ass self!" Erica snaps back

"Erica, no, come on. I didn't mean it like that." Steve hears Dustin's voice trail away from the phone. Eddie is leaning over the conference phone, staring at it, and desperately waiting for the next part of his real-life soap opera. "You know, I just get passionate about stuff sometimes, and I was freaking out because of the whole Eddie thing. I haven't heard from him in years. Come on, Sprinkles, I'm sorry, please!"

"Fine, but you're on thin ice, Dustin, thin goddamn ice! And you're taking me out for dinner in….twenty minutes as an apology, so finish up with Captain Hairspray" Eddie looks at a gobsmacked Steve and slaps his hands over his mouth to contain his giggles.

There is a scramble for the phone, "Ok, so you know that now" and a little awkward laugh from Dustin. "Hope you didn't mind, just something weird happened earlier. Anyway, how are things with you? How are the kids?"

"Oh, the kids are great, and I'm doing really great, too, actually," Steve says, flashing Eddie a knowing smile.

"Haha! No way!! I hear it in your voice, buddy! Seems like we're both doing great in that department, huh?" Dustin enthuses with a sweet laugh.

"Yeah, really great, they're around here somewhere if you wanna meet, well speak to them?"

"Oh my god, is it serious, Steve? Is it like big-time serious relationship stuff? Oh my god! Oh my fucking god!! Yes, I gotta meet them."

"Why are you cursing so loud? You want the neighbours to complain again, hmm?" Erica complains.

"No honey suckle, no. Steve's found someone. It's serious, isn't that great?"

"Ohhh, now it makes sense…wait, you don't get it do you? Seriously?! Oh my god, why am I even dating you? I know they call you a genius at work, but as far as I can see, you're still at least fifty per cent dumbass. But, Steve, I'm happy for you both, and you still owe me ice cream!"

"What do you mean? Wait, come back here. What do you mean I don't get it?!" Dustin calls after her.

"Eighteen  minutes, Dustin." She reminds him.

"Wow. Erica, huh? What happened to Suzie?"

"Yeah, that ran its course. We branched out into different scientific fields. And Erica…phew…well, she keeps me on my toes…let's say that. However, Steve, as you can hear, I've dug myself into the dog house here. I'll call you back later. It's great to speak to you. Love you, man."

"Um, love you too," and the line clicks off.

"Well, so much for that one. How about we call Wayne, huh?" Eddie asks.

"Yeah, let's see what the old timer is up to" Steve smiles, but something is swirling in his stomach. A nervousness.

Eddie taps in the number. 

"Yep?" A gruff voice answers.

Eddie widens his eyes at Steve and nods towards the speaker.

"Uh…hi…hello Mr Munson it's…"

"Sunshine?!" Wayne enthusiastically asks, and that's when Steve nearly falls apart entirely. He always had that rough texture to his voice, but the way his age has crept around it, adding wear and tear, makes him sound a little more frail than tough but still that tender Wayne Munson from 1986. Steve's hand reaches out and grabs onto Eddie’s shoulder.

"Yeah, it's me, Steve," He manages to reply with a massive smile, a rogue tear spilling from his eye because Wayne remembered him, and Eddie gives his hand a squeeze and a big reassuring smile.

"Everythin' ok, Sunny? It's not the boy is it?" He says, and Steve can hear him groan, getting out of his chair and reaching for his keys.

"No, I'm good, Uncle Wayne. We're good. Everything's ok" Eddie takes over, and Steve hears the keys hit a surface and a soft thud, which must be Wayne flopping back into his chair.

"Better than ok I'd wager if you're callin' me together?" There is another voice in the background, and then he hears Wayne yell back, "It's Eddie…yeah, he's fine…I'll ask him about those Broadway tickets, sugar, but I think they'll be all sold out."

"He thinks it's years ago. He thinks I'm still in New York," Eddie whispers to Steve.

"Sorry 'bout that. Jack doesn't like feelin' left out.  Anyhoo, were you callin' just to say Hi?"

"Well yeah, kinda, but er, I guess, this is as good a time as any…I've got intentions for your nephew, sir." Steve says, flashing a charming smile at Eddie, who shies away a little like he's blushing.

"Oh?" Wayne says in surprise.

"Yeah, I thought, as Eddie wanted to call, I may as well ask you now. Do I have your blessing?" A genuine nervousness descends onto Steve. Wayne was a nice guy, but Eddie was basically his son, and if he said no, that could be a huge problem.

Wayne cackles loudly down the phone, "Hoooo boy, you're gonna try an' make an honest man outta Eddie?" Wayne erupts with laughter again, "You have my blessing, sure, but also my deepest sympathy."

"Oooh, you old goat, I swear you're lucky I'm in such a good mood!" Eddie tries to be annoyed but ends up laughing anyway. 

"How long do I have to get a new suit?" Wayne chuckles

"Oh, the actual event won't be for some time, I imagine," Steve says with a laugh of pure relief.

"Just consider that and the paperwork formalities we'll address much later," Eddie adds.

"Well, sounds like you got it all covered. You boys are always welcome here, and your little 'uns Sunshine. Eddie said they're just like ya. Bet that makes you mighty proud," Steve chews on his bottom lip to stop bursting into tears. Eddie shifts his chair around, drapes an arm around him, and Steve’s hand smooths along his back and grips onto the back of Eddie’s neck, "Do they know?" Wayne asks.

Steve sniffs, "Oh yeah, they knew before us, I think. They've definitely had their say on the matter, very smart and maybe a little on the sassy side too."

"Just like their old man," Wayne chuckles, and that pushes Steve over the edge, and he can't hold the tears back anymore, and Eddie cradles him into his chest and strokes his hair.

"Ok, well, we're gonna go, but I'll call you tomorrow, maybe sort out a visit?" Eddie covers quickly.

"Really?! Well, that'd be great. I'd need to get the guest room sorted, so give me a few days' warnin'." Wayne says excitedly.

"Hey, don't get doing yourself a mischief over chores. I'll help you when I get there, and anything else, call the cleaner and send me the bill. Otherwise, I will arrange a regular carer for you too!" Eddie threatens, and Steve would probably laugh if he wasn’t crying so hard. The only thing Eddie could threaten Wayne with was someone employed to take care of him.

"Well, alright then", Wayne reluctantly grumbles. "It was great to hear from you, Steve, don't be a stranger, ya hear? I'll speak to you tomorrow, Eddie. Love ya both" Steve tightens his grip on Eddie like he can't hold him hard enough.

"Love you too," they reply in unison. Steve mostly speaks his goodbye into Eddie's shoulder. Eddie ensures the phone call has ended properly and then turns his attention to Steve. Rocking him gently and rubbing circles on his upper back.

"Hey now, shh, shh, it's ok. You're ok, babe. Everything's ok" Eddie soothes until Steve releases his grip leaving little pink finger marks on Eddie's skin.

"Ah, shit. Sorry. I tried to keep it together," Steve says, turning away from Eddie, wiping his eyes and tries to get out of his chair, but Eddie gently pushes him back down into it and stands up.

"Tell me what you need. I wanna do it. What were you gonna do?" He says with a sigh, his face in a slight frown.

"It's ok, I can do it. I'm just being over dramatic" Steve tries to laugh it off and tries to stand up again. Eddie repeats the same motion.

"I didn't say you couldn't do it. I said I wanted to do it for you. So water?" Eddie gestures at the sink, and Steve nods. "You want ice in it?" Eddie asks, moving towards the refrigerator, but Steve shakes his head in a no. Eddie brings him the glass and puts a coaster underneath it before placing it in front of Steve, his eyes moving over Steve quickly, looking for clues, "You wanna talk about it?"

"It's not a big deal. I'm just not used to people, well, older people being proud of me" He shrugs a little, and Eddie softly closes his eyes in understanding for a second."I know that's dumb. I'm my own man, a parent myself. It's just when I'd visit, and sure, I don't remember a lot, but I do remember he showed me love, and I didn't even have to do anything to get it. I didn't need to be a star athlete, or-or earn a stupid jacket, or get straight A's or know what college I wanted to go to, or be a Wall Street success. And that's not because Wayne didn't care about what I was gonna do. It's because he would care about me the same whether I got those things or not."

"You listen to me. Anyone who can't see what a great man and Dad you are is just plain fucking stupid, ok? You don't need them. You've got the rest of us." He shuffles closer to Steve, "It took me a long time to realise that myself, but I got lucky. I got Wayne. That doesn't mean it doesn't still hurt sometimes. Like, why wasn't I enough for them? But the truth is nothing would ever be good enough for them because they just projected their failings and insecurities onto us. We can't marionette-fix problems that aren't ours. We have no context or instructions for them. Deep down, they don't like themselves very much, and when they couldn't stand to see what they'd done, they left us to rot, but we didn't, babe. We thrived. Call us weeds or flowers. We bloomed in those harsh conditions. We made it. We're happy. They're still miserable somewhere" Steve nods in agreement.

"You're right. I know you are. It just still stings sometimes when someone who knew me for a blip makes me feel better about myself than he ever did, but he's still my Dad, you know. My Mom is just, I dunno, she tries, but ultimately they're a package deal." Steve wipes the tears from his eyes again.

"I know, honey. I know that. I just don't want you to think for a second that it's your fault. It's not. It never was. It was all him." Eddie reassures him. "Besides, I mean, now you're basically my husband. I have to officially share the old goat with you, right? But not just all the nice bits. You can have his tantrums at technology, too," Eddie says, reeling back in his chair, making Steve laugh and giving him a small genuine smile. Eddie leans forward again and looks straight into Steve's eyes. "Look, anytime you wanna talk about something, or like you just did, show me you need me, do it. I'm not great at always picking up on things. You, Morgan and Wayne, are the people I'm best at, but sometimes I still get it wrong. Sometimes I might miss things, but regardless, I'm gonna be right here. You don't need to apologise for getting upset. You're a human being, and you aren't on your own anymore, babe. Let me help. Tap my bats" He pulls Steve's hand to his arm.

Eddie kisses the back of each of his hands. He takes a deep breath. "I love you. You are mine, and I don't know if you remember how precious I can be about my stuff, man, but Wayne will tell ya, I don't play nice with people that mess with my prized possessions. Also, I've been watching violent movies since I was about five, and all the bullying makes me quite resilient to taking a punch, and I could probably talk a person into a coma. So I got all that covered, sweetheart. Not saying anyone else didn't do a good job at looking after you. I'm sure they did. But the fact remains they aren't gonna do as good a job as me."

Steve looks at the man opposite him, and maybe for the first time in his adult life, he trusts someone can take care of him. Perhaps he could let go sometimes, and Eddie could catch him. Hand trembling, he reaches over and taps Eddie's bat tattoo, and he feels a breath shudder out of him as he releases control, and Eddie gives a small smile. "Drink your water, sweetheart. I'll be right back." 

Eddie leaves him for a few minutes, but Steve notices he's humming, and the further away he gets, the louder he hums or sings. Steve can hear things moving around, the front door opening and closing, and usually, he'd jump to see what was happening, but he just leans back on the kitchen chair and lets it happen.

Eddie returns and rubs his shoulders gently, "Alright, sweetheart. You ready?" He asks softly, and once Steve nods, Eddie takes his hand and walks him into the living room. Steve looks around and gasps. 

The living room is in darkness, the blinds and curtains are all closed, and occasional slivers of light try to break through the gaps, but it is minimal and probably wouldn't be around for long. Steve can see the DVD menu for The Breakfast Club on the TV. Near the coffee table is a cooler of beers and sodas, a selection of snacks in bowls around the table, and some interesting-looking rolled cigarettes, which probably were not cigarettes at all, Steve guesses. Out of the sofa cushions, Eddie has constructed a high-walled nest over where they sat earlier. It's full of blankets and pillows from Eddie's RV. 

"Everything, ok? If you don't like anything, just say ok. Priority is making you feel better, not worse, by stressing you out, alright?" Eddie asks, placing his hand on Steve's lower back and guiding him around. 

"Yeah," Steve says quietly, looking into Eddie's soft sparkling eyes, "Perfect", he adds with a half-smile.

Steve goes to sit as they were earlier, and Eddie tuts, "No, nope. Scooch yourself forward there, honey." Steve does as asked and immediately finds himself draped in a soft, technicolour crochet blanket, and Eddie sits behind him, his legs on either side of him. He presses play on the movie. With the cushions stacked around them like sandbag walls, Steve feels like he sheds something, and though he feels vulnerable, he feels protected. He lets his whole weight fall back against Eddie, who immediately wraps his arms around him and kisses his temple.

Steve smiles to himself. He knows this place won’t last long. It was entirely too warm, but it felt so good.

"That's it, Sweetheart." Eddie runs one hand through Steve's hair and the other he keeps around his chest, pulling him close, keeping Steve completely enveloped. He should feel more on edge without his usual defences. His armour. The armour that is ready at a moment's notice because he's never without it. The set that helps keep everyone safe, but Steve has to shoulder the weight of it, and he's been wearing it for so long parts are so tough and rigid it can be uncomfortable. Causing unseen scars to wear their way into his very being. But Steve feels safe in this entirely different set of armour. It is soft and pliable, yet solid and sure. It has no weight and comes with no burden, and it fits him perfectly like it was made just for him. 

Because it was.

Because it's Eddie's love.

And sooner than he would like, he drifts off to sleep.

❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖

Sometime later, he's woken by the answering machine's loud click and whirling. Sitting up and rubbing his eyes, he turns to find a completely flaked-out Eddie against the sofa. Head slumped back and mouth wide open. He decides not to move too much in case he wakes him.

"Please leave your message after the tone."

BEEEEEEEP

Then Steve hears the most high-pitched scream, and Eddie jolts awake, bumping into the back of him but instinctively wrapping Steve in his arms.

"Wh- who the…wha was that?" He mutters as Steve is about to stand up when the scream stops, and a familiar voice is heard.

"Oh. My. God! I can't fucking believe it. Are you guys serious? Like for real, for real? We have to meet up, we have to now!! We should… yeah, we should throw a party…right? Oh my god. Oh my god. Incredible news." Dustin yells excitably.

Eddie checks his watch, "It's fucking 2 in the fucking AM!!" He says through gritted teeth, "Stay here, babe. I'll be right back," he says as softly as he can, gets up, stalks to the phone and picks up the handset this time. "Listen here, you little shrimp!" He starts angrily, then silence. Steve, groggy and with eyes barely open, can’t help but peek around the cushion fort. "Well….thank you," Eddie says with a sweet bashful modesty, "Alright….yes! I'm aware," he says defensively, "Yeah, actually," he lets out a giggle and twirls the handset cord around his fingers, a big grin on his face, "Of course, I do....No, Dustin….Yes, of course, we were….Wow, didn't need that mental image….Yeah, I will….Uh-huh sure, tell ‘em, oh wait, little Wheeler is connected to Big Boss Wheeler, hold on….BABE? CAN DUSTIN TELL THE OTHER LITTLE SHRIMPS, OR DO YOU WANNA TELL ANYONE YOURSELF” Eddie yells, poking his head out of the kitchen. Steve waves him to continue. “No, you’re good….Yeah, man, love you too," he says sweetly. Then he clicks his fingers, "Oh, hold up, dude, I forgot something. DON'T CALL THIS HOUSE AT TWO FUCKING AM OR ANY SINGLE-DIGIT AM EVER AGAIN UNLESS IT IS A GODDAMN EMERGENCY!! GOODNIGHT!" he yells in his gremlin voice, slamming down the phone, jogs back to Steve, and just stands there looking at him for a while.

Steve rubs his eyes with a yawn, "He was just excited, honey. That's all" Steve raises his arms towards Eddie and waves him back towards the enclosure of soft furnishings.

"You know, sweetheart, you being so soft on those kids is precisely why he thought he could call you at 2am to explain he finally figured out we were together,"  Eddie says fondly, stepping slowly towards Steve.

"You love him too. I heard you." Steve smiles sleepily.

"Oh, so if you love him, he can just get away with whatever. Is that what you're saying, sweetheart?" Eddie asks with a smile.

"No, he was just excited, you know." Steve sleepily waves him over again, but Eddie raises a finger.

"Be right there, babe," he says before disappearing. Steve snuggles back up in his blanket and decides to fully lie down. 

A few moments later, he hears rapidly quickening footsteps, and the cushion wall to one side of him explodes with a manically smiling Eddie. Thankfully the layer of cushions that fell on Steve first softened the landing of Eddie on top of him.

"Eddie! What the hell, man?" Steve says, looking up at the enormous crazy smile on Eddie's face as he fidgets until his legs pin down Steve’s arms, “What are you doing?” Steve laughs.

“Writing my memoirs, of course!” Eddie’s eyes flash with that crazy look. He cracks his knuckles and wiggles his fingers in the air before focusing intensely on Steve’s chest and starts tapping on it lightly with his fingers. “Dearest Reader,” Eddie begins wistfully before raising a hand to the side of Steve’s face. He gently strokes his cheek before administering a slight sharp tap to it. “DING!” He says daintily.

Steve laughs, rolling his eyes, “Ok, ok, I get it.”

“You are my typewriter. You don’t talk.” Another light tap to his face “DING!” Eddie grins. “Double line spacing, babe,” Eddie's fingers start tapping away again, “Today has been quite the rollercoaster, I must say, but never the less a pleasurable ride, for today my escort was non-other than The Hair!” Eddie taps Steve’s face again. “DING! Oh, you know what? I might make a little space here for an illustration….DING! DING! DING! DING! DING!” A rapid succession of light, playful taps to Steve’s face.

“I know what you're trying to do. I’m not going to get annoyed” Steve is suddenly a lot more awake and deliberately defiant, “This isn’t my first rodeo. I am a father of two, Eddie.”

Eddie puffs up his cheeks and scrunches his nose in annoyance. His eyes narrow as he looks at Steve. He licks his thumb and wipes it across Steve’s forehead, “Simbaaaaaaaa,” he says. The wet saliva in the cool night air that Steve cannot wipe from his face is kind of annoying, but he’s been through worse. He blinks confidently up at Eddie with a slight smile.

Eddie leans back a little, taps his chin thoughtfully, and seems to have a Eureka moment, “Ok, this is your last chance. Just admit that there are things that people you love can do that are simply unforgivable, Steve, and this doesn't have to happen” Sure of himself and a little mischievous to best Eddie, Steve shakes his head in a no. Eddie lets out a dramatic sigh, “Ok, I guess you’re right, and it is like two in the morning. You win, Steve,” and Eddie lies down flat on the cushions on Steve, releasing his arms. He rests his chin on the pillow on Steve’s chest, “Party pooper,” he pouts, and as Steve motions to console his sore loser boyfriend, quick as a flash, Eddie's hand goes to the side of Steve’s head. Suddenly Steve feels a slight pain, and Eddie cackles loudly, pulling his fingers into Steve’s eye line. In between his fingers is one grey hair. Steve loses all composure.

“Eddie! If you pluck those things out, two grow in their place!” Steve clutches at the side of his head, and Eddie springs to his feet quickly to get out of reach of Steve. “After what you just did, you think you can outrun me?” Steve huffs as he struggles out from underneath a pile of soft furnishings, but all it does is make Eddies smile wider, and his nostrils flare.

“I know I can outrun you!” he boasts.

“We’ll see about that, you little shit!” Steve says as he tears after Eddie at full speed. Eddie yelps and runs into the other reception room, creating a standoff around a small coffee table. Eddie laughs wildly and makes a beeline for a door to the garden, and Steve chases after him in the darkness, hot on his heels, but he’s always just out of arm's reach. Suddenly Eddie stumbles down the other side of the hill by the basketball court, and Steve’s heart is in his mouth with worry, but as the garden security light flashes on, he can see he’s back on his feet, and then suddenly something occurs to Steve. He stops a little way back from Eddie, “You won. I got annoyed. Why are we running?” Steve asks, catching his breath, almost laughing himself. Eddie shrugs, looking at the floor and then looks back up at Steve through his lashes and sways from side to side a little. “You wanted me to chase you, didn't you?” Steve realises and folds his arms whilst Eddie tries to put on his most innocent face.

“A jock got mad near me, so I ran. Sue me. Then I remembered he’s my angry jock.” Eddie says with his hands at the small of his back as he kicks at the floor, a small smile reappearing on his face. “And he’s pretty handsome, you know? Even if he will end up with two grey hairs tomorrow. I’ll still find him handsome. Well, probably,” Eddie adds mischievously, and Steve is already running at him. Another hilarious noise of panic leaves Eddie as he tries to make it back to the house, but Steve cuts him off, and he has to double back and go further around. Then, with an audible plink, the security light goes out, and the area is plunged into darkness again. Eddie rounds the corner, and Steve can see him illuminated by the pool lights but keeps to the shadows. Eddie stops and looks uncertainly around, “Steve?” He whispers, a little worried. Steve waits a few seconds, “Ok, very funny, Steve! You can come out now,” he says. Steve pauses for another second for Eddie to face him, then charges to tackle him, sending them both flying into the pool with an almighty splash.

Steve pulls Eddie to the surface, and he gasps for air, “There’s my little drowned rat, nerdy guy,” Steve laughs, “Gotcha!” he says, pulling Eddie close to him.

“Oh no!” Eddie puts the back of his hand to his head dramatically, “Whatever shall I do? I’ve been captured by a handsome man in his heated pool.”

“Well, you could start with an apology, maybe?” Steve suggests.

“Oh, that’s a shame. But, you know, I’m not very good at those.” Eddie smirks, looking into Steve’s eyes.

“No?” Steve says quietly, caught in the tractor beams of Eddie's obsidian-looking eyes in the darkness, only highlighted by the reflection of the pool lights. 

Eddie shakes his head in a no, and his hands come up from the water to capture Steve’s face. “I am, however, very good at kissing things better,” Eddie says, his gaze dropping to Steve’s mouth.

Steve chuckles lightly, “I don’t think that’s where you did the damage, babe.”

“You don’t think so? Maybe we could start there? A process of elimination, maybe?” Eddie raises an eyebrow.

“Whatever you say, Doc,” Steve mutters, wholly lost in his love, as Eddie drags him back under the water surface with a kiss.