#you don’t need to be useful to be our friend YOU DONT NEED TO EARN LOVE | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

havecourage-darling · 2 years ago

Text

That boy is mine now // Eddie Munson

Prompt: “Apparently all of our friends have a bet going on when we’ll get together.”

A fic that absolutely no one asked for based loosely around Avril Lavigne’s song sk8r boi (our boy gets his heart broken but lucky for him you’re there to pick up the pieces, strangers-friends-to-lovers, slice of life vibes)

wc: 26k (i dont know what to say lmao)

*as always, adopted female reader with (hopefully) no references to race or weight. Masterlist || AO3

He was a boy, she was a girl, can I make it any more obvious? He was a punk, she did ballet, what more can I say?

The first time you saw Eddie Munson you were hiding in the trees on your first day of school.

Despite protesting the entire month, your parents had decided to uproot your whole life and drop it in this middle of fucking nowhere town, Hawkins Indiana. Your father had decided it’d be good for you all to be by family. Hilariously ironic considering both your dad and your aunt and uncle were never around anyway.

Taking a deep drag from your cigarette you rubbed your temple, a desperate attempt to assuage the migraine that was building. You weren’t used to being the center of attention – your old school was too big and got new students almost every semester – but you guessed it made sense, considering the population of the entire town rivaled the one of your old neighborhood. Kicking a few leaves around, you frowned. It was so fucking quiet here at night.

“Who leaves New York City for Indiana?” You huffed to yourself, already missing your best friend so much it’d felt like someone had amputated a limb. You two had known each other since kindergarten – besides, she’d know how to handle the stares you’d gotten all day.

You’d taken two steps into the hallway, one of Steve’s friends guiding you to the office, and it’d felt like the metaphorical crowds had descended. To be fair, Robin had tried to warn you that everyone would be curious – she’d even offered to have you sit with her at lunch but the need for a cigarette had been clawing at you from the moment you’d woken up. God this was a shitshow.

The constant questions about what New York was like, what music did you listen to, were those real tattoos? Were endless.

It didn’t matter, you told yourself, it was your senior year and you just needed to make it through before you could make your own way back to the northeast. Back to your real home.

The sound of crunching leaves brought you out of your depressive spiral and you instinctively dropped behind the trunk of the tree you were leaning against. “Shit,” you hissed, throwing the cigarette onto the ground and stubbing it out. Great, it was the first day of school and you were already about to earn a detention. For smoking. Your mother was going to strangle you.

Then, you heard giggling. Peeking from around the tree, you watched as a blonde cheerleader bounced in front of a boy you faintly recognized. Robin had waved to him in first period, Marty? Mason? The only reason he’d stood out was because he didn’t look like a carbon copy of everyone else. He’d had an old Metallica shirt on and wild curly hair – you thought you’d seen a tattoo peeking out from his collar.

“Eddie, you know we can’t – Jason would kill me. The girls, they would never…they wouldn’t understand,” the girl sighed.

“Yeah, I know,” Eddie said, wincing, “but the concert is two towns over. I could drive us and no one would recognize us.”

Guilt flashed across the cheerleader’s expression before schooling it into a pleading one. “You said you wouldn’t push me when it came to this.”

“I know,” Eddie sighed, running a frustrated hand through his hair, “but it’s been almost four months Chrissy.”

Well shit, you thought, catching yourself leaning forward and feeling conflicted at the accidental eavesdropping. It’s too late now, you were in this.

Chrissy’s face softened into something real and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Be patient with me, please. I like it when it’s just us two, in our own world. Don’t you?”

You cringed, you had an inkling about what was happening and you felt for Eddie.

“Yeah,” Eddie said, his voice sounding defeated. “Of course I do sweetheart.”

“Great, shoot, is that the time? I’m going to be late. I’ll see you after Hellfire, okay?”

You watched her reach up and kiss him quickly before darting up the hill towards the football field you’d crossed. The muscles in your legs ached from your frozen squat and you needed Eddie to run along after her so you could finish your smoke break in peace.

Instead, he walked over to the decrepit looking wooden bench and slumped onto the table.

“Fuck,” you muttered to yourself, the beginning of a cramp building in your left calf. Crab walking a few yards away, under the cover of a few trees, you finally stood and shook out your leg. If you crouched down far enough, you’d be able to sneak away through the side of the parking lot-

“Who’s there?” Eddie’s voice cut through the silence of the forest.

Shit. Well, there was no point in running away, your lungs weren’t built for that anyway. Acting oblivious and oh-look-I-didn’t-see-you-there it was.

“Uh, sorry,” you said, stepping out from behind the trees, adding some confusion to your expression. “I came out for a smoke and got a little lost.” You lifted the pack of cigarettes in your left hand as if he’d been asking for proof.

Eddie straightened, eyes looking a little panicked as they darted to where the cheerleader – Chrissy – had just disappeared through. When his eyes shot back to you, you tried your best to keep your expression neutral.

“Are you a student? I don’t know you and everyone here knows everyone,” Eddie said and you noted the bitterness in his voice.

With a tentative step closer, you pushed your pack into your jacket’s pocket and shrugged. “I’m new,” you said, not being able to help the sad sigh that came after that.

At the sound, the corner of Eddie’s mouth tilted up. “You sound excited to be here.”

“We moved from New York City,” you explained, “no offense to your little town here but it’s got nothing on the city that never sleeps.”

Eddie’s eyes widened, his brown eyes flashing. “New York? Dude, no way! I’ve always wanted to go there. What’s it like?”

You walked over to the table, sitting carefully across from him on the splintering wood and dropped your weight onto your elbows. “It can be shitty – dirty and loud but man, it’s home, you know?” Your gaze drifted over his shoulder, imagining what you’d be doing if you were back. “My best friends and I would get breakfast at a bodega by our apartment building, best bagels in the city.”

Something like recognition lit up his face. “Wait, you’re the new girl…you’re Harrington’s cousin, from France or something,” Eddie said, eyes trailing down your face. “You two don’t look related.”

Snorting, Eddie’s neck went splotchy as he winced. “I didn’t mean for that to sound that way.”

“It’s fine,” you said, waving him off, “I’m not from France. I told one of the preppy girls who wouldn’t leave me alone that we’d just gone to Paris over the summer and apparently that makes me French.”

Eddie snorted. “That’s small towns for you, news travels fast and it’s not always correct,” he said, definitely bitter this time.

“What, so you’re not actually a devil worshiper?” You asked, eyes widening for effect.

At that, he rolled his eyes. “Dungeons and Dragons is a game. I don’t know why everyone thinks we’re worshiping Satan. And even if we were, technically it’s no one’s business.”

“Oh shit,” you sputtered, realizing you’d hit too close to home by accident, “is that actually what people say? I was just fucking with you.”

Eddie chuckled, shaking his head. “Well, when you eventually hear all about it – know that only half of it is true.”

“The Devil worship part?” You teased, wanting to help the defensive glint in his eyes.

Eddie finally smiled and nodded. “Obviously,” he said and nodded to your black jeans and jacket, “although considering we’ve got pretty similar style if you’re not careful their wrath’ll turn on you.”

You looked down at your usual outfit for the fall: t-shirt, denim jacket, ripped jeans, and your all-stars. Eddie definitely wore his style with more grunge than you but you were far from a metalhead back home. Clearly, that was something to avoid here. Your school had popular kids but no one was overtly in your face about it – shit, is that something you had to worry about now? You groaned internally.

“I’m adopted,” you said, wincing at the awkwardness that settled after that. “That’s why we don’t look alike – me and Steve.”

“Oh,” Eddie nodded, noting your subject change, “that’s cool.”

“It’s not when they drag you over state lines in your senior year of high school,” you huffed, “I wanted to go to prom with Kevin Singh.” You thought back to the boy in your class.

His brows rose, a smile teasing as he leaned in. “Boyfriend?”

You smiled, scrunching your nose at him. “No, I wish. He was my lab partner in Chemistry last year. He didn’t know I was alive, much less interested.”

“I know the feeling,” Eddie muttered, hands opening the lunch box near him and pulling out a joint.

Eyes following his fingers, you noticed something and perked up. “What do you play? Guitar? You guessed.

Eddie paused midway to lighting his joint and eyed you. “How’d you know?”

“Calluses on your fingers, guitar pick necklace, Metallica t-shirt, not hard to spot a metalhead when you see one,” you said, resting your chin against your palm.

“You play?” Eddie asked, smiling.

Shrugging, you eyed the flame from his lighter. “Shouldn’t you already know, considering small towns and all?”

Eddie tossed his head back and laughed. That, out of everything, struck you. He had a nice laugh.

“Fair,” he said, snorting once more and you hated how endearing it made him. Eddie offered you the joint and you glanced back at the school. What the hell, your parents wouldn’t be home to hear the message the school left saying you’d missed a few periods anyway. With a shrug, you grabbed it and took an inhale. “Wait,” you grunted as you exhaled, “I’m going to reek of weed and I don’t have anything to cover it up.”

“I got it,” Eddie said, rummaging around in a metal lunch box. He popped out a small body spray, looking confused, and his face flushed. He tried to quickly shove it to the bottom of the box but it’d been too late, you’d seen the label.

“Cinnamon Sugar Cookie scented?” You asked, a smile growing despite your attempts to smother your laughter.

“I-” Eddie sputtered, clearly not knowing how to admit that it wasn’t his, “I could like Cinnamon scented things.”

You laughed harder at his defensive tone and by habit reached out to smack his shoulder as tears almost leaked out your eyes. “You should’ve seen the horror in your face,” you snickered, reaching out for the body spray. “Oh, come on,” you said when he stayed frozen, “I already saw it. Just hand it over, I’d rather smell like a preteen girl than like I just came out a frat party. I’ve still got like two periods before I can go home.”

Eddie reluctantly handed it over to you, his eyes looking panicked again.

“I promise I won’t tell anyone,” you said, avoiding his gaze. Your mind flashed back to the tiny cheerleader and her arms wrapped around his neck. If New Yorkers knew anything, it was how to mind their business.

“Tell anyone about what?” He asked, cautious.

Forcing your eyes to meet his, you chewed on your cheek before taking another drag and handing him the joint back. You thought back on your dad, his disappointment in you, your interests, hobbies, grades, and you felt for Eddie – you knew what it was like to have someone wish you were something else.

A memory of Steve a few years ago, hair shorter and a sneer etched onto his face, eyes always darting to your uncle. Yeah, you thought, your family was intimately aware of what it felt like to crave approval like oxygen. To want to mold yourself so you could get just a scrap of affection.

“Anything that happened here,” you said, nodding to the joint and standing up with the spray in hand, “or anything I may or may not have heard.”

Eddie’s face blanched. You sprayed yourself a few times and instantly started coughing. “Jesus, that's some strong preppy ass perfume,” you waved your hand in front of your face, trying to get the smell out your nostrils. “What I’m trying to say is that maybe small-town people like to talk shit but, where I’m from – we know how to mind our business. So, you don’t need to worry about me, okay?” You grabbed your backpack from the ground and pulled it over your shoulder.

Realizing you meant it; Eddie shot you a grateful look. “Thanks.”

Waving it away, you motioned to the school. “Don’t mention it, Sugar,” you said, winking when his expression shifted.

As you walked away, Eddie’s laughter rang through the trees – following you as you walked further away from him. Your heart sputtered awake and you slapped it back into place. He clearly had some complicated things going on. Not the right person. Especially not in this tiny ass town. You refused to be stuck here, no matter what friends you made along the way. Glancing back at his smiling face, you sighed.

Shit, he really did have a nice laugh.

He wanted her, she'd never tell, secretly she wanted him as well. But all of her friends stuck up their nose, they had a problem with his baggy clothes.

You were starving. Grumbling as you pulled your backpack over your shoulder, you hurried down the hall and towards the cafeteria. Of all the days to have one of your teachers hold you back – to ask about how you were adjusting no less. As if any of them cared.

Hawkins was the worst, you grunted, almost colliding with a jock who glared at you. Shooting him a withering look back, you sidestepped his posse.

“Hey Harrington!” Jeremy, your partner from theater called out. You smiled and waved at him as you jogged towards the double doors.

“See you last period sunshine!” You replied, laughing when he stuck out his tongue at the inside joke.

Okay, so, maybe Hawkins wasn’t the absolute worst.

You weren’t sure if it had a lot to do with the fact that you were new but you’d managed to make a few friends in most of your classes. Bursting through the doors, you hurried towards the food and sighed when you finally grabbed one of the last normal looking sandwiches.

“Hey, sitting with us today?” Brianna asked, bumping her hip with yours. Smiling, you bumped her back and grabbed an apple before walking backwards towards your usual table.

“Tomorrow? I promise?” You laughed when she rolled her eyes, knowing that while you bounced around – you usually sat with –

“Harrington!” Dustin’s voice called out for you, hand waving in the air like he was hard to miss.

Brianna smiled when you shot her an apologetic look. “Go on,” she said, “see you after school.”

You’d met Brianna at band practice – where you sat on the bleachers and waited for Robin – the entire band had welcomed you into their circle, thanks to Robin. Jeremy, and the rest of the theater club, had also befriended you after you’d defended them against some stupid jock with an inferiority complex.

“I’m coming Henderson!” You shouted back when he called you again. You waved to Brian and Amanda, those two had pulled you into the book club with them after you’d gotten a job at the arcade and were surprised to see them working there too.

While you did have to admit, you had made friends a lot faster than you’d thought you would – your dumbest decision was managing to migrate into Eddie’s world. Not because he did satanic rituals like Jason loved to boast, but because you loved to make your life complicated and had managed to develop an incredibly soft spot for him.

You’d barely put a foot in the door on your second day of school and he’d tucked you under his arm, promising to show you where all the cool kids hung out. And, well, shit – you might’ve gotten a little addicted to the sound of his laughter and the way he enthusiastically poured himself into everything he did.

So, here you were, two months into having moved to this shithole and you managed to spend most your time with the entire Hellfire club. Eddie had wasted no time dragging you to the Hide Out for his performances and to his trailer to meet his uncle Wayne.

Letting your backpack slide off into your lap, you tossed an arm around Dustin and Jeff. You bit back a smile when they eyed you suspiciously. “Who do you two love most in the world?”

“Suzie.”

Jeff nodded, “My dog.”

Rolling your eyes, you elbowed them both. “Wrong answer, you’re meant to say me,” you said, rummaging around in your bag. You handed Jeff the book you’d found last night and Dustin the comic he’d been looking for.

Both of them squealed, startling you, and you found yourself smushed between them in a massive hug.

“Revising your previous answers?” You asked smugly.

“Yes!” Dustin said, shaking you. “I can’t believe you’re just giving this to me? Are you sure?”

Jeff was more awed, his eyes sparkling. “Dude, this is a first edition.”

Your dad had an extensive library but you knew it was born out of wanting to have things to show off rather than any actual interest in literature. Jeff had practically salivated at a familiar book downtown when you were out together last weekend and you had sworn that you’d recognized it. Dustin had been searching for a limited-edition X-men comic and almost cried when every store you took him to was sold out. Both of which, you managed to find in boxes hidden away in the basement. Since your dad wouldn’t miss it, you’d handed them to people who would.

“Why are you two screaming like little girls?” Eddie asked, shoving Jeff away and sitting down next to you. Ignoring the way your heart picked up its pace, you smiled when he leaned into you. From the first day that you’d sat with them, Eddie had made it a point to always sit next to you.

“We’re best friends now, Harrington, there’s no use fighting it,” he’d joked when you pointed it out.

Dustin and Jeff rushed to explain, both of them already looking through their gifts, when you felt Eddie elbow you. “That was nice of you.”

“I’m a nice person, Munson,” you said with a pointed look, “besides, my parents won’t even know they’re gone. The books should be with people who appreciate the real worth of it, not hide them away in a basement - you know?” You took a bite out of your sandwich, wincing when you felt the wilted lettuce hit your tongue.

At the lack of response, you glanced up at Eddie and realized he was staring at you meaningfully. Your eyes widened when you realized how backhanded your comment had sounded. Freezing, you swallowed around the bite of food.

“What if they’re not worth much?” Eddie asked quietly, eyes shifting over your shoulder, to where you knew the jocks and cheerleaders sat.

Angry at this thing you both knew about but never mentioned, your eyes drifted over to Chrissy’s back – her ponytail high with a bow tied securely at the base. You hated how small Eddie seemed to get at any reference to her. You hadn’t known him for long, but you knew a great person when you saw one – and your dislike for Chrissy only grew every time you saw the kicked puppy look in his eyes.

Moving without thinking too hard about it, you tapped Eddie’s jaw - ignoring the zing it sent down your hand - and waited until his eyes came back to yours.

“Those books are priceless, okay? And their worth shouldn’t be dependent on what others think, especially not ones who…put books down in the basement, hidden away.”

Dustin’s curls shifted in your peripheral. “I mean, it’s a limited edition but it’s not priceless,” he whispered to Mike, who was eagerly looking through it too. Eddie, however, knew what you weren’t saying – especially considering how his eyes softened into something that resembled gratitude. Your heart thumped against your ribcage, like it always did when his eyes were on you.

Feeling mortified at your lack of subtly, you stood quickly. “Well, I promised Robin I’d sit with her today,” you lied, scrambling onto your feet.

A hand on your wrist stopped you. The warm metal of his rings made you glance down at his fingers. Eddie’s nails were still black, the polish chipped at the edges, from when you’d painted them when he’d been over your house last Saturday. His gaze on you was unreadable and a little guarded. “Only a few months in and already such a social butterfly?” Eddie smiled, teasing. “I didn’t know we had such a hot commodity gracing us for lunch.”

Gareth snorted and you shot him a glare. “I can’t help it if people find my presence fun,” you joked, starting to sweat. Dustin’s eyes caught yours, a knowing look in them.

Fuck, you needed to get the hell out of here.

“Remember, I stumbled onto you first,” he joked, eyes flashing a little and you hated how you wanted to preen at the fact that he seemed protective over you. Get it together, you screamed at your heart, he’s not interested.

With a small smile, you took a few steps away and watched as his hand fell away. “Don’t worry Sugar,” you said, biting back a smile when he laughed at the now-familiar nickname, “I won’t stay away for too long.”

The first inkling that maybe Eddie was the only one blind to your feelings came a few weeks later, when you were sitting on the counter next to your grumbling cousin.

“Do you guys think I’m overreacting?” Robin asked, hands on her hips.

You shook your head and pointed at her. “Definitely not. If she asked you to call her later and you waited a day, that’s like – later, right?”

“That’s what I said!” She exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air.

Nodding emphatically, you let her ramble her most recent encounter with Vickie out her system. She’d never calm down otherwise.

“Don’t you have a job, like a few yards to the left?” Steve asked, as you stole another fry from his lunch.

“What would our parents say if they heard you, Steven?” You gasped, hand clutching your chest dramatically.

Steve snorted, elbowing you gently. “Nothing, considering they barely see each other.”

“Which is hilarious considering they dragged me down to this hellhole because we needed to be by family,” you said, bursting out laughing when Steve cracked a smile.

“Why is that funny?” Robin asked.

Steve put a hand on his stomach, looking like he was about to tear up – which in turn, only made you laugh harder. “B-because,” you stammered around your laughter, “we live right next to each other and the only people in our houses are us.”

“Now, at least, we can grab dinner for two most days,” Steve said, grunting when you grabbed another fry. “Harrington families like to forget they have children. I think only cousins and siblings really like each other.”

“Ironic, considering they picked me out,” you joked morbidly. Robin looked at you horrified but Steve just laughed, used to the adoption jokes. You snorted, chewing on the salted goodness thoughtfully. “Which reminds me, wanna just order pizza today?”

Steve nodded, guarding his fries more fervently.

“You guys aren’t normal; you know that right?” Robin said, shaking her head.

Sticking out your tongue, you had a quip ready when someone interrupted. “That’s what makes her so intriguing,” a new voice said, startling the three of you. Snapping your head back to glance at the door, you grinned when you saw Eddie standing there.

“Hey Sugar,” you said, tilting your head back as he reached out to steady you, “thought you had band practice?”

“Gareth’s parents came home early, ripped him a new one for failing his English test,” Eddie explained.

You sighed. “I told him! But he refuses to let me help him study.”

“I know, Jeff said the same thing.”

Throwing a hand up in the air. “Yeah, I helped Jeff pass his midterm – I know what I’m talking about! I’m in AP English!”

“I know,” Eddie smiled, laughter trickling down into your hair and onto your skin. You shivered, gaze going up to him as he teased Robin after running into her that morning with Vickie.

Releasing his hold on you, he grabbed a few tapes from the romantic comedy section and watched Robin raise her brows. “That’s a new one,” she said, shooing you off the counter to check him out.

Eddie’s face turned red and you felt your chest constrict. Eddie liked to watch horror or cheesy action films. So, you knew who these were for.

“I’m a man of many interests,” he said, avoiding your eyes. You busied yourself with taking a sip of Steve’s milkshake.

“Right,” Robin said dryly, hanging him the tapes. “See you Monday?”

“Yeah, see you Harrington,” Eddie said, stepping forward as if to reach for you. Steve, however, stepped forward and offered him an awkward fist bump. You stared at Steve’s back, recognizing the protective action for what it was, and waved at Eddie as he walked out.

Robin pulled her vest off and pointed to Chinese takeout restaurant at the end of the strip. “I’m going to grab my lunch if you guys want anything?”

“No, I’m not hungry – I’ve got Steve’s lunch, thanks,” you said, laughing when Steve glared at you.

“So,” Steve hummed, eyes avoiding yours.

Realizing the time, you stepped around the counter and pulled your bag onto your shoulder. Brian’s break was up next and you knew he wanted to return a few books to the library across town. “Spit it out Steve,” you said.

“Eddie’s complicated right now,” he said quietly, tone unsure, “I see how you look at him. How he acts around you – it’s not…he may like you too but it’s just…bad timing. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Equal parts mortified that he’d seen through you so easily and touched that he cared enough to mention something, you hugged him as you passed by. “I know,” you said, not wanting to go back on your promise to Eddie, “his sights are set on someone else, and I’m painfully aware of that.”

Steve shot you a knowing look and you realized he probably suspected. “Thanks, for warning me though,” you said, bumping your shoulder with his affectionately.

“He’s a good guy, he’s just got shit to figure out first and I don’t want you to get caught up in it.”

You pulled the door and smiled. “I know, see you for dinner Stevie?”

“Yeah – and stop calling me that!”

“Is that Eddie?” Robin asked you, both of you cutting through the football field to get to the parking lot. “Shit, that’s Gareth on the floor.”

Your head whirled around towards the far left and you growled when you saw a sprawled Gareth bleeding on the floor. Eddie managed to dodge the first swing but you quickened your pace when he doubled over with the second one.

Robin broke through the throng of people and immediately walked over to Gareth, who looked like he’d taken a punch to the nose. Liam stood, frozen, in the clutches of a football player. Behind both of them you saw Jeff, Dustin, Mike, and Lucas looking worse for wear by the bleachers. Furious, and mostly acting on instinct, you shoved Jason hard and he stumbled back.

“Don’t know how to pick on someone your own size, Carver?” You asked, making sure the guys were okay. Dustin nodded, his eyes flashing.

Ignoring you, Jason laughed. “Oh look, your girlfriend’s here to save you Munson,” Jason snapped, hard glint in his eye. His gaze trailed down your body and he shook his head. “Such a shame to see another Harrington be such a loser.” Eddie used your outstretched hand to steady himself. He clamped down on your arm when you hissed at the sight of the blooming bruise on his jaw.

“Shut the fuck up, you moron,” you hissed back at Jason. His groupies all laughed, as if amused, and you felt your temper flare.

Eddie’s grip on your arm was tight, trying to pull you back but you shook him off. “Don’t,” he whispered, “it’ll only get worse and they’re not worth it.”

At that moment, a blonde curled ponytail caught your eye. You watched as Chrissy chewed on her nail, eyes worriedly darting up to Eddie’s split eyebrow. Of course, this was about her, it always had something to do with her. “You can’t be serious,” you said, eyes still on Chrissy. Hers snapped up to you, guilty expression rearing as she ducked her head.

“Let it go,” Eddie said again, grip on you tightening when he saw who you were glaring at.

These were your friends and you weren’t letting anyone fuck with them. “They might not be worth it, but you are,” you snapped at him, yanking your arm out from his.

Cracking your fingers, you stepped up to Jason. “I’ll give you one free punch,” you said, “then we’ll go for it.”

His posse laughed like you’d told the most hilarious joke in the world. “What? How precious, his little girlfriend is going to fight his battles for him. You’re both fucking garbage – but I gotta tell you sweetheart, you can do so much better than him. Just say the word and we can work something out,” his eyes lowered onto your cleavage and you fought the urge to gag.

“Not even in your fucking dreams Carver.”

Eddie growled, straightening at the implication but you held up your hand. His stupid friends chuckled, like he’d told the funniest joke ever and you shrugged. Clenching your hands and steadying your feet like your friends back home had taught you, you lunged forward. Your knuckles creaked painfully as you collided with his stomach, but you grinned triumphantly when Jason doubled over; groaning, and his lackeys scrambled to his aid.

“You bitch,” Jason shouted, voice shrill, as he clutched at his stomach. “You fucking worthless grunge bitch!”

“Don’t talk to her like that!” Eddie shouted, swinging and landing another punch on Jason. They both went down tumbling, when Patrick reached for Eddie. You shoved him, feet coming out to kick the other idiot who was inching towards a stumbling Gareth.

Eyeing a discarded bat from baseball practice earlier, you lunged for it and raised it up.

“You wouldn’t,” Chase said, brows rising as he froze in his spot. Chase was the most tolerable of Jason’s friends – he’d never been outright mean to you and you felt a twinge of regret before tightening the grip on the bat.

“Try me,” you sneered.

Chase stepped back, arms up. “Hey, I know Harrington guys – she’s not fucking around. Let’s just go,” he said, pulling Patrick back by the jacket.

Realizing it wasn’t an easy fight like he’d thought Jason spat out blood and wiped his mouth with the back of his wrist. His gaze went around to you all but your blood froze when it lingered on Eddie. Fuck.

“Whatever,” Jason said, turning to you, “watch your back bitch.”

The guys stalked off but you saw a few cheerleaders hesitate. Chrissy’s worried gaze bounced from Eddie’s to you.

“Chrissy, come on!” One of the other cheerleaders hissed at her. “Who knows what they’ll do.”

“Yeah, right,” she said, letting herself be pulled away.

Eddie’s eyes fell to the floor as she said nothing but turned to walk away. You watched her glance back a few times, having at least the decency to look ashamed.

Not wanting to spare her any more effort, you turned to see your bloody friends and sighed when Jeff groaned from the bleachers. Robin’s fingers tentatively took the bat from your tight grip and you let her. Loosening your hold, adrenaline crawling back, you winced when at the blooming ache in your knuckles.

A cold hand came up to take yours, Eddie’s expression both grateful and a little sad. “I’m going to have a bruise tomorrow,” you sighed. His mouth turned down, thumb coming to caress your swelling knuckles. Remembering Steve’s warning, you pulled your hand from his and walked over to check on Gareth. You felt Eddie’s eyes on your back as you leaned over him, checking his nose. “It’s not broken, but you’ll have a hell of a bruise.”

Gareth groaned as you touched it softly, his hand fisting your jacket in pain. “At least you’ll look badass,” you whispered. Jeff, seated next to him, snorted and groaned – a hand coming up to his ribs.

Standing up, you dusted your palms on your thighs – ignoring Eddie’s searching eyes – and grabbed your backpack. “Let’s get the hell out of here. I got room for three more in my car.”

Lucas, Mike, and Dustin immediately followed you and Robin like ducklings. Eddie cleared his throat but you didn’t turn around.

“Thanks,” he said and you knew Robin was rolling her eyes. Her hand reached out for your unbruised one and she squeezed.

“Anytime,” you called back, continuing on towards the parking lot. You were fuming, not at anyone in particular but – just at life. Why did Eddie let himself be shoved aside by someone who wasn’t worth it? Your feelings aside, Eddie was your friend and it hurt you to see him clearly so into someone who wouldn’t fight for him.

The group was silent until you were out the parking lot.

“Well,” Dustin said, breaking the silence, “at least one Harrington knows how to win a fight.”

At that, you finally smiled.

He was a skater boy, she said, "See you later, boy.” He wasn't good enough for her. She had a pretty face, but her head was up in space. She needed to come back down to earth.

It wasn’t exactly a secret that you didn’t like Chrissy Cunningham. You knew she was the school’s darling, with her wide pretty eyes and bouncy blonde hair – honestly, how was that fair? How did anyone compete with that? Even her stupid eyelashes were pretty.

She’d been perfectly nice to you the few times you’d interacted, even after you suspected she knew that you were aware of whatever she and Eddie had. You only shared one class with her – your second period AP English class. She was smart and always kind to anyone you saw her talking to – alone. Ironic, considering she tended to keep to the back whenever Jason was tormenting someone.

Somehow, that infuriated you more. She could be perfectly normal with everyone but the one person you knew craved her attention the most. Sometimes, when you felt her eyes on you in class, you got the feeling that she liked him just as much as he did. You could see it in the way her eyes searched him out first, the way she ducked her head when anyone was rude to him, or the way she shot you grateful looks when you defended him.

Which, annoyed the shit out of you. Because it meant she clearly cared for him, she was just too scared to show it. And you couldn’t help but have a little sympathy for her – you knew what it was like to feel trapped by people and expectations you didn’t meet. It could be debilitating.

“Harrington,” your teacher called out, “you’re with Cunningham.”

Groaning internally, you startled when you saw her already settling in the chair next to yours. “I wasn’t paying attention,” you admitted openly, “I have no idea what we’re partnered for.”

Chrissy laughed lightly and you frowned. Even her fucking laugh was pretty.

“It’s just a in-class assignment. Here,” she showed you her notes and you nodded.

Pulling your book out from your backpack, you made a face at it and laughter fell from her lips.

“What?” You asked, thumbing through to the chapter you needed.

“Nothing, it’s just-” Chrissy cleared her throat, voice softening, “your expressions, you’re like – an open book.”

Trying to remain neutral you rose a brow at her.

“It’s refreshing,” she admitted, “sometimes it feels like everyone has a hidden agenda. Since you moved here, you’ve always been brutally honest. That’s why…Jason wanted you to join us at the beginning of the year.”

At that, you snorted. “Right, because I look like someone who Jason Carver would get along with.”

“No, I suppose not,” Chrissy admitted and you rolled your eyes. “But you did catch his eye, if that’s something you’d like.”

Not able to help your laugh, you smothered it quickly. “Most people aren’t attracted to those that bully their friends, Cunningham. I wouldn’t let Jason touch me for all the money in the world.”

She fell quiet.

Taking the next few minutes, you wrote out the answer to the first three questions and handed the paper off to Chrissy. She nodded, scribbling in the last bit at the end and passing the paper back.

You both sat in silence for a while, as you edited through the few paragraphs you had, but you could feel her stare on your face.

“Just say what you want to say,” you said without missing a beat.

“I want to thank you, for being his friend,” Chrissy said, “for standing up for him.”

A spark of anger burned in your chest and you tried your best so it wouldn’t take over you. “I’m not doing it for you, or looking for any gratitude. I’d do it for any of my friends. Ask Chase, he was being an asshole to the band kids last month and I threw my textbook at his head. Had detention for a week. He bitched about it for weeks.”

“I know,” she said quickly, “I just – I…I do really like him.”

Fighting the urge to roll your eyes, you nodded. “Sure.” She really had one hell of a way to show it. If that’s what liking someone looked like, you hoped to never fall in love in this town.

Her brow twitched in annoyance and you felt a little proud of yourself for breaking through her façade. “You don’t know what it’s like for me,” she snapped, “what my life is like.”

“You’re right,” you said, turning to finally look at her, “but I do know that regardless, it makes you a liar.”

Her eyes flashed. “No one would approve of him. Not my parents, not my friends, no one,” Chrissy said, her tone angry. You froze, panicking. You’d never spoken openly about this – to anyone. Certainly not to Chrissy fucking Cunningham. “I can’t ruin everything I’ve built for something fleeting. He’s…you know how he is.”

Fleeting? What a bitch.

“Then let him go,” you hissed back at her, “stop prolonging the inevitable. You just stood by and watched as they beat up him and his friends. Who does that? Who lets that happen to someone they care about?”

Chrissy frowned, petulant. When she didn’t answer, and avoided your look, you sighed.

“That’s what makes you a bad person,” you said, “you’re not thinking of him. You’re only thinking of yourself. What you want. What you get from him. You don’t see how you drain him. You’re turning him into someone I don’t recognize. He wouldn’t ruin anything. He’s-” perfect the way he is, you thought, bringing your gaze up to her. “He’s a good person and you just take and take anddon’t care. You might be a decent person going through a shitty situation but so is everyone else. Be fucking honest with yourself and go sell your ‘poor me’ story to someone who cares.”

With that, you ripped out your paper and handed it to the teacher. He nodded approvingly and you stalked out of class. Running off towards the bathroom, you locked yourself into a stall and rubbed at your head.

Shit, what had you done?

“Holy shit, I’m so drunk,” Steve said sloppily, drink sloshing out his cup. You laughed, happy that Steve had finally managed to loosen up. Searching out for the redheaded girl he’d come with; you saw her dancing with her friends – looking just as drunk.

“Robin?” You called out, her frizzy hair popping out from around the corner where she was waiting in line to the bathroom. “We need to remember to drop off Steve’s girl – she’s wasted too.”

“Jesus Steve,” Robin admonished, “we’ve been here for like an hour.” She fixed her cowboy hat and disappeared from sight.

Steve just smiled dumbly at you, chewing absently on some chips he’d found in the kitchen. “Okay, stay here,” you told him, “I’m just going to go to the bathroom really quickly and I’ll be right out.”

He nodded, grinning and you sighed when you stepped into the bathroom after Robin. She hopped onto the counter as you disappeared into the room with the toilet – honestly, what house was so big it had a room inside the bathroom for the toilet? And that was coming from you. “Did you see Eddie?” Robin called out.

“What?” You sputtered, hurrying out. “I thought Jason and company was here.”

“They are,” she sighed. “They tend to avoid parties the other will be at but…”

Of course, you frowned. “Adam asked him to come by to sell,” you finished for her.

Robin nodded, watching you as you washed your hands and shrugged. “So far there’s been no incidents. You’re having fun, right?” She asked and you smiled. You knew she was worried she’d dragged you along to Adam’s Halloween party for nothing but you had already promised Adam you’d come. He was the tuba player and he’d been anxious that no one would show up considering he was hosting it a week before Halloween. Unfortunately for him, half the school had descended.

“Come on, let’s go before Steve starts anything,” you said, pulling her out. The second you rounded the corner you groaned.

“What? What?” Robin asked, peeking over your shoulder. “Ugh, Dingus.”

Steve had disappeared, the hallway empty save for three girls waiting for their turn.

“You take the basement?” You asked her.

Robin sighed, “Yeah. You take the main floor – I’ll meet you in the kitchen in a few.”

“Alright,” you said, marching out into the chaos. You searched for Steve’s costume – a store bought Indiana Jones – and winced when someone smacked into you.

“Sorry!” The person slurred, jumping along to the music. You rubbed your shoulder and came up empty. Weaving your way through the crowd, you tried to make your way towards the kitchen – maybe Robin had more luck.

“Oh my God!” A loud shriek startled you. “You clumsy bitch! You ruined my fucking costume!”

Startled, you turned to glance at the sound and saw a cowering girl you faintly recognized from the theater club. Courtney? Claire? You squinted again as a cheerleader stomped forward, shoving the girl back into a corner. The small girl cried out, hand shooting up to her shoulder. “I’m s-sorry! It was an accident!”

Without thinking twice, you walked over to them and placed yourself in front of the freshman. “Alright, everyone, take a breather,” you said.

The girl behind you clutched at your shirt, hands shaking. “Of course, it’s Harrington – you never know how to mind your own business, do you?” You quirked your brow, recognizing Brittney instantly.

“Hey Brittney,” you said, rolling your eyes, “always a pleasure. I’m going to guess the poorly dressed nurse is Linda? Yep. What would you two ever do without each other?”

“Shut up,” Linda snapped, chomping at her gum. What a cliché.

“What’s going on?” A third voice joined. You glanced to the side and saw Chrissy, dressed as firefighter. “What happened?”

“Your two friends don’t know how to pick on someone their own size. Claire here – it’s Claire, right?” She nodded, eyes wide and terrified. “Claire accidentally spilled her soda on Brittney – who doesn’t know how to take an apology without being a bitch,” you said, shooting her a fake wide grin.

Brittney’s face twisted and you knew this was far from over. “Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”

Snorting, you crossed your arms. “Alright relax terminator-”

“Come on guys, let’s just go,” Chrissy said.

Her sharp blue eyes whipped to Chrissy, who seemed to flinch at the sight. “No, I’m tired of you always letting these losers get away with it,” Brittney said, her gaze turning apprehensive. “Remember what we talked about, Cunningham.” Chrissy frowned, looking a little panicked, before nodding.

Chrissy’s eyes looked a little worried before steeling into something hard. “Well, if she ruined your costume, then it’s just fair if we do – this.” In a move you hadn’t seen coming – and one you had no room and no time to avoid - Chrissy dumped her drink on your shirt. Before you could say or do anything, Brittney and Linda followed her lead.

Anger bubbled to the surface as you felt the sugary red drinks sink into your white shirt. Clearly not enough, you felt a hand reach out and tug at your vest until you heard the fabric rip.

“Stop!” You said shoving the person away from you. Chrissy stumbled back and the other two wisely stayed where they were. Before you could think of anything to say, you felt a pair of hands slam you into the wall. Groaning, you winced when the meat of your shoulder hit the corner of a shelf and you knew you were going to have a bruise.

“Don’t fucking push me,” she hissed, the venom in her voice almost unrecognizable. Alright fine, she wanted to fight – you could fight.

Narrowing your eyes, you took a step forward, doing your best not to show the pain thrumming on your left. “I wasn’t afraid of your little cult leader, I’m certainly not afraid of you,” you said, hands clenching. Uncertainty flickered in you when Brittney and Linda stood at her shoulders. Before you could make the fist move, Chrissy’s hand came out and you presume to think she was aiming for your cheek but managed to slap your jaw. It still stung like a bitch, Chrissy had sharp nails, and you launched yourself at her.

A pair of arms pulled you into a chest a millisecond before you could gouge her eyes out. “What the hell is going on here?” Eddie’s voice cut through the music.

Claire, surprising you, grabbed your hand and pushed you both out of the corner. Brittney stumbled, shouting something, but you couldn’t hear anything past your own pulse. She shoved you behind her small frame and frowned. “I spilled my drink on them by accident when they shoved me out the way and Harrington came to my defense.” You tuned out the rest of the recap and glanced down at your torn vest and ruined costume.

Dustin and Steve had helped you sew this. He was going to his own party - dressed as Princess Leia, and you’d decided to go as Han Solo. Both of you had found it hilarious and promised to take photos next week. Dustin had spent almost a month, most of his allowance and your paycheck, getting everything to look as authentic as possible. He’d even biked a town over to get you the right fabric for your vest.

Without waiting to see what was happening, and slightly afraid Eddie wouldn’t believe Claire, you slipped through the crowds in the house. Running out the front door, you darted towards the side of the house and to your horror you felt tears burn your eyes. What the hell was wrong with people? You dabbed at the huge stain fruitlessly, feeling a lump form in your throat. By the stinging in your cheek, you knew you’d have a bruise tomorrow.

“Harrington?”

You closed your eyes. Of course he followed you out, you shouldn’t have expected less. “I’m fine,” you said quickly, willing the tears to disappear.

“I know you are,” he said quietly, his hand coming up to your elbow, not turning you around yet. “It takes more than some cheerleaders to take a Harrington down.”

You huffed a weak laugh and felt a hand try to pull you into his arms. “I’ll get you dirty,” you said trying to step away.

“Harrington, I don’t care. Just let me hug you.” He wrapped his arms around you and sunk into his hug.

A wave of emotions welled within you and you realized then, a moment of clarity, why you’d gotten so upset. Because this is what Eddie felt, every time she pretended not to know him, or sat by and watched them bully him or his friends. They were awful, vain people and you couldn’t do it anymore. You really couldn’t stand by and be the shoulder to cry on any longer.

Swallowing around the lump in your throat, you looked up at him. “She hit me first,” you said, “I swear.”

Eddie’s eyes lowered to yours and you realized they were red. They went soft and fuzzy, like he wanted to say things you weren’t in the mood to hear. As if already knowing, he nodded. “I know she did, I saw her. I had to struggle through the dancing X-men to get to the kitchen. Even…even if I hadn’t seen it. I would’ve believed you.”

Surprise, you glanced at him. “Yeah?”

You watched hurt flash across his face before disappearing. “Yeah, Harrington. You’re my best friend.”

Placing your head against his chest, you sighed. “I’m telling Gareth you said that.”

Eddie snorted. “He knows, they all know.”

What the hell did that mean?

You didn’t get the chance to ask because Robin’s shrill voice broke the silence. “What the fuck dude? Claire found me and told me you needed me. Aw man, the vest is ruined,” Robin’s face twisted into something sad, knowing how hard you’d worked on it. “Whatever, we’ll fix it. I’m going back in with Vickie and we’ll find the redhead and Steve. Fuck this party. You go home, Vickie will drop them off and she’ll take me to your place for the night. Okay?”

Robin’s indignance on your behalf made you smile.

“Thank you,” you said, stepping back from Eddie and tugging the hem of your ruined shirt. You felt silly being this upset over a costume.

Eddie’s fingers twitched like they wanted to reach out to you but you took another step towards Robin. “Do you want me to come by-”

“No,” you said quickly – too quickly. Avoiding his eyes, you knew he was hurt by your answer but after the night you’d had it was for the best. If Chrissy was who he wanted, then it was his life. Who the hell were you to criticize?

With a faint wave in his direction, you all but ran to your car.

You managed to avoid Eddie for a whole week before he set his kids on you. Despite it being definitely too cold to eat outside, you’d spent the week’s lunch period between your car and hiding in the library.

Which, coincidentally, was where Dustin found you.

“Harrington?” He called out, wincing when the librarian whirled around to glare at him. “Sorry!”

Hurrying towards you, he plopped down next to you – seated between two old forgotten and unused aisles. “What could you possibly need from the Korean dictionary aisles?” You asked him.

“I could ask you the same question,” Dustin said, brow raising.

With a wiggle at your homework in your lap, you shot him a look. “I’m doing my homework, all the tables are full so I found a quiet area to sit,” you said, the lie well-practiced and on the tip of your tongue.

Dustin deflated and you only felt minutely bad that he’d bought your lie. “Well, Eddie is looking for you,” he said, a knowing glint in his eye.

You knew, he was who you were dodging all week. “What for?” You asked, eyes immediately going back to your textbook. Dustin huffed and you knew he heard the wobbling in your voice.

“He’s got something he wants to give you,” Dustin said, trying to catch your eyes.

“Tell him to hand it over to Steve or something, it’ll probably be easier.”

Dustin crossed his arms and you frowned. “Harrington. Why are you avoiding Eddie?”

“I’m not avoiding Eddie.” Lie. You lying liar who lied.

“Which is why you haven’t eaten lunch with us all week?” Dustin flopped over. “Eddie looks like someone killed his puppy – please, for me, can you just talk to him?”

You chanced a look at Dustin’s pleading face and cursed internally. What a rookie mistake. “I’m busy,” you insisted, sticking to your guns.

Dustin sighed dramatically and you had to tighten your grip on your notebook to keep from rolling your eyes. Clearly Eddie’s dramatics were rubbing off on them.

“Fine,” he grumbled, opening his backpack and pulling out a carefully folded top. Your eyes widened when you realized it was your Han Solo vest.

Hands shooting out to grab it, you ran your fingers over the previously torn fabric. It’d been stitched up carefully, looking exactly like it had before. “Dustin, how?” You stammered. Robin, who was the best at sewing, had said it’d take a lot of fabric to fix the tear and stains.

“Eddie found a store a few hours away that sold the same fabric. He helped me fix it,” Dustin explained. “The shirt is a lost cause but that’s easier to get. I knew you wanted to wear it for the trick or treaters tonight so, we worked quickly.”

Tears sprung to your eyes, overwhelmed at the idea of these two rushing to try and fix something just because it meant something to you. “Dustin, thank you,” you said, voice even more shaky.

“It was Eddie’s idea,” Dustin said, “I don’t know what happened between you two at the party, but Eddie’s trying. I promise, he’s trying to fix it. Give him a chance.”

You rubbed his head, not answering. Damn meddling kids.

Living next to your cousin, one you actually liked and got along with, had its perks. It also had a downside.

“Steve, I will be fine handing out candy alone. If you stay here, they’ll egg your house – go hand out candy and I promise I’ll come over at the end of the night,” you said, shoving Steve out the door.

“Are you sure? You’ve been mopey all week and I don’t care if they egg my house!”

Rolling your eyes at the stupidly protective older brother that you didn’t have, or want, you squeezed his arm. “I swear, I’m not moping, I’m fine.”

“Alright fine,” Steve sighed, “but you better come over for the movie. And you are moping – you’re both moping.”

Pushing him out the door, you ignored the last mumbled part of that sentence and shut the door in his face. “Good bye Steven!”

“That’s not my name!”

Snickering, you set up camp in the living room. You wondered how long it’d take for you to get your first trick or treater – and pretty quickly got your answer.

The next three hours flew by and you’d managed to be completely out of candy. Which, considering how much candy you and Steve had purchased – was saying something. You’d seen a very spooky looking vampire, a dinosaur, some Mike Myers, and most notably, some adorably dressed pets.

After a half hour had gone by since your last visitor, you’d ordered pizza to Steve’s. You knew if you didn’t go over, he’d drag you himself.

The doorbell rung just as you’d made the move to change out of your costume. Shit, you thought, gathering up the last old pieces of chocolate you could find in the kitchen. “Hi! I’m sorry but I’m out of candy for the night except for these choco-” You blinked when you saw Eddie standing at your door, bag in his hand.

“Eddie,” you said dumbly, the doorknob creaking under your grip. “What are you doing here?”

He smiled, eyes taking in your costume and he nodded towards the vest. “It looks good.”

“Oh,” you said, stepping back so he could walk through, “I’m sorry – I wasn’t expecting you. Yeah, thank you…really, I hadn’t expected it and was going to talk to you Monday since I had to rush home to change-”

“-I broke up with Chrissy at the party,” he blurted out. Your teeth clinked together as you shut your mouth and you blinked at him.

“What do you mean you broke up with Chrissy?” You asked, feeling like the ground was folding beneath you.

Eddie scuffed his food against the brick in your doorway and shrugged. “The last time we were together was back in September. She hadn’t had a lot of time in October and when she was free, I had something to do, it’d gotten messy and too complicated to handle.”

Say something! Your brain shouted, noting his slumped shoulders.

“Was it because of what happened at the party?”

Jesus out of everything to ask, that’s what you end up with?

Clearing your throat, you spoke quickly. “I meant – I don’t want you to think it has to be me or her. I just…it was…I don’t mind. You didn’t have to break up with her.”

Eddie smiled, watching you flounder and you fought the urge to punch his shoulder. His smiled widened as if he knew. “I did, have to, I mean,” he sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“Sorry,” you jumped, realizing you hadn’t let him in, “come in.”

“Are your parents home?”

Shooting him a look over your shoulder, you dropped the candy bars you’d scrounged up by the door. “Yeah, that was a dumb question, sorry,” Eddie said, sighing when he sat in his favorite chair in your living room. “It’s not about what happened at Halloween. At least not only that. Seeing her treat you – our friends – that way made it real. What I felt, pissed, was what you guys were feeling when it was happening to me.”

“I wouldn’t go that far-”

This time, Eddie shot you a knowing look and you quieted.

“I could see you. All of you giving me these looks-”

“-I wasn’t giving you looks-” you quieted when you saw his glare.

“It was a shitty situation, but…someone really important to me told me that I was priceless once,” he said and you wanted to sink into the dirt.

“She was right, sort of,” he laughed self-consciously and your heart slammed against your chest.

Needing to break the tension, you joked, “She sounds like a really intelligent and super wonderful, pretty smart person.”

“Yeah, she is. I should’ve listened to her – to everyone – sooner.” Eddie sighed and let his head fall back onto the edge of the chair. “I knew but I didn’t want to accept it – not until I had to.”

Not wanting him to feel bad, you stepped forward. “There’s nothing wrong with that,” you said, sitting on the coffee table in front of him.

Sitting in comfortable silence for a moment, you watched Eddie’s chest rise and fall. “She’s not a bad person, you know. She doesn’t have the best family,” Eddie said quietly, “I’m not defending her – it’s just…it’s hard to explain.”

You did know. And somehow, that made it all worse. It was easy to hate someone who was a villain. But you learned a long time ago that people weren’t black and white – they were grey and a mix of colors with a million tiny little pieces that made them…well, them.

“I suspected,” you said quietly, “but I still don’t like her.”

There was a beat of silence before Eddie burst out laughing. He sat up straighter, shaking his head at you. “I know. I know you don’t.”

Thinking about Steve, you motioned to your backyard. “Want to go over Steve’s and eat some pizza I ordered then smoke?”

“Fuck yes,” he said, dragging himself up to his feet. You hesitated for a second before pulling him into a tight hug. His arms immediately wrapped around you, his face burying into your hair. You felt him shiver and you squeezed tighter. “I know it needed to happen but, it still hurt.”

“I know,” you said quietly and the faint memory of your ex’s face swam into the forefront of your mind. Shutting your eyes, you fought the image of Chrissy and Eddie kissing from floating to the surface. “But it won’t hurt forever.”

You hoped.

What the hell?

Cracking an eye open you groaned when you caught the time. Who the fuck was calling you at three in the morning? As the phone stopped ringing, you closed your eyes and slowly drifted back into sleep when – again? You threw your covers off and stomped across the room.

“What?” You tried to shout, your voice coming out more groggy than angry.

“Harrington?”

Rubbing a knuckle across your eye, you grunted. “Yeah, who the fuck is this?”

“It’s Gareth – I’m sorry for calling you so late but, I really need your help.”

“Gareth?” Your brain struggled to catch up. “Are you okay?”

“It’s Eddie.”

It took you twenty minutes to get to the Hide Out. The bartender narrowed his eyes at you when you walked in. “We’re closed sweetheart; besides you look too young to be in here.”

“Harrington!” A loud voice boomed, echoing in the mostly empty bar.

With a wince, you motioned to the drunk Eddie and sighed. “I’m here to take him home.”

“Ah, you’re the ex-girlfriend?” The bartender asked, demeanor softening when Eddie tried to stumble his way over to you.

With a sputtering no, you pointed to Eddie. “We’re just friends.”

“She moved here from New York City, Rick,” Eddie said, hiccupping.

A weird expression came over Rick’s face and you couldn’t make out what it was. “Oh,” he said, appraising you with a soft smile, “you’re the new girl.”

“I…think so? I moved back in the summer,” you said, reaching out to steady Eddie. You wrinkled your nose, “Jesus, Munson, you smell like the inside of a liquor bottle.”

“I haven’t seen you in forever,” Eddie said, burying his cold nose in your neck and you yelped. “Hmm, you smell nice.”

Rick snorted and you shifted your hold on him. “You saw me two days ago at school, you weirdo,” you said, hand coming up to scratch at his scalp. He mewled, leaning into your touch like a sunflower turning towards a sunbeam.

“That’s too long ago,” he said, “I always miss you.”

You laughed at his cross-eyed expression and pulled his leather jacket on. “Come on drunky, it’s almost three thirty and I’d like to get some sleep before school tomorrow.”

“Do you need any help with him?” Rick asked, eyeing Eddie’s stumbling walk. “I can help you drive him home.”

“I’ll be okay,” you said, grateful for the offer.

After struggling a little to buckle him in, you made sure you had his keys and a bag in case he got sick. “Don’t puke inside my car, okay? Nod if you understand.”

Eddie’s head bobbed up and down, his eyes hazy but faintly focused on you. “I meant it,” he said, as you started the car.

“Meant what, Sugar?” You asked, watching a small smile grow on his face.

“I love it when you call me that, you know?”

You did. He’d roll his eyes and be his usual dramatic self about the nickname but you’d always known that he liked it.

“Yeah, I did,” you said quietly.

A few blocks away from his trailer, you felt his eyes back on you. “Are you listening to Madonna?” Eddie asked, nose wrinkling and eyelids drooping.

“Are you drunk off your mind and half asleep and criticizing the music?” You asked, laughing incredulously. “It’s the radio, asshole, I didn’t pick the song.”

Eddie laughed, eyes back on you. “You're so close but still a world away, what I'm dying to say, is that I'm crazy for you. Touch me once and you'll know it's true,” he sang and you hated how he could still sing despite his inebriation.

“Eddie Munson,” you gaped, “do you know the lyrics to a Madonna song?”

He giggled, actually giggled, and you felt your jaw drop. “Oh my God, I’m telling everyone,” you whispered to yourself.

“Come on, sing,” he said, poking your cheek.

Sighing as he begged, you relented once the song was coming to a close. “It's all brand new, I'm crazy for you. And you know it's true, I'm crazy, crazy for you.”

Eddie’s hand almost smacked your face and you ducked. “I am driving, Munson, keep your limbs to yourself!”

“Harrington, you can sing – like really sing,” he gaped, eyes awed. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

You pulled your car into Eddie’s regular parking space and sighed. “Because you never asked,” you said, walking around to his side of the car. “Now come on, we need to get you into bed.”

“I am a lady,” Eddie said, faux-scandalized, and voice a touch too loud for how silent the trailer park was. “I don’t get into bed without being taken out to dinner!”

Grunting under his weight, you elbowed him. “Stop screaming.”

“I’m not screaming,” he shouted and you sighed.

As you rounded the trailer you noticed a green pick up on the other side and winced. Shit, Wayne was home. Being as quiet as possible, you walked past a sleeping Wayne and rushed Eddie down the hall.

He threw himself onto his bed, bouncing a little and immediately knocked over a pile of books beside his bed. Wincing, you quickly shut his door and pulled Eddie’s shoes off. You helped get him out of his jacket and rubbed a hand down your face.

“Eddie, why were you at the Hide Out drinking alone on a Sunday night?” You asked quietly.

His head lolled to the side, eyelids drooping and you chewed on your bottom lip. “Can I tell you a secret?” He asked.

“Always,” you crossed your legs, settling in next to him.

“Even though we broke up last week, it’s been a month and half since I’d really spent any time with her,” Eddie started, your heart breaking at the sad expression on his face, “but I miss her sometimes. Maybe not so much her, but the fact that someone was there.”

You pushed the hair away from his face and you smiled down at him. “It’ll take time, Sugar, but you’ll get there. We all do eventually.”

“She was mean sometimes,” he whispered, words slurring together as his eyes closed further, “I didn’t like how she made me feel.”

“I know,” you said, because you did.

“I never told anyone. It’s embarrassing…” he trailed off as he fell asleep.

Standing, you made sure you placed a trash can by his side and filled a glass with water. You scribbled a note and left it on his nightstand before creeping out his room.

You’d made it to the door when a lamp illuminated the living room. Wincing, you turned slightly and waved to Wayne. “Hi Mr. Munson,” you said quietly.

“Good evening,” he said, dipping his head to look out the window, “or should I say good morning?”

“I…uh,” you scratched the back of your neck, “I was just dropping by…and now….I’m leaving!”

“Thank you,” Wayne said, eyes on you, “for bringing him home.”

Shit. Of course, he heard you – the whole trailer park probably heard Eddie. “It’s nothing. He’d do the same for me,” you said, smiling a little.

Wayne seemed to eye you, weighing something in his head. “He just needs time,” he said eventually.

“I know,” you said, crossing your arms, “I’ve been through it. Time usually is the only thing that helps.”

Smiling, Wayne shook his head and you got the feeling he wasn’t talking about Chrissy.

“He sees you too, you know.”

What? You furrowed your brows, confused, but Wayne kept talking.

“He’s felt guilty since September. I know he thinks I don’t notice things but I knew that girl was hanging around here in the summer. I’m old, not blind.”

You laughed, covering your mouth when it came out too loudly. Wayne smiled and it made face light up. They had similar smiles, you thought.

“Ever since you started coming around, things shifted. I think he felt guilty,” he said.

At that, you straightened. “Mr. Munson, I swear nothing has happened between us-”

“I know. Or else you two wouldn’t be dancing around each other like this but - I wanted to tell you that he’s coming around. He has been since you moved here.”

Shifting your weight, you felt uncomfortable. “I…don’t know what to say.”

Wayne nodded. “You don’t have to say anything - just, accept an old man’s gratitude for helping his kid realize he doesn’t need to change for anyone. I know he ain’t perfect, but he’s a good boy.”

You glanced at the door to Eddie’s room and nodded. “Yeah, he is.”

December crept up on you slowly but surely. As you stepped out your car in the music store’s parking lot, you couldn’t help but feel excited at the sight of all the Christmas decorations.

You loved downtown Hawkins. It was a bit busier, stores littering the main street, and a lot louder than the suburbs but – you really did love it. Trying to remember Eddie’s instructions, had he told you that the album Steve wanted was in the back of the store or to the front?, you avoided a small patch of ice.

Maybe it’d be obvious once you were inside. Taking a few hurried steps through the cold air, you sighed in relief when the warmth from the store helped defrost your fingers. Clenching them together, you started browsing.

“Crap, I’m never going to find this stupid tape,” you sighed, squinting to see the back of the store.

“Can I help you?” A voice asked.

Jumping nearly out your skin, you whirled around and smiled sheepishly at the sight of an amused employee.

“Sorry,” he laughed lightly, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Flustered, you tugged on your jacket and bit back your own smile. “No, it’s totally on me. I can sink into my own world sometimes,” you said.

“Same,” he grinned, eyes trailing down your body. Suppressing the urge to run a hand down your hair to tame any fly away pieces, you couldn’t help but smile at his blatant interest.

“Uh, I’m doing some last-minute Christmas shopping,” you said guiltily, “I know it’s like…in four days, but hear me out – I’ve had a really busy week at work.”

You glanced down at his name tag – David – and smiled when he waved your excuses off. “Trust me, I get it. What are you looking for?”

“Oh! I’m looking for David Bowie’s new album,” you said, “and Iron Maiden’s second to latest one.”

David led the way towards the back left corner and grinned. “That’s a curious mix,” he said, handing both tapes to you and walking back to the cashier. He rang them up slowly, his blue eyes darting up to yours. “Are they a gift for your boyfriend?”

“What?” You squeaked, hating how high your voice got when you were nervous. “N-no! One is for a friend and the other is for my cousin.”

“Ah,” he said, smile widening. “Good choices.”

“Thanks,” you said, handing over the money, “they both managed to break their copies so I thought getting new ones would be a good gift.”

“Thoughtful too,” he teased and you felt yourself get lost a little in his eyes. “Are you from around here?”

You fiddled with the end of your scarf and shook your head. “I moved here last year from New York, we have family in town,” you leaned forward, feeling a little bold, “but, Hawkins is growing on me.”

“Is it?” He asked, smiling hopefully. “I’m glad. It’s probably not much in comparison but I’m sure it’s glad you’re here.”

David handed you the bag and you blinked when his fingers bumped into yours. “Oh, well, um – thank you for your help,” you said, tugging your scarf around you tighter, “Merry Christmas!”

You’d only taken a few steps away from the counter when he called out, “Wait!”

Whipping around, your eyes widened as he hopped over the counter. Jesus, those jeans were tight. “What’s your name?” He asked.

You introduced yourself, smiling when he shook your hand formally. “Well, now that we know each other, officially, would you happen to be free tomorrow for dinner? I know it’s a few days until Christmas Eve and you don’t really know me, I’m a freshman at Indie State, but-”

“-yes!”

David trailed off and grinned so wide it almost split his face in two. “Cool, I’ll pick you up?”

“Yeah, yeah, sure,” you said, scribbling down your number on your receipt. You handed it to him and he pocketed it quickly. “Call me?”

He smiled bashfully, ears red, and you couldn’t help but find it endearing.

“Definitely. See you tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow,” he echoed, waving as you scurried out.

You all but ran to your car and threw yourself into the front seat. Hands on the steering wheel, you glanced back to the store and grinned. The bag in the seat next to you crinkled as the heat blasted and you looked down at the tapes. Eddie, your mind reminded you and the smile slipped off your face.

Shaking your head, you put the car into drive and sighed. You couldn’t always be trapped by your crush, eventually you’d need to move on. Eddie had never been yours. Just because he’d broken up with Chrissy almost two months ago now didn’t mean he’d be interested in you – or anyone. In fact, he’d probably never be. Eddie Munson was your friend. Besides, there wasn’t anything wrong with liking the attention someone else gave you. At least considering how fast your heart was beating.

Nodding to yourself, you turned onto Riverside Drive and decided to go to the mall. You’d need Robin and a new outfit for tomorrow.

The first signs that Eddie was slowly coming back to himself was the sudden resurgence of energy during campaigns. His smiles were easily given, eyes always flashing with mischief – and if you were being honest with yourself, you were relieved to see him finally revive.

“You’re still coming over, right?” Eddie asked, voice eager and loud.

You pulled on your new platform boots and smiled at the boost they gave you. They definitely weren’t walking shoes but they made your legs look longer. Robin had all but threatened you if you didn’t keep them. “Yes,” you said for the thousandth time, your phone cradled between your neck and your shoulder, “I’m just getting ready!”

“For what?” Eddie grunted; his voice muffled but clear. “Wheeler if you try to look at my notes one more time, I’m going to break your arm!”

Snorting, you looked at yourself in the mirror and nodded, satisfied with the meticulous planning you’d done. A small sigh escaped when you realized you were going on a date, an actual date. It’d been a while and you were excited.

Brushing your fingers along the soft fabric of your dress, you nodded to yourself. “The longer you bug me, the longer it’ll take me to get there,” you told him. Even on winter break, the guys got together to finish up the campaign they’d started weeks ago. You’d started sitting in on them in the hopes of getting used to how the game was played – although, even after all the times you’d sat in, you were still mostly confused. It didn’t matter, you were invested in the story and didn’t want to miss any twists.

“Don’t forget to bring your notebook, and a sweater – Henderson’s house is freezing,” he muttered.

“I will, Dad,” you huffed, picking up your bag, “I’ll be over in like twenty minutes.”

“Fine, ignore my worries. Freeze to death. Who am I but a stranger?” Eddie sighed dramatically.

You rolled your eyes and Eddie huffed. “Don’t roll your eyes at me young lady.”

Laughing at the drama in his voice, and happy it’d come back, you said goodbye and hung up. You knew he’d never let that go, which is why you were completely unsurprised when you knocked on Dustin’s door, he’d opened it with arms crossed.

Pushing past him, you shivered as you tugged your coat off and hung it up by the front door. “You hung up on me, Harrington,” he said, eyes narrowing playfully before they widened. You watched as they trailed down your new dress. You’d tried to steer a little away from your normal black wardrobe – Robin had been the one to pick the maroon color and insisted that David would love it.

“Anyone would,” she said, waggling her brows at your cleavage.

“Are you wearing heels?” Eddie asked, voice sounding strangled.

You glanced down at your shoes and nodded. “They’re boots,” you said, motioning to the light snow that was falling. Eddie’s face looked like you’d struck him over the head with a hammer. “What’s wrong with you? Does it look that bad?”

“I just didn’t know you were dressing up for campaigns now,” he stuttered, eyes still roaming. “You look great, you always do.”

Pleased at the unexpected compliment, you grinned. You grabbed your small notebook out of your bag, pulled your sweater around you, and nodded towards the basement. “Everyone else here?” You asked, walking down the steps without waiting for an answer.

A loud cheering greeted you as the guys grinned at your arrival. “Harrington’s here!” Jeff shouted. Mike held up his fist and you bumped it as you took your usual seat towards the end, next to Dustin and Gareth.

“I’m back, I’m back,” Dustin said, smiling when he saw you. “You’re here!”

“Hey Dusty,” you said, bumping your shoulder against his affectionately when he glared at you for using the off-limits nickname. “Merry almost Christmas!”

Dustin’s eyes narrowed as he took in your outfit but you just smiled. Eddie sat at the head of the table, as always, and avoided your gaze. “Everyone ready?”

“Let’s kick some ass,” Gareth said, slamming his hand onto the table.

Since you’d only started sitting in on the most recent campaign, so you were nowhere near ready to create a character – much less play – but you’d always known Eddie was a great DM. He lived for the theatrics of it, played into it entirely earnestly, and his excitement was contagious. You were sure it was mostly due to his effort that you never realized how much time had passed until you glanced at a clock.

“Fuck,” you said, scrambling to stand. Your back cracked as you stretched, having been leaning in while the group decided whether to proceed into the forest or through the mountains. Damn it, you were going to miss the big climax you knew Eddie was building towards.

“What? Snack break?” Jeff asked, blinking like he’d too been pulled out of a dream.

Feeling a little awkward, you chewed on your bottom lip before just deciding to be honest. “Uh, I actually have plans – soon. I didn’t want to miss this so I just came over already dressed.”

“You have plans during a campaign?” Gareth asked, looking mildly offended.

“I’ve got a date,” you said, feeling oddly bashful. Instead of the teasing you’d expected, you realized everyone’s eyes had darted to Eddie. Who, in turn, hadn’t noticed the looks and was blinking at you blankly.

“A date?” Dustin said eventually, clearing his throat. “Like a romantic date?”

Glancing at the group, all of them who were still watching Eddie warily, you hesitated. “Yeah?” You were confused now, brows furrowing. “You know, with dinner, kissing – hopefully.”

Jeff winced, eyes darting down to his notebook and you felt even more confused.

“A date?” Dustin repeated, sounding like a broken record.

Shit, why was it so tense? You smiled, pretending to joke, “Right, so when a boy likes a girl-”

“-who?” Eddie asked, reanimating. “Is it someone from school?”

At that, you snorted, “Absolutely not. It was actually at the store you suggested!” You said, pulling your sweater on. “The one downtown?”

Eddie’s eyes narrowed. “The cashier? David? You’re going out on a date with that – with David?”

“Yeah!” You exclaimed. “He just sort of asked me out. I guess I’m a little nervous for it. Either way-”

“That’s why you’re all dressed up,” Mike said, eyes still darting towards Eddie. You rolled your eyes.

“Why did you say that like I look horrible normally?”

Mike straightened, looking panicked. “No! That’s not what I meant.” You laughed, only teasing, as you reapplied some of your lipstick in the nearest reflective mirror.

“So, how do I look?” You asked, twirling jokingly. The guys all blinked at you and you had to fight back a laugh at their awkward compliments. God, guys really were clueless about all this.

Well, that’s what you got for being the only girl of the group. “You look beautiful,” Eddie’s compliment rose above the rest. Your eyes snapped to his and you fought the sheepish smile that wanted to grow on your face. Of course he wasn’t making this easy for you.

“Yeah?” You said instead, transfixed by his guarded gaze.

He nodded, hair shifting as he did, and you smiled. “Thanks guys,” you said, clearing your throat. “I’ll see you guys at Eddie’s on Monday? To exchange gifts?”

They all nodded dumbly and you started for the stairs. Pausing at the top, you pulled your jacket on and made sure your hair was still in place. A flurry of sudden harsh whispers floated up the stairs, making you pause.

“You aren’t going to say anything?” “What the hell do you want me to say?” “Dude, you’re just going to let her go? After everything?” “What do you want me to do!” “I don’t know, something! Anything!” “It’s gone on for too long man, if this isn’t a sign – I don’t know what you’re waiting for!” “It’s no use-”

The sound of your boots against your driveway felt very solemn. David’s car puttered as he drove off and you gave the car a last wave before climbing the rest of your way up to your door.

You sighed, rubbing at your temples. It hadn’t been a total disaster but, definitely not what you’d hoped. Flashes of him snapping at the waiters and theater usher made you wince. There were more than a few times where you’d gotten close to snapping at him for staring obviously at your chest. It was nice to be appreciated but Jesus, look at someone in the eyes when you’re talking to them.

Whatever, you thought, nothing gained, nothing lost. Ugh, all you wanted was a warm shower, some hot cocoa, and your bed. Walking up your long driveway, you startled when you saw someone sitting on your front porch.

Your parents weren’t home, they were off somewhere with your uncle until Christmas morning, and you were sure Steve had said something about dropping by some band party Robin was going to. The figure shifted and you realized you recognized the long hair.

“Eddie?” You called out, struggling to see him clearly in the dark. “Are you okay? What are you doing here?”

His head snapped up at the sound of your voice. “Hi,” he said, jumping to his feet and bouncing up and down. “Do you mind if we go in? I’ve been waiting for a while and I’m pretty sure my hands are frozen.”

“Shit, yeah, of course,” you opened your door and ushered him in. “Is Wayne okay? You knew I wasn’t home – why were you waiting?”

Eddie didn’t answer you, instead he ran a hand through his hair and you sighed. You knew his tells and he was nervous. Fuck, you hoped this wasn’t a Chrissy problem – he’d been getting better.

Shrugging your coat off, you hung it up in the front closet and groaned when you pulled off your shoes. Wiggling your toes against the cold floor, you sighed at the comfort of finally taking off heels at the end of the night.

“While you think this through,” you said, waving to him, “I’m going to go make us hot chocolate.”

You’d only taken a few steps towards the kitchen when Eddie’s hand shot out to yours. “Wait!”

“Eddie, please, it’s been a long night,” you sighed, really not sure your heart could handle hearing about girl problems right now, “if no one’s dying, you’re lucky I’m not drinking after that date.”

His eyes darted to yours. “It didn’t go well?” He asked, no longer pacing or jerking around like a live wire.

Shrugging, you perched on the edge of the sofa. “It wasn’t bad, he was just – a little rude to be honest,” you said, shaking your head, “definitely no second date but dinner was nice. I might make Steve take me back to try the carbonara.”

A tense silence followed your admission, most of it rolling off Eddie in waves. Shifting, you brought your hand up to your chin and frowned. What was so urgent that Eddie looked like he was ready to pass out? His eyes were focused on your shoes that you’d left haphazardly in the doorway. The sound of one of your neighbor’s garage doors opening was faintly audible and you tilted your head, realizing it was coming from Steve. Speak of the devil.

“I could take you,” Eddie blurted, eyes wide and panicked.

Not wanting to spook him even further, you nodded slowly like you were approaching a wild animal. “Yeah, sure, we could all go. I think Robin would love the tiramisu; it was amazing-”

“-I like you,” Eddie said, cutting you off. The Christmas lights he’d helped you hang in the living room bounced off his wide eyes and gave the room a warm glow. You hadn’t turned the main light on and you loved how cozy it made the house feel.

You blinked when Eddie repeated himself, like you hadn’t heard him. What was going on? You just wanted hot cocoa. “I like you too, weirdo,” you said, still half-thinking about the dessert and Christmas lights, “you’re my best friend.”

“I’m telling Robin you said that,” Eddie said automatically and you smiled. He shook his head suddenly. “Wait, no – I’m not, I don’t want to chicken out this time. Harrington, I like you.”

Eddie’s eyes finally met yours and you were struck by the severity of it. He swallowed visibly, his hands twitching like they wanted to reach out for you – for something – and he spoke again. “I like you.”

The words floated into the air and you watched them disperse. You knew Eddie better than anyone, you knew what he was saying and felt your heart drop into your stomach.

“Harrington, I like you.”

He really needed to stop saying that.

Because every time he did, you felt like someone was slapping you across the face. “That’s not funny,” you said, serious. Ignoring the fact that you knew Eddie wasn’t cruel enough to joke with you about that. Your brain couldn’t handle logistics when your heart felt like it was about to beat right out your fucking chest. Standing, feeling the itch to pace yourself, you mumbled, “That’s not a funny joke, Eddie.”

“I’m not joking,” his eyes softened like he knew you were panicking and you didn’t know what to do with that. You weren’t entirely sure you hadn’t entered an alternate dimension. “I think I always have, at least a little bit of me, since the first time we met. You’re so…you. It’s like you radiate fucking sunshine – I’m pretty sure that’s why everyone is drawn to you. I can’t believe you never noticed; the way people just gravitate into your space.”

Shocked into silence, a rare moment really, you sat back onto the sofa. What the hell was happening? He couldn’t be…he couldn’t.

Clearly unnerved by your sudden silence, Eddie continued. “I know it’s weird because we’re friends but I just, I can’t keep it in anymore. It’s selfish and Dustin told me that I needed to say something before you ended up engaged to some quarterback – Steve, well shit, don’t get me started on Steve. He said he’d kick my ass if I ever hurt you, which I understand – I’d say the same to any asshole trying to date someone who was like my sister-”

Quarterback? What? Steve? Dating?

“Eddie, I – I don’t know what you’re saying.”

He shook his head, as if that would stop the rambling. “Right sorry, the point is, I like you. A lot. A scary amount.” Your heart lurched forward, slamming against your ribcage.

You felt like someone had dumped a bucket of cold water over you. He wasn’t joking. Eddie wasn’t fucking joking. “Why didn’t you tell me?” You croaked.

He shot you a look and well, duh, you knew why. “The last girl I liked didn’t want anyone to know that we breathed the same air much less that she liked me too.”

You scrunched your nose, immediately offended. “You can’t possibly believe I’d be anything like her,” you said, not able to keep the venom out your voice. A little embarrassed at how easily it shot out, you wrung your hands but caught the amused glint in his eyes.

“No, you’re nothing like her,” he said quietly, “but it’s an explanation, why I kept quiet for so long. Why I let her stay in my orbit when I just wanted to spin around in yours. I thought I had time. I had planned – I wanted to – but then I pictured you driving off with that – that, cool sports car driving hair spray wearing guy and panicked a little.”

Still feeling like you were on one of those teacup rides, dazed and dizzy, you blinked up at him. “Eddie, are you sure?” You immediately heard how stupid the question sounded but, Jesus Christ, you really weren’t expecting this tonight.

To his credit, Eddie smiled at you patiently. His fingers inched towards yours and you let your hands unfurl from where they were clutching at the hem of your dress. You watched him trace the lines on your open palm, the touch sending shivers up your arm. His rings pressed comfortably into your skin and you fought to keep your breath even.

“You’ve always seen me, the real me, and made sure to let me know that you liked what you saw. Everyone else sees me and makes assumptions-”

“-to be fair we do have similar style-”

Eddie shushed you and you shot him an amused look.

“-but you never did. If you knew…the way you make me feel. I shouldn’t have stayed with her for so long, not when I’d already started to drift away. She made mistakes but, but I fucked up too,” he sighed, and you winced – the reality of how complicated this was hitting you. “Do you know that you mouth along to the words when you’re reading a book?”

Confused at the sudden turn of topic, you shook your head.

He smiled, eyes darting down to your lips and you felt something in your stomach curl. “There’s this little sigh you do, it’s my favorite one, when you sit on the picnic tables outside the cafeteria. You’ll prop your feet up and turn your face to the sun, close your eyes and sigh. Or this smile you have whenever you’ve helped us study and we get a good grade – it’s like you’re so proud of us, you have this innate ability to make people feel like they matter,” he laughed, eyes unfocused like he was lost in a memory. “Or the way you never walk by and let anyone who needs help be ignored. The way you’re just so fucking reckless and swing before thinking it through.”

Eddie’s thumb swiped across the back of your hand and you tightened your hold on him.

“You’re an enigma, a tornado that burst into Hawkins and completely upended my life. You’re one of my best friends and I can’t imagine life without you in it,” Eddie said, smiling at you like you weren’t two seconds away from a heart attack, “so yeah, Harrington, I’m sure.”

The quiet after his declaration was less tense but still heavy. Your eyes darted between his and you watched him as he waited patiently for you to gather your thoughts. Eddie never rushed you, not even in the small moments. You brought your finger out to trace his jaw and his eyes fluttered closed at the feeling of your touch. His skin was soft, stubble catching against your thumb as you brought it down to his bottom lip. Something in your stomach clenched when his eyes opened, pupils blown as your thumb caught his lip and pressed down lightly.

“Eddie,” you said quietly, as if afraid you’d shatter the moment with your volume.

He hummed, the sound so familiar and comforting, you couldn’t help but smile. Wetting your lips, you watched his eyes follow the motion and you felt a small ember ignite in your chest. If he was brave, you could be too.

“I like you too,” you said, feeling your heart crack open at the sight of his beaming answering smile. It reminded you of a sunrise and you felt it settle between your ribs, a feeling of permanence washing over you. This was going to change everything. And yet, despite the fear of being in freefall, you said it again. “I like you.”

Eddie’s shoulders dropped in relief, his sigh the loudest noise either of you had made since the start of this conversation. His forehead pressed against yours, eyes closing as he inhaled.

You exhaled, the anxiety in your veins ebbing away, returning back to its cave. With a small huff, a thought floated to the surface of your mind. “What?” Eddie asked, leaning back just a little.

“I’m pretty sure everyone knows already, about me at least,” you said, feeling slightly embarrassed.

“What?” He asked, confusion evident.

“Steve told me, a week into having moved here, that I needed to steer clear from you because you weren’t available. A week.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

Eddie crossed his arms, teasing glint rising in his eyes. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”

“You were obviously preoccupied, I’m not blind,” you said, not able to keep the jealous hint out of your voice. Wincing at the sound of it, you sighed when Eddie smiled, looking pleased.

“We broke up on Halloween,” he said, taking your hands between his, “it’s almost Christmas.”

“Well, you could’ve said something too,” you huffed. Eddie shot you a look and you frowned. “I…if she was any indication of your type then I surely wouldn’t qualify,” you mumbled, you motioned to your dress, “I had to go out and buy this. I – you know what I look like normally.”

“You’re beautiful always,” Eddie breathed and you felt yourself grow flustered at the honesty in his eyes. A sudden thought bubbled to the forefront of your mind and you squeezed his hands.

“Eddie,” you said, watching as he intertwined your fingers together, the knot in your stomach taking root, “I can’t be the pit stop before you find someone else – someone like Chrissy. Our friendship won’t survive me being your rebound. I might not survive it.”

He shook his head before you stopped speaking. “I don’t want someone like Chrissy, I want you, exactly like you are,” Eddie breathed, his other hand coming up to your cheek, “I have for a while. If you…if you want me too, I’m in this. Totally, completely, head first.”

Eddie must’ve seen the hesitance in your eyes because he reached for your arm and tugged you into his. “Trust me to know what I want, trust what I’m saying – trust me,” he said, fingers tangling with your hair. “You’re not my rebound. Everyone else in my life was yours.”

At that, it finally sunk in.

Eddie liked you. Eddie liked you. Eddie liked you.

Shit, he might’ve broken your brain. This was a lot to process; a lot had happened today. “Eddie, are you sure?” You asked again, sounding like a skipping record.

Smiling patiently at you, he nodded. “Yeah, I’ve never been surer of anything.”

Despite your stomach feeling like it was at the top of a rollercoaster, you already knew your answer. “Okay,” you said. Because it really was that simple. It’d always been him.

“Okay?” Eddie echoed, confused.

You nodded. “Yeah.”

At that, a grin slowly grew on Eddie’s face. “So, I like you and you like me?” He said, the joke breaking the tension. Of course, you couldn’t expect anything less from him.

“This feels like we’re in middle school,” you huffed, amused.

He wiggled his brows. “Check yes if you want to go on a date with me?” Eddie teased again.

You planted your forehead on his chest and groaned. Eddie laughed, the vibrations of it crawling down your skin and sinking into your bones. He had a beautiful laugh, you thought.

Eddie pulled you closer into him, arms wrapped around your torso for a moment before he started nosing at your temple. “Can I kiss you?” He whispered.

“Hell yes,” you said, surging up and pressing your lips against his before he could move. You felt his answering smile against your lips and soon you had to lean back because you were both grinning. Eddie’s grip didn’t let you get too fair.

“Not so fast,” he said, pulling you back into him, “that didn’t count.”

Before you could make a joke, Eddie’s lips descended. He herded you towards the nearest wall and you shivered against the sudden lack of warmth. With a sharp nip to your bottom lip, he swallowed your gasp and used the moment to slip beyond your lips. You playfully fought for the upper hand but was quickly pressed harder into the wall. Eddie’s hand on your hip gripped you tightly, like you were the only thing anchoring him to the moment. His other hand slid up the length of your body and settled at your neck, possessively.

Your fingers were wrapped around the lapels of his leather jacket, clenched tightly as his leg slipped between yours and you groaned when he pressed into you. Not wanting to be left behind, you released one fistful of leather and snuck a cold hand underneath the hem of his Hellfire shirt. He hissed as your hand warmed from his heated skin and you let your nails scrape lightly against his waist. “Ah, alright, you win,” he said, eyes wild. You grinned; a little punch drunk off the fact that you had this effect on him.

“Can I ask you for a favor?” Eddie said. Nodding, you brought your lips down to his neck – tongue lapping at the muscle like you’d always wanted to do. Shuddering, Eddie’s grip turned vice like and you laughed lightly. “It’s hard to formulate thoughts when you do that.”

“Is it now?” Eddie shot you a heated look and you leaned back. “What did you want?”

“Could we…keep this a secret until we’re back at school next week?”

And just like that, your heart dropped to your feet. Pushing him away, Eddie scrambled forward, already realizing his mistake. “Wait, no, that came out wrong.”

You tried to shake off his hold but you’d reacted too slowly. Within seconds you were back, entangled in each other, with Eddie’s chest rising quickly.

“I’m sorry, I should’ve said that better,” he said, ducking to catch your eyes. “Our friends have a bet going on when we’ll get together. Robin and Max are the last ones at New Year’s. I don’t want to give any of them the satisfaction.” He shrugged, looking a little pink. “I know they’ll be relentless too, insufferable really, and I want it to be just us just for a little. Without our friends being assholes.”

“Oh,” you breathed, relief evident.

Eddie’s face softened into something apologetic and he bumped his nose with yours. “I’d let everyone know that I like you if I could,” he said, “but considering we were the last to realize, I wouldn’t be surprised it they all already knew.”

Your heart jumped into his hands willingly, you watched him curl his fingers around it, like he’d protect it with his life. And you…trusted him to. Smiling at his earnest expression, you nodded. “Yeah, Eddie, I don’t mind.”

Sorry, girl, but you missed out. Well, tough, luck that boy's mine now. We are more than just good friends. This is how the story ends.

You’d barely managed to make your way down to an empty kitchen when the phone rang. Wincing, you glared at it from across the room. Why had this phone always had such a shrill sound? As you padded towards it, you glanced out the west window to see Steve’s curtains pulled tightly. Maybe you should bring him some breakfast.

“Hello?” Your voice sounded like gravel.

“Hey.”

Eddie, your heart jumped in recognition. “Good morning, Sugar,” you said, leaning your hip against the wall.

Eddie’s chuckle warmed you and you closed your eyes. “I miss you,” he said without preamble and you bit back a grin.

“You just saw me a few hours ago,” you reminded him. After your disastrous date last night, and the subsequent make out session you’d had, Eddie hadn’t left your house until two in the morning.

“Doesn’t matter,” he insisted and you could see him huffing in your mind, “I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to be cool and wait two days or something before calling the girl you’re trying to ask on a date.”

Laughing, you could feel his answering grin from over the phone. “Being cool is overrated,” you said.

“That’s what I thought too. Besides, when the girl you’re dating has already witnessed most of your embarrassing moments, what’s the point in playing it cool?”

“I wouldn’t say most, you still have room for a few more,” you teased, grinning when he protested. You tightened your grip on the phone and glanced at the clock. “How much time do I have before you’re in my driveway?”

“Is two hours too soon?” He asked a little hesitantly and you shook your head like he could see you.

“No, that’s actually perfect.”

“Great,” he said, “see you soon.”

An hour and half later, your doorbell echoed in the empty house. You gave your hair one last glance before hurrying down the steps. Flinging the door open, Eddie wa leaning against one of the columns.

“Hey beautiful,” he said, eyes meeting yours. You beamed, reaching for his hand and pulling him into the foyer.

Giving him a short kiss, you let him pull you into his arms for a hug. Tucking yourself into his neck, his black scarf soft and warm, you smiled again. “What?” He asked.

“Nothing, I just missed you too,” you admitted, laughing when he exclaimed. Extracting yourself from his hold, you pulled on your warmest boots and coat. Hesitating at the sight of your scarf, you turned to Eddie. “Want to swap?” You asked.

He raised his brow and you motioned to your light gray knitted scarf. “I like the way yours smells,” you admitted, liking the way Eddie’s face flushed – pleased.

“Sure,” he said, unraveling the garment from his neck. As he looped it over yours, you let him tuck it tightly against you, a kiss pressing to your temple before stepping back.

“Holy shit, what – are those-”

Eddie’s hand came up to pull the neckline of his shirt down further and you followed the expanse of his once pale skin. Bruises mottled the column of his neck and you gaped. “Did I?”

“Mark your territory?” Eddie joked, breath going shallow when you trailed your fingertips over them. “Yeah. It was fun explaining them to Wayne this morning over breakfast.”

“Oh my God,” you whipped your eyes to his. “Does he know-”

“-that you were the one staking your claim? Yeah.”

“Eddie!”

At that he laughed, that stupidly beautiful laugh and you felt your organs turn into mush. He shook his head and wrapped your scarf around his neck, hiding away the evidence of last night. “He spent most of the morning telling me not to mess it up,” he said, pulling you in by your belt loops. “Apparently, you have my uncle’s full approval.”

Flustered, you fiddled with the scarf around his neck until Eddie pressed a quick kiss to your lips. You chased after him, feeling lightheaded and filled with butterflies.

“We’re going to miss it if you don’t stop tempting me,” Eddie said, nipping at the sensitive skin underneath your jaw a few frantic minutes later.

“Miss what?” You breathed, eyes fluttering.

Eddie exhaled deeply, pulled his hands out from under your sweater and smoothed it against your torso. With fumbling fingers, he zipped you up tightly. “Come on, you’ll see.”

You laughed as he pulled you eagerly to his van, nose turning red in the cold weather. A few minutes later you blinked as you passed the ‘You’re leaving Hawkins, visit us again soon!’ sign.

“Is this all an elaborate plan to kidnap me?” You asked, eyes turning to his profile.

“Obviously,” Eddie answered, grinning. “It’s only a few minutes out of town – you’re right at the edge of it.”

True to his word, a few minutes later, Eddie parked next to what looked like a massive Christmas festival. As soon as you opened your door, the smell of peppermint and gingerbread wafted over to you. “That smells amazing,” you said immediately.

“Wayne used to bring me here,” Eddie said, intertwining your fingers. He brought your cold hands between his and rubbed them. “I loved looking through all the stands. My mom she – uh, she loved Christmas.”

“I love it,” you said, grinning brightly before pointing to a cookie stall. “Can we go there first, please? The smell is killing me.”

Eddie laughed, pulling you along towards the crowded vendor. “The sugar cookies are the best ones,” Eddie said.

“What?” You sputtered. “Chocolate chip cookies are a classic, who are you?”

“Sugar cookies are underrated!”

You rolled your eyes. “How did I not know this about you? I’m on a date with a sugar cookie apologist.”

Eddie clutched as his chest, eyes bright, and mouth twisting into a dramatic gasp. “Take that back!”

Ready to quip back, you heard someone call your name. Turning to your left, you smiled when you saw your classmate. “Hey Brian!” You waved. As he broke off from his group, you felt Eddie drop your hand as he came closer.

Frowning, you looked up at him, mildly confused, when you saw a flash of panic bleed into his gaze.

“Oh my god, it’s so cold,” Brian said, hugging you in greeting. He waved at Eddie a little sheepishly. “Sorry for interrupting, I just haven’t seen you all break! We wanted to go to the new bookstore downtown remember?”

Leaning over to tuck yourself under Eddie’s arm, you picked up his left hand and brought it around to your left shoulder. “I know! I’m so sorry, can I call you tonight? We can bring Amanda and see if we can find that book she wanted!”

“It’d be a good present,” he whispered, leaning in, “I haven’t gotten her anything yet!”

You laughed. “Brian!” You both knew she’d bought him his favorite album last month.

“It’s been a long month,” he said, grinning, “anyway, I’ll see soon!” He jogged back to his friends and you turned back to the line.

“So, we were talking about how wrong you were about chocolate chip?” You were met with an amused silence and you could feel his eyes on you.

“I know what you’re doing,” Eddie said, amused, pulling you in tighter to him.

With a small smile, you reached out to pick up a few wrapped cookies for Steve and Robin. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” you said, paying and putting them gently into your bag.

If you needed to cling to his side the entire year to help him realize you didn’t care, in fact, you actively enjoyed it – it was a cross you were willing to bare.

“Mhmm,” Eddie hummed, kissing your temple, “did you want to stake another claim or was that one enough?”

Ignoring his teasing, you pulled him along to the next stall. “I do have a question though,” you said, slipping your gloved hand into his. “Did you want me to stop calling you Sugar?”

Eddie frowned. “No, what? Why?”

You hesitated. “Well, because of how it came about,” you said tentatively, “I was always just teasing when I used it.”

Eddie’s face looked a little flushed as he avoided your gaze. “I like it,” he admitted, “it doesn’t have anything to do with anyone but us. It’s our inside joke and I wouldn’t want you to change it now.”

“I just wanted to be sure,” you said, squeezing his hand.

“I do – but – I also want something to call you,” Eddie said, tugging you along to the next vendor.

You wrinkled your nose at him. “Isn’t my name good enough?” Eddie rolled his eyes.

“What about one that matches yours? Cupcake? Cookie?” Eddie snickered at the sight of your expression. “My little honeybun?” Eddie said, barely containing your laughter as his options got more and more ridiculous.

“Oh my God, if you call me honeybun I will never speak to you again,” you threatened.

Eddie laughed and you stuck your tongue out before approaching a flower stand. The red roses were beautiful, reminiscent of the ones you knew your dad gave your mother at every holiday. A flash of purple caught your eye, hidden beneath a bunch of lilies. Reaching for the smaller bouquet, you realized they were wildflowers.

They were a little wilted, small, but the purple and orange petals stood out amongst the red of the Christmas themed flowers. A short, older woman sitting in a chair wrapped up in blankets smiled at you. “Those arrangements are left over from an order we had that fell through. They’re not worth much, I’ll give you a good discount if you want.” Fingers tracing the bloom of the small orange flower, you nodded. They’d look nice on your desk. You reached for your wallet but Eddie was already handing over money.

“Eddie, wait, no-” Eddie waved away your protests and dropped a few bills into the tip jar. The woman beamed at him and you sighed. “I was going to buy them for myself.”

“Too slow,” Eddie teased, kissing your cheek. When you opened your mouth to protest, Eddie sighed, “Don’t deny me the right to buy you flowers.”

“The right?” You repeated, raising a brow.

Eddie nodded, carefully packing the flowers into your tote bag. “Just say thank you.”

“Thank you, Eddie,” you said with an eye roll. You glanced at the bits of purple peeking out from the top of your bag and smiled. You’d never had anyone buy you flowers.

“They’re pretty,” he said with a smile, his eyes lighting up, “what about Petal?”

You scrunched your nose but laughed at Eddie’s eager expression. “Isn’t Sugar embarrassing enough? You want to add calling me Petal to that? You want to be that couple?” You asked, exasperated.

“Yes! We’re steering into it,” Eddie said, clearly having made a decision. Petal, you thought over, liking it but not wanting to give him the satisfaction of giving in too easily.

“Most boyfriend’s call their girlfriend something cute like baby, darling, sweetheart,” you said, turning to pretend and read a vendor’s signs to hide your smile.

Instead of the returning quip you expected, you turned to see Eddie staring at you meaningfully, a brow quirked. “Boyfriend, huh?”

Jesus Christ Harrington, you groaned internally, eyes closing. It was your first date for fuck’s sake. You hadn’t even gotten past first base and you were already fucking it up.

“I’m just messing with you,” Eddie hurried to promise, realizing you were curling into yourself in mortification. “I swear.”

“I’m sorry?” You stammered, unsure and not knowing how to get yourself out the hole you’d dug.

“Don’t be,” Eddie assured you, looking hesitant. “I’d…like that if you would.”

You opened one eye. “Really?”

Eddie laughed, arm coming back around your waist, both of you getting as close as you could with all the layers you had on. “Yeah, your ability to always say exactly what’s on your mind is one of the things I like the most about you,” he explained, smiling when you raised your brows, “and it’s us. We’re still just us, making up the rules to whatever we want. Yeah?”

Something that felt a lot like relief bloomed in your chest. “Yeah,” you said.

“Good,” he said, “cool.”

“Cool.”

Without hesitating, you pulled his face down to yours and kissed him soundly. “Was that clear enough?” His eyes stayed closed, a little dazed, for a moment.

Eddie pretended to think before shaking his head. “Not yet, let’s try a few more times so it can be really clear.”

You laughed and let him kiss your jaw, head tilting to give him more space. His lips landed on your ear, his teeth nipping at your earlobe and the coil within you standing at attention. “You’re cold,” he said, voice low. You watched him pull his beanie off and pull it over your own head.

He pulled you towards a hot chocolate stand. “Hi! What would y’all like to order?”

Eddie turned to you, brows rising. “Petal?” He asked, wiggling his brows, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

You grinned, shaking your head at his blatant amusement at the new cheesy nickname. “A peppermint hot chocolate please, with whipped cream.”

“Now that winter break is over, does that mean we win the bet?” You asked Eddie, his fingers intertwining with yours as you both emerged from his van and crossed the parking lot. The skin on your neck stung as the cold air rushed to meet you, Eddie’s teeth had no doubt left a mark. You’d barely gotten out your car when Eddie pounced on you a few minutes ago. “We could go to dinner with the winning pool.”

Eddie laughed, “I like the way you think,” he said, squeezing your hand and using the other to tighten your scarf – it was still wrapped around his neck. You’d both had conveniently forgotten to return them, since his was tucked into your bag.

“Who do you think is going to make the biggest deal about it?” You wondered out loud, already knowing the answer.

Sharing a look, Eddie snorted. “Henderson’s locker is right by yours. I wouldn’t be surprised if-”

“Eddie!”

You grinned. “Speak of the devil,” you said, moving to let go of Eddie’s hand. With an exaggerated pout, he reached for your hand and pointedly intertwined your fingers together.

“Where the hell were you going?” Eddie asked, tugging you closer. Laughter spilled from you, surprised and caught off guard.

“I thought you’d want to head over to him while I went to my locker. Our first periods are on opposite ends of the school,” you reminded him, bringing your joined hands up to kiss his knuckles.

His eyes softened from teasing into something that made the butterflies in your stomach swarm. “What’s one more tardy?” He said, kissing the corner of your mouth. Eddie’s hand came up to the back of your neck and pulled you in closer until –

“Holy shit, holy shit, YOU GUYS IT FINALLY HAPPENED,” a very Dustin-sounding voice shrieked.

Eddie laughed and his breath minty from the gum he’d stolen off of you. “Henderson.”

Dustin skidded towards you, his eyes wide and shocked. “I win!” He pumped his fist into the air.

The rest of them followed, looking annoyed. “You couldn’t have moved faster?” Gareth grumbled, sliding a victorious looking Dustin a ten-dollar bill.

“I’m sorry, what’s happening here?” You asked, narrowing your eyes at them. “You were betting on us?”

Eddie buried his face into your hair and you felt his silent laughter as everyone sputtered.

Everyone started backtracking, gazes avoiding you, mumbling together. “In our defense, you two were the only blinds one here,” Dustin said, crossing his arms. “Even the Drama club asked me if you two were dating.”

“What?” You said, genuinely floored.

“Duh!” Mike said, throwing his hands up.

Jeff nodded, pointing at Eddie. “Since the day the new year started, he’s only ever been able to focus on you in a room.”

“Hey,” Eddie huffed. “It’s not my fault I have a small attention span.”

Gareth snorted. “Yeah, that’s why you couldn’t take your eyes off her bu-”

“Alright!” Eddie snapped.

Amused beyond reason, you turned to Eddie who was flushed a brilliant red. “Edward.”

“I plead the fifth,” he muttered. You squeezed his hand, wanting to tease him further when Mike snorted.

“She’s not any better,” he said, crossing his arms. “Have you tried to get her to study effectively when Eddie was there? She spent half the time staring at him.”

You felt Eddie’s gaze on you but you were too busy glaring at Mike, who had the decency to look a little worried. Lucas snorted.

“Whatever, he’s hot, I can stare at my boyfriend if I want to,” you said petulantly, ignoring Eddie’s delighted laugh.

“Say it again,” he said, a little too zealous – you almost tripped as he pulled you toward him.

Confused for a moment, you smiled gently at him when you realized. “Boyfriend?” You said quietly. “I can stare at my boyfriend whenever I want to.”

“Yeah, you can,” he said and you rolled your eyes. Pulling him down for a kiss, you ignored your friends’ gagging noises - and for their sakes - kept the kiss short.

“Which reminds me,” Eddie said, leaning over to rip the money from Dustin’s hand.

“What! Hey! Give that back!”

Eddie tucked it into his jacket and shook his head. “We didn’t start dating until right before Christmas. So technically, you were all wrong. And shitty for betting on your friends.”

“Nancy was in it too!” Mike said, ever the younger brother.

Max grinned, her nose turned up into the air. “I wasn’t.” You shot her a grateful look.

Eddie shot him a glare and the group looked chagrined. Their gazes downward and wide, you rolled your eyes. “Alright, enough with the sad puppy looks.”

The bell rung, startling you all, and you frowned. “I’ve got to get my English textbook,” you said, “I’ll see you for lunch?”

Eddie sighed when you nudged him in the opposite direction. “How will I ever survive?”

“God, they’re nauseating.” You whipped your glare around to Mike, who scurried away.

“Yeah,” you said, “meet by my locker?”

Eddie nodded, kissing your cheek once more before jogging after Mike.

Despite Robin and Nancy’s endless teasing, you managed to make it to lunch. Shoving your bag into your locker, you struggled with your Physics textbook – grinning in triumph when it finally fit into place. A pair of arms snaked around your waist and pulled you backward. Caught totally off guard, you shrieked, smacking the arms when you recognized Eddie’s laughter.

“You scared the shit out of me,” you huffed, pushing your hair out of your face.

“Aw, did little Harrington get scared?” Eddie teased, tilting your chin up so he could kiss you. Letting him, because you didn’t hate yourself that much, you nipped at his bottom lip in retaliation.

Eddie snorted, leaning against the locker next to yours, watching you organize everything for your last few classes. He was mid-story about a student getting kicked out of his second period class when you almost went flying into your locker. Eddie’s hands came up quickly to steady you, his eyes narrowing. Whirling around, you caught a familiar blonde head snickering with his two lackeys.

“I see you two finally decided to make it official, can I ask – how do you decide who gets to bottom?” Jason sneered.

Without thinking twice, you grabbed the baseball you had sitting at the bottom of your locker and launched it across the hallway towards his head. Shrieking, Jason jumped out the way at the last minute and the ball slammed loudly into the wall behind him.

“Nice arm,” Eddie whistled, appreciative eyes falling on you.

“Thanks,” you huffed, shoving your hair out your face. “Keep fucking with me, and I’ll rearrange your goddamn face, Carver. That goes for all of you,” you hissed.

Swinging his arm around your shoulders, Eddie straightened to his full height. “I wouldn’t mess with her if I were you,” he added.

“Whatever, fucking weirdos,” Jason spat, stalking down the hallway towards his own locker.

Jesus, what an inferiority complex.

Before you could go and recover your baseball, the bell rang and the hallway flooded with students running to the cafeteria. Eddie wasted no time in herding you towards your locker, his shoulders blocking out the rest of the busy hallway and you tilted your head up to look at him.

“Any regrets yet?” You asked, rolling your eyes at the idea of Jason and his entourage.

Eddie grinned, his eyes darkening. “Considering that was pretty hot, no. I’m good,” you laughed, “I mean besides being interested in a girl who doesn’t like Iron Maiden obviously.”

You pinched his side and he jumped, rubbing at the skin “I’m joking! Don’t bully me next!” Eddie pretended to cower but stopped to quirk his brow. “I mean, if you’re into that I don’t mind being the bottom…”

“I’ll accept an apology,” you interrupted him, ignoring his wiggling brows, your own growing interest, and his widening smile.

Eddie placed his hands on either side of your neck and tilted your head up. His swiped his tongue along your lip, his chest pressing against yours the deeper the kiss got. Your hand had started to wander when a loud wolf whistle broke you apart. Without looking, Eddie flipped off two grinning faces as they walked past you both. “When you come up for air, remember we sit at the back of the cafeteria,” Gareth joked, laughing with Jeff as they disappeared around the corner.

Nodding towards the corner, Eddie did a poor job of hiding his grin. “Let me put some books away and we can go get lunch?” You nodded, out of breath, and realized that most of the hallway had emptied while you’d been preoccupied. Eddie kissed you quickly once more before jogging off.

Smiling to yourself, you placed a hand to your lips and glanced around the hall. Your eyes caught a set of familiar blue ones staring at you. Chrissy startled, her eyes widening when she realized you were staring back. Despite everything, you couldn’t help but feel a little bad. Just a little. She glanced over her shoulder before shooting you a small, sad, smile.

You looked down the hall for Eddie and when you didn’t see him, you nodded at her. After a second, she nodded back, the grip on her books tightening before she was tucked under Jason’s arm.

“Ready?” Eddie’s voice scaring you. He raised a brow at your sudden jumpiness and you huffed.

Turning back around to see her blonde ponytail swishing as she walked towards the cafeteria, you turned back to Eddie, his eyes on you. “Yeah, I’m starving – let’s go.”

“You know, I didn’t think I’d be hauling music equipment into a dirty bar for our two-month anniversary,” you told Eddie, wiping your forehead with the back of your hand.

Freezing, Eddie raised his head to look up at you from where he was squatting by the amp. “Uh-”

“I’m fucking with you,” you said, laughing at his blatant relief, “we’re not the type of people who celebrate monthly anniversaries.”

“I mean,” Jeff said, looking at you both doubtfully. You narrowed your eyes at him and he shrugged. “What? You two are practically fused at the hip.”

“To be fair, they were like that before,” Dustin added, Mike and Lucas nodding next to him. Max pushed the front door open and waved to Rick. He pushed a Dr. Pepper onto the bar and she grinned.

“Hey Eddie!” Rick shouted, waving the phone at the bar in the air. “It’s Gareth!”

You exchanged a look with Eddie. Gareth had said he felt like he was catching something but promised he’d make it to the show tonight. Rick had managed to print a few flyers and the Friday slot seemed to always get the most attendances now. There was no way they could miss one.

“Fuck,” Eddie said, hanging up and leaning his head against the bar. “Gareth’s got food poisoning.”

Jeff’s shoulder slumped; his groan audible as he pinched the bridge between his eyes. “Shit, what are we gonna do?”

“What about his brother? Isn’t he in town?”

You shook your head. “John knows how to play bass not drums!”

Eddie swore again, slumping down into the seat next to Max. She patted his shoulder awkwardly when he groaned.

“We have arrived for your transportation needs,” Steve said, Robin rolling her eyes at his side.

“Technically we’re a little late to being early but we’re still here before opening,” Robin said, teasing tone trailing off when she noticed Jeff, Gareth, and Liam’s slumped figures. “Uh, what happened?”

“We don’t have a drummer, he’s sick.”

Robin whistled. “On a Friday? Fuck.”

“I know,” Eddie said, voice muffled from where he had his face buried in his arms.

“Can’t you do it?” Steve asked, his gaze turning to you.

You widened your eyes, shaking your head and freezing when Eddie popped his head up. “You who? You me?”

Steve rolled his eyes. “No, you – her,” he said, pointing to you despite your clear glare.

“You can play drums? I thought you knew some guitar,” he said, brows rising in genuine surprise.

Everyone’s heads whirled around to you and as the only one left on stage, you felt your shoulders rise up – tense. “Uh, no, you assumed I played guitar. I just told you I played an instrument, like in September.”

“Dude,” Dustin snorted, “you don’t know what instrument your girlfriend plays?”

Eddie bristled. “She never mentioned it!”

“That’s true,” you said, backing him up, “I haven’t played since…”

Steve snorted and you shot him a death glare. He immediately silenced, raising his hands up high. “I was laughing at a joke Robin said,” he said lamely.

Robin quirked her brow, crossed her arms and shook her head. “You’re on your own, Dingus.”

“Doesn’t it take like a few weeks at least for a musician to learn a song? Even if she can play, she can’t just do it,” Max said, smiling when you shot her a grateful look.

“I mean, if she’s been at all their practices, she’d probably know them well enough,” Dustin said.

You did know them, at least most of them. They had a few new covers that were too advanced for you but Gareth had always let you sneak in a few minutes during break for you to play on his set. Eddie’s hand came out to touch your ankle and you looked down. “Hey, it’s okay, you don’t need to.”

Shit.

“Okay, full disclosure, I have pretty bad stage fright. I played at a talent show,” you shot Steve a murderous look, “and it didn’t end well. Let’s just say, I may or may not have puked on my guitar player who then slipped and knocked over our lead singer.”

“Like bowling pins,” Steve whispered, “in front of the whole school.”

You closed your eyes and tried to stomp down on the memory of you running off the stage and crying in the bathroom. Steve, who had been visiting, with your other cousin had been the ones to find you and eventually coax you out. “You don’t have to,” Eddie said, climbing up onto the stage with ease. His arm wrapped around your back and you let him pull you in close. “Seriously, it’s not the end of the world if we miss one night.”

Inhaling deeply, you eyed the drum set behind you and cursed. “Fuck it, I’ll do it. I’ll need to run through the set list and tell you which ones I don’t know.”

Jeff, Liam, and Dustin – as Corroded Coffin’s manager – all scrambled to help. While they ran circles around you both, Dustin screaming for some drummer sticks, you felt Eddie’s lips on your shoulder. “Petal, I’m serious. You don’t have to.”

“I know,” you said, turning to wrap your own arms around him, “but I want to.”

You were rewarded with his sunrise smile and soft kiss. “How have we known each other for this long and I didn’t know you played drums?”

Shrugging, you pulled him back in for another kiss by the collar and sighed. “Because it’s mortifying. I get all sweaty and nervous, wait, is what I’m wearing okay?”

Eddie laughed, the sound going straight to your stomach, and nodded. “You look beautiful.”

“Alright,” you huffed, pulling up every ounce of courage from deep within you, “fuck it, let’s do it.”

“Wait,” Liam said, waving a hand up, “Gareth did backup vocals on some of the covers. Do you want Jeff to pick those up?”

Eddie nodded, turning to Jeff who now looked a little nervous himself.

“I can do it,” you sighed, again.

This time, everyone balked. “You can sing?” Eddie added, looking like he was trying to remember the numerous car rides where you both screamed along to the radio.

“Barely,” you said, walking towards the drum set. “I sang with you once.”

“With me?” Eddie squawked.

“Back in early November, I picked you up – piss drunk, remember?”

Eddie squinted. “I remember Wayne telling me you’d dropped me off but uh, no. I’d remember if you sang to me.”

“We sang along to the radio, Sugar,” your mouth twisting into a smile, “Madonna. You knew all the words.”

Jeff snorted, quieting when a red-faced Eddie turned to glare at him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Eddie said, swinging his guitar over his torso.

You glanced towards Liam and both of you looked like you were ready to bust into laughter. “Sure, Munson, suuure.”

“I don’t!”

He's just a boy, and I'm just a girl. Can I make it any more obvious? We are in love, haven't you heard? How we rock each other's world.

“So, are we going to talk about it at some point?” Eddie asked, his foot coming to nudge yours.

You knew what he was talking about but you turned to smile at him. “About how embarrassingly into me you are?” You teased, kissing the edge of his jaw.

Eddie rolled his eyes and tugged you closer onto his lap. “About that Columbia application I saw you pretend not to fill out that day in the library months ago.”

Shit.

“Jeff’s acceptance to Hofstra was sent out last week and you’ve been acting weird since two weeks ago so I’m assuming…”

Feeling guilty for having hidden it from him, even if it was just until you could wrap your own head around it, you jumped up from his lap and plucked the papers from between your bookshelf. Handing the envelope to Eddie, he read through the first page and beamed up at you. “Petal, you did it, you got in!”

“I know,” you said, smile creeping out from beneath your anxiety. “I got into Indie State too and a few others closer to Hawkins.”

Eddie’s brows pinched together when he glanced at you. “Why?”

Because you’re here. The words went unsaid but you knew Eddie had heard them anyway.

“Oh, hey, no,” Eddie tugged on your arm until you went tumbling into his lap and sighed. “One of the first things you ever told me was that you hated it here.”

“I didn’t know I’d end up actually liking it!” You defended quickly. Eddie shot you a look and you grumbled.

His fingers danced across your cheekbone, his eyes flickering back and forth between yours, and sighed. “I guess I should’ve told you about this sooner but it felt a little like I was being smothering-”

“Eddie.”

He let his eyes lower to your intertwined fingers and chewed on his lip until you elbowed him. “Wayne says he knows a few people out there who’d give me a job if I wanted one. He used to live in Connecticut because of his old job.”

“Out there?” You asked, confused. Did he mean in New York?

Eddie smiled, curling one of his fingers around your hair gently. “I got in to a community college there too.”

Mind blank, brain frozen, your hands scrambled for his own. “Are you saying you’d move with me?” You couldn’t ask him to do that, there’s no way. You’d known that showing your parents your acceptance letter would solidify their desire for you to go – especially your dad. There would be no way he’d let a chance like that slip by. His only daughter at an Ivy League? Your fate would be sealed. But, you knew your new life here was special, something you’d never expected. And Eddie…

“What about Corroded Coffin?” You asked quietly, nerves twining up your legs like vines. “I can’t let you leave that behind for me.”

“It’s not a permanent good bye,” Eddie assured you, “Gareth is going out to California, Jeff will be a few hours away from us, Liam’s a train ride away in Baltimore. They said they were willing to make the trip in if whenever we decided to start up again.”

“But Gareth-”

“-said you could take his place until he’s back,” Eddie laughed when you scrunched your nose. “Hey, he’s not wrong – that song you wrote for us last month was a big hit at the Hide Out.”

Crossing your arms, you turned your scrutinizing glare towards him. “Eddie, are you sure? I don’t want you to end up regretting this. Regretting…me.”

“Hey, that’s not possible,” he assured you, his nose coming up to nudge yours. “You’re one to talk. Indie State? This town will snuff out that light of yours. No way I’d let that happen. Besides, I’ve always wanted to go to the Big Apple.”

“What about Wayne?” He was the only stable, present, family member either of you had at this point.

Eddie grinned, his hand inching up to your neck. “He said if I show him a diploma after four years, he’ll consider making his own way up there. Said something about not wanting to miss his only son’s life.”

Happiness burst within your chest, its tendrils reaching out towards Eddie and pulling him in tightly into their hold. How could your life have flipped completely around in just under a year? You released Eddie from your tight hug and leaned back to search his face for any hesitation.

“If you want to stay, we’ll stay,” Eddie said softly, his lips reaching up towards you for a kiss. “We can do long distance for a while if you want, I don’t mind. You’re…”

Eddie’s expression morphed into something serious and a little hesitant. His fingers dug into your thigh, bruising almost. “I love you,” he said, his brown eyes burning you, “I love you and even though it’s only been a few months, I know we have something special. I’ll be wherever you want me to be, until you don’t. Okay?”

“Yeah,” you said, feeling tears burn at the back of your eyes – no one had ever told you they loved you before - “okay.”

With a beaming smile, Eddie surged up and captured your mouth with his. The kiss turned heated quickly, both of your hands scrambling and tugging at clothes. It wasn’t until hours later, both of you sprawled on your bed, skin sticky and hearts full, that Eddie huffed.

“Again?” You asked incredulously, eyes half closed. “Let me take a nap first and I promise I’ll do that thing you like.”

Eddie’s laughter filled your room, and your chest, and you couldn’t help but smile at the sound of it. You never could. “What?”

“I was going to say that I just realized you didn’t say it back,” he hummed, fingertips trailing down your spine.

You knew he’d been waiting to bring that up. With a smile, you lifted yourself up onto your forearm and looked at him.

Eddie’s hair was damp, bangs stuck onto his forehead, the curls wildly sprawled onto your pillow. His gaze was soft, teasing, and held enough interest in them to make heat pool in your stomach.

“I love you, Eddie Munson, how could I not?”

You had first fallen a little bit in love with Eddie because of his laughter but the brilliant smile that beamed at you now let you know it was racing against the former for the special spot in your heart. It made you feel like you’d burst at the seams, like it wasn’t possible to be this happy.

“We can nap when we’re dead,” Eddie said, his hands pushing you onto your back and his hair curtaining around you.

“Eddie,” you gasped, his fingers already pressing lightly at the bruises on your thighs. He dropped open mouthed kisses to your neck, his teeth scraping against the sensitive skin at the corner of your jaw. Your skin felt like it was on fire, his trail of kisses making the butterflies in your stomach flutter frantically. His lips swallowed down your moan and his hand trailed up higher. The coil within you tightened with every move, your eyes starting to roll when his mouth joined his hand. He lapped at your center, fingers twisting, rubbing just right -

Then, he stopped. “Say it again,” Eddie teased, fingers stilling. You grunted, annoyed at the edge he was holding you over. “Please, Petal? For me?”

Desperate, you whined. “I love you, I love you so much,” you said, words stumbling over each other. “I think I’ll love you forever.”

Eddie leaned back, eyes a little surprised, and you felt suddenly a lot more vulnerable than you’d meant to get. Then, like a man starved, he pulled the sheet from between you.

“Fuck, I love you.”

You were almost positive, considering Steve’s disgusted expression that night at dinner, that the whole neighborhood had heard your screams.

The joints in your knees cried for relief as you climbed up the third-floor walkup towards your apartment. The street one block from yours had yet to be shoveled and you’d spent the entire walk tense and trying to avoid slipping on the ice.

“Hello?” Eddie called out as soon as he heard the door close behind you. “Petal?”

“Hi, I brought us dinner,” you answered, smiling when your clingy black cat came running at the sound of your voice. “Hello baby, I missed you.” You hurried to drop the bags onto the kitchen counter before picking her up and pressing kisses to her pink nose.

Eddie leaned against the kitchen doorway, arms crossed and expression amused. “Why does Midnight get a kiss but her dad doesn’t?”

“Because she’s the baby of the family,” you said, snickering when Eddie pouted. “Hi Sugar,” you relented, giving him a kiss.

Happy with your affection, Eddie helped unpack the takeout and groceries. You stepped out the galley kitchen and into the foyer, knowing Eddie hated how crowded he felt in the small space. Despite his frustrations with it, you both knew it was a major step up from the shitty studio you’d both managed to live in for a year and a half when you’d first arrived. Eddie had hated your noisy neighbors and lived in a state of anxiety when you had night shifts and had to half run from the train station.

Eyeing the last remaining boxes in the spacious living room, you promise yourself you’d unpack them in the morning. A soft thump from below, and a subsequent scolding, made you smile.

This time, after years of saving, you both found yourselves on a quiet street, living below a widower and above a single father. Matilda, his daughter, was a sprightly fourth grader. She loved the music Eddie played for her on Friday afternoons, when he watched her until her dad could make it home through rush hour traffic.

Matilda had greeted you both with tight hugs and homemade cookies when you had returned yesterday from your yearly Christmas trip to Hawkins. Snow sprinkled the street, the trees bare, streets slippery, and air crisp. You and Eddie had already agreed to skip most of the invitations you’d received from your friends for New Years and opted to stay in instead.

Refreshing Midnight’s water, you left her in her little cat tower, content and purring. Stripping out of your snow damp clothes, you switched into one of Eddie’s old t-shirts and thick warm socks. Glancing at the time as you searched for your pajama bottoms, you winced. That fifteen-minute pick up from your favorite restaurant had turned into a thirty-minute trek.

“Sugar?” You called out, almost tripping on a pair of Eddie’s discarded shoes. Closing your eyes and asking the universe for patience, you couldn’t help but smile when you heard a sheepish apology from the doorway.

“Are we sure those are mine?” Eddie asked, already whisking them away and back into the small closet.

You quirked a brow. “Am I sure the combat boots that are twice my size are yours? Maybe not.”

“Here, to make it up to you,” Eddie said, producing two mismatched glasses with a red tint that you knew was more vodka than cranberry juice. “Presents time now?”

Laughing, you put your drink down – after a burning sip – and dug out a small bag from underneath your vanity. Excitement bubbled up within you as Eddie eyeballed it curiously before handing you a thick envelope. Not one to wait, you ripped it open and snapped your eyes up to Eddie’s smug ones. “Two, floor tickets, to Fleetwood Mac. They’re passing by DC at the end of next month and Liam said we can stay with him.”

“You said they were sold out!” You jumped up and down, clutching the tickets to your chest. “You fucking liar!” Laughter bubbled out of you as you peppered his face with kisses.

“Yeah, yeah,” he grinned, eyes teasing, “let’s see if you can beat that.”

Rolling your eyes, you sat down at the edge of your bed. “Despite how happy I am, I think I just might…” Eddie furrowed his brows at the sight of the band t-shirt. You knew he’d spotted the signatures when his entire body froze.

“H-how?”

Entirely too full of yourself, you crossed your arms and grinned. “One of my TA’s best friend’s dads knows the tour manager for them. I owe about fifty people favors and maybe an organ but, I know how bummed you were about missing out on the concerts. I thought an autographed t-shirt would make it up to you.”

Eddie held out the signed Iron Maiden t-shirt in front of him, jaw hanging. The last-minute tickets to Hawkins for Christmas had cost you both a little more than expected and while Eddie swore that he didn’t mind, you knew he was little torn about missing their New York tour dates.

“Happy Anniversary Sugar,” you said, head swimming when Eddie shot you that same illuminating smile from years ago.

Pressing a quick kiss to your forehead, Eddie shook his head as he padded out to the kitchen. “I’ll get you one of these years!” He shouted over his shoulder, his voice bright. You followed him out into the living room, sitting on the soft sofa that had cost a small fortune, and grinned when he came out with a huge cupcake, a tradition now, with a candle shaped in the number three.

“Cheers,” you lifted your glass, the drink watered down and much more palatable, and Eddie grinned. “To our new home.”

“To loving each other for forever,” he said, kissing your palm.

Your heart galloped, its little hands reaching out for him like they always had. Feeling your own expression soften into something indescribable, you smiled. “To loving you, Cinnamon Sugar Cookie, for forever.”

Eddie’s nose wrinkled, eyes sparkling. “Don’t use my full name.”

Tossing your head back, you laughed loudly, squealing when Eddie tackled you onto the sofa. “Don’t get food on the couch!” You said between laughter, wrapping your legs around his hips. Eddie tasted like vanilla frosting, shitty vodka, and…like home.

I'm with the skater boy, I said, "See you later, boy.” I'll be back stage after the show, I'll be at a studio, singing the song we wrote, about a girl he used to know.

“Oh,” you crooned, looking at the free drinks in the green room, “this is nice.”

Liam, already reaching for a bottle, grinned. “Right? I guess once you’ve got a song that’s reached the top hundred people start giving you free shit.”

You nabbed a bag of pretzels and chewed on one absently. “Where’s Jeff?” You asked, double checking everyone’s personal bags had been brought in.

“Here,” he said, walking in with Eddie hot on his heels. “Sorry, we were making sure the lighting director had the right notes.”

“Hi you,” Eddie said, bending down to give you a quick kiss, “you ready?”

Nodding, you chewed on another pretzel and glanced up at him. “I always get nervous when I’m going out on stage, you know that,” you said wringing your hands together.

“But you always kick ass,” Liam reminded you, shooting you a grin.

“Besides, you’ve been joining us like this whole tour,” Jeff added, grabbing a water bottle.

“Yeah, but we’re in Indiana, it’s always different when we’re back here,” you said, feeling a bit more pressure.

Dustin breezed through the doorway, VIP pass swinging from his neck. “Plus, there’s a ton of people from Hawkins out there. It’s insane, have you seen?”

“Jesus,” you said, feeling your anxiety swell.

Eddie’s comforting hands cupped at your jaw and you tilted your head up so he could see your eyes. “Hey, you’re going to do great, okay?”

You nodded, his thumbs caressing your skin. “What if I mess up?” You whispered.

“Impossible, but if you do,” he leaned down, “then no one who matters will care and you’ll still be one of the best drummers I’ve ever heard.”

“Kiss ass,” you teased, feeling a little better.

Eddie’s mouth stretched into a wide grin. “Only yours,” he whispered, hand inching down to said ass until you smacked it away. “If you’re so tightly wound, I know something that could help…”

Before you could tease back, Eddie had pressed his lips to yours, biting softly into you. Sighing, you sunk into his hold, world muting around you.

“Jesus, it’s been seven years, shouldn’t you two have calmed down by now?” Gareth’s voice asked. You broke away from a disgruntled Eddie and beamed at your friend. He’d just arrived, bag still slung over his shoulder.

“Gareth!” You cried, happy to finally see him.

Eddie tugged at your chin. “You saw him last week at rehearsals,” he reminded you, chasing your lips.

Gareth gagged and you rolled your eyes, indulging him with another kiss.

“I’ve been asking them that for years,” Steve said, voice a little out of breath. “Henderson, you run fast.”

“Holy shit have you guys seen the crowd outside?” A third new voice asked. At that, you pulled away from Eddie and stood – ignoring his grumbling.

“Robin?” You said, in disbelief. “I thought you said you couldn’t make this one!”

“What? And miss your first performance back home? What kind of friend would I be?” Robin asked, cocking her hip. Both of you paused for a beat before running towards each other with loud screams. She slammed into you, her longer hair tickling your skin as she squeezed her arms around you.

“Where’s Lauren?” You asked, looking for her girlfriend.

Robin winced. “She couldn’t change her flight, she’s still back in London but sends a hug and her good luck!” She said hugging you again.

Your hand came up to her arm, tears burning your eyes. “I can’t believe you’re here. I’ve missed you Buckley.”

“Aw, shucks,” she said, waving away your emotional smile. “I’ll be back by early next year, we finally managed to get a transfer to the New York office so Dingus and Munson will have my scintillating presence again.”

Eddie’s arm swung around her shoulders and Robin smiled up at him. “It’ll be like high school all over again,” she said, wrinkling her nose at him.

“Considering these two still go at it like they’re teenagers, that’s fitting,” Gareth complained.

Flipping him off, Eddie snorted and Robin shrieked.

Everyone jumped as she lunged towards you. Her cold fingers wrapped around your left hand. “Let me see, let me see!” She whistled, shooting Eddie a teasing look. “That’s a nice rock Munson, black diamond huh?”

Eddie smiled, cheeks pink and expression pleased. You rolled your eyes at his endearing reaction. He always seemed to get a little awed and loved retelling the story of how he’d proposed – despite it being almost six months ago. “I always said that she had my heart, just because she has it doesn’t mean it’s not black like my soul,” he said, giving himself devil horns.

Steve snorted but you laughed. “It’s perfect,” you said, kissing him.

“It better be, he spent like two months panic shopping and I couldn’t handle another week,” Dustin grumped.

Robin smacked him in the back of the head and turned to Eddie. “I can’t believe you proposed when I wasn’t here. I demand another party.”

“The engagement party is next month,” you promised, “I waited until I knew you’d be back.”

She turned to Steve. “See that, that’s true friendship Dingus.” You knew she was referring to having missed his recent graduation.

“I can’t control when I graduate Robin!” Steve defended, the both of them bickering.

After making sure everything else was in line, you found their manager and assured her you’d confirmed with the stage hands for the last song. You were on the way back to the green room when a familiar face was waiting for you outside.

His arms went around you, pulling you towards his chest. “How are you feeling?” He asked.

Nosing at the crook of his neck, you inhaled deeply. Eddie’s scent was always calming, his leather vest soft, and hands warm.

“Apparently half of Hawkins really is out there,” you told him and you knew he picked up on your anxiety.

Steve shrugged, mouthing at your neck and placing a kiss at the base of it. “Anyone that matters will be waiting for us off stage.”

“Are you sure we want to sing that last song?”

“The only one that you’re willing to join us on stage for and the one that went viral? Absolutely. Besides, after we visit your family for an awkward dinner - where they no doubt will ask a thousand questions about the wedding – we’re back to Brooklyn for the next set of dates so we’re not staying long anyway.”

“You just miss Popcorn,” you teased, thinking about your small fluffy dog that worshipped the ground Eddie walked on. Him and Midnight were being watched by Wayne’s dutiful eye.

“She’s my daughter,” he said, exasperated, “we’ve never left her for so long.”

“Midnight always does fine whenever we’re on tour, we were in Europe for two months last year,” you reminded him.

Eddie frowned. “Pops is just a baby!”

“Wayne is watching them,” you sighed, for the thousandth time, “he loves her more than he loves us.”

“Okay, okay!” Eddie pouted, ever the toddler. “Matilda and Jack did say they’d visit if they had time.”

Rubbing a hand up his back, you smiled. “You see? They’re fine.”

“I feel like maybe I might need a distraction,” Eddie said, eyes wide in faux innocence.

“Really?” You said, biting back your smile. “A drink maybe?”

Eddie’s lips were already returning to your neck, tongue lapping at the bruise he’d left last night. “Something stronger, more effective.”

You pretended to think for a beat too long because you knew the moment Eddie’s patience had snapped. Herding you towards a corner, his lips pulled you in – like they always did. His wandering hands slipped under the hem of your t-shirt and yours clenched around his.

“I found them!” A disgruntled voice called out. Eddie unlatched himself from you and dropped his forehead to your shoulder. “Hello! We have a concert to put on? For shit’s sake, you’ll have alone time after!”

Snorting, you brought your hand to the back of his neck and waved to Jeff.

“Can’t a guy make out with his fiancé in peace?”

“Apparently work calls, come on rockstar,” you said, kissing him one last time.

Dragging a pouting Eddie towards the green room, you let the guys have their few minutes before walking with them towards the stage. Most of the party had managed to make it, all of them talking excitedly behind you. “I’ll see you in a few,” he said, kissing you one last time – for good luck, he’d always say.

The first familiar chords of their opening song caused a wave of cheering unlike you’d heard before. You peeked out at the massive crowd and felt a surge of pride. The past year had been big for Corroded Coffin, two songs breaking into a few major charts. Venues started selling out, tours had been planned, and more money had come in. There was talk of possibly booking bigger venues and larger festivals. Crossing your fingers, you hoped so because you didn’t know anyone more deserving.

Dancing along with your friends, you sang the lyrics you knew by heart. At one point, you and Robin had gotten lost in the music that a nervous stage hand had to tap you on the shoulder. “Ms. Harrington? Your cue is coming up.”

You startled, not having realized the hour having gone by. “Oops, I’m ready!” You said, letting him help you set up.

“Good luck!” Steve shouted as you walked off, waving.

Then, Eddie was doing crowd work. “We’ve got a special guest, which I’m sure some fans will recognize,” Eddie announced, the crowd’s screams intensified and you grinned. The flutter of anxiety calmed as Gareth darted off the stage and gave you a high-five before you ran out.

Waving to the audience, you grinned when their cheering went up another level. “Since we’ve got Harrington here, I know you guys know what that means.”

You sat by the drums, eyes on the crowd, and adjusted the mic to your height.

Eddie shot you a proud look and you smiled. “Hello Indianapolis! I think you all know the words to this song, so don’t be shy!” You said with a wave. Eddie took a step back from the mic, standing with Jeff, closer to you. At the opening chords, the crowd went wild.

“He was a boy. She was a girl. Can I make it any more obvious?”

The crowd almost drowned you out at one point, their heads bopping as they jumped. Adrenaline rushed through you, your pulse matching the drums you bent to your will. With the guitar solo coming up, you grabbed the mic from it’s stand. Jeff’s strumming softened and you grinned, a well-known announcement by now.

“This one goes out to all the blondes who missed out - you have my eternal gratitude,” you said, winking at a laughing Eddie. He always did like when your occasional flare of jealousy came out.

“Too bad that you couldn't see, see the man that boy could be. There is more than meets the eye, I see the soul that is inside!”

Standing, you always felt a bit extra nervous at this part. The crowd screamed as you walked over to the left where a stage hand quickly helped you sling the guitar around your neck. Hurrying over to Eddie, who was hopping place, you couldn’t help but watch him perform. He had beads of sweat on his brow, hair frizzy, and chaotic energy radiating off of him. His eyes turned to you, expecting your arrival, and he grinned as Jeff started his guitar solo.

‘I love you’ you mouthed. He beamed, beckoning you closer and you lead them into the last chorus. Your fingers strumming to the song’s melody – just the way Eddie had taught you.

“He’s just a boy,” Eddie sang and you leaned in to share his mic.

“And I’m just a girl, can I make it any more obvious?”

Together you sang, “We are in love, haven’t you heard?”

“How we rock each other’s world?” Eddie grinned at you, bopping as you took a few steps back, letting the guys take over, and watching the crowd eat it up.

You helped with back up vocals on the last few lines and grinned when the second of silence transitioned into deafening cheers. Liam urged you forward, stumbling into Eddie’s arms. Sheepishly, you let Eddie pull your hand into the air, waving at the crowd as they screamed.

“Give it up for my girl everyone,” Eddie said into the mic, kissing your cheek before you darted off towards your friends waiting by stage left.

“That was awesome,” Robin shouted, “you kicked ass!”

Adrenaline pumping, you shook your arms and let one of the assistants carry off your guitar. “Thanks,” you said to both of them. “I need a drink!”

Steve handed you his and you shot him a grateful look. “I can’t believe that you being dragged to Hawkins ended up with you becoming a semi-rockstar,” Steve teased, bumping your shoulder. “And to think, you didn’t want to move in the first place.”

“Yeah,” you said, remembering your massive meltdown all those years ago.

The beginning notes of a fairly new song, one Eddie had written about you over summer break, came on and you bit back a smile. Selfishly, this was your favorite of the upcoming album.

Eddie’s voice softened, lighter than before, floating over and kissing your skin as it washed over you.

“I've always been yours, only yours,” Eddie sang, turning to look at you, winking once before turning back to the crowd.

“I didn’t know I’d ever say this but, thank shit for Hawkins,” you said, Robin and Steve laughing. As you watched Eddie shine under the spotlight, you looked down at your ring and smiled.

Thank you, Hawkins.

A/N: 1) I know Eddie doesn’t technically fall under the skater boy emo vibes but if you squint one eye and tilt your head we can soft of pretend that means metalhead. 2) I would like to formally apologize to Chrissy Cunningham for making her into the mean girl in this because she deserves the world. Also, headcanon for this is both reader and eddie are 18+ at the start. This really wasn’t meant to be as long as it got. Over an Avril Lavigne song. But, well, c’est la vie.

#eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x you #eddie munson

544 notes · View notes

nattinatalia · 2 years ago

Text

Jack Harlow x Reader x Daughter x Instagram AU

Liked by cassiewyatt, yourbestiename, jackharlow, claybornharlow, and 7,557,345 others

alizemiaharlow Exams are kicking my butt 😩 can I just go to sleep???

View all 1,900 comments

cassiewyatt Same 🥲🥲

alizemiaharlow dude come over

urbanwyatt still grounded, sorry mia

alizemiaharlow BORING!!!!!!!

allabouttheharlows wait ur in school? but you’re acting and doing music

alizemiaharlow You thought that was going to matter in The Harlow household? Dad said I needed a backup so school is a priority whenever I’m not filming.

Liked by jackharlow, yourusername, yourbestiename, cassiewyatt, and 6,567,357 others

alizemiaharlow Showing thong is our thing apparently 😂😂😂

View all 1,400 comments

ezharlow weird flex but ok

alizemiaharlow & you’re annoying

yourusername 😂😂😂 Twins

alizemiaharlow Always 🥰😘

cassiewyatt Hotties 🥵

Liked by cassiewyatt, yourbestiename, yourusername , and 6,590,456 others

alizemiaharlow 🌹 this delivery made my night

View all 1,600 comments

yourusername They’re beautiful Mia

alizemiaharlow ☺️☺️☺️

cassiewyatt Ok major points to that person

alizemiaharlow likeee maybe 90? 😊🤭

yourbestiename Awww Mia, they’re definitely earning brownie points

alizemiaharlow Ahhhh, sure are 🥺

ezharlow Umm what? Dads gonna flip

jackharlow Dads already flipping

jackharlow WHO SENT THOSE BECAUSE I DIDN’T

jackharlow THESE LITTLE BOYS NEED TO FALL BACK IM NOT PLAYING

nemoachida oh hell noo. Who is he niece

shloob We checking his ass fr

2forwoyne send the details now

yungskylark 🤔 no

quiiso Does he want to get jumped?

urbanwyatt ABSOLUTELY NOT

alizemiaharlow damn dad, you brought entire of PG on here????

claybornharlow NO NO AND NOO

alizemiaharlow damn you too uncle clay-clay 🙁🙁🙁

jackharlow stop stalling child of mine, who’s the boy who send those

alizemiaharlow Omgggg no go away!!!

Liked by yourusername, jackharlow, urbanwyatt, nemoachida, yungskylark, and 9,577,356 others

alizemiaharlow Since day one, it’s a family thaaanggg ❣️

View all 1,800 comments

yourusername 🥺😍

ezharlow You had to one up them huh

alizemiaharlow 🤫 not so loud 😇

quiiso Nah because I know what you’re doing little one.

alizemiaharlow wdym? I’m not doing anything 🤫

jackharlow This made me shed a tear or two.

jackharlow BUT DONT TRY TO DISTRACT US FROM THE POST FROM TWO DAYS AGO.

urbanwyatt Girl I know you did not try to play us like that. This cute post isn’t going to make us forget about roses guy

nemoachida ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

nemoachida But who’s the guy who sent the roses

yungskylark family thing for sure 🔥

yungskylark Now tell us who’s the fucker sending my niece roses????

alizemiaharlow Omggggg, I love y’all but you guys are annoyingggghh!!!!! Just someone I’m talking to, nothing serious yet. Happy???

jackharlow No, what’s his name?

twin2 ask ez I’m pretty sure it’s his friend

ezharlow NO, DON’T ASK EZ. EZ KNOWS NOTHING!!!!

twin1 didn’t we hear u say something about “if dad finds out I know it’ll be my ass”

yourusername Heyyy twins of mine, stay out of it and DRUSKI IM GOING TO STRANGLE YOU!!! Stop making them a account. I said nooo social media!!!!

druski2funnny 🫣🫣🫣 Is it too late to cancel on thanksgiving?????

alizemiaharlow TWINS!!!!! Wtf????

ezharlow welcome to my world Mia, I told you they were evil little demons

twin2 all demons are evil idiot

twin1 seriously how are you mom and dads kid.

twin2 ARE YOU ADOPTED????

twin2 you are aren’t you 😂😂 I knew dumb didn’t run in the Harlow blood.

ezharlow IM GOING TO CUT THE HEADS OFF YOUR DOLLS

twin2 I’m gonna cut yours and feed it to my fish.

alizemiaharlow HEY EVIL SPAWN. OFF MY LITTLE BROTHER!!!!!

twin1 this is exhausting 🥱

jackharlow ALL OF YOU DOWNSTAIRS FAMILY MEETING NOW!!!

yourusername 🤦🏻‍♀️ What happened to my nice, sweet little babies??? All 4 of you, downstairs, don’t make your father repeat himself.

cassiewyatt Well I’m happy I’m the only child 😳

urbanwyatt 😂😂😂😂

TAG LIST

@heavyhitterheaux 💕

@harlowsbby 💕

@arination99 💕

@cmalass 💕

@jackharloww 💕

@minkookie95 💕

@deannaard 💕

@jacksmoviestar 💕

@harlowcomehome 💕

@fdl305 💕

#instagram au #jack harlow #jack harlow x reader #alize mia harlow #baby harlow #jack harlow x yn #jack harlow x y/n

243 notes · View notes

edenmemes · 3 years ago

Text

ghost of tsushima starters

❝ promise you’ll remain the good man i know. ❞ ❝ only fools have no fear of death. ❞ ❝ i am very much alive. but my patience is dying. ❞ ❝ i’ll make sure you are remembered. as a great warrior...a wise leader. ❞ ❝ the strength we need is all around us. ❞ ❝ the past cannot hurt you. ❞ ❝ this whole journey, and i never asked your name. ❞ ❝ fear drives you to be stronger. fight harder. ❞ ❝ sometimes...our only choice is to walk away from everything we know ❞ ❝ we do what we must. that is why you and i are both survivors. ❞ ❝ i can do good! i just...need practice. ❞ ❝ may your next life be more peaceful than this one. ❞ ❝ i knew it was too good to be true. ❞ ❝ i'll see what i can do. but if you’re lying to me... ❞ ❝ you’re too comfortable with that power. ❞ ❝ don’t ever try to kill me again. ❞ ❝ turn your back on a foe...and you will die with a sword stuck in it. ❞ ❝ youre not slipping away that easily. ❞ ❝ just stay closed. keep your sword sheathed. and let me do the talking. ❞ ❝ the things i saw still haunt my nightmares. ❞ ❝ i dont even know if you're real. ❞ ❝ victories don’t have to feel good. ❞ ❝ killing your own family...it’s harder than you could ever imagine. ❞ ❝ it’s safer for everyone if i just disappear. ❞ ❝ next time, leave some glory for the rest of us. ❞ ❝ peace doesn’t always come quietly. ❞ ❝ some people respond to kindness. others require a glimpse of steel. ❞ ❝ i am nothing if not honest. ❞ ❝ stop using people, and start thinking about how you can help them. ❞ ❝ you’ve had your vengeance. don’t stand in the way of mine. ❞ ❝ you don’t have to do it alone. ❞ ❝ not all words need to be spoken. ❞ ❝ there is time yet for revenge. i will savour their cries of pain when that time comes. ❞ ❝ i have learned to love the cool, damp dark. ❞ ❝ the last thing i saw was faces filled with hatred, rage... ❞ ❝ you didn’t think you'd get rid of me that easily, did you? ❞ ❝ we will celebrate when this is all over. ❞ ❝ what’s wrong with you? one moment we stand shoulder-to-shoulder, the next you’re ready to cross blades. ❞ ❝ a warrior learns from their mistakes, or they are buried by them. ❞ ❝ remember your training...and never leave my side. ❞ ❝ well...i guess this is goodbye. ❞ ❝ your visions will grow worse, driving you to madness and death. ❞ ❝ i can only pretend for so much longer. i’m not like these people and never will be. ❞ ❝ i loved you all my life, but i could never work up the courage to tell you. ❞ ❝ the proud do not last, and the mightiest of us perish like dust before the wind. ❞ ❝ you’re a vision of mercy. ❞ ❝ not bad, but only half-good. ❞ ❝ we make a good team, don’t we? ❞ ❝ an archer’s aim relies not on eyes...but on body, mind, and spirit. ❞ ❝ this is my fight. i don’t need your weapon. ❞ ❝ being right doesn’t always make things better. ❞ ❝ there is nothing easier than to prey upon the vanity of ambitious men. ❞ ❝ you weren’t looking so good. i let you rest. ❞ ❝ your intentions this time were...better than usual. ❞ ❝ what are you not telling me? ❞ ❝ trouble sticks to you like shit on rice. ❞ ❝ it’s strange being back after so many years...everywhere i look brings back memories. ❞ ❝ only a child expects perfection of their elders. ❞ ❝ when this is all over, what will you do? ❞ ❝ you are ruled by your emotion. ❞ ❝ is this how you want to be remembered? ❞ ❝ perhaps great men share all the aspects of their lessers, but more. great wisdom, but even greater cruelty. ❞ ❝ i cannot imagine the burden a leader like you must bear. ❞ ❝ our greatest enemies are the greatest teachers. ❞ ❝ death’s shadow embraces me. hand in hand we walk. ❞ ❝ breathe. you can’t fight if you hold your breath. ❞ ❝ i know you well enough by now, my friend. ❞ ❝ i can’t go back...to what i was. before this. ❞ ❝ i hope you one day forgive me for the choice i made. ❞ ❝ the wounds you dealt my spirit will never heal. ❞ ❝ why did you turn away from me? ❞ ❝ if you can keep moving forward, so can i. ❞ ❝ it’s a bad idea to sneak up on me. ❞ ❝ promise me something. don’t become like me. ❞ ❝ let me undo the damage i’ve done. ❞ ❝ ...and you want me to clean up your mess. ❞ ❝ the path ahead may take a lifetime, but i will walk it with you. always. ❞ ❝ whatever you believe i’ve become, i will always be your family. ❞ ❝ i wouldn’t be here without you. ❞ ❝ i’ll hunt you past the horizon if i must. ❞ ❝ can i count on you to do what needs to be done? ❞ ❝ that’s over now. you’re here. with me. ❞ ❝ i thought i’d lost you, i should’ve known you’d never give up. ❞ ❝ you can’t continue down this path. ❞ ❝ be careful. demons are everywhere and they fear nothing. ❞ ❝ corpses can’t answer questions. ❞ ❝ you deserve greater respect than this. ❞ ❝ it’s just like the stories my father told me. ❞ ❝ what you become tomorrow is your choice. ❞ ❝ just ask the last man who questioned my sincerity. you’ll find his head covered in flies out back. ❞ ❝ you shouldn’t have lied. i still would have helped you. ❞ ❝ we came this far. we’re not turning back now. ❞ ❝ how do we survive if we don’t trust each other? ❞ ❝ without my help, the fear and pain will overwhelm you. ❞ ❝ whatever happens, we don’t retreat. ❞ ❝ the stories are true. i’ve never seen anyone fight like you. ❞ ❝ see how the enemy fear you? you are a true warrior. ❞ ❝ you want to share a drink...with me? ❞ ❝ maybe you should’ve just ran away. like you always do. ❞ ❝ good people have nothing to fear from me. ❞ ❝ your promises are just like you. worthless. ❞ ❝ as you wish, since you asked so sweetly. ❞ ❝ i know better than to argue. ❞ ❝ i hope i can find quiet places like this one, untouched by war. ❞ ❝ we grew up together, but you threw it all away. ❞ ❝ it was so chaotic. i felt you grip my wrist and then nothing. ❞ ❝ desperation can bring out the demon in the best of men. ❞ ❝ i don’t want to leave without you, but...i can’t stay. i hope you understand. ❞ ❝ a grown man, and you still can barely sit still. ❞ ❝ and i heard you had no sense of humor! ❞ ❝ knowing and doing are different. ❞ ❝ trouble follows me everywhere. ❞ ❝ indulging violence weakens the warrior...like too much food or drink. ❞ ❝ i can always tell when you want to ask me something. out with it. ❞ ❝ i am proud to fight beside you. ❞ ❝ i didn’t nurse you back to health to watch you throw your life away. ❞ ❝ all i want...all i need is to start a new life. ❞ ❝ look twice and shoot once. ❞ ❝ i think they’re afraid of you. you can be...intimidating.. ❞ ❝ you don’t even try to hear me. it’s like talking to a stone. ❞ ❝ so you try to kill me? have you lost your mind? ❞ ❝ you’ve sacrificed everything. for revenge. ❞ ❝ we can’t let anger consume us. or blind us to our friends. ❞ ❝ there is only one way this ends. ❞ ❝ i gave you everything. and you threw it away. ❞ ❝ do not question my integrity again. ❞ ❝ your father would be proud. ❞ ❝ the worst one can do is take advantage of their own people. ❞ ❝ you follow trouble. you should ask yourself why. ❞ ❝ some of my favourite memories happened at this place. ❞ ❝ i told you this was a bad idea! ❞ ❝ keep fighting. we need people like you. ❞ ❝ are you the one who finally kills me? ❞ ❝ a warrior’s most important weapon is themself. lose control, and you risk defeat. ❞ ❝ first, get some rest. this is killing you. ❞ ❝ see that? i told you. there’s always hope. ❞ ❝ i hope the skills i gained through hardship can be of use to the people here. ❞ ❝ you have skill...but you nearly died rushing into battle. ❞ ❝ in the midst of battle, true leaders must stay rooted, stand firm. ❞ ❝ every time i get in a mess like this, i’m as scared as the time before. ❞ ❝ don’t be the next to disappoint me. ❞ ❝ save what we can, but know that everything passes away. ❞ ❝ i hope you understand, this is just a job. ❞ ❝ that’s a sad way to look at the world. ❞ ❝ seeing you like that...i’m still shaken up. ❞ ❝ sit with me a moment. ❞ ❝ doubt and indecision have destroyed armies. ❞ ❝ it’s so painful to...see you weighed down by sadness. ❞ ❝ on the slim chance some good comes of this...lead the way. ❞ ❝ you fought well, but we’re finished. ❞ ❝ the warrior’s mind is quiet but alive, like rustling bamboo. ❞ ❝ i’ve trained with a blade since i could walk. ❞ ❝ the visions...they’re still happening. ❞ ❝ in our world, being intimidating isn’t a bad thing. ❞ ❝ you have a talent. it’s time you use it, for the sake of our land. ❞ ❝ i've tried to teach you all i know...but you act more like a poet than a warrior. ❞ ❝ your path leads to madness and death. ❞ ❝ that’s twice you saved my life. ❞ ❝ these people stay because they believe in you. ❞ ❝ i didn’t choose this life. it was my only option. ❞ ❝ you came at me like i was your mortal enemy. almost broke my arm! ❞ ❝ i could use your help...in the fight ahead. ❞ ❝ you can be a little rough, but you have a good heart. ❞ ❝ i don’t want to kill you, stop! ❞ ❝ what’s wrong? afraid i’ll get more famous than you? ❞ ❝ war brings out who we truly are. ❞ ❝ take care where you place your faith. ❞ ❝ you seem lost in thought. ❞ ❝ i was getting tired of waiting for you. ❞ ❝ without my wisdom, you will lose your soul to madness. ❞ ❝ peace is an unattainable dream...but a dream worth fighting for. ❞ ❝ i’ve killed a thousand men. every death was sweet. ❞ ❝ what is the point of prayer when we are doomed? ❞ ❝ you’re like your father in more ways than you know. ❞ ❝ if you want my respect, earn it. ❞ ❝ and how many wars have you fought? ❞ ❝ you’re quite the butcher with that sword. ❞ ❝ people who sow chaos must be punished. ❞ ❝ i can’t help but wonder if you enjoy the violence. ❞ ❝ i kill only to protect our people. i think about that every time i reach for my sword. ❞ ❝ i'm sorry if my lack of skill offends. ❞ ❝ it’s the first time in days i haven’t felt like i was about to die. ❞ ❝ you fought like an animal...or a demon! ❞ ❝ there’s nothing more painful to me than a perfect bow...ineptly used. ❞ ❝ victory is won by warriors, not weapons. ❞ ❝ i couldn’t leave you to die. ❞ ❝ i made my choices. even knowing what they’ve cost me, i’d make them again. ❞ ❝ when’s the last time you slept or ate? ❞ ❝ you don’t get to give up. this land needs you. ❞ ❝ oh you pretend we are different, but we fight for the same thing. ❞ ❝ there are still places of beauty to remind us of what truly matters. ❞ ❝ true mastery begins where individual ego ends. ❞ ❝ a warrior faces danger with courage and resolve. this is how they endure. ❞ ❝ those stories...they're not entirely true. ❞ ❝ even the youngest warrior needs a full belly and a rested sword-arm. ❞ ❝ bad men are good at hiding their true natures. ❞ ❝ there is nothing left for me here. my hope is lost. ❞ ❝ i did what i had to. for you. ❞ ❝ forgive my manners. i spent all my time alone. ❞ ❝ is that any way to greet a visitor? ❞ ❝ if you continue down this path...you’ll be no better than the enemy. ❞ ❝ i am grateful for the times we share...but, i always want more. ❞ ❝ you lived your life in a castle. it made you soft. ❞ ❝ i used to know what i fought for... ❞ ❝ face them as a warrior with honour. not a monster. ❞ ❝ i don’t take lives, but i am not a coward. ❞ ❝ i wonder if i’ve crossed a line. ❞ ❝ you can’t expect everyone to understand what you’re doing, or why. ❞ ❝ your methods were brutal...impulsive...without honour. ❞ ❝ there’s plenty to fear without worrying about folktales. ❞ ❝ i hope you’ll find peace again soon. ❞ ❝ you do what you need to survive. and yet you despise others for doing the same. ❞ ❝ is that your excuse? your reason to kill? ❞ ❝ we have to keep pushing. even if it costs us our lives. ❞ ❝ cowards without honour deserve no mercy. ❞ ❝ i’ll fight beside you until the end. ❞ ❝ whatever happens, your forgiveness won’t change who i am. ❞ ❝ why should we settle for scraps when we deserve to be legends? ❞ ❝ only cowards strike from the shadows. ❞ ❝ the proud do not endure. the greatest of us fall in the end. ❞ ❝ perhaps some good will come of this. ❞ ❝ you will see nothing but death to the end of your days. ❞ ❝ legacy is more than a name. ❞ ❝ im sorry. i know what it means to lose family. ❞ ❝ one day we'll escape the endless wheel of suffering. ❞ ❝ is that a 'thank you'? ❞ ❝ i know what it means to be hunted. ❞ ❝ you personify fury and regret. ❞ ❝ that's all right. i want to hear you dig your own grave. ❞ ❝ either way, we’ve got nothing to lose. ❞ ❝ i’ve done what i can. the rest is up to you. ❞ ❝ forgive me, but you look fatigued. have you endured much hardship? ❞ ❝ i hope you find true honour in your next life. ❞ ❝ you deserve nothing less than death. ❞ ❝ this is foolish. surrender, and you can live. ❞ ❝ i too have pride in family. and i know what it’s like to live in their shadow. ❞ ❝ you were gone so long, i knew you were in trouble. ❞ ❝ so many of us here owe you our lives. ❞ ❝ what's wrong? what did they do to you? ❞ ❝ you’re lucky to be alive. ❞ ❝ i know your language. your traditions. your beliefs. which village to tame and which to burn. ❞ ❝ i cannot lose you again. ❞ ❝ i don’t seek revenge. but i will fight for peace. ❞ ❝ we will meet again soon. until then...travel safely. ❞ ❝ this is war --- not a test. ❞ ❝ we can save our home together. it doesn’t have to be like this. ❞ ❝ fear is a weapon. don’t let them use it against you. ❞

#rp meme #roleplay meme #roleplay starters #long post for ts /

462 notes · View notes

writingwithcolor · 3 years ago

Text

“Edgy” poetry by white person that includes slurs

@aliiziot asked:

a (white) friend asked this in our friend server: "I'm writing poetry, this particular poem is very violent and loud, I'm writing in to shake the reader, make them feel yelled at. How okay is it to use the n word in an artistic setting such as this? Its my belief that its okay to use in this context but I want to get a more general consensus." i find thatd be disrespectful and dehumanizing, like its just using the oppression of black people as a prop and i dont think its okay but im not sure how to convey that well?? the only other people who have responded so far are white and one person even said that people are too hypersensitive now and ?? ugh.a bit of help would be appreciated. ;; also i am one of the few POC in the friend group (im nonblack though) and this feels gross and i want to make sure i can speak up where i can :<

Yikes.

It seems like this friend is just asking for controversy and thrives on negative attention. Either that of they’re very ignorant, insensitive, gross, racist...all of the adjectives. This is extremely disrespectful of them. They have no connection to these slurs and are just using them for shock value. You can add depth and send a message without littering the writing with slurs that have nothing to do with you as a white person / someone outside of the marginalized group.

If anyone even bothers to read the poem, they will earn all of the backlash for this willfully ignorant idea.

~Mod Colette

Commentary (see the replies for more)

@mathieubellamont said:

It reminds me of using real child actors for the Cuties documentary or whatever it was called, just in the way of like..... There are many ways to communicate how bad something is without hurting the people involved. Casually involving these vulnerable (irt the subject matter) groups and putting them in the firing line to make a point is just carelessly neglectful at best and actively malicious at worst

You don't need to make a point about stranger danger by pulling out a knife and threatening someone with it, even if you're acting and stop before it "goes too far". You've already gone too far. Likewise, you don't need to make a point about pain by pulling out something that hurts people, even if you "don't mean it in a racist way, just to make a point" type thing...... Its too far

Not to reply three times lmfao but I'm thinking. Pains probably not the right word here to focus on, but you know. The intersection of slurs and being shaken and upset tends to be pain so that's why I say it

justalurkr said:

You can shake first-time readers without being a hateful shitheel.

@rebellum said:

It's not their place to use that word to shock people

kermitheechalamet said:

what would even be the point in using an anti black slur in a poem that, as near as i can tell, has nothing to do with anti black racism?

@dannyburke said:

there is literally no artistry in using a slur for shock value if you aren't a person targeted by it and making a statement about it?!? especially if the goal of the writing is to make the reader feel yelled at and targeted, literally all that would accomplish is making the piece specifically targeted at people who are *actually targeted by that slur* and why the hell would you want to do that

@pinkieloveheartpastel said:

*orange is the new black intensifies*

deepmocha said:

"...and one person even said that people are too hypersensitive now." You can add gaslighting onto this blatant ignorance of wanting to use the "n" word to add flavor or whatever it is they are trying to do with this distasteful poem. What OP said is right and conveys exactly what needs to be said to that wannabe poet and whomever agrees with them.

Op, please show this post to your friend and make sure they read the commentary as well!

#aliiziot #yikes on bikes #and rollerskates #racism #white writers #white authors #wwc replies #n word #slurs #racial slurs

361 notes · View notes

writing-wh0re · 3 years ago

Note

I can have one where Peter is a fuck boy and unknowingly slept with Y/N (stark) and they meet at the tower on a group meeting day. (and he in front of the avengers pretends to be innocent). Love you

All writing will be #writing-wh0re-requests.

Peter Park x Female Reader - Tony Stark's Daughter.

Words: 3,625 - longest I've ever written.

Warnings: Smut18+, Vaginal intercourse, Male and Female Performing Oral, Praise Kink, Unprotected Sex, Fuckboy Peter Parker, Angst.

A/n: I hope you enjoy this, I took three hours to write and edit this. I got a little carried away with it (I think) and I apologise for it being sooo long.

So far your senior year had been amazing, you were destined to finish top of your class which would make your dad happy and you had also been offered an internship with him, which some of your classmates thought was bullshit but hey, considering you didn’t want to go to some flashy expensive school, you were doing pretty good, even with your dad’s help.

That was until you went out to your first party with your best friend Macie, she thought it was about time you let loose and have fun. You didn’t want to go and had even told your mum and dad who only encouraged you to go out, so that plan backfired. So here you were, standing in Macie’s living room, red solo cup in your hand while dancing with your best friend, happy to have listened to her for once and let loose.

“How do you know this many people?”

Macie shakes her head “I don't know them, they’re Tyler’s friends from his school.” I nod in agreement, looking around the room for Tyler, Macie's boyfriend who is chatting with a guy I’ve never seen before. His brown slightly curly hair, puppy dog eyes and a smile that causes butterflies inside of my stomach. Macie grabs my shoulder, following my line of sight before laughing and shaking her head.

“Peter Parker.”

“Peter Parker” I repeat his name, loving the way it sounds as it falls from my lips. “He’s fucking hot.”

Macie laughs at me before nodding. “Yeah he’s alright, he goes to school with Tyler. He’s a bit of a ladies man but I don’t know too much about him.”

“He’s into science and technology?” I almost feel bad for questioning the boy's intelligence, judging him solely on his handsome appearance.

“Yeah, Tyler, Peter and a guy called Ned won their last science fair two weeks ago.” Macie informs. “Let's go say hi.” Macie grabs my arm pulling me through the body’s of unknown teenagers before we come face to face with Peter and Tyler.

“Hey babe, we were just talking about you.” Tyler pulls Macie into his side, kissing the side of her head.

My eyes fall to Peter, both of us smiling at each other. I feel my skin fall hot slightly as his eyes wander over my body. I mentally thank myself for wearing my red leather shirt and lace crop top.

“I’m Peter.”

“Y/n.” I smile before hearing someone clear their throat. Turning my attention to Macie, a cocky smirk on her face.

“Tyler and I want to play beer pong, want to join?”

“You’d have to be partners though.” Tyler quickly adds, before walking away with Macie to the table to set the game up, not even waiting for a response.

I look to my side slightly silently asking Peter if he’d like to join.

“I need words Y/n.” I take in a sharp breath at what Peter just said to me.

“Uh, would you, um like to be my partner for beer pong?” Peter licks his lips before smirking at me.

“Of course.” His hand falls to the middle of my back as he guides me to the table Tyler and Macie had just set up. Macie raises her eyebrow at me, causing me to blush and shake my head, knowing exactly what she is thinking.

“Okay so standard rules, but we haven’t decided what the winner gets yet.” Tyler states.

I watch Macie stand on her tippy toes whispering something into Tylers ear causing him to chuckle.

“Okay, the winner has to make out with their team member.”

I sigh at my best friend before nodding.

“Fine, okay.”

“Sound a little more excited.” Peter whispers, flicking his eyes from mine to my lips. I roll my eyes, ignoring his comment as Macie flips a coin.

“Heads.” I call quickly, watching Macie reveal the coin, heads being the winner.

Tyler throws Peter the ball, catching it perfectly in one swift motion.

“Fuck.” I whisper to myself, seeing him smirk slightly. He surely didn’t hear me, did he?

I stand beside Peter as he lines up the first shot, landing the ball into the cup causing Tyler to groan.

“Lucky shot.” Macie mumbles before lining up to take her shot, missing the cup as I pout.

“Awh Mace.” Macie narrows her eyes at me before flipping me off.

I grab the ball, lining up the shot, before I can let go of the ball, Peter’s hand falls to my elbow, his other placed in the middle on my back.

“Lower, otherwise you’ll miss and we want to win.” His warm breath fans my neck causing my heartbeat to pick up. I let the ball slip through my fingertips, missing the cup I was originally planning on but landing the ball in the one behind.

“That’s unfair.” Macie complains before drinking from the cup.

The game continues with us losing our lead, until the last cup for both teams. I take a deep breath, knowing it's my go and praying that I won’t miss this shot.

“Breathe, lower your arm, line it up and sink it.” Peter whispers, his lips against my ear, his hands placed on my hips. I follow his instructions, taking a breath, lowering my arm and letting go of the ball. The room feels like it slows down as the ball bounces on the table, landing into the cup.

“Good girl.”

An uncontrollable whimper leaves my lips which causes his grip on my hips to tighten, feeling my arousal pool in my panties.

“Holy shit, you won!” Macie cheers, clapping her hands as Tyler follows suit.

I don’t get a chance to respond to Macie as my body is spun around, my chest bumping into Peter’s. One of his hands cupping my cheek, the other still on my hip, his lips locking onto mine. I feel my body relax against his lips, putting my arms around his neck deepening our kiss.

Peter smiles against my lips, everyone around us whooping and hollering at our interaction. We pull away from each other, before he leans back in, quickly pecking my lips.

*Optional but I listened to this song while writing this next part*

“I love this song, Y/n come dance.” Macie almost squeals, grabbing my arm and pulling me from Peter’s embrace. “Was that as good as it looked?”

“God yes.”

Macie smiles at me before mouthing the words ‘she got that rich girl la vibe.’ gesturing to me as I flip my hair over my shoulder, laughing at my best friend. Macies hands fall to my hips, swaying to the beat with me, I place my arms around her neck singing the words with her.

Macie goes wide eyed slightly before letting go of my hips, I raise my eyebrow about to protest her actions before feeling a familiar grip. I tilt my head back, resting on his shoulder grinding my ass against his crotch, his grip tightening on my hips.

“Behave.”

I roll my eyes, spinning around in his embrace, without a second thought I lean forward, kissing up his neck before softly biting his earlobe.

“Make me.” I dont have a second to think before I’m being pulled behind Peter, a smug smile on my face. He drags me through the crowd, banging on the bathroom door before pulling me through the door with him.

His lips are instantly on mine, my back against the door, his fingertips running up and down my sides. I grab his wandering hand, placing it on my boob causing him to groan softly. I bite his bottom lip, pulling back as our eyes lock together. His lips fall to my neck, kissing and biting the skin.

“You’re fucking gorgeous.”

His compliment causes a shiver to run down my spine, my fingers running through his hair, pulling on his curly locks earning a moan from his lips. The warmth of his body leaves mine, grabbing my hips and picking me up, I softly squeal, shocked how easily he lifted me. Peter places me on the bathroom counter, tugging on top as I pull the flimsy lace fabric from my body, his lips instantly kissing my boobs, swiping his tongue across my nipple.

“Fuck.” I hiss, watching Peter pull my nipple between his teeth. Peter kisses down my body, pulling my skirt up letting it sit around my waist.

“You’re dripping for me.” Peter presses against my clit through the fabric of my g-string. I slowly rock my hips up, attempting to get some friction.

“Needy little girl.”

I whimper at his words, feeling myself become wetter by the second. A gasp falls from my lips as Peter pulls my panties to the side, blowing on my glistening heat.

“Please.” I beg, causing Peter to chuckle. He trails feather light kisses up my thighs before licking a stripe from my core to my clit. On instinct my fingers tangle in his hair, my head falling back against the mirror, mouth agape as moans and gasps fall from my lips like water.

“Yes, fuck.”

Peter slides a finger inside of me, causing my pussy to clench around the contact. His lips cover my clit, sucking on the bundle of nerves earning a hiss from me. Peter adds another finger, pumping in and out of my pussy, my hand slaps across my mouth, muffling my cries of pleasure. Peter looks up at me, using his free hand to pull my elbow.

“Let me hear you.”

I flutter my eyes closed, Peter’s lips on my thigh, sucking and biting the skin, his fingers still buried deep inside of me.

“I’m close.”

The second the words escape me, I regret them. Peter pulls away from me, standing to undress himself. Without a second thought I fall to my knees, looking up at him through my lashes.

“Naughty girl.”

My hands fall to his pants, unbuttoning his jeans before hurriedly unzipping them. I palm his cock through his underwear, a breathless moan escaping from his lips. I tug at the fabric, having his help to pull it off. His dick springs free, my breath hitching at the size of him.

I take him in my hand, pumping up and down slowly, swirling my tongue around the head. Peter bites his lip, his fingers brushing through my hair, his eyes focusing on my every move. I lick from the base to the tip before taking him fully in my mouth, bobbing my head up and down. The sounds Peter makes cause my pussy to ache, his fingers pull on my hair, helping to guide my mouth. I gag around him as he hits the back of my throat, an unholy sound falling from his lips at the contact.

Peter pulls my mouth off him, pulling me up by my arms, placing me on the counter again. I grab his cock, running it up and down my slit, causing Peter to chuckle.

“Someone’s eager.” I simply answer him by positioning his cock at my entrance, hooking my legs around his waist to pull him into me.

I moan at the feeling of him inside of me, his eyes flutter closed at the contact, moaning at the sensation.

“You feel so good.” I smirk at him, watching his eyes flick to where our bodies meet, his thumb brushing against my clit.

I pull Peter closer to me, locking our lips together as he slides in and out of me, deeper with each thrust, causing my body to tingle, the speed of his thumb picking up before slowing right back down.

I pull away from our kiss, trailing kisses down his jaw, running my tongue down his neck, sucking and biting the skin. Peter grips my ass at the contact of my lips, spanking me hard as I rack my nails down his back.

“Just like that Peter.” I whisper in his ear, softly biting his earlobe as he groans.

“Fucking so good.”

I feel the band inside of me tighten, my pussy tightening around his cock.

“Cum for me, come on baby.” My eyes roll back, shocks of electricity flowing through me, holding onto Peter tight. Peter moans against my shoulder, biting the skin before finding his own release.

Before he pulls out, Peter kisses me, holding my face in his hands.

“You’re incredible.” Blush heats up my cheeks as he pulls out of me, hissing at the loss of contact. Peter and I both get dressed quickly, walking back out to the party, moving through the crowd to find Macie and Tyler.

I lock eyes with Macie as her mouth falls open, quickly rushing over to me and pulling me away from Peter.

“You had sex.”

“Shh, don’t tell the whole party.”

Macie rolls her eyes, moving my hair over my shoulder before wincing.

“Have fun explaining that one to your dad.”

I go wide eyed slightly, turning to the hallway mirror and seeing three hickies on my neck.

“Fucking hell.”

Macie chuckles at my expense, pulling me with her to go back to Peter and Tyler. I frown my brows, Tyler now by himself.

“Uh, where did Peter go?” I question as Tyler shrugs. I quickly look around the living room, my eyes landing on Peter watching him slip out the front door without a word.

“Did he just leave?” Macie asks almost dumb founded.

“Guess so.”

“Don’t beat yourself up Y/n, just be lucky you didn’t sleep with Peter, he’s a bit of a fuckboy to be honest.” Tyler chuckles as I feel my body fall cold. Tyler looks between myself and Macie, choking on his drink slightly. “You fucked him.”

“I’m going to head home.” I mumble, Macie quickly pulling me into a hug, walking me to her front door, the same one Peter had just ducked out of.

“You can stay.”

“It’s fine Macie, I want to shower and sleep in my own bed.” Macie smiles weakly at me, pulling me into another embrace. “I’ll text you.”

Macie nods in response as I pull my phone out, calling Happy to pick me up.

The next morning I wake up feeling rough, hating that I mixed different alcohol’s and feeling off about having slept with a complete stranger, knowing how unlike me that is.

“Good morning Y/n, your dad would like to see you in the kitchen.” Friday’s voice bounces off my bedroom walls. I groan at the announcement, grabbing a scrunchie to throw my hair up in a messy ponytail. I quickly look over my outfit, sweatpants and a stark industries crop jumper, good enough. I grab a pair of socks before walking out onto the cold tiles.

“Friday summoned me.” I announce walking into the kitchen, seeing my dad and the avengers sitting around the table. “Oh awesome.” I whisper.

“And what time did you get home?”

“Eleven, maybe.”

I open the fridge, grabbing a bottle of water and sitting on the bench, facing everyone.

“How was the party? You’ll have to tell us everything.” Wanda smiles as I nod.

“Y/n Stark, what is that on your neck?” My dad bellows, standing up and tilting my head, looking at the hickies on my neck.

“Nothing.” I push my dad away as everyone at the table snickers.

“You did tell her to go out and party.” Steve states causing my dad to turn and point at the super soldier.

“Stay out of this Rogers.”

“She’s young Tony, let her enjoy her last few weeks of school.” Nat pipes up causing my dad to tut and sit back down.

‘Thank you.’ I mouth to Steve and Nat as they both smile and nod at me.

“So why do you look like you’re having a meeting?”

“We are welcoming a new member to the avengers.” My dad states, sipping his coffee.

“Right, so why did you want me here for that?”

“Because you haven’t met him yet and you’re both going to be interning for me in a few weeks, thought it might be good to be acquainted.” I nod in response to my dad, taking a sip of my water.

“They’re all waiting for you.” I hear Happy’s voice say as he walks into the room, all of the avengers stand and look behind me, I turn and look over my shoulder, feeling my heart beat pick up, my mouth falling dry.

“Peter.” His name falls from my lips in shock.

Peter’s eyes lock onto me as he swallows harshly.

“Peter, buddy, welcome.” My dad greets him like an old friend, his eyes moving from mine to my dads.

I feel a hand grip my forearm, a gasp pulling me out of my thoughts, I quickly pull out of the grip.

“Get out of my head Wanda.”

“He did this.” Wanda whispers gesturing to my neck, Nat and Steve both looking at me. I hold my finger to my lips, pleading with my eyes.

“How much did you see?” Nat whispers to Wanda. I don’t hear Wanda’s response as my dad calls me over to him. I quickly slip off the bench, Nat with a small smirk on her face. I sigh softly knowing they know.

“You called.”

“Peter Parker, this is my daughter Y/N Stark, she will be interning with you and is typically on our communications for missions.” My dad states as Peter puts out his hand for a headshake, I scoff before accepting his gesture.

“So what’s your ability?”

“He’s Spiderman, isn’t it great to finally put a face to the suit.” My mum says, standing next to Happy. Instantly, everything from last night makes sense, the smirk he had when I whispered, the soft touches, leaving the party abruptly. It all makes sense, he knew what he was doing. He could read me like a fucking book.

“Y/n is very fond of you, she studied your web abilities.” My dad states, causing me to run my hand down my face.

“Ah, well, maybe you should show me what you learnt and I could fill in any blanks.” Peter states, causing my dad to hum in approval.

“Why don’t you do that now while I get paperwork ready for you to sign.” My dad smiles. I feel a hand cup my shoulder, looking to the right and seeing Steve.

“Steve Rogers.”

Peter grabs his outstretched hand, wincing slightly at the grip Steve gives. I slightly elbow the super soldier, knowing Wanda told him what she saw.

“Maybe Banner should go with them, do you want a teenage boy to be left alone with your teenage daughter?” Steve asks, my dad sighs before chuckling.

“Clearly she was with a teenage boy last night, I’m sure Peter here is harmless compared to last night's company.”

I hear Nat and Wanda giggle before passing it off as something else.

“Go.” My dad instructs, I sigh, turning away from him and leading the way to the lab.

The walk to the lab is silent, only my dad’s voice bouncing off the walls asking the group why they’re being weird.

I walk over to my desk, grabbing the file on ‘Web Slinger’ and handing it to Peter.

“Take it.”

Peter’s hand brushes against mine before he grabs the file, sitting in the chair beside mine.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

I scoff, shaking my head. “Oh yeah because you gave me time to tell you.”

Peter sighs, putting the file on my desk before pulling my chair closer to him.

“Could have told me beforehand.”

“It didn’t seem to matter, how was I supposed to know who you were?”

Peter stays quiet, his eyes looking everywhere but mine.

“Not like you stayed afterwards for us to actually have a conversation.”

“I had shit to do, people to save.” Peter states, now looking at me dead in the eyes.

“Fine, I get that but couldn’t you give me your number or some way of contacting you?”

Peter once again stays quiet.

“Did you tell them? Because Captain America seems to be protective.”

I scoff, rolling my eyes. “No, I didn’t tell them. Wanda Maximoff read my mind, guess she told him.” Peter sighs before I continue, “Look, we can just forget it, okay? You’re a part of their team now and we’re just going to have to move on.”

Peter’s hand falls to my knee, his thumb rubbing against the fabric of my sweatpants.

“What if we don’t move on? What if we start something?”

“Peter, I don’t want you to feel you have to start something because I’m your boss's daughter, if you want to forget it ever happened we can.”

Peter tuts, moving his hand from my knee to my face.

“I haven’t stopped thinking about you. I meant what I said last night, you’re incredible” My heartbeat picks up, butterflies erupting inside of me causing Peter to smirk. “I have an effect on you.”

“Cocky arent you.”

Peter smirks smugly, before brushing his lips against mine.

“If you don’t want to try this, stop me.” Peter hesitates for a few seconds before I close the gap between us, kissing him. Peter’s hands move under my thighs, picking me up from the chair and placing me on my desk.

“Peter Parker!” Peter jumps away from me at the shouting of my dad’s voice. “You two have some explaining to do.”

Peter scratches the back of his neck, looking at me as I shrug lightly.

“Maximoff told me, I should have listened to Rogers, but don't tell him I said that.” My dad walks over to us, grabbing the chair Peter once sat in. “I’m listening.”

Peter takes a deep breath before explaining it all to my dad, leaving out a few details as I but in to fill any holes.

| | |

Everything Taglist:

@andreaareynoso

@avada-kedavra-bitch-187

@hufflepuff5972

@black-like-my-soul

@gaycatlord-stuff

@mathletemadison

@horrorxweasley

@marrymetheonott

@maybesandohnos

@cigarett3saftersex

@edwardcullenswifee

@mypainistemporary

@miraclesoflove

@onlyfreds

@dlmmdl

@4kweasley

@aayaissaa

@justfangirlthingies

@afraid-to-be-me

@freddieweasleyyy

@roonilwazlibswhore

@thenaivegirly

@anonreaderasf

@floweasley

@i-love-scott-mccall

@isabellaweasley

@midgardianweasley

@teehopper

@6r4cie

@missryerye

@tomhollandsslut

@thehumanistsdiary

@black-rose-29

Add yourself!

821 notes · View notes

captains-simp · 4 years ago

Note

hiii can you please do a 1) Angst with Nat where shes the one saying 'please dont go' because she pushed u away out of fear of either unreciprocated feelings or fear of her feelings for u?? and then there's a happy ending???

"Please don't go."

Warnings: oral, fingering, thigh grinding, hints at overstimulation, rejection, violence and some majorrrr angst

6.8k words

[ masterlist ]

Buy me a coffee ☕

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Natasha Romanoff was the thing of many people's nightmares. Cunning, stealthy, ruthless. Those were just a few of the things that came to mind when describing Natasha in the field. It was what had earned her the Black Widow name, and rightfully so.

But behind that front was someone very different. It took a long time to find that person. It was hard to gain the trust of an assassin, much less the friendship. You had gotten there eventually, what you found was entirely worth every second of the wait.

Natasha had been your closest friend for as long as you could remember. You trusted her above everyone else and knew the feeling was mutual. A lot of things were with you two.

You came to the same conclusions in missions, spare of the moment and planned. You knew the best ways to comfort one another. You could even read each other like your favourite book when it was impossible for others.

It seemed almost predictable that your feelings for Natasha had been growing for a long time.

She was fiercely protective of the ones she loved. The relationships she developed were ones she held close to her heart and would do anything for. She never said it because she didn't have to.

While not being one for comforting words, Natasha would appear at your side in an instant if she thought you had been hurt in a mission or even training. Everything from checking in on you genuinely from time to time to let you rant about whatever was going on in your head to memorising your order from every kind of take out place made you feel cared for more than she could ever understand.

Maybe that was why you had fallen inlove with her.

"You are single handedly the best partner I have ever had." Natasha sighed as she laid back on her bed with her eyes trained on you. Oh how you wished she meant that in a different context.

"Likewise." You grinned as you poured some more wine into your glass and took a tentative sip.

"You usually work on a team." Natasha pointed out. "You haven't had your fair share of God awful partners yet."

"I can still recognise a good partner." You reminded and glanced down at the glass resting on your crossed legs.

Saying Natasha was good was the understatement of the year. No matter what she seemed to think the redhead was the reason for your success on the mission. All you had done was follow her instructions and reenact everything you had trained.

"Still, that was one of the best missions I've ever been on."

"You make it sound like you enjoyed it." You teased.

"I love my job." Natasha smirked as she took her glass from the bedside table and swirled the liquid around.

"I bet you do, must be easy when you're one of the best." You complimented more easily with the help of the alcohol.

"I like a challenge every now and then." She said as she sat up and tucked her legs under her. She downed the contents of her glass in a second and went to pour some more. Your eyes widened slightly but you accepted when she held the bottle out for you and poured a little more than you would have, finishing the bottle.

"You can challenge yourself in safer ways you know." Even if Natasha was one of the most feared agents on the planet she was still human. You worried about her a lot and tried to voice your opinions on mission files to ensure she did things the safest ways. She was always more set on doing things the most efficient way.

"Like what?" She enquired.

"I don't know, get a hobby." You laughed, hardly joking. A hobby was something everyone on the team needed, there was hardly ever the time.

"A hobby." Nat repeated, playing around with the thought as she said it. "I don't think I have time for that." You hummed understandably. "Do you want one?" She asked as she watched you.

"I barely have time for socialising." You scoffed and sipped on the alcohol.

"You live with us." The redhead pointed out, clearly missing your point.

"For work. When was the last time we had a movie night?" You asked. Natasha thought back to try and pinpoint a date but you kept going. "All of the parties are basically part of the job. Our schedules are all off so we rarely eat dinner together. We never really hang out anymore." You reflected with a pang of sadness.

"We're hanging out now." Natasha pointed out.

"We are." You couldn't help the smile that crept onto your face.

"So let's make the most of it." She said as she reached under her bed to retrieve another bottle. You barely questioned why it was there.

She poured more of the drink into each of your glasses and you clinched them together. You took a sip of yours and Natasha watched you as she raised the glass to her lips then paused for a second.

Her eyes trailed to your lips as you licked them to wipe away the traces of the drink. Your cheeks heated up under her far from subtle gaze and a lazy smirk played across Natasha's lips in her signature way.

It wasn't uncommon for Nat to flirt and tease you, she did it with everyone after all, but that night it seemed like a genuine interest, you just didn't want to fool yourself into thinking that.

You stretched your legs out infront of you simply to do something with yourself as Natasha continued to watch you mirror her position. You were startled when you felt on of her hands grip your calf and pull you up the bed towards her.

She silently took your glass from your hands and placed her glass down on the table with yours.

"What are you doing?" You asked with a smile as you tried to ignore your rapidly beating heart from having her hand on your calf and having the strength to pull you with the one hand just a second ago.

"Making the most of our time together." Natasha said simply as her hand dropped back down to your leg. Her fingers lightly ghosted up your calf again as a small smirk continued to stay on her lips.

You gulped, your mouth suddenly feeling very dry as you watched Natasha's slender fingers wander in a seemingly innocent way.

As if your dumbfounded and blank expression wasn't enough for her, Natasha suddenly sat up more and slowly lifted her leg over yours as she gave you some of the most intense eye contact you had ever experienced and straddled your lap.

You searched her face for anything and all you got was a mischievous smirk; nothing past that, no implication as to what was really happening.

"Cat got your tongue?" She teased as she ran her hands down your bare arms making you visibly shiver.

"I..." You whispered, having no idea what to say in response. Natasha lowered her head to the side of your neck and breathed lightly against the exposed skin, curtsey of the loose bun she had done for you.

"Maybe I should try steal it back." Her lips grazed your sensitive skin as she spoke. All sense escaped you when her lips pressed ever so lightly against your neck.

Her hands moved to your waist to hold you as she planted soft kisses along your neck that started to become less light. Her teeth nipped at your skin making you yelp slightly in surprise. Natasha grinned against you as her hands moved round to your stomach and pushed you down flat on your back on the mattress.

Seeing her straddling your stomach above you with an illegally attractive smirk made something undeniable go straight to your core. You clenched your thighs together subconsciously, not realising how telling the gesture was to Natasha.

She slowly leant down and hovered her face inches above yours as her hands trailed up to your own and pinned them above your head. Your breath was shaky and you just knew your friend could tell from your close proximity.

A million things buzzed around your head. Until you caught sight of an especially bright spec of green in Natasha's eyes and found yourself haulting all your questions. That was when you pushed all of your worries and questions to the side to focus on what was infront of you. Or rather who was ontop of you.

You closed your eyes and lifted your head, finally reciprocating in the way you had wanted to a while. Her lips met yours in an instant and felt even softer against your own than you had ever imagined. Your lips moved in perfect sync that you found yourself getting lost in as well as the taste of Natasha that you thought might stay with you forever.

You gasped and parted your lips when she pinched your inner thigh unexpectedly and was quietened when Natasha's tongue met yours. She sucked on it for a brief moment and grinned into you when she felt you moan.

Her lips left yours and started to kiss across your jaw before you could protest then dipped down to your neck. You tilted your head back to give her further access as you held onto her back and tried to steady your breathing.

While one hand held your waist the other stroked along your bare thigh under your dress. You closed your eyes as you struggled to competly focus on any one of the movements. You especially failed when Nat placed one of her muscular thighs between yours, forcing them apart and pressing down on a sensitive area.

You gasped as you felt her apply pressure to your aching clit with her thigh and bucked your hips against her. She chuckled lowly into your ear and held down your thigh and waist with strength that only feuled your growing arousal.

"Tasha." You moaned when the redhead bit down on your neck. Simultaneously, her hand wandered further up your thigh to explore the wanton part between your legs. She sighed deeply into your neck when her fingers brushed against wet spot on your panties.

You whined lowly when she withdrew her fingers only to flip you onto your front and straddle your back. Her slim fingers held the zip on the back of your dress dress swiftly pulled it down along with the rest of your dress.

Her hands ran along your bare back and she unfastened your bra with ease, throwing it somewhere neither of you cared about. She brought her hands back to you and caressed the exposed skin on your sides and leant down flat against you as her hands cupped your breasts. She kissed your shoulder blades as she started to pinch your strained buds. As much as you enjoyed the way she handled you, you needed attention lower down and was becoming impatient, resorting to rocking yourself against the bed in search of something.

"You're a needy thing, aren't you?" She husked, noticing your actions in an instant.

You whimpered into the bed and was suddenly moved onto your back again and stared up at the redheaded beauty who was taking in the sight of your bare breasts.

"You've got me all worked up too, baby." She said as she pulled her own dress down and flung it across the room. Unlike you, she wasn't wearing a bra under her dress giving you the sight of her perfect set. Your own eyes lowered and your breath hitched at the sight of her bare pussy. For a moment you questioned if she had it all planned, but she was straddling your face before you could think about it anymore.

She certainly wasn't lying when she said she was worked up, she was soaked.

With a burst of confidence, you grabbed the back of her thighs and lowered herself onto your tongue that swiped through her folds. You hummed at the initial taste that enveloped your senses and sucked momentarily on her throbbing clit.

"Fuck." Natasha moaned as she pulled on some loose strands of your hair. You pushed your tongue into her awaiting cunt as far as you could go and retracted it to repeat the motion, all while your best friend grinded down on your face.

"Such a good mouth." She praised as you focused your tongue on her soaking channel.

You brought one of your hands up and rubbed Natasha's clit with your thumb as your tongue started to increase it's pace. The redhead's inner walls started to clamp down on your muscle and you took this with a new vigor.

It didn't take long for her thighs to tighten around your head and for Natasha to ride out her orgasm in desperation as you eagerly lapped up all of her cum until she got off you.

"Suck." She instructed only slightly breathlessly as she held her fingers infront of your mouth. You opened in an instant and licked up the length of her fingers before taking them in your mouth as you kept your eyes trained on Natasha.

"Good girl." She praised with a smirk when she withdrew her fingers. She straddled one of your thighs as her fingers danced down to where you needed them the most.

Her fingers slipped inside your pussy with ease. They slowly edged further until they curled against your sweet spot that made your head drop back against the bed. Natasha repeated the come here motion everytime her fingers returned but her pace remained slow and teasing.

You whined in protest but was shushed by the redhead when she pressed herself into your thigh. You gasped as you felt her slick along your thigh and the small rotations of her hips to grind herself against you.

As the pace of her hips increased so did her fingers that were returning to you at twice the pace. You moaned together as everytime Natasha's fingers hit your special spot she angled herself to brush her clit up against your muscle.

The Russian started to dig herself deeper against you and her movements became much more frantic. Her fingers became rougher and faster, never failing to make your head spin when she angled them perfectly.

"Fuck, Nat!" You moaned as your bucked your hips up against her hand.

Her movements became less coordinated as she chased her release and consequently managed to extend her fingers deeper within you making your walls clamp down harshly.

"You feel so good against my pussy." Nat moaned until she came undone on your thigh soon followed by you.

She spread her arousal across your thigh as she rode out her orgasm and kept her fingers deep inside you making you squirm under her.

Her eyes were still glazed over when she looked back down at you and saw you unsuccessfully trying to move away. An evil glint appeared in her eyes as a smirk played on her lips and she leaned down to hover over you again.

"Oh, malysh, we are no where near done."

You woke up to a stream of sunlight flowing into the bedroom and onto the bed. You instinctively went to shield your eyes and turn over but when you did you noticed the body laying peacefully next to you.

You let your eyes adjust and brain start to kick in until you saw the mess of red hair on the pillow next to you. You smiled widely when the memories of the night before began to come back to you.

You were both laying naked in bed with the duvet barely covering you. Natasha had her back to you so you reached out and gently stroked a finger across her shoulder blades. Her shoulders tensed slightly as she gradually woke up and you were reminded of how much you pushed your bodies to the limit. You were feeling kind of sore too.

"Good morning." You greetee with a tired continuous smile and scooched over closer to her only for her to sit up without looking at you.

"Morning." She replied stiffly. You frowned a little in confusion and glanced over at her alarm clock to see how late it is and go to get up too. You had a team meeting that morning that you definetly couldn't miss.

You didn't really know what to say to her when you were finding your clothes. She didn't say anything either but the silence didn't feel right. Not awkward, just not right.

You kept glancing over at her but she never faced you when she was quickly getting changed into clean clothes.

You looked over at the clock again nervously. Half an hour until the meeting. Need to have a shower, clean clothes, breakfast? No, no time. Talk to Natasha?

You really had no clue what to say to the redhead you had spent the night in and it definelty didn't help that your brain hadn't fully kicked in yet.

"So I'll...see you later then?" Smooth, y/n.

"Yeah." Nat said back as she searched for something in her drawers. You nodded and awkwardly pointed to the door and practically ran towards it. The moment you were on the other side of the door you smacked yourself on forehead and started to think about what to say to your best friend.

Throughout the whole of the team meeting Natasha didn't look at you once. Even in the most important meetings she would shoot you a smile every so often or kick you lightly if she knew you weren't paying attention. But she never even acknowledged you in that one.

Granted, the mission brief was one of the most important ones the team had ever had while you had been there. It wasn't for a couple of weeks because an operation like that one required a lot of planning, preparing and paperwork to fill out before it had even started.

It was the single biggest Hydra base there was. It was the heart of all Hydra operations and that meant there was a lot to do. All Hydra agents needed to be captured or killed, all data and information they had needed to be taken and the place needed to be destroyed.

The meeting dragged on for a long time and eventually you were all told to leave and continue as normal until the mission. You planned to walk out with Natasha but she had disappeared before you got the chance.

It was like that for the rest of the day. You never saw your friend and everytime you asked someone where she was she was never where they said. It felt like you were going on a wild goose chase for her between training and eating.

Eventually though, you finally found her in the kitchen late in the evening making herself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She saw you approaching and tensed up without you noticing as you nervously approached, practising what had decided to say to her over in your head.

"Hey." You smiled, eyes trailing to the snack she had prepared as you remembered the time you lectured her on doing it wrong and corrected her. She had insisted you couldn't make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich wrong, but always did it your way after that.

"Hi." She said as she cut the sandwich in half and went to make a swift leave.

"I've been looking for you all day." You half laughed as you moved to stand infront of her.

"I've been busy." She replied and went to move around you.

"Yeah." You laughed nervously again as you followed her.

You had never really been one to shoot your shot or make the first move. It was awkward and uncomfortable even if you ended up lucky. You had never wanted to risk screwing everything up.

You could manage the bottled up feelings most of the time. You always chose that over some form of confrontation. Those were just small, passing crushes. Natasha Romanoff was far from that. And given everything that had happened the night before, you were sure you had a chance - more than a chance.

"So last night was great. More than great actually." You corrected as you managed to keep up with her fast strides.

"I'n glad you enjoyed it." She said simply.

"Did...did you?"

"Yes."

"Cool, so um I was thinking- well I was wondering if you would want to go out sometime." You started as you fiddled with your fingers. "I know you're busy so it doesn't have to be right away- or at all of course! Totally up to you, we could just get a drink or a meal." You rambled, going completly off script. You could feel your heart beating rapidly in your chest as you caught sight of Natasha's room. She stayed silent for a while and you started to suspect you should have kept your mouth shut.

"Look, y/n." Oh God. "Last night wasn't...we were drunk." She started.

"No we weren't." You instantly said and winced at your frantic reply. "I mean we were tipsy at the very most." You corrected and hoped it overruled your desperate comment prior.

"Right, but it wasn't anything serious." Oh fuck. "We were just messing around and celebrating." She said slowly as she reached her door and grabbed the handle, clearly wanting to leave the awkward convosation.

"Oh...yeah of course. I knew that." You lied. "I just thought...yeah never mind- sorry." You rambled again and scratched the back of your neck.

"It's alright." She said looking at her door longingly. "See you tomorrow, y/n." She finally said.

"Yeah, goodnight, Nat." You said back and heard the door shut as soon as you turned around.

Fuck!

Natasha was a generally very mature person. That meant she could put aside personal differences for her job and move past disagreements and resolve tension for the sake of the friendships she developed and treasured. It seemed that didn't apply to you.

You understood that the redhead would want space for a few days. Time was the best thing you could give to allow yourself to pick up the pieces of your heart to reassemble eventually and for Natasha move past what you said.

A week past and Natasha still avoided you like the plague.

That drastic change was one you had never prepared yourself to adjust to. You had been so confident that Natasha felt the same way, it was the one time you didn't plan for rejection. That made it even harder. One moment you and Natasha were practically joint at the hip and the next you were rarely in the same room.

Everytime she went into a room and saw you there she made some excuse about forgetting something and didn't return. If it was you who arrived in a room she was already in she would mutter something about being busy and having things to do.

That meant Nat started doing things like training in the evenings or early night just to avoid you. It was a miracle if she ate a meal with the others too. Her whole schedule changed drastically.

The others noticed pretty quickly. All of it. Natasha's strange routine was just as clear as her separation from you. No one really wanted to say anything, thinking that any issues you and Natasha had could be solved by yourselves. But with the mission fast approaching and there being no signs of things returning to normal, Steve decided to talk to you.

You knew it was Steve at your door by the softness of his knock. Everyone on the team could determine who was outside their door by their knock, it didn't seem possible but it was your equivalent of knowing which family member was coming up the stairs.

"Come in, Steve." You called as you flicked through Netflix. It was late in the evening and you were trying to unwind before bed but you were still haunted by the memories of screwing up your friendship with Natasha.

"You alright?" He asked as he closed the door and joined you on the bed that sunk a little under his weight.

"Never better." You said sarcastically before smiling a little at him, you knew he meant well.

"What's going on with you and Nat?" He asked. You paused you mindless scrolling through the TV as you felt the pain in your chest return.

"I messed it up, Steve. I messed it all up." You admitted as you started to shake.

"Hey." He comforted as he saw tears form in your eyes. He put his arms around you and let you lean into him and rest you head on his shoulder.

"I don't know how to fix it." You babbled.

"Fix what?"

"Us. I think she hates me."

"Nat could never hate you." He assured making you cry a little harder.

"She won't go near me." You argued

"What happened?" He asked again patiently.

"She knows. She knows I like her." Steve chuckled softly and continued to hold you.

"Y/n we all know. It doesn't take a spy to work it out." You sniffed with a smile and wiped the tears away as you leant away from him to look at the blonde.

"I asked her out." You said.

"That was a brave thing to do." He defended despite clearly knowing how it turned out for you. You decided to leave out the reason you worked up the balls to do it.

"I don't think she thinks so." Steve sighed as he looked at the TV in consideration.

"Maybe, but she will eventually."

"How long will that be?"

"It's hard to say with Nat, but eventually. You could try talk to her again?" He suggested.

"Have you been missing how she avoids me like I'm her worst nightmare." You deadpanned.

"You let her know you care about her a lot, you're not far off." You thought for a moment about how right Steve was. Nat never did like intimacy, but she never had a problem with it if it was you. "And she may be a spy by we have a security room." He pointed out and you smiled again.

"Okay." You agreed. "Tomorrow." You decided, knowing there was a lot higher chance of you actually going through with it if you had already told Steve you would.

"Okay." He smiled back and stood up from the bed and went to leave.

"Have you talked to her?" You suddenly asked.

"Seems like she's avoiding everyone."

You surprised even yourself when you found yourself in the security room the next day in the late evening. It didn't take you long to flick through all the cameras and spot Natasha training with the holograms.

You made your way down to her quickly, trying to figure out at least the outline of what you could say to her. Nothing really came to mind when you tried to piece it together.

When you arrived she was focused on throwing an onslaught of punches at a punching bag that honestly looked like it was on the verge of being torn in half. It made you strongly consider backing out when you saw her like that. You just hoped that state of mind wouldn't come across in your convosation.

"Hey." You croaked making the redhead spin around with her guard still up. "Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you." You assured as you took a tentative step towards her.

"You didn't scare me." She defied, annoyance present in her voice.

"I guess if you can be pranked by Clint that many times and not be scared nothing will scare you." You joked in a futile attempt to lighten the mood. It didn't work.

The redhead stayed silent as she adjusted the straps on her gloves. You thought she would pack up her things and leave but she went back to the punching bag and blanked you.

"Are you gonna ignore me forever?" You sighed. She paused her punches for a second before turning to look at you for the first time in over a week.

"I'm not ignoring you."

"We haven't talked in a while." You said, choosing not to argue over the fact that yes she definetly had been ignoring you.

"I've been busy." Her expression was stoic as she looked at you and it made you uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry for making things weird. But we can move past it. I can so you definitely should. Just because you don't want to date me doesn't mean you get to treat me like this, it's not fair on me and its not fair on the team." You breathed deeply when you finished and averted your eyes as you grew more uncomfortable from the confrontation.

"That's just the thing, y/n." Natasha said as she started to take her gloves off. "You're not going to move past it. I know you, and I know you're not going to be over it in a week." You frowned at her blunt response and took a few more steps towards her.

"Get over yourself, Nat." You sighed in frustration. "It's not like I declared that I was inlove with you. And don't forget that you came onto me that night."

"Exactly, y/n. It was one fucking night. It didn't mean anything but you decided to make a big deal out of it." You struggled to push aside the ache that came from her words and the bitter way she delivered them.

"You're never intimate with anyone. So yes when you fucked me and let me fuck you I thought there might be something more to it. It's not a crime to want something more."

Nat's jaw clenched at your words. You had brought in something personal about her and she was inevitably about to put up her walls in the most hurtful way she could. You knew that, but it didn't help you prepare.

"Why can't you accept that you were just a good fuck?" She spat as she glared at you. "Definitely one that I regret." You gulped as you took in the harsh reality of her words.

"Regret?" You whispered.

"Yes, y/n. I regret it. It was a mistake, every fucking bit of it." A mistake?

You didn't say anything in response to that. You were sure that even if you could think of something it would just come out as a squeak. Nat continued to glare at you in a way you couldn't hold. You glanced down at the floor, then the walls, then the punching pad and nodded quickly. You turned around and wandered aimlessly out the room as tears fell silently down your cheeks.

Needless to say things didn't get any better after that encounter. The only difference was that you were mutually avoiding each other. It hurt. A lot. You never thought you would avoid Natasha like you were. You never thought she would break your heart either.

The day of the mission didn't change anything. You and Natasha were sat as far away from each other as possible.

Only the anxiety over the mission was able to overpower the tension in the plane.

Steve had gone over the brief once more in full detail on the plane and you replayed all the information in your head until you landed. Once the quinjet had engaged its cloaking tech it landed in an open area in the surrounding forest.

You all left the quinjet in a concentrated silence as you surveyed your surroundings. It didn't take long to find the first patrolling agents in the forest that were swiftly taken out as to not alert anyone else.

The whole team was scattered across the forest from four planes in a circular layout that advanced towards the Hydra base. Even some of the best S.H.I.E.L.D agents had been brought in to assist. Steve was the first to infiltrate the base and in the least subtle way. You could hear the glass smashing and loud grunts in your coms that made you wish, not for the first time, that you could adjust the volume on those things.

You knew your route. You had it memorized clearly in your head and you also knew that some of it overlapped with Natasha's. You spotted her in your peripheral as you turned a corner to shoot at two charging agents. You leant back against the wall to reload and glanced to your left to see Natasha advancing. Stay focused. You reminded yourself.

You took a quick glance behind the corner again before looking back at Natasha who had her gun raised at you with a flightly fearing expression. Your eyes widened and you went to shout at her to stop messing around but she had already fired the gun. You heard a loud grunt and a body collapse to the floor tight behind you. You swivelled around to see a Hydra agent laying in a pool of his own blood with a handgun next to him.

"Thanks." You breathed out and started around the corner. Natasha had to take another left to the supposed data room where she could collect as much as much as could. You had to keep going but felt the sudden urge to ensure that she was safe. You looked over your shoulder as she opened the door and fired two shots before swiftly entering the room with her gun still raised.

You listened out for any more shots and heard none. She's fine. She knows what she's doing. You assured yourself as you went on.

Half an hour later the building had been cleared of all Hydra agents. Many had been captured and were had many hours of interrogation ahead of them while others hadn't been so lucky. It always weighed on you for a while when you killed as many people as you did on that mission. It was hard but it was necessary. It was the job.

The price of freedom is high. You reminded yourself. The price of freedom is high. The price of freedom is h- "Agent Romanoff is down."

"What?!" You spun around to face the building to see the room Natasha was in. It was in the center of the left side because of course you remembered exactly where she was meant to be.

You instinctively started sprinting back to the building when there was a sudden bright orange and yellow light followed by a deafening boom from the exact room Natasha was meant to be in. The explosion was quick but you got a chance to get an estimate of the scale of it and if Natasha was still in there...oh God.

"Has anyone got eyes on Romanoff?!" You demanded as you stared up at the building, finding yourself rooted to the spot.

"I got her." Steve coughed painfully. "I need a medic." He announced as he ran through the building and out the nearest exit with Natasha unconscious in his arms.

Everything else faded into the background when you saw her. The building still needed to be destroyed but you couldn't care less about the mission.

You stayed at Steve's side as he carried the readhead to the plane and laid her down gently on the bench. A medic was already there waiting and was checking Nat's vitals in an instant.

You dropped down to your knees next to her and watched her face for any signs of consciousness. When you couldn't find any you gently took ahold of her hand and laced your fingers together. You took a great deal of comfort in how warm they were and how warm you were determined for them to remain. You would kill Nat if she died on you.

Yes, she had hurt you. But you were pretty sure you were inlove with her.

You didn't let go of Natasha's hand for a long time. You held onto it tightly throughout the entirety of the flight home. You kept your fingers laced together when she was being taken to the medical wing. You held her hand for a while when they had finally settled her into a bed. She looked so peaceful in that state, you hoped it felt like that for her. She was still so beautiful too, even when she had dirt and smoke all over her before you had cleaned it all off.

You only let go when Steve practically dragged you out of the room to get some proper sleep in your bed.

You had been assured by multiple people that Natasha would be fine.

She had already been unconcious when Steve found her and was able to get her out the room before the bomb went off. It still had an impact and threw them both against a wall, but they were okay. She was okay.

You visited the redhead often but never stayed for long. As much as you wanted to, you knew she wouldn't want you there when she woke up. She had made it clear before that you had lost what you had with her, you were sure the mission hadn't changed that.

One day when you approached her room you peered around the door and saw that she was already sat up and looking around. She spotted you at the door instantly.

"Sorry." You apologised and went make a swift leave but stopped in your tracks when she spoke.

"Please don't go." She called out. You slowly turned around to face her and saw a pleading look across her face that you had never seen in her before.

You hesitated for a moment until you timidly made your way to the chair next to her bed. She watched you do so silently and anxiously, like she expected you to run out any second. You honestly thought about it, thinking another lecture was coming.

"You've been out a few days." You told her without meeting her eyes. "I was worried." You mentally scolded yourself for saying it as soon as you did, thinking that wasn't what she wanted to hear.

"I'm sorry." She surprised you by saying.

"It's not your fault, you didn't throw the bomb at yourself." You smiled nervously.

"Not about that." Nat said quietly. "About everything else. I treated you so badly." The regret couldn't have been more clear in her voice. "I was just scared- and that's not an excuse! It's just the truth." She explained nervously. You listened intently as you stared at her duvet.

"I lied when I said it was a mistake. I lied when I said I regretted it. I lied when I said it didn't mean anything. It meant everything to me, y/n." She explained wholeheartedly as tears started to form in her eyes.

For a moment you couldn't quite comprehend what you're seeing or hearing. Natasha was letting down her walls competly. She was being vulnerable to you.

"I care about you so much. More than I've ever let myself care about anyone. I pushed it aside and tried to ignore it for the longest time but that night I caved and I...I don't know I wasn't thinking about anything other than how much I wanted to show you I cared for you. And when I thought I finally figured out a way to do it I couldn't face it after.

"You never did anything wrong, y/n. It was all me. I couldn't face my feelings but I can't stand not being with you. Is there..." She gulped as her hands trembled notably. "Is there any possibility of a second chance?" She whispered almost fearfully. You finally looked up at her and saw the tears running down her cheeks as she gazed at you like you were the only thing of any importance in the world.

You took her shaking hand in both of yours to steady it and yourself as you spoke. "No more running off?" You asked.

"No more running off." She confirmed.

"No more lying to me?"

"No more lying."

"No more being a pussy." You half joked.

"Definelty no more being a pussy." She laughed weakly.

"Okay then. Natasha, would you like to go on a date with me?" You asked with a smile you couldn't hold back.

"It would be my pleasure, y/n." You grinned and leaned forward to plant a soft kiss on her lips as you kept ahold of her hands. She smiled against you and when you moved back you saw the glint of happiness in her eyes.

Sure, you had done things in the completly wrong order. And yes, the journey to get there had been far from easy. But you swore that day that you would make sure everything after it was done perfectly.

It was a few weeks later on the night you shared your first 'I love you' that she confessed she had sworn the same thing. And it worked.

#natasha romanoff imagines #natasha romanoff imagine #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff smut #natasha romanoff #black widow imagine #black widow #natasha romanoff fluff #natasha romanoff angst

929 notes · View notes

toriowlfluff · 3 years ago

Text

PART 6

The long awaited DECKED-OUT COMIC IS BACK! Well…”comic”. It’s more of a picture story :o because I just couldn’t keep up with the comic style I was going for before. I hope you don’t mind!

More is under the cut!

it becomes morning over Docs peculiar half mansion. The sun just peaks over the horizon as rays of its warmth hit the two sleeping hermits right on their faces. Well, on one of their faces. Grian was curled up on Docs chests, covered by warm protective fingers that belonged to a hand far bigger than any of the other hermits in the colony.

Docs face scrunches up like an annoyed cat, knowing they need to get up. With gentle eyes he lightly brushes his fingers over the soft feathers that belong to Grian. The only reponse he got was a groggy squeek.

"Grian. We better get up soon, you dont want to leave Mumbo waiting."

Doc had made plans with Mumbo and Iskall to meet up in front of the Townhall by morning so they couldn't sleep in this time.

The creeper hybrid sighed and lightly poked Grian as a Plan B, which earned him a jab and an annoyed Tiny that is sitting up now, still covered by green fingers.

"Alright alright... let's get ready then."

by the time they left Docs base, Grian had developed a certain nervousness to him. he was skittish and unsure with every step Doc took away from the safe confines of their overnight shared home.

"Doc... you're gonna be with me right?"

The Avian stammered. sitting on Docs shoulders as they headed through the nether path ways.

Doc replied with utmost calmness.

"I will, I'll be right behind you. but remember. 'You' gotta do the talking part."

Grian unfolded his wings and flutters into Docs now open palm.

"Of course!"

Docs chuckling echoed through the tunnels as they soon arrived at the Netherportal they were heading to. And with one last breath Grian felt Doc move through it, teleporting them to a fresh breeze of overworld air.

The morning sun partly illuminated the path in front of them. dots of shiny light rays littered the floor.

There, a bit further ahead was Mumbo and Iskall, both facing the opposite direction of the impressive Town hall.

Docs mellow expression turned into a frown when he looked down at the tiny bird in his hands who is now clutching his little heart, scrunching up the fabrik of his red sweater he was wearing. The Shifter suddenly felt a strong desire to protect and reassure him.

His expression turned relaxed again in order to not show his concern.

"Hey, it'll be alright. it's just our clumsy Mumbo afterall."

His big fingers brushing circles into the tinies' back. He felt Grian relax, even just a little bit.

"I know.. it's just Mumbo."

And with that he took to the skies and started flying towards the moustached man and his friend.

It didnt take long for him to land right behind them. They seemed to tower above him, making this mission far more expreme than he initially thought. But setting his stupid primal fears aside, he opted to open his mouth with a short "uhm, Mumbo?"

He felt his heart do a leap of adrenaline when both of his supposed best friends turned around. They first looked around but soon locked eyes onto him on the ground in front of them.

For Mumbo, Grian seemed to be miles away, so fragile, so out in the open so... small. He had to fight every fiber of his being to not scoop him up and protect him from the harsh reality of the world.

And for Grian it took every cell in his body to not step back out of instinct.

His confidence in self control crashed though, when Mumbo kneeled down, speaking an unsure "Grian," ultimately making the smaller flinch and step back an inch or two.

"O-oh sorry, my bad-"

Mumbo immediately apologized. The bird Tiny could only focus on his raven haired friend now, he knew Iskall was still there but his view was filled with just Mumbo now.

Trying his hardest, he swallowed his unnecessary shock with a shaky,

"It's a-alright,"

A short but painful silence was broken when both of them stammered eachothers names at the same time.

"M-Mumbo,"

"Grian,"

"Oh, Sorry,"

"Sorry-"

They chuckle at eachother from the shear absurdity of their predicament.

The nervous laughs died down when Grian held up his hand to indicate he'd start talking and Mumbo let him.

"Listen Mumbo,"

the air around them has softened considerably,

"I wanna apologize for what I did yesterday. I might have overreacted a little bit,"

Mumbo interjected, his face filled with an expression of regret and guilt.

"I..might have overreacted aswell, I... shouldnt've done the thing I did. I don't wanna blame it on anything else but I sure got a lot of work to do when it comes to respecting boundaries don't I?" Both of them smile at eachother, "-besides I feel like I deserve this in particular."

Mumbo held his left hand out in front of them, showing off the two bandaids around his fingers Grian sliced to get free.

"Oh yeah.. that part, I- I’m sorry.."

Grian looks guiltily away, holding his other arm protectively.

Mumbo sighed with a smile, making Grians hair flow in the wind created by it and making the smaller look back up at him.

"It was my fault to begin with, Grian. I'll work on my pants behavior.. which is pants, let's not deny that here."

They chuckle again at Mumbo's use of words.

The winged hermit suddenly stops as Mumbo continued his soft fit of chuckles. All the fear he had from the day before vanished. This was Mumbo through and through. His best friend. He wondered why he never understood it sooner. He felt anger and regret and happiness seep through him for a second before landing on an emotion he couldn't even name.

With one leap he hugged the Redstone genius' nose, who's hands immediately came up to hold his tiny friend in place.

"I forgive you, you big lug, I didn't mean to hurt you. And I promise I'll be more careful too."

Mumbo knew and just pressed Grian closer. "It's all water under the ol' bridge now, little guy."

Iskall and Doc are now standing next to eachother. Both of them locked eyes with a smile of relief.

Their mending was cut short though, when a voice came from behind them.

"Are we intruding on someyhing here?"

Everyone looked to the way the voice was coming from, Grian still in Mumbo's hands and held close.

It was their leader Xisuma who was covering something in his hands.

"X?" Mumbo asked quizzically but he was ignored when Xisuma spotted Grian.

"Ah~ Grian! youre just the hermit I was looking for."

He said in his chipper accent while holding out his intriguing gloved hands. One creating a temporary wall in front of the other.

"I've got someone you might wanna see again..."

And with that he reaveals...

TO BE CONTINUED…

#DeckedOutComic #g/t #giant/tiny #sfw g/t #sfw giant/tiny #mcytgt #mcyt g/t #tiny!grian #hermitcraft g/t #hermitcraft giant/tiny

391 notes · View notes

seongsangi · 4 years ago

Text

your girl calls me daddy too

pairing: johnny x reader

summary: the story of getting involved with your professor/classmate's dad 👀

word count: 4.5k

warnings: professor!johnny, dilf!johnny, daddy/sir kink, age gap bc johnny is older in this fic (reader is 21+, we dont do that barely legal just turned 18 shit) straight up smut, that's all we do on this blog

author's note: this took me from 8 pm to 4 am to write. idk if that's fast or not compared to some people but bitch... that's a record for me!

another note: idk if anyone's wondering but johnny is a single dad in this, no cheating or infidelity involved!

No one knows about your relationship with Johnny Suh, certainly not your family or friends, and certainly not his son who is in the same biology course as you this semester. The secret is kept strictly between the two of you, the thrill of hiding it making it that much more exciting.

The relationship began with him being your chemistry professor. The brief glances, lingering touches, and frequent visits during office hours became too much for either of you to deny the attraction. It felt so wrong, the professor-student affair being too much of a cliché that you were hesitant to follow through with it. But after a particular session discussing the assigned homework, you both realized it was now too late to go back.

***********************************************

“Professor, why are you looking at me like that?” you fiddle with your pen in your hand.

“I’m sorry, I’m just a little distracted.” Mr. Suh lets his eyes trail down your figure, eyeing the neckline of your dress that reveals just enough to get his imagination going. He’s thinking about the way you waltzed in here with that damn sundress on, the way you bite your lip when you’re confused on a reaction mechanism, the way your innocent eyes look up at him when he’s explaining the concept. He feels foolish, unable to focus on your question when you’re sitting across from him looking like that, the dress hugging your figure in all the right ways.

“Should I come back another time?”

Mr. Suh clears his throat, giving you another glance up and down before collecting himself. “No, no, I promise I’m fine. Let me check your work right quick.” You hand him the paper, watching as he leans back in his chair examining the mechanism you drew. You let your eyes do the same thing to him as he did to you, taking in the long sleeve black shirt he wore today that hugs his biceps almost too well. It has your hands itching to feel them under your fingers, to take the shirt off and see him in all his glory. Your eyes roam his face, the sharp features drawing you in. You imagine his plump lips doing things to your body that are sure to take your breath away.

He does not fail to notice your lingering stare, or the way you’re fidgeting in your chair. He pulls the sleeves of his shirt up his forearm and grabs his pen, leaning in to show you where you went wrong. As he’s explaining, you lean in too, your perfume filling his senses. You can’t seem to focus on what he’s saying, too busy tracing the veins along his arms and hands. Oh, how they would feel wrapped around your – okay, bitch you have got to chill.

“Miss Y/N, is something the matter?” The way your name rolls off his tongue has you swooning, the added ‘miss’ making your tummy flutter.

You feel your body temperature rising with each second, fiddling with your hands in your lap, your mind going crazy with impure thoughts. You take a deep breath, trying to calm yourself down. “Uh, I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”

Mr. Suh notices your attention is elsewhere, setting his pen down and looking you directly in the eye, making you feel tiny under his intense gaze.

“You’re playing a very dangerous game.”

The statement catches you off guard, your cheeks immediately getting hot. “I- I don’t know, wha- what do you mean?” you stutter, which he finds endearing seeing you all flushed.

“Let’s not act like we don’t know where your mind is at,” he sees right through you. “Cause I’ll be honest, I’m right there with you.” His voice drops a couple octaves, sending a wave of arousal through you at the sound of it. Oh fuck, is this really happening right now?

Your breath gets caught in your throat, unable to respond. What the fuck do you even say to that? Mr. Suh gets out of his chair, his long legs coming around the desk and standing in front of you. He leans down real close to your face, bracing himself on the arm rests of the chair you’re in, effectively caging you in. If you thought you were getting warm before, you’re on the verge of burning up now. He’s smirking down at you, enjoying just how riled up you’re getting.

“Are you gonna tell me you haven’t been thinking of things other than chemistry during our meeting?” He cocks his head to the side, challenging you with a tease in his words.

“Um, professor, I don’t think we should be doing this…” you trail, glancing at the closed door behind you. His face is too close for comfort, looking anywhere but at him.

“Then tell me to stop,” his lips now ghosting your neck, so close you can feel his breath on your skin. He’s watching your chest rise and fall with heavy breaths. Every fiber in your being is telling you this is wrong on so many levels, but it’s making your body tingle in a way you can’t ignore. You’ve been thinking about him and it’s obvious he has been too, what’s stopping you from going further? You open your mouth to say something, but you can’t find any words to say, nothing to let him know you don’t want this.

“You have to tell me you want it then,” he pulls back from you slightly, waiting for your confirmation. If you don’t explicitly say yes, then he won’t push it any further.

You can’t take this any more, sitting up straight and saying “I want it” in one breath before crashing your lips against his. There’s no taking this back, you tell yourself as you let him take control. You sigh into the kiss, his lips feel so right against yours, letting the lust cloud your mind. He cups the side of your face, pulling you up by your waist to get a better angle to devour your lips. His hips push you against the desk, lifting you slightly to sit on the edge. Your hands bunch up his shirt, pulling him even closer to you. He bites your bottom lip as he pulls away, searching your face for any sign of regret. Instead, he’s met with your blown out expression, needy eyes asking for more.

Mr. Suh shakes his head in disbelief, almost chuckling. “You don’t know what you do to me, miss Y/N.” You love it when he calls you that. He steps back, turning around to lock the door. The sound of the lock only fuels your excitement, eager to see what he’ll do next. Your hands grip the edge of the desk as Mr. Suh stalks towards you, like a predator eyeing his prey. Oh, how you want him to eat you up right now. Your thighs press together at the thought, a movement he quickly notices.

His hands trail up the side of your thighs before resting on the curve of your ass. The fabric is soft to the touch but he bets your skin is softer. “What are you thinking of, you naughty girl?” His lips are back on you, letting your head fall to the side as he peppers kisses along your neck. “Just thinking about you,” you pant.

“I know that much. What do you want me to do, hmm?” he presses further.

“Anything you want,” falling further under his spell. He groans in your ear, ready and willing to take advantage of your submission. It’s more like you’ve got him under your spell. He knows this is wrong on a professional level, but fuck that right now.

“Turn around,” twisting your body before you can even do it yourself. His touch makes you so dizzy, bracing your hands on the homework assignment that has long been forgotten. He kisses your shoulder, pressing close to your backside as he admires you from behind, the dress doing wonders to accentuate your curves.

“You look so good in this dress doll,” kneading your ass in his hands. He gives it a tame slap, not wanting to be too rough since there are still other offices around his. “But I bet you’d look even better with it off.” The wetness in your panties is becoming unbearable, desperate for him to touch you where you need him.

“Touch me please,” your sweet voice begging him is more than enough for him to comply. He bunches your dress up over your waist to expose your soft skin, the thin panties you’re wearing showcasing your wet spot off clearly. His pants are getting incredibly tight, blood rushing to his member with each second. He lifts your right knee to rest it on the desk, trailing his fingers over the thin fabric.

“Right here?” he slides his fingers up and down your center, earning a shudder from you.

“Or here?” pulling your panties to the side and coating his fingers in your arousal. You let out an audible moan when he finds your clit, which prompts him to clamp his hand over your mouth. He cranes your head back to look you in your eyes, his hand still rubbing against your bundle of nerves.

“You’ll have to be quiet or else I’ll stop. Can’t have anyone around us hearing you.” You nod in understanding, eyes fluttering shut as two of his fingers slide into you with ease. You arch your back a bit more, pushing your hips further into his hand. It’s a good thing his hand is still covering your mouth because you can’t help your moans when his fingers are drilling into you so fast.

“You’re taking my fingers so well doll,” he’s gonna drive you insane with that nickname. You turn your head to get a better look at him, watching him part his lips as he watches his fingers disappear in and out of your core.

He slides a third finger in and you want to scream, the stretch makes you feel so full. You’re soaked now, the lewd sounds of your wetness making you feel self-conscious. Just then, his office phone rings. You gasp, looking at him with wide eyes. He lets go of your mouth but doesn’t pull his fingers out of you, pumping them in even as he reaches for the phone. You try to stay as quiet as you can with his fingers still working your core.

“Hello, this is Johnny Suh.” He looks you dead in the eye, telling you you better shut up without verbally saying anything.

“Ah, Jaehyun, what can I do for you?” Your legs buckle when he hits that spot, almost letting out a yelp. He shoots you another glare, pulling his fingers out and shoving them in your mouth to keep you quiet. He sets the phone down for a second, leaning in to your ear. “Play with yourself while I take this call. And shut up, I mean it.”

You can taste yourself on his fingers, the whole thing making you feel so filthy. Your hand reaches down to your core, rubbing yourself slowly as Mr. Suh picks the phone up again. You lick him clean, getting your own fingers wet now with your slick. He’s listening to the other person on the line but paying close attention to your hand in between your thighs. He likes watching you play with yourself, getting off on the thought of him.

“Okay, all that sounds great. Send me an email of the template and I’ll check it out. I’m with a student right now, so can I call you back later?”

When he finally gets off the phone, he shoves his fingers further into your mouth, almost making you choke on them. “Didn’t I tell you to be quiet? You couldn’t even do that?” You’re so worked up, you can feel your high approaching and you just want him to help you reach it.

You grab his wrist, pulling his fingers out of your mouth. “I’m so close,” bringing his hand back to your core.

“You want to cum? Beg for it,” he doesn’t make a move to touch you.

“Please sir, I wanna cum on your fingers, please please.” You stroke his arm gently, pleading with your eyes, anything for him to touch you again. How could he say no when you’re looking at him like that?

He tells you to turn around to face him, holding your leg against his waist. He watches your face contort in pleasure as he gives you what you want, rubbing yourself at the same time to chase your high. You try to keep your voice to a minimum, your sweet moans fueling him on. If his fingers feel this good in you, you can’t even imagine what else he’s got in store for you.

“Fuuuck, sir I’m cumming,” you cry weakly, closing your eyes and clenching around his fingers as you finally get that release. The sight of you coming undone on his hand is almost enough to take you right then and there, but he holds himself back. Your hand grips his wrist tightly, but he doesn’t stop pumping in and out of you until you open your eyes, worried he’s gonna try to get another one out of you so soon.

He finally stops, taking the chance to taste yourself by licking his own fingers clean. God, you thought sucking his fingers was hot, this is even better. He loves the taste of you, already craving more. Mr. Suh runs his hand along your inner thighs, taking a mental image of the sight of you spread open for him on his desk.

“Miss Y/N, I think it’s safe to say that we should keep this a secret between us.”

***********************************************

And that’s how your intimate relationship with your professor began. You’ve been in his office so many times after that, you’ve lost count, letting him take you on every inch of that desk. Before, during, and after office hours, you both crave each other’s touch. You know to keep your time together to a minimum though. You can’t be coming into his office whenever you want, or else it would start to get suspicious. Sometimes you catch yourself stealing glances at his son in biology class, wondering if he has even the slightest idea of what’s going on between you and Mr. Suh.

One day, when he’s at the front of the class teaching, all you can think about is his lips on you as he takes you from behind, whispering in your ear how dirty you are for letting him fuck you before class started. By the end of class, he passes the homework back out. You see a note written in red at the bottom of your paper.

127 Paradise Lane tomorrow 7 pm

It doesn’t take a genius to know what that means or what it entails. You quickly put your homework in your backpack before any curious eyes can see what’s written on it. You look up to see him steal a glance at you, making sure you got his note. Neither of you say anything as you walk out of class.

***********************************************

When you get to his house the next night, he welcomes you in with a warm smile, which quickly turns devious as he shoves you against the door immediately after closing it, capturing your lips in a heated kiss. You grab hold of his shirt as his hands roam your body, pulling him as close as you can. His hard bulge presses against your stomach, thoughts already wandering to how mind blowing his impressive length will feel in you. You want him, but one questions prods at your mind, pulling away from his lips slightly.

“Sir, what about your son? Is he gonna be home tonight?” You feel weird in your classmate’s house, but the fact that you’re about to fuck his dad as you’ve done plenty of times before is more overwhelming than your qualms about being here.

“He’s out of town with his friends,” running his hand up your back before grabbing your hair, pulling your head back so fast it surprises you. His breath is warm against your lips, “And when you’re in my house, it’s daddy.” You’re so used to calling him sir, knowing it turns him on but the new name in this new setting makes your insides tingle. You can’t hold back your smile, giving him your best “yes, daddy” to appease him.

Mr. Suh leads you to his bedroom, the king sized bed hitting your back as he throws you down. He towers over you, unbuttoning his shirt slowly. You sit up on your elbows, rubbing your thighs together as you eat up the man before you with your eyes. With each button that comes undone, you get more and more excited. He’s watching you intently, thinking of all the ways he’s going to ruin you tonight. He looks delectable with his shirt off, licking your lips at the sight of his well built figure.

“You’re gonna start drooling soon,” he teases, walking to his closet and pulling out one of his many ties. Whatever he’s thinking of doing with that, you have absolutely no complaints. You bite your lip in anticipation as he kneels on the bed, securing the tie around your neck into a makeshift collar. “Is this okay with you?”

You nod your head, but he pulls on the tie quickly, taking your breath away. “Use your words.”

“Yes, it’s ok,” you choke out. He doesn’t let up, asking instead, “Yes what?”

You’re gushing already, the control he has over you making your head spin. “Yes daddy,” you can barely get the two words out. He lets the tie go slack, coughing a bit at the sudden attack. His hand cups your face, “Sorry was that too much?” You nuzzle your cheek into his hand, telling him you loved it.

And that’s what he loves about you, that you take anything he gives you and enjoy every bit of it. You’re too much for him. He sits with his back against the headboard, tugging your arm to straddle him. “Did you wear this little dress for me?” his hands are sliding up and down your thighs, bringing out the goosebumps on your skin. You brace your hands on his chest, moving your hips against his jeans. The friction against your clit is oh so good and feels even better when he flexes his thigh after seeing your movements.

“You should see what I’m wearing underneath,” tugging the hem of your dress over your body, revealing your choice in white lingerie underneath, the color making you look angelic but is a stark contrast to the sinful things that are about to happen.

“Miss Y/N, what am I gonna do with you?” he asks as you pick up the pace of your hips, leaning down to press your lips to his neck. He lets you do what you want to him, encouraging your hips to move faster. Your small whimpers in his ear tell him you’re enjoying yourself, using his thigh to get off. You know not to leave any visible marks, opting for further down his chest to leave hickeys. His jeans feel so good against your core, finding more pleasure in riding his thigh than you thought, but it’s still not enough. “Want you to fuck me,” you moan breathlessly, pushing your chest into his face as you find that perfect spot to keep grinding against.

He hungrily pulls your bra down, attaching his lips to your hard nipple as he rolls the other one between his fingers. Your skin is so soft, he could bury his face in your tits all night. He leaves his own hickeys on your chest, admiring his work as he puts your bra back in place.

“Keep the lingerie on.” He pulls you down by the tie again, kissing you fervently as you fumble with his jeans. You get down on your knees, taking his clothes off so that he’s naked before you. His rock-hard member slaps against his stomach when you pull his pants off. You flatten your tongue against his member, locking eyes with him as you lick him from the base to the tip. You take him in your mouth, using your hands to fondle his balls to add to his pleasure. Using your tongue as much as you can to get him wet, you take him as far as your throat allows.

“You look so good with my dick in your mouth,” grabbing your hair and bobbing your head up and down on him. You let him use your mouth, parting his lips at the feeling of your warm tongue. When he lets go of your hair, you release him with a pop, sliding your hand along his length. “I bet I look even better with it in m—” you can’t even finish your sentence as he grabs you by the chin, shutting you up.

“I knew you’d say some shit like that. Why don’t you be a good girl and come ride this dick then?” He shoves your face away, but the roughness only turns you on even more. You straddle his hips, his hand pulling your lace panties to the side as you position him at your entrance. Both of you gasp as you sink down on him, the stretch quickly filling you up, your tight walls clamping against him.

“Fuck daddy, feels so good,” you whine. When he’s all the way in, you lean back on your hands in the cowgirl position, giving him the best view of where your bodies are connected. You feel so exposed in this position, but he can’t keep his eyes off your core as you move your hips, which makes you feel powerful under his glare. You know he loves it just as much as you do, giving him a show as you ride him.

A thought comes into your head, pulling out but quickly turning around so that your backside is facing him. You slide down on him again, his hands gripping your waist. You can move your hips faster in this position, setting a quick pace and slamming your hips against his. He’s lost in the way your ass bounces on top him. You let out a loud whine when his hand lands a hard slap on your ass cheek.

“I can’t do that when we’re in my office,” he lands another one to the same cheek, “but now I can.” He wants to see you red with his handprints, enjoying your little yelps at the sting. You clench around him each time he spanks you, doing so particularly hard but you can’t deny that you like the pain. By the last spank, your ass is on fire, but his large hands smoothing over them soon makes you forget about the pain.

Suddenly, you’re being yanked back by your hair, thrown on your side as he spoons you. Lifting one of your legs up, he slides into you from behind. The new position introduces a new angle for him to fuck you. “Oh shit, fuck, oh my god,” you can only curse as he abuses your core deliciously. Instead of using the tie, he wraps his hand around your throat to choke you. You grip his forearm, letting him use your body to his content.

“Your pussy is so good baby,” he growls in your ear. “So tight, so wet, I could fuck you all night. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” You mumble incoherently as a response, too gone in the pleasure he’s sending throughout your body. You let out a choked scream as his hand that’s holding your leg up finds your sensitive nub, bringing you closer to the edge as he tells you how much he loves fucking you. Your legs shake as the pleasure overwhelms you, but he holds you close to keep you from going too far.

“Don’t run away, I know you can take it doll.”

“Daddy please,” you beg shamelessly but you don’t even know what you’re begging for. You want him to keep ravaging you, but you physically don’t know if you can keep up.

Mr. Suh makes the decision for you, pulling out of you to stand at the edge of the bed. He grabs your ankles, dragging your body towards him. He holds your legs together, pushing them towards your chest. He slides right back in, wasting no time in fucking you again. He loves watching his dick slide in and out of you, loves hearing you moan his name, loves how tight you get for him. You let your legs fall open, sitting up on your elbows to watch him fuck you. There’s something insanely hot about watching you take every inch of him, you can see why he enjoys it so much.

Your breasts bounce with each thrust, which makes him grab handfuls of your tits, pinching your nipples. “Baby, can I take a video of you? I won’t get your face in it, you just look so good in this lingerie right now.” You nod, feeling a surge of confidence at his words. He reaches for his phone on the nightstand, opening the camera and pressing record. He slows his thrusts, sliding into you slowly to show off how wet you are. The camera pans to your bra, giving them a squeeze for the video. He shoves your hand away, pulling your breasts out of your bra. He tugs on the tie, making sure not to get your face but still showing your makeshift collar off.

Without warning, he speeds his hips up again, earning a cry from you before ending the video and throwing his phone on the bed. He’s so riled up, he just wants to use you to finish. “You gonna cum for me daddy?” God, he loves hearing you beg for him. You sound so sweet saying the dirtiest things. “Cum for me please, I want it so bad, want you to cum in my mouth.”

“Oh shit baby,” he pulls out quickly, grabbing your hair and shoving himself in your mouth, his warm release all on your tongue. You swallow every last drop, sucking him off as he groans at the slight overstimulation.

He takes a second to catch his breath, noticing your not so innocent eyes looking up at him eagerly. A playful smile spreads across your face and he knows that look all too well.

You’re insatiable.

***********************************************

The next semester, you’re moving into a new dorm. Your parents are here to help you move everything in. You notice Mr. Suh’s son moving into the same dorm, looking around for a glimpse of him. He’s carrying a box of things from the car to the front entrance, stopping you for a quick “hello Miss Y/N, how was your break?”

He looks behind you, asking if those are your parents. “Maybe I should say something to them.”

“What are you gonna say?”

“Oh, I don't know, maybe something like: your girl calls me daddy too,” he jokes as you storm off, cheeks flushing red.

#nct smut #nct 127 smut #johnny smut #nct johnny #nct johnny smut

789 notes · View notes

notnctu · 4 years ago

Text

through the lens ❀ l.jn

❀ lee jeno x fem!reader ❀ genre - slow burn, smut/mature content, fluff (romance?), slight angst ❀ details - photographer!jeno, model!reader, college!au, shy!jeno but he aint shy in bed, strangers to fuckers!au ❀ word count - 8k (this is the longest thing ive ever written) ❀ warnings - nude modeling, swearing, oral (f/receiving), some sweet love makin’ ❀ brief synopsis - jeno asks you to model for his internship project, but little did you know, it was going to be a nude photo shoot.

❝ jeno was too shy to hold eye contact, but he stared at you endlessly through the lens. ❞

❀ a/n - hihihi this is author doie❀ ! im bad at writing smut so pls dont hate me ah ha lol i tried my best i also dont model/do professional photography so really apologize if i butcher any terms lmaoo the only thing i am is that im in college and im shy

Jeno had applied to almost a hundred internships and almost close to none returned with an offer, even after a whole month of waiting. He absolutely needed to start building his portfolio before the beginning of his senior year of college. The embarrassment of possibly graduating without any experience loomed over the desperate boy.

Photography had been more than a hobby to him, to the point where he wanted to take it seriously. His parents weren’t the most supportive of an Arts major, but that couldn’t stop him. Jeno saw the best through a camera lens. He had a special eye for beautiful moments and the impressing urge to capture it forever.

It was too late to change his major, if he wanted to graduate with all of his friends. If he wanted to be successful, he had to act on it now.

The swoosh! of a new email startled the sleeping boy. He stared at the brightly lit screen, reading the words over and over again to make sure it was real. Jeno was so enthralled with excitement that he scrambled out of bed to wake up his roommate, Jaemin.

He shook him so violently that the sheets fell from Jaemin’s warm body. “Dude! I got an internship!” He spoke with incredible glee, a wide smile couldn’t leave his face.

Jaemin groaned and had to hold Jeno by the shoulders to halt the boy from causing the room to spin. “Why--What is going on?” He dazely rubbed his tired eyes to blink at his giddy roommate.

The screen blinded Jaemin as it was shoved too closely to adjust. “Whoa--,” he pushed it away and shut his eyes, “--repeat what you just said one more time.” Jaemin held a finger up and Jeno grabbed it, jumping onto his best friend’s bed.

“I got an internship. Someone got back to me.” Jaemin returned the same excitement the moment he processed his words. He shot up in bed and hugged his friend tightly.

“Wo-w, dude! Congratulations!” The two boys hurried on their feet to cheer together. There was no concern for the rest of their housemates, only celebration that roared throughout the entire night.

Truthfully, Jeno had no recollection of applying to this studio. It could have been a random link on a job scouting website, but he couldn’t be more grateful. An internship was long overdue and Jeno had been itching to get some recognition for his craft.

“Hello, I’m Lee Jeno.” He bowed slightly at the receptionist, who had a stern stare that made him feel vulnerable. The first thing he noted about the office: white and minimalistic.

Jeno’s specialty was landscape photography. His aesthetics consisted of black and white filters, city lights, dark mood lighting, and background commotion. He enjoyed capturing chaos the most, a scene where more than one thing was happening. The only reason being that there was more to look at.

“Nice to meet you. The name is Lee Taemin, but you can call me what you please.” A young, lean man strolled his way towards Jeno with a wide grin and his hand for him to shake. Taemin was slightly shorter than him, but his stylish, expensive boots made up for his height. He had to be only a maximum of five years older than Jeno as Taemin appeared relatively youthful.

Taemin’s firm grip pulled Jeno along inside the studio. A small gasp escaped from Jeno which earned robust laughter from the older man. “I hope you can break out of your shell soon. There is no room for timidness around here, Mister Lee.”

“Please, you can call me Jeno.” He smiled, quite awkwardly at the beautiful man.

The tall glass windows, the concrete, gray floor, the white doors that lined the hallway, had to be all too predictable. Jeno envisioned this is what high class must look like. It was the pristine, bright feeling and the smell of vanilla that lingered distastefully. There was chatter behind the closed doors --- mainly directing, and high praises.

The only off-put was that photographers worked behind closed doors. From the few studios he has visited previously, photographers often worked in open spaces due to lighting fractures or the ability to roam more freely.

“I’m actually very ecstatic you signed up for the internship, since you do seem a bit on the younger side.” Taemin gestured toward the sofa in the middle of his massive office. Jeno sat across from him. Water was already placed on the glass coffee table that separated the two. A laptop was opened to face Taemin.

Jeno slyly rubbed the condensation from his palms on his jeans. Taemin’s stare bore deep into the shy boy, who had to break eye contact from time to time. “I know.” Jeno chuckled nervously, “thank you for getting back to me. I was really hoping to gain work experience through mentorship.”

Taemin nodded at everything Jeno was saying. His face being completely expressionless. Jeno sipped his water to regain moisture in his dry throat. Taemin was more intimidating than he was anticipating. “Sounds great. Happy to have you here. It might be a small business, but the experience is worth investing in. Every photographer who has come in and out of my building has found their forte. Let’s say, it’s eye opening.”

“That’s exactly what I was looking for actually.” As scared as he was of this mysterious man, he really enjoyed the comfort the environment radiated.

Taemin leaned forward and squinted at the screen. “I noticed in the portfolio you sent that you don’t have any portraits or any people, in general, in your photos. Do you have any works with people? Since this is a studio of fine art nude photography.”

Nude. Jeno practically choked on the last remaining spit he gathered. Taemin acknowledged the boy’s shocked reaction and tilted his head curiously, “you did know that I specialize in contemporary fine art nude photography, right?” Unfortunately, Jeno did not.

Jeno cleared his throat, “yes, of course. I wanted to challenge myself.” He had to lie, there was no other way to cover up his disbelief. This internship was the only hope left for him to gain something. Though, even the thought of shooting a naked body made him anxious.

He hated how timid he was. His friends and family say otherwise, mainly for the reason that Jeno automatically lit up behind a camera. In all honesty, he hid behind it. It was the only safe place that Jeno knew what he was doing. However when it came to real life situations without it, he lacked the confidence to be himself.

As ironic as it was, he hated being seen. He liked to be the background character in his own life, because the main character took too much of a toll. It could also be his deafening insecurities and lack of self esteem, but Jeno didn’t mind not being the center of attention.

“You like a challenge?” It was more of a statement rather than a question. Jeno caught a glimpse of the twinkle in Taemin’s dark eyes. “Then for your first task, I want you to show me that you can take on this role.”

Jeno scrambled for his phone to jot down notes. “Send me an emotional portfolio, model of your choice. They could be a friend of yours that you feel comfortable seeing naked. It must include a variation of headshots, full body, and body details. It must also be raw and unedited photos. I want to see if you have the eye for the art to capture these types of images.”

“When would you like it by?” He stammered, completely winded at the sudden project that unloaded on top of him.

“Next Friday, and you’ll present it to me here in person. Feel free to use this studio if you don’t have a place of your own with equipment. All you need to do is book a room with the front desk. Any other questions?” The sound of the laptop shutting caused Jeno to look up at the brilliance in front of him. He needed Taemin to help him succeed.

“Why do you take nude photography?”

Taemin was unable to stop the laughter that erupted into the room. “I don’t run a pimp business or sell soft core porn, if that’s why you’re staring at me so funnily. What I make is an art masterpiece, it has nothing to do with physical features or desires. It’s the pure emotion that clothing distracts from. Clothing conforms the model into an aesthetic, and while that works for editorials, it won’t be a consistent thing here.”

Jeno nodded understandingly. Overwhelmed and lost at words. He was unsure what he had gotten himself into. Where was he going to find a model on such short notice on such lewd conditions? He was really going to need to step out of his comfortable zone, in his photography and social skills.

Taemin stood up and extended his hand once more. “I take pride in my art, so I hope you, too, start finding that in your own.”

Jaemin held his stomach from the endless laughter, tears welling up in his eyes. “Nud-Nude photography? And you didn’t know?”

“Jaemin, keep it down.” Jeno whispered and cautiously peered around at the few people flooding into the small lecture hall. “I don’t want everyone in our club to misunderstand and think I’m some creep.”

His best friend straightened up in his seat and placed his hand on Jeno's slumped shoulder, “first of all, you’re a complete idiot for not researching. Secondly, it’s an art form. If you really got yourself a shady, rated R internship, I would’ve told you to drop it instantly.”

His spirits were slightly lifted, but he was still struggling with who he should ask to model for him. As much as he’s already seen of Jaemin, being his roommate, he honestly would rather leave the rest to imagination. Jeno wasn’t purposefully searching the room for a candidate, but he could not stop his eyes from drifting.

He spotted the most attractive side profile that sat two rows below him. He shook his head to make sure he was seeing her correctly. Peering around, he looked for another possible face to shoot. But oh god, how she caught his eye every time she even slightly moved.

You smiled happily with your friends by your side as your club’s executive board members introduced this year’s goals and events to attend. It had to be the smallest amount of alcohol still running in your system that caused you to giggle every time guys tried to turn around and hit on you.

“Why don’t you focus on our club members instead?” You smirked at the smug older boy, who had poorly attempted to grab your attention. “I think this information is important to you. These events could help you develop your social skills to be much better.” Your voice was barely above a whisper, but your girl friends scoffed by your side.

He got up in disbelief and quickly walked out of the room. There was a brief pause at the sudden movement, but the announcement carried on per usual.

Jeno impatiently waited for the club meeting to finally be over, so he could talk to you. The longer it dragged, the more his confidence was subsiding. “I’m heading to study, wanna come with?” Jaemin poked at Jeno’s knee.

“Yeah, but you can go ahead first. I need to talk to someone.” His voice was shaky and his throat went so dry. Jeno’s shifty eyes scanned the room, hoping no one saw how nervous he was acting.

Jaemin’s eyebrows lifted suspiciously, “who? I didn’t even know you talked to anyone who came today. Donghyuck and Renjun aren’t here---”

“--her, Jaemin... her. I’m going to ask her to model for me.” Jeno motioned his head. His heart beating faster at seeing a small grin appear on your face from a comment someone made.

Jaemin hummed, “good luck with that, bud. I’ve got two shoulders for you to cry on after.” The extra hint of sarcasm only made Jeno sweat nervously. He was seriously doubting his decision, but it wouldn’t be a challenge if he didn’t do it. He knew he’d regret it more if he didn’t just ask you.

Once the meeting was dismissed, you wanted to get out of the room before the heavy rush into the hallways. Unfortunately, a few frat guys pulled you into their conversation and chatted up a storm. Your friends played into their foolery, but you stopped paying attention when they asked for your numbers.

There was a faint tap on your shoulder and you turned to see who the culprit was. You didn’t seem to know him, because you would’ve remembered such a demeanor. His eyes were glued to the floor behind you and his shaky hands ran through his brown locks. His shyness was quite endearing, yet alarming since you weren’t sure why exactly he had approached you.

“Yes?” You asked curiously.

The moment Jeno heard your delicate cadence, he melted like a popsicle left out in the sun. He peered up, but quickly reverted his eyes to the white tiles when he noticed how beautifully you stared at him.

He counted his breathing to calm his rapid heart beat. He cleared his throat to introduce himself, “I’m Jeno. I’m a third year Arts major, um-- I was just--- I know we don’t know each other. I wanted to ask, uh-” Jeno was horrified at how he stammered over his own words. His cheeks burned with a red glow, and if he couldn’t look you in the eye before, he definitely couldn’t now.

“Hey, see you later.” One of the bulky frat guys called and you waved back weakly.

A guy who had been chasing you endlessly scoffed at the pitiful sight and smirked at you, “see you at my house tonight? Been missing you in my bed lately.”

“Thought you would’ve guessed the reason why I stopped coming around.” Jeno heard the sting in your remarks and the disbelief in the male.

You honestly could have left, Jeno knew that. But you stayed and waited patiently for him to finish. Jeno could tell how strong you were just by your intimidating aura that practically suffocated him by standing in close proximity to you.

You sighed and reached to grab your jacket on the folded seat, “look, Jeno. It’s nice to meet you and all, but I gotta get going.”

Shockingly, the shy boy reached out to stop you by your fingertips. His touch lingered before he dropped your hand quickly. “I’m sorry. Are you free this Monday?”

“Uh, that depends. If you’re asking me on a date, then I’m busy.” Rolling your eyes, you weren’t sure why you still stayed to listen to what this random stranger had to say. If it were anyone else, you would’ve walked away the moment he asked if you were free. However, you acknowledged his timidness and the courage he must have mustered up to approach you.

Jeno shook his head violently, completely in shambles from that type of misunderstanding. “Not a date. I need someone to model for my portfolio photos that my internship assigned. It’s actually very important to me because it’s the first internship that responded back to me when I had applied to so many a whole month ago. Basically, I really need this and you because I think you’d be perfect to take pictures of. Oh-- wow! That sounded very bad --- uh --- what I meant is that your facial proportions are perfect and---”

“I’m free Monday.” You cut off his endless ramble and gestured toward his phone. He handed it to you without any hesitation and you typed in your number. “Text me the time, place and what I should wear.”

“Oh actually, it’s a nude photoshoot.” Your eyes doubled in size, completely offended by that statement.

Jeno felt the sudden shift in the air and brought his hands up to block himself, “to be more clear, it’s a contemporary fine art nude photography studio. The pictures are pieces of art and to be seen as that only. I have no intentions or ulterior motive to sleep with you, see you naked or sell, leak your nudes for the profit of your body. But, I understand if you no longer want to do it because it sounds super strange now that I am explaining it.”

Your shoulders relaxed and the fist that formed unraveled. You exhaled deeply, “I’ll do it. We can talk more about it on Monday and I get to leave on my own accord if I don’t feel comfortable. We work on my conditions.” Picking up Jeno’s chin, he was absolutely petrified at the forced eye contact and your incredible, powerful gaze. He was mesmerized by the fire in your eyes, and if he stared any longer, he could’ve lost himself in them.

“Of course.” With that, you dropped his face and left without another look back. Jeno looked down at his phone and the new contact name, (Y/N). It had slipped his mind to even ask what your name was and he slapped his face in utter stupidity. “Do better, Lee Jeno.” It was a remainder to himself to, hopefully, be better the next time you two speak.

Monday, 3:03 PM.

Jeno paced back and forth in the brightly, lit white room. He was trying to find any blinds or curtains to cover the tall windows of the high rise building. It should not be too much of a problem, the extra lighting was a positive. Jeno was only worried for your comfort of the openness.

There was a soft knock before Jeno practically tripped to open the door. His breath hitched at the sight of your bare face. This time, you were the vulnerable one. Jeno only saw purity, yet impressed at how your tired eyes still managed to bid him a soft smile. He admired your uneven complexion, and the sparse moles that dotted your skin.

“Okay, so you want to see me naked now or later?” Filled with jokes, your voice was light and airy this afternoon. There was a bit of a contrast from the first time you two met. Softer, enchanting, almost ghostly.

Everything in the room was white. The mattress on the floor had a white comforter and white sheets. The backdrop. The walls. The hardwood floor. The only color was the blue sky that the tall windows let in.

“Here’s a robe. You can change in the bathroom.” Jeno scratched the back of his neck and his eyes wandered everywhere, but your’s.

“Would you be okay with me just taking off my clothes in here?” You saw the light tint of pink cover his face, and spread to his ears. You examined more of the shy boy’s embarrassed face, finally getting a really good look at him. Jeno was very attractive, and you could only imagine how beautiful he must look if he fully faced you.

Jeno fiddled with his camera strap, “only if you are okay with that.” Clearing his throat, he stood next to the window to give you some privacy. “I’ll go over what I plan on doing. I’m going to take photos of your face details, parts of your body, full body, and portraits. You can lay down on the bed and I’ll direct you in poses. Have you modeled before?”

He was scanning the bustling city below his feet. Cars zoomed quickly and crowds of tiny people flooded the streets. He brought his camera up to his face, not being able to resist the urge to capture such a thrilling sight.

“If Instagram counts, then yeah. Professional model gig would be a no. Nude photography is a definite no, unless we are talking about being filmed during sex.” Jeno chuckled, while also holding the camera steady and stealing a few moments to keep for himself.

For a strange reason, being naked for a non-sensual reason felt even more vulnerable. Laying on the soft fabric, you felt oddly exposed and slightly more reserved. You’ve had countless strangers see you naked. Men were sexually desiring to see a sexy picture. You were always lusted after, but this feeling of nakedness was special.

“Are you ready?” Jeno gulped, finally setting the camera down.

You hummed cheerfully. Your heart was leaping out of your chest as the boy shifted slowly to face you. As he turned, you noticed he had his eyes sealed shut, which caused a small laugh to erupt. “Jeno, you have my permission to open your eyes and to look at me.”

Holy shit, he was trembling with an inexplicable fear. The camera was slipping from his sweaty hands. His mouth was as dry as the desert. Jeno’s pounding heart was loud in his ears.

Jeno has seen his past girlfriends laying naked in bed, but this situation was too different. When he saw you laying there in absolutely nothing, he was overwhelmed, yet astounded at how graceful you appeared.

There was no exchange of words and no exchange of eye contact. He towered over your lying figure and shakily brought the camera to his eyes. He selfishly wanted to capture your elegance. Through the lens, he saw all of you: the curve in your eyelid, your curled eyelashes, the small mole next to your soft lips, the sharp color of your eyes, the way your hair frames your face.

This was the most beautiful sight he’s ever seen. You were comparable to the arts found in popular museums. Your body lines were enticing and an impressive shape. Your breasts pooled on your chest, the round nude nipple in the centers. Your details had to be sculpted by gods, who took their sweet time making you. You were a true masterpiece.

Confused, Jeno felt a huge mixture of emotions. Was he aroused? Was he infatuated? Did he just fall in love with a complete stranger? He recognized the same thrilled feelings he felt taking landscape photos. With each click, he grew more excited with how beautiful the photos were turning out.

“Sit up and rest your chin on your left hand. Lean your weight on your right leg.” Jeno’s direction was clear and firm. There was no evidence of a smaller tone he usually spoke in. Sitting up, you placed your elbow on your upper thigh to steady your chin. Jeno had already gotten down to floor level to you.

Without the camera that separated you two, it had to be the first time he faced you completely in such close proximity. There was so much to admire about Jeno. He remained concentrated on his craft, but it was actually very sexy to see his dedication. It was almost like he was a whole new person, like all the shyness drifted away.

Jeno couldn’t take his eyes off of you. It wasn’t simply your beauty that amazed him. Your confidence made everything easy. There was something about your blank stares, when he asked for an emotion, you portrayed it perfectly.

“Can we talk while you shoot?” Your sudden voice startled the photographer. He lowered his camera and his gaze automatically wandered off behind you, which didn’t go unnoticed. He nodded after a short pause and the shutter noises continued.

“Why did you choose me as your model?”

Jeno peeled away from the device, “because you’re you.” He didn’t even know what that statement meant. It wasn’t like he knew you before the first time he asked you to model for him.

The corners of your lips dipped down, drawing an evident frown. Click. Jeno loved that image especially. It was a simple way to get real, authentic facial expressions. He marveled at the photo, but registered the reason behind it. “I wanted to ask you the second I saw you. I just knew that I wanted you.”

“But you don’t know me.”

Jeno looked through the lens once again, welcoming a full view of your stunning attributes. He spoke in a low voice, “then, let me know you.” Click.

It would be the biggest lie to say that you weren’t aroused by Jeno at the moment. He was cool, without trying to be. He really did shine when he had a camera to work with, like a star to a dark night. While he had a distinct demeanor off the bat, you enjoyed unraveling the rest of him. He was, also, the first man you met that didn’t seem sexually driven by a naked woman in his presence.

You had to resist every urge to push the camera away and share the few seconds of his entire gaze before it wandered away. You wanted to rock his world, he was so innocent and beautiful. You wished to wreak havoc on him, have him show you how much he wanted you.

You anticipated an awkward photoshoot, but Jeno made you feel safe and comfortable. He made sure to adjust the temperature when goosebumps rose on your arms and when your nipples became painfully hard. He never touched you or came too much into your personal space. He always asked for your permission.

Nude modeling was a new experience for you, but you were surprised at how much you liked it. or how much you liked Jeno taking your photos. He sat next to you on the bed when you put on your articles of clothing and panned through several shots to satisfy your curiosity.

Leaning close, your head ducked to see the photos. A gasp escaped your lips when you saw just the first few. “Is that really me?” The pictures made you feel an abundance of emotions, you felt what they reflected. Sadness, melancholy, happiness, confidence. You didn’t know images had that much power to make you feel that, especially photos of you.

Jeno nodded, smiling so wide that his eyes turned to moon crescents. He was so in love with the results. He found respect for Taemin’s craft and he was right, he might’ve found a new forte to experiment with. “I can send you the photos digitally too, if you want them.”

“Maybe I’ll print them out, frame them, and gift it to every horrid man who has tried to flirt their way to my body since they want to see it so fucking bad.”

Jeno peered over and saw the tiny glimpse of pain in your orbs, “why would you give horrible people what they want?”

“So they can finally shut up and leave me alone. Plus, this is art and if I tell them it’s actually me, maybe it’ll change their minds to start treating me like it.”

He held his palm up and almost immediately, your fingers filled the spaces between his. “I’m going to need you to start treating yourself as fine art.”

“Keep taking more photos of me and I just might start thinking I’m Mona Lisa.” Your laughters blended nicely into each other. There was mutual mental acknowledgement of the happiness you were both feeling.

Jeno never let go of your hand, and there was a short moment of comforting silence where you two sat in each other’s existence. You were the one to break it, “are you doing anything after this?”

He shook his head. “Well then, you’re mine for the rest of the night. We’re going to pretend we’ve been close friends since first year and eat take-out on my bed because that’s what I need at the moment.”

“I know you respect my body and see this as an art form, but I’m genuinely surprised that you didn’t feel aroused at the slightest.”

Jeno didn’t even realize how much time had already passed being you. You two ate and chatted as if you’ve known each other forever, as if the friendship wasn’t established several hours ago. It felt safe and right, like you two belonged in each other’s existence and nowhere else mattered.

He felt warm inside from your hearty laughter and courage, like he was watching a painting come to life or a photo in movement. You were smitten over how endearing and complex he was. He was more than what meets the eye and that alone drew you towards him.

“Okay, I’ll admit,” Jeno paused to watch your reaction, “in the most respectable way, I was somewhat turned on. But! Before you trail blaze me for being just like every disgusting male in your life, I genuinely didn’t have any sexual thoughts during the photoshoot. That was all professional and it will continue to be like that.”

Getting up from your bed, your mind was working at lightspeed to process his confession. Jeno was fast to pick up someone’s personality, what stood out and what was kept hidden. He knew quicker than anyone else that you were not someone to offend because you were a strong, straight forward woman.

His personality breakdown went like this: you knew what you like, you knew you were going to get what you want, you enjoyed flirty banter (with people of your choice), you weren’t afraid to be blunt, or kick someone’s ass. You carried yourself with confidence that graced your every step, which makes anyone attracted to you instantly. Bold, confident, sexy had to be what came to mind whenever he thought about you.

Nonetheless, he really liked you as a person. He could pat himself on the back all day long for just approaching you, but he knew the real reason as to how this all happened. It was you saying yes to a stranger’s odd photoshoot. You made him the luckiest man in the world.

“Continue? Are you looking for excuses to keep seeing me?” You smirked and Jeno’s voice grew small.

“I--- uh, well,” there goes the nervous stammering, “I know the conditions were a one time thing, so I understand if you don’t want to do it again.” As the night had progressed, Jeno gradually began to hold eye contact and actually looked at you directly without the help of seeing you through a lens. This was the first time he broke it.

“Hey now, I’m messing with you, Jeno.” He had been sitting on your floor, at the end of your bed. You crawled on your elbows to reach him, and to hold his chin to face you again. Deja vu. “I’d love to get naked for you again, and again, and.. as many times as you want me to.”

He stared at you with his mouth hung open in disbelief. His eyes scanned your beautiful face to see your lips pull back into a mischievous smile. Gulping, he swallowed every ounce of courage he had left. “You don’t have to say it like that.” He tried to remove your grip, but it latched onto his hand.

“You’re finally looking me in the eye, sweet thing. I don’t think you realize how much I had been wanting that from you.” You caressed his cheek, rubbing small circles on his texture.

“What else do you want from me?” His implication sounded suggestive, even if his curiosity was innocent.

Your hot breath brushed against Jeno’s lips. “I can show you.”

Jeno, the one and only college guy who has seen your naked body in a non-sexual context. Jeno, the shy, sweet boy who appreciated and recognized you as a form of art. Jeno, the talented and skillful photographer, who consistently made sure you felt comfortable. Jeno, the only person in the world who you’d model nude for. Jeno, the dazzling character behind the camera who you wanted more than anyone else you’ve ever met. Lee Jeno.

He seemed like he was inching closer, already tilting his head to fit your’s. You smiled to yourself, seeing that your words were received well. Diving in, your lips swam together fervently.

The poor boy found himself lost in your enchanting, alluring gaze. He let the trance consume him, selfishly kissing the art he admired so dearly. A small part of him felt the guilt and confusion that began to rise. He wasn’t sure why he suddenly wished to feel your lips on his neck, or run his hands across your hot skin. He swore these thoughts were not present earlier.

A small pop! and Jeno held your shoulder to pull away. “I’m sorry, did I do something?” You asked, honestly concerned that you were taking more than you deserved. The least you desired was to hurt Jeno, who had been nothing but nice and sweet.

“(Y/N),” you could listen to your name roll off his tongue all day, “I feel somewhat guilty. I don’t want things to be misunderstood.”

“Which would be?”

“I don’t want you to think I coerced you into being my model just because I had intentions to sleep with you.” Jeno was already gathering his things, but you hopped off your bed and placed a hand on his chest. “Because that’s what it’s starting to look like at the moment.”

“Was that something you did though? Did you have those intentions?” Your stare bore right through him. The warmth of your hand relaxed his racing heart.

“Never, (Y/N), I would never do that to someone.” Your hand traveled down to grab his belongings and tossed it back onto the ground.

He silently watched as you took off your pants, and stood in front of him in your underwear. “Then, we’re fine. I know your intentions have always been pure. But truthfully, Jeno, seeing you focused while you worked sparked something in me. You don’t understand how aroused I got and how badly I wanted you to fuck me on that bed.” His hand trailed up your exposed thighs, finally touching your softness. “You’re the one guy I wanted first, and it’s been a long time since I’ve felt that.”

“I-- I don’t know what to say.” His cheeks revealed how embarrassed he was, but his dark, lustful eyes were telling a different story.

A smirk fell upon your face, “then don’t say anything.”

Jeno devoured you, inhaling the light hint of vanilla that still lingered. He hoisted you onto your mattress and kissed you like his life depended on it. His antsy hands roamed your free range, exploring, holding, gripping the parts he marveled over. Small moans from the back of your throat encouraged him to continue.

No one has ever kissed you with the amount of passion Jeno did. It was gentle, with enough vigor to cause your panties to dampen. It wasn’t sloppy, where previous guys had a problem of missing your mouth entirely and slobbered your chin.

His lips worshiped you, highlighting your good sides. Flashes of the photoshoot popped into Jeno’s head as he left purple marks on the places he loved capturing the most. He pushed up your shirt, exposing your chest to him again. His tongue circled around your hard nipple as he made sure to give the same amount of attention to each one.

Jeno knew he was too shy to hold your intense stare, but getting to know you during and after the photoshoot, he could see the softness in your gaze. He was, now, able to see all of you. The sight of you through the camera was addicting enough, so finally taking you all in was more than satisfying.

Your hands ran through his hair as he kissed down your torso. His thumbs hooked the waistband of your underwear, and peeled it off your body. You gasped as the cold air from your apartment grazed against your exposed figure.

Jeno paused to admire your glistening pussy, “would it be okay if you let me make love to you?”

Your heart burned, not out of embarrassment, but at how he still managed to ask you for your permission in the sweetest way. You rested your weight on your elbows, “no one has done that before, would it actually make me want to fall in love with you?”

“It wouldn’t be too bad. I have a lot of love to give and you look like a person who deserves all of it anyways.” Jeno’s finger ran over your wet slit and rubbed your clit slowly.

Your moans filled the room as the electric jolted throughout your veins. The wetness grew, seeping out of you like a waterfall. Jeno dropped down to his knees, and lifted your legs on his broad shoulders.

“Are you usually this wet, baby?”

Chuckling, you smiled at his bold choice in using pet names, “Just for you.”

He hummed, chiming at how he liked your answer. Spreading you open, his tongue met with your swollen bud that begged for his licks.

His tongue darted side to side, up and down and in result, your back arched in pleasure and a darkness clouded your mind. His name and mindless profanities streamlined their way out of you as Jeno ate you out in such a precisely delicious way.

Grabbing a fist full of hair, you pulled him closer, even if there was no more space to fill. Looking down, you two exchanged glances before he thrusted a finger into you. Your hips bucked harder as he eased in another one.

Jeno curled his fingers in search of your sweet spot and found it when a deep moan escaped your throat. His fingertips rubbed and pressed into your plush flesh, causing you to practically scream and squirm in his mouth.

He suckled your clit and fingered you simultaneously and quickly. The pleasure was overflowing and you released his hair to grip your sheets below you. Your legs shook and trembled as he had no caution to stop.

“Please, I’m going to--” you could barely talk due to your face contouring to the splurge of pleasure every single time Jeno rubbed your spot. “--to explode.”

He had to take back what he thought earlier in the day. This was the most beautiful sight he’s ever laid eyes on. The whole scene played like from one of his favorite films. It felt like he was giving his photos life. Your body twisted and turned, accentuating the curves of your lines.

Jeno had become painfully hard against the fabric of his jeans, but seeing you fall apart because of his minimal movements exhilarated him. “P-Please, don’t stop.” A breathy moan followed suit and your thighs tried to press themselves together. Jeno didn’t allow it, his free hand hooked underneath your left thigh to pull one side away from his cheeks.

Your high gradually grew so tall that it all eventually came cascading down. Your legs shook violently and sat up from the euphoria that took over you. Jeno prolonged your buzz and you screamed loudly, having to bite down on your fingers to stop yourself from angering your neighbors.

Jeno drank you up, letting your wetness cover his chin and drip down his knuckles. He pulled away, at last, and you took deep breaths to control your heavy breathing. It was like Jeno knocked the wind completely out of you.

He stood up and you saw the outline of his hard bulge straining itself through his jeans. The next scene was quite animalistic. You, still embodying your high, sat on your knees and unzipped his pants with your needy hands.

“Now, it’s your turn to get nude for me.” You whispered, tauntingly. Jeno groaned when you reached down and gently pulled him out. He stepped out of his clothing, all of it. His shirt was lost in the corner and his bottoms were scattered over your floor. Mirroring his actions, you took off your last piece of cloth.

Jeno was built. Though his biceps did not go unnoticed during the photoshoot, you were surprised at the lines of muscle that sketched his body. It made your mouth water, seeing his extremely hard dick stand against his toned abs. His red tip fell just below his navel. Jeno only kept getting better as the night continued on.

Pulling him closer, his hand found their way to the back of your head as you aligned your mouth to the wetness that spilled from his tip. “I want to make you feel good.” Jeno’s hoarse voice made your knees weak.

Peering up, you batted your eyelashes at him fondly. “Just a little taste?” You begged, having to hold his shaft with both of your hands because of his thickness. Your tongue was already stuck out, your hot breath causing the tiniest bit of sensation for him.

He nodded and his eyes were trained on you. He didn’t want to miss any second of your kitty licks. You flattened your tongue against his warmth, dragging it up to the top. The saltiness hit your palette as you swirled around his redness. “Oh--” Jeno threw his head back and bit his lip, “--lay on the bed now.”

You smiled sweetly and gave his member a quick kiss before reaching for a condom in your drawer. Jeno climbed onto your bed and situated the rubber comfortably. You laid on your back and he was fast to pull your legs around his waist.

He lined himself at your entrance and eased his tip in slowly. Squirming, you craved him to fill you up to the brim. He leaned down to kiss you, letting your tongue lap with his. It’s your hands with the mind of their own when they flew automatically to hold his face whenever you wanted to deepen the kiss. Then, Jeno stretched himself all the way in and he caught your gasp with his lips. He groaned, feeling the mess he created merely minutes ago.

His hips moved so easily with your wetness, but he went slow. Dragging out each pull and then, pushing himself back in roughly. “Jeno!” Your body jolted up the bed each time. His body fell over yours to hold you intimately, letting you bury your face into his neck. Your lips latched themselves onto his sensitive skin, painting a purple sunset.

Jeno’s arms snaked underneath your thighs as he pressed them to your chest, folding you almost into a ball. Your mouth hung open as he fucked you harder, rougher, deeper yet keeping the tempo rhythmically slow. At this point, you could feel his hits in your gut. Your weak hands gripped loosely around his strong wrists that held your legs down. “You’re pussy is so tight and holy shit---, you keep getting more beautiful.”

A familiar burning sensation set in your chest as you saw how concentrated his face had become. You were so fucked out that you could barely speak, “you—” his hips mercilessly slammed into you powerfully, enacting a low moan every time he reached your sweet spot. “—keep surprising me.” His actions came to a halt and he stared deeply into your soul.

You whined, wiggling your hips for any friction. He held them down into the mattress, knowing his grip was strong enough to leave a mark. “I told you, I was going to make love to you tonight.”

“I’ve already fallen for you.” You said breathlessly, tracing the side of his face and pecking his lips softly.

“You don’t understand what you’re doing to me by saying those things.” He whispered and pushed his entire shaft to fill you to your brim.

You yelped his name and gripped his shoulders, but he wasn’t done yet. “Show me how badly you wanted me the first time you saw me.” Jeno blinked at you in slight shock.

As he continued to hold the deep gaze, he kept pushing his dick further and further into you. He was balls deep, almost impossible to keep going. He fucked you without the need to pull out, just burying his cock deeper into your wet pussy. You exclaimed, moaned, cussed at every push. Holding the stare was more than enough to lose yourself all over him again.

Jeno was drunk with the image of your fucked out expression and every time the mixture of pleasure and pressure caused your eyebrows to crease and mouth to open release sensual sound. He had been trying his best not to come undone, to fixate another climax for you.

The feeling of you wrapping tighter and tighter around him drove him insane. “Give it to me, please.” Your muffled plead called for his release, but he could feel that you were close to your second.

Jeno sat up on his knees and pulled you into his arms where your thighs fell over his. You groaned at the empty feeling, though it was quickly replaced with a gratifying moan when he inserted himself again. Your arms dangled around his neck, foreheads touching intimately.

The fucking eye contact again, how could you get enough of it? You giggled, amused at how different Jeno was when he eventually opened up. He wrapped his strong arms around your back and thrusted his hips up into you. The way this man made you squirm, scream, and shake were nothing you’ve experienced before.

He smirked, placing a gentle kiss on your cheek when he went rampage on your pussy. “Not laughing now, are you?”

You whined in pleasure, brushing your fallen strands of hair out of his face. “Shut up before I make you.”

“Then I’d rather keep going.” Kissing up his jawline, you lead your way to his pout. His kisses intoxicated you with his passion and madness, like the most intense part of a symphony, or when the bass drops after a long build up in a song.

Jeno sped up, ramming up into your slick pussy over and over again. He even brought your hips down to match him, guiding you down as he went up. The headboard was knocked against the wall, your windows steamed up, cries of pleasure from the both of you created the ambiance, the smell of sex filled your lungs. Jeno reached between your bodies to furiously rub your clit to where it felt almost raw. It all sent you into the clouds, the familiar queasiness settled in your lower half.

Your eyes rolled back and your back arched, having to pull away from the desirous kiss with Jeno. “I’m cumming!” You announced before the tension unraveled, causing you to see absolute white. The second wave was much more uncontrollable, Jeno felt you squeezing radically around his dick as he tried to fuck you faster to prolong the feeling.

Your legs shook around his and your upper body went limp with pleasure. You reached the peak of the mountain and it came crumbling down underneath your toes. It was catastrophically enthralling, to the point where you physically felt something leave your body.

“Oh shit..” Jeno stopped his motions at the sight of you squirting over his lap. He pampered your torso with fluttering kisses, hoping to calm your spastic body. “...baby, are you okay?” He asked with a bit of concern of how lack of life you seemed.

This man just gave you the best climax in your whole life and he asked if you were okay? Regaining your senses, you sighed a small yes to reassure him that he didn’t actually murder you. Hopping off, you pulled the condom that restricted him.

He hissed when you cupped his balls in your palm. “Cum, my sweet thing.” You purred and Jeno’s hand pumped his member aggressively. You leaned in to help, sucking the tip and flicking your tongue over his slit.

His other hand gripped your neck, causing you to drip on your sheets. Jeno was panting and with every tug, it became louder. He seemed so desperate to release that it made you smile to be the reason behind it. “Can you lay down,” A grunt followed his question, “please.” He huffed.

“Because you asked nicely.” Smirking, your back hit the sheets and you opened your legs to give Jeno a view. He situated himself above your stomach, as he fucked his tight grip.

“I’m cumming---” He couldn’t look any more amazing. With a final moan, the white streaks streamed out in short sequences. It landed across your abdomen, over your nipple, and pooled around your belly button.

Bringing himself back to reality, Jeno stepped back to marvel you, his masterpiece. The white streaks coated your purple skin and your chest rose fast to catch your reality. Gazing upon your naked body, he was utterly infatuated with all of you. He was so in love with the sight of you that not a single photo could capture the beauty that you were.

Jeno pondered the thought of how merely a day changed a small part of him. You were life changing, addicting, an incomparable character that he felt like he’s known forever, and now, couldn’t live without. It was the taste of your juices on his lips, your sweet melodic music that was your voice, your daring smile that enticed him to never peel away from you. It was simply you.

He leaned down to rub his knuckles against your cheek, planting a lovingly peck on your forehead. “I’ll go start the water for you.”

Jeno anticipated the reaction of his mentor. He found himself at the same scene he was when he was first given the task. Taemin sat across from him, hunched forward to analyze his new set of photos on his laptop. Raw, unedited photos of you, your body, your details.

The hum of the air conditioning droned on, driving him mad. Jeno needed one reaction, but Taemin had been silent and expressionless for the past ten minutes. Whenever he did move, it was to click through to the next picture.

Suddenly, he shut it closed and stood right up. Jeno, panicked, did the same. Taemin stuck his hand out and Jeno hesitantly grabbed it, incredibly unsettled and unable to read the older man.

Taemin received it firmly, giving Jeno a good handshake. “Welcome abroad, Lee Jeno. I expect even more great things from you.”

Jeno registered his delightful mood switch and he was fast to follow up, “my photos, --- you --- like them?”

Taemin nodded generously, patting Jeno on his shoulder. Taemin reached up to tap his own eyelids. “What you can see, is very special, kid. You’re an artist and I’m here to recognize that for you. It seems to me, you can do more than take pictures of sidewalks.”

Jeno smiled happily, his eyes disappearing from joy. He couldn’t wait to tell you about it.

The rest of the week, leading up to Jeno’s appointment, had felt nothing short of blissful moments together. You and Jeno spent almost every waking minute together without the cost of your friends’ time. He walked you to your classes, some even being across the campus from his own. You accompanied him for meals, even sitting in his lectures to just be with him.

There were no words that established what you two had become to each other. Jeno wasn’t looking for that anyways, in fact, he somewhat liked the ambiguity. If only he could tell you how making love to you made him begin to actually fall for you.

You were never one to hold a serious relationship, but you found a small want for that festering in Jeno. It was hard to admit to yourself, but Jeno saw you for all that you were. He truly saw you, whether it had been through a lens or through his own eyes. He captured your rawness and you were able to find vulnerability around him.

He ran to you, where you sat in the lobby waiting for him to finish his meeting. Peering up from your phone, you noticed the beaming smile on the boy’s face. You couldn’t hold back your own grin, seeing him apparent with so much joy. “I’m guessing good things?”

“I got it, (Y/N)!” He jumped into your arms and you laughed at the sudden affection. “He loved my photos.”

“I didn’t doubt it for one second. You’re an artist, Jeno. You create masterpieces that make even someone like me, feel like art.”

Jeno hugged you closer to his chest, giving you a tiny squeeze. Pulling away to face you, his eyes examined your outstanding grace. You knew what he was already going to say, but simply wanted to hear him say it. “That’s because you are art.”

3K notes · View notes