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bluetimeombre · 2 months

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✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ And I wouldn't marry me, either.

You were Azriel's mate, but it took losing you three times for him to realise.

[this is long. i'm talking 5k words long so i've split it into two parts. anyway, azriel is the best bat boy and no i won't hear anyone out. i'm so excited to write for him and hope you enjoy. it's very angsty but that's what i love. i hope i can write more for him and maybe other characters if you like. it's been a while since i've actually read the series so if any information is wrong, do let me know. also it was my first time using the term y/n and yes, i cringed NOT PROOF READ... enjoy]

warnings: references to sexual assault and references to suicide. nothing explicit but please don't read if this is sensitive to you.

Part 2 soon…

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

The first, was the worst...

You were Rhys's half sister, the bastard daughter of his father. But when your mother had died giving birth to you, Rhysand's mother took you in and raised you with your brother and sister. You were so little and adorable that your sister loved you at once. Rhys did to, at some point of your life, you were sure he actually cared about you.

But when his mother and sister had died, his eyes shifted, he started to look at you with contempt. After all, you were only his half-sister. The worst half. He only kept you around because it's what his mother would have wanted.

And because there was no way Cassian and Azriel would ever let anything happen to you.

Besides, Rhysand knew when to use you.

Although Azriel was his spymaster, you were pretty good at staying swift-footed too. And you were frankly, very terrifying when you wanted to be.

You tread with power through the war camps, all of them looking at you as you went. All of their gazes wrecked with a predatory gaze. They either wanted to have their way with you, or kill you. Or both.

Rhys had said you could handle it, it was only supposed to be a check in. Cassian hadn't liked it, neither had Mor but it was Azriel who had almost- and for the first time- disobeyed his high lord to accompany you. But no, your brother wanted you to do this alone, so alone you would.

Just to show him you could.

'I can come with you,' Azriel had said, standing in your room as you tied your boots up. 'I won't even have to be seen.' At that, his shadows wrapped up your calf.

You smiled at them, as if they were his own pet. 'I'll manage just fine. Besides, i'm sure that's what Rhys wants, me needing a man.'

It had done nothing to calm your friend. The worry was still stuck between his brows, marring his handsome features. You'd held his cheeks, your wings hiding the two of you. His large ones (enough to swallow the both of you) over-lapped yours.

It was the last time you'd feel your wings.

The war camp wasn't as easy as you'd hoped. It was terror and horror in a place. You'd been to the court of nightmares, you'd gone to the slaughter of the spring court after they killed your family. But this, this was hell of another kind.

You had no idea how many days you'd been locked up, wrists bound in chains and hanging from the cell roof above you. Blood rolled down your arms from the force you'd tried to use to get them out. Your eye was swollen shut and your body trembled in pain.

All because they wanted to know your brothers secrets, and you wouldn't budge.

Your check was only supposed to be a day, but you were sure it had been longer. Days of endless pain and torture. Your uniform hung in rags of stripped material, your hair matted with blood and hiding your face.

You'd used the last of your energy to keep your walls up. You weren't anyone's mate, you didn't have anyone on the other end trying to feel what you felt. But should Rhys come looking (though you doubted it) you didn't want him to feel it. You didn't want anyone in your mind.

The gates opened with a sickening clash.

One of the Illyrian's knelt in front of you, his wings hiding those coming in behind you. 'Listen sweetheart. I don't want to make this any harder than it's about to get. All you have to do is tell us your brother's hide outs.'

You grit your teeth, staring down at the ground.

'So loyal, to a man who doesn't care if you live or die.'

Suddenly, your wings twitched as hands grasped them. Brute hands, the sort you wouldn't want touching any part of you.

Fear spiked in you, horror twisting your gut. 'What are you doing?'

'I told you I didn't want to get things messier, darling.'

You whipped your head from side to side, trying and failing to get a look at the assailants behind you. Your wings were being held apart, no matter how hard you tried to bat them away. You knew the sort of people they were, and what they did to girls like you.

That's when the begging started. 'No, no please. Anything. I'll do anything! Beat me, kill me, rape me, not my wings, please!'

'Anything?' the bastard asked, tongue poking out from his lips. 'Then tell me where your lord's hideouts are?'

You should betray him, you thought. He would never lose his wings for you. Perhaps it was stubbornness that kept you from, or maybe you were clinging to the last bit of love you want from him.

The bastard scoffed, 'anything, she says. Your brother has his own bitch wrapped around his finger.'

That's when they started hacking at your wings.

Your screams tore through your throat, blood spitting and dripping down your chin. Tears soon joined when they hacked away at the bone, the membrane, the flesh of it all. The three of them worked through your screams and your tears and your pain, tearing and cutting at it like it was nothing more than paper.

Not your whole life.

Let them hear you. You hoped your brother heard you, you hoped all and every court heard the pain.

Eventually, even you couldn't keep screaming. The only sound was the hacking away at your wings and the drops of blood.

'Now look at these beauties. I've got a perfect spot on my wall for these.'

They left you after that. There wasn't much more damage they could do. It already felt like they'd destroyed your life. You had never really thought about your wings, they were just part of you, as much as your wit or hair was. But they'd took it and now, you felt empty. Never would you fly with Azriel again, or use your wings to smack Cassian over the head.

Rhys, your dear brother, had took that from you.

The days blended in together after that. You were pooled in your own tears and blood, vomiting up anything they forced down your throat. No, they'd made it very clear they didn't want you dead. They just took pride in making it feel like you were.

At some point, you'd stopped reacting to the gate opening. You let them do whatever they wanted with you. Your wrists were still chained, arms still hanging up, your clothes hanging on your thin body in strips of dirt.

'No...' you heard a mumble. 'What have they done to you?'

Suddenly, the chains gave way and you lurched forward, with no strength to catch you. Luckily, you didn't have to, as strong and warm arms pulled you into his chest.

'Hey, wake up, look at me, dammit.'

Azriel.

You'd know the voice in the darkest days, in the pit of your worst nightmare you'd know.

You try to speak but your head's heavy, your lips are stone and your arms can't lift to hold onto him. You're exhausted, you're dying. The only thing you could do use all your strength to try to open your eyes.

'Please, please, look at me. You have to look at me,'

You were trying, you wanted to tell hm, snap at him, but you couldn't.

You felt Azriel shake, or maybe you were. Then, there was wet drops landing on your cheeks- you flinched.

'I'm sorry, i'm sorry. Rhys! Rhys! hurry up, please!' he was screaming. You'd never heard him scream before.

You heard the rush of feet at the cell doors, you knew it was your brother. You knew it from the presence of him, from the shuffling of feet and chocked sob. Your brother didn't cry, least of all for you.

'Her wings, oh mother, her wings,' said Azriel, his voice barley above that of a whisper.

Your wings. You didn't need reminding. They were gone, long and far gone. You were without a part of you, the very part of your soul that loved to be free. Never would you watch the stars up close or fly over everyone. Never race Cassian or make jokes with Az.

No, this would destroy you.

'y/n,' your half-brother called. 'No, y/n. Can you hear me?'

Your lips parted, mumbling. 'Hurts.'

Azriel's grip on you tightened. 'I know, we're gonna get you out of here, just hold on for me.'

You wanted to tell him you would hold on, you'd always need to hold on to him. That, no matter what he asks, you'd do it. To kill, to live, to breathe, to die.

And that's when it clicked. Amongst all the pain and the doubt. In your blood soaked clothes. In the fear you wouldn't make it, there was a tug. Weak and one-sided, but there. You knew you'd be safe with Azriel, knew you would always be with him.

Mate.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

The pain subsided to a dull ache, there and beating but not excruciating. You were warm and covered in a soft material. Nothing like the cell you'd been kept in. Your fingertips sunk into something soft- a bed. Your bed. It was familiar in its lavender scent to you and the silk wrapped around you gave you some semblance of warmth.

Your wings.

Even coming to consciousness was difficult. You were exhausted but light, without the weight of wings holding you down. You'd never realised how much you needed to feel that weight, to feel pulled down in order to be free.

Gone, all gone.

Your hand twitches around something cold, a shadow holding your hand, creeping up your side.

'You're awake, thank the couldron.'

It wasn't Azriel, master of the shadows. It wasn't your mate. Mate. The word replayed like a terrible song in your mind.

How dare the mother do this to Az. How dare he- nothing but loyal and kind- get stuck with a person made in darkness, who bled shadows, who's heart was so full of hate there wasn't room for love. They'd cursed Az, with you.

But luckily it wasn't him, it was Rhysand.

'It really happened,' you whispered, voice hurting from the screams.

He sighed. 'I'm sorry, i'm so sorry. We-we thought you weren't going to make it, you'd lost so much blood.'

In spite of the pain in your shoulders, you made a shift, turning from him as he ranted on about your condition.

'y/n... sister, please,' he said. He'd never called you sister before. He'd always been content to treat you just like you worked for him.

'Leave me alone.' you couldn't bare to look at him, couldn't bare to face him. The shadows at your hand grew heavier, as if more were piling on. You stretched your fingers away from them, trying to get them off you.

'Are you in any pain?' asked Rhys.

'Get out,' you mumbled.

The end of your bed dipped where Rhys settled, hand splayed on the covers, begging for your hand. 'y/n.'

'Get out!' you snapped, body tense and straining. You felt your wounds open up, blood wetting the bandage around you. But you didn't care. You'd happily bleed if you couldn't fly. A part of you, sick part of you wanted to be left there. It would be better than false sympathy.

Be better than your mate being disgusted.

'Get out!' you yelled again, voice tearing through an aching throat.

'I just want to help you! please, let me help you!' said Rhys, standing from your bed and walking around, trying to face you.

'I don't want your help!' you screamed. You reached for the closest thing you could, a jug of water and chucked it toward him. You aim was terrible, marred with pain and exhaustion. 'Get out!'

Though hesitant, Rhysand slowly started walking back to your door. He did it all looking at you, his hands out to show he wasn't gonna hurt you, but you didn't care. You went for the glasses next and chucked them but they landed against the door which he disappeared through.

Before it slid close you caught sight of Cassian , Mor and Azriel. All crowded, all waiting to see you.

You'd be happy if you never let them see you again.

'Can we see her?' you hear Mor ask.

'Give her time,' said Rhys.

The shadows at your hand grew heavier, darker, tighter.

'Go away!' you yelled at them. To anyone else, you probably looked crazy, screaming to darkness. But the shadows understood. They departed, slithering away and under the crack of your door where you could see the shadows of feet.

Tumbling from bed, you stumbled over and locked the door, leaning on it to and catching your breath. Your nightgown was starting to get sticky with blood all over again. When you closed your eyes, you pictured the cell, the rough hands holding you down, the chain keeping you up.

And the pain, it all washed over you. The hacking at your back, the sting of a slap. It hit you like a tone of bricks as you slid to the floor.

There was a knock, rattling the door.

'y/n,' Cassian. 'Please let us in.'

Us. You felt him on the other side. Your mate, his presence lingering. His shadows under the door, wanting to come in but keeping their distance.

He didn't know. It hadn't snapped for him, you could tell. It was one tug on your end, a chord in your heart. At least he couldn't feel what you did. At least you could shoulder it alone.

'Please.' his voice was almost your un-doing. He sounded so sad, so desperate. It hurt you just to think you were hurting him.

Tears streamed down your face as your curled your fingers into a tight fist. You assumed Mor had left with Rhys, leaving you there with the males.

Cass was always like a brother to you. Granted- a brother you had slept with once or twice- but he was your best friend. You'd always been close to him. But you'd always been good, a happy person.

You couldn't be that for them now, perhaps ever again.

It lasted like that for hours. Cassian and Az begging to come in, you curling into a ball with tears down your cheeks and blood down your back.

Eventually, they gave up. You couldn't hear them anymore and the shadows of their boots had disappeared.

Except Azriel's shadows that still lingered under your door. Maybe he'd ordered them to be there while they left you.

Eventually, you managed to find your footing on shaking legs. Your room was large, one of the largest. It was just as much a mess as it was when you'd left for you mission, clothes thrown over the place, books propped open on the pages you'd left them on. Everything was the same but could never be again.

It took you longer than you'd care to admit to get to your windows and throw the curtains close. Candles light at your request, the house looking after you as it had since you were a child.

You caught sight of yourself in the full length mirror. It seemed smaller, everything in the room felt too large and you too small, as if you were being swallowed by the expanse of it.

Your frame was small in the mirror, your hair disarrayed. Your eyes were red and shutting of their own accord from the tears that had drained you. The starving in the cells had made you look weak, made you feel weak.

And your back. There was no more looming black figures there, no more fluttering. There was just nothing. In spite of the ache as you lifted your arm, you felt around your back, feeling the hitch there, the lump from where they'd been torn from you.

You cry. You sob. You scream.

The scars were long and the nightdress was sticking to you by the blood you'd shed. All you could do, was hold yourself up as your body wracked with tears.

A breeze came from your windows, shadows tugging at the curtains.

You felt him before you saw him. You wanted to tell him to leave you but you couldn't talk without chocking. Without feeling like you couldn't breath.

Azriel had you in your arms before your knees could hit the ground. He fell with you, softening your body on the floor. His arms held you into his chest, his legs caging you into his body. His head rested on yours as he held you. He didn't try to talk, he didn't try to help. It was just him, you and his shadows.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

Azriel remembered dozing off with you, his head on yours. His arms holding you into him, as if it was up to him to keep the sadness away and take it for you.

Afterall, you were his best friend. He should have been there for you, and he'd failed terribly by letting you get hurt and your wings stolen from you. He could hate himself every day for it, for letting you down. But it would never amount to what you felt for yourself and that killed him.

He could see it in the way you cried, in the way you were already keeping everyone out. He'd rather die than let you go through all the pain alone.

When his hands had been scarred by his brothers, you'd help heal him, tell him about everything he still was and all the power he still held in his hands. In the worst days, when he didn't let anyone touch him, he let you.

It was always you.

Azriel wasn't sure how long he'd been asleep, or how deep. He was sure he was still with you, still in your bed.

His shadows crept up on him, engulfing him slowly and whispering to him. Your name, just your name on repeat. It was enough to lull him back into sleep, to keep him calm.

Gone. Missing. y'n. Roof.

He shot up and ran fastest than he ever had in his life. It was as if he'd never been asleep but had been fighting a battle with the way he raced over.

He burst through the doors, the cold hight air hitting him.

You stood facing the stars, your bloody back to him. It wasn't as much blood as when he'd found you, but it was still enough to put a lump in his throat.

Immediately his shadows fell to you, cascading down your body and wrapping around your waist. There was a breeze in the air, pushing your hair back and exposing more signs of the pain and torture you must have gone through.

'I'm not gonna jump, if that's what you're thinking,' you said. You didn't even have to turn to him. The shadows probably told you enough.

'Why are you up here?' he asked, walking to you slowly and with careful steps. As if every step closer could you push you away from him.

'I'll never feel the win properly again,' you answered.

Azriel gulped down his own pain. You’d never sounded so small. ‘Can you get away from the ledge?’

'I'm not on the ledge.'

'You're too close for my liking.'

'Leave if you don't like it.'

'Don't do this,' he said.

'Do what?' you asked, folding your arms over your chest. You were cold, out in the hight but you wanted to see the stars. Needed to see them.

'Make me leave. Make everyone leave you. I know that's what you're doing. It's what you do every time,' you could feel him dawning closer. His shadows were all around you, almost drowning you.

‘Every time,’ you scoff, stepping down and turning on him. ‘It’s not every day you lose your wings Azriel! But don’t let me stop you from leaving, flap them and go!’ You yelled, unable to stop yourself, no matter how hard you tried. You didn’t want to hurt him, you just wanted to be alone.

Mate. Mate. Mate.

'You jump and I’ll catch you,' he said. He was a step away, he could just reach out and touch, just a gentle caress. 'I swear it, whatever you do, I’ll follow. I’m not letting you get away.’

He watched your back shudder as he reached out, brushing knuckles against your shoulder blade. He heard your sharp inhale follow.

'Don’t think I won’t follow, y/n.'

Finally, you turned around in his shadows. You couldn’t meet his eyes but at least you could face his chest.

His hands were gentle on your shoulder as he rubbed it gently. 'Can I get Madja to clean you up?' He asked.

You nodded as he led you away. You truly did not deserve your mate.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

Fifty-two years later...

When Amarantha had trapped the high lords of Prythian under the mountain, it hadn't be a conscious choice to follow your half-brother down. How Amarantha had allowed it, you weren't sure, but perhaps she wanted to use you just like her brother, or she thought it would bring more pain for him to see you suffer under there too.

You and Rhysand had barley spoke the last two years.

It had took you almost two months to heal fully enough to leave your room, another few months to face your family again. But even then, everyone knew something had changed in you. You didn't laugh as loud or smile as wide.

Rhysand was careful to ever let you out on a mission. Mor tried to take you out every night. Cassian spent all day every day with you and Azriel- he'd healed you better than any nurse.

Still, you had not told him he was your mate.

Still, you thought he wouldn't want it.

Still, you cared for your brother enough to not want him to go alone.

But being under the mountain, you could avoid your mate. At a painful price.

Until her. Rhys's mate. He hadn't shut up about her since he first met her, much to your dismay as you had to sit around and listen- having absolutely nothing better to do. And it only got worse when she turned up under the mountain. She was declaring her love for Tamlin- again, annoying your brother, and throwing Lucien into danger- which rather angered you. You had nothing against the ginger.

Rhysand had once sent you to find the girl to summon her as part of a bargain he'd made. He didn't want to go, he didn't want to look too forceful. You'd been lucky enough to find the two tangled up in each other against a cold wall, clothes ripped and hips moving together.

'Well, well well,' you'd intterupted.

Tamlin all but growled at you, but feyre was looking over you- evidently confused. She had no idea who you were. You, in your skimpy outfit that Amarantha kept you in (they all dipped low at your back, showing off your scars) and your eyes that were like a night sky.

'Amarantha's looking for her pet and Rhysand is looking for his. Honestly, i'd be a bit more worried if I were you. You know, considering Lucien still has an eye to lose.'

The two parted with your words as you sent Tamlin back to his master, the high lord glaring at you as you went. While Feyre tried to fix herself.

'Rhysand is over there, better not keep him waiting.' That was the first time you met her, having no idea how much trouble she'd be worth. The family that she'd become.

But Rhysand made sure you knew it all. From when the bond snapped in him and he'd stumbled. He ranted and ranted as they climbed out.

If only you were so talkative about Azriel. If only you could talk about him with your brother. But you'd tried not to painfully think about him. Climbing out of the mountain. It was all you could think of.

Maybe he'd have forgotten you? it had been fifty years. He'd probably realised how happy he could be without having to take care of you.

Rhys was allowed out of the mountain, he'd felt the breeze in his hair but you hadn't in fifty long years. You stood there a moment, bathing in the warmth as everyone left, as everyone ran off for their families and courts and the war that was inevitable. Eventually, Rhys offered you his arm. 'Shall we go home?'

He winnowed you there, on the balcony of your home. In a cloud of black smoke, the two of you appeared.

He went first, slipping through the doors slowly- like it could all be taken from them any minute.

You were hesitant, taking a moment to glance at the landscape behind you. It hadn't changed, not at all. The mountains were still there, everyone was still alive. Your home. In the last years it hadn't felt like home, but how could anywhere ever feel so close in your heart.

When you could find your feat again, you managed to slip through the doors. You were suddenly aware of how little clothing you were wearing, just enough to cover your chest and run down your legs. A chill settled down your back, your scars would be on show. What a way to great them all after fifty years.

Mor had her arms around Rhys's shoulders, crying into his shoulder.

Behind them you caught Amren, with something like tears in her eyes. You were just about to tease her before a body barrelled into yours in a blur of red syphons and your feet were lifted from the ground.

'Cassian.'

His arms tightened around you. You shoulder started to dampen with tears, his tears. The last time you'd seen him cry around you was when he'd seen a dog with only three legs. 'I'm keeping you on a leash from now on, stupid idiot.'

Your arms wrap around his shoulders, a smile gracing your lips. 'Is that a promise?'

He held you longer, tighter, not daring to let you go but at least settling you on the ground. He sighed against your head, controlling himself. 'He's missed you, you know,' he said. He was the only one you'd told, about your mate. 'Now that you're back, tell him. He deserves to know.'

Cassian slowly pulled away, holding you at arms length and smiling at you. He kissed your cheeks and then your forehead before parting to Rhysand.

Mor approached you next, slapping you in the arm.

'Ow!'

'Why would you follow him?' she snapped.

You blinked at her before she took you by the arm she'd slapped and embraced you, like a sister would. You dared not looking over her shoulder to find the one who hadn't come to you. Maybe Cass had got it wrong...

Mor pulled away, wiping at her eyes.

Azriel was as beautiful as the day you left him. His hair was the same length, he was the same height. He was just as you left him. It was hard to tell fifty years had passed on him.

And inside of you, tugging in your soul and heart you felt the familiar string of gold throbbing. But you still didn't feel that tug. You'd hoped it would have faded from you after half a year separated. Or at least have snapped for him. But no such relief.

He approached you, slowly. As if he was scared of scaring you away. But you just stood there.

His arms were delicate and soft around you as he brought you into his chest. He still smelled the same, cedar wood and shadows. Shadows that wrapped around you, shielding you from the rest of the room. They caressed you, head to two.

You held onto each other for what could have been another fifty years, but this time, it wasn't so painful.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

Although nobody wanted to part after yours and Rhysand's return, you were exhausted. A trip to Rita's could wait another night or two. The only thing you wanted to do was hide in your room.

Strangely, your room looked lived in. As if somebody had moved in since you'd left. A moment of anger replaced grief. Had they brought someone else and given them your room? but then you smelt it, Az.

Lying in bed that night, exhausted, you couldn't find sleep. You closed your eyes and pictured Amarantha. You'd never been afraid of her, you weren't afraid of anything. But you re-played the horrors. Watching servants beat Feyre, watching Amarantha use your brother and on the occasion, even you. How she flaunted. How the most powerful lords were weak.

Under your door, shadows seeped in, rushing across the room to you. You smiled, watching your hand disappear in their darkness.

'Azriel?' you called.

There was shifting on the other side of the door before he slipped in, clicking it shut behind him.

You sat up in bed, shadows moving with you. 'Couldn't sleep?'

He wondered in, looking around your room. 'Sleeping's been... hard.'

You rolled over, opening the blanket and nodding your head. You couldn't think about the bond, not yet. Not while he looked so.... ruined. Beautiful- the most beautiful person in the world, but sad. As he climbed in next to you, you could see the dark circles under his eyes, his shoulders slumped and his wings too.

His eyes scanned over you. You were in a thin and silk night dress that only brushed your knees, but the way he looked at you, mother you could've been naked. 'Fifty years,' his voice sounded barley controlled. 'Fifty years. You followed your brother down for fifty years? Why would you do that?'

You gulp. 'I would've done it for any of you. Except maybe Amren, she'd probably enjoy the peace for fifty years.'

You go to brush your hair back but Azriel seizes your wrist. He was angry. That's why his voice was rough and his chest rising and falling with barley controlled emotions. Could he feel it? your nerves, your lying?

'You left. You should've stayed, y/n, you know Rhysand didn't want you under there with him,' he said. 'For fifty years I haven't been able to sleep through a night thinking about the pain you must have been going through. After I swore to keep you safe, after I promised to catch you every time!'

'You couldn't have stopped me. You didn't promise, Az.'

His grip grew tighter. 'It went without saying.'

You looked around his eyes, seeing the pain and grief there also. Slowly, you brought your other hand up. He flinched as you took his cheek but eventually settled as your thumb ran over his cheekbone. 'I won't leave again, ok? I promise.'

He gulped, letting go of your wrist and looking down. 'I slept here,' he mumbled, but just loud enough to hear you. 'I couldn't sleep in my room. This was the only place I could rest.'

Your heart stuttered. Your hand dropped from his cheek. This man was your mate. Your mate. Your only love, whether or not the cauldron deemed it.

Azriel took your hesitation. 'I-i'm sorry, you probably didn't want to hear that. I've probably ruined your one place of peace-'

'Stay,' you said, before you could think of what you were asking. 'Sleeping wasn't exactly easy under the mountain either. I just trust I won't have to put a wall of cushions between us.' as if you wanted that. As if you haven't thought about his calloused hands all over you.

Azriel smiled and stayed the night.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

The third time he almost lost you, broke him...

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

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thrumbolt · 6 months

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Top 5 most annoying Tamlin scene misinterpretations

1. ''There is no such thing as a high lady'' I hate this one, because it is always taken as some sort of proof that Tamlin is a raging misogynist who doesn't want an equal woman by his side or some similar type of nonsense. I don't know where this is coming from. Tamlin never wanted to be a high lord. He would probably welcome for someone to take over most of the work so he could just keep running through the woods. He also has absolutely no issues with taking advice from women in power (Ianthe? Hello??). His first reaction to the high lady question is literally this:

“Is everyone just going to call me ‘Tamlin’s wife’? Do I get a … title?” He lifted his head long enough to look at me. “Do you want a title?”

And let's not forget that Feyre's first reply is ''No, I don’t know if I can handle them calling me High Lady”. To which he then answers that she doesn't have to worry about that, since ''there is no such thing as a high lady'' because the magic choses the title and it keeps chosing males. Also this whole scene happens while he eats her out. Not that it's relevant or anything, just saying...

2. ''Tamlin killed Rhys' family'' No. Tamlin's dad killed Rhys' family. I have no idea how Tamlin doing it is ever the takeaway from that whole story. Let's just quote the actual scene:

“Tamlin’s father, brothers, and Tamlin himself set out into the Illyrian wilderness, having heard from Tamlin—from me—where my mother and sister would be, that I had plans to see them. I was supposed to be there. I wasn’t. And they slaughtered my mother and sister anyway.”

Yeah okay, Tamlin gave the information (supposedly) and was there (supposedly) sure, but it's highly unlikely that he was so willingly. Let's not forget that it's established that Tamlin was afraid of his father, that Tamlin's father is worse than Beron (who, I might remind you, tortures his sons) and that Tamlin was friends with Rhys at the time - which neither family approved of. Even Rhys doesn't actually believe Tamlin did anything besides being spineless:

''I didn’t care that Tamlin had been there, had allowed them to kill my mother and sister, that he’d come to kill me because he didn’t want to risk standing against them.''

In the end we don't know the details. Tamlin could've been tortured and tied up or whatever. Making him watch could've been a cruel form of punishment for being friends with Rhys. We don't really know until SJM graces us with Tamlin's side of the story.

3. ''It's really Tamlin's own fault that the spring court fell'' Alternatively also phrased as: 'Feyre just opened everyone's eyes to Tamlin's incompetence' and....honestly? This low key makes me question the reading comprehension of people.

Yes, Tamlin made a deal with Hybern, which was extremely risky, but the war was coming regardless (as we learn from Rhys in the first half of ACOMAF) and the spring court would be the main target because of its location next to the wall. Inviting Hybern into his lands in a trade is actually a pretty smart way to avoid a lot of death on Tamlin's part - plus he needed help to rescue Feyre and get her out of the deal she had with Rhysand (people forget that Tamlin didn't know Feyre didn't actually need rescuing from the guy that was abusing her in front of him in ACOTAR).

So yeah anyway, Feyre did several things to make the spring court fall: 1. She manipulated the solstice ceremony to make herself seem cauldron-blessed in the eyes of the people, 2. She made a sentry accuse Ianthe (who WAS doing sneaky shit) which essentially did nothing except putting Tamlin on the spot in front of Hybern, so he was kind of forced to throw the sentry under the bus. Good job Feyre, you got a poor sod whipped! But it also built resentment within the soldiers, which was her plan all along and 3. before leaving, she did this (let's just quote the whole thing):

''I had a people who had lost faith in their High Priestess. I had sentries who were beginning to rebel against their High Lord. And as a result of those things, I had Hybern royals doubting the strength of their allies here. I’d primed this court to fall. Not from outside forces—but its own internal warring. And I had to be clear of it before it happened. Before the last sliver of my plan fell into place. The party would return without me. And to maintain that illusion of strength, Tamlin and Ianthe would lie about it—where I’d gone. And perhaps a day or two after that, one of these sentries would reveal the news, a carefully sprung trap that I’d coiled into his mind like one of my snares. I’d fled for my life—after being nearly killed by the Hybern prince and princess. I’d planted images in his head of my brutalized body, the markings consistent with what Dagdan and Brannagh had already revealed to be their style. He’d describe them in detail—describe how he helped me get away before it was too late. How I ran for my life when Tamlin and Ianthe refused to intervene, to risk their alliance with Hybern. And when the sentry revealed the truth, no longer able to stomach keeping quiet when he saw how my sorry fate was concealed by Tamlin and Ianthe, just as Tamlin had sided with Ianthe the day he’d flogged that sentry …When he described what Hybern had done to me, their Cursebreaker, their newly anointed Cauldron-blessed, before I’d fled for my life … There would be no further alliance. For there would be no sentry or denizen of this court who would stand with Tamlin or Ianthe after this. After me.''

So, the sentries left Tamlin because of a lie. A fake story. Without sentries, Hybern decided to take over rather than just be guests and had a prime spot to attack the summer court in turn. Which is also why Tarquin is extremely pissed at Feyre - not Tamlin. So no, Tamlin wasn't a bad high lord. His only real mistake was ever trusting Feyre.

Sure, some argue that Feyre thought Tamlin genuinely sided with Hybern and might be a threat to the rest of Prythian, so taking him down would make sense for her even outside of petty revenge. But there's just one problem with that: Feyre is a mind reader. She could have just.....checked. lol

4. ''Tamlin didn't do anything Under the Mountain'' This one really gets my goat because it's not really true? Things Tamlin did to help Feyre: 1. He sent her away to the human realm. (People forget this, but he basically doomed his court to protect her ass - it's not his fault she came back!) 2. He made Lucien check up on her. (Yes Lucien was Feyre's friend but he still acted under Tamlin's orders!) 3. He ignored Feyre as to not rile Amarantha up even more (Come on, have you seen Amarantha? It totally makes sense) 4. He tries to get to Feyre, begging Amarantha to stop even as he is tied up, bleeding out from a stab wound to his chest that he can't heal because he has no powers - like what do you want him to do??? 4. He literally kills Amarantha the second he is able to

Also personal conspiracy detour: That music that Rhysand supposedly sent to Feyre was SO originally supposed to be Tamlin, you can't convince me otherwise. I will never not believe that this wasn't just a lazily done quick change when SJM rewrote book 1 and 2 to account for the boyfriend switcheroo. Attributing the music to Rhys makes absolutely zero sense. He's not a musical boy at all, come on! Music themes never come up with him again either! Meanwhile Tamlin played for Feyre before, is generally a musical guy COME ON! /conspiracy detour over

5. ''It's Tamlin's fault that Nesta and Elaine got turned to fae'' No. No it's not. He knew nothing about this. Ianthe did this on her own accord because Feyre told her where her sister's lived. Tamlin actually attacks (!) the King of Hybern over it (to no avail, but still).

Some people blame Tamlin for keeping Ianthe around afterwards, despite of what she did. Those people I want to refer to point number 3 in this list. Ianthe was working with Hybern. Tamlin tried to be buddies with Hybern for reasons. No, he can't just throw out Ianthe.

#thanks for coming to my tedtalk #tamlin #acotar #idk man i get that people hate him but literally everything he does gets interpreted in the most unfavorable way ever #or simply misquoted #and it's annoying ok #feel free to add to it or correct me #SORRY THIS GOT LONG I WENT OFF A LITTLE #pro tamlin #i guess

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dckweed · 4 months

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NEXT THING YOU KNOW, gator tillman

summary: in which gator tillman and his arranged bride figure out life and each other and what a real relationship means to them.

warnings: mentions and depictions of abuse, mentions of bruises, arranged marriages, romance, humor, dead parents, slow burn relationship (not completely but not not), basically we know the tillman men are asswipes so i 100% see Roy forcing gator into this kind of situation for money for his militia, eventual smut with kinks such as thigh riding, gun play, choking, spanking, lots of marking and possible spit play.

comment on this post to be added to the taglist for future parts!

The smell of cigar smoke hung thick in the air, the lighting dim in the dark office. You sat stiffly in a large leather chair, and across from you on the other side of the massive oak desk sat your step father, Boyd Augastine. He was a mean old man, and you had hoped in your time away at boarding school that he had graciously paid for, that he would have calmed down. That hope seemed to be more wishful than anything though, in fact, you thought he seemed meaner than the last time you had seen him at Christmas dinner.

“Boyd, please!” You begged, trying to fight back tears. You hated being home, if you could even call this massive estate that, it made you tense and irate, scared. You shake your head at the man in front of you, trying to remain as polite as you could lest you reap the repercussions. “You can’t make me marry that boy!” You say, tone as even as you could keep it. “Is this even legal?!”

He had at least let you finish speaking. “I can, and you will.” He sniffs, not even bothering to look up at you as he shuffled through some papers sitting in front of him. You assumed they were the documents pertaining to the horrid news you had just been given. “The Tillman boy is a fine young man, he’s strong and not entirely stupid, and his family is almost as powerful as me. You will marry him, and you will produce a male heir to take over both families when the time comes.” He says, finality in his tone and a hint of annoyance that you knew meant that the conversation needed to end before you wound up being hurt. “Lord knows i’m not about to leave my fortune to some half-witted emotional broads. You may not be my blood, but you are legally an Augastine, you will do your part.” You wince. “Unless of course, you’d rather one of the girls marry him when they come of age?”

You purse your lips, trying desperately to bite your tongue. He always knew exactly what to say to get you to do whatever he wanted, and you hated that you had no backbone sometimes. What were you supposed to do though? Your half sisters weren’t even in high school yet, they were mere babies still..they deserved to find their own happiness in life, with someone they actually loved..if you had to marry this boy for a few years and pop out a kid or two for them to be able to live their lives, just to satiate their father, then you would gladly do it. They didn’t need to take your place. Besides, it's not like divorce wasn’t a common thing amongst young married couples anyway.

He knows your answer before you’ve even opened your mouth to speak it and tosses his expensive fountain tipped pen across the desk. It lands with a thud and you pick it up with a trembling hand as he slides the documents towards you as well. “Your mother would be proud.” He says cooly, watching you scrawl your name across every highlighted area that needs signing. You wondered what the Tillman’s were receiving in return for this, they were already fairly well off from what you understood. Pretty much every man in their lineage had been sheriff of the godforsaken county, law ran in their blood, and it paid well too. But who's to say that they weren’t being paid handsomely for this?

You felt as if you had just signed away your soul.

You toss the pen back to him, and give him his stupid papers back before standing and turning on your heel. You didn’t care if you hadn’t been dismissed, you were done. You needed to be alone, you needed to cry. You stride across his large office, and just as your hand touches the brass knob of the heavy door, his voice rings out.

“You’re to be married in two months' time, wedding planning begins tomorrow.” You clench the knob, fighting back the tears. He didn’t deserve to see you cry. “Sleep well, Pearlie.” You swore on your mama’s gravestone that the nickname she had given you dripped with venom when it came from his mouth. Sometimes you wished you could drip actual venom into his mouth, shut him up forever. It was a soothing thought when you were younger, before he had shipped you off to boarding school.

You make your way down the long carpeted hallway to the large wooden staircase, climbing them as quickly as you could. You could hear your sisters, Victoria and Lucy in their room giggling about something that had happened at school, and you smiled as you pressed your ear to the door. You had worried the whole time your mother was pregnant that the girls would be treated just as horribly as you were when your mother wasn’t around, that they would have to hide bruises and emotions and pretend that everything was okay just like you did, but they were his own flesh and blood, his own life force, he could never act such a way towards his own blood. But they weren’t boys, so they also weren’t good enough to take over his fucking business.

You head a little farther down the hall, closing and locking your own door behind you as you slipped into your room, the only place that occasionally felt safe to you when you were here. “I wish you were here, mama.” You whisper to the photo sitting on the dressing table right next to the door.

True to his word, the wedding planning started the next day. You were awoken by your sisters’ nanny early in the morning, her knocking at your bedroom door loud to your pounding head. You had spent the night crying and you were paying for it dearly.

“Miss Pearl,” Her ever pleasant voice calls through the thick wood as you sit up in bed. “Boyd is requesting you downstairs, your betrothed and his father have arrived..” You glance at the clock. It was seven-thirty in the morning. You were used to waking up around this time for school anyway, you had only been home twenty-four hours by this point. “He’s not too pleased this morning,” Her hushed voice comes next and you sigh, leaning your head back into your pillow.

“Thank you, Lorraine,” You say loud enough for her to hear, your thick comforter falling off of you as you sit up. “Tell them I'll be down soon, please..” She doesn’t respond but you hear her footsteps fade away from your door.

You stretch before swinging your legs over the side of your bed, rolling your head from side to side. You knew it was in your best interest to play along with Boyd’s scheme, and he would know if you were half assing or catching an attitude the moment you walked into the room. If you were going to do this, then dammit, you were going to do this right.

Within fifteen minutes you were dressed in a sleeveless white dress that flowed down to your feet, the top of it pushing your breasts up in the illusion of a push-up bra. You had purposely bought this one a size or so too small for that effect while you were still at school, wanting to impress one of the guys you had been previously dating before graduation. You left your hair down to fall around your shoulders, brushing it and using one of your favorite hair serums to run through it with your fingers, leaving a nice smell before you slid on a glossy lip oil and mascara, with a spritz of your favorite perfume to your wrists.

With one last look at the photo of your mom, silently wishing she were here with you to help you through this, you open your door and make your way barefoot down the hallway and stairs.

You hear their voices when you come off the stairs in the middle of the grand hallway on the first floor, floating out of the massive dining room that was hardly ever used. You don’t pause, afraid that if you did it would be all you would need to turn tail and hide in your bedroom forever, and head immediately for the doorway, waltzing in as if you weren’t interrupting their apparently humorous conversation.

You paint a smile on your face as Boyd narrows his eyes at you, a look that you knew meant he wasn’t at all happy with you and you were certainly going to hear about it later. “Sorry to keep you waiting, sir,” You say, kissing his cheek to keep up the appearance of a loving father and daughter relationship, something you had been doing since you were ten. He couldn’t have the world knowing that he despised his late wife’s daughter, could he? You squeeze his shoulder. “The drive up from school must have exhausted me more than i realized, i didn’t mean to sleep in and miss greeting our guests.” You shoot them an award winning smile as well as you smooth out your skirt, taking your seat next to Boyd, but across from the Sheriff and who you assumed was his son.

Boyd hums and you just know that he’s boiling with rage at you, though in your defense, he hadn’t informed you that there would be a breakfast this morning. “You haven’t missed much, we were just talking about your horse actually, and your award from Eventing last season.” Just the topic brought another smile onto your face, a real one this time.

“That was a close one too, we were neck and neck with our second place competitor..” You had spent the majority of the time after the event wondering if Boyd had paid off the judges to put you in first, though you did know that you had put in a lot of training hours with Bubbles, and it had clearly shown. Besides, Boyd didn’t like you nearly enough to pay off the judges just to see you place first in any sport, let alone Equestrian Eventing.

The older man sitting across from you, the Sheriff, smiles what appears to be a genuine smile at you. “You love your horses, I can tell from the way your whole face just lit up like the sun had touched it..” You can’t help the blush on your face, and judging by the look on his sons face as he looked at you, you had just done something right without even knowing it. “You and I already have something in common with each other, perhaps i’ll make time to take a ride with you this weekend..” His sons face completely changed at the mention, you would say it resembled a sort of panic.

“I would love that!” You exclaim, more than pleased to spend any kind of time on your horse, even if it was with your soon to be father in law. He nods at you in return, and nudges his son, as if communicating with him.

Breakfast is served not too much longer after that, and the time is spent with your step father and the Sheriff talking about things you couldn’t even have pretended to care about in that moment, like golf or what the government was doing, while you and the boy across from you shared a couple of glances, staying silent unless spoken to.

You had to admit, he wasn’t terrible on the eyes. He wore a black polo shirt underneath of what you could only assume was a bullet proof vest with a velcro patch that said Sheriff across the chest. His hair was slicked back away from his face, and you noticed a tattoo peaking out of one of the short sleeves stretched across his bicep. Oh, he was certainly handsome, but probably not the type to ever be happy with a girl like you..nor did you think you could be happy with him.

You were obviously younger than him at only eighteen (your birthday thankfully just before your wedding date), you had just graduated highschool. You had no job, and your only future now lay with the man in front of you. He didn’t speak too much, and you couldn’t tell if it was because he was a naturally quiet person, or if it was because his father and Boyd were obviously the alphas in the room and from what you could gather, weren’t to be bothered until they bothered you first. You didn’t mind that he was older than you, though you guessed he was at least mid twenties if he was already a cop. You kind of liked the thought of being with someone older than you, the boys you had been with at school were all dipshits and childish. You hoped that he wasn’t the same. And if he was, well, at least he was handsome to look at.

The boy, Gator, looked up at you from across the table. You decided that his eyes were hazel, a beautiful color for a decidedly beautiful man. You give him a shy smile from where you sat, raising a mug of your favorite breakfast tea to your lips. You noticed the way he licks his lips, his eyes darting to your mouth and back to his plate once you had set your cup down on its saucer. Well, you thought, at least he’s clearly attracted to me. Maybe our marriage won’t be completely boring..

You had long ago tuned out the droning voices of your step father and your soon to be father in law, using your fork to pick around at the fruit salad you had served yourself for breakfast, adding a little yogurt to it here and there. You couldn’t bring yourself to fully eat, your stomach uneasy the more you thought about your impending marriage. God, how was arranged marriage even still a thing? How was this even fucking legal? You made a mental note to ask Boyd for copies of all of the documents you had signed so you could take them to a lawyer in town somewhere, have them double check that the documents were in fact legal. If there was anything you could do to get out of this, you were willing to do it.

You’re jolted from your thoughts by Boyd’s voice, and you jump, startled. “Sorry, i was day dreaming..” You say, shaking your head with a small giggle, hoping that he hadn’t been trying to get your attention for too long. You can see Sheriff Roy give a small smile from across the table, another nudge to his son.

Boyd gives you a subtle eye roll as he faces you, and you can tell from his body language that he’s upset with you for zoning out. You were certain to hear an earful about it tonight and that made you nervous. “Roy and I have some business to attend to in my office,” He says, giving a pointed glance to the boy sitting across from you guys. “How about you take Gator on a walk around the grounds? The girls are out getting piano and violin lessons right now, you won’t be bothered for a while.” Is he trying to tell me to fuck this boy? You wondered disgustedly, you knew Boyd was..well, Boyd, but really?

You want to say no, you want to tell him to marry the boy himself if it was that important to him, but you’re afraid of what could possibly happen to you if you do, so you paint another smile on your lips and look over to your husband to be. “I’ll show you my horse!” You say, setting your napkin next to your plate as you stand, walking around the table to lead him out into the foyer. “The barn is a little ways out there,” You say when you notice him following you out of the dining room. “Hope you don’t mind a little walk..”

He follows you silently through the formal living room and into the kitchen, straight back into the mudroom where you bend over to put your well worn boots on. They were brown, and the leather was starting to wear down on them but you didn’t mind, they still got the job done. They were a gift from your mama and you would wear them until they fell apart, and even then you would probably duct tape them back together again.

He’s gentlemanly enough to hold the back door open for you, and you breathe in his scent as you brush past him. He smells good, his cologne floods your scents. Its a woodsy kind of scent, mixed with a little bit of leather, and something a little fruity that you can’t quite name and you wonder what the hell it is as he falls in step next to you as you both walk off of the porch. His hands are slipped into his pockets as you guys walk, a casual look, and you notice that he’s tall too, even in his work boots.

You realize that he’s not going to make the first step to conversation.

When you’re a good enough distance away from the house, out of sight of Boyd’s office, you stop abruptly and turn to face him, the sun beats down on his face even with his baseball cap pulled down over his eyes. He stops too, tilting his face down at you, an eyebrow raised and an amused look on his face. God, you though, he really is handsome.

“Can I help you with somethin’?” He asks, his drawl washing over you. That was the first time he had spoken and good lord his voice could do things to you if this were any other kind of situation, you just knew it. His shoulders are squared, and you realize that now, alone with you, he is the alpha male. You kind of like the vibe that rolls off of him, but it makes you wonder why he cowered when he was in the same room as your guys’ fathers.

You look around, lips pursed and hands on your hips as you thought. “Look,” You start, meeting his gaze under the brim of his hat. “The way I see it, neither of us particularly wants to be in this situation.” He hums in agreement, crossing his arms over his chest as he listens to what you have to say. “Neither of us are happy, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t at least try to be friends..we’re both stuck doing this, and even though i wasn’t given a choice, I would still like to at least be friends with the person i’m marrying in two months..”

He sniffs and looks around for a moment, and for the first time, you see a smile on his face and you couldn’t help but think it was beautiful. “Alright then,” He says, holding out his hand for you to shake. “Let’s be friends.”

taglist:

@ruth-barnes @justherebecausesafarisucks @daisy-is-a-writer

#gator tillman fanfiction #gator tillman fanfic #gator tillman fic #gator tillman #gator tillman smut #gator tillman x reader #joe keery #fargo season 5

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miguelschamp · 3 months

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perfect

pairing: conrad fisher x fem!reader

summary: conrad comforts you after a fight with your mom

warnings: angst and family issues, but there’s fluff of course

the day started off good with everyone excited to celebrate one of susannah’s favorite holidays. susannah’s excitement filling the house as you and your childhood best friends joked around and laughed together as the day went on.

then conrad and jeremiah’s dad showed up which made it very awkward for everyone.

but it slowly became okay again when all of the teenagers went to hang out at the beach. drinking and playing a bunch of different games together.

you guys headed back to the house after a couple of hours and everything seemed alright until it came time to cut the cake.

belly had a little too much to drink and tripped and fell into susannah. breaking one of her dishes and completely destroying the cake.

as belly’s dad helped her into the house and laurel helped calm susannah, your mom turned to you. she immediately put the blame on you. blaming you for not watching belly and letting her get so messed up.

you tried defending yourself, but it was no use. she always expected you to watch over belly and jeremiah seeing as you were right under conrad and your sister.

she did this a lot. comparing you to your sister. your sister stayed with the adults whenever you guys went to the beach, so to your mom, it was automatically your fault. she yelled at you saying how if your sister were there, none of this would’ve happened.

she didn’t even let you get a word out before she stormed into the house slamming the door behind her.

that was how you ended up sitting by the water with tears streaming down your face.

unbeknownst to you, conrad had been looking for you for hours. asking everyone where you could’ve been and no one actually having any answers. he called and texted you multiple times, but got no response.

the last place he decided to check was the beach. he actually dreaded it seeing as there were gonna be multiple parties going on, but he did anyway. he had to make sure you were okay.

he had been walking the beach for almost thirty minutes when his eyes landed on a figure sitting by the water. he slowly approached you as he didn’t know if it was actually you.

“y/n ?” he asks. his heart drops when you turned toward him. “i’ve been looking all over for you. are you okay ?”

you look back toward the water as he sits beside you. “i’m fine.”

“y/n, you’re crying.” he says just as you wipe under your eyes, “what’s wrong ?”

it goes silent as you hesitate to answer. while on one hand you wanted to rant to conrad about what’s been going on with your mom and sister, you didn’t want to burden others with what you thought were petty sibling problems.

conrad watches you as he waits for you to speak up. he could tell by your facial expression that you were debating with yourself on whether or not you wanted to talk.

his eyes don’t leave you as you look up toward the water.

“my mom…” you pause. you sigh as you close your eyes, “it’s like i’m never good enough for her.”

conrad furrows his brows as you sniffle, “she’s always comparing me to my sister. anything i do, she does better. even today when belly tripped and fell into susannah, i was blamed for it when it had nothing to do with me.”

you didn’t know it, but conrad had gone through the same thing. his dad blaming him for not being responsible and stopping belly from drinking.

“but she would’ve stopped belly from drinking and the night would’ve went on fine.” you chuckle humorlessly, “i’m never good enough for her.”

it goes silent again as you take a deep breath. you hug your knees closer to your chest.

“if it means anything, i like you a lot more than i do her.” he says. you can’t help, but chuckle which brings a smile to his face, “i know it’s hard, but don’t listen to your mom. your sister isn’t all perfect like she thinks. no one is.”

“my mom thinks so.”

“i don’t.” he says shaking his head, “you’re amazing just as you are y/n/n.”

you look toward him to find his eyes already on you. as you look in eyes, you search for any sign of pity. it’s the look you usually get from others whenever they overhear your mom. but you couldn’t find any.

conrad was being genuine. which you never thought that he was anything but.

to you, no one ever truly cared or tried to understand how you felt. never feeling like you were doing enough for the people you loved. never feeling good enough.

but if anyone understood you, it was conrad.

“i get exactly how you feel. when you think you’re not good enough or when you feel like you should be doing more.” he nods, “trust me. i get it.”

your eyes search his face as he continues, “but you’re perfect to me. if your mom can’t see how amazing you are, then she doesn’t deserve to.”

your eyebrows pinch together as you take in what he says. a small smile takes over your features, “i thought you said no one was perfect ?”

he chuckles, “i did, but to me you are. you’re everything i think about when i think of perfect.”

your face softens as he looks at you. really looks at you.

“what does that mean, connie ?” you say softly

“exactly what i said.” he says, “you’re perfect.”

your heart skips as a comfortable silence falls over the two of you. conrad has always been someone significant in your life. ever since you were kids when you would play in the pool and steven would swim around pretending to be a shark and conrad would come save you.

when you were kids and he taught you how to surf since jeremiah and steven would make fun of you for not knowing how.

when summer would roll around and conrad was the first person who would hug you whenever you got out of the car.

conrad was always there.

he notices you lost in thought even as you stare directly at him. so, he takes the chance sitting right in front of him.

you blink rapidly as you notice conrad coming closer. he’s slow enough incase you decide otherwise, but you knew you wouldn’t.

your eyelashes flutter closed as he finally places his lips on yours. the kiss is soft, but the butterflies erupting in your stomach couldn’t be denied. your heart beats in your ears as he pulls away.

his eyes on your lips as he doesn’t go far. you look in his eyes and notice how they’ve changed.

admiration swarm through them as the two of you take in each other’s comfort. but he notices how quickly your mood diminishes.

“what’s wrong ?”

“i don’t want to go back yet.” you mumble

he smiles, “we don’t have to. i’ll stay here with you as long as you want me to.”

conrad’s smile seemed to be infectious as you begin to smile. you nod softly as you stare back at him.

you two stayed out there for hours. watching the waves crash as the stars came out.

#conrad fisher #conrad fisher x reader #conrad fisher imagine #chris briney #tsitp #tsitp imagine #the summer i turned pretty #miguelschamp

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marvelfanfn2187a113 · 2 months

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The Family Business

Sam and Dean Winchester & little sister!reader

Requested by anonymous

Synopsis: You (20+ ish) are starting to feel left out by your brothers, but maybe not for the reason you think.

“Hey, we’ve got a case just a couple of hours away, looks like it could be a djinn.”

You looked up as Sam and Dean entered the library, Dean delivering the news.

“Ok, I’ll go get my stuff.” You started to rise from your chair, but Sam held up his hands.

“Actually, I think we’re good. You should, uh, you should just stay here.”

You were so surprised that by the time you thought of speaking up, your brothers were already past you and headed for the door.

“You sure?” You called out faintly.

“Yup,” Sam assured you before following Dean out the door.

You weren’t quite sure what had just happened. Ever since you’d become old enough to hunt, the boys had never left for a hunt without you.

Your mind started running back through the past week, trying to think of why your brothers wouldn’t want you around. All you could come up with was a moment from the last hunt; you had almost gotten hurt by a werewolf, but Dean had assured you over and over that it was his fault, not yours.

Maybe he had changed his mind.

…

The next two weeks passed much the same, with the boys not only excluding you from hunts, but from just about everything else that they did. They studied lore in the library without filling you in on anything they were hunting, they had a movie night in the Dean cave without inviting you, and they just excluded you in general from anything they did together, which was everything.

Some part of you felt that you should be angry at this, but instead despair clouded your emotions at each new rejection. You’d convinced yourself that it was because of that one mistake a few hunts ago, because what else could it be?

You’d lost your brothers’ trust, and with it their companionship. And you had no idea how to win it back.

You’d spent the last two weeks getting closer and closer to a breakdown. You could feel it—your mood was constantly gloomy, you’d almost completely lost your appetite, and you spent most of your time hidden in your room. Things that used to be so simple—asking Sam if you could join him on a run, joining Dean during shooting practice—now filled you with anxiety. You’d always felt comfortable doing things with your brothers, but the thought that they didn’t want you around made you second guess everything you did.

Unfortunately, the breakdown came at a time you didn’t appreciate.

“Hey, we’re headed out for a hunt.” You looked up from the book you were reading as Sam peaked into your room to update you.

“Do you need any help?” This was your standard question, despite the fact that you knew he’d say no again. You weren’t wrong.

“No, we’re fine. We’ll probably be back in a week, it’s pretty far away.”

Your heart plummeted to your stomach at his words. You’d been feeling lonely enough with the brothers ignoring you, but for them to leave completely for a whole week?

“Are you—“ you stopped yourself completely when your voice cracked. You wanted to ask if he was sure, if he’d let you come along anyway, if there was anything you could do. But if he didn’t trust you or want you, the last thing you wanted to be was a burden. Besides, with the crack in your voice came a stinging behind your eyes, and you really didn’t want to cry in front of Sam.

But still, Sam had heard the start to your question, and he turned to listen.

“What?” He asked.

“Nothing.” Your voice came out as a choked mumble, and you cursed yourself, knowing that Sam would hear it. Sure enough—

“Hey, you ok?”

You focused your gaze on the book in your lap to avoid Sam’s penetrating stare as you answered.

“Yeah, fine.” Your voice didn’t come out at all the way you wanted it to, and you could feel your eyes misting over as you struggled to make your breathing sound normal with the lump building in your throat. You’d been keeping your feelings in for far too long, and apparently Sam’s words sparked your short fuse.

The book in front of you suddenly disappeared, snatched up by Sam’s hand as he came to sit on the edge of your bed.

“Ok, come on now, what’s going on?”

“Nothing.” You pulled your knees to your chest, still not looking at your big brother.

“Then why won’t you look at me?”

You reluctantly lifted your head to look into Sam’s dark eyes despite knowing that he would see your unshed tears.

“What’s wrong?” Sam’s gaze was soft as flower petals, and his voice was hushed.

He thinks you’re weak.

You tried to push the voice in your head away as you finally faced your brother.

“Nothing’s wrong,” you said again. “Go on your hunt with Dean.”

“Don’t do that,” Sam said. “Don’t just shut me out.”

Something inside you snapped.

“Shut you out?” Your voice rose. “That’s rich, coming from you!”

Sam was taken aback by your sudden change.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about how you keep leaving me behind! I haven’t been on a hunt in weeks, and we never do anything together anymore!” Your anger was slipping back into despair, and you fought to stop it.

“Honey, we didn’t mean to—“ Sam was at a loss for words. “We just—“

“Just go.” You could feel yourself losing the battle as your tears returned. “Go away!” The pillow you threw at him missed by a mile, but he backed off anyway, leaving the room and closing the door behind him.

The second he was gone, your resolve disappeared along with your anger. You tightened your arms around your knees and sobbed, burying your face in your knees as your whole body shook. Between the hunt you screwed up and the way you just acted with Sam, you didn’t think your brothers would ever want to be around you again.

…

Your whole body froze when you heard your door opening. You struggled to hold in your sobs, even though that meant holding your breath, too.

“Hey kid.”

Dean this time, not Sam.

“Shouldn’t you be on a hunt?” You managed to choke out, and you cringed at the sound of your tearful voice.

“Not until I tell you why you weren’t invited,” Dean replied.

Your throat constricted, and you swallowed hard.

“I already know why.”

“Do you?” You heard rather than saw when Dean closed the door behind him and stepped further into the room. “Because I’m starting to think that I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not right.”

Your forehead crinkled in confusion, but you kept your head down.

“What?”

Your bed dipped as Dean sat on the end.

“You think it’s because of that hunt two weeks ago. Well, you’re right about that, sort of.”

You felt your hands start to shake as a sob unintentionally escaped your lips.

“Hey now.” Dean sighed, and you felt his hand on your shoulder. “It’s ok, just breathe.” His other hand came up to your other shoulder, and you felt his fingers flex as he pulled you towards him. You tucked your legs under you, opting instead to bury your face against his chest.

“I’m sorry,” you sobbed. “I didn’t mean to—“

“Shh, hey now,” Dean soothed, his hands coming up to cradle your head. “You didn’t let me finish, kiddo. I told you that that hunt wasn’t your fault, and I meant it. It was mine. But I almost got you killed out there, and I—“ Dean’s voice caught, and in the brief silence that followed he realized that your sobs had subsided, and you were breathing more evenly in his arms. Dean felt his own eyes start to sting as he thought about the way you almost died on that hunt. “And I realized,” he continued, “That we never bothered to see if you wanted this.”

“What?” You asked quietly.

“Look, I picked this life. Sammy tried to get out of it, but ultimately he picked it too. But you’ve just done what we told you, you followed us, but we never asked if you wanted to. Now, I know that that wasn’t how dad did things, he had to make us be a part of this life for our own protection. But now things are different. If you don’t want this, I’m not gonna make you do it.”

As Dean spoke, you began to feel so relieved that you nearly laughed.

“Why didn’t you tell me, you idiot?” You demanded, and at Dean’s chuckle you actually did laugh.

“Sam didn’t want to dump all this on you. He said we should let you sit out a few hunts first, then ask.”

“Why didn’t you let me help you with lore?” You pressed on, still confused.

“We didn’t want you to think you were benched from hunts, figured it would be best to just not have you do any of it.” Dean chuckled again. “I guess it was a stupid idea.”

“So…you do want me on hunts?” You mumbled.

“Of course we do,” Dean said firmly. “But not if you don’t want to be out there. This life could get you killed, you’ve gotta choose it if you want it.”

“Knock knock.” The two of you turned as Sam stepped into the room. “Hey, how’re we doing in here?”

“I think we’re ok,” Dean said, pulling away from you. “You think?”

“Yeah.” Your lips twitched into a smile. “We’re good.”

“What do you think about…joining us on the hunt?” Sam asked hesitantly. “Only if you want to.”

“I think…” you grinned. “Someone has to watch your butts.”

Sam laughed. “So that’s a yes?”

“I’ll get my stuff.”

You hopped off the bed so you could pack, but Dean climbed off next to you and pulled you into his arms.

“Welcome to the family business, kid.”

Taglist:

@nyotamalfoy @mrvlxgrl @chocorade

#dean winchester #dean and sam #the winchesters #dean winchester x reader #supernatural dean #dean winchester x you #winchesters x reader #sam winchester #sam winchester x reader #winchesters x sister #dean winchester x little sister!reader #dean winchester x sister!reader #dean winchester x sister #sam winchester x sister!reader #spn sam winchester

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eugeneplace · 2 months

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seeing as your answering questions about your world domination au how did each bro react to poppy and ramon(branch)?

is cooper part of the world domination team and if so, how does the funk family react to cooper?

You're not going to stop asking for family drama, are you?

You have my respect, dude

Okey so... I think it's important to note that it was Poppy who invited Ramon's brothers to the tour. She wanted them to sing at the wedding (after transforming them into zombies, of course) and she thought that Ramón would like the surprise!

Haha... He did not

And he liked it even less when he found out that Poppy sent them a fucking ransom note

IN HER DEFENSE! She thought that the relief of knowing their little brother wasn't actually kidnapped was going to put them in such a good mood that they would forget how much they hated each other!!

...Back on topic-

When the brothers first found out that Bitty B was alive, before knowing about the kidnapping, their first reaction was very emotional. Toño (Bruce) hugged the messenger and Floyd started crying.

...Jonh Dory just grabbed all the weapons he could find. He armed himself to the teeth to go on the Baby Bro Rescue Mission.

Clay too, but more discreet. Because Viva was also coming and she couldn't conceive the idea that her baby sister had someone hostage just for a concert.

Anyway, those two were going, like- full violence to meet the sister-in-law

It's hard for me to imagine Toño and Floyd as fighters. I mean- One is a family man and the other a party animal, I can believe a fist fight, but I don't think they have an arsenal in theirs houses (I don't think Floyd even has a house)

But yeah, those two definitely got bloodthirsty when they found out lil bro was in danger

They didn't recognize him at first- I mean, yeah, they saw him first with the bird skull mask thing- but even when he took it off it took a while. The eyes ended up gaving it away.

They tried to hug him, obviously, but Ramón wouldn't let them. In fact, it was Poppy who welcomed them with open arms and a smile. Because of course she was very happy! Imagine it: your favorite band are going to be yours brothers-in-law AND your long-lost sister showed up for your wedding! AAA-

So yeah, at first they didn't notice anything wrong with Poppy. Yes, the whole 'tricking them into coming' was weird, but at least she wants them to be there! And Poppy gave them a chance to try to talk to Ramon!

She invited them to stay for dinner (because they ended up arraving at the mobile castle at night time (she came out in her pajamas, Ramón did too but he put his poncho over them))

Besides, they had more important things to worry about. Like the whole grandma got eaten, Ramón is gray and he hates them.. and is about to marry the goddamn Queen of Pop situation

It's only when in the middle of the dinner that Ramón blurts out the whole "we're planning to conquer the world and kill a lot of people" thing that she takes off her mask. They end up knocked out and locked in the dungeon.

#Oh yeah I didn't say that Poppy sent the Kismet boys to look for them #Omg they had such a BAD time #remember that sequence in the first movie of Poppy going to the BergenTown?#That was them #but less “this is fine” and more... “oh those jerks are so NOT worth it”#world domination tour au #trolls #brozone #trolls viva #broppy #The post was to long and I couldn't include Cooper

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writing-blog-iguess · 9 months

Text

Online Matchup 4

Summery: Y/N makes a trip back home last minute, ruining Jason's plan for a breakfast date, but that won't stop him from coming up with a different plan.

Warning: swearing, talk of surgery, Jason's being a sweetheart, fluff

A/n: this is becoming one of my comfort fics to write, and I can't be mad about it. I'm glad you guys are enjoying it. Feedbacks always welcome

Words: 3097

Ao3 Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 5

——

October 8

Jason (6:40am) Good morning How are you this beautiful morning?

Y/N Why in the everloving fuck are you awake at six in the morning?

Jason Aren’t you a potty mouth in the early mornings Someone should teach you a lesson

Y/N It’s to early for anything right now

Jason’s May I remind you, that you’re awake this early too

Y/N My sister decided it was the perfect time to call me Apparently it couldn’t wait until I was awake enough to call her back And now I can’t sleep

Jason Everything okay?

Y/N Define okay?

Jason It’s your dad isn’t it?

Y/N Yeah I don’t know, I don’t want to talk about it

Jason Fair enough

Y/N Now answer my question

Jason Demanding Wanted to know how you were doing after last night

Y/N Better now that I’ve slept I wish I could sleep longer tho Though my eyes hurt and it feels like I have a hangover

Jason Consequences of crying before bed

Y/N Make it go away

Jason Wanna meet for breakfast? Y/N?

Y/N (8:35am) Oh, sorry I fell asleep

Jason Uh huh It has nothing to do with the fact that I asked if you wanted to go for breakfast

Y/n Mm don’t know what you’re talking about And isn’t there a rule where a guy has to wait a least three days Before you ask the girl out again

Jason Apparently My brother advised me the same thing But since I could care less what he thinks about my relationship I have decided to ignore him and take the plunge and ask you anyways Besides he barely listens to his own advice So to each their own I guess

Y/N Why do I get the feeling that you ignore your brother a lot

Jason Couldn’t tell you So, breakfast?

Y/N Uh, wish I could But I have a train to catch

Jason Where’s it going?

Y/N Metropolis

Jason You're going home? Why so sudden?

Y/n The call with my sister? Apparently my dad is having surgery and my mom wants everyone there until he’s done Don’t know why I have to go, by the time I’m there it’ll probably be over

Jason Yikes What’s the surgery for?

Y/N Dunno, something to do with something? I’m not sure, I was half asleep when she called And she used that to her advantage and got me to agree to go home today

Jason Don’t you have class tomorrow?

Y/N Not until the afternoon

Jason Work?

Y/n Not until Tuesday

Jason Huh

Y/n Yup tbh I rather spend my Sunday with you then go home But it’s family and I can’t say no to my sister

Jason I get that family’s first But I would choose you over my family

Y/n … You can’t just say that!

Jason But flustering you is becoming my favourite past time

Y/n Get a new one!

Jason Nah, don’t think I will Okay, so no breakfast How about I drop you off at the station?

Y/N Tempting But if you do, then I’ll miss the train Because I wanna kiss your stupid face And besides, I’m almost there

Jason My face isn’t stupid … You wanna kiss me? Colour me flattered

Y/n I rescind my statement

Jason Can’t do that, it’s in writing Hold on, when you said you were sleeping You were actually packing, weren’t you?

Y/N Guilty I’m sorry I’ve spent thirty minutes debating on whether or not to ditch my family for you

Jason But in the end you’re ditching me Feels like your running from something I see how it is

Y/N I’m sorry D: I’m not running away or anything

Jason It’s okay, really I’m not mad or anything Okay, maybe a little disappointed But he’s your dad and you don’t know when’s the next time you see him So it’s okay, don’t feel bad I’ll wait around until your back And I know your not, I just took the joke too far and I’m sorry

Y/n I’m still sorry

Jason Can I call you?

Y/N Uhhhhhhh Give me a minute

Jason Take as much time as you need I can wait

Y/n Sweet of you But I needed to find a seat first And then my headphones

Jason So You’re good now?

Y/n Yup

It didn’t take more than a second before your phone rang after you sent the message.

“I thought you wanted to call?” you answered, moving your phone so Jason could see your face. He shrugged, shooting you a smile.

“Wanted to see your pretty face is all,” he said, and you could feel your face heat up at the compliment. Averting your eyes, you sink in your seat, trying to hide your face in your sweater. “Awe, is this what you look like when you get flustered? There’s no way I can't stop flustering you now. If this is what your reaction is going to be every time I do.”

“I’m hanging up now,” you mumbled into your sweater, and wondered if he heard that. Judging by the smile he gave you, he did.

“Nah, I don’t think so. You called my face pretty and you wanted to kiss it,” he said. That made you come out of your sweater and glared at him.

“I think I said stupid face,” you corrected, “you have a stupid face.”

“That you want to kiss,” Jason pointed out with a smile. You stuck out your tongue at him, making him laugh. “How’s the train ride?”

You shrugged, shifting in your seat trying to get comfortable. “A train ride I guess. We just left the station and it’ll be two hours until we get to Metropolis? My butts gonna hurt once I get there.”

“Gotta walk around once in a while,” Jason reminded, “did you bring anything for the ride?”

“Yeah, homework I still need to finish, my sketchbook and some books I’ve been meaning to read.”

“Sounds like a party,” Jason joked. You huffed out a laugh.

“Oh yeah, real life of the party over here.”

Before either of you could continue, you faintly heard a door slamming open and closing before hearing a faint call of Jason! You promised me breakfast! From what you could make out, it was a female voice and you pushed down the bout of jealousy that came from nowhere. You didn’t have the right to be jealous. Jason wasn’t yours, he was his own person and you two weren’t seeing each other officially. He was free to do what he pleased. Still, you couldn’t lie and say that it didn’t hurt.

You watched as Jason scowled, and turned towards the voice. “Yeah, give me a minute I’m on the phone.”

You schooled your features and raised an eyebrow as he turned back to his phone. “You already had breakfast plans, yet you still tried to make them with me? Wow Jason, didn’t know you had that in you.”

“Okay, first of all, I’m not a two timing bitch,” he clarified and you blanched at the statement. Damn, and you thought you hid it well. “And like I said before, I’d ditch my family for you any day of the week without question.”

“Aw Jason, you’d ditch your own sister! I see how it is,” the female voice said. Jason made a face as a blond haired girl came into frame, hanging off of Jason’s shoulders. Her nose pressed into his cheek and she smiled. “Tell me how you really feel, Jason.”

“Okay, I will,” he said, shoving her off, “you’re an annoying little shit.” She laughed and turned towards the phone. She was pretty, you had to admit.

“Oh, Tim’s right. You are cute,” she said, and you pulled your sweater over your mouth, trying to keep a laugh in as Jason looked offended.

“Steph!” he yelled, shoving her face out of frame. “Go away.”

“No, you promised me breakfast last night, and I demand pancakes,” she said, coming back in, shoving Jason out of frame as she did so. She turned to you and smiled. “Hello, I’m Jason’s sister Stephanie. You must be Y/N, it’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard virtually nothing about you.”

“And I’m trying to keep it that way,” he grunted, pushing her away. The two fought until finally they settled with Stephanie leaning on his shoulder. “How’d you even know their name?”

“Tim,” she answered. You raised your eyebrow in question. “He gets bored when he has nothing to do. And he decided to snoop around Jason’s life.”

“Well I’ll try not to be offended,” you said, though you furrowed your brows in concern. “Should I be worried?”

“I don’t think so,” Stephanie hummed, “not unless you have something to hide.”

“Do you have something to hide?” Jason pressed, a teasing smile dancing on his lips. You puffed out your cheeks and looked away.

“Oooh you do,” Stephanie sang, “tell us before we find out from Tim.”

“Tim needs to mind his own fucking business,” you muttered to yourself, causing Jason to laugh. “And no, I have nothing to hide. Lived a pretty boring life.”

“Don’t know, you tried killing your sister once,” Jason mused.

“I didn’t try on purpose! I pushed her off the deck into the lake,” you corrected, “and my dad got to her before anything could happen. Man, he was pissed. I feared for my life that day. I’ve never known fear until I saw the look he gave me.” You shuddered at the memory.

“How old were you?” Stephanie asked, worry laced in her words. You shrugged, staring at the corner of your phone, avoiding their gaze.

“Ten I think? Could be younger, I don’t know. Thought it would be funny, and it was until it wasn’t.”

“Did he hurt you?” Jason asked, you shook your head and moved your gaze to him.

“No. But the way he looked, he wanted to. If we were alone he probably would have. I booked it into the car and hid there until we went home. Then I hid in my room for the rest of the day.”

“Yikes. Why was he so mad? Bruce wouldn’t have been if we did something like that.”

“That’s because we knew how to take care of ourselves and we knew how to swim,” Jason pointed out.

“And he probably doesn’t have favourites,” you chimed in. You hummed in thought, ignoring the worried looks the two siblings were giving you. “But he doesn’t strike me as picking a favourite among his kids, unless he’s really good at hiding it. But no parent is that good at hiding that.”

“Have experience, do you?” Jason asked, you only hummed not wanting to elaborate. You aren’t sure how, but what was supposed to be a lighthearted conversation turned sour. You scrunched up your nose as a thought occurred to you. If it was this easy to talk to both Jason and Stephanie, you were afraid how the rest of his family would be. “Whatcha thinking about?”

“What you guys are having for breakfast,” you said instead of you voicing your thoughts.

“Ooh yes. I did come here for breakfast,” Stephanie said, as if she had forgotten the reason for being here. She turned to him and poked his cheek. “Make me pancakes with bacon and ham and eggs and everything.”

“How can you eat so much and not gain anything,” Jason grumbled as he moved off the couch and towards the kitchen. Stephanie shifted slightly so she was more centered to the camera.

“I work out,” she simply said with a shrug. Jason grumbled something, and since he was too far away you couldn’t hear what he said. “So, how’d you meet Jason anyways? Tim won’t say and Jason doesn’t want to talk about you when asked.”

“That’s because you pester me so much that I don’t want to talk about them,” Jason called, “and you don’t have to answer anything you want too, Y/N. Don’t let Stephanie bully you into answering questions.”

“It’s okay, Jason, I don’t mind. I know what it’s like to have siblings,” you said with a smile. “We met online. Started talking a few weeks back and haven’t stopped since.”

“Ah, you guys are still new,” Stephanie mused, “that means you can still back out before you guys get too serious.” You laughed at the same time Jason yelled hey! “Kidding, I’m kidding. I haven’t seen Jason happy in awhile. Please stick around, he’s more bearable when he’s happy.”

You watched as Jason stalked towards her, and plucked the phone from her. “If all you came here for was to make fun of me, you can go home without your food.”

“Noooo, Jason I’m sorry,” you heard Stephanie whine. And you couldn't be sure, but you saw Stephanie grovel a little bit on the floor. Although Stephanie couldn’t see Jason’s expression, you could and smiled at the little smile he shot you.

“Then go take a shower, you stink,” he said, and she was quick to race to the bathroom. “Your clothes are still here from last time!” he called and set the phone down so watch him as he prepared breakfast. “Sorry about her. I completely forgot she was coming over today.”

“No worries,” you dismissed, watching in awe as Jason cut up some vegetables with ease. “She was fun to talk to.”

“Prefer her over me, huh?”

“Nope. I like you more,” you said. “Where’d you learn how to cook?”

“Alfred taught me when I was young, and I kept going afterwards. Found it helped me when things got too stressed,” he explained. “Stress cooking is a lot healthier than other ways to deal.”

“I get that,” you mused, “I stress clean.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” he grunted. He stopped for a moment and looked towards you; eyes narrowed. “Did you have breakfast this morning?” You bit the top of your lip and avoided looking at him. “Y/N,” Jason said in warning.

“It was too early to eat!” you cracked, “I had a coffee and that was it.” Jason shook his head, going back to his food.

“I hope you eat something soon.”

“I packed some snacks. But they’re nothing compared to what you’re making for breakfast.”

“Well next time actually eat something or else I’ll just have to come over and cook for you.”

“That a threat?”

“No, more like a promise.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” you said with a smile.

“Stop flirting and cook me my food!” Stephanie yelled after the quickest shower you have ever seen someone take.

“So fucking demanding,” Jason grunted as you laughed.

“I should let you go so you can focus on the food instead of getting distracted,” you mused.

“But you’re the only kind of distraction I’d like,” he said, and you heard Stephanie gag. Laughing, you shook your head, trying to keep from blushing. “Okay maybe you’re right. Or otherwise, I’m going to throw Steph out the window.”

“Ha! I would like to see you try!”

Jason rolled his eyes and flicked them towards you. “Let me know when you’re there?”

“I can do that.”

---

Y/N (11:30 am) Ugh, I hate train rides

Jason Could have flown

Y/N Yeah but train tickets are cheaper

Jason True Made it in one piece?

Y/N Yup Now I’m making my way to the hospital

Jason Someone picking you up?

Y/n Nah, I’m taking the bus Need the extra time before I get there

Jason I get that

Y/n How was breakfast?

Jason Good Though it would be better if it was you

Y/n Stoooooooopppppppp

Jason Never I’m sorry about Steph, we can be a handful sometimes

Y/n No worries, I like her Is the rest of your family that energetic?

Jason Some yeah, the rest are just tamed

Y/n Sounds fun

Jason Oh yeah, the best

Y/n I can hear the sincerity from here

Jason Almost to the hospital?

Y/n Yeah I gotta go

Jason Tell me how it goes

Y/N (2:40 pm) I shouldn’t have come Why did I say yes?

Jason Because you were sleep deprived and you can’t say no to your sister Also because your dads in the hospital

Y/n Right He’s fine by they way, now he’s just recovering Doctors say they did what they could and he’ll be out of here in a couple of days

Jason Figured out what the surgery was about?

Y/N Nope and at this point I’m too afraid to ask

Jason Wow Why do you have regrets?

Y/n I don’t know how or why But somehow my sister figured out I was seeing someone Or at least talking to someone and kept pestering me until I told them I’ve been bamboozled

Jason Guess I’m not your dirty little secret anymore huh

Y/n Guess it wasn’t meant to be Oh well can’t be helped

Jason So now that your dads fine, you coming home?

Y/n No Somehow I have been convinced to stay the night and take the morning train in the morning Which sucks, I already bought my ticket for tonight

Jason That’s rough buddy

Y/n Can’t be helped I guess Now I get to play 20 questions

Jason But at least you get to spend time with your family

Y/n True

Jason you know, if you want I can drive up there and take the train with you

Y/N That is very sweet of you and very tempting But you have work and I don’t want to inconvenience you

Jason You’re not an inconvenience If anything, you’d be doing me a favour I have the day off tomorrow and I’ve been meaning to do something I’m not very good at doing nothing

Y/N What about your bike?

Jason When I said drive, I meant the loosely I’d take the train or fly Or I can drive us back I have a car too, you know

Y/N Where would you stay?

Jason I have a friend living there that I’ve been meaning to visit Plus we can go for breakfast tomorrow before making the trip back

Y/N Very tempting But ultimately I’m not going to tell you what to do It’d be your choice

Jason See you in the morning then

#jason todd x reader #jason todd #jason todd gn!reader #batman imagine #online match up #my writing

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podcastenthusiast · 6 months

Text

First part of a Astarion/Karlach thing I'm writing. Basically a little rewrite of some Act 3 scenes. Could become something bigger, who knows.

"Well, at least you've met my family now," Astarion says. "Pity. You and Violet would get on quite well. Haha."

His tone is light and dismissive, especially for a midnight familial attempted kidnapping. But there's a desperate edge to it, too, like he's worried she might finally see sense and run for the hills.

Karlach's never been accused of being sensible. If Astarion burning his brother in a sunbeam while his sister screamed didn't scare her off, this little evening interruption sure won't.

Karlach does hope she will have a chance to meet his siblings properly, once they're all free.

"I wouldn't've let them take you anywhere," she vows, chest heaving, still very much caught up in protective Mama K mode.

"I know. Deep breaths, darling."

Astarion still looks wary, as if he's expecting the other shoe to drop. She can't cool down, she realizes, not yet, because she's still angry.

Angry at him.

"You lied to them. About the ritual. Like it was easy."

He scoffs. "It was easy. They aren't exactly the brightest candles in the chandelier, you know."

"You're really gonna sacrifice your own brothers and sisters? Betray their trust in you like--like they're nothing." Like Gortash did, she thinks but doesn't say. There are some words you can't take back. She loves this pasty bastard too much to actually believe he'd go through with it, anyway.

"What does it matter? They're just my...colleagues in suffering. Expendable. Pathetic." Oh, Astarion's giving her the old monster routine, one of his thinner disguises. She can see the aelf-loathing clesrly beneath without even really trying. "And let's not forget they are vampire spawn. Hardly innocent."

"Fuck, Astarion, none of us are! You only give a shit about yourself, huh?"

"Why not? No one ever looked out for me. No one ever said a kind thing to me. You're the only one," he insists, getting a bit heated himself now. "Other people don't have a heart like you."

"Damn right, soldier," she replies quietly, tapping a fist against her engine as it ticks and whirs her numbered days away. The rage fades. "Sort of the problem, isn't it."

"I-- shit, Karlach, I didn't mean--"

There he is.

"Hey. It's all right."

It isn't, not really. Nothing is all right anymore. But they will be.

Karlach just can't be the only good thing he sees in this world. It's not fair to either of them. Gods only know how much more time she even has left, besides; Astarion shouldnt be alone, not after everything he's been through. She needs him to be okay without her, selfish as it is.

"Scares me when you talk like that," she admits. "Like other people are just things to you."

"I'm sorry, Karlach," he says, miserably. "I don't know if I can be anything else, here."

Karlach's mother always told her to never go to bed angry. After ten years in the Hells, it felt pointless and silly, but tonight with his siblings' blood staining the floor, she thinks she might understand the wisdom in that advice.

"C'mere, Fangs."

She opens her arms. Always gives him a choice; touch is complicated for both of them in a lot of ways. And, yeah, there's her cuddly Astarion after all. Must be exhausting pretending to something he's not all the time. Thought so since she met him that day by the river. All those masks and yet none seems to fit quite right. She knows the feeling, more or less.

"You're loved, you hear me?" she tells him. "So fucking loved."

His skin is a pleasant balm; hers is still smoldering a little. They don't let go.

"You make things so difficult," he complains softly against her collarbone, affectionate despite the actual words.

"Knew this wasn't gonna be easy. But I swear, tomorrow we'll kick Cazador's ass," she murmurs, holding him tighter. "I've got you."

"Ugh. Get a room, you two," Shadowheart grumbles from her bed.

They have a room, though. This room. The others will simply have to deal with that.

It's gonna be okay.

#bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #astarion x karlach #astarion #karlach #a bg3 fic from me that's not second person?? i know wild. karlach didn't want to do that i guess #bg3 fanfiction #baldur's gate iii

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ofoceansandtombsanew · 2 months

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I Cherish You, Halcyon Days: ii.

“You’re gonna die, kid. In the worst way possible.”

tags: afab!reader (she/her), angst, slow burn

pairing: gojou x reader + onesided!getou x reader

summary: You’re 15 years old when you’re told you’re going to die. You’re 17 years old when you realize who your killer will be. And you’re 17 years old when you make peace with the fact you wouldn’t want it any other way.

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"[Full Name]," your aunt's tone is stern.

"Now before you start, Auntie, I just want to say you look lovely today."

"[Full Name]."

"Classes were canceled today!" Your aunt looks at you in disbelief and you chuckle nervously. Lying to your aunt isn't normally your style, but you knew the trouble that would be heading your way if you told her you ditched. Your classmates and teacher were easy to lay off when you texted Shoko you wanted to be alone. You don't have the same excuse to toss to your aunt. "Seriously, I told you months ago that this school is weird with its scheduling, didn't I?"

Her brow unfurled only slightly at the reminder, your weak argument somewhat convincing. There isn't much she knew about the world of jujutsu besides what Yaga told her in the initial sales pitch as to why he wanted you to transfer to Tokyo Jujutsu Tech. Auntie Chiharu only knew the basics: curses are real, cursed energy and that's the bulk of what your education would be concerning going forward.

Skeptical as she was, your aunt didn't stop you when you expressed your interest in attending. She only asked that you did what you could to stay safe. "And if it gets too much, you can always go right back to Tsubame High with all of your friends."

You loved that about your aunt. She'd never stop you from the pursuit of self-discovery. It's what made her especially cool to you when you first came to Japan during what was supposed to be a temporary living arrangement. As long as you weren't doing anything exceedingly stupid, you were free to give something a shot. As long as your grades didn't slip, she was quite loose when it came to curfews.

My parents were the kind to be really strict," she told you one day over lunch. "When I remember how uncomfortable that was, I told myself I'd try to be different than them. Just don't take your privileges for granted and I can keep being the cool aunt, okay?" Auntie Chiharu wasn't your family, not by blood anyway. In reality, she was just a family friend ー your mother's host sister back when she did a year long exchange program in Japan. She's been Auntie Chiharu for as long as you could remember.

"Well if you are just actually visiting because you didn't have classes today, then it is nice to see you, [First]," you finally get a smile back from the woman. "You didn't have to come all the way out here. I was going to see you next week."

If you could do so without bringing overt suspicion to yourself, you'd sigh in relief. "I just wanted to surprise you, that's all. And I wanted to see Mina."

Auntie Chiharu makes a knowing sound, "ah ha! So it wasn't me you wanted to see, but Mina. I should have known." Picking up a bucket of fish and ice, the aquarist nods at the one she left behind before leading the charge to where your favorite animal companion lies. "Maybe one day you'll love your aunt like that, you just want me for the aquarium."

Everything about it still feels as magical as the first time you came to your aunt's place of work your first summer in Japan. You were too young to care about things like humidity and the incessant cries of the cicadas and your level of Japanese was nonexistent. All that paled in comparison to visiting another country for the first time and even that fact paled in comparison to getting backstage access to an aquarium. So almost everyday that summer break, you left early in the morning with your aunt to her job. If you weren't helping to feed some of the animals with freshly washed hands and arms alongside the watchful eyes of the staff, you would walk around the place pretending you had rented out the entire place for yourself.

You love all the sea critters in the Wonder Aquarium, Mina is a simply the most beloved part of the 'my aunt is an aquarist' experience. She was 7 and you were 7, a bond meant to be as far as you were concerned back then. Even now, you consider Mina the beluga to be among your very best of friends.

If you weren't busy with school, you were at the aquarium telling her about the little updates in your life, the highest highs and the most embarrassing of lows.

The time you cried as you told her about the accident you had in class because you couldn't remember how to ask to go to the bathroom.

When you finally made your first friend.

Becoming a first year in middle school. Meeting Chinatsu and Tooru.

And of course, you told Mina all about how you got yourself dragged into the world of jujutsu. How the weird demon and ghouls you always saw were called curses and that you were going to learn to how to fight them.

You haven't been able to see her as much since your enrollment. The thought of her being a few short minutes away does something to calm your nerves after the events of yesterday.

Grabbing a bucket for yourself, you follow after your aunt with an enthusiastic skip, "seeing you is an added bonus!"

"How's school been?"

"It's been fine," you keep any mention of dying in the worst way possible at the hands of your beloved to yourself. Auntie Chiharu is many things. One to take fortunes of death concerning her niece with a pinch of salt ? You're sure she'd sooner try burning down your school. You never even told her about the death of the one and only second year at the school a couple months prior. "I told you before how they actually celebrate our birthdays at this school because there's not a lot of students, right? But because me and another classmate ー that Gojou guy I mentioned ー have birthdays just days apart from each other, they're just celebrating ours on the same day." Your aunt makes a noise of curiosity and you explain with your own noise of annoyance. "He was born on the 7th so we're supposed to share the 8th."

"Well that sounds fun."

"Trust me, sharing a birthday party with Gojou isn't going to be fun. He's annoying." I was supposed to be due in late November, right? Why can't I share birthdays with Shoko? But no, instead baby [First] took her sweet, sweet time and decided December 9th was the day for her.

Auntie Chiharu ignores your dismay, laughing at your anguish, "I still haven't met your classmates from this school, you know. You should bring them over when you get the chance. I'll make sure they leave thinking you're really cool."

I'm pretty sure they'd find you way cooler than me. "I'm not really sure if any of my classmates would be interested in coming to an aquarium. Well, maybe Suguru would be, just to be polite." Everyone else comes from jujutsu families whether big name or small. "Then again, I think Utahime would love it here." During an old conversation of yours concerning first date spots that weren't just dinner or a movie, you both agreed that going to an aquarium would be a fun conversation starter. Among your upperclassmen, she is a romantic.

"Suguru sounds like a first name to me," comes says coyly. "So does Utahime. Is there romance blossoming at this special school of yours?"

You roll your eyes in good fun, "I'm on first name basis with almost everyone at that school, Auntie," you tell her before she can run on with her theories about your non-existent love life. "I'm not into either of them and neither of them are into me. I'm holding out for Morris, we've been through this."

"That man is married and 36 years old."

"He's gonna leave his wife some day," you counter with too much confidence for someone only turning 16 in 6 days. "And when he does, I'll be waiting at my wedding venue of choice!" Whatever your aunt says in response, you have no idea as she shakes her head with an exasperated release of her breath. You open your mouth to argue for the sake of arguing when you see a familiar squishy head peering over a wall and any debate concerning your pipe dreams halt. "Mina!" Two more heads pop up, ah yes the other members of her little pod. "Ryuu, Yuu!"

Auntie Chiharu pats your back lightly, "I'll take the boys and feed them before moving onto a different area. I'm sure you can handle your best friend." Your aunt knows the drill. Mina time is private time, like writing in a sentient diary. "Don't jump into the tank," she adds with a pinch.

You chuckle, "that was 10 year old [First]'s prerogative."

And 7 year old [First]. And [First] 8 through 9.

"Hey, Mina," you sigh softly, placing a gentle hand on her melon and giving it a friendly squish. It doesn't matter how many times you've touched it, beluga skin still feels something akin to touching wet styrofoam. "It's been forever since I've seen you, how you've been?" At Mina's friendly whistles you beam. "Good! I'm glad to hear the boys aren't giving you too hard a time. Me? School's been... something." You wait until you hear the telltale clatter of the the tank doors and you know Auntie Chiharu is far enough to not hear anything that comes next.

Another breath leaves you, this time much heavier in nature as you toss a few fish into Mina's jaws. "Seriously something," you whisper. "You already know where I'm going to school now, you don't need a major recap. But," you stall over your next words and focus on feeding Mina fish and ice.

When there's nothing left in the bucket besides melted water and fish scales you place you decide to lay on your stomach, disregarding the cool water seeping through your shirt and pants. "I'm supposed to die, Mina," you murmur at last, touching her melon again. "Looks like we won't be growing up together, after all." You recall Takamatsu's owlish eyes, his near manic grins.

All sorcerers are supposed to be at least a little crazy, apparently.

You wonder what the crazy meter is for someone who can see glimpses of someone's future when they look at them. Crazy enough that I can't ask him 'boring questions' about how I die. "Not really sure when, I forgot to ask. But to be honest, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have liked it if I asked," you tell the beluga about Takamatsu's disdain for lackluster questions. "So don't go asking me when or where. I don't know that either.

"... it's not like I didn't go into sorcerery thinking I couldn't die," you continue on. "It's a huge part of the job description. Warning: being a jujutsu sorcerer will bring in closer proximity to curses and curses can cause death, life threatening injuries, disembowelment, decapitation, more death and oh did we mention death? Ask your primary doctor if being a sorcerer is right for you."

But you promised yourself back when an undertow almost took you out that you wouldn't let fear run your life, just like Auntie Chiharu decided not to. Now here you are, confronted with something scarier than the abstract 'I could die' ー a solid confirmation of death. "... but I guess it's not even a curse that does me in, girl. I'm supposed to be killed by someone precious to me."

You wave your hand and despite yourself, you giggle when Mina rolls onto her side and waves back. "You're not gonna kill me are you, Mina?"

The sea canary makes what you say is a convincing argument that she wouldn't even dream of doing such a thing. "Don't worry, I didn't think you would," you reassure her, letting your arm sink into the chilly water. It's not jumping into the tank, Auntie Chiharu can't make any complains. Death by beluga whale sounds pretty interesting so you're sure Takamatsu would have mentioned it if you asked. "But this person is supposed to be so special that I won't even die mad about it. That Takamatsu guy said I really loved them."

You must really really love them.

At the sounds of clicks and whistles that are distinctly not the beluga in front of you, your eyes wander to the far east of the tank where you know your aunt is. You try to imagine Auntie Chiharu killing you, you try to picture how you'd feel if she did it now.

"I'm," you rest your chin on the hand that isn't elbow deep into icy cold water. "I'm really gonna love someone that much some day," you babble softly on in awe at the statement. "It's kinda amazing when I think about it. I don't really know if there's anyone I love that much right now. I don't even think I love my parents that much. We're the kind of family where our relationship got better after I moved out of the house." No more weird daughter, no more talk of imaginary ghouls. The love you have for your parents definitely has its limits. Your future executioner you adore definitely has to be someone that isn't family. "Who do you think it'll be?"

Mina has no answer for you but you grin anyway, "I wanna meet 'em too."

It's almost 18:00 when you finally finish making your way up the gazillion steps onto Jujutsu Tech's campus and that's when you're caught sneaking back into the dorms by Suguru.

"I thought you were sick in your dorms," the boy remarks when he catches you red-handed.

You laugh sheepishly, rubbing the back of your neck, "you wouldn't happen to believe me if I said I'm just a figment of your imagination, right?" Your shoulders sag in relief when Suguru chuckles at your lackluster attempt at covering your ass. At the very least, you knew the taller boy wouldn't snitch on the fact you hadn't actually been moping in your room all day.

"It'll be our little secret," Suguru says at last when his light bought of laughter subsides. Perfect. "How are you feeling?"

"Compared to yesterday? Better," talking to a beluga whale about your problems has been a surprisingly effective tactic since you were 7. "I just needed to clear my head and think for a while. And well I guess I thought, if I'm gonna die anyway, why not knock something off my bucket list. I've never ditched school before," despite your lackadaisical grin, Suguru grimaces at your words and your heart clenches. It's too soon to joke about your fate, even for you. But fake it til you make it. You made your decision. "So why not do it so I'm not laying on my deathbed full of regrets, right?" The lack of banter in return makes you sigh, holding your arm closely to your side. "Sorry. Kinda just figuring out how to approach the whole... dying in the worst way possible thing."

Suguru's look of sympathy isn't one you know if you should accept full-heartedly, "he let you ask questions about it, so there might be some way to change what happens to you. The future is malleable."

You remember how the seer looked aghast at you even asking how you die and snort, "those answers were helpful and unhelpful at the same time. So, I'm not really counting on things changing much." Not unless you really didn't like what you saw in the future. "Either way, I want to see this thing through and see what happens. It's terrifying, don't get me wrong," you divulge truthfully with a shaky sigh. Shit yourself levels of terrifying if you're being particularly honest.

Death may be part of your job description but you don't want to die. "You got 'hey man, you're gonna have some tough life decisions' and I got 'you're dying, not sorry'. And I don't even have a timeline I'm working with," you curse yourself again for not asking Takamatsu when you'd die. But if I did, he'd probably cut off letting me ask anymore questions in the first place. That sounds like a boring question, after all. "But living in fear isn't my style. So I'm just gonna keep doing me until I'm in the dirt. We're all dying some day, I'm not special."

And there's someone I want to meet, you keep to yourself. I want still want to choose my own future. So you will.

You'll meet whoever it is you're supposed to love so much you wouldn't even care if they killed you and you'll judge for yourself if they're someone you actually want in your life. With un-tinted glasses.

With an internal pat on your back, you give Suguru one that is much more external in nature, "so don't worry about little ole me. I'm pretty sure I'm not dying any time soon based on what I was told though, so don't get all sad on me. My birthday's coming up though so if you do wanna be extra nice, just get me extra presents or something."

You get a small smile in return, although you're sure your classmate isn't thoroughly convinced. You accept the smile as a win despite that. "I'll try to catch myself from moping too much then. I'll tell Satoru to be extra nice too," Suguru turns a sharp but playful eye toward you. "You're birthday buddies, after all."

"Please be for real," you squint back in displeasure. "Now we're gonna be stuck together all day on the 8th. Be lucky you don't have any birthday buddies." Utahime and Suguru's birthdays were a comfortable enough distance in February that neither had to worry about sharing anything other than a birthday month. Apparently that's too much to ask for yourself. "Let's switch birthdays, actually," you rest a fist on your other palm, a metaphorical light bulb lighting up over your head. "He's your best friend, it would perfect!"

"No way, I can't handle that much Satoru in my life." You roll your eyes, sticking your tongue out petulantly. "If it's any consolation, we didn't get along much our first couple weeks of school." It didn't offer much comfort so much as amusement. According to Shoko, their first day of school, Suguru and Gojou got into a fight so bad classes had to be canceled the rest of the day. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall for that squabble. "So it'll probably be the same for you," he smiles to himself, lost in whatever thoughts of friendship and rainbows he must be having. "It'd just be nice for the two of you to get along seeing as you're both friends of mine."

You hold your index fingers up in an 'x', "don't jinx me please. I'm a proud member of the We Hate Gojou Alliance with Utahime, I'm not betraying my girl like that." In spite of your vehement protests, Suguru laughs. He can laugh all he wants, I'm not giving up my badge of being a hater. A yawn falls from your lips. "Anyways, I'm hitting the showers," you yawn again, the lack of sleep finally beginning to catch up to you. "I've been out all day and I'm tired."

"Where'd you go anyway?" Suguru asks as you finally continue making your way to the dorms. "You smell like fish."

You laugh sheepishly. That's a drawback to the backstage aquarium visits. Good ole fish smell.

There's a reason no one wanted to be next to you on the train. "Enoshima."

"... Enoshima?"

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Extra

Alt. chapter title: Local teen trauma dumps to beluga whale, results may very

Auntie Chiharu's name is written with the characters for small '小' and spring '春'. That isn't important, I just think it's a cute name. She's got a degree in marine biology and works as an aquarist in Enoshima. She's not your average aunt, she's a cool aunt. Has heard many of your Gojou-related rants in the past. She deserves a medal

#look she's writing #jjk #jjk x reader #gojou x reader #gojo x reader #getou x reader #geto x reader #gojo satoru x reader #gojou satoru x reader #getou suguru x reader #geto suguru x reader #i cherish you halcyon days

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yesloverboy · 2 years

Text

hot for teacher (eddie munson x reader) pt. 1: failing history

SUMMARY: Eddie Munson is determined to snatch his diploma and run like hell out of Hawkins High. The only thing standing in the way is his failing history grade...and winning over the heart of his smoking hot tutor.

word count: 5.5k

[content warnings: swearing, smoking, drug use, hurt/comfort, fluff, mutual pining, idiots to lovers.]

NOTE: Hello everyone! I’m back from retirement and ready to dig back into writing. Eddie is special to me (and all of us) for obvious reasons, but he reminds me so much of my friends from when I was a kid that I’m determined to give him as many happy endings as possible. I hope you enjoy, and please let me know what you think! I’m a little rusty, so any feedback is appreciated.

tag list: @captinkirc

“Fuck!”

Eddie Munson’s screech could be heard from across the cafeteria, plastic lunch trays trembling in its wake. Dozens of eyes watched as he crumpled to his usual table where members of the Hellfire Club waited with mouths agape. In a ring-clad fist he gripped a single piece of paper with white knuckles. As the club members and onlookers waited for another explosion of anger, Dustin Henderson was the first to notice a bright red F peeking through the folds.

“Holy shit, Eddie,” Dustin gulped. “Is that your–”

“History test?” Eddie snapped, pulling his head back up and slamming the sheet down on the table. “Astute observation, Henderson.”

Dustin gulped and sent Mike a nervous glance, immediately regretting that he said anything at all.

Vibrating with anger, Eddie recalled every bloody red F that had been pushed face down on his desk that year. He gnawed absentmindedly on a fingernail, watching the diploma he’d coveted for two senior years straight slipping from his view. This wasn’t any normal failing test grade, it was an omen–a promise that his end of semester history final was going to be his undoing once again.

“I can’t fucking do it this anymore man,” Eddie sprung to his feet, pacing animatedly by the windows as anyone within earshot watched. “This school, this town, these people–it’s going to be the death of me. No resurrections, no second chances, just death.”

“Look at me! You need to calm down.” Mike Wheeler chimed in, doing whatever damage control he could to prevent the prying eyes of Jason and his hive minded crew from coming their way. He already had his bike tires slashed twice this month, and he was not about to beg on his hands and knees for Nancy to make up another lie for him again. Besides, if Eddie was suffering their D&D campaign would surely suffer with him.

“Calm down???” Eddie howled, “How can I be calm when this is my future?” He gestured dramatically to the rest of the lunch room for everyone to see. Mike tensed, not wanting to know if Jason and his goons saw or not.

Dustin groaned, “Eddie, please stop losing your shit or we’re all going to die with you.”

It took Mike physically getting up and grabbing the taller boy by the shoulders before Eddie would look at him and actually listen to what he had to say.

“Munson, listen. There’s a girl we know–”

“You know a girl?” Eddie jeered, his failing grade still very much tainting his usual happy-go-lucky mood.

“Shut up! This girl could potentially save your ass, okay?” Mike huffed, “She’s one of Robin Buckley’s friends–you know, the girl from band that works at Family Video–and I heard she helped Robin pass her AP history exam last year.”

Dustin piped up, “Um, excuse me, but there’s one little problem you’ve failed to mention, Mike!”

“What are you talking about?”

“That girl is my sister, asshole,” Dustin hissed, giving Mike a swift smack to the chest. “She’s never going to go for this, and even if she did I wouldn’t want you dorks around her anyway.”

Mike raised his hands protectively over his chest, a deep set scowl twisted on his face. “You just don’t want the rest of the club to know that your sister is secretly super hot.”

“Ew, don’t be gross!” Dustin audibly gagged, shoving against Mike’s shoulder. “She’s too smart for you guys anyways…”

Eddie pondered this for a moment, turning on his heel away from Mike and tapping at his chin contemplatively. “So what you’re saying is all I have to do is convince your nerdy sister to help me out because she successfully tutored a girl named…Robert?”

Mike rolled his eyes, “Close enough.”

“You do realize my sister charges money, right? Like actual money, none of that Monopoly shit you try to pass off to other people.”

Unfazed by another one of Dustin’s attempted deterrents, Mike is already prepared with a solution. “I’ve been to your house, idiot. I know your sister likes that same bizarro headbanger stuff that Eddie does. He just has to….” Wheeler chooses his next words carefully, “...charm her.”

“Charm her,” Eddie repeats, staring off into the distance as if he can see the vision of his long coveted diploma coming back into view.

“And, she's hot,” An impish grin spread across Eddie’s face as he ruffled invisible dust off his tattered denim vest. Maybe there was hope after all. “Looks like my army crawl to a D in Ms. O’Donnell’s is gonna be a sprint, boys.”

Eddie Munson was going to make it out of Hawkins if it killed him.

_______________________________________________________________________

“Okay, picture this: you’re about to die and you can only pick one final horror flick as a last supper before your impending doom. Who are you picking, Re-Animator or Fright Night?” Robin swings her long legs over the video store counter, shoving two tapes in front of your face.

You wrinkle your nose and shoo her hands away, swatting as if a gnat were circling your head. “Jesus Christ, Robin, I asked you to help me pick a movie for this weekend, not give me an existential crisis.”

Steve chuckles from his seat behind the counter, feet propped up as he munched on a crinkled pack of Red Vines. His chocolate hair is swooped perfectly into place and you wonder how anyone could make that obnoxious polyester vest look cool. As a matter of fact, you wondered how anyone managed to look cool at all. If someone would have told you a few years ago that you would be having semi-regular conversations with King Steve of Hawkins High, you would have laughed in their face.

Thanks to Steve’s unconventional friendship with your baby brother and Robin’s desperate need to pass AP European history to stay in band, the pair now tolerated your presence from time to time. This typically took form in your weekly tradition of picking a horror flick or two for the weekend while Robin occasionally included you in her and Steve’s endless stream of banter.

Granted, you were still basically a nobody in the grand scheme of the Hawkins social hierarchy, but it was nice to have something to do other than pouring over textbooks and flipping records in your room. You hoped one day you could have a friendship as rock solid as theirs, but it was wishful thinking at best.

“Just pick already!” Robin insists, “Sexy vampires or gooey nasty, sci-fi madness?”

You chew on your lip, contemplating which film would serve better as a reward for a long weekend of studying. While you had been dying to finally see Re-Animator, your stubborn desire to stay on top of the honor roll had turned your brain into mush over the course of the semester. You needed more fun in your life, not to keep thinking.

“Sexy vampires,” you decide, eliciting a broad grin from Robin and a distant groan from Steve.

“Take that, Harrington!” Robin cheers victoriously as she runs up behind Steve and musses his perfect hair out of place. He tries fighting her off, but she’s too busy parading the Fright Night tape around the store victoriously. A few patrons stare, but Robin pays them no mind. “You owe me ten bucks!”

“What the hell are you two dweebs on about now?” you scoff, seizing the tape out of Robin's hands. You slide it across the counter, waiting expectantly for Steve to scan it as he desperately tries to mold his hair back into place.

Steve tried to open his mouth, but Robin immediately bulldozed him. “So when we got our shipment on Monday Harrington here bet me that I couldn’t get anyone to rent a–and I quote– ‘cheesy vampire movie’ by the end of the week, but I knew that you’d go for it over Re-Animator–”

“Which I told her was cheating!” Steve interjects, sliding the tape back to you.

You quirk an eyebrow, “And why, might I ask, would that be cheating?”

Robin rolls her eyes and begins chewing on a stolen Red Vine, “Oh please, Henderson, we all know that you’re secretly into all that dark and broody shit, I’ve seen the band posters on your walls. You’ve got a classic case of closet weird girl syndrome, which I did not see coming.”

Closet weird girl, your face went pale at the accusation, even if Robin didn’t necessarily mean it to be an insult. You were about to protest that the band and movie posters on your walls were actually quite cerebral compared to any of that Brat Pack, new wave bullshit Robin and Steve entertained when the bell above the door chimed.

“Speaking of dark and broody shit,” Steve muttered flatly, eyes focused behind you.

Following Steve’s stern gaze your eyes fell on a tall and willowy boy with wild, shaggy hair. Chains around his belt loops jingled as he passed through the door, his dirty white sneakers taking tentative steps across the threshold. He looked very out of place.

At first his back was to you, allowing you to scan the various pins and patches stuck to his denim vest. Smiling softly you realized they mirrored some of the pins you had on your tote bag. It wasn’t until he turned that you understood who exactly you were looking at. Hellfire Club was printed in bold, black letters above the face of some kind of toothy, red devil–an exact match to the shirts your sweet little brother and his dorky friends donned at school every Friday.

Eddie Munson, you thought, no wonder why Harrington is all squirrely.

“What do you want, Munson?” Steve sighed, not exactly thrilled to see the town freak stumble into his video store. You knew Steve was always cordial enough to Eddie for the sake of Dustin and the kids, but you and Robin had spent many a Friday evening listening to everything that could go wrong if Eddie influenced the younger boys to step out of line. Wherever Eddie Munson went, trouble seemed to follow.

You didn’t live under a rock, rumors about Eddie and his little club were constantly swirling around the halls at school. Hushed voices would hiss that he was a serial killer in the making as various papers and magazines blamed fantasy games and rock and roll for corrupting today’s youth. However, being the older sister of Dustin Henderson gave you a much different impression of the boy standing in the doorway. Dustin had gushed about Eddie at any possible chance that he could; the car ride to school, watching television at home, or even at the dinner table– much to your mother’s dismay–all the while describing how cool and funny his new, older friend was. Even if the rumors made you a little apprehensive of Eddie’s intentions, you couldn’t help but be grateful that he had given your baby brother a place to fit in when you couldn’t. You were nobody, and sometimes that felt worse than being a freak.

“Sweet W.A.S.P. pin,” you remark to Eddie, taking both Robin and Steve by surprise.

Eddie opened his mouth to speak when your brother and Mike Wheeler came crashing through the door, sending Eddie stumbling towards you. You caught Eddie’s shoulders, letting out a little yelp as you felt his weight tumble against your frame. Stiffening your body, you held him steady, saving the both of you from knocking over a carousel of discount tapes and concessions beside the counter. Instantly, you were hit with the scent of Irish Spring and cigarettes, mingling with a twinge of motor oil and leather. Looking up, your eyes locked with two deep pools of brown staring back at you, soft and warm. His face was turning pink, an embarrassed blush quickly peppering his face and neck as he started back, his lips parted like he wanted to say something but couldn’t.

Despite being in the same grade that year, this was the first time that you had been close to the dungeon master himself. Judging by the vicious rumors and his notoriously erratic behavior, most kids from Hawkins would be shaking in their sneakers. In that moment, you couldn’t help but think that he was different than you expected, and the longer you locked eyes with him the more you could see a flustered little boy hiding beneath the surface. You didn’t want to look away.

Eddie pulled away suddenly, leaving your grip as if you’d burned him. You couldn’t explain why, but a flush of your own started spreading to your cheeks.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

“Shit, sorry,” Eddie muttered, rubbing at his arm awkwardly before shooting the younger boys behind him a glare.

“Goddammit guys, is it possible for the both of you to come in here without nearly destroying the place?” Steve scolded, separating Mike and Dustin as if keeping them together would initiate mutually assured destruction.

Turning to Dustin you distract yourself by adjusting his hat, which now sat sideways on his fluffy nest of curls. You don’t doubt it had inevitably been knocked to the side from his sudden impact into Wheeler. “Seriously, Dust, what’s the rush for?”

“Eddie has something to ask you!” Mike blurted out, determined not to let Dustin’s protectiveness over his sister ruin their plan. Eddie had to graduate, otherwise their D&D club would be on the fritz for the remainder of the semester.

“Eddie?” you and Robin locked eyes, the both of you suspecting that the boys were up to another elaborate stunt.

Dustin practically growled in frustration. You didn’t know it yet, but he had been planning on beating Mike and Eddie to the video store after school to try and persuade you not to tutor his socially ostracized dungeon master. “Y/N, you don’t have to listen to these buttheads okay, Eddie was just leaving–”

“Uhhh, yeah actually! I do have something to ask you” Eddie admitted abruptly, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. “Do you think we could maybe go somewhere and, um, talk?” He tried giving you a sheepish smile, his usual bravado that you’d observed in the school halls slipping away.

Steve tried to shoot you a warning glance, but you were too enveloped in your own confusion to pay him any mind. What could Eddie Munson, the freak and metalhead of Hawkins High possibly want with you?

“This isn’t some kind of joke, is it?” Robin contended, eyes narrowing. “Because if it is, someone’s ass is getting kicked. Isn’t that right, Harrington?”

Steve put a hand on his hip, “Yeah someone’s ass is getting–wait, what?”

You chewed on your lip, not even considering that your kindhearted brother would be roped into a plot to trick you just for a quick laugh. Memories from your middle school years flooded back, reminding you of the relentless bullying that made you a loner in the first place. Even Robin and Steve took enough pity on you to try and shield you from that possibility. They wouldn’t, you decide, shaking the thought.

“Me, a joker? A trickster, even?” Eddie replied, raising up both hands and feigning offense. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

You huffed, becoming impatient that your solitary movie night was most likely going to be interrupted by whatever antics your brother and his friends had actually gotten into. “Then what is it, Munson?”

Eddie sucked in a breath, “Easy there, sweetheart. Just hop in my van and all will be revealed soon.”

Sweetheart. People didn’t call you that, your semi-neurotic mother maybe, but certainly not boys in your senior class. Frustrated, you hoped it was just your overloaded brain needlessly spinning its wheels again making your cheeks heat up once more.

“You do realize how that sounds, right? Like, we all heard that?” Steve raised an incredulous eyebrow at you, “You’re not seriously going to go.”

“Please?” Mike begs, nudging your brother with a snappy kick to the shin. “It’s important–right, Dustin?”

“I guess,” He grumbles, staring down at his shoes as his toes dig into the carpet.

“Fine, whatever,” you decide, pushing past Steve to collect your video and throw it into the tote slung across your shoulder. It may be a stupid idea to go anywhere with the town pariah, but you chose to believe if Dustin and Mike were rushing to his aid it must be important.

Looking Eddie directly in his eyes, you point a finger at the three boys “But Robin’s right, if this is some kind of bullshit joke I’ll kick all three of your asses–especially yours, Dustin.”

“No fair!”

If your middle school years had taught you one thing, it was how to stand up for yourself. Hopefully, you wouldn’t have to.

_______________________________________________________________________

Eddie pulled into the now abandoned parking lot of the old Starcourt Mall, its charred remains leveled completely flat. If it weren’t for the leftover strands of caution tape fraying in the you would think the structure had never been there in the first place. His van screeched to a halt, clunking violently as he put it in park. You held your tote bag tightly to your chest, the arms of your old flannel barely covering the chipped maroon polish on your fingertips.

Neither of you had said a word on the way, and you couldn’t recall a time when you hadn’t seen Eddie passing through the halls blabbering animatedly about fictional wars and the dangers of conformity. Instead, he popped in a Venom cassette and turned up the volume, the metallic guitar sounds garbling out any thoughts you may have had about the very bizarre circumstance you found yourself in.

Impatiently, you cranked down the radio until the thundering melody became a low rumble in the background. “Remind me again why we’re in the middle of the abandoned Starcourt parking lot?”

“So, W.A.S.P., huh?” Eddie asks, completely ignoring your question.

“Excuse me?”

He taps a finger on the tarnished W.A.S.P pin nestled beneath his lapel, around his knuckle you watch a steel cross ring with skulls nestled in the corners glimmer in the dipping afternoon light.

“Um, yeah,” you answer, running a hand through your hair. “You know..I Wanna Be Somebody, and all that. Definitely on my list of favorites.”

Eddie suddenly erupts into motion, thrashing his head wildly from side to side. “I wanna be somebody, be somebody too!” He howls, doing his best to imitate the singer's rasp as he moves in a flurry of black leather and untamed curls. You can’t help but laugh at his display, delighted to have at least one person act as excited about music as you felt on the inside.

You were far too reserved to have an outburst of passion like that, but that didn’t keep you from daydreaming about moshing in a crowd of concert-goers far, far away from a town so small it was choking you.

“Hey, hey!” you chuckle, “Cool it, Munson, this isn’t the Vogue Theatre.”

Eddie stops singing, but all the excitement from reenacting a W.A.S.P performance was bubbling beneath the surface. “Wait, have you ever actually been to the Vogue in Bloomington? I’ve heard the Ramones played there once.”

“No…I mean it’s not that I’ve never wanted to, but I–I mean we–we’ve never been outside of Hawkins. Our mom is kind of a worrier.” Embarrassment suddenly crept hotly up your shirt collar. Here was Eddie, looking like the closest thing Hawkins had seen to a rockstar while you were complaining about how your mommy won’t even let you outside the city limits. “I’ve, uh, collected some of their concert fliers though, for my room.”

Eddie’s brow furrowed a little as he observed the way you wilted at the mention of your family. “Well, Henderson, it seems that the same evil curse has befallen the both of us.”

Noticing the confusion on your face he clarified, “I haven’t left either.”

“Then how did you get so…so…” In spite of your grade point average, you found yourself struggling to find the right words–a problem that hadn’t existed before Eddie Munson decided to invade the dawning of another weekend you planned to spend alone. Always the logician, it didn’t compute that Eddie could be from the same bland city limits as you and still look like he walked out of Creem magazine.

“Fucked up?” He quips.

“Oh god,” you balked, “That’s not what I–”

Eddie just laughs, completely unperturbed. “Listen, even if you did, the whole town certainly believes I’m here to open a portal to hell–which would be bitchin’, by the way. If only Satan would throw me a fucking bone.”

Not knowing what to say, you fumble with a Mötley Crüe pin on your bag and hope that the ground of Hawkins, Indiana would open its gaping maw once again and swallow you whole.

“Alas, fair maiden, do not fret,” Eddie remarked with a flair of his hand, “I didn’t bring you here to sacrifice you to Satan, or whatever those single-celled organisms at school are saying about me these days.”

Eddie chuckled to himself, fishing for a pack of cigarettes in his jacket pocket and carefully pulling one out with his teeth. He kicked a leg up on the dashboard, seeming more relaxed now that he was in his own space instead of in front of the prying eyes of Family Video. You scan the length of his leg absentmindedly, flushing when you realize his chain link belt was handcuffed around the front of his slender waist.

“Well I wasn’t worried but now I’m starting to think it may be a possibility,” you mumble, immediately trying to redirect the conversation before your nerves can take over again. “Listen, I don’t know what you could possibly want to discuss with me, but if my brother is in trouble or something like that I need to know, okay?”

Eddie let out a heavy sigh, “As I’m sure you’re aware, this is my third attempt at escaping the evil clutches of Principal Higgins, yet victory has always evaded me due to one grade and one grade only–Ms. O’Donnell’s history final.”

Lighting the cigarette absentmindedly, Eddie took a deep drag, careful to blow the smoke out of the broken driver’s side window. Your skeptical heart softened at the small gesture of politeness. “Looks like today’s your lucky day Henderson. As it would turn out, I’m the damsel who’s in need of rescuing.”

“Rescuing?”

You shifted uncomfortably in the torn leather seat of Eddie’s van, rustling various items of scattered trash in your wake. “And what does that have to do with me?”

“A little birdie by the name of Mike Wheeler told me you’ve got a pretty steady tutoring gig, being top of our class and all.” Eddie grinned. “And I need you to help this bottom-tier, lowlife get the fuck up out of here. They won’t hold me down again, not this time–’86 is gonna be my year.”

Heat traveled to your cheeks at the mention of your class rank. All this time you assumed this talk would be about your brother, yet the freak Eddie Munson brought you here because somehow you managed to out-nerd him and all of his friends.

“You do realize you didn’t have to kidnap me from the video store, right? I have fliers with my phone number, like, all over the hallways.”

“Come on sweetheart, where’s the fun in that?” Eddie winks, “Besides, I had to see for myself.”

There it was again, your heart thuds, that pet name.

“See what for yourself?”

Flicking his cigarette out the window, Eddie turns to you, leaning in close with both hands on his ripped up knees. You suck in a breath, freezing as he closes the space between you. Cigarette smoke tendrils tickle your face as Eddie exhales, his breath warm against your cheek as his doe eyes search your face. Heart hammering in your chest, and you can’t tell if you want him to come closer or if you should push him away entirely.

“I had to see if you were as hot as Dustin’s little friends say,” he breathes, eyes never leaving yours.

Hot? Realization suddenly hits you like a brick to the face.

“Oh fuck off,” you growl, shoving Eddie back into his seat.

Robin and Steve were right, this had been a joke, just one big prank to pull on the only girl in Hawkins that no one even takes so much as a second glance at. Angrily, you yank the car door open and hop onto the pavement, not caring that you’re essentially miles away from the nearest populated establishment. The lot was still vacant for as far as the eye could see, and you nervously hoped there wasn’t some kind of audience to your humiliation crouching in the tree line.

Panicked, Eddie tumbles out of the van after you, practically tripping over his own feet. “Henderson, wait!”

Suddenly he felt very stupid for thinking he could flirt his way into getting a few tutoring sessions with you. Wheeler was right, Dustin’s sister was hot. In fact, he was surprised to find that he found her beautiful, a thought that made his brain fuzzy with static electricity. Eddie should have known any girl who would willingly agree to speak to him of all people–alone–based solely on the good faith of her brother’s friends, was too far out of his league. So above him, that she had even run away in disgust. No matter how hard Eddie tried not to, he repelled other people. Just because you were Dustin’s sister shouldn’t have made him think it would be any different this time.

You stick up a single middle finger and bound forward, not knowing or caring where you were going as long as you were far away from this mortifying experience.

“Henderson, please,” Eddie panted, his long legs quickly enabling him to catch up with you. “It-it’s not what you think, okay? It’s not what it looks like!”

Fed up, you stop to face him again, brow knitted into a deep scowl. “Then what is it then, Munson? Because to me it looks like my brother and his stupid friends decided to play a shitty prank on me just like Robin said they might.”

“Prank?” Eddie asked, a look of genuine confusion washing over his pale face, “Look, when that, uh, girl back at the video store asked if we were playing a joke I thought she meant like a Carrie type of prank or whatever.”

“Pig’s blood, really? Wow you really are dumber than you look,” you spat. “Not even you knew my name until today. Do you honestly expect me to buy into your bullshit? I’m not my brother.”

No you certainly are not, Eddie thought, trying not to physically wince at your insult.

Luckily, Eddie was used to devising strategies and decided to play your harsh words to his advantage. “Exactly! That’s the problem, I am dumb and–look!” Animatedly, he pulls a wad of teal paper out of his leather jacket pocket and thrusts it in your direction. “I did have your flier, see?”

You snatch it from his hands, unfurling the well-worn sheet.

TUTORING:

All subjects, $10 an hour.

Please call (Y/N) Henderson at (317) 544-8343

Serious Inquiries only.

Well, he at least wasn’t lying about that. “Then what was the point of all of this? You could have just called and spared both of us the grief.”

Eddie looked down at his raggedy sneakers, shifting back and forth like a child being scolded by their mother. “Well…” Eddie begins timidly, “I don’t exactly, um, have the money to afford a tutor at this time.”

Your mouth went dry, “Oh.” Heart sinking, you could feel the anger and embarrassment that had been pulsating through your veins slowing to a shrieking halt.

“Look,” Eddie starts, hands tugging at his wild hair. “It was a dumb idea, anyways. Please, at least let me take you home, alright? I know you’re mad and all, but weird shit happens around here and you’d be crazier than me to walk back into town by yourself.”

Mouth clamped shut, you follow Eddie wordlessly to his van, not knowing what you could possibly do to salvage the situation. Next to Eddie’s defeated form you felt so incredibly small. If it weren’t for the occasional jingle of pins on Eddie’s vest, you could’ve convinced yourself he was just a ghost–a figment of your imagination. After a few moments of unbearable silence, Eddie climbs inside his van, the engine turning and sputtering violently into hesitant motion. You sit beside him, shifting your weight carefully.

“Eddie I–,” you begin, “I’m sorry I overreacted. It’s just that I’m not used to people talking to me like that, and knowing you did it because you wanted something from me didn’t make it feel any better.”

Eddie’s deep eyes sink with worry as he navigates the now darkened road. Corn fields and trees rush by as the sun falls, the dark orange sky now fading into rich blues and purples. His knuckles are white as he grips the steering wheel, a pang of guilt ringing in your chest knowing that you caused it. “You don’t have to be nice, I know my place here, and I’m just sorry I was so blinded by wanting to run away that I thought things could be different,” he smiles sadly. “Turns out you can’t cheat fate, huh?”

Fate.

At the mention of the inevitable, you were reminded of all the nights you spent by yourself thinking about how you must be destined to be alone, worried that even if you made it out of Hawkins alive, you’d still be the same nobody anywhere else. You didn’t want to believe it but deep down you always felt that only your achievements made you valuable, not actually the person you were to others or the nonexistent role you played in their lives. Stealing a glance at Eddie, you recognized the same bitter emptiness you’d felt so many times before. An emptiness that you once believed was foreign to everyone around you. Maybe this was your opportunity to change something, to help someone else escape even if you weren’t sure you could do it for yourself.

“Fuck that.”

“Wait, what?” Eddie’s eyes darted nervously between you and the road as he pulled up to the side of your house, careful to stay idling on the street rather than risk your mom seeing his van in the driveway.

“You heard me,” you huff, digging around in your bag for a spare flier, “Fuck that fate stuff, fuck this town, and fuck what people expect from us.”

“Henderson, you’re scaring me.”

Ignoring him, you stick a brand new flier in his direction. When he doesn’t immediately take it, you grab him by the ring-clad hand and shove it into his palm. You do your best to conceal the shiver that runs down your spine as your fingertips gently ghost against the warmth of his.

“You’re going to pass that history final if it’s the last thing I do,” you insist.

Eddie stares at you blankly, mouth slack in disbelief. “Didn’t you just hear what I said back there? I don’t have any money, I can’t–”

“Eddie,” you assert, trying to channel the same firmness you reserved for Dustin when he wasn’t listening. “Don’t worry about that, I just need you to promise me something, okay?”

“Anything,” he breathes, awakening butterflies in your stomach that you didn’t even know you had.

“Promise me that we’ll both get out of here,” you give him your best wavering smile, and extend your hand forward for him to shake.

Eddie grips it tightly, a stupid grin now plastered across his face. He nearly yanks your arm out of socket with his enthusiasm, but you don’t protest. It was nice to see him happy again, and for a moment you wished you could always be the source of that goofy smile.

“You have my word, fair maiden,” he nods furiously, “On my uncle’s grave, I will not disappoint you. I’ll follow you straight in to hell if that’s what it takes.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” you laugh, “Save it for your nerd session.”

Once Eddie finally releases his grip you grab your tote, stepping out of the van and onto the lamp-lit asphalt, arm still feeling like jelly. Trudging up the steep driveway, you almost make it to the doorstep when Eddie’s voice calls out from his parking spot at the curb.

“Wheeler was wrong!” he shouts, torso half hanging out of where the driver’s side window should be.

“About what?” you hiss, hoping to God your mother didn’t recognize Eddie’s voice.

Eddie grinned devilishly, “You’re way hotter.”

Before you could spit out a rebuttal, Eddie revved the van’s corroded engine and sped down the block, tires letting out a shrill screech as they tore through your quiet slice of suburbia. Stupefied, you shook your head and stepped inside knowing that your mother would be waiting for you in the kitchen. Sauntering down the hall, you found her alone at the dining table with a cup of chamomile in one hand and her daily crossword puzzle in the other.

“Hey honey,” she beams, peeking over the top of her paper. “Looks like someone had a good day.”

“What do you mean?” you ask, hanging your bag on the back of an old wooden chair.

“You’re smiling, silly.”

Eddie fucking Munson, you groan internally.

That boy was going to be the death of you.

#don't worry ya'll this will be happy endings only #eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x you #eddie munson cult #stranger things #stranger things s4 #joe quinn #robin buckley #steve harrington #mike wheeler #dustin henderson #fanfic #stranger things fanfiction #joseph quinn

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aleksa-sims · 3 months

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RL Simself Story ⛈️

We had just arrived at Damien’s Mom's house. The thunderstorm continued, so Nico and I had to spend the night there. As I wanted to call my Mom, to tell her not to worry, Ana also called me, to tell me Daniel was back home. I was confused!?... I couldn’t believe it and I was annoyed by some things Ana did. Why was she at our place to talk to D.? Why is Ana meddling in my affairs? I mean, I get it! She was worried about him, she loved Daniel, just like my whole family did. But why did she have to mention that.... Lexi- shit? And why does she always think Alex is responsible for D.'s & my probs? Anyway, it pissed me off. And Nico was sitting right next to me while I was on the phone with Ana & my Mom. So he knew it too now, that D. was back. 😞

Me (to N.): I’m so sorry.... But trust me, it doesn’t change anything. I promise.... Uhm... I'll step out for a sec. I-...I have to call Ana back.

Nico: It's raining buckets!! Where you going? It's crazy out there.

Me: I-.... I just have to get out. Don't worry N., it's-... it's all fine. ok?

Nico: I'm going with you. 😟

Me: No! Please, don't. I just need to be by myself for a while. 😞

I'm so stupid!!! No one was out in the fucking weather, expect me, fool!... I had some questions for Ana. She said Daniel seemed high to her. I wanted to know why? Why did she think that? Well, Ana meant D. smoked, when she saw him. Actually, she was right. Daniel only smoked when he was high, or when we tried to get off that damn durg. I was worried about him, but at the same time, also mad. By now I knew, that Daniel saw Irena, just before he left 4 months ago. He was in her apartment. I didn’t know why he was there, at Irenas and his former place? Irena didn't want to tell me more.

Ana: Where are you anyway? Are you out there alone?

Me: Ah... yea, I'm alone.... Agh, Ana? Um... shit. The reception here's poor. Wait, I’m going in a different direction. Maybe it's better there?.... I think I’m gonna call Daniel.

Ana: You should go back to the house, to N. Just text Daniel. Tell him you'll be back home soon. But you don't have to call him, now A.!

Me: I’m afraid to tell him, Ana... And I feel so shitty about N., too. I'm so horrible. 😞

Ana: Yea. I get you. But Nico knew what he was getting into.

Me: Still, he also has feelings. N. is not an ass, as you all think. And I love him.

Me: Ana?.... Hello?... Ana!... Ugh, shit. 😨

Perfect timing. My phone died. 🤦‍♀️I was so absorbed in talking to my sister, that I got lost! I had no reception near Damien’s house, so I went in a completely different direction, but now, I did not know where I was? I decided to go back the way I went. Couldn't be so difficult, I thought....🧐

I was wrong! I got a.... little mental breakdown?... I wandered blind through an unknown area. Because of the heavy rain I could hardly open my eyes. I started to panic. I couldn’t use my phone to call N. He’ll think I left him, to rush home to Daniel. I was so worried about that. Nico told me himslef, just a few days ago, that he doesn’t trust me anymore. He's gonna hate me! 😨 And my Baby won’t have a Dad or a family bcs of me. 😭... I tried not to think about it, but about the tips my therapist taught me, to better deal with my panic attacks. And yea, I calmed down. I looked around again. I tried to concentrate to keep my eyes open. I saw two houses in the street where I was. I made my way towards the houses, to ask someone for help. But then I changed my mind. Somehow I didn’t feel good about ringing at strangers. I was afraid a psycho could lure me into his house. 😬 Yup, that's from watching so many horror movies, Ik!

Besides, I noticed that the road I was on, was a sign pointing to a bar and some shops, that should be just around the corner. I decided to try this first, before... well, I get killed by a sicko. Believe me, I have often run into some sick guys in my life. That’s why I was so insecure.

Meanwhile the others were starting to worry about me. Nico couldn’t find me outside and my phone was off too. He asked Damien to help him look for me. Oh, and the electricity was cut. Allegedly, an important power pole was damaged by lightning. 🤷‍♀️

As you can see, I did not end up in a bar, but went to a shop that was open. I was so relieved when I saw other people there. They were surprised by the thunderstorm. Now they’ve been stuck in that small twon for two hours. They couldn’t get home. The streets were closed due to flooding and some other probs. Anyway, I was looking for the shop assistant to ask if I could use their phone. I just wanted to call N. to tell him where I was. Finally I found a young woman standing behind the counter, admiring herself in the mirror and taking selfies. I think she was about to go home? She grabbed her bag and hung it over her shoulder....

Me: Hi!... Um, excuse me?... Sorry, I don’t want to disturb you. Um, may I short use the phone here somewhere? I’m not from this area, just visiting, but I got lost. I just want to call my boyfriend so he doesn’t worry about me.

Girl: Oh, hi!... Sorry, but we are having technical probs with our phone connection atm. But, you know what? You can use my phone for a second. I hope it works. I just got off the phone with my brother and my mom. Let's try.

Me: Omg, I know you! (😡) Is your brother Damien?

Yes, I met Diana. Damien's Twin Sister. Let’s see if she remembers me? 😒... Oh, and btw, I didn’t really get lost. I just have a terrible sense of direction! Damien’s house was only 2 blocks away!!! So I went in the right direction, but.... somehow I didn’t recognize the surroundings. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

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#ts4 #sims 4 #sims 4 story #myrlgameplay #rl story #cw addiction #cw drugs

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rey-jake-therapist · 1 month

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It's kinda hilarious but mostly sad for me that from the moment I muted the JohnLock tag because I was tired of seeing so-called TLJCers "meta posts" from 8 years ago and was looking in vain for Sherlock fans who had other interests than a non canon ship, I just... Don't see Sherlock related posts anymore? Except for a couple of Adlock and Sherlolly posts, but I don't engage with these ships either so 🤷

I took my Sherlock x OC fic off AO3 because I ended up losing interest. Never did I take off a fic from AO3 after only three chapters! And it wasn't even because it wasn't read: I was actually surprised to see it bookmarked, receive several kudos and even a couple of lovely comments. The kudos were anonymous for most of them but so what. It was nice to see the attention anyways. So it's not a case of "woman bitter because her shitty fanfic wasn't successful". Considering I had only three chapters online, it was a promising start.

Yet, I lost interest because my passion for the show wasn't fed by exchanges with other fans. I mean, I had a few very nice discussions, -I don't want to tag anyone but the three of you I have discussed Sherlock with several times should easily recognize themselves 💜-, but before I muted the JL tag I spent more time scrolling down than anything else. I think it's a shame because there was so much to this show than a ship. With my story I wanted to explore Sherlock's past, uncover a potential trauma caused by something else than Victor Trevor's death, open a discussion about this, about his relationship with his brother, his sister and his parents.... And I KNOW that Sherlock's relationship with John, wether it's considered platonic or not, is very important. I just wish I could find something else to discuss than Sherlock's feelings for X or Y, or his sexuality.

Some could say it's pretty much the same thing for the Hannibal's fandom: there's no doubt that if I muted Hannigram I wouldn't find any Hannigram related posts. Or I'd probably find anti Hannigram posts, ew. The big difference to me is that Will and Hannibal's relationship is at the core of the show. The show is called "Hannibal" but it could just as well be called "Hannibal and Will": even if you don't ship them, take the relationship out of the equation and the show has nothing left to say, like... Literally.

Don't get me wrong, Sherlock without the pair Sherlock/John would probably be crap, but it would still have Sherlock's relationship with his family to cover. And boy there's much to say, imho. While Hannibal has no one else than Will. Will has no one else than Hannibal. That's the story. Also Hannigram is canon. So it makes sense to me that most of the fandom's posts are focused on Will and Hannibal. It hasn't stopped me from starting a pre-Hannigram fic because I'm very intrigued by the professor Lecter had an affair/student Alana Bloom storyline they hinted at in season 2, but I know I won't lost interest in this fandom anytime soon, because I feel fed by it. And this weird/toxic/and yet very romantic relationship between these two weirdos keeps fascinating me, even after four rewatchings! Besides, most Hannibal fans are unhinged which is I must say, a quality I appreciate very much 😁

#Fandom rant #i'm sorry #Sherlock bbc #hannibal tv show #Hannibal nbc #anti johnlock #Anti Adlock #Anti Sherlolly #hannigram #Putting the anti tags here only to clarify it's not a pro shipping post. I don't hate the ships! I'm just not interested in them.#Hannibal series

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eddswrold-fandicc · 1 year

Text

Tom x Female Reader Fluff

Panic set in your veins. It’s been a week since your mother called, reminding you that the family get together is this weekend.

You had nobody to go with.

Sure, you could go alone, but everyone would be disappointed in you again for not dating. Dating was something that you didn’t really care about. You were more focused on your career. Plus, it’s not like you had feeling for anyone either. It was hard for you to fall for someone. There was a boyfriend in highschool, but he cheated, and you never tried again.

Your family made fun of you for not dating, more specifically your sister. She had it all. The looks, the hair, the pretty face, and all of the attention. She always had a boyfriend. She was never alone. Your parents were more disappointed that you haven’t tried since highschool. They just wanted you to be happy with someone. And they wanted grandkids.

You had 2 days to figure this out. You could ask one of your friends, but at what price? Your hand thought before you, picking up your phone and dialing a good friend. Anxiety set in as the phone rang, maybe this was a bad ide-

“Hello?”

“Tooom!” You casually greeted. A wide, panicked smile stretched across your face.

“Y/N. Are you drunk somewhere?” You could hear Tom already picking himself up, ready to come get you. What a good friend. What a bad drinking habit you also had.

“No, no! I- uh... I was just.. seeing how you were today?” It was obvious something was wrong.

The hesitancy in Tom’s voice told you that he knew something was up, “Uh, I’m fine. Why? You sound off.”

“Can you be my boyfriend?” It slipped out of your mouth quicker than you could catch it. You slapped your hand over your mouth, silently cursing yourself.

“W-What...?”

Now, it was time to be out with it, “Sorry, I uh.. I need help.”

“What’s going on?”

You sat down, petting the sleeping dog beside you for comfort, “My mom called last week.”

“Okay?”

“We have a family get together this weekend, and I have nobody to go with. My sister is going to make fun of me, and my parents are going to be disappointed again. And aunt Alex is going to be disappointed, and grandma is going...” You rambled about it all, trying not to throw yourself into a panic attack.

Tom interrupted you, “Yeah, sure. What time this weekend?”

“R-Really?! You’d do that for me?” You could see Tom shaking his head through the phone.

“Yeah, I guess. I kinda still owe you anyways, for being my date to prom that one year.”

“Oh, yeah. Forgot about that. The coconut was so damn jealous too,” You snorted a giggle.

“Anyways, what time this weekend?”

“Uhh, It’s at 1, I think. On Saturday.” You set a mental reminder to check up on that.

“Okay. Do you want me to pick you up, or-”

You interrupted Tom, “No, no! I can come to you.”

“Okay. Whatever works. I actually have to go right now, I have to shit.”

You shook your head, letting out a small breathy laugh, “Okay, whatever. I’ll be over around 11:30 on Saturday.”

A door clicked shut on the other end of the call, “M’kay, I’ll see you this weekend.”

The phone beeped, ending the call.

________________________________________

You knocked on the front door, listening for someone to come open it. When the door clicked open, a familiar face whistled at you, “My, my. What’s the occasion, Y/N?”

“Family reunion. Where’s Tom?” You walked into the house, searching for your date.

“I’m upset that you didn’t ask me first.” He shut the door behind you.

“I know how you are, Tord. You’re a perv and I’m not sleeping with you.” You walked upstairs, ignoring the jealous remark Tord made.

Tom’s door swung open before you could knock, “Hey- woah. Why are you wearing that?”

“Why are you wearing regular clothes?!”

“You didn’t say anything about what I had to wear!”

“Let’s go,” You pushed Tom back into his room, shutting the door, “Do you have anything nice?”

“Uh.” Tom looked around, finally opening his closet and looking around, “I have a few shirts, but no pants.”

“That will work, let me see.” You pushed past Tom, looking at his shirts. The white one was perfect, matching your dress.

“Here, this one makes us match. And your jeans should be fine with it.”

“Okay,” Tom grabbed the hem of his signature blue hoodie, tossing it over his head and throwing it on the bed, revealing his body.

Tom always had a nice body. You weren’t afraid to admit it either, but now wasn't the time. You watched as he carelessly slipped the white shirt over his shoulders, bringing it over his torso to start buttoning.

“Should I curl my hair too?” Tom joked, earning a mocked laugh from you.

“You’re so funny. Let’s go.” You stepped out of his bedroom, rushing downstairs.

“Do you two even have proof that you’re together?” Tord sipped a drink, sitting on the sofa with a magazine in hand.

You thought for a moment. “Shit,” you whispered to yourself.

“Shut up.” Tom threw a pillow at Tord, knocking his magazine out of his grip.

“Just saying. They’re going to want proof.” Tord teased more, knowing he was getting to you.

“No, he’s right. What do we do about that?” You turned to Tom, holding your hands out in panic like it actually does something.

“Uh.. Pictures?” Tom shrugged.

You stared at him for a moment. Pictures would be valuable proof. The two of you had been friends for years, of course you guys had pictures together, “That works.”

You rushed Tom out of the door, practically dragging him to your car.

“So where is this place?” Tom buckled his seat belt, and got comfortable.

“Next town over. My mom’s house.” You started the car and began to drive.

The drive wasn’t too long. You arrived at your mother’s house around 12:30, early, but still on time.

“Y/N! My baby sister!” Your older sister came to hug you. You could hear the mock in her tone.

“Heyyy, Kate. How are you and Brandon?” You hugged your sister back, smelling the gallons of perfume she dumped on herself.

“We’re doing fine. We just celebrated our 4th year together. We went to the cinema, and then out for ice cream.” She beamed, finally noticing Tom awkwardly standing behind you.

“Oh? And who’s this?”

You latched your arm around Tom’s, “This is Tom.”

“Hello, Tom. Nice to meet you!” Your sister shook Tom’s hand, sending you a knowing look.

“Mom will be happy to meet you.”

“Meet who?” A voice cut through. Everyone turned their heads to your mother, who was drying her hands off with a kitchen towel, “Oh! Are you Y/N’s boyfriend?”

Tom nodded, “Yes. It’s nice to meet you again.”

“Oh, I knew you looked familiar. Wasn’t he your prom date, Y/N?”

You nodded, “Yeah. We’ve been friends for years, and finally decided to get together.”

“Oh, how sweet! Come, young man, come meet the rest of the family!” Your mother ushered you and Tom into the kitchen where there were more adults, more specifically, your family members.

“Y/N’s here! And she brought her handsome boyfriend, Tom.” You mother announced, having all eyes on you and Tom.

You took Tom around the kitchen, greeting everyone. A few children came up to you, your younger cousins, giving you a big hug.

_________

Dinner wasn’t soon after. Everyone sat outside, with a paper plate in hand. You Aunt Alex spoke, with a mouthful of food, “So. How long have you two been together? You sister said you’ve been friends for years, but I’ve never seen or heard of the young man.”

Here it was. The interrogations.

“Yeah, we’ve been friends since high school. But we started dating within these past few years.”

“Years? And he’s just now coming to a reunion?” Your grandmother questioned, putting sweat beads on your forehead.

“Yeah. I wanted to wait to introduce him to you crazy people.” You joked, earing a laugh from your parents.

“We’ve never seen him on your social medias either, Y/N. Are you sure you two are really together?” Your aunt teased.

“Ye-”

“Yes. We are. Since August three years ago. I just don’t like taking many pictures.” Tom cut through. You felt his hand snake around your waist, pulling you closer to him. You could tell by the tone of his voice that he was getting aggravated.

“Prove it.” Your sister butt in, sending you a devilish smile.

You turned to Tom, loudly announcing, “They’re just gonna embarrass me.”

“Let’s prove them wrong, sweetheart,” Tom lowly spoke. He had a smile planted on his face, hiding how nervous he was.

He wrapped his arms around you, dipping you before giving you a big kiss. Your family cheered as he kissed you.

It was all too sudden. It wasn’t expected that he was going to kiss you. You were shocked, but that emotion had to be hidden for the time being.

“Happy?” You turned to your family, looking at their smiling faces.

______

“Oh my god, I can’t believe you did that!” The ride home was embarrassing. Tom was laughing the entire time.

“Sorry, sorry! They were pissing me off.” He said in between laughs.

“Yeah, but- oh my god!” Okay, maybe it was a little funny. Laughter started to bubble in your stomach until it was leaving your mouth.

Tom looked over to you, “So, we’re even now?”

“Yeah,” you giggled, “But I didn’t kiss you at prom.”

“Looks like you owe me, now,” He winked at you.

#ew tom #eddsworld tom #ew tom x reader

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glittter-vamp · 9 months

Text

CHAPTER 9

Joe Burrow x Bisexual OC.

Warnings: 18+MDNI. Mention Of Death & Grief. Emotional Intimacy pretty much at 100 and smut-ish themes. Homophobia. Angsty yet Fluffy. Pretty heavy chapter overall.

Word Count: 3.4k

"Thank you for shopping with us, have a great day!" Val smiles at a customer that was in the store while handing them their shopping bag. It was Sunday which she usually didn't come in for but Elsa had went a little too hard at the Pride parade the day prior and Dani was off. So, it was just her and Kade in the store today making things happen.

"Almost time to close, what a weekend!" Kade sighs moving a box of hangers.

"It was pretty crazy, I guess since we closed yesterday for the parade people came today instead." Val says organizing a rack of shirts.

"I'm so glad I'm off for the next two days, I'm drinking a whole bottle of wine by myself tonight to destress." Kade lets out a breath.

"You and me both." Val smiles. Them two make it through the last work hour with only one other customer coming in. Cleaning up quickly, they make it out of the store by 4:50 and in their cars to go home. Since it was Sunday evening the traffic wasn't so bad but living in a city meant it was still there regardless. As Val drove home she got a call from Joe. She had talked to him here and there, all through text after that argument they had.

"Hello?" Val answers on the car Bluetooth.

"Hey...are you out of work?" Joe asks.

"I am. Why?" Val asks wondering why.

"Would you mind stopping by the house today? Something came for you at the house." Joe says sounding just as confused as she was hearing that.

"Uh, what do you mean something came for me...to your house? I've never your given address for anything to anyone." Val questions.

"I'm just confused as you about it are but it's addressed to you, it's a letter." He says.

"Does it seems like junk mail or something? That's so weird..." She asks as she drives.

"No, it's hand written from within the state. Say's its from someone named Sabrina Farley." Joe responds back, Val's heart dropping hearing that.

"Are you sure!?" Val asks trying to remain her cool.

"That's what it says, I can drop it off during the week if you're busy--

"No, I'll come get it now. I'm in the car driving anyway." Val says.

"Alright, you can let your self in. I have to rest up my leg. My knee has been feeling weird." Joe says.

"Do you need anything?" Val asks.

"Nah I'm good, but thanks. I appreciate that." Joe yawns. They hang up soon after and Val makes her way to Joe's.

***************************************

Pulling up to his house she parks in the driveway and lets her self in like he told her too. She could hear the tv, Joe was of course was watching some alien documentary like usual. Walking to the living room she see's Joe laying on his couch icing his knee.

"So, what'd you do to your knee?" Val speaks up startling Joe and making her laugh.

"I didn't hear you come in... but I think I went to hard in the gym yesterday." He shrugs looking at his leg,

"Better chill before everyone gets on your ass or you injure yourself again." Val shakes her head.

"I know..." Joe sighs.

"So about the letter?" Val asks awkwardly.

"Oh yeah, here!" Joe reaches over and grabs the letter that was sitting beside the remote.

"Here you go, I didn't open it or anything." He says handing her the white envelope. Val reads the name and she starts to feel uneasy about it.

"I really have no idea how this person got your address. I'm real sorry this came here, that's super invasive." Val bites her lip looking at Joe.

"It's alright. Do you know who that person is though?" Joe asks and she nods yes.

"My older sister. Since I cut off contact from the family , they haven't had my number or address except for the twins who I actually haven't heard from in months." Val shakes her head.

"Do you think it's something serious?" Joe asks sitting up, intrigued by what that letter held.

"Must be if they sent it to your house and not mine, my store or any of my other friends houses." Val says ripping the letter open.

Val starts reading the letter which was starting off first by apologizing being sent to Joe's house but that they couldn't find her address anywhere online and was scared that if it got sent to the store it would end up in someone else's business mailbox instead. Which Val found very weird but she continued reading. As she read the next line her heart sunk and felt her eyes water.

"I hate to inform you that dad has been involved in a car accident two weeks prior from when I'm writing this. He doesn't seem to be progressing at all, therefore mom is going to make the hard decision to take him off life support tomorrow. Though, we felt the need to tell you, we ask that you do not come to the funereal nor contact any of us. We've seen you in the tabloids and still don't approve of your life choices and out of respect to god, the church, the family and most importantly dad it's best if you don't come. We don't need any shameful people around us during this hard time or someone to take the attention away from dad."

"Val...Hey, Hey...what's going on? Breathe." Joe says to her as he runs up to her and catches her as she falls to her knees at the news she just read. Val lets out a sob as Joe tries to console her and get her seated on the couch. Not being able to barely breathe let alone talk, she hands the letter to Joe and he reads it keeping one hand on Val and rubbing her back as she cries.

"I'm so sorry Val. This is isn't the way they should've told you." Joe says hugging her tight and kiss her head as she cries.

"I probably already missed his funeral since this was sent a week ago. Why would they do that?" She sniffles shaking her head.

"If you did, that's entirely their fault. They know what they were doing sending this letter, they could of called, sent this to your actual house or business or even gone to your store in person...instead they sent it to my house not even knowing if it would get to you two weeks after your fathers accident in which they didn't contact you. This was malicious on their part, you did nothing wrong." Joe says feeling nothing but anger over this situation for Val. He couldn't believe they would treat her this way but it became clear why Val separated herself from them.

"I-I should go home. I'm sorry for breaking down like this here. I should of opened that letter at home or something." Val says quickly getting up and wiping her tears, desperately trying to get herself together.

"What?! No--Val, you're not driving while you're emotions are hitting you like this. You're still processing this." Joe says shaking his head and Val sighs.

"I just know things aren't okay between us and going through this here--

"That's not important right now, what's important is that you stay here and not get behind the wheel while you're crying. I'm going to get you water, please just stay here and take a breath." Joe says sitting her down again and she just nods beginning to cry again. Val didn't couldn't believe that letter. Still processing everything from her fathers accident to him being taken off life support to her family asking her not to come to the funeral because of who she was was just something she couldn't believe but hurt like hell. It proved that she was yet not healed from her past with her family.

"Here." Joe says coming back with a water bottle. Val takes it and takes a few sips.

"Is there anything I can do?" Joe asks sitting next to her.

"Get me a time machine so I could tell my parents not to have me and spare everyone the disappointment that I am." Val sighs wiping her tears.

"Don't say that. Just because they have a problem with who you are doesn't mean you don't have people around you that love and support you. Plus, you've basically built your own family, you have the girls, Mateo, Kade and Elsa...Me and my family." Joe says hesitating on that last part.

"I don't even know how your family views me right now so I wouldn't count them in there." Val shakes her head.

" They haven't said anything to me about it so...well my mom obviously asked about what was going on cause she knows we're together but she didn't comment on anything else. My dad is never one to get into my personal relationships so..." Joe shakes his head.

"Still doesn't mean anything." Val mutters.

"Why don't I draw you a nice bath? I'll go pick up some food in the meantime while you soak." Joe says patting her knee.

"You don't have to do that." Val shakes her head.

"You need it, c'mon." Joe slowly pulls Val off the couch and they make their way upstairs letting the letter on the couch.

"You still have clothes in your drawer, I haven't touched them." Joe says softly as they enter his room.

"Thanks." Val sniffles heading over to where she always kept her clothes.

Joe headed to the bathroom and filled up the tub for her while she chose some clothes. Her mind was having a million different thoughts about what's happened. Though she was heartbroken over the news of her dad she was also incredibly angry at how it was handled. She couldn't stand the way her family has treated her since she came out in college. Val makes her way to the bathroom where Joe was making sure the water was a perfect temperature and the tub was getting filled up.

"You can get in while it fills it takes a bit, did you need anything else? I haven't restocked on your wine but I can get you something else..." Joe asks as Val set her clothes down on the counter.

"I think this moment calls for one of your vodka tonics." Val smiles.

"Woah...I haven't heard those words since you opened up Pixies." Joe says making her chuckle.

"I know it's a dangerous thing to say but I really need it." Val sighs.

"You're wish is my command." Joe smiles leaving the bathroom. Val undresses and realizes she still has the markings from Summer on her body. Shaking her head and setting that aside she steps into the warm bath that smelled like lavender. Val feels herself relax into the semi filled tub and soon enough Joe comes back with her drink.

"Here." Joe smiles handing her the drink.

"Thanks." She smiles back taking a sip of the ridiculously strong drink.

"Jeez, did you put any club soda in that?" Val shudders as the liquor runs through her body and sort of gives her a shock.

"You knew what you were asking for. I put a lot of ice so just let it water down a bit." Joe says squatting down to her level and turning the water off for her. There wasn't many bubbles in the tub so Val saw Joe's eyes lingering on her body thought the soapy water.

"What did you want to eat?" Joe asks clearing his throat.

"It's Sunday evening so everything closes pretty early...whatever is open is fine. No healthy stuff though, I need good savory comfort food."

"I'll be back, call me if anything. Make yourself at home." Joe says giving Val a gentle kiss on the head before leaving. It felt nice for Val to have Joe there for her. This was one of the things she couldn't complain about when it came to him. He was always there for Val when she needed him the most with no questions asked. Relaxing in the hot bath and downing the drink she eventually gets out and takes a quick shower being one of those people that can't just take a bath first.

After her shower, drying off and draining the tub, she gets dressed and heads downstairs taking the glass that was now empty. As she washed her cup, Joe comes in with the bags of food.

"So I got us sushi, and I stopped to get us ice cream. Hope that's okay!" Joe says smiling at Val.

"That sounds really great. Thank you." Val smiles back.

"We can put on a movie or whatever you want." Joe says setting the bags down to put the ice cream in the freezer.

"Sure." Val nods. She grabs water for them both from the fridge and make their way to the living room.

"So, what do you want to watch?" Joe asks after they settle on the couch with the food.

"Um, something funny I guess." she shrugs taking a bite of the spicy shrimp tempura roll. Joe turns on Superbad.

"I saw that you went the pride parade, how was that?" Joe asks failing miserably to use his chopsticks like usual making val laugh.

"It was fun. Everyone had a goodtime." Val nods.

"I saw that Summer went...you guys were posting on instagram" Joe says. Val knew she was going hear something about about her come from Joe eventually.

"She was." Val says nods eyeing Joe. The last thing she wanted right now was to get in an argument with Joe about Summer again after what she just learned. Her emotions were way to high right now for that and she knew it.

"Is she...at least making you happy?" He asks softly and Val sighs.

"Joe, I really don't need this right now." Val rolls her eyes.

"I'm not mad or trying to start anything. I just want to know she's at least treating you right given your history with her and having your own complaints with me" Joe says, he seemed genuine.

"We only messed around once after that fight we had, we're not dating though and she's been fine to me. No drama. There, happy?" Val answers truthfully.

"Very." Joe smirks which annoyed Val.

"How about you? Any girls you've brought back here and shown them what a night with America's QB heartthrob is like?" Val asks trying to annoy him.

"Nope. Those nights are reserved for you." Joe smirks.

"and Sofia the baddie ig model." Val nods popping another piece of sushi into her mouth pretending she didn't see Joe's annoyed face when she said that.

"Okay...maybe I see how asking about Summer and throwing her in your face could be annoying." Joe says making Val snort.

"But, since we're on the topic of girls and I still have my list of questions of you..." Joe trails off, Val sighing preparing for what's about to come out of his mouth next.

"Is it true that you guys can last for hours during sex? How is that even possible? How come you don't last with me that long?" Joe asks making Val almost choke on her food.

"We technically can...but it's courtesy of the strap and we take breaks and then go back and forth through the night until we can't anymore and...I have no problem lasting that long but you on the other hand..." Val sips her drink and Joe looks in complete shock.

"If that's the case...why the hell are you dating men? Let alone me." Joe mutters that last part.

"Because that's how bisexuality works, I like all genders...and what do you mean let alone you? You're the only guy I've been with that actually gives a fuck about getting me off every time we have sex." Val snorts.

"Do you have one?" Joe asks as he eats.

"A what?" She asks confused.

"A...strap or whatever it is you guys call it." Joe clears his throat which made Val laugh at his awkwardness.

"I think... I have my harness somewhere at my condo, as for the toy itself...I have to get a new one." Val nods.

"I saw that they had strapless ones." Joe nods and Val does a double take towards him hearing that.

"Have you...been researching lesbian stuff!?" Val says rather loudly and clearly embarrassing Joe seeing his face turn a light shade of pink.

"And by researching I know it's just porn." Val teases him.

"No. I've actually been on educational websites for your information. I was wondering about the stereotypes. " Joe defends himself. Val thought it was actually very cute that Joe was educating himself about stuff. Most men would just ask when the threesome was happening and call it day.

"Can I ask if you have a preference? Like do you prefer having sex with women or more with men?" Joe asks.

"Overall, I say that I wouldn't. But there's certain things that I appreciate about both that's different." Val admits.

"Like what?"

"Well with girls I like the softness of it, the foreplay is usually on another level and the after care is really nice too. Plus there's a different sense of comfortability with women knowing they have the same parts as I do and know how are bodies are naturally. Also it's a plus that they're more on top of stuff like their status and there's no risk of pregnancy. " Val says and Joe nods.

"And with men?" Joe asks seeming to be nervous to ask about it.

"Well, my prior experiences with men were all college guys so I'm not gonna go there but with you specifically... I like how strong you are with me and assertive you are. Also getting to actually...feel you inside me is something I can only experience with women to a certain extent. Plus moans from any gender are hot but the list goes on for both, I just like what I like. There's really no competition here, we at least between you and any other woman because I've heard of plenty hook up stories from Gen with guys" Val shrugs making Joe chuckle.

"Thank you for talking to me about this stuff...I know it's weird of me to ask this stuff." Joe says sheepishly.

"Like I said before, if it's in good faith and you're being genuine...I don't have anything to hide. I appreciate you being respectful about it and not with stereotypical things like other guys would probably do." Val smiles.

They both finish their meal and start paying attention to the movie that was already a good chunk through it. They eat their ice creams after finishing the dinner, Val still thinking of her dad and family, still figuring out how to navigate this situation from here.

"You can take my room... I'll sleep in the guest room. Give you some space." Joe says as they clean up the mess of food in the living room and take it to the trash in the kitchen.

"Oh you don't have to." Val shakes her head.

"It's not up for discussion, I'll finish up here. You should go get some rest." Joe smiles and Val just nods. Even though it wasn't even 9PM yet, she did feel exhausted after the news she had received today.

"Thanks, I'll uh see you in the morning...goodnight." Val says giving Joe a small smile which eh returns.

"Goodnight."

Val head upstairs grabbing her phone and goes into Joe's room. She uses the bathroom quickly and gets into the comfortable bed when there was a small knock on the door as it opened.

"Thought you'd like some water." Joe says bringing her a water bottle and setting it on the nightstand. Val thanks him and he goes to leave when she grabs his hand and stops him in his tracks.

"Stay...please." She says softly and Joe gives her a look of sadness and pity before he gently nods.

"Let me just turn off the hall light." He says squeezing her hand. Val nods letting go of him. Coming back into the room, Joe this time around doesn't say anything about Val being on his side of the bed and just turns off the light and gets in bed next to her. Val cuddles up to him inhaling his familiar comforting scent that she loved so much and Joe places a few kisses on her head as he slowly and gently rubs her back as she lets sleep take over, feeling fully comforted and cared for by the person who has her heart.

A/N: That was heavy chapter! But BF Joe showed up 👀

#joe burrow imagine #joe burrow fanfiction #joe burrow fic #joe burrow fan fic #joe burrow x oc #joe burrow series #joe burrow angst #joe burrow oneshot

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