#but it's here

[jewishrat420]

No one has ever flirted with Steve the way Eddie flirts with Steve.

And it's not like no one flirts with Steve. God, no, it's not like no one flirts with Steve. Steve can't walk into the grocery store without at least three sets of heads turning and focusing all their attention on him.

And he's not even trying to be cocky about it. That's just the reality he was gifted when he came out of his mother's womb looking like the world's freshest Adonis. Honestly, he wouldn't be surprised if they changed the colloquialism to "Steve."

Regardless. For as many people like to flirt with him, make themselves known, filtering in and out of his orbit like willing planets, no one knows quite how to get him going like Eddie. Maybe it's that they're not as confident as he is, maybe they're scared of the rejection Eddie was born facing and will die knowing.

Maybe they're scared of ruining their chances. Maybe Eddie isn't.

For whatever reason, Eddie doesn't seem like he's scared. Even though there was a long time before he knew Steve was bi, was just as into the flirting as Eddie was, even though there was a chance (not like it'd ever happen, but the unknown was there) that Steve could have beaten him up just for calling him "sweetheart," he did it anyway. He got right up into Steve's space, close enough that Steve could get high off the remnants of the joint he'd smoked earlier, and gave him a look that offered everything.

And, God, Steve wanted it. He wanted it all.

And so that began months of what Steve has so aptly referred to as torture. Apt, because he knows what it's like. He has the scars and the fear of ice cream and needles to prove it.

But this... this is a different kind of torture. Mental, emotional, spiritual, whatever you call it-- this is meant to tear him apart from the inside out, meant to make him want to rip his own bones out from his body and offer them to Eddie if it meant the other man making a fucking move.

And Steve would, is the thing. He would absolutely make the first move-- it's what he usually does, anyway, and he's got a pretty damn good success rate for it.

But, for whatever reason, this feels different. This back and forth they have, the constant teasing, the sliding in and out of each other's orbits, unable and unwilling to refute the most fundamental laws of gravity... it's something special, at least to Steve. Something sacred.

Which is why, when Eddie calls Steve "Harrington" for the first time in months, his first response is to pout.

They're about halfway through splitting a joint, the sweet smoke curling around wisps of hair and parted lips and filtering in and out of the holes in their sweaters. The air outside is getting colder, thinner, sharper, as the winter months dreg on. But inside the trailer, it's comfortable and warm. Safe.

Steve's being a bit of a hog, and he's man enough to admit that. But he had a shitty day at work and all he wants is to feel nothing other than the weightless relaxation of a good high buzzing through his bones. Sue him for taking a little more than his fair share of the good stuff, even if it is Eddie's.

"Steve," Eddie whines, reaching his hand out and curling his fingers in request. "Give it over."

"No," Steve responds, just on the edge of whiny. He brings the joint to his lips and takes a long, slow, deep drag, feeling the sweet heat of the smoke burning in his lungs, taking up the space where oxygen should be. He goes a little dizzy with it, feels his eyes lower. "Mine."

Steve can't see it, but he knows Eddie's rolling his eyes. Can sense the shift in the air, can sense every little fucking thing about Eddie at any given moment.

"C'mon, Harrington, you're being a brat."

And, normally, Steve would find another aspect of that sentence to freak out about. Would zero in on the word brat and relish in the flare of heat it sends shooting up his spine like firework sparks. Would squint his eyes at Eddie and tilt his head in the way he knows makes him look good, would give him his cutest little smirk and say, "Who, me?" and would preen in the response it gets.

This time, though, he's much too focused on the other name Eddie used for him. The one he hasn't heard come out of Eddie's mouth since before he realized that Steve was, as he put it, "actually a good dude."

He doesn't realize he's pouting until the sudden silence in the room starts to creep in, make a home in the buzzing in his ears. He didn't realize that he didn't say anything, and neither did Eddie, and now they're sitting in a mess of their own making. Of Eddie's own making, really.

His next words come out without effort, without intent.

"Don't call me that."

He chances a look over at Eddie, at the risk of appearing as vulnerable as he feels, and to his distress, he can't get a read on the man. His dark eyebrows furrow, brown eyes squinting slightly, and his lips part like he wants to speak. He licks them. Steve's eyes follow the motion unintentionally.

"Call you what?" Eddie says on an exhale. "A brat?"

Steve shakes his head. "Harrington. Don't like it when you call me that."

Eddie kind of softens, then, and Steve didn't realize he had stiffened until he isn't anymore. He sort of sinks into the couch, spreads his legs imperceptibly wider, and Steve wouldn't have noticed if it wasn't for the way his left knee brushes against Steve's just barely. Just enough for those heated sparks to send a couple pinpricks across his skin.

"No?" he says, looking over to meet Steve's gaze. His cheeks are flushed, whether from the weed or the heat of the room or the heat between them, and Steve's sure that his look the same. "What do you want me to call you, then?"

Steve's definitely blushing now. He looks away from Eddie, tucks his chin to his chest, lets the joint between his fingers burn away. Eddie takes it from him, gently, and brings it to his lips. Steve hears the paper crackling as he inhales.

His voice is quiet, almost meek, when he speaks. It's completely unlike Steve, completely unlike the persona he used to so proudly take on-- but then again, Eddie is completely unlike anyone that Steve has ever met. He's more real, more human, and in turn, Steve is too.

"...You know."

Eddie makes a little noise, then, something in the back of his throat that was born and died within the very same second it was released. Something soft, almost pained, like his body couldn't help the reaction it had to that sentence.

Steve watches the thin, long line of Eddie's arm reach forward and press the joint into the glass of the ashtray. He follows the motion until Eddie's hand settles into the rips over his knee, fingers intertwining with the thread. His pinkie is dangerously close to Steve's own sweatpant-covered skin, and he feels the contact as if Eddie were touching him.

Eddie's hand twitches like it wants to move, and Steve resists the urge to grab it, hold it within the warmth of his own palms.

"Do I?" Eddie says, his voice quieter than it was a moment ago. That thick silence fills the trailer once more, settling in between the soft buzzing of the lightbulb in the kitchen and the muffled humming of the crickets outside. Steve hears Eddie take a stuttering breath. "Tell me."

Steve sighs, feeling his chest burn as his heartbeat picks up. His throat pounds with the pulsing of it. He places his own hand on his right knee, pinkie finger edging closer and closer to the space where Eddie's meets his. Eddie's hand twitches again.

"Like it when you call me sweet things," he says on an exhale, as though getting it out all in one breath would make it easier. "Like how it makes me feel."

Eddie lets out another one of those noises, then, something more like a cut-off groan. His hand curls into the fabric of his jeans for no more than a second before he releases it, and Steve gets to watch as the blood blanches and then returns to his knuckles.

"Sweet things, huh?" he muses, voice only slightly strained. If Steve didn't know any better, he'd say Eddie is nervous. "Like... Stevie?"

Steve hums. "Yeah. I like that."

Eddie's pinkie moves closer. Barely. Imperceptibly, if not for the way Steve is tuned into his every movement, like a dog to the sound of their owner's keys.

"Yeah?"

Steve hums again.

"What about... sweetheart?"

Steve closes his eyes. Lets out a shaky breath, inhales a smoother one.

"Yeah."

Steve feels something brush against his pinkie. Something warm.

"Honey?"

Steve nods, biting his lip. "Mhm."

Eddie lets out a quiet little laugh. "Even big boy?"

Steve returns it helplessly, feels the edges of a smile pulling at his lips. The air feels cold on his teeth, as though he's burning up from the inside out and anything outside of his own body is a cooling salve.

"Especially big boy."

Eddie laughs a little louder, and the jostling of his body brings his pinkie even closer to Steve's. Completely pressed against his own, now.

Steve swears he can feel his heartbeat through it. Or maybe it's his own.

"What about..." Eddie takes a breath. "Love?"

Steve's own breath hitches. He opens his eyes, looks at where their skin is touching in more than one place. He feels it, feels every point of contact where the cells that make Eddie are existing with the cells that make Steve. Wonders, maybe, if they stay here long enough, if they'll merge and mold over time. Become one.

"Yeah," Steve breathes. "I like that one a lot."

Eddie hums, and the room falls back into silence for a moment. Steve's skin burns where their fingers are touching. He moves his hand to the right, just barely, just enough to let Eddie know that he feels it. Just enough to ask Eddie if he does, too.

His response is overwhelming.

Eddie moves his hand to the left, solidifies all the points of contact between them, and Steve feels like he's exploding. Feels like a bubbling pit of lava that's set to burst, to overflow, like it can't hold back anymore. Like it's tried for so long that it's hurting, now, pressurized and boiling and hot, way too fucking hot.

And then, Eddie crosses his pinkie over Steve's, and Steve thinks he's dying.

He takes in a sharp breath like it's the last one he'll ever get, and he doesn't even have it in him to be embarrassed about it. He knows Eddie is right there with him, knows he's not the only one feeling this irrefutable pull like gravity between them. Knows, hopes, it's only a matter of time before they collide.

Eddie hums again. He taps his pinkie once over the smallest of Steve's knuckles, almost like he's making a decision. He takes a long, slow breath before he speaks.

"You know which one's my favorite?"

Steve's throat clicks. "Which?"

"Look at me."

Steve turns his head to the right for no more than a second before Eddie's lips are on his.

It's hungry, it's indulgent, it's immediately addictive. It feels like breathing.

Eddie presses his whole body against Steve's, and he can feel the way his tendons flex where his hand is covering the back of Steve's. Where their pinkies meet, their fingers intertwine and cross over one another like the roots of a tree, their bodies the whole mycorrhizal network.

The next word is spoken against Steve's lips, and Steve can feel the way his mouth forms around it. Decides, from this moment on, that he never wants to hear it another way.

"Baby."

Steve's exhale is more of a moan, a dying sound that, like Eddie's before, lived for only a moment in his throat before pushing through the wall of his lips. Eddie takes it, holds it in his own mouth, swallows it down hungrily and slides his tongue against Steve's as though asking for more.

"That's--" Steve pants, getting his hands on Eddie's hips and pulling until he's seated in his lap. "Mine too."

"Yeah?" Eddie asks, his lips still pressed against Steve's. Their words are muffled against each other, but they don't need to hear them to understand. They only need to feel the outline of them, the shape of the consonants and vowels against and around each other's tongues. They only need to press their bodies together and know, intimately, the meaning in each other's hearts.

"Yeah. Want you to call me that forever."

This time, Steve feels Eddie's laughter against his lips. His chest. Feels it bubble up in the space between his ribs, feels it flow into his mouth like a river, swallows it down like the first glass of water after a run. Feels his own creep up behind his teeth in return, gives it back to Eddie like an offering, who takes it greedily. Hungrily. Gratefully.

"Think that can be arranged, baby."

#steddie #stranger things #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie fanfic #steddie fic #steve x eddie #steddie headcanon #absolutely no idea where this came from #but it's here #first kiss #mutual pining #flirting #steddie first kiss #teasing #steve harrington is down bad #eddie munson is down equally bad #idk how to tag things

[radiance1]

A byproduct of this au.

"I do believe that my greatest magical feat was figuring out how to remove stains from my clothes."

Zatanna paused. "Did you not use large scale teleportation magic on your home throughout time and space to land in our dimension?"

Sam laughs. "Oh dear, that one was on accident!" The witch waved a hand through the air, causing a tea set to hop through the air and set itself on the table. "Tea?" She offered.

The teapot poured itself as a plate of sugar cubes as well as a small pair of tongs appeared on the table, silent offer to take and adjust as they felt like it.

"You moved your entire castle here, on accident?" Constantine asked, dropping two sugars into his teacup and stirring with the spoon helpfully and magically provided for him.

The witch took a sip of tea, then nodded. "Oh yes, my calculations were quite perfect-that I made sure of- but something knocked my spell off and, well." She gestured around. "Here I am."

"And you would place removing stains above such a feat-even if accidental?" Zatanna raised an eyebrow as she picked up her teacup.

The witch merely nodded in response.

"I would have to agree with the lass." Constantine wrinkled his nose. "Stains are a shitty thing to deal with. What about you Batsy? Feel like departing your wisdom on us magic folk?"

Batman was quiet for a moment, staring down at his teacup before slowly reaching for sugar cubes and dropping them into his cup one at a time. It took 5 cubes before he decided to stop and stir. "They are." Was all he said before taking a sip from his tea.

Everyone present could swear they heard a faint, goddamn purr from the man.

Constantine stared incredulously, even going as far as pointing a finger as Zatanna held her face to her head and quietly cursed the gods in esasperation.

The witch just stared at them with amusement in her eyes and a smile on her lips that she hid behind her teacup.

#dc x dp #dp x dc #dpxdc #dp x dc crossover #dcxdp #dc x dp crossover #Dunno what inspired this one #But it's here

[little-pup-pip]

since I saw a McDonald’s one, how about a Moodboard for the new McDonalds restaurant, CosMc’s? Gender neutral is ok, deco and pack also, and please make it space themed! Ty! :) -💫💜

Here you go!!

#CosMc's #!!! #wooooooo #sorry this one took so long #i had to improve my skills to figure out how to make it look cool #unfortunately that took a couple months #but it's here #so i hope you like it! #and that it's worth the wait!! #sfw interaction only #moodboard #sfw agere #agere #age regression #sfw littlespace #agere moodboard #babyre #age dreaming #baby regression

[anophiles]

married 💍💘

#ferdibert #ferdinand von aegir #hubert von vestra #fire emblem three houses #fe3h #my art #happy valentine's day!! #this art gave me SO MUCH GRIEF AND DESPAIR in the last 3 days #I redrew it like 20 times or MORE #but it's here #they're married and lived happily ever after #hubert's vest is coffee plant pattern #ferdinand's is camelia pattern

[cobaltfluff]

AND THERE IT IS! HIROKO UTSUMI'S SIGNATURE MOVE!! REFLECTED IN THE EYE OF YOUR SOULMATE!!!!!!!!

#dust bunny #bucchigiri?! #watch and yell #lmaooo in ep1 i was like huh where is it #BUT IT'S HERE #RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF EP2 LMAOOOO #keep slaying queen #i laughed so hard #i was like wow is it not gonna happen this series?? #i never doubted you queen #lmao not me pausing for 5 mins right at the start before the op #im laughing so harddddd #i activate my special skill #take 40 mins to watch a 20 min ep

[bisexual-horror-fan]

Writing Masterlist.

Hello my name is Bex! Welcome to my blog and my writing’s masterlist.

May I ask that before sending me any asks or interacting you read my Rules/Who/What I Write For. Thank you so much!

—

My Ao3 has a good portion of my stuff but you will find ALL of my writing in this list! Here are my tips for writing smut! Here is my writing process. And Here is my ramblings about things important to me to include in my writing if you care about some of the meaning behind what I do.

Here is the link to my Ko-fi if you wanna support me and what I do.

Did you know I also do commissions? Here is the info!

Writing Links Below The Cut!

Freddy Krueger Masterlist.

Billy Loomis/Stu Macher Poly!Ghostface Masterlist.

Ethan Landry Masterlist.

Mickey Altieri Masterlist.

Danny Johnson/Jed Olson/DBD Ghostface Masterlist.

Buddy Swanson/Metal Killer Mastlist.

Sam Wescott/The Wood Carver Masterlist.

Leslie Vernon Masterlist.

Charles Lee Ray Masterlist.

Tiffany Ray Valentine Masterlist.

Bo/Vincent/Lester Sinclair Masterlist.

Gabriel May Masterlist.

Herbert West Masterlist.

Poly!Coven Masterlist.

The Grabber Masterlist.

The Driller Killer/Johnny Masterlist.

Warwick Wilson Masterlist.

Ash Williams Masterlist.

Event And Sub Masterlists:

Commissions Masterlist.

Love Letter Masterlist.

Fake Fic Ask Masterlist.

Multi-May Masterlist.

Kinky December Masterlist.

Amber Cottrell OC. Freddy's Girl.

Misc.

"It Was Inevitable" Micheal Myers X FEM! AFAB! Reader. NSFW.

"We Match!" The Ghost/"Mitch" X AFAB! Reader. NSFW.

"Making Him The Exception." Machete Sam X AFAB! Reader. NSFW.

"King Of The Kayaks." Steve The Kayak King X GN! Reader. NSFW.

"Perfect Pretender." Alex Browning X Tod Waggner X AFAB! Reader. NSFW.

"Something Life Affirming." Willaim Bludworth X AFAB! Reader. NSFW.

"A Deep And Festering Need." Edward Porris X GN! Reader.

#OKAY #Much more streamlined #Not perfect at all #But it's here #BHF masterlist #BHF writing #Slasher x reader #Enjoy it being back up #Point out anything you notice is missing and I will hunt it down

[clxckwork-sun-n-moon]

So Cries the Wolf - Chapter 11

Summary: Preparations that were put into place begin to pay off. You and Eclipse tango around your respective emotions with Montague as your unwilling partner. And the Sun rises.

Word Count: 9546

#clockwork writings #so cries the wolf au #dcaverse #dcamv #holy shit yall it only took 2-3 months #BUT IT'S HERE

[wynnakang]

INTO THE SHADOWS WIP DEMO 3.0 (UPDATE 18/06) -  [redacted title]

Current wordcount: 73k

Average wordcount per playthrough: ??

(I couldn’t get an average wordcount per playthrough because randomtest kept crashing on me. Anyway.)

Play it here: https://dashingdon.com/play/wynnak/into-the-shadows-/mygame/

New to this update:

Chapter Three is partially complete. The title is redacted because of what happens in the second half of the chapter, and it’s ~spoilery~

Depending on your choices, you’ll get to (officially) meet at least two new characters. Fun!

Additionally, people with a very poor relationship with K Delacroix no longer get the option to ride with them to the funeral at the end of Chapter 2. Sorry, I mulled it over and just couldn’t see them willing to do it. 

The option to simp for K Delacroix in early part of Chapter 2 has also, ahem, been dialled down. A new conversation with them was also introduced.

Additional notes:

I’m really sorry for the delay in the update! Motivation was a fickle thing, and time was also limited. I’d already started writing the second half of Chapter 3, but as I’m not a linear writer, they’re still in disconnected bits and pieces so I decided to put out the first half for now.

Feedback

Spelling/grammar errors

Continuity issues, feedback on choices/stats

If you could, please leave me feedback as an ask here so I can track them all in my tag https://wynnakang.tumblr.com/tagged/feedback

#update #long overdue update i know #but it's here #be nice please i was really nervous about posting this

[shittydirkdail]

Dirk in a bunny suit.

#dirk strider #homestuck #shitty dirk dail #no one asked for this #but it's here

[haec-an]

nct u (haechan & taeil) - n.y.c.t out now!

#😭 ITS HEREEEE. #It's FINALLY HERE #I'm so proud and happy for him #it took forever for it to come #but it's here #my haechan #you are so lovely baby angel #nct u #nct lab #nct haechan #haechan #lee haechan #donghyuck #lee donghyuck #nct u nyct #n.y.c.t #nct u n.y.c.t. #taeil #nct taeil #nct 127 #nct 127 haechan #AAAHHHHH #HAECHANS VOICE IS SOOOO SCRUMPTIOUSHFBDDBS

[purplehairedwonder]

Fandom: One Piece Rating: Explicit Pairings: Donquixote Doflamingo/Trafalgar Law (nonconsensual) Words: 4,204 Characters: Donquxiote Doflamingo, Violet, Trafalgar Law, Donquixote Rosinante, Monkey D. Luffy, Diamante, Trebol, Pica Summary: In another life, Minion Island goes a bit differently: a gravely wounded Corazon is recovered by the Marines while Law is taken back into the Family. Years later, Rosinante teams up with Monkey D. Luffy to rescue Law from the clutches of his brother and set him free for good.

Notes: So, this story is inspired by my desire to see two of my favorite fic genres—Corazon!Law and Rosinante lives—in the same fic.

The title comes from the incredible monologue at the end of Andor episode 10.

#IT LIVES #Finally we've reached the Donquixote brothers' reunion #Y'all this chapter was a FIGHT #But it's here #Trafalgar Law #Donquixote Doflamingo #Donquixote Rosinante #Monkey D. Luffy #One Piece #One Piece fanfic #Caitlin's fic

[letshareapapou]

Hoppy Birthday Bunny~

#taibani #tiger and bunny #kotetsu t. kaburagi #barnaby brooks jr #kotetsu x barnaby #I'm late I'm late! #For a very important date #Lol #But it's here #Bunny go through it in here #Every panels he's different my bad

[tchtra]

FAITHtober day 1

I can't draw this ugly mf-

1-Gary Loves you

#faith the unholy trinity #faith game #gary miller #faith airdorf #airdorf games #faithtober #i know its not good #I know it's late #but it's here

[capsensislagamoprh]

Victor looked over the garden view, wondering how Christophe managed to get a better room than he did. Pinsion Padre was a standard hotel, as places with standards go, a mere three hundred m from the Ostrava, which was nice. It also meant Yakov could time his escapades to and from to the minute. Getting to take a break with Chris was hard. They were both trying for the gold at the WFSJC, though one was bound for disappointment. Was it wrong to hope it was him? To even think about wanting it more than his friend?

"You are radiating deep, winter sleep." Christophe said quietly, propping his chin on the Ice King's shoulder. "What has you thinking?"

"I suppose," Victor hummed, "I feel constrained."

"Why?"

Victor shrugged. His eyes closed as he leaned back. "Do you think it will always be this way? Timed, carded, tracked, restrained, bound by rules?"

"It's possible. It may not be. You have to make life what you want it to be. It's not so easy to do that here. You have to fight for what you want. Through odds, preconceptions, your own doubt. There's more to life than life itself."

A silver brow rose. "Sr. Giacometti! Such a sentiment from a spring court fey lord!"

"My dear, Victor," Christophe trilled, "even a winter fey knows the value of life."

Victor scowled, pushing himself upright. "I do, and I want it, yet forever am I besieged by obstacle to my path of joy! The world rages in ice and fire, and I can't even get a room with a view! Seriously," he spun, hands pressing into Christophe's shoulders. "How did you manage it?"

"Booked ahead."

"Body parts in trade are considered taboo in the material realm." The blank, sanity considering look turned his way made Victor repent, if only for a moment. "There must be some way to feel alive while we're here and see if we can find our prey."

"Prey, is it?"

"Yuri is. Sort of. No. I just miss the whimsy."

"Min nära följeslagare... Are we planing a daring escape?"

Victor smiled. Christoph sighed. "Very well. Let us flee."

"Really?!"

"As long as we're back by check in, they need never know. After all, we're still minors here, but until that time, it's on them to know where we are, yes?"

Victor smiled. It reminded Christophe his friend was 'born' into Russia, where all fey were dangerous creatures, terrifying in there might. "Right."

"Come. We still have time to slip into the crowds, lost among disorder, to escape into the city itself," the spring fey cooed, bating Victor until he bent. Grasping the blond's arm, the Ice King beamed, ready to take on the whole of wonder if it gave him even a drop of glamour to enjoy the living.

They ran to the stairs, steps a mere memory. Jumps and laughs echoed thrugh the tunneling spiral as they dashed past doors. At the ground, they peaked out, slipped along the wall, desperate not to laugh until they were free. The outside world would know the sound of fey mischief, it would tremble, it would cry out in pleasure to know they existed. For five minutes. Their coaches caught them in the lobby. Christophe's coach raised a brow, shaking his head in sad disappointment. Yakov looked as if his head were a cartoon explosive.

The world gave them reprieve. "Let them go," Josef sighed. "They are in a new city. They are young." Yakov frowned.

"They are young! They cannot go in a new city alone!"

"Christophe, do you have your phone?"

"Yes."

"Set an alarm. You have until nine thirty this night to be back in your room. Same for Mr. Nikiforov. You will eat a balanced supper, and should I catch a wiff of junk food or you are a second late, I will let Yakov have at you both. Then Madame Baranovskaya, who is due to meet with us for lunch in less than three minutes. She is punctual."

It took the fey a second to recognize what was being offered. Victor peered at Josef for a long moment. He was emitting a rainbow halo. Christophe seemed to radiate with joy. His eyes went wide. Josef was feeding Christophe glamour based on trust! It was so potent he could barely see when he turned, arm grabbed by his friend, racing them out the door.

part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8, part 9, part 10, part 11, part 12, part 13, part 14, part 15, part 16, part 17, part 18, part 19, part 20, part 21, part 22, part 23, part 24

#YoI #Yuri on Ice #yuri k #yuuri katsuki #victor nikiforov #yuri plisetsky #otabek altin #victor x yuuri #otabek x yurio #otayuri #victuuri #gay boys on ice #fey bois on ice #we live for this #WoD frame work #WE SAIL THIS SHIP TO THE STARS! #coming down from a two day migraine #little off schedule #but it's here #this one took some time #i had to look some stuff up #they are in the Czech Republic at the 2003 Jr Worlds

[jeansyvesmoreau]

Okay but like I see quite a lot of photoshop being used on these posters but WYLAN- he looks like a schoolboy but he's surrounded by bombs this is perfect

#it's a lot of photoshop. kinda like dani's #it's not jack's face I know it isn't I can tell at a glance #but IT'S HERE #six of crows #shadow and bone #wylan van eck #wylan hendriks

[becca-alexa]

Ride the Lightning

Chapter Twelve: Starry Eyes

Read on AO3!

01 ┋ 02 ┋ 03 ┋ 04 ┋ 05 ┋ 06 ┋ 07 ┋ 08 ┋ 09 ┋ 10 ┋ 11 ┋ 12 ┋ 13

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Original Female Character

Summary: Will an average trip to the mall turn into something more?

Word Count: 3.8K

Content Warnings: [N/A]

Author's Note: god please forgive me for this taking so long the last update was in may?????? i have been so dead from actually having to do work at my job i am becoming a business bitch and let me tell you nobody told me it took so much work but anyway here you go 💗💗💗💗💗

and as always THANK YOU BESTIE @hellflayer for sticking with me through this 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

     Lucas wrapped an arm around himself, the other holding the plasticine phone receiver close to his ear, the smile he gave to Eddie from across the street strained and painfully forced; he counted the rings – one, two, three – as he gnawed at his lip to the point of drawing blood, all as he waited for Max to pick up the phone. He couldn’t help the twinge of nervousness that coursed up his spine, chilled his hands; he couldn’t help the guilt he felt as he’d emerged from the Palace Arcade alone, hands stuffed into the pockets of his worn Levi’s jeans, head hung low in embarrassment  he’d even gone so far as to jog around the back of the building, checking to see if perhaps he’d find the redhead trying out a new trick on her skateboard, or even trading cards with some of the other kids. But, alas, as the phone continued to ring, he’d long since conceded defeat.

     “Hello?” Max’s voice buzzed through the speaker. “Max speaking. Who’s this?”

     Lucas scrubbed a hand down his face. “It’s Lucas. You said you’d be at the arcade! Where the Hell are you?” He asked, giving Eddie yet another smile and a nod, signaling that everything was alright.

     “I’m home, Lucas.” Max said simply; he could hear her moving around. Was someone with her? “I told you I’d be going to the arcade in the morning, and that I’d be home by noon.” As she spoke, Lucas let out a loud groan  - she had said that, he’d simply forgotten.

     “Whatever. Are we still good to go to the mall?” Lucas asked, his leg beginning to bounce.

     “You’re with Eddie?”

     “He’s waiting in the van. I’m using a payphone.”

     “Yeah, but ask him if-“

     Lucas hung up the call as soon as he’d heard her affirmative response, nearly causing an accident as he bolted across the street, pulling himself into the passenger seat of the metalhead’s rusted van with nothing – less than nothing – to show for his efforts. He was quiet as he pulled on his seatbelt, the vehicle slowly pulling back onto the main road.

     “She’s back home, isn’t she?” Eddie asked quietly, his voice gentle – and, yet, Lucas couldn’t help his swarming embarrassment.

     “Yeah, I... I’m sorry, man.” he began, throat tight, hands clasped tightly atop his lap, the sound of asphalt crushing beneath rubber tires filling the silence between them, the low hum of the motor a gentle purr compared to the loud screech of Eddie’s music. “I could’ve sworn she told me she’d be here...”

     Eddie shook his head; wild, unkempt curls bouncing about his shoulders. His smile was easy, unbothered, his eyes warm as he spared the kid a look, the van rolling to a stop at a red light. “Don’t sweat it, dude. It happens.” He took a turn onto one of the residential streets, the entrance to the trailer park nearly in sight. “I needed to go back, anyway. Forgot my wallet.”

     “You sure? I mean, you don’t have to take us-“

     “Lucas, it’s fine, seriously.” Eddie drove through the familiar entrance to Forest Hills, bringing the van to a stop in front of Max’s trailer, leaving the motor running as he trotted over to his own abode. “Be back in a sec!” he shouted back, digging into his pocket for his keys as he disappeared beyond the worn, metal door, only to appear moments later with a leather wallet in hand. In truth, the wallet had simply been an excuse to keep Lucas from feeling any worse than he already did for having led him on a wild goose chase – bless his charred, cynical heart.

     He all but tore open the van door, the thing creaking and groaning under the sudden strain as he pulled himself inside – but, as he settled into his seat, pulling his seatbelt on and looking to the passenger seat, it felt as though he’d sent himself crashing into a wall, his body stopping mid-motion, hands leaded, face burning red at the sight of Veronica seated beside him; Lucas and Max were huddled together in the back seat, whispering something between them that made them laugh. He blinked once, twice, swallowing against the sudden tightness gripping his throat as he gave her a rather lopsided smile. “H-Hey.”

     “Hi, Eddie.” Veronica replied softly, her smile just as meek as his, her cheeks dusted with the softest of pinks, her verdant gaze brilliant as she stared at him. His eyes moved over her, noting in an instant the way her hair fell about her shoulders, soft and impossibly silky, tied behind her neck with a thin, red ribbon – he hadn’t seen it down like that since The Fling, and as memories of that fateful night bled into his subconscious, it only served to make his blush all the more intense.

     “You don’t mind, do you?” Max asked abruptly, hanging in the space between the two front seats as she turned herself toward Eddie, her hands braced to keep her from falling forward. “Veronica was already at my place when Lucas called.”

     “No, it’s... it’s fine.” Eddie recovered quickly, coughing a bit to hide his nervousness, flexing his hands to quell their telltale trembling as he wrapped them around the steering wheel. “That alright with you, sweetheart?”

     Veronica nodded, hair flowing over her shoulders – and, had Eddie been paying closer attention to her, he’d have noticed the way her smile brightened at the name, her blush deepening nearly to a cherry-red. “Y-Yeah, I’m good.”

     In a single, fluid motion, Eddie tugged on the gear shift and pealed out of the trailer park. “Alright, kiddos – our destiny awaits!”

       Walking beneath the burning heat of fluorescent lights in every possible hue, Eddie swore it’d felt as though he’d been dropped into a flowing, moving current of people – at any given moment, Starcourt Mall was always busting with activity, shops and neon signage spreading as far as the eye could see. Cloyingly sweet pop music played over the place’s overhead speakers, doing little to drown out the roaring of voices all around them – and it took him a moment to center himself.

     Yet, it was a moment too long. “So, where to first-?” he’d begun to say, only to watch as Lucas and Max ran off into the droves, hand in hand as one of them turned and shouted something at him he’d just barely managed to grasp – We’ll meet up with you later! Eddie let out a heavy sigh, pulling his hand through his hair as he turned, taking in a sharp breath as he suddenly realized he’d been left alone with Veronica – and in a venue he knew to be a popular spot among couples, no less. He felt his pulse quicken, his hands shaking, sweat beading along his brow. Would she want to stay with him? Would she want to walk off on her own? Follow behind the kids? He tried to find his words, certain his face was nearly as red as the ribbon in her hair as he asked, “D-Do you... uh... Is there something you want to do?”

     But, Veronica shook her head, hands clasped tightly behind her back as she took a stumbled half-step toward him, someone having brushed her by mistake in their haste to get by. “I don’t really have anything in particular...” she told him, biting at her strawberry-colored lip, lost in thought – and Eddie couldn’t help but follow the movement raptly, nearly losing focus on what she was saying. God, he’d never wished to be lip gloss before, but there certainly was a first time for everything… “Maybe we can just... walk around?” Veronica asked, pulling Eddie from his revelry. “There’s got to be something cool here, right?”

     Eddie smiled at her response, settling a hand at the small of her back as he led her away from the main entrance. “Sounds good to me, princess.” His answer was easy, calm – betraying nothing of the way his stomach was in acrobatics, or the way his heart was beating with so much force, he was almost certain she could see it through his shirt. “Let’s go?”

     He’d offered her his arm purely in chivalry, thinking it’d be the right thing to do; he’d also didn’t want to lose her through the crowds, so the gesture had made sense in his mind – never in his wildest dreams had he expected her to actually take it, her hand tucking into the warm crook of his elbow. And, unless he was truly fooling himself, he could feel the way she pulled herself closer to him – close enough that he could smell the soft, flowery scent of her perfume. Her body leaned against his, her grip on him tightening ever so slightly as they began to walk.

       Linked together, they passed store upon store selling clothing, sports equipment, home décor; Starcourt had anything and everything imaginable, much to their surprise – yet, after nearly an hour of seemingly endless window shopping and half-hearted browsing, they had yet to find a store they actually wanted to go into.

     Eddie stood a step behind Veronica, peering over her shoulder as she scanned the mall’s extensive directory, his own gaze trailing over the map in hopes of finding... something. Anything at all; just a single interesting place to go into. “Eddie...!” Veronica exclaimed, turning around sharply – and she found herself pressed chest to chest with him, close enough that she could feel the rhythmic beating of his heart, the thrum of his pulse through his shirt. It took her a moment to remember what she’d wanted to say, so lost in the feeling of him against her. “They... They just opened a record store on the third floor – want to check it out...?” she finally managed to ask, a bit befuddled as to why her throat had gone dry, her hands running cold as she clenched the behind her. What was happening to her...?

     Through her inner turmoil, Eddie leaned in close, his smile bright and beaming as he said, “Now you’re speakin’ my language, sweetheart!” With a laugh, he took her hand tightly in his as he all but dragged her to the nearest escalator, practically bouncing with excitement as they made their way to the shop.

     He hadn’t realized he’d laced their fingers together, and the thought to tell him never once crossed her mind.

     Once they’d found the store, they were floored to find it stacked wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling with absolutely everything – not just with music, but with instruments, recording equipment, memorabilia; it was as though they’d entered Eddie’s personal Nirvana, and Veronica couldn’t help but smile as she watched him dig through alphabetized stacks of records and tapes – a literal kid in a candy store.

     She, on the other hand, kept her pace leisurely – it wasn’t as though she wasn’t a fan of vinyl or tape collecting, but she was certainly nowhere near Eddie’s level of apparent fanaticism. He poured over the Rock and Heavy Metal sections as though he were searching for gold, and she quickly realized that she was watching him more than she was browsing the store’s wares, her heart doing this curious little patter every time he found something that made his eyes sparkle in just the right way. Were she being honest with herself, he was infinitely more interesting, anyways. She never wandered too far from him, always keeping him within her line of sight, smiling to herself as something... fuzzy began to bleed through her chest, and the feeling itself was enough to tint her face the softest whisper of pink.

     Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted him walking up to the register, a bright red vinyl sleeve tucked tightly to his chest; he bounced atop the balls of his feet as he waited in line, an unrivaled smile on his face as he made it to the front of the line. But, as he handed the cashier the sleeve, the two exchanging a few words, his face fell into a frown; he shook his head and said something she couldn’t make out as he left the line, the vinyl forgotten as he moved to another part of the store. With her curiosity besting her, she walked up to the register, and spotted the sleeve sitting on a shelf just out of reach.

     “Hi... uh... Why didn’t that guy buy that?” Veronica asked, pointing to the shelf behind the cashier.

     “Didn’t have enough money.” The man replied plainly, sorting through his things behind the counter. “The sale we have going on right now doesn’t apply to this.”

     She nodded, sparing a look back at Eddie, her chest tight. Should she...? “Can... Can I buy it?” she asked before she could think to do otherwise, a gentle smile growing on her face as she cashier rung her up for her purchase, sliding the vinyl into a plastic shopping bag before passing it to her; thanking him, she made her way back to the front of the store, Eddie already standing there, waiting for her. He gave her as best a smile as he could, yet Veronica could still see the disappointment behind his eyes as they made their way through the mall’s carpeted corridors once more.

     Distracted as he was, it took him a moment to notice the bag hanging from her hand. “You found something you liked, sweetheart?” he asked her, nodding toward it.

     Again, her heart pattered. Pittered, even.

     She smiled at him, her eyes bright, nearly sparkling. “You could say that.”

     “What d’you mean-“ Eddie couldn’t help but ask, only to be abruptly cut off as she shoved the bag into his chest, the plastic crinkling against him.

     “I bought it for you.” Had she said anything else, Eddie didn’t think he’d be as surprised. For him? How could she buy something for him...?

     “For... For me...?” His face burst red, heart pounding, his spirits lifting to the highest of heights as he turned to look at her, a hesitant sort of smile stretching across his face. “Sweetheart, you... you didn’t have to...” He peered into the bag, anticipation mounting – and his mouth fell open as he realized what she’d purchased; he tried to hand the bag back to her. “Veronica, no, I... I can’t-“

     “Why not?”

     He floundered; it took him a moment to work through his whirlwind of thoughts. “T-This was expensive...”

     “So what?” She countered, shaking her head, trying to pass the handle of the bag back into his hand.

     “B-But-“ He’d pulled his hand away, holding it to his chest in a closed fist.

     Veronica let out a quiet sigh as she reached over and took his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together, squeezing it gently as their gazes met. “Eds, think of this as a reward for... for doing really well at school.” As she spoke, he visibly began to relax, the tips of his ears red as his fingers flexed around hers, warmth to warmth, palm to palm; his shoulders fell, chest deflating with an exhale he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “You deserve it.”

     “Y-Yeah..?” Eddie asked, chancing a look down at the bag pressed between them. “You... You really think I do?”

     “I know you do.” Veronica’s voice had dropped nearly to a whisper – and, just for a moment, the world around them seemed to melt away, the sounds and sights of the bustling mall pooling at their feet like rain puddles as their hearts began to beat in sync.

     A loud sound pulled them to reality, and they both looked away with matching smiles, faces red; Veronica looped her arm back through his, her touch soft as they continued walking, perhaps just a bit closer than before.

     “Nope.”

     “Come on, Eddie... Pretty please?”

     Eddie shook his head, standing his ground against her. “Sweetheart, I’m not trying that on.”

     The pair stood in front of the main showcase for a tuxedo rental store – one of the newer additions to the already-bustling mall. The mannequin displayed was sporting the latest in men’s evening wear, the sharp cut and slim fit of the suit having caught Veronica’s eye as they’d been walking by. It was a nice suit – a very nice suit; coupled with the color pairing of red and black, it’d been a no-brainer for her to ask Eddie to try it on.

     She hadn’t expected him to refuse so vehemently.

     The least he could do was humor her, couldn’t he?

     “Why won’t you try it on?” Veronica asked, crossing her arms atop her chest, her gaze narrowing, hands set atop her hips as she gave him as best a withering look as she could – and the sight made him almost nostalgic, in a way. Eddie shook his head, his growing smile only fueling her annoyance.

     “I’ll look ridiculous.” He insisted, shaking his head; he motioned between himself and the mannequin posed behind the glass window, as though proving his point – he was certain he’d look like a fool.

     Veronica rolled her eyes at him. “Who says?”

     “I say, that’s who!” Eddie countered, his voice rising ever so slightly.

     Veronica refused to back down, her hand darting to grab his before he could even realize what was happening – and, by the time he’d managed to blink, she was dragging him into the store. “Well, I say you’ll look nice!” She exclaimed, turning around to watch as his sneakered feet left trails through the plush carpeting underfoot. Finding the nearest fitting room, she all but shoved him through the curtain divider, and returned in a moment with a suit in a size that would fit him. “Edward, just try it on!”

     Eddie grumbled and groaned as he slipped off his clothes, his heavy belt buckle falling to the ground with an audible thud as he changed outfits; Veronica sat just outside, flipping through a store magazine as she awaited his emergence – like a butterfly coming out of a cocoon, so to speak.

     After a few minutes, the curtain was pulled aside – and, out walked Eddie, in what he swore was the most expensive thing he’d ever tried on. “See?” He asked her, his hand making a sweeping motion down his body. “I told you I’d look dumb.”

     “You don’t look dumb, it’s just...” said Veronica, rising from her seat and moving to his front, her hands tugging the red dress shirt out from where he’d had it tucked into his pants. “You missed a button, that’s all...” As though she’d done this a hundred times before, her hands worked with practiced ease as she fixed his shirt, working from the bottom and moving her way up, her touch warm as she smoothed her hands over his chest, adjusted the shirt around him. And, reaching up, she flipped over the collar of his shirt and fixed the knot in his necktie, smoothing it back down, her hands gently moving the fabric into its proper place. “See? You look much better.”

     Eddie couldn’t help the way his face burned, his heart pounding in his chest, his head. He stared down at her, losing himself in her verdant eyes, his hands moving on their own accord as they laid over hers, holding them to his chest. Leaning in closer to her, his hair fell around them, a canopy pulling them closer together, shielding them from the world; his voice felt almost foreign to him as he whispered, “I could’ve done that myself, princess.”

     Having him so close, his breath fanning her face, his nose just brushing hers... The pattering in Veronica’s heart now pounded like the loudest of drums, keeping perfect time to the pulse she could feel beneath her palms, strong and solid, Eddie’s hold on her tightening. She couldn’t help but gasp as she felt his thumbs sliding over the tops of her hands, caressing her, drawing her even closer to him – if that were even possible. Standing chest to chest with him, only one thought blared through Veronica’s mind with an urgency that frightened her, her mouth going dry, her lips parting ever so slightly.

     “God, I wish he’d just kiss me.”

     She hadn’t the time to blink before two familiar voices rang out from somewhere down the corridor outside of the store. “I found them!” Lucas called out, the thundering of footsteps following his words. As though they’d been scalded, Eddie and Veronica flew apart before either youngling came into sight, with Eddie fleeing into the fitting room before either of them could see the vivid blush painting his face.

     “What are you doing in here?” Max asked, following behind Lucas as the pair entered the store.

     Veronica pointed to the fitting room. “Eddie was... He was trying some things on.” The waver in her voice gave Max pause, her attention splitting between her and the rustling curtain at her side.

       On the ride home, the group sat in order of drop-off – Lucas and Veronica were in the back, and Max took the passenger seat, with Eddie manning the helm; Lucas was the first to leave, thanking Eddie to high Heaven for having taken them to the mall. Eddie saw him off with a smile, waiting until he’d gotten inside before driving away.

     Veronica was next; Eddie had parked in front of her house, waving her off just as he’d did Lucas, waiting for a while before leaving – but Max could tell that something was different. From the way he’d said his goodbyes, to the melting look he’d given her, to the way he’d lingered at her house just a moment too long, she knew that something was... wrong? No, not wrong – happening.

     Something was happening – and whatever it was, it involved Eddie and Veronica.

     “What’s in the bag?” Max asked, pointing to the plastic bag Eddie had insisted on keeping atop his lap – for safekeeping, he’d told them, the plastic crinkling every time he moved his legs.

     “A gift.” He replied, his smile almost shy, the faintest of pinks gracing his cheeks – which, of course, Max didn’t fail to notice.

     “You bought yourself a gift?” She sounded almost disbelieving.

     Eddie shook his head. “No, I-“

     “So... Veronica bought you a gift?” Max continued, quickly having put the pieces together – the pair were alone the entire trip, so if Eddie didn’t buy it…

     The metalhead’s blush deepened, spreading all the way up to the tips of his ears. “Y-Yeah.” He replied quietly, his smile ever-present, perhaps even growing a bit. “She did.”

     And, as Max settled back into her seat, staring out the window as they drove through entrance to Forest Hills, she was left with more questions than she’d had answers for…

     Something was definitely happening.

Tag List

@lulukings92 @i-me-mine @kaitebugg03 @enchante-em

#becca.fic #ride the lightning #eddie munson #eddie munson fic #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson x oc #eddie munson x original character #stranger things fic #YYYEAAHHH CHAPTER 12 #did not intend to have it take so long to write #but it's here #bone apple teeth my dudes it's real fluffy and it'll only get worse from here #💗💗💗💗💗