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asnowfern · 9 months

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We’re Not Strangers, We’re Lovers

Summary: Cassian's muscles twitched as every fibre of his being screamed at him to go after her. He didn't know her, not in this lifetime, not yet. OR another take on the reincarnation/soulmate trope.

Rating: Mature

CW: Implied character death

Word count: 3.1k

Read on AO3

A/N: Written for day 4 of @cassianappreciationweek : Lover💕💕💕

Enjoy!

Hazy sunlight streamed through the curtains into the room, brightening up the room in the orange glow of sunrise. Cassian's eyes fluttered open to observe his surroundings.

The room was functional and barely decorated, the kind that said bachelor's pad without being overly obvious about it. He shifted his hand and sunk into soft flesh, pulling the warm body close. Slender arms wrapped around him in response.

"Good morning, governess," he greeted, his voice hoarse from sleep. He traced her neck with his lips, watching in delight as it left a trail of goosebumps in its wake.

The bed creeked slightly as she flipped around to face him, fixing him with a mock stern look with those piercing green eyes.

"Good morning," she returned primly, her hand moving to fist his morning arousal. A flicker of amusement sparked in her eyes as he groaned. She continued, tutting, "Didn't your Oxford educators teach you that this isn't the way to greet a polite lady?"

His lips tugged up to flash her a rakish grin, "Perhaps I'm due for a refresher, governess."

He leaned in to capture her lips and-

A loud beeping blared across the room, the synthetic sound at odds with the suddenly archaic furnishing of their environment.

Cassian snapped his eyes open, taking in the familiar modern room fittings. He sighed heavily as he looked down at his raging erection.

He padded lazily to the bathroom. His eyes shut close as his brain too easily conjured those emerald eyes and how those plump lips would feel wrapped around his cock, quickly drawing out his release with a grunt.

It was one of those damned dreams again.

They started when he was ten as he was playing around with Rhys and Az, foolishly racing to be the first to top the tree. One misstep later, Cassian was knocked unconscious on the ground with two panicky boys.

It was during that bout of unconsciousness that began the first of a very, very long series of dreams. It was of a beautiful girl, similarly aged around ten. She had flaxen hair that glowed with the sun and crystal blue eyes that could get her anything she wanted. They played in fjord, chasing sheeps and each other. Cassian never wanted the dream to end.

And it didn't.

The dreams continued to follow him even after he had fully recovered from the fall. Dreams of him with multiple girls - chasing the beautiful blonde in the fjords, splashing water with an Indian girl who sported cute dimples along the Indus River, running and giggling around the English countryside with a ginger, scouring through Chinese libraries with the delicate female with the beauty mark. As he grew, so did the girls in his dreams. Many girls but Cassian knew from the whispering voice deep within him that they were all one person. His soulmate, a love that transcended lifetimes.

Haunted by the stories of past loves was a curse and a blessing. A blessing to know that there was someone out there for him, a curse that got bothersome after nearly twenty years of waiting. That left him oscillating between doubting his own sanity and wondering if the fates skipped out on him this go round.

Turning off the tap with another sigh, he stepped out of the shower and toweled himself dry, mindlessly getting himself dressed and ready for the day ahead. He internally hummed along to the boppy tune as he waited for the traffic light to turn. Glancing up to the red man sign, Cassian's mouth went dry.

Standing at the opposing end of the crossing was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Golden brown hair swept into a neat coronet braid with bored stormy blue eyes that assessed her surroundings with casual ease. The voice whispered to Cassian once more. There she is, the one you've been waiting for.

His muscles twitched as every fibre of his being screamed at him to go after her. He didn't know her, not in this lifetime, not yet. With his mind so wholly focused on figuring out how to approach her, he failed to notice the rushing commuter barreling his way into Cassian's back with his eyes still glued to his phone, failed to seize his muscles and absorb the impact. Instead, Cassian fell headfirst into the oncoming traffic.

The last pair of eyes he saw were wide, concerned stormy blue eyes. He attempted to lift a heavy hand towards her only for darkness to overtake his being.

***

Alarm and panic surrounded him as he drifted in and out of consciousness. Amidst the chaos, soft fingers interlaced with his, radiating comfort and warmth.

"There's so much blood," a small gentle voice sliced through the noise, reaching his ears effortlessly, "Hang in there, love. Help is on its way."

So Cassian did. Through the sirens and curt instructions from paramedics, Cassian clutched on tightly to the warmth in his palm. Don't let go, never let go.

He looked up with hooded lids at the look of breathless ecstasy on his wife as her thighs clamped tightly around his head. With a satisfied smile, he rode her through her release. He slid up the length of her body, taking care not to press any weight on her belly.

“Well, breakfast was delicious if I could say so,” he said smugly, licking his fingers.

“Cad!” She laughed, playfully pushing his face away as he leaned in for a kiss. She glanced at the rising sun through the window and heaved a gentle sigh, “You should get ready for work.”

He rose from the bed to wash up, letting the covers slide off his body and blanket his wife. Just as he was about to leave the house, he rounded back to the bed, dropping a kiss on her forehead and lowered to level himself to her middle, pressing his forehead to the small bump, “You be good today and not give your mummy any trouble, alright?”

She smiled, pulling him up for a chaste kiss, "Have a good day at work, love."

"Catch you later, stranger," he promised, his heartstrings tugging at him as a cloud of sleepiness visibly descended on her.

"Not if I catch you first," she murmured, sighing contently as he adjusted the blankets.

With one last longing look, he exited the house, counting down every minute until he could return to his growing family. It was with the same drive to return that got him through the day and happily walking back home when a fire truck raced past him. He quickened his pace, an unsettling fear blossoming in his stomach. His heart leapt to his throat as he saw the fire that engulfed his home.

No.

No, he thought desperately, sprinting towards the building. Not when they had finally found their little cocoon of peace, not when he had finally returned from fighting in the Great War.

He ignored the blustering warnings from the firefighters and rushed headfirst into the inferno. His heart pounded in his ears in time with the roar of the flames around him, overpowering even his own frantic cries for his wife. The world around them slowed as he spotted the familiar collapsed feminine form.

His breath only returned to him as she blinked her eyes opened. "Let's go, baby. Let's go," he murmured into her hair as he enveloped her with his large frame, protectively shielding her out.

Just as they were a couple of steps away from the door, he heard an ominous creak in the ceiling. Instinctively, he pushed her out of the way and allowed the heavy concrete to crush him instead of her.

Because it would always be her. There was only ever her.

So he stopped her from trying to lift the heavy structures crushing him and shakily reached for her hand instead, pulling her close enough to gently stroke her dirt smeared face for the last time.

"No, you're not leaving me like this," she declared tearfully, steely stubbornness bright in her eyes, "I'm going to get help so promise you'll hold on."

"Swear it!" She repeated forcefully when he remained silent.

He held her gaze for a sorrowful beat, acutely aware of the darkness edging his vision. "Go, it isn't safe here for the both of you."

Conflict warred in those sapphire orbs before her body angled towards the exit, "You hang on for as long as you need to."

He pushed past the heavy agony to give a shaky smile, "I'll catch you later, stranger."

The beautiful angelic voice reached him easily even as his eyes shut close, likely for the last time.

"Not if I catch you first."

***

Cassian blinked blearily, his vision sharpening with every steady beep of the machine next to him.

"Cass" a familiar baritone voice breathed next to him, shrouding him in a rain of salt and citrus.

Rhys, friend, his brain helpfully provided.

He groaned as he turned his head to the side and the small movement triggered a pounding against the inside of his skull. Rhys's usual sharp violet eyes were alight with worry, his brows creased as he swiped a thumb over Cassian's damp cheeks, "You're crying."

Cassian slouched back into the hospital bed. His insides twisted achingly as his brain caught up with the dream. He wanted so desperately to be with them and Cassian could still feel every pain, regret and longing. He inhaled sharply, taking in the ache in his lungs and exhaled, feeling the pounding in his head and heaviness in his leg.

These pains were his and his alone. He focused on the thought to dissociate himself from the man in his dreams.

"What happened?" He asked.

"You were hit by a car about two junctions from the gym," Rhys said, concern and uncertainty lacing every word, "Do you remember?"

Rhys continued when he didn't respond, "You suffered a blow to the head. I heard a blonde woman accompanied you to the hospital."

Something twinged in him at those words.

"A blonde?"

"Yes, a blonde lady was at the scene. She called the ambulance and rode it with you to the hospital." Rhys's shoulders loosened as he raised an arched brow, almost in amusement.

The image of the stunning female with the braided crown and piercing blue eyes cut through the fog in his brain. Next to Cassian, the machine beeped a little faster, something Rhys clocked with a quirk of his lips.

"Is she still here?"

"The woman? No, the nurse mentioned she left right after hearing your condition wasn't serious and we were coming." Rhys replied, continuing with a scowl, "But really? You just woke up from an accident and the only thing on your mind is picking up a girl?"

Cassian flashed him a grin, "Is that not how you know that I'm alright?"

"You're an idiot."

***

Three years later

A buzz from his phone dragged Cassian away from his computer screen.

Emerie: I invited a friend to class later. Don't be weird about it.

Cassian: Excuse me, I am a professional😤

Emerie: Sure💁🏻‍♀️

Putting his phone away, Cassian returned his attention to updating the gym's website and did not give the conversation much thought for the rest of the afternoon. Not until evening rolled by and Emerie entered the gym with another woman trailing behind her.

Cassian halted as his world froze to a standstill around him.

It was her.

With cheekbones so sharp one might cut themselves with it (oh, how his hands itched to try) and assessing steely blue eyes, she appeared exactly as Cassian remembered. But somehow, even more breathtakingly beautiful.

Their gazes locked for a moment as she scanned the gym, her lips pursed into a tight line. Cassian cut across the practice mats, stretching his arms, knowing full well how they flexed in his muscle tee. Next to her, Emerie rolled her eyes.

"Hey, Ems. This, your friend?"

The brunette tilted her head to the side in confirmation, "This is Nesta."

He turned to her. Her eyes burned with a fiery strength as her chin tilted up, daring him to make a move. His lips twitched, "Do you have any experience in MMA or martial arts in general?"

She shook her head, "First time."

"You'll do great," he said sincerely.

His belief cemented into conviction as she gave a derisive huff. She had a fighter's spirit, that's for sure.

He clapped his hands to gather the students, barking loudly. "Let's start with warm-ups. Laps around the gym. Let's go!"

The training proceeded smoothly, Nesta possessed far more grace than any beginner should, catching on the legwork with a natural ease. She stood fists at the ready to swing at the punching bag, grunting in frustration as her wrapped knuckles made a lackluster impact on the apparatus.

"May I?" He asked, raising his arms and hovering them around her shoulders in question.

At her nod, he stepped behind her, so close that he could feel the delicious heat that she radiated, and gently grasped her forearms. She stiffened in his grip, a tenseness that made the muscle in his jaw feather and sent a surge of cold rage through him.

He could kill whoever tried to hurt her. Instead, he swallowed the lump in his throat and guided her arms into the two-step jab and uppercut motions, his body twisting and swinging in tandem with hers, "Use the momentum of your entire body."

He released the grip, his hand flexed at the loss of contact. With a look of renewed determination, Nesta attacked the bag once more. The bag swung hard with her strengthened blow. Exhilaration and relief overtook her face, splitting it into a white smile that took his breath away.

"Now you get it, Nes."

She raised a perfect brow, "Nes?"

He crossed his arms and shrugged, "I like it."

"I don't," she returned, the words not having much heat to it.

Cassian leaned down, his breath hot against her ear, "But I think you do."

He couldn't help but laugh at her scowl as rose tipped her ears.

The words echoed soundlessly across the gym as Nesta attacked the bag relentlessly with a series of strikes, each blow getting more precise than the next. Never again will I be powerless, never again.

***

"Flat white for Nesta?" The barista's voice boomed over the noise of the cafe.

Cassian's head snapped up as his attention on his phone vanished instantly. He instantly drifted to her, his body moving on its own accord like a magnet.

"Nes"

Azure orbs widened a smidge as she tilted her head to him, the micro muscles of her face jumped as she scalded herself on the hot beverage. She maintained a careful silence as she capped her tumbler.

Finally, she turned to him, "Didn't expect to run into you here."

The place in question was a quaint coffee shop whose patrons consisted primarily of staff and students of the nearby Velaris University.

He held the door as they exited the building, his steps falling in line effortlessly with hers as he answered, "I'm pursuing a degree in physiotherapy. Expanding my reach as an instructor."

"That's incredible," she admitted as grey blue eyes flashed with admiration, "You're a decent instructor. It suits you."

"I'm still at the halfway mark," he nudged her shoulders teasingly, "You'll still see me at the studio for a couple more years yet."

"Well," she scrunched a button nose, a sight so adorable his heart squeezed in response, "I prefer Azriel anyway."

He placed a dramatic hand on his chest, “Az always steals the good ones.”

They settled at a bench overlooking the Sidra which leads into the sea, silver light glinted and twinkled in the reflection. The light gush of the moving water accompanied Nesta’s small sigh of content as she sipped on her coffee.

It was a perfect view of the river and the skyline of the skyscrapers that towered over Velaris. But all Cassian could and wanted to do was to stare at the woman seated next to him, at the curl of golden tendrils framing her face, her lips shaped in a slight pucker as she blew on her coffee, steely blue eyes stared pointedly at the body of water. He could do this forever.

Something in him purred in agreement like a lazy cat resting on a heated surface. Keep her, make her stay, it crooned.

"I got into an accident a few years back," he said suddenly, shattering the easy silence that settled over them. His hand unconsciously rubbed his healed knee, "the doctor said it was a miracle I regained as much function in my leg as I did. But it wasn't just me, I had an incredible physiotherapist who literally walked me back to health."

"That's why you do this," she surmised.

He smiled, "That's why I do this but that's not why I'm telling you this."

Hazel eyes bore into silvery blue, "What really pushed me through my sessions was a mysterious beautiful woman who held my hand the entire time I was in the ambulance, only wrenching it away when I was pulled into the ER," her lips parted as her breath hitched imperceptibly, "a mysterious woman that disappeared before I woke up, leaving no trace of how I could find her, thank her, ask her out."

Their faces were now inches apart, close enough that he could make out and count each freckle speckled on the bridge of her nose. Her gaze dipped slightly to his lips before raising back to his eyes, a small smile played on her lips just before she leaned in and closed the gap.

Cassian's mind was wiped blank. Then the sensation of soft lips pressed against him moved. That spurred him to action, raising a hand to envelope her cheek as he deepened the kiss and slid in a tongue through parted lips.

Nesta tasted like warm fire on a cool winter night, sending heat through his veins and lighting his entire being ablaze. A rough tug on his hair had him groaning into her mouth. He pulled her closer as tongue and teeth battled for dominance.

It was an effortless bliss that was simultaneously new and old to Cassian.

"So dinner tomorrow night?" He asked, chest still heaving from the kiss.

Nesta laughed, a sound so bright and lilting. "Tomorrow night," she agreed and recited her digits, pausing occasionally as his fingers tapped them into his phone, "I guess I'll catch you later, stranger."

He froze.

The words wrangled through his soul and left the organ in chest reeling. Finally, a heavy presence lifted and Cassian felt anew.

"Not if I catch you first."

End

#cassianappreciationweek2023 #day 4: lover #cassian #nessian #nesta archeron #nesta x cassian #nessian fic #reincarnation/soulmate fic #acotar

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hellfirexhoe · 2 years

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Saturday | Eddie Munson x Bitchy Reader

Summary: Eddie and reader are enemies who fuck on the down low. Reader attends a party that Eddie specifically asked her not to go to, but why would she ever listen to him?

Warnings: 18+ content, minors do not interact, drug use, language, reader gets very drunk, sexual violence, violent violence, angst, mentions of vomit

2.5k+ words

Series Masterlist

taglist: @haylaansmi @hellomothermoon @tlclick73 @fieldofsecretss @ghostiegorlie @likedovesinthewnd @soulfelon @xxlilyxx90

Once the afterglow from your closet rendezvous had left his system Eddie was left with a niggling sense of irritation, a feeling that only grew the longer he tried to ignore it. By Friday evening he was in a foul mood and the Hellfire members couldn’t help but notice it. Dustin was the only one brave enough to ask Eddie if anything was wrong, but the black look he received quickly informed the group that whatever was eating Eddie was not something he was going to share.

Hellfire ended on time that night, an event that was previously thought to be a myth. Eddie waved everyone off when they attempted to help him clear the room,

“ ‘s fine, just go home.” No one was going to argue with him tonight so they quietly said their goodbyes and left him in the room. Eddie packed the set up into its boxes, trying desperately to shake the image from his mind that had been plaguing him all day.

It was you. You were giggling, hair untied from its usual ponytail so your curls framed your face, your cheeks were flushed as hands ran up your thighs. A soft sigh escapes your parted lips as your partner comes up to kiss you, hands running over all of your sensitive spots that Eddie himself knew like they were on his own body.

Except, your partner wasn’t Eddie. In Eddie’s mind, he’d walked in on this scene and was watching from the door while a party carried on from behind him. Most of today he’d been able to shake it from his head before it escalated, it was like his brain was intent on torturing him with this image.

You, on the other hand, were totally fine. Your Friday evening was spent in your bedroom with Chrissy trying on outfits for the party the next day.

“You still haven’t told me where you disappeared to after Spanish. We were walking along and then poof! You were gone!”

“Had to pee Chris.”

“Don’t lie to me, Louise said you ditched Math. No pee takes that long.”

“I was having digestive distress.”

“Also a lie.” Chrissy narrows her eyes at you while you rummage through your drawers, trying to find some tights. She wasn’t stupid, she was giving you a chance to tell you herself, she’d already heard the rumor about you and Eddie in the closet but wanted to hear it from you.

“Fine. Yes, the rumor you heard is accurate.”

“In a closet? On campus?” You shrug chuckling at her expression,

“Honestly? Miles better than sitting in a stuffy classroom for an hour.”

“And its not weird? You guys haven’t fallen in love with each other or anything?”

“God no, perish the thought of me falling in love with Eddie Munson. He’s a good fuck, that’s all it is. He feels the same.”

“You guys talk? When you’re fucking?”

“It’s more like an unspoken truth.”

“Hmm.” Chrissy remains unconvinced that neither of you are being affected by your activities.

“We both know the score, I’m a free agent, free to fuck whoever I please tomorrow.”

“And he’s okay with that?”

You remember the flicker of anger you felt from Eddie at the mention of you sleeping with someone at the party, the way he had grabbed you, told you he would ruin you for anyone else, held you so tight you thought you might break.

“Totally okay with it.”

Eddie made his drop at Jason’s a few hours before the party, keen to get it over with and to avoid seeing you. The growing unease he felt while driving up to the house only worsened as Rick drove past, obviously leaving Jason’s having performed a similar delivery. Rick wasn’t necessarily a bad dude, but he had no problems selling to bad dudes. Then again, Eddie was also selling to bad dudes, just with more stipulations on what he would sell.

Eddie was met by one of Jason’s friends at the door for handover, Prince Carver was obviously much too busy with party planning to deal with drug deals, plus Eddie doubts Carver would ever be caught dead by drugs from anyone, it would ruin the clean boy image.

“Patrick, Jason needs your help moving some sofas, Chrissy and I are much too weak for such work, we need a strong man.” Eddie freezes as he hears your flirtatious giggle from inside the house. You step out into the hall from a room and Eddie is unable to hear the words that leave your lips over the sound of blood roaring in his ears.

You’re wearing a red dress that skims the tops of your thighs, legs clad in fishnet tights, heels showing off how toned your legs are. Eddie’s eyes take in every detail, down to the rollers which are still in your hair.

“I can finish up here, you go help Jason, you big brute.” You slap Patrick’s arm affectionately and giggle as he hands the cash to you and enters the room you appeared from.

“Is it all here?” Eddie stares blankly at you until your click your fingers in his face, “Munson! Is it all here?”

Eddie shakes himself and nods at you, handing over a brown paper bag to you and you hand him the money. You thank him and slowly close the door, once you’re out of sight Eddie seems to remember to breathe and that he should leave.

The image of you with someone else had been bad enough, but seeing your outfit meant he was now seeing everything in excruciating detail, seeing you flirt with Patrick meant that your partner was no longer just a faceless, vaguely male shape. It was Patrick’s hands tangling in your hair, Patrick’s hips that your legs lock around. Your red dress hanging around your waist as Patrick touches your breasts, red lipstick transferring from your lips onto Patrick’s skin.

How Eddie made it home without crashing the van as a result of his brain being determined to torment him is a mystery to him. He stays sitting in the van until his hands stop shaking. Wayne had already left for work so Eddie is facing the prospect of being alone with his thoughts until the morning. So he smokes, he burns through his personal stash over the course of a few hours, more a chimney than a man at this point.

You lean back and close your eyes as hands run through your hair, you’ve always loved having your hair played with, and this extends to hair styling as you’re now discovering as Chrissy unwinds your curled hair from the rollers at the back of your head, as you’d done for her.

“I hate to bring this up right now...”

“Then please don’t.”

“You saw how Eddie looked at you. Are you really sure there’s no feeling there?”

“Chris, no offense, but you were watching from a window, I got the full face. There wasn’t a look.”

“Bullshit.” Chrissy lets a rare near-swear go and you turn in your chair, mock scandal on your face,

“Chrissy Cunningham what is that foul language?” She laughs,

“You’re corrupting me!!” You link arms with her and head out of the bathroom and down to the party, keen to avoid any further discussion of Eddie for an evening.

You’re giddy a few hours in, going shot for shot with the basketball team will do that to someone. Jason has already switched Chrissy to water, but you? You’re a free agent, and determined to prove that a cheerleader can handle their drink better than any man. Your trash talking has attracted a small crowd and your attention has been caught by a guy you don’t remember seeing at school.

On a break from pounding shots you nudge Chrissy and use your eyes to indicate the guy,

“Who is that?”

“M’not sure, think he’s just one of the guy’s friends. Never met him before.”

“Well cute, tall stranger is making eyes at me.” You flounce over, alcohol tipping you beyond confidence into over-confidence, you go to introduce yourself but he beats you to the punch,

“Finally, was wondering how long I’d have to stare at you to get you to stop pounding shots and just say hi.”

“Well, hi?”

“I’m Hunter.”

You snort and give him your name in return, “Well, Hunter, what’s the prey tonight?”

He smiles and hands you a drink, “You, if I’m lucky.”

You politely decline the drink and he shrugs, taking a glug, “Fine by me, more for me. Smart girl though, not taking drinks from strangers.”

“Does Team Cheerleader admit defeat?” Andy jeers from the table where he’s set up more shot glasses.

“Never.”

You return to your position, quickly knocking back two shots while Andy is still pouring his,

“Jesus.” Andy has a look of almost fear in his eyes.

There is no high on Earth that could stop Eddie’s mind from racing the way it has been. At least that’s how it feels to him right now. He’s also cleared out of anything other than weed until tomorrow night, so it’s not like he could try.

Sick of torturing himself, he decides he’s going to crash the party, he rationalizes that maybe if he does see what he thinks he will that it might kick him into some kind of rational thinking. He might still be able to walk away.

“Hunter. w-who names their kid that. fuck that’s funny.” Your speech is slurred and legs are uncoordinated as your new companion helps you upstairs, insisting you need to lie down, take a nap. Chrissy had tried to intervene but you waved her off insisting you were fine, and Hunter was fine too.

But now you’re alone in a room with a virtual stranger who has anything but a nap on his mind, and this only dawns on you as you are shoved against a wall, rough hands grabbing at you.

“Hunter ‘m too drun for thi-” Your words are cut off by lips being pressed to yours, a foreign tongue invading your mouth, smearing your lipstick as you try to turn your face. You’re being forced onto the bed now, and in your fear your body goes limp, willing it to just be over with. You hear the sound of fabric ripping, and then a loud bang as the bedroom door is thrown open.

Of all the scenes Eddie could have walked into, this one was something he never would have wanted to imagine. You, looking barely conscious on the bed with some creep’s hands all over you. Eddie grabbed Hunter and threw him to the ground, fists laying blows until his rings were covered in blood, Hunter was barely able to register was happening before Eddie broke his nose. Eddie was still seething and shaking as you slipped off the bed and knelt beside him, Hunter had gone limp under Eddie, blood bubbling from his broken nose was the only way you could tell he was still alive.

“Eddie? Eddie ‘m okay. Stop now.” You sniffle slightly on the last word and he turns to you, a hand gently stroking your face,

“Promise me you’re okay?” You nod, your hand laying over his. “He didn- I got here in time right?” You nod again,

“Can you take me home?” You hiccup slightly “I was supposed to stay here but...”

Eddie straightens up and takes your hand to help you to your feet. You manage to sneak down the stairs together, everyone’s attention turned to Patrick doing a keg stand. Chrissy is waiting by the front door, eyeing you nervously.

“Are you okay? I’m so sorry, I tried to follow you guys but he locked the door and I couldn’t get in but then Eddie showed up looking for you.” Chrissy lets out a choked sob and you pull her in for a hug,

“You did good, I promise I’m okay. Eddie’s going to give me a ride home.”

“Thank you.” Chrissy nods to Eddie awkwardly as she opens the door for you guys to leave before returning to Jason, making an excuse that you got sick and wanted to go home.

“Have you seen Andy’s friend anywhere? H-something? I don’t know.”

Chrissy shakes her head at Jason, deciding it better to let someone else deal with the unconscious dirtbag upstairs.

The atmosphere in the van is tense, Eddie hasn’t said a word to you since you climbed in, you don’t bother asking how he knows where you live as he starts driving. You slump back into your seat, eyeing Eddie nervously,

“So...”

“We can’t do this anymore.” Eddie’s tone is flat and matter of fact and you know immediately what he’s talking about, but you ask anyway,

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t keep fucking you and pretending it doesn’t mean anything. We need to stop this.” Eddie’s eyes are fixed on the road, even as you place a hand over his and squeeze it gently,

“Please can we talk about this tomorrow. Not tonight Eddie, please.”

He nods and moves his hand to return yours to your lap. The rest of the journey is spent in silence, Eddie parks on the drive of your pitch black house,

“I’ll wait until you’re inside.” He gestures to the door, motioning for you to leave.

“Eddie... please. Can you, please, can you come inside?” You plead, terrified to be alone, Eddie leans his head back and sighs softly,

"Okay. Let me just park around the corner." Eddie parks up a little way from your house, then steps out of the driver's side and walks around to open your door, holding a hand out to steady you as you stumble slightly,

“Easy there tiger, I've gotcha." You wrap an arm around his neck to stabilise yourself and he helps you to walk the path leading to your parents house.

Once you've snuck into your parent’s house, you point Eddie in the direction of the kitchen to wash his hands while you check your parents are asleep. Satisfied with the deep breathing and snoring you hear from outside their room you motion for Eddie to come upstairs.

“Why are you bringing a bucket?”

“In case you puke, obviously.” Eddie hisses at you as you step into your bedroom. You step into your bathroom to clean yourself up, unable to properly look at your face in the mirror. You bin the ripped fishnets and step into your shower, letting the hot water erase any bad sensations left on your skin.

Eddie meanwhile has never felt more out of place, your room feels like it could be the same size as his trailer, it’s clean and tidy. He doesn’t even want to sit on the bed for fear of messing it up, so he stands awkwardly in the middle of your room, taking it all in.

When you step out of the bathroom, staggering slightly Eddie’s hands are reaching for you, to steady you, you offer him a small smile as he helps you into bed. You wriggle over so there’s room and pat the space next to you, Eddie shakes his head.

“I’m fine on the floor.” Eddie sits beside the bed, back leaning against the bed frame.

“Eddie..”

“Go to sleep, I’ll make sure you’re safe. Bucket duty and all that.”