#i'll do an eddie version next 🥰

[captainlunaxmen]

Be My Queen

Chapter 1

Eddie Munson x Reader x Steve Harrington

This is a repost since the old blog doesn't work anymore. 🥰

Chapter summary: When Vecna takes Nancy to show her his plan, he takes y/n as well to show her he already knows her or some version of her. For the gang, then it's time to come up with a good plan, and a trip to the War Zone is due.

Chapter warnings: spoiler season 4, blood, non-con touching, violence, Jason being an asshole.

What the hell is happening?

One minute, I hear Steve's panicked voice calling Nancy, and the next I'm in... a laboratory?

My friends and I finally got back from the UpsideDown after being stuck there, and now I'm trapped again... it's terrifying.

I look around, trying to calm down by taking a big deep breath. The walls are clean and white, just like a hospital. A shiver runs down my spine when I notice a girl walking out of a room with papers in her hands.

What the fuck?

She looks exactly like me... how?

I decide to follow her, seeing that I have no other option.

As I follow her... me... I see some other people, who look like doctors and nurses. Some of them are followed by kids. Shaved head, all of them.

I quickly take a closer look and notice they have a number tattooed on their arm.

Could it be where El lived?

Oh fuck. I'm in Hawkins' Lab. Why? Why is there a girl who looks exactly like me?

I keep following her around, but before I could follow her into a room I hear a voice calling my name.

I turn around finding a blonde man, looking directly at me.

"Yes?"

I turn around after my "clone" answered him. Her demeanour changes right away when her eyes spot the man. From calm, almost bored to nervous, on edge.

"I've been looking everywhere for you, love." the blonde man says with a sweet, yet intimidating tone.

"I... I was fixing some things... for today's tests." The girl tells him in a small voice.

As the man walks towards her, I notice the girl taking a small step back, but stops, almost holding back.

"You always work so hard. You should rest for a while" he's now in front of her and she doesn't look comfortable.

"I don't mind it, Henry, I'm not even tired," she says letting out a nervous chuckle.

"Take a break, c'mon. Ten minutes won't hurt anyone" the man named Henry insists, moving his hand to caress her arm so slightly.

"Maybe later. I have to drop off these files and check on the kids" she explains calmly.

"What about I check on the kids so we can have some... alone time?" He asks, inching closer and closer to the girl, who looks around the corridor to probably check if someone's coming.

"I don't think it's a good idea," she says, trying to remain calm "Brenner asked me to personally check on the kids."

Henry just looks at her, almost admiring her.

"Then give me a kiss so I can go on with my day without missing you too much"

He doesn't give her time to respond, his lips are already on hers, moving the hand that was caressing her arm to her hips holding her.

The girl's eyes are open, she doesn't exactly kiss him back, she just lets him and he doesn't seem to notice it.

"I'll see you later, love," he says after pulling away.

"Bye," she says and quickly walks into a room, I follow her just as quickly, however when I enter the room I find "me" attending to the same blonde man, Henry.

He looks bad, like he was beaten up or something, the girl's checking his head.

"Do you feel nauseous, dizzy, or..?" She asks.

"No.. just a little stunned" he answers, holding his head.

"That's good... at least a bit."

They stay silent for a moment, the girl looks at him with sorrow, I think, someone must've put this Henry through something really bad for her to feel sorry for a man she was quite intimidated by.

"I'm sorry, Henry," she says.

"Don't be." He replies looking up at her and grabbing her hand, the action makes her tense immediately, still he doesn't notice it, instead, he goes on "It was not your fault and you don't need to worry about me, angel, I'm gonna get us out of here."

"What?" She's confused.

"Eleven has a huge power. Her powers have the potential to become something great... she could help me build a new world. A world for us. Then we could finally be together" he explains and now the girl looks alarmed.

"What are you talking about?" She asks.

"Don't think about it, my love, I'll fix everything soon?" he tells her and kiss her hand.

What the hell is going on here?

I feel myself shaking, and breathing becomes hard so I turn around to get out of the room.

As I walk through the door I'm back in the corridor, but now the walls aren't white and clean... they're covered in blood.

I look around, on the ground laying with broken limbs and bleeding eyes there are the same people I saw walking earlier... the children too... all dead.

I feel myself getting sick when a scream catches my attention.

"Stop!" It's the girl again.

I run towards her voice and enter a wide room, a rainbow fantasy on the walls, lots of kids' toys on the floor... there's blood on them too, the children's. I see them laying on the ground blood all over them.

Fuck.

"Please, Henry, you need to stop" I turn to see the girl standing in front of a mad Henry.

He takes a step toward her and she takes a big step back. I don't think she cares anymore if he feels hurt by her actions or not.

"Why are you scared, my angel?" He asks, he doesn't realise she doesn't feel the same and he doesn't realise what he did wrong. It makes me sick.

"You... fuck... look at what you did! They're... they're kids.." she tells him in between sobs.

Suddenly he walks to her cupping her face in his hands, preventing her from moving away. She still tries though.

"Don't you understand? Don't you understand why I'm doing this?" He asks her, rather harshly.

"What's there to understand? You... you fucking kill them" she replies, voice breaking at the end.

Before he could answer her there was a noise coming from near the wall.

I look back seeing a boy standing up.

Henry's eyes darken as he notices him, he lets go of the girl and turns his attention to the boy.

"No, please... Henry... please" she tries to stop him, trying to stop his arm from slowly raising. "Please... fuck... don't!"

Henry nods towards the door and the girl flies across the room hitting the doors and Henry goes back to killing the boy.

He lifts him into the air and using his power he breaks his bones and his eyes.

The boy looked so young...

As soon as Henry killed the poor thing he looks for the girl, but she's nowhere to be seen.

She must've escaped while he was distracted.

I want to do just that so I run out of the room.

When I go to open the door I find myself face to face with Eddie's worried face.

"Oh, Jesus!" He lets out a sigh of relief.

"Fucking thank god" Steve exclaims.

"What... what happened?" I ask sitting up.

"We thought Vecna took you and Nancy," Dustin says from beside me so I look at him, caressing his arm to assure him I was okay.

I look at the others, all with worried faces. Nancy's beside Robin who got an arm around her reassuringly.

"Did he let you go too?" She asks and I nod "did he show you what he showed me?"

"I... I don't know"

-----------

We all moved to Max's trailer where Nancy started telling us about what Vecna showed her.

His plan of bringing a sort of army to Hawkins, to let the UpsideDown expand completely into our world through some gates.

They keep talking, but I can't pay attention, I hear them, but I can't listen.

I'm too focused on whatever the fuck he showed me.

"I was there" I suddenly say from my place on the ground, head in my head thinking.

"So was I. It was... so real I- " Nancy starts, but I interrupt her.

"No. Not that. I mean, I was there, at the lab. Or some copy of me, a clone or... I don't know." I take a deep breath "this... Vecna, one... Henry, he was, like, in love with this girl, or better, obsessed with her. Delusional. I saw... I saw him killing a little kid... the same way Eddie described... with no sign of regret or even sorrow."

"What... what if he just showed those things to scare you?" Steve suggests, evidently trying not to think of the worst.

"He didn't. I... I don't know what the hell was that, but I know it was very much real... and it's freaking me the fuck out, okay? I don't want to believe it, but... there's no denying it." I tell him. "For some reason, I, or another girl who looks exactly like me, was there and he feels like he found her again."

"Why doing all this just for... a girl though?" Robin asks "don't get me wrong, you're a wonderful girl, I'd gladly do that too. But why be so obsessed?"

"He needs a queen" Dustin answers her like it was obvious.

"Fuck..." I mutter hiding my head in my hands once again.

"Shit...Try 'em again. Try 'em again" Steve tells Max, who immediately goes to the phone.

We've been trying to contact El, Will and Mike, with no results.

"Anything?" Dustin asks.

"No. Rang a few times, then went to a busy signal." Max answers.

"Maybe you punched it wrong. Try again" Steve says.

"I didn't punch it in wrong" Max replies, rightly annoyed.

"Well, I don't know" Steve tries.

"I think she knows how to use a phone" Dustin defends Max, who's trying once again.

"I'm just saying, she could've typed it in wrong." Steve insists.

Max hangs up the phone again "same shit"

"How is that possible?" Lucas asks confused.

"I told you, Joyce has this telemarketer job. She's always on the phone. Mike won't stop whining about it." Dustin explains.

"That can't be three days straight busy, Dustin," I say.

"Yeah, something must be wrong" Max agrees with me.

"They're right. It can't be just a coincidence. It can't be" Nancy to agree."Whatever is happening in Lenora is connected to all of this. I'm sure of it. But Vecna can't hurt them nor take Y/n. Not if he's dead. We have to go back in there. Back to the Upside Down."

"Whoa. No, no, no. What?" Steve complains.

"Nope." Eddie too shakes his head.

"She's right," I say standing next to Nancy. "I don't know about you, but I don't exactly like the idea of being some teen-killing monster's mistress or whatever. So we either kill the bastard or... we kill the bastard" I say matter-of-factly

"We barely made it out of there in one piece" Steve points out.

"Yeah. That's because we weren't prepared, Steve." I tell him. "We just need a plan"

"A good one. Then we'll go through the gate, we'll find his lair, and we'll kill him" Nancy supports me.

"Or he'll kill us" Steve replies, agitated "the only reason you survived is that he wanted you to. He's not scared of us."

"And for good reason" Robin finally speaks "we were wrong about Vecna. Henry. One. Sorry, what are we calling him now?" She asks.

"One" Dustin and Lucas choose.

"Vecna," says Erica.

"Henry," Nancy says.

"Piece of shit?" I suggest, noticing a nod from Eddie.

"Right. We've learned something new about Vecna/Henry/one... uh... piece of shit. He's a number like Eleven, only a sick, evil, male, child-murdering version of her with really bad skin. But my... my point is, he's super powerful. He could turn us inside out with a snap of his fingers. It's not a fair fight."

"Then why fight fair?" Dustin asks, simply "you're right. He's like Eleven. But that gives us an upper hand. We know Eleven's strengths and weaknesses" he explains.

Genius.

"Weaknesses?" Erica's quite confused now.

"There is one thing we can use," I say.

"Exactly, when El remote-travels, she goes into this sort of trance-like state. I bet the same is true for Vecna" Dustin keeps talking.

"That would explain what he was doing in that attic" Lucas points out.

"Exactly. When he attacks his next victim, I'll bet you he's back in that attic, physical body defenceless." He declares.

"Defenseless? What about the army of bats?" Steve rhetorically asks, pointing at his injured neck.

"Right, true. We'll have to find a way past them. Distract them somehow." Dustin answers.

"And, uh, how do we do that, exactly?" Eddie asks, about to stand up.

"No idea" Dustin replies and Eddie sits back down defeated. "But once they're gone, he doesn't stand a chance. It'll be like slaying sleeping Dracula in his coffin"

"That sounds good in theory, but there is no pattern in Vecna's killings. I mean, at least not one that I can decipher." Robin notes. "We don't know when he's going to attack next. We don't even know who he's going to attack"

"We don't need another victim," I say, looking down.

"What are you talking about?" Nancy asks, worry clear in her voice.

"I can be the bait."

"No," Steve and Eddie say at the same time.

"I will" Max speaks up. "I can still feel him. I survived before I can do it again"

"No." I firmly say "we don't know if the music thing will work again. He will kill you if he gets another chance. But he will not kill me"

"We... we don't know that Y/n" Steve walks in front of me.

"Yes, we do! You didn't see what I saw. How he was with her. He looked at her like she was the reason the sun goes up every morning." I look him in the eyes, and my voice gets softer "he won't kill me, Steve"

"Are you sure about this?" Lucas asks.

"Positive," I say letting out a big sigh "just... please kill him"

"We need supplies" Nancy declares.

-----------

After stealing an RV we head to the War Zone that, according to Eddie, has everything we might need for killing things.

The plan is to buy weapons and then find an open space to get ready and be away from unwanted attention.

I sit in the back with Dustin while the others are scattered around and Steve's driving.

"Are you worried?" Dustin suddenly asks.

I look up at him, then I look around to avoid his worried stare and find Eddie's, instead. I smile at him, to let him know everything is alright.

"Scared shitless" I then say to Dustin.

"You don't have to do this. You can back down and we can think of a new plan together" Dustin tells me, he tries to both reassure me and make me change my mind.

"I know, I know. But the only other valid option is for Max to be the bait and, in all honesty, that scares me even more" As I speak I play with my fingers and when I sense someone's presence with us I look up seeing Eddie.

"Hi" he softly says.

"Hey" I reply.

"I'll leave you two" Dustin smiles at us and gets up to join Lucas and Max.

"You okay?" He asks and I softly laugh. "Stupid question, I know. I'm sorry"

"Nah, don't worry about it. You can ask all the stupid questions you want" I smile at him.

"I wish you wouldn't have to do this" he gently holds my hand.

"Me too. But better me than Max, or anyone else" I say laying my head on his shoulder, I always found comfort in this. We've been friends since I started driving the kids back and forth when they had Hellfire, so we got closer. Sometimes I feel like there's more, but whenever anything could happen he backs down so I'm never sure how he feels.

"It would be better to send Harrington. Maybe he could distract him with his hair, make good use of it for once" he jokes.

"Don't be mean," I say with a chuckle. He always knows how to cheer me up. "He might give him lessons on how to style it properly" I joke too.

I look at Steve driving.

Steve...

Steve, on the other hand, I met him when he and Nancy started dating, so of course he was always in the way. I didn't mind it honestly, he turned out to be not that much of a dick. Then he just got better, especially thanks to Dustin's friendship, but here things get complicated. When he worked at Scoops Ahoy with Robin he always flirted with me as I went to visit Robin during my breaks at the music store at Starcourt, at first I thought he was his way of joking. The moment I realised he wasn't joking I also realised I didn't mind it at all. I wanted him to flirt and I wanted to flirt back.

So... I realised I like, have some sort of feeling for two guys... at the same time.

Complicated.

"We're here" Steve announces parking the van in a secluded area to keep Eddie, Dustin and Lucas away from the people of Hawkins.

-----------

The store is huge.

"So much for avoiding angry hicks" Robin comments.

"Let's be... fast" Nancy suggests and we all agree.

Nancy and I go check out the shotguns they sell.

"How much?" Nancy asks the seller.

"$120.99, but I'll throw in 20 rounds of buckshot for ya," he tells us and I just nod at Nancy.

"Not bad," I whisper to her and she agrees.

While we keep looking Nancy hands me the weapon, but then I hear a familiar voice.

"Hey, can I see this real pretty .357, please?"

"Oh shit" I comment and Nancy quickly looks behind me and turns around just as quickly.

"You go. I got this" I tell her.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, just try to warn the other to keep an eye out for his goons. They must be around here too" I nod and she walks away, but that must've caught Jason's eyes because he then speaks directly at me.

"Look at that... What are you doing here?" He asks.

"Oh you know" I start turning around to face him, "they say there's a killer on the loose... gotta be prepared."

"Aren't you the freak's bitch?" He harshly asks.

"It's really sad you can't recognise what a friend looks like" I mock him, keeping a serious expression.

I see his jaw clenching hard, my words hit the target. He relaxes his face and takes a breath and just looks at me, in a way that makes a shiver run down my spine.

"It's a real pity" he then says.

"Yeah, it is. It means you never had an actual friend in your life" I say with a fake pout on my face.

He just laughs humourless.

"No, babe. A real pity is how you ruined yourself by hanging out with the freak" he walks closer.

"Oh no... you think I ruined myself?" I ask with fake shock, then I just smile "thank god. If having good friends instead of assholes like you ruined me... glad to be ruined, sir"

"You were really pretty, you know. I mean, you kind of still are... I'd gladly help you find the right way back." He... flirts..?

Oh now I'm gonna get sick

"Wow... your girlfriend died not long ago and you're already harassing another girl... just wow." I laugh sarcastically "see? That's what makes Eddie so much better than you"

"What would your father say, uh? I don't think Hopper would be happy about it" he suddenly says.

Oh... he didn't just mention my father, did he?

Now it's my turn to clench my jaw, he notices and smiles proudly.

"You wash that fucking mouth before talking about my father because you. Know. Shit." I tell him, walking up to him.

"Want my advice?" He asks completely ignoring me.

"No"

"Shotguns are not good for much of anything past killing small birds," he tells me, eyes focused on mine "I mean, they got power, sure, but not much range. And that's just gonna force you into close-range combat, then someone can easily redirect it by grabbing that barrel, like this.."

He suddenly moves to grab the barrel, but I'm faster, stepping back and moving the shotgun out of his reach earning a surprised expression from him.

"Keep talking about shit you clearly know nothing about and I might just show you what my father would say" I warn him and walk away.

I go pay for the stuff I got and reunite with the others as we walk back to the van.

"Remind me, please, not to make you angry?" Robin tells me with a proud smirk.

"You could never"

"That was... I gotta say... quite hot" Steve tells me pleasantly surprised.

I just wink at him, and we all hurry to get in the vehicle and just rush off before anyone could see us.

We quickly rush into the RV.

"What happened?" Lucas immediately asks.

"We gotta go" Steve cuts him off.

"Your old friends are here" Erica informs her brother.

Steve starts the vehicle, immediately driving away as soon as the last of us get in.

I move to the back with Dustin and Lucas.

"So.." Dustin starts.

I look at him, waiting for him to continue.

"Yes?" I urge him on.

"When are you gonna talk to them?" He asks.

"To who?" Lucas asks, suddenly interested.

"Eddie and Steve" Dustin immediately answers and I roll my eyes "C'mon! It's clear as the day you feel something for them, the both of them and they feel the same."

"It's more complicated than you think, Dusty," I tell him softly.

"It's not." Lucas interjects "I mean, Eddie kept worrying about you the whole time you all were in there. I mean very worried. Very."

"Yeah. And you didn't see the look Steve had when you volunteered to bait Vecna" Dustin adds.

"Yeah... I told you. Complicated" I tell them to drop the subject, so I just lean my head back and try to think of something else.

I have no idea what will happen.

I keep thinking about how this is real. I was there. I saw myself there in that lab, with Vecna, Henry or whoever the fuck he is. How is that possible? Is it some kind of trap?

What scares me the most is that I have this feeling it's not a trap. It's all true.

#stranger things x y/n #stranger things fic #stranger things x reader #stranger things imagine #stranger things #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington #steve harrington fluff #steddie #steddie x reader

[lunamadhatter99]

Panic

Part 8

Hi! Here's part 8😉 this is a bit shorter, because I wanted to leave the main event for the next chapter 😏🥰

Hope you guys are liking it, as always let me know it helps a lot🥰🥰🥰

Chapter summary: the last challenge made some damages, but nothing our Y/n can't go through. Also... Dodge wants to talk.

Chapter warnings: Ray being Ray, Ray's brother, a little angst.

Tag list: @shenevertricks1831 @mixed-theater-faisty-tings @stuckinthesmalldoor @girlygirl-20 @jillo0315 @one-edgy-bitch

Also.. I wanted to write some Eddie Munson stories too, since we gotta wait a month for Stranger Things volume 2 I thought... why not? Let me know what you think, please.

You can also send request if you'd like.

I got some burns on my arms and legs, but nothing serious, thankfully. The nurses wrapped my wounds in bandages and now I'm drinking some tea from the machine with Natalie as we wait for Heather to wake up.. hopefully soon.

"I couldn't do anything." Natalie says, looking at her now empty cup.

"That's not your fault, Nat, don't blame yourself for something you had no power on" I say hugging her.

"I just.." she sigh.

"Just nothing. You got out and told us, you warned us she was still in.. the house was already crashing. No one could do more than that" I tell her.

"Ugh" she groans.

"C'mon let's go see if she's awake" I take her hand leading her to Heather hospital room.

Heather is, thankfully, awake.

"Oh my god, Heather" Natalie quickly sit on her bed to hug her.

"Hey, thank goodness you're okay" I say sitting with them.

"God.. I couldn't even think. I.. you helped me get out. I couldn't.. I couldn't get to you" she says, apologising. "And you saved me"

"Hey, hey it's okay. Really.  Really." Heather reassures her.

"We were caught by surprise by the fire. There's wasn't much we could do" I tell them.

"You got back in.. to look for us both" Natalie grabs my hand.

"Yeah.. I mean.. I couldn't let you leave me alone with Bishop here" I joke.

"Hey!" Bishop fakes offence.

"I love you, you know that"

"Yeah yeah, keep playing with my emotions" he jokes too.

This makes both Natalie and Heather laugh a little, at least.

"I go check up on Dodge, now. Okay?" I slowly stand up.

"Yeah, okay"

"But if you want I stay, really, I can call him later...I..."

"Go see him" Heather nods towards the door with a little smile.

"Okay" I say, walking out and to Dodge's room.

As I walk to his room in the hospital I hear

him talking.

"No, I wasn't playing a game. Believe me, sergeant, I can think of better ways to get myself killed" He's talking to sergeant Langley, I think.

I arrive at the door standing there.

"Oh, miss L/n, how are your wounds?" She kindly asks.

"They're okay. Nothing serious. Thanks for asking" I smile at her.

"Can I ask you too why you kids were there in the first place?" She asks.

"Well, isn't a tradition to celebrate graduation at Graybill's House? We were having a small party and then.. I don't know what happened the fire started. Maybe some beer was dropped on something.. I don't know, I'm sorry" I lie. It's the version we all agreed to.

"Mh" is all she say. "Well.. it's good to see you kids are okay"

She comes to exit the room but before she actually does she turns to me.

"Don't play hero again though, it could've cost you a lot" she says, with a kind,  yet firm, tone.

"I'll try, sergeant" I smile again at her, who simply nods and walks away.

"Hey you, hi Mrs... uhm.. Jessica" I correct myself as soon as I see her 'I told you to call me Jessica' look.

"Hey yourself" Dodge smiles.

"Hi, Y/n. Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah, just scratches, don't worry"

"Thank you. For taking him out" Jessica says coming beside me to give me a hug.

"Oh.. how.. how do you know?" I nervously chuckle.

"Drew.. I think his name was, told me" she says " so thank you"

"Ray helped too, I mean.. I couldn't lift him all by myself. But no need to thank me.." I smile at her and then turn to Dodge.

"How about you? How do you feel?" I ask him.

"Oh you know.. just a scratch" he teases.

"I'm serious" I say, letting out a small laugh though. 

"I'll let you two talk" with that Jessica walks out.

"I'm okay, I promise. But..." he moves a bit to the side "I'll feel even better if my savior sits beside me"

I playfully roll my eyes and sit beside him.

"I'm happy you're okay" I tell him.

"All thanks to you. You gotta let me thank you this time.. I mean.. you saved my life" he says.

"Not alone though" I tell him.

"Yeah yeah, I'll thank him too...someday" he casually says "so.. can I thank you?"

"Fine" I chuckle.

"Thank you, Y/n" he says making a small bow with his head.

"You're welcome" I answer laughing. "You also solved the riddle, you're probably gonna get those extra points, congratulations"

"I think you solved it with me" he says.

"Nah uh.. you did it. I was just holding the torch" I smile at him.

"That's a big help" he insists, and takes my hand.

"You did great job" I tell him.

"That just mean I could definitely win and.. split my part with you"

I roll my eyes at that, he keeps insisting on this, doesn't he?

"I told you-"

"I'm gonna do whatever I want with the money, deal with it, princess" he says with a teasing smile interrupting me.

"Hey, it's not too late to put you in a coma. Also we're already at the hospital. It's very tempting, I'm warning you" I tell him.

"Mh, I'd love to see you try" he playfully nudges me.

"Don't tempt me" I tell him, again.

"Oh I will always tempt you." He leans down to my ear "in other ways, though"

I turn instantly red.

Before I could find something to say his mother comes back in. As soon as she enters her eyes are on my and Dodge's hands on his lap and a smile appears on her face just as quickly. 

"Everything good?" She asks.

"Oh definitely." Dodge answers, but I feel he's watching me.

"Yeah." I smile, a bit nervously.

"Do you need a ride home?" She asks.

"Nah I'm fine. Natalie offered" I tell her getting up. Dodge doesn't let go of my hand just yet.

"Wanna come over tomorrow?" He asks me.

"I can't. I gotta cover your shifts for the week" I say.

"Why?" He wonders, looking at his mother too.

"Because you have to rest" I tell him.

"I feel fine" he states, shrugging. 

"Uh uh, I won't take no for an answer. I already talk to Dot and it's arranged." I tell him.

"You..." he starts.

"I will too, so don't start thinking she's gonna do all the work" his mother reassures him.

"Exactly." I nod. "I mean.. I tried to have all the work for me, but she scares me, I had to let her get some shifts." I joke.

"Will I ever see you again?" He says dramatically.

"Never...this is the last time we'll ever see each other" I reply just as dramatically. 

He just laughs and lets go of my hand.

"Text me when you can, please?" He asks.

"Of course" I smile at him "get some rest"

"Only because you're asking" Dodge smiles.

I smile back and walk out of the room.

Today I work a double shift, to cover Dodge's, who's better be home resting.

The day goes on pretty much as usual, customers coming and going, cleaning everything... twice and three time minimum.

At some point Diggins comes in with a little flower in his hand.

"Hey there" he greets.

"Hi there" I wave "who is it for?"

"Oh this? This is for someone who played hero and almost died" he says, his tone almost accusatory, but most of all worried.

"Who's this crazy person?" I ask playing innocent, not meeting his look.

He get close so the other customers won't hear us.

"You almost got yourself killed you know?" He asks.

"Oh really? I didn't notice, guess the burns and the smoke weren't enough" I say sarcastically, more to try and ease the atmosphere.

"I'm serious"

This is when I know he's not in the mood for jokes, which happens rarely.

"Well, it's not like I was the only one..." he doesn't say anything "I'm sorry" I quietly add, looking at him.

"I know" he sigh "I was so worried"

"I'm sorry" I say again lowering my eyes.

"No.. you have nothing to apologise for" he gently grabs my hand to give it a small squeeze and then lets go. "You wanted to help them, I would've been very surprised by the opposite".

"Yeah..." I sigh.

"Here, you little hero" he hands me the flower.

"Are you courting me?" I jokingly ask, hoping that his playful mood is back.

"Nah.. I know your heart belongs to someone else" he winks and I roll my eyes.

"any news from the judges?" I ask, to aim the attention to something else.

"Still nothing. I think they're waiting for times to calm down a bit more" he answers.

"Understandable."

"I'm glad you're okay" he tells me. "I was worried already for the challenge itself. I know you don't like dark places"

"I managed. I had.. support" I say smiling.

"I'm sure you did" Diggins smiles. "Told you.. he feels the same"

"What if he doesn't and this is just him being nice? Uh?" I ask him.

"It's not the case. C'mon don't panic" he says.

"Ah ah ah very funny." I sarcastically reply.

"Well that's Panic's first rule, isn't it?"

"I guess"

"Trust me." He insists. 

I give him a sceptical look, but nod anyway.

"Call me if you need anything, okay?" He tells me as he head to the door.

"Sure" I wave at him as he goes out.

I go back at cleaning the counter, lost in my own thoughts until I hear the doorbell jingles so I look up to greet a new customer, but I instantly freeze as I see Ray and... his brother entering.

"Hi, baby" Ray says sitting at the counter in front of me, Luke sits just beside him.

"Hi Ray. Listen... uhm.. thank you. For Graybill.. for helping get Dodge out and for.. getting me out after." I tell him lowering my voice.

He seems surprised, and sends me an actual smile.

"No problem, how's the kid?" He tries to hide it, but I feel he was worried about Dodge, at least a tiny bit.

"He's fine, he's home resting"

"How about you, babe?" He smirks again.

"Don't call me 'babe', and I'm fine, thanks" I tell him dryly as I keep cleaning the counter. 

"Wanna come over later?" He asks.

"Oh you know.. actually.. no" I say.

"You're not scared,are you, honey?" Luke finally speaks.

"Should I be?" I ask.

"Not at all, honey" he answers me.

"Don't call me 'honey'" I dryly tell him.

"C'mon, come over... I'll make it worth it" Ray says, a teasing smile on his face and his eyes looking me up and down.

"I have plans already. But even if I didn't... I would have come anyway."

"You break my heart, you know that?" He tells me.

"Oh really? Oh.. shit well in that case. Still no" I say sarcastically.

"Oh you'll change your mind soon enough" he says confidently, standing up. "I'll see you, baby"

With that he winks at me and walks out of the café, while his brother stays put.

"Do I scare you, honey?" He asks again.

"No, why?" I tell him without meeting his eyes.

"You always seem on edge when I'm near" he says "at that party, I saw you.. you were so tense. Was it because of me?" As he speaks, a mischievous smile grow on his face.

"I don't know what you mean. I just don't like parties" I explain, simply.

"Oh yeah? It seemed like you were afraid of me." He insists.

"Well, sorry to disappoint" I tell him dryly.

He suddenly stands up and I immediately take a step back, he notices.

"Oh.. don't worry. You really didn't, honey. I love that look on your face, by the way." He then says, and simply walk out too.

I take a deep breath to recollect myself and get back to work.

"We haven't heard from the judges in, like, a week." Heather says.

We're hanging out in Natalie's room, Dot let me off early, since I've been working more than usual, so I decide to catch up with them before calling Dodge.

"I know" Natalie sighs. "Does Diggins know anything at all?"

"He knows as much as we do" I shrug.

"If they call off the game, we're fucked" Heather says, worried.

"Well you want to keep playing?" Natalie asks her.

"Well, I don't want to stay in Carp. You know, I wanna apply to a real college. And I want to.. have a dorm room. And a roommate froma different state. And I want to see people that I haven't seen every day of my fucking life" she explains

"Heather, you don't need a stupid crazy game to apply to college" I tell her, trying to make her reason.

"Exactly " Natalie agrees with me.

"No, I'm poor, remember?" She says, sighing almost defeated.

"Do you remember in eighth grade when April was, like, freaking out because I was wearing Adam's sweatshirt and she thought I was hooking up with him?"

We nod.

"He donated it to Goodwill. And that's how I had it. And then I just made him swear not to tell anyone anything" she keeps explaining.

"Why would you do that? She gave you shit for weeks" Natalie asks, confused.

"Because it was better than people knowing that I never get the first pick of anything" Heather answers and walks out, ignoring us calling her back.

"What could we do now?" Natalie asks me.

"I... I don't know. I'd gladly give her all my money to help her, but she will never accept it" I slightly chuckles. 

"Stubborn as hell" Natalie says, with a small smile.

"Oh yep. I remember that time, I also remember filling April's backpack with mud after how she treated Heather" I casually say.

"I remember that too." She lets out a small laugh at that too. "We'll find a way, right?"

"Of course" I smile at her.

I look at my watch and decide it's time to go home and call Dodge.

"I better get going, if I don't call Dodge today while I'm free he will complain for eternity" I joke.

"Oohh.. any plans?" She smirks. "Maybe a ride? Not necessarily on a horse"

"Nat!"

"What? As if you never thought about him like that" she winks.

"It would be just a hangout with a friend, that's it"

"Yeah.. sure, keep telling yourself that"

"I'm going, bye" I tell her.

"Say hi to your boyfriend for me" she teases.

I laugh as I walk out.

I get home quickly and change, then I call Dodge to check in on him and ask him if he wants to do something tomorrow. I think he needs to rest a bit more, so better force him somehow.

I call him as I make some tea, he answers rather quickly.

"Hey" I say.

"Hey you"

"How do you feel?"

"Good, just like the last few days, but my mother still doesn't let me go to work still"

"You want to get your shifts back?" I ask playfully.

"Oh yes, I'm gonna get my shifts back. You'll see" he jokes.

"Yeah sure, we'll see."

"I called and Dot says you went home early. Is it true?"

"Yeah, since I've been working more than usual Dot and, especially your mom, insisted on making me go. That's why I called you. To check on you and see if you want to hang out tomorrow. I can come over and watch a movie" I offer.

"Oh don't worry. I'm coming there." he suddenly says.

"Where?" I asks, confused.

"Your place"

"Why? Shouldn't you be resting?"

"I told you I'm fine, plus I don't need to rest. I need you" he states.

"I..what.."

"We need to talk. Almost there, see you soon"

With that he hangs up.

Okay... okay.. he's coming here, now? Why?

Diggins is right.. I'm scared he could break my heart, but he's not the type to do it, right? Well... not intentionally.. oh god.

Don't panic...

Don't panic...

Don't. Panic.

#mike faist #mike faist x reader #riff fanfic #riff x reader #west side story #riff imagine #wss riff #riff west side story #west side story imagine #panic prime #dodge mason imagine #dodge mason #dodge mason x reader