#˛⠀⠀...⠀⠀ †⠀⠀⠀FREAKY FRIDAY⠀⠀﹕⠀⠀DEVELOPMENT⠀. | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

averagewriter-inthedark · 1 year

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Before He Cheats | Dagger Squad Imagine

Takes place after the events of TGM

TGM Masterlist

Characters & Pairings: female pilot!reader x Dagger squad (platonic), reader x ex!oc (past romance)

Content Warnings: angst, cheating, profanity, ends with sweet revenge | female!reader (she/her) | wc: 3.8k

Requested 📨 yes/no (rules for requests)

Premise: One thing about cheaters, they’re always gonna get caught. Whether right when it happens or years down the road the truth always comes out. And one thing they should realize is revenge is a dish best served cold.

Note: I finally finished my first year of grad school!!! Fucking finally people. Now I can relax and get to the drawing board. I already have visions and outlines for all current requests in my inbox and be sure to check out my April/May upcoming works and my pinned works in progress for what’s coming and posted! Thank you for your patience and to the anon who requested this I hope you liked it!

Also y’all….is there like some freaky shit going on with the universe and my works 💀 cause three days after I posted Lover inspired by Taylor swift she and her man of 8 years broke up and now I’m posting a cheater imagine (this request is from end of February) when there’s stuff going about Glen 👀 this is just freaky now

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Friday night at the Hard Deck consisted of a full house ready to kick off the weekend with beer and music. For a few years now Y/n had been working at the bar serving drinks and singing from 8pm to 9 as a way to make extra cash while her college sweetheart Ryan, who was a Lieutenant Junior Grade, was stationed at Miramar. Having not been married despite being a couple for so long, Y/n lived off base with some roommates while her boyfriend stayed in the dorms, however, he’d come to her place after work and stayed on weekends.

It was rare to see a military couple not be the stereotypically, “we got married right after I commissioned so my partner can be my dependent and travel with me when I get orders.” No, that wasn’t Y/n and Ryan. After Ryan’s commission Y/n stayed to finish up her Master’s at the University of Miami where they met while he was sent to Japan for two years. Then he was stationed in Virginia, followed by Lemoore, and now he was at Miramar. The longest base he’d been at. Y/n had been with him in Virginia, but didn’t move to Lemoore as she had a three-year contract with her job at the University of Virginia.

Toward the end of his two years at Lemoore, Y/n called Y/n to inform her he was being stationed at North Island and the contract was to be at least five years. Wanting to be close to him after being apart for so long and filled with hope they’d finally settle after Ryan hits ten years in the Navy, Y/n transferred to the University of California San Diego as the history of music professor. She also took on a part-time job as a bartender Friday and Saturday since she was only teaching two sections that occurred on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Plus Penny allowed her to sing Friday nights as an added bonus knowing she loved music.

Y/n settled rather quickly in North Island. With her two jobs she developed a friendly social circle consisting of the UCSD staff on campus and regulars at the Hard Deck. Several of the aviators took a liking to her. They knew Ryan and would often meet up every Friday after work to catch up on the week and watch her sing. Y/n always had their rounds ready the moment they walked in, “got ya seven cold ones.”

“Already?”

“The newbie over there didn’t read the sign. Round’s on him.”

They’d cheer Y/n on when she sang, literally the loudest bunch in the whole bar. “Sing it girl!”

“Ariana ain’t got nothing on you!

Phoenix sometimes sat at the bar when she needed to get away from the guys. “Are you working tomorrow?”

“Penny gave me the night off since I got papers to grade…but If I get done early I’ll be free.”

“Please, I am in need of a girls night. Hell I’ll even come help you grade if you tell me what to do.”

“Damn, Nat, were the guys too much this week?” She placed another beer in front of the pilot, removing the empty one to discard. “This one’s on me. You look like you need it.”

“You have no idea, Y/n. All week we’ve been training for an upcoming mission and they’ve been driving me nuts.”

Ryan had his own group of friends from the base who’d come toward the later hours of the night. They’d usually take up the space at the bar, Ryan greeting Y/n with a kiss and telling her how the day was. He’d nurse a couple beers before he and Y/n would retreat to her apartment when the place closed at eleven.

They’d been together for several years, coming up on their eighth anniversary when Y/n discovered his infidelity.

And it wasn’t just a one-and-done “I was drunk and stupid, she doesn’t mean anything,” type of deal. No, this was a long going affair lasting almost a year.

What was the kicker? The other woman was a married coworker of his.

Now Y/n may have had the reputation of being the sweet, down to earth, understanding person who would never hurt a fly. But as soon as her eyes landed on Ryan, her partner of eight years, shoving his throat down another woman’s throat while grabbing her ass like it would vanish from thin air…..she saw red. Kill Bill sirens blasting in her mind. Y/n wanted to ruin both of them seeing she wasn’t the only person betrayed. The woman��s husband was also being deceived.

And what was punishment for adultery and extramarital sexual conduct? Well, according to the Uniform Code of Military Justice those in the military who are married or have affairs with married personnel are dishonorably discharged, forfeited of all pay and confined for one whole year.

Was it harsh? Maybe some would see it that way. But cheaters need to be taught a lesson.

And Y/n was gonna make sure they got it.

For a whole week Y/n put on a brave face. Accumulating photographs and screenshots of text messages, emails, and bank statements to show proof of the affair and how long it had been going on. She secretly got in touch with the husband of the Lieutenant Ryan was sleeping with, presenting him with everything. Heartbroken and angry, he agreed to remain quiet until the meeting Y/n had set up on that following Friday with their partner's supervisor.

“I know this is a lot to ask,” she exhaled, tired from everything and having to act like she was fine. “But come Friday they’ll be faced with the consequences of their actions. I’m sorry you’re having to go through this as well.”

“It’s not your fault—you’re not the one who cheated on me. You’re the one who found out and had the decency to tell me. We both got screwed,” he rubbed his face with his hands, wedding ring flashing under the light. When it caught his eyes all he could do was glare at it. “The only thing making this somewhat bearable is the fact they’re gonna be hit with the ultimate blindside.”

Y/n nodded to his ring, “What are you gonna do?”

“I’m contacting a divorce lawyer once I leave here. Hopefully the papers will be drawn up quickly so I can bring them to the meeting. Make it a double whammy. You?”

Y/n threw back the rest of her gin & tonic, letting out another tired sign, “I booked a flight to Cabo. Spring break is next week so I’m gonna take a well needed week long vacation and then figure it out from there.” Sunny skies with margaritas and radio silence seemed to be the best therapy at the moment.

For the next three days Y/n maintained a strong façade. Whenever Ryan went to kiss her she’d kept it short or moved to where his lips hit her cheek. She continued to send screenshots to her phone and delete the conversations so he wouldn’t notice. When she surprised him at work for lunch the day before the meeting it really threw both the cheaters off.

“Y/n,” his eyes went wide, “what are you doing here?”

“Thought I’d surprise you for lunch,” she held up a bag of homemade stir fry, bidding a glance at the woman who also was white a sheet. “Hi, I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Y/n.”

“Becca.”

“Becca,” she repeated, a smile tight on her lips. While doing so she gave an obvious glance to Becca’s ring finger, finding the diamond. “Beautiful ring you’ve got there. Are you engaged?” Becca became flustered, but kept calm.

“Married.”

“Ah, your husband has a great eye for jewelry. You’re so lucky.”

Ryan was quick to cut the conversation short after the mention of Becca’s husband. Visibly uncomfortable with how Y/n was throwing their aldurty in their face despite not knowing she was aware of it.

The next day Y/n marched into their superiors office, dressed like a corporate CEO ready to fire the entire team for an unforgivable mistake, with two boxes on each arm. One filled with all the evidence of Ryan and Becca’s affair, the other containing all of Ryan’s belongings he had at Y/n’s apartment. Becca’s husband, Tim arrived a minute later with a folder of divorce papers in his hands.

They met with the supervisor first. Y/n introduced who she was and who Tim was, presenting the box of evidence and explained while the Captain shuffled through the papers. Visibly disgusted, the Captain thanked Y/n for bringing it to his attention and promised the adults he would handle the rest.

“Are you calling them in right now?” She asked.

“I was planning to this afternoon, why?”

“I’d like to be present if you don’t mind,” a hand came up to the other box she had, “These are his things and frankly, I want to see the look on his face.”

“Me too,” Tim piped up and waved the folder in his hands. “These need to be served to Becca.”

The supervisor simply shrugged and said, “if that’s what you want, fine by me.” He hit a button on his phone, “Wilkins, please inform Lieutenants Stevens and Leeds they need to report to my office immediately.”

“Yes, sir.” Though her heart was racing, Y/n remained poised and took a seat against the wall of the room. Tim sat beside her, both setting their gaze on the door to await their soon to be exes.

Roughly ten minutes later, a knock on the door sounded and the Captain gruffly said, “enter.” The door opened to reveal Ryan, whose eyes went straight to his superior before scanning the room ultimately resulting in him to freeze where he stood. Turning white as a sheet, Y/n could only imagine what was running through her ex boyfriend’s mind. There was great satisfaction seeing his eyes flicker from her to Tim to the Captain.

“Have a seat, Lieutenant,” the older gentleman's finger pointed to the seat in front of his desk. It seemed to snap Ryan from his daydream, the man stumbling into the room and unable to form words.

When he sat the first thing he tried to say was her name to which the Captain voiced, “I didn’t say you could speak, Lieutenant. Keep quiet, we’re waiting on one more before we get started.”

Becca’s reaction was pretty much the same when she arrived two minutes later. “T-tim,” she stuttered, red as a tomato and fear etched on her face.

“Rebecca,” his tone was blank, matching his expression. Just the full name combined with the parties in the room indicated to Becca she was about to have the worst day of her life.

But hey, maybe she shouldn’t have cheated then.

And Ryan? Mans was shitting bricks where he sat. Couldn’t even bring himself to look at Becca when she sat in the chair beside him. He kept trying to plead to Y/n with his eyes but she wasn’t having it.

The Captain got right to it. He laid out all the evidence on the desk for the two to see, Becca immediately breaking into tears while Ryan tried to explain. What could he explain though? How could he defend a year long affair with a married coworker in front of her husband, longtime girlfriend and superior.

When it came time for the Captain to discuss where to go from there, Y/n excused herself by dropping the box of Ryan’s things into his lap, “Here’s all your shit,” it nearly spilled onto the floor when the action surprised him. “Don’t call, text, show up at my place or at the bar tonight otherwise I’ll call the cops. I’m done with you, Ryan. Thanks for wasting eight fucking years of my life.”

“Wait, Y/n, please—,” she cut him off when he went to stand.

“You’ve not been dismissed yet,” that got him to freeze, noticing the Captain smirking in the corner of her eye. She turned to Tim, “Thanks for your help. Good luck with everything and I hope it works in your favor.” Becca gasped, realizing what the folder in Tim’s hand represented. It spurred on another wave of tears.

“Thanks,” he gave a tired smile, “And good luck to you.” With that Y/n was out the door and Ryan was out of her life. First thing she did was go home, change, and drive to the Hard Deck. Penny immediately poured a glass for her, “long day?” Y/n accepted the beer with a nod.

“Glad it's almost over.”

“What happened?”

Y/n felt the tears welling in her eyes. The emotions she had been holding the past two weeks had finally broken free. Concern formed on Penny’s face. “Ryan was cheating on me for the past year.”

“No,” the woman gasped. Never had she thought Ryan, who always came to the bar to keep Y/n company and watch her sing and her partner of almost a decade would betray her like that. “Did you just find out today?”

“Last Monday. I went to bring him his dry cleaning he left at my place and found him making out with his married coworker.” Another gasp left Penny. “I’ve been playing actor the past two weeks to make him think everything was okay while I gathered proof. Told the woman’s husband a couple days ago and we both met with their superior today. Gave him his stuff while I was at it.”

“I’m so sorry honey,” Penny reached over to pat her hand, “he’s an asshole and you’re worth so much more than him.” Y/n softly smiled at that, mumbling a thanks. Penny served her another glass, “Take the night off okay, I can call Elise to take your shift.”

If Y/n was being honest the offer sounded like a dream. She wanted to go home and cry herself into a bucket of ice cream while watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine until she passed out. But part of her also wanted to sing her pent up feelings out. “Thanks, Penny. I’d still like to sing though if you don’t mind. I could use the release.”

“Of course,” Penny waved a hand, “Whenever you feel like it I’ll have Jose set up the mic. Your guitar’s in the back where I keep the stock.”

For the next couple hours Y/n caught up on grading some papers at a booth while she waited for 8 to roll around. By 6 most of their regulars from the base arrived, signaling the end of the work day. Nat was the first to spot Y/n, strolling over and immediately noticed by the professor's body language that something was off.

“What happened?” She sat across from her.

“What makes you think something happened?”

Nat gave a look, “first, you’re not working the bar.” Y/n shrugged, trying to be nonchalant.

“Penny gave me the night off. I’m still singing though so I thought I’d hang out for the time being—catch up grading before spring break next week.”

“The tone in your voice is off.”

Y/n scoffed even though the pilot was right, “It’s not off.”

“What’s not off?” Rooster comes up, pushing Nat aside so he could slide into the booth.

“Y/n’s acting off and won’t say why.”

“I’ve been grading papers for the last two hours,” Y/n rolled her eyes, “sixty to be exact and all are six pages each. If I sound off it’s probably because I’m tired.” Again, Nat doesn’t appear convinced.

“But you’re still gonna sing even though you probably would rather be home sleeping the day away?”

“Friday nights are what I look forward to during the week,” Y/n scribbled a grade at the top of the paper in front of her, placing it on the stack, “I get to see you guys and sing whatever I want. I wouldn’t miss this.”

“Is Ryan coming?” It was an innocent question and one to expect from her friends given they had no idea of the events that’d taken place. However it didn’t stop the sharp intake of breath Y/n did.

“No, he’s not,” she quickly added before they could ask why, “he got held up at work. His supervisor needed to discuss some things with him.”

“Uh oh,” Rooster made a face, unaware of the boiling anger surfacing in Y/n. “That can’t be good.”

“Yeah,” Y/n clicked her pen, finishing up the last paper. Nat decided not to press further on what was bothering her friend. If Y/n wanted to say then that was up to her.

So to brighten her mood Nat bought her a round and challenged Y/n to a game of pool. Y/n packed up her things, placed them behind the bar and then greeted the other daggers.

“There’s our favorite singer,” Jake announced with a smile. “We were wondering where you were.” Y/n took the cue Rooster handed her.

“Just trying to get through the semester, Hangman.”

The two women played best out of three with Y/n winning the first and final game. By the time they finished it was pushing 7:50 so Y/n informed Penny she was getting her guitar. Once retrieving the instrument she returned to the floor to see Jose had set up the mic and stool for her.

Grabbing a glass of water, Y/n took the stage and set the glass beside the stool before clearing her throat, “Hey everyone.” There were a few hoots and whistles from her friends and regulars at the bar. “How’s your night going? Good?” There were some ‘yeahs’ from the crowd, people moving to get drinks and settle close to the stage. “That’s great to hear. Just sit back, relax, and feel the music.”

Y/n played several songs, all acoustic, starting with Taylor Swift’s ‘Getaway Car’ followed by ‘Back to Black’ by Amy Winehouse. She changed the tune by playing Bill Withers ‘Ain’t No Sunshine,’ but changed ‘she’ to ‘he’ that not many caught. She played ‘Norman Fucking Rockwell,’ by Lana Del Rey and ‘Somebody That I Used To Know,’ from Gotye.

Coming up to the final five minutes of the hour, Y/n gulped the remaining bit of her water and put on a brave face. “This last song,” she paused to close her eyes, “fits the theme you’ve been hearing all night, but is a little more close to the heart. It’s dedicated to someone who’s not present in the crowd which really is a good thing because he knew what was best for him,” very quickly Y/n saw the confusion appear on her friends, some whispering to each other to ask if they knew what she was talking about. “If you can relate to this song because you’ve been on the receiving end of betrayal then my heart goes out to you for I feel your pain. If you can relate because you’ve been that one to betray someone, well, I’ve got nothing to say to you.”

Letting her fingers drum against the strings, the beginning chords of ‘Before He Cheats’ by Carrie Underwood echoed through the bar.

“Right now, he’s probably slow dancin’,” her voice carried into the mic, raw with emotion. “With a bleached-blond tramp and she’s probably gettin’ frisky. Right now, he’s probably buyin’ her some fruity little drink. ‘Cause she can’t shoot whisky.”

Out in the crowd Nat cursed under her breath, anger rising at the realization, “That sly bastard.”

“What?” Mickey whispered, the guys leaning in.

“Right now, he’s probably up behind her with a pool stick. Showin’ her how to shoot a como. And he doesn’t know….”

“Don’t you see?” She gestured with a hand to Y/n, “Ryan cheated on her! That’s why he’s not here. That’s why his supervisor needed to see him. It’s why she’s dedicated this song, a song about a cheater, to him!”

All the sirens ring in their heads as Y/n belts the chorus.

“I dug my key into the side of his pretty little souped-up four-wheel drive. Carved my name into his leather seats. I took a Louisville slugger to both headlights, I slashed a hole in all four tires. Maybe next time he’ll think before he cheats.”

“Oh,” the word left Jake’s lips, fury in his green eyes. Y/n was his friend, and nobody hurts his friends. “Oh he’s gonna regret that.”

“You guys thinking what I’m thinking?” Rooster crossed his arms over his chest. All of them shared a look. Nat took one look at Y/n and saw how she was holding back tears.

Kill Bill sirens flooded her brain.

“Yeah, I think we are.”

Come Monday Ryan was emptying out his desk while he awaited his discharge hearing, dark circles under his eyes and in dire need of sleep. As he carried the box out to his car, it fell from his hands with horror coating his face.

Parked in the same spot his beloved red Mustang Charger was not the way he left it. The windows were shattered, tires slashed, the leather of his seats torn. His license plates were missing and the word cheater spray painted in white along the sides.

Hiding behind the building, the guys were biting back their laughter at his reaction. Bob holding the spray paint can, Mickey with the Louisville slugger and Bradley and Jake with pocket knives. Reuben had the plates behind his back and Javy kept checking the phone where he had hacked into the building's security cameras to make sure they were disconnected.

Right on time, Nat came running around the corner in her PT gear, slowing her run when she approached a visibly distraught and furious Ryan. Removing her headphones the pilot whistled, “Damn. That’s gonna be a field day to fix.”

Ryan snapped his head to her, “Do you know who did this?” His tone was accusatory and Nat couldn’t blame him. He knew she was friends with Y/n and frequented the bar every week. He wouldn’t put it past Nat being involved. “Was it you and her? Huh? Y/n had to get one last final laugh—as if she hasn’t done enough!” Nat only scoffed and rolled her eyes.

“I wouldn’t throw accusations so loosely, Ryan. I’ve had PT all morning and Y/n left for Cabo yesterday.” There was no lie in her statement. Y/n was currently sitting at the poolside of her resort with a margarita in her hand. She’d posted on her instagram stories and let Nat know when she landed. Plus the pilot did have PT and was finishing up her run before heading to the flight line.

But she was the mastermind while the boys did the dirty work.

The truth only angered Ryan more, his face turning even more red. “Then who did this?!”

“How should I know?” Nat smirked, putting her headphones in as she started to move past him. “But maybe next time you’ll think before you cheat.”

………..

TGM tag list: @avaleineandafryingpan @caitsymichelle13 @poppyalice2001 @cutelittlepotatofry @luckyladycreator2 @americaarse @elenavampire21 @back-tooo-black @wildellaa @artemissunn @pinkpantheris

#Spotify #top gun maverick #top gun maverick fanfiction #top gun maverick imagine #top gun maverick angst #TGM imagine #tgm fanfiction #dagger squad imagine #dagger squad x reader #dagger squad x platonic!reader #TGM x reader #tgm txt #jake seresin x reader #bradley bradshaw x reader #natasha trace x reader #mickey Garcia x reader #bob floyd x reader #javy machado x reader #reuben fitch x reader

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jo-harrington · 1 year

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Freaky Friday - A Stranger Things Story (Part 5)

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5

Word Count: 14.1k

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader, Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader, Eddie and Steve (Enemies to Friends)

Summary: Eddie thinks that Steve has everything in life handed to him on a silver platter (including his new girlfriend who Eddie has a crush on). And Steve just can't believe that the kids look up to Eddie the Freak, or that he lives his life without giving a single fuck.

Must be nice. But you know what they say, the grass is always greener.

Warnings/Themes: AU with no Upside Down. Angst, body swapping, dark magic/alchemy, fluff, love, smut, mutual pining, Character development, manipulation/deception, Things That Require Communication (Hey Guess What) , Reader gets a nickname (Honey), no Y/N if I can help it, self hatred, loss of identity, oral sex (f receiving), vaginal fingering, dry humping

Note: Ok guys, here we are. Only 4 hours late and with no PiV because I'm a lying bitch but I will write a oneshot if we want it. Holy shit, but can I say that this is the first "series" that I have finished writing. I talk a big fucking game about writing fics for so long, but man those were LONG FICS that I abandoned hundreds of thousands of words in, or they were all oneshots that now only live on my old computer. The ending, I hope, is not disappointing, but I literally didn't want it to be left up to interpretation. Thank you @ghost-proofbaby for tamping my insecurities down with this one. If I am the brains of this series, you for sure are the heart. And let's not forget @shiftingtherain once again for inspiring this whole thing to begin with.

This chapter is unedited...but I am tired and sweaty and happy. So have fun.

You can find my masterlist here.

Please do not interact if you are not 18+.

Enjoy!

"You're lucky I don't have to--shit!" Robin's eyes went as Steve opened the door to the trailer and she got a view of his--Eddie's--face. She reached out, as if to touch the swollen bruising, but second guessed herself and her hands immediately found the straps of her backpack. "What happened to you?"

"Eddie happened," Steve grumbled miserably.

"Eddie?!" Robin shrieked and Steve immediately shushed her and swatted her into the trailer. He pointed to Wayne, who was--thankfully--dead asleep and snoring on the fold-out bed, then ushered her back towards Eddie's room.

He'd felt...somewhat guilty early on when he realized that Wayne slept out there on the uncomfortable fold-out while "Eddie" had a room and a bed, and had tried to offer to swap, but Wayne grumbled something along the lines of "if I told you once, I told you a thousand times."

"Eddie did this?" Robin asked once the bedroom door was shut behind her. "Did he lose his mind?! Why would he punch you? You two are supposed to be...seeing through one another's eyes and all that shit. Working together to get back into your own bodies."

Steve felt his stomach drop.

He had stewed on it all night Friday and all day Saturday as he hid in Eddie's room and wallowed in shame. The sick sort of triumph he felt when he got that response from Eddie--as impulsive and fueled by anger as his own words had been--had faded and as the mottled colors began stitching together and spreading across his skin, the realization of just what he had said had settled in. And with every moment that the ache in his face became more pronounced, his guilt grew.

"I...I might have...fucked up," he admitted. Robin's expression went from one of shock to one of annoyance, and Steve immediately launched into a recap of Friday night. Hell...of everything that he'd been keeping from her.

Because, truth be told, he had been.

Steve knew that Robin was more in touch with her emotions, or rather...acknowledged them at the very least instead of simply ignoring them. She was smart as a whip and when she made you face the truth, it stung just as badly. He had told her that he'd been getting tutoring sessions...just not from who. Every time he brought up Nancy...well...Robin wasn't her biggest fan. Really not because of anything that she had done...except break Steve's heart...but because he couldn't get over her no matter how hard he tried.

And if he was being honest with himself, he hadn't...really tried too hard.

Steve hoped Robin would see things from his perspective, though. Her expression remained stony as he explained everything, but her emotions shone through her eyes as he poured his heart out. As he admitted to all the mistakes he made.

"I don't...I don't really believe those things," Steve explained truthfully. "But when I get hurt? When I'm desperate and overwhelmed? I just...lash out. You know this. And there's so much I've had to keep inside and this whole experience.

"Rob...you've gotta believe me, it's been shit. Eddie's right, his life is hard...I really don't know how he does it but...damn my life sucks too alright? So I figured, if I could have one thing, just one thing, to make it all worth it...this might be it.

"But I don't know why...why he wouldn't just let me have this," he concluded and ran a hand over his face, wincing as he pressed into his black eye.

"Alright, you're not just a dingus, you're a real bonehead," Robin rolled her eyes. "You and Eddie both! This whole situation isn't some treat for either of you, it's supposed to be a lesson."

"I know that!" Steve threw his hands out to gesture at himself. "But I'm still Eddie and Eddie's still me. So what lesson? What is selfless love?"

"Because you haven't...you haven't..." Robin sighed and ran her hands through her bangs. "Maybe we're working backwards? We're trying to find...selfless love. But...but the spell said there was a prize reflected in each other's eyes. What about self love? Gotta love yourself before you love someone else right? Or whatever bullshit those self help people say on the Oprah show."

"That's bullshit Rob, I don't love myself," Steve grumbled. "In fact, I hate myself...a lot."

"Ok ok," she pointed at him. "See and you thought Eddie had it all, that he loved his life. You told me so yourself. You were jealous because he had it all."

"But he doesn't."

"And he thought you had it all? But now he's realizing you don't," she reasoned.

The more Robin talked and rambled, the more she made sense. She snapped her fingers and waved her hands around, as though willing the solution into her head.

"Ok," Steve sighed. "We've figured out that no...we don't actually like being one another...so what gives? Why haven't we switched back?"

Robin gasped and grabbed Steve by the shoulders to shake him.

"It's Nancy! You idiot!" she hissed.

"Nancy?" Steve frowned. "Nancy's not stuck in someone else's body, I am."

"No!" Robin groaned. "You were on the right track but you started thinking with your dick when you thought that you could get back with Nancy!"

Steve began to fidget.

Was it...could that have been the answer all along?

He refused to believe it.

"We loved each other!"

"But you loved her more than she loved you," Robin explained, mirroring words he had once confided in her right back to him. "And you refused to let her go. And now you would quite literally be someone else entirely to get her back."

"She doesn't love Steve," he signed. "But she might love Eddie."

"Are you hearing yourself right now?" Robin stared at him, dumbfounded. "You are not Eddie Munson. You have to let her go. You have to accept yourself, and if that means letting Nancy go, then it's the right thing to do. You need to apologize to Eddie...and you need to fix this."

Steve's mind raced; he knew, deep down, it was all true but...he just couldn't accept that it was just that easy.

"Ok, ok, b-but there has to be another way," Steve attempted to deflect and Robin groaned and rolled her eyes. "No, wait, hear me out here. I...I could...help him get a job at the dealership--"

"Not gonna help when you are still Eddie and you don't know shit about cars," Robin reasoned.

Steve pushed past her and dug through the pile of notebooks and textbooks on Eddie's dresser.

"I could get him to graduate," Steve bargained.

"I think you need to give it up," Robin rolled her eyes. "You know what you need to do."

"No, I can do other selfless things, I can, I can..."

Steve and Robin went back and forth, verbally jousting with excuses and explanations, as he flipped through Eddie's school notebooks. He glanced over half-finished essay drafts and barely legible chemistry equations. As though there would be some great solution to this problem amongst the countless algebra equations and--

"Hang on," Steve held his hand out to silence Robin. He turned and showed her the notebook. "Look at this."

"What is it?" She took the notebook from him and they flipped through the notebook together.

Your name. Over and over. Your initials and Eddie's. Little heart drawings and daggers and--what Steve assumed to be--princesses and knights. And then towards the end...a bunch of pen scribbles obscuring the little fantasies with the oh-so-familiar sigil drawn beneath.

It had been a notebook that Steve had scooped into his arms along with piles of Eddie's laundry and other knick knacks in an attempt to tidy up the trailer a little bit for his own sanity Wayne. To clear away some of the clutter. Especially after he and Eddie had torn the trailer apart looking for the occult book that one night, something that felt like ages ago now.

Steve felt a kind of triumph at this. Justification.

What a fucking hypocrite.

So it wasn't just him that was holding up their inevitable switch back, it was Eddie too. Eddie had a crush on you, and now he had gotten exactly what he wanted by dating you for Steve.

Except...

Except Eddie sort of always seemed to be worried about you. Worried about you finding out the truth, wondered how upset you might be if you did.

"Shit..." Steve sighed.

"Ok so maybe Eddie is as much to blame here as you are," Robin rationalized. "I told him...he needed to tell her the truth, that she would be heartbroken. I didn't realize that he..."

"No...it's..." Steve struggled. "Shit...shit."

Because it all made sense. Steve hadn't thought about the details, really, but he knew how it felt to have feelings for someone who you couldn't have...who didn't like you back. And while he happily planned to try Nancy back...Eddie...and you...

"Shit!"

He had to talk to Eddie.

"Hey Steve. Uhh..." You twirled the phone cord around your finger as you stammered into the receiver; the speech that you had practiced in your head was completely forgotten as you got the Harrington's answering machine.

"Listen, you left pretty quickly last night and I was just wondering if everything was alright? Or...or maybe I did something to upset you? B-because...we are having a good day, I just...if I did something...I'm sorry. Anyway...uhm...I'll try calling back later...or I'll...yeah...bye."

You slammed the phone as you hung up and covered your face with a groan.

You were up all night--heartbroken and embarrassed.

Steve left...he ran out of your house. One minute...he was...well he was...

You'd had a wonderful date and you had been...so focused, so in the moment as he...gave you the most intense pleasure you'd ever felt...and he just left.

You had been shocked. Barely clothed, legs made of jelly--whole body made of jelly--stunned into silence as he pushed himself away from you and pulled his clothes back on. When you called his name, he looked sick to his stomach.

His eyes clamped shut, shook his head, and then ran.

You'd pushed yourself out of bed, stumbled after him while calling his name, but he was gone. You could practically hear the tires screeching as he tore down the street.

Something happened. You must have done something. It was the only explanation that made sense. Everything had been going great and then it wasn't, and he looked so...disgusted.

So it must have been you. You wracked your brain for some idea...

Did you...did you make a weird noise? Did you...moan too loud or something?

...until a sense of dread overcame you.

Had you said Eddie's name? And not Steve's?

No...no...you couldn't have. Because as much as Eddie kept popping up in your thoughts...you knew that you were with Steve. Your entire head and heart were filled with Steve Harrington.

So why did something still feel wrong when you thought about it now?

Your mom got home late and had trudged off to bed; she barely glanced into your room to make sure you were asleep, and you had half the urge to stop her before she scuttled off. But you knew she would grill you if she saw the tear tracks reflecting the streetlight outside of your room.

You couldn't tell her about this.

And of course, you didn't tell your mom everything but...you really could have used a little bit of comfort. Her occasional words of wisdom that seemed to make everything better.

It was as you lay in your bed that you thought about the other times you'd gone to her, the times you'd cry after a mishap that your child brain couldn't quite comprehend. All the hurt in the world because of a doll that wasn't shared, or some painful words that were thrown around haphazardly.

"I'm sure it's all a misunderstanding," she always said. "You can talk in the morning, and it'll all be ok."

Except it wasn't ok. And Steve hadn't picked up. And you felt...sick.

You would have gone over to the Harrington's house or Family Video if you didn't have to get to work...to apologize in person and...

And what? What if he never wants to see you again? What if this just pushes him right back into the arms of Nancy Wheeler?

You knew that the insidious little voice in your head was just...just praying on your insecurities. It was irrational, but a fear was a fear. And you didn't want to lose someone you loved as wonderful as Steve.

You took a calming breath and made a plan...you had work today and class all day tomorrow, which meant if Steve didn't call back by the time you got out of work...you might not even going to see him until Tuesday night at the earliest if he was going to hang out with Eddie and the--

Eddie.

Your stomach lurched with nerves.

He and Eddie were friends, it was a fact that you were trying to move past. And as much as it anguished you to see Eddie...you couldn't lose Steve. So maybe...just maybe if Eddie didn't already know what happened and refused to look at you, he would know how to fix this.

You couldn't wait for Tuesday night.

You needed to fix this today.

"There you go sweetie," Mary cooed as she placed a mug of chicken soup on the bedside table and then brushed the hair out of "Steve's" face. "And I ran out and got crackers and ginger ale if you're not feeling up to soup."

"Uh-huh. Great. Thanks mom," Eddie muttered and stared numbly at the plaid-papered walls. If he didn't look at her, if he focused on the tense whooshing sound in his ears instead of her voice, he could pretend that it was his mom taking care of him.

Truthfully, he didn't want to be here, pretending to be sick. After he'd made his escape from your house, he realized he had nowhere to go where he could ground himself in...well...in himself. The one place he wanted--his stupid, ramshackle trailer in Forest Hills...home--was still inaccessible to him. So was his other home, you, as he had just...left you. Ran. Like a coward.

While he didn't want to be stuck in the Harrington's house with Mary up his ass for hours, he knew it was the only place he could really let himself become numb without interference from the outside world. So Eddie resigned himself to another day of being Steve Harrington and allowed Steve's mother to coddle him. The cold reception he had been receiving from Mary was immediately replaced with gentle care that made Eddie feel like a kid again, in those carefree days between his father's incarceration and his mother's death.

Knowing how deceitful she was, though...how willing she was to manipulate her son...well, needless to say that Eddie wasn't really buying the sincerity of Mary's behavior. He wished that it was genuine--for Steve's sake, even though he was still pissed at Steve--but in the case that it wasn't, he was not letting up on his demands.

Chicken soup from the deli, snacks from the grocery store, and some time in the house alone so he could smoke a joint in peace and let the high calm his troubles for a little while.

"You know," Mary sat down on the edge of the bed and Eddie groaned, which immediately got her to change her mind and remain standing. "I called the video store to let them know you were having a sick day, and that manager. Kevin? Keith? He was incredibly rude."

"Yeah," Eddie responded as Mary continued, disinterested in making a conversation now that he had started to come down from his high.

"And speaking of rude," she scoffed. "There's this...rude girl who's called twice this morning already while I was out; she left messages. Is this the girl who you've been going out with Stevie?"

Eddie's interest piqued and his spirits lifted just the slightest, then fell again, when he realized it must have been you.

Now, after the panic had subsided, he knew that he had messed up. That he shouldn't have run. Fuck...he couldn't finish what he started but at the very least he could have...stayed and told you the truth. Told you everything. But hindsight was 20-20, or so they said, and in the heat of the moment...running from the reality that he wasn't himself and that you would never love him seemed like the only thing he could do.

Eddie didn't quite know how to feel about the fact that you were calling him now. It wasn't that he didn't want to see you. No, he...he only wanted to fix what he had messed up. But...he just couldn't stand to see you look at Steve with that look in your eyes. Hear you say his name, when all Eddie wanted was for you to want him.

"...sounded so unsure of herself. That's not the kind of girl you want to attach yourself to; you need someone who knows what they want and will go after it. Not to mention that she apologized. Said she hurt your feelings. Is this why you're sick? What did she do? I'll have a talk with her mother and make sure she never calls you aga--"

Mary's heated speech was interrupted by the rapid ringing of the doorbell. She tried to ignore it but it kept ringing.

"My God, if we're not answering it means we're busy," she groused under her breath and turned on her heel. "Will some people never learn patience."

Eddie said a quick thank you to whatever deities he could think of for getting Mary away from him, and he closed his eyes.

Back to the rest, back to his wallowing. Back to the...sound of rocks hitting the window, what the hell?

Eddie's eyes shot open and he rolled over to stare at the window, and sure enough, tiny rocks kept hitting the glass. Over and over.

Eddie pushed himself out of bed and crossed the distance. He briefly wondered if you might be out there, if you had tried calling with no answer. But he had negotiated with Benny to give you a day off yesterday, so he knew there was no way you weren't at work today.

He opened the window and leaned out, only to find the surprise of his life when he "Eddie" himself...or rather...the real Steve was standing in the backyard, staring up at him.

Eddie felt a strange sense of satisfaction seeing the swollen black eye on his own face. Much more than the memory of him giving it to himself conjured. That he gave to Steve?

Fuck this wasn't getting any easier to sort out in his head. And there was no way that it was gonna be fixed any time soon.

"What do you want?" Eddie called down to Steve. "Come to rub it in my face that you have a real date with Nancy tomorrow night and that I was wrong?"

"I came to apologize," Steve called back. Eddie scoffed and rolled his eyes. "No, I'm serious. I fucked up. I said some nasty things and I regret it. I shouldn't have said them. I was angry."

"A lot of true things are said in anger," Eddie sneered at him. "And that wasn't the first time you said some shit like that."

"I know, and I'm sorry," Steve sighed. "You don't have to forgive me, but...fuck I have to make this right because--"

"Save your breath," Eddie rolled his eyes. "I don't wanna hear it."

He could only imagine what happened that would get Steve to change his tune so quickly.

He tried to make a move on Nancy and she told him to get lost because she had a boyfriend already, regardless of what Harrington Charm Steve thought he possessed.

Or she just laughed in his face because who in the world would ever want to date Eddie Munson.

He winced, knowing it was a little too harsh, but his insecurities would win for another day or two. As eager as he was to get back into his own body, to go home, Steve could stand to deal with the fallout of whatever mess he made. Eddie would just stay in bed until Steve was as tired of this shit as he was. Then maybe they can try to work together and fix this again.

He was about to tell Steve to fuck off, when the patio door opened and Mary's voice echoed across the yard.

"Excuse me, this is trespassing!"

Steve was frozen, like a deer in the headlights, at the appearance of his mother.

Steve loved his mom, don't get him wrong, but sometimes...

Sometimes he just didn't understand how she could be sweet and loving one moment, and then an absolute misery the next.

It had been a recent discovery, this sharpness to her. In fact, for the longest time, he never considered that she was anything other than a happy and loving PTA mom, well-respected by friends and neighbors.

Growing up, she did everything Steve thought moms were happy to do. Go to PTA meetings, plan summer barbecues, come to all of the games for the sports he played, and cook elaborate dinners for the whole family to enjoy. But as his dad stayed later and later at the dealership, he was less present at family dinners or available for family outings on the weekends, creating Mommy and Stevie time. And as Steve got older, he preferred to hang out with his friends and run around Hawkins then stay at home alone with his mom.

He saw the light start to disappear in her eyes and he just...thought nothing about it. Didn't realize that he was also one to contribute to it.

Tommy H. had made a joke once about his dad having an affair, and Steve just...figured that must be the case for his dad too. He must have been, which is why...why he and mom didn't smile at each other much any more, why birthday gifts had become more elaborate and expensive, why both of his parents traveled together when his dad had conventions and auto shows.

And Steve defended her, always. She was an active member of the community, she went out with friends, and volunteered at the church. She did her best to take care of anything and everything the family needed. Protected them.

Until she didn't.

Until the one afternoon that the strip mall had lost power and Family Video closed early, and Steve came home to find his mom and Mayor Kline together.

All of the care and the sweetness and the motherly love vanished. Steve had suggested she talk to dad, if she was so unhappy...so lonely...but she had spat and swore and cursed his father, claimed that he was the one who ruined things. Ruined her happiness. Ruined their family. But once she saw the hurt expression on Steve's face, she begged him to let it go, to forget about what he saw. Promised that she would do better, she would talk to dad and fix it. For him.

But it happened again, and again. Steve hadn't seen the mayor in their house but he saw the evidence of him. The tie pin left in the bowl that they dropped their car keys in, an extra wine glass next to his mother's on the coffee table. Everything she did felt...forced. Every time he would notice something off, the evidence of all the things she did around the house, for him, for the family, became more noticable. As though she tried to buy his forgiveness rather than actually fix the problems with their family.

He tried to confront her about it again, ask if she had talked to dad. She had yelled and complained and blamed him for wanting to hurt the family. And that was when she offered to give him his allowance back.

Blood Money. Judas. The words echoed in his head, some remnant of some Sunday school lesson that had faded over the years, as he tucked the stack of bills into his wallet.

He didn't know who it was that he betrayed by making this deal...his father, himself, maybe even his mother...but he knew it wasn't right.

So he kept it all inside. Ignored it and let it fester. Kept his mouth shut.

Until now.

Steve looked around the yard, at the big house and the pool, at "Steve" leant out of the window with his good looks and expensive pajamas. He thought about his dad at the dealership, working hard to give this all to them. And finally looked at his mother, who made sure everything looked pristine, only for it all to be festering and rotten just below the surface.

He might have towered over her but couldn't feel any smaller as she glared at him. Glared at "Eddie."

"I, uh," Steve cleared his throat and held his hands out to show that he wasn't doing any harm. "I just came by to talk to Ed--Steve! To talk to Steve."

"So you ding dong ditch and then you trespass into my yard?" Her brow raised in disbelief.

"It's cuz I knew you weren't gonna let me in," he explained.

"If I won't let you in, that means you shouldn't be on my property. Period." his mom sneered at him. "I know you, Eddie Munson; you spray painted my car a few months ago."

Steve glanced up at Eddie, and Eddie simply shrugged as though he hadn't been the one to do it. Which was funny, because in actuality...it had been Steve who maybe had gotten a bit too creative after one too many beers at Heather Holloway's Back to School kegger.

"So what if I did!" Steve shrugged, technically owning up to it.

"That's enough for me to call Chief Hopper right now!" she shrieked, and Steve could see her practically vibrating.

Steve knew that calling the police was sort of his mom's MO. But he wasn't phased.

Probably because he was in Eddie's body and not his own. But maybe it was because he was in Eddie's body that he also felt a bit of courage building.

"You're really going to call the cops on your son's friend?" Steve laughed at her.

"My son wouldn't hang around someone like you."

"Oh yeah? Tell her about Hellfire Club, Stevie! Or how you've been coming to Corroded Coffin shows!" Steve called up to Eddie, whose eyes went wide as he was put on the spot.

"Steven!" his mother turned and glared at Eddie now. "Is this true?"

Eddie stammered and glared at Steve, who didn't give him the chance to respond.

"What? You're surprised that your precious son would want to spend time with a drug dealing, no good, piece of trailer trash?" He practically quoted his mother word for word, having recalled the few times she had encountered Eddie out in Hawkins.

His mom spun around to face him, but he continued.

"Come on, Mare, you don't think that I could be a worse influence on him than you are. With your lying and canoodling with Larry." His voice went falsetto. "Oh Larry, you know how to make a girl feel like she's 20 again. Barf."

"How do you know about that?"

"You're bribing and manipulating your son, you're ruining your family, and on top of that, you're a huge bitch."

Steve felt the weight on his shoulders get lighter with each word that escaped his mouth. He also saw his mother's anger start manifesting physically. She was turning red, shaking, breathing heavily. He knew that he needed to make his escape before she really did call the cops. Or hit him with a shovel or something.

"Wayne's sick," Steve called up to Eddie and Eddie's eyes went wide.

"Who's Wayne? Is that another one of your little drug dealer friends? Get out of my yard. Get off my property!"

As Steve ran from his parents' backyard and away from his screaming mother, his mind raced. He knew he shouldn't lie to Eddie but...desperate times called for desperate measures. He needed to get Eddie alone so they could talk, reconcile what happened. So he could convince him that this...that this was exactly what they needed.

He knew that he needed to rally the troops if he was going to fix what he broke.

It took hours for Eddie to get out of the house.

As soon as Wayne's name had left Steve's mouth, he felt like he was doused in ice water. Every nerve was on fire, his body itched to leave and it was unfair that he had to be subjected to Mary's tirade as soon as Steve had run and Mary returned to the house.

All he wanted was to get into the car and race to Forest Hills to see his uncle, but instead, he had to listen to her speech about dangerous criminals and vandals and making better life choices. She even tried to lecture him about taking classes at the community college to get away from the deadbeats who hung around Family Video.

Jesus Christ, lady, way to kick a man while he's down.

Once she was done with her lecture, she marched him straight back to bed so he could get the rest he needed.

Eddie knew he'd have to make a miraculous escape and he waited and waited for Mary to settle in the living room or get on the phone or something. His mind raced in the meantime as he thought of all the ways that Wayne might be sick.

Was he sick sick? He'd been sick a grand total of once in Eddie's life, in 79, when a nasty flu bug swept through the whole town. He remembered wishing that he knew how to make soup other than from the can, but when he'd brought Wayne the bowl of microwaved Campbell's, the look of pride on his uncle's face was enough to relieve him of his guilt.

Maybe he'd gotten hurt at the plant? He always made fun of his uncle's age, calling him old timer and geezer and whatnot, but he was getting older and he needed better glasses than the readers he got off the little revolving rack in Melvalds. Maybe he cut himself...or needed stitches. Or threw his back out?

Eddie thought back to his initial idea of getting him a job at the Harrington's dealership, something he never acted on and suddenly felt dread that whatever fate had befallen Wayne had only happened because he hadn't acted fast enough.

Hours passed by and he waited. Mary had brought him a grilled cheese with the crusts cut off, she'd done several loads of laundry, and even ushered him into the bathroom to take a shower. But before he knew it, she had ducked her head into his room.

"Stevie, are you feeling ok?" she asked gently. "I need to run out for a little while. Run a few errands."

Eddie glanced out the window, at the way the sky darkened, and then back at Mary who was dressed a little too nicely for errands.

Nice to know she's going to knock boots with Mayor Douchebag while her son is sick.

"Ok mom," Eddie forced a smile. "Be...safe."

"There's more soup in the fridge, if you want any more while I'm gone."

"Sure."

She turned and left without so much as an I love you, and as soon as Eddie heard her car peel out of the driveway, he was on his feet. He threw on a pair of jeans and one of the t-shirts he had gotten with you the day before, and then ran down the stairs.

"Fuck, she took my keys?" he groaned as he noticed the little bowl on the table in the hallway was conspicuously empty. "Well, bad news that her son is actually a criminal drug dealer deadbeat vandal who knows how to Hotwire a car."

Eddie found tools in the dusty toolbox in the garage, and then strolled out to Steve's BMW. It was a shame that he would cause damage to the vehicle--it had been a nice change from his van, even though he missed the van immensely--but desperate times. He struggled for a moment, the imported car a little trickier than the clunkier Chevys and Fords his dad had taught him on, but he got it in the end.

For the first time in his life, he was a little thankful to his father for giving him some kind of skill, as unsavory as it might have been. Because if he didn't have it, there would be no way for him to see Wayne right now.

Maybe being Eddie Munson wasn't such a bad thing after all.

He pulled into the trailer park and the car skidded to a stop beside the van. Even Wayne's car wasn't here, which meant that Steve probably had to pick Wayne up from the plant.

Or the hospital.

He jogged up the steps and threw open the door...

"What the fuck?" Eddie exclaimed.

...only to find Steve, Robin, Lucas, Dustin, and Will sitting around the living room with notebooks and homework and DnD mini figs. The TV was on, the volume down low, with a stack of videos piled in front of it, and there were cans of soda on every available surface.

"Took you long enough," Dustin announced and rolled his eyes. The other kids started chiming in.

"We started working on homework when you didn't show up right away."

"And Mike's birthday campaign."

"It's been hours!" Robin exclaimed. "Keith is gonna have my ass too, I called off, and you called off too. Which means he's working open to close. And you know how he hates that. Er...um...well one of you knows." Robin glanced back and forth between Eddie and Steve.

Eddie looked around again. The trailer was cleaned, he could hear a load of laundry clunking around in the washing machine, there was a stack of frozen pizzas laid out on the counter in the kitchen, one in the oven making the trailer smell enticing.

But no Wayne.

They tricked him.

"Alright, what the fuck is going on here?" Eddie asked, then zeroed in on Steve. "You lied to me. You used my uncle as bait and you lied to me."

"I'm sorry, I had to," Steve got to his feet and sighed. "You weren't listening to me...and then my mom..."

"You lied to me to get me to come over for some kind of pizza party? I didn't know you were that desperate for friends, Harrington," Eddie asked incredulously.

"No!" Robin interjected. "He lied because the two of you need to settle this once and for all. You haven't been entirely truthful about this whole situation either, Eddie."

"What do you mean? I've told you everything."

"Not everything." Steve pulled a spiral notebook off the coffee table and threw it at him. Eddie's stomach dropped as he realized what he caught. "Open it."

"I don't have to do shit," Eddie feigned anger and threw the notebook over his shoulder.

"No, because you already know what's in it," Steve jeered. "You have a crush on my girlfriend and you've been using this to your advantage this whole time. Don't look at the kids, they already know. I told them." Eddie had glanced at Dustin, Lucas, and Will, half expecting to see betrayal or deception in their eyes, but they looked sympathetic.

"Listen," Steve went on. "I know how it feels to have a crush on someone and think that you don't stand a chance with them. We all do." He gestured at the others, and they all nodded.

Eddie felt uncomfortable under their heavy stares, and it sent his skin crawling.

He knew that he wasn't alone in having a crush on someone; unrequited love had a definition for a reason. He didn't understand why they wanted him here? Why were they confronting him like this? Did they blame him for the spell? He already knew it was his fault.

"So what? Why am I here, Harrington?" Eddie finally asked.

"To work it out once and for all!" Will explained. "There's only two options here."

"There was more to the riddle," Lucas elaborated. "More than just the translation."

"You both want to be with someone that...otherwise wouldn't want to be with you," Robin continued. "The real you."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better about myself, Buckley?" Eddie sneered at her.

"Leave Robin alone," Steve sighed. "She's the one who figured this all out. The prize...reflected in another's eyes...when I saw that notebook I thought that it was...something tangible. Popularity, or...or...friends...or a girl. But the real thing is love."

"Yeah, Selfless Love," Eddie shrugged. "Selfless love will change you back. What about it?"

"But in order to love selflessly, you have to love yourself first. And even if you find it hard to believe, both you and Steve...struggled with that. You thought...you couldn't be loved by the person you wanted the most. You didn't have the kind of life the other had. The love you thought the other had," Robin offered.

"So...there's really only two ways about this." She continued. "We all work together to help you two to learn to love yourselves. It's gonna take some time, because you clearly still hate yourself Eddie, and Steve...yeah he's not gonna admit to it because he's shallow--sorry Steve--but...he struggles to love himself because everyone else leaves him. Shut up Steve, you know I'm right.

"Or... you suck it up and deal with it. Steve stays Eddie, and he shoots his shot with Nancy. And you stay Steve, and you get to keep your honey. And honestly, this needs to be the outcome if we can't get you to change back with the self love thing.

"But it means that the two of you need to work together," Robin concluded. "Because it isn't gonna be easy."

"I'm willing to try if you are." Steve held out his hand to shake. "I mean...it's a win win no matter how you slice it."

Eddie stared at Steve's offered hand and then at all the others' open faces.

He was...touched that they were all here and willing to help. He truly was. And he knew that it was a gesture of good faith from Steve, trying to work together. They'd almost become friends the past few weeks, trying to solve this situation...what he had told Mary earlier had been true. Hell...Eddie was almost proud of Steve for standing up to her the way he did.

But to accept that offer meant that there was nothing to lose. And Eddie had already lost himself.

"Fuck you," he swatted Steve's hand away with his own. "I'm not shaking to that."

There was a collective commotion of "what's" and "why's" from everyone and Steve looked lost.

"What's your deal?" Steve asked.

"What's my deal? What's your deal?" Eddie laughed. "You think I'm gonna believe that you want to help me love myself, when just the other night you listed off every reason under the sun that I'm not worthy of love or friends, and that I would live and die alone. Yeah, real great act there, Harrington."

Steve crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Eddie.

"So you don't want to be me and you don't want to be you, then who do you want to be?"

"I didn't say I didn't want to be me, I just said you're fooling yourself if you think I'm gonna let you help me want to be me. Besides, don't you think it's still a little too convenient that it's only a win-win for you?"

"How is it not also a win for you?" Steve questioned. "You either get your life back or you get the girl of your dreams. Same for me."

"What if I want both."

"Then I say you're the one being selfish here."

"Come on guys," Dustin sighed. "Fighting isn't going to solve anything. You need to come to an agreement and--"

"No, th-th-there's...there's nothing to agree on!" Eddie stammered. "Except the only thing there is to agree on. You can't always get what you want, right? Isn't that the way the song goes? Rolling Stones? We're trying to make a deal to find a way to make the best of either situation, but neither of us is gonna be fully happy in any scenario. I learn to love myself and what? The girl I love doesn't love me either, so what's the point? You get the girl you want, but you need to live with the fact that she doesn't love you.

"But could you live with yourself day in and day out if she looked at you with love in her eyes and didn't see you for who you truly were? If she believed you were someone else. Could you live with that Steve? Could you live with Nancy Wheeler screaming out my name as you make love to her?"

Robin and the kids all started groaning and making gagging noises at the last sentence, but Eddie knew he hit a nerve in Steve as he had the decency to look a little sad.

"Don't you see I love her, but she doesn't love me. And she never will. So if I had to choose, no...I don't want to be Steve Harrington anymore, I want to be Eddie Munson again, because even if she never loved me, I wouldn't have to be face to face with the fact that she loved someone else, every day, for the rest of my life."

Eddie finished his shouting and his shoulders heaved with his labored breath, and as he realized what he just said, he turned on his heel to get to the door.

He didn't want to run away from this, but he felt like he had no choice but to run. This had been a mistake. He should have left as soon as he realized that Wayne wasn't sick. Back to the Harrington's where he could suffer in silence until he was ready to face the reality of being stuck in Steve's body.

"Eddie, wait!" Steve shouted and jumped across the living room to stop him, as Eddie's hand turned the knob. "You can't just lea--"

Eddie was about to turn and start yelling at Steve--he couldn't tell him what he could and couldn't do--but as the door to the trailer swung open, both he and Steve realized that someone was there.

You were standing on the other side and they didn't know how much you had heard.

It really was the longest Sunday at work that you had ever faced. Each minute was an eternity, and each break that you had went by too fast. You sat by the kitchen door to call home, and Benny would watch you with a critical eye as you asked your mother if there were any messages for you--there weren't.

Your mom knew there was something wrong by the tone of your voice...but she knew your breaks were precious and not to take them up with her questions.

"I'll be home a little late tonight," you warned her.

"You ok?" she asked.

"Yeah...just...going over by Steve's for a little, I think."

"Ok Honey. Have fun. Tell him I said hi."

But you wouldn't...at least...you thought you wouldn't as you drove your car towards Forest Hills Trailer park after work so you could talk to Eddie.

Imagine your surprise as you pulled up to the trailer with the obvious green and white van out front...only to also find Steve's burgundy BMW parked next to it.

Fear gripped you, and you debated...well, you debated just leaving. Cut your losses and run, because they had to be in there...obviously talking about you.

But looking further past the two vehicles you saw a handful of bicycles leant against the side of the trailer.

So maybe it would be safe...if they were having a Hellfire meeting or something.

You parked your car and slapped your face, gave yourself the pep talk of the century.

He's in there and Eddie's also in there and their friends. And you're gonna walk up there and act completely normal, say that you came by to see Eddie but...oh, Steve what a surprise, you were trying to call him but he must have been here all day.

Yeah that was it. Perfect. You just had to get out of the car and say it.

The air was thick with the sludge of your nervousness, and its viscosity grabbed and pulled at you with each step toward the door you took.

You could hear the voices even before you got to the door, the variations in the timber of Steve and Eddie's voices vibrated through the wooden walls and vinyl siding. And it wasn't until you pulled open the storm door to knock that you really heard what they said.

"The girl I love doesn't love me either, so what's the point? You get the girl you want, but you need to live with the fact that she doesn't love you." The sound of Steve's voice made your heart plummet.

Nancy. They had to be talking about Nancy. He still loved her.

No wonder he was so quick to run when you said his name. He pretended you were Nancy all the way up until then.

"But could you live with yourself day in and day out," Steve continued. "If she looked at you with love in her eyes and didn't see you for who you truly were? If she believed you were someone else. Could you live with that Steve?"

Wait...Steve? But...but that was Steve who was talking. What...what was happening.

You kept listening and as Steve kept talking, as you heard other voices chime in to try and stop him, and as he got louder and closer, you got more and more confused,

"So if I had to choose, no...I don't want to be Steve Harrington anymore, I want to be Eddie Munson again." Again. "Because even if she never loved me, I wouldn't have to be face to face with the fact that she loved someone else, every day, for the rest of my life."

"Eddie, wait!" And that was Eddie's voice.

Eddie called Steve...Eddie, just like he did that day way back when...the day he showed up at Family Video. The day that you had that date with Steve, when he changed your mind about breaking up with him.

And Steve was claiming...that he didn't want to be Steve anymore...that he wanted to be Eddie again. But if he wanted to be Eddie again...that meant he had to be Eddie at some point in the past...right?

Time slowed down and you got dizzy as you tried to make heads or tails of it all.

The dates and the kisses and the cologne and the chewing gum.

All of the times that you wished you knew what it was like to be with Eddie, when you were held so tenderly in Steve's arms.

The music and the declarations and the...the Nancy of it all.

You had thought vaguely last night that it almost seemed like they had traded places...but that was impossible.

"You're not...what I expected Steve Harrington to be like," you muttered. "You're so much better."

"Of course I'm better, it's because I'm..." He faltered for a moment.

It's because Steve was Ed--

The door to the trailer swung open and you stood in wide-eyed shock as you came face to face with Steve and Eddie.

Or...Eddie and Steve.

"Honey," they muttered simultaneously and you couldn't help the step you took back, the way your foot faltered on the steps of the small porch. You tumbled down the few steps and caught yourself on your hands, only for them and your knees to get ripped up by the gravel of the drive.

"Shit!"

"Is she ok?"

Two sets of footsteps came thundering down the porch steps and hands grasped at your arms to get you back to your feet.

"Honey, look at me, are you ok?" Steve--Eddie--cupped your face in his hands and turned you to him. He looked down at your hands and winced at the scratches. "Shit, we need to clean you up."

Meanwhile Eddie--Steve--talked over him.

"What did you hear? How much? You can't say anything, you can't tell anybody. They wouldn't believe you. They'd think you're nuts."

"Good job Harrington, can't you see she's hurt."

"She heard everything, Munson. God. We need to be proactive about this."

"Guys!" A voice came from the trailer door and you looked over to see Robin and a bunch of Steve's...Eddie's...someone's freshman friends standing behind her. Both of the boys continued bickering back and forth until Robin yelled again. "Shut the fuck up!"

Everything went silent except for the ringing in your ears.

You did the only thing you could do...

Your thoughts went a mile a minute as you revisited the epiphany you just had. And you couldn't believe how much sense it made. That it was Steve who touched you and kissed you and loved you. But underneath it all was Eddie.

...you turned on your heel and ran.

Eddie's heart clenched as you pushed his hands away from you, and you ran.

Well...ran was a generous term. You hobbled and skipped, the deep scratches and cuts on your skinned knees prevented you from gaining the speed you probably wanted. And it was all he could do not to go after you.

You heard. How much of it? Everything? How long had you been out there? You had to know now. You'd never look at him again.

It hurt, cut him so deep that it practically stopped his heart in his chest.

He knew that this was inevitable, had come to this conclusion that he would lose you...shit before he even had you. Everything in between then and now would just be a beautiful memory that he could take with him for the rest of his days.

"Well aren't you gonna go after her?" Robin called from her place at the door.

Eddie looked over at Steve, who looked right back at him.

"She means you," they said in tandem.

"Me?" Steve exclaimed. "Why me?"

"That's your girlfriend," Eddie said, as though it was the most obvious thing on earth.

"No," Steve laughed. "That's your girlfriend. And on top of that, you love her, so you need to fix this."

Eddie was speechless as Steve went and sat on one of the steps. He fished a pack of cigarettes from the pocket of his vest and lit one up. Eddie rolled his eyes and looked back up at Robin and the kids.

"Go!" They all yelled at him. Eddie scrambled and started in the direction you ran, shaking his head softly as he heard them all turn on Steve with an "are you an idiot?"

He knew the way you ran. This was his home turf, even if he hadn't been here for a few weeks. He would always know this worn, dirt footpath that led to the gazebo out beyond the last trailer in the park. There used to be a jungle gym and swings out there...he had sat on those swings for hours after he heard news of his mom's death.

It was a good place to cry.

And Eddie half-expected you to be there crying, especially as he saw you, perched up on the bench with your face in your hands.

"Honey?" Your shoulders went rigid as he spoke, and he stopped in his tracks. "Hey it's me. Are you...ok? Can we talk?"

"Me who?" you asked softly, the fragility in your tone enough to make him pause. "Please...I need an answer, who am I talking to? Steve? Or Eddie?"

"Eddie," he said, clearly and confidently, knowing that this was it.

Your shoulders started shaking and he could hear vague whimpers coming from you. He couldn't hold himself back, he shuffled over to you, stood directly in front of you with his hands on your shoulders as you cried.

"I'm sorry," he began. The words flooded his mind: apologies, excuses, declarations of his emotions. He could barely contain one leak before another sprung. "I'm sorry I lied to you, I'm sorry I kept it a secret. It's just that it was so...unbelievable, so impossible, that I knew there was no way I could tell you without you thinking I was crazy.

"And before I knew it, it was too late, and we were dating. I was dating you for Steve but I was also...I was dating you for me because I've...I've had this stupid crush on you for years. Can you believe it? Years! And I never...I never thought I was good enough for you. But I was so...so angry because Steve wasn't good enough for you either. He's an idiot. Imagine my surprise, my luck the day I woke up and I was Steve...and I got to take you out on some date and finally...finally get to show you how much I cared. How I felt...

"But it wasn't right to have lied to you. To...to touch you and kiss you when you didn't know it was me. We all kept it a secret. Me, Steve, the kids, Robin. We all could have come clean at any time, but we figured we could fix it before then and now...now we might be stuck this way forever so please, please, I need...

"I don't need anything actually. There's nothing I can do to make this right. I can't ask anything of you, except to listen to me and believe that I never meant to hurt you throughout any of this. There were no tricks, no...well I guess there were lies. But I never pretended to care for you. Everything I said and did...it was real. And I don't blame you if you hate me, or if you never want to see me again, I just need to know...I need to know that you're alright.

"So please Honey," he ran his thumbs soothingly back and forth over your shoulders. "Please look at me and tell me...tell me you're at least ok and if you want me to leave you alone, I'll leave you alone forever. Just please. I need to know you're ok."

Your shoulders kept shaking and although Eddie's heart practically disintegrated in his chest, he felt...lighter. Something had shifted. Everything was out there, the truth. He didn't have to hide from you anymore, pretend that he was something he wasn't. All that was left was for you to tell him to fuck off...

When you peeled your hands away from your face and looked at him, though, you had tears of laughter in your eyes and a manic smile on your face.

"You..." you hiccuped through a giggle. "You're...you're Eddie Munson and you love me?"

"What?" he asked in disbelief, not entirely sure that he heard you right.

"You...you're Eddie Munson," you poked a finger into his chest. "In Steve Harrington's body."

"Yes."

"And you, Eddie Munson, love me?" you questioned. Eddie froze and you continued. "Don't act like I didn't hear....everything you said. You said...you said...you loved me but I would never love you back. But..."

You grabbed onto the front of his shirt and shook him, wincing as the rough fabric scraped against your torn up palms.

"I told Eddie...I told Steve...that I had a crush on you, Eddie Munson," you shook him and looked up into his eyes with a smile. You had...a crush on him and you told...Steve? "And he just said--"

"When?" Eddie interrupted you.

"In High school."

"No, when did you tell Steve?"

"Uh...last week? I don't...the...the night you came in with Corroded Coffin," you closed your eyes and shook your head. "And Steve...you...I'm sorry, it's really confusing."

"I know, imagine how I feel," Eddie chuckled.

"I told 'Eddie' that I had a crush on him in high school," you explained. "I told him and he acted like it wasn't anything to blink at. Like he didn't even remember I existed. And I felt so crazy, so hurt, that I went home and I tore up my diary because I never even thought you...that he...that..."

You rambled about thinking about him and smelling his cologne, noticing his chewing gum, and thinking about him when you kissed Steve--when you kissed him--and Eddie felt all the pain that he had, all the insecurity he had for the past 24 hours, melt away.

All the light in the universe--the burning of an infinity of stars--couldn't compare to the way his heart was shining right at that moment.

You didn't want Steve. You wanted Eddie.

"...and you ran away and I thought...but you..."

Eddie didn't let you finish your thoughts, he smashed his lips to yours and kissed you with bruising intensity.

The way he felt outdid any high he'd ever had.

He kissed you until you both needed air, then dropped little pecks around your face until you directed him back to your lips.

"You love me," you muttered against his lips.

"I love you," he nodded.

And then you said the one thing that he had wished to hear come from your lips for weeks, months, years.

"I love you too."

As soon as Eddie was out of sight, Robin and the kids were on top of Steve, yelling at him and swatting at him.

"Are you kidding me?" Robin shrieked.

"What?" Steve howled.

"You need to go after them too," Dustin tried to reason with him. "She's hurt and she's crying. This entire thing is a disaster."

"She's not my girlfriend! OW!" Robin had slugged him hard in the shoulder. First a black eye now a bruised shoulder. Great. "Ok, why do I need to go?"

"Because whether or not she's your girlfriend, you and Eddie both dragged her into this mess. So you both need to explain it to her," Will explained.

Steve sighed.

"Fine," he grumbled and threw the cigarette to the ground.

As he followed after you and Eddie, he sighed and wondered how this was all gonna play out. Why you hadn't just gotten into your car and driven away if you knew the truth. If you thought they were insane.

You could have made a fortune, told the newspaper.

If you told the newspaper though...that meant Nancy would find out eventually.

Nancy...

Steve reflected on everything that Eddie had said. He knew, now, that it was all in the context of you. That Eddie loved you...

So then why didn't he say anything? Steve...would have understood...or tried to at the very least. Right? And what Eddie had said made some sense to Steve.

"Could you live with yourself day in and day out if she looked at you with love in her eyes and didn't see you for who you truly were?"

But who was he? He was just...Steve. He could talk about his parents and his time at Hawkins High...all the sports he played and friends he made. Nancy hadn't wanted Steve anymore, hadn't wanted that life.

But was that even his life anymore? He had less now than he had before. His parents were broken, their family in shambles. His friends had left him and laughed at him. Hell, even the admissions essay Nancy had helped him write once upon a time hadn't gotten him into a college; he just...worked at family video.

What could he offer her as Steve? Shit, did he even have anything to offer himself?

"If she believed you were someone else. Could you live with that Steve?"

What did Eddie have though? He had a band and friends and carefree fun.

But Steve learned over the last few weeks that it wasn't as carefree as he thought.

Shit, even Eddie living his life wasn't as carefree as one would assume. What could Eddie give to Nancy? What could Steve as Eddie give to Nancy? Yeah he enjoyed nights out with Corroded Coffin but...he didn't even play his own guitar. Eddie did. And he was enjoying Hellfire Club but...well, the kids and Eddie really helped him with the DM role. Maybe he would like it better if he was one of the players instead of the leader of the whole show.

What the hell was Steve? But no one? Would anyone even care if he was gone?

But he loved Robin, she was his best friend. And he loved the kids as though they were his own siblings. They all had done so much for Eddie...and for him the last few weeks. They put themselves at risk of being accused of...witchcraft and hysteria...they subjected themselves to his and Eddie's anger when they were at each other's throats.

They had plenty of opportunity to leave them both behind--to leave Steve behind--but they didn't.

"Could you live with Nancy Wheeler screaming out my name as you make love to her?"

Make Love. Love. That was really all Steve had to give Nancy anymore. And all he really wanted in return. Could he be happy knowing that she loved someone else and not him? Not Steve Harrington?

Fuck, she was doing that now with Jonathan Byers.

Steve saw you and Eddie huddled together at the gazebo, and as he got closer he heard what Eddie said to you. He felt those desperate words floating in the air.

"...But I never pretended to care for you. Everything I said and did...it was real. And I don't blame you if you hate me, or if you never want to see me again, I just need to know...I need to know that you're alright. So please Honey. Please look at me and tell me...tell me you're at least ok and if you want me to leave you alone, I'll leave you alone forever. Just please. I need to know."

Steve...froze in his tracks, and it was like a lightbulb switched on.

For as much as Eddie had just declared his love for you back at the trailer. He was willing to let it all go, let you go, as long as you were alright.

Eddie had done all of this, had caused this entire fiasco...because...because he thought that nobody loved him--because you didn't love him--just like Steve struggled to find people in his life who loved him. And Eddie was willing to walk away without love, so long as you were ok.

Steve thought about Nancy and Jonathan. About how happy they were...how they were alright, and making plans for the future together. More than Steve had ever really done with Nancy. He had his plans and she hers. He had his father's expectation to live up to and she had...ambition.

As much as it hurt...Steve knew...weedled and pushed deep down inside of his being that Nancy would never have been happy with him as she was with Jonathan. And sure...it hurt to see them together but...her smile. Her happiness. It still warmed his heart.

Because he loved her. He always would.

Steve watched as the two of you rambled and laughed and verbally tousled back and forth and he felt...lighter somehow. More awake and aware than he had been for weeks.

He didn't feel so stuck.

Selfless love.

Huh...so that's what it was.

Steve would have gotten closer, would have helped explain the situation to Eddie, but he knew Eddie had it under control.

Because despite their troubles and differences, despite all the shit that they had been through...something new was forming between Eddie and Steve. Friendship was a kind of love, and Steve wouldn't go and stick his foot in it to save his own face.

Steve turned on his heel and walked back to the trailer. Maybe not with...a new head on his shoulders, but definitely a new perspective.

Selfless love.

Steve woke up feeling...like he was sleeping on a cloud...although there was a heavy weight on his chest and his arm felt numb.

Was this Heaven? Was he dead? Had the stress of the past few weeks finally killed him?

He had returned to the trailer, to Robin and the kids, the night before, and shortly after, you and Eddie had trailed in after them looking...happier than you had been when you'd run off. Steve had been glad, if a little confused.

He'd put two and two together when he caught a glimpse of a soft kiss Eddie had pecked on your lips when you left...and he felt...embarassed for a second. To think that Eddie would have kept you warm for him for as long as you were in each other's bodies.

Man, maybe I am a douchebag.

The group of you had gone over plans to help Steve and Eddie achieve some self love, to help them get back in their bodies.

But now...well, if Steve was dead there was really no way that he was going to be able to enact those plans were there?

He briefly wondered, as he opened his eyes to a brilliant bright light, if Eddie would be able to get back into his body if he had died. Or if he would be stuck as Steve Harrington forever.

Steve blinked the cobwebs out of his eyes and frowned at the sight before him.

Plaid-papered walls and matching curtains that were thrown open and letting in all the early morning sunlight. A too soft bed that he had missed and you tucked into his side with the weight of you numbing his shoulder and his arm.

Huh? This didn't make any sense.

You groaned beside him and nuzzled your face into his shoulder. You muttered a quiet "guh morning Eddie" and scrunched up your face as you opened one bleary eye.

"Eddie?" he asked. And then it hit him. "Eddie!"

Steve jumped and pushed you off of him. He got to his feet and started running his hands over his body. Fluffy hair, toned chest, stubbly arms--ok so Eddie hadn't been shaving like he promised.

"What's wrong?" you asked, confused. "Is everything ok?"

"It's...it's me, I'm back!" Steve exclaimed. "I'm back!"

"Back?"

"It's me, it's Steve," he cheered and knelt on the bed. He grabbed your hand and pressed it into his hair, as though touching it would convince you somehow.

"What do you mean? I..." Recognition sparked in your eyes and you pushed him away from you. "If you're...does that mean he..." You scrambled to your feet, shoved your shoes on, and ran out of his bedroom.

Steve could hear a commotion outside the room between you and his mom, then the front door of the house squeaked open and slammed shut. Before long, his mom poked her head inside his room and tutted disapprovingly.

"Did that girl stay here all night Steven?" She crossed her arms over her chest. "That's not the girl from the answering machine is it? I can't believe you--"

"Mom!" Steve stopped her and crossed the space between them. He looked down at her, truly for the first time in his life, and spoke clearly for the first time too. "You're so full of shit."

Eddie stirred awake and felt at peace.

Truly everything was working out in his favor.

He had a plan to get back in his own body, he had you, he had...something sharp digging into his shoulder, what the fuck?

He groaned and rubbed his hands over his face, his fingers dug into his eyes and as he pulled them back...strands of hair came away with them. Long, tangled strands...unfamiliar...but familiar all the same.

But Steve didn't have...

Eddie really looked at his hands then, at the ring-clad fingers and the tattooed skin. His familiar bats and his puppet master that he had gotten last summer. He turned his head and saw the glowing red lights of his shitty K-mart alarm clock.

6:45

The screech of tires and a spray of gravel outside really made him aware of the world around him. The room was still somewhat dark... but bright sunlight shone in from the makeshift curtain. He stared at band posters and the Corroded Coffin banner he made back in 9th grade, and slowly the recognition set in.

He was home.

He was home, he was home, he was home. He pushed the hair out of his face and looked at his arms, his body, his bed. He pulled the half-worn copy of Lord of the Rings out from under his pillow where it was sort of jutting into his shoulder and he kissed it.

"I'm Eddie Munson," he spoke out loud in his voice. He tried to lower the register, achieve his DM voice. "Eddie Munson."

There was a knock on a frantic door somewhere.

Wayne. No wait, it was still too early to be Wayne. He wouldn't be home until 8 when Eddie was already at school.

More recognition hit him.

"Fuck I have to go to scho--"

"Eddie I swear to god, if you don't open this door right now," your voice was faint, shouted from somewhere outside.

You. Your voice. He had fallen asleep beside you in Steve's bed...and now he was in his bed, in his body, and you were outside his door.

He kicked the blankets off of him, wincing as he saw that he was only in his boxers--thank fuck he was getting sick of tighty whiteys--and ran out to the door.

He stared at the living room, at the remnants of everyone being here the night before. Tidier than he would have left it, but Steve had promised to clean up. He vaguely wondered what else Steve had cleaned during his stay at Casa Munson.

"Eddie!"

"Shit," Eddie cursed and threw the door open, fully intent on being suave with his greeting, since he was back in his body. This would be his first chance to charm you as himself, after all. But as soon as you had your eyes on him, you threw your arms around his neck and planted a kiss right on his lips.

It was an entirely different sensation, kissing you as himself and not as Steve. You tasted...pretty much the same...maybe a little different. Tangier. Maybe a little...earthy but it wasn't even 7am yet and he doubted you brushed your teeth at Steve's.

Shit he hadn't brushed his teeth yet either.

But his nerves were immediately alight in a way that they never really got when he was Steve. And his blood rushed to mutually desired places much faster than it had in Steve's body too.

That was going to be weird, going through life comparing things to Steve again...in a different way. But...

"You're too busy thinking," you pulled away and smiled. "And not busy kissing me."

"Sorry Sweetheart," he chuckled. "Mystical body swapping does a whole lot on the mind. I got distracted."

"I'll forgive you," you pecked down his cheek to his neck and bit playfully. "Just this once."

"Your teeth feel sharper like this," Eddie noted aloud.

"It's because I'm biting you harder," you grinned against his skin. "Because I know you like me now so I'm not afraid to mess up."

"Not distracted thinking of someone else now either," he offered and felt you tense in his arms. The confidence in him faltered. "I'm sorry, Honey, I didn't mean--"

"No it's..." you pulled back from him and looked into his eyes. There was a glee there, one he hadn't expected to see. "I don't know. I guess it's all been wild and unexpected and 24 hours ago...I thought I was gonna lose...you forever...and now I have you."

"You have me," Eddie promised. "For as long as you want me."

"Never gonna stop."

"No?" he asked in a tease. "Not even if I...swapped bodies with old Ted Wheeler or something."

"Uh..." you wrinkled your nose and glared at him. "Eddie I don't know if you're intentionally killing the mood here but...I mean if you're trying to ask me if I would fuck Mr. Wheeler even if he was actually you, the answer is a hard no."

"But you'd fuck me?" he asked smugly.

"I'm sincerely trying to," you laughed. "I don't think you were this chatty as Steve."

"I am pretty talkative. Don't worry, I have other uses for my mouth, but first things first, I need your clothes off Honey."

He ushered you back to his room and his fingers pinched and plucked at your work uniform as you went. You still had it on from your shift the day before, and it was now wrinkled from sleep, and Eddie vaguely wondered how comfortable it was, but you eagerly pulled it off you as you set foot into his room and he slammed the door shut behind him.

"Not sure how clean the sheets are," he stepped close to you and cupped your face in his hands.

"It's ok."

"But I'm gonna take care of you Honey."

"As long as you don't run away again."

"I won't. I promise." He took your hand in his and pressed it against the bulge in his boxers, groaning at the spark of tension and pleasure. This was what he had been missing, the pleasure he felt in his own body, so familar and long-since-felt. "Feel how hard I am for you? Feel how much I love you?"

"You love me?" You asked.

"Are you always gonna ask if I love you?"

"I just gotta check. Make sure you didn't change your mind...or that...I don't know...that Steve didn't jump back into your body or something."

"Oh," he pushed you down onto his mattress and slid between your legs. He ground himself against you, the friction of your underwear making you both hiss in want. "I'll make you forget all about Steve Harrington by the time I'm done with you. You'll only remember my name."

He didn't play games, didn't waste time luxuriating in the details of you, when all he wanted was to take you to paradise again and again, and follow you, as quickly as possible.

Also because even if he did skip class with you today, his uncle would be home soon and he did not want this to be the way the two of you met.

He kissed down the length of your body and rid you of your underwear. He inhaled the heady scent of you, put his tongue on you the way he had on Saturday, and noted again that the taste of you was different. Better.

He could feel you holding back and he looked up at you smugly, resting his chin on the crest of your sex.

"What did I tell you? I want to hear you," he teased, and inched his fingers along the inside of your thighs. "You're beautiful you know...your pussy's so pretty. I didn't get to tell you that the other day. All of you, you're so...gorgeous and I can't believe you're all mine."

"Yeah?"

"You're all mine right?" He asked, kissing back down as his fingers spread your lips and he teased your clit with his middle finger. You whined. "Louder honey, you're all mine right."

"Yes." He sunk his fingers into you and he laved at you, lapping up whatever you gave him. The complex, sweet taste exploded on his tongue, and he pressed in further, further, crooked his fingers till you were panting. "Eddie."

He smirked and backed away slightly, looked up at you with hooded eyes. "Say it again. Give me what I want and I'll give you what you want."

"E-Eddie," you keened.

"Again," he sped up and started shifting against the bed, as he chased his own pleasure. "One more. I'll get you there sweetheart. I'll get you there you just have to ask."

"Eddie please!" He stroked with skilled fingers and used his thumb to rub your clit firmly. He watched as you came. Awed in the beauty of you as you twitched and leaked, luxuriated in the flutter of your cunt around his fingers, and basked in the crescendo of your moans.

All while he rutted quickly and wildly against the bed. He wasn't gonna last--he'd barely touched himself in Steve's body, and he knew Steve wasn't doing any routine upkeep in his--and before long his release spilled as he grunted and groaned. He couldn't help himself, he bit into the plush of your thigh, enough to earn another high pitched whine from you.

You both panted and came down from your highs. He'd kissed back up your body to your mouth, letting you take the affection that you needed with your arms wrapped around his neck and your fingers threaded through his hair. He felt a tingle in his spine as your nails scratched against his scalp, and he knew it was a promise of more to come later, but he knew he needed to clean you up now.

He whispered sweet apologies as he left your side to get a washcloth from the bathroom, and then he cleaned you up first--paying close attention to the scrapes on your hands and knees, then the mix of his spit and your release between your legs. Then he took care of himself, slightly embarrassed as he rid himself of his stained boxers and revealed his rapidly softening cock to your curious gaze.

"Shit," he laughed and looked down himself and then back up into your eyes, so filled with affection. "You know something?"

"What?" you grinned at him, clearly feeding off his joy.

"Steve definitely has a weirder dick than me." You covered your face in your hands and cackled.

"I hate you!" you shouted, voice muffled.

"Noooo," he quickly flopped on the bed and pulled you to him. He peeled your hands back from your face and pressed a kiss to your lips. "You love me.

June 1986

This was it.

Eddie had never been so nervous in his life. Not the first time he performed with Corroded Coffin, or the first time he was the DM for Hellfire, not even the first time he kissed you.

This was the minute that his future would finally begin.

"Edward Munson," Principal Higgins' voice echoed across the football field. Eddie climbed the makeshift stage accompanied by a mix of cheers and applause (and boos from the douchebag jocks who had made his life miserable for the past 6 years).

He shook Higgins' hand and took his diploma, smiling nicely for the photographer that had set up right at the edge of the stage, and when he got a mischievous look on his face, Higgins sighed.

"I wouldn't do that if I was you Eddie," he warned.

"Come on, it's not like you can fail me now!" Eddie snarked and tucked the diploma under his arm, before flashing double birds at the older man. The sounds of the crowd grew louder--parents outraged, students amused--and as Eddie turned to extend the gesture to the crowd, he saw his little audience get to their feet and cheer harder.

Wayne who shook his head, forever amused at his boy's antics. Rick who, quite frankly, looked high as a kite. Gareth and Dave and Jeff's parents, who were there for him and Jeff. Steve and Dustin and Lucas--who had cheered for Robin, Jonathan, now for Eddie, and soon enough for Nancy. Will and Mike were with their families, but Eddie could still see them clapping enthusiastically.

And front and center, next to Wayne with the brightest smile and the loudest cheers, was you.

It was still weird, even after months of getting to be with you as Eddie instead of as Steve. Not bad weird. Better weird.

This was a moment he never imagined he would get to experience. Graduating high school, getting to know you and love you the way you did.

It still felt surreal, but as he ran off the stage amidst hooting and hollering of his classmates and the audience, he knew it was where he was meant to be.

Hours later, Eddie was surrounded by friends, family, and classmates in the Wheeler's backyard, celebrating the momentous occasion of high school graduation.

Wayne chatted with Ted Wheeler and Thomas Harrington, who had in fact offered Wayne a job at the dealership. Their kids newfound and unexpected friendship was a chance to actually talk with one another and Tom quickly realized that his new acquaintance was actually a skilled mechanic. While it took a little convincing on Eddie's part for Wayne to actually take the job, Wayne was actually grateful that it paid a little more and offered better hours than the plant.

Eddie's eyes narrowed as he watched Tom rub his ring finger nervously, the missing wedding ring obvious and awkward, especially amongst a big crowd like this. But no one dared say anything about the divorce or the fact that Mary had been seen around town with Mayor Kline. They didn't even ask Steve how his mother was doing. Everyone welcomed the Harringtons, glad they could make it to the celebration.

Guests milled about, the kids all chased each other around with water balloons, and too many overcooked hamburgers and hot dogs were consumed.

Eddie had his arm around you as you chatted with Nancy and Jonathan about plans for the future. You and Nancy had become fast friends, especially after Eddie returned back to his body and actually took advantage of Nancy's tutoring sessions.

There had been a moment, early on after the swap back into their own bodies, that Nancy had commented on the fact that you were dating Eddie...when she thought you had just been seeing Steve for weeks.

"I'm just worried about him," she confided in Eddie. "We didn't break up on the best terms. He'll always be my friend."

"I think he'll be ok," Eddie assured her. "The two of them are just friends. He doesn't have that many of those in Hawkins. You know, she convinced him to sign up for classes at the Tri County College in the fall?"

"No way," Nancy exclaimed. "I thought he was just gonna be stuck at Family Video for the rest of his life."

Eddie chuckled in recollection, remembering Nancy's disgusted face.

No, Steve wouldn't be stuck in Family Video forever, because Eddie had recently take a job there as an assistant manager to kill the extra time he had now that school was over and supplement that money from the additional gigs Corroded Coffin had earned over the summer.

It wasn't a record deal or a tour...just some local carnivals and fests...but it was a start.

And of course, there was you. With your unending affection and support and bright, shining personality. The you he got to know between high school and his...foray into Steve Harrington-ness only bloomed further under the gentle attentions of him and his love.

You told him things that you had never told him as Steve. You confided in him about your worries for the future, about your struggle balancing school and work, about your ideas and insecurities. And he did the same with you. It was a mutually fulfilling relationship, and one that was full of trust.

And the sex was one of the highpoint of his entire life so far. Not even his Warlock ranked quite as high on the list.

"Hey Eddie!" Dustin called to him and Eddie turned only to get hit in the face and doused with water from a rogue water balloon. He ran a hand over his eyes and did a dog-like shake to get the water from his hair. He glared at Dustin and Steve, who had thrown the precision shot and laughed heartily at his expense.

Douchebag.

Eddie sighed and looked around the party, at friends and family, at the kids, and you, and finally at Steve, who nodded in amicable understanding.

If he never saw Steve Harrington again...what would Eddie do? They'd experienced one of the...weirdest of things they'd ever experience in their lives. And it was something that inexplicably tied them together.

They were friends now.

Who'd have thought.

But, Stranger Things could've happened.

Thank you for reading. <3

#freaky friday au #Eddie Munson x reader #Eddie Munson angst #Eddie Munson smut #Steve Harrington x reader #Steve Harrington angst #Eddie Munson fluff #stranger things fic #Eddie Munson stranger things #Steve Harrington stranger things

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venbetta · 9 months

Text

Tiny details I love in the Freaky Friday AU (so far)

This post is consisting of my personal favorite bits in the AU that were either intentional or unintentional. There will probably be more posts like this in the future when more parts come out but for now here's this... (everything will be below the cut)

1. Art style shift

I know whenever I read comics from certain artists, it's kinda obvious when the art style is being developed and changes over time, I find it neat to see how it improves. I use to read a lot of webtoons where the style changes (Lore Olympus is my favorite example) and it's just cool to see it.

Here's what the first part of FF looked like in March 2023 vs August 2023

2. Got better at drawing Monty

I know it's the same thing but before FF, I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO REALLY DRAW MONTY. I know I drew a handful of times before and he looked rough but you could tell it was him. The first two parts you can kinda tell I was getting used to drawing him, especially his mohawk.

FRONT FACING MONTY WAS A PAIN IN THE ASS FOR REAL.

But of course over time he got easier to draw and he looks BETTER.

3. Monty's glasses

Someone pointed out in an ask a while back about how Monty's glasses don't fit on Freddy's face, as if it knows something's up. Kinda happy someone noticed that subtle change.

Plus, as I mentioned, I only did it so you could properly read Freddy's expressions. It adds to the fact that in the first part of chapter 1, we can't really read Monty's expressions very well (at least while he's wearing his shades) while Freddy is very expressive.

4. Freddy's concentration look

Blep.

I don't know the reason why I did it, but it was cute. And so I kept it.

5. Gregory's Freddy themed pajamas

Need I say more?

5. BODY LANGUAGE~

One thing I'm a sucker for are character mannerisms and expressions. I think with them being robots and how they canonically can't express a lot emotions (from what we get in SB in general), but GAAHH I love stretching the limit to how expressive the glamrocks can get. I know I get a little silly with mine, especially the bug eyed expressions

And especially with the serious moments, I try to make it so that you can tell how certain characters act/their mannerisms since yknow... Freddy and Monty switched. Freddy talking with his hands, smiling more, standing up straight

Monty having a more hooded expression, slouched slightly, straight faced.

I'd add more photo examples, but I've already used 10...

That's all for now, at least since I can't fit everything I wanna say here without pictures. Also for those who saw the initial post of this when I ACCIDENTALLY POSTED EARLY, you the real ones. YOU WEREN'T MEANT TO SEE IT, but that's okay. I'll do more posts like these later :]

Thanks for reading~

#freaky friday #fnaf security breach #fnaf au #fnaf comic #glamrock freddy #montgomery gator #monteddy #fnaf gregory #I'll do more i swear

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rottenpumpkin13 · 6 months

Note

Sick of each other's crap, and due to a rather untimely squabble in the Materia room involving dangerous reality-warping magics, Sephiroth and Genesis go full mental-Freaky Friday and swap personalities for a day.

Angeal decides today's the day Zack's going to earn that First-class rank through the power of tactical pursuit and negotiation!

Freaky Friday

�� Sephiroth and Genesis sit in a lab in the Research and Development Division. Sephiroth has both elbows propped on the steel table, resting his head in his hands. He periodically blows a stray lock of hair from his face.

• Genesis sits beside him doodling on the back of his Loveless copy. Yes, they're both extremely bored.

*Genesis groans*

Genesis: Chadley! Can you speed this up? I have a salon appointment in an hour!

• Chadley looks up from the curious contraption he's working on

Chadley: Oh, please wait! I'm almost done, and then my experiment will only take a few minutes.

Sephiroth: Take your time, Chadley. There's no rush.

*Genesis groans again*

Genesis: Remind me why I'm here again? Your presence alone should've sufficed. And besides, he's your brother.

Sephiroth: He's... something of the sort. And I'm not sure what you have to complain about. All you've done is sit there and let your DNA be collected. The only difference between this and what you were doing up in your office is that here you're being useful.

Genesis: Preposterous. I was working before you rudely dragged me down here with you.

Sephiroth: Genesis. You were playing Candy Crush on your phone.

Genesis:

Sephiroth: And you weren't even good. You were on level four.

Genesis: You have no proof of that whatsoever.

• Chadley crawls out from under the machine with a wrench in his hand. He wipes away the sweat from his brow and stands up.

Chadley: Okay! It's ready!

• The two of them walk over to the machine, a dome-like structure supported by a small open space at the bottom, presumably where one would stick their head as indicated by the padded slabs sticking out of it.

Chadley: You know what this is?

Genesis: A...giant nail dryer?

Sephiroth: Why would he build a giant nail dryer?

Genesis: To dry giant fucking nails, you idiot.

Chadley: Okay, well you're both wrong. I'm not sure what to call it yet, but this machine is able to transfer one party's genes into another party's and consequentially edit their DNA to match the other's.

Sephiroth: Fascinating. I assume the overall goal is to ameliorate the receiving party's combat performance?

Chadley: If this works, you and Genesis will receive the other's innate abilities and much more! Think of it like this: Sephiroth, you'll receive Genesis' stellar abilities with materia, and Genesis will receive your swordfighting prowess.

• Genesis tries to run but Sephiroth holds him in place.

Sephiroth: Good! We're ready.

Genesis: I hate you.

• Chadley instructs them to lay down on the padded slab with their heads inside the dome.

Genesis: How badly will this hurt?

Chadley: Oh, it won't hurt at all! You'll see! Just try to relax and imagine yourself about to receive a massage.

• Chadley pulls a lever. Immediately the machine flares up in colorful, blinking lights. The inside of the metal dome violently shakes as streaks of lightning spill out. Sephiroth and Genesis are screaming.

Chadley: I was wrong.

• Chadley quickly pushes the lever back up. The machine stops, smoke billows from the inside of the dome, and Sephiroth and Genesis' bodies lay concerningly still.

Chadley: ...

• Chadley pulls out his phone and starts too look up wether or not Cyborgs can go to prison. But he quickly snaps out of it and rushes to check on the bodies. Sephiroth's body is the first to twitch. Chadley kneels down beside him and checks his pulse.

Chadley: Oh, good! You're alive!

• Sephiroth's body slides out from under the dome and groans.

Sephiroth (??): By the goddess. That was singlehandedly the worst experience of my life.

Chadley: Sephiroth! Are you alright?

*Sephiroth (??) pulls a face*

Sephiroth (??): Sephiroth? Why are calling me—

• Genesis (in Sephiroth's body) notices the silver hair cascading onto his lap. His eyes widen in horror.

• Meanwhile Sephiroth (in Genesis' body) slides out from under the dome.

Sephiroth: That was rather enjoyable. I especially liked the tingling sensation in my brain when the third wave of lighting hit.

• Sephiroth (in Genesis' body) looks to the side and sees his own body staring back at him in horror.

• It takes a total of three agonizingly silent seconds for the both of them to scream.

• Chadley is desperately trying to fix the machine. Genesis is pacing back and forth around the lab. He's tied Sephiroth's hair up out of his face and can be heard mumbling incoherencies.

Genesis: When I was a child praying to the goddess to be more like Sephiroth, THIS ISN'T WHAT I MEANT!

Meanwhile Sephiroth is sitting on top of the lab table. Genesis's red coat is discarded beside him along with his knit sweater. He's fanning himself with the Loveless copy.

Sephiroth: Why is your body temperature so unnaturally high!? Have you seen a doctor about this?

• Genesis stops pacing.

Genesis: SEPHIROTH! MY HAIR IS FUCKING SILVER! I HAVE EYES LIKE A SNAKE AND I MISS MY OVERBEARING MOTHER FOR NO REASON! I HAVE BIGGER PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW!

• Sephiroth leans back and looks at Chadley over by the machine.

Sephiroth: Have you fixed it yet?

• Chadley slides out from under the dome and stands up.

Chadley: Unfortunately it's going to be a while. I'm afraid I won't be able to get it fixed until tomorrow.

Sephiroth & Genesis: TOMORROW?

Genesis: Chadley, we both have work to do. How are we supposed to go about our lives in each other's bodies!?

Chadley: Hm. I suppose you could always just pretend to be each other until I sort things out.

Sephiroth: This is a nightmare. I'm Genesis.

Genesis: Ugh! Fine. If it's the only way to hide this, what real choice do we have?

Sephiroth: I'm in your body. I'm Genesis.

Chadley: Not only that, but if Professor Hojo finds out, I'll definitely be punished. He doesn't know about the machine.

Sephiroth, smiling: I'm Genesis.

Genesis: Oh, I won't let that creep lay a finger on you. Don't worry, we'll keep a low profile.

Sephiroth, grinning like the Joker: I'm Genesis!

Genesis: Yes, Sephiroth. What's your point?

Sephiroth laughs, giddy with excitement as he plays with the dangling earrings on his right ear.

Sephiroth: I'm you! Do you know what that means? That I'm not expected to be Sephiroth. I'm free of all of Sephiroth's responsibilities! The spotlight binds me no more!

Genesis: Um, Sephiroth, don't you think we should talk—

• Sephiroth is running out the door before Genesis could lay down any sort of ground rules.

• Genesis grabs his coat and shirt and sprints after him.

Genesis: SEPHIROTH! GET BACK HERE WITH MY BODY! DON'T YOU DARE MODIFY ANYTHING ON MY PERSON! I'LL TATTOO A PENIS ON YOUR CHEST IF YOU DO! AND PUT MY SHIRT BACK ON! I HAVE AN APPEARANCE TO MAINTAIN!

• They disappear into the hallway, leaving Chadley alone.

• Chadley sighs, takes out his phone and resumes to look up wether or not Cyborgs can go to prison. Apparently they can.

• Chadley goes back to work immediately.

• Angeal is up bright and early, dutifully watering the lone office plant by the elevator. The doors swing open and out steps....

Angeal: SEPHIROTH?

Genesis: Yes, dear?

Angeal: ARE YOU COSPLAYING AS GENESIS?

• Genesis couldn't stand the feel of Sephiroth's uniform. Iconic as it was, he couldn't help but feel utterly indecent without a shirt. Plus, he couldn't not wear his red coat. It would be a sin.

• It is notable to mention that Genesis pinned Sephiroth's silver hair up in a claw clip. This will be important later on.

• Genesis looks down at his body.

Genesis: I...I am! I had an epiphany last night, you see. Though my chest area is impressive and delightful to stare at, it can get quite cold. So I borrowed Genesis's fabulous uniform. Have I ever mentioned how fashionable I find Genesis? He is the epitome of style and—

• Sephiroth in Genesis' body stumbles off the elevator wearing nothing but the uniform pants and eating a Banora White.

Sephiroth: You will not believe how quickly this body absorbs alcohol!

Angeal: Genesis please tell don't tell me you're drunk.

Sephiroth: Oh Genesis isn't drunk.

Angeal: What is up with you two? Today is not the day for this. We have a meeting with Lazard in ten minutes.

• Angeal walks off. Genesis panics, takes off his red coat and forcibly drapes it around Sephiroth.

Genesis: What is wrong with you!? Do you want to blow our cover!?

Sephiroth: I apologize. I just can't seem to control myself. Your body has a lot of chaotic energy that just makes me want to set things on fire.

Genesis: Ha-ha! I knew I wasn't crazy.

Sephiroth: Also, it is very fun being you. I can walk around the building quoting Loveless at the top of my lungs and throw apples at people. No one bats an eye.

Genesis: I'm glad someone's having fun. I tried to go get coffee this morning and almost shut down an entire street. And then I got a call from Professor Hojo who grilled me for an hour on the phone because I didn't show up last night for a blood collection. AND—

• Genesis tugs at the silver locks of hair framing his face.

Genesis: This THING is impossible to wash! I had to use an entire bottle of conditioner. How much money do you spend on conditioner!?

Sephiroth: Hm. Being Sephiroth isn't so fun, is it?

Genesis: It is not.

Sephiroth: Good. Let this be a lesson learned. By the way⏤*he reaches for the clip*⏤the claw clip might be hurting your skull as my hair is quite heavy.

• Genesis tries to back away, but it's too late.

Genesis: NO, DON'T⏤

• Sephiroth pulls the claw clip off. Instead of Sephiroth's long, luscious hair cascading down his back, shoulder-length hair falls around Genesis's face.

• The silence is loud.

Genesis: I can explain!

Sephiroth:

Genesis: I was trying to brush it out after I washed it last night, but it got too tangled and matted beyond saving and I didn't know what else to do!

Sephiroth:

Genesis: Your hair grows back quickly, right?

Sephiroth:

Genesis: Sephiroth please talk so I know you're not mad.

Sephiroth:

Genesis: Sephiroth you're scaring me.

Sephiroth:

Genesis, crying: SephiROTH.

Sephiroth: It took ten years to get my hair to that length.

Sephiroth: Ten years from now, they will still be finding your body parts.

• Genesis is disheveled, covered in scratches and holding a built-up ball of firaga in his hand. Sephiroth is after him.

Sephiroth: I'm going to kill you.

Genesis: HELP! HELP! HEL⏤

• Genesis just about dodges Sephiroth's sword slicing the air next to him. It appears Sephiroth is serious.

Genesis: OH YEAH? WELL I ALSO POSTED A BUNCH OF THIRST-TRAP PHOTOS ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA THIS MORNING!

• Sephiroth swings the sword again, this time it crashes into a glass window.

Sephiroth: REALLY? WELL I SHOPLIFTED A SCARF FROM THE GIFT SHOP LAST NIGHT. WHEN YOU'RE BACK IN THIS PATHETIC VESSEL, YOU'LL BE KNOWN AS A THIEF!

• Sephiroth dodges the ball of fire launched his way. It incinerates the plant Angeal had been keeping.

Genesis: OKAY! YOU'LL BE PLEASED TO KNOW THAT I FLIRTED WITH SCARLET! AND I GAVE HER YOUR PHONE NUMBER! HAVE FUN ON YOUR DATE NEXT WEDNESDAY!

• Sephiroth swings the sword in an arc, nipping Genesis in the shoulder.

Sephiroth: AND I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT I SENT OUT A MASS E-MAIL TO RED LEATHER THIS VERY MORNING!

Genesis: YOU DIDN'T.

Sephiroth: I DID! I TOLD THEM THAT CARPET DOES NOT, IN FACT, MATCH THE DRAPES!

Genesis: YOU DIDN'T.

Sephiroth: I TOLD THEM YOUR HAIR IS NATURALLY BROWN.

• Genesis' response is a guttural scream as he tackles Sephiroth to the ground.

• Back in the conference room, Zack is slumped in his seat at the table. Lazard won't start the meeting without Sephiroth and Genesis and he's bored.

• Lazard sighs and checks his watch.

Lazard: Angeal, perhaps you should go out and look for them.

• A distant sound of an explosion is heard, followed by shattering glass, a wall breaking and what's clearly a muffled scream.

Angeal, sighing: Zack, why don't you do the honors?

Zack: Wha...For real!? Awesome! I've never broken up a Sephiroth and Genesis fight before!

Lazard: Well, today's your lucky day. *he checks his watch again* Please be quick.

Zack: On it!

*Zack shoots out of his seat and runs out the door*

Angeal: He's screwed.

Lazard: How so?

Angeal: Sephiroth and Genesis are inhabiting each other's bodies.

Lazard: What!? How is that possible? Did they tell you that?

Angeal: No.

Lazard: Then how did you figure it out?

Angeal: Because Sephiroth was wearing a shirt.

#ff7 #ffvii #final fantasy 7 #sephiroth #ffvii crisis core #genesis rhapsodos #final fantasy vii #final fantasy #angeal hewley #ff7r #zack fair #chadley ff7 #ff7 crisis core #final fantasy 7 crisis core #ff7cc #ffviir #storytime

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uwusillygirl · 8 months

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UWUSILLYGIRL’S GNARLY, NICHE, ANNOTATED, PERVERSE LIL KINKTOBER EXTRAVAGANZA!!!

hi, friends! it’s uwusillygirl! resident hellcheer BDSM pervert! :) i am hosting a little kinktober this year, for anyone interested in joining! i will be writing through it all as well, and would love to chat with y’all while we chug through it!

what i want most is for this shit to be fun and messy and flexible. being involved can include a cohesive story, it can be a bunch of blurbs, it can be just one sentence a prompt, or some other artistic interpretation!

i wanted to try and bring in some trickier/lesser tapped into kink prompts (in fact, i am nervous about writing some of these), and not all of them are kink-based, some are scenario based or kink-adjacent hehe. these are also so, so open to interpretation! please go at ‘em however you want. (and if you’re totally stuck and just wanna write pee-pee stuff post-Hoard trailer for 31 days, i will still read your shit and cheer you on. henry winkler “i love you, you’re beautiful” GIF etc. etc.)

still weighing the pros and cons of creating an official collection on ao3 (if i did, it would almost certainly be unmoderated), and i will let you know about that closer to the date!!! really hope to read some of your stuff!!!

prompts (and some notes, ideas, annotations, because i cannot shut the fuck up) under the cut, and FEEL FREE TO DM ME, CHAT WITH ME ON DISCORD, LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU'RE WRITING, ETC! CAN'T WAIT!

negotiation (this can be precursory negotiating of a scene or kink, negotiating mid-way through an act, or maybe a naughty lil’ “I’ll give you ___ if you give me ____”)

gender bend (can be both of ‘em, can be one of ‘em, can be gender fuckery, can be Freaky Friday body swap, do what you want!)

erotic humiliation or degradation (can be verbal, can be an action or task)

voyeurism (one of them is watching the other solo! or one of them is watching them with someone else! or both of them are watching something! or something else!)

cuckold/cuckqueening

involving something very hot (temperature)

involving something very cold (temperature)

phone sex (bonus points if one of them is in public or pseudo-public!)

free use

hate sex

modern!AU (could include something like but not limited to: an “extremely online” type-kink, a sex toy that would have been developed/perfected/made common in the last decade or so, a type of virtual sex that would only work with relatively modern tech, a cosplay or costume that is relatively recent, etc.)

spit

body modification

paraphilia (clothing/garment fetishism)

pet play

discipline

spectrophilia (attraction to ghosts) OR robot fetish

sex with a mirror involved

hypnokink

24/7 BDSM lifestyle

bottoming from the top (or a traditionally perceived “dominant” action done submissively — enacting pegging, breath play, etc. under the instruction of the more dominant party)

hybristophilia (fetish or erotic fixation on a criminal)

tickling

bimbofication

crossdressing

electrical play

cosplay or costume sex

feet

sex work

“we saw you from across the room and we liked your vibe” (ANYONE CAN BE SAYING THIS TO ANYONE IN ANY PAIRING OR GROUP BUT UWUSILLYGIRL WOULD LOVE IF IT WAS A COUPLE COMING ONTO SOMEONE ELSE)

free space!!!!!!!! u did it!!!

#hellcheer kinktober 2023

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neonlights92 · 1 year

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Flip & Reverse It (II)

Your relationship with resident fuckboy Jung Hoseok is anything but simple. Sitting somewhere between hate and genuine friendship is the fact that you’ve always secretly, sort of wanted him.

And then one day you wake up and you’re in Hoseok’s body. And he’s in yours. Things just got a whole lot more complicated.

Genre: rom-com, body swap, (sort of) enemies to lovers

Word count: 10k

Warnings: language and future smut

A/N: I'm baaaaaaack from the dead. Originally, I was going to make this two parts but this story has a mind of it's own. I think part 3 will be the final part. But please enjoooooy <;3

The library, thank God, is almost empty.

Of course it is, Hoseok tells you when you point this out, it’s a fucking Sunday.

Still you’re happy for the peace and quiet when the two of you tuck yourselves into a quiet corner and start scouring books for any kind of answer to your current….predicament.

“There’s nothing here.” Hoseok, at this point, is desperate. And so are you.

He slams the book he was reading down and turns to you sharply.

“It’s all about how to perform the swapping ritual… But not how to get things back.”

You hate to agree with him, but the truth is he’s right. You can’t find anything on reversing things, and the later it gets the more hope you lose.

“Maybe we need to read between the lines,” You suggest, “There’s got to be something here…” Hoseok rolls his eyes. He scoffs.

“There’s nothing. Some evil fucking force hates me and that’s why I’m here.” You feel a sting in your chest. Okay, so the situation isn’t ideal, but why is he acting like there’s absolutely nothing worse that could happen to him?

“At least you didn’t swap bodies with a homeless man,” You try to joke but Hoseok is having absolutely none of it.

He pulls a face.

“At least a homeless man doesn’t have a fucking vagina. What am I supposed to do with that?”

You flush brightly. Oh my god you hadn’t even thought of that.

Hoseok is most definitely going to have to see you naked. He’s going to have to touch your naked body - and quite possibly groom it.

“Oh fuck.” You grunt.

Hoseok has the decency to look a little apologetic for his tone. He winces.

“I’m sorry.” He mutters, frowning, “I know this is shit for you too.”

You try not to take it personally. He’s right, after all.

In the long list of awful things to happen to a person this has to be close to the top. You groan and tug a hand through your hair.

“All I can think is that we have to figure out why this happened.” You purse your lips, “Like why would the ritual actually work?”

Hoseok looks exactly how you feel: absolutely clueless. He clicks his tongue and shrugs.

“I don’t know. In that Freaky Friday film the mum and daughter had to learn to accept each other.”

You bite back a laugh. Hoseok has watched Freaky Friday?

“Right….”

“I’m just saying.” He rolls his eyes, “if we’re trying to read between the lines then maybe it has something to do with understanding each other.”

“You mean like we need to learn from one another?”

It’s a surprisingly good guess. Why else would the swap have worked, if not at least to teach you both a lesson?

You had nothing material to gain from this body swap - and neither did Hoseok. In fact, if anything it made your lives a thousand times more difficult.

It had to be something intangible. Something like internal growth.

Character development.

“I mean I don’t know what we’d ever learn from each other,” He shrugs, “But it’s worth a shot.”

You bite back the snarky reply that sits on the tip of your tongue. - that you’re not sure you could ever learn anything from him but that he could sure learn a lot from you - and sigh heavily.

“It’s our only lead at the moment. We may as well see if it works.” You watch as Hoseok pulls your face into a scowl.

“This fucking sucks.”

Just as you open your mouth to say something - probably agree with him - a female voice from somewhere to your left calls out Hoseok’s name.

You watch in horror as Hoseok’s eyes widen, and you feel your heart skip a beat. He mouths one word ‘Jisoo’, and you nod sharply, turning to face the beautiful tall woman that’s made her way towards the two of you.

You clear your throat and try to relax, “Hey… Jisoo.” You hope that you read Hoseok’s lips right, and when the woman’s smile widens you relax a little.

“How have you been?” Her eyes flick towards Hoseok - who is of course sat in your body - and when she turns back to you she has a perfectly plucked brow raised, “Why are you in the library on a Sunday?”

You feel your chest tighten again. The project.

“Uh me and Y/N are working on a project together,” You try to smile but you feel queasy, “Ain’t no rest for the wicked, they say.” You can feel Hoseok’s cringe from across the table but you try to ignore how stupid you’ve just made him seem.

“Oh.” Her eyes brighten a little, and you suddenly realize what’s going on.

She thought you and Hoseok were here together… Out of your own free will.

Like a study date.

She’s jealous. Your heart pinches.

“I thought you’d text me after last time,” She pouts in a way that is entirely too sexy for her own good, “But you never did. I miss you.”

You notice the way her gaze darkens, and you imagine that this is what seduction looks like. Not that you’ve ever tried to seduce anyone before.

Clearly.

“Oh well…” You scratch the back of your head in that way that is universal boy code for awkward and cough, “I’ve been busy. With uh… School.” “And this project,” Hoseok interrupts, smiling anxiously, “We’ve just had next to no time to ourselves. Isn’t that right, Hoseok?”

You nod sharply, “Yeah. Yep of course. No time.”

Jisoo deflates slightly and something clicks.

She’s being ghosted.

“Oh right. Well…” She smiles wryly, “I’ll let you get back to it, then. Bye Hoseok.”

She turns to Hoseok and gives a little wave, “Bye Y/N.” And your heart breaks for her. She’s not even mean.

When she saunters off into the abyss of the library you turn to Hoseok and raise an angry brow.

“That was not nice.” He pulls a face, “It was necessary. She was sniffing around where she shouldn’t have been.” “You ghosted her.” Hoseok groans.

“So what? Jisoo’s like, the hottest girl on campus. She’ll get over it.”

You feel something like anger rise to the surface but you bite it back.

“It’s cruel,” You tell him honestly, “You shouldn’t lead girls on like that.” “Woah. I do not lead girls on,” He rolls his eyes and leans back into his chair, “I know you think I’m a heartless asshole but I don’t do that. Girls know what to expect when they sleep with me. I am a man of zero commitment and I tell them that but they think they can change me. It’s not my fault they’re wrong.”

“So you told Jisoo?” He frowns, “Told her what?”

“That you’re a man of zero commitment.” He nods decisively, “Of course I did. A whore I may be, but an asshole I am not. Every girl I sleep with knows exactly what to expect from me. Girls like Jisoo think they’re somehow special - that I’ll change my mind and date them. But that’s just not me. It sucks that she’s hurt - but she’s only done that to herself.”

You hate to admit it… But he’s kind of right.

Casual sex is just that. Casual.

Hoseok is well within his right to sleep with whoever he wants - no strings attached - especially if he’s made it explicitly clear things won’t go anywhere.

You feel bad suddenly, for what you said to him the other day - about him being a slut and heartless - but you try and push the guilt to the side. It’s not your fault he’d never explained things to you before.

“Maybe that’s what I could teach you.” Hoseok cocks his head, “What?”

You sigh.

“Commitment.” When he snorts out a laugh you hate how much the sound warms your heart.

“I doubt that.” He tells you, shrugging, “I don’t need commitment and frankly… I don’t want it either.”

“Ah. I see.”

He raises a brow, “What do you see? “

You shrug.

“You’ve got commitment issues.”

For a moment it seems like he might be angry at you. His eyes darken and his brow furrows. Then he relaxes and blows out a raspberry.

“Yeah. Maybe I do. But don’t most people our age have commitment issues?”

“Most guys,” You correct, “Yeah. I guess so.”

You can’t help that your stomach drops at the realization. Even though you’ll never admit it to anyone… You always sort of hoped Hoseok wasn’t actually emotionally stunted. That he had the capacity to grow and change. To love someone.

(To love you.)

But now you see that’s probably not the case.

He’s emotionally unavailable. And he seems to like it that way.

At some point Hoseok turns back to the pile of books sitting between the two of you, and you try to ignore the way your heart just keeps sinking and sinking.

“This is hopeless.” He groans, flicking a hand through his hair.

You look up, chest tight.

“Yeah. It is.”

But you have a feeling you’re not talking about the same thing anymore.

It’s four hours later that the both of you give up.

“So now what?” You’re currently sitting opposite each other at a twenty-four hour coffee shop when Hoseok asks you the question. He’s ordered an Americano (at eight o’clock at night what a psycho) and you’re sipping on mint tea.

“I don’t know.” The tears climb up your throat but you push them down, “I really don’t. This is so fucked up.”

“Tell me about it.”

He seems on the verge of tears too, and you try your best to keep it together.

When you woke up in Hoseok’s body this morning the first thing that registered was shock. Then you moved on to denial.

Now you’re just frustrated. Is this going to be the rest of your life? Will you never be yourself again?

You can barely understand the position you’ve found yourself in, but for some absurd reason it’s real and you hate whatever magic, or being or otherworldly powers put you here.

“I guess we have to try the Freaky Friday thing.” Hoseok announces, desperate, “We have to try and learn something from each other.”

“And how, pray tell, are we going to do that?”

Hoseok narrows his eyes, “Can you just - can you just stop being so patronizing for like five seconds? We’re in the same fucking boat here. We have nothing else to go on. I’m trying to help.”

You feel like a fucking bitch.

For the second time in less than twenty-four hours, that ugly spider of guilt crawls up your tummy into your throat.

You don’t know what it is about Hoseok that makes you act this way - so angry and judgemental - but in the back of your mind you worry that it’s your complicated feelings for him.

You hate how he makes you feel. You hate that you’ve always sort of wanted him and he doesn’t want you back.

But you hate even more that you’re being so unfair.

“You’re right.” You nod, “You’re right. I’m being a bitch. I’m sorry Hoseok.”

The words seem to take him aback. He stares at you for a moment, and then releases a long breath.

“Good. Fine. Great. Let’s - I don’t know. Let’s brainstorm?”

You open your mouth to ask just exactly what he wants to brainstorm, when your cell phone starts ringing. It’s jammed into the pocket of Hoseok’s shorts (the ones you’re currently wearing of course) and you bring it out quickly, passing it to Hoseok himself.

“You need to pick it up.” You tell him.

He groans, “What?” “It’s Sana. She’s probably calling to ask about game night.”

“Oh shit. God forbid you miss game night.” “Hoseok…”

He rolls his eyes and sighs heavily, “Fine. Okay. But I’m putting it on speaker.”

He accepts the call quickly, and after a moment of shuffling around, Sana’s voice bleeds through.

“Hello? Y/N?” “Hi. Yeah. Hi Sana,” Hoseok tries to sound bright and cheerful - not at all like someone who’s just swapped bodies with their sort-of enemy.

“Where are you? The boys have just arrived. We’re meant to start at eight.”

“The boys?” The question slips out of Hoseok unbidden. He raises a brow.

“Yeah. Joon, Jimin and Jungkook…” The last name is said with a hint of teasing, “Y’know Jungkook’s been asking about you for the last twenty minutes. He said he can’t wait to play a game of monopoly with you.”

Your heart constricts. Fucking Sana and her incessant matchmaking.

You’ve told her a thousand times that even though he’s nice and handsome, you don’t want to get with Jungkook, but she seems hellbent on setting you up with someone.

God forbid you’re still single at twenty-one. In Sana’s eyes, you’re practically a spinster.

“Oh.” Hoseok’s eyes meet yours and he smirks teasingly, “Well… I wouldn’t want to keep Jungkook waiting.”

No. No, no, no, nooooo.

“No you wouldn’t!” You can hear the smirk in Sana’s voice too, “So get your ass over here.” You know exactly what Hoseok trying to do. You can see it all playing back, in the corner of his annoyingly devious mind.

“I’m coming too!” The words blurt out of you before you can even stop them, “Hi Sana. It’s Hoseok. I’m uh - Y/N invited me to game night before. So I’m going to come too. Y’know. I love monopoly.” There is a beat of thick silence. You cringe, and watch Hoseok’s eyes widen.

Then Sana clears her throat.

“Oh Hobi… Yeah, yeah of course. Feel free. You guys have spent all day on that project right?”

“We have,” You reply, “And I uh - I need to relax. So… Monopoly sounds great.” And then to make it a little bit more believable you add, “Joon and Jimin are there too, right?” “Yeah. We’re just ordering pizza. You guys okay with margarita?” “Sounds great. We’ll uh - we’ll be there soon.”

You grab the phone from Hoseok quickly and hang up before Sana can even reply. Hoseok leans back in his chair, staring at you.

“What are you doing?” He asks, crossing his arms.

“What are you doing?” You squeal, “Are you trying to fuck me over?”

“Excuse me?” “I saw right through that.” You claim, scrambling to your feet, “I don’t have a crush on Jungkook.” He holds both hands up, coming to stand too, “I never said you did.”

“So why were you - why were you smiling like that?” “Like what?” “Like you - like you…” You feel your cheeks redden and you wonder for a moment if you’re overreacting, “Like you were going to flirt with him.” There is a moment of almost unbearable silence.

Hoseok’s expression morphs from surprise… Into teasing. There it is again. That fucking smirk.

Even when it’s on your face, you know exactly what he means by it. And you hate that.

“Oh heavens no.” He barks out a laugh, “God forbid I flirt with him.”

You blush even hotter then, realizing how positively juvenile you sound and despising yourself for it. You try to string together a sentence, but you just can’t, so you do the next best thing and walk out of the coffee shop.

Hoseok follows you of course, but at least the crisp evening air cuts through the heat of your embarrassment.

“I didn’t realize you had a friend, Y/N.” Hoseok continues to tease as you make your way towards his car.

“I don’t.” You tell him decidedly.

“So then why does Sana think you do?” “Because she’s an idiot.”

“Is she?” “Yes!” You cry, exasperated, “She tries to set me up with everything that has a heartbeat because she seems to think the only way I can love myself is through male validation. But I’m perfectly happy on my own. Maybe you don’t believe that, and I don’t care if you do but it’s true. I don’t like Jungkook.”

The rant has come out in almost one breath, and you feel lightheaded by the end of it.

You’re not sure why you’re so adamant on proving to Hoseok that you don’t have feelings for Jungkook, but you figure it has to do with your tiny, little crush on the man currently inhabiting your body.

You hate yourself for it but the candle you held for Jung Hoseok never really snuffed out did it?

“Hey.” He lowers his voice and you pause, turning to face him. His expression is soft now.

“I didn’t - I was just teasing.” He tells you sincerely, “I wasn’t going to flirt with Jungkook, I swear. I won’t flirt with him.” You nod once. Sharply.

“Okay.” “And you’re right,” He sighs, “You don’t need any man to make you happy, Y/N.”

“I know.” He nods too.

“Good.”

A beat of silence softens the atmosphere. Then Hoseok gestures towards his car.

“C’mon. Let’s go. We’ll take my car.”

You regret mentioning the fact that his car is now your car technically, and instead follow him that way.

This is going to be a long night.

You’re right.

It is a long night.

Jungkook, of course, spends all night flirting with you. Well, he spends all night flirting with Hoseok but he thinks it's you and who can blame him, really? You feel yourself on edge the whole time, eyes flitting between the two of them the entire night. Hoseok, in his defense, doesn’t really flirt back. He smiles and laughs, and a couple of times he pats Jungkook’s knee, but for the most part it’s all been entirely platonic.

At some point you decide enough is enough, you need a break, so you stand up and announce you’re going to grab another beer.

“The kitchen’s right through there,” Sana tells you, because of course she thinks this is like your second time in your own house. Because you’re Hoseok aren’t you? Except your brain is still yours and you feel like you might very well just implode on the spot.

Fuck. That migraine is coming back.

Hoseok meets your eyes as you stand and you flick your gaze away. Stop looking at him, you tell yourself sternly.

Namjoon decides to accompany you that way, and you try to encourage yourself. You are Jung Hoseok. You are a casanova. You are a Beta Theta Sigma member. You are hot and you are a man.

“What was that back there?” Namjoon asks the moment the two of you step into the kitchen.

“Excuse me?” “That,” He opens the fridge and grabs a couple of bottles, “If you stared any harder, Y/N would have burst into flames..”

“Oh.”

“Are you… Jealous?” Namjoon sounds unsure, even as he suggests it.

“Jealous?” “Of Jungkook and Y/N.” He clarifies, as though it’s the most obvious thing in the world, “I mean…I thought you didn’t even like her.”

“I do.” You shake your head, “No wait. No I don’t.” “You don’t?” “It’s uh… It’s complicated.”

Namjoon furrows his brow. He licks his bottom lip slowly and takes a swig of his beer.

“I can tell Jungkook to back off.”

“No! Don’t do that,” You cross your arms, “Y/N isnt… She isn’t property. She can - she can flirt with whoever she wants.”

Namjoon scowls. He seems incredibly confused and you don’t blame him.

“What?” “I just mean…” You blow out a long breath, “I’m not jealous Joon. Really. I just - I’m keeping an eye on her. For the project.” “Right.” Namjoon lifts a dubious brow, “For the project.” You’re aware of how utterly ridiculous this sounds. But you can’t have anyone thinking Hoseok has feelings for you. No matter how much a part of you wishes he might, that would only complicate things further when the two of you eventually do switch back.

“Jungkook’s nice though. Can’t believe this is my first time meeting him.”

You’d asked Hoseok earlier if he’d ever met Namjoon’s little brother, and were surprised when he told you he hadn’t. With the amount of times Jungkook visited, you assumed their paths would have crossed.

“Well he’s not really into frats,” Namjoon replies honestly, “Plus he only ever really comes around to hang out with Y/N. He’s pretty into her.” “Yeah. I can tell.” The words sound jealous again, and you wish you could take them back. Namjoon doesn’t say anything though, and then Hoseok appears in the kitchen door frame, halting all Jungkook related conversation.

“Hi.” He smiles at Namjoon and then his eyes fall on you, “Hey.” “Hey.” You greet back, trying to sound as casual as possible.

“Can I get one of those?” He asks, and you grab him a beer.

“So…” Namjoon grins, “Jungkook?” You wait with baited breath. Hoseok promised he wouldn’t flirt - but you’re not sure how capable he is of keeping that promise. Is he going to fuck you over? Make it seem like you’re into Jungkook so that if (and when) the swap happens you’ll have an awkward encounter to clean up after?

“What?” Hoseok shrugs, nonchalantly.

“Are you into him?”

You bite your bottom lip and Hoseok's eyes flick towards yours.

The atmosphere thickens.

“No,” You let out a huge sigh of relief at Hoseok’s answer, and Namjoon turns to you again.

Damn. That just made it seem a whole lot like you were jealous.

“We should - we should get back to the game.” You interrupt quickly, not really in the mood for any more of Namjoon’s needling, “I don’t trust Sana on her own in there.”

Namjoon turns to you, expression unreadable and shrugs.

“Yeah. Let’s uh - let’s go.”

He leads the way and you trail after, hanging back slightly to turn to Hoseok and whisper a rushed thank you. His eyes meet yours and he smiles.

“Yeah. Don’t mention it.”

When the two of you join the others in the living room again, Namjoon is still sending you confused looks, but you ignore it, taking your seat beside Jimin and trying to relax the best you can.

“You’re losing, just so you know.” Jimin informs you, delighted.

You laugh at that, shaking your head. You’re not sure how good or not Hoseok usually is at monopoly, but tonight he’s losing because quite frankly you suck at it.

“I know.” “This is a first I think,” He narrows his eyes, “You’re usually more of a sore loser.” You shrug, and try to grin, “I’m trying to be gracious.” “Mmmm.” He still seems dubious, “If you say so.”

You open your mouth to retort with something - you’re not sure what - when the sound of someone sitting beside you stops you short. You turn, watching as Hoseok settles into the seat to your left.

“Oh.” Hoseok smiles, “Hi.” “You were sat beside Jungkook before, Y/N,” Sana tells Hoseok, eyes teasing as she flicks her gaze towards Namjoon’s brother.

Jungkook, in his defense, doesn’t seem offended.

“Yeah well now I’m sat beside Hoseok,” He says easily, “That’s okay, isn’t it?”

There is another awkward beat of silence because what the fuck, but when you meet Hoseok’s gaze you know he’s only trying to help. If he sits beside you, then Jungkook will likely leave him alone for the rest of night, and nobody will make assumptions about the nature of your relationship with Namjoon’s little brother.

Crisis averted. Right?

Nobody says anything for a moment or two, before Jimin clears his throat.

“Ah no. No I guess not. We’ll just shuffle the board around.”

You nod, but you’re not really concentrating on anything else that’s going on.

Because once again, Jung Hoseok has left you absolutely speechless.

The next morning, you wake up bright and early. In Hoseok’s bed.

For a moment, you forget that you’re currently inhabiting somebody else's body. But when your eyes blink the sleep away, you remember and you want to cry all over again.

You spent all night replaying Hoseok’s act of kindness - the way he swapped seats without worrying about what the rest of your friends would think - and your heart speeds up.

No, no, no. This is not good for you.

You’ve been down this rabbit hole before, and it only brought you heartache.

You try and focus on something else - like all the fucking classes you’re going to have to take for Hoseok - and you pick up his phone, unlocking it and opening up the timetable he sent you last night.

He’s in the majority of your classes, which you guess is a good thing, as the two of you can try and stick together as much as possible until you figure this whole thing out…. But there are still some you’re going to have to take alone.

Fuck. This.

A knock at the door brings you out of your slightly depressive episode.

“Hoseok!” It sounds like Taehyung, “Hey. Hoseok. Can I come in?”

You groan, wanting nothing more than to burrow into the sheets of Hoseok’s bed and spend the rest of the week there, but you know that isn’t an option. You sigh heavily.

“Yeah, yeah. Come in”.

The door swings open and Taehyung stands right in the middle of the frame, wearing a pair of low slung basketball shorts and nothing else. You note - not for the first time - how annoyingly attractive he is.

“You have a visitor.” Today he nurses a cup of coffee.

The smell makes it's way to your nose and you groan. Damn you could really use some caffeine right now.

“Wait what? A visitor?”

“Yeah.” Taehyung’s eyes narrow, “It’s that Y/N chick.”

“Oh.”

You pick up Hoseok’s phone and check the time - eight fifteen - before turning back to Taehyung. He is giving you the snarkiest look of all time and you scoff.

“What?”

“What do you mean what?” He steps into Hoseok’s room further and leans against the wall, “Are you fucking her?”

You sit up quickly, gasping.

“What? No?”

Taehyung narrows his eyes, “Then what the fuck is she doing here at eight o’clock on a Monday morning?”

“The… Uh… The project.”

You scramble up, thankful that you stumbled into a full set of pajamas last night before bed. You’ve somehow managed to avoid seeing Hoseok naked as of yet but you know it’s only a matter of time.

You hate to think of what Hoseok will think when he sees you naked. Maybe he already has.

You push that thought away.

“The project?” Taehyung snorts, “Do you think I was born yesterday?” “What?”

“Hoseok, when have you ever cared this much about any project before? You’re fucking her.” His eyes widen, “Oh my god. You’re revenge fucking her.” Your cheeks heat up, “No I am not. I told you, Taehyung. It’s the project.”

He scoffs and rolls his eyes.

“Right… The project.”

You decide there’s no point in arguing with him. He’s made up his mind -clearly- and you don’t want to think how many times Hoseok has been in this position before for Taehyung to so easily come to that conclusion.

“Where is she?”

He smirks, “Kitchen.”

You stalk of out Hoseok’s bedroom without another word, making your way towards the kitchen and stopping at the sight of your form sitting at the counter.

Hoseok hasn’t quite mastered the art of sitting like a girl yet, but you don’t blame him. Your legs are pulled slightly apart, and your torso hangs forward, like a football coach deciding his team's next move.

Hoseok scrolls through your cell phone and you wonder for a moment, if this is what you look like to everyone else. The posture of course is all off… But the rest of it. The rest of it is you, isn’t it?

“Morning!” You chirp happily, “Buddy!”

Immediately, you regret that choice of word. Buddy. You were going for platonic, but you landed on weird.

Hoseok turns to you and smiles, albeit a little stiffly, “Hi… Friend.” You know he’s teasing you back, but you decide to ignore it.

“What are you doing here so bright and early?”

For the first time since you saw him, you take note of what Hoseok has decided to dress your body in.

A pair of high waisted jeans, a crop top that you think you wore once when you were like eighteen, and platform sandals you bought for a halloween costume.

Great. Fantastic.

Splendid.

“I thought we could walk to campus together and discuss…” Hoseok’s eyes flick towards Taehyung who is (not so discreetly) eavesdropping on your conversation, “The project.” “Ah yes. The project.”

Taehyung scoffs and you turn sharply to send him a raised brow of indignance. He is being impossible. He shrugs and turns away, making his way back down the hallway and towards his room.

When you’re sure you and Hoseok are alone you let out a deep, calming breath.

“He thinks we’re fucking.” You tell him bluntly.

Hoseok snorts, “What?” “Taehyung thinks we’re fucking. And I’m pretty sure Namjoon and Jimin think it too.”

“Add Sana onto that list,” He pouts, “She interrogated me over our relationship for almost two hours last night, after the rest of you left. My God.”

You shiver to think what Sana may have said to Hoseok last night - how she may have inadvertently embarrassed you.

It’s not her fault of course, but considering how convinced she’s always been of your romantic feelings for Hoseok, you don’t doubt she spent the entire evening teasing him for it.

Fuuuuuck.

“I’m sorry.” You say, because you’re not sure what else may suffice.

Hoseok shakes his head, “Don’t apologise. It isn’t your fault.”

“Right.”

“Maybe we should… I don’t know,” His cheeks heat slightly, and his eyes flicker momentarily towards yours. Then he takes a deep breath, “Maybe we should roll with it.”

“What?” “The whole… Us dating thing. Just for now, till we figure this whole thing out. It would make it easier to explain why we are spending so much time together.”

You feel like the entire world has just turned upside down. Your heart is in your throat, beating so loudly it’s the only thing you can hear, and suddenly everything seems like it’s moving in slow motion.

You squeeze your eyes shut a second and shake your head. When you open your lids, Hoseok is staring at you expectantly.

“You want to… You want to pretend we’re together?”

“Well yeah,” He shrugs, “It’s like I say - then people won’t be so freaked out about the amount of time we spend with one another.” “But what about the party… All your friends saw us fight… And I was a bitch to you-”

“We’ll say you apologised. We talked about it and realized we were into one another. Stranger things have happened, right?”

He seems so nonchalant about it. And where you’re freaking the fuck out, he’s shrugging his shoulders as though it’s no big deal.

“But you - you don’t want a relationship. You said you’re a man of zero commitment…”

“Well this isn’t real is it?” He sighs heavily, “Besides, it’s just until we’ve figured out how to put everything back to normal.”

You might throw up.

“I - I mean…” “Plus it’s not like I’m going to be getting any action whilst I’m in your body, right? Win win.” He smiles warmly, and for a moment you’re completely taken aback.

What the fuck are you meant to say?

“I guess. I mean… Okay.” You lick your bottom lip and tug a hand through your hair, pulling at the ends of Hoseok’s short strands, “Yes. Okay fine. It’s a good idea.”

“Great.”

You blink. Once, twice, three times.

The atmosphere shifts.

“Is that… Is that all you came round for?”

“I thought we could walk to class this morning. Really cement our whole new couple thing. We’ve got first period together, right?”

Your mouth is so dry, it might as well be a desert, but you force yourself to nod.

When the fuck did this become the timeline you are living in?

“Cool. So… I guess… Get ready? I’ll wait here. I’m still trying to figure these shoes out without breaking my neck. Your neck,” He wrinkles his nose, “Our neck.”

You snort a laugh at that, “Okay. Cool. Yeah… I’ll uh - I’ll see you now.” It’s only later, when you force yourself to a take a shower (despite having to face Hoseok’s naked body and trying your utmost to respect his privacy and not check out his bits) that the reality of what has happened to you in the last twenty-four hours truly hits you.

Not only are you currently inhabiting Hoseok’s body.

But you’re his girlfriend too now. (Fake girlfriend, technically speaking but… That’s semantics.)

Shit.

Your first day at college as Jung Hoseok goes awfully.

Of course it does. What else were you expecting?

It’s hard enough trying to keep up with all his classes and friend’s names and his fucking schedule. But the worst part of everything - the part you can’t stand - is the questions.

“Are you really dating that Y/N chick?”

“I thought the two of you hated each other.”“Never would’ve pegged you for a nerd guy.”

You hate it all - the assumption that you and Hoseok don’t make sense as a couple - but what else can you do but grin and bear it?

They’re kind of right, too really. You and Hoseok don’t really make sense.

You try to tell him this yourself, when you walk him home after the last of your classes, but he’s having none of it.

“Will you quit it?” He tells you seriously, eyes narrowing at the insecurity written all over your face, “Who gives a fuck what any of them think, anyway?”

“I do. Clearly.” You grumble feeling dumb for having even brought it up in the first place.

Hoseok rolls his eyes.

“Yeah and why’s that?”

“Because I’m dumb and insecure?” You shrug helplessly, “I don’t know Hoseok. People are probably already talking so much shit about me.”

“This isn’t high school.”

“So? People are still mean.” You sigh heavily, “You don’t get it Hoseok. I’m not cool. I’ve never been cool. Everyone is going to wonder why the fuck you decided to settle down with me of all people.”

Hoseok pauses, and turns to look at you. The fact he’s dressed you in platforms means the height difference between the two of you isn’t as large as it normally is, but he still needs to tilt his head up slightly to make eye contact.

“And if they ask you’ll tell them I chose you because you’re smart and capable and pretty.” His eyes are serious, “And I like you. You make me laugh and you don’t take my shit. Plus you’re the only person I know who actually gives a fuck about getting their degree. It’s admirable.” The words almost cause a heart attack. It’s a punch to the gut - does he really think those things about you? - and for a moment you don’t know what to say.

“Oh… Uh…”

“And when they ask me why you chose to date me… I’ll say because Jung Hoseok is a sex god and a filthy, dirty fuck.” He smiles widely, “Gotta retain at least a little bit of my reputation, right?”

You burst out laughing at that, unable to control yourself. Hoseok laughs too, and for a moment it feels like the two of you might be caught under something.

The way he’s looking at you - soft and warm, like he’s happy to be there - makes your heart clench and you remind yourself once again that he isn’t yours. He isn’t yours and he’s only here because he’s in your fucking body.

“Alright. I’ll let you have that at least,” You mumble back, as the two of you stop outside of your apartment block.

“Well,” He throws you an easy smile, “This is my stop.”

You click your tongue, “Yep.”

“I’ll see you tonight, right?”

When you draw a blank look Hoseok groans.

“The party, remember?”

You feel something flicker in your stomach. The stupid fucking party at the EXO frat, you’d agreed to go to.

“Do we have to...?”

“If we don’t, it will be harder to go to the next social gathering I'm invited to. We have to keep up appearances.” He seems sympathetic as he says it and you know he has a point.

The quicker you bite the bullet, the easier it will be to fool everyone else that you’re actually into each other.

But that doesn’t mean you like the idea.

“Can’t I just say I’m sick?”

Hoseok clicks his tongue, “Look, it's a great excuse for us to show we’re a solid couple, right?”

You stop yourself from actually sticking your tongue out at him and instead settle on a playful glare.

“Fine. But I’m not going to enjoy myself.”

“Duly noted,” Hoseok replies drily, “I’ll ask Sana. She’s probably already going with Joon.”

You hum some kind of half hearted agreement.

“It's going to be fine, Y/N trust me.”

You feel exhausted all of a sudden. Is this going to be the rest of your life? Figuring out ways to hoodwink your friends and family into believing something that isn’t true? Pretending to be somebody else? Having to live a life that isn’t yours?

“Are we ever going to be able to swap back?” The question is small, and you feel so dumb asking it because how can Hoseok give you an answer?

Hoseok gives you a small, comforting smile. He touches your shoulder gently and nods.

“We’ll figure it out. We’re not going to stay like this forever.”

You want to believe him. With everything inside of you, you want to believe that you can both fix this.

But you’re not sure of anything anymore, least of all if you’ll ever live in your own skin again.

“Just… don’t give up, okay?” He’s looking at you so earnestly your heart almost breaks. You nod, silently, biting back the tears.

“I won’t.” And without even thinking about it, you bend down and press a soft kiss against Hoseok’s forehead. Well… it’s your forehead really, but at this point the semantics don’t matter.

Hoseok freezes, but you don’t miss the way he leans ever so gently into the touch. You try to tell yourself you were just imagining things but part of you can’t really deny it.

When you pull away, he’s watching you with careful eyes.

“I’ll see you tonight,” You tell him, straightening out almost stiffly, “At the party.”

Hoseok smiles and nods.

“Yeah. See you later.”

You think that perhaps, today hasn’t actually been that awful. That maybe, maybe by the end of all this you and Hoseok might actually be friends. The thought warms your heart.

Friends with Hoseok. You know secretly you want more, but there’s no denying the impossibility of that ever happening.

So you resign yourself to hope for friendship. And something soft blooms in your chest.

It isn’t until you get back to Hoseok’s home that you are spun quite immediately back into reality. The look on Kim Taehyung’s face when you pass through the front door is enough to make you want to curl up in a hole and die.

“I fucking knew it. You’re banging her!”

Jin stands to Taehyung’s left, a dark brow raised. His arms are crossed and he watches you curiously.

“I’m not banging her…” You grumble, “She’s my girlfriend.” “Same difference.” Taehyung is grinning like the cat who got the fucking cream, “I knew there was something else going on.”

“I thought relationships weren’t your thing,” This comes from Jin, who’s still giving you that weird look.

You shrug, “Well it’s different. With Y/N.” “It is?” “Yeah. She’s different.” You almost cringe at your own words - but there’s nothing you can do it about it. God knows Jung Hoseok has definitely established his position as resident fuckboy pretty firmly by now - but things change, right?

“Don’t tell me you guys are like seriously exclusive?” Taehyung looks like he might pass out.

“Uh… Yeah. Exclusive.” “Fuck.” He scoffs out a laugh that is sharp as knives, “Shit. You’re really into her.” Another nod. Taehyung turns to Jin and shrugs.

“Twenty bucks then, right?”

Jin’s lips lift into a smirk. You frown.

“What?” “Me and Jin had a bet after that night,” Taehyung says this so easily as though it isn’t a big deal. But it is, you think, “The party where the two of you fought. You were so clearly into her. I thought you’d fuck her. Jin thought you’d make her your girlfriend. He won.”

You are floored. Hoseok’s friends think he’s into you? Like for real?

You don’t know what to say.

“What are you talking about?” “Well for one she’s the only girl on this entire campus you haven’t tried to fuck,” Taehyung points out almost studiously, “And whenever you do talk to her, you get all weird. Like you’re trying to impress her.”

You feel yourself flush because what the fuck?

“You’re - I… What?”

“C’mon don’t play dumb.” Taehyung fishes into his back pocket for his wallet, “After that night at the party you were so pissed. That’s only because you liked her enough to actually care what she thinks about you.”

Jin accepts the twenty dollar bill Taehyung passes him, “And we were right, obviously. Because she’s your girlfriend now.”

The tightness in your chest expands.

“Uh… I mean yeah. I guess.”

“She’s coming to the party tonight, right?” Jin’s question surprises you.

You nod and Taehyung grunts.

“Good. She can try and change my mind about her then.”

You resist the urge to tell him to fuck off. After all, the last time Taehyung had seen you around his best friend you hadn’t exactly behaved spotlessly, had you?

“I’m sure she will.” You mutter to yourself more than anything, “I am sure she’ll change your mind.”

The party is throbbing by the time you and Hoseok arrive. He’s stuffed you into one of Sana’s ridiculous minidresses and when you ask where on Earth he thought he was going he just shrugged and told you to chill out.

“I hate this already,” You mutter, feeling incredibly out of place.

“Well Jung Hoseok is usually the life and soul of any party so start un-hating it.”

You roll your eyes at his comment and let Hoseok slip his hand into yours. It feels weird, holding your own hand like this, but you can’t contain the butterflies swarming around your stomach either.

Even if you can’t fully enjoy it - Hoseok is currently holding your hand - and you can admit to yourself that you’d always wanted that.

Always wanted him.

God you’re a chump.

“Y/N!” Sana’s voice pierces through the crowd and you look up, trying to act nonchalant as she cuts her way through the mob of drunk college students.

“Hi Hoseok!”

You nod when she smiles up at you.

“You want to come join us? We’re playing ring of fire.”

You know what you want to say. You want to say fuck no. You can’t think of anything worse to play five minutes after arriving at a party, than ring of fire.

But you force a lazy smile onto your face and shrug, turning to Hoseok and raising a brow.

“Wanna play… babe?” The pet name comes out a little stilted, but it seems to do the job because Sana stifles a giggle.

Hoseok narrows your eyes a little, but he smiles just the same, turning on the charm.

“Anything you want… cupcake.”

You gag in your mouth because what the fuck? Cupcake? You would never reduce yourself to calling somebody something that gross but you force yourself to laugh.

“Okay then. Let’s play.”

Sana laughs too, and if she senses the weird energy between the two of you, she doesn’t comment on it. Instead she moves you both across the room into a smaller space - a room that could be considered a dining area if it wasn’t in a frat house.

“You know I’ve been getting questions about the two of you all night,” She throws over her shoulder as she leads the way, “All anybody seems to care about is the hottest couple on campus.”

Her tone is teasing, and you’d heard from Hoseok that Sana had been ruthless when he’d told her that the two of you were a couple.

You didn’t want to think about how she might have potentially embarrassed you.

“We are not the hottest couple on campus,” The words blurt out of you almost automatically and Sana snorts.

“According to most people I’ve spoken to at this party you are.” She shakes her head, “People can’t seem to wrap their puny little minds around it.”

“That’s because they’ve never been around the two of us when we’re together,” Hoseok pipes up, surprising you, “We’re perfect for each other.”

Your chest tightens again and you wonder if you might very well hyperventilate. Is he trying to kill you?

“That’s what I told them! You balance each other well, I think,” Sana sits at a huge round table and you take a seat to the left of her, “I always knew you had the hots for each other.”

Your eyes flicker to Hoseok as he sits to the left of you, and he holds your gaze steady. Breathe, he mouths.

Something about his presence calms you, despite how erratic you might feel inside, and you let yourself sink into the cushion of the chair you’re sat on.

“Well look who it is! The looooooovebirds!” Your eyes flick up to meet with a tall, slim man with charcoal gray hair. A memory flickers in your mind; he’s a member of EXO right? Cha-Cha… Cha-something.

“Shut up Chanyeol,” This comes from Namjoon (ah Chanyeol that was it), “Shit. I forget how obnoxious he gets at these….”

“Obnoxious my ass,” Chanyeol smiles good-naturedly, “I never thought I’d see the day that Jung Hoseok would be tamed! And by a woman, no less.”

You try to roll your eyes in a way you reckon might be reminiscent of Hoseok, and shrug.

“Not all of us can live in perpetual fuckboy territory, Chanyeol. I’ll leave the sleeping around to you, now.”

You pray to the Gods above that Chanyeol doesn’t have a girlfriend and that your joke will land - and sling an easy arm over Hoseok’s shoulder, pulling him closer towards you.

You press a kiss to the side of his head, and drop your mouth to his ear.

“He’s single, right?” You whisper.

Hoseok nods, once, and you relax. Thank God.

“Ooooo. Shots fired. Didn’t mean to offend you, Hobi.” But Chanyeol is still smiling as he says it, and you send him a smile right back.

“Not offended,” You shrug, “Just… Stating the truth.”

There seems to be a weird tension between the two of you, all of a sudden, and you wonder if maybe Hoseok and Chanyeol are not as buddy buddy as you might have thought. You feel Hoseok shift beside you.

“Okay, okay. Enough with the male testosterone,” Sana whines, “Are we going to play, or are we going to play?”

Your eyes flick quickly across the table - taking in the others at attendance. You don’t recognise anybody else apart from one girl who used to live in the same dorms as you freshman year. Momo, you think her name is.

“The floor’s all yours, darling.” Chanyeol smiles wolfishly, and something about that look on his face kind of creeps you out.

Sana starts rattling on about the rules of the game and you find your attention wavering, before Hoseok brings it to hyper focus by pinching the top of your thigh. You look down at him. He’s got a tight smile on his face.

“Avoid him.”

You raise a brow, “What?”

“Chanyeol.” He pushes closer towards you, “Try not to let him get you alone. Alright?”

Your brow creases, “Why?”

“Will you just…” He blows out a raspberry, “Can you just trust me on this?” A moment passes between the two of you. You watch as Hoseok blinks - once, twice, three times. Then you nod.

“Yeah. Fine. I’ll - I’ll avoid him.”

“Everybody understands the rules then, right?” Sana’s voice cuts through your conversation, and the two of you refocus your attention. You feel yourself nodding.

“Perfect. Then let’s begin!”

The game starts, and everything goes absolutely downhill from then on. You try to warn Hoseok several times that you can’t handle alcohol very well - you barely drink it and when you do, you don’t tend to drink the harder stuff. But Hoseok brushes you off.

It’s my brain in here, he tells you, I can handle it.

But he can’t of course. Because his brain or not, it’s a simple case of body chemistry and even though he really tries to keep up with everybody else in the game he just can’t. At one point, Hoseok flips over the glass of the girl to his left, and tries to apologize before flipping over your drink and causing an even bigger mess.

“Sweetie,” You grit your teeth together, “I think you’ve had enough.”

Hoseok turns to you, eyes wide and glassy. It’s weird to see yourself like this. Even though it’s not you - not technically - it’s your eyes and your mouth and your bright red cheeks.

Huh. So this is what you look like drunk.

“Uhhhh….” Hoseok hiccups, “I have?”

You feel something like fondness bubble in your chest.

“Yeah. Shall we step out of the game?”

Momo - that girl who lived in your dorms freshman year - sighs softly, “Shit. Look at him taking care of her like that. That’s so romantic.”

Sana giggles and tries to help Hoseok sit up a little straighter, “It is romantic.” Her eyes flick to yours, “Maybe you should get her some water?”

“Yeah.” You stand, grabbing Hoseok’s hand and pulling him up with you, steadying him when he inevitably stumbles into you, “C’mon baby. Let’s get you some water.”

Hoseok nods placidly, following you as you tug him towards the kitchen. There isn’t anybody else in there and you thank god because Hoseok really is a mess right now, and you can’t really focus on anything else but trying to sober him up.

“Come here.” You lead him to a bar stool and sit him down, pressing his back against the surface of the kitchen counter, to stop him from toppling over.

Hoseok’s eyes trace your face carefully. He bites his lip and smiles.

“Hi.”

You smile back, “Hi.”

“I’m kind of drunk, right?”

You nod, “Kinda.”

“Guess you were right.” He teeters slightly to the left, and you brace him carefully by the shoulders, “Are you mad?”

The question takes you by surprise.

“Why would I be mad?”

“Because you said I wouldn’t be able to drink so much and I didn’t listen to you.” He gives you a look that sits somewhere between guilty and cute, and if he wasn’t so drunk you might think he’s trying to flirt with you.

“You never listen to me,” You remind him studiously, grabbing a bottle of water and handing it to him, “Here. Drink up.”

He takes the bottle and brings it up to his mouth, taking a long gulp and pulling away with a dramatic swipe of his mouth when he’s done. He raises a brow.

“I do listen to you.” He whines, “What about the project? I agreed to do what you wanted to do.”

You purse your lips, “That’s one time.”

“And Jungkook.” He squints an eye, “I didn’t flirt with him.”

“Twice, then.”

“I’m sure there’s others,” He says confidently, “I just need to remember them.”

You laugh when he tries to tap his finger against his temple but fails miserably, using the hand holding the open bottle and spilling water down the front of Sana’s dress, instead.

“Look what you’ve done now,” You chide, shaking your head fondly.

“Woops?”

“Woops indeed,” You grab some paper towels and dab at the front of the dress, trying to take away as much moisture as possible.

“Woah, woah, woah,” Hoseok pushes you away gently, “Are you trying to get into my pants, mister? I’m not that easy y’know! I’m a lady.”

He’s smiling now, his eyes a little less glassy, and his face a little less flushed.

“A lady huh?”

Hoseok tilts his head to the side, studying you carefully - as though he’s seeing you for the very first time, almost.

“Yeah.” He licks his bottom lip once, “A sexy lady.”

You burst out laughing at that, and Hoseok laughs too, before a throat clears itself loudly to your left. Your head snaps round and you find Taehyung hovering in the doorway.

“I heard about your girl.”

“I am not his girl,” Hoseok snips, sounding a little too close to home for your liking, “My name is Y/N.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes, “Hi Y/N.”

Hoseok lifts an enthusiastic hand and waves.

“Hi Taehyung.”

He trails over towards the both of you and crosses his arms, raising a thick brow, “How are you feeling?”

“A little dizzy.” Hoseok hiccups again, “Who knew alcohol could make the room spin that fast?”

Taehyung swallows down a smile and turns to you.

“Maybe you should take her home…”

“But I don’t want to ruin your night,” Hoseok pouts like a baby and you think that might be the very first time your face has ever pulled that expression, “You were having fun, right?”

You shrug.

“It’s alright. There’ll be other parties.”

“That’s right there will be,” Hoseok stands, a little wobbly but on two feet at least, “And I’ll be at all of them too right? Because I’m your girlfrieeeeeend.”

He sings the last syllable of girlfriend - like he’s actually happy about the whole thing. You try not to think back on what Taehyung and Jin said to you before, about Hoseok always having had a thing for you and snort out a laugh.

“Yeah. You’ll be at every single one.”

He smiles, self-satisfied, “Good.”

“There’s no one home,” Taehyung whispers to you, laying on the innuendo thick, “Feel free to make as much noise as you’d like….”

You hate the way your cheeks pink at his suggestion and even Hoseok looks a little shy.

“Taehyung!” Hoseok shoves his friend’s shoulder playfully, “Are you encouraging fornication? You know we’re not married right?”

Taehyung barks out a laugh at that, unbidden. He looks sort of annoyed with himself for it.

“I’m just saying,” He says, “The night is young. Enjoy it.”

You slip your hand into Hoseok’s and tug him towards the front door, “We will. See you later, Tae.”

“It was nice meeting you again Tae-Tae,” Hoseok christens his friend with a brand new nickname, “I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other in the days to come!”

Taehyung does smile at Hoseok then, despite himself, and your heart warms at the fact that he seems to be warming up to you. And okay, right now it’s not actually you, but he’ll never know that. And maybe when things go back to normal, and you’re in your own body again, Taehyung will still like you.

(You try not to think too hard on why you want Hoseok’s best friend’s validation that much.)

“See you guys!”

God. This night is really turning into something else.

“I can sleep on the couch.”

Hoseok looks like he might throw up. You’d decided to bring him back to his own home. It didn’t make sense not to take Taehyung up on his suggestion that you take advantage of the empty BTS frat home.

The two of you are meant to be dating, after all, and if you ended up staying in separate rooms for the night it just wouldn’t really make sense. Not with how drunk Hoseok had gotten at the EXO party, anyway.

Of course, you aren’t exactly following through on Taehyung’s insinuation to make things… sexual. But he doesn’t have to know that.

“You’re not going to sleep on the couch in your own home.” You tell him sternly, “I’ll sleep on the couch.”

Hoseok shakes his head sharply. He groans.

“That’s going to look weird when the boys get back. They’ll wonder why we didn’t just sleep together.”

Hoseok’s bed isn’t tiny, but it’s not huge either. There’s room for the two of you, you suppose, but you can’t imagine it’ll be the most spacious of sleeping conditions.

“Fine,” You set your jaw despite the way your heart trips in your chest at what you’re about to suggest, “We’ll just share.”

Hoseok turns to you, eyes wide. He seems to contemplate that for a moment, before shrugging.

“Sure. Let’s share.”

There’s a moment of almost awkward silence, where the two of you just stare at each other.

“We should… Get comfortable?” You smile weakly and Hoseok pulls a face.

“This is fucking weird isn’t it?”

You snort violently, “So so weird.”

His eyes zip over to the closet and you lick your bottom lip, nodding. Are you going to change in front of each other?

Not that seeing your own naked body would freak you out, but you’ve attempted to avoid making eye contact with Hoseok’s bits as best you can the last couple of days. It seems redundant, almost, to ask each other for privacy.

“I’ll go first.” Hoseok announces, zipping over to the closet and wordlessly pulling out an old AC/DC t-shirt.

“Are you going to just…. Do it here?”

Your question comes out as an insecure squeak. He turns to you and sighs heavily.

“I mean, if I go to the bathroom what difference does it make? It’s your body, anyway.”

You nod, speechless. He’s right but the whole thing just feels weird.

Something in the atmosphere shifts, as Hoseok pulls himself out of Sana’s skintight dress. He struggles with the zipper and you bite back a chuckle, moving towards him and stilling his hands.

“Here.” You whisper, “Let me.”

Hoseok meets your eyes as you pull the zip down, slowly exposing the expanse of skin that is your back. He freezes for a moment, eye contact held for what feels like eternity.

And then, he steps out of the dress.

Hoseok opted not to wear a bra. Of course he did. Sana would have told him off for even attempting it.

“You uh….” He’s still staring at you, “You can pull this over my head.” He holds the t-shirt out, “I won’t look.”

The sentiment pulls at your heart.

“Okay,” You breathe, taking the t-shirt and folding it over his head. Hoseok pops his arms out through the holes, and when his head breaks through too, he smiles at you.

Softly. Gently. Warmly.

“There.” He whispers.

Your noses are a hair’s breadth away from one another.

You clear your throat, “There.”

Theres a moment held between the two of you. Like a spell you’ve been caught under. Even though you’re looking into your own face, you can see Hoseok shining through your eyes.

He’s there. He’s there and he’s looking at you and your skin prickles at the way he’s looking at you.

Then, he coughs gently.

The spell is broken and you step back.

“You should change too.” He tells you, hand scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

You nod and pull your own t-shirt off, pushing down the jeans you opted to wear and leaving Hoseok in a pair of briefs. He smirks.

“You just gonna sleep in my underwear?”

There’s something burning behind his words. You bite your lip.

“No. I’ll put some pants on.”

Hoseok laughs almost throatily as you do so, pulling out the first pajama pants you find. They’re Christmas themed.

“Those are my favorites,” He tells you as you slip into them, and you scoff playfully.

“Of course they are.”

There is another moment of silence as the two of you contemplate Hoseok’s bed. You know what comes next. Your heart feels like it’s beating out of your rib cage when you gesture towards the sheets.

“Should we….?”

“Yeah.” Hoseok smiles softly, “We should.”

The two of you climb in. It’s a little awkward at first, a mess of limbs and hair. You can’t imagine Hoseok is used to having to share his bed with someone else, much less with himself.

The thought almost makes you laugh.

But finally, you settle down. You roll over and click the bedside lamp off. You’re both swathed in darkness and you stare up at the black ceiling, feeling ache usted all of a sudden.

“Y/N.” Hoseok whispers from beside you.

You roll over carefully, and suddenly your noses are touching. Hoseok doesn’t move away.

“Thanks.” He breathes gently, “For coming to the party. And for not getting mad when I got too drunk.”

You feel yourself smile in the dark.

“That’s okay.”

“You’re…” He takes a moment, seemingly searching for the words, “Just. That’s it, I guess. Thank you.”

“Don’t sweat it,” You answer softly, feeling like you’re still trapped under that spell, from before. “G’night Hoseok.”

He breathes out softly, and the air hits your cheeks.

“Goodnight.”

And when you fall asleep that night, your dreams are suspiciously void of anything but romance. You’re falling in love, obviously, and you seem incapable of stopping yourself.

The first thing you notice when you wake up the next morning is that there are a pair of soft arms wrapped tightly around your waist. You look down, across the expanse of Hoseok’s sturdy chest, all the way to the two little hands clasped together in front of you.

The memories of last night come rushing back to you and you smile to yourself, almost embarrassed at the softness the two of you displayed.

You try not to think about Jin and Taehyung’s words. About how Hoseok has always been into you, and instead focus on the matter at hand.

Because of course Hoseok’s body has reacted quite prominently to the soft female body cuddled up next to him. You’ve got a boner.

Well Hoseok has a boner. For you.

It hurts a little if you think about it too much, but there is undeniable hardness settled between your legs.

“Fuuuuuuck.” You groan, trying to maneuver yourself out of Hoseok’s grasp, and only causing him to further tighten his hold.

“Hoseok,” You try instead, shaking your body a little more violently, “Hoseok…..”

This time you pinch his forearm - a little forcefully but what else are you meant to do?

And that seems to do the trick, as his eyes shoot open and his arms fall away from your waist. He jumps up, almost scared, and you laugh at the look on his face.

“Shit.” He moans, holding a hand to his forehead, “Do you always get hangovers this bad?”

You nod, once, and he grumbles pitifully.

You notice that the shirt that Hoseok was wearing last night has coincidentally ridden up your thigh, exposing the flesh even further, and without warning Hoseok’s body reacts pretty positively to that.

Which is to say his dick gets harder.

You try not to think about the fact that technically you’re turning yourself on, when Hoseok’s eyes graze the problem you’re having downstairs. He gasps.

“Shit.” He looks up at you, “Fuck.”

Your cheeks pink and so do his, and the air is suddenly filled with embarrassment. He tries to apologize.

“Oh fuck I’m so sorry Y/N.” He scoffs, “Little fucker can’t take one day off.”

You laugh at the look on his face, despite yourself, and shrug, “I mean I guess I’m flattered. At least your dick finds me hot.”

The words fly out of your mouth without warning. Hoseok’s eyes darken just a little.

“What?”

“I just mean….” You try again, “It’s a compliment really, right?”

He licks his bottom lip, “Yeah.”

His gaze is heated when it meets yours and something in your stomach drops. Hoseok’s dick hardens even further (if that’s humanly possible) and before you do something crazy - like have sex with yourself - you jump out of bed.

“So I should go and uh… Sort it out. Will a cold shower help?”

Hoseok crinkles his nose, “Amongst other things….”

You cannot possibly take anymore of his teasing, so you hurry yourself off to the bathroom, intending to stand under a shower of cold water until this boner disappears. But, of course, God has other plans.

Because just as you slip out of Hoseok’s bedroom, you find Kim Taehyung standing just outside your door, with an older, distinguished looking man.

Taehyung throws you what looks like an apologetic look over the man’s shoulder, as the mystery man in question turns around slowly. When his eyes meet yours the resemblance is uncanny.

This is Hoseok’s father.

“Hoseok.” His voice is low and gravelly, almost stern, “Good morning.”

Your spine straightens like a rod. Your throat dries up impossibly quickly.

“Uh…. Hi.”

“Taehyung tells me you have company this morning.” His eyes flick down from the top of your head, to the bottom of your feet, “You should invite your girlfriend to have breakfast with us. We have much to discuss.”

The bedroom door swings open again, and your chest tightens when you feel Hoseok freeze beside you.

Hoseok’s father smiles, shark-like, “Ah. You must be the elusive Y/N.”

You feel Hoseok swallow, his whole body rigid and stiff. He tries to smile.

“Uh yeah…. That’s me.”

“I am Hoseok’s father.” His eyes judge every inch of your body, “But you can call me… Dad.”

The words sound anything but friendly.

Oh fuck.

#hoseok x reader #romance #college #enemies to lovers #fanfiction #hoseok fanfiction #fanfic #hobi #bts #imagine

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canonicallysoulmates · 1 year

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J2 Main Panel Nolacon 2023

The stage the boys are on has a catwalk so they play around and do a model walk at the beginning.

Also, before the questions, Jensen shares that he had a senior moment recently, he was taking the kids to school and In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins came on the radio. His daughter asked if they could change it and he told her no and as they were waiting at a stop light he told her to wait for the drum solo, because for those that have never heard this song before- do so but also this song has a very iconic drum solo, and when the drum solo came up he threw his neck out playing along to it. And Jared tells that he did the army certification training during his USO Poland stop and it was like the 2nd day there and there were all these jacked up 25-year-olds and they explained what they had to do and his knee is all jacked but he can’t say no so the time comes for the deadlift portion and he ended up tweaking his lower back a little bit. Then out of frustration, the last part of the test is holding a plank for like a minute and 15 seconds but he decided he was gonna stay in that plank till he dropped so he so he did a four and half minute plank. And then could barely walk and was all hunched over.

Into questions we go, what’s the weirdest space they’ve shared a convention with? Jensen starts to say that they don’t normally share a space but is then reminded they once shared with a furry convention that was going on. Jared says he recalls that probably around 2009-2010, in the first couple of years of them doing cons, at the same time they were doing a con there was a doctor convention a couple of doors down and some of them would get lost and you would just see physicians walk into the room and then back out slowly looking very confused due to some of the questions they were hearing for example about killing Lucifer. So they joke that if you don't know what SPN is or watch the show and you hear the questions they get, you're going to be wondering where you are. x

If they were in a Freaky Friday situation and swapped bodies what are some of the first things they would do as each other? Jared shares that the episode Swap Meat was initially an idea for an episode where Sam and Dean swap bodies and it was pretty wacky but as they started developing it he thinks the network shut it down but Jensen says that he thinks it was changed in an effort to give them some time off because they tried to give the boys a break every once in a while, and if they had gone with this idea they would both be working a lot of hours every day like 14 hours.

Jared answers that if he was body-swapping with Jensen different answer but Sam body swapping with Dean would probably go to the fridge and throw out all the unhealthy shit and swap it for salads and fruits. If he was body-swapping with Jensen, he’d probably get up and play a concert. Jensen would go get his knee surgery and then he’d go play any game of pick-up basketball there was and block the throws. They say that Jared did that the day prior, someone had thrown like car keys and Jared automatically slammed them down to the ground mid-air. Jared says that both with his friend group now and also the one he grew up with if anything is thrown in the vicinity of one of the friend members he'll smack it off the air. And Jensen says that Jared will do it without meaning too, it's just a reaction he has, that there was a scene where Dean throws C something, and Jared without thinking smacked it to the ground and then immediately regretted it cause they had to shoot the scene again. 😂

If they had to rule the world for a day either together or separately how would they do so? Jared says he would make social media not anonymous. You’d have to face all the hate- he thinks the world is a nicer place on the elevator with somebody than when people are behind a computer. And then he'd eat a bunch of candy. Jensen says he’d force government buildings to play New Orleans-style jazz music all the time, he thinks the world is a better place when there’s music involved. x

Are they going to do more voice acting? Do they enjoy it? Jared says he does enjoy it but that there’s a difference between voice acting when the animation is already done like with the SPN anime it was originally in Japanese but there were some sentences that in Japanese are like two words but that wouldn't be the case in the translation to English so he had to speak as fast as possible while trying to act so he’s not interested in dubbing. As Jared is saying this, Jensen laughs and says that it feels like Jared was traumatized by that experience and tells him that those difficulties are why he did not do the dubbing for the anime, and when Jared tells him that he didn't tell him Jensen replies that he tried.

Jensen says the normal process is the voice gets laid down and then the animation gets done like they did for Scoobynatural. He shares that he’s got a recording he'll be doing on Tuesday for a new project. And there are some he’s already done that are being animated, they’ll probably be out maybe later this year. He does enjoy voice acting because it’s such a departure from what they normally do on camera, they go in and deliver dialogue but it's not with a scene partner, he's in a booth by himself so it's odd when you meet someone who you had already done a movie with without actually meeting them. And each line of dialogue has a number next to it so the director might ask him to skip to a certain number and do multiple different readings of it. He looks forward to doing more voice work, it's something his father has made a living off for most of his career, his dad does voice-over for commercials and such, and says that it's a difficult part of the industry to get into.

Jared also mentions that they realized, especially during the early seasons of spn, that if there was something difficult to do but they did it over and over again and they did it well it would be written more so there would be things he enjoyed doing but didn't want to do often so he'd sandbag a little bit and Jensen would do it with Latin incantations, he'd pretend he wasn't good at it so he wouldn't have to do them. x

Is there an episode of the show that is memorable for them or that they feel changed their lives? Jared replies that the short answer is so many, and the shorter but more detailed answer would be when Sam opens up to Dean about some struggles going on in his head and Dean is supportive, that made Jared realize that he could talk about embarrassing stuff because people can respond not judgementally but be supportive. A lot of the eps are special but the Pilot as well holds that importance for him, says there are things in their industry where they know they have lightning in a bottle but it doesn’t matter if the people who are paying for them to play pretend want more viewers or a better streaming situation you can have something great but it get cancelled after an episode or a season or two. So he feels like to the best of his recollection even from the Pilot he felt like they had lightning in a bottle and they had something that was really freaking good but that it might not ever get aired then jokingly says that 15yrs later they were wondering when it was going to end.

Jensen gives two answers, one that changed from the show's perspective and one from a personal perspective. From a personal perspective, Wendigo. That it wasn't one of the amazing episodes of the show but for them, it was really their first step in their journey together. The Pilot was something they were going to do that had no promise of a future, they hoped it would be picked up and turned into a series but when they stepped foot into the set of Wendigo they knew the show was going to see the light of day, they knew they would have multiple episodes and they knew this journey they were about to embark on was going to happen and they didn't how long it was gonna happen but they knew there was at least a journey to be had so that changed him personally. From a show perspective, he’ll say Lazarus Rising because that’s when the show expanded their universe into heaven and hell. x

What’s the best and worse thing about being on such a long-running tv show? Jared can’t think of the worst. He says that the sacrifices if they can be called that are pretty obvious like the long hours, and having their family in Texas while shooting in Vancouver was rough but he just spend a week in Poland with people who are away from their families for nine months at a time so he’s not bitching, but there was a toll on his body like having wrist surgery and having to go into work the next day but on the other side of it the feeling of letting your head hit the pillow after a hard day at work there’s nothing like it. The best would be making lifelong friendships and relationships. He feels like if he had to go to Van tomorrow he'd be texting the SPN cast and crew to catch up, and it would be as if no time had passed.

Jensen would say worst part was the walking away, if you’re on a show for 1-3 seasons it’s much easier to walk away from that than it was to walk away from 15yrs of relationships and laughter and friends and family, and not just walking away from set and the people who made that set but also walking away from a story and characters they had truly grown to love. But that was also the best part being able to build that family, and build that set, and build those relationships and journey with the characters and friends and family for that amout of time that was the best part. x

What non-hunting related habits and quirks do they think Sam and Dean inherited from John? Jared jokes the voice. Then says he thinks Sam fought a lot against turning into who John was for him, and something that having three children and talking to other parents he has learned is every kid is born into a different family. So he thinks the John Sam got was different from the one Dean got if for no other reason that Dean's first 3 or 4 years were with mom still, Sam didn't have that so he thinks Sam put up a facade, he takes after his father and his brother anyways but he tried not to emulate John. Jensen says definitely the voice for Dean also maybe some driving skills and he would say on a more serious level the willingness to sacrifice oneself for the ones you love. x

Can Jensen share some stories about the finale of The Winchesters and Meg Donnelly driving Baby? Jensen says Robbie Thompson knew he wanted to make that happen for the finale quite a while before they even broke that story, it was something to spice up the season finale they try to do that in just about every show wether it's bringing back a familiar character or paying for a very expensive song which they also did, he says that Kripke actually called him and asked how he got Zeppelin and Jensen replied "name your kid Zeppelin you get Zeppelin". So they knew they wanted to somehow incorporate the car and he was on the docket to come back, and they wanted some other familiar faces so luckily Jim Beaver was available and Alex Calvert was available then he says MC offered but he said no. And you might be tempted to think he's making a mean joke but he says it’s true that MC told him he would came back that he wasn't doing anything and Jensen was like oh it's okay, we're good and if you're laughing right now just know you're not laughing nearly as hard as Jensen and Jared were cause those two were cracking up on that stage. Jensen says there was a reason for that but he can’t get into it but depending on the future of the show he’ll say why at sometime, which is professional speak for I'll never tell (and that's professional speak for I didn't want him there).

But getting the car back over there was something they knew they were gonna do so when they did he then saw on the script Meg was going to drive it even though she had just gotten her license the previous week but luckily Meg is a skilled performer but also she's a truly talented singer and dancer so she's very athletic so she has very good spatial awareness and motor skills which are a necessity when you're driving. So when she went to drive he was like okay, don't mess this up, and he did know that if anything happened to it the car was immediately going back to a shop and getting fixed. But she did great and he's glad it worked out that way and he was really proud of what everone did in that finale, he thinks it turned out really well and it's something he's very proud of. x

If Baby was possessed and had to be put down what would their last words be to Baby? Jared says Sam would probably be like 'hey Baby, can you just hold here a second I’m gonna try and find Crowley to put him in the trunk before we take care of business'. On a more serious note he thinks Sam would be like 'all right, get up to Heaven and wait for my brother'. Jensen asks the fan if they have seen Marley & Me but the fan hasn't because they know the ending is really sad. Spoiler alert for a movie from 2008, the dog is put down at the end. But Jensen says it would be like Marley & Me for Dean there would be tears and him uttering the words I'm so sorry Baby.

Jared shares a quick story about how years ago like 10-15yrs ago they were on a flight to somewhere and the way they were situated he was facing Jensen and D, and at one point he looked over at them and they had their headphones in like they were watching something but they were a wreck, silently crying and it was because they were watching Marley & Me. Then on the flight back Jared watched it and he was the same, a silently crying wreck. x

Any possibility they’d do an SPN movie? Jensen says yes. Jared asks him if he would prefer doing a limited series or a movie? Jensen answers, yes. Jared says that when they walked away from SPN they weren’t saying goodbye it was see you later and they looked at each other and kept going 'don't think about it too much because we’ll talk again in 2025'. So talk to them in 2025. Jensen says that they decided they were gonna wait 5 years, and then talk about what it would look like to bring it back out that obviously a lot of people need to be involved in those conversations, there's a lot of legalities and business affairs but obviously they can't do it without them and that's something they'll be talking about in a couple years. x

If somebody stole the Impala what would Dean do? Jensen answers that it would be all four John Wick movies rolled into one. He thinks if somebody stole Baby, Dean would go a little nuts, he would get Baby back no matter what the cost. The fan also asks if Dean's answer when Sam asks him that question and Dean says he'd murder them all was improve or if it was in the script, Jensen believes that one was improve.

Also, he does the Dean voice and we get some fangirl!Jared ❣️ x

When they were little kids was there any show they used to act out like if they were one of the characters? Jensen says Zack Morris. Jared says Home Improvement, Jonathan Taylor Thomas. That he was the same age and all the girls he liked had a crush on him and he liked the show, and thought he was funny, and liked that he had brothers and he wanted to be an actor like him so he would have loved to have been one of the brothers on Home Improvement.

Jensen tries to think about some of the shows that were on at the time when they were kids, and Jared asks him what Golden Girl he'd be, he answers Blanche. But he wanted to be Sam from Cheers, they watched that a lot and he just thought that character kinda had the world revolve around him a little bit and that's not to say that's what he wanted but he wanted to be the guy in the middle making it all happen, fixing the bar, making the drinks, having everybody know his name. x

The next question is a long one: of all the projects they've done was SPN their favorite show to act in? If it was what was their favorite part about working with the cast? What was their favorite episode? And what was their favorite Sam and Dean quote? Jared replies that he feels like every emotion he has ever had in his life he's had at some point in time during SPN so it's certainly the most complete, that it's like asking which child is his favorite. It was great, he fell in love and met some friends and got to do everything as Sam, he played every version of Sam he could; that it was awesome to explore and in a sense, especially in the beginning, it was nice that they weren't in LA because in Van they basically went to work, went home, went to bed and every now and then they'd get off early enough to go get a steak and watch some sports but they weren't distracted by like the next red carpet event in LA they just kinda were loving the process. For favorite line he says: "What kind of house doesn't have salt?"

Jensen says it's easy to make an argument why SPN has been his favorite project to work on and it's crazy because you work on a show for 15yrs, you would think there would be plenty of negative aspects to it that would maybe reveal themselves or whatever but he would say there was the least amount of drama, problems, issues on SPN than any other project he's worked on and to have that as long as he did that's his favorite- he would say that's why SPN is his favorite because he's known it the longest and he got to know it the deepest and most engaged with it than he ever has been with any other project. Line wise he goes with the first one that comes to his mind: "That was scary" x

Last question time, the fan first asks Jared when he’s going to bring G to see the fans at a con. Jared answers that it sounds like an awesome idea but then who’s gonna watch the kids…….I could make so many comments but I’m just gonna keep it moving. Jensen asks the fan what they would ask G if she were there and Jared pipes up and says "when are you gonna go back home?" What a loving husband.

Anyway, the actual question is what was their favorite or most memorable ep to film? For Jared most memorable is a little difficult to answer because there are so many but for favorite French Mistake, that it was a lot of fun and he doesn't think he'll ever get the chance to do anything similar to that again. Jensen says Inherit the Earth. x

And at the end of this panel there's also a butt pat! 🍑

J2 Main Panel Nolacon 2023

#j2 tinhat #anti jared x genevieve #anti misha collins #anti misha #noniwtv #mine

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