#but like maybe that’s why she didn’t piss outside motherfucker
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trying to instruct my boyfriend on the difference between enzymatic cleaners and not enzymatic cleaners is honestly like talking to a wall
#he keeps saying he uses pinesol and vinegar no matter how many times I tell him they don’t work#also the pup’s a german shepherd they’re anxious dogs but he’s saying she’s not#but like maybe that’s why she didn’t piss outside motherfucker#shine's rambles
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Reader ==> Have Lunch With Hellfire Club
Isekai Chronicles Master List
START HERE <<<--- FIRST CHAPTER HERE
Fic Summery: Through no powers of your own, you end up in Hawkins 1985, in a tv show that you once saw on Netflix. Slow burn, Eddie Munson x Reader will be canon, choose your own adventure to a degree, monkey’s paw author.
Chapter Summery: You sneak into Hawkins High to have lunch with Hellfire Club.
Tags: Eddie and Reader, sfw, Reader is on her period, reader is also just a little horny and touch starved but nothing really happens with that.
Reader ==> Have Lunch With Hellfire Club
"Ow'' You hissed, laying your head down on the cool table. You had been doubled over for 10 seconds and most of the club looked at you with concern.
"Uh... You good, Lipton?" Jeff asked.
You winced, from both the cramp and what he'd called you. Why did no one at this school use first names? It was already hard enough responding to a false name to begin with, even after memorizing the information on your new kinda-fake ID card. Thanks, Murray.
"Just dying. It's fine, I'll live." You groaned, and forced yourself to sit up and look down the table at Eddie, passed Mike and Dustin. "Got any painkillers?" You asked.
"None that would help you." Eddie shrugged.
"Ah, lovely." You laid your head back down as another cramp shot through your uterus.
It was the last day of school before Hawkins High went on fall break. You had snuck over to the school to have lunch with Eddie and the rest of Hellfire Club. Currently, all of you were sitting outside, enjoying one of the last warm days before the cold set in. Out here, none of the teachers would see you all, and even if they did, they wouldn’t take note of one extra person who shouldn’t be on school grounds anyway. Besides, it’s not like it was your first time sneaking into the school, as it had become a habit over the past few weeks as you made yourself a part of Hellfire.
By this time next week you’d be set up in the small trailer on the opposite end of the same trailer park that Eddie lived. Just a few more days and you could finally move out of Benny’s and you could stop dealing with stupid jocks and bugs and all the other bullshit that came with being a squatter.
"What's wrong with you?" Asked Gareth.
"Alphabetically or chronologically?” your voice was deadpan and muffled from being pressed against the old picnic table. “And how much time do you have?"
You wondered briefly what “chronologically” even meant with you. Would you start chronologically in a direct timeline starting in 1895? Or maybe you’d start at the year you were born and loop back around.
"She can't be in too much pain if she's still a smartass," snorted Jeff.
"You're laughing. A party member is bleeding to death and you're laughing." The cramp subsided and you sat up again.
"Gross." Muttered Gareth.
"I bleed for days at a time and survive. Get on my level" you hissed.
"Level 5?" Jeff shot back. "You're still behind us, even with Henderson's help."
"Motherfucker I swear-"
"Hey now, no need to fight" Dustin piped up, looking between everyone with concern. "We're all stressed because of midterms, we don't need to take it out on each other."
You closed your mouth and backed down. You didn’t mind the occasional fight with Gareth, honestly you almost enjoyed it when he picked a fight with you because it meant you could blow off some steam. But Dustin was currently your only real friend, and you weren’t going to risk pissing him off. That kid was the only one to try and figure out how you ended up here anyway.
Plus, he’d been running some one on one adventures with you between Hellfire meetings. With Eddie insisting that all new players start at level 1 no matter what the party was at, Dustin had convinced him to let him do some smaller adventures to help you try and catch up with everyone else. Sometimes Mike and Lucas would even join in.
"Just ignore me." You sighed. "I'll live even if it kills me." You looked at the uneaten sandwich in front of you. The idea of eating it made you feel gross even if you were hungry. You grabbed it and tossed it down the table in front of Eddie who looked at you with a cocked eyebrow.
"Don't want it. You eat it." you mumbled, forehead against the table again. You were starting to feel like you should have just stayed at Benny’s until it was actually time for Hellfire.
"You gonna be okay to play tonight?" Eddie asked. "Or do you need us to find a sub for you?"
You shook your head. "I'll be there." You promised. "I'll just hit up Robin or someone for some aspirin before the game and I'll be fine. Might not be the most talkative-"
"That'd be a first." Muttered Jeff.
You flipped him off. "I'll be there. I can still roll dice as well at anyone here."
Eddie grinned. "Good, and I'm not gonna go easy on any of you tonight."
"Do you ever?" Mike laughed.
"Yeah, you've always been tough on us, but Cult of Vecna has been your most sadistic campaign yet." agreed Jeff.
"That's because this is my year." Eddie said. "I'm gonna graduate and I'm going out with a bang." Eddie drummed on the table with his hands, revved up now. The vibrations of his drumming echoed through your head and you sat up again.
He stood up, the sandwich left forgotten for the moment. You watched him, and the way he moved was like a full-on rainstorm. Eddie only ever seemed to have two modes, 'on' and 'off'.
He was very much on now.
There was a fire in his eyes that had burned you for the past month since you'd been invited to Hellfire. Your initial attraction to a fictional character turned coworker had burst into a full blown genuine crush. In the autumn air, his cheeks were flushed red from the cold and his natural excitement, and his hair was flying everywhere. Even with Eddie circling the table as he bragged about his campaign to the members your heart felt like it might leap out of your chest, distracting you from the other organs inside you that were ripping themselves apart.
A firm hand grasped you at the crook of your neck, and you tensed slightly at Eddie's touch, your mind blanked for a moment as he made physical contact with you.
Eddie was... Very handsy. He wasn't afraid to grapple, wrestle, grab, and generally put his hands on his fellow Hellfire members. Eddie had picked up Dustin and Mike by the shirt collars and pushed them more times than you had bothered counting.
This however, was the first time he had laid a hand on you. You held your breath as you tried to ignore the shiver that slid down your spine and into your core. You didn’t dare let anyone see that this had any effect on you.
‘Not the time, self.’ you scolded yourself.
Eddie gave you a shake, which changed that warmth in your core to a vague sense of nausea.
“Please don’t shake me right now.” you groaned. Your guts were not interested in physical movement right now. Your legs were already nearly constantly sore from biking everywhere.
To Eddie’s credit, he did stop. His hand was still firm against you though, and you could feel the cold metal of one of his rings against your skin.
“See this one,” he gave you one more shake, the asshole. “This one is so metal that even though she probably should retreat tonight she’s still willing to show up for us.”
The compliment made your heart swell and the air didn’t feel so brisk as your own cheeks warmed up. You tilted your head back to look at him with surprise; Eddie didn’t hand out compliments too lightly with the club. He was always so straight forward, firm. He wouldn’t say anything unless he meant it.
“I’ve always shown up when it mattered.” you said quietly, flashbacking (flash forwarding?) just a split second to a group of friends from the future. Not that it mattered, I guess. What was that??
The hand slid off of you, and a sense of emptiness echoed through your chest and at the loss of the warmth and pressure. You shoved down the lump in your throat by taking a long gulp of water. You had been here for nearly 2 months, and that had been the first bit of physical contact you had with anyone outside of a small scrap with Murrey or a handshake with someone, or your literal run in with Steve Harrington.
One small touch, and you felt like you were falling apart. You were really starting to be sick of this feeling.
Eddie sat back down and pulled out the sandwich you had offered him and you watched it disappear in 4 bites.
“Jesus Eddie, did you even taste that?” asked Mike, and to be fair it was a valid question.
“Didn’t need to, it was edible. Thanks, Lipton”
“Why do you all keep calling me that?” you asked, looking around the table.
“What, ‘Lipton’?” Mike asked. “I don’t know, it’s just something we do here.”
“Could... you please not call me that? Just call me by my name please. Or ‘Dipshit’. Or ‘Hey You’ or ‘That one girl in Hellfire’. Anything else.”
“You’re barely in Hellfire.” Gareth grumbled, flicking a chip crumb off the table and onto the dirt below. Gareth had been nice enough the first night you showed up for Hellfire, but then the more you hung around the less he seemed to like you. You’d deal with that later.
Eddie looked over at you, his wide brown eyes meeting yours and he said your name.
The back of your neck prickled at the sound of your name on his lips. You wanted him to say it again.
‘Not the fucking time, self’ You scolded yourself again. You had so many bigger issues than a guy with pretty brown eyes and a chipped front tooth that made your stomach explode in butterflies.
Oh, who the fuck were you kidding? You did not. In fact, he was absolutely the main problem that you were going to have to deal with in a few months. If he wasn’t planning on being a hero, maybe you could actually sleep at night.
You gave him a small nod, and wondered if you looked as tired as you felt.
“Sorry, it's an old habit.” Dustin said. “We’ll stick with your first name”
“Thank you.” you said, relaxing. You looked at the time, not long until lunch was over. Then two more hours, then school was over. Hellfire started at four, a half hour after school ended. That gave you a few hours to just wander around aimlessly until school ended.
You zoned out for the rest of lunch, poking at the food you had brought until it was all passed along to Eddie. He never did bring enough food for himself anyway.
When the bell rang you took your time gathering your stuff up as most of the club started back towards the school building.
As you were about to turn and head in the opposite direction towards the woods. something grabbed you by the shoulder and moved you behind a tree before you realized what was happening. Eddie stood in front of you, hands on your upper arms, head tilted with that look of intense concern on his face. You found yourself stiff under that gaze, thrown off by how he had suddenly grabbed you.
“Eddie....?”
“I meant what I said, earlier.” he said. “There’s no shame in retreating. If you feel like shit, you don’t have to come.”
“I want to.” you said. “I- I really do, I promise. I don’t want to let you down.” It took you three seconds to realize that you had said ‘you’ and not ‘everyone’ and heat burned your cheeks.
Eddie put a hand on your forehead. “You’re warm and you look like.. You look fucking tired.”
“....Thank you, Eddie. Just what every woman wants to hear from a man.” Your voice was deadpan. “I’ll be fine. I just need to take an aspirin and maybe take a small nap before Hellfire.”
His brown eyes bore into yours and you wondered how easily he could see through you. “Come on, you can take a nap in my van.” Eddie didn’t bother giving you a chance to answer before dragging you around the school, towards the parking lot.
It took a moment for his words to register in your brain as you followed him. "....Huh?"
"I have some spare blankets and a pillow back there. I crash in the back all the time. Might not be the... Cleanest or the most comfortable but it's safe. Not like anyone's interested in messing with the freaks van" He said, his hand sliding down your arm to grab your hand.
Eddie was holding your hand. Shit shit shit shit shit-
Your brain caught up to you. "Ah, yeah that would be really nice actually." you said. "I probably really need the short rest of I'm gonna survive you tonight."
You wondered if Eddie realized that he had given your hand a squeeze. "Get those spell slots back, you're gonna need them."
"Thank you, I really do appreciate it.” And you did, passing out in his van was definitely safer than passing out in the woods somewhere until Hellfire started.
Eddie looked over at you and smiled. "Everyone in Hellfire has crashed in that van at least once. It's basically a right of passage to help break in the newbies."
You couldn't stop your mouth from running. "You break in all the newbies in the back of your van?" You looked up at him with a teasing half grin. "Damn, this really is a cult." ‘Not. The. Fucking. Time. Get your head out of the gutter please.’
Eddie snorted and shook his head. "You'd be surprised what's happened in the back of that van."
"Sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll?" you offered. ‘What did I just tell myself??’
"Two out of three. I'll let you guess which ones."
The bell rang and you jumped. "Shit, you’re gonna be late to class.” You looked over at Eddie, worried about his getting in trouble.
“It’s just gym, no one will care if I’m late” he said. “I don’t like being the first in the locker room anyway. Are you sure you're okay?" Eddie asked, looking you over. "I'm not trying to be a dick but you really look rough."
"I feel rough. I'll be fine." You promised. "I just need a nap. You said it yourself, I'm metal. Can't exactly let everyone down when you called me that."
"You're either very brave or very stupid." Eddie said, opening the back door to the van, giving a sweeping gesture to motion you inside.
You tossed your backpack in first before crawling in. To your surprise Eddie hopped in with you and closed the door.
"Just need to move some things around. As a Hellfire member and your DM, you know that what happens in this van stays here." Eddie's eyes narrowed slightly and you nodded dumbly, wondering if he was aware of how some of the things he was saying sounded. "Good."
He pulled up a section of the floor where a spare tire should be, and pulled out a small box. You leaned against the back of the front seat, closing your eyes. Whatever Eddie was doing, it wasn't your business, not when he was being so nice. You really thought you had completely blown it a few weeks ago when you first went over to his home, but by some power he kept letting you hang around. Being coworkers probably helped.
With your eyes closed, you breathed in deeply and took in the scent of the van. There was a lingering smell of weed and cigarettes, mixed with the natural smell of him and a hint of some sort of air cleaner to mask the smells. It could have been much worse, you found that your tolerance for the scent of narcotics had gone up a lot since being here.
Your body was already starting to relax, knowing that rest was coming soon. You had been running around Hawkins all week between shifts and doing your own investigation work of the town, looking for anything that could help you come Spring Break.
Something soft hit your head and you opened your eyes. Eddie had tossed you two blankets and a pillow. "They were washed recently." He said.
"Eddie you- can you come wake me up before Hellfire?" You asked, feeling the texture of one of the blankets. It was worn and thin but nice against your hands. "I don't have a watch or an alarm." Your watch had died two days ago and you wouldn’t be able to get a new one until Bev paid you again.
"Don't worry, I'll need to come back here anyway. I'm keeping my notes for today in the front seat. Don't peek. I'll know if you do, and there will be consequences." Eddie's tone was serious as he tossed his Hellfire notes in the front seat. He put his whole being into this campaign, and you wouldn't dare betray that trust that was starting to form between the two of you.
"Wouldn't dream of it, I doubt I could read your chicken scratch handwriting anyway." you said and he grabbed the pillow from you and smacked it on your head again with a laugh.
"Stan tried once. Once. He learned his lesson after that. He didn't even read the right notes, he ended up with an attempt at my English homework."
Stan. Another name from his past that never was in the show. You had already accepted that Eddie was real, even if it had left you spiraling for a good two days. But there were still small moments to just how real he was. Hellfire Club existed before now. Eddie had friends before this version of Hellfire. Each new piece of himself that he offered you was tucked away in your mind, a reminder of what you were really working for. You wished you could offer the same.
It was comfortable in the back of the van with him like this. You could count on one hand the amount of times you had been alone together for longer than five minutes, not counting your shifts together at The Hideout . There was a part of you that was still nervous about being with him, this person who shouldn't exist with you.
Eddie looked at his watch. "Business calls. Get some rest, I'll be back for you before Hellfire."
"I'll try not to die in your van."
The van shifted as he scooted over to the door, opening it and letting in the late September air for a moment.
“Night" He said before closing the door behind him, leaving you alone.
Reader => Take A Nap In Eddie’s Van
You grabbed the blankets and started adjusting them. Thankfully there were no mysterious stains on any of them, but the pillow was very much a 'boy pillow' which was flat and old and offered zero support. But it was his and it smelled like him and it was... More clean than expected. Not like you had any room to complain.
You laid back and took a few slow breaths. You didn't expect to actually get any sleep but some time to just lay down and relax was enough for now. You were sure that Eddie would tire you out again tonight-
‘With the campaign you fucking pervert.’ You scolded yourself, trying to ignore the warmth in her stomach again from just his hand on your arm and shoulder. Hellfire was always very high energy, and Eddie's stamina was unwavering. As a Dungeon Master- no fuck, not that kind of dungeon master-!
What was wrong with you today? Being on your period and the stress must be catching up to you. You were starting to think you needed to get laid. Or maybe convince Steve or Robin to loan your their Family Video discounts to rent from the back room-
No. You were NOT going to hit up a jock and his lesbian best friend for porn. You didn’t even have a VHS player.
You were so fucking touch starved.
You shut your eyes tight and tried to clear your mind of any perverted thoughts. It was pleasant in his van in a weird way. Cool, and parked in the shade, and just dark enough to let your mind shutdown slowly. Maybe you’d get a contact high, but you didn't know enough about drugs to know and at this point you were too afraid to ask.
You tossed and turned for a bit, trying to get comfortable enough to just relax. The van's floor was hard, and it took a half hour to find a position (with doubling your backpack with the pillow) where your brain could shut down fully.
It felt like you had just closed your eyes when a knock came from outside. You jumped and sat up quickly, fumbling in the sheets to cover up before remembering that you were still fully clothed.
"Wake up, Sunshine, Hellfire starts in 15 minutes!" The van door opened and Eddie smiled at you. "Hand me my bag"
You reached for his bag and pushed it over, shaking your head to reoriented yourself. Right, Eddie's van. Naptime.
"Last chance to back out." Eddie said. "Say the word and I'll walk away and drive you home after Hellfire."
"I'm okay!" You said, not knowing if you were going to crash at Benny’s or in a basement. "I actually feel a lot better after laying down for a bit. Just let me use the bathroom and I'll be all good for tonight, I promise."
Eddie reached out to take your wrist and help you out of the van, and you stumbled slightly before readjusting. Eddie grabbed your arms to make sure you didn’t eat shit on the pavement.
"I'm good, you just threw me off. I'm fine, Eddie."
Eddie answered by letting you go and closing the van door. "You know the house rules. Anyone late gets a penalty at my discretion."
"Yes, Dad" you rolled your eyes and the two of you made your way back to the school. Once inside you stepped away and slipped into the bathroom to freshen up and readjust your clothing and pee. After splashing some cold water on your face and cleaning up you did feel a lot better.
"You actually showed up" Gareth said as you made her way down the stairs.
"Get on my level Gareth." you said, taking your seat at the table.
"Feel any better?" Asked Dustin.
"Yeah, much better." You pulled out your folder and set your mini fig on the table. "Eddie let me crash in his van for a bit."
The overhead light went out and with a click a single lamp that hung above the table flickered on. Eddie was now seated in his 'throne', his side of the table now set up.
"If we're done chatting now gentleman, lady" he nodded at you. "Last we left the party...”
Notes: I haven't forgotten about this series! I feel like I am constantly writing and yet have noting to show for it lol
So what would you like to see Reader do next?
Tumblr User ==> Leave A Suggestion
Dividers by @strangergraphics
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Turning tragedy into hope-Let him lose those arms
I’ve tried making this post three times so let’s hope that third times the charm y’all.
I’m just gonna come out and say it but when I saw that panel where Izuku doesn’t have any hands I literally got so excited.
AND ITS NOT BECAUSE I LIKE MY FAVORITE CHARACTER GETTING BRUTALIZED (well? I do think it’s a little funny but shhh)
But it’s because this has been foreshadowed almost as much as the handhold itself between Izuku and Katsuki. And it’s wonderfully tragic in the best of ways. Literally half of the commentary surrounding it when it came out in the leaks was “omg I thought of that!” Because literally everyone and their mother KNEW this was coming in some form. Izuku was going to lose an arm, and that would be the case.
Hell, even outside of the story the amount of official art and AU’s Horikoshi drew that had Izuku without an arm is astounding. Like it’s so painfully obvious that this was coming, and so he upped the shock when he made Izuku lose them both.
Izuku is even doing his white eye thing, he isn’t shocked, he’s angry. My dude is pissed. Clearly, to me at least, the loss of his hands is less of a shock to him and more so that he’s angry that afo took away the reason he lost them in the first place—Tenko.
Y’all gotta remember who Izuku is, he’s the stubborn motherfucker that refused time and time again to give up on his dreams, he’s the one that illegally saved Iida and Katsuki, he’s the one that refused to let go of Tenko’s hands because when he was in his time of need, it comforted him.
Izuku has been told by his doctors for over a year atp that he was going to eventually either lose his hands, or lose the function within them. He’s accepted that. He can try to stop it, hold it off through equipment and treatment, but at the end of the day, everything breaks eventually. He knows that. We know that.
So if he was going to lose his arms in some way, it’d be through this: saving someone, holding their hands, never letting go, comforting them.
It’s tragic and sacrificial, but Aizawa’s the same. Did we make theories about how Eri is gonna heal him from being an amputee? Did the story say “actually due to this cool magical illusion/quirk it was all a mirage/eri could heal it”? No, it didn’t. Did Mirko somehow get her arms and legs back because they’re tied to how she views her strength? No, she didn’t.
And there’s a reason they didn’t. Multiple reasons they didn’t. They’re heroes, their scars tell their stories.
Not even mentioning how that’s such a trope (“everyone else keeps their long term injuries except for the main character because he’s special and gets main character powers, like not getting a disability from a dangerous job! :)”), but why should eri, a little girl, be responsible for everyone’s injuries? She doesn’t even have full control yet, she’s playing it by day. (People LOVE to talk about how all the 1-A kids are just kids fighting in a war, except when it comes to a little girl being responsible for everyone’s injuries, somehow)
The reason eri was shown wasn’t because she was going to somehow save the day, but because she wasn’t. It was supposed to stop those theories from having actual merit, because eri doesn’t actually have the built up strength to help.
So, with that out of the way, I wanted to say how this is so fucking beautiful. It’s tragic yes, Izuku and Katsuki never got to hold hands, not properly, but maybe the measure of their trust is beyond that. Maybe, an embrace could suffice—this would go back to Izuku’s vigilante arc. Where, instead of holding hands, Katsuki caught him when he needed to. And he’s going to do it, again and again.
Maybe holding a robot or silicone arm won’t feel the same, but it’s the feelings surrounding it that matters, not the act itself. The hand hold is still there, the hands still haunt the narrative like a mouse within the walls. It bites at cords like their own emotional walls.
Katsuki missed his chance, over and over again, and he’s going to have to come to terms with that. But that’s not to say that the story won’t let this aspect haunt the narrative like it always has. It’s still THERE, and I believe in Horikoshi to continue to write a story about hands while the main character doesn’t even have them.
Izuku’s hands are tied to his strength, physically and emotionally. He views them has the glue that ties his heroics to himself. His hands have always reached out to others, his hands have always punched those who were wrong, and even when he had to switch fighting styles he still saw them as the reason he was able to fight at all. They represent OFA, his love, his anger, his weakness, his strength. They represent his sense of self, and yet he’s more outraged than hurt that he lost them for Tenko to be free—only for AFO to take away that freedom all over again.
THATS why the loss had to happen. THIS. He lost something so incredibly valuable to himself, but he lost them of his own accord. He could have let go of Tenko at any moment, yet he didn’t because he wanted Tenko to know comfort and freedom. He wanted him to be free.
You could say that Tenko was telling Izuku to let go because he was breaking down his emotional resolve, and I believe you could also say that he was telling Izuku to let go so he doesn’t hurt someone who tried to help him all over again. You could say it’s both. It’s selfish and selfless, like everything in this story is. But Izuku refused to, and that was a choice Tenko could never take away from him.
So, that’s how I’ll turn this tragedy to hope, because this was done out of Izuku’s love, why take away that meaning?
Why put them back?
Why take away those scars?
Scars tell stories, they tell you how we became the greatest heroes.
#okay so I didn’t say it in this#and I actually implied that I think he’ll stay the way he is in the story#but I’m just gonna be honest y’all. this was mostly about what I wish will happen in the story.#because I know that there’s a giant chance that Horikoshi is just gonna give him his arms back#I can smell it in the air. sigh.#yk I love this man’s writing but I’m so done with his little fake outs#like dude. commit to a tragedy for once in your life my GOD.#bkdk#midoriya izuku#mha deku#bakudeku#bnha deku#bakugou katsuki#mha analysis#mha 419#bnha 419#shigaraki tomura#he gets ONE TAG#AND THATS IT#I still find his stupid ass annoying but I can see his appeal now#with love ofc <3333
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Oh For a Muse of Fire! Part 4
Trigger Warning for epileptic seizure. As in Steve has one. I’m epileptic though I’ve never convulsed, so if I get anything wrong on that front let me know.
Also Eddie shows he’s not a complete ass.
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
*
Steve got to work a few minutes late and immediately went into to apologize to Diamond.
“Sorry,” he began, “my class went past time.”
Diamond sighed. “You’re a good worker, Garnet. I know I take the piss out of you all the time, but you do good work. I don’t mind if you’re a couple minutes late now and then, because I know you’ll be here all the earlier tomorrow.”
Steve nodded.
“What do you think of Opal?” Diamond asked.
Steve tilted his head to the side as he thought about it. “She seems like she’ll fit in just fine. Her work ethic is good. But that can change, especially after a couple of weeks on the job. Topaz and Pearl seem to get along with her as well.”
Diamond rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I guess the real litmus test is whether or not she gets along with Onyx.”
Steve grimaced. No one liked Onyx. Onyx was a tough motherfucker with a nasty streak. But that’s why he was their bouncer. “Heaven help her if he takes a disliking to her.”
Diamond nodded. “Sometimes I think he’s going to tire of the Queen’s Crown and just burn it to the ground out of spite.”
Steve huffed out a laugh. “Nah, he’s more likely to leave in the middle of a Saturday gig night with no replacement and no notice.”
Diamond shook his head. “Get to work, you ingrate!”
Steve got out there to find that most of the setup work had been completed and they were waiting for him.
“Sorry, guys,” he said. “I didn’t mean to make you do all the work.”
Topaz huffed out a laugh. “You’re the one trying to make more out of yourself, man. We can take on some extra load so you can get that pretty degree, yeah?”
Opal and Pearl agreed.
They got to work and Opal was starting to get the hang of where things were.
Until someone ordered a cocktail with vermouth.
“Uh...” Opal said tentatively. “Where’s the vermouth?”
Steve turned around to point at when he realized the problem. He reached up and grabbed it for her. “We might have to a bit of rearranging,” he said sheepishly.
She looked up at the booze that for Steve was within reach, but for her was most decidedly not. “Yeah...”
“In the mean time,” he said, clearing his throat, “Just ask and I’ll grab it.”
She nodded and then turned and look out at the wait staff, weaving in and out of tables with ease.
“I know you called Pearl a gangly giraffe...but...” she waved her hands at the girl who had two trays perfectly balance, one on each hand, whirling and spinning more graceful then a ballerina.
Steve huffed out a laugh. “You should see her outside of work. It’s like an eagle. In the air? Graceful as can be. On the ground? Walks like it wouldn’t know grace if it hit it in the face.”
Just then Pearl appeared in front of them. “Table six, two Manhattans, an old fashioned and two Blue Light Specials.”
Steve nodded, he turned to Opal. “You take the Specials, you’ve got to learn out to make them quick.”
Steve watched her to make sure she didn’t do anything in the wrong order, but most kept to making the old fashioned and the Manhattans.
Pearl was back with her tray and picked up all the drinks and out into the bar proper, moving around people getting out of their chairs, people coming back from the bathroom and just rowdy patrons.
Steve loved watching her. And he was starting to think that maybe Opal did, too.
As they were packing up for the night. “You can’t be late on Saturday. Diamond will dock your tips a dollar for every minute you’re late. It’s that serious.”
Opal frowned. “That’s because it’s open mic night, right?”
Topaz cocked his head to the side. “Well, sorta. Open mic night is on the first Saturday of every month. The other Saturdays are for local bands. People that Diamond specifically picks out. And he makes sure his record label friends are there, too.”
Opal’s eyes went wide. “Holy shit, really?”
Steve nodded. “Are you familiar with the band The Kestrels?”
Opal rolled her eyes. “Am I familiar with the most famous punk rock band that has come out of Indiana in the last decade? No, of course not,” she said sarcastically.
Pearl pushed her shoulder a little. “Not everybody likes the same kind of music.”
“Anyway,” Steve muttered. “Got their start right here at the Queen’s Crown. Same with a bunch of other big bands. So it’s pretty important that you show up on time.”
Opal just nodded.
*
Eddie watched Steve in the class. Eyeing him up. It was three weeks into the semester and Steve had just kept to himself. It was weird. There was no flirting with the girls in the class. There was no buttering up to Joyce. Steve didn’t even try to make friends with anyone in the class.
Just did the work and kept his mouth shut. So to say Eddie was eaten up with curiosity would be an understatement. He continued to watch as they moved from chest and arms to legs. Eddie knew he had good looking legs and he caught more then a couple girls licking their lips and maybe one or two boys too.
Steve? He would purse his lips and only glance at Eddie to draw. One, two, three. Back to drawing. It was driving Eddie nuts.
And then he saw it. Steve’s back went ramrod straight. Eddie looked around the classroom to see if anyone else noticed. But everyone seemed engrossed in their work.
Steve’s head went back and Eddie looked over at Joyce but she hadn’t seen either.
When asked by Joyce later all he could say that he had been acting on pure instinct. That he knew from one second to the next that Steve was going to fall.
Suddenly Eddie was on his feet, letting the sheet drop to his feet as he lunged forward. He wrapped his arms around Steve just as his eyes closed and slumped off his stool.
And then he began to convulse.
“Shit!” Eddie cried.
One girl was on her feet in an instant. “Everybody move back!”
Everyone did as they were told and Eddie moved to let Steve go, when she yelled. “Not you! Just let him down softly. Roll him on his side.”
Eddie did as he instructed. Steve continued to convulse.
“What’s happening?” Joyce asked rushing to Steve’s side.
“It looks like he’s seizing!” the girl said. “My brother gets like this sometimes. Just let it ride out. Keep track of how long.”
Eddie went looking for Steve’s phone and found it in his bag. He pulled up the lock screen and there was a message that said “In case of emergency call Robin” and then a number.
He pulled out his phone and dialed the number praying she wasn’t one of those that didn’t answer unknown numbers.
“Hello?” came the soft female voice.
“Thank fuck!” Eddie cursed.
“Who is this?” she snapped.
“Steve’s convulsing!” Eddie shouted at her.
“Shit!” Robin cursed. “How long?”
Eddie looked up at the clock. “Three minutes.”
“I’m on my way, I should be there in five.”
He stared at his phone when she hung up wondering what the hell to do now.
The other girl had corralled everyone outside and then came back in to stick her jacket under his head.
“Doesn’t he need something in his mouth to prevent him from swallowing his tongue or whatever?” Eddie asked.
She shook her head. “It’s a myth. A drunk never swallows theirs and epileptics don’t either.”
Eddie made sure she had him before he went and pulled on his jeans.
Then there was a commotion at the door.
“Let me through you dumbasses!”
Eddie is on his feet in an instant going for the door. “Buckley?”
Robin stopped trying to push through, she looked at him darkly. “If you caused this, no one will find your body.”
All the other students started backing up slowly, allowing her to enter the classroom.
She was at Steve’s side as he started to come through. “Hey, Dingus.”
It was fucking spooky. And not in a good horror movie slaughterhouse vibe either. One moment Steve’s eyes were open but the lights were definitely off. And then they slowly came back on. He looked back and forth between the girl and Robin, before he realized what happened.
“Shit,” he slurred.
“Hey, hey,” the girl murmured. “Don’t try talking yet. I’m Alice. You’ve had seizure. Have you had them before?”
“Yeah,” Robin answered for him. “He takes medication for it. Which I’m guessing he forgot today.”
Steve looked away ashamed.
“At least tell me you brought it with you?” Robin asked.
He opened his mouth but Alice gave him the stink eye so he closed it again. And shook his head.
“You are in so much trouble, mister,” Robin hissed. She looked up at Alice. “Thanks. I’m assuming you’re the reason he’s safely on his side without something rammed in his mouth like some kinked up sex toy.”
Alice blushed. “I’m studying to be a nurse and my brother gets grand mals like this sometimes too.
Robin nodded and then turned to Steve. “You okay now or do you want to go the hospital?”
Steve slowly sat up and let his body get use to the feeling. “I’m okay. I shouldn’t go into work though. Can you make sure the boss knows?”
Robin nodded. She looked up at the clock. “I’ve got to go. Do you think you can make it home okay?”
Alice frowned at that. “I can walk him home, I would really prefer that he didn’t go home alone.”
Robin nodded. “All right, let’s get you up off this floor.” She and Alice each grabbed a hand and helped him to his feet.
Joyce who had been watching the whole thing chewed nervously on her thumb.
“Steve would you see me before the next class?” she asked as he walked past. Alice carrying both hers and his stuff.
Steve nodded and then let the girls lead him away.
Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Epilogue
Tag List: @artiststarme @allbymyselfexceptformycactus @spectrum-spectre estrellami-1 @swimmingbirdrunningrock @gregre369 @itsall-taken @m-owo-n @zerokrox-blog @runyousillydetective @grimmfitzz @wonderland-girl143-blog @sapphirecobalt-1@scheodingers-muppet @victor-thee-corvid @apricottree @bookbinderbitch @sleepyboosstuff @biatcgh @pixiefallingupthestairs @grtwdsmwhr @thepainisspicy @carlyv @eboyawstenn @bisexualdisastersworld @bidisastersworld @abstractnaturaldisaster @evix-syne666 @nerdsconquerall @lololol-1234 @goodolefashionedloverboi @chaoticlovingdreamer @a-little-unsteddie @val-from-lawrence @i-must-potato @elluminis @tailsfromthecrypt @danili666
#My writing#stranger things#steddie#art school au#gay steve harrington#bisexual eddie munson#ladykailtiha writes
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WIP Wednesday
Feeling pink today... Got tagged by @morganlefaye79 & @therealnightcity (even though it's from last week it still counts right?)
I'm honestly feeling pretty meh about this chapter at the moment, might just be because I'm anxious to get it off my plate and have had very little time to write this past month, and I'm only maybe halfway done with it... 😮💨 But I'll take adequate at this point lol. Hoping I get some time to write tomorrow and Friday.
V hauled herself to seated, avoiding the puddle of puke. "What the fuck happened to doing me no wrong, huh? You fucking tricked me. You were just supposed to talk to Rogue."
"Did talk to Rogue."
"And the stripper? The Empathy brawl? This fucking tattoo?" She pointed at her right forearm.
"All required. Had to give Rogue something real, didn’t I?" Johnny gave a nonchalant shrug.
"‘Ebunike?’ That’s supposed to be real? A lead on Grayson is supposed to be a lead on Smasher. We know exactly who he’s working for, so why–"
"Real enough for Rogue. Quit mumble-whinin’ and lets delta."
"Why’d you stop me from telling Rogue that Smasher’s working for Arasaka?"
"Don’t worry about it, V."
That pissed her off more. "Like fuckin’ Hell. What are you playin’ at, Johnny?"
"Wouldn’t be playin’ if I told you." His dodge plagued with doubt.
V’s rebuttal was interrupted by another wave of fresh stomach bile. Spitting the acid out of her mouth, she stared at the expanding puddle of ooze in between her boots. “You oughta be the one puking right now.”
"Yeah, well life ain’t fair."
"Sure picked the right moment to bolt outta my body."
"Oughta be happy I left at all."
"Enjoyed your freedom, I see."
Johnny looked away before blipping across the room in agitation. "For a while."
Easing herself off the bed, V shambled to the window and opened the blinds, squinting against the harsh morning light. "Where the hell are we?"
"The B&B not up to your standards? Place where you can puke all over the carpet, no problem." The phantom rockerboy paced next to her. "So? Feelin’ better?"
"No." Pinching the bridge of her nose, V took another look outside, trying to figure out where they were. Judging by the squat structures and the mega buildings in the background. Rancho. Wait… "How did we get here?"
"Rogue dropped us off."
And Rogue just left.
V thought long and hard about her next question. She would've said she had a gut feeling, but most of it was splattered on the floor. "Where the fuck is my car?"
The pacing in the back of her skull stuttered to a stop. "About that…"
"Johnny?"
"Might not be in a fit state to drive anymore."
V whirled around. "You motherfucking son of a bitch!" And snatched an empty beer bottle from the table and lobbed it in the direction of his head. "I’d murder you if you weren’t already dead!" She missed entirely, the bottle rolling intact and harmless on the floor.
Johnny raised an eyebrow over his aviators. "Better now?"
"Fuck you." The motion made V groan and double over, another wave of nausea jostling her stomach. She braced herself against the wall and phoned a friend.
Johnny wrinkled his nose. "Pretty sure you two are more'n just friends."
Tagging (but no pressure and feel free to cash it in whenever, also doesn't even have to be writing or even cyberpunk related, anything you're working on that you care to share!) @fly-amanitaa @vox-monstera @merge-conflict @shimmer-like-agirl @luvwich @tarmac-rat
#cyberpunk 2077#writing#wip wednesday#fan ficiton#otp: so it goes#oc: valerie hye jin li#johnny silverhand#farewell quadra 🥲
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Man FUCK that bitch ass fucking assassin motherfucker I hope he rots. Sorry he pissed me off to no end.
Also yeah FemShep’s VA is considered the better VA of the Shepards which makes sense MaleShep is voiced by Mark Meer who hadn’t done much voice work before, his biggest role being Cyric in Baldur’s Gate II, and FemShep was voiced by Jennifer Hale who had been at it for almost 20 years at the time. It wasn’t just Jennifer Hale either, Anderson being Keith David and Joker being Seth Green who had both been doing it over 20 years. I liked MaleShep’s voice though and never had a problem with it because it’s very main heroy and recognizable like I’d instantly know that it was Shepard if I heard it.
I knew that the series wouldn’t be exactly up with the times because it was 2007-2012 but Jesus I had no idea that FemShep gets harassed so much.
I didn’t get a reconcile scene on the Citadel since I didn’t romance anyone in ME1 I went into the series with Tali on my mind as my definitive romance.
I don’t think Thane praying for you instead himself is unique to his romance? Or at least I remember something similar happening maybe it was his son.
You can’t hit on EDI as MaleShep I’m pretty sure don’t remember that being an option however you can still hit on Joker as MaleShep I remember seeing that option and going “why would I say that?” Also I’m surprised you never mentioned the Joker segment of Mass Effect 2 where you sneak around the ship as Joker that section surprised the shit out of me.
Oh yeah a fun little fact, remember the show Once Upon a Time I’ve mentioned a couple times when talking about fairy tales? The actor who plays Kaiden was in that show and played the show’s version of Jiminy Cricket from Pinocchio. I don’t remember what happened to Cricket in the show though. He may have just stopped being relevant so they never brought him up again since the show just fucking loved doing that.
Is the hot assassin guy supposed to be unlikeable? I liked him so far, like ngl, plus he's pretty cool. Evil living weapons of destructions, my beloveds.
And yeah, i really like femshep, but it is pretty cool of them to give maleshep VA a chance for such a big character. Sure, it could've been better, but he probably did the best he could with the skills he had at the time, and it did appeal to some people!
And man I'm just lucky I actually enjoy these things ingames, like I am down to being a whore and flirting with everyone so it doesn't bother me when the npcs forcefully flirt with you bc you picked a woman. What bothers me is that the fact it's only bc you picked a woman, and just because I wanted it doesn't mean other people do and it might make them very uncomfortable. There are several mods to remove the sexual harassments femshep gets, I wish there was one to remove it for EDI tho.
We should all have a choice, is what I'm saying. It feels like femshep was made to appeal to straight guys who might play her as an outsider observer. Same with some lesbian characters, too, ngl- not all of them, but the game has its moments where it makes me realise oh this was put here for a straight dude to gawk at. Meanwhile, maleshep feels the proper self insert badass at times. Really hate that.
That's why I like picking NB options whenever they're present, you're free from expectations and the devs aren't sure what to make of you so they don't try to appeal to a certian demographic and just write your character as a character.
You did Tali romance? Hell yeah she is an amazing character and her relationship with Shepard feels phenomenal. Like a scientist princess and her knight in shining armour, amazing. Plus she is all adorable when she talks about engines and how we get to help her so many times.
Apparently her and Garrus end up together if you don't romance her, but I haven't seen it yet. She always felt close to Shepard, especially in the second game where she is the first friendly face you see.
I haven't met her yet in ME3, still doing side errands. I am very very broke and everything is very very expensive and I miss sugar daddy illusive man pls take me back, the alliance became more stingy than I remember or inflation is hitting hard.
Fuck I hat like 999999 something credits in the first game, why couldn't it tranfer over??
And Thane!! My heart! He even prays for you when he's not romanced??? That's it, he is legit the most precious character and no one else comapres. I would die for Thane, I would kill everyone on the Normady for Thane.
But I know Thane would forgive me If I picked Grunt over him bc my son which just makes Thane the most amazing man ever, DRELL ARE SUPERIOR I TELL YOU.
Also so far Drell worship Hanar (kinda) and Hanar worship protheons (kinda) and Javik likes humans(he is all current protheon population)
So by association! Drell and Humans are conncted, and no, I will not give up my tank of copium. Go buy your own. Idk what overdosing is, I have insomnia I forgot.
And aww we can't hit on EDI :( i would've treated her better than Joker.
Yeah I had the same reaction to the flirting with Joker line but just went for it because what's the worst that can happen? He says no and we laught it off.
Imagine if the worst was him retiring from being your pilot and you get soma rando driving the Normady around who now runs at half the speed and takes twice as much gas plus occasionally breaks down and you have to pay 100k credits for repairs.
Oh also then there is this one thing I am sure is exclusive to femshep.
You can sleep with Javik. The protheon. Yes.
But it's not a full romance :"(
He has four eyes I wonder if he has four-
I heard about once upon a time, the show. But never watched it.
I did however watch a random person talk about it in a video essay because I prefer that over watching shows.
This one.
It was fun, I'm not big on fairytales but I enjoyed hearing about it.
The Joker sneak section in ME2 didn't resonate with me much for some reason. It was nice but I didn't feel the pressure at all and with EDI constantly talking it got annoying and I just wanted it to be over.
His jokes were nice but the moment of trusting EDI didn't hit the same way it should've. It didn't feel endearing or earnest.
The sudden flip in their relationship afterwards was too jarring.
I prefer ME3 EDI and Joker dynamic over ME2. However I hate how EDI is becoming a "born sexy yesterday" character by the game when her core as a character is so profound and genuine. She wants to know her purpose, what it means to be alive and all the other characters mention about her is her body which is bleh.
Even some of her dialogues with Joker is just overplayed sex jokes. It's all of her amazing writing vanishes the moment it's not just her and Shepard in a conversation.
Kaidan's voice actor is great! He even stood out to me in the first game. You notice how much more convicnising and immersive his delivery was over the other characters, almost outshined ME1 femshep even.
It's like the dialogue and the way he delievers it fit perfectly. If I just read it, then I get a completely different impression.
The game doesn't have bad voice actors it just has very bad delivery from some characters. It's when someone keeps a constant tone and doesn't portray any emotions or adds any personalisation into the dialogue. It feels tone deaf a lot when what the character is speaking about is something intimiate, yet it sounds the same as asking about the weather.
Still, it is nostalgic in a way, this was extremely common in older games.
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Angel below
Y/n loves playing games but not those kinds of games that you sit down with your friends and enjoy, y/n the romantic sorceress who everyone hates in Busan known for her crimes, and her father who was the most hated man who wanted to kill the president who killed her father instead-" you don't get it Mr.president?!" let's play a game where no one will remember you but what a monster you really are. At night she plays a monster and in the morning she plays a loveable character where a student named jeon jungkook gets too attached and y/n seems to notice and she starts to fall out of connection when she finds out he's the president...son
Genre: Romance
Pair: Jungkook x Villain Reader
Warnings: drugs, gangs, violent actions, etc.
Word count: 725
Chapter 1
I'm the villain of the story? huh, that's funny...." then president lets play a game shall we?"
"y/n where are you?!" I hear my brother yell from inside my room as I'm outside looking out from my balcony, I sign does he gotta be so annoying." what bangchan?" chan is my older brother he is very protective of me since dad passed away, he hasn't let me out by myself even once just to the corner shop without a damn bodyguard by my side." why do I keep hearing from the group that you're going to Seoul tonight?! what the hell y/n you can't do that shit!" i rolled my eyes at him and walked passed him making him sigh loudly knowing pissing him off more. 'maybe because I'm 20 years old chan you can't make me stay here I can make my own decisions" I say and he scoffs, "right like you can make decisions by yourself, what about the last time you did you ended up almost dead."
"I didn't die did I chan?" chan scoffs and walks close to me "taehyung still wants to kill you and you know that, do you want a death wish y/n?" I shrug my shoulders " no but I'm sure taehyung wants one since he wanted to kill me after he said he loved me" chan looks at me worried after that. "that's not love that's betrayal and hate y/n he wanted to take over dads company which he failed" I nod taehyung will never come near dads old company that chan is in charge of now but doesn't that mean he is in danger now." chan I just need to seek revenge on him"
y/n please don't I don't want to lose another person in my life
"then come with me chan if you are worried to go with me then" I tell him and he sighs and thinks about it for a minute. " if that's what you want me to do than ill does it for my little sister just to keep her safe." I smile and hug chan knowing he can be annoying but very supportive.
I headed downstairs to meet with dads friend nelson who helps around the house and missions mostly when we head out "ms.y/n are you still going out tonight?" he asks I nod "yes and nelson can you please help me find my belt with the knife holders please." I walk around heading into the laundry room trying to see if I find it in there who knows why it would be in there or not I bend down to look into the basket. as I'm bending down I felt a sharp pain going up my stomach. "shit!!" I get up quickly and lift up my shit and look at the wound to see if it opened luckily it didn't, "y/n my love I will never leave you, you know that right" the words keep popping into my head it is like it haunting me forever.
"ms.y/n I found your belt!" I hear nelson and I walk out of the laundry room quickly before he sees me looking at my wound. "oh thank you nelson" I thank him and head back to the living room to start putting my things in order. "hey sis you ready to go?" chan asks I look at him and back to the computer "yeah just give me a second let me see if I can get this first" he grabs out suitcases and heads outside "alright I'll wait for you"
Kim taehyung - net worth of 20 million
married
owns Kim corporation
this motherfucker got married after the accident?! I clench my hand reading the article about how he was married and got more money in his net worth after marrying her. was I just a distraction? I slammed the laptop I had enough of this.
"ms.y/n" nelson taps his hand on my shoulder i turn around and smile at him "oh nelson i forgot to tell you I and chan will be back in a month"... hopefully if nothing goes wrong.." yes ms. y/n but i wanna give you something" he pulls out a cd disk and letter" its evidence who killed your father watch and reach this letter once you get to seoul"
"my father's murder?..."
"yes the person is in seoul"
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Shovel (a short story)
He called his wife on the phone. There was nothing else to do. He had masturbated two times already that day. Not a thing on the television and besides it was raining out. Nothing inside, nothing outside.
She picked up and said hello. The second he heard her voice he
regretted calling. He could have gone out and stood naked in the freezing rain. He could have swallowed a fist full of sleeping pills and unplugged the phone. He could have tried to get
it up one more time and go for three strikes on hid belly. But he
didn't. He called his wife and now it was too late to turn back.
"How are you doing Marie?"
A loud and long sigh came from the other end. He heard her suck in
her breath and he braced himself.
"Well, you know the guy downstairs is supposed to shovel the
walkway. The motherfucker pays less rent than I do because he's supposed to help around this shithole apartment. I got home from work to find that not only was the sidewalk not done but the son of a bitch never got around to the driveway. I had to park on the
street with all the other assholes who live on this godforsaken road. So I went to his apartment to find out why nothing had been done. You know me, Vince, you don't want to piss me off! So I go and bang on his damn door. Blam blam blam blam! His wife answers stinking of booze. That lady is fucked up. Do you remember the time she came up to my place when you were over fixing the sink? She started screaming at me to keep the banging down and I was like
"listen lady, my fucking husband is over here fixing my sink and if you don't like the fucking sounds you can kiss my big fat clogged up sink of an ass!"
Holy shit that was a riot! Anyway, she opens
the door and I ask her why her fucking husband has not shoveled the
sidewalk and all. I mean he had 24 hours to get the damned job done. Of course, I didn't say that! I just said:
"hey, is Frank around? He was supposed to shovel and all."
And then, you know what she said to me? You are not going to
believe this. She said that Frank cut his fingers while slicing a
fucking ham and got 66 stitches on his left hand! I almost shit myself! So, of course, I asked her how he was doing. Just to be human, you know? She said he was in the tub relaxing with a drink. And you know what this means? Don't you? This means that no one is going to shovel the fucking snow! I'm going to be parking on that street for weeks! Jesus Christ. Why me? Of all the places I could be living, I live in this stink-hole place with a sloppy meat cutter as the handyman idiot."
"Why don't you call the landlord and let him know the walkway is not being cleared. I'm sure he would want to know."
"What do you think I am? An idiot or something! I called him. Of course, I called him. Jesus! I called him the second I got my boots off. He said that as long as Frank is laid up...that's what he said! Laid up! What a moron! As long as Frank is laid up that maybe I could shovel for a while. He said he would knock off 30 bucks from the rent. The fucking gall of that fat bastard! Who the fuck does he think I am? Some lesbian butch? I told him to cram it. I said he could stick that rickety old shovel up his over used asshole. That's what I said Vince. So help me, that's what I said. He couldn't believe it! He went silent. Then I said,
"No way, Jose"
and slammed the phone down. I nearly busted the fucking thing! Haha! So, hell, I don't know what to do. Hey, hold on for a sec."
He heard her put the phone down on the table. He knew that table
well. He bought it about 5 summers ago at the local Kmart. He carried the damned thing stuck in some cheap box up two flights of stairs in a horrible heat. Dragged it into the kitchen and put it together by himself. Alone. A very big accomplishment for a man who needs instructions for a hammer. This was supposed to be a surprise for Marie. She had been bitching about the old table ever since she had moved in. She came home that night. Put her keys on the table and without even looking at Vince who was sitting in one of the chairs said:
"Jesus, Vincent, where the hell did you dig this nightmare up? Kmart?"
But still, to this day the table sat there. In his old apartment. A testament to his failures.
He lit a cigarette and as he placed the match in the
tray he heard her cough into his ear. Then curse and then, much to his dismay began to speak again.
"My God. I finally got out of my dress. I don't know why the hell I still, wear this ugly old thing you got me. I do know this though, I have to shave my legs. They are getting mighty hairy. Hey, you still like my legs, Vince? You used to go on and on about
how much you adored my legs. Back in the early days. Before it all
went to shit. Ain't that right Vince? So, you still like them? Do you think about them when you try to fall asleep on that bed of yours? Do you?"
"Yeah, I guess I do. I don't know. Sometimes, I guess."
"You guess? You guess? What kind of answer is that? Jesus, Vince. You are and always will be a real twit. You know that don't you?"
"Yeah, twit with a capital T."
An hour later they hung up, or actually, she hung up on him. Pissed
off about something or other. He stripped out of his sweat soaked shirt and decided to have a beer or two. Topless at the kitchen table, Vince sat with the bottle of Miller and stared out the window. The rain had turned to a very light snow. The street lights were just coming on and soon he would have to get ready for work.
What the fuck happened to me Vince thought. How the hell did
I become a third shift jackoff with an insane soon to be ex-wife and a
car in danger of being taken away by the bank? It was too much
for him apparently as he stood up and with the bottle in his hand,
went to the bedroom where he fingered through a stack of books on the floor. In fact, the room was surrounded by books. Like ropes in a boxing ring. All four walls tattooed three feet high with books of every color and size. In no particular order, one could see. He grabbed Albert Camus's 'The Stranger' and flipped through the pages. He put it down and turned around. He put the bottle on the nightstand and walked over to the corner by the window. He kneeled down and searched. After a while, he picked the book he wanted. Terry Anderson's memoir 'Den Of Lions'. He opened the book and found the bent corner and
read:
"Prayers in the night hurled fiercely at an absent God;
plea's, promises, bargains offered, but no answers."
He picked up a shirt laying on the bed and put it on.
Eating a bologna sandwich alone at work, Vince sat reading the
paper. More bad news. Unemployment up. Riots in Germany. Bombs in the Mideast. The president is still a moron and worst of all the paper yanked Doonesbury from the funny pages after a controversial strip. Garfield is not funny, it's downright depressing he thought to
himself. What is this world coming to? He gathered up his empty paper plate and coffee mug. Walked over to the garbage can and threw them in.
Shit was rumbling. His stomach felt ill, so he headed off towards the men's room.
On his way, he ran into Marcella.
She just lifted herself up from the water fountain and spotted him charging down the hall like a moose.
"Vince! Hey hey, you, Moose? How are you?"
He slowed down. Stopped actually and greeted her in return.
"Marcella. Fine. I am fine. Did you hear about Doonesbury? The paper axed it, man."
"I know. I read about it this afternoon when I woke up. It's an
outrage! It was always the first thing I'd read when I got the dumb old paper. Hey, you in a hurry? Got time to grab a smoke outside? I'm dying for a cigarette."
His bowels churned. Bologna and depression do not mix. His belly was bursting, screaming for relief. And yet, he said:
"For you, my friend, of course. I could use a dose of Turkish gold myself. I just ate."
Marcella smiled and pulled at his arm. "Ok then, Mr. Moose, let's go
smoke."
Outside they stood on the truck delivery station. Pallets laid
around them in the snow among the discarded cigarette butts. Just a sliver of moon hiding behind the clouds made it a dark evening. Or morning.
It was around 3 AM and it had stopped snowing. They stood there
silently smoking. Vince looked up at the sky. He wanted to see stars
but it was impossible. It was too cloudy.
"I wish we could see the stars but it's too cloudy."
Marcella exhaled a puff of smoke and laughed
"What is it with you and the stars? Every time we come out here
you always talk about the stars. Just why is that Vinnie?"
Vince flicked his camel into the air. It landed with a suicide
grace. He watched it as it slowly went out in the snow.
"I don't know. I think I just like things that are far away."
"Interesting Mr. Mooseman. What about me? I'm right next to you. I bet you don't like me, eh?"
She smiled and poked her elbow into his side. She laughed.
"Well, out with the answer Moosey!"
He stood there silent. He reached into his pocket for another
smoke. Lunch break was almost over but there was time for at least one more. He would have to wait two more hours before he could use the bathroom though.
"Marcella, may I ask you a question?"
"Sure...why not! It's Friday and I'm in a good mood! But you're not
ducking my question are you?"
"I'm glad you're in a good mood, Marcella."
He lit the cigarette and put away his lighter. His fingers were
getting cold and he wished he had brought his gloves from the car. His head tilted up as his lips opened.
"Marcella, do you shovel your own driveway?"
She laughed.
"No, no. My son does. He's good at it too. Every time it
snows, he's on the job! What a silly question, Mr. Moose. Why do you ask?"
He took a drag from his smoke and flicked the half done thing onto
the ground. He turned away and began walking
back to the building. No reason, he said. Just simply curious.
He opened the door and felt the heat hit him hard. He had a minute left to punch back in.
He walked quickly to the time clock. There really
was no time to do anything else.
--------------------------------
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Surviving Eddie Munson - Chapter 6
“Eddie, hey!”
He’s barely put his van in park when a familiar flash of red enters his peripheral vision. It’s Max, of course, and El is with her again as always; they’re basically joined at the hip at this point.
“What’s up, Mayfield?” He asks, turning the ignition off and stepping out of his van. He doesn’t want to assume, but has a feeling it has to do with the fact that Steve motherfucking Harrington’s car is parked outside of his trailer.
“Have you…heard from Steve today?” She asks, biting her lip and narrowing her eyes at him.
“No, but I have a feeling I’m about to, when I walk through that door. Wanna catch me up to speed?” He leans against his van, crossing his arms, wondering what sort of mess Harrington has gotten himself into to make him come here of all places. There are so many other people that he could have gone to first, so why is his car here?
“We don’t really know anything,” Max starts, and looks at El for support. The shorthaired girl nods enthusiastically, shrugging her shoulders. “All we saw was when he got here, he didn’t look so good.”
She gestures broadly to her face, grimacing at the memory. Eddie just sighs, curiosity piqued to hell and back.
“What time was that?”
“’Round eight, I think.”
He sighs deeper, burying his face in his hands. His uncle must have been so pissed to get woken up so early like that. As if summoned, his trailer door creaks open, and Uncle Wayne comes plodding down the stairs to greet him.
“Eddie, girls,” he nods respectively, but gives Eddie a pointed look.
“See you around, bye!” El squeaks out, quickly dragging Max away and back to her friend’s trailer. He can’t blame the kid; his uncle can be a little off putting at times.
“So. Steve Harrington,” His uncle starts, scratching at the back of his head.
“I’m sorry, he woke you up didn’t he? I’ve told him you work nights, but clearly he forgot about that.” Eddie apologizes, but his uncle just shakes his head solemnly.
“Don’t worry about that, son. Your friend, Steve, he’s in a bit of a bind right now. Long story short, I offered him the couch indefinitely. Seems he got into it with his old man, kicked out or somethin’ like that.”
That sounds…terrifyingly familiar. A horrible knot forms in his stomach, mind racing at all the possibilities, and implications. What could they have fought about so badly that it got Steve kicked out? The other man has alluded to how horrible of a father his dad can be at times, but it never seemed like it would go down this road.
“Thank you, that means a lot to me. I’m sure it does to him, too. I hope he didn’t give you a hard time or anything,” he chuckles weakly.
“Oh no, not at all. I expect it might be the other way around, to tell ya the truth. Had to get a little serious with him, but he’s an okay kid.” His uncle merely shrugs and walks back to the trailer, signaling the conversation is over.
Eddie follows him in and can’t help but wince at the sight of Steve on his couch. He’s passed out cold, a frozen bag of peas completely de-thawed on the coffee table, likely for the brutal black eye he’s sporting at the moment. He creeps over quietly to get a better look at his friend’s condition.
His lips are parted slightly, soft little puffs of air coming out with each exhale. His hair is dirty, sticking to his forehead and neck where he’s gotten a little sweaty during his sleep. He’s even still got his shoes on, feet hanging over the arm of the couch, legs too long to lie on it properly. To most people, Steve would look like a total disaster right now, but all Eddie can feel is a tender ache at the sight of him. He’s still so unfairly beautiful, despite it all.
Although it’s not his place to say, he does wish his uncle would have asked him how he felt about extending their home to Steve before just going and doing it. Maybe it’s selfish, but he just doesn’t know how he’s going to manage seeing so much of him now. Hanging out here and there, and especially under the influence of drugs and alcohol, made it easier for him to keep his feelings in check.
But with unbridled access to his friend, the object of his affections, he’s just not sure what it’s going to do to his psyche. Maybe they can do more group activities, use the kids or the ladies as some sort of Harrington deterrent. He’s definitely going to have to tell Robin about his crush now, she’ll know how to help him, as painful as that is going to be. He can hear her know, screaming that she saw it coming. Although, anyone with two eyes and half a brain could, he’s not exactly super subtle about it all the time.
Eddie sits at the dining room table in his modestly sized kitchen, trying his best to distract himself with writing song lyrics, waiting for Steve to wake up on his own. Time passes on and he bids his uncle goodnight when he leaves for work, and that’s when he feels like Steve has likely slept long enough. If he’s been here all day, he probably hasn’t eaten anything, and the sooner he does the better he’ll feel – speaking from personal experience. Sighing deeply at the task at hand, Eddie begins to attempt to wake Steve up from his beauty sleep.
#eddie munson#steve harrington#stranger things#steddie#steddie fic#steddie fanfic#steddie fanfiction#stranger things fanfiction#eddie x steve#eddie munson x steve harrington#cross posted on ao3#stranger things smut#steddie smut#steddie fluff
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1/16/23 - 1/17/23
I got a surprising amount done yesterday. The start and end of my day definitely wasn’t planned out, anyway.
Went with Tristan to go pick up Getchen’s car in Tomah. Pretty standard trip. There was an accident on the highway we’d be coming back on that we saw on the way there, so we took a different way home to avoid it. I was pleased I was able to navigate it.
Got a straightener from Grace, didn’t stay in for game night. It looked like they were playing a Harry Potter game anyway that I would have abstained from on principle.
Straightened that brown wig and went to service night at Crucible. It was slow. Talked with Sara and Moselle and Ben(?) I think his name is?
I saw two guys on the road out from Crucible and stopped to ask them if they were okay or if they needed a ride. One said they needed money, but I said I didn’t have any cash. They were very nice and polite and one told me to drive careful. I thought it was very sweet.
I went to Mickey’s after and played pool with Rob against two other guys, Shawn and Chris. Got annoyed at Mickey’s and talked it out with Rob a bit.
I’m tired of men being leery motherfuckers all the time. There was a guy who came in that I met last week, GT, who was making Billy, Shawn, Rob and I laugh by doing accents. I remember Rob said he saw him later and he asked about me, “the girl with the accent”, which I thought was interesting. GT came in on Monday and saw me, started telling me how good I looked and asked for my number right off. I was pretty put out. I thought he’d be interested in talking more, not just... being sleazy. Shawn and Chris too, in a weird way, were just really into playing pool with me.
I shot 4 balls in a row in on my final shot, plus the 8 ball, which I usually have to chase around. Then I hit their last ball and knocked it in, plus the cue ball--that was really amazing in retrospect. But I was just so pissed about them being there I wanted to just be done with the game.
I met a girl named Kess who apparently told Rob she thought I was cool. Beyond bizarre. I don’t know why that keeps happening.
Rob and I went back to his new place he’s sharing with Alex. Alex has his girlfriend (?) Lorelee over, she was extremely cool. Living part time in London doing a PhD looking at monastic maps. It was nice to have an intellectual conversation with her while she and Alex played Donkey Kong. I felt like we got along very well.
Rob and I slept together. It was pretty nice. He’s more handsome than he gives himself credit for. I like looking at his face. The more I look at it, the more handsome I find him, in the niches and cracks. We had to sleep on his single-wide bed, not ideal, but we both seemed to fit just fine cuddling.
He asked me some questions about how I’d feel if things stopped between us, and about keeping it casual. I don’t know if he was trying to fish for something or not. He has a a date tonight with some girl named Chloe that he met at a party? I guess he’s not expecting anything, but he still asked if I’d be okay if things got serious between them and he had to break it off with me. I told him we’d cross that bridge when we got to it.
Truthfully, I don’t know how I’d feel. I think I wouldn’t care? I like Rob, but I’m not in love with him or anything. He’s comfortable to spend time with, easy to be around. But he doesn’t make my heart leap. but, then again, nothing really does anymore.
I told him when I dropped him off at his car today not to forget to buy a gift for his sister’s baby shower. It felt very domestic in a comforting way. I don’t know why I did it. Maybe, subconsciously, I was trying to feel... normal? I don’t know.
Came home, went back to bed. Slept until 5.
Got my application for the library in! We’ll see what comes of that.
Uh. In other news. I found Ryan again.
Bad idea, this. Fuck. I know it’s a bad idea. I miss him. In some weird, fucked up way, I miss him a lot. He moved to Palm Bay. I found his car outside his new place on google maps. Same bumper stickers on that dumb Kia Soul. But, that means he didn’t get picked up by los federales at least. Gracias, Malverde.
I messaged a number that is supposedly his too, but no response. That’s probably a good idea. I think he’s still with Ana. Unfortunately.
I keep thinking of sending him mail. A postcard. A letter. A package. Something to tell him I’m still here. I still know. I can still find him, even after 4 years.
4 years. Shit.
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You’re a Mystery to Me
Chapter One | Part Five
CW: language, a few dirty thoughts from Rowan, assault (non-sexual and with minor injuries)
Masterlist//Moodboard//5545 words
Her mouth tasted like strawberries. Her lips were soft and refreshing, and entirely playful in the way they slid against his.
Rowan pulled her closer, smirking as she nipped at his lower lip. He let one hand slide to her waist as he parted her lips with his tongue, and the other went to grasp her hair. Those beautiful golden locks that could only belong to—
Rowan jolted awake.
A moment passed as Rowan tried to rewire his brain.
Where was he? He was in bed at Orlon’s mansion.
What had happened? He had had a dream.
What was he doing? Generally freaking out.
That dream had been about… a girl. A blonde girl with lovely lips. That could be anybody. Positively anybody.
Rowan promptly jolted into a sitting position, then threw the covers off. Breathing hard, he got to his feet and aimed for the bathroom, stumbling around in the dark.
Flipping the light on and squinting at the sudden brightness, Rowan made for the sink and immediately splashed some water on his face.
Not Aelin, not Aelin, not Aelin, he repeated in his mind. That was not fucking Aelin.
Turning off the faucet a bit more harshly than was strictly necessary, Rowan looked in the mirror. He looked like a mess. He felt like a mess.
Trying to snap out of it—and failing miserably—Rowan groaned and cursed. He stormed out of the bathroom and made his way into the hall, looking for something to distract himself with.
Rowan was as quiet as possible as he moved down the hallway, not wanting to wake anyone. Not wanting to wake one person in particular.
He got to the end of the hallway and started around a corner he hadn’t been before, mentally marking the direction so that he hopefully wouldn’t get lost on the way back.
Rowan went a ways down this new hall, then aimlessly turned again and paused, breathing hard. He couldn’t stop imagining what it had felt like to… No. Nothing had happened. He needed to forget about the slightly dirty dream that had been about some random girl that he absolutely did not know at all.
He decided to head outside and go for a jog, perhaps in the woods where no one would see him, and where it was likely dark enough that he would trip and bump his head on a rock and get amnesia and forget about that fucking dream. Yes, that sounded like a lovely plan. Rowan started down the hall, knowing he was lost and not giving a shit. Hell, if he got desperate enough he might just climb out the first window he came into contact with to avoid searching for the front door.
Rowan turned another corner.
And ran into someone.
And was slammed back against the wall as the person clearly freaked out.
Rowan was pissed. He had no idea what had just happened or why, but no one got to push him around and get away with it.
He pushed off of the wall and started forward. There was zero light in the hall, and all he could do was blindly reach forward. His hand caught what was most likely an arm and Rowan tugged, savoring in the deep grunt that left the person’s mouth.
Out of nowhere, an elbow knocked him in the stomach. “Shit,” Rowa hissed as he was thrust again the wall, this time face-first.
This wasn’t a member of this household getting freaked out in the middle of the night and reacting. This was something else. Maybe it was a robber. Frankly, Rowan didn’t care anymore. Now he just wanted to beat the shit out of this motherfucker.
Rowan tried to kick his leg back, but he was in a really bad position. The person grabbed him by the arm and flung him into something that fell to the floor with Rowan and smashed. Something delicate apparently.
The noise of it hitting the floor beside him as he rolled to avoid the damage wasn’t like glass, it was deeper. Rowan couldn’t be sure in the dark, but he got the feeling one of the family’s treasured statues had toppled to the floor.
Thoroughly angry, he got to his feet unsteadily. Rowan could see just enough as his eyes adjusted, perhaps from a distant lamp reflecting around several corners that hadn’t been enough before, that he could make out a hazy figure. He took a step toward him, but that was as far as he got before the person shoved him against the wall once more, and something cracked against his head.
Rowan groaned, his head swimming. Distantly, he heard a dog barking, and footsteps. Footsteps that didn’t belong to the intruder.
A light snapped on. Rowan winced at the light and squinted around to see a figure in black, wearing some sort of goggles, spinning around toward the disturbance. Aelin stood by the light switch, surveying the scene with wide eyes.
Rowan tried to say something as a furious expression crossed Aelin’s features and she took an angry step toward the intruder, but no sound came out.
Luckily, before Aelin’s fury got her hurt, the figure spun around and darted down the hall. Aelin took another step, then looked over at him, hesitating. All Rowan could do was cling to his head as a sticky substance dripped down the back of it. Blood.
Muttering expletives that had Rowan gaping, Aelin gave one last mournful look in the direction the intruder had stormed, likely imagining how Rowan had cost her the chance to hunt them down. Then Aelin turned to him and hurried over the last few steps.
“Are you okay?” she asked, not a trace of tentativeness as lifted a hand to his head. Rowan winced at the feeling of the damage being prodded.
“Just dandy,” he murmured, still trying to focus.
The barking continued, but didn’t come nearer. Fleetfoot must have been locked up in a room. Aelin sent another look down the hall where the person had run and grabbed Rowan by the arm.
“Come on. You need to sit down.”
Rowan started to protest, but words failed him. Aelin’s slender fingers were firm around his bicep, but gentle as well, if that was even possible. She wrapped the other arm around his back, helping him over to an antique chair in a corner.
“Aelin?” a voice called. “Was that you?”
It was Elide’s voice, and Aelin made sure Rowan was seated before calling back, “Over here, Ellie.”
Elide wandered in cautiously, her face transforming into horror as she took in the area. Rowan, who had missed quite a bit of the scene as the light had been off, surveyed the room as well.
He had been right about the statue. A medium-sized old thing was on the floor. It was just chipped enough around the edges that Rowan couldn’t tell what it had been of. On the other side of the hallway was a mirror, tilted and clearly struggling to hang on to the wall. The glass was smashed and blood coated the surface, and Rowan realized that was what he had been pushed against. Wincing at the sight, Rowan looked back to Aelin, who was frowning at his head, and at a gash in his arm he hadn’t even noticed previously.
“Elide, call the police.” Aelin’s voice was strong.
Elide gulped and nodded, but didn’t move. “What happened?”
“Someone attacked Rowan.”
Rowan grunted in agreement.
Elide did not look satisfied with this response. “Who?”
“Some dude,” he muttered.
Aelin shot him a glare. “Be quiet, Rowan. You’re in pain.”
Rowan rolled his eyes instinctively, bending over in pain as the vertigo took over and he only proved Aelin’s point.
Sighing, Aelin said, “Go, Elide. Get your phone.”
She quickly took off down the hall, headed back to her room. Rowan rubbed at his forehead in pain.
“Did anything get taken?” he asked. “Or did we scare them away first?”
Aelin frowned. “We didn’t do anything. Intruder dude seemed content to hang around until I showed up.” She glanced around, then answered his previous question. “Nothing that I can see from here, but I’m not about to go looking. Besides, at least you’re okay. That’s the important thing.”
Before Rowan could wonder if he’d heard her right or if his mind was conjuring things, she added, “Too many questions.”
Rowan sighed. He opened with mouth, but Lorcan appeared in the hallway before he could say anything.
“What the fucking fuck did you fuckers just—” Lorcan cut himself off as he took in the scene in front of him, blearily rubbing at his eyes.
Aelin sighed and started explaining.
—
“I’d like to report an intruder.”
Elide had almost said burglar, but she wasn’t sure if anything had been taken. Hell, it probably hadn’t. It was likely the creep who’d been “haunting” the house, not some robber.
The creep that Elide was now nearly certain was not a member of the household, judging by the blood smearing the wall. None of the family would do that to Rowan.
And with this conclusion came a small, but definite, pit inside of Elide’s stomach.
Guilt.
She and Lorcan had known about the secret passage; they had know that someone, whether with malicious intent or not to be determined, was sneaking around in the night. And Elide had instructed Lorcan not to say anything.
Which made whatever had happened to Rowan her fault, and hers alone. But wherever the blame may lie, Elide was now adamant that she would find the culprit, and she would not be leaving until she did.
Elide gave the emergency operator the basics—she hardly knew anything more herself—and hung up after being assured a police car and a paramedic for Rowan were on the way.
Then she turned back to the door. Elide had locked herself in her and Aelin’s room just in case, and now she hesitated to re-enter the hall.
Steeling herself and trying to feel brave, Elide slid the lock back over and slipped into the hallway quietly.
Elide peered around a corner on the way back to her friends, and very nearly screamed. But it was just Uncle Orlon, appearing from another doorway.
“Elide? Is that you?”
Elide released a breath and hurried over to him. “Yes, Uncle O, it’s me. Someone went after Rowan. I think he came across them in the hall.”
Uncle O didn’t even look surprised. Elide frowned internally as he said, “Shouldn’t be wandering in the night with Brannon walking the halls. Should’ve known better.”
Elide just gave a tight smile and grabbed Uncle Orlon’s arm, assisting him down the hall.
“The cops should be here soon,” she added.
He halted. “The police? El, dear, there’s nothing they can do. They’re not paranormal investigators.”
Resisting the urge to slap him silly, Elide just said, “Too late now. Let’s go.”
They made their way back to the spot Elide had found Aelin and Rowan. Lorcan was there as well now, kicking some remnants of the statue aside.
They all looked up upon seeing Elide, then relaxed. She was loathe to admit how on edge this ghost business had gotten everybody.
Elide cleared her throat. “The police are on their way. How are you feeling, Rowan?”
He squinted. “Bit dizzy. Mostly fine, though.”
Elide nodded, pretending she wasn’t as concerned as she really was, and asked, “What exactly happened?”
Rowan glanced over his shoulder, seemingly in paranoia. “I was walking out here, and I ran into somebody. They kind of freaked and pushed me and whatever, and there was some elbowing, and it was really dark, and I was pushed into the statue and then the mirror, and I did grab them at one point, and then Aelin showed up and turned the light on.”
Elide scribbled this all down in her notepad, having withdrawn it when Rowan started speaking. She wrote his little tirade word for word, despite the apparent confusion of the statement. After all, human memory is a very fragile thing. Elide wanted it all fresh. Time would only muddle his thoughts further.
“And Aelin, what did you see?”
“Hmm, like a person in black. And some goggles. Like actual night vision goggles.”
Rowan nodded thoughtfully as if he hadn’t processed this. Elide was starting to lean toward concussion.
“And the intruder just kinda shimmied out of there real fast. I gave them my mad face, so I’m not really that surprised.”
Elide sighed. What incompetent witnesses they were. “In which direction did the intruder shimmy?”
Aelin nodded to a dark hall to Elide’s left. “There. They ran off that way.”
“Could you tell anything about this person from what you saw? Gender? Height? Skin, hair, or eye color?”
Aelin frowned in thought. “No color of anything, they were covered completely. But maybe it was actually a guy? I can’t be sure, but the hips and shoulders were kind of mannish. As for the height, I don’t know. Estimation’s not really my forte. He was next to Rowan though, and I didn’t notice a big difference there. So about Rowan’s height I suppose.”
Elide wrote her account down, then turned to Rowan. “Do you have anything to add to that?”
“No,” he replied wearily. “I didn’t even notice that much. The light was off the whole time and I was a little too distracted to catalog their/his/whatever measurements and shit.”
Elide nodded slightly. “Aelin, go to the front door and wait for the cops. You know how to get back here. Lorcan, go with her, just in case. Uncle O, you’re going to stay here with Rowan. Take this”—Elide handed him her cell phone—“and call Emrys and make sure all three of them are alright. Don’t tell them to leave their cottage, though; I don’t want them in danger. I want to look around a little, but I’ll stay close.”
Elide’s fears seemed to have vanished now that she was around others, and now that she had a problem that needed fixing. But she would likely be scared all over again when she ventured off the check the area. Pushing her worries aside, Elide made sure everyone was okay with their role and started down the hall.
Elide started looking at each damaged area around the open space in the hallway. First the mirror, then the statue. Nothing was out of the ordinary. Or rather, nothing was unsurprising. The mirror was bloody and cracked, the bust irreparable. But no other clues were to be found at the scene of the attack.
Uncle Orlon seemed in shock beside Rowan. He kept muttering the same thing, something along the lines of, “Brannon was never depicted as violent.”
Elide frowned, then turned and started down the hall the intruder was said to have left from. She kept her footsteps light and her body tense, continuously on guard.
The hallway quickly darkened. There was a lamp on a while back, but not in this area. Fighting back fear, Elide reached for the light switch she knew to be right next to the doorway beside her. Then she paused.
One sense at a time. That was something her mother said to her sometimes, when there was an especially different problem she couldn’t work out. So Elide not only left the hall pitch-black, but she tuned out all noise and reached a hand to the wall.
The wallpaper was peeling in this area. She knew it would be that ugly flower print that had gotten updated in most of the rest of the house. Elide started walking, trying to clear her mind. No more thoughts about the wallpaper, or theories on what she was looking for. Now was the time to just feel.
Elide lost herself in her head, so far away that even her fears of being alone in the dark after an attack dissipated. She kept walking, her fingers trailing along the wall lightly. Elide came to a turn, or so she surmised from the edge of the wall, but she only followed it around the corner in the darkness.
Elide was waiting for it, waiting for something, anything. She was just about to stop and turn the light on when her fingernails caught on a protuberance.
Trying to keep her breathing steady, Elide hooked her fingers in the small crack in the wall, making it just barely not level, and tried to pry it open. She pulled out first, as that seemed the easiest way it would open. She also dug her fingers in both ways, not knowing which side of the crack would reveal an opening.
Elide frowned as nothing budged, then tried pushing.
No luck.
She turned and felt around the wall for a light switch, finally finding one a little ways down the hall. The narrow corridor, a place Elide knew to be quite a few rooms away from where Rowan and Uncle Orlon currently were, was illuminated dimly. Most of the house had updated appliances and light fixtures, contradicting the old style, but some of the unused sections of the house, such as this one, revealed flickering, yellow bulbs and peeling wallpaper.
Elide scanned the hall, but she couldn’t locate the crack. She ran her hand back over the wall and found it, then tried locating it with her eyes once more. Knowing where it was allowed Elide to just barely focus on the minuscule imperfection.
Brow furrowing in concentration Elide dug her fingernails deeper into the gap and started tugging.
Minutes passed. Too many. Elide yanked on the crack both ways, then shoved her body into the hall, trying to force it open. She knocked and pounded. She scowled and huffed. Nothing happened.
Elide decided she was behaving like a madwoman and the crack in the wall was just a crack in the wall. She pulled one more time with all her body strength, in one last desperate effort before she gave up. Just as Elide was deciding to let go, her fingers slipped and the momentum sent her tumbling onto the floor with a yelp.
Something clicked. Elide groaned and looked over to see what had caused the noise. She was splayed across the wooden boards in a position she had absolutely no clue as to how she arrived in. Elide found her elbow against the baseboard. A small rectangular section of the dusty, white baseboard was now pushed in. Like a button.
Elide sat up as her eyes widened. Her elbow, removed from its spot, wasn’t touching it anymore and it had fallen back into place, seamlessly fitting into the rest of the board. A victorious glee flowed through Elide’s blood as she brought her hand to the spot and pushed it in again.
Another click. This one louder, as the mechanism unlatched.
The wall folded in silently and smoothly, leaving a small gap in the wall.
Elide scrambled to her feet and pushed the door-shaped bit of wall open farther. She pressed her toes against the baseboard experimentally, marveling at how easy it would be to lightly kick it on the way out, not even having to bend over to open the door. To someone unsure of the presence of a door, it would be nearly impossible to find, but to someone rushing down the hall with an exact location in mind, it would be so easy to leave.
And to come inside.
The black space suddenly assaulted Elide with the knowledge that someone had left through there after attacking Rowan. That they could still be inside.
Elide stepped away from the inky unknown, pulling the door back closed. Her breathing was heavy and afraid.
“Elide!” she faintly heard someone call. It sounded like Aelin.
Elide swallowed and spun around, headed back to the others.
—
Fleetfoot was not happy.
Not only had she been trapped in the room while Aelin got to go investigate the noise, she had not been allowed to lick the blood off of Rowan’s head either—out of pure concern, of course. And on top of all this unfairness, now no one was listening to Fleetfoot as she barked, announcing the presence of a piece of black fabric caught on a nail close to the floor.
Humans were so clueless.
—
The interrogation was not fun for Aelin. Well, perhaps she was being dramatic in calling it an interrogation. But she didn’t enjoy being questioned when she had so many questions herself.
The police officer taking her statement was quite fed up with her by the end. Aelin had received several glares at her snarky responses and half-answers. In truth, there was a dangerous, raging fire in her veins, livid and ready to set the world to flames.
And burn whoever had attacked Rowan to ash.
Not specifically because she cared what happened to Rowan, but because she didn’t approve of someone breaking into her house, destroying her property, and possibly being the same person who was “haunting” them and driving her uncle to madness.
It definitely had nothing to do with Rowan.
Speaking of Rowan, he had been taken to the hospital almost immediately after the cops had shown up, despite his many, profuse complaints. In spite of the brave act, he’d been woozy enough by the end of it that he hadn’t made a single comment about how unnecessary the ambulance was.
Elide had reassured everybody with the guess that it was just a concussion, which should be easy to treat. Lorcan had certainly been glad to hear it—Rowan was his best friend, after all.
Everyone had responded to the police’s questions with the unsaid agreement not to mention the ghost of the manor. Even if the cops believed it, though they certainly wouldn’t, there wasn’t anything they could do quite yet. The staff—Emrys, Malakai, and Luca—had been called up from their cottage on the grounds with a police escort, just it case. None of them had been asked nearly as many things, having been unaware of the entire incident. Only Malakai, taking out the compost, had been questioned nearly as much as them; he hadn’t seen anything, and the police quickly lost interest.
And Elide… Aelin knew her best friend better than anyone else in the world, and she would be a fool not to notice something was wrong. She’d been worried about Elide’s safety when the petite girl had announced she was going to look around by herself, but Aelin had known better than to argue with that obstinate look in her eyes. And now she was acting shifty and her gaze kept flicking back to the hallway the intruder had run down. Aelin had received only a curt ‘later’ when she asked Elide what she’d found.
Which meant one of the gang was out of action and another was withholding information from her. Great. Like Aelin could possibly feel any more useless.
The officers left after a long inspection and a promise to follow some leads, whatever the hell that meant. Rowan was long gone, and all they knew was that they would be contacted with any important information when the time came, again leaving much to the imagination. The house was left empty once more, aside from the periodic barking of Fleetfoot.
Emrys, Malakai, and Luca all offered to stay with the remaining family and guests for the night, but their cottage seemed the safer place to be and Aelin and Elide sent them back. Uncle Orlon was tired enough that he didn’t much protest when the girls moved him across the hall from their own room and next to Lorcan’s. They’d also stuck Fleetfoot, who eventually settled down and stopped barking, in with him as a precaution.
Elide disappeared into Lorcan’s room as soon as she had a chance, and Aelin could only watch in disbelief as the brunette tugged the man into his room and firmly shut the door on her.
What the fuck was going on in this bloody mansion?
Aelin was probably expected to go back to sleep. As if there was any chance of that happening. Instead of heading back to her room alone, Aelin started down the hallway.
An hour passed.
In that time, Aelin learned three things about herself.
1. She did not know how to look for intruders.
2. She did not know how to look for ghosts.
3. She needed a nap.
Just when Aelin was heading back to her room, intent on pushing all worries aside and crashing on the bed, a knock sounded on the door.
Frowning, Aelin turned. She was in the foyer, having recklessly searched the house for clues of some sort and coming up with zilch. They were supposed to receive a call for updates on Rowan and not nearly enough time had passed for the police to be back.
Cautiously, she padded down the thick carpet and went to the front door. A small amount of light was shining in through the stained glass panes on either side of the door, as morning was just arriving. Aelin peeked through one window and squinted as she tried to make out the figure, distorted by the stained glass.
As soon as Aelin realized who was impatiently standing outside the door, she cursed out loud.
Aelin flipped the locks and yanked the door open, glowering at the man outside.
He scowled right back at her, taking in her ragged appearance and surprised face. “I hope you didn’t forget I was coming,” Darrow uttered stiffly.
—
“It’s not your fault,” Lorcan said.
Elide shook her head. “I knew someone was creeping around. I knew someone could have gotten hurt.”
“So did I,” Lorcan countered.
“And I told you not to tell anybody.”
Lorcan sighed. “Look, you want to feel bad about this? Fine. It’s all your fault. Rowan’s in the hospital because of you. You’re a threat to society.” Elide blinked. “But that’s not really important right now. Stop moping and start thinking, woman. What the fuck is going on?”
Elide, gaping, opened her mouth, but no sound came out. A moment passed, then she said, “I guess we should check out the secret door again, both of us this time.”
“I guess we should,” Lorcan replied.
Elide nodded, seeming to regain some of her confidence. Lorcan sent up a quick prayer of relief that she was back on the job.
She led Lorcan to the area Rowan had been attacked, then past it, down another hallway. He followed with baited breath, on edge after the intruder’s attack. Gods forbid he have Elide take him back here only for her to get injured, so he kept himself ready to jump in front of her at a moment’s notice. Lorcan knew she wouldn’t appreciate it, but keeping her alive was the least he could do. For Aelin’s sake, of course.
Elide paused. “It’s somewhere over here.” She extracted her notepad and consulted the pages. Apparently the door was so hard to find she couldn’t even remember where it was an hour after finding it.
“Here,” Elide eventually whispered, so quietly Lorcan wasn’t sure if it was meant for him. She delicately kicked a bit of baseboard and Lorcan went slack-jawed as a portion of the wall swung open.
“Damn…”
Elide murmured her agreement. “Should we… go inside?”
Lorcan hesitated. “Probably, yeah.”
Elide nodded, but made no move forward. Lorcan stayed put as well.
“Do you think he’s still…” Elide trailed off.
“Let’s check another time,” Lorcan suggested. “We don’t have to do this right now.”
Elide swallowed, and to Lorcan’s surprise, squared her shoulders and lifted her head. “No. I wouldn’t let anyone else get hurt. I need to look.”
With that, she stepped into the darkness. Lorcan quickly stepped inside as well, never one to be called a coward. He stepped too far and ran into Elide, already swallowed by darkness.
“Sorry,” Lorcan muttered. “You wouldn’t happen to have a flashlight, would you?”
He heard Elide release a breath that sounded awfully like a laugh. She made a faint rummaging sound and pulled out… a flashlight from not even the gods knew where. He could suddenly see as the click illuminated a musty corridor following the wall on either side, narrow enough he would probably have to walk sideways.
Lorcan shot Elide a glance. “If we get lost in the woods one of these days and you pull out a tent, fire-starter, and fourteen-day food kit, I’m not going to be surprised.”
She grinned. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Lorcan shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips. “Lead the way, Indian Jones.”
Lorcan was pretty sure he wasn’t imagining the faint blush gracing her face as she muttered a reply and turned around. He smirked as he started after her.
The corridor led in two directions, and the one they chose led them quite a ways down, then they reached another bypass. “Which way?” Lorcan whispered, both of them under the silent agreement not to be noisy.
“Neither. Look right here,” Elide replied.
Lorcan looked at what she way tracing with her fingers. She directed the flashlight on it and suddenly Lorcan could make out the frame of a door. “Another entrance.”
“Yeah,” Elide said. “How do you think we open it?”
Lorcan shook his head, even though he was behind Elide and she couldn’t see the motion. “How was the other one opened from this side?”
“That’s the thing, I don’t know,” said Elide. “That’s why I left the door back there open. But it doesn’t matter.”
“It doesn’t?”
She didn’t respond for a moment, lost in thought. Then she said, “I’ve been counting our steps and keeping track of the turns. We’re just outside the living room now.”
“Which one?” Lorcan asked drily.
“The one we were sitting in last night,” Elide returned, ignoring the jab. “We don’t need to spend time trying to open the door. We can just go back out and open it from the outside, since we know how to do that.”
They decided to go back out and try it, still finding no way to get the door open from this side. Lorcan was handed the flashlight as it was too cramped to switch positions, and he led the way back down, his broad shoulders forcing him to walk sideways.
All sorts of ugly scenarios raced through Lorcan’s mind as they walked, much to his embarrassment. Perhaps they would pass the door somehow and be lost in the tunnels forever. Or maybe the “ghost” was waiting for them. Or they could find the door, but it would be closed and they wouldn’t know how to open it.
Despite his concerns, they found their way back quickly enough, and the opening was still there. Lorcan exited a bit more quickly than necessary, and decided to ignore Elide’s look at the movement.
They shut the door behind them and dusted themselves off, covered in all sorts of cobwebs and woodshavings from the unfinished walls.
“Ready to check out the other entrance?”
Elide shook her head, surprising Lorcan. “No.”
“Because…?”
“Because I changed my mind.” Elide looked at him. “We can do this all day, finding the doors, mapping them, figuring out where this thing goes. But what good will it do us? We need something more concrete than finding secret entrances in places we would expect to.”
Lorcan’s first thought was that she was just scared and unwilling to go back inside, but as he thought about it, he realized Elide was right. As much as something needed to be done about the tunnels, they were in no position to be the ones to do it, and having the knowledge of where each door was did nothing for them. They needed something more to exert themselves on.
“Then let’s go back to my room and talk it out some more,” Lorcan said.
“Talk about what, exactly?” Elide retorted, and Lorcan got the sense she was losing her self-confidence all over again.
“Well, about what’s going on on the first floor, for starters.”
Elide frowned. “The first floor?”
Lorcan smirked, pleased to have figured out something Miss Know-It-All hadn’t. “The floor plan was missing for the first floor even though these tunnels are on the second. And they’re too thin to show up on the plan. Something else is down there.”
Elide frowned, probably trying to think of all the reasons he could be wrong, then her face blanched. “Gods.”
Lorcan crossed his arms. “We couldn’t make out where the entrances were on the floor plan because they all blend seamlessly to the rest of the wall; we could only make out the general space in the walls. But the first floor was missing, and as you said, there was no other reason for it to be gone. So why was it taken?”
Elide eyed him sideways.
“What?” he asked gruffly, caught off guard by the assessing look she sent his way.
Elide just tilted her head. “You’re smarter than you look.”
Lorcan frowned, ignoring the compliment. “I don’t look smart to you?”
“No,” Elide replied bluntly.
Lorcan opened his mouth to respond, but before he could he was cut off.
By a blood-curdling scream.
———
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@whoever-you-choose-to-love
@yesdreamblog
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The Usual
Bucky Barnes x reader
Hi hi hello, this is the second time I’ve written for the super soldier so bare with me please haha
It’s lovely based on love story by Taylor swift (cliched I know I know) but doesn’t have the same ending! Take from that what u will hehe
Part 2
Feedback always welcome!
Warnings: angst, swearing.. think that’s it?
You’re the only one who can make him laugh when he feels like this. That’s why you found him driving to your house in the middle of the night, 1 AM to be exact, again. After all, what are best friends for?
And that was the extent of your relationship. Or at least, that’s what Bucky thought. You’d been pushing down new feelings for almost a year now. And Katie had been in Bucky’s life for 7, going on 8 months. The longest 7 months of your life.
Bucky and Katie’s relationship wasn’t exactly, for lack of a better word, the best. She doesn’t know his story. Not like you do. So she doesn’t understand him. When he gets low, she cant understand. She nags him, moans and whines at him, goes a round about way of saying he isn’t good enough for her. But he persists. You’re pretty sure it comes from a place of insecurity. Like he stays because he doesn’t think he’ll ever find someone else. It boils your blood.
He deserves more. He deserves Better.
You would be so much better to him. You understood him. You wanted to know how his day went, know how to help him get better, have his arms around you falling asleep, reminding him how beautiful he is, even with his arm, knowing his insecurities about it. But, becoming intimate like that increases the risk of losing him.
And he loves her.
You hated to admit it, but you were in love with that god damn, eyes of ocean blue, super soldier. And you could do fuck all about it.
So here he was, pacing your apartment floor, cursing and hissing about Katie.
His clothes were kinda wet, the rain pounding the pavements outside as he ran from the parking lot to your building. You’re hardly paying attention to what the argument was until you hear;
“yeah she told me she wants me to wear a long sleeve jumper or some shit to hide my arm-“ your head snapped towards him. He was looking down, shoved his hands in his jean pockets as his pace around the room slowed, self doubt etching all over his movements. You were livid, your face contorted into anger as he continued;
“and yeah, like I get it.. but she could be a little more fucken sensitive about it” he shrugged, looking at you. His eyebrows were knitted in anger, but his eyes told a story of hurt. The blue glistening when his eyes darted to you.
“Buck-“ you started, trying to push your anger down to an acceptable level as he awkwardly scratched the scruff on his face, cutting you off “I just don’t know anymore” he sighs, throwing himself on the sofa next to you.
He ran his hands through his hair, ruffling it a little before dragging them down his face, your eyes watching his every move, wishing you could wrap your arms around him and take all his sorrow away.
You could easily go off your head right now, cursing and swearing Katie but in what way is that going to help Buck? He didn’t need the added stress and pressure, and its not like you’ve not tried that method before. You were there to listen to him, make him laugh and forget. You knew that’s why he needed you. But it was wearing you down.
You sighed, your arm going over to massage the muscles on his back slightly. The damp t-shirt stuck to his skin, showing you the strength, and worry, plus anxiety, that he carried. His back stiff and knotted.
“tell me about your day buck, before all this happened tonight”. He looked up at you and sighed deeply. You turned up the corner of your lip in a half, sympathetic smile. Your eyes telling how sorry you were for him.
He licked the inside of his lip, before biting it lightly as his eyes returned to the floor in front of him, his mind else where. Your breath hitched slightly.
Stop biting your lip and start biting mine.
Your mind raced, watching his every move. He didn’t want to talk about anything apart from his issue at hand, and all you could think about was the scratch marks you wish you could leave on his back.
You rose from the sofa, the blanket falling from you frame. “well, if you don’t wanna talk, then we’re gonna drink” you raised your eyebrows with a tight lipped smile as you plodded to the kitchen.
Bucky huffed out a little laugh. “that’s my girl” he said, watching you walk into the other room.
That’s my girl? That’s my- is this motherfucker really playing this game tonight?
You thought as your cheeks heated up and the words swirled in your mind. Maybe you could convince him to stay? After a few drinks you could tell him what you really thought of Katie, and how she wasn’t good for him.
Whiskey opened up everyone’s minds. And mouths. And the things you would do to have that mouth on your skin.
You bit your lip a little, pouring the glasses. Thinking this was perfect. Might even end in a cuddle? Or something else..?
Christ you hadn’t even had a drink yet and this was your thoughts?
Your best friend is going through a rough time, pull yourself together.
Still, might be worth a shot.
After bigging yourself up in the kitchen for a minute, you returned to the living room, whiskey in hand.
You stopped when you walked in the room. Bucky was up again, pacing. One hand in his back pocket, the other raised to his ear with phone in hand.
“yeah, okay baby, I’ll see you soon”
Did he just call her baby?
Your eyes widened, eyebrows knitted. He was really going to run back to her. Again.
You shouldn’t be surprised, or disappointed. But your both.
He hangs up, his head turning and eyes meeting yours. he goes to say something but it escapes him and he shrugs. His eyes are glistening.
“she says she wants to talk it out…” he starts to put his jacket on, his gaze not leaving yours. You give a tiny nod, your lips closed and eyebrows raised slightly before putting the two glasses down on the coffee table.
You felt sheepish. You rubbed your arm a little, heading towards the door in silence.
Bucky knew you’d be a little pissed at him, which he assumed why you were acting like this.
He followed you to the door, also acting a little sheepish. “I… I can’t lose her…” he tries to reason. You just nod again, eyes looking in his and then away slowly.
“I’m sorry..” he says, hugging you a little. You don’t reciprocate. His body on yours burns. Because it’s one you’ll never be good enough for. And it’s a horrible reminder when he pulls his phone out before leaving and you catch a glimpse of his lock screen. A picture of Katie, laughing as she lies on the couch, below him. You cut off the sigh that almost escaped your lips. You just felt a little used.
“night buck..” you said, closing the door, trying to get away from him as quick as possible, but he held the door open.
“hey, thanks for letting me come over… sorry for being a pain…” his voice was pleading, and his eyes claimed sorry. It made you feel bad.
“it’s fine.. I’ll see you Monday… good luck with.. her” you smiled, or tried to, closing the door before he could speak again. back into your empty, lonely apartment.
Well fuck.
#bucky barnes x reader#bucky barnes x y/n#bucky x reader#bucky Barnes#winter soldier#marvel#sebastian stan#bucky barnes x you#fatws bucky#angst
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Prima Vista Part VII
[ previous ]
Rating: E (explicit; mdni)
Warnings: dramatics, gaslighting, pining pining pining, drinking, attempted drugging, blacking out, vomiting, Nile and Hitch hook up, did I mention pining, one Greek word (thank you again, @cynnyc .)
It’s nearly ten PM as you climb the steps to the PKA house. The brisk October air makes you pull your jacket tighter around yourself and move toward the door faster. You probably should’ve texted your target first, checked to see if he’s even here, but you’re not about to stand outside and wait for a reply, not when you can just knock and ask a living soul.
It’s Reiner who answers, looking extremely tired with dark circles under his eyes. You idly wonder if he and the other new kids are being kept awake as another stupid fucking hazing ritual, but you don’t really have the time for small talk.
“Erwin here?”
The blond nods and steps out of the way. “His room. Might already be asleep.”
Shrugging, you walk inside, mumbling, “Just gonna have to wake his ass up then.”
Which you do, climbing up to the third story after Reiner tells you which room he’s in now. You knock on the door a couple times and almost feel bad when Erwin answers, clearly rumpled in pajama pants and bedhead.
He squints at you, and you snort. “Sleep before ten? You some kinda nerd or somethin’?”
“What do you want?” He gruffs, voice a little scratchy.
You can see part of the room behind him, looks pretty similar to the one from last year. That had been the only time you’d really gotten a close look into his space, and it had not ended well. You hope this time will be different.
“I needed to talk to you about something.”
Erwin scrubs a hand down his face then rests his head against his doorframe. “I’ll take a wild guess and say this is about Mike.”
You push your lips out in a pout and respond, “Maybe.”
He lets you into his room, catches you off guard when he asks, “Door open or closed?”
“Depends. You gonna come onto me again?”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “I learned my lesson last time.”
“You can shut it then.”
Taking up the chair at his desk, you watch as Erwin just crawls back under his covers and fixes cerulean eyes on you.
“Why haven’t you been talking to him?”
Something in your stomach flips, eyes growing as you splutter, “I haven’t been talking to him? He hasn’t been talking to me!”
Erwin frowns. “What? He’s been bitching to me incessantly.”
“And, I’ve been bitching to Hitch incessantly.”
Groaning into his pillow, Erwin holds out his hand, and you hear a muffled command, “Give me your phone.”
You do without hesitation, rattle off the passcode then sit and wait as Erwin scrolls through what you assume to be your settings or contacts. The thought that you should be a little scared crosses your mind—you do have some compromising photos in an unlocked folder—but judging by Erwin’s current mood, he doesn’t seem interested in anything except sleeping.
“That motherfucker,” he grunts.
“What?”
“You blocked his number.”
“What?” This time is much louder and panicked. “No, I didn’t! I swear I didn’t.”
He tosses you the device back and gestures in a ‘see for yourself’ manner. “Someone did.”
Your blood begins to boil as you stare down at your short list of blocked contacts, Mike’s name right on top.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” You quickly tap to remedy the problem, hands beginning to shake. “I don’t even know how—”
“My money’s on the shitty boyfriend,” Erwin mumbles.
You want to text Mike, but you have no idea what to say. Sorry we haven’t talked in over a month. Zeke figured out my phone password and blocked your number haha. You doubt that would fly.
If you had just come to Erwin sooner, most of this could have been avoided. You don’t know if you’re more upset at Zeke or at yourself.
Zeke. Definitely Zeke. That is some wildly possessive behavior. That’s isolation. The idea makes you nauseous. This is just another instance of him showing what you believe to be his true self. Between all the fighting and grudges, you’re at your wit’s end. Just the other day, the two of you had gotten into yet another argument when you happened to get a glance at the Tinder icon in his app list.
“Why do you still have that?” You’d asked with a frown. You really hadn’t planned on it turning into an ordeal.
“Have what?”
“Tinder.”
“What are you talking about?”
Then, right in front of your eyes, he had deleted the app. You saw it, but that didn’t stop Zeke from looking at you with a straight face and telling you, “I think you’re just confused, babe.”
That’s when it turned into an ordeal. That’s when you got defensive and incredulous. That’s when he just kept telling you that you were wrong, that you were just seeing things, and after a good thirty minutes once you were nice and high strung, he actually had you halfway convinced.
Because he always sounds so sure of himself, always makes it so that his word is law. You had doubted yourself—you’re still doubting yourself.
“Jesus, I can’t believe this,” you breathe, leaning back in the rolling chair and staring up at the ceiling. You can believe it, actually, you just hadn’t expected him to sink that low. “What do I even say to Mike?”
Erwin finally pushes himself into a sitting position and stretches. Seems like he’s just resigning himself to being awake. “Whatever it is, you should probably talk it out in person.”
“Probably.”
“Might be a little difficult now, though.”
Heaving a sigh, you mutter, “Yeah, I assume he's pretty pissed at me.”
Erwin hums, but his voice comes out a little unsure when he says, “Well, that, but also…”
You're suddenly sitting straight up. “Also what?”
Making a face, the man across from you enlightens you to the fact that, “Mike is kind of seeing someone. I think.”
You blink at him, trying to process what he’s telling you. Mike is… With someone? You feel sick.
But, you shouldn’t because he’s allowed to branch out. You surely did, and you hurt him in the process.
“It, uh… It gets worse.”
Swallowing, you try to hide the lump in your throat when you rasp, “How?”
Don’t cry. Do not cry. You have no right to cry.
“I’m about ninety-nine percent positive it’s Zeke’s ex.”
Every muscle in your face suddenly relaxes, but it isn’t in a good way. Instead of frowning, your brow softens into its normal position. You release the tension in your jaw, the teeth that were just clenched falling away from each other as your lips part. Erwin moves in and out of focus as your gaze becomes blurry, hot tears gathering at your waterline, and now you don’t even try to stop them from falling.
Fucking Rhi. She had been nothing more than an annoyance before, a peppy little annoyance trying to grab your boyfriend’s attention. But, now… Now, you’re ready to fight. Parking lot brawl, throwing fists and pulling hair, and screeching—you want to destroy her.
“Oh.” You sniffle then wipe your nose with the back of your hand. “That’s good. I mean—” a quiet cough, “—that’s good for him. I’m glad.”
Erwin snorts. “No, you’re not,” his volume rises a bit. “So, don’t pretend like you are. God, why are you guys so bad at this?”
You let out a humorless laugh and shrug. “‘Cause I have shitty timing, I guess.” You bite your lip and look back to the ceiling, trying not to weep too openly, but your lungs are burning, preventing you from breathing, and your heart is bruising your ribcage, and you think your bones just might shatter inside of your chest.
There’s a rustling on the bed, and when you look back at Erwin, you find him laying down again but holding the blankets up in front of him.
“Come on.”
“W-what? Erwin, that is literally the last thing we—”
“I’m not trying to fuck,” he says, eyes heavy as he stares at you. “You need to relax, and I need to sleep, so just come on."
You consider for a while, looking from Erwin to the mattress. You’re really not that close, would barely even call him your friend, but you did come to him tonight. You had chosen to confide in him. He makes some pretty questionable decisions sometimes, but you still believe that ultimately he’s a good person.
“Fine, but put a shirt on.”
“Then, grab one. Second drawer. Make sure it’s soft.”
You roll your eyes but do as you're told, running your hands over a few t-shirts until you find one that he should be pleased enough with. He tugs it on then collapses back on the bed, and you kick your shoes off then slip out of your jacket and under the covers.
You’re facing him, trying to keep a few inches between yourself and his chest, but as you think about the position you’re in—why you’re in it, the tears start flowing freely again, and you’re holding back little whimpers, shoulders shaking at the effort. Erwin breathes in deeply then uses the arm he isn’t laying on to pull you to him, shushing you as he rubs the space between your shoulder blades with a warm hand.
“We’ll get it sorted out,” he promises, voice quiet as he starts to doze.
It’s not how you expected to end the night, but you suppose there are worse ways.
*
Mike learns a lot of information in a very short amount of time. Nile meets him outside of the fitness center to give him the scoop, trying to look casual as he walks, but Mike can tell he's nervous.
He starts by asking if Mike has talked to you at all recently, and no, he has not. So, Nile tells him that you broke things off with Zeke and apparently it got messy.
"Something about him being a manipulative bastard," Nile waves a hand.
"Doesn’t surprise me. Took her long enough."
You've been hanging around the Pike house again, sometimes by yourself and sometimes with Hitch—"Who's really fucking cute, by the way." Obviously Nile and Marie are in the 'off' portion of their relationship cycle. "And, you would know all this if you would just start coming around again. It's stupid to pay dues and not actually engage with the frat, dude."
"I've just been busy with school," Mike tells him. It's only a half lie. His senior courses are kind of kicking his ass, but he's also been busying himself with Rhi who is… tolerable.
"Whatever. Halloween party is in, like, a week. If you don't show up, I'm gonna be real pissed."
"I'll be there, Nile."
"Okay, then lemme prepare you for one more thing."
Mike stops walking and looks at the smaller man who inhales deeply then blows air out through his teeth.
"So, uh, she's hanging around again, right? And, you're not there, so it seems like she's sort of, uh, latched onto…" He makes a face, and Mike leans back.
"Don't fucking tell me."
Nile cringes. "Yeah. I don't think they're fucking or anything. I haven't heard them in his room like I used to hear the two of you."
"She goes into his room?" Mike has to flex his hand by his side, but the brick wall of the library they've stopped in front of is looking mighty nice. Break a few bones, bleed a little, it'll feel good.
"Yeah, but, like, they're nowhere near as close as you and her."
"How close we used to be. It's been so fucking long since we've even talked, dude. And, any time I try to catch her on campus, the dickbag is with her—"
"Well, at least you don't have to worry about that anymore."
"Yeah, now I just have to worry about her fucking my best friend. Fuck, she just—" Mike growls in his throat, contemplates turning to go back to the gym because he needs to get this energy out somehow. "She drives me fucking crazy."
"Yeah, I know, man. I just didn't want you to be surprised at the party when you see 'em all buddy-buddy."
"I'm gonna punch him," Mike states. "Just lay him out in front of everyone."
"Please don't," Nile sounds genuinely worried. "Maybe use the party as a way to, I don't know, talk to your girl? Like an adult?"
"Obviously not my girl, and I've been screwing around with Rhi anyway. Maybe it's just time we went our separate ways or whatever."
It physically hurts to even suggest, but he's trying to put on a brave face for his friend—act annoyed rather than fucking crushed, but god, he is aching. His stomach has opened up into nothing, his chest feels void of everything that was once inside, and he knows he's being dramatic, but fuck fuck fuck, first Zeke and now Erwin? What is it that Mike doesn't have? What can't he provide you with that they can? Just tell him, and he'll fucking fix it.
"Yeah, I think we both know that's not gonna happen. Plus, you do realize Rhi is probably just using you to make Zeke jealous."
"I'm not fucking stupid, Nile, of course I know that." But, Mike is really tired of his love life revolving around that asshole, like he has to wait for Zeke to call all the shots. "I'm using her as much as she's using me, so—"
"As a distraction?"
Mike lets his head loll to the side, peering down at Nile from the corner of his eyes. "What do you think?"
The other man gives him a light punch to the shoulder and once again suggests, "Talk things out. Just pull her aside at the party."
It's easier said than done. When Halloween rolls around, it's a little insane. It's too big and too loud with a flashing strobe that hurts Mike’s eyes. There are all sorts of costumes, making it hard to recognize anyone. The jungle juice is a mystery, one Mike doesn't plan on touching but that many people will. He has a feeling that more than a few party-goers are gonna end up sick, probably passing out in various locations of the house.
Mike has opted for an easy costume, the tacky tourist complete with his pink Hawaiian shirt, a straw hat, sunglasses, and a fanny pack. It's so awful, it actually made him laugh, but Rhi, clad in a spandex tiger suit, is not nearly as amused. She probably wanted him to go the sexy cop route or something equally as cringey, but Mike just doesn't have it in him tonight.
Nile is a shirtless cowboy, Hitch is a Catholic schoolgirl, Gelgar is Freddy Krueger with a pompadour, Reiner is a werewolf, the list goes on and on. Sexy, bloody nurses, superheroes, Harry Potter, and so on.
When his eyes land on you for the first time that night, Mike comes close to drooling his drink. Lola Bunny in her skimpy basketball uniform and a rabbit ear headband. Your face is painted, and you're carrying around one of those foam balls kids use to dunk into Fisher Price hoops, and he has no doubt the prop will be lost by the end of the party.
Mike thinks back to Spring Break, to you wincing at his movie choice then trying to sleep through it. You had woken up to him flipping through the photo album, then chose to finally open up to him.
So, why this costume? Why "torture" yourself like this?
And, speaking of torture, you're sticking to Erwin just like Nile said you would. The blond is in a tailored suit, his face painted like a skull. It's both classy and creepy, and Mike hates him for it. In fact, it calls for another drink.
Rhi finds him in the kitchen after making her rounds, taking up her former place on Mike's arm as he uses the counter to pop the lid off a fresh bottle. They watch the game of beer pong playing out in front of them, but Rhi doesn't seem content to just sit.
She has to stand on her tip-toes and shout into his ear, "Wanna walk around some?"
No. He really doesn't, but he can placate her, especially if it means getting laid later tonight.
They trek back to the main room, observing the debauchery taking place. People are grinding and stripping to Monster Mash. Several couples are spread out in the chairs or up against the wall getting pretty close to full on exhibitionism.
They stop to talk to "Officer" Marie for a while then move on to Nile and Hitch to whom Rhi spills everything she just heard from the busty redhead. They joke with Gelgar and his catch of the day, some of the pledges—Jean, Reiner, and Eren—who are just trying to survive, and then at last… you and Erwin.
Mike sees the way your chest rises with a deep breath, how your fingers tighten around the little basketball. Your eyes flit from Rhi to Mike, flashing when Rhi greets you.
Oh, you don't like her.
"Love the costume," she tells you. "Who are you supposed to be again?"
Mike chokes on his drink, and you suck your teeth before replying, "Lola Bunny. The Loony Toon."
"Oh, is that, like, Bugs Bunny's girlfriend?"
"Kind of?" You try.
Rhi looks to Erwin who visibly cringes when she asks, "Why aren't you dressed as Bugs then?"
Mike wants to turn around, to put as much distance between all of you as possible.
Erwin clears his throat. "Because that would be a couple's costume, and we're not…"
Mike knows his expression is skeptical, cold even, and when he settles it on you, you give him a little shake of your head that he doesn't really believe.
"Oh, alright," Rhi concedes only to chime, "'Cause I heard—"
"Wrong," Erwin cuts her off. "You heard wrong, Rhi." A hard, blue stare lands on Mike, unforgiving when he tells him, "I think it's time you two talked."
"I don't think that's really—"
"Oh, fuck," your swear gets everyone's attention, and Mike takes in the shock written all over your face then follows your line of sight to the entry way where Zeke god damn Jaeger is making his way through the crowd.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Erwin spits.
"You and Nile decided this should be an open party, dumbass," Mike reminds him with a roll of his eyes.
"Oh, so we're name-calling now? Jesus Mike, grow up. You're just assuming shit!" As he rants, Erwin takes hold of one of your arms and pulls you behind him, snatching the furry headband from you so the ears don't stick out.
For a split second, Mike thinks he's trying to protect you from him, but then he nods to bring Mike's attention to the approaching figure behind him, and Mike understands.
He turns his body to face Zeke who's walking over, fragmented by the strobe, his icy eyes piercing straight through his glasses. Mike, despite his anger toward you, feels the primal urge to protect you.
"The fuck do you want, Jaeger?"
"Woah, calm down, bud. Just looking for a brat—about yea high, spreads her legs for any athlete she comes in contact with. You guys seen her?"
Mike steps toward him, but he's stopped by a hand that fists in the back of his shirt.
"Ah, there she is," Zeke smirks, and Mike looks over his shoulder to see you now in front of Erwin with your fingers clutching the pink material across his back.
"He's not worth it, Mike."
Mike thinks he is, though. He feels like he keeps getting whiplash, going back and forth between who he wants to hit at any given moment because it seems to change by the second.
He's just been so incredibly frustrated for the past few months. Lacrosse doesn't help, and the gym doesn't help, and fucking Rhi doesn't help. Mike has just been stewing, letting everything fester during the radio silence between the two of you. He's mad at so many people including himself, and all he wants to do is shove his way out of this stupid fucking party and take off his stupid fucking fanny pack and be alone in his apartment under his dumb fairy lights.
He shrugs out of your grip, figures the best thing he can do right now is get away from all of you. Zeke stumbles when Mike shoulders into him forcefully. He's not even a little surprised when Rhi doesn't follow him, choosing to vie for Zeke's attention instead.
It doesn't matter. All that matters is that Mike gets another drink in him.
He tries not to watch the way the heated conversation turns out, the way you bow up to Zeke and Erwin has to once again put himself in between you and the other blond. He tries not to smile at the fire in your eyes, that blaze he's seen so many times (usually when you're annoyed at him), and yes, there's that pain again, barely overshadowing Mike's anger.
You yell something at Zeke. He yells back. Erwin feels the need to add his own opinion, but the music is too loud for Mike to be able to make any of it out. Whatever is shouted makes Zeke huff and walk away. Rhi prances after him, and Mike resigns himself to the fact that he probably will not be fucking her after this shit show. He could always find someone else, but that takes effort (not much, but still), and then they usually get clingy afterward, and he just can't be bothered with all that right now. Mike can't be bothered with anything right now.
So he drinks.
He keeps an eye on Zeke who doesn't actually leave the party, and he drinks. He stares at you from across the room, bunny ears back in place, and he drinks. Somewhere between Boom and Beer Pong, he loses the fanny pack, looks down at some point and finds that it's just no longer there. All he had in there was a lighter and a couple condoms, so he isn't too broken up about it, but he does wonder—
Mike isn't sure what makes him look over at the counter where all the different drinks are set out, but he does, and it's just in time to see Eren hunching over the bowl of jungle juice like some shady motherfucker, and when Mike makes his way over, world spinning just a little bit, he sees the younger Jaeger brother emptying a little plastic bag of green pills into the punch.
"What the fu—" Mike has him by the collar before he can even finish his own question, tosses the kid away from the counter so that he actually falls to the floor. It causes a few people to hop out of the way, their drinks sloshing and spilling on the tile. "What the fuck are you doing?"
Eren looks up at Mike with wide, panicked eyes, like he's scared and waiting for someone to save him.
"I—I don't know what you think you saw, man—"
"I know exactly what I saw, you little creep!"
Everyone in the kitchen is looking at the two of them as more people trickle in.
"What even was that? You trying to roofie the whole fucking party or something?"
"No!"
"Just one person, then? That one special girl," Mike hisses.
He walks back to the counter and grabs the large bowl of juice, carrying it over to Eren who's still on the ground. The kid covers his face just in time for Mike to empty the contents over his head, drenching him so that red drips from his hair and trickles down his arms.
"Drink up, bitch," Mike snarls before throwing the bowl so that it bounces off Eren's head.
Naturally, a bigger crowd has gathered, and Nile shoves his way through, shouting over the music, "What is happening?"
Mike leans over to yell in his ear, "Saw him pouring pills into the punch."
"Are you serious?"
Mike nods but steps away when Eren pushes himself off the wet floor and nearly throws himself at Nile.
"I didn't do it! I don't know what the fuck he's talking about!"
Nile arm-bars Mike when he tries to move toward the little twerp, lips pulling back from his teeth because it has been a shitty night. A shitty week. Shitty month. And, now his fury has shifted yet again.
"Did anyone else see it, Mike?" Nile asks.
"Probably not since everyone is fucked up—"
"Including you."
Mike looks over at his friend in genuine surprise because it's starting to sound like Nile doesn't believe him.
"Why the fuck would I lie about something like this?"
"Maybe because he's Zeke's brother," Nile suggests.
Mike is heated. He can feel the blood underneath his skin cooking his god damn insides, frying his brain so that all he can think about is throwing a punch or two (or twenty).
Jaw sliding, Mike shuts his eyes, takes a deep breath to steady himself, to stop his hands from shaking as he tries to figure out when his friends started looking at him as some unhinged freak.
"What are you doing—the fu—dude, stop!"
Opening his eyes again, Mike sees that Gelgar has inserted himself into the situation and has Eren pinned against the counter as he shoves his hands in every one of his pockets. He's growling something at the younger man, keeps shoving his face down against the linoleum any time Eren squirms, and after about a minute of people watching and gasping and making crude remarks about the position the two are in, Gelgar straightens up with a plastic bag identical to the one Mike saw Eren emptying into the jungle juice.
"It's just Adderall, I swear!"
Gelgar scoffs. "This is definitely not Adderall. Believe me, I'd know." He tosses the pills to Nile who takes a long look at them before glaring at Eren.
"Get the fuck out before I call the cops."
He should call them anyway, Mike thinks, but he understands Nile's hesitance. There's a lot going on at the party—underage drinking, party drugs in various rooms, etc. Eren wouldn't be the only one taken into custody if the police showed up.
Another voice rings out, asking the same question everyone else has, "What the hell is going on?" and Mike comes close to hurling the closest bottle at Zeke as he makes his way to his brother. "Why are you…" He gestures nebulously as his eyebrows pull together. Rhi is close behind him, and further still, you and Erwin are peeking into the kitchen.
"They think I drugged the jungle juice!" Eren looks at Zeke with puppy eyes that probably worked when he was a kid, might still work judging by the way the blond whirls around to face Mike and Nile.
"Have any proof, or are you just trying to—"
"Pipe down, Jaeger," Nile cuts him off, holding up the bag and explaining, "Mike saw him dropping these in the punch."
Zeke is silent for a few solid seconds before rounding on his brother again and grabbing him by the shirt right where Mike had previously held him, and everyone watches in rapt attention as he steers Eren through the crowd, shouting at him the entire time.
Having both of them leave is a relief, but Mike is a little disappointed that he didn't get to fight either of them. It would have been nice to feel a nose break under his fist, but he supposed it's better this way.
"Hey, thanks for catching that, dude," Nile says, slapping Mike's back.
It doesn't make him feel good. If anything, it pisses him off. Mike would understand if his friend had been skeptical of one of the pledges or second years making the accusation he had, but Nile is one of his best friends. They were inducted at the same time, were hazed side by side. Mike never would have thought Nile had such a low opinion of him, that he’d believe Mike’s little broken heart would cloud his judgement to the point of slandering someone without cause.
"Whatever," he shrugs before grabbing another drink.
He should just go back home. He isn't having a good time. He's angry at just about everyone he looks at. When Rhi decides he's worth her time again, Mike actually tells her to fuck off. He's lost the accessories to his costume, and he's about to lose his mind.
It's getting late. Mike isn't sure how late because as the night progresses, he gets steadily inebriated. He tries to avoid anyone and everyone in his fraternity, hanging out with people he knows from lacrosse or his classes instead. They play a few drinking games, take body shots off some sorority girls (or maybe it's the same one, he can't tell anymore). The music becomes bearable, and the strobe light stops hurting his head, and eventually, Mike just… forgets.
He forgets about Nile's lack of faith. He forgets about the fuckhead Jaeger brothers. He forgets about you and Erwin walking around and laughing together oh, ha ha we're so close now. He is finally spared from all of his negative thoughts.
Mostly because somewhere between shot number seven and beer number who knows what, Mike pukes into a plant (maybe?) and blacks out.
*
"God dammit. Erwin," you tug on his jacket sleeve and point to the corner that is home to a fake ficus that Mike is currently throwing up in.
Erwin groans, "Oh, Jesus Christ," and starts making his way over with you hot on his heels.
A few people are making faces as they glance at Mike, moving away as he coughs, straightens, then bends over again.
"Mike, come on, buddy," Erwin pats his back, waiting for Mike to pause in his retching so that he can duck under his arm and support him. "Gotta get you to a bathroom."
"No bath," Mike snorts. "No green there, no…"
You take a place on his other side, not that you can help much in getting him down the hall and in one of the downstairs restrooms, but you at least support his other arm and steer him in the right direction.
"Why is he talking about green?" Erwin grumbles as you both lower Mike to the tiled floor in front of the toilet where he promptly pukes again.
"The leaves maybe? I don't know, dude. Just…" You cringe as you notice the way Mike's shaggy hair hangs down into the toilet bowl, subject to all kinds of splash back. "Do you have a hair tie on you?"
"Literally why in the fuck would I have a hair tie on me?" Erwin asks incredulously, and you laugh because a couple weeks ago, he never would have used that word in this context since it's wrong, but the more you spend time with him, the more he picks up on your vernacular, and that really doesn't matter right now because—
"Water," Mike croaks, voice echoing off the ceramic.
"I don't think you'll be able to drink any right this second, man," Erwin tells him, squatting beside him.
Mike shakes his head. "Wanna feel—feel water. Cold."
"He sounds like a fucking caveman," you snicker.
You're really just trying to stay calm, masking the sick feeling in your stomach with amusement, but you've been watching Mike all night as he downed beer after beer, mixing various liquors as he took shots and licked salt off some chick's stomach. You figured he would get sick, but there wasn't really much you could do about it. He had made it pretty clear he isn’t interested in speaking to you. Still, you had purposely remained mostly sober just in case something like this happened (also because you make bad decisions when you get fucked up at frat parties).
"Yeah, he definitely won't remember any of this."
"Waterrr," Mike tries again, and you look at the way his arm is dangling over the side of the tub, the faucet on the opposite side, and glance at Erwin at a loss.
He shrugs, eyes darting around until he sees the plastic cup upside down on the shower rack. He grabs it, turns the water on and fills the cup, then dumps it over Mike's hand.
Mike groans, slowly wriggles his fingers under the stream, and drawls, "Thaaaank."
You shake your head and motion for the cup, talk loud enough to be heard over the faucet, "I can handle this. You go back outside."
"What? No."
"There's no reason both of us have to be in here. He's just gonna puke his guts out for a few hours and then pass out."
Erwin doesn't seem sold on the idea.
"Come on. You've gotta go back. You're vice president or whatever."
"So?"
"Erwin."
He stares at you for a while then deflates. "Fine. Do you have your phone on you?"
"Always." You gesture to the elastic waistband of your shorts, phone pressed to your hip as it hangs on the inside of the material.
"Text me if you need help, alright?"
"You got it, boss."
He leaves just in time for Mike to violently retch into the toilet, one hand clutching the bowl as his spine curves. You fill the cup back up, pour it over his hand once again, and repeat the action over… and over… and over.
His face and hair are gonna be a mess, probably his shirt too which is actually a blessing because you'll finally have a legitimate reason to burn it. Pepto Bismol pink and sketched palm trees stare at you as you sit on the edge of the tub, and all you can think of is the first time you saw Mike wearing the terrible shirt, how that had ended up, how you left with it the following morning.
How had the two of you gone from that to this? Sure, you weren't super fond of him at the beginning of it all, but he grew on you. A lot. He's your best fucking friend. Through the last couple months, through this weird fight you're having, he is your best friend. It's why you're here right now taking care of his drunk ass.
It'll pass. This phase will pass, and you'll make up, and you'll get your chance to be honest with him, to tell him how you feel about him. It may have taken you a little too long to arrive at your destination, so to speak, but better late than never. Soon, you'll both be able to look back on this and laugh.
People knock on the door here and there, and you scream at them to go away, eventually getting tired of it and just clicking the lock into place.
Any time you stop pouring water over his hand, Mike whines and attempts to say something, choppy words that don't make a ton of sense. You wonder if you need to call an ambulance, look for the signs of alcohol poisoning, but he doesn't feel cold, his breathing is even between bouts of vomiting, and his arms aren't curling in that tell-tale way.
More than likely, he just made himself sick. He knows better, too. He's been partying for a long enough time to be well aware of the mixing rules. Beer before liquor and all that shit. He may have just not cared tonight, though. From what Erwin has told you, Mike has just been in a generally bad mood for a while now (and Erwin has not tried to be subtle about why). He's barely around the Pike house anymore, he keeps getting called for personal fouls in lacrosse, and he's sleeping with Rhi which is nobody's business but is also strange considering her history—some kind of mutualistic symbiotic relationship that nobody is a real fan of.
Not my circus, not my monkeys, you think to yourself, emptying another cup from your place on the floor now. The ceramic was starting to hurt your ass, and you know your arm will probably be a little sore tomorrow, or later today since it's nearing three.
Fatigue is beginning to set in, and you know Mike is exhausted because he keeps dozing off on the toilet seat so that you have to nudge him back awake. Until he can speak in mostly coherent sentences, he's not allowed to sleep.
Sitting in the bathroom gives you ample amount of time to think. You go over some mental flashcards for a while, notes you took with the help of Mike's magic textbook. Then you think about going to your mom's for Thanksgiving and how much you aren't looking forward to it. Then you think about Zeke showing up only to have to escort his shady brother from the house. God, you had not been happy to see him. You'd been a little afraid, if you're being honest.
After figuring out that he had, in fact, blocked Mike's number on your phone, you had stomped into his apartment and initiated a screaming match. You got loud, he got louder, called you a stupid bitch and punched a hole in the drywall. You had decided that was a pretty good time to leave, both the apartment and the relationship. He's been lurking on campus around your most frequented spots—the science building, the library, but you've been doing a good job of camouflaging yourself in groups of other students. Even if he can see you, he can't do much about it.
You've thought about reporting him to campus police, but you know nothing will come of it. The golden boy can do no wrong. It's why you've been spending so much time at the PKA house again. You know most of them have your back, and you are absolutely not above asking any of them to walk somewhere with you to fend off your angry ex.
You can't wrap your head around what his fucking deal is. Surely he didn't treat Rhi like this after they split. There's no way she would still be so infatuated with him if he had. Is it just because you're the one who dumped him? He had to have seen it coming once you started putting the pieces together, the way he constantly tried to make you feel guilty, isolating you from your friends, invading the privacy of your phone to not only block Mike but also to turn your fucking location on so he could track you (you had found that out after that first trip back to the frat house to talk with Erwin. It had not been pretty).
It's hard to believe you put up with it for as long as you did. It was only five months, but that's still five months too long.
Mike is quiet for several minutes, and you sigh when you see that his eyes are closed once again. He makes a noise of displeasure when you use your foot to gently shake him, grumbling, "Sto-o-op."
"Nope. Gotta stay awake, Miche. Can't have you fallin' into a coma or something'."
"Nooo. No Miche."
"Yes, Miche," you laugh.
He scrunches his face up, shakes his head, but the motion seems to make him sick again.
When he finishes gagging into the toilet, he lets out a deep, "Gu-uuh," then sniffs. "No Miche. Jus' she—she—...Jus' her."
You can figure out the rest, but you can't decide if you want to smile or cry. Only you can call him that. Well, you and his mom. You miss her. And his dad. And Scout. You hope to see them again.
"Okay. Just Mike then."
He hums in confirmation then shakes his hand in the tub so that you'll douse it once again.
"You're a needy drunk, you know that?"
Mike doesn't respond to that, just takes a few deep breaths as his eyes close yet again.
"Sleep now," he mumbles.
"No, no sleep now."
"Sleep now."
"Oh my fucking god."
His mouth drops open a little, and the first thing you think to do is splash him in the face with the cup of water.
He spits and splutters but doesn't shift much, still wrapped around the toilet. You try not to look inside when you stand and reach to flush what's already gathered, trying to shield some of Mike's face from any flying droplets. Then you wash your hands and sit back down. You figure you'll be here for at least another couple of hours. The sun will be coming up soon. Thank god it's a Saturday.
Both Erwin and Nile knock on the door for an update, and you yell that you're okay. Mike isn't throwing up as often, and when he does, nothing is coming up anymore. He's gonna be in a world of pain when he returns to his normal self.
So fucking stupid. He's so fucking stupid.
He mutters nonsense on and off. Sometimes you can translate what he's trying to say, but other times not so much.
"President… dumb boyyy."
"Hy-poc-risy an' jealous… Hypocrite… I…"
"Hand… wanna hold…" but when you grab it, he just gurgles, "Waterrr."
There's really no pleasing him.
"Why-y-y… dick… Erwin."
"Volcano books… n' space jam… come an' sam… an'... to the jam."
You laugh too loudly, and Mike cringes at the noise, but the corner of his mouth still lifts. You don't think he knows what he's doing or saying yet—isn't downloading any new memories—it doesn't matter because you will remember this for the both of you.
"You're fucking ridiculous."
Mike pushes himself back from the toilet to sit against the wall, hissing and clumsily rubbing his chest. His shirt is wet and disgusting, and he must know on some level because he says, "Shower," and starts pulling himself over the tub.
"Jesus Christ, Mike."
He's too tall, dangling an arm and a leg over the side and sinking lower.
"Water, pleeeease."
He apparently isn't aware of the faucet that is still on. Whoever has to pay these bills… You feel sorry for them.
"No, dude. I am not letting you drown."
Mike fucking giggles, "Lifeguard," then tries to take his shirt off. He doesn't have the motor skills to handle buttons and looks to be confused by them anyway, so his next solution is to just rip the material down the middle.
"Yeah, okay, I guess that works."
The showerhead is turned on, and you sit on the edge of the tub again, shivering when the cool spray blows toward you while keeping an eye on Mike. Reaching over, you turn the temperature up a little, knowing that the alcohol has dropped his body temperature some. You're almost tempted to slide under the water with him, but there's no room, and you're not about to just make yourself comfortable on top of him.
So, you just sit and stare and think about how tired you are. Physically and mentally and spiritually tired. You just need some time to not exist—just a few days. It feels like this semester has been nothing but drama so far, and it is exhausting. Maybe that's why Mike did this to himself. Maybe he just needed to not exist.
He starts to sit up a little in the tub, but his hand falters and sends him sliding back down. "Fuck."
Not caring about getting wet at this point, you simply stand up between his spread legs, the shower drenching you immediately, and grab his hands to tug him upright.
"ευχαριστώ."
"Come again?"
"Means thanks," he mumbles, slumping forward.
You think of his family again, how he and his mother had just fallen into Greek as soon as you'd stepped into the house, leaving you surprised and impressed and warm in several different ways.
Squatting, you tilt your head to catch his half-lidded gaze.
"You back with me yet?" It's been nearly four hours—Fuck, why is there music playing still—but he might need more time.
"Dunno."
"Can you tell who I am?"
Mike does his best to roll his eyes. "'m drunk, not a amnes—amnesic—"
"Amnesiac," you supply with a smirk. Smartass.
"That," he nods, pointing at you with a finger gun.
He can actually understand you now, so that's good, don't have to worry about him dying anymore since he's making progress.
Opening his mouth, Mike catches some water in it, swishes and spits. You expect him to tell you that you can leave. He can take care of himself, doesn't want to see you, all manner of hurtful things he has every reason to feel.
Instead, he blinks at you, extends his arms, and makes grabby hands.
"Can I help you?"
He doesn't say anything, just keeps reaching for you. He could grab you without issue. His fingers are already brushing your knees, but he either doesn't notice or wants to wait for you.
"Mike, I can't get any closer," you laugh.
Switching tactics, he pats his chest.
"Oh, no. I am but about to put myself in the line of vom just 'cause you wanna cuddle or some shit."
Truthfully, you would also like to cuddle, to feel Mike's body against yours again, trace your fingers over his skin and listen to his heartbeat, but…
Not like this.
"Please. No more vom. Promise."
"I don't think you're in a state to make promises like that."
He says your name followed by one more, "Please," and you give in, letting out a long breath and grunting as you find a way to lay between his legs with your head on the lower part of his sternum. You're curled a little awkwardly, one foot up against the ceramic while the other is curled beneath you. It is not by any means a comfortable position, but it's what Mike wants.
A few months ago, laying like this would inevitably lead to other things. Talking and joking would lead to giggling, maybe some well aimed prods to your ribs. You would bite in retaliation, his shoulder or, if the angle was right, his nipple, until he pulled you up further to sit in his lap, hot mouth finding yours, and so on and so forth.
This is different on every possible level. Neither of you are speaking. Your hands are unmoving on each other's bodies. There's no heat save for the water that's pouring down on both of you, plastering your silky costume to your skin.
Still, it's enough to lull you into a drowsy state, the ache in your eyes urging you to close them, but as soon as you do, Mike speaks.
"'m mad at you."
Your stomach drops. His words don't come as a surprise, but they still sting.
"I know," you sigh. "I'm mad at me too."
Your head moves with his chest, a gentle up and down that could—and has—put you to sleep.
"Still love you."
You bite your lip, fingers lightly digging into Mike's warm skin as you remind yourself that he's drunk, and he hates you, and he probably won't remember any of this when he wakes up anyway. There's no reason to get emotional over it. No reason.
"I love you too, Miche."
Silence closes in around you once more. You drift in and out for about half an hour until a loud knock jolts you awake.
You scramble off of Mike and hop to the door, leaving puddles and drops behind you. Both Nile and Erwin look panicked in the hallway, the shorter man nearly shouting, "Is he fucking dead in there?"
"Not deeeead," Mike calls from the tub.
Erwin peers over your shoulder at him, then at you, then takes on a disappointed expression. "You didn't. Come on, he's so drunk."
"What do you—" You frown as you piece together his implication, then squawk and shove Erwin with two wet hands. "I didn't fuck him, you perv! What is wrong with you?"
He chuckles and bats away your hands. "I never know with you two! You can't blame me!"
"You're disgusting."
"Look who's talking. Have you seen yourself in the mirror?" Erwin raises his eyebrows. "Less bunny and more… I don't know, ghoul?"
God, you had completely forgotten about the face paint.
"Shut up, yours isn't much better." His black and white paint is smeared in several places like someone ran their fingers through it. The collar of his shirt is stained, and his hair is tousled. You can't tell if it's the result of getting frisky or falling asleep.
"Stop flirting in front of meeee," Mike whines loudly, sitting up and pushing the shower knob a little too hard to shut the water off.
"We're not—" You and Erwin start at the same time.
Nile interrupts with a drawn out, unconvinced little note and informs both of you, "You guys get a little flirty sometimes. Sorry to break it to you."
You frown at the blond and he frowns back, then you both frown at Nile who shrugs. "I'm just saying. There's a reason people are thinking things."
It's not important, and you'd rather not dwell on it because you know the truth, and Erwin knows the truth, and Mike will if he'll just fucking listen, but he's fucked up right now, so that's a problem for another day.
"Whatever, we'll work on it, but for now…" You watch as Mike tries and fails to pull himself out of the tub.
"He looks like the girl from The Ring," Erwin snorts.
"Yeah, if she was giant. And, a guy," you add.
Wet hair is hanging over Mike's eyes, still sopping wet and dripping. He's all awkward angles as he hoists himself up, kicking a leg over and swearing.
"We should probably help him," Nile says, fighting his own smile.
"Probably."
Between the three of you, you manage to transport Mike from the bathroom to Erwin's room on the third fucking floor which is no easy feat. Nile waits for his friend to be dumped onto the mattress, then announces that Hitch is waiting for him to come back to bed. You don't know how long that will last, but your friend falling into the same frat boy trap you did is mildly hilarious.
It leaves you and Erwin to make Mike comfortable. You wrap his head in a towel you found poking out of the hamper, murmur, "Hope this doesn't have anything gross on it," to which Erwin responds with an unamused look.
You peel the ruined, tacky shirt from Mike’s shoulders and toss it into a corner but you let Erwin take care of the rest. You've seen everything Mike has to offer, but that doesn't stop you from feeling weird about seeing his dick when he can't really stop you. So, like Mike did last year when he spilled water on your shirt, you turn your back to allow him some privacy.
There's some rustling and grunting, but when Erwin tells you it's safe, you look to find Mike in a pair of gym shorts, hair still wrapped, looking more disgruntled than you've ever seen him.
"'m still wet."
"You sure are, big guy," Erwin agrees, slowly guiding him to lay down on his side and explaining, "You need to sleep like this, alright? Otherwise you might choke and die."
"Erwin!" You throw your hands up in the air. "Why would you even—?"
"Know how it works, dumb… butt."
"Oh, dumb butt. That's a good one," Erwin grins. "Very creative."
"Don't panotrize me!"
You have to cover your mouth to keep from cackling, and Erwin shakes his head, corrects, "Patronize, Mike. Patronize."
"That's what I said!"
It takes a while to get him relaxed again. Apparently, Mike's favorite thing to do while drunk is run his mouth to Erwin, so while he's busy dealing with that, you raid Erwin's closet for a shirt and then his dresser for boxers. Once you are mostly dry, you snatch the towel from Mike's hair to wipe your face and toss it away, then step up onto the bed near the pillows, urging Mike to shift so that you can sit against the headboard.
He immediately rests his stubbled cheek on one of your thighs, then wraps both arms around the other, his fingers melting into the fat just below your ass as he grunts, "Mine."
"All yours, buddy," Erwin assures with a grin before glancing at you. "I'm gonna pass out in the chair—" he gestures to the one in the corner of the room, "—if you need me for anything, just wake me up, okay?"
"Yeah, thanks." Then, "Hey, Erwin?" He hums in response. "Don't tell him about tonight, like, me staying with him."
"Why?"
"I don't want him to stress out about what he may have said or done. 'Cause I know he will."
"Whatever you say," Erwin shrugs, collapsing in the chair without even changing or washing his face. All three of you are gonna look like characters from a horror movie whenever you wake up, and the thought makes you smirk as you card your fingers through Mike's damp hair.
It's getting longer. He could probably put it up if he wanted to. He's been letting his beard grow a little too. You aren't sure if it's laziness or just trying a slightly different look, but whatever the case, it's hot.
He keeps your leg clutched tightly to him like some kind of stuffed animal until he drifts off to sleep. It's nearing five, and you know you probably won't get any quality rest while you're here, so you figure you'll just doze for a while until you can safely extract yourself from Mike's grip. He probably won't appreciate waking up like this anyway. No matter what he's said to you and Erwin—declarations and staked claims—it'll all be worthless in just a few hours.
A symphony of snores plays through the room, Erwin splayed out in his chair like he's passed out in a cheap Vegas hotel while Mike drools on your thigh, and if it was anyone else, you'd be disgusted and shove him away, but since it’s Mike, it’s weirdly endearing. He can slobber on you all he wants, it won’t bother you in the slightest.
Eventually, the sun shining through the window becomes too bright for you to even fall into a light sleep, so just as you planned, you gently untangle yourself from Mike, pausing when he grunts and frowns, but when he doesn’t stir any more than that, you manage to slip out of the bed.
Grabbing your phone and costume, still a little wet and cold because of it, you leave as quietly as you can. Your shoes are still in the downstairs bathroom along with Mike’s shirt, and you have a legitimate mental debate over whether you really should just toss it, but as much as you hate it, you decide against it.
You have to step over several bodies to get to the front door, more than usual which is concerning since the punch Eren spiked was thrown out (or really, thrown all over him), but you’re able to make it out without tripping.
The drive to your dorm feels too long, sun beaming right into your itchy eyes the entire way. You nearly cry in relief when you finally fall onto your mattress, already well aware that most, if not all, of your day will be spent under the covers. You’re more than fine with it, allowing yourself to just not exist for several hours exactly how you wanted to.
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Happy Fucking New Year!
Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Fem!Reader
Words: 5071
Summary: You and Bucky spend New Year’s Eve together in Paris!
Warnings: Explicit language, explicit sexual content (oral sex (F receiving), unprotected vaginal sex, anal play, cum eating), explicit descriptions of violence, minor character death, SMUT, 18+ only!!!
A/N: Well, my grandma ass passed out while literally writing this fic last night at like 10PM so sorry it’s late! But it’s still New Year’s Day so whatever. It’s kinda fun, I definitely enjoy having Bucky and Sam be complete idiots while our poor reader is the only one with common sense, so you may be seeing a lot of those two fucking things up in this series. Join my taglist here if you’re inclined and a Happy New Year to all you lovely hoes!
“Damn, Barnes. Look at your ass in that tux.”
He choked on his champagne when you snuck up behind him, grabbing one ass cheek and giving it a squeeze before he had a chance to turn around.
He didn’t know how you always managed to catch him off guard. He was used to being able to pick up on any threat immediately, but you were always able to slip under his defenses.
The expression that came over his face when he finally saw you was priceless. You loved surprising him with shockingly revealing outfits, offending those sweet old man sensibilities he pretended to have in public. But you knew exactly what he was thinking as his eyes drank you in.
The gown you had picked was a deep blue velvet that hugged your curves. While the skirt was tight against your legs, it still could’ve possibly been considered modest. The top though…. The v of the neck wasn’t as deep as your usual style, but the back dipped so low he wondered how you could possibly be wearing panties. All he could think of was snapping those thin straps with his vibranium hand and watching the fabric slide over your soft skin before it pooled around your ankles.
He couldn’t believe the two of you were spending New Year’s Eve in Paris. You’d barely had a chance to speak to each other after your tryst in Stockholm, and now you were together in the city of lights on one of the most romantic nights of the year.
“Hey, Barnes, you still in there?”
“Yeah, sweetheart.” He grinned at you as he watched you take a sip of champagne. “Just wondering where you’re hiding your knives in that dress?”
“Mmm, if this night goes according to plan, maybe I’ll let you look for them later.” You teased him, giving him a wink as you walked your fingers across his chest.
“Alright, that’s enough. You two promised to cool it with the kinky shit over comms.”
The two of you turned to shrug apologetically at Sam, who was glaring murderously at you from across the foyer.
“Sorry Sammy.” You whispered, tittering to yourself.
“Yeah, sorry Sammy.” Bucky gave him a stupid grin as the three of you started slowly moving to one the hallways leading to the main building.
“You don’t get to call me that, Barnes. You keep getting me into these fucking stupid situations, and your poor girlfriend always has to get us out. We were almost home, man, and you just had to follow that shady fucker at the airport.”
“No, he was following me. And anyways, I was right about him. I told you HYDRA had various goon squads lurking around.”
“You guessed.”
“I guessed right.”
“So, you admit it, you guessed!”
“Hey, boys!” You furrowed your brow as you turned to glare at the two of them, a little annoyed at the bickering. “Isn’t there supposed to be a door here?”
They finally shut up and followed your line of sight to where all the intelligence indicated the access door to the arsenal should be located.
Bucky let out a deep sigh and clenched his jaw, his eyes moving up the wall until they found the tiny hatch in the corner, fifteen feet off the floor. He turned his head to Sam and growled.
“You were in charge of reconnaissance. Do you not know the difference between a door and a hatch? Do your little robot minions not know how to take measurements?”
“Hey, don’t blame the robots man! This was based on human intelligence, which I’m pretty sure is your responsibility.”
“Oh, fuck off.”
You ground your teeth together as you listened to the two of them, not sure how you were able to put up with this shit. You took in your surroundings, trying to figure out a way through this situation.
“Well one of us has to get up there.” You murmured to yourself.
“I nominate robot boy.”
“Ok, ya know what, they’re not robots. I might’ve been able to let it go but, heh, I can’t. They’re drones. And if you think me buzzing one of those through the party out there is inconspicuous…”
“Oh, not one of your robots, you. What if I throw you at the hatch?”
One glance at him let you know he was seriously considering throwing your friend at the hatch. You rolled your eyes as you slipped out of your pumps.
“Ok, now you’re trying to piss me off, I just told you they were drones. And you are not throwing me at that tiny door. It’s not even open.”
“Well, if I throw you hard enough, that won’t matter.”
“It’s a solid steel door, dumbass. And I’m pretty sure it opens outward. I vote we come back later with some tools.”
“We’re on a timetable. I say we settle this with some old-fashioned rock, paper, scissors.”
“Um, no, you cheat.”
“How can you cheat at rock, paper, scissors?”
You did your best to tune them out as you stretched, sighing as you gathered your dress up over your thighs and grumbling to yourself about ruining another outfit.
“I don’t know, but you do. Ok, if you use your normal hand, maybe that’ll work.”
“Whatever, I’ll still win.”
You walked back down the hall, then turned and sprinted past the two of them, vaulting off one leg when you reached the corner and using your momentum to spring yourself off the wall until you were able to brace yourself in the tiny alcove next to the hatch.
“Could one of you toss me the laser driver from my clutch?” You called down to them, now that they had finally stopped their incessant arguing.
Sam grinned up at you as he picked your clutch off the ground, tossing the driver to you when he found it.
“Man, every time.” He shook his head at Bucky as you started working on dismantling the door. “I don’t know how your dumbass has survived this long without us, Barnes. You can’t just punch your way through everything.”
“I’m sorry, ‘us’? Seems like she’s doing all the work while you’re just bossy.”
“Can you two just give it a rest? I’m in.” You pulled the hatch open and slid through it, hanging over the edge by your fingertips for just a second before softly dropping on the balls of your feet on the other side. “Fuck, that’s a lot of bombs.”
“What kinds of bombs?” Sam asked over the comms, all business now.
“Well, I’m not an expert, but this sure looks like tesseract related tech to me.”
“Shit.” Bucky hissed. “Any way to disarm?”
“Well, probably, sweetie, but there’s at least 100 of these fuckers, and I don’t really feel like spending all of New Year’s Eve playing ‘which wire?’”
“Alright, just give us a second.”
You heard a yelp from outside and all of a sudden Sam’s torso came flying through the open hatch, his hips catching on the edge.
“Did he just throw you?” You asked, not bothering to hide the grin that spread over you face as Sam looked for something to swing down with. You dragged over an empty shelf and he pulled himself through, climbing down gingerly to come stand beside you.
“Your boyfriend is a fucking menace.” He grumbled, brushing some debris off his shoulders. He whistled through his teeth when he got a good look at the stockpile you had uncovered. “Shit.”
“Fuck me.” Bucky murmured, suddenly behind the two of you, making Sam jump.
“Goddamn it Barnes, why you gotta always be so stealthy?”
“Maybe you just need to pay better attention, what if I’d been a goon?”
“You are a goon.”
“Oh my god, I cannot do another round of this. Sam, can you call this in please? Maybe Sharon will have some idea of what to do about the massive pile of shit we just stepped in.”
“Fine, Y/N. I’ll call the boss.”
You went to examine the bombs more closely. They all seemed to have remote triggers, but you didn’t want to take the chance that they were volatile, so you resisted the urge to pick one up.
“Yeah, this is definitely tesseract tech.” Bucky muttered, and your heart jumped into your throat when you turned to see him tossing one of the bombs into the air and catching it again in his vibranium hand.
“Motherfucker put that down you idiot! What if there had been a pressure sensor?”
Bucky stared at you for a second, then back at the bomb in his hand. “Right, whoops.” He placed it back on the pile gingerly and gave you a sheepish grin.
“I swear to god, the two of you are going to end up getting me killed.”
“Ok, boss said they have a remote drone about one minute out that should have the ability to disarm these. She just wanted us to open the skylight for it.”
“The what?” You hissed at him.
“Uh….”
“There’s a fucking skylight?” You looked up and scoffed, seeing a very large window right there in the ceiling.
“Nice, Wilson.” Bucky just shook his head at him.
“Fuck you, Barnes! You didn’t know about it either.”
“No more! One of you morons get up there and open it!” You were seething. “You’re lucky I like the two of you or I swear to god, I would stab the both of you right now.”
“Alright, rock, paper, scissors?”
“No!! Bucky, just fucking do it.” You screwed your eyes shut and pressed your fingers into the peaks of your eyebrows.
“You got it, beautiful. You’re so cute when you’re mad… shit.”
He had to scramble up one of the shelves as you tried to charge at him, but Sam was able to hold you back at the last second.
“Ok, let’s all just take some deep breaths. It’s all good. The drones on the way. We didn’t have to fight anyone. And there’s still 25 minutes until midnight, so we’ll all get to toast the new year.”
Right as he uttered that last word, a large door on the opposite end of the room opened, and three goons carrying large guns entered.
“Goddamn it, Wilson, you jinxed us. And look, another fucking door!”
“Yeah, they do seem to be popping up everywhere.” He muttered under his breath. “Hey, fellas, we were just…. god, y’know what, I’m too tired to come up with something. Should we just fight?”
You sneered at him before hefting one of the bombs and chucking at the head of one of the guards, hitting him right between the eyes and knocking him out.
“OOHH! What if that had gone off?” Sam yelled at you as you charged the two standing goons who were still standing, diving at the last second to roll one of them over your shoulder.
“Oh, so only you and grandpa are allowed to make stupid decisions, then?” You said, pulling out a knife from under your skirt and trying to stab the guard who was still standing. You were just a little too slow and he dodged you, making you hiss. “Do you mind giving me a hand?”
“Shit, right.” He found a metal pipe leaning against the corner and walked over to where the first guard was starting to come to his senses, bringing it around in an arc to crash against his chin, knocking him out again.
“Drone’s here! Aww man, you guys started a fight without me?” Bucky had climbed back down to find the two of you grappling with your respective opponents.
He walked over and punched the asshole that had Sam in a chokehold in the face with his vibranium fist, feeling a satisfying crunch as he went down. Bucky started to stride over to give you a hand as Sam tried to catch his breath when you suddenly drove your knife up under your opponent’s ribs, giving it a twist before you withdrew it.
“Y’know,” He murmured as he watched you bend over to clean off the blade on the dead man’s jacket. “I’m a little mad at you now. I was looking forward to looking for that later tonight.” He grinned at you, nodding at the knife in your hand as you drew up your skirt to return it to the sheath on your thigh.
“Don’t worry sweetie, there’s plenty hiding under here for you to discover.” You teased him as he pulled you to him, pressing a deep kiss to your lips and moaning against your mouth. He always got so worked up after watching you fight.
“Ugh, I’m still here, you freaks!”
“Shit, sorry Sam!” You flashed an apologetic grin at your friend as he glared at you. Bucky was pulling at the front of his pants and screwing his eyes closed as he tried to fight his obvious erection.
“There’s something wrong with you two.” He muttered under his breath as he started climbing the shelves to leave through the skylight.
The drone had done its job. All the indicator lights on the bombs were off, showing there were no longer armed. You gave a small sigh of satisfaction before looking up at the skylight.
“Gimme a boost, Buck.”
“Yep.” He hooked his hands under one of your heels and grinned to himself as he brought his arms up a little faster than you had intended, flinging you up to the roof in one swift motion and making you yelp.
“You’re such a dick!” You shouted down to him as he started to climb out after you, making him laugh. “What time is it Sam?”
“Hey, we’ve still got 10 minutes to midnight!” He said, giving you a grin.
“Ooh, think we can make it back?”
“Yeah, it’s just a couple rooftops over! Barnes, move your ass!”
Bucky was just climbing onto the roof as you and Sam started jogging towards the adjacent building and cursed under his breath as he clambered to follow you.
Sam let out a whoop as he leaped between the buildings, one of his drones catching him halfway and carrying him to the other side.
“Oh my god was that waiting out here the whole time?” You scolded him as he swooped back to lift you across the gap, depositing you softly on the next roof.
“Yeah, why are you surprised?”
You just gave him a laugh as Bucky flung himself over the space between the structures, rolling in his landing and scowling at the two of you when he regained his feet.
“No thanks, I don’t need any help.” He growled at Sam, voice dripping with sarcasm as he brushed some pebbles off the shoulder of his tux jacket.
“You’re fine.” Sam waved a dismissive hand as the three of you walked to the next edge, which led to your hotel.
You dropped down first to the ledge that was 10 feet below, landing on the balls of your feet and twisting just a bit to gain your balance before you started gliding towards the window to your room.
“You good, Y/N?” Sam called as they watched you crouch as much as you could when you reached the end of the ledge.
“She’s got it.” Bucky muttered as you uncurled your body like a whip, shooting across the gap between the two buildings, latching onto the buttress above your window as you stretched down, your toes reaching for the lower sill. You found your purchase and released one hand to draw the window open, then slipped inside easily. “See?” He gave Sam a grin as he moved to follow you.
It only took the two of them a minute to join you, and you met them with champagne and a pleased smile on your face.
“Hello boys, just in time for the countdown!”
You passed out the drinks and took one for yourself before the three of you headed out to the small balcony that was around the corner from the window you had entered through.
“And 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Happy New Year!” The three of you shouted.
You heard the city erupt in cheers and fireworks started exploding over the Eiffel tower. Bucky set his champagne flute down and drew you into his arms, bringing one hand up to cradle the back of your head as he pressed his lips to yours. You sighed as you opened up to him, welcoming the crisp taste of champagne on his tongue as he curled it against yours.
“Ooookay, that is my cue to leave.” Sam said, downing the rest of his drink and avoiding making eye contact with either of you as he made his exit.
“Mmm, Happy New Year, Sammy!” You called after him. Bucky just waved a hand at him as his mouth moved down to your neck, his lips trailing over your throat as his other hand pressed against the small of your back.
“Just, remember to take out your comms, I’m begging you.” Sam said before shutting the door behind him.
“Fuck, right.” You plucked yours out of your ear and set it next to your glass as Bucky drew you back into the room, sucking on the curve of your shoulder softly. He released you for just a second to remove his own comm and closed the door to the balcony before turning back to you.
“Oh, that fucking dress.” He growled as he took you in, his eyes dark with desire. “You know, I’ve been wanting to peel you out of that thing all night, you damn cock tease.”
You stepped into him and pressed your hand against the bulge in his pants as you nipped at his bottom lip. “Mmm, your always so good to me when I tease you though, baby. I can’t help it.” You moved your hands up to start undoing his tie. “Besides, I don’t know how you can blame me for teasing you when you’re walking around in this tux. I’ve been wet all night.” You whipped the tie off and started working on the buttons of his shirt as you took his earlobe between your lips and sucked on it.
His hands moved to your ass and squeezed as he ground his hips against you, making you gasp. “Don’t tell me that unless you want me to do something about it. Fuck, are you even wearing anything under here?”
You slid his jacket off his shoulders and followed it with his shirt, running your fingers over his bare torso before starting to undo his belt. “Why don’t you get it off me and find out?” You purred, gazing up at him through your lashes as you drew the belt through the loops and moved to unbutton his fly.
He leered at you and brought his hands up to your shoulders, running the thin straps of your gown through his fingers before snapping them easily. He sighed as he watched the material slither over your curves and pool at your feet. “I fucking knew it.”
You were completely bare under his gaze, aside from the two knife belts you had around your thighs, each of which contained 2 blades.
“Damn it, Barnes.” You scolded him.
“What?”
“Could we have one night where you don’t end up ruining at least one expensive item of clothing?” You sighed, bending over to pick up the dress and shooting him a soft look of reproval.
“Shit, baby. I’m sorry. I get too excited.” He did feel a little bad, but every time you wore something like that, all he could think of was ripping it off you.
“Well, now you’ll just have to make it up to me.” You teased, tossing the dress aside and drawing him closer.
“Yes, ma’am.” He murmured as his fingers moved to start undoing the belts around your thighs. He brushed his lips against the small hollow beneath your ear as he worked, flicking his tongue over the sensitive skin there as his fingers brushed over your legs, making your pussy clench around nothing. “You want me to show you how sorry I am with my tongue?” He set aside the two belts and moved a hand to cup your sex, groaning at how warm and wet he found you.
“God, just fucking do it.” You hissed as he teased a finger between your folds, barely brushing against your heat before withdrawing again.
“Well, since you asked so nicely…” He picked you up and carried you a few feet to lay you on the dining room table, kicking the chairs out of the way with a clatter.
He gave you a searing kiss, taking your breath with him when he withdrew to kneel between your thighs. His stubble tickled at your skin as he moved his lips and tongue up your inner thigh at an agonizing pace, moving to the other thigh when he had almost reached your cunt and making you whine.
“I’m so sorry I ruined your dress, pretty girl.” He finally dragged his tongue over your slit and you let out a low moan, your fingers burying themselves in his hair as he repeated the motion. “Wish I could promise it won’t happen again, but this pussy does things to me.”
He pressed the flat of his tongue against you and drew it over your entrance heavily, slurping up all the evidence of your arousal with an obscene sound before wrapping his lips around your clit and sucking. The whimper you let out made his cock twitch as your thighs clenched around his shoulders, drawing him into you even further.
“God, Bucky, right there.” You murmured as he increased the pressure on your bundle of nerves and inserted two fingers into your cunt, moaning at the feeling of your satiny walls clenching around him. He curled them just a bit and you wailed, arching your back into him as you started whispering “please” over and over like a prayer.
He grinned against you as he shook his head slightly, pressing himself even further into your heat and lapping up the juices that leaked from you as he fucked you with his fingers.
He added a third finger and crooked his wrist just slightly and that was it. Every muscle in your body went rigid as you came against his face, soaking him in your release as you clamped down on his fingers and sobbed with pleasure. You released him slightly, only to spasm again from the aftershocks as your muscles quivered around him. He finally managed to draw himself away and stood between your legs, grinning down as he watched you come down from your orgasm, shivering occasionally as a random jolt of pleasure shot through you.
“You think you can forgive me?” He asked wickedly as he finished undoing his slacks and slid them over his hips, followed by his boxer briefs. He drew his hand over his length as he waited for you to answer, nudging the tip of his cock against your folds and making you yelp.
“Fuck, yes. God Bucky.” You sat up and wrapped your hands around his neck, bringing his face to yours violently. You ground your hips against him, groaning as you felt his shaft slide through your slick easily. He started to lift you to bring you to the bedroom and you shook your head a bit before releasing him. “No, I need it now.”
He grinned at you as he teased his head against your clit, making you whine. “You want me to fuck you right here on the table?”
“God, yes please. Gimme that cock. I need you inside me.” It was driving you crazy. You brought a hand between the two of you and wrapped it around him, making him hiss as you lined him up. “I want you to split me open then fuck me until I can’t breathe.”
He let out a low growl from deep in his chest. He loved when you talked like this. He pushed into slowly with a groan until he was sheathed to the hilt, relishing in the feel of you clenching around him. “Fuck baby, you feel so good. So tight and warm. What else you want me to do to you?” He started moving his hips slowly, grinding them against you each time he was bottomed out.
“Shit,” You were panting with need as he moved inside you, his cock dragging against your g-spot over and over and making it hard to think. “I want your mouth on my tits. God, just like that.” He was following your instructions beautifully, dragging his tongue over the inner slope of your breast as his hips kept up their slow pace. “Fuck, baby, suck on my nipples now.”
He did as you asked, swirling his tongue over the sensitive buds as his lips closed around them, sucking softly and making you whine. He’d always been good at following orders.
“Mmm, move faster.” You commanded, wrapping your fingers in his hair as he continued lavishing attention on your breasts.
He obliged easily, picking up the pace until he was slamming into you, knocking the breath out of you. You met each of his thrusts with your own, mewling as you felt a coil starting to knot in your abdomen.
“God, I’m gonna cum.” You whined.
One more drive of his hips and the coil broke, making you scream. Your fingernails dug into his scalp as you went stiff for just a beat before everything released. He smiled into your neck as you vibrated against him, panting heavily as you came down.
He kept fucking into you like a man possessed. He brought his mouth back up to yours and kissed you softly as he felt you relax a bit. “Did I do good, sweetheart?”
“Yeah, baby, you did great.” You laughed into his mouth as he kept moving.
“You’re in charge, pretty girl. What do you want now?”
“God, work my clit. Fuck, just like that.” You were having trouble focusing as he did what you asked. “I need your mouth on my neck. Hngh, Bucky! That’s so good.”
“What else, beautiful?” he grinned against your throat, loving how easily you were coming apart around him. He picked up the pace with his hips a little more and felt you flutter around him.
“Shit, stick your thumb up my ass.”
He was not prepared for that and his hips faltered for a bit. He whipped his head up to stare at you as he regained his composure.
“What?”
“Ahh, fuck.” You were just a little embarrassed. You usually liked to ramp up to this type of thing, and especially with Bucky, you had wanted go really slow with this particular kink. You didn’t know how much of a thing anal play had been in the 40s. “Um, you can forget I said that.”
To your surprise, he broke out into an absolutely sinful grin and gave you a savage kiss as he laid you back on the table, stilling his hips but keeping himself sheathed in you as he drew your knees up to your shoulders.
“I’ve been dreaming about this ass, baby.” He said as he started moving his hips again, dragging his thumb through the slick that was leaking out around his cock and moving it down until it was pressing against your pretty hole, making you gasp.
“Bucky, don’t tease me.”
“Thinking about this tight little hole wrapped around my cock, I was worried you’d never let me in.” You moaned as he pressed himself through the tight ring of muscle and your eyes rolled up into your skull as you arched yourself into him. “But here you are, giving me a fucking invitation.”
He gave a groan when both your holes clenched around him, and he felt his cock moving in your cunt with his thumb through the thin lining between your passages. He drew himself out halfway and slammed back into violently, the tip of him barely kissing your cervix and making you whine.
His fingers on your clit pressed down hard and you flew apart around him, your orgasm ripping through you with abandon. The scream you let out was otherworldly as you creamed all over his cock.
The sight of you writhing beneath him sent him over his own edge and he shouted your name as his cum spurted inside of you, coating your walls and his dick as he collapsed on top of you.
You were still trembling as aftershocks rippled through your body. He kissed your neck and pulled out of you gently. You barely noticed, you were so fucked out.
“Shit sweetheart.” He muttered as he drew himself up. “This body treats me so fucking good. Damn, look at that.” He drew your knees apart and stared appreciatively at you pussy, still clenching as you came down. His cum was slowly leaking out of you and dribbling over your puckered hole. “Let’s clean you up.”
You had expected him to go get a towel, but he knelt down and dragged his tongue over first your asshole, then your slit, making you sob as he lapped up the mixture of your releases. When he drew his tongue over your clit, you came again immediately, it was so overstimulated.
“Fuck, you ok, Y/N?” He hadn’t expected you to be that sensitive and was worried he might have overdone it. He brought himself back up to look you in the eyes, cupping one cheek in the palm of his hand as he studied your face with concern.
“God, Bucky, I’m fucking great.” You gave him a sloppy grin as you stared up at him, turning your head to press a kiss into the palm of his hand. “I don’t think I can walk though.” Your legs were jelly.
He just laughed and scooped you into his arms, carrying you into the bedroom and laying on the bed. He covered you with the sheets and pressed a soft kiss to your temple before heading into the bathroom to clean himself up. He was only gone for a minute before he was sliding behind you and wrapping you in his arms.
“Happy New Year, beautiful.” He whispered into your hair as you drifted off to sleep, drowsy now that you were surrounded with his warmth.
“Happy fucking New Year, Bucky.” You murmured before you dozed off, blissfully satisfied.
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#bucky x reader#bucky barnes#bucky fic#bucky barnes x reader#bucky imagine#bucky fanfic#sebastian stan#seb stan#bucky barnes smut#smut#marvel fanfiction#marvel#fanfic#fanfiction#eighteen plus
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aphrodite in war | 02
pairing: jeon jungkook x reader
genre: comedy, fluff, angst, eventual smut / greek life, fake dating, roommates, lovers to enemies and back to lovers au
word count: 14,243
description: Everyone knew about the war that had been brewing on the edge of campus for the past two years. Sorority versus Fraternity; a showdown for the ages. However, when the escalating antics between them yields the consequence of possible suspensions for both chapters, the presidents of each house must come together to try and figure out how to end this battle... Which is kind of hard, considering they were the ones responsible for it in the first place.
note: here is an audio post of a beautiful song with lyrics inspired by AiW, which was written by one of my lovely readers!
→ part 01
Red, hot anger had curled its way around your bones, forcibly moving your limbs until you somehow found yourself standing in front of the Lambda house with a single pair of heart-covered boxers in hand; murderous intent leaving Jungkook’s voice indiscernible in the distance as you’d left him standing in front of the defiled Tri Delt house. Maybe he was telling you to wait for him while he began to pull down the rest of the countless pairs of boxers that were plastered along the outside of the sorority. Or maybe he was telling you to not go inside because it would only make it worse to have the furious president of Tri Delt waking up dozens of Lambdas at seven in the morning. You genuinely couldn’t tell what he was shouting as you ripped the front door of the fraternity open and stomped inside.
It had been over two years since you had stepped foot inside of your neighbor’s house, but it was exactly as you remembered. Red solo cups and crushed cans of beer scattered around the floor as a telling sign that it was indeed the morning after a night of partying, two Lambdas passed out on the couch because apparently the staircase that led to their rooms had been an impenetrable obstacle in their drunken states, and the scent of weed encasing the entire house that seemingly never went away. It was all the same, and you hoped as you went down the hallway to the left, that held a portion of the bedrooms in this house, that a particular person’s room was also the same as it had been before. You banged your fist against the door, scowling as you waited for the person on the other side to answer.
“What the fuck?” You heard someone say. The voice was scratchy from just being woken up but still recognizable as the person you were looking for; Jimin.
You banged on the door again, your patience level laying at zero.
You heard the bed creak and then footsteps began padding across the floor. “Uh, is this the cops?” He asked, probably to know whether he should hide a few things before opening the door.
You rolled your eyes. “No, I’m not here to confiscate your coke. Now. Open. The. Door.” You spat each word out through gritted teeth.
“Y/N?” Jimin asked before ripping his door open, revealing a mop of messy bed head framing his bewildered expression. He stood there shirtless, adorning only a white pair of tight Calvin Klein boxers that were doing absolutely nothing to hide his morning wood.
“Oh, god.” You threw your hand up to try and block out its unavoidable presence.
Jimin glanced down at himself before raising his head, smirking as he leaned against his doorframe, not even attempting to hide the piece of him that you were trying to avoid looking at. “You’re not exactly decent yourself there, Nips.” He pointed toward your chest.
Your eyes widened. In your rage you had completely forgotten about the attire you had decided was appropriate to storm the Lambda house in. You immediately crossed your arms over your chest to hide the fact that you were wearing the flimsiest tanktop of all time in combination with no bra.
“Plus, I’m in my own house,” He started again. “What’s your excuse?”
“Trust me. I would’ve loved nothing more than to never had to of stepped foot in this place ever again. But,” You paused, holding up the pair of heart covered boxers you had ripped off the Tri Delt house because you thought they were the most recognizable among the sea of plain solid blacks, whites, and maroons. “I have a motherfucking bone to pick with someone in this house.”
Jimin studied the piece of fabric that you held up before him before his mouth dropped open. “Fuck, did you sleep with Taehyung? I’m gonna knock his ass out if Jungkook doesn’t get to him first.”
Your face wrinkled in disgust. “Ew, no. There are about a million pairs of boxers all over the Tri Delt house and I’m trying to find out who did it, so thank you for letting me know. Now where is Tae’s room?”
“Oh, thank god.” Jimin’s expression softened, as if he was relieved that his friend didn’t sleep with you; who they thought of as the devil incarnate. “But no, I’m not telling you. I had nothing to do with that. I went home early last night. But Jungkook can deal with it, just like you can deal with what your girls did.”
“What’re you talking about?” You asked, eyes narrowing.
“Oh, you don’t know?” Jimin smiled. “Some of the guys texted me before I fell asleep last night saying that when they left Pub they found their cars with words written all over their windows in lipstick.”
Your eyes screwed shut, tongue jabbing at the side of your cheek as you tried to calm the colossal wave of anger that flooded through you for a second time in the fifteen minutes you had been awake.
What a fantastic day this was turning out to be.
“Are you serious?” You finally asked, voice a little bit louder than you’d intended.
“Yeah, so you might wanna check your own people before you come into someone else’s house and accuse them of things.” He shrugged. “Might save you some embarrassment next time.”
Heat rushed to your face. You were pissed, but that was only because you agreed with him. “Look—” You started, not really sure what was going to come out of your mouth, but it was the squeak of sneakers running along the wooden floor boards that stopped you.
Jungkook was suddenly rounding the corner, a mountain of boxers filling his arm. “Y/N, what the hell?” He hissed before dropping them to the ground.
“What? I was just trying to get to the bottom of this.” You held the heart boxers up one last time before tossing them into the pile next to Jungkook’s feet.
“Yeah, and how’d that go for you?” He pointed towards Jimin.
“Well, I found out who those boxers belonged to… But…” You trailed off, not wanting to admit what you just found out.
“But?” Jungkook asked.
“But, she found out that it was only payback for some of her members participating in a little bit of lipstick graffiti on Taehyung and a few other people’s cars.” Jimin smirked next to you as he revealed what you were too embarrassed to say.
There was a small pause, and then Jungkook was laughing, like he couldn’t believe that this was actually happening. That even after the threat of suspension to these people, they just didn’t care. And you just wanted to understand why. Was it truly because they didn’t care or was it due to the fact that the failed relationship that had acted as the catalyst to this war still held hostility and therefore still felt unresolved. Either way it was an issue that you and Jungkook needed to figure out how to fix. You were already trying to think of other possible solutions to this mess when another door a few feet away opened, and the sleep-deprived face of Taehyung poked its way out.
“The hell’s going on out here?” He slurred before his eyes locked with yours. “Whoa, seriously what the hell is going on out here?”
A few more doors throughout the hall began to open. Clearly this little altercation had been a little bit louder than you’d anticipated. All of the Lambdas faces twisted in confusion as they found you standing in their hallway for the first time in years.
“We found your little boxer exhibit,” You finally answered.
Taehyung threw his hands up. “Hey, I only did it because of the—”
“—Lipstick,” You finished for him. “Yeah, yeah, I got that part already.”
“Some of us had been drinking and it pissed us off.” Baekhyun shrugged, as he had been one of the guys to join in on this little morning confrontation. “Sorry.”
“I can’t deal with this. I have a million other things to worry about today.” You rubbed your palms over your eyes in frustration as you remembered the other issue you had to handle once the financial aid office opened for their half day, since today was Saturday. The mystery of your less than lucrative bank account and the implications that it had on your living situation hanging over your head.
“Well, as a sign of my immense regret and an attempt to repair this terrible relationship between our houses, I do have to say you look great this morning.” Baekhyun motioned towards your minimally covered body. “If you ever wanna hang out—”
You rolled your eyes, deciding to not listen to the rest of the garbage he decided to spew, but it turned out you didn’t even need to tune him out because suddenly a voice sliced through the air like a razor.
“Watch it, Baek.” Jungkook sounded cold, mouth set in a firm line as he stared daggers down the hallway.
“Uhm, I’m…” Baekhyun started, an awkward air encasing everyone. “I just woke up. I’m mildly delusional. My bad, Kook.” He tapped at his head and raised his hands as an apology before shutting the door.
There was silence, a palpable silence that had Jimin, Taehyung and a few of the other Lambdas that had opened their doors grabbing the back of their necks as they stared at the floor. But Jungkook kept his stance, arms crossed over his chest as he continued to stare at Baekhyun’s door.
After only a few moments of this you just couldn’t take it. You clapped your hands together, trying to let the sudden burst of sound break the tension. “Come on,” You said, pulling at Jungkook’s shirt. “Let’s talk outside.”
He nodded, finally breaking his glare down the hallway before turning towards Jimin. “Do you think you could give me a ride back to my place in a minute. I don’t have my car.”
“I can, but why’d you Uber back here last night instead of your place?” Jimin asked, clearly not privy to the events that had transpired between you and Jungkook last night.
Jungkook’s eyes found yours for a split second before returning to Jimin. “I met a girl from Chi Omega. I was gonna meet her at her place, but it fell through.” He shrugged, a lie so on the fly that it made you wonder how many times he’d done that to you since knowing him.
“Gotcha.” Jimin nodded, seeming to perfectly understand. “Just let me know when you wanna go.”
“Thanks,” Jungkook said as he joined you in stepping over the pile of boxers still strewn across the floor. “And make sure everyone picks this shit up.”
“Will do, boss.” Jimin saluted before shutting his door behind him.
After that you made a straight line through the house, not wanting to stand inside this place that held too many memories. You breathed a sigh of relief when you pushed the front door open, letting the fresh air wash over you — albeit the hot, muggy fresh air that reminded you of the fact that it was the end of summer and rain every single day was a constant.
“I got all the boxers,” Jungkook finally said.
“That’s great, but it still doesn’t change the fact that my members fucked up first. Plus, I have this financial aid bullshit to deal with.” You pinched the bridge of your nose, trying to flush the stress from your body. “What the hell are we gonna do?”
Jungkook shook his head and sighed, because like you he apparently also didn’t have any solid answers, but before he could try to offer anything his phone began to ring. He pulled it from his pocket and eyed the contact on the screen.
“Give me a second. It’s my new roommate that’s supposed to be moving in this week,” He said before answering.
“What’s up?” He began.
You stood there for a minute, watching the way Jungkook’s face began to slowly devolve as the person on the other side of the line spoke, and from the expression on his face, it did not seem like it was good news.
“Are you serious?” Jungkook finally said, grabbing at his hair. “Like I’m happy for you guys, but rent is due next week and you were supposed to be moving in and paying half.”
It seemed you weren’t the only person having issues involving living situations.
“I doubt I’ll be able to find anyone this short notice. And if I can’t there’s no way I can pay rent in full this month and have enough to last me the rest of the semester.”
After that the conversation on Jungkook’s end was mostly just grunts and short responses as he was clearly frustrated and already had his mind focused on possible solutions.
“Alright, alright, bye.” He hung up the phone, pressing his hands against temples.
“Well that didn’t sound good,” You said.
“Yeah, my new roommate apparently worked things out with his ex-girlfriend, so instead of moving in with me, he’s moving back in with her. So now, I have no one to split rent with and am basically fucked.”
That was actually very unfortunate, but even though you and Jungkook had experienced a somewhat understanding moment last night, it still wasn’t enough to completely erase the hostile relationship the two of you had engaged in for the last few years. So the comment that you replied with was already halfway out of your mouth before you could even think to stop it. “I’m sure it wouldn’t be too difficult to convince some of your harem of girls to play roomie and split rent with you.”
Jungkook turned to look at you, eyes narrowing into slits. “Yeah, I might do that actually.” He sounded pissed, clearly not finding any amusement in the comment that you admittedly shouldn’t have made. “And when you get kicked out of the Tri Delt house you should ask that guy from the soccer team if you can move in with him. What was his name? Hoseok?”
You deserved the response, but it still didn’t make your blood boil any less. “Whatever, we can deal with our fucked up living situations later on. For now just try and think of a way to get our idiot friends to stay in line. We’ll see who has the best idea at Kappa Sig tonight. Did Yoongi tell you about the party? Are you going?”
Yoongi was a mutual friend of yours and Jungkook’s from high school. He was also in a fraternity, but instead of Lambda Phi Epsilon it was Kappa Sigma, which was located a little further down Greek Drive. When the relationship between you and Jungkook ended he somehow managed to stay impartial and remained friends with the both of you, thankfully.
“Yeah, I’m going,” He said simply, clearly still embittered from your joke.
“Good, better start thinking then,” You said and then turned to head back towards the Tri Delt house; any progress you and Jungkook made last night seeming to snap in half as you left him behind.
Yet, somehow you could feel him staring into your back, the lingering feeling not disappearing until you closed the front door to your house behind you.
—————-
You had spent the past half an hour nervously fidgeting in your bed as you waited for the financial aid office to open. As soon as the time on your phone read eight a.m. you immediately dialed their number. However, it was the first week of classes, and that meant that everyone and their mother needed to talk to financial aid, because unfortunately situations like yours were completely common. So even though you called the second they opened it was still a twenty minute wait before you finally heard a voice that wasn’t pre-recorded and asking you to press various numbers depending on your issue or question.
“Hello. This is financial aid. How can I help you?” The woman on the other side of the line chimed.
“Hi, I have a question about my refund.” Your voice was high-pitched as it shifted into a mode that was more professional. “I received my refund on Thursday, and it was the correct amount. However, when I checked my bank account yesterday my refund had been completely taken out. I was just trying to figure out why that is.”
She hummed in understanding. “Could you give me your student I.D number and we’ll see what’s going on.”
You rattled off your number and there was a few seconds of silence as the woman on the other side pulled up your information.
“Okay, it says here…” She paused, presumably reading through whatever she was seeing once more. “That you will be getting your refund deposited back into your bank account, however, it had to be taken back out to adjust the amount. One of your scholarships informed the university that you and a few other recipients did not meet the new community service hours minimum they implemented to receive the scholarship this semester.”
You felt the blood drain from your face, anxiety making your hands go shaky. “New community service hour minimum?” You asked, trying to understand what that was even referring to, because you knew nothing about the change in hours you were supposed to obtain.
“Yes, they upped the amount. A few other students have already called to complain about this situation, but the office for that particular scholarship said that they sent an email out last year to inform you guys about the new amount that would be needed.”
Email? You didn’t think that you ever received an email with any information about that. “Oh… okay… Uhm, I guess I’ll try and figure out what’s going on. Thank you.”
You hung up the phone and immediately opened up your email app and began to scour through any undeleted messages from last year that you might have overlooked. And after a few minutes of scrolling, there it was, sitting in the depths of your inbox like some monster that was going to destroy you. You clicked on it as some sort of masochistic gesture. You already knew what it was going to say, so you didn’t know why you were even bothering to read it. And yes, there it was, written in bold print at the bottom of the email. A message that relayed the raise in community service hours needed.
“Fuck my life!” You yelled, throwing a pillow over your face and screaming into it.
Living in a sorority or fraternity was different than living in a regular apartment or house that wasn’t associated with the university. Instead of paying a monthly amount like a normal living situation, in order to live on campus you had to pay the full amount for the semester up front. Which basically translated to needing to fork over a couple thousand dollars all at once. Which, unless you were rich or incredibly well disciplined at saving money, scholarships and loans were the only option. That had been one of the reasons Jungkook decided to live at an apartment this year instead of at Lambda Phi Epsilon.
“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” You continued to yell into your pillow until your bedroom door was suddenly swinging open; a concerned Sana standing before you.
“I’m sorry,” She said, walking to the side of your bed. “You totally could’ve been having sex in here, but the expletives sounded more like frustration than fun, so I wanted to make sure.”
“It’s beyond frustration. It’s devastation.” You threw your pillow across the room to make your point.
“What happened?” She asked as she sat next to you on your bed.
You took a heavy sigh and explained the entire financial aid situation to her, and ended with the consequence of your entire scholarship debacle. “So I’m not going to be able to stay here this semester. I’m gonna have to find a new place to live.”
Sana’s mouth dropped, hand twisting into her hair. “Seriously? You’ve gotta move out?”
You, Sana, and Jennie were best friends that had lived less than ten feet away from each other for the past three year, and you had all hoped for your final year to be the same. But hope was like that. It gave you so much to look forward to, only for it to end in a way that you didn’t at all expect. You had experienced that many times, unfortunately.
“Yeah, looks like it,” You whispered, arm coming up to cover your eyes.
“No, it’ll be okay.” She squeezed at your arm. “I’ll text around today and see if anyone knows about people needing roommates.”
“Thanks,” You said, offering a weak smile.
“It’s not even something to stress over honestly. It’s gonna work itself out.” You could tell Sana was trying to be upbeat for your sake.
You nodded, but there were other issues besides where you were going to live. “But something that is apparently not going to work itself out is the failed peace treaty between us and next door.”
Sana cocked her head to the side. “Wait… Did something happen? What did they do?” She sneered, having the same reaction as you from earlier this morning.
“Plastered boxers all over our house.” Sana was about to go on a rant, but you informed her of the whole story before she could. “Because some of the girls wrote shit in lipstick on their cars at Pub last night.”
“You’re kidding me?” She slammed her palm down on the bed. “Who was it? I’m gonna kick their asses.”
The image that brought to your head actually made you laugh, which you were thankful for. You needed some sort of humor in your life on this miserable day. “I have no idea. I got a call from Jungkook this morning about the boxers and ran outside. I haven’t even had the chance to try and figure out who did it.”
“Wait… You were already here?” She asked. “You weren’t at Hoseok’s.”
Oh yeah, you forgot Sana had left Pub last night expecting to not see you until some time later today when Hoseok brought you home. She still had no idea about Jungkook and that entire emotional disaster from last night.
“Yeah, about that…” You definitely weren’t going to hide what happened, but you decided that you were going to sugarcoat it a bit. You didn’t like talking about your insecurities, even with your friends, so you decided painting it in a more positive light was for the best, because relatively speaking that actually had been a less hostile conversation compared to others that you and Jungkook had experienced over the years. “Because my bank account got emptied out from the whole financial aid thing, I just felt like going home instead of over to Hoseok’s, but I also didn’t have any money to Uber, so… Jungkook walked me home.”
Sana’s eyes widened, hands cupping either side of her face. “What?!”
“Yeah, he offered to walk me home.” You shrugged, trying to make it seem as though it wasn’t a big deal, but you knew that was going to do nothing to stop the onslaught of questions about to be thrown at you.
“Wait, wait, wait, so did you guys talk? Did you argue the whole time? Was it just awkward and silent? Like tell me.” She moved closer to you on the bed, curiosity beaming off of her.
“It wasn’t, uhm, bad actually.” You sat up, avoiding as much eye contact as you could manage without looking like a complete liar. “We talked and cleared the air on things. It was… enlightening.” That wasn’t a total fib. Certain feelings had been revealed, and yes, that might have ended up with you crying, but in the grand scheme of things that was a totally miniscule detail, right?
Sana’s expression twisted into that of bewilderment. “...Enlightening? What does that even mean? What became enlightened?”
You shrugged, buying yourself time to try and think of some way to fumble through any sort of half decent explanation. “Just our feelings on everything that happened and how we felt. Nothing crazy.”
She squinted her eyes, finger tapping at her nose. “I feel like there’s something you’re not telling me.”
“There isn’t. We just understand each other a lot better now.” You knew the longer she pushed the higher the possibility of you cracking, so you decided to bring up the one thing that you knew would flood her mind with thoughts completely unrelated to you and Jungkook. “You’ll see at Kappa Sig tonight. We’re better with each other now.”
Pink flushed to Sana’s cheeks at the mere mention of Kappa Sig, because in her mind Kappa Sig directly correlated to one of its members; Kim Seokjin, or one of Yoongi’s good friends.
“I almost forgot about the party tonight,” Sana started. Mission success it seemed as she completely dropped the conversation from before. “Maybe love is in the air, and Jennie’s luck with Namjoon will rub off on me tonight with Jin.”
“Maybe it is.” You smiled.
Sana gave you a strange look at your response, and you weren’t sure why, but you didn’t get the chance to find out before she dropped the expression and moved on to something else.
“I’m gonna text Jennie and see when she thinks she’ll come home.” She began typing on her phone before looking back up at you. “You wanna go get lunch or something in a few hours? Get your mind off of the whole financial aid thing while we wait for the party tonight? My treat since you don’t have your refund back yet.”
“That actually sounds great.” Sana leaned in, hugging you before jumping from your bed and heading back to her room directly next to yours.
You fell back flat against your bed, eyes wandering around your room. The pictures plastered across your walls of all of your friends and family. Posters of your favorite shows and movies. You couldn’t help but think about how in a week or so this wasn’t going to be yours anymore.
Where you were going to wind up at in the end, well, that was a complete mystery.
———
JUNGKOOK’S POV
Jungkook climbed into Jimin’s truck, slamming the door behind him. He pressed his forehead against the dashboard, palms pressing at his temples to try and relieve even the tiniest amount of stress that was currently running amok through his head.
Jimin jumped into the driver’s seat a minute later, whistling at the sight of his friend in such a rough position. “You good, man?” He asked.
“Do I look good?” Jungkook asked, sitting up against the seat. “I’ve gotta find a new roommate in the next week, act like a goddamn babysitter between forty-two grown adults, and worry about Y/N storming around the Lambda house now apparently.” He paused, clenching his hands into fists. “So, no, I’m not good.”
“Kook, just take it easy.” Jimin reached over, squeezing at his friend’s shoulder. “There’s gonna be a ton of people at that party tonight, and I guarantee you at least one person there needs a place to stay or at the very least knows someone who does.”
Jungkook nodded because he agreed that there were always people looking for places to stay. “What about the other two things?”
“Oh, you’re fucked on those. I don’t know what to tell you.” Jimin laughed as he hit the gear into reverse.
“You sound surprisingly calm about that, considering the chapter will be suspended if me and Y/N don’t figure out a way to make things okay between everyone.”
Jimin shrugged as he pulled out of the driveway. “If I had come out last night and seen my truck covered in lipstick, would I have been pissed? Sure. But, I would’ve just told you so that you could tell Y/N, and she could deal with it. The fact is, that’s how I am, but everyone’s different and you two can’t control that many people without some sort of miracle.”
Jungkook sighed, banging his head back against the headrest. “A miracle, huh?”
“Yeah, a straight up miracle,” He repeated as he drove past the Tri Delt house that was no longer covered in boxers.
Jungkook’s eyes drifted to the far right window on the second story, a small twinge budding inside of his chest. Words from that night almost two years ago pushed their way to the surface as they never failed to do.
“It’s nothing that you did… I’ve just been having these… thoughts.”
“Thoughts? What, thoughts of cheating on me? Of being with other people?”
“No! I mean, it’s not how you’re thinking. It’s just… You’re the only person I’ve ever dated, Y/N, and I don’t know if…”
“Oh, I’ll finish it for you, Jungkook. You don’t know if there’s someone better. Just fucking say it instead of going around it like you have been for months now.”
“I don’t think there’s someone better. I’m not ending this because I met someone else. I’m ending this because I can’t look at you and say I love you everyday when I’m having these thoughts, because it just doesn’t seem right. And I’m not saying that I don’t love you. I still do, but that doesn’t stop me from having these feelings of doubt about whether this is the last relationship I ever wanna have, when it’s the only one I’ve ever been in. I can’t just sit there and look at you when I know I’m thinking these things. I can’t do that because I care about you so fucking much, even if you’re looking at me right now like you hate me. I don’t want you to hate me.”
Jungkook wished he could permanently scrub that night from his head. There was so much crying, so much blame, so much anguish, from having to end things with someone that he truly did love. He hadn’t stopped loving you. That wasn’t why he broke up with you. He ended things because he wanted to be sure that the one experience that he’d ever had was the right one. And he knew when he took that risk that he could be throwing away something that was perfect. But he couldn’t be sure until he knew.
He had dated a few people in the two years since that night, and he had found some great relationships with some great girls — but nothing that had lasted. None of them ever felt as if he could see himself with them for years and years to come, and wasn’t that the whole point of dating? And of course, he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if he had never ended things with you. He thought about it every time he saw you actually. You wouldn’t know that, and no one around him would know that, because there was always something hostile coming out of someone’s mouth. Jungkook had hurt you, and he understood that, but it still didn’t excuse some of the things that you had accused him of over the years, and after a month or so he had gotten tired of playing polite and matched your antagonism; insult for insult, sneer for sneer.
He wasn’t sure if they could ever fully reconcile. The words had been said and there was no taking them back. He thought last night was actually a step in the right direction, with you revealing why you acted the way that you did. But still, he wasn’t sure if things could ever be civil between the two of you. The embitterment ran so deep on both sides that it seemed almost impossible to even try.
Jungkook remained lost in these thoughts when through his haze he heard Jimin speak a name that had him fearing for half a second that his friend could read his thoughts.
“Y/N?” Jungkook asked.
“Yeah, what actually happened last night?” Jimin glanced over, one brow arched.
“Uhm, what do you mean?”
“When I asked about why you were at the house and not at your apartment, you looked at Y/N.” Jimin slapped one hand to his chest. “Don’t think I didn’t notice.”
Well, he had only looked at her for all of half a second, so yeah, he had kind of hoped that no one would notice. But unfortunately, someone did, and that happened to be his nosy ass best friend.
“Y/N got stuck at Pub last night with no ride because financial aid fucked up her refund, and she couldn’t get a ride, so I walked her home. That’s it.” Which was true. He had done exactly that, but simply failed to mention the crying and sentimental admissions.
“So why didn’t you just say that when I asked?”
Jungkook ran a hand through his hair. He really didn’t want to reveal any of the details from what you’d told him last night, but he knew Jimin wasn’t going to stop asking until he at least told him something of substance. “Because there were other people in the hall listening, and I didn’t want them getting the same ideas as you right now.”
Jimin smirked. “Oh yeah, and what am I thinking?”
Jungkook shook his head, turning to look out of the window. “I’m not even gonna say it.”
“Any talk of feelings or gushy bullshit?” Jimin chuckled, clearly joking, but Jungkook hesitated before answering, and that was all his friend needed to assume whatever theory was being crafted inside of his head. “Oh, Jesus, did you guys actually talk about your feelings? Oh my god, did you guys kiss? Fuck?” Jimin was looking at Jungkook frantically now, like he needed the answers to the questions being proposed in his favorite TV show.
“You’re truly the biggest gossip I’ve ever met.” He leaned back in his seat, arms crossed over his chest as Jimin pulled into his apartment complex. “It’s sad.”
“Your lack of answers is making me lean towards you guys fucking. And if that happened,” He let go of the steering wheel for a second to motion at his head as if it was exploding. “I’m gonna lose my goddamn mind. Like I get it, sex is sex, but after everything she’s said about you since you guys broke up, I just…” He trailed off, shaking his head in disappointment like he had already decided that the two of you had definitely hooked up.
“She said that shit in the beginning because I made her feel terrible about herself, so she wanted to make me feel terrible too. I’m not saying that it’s right, but at this point we’ve both said shit we regret and didn’t mean.” He tried to make it seem more casual by shrugging. “And we didn’t sleep together. Chill out.”
Jimin’s expression was skeptical as he pulled into the parking space in front of Jungkook’s building and unlocked the doors. “Still, something definitely happened, because otherwise you would be talking about how she was acting like a bitch, but you’re not, which means that you weren’t acting like an asshole, which in turn means that something went down, because the last time the two of you were anything less than pissy to each other was when you were still dating.”
Jungkook simply placed a hand on Jimin’s shoulder, forcing a smile. “Your conspiracies are unmatched, my friend.” And then he was climbing out of the truck, shutting the door, and waving his friend goodbye without even looking back.
However, that didn’t stop Jimin from rolling down his window as he began to back out of the parking space, throwing his final sentiment to the wind. “You guys getting back together was the kind of miracle I was talking about.”
———-
It was currently ten p.m. and the scene on Greek Drive was about two dozen or so Tri Delts making their way towards the most well known party frat on campus; Kappa Sigma.
Kappa Sig was the blueprint for the types of fraternities that you see in various movies or TV shows. There was never a time when your shoes weren’t sticking to the wooden floors due to the constant barrage of alcohol being spilled by various drunken patrons. Each member had an actual mini bar set up in the corner of their room, which in the next few weeks, once football and tailgating started up, would be the most popular place to score some free drinks — if you were a girl that is. Kappa Sig was also fairly stereotypically frat in who it allowed entrance into its castle of alcohol and sex. Basically, if you were a girl, you were good. If you were a guy, well it was complicated. Usually it was a no go, or you were asked to pay such a ridiculously high cover at the door that no one in their right mind would pay it, or the easiest way: have a friend who had sway within the house.
So fortunately for you, Sana, Jennie, and the rest of the Tri Delts, it was a non-issue. However, unfortunately, Yoongi, a good friend of yours and Jungkook’s, happened to be the president of Kappa Sig, and therefore Lambdas were allowed free reign. No cover charge and no being turned away, which meant tonight was bound to be interesting.
“Jennie, hold my hand until we get there.” Sana didn’t even wait for a response and instead opted to simply interlock their fingers. “I need good luck in the crushes-actually-approaching-and-showing-interest department.”
Jennie laughed, swinging their arms back and forth between them. “Well if you can get even half my luck, it should be a good night for you.”
“Oh, wow. Way to brag, bitch,” Sana said, throwing a hand over her heart. “We’ve got Mrs. Already Dick Whipped over here.”
“I am not!” Jennie yelled. “He just…”
“Lasted longer than sixty seconds?” You finished for her with a purse of your lips.
She pointed at you. “That he fucking did. That and so, so much more.”
Sana groaned next to the two of you. “Ugh, I want that. I haven’t had good sex in months.”
“Well, even if things don’t happen with Jin tonight, there’s gonna be plenty of guys here,” You tried to remind her.
“Uh yeah, lots of Lambda guys,” She reminded you right back.
You shrugged. You didn’t like that it had become this sort of unwritten rule that Tri Delts and Lambdas couldn’t get together, but when everyone was pranking or fucking with each other’s stuff, it was kind of difficult to look past that just for the sake of a hookup.
“Well, Kappa Sig boys for you tonight it is then.” You motioned towards the top of the driveway, the party seemingly already completely started.
The music was blaring and there was a fairly long line of people waiting to get in, but it only took a couple minutes for you to move through the line and pass over the threshold and into the scene of dimmed lights, packed bodies, and endless alcohol.
You knew you had a lot of things to worry about, but after the absolutely horrendous two days that you’d had to endure, between suspension threats, disastrous house meetings, crying in front of your ex, the boxer and lipstick fiasco, and financial aid meltdowns, you just wanted to be able to relax and have fun for a single night. You didn’t think that was too much to ask for, and the vodka bottle currently staring at you from the kitchen, seemed to be calling you and saying they were the perfect place to start in order to make that fun, relaxing night come true.
Once everyone got into the house, the girls broke up into their mini groups of close friends. You motioned to Sana and Jennie to follow you to the kitchen so you could get some drinks. It took some effort but the three of you eventually managed to make your way through the crowd that couldn’t bother to idle anywhere else besides around the counter of various alcohols and plastic cups. Each of you quickly made a sufficiently strong cup of vodka combined with whatever random mixers were available.
“Okay, now let’s find a comfy couch that isn’t covered in vomit stains to camp out on and get plastered.” You pointed towards the living room, where a majority of the party goers were.
“A couch without vomit stains?” Jennie clicked her tongue. “That’s a tall order for Kappa Sig.”
“Indeed.” Sana giggled, pointing towards some of the few empty places to sit in the back corner.
You made your way over there, exchanging hellos with a few people that you knew before plopping down on the couch, all three of you spilling a few splashes of your drinks on each other; not even a drop of alcohol in your systems yet.
“Well this is a great start.” You laughed, taking a large gulp from your cup that had you grimacing. “Jesus, this cheap ass Pinnacle. Come on, KS, get your shit together.”
“Well excuse the fuck out of me.” The voice came from someone you recognized immediately.
You turned around, a wide grin plastered across your face. “It’s okay Yoongi. I still love you even though you’re making us suffer with cheap booze.”
He sauntered over, sitting down on the armchair beside you. “Well, you’re lucky you’re one of my very good friends or I wouldn’t bless you with my own personal stash.” His smile was devilish as he pulled up a bottle of Tito's vodka.”
There was a collective gasp from you and friends. “Wow, keeping the good shit all to yourself.”
“Hey, didn’t I just say I was gonna help you out?” He twisted the cop off and motioned for the three of you to hold your cups out, and one by one he filled your cups up to the very top. “Be wise with this power, friends.”
“You know, Yoongi,” Sana said from across the couch. “I’d be totally willing to not take advantage of your hospitalities if you’d wanna help me out in another department.”
“Jesus, Sana!” You already knew where she was going with this. “You’re willing to drink rubbing alcohol instead of Tito’s just to get a good word in to Jin?”
Sana simply shrugged, zero shame in her methods.
Yoongi laughed. “Put a good word in? I’ll see what I can do.”
“Appreciate it.” She raised her cup to his and they cheered in the hopeful union of Sana of Jin.
Yoongi opened his mouth to speak, but something near the front of his house caught his eye. “Also, can we try to have no brawls in the house tonight?”
“Huh?” You were confused until you followed his line of sight, a mob of Lambda boys entering the house one by one; Jungkook leading them all.
“No fighting,” Yoongi reiterated. “Or no more Tito’s for you.”
You rolled your eyes, taking a sip from your drink that was currently ninety percent vodka. “You haven’t heard? We’re cordial now.”
“Cordial? A Greek Drive miracle, I guess.” He stood up from the armchair and motioned towards the guys. “I’m gonna go say hey to Kook.”
You nodded. “Okay, I’ll catch up with you later.”
Yoongi had managed to stay good friends with both you and Jungkook throughout this entire process. You hated the fact that the three of you never got to hang out together anymore because of the tension between you and Jungkook, but, hey, that was life.
“Don’t forget our deal, Yoongi!” Sana shouted as he started across the living room.
“I got you, girl. But just so you know our bedrooms are right next to each other so be mindful.” He lowered his hands to the ground, silently saying to keep the volume down.
“You’re the best!” She said, kissing her hand and throwing it out to the party host.
“Someone might be getting lucky after all.” You squeezed at her thigh before standing up. “So while you celebrate that, I’m gonna put more mixer in this drink so I don’t blackout by midnight.”
“You act like you don’t do that every other week.” Jennie laughed.
You squinted at her. “Rude.”
“Love you,” She said, making a heart shape with her hands as you made your way back towards the kitchen.
You gave small smiles as you passed more people that you knew that had just arrived at the party. You glanced towards the door, the Lambda boys still congregating there. You couldn’t help your eyes from catching on Jungkook. He was standing there, grinning at everyone who approached him. He was the type that could be friends with anyone. A bright light that everyone gravitated towards, that no one ever found boring. You bit the inside of your cheek at the gnawing though that never failed to enter your head anytime you saw him. And it was like he could sense that pull, because then he was looking at you, giving a small nod of acknowledgment.
A tiny, insignificant nod. At its very best, that was what your relationship was now, and that made you feel incredibly empty.
You screwed your eyes shut for a second, shaking your head, trying to force those things from your head as you finally made it to the kitchen and poured a little bit of the first soda you could reach into your cup; just a little bit.
And the party continued on like that for the next hour or two. Laughing and smiling with your friends and then hunting Yoongi down to steal some of his personal alcohol, all while catching random glances of Jungkook. It was fun and your buzz was well in effect by the time it was once again the moment to go find Yoongi.
You asked Sana, who was currently talking to Jin in the corner of the living room, if she had seen him. Apparently a very good word has been put in and two seemed to be hitting it off.
“He went out back.” She motioned towards the sliding glass door.
You offered a hum of thanks and left them to mingle alone as you made your way to the door and pulled it open. You searched the tiny groups of people that were standing around, not able to find Yoongi anywhere until you noticed two occupied chairs sitting in the distance. One was Yoongi and the other… Well, of course it just had to be Jungkook.
You took a deep breath, taking a sip of your drink before walking out to the secluded area beneath the giant tree where they were chatting. You did a little run in the last few feet of approaching them before kneeling down next to Yoongi’s lawn chair. his body slightly hiding Jungkook’s.
“Hello, my spirit bearing friend.”
“And if it isn’t the spirit stealer herself,” Yoongi said as he grabbed your cup and poured a shot or two inside. “I already had to get another handle of Tito’s from my room. You’re killing me tonight.”
“It was a bad day.” You poked your bottom lip out as an apology. “I’m sorry.”
“It couldn’t have been that bad.” He motioned towards your cup that he had filled up multiple times already tonight.
“Well, I fucked up something with one of my scholarships, so now I’ve gotta find a place to live by the end of next week because I can’t afford to stay in the Tri Delt house.” You shrugged, the alcohol making the daunting situation seem less serious than it actually was. “So yeah, bad day.”
“Are you serious?” Yoongi said at the same time that Jungkook leaned forward with this concerned look on his face before saying, “Wait, what?”
“No… It’s, uhm, fine.” You glanced at the ground and began awkwardly scratching at your temple. “I don’t wanna ruin the mood for tonight. I’m gonna start looking for roommates tomorrow, so if either of you guys know of anyone.” You pointed your cup towards both of them with a shrug, trying to make it seem casual.
Yoongi nodded, and then suddenly a smile was creeping across his face. You knew that expression well. It was the expression he’d made when you were all sixteen and drunk and decided that going to the rope swing down by the lake (the alligator infested lake) in the dead of night was a perfectly sane idea. Or when it was your senior year prom and he convinced you and Jungkook that an impromptu beach trip a few hours away would be fun, and it might actually have been if any of you had thought about money, hotel reservations, or just any sort of planning in general, but you didn’t, so it essentially became a three drive only to end up at a Denny’s in a beach town instead of your hometown. The point was, you had seen that expression many, many times, and it was one that he made when a bad, impulsive idea started creeping through that brain of his.
“Whatever it is, no,” You said as you pushed some of the leaves and sticks off of the grass so you could sit down.
“You don’t even know what I’m gonna say!” He exclaimed. “It’s a brilliant idea actually.”
“Yeah, we know that face anywhere.” Jungkook moved his chair forward slightly so that the three of you were now sitting in a triangle, facing one another. “Ideas that come from that face are never brilliant.”
Yoongi smacked his lips. “Well, that’s offensive.”
“What’s offensive is almost getting eaten by alligators because you convinced us by using bogus gator attack statistics,” You pointed out, and Jungkook chuckled at the memory.
“But, we didn’t get eaten, so it’s fine.” He shrugged.
“Whatever.” You rolled your eyes. “So what’s this plan cooking in your head right now?”
The devilish expression returned once more as he began looking back and forth between you and Jungkook. Oh, this was not good.
“Well, you said that you need a place to stay, right?”
“...Right,” You said hesitantly, not completely sure where this was going until he turned his sights towards Jungkook; the phone call you’d overheard from earlier in the day flashing through your mind.
“Yoongi, you idiot—” You started to say, but he was already spewing the other half of his grand plan.
“And Jungkook needs a roommate!” He shouted, clapping his hands together like he’d just invented the surefire way to cure a hangover. “It’s perfect!”
There was a pause between the group, complete silence save from the chatting going on closer to the house — and then there was uncontrollable laughter. You and Jungkook doubled over at the most ridiculous proposal that you’d ever heard in your entire lives.
Because it was totally ridiculous… Right?
“Why are you guys laughing?” Yoongi asked, looking genuinely confused. “That solves literally all of your problems.”
You caught the tear that was escaping out of the corner of your eye. “Yeah, it’s a great idea in theory Yoongi, if me and Jungkook didn’t have issues.”
“I mean you guys are sitting here right now with each other.” He motioned between the two of you. “And there’s no fighting going on like there usually is. Plus, you said your houses were cordial now. I thought that meant you guys too.”
You and Jungkook glanced at each other, the amused smiles from Yoongi’s scheme faltering slightly. It had been a long time since you guys had been like this with each other. There was the talk after Pub last night and now you were here, just sitting and laughing with a mutual old friend. It was nice, you had to admit. But living together? That was just totally absurd.
“Yoongi, that’s…” Jungkook trailed off, shaking his head, but not saying anything concrete. “And it doesn’t actually solve all of our problems… Our houses aren’t as cordial as we were hoping they’d be, even after we told them about President Kwon’s suspension threat.” You had texted Yoongi about the suspension fiasco yesterday and you were sure that Jungkook had done the same.
“Wow, your members really are fucking idiots.” Yoongi laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. “You guys have way more pull than you realize.”
Your brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
Yoongi held one finger up as he sipped from his cup, like he was about to drop some serious knowledge on the two presidents who had no control over their houses. “College kids are like toddlers. They need guidance. Before you guys were sort of like their big brother and sister whose lead they followed because they liked you and thought you were cool — that’s how you guys became presidents after all. Which means now you’re essentially like their parents.”
You snorted at the idea, but it wasn’t the craziest analogy. You remembered when you were a freshman and first joined Tri Delt. The president back then felt like this motherly figure who you could go to for anything. It was hard for you to think that other people now saw you that way, but maybe they did and you hadn’t fully noticed yet.
“You’re laughing, but I’m serious,” Yoongi started again. “Okay, so you guys told them they needed to get their shit together, right?”
You and Jungkook both nodded.
“And like I said, you guys are like their parents — their divorced parents who they respect but feel the need to defend depending on whose side they're on.”
Again, you and Jungkook just looked at each other, a tiny piece of understanding falling into place. You and him had just been two people who didn’t work out. You thought it was a simple issue, but you just never realized what the consequences of that would be. People choosing sides. Defending each other’s actions. Getting even.
It was a mess. A mess that needed to be fixed somehow.
“Well that’s nice to know,” Jungkook said, breaking you from your thoughts. “But it doesn’t actually help us fix anything.”
That was true. Just because you knew why everyone had so easily fallen into this feud didn’t change the fact that something needed to change. Something had to be done… And as you glanced over at Yoongi, his expression that signaled bad ideas returned once more. It let you know that he had an idea or two about what could be done.
“Well, maybe you guys could reverse the divorce.” He shrugged.
It took you a second to grasp what he was trying to say, and then you were sputtering and ripping the bottle of vodka from your friend’s hand. “You’re cut off.”
Jungkook scoffed, an incredulous look adorning his features as well. “Seriously, what the fuck did you smoke, dude?”
“Nothing!” He grabbed the bottle back from your hand. “Strictly liquor tonight.”
“Like the roommate idea was one thing—” Jungkook started.
“Oh!” Yoongi cut him off. “So you didn’t think Y/N moving in was the worst idea ever.”
“I… I…” His mouth was closing and opening, like he truly didn’t know what to say. “Like as a last option it wouldn’t be the end of the world.”
“What?!” You said, a little louder than you’d intended, but you couldn’t help it. He was actually considering the idea of the two of you moving in together? “Us? Living in the same house?”
Jungkook shrugged. “I mean it’s better than you being homeless and me being broke.”
Your head was spinning, and you didn’t know if it was from the alcohol or that this insane idea was actually being proposed in a semi-serious manner.
“See, this is perfect!” Yoongi sat the glass bottle down on the grass and reached out to grab at yours and Jungkook’s arms, yanking you closer together. “Just pretend to get back together. If you just said it, no one would probably believe you, but if you guys actually move in together, no one would think that you’d go that far just to get everyone to stop fighting. The Great Greek Ruse! It would be the best story of all time!”
This was crazy. This was absolutely fucking crazy, and you knew Yoongi was half-joking with all of this, but you could tell that there was little bit of hope gleaming off of his eyes.
You grabbed Yoongi’s face on either side, forcing him to look at you. “You. Are. Fucking. Plastered.” You said each word slowly and deliberately to try and penetrate through the haze of drunkenness to get to the part of him that held actual common sense.
“Yes, I am in fact plastered.” He grabbed your wrists, his excitement only seeming to multiply. “But I would argue that the most logical solutions to problems come from being drunk. There’s no hesitation that an idea seems ridiculous, because everything seems less ridiculous when you're fucked up.”
You fisted your hands through your hair. “You’re crazy. Literally crazy. Jungkook, tell him he’s crazy.” You looked at him for confirmation, but he just sat there, pursing his lips like he was… thinking. Like he was actually considering it. “Are you serious?”
He threw his hands up in a defensive position. “No, it’s completely crazy. It’s just… Do you have any better ideas?”
“I can’t believe we’re even talking about this right now.” You scoffed, falling back flat against the grass and throwing your hands over your face. “Even if we did try to be that stupid and lie to everyone, they would never in a million fucking years believe that we would ever get back together. We fought in front of them literally yesterday!”
You peeked through your fingers and Jungkook held an expression that made it seem like he wasn’t so sure that was true. “I don’t know about that. All I did earlier was tell Jimin that we talked last night and two seconds later he had gone off on some tangent about how disappointed he was in me for sleeping with you again — and I corrected him that we didn’t, by the way.”
“Oh, fuck Jimin then,” You hissed, going off topic from this insane fake dating ruse.
“Come on, you know how it is. Sana and Jennie would act the same way. It’s like Yoongi said, the Lambdas defend me and the Tri Delts defend you. That’s literally how this entire mess started.”
You sighed, sitting back up and raking any stray pieces of grass out of your hair. You didn’t say anything, because you truly didn’t know what the correct response was. Sure, you knew that you needed to figure out a way to not get your chapters suspended… But this idea of pretending to get back together? You tried to imagine the reactions, but you just couldn’t, because again, this was fucking absurd. You were about to verbally reiterate this point once more when Jungkook continued.
“Look, all I’m saying is that when we broke up they saw how bad our relationship got and they decided to defend us. Maybe if we pretended to get back together, just for a little bit, they’d finally back off because the entire reason they started fighting in the first place wouldn’t even be an issue anymore.” Jungkook shrugged. He fucking shrugged.
“Do you even understand what pretending to get back together entails?” You began waving your hands around and pointing at your head, because maybe it would help get the point across somehow. “It means acting like we actually want to be together in public. It means no flirting or going home with people on campus or at parties because someone we know might see us. Would you actually be willing to go through that much effort?”
There was a pause and Jungkook just stared at you for a second, and then he started… smiling. This small, sad sort of smile. “What could it hurt to try?”
You scoffed, and scoffed, and scoffed, because you just couldn’t form words. You had explained it as best as you could, but neither he nor Yoongi seemed to get it. This meant… hugging, touching, kissing, just to prove to people that this was real. That you weren’t lying. That you wanted to be with him… And that he wanted to be with you.
You knew you hadn’t said anything in a minute or so, just lost in the details and implications of this scheme. You were only brought back to reality by Yoongi, speaking his piece once again. “Y/N,” He started, his voice quieter than it had been when he was excitedly explaining the idea before, “The worst thing that happens is they don’t believe you. But if you actually pull this off, you guys could save your chapters.”
Your mouth went firm and straight. The worst thing that could happen was the members not believing you? You had to stifle a laugh as you glanced towards Jungkook. No, that definitely wasn’t the worst thing that could happen. Not by a long shot. You knew why Jungkook didn’t see this as a terrible idea. He had nothing to lose, but you did.
However, in the end, you thought maybe the risk was worth it. Maybe this fucked up scheme could save you guys somehow.
“Uhm,” You finally started, clearing your throat to try and push your emotions back down into your chest. “So in the scenario that we actually tried this ridiculous plan… How would we go about telling everyone?”
You were staring at the ground, so you didn’t see what expression Jungkook’s face shifted into. You weren’t sure you wanted to know. Was it relief from having a shot at mending the relationship with your members? Or was it regret from you feeding into this idea that he hadn’t actually been taking seriously?
“Well,” Jungkook started, and you still refused to look at him. “First of all, did you say anything about our talk last night to anyone?”
“Not really. I told Sana that it was ‘enlightening,’ and basically said the same to Jennie. What about you?”
“I told Jimin that we talked about our feelings.”
You couldn’t help but laugh at that. “I’m sure he took that very well.”
“He was surprised…” Jungkook paused. “And I think that’s a good thing.”
You finally turned to look at him. “Why’s that a good thing?”
He stood up from his chair and held his hand out to you. You just stared at it for a second, confused at the kindness of the gesture before grabbing it and letting him help you up. He didn’t drop your hand even after you were standing up right, less than a foot of space separating you.
“Because I think if our best friends look genuinely shocked by what we’re about to do, then it might be a lot more believable.”
Your face twisted in confusion. “Uhm, what’re we about to do?”
Jungkook pursed his lips, hesitant as he opened his mouth to reveal what he was thinking. “I think if we’re gonna pull this off, we need to… show them, not tell them.” It was instant, the way your hand trembled in his. Immediately he was squeezing around your fingers, silently trying to reassure you. “We don’t have to do this. It’s probably not even gonna work… But again, it’s just something to try.”
You knew you didn’t have to do this. You knew it was probably smarter not to do this. But some small part of you wanted to do this. Some stupidly hopeful part of you.
You sucked a deep breath in through your nose and gave your bottom lip one hard, painful bite. “Fuck it, Kook.” You shifted your hand in his and interlocked your fingers. “Let’s do this.”
His eyes widened, the nickname slipping past your lips like the past two years never even existed. And then he was smiling, this pleasantly surprised smile that you hadn’t seen directed at you in what felt like an eternity.
“I know it was my idea, but I can’t believe this is actually about to happen.” Yoongi was standing next to the two of you, hands holding either side of his face, like he was about to witness the ruse of the century.
“Ready?” Jungkook asked.
“I guess I am.” You shrugged, motioning towards the house. “Let’s do this.”
“Deep breath,” He said before inhaling, and you followed without hesitation.
“Deep breath.” You nodded after you let the air slide past your lips.
And then he was pulling you towards the house, hand in hand, the only thing keeping you from devolving into a panic attack was the way he kept squeezing your hand.
You were approaching the fractured groups of people that stood outside of the sliding glass door, and all it took was one person to notice the two of you, and then suddenly people were pointing and staring, confused expressions appearing like a line of dominos, but you didn’t see any Lambdas or Tri Delts yet thankfully. Though, you knew that wasn’t going to last very long.
You ignored the attention as best as you could as Jungkook opened the door and led you in through the back of the house.
“So what exactly are we gonna do?” You whispered to him as you got closer to the living room; the main room of the house, with the most prying eyes.
He slowed his walk and dropped your hand before placing his palm on your lower back as he continued to usher you forward into the wild circus the two of you were about to create.
“I’m…” He paused as he pushed through the brush of people blocking the hallway until you were standing in the heart of the party. The lights in the house were all dimmed, but you still felt as though there was a bright, blinding spotlight on the two of you.
“You’re gonna what?” You asked, looking around to find Lambdas and Tri Delts lounging in every corner. You started to fidget, wringing your hands and gritting your teeth until you felt someone lightly grabbing your jaw and forcing you to look at them.
“I’m gonna kiss you,” He whispered, hand dropping to cup the side of your face. “I’m gonna kiss you right now, okay?”
Your eyes widened a little, mouth parting. You knew earlier that was what he’d probably meant when he said to ‘show them,’ but now that you were actually here in the moment, with him so close to your face that you could feel his breath hitting your skin… You were freezing up.
“I’m going to,” He said, leaning in closer. “If you changed your mind just push me back, because I’m really about to kiss you.”
A small voice in your head replied that you really wanted him to, as sad as that was. But you kept that thought to yourself as you closed your eyes and said, “Do it.”
His gaze dropped to your mouth and then he closed the gap, a gap that hadn’t been closed in over two years. His lips warm and soft, just like you remembered, suddenly pressing against your own. His hand slid to the back of your neck, the other coming to rest on your hip, the familiar motion in familiar places tugging your fingers like a magnet until they were twisting at the front of his shirt.
You knew that this kiss needed to be believable. It couldn’t be over the top, like you were trying to put on a show, but it also couldn’t be stiff, like the two of you were forcing it. Which technically, you were forcing it. It was pre-planned and clinical… But it didn’t feel that way.
You knew every tilt of his head before he decided to move, every light brush of his tongue before it met your own, every touch of his thumb before it grazed along the column of your throat. You knew everything. You remembered everything. And you wished you could say that there was at least one thing that was different. You wished you could say that when he hummed against your mouth, your stomach didn’t twist. But unfortunately, you couldn’t say that. Because it didn’t just twist — it warped into this undistinguishable, untangleable shape; one that you didn’t think anyone could ever hope to be able to unravel.
It was getting tighter and tighter, tying a knot around your lungs. You thought you’d have to pull away, gasp for air, and maybe ruin this whole charade the two of you were putting on, but all you needed to do was try and focus a little less on Jungkook kissing and touching you, and you’d be able to hear the buzzing chatter that was already surround you on all sides. Your names being shouted in unison breaking you apart.
You pulled back, breath heavy and uneven as you stared at his mouth, and you were at the very least happy that he looked just as uneasy, his eyes dark and hooded and reflecting something that you couldn’t pinpoint. But you weren’t able to just sit there and stare at him forever. You had to face the consequences of what you’d done, and when you turned to face the congregating mob of Lambdas and Tri Delts, complete shock resting on every single one of their faces, you knew this wasn’t going to be easy.
“Y/N?!” People were shouting your name, dozens of them, and you couldn’t tell who they were, but your eyes were locking with two particular people whose voices pulled you straight to them; Sana and Jennie.
“Jungkook, what the hell?!” Someone else said in the distance.
“Okay, literally what the fuck is going on?” Everyone was saying something along these lines to the point that it was just a sea of expletives and confusion, but it was Jimin suddenly climbing on top of the one of the couches that caught the entire room’s attention.
“I fucking knew it!” He yelled, shirt half-unbuttoned and clearly intoxicated as he jumped up and down on the cushions. “I knew something happened with you two last night, you bitch ass liar!” The upside to that proclamation was that it made this entire scene seem a whole hell of a lot more believable.
“What happened last night?” Jennie asked, concern embedded in her features as she and Sana pushed to the front of the crowd.
You couldn’t blame them for these over the top reactions, especially your best friends. They figured that you would tell them anything, and you would. If you actually managed to pull off this ruse, you were going to tell Sana and Jennie the details immediately. But you had to admit, Jungkook was right. Having your best friends raw reactions was making this seem more realistic and not as far-fetched.
You glanced at Jungkook for a second, giving a small nod that said they were just going to have to improvise this as best as they could.
“We… There was more to the talk last night than I told you,” You said, finally responding back to the random questions being thrown in every direction.
“Yeah, I wanted to tell you, Jimin,” Jungkook started. “But it happened so suddenly, and I knew a lot of you guys weren’t going to understand, so we wanted to talk about how we were going to go about telling you guys about this,” He said as he grabbed your hand and interlaced your fingers once more. The small gesture had people gasping as if that was more damning than making out.
“Wait, wait, wait,” Sana rattled off, hands tangling in her hair like her head was about to overheat. “You guys are back together? Y/N, you didn’t say shit about this when I talked to you this morning.”
“I… we’re not back together… yet.” You squeezed his hand, silently telling him that you knew what you were doing. You thought saying you were completely back together was less believable than saying the two of you were simply talking again. “We’re just working through things, and I didn’t wanna jinx it when I was talking to you this morning, but I was going to tell you.”
You could see the hurt flashing through her eyes at you not telling her the truth, even though it wasn’t actually the truth. You wanted to pull her in and apologize, but she would know the actual circumstances soon enough.
“This is in-fucking-sane,” Taehyung said as he also stepped to the front. “Talking? If you’re doing that, you’re basically already back together.”
“Fuck, is that why you got pissed at me for making that comment about Y/N this morning, Kook?” Baekhyun shouted from the back. “I’m sorry, man. I didn’t know!”
This was actually going a lot better than you had anticipated. All of these tiny coincidences of what you had told your friends or the way the two of you had acted since yesterday were building up to be a pretty convincing lie.
“You’re fine,” Jungkook shrugged. “You didn’t know — but now you do.” That last part came out a little more harsh; a believable act from the Lambda president.
“I just don’t get it,” Joy said from somewhere in the middle of the crowd. “You just called him a lying piece of shit literally yesterday.”
Your jaw clenched. This was the part that had worried you the most, the fact that only yesterday the two of you had portrayed a relationship that wasn’t even slightly cordial, and now you were trying to say you had jumped right back into almost being in a relationship? It was a leap, but you were going to have to convince them to take the jump.
“I know I said that,” You started, clearing your throat to try and sound louder and more confident. “But I only said that because I was feeling hurt. We ran into each other after everything that happened yesterday and apologized. We ended up hanging out the entire night and texting all day today, and… and we talked about things that we haven’t talked about in a really, really long time.” That part was true at least. “Honestly, we weren’t going to say anything for a while, because we thought it would be too sudden for you guys, but we’ve been drinking and we kind of just forgot about how you guys might react. I’m sorry it happened like this.”
Everyone was quiet for a second. You looked around and found a slew of people that belonged to neither house recording this entire debacle. You weren’t sure where the two of you should go from here. Should the two of you stay together for the rest of the night or should you go talk to your friends? You didn’t know the best route to take. However, you and Jungkook had to be the luckiest people in the entire world, because you had a friend like Yoongi, who not only gave you ideas that were so crazy that they just might work, but also could get you out of any hiccups that his said crazy plans might run into.
“So everyone knows about the happy couple now?” Yoongi threw his arms around you and Jungkook, a beaming smile staring out at the crowd of stunned Tri Delts and Lambdas. “Perfect, because I’m shit at keeping secrets.”
“Wait, you knew?” Jennie asked.
“Yeah, they were both texting me this morning about all of their gross, mushy feelings.” He faked a gag for good measure. “You guys know I’m friends with both of them so they wanted an impartial opinion. Plus, as their very good friend I’ve wanted them to get back together since they broke up, so I may have pushed them along in the right direction.” You weren’t sure if that was what Yoongi actually felt or if he was just saying it for whatever reason. Either way, you were actually happy because it was only adding to the air of believability. “So instead of standing there like you’re devastated, maybe seem happy for this newly rekindled love?”
“Give us a minute,” Johnny said, his tall head poking up from the crowd in the back. “We’re in shock.”
You finally let yourself look at Jungkook again. He was already waiting for you with a small upward tilt of his lips. To everyone else it probably just looked like a smile between two people who were reconciling, but to you it was a sign of victory. The two of you did it. They believed you — at least for now.
“Okay, can we at least talk to you in private?” Sana asked, now that the crowd was starting to disperse to simmer over this newfound information.
“Yeah, let’s talk.” You nodded and then turned to whisper into Jungkook’s ear. “I’m telling them the truth, but no one else.”
“Yeah, I’m telling Jimin and that’s it,” He murmured.
“Okay,” You said and then quickly pressed a small peck to his lips before dropping his hand and immediately getting dragged away by your friends before you could say a single word.
You spent the next half hour explaining to them every detail of the Great Greek Ruse Yoongi had cooked up, and by the end of it they were completely slack jawed before disintegrating into a fit of laughter at just how insane the two of you must have been to try and pull off something like that.
Your only response to them being that there were only a few things in life that could end a war that was saturated in as much hostility as the one between the Tri Delts and the Lambdas; love being one of them — even if it was fake.
———---
The party continued on after that. Your friends not allowing you out of their sights as they bombarded you with every idea that danced through their heads about how to keep the ploy of yours and Jungkook’s fake relationship up for as long as possible, and how the two of you were going to go about hooking up with people without everyone finding out. You were actually thankful for that, because you and Jungkook hadn’t gotten a chance to work out the logistics of how you were going to act in public.
You simply listened as Sana and Jennie amused themselves with this situation that their best friend had gotten themself involved in when you felt your phone buzz in your pocket. You pulled it out, Jungkook’s contact flashed across the screen with a text. You should probably get around to changing his contact name from ‘Jungkook the Jackass’ in case anyone ever caught a glance at your phone. Meet me out front, the text said.
“I’ll be right back,” You told Sana and Jennie as you lifted yourself off of the couch. “I’ve gotta talk to Jungkook.”
“Tell your lover I said hello!” Sana chuckled, no longer having that hurt like in her eye from earlier now that she was in on everything.
You quickly moved through the crowd of people that was now beginning to thin as the night got later and later before stepping past the front door. You looked around for a second before you noticed Jungkook standing at the base of the driveway waiting for you. He spotted you, motioning for you to come down. You wondered what he wanted. Probably to just gloat in relief that their idiot plan actually succeeded.
“Hey,” You whispered as you decided to stand a little bit closer to him than you normally would just in case anyone was watching. “What’s up?”
He looked around, presumably to make sure no one was in ear shot, and when he found that the coast was clear he turned towards you, an ecstatic grin staring at you. “I can’t believe that actually worked.”
“I can’t either. Yoongi was right. They really are like toddlers.” You laughed.
“Yeah, I mean we don’t know for sure yet if this is actually gonna stop them from fighting, but I saw some of the members who I know have had issues in the past actually talking, so I think that’s a good sign.”
“Yeah, I saw them too.” Lambdas and Tri Delts who had pulled some pretty spectacular pranks on one another seen speaking in what looked to be a respectful manner? A complete miracle. “How’d Jimin take the news?”
“Oh, he thinks it’s completely hilarious.” Jungkook chuckled.
You smiled. “Sana and Jennie think the same.”
“I figured they would. Though seeing them that pissed off was kind of funny.” He paused, looking off into the distance before shoving his hand into his pockets. “But anyways, the reason I called you out here was to give you this.” He pulled his hand out of his pocket and made a fist in front of you. You opened your palm to receive whatever he was trying to give you; a single key suddenly falling into your grasp. “I have a spare in my car, but that’s the key to my apartment — or I guess our apartment now.” He laughed, scratching awkwardly at the back of his neck.
You had been so focused on the fake dating aspect of this predicament that you had almost forgotten about your living situation. You held it up between the two of you. You couldn’t believe this was actually happening. You were about to move in with your ex, while everyone except for your best friends believed that you were back together.
“Are we really gonna do this?” You finally asked.
“I don’t see why we wouldn’t be able to make it work. I think the past two days showed that we can be around each other and not act crazy.”
You agreed that things had definitely shifted, and not just because you had to pretend to be in a relationship now. You wanted to think that you could make it work, that you could put your petty, bitter ways behind you.
And when you told Jungkook that you felt the exact same way about making things work before leaving to go home for one of your last few nights in the Tri Delt house, you truly meant what you had said to him… But sometimes situations happen, and as they say, old habits die hard.
--------
three days later
You were completely out of breath as you climbed the stairs to your new apartment building, about a dozen duffle bags filled with your various belongings were wrapped around your body as you tried to keep your phone smashed between your shoulder and your ear.
“Why’d you decide to move out early?” Jennie whined from the otherside of the line. “Did you wanna get away from us that bad?”
You tried to muster a laugh as you attempted to make it up the final few steps without passing out. “Of course I wanted to stay longer, but both of my classes got cancelled, and I’d rather just get it over with than have to deal with it on a Friday like I was going to.”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it.” She huffed. “But I’m still not happy about you having to live with the devil’s spawn.”
You tsked at her. “Hey, we’re all trying to get along now, remember?”
“I know… But I’m still acting like a bitch to Jimin, I don’t care,” She added quickly.
“Well, that one I’m okay with.” You chuckled. “But I just got to my apartment, so I’ll call you back in a little bit, okay?”
“Okay, talk to you later.” And then the line went dead and you were fishing for the key that Jungkook had handed you outside of Kappa Sigma on Saturday night.
You couldn’t believe it had only been three days, but in those three days things had been going okay, actually. There had been no incidents involving either the Tri Delt or Lambda house, and after the everyday, non-stop antics from the past few years, that was as close to divine intervention as you could get. So yes, you could say that maybe you had developed a slight bit of optimism. Everything was working out at the sorority, you actually had a place to live — things truly were going well. But you should’ve known that when things were going well, Jeon Jungkook was always there to throw a wrench in your happiness, because as you wiggled the key inside of the lock and pushed your way inside, the last thing you had ever wanted to see in your entire life was staring right back at you.
Your ex-boyfriend, who publicly was once again your actual boyfriend, whom you still had occasional feelings of longing for, was currently balls-deep in a girl on his living room couch — which was now also your living room couch.
The door slammed against the wall before you could stop it, both of their terrified faces suddenly turning to you as they immediately yanked a blanket over their naked bodies.
“Jesus Christ, Y/N!” Jungkook yelled. “You said you were coming Friday!”
You couldn’t help it. The tiny, petty demon you had tried to squash down in size over the past few days was suddenly bubbling over at the flare of emotions ricocheting inside of your head. Your teeth gritted together, eyes cutting daggers across his skin as you forced a saccharine smile as fake as this relationship.
“Well, honey, I’m home now.”
#bts#bts fanfic#jungkook#jungkook fanfic#jeon jungkook#jeon jungkook fanfic#kpop fanfic#bts angst#jungkook angst#fanfiction
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You Can Do Better (Rio x Reader)
Requested by anon, i’ve posted this for the third time and tumblr is being a fucking asshole to the point were i’m thinking of quitting this since every week I get a new way of them hiding my works. Enjoy it while it lasts
T.W. mentioning of attempted rape
(Y/n) had been Micks neighbor for a few months before the incident happened, this absolute dumpster was the only thing she could afford at the time, fresh out of college, in a foreign country without any family, but she was hoping to moving quickly. However, when Mick was coming home, he heard her screams and cries for help from the bottom of the stairs, he had seen her once or twice, even baked him cookies when he first moved in, she was nice and a quiet neighbor.
He found (y/n) being held down by two men in masks and one of them try to rape her, she was begging and screaming, he almost acted on instict when he shot the guy in the back, the other tried to attack him and he also ended up with a bullet in between his eyes. (Y/n) thanked him and Mick had to stop her from calling the police. Instead they called Rio. He was met with two dead bodies, A girl in her torn pajamas shaking and crying and Mick trying to calm her down.
“Those motherfuckers”
Was all he said, it didn’t take a genius to figure out what had gone down, Rio was a criminal and balls deep in despicable things, yet he was proud to say he had never laid hands on a woman nor a child. He kneeled in front of her, took a good look at her eyes, her entire body shaking as she looked at him, you could sense the trauma she had been through.
Rio had heard of her when Mick told him about this little girl next door that baked him cookies as a welcoming gift, he recalled how his friend laughed when he mentioned that the girl asked him his opinion about the next tattoo she wanted to get. Now this happy light hearted girl was replaced because two men thought they are superior.
“Hi sweetheart, I understand this is hard, we will take care of everything alright? You trust us?”
“I had locked the door, I was sleeping”
“I know sweetheart, it wasn’t your fault. We’ll take care of you ok?”
“Thank you”
-
Since Mick had vouched for her and Rio had seen her at her worst they felt obligated to take her under their wings, maybe even help her earn a little more money, get a good car, pay her bills comfortably, that sort of stuff. Until one day she asked to do more, get initiated
“Mama this isn’t the playground, we ain’t playing cops and robbers”
“I know, but you said I am learning quickly, why not teach me more?”
“Why you wanna do this? All of a sudden you feel like being a gangster? You were shaking in your shoes a few months ago”
“I’m done being your little child Rio, I want to hold my own. I will do this with or without you”
Rio looked at her with a serious face. She was growing, becoming fearless, ruthless, he had seen it coming, she was picking up more slack, asking more questions, she wanted to prove herself.
“You’re threating me mama?”
“And what if I am?”
She quickly not only proved herself, she became one of his most valuable members, she was his secret weapon, nobody would suspect a young little hotel receptionist being linked to them. She worked twice as hard and smarter than most if not all his men, advised him wisely and was always cool, calm and collected, she worked best under pressure. Scared little (y/n) felt like had never even happened, she was his soldier now, she had Micks status and Mick couldn’t be more proud, he had a soft spot for her.
“Hey mister policeman, Have some room for another criminal?”
She joked as she leaned at the door of her car, waiting for the new little boy toy to get out of the police station. Now the normal question is why is (y/n) around a police man, there is a two part answer to that. Great lover and also great cover, she was his little thing, so nobody would dare blame you for any crime, the girl of the police man being a gangster? it sounded like a joke.
“Depends on what crime we are talking about miss”
“I can think of a few, we can put those handcuffs to use”
As he approached her she smiled and took off her sunglasses. She looked amazing in her blue loose ripped jeans and a simple oversized white t shirt, a chain necklace around her neck and some nice rings on her fingers as her hair fell in front of her breasts, wearing a pair of high heels to style it up.
How you doing gorgeous?”
“Oh you know, thriving and surviving. How about you, I thought you had a day off today”
“Yes but I got assigned to a new case”
“Ohhhh should I be concerned? any criminal on the loose?”
“Not really, we are trying to find a link for this Rio guy”
Jackpot, this couldn’t have gone better. She tried to contain her smile and leaned back on the door, acting like nothing had happened.
“Oh I think you’ve mentioned him before, what did he do now?”
“Lots of things but motherfucker always slips away, chief thinks he has someone on the inside”
“Like a dirty cop?”
“Yes, so he wants me to look into it”
“Look at you, leading a case... Sexy”
The guy smiled at her, he was completely fooled and hooked. She hadn’t told anyone about her plan of seducing him to get information, she didn’t need to up until this point, yet what she did not calculate was Rio seeing her outside the police station talking to a fucking cop, the outmost enemy and being all close and cozy to him, acting all buddy buddy in broad daylight.
“I’m glad you like it miss”
“There’s a lot of things I like about you baby, anyway I have to go, I have a shift to clock in to”
“I’ll see ya later?”
“Maybe. Bye handsome”
At that (Y/n) got in her car and drove away. Rio was pissed, the girl he trusted and the girl he wanted was flirting with a policeman, how could she? He trusted her, taught her everything he knew, gave her everything with generosity and she was becoming a cops whore? Of course it wasn’t just about flirting with a cop, it was flirting with someone that wasn’t him.(Y/n) was a charming woman, he found her extremely attractive and she was even better now with the confidence she had gained over time, she was a woman he craved, the woman he wanted to have on his side, a queen that could hold the keys to his kingdom. Now all this was slowly shattering, no there had to be an explanation and he couldn’t wait to hear it.
Of course he could not just appear at her workplace, she was gracious enough to arrange a room for him incognito when Beth shot him, yet they had to act like strangers so all he could do was wait for her.
“Hey boss, sorry I’m late I had to take care of a few things”
“Like that cop friend of yours?”
She had barely closed the door of his office before he blurred it out, he had this whole plan of making her confess by herself, except when he saw her he lost control. Betrayal and confusion clouded his mind, as she stood there a bit dumbfounded for a quick moment before smirking at him.
“Stalking much?”
“I like to make sure my people are in line”
“Really? Is that why Beth is still walking around unharmed?”
He knew how much that had shook her up, (Y/n) took care of him almost as good as the doctor, she stayed with him until he fell asleep, helped him renew his bandages and anything else he needed, even though she never said it he was aware she was extremely concerned for him and he was grateful for her care, which made it even more complicated considering the fact that he was slowly becoming more addicted to her, needing and wanting more than she gave him.
“Let’s just cut to the shit, what were you doing there?”
“Talking”
“Talking? to a cop? what is this (y/n) huh?”
She sat in the chair calmly, any normal person would have either shit their pants or told him what they were planning right away. (Y/n) on the other hand found this amusing, she had grown tired of him doing things without considering the danger he was putting himself, especially when it came to Beth and the others, if it was anyone else they would have been six feet under the second Rio opened his eyes, now he had cut them in once again and had almost gotten Boss status.
“Yes, one of your little ladies is married to a cop, what’s the issue with me talking then?”
“Last time I check you ain’t never flapped your gums to a fed”
“I don’t flap my gums Rio, I have conversations and if you really want to know he is my new boy toy. He also was the one that told me about your case, how the fuck do you think I got the information? By holding interviews?”
Rio didn’t know how to feel, she was still working for him, had used her privilege to get information for him that had saved him a lot of money, however the whole “boy toy” thing did not sit well, she liked him, she gave him her time and even though she was stringing him along, she still had him in her life.
“You did what you were supposed to do and you got rewarded, so why you still talking to him”
“Don’t start the bullshit Rio, I’m not your daughter nor your girl so why do you care who am i fucking with”
“Where’s your fucking respect to your boss (y/n)?”
“Respect? how about where’s the respect for yourself? You let the suburban moms do whatever the fuck they are doing and I’m getting shit for having sex and getting you info from the feds?”
He was pushing it, he knew that and he didn’t care, it was time to reveal his cards and she was going to do the same, whether she liked it or not. Rio leaned back on his chair, his hand rubbing his chin as he looked at her, sitting there and looking right back at him, she wasn’t lying he knew that, she had a point for the suburban moms and she had expressed her disapproval for the little thing that was going on between him and Beth. What he did not understand was if she didn’t like it cause she was a tad bit jealous or because it fucked with their money and reputation?
“You are something else you know that?”
“Yet you still question my methods, if I remember correctly I wasn’t the one that planted three bullets in you”
“You are scared of losing me mama?”
She did not respond, she just turned and looked away from him. Of course (y/n) had picked up his little flirty remarks from time to time, she would be lying to herself if she didn’t admit she had thought of how he would be in bed, how his embrace would feel, his raspy voice was enough to start fantasies enough to make a book.
“Let’s say I am, what are you scared of Rio? Why do you care who I’m sleeping with?”
“He is a cop”
“A handsome cop, I’m sure you noticed how nicely that uniform was on him, let me tell you it’s even better when he sweats”
“I don’t need to hear it”
“Why? Does it bother you Christopher?”
She raised herself from the seat and placed her hands on the desk, leaning closer to him and making her breasts show just enough as her back curved in a perfect little S, she focused in his eyes as her tongue went over her upper lip. Rio got closer to her, his hand reached her face, as he held on to the side of her head and his thumb went over the lower lip.
“You’re not for him mama”
“Why not?”
“A woman like you is not for no goody two shoes, you can do better”
“Really? like who?”
They could feel each others breaths, their faces were almost touching as they both spoke in whispers, this conversation was not meant for no one else, they didn’t even have to speak as their body language was saying everything it needed to be said. She felt her breath become more swallow, his scent was getting her a tad bit flustered and so was hers to him.
He wanted to take her right here and then, just the idea of her naked body was enough to drive him wild, her hair was so soft he could only imagine them stuck on her face from the sweat, the most amazing part was her lips, soft and full that made his mind go wild with the need to feel them in his lips and his body, the doors to her moans.
“I can show you better than I can tell you”
“Let’s get it then boss”
#rio x reader#rio imagine#rio x you#rio x oc#good girls rio#good girls nbc#rio good girls#good girls imagine#nbc good girls#manny montana imagine#manny montana x reader#manny montana x you#manny montana#good girls x reader#good girls rio x reader#good girls rio nbc#rio
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