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avalil18 · 2 months

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Game Dey!

Summary: day and a life of game days!

——————-

You love game days! It always gives you a chance to hang out with the WAGs and meet new people and root for your husband. You are currently 5 months pregnant and so excited to meet your baby girl. The house is slowly but surely getting baby proofed. Not a lot of people knew about your pregnancy and you and Joe want to keep it that way for a while.

You were currently picking out a coat to go with your outfit. You are wearing your normal y/n game day outfit which consists of Blue jeans, a black long sleeve, and orange dunks. The temperature in Cincinnati is getting low. It was currently in the 50s. You picked out a black long coat and a number 9 clear purse to go with your outfit. After putting some lipstick and your film camera in your purse you decided to head downstairs where joes family is. His parents stay the weekend whenever there is a game because they live to far to drive back and forth.

“Hey guys!”-you

“Hi! I love your outfit!”-robin

“Thanks robin!”-you

“Are you guys ready to go?”-Jimmy

“Yep!”- you and robin

You guys then head out the door and into jimmy’s car.

“So y/n, have you guys decided on when to tell people you and Joe are expecting?”-Robin

She is sitting in the back with you as Jimmy drives.

“I think we want to wait a bit. I think there’s just a lot going on with football and we are still trying to figure out how we are going to do this.”-you

“Ah, I see!”-Robin

About a couple minutes later you guys arrived at the stadium. All of you hopped out of the car and went to scan the tickets to go on the field. You rarely go out on the field but Joe asked you to come out and say hello. You thought it was a tad bit weird but was not complaining.

There were a couple more people with you out on the field waiting to have the players come by. After a few minutes the bengals made there way out for warm ups. You spotted Joe immediately just as he spotted you. He ran up to you. He was wearing his all white uniform and a beanie. He looked so cute!

“Hey baby!”-you

You gave him a sweet peck

“Hi! How was it getting here?”-joe

“Good! Not a lot of traffic.”-you

“Good!”-joe

He then went over to hug his parents and you got a cute little picture of them hugging. After he said hello to his parents he turned back over to you.

“So, I know I am taking time off to be with you and the baby and people know that I’m taking time off but they don’t know why. I was talking with admin and they said I should give a least a small little answer to the media.”-joe

“So, you are announcing that I’m pregnant?”-you

“Yeah, if that’s ok with you, I don’t have to if you don’t want me to y/n. I know we said we want to wait but you see that everyone is talking about how I’m not going to be here for a bit and it’s getting to be a lot.”-joe

“Yeah..yeah I understand Joe, then maybe I should announce something to! But you can tell them I don’t mind.”- you gave him a smile

“You sure?”-joe

“Yes Joe, I’m sure!”-you

“Ok! Oh, how about you be there when I make the announcement. You will have front row tickets!”-joe

“Haha, sure! I would love that!”-you

“Great! I will tell admin!”-joe

“Ok! But before you leave, I want to tell you that you are amazing Joey! And that I’m really am proud of you!”-you

“Thanks babe! I love you with all my heart!”-joe

“I love you to burrow, with all my heart!”-you

You two kissed and he went along his way.

—————

After the game

(In the media room)

Joe walked in and sat in a chair with microphones and recorders all over the table. He was still wearing his uniform. Reporters filled the room. Cameras were everywhere. You were a tad bit nervous but Joe gave you a smile and it made you feel a little bit better.

“Hey Joe, how’s it going?”- reporter

“It’s going good! You know came out with a win so that’s always good, but we have to get back to work for next Sunday.”-joe

“And I hear you are taking a leave. What is that all about?”- Reporter

“Uh well, I know that has been circulating the news lately but nothing is wrong with me physically, but the real reason is my wife and I are expecting.”-joe

“Wow! Congrats!”- reporters

The whole room started clapping and cheering. Joe had a big smile on his face and looked at me. I gave him a nod and a big smile.

“Thanks! But I do ask to let my wife and I have our privacy during this time. I will be spending my time with her and the baby during my time off.”-joe

“Do you guys know the gender yet?”- reporter

“Yes we do! But I’m not telling.”- joe gave a smirk

The whole room laughed.

“How is your wife doing during all of this?”- reporter

“Well she is actually here right now, but she is doing great! She is going to be an amazing mother and I’m very lucky to have her by my side. She has always been there for me through the highs and lows and I honestly don’t know what I would do without her. She’s my best friend.”-joe smiled

He looked at you and you both started laughing when you felt tear roll down your face.

“Awww! Well congrats to you and her!”- reporter

“Thank you! But uh, let’s get to football!”-joe laughed

The whole room thought that was funny because they know he is a very private person.

They asked him about the game and some amazing plays that the team ran but after a while I could tell Joe was done.

“Yeah, the team is gearing up for next week against the titans and I know they can come out with a win, but I have to get going! Thanks guys!”-joe

He stood up from the chair and walked down to me in the front row. He gave me a hug and a small kiss on the cheek.

“I’m so proud of you Joey! And you’re going to be an amazing dad!”-you

“Thanks babe! Ready to go?”-joe

“Yep!”-you

He still has one of his arms wrapped around your waist as you two exited.

“Let me change real quick and then we can go!”-joe

“Ok! I will find your parents!”-you

You gave him a peck and he walked towards the locker room. After a few minutes of waiting for Joe with his parents a notification from twitter popped up on your phone.

“Joe Burrow and Wife after announcing they are having a baby! ⬇️”

You clicked on it

It was a video of him walking off the podium with a huge smile on his face coming up to hug and kiss you. It was showing you telling him how proud of him you are and both of you walking out laughing and kissing each other.

“Aww!”-you

“Is that you and Joe?”-Robin

“Yeah!”-you

“Aww that’s the sweetest thing! Jimmy come see this!”-Robin

I showed both of them and we were laughing about how Joe was actually anti PDA.

“Hey, what are you guys laughing at?”-joe chuckled

“Oh nothing!”-you laughed

“Mhm.”-joe

“Come on let’s go home!”-you

All of you guys walked out of the stadium and into the car back home. Robin and Jimmy sat up front and you and Joe sat in the back. You rested your head on his shoulder.

“I love you y/n.”-joe

“I love you too joe!”-you

He kissed your head.

When you guys got home you decided to post something.

Y/nBurrow

Liked by yourbff, Bengals and 1,000,000 others

Y/nBurrow our little secret🤫🤍

Comments:

Yourbff ahhh I’m an auntie!❤️

joeyb_9 not so secret anymore🤍

Y/nBurrow nope! Luv ya!

Body_by_hollyyy OMG! The cutest fam everrrr!! Love you!!🩷

User2017 this just broke the internet

Bengals we have a new team member! 🐯🧡

lahjay10_ My step brother is having a child!

joeyb_9 yes I am!

User_1019 cutest thing ever!

—————-

#joe burrow

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simpin4juicyfruitsnacks · 5 months

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Ghost Boy pt.1

Bf Juicy x Fem Boys member

(listen I know the Pennhurst asylum is a haunted house/Halloween attraction now but for the sake of the story its abandoned and privately owned)

Following the boys to the rental van, you sigh, “I can't believe I let you guys talk me into this.” Gaege slips his hand into yours, “Come on babe we do haunted videos all the time we’ll be fine.” You roll your eyes and walk to the back where Kevin and Dose are loading up the camera equipment and setting up the mic packs, “Listen I'm just saying I've heard spooky shit about this place and I know the Aussies are out to get me after I pranked them with mouse traps the other night at the last haunted place.” You turn to Kevin so he can help you with your mic and he smiles, “I don't see how they could hold a grudge that was hilarious.” Josh walks up to get his mic followed by Mully, “Yeah it's hilarious now but it wasn't when I jumped out of bed at 3 am because someone played siren sounds on a megaphone and landed in hundreds of mouse traps.” You shrug and help your boyfriend with his mic, “Im surprised you two slept through the setup for that.” Mully pulls his hoodie on, “Yeah I will agree that was pretty impressive but I did break my toe trying to get out of there.” You put your backpack into the trunk then climb into the back row of seats with Gaege and Kevin. Narrator hops into the driver's seat, “Listen with Gabby tagging along we are short one seat so we need to figure out who's gonna sit on the floor, yes it's unsafe but it's our only option.” You decide to take one for the team. As you sit on the floor at Gaege's feet Josh takes the empty seat between Gaege and Kevin. Kev turns on his camera to get some footage on the ride to the filming location and points it at you, “So we're on our way to an abandoned hospital for the night and the fan favorite is stuck sitting on the floor for the next hour. Y/N how are you feeling?” You look up from your phone and laugh, “Honestly I'm pretty comfortable sitting here, but I am really nervous about being stuck with you idiots all night in a haunted ass building." Kevin pans the camera around to Josh, “She's scared me and Mully are going to get revenge for the mousetrap incident.” Gaege looks around Josh at the camera, “Another incident to add to the Boys’ list guys, the mousetrap incident of 2024.” Dose films the ride and everyone talks about how they think the night is gonna go for the rest of the ride. You start to doze off a bit but the car comes to a stop and Narrator yells, “Alright guys we're here.” You stretch in your spot on the floor and sigh as Kev points the camera at you again, “Yay I'm so excited.” He laughs behind the camera, “We love the enthusiasm Y/N.” You crack up a bit and flash the camera a smile before Kevin climbs out of the van. Once everyone climbs out of the van filming starts. The camera turns to Narrator who gives a brief summary of the hospital's history, “Welcome back to the Boys! Today we are here in Pennsylvania at Pennhurst Asylum which is said to be one of the most haunted hospitals in the United States. Rumors of neglect, abuse and torture, tales of patients being chained to the walls, children kept for years in cribs and even murders. This place has some pretty dark history starting from 1908 when it opened, well into the 80s when they finally got shut down. People who've investigated here documented spooky audio recordings, and some pretty unexplainable movement of objects throughout the grounds, other reports include various objects being thrown across the room, visitors being physically pushed and multiple EVPs. So let's see what they've got in store for us.” You shiver adjusting your backpack then grab Gaege’s hand and walk with the group inside the building which has clearly been abandoned for decades. Inside the main corridor Eddie looks at the camera and says, “I wanna clarify that we have permission to be here don't just break into random abandoned buildings its dangerous and we don't want you to get in any trouble for trying to do what we do.” On cue the owner comes out of an office and meets the group, after talking to everyone for a bit he decides to leave for the night.

Pt 2 in the works.

#juicyfruitsnacks #the boys #mullenslays #mully #your narrator #joshdub #gaege gibson #theboysvr #eddievr #gaegegibson

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sp1rit-realm · 1 year

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༻¨*:· 𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 ·:*¨༺

༻¨*:· summary ·:*¨༺ you get butterflies upon meeting the town freak.

༻¨*:· notes ·:*¨༺ 𖦹 fem!reader (she/her prns) 𖦹 college!au 𖦹 fluffy. so fluffy 𖦹 modern!au (reader found corroded coffin on spotify or something) 𖦹 chrissy is alive and well and gay as hell! 𖦹 i did not proofread this⎝(ˊᗜˋ)⎠

༻¨*:· word count ·:*¨༺ 𖦹 4.6k (wow. longest fic i ever wrote. cray cray)

Walking down the seemingly never-ending hallway, you curse yourself. Being 5 minutes late to your first class wouldn't leave an excellent impression. You cringe when the door creaks open—squeezing your eyes shut and pursing your lips. You beeline to the back of the class and take the first empty seat you see. The boy sitting beside the vacant one gives you a tight-lipped smile. He has big brown eyes and long curly hair.

'He's cute,' You think to yourself.

Two weeks later, you sit in the building's lobby. Eddie almost does a spit-take when you tell him your first impression of him. "I swear!" You protest—eyes squinted from laughter, "I thought you had to be James Hetfield's son. Distant cousin, at least."

"It's just because of the clothes," He laughs.

"And the hair! The hair!"

He laughs more; you join him.

Not long after you've met, the two of you drive around in his van blasting music, singing, talking, the whole nine yards. Soon, you're at his trailer, talking to this famed "Wayne" Eddie always speaks so highly about. He doesn't say much before leaving, and you're worried he doesn't like you.

"He likes you just fine, lovely," He reassures. Your stomach flips at the nickname. Lovely, he's never called you that before.

You nod, butterflies swarming in your stomach.

"What made you move here?" He asks, expertly rolling.

You're startled by the question, "Wanted to get away from my place. Family sucks sometimes," You shrug.

"So you decided to come to the rundown, shoddy town of Hawkins, Indiana?"

"Yeah."

"And then you befriended the town freak?"

You nod.

He shakes his head, "It seems like you're doing life all wrong."

"I think I'm doing it all right," You argue, "I met this boy, and we became friends. He's, like, the best friend I've ever had." You smile, looking at your hands as they rest in your lap.

Eddie smiles when he sees your eyes wandering around his room. He grins when you gawk at his homemade Corroded Coffin poster.

"You have a Corroded Coffin poster?" You practically squealed.

Eddie was confused, "Yes?"

Your head whips around so fast Eddie's worried you've injured yourself, "So you know who they are?" You were practically gushing.

"Yes?"

"Oh my God," Your words are rushed, "I love their music. I can't find any posters or shirts or anything. Where did you find this?"

Eddie can't stop his heart from overflowing, and his cheeks hurt from smiling so much, "C'mon. I have something to show you. It's in the car."

Excitedly, you skip through his house and up to his van. He searches through the back to find a CD. He's giddy as he hops in, signaling you to do the same. Once you're in the bucket of bolts, as you like to call it—Eddie hates the nickname with a passion. Eddie starts the van, slotting the CD into the player.

"This is, uh," You hear a voice come through, "Our first recording. Hope it sounds good. This is Eddie Munson. From Corroded Coffin," He adds, "For record purposes—or something like that. I'm really fucking high right now."

Your jaw is on the floor, "You're lying."

"I'm not lying!" He argues.

"I genuinely don't believe that my best friend is part of the band Corroded Coffin."

"Baby, not only am I part of it, I'm the lead guitarist."

The nickname, everything about this, has the butterflies fighting their way up your ribcage. You won't let them win.

"If I ever got to see you perform," You say, exhaling smoke, "I would've thrown my bra on the stage."

Eddie laughs, hoping you don't see how red his face is getting. "You wouldn't have," He disputes, "I'm just some guy."

"Or my panties," You ignore him, "Or any article of clothing."

"Again, babe, I'm just some guy." He repeats.

"Some awesome guy," You correct, "Who is sexy and can play the guitar."

Eddie sits up to stare at you, "Did you just call me sexy?"

Your eyes are saucers, "No. No, I didn't. I would never say anything like that."

A smirk crawls up Eddie's face, settling on his lips. It's a good look, you think, before shaking your head. Trying to get rid of the thought like your mind was an etch-a-sketch.

"What are you thinking about, pretty thing?"

The butterflies are in your throat, and you're unsure how long you can contain them. "Nothing," You respond, bringing the joint back to your lips.

He snatches it away from you, and you whine. He frowns at you, mocking sympathy, "You can have it back when you tell me what you're thinking."

Finally, you sit up, "'M thinking about how I want to smoke some more." You huff, crossing your arms.

"C'mon, babe," He pleads, batting his big brown eyes.

The butterflies are in your mouth, and you hold your breath, willing them not to escape. "I have to leave," Your words are rushed as you stand up, frantically looking for your sweater.

Eddie watches in amusement, "Looking for something?" He holds the sweater out of your reach.

"Whatever, I don't even need my sweater." You huff, going to storm out of his home.

Eddie stops you, "Shit, baby. I didn't know I upset you that much. I'm sorry." He frowns, and it feels sincere. So many things feel sincere with him, and it hurts your heart. You accept his apology and walk back to his room. He snuggles up with you in the tiny bed. It's nice when you lay with Eddie. His hands explore your body—they trace over your stretch marks and scars, rub up and down your thigh, and grab at your stomach. He doesn't touch you like a typical boy would. He's not lustful; he's gentle. He has no ulterior motives—he just wants to be close to you. He squeezes your hip, and you sigh pleasantly—a butterfly escapes. You let him know that he is bliss through a simple sigh, and Eddie takes that information and runs with it. He squeezes your hip again. You hum.

"Nice," You tiredly whisper.

Eddie can't help his grin, "Yeah? Feels nice, baby?"

You nod lazily, "Like when you call me baby."

Yeah, you're tired—tired and high.

He hums in response, and you fall asleep in his arms.

Eddie can definitely get used to this, he thinks. He finds you lovely like this. You have a little bit of drool on the corner of your mouth, and you'll totally freak out about it later. He's not sure why. All he knows is that you'll pitch a playful fit if he pokes fun at you. You'll do that thing where you get all pouty, and Eddie just wants to kiss your lips, which is something he cannot do. So he'll stick with not making fun of you.

You're softly snoring, and Eddie can't help but think that this is domesticity—this is what it's all about. For the first time, Eddie knows what he wants. He wants to wake up to you clinging onto him like a koala, and he wants to wipe away your drool, and he wants to get up and make breakfast for you.

"Baby," He whispers. It's gentle, like he doesn't want to wake you up, but he knows you'll be upset if you're late to class. You groan and murmur: "Five more minutes."

He wants to say okay, but it's eight o'clock, and you need to leave in twenty minutes.

"Baby," He repeats, softly shaking you, "It's eight."

You nearly spring up, "Eight?!" You ask, exasperated. "Eddie," You whine, "Why didn't you get me up earlier?"

"Because last night you told me to get you up at eight," He shrugs.

"I said eight at the latest, Eddie." You frown and cross your arms. And then you feel it—there's drool on your face. You furiously wipe at the side of your mouth, growing more embarrassed by the moment. You get up, grab your clothes, and head to the bathroom. It's pretty cramped in there; you make do. You splash cold water on your face, grab your toothbrush, and brush your teeth for undoubtedly shorter than two minutes. Your fingers comb through your hair, and you call it a day.

You lean against Eddie's doorframe, "Funny seeing you here." You smirk, and then your face heats up when you realize he's shirtless. Then, you can't stop staring at the plethora of scars that litter his body. What the fuck?

"Like what you see?" He asks, flashing his teeth. Then, his expression drops as he realizes that you're not enjoying the view; you're wondering what the fuck happened to him.

"I'll tell you in the car," He mutters. This is it—this is the end of any kind of chance he had with you. You won't believe him. Hell, he didn't believe it for a while.

On the drive to school, he tells you. He tells you everything, keeping his eyes on the road. He's too scared of your rejection. At the end of the story, all you have to say is: "I believe you, Eddie."

You're parked when he speaks next, and the three minutes in between feel like torture.

"You do?"

You can't make out his expression, "Eddie," You laugh out, though nothing's humorous, "If you told me the loch ness monster was real, I would believe you."

"Babe, this is far weirder than the loch ness monster. There is another dimension, baby."

The nickname has another butterfly escaping from your mouth as you smile.

"What's got you so happy?" He laughs as you try to hide your grin.

"Nothing," You shake your head. Eddie doesn't believe you.

"Are you happy that I almost died? What is it?"

You turn sheepish, fidgeting with your rings, "You called me baby again."

"You're cute as a button."

Class is spent yawning and passing notes to one another. Eddie's good at drawing, and he draws you amazing, stupid doodles. You keep every single one. They are hung up all over your room.

"Worst room decor ever," Eddie mumbles as he enters your room.

"Best room decor ever," You correct him.

"I can't believe you kept all of this. All of my shitty drawings."

You furrow your brows, "They're not shitty, Eddie. Don't say things like that."

He laughs at your sincerity, "Okay, baby, I won't."

There's no way he's not saying it just to fluster you at this point.

"Stop," You whine.

"Stop what, baby?"

You huff as you plop onto your bed, "Calling me baby."

"I thought you liked it when I called you baby, baby."

"I like it when you do it sincerely, Edison."

"Edison?!" His brows jump, "Isn't that the dude who invented the lightbulb?"

"All those years in high school did pay off!" You clap, "Good job Eddie!"

He scowls, "Funny. Real amusing," You giggle, "Yeah, keep it up. Keep laughing at the freak."

You pout, "I'm not laughing at the freak. I'm laughing at the smart boy I met on my first day of college."

Fuck, Eddie wants to kiss the pout right off of you. He settles for sitting next to you.

"Don't pout, baby," He rests his head on your shoulder, "I'm not worth pouting over."

This time, you actually pout, "What do you mean 'not worth pouting over?'"

"C'mon, sweetheart," He sighs, "I'm not worth much in general."

"You are worth so much, Eddie. And I'm not just saying that. You mean so much to me. You think I'd pin anyone's drawings up all around my room?"

He hides his head further into your neck.

"Hey, don't get all shy on me now." You chide, though the words have no backbone to them.

"'M getting shy on you. Not gonna stop until you're done being sappy." He murmurs into your neck—his hair is tickling you. You cant find it in you to care.

"C'mon," You whine, "Show me your pretty face, Eddie."

"No." He nuzzles further into your neck, "Called me pretty." He's soft-spoken—it's an intimate moment. An intimate moment that's unlike any other you've had. A boy is on your shoulder, and you built up the courage to call him pretty.

"You are pretty," You affirm.

"So are you."

You smile, butterflies growing stronger.

"You want to have lunch together?" Your voice crackles over the phone, and Eddie is unable to make out what you're saying.

"Sorry, what was that, sweetheart?"

"Edward," You state, "Would you like to get lunch with me?"

He frowns, "I can't."

You frown, too, "Why not?"

"An old friend is in town. I'm getting lunch with her at the best diner ever." He explains

"Oh!"

"Yeah, I'm really excited to see her." He continues.

"Okay, okay, we get it. You can't wait to see your BFF." Your tone is slightly more bitter than you intend, and Eddie picks up on it.

"What? You jealous?" He teases.

"Furthest thing from it, Edwin."

"Edwin?!"

"Goodbye, Edmund." You hang up.

Dejected, you walk to the cafeteria.

It's only been a year since Eddie last saw Chrissy, and he's missed her like hell. Back in the little diner, they laugh over nothing and everything.

He gets a call in the middle of Chrissy telling a story.

"Baby?" He answers, and Chrissy lights up.

"Can you get me something? A burger, maybe?"

And, of course, he'll bring you a burger. He'd bring you the sun and the moon if it meant he could see you smile.

"No," He declares, "No, I will not do that."

"Did I do something, Eddie? Sorry for calling you Edwin earlier. If that's what you're upset about."

"I'm joking around, baby. I'll definitely bring back a burger for you. I'll get you all the burgers you want. I'll fill my van with burgers, even." He twirls his hair. Chrissy can't stop grinning.

"Love you forever, Eds. I gotta go now."

"Why?" Eddie wines.

"'Cause there's a really cute boy walking towards me. Bye!"

And before he can respond, you've hung up.

"So..." Chrissy starts, "Who're you calling 'baby?'"

"Nobody," Eddie goes red, staring at his fries.

"C'mon, Eddie," She pleads, "I told you all about my girlfriend. Time to tell me about your partner."

"I'm not dating anybody, actually," Eddie frowns the slightest bit, "We're just friends."

"Okay, so," Chrisssy claps her hands together, "While I am here, I will be rolling out my master plan: Get Eddie Together With The Love of His Life. I'll figure out a way to shorten it."

Eddie's eyes widen, "Woah! Love of my life? A little too far, Chris."

"I saw that smile," She giggles, "Don't try and hide it from me."

"Reminder to self," You say, walking to class, "Just because he's cute does not mean he's interesting."

"Where's the pretty boy?"

You turn around to see Eddie jogging toward you. He holds a box that has your name written on it, next to it, a big heart.

"He was boring," You scoffed, "Wouldn't stop talking about baseball. Who even cares?"

Eddie throws his head back, "Exactly! Who fucking cares?! Not me, I'll tell you that much."

You laugh, going to snatch the box from his hands. "Mmm. Burbger."

“Burbger?” He laughs.

You nod, “Mhm.”

"Good burger," You sigh, "How come you've never taken me there? To the diner?" You clarify.

"Never felt the need to," He shrugs, and it hurts your feelings.

"Cool."

He nods, oblivious to his hurtful words.

You don't drive home with Eddie for the first time in weeks. You know you're acting childish, but he really did hurt your feelings.

Eddie still doesn't think anything is wrong until you don't text him goodnight. You always say goodnight to him.

'Baby,'

He texts you,

'I'm not sure what I did to hurt you, but I'm sorry.'

You don't answer, and his anxieties grow by the second.

What did he do?

"Eddie?" Chrissy croaks, "It's two in the morning."

"It's actually two fifty-eight," He corrects.

"Eddie," She scolds, "You know I love you, but shut the fuck up and tell me why you called me."

"I kind of fucked up big time. A big ole fucky-wucky on my part, Chris."

"Eddie, stop speaking in riddles and tell me what's happening."

"She won't talk to me—she didn't say goodnight, she won't answer my texts, she didn't come home with me today," He rattles off.

"Woah, woah, woah cowboy." Chrissy sighs, "Do you have any clue why she might not have said goodnight?"

"Because I fucked up?" He asks.

"Obviously. Do you know why you fucked up?"

"No. I don't. I have not a clue, Chris." He sighs, "Not a clue."

"Okay. Unhelpful," Chrissy groans, "Recall today's events."

"I woke up at seven forty-six," He begins.

"I meant your interactions with her, dimwit."

"She asked if I wanted to have lunch," he begins recounting his day, "Then she asked for a burger. I gave her the burger, and she said it was delicious. She then asked me why I never took her to the diner, and I said I never felt the need to. That's it."

Chrissy rolls her eyes, sighing, "You told her you never felt the need to?"

Eddie senses he's made a big mistake, "...Yes?"

"You idiot. Obviously, this diner is special to you, right?"

Eddie rubs his hand over his face, "I told her it's the best diner ever."

"Idiot! Idiot, idiot, idiot! You are so incredibly foolish, Edward."

"I know," He groans, "I'm going to apologize now."

"Goodnight, Munson."

"Night, Cunningham."

You wake up in a haze. Sitting up, you make a mental note to never cry yourself to sleep again. The first thing you do is check your phone.

Eddie's text lights up your screen.

'Hey,' It beings, 'Sorry for saying I never felt the need to take you to the diner. It's a really special place for me. I don't go often because I need it to remain special. I need it to stay stuck in time. I've only ever gone with my friends from before you, but I'll take you soon. I promise.'

It doesn't come off the best, but you know what he means. You're new to his life, and he wants to keep the diner old.

'Thanks, Eds :) I forgive you,' You reply.

'See you at school,' You finish.

Eddie walks into the lobby with a wild grin, searching for you. You're on your phone, probably playing that stupid game he likes to make fun of.

Eddie pulls out the seat opposite yours. You look up and smile.

"You look like the Cheshire Cat," You smirk.

"He went... that way," He puts on a goofy voice, reciting the creepy cat.

"Who did?" You play along.

"The white rabbit."

You widen your eyes, "He did?"

"Who did?" He furrows his brows.

"The white rabbit," You chuckle.

He takes a deep inhale, "What rabbit?"

Laughing, you continue, "But you just said— oh dear."

Eddie stands up, extending his arm toward you, "Can you stand on your head?"

You giggle, taking his hand.

You grab lunch together. Eddie's not ready to take you to the diner, so you settle for the small pizza place next to campus. Eddie nearly inhales his food, and you laugh when he chokes on his soda. You feel an overwhelming sense of joy when it comes to him, and you know the butterflies are making their way out.

On the drive to his house, he taps along with a song you've just played, and you're bubbling with excitement that he just listened to music that wasn't metal. Let alone a piece you showed him.

"I could get used to your music," He pauses, inhales deeply, then continues. "I think."

You laugh—you're always laughing with him, it seems.

You find yourself on the couch with a bowl of popcorn, ready to watch Scream. Eddie plops down next to you when the movie starts. About five minutes in, he pretends to yawn and reaches his arm around your shoulder. You giggle, leaning into him, and the butterflies flap their wings rapidly. You fall asleep on Eddie's side.

"Lovebirds," You hear a voice boom, "Go to bed."

You groggily open your eyes and look up to, what seems to be, the voice of god. It's Wayne, you realize.

Eddie's face is bright red after his uncle's words register.

'Lovebirds.'

You seem unaffected by the term; secretly, excitement bubbles in your stomach.

"Didn't I tell you to fall asleep in a bed? Not on my couch?"

"Sorry, Wayne," You mumble.

He pats you on the shoulder, "Just don't want you two to have back pains before you're supposed to."

"Thanks, Wayne," You murmur as you shuffle to Eddie's room.

"Of course," The man grumbles.

"Told you he likes you," Eddie mumbles into your hair as he presses a chaste kiss to your head.

"Kids in love," Wayne mutters, sitting on the couch.

Fucking midterms. You genuinely cannot stand them. You've been up late every night this week studying and want to bash your head in. You've barely had time to see Eddie outside of class, and it just makes everything ten times worse. You've talked to him over the phone, but nothing matched his touch. His warm, calloused hands would run up and down your arms when you were cold or up and down your sides when you lay together. You've missed his lingering kisses on your cheek and forehead.

You've also missed Wayne. You've come to understand how he shows love—just last week, he gave you your favorite candy, and you were gushing about it to Eddie.

Now, you sit in your room—the only light coming from your laptop, and the wrapper of Wayne's gift is crumpled on your desk's side. Your phone buzzes, and you smile at the stupid picture of Eddie that lights up your screen.

"Hello?" Eddie says in a goofy voice, "Hellooo?" He asks again.

"Hi," You respond with a giddy smile.

"Hi, I'm lookin' for a real pretty girl. She told me that this is her phone number. She's brilliant and sweet, and my uncle Wayne loves her."

"Yeah? Lookin' for her?"

"I sure am."

"I'll let her know in about an hour—when she finishes studying."

Eddie pouts, hoping you'll hear it, "Why?"

It doesn't go unnoticed, "'Cause she's gotta study."

"Booo!" He yells. You hang up.

"Hello?" You ask with a smile.

"Hi."

"Someone told me a very handsome guy was calling for me. Said he's got cool rings and can play guitar."

"Oh!" You can hear him chuckle, "I do recall that conversation."

"So," You take a deep breath, "What'd ya want to talk about?"

"Politics, the weather, the deal with the DMV, and how I hate my wife."

You laugh, "So I've got 90's stand-up comic Eddie on the line?"

"Sure do, sweetheart."

You fall asleep on the phone.

"Eds," You whisper.

He turns the music down, "Yes?"

"What if I fail?"

"Baby," He puts his hand on your thigh, and the butterflies won't stop flapping their wings, "You're not gonna fail. You've been studying all week. If anything, I'm going to fail."

You roll your eyes, "I told you you should've studied."

Eddie rolls his eyes back, snatching his hand away from you, "I told you the only way I was going to study unless it was with you."

"Oh, so this is my fault?"

"If I fail, it's your fault, sweetheart."

"How do you think you did?" Eddie finished long before you. Your whole body is filled with bubbling nerves.

"I don't know," You respond, not daring to look anywhere but forward, "I feel like I'm going to faint." You murmur.

"Okay, baby." Eddie grabs your shoulders and runs his hands up and down your arms, "Take a deep breath. In... and out."

You don't care that you might be blocking the hallway—the students can find a way around you. All that matters is Eddie is helping you calm down—his hands are on you, and his head is resting on yours.

"You feelin' a little better, baby?" He asks after a few minutes.

"Feelin' a lot better."

"I'm glad."

He kisses your shoulder, and you swoon.

"What's on your mind?" Eddie asks, bringing the joint to his mouth. It's a roach at this point—he still insists on smoking it.

"Nothing," You answer—he can tell you're lying. He says it, and you roll your eyes, "Eddie, I'm not lying."

"Seriously, babe." He sits up, "What's goin' on in that pretty little head of yours?"

"First off, rude." You cross your arms with a sad expression, "Second, nothing. I am literally thinking about what I'm going to have for dinner."

"Food. You're going to have food. Now, what are you actually thinking about?"

It's strange that Eddie is being so adamant about this. Usually, if you ask him to leave something alone, he'll leave it alone. It's as if he knows that you've got butterflies in every crevice of your body—that you like him—and he's trying to coax it out of you. You're unsure why.

"What are you thinking about?" You shoot back.

"Not fair. I asked you first." He pouts.

"And I asked you second." You shrug with a smug smirk.

"Yeah, so you should answer first. I should answer second." He reasons.

"I'm thinking about a person," You begin, "A boy." It's all you supply.

"A boy?" Eddie asks, suddenly growing insecure. His crush on you isn't a new thing. He was sure he was in love with you the second you said he looked like James Hetfield. He would swear on his life that he liked you the second he saw you.

"Yes, Edward, a boy. Okay, your turn. What're you thinking about?"

"Chrissy."

It's painfully apparent that you're hurt, "Chrissy? Who's Chrissy?"

Part of Eddie is happy you seem jealous. The other part of him feels terrible.

"Chrissy is the girl I went to the diner with."

You nod dramatically, "Oh, yeah. Of course. Of course."

He can't hold it in any longer, "Jealous?"

Your eyes are saucers, "What?"

"What?" He parrots.

"What makes you think I'm jealous?"

"Just a hunch," He shrugs.

"No," You cross your arms, "Why do you think I'm jealous? And what exactly am I jealous of?" You demand.

"Well, the change in body language when I said Chrissy would suggest that you are jealous. Jealous of Chrissy and I's relationship."

"One, the correct wording would be 'Chrissy and me,'" You quip—Eddie rolls his eyes, "Second, you sound ridiculous. You sound like you're stupid, but you're trying to be smart."

"Don't call me stupid," Eddie crosses his arms, "I'm brilliant. Thank you very much."

"I didn't call you stupid, Eds," You pout.

"Stop pouting," He pokes your jutted-out lip, "It makes me want to—" He cuts himself off by bringing the joint back to his lips.

"It makes you want to what?" You ask, secretly hoping the answer is what you've been wishing for.

"It makes me want to do something I shouldn't do."

"Yeah?" You smile, "Like what."

"Sweetheart," He sighs, "I have a feeling that you know. And I'm not sure why you insist on hearing it from my mouth."

"I don't know what you mean," You feign innocence.

"I think you know exactly what I mean." He whispers into your ear, and you shudder at the sudden closeness.

You turn, "C'mon, Ed's," You're so close that you're sure the butterflies will float out of your mouth and go straight in his, "Don't make me say it."

"Well, I don't want to say it, either," He mutters.

"So... where does that leave us?"

Three beats of silence go by, and a butterfly escapes when he puts his hand over yours.

"Can I kiss you?" His voice is a whisper.

"Yes."

guys i fink im going to do a part 2 :0

as always, thank you for reading <3

mutuals:

@queerpumpkinnn @woahlifehitsyahuh @evergreenlover @reysdriver @thesunandstarss @tracymbcm @youre-so-lovely @y4ksh42 @until-i-found-you @inkluvs @imabee-oralizard @prongsio @puppy-coded @spaceagebachelormann @starsval @doyouknowwhoyouare13 @dancinglikeaballerina @ghostlyfleur @just-another-lovesong @starlit-epiphany @justpjostufff @lovers-tunnel @zvdvdlvr @cosmal @vampieteeth @bruisedboys @meredarling @maddipoof

#sp1rit realm #eddie munson #eddie x reader #eddie munson x fem!reader #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson x reader fluff #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson thoughts #eddie munson fic #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson x you #eddie munson fanfiction #stranger things #stranger things4 #stranger things x reader #chrissy cunningham #₊˚.༄ hannah writes

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sungbeam · 8 months

Text

𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐔𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐂𝐎𝐋 — teaser!

nonidol!kevin moon x f!reader

another summer break, another annual trip to the lake! except, it seems like when you and kev get there, you'll have to make some tweaks to the original rescue protocol.

▷ genre, teaser warnings. childhood friends 2 lovers, fluff, summer break au/college au, hurt/comfort, humor, implications of motherly meddling and matchmaking

▷ projected release date. october 10th/11th

▷ estimated word count. 20-26k

this is the sixth installment of the love in unity series! rescue protocol takes place after all the events of the main storyline, and you shouldn't need to read any prev fics to understand this one. any prev yns will be referred to as _!yn

a/n: i swear i'm (half) alive 🧍🏻‍♀️ but yeah, i've been punching out words lately and it's probably a bad idea to post this at the end of the weekend when no one will see it, but thank u again @justalildumpling for being my hypewoman ily

TEASER BELOW THE CUT (APPROX. 500 WORDS)

“It’s a warm morning out,” your mother murmured, then quickly added, “hey you.” She knocked her hand against your arm.

“Hm?” You asked as you finished up Alice’s braid and tied it off with the blue Cinnamoroll hair tie she’d chosen. You patted her back with your hand. “You’re done.”

Your little sister hopped to her feet. “Thanks!” She dashed away and out of the room—to where, you had no clue. You figured she knew where the food was if she was hungry.

You angled your body to squish your side against the couch cushions and face your mother. “What were you saying?”

“Ah, I was going to talk to you about the Joshua Hong boy.”

Joshua Hong. You didn’t realize you could hear a man’s name so often within twelve hours.

You made a gesture with your hand. “What about the Joshua Hong boy, Mom?”

“Well, isn’t he a handsome one?” She asked you enthusiastically, straightening. It was alarming how bright her face just got. “I spoke to his mom while Kevin and I were walking just now, and he’s only a few years older than you, you know.”

You heard a metaphorical record scratch. What? There was so much in that one sentence that you needed to unpack. You raised your hands to signal her to pause. “Wait, since when do you and Kevin take walks together?” What could they have been talking about? You knew Kevin was an exceptional conversationalist, but never in your time at the lake had you known of this interaction.

Your mother blinked. “Oh, we started the tradition when you didn’t come up with us that one year.”

“Tradition?” So this happened more than once? You didn’t know why you were so scandalized by this information—it was just Kevin after all. You knew your parents, and even your siblings, were all fond of him—of course they were. You were arguably even more fond of him, but that wasn’t the point. You hoped she hadn't said anything about you and him as an item at any point in time… you trusted that Kevin could handle that though; that was what the pact was for, after all.

“Why are you making such a big deal out of this?” She arched a brow. “But anyway, yes, so we bumped into Josh’s mom on the last leg around the lake, and she mentioned that he’s majoring in chemistry and planning to go into medicine. You guys might have something in common."

You pursed your lips. Perhaps the two of you might have something to talk about, but your track was pre-veterinary rather than pre-med. There was probably a middle ground though... Maybe you were just being stubborn.

“Just make friends or something,” she said to you while standing up from the couch. “You need more of those.”

Your eyes shot wide open. “Hello? Mom?” Now that was simply uncalled for.

She chuckled impishly as she walked away and disappeared down the hall, leaving you to yourself. You were lucky neither of the twins were here to hear that burn.

a/n: if i am being so fr i don't even really like the part i chose for this lol but i haven't written the juicy parts yet 🤕 so stay tuned pls ... haha

permanent taglist: @flwoie @vatterie @seomisaho @hqrana @ja4hyvn @tinkerbell460 @kaaimins @hyunjaespresent-deobi @otterly-fey @zzoguri @floatingpluto @winterchimez @ethereal-engene @gyulfriend @polarisjisung @jaehunnyy @shakalakaboomboo @loveliestfelix @bless-311 @zhaixiaowen @leaz-kpop-life @amourdsr @pxppxrminty @kqyutie @sseastar-main @kxthleen14 @fluorescentloves @mosviqu @justalildumpling @jaerisdiction @super-btstrash-posts @jundundun @http-gyu @mvvnsseul @outrologist @vernonburger @maessseongs @ericlvr

#deoboyznet #bjnet #the boyz x reader #kevin moon x reader #the boyz fluff #the boyz imagines #the boyz oneshot #the boyz scenarios #the boyz drabbles #kevin moon imagines #kevin moon fluff #kevin moon oneshots #kevin moon drabbles #kevin moon scenarios #the boyz fanfic

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yellowloid · 9 months

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thinking about that "there's nowhere for me to hide" quote that's been going around and the fact that it's actually the opposite. i know he's mostly talking about writing and yes when it comes to am he's the one doing (most of) the lyrical work on records as opposed to tlsp where him and miles are 50-50 and they have a whole different creative process than he does with am. but when it comes to being on stage, performing with am is actually the time he hides most. perhaps exactly because he's up there alone as a frontman, hence the need to "protect" himself by putting on a persona, a mask that can be conveniently taken off once he's hopped off stage (a theme that has been widely explored in the last albums, but really it's been there his whole discography - including obviously tlsp with the bourne identity and also his solo work with songs such as hiding tonight). but when he's up there on stage with miles, and miles is "up there singing with [him]", he says it gives him somewhere to hide because that 50-50 ratio that comes with writing translates to their stage presence as well. however one could argue that it's that same equal ratio that makes it so that he doesn't, in fact, hide at all when it comes to tlsp performances, and especially eycte era ones. because the knowledge that not all attention is on him, but rather distributed equally on the both of them, added to the reassurance that having miles there gives him, results in what is maybe his most genuinely maskless behaviour, of which we've seen countless examples during the 2016 tour. and although one could also say that that one, too, could partly be a persona in and of itself, the point still stands - he might be hiding in different ways depending on whether he's up there as the am or tlsp frontman, but being two halves of a whole with miles certainly didn't give him more of a hiding place. on the contrary.

#thoughts that haunt me while i'm trying to take a Normal&Peaceful Shower TM #mind you this isn't even about milex i just find it very interesting how he talks about being able to hide when he's up there with miles >#> as opposed to am. because bruh. that is the furthest thing from hiding we've seen on tour in 2016 #those were some of the most genuine antics/shenanigans/smiles/behaviours he's ever shown in 20+ years of career #it was just a man being silly with his best friend. not a single thought behind those eyes. except maybe one-- [gunshots]#but yeah it was just real. and he's real eith am too it's just. in a different way #something was in the air in 2015/2016 that made him not worry about putting on a mask and we'll never know what it really was #and i think that's incredibly interesting #alex turner #arctic monkeys #tlsp #ramblings #btw while reading this you have to imagine me putting him under a microscope. to study him

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crazyunsexycool · 8 days

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Lottie - Dada you married mama cause you love her right??

Bucky - Yes baby I love her so much

Lottie - Okay I marry Tommy then!

Bucky - WHAT?!?

Lottie - Yeah dada I love Tommy, so I marry him!

Bucky - someone stop me because I kill whoever this Tommy is ....

😂😂😂😂 this man is going to need even more therapy!

But daddy I love him

Charlotte had just gotten home from school. She held up the arts and crafts project she’d completed that day. It proudly showed her favorite memory, dancing at your and Bucky’s wedding with him. At least that’s what you thought it was.

“Daddy?” She’d walked up to him and he picked her up, gave her a kiss on the cheek and sat her on his lap.

“Yes, doll?”

“Why did you marry mama?”

“Well because I love her so much. I never wanted to spend another day without her.” He explains happily while gazing lovingly at you.

“Mama said you were her fwiend before you were her husband.”

“That’s true. We were like best friends.”

Charlotte’s eyes light up and you’re already shaking your head because you know she’s about to say something outrageous.

“Oh that’s so nice,” she says excitedly. “I’m gonna marry Tommy.”

“Like hell you are.” Bucky rejected the idea immediately.

“I am. He’s my bestest fwiend.”

“The answer is no. I don’t even know the kid.”

“But daddy I love him.” She says with her hands on her chest and a pained expression on her face.

“No, you can’t marry anyone.”

“I’m gonna marry Tommy I don’t care.” She says before hopping off his lap and stomping away.

You’re standing there wiping tears away and laughing so hard.

“Mama you shouldn’t laugh, you know she’ll do it.” Henry says.

“I’m gonna go to jail for killing some snot nosed kid that sweet talked my baby in getting married.” Bucky huffs. “This is how my life ends.”

“You’re being so dramatic. She’ll get over it. But I’m glad Friday recorded it so that I can play it on her actual wedding day when she does marry Tommy.”

“That’s not funny.” Bucky points at you. “Take it back.”

You shake your head no and walk away laughing.

“I’m gonna go shoot something. Again.”

“I’ll go with you dad.” Henry says and they both head to the shooting range.

#you’ve got mail 💌#val answers #my little love ask #my little love extra

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salitok · 11 months

Text

I read this. Am obsessed I needed a part 2 soo I just wrote it.

@fleshwaters your fics are amazing!! ( everyone go check out her account! )

——————————————————————————

Wild things pt 2

pairings: 70s pornstar!ellie williams x fem!pornstar!reader

Warnings: smut, talk of the porn industry, pornography, oral (r receiving ), strap on use (r receiving), coming, pet names( darling, baby ).

summary: in the adult film industry, having to work with people you didn't like was inevitable. at least it made for some good film,, right?

………………………………………………………………

“All you had to do was ask, darlin'.'”

You looked down at her, your doe eyes connecting with hers, while she was on her knees and you were on the kitchen counter opening your legs for her.

You really Didn’t get along, but you couldn’t deny the effects she had on you. Ellie knew that, she knew she could make you forget everything, and she wasn’t wrong, you totally forgot about the camera, the microphone, the script; you were only focusing on her, how she kissed you thighs, one of her hand massaging your left thigh and the other hand on your tit, massaging through your shirt

“Ellie please, I need to feel you so bad”, after hearing your begging she went right to your clit, kissing and moving her tongue softly. You moaned at her touch, one of your hands is the counter and the other on her head, which was styled in a half bun. Her eyes looked at you while she eaten you out. You had made porn with a lot of different women, but only Ellie could make you scream and moaned like that with her tongue.

Your legs started shaking, her tongue inside of you, coming in and out, and her nose rubbing your clit. You could feel it, you were so close for the second time

“You taste so good baby” she said, the vibrations of her voice felt to good, making you cum all over her mouth. She then got up and kissed you, making you taste your own fluids. Suddenly you heard the camera guy “cut!, do you guys need a break?” He asked both of you, Ellie looking at you with a smirk and then at the camera guy. “I don’t think we do” she said and then looked at your watery eyes, “right?” You nodded.

After a minute the camera guy agreed and started recording again. “Action”. Those words made a click on Ellie, she kissed you again roughly, her tattooed arm behind your neck to keep you close. She spared her lips from yours and putted you down from the counter.

“Turn around” , you did as the ordered. Ellie was fast to bend you over the table, ur ass up; you heard her un sip her bell bottom pants and take out her big strap. You were surprised, strap were a relatively new thing, after all it was the 70s. She started teasing your wet hole with the tip of the strap. “Ellie” you whipped, as the strap entered your pussy.

Ellie grabbed your hair and pulled a little, she didn’t want to hurt you, she pounded you deep but slowly so you could a just to the size. After some minutes she started pounding you fast and rough while pulling your hair, you couldn’t say anything except “Yes!!” And “Omgg!”, moaning and screaming.

She left your hair to go massage your clit while she kept fucking you. “Ellie am going to.. cum”, she putted as fast as she could, “cum for me then”; the white cream forming on the base of the fake cock, your eyes rolling back from pleasure and your mouth open wide as you came.

She kissed your back and pulled out after, the camera recording how the white fluid came out of you before the “cut”

*ten minutes later*

“You did a great job. Maybe I don’t hate you that much” she kissed your cheek and then hoped to her van and left.

You were shocked, while you hopped into your van too. Your agent Paul kept talking to you, but the only thing you could think about was her. That hate became more like a crush on her, and you really hoped to make another film with her.

#ellie williams #ellie williams x reader #ellie smut #ellie williams tlou #ellie williams x female reader #ellie williams x you #ellie tlou2 #ellie williams smut #ellie x you #smuts #ellie williams imagine

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mydarllinglover · 9 months

Text

Alone || The Underground

"Y'know, Maggie, gotta tell ya, not loving this rain!" Natalia shouted at her friend, as they walked through the storm. "I mean, I'm from Savannah, but it don't rain like this!"

"Well, we got about six more hours!" He screamed back. "We should hunker down, wait for this to pass!"

"Yes!" Natalia agreed, loudly.

"You don't get a vote, asshole!" Frost told him.

Natalia audibly whimpered.

"Ah, he's right. We need to find some shelter." Daryl agreed.

"No! We don't have time!"

"Maggie, I am only yay high, I am either going to drown, or kill myself you choose!" Natalia snapped.

Maggie nudged her, pointing at something up ahead, the Metro.

"Daryl!" She nudged him, passing on the message.

"Yeah. Let's go." He nodded.

Natalia ran ahead, faster than the others, Dog running to keep up with her, so they could get out of the rain.

"Nat, wait!" Daryl called after, jogging to catch up.

"Nothing down here!" She called up, quieter, just In case something was down there.

"Alright, which way?" Daryl asked Negan, shining his flashlight in the mans eyes, when they had all come down.

"Not to sound like a broken record, but I think we ought to take a breath, hunker down, and wait for this storm to pass." Negan shared his opinion.

"You don't wanna go in there?" Maggie mocked.

"No, I don't." He answered, seriously.

"I don't give a shit." Maggie replied. "Which way?"

"Yellow line north." He sighed. "Switch to blue at Reagan National, then hop the red toward Bethesda."

"Come on, let's go." Daryl ushered everyone on.

"Hey, can I talk to you?" Negan asked Daryl, refusing to even acknowledge Natalia by his side.

"Whys that?" Daryl raised his flashlight to the mans eyes again. "You think we're buddies or Somin? Come on, boy." He told Dog, jumping off the platform, and helping Natalia down.

She looked over her shoulder, watching all of Maggie's people shoulder-barging the man as they passed.

"Hey, nose is healing, think I did you a favour." Natalia added salt to the wound, turning back again.

The group walked silently through the tunnels, that was until an loud very horrifying sound came from above.

Natalia grasped Daryl's arm, her nails digging into his skin as she stared above, and for a second, all she could see was dust, and the inside of that cave, the horde below them, that red stick falling.

"What the hell was that?" Gage asked, as Dog barked at the unknown noise.

Alden walked over to the wall.

"The storm's pushing air through the pipes, making them groan. It's nothing serious, we're good."

"Sure?" Natalia voiced, her voice slightly shaky.

That was before the noise got drastically louder.

"Know what that noise actually is?" Negan spoke up. "That is God, telling us to turn around."

"I'm pretty sure He would have ran that by me, first." Gabriel told him.

"Yeah? The Good Lord direct your one eyeball to this?" He shone his flashlight onto the wall. "Waterline mark. That means this tunnel floods on a regular basis, like when it rains."

"It's bad down here. It's worse up there." Daryl told him, and the others, Natalia still hadn't let go, though.

"Your wife is on the verge of a...- Look man, all I'm saying-"

Daryl turned on him.

"Yeah, and it ain't working. You trying to run shit. keep moving."

"Daryl, I don't... I don't like this." Natalia looked pale, her voice low, as she tried to keep it private.

"Nat, yer fine, come on." He brushed her arm, walking ahead.

She tried to fight to get her breathing under control, tightening her fists, then she proceeded.

They had carried on, until something pungent flooded their nostrils.

Ahead there was a stream of bags, all tied up, oddly enough, they were shapes of bodies.

Daryl bent down, reaching out to touch one, until it sat up to grab him, but he was quick, holding it's throat, stabbing his knife into it's head.

"Why didn't it make any noise?" Elijah asked.

Daryl ripped the bag open, looking for the answer.

"Throat's slashed so deep, it almost severed it's head." Gabriel reported.

"The guys we're going after do this?" Gage asked.

"No. These people were killed during the fall." Maggie clarified.

Natalia spotted something, crouching down and picked it up, a plush rabbit teddy, she stood, staring at it, horrified.

"All of 'em?" Negan asked, rhetorically, glancing between the two women.

"What?" Maggie looked at him, she had been staring at it, too.

"We're walking through a mass grave that could still be in use. So, I am asking you, are you sure all of them were killed during the fall?" Negan looked ahead.

And that's when they noticed that even more were moving now.

"Take each one out." Maggie instructed. "Clear the path."

"Maggie, hold up--" Alden attempted.

"We're not stopping."

They proceeded as she said, stabbing each and every bag in sight, making sure that they are dead.

It was pretty much done in silence, until they heard Gage struggling, and that's when they saw a 6ft something, giant, trying to take a bite out of the boy.

Negan was the first to take charge, running at the thing pushing it against the wall and away from the boy.

Seeing him struggle, Natalia lightly tossed her knife in her hand, catching it and taking aim, she let it soar through the air, and embedding into the giant walkers skull, killing him.

Everyone was silent.

Negan had caught this, taking the knife out, using one of the bags to wipe it clean, before tossing it back to her, with a nod.

"Pay attention, so we don't miss anymore." Maggie sounded defeated.

"Pay attention?" Negan asked. "That's it? That's- That's your new big plan? Tell me, Maggie, anything in particular we should be paying attention to?" His sentence was finished with a loud creak from above.

"I'm real close to shoving a gag in your mouth." Alden piped up.

"Well, why don't you get up on your little tippy toes and try?" Negan challenged.

"Cut it out. Both of you." Daryl parented.

"This kid almost died. Ain't this the kid that's dating your two's daughter?" He pointed at the Dixons.

"You don't give a shit about that kid." Daryl pointed at the boy.

"No, she doesn't give a shit. She has been playing dictator since we left, not listening to me, not listening to her." He glanced at Natalia. "Hell, not listening to him, either. Not even listening to you. We don't know if this tunnel even has a way out. Whoever or whatever killed these rot bags could still be down here. Has that thought crossed anyone's mind?"

They were silent, but Natalia slightly lifted her finger.

"Exactly, it has. So, then this is a death march, and you are the goddamn pied piper. Now, y'all wanna roll with that shit, that's fine. Knock yourselves out. But not me. Not today. I am out."

"Me too." Gage spoke up.

"Gage, shut up." Natalia told him.

"He-- he's a dick, but he makes sense."

"Yeah, we shouldn't have come down here." The man with white hair, said.

"We're not splitting up." Daryl told them.

"It ain't up to you. "Buddy"."

"Just let him go." Agatha told Maggie.

"He's supposed to be helping us, but all he's doing is slowing us down. We can't." Maggie replied.

"Why not?" Duncan asked.

"We need him. He knows the city."

"Oh, is that why I'm here?" Negan asked. "I-I'm your DC tour guide? What, nobody here know how to read a goddamn map? I'll tell you why I'm here, man-tits. She brought me here to die. If we get through this, I'm not coming back. She'll find a way, she'll find a reason, she'll do it herself. Away from the prying eyes of Alexandria. Here in the jungle. Man, I really thought the both of you were in on it. I did. But your girl saving me back there, seeing the disappointment on her face, I knew that wasn't how that was supposed to go. You know how I can tell for you? By that glazed look in your eye, you didn't have a clue. None of you did." Negan was stood in front of Daryl.

"You're paranoid." Gabriel stepped up.

"But I'm right." He nodded. "Look, you all want to put your lives in her hands? Her head isn't even in the game because I'm in her head, living rent-free. So, Maggie, me dying on your terms, it ain't happening. So, what do you say? Let's just get her done. Right here and right now. Because I am not gonna let you drag me through the mud, filth, and slime to put me down like a dog. Like Glenn was."

Natalia had only a millisecond to step back, when Daryl lunged at the man, throwing his fist as hard as he could. Knocking him to the ground.

Maggie took slow steps forward, towards him.

"We're down here because up top is death. We're moving fast because our kids are starving. And I'm calling the shots because that's how everyone voted. As for me killing you..." Maggie pulled out a gun, aiming it at his head. "It's always on my mind. I'm not gonna tell you that you're wrong about me, because you aren't. The woman who left six years ago is not the one standing over you now. There's a little bit of her left in me, and that little bit is the only thing keeping you breathing. So keep pushing me, Negan. Please."

Eventually, they got back to stabbing their way through, Negan joining them.

"Shit." He called, looking ahead.

Where a train sat in the dark.

Alden swatted his dead flashlight against his leg, in hopes that it would miraculously work, but it didn't.

"Need a battery swap, Gage?" He called for the boy. "Gage? Roy?"

"Has anyone seen them?" Cole asked, when no one could spot either.

"They took our supplies." Gabriel shared. "Ammo clips, rations--"

"We're gonna die, down here." Natalia mumbled to herself, looking around all the bags full of bodies.

"Oh, great. That's just great." Frost supplied an sarcastic response. "It's this asshole's fault, he scared them off."

"Shh!" Daryl told him, raising his hand, as he looked around in the dark. "Listen."

It was silent, then they heard it, growling, groaning, walkers, walkers approaching them, and a lot of them.

"Alright. Cut them off!" He told Gabriel.

"We'll clear the rest." The priest replied.

"Agatha!" He pointed at the woman with the bow, as he aimed his own.

Alden, Gabriel and Negan ran to the train, looking for a way in or around, whilst the others fought.

"There's too many!" Natalia shouted, throwing a walker on the floor, after piercing his skull.

"Fall back! Now!" Daryl demanded. "Go. Go!"

"Can we get around it?" Maggie asked, as they gathered around the train.

"It's a choke point we don't know what's on the other side." Alden explained as Duncan climbed up, trying to break the door in.

"Up top." Daryl told the large man. "Go all the way up. Go man, up top. On top of the platform."

Maggie pushed her people forward as Daryl persisted that they go quicker.

"Nat, come on." Daryl told her.

"No, Dog first."

He grunted in frustration, before going to pick up their pet.

"Come here, boy." He said.

But Dog had barked, running in between the wall and the train, faster than the two could catch him.

"Dog!" Natalia shouted.

"Dog! No! Come here! Dog!" Daryl joined in.

"Dog!"

"Natalia, get up there, meet me at the next platform, I'll go after him!"

"No way, Daryl, we're not splitting up, I'll go with you."

"No, I'll be fine, go on up." He told her.

"Daryl! Wait!" She shouted at him.

"Get up! Go!" He called back, running after Dog.

"Daryl!"

"Nat, come on, we gotta go" Maggie told her.

"But- Daryl! I'm going after him!" She went to leave, but that's when an arm wrapped around her waist, Negan lifted her, carrying her towards the ladder, as she tried to kick him off her.

"Climb." He told her.

"No, let me go!" She thrashed around.

"Hey, If I let you go after him, he's gonna kill me, whether she allows him to or not, get up there." He forced her on the ladder, pushing her legs to go up, so she had no choice but to go.

Then he followed after her.

Natalia looked around the sides of the train, trying to spot her husband or her pet, but she couldn't see either, as she was ushered along.

They had all dropped down in to the train, Duncan was nice enough to catch Natalia, as the drop was the hardest for the small woman.

But when she turned around, and saw that Negan was the last one down, she noticed who was missing.

"Where's Maggie?" She asked.

"She was with you." Alden told her.

"No, Negan was, Maggie was behind him."

"She w... she was right behind me." Negan looked behind himself, as though she was about to appear.

"Alright, I'm going back. Some one help me."

"You go up there, you're dead." Frost told her. "She'd be pissed if you tried. She'd want us to keep moving forward."

"Yeah, well I'm not about to lose my husband, my dog and my friend all in one evening."

"They're not dead." Alden told her, gently, as though it would even matter.

"All right, we need to get that door open." Gabriel interrupted, staring at the one crowding with walkers. "Then we'll go from car to car until we hit the front of the train. Then we'll hop off. And then we just keep going."

"But-" She was cut off.

"We haven't got time to go on wasteful rescue missions." Negan told her. "Look out guys." He marched towards the door with Duncan and Frost, attempting to yank it open.

The three men had finally got it open, and they ventured inside, but Natalia waited back, she didn't know what to do, three of her family had already gone missing, and with the looks of things, they had a zero chance of surviving. If she didn't know any better, she woulda thought these people were out to get the three "leaders."

Which wouldn't make much sense, Maggie had only just joined them, and was the old Hilltop Leader, which was now burnt land and ash, Daryl was the hunter, and Natalia was... a housewife? No, she knew she was more than that, she just couldn't think about what it was, for the meantime.

"Nat." Alden called, over his shoulder. "Keep up."

She snapped out of her think piece, trudging behind the group, trying to not think about the sight she might find her husband and longest friend.

"Why don't you guys handle that one. If you get tired out, we'll take over." Negan told the first people to reach the other end of the train.

A thumping came from above.

"What, is that the roof?" Alden asked.

"Could be walkers?" Negan suggested.

"Shh." Gabriel hushed them, as they listened out.

Thud. Thud. Thud.... Thud. Thud... Thud. Thud. Thud.

"Maggie!" Natalia exclaimed, it had to be.

"It's below us, its' morse code." Alden shared. "It's SOS."

"Gimmie that!" Natalia snatched the crowbar from Duncan, dropping to her knees to open the hatch.

"Wait, Natalia-" Gabriel tried to stop her, but it was too late.

First a bow came up, then Maggie's head.

Natalia grabbed her belongings, helping the woman up onto the train, before throwing herself at her, hugging the woman tightly.

"What happened?" She asked, when she finally pulled away, as they both got to their feet.

But Maggie didn't give an audible answer, as she stared at the man stood behind them.

Maggie then gently pushed Natalia to the side, marching towards Negan and hitting him around the head with the butt of her gun, a thing they had both witnessed Rick do to Merle, back in the early days.

"I slipped." She said. "He saw, and he left me to die."

"Yeah." The man sighed, holding his head as he got back up. "Okay. So what?"

"You're just admitting it?" Gabriel asked.

"You tried to kill her!" Alden piped up.

"No, she was in trouble, and I didn't help. There is a big difference. I was too busy making sure this one didn't pull a Me, Myself and Irene, for her dead husband, only, the opposite."

Natalia moved forward, once again slamming her fist into his face, as hard as she could.

"I got it." Duncan told her, picking the man up from the ground, pushing him against the wall. "Okay, so who's gonna help you now?" He asked. "Who in here's got your back?"

"Yeah, you don't need fingers to count that number." Frost supplied.

"She was just talking about murdering me, sooner rather than later, and yet somehow, I'm the big, old asshole 'cause I didn't risk my nuts for her?"

"We all want you dead." Natalia snapped. "And given the chance, we all wouldn't do anything to prevent it."

"I have been a golden goddamn asset for every single one of you." He set his eyes on the woman.

"Yeah, burning Hilltop, that helped, huh?" Alden raised his voice.

"I killed Alpha, right? So, yeah, I was helpful. 'Cause if I hadn't done that, every person you know, their skull would be on a spike. I did what needed to be done, all right? I- I am trying."

"Yeah, okay. I'm not buying a word of it." Frost voiced his opinion.

"Same." Duncan agreed.

"Nod and it happens." Agatha looked at the two women who had the most upsetting history with the man. "We can get through the city without him."

Natalia and Maggie turned to each other, debating what was the right choice, what was the choice that was gonna keep them alive.

"Help! Help me! Help!" The voice of Gage shouted, banging on the door they had come through previously.

"Gage? What happened?" Alden asked.

"We got lost in the tunnels! Walkers are everywhere, they... they might have....-"

"How'd you get in there?" Negan cut him off.

"I... I got a door open on the far end."

"Did you close it?"

"Uh...

"Gage?" Gabriel pressed.

"I-...

"Oh, you dumb bastard." Natalia muttered, as they spotted walkers making their way towards the boy.

"Hey, this one seems a bit looser. Sasquatch, give me a hand."

"We open that, they'll all get in." Maggie told Negan.

"He's right there." Alden shouted.

"And he was foolish enough to leave, he left the fucking door open, he did this to himself." Natalia voiced.

"The hell with you." Alden demanded, going for the door, trying to throw it open.

"Alden?" Maggie tried stopping him.

"Come on." He groaned.

Duncan nodded at Maggie, pulling the man away.

"Are you insane? Move! Move!"

"Maggie? Nat, come on" Gage pleaded. "Please. What about Evie."

Natalia's face hadn't changed in the slightest, he wasn't using her daughter as a bargaining chip.

"Open the door! Look, I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry... about everything. I've made mistakes, and I'm sorry." He begun crying, desperately. "But I just... I want another chance, okay? I won't do it again. I won't do it again. I'll do better. Please, I... Please. I won't get to say goodbye, please, I wanna say goodbye to her."

"Nat, listen to me. We have time. We can get that door open."

"Nat! Maggie!" The boy repeatedly shouted and pounded on the door.

Natalia looked to her friend, if she wanted to save him, it was her decision alone.

"We don't have the ammo to clear them." Maggie finalised.

Alden tried once again, to go for the door, but was held back by her people.

"Let it go." Gabriel told him.

"I'm sorry. I can't" Maggie shouted through.

"Liar." Gage said, his voice full of hate as the anger showed on his face.

"Shouldn't have gotten my daughter drunk. And you shouldn’t have tried to kill my other one." Natalia shrugged. "You think I forgot?"

Gage pulled out his knife, looking like he was about to attack, but then stabbed it into his own heart, he pulled it out, then repeated the motion, as the walkers got closer.

He had pulled it out, once again, as the life drained from him, and the walkers got a hold, ripping and pulling at the boy, biting into him.

"Sucks to suck." Natalia faked pity, as the others watched in horror at the sight of his corpse being shredded by the dead.

They had gone back to try and open the other door, whilst Natalia and Maggie stood watch, making sure the walkers didn't rally the other one, once they were finished with Gage's body.

"What is it?" Gabriel asked, watching Negan pace around.

"Bad memories." He grumbled.

"Oh, what, of the two of you snuggling in that trailer?" Natalia asked.

Neither of them humoured her with a response, but instead he had finally sat down, his head in his hands.

Maggie lit a match, using it as light, since Elijah's batteries in his flashlight had gone out.

Then, Gage had reanimated, joining the others, banging on the door.

"You guys don't wanna look at him." Alden commented, when everyone avoided the door. "Why? Why won't you look at him?"

"Alden, shut up." Natalia sighed, sitting down on one of the seats, folding her arms.

"All that is, is the shell of a man who died a coward." Gabriel gave an answer.

"That's a hot take, father." Alden continued. "He was scared, but he didn't deserve to die like that. In the worst way imaginable."

"Our friend Noah went out like that, because of a coward." Natalia picked at her fingers.

"There are worse ways." Maggie spoke. "A lot worse. Before I found Elijah and his people, Hershel and I were alone for a long time. One day, we came across this frail old man who was kneeling by a turned-over grocery cart. It was full of scavenged clothes he said were for his sons and daughters and could we help him haul the cart back home? And he said he'd give us food for our trouble. I knew that he was a liar. But I was starving, and soon, Hershel would be. So we followed him back to his house. I held a knife to his throat and reached in his pocket. I pulled out the chloroform rag he was gonna use on me. I stuffed it in his mouth. And then we went inside the house, and I locked my little boy in a room, and I went and searched the house. There were these three... deformed... I wouldn't call them men. They came after me. But I handled them. And then the house was quiet, except for this thudding sound that was coming from upstairs in the attic. And I thought maybe they had people tied up, up there that were trying to get free. So I walked to a door at the end of this hallway. And I opened it, and I looked up, and there was a set of stairs. At the top of the stairs, there's this shadow writhing and rocking. I thought it was an animal. Then all of a sudden, it fell down the stairs, and it came right at my feet. It was a walker that used to be a woman. Her arms and her legs had been cut off, stitched up. Her eyes gouged out. No tongue. And she was wheezing through an open, cauterized gash in her throat where her vocal cords had been ripped out. And her belly was round and full. And whatever was inside of there was trying to get out. And I went upstairs and there were three more just like her. But their hearts were still beating."

Natalia's eyes had narrowed into slits, as she slowly and quietly stabbed the blade of a knife into the back of the seat in front of her, all her anger fled to her fist, as she held the handle tightly, before the fall, women had suffered at the hands of men, the only two differences now, was that walkers became another threat, and the chance of justice was only settled if they were willing to commit murder, at least now they couldn’t be imprisoned for it.

"And do you know the first thing I thought?" Maggie asked. "The very first thing that crossed my mind? If they're alive, there must be food here. So I took care of them. And then I found the food. Lot's of it. And Hershel and I filled the cart with it, and we left." She then walked towards Alden. "I don't feel anything when I tell you that. Do you understand me? Because that is what's out there. And seeing it, I lost something. And I don't think it's a bad thing that I did. Because it has made things so much clearer. What we have in Alexandria, what we had in Hilltop and in Meridian, it's rare. It has to be. Compared to everything that's out there. Because if it isn't...."

"It means we were lucky." Negan spoke up. "It means that nobody has it figured out. Nobody ever did, and nobody ever will."

Eventually, Frost and Duncan had got the other door open, moving onto the next.

"It's blocked." Frost called to the others, looking through the window.

Duncan gave a defeated shake of his head to the others, there was no getting out.

"No." Natalia voiced. "No, no, we have to get out. We- we, no."

"Nat." Gabriel stood.

"We-, no. Daryl's out there. We can't be stuck in here." She continued, pushing her hair out of her face. "We have to get out, go after him. I have to go."

The door on the other side of them started to rattle, the handle shaking, as it fought to stay closed.

The group got ready for the attack whilst Duncan used a sledge hammer to try and force the door open, though it was proving to be useless.

Maggie handed Elijah some flashbangs, and he proceeded to lay them in between the seats by the door, as the glass cracked.

Gabriel stepped forward, aiming his shotgun ahead, in anticipation of the first one to come across.

And when it came down, Gage was the first to be shot.

Gabriel continued to shoot, as the casings and walkers fell to the floor, and when it was time to reload, Maggie took his place, firing arrows, on the second round, Agatha joined her.

But when she had soon ran out, as well, Cole and Alden stepped in, stabbing and hitting the walkers.

"Hey!" Duncan called, running towards them. "They're coming in from this side!

Maggie loaded a gun, handing it to Negan as Natalia held out a knife, they hadn't allowed him to take any real weapons, prior.

He nodded at the two women, running down the train.

Natalia stood on one of the seats, climbing over it and pressing her back to the wall, catching stray walkers, leading them towards her as the others handled them, she stabbed and sliced, moving on to the next, using their bodies to create a barrier, until she and the others were forced back down the train, towards the other side.

There was too many.

"Hurry!" Negan called, running through the now open door.

"Come on, go!"

They ran through, and Natalia only caught a glimpse of Daryl as she was pushed by Maggie down the line.

"Get behind something!" He shouted, closing the door again, after throwing something.

The two women crouched behind the seats, hugging each other as they kept their heads down.

Then an explosion had erupted, shaking the whole train, the sound of liquid splattering was loud, then the sound of sludge dropping, followed.

They then stood up, checking the area, it was over, black blood being the only thing they could see through the glass.

Natalia slid past the seat, running to the man who had saved them, practically jumping on him as she threw her arms around his neck, he fell back a step, one arm around her waist, his hand in her hair.

It took a while before she pulled back, she stared at him, cupping his face, moving his hair out of his face, then she kissed him, hard, desperately, proving to herself he was there, and he definitely was.

The clearing of someone's throat, gave Daryl the strength to pull away from her, reminding him and her that they weren't alone and a bunch of people were behind them, watching.

"Sorry, father." He told the priest.

"No, that's alright." He smiled at the pair. "Should we get going?"

"Yes." Three male voices from the group, spoke harshly.

#daryl dixon smut #daryl dixon #the walking dead daryl #twd daryl #carl grimes #carol peletier #daryl fanfiction #glenn rhee #michonne #rick grimes #daryl dixon x reader #daryl x you #daryl dixion x reader #daryl x reader #daryl dixion imagine #negan smith #daryldixonalonetwd #darylxnatalia

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weepingfromacedartree · 6 months

Text

Ten Milestones (Interlude): A Foregone Conclusion

Hi friends and happy Tuesday!!

Here's a little interlude for anyone interested ;)

August 2nd, 2019

“Look at them. They’re shameless.”

“I believe the word you’re looking for is ‘oblivious.’”

“You’re right. I would tell them to get a room, but they’d only waste it. They’d hop on top of that king-size mattress and use it as a surface to play Go Fish.”

In her current state (seven months pregnant and six hours into wearing heels), Daphne should really be more careful when joking around with her brother. If Benedict were not close enough to lend her his support, she surely would have doubled over with the force of that last laugh. But Benedict is here. Colin is also here — kind of.

Technically, their brother is about three metres away, next to a bush of red roses and in his own world. He’s talking to his dear friend Penelope. (Closely.)

(Very closely.)

Once her laughter ceases and she’s back on her own two feet, Daphne pulls Benedict away from the merrily unaware pair. They walk towards the centre of the ballroom, which is just as white and opulent as every other inch of this venue.

“How long until we’re attending their wedding, do you think?” Benedict asks. His head is tilted up, eyes turned towards one of the several chandeliers hanging above them.

“Ooh! Good quest—”

“Who’s wedding?” Anthony interrupts, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. Kate is right beside him, one hand on her groom’s arm, the other carefully lifting the front of her long lace skirt.

“Colin and Penelope’s, of course,” Benedict replies, wiggling his eyebrows in a less-than-subtle manner.

“Ah.” Anthony sighs contemplatively, gently nodding his head. “Never.”

“Don’t be such a downer,” says Benedict, just as Kate begins to tut.

“I am no such thing. I simply —”

“Yes you are, love,” Kate interrupts, laughing lightly. “In case you forgot, there was a time when either one of us would have said the same about our wedding. And look where we are now.”

“I fail to see your point, love.” Anthony laughs too, although it does not come out quite as light or genuine as he may have intended it to. “We are nothing like them. We loathed each other. They’re just…”

He cuts himself off to crane his neck and get a better view of the pair in question. They’re just out of earshot, so Anthony can’t tell what it is that they’re saying to one another; he can only see that they’re talking closely. (Very closely.)

“... friends.”

“No offence, Anthony,” Daphne chimes in, “but you don’t have the best track record in seeing what’s right before your eyes. I don’t know if you’re the most qualified person to speak on the matter.”

After muttering something unintelligible beneath his breath, Anthony forces a smile.

“Can we please go back to discussing mine and Kate’s wedding — which, in case you forgot, is real and happening at this very moment — instead of some made up, hypothetical, fantasy wedding that will never happen?”

“Who’s wedding will never happen?” asks Francesca, who shares her eldest brother’s talent for appearing out of nowhere.

“Mine, obviously,” jests Eloise from right behind her.

Kate offers a more helpful answer.

“We’re placing bets on the date of Colin and Penelope’s wedding.”

Without a moment of hesitation, Eloise scoffs and says, “Never.” When informed that Anthony already called “Never,” she updates her bet.

“Fine. One hundred years. Perhaps then he will be good enough for her.”

“Good god. What made you two so bitter?” asks Benedict. “I’ll say four years. Oh — Frannie, are you making a spreadsheet?”

“Of course,” she mutters, not even bothering to look up from her phone. She’s disappointed that her brother felt the need to ask such a question; she’s always in charge of the spreadsheet.

Simon is the next family member to appear out of nowhere and inquire about the rules of the game.

“Christ,” Anthony mutters. He points to Eloise. “You, go track down Gregory and Hyacinth and wrangle them over here. I’m not going through these parameters again.”

After throwing her brother a perfunctory eye roll, Eloise does as she’s told. Not three minutes later, every Bridgerton sibling and spouse gather in a circle in the middle of the wedding hall. (Save for Colin, who remains blissfully unaware of the situation unfolding just a few metres away from him). Together, they agree to bet on the exact timing of a foregone conclusion.

“Two years,” says Daphne. “One year to get together, another to get married.”

“I don’t know babe.” Keeping his hand on Daphne’s belly, Simon glances over his shoulder. As expected, Colin and Penelope are still talking by the roses with smiles on their faces. “They look even more obsessed with each other than they usually do at these sorts of functions — and that’s saying quite a lot. I could see them getting married within the year.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” Daphne chuckles, and her laughter is just forceful enough to make her brace a hand on her husband’s shoulder. “No. No offence, but you are giving those two far too much credit. I fear even my estimation was too optimistic.”

On the other side of the circle, Gregory clears his throat.

“No — I see where Simon is coming from. Penelope looks quite pretty tonight. Plus, love and marriage are in the air… Who knows? Maybe they’ll run off and get married tonight.”

When his answer is met with a chorus of boos and questions regarding his sanity, Gregory simply shrugs.

“Stranger things have happened. Put me down for tonight, Fran.”

“Fine. Your funeral.” After typing the last few digits, Francesca looks up from her phone and over to the bride. Smiling, she asks, “Are you ready to partake in your first official Bridgerton bet, Kate?”

“I would be honoured to,” she says, a smile lighting up her own face. For the first time since this discussion began, Anthony actually looks to be enjoying it; he places a kiss on his wife’s forehead as she considers the possibilities.

“Unfortunately, I am not quite as optimistic as Daphne. I’ll say ten years from now — that’s how long it took for Anthony and I to figure things out and get married.”

Her response receives a few “awws” from the group, but Anthony looks at her skeptically.

“Don’t forget that Colin and Penelope have known each other their entire lives. By that logic, they would have gotten married during primary school.”

“Fine, then.” Still smiling, Kate elbows her husband in the ribcage lightly. “Nine years from now, since they had such an ample head start.”

“Kate is on the right track,” Hyacinth chimes in from her spot beside Gregory. Before continuing, she plucks a sausage roll from his hand and plops it into her own mouth.

“Hey —”

“Those two are absolutely hopeless. I mean — just look at them.”

She raises her arm, indiscreetly pointing to the spot where Colin and Penelope still talk amongst the roses. (Still unaware of the bets currently being placed on their future wedding.)

“It’s unsettling, just how oblivious they are. They’ll continue on just as they are until one of us intervenes.”

“Get to the point, Hyacinth,” Gregory grumbles, guarding the rest of his sausage rolls from her carefully.

“Seven years. Once I graduate from uni, I’ll devote my time to selflessly ensuring that our brother finally figures his shit out.”

Although not intended as a joke, this earns her a few chuckles from the group. Not from Anthony (or Gregory), though.

“Don’t you think there could be a better use of your time following uni? A job, per—”

“Better than true love? I think not.”

Before Anthony can protest any further, Kate speaks up.

“Quick question: Is meddling allowed in Bridgerton betting pools?

“It’s encouraged,” answers Benedict. Then, he turns to the girl on his left. “You're up, Frannie.”

Looking up from her phone screen again, Francesca glances around the group with a conflicted look passing on her face. Sighing, she asks, “Since I’m the one keeping bets, should I not act as a neutral observer?”

When her question is met with a unanimous “No,” she places the final bet.

“Fine. Three and a half years.”

“What is going on here?”

Violet’s head pops up from just behind Francesca’s shoulder. Her face is fixed with an expression that the group knows well. The one marked by a pleasant smile and panicked eyes. The one that appears whenever her children are causing trouble at a social event. In other words, it’s the expression that has appeared on Violet’s face at least once at every social event they’ve attended in the last thirty years or so.

Francesca is the fastest to lie to their mother. “Nothing mum,” she answers, depositing her phone back into her purse.

“Just congratulating Kate and Anthony on hosting such a beautiful, drama-free wedding ceremony,” Benedict chimes in.

Violet’s face starts to relax into something a bit more naturally pleasant, obviously sharing her son’s opinion. Though she remains unconvinced by her children’s claims of innocence, she is willing to save herself the headache of investigating their suspicious activity any further.

“Well, I suppose it’s fortunate that I found you all in one place. It’s time to gather in the garden for the family photos.” She scans the group around her, smile suddenly faltering. “Oh, dear. Where did Colin run off to?”

Most of the group fail to hide their smirks, giggles, and (in Eloise’s case) audible groans. But before Violet can even react, Anthony steps forward and places a reassuring hand on his mother’s shoulder.

“I spotted him loitering by the refreshment table a moment ago. I’ll grab him and meet you all outside.”

As soon as he turns on his heel, Anthony finds that the pair are still in their spot by the red roses. They’re standing even closer than they were just a few minutes ago, leaning into each other to view something on Colin’s phone.

Walking towards them, Anthony doesn’t think much of that decreasing proximity. Nor does he pay any mind to the way Colin’s eyes keep glancing away from his phone and towards Penelope when she isn’t looking. Nor does he contemplate how his younger brother had been too distracted by this conversation to notice the trouble that had been brewing right under his nose for the last fifteen minutes. Despite his siblings’ fun and games, Anthony stands firm on his original conclusion.

They are friends. Why wouldn’t they be close?

Then, as he closes the gap between himself and the aforementioned friends, Anthony overhears the last few remnants of their conversation.

Then, he stops dead in his tracks.

“… ever want to abandon real life for a few days, I hope you know that the door is always open.”

“I know.” Penelope laughs easily. She nods her head for emphasis. “Trust me.”

Despite the pair’s reputation for obliviousness, it only takes them a few seconds to notice him awkwardly standing before them, speechless.

“Oh! Hello, Anthony,” Penelope says brightly, just as Colin (not so-brightly) asks, “Can I help you with something, brother?”

Mouth hanging open, eyes darting back and forth between the two “friends,” Anthony tries desperately to recall why he walked over here in the first place.

“Family photos. Outside,” he eventually manages to get out.

Penelope nods politely at both of them, then turns on her heel as if to flee the scene. Just before she can make her escape, Anthony clears his throat.

“That includes you, Penelope.”

Blush suddenly creeping up her cheeks, Penelope smiles. “Oh, right. Of course.” With that, she takes Colin’s offered arm and the three of them make their way towards the nearest exit.

The garden is brimming with Bridgertons and Sharmas by the time the trio step outside.

Kate, Edwina, and Mary are posing for a portrait by the lilacs. Simon and Daphne are taking a selfie by the irises. Francesca and Violet are laughing by the violets. Eloise is sneaking a cigarette by the willow tree. Hyacinth is attempting to push Gregory into the duck pond; Benedict is standing nearby, clearly amused.

When the two friends step away from Anthony and towards Eloise, he steps towards the violet bush. He pulls Francesca away from their mother — away from everyone within earshot. Once alone, he asks his sister for a favour.

“I need to change my bet.”

#this is the most on time I've ever been in my life #everyone clap #fanfiction #bridgerton #polin #weepingfromacedartree #fanfic #ao3 #ten milestones #penelope featherington #colin bridgerton #colin x penelope

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attheendoftheline · 1 year

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The middle-

The first time I was exposed to Hadestown was a few years ago, my friend talked to me about it and was a fan. So I go to boot up a video (this might have been pre Broadway but the set was very similar) and somethings not right. All the characters were on stage, everyone was just sitting there and waiting to be acknowledged - someone say something. I don’t know if it was the video or my memory but it launched into song and I was lost. My Imediately thought was that the video lied and it wasn’t starting at the beginning of the story! It was right in the middle, clearly I’ve missed something…

It’s funny looking back on this how as someone who’s been involved with theater and seen many shows, there’s several types of stages and not all involve the typical curtain set up. Now that I’ve seen the tour and some recordings, I’m almost certain the video started in the right place all along…but I don’t think I was wrong about it starting in the middle of the story.

Hadestown is the middle of the story. It’s an old song after all, one sung in so many different ways over so many different years. From the myth to now…but also in the universe itself. Something that I love so damn much about Hadestown is that it’s circular. It begins where it ends and makes you think things will turn out- if we just sing it one more time it will turn out alright this time. If I restart the soundtrack if I replay the video , If I buy another ticket maybe this time. This one. Will be it. I love that the story is this… ambiguous thing — is it a time loop? Is it reincarnation? Is it both? I see it as both. A cycle within a cycle, the time changes, the place, maybe a name, but the heart is the same be if ancient Greece or 1930s New Orleans. I love it especially as the characters themselves seem to be aware of it on varying levels, hell sometimes to the extent of begging the audience to step in when no one else will. (People have expanded on this more than I am here).

So yes, we do enter in on the middle of the story, two young lives tangling together to get torn apart and brought together over and over and over. It happens again by the end, Orpheus works the tables but the sparkle in the eye is duller then it used to be. Eurydice hops into the station with more hope and pep then she ever used to hold at the last beginning. This!!! I’ll save you from my screaming but this!!! Little detail keeps me up.

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skzinka · 1 year

Text

🖥 ... ⃕ WHAT'S ON STAYTUBE LATELY ?

« hey little boy. » she said as she hopped into the room, dropping onto the couch, half on jeongin.

« ouch, » he said with a laugh, moving away slightly and letting her settle on properly, « what are you doing here, uh? »

« what do you mean what i am doing here? » she pretended to be shocked, before snatching a piece of mango from the plate on the table, « where you go, i go. remember? »

chan : it's very simple. you are looking for inka? you will find jeongin at the same time.

hyunjin : they're like fake twins. they look very similar but they are also very different.

changbin : they're both adorable demons.

hyunjin : they're really always together, practically glued at the hips if you ask me.

changbin : we rarely see them far from each other. just like last night, they were both out for dinner again.

« last night's dinner was so good, » she said as she continued to eat fruit, « it's been a long time since we went out together to eat. »

« right, we are used to ordering so we don't have to go out, » inka nodded her head, « it's easier this way. », « you can just say that we are lazy. »

« we're not ! » inka cast an accusing glance at jeongin, « okay, maybe a little. but we often leave the dorm to go out together ! »

she nodded once again, bringing her legs up on the sofa, « that's right. we like to walk around and discover new places, you always follow me even when we don't have a specific destination in mind. which is surprising. »

jeongin tilted his head to the side, seeming to silently ask her why this remark, « because you're more the type of person who wants to go out knowing exactly where you're going, and i'm the free butterfly type who goes out without necessarily knowing what direction to take. », « ahh yes, you're right. i like to know where we are going but with you, i don't really mind. »

lee know : jeongin listen to inka a lot, every word she says, he records it. and it's the same for her.

felix : they're really close, they talk about everything together, and they do not hide from each other what they feel.

seungmin : right. i think jeongin is the only person who has ever seen inka really cry.

han : inka is very quiet when it comes to talking about her feelings, but she tells jeongin absolutely everything.

« i think you are the only person who has ever seen me in all my states. » she declared while playing with the cushion she had in her arms, « mh, what about lua noona? », « well.. the only one in stray kids. »

« you don't talk about what you feel easily, » he said as she agreed with his words, « at first you were just holding it all in and isolating yourself. it was very bad for your mental health. », « yes i know. with hindsight now i realize that. but it's mostly because i don't want to worry anyone. »

« but it's by doing this that people are worried about you. plus, i know you, and i know that you always put everyone before yourself. chan hyung does this too. » inka gave jeongin a sorry little smile, « now, you have to learn to think a little more about yourself. », « i will try, i promise. » they made a pinky promise before laughing together.

hyunjin : during a day off period, inka couldn't go back to thailand, so jeongin invited her to his house.

changbin : oh that's right, inka didn't know if she should accept or not, until jeongin's mother personally asked her on the phone to come.

chan : she was so embarrassed to have disturbed his mother, that she almost forgot her suitcase.

changbin : she can be really clumsy sometimes.

« when i came to your house during our day off, i was so touched by the kindness of your parents. they were so adorable. » jeongin nodded as he moved slightly closer to her, « my mom likes you a lot, she told me that you were a real ray of sunshine. »

« oh really? we got along very well right away. », « right right. she often asks me how you are and when you will come back. » inka began to play mechanically with jeongin's fingers, « oh really? i should visit them one of these days. »

« it was great to have you home. you got along with everyone, and the atmosphere was more lively. we did a lot of outings in town. what was your favorite place? » inka pretended to think before smiling widely, « probably that family restaurant we all went to together. with your brothers and your parents. »

« oh right, you met my big brother that day. » inka bent down to grab two mangoes, giving one to jeongin, « yes, and he's so cool by the way. », « more than me? », a mocking laugh escaped from her lips, « of course. » and jeongin hit her lightly, both ending up laughing heartily.

felix : inka is the kind of person who stresses a lot and takes all the blame on her shoulders.

lee know : you're right. if something goes wrong, she takes all the responsibility for it, even when she can't help it.

seungmin : jeongin helped her a lot to slow down this bad habit.

han : he soothes her in a way. despite the fact that he is younger than her, he has always looked after her.

felix : the simple fact of seeing jeongin is enough to make her come back to her senses and not panic, he allows her to think of a solution.

« i always feel better when you are near me, » she said, staring at the ground, « i feel reassured, calm and confident. just seeing you makes me focus on anything and everything. »

« oh really? », « mh, like an appeasement. it's always been like that anyway, since day one. » a laugh left jeongin's lips and he camouflaged himself behind his hands, « our first meeting was somewhat.. interesting. »

« i mean.. it was hilarious. », « it wasn't hilarious for my shirt that got covered by pumpkin soup. » inka imitated the boy, hiding behind the cushion, « oh please i was so embarrassed that day. it was my first day at the agency, and i wasn't sure how the refectory worked, so i just had some soup and you unfortunately got in my way. there was not a single drop left in my bowl, it was a complete mess, even your face had soup on it. i tried to apologize but i couldn't pronounce the korean words well. »

« you almost said some bad words to me. », « oh gosh right.. but at least, it wasn't worse than my first meet with jisung.. » jeongin nodded his head sharply, « what happened again? even though he already told me about it, i think.. », inka picked a fruit before laughing, « we shoved each other violently and i was so angry that i insulted him in thai. »

chan : when inka joined stray kids, it was not easy for her, but jeongin always supported her.

changbin : he never left her side and refused to let her go out alone.

hyunjin : she spent sleepless nights brooding, but jeongin always managed to calm her down.

changbin : they both have this protective aura towards each other.

« do you remember the week after i debuted with stray kids? » jeongin nodded, suddenly becoming more serious, « it was an extremely difficult time. »

« it was really not simple. i was terrified and desperate. i was in a very bad mental state and i wanted to stop everything, give up my dream and go back home. i spent entire nights without sleep, isolating myself and working relentlessly to get everyone to accept me in the group, » inka sniffed softly, urging jeongin to hold her hand firmly in his, « all this seemed insurmountable to me, i felt like i would never get anywhere, that i would never do anything right. but in the end, if i was able to get out of it, it's partly thanks to stray kids' members and especially you. »

jeongin looked up at inka, offering her a compassionate and radiant smile, « you told me that my voice reassured you, » a laugh left his mouth, « you took my hand in yours and i blushed so hard that day, but i stayed with you the whole time. »

« ahh right, and this is still the case today. hearing any sound from you makes me feel better, your laughter is a serotonin boost. » inka did not hide the growing smile on her lips as she looked up at jeongin, « all this to say, thank you jeongin. for helping me get out of this hell and always keeping you by my side even when i am hellish. you never let go of my hand and that helped me a lot. »

jeongin took their hands out from under the cushion, showing that they were well joined, « we will always be there for each other, » she nodded gently, ignoring the reddened tips of the younger man's ears, « but, let's move on to another topic or we'll get so cheesy we won't talk to each other for three days. » they ended up laughing together while instantly moving away from each other.

lee know : they almost never argue, it is extremely rare.

han : mh, i think it's because they know each other extremely well, they know exactly how the other will react to certain situations.

felix : so they make sure to choose the right words and not to go too far to avoid getting unnecessarily angry.

seungmin : even when they argue, they stay glued to each other.

han : it's impossible to separate them.

« i don't remember us ever having an argument, » said inka with a pout on her lips, « i don't think i ever yelled at you. »

jeongin shrugged his shoulders and thought, « i think there is only one time, when we really had a fight. », « oh? when? », « when i left the dorm without telling you and you looked for me everywhere because i didn't answer the phone. you even looked for me in the whole agency. »

« oh you're right, i was so angry that day. » jeongin nodded in agreement, « you were scary. », « i was worried as hell ! »

« you yelled at me so much that night that we ignored each other all night. i was so pissed. » inka approached jeongin, laying her head against his shoulder, « you were so young back then, i was afraid that something had happened to you, and in the end, i felt so bad that we ended up talking all night together. »

« it was the real beginning of our friendship, we promised to tell each other everything from that day on. » inka nodded as she sat back down properly, « since that day, everything has always gone well between us, and we are closer than ever. »

« i'm glad you yelled at me that day, thanks to this we were able to get closer and you never treated me like a child again. », « thanks to my bad temper, you are a responsible adult who no longer forgets his phone at home when he plans to go away for the day. »

changbin : they don't like physical contact, but when it's the two of them it doesn't matter.

chan : they know each other by heart.

hyunjin : jeongin knows inka's tastes in everything, he retains every little detail about her.

changbin : inka can tell what jeongin is thinking just by looking at him, he is like an open book to her.

hyunjin : oh right. sometimes, we are all silent in the living room, then suddenly inka shouts "innie!", then she goes on to say "no, we won't be eating noodles again tonight.", and he's like "why" with a sad face, and we look at them thinking that they communicate by telepathy.

chan : it happens very often.

changbin : they're terrifying.

« thank you for always being with me after all these years, thank you for always taking care of me and understanding how i feel. i keep our friendship deep in my heart and i intend to cherish it for a long time to come. i don't want to sound cheesy, but you are very important to me. i don't think i could have accomplished what i have if you hadn't been by my side. »

« you're really cheesy. » he said with a childish disgusted look, « it's all because of you. you make me soft. », « eww, disgusting. » inka ends up pushing him gently and laughing.

« i'm grateful for everything you have taught me and everything you have given me, having you by my side is very precious to me. no one knows me better than you, and i hope it will stay that way for a long time. »

« how cute, little baby innie. » inka nodded, a huge smile on her lips that clearly copied jeongin's, the latter drawing the girl into his arms by himself. « let's take some pictures together. »

inka's message for i.n : innie! thank you for supporting me every day and being my best friend, i love you a lot ♡ xx

i.n's message for inka : inka noona, let's continue to have a good time together, even when we don't feel well. i'll always look after you, okay? love you ♡ xx

« 2 kids room, » says inka in a cheerful way, « inka, i.n ! » continued jeongin in the same way.

✧⠁taglist : @kurosism @writerblock-sucks @mynameisnotlaura @alyszaen @felixsbrat

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smolvenger · 1 year

Text

(Not) Alone On Christmas (Bucky x Trans! Masc! Reader Oneshot)

Summary: Buckys about to spend a holiday by himself. You run to him with a proposition: you need a fake boyfriend for Christmas Day. But don't worry, it's all gonna be fake hahaha...unless?...

Word Count: 4K

Warnings: Swearing, mentions of drinking and of children, Reader's family not using the right pronouns but Bucky corrects them. Fake Dating.

A/N: Hi there, @riley-writes!!! Tis I!!! Your secret Satna for @startrekkingaroundasgard's Holiday Fic Exchange! Just want to say, thanks to @riley-writes for helping me out bc I am not a trans person and for the HUGE help in getting the details right! Also thanks to @jamesbuckybarns for all the ideas about this fic, many of which made it to this final draft! I hope y'all like it! Here is a link to the song featured in the fic

COMMENTS, REBLOGS, AND ASKS ARE DEEPLY APPRECIATED!!!

Buy Me A Ko-Fi!

My Etsy Shop for Comfort Character Letters and Playlists

My Ao3

BUCKY’S POV

“No, you earned the chance to have Christmas in Paris!” Bucky insisted.

Sam laughed at the other end of the line.

“It’s been Sarah’s dream to see Paris since she was a kid and why shouldn’t the boys go too? They were hopping up and down when they got the news. So…are you sure you won’t mind me traveling?”

Bucky shook his head, the phone hot against his ear.

“You should go, Sam…when was the last time you had a genuine break? You’ve been saving all our asses for months!” he replied.

“Guess you’re right. The shield’s heavy in more ways than one…” Sam admitted.

Bucky began to pace around his apartment. He then glanced out at the window. It was freezing cold and grey, but no snow. And Christmas was in about a week!

“Go spend Christmas in Paris with your family Sam, you earned it.”

“And you’ll be okay? No more of that Hydra or Winter Soldier crap, alright? Nothing, I repeat, nothing that will make me fly back there?!? This is my vacation we’re talking about!” Sam asked.

“It will all be fine!”

“Please, I don’t want to babysit any more Super Soldiers!”

“But I’m your best one!”

“You have a point. And for once the wizards and aliens have stopped and…I wouldn’t mind having an actual French croissant…”

“Go spend Christmas in France and don’t feel the need to babysit us…” Bucky insisted.

“Thanks Buck.”

“Thanks Sam.”

“I’ll get you a souvenir…”

“Get me French Wine and we’ll call it a deal.”

“Alright, man. Deal- I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

“Okay, bye.”

He hung up the phone. He was glad Sam could go but it meant…the holidays alone. Truly, truly alone. Not that Bucky minded solitude or didn’t find worthwhile moments when he was by himself.

It just hit different on a holiday like Christmas.

He gave out a sigh. He should mention this to his therapist.

He remembered the old Christmases in Brooklyn. Steve’s mom would bake him a small version of his favorite pie. You could hear people’s Christmas records sometimes as you walked by apartments. He and Steve would pelt each other with snowballs. They’d walk around New York admiring beautiful decorations and hot chocolate was worth an extra penny to spend on for the warmth around your hands.

He looked down on his own…Well…both of his hands at the time.

As he slid down to the couch to turn on the tv, he heard a desperate knock at the door. Fear hit his stomach and he slowly walked, metal arm ready, to see who it was. He opened the door and poked his head through, just to check. Then his muscles relaxed and he swung it wide open.

It wasn’t an enemy. Not at all. It was Y/N.

But he was not looking chipper as usual, but desperate.

Reader’s POV

“You want me to pretend to be your boyfriend!?” Bucky cried, hands on his hips

“Yes! Please!” you begged, sitting on the couch.

The Hallmark Christmas movie that was turned out was drowned away to the more interesting, real drama between you both. You even folded your arms and looked up at him, like a puppy.

“All because your relatives are trying to set you up with some other guy?” Bucky tried to recall.

“Yes! Bobby! He’s the actual worst! So damn annoying. I hear his voice and lose brain cells, and not in a good way. He won’t even say my pronouns. Refer to the dead ones. Like he’s in love with the dead me and not the me me! And he’s going to be there all day at Christmas at my family’s house! I just know he’s going to ask me out in front of everyone! Please, Bucky- I’ll pay you if you need!” you said, reaching in your pocket to get your wallet.

“No, it’s just…it’ll feel a bit weird…”

“Not as weird as shoving this guy who’s going to be there and force me to date him?!? No sir- I’d rather it be you there! Besides, if you were there-Bobby would stay away. He’ll respect you. He and everyone else will think I am taken! It’s just for Christmas, I swear!” you insisted, shaking your head.

You saw him smile. You didn’t want to admit it, but Bucky had the most handsome smile you had ever seen. You clasped your hands together on your lap and bounced your leg as he paced, awaiting his response.

“Alright. I’ll do it. Sam’s gone- might as well spend the holiday with you.”

You let out a sigh of relief and a hundred thank you Bucky and you’re the best friend ever, Bucky.

In a flurry of baking and shopping and movie re-watching and carol blasting, Christmas Day and the big Family gathering arrived.

BUCKY'S POV

He initially didn’t know if he wanted to accept.

But which was better: another holiday watching the newer movies and ones he had seen tons of times before and hearing the same songs about togetherness while alone…or having company? And above all, in Y/N’s presence…

Bucky was a lonely man. That was, until he met you. But you had a whole family, and he did not. Maybe he could turn away but seeing as how you were about to wrap your knuckles on the door on a bitter cold Christmas afternoon, it was too late.

Here he was, awkwardly standing at the door holding macaroni and cheese- the warmth still radiating to where he felt it in one hand and under his chin. How would they react? As you were hugging your cousins and parents and aunts and uncles, he was still eyeing everything carefully as if it was a battlefield of it’s own.

As he gingerly stepped in, he found himself ducking and looking around, maybe to make himself smaller, less of a target. Eyes immediately turned to him.

“Guys, this is my boyfriend- James Barnes! But you can call him Bucky!” you introduced with a grand sweep of your arms and a cheesy, circus-performer sized smile.

“Oh, Y/N! You finally have a boyfriend! Wonderful!” your mom cheered.

Bucky nodded his head with a shy smile as “hellos” were exchanged. Once he put the macaroni on the kitchen counter- already the building was warm from all the cooking- and shook every hand he could, he went to the corner coat rack.

He took off his coat and then carefully put his gloves in his pocket. Once his gloves were off, the little children of the family looked at the undeniably metal arm. They gathered in wide eyed curiosity at it.

“What’s that? Why is it metal?” one little boy asked.

You had just gotten a drink to await the lunch and were sipping at it while watching.

“I, uh, had an accident and I lost it. So, I got it replaced,” he answered.

It was technically the truth after all. They didn’t need to know the details about Hydra.

“Can I touch it?” one little girl asked, her brown eyes getting bigger.

“Sure…”

She poked it, feeling how cold and solid it felt to her fingers.

“Wooooaaahhhh!”

“Can I touch it? Can I??” they all asked like meercats sticking their noses up in the air.

They followed him as he went to the kitchen to get his plate of appetizers and then plopped onto the couch. Out of the corner of his eyes were more of the younger kids. Their parents brought them their activity books, knowing that there would be a lot of “grown up” talking when it wasn’t present time. One bold little girl crawled up to him.

“What’s your name?” she asked.

“You can call me Bucky…” he said gently.

Her eye went to the inevitable- his arm.

“Bucky- your arm is so cool!? Can I put stickers on it!” she asked.

You nearly snorted out your drink, putting a hand to your mouth to keep from laughing. She ran over, picked up her activity books, and returned.

“Uh…yeah, sure.” He replied.

Other kids ran up with their activity books and sticker pages insisting the same. Before long, his whole arm was surrounded by strawberries, cats, big eyed Disney cartoons, dinosaurs, and glittery planets (one of the kids was going through a space phase). One boy laughed a little, but they all admired him.

The first little girl said, “it makes your arm even prettier!”

Pretty? Huh…he never thought of it that way…

“Thank you- what do you think, Y/N?” Bucky asked, turning to you.

You smiled at it.

“It does make your arm look pretty, Bucky!” you confirmed with a nod of your head.

READER’s POV

Oh gah, there was something different about the way he was looking at you- what were you to do? Why did it make you feel those things? No- nonononono. You had to focus. You had to survive this day. Your stomach was grumbling and the cheese and crackers you stuffed in your mouth were digested already. How long until the meal and presents so you could make the quickest exit out?

The doorbell rang and you felt your cup shake in your hands.

“Come in, Bobby!” your mom greeted cheerfully.

Dang it, why can’t it just be family and not his stupid face? You cursed silently.

There was a sudden swing of the door and Bobby was there, the guy your parents wanted you to be with. Ugh, Bobby may be an engineer with money and an apparent obsession with a version of you, but he looked and acted the exact opposite of your type. And the fact your parents wouldn’t stop singing his praises even though Bobby quietly engaged your fight or flight response immediately.

“Hey there! What’s up! Merry…” Bobby’s stupid, obnoxious voice was cut off at the sight of a certain handsome, well-built man with short dark hair and a metal arm.

“And who exactly are you?” Bobby asked with fake politeness.

You stood up, downing the rest of your drink, and smiling wickedly.

“Oh, you haven’t met my boyfriend yet!” you exclaimed, putting an emphasis on the last word.

Bobby’s lips tightened. You walked forward to Bucky.

“Here is the best boyfriend in the world- Bucky Barnes!”

You threw your arms around him and gave him a peck on the cheek and Bucky smiled. Just enough for Bobby to nod in frustrated respect and defeated acknowledgement.

“I brought green bean casserole…” he said, lifting the red dish with tinfoil over the cover.

“Oh, good! Take it to the kitchen!” Bucky insisted, gesturing there.

Bobby stomped away. He only stayed twenty minutes to drink a soda, drop off two lumpy Christmas presents, and chat around. He then said he had a bad stomachache and left. Bucky looked at you and you gave him a small wink. From behind, you gave him a small high five.

BUCKY’S POV

Since that asshole had left, you were practically glowing. You were smiling- huh, what a smile. Bucky thought. It made his stomach flutter when you smiled. And you were laughing too among your cousins. Not that fake laugh to flatter someone’s bland joke. No, this was real, happy, belly laughter. Your laughter, your voice. It had been in his head. Bucky spent Christmas Eve secretly counting down the hours until this. Yes, it was a test and charade. But it meant…he could spend more time with you.

What was this? Obsession? Lonleiness? Or maybe…maybe it was…

“Hey Bucky!” your dad called out.

Then your dad approached Bucky as he shook away the thoughts from his head, back to Planet Earth. The dad placed a hand on his shoulder and began to speak.

“You know…when the time comes for Y/N’s birthday or if you stick around for next Christmas…could you help me find a right Christmas gift for her?”

“Him” Bucky corrected.

He sighed and shook his head but then took in another inhale.

“I mean, a gift for him.”

Bucky shrugged. “Of course!”

Suddenly, there was aloud, shrill beep from the kitchen timer. He heard your mothers voice ring out just like the Church bells would in Brooklyn on that snowy, holiday morning.

“Dinner’s ready! Wash your hands and get plates, everyone!”

READER’S POV

There was a lack of ham on your plate. Ham was your favorite thing to eat on Christmas and apparently it was everyone else’s. When you finally reached it, there wasn’t that many left. But your parents knew there would be a multitude and so a second ham was placed in the oven to bake. After eating your pitiful slice and enjoying some side dishes, you could get some more.

“Is there anything I could do for you?” your aunt Lydia asked.

She was standing up and eyeing everyone else’s plates.

“Oh yeah- I got my fill of Mac and Cheese, but I’d like some of the ham, please,” you asked.

There was the sound of the mixer like a power drill and then it paused.

“What?” You heard your mom from the kitchen. Her apron was splattered with the cookie batter she was mixing.

Aunt Lydia went over to the corner, the threshold of dining room and kitchen, cupping her mouth.

“Hey! Y/N just said she wants some ham!!”

Your lips went tight, and you placed both hands on your green plastic cup, face lowering down. Your shoulders bunched up to your ears. You wished you were a tortoise and had a shell to vanish inside.

Bucky stood up and walked to the aunt, hands in his pocket.

You perked your head out of your cup. Bucky gave a quiet, angry look. Maybe the Winter Soldier was never truly gone after all, you thought.

“He wants some ham,” he corrected her.

“HE wants some ham,” your aunt repeated with a little sigh.

“Thank you, there you go!” Bucky said, even giving a little bow.

He walked over to you.

“Thank you, you see, it’s so awkward and I hate it…” you whispered.

“Anytime.”

“She always makes me feel like less of a man…” you confessed into his ear.

He took your hand with his own flesh one and squeezed it.

“Listen, you are a man. No one can take that, okay? I don’t see some faker in front of me- I see a real, genuine man. So why can’t you see that in yourself too?” he whispered.

“Okay…” you whispered back.

When you realized eyes were on you both again, but blinking in ignorance of what was said, you gave Bucky another peck on the cheek and returned to your seats.

You finally got your ham helping. All was going smoothly even when it was time for dessert.

“Dear, would you like some cheesecake?” Bucky asked loud enough for any relative to hear.

“Sure thing, love!” you answered with a practiced smile.

Once he gathered a plate with cheesecake on it, as well as a plate for you, everyone’s head at the table was turned towards the two of you. The other twenty side conversations were dropped.

“Oh, so you’re the Prince Charming, eh?” an uncle asked.

In the back, one could hear your mom turning on the Christmas Playlist but adjusting the volume so it wouldn’t overpower any conversations.

“Yes, I am!” he said plainly.

“How did you two meet?” your father asked.

“Uh…it was…” Bucky began, he squinted his eyes and scratched the back of his head.

“We met at a bar. Bucky’s good friend is Captain America right now and there was a segment on him on the tv. So, I bought him a drink and asked him more and then next thing I knew, we were dating!” you piped in quickly.

That was all true. It was nerve wracking how Bucky would take your new gender and new identity. Especially concerning the truth of what time period he actually came from. But you had struck gold. He managed to let you talk and explain it, and always referred to you as who you were.

Maybe he would really be like that if we were really dat-

The thought made you pause before you could swallow your bite.

No, no, noononononono! You thought. Get that thought out of your head now Y/N! You got to focus! You got to make it through to the end!

“So you really know Captain America!?” an aunt asked excitedly.

“Both of them. Don’t want to talk about the middle one. Long story short, John Walker wasn’t a good guy.” Bucky explained.

“But that’s so cool! Both Steve Rogers and now Sam! What are they like?” a cousin asked.

You scooped up some of the caramel drizzle on your plate with the edge of your fork.

“They’re both the bravest men I know,” Bucky answered.

“And how did you meet Steve?”

He froze a little, his forkful of cheesecake still down on his plate, yet to be eaten. Bucky’s face became paler, and his jaw hung in mid-air.

“Uh-“

“Brooklyn, wasn’t it?! You were in Brooklyn when you met him!” you said quickly.

Again, not a lie. Just certain details had to be censored.

“Yes, I was in Brooklyn when I met Steve!” Bucky agreed, playing along.

“You’re so lucky, always wanted to see New York City! Just must pick the right time when it isn’t being attacked by something…” another cousin sighed.

Then the Playlist switched to some instrumental. It began dreamily with some bells playing a twinkly tune. And then a jazzy melody was picked up by some horns and a female singer. Bucky perked up.

“Hey! That’s ‘Santa, Bring My Mommy Back To Me!’” he commented excitedly.

“Really, you know that one?” your mom asked.

“Yeah, I remember I heard it when it first came-“

Your eyes went big, and you whipped your head, dipping into a fake cough to interrupt it. Then you turned to him with a stiff, forced smile as a warning. Bucky stopped himself from blowing his cover.

“You heard the record, right?” you corrected.

“Uh yeah, my mom bought a record and would play it at Christmas,” he confirmed.

If there was a dime for every half-lie you told at desert, you were on your way to becoming rich.

“My Bucky here loves all the oldies. Just like his parents did. It’s so relaxing to listen to!” you boasted, patting his back.

“Well, I like some oldies too! They bring such a nice, classy feeling to every event!” your mom agreed.

You let out a steady exhale through your nose. Bucky bit into his cheesecake.

BUCKY’S POV:

“Can we pleeeeease open our presents now!!!!” one kid begged, hopping up and down in his chair.

“Oh, alright! C’mon everyone- let’s open some presents!” your dad invited, throwing his arms up.

The kids cheered and ran over there. Adults cleared their plates and followed them right after. There was much violent delight in kids squealing and ripping open papers. Even that innocent greed flashed in the eyes of all the adults. Present by present under the tree was passed around and opened. Some to enthusiasm, some with just a polite smile. You and Bucky sat on the couch, holding hands when you weren’t opening a gift.

Your parents then reached and got a red and white box with a bow under the tree.

“Here Bucky…we don’t know you well yet, so it was hard to pick a gift but…we hope you like it!” your dad wished.

Bucky blinked and then opened the gift. How long had it been since he had an actual gift given to him? As he opened the little green bag and looked inside, he saw it was a bunch of new socks his size, a wad of cash, and a little bag full of homemade cookies.

“We know it’s not much, but-“

He waved his hand, shaking his head.

“No, it’s not! It’s perfect! Thank you!”

Your parents both smiled warmly at him.

It struck him. This was just as comfortable as he could be with Sam and his family. He felt safe. Very safe. Too safe in fact.

Once you let go to hand out your gifts to your family, you realized Bucky felt incredibly warm he felt, head to toe. You were a foot away, but he already missed you.

READER’S POV:

Goodbyes were said, empty dishes and presents collected and stuffed into the car, and as you turned the key, you drove back to your place. Once you both walked inside and set all the stuff down, you let out a big sigh and laugh.

“Holy shit, that was something! But I could use some hot chocolate after that- want some, Bucky?” you offered.

“Of course,” he replied.

You poured milk into a stove and turned it on to medium.

“They’re nice, but your Aunt Lydia is…something else” he commented.

“You can say she’s a bitch, Buck.” You confessed.

“Alright- she’s a bitch!” he said with a shrug.

That did make you laugh. Despite his sad past, so much about him made you…just smile and laugh. Naturally.

You returned with two steaming mugs and turned on a Holiday movie you liked and could watch while it was still the season (only six more hours to go!).

“Well, thought I would need this earlier- let’s not waste it,” Bucky said,

He reached into the pocket of his pants and got out a mini size bottle of vodka, dumping it into his mug. Apparently, you could take the Super Soldier from Russia, but you couldn’t take Russia from the Super Soldier.

Both of you clinked your mugs and took the first drink.

“Wait a minute…Bucky! Your arm!” you pointed and let out a laugh.

As Bucky looked down, he realized that he had forgotten that the stickers were still on there. As the movie played on and your laughter cooled down, you peeled it off of him, one by one, and tossed them aside.

“By the way…Y/N, are you doing anything on New Year’s?” he asked.

“Eve or day?” you asked.

“Doesn’t matter,” he replied.

You put a hand around the handle and another on the mug to feel the warmth.

“New Year’s Eve, my family usually throws a party…” you answered.

“Then let’s go! We can fake this again- it’s not too bad! It’s kind of fun, this danger of being caught. We’ll survive it!” he suggested.

You shook your head.

“No, no not really!”

“Why?” Bucky asked.

“It’s not that you’re a good fake date- it’s that…I…I’m busy…” you told him.

He took a larger drink of it. His face was turning a bit pink from the warmth. The movie blared on as a familiar carol was being played in its score.

“Oh…what do you have?” he asked.

You set your mug down and rubbed your hands together slowly.

“It’s…it’s uh…I’ve been planning this for months and I finally got the money to…I’m getting top surgery New Year’s Day,” you confessed.

“WHAT? Why didn’t you tell me?!”

“I wasn’t sure it goes through! And a million things can go wrong in the surgery and I didn’t want to make anyone too unrealistically hopeful- least of all myself! And I have a right not to tell you every last bit about my life!” you protested.

It’s not like we’re dating or anything…yet why did that thought make you sad?

“So yeah- super occupied! And I gotta get ready for life after, it’s gonna be tough…

“Oh, I just thought…

‘Thought what?”

“Thought you’d need a fake date again,”

You shook your head.

“No, not really…not any other upcoming things I can think of. But I’ll let you know..”

“Alright by me” he said, taking a bug gulp of his spiked hot chocolate.

Something was boiling, bursting inside him. He set the hot chocolate down.

“I need to go outside…”

“You can, Buck,” you replied.

Buck, Buck- Buck. Buck! His name getting shorter, smaller...cuter. As if James was too much and now Bucky was too much. Making it smaller, smaller-smaller to where he could only be held and embraced not as a lion but as a kitten. It was too much for him to bear. He stormed outside.

You sat there. Your stomach churning. He wasn’t a smoker. And your apartment didn’t feel stuffy at all. No, something was up- you put on your coat and followed him out.

Right as you opened the door, you noticed that it was dark now. Outside, there was a steadfast snow. No gusts were blasting it into your face, it was gentle. A lot, but gentle. You saw that Bucky had walked outside enough to where you could see his footsteps and saw the top of his head was covered in snowflakes.

“Bucky…Bucky, please!” you called out.

He turned to you, his face was red but his eyes were soft.

“What…what is it…”

You wanted to hear him say it.

“I…I feel…”

“What do you feel?”

“Mad!”

“Why mad, what have I done?”

“Nothing! No! I guess-just…I’m frustrated, that’s all.”

“Why…what’s making your frustrated?”

You felt as if the floor would give out from beneath you. He walked closer to you, blinking a little. He brushed the snowflakes from your hair.

No, it couldn’t be…were you being too hopeful…

“Do you know what about your surgery makes me frustrated? The fact that you hid it from me? IT’s not that you hid it at all…it’s just it means so much to you. That I’m not…not special enough that…you can’t even trust me with it…”

He paused, swallowing.

“I don’t want to sit on the sides as you go through this- I want to be there with you!”

Your breath was knocked out of you. You felt the snow fall on your head, the arms of your coat, your eyelashes, like small, gentle kisses from the sky. Yet you didn’t dare let your eyes leave his.

“Why? Is it because…because…” your voice trailed off, getting quieter and quieter.

“It’s because…I want to be a part of your life, Y/N. I want to be there for you, for all the moments…that’s why…that’s why I asked about your family…that’s why I agreed to pretend to be with you, why I wanted to do it again…”

“Because you really do want to be my boyfriend?” you asked.

He was still, his eyes still blinking.

“I…uh…uhm…yes. Yes, I do.”

You opened your hand, offering it. With both- flesh and metal- he took yours.

“Then…let’s be boyfriends. For real.”

“Okay…”

“But one thing you gotta do- my arms are gonna hurt like a bitch after this top surgery. You’ll have to take me to the hospital and help me out once I get out. It’s four weeks of recovery and it’s intense. Do you promise?”

“Absolutely, babe.”

“I like hearing you call me that.”

“I like saying it.”

You leaned in to kiss each other right as another draft of snow fell on your heads.

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