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softichill · 8 months

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The Sounds of Nightmares unofficial transcript

Chapter 3 - The Theater of the Mind

(Once again made with @queen0fm0nsterz!!!)

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

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[Click]

[Otto sighs, shifting]

OTTO: Noone vanished last night.

[Another sigh]

OTTO: As she slept, I was monitoring her ultradian sleep cycle. There was no REM/NREM oscillation; instead, involuntary spasms grew progressively worse. [shift] As I was about to wake Noone, her… body… evanesced. For a split instant- then returned, calm as can be.

OTTO: [deep breath, loud exhale] Lacking sleep, I can’t be sure I wasn’t hallucinating. Yet the image of her sheets deflating… is imprinted upon my mind. [Sigh] After yesterday’s session, no less, when she claimed to hear this:

[Click, tape plays]

Recording of NOONE: “The faraway drifts near. Tread long, then, sink deep. Two flows from one, and here, is whole again.”

[Click, tape stops]

OTTO: A coincidence? [light clinking of ceramic/glass] Or, synchronicity? …(Scoff) Is that that bloody moth again?!

[Loud smack, Otto sits back down]

OTTO: Riddle piles upon riddle, and answers continue to elude. [Tape rewinding] I’ll sift through every word if I must.

[Intro plays]

[Click]

[Loud clicking and clacking, electric humming, Otto screwing something in]

OTTO: [Humming drops, returns] It’s clear. Noone’s symptoms go beyond parasomnias. [Continuing to build] Her retellings are too detailed, vocabulary too advanced, as if derived from the oneiric itself.

[Humming raises in pitch, clicking]

OTTO: However, what I find impossible to believe is that Noone’s seen who you saw, Cici. [Chair creaks, clattering] If two people, without any contact, shared the exact same observation, is it proof of transpersonal dreaming?

[Otto’s building continues]

OTTO: But such implies concurrence! And these dreams are years apart! Then… no. [buzzing picks up] I cannot be taken to metaphysical backwaters. Sounding like my old professor. [building] I’ve remained balanced over the years by clinging to the notion that my recollection of what happened years ago was wrong. [click, humming gets loud again] But now, those memories are coming home to roost.

[Clicks, electronic humming, building stops]

OTTO: [Shift] Before I began at the CPI I promised to finish this apparatus. I let it fall away, convinced that attempting it was fool’s work. Now struggling to put myself in her shoes, well. Fool me twice.

[Humming gets louder, buzzes out completely as it shocks Otto and he lets out an “Oh!”]

[A small pained noise from Otto before he starts to put the apparatus away]

[Door opens]

OTTO: (Gasp) Noone! [Scoff, he walks away from the recorder] You’re meant to wait outside.

NOONE: (Far away) What are you working on?-

[Audio cuts]

[Click, blank noise]

[Audio starts again]

OTTO: We’ve come to know each other better over the past weeks, haven’t we?

NOONE: Because we’re friends! That’s why. And, friends tell each other things.

OTTO: Friends. That’s right. One of the absolutes I’ve come to realize is that, the more time you spend with someone, the harder it becomes to hide who you really are. The only exception to this rule is with the company of oneself- we willfully hide what we’d rather not face. Like, the Candleman you mentioned seeing, under hypnosis.

NOONE: I don’t like that.

OTTO: What?

NOONE: Hiding things from myself.

OTTO: Nobody likes it. That’s why it’s important to reveal your inner face. “Depth analysis”, we call it. And so, I’d like you to think of this session as a dialogue with your unconscious mind- you are asking the questions, not me.

NOONE: …Asking myself questions?

OTTO: I’ll help! But, as you go, I’d like you to try. So! This… Candleman. Did you see him again?

NOONE: I-I did.

OTTO: And what was this meeting like?

NOONE: …He was much clearer. Not just him, everything about it. My nightmare.

OTTO: Elaborate, please. Was it worse? More vivid?

NOONE: What’s it like- Uhm… as if I’m watching a film, that I’m also the star of. And when I woke… it was here, in the Coppy, that felt more like the dream.

OTTO: Hm, more palpable. The Candleman-

NOONE: I can’t talk about him without the rest. …If this is an interview with myself, might I begin where I want?

OTTO: Of course! Let your imagination run. But don’t be afraid to interact with the dream. This is an important step in our process- the dialogue. Bring together the divided parts of yourself.

NOONE: …The mirror.

OTTO: Pardon?

NOONE: The one off your shelf. If I’m meant to speak to myself, well…

OTTO: [Pause] …Patients aren’t meant to have mirrors, but, here you are, my bright girl.

[Otto gives her the mirror]

OTTO: Begin as you please.

[Pause]

NOONE, Narrating: …In the dark… a hand let go of mine.

[Slip noise, Dream!Noone gasps. Dream ambience begins.]

NOONE: Opening my eyes, I lay on hot concrete, staring up at a sky with- no sun. And… before me was, endless grey, broken by- yellow lines of paint, all the way to the horizon!

NOONE: Standing, in that carpark, I heard a silence. So silent, my own heartbeat was a marching drum in comparison. …It was followed by… a loneliness, so lonely, I could hardly bear it. I had to turn away.

[Dream!Noone walking on gravel]

NOONE: Behind me, I was glad to see a building! A shopping mall, so large I- I felt half my normal size. Its doors opened, [sliding gravel] and I ran to them.

[running footsteps, transition from gravel to tile. Doors close behind Dream!Noone.]

NOONE: Inside the promenade, [lights click on] the lights flicked on, one by one, greeting me as the PA speakers came alive with music.

[Tinny, slightly off-sounding mall music]

NOONE: It had been ages since I’d visited a shopping center. I didn’t know where to start!

OTTO: You saw no need to find an exit right away?

NOONE: I felt like I was in good hands. But many shops were closed, though. There were no doors, and… no displays in the windows. Or, there must have been a private entrance, because- I could see shadows beyond the glass.

NOONE: …A-after passing by several shops this way, I grew disappointed, but that’s when… a cowboy’s voice came over the speaker.

COWBOY, slightly overlapped with Noone: “Sale at Jujube’s Toys! Dolls, games, puzzles, and more! Ground floor by the fountain!”

NOONE: I could see that fountain in front of me! And on the other side, was… a bright green storefront, with bubbles floating out the entrance.

[Dream!Noone walking over, doors hiss as they open. Different tinny music.]

NOONE: Shelves and- shelves of wonders lined the shop! The toys on the first shelf were very old, but… deeper shelves held the same toys I had back home, and deeper ones held exactly those I’d wish for, even Little Lotty Potty! But… these Lotties had black eyes, not blue. And their skin was… yellow, like autumn leaves.

NOONE: The shop owner wasn’t present, so… I grabbed one and began playing on the carpet.

[Dream!Noone humming Six’s Theme. Doll makes automated noises.]

NOONE: But, it didn’t take long for me to grow… bored. That was the first time I… I felt too old for dolls.

OTTO: (distant-sounding) Maturity is natural as you approach adolescence. The brain loses interest in things once held dear.

NOONE: The idea of growing up made me sad. And as if reacting… Lotty’s dress became wet. The doll was doing as its name said, but… [doll chattering] the liquid was- dark and thick. I put her down to find something else. But the choices were almost too many! Towering shelves extending deep in- the gloom of the impossibly long shop!

NOONE: I settled on the games section, but, most were meant for two. Suddenly, a staticky whisper said,

Voice, overlapping with NOONE: “I’ll play with you.”

NOONE: I-I thought it was the shopkeeper, but… nobody was around. My eyes fell upon a jewelry-making kit, with a red necklace on the cover. I took the box back to where I left Lotty, only… she was gone. The shelf above, where the other dolls had been, was completely empty too. I wanted to make the jewelry, I really did, but… I felt weird, so… I put it down. Then, the PA crackled, a woman’s voice this time:

Voice, ov. NOONE: “Jujube’s Toys is now closing.”

NOONE: [Lights clicking off] The lights shut off, bubbles stopped… and, the last thing I saw before exiting… [toy train noises] was the train set crashing to a stop. [quiet fake bell ringing, toy engine stops]

[Dream!Noone walking out of the store]

NOONE: The promenade was empty, still. Each step [steps become echoey] echoed across the walls and floors, which were- pearl white, and had patterns like… veins.

[steps and music continues]

NOONE: I came to three sets of stairs, side-by-side, leading to the next floor. I chose one, and, reaching to the top, I saw another open shop. Mademoiselle’s… (saying it wrong) bijottery.

OTTO: (still distant) Bijouterie. But, regardless- you could read this?

NOONE: Yes. The letters were quite big.

OTTO: …Have you been able to read in your dreams before?

NOONE: I’m not sure. That’s not a question I would ask myself, though, Otto.

OTTO: Apologies.

NOONE, Narrating: The glass case in the center of the room… pulled me in. Full of… gold, and silver necklaces. Hanging in the middle, was… an enchanting red pendant. And before you ask, yes, it was just like on the box at the toy store. T-The PA came on again,

Voice, ov. with NOONE: “A free gift to all little girls 10 and under!”

NOONE: Without asking, I put the necklace on, glowing, like a ruby teardrop. With my gift, I set to leave, but… someone must’ve left the speaker on because… I heard arguing.

NOONE: (overlapping) “Don’t overdo it!” Said a first voice, followed by a second, (overlapping) “One more prize can’t hurt!”

[something being set down, wheels across tile, whoosh]

NOONE: From the back room, a rack of dresses rolled out. All, exactly my size.

[Dream!Noone looking through the dresses]

NOONE: It’d been ages since I’d been allowed to pick out my own dress. The telly people chose them for me. These ones were very pretty, with lace and, and bows and stitching but, one… it… it was the plaid dress I wore the day I arrived at the Coppy. How could my dress be here? [lowering pitch of voice, asking questions to herself] Your real life doesn’t have to mix into your dreams Noone, why now?

OTTO, interrupting narration: (astonished) Pardon?

NOONE: (giggling) I’m asking myself questions. Well, the only explanation is that they could see inside my head.

OTTO: I’m not sure that’s logical.

NOONE: Let me finish! Please. You’ll see.

NOONE, narrating: Back out on the promenade, the shop gates began to slam shut. [Gates slamming] I was worried the mall was closing, but on the floor above, a set of spinning bright lights came on [Lights turn on]. The music stopped and, the PA crackled with a sing-songy voice,

Voice, ov. with NOONE: [music] “Showtime’s patrons! Our daily motion picture will begin shortly. Hot popcorn’s popping and the seats await in the playhouse!”

NOONE: [Lights shutting off] The rest of the mall went dark, making the lights more enticing to follow.

[Dream!Noone walks across the mall]

NOONE: The lobby was- red from floor to ceiling. Buckets of popcorn overflowed on the concession stand. I grabbed one, and hurried to push open the huge golden doors leading into the theater.

[Running steps, doors creak. Slightly off organ music plays.]

NOONE: The velvet seats went for rows and rows, full of people. A spotlight hit the stage, illuminating an organ, but… there was no organ player. Only tall curtains swaying in some breeze. I tiptoed down the aisle, and sat centered with the screen. The chair seemed to hug me, and the room fell dark [crunching] as the first buttery bit hit my tongue.

[Music stops playing, sounds of projector booting up]

NOONE: Without adverts or introduction, the film began. Images of… trees on fire and… white hooves galloping. I recognized the picture instantly because I’ve seen it a hundred times. “The Healing Horn”. [Movie plays] Only the scenes were out of order, and the unicorn… her horn was misshapen, like… a rotten tree branch. The evil prince’s face, too, was… was wrong.

NOONE: Feeling out of place I – I looked around. The audience, I… I realized, was not people but… mannequins.

NOONE: All of a sudden, a familiar scent entered the dream. Ocean. I was no longer alone. The dusty projector light made it difficult to suss, but a few seats over… was the Candleman. His eyes and mouth were… deep black pits inside a mess like a wet gunny sack, sagging down the floor. Without turning, he spoke.

[Growing noise stops]

OTTO, interrupting abruptly: He – what?! [Shifting] What did he say?

NOONE: [Sighing] It was like a – a voice underwater. The words could hardly escape the folds of skin. He repeated them to me.

NOONE as the FERRYMAN, glitching: “The faraway drifts near. Tread long, then sink deep. Two flows from one, and here, is whole again.”

OTTO: And then? [shifting in the chair] What else?

NOONE, as the FERRYMAN: “Here. Here. Here.”

NOONE: He just repeated over and over.

OTTO: There must be more! Try, try! Interact with the dream!

NOONE: There was no more!

OTTO: (raising his voice) Ask who he is, ask what he wants!

NOONE: (raising her voice) It doesn’t work that way!

OTTO: You were right there! Don’t tell me you did nothing?! Not a damn thing!

NOONE: Stop!

OTTO: [farther away] I’m beginning to doubt you’ve seen this Candleman! [Noone struggling] Perhaps you’ve invented the whole story!

NOONE: Please, stop- my head!

[Otto hisses (gets hit?), sounds of something being knocked over, Noone runs out of the room.]

[Otto huffs and stops the tape]

[Click. Blank noise. Another click]

[Various shifting noises. Silence. Door opens and someone walks, then closes it]

OTTO: [far away, stern] What are you doing? With the mirror. [Steps] You’re up to something, but we’ll let it slide. I know girls like you.

[Shifting]

OTTO: You’re upset with me, aren’t you? [plastic clacking] Here. A pill for your headache. (Sigh) Earlier, that was… awfully…[Otto sits] that- that was not how friends act. Sleep has evaded me too. I’ve grown worried, trying to… please, forgive me. I’d very much like to hear the rest. I won’t interrupt, you have my word.

[Silence.]

NOONE: … Fine.

OTTO: So… you were in this theater with him.

NOONE, narrating: … All kinds of pictured* flashed on the screen, and then he was gone, leaving me alone again. Or so I thought. The projector flickered in the booth. I dashed up, and found the door ajar. A new voice came over the PA, angry. “No patrons in the projection room!” The door was stuck, but I pushed and pushed. The PA boomed,

VOICE, ov. with NOONE: “You must not enter!”

[Crashing, door opens]

NOONE: The projector I saw first was shaped like… a deformed eye. Then, my attention fell to… the mass on the floor. [Slimy sound] A brain? A heart? …No. It’s muscles pumped and pumped, and its tubes ran into the walls. The voice came, both from inside the room and over the PA:

VOICE, ov. with NOONE: “Happy day, No One.”

NOONE: It… it knew my real nickname. The ones kids at school scribbled all over my books. How? Because it was in my head. …I asked, “You’re the one who’s been talking? All those voices?”. Then, I saw countless film cans around the room, and understood. It was so alone, it took to imitating. Then it said,

VOICE, ov. with NOONE: “Are you going to leave? Like all the others?”

NOONE: I managed a… “Yes”. The thing began pulsing and, upset, it sort of cried out.

VOICE, ov. with NOONE: “So many, they take what they want and go, or get snatched away or worse!”

NOONE: It paused, then went on,

VOICE, ov. with NOONE: “Whatever you desire, it’s yours.”

NOONE: … But I didn’t want anything from it. The PA belted,

VOICE, ov. with NOONE: “The pendant! You wanted that!”

NOONE: The pulsing worsened until another voice came within the first,

VOICE 2, ov. with NOONE: “You’ve driven another away!” [Not overlapping, repeating: “You’ve driven another away!]

NOONE: I felt bad for it. Or them… this place had been warped by pain, and wanted so badly to keep me. Even the walls began throbbing. What could I do?!

[Noise intensifies, Dream!Noone breathes heavily]

NOONE: I – I ran. Down the stairs, out of the theater.

[Dream!Noone runs away]

NOONE: On the promenade, the lights were flashing so as to be dizzying. The PA screeched,

VOICE, ov. with NOONE: “Everyone needs someone! Don’t leave me alone!”

NOONE: The walls began to cry that dark thick liquid, pooling around me, I looked up. From the floor above, the Candleman stared, pointing at my chest. At the pendant. I flung it down into the liquid, then he reached a hand toward me and –

[All noise stops]

NOONE: And all faded, as the PA sobbed,

VOICE, ov. with NOONE: “Don’t take her! Not this one, too…”

[Narration stops. Silence. Shifting]

OTTO: T-There was um… uh, e-excuse me, a curious phrase. “Warped by pain”. Is that how you feel, sometimes?

[Silence]

OTTO: Noone? Are you still angry with me? Or… distracted by the mirror?

NOONE: Behind my ear… there’s… a sore.

OTTO: Is that why you wanted the mirror all along?

NOONE: [Hum] It’s like the ones I used to get. I need to see it.

[Shifting]

OTTO: Nothing’s there. It’s red because you’ve been picking at it.

NOONE: …I have one more question for myself. Why do I have these dreams? Water sickness, that’s my answer.

OTTO: Noone. It’s wiped out of your system. There have been no known reinfections. It’s in your mind.

NOONE: (with increasing distress) What if the cure is the cause? I never had nightmares or headaches before all of this, before going on telly, before – before this! –

OTTO, interrupting: (whispering) No, no, come, come, come, come here, my girl. [Shifting, Otto hugs Noone] You’re not sick. You’re perfectly fine. You’re a perfectly wonderful little girl. This time I will protect you.

[The mirror falls on the ground and breaks]

NOONE: I’m sorry! I’m sorry, uh, you were squeezing so tight and… it slipped.

[The mirror shards are picked up. Otto throws them away]

OTTO: You asked why you dream. The truth? Nobody knows. My studies always assumed they were more than the brain’s way of filtering unconscious thoughts. But I had no answer either. An old professor of mine thought he did. He believed dreams come from an ever shifting plane, a quiddity of consciousness.

NOONE: Quidd-i-ty…

OTTO: Quiddity. The essence of a thing. In this case, a semiatangible plane outside the mind.

NOONE: Is it the same as mutual dreams? I don’t understand.

OTTO: My colleagues didn’t either. I’ve flip-flopped over the years, but I figured it was impossible to prove.

NOONE: Will I ever get rid of them, then? Will I ever leave the Coppy?

OTTO: You must understand, you are a unique case. I want to let you go, as soon as –

NOONE, interrupting: I’m better?

OTTO: (sighing) Yes. As soon as you’re better. [Otto stands, picks something up] Now –

NOONE: I know, I know. (Lower pitch, mimicking Otto) “Sweets for my sweet”. …Do I have to go back to my room?

[Sounds of plates]

OTTO: I’ve- got to tidy, [wrappers] and, you reminded me there’s something I need to find. On you go. I’ll come by later.

[Shift, audio cuts]

[Audio starts]

[Otto looks through papers, and sighs]

OTTO: Ah, I found it. The paper that stained my professor’s career. Kept it all these years, hoping and dreading there was truth in these words…

OTTO, reading: “We know now that there is no center to the universe. Previously we thought it was the Sun, before that we thought it was the Earth. Our species always insists that ours is the quintessence of experience. Yet scientific observation proves our folly ad nauseum. If geocentrism took centuries to disprove, the question is not if but when the same will happen to reality itself. That which we are equipped to perceive may not be the only world. Let alone the predominant one.”

[Click]

[Outro plays]

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*This is what she actually says. I have no idea why.

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jadequeen88 · 2 years

Text

Watchin' You

Summary:

He walked around the corner of the building that housed the showers when he saw them. Eddie knew that was your canvas bag, the very one he saw you pull out of the floorboard of his van when you got out. There was no mistaking that the black, lace boy shorts lying on top of your other clothes were yours. It looked like you’d stepped out of them and laid them right on the bag. That could only mean one thing… “Oh, fuck me sideways…” You’d been wearing these. You sat in Eddie’s van wearing these exact panties.

Notes:

I had a mighty need for more Virgin Eddie content that resulted in this monstrosity of a one-shot... that will have a part two! Let me know what y'all think of my characterization of our boy in the comments!

TWs: Virgin Eddie Munson, Unrequited Love, Not Actually Unrequited Love, Eddie Munson Has ADHD, Vaginal Fingering, Hand Jobs, Blow Jobs, First Kiss, First Time Blow Jobs, Panty Kink, Eddie Munson is a panty thief, Panty thief

“Hey.”

Eddie looks around his locker door to ensure he’s not hallucinating, that an actual, real-life girl is speaking to him.

“Y-yeah? Me?” goddammit, of course, his voice would choose to crack now.

“Yeah, you.”

Oh god, you’re pretty. Like, music-video-vixen level pretty. It’s terrifying.

“Um, what is it?”

“Smooth moves, jackass. Now you sound like a dick,” he thinks.

You bite your bottom lip, looking slightly amused. Ah, shit. You’re about to laugh in his face, aren't you?

“We’re twins,” you say, holding out the bottom of your t-shirt. Sure as shit, you are in matching Iron Maiden shirts. Eddie nearly faints. However, what he actually does could be considered worse than fainting in front of his dream girl.

“Oh,” he squeaks out, slamming his locker door and turning to walk away quickly.

Stupid, stupid, stupid! What the fuck was that?! his brain screams. The first time a girl speaks to him without ill intent, a girl who likes his favorite band no less, and he runs away like a bitch. Perfect.

That was the only interaction between you and the awkward metalhead in high school, but it was enough to make a lasting impression

After that day, Eddie soaked up any and all information about you that he could. He knew you had just transferred from Indianapolis and that you played the French Horn. You must be good because he discovered that you were first chair and section leader. Eddie knew that you liked to skip your third-period gym class to smoke. You often joked with your friends about how your days playing your instrument were numbered due to the bad habit (he may or may not also skip that period just to sit on the other side of the tall brick wall to hear your voice, not creepy at all, shut up).

He knew that you used expensive Italian perfume to cover the smell of cigarette smoke; something that in Eddie’s mind smelled like sophistication and raw sex appeal, but according to what you told Buckley, actually smelled like bergamot, sandalwood, and patchouli. He also knew you used cherry chapstick instead of lipstick in neon shades as other girls did. You didn’t wear much make-up, mainly eyeliner which made your eyes darker and more mysterious.

He knew that you mostly stuck to your group of band kids. There was this one time, however, when you saw Carol Perkins trip one of the chess team kids in the cafeteria. You gave her a black eye in front of the entire school and got suspended for a week. It was the most metal thing Eddie had ever seen.

He could write a novel about you. He could fill chapters describing how your hair caught the sunlight or how you twirled your rings around your fingers when you were concentrating on a test. He could write sonnets about your chipped, black nail polish and scuffed Docs. He could write dissertations about the intricacies of your music tastes and how closely they align with his tastes based on the bits of band merch you owned and how you chose to wear them.

But Eddie couldn’t fucking speak to you.

He considered it almost daily. But he’d always end up nauseous at the very thought of trying to approach you. So he never did, and you walked that stage in May of 1983 never to set foot in the halls of Hawkins High again. You got your diploma, went back to Indianapolis for college, and left Eddie behind to rot in the dusty trailer park he called home.

If you’d told Eddie then that a few years later, he’d be trauma bonded with Robin Buckley, Nancy Wheeler, and “King Steve” Harrington after fighting interdimensional monsters and saving the world, he’d have laughed in your face. But here he is, freshly graduated (finally), surrounded by friends, and sporting some gnarly scars to prove it all happened.

He was out by Steve’s pool (one of the perks of having a rich friend) watching the sunset and sharing stories with his friend over a beer. The crunch of gravel on the driveway drew their attention to the front of the house as they were standing to compare demobat scars.

“Buckley and Wheeler?” Eddie asked. Steve nodded.

“Yeah, and Robin’s other friend. Just graduated college. I don’t really know her that well, but she spent her senior year in Hawkins. She was a band kid or something, I think. Played the same instrument as Robin,” Steve waves his hands in a vague gesture trying to think of what the instrument in question was again. “That… big, curly trumpet.”

Eddie swallowed hard. “French horn…” he whispered, and Steve snapped his fingers in frustration that he’d forgotten the name of his best friend’s instrument.

There’s no way, it couldn’t be…

He didn’t have time to do more than grip the glass bottle in his hand and stare towards the side of the house where their friends’ voices echoed. He felt too exposed shirtless, so he bolted to grab his cropped Metallica tee and hurriedly threw it over his head.

“The fuck is your problem, man?” Steve asked, weirded out at his easy-going friend’s sudden burst of anxiety.

“Just,” he waved his hands around in frustration, trying to formulate a proper response. “The scars. They’re kinda gnarly, ya know?”

Steve scoffed. “Pretty sure it was Nance and me who kept you from bleeding out, and Robin has seen more of us than either of us are comfortable with, so what-”

Eddie shifted on his feet uncomfortably, arms crossed over his chest and eyes on the ground. Steve bent forward to meet his gaze, hands on his narrow hips and sporting a shit-eating grin.

“Oh shit, is it the band girl? Do you know her?” Steve walked towards him, speaking in a hushed tone, eyes brimming with mischief. The thought of Eddie “cold, cynical heart” Munson having a schoolboy crush was sending him over the moon with glee.

“Fuck off, Harrington,” Eddie hissed in Steve’s face right before you and the rest of the group rounded the corner of the house.

“Holy hell,” Steve murmured low enough for only Eddie to hear, “Didn’t know band nerds could look like that.”

Eddie was so enchanted by your sudden appearance that he almost missed the salacious tone of Steve’s voice. Almost.

“I will end you, Harrington. I swear to God, if you-”

“Jesus man, cool it. I won’t step on any toes,” he raised his hands in surrender, and Eddie’s glare softened marginally. “I’m only noticing what anyone who isn’t blind would.”

Eddie took a moment to look at you properly. You hadn’t noticed him yet, so he used the opportunity to drink in your form. He felt like a man wandering the desert deprived of water, finally making it to the bank of a river. Sure, he pined after you for an embarrassingly long time after you left Hawkins, and he never really forgot about you. There were other crushes and even a couple of make-out sessions, but they were never you. Seeing you now in that flowing, white swimsuit cover, skin glistening with sun tan oil, and that blinding smile spread across your face, Eddie felt like that sixteen-year-old loser who ran from you in the halls at school.

“Yeah, well,” Eddie grumbled under his breath so only Steve could hear. “If you try anything, I’ll make sure you do end up blind.” He schooled his features to look unfazed the closer you got.

“Jesus,” Steve wheezed, still a little shocked at Eddie’s rare burst of aggression. The last time he saw him this worked up he was holding a broken beer bottle to his neck in Reefer Rick’s boat shed. “Got it, chief. No funny business outta me.”

Eddie was so fucked. Not only was he trying to deal with being in your presence again without making an ass of himself, but his friends were also onto him. It’s almost like fighting monsters and nearly dying in a hell-dimension together made you all very perceptive of behavioral shifts. Who knew? It’s nice for Eddie to have a group of friends who finally get him, but hella inconvenient when he’s trying to hide the fact that he has a crush on the new addition to the group.

Steve, naturally, noticed first. Seeing Eddie get all “aggro” right off the bat killed any chances of him playing it cool. So his gaze followed him throughout the night, observing how Eddie would interact with you.

Steve’s attention then spurred Robin's attention. And when she has her sights honed in on a situation, it’s like a Great White sensing a drop of blood in the water.

The “Scoop Troop Wonder Twins” gawking at him (they were not being subtle at all, by the way) caught the attention of “super-sleuth” Nancy Wheeler. That led to the three of them huddled in a mass, whispering together on the opposite edge of the pool.

The only radars that Eddie was managing to fly under were Jonathan and Argyle’s. That’s not hard to do since they were balls-high on Purple Palm Tree Delight as soon as they sat in the metal deck chairs on Steve’s patio.

Then there you were, partaking in the rotation with the two stoners, a spot Eddie usually occupied. With your feet propped in an empty chair, he could hear you talking passionately about music with the other two. When he looked up as he heard you call out to him, Eddie knew his face had to give away how shocked he was.

“Hey! It’s Eddie, right?” You moved your feet out of the empty chair and motioned him over. “I remember you being a man of taste. Come over here and back me up on this.”

Eddie would readily agree to anything you asked of him. He’d fight to the death over it now.

“Uh, yeah, sure,” he scratched his head a little and walked over to sit.

You promptly handed him the tightly rolled joint, smoke curling out of your nostrils like some sort of sexy wyvern, eyes half-lidded and just a little red. Oh god, he’s so terribly in love.

“I’m going to give you two options to choose from. No right or wrong, no pressure. But be warned,” then your lips curled in a mischievous smirk. He was reminded again of a dragon offering a riddle to a poor mortal that stumbled upon her hoard, the answer granting safe passage or untimely demise. “I will remember how you answer, and I will definitely judge you for it.”

Eddie almost choked on the smoke he’d inhaled like he was fourteen again and smoking for the first time behind his uncle’s trailer. “Wow, yeah. No pressure at all. Okay, hit me,” he responded, trying to appear calm as he passed the joint to Argyle.

“Black Sabbath with Ozzy? Or Black Sabbath with Dio? You’ve got thirty seconds,” you grinned evilly, swinging one leg over the other and leveling your dark gaze at him.

“Oh shit, man. Uh,” Eddie was losing it. He didn’t expect such a difficult decision. Choosing between his two favorite metal vocalists? Pure torture. But he’s a professional metalhead, after all. He’s put thought into this very question. “Ozzy Sabbath is iconic, of course. But Heaven and Hell is hands down one of the best albums ever written.”

You clapped once loudly and then pointed at Jonathan cackling. “What did I say?! One of Sabbath’s best albums ever made was with Dio fronting!”

The shaggy-haired stoner groaned and rolled his eyes. You looked over at Eddie, biting back a wide grin. “Jonathan said Sabbath wasn’t really Sabbath anymore once Ozzy left and that no one would agree with me when I defended Heaven and Hell!”

“Wait, you listen to Sabbath, Byers?” Eddie questioned, brows raised. He never took the gangly pothead as someone who would listen to metal.

“I listen to a little of everything, I guess,” he mumbled, passing the joint back to you to start another rotation.

You leaned your head back to gaze at the stars that just started to appear in the sky as you blew the fragrant smoke from your lips. “You passed my test. Congrats,” you extended your arm to Eddie, looking at him softly. Your fingers brushed as you handed over the roach, the joint almost gone by now. “I won’t judge you so harshly now.”

Maybe it was the high setting in, but Eddie swore he saw you throw a little wink his way. There was no stopping the goofy little grin taking over his face as he took the last hit off the joint and relaxed into his chair.

Eddie wasn’t ever, nor ever would be religious, but there is one quote he’s often heard that has stuck in his brain:

“The Lord gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers.”

It only confirms there is no Christian god in his mind. He’s been thrown into the toughest battles of his life constantly over the past few weeks, and if there is one thing Eddie knows for sure, it’s the fact that he is no one’s strongest soldier.

Today’s challenge took the form of a slip of black lace peeking out of the top of your duffle bag.

This most recent dilemma was the result of Eddie agreeing to something he’d always avoided until now…

Fucking camping

Eddie hated the outdoors and hated being forced to spend more time than necessary roaming them. (Uncle Wayne always blamed it on having a dad who only ever taught him how to commit crimes and never took him camping as a small child, but who knows?). As soon as you consented to the idea, Eddie was totally on board with going along. Steve started to give him shit for agreeing so quickly to something he knew his friend hated until Eddie leveled him with a glare so toxic it could melt the paint off the walls.

By this point, he was pretty sure everyone besides you knew about his crush (and probably Argyle, but that guy was constantly operating on another wavelength). Even Nancy started giving him knowing looks behind her permed bangs when he’d laugh just a tad bit too loud at your jokes. Eddie nearly threw Steve out of his passenger's seat when you asked to hitch a ride with him out to Lover’s Lake campground.

“What the fuck, man! I can just get in the back-”

“Nope. No. Fuck off, Harrington. Take your own car this time.”

“But I just washed-,”

“Don’t care…”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake!”

Steve relented, making up a random excuse for taking his car. Robin happily jumped into the passenger seat of his little Mercedes and took over his radio. Eddie just grinned and threw a middle finger at his friend, who glared at him over the top of his car before getting inside.

“Thank god I’m riding with you! I don’t think I could suffer through any more of Argyle’s stoner tunes.” you hopped into Eddie’s van wearing a cropped Mercyful Fate tee and tiny denim cut-offs. So much exposed skin with no warning was doing terrible things for Eddie’s poor, inexperienced (dick) heart. “I love the guy, don’t get me wrong, I just needed to bond with a fellow metalhead today.”

Eddie cleared his throat and smiled, starting the car. He’s grateful he has the excuse of watching the road to keep his eyes (mostly) turned away from your exposed thighs. “Of course. Anytime.”

If Eddie weren’t so hopeless, he’d make some quip about all the fun ways the two of you could ‘bond’, but how could he flirt with you when looking at your legs had him getting hard like some fifteen-year-old? He was so hopeless.

“You can put in anything you’d like,” he gestured to the shoebox that held his cassette collection at your feet. “Most of my shit is at home, but I keep a decent variety here.”

He heard little ‘oohs’ and ‘ahh’s’ as you shuffled through the box. Eddie couldn’t help but feel a little proud that you approved of his musical selection. You yelled an enthusiastic “You’re fuckin’ kidding me!” and popped a tape into the radio before he could ask what you’d found.

“Where did you find this?! I’ve looked for months!”

Eddie started sweating when he heard the opening riff to the raunchiest goddamn song. It was his prized possession, one he only got his hands on because of friends in high places, W.A.S.P.’s “Animal” cassette.

“Umm,” Eddie’s brain short-circuited as you began to move to the beat of the music, throwing your head back and grinning at him wildly. “I’m pretty good buddies with a guy that owns a record store up in Indianapolis. Asked him to keep an eye out for me. I only got it a couple of weeks ago.”

“God, I’ve been dying to hear it again after hearing it live last March.”

Eddie’s nerves were quickly replaced with excitement. “Wait, live, you say?!”

“Yup,” you pop the p proudly and rest your feet on the dash. “I’ve got a cousin down in Dallas, which sucks, by the way. I don’t recommend ever going to Texas. Anyway, we saw them open for Iron Maiden. I’m telling you, it was a religious experience.”

Eddie slapped his hands on the steering wheel and a short, disbelieving laugh escaped his throat. “That’s insane! Holy shit, man!”

“I know,” you hummed. He felt you look over at him. “Have you gotten to see either of them live yet?”

“Nah,” he sighed. “Not yet. But one day! I’m already saving up.”

“We’ll go together,” you said it so casually, you acted as if it made perfect sense for you guys to go to a concert together. “We can split costs.” Eddie’s heart jumped up to his throat, and before he could form a coherent response, he saw you looking in the back of his van. He suddenly worried about what filth might be lurking back there. “We could even bunk up here and save on a hotel!”

Eddie stuttered and scratched his neck nervously. You must have taken it as rejection because you looked embarrassed as you sat back down and started fidgeting with your hair.

“Oh god, I’m sorry, Eddie. I do this thing all the time.” You waved your hands around in front of your face when you said ‘thing’, trying to find the words to express how you felt. “There aren’t many people I can talk about music with, you know? So I get all worked up and excited when someone else seems interested in the bands I love, and I assume we’re best friends.” You let out a self-deprecating chuckle, looking out the passenger side window. “I know it’s off-putting.”

Eddie couldn’t have that. He shook his head so hard that his hair slapped across his face. “Nope, uh-uh. Cut that out.” He glanced over to make sure your attention was on him. “That was like…” he sighed. How could he reassure you without outing himself as being obsessed with you?

“It was so far from off-putting. You have no idea.” Eddie swallowed hard and noticed you looked a little confused. He gathered the meager bits of courage he possessed and continued. “I’m just not used to…” he paused. He can’t say ‘Sorry, I’m not used to my walking, wet dream asking to road-trip with me to go to a metal show, so I don’t know how to function right now.’ so he took a moment to choose his words carefully.

“I’m just not used to other people being as excited as I am about my music, either. So I was just… surprised. But in a good way!” He gripped the steering wheel a little tighter and added under his breath. “In a great fuckin’ way, actually.”

Eddie watched you visibly relax. “Oh, thank god,” You chuckled. “I know I can be too much sometimes. I think the reason why one of the only people I’ve stayed friends with is Robin. She’s one of the only people that’s never judged me for it. Robin and I are kinda cut from the same cloth, I guess. Kindred spirits, if you will.”

It warmed his heart to see you smile when talking about the freckled girl that also wormed her way into his heart.

“Buckley’s a good one. She uh,” Eddie’s throat tightened as painful memories flashed across his mind. Tears and mud streaked across Robin's face, screaming something he didn’t understand…Her body quaking under his as she helped drag him along dank, dark earth… her sniffling and talking to him quietly as she bandaged his mauled sides, offering soft words of comfort and handling Eddie as carefully as if he were spun glass…

He cleared his throat and blinked away a rogue tear threatening to escape. “She’s one of a kind. Harrington, too. Shit, the whole bunch. You’ll see, you don’t have to be anyone but yourself around these guys. Promise.”

Eddie felt comforted as he watched you relax further into the passenger seat. He knew all about being ‘too much’ and how people treated those that dared to be unapologetically themselves. He had no idea someone as perfect as you ever experienced things similar to his own growing up.

The rest of the short drive consisted of talking about music and shows you’d been to, always with the promise of ‘when we see them next time.’ Including Eddie in your plans made Eddie’s insides all gooey and his heart flutter. He tried to keep reminding himself that just because you were being nice to him that it didn’t mean you were about to confess your undying love. It’s a problem Eddie has always had. He can’t love anything halfway; not his music, books, or even a few movies he’d been obsessed with over the years. It also bled into his relationships, this all-consuming, feral love. Uncle Wayne has always said that he wore his heart on his sleeve, even after life had given him every reason to build a barbed wire fence around it.

Eddie parked a little way uphill from the others since his van doubled as his tent and because he valued his privacy. He told himself he didn’t want the younger kids catching a whiff of his nightly smoking sesh (He knows they know about his drug dealing, but that doesn't mean he wants to flaunt it). A darker part of him knew that he might have to indulge in other nightly activities after watching you in a tiny, red bikini all day.

Eddie graciously helped everyone out with setting up their tents. However, he still periodically reminded anyone who would listen that he didn’t have to bother with tents since he owned the superior form of transportation that doubled as a car and a place to sleep. So what if his chest puffed up a little when you giggled at his comments? He didn’t think it warranted the gagging and eye-rolling he got from Henderson, Red, and both Sinclair siblings. Damn kids…

When everyone went to the campground showers to change into swimsuits, Eddie simply threw his shirt off, opting to swim in his cut-off jeans. He snickered, thinking about the look of horror he’d get from Mr. Former Swim Team Captain at his audacity (he banned denim from his pool to force Eddie into a pair of borrowed trunks, but they were at the lake now. King Steve had no power here).

When you left the showers with Robin and Nancy in a cherry red bikini, Eddie made a beeline for the toilets. There’s no way in the nine circles of hell he’d be able to swim around without getting hard at the sight of you. He walked around the corner of the building that housed the showers when he saw them. Eddie knew that was your canvas bag, the very one he saw you pull out of the floorboard of his van when you got out. There was no mistaking that the black, lace boy shorts lying on top of your other clothes were yours. It looked like you’d stepped out of them and laid them right on the bag. That could only mean one thing…

“Oh, fuck me sideways…”

You’d been wearing these. You sat in Eddie’s van wearing these exact panties.

He knew he’d probably hate himself forever for what he was about to do, but in his defense, Eddie did make sure you had extra pairs of clean panties before swiping these (He’s not a monster, okay? He wouldn’t dream of leaving a fair maiden pantiless). After taking them, cursing himself quietly, he high-tailed it back to his van to hide them. He couldn’t help feeling like Gollum, storing the One Ring away in his cave away from nosey hobbits.

Before going back to the lake, he couldn’t resist pulling the fabric to his face and inhaling deeply. Eddie’s eye’s rolled into the back of his head, groaning at the light scent of you that permeated the delicate fabric. He shook his head and threw them into the van to rest among his bedding. If he got too carried away now, he would never get rid of the persistent issue he had grown between his thighs.

After another adjustment and filling his thoughts with some of the most boner-killing scenarios, Eddie was finally able to rejoin everyone at the lake. If he had to remain solidly waist deep the entire time to avoid embarrassing himself and everyone around him… Well that was his business, wasn’t it?

As Eddie’s luck would have it, as soon as he dared to slip the tantalizing strip of fabric that haunted him all fucking day long over his face, there was a knock on his van door. He nearly jumped out of his skin, sitting up at lightning speed.

He cracked the back door open and gasped when he saw it was you, still clutching your panties firmly in his grip. He slammed the door shut before you could speak and dove towards his bedding, stuffing the offending garment deep into his pillowcase. Eddie took one large breath to steady himself before turning to open the back door again.

“H-hi, umm,” he wanted to curl up into a ball and die. He just knew you were on to him. You were probably knocking on his door to tell him what a filthy pervert he was and demand he hand over your underwear. “What’s uh… what’s up?”

You looked both amused and slightly confused, one eyebrow cocked upwards. “Well, the thing is,” you looked around the dark campground, biting your bottom lip. “My tent keeps collapsing. So I tried bunking with Robin and Steve, but there was no room. All the other tents are full too, so… if it wouldn’t be too weird, I guess…” you trailed off sheepishly.

“You wanna sleep in here?” Eddie knew his eyes rivaled the size of the full moon that hung above your heads. He felt equal parts horrified, shocked, and elated that you’d ended up seeking him out.

“I’m sorry if it’s too weird! I can just squeeze between Robin and Steve, it’s no big-”

“No,” Eddie barked. He cleared his throat a little and lowered his voice. “No, it’s totally fine. I don’t mind at all,” The thought of you snuggling up to Harrington was one he didn’t want to entertain. He hoped his smile was reassuring and not creepy like he felt it might be. You must not have cared since you beamed at him and announced you’d be back with your bedding in a minute.

Eddie scrambled around to ensure the mess in the back of his van wasn’t too out of hand. He’d thrown an old pair of boxers and an empty beer can over the driver’s side seat when he heard you knock again. He was relieved that he decided to shower and put on deodorant earlier when most of the other guys didn’t after swimming all afternoon. Eddie would have lain awake all night in misery if he’d had to share close quarters with you smelling like a fish.

Once you were both inside the van, he closed the door, and the silence was deafening. You must have noticed the tension because you shifted an inch closer and cleared your throat. That gave Eddie the courage to sneak a peek at you over his shoulder.

He nearly groaned as he watched you pull a joint out of your goddamn bra and wave it in front of you, cocking an eyebrow up and smiling.

“Purple palm tree delight?” Eddie whispered, his mouth dry as cotton before taking a single hit.

“You know it,” you responded, pulling a lighter out of your pillowcase. Eddie wondered why you weren’t using your pockets. He risked a glance down towards your lap. Your shorts (if they could even be called shorts instead of underwear) were so tiny that there was no way you’d fit anything in there, even if they did have pockets. He felt dizzy at the thought of you being in such little clothing this close to him all night.

You lit up the joint, the small, flickering flame casting your features in an enchanting glow. Eddie was close enough to smell that you’d used some of that expensive perfume. A tiny, pathetic part of him wondered if you’d done it for him. ‘Don’t be a fool’ he thought. ‘Just because she’s sharing her weed and talking about music with you doesn’t mean anything. Stop being a pathetic creep.’

He must have missed something you’d said because he heard you call his name and saw you looking at him questioningly.

“Oh, sorry. What was that?”

“I said, can I try something?”

“S-sure,” Eddie didn’t know (or care, if he’s being honest) if you’d asked to try out ritual sacrifice or if you asked to try a piece of his gum, but he knew he’d always let you try anything you’d wanted. “I need to get pretty close. Is that okay?”

Eddie nodded, transfixed by you getting up on your knees and leaning over his face. Your face was inches from his. Eddie thanked any deity that existed for the forethought he had to put his pillow over his lap. He’d beg to be struck down by lightning if you knew how easily he got boners when you were near him.

You brought the joint up to your lips. Before taking a hit, you asked, “Have you ever shotgunned, Eddie?”

Of course, he hadn’t. Eddie’s experience with the fairer sex was woefully lacking. Instead of admitting it out loud, he simply shook his head no.

“Do you want to try it?” you purred. Eddie gripped the pillow over his lap as he nodded yes furiously. You grinned and put the joint to your lips. Eddie could have cried when you placed your small hand on his cheek, thumb pushing his chin down to open his mouth for you.

Your hand traveled to the back of his neck as you released smoke into his waiting mouth, and Eddie shuddered. He grew so flustered that he could barely inhale what you exhaled towards him. His eyes closed, and he let out a shaky exhale as you began to play with his hair.

“How was that?” you asked, lips still heart-achingly close to his own. Eddie’s brain was mush. The defenses he usually kept up around you to appear cool were falling fast.

“Am I dreaming right now?” was the only coherent thought he could string together, so that’s what ended up coming out of his mouth.

Your laughter sounded like bells. “Why do you ask that, Eddie?”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“No,” you drew out your response, still looking at him suspiciously.

“I’ve been obsessed with you since I was sixteen,” you looked genuinely surprised, but Eddie couldn’t stop the words from flowing now that he unleashed them. “I think I might die if I have to pretend for one more day that I’m not,” He paused. Eddie was so terrified. He felt like he might puke. “You scare the ever-living shit out of me, but not in a ‘horror movie villain’ way,” he inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. “In the way you might fear a beautiful warrior queen on the battlefield, or a siren out at sea.”

When he opened his eyes, he saw you wearing such a soft expression that he felt safe to keep talking. He said your name so quietly that he barely heard himself whisper it. “I’m just a freak that dreams about entertaining a goddess.”

Before he could feel insecure about spilling his guts to you in the back of his shitty van, your hands were holding his face, noses pressed together.

“Eddie Munson, you are a fool,” you whispered before attaching your lips to his in the sweetest kiss Eddie knew he’d ever had.

Eddie only nodded in agreement, clutching at your waist. He felt drunk off your lips, all of his insecurities taking a back seat as he reached for another kiss.

“You really had no clue?” you spoke into his ear as you kissed along his jawline.

“About what? Oh, fuck!” he whined as you sat down on top of him. Your weight in his lap felt heavenly despite the stupid pillow being in the way.

“About what?!” You pulled away with a wide eye stare. “I’ve been wanting to get in your pants since high school, you dingus!” You emphasized your point with a light slap to his chest. “I thought you hated me for the longest time! I was so nervous when I talked to you that one time we wore matching Iron Maiden shirts! When you ran away, I thought that was it. Then, years later, not only do I find out my crush is now friends with my best friend,” your arms wrapped around his neck as you leaned in. “I also find out that he’s got a big, fat crush on me too.” Your noses brushed and Eddie shivered.

“No fuckin’ way,” he whimpered as your lips brushed lightly.

“Yes fuckin’ way,” you replied, capturing him in another kiss.

Eddie didn’t question how you found out about his crush because he quite frankly didn’t have the brain power for it. He’d deal with all that later.

“Not to run you off or anything,” he sighed, relishing the feel of your soft hands exploring his torso. “But I was so obsessed with you back in school. Like, to a concerning degree.”

He didn’t expect you to moan into his neck at his admission, but he also wasn’t upset about it.

“Tell me about it, baby,” your voice was a husky whisper. “Keep talkin’ to me.”

“Oh god,” Eddie whined as he felt you begin to suck a mark into the delicate skin under his ear. “Feels… that feels so good.”

“Want me to mark you up? Show everyone you belong to me, Eddie?”

“Holy shit, yes! Please…”

“Then talk to me,” you kissed over the mark that began to form on his neck. “Tell me all about your little crush.”

“Fuck!” He cried out, bucking up into the pillow. “I, uh. I n-never even looked at anyone else in school after I saw you.”

“Not even the pretty little cheerleaders?”

“No,” he gasped when your lips met his again. “No one, I swear.”

You got off Eddie’s lap and he thought he might cry at the loss. The pillow hiding the tent he was sporting in his sweats was ripped away and for a moment, he felt self-conscious. You noticed him tense up and cupped his face.

“We can stop, you know?” Your eyes glowed with affection and Eddie wondered again how he was lucky enough to warrant that expression from you. “I’m just thrilled that we can be honest with each other now. We don’t have to do anyth-,”

“I’m a virgin,” Eddie blurred out. “Like a uh, mega virgin…”

Eddie could tell you were trying to keep your features neutral, but he saw the smile that wanted to peek out.

“A ‘mega virgin’?” You said, biting your lip to keep from laughing.

“Yes,” Eddie answered with a grimace. “Like an ‘I’ve never seen boobies in real life’ level of virgin. So, I’m probably going to be very bad at everything,” he looked up from his lap to lock eyes with you. Any trace of humor was gone, replaced with that honey-sweet fondness in your eyes.

“Can I be blunt with you, Eddie?” Your thumbs brushed his cheekbones softly as you spoke. “I’m so insanely attracted to you that I don’t think any touch you decide to give me could ever feel bad. Do you understand?”

“Y-yeah,” he responded with a whisper. “I feel the same way about you.”

Your forehead met his and he closed his eyes, afraid that when he opened them again, he’d realize this was all a dream.

“Do you wanna feel what kissing you does to me?” Eddie could only nod and pray to Lucifer that this was going where he thought it was. You grabbed his hand and placed it on your lower stomach. “Go ahead,” your lower lip brushed his as you spoke. “Feel how bad I want you.”

Eddie’s fingers trembled as they traveled past the elastic waistband of your tiny black shorts. He was mesmerized watching your mouth drop open and your eyelids lower in pleasure. When his hand’s slow descent made it to your soaked entrance, he was floored by how impossibly wet you were.

“Jesus H. Christ, this is unreal,” he moved his fingers up and down, not having any sort of plan, simply wanting to feel. By the way you grabbed his shoulders and started panting, you didn’t seem to mind his lack of skill too terribly. “Are you always this wet?”

You shook your head no instead of answering verbally. Eddie’s forehead fell to your collarbone as he let out a loud groan. His eyes were fixed on the outline of his hand in your shorts.

“Can we get these off?” He asked. “I wanna look, please.”

“Yeah, sure,” you responded, laying down on his blankets. You lifted your hips to take them off when Eddie grabbed your hands.

“Let me?” Eddie’s hands shook and his breath froze in his lungs. He’d dreamed of this exact scenario so many times before. This all seemed as fantastical as the D&D campaigns he spent hours writing.

“Please,” your voice was so airy and desperate. Eddie still couldn’t comprehend that he was the reason for it. You raised your hips and he slowly pulled your shorts off along with your panties. Immediately, he began running his fingers through your wetness, looking up at your face to judge your reactions.

“Does this feel good?” he asked. You nodded, biting down on your bottom lip with your eyes closed. He continued that way for a couple of minutes longer, panting at how wet his pointer and middle fingers had become. He laid his head on your thigh and kissed your damp skin. He kept his nose buried there, reveling in your smell and taste.

“I-I wanna make you come. Please,” your eyes met his and he kissed higher up your thigh, not looking away once. You threw your head back with a loud moan. Eddie felt like a god, your obvious signs of pleasure giving him newfound confidence. His fingers sped up while he added the slightest bit more pressure to his strokes. “That’s it, get loud for me. God, I fucking love your noises. Show me, baby,” he stopped touching you and grabbed one of the hands you had fisted in his blanket and wove your fingers together squeezing gently to get your attention. You nodded and brought his hand back down between your thighs.

“Put them inside,” you coached him along as he breached your soaked entrance. He went as slow as he could manage, eyes flitting between his disappearing fingers and your blissed-out face. Once he was in far enough, you spoke again. “Now, curl the- oh, fuck!”

Eddie grinned wildly at your outburst. He might be a virgin, but he’s not clueless, okay? Weirdly enough, he’d learned this little trick from Reefer Rick, of all people. They got high once and when Eddie let slip he was still a virgin, Rick took it upon himself to give him some sort of fucked up sex ed class on women’s pleasure. At the time, he wanted to curl up and die of shame. Now? All the embarrassment in the world was worth seeing your jaw drop and eyes roll back like this.

“There we go,” he purred. The part of Eddie’s personality that allowed him to go feral while DMing was bleeding over into his interactions with you. He sat up and began rubbing back and forth along your soaked clit with his other hand.

“Oh god, Eddie!” you looked close to tears as he massaged you inside and out. Your hips began writhing and when your thigh accidentally grazed Eddie’s stiff cock, he nearly doubled over. You noticed instantly and repeated the gesture.

“Fuck,” his movements faltered and you chuckled darkly, “Baby, if you make me come in my sweats I might die of embarrassment,” he whined through gritted teeth.

“What if I wanna see you do it?”

Eddie closed his eyes and inhaled deeply to collect himself. “Nope. Uh-uh,” he looked back down with determination in his features. “I’m getting you off first. I’ve dreamt of this for years. I refuse to jizz in my pants before you come all over my hands,” he redoubled his efforts, tongue peeking out of his mouth slightly in concentration.

Your eyes flew open and your body tensed. Eddie began to feel your walls fluttering around his fingers. It was the most intriguing and arousing thing he’d ever experienced.

“Holy shit,” he gasped. “You about to come, sweetheart?”

You nodded and grabbed his shoulder, sitting up a little. “Kiss me, please?”

Eddie melted. You wanting to kiss him while you came was so insanely sexy and endearing at the same time.

“‘Course I will, baby. Come here,” you crashed into each other, lips brushing together between panting breaths. You had one hand in Eddie’s hair and the other had a vice grip on his shoulder.

“Oh, fuck! Eddie, I’m-,”

“I know, I know. Give it to me,” he kissed you hard and imagined he’d died and gone to heaven when he felt your whine against his lips. You tensed all over. Eddie felt your walls clamp down on his fingers. He was amazed when you got impossibly wetter and threw yourself back into his pillow, nearly screaming in pleasure.

“Good girl. Good fuckin’ girl,” Eddie brushed your hair out of your eyes, staying like that for a few minutes. After you came down from your high, he laid down beside you.

Eddie held up the hand he’d had inside you and admired his soaked fingers before licking them clean and moaning shamelessly. You looked at him fondly, raising your eyebrows at his dramatics.

“What? Can’t help it,” he said, as he made a show of licking up his palm. “You’re sweet as honey.”

“Hmm,” you hummed, turning to throw your thigh over his lap. He shuddered and you grinned up at him with lidded eyes. “I bet you taste just as sweet, big boy.” Your thigh traveled lower. Eddie groaned and bucked his hips to chase the sensation. “You gonna let me find out? I know I said I wanted to see you get these sweats dirty, but I think I want you in my mouth more,” you whispered filth directly into his ear while petting along his lower stomach the entire time.

“If you keep doing that, I can’t make any promises I won’t get these pants dirty either way,” he moaned, grabbing your thigh and grinding it into his crotch again.

“You didn’t answer me,” you responded, sitting up and positioning yourself between Eddie’s spread thighs. “Are you gonna let me find out how you taste?” You pulled your shirt over your head, leaving you in nothing but a black lace bra, one left little to the imagination.

“Uh, yes? Fuck yes!” Eddie was pulling at his hair, nearly hysterical with desire. He was on the verge of embarrassing himself because he was so worked up. He scrambled to get his pants down without knocking you over.

“Eddie,” you laughed lightly, grabbing his hands. “Let me,” he nodded and crossed his hands over his chest, not sure where they should go. It’s not like he’s ever been in this situation before.

“Relax,” you said as your fingers dipped below the waistband of his boxers. Eddie met your gaze and nodded. You began pulling his pants down and he tried his best to control his breathing.

He groaned long and low when you finally freed him from his clothing, the cooler air in the van a delicious contrast to his burning skin.

“I knew it,” you purred, wasting no time getting your hands on him. Your touches were firm but gentle, running up and down his shaft. Eddie keened when your palm slid over his weeping head, smearing precum down his length. “I knew you were hiding a monster in those tight jeans.”

“M-monster? Really?” Eddie lifted his head off the pillow and searched your face to make sure you weren’t just mocking him.

“Are you kidding? This thing has gotta be close to eight inches, Eddie!” You stroked him slowly from base to tip as you spoke. “It’s the biggest I’ve ever seen, anyway.”

“It is?” He said, probably a little too eagerly. He was practically glowing under your praise. And you seemed to catch on to it.

“It is baby,” your voice was low and sultry. “The biggest and the prettiest,” Eddie bit into his fist, trying to stave off his creeping orgasm as you began massaging his balls with your other hand. “I can already tell I’m gonna want you in my mouth any chance I get.”

“Oh fuck, oh god!” Eddie’s hips jolted, “I might not survive your hand, much less your mouth!”

You grabbed the fist he’d been biting and intertwined your fingers. “Only one way to find out.”

That was the last thing you said before taking him halfway down in one go. Eddie squeezed your hand and shouted.

“S-shiiit! Y-you’re so,” he panted and squirmed, trying to string together a coherent thought. “You’re so perfect. Your mouth is heaven,” you hummed in appreciation of the praise and the vibrations felt like electricity dancing along Eddie’s spine. “Oh goddammit, I’m gonna come so fuckin’ fast.”

You pulled off of him to meet his eyes, “Do it,” you took his hand and placed it on the back of your head, “Wanna make you feel good.”

“Oh, you sweet thing,” Eddie stroked your cheek affectionately, “You do. You really fuckin’ do.” His hand went back to your hair as you swallowed him down again. It wasn’t much longer before he began warning you.

“H-hey,” his voice rose in pitch the closer he got to his release, “L-listen, angel. I’m about to come. Pull off.”

“Want it in my mouth,” you said, kissing his hipbone as you kept stroking him. “Can I taste it? Please?”

“Goddammit, yes! Oh yes, please!”

You hummed around him and with just a few more bobs of your head, Eddie released straight into your throat.

You slowly bobbed your head, swallowing every time another wave of his release entered your mouth. After a few seconds, when you were sure he was done, you released him from your lips and sat up. Eddie’s vision returned just in time to watch you crawl over his body and lay onto his chest. Your hands carded through the damp curls around his face.

“Wanna know a secret, Eddie?” You whispered, tracing patterns into his scalp as his breathing finally slowed.

“Y-yeah.”

“That’s the first time I’ve ever let anyone come in my mouth.”

Eddie’s face whipped over to look at you. “Honest?”

You smiled as you bit your lower lip and nodded, “Honest, baby.”

He shuddered at the nickname. “Mmm, keep callin’ me sweet names and you’ll never get rid of me, ya know?”

“That’s the idea, my love.”

Eddie made a growling sound as he clung to you like a koala. “You’re lethal. You know that?”

You didn’t answer but sat up far enough to envelop Eddie’s plush lips in a deep kiss. You made out like that for a while, until he realized he began to harden again. You seemed to notice it as well.

“Down, boy,” you joked, stroking his sides and nipping at his throat.

Eddie groaned. “Nothing’s going down as long as I’m this close to you,” he turns you both to your sides facing each other. “I can’t stop thinking about how warm and wet you are,” Eddie squeezed your sides and kissed along your collarbone. “You squeezed my fingers so tight when you came. I wanna feel you doing that around my cock, pretty mama.”

You wrapped your leg around his hip and whined. “Eddie I’m not taking your virginity in the back of your van,” his hand found your still-soaked entrance and began petting you while his mouth worked your neck over. You returned the favor by fisting his damp cock.

“Oh god, I don’t give a fuck where it happens,” he gasps as you run your palm over his sensitive head. “Please, I need it,” he bit and sucked the delicate skin of your neck, whining the entire time.

“No, Eddie,” your firm tone made him shiver. “You’ll get my hand and my mouth tonight. As many times as you need it,” your hand sped up as his fingers followed suit against your clit. “But you’ll get my pussy in my bed. So you can fuck me into the mattress properly.” Eddie came for the second time with a shout into your fist.

He looked up in time to see you lick it up from your palm like it was sugar. Eddie’s brain short-circuited. “I-I wanna make you come again,” he blurted out, still circling your clit. You nodded and wrapped your arms around his neck, pressing your forehead into his.

“Keep doing that,” you encouraged. Eddie nodded and picked up speed. He watched you in a trance as you unraveled under his touch for the second time in one night. He felt like a god.

“Fuck, you’re so pretty when you do that,” Eddie kissed all over your face as you laughed. “Ethereal, stunning, a work of art!”

“That’s all you, pretty boy,” you kissed the bridge of his nose and he melted.

“By the way, I’m totally down for van fucking, ma’am,” he feigned irritation as he poked your sides playfully. “Making a twenty-one-year-old virgin wait even longer is just cruel.”

“Don’t pout, Eddie,” you cooed, cuddling into his side. “I promise you’ll be glad you waited.”

“If you insist, princess,” he sighed, pulling your body close.

“I do,” you yawned. “Now sleep.”

“Hey, sweetheart?”

“Hmm?”

“How soon after we wake up can we get the fuck outta here and preferably into your bed?”

Eddie let out an ‘oof!’ as you slapped a pillow over his face.

“Less talk. More sleep.”

“Yes, love.”

#virgin eddie munson #eddie munson smut #eddie munson x reader #jade writes smut #eddie munson #eddie stranger things #eddie munson x you #eddie munson fanfiction #eddie my beloved

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kaminocasey · 1 year

Text

Do You Hear the People Sing Part 7

Summary: Fox does as he said he would and finds you.

Pairing: Commander Fox x Reader

Warnings: 18+ MINORS DNI; Sexual implications, Violence, Injuries, Angst

WC: 2K

A/N: WELL, here is the second to last chapter! The next will be the Epilogue! I'm very excited and also very sad bc I've been working on this since June and I've come to truly care for Fox more than I expected. Thank you for reading it and reblogging and liking and commenting. I'm appreciative of all of you. <3

Do You Hear the People Sing Masterlist

“Commander Fox.” Fives and Jesse approach an incredibly stressed and sleep deprived Fox.

Fox had yet to meet the two arc troopers, never hardly working with the 501st but he’s heard good things about the two men. He heard they had a huge hand in the successful mission on Umbara and that they’d helped take down the rogue Jedi turned Sith Pong Krell. It for sure made his job easier that he didn’t have to deal with the Sith Scum.

“Fives. Jesse.” Fox sticks his hand out to shake their hands. “Good to finally meet you guys. Heard a lot about you.”

“Likewise.” Jesse nods. “We’re here to help.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.” Fox tells them, genuinely.

He’s exhausted and has barely slept five hours in the last week. You’ve been gone far too long. He wakes up at night, angry and in tears. He tells himself that he can sleep when he gets you back safely.

“Fives and Jesse are two of the best arc troopers out there.” General Skywalker assures Fox.

“I can also confirm that.” Rex tells Fox, patting him on the back.

“We’re going to get her back, Commander.” Anakin assures him.

They’d been working tirelessly to find any sort of clue as to where you were. They’d finally found an informant of Dooku’s who barely took any sort of convincing, he was so afraid of Skywalker. It was a good thing too, because Fox was nearing desperation… There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to get you back at this point.

As they board the ship, Fox thanks the men of the 501st and tells them to wake him up as soon as they reach Serenno. He knows he needs sleep. Before this, he was used to little sleep. He’d get maybe five hours a night. Now… he’s starting to experience dizziness and hallucinations.

Yesterday, he thought he saw you walk past him and he started to chase after you. It was only one of the Coruscant medics and she was rightfully scared out of her mind when Fox grabbed her. He had apologized profusely.

Fox finds a seat to take a nap in, not even caring if it’s comfortable. Within two seconds of sitting, he falls right asleep, dreaming of simpler days with you.

I’m gonna marry this woman, Fox thinks to himself, watching you sing along to the music as you cook breakfast, wearing his shirt. He’d never seen someone so beautiful.

When you turn around, you see your partner and start grinning immediately. You’d only been going out maybe a couple months and this was the first time that Fox stayed over.

There had been a peaceful protest the day before, one that thankfully stayed peaceful, and Fox had offered to walk you home. When you had gotten home, you asked him if he wanted to stay.

“Good morning.” You make him a plate.

“Good morning, cyare.” He comes over to you, kissing you.

You set the pan back down on the stove, wrapping your arms around the clone commander’s neck, running your hands through his curls.

“How do you look so perfect in the morning?” He takes the plate from your hands, sits it down, and backs you up against the counter.

“I don’t, but you’re sweet for saying so.” You kiss him again as he picks you up and sits you on the counter.

“Don’t argue with me.” He moves his lips to your neck and your mind goes blank except with need.

You wrap your legs around him, pulling him as close as possible. Breakfast is suddenly forgotten as he carries you back to bed to have his way with you.

You had tried to escape. You had tried really hard. Even made it to Dooku’s hangar and almost to a ship, despite not knowing the first thing about flying. But you were prepared to deal with that problem when you got to the ship.

Except… Ventress had intercepted you and beat the shit out of you, dragging you kicking and screaming back to your cell by your hair.

Then, you tried again when some droid had brought you breakfast, which Ventress had been anticipating and force choked you so hard that you thought you teetered the near death line a little too closely.

You weren’t a Jedi. You weren’t a clone. You weren’t a warrior. You weren’t built or trained for this sort of thing.

Ventress had broken your spirit. You tried to fight back… and you lost. Fox had no idea where you were and you would most likely die here. Wherever here is.

All you know is, you’d rather die than join the Sith.

“Fox, we’re here.” Rex wakes him up, gently.

Fox wakes up with a start and stands up, swaying with tiredness. Rex keeps him up straight.

“Remember what I said about your emotions, commander.” Skywalker reminds him.

“Ha.” Rex walks away.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Anakin follows after him.

“Are you alright?” Thorn asks Fox, coming up from the cockpit.

Fox nods. “I’m fine.”

“You’re sure? You don’t need to sit it out?” Stone asks him.

Fox gives him a “You’re joking, right?” look and Thorn just pats him on the back, clearly having been joking to lighten the mood a little bit. Fox feels a little bad that he's been so dark and broody this last week, but he knows that Thorn understands.

“Let’s go get her back.” Fox nods and goes with Thorn and Stone out the hatch.

“Ohhh little rebel.” Ventress’ voice sings.

You ignore her, pulling the thin piece of fabric that they’d given you up closer to your shoulder. Perhaps if you just ignore her, she’ll leave you alone.

“Your friends are here to get you.” She taunts you.

Your heart lurches at the thought of Fox. You don’t believe her, though. This is just a new trick.

“It’s too bad it’s no use.” She grabs your arm, yanking you up from the cot.

You’re still bruised and in pain from her beating the crap out of you the first time. You’re pretty sure you have a few cracked ribs. Pain shoots through your chest and in your legs.

“Let… me go.” Your voice cracks as you try to pull your arm away from her, obviously not succeeding.

“Amazing.” Ventress pulls you toward the door. “You still have an ounce of fight in you.”

You limp, feebly, as she drags you back toward the hangar that you had tried desperately to escape to the first time. You barely have it in you to lift up your head.

“Ventress! Let her go!” You suddenly hear a familiar deep voice that you think belongs to Anakin Skywalker.

Anakin Skywalker is here?

Weakly, you look up in time to see a blue lightsaber coming your way. Soon after, there’s blaster fire coming from the other side and you see Fox, Thorn, Stone, three clones in blue armor and Ahsoka Tano.

Fox yells your name and your eyes lock onto him.

Fox. He came for you. He found you.

“Fox.” You whisper, falling to your knees as Ventress pushes you away and starts to go head to head with Anakin Skywalker.

Ahsoka and Fox rush to your side.

Fox found you. He finally found you and he can’t stop crying as he and Commander Tano pull you safely to their ship with Thorn and Stone covering them as they do so. He knows he shouldn’t be crying like this in front of a Jedi commander but right now, he can’t bring himself to give a single fuck. You’re here and back in his arms. That’s all that matters.

Ahsoka helps you into a seat and Fox tears off his helmet, dropping it to the floor as he falls to his knees in front of you.

“I’ll give you two some privacy.” Ahsoka pats you on the shoulder, walking away.

You and Fox look at each other with tears streaming down both of your faces as he cups your face, kissing you desperately between sobs.

“It’s…okay.” You choke. “I’m… okay.”

“I’m so sorry, cyare. I’m so so sorry.” He begs you for forgiveness.

“Me too…” You whisper against his lips.

He continues to kiss you, panting against you.

“I love you so much.” He tells you. “Always. I’m never letting you go again. Please believe me.”

“I love you, too.” You assure him. “And I do.”

He finally stops crying and rests his head in your lap, holding onto your legs, and you comb your fingers through the familiar black curls, brushing your fingers across the gray patch that you’ve missed so much.

You look up at Thorn and Stone and they’re smiling down at you, clearly happy to see you as well. You’re just as happy to see them.

“Sorry, I’m such a mess.” You swallow the lump in your throat that keeps forming.

“Don’t be. We’re just glad you’re alright.” Thorn nods to you, leading Stone away.

Fox gets back up, sitting in the chair next to you, checking all your bruises and cuts, wincing at all that he finds.

When Skywalker and the three blue armored clones finally get back on board, they take off immediately.

Only once you’re in hyperspace do you finally relax. Exhaustion sets in as soon as the adrenaline wears off and you feel yourself go weak again.

Ahsoka brings over a medic by the name of Kix so he can check you for any serious damage, which you don’t think you have, but you still let him check you over with a scanner. Fox’s eyes and hand never leave you. Not even for a moment. You’re almost sure they never will again.

“You have a few cracked ribs but no internal bleeding.” Kix, tells you, giving you something for the pain.

Fox doesn’t leave your side for even a second. As soon as Anakin Skywalker comes in, you know you’re about to be questioned.

“General… this can surely wait, right?” Fox stands up, protectively. “She needs rest.”

“I’m sorry, Fox… It can’t. I need to know what happened while everything is still fresh in her mind.” He tells him.

Fox looks down at you as if waiting for you to tell him to fight the general. It’s sweet, but unnecessary. You look at the general and nod.

“I’ll answer your questions, general.” You tell him.

You understand why he’s doing this. It’s not that big of a deal and you know the sooner you do this, the sooner you can take a nap and be alone with Fox again.

“Please, call me Anakin.” Anakin comes in and stands next to you.

“Or Skyguy as I like to call him.” Ahsoka appears in the doorway, chuckling.

“What do you want to know?” You ask him.

After Anakin finishes asking you questions, Fox helps you into a hoverchair and takes you to one of the bunk rooms. He helps you lay down and starts to sit on the floor but you pull him into the bunk with you.

“Are… are you sure?” He asks you, softly.

He hesitates but you’ve missed him desperately the last six months. If he turns you away now, it may kill you.

“Please… I need you.” You whisper. “Unless you don’t want to-”

“No, cyare. Of course I want to.” He gently climbs over you into the bunk. “I just know you’re in pain.”

“The pain meds that Kix gave me kicked in.” You tell him. “I need to be held by my riduur.”

With that last word, Fox aligns his body with yours, gently holding you close as you lay on your back. You feel his breath hitch as breathes you in and takes your hand, bringing it up to his lips before gently resting it down at your side. And soon after, you hear his soft snores that you’d missed so deeply.

For the first time in six months, you both finally feel at peace. You can finally sleep peacefully again, knowing Fox is never going anywhere ever again.

TAGS: @grievouus @brynhildrmimi @madameminor @dumfanting @rain-on-kamino @misogirl828 @rexandechosandwich @corona-one @tecker @ladykatakuri @the-sith-in-the-sky-with-diamond @twistedstitcher27 @zoeykallus @maulslittlemeowmeow @littlemousedroid @arctrooper69 @rexxdjarin @agenteliix @padawancat97 @hated-by-me @sleepingsun501 @ttzamara @erishimoon @brieblade @grizzersmamma @urfavwifeyy @tazmbc1 @stardust9905 @justanothersadperson93 @nekotaetae @eternalwaffle

#tcw #the clone wars #tcw fox #commander fox #commander fox x reader #commander fox x you #tcw fox x reader #tcw fox x you

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hannahssimblr · 3 months

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Chapter Fourteen (Part 3)

The sand is damp and smooth, and our footsteps are the first to break the even surface. It clings to our shoes. Seagulls caw and the marram grass rustles in the dunes in tune with the nylon swish of Jude’s windbreaker jacket. His face, blank, doesn’t turn to me, but I look up at him and feel unsettled, remorseful, regretful, excluded, and the sunlight glints off one of his little silver earrings and blinds me for a second, as though to force my gaze away.

“How is Jen doing?” I say, and my voice is small and almost drowned out by the rumbling of the sea, but he hears me.

“Yeah, she’s doing okay. She hurts a lot, you know, the parts of her that are broken. She’ll be okay, although they’re not so sure about her hand. This piece of shrapnel cut through her wrist, you know, severed some tendons, and there’s a chance she won’t ever have full movement back.”

“Oh,” I say, my own wrist twinging with a phantom wound. “I didn’t know that, that’s really awful.”

“Yeah, I know. She’s strong, though, she’ll recover from this and she’s going to be alright.” He kicks a chunk of driftwood out of his path and buries his chin into the collar of his coat. “It was hard to see her. This week has been the first time in months, and God, she just seems so fragile.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean. She seemed that way when I saw her last, she’s really shrunk in on herself like she’s trying to take up the minimum amount of space in the world.”

“Exactly.”

“Having the wrong kind of person in your life at the wrong time can be so dangerous when you’re already fragile, someone can come in and break you so easily that it’s scary.” I shudder and try my best to force away my own dark memories as they begin to creep and coil around my insides. “But what happened to her? What is it with Jen?”

“That makes her feel that she doesn’t deserve anything more than a person like Pamela?”

“Yeah.”

He sighs. “Jen has just never had it very easy, I suppose. Things at home were really fraught, I remember that when I moved here. We were never allowed to hang out at Jen’s place, because she said her parents were weird. It turns out that her mother was really controlling and her dad had a temper. They’d punish her for really small things really disproportionately. I don’t know, Evie, it was just a difficult environment, she was always walking on eggshells around them, and she felt like she didn’t have any control over her own life.

“When we were fourteen she met a crowd from another school who weren’t all that great. The exact type of friends her parents would keel over if they knew about, but that’s exactly why Jen wanted to spend time with them. I hung out with them too, but only because she did, and I didn’t really want to be all on my own.

“All we ever did was drink and hang out in parks, honestly. It was kind of boring to me, but I was just there because of her, like, I don’t know, I suppose I felt like I needed to keep watch of her, to make sure that she was okay because it was becoming kind of clear that she wasn’t all that interested in making sure for herself.

“They all used to be obsessed with being high all of the time. Not that they had actual drugs, just solvents. Lighter fluid, deodorant, petrol, sometimes, you know, choking themselves until they hallucinate…”

He’s saying all of this like it’s normal, and that I should know about it already, but I don’t. I nod along anyway despite my horror.

“But pretty quickly they got their hands on the real stuff. Someone’s brother knew a guy, I think. Something like that. We started with weed, which was fine, but then one day one of the guys showed up to the park with a little bag of cocaine.”

“How old were you then?”

“Fifteen.”

“And you tried it?”

“Yeah, and I didn’t like it that much, because it made me paranoid, same as weed, really. Paranoid and a bit nauseated, so I stopped doing it too often after that, but Jen was the complete opposite. She liked it a lot. There was something about that feeling of losing control of her body and being driven by something else that really did it for her, you know, she just liked losing herself in it. So really, from that point on that’s always how it was with her, always searching for an escape from her life, trying everything and anything those kids could find for her.”

“Fifteen.” I echo in disbelief. “You were both so young.”

“We were. Way too young. Two of those boys we used to know ended up in a psychiatric unit years later. I don’t hear about the others anymore, so I don’t know, but Jen has never quite gotten past it either.”

“Would you say she’s an addict?”

He makes a face like he can’t quite decide upon the answer. Perhaps my question is too simplistic. “I don’t really know what to call it.” He says eventually. “She goes through periods of heavy use, and then she comes back around again and doesn’t touch anything for months, it’s never consistent, it all depends so much on what’s happening with her, and whether her life is steady or not. Obviously, right now, it’s very much not. I think she’s had more and more difficulty in the last few years while I’ve been away.” A deep line forms between his brows. “I haven’t really been here to keep an eye on her.”

“Is that your responsibility?”

“Of course.” He says, as though it’s the most obvious thing in the world. But to me, it isn’t. It seems to me an incredibly heavy burden to bear.

“Her parents…?”

“They freaked out when they discovered she was a lesbian. They told her that she couldn’t identify that way as long as she lived under their roof, so she left. They don’t speak to her at all anymore, as far as they’re concerned they don’t have a daughter. I remember once we bumped into them in town and they completely blanked her and acted like they didn’t even see her. That was a really rough time. It didn’t work for my family to take her in, because Ivy was only six, so Michelle’s parents agreed. They’d been really close since they were children, so she lived with their family for three years.”

“Jesus.”

“Jen’s parents are horrible people. I don’t usually get so bothered about others to say that I hate them but… yeah, I hate her parents. They essentially destroyed her life. Well, they made a good stab. It feels like Pamela came along to finish the job.”

“I kind of get it, about Pamela,” I say, and he looks at me curiously. “You know, when you’re used to a certain pattern of treatment, returning to the familiar is the path of least resistance. Her parents treated her awfully, so she’ll default to someone like her, who can confirm all of those rotten things she already believes about herself.” It isn’t that cold, but I shiver anyway, and Jude bites down on his lip, frown deepening. “Yeah.” He says. “That makes sense. I just wish she could see what her friends can see.”

“You can tell her that she’s amazing all you like, she’s going to believe only the most negative things about herself.”

“Pamela locked her in a bathroom during an argument.” He tells me. “For four hours. Jen had to climb out of the window from the first floor. And that wasn’t enough to make her leave.”

I shrug. “You’d be amazed how bad it has to get.”

“Well I got Pamela’s number after that, and I called her up. This is what everyone keeps bringing up. I was just so mad. I just went off at her until she hung up on me, and then obviously she told Jen, which, I didn’t care about, I thought she’d be glad that I stood up for her, but I was wrong about that, she just cut me off and stopped speaking to me completely. That was like, a year ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I was confused… I mean, I am confused.”

I sigh. “I wish I could explain how complicated it is, but it’s so hard to.”

“She must know that Pamela is abusive.”

“Sure, but sometimes it’s just easier to put up with it than try to leave or to change something. It’s a strange thing, but I suppose it kind of makes a bit of sense when you’re in it.”

“I thought I was helping.”

“It’s hard to help, really. You just have to hope that she eventually helps herself.”

“I hate it.” He says. “I hate how powerless I’ve felt, just away in Berlin this whole time, unable to do anything, or even talk to her, or even know what’s happening.”

“I’m sorry that I kept things from you.” I say, and he replies “I know you are. I understand why you did. I shouldn’t have been so angry.”

“You have every right to be angry with me.”

We look at each other, and his nostrils flare just a little, a hardened, defensive look coming over his face because we both know that we aren’t talking about Jen anymore.

“I think I’d like a coffee.” He announces after a tense pause. We’ve reached the main entrance to the beach now, the part of it that was always too crowded with towels and parasols to find a place to sit during the summer, now empty, just like all of the benches and the bar stools in the surf shack just a hundred metres from where we stand. Jude points at it with his thumb. “Do you want one? Or a tea, or, I don’t know, an ice cream cone?”

“I’ll go,” I say, in the dim hope that if perhaps I pay for his coffee he’ll warm up to me again and stop looking at me like I’ve shot him in the heart. “Black americano, no milk no sugar?”

“Yes.”

And usually, I’d make some joke about that, but I don’t even try it this time. I leave him to sit on a sandy bench and I head over to stand at the window to order.

“Hey,” I say to the shopkeeper’s back. “Could I just get two coffees? An americano and a flat white.”

“We don’t have things like flat whites, this is a small family establishment.” He says, and then he turns around and I’m met with a familiar pair of blue eyes.

“Oh. Liam.”

“Evie?”

“Yeah.”

He comes over to lean onto the counter in front of me, and I take him in, the adult version of the boy I used to know. His hair is longer now and pushed back from his face with a patterned headband, and he looks less boyish, less skinny, but his full face of freckles is the very same, as well as the deep tan on his face, which I’m certain is there all year round. He doesn’t look unhappy to see me, in fact, he looks intrigued. “I didn’t expect to see you here, of all people, of a Saturday morning in March.”

“I know, I never thought I’d come here again, honestly.”

“We frightened you away that badly the first time, did we?”

I smile. “No, I just never thought there’d be a reason.”

“And you found one.” He grabs a paper cup from a stack and gets to work on the americano. “Can I do you a cappuccino instead, by the way?”

“That’s fine.” I watch him pour the coffee grounds into the portafilter and tamp it down. “I’m really just passing through, you know, after the storm, some of the houses down here have gotten damaged.”

“Yeah, that’s right. One over on the end of the peninsula has the roof gone off it.”

“Oh, that’s not great.”

“Not great indeed.” He puts the first coffee down in front of me. “What are you up to these days anyway?”

“I’m in the middle of college. I’m studying illustration in NCAD, and at the moment I’m taking a year to do an internship in a print studio in Stoneybatter.”

“Ah art school! You were always creative. Or so they tell me. I never did see your drawings in the end.”

I laugh awkwardly. “Well, I suppose you didn’t. How about you? Are you in college too?”

“Well if I was I suppose I wouldn’t be here doing this, now, would I?” He smiles over his shoulder at me after he pours milk into a silver jug. “I went to Galway to study for a year, and I didn’t like it, so I dropped out, came home, and I’ve been working here with my dad ever since. It’s grand, I don’t mind it. Nice to be on the beach and surfing and all that, you know what I mean?”

I nod. “Yeah for sure.”

Dumping bubbly, frothy milk into my cup, he wonders “What house were you checking out anyway? Is it Kelly’s mobile or something?”

“No, it’s the Turner’s beach house.”

When he places the cup in front of me, he peers over my shoulder and spots Jude sitting with his back to us, staring out over the sea, and Liam’s easy smile falters. “Oh right. You ended up going out with him in the end.”

“Oh. Well, no. It’s not like that.”

“Is it not?”

“No, we’ve just been friends for the last few years, there’s not been anything else going on really.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Ah, that makes more sense.”

“Does it?”

“Yeah.”

I clear my throat awkwardly. “Well, um, like, why is that, exactly?”

“Well like I didn’t ever think anything would actually happen there between ye. I’d have been surprised to hear that it had, is all.”

I stiffen. “Is that so?”

“Just from knowing him back in the day, I didn’t think he’d, you know, have gone for you, or whatever. Actually, I thought he’d have fancied your friend Claire instead.”

“Why, because she’s pretty?”

“Well she was very pretty, wasn’t she?”

“Yeah, she is.”

He sees the look on my face, laughs to himself and saunters back to the coffee machine to clean out the grounds. I feel my cheeks flush. “What’s so funny?”

“No, no, nothing.”

“Explains why you’re chuckling away to yourself.”

He sighs. “I’m not, it’s nothing, Evie.”

“No, what?” I insist.

“I’m not trying to start something here, I just could have predicted this, is all.”

“Predicted…?”

“That he’d still be, like, stringing you along after him after all this time. That’s what’s going on, isn’t it? It’s always what happens, it’s a classic situation, that’s all I was thinking.”

My pulse quickens. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Ah, come on. It’s so obvious. Girls like you always go for guys like him, guys who like the attention so much, but look at ye now, it just goes to show that I was correct way back then when I thought it. He’s never going to give you what you want, he never was. I’m actually on your side, I just think I could have told you this four years ago and maybe saved you the hassle.”

I get it. He thinks that I’m pathetic. “I think you have some nerve saying that. We don’t fit into whatever categories you have in your head. ‘Girls like me, guys like him’. That doesn’t mean anything.”

He turns around and shrugs, totally nonplussed. “If I’m wrong then what are you doing traipsing down to Wexford with him on an errand? Buying him coffees? It’s fine, Evie, I’m not trying to argue with you, I’m just stating a fact. Some things never change, is all I’m trying to get at. Nice to see that you’re still the same girl as ever.”

“What’s the coffee cost, please?”

“Five fifty.”

“Rip off.” I toss coins onto the counter, grab the cups and stalk away from him.

When I slam the americano onto the bench next to Jude some of the liquid sloshes out onto the wood, and he awkwardly mops it up with the thin napkin I got from the shack. He asks me if I’m alright, and I fib and tell him I am.

“Fair enough.” He says because he’s too upset with me to care that much. We walk all the way back to the beach house in silence, wet sand, whispering waves, and cool wind, stuck together, wishing we were miles apart again.

Beginning // Prev // Next

#lucky girl part 3 #tw: drugs #tw: abusive relationship #tw: alcohol #tw: estrangement #tw: addiction #tw: injury #tw: accident

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pythonees · 2 years

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˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ THREES A CROWD — embry & paul

WARNINGS: you might have to re-read the series because it's been so long (my bad)

A/N: I am so so so sorry about my sudden hiatus. I haven't been doing all to well this past year (though I honestly think it's been for much longer) and it's been very draining cycling through medications that don't work. But I have been having a good patch this last week and decided I wanted to tackle the hell that is transferring chapters from wattpad to tumblr.

nine ˖⋆࿐໋₊

The three of you are sitting on the ground in the middle of your room. Between you is your now half-eaten pizza, dessert, and cans of soda. The boys look at you expectantly, waiting for an explanation on what had been happening the last few days. With a sigh, you put down your slice of pizza, ripping off a piece from the paper towel roll you had next to you to clean off the grease on your fingers.

"Its been happening since Tuesday," You mumble, unable to look either of them in the eye, "I was on the bus home when I first saw the eyes. I didn't think anything of it at first, I figured it was just a trick of the light, you know? But then on the way home, I think I was hallucinating? Everyone on the bus looked demonic. Like, their eyes turned black and they were just staring at me. I looked away for a second, and when I looked back everyone went back to normal."

"It happened again today, the eyes, but I know it wasn't a trick of the light or just stress. I could see the outline of their face, but couldn't make out who it was. But I know what I saw!" Towards the end, you start to get a little hysterical, desperately wanting them to believe you. The boys don't say anything for a second, casting each other a quick glance before they turn back to you.

"Okay, so, don't freak out," Embry starts, and you let out a frustrated groan, "but I think that leech has powers." It takes you a second to register what Embry said. You stare at him blankly, and he stares right back, starting to fidget when you don't say anything, "Hey-"

"You didn't think to tell me at that stupid meeting that vampires have powers?!"

"In my defence-"

"What? In what world does not telling me they have powers make any sense?" You glare at Embry, waiting for a response when you remember something else, "Do the Cullens have powers?"

The silence in the room is deafening. Embry looks vaguely scared, but thankfully Paul jumps in, putting down his slice of pizza. "Three of them, not all."

Taking a deep breath, you will yourself to calm down enough to ask, "Who?"

Embry chimes in again, a look of guilt on his face, "Edward can read minds, Alice can see the future, and Jasper can feel and control emotions. From what the elders have said, it's not very common for the cold ones to have powers, we just got unlucky."

You nod along to his explanation, relaxing when Embry mentions the rarity of powers. Taking a deep breath, you lean back against your bed. You grab the box of dessert sitting next to you, pulling apart the warm, cinnamon sugar covered bread with a satisfied hum.

While trying to open up the small tub of icing with one hand, you gesture to the tv stand with the other, "Now that we have this all figured out, wanna watch a movie?"

The boys abandon their slices of pizza to go looking through your movies, quickly cleaning their hands off. The two bicker over what film to watch, going back and forth until they decide on some action movie that you didn't even know you had.

When the boys turn back around, they both make a beeline to you, settling on either side as they waited for the DVD to start.

The three of you settle in comfortably once the movie starts, but only after a couple of minutes of you trying to figure out how to snuggle into both of them without asking them to move closer, both of their phones go off one right after the other. With a drawn-out groan, Embry pulls out his phone, since his went off first, reading through the message. He's silent for a moment, then lets out a pained sound.

"What?" Paul and you both ask, shooting each other playful looks quickly before turning to look at Embry.

"Jake is really starting to get annoying," Embry whines, pockets his phone as he stands up, with Paul wordlessly following his lead, "He's trying to disobey Alpha orders, so now we all have to go on patrol as punishment."

You scramble to stand as well, following them to your window as you smooth out your clothes. You move in closer than what's probably acceptable, but both boys seem to lose the tension in their bodies at your closeness.

"Give him hell for me, okay?"

You get an amused snort from Embry, and a muttered, "he'll be wishing for hell," from Paul.

Turning to the still open window, Paul is about to climb through when you tell them to wait. Both Embry and Paul turn to look at you, no doubt about to ask what wrong, but you're quick to cut them off.

You're somehow able to wrap your arms around them both, though your arms don't get very far. With one arm around each of their waists, you pull them into an awkward group hug. It takes a second, but they relax into it fully, arms moving to wrap around you.

The combined heat is nearly too much but somehow not enough at the same time. It makes you feel safe in a way you didn't know was possible, or that you even knew you needed.

"Please be careful," You mumble into their chest, squeezing your arms around them before reluctantly letting them both go. Their hands linger as they also pull away, looking like they would rather stay there then go out on patrol.

A close howl catches their attention, causing the boys to groan in unison.

"Sam won't let us do our patrol near your house, since you'll be a 'distraction'," Embry says, voice dripping in annoyance, "but Jared will be nearby, so you'll be safe."

With that, both the boys are gone, Paul jumping out the window first, followed quickly by Embry. You lean out the window to watch the two as they run off into the trees, wishing that they could have stayed there with you for just a little longer.

They pass by a wolf just barely seen through the dark, who you guess is Jared. You give him a quick wave, ducking back into your room to finish your work before turning in for the night.

©︎ pythonees — do not, under any circumstance, repost, plagiarize, modify or translate my work.

#embry call #paul lahote #twilight #embry call x reader #paul lahote x reader #embry call x reader x paul lahote #reader insert #reader interactive #x reader #Ꮺ. my work

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6mommymilkers9 · 2 years

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Hi, can I ask for a, Splinter with a powerful witch s/o. She is loveing, karing, sweet, and understanding, but if you mess with this wich and hert the ones she loves, she becomes scary scary. Also one day she takes a hit for Splinter. Shredder sneaks up behind splinter, she pushes him out of the way and she gets hert. Love and happiness at the end please. If this is too much ignore this.

Totally! Love the idea :)

Fem! Reader

Take It Out On Me

Darkness. Some fear it, some bathe themselves in it. You were not one of those people, but here you were, drowning. The day had gone by as usual, taking care of your boys, spending time with your lover. Now, well, life had flip itself upside down.

The family was enjoying Space Hero’s, you cuddled against the rats side, your sons next to you. You couldn’t have asked for better. That was, until everything collapsed, quite literally. The walls, shaking with such force, you couldn’t tell if you were vibrating, or merely hallucinating.

As stones fell, show long forgotten, you rushed your sons to the nearest exit, Splinter opting to be left behind, foot soldiers trotting their way into your home. Some say time is no friend, this was true. It was drooling, slow. You saw how your sons were scared. For them and for their father. They tried many times to run back, but with a wave of your hand, you kept them by your side.

Everything seemed to be calm, the tunnels dark. Your only friend was the rhythmic drops of water. Thinking you were safe, you let your sons sit down, seeing how tired they were. Looking at the ground, running a hand through your hair, the dirt seemed to be moving? ‘Weird. I’m not doing anything’ Standing up quickly, raising your hands, forcibly shoving the turtles far from yourself. “Run my sons! And don’t look back!” Voice echoing throughout the tunnels, eyes wide as footsteps got louder by the second, dirt shaking hastily.

“Mom! We can leave you!” Raphael cried out, the others begging for you to come. “I said go!” You yelled, your eyes never leaving the turtles, watching as their figures became cloudy. One by one, the soldiers came, making their way to you, but never past. Their bodies, laying across the dirt floor, your breath heavy with anger. Screaming, that’s all that was heard. Not of the soldiers, but of you. A mother’s cry. One that could pierce the hearts of angels.

You fought, until there was nothing to stab, throw, punch. Nothing except the air. On your heels, you began to run. Your boys were safe, you just hoped your husband was too. “Yoshi!” Feet coming to a halt, rubble everywhere, almost quiet, except for the groans and sheath of metal.

Throughout your years, you’ve experienced chapters of history, but this? The scene before you, Splinter laying on the ground, battered and bloody, The Shredder, blade to the mutants throat, it torn something in you. “Get away from him!” You screamed, walls shaking underneath your breath.

The Shredder, deaf to your words, lifted his blade, swinging down onto his target, the feeling on flesh being pierced. Though, looking down, it wasn’t Hamato Yoshi against the blade, rather, it was you. “No one hurts my family.” Whimpering, you placed your hand on the blade, electricity shooting from your fingertips, to the armor dawning Oroku Saki. The last thing you heard, was the cries of your lover, pressure applied to your stomach.

Days, weeks, you were floating. You didn’t know where you were. You could hear voices, faint, but there. There was nothing to see, except the void. Afraid, you couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, yet you were screaming. Was this hell? Heaven? You didn’t know. You wanted to go home.

It stayed like this for days, a week maybe? Time was indifferent here. You couldn’t feel anything, so why were you shaking all of the sudden? “Y/n?” “Mom? Please, wake up.”

The shaking became violent, almost painful, and then, light. Groaning, you lifted your arms, cursing the light that pierced your vision. “MOM!” Came screams, weight sinking onto your chest and shoulders. Opening your eyes, your sons held onto you, tears evident on their green scales. “Mom you’re awake.” Donatello whimpered, his grip tightening onto your shirt. The turtles, dared not to let you go. “Dad never left your side.”

“Y-Yoshi?” Sputtering, you looked up, your husband looking down at your, fur wet, tail wrapped around your arm. “Watashi no ai. You saved us.” A weak smile dawned your pale lips, an arm wrapped around your sons, the other, reaching to caress your lovers fur. “It’s my job, darling. You know this.” A small chuckle escaped the rats mouth, placing a hand on your own. “We missed you.” “You have no idea.”

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3xm-draconic · 2 months

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The Jester and The Courier: a wild wasteland love.

Chapter 2: Radioactive.

Myrtle got on her ranger gear, say for gear helmet and went down stairs. In the spare room handcuffed to the radiator was the crazy little red head dude, just…giggling to himself…

“Any idea if the psycho is still in his system?” Gannon turned to Joshua, “no idea, psycho isn’t supposed to last that long…then again he might just be insane like Raul said” Joshua replied.

Myrtle approached the man and knelt down so she was eye-level with him, the man’s crazed grin fell from his face as soon as he saw her’s. It was no doubt due to the horrific scar across her left eye which was now completely cybernetic, that would scare the willies out of anybody.

…but…then he smiled again…

“You are something Cicero has never hallucinated before…a half-metal woman!” he gleefully giggled, “hmm, dilated pupils, erratic speech patterns, hallucinations…he may have severe mental trauma” she turned to the others “I think taking him to doc Usanagi for therapy might do him some good”.

“Where is Cicero? Why is he chained?...WHERE IS HIS JESTER’S CLOTHES!?” he squeaked and began to panic “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO POOR CICERO!?”, “ehey, ehey shhh, it’s ok buddy we didn’t do anything to you, we want to help you ok?” Myrtle hushed him “can you tell me what happened? Do you remember how you ended up naked and falling out of the sky?”

The red head…this Cicero guy…just looked at her weirdly and screamed “WHAT!?”, a water bottle was then flung at them “CAN HE STOP FUCKING SCREECHING!? I’am hungover and I’d like some peace and quiet!” Cass bellowed.

Myrtle turned to Ulysses “can you bring me some food and a bottle of water?”, “what for?”, “our friend here is so skinny he looks like he hasn't eaten a proper meal in weeks and I think the best way to get through to him is with kindness, not an interrogation” Myrtle replied.

Ulysses nodded and went into the kitchen to grab a plate of whatever Lily was making, “guys can I be alone with him?” Myrtle turned to Gannon and Graham, they nodded and left to go eat.

“so…Cicero, where are you from?”, the man hesitated “Cicero was from the Empire but he moved to Skyrim to be closer to his family”, “Empire? Sky-rim?” Myrtle pondered “I don’t know these places…they certainly ain't close to the Mojave or California” she mumbled. “Mo-ha-vee?...Cal-ee-forn-ya?...What are you talking about? What are those places?” Cicero wondered, “It’s where you are now bud, you are in Nevada, Southwestern Commonwealth of America, the Mojave desert, west of the NCR?” Myrtle pause “any of this dinging any bells up there?”

He stared at her blankly “no…but if Cicero is in a desert is it close to Hammerfell…the Alik’r?...or is it in Elsweyr?”, Myrtle blinked “no…you got me even more confused now”.

“What direction is this Sky-rim?”, “oh it is very, very far north” Cicero replied as he carefully observed the strange metal woman, her greenish-blue eye and metallic yellowish green one never wavering from his amber gaze, “north hmm? How far north? Like Uta or…?” she pondered, “U-ta?” Cicero wondered “Cicero has no idea about any of these places you say!” he snapped, he was getting agitated.

Myrtle sighed “look I’am sorry, I don’t mean to anger you I’am trying to help you find your way home” Myrtle said softly, Cicero calmed down a little as her words sounded ginuwine “ok…ok” he sighed.

Ulysses arrived with food: a plate of potato-bread toast, sunny side-up gecko eggs, brahmin sausages and cactus fruit jam.

She took the plate from him and sat it next to Cicero, “ok, I’am going to uncuff you and give you a fork…please…don’t stab me with it” she kindly asked him, Cicero had to hold back a pout…he wanted to stab someone…badly…

She got close enough to where Cicero could have easily jabbed it into her neck…but he needed to know more about just where in the void he was…and killing the only person wanting to help him would be like stabbing himself in the foot.

Cicero eyed the food on the plate…it…was weird…

“What is this?” he pondered as he poked at the strange eggs, “gecko eggs…have you never eaten one before?” Myrtle turned to him, Cicero cocked his head in confusion “nope…” he shrugged, “well their good eaten I say, I’ve had them plenty of times in my life” she shrugged and grinned “nothing is better in the morning like a cup of coffee and a plate of gecko eggs”.

“What's this coff-ee you speak of?” Cicero pondered, “it’s drink, it helps ya wake up in the morning, would you like a cup?”, Cicero thought about it for a moment “well when in the Empire do as the Impirals do” the thought to himself “yes, thank you” he nodded.

Myrtle left to get him some while Ulysses watched him, “so…Cicero…your name” Ulysses’s deep raspy voice rumbled “it sounds very…Legionary…” he mumbled.

Cicero eyed the strange man with a metal mouth “Cicero’s name is a perfectly normal Impiral’s name…what does it have to do with the military?”, “so your military is in league with Caesar?...oh dear…Myrtle was begging to like you…” he sighed.

That got Cicero on edge, what did he mean by that?...

“who…Who is this Ceasar you speak of?” he pondered, Ulysses cocked his head “don’t play dumb, he’s the leader…” he gave a small laugh “former…leader of the Legion”, Cicero looked even more confused.

“So…in this world there is no Tiber Septim?...no Empire?” Cicero’s head started to spin, if his very NATION didn’t exist here…then that would mean…

Myrtle came back with a cup of coffee “I made it with some brahmin milk and sweetened it with a little ant nectar, you look like somebody who wouldn’t like just straight black coffee…” Myrtle opened the door to see an alarming sight…

Ulysses knocked out and Cicero attempting to break out of his remaining handcuff using the fork but doing so badly that he was only hurting himself in the process.

“CHRIST ALMIGHTY!” Myrtle screamed as she set down the coffee on a dresser and ran over to Cicero, she smacked the fork out of his hand and restrained him “STOP, Stop, stop…what’s wrong?” she gazed into his panicked wild eyes, he was like a frightened animal.

Cicero headbutted her…but that only ended in him hurting himself…“don’t do that please…my skull is pure titanium and I doubt your old flesh and bone one can do much damage…now calm down before I make you calm down”.

“You won't take my soul daedra!” Cicero snarled at her and attempted to bite her, he managed to sink his teeth into her shoulder but then he felt a sharp pinch in his neck…then…he started to feel…relaxed.

“Ok, I’am gonna cuff you back to the radiator while you calm down ok buddy?” Myrtle said as she gently laid him back against the wall, thank GOD she had a needle of calm-x on her.

She checked on Ulysses who was waking up, “Hey S.Grant you ok pal?”, Ulysses groaned “little fucker…headbutted me…hard…ow”, Myrtle gave him a small pouch of healing powder “here go take a nap on the couch and heal up”.

“What of Crazy-Ass?” he grumbled, “calm-x, was gonna use it on myself to ease my jitters of hoover dam…but I think in the moment it was needed more on him” she sighed, “Myrt?” Ulysses looked at her with concern, “don’t” she glared at him “don’t worry about me and DON’T bring it up with the others…got it?”

He sighed and they left the room.

#fanfic #au #skyrim #crossover #fallout new vegas #fallout nv #fallout nv oc #fallout fanfiction #fallout oc #skyrim cicero #skyrim fanfiction #fallout #tw swearing #ulysses #arcade gannon #joshua graham

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lokisprettygirl · 2 years

Text

The Night Screams at The Slumber Island (Loki x Female Reader) (Horror Romance) (Dark) (Au) (18+)

Read Chapter 9 here // Series Masterlist

Chapter 10

Summary : You find yourself falling for a certain god.

Warning: Steamy stuff, discussion of rape, sexual abuse, gaslighting, cheating, mention of Suicide, discussion of mental illness, therapy please read carefully. If something triggers you please don’t read it.

For the next few days you tried to make yourself believe that he was a god and he wasn't your hallucination but it was difficult. How could you accept the fact that a literal heavenly being was around you and wanted to protect you? Even seeing his magic and everything he could do made you feel like you were losing your mind. But then if you were indeed losing your mind then this wasn't the worst possible thing that could have happened to you. One morning when you woke up you ran straight towards the window and his house was there like always, you saw him on his porch reading.

Did he ever sleep? You had started to care about him now and you still weren't sure who he was or if he even was the god he claimed to be. You got ready as you had to be at the school, you felt a little embarrassed going there now after what happened that day but you haven't seen Clint around since that incident so that was a relief, they must think you were crazy or something. You weren't entirely sure about your truth either.

As you stepped out of the house you smiled and he did the same.

"Good morning" he nodded as you said that so you walked towards him and he instantly put the book down,

"What are you reading?" You asked him so he picked it up and gave it to you, you didn't understand a word, it was in some other language so you gave it back to him.

"Did you eat my love?" He asked you softly and there it was. Those damn butterflies were swarming again. Why did he have to be so gentle with you?

"I made a sandwich.. I'm actually getting late for school" you mumbled so he hummed in response. You turned to leave but you didn't want to leave, you wanted to stay there and continue to talk to him. Maybe kiss him again. You weren't sure about the last part just yet, sure you enjoyed it when you Kissed each other that night but you knew where that would lead and you weren't ready for that. He had also maintained his distance and he never did something that would make you wary of him.

"Ummm would you like to eat me?" You squeezed your eyes as you saw him smirking "Would you like to eat with me ..that's what umm..that's what I meant..lunch?" You corrected your fumble and he smiled in response.

"Do I get the pleasure of cooking for you?"

"You can cook?"

"A thing or two yes"

"Sure ..ummm can I ..stay with you while you cook ..I'd like to–"

"Ofcourse"

"Okay see ya" you left before you'd embarrass yourself any further in front of him. You had a crush on him, there was no denying it anymore.

"That's who you prayed to mom…that's the guy you prayed to every damn day of your life..never thought I'd end up fantasizing about kissing him" you mumbled to yourself as you walked towards the school. The classes were a drag, the kids of the island didn't seem to show any interest in school, they already knew what they were going to do in life and the education was a mere formality. You couldn't help but wonder if anyone ever moved out of this island.

Clint came to you after you were done with the classes so you gave him a courteous smile,

"I just..I'm sorry that day..I wasn't sleeping properly and I think it got to me" he snickered as you said that. You didn't like this guy at all.

"Are you not right in the head? Phil told me you had a shrink meeting you couldn't get to last week?"

You wanted to smack him but you kept your cool, you had to work here and live in this town.

"He's a therapist and I have trouble with a few things that's why I see him"

"Is that right huh?" He walked towards you so you took a few steps back, you surveyed your surroundings immediately, you had a knife in your purse but it was in the locker "Godd noo..pleasee" you mumbled in your head, wondering if Loki would hear you, it was surprising to you that he was the first thing you thought of as soon as you felt unsafe.

"I read about what happened to you..too bad..must suck to be delusional and blame innocent people for your illness right? Especially doctors they do so much for us" he chuckled and your eyes teared up. He knew about you..how? You had asked Tony to not tell them about anything because your past wasn't their concern.

You walked past him as you didn't want to argue, some men truly were awful in the world and it didn't even surprise you anymore. The further you got away from school, the more your eyes welled up from the humiliation you had just suffered, why was he so snarky about it? You didn't understand, maybe he was pissed off about you not visiting the farmer's market. You couldn't keep your tears at bay and the anxiety you felt in the moment overwhelmed you so you knocked on the neighbor's door instead.

As soon as he opened it you hugged him tightly and he calmed you down, assuring you that he won't let Clint hurt you. You pulled away to look at him and his eyes were moist too.

"You were there?"

"You called for me, I heard you. I told you I'd be there if you truly need me" you flung your arms around his neck so he took two steps backwards to pull you in and then he closed the door.

"You believe me?"

"About what?"

"What happened to me..do you believe me?" You sobbed as you questioned him, nobody wanted to believe you, not even the people you considered your friends. Not even the man you were in love with for years, he in fact tried to gaslight you into believing that he didn't really cheat on you.

"I believe you..I believe in you my darling"

"Nobody believes me..you doo.. you are real..right?" You sniffled as you pulled away from him so he cupped your cheeks and pressed you against the door.

"I am not your imagination..you're not sick you hear me? You're not delusional and you did not make anything up in your head. Something inhumane happened to you and you should have gotten justice for it, you did not deserve any of it, I need you to listen to me okay? No matter what they say or try to make you believe, I need you to remember this" You nodded as he finished talking and then you got on your tiptoes to kiss him, maybe you shouldn't be wearing flats around him.

The sound of his moan mixed with yours as he kissed you back with equal tenderness. As you pulled away to breathe, his lips latched onto your neck making you gasp, he had his hands placed on the door, to the side of your head. He wasn't touching you, he was cautious of it and that's what snapped you out of the feeling.

"Lokiiiii" you called out his name so he looked at you,

"What do you need me to do, tell me"

"I …I don't know " you sniffled as your eyes teared up so he grabbed your hands and kissed them one by one, the action made you shiver.

"You know..you do know.. tell me..what do you want me to do with you sweetheart?" He spoke softly, his voice melted in your ears.

"I want you to touch me..but I'm scared–" the broken sobs accompanying your words shattered his heart and he just wanted to take all the pain away but he knew it wouldn't be easy.

"I know..hey..ssshhh I know" he grabbed your right hand in his, stepped away a little and then walked backwards until he hit the rocking chair he had in his living room, his eyes never left yours. You craved a safe touch, there was no denying that but everytime you closed your eyes you just saw him and then you saw them taking turns on violating you, not caring about your consent. You couldn't do anything to push them off you and remembering those moments made you feel revolted.

He sat down so you lowered your gaze then he pulled you on top of him slowly, you shivered at the proximity but you didn't feel unnerved by it. It felt nice instead, he was warm and he smelled divine. He leaned back into the chair so you were practically half lying right on top of him, your bodies pressed together so tightly but it didn't alarm you.

"Touch me the way you want to touch me" he mumbled and your eyes teared up, just him being so considerate of your fears made you want to cry but love him at the same time, his compassionate nature was such a turn on.

You cupped his cheeks and kissed him, he responded with a moan and that had to be the sexiest sound you have ever heard out of a man's throat.

"Hold me Lokii" you mumbled in his ears as your lips latched onto the silky skin of his neck.

"Are you sure darling?"

"Yess" you grabbed his hand and placed them on your lower back,

"Caress mee" Rub your hands all over me is what you wanted to scream from the top of your lungs but it felt too soon, he ran his one hand up and down slowly while the other one caressed your nape, every little touch made you aroused more and more and you wanted to cross all the lines of indecency but at the same time your mind didn't allow you to be so forward.

"That feels good love? Want me to keep doing this hmm? Want me to keep touching you?" You moaned as he rubbed circles over your clothed skin, it felt heavenly to be held and caressed like this.

"Yesss yesss goddd yess please" you bit on your lower lip subconsciously and he couldn't take his eyes off your face. The creased brows, your mouth opened and closed with every swirl of his fingers rubbing over your body, you looked ethereal to him and he knew he was falling in deep. Mother always warned him to never seek out mortals, they lived the shortest lives of all but gods were allowed to keep one for themselves and he couldn't help but wonder if you'd become his sole disciple if he'd ask you to.

Your hips moved involuntarily on his thighs and he knew you weren't even thinking about it, he was so turned on to stop you, besides he didn't want to startle you again.

"You're so good to me..for me" you mumbled mindlessly as you kissed him again, you didn't pull away until you both were breathless and gasping for air.

"I want to be good for you.. I want to stay right here and do whatever you want me to do darling"

He brought one of his hands forward to caress your cheek, his thumb brushed over your lips so you puckered them and planted a kiss over the pad of his thumb.

When you opened your eyes you realised how inappropriate you were being and it snapped you out of the euphoric space you were in just a moment ago.

"I ..uhh.. I want to stop pleasee" you mumbled meekly as you looked down so he cupped your cheeks and kissed your forehead.

"You can stop anytime you want darling, okay?" You nodded as he said that and got off him slowly. You put your hand forward so he grabbed it and stood up, towering over you suddenly. You wrapped your arms around his waist and hugged him tightly, it was as if he was everything you needed in life now, you didn't come here for this, you wanted to run far away from all of them but then he wasn't any normal man..he was a god. He was different.

"Thank you Loki" you mumbled and he pressed a kiss on the top of your head.

Once your breathing leveled he decided to make that lunch for you and you sat there to watch him but your intention wasn't to pry on him this time. You just wanted to stay in his company.

No amount of sleeping pills could have made you fall asleep that night and for once sleep wasn't something you wished for because the reality seemed sweeter.

It seemed better than your dreams.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Taglist @mcufan72 @stupidthoughtsinwriting @fraoid3 @wheredafandomat @michelleleewise @daddylokisqueen @123forgottherest @usagishira @elegantcheesecakecrown @sashas-recs @lukira1337 @vickie5446 @spageddyhoes @witchypandamonium @javagirl328 @slpnbty2001 @mochi661 @lovingchoices14 @annoyingsweetsstranger @army24--7 @el-zef @asgardianprincess1050 @loz-3 @whylokiissocute @holotacopeely @thomase1 @daggers-and-mischief @constablewafflebottom @marvel-love24 @crimson25 @laliceee @evansabove1981

#loki #loki x female reader #loki x reader horror romance #loki x reader fluff #loki x reader smut #loki x reader #loki x reader insert #loki x reader fic #loki x you #loki horror romance #loki horror au #loki alternate universe

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mostly-hannibal-memes · 1 year

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Hannibal Fic Recommendation List - Hurt/Comfort

Hurt/Comfort fics

Back to Overview

Never Conquered, Rarely Came by thisisthefamilybusiness Will is in an abusive relationship but can't see a way out - he's tried to leave before, but his partner is in law enforcement and always manages to track him down while pretending to be the understanding, forgiving, loving type. One day, Will stumbles across an ad in the Classifieds of the cleverly worded cannibal-seeking-fresh-meat-but-veiled-as-private-cooking-classes type, and decides to answer. Hannibal is pleased when his ad bears fruit, then surprised when his intended dinner apparently knows exactly what he's in for." Words: 3,242 Chapters: 2/2 Rating: Mature Warnings: Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings

And So I Raise Me Up From Sleep by bendingsignpost Will should call Hannibal and ask for the last time Hannibal saw him. Except that isn’t exactly a landmine Will’s ready to walk over just yet. No, he should call Alana, but nothing says I want to be your stable boyfriend like I’m either hallucinating or sleeping with someone else. Words: 10,941 Chapters: 1/1 Rating: Explicit Warnings: Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings

we rise in the dying by euphrasie “Sexual assault was just something that happened to the victims I studied. It was never personal,” Will said, walking over to his makeshift evidence board. He touched the thin red string and followed the length of it; from his decision to stop off on the way home, to the sad box of a room he had woken up in, covered in the marks of men he couldn’t remember. “Sometimes I think maybe it didn’t happen, maybe I’m making this shit up.” It was a week before Hannibal’s trial when Will awoke from an attack he couldn't remember. Words: 63,374 Chapters: 9/9 Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Rape/Non-Con

Even Through The Pouring Rain by Redlineriot Hannibal comes home after a late night at the office to find Will sitting on his porch in the rain. Words: 2,793 Chapters: 1/1 Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Assiette by coffeeandcas When Will finds nothing but exhaustion in the world, Hannibal is there to provide all the comfort he needs - in all the ways he's never considered before. Words: 3,086 Chapters: 1/1 Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

in a mirror, darkly by LadyMerlin “I wasn’t expecting you,” Will says, moving to the small kitchen that has become familiar to Hannibal. “I’m afraid I don’t have much in the house. Can I get you a coffee? Or perhaps, I could order a pizza?” Hannibal wrinkles his nose at the suggestion, and is almost surprised by Will’s ensuing laughter. It’s increasingly rare these days, and all the more endearing for it. “Yeah, I thought that’d be your reaction. Sorry, Doctor Lecter, I don’t have anything else to eat.” Oh, Hannibal thinks, the irony. Words: 2394 Chapters: 1/1 Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Absolution by raiast When Will wakes up from a surprisingly unsettling dream, there's only one place he can go to ease the ache inside him. Or the one where Will stops being a dumbass and starts being honest with himself. Words: 1613 Chapters: 1/1 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

The House Call by orphan_account Answering this prompt on the kink meme: Will calls Hannibal in the middle of the night in a complete panic. Hannibal keeps him on the phone as he drives out to his house. Bonus for Hannibal still being in his pyjamas & is just wearing a coat over the top. Can be Will/Hannibal if you want. Words: 1820 Chapters: 1/1 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

#hurt comfort fics #hurt fics #comfort fics #hannibal #hannibal fanfic #hannibal fanfiction #hannibal fic recs #hannibal fanfic recs #hannibal fanfiction recs #hannigram #hannigram fics #hannigram fanfiction

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dee-dee-monster · 2 years

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Then Out of the Aether - (Chapter 2)

Summary: Eddie spots a spy at game night. He learns a little more of what you’re all about.

Chapter word count: 5,800

Chapter warnings: none! A little reader insecurity

A/N: Multi-chapter slow burn. Henderson!Reader.

Click here to find previous chapters

____________________________________

Anyone who knows Eddie knows he gets a giddy sort of high during an evening with the D&D crew.

He has to put time and effort into fleshing-out a campaign, and it all comes to fruition when he and the guys actually play. It's enthralling to see them get wrapped up in the world he’s created. To see them enjoy the tour through his imagination.

And getting let in on their creativity, too?

Fucking fantastic.

An honest, natural exchange.

He enjoys basking in it. He’s happy to linger around with the guys and talks over the surprises and choices of the night’s gameplay.

He’s almost always the last to leave. Not tonight, though.

Henderson, Wheeler, and Sinclair are hanging around and chatting his ear off. They’re still new but enthusiastic, which he can only appreciate, really. A few weeks in and they are finding their flow with the group, but they still worry whether they’re truly settling in. Like they think he’ll kick them out if they don’t live up to whatever they imagine he wants.

He won’t.

Fuck that.

These boys need Hellfire like Eddie had needed Hellfire. Needs Hellfire. They deserved to know high school doesn’t have to be shit. That they can find their people.

(Or, as had been the case, their people will find them.)

Henderson is in the middle of wondering if they should tell Will about the campaign or if it will make him jealous when Eddie sees you. He’s heard about this Will and his love of D&D before, but the kid doesn’t go to Hawkins anymore so there’s nothing Eddie can do about that.

No, no… he’s distracted now.

Unless he is very much seeing things – and he hasn’t taken anything that would make him suspect he’s hallucinating – your head had just popped around the door jamb. You’d disappeared quickly, though.

Maybe he wouldn’t have even trusted his peripheral vision if he hadn’t also thought he saw you walk past earlier.

Curious.

But Eddie likes curious, so he ditches the conversation and strolls out into the hallway to investigate. Sure e-fucking-nough.

There you are.

You don’t look like much of a sneak leaning up against a chipped locker, but he can’t think of many reasons for you to be lurking around school on a Friday evening. You’re a bit of a nerd, or whatever, but nobody likes school this much.

“Well, well…thought I spotted a spy…”

Should he…be flattered?

Maybe weirded out?

You blink at him innocently enough, but there’s no telling if that’s genuine.

“A spy?”

“Mmhmm…” Eddie crosses one arm over his chest and props the other on it so he can rub his fingers over his chin. “I just can’t decide whether or not it’s for hostile purposes…”

His scrutiny only appears to fluster you a little – something he’s found to be on-brand for you. After a few moments to process, you steel up.

Ready to play.

He likes that. You seem to get him, sometimes.

“Oh, I’m definitely here to infiltrate the party for devious reasons…”

You’re nowhere near scary, but color him delighted by the correct lingo! Then again, you had known what you were seeing when you spotted his DM’s Guide.

…what does he have on his hands?

“Well,” Eddie contains his surprise in favor of keeping the stern visage he’d already adopted. “In that case I’ll be forced t—” He is interrupted by Henderson, of all fucking people. He darts from the room, sidles himself in front of Eddie, and wiggles right up into your space like it’s the easiest thing.

What’s more is how you allow it.

You hardly even react.

“Oh my god – such a good session!” he cheers right at you.

Your smile is indulgent and crinkles into your eyes, which Eddie certainly cannot comprehend. Dustin’s a neat kid and all, but still. Shit.

“I’ll give you the play-by-play”

“Henderson–” Eddie chides.

“Great”

…?

No way. You can’t actually mean that.

You just can’t.

“--but can I pull the car around?” Dustin plows on, completely unaware of Eddie’s confusion.

Frankly, it’s morphing slowly into a full existential crisis.

You just roll your eyes and flick up a key ring to dangle a few inches above Henderson’s head.

“Only if you’re careful”

What is this?

No.

Really.

What is even happening?

“Absolutely. Done.”

“And …” you pause. “You cannot tell mom.”

Oh!

Fucking oh.

A simple solution. The simplest, really.

“I’m sorry. Do I look like an imbecile?” the Freshman bristles up at the suggestion he might run and snitch to their mommy.

“Well…” Eddie pipes in.

“I mean…” you shrug.

“Shut up!” Dustin looks back around at Eddie and then to you. “Can I do this or not?”

“Make the promise,” you order him, stone-faced.

Eddie chortles.

Little Henderson growls. Poor dude’s probably embarrassed. That, as far as Eddie has ever deciphered, is what older siblings are for.

“I promise I will not tell our mother you are aiding and abetting my illegal parking lot activities.”

Eddie laughs at that, too, just to be fair.

Dustin beams.

Apparently the promise suffices because you drop the keys into his waiting hands. He takes off running before you can change your mind.

“Come on, you guys!” he shouts wildly over his shoulder.

As if on cue, Wheeler and Sinclair shoot out of the theater classroom and dash off down the hall in their friend’s wake.

“Night Eddie!”

“Bye, Eddie!” The hall falls quiet once all of their sneakers have stomped and squeaked away around the corner.

“Sorry if I interrupted you early. Dustin is usually out front by now so I came to check…”

“Henderson… ” Eddie ignores the needless apology for more important information.

Is this a bad surprise? No, not particularly.

But is he feeling deceived? Weirdly yes.

“...yeah?”

Reluctantly, Eddie shakes his head.

“...dunno how I didn’t put that together…”

Then again, he had skipped the first week of school. Had he ever even heard Ms Corski say your full name back when she was learning who was who in her class? …maybe. Hard to say.

And, in his defense, he doesn’t really see it. Or…now that he knows the relation maybe there is something similar in your eyes…maybe? Or not. Whatever. He doesn’t fucking know.

“Well…surprise,” you showcase a grin. “Again, sorry if I broke this up early,” you nod toward where your brother and his pals had disappeared.

“Nah – no worries. Just chatting”

“Good, good…well, I’m going to head out. I should probably be supervising this parking lot situation…”

“Yeah, just hold up — let me grab my bag…”

Eddie darts back into the rehearsal room for his backpack so he can head out too. The custodians are pretty lenient about what time they have to get out of there, but there’s no reason to abuse the kindness. “So you play chauffeur a lot, huh?” He recalls you’d mentioned taking a brother home from school.

“Well, this one I volunteer for. Gives my mom a break and, I dunno…” you sigh and Eddie looks down to see you tipping your head side to side like you’re weighing your words. “I don’t want my mom to ask too many questions…”

Riiiiiight.

“I get it,” he chuckles. “What kind of club does she think he’s in?”

Eddie now pictures Dustin sneaking his Hellfire T-shirt out of the house and changing once he’s safely in school. Or maybe he buttons it up under one of his shirts until they leave the house in the morning

“Oh, no… no, she knows it’s for D&D,” you dismiss that. “Dusty and the boys have been playing for years. She’s always known that…”

“Okay, I see where this is going…”

“The way they’re playing is more mature now, so…”

Yup. There it is.

“Uh-huh. She’d flip if she saw him with me, right?” He nods. “Makes sense…”

It’s certainly not appreciated, Mrs Henderson The Elder, but don’t accuse Eddie of being shocked. Never that.

“Not you,” you insist with a wave of your hand to so casually swat down his perfectly legitimate guess. “Just… all of it. The fact that it’s all upperclassman, the set up you’ve got going — which is a cool aesthetic, by the way; I definitely thought Dusty was exaggerating when he told me about it —“

“Thank you,” he finds himself offering you a bow of gratitude.

“Mom would just … …well I dunno exactly what she would think, but she would ask questions. She worries a lot. I just don’t want her to ruin this for Dustin,” you scuff your feet a little at the tile, staring downward like you’ve said too much.

Eddie doesn’t think it’s too much. He thinks it’s pretty kickass that you’re running interference for your brother.

So he tells you so.

“Ah,” you shrug. “He’s had a hard couple years. This is good for him… …so thanks,” your tone lilts like you’re realizing an opportunity. “You know, for welcoming him in. You and the guys have been, I dunno…like a soft place to land…”

And Eddie does not know what the fuck to do with that. Racks his brain for evidence of what to say, comes up skint, and so does what he does best.

Tells the truth:

“…not sure I’ve ever been accused of being a good influence before. You sure you know who you’re talking to?” he laughs and is surprised when you don’t join him.

“Well…are you selling him drugs?”

Christ. Talk about a 180!

“What? No!”

“Then I don’t care about the rest of it,” you simply shrug. “I don’t buy what most of the other students say. Who do you think gave Dustin the green light on you?”

Eddie’s feet falter, and he snaps his gaze down to you as you shove through the first doors of the front vestibule.

“What green light? …you’ve been talking about me?”

The look you give him is oddly …pitying? You stop before the second set of doors. Hand resting on the latch, but you’re not going anywhere yet.

“Oh come on…Dustin is a dorky kid who hangs out with a couple other dorks, and during his second week of high school the oldest senior at Hawkins was telling him to pull up a seat for lunch?” you spell out for him.

“Yeah, I remember – I was there. And?”

Your eyes widen.

“And he’s the kid who gets bullied …what makes you think he trusted you were being sincere?”

Huh.

Okay. Sure. If you fucking put it like that.

“So that dweeb went off and had me vetted?!” Eddie keeps up his flabbergasted veneer.

“That’s dramatic of you …but basically,” you confirm. “Yeah.”

“….gotta say I’m not sure how I feel about that.”

Outcasts are supposed to stick together and shit.

“Relax. You obviously passed,” you pat his arm in a way that is openly condescending before you grin and then push through the doors.

Which…yeah.

Now you’ve brought up a whole other point.

“…mind if I ask why?” He continues to trail you outside.

“Because I didn’t have a reason to tell him to back off? I told you I don’t care what people say or what people call you — you’re not like the jerks around here, and that counts for something. I mean,” you balk a little and shoot another awkward glance up at him. “I know I don’t actually know you, but I’ve known about you for a couple years…you seem genuine. Ya know?”

Does he fucking ever.

People just don’t usually make that sort of thing sound like a compliment when they talk to him, so most of his usual retorts taste useless.

“What?” Your tone starts to twist defensive when he stays quiet. “I’ve never seen you pick on someone for being smaller. Or younger. Or, god forbid, not mainstream…”

Oh.

“Yeah. No. Course not…fuck—"

“Wow, would you get a load of this…” Eddie follows your gaze to see Little Henderson absolutely inching a little gray Cavalier up beside the sidewalk.

“Damn…”

“It’s painful,” you nod along beside him.

But Henderson looks mighty pleased with himself once he eases to a stop and shifts into Park.

“And Mike thought I would hit something —hah!” he shouts out the window.

“Was decent odds,” Wheeler shrugs as he climbs out of what was probably the slowest car ride of his life.

“At that speed you wouldn’t have hurt anything,” Eddie assures him.

You’re willing to laugh at your brother's expense, so Eddie makes a mental note that just because you trust him around your brother doesn’t mean you expect him to dote. Just as well.

“Oh, screw all of you!”

“Lucas is gone?” your brother’s indignance seems ignored as you look around the lot.

“Yeah, he took off with his mom before we got in the car,” Wheeler supplies

“I made sure she didn’t see me!” Dustin adds with some pride.

“Mkay…and Mike, do you have a ride?”

It’s like you’ve gone full mama duck. There’s more confidence and command in your voice as you check on your brother’s little horde. Eddie watches the transition as he lights up a cigarette – it’s kind of precious.

“My dad is coming. Mom doesn’t like to drive at night…”

“Do you think they forgot?

“No, just running late. He did the same thing last week, but they’ll get used to the club,” he shrugs and takes a seat at the curb like this doesn’t bother him, which is an interesting insight into that family

“Hop in. We’ll wait with you,” you welcome him.

“That’s okay. Eddie waits til our rides are here…”

Okay, damn, Wheeler. Rat him out, huh? Eddie would rather head out and let the Freshman wait with Big Sis Henderson, but that’s fucking rude to actually say out loud.

“Yeah?” You swing your gaze to Eddie.

He shrugs and nods while he sucks in a drag

“…you’re sure?”

Your grin suggests you know all too well that even the best 13 year olds can be a little much when they put their heart and soul into it.

Eddie drops his head to the side.

“Thought you weren’t scared of me corrupting the youth,” he grins.

You give him the eye roll he well deserves and then focus your attention back to Mikey.

“Go ahead and tell your parents I’ll bring you home from now on if they’re cool with it…I’ll be here anyway…”

“Really?” He straightens. “Thanks.”

Yeah, Eddie gets the appeal of a reliable ride. Of not always being the last one waiting. He feels an unexpected swell of appreciation toward you for caring about these particular little misfits.

Or–

“Little bro’s friends have little crushes,” Eddie leans down to mutter in your ear.

He receives an elbow in the ribs, and he’s big enough to admit he should’ve anticipated and dodged it. You also take a swipe for his cigarette, but he manages to rebuff that attempt.

“Hooooo! Better luck next time…”

“Is this flirting?!” Dustin shouts through the open car window.

“No,” Eddie and you freeze and call back to him in unison.

“ … it seems like it.”

Fucking punk.

“Tell you what – when I flirt, you’ll know. How about that?” Eddie smarms because, no, he won’t be schooled on interactions with girls by a ninth grader.

Not even an almost-awesome one.

“Ugh! Gross,” Henderson flings his head back in protest

“Idiot…”

You’re blushing; Eddie can see it in the dim night light. Even if he couldn’t, the way you’re stretching your shoulders and straightening the hem of your shirt is screaming of your discomfort. You really are funny sometimes.

“What was that?” Dustin hollers over to you.

“Nothing,” you smile innocently.

He looks dubious but gives up the topic.

“Alright, well – you’re sure you’re good?” you look between Eddie and Mike as you edge towards the car.

“Mmhmm,” Eddie nods around his smoke.

“Yeah, no worries…thank you though,” Mike rushes. “See you.”

“Later, Mike…bye Eddie”

He waves with his free fingers and watches you head around the car. Dustin rolls the windows up once you’re inside and visibly launches into… something. Either he is giving you shit or unloading the play-by-play he’d promised of the night’s game.

“So... ” Eddie saunters over and squats down to take up the curb space next to Wheeler. “Crushing on your friend’s sister, huh?”

“What! No!”

The shock and betrayal on his face is worth bringing the question up at all. Wheeler’s gone ramrod straight, face slack, and eyes wide.

“Whaaat?” he mimics Mike. “Nooo!”

“I have a girlfriend,” he insists.

Yeah, yeah, Eddie has heard about the friends they miss out in California.

“So? Doesn’t mean you can’t think your friend’s sister is cute …it’s fine, man. Classic story.”

Wheeler huffs but gives up on the denial portion of the evening.

“Whatever…”

“Whatever,” Eddie mimics him again.

“It’s not like Dustin didn’t have a crush on my sister for, like, ever …”

Eddie throws his head back in a laugh.

“See? What did I say – classic … …you’ve known her a long time, then, huh?”

“Since elementary,” Mike shrugs a shoulder.

“...and she really is cool with all of this?” he waves at them and Mike’s bag that’s sitting between his feet with his character notebook.

“Huh? Oh! Yeah,” he gets enthusiastic again. “I mean, she’s not, like, into it – she doesn’t play. But she thinks it’s neat.”

“Neat?”

Not really a compliment.

“Or. No. Like, she’s glad we have something we’re into – she doesn’t think it’s weird or anything, is what I mean,” he explains in a hurry. “She isn’t going to try to yank Dustin out or disrupt us or something. You don’t have to worry about her, that’s all.”

“M’kay, yeah I kinda got that… …” Eddie takes another long drag. “Just checking…”

“Yeah. Yeah. She’s totally cool…”

“Totally cool, huh?” Eddie smirks.

“Dude, stop – not what I meant. I have–”

“A girlfriend. Alright…I heard you…” he tilts his head back to gaze up at the darkening sky.

There’s hardly a cloud up there. It’s going to be a nice night. Sometimes on nights like this he likes to grab a joint, sprawl out on the picnic table near the trailer, and take in the sky while he thinks about life after graduation. His Post-Hawkin’s timeline is finally coming up, and he has high fucking hopes…

Mike shifts beside him, distracting him.

Because he’ll have to wait on all of that.

“Sorry my dad’s late…”

“S’fine,” Eddie shrugs. “Been there, done that…”

“Yeah?”

“Mmhmm…my old man forgot where I was all the time…”

“But I thought you lived with your Uncle,” Wheeler frowns with all of the tact of someone his age.

“Uh-huh,” Eddie finishes off his smoke and grinds it under his heel. “He’s always been better at keeping up with me…”

Uncle Wayne gets him. And he has perfected the art of not trying to hold the reins too tightly but also not actually just letting go. Even now, at 20, they have an easy understanding.

Wheeler’s gone quiet. Likely trying to puzzle this out. He’s probably never given a thought to Eddie’s living arrangement, like he’d just been born and magically appeared in his Uncle’s custody. Little suburbanite that he is.

But it’s just as well.

Eddie puts his passions out on his sleeve, but there’s some things he doesn’t care for everyone to understand about him.

“Oh,” Mike finally says, perhaps realizing he’d been quiet too long.

Eddie just smirks. It’s another half hour before a car pulls into the lot and Mike stands up. Long enough that Eddie had been weighing the pros and cons of just giving Mike a ride – the pro being getting home sooner and the con being accused of kidnapping a minor if his parents showed up.

Needless to say, the cons won.

“Thanks, Eddie…for waiting and, ya know, for a fun game tonight…”

“Course, Wheeler – same time next week”

“Same time next week”

So, at the same time each week, you form your routine for Dustin and Mike’s pick up. The two boys hang around a little after their games to talk more with their new friends, and you wander in to shepherd them one before they can make pests of themselves.

Not that the last part seems to be much of a problem – their more passionate tendencies that would get them teased elsewhere are really bonding them to this group – but the thing is they’d probably find a way to stay for an hour if you let them. “You can come in, you know…”

You tilt your head up from your seat in the hallway to see Eddie leaning through the doorway, his ringed hand gripping the jamb and his neck tilted out.

“... …I don’t need a secret password or something?”

His eyes crinkle in the corners.

“No… …not a bad idea though,” he considers.

“Well, I’m good …I’m not interrupting,” you raise innocent hands.

You know you’re early.

“Nah, s’okay – they’re having a little strategy session,” Eddie nods back over his shoulder. “I just saw your feet over here… …thought maybe the time had gotten away from me…”

You know he isn’t complaining about your feet distracting him, but you fold up your legs under you instead of leaving them stretched out in front of you.

“Nope, I’m just early…”

“...I see that. You’re early and sitting on the floor…”

You shrug, unsure what he’s getting at. You’re allowed to be here and you aren’t hurting anything. You suppose maybe he’s just reiterating how you can come in and have a chair like a normal person, but you don’t want to interrupt Dustin’s time.

“Whattcha workin’ on?” Eddie has taken advantage of your quiet and realized just what you’re doing out here.

Now he is shuffling a bit further out the door so he can squat and take a look.

“Maybe you are a spy….”

You swat his knee because he doesn’t seem to mind that sort of thing.

“So I’m selling state’s secrets now?”

“Looks like it …what gives?”

You have a plain old notebook open on your knee with sentence fragments jotted here and there and a few loose sketches.

“...just learning some things.”

“Aw, does She-Henderson want to join the party?” He sing-songs at you.

Uh.

“...She-Henderson?”

“You no like?”

“Not really …and no I’m not lobbying to join,” you insist, which …could probably come-off rude?

You could’ve played it cooler. More power to these guys for their game, but if there’s anything you’ve learned from your brother it’s that D&D is imagination out loud. That isn’t your style. You like to create and experiment and problem solve in your head and express it more quietly.

You suppose that is explainable if Eddie proves to be deeply offended.

“You sure about that?”

“Very… I’m just working on something for Dustin,” you flip back through a couple pages you’ve filled with bits and bobs. “He wanted me to make a drawing of his character, so I think it’s going to turn into a Christmas gift…he told me all about his dwarf, but it’s not exactly easy. I mean, I’ve read The Hobbit and all...”

“Hold on, you’ve read Tolkein?”

“Yeah”

“...yeah,” his tone is soft but, you think, a little mocking.

“What? It was fun,” you shrug. “And Dustin talked about basically nonstop after her read it; there’s no missing it at our house. So, yeah,” you shrug. “Anyway. I thought I’d listen in,” you nod toward the classroom. “Get more of a feel for the game. Pick up on some things…”

Some of the things you’ve jotted down are just descriptors that leant you a sense of the vibe of the campaign. You’ve also heard about some items. For instance, you tap your fingers over where you’d scribbled “ Bag of Holding?” and doodled a rugged little backpack.

“Oh. That should be more of a…what do you call it,” Eddie gestures across his chest. “Like a satchel.”

You nod and make a little asterisk so you can scribble “cross body bag” with a little arrow so you remember.

“Thanks…”

“Mmhmm,” he shifts when you both hear some sneaker squeaks. “What Henderson?”

You flip your notebook closed.

“We’re ready for th– ugh! What’re you doing here!?” Dustin’s shoulder’s droop when he sees you.

“Well. Hello to you, too…”

“Go away,” he whispers.

“Don’t worry, man, I already threatened her and convinced her not to make you and Wheeler leave early,” Eddie smirks up at him, then twists to throw you a wink.

“What ?! Why should I? I’m always here until –”

“Dustin–”

“No, this is the arrange–”

“Dustin! – you’re fine,” you shout over his firery inclination to be right. “I’m just waiting around. Go do your thing.”

His eyes narrowed, he glances between you and Eddie. Eddie looks very amused with his own jokes, but you feel yourself flushing. Dustin really better not let his imagination run away with this. He’d been pretty fired up that first night you’d come inside to find him:

“Tell me you’re not flirting with Eddie,” he’d insisted as soon as the windows were up in the car and you’d pulled away.

“I wasn’t flirting with Eddie”

“Look me in the eye and say it again!”

“I’m driving, Dustin.”

“Spell it out for me!” he beat his hands against the glove box. “Promise me you aren’t flirting with one of the only cool seniors at Hawkins…”

You laughed at that.

“You worry too much”

“Ugh! Jesus Christ…”

Once you were home you had, in fact, looked him in the eye and promised you weren’t flirting with his new friend. He had seemed pacified – at least mildly – and hadn’t made a fuss over you continuing to come fetch him, but now?

Who knows.

It doesn’t take much to get him on a roll some days.

“Alright, alright, take a joke, dude,” Eddie stretches back up to his full height. “Let’s go…”

He claps your brother on the back and heads in.

“...I’m not leaving,” Dustin lingers to hiss.

“Who asked you to?” you whisper right back.

He pointed two of his fingers at his face and then at you in classic “I’m watching you” fashion. As if you’ve ever found your brother intimidating.

To make sure he knows it, you make little shooing motions with your hands.

He groans as he stomps off.

Yeah, yeah. You can tell when the game has truly wrapped up, so you pack up your notebook of new information and sling your purse over your shoulder. You fish the car keys out because you already know what Dustin will want when he shows his face again.

“Keys? I won’t tell mom,” is now his go-to greeting.

You toss the keys over and the boys take off because Dustin very much wants to practice without you.

“She-Henderson! You still out there?” Eddie’s voice calls from inside the classroom.

You step in and see the older guys packing up still. Eddie is at the head of the table closing some folders. He looks up and nods when he spots you.

“...not sure I should be answering to that name.”

But you already have, so you suppose you get what you get if he takes that as encouragement.

“C’mere,” he crooks a finger at you, choosing to ignore your statement altogether.

You get a better look at their clubroom than you’ve had yet. The lighting and ambiance is more clear up close –it’s quite the mood.

Jeff and Gareth greet you by first name because they’re apparently the more polite of the group. Jeff had actually been your lab partner in Chemistry all last semester, which had been another reason you’d had some insight into Hellfire not being a, uh, fiery ring of actual hell when Dustin wanted to join.

“Everything alright?”

“Uh-huh…here. Take this,” Eddie plucks a book out of his bag to hand over once you’ve walked the length of the table.

You find yourself staring at a red, paperback players manual. Some of its pages are dog-eared and there’s a few papers shoved here and there like makeshift bookmarks. The binding is worn with what you assume is appreciation and frequent use.

You take it carefully.

“For your thing,” he nods at your purse.

Your thing.

Is he…being discreet for you?

Or, on the other hand, this could just as easily be the very opposite. Carelessness regarding the project. But…it wasn’t as though you’d asked him to be quiet.

“Oh, well…Dustin has one of these,” you know you’ve seen one before. “I can swipe it when he’s distracted. Off talking to Susie or something…”

“Wait! Susie is real?!” Gareth interrupts. “The girl from Utah.”

“Mmhmm,” you consider mentioning their mutual love of The Never Ending Story, but you love Dustin too much and Susie seems too sweet. “I’ve talked to her.”

Dustin had to drag you on a hot walk up a stupid hill to make it happen the first time, but even so. They now manage to talk over the phone sometimes, and you prefer to say hello to her on those occasions.

“Damn. Guess I’ll let that joke go then… …no offense.”

“Ah, none taken.”

An out-of-state girlfriend definitely sounds like the punchline in a movie, especially at Dustin’s age. You’re surprised it’s lasted this long, quite frankly …not that Dustin has a plethora of other prospects lining up. In any case, she is quite real.

“He’s just jealous because he’s single,” Jeff throws something at Gareth, only to have a pen flung back at him in retaliation.

Eddie is quiet while he keeps packing up dice and extinguishing candles. He doesn’t make a move to retrieve his book despite what you’d said, so you wait with it pressed between your palms.

Once everyone is ready to go, Jeff and Gareth lead the way while still bickering about some girls whose names you don’t recognize. Matt had apparently slipped away at some point without your notice. You trail behind with Eddie and knock his elbow with your arm.

“You don’t need to lend me yours,” you hold out his manual again.

“I can though. Then you don’t need to stress about your brother's, yeah?” he waves a hand around. “It doesn’t have pictures of everything, but there’s some and they should help … …”

“You’re sure?”

“Yup. I have other versions, and we share ‘em at the table. It’s no big thing”

Then why does it seem like one?

“Well thanks…”

“Mmm, sure. It’s cool what you’re doing for him…”

You’re…not sure what to say to that? Naturally there’s some pride involved in the fact that Eddie approves of what you want to make for Dustin, but it also feels strange that he is somehow involved now. A part of it.

You aren’t used to that.

“What’re you doing tonight, Eddie?” Jeff interrupts before you have decided how you feel or what you want to say.

He turns to wait for his answer and hip-checks the front door open.

“Nothing,” Eddie shrugs.

“We hang?!” Jeff proposes and smacks Gareth’s arm to include him as they tromp out the second set of doors

“Sure. We hang.”

“Your place?”

“Always,” Eddie nods.

“Gare?”

“I’m in,” his answer sounds dull but comes quick.

You think maybe Jeff had won their little spat.

“How bout you?”

Jeff’s eyes land on you, and you blink in surprise. You feel your face heat because you assume someone’s going to raise a protest.

…but then no one does.

“Oh, no that’s okay. I won’t intrude…”

“Nah,” Jeff waves that away.

“Yeah you’re good,” Eddie promises from beside you. “You’re welcome.”

That’s nearly unanimous. Gareth is quiet but he doesn’t look upset about it when you look around the group.

“We just hang and shoot the shit …usually end up watching a movie…” Jeff explains.

“Sometimes a beer or two somehow shows up,” Eddie adds, waving his hands as if to mime a magic trick. “But it’s nothing.”

That all sounds casual and perfectly normal. And you appreciate the inclusion, only…you really hadn’t expected anything tonight.

So this feels oddly overwhelming.

It shouldn’t.

But you’re torn.

“Next time, count me in,” you decide

You can mentally prepare for that. Think about whether you really want to go.

Plus…a filthy little corner of your brain tells you that this gives them time to decide if they even want there to be a next time. You’ve really only been invited now because you’re just, well, there.

“You sure?” Eddie’s voice has you glancing up his way and he’s watching you carefully.

“Mmhmm”

“…you good?”

Shit.

“Yeah…”

You glance away from his searching eyes toward the car where the boys are watching — Dustin with his eyes narrowed from the passenger seat. So that’s probably going to be a whole thing, too.

Awesome.

“Oh…we don’t leave them out on purpose,” Eddie lobs a guess into the situation. “Sometimes it’s just …”

“Oh,” you cut a hand through the air. “Don’t. I get it …I live with him.”

“I’m so glad I’ll be out of here before my sister’s in high school,” Gareth scoffs.

“We would hang with them —“

“We do hang with them, dude”

“I just mean if we were going somewhere and not planning to have a drink or …whatever,” Jeff clarifies to Eddie.

“Guys, I get it,” you chuckle now. “You like them but they’re young — welcome to my life. Just…I’ll figure something out for next time.”

You remind them you’d be interested in different circumstances, partially to mute that self-loathing voice in your head and also to help reassure them since there seems to be a consensus they’ve gone about this wrong. You exchange farewells while the other seniors troop off, and you join Dustin and Mike in the car.

“Why are you encroaching on my friends?” Dustin starts in before you’ve even shifted into Drive.

“Dustin, come on”

“What? I don’t do that with your friends”

Not true. He’d absolutely found all sorts of extra reasons to stop by your room back when Lindsey had first gotten boobs. He had known the meaning of “subtle” even less back then.

“You want to go there?” You raise both eyebrows at him briefly.

Mike laughs.

Dustin glares deeper.

“Dusty …I’m not encroaching on your friends —whatever that even means,” you sigh. “But they’re in my grade and in my classes. We kind of know each other, that’s all.”

“Whatever”

“You should be glad I do — remember when you had questions about them?”

“I guess….”

“Yeah, at least she’s cool. Nancy doesn’t know anything about them and probably wouldn’t talk to them,” Mike complains.

“Cool? Yeah right”

“Hey!”

“We’ll maybe she’s not cool cool“

“Right here guys! Hello!”

“—but in the same way we aren’t. I mean it’s cool of her that she likes these guys,” Mike explains himself.

Well you can accept that as a compliment — you understand what he’s getting at.

“…she’s embarrassing.”

“Oh! Then I could send mom in to fetch you from now on…”

“No!” Dustin straightens. “No, she will embarrass me. Please don’t. I’m sorry. You’re the best. You’re doing me a huge favor.”

My, my how his tone has changed!

“Us. You’re doing us a favor,” Mike leans in from the back. “Thank you.”

“Yeah — thanks”

You grin.

“Make sure you boys remember that next time then”

___________

Next Chapter

#stranger things fanfic #eddie munson slow burn #Eddie Munson x Reader #slow burn #Eddie Munson fanfic

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red-dye40 · 9 months

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it’s my fic’s birthday n i just want to take a mome to reflect on this past year of writing my cringe jthm fic because no joke it has been one of the most therapeutic and rewarding things ive ever done for myself so im gonna spill my guts under the cut here in case ur into that sorta thing

no joke i started writing ancillary auxiliary (obvs under a different much dumber name) when i was THIRTEEN. i was perpetually very very scared of and confused by my psychosis—i saw and heard things constantly that no one else did, and no one could explain that to me, which was obviously very isolating and frustrating. jthm made me feel rly normal (like not alone??) and this fic was a way for me to explore and dissect all these things i was processing and experiencing and repressing. i abandoned it like right away because i was a young teen with undiagnosed adhd but im sure it’s still kickin around on deviantart somewhere.

i have struggled w a lot through my years—addiction n subsequent withdrawal, hallucinating nonstop, uhhhh Being Trans In Society, willingly choosing to be an actor bc i am literally insane—and i felt like my brain was only getting sicker, because i never prioritized my health! none of it! but especially not my mental health!

in the isolation of quarantine a couple years ago i had like sooooooo many psychotic episodes, and eventually i admitted myself to a psych ward bc i was so scared and i just wanted to get better finally!

and i did get better! eventually!

it took a lot of hard work, and i was in outpatient for what felt like forever, and i was going to therapy twice a week and trying a bunch of meds and also just experimenting w hormones bc why not. i stopped making art (which truly truly was sometimes the only thing in my life that brought me joy) because the shit i was making was so scary, i just didn’t want to subject myself to that.

eventually i got myself a really amazing job, literally a dream job of mine, and things fell into place, and my job was my whole personality for a while. idk when it happened but sometime last summer i suddenly felt myself really wanting to read jthm again ?? i guess as i was reflecting on all my trauma, and how i used to cope w it as a kid?? but i reread director’s cut and it truly felt like someone unclogged a drain in my head and all this new inspiration and like LOVE for my past self and xir interests just rushed in and it was so exciting!!!!

and i remembered this fic i had started so long ago, and how proud i was of the concept, and i started writing it in my notes app and it got bigger and bigger and i found a little corner on instagram of ppl who liked it (thank u to those of u who are still here rn!!!!! if ur reading this ilysm) and now it’s this! and i love it!

it might just be super self indulgent at the end of the day idk but! i love everything that has come from this fic (and Other Fics i have written 👁️) and i am so grateful to all of u who have read ancaux and enjoyed it and reblogged and left comments like :) thank u so much

there are three (maybe four?) chapters left i literally didn’t anticipate this to go on for so long and i have no idea when it will end but im excited :) and i hope you’ll stick around :) the ending is rly good i think

LOVE U ALL THANKS

#ancaux #happy birthday dorter #thank u all for being so sweet im kissing u all unless u don’t want that #in that case i am nodding respectfully at u

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caelus-the-lothrat · 2 years

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The Eyes: Chapter 2 - The Saviour & The Monster

For a while, you had been noticing strange eyes in the trees when you would take walks down your favorite river. It was strange and startling at first but quickly became comforting… until you figured out who those eyes belonged to. I'm going to try and update this as often as I can so I don't forget y'all, please read the tags, there could be some mildly triggering stuff! also I did mention an alien species not commonly known so I added a note at the bottom about what it is.

NOT BETA'd we die like clones

~Thrawns POV~

Several Weeks Earlier

He enjoyed the cold, but this was a different kind of cold. It was a dry, suffocating cold. He watched his Warriors die. Not painless or quick deaths like they deserved, but long agonizing deaths. Their suffocating gasps will forever be etched into his mind. He waited and waited, hoping the Bridger might offer him the mercy of deaths sweet release. He knew Bridger better then that. he would never give him that mercy, no rebel would after what he’s done.

When the purrgil finally let him go, he collapsed to the floor. The blast shield of the windows shut all he could think was “finally, peace”. His mind truly let him believe that this was the end. He would go down with his ship like the honourable commander he was.

Sadly, peace was not something Thrawn got. Tan hands pulled him up onto a stretcher and he was pulled through the halls of the chimaera for what would be the last time. The air reeked of copper, burnt flesh and sulfur. His mind was so delirious he couldn’t help but wonder why.

The little journey ended when he was pushed into a small room. No, not a small room it was an escape pod. A figure followed him in and the last thing he saw was Bridger’s face, saying something he couldn’t quite understand.

~Readers POV~

Present

You spent so long scouring the holonet it actually started to concern you. How can something you probably hallucinated out of fear and dehydration consume your mind so much? You were still determined to figure out what you saw but clearly the holonet wasn’t working. So, you pulled on your adult pants, well your regular pants but nevertheless, the pants you considered to be your adult pants and went back out into the world.

You parents had already left for town at this hour, so you were alone in the house. Nobody around to question why you were taking raw meats out of the conservator and fresh vegetables out of the storage room.

You wondered what the creature would like to eat, so instead of making a wild guess you grabbed everything. Raw meats, sugary sweets, tough root vegetables, soft fruits, and a loaf of bread for safe measure. Your bag was almost bursting at the seams with how much you shoved into it. As a last addition you grabbed your picnic blanket, might as well make this feast look nice too.

A sly smile crossed your face as you stepped out the front door, this was the day you were gonna catch what held those strange red eyes.

When you arrived back at the river you went to the exact spot you saw them last. looking up into the delicate branches, there was nothing there. You didn’t worry, this just meant you had time to set up the trap.

You crossed the fallen tree branch once again and by the broken branched tree you place down the picnic blanket and the variety of food you brought with you. You decided leaving it all in one pile, albeit a pretty pile, was not the smartest of decisions. You ended up breaking the bread in half and taking a handful of meat and vegies to throw around the area. That will certainly catch this monster’s attention.

Proud of your work you made your way up into one of the farthest trees with the clearest view. It was a large tree with bulky trunk, strong branches, and a thick top of leaves. It would make a perfect watchtower to wait for the beast to arrive.

You waited and waited… and waited…

There was nothing but small critters, you ended up just throwing small pebbles at to scare away from what was supposed to be the beasts feast. Boredom ate away at your patience as you tried to keep persevering. You simply had to know what it was.

Time moved slower then a Trodatome[1] on hoth.

That was until you saw it. Well not it, but it was something moving through the bush. The sun had just begun to set so seeing what was coming was hard. You silently slid out of your humble tree perch and made your way towards the figure that was now freely going through the feast you had prepped.

Sadly, when you got close enough it wasn’t a monster, it was just a normal dude.

“Hey!” you yelled after him

He spun his head to look at you then took off with arms full of the food you brought for your trap. Now you never liked a thief, so you took off after him.

He moves at the speed of a fathier, dashing through small clearings of trees, bouncing over branches. All the wile you were tripping over every rock and elevated section of forest floor.

That was until you noticed a path that you typically took, you knew it as well as the back of your hand.

Quickly dashing onto that path, you moved faster and faster. Once you were far enough ahead you took a sharp turn and crashed right into him.

You both tumbled into a bush. only struggling for a minute before you were able to get on top of him.

“Why are you trying to steal my food?” you interrogated

“Look I haven’t had a good meal and awhile, okay? I saw food, I took it.” He responded; he now held his hands above his head.

“why don’t you go into town and buy something?” you said while you moved off of him and stood, dusting off your cloths.

“because I don’t have any credits” he leaned onto his elbows. His face showed a felling of sadness that you couldn’t quite place. Was he used to conversations like this?

“how did you get here without credits” you inquired. Perhaps you should just let this guy go with the food.

“the ship I was on crashed” he said, a ton of underlying guilt.

“Oh…” was all you could respond with. When you took a second to really look at the poor guy he did look like he was recently in a ship crash. His cloths had small burns and had patches of what you could only assume were blood and ash.

“y’know what, keep the food.” You said, then pointed towards town “town is that way, I’m sure there is someone there who would be willing to take you towards the core on one of their private ship.

He looked up at you, then towards where your finger was pointed.

“thank you” he quietly said

“you’re welcome uh…” you stuttered because you didn’t know his name

“Ezra”, he supplied

“you’re welcome, Ezra.” You finished.

You gave him as soft smile and then headed off towards your trap, it was almost certainly picked through by now. you were the only thing keeping the critters from ravaging it.

What you weren’t expecting was everything to be gone, all the food, even the blanket.

“Dank Farrik” you exclaimed to yourself that thief must have had a partner, who stole the rest when I took after him.

Sighing you walked back to your watchtower tree, and grabbed your bag, which they luckily didn’t steal from you too.

You silently mourned the loss of your beloved picnic blanket as you walked back home. The sun had finished setting so only the moons and the stars lit your way. It was truly a beautiful sight, it was a surprisingly clear night, so you could even see the asteroid belt of the farthest moon.

You decided to make yourself, you would grab a few blankets and sit up on the roof of your house to watch the stars.

That night was the first night were the red eyes were no longer on your mind.

~Thrawns POV~

Shortly Before Chapter 1

He had spent most of his days fighting a strong and relapsing fever, every time it seemingly broke, only an hour would pass before the nausea and exhaustion returned. the burns the purrgil gave him had allowed an infection to plague his body. In the small moments of consciousness, he tried to tell Bridger what to do, how to properly clean wounds, what he needed to find to help fight the infection. But it was as if Bridger simply didn’t want him to recover. He put minimal effort into cleaning wounds and finding herbs.

And as soon as he was able to move enough to gather himself food, Bridger left. Thrawn called after him, Pleading with him to stay.

Once Bridger was gone, truly gone. he finally cried, not soft tears of mourning but open sobs of loneliness and grief. He was back to the beginning, back to his exile.

he slowly began to recover more and more so he did more gathering and hunting. As soon as he was ready, he set out to find a civilization. The empire was no longer a place he could call home, so his best chance was to head back to the ascendancy… but that’s only if they wanted him back.

He made his way towards a body of water and while scouting a river for signs of civilization, he saw them. A person of stunning anatomy, it distracted him enough he didn’t notice the branch he was on began to crack. When it broke, he flung himself into a different tree and watched them as they investigated then ran away.

He would spend the next couple of days waiting to see them again, waiting, waiting, and waiting some more only for them. His mission of home disregarded just so he can see them again.

[1] Do you remember the angry homophobic slug guy in the rise of skywalker? Yea that’s his species, I might not like the movies but I do like some of the world building elements they added.

~Part 3~

#grand admiral thrawn #star wars #fanfic #star wars brain goes zoom #thrawn #thrawn books #pure angst in this one #sw rebels #star wars rebels #ezra bridger #star wars fanfiction #lothrat ezra bridger #sw sequels mentioned #I totally didn't write this in 4 hours #okay i did but atleast you get some more thrawn content #post rebels #thrawn x reader

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