💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛

[call me by blondie playing] THE STEVE HARRINGTON BABYSITTING SERVICE

♡Dating with txt♡

TXT X Reader

⚠️ Warnings: Swearing, slight mention of blood, do not read if you have emetophobia, mentions of laser tag guns, mentions of the ER and hospitals, everyone's kinda a crackhead in this one, overall extreme fluff. ⚠️

♡ Soobin ♡

You had decided that your first date with Soobin should be in an aquarium setting, since blue was his favorite color and fish were your favorite animal. It would be cute to see him dress up and to watch the fish from all angles in a calm and serene way.

You had worn your favorite sweater and shirt which read "D.I.L.F 'Damn, I Love Fishing," which you thought was appropriate for the occasion.

"Hey (Y/N)!" Soobin said front where you were standing at the entrance holding a map in his hands, "They have a shark exhibit because of that new 'Killer Titanium War Sharks' movie!"

"Oh that's so cool! I hope we get to see some of them!"

Walking around the venue, you notice a couple fish that catch your eye, they're green with bright orange bellies and mean faces.

"Oooh Soobin! Soobin! These ones are so pretty!" You exclaim and Soobin's heart just melts because of how excited you got.

"(Y/N), those are piranhas. 🥹"

Soobin then grabs your hand and heads for the stingrays, which you would be able to pet according to the tour guide lady.

Anxiously waiting your turn, you finally step up to the open area and pet the stingray closest to you, while Soobin messes with a starfish on the opposite side. He looked so cute like that, his hair in his eyes and an adoring smile on his face. You were so entranced by his features that you weren't paying attention to the dangerous animal in the water and something very peculiar happened. You got stung.

You immediately felt a sharp jolt run through your entire body and noticed the welt on your wrist starting to form as the pain increased. You sent Soobin a look that told him everything and he was rushing to your side to see what had happened the moment a tear slipped down your cheek. "Ow." Was all you said before you blacked out in Soobin's arms.

"Hey, How are you feeling?" Soobin asked you from the chair on the right side of your bed. You had groggily opened up your eyes and noticed you were in a white room which was quite the contrast from the blue of the aquarium. You were still wearing your clothes from earlier, but now you had a cast as an added accessory.

"What happened?"

"You got stung by a stingray and instead of screaming like a normal person you just passed out instead." Soobin filled you in with a pained smile.

"I'm not a lil bitch. I wouldn't cry about it." You said, shrugging and turning on the ER TV. Soobin moved up on the bed with you and told you to scootch over so that he could snuggle you.

The rest of your date was spent in the hospital bed, but it was still fun nonetheless. And you got free snacks!

♡ Yeonjun ♡

He had absolutely no plan in mind when he had asked you out on a date; the only thing he knew was that he wanted to see you somewhere outside of the workplace so he could try and romance you like he wanted.

This boy had been head over heels for you for months. Slipping notes into your cubicle, talking to you from his desk on the other side, offering to carry your things, and holding the elevator door for you whenever he rode.

It was just another day when all of a sudden the cheesy love notes turned into an actual plan: "Pick you up later tonight?"

Which you had agreed to, of course.

This is how you found yourself waiting outside on the boardwalk, wondering what exactly your co-worker had in mind. You were wearing your favorite outfit and the new Versace perfume you had picked up earlier that week. You were worried that Yeonjun might've thought it was too casual until you saw him walking towards you.

You thought your eyes had deceived you into thinking the angel before you was Yeonjun. His hair was wind blown and messy but in the cute boyish way and his perfect lips were wearing a light gloss. His bright yellow button up had been opened revealing a Kate Bush t-shirt. His denim jeans and converse added to the comfortable yet outrageous gorgeousness of the man before you.

"Hey, you look nice." He said, and you felt your heart flutter in your chest. "Thanks, you too."

Walking further along the boardwalk, Yeonjun slips his left hand in yours and makes his way towards the carnival games. Noticing how your eyes glance over at a large puppy stuffed animal for a fraction of a second longer than the rest of them, he insists he plays the water gun game to win it for you.

Laughing along with him, you join a group of two other people as the operator readies your water guns. Winking at you, Yeonjun holds his gun with two hands and aims it at the target.

"Hey, did you see the massive churro that the guy behind us has?" You ask, grinning.

"What? Where?" Yeonjun swivels around in his seat just as the bells go off signaling the beginning of the game.

Maniacally laughing, you aim your gun at the target and watch as the water moves the bar up towards the top of the booth, meaning that you were winning. Yeonjun finally came to his senses and tried to beat you but to no avail. You had gotten the big prize: the giant puppy stuffed animal.

Handing it to your date, you give him a kiss on the cheek and say "better luck next time."

"You cheated!" He said, but smiled as he buried his face into the soft fur.

Needless to say, the rest of the night was spent on the ferris wheel in a heated makeout session while the puppy waited at the tables below.

♡ Beomgyu ♡

"This movie is supposedly so scary that the first people to watch it died after throwing up when the gore scenes came on!" You said excitedly as you held your boyfriend's hand leading him in the direction of the cinema. You had been talking about the new movie, "Killer Titanium War Sharks" for weeks in anticipation for it to finally hit the theaters. Your calendar in your shared apartment with Beomgyu held the official date in which you would be taking him to see it; something Beomgyu had been secretly hoping you would forget about. Truth be told: he had been terrified of it ever since he saw the trailer on YouTube.

"Wow.... Great....." He mumbled as you sat down in the velvet upholstered seats of the theater. The only reason he had agreed to come see it with you as a date was because you had agreed to purchase him the Sno-Caps chocolate bites and the pineapple gummi bears that he liked to combine into mini sandwiches.

You moved a strand of his long hair behind his ear and stared at him in the eyes. "Beomgyu," you started, making sure that you had his full attention, "If you get scared you had to suck it up and deal with it. No bathroom breaks. We're watching it all the way through." Gulping, he nods his head and trembles in his seat as you watch the beginning credits roll onto the screen.

"(Y/N)."

It had been a little ways past the middle of the movie and Beomgyu had his hand on yours, gripping it as though it would fall off. He had been eating a crap ton of gummi bears and Sno-Caps and for a moment you thought he was going to offer you one. In a way, he did.

"What's up?" You ask.

"I don't feel so good-"

Barfing all over you, Beomgyu manages not to get any on himself as he watches the sugary sweets end up on your favorite cardigan. When he was done, he delicately patted his lips and smiled anxiously as he watched you take in what just happened.

Instead of yelling at him like he had thought, you laughed. "Beomgyu, that's so gross!" You said in between hearty chuckles. Laughing along with you, you both leave the theater hand in hand, not finishing the movie you had been so excited about.

"I'm sorry I made it so that we couldn't finish the movie." Your boyfriend said with genuine concern.

"Are you kidding?! That was 100 times better than any ending I could've gotten from "Killer Titanium War Sharks!"

♡ Taehyun ♡

You had first noticed him in the library, drinking a splendid Arabic blend of coffee with Kafka open in his lap, twiddling with his hoodie strings with a contemplative stare. You were sure that cupid had struck you with his arrow just then; he looked up at you from what he was reading upon hearing your entrance with the bell atop the book shoppe door.

This had been a habit of his, to show up at the same shoppe as you so that he could see what it was you were reading that week. Today, you had another Junji Ito manga stashed away in your arms and an excited smile on your face. He didn't understand what was happening until you had made your way to his usual spot.

"H-h-hello." He said, trying not to sound awkward but failing tremendously.

"Hey," you said, moving to sit down next to him, "I see you here often?"

It was an observation you made yet you still phrased it as a question, unsure if you were bothering the beautiful boy in front of you. To your surprise, he seemed ecstatic.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" He asked very chipper.

"I was just wondering....would you maybe.....it's totally okay if you don't want to....go out for coffee sometime?" You squinted your eyes in a slight grimace at how awkward your questions sounded and to make matters worse, you threw up finger guns.

Taehyun practically giggled and moved a chair closer to his so that you had the opportunity to sit down and talk to him. "Why, I would love that." He said, or at least he thought so. It came out more like "y-y-yes please yeah that sounds wonderful."

You inch closer to his spot and look at his book title. "Metamorphosis? Nice." You throw up another finger gun and you wanted to dissolve into the linoleum tiles right then and there.

"And I see you're reading my favorite Ito! No Longer Human!" He smiles and sends you the same hand gesture back.

Eventually, you guys pack up your things and head to the nearest coffee place in town: "The Mind Grind." This was where Taehyun had gotten his coffee earlier

He orders a vanilla latte and you order a black iced coffee with two espresso shots. Needless to say, he looked at you as though you were crazy but was most definitely intrigued by your order.

After a long conversation about reading material, you hand him your number scribbled on a napkin and offer the idea of "we should do this again sometime."

Taehyun thought about you the entire time he drove home.

♡ Hueningkai ♡

If this boy agreed to go on a date with you, you knew you had to make it an activity of sorts so that he wouldn't fall asleep or complain about the boringness of art museums or how lame the documentary you went to see was.

Your last date being roller skating, you knew that you were never going to put Kai in skates again as he had run into the wall numerous times and had fallen on top of you when leaning for support. You both ended up in so many unwanted bruises and cuts that you spent the entire next day in bed; an ice pack on Kai's neck and one on your knee.

This time you figured you would be able to find some form of interest in laser tag.

And oh boy was that an idea.

Hueningkai was so chipper and excited about it that he blasted ATEEZ in the car all the way there and talked about how fun it would be to shoot the other players with you by his side as his right hand man. However, when you arrived at the arena, it became very clear that you both were on opposing sides.

"(Y/N).... What'll I do over there without you? 🥲" *Pure fear*

"Fucking suffer under the wrath of my laser tag skills 😈" *Pure adrenaline*

Hiding behind one of the safety zones, you push forward towards the enemy base, keeping a watchful eye out for your 6'1 boyfriend. He would have a hard time hiding you would think since he was so tall, but something told you he'd be just fine.

Shooting a couple other players, you run towards the base and ready yourself to grab the flag. The concept of the game was basically capture the flag but with cool guns that went pew pew. You saw someone guarding it and shot them from afar, closing in on the target. The flag was in your hands and you were about to make a break for it when-

Two arms wrap around your chest, causing you to drop your winnings. You were then shoved into a wall and Kai held you there in place as he looked you up and down. "Trying to win, I see?" He asked, keeping in character of the game. It was both cute and annoying because you were both so competitive.

"Accept defeat." You said, trying to twist out of his grasp and make your way to the flag on the floor. Tacking you, the two of you fight each other for it and crash into a couple walls in the process. Lifting the flag above your head, you grin in triumph, flexing over the fact that you had beat Kai in a fist fight.

"(Y/N). Uh. Are you okay?"

"Huh?"

"Your nose is bleeding everywhere."

Low and behold, there was a steady trickle of red dropping from your nose all over your shirt and shorts. Sighing, you stick the flag in your pocket and Kai takes it from you while you're preoccupied with the blood.

"KAI YOU MOTHER FUCKER."

He leans in for a kiss and ends up getting blood smeared on his face. "I win."

He shot you in the chest and the lights turned on, meaning that the game was over and he had, in fact, won.

F I R E C R A C K E R S

STEVE HARRINGTON X READER

He's loved you since the beginning. It's a shame you had to be taken from him so quickly.

⚠️ Warnings: angst!!!! Blood, death ⚠️

Steve held the firecrackers to his chest as he waited for the perfect time to throw it at the demon threatening the lives of his favorite people in Hawkins. The Mind Flayer- also known as the mysterious rat creature- had tormented everyone it came across. Now, as it finally stood inside the Starcourt Mall, it awaited its death in a valiant effort to fight back. Steve counted in his head the seconds before he would have to throw the fiery device at the creature created from the depths of the Upside Down.

"One, Two, Three, Four-" Steve heard Robin count before she threw her firecracker from the balcony. Her short hair flew with the thrust of her arm, hitting the back of the demon and watching a portion of its arm erupting into flames. She looked determined with a fierce glare that she directed at the Mind Flayer; eyes squinted and face contorted into one of complete and utter concentration. Steve had never seen her so focused.

And then, there was you. Watching the creature from the bottom of where you stood, feeling the agonizing burns of the firecrackers yourself. Connected to the monster, it was impossible for the group to make sure you stayed safe while they went for the kill. Your skin was ashen grey and the veins on your body shone black with the poison of the universe which ran parallel to Hawkins. You looked like a shell of the person Steve once knew you to be; the bright and happy (Y/N) that he loved so much and found so much in common with. The (Y/N) who went to all his basketball games and laughed with him in his car while The Police were softly playing from the speakers. The (Y/N) that always knew what to say to cheer him up after a bad day. The (Y/N) that he had asked out on that particularly cold winter day when he realized that seeing you wearing his scarf was a sight he didn't want to lose. You were still that person, of course, but now you were tainted with the horrible curse of the town Steve sought to run away from since the beginning of all this madness. You were still beautiful even though you weren't entirely yourself. And you were still his. Something he considered worth fighting for.

He counted down from ten before releasing the same firecracker into the direction of the monster which took you. He saw your eyes burn and your hands flail around until they reached your face, pulling at your eyes and dragging your fingers across your skin showing the pain you felt on the inside. The veins seemed to sear across your skin like black tendrils; vines opening up and crawling on every inch of your body. He felt a pang in his chest watching you being forced to suffer like this. He wanted nothing more than to have the old you back in his arms playing with your hair after the two of you woke up from another night spent at Steve's. It seemed like a millennia ago.

You screamed in pain and dropped to the ground just as the monster shifted in place, shrinking up against one of the walls towards the kids on the other side of the balcony: Lucas and Max trying their best to ward off the Mind Flayer.

Steve's maternal instincts kicked in and he ran towards the kids, much to Robin's avail. Her arm flung out in an attempt to grab her co-worker and friend as he raced towards the two fifteen-year-olds with their walkies in hand, firecrackers in the other.

"Steve!" Robin yelled, running after him as he tackled the kids into a protective hug just as the monster swung out and crashed its arm into the place they once stood. He held them close and squinted his eyes to try and block out the surroundings. This was all too much too fast. Robin joined him on the other side, holding Lucas close to her as she wrapped her arms around him protectively. He had a single tear threatening to spill down his cheeks and Max looked equally horrified.

You screaming once more brought Steve's attention back to what was happening below. Eleven had joined you in the fight with her arm outstretched in the air as she tried to push you back towards the monster and away from her friends. You floated just a few inches above the linoleum tiles, still in pain from your previous feat. Eleven looked deadly as she threw you to the ground.

"Stop!" Steve yelled before he even got a grasp of what it was he was saying. The guilt of you potentially being killed hit him like a train as he realized how this scenario was bound to play out. He had been too stupid, agreeing to fighting the Mind Flayer in hopes of getting you back, cutting you off from the demon permanently. The kids knew and Robin knew that it just wasn't possible.

"Don't kill (Y/N)!" He said, much more confident in his words and in more pain than he thought imaginable. Eleven turned to look at him with sorrowful eyes and an apologetic glance as blood dripped from her nostril above her lip.

"It has to happen!" She stated with utmost certainty. She knew this was the only way and as much as she hated the idea of losing you, she wanted to keep her friends safe. She remembered the times where you offered the kids rides from school and when you gave her advice about boys. You were so close to her, to lose you would be one of the worst things she would have to experience. But she couldn't lose Mike.

"But- I-I love her!" Steve finally let the reality of the situation hit him, his eyes spilling tears all over and his bottom lip quivering in fear and hurt. His heart shattered and his stomach felt as though someone were pushing a knife into him over and over, turning the blade every which way to deepen the wound. His head burned and his hands ached as he pressed his fingernails into the floor, blood starting to form from the tips of them. He had been scratched up pretty badly and the burning of his wounded eye was hardly anything compared to what he felt on the inside.

Steve's words caught your attention. Your mind an empty space of blackness finally felt as though it were opening up. You had no control over your movements prior to this moment and all you could feel was the searing of your flesh coming into contact with the burning sensation of the firecrackers. Running around aimlessly in the void that was your possessed body, you finally felt yourself able to take control- even if just for a moment. You turned to Steve and felt time stop as you looked into his tear-filled eyes knowing it was you that caused him that pain.

You smiled ever so slightly as another firecracker was thrown by Mike, bringing you back to the fight at hand. You winced in pain and felt the demon you were attached to move hastily towards Eleven, who had been knocked to the ground after her previous attempt at killing you. You were going to save her from this if it was the last thing you did. Running to her small body on the ground, you threw yourself on top of her and blocked out the monster's attack, feeling yourself ripping in two. Eyes wide and crying, Eleven looked down at the thing which stabbed you, the leg of the Mind Flayer itself, lodged into your chest.

And in that moment you thought back to the time Steve had asked you to be his. You had stolen his scarf when it was snowing, the falling pieces of sky finding themselves gently tapping your hair and leaving it in a small blanket of white. Your cheeks were rosy and your hands hurt from the cold but Steve's scarf had kept you warm. He was wearing his signature blue jeans and polo shirt with he letterman jacket from the basketball team at Hawkins High. His hair was also coated in snow and even though the two of you were practically freezing to death, he looked happier than ever.

"(Y/N)," he had said that day, "Will you be with me? Like- with me with me?"

You had smiled so much from his cute anxiousness and placed your hand in his. "Of course." You said, the happiest girl on earth.

You looked at Eleven underneath you and smiled the same way you did on the day Steve lent you his scarf.

"Tell Steve I love him too. Please." Were the last words you said before everything you knew faded to black.

...

A/N: I hope this is okay, I don't usually write angst but I was listening to Little Freak by Harry Styles and I'm all out of cookies. Enjoy :) 💛🦐

Why is no one talking about the scene in volume one where Eddie literally dies in the upside down for like 2 minutes before being brought back to life by Steve’s mystical tears like in Tangled. And then they made out

For The Glory of Rome

MARCUS ACACIUS X READER

You're finishing your senior year at Orpheus University when your history class is chosen to give an evaluation on one of the professors. Why does he feel so familiar?

⚠️ Past lives AU! Reader is Geta and Caracalla's sister! Reader is also 22 years old, Pedro is older. ⚠️

The mountains were just visible through the window you were sitting next to; their peaks reaching toward the sky above, almost as if in embrace. They were beautiful at this wintry time of year, with the snow cascading down their formations and painting them white. Bare trees that flanked them transformed into branches of green where the cold hadn't hit just yet- your eyes traveling further down the scene. It was that transitory period of the merging seasons, where autumn became winter and left everyone with an odd illness due to the changing weather patterns. Both snow and leaves were tracked inside the bustling classrooms that were alive with the excited chatter amongst the students. Everyone was excited for the upcoming break that would mark the end of the semester. For you, it would mean the midway point of your senior year at Orpheus.

You'd gone to Orpheus all three years of your college career so far, immediately entranced by the large stone pillared building it was. It was so different from your usual pace in the rainy countryside, with its suburban feel and authentic restaurants. It wasn't immediately that you felt the urge to explore the grand halls of the place and to make it your home, but that feeling came soon enough. One glance at the psychology department and a sip of coffee from the bistro down the road were enough to convince whatever part of you left unsure this would be the place. Even with how far you had to uproot yourself and make such a move, you'd made the connections you'd needed and the friends you'd always wanted.

Lee had sat himself next to you this morning with a coffee cup in hand and his phone in the other. He was addicted to that screen- any video that would appear around his recent interest in Danish pop music would be enough to send him down a spiral of excitement. The coffee, however, was for you.

"Morning!" He said, way too chipper for an 8:00am class. He usually went to Starbucks way too close to the time you were meant to be seated with only a minute left to spare. How he didn't have crippling anxiety around his time management, you'd never know. But he did bring you a drink.

"Hey, Lee." You said, with as much energy as you could muster at the moment given how tired you were. "Thanks for the coffee."

Lee threw his bag onto the ground under the long tables in the lecture hall. His spot had been on the other side of the room for the majority of the class as he'd argued he couldn't focus if seated next to you for laughter purposes. However, today he plopped himself down into the one next to you with his notebook open to the most recent material from last week. His hair was a mess as he'd most likely not had the time to brush it but at least his pants matched his shirt today.

"Yeah, 'course."

You took a sip of the drink, wincing slightly at the heat on your tongue. He'd remembered you liked your coffee black.

This morning, you had your history course which was conveniently in the building furthest from your shared apartment. Deciding the added three minutes to your walk would mean a warmer outfit for the day, you wore a white button down with fleece tights under your skirt. You had to substitute your usual leather jacket in favor for a heavier coat but still opted to wear the full face of makeup you had on every day. Eyeliner was your saving grace and you swore you'd never be caught outside without it on. You weren't much of a "girly girl," but that beauty product was the one exception.

Your shoes were still a little damp from the snow and the water had melted into the bottom of your bookbag, to your dismay. Your notebook was mostly fine except for the bottom edge, where the pen ink had run together, ruining your script.

"Did you hear about the evaluation today?" Lee asked, with his arm outstretched, offering you one of the Starbucks napkins to dry your notebook.

You hummed in a quizzing tone, signalling you didn't hear about it as you got to work cleaning up the mess before class started. There wasn't much you could do about the few pages that had been destroyed, but thankfully it wasn't the topic you needed at the moment.

"Well," Lee went on assuming you wanted him to continue, "Professor Klotsbach had to officially go on maternity leave so they're giving us someone else for the duration of this year. Apparently they're having this new guy come in today and we get to decide whether we like him or not." Lee said, rustling through his own belongings. "The history majors are saying this is the fifth one this semester."

"Oh? that'll be interesting. I didn't realize she was out already." You stated, throwing the napkins into your coat pocket. At least that meant this class would be easy today and you wouldn't have to worry too much about the notes. You took another sip of your coffee and turned your attention back to the large window to stare at the mountains again. The sun was really starting to come up now, which would hopefully make the walk home warmer. The sunlight shone over the leaves and made its way into the classroom, turning the wood paneling into that comforting auburn color you loved. Even with the weather outside, the inside felt like summer.

You directed your attention back to Lee, who was now back on his phone. You decided you weren't too tired for a conversation.

"I wonder why they're so particular about a professor for a general education course?" You asked, inquiring Lee as though he'd know the ins and outs of how the administration worked. Orpheus was always a semi-prestigious university; you wondered if they did so many evaluations for all the subjects.

"No idea," he said, taking a sip of his own drink, "I guess they wanted insight from other majors as well."

"Ah." You said, thankful that it would at least be some form of deviance from your usual schedule. After this, you and Lee had plans with the rest of your roommates to go to the bistro down the road so you considered today an easy one. A listening lecture followed by a sweet treat was a great morning.

As you were thinking of your plans, the door on the right side of the room finally opened, meaning the professor had officially walked in and class was about to start. Lee put his phone in his pocket although he didn't turn it off, so you assumed he was listening to music. You scavenged in your case for a pencil that wasn't broken and directed your focus to the front of the room, where the evaluated professor would begin.

Your breath hitched in your throat.

This man had to have been about ten years older than you but he was gorgeous. The brown in his eyes and his hair shone under the sun with such elegance; he appeared to be a painting. His brown leather jacket placed stylishly over his buttoned shirt- save for the two at the top- and his dress pants neatly drawn with a belt. An expensive one at that. He looked less like a professor and more like the cover of a teenage romance novel. Even his facial hair was properly trimmed and accentuated the angular curves of his face, which widened into a heartthrobbing smile.

"Hello, I'm Mr. Marcus." He said, turning around and writing it onto the chalkboard with whatever chalk was left in the tray from the class before. He then wiped his hands against each other and stood in front of the desk, leaning against it in an effortless grace as he stared at the class. His eyes scanned the room before they fell on you. It was only for a moment before he looked elsewhere, but you were starstruck and your stomach flipped.

Lee snickered quietly at the face you were making which took you out of your trance. "Dilf season, huh?"

Your cheeks were flushed and your whole body felt hot. It was unlike you to immediately be so caught off-guard. You shook it aside and attributed it to intimidation. That had to be it, you were just nervous of a new professor and at this guy's confident yet inviting demeanor.

"Shut up, Lee." You said with a small smile, so he'd know not to take offense although you were serious. You didn't want to draw any attention to your heart beating wildly in your chest.

As he continued talking, however, the burning in your abdomen only got stronger. There was something to this man, some sense of familiarity that struck you defenseless, although you were unsure as to why. You were certain you'd never seen the man before in your life, yet there was an undeniable pull that rendered you speechless for the rest of the class. He was wonderful at explaining everything in full detail and perfect when it came to answering questions. One thing was for certain though, and that was there'd be no way you could focus on any topic if Mr. Marcus was the professor. Despite how well he performed his job, you just couldn't concentrate. So, when the papers came around at the end of the class for the evaluation, you checked the box stating your disinterest in Mr. Marcus as your professor. How would you be expected to learn in a place where he was the teacher if you were so flustered? All you wanted to do was go home and decompress.

You submitted your paper to the front of the room, Lee in tow. You placed it face down on the desk even though the evaluations were anonymous; you felt awful for the decision you made. How was it fair for him to do everything perfectly and to not be granted the occupation?

As you were about to turn towards the door, you locked eyes with Mr. Marcus. They were a golden honey brown, very similar to the warmth of the room you were in, and they had you entranced. He smiled at you and raised his eyebrows as invitation for conversation, which was when you realized you'd been standing there in front of him with open eyes for longer than you meant to.

"Miss (Y/N), did you enjoy the lecture?" He asked, calm and composed. He must've read your name off the seating arrangement sheet and pieced two and two together.

"Uh, yeah-yes. Yes, I did. I find Rome pretty fascinating." You said, trying to regain your own composure. You smiled back at him in a last effort to appear normal and then walked out of the room and into the large hall where Lee followed close behind.

Alone in the Lecture Hall once all the students had departed, Marcus let out a hitched breath. You must have noticed it too? There was something so off about you and he was immediately drawn to your presence the minute he'd entered the room. It was as if he'd bumped into you before, only this odd feeling of familiarity was far more intense than anything he'd encountered before.

He learned against the desk for support and reached for the evaluation papers. He remembered exactly which one you'd placed down as he counted the number of sheets placed on top. He was unsure as to why he needed this clarification so badly, as if the evaluation was going to be enough insight as to how you truly felt about him.

You'd written that he performed everything perfectly. Checked all the boxes showing the administrators that he'd done as he should. But, at the end of the form, you'd written you didn't want him to have the job.

He smiled to himself, just slightly. He must've been overreacting.

...

It was with disdain that his eyes followed yours, the vituperative look etched into his skin. He appeared no older, even with the worry lines becoming apparent as he frowned; kohl seemingly molded into the flesh of his face with its darkness around his eyes. His tunic adorned with goldened jewelry held his red cloak fastened at his shoulder, which swiftly moved side to side as he walked about the palace floor. With his domineering personality and flamboyant demeanor, one could argue he very much belonged here. But those who truly knew him, such as you, would argue the complete opposite. A child in the body of man, ruling over the Roman Empire with the ability to kill any one of the men who'd built the imperial palace with the flick of his wrist.

And to think, he was your brother.

Emperor Geta manically moved back and forth, his steps echoing in the greatness of the hall where the two of you stood. Your other misfortune of a sibling somewhere entranced by his monkey, you presumed. Even with neither of them being much too intelligent, Geta was definitely the force to be reckoned with. This flurry of anger he felt was often of your own doing and today was no different- although the situation was more dire than previous mishaps.

What was usual sibling banter had turned into something fierce, unforgiving. It seemed as though the two of you no longer stood on the same plane and no words could be spoken to alleviate the tenseness between you two.

"There's a traitor-" He began, voice laced with more anger than anything else now that the shock had subsided. "Someone is helping the Senate to conspire against us. A traitor within the castle?" Geta dramatically flung his fingers over his heart and buried it into the fabric of his dress, steadying himself from falling as if he were intoxicated.

"I've heard nothing of the sort, brother." You let out, hardly above a whisper. It felt wrong for the secret to spill past your lips after all this time of keeping it. Although this had been going on for nearly five months, to speak it aloud even partially breathed it into existence. You, who had no family other than Geta and Caracalla, were plotting the demise of both of them. Rome was a collective and you'd been appointed to preserve the democracy of the people- something your brothers had turned into tyranny under their rule. However, it seemed as though they'd just caught wind of the plot without knowing who was leading the rebellion. Of course, Geta would eventually figure it out but the best thing you could do would be to deny anything that would lead to you or Acacius. He would have his head by morn and yours by the next.

Geta focused his eyes toward the nearest column so as not to look at you, forcing himself to tongue over the idea as it repeated within his head. His ornate laurel wreath crown he wore glistened in the light from above, casting a radiant glow on the floor. He was beautiful, if undeservingly so.

"Geta." You started, still fighting the fear that was always prevalent when conversing with your brother, "You are the emperor. Who would dare conspire against you?" you asked, knowing you had to do damage control. It all felt too real and too sudden for anything to happen just yet, this was unplanned. There was still so much more to be done and now that Geta had heard, Caracalla would be next to be informed- potentially halting the senate from being able to make a proper move. Your brothers would behead them all and force you to watch.

There had to be an informant within the Senate, someone who sided with your brothers in hopes of some grand reward for ratting you out. If they told Geta of the uprising, there's no telling how long it would take until they knew you and Acacius were leading it.

Suddenly, it was as if the color returned to Geta's white painted face. The creases that had formed out of worry now resumed with a smile so horrid and vile that your stomach seemed to drop to your toes with dread. The redhead inched closer to you until he was standing directly before you, inches away from your faltering breath. Smug look upon his face with his hands placed behind his back, he whispered in your ear the one thing you never wanted to hear from him.

"Make sure to relay this message to the Senate. If I hear of any further plans or catch the name of anyone involved within the operation, I will make sure the streets of Rome run red with their excrements."

Your veins turned to ice. It was as if your body had become as still as the marble statues surrounding the two of you. The sunlight hitting your brother's hair was not a warm and comforting light, but the light of a thousand fires ready to destroy anything within its path. You could smell the antimony from his makeup, and it was churning your stomach the longer you stood next to him. And then, he pulled you into a forceful embrace.

"You're my brethren, (Y/N). But bloodshed triumphs over blood. My mercy doesn't spill out of my fingertips such as the weak do. I am to carry on the tree of my lineage and I will do so from the seed of my power. Don't let me ever hear my dear sister has fallen into the conspiracy of the people."

Then he left, and a piece of your soul died with the slam of the door behind him.

...

General Marcus Acacius, still clad in the paludamentum from the evening's dinner, gathered himself after a lengthy conversation with some of his troops. He was fortunate for the day's conquer, but he was entirely ready to return to his chambers to meet with his love; hoping she could soothe the grievances that emanated from his soul. A slight glance into the reflection of the gate showed a man worn down by war. Physically and spiritually he felt beaten and old. His face, which had appeared so bright when he'd first started his efforts, had now succumbed to the weight he felt inside. He was duller than the man he'd always been. A light had been extinguished and would never again be set aflame. His body felt as though it were an empty chamber, hollow with only the sounds of the maternal screaming he heard from war. Mothers calling home their only sons that would stay calling for the remainder of their lives. Praying for the boys who'd become soldiers, fallen under an empire that prided themselves on greatness.

The Romans were cruel murderers. And he did their bidding.

Trying his best to push his stressors aside, he stepped into the small garden flanking the back perimeter of the palace, knowing that was your usual place upon nightfall. The fountain seemed to hum as the water rushed down into the basin. The sounds of bugs chirping filled his ears. The calmness of the fire tamed within the confines of the torches made flickering shadows upon the stones beneath his feet.

And then, there was you. Turning to face him once he'd entered the palace and meeting his gaze. He'd sworn he never understood the meaning of goddess until he'd met you. From the first encounter at the palace, Acacius knew he was in love. Every statue and painting couldn't compare to the beauty that radiated off you, he knew. Your eyes were pools of mystery and your skin softer than the sheets lining the bed you shared, fragile under the callouses of his hands that were worn by the hilt of his sword. You were a delicacy. He thought you were more striking than the sun itself.

The word love would never be enough to describe the power that flowed through his veins upon the mere mention of your name or the gentleness of your kiss.

You were here in your usual palla, the purple dye of the fabric shimmering under the soft glow of the fire. Your face was hardened into a concerned expression and your lips were downturned. What was usually a gleeful expression when your fiancé returned home safely seemed to be just a little short of animosity.

Acacius immediately went to place his hands gently at your sides, pulling you in slightly with a quizzical look, assessing for any physical ailments. "What troubles you, my Lady?"

You wanted to cry, to scream, to let out all your frustrations through vile words such as your brothers did, but you felt so beaten down you couldn't even formulate the words. Acacius had done nothing wrong but be within your proximity. And now your lover would be subjected to the unforgiving wrath of Geta.

"My Lady?" He asked once more, softer this time. He had a rough day, you could tell, and his forehead lines became more apparent as his brows furrowed. His beard was trimmed but not shaven, so as not to flaunt off some of the scars he'd gathered below his nose. He had one on his cheek and one on the back of his hand that you would run your fingers over in an intimate embrace. He was beautiful, even with the years of war embroidered into his skin. He was your heart.

"It's Geta," you finally mustered, holding Acacius's hand to your cheek and letting a tear fall, "he's enlightened to our uprising."

It was the General's turn to express his worry. "How was he informed?" Hs asked, pulling you in for a stiff hug as he was still wearing his breastplate.

"Macrinus must have caught word after last night's gathering. W-we were so careful, I-"

"Shh." Acacius said, slowly rubbing circles into your back, "We'll be okay, we'll find a way." He said this almost so convincingly you wanted to believe it yourself. But you knew Geta would do his best to punish you in every way humanly possible. There would be no escaping.

"We can run away before they find out its us-"

"To where? We both have the faces of those known in Rome, we'll never even make it past the gate without our identities being revealed. And then what? Where will we go that has no promise of being conquered?" He asked, holding onto you as though your arms alone would ground him. "And (Y/N), you know my heart belongs to you and the people. I couldn't leave one in place of the other."

Any form of democracy was going to be dead if your brothers continued to be the ultimate monarchs the were. Their reign had caused nothing but horrors to the people .

"Geta may want my head when he finds out, but he'll never kill you," Acacius said, looking into your eyes, "He'd never kill our kin." At this, his hand dropped to your stomach, caressing the top of it gently.

"You will not die without me." You said, knowing what he would suggest in the hopes of keeping you safe. "I will not allow it."

"And then what? You die and there will be no hope. Not for the people or politics or our son. My work to free us from the grasp of Rome will be for nought."

Your tears started to cascade down your face as quickly as they came, taking your kohl along with it. This was unfair. All of it was unfair. You wanted nothing to do with your brothers or ruling or Rome or anything. All you'd hoped for was to live peacefully in a world without it- how foolish.

"I love you, Acacius. You know this." You said, burying your face into his shoulder. You took in the metallic scent of his breastplate, trying to ease yourself. You knew as a general that he would never leave Rome defenseless.

"As I love you," he said, moving you gently so you were facing each other, "You know what has to be done."

You composed yourself and met his eyes, trying to find solace in them. He felt more like family than the insufferable gingers you shared a bloodline with. And you knew you'd do anything to protect the family you made for yourself, even if that meant sacrificing the birth one.

"We have to kill them." You said. You found the words didn't trouble as much as you thought they might.

BTS (방탄소년단) @ Permission to Dance: On Stage Concert performed ‘Black Swan’ at Seoul Olympic Stadium on October 24th, 2021 in Seoul, South Korea

Bones And All

Lee:

Passenger: Lee would follow you to the ends of the earth. A night he thought he was showing you just how much he loves you has to be reevaluated when he understands the pain you've been put through in the past.

(Romance/Smut/Fluff)

FUCK YOUR LIFE'S PERCEPTION

TYLER DURDEN X READER

⚠️Warnings: swearing ⚠️

Just a short drabble. Tyler tells you he cares about you. That's about it.

Tyler's cigarette smoke rose up from the end of his cancer stick and drifted up towards the ceiling of the non-ventilated room. The green paint was peeling in tremendous amounts and the stains from water damage were evident. The smoke curled in cylindrical spirals and kissed the chipping paint almost as if inviting it to fall to the floorboards below; which conveniently, were also subject to the same damage from the water above.

You laid in silence next to him, watching the sights from above and playing with the hem of your shitty Goodwill shirt that had been unraveling due to hasty scissor cuts you'd made the night before upon realizing it was longer in length than you'd originally wanted it. You were both in desperate need of a shower and while not bathing might've fit the aesthetic of Paper Street, it did not go over well anywhere else.

Motioning towards his pocket, Tyler silently offers you one of the cigarettes he has. The container itself only held two of them while the rest of the semi empty box has a couple of bloodied tissues stuffed into it's crevices and a haiku from you which read:

"Tyler, that bitch boy, God I love that man to death, shut the fuck up please." You had given it to him for his birthday and was quite proud of it to say the least. He looked at it, laughed, and then stuffed it into the very same pocket he had just withdrawn it from. The smoke was fading now, trying desperately on a fight against the house to find an open window or a vent to no avail.

Taking a cigarette for yourself, you allow him to light it. The drag was long and slow and you felt your lungs fill up with what you presumed would eventually kill you.

"A lot on your mind?" The leather jacket-clad man asked with a twinge of a smile, growing fond of your company over the past few weeks. Ever since he'd offered his services to you at Lou's while you were working, you'd grown attached to him. The night you guys fucked and laid in bed afterwards talking about how soap was the yardstick of civilization and how there should be more methods of shaving for women, you knew you couldn't just be fuck buddies. Your emotions with Tyler ran deep.

"Yeah, something like that." You said, blowing the smoke out and watching it meet the rest of the clouded air above. It was soothing in a way. Almost as comforting as a hug if you liked them.

"Wanna go for a walk?" He asked, knowing that was your favorite past time when you had plaguing thoughts. Sighing at his perfectness, you agree by getting up from the magazines you had plopped yourself down on on the floor. Placing your hands behind your back, you lean back and crack it with a satisfied hum escaping your lips. Tyler joins you and picks up his red tinted glasses on preparation for the outside.

"How'd you know?" You ask, walking out towards the door leading to the kitchen and eventually to the mud puddle infested streets of the lower income street you resided on with your boyfriend.

"Know what? That you were angry?" He asked smugly, walking after you with that confident manly sort of walk that only pricks seem to have.

"Yeah." You said, shivering once your foot stepped out the door. The shit shirt (as you referred to it as) was only making matters worse considering how thin the material was.

Upon your sudden fixation with the cold, your boyfriend took off his leather jacket and placed it over your shoulders in an attempt at comforting you. It wasn't entirely warm, but it would do.

"I feel like life is just getting worse. Everything is a downward spiral and we're all just inevitably spiraling with it. There's nothing to live for. We're all consumed by the media that tells us to kill ourselves. Nothing is right." You eventually admitted to Tyler who was preparing another cigarette from his pocket. Grinning, it seemed as though he liked your response considering how he didn't have to pry the information out of you.

"You sure you don't just need a shower?" He asked, walking alongside you purposely going through all the puddles accompanying the sidewalk you were on. He was strange like that. You were sure there was a poetic meaning to it as there always seems to be, but you didn't feel like figuring it out in this moment.

"Well, that too. But I'm serious, Tyler. Everything is shitting on everything else."

"I agree with you. The world is chaotic and terrible and beyond redemption. Humans redeeming themselves? Forget about it."

"Exactly. It's just-"

"-but there are some good things."

You stopped in your tracks. Did Tyler just contradict his every statement? He's always rambling on about the terrors of the world the unfortunateness of the human condition. It's always the media that's cynical. Down with the patriarchy. Everything sucks. Why was he disagreeing with you now?

"What do you mean by good things?" You asked, genuinely curious by his change in demeanor.

"I say fuck your life's perception. You're entirely right about everything. The world is beyond saving. People are dying everyday and the rich get away with murder. We're slaves to the television. But- there are some things worth living for."

Curious, you give Tyler that look which reads "what are you going on about?" In an urge for him to continue. The puddles stopped the closer and closer you guys made it to town and his shoes eventually stopped making the rubbery squeaking noises of clothing material hitting water. Gravel replaced the mud and Tyler started to kick the stray rocks beneath his feet.

"Like what?" You ask.

"Like soap. Literature. Arson. Bagel Bites. You." He says, matter of fact as if he didn't have to think of the answer at all. He was such a a badass, seeing the world for the way it was; grimy and worthless. He taught life lessons to the space monkeys he kept in the basement of Paper Street. There was no special little snowflake attitude about him. He was solely the most interesting and intelligent human being. From the way he wore his clothes to the way he treated everyone else. The way he smoked and the way he preferred baths over showers. He was always the first to willingly touch the city subway railings not caring if he got sick. He blew shit up for fun. And now he was telling you that you were something good about his life, something that he valued so little.

"You- you mean it?"You ask, reaching for his hand now that the sidewalk was level.

"About what I said in regards to Bagel Bites?" He joked with a knowing smile. "Of course."

"No, asshole. About me."

"Oh," he pretended to think for a moment, "yes."

sexy mustache men who name themselves after a fruit >>

Glimpse of Us

Steve Harrington X Eddie Munson

⚠️ Warnings: this whole thing is just painful ⚠️

"You fill my lungs with sweetness, and you fill my head with you..."

The unfamiliar song started to play softly through the speakers of Steve Harrington's car, leaving him with a feeling of dread and sorrow. It was a foggy afternoon and the trees surrounding the town of Hawkins were tall and provided shade from the very little sun that poked through the clouds. It was darker than usual, a reflection of how Steve felt inside. The soft smell of petrichor filled his senses as he rolled the window down in an attempt to catch the air as he drove by. He was by himself today. No Henderson from the backseat to shout and cheer at the latest adventure they had. No Robin in the passenger side fixing her mascara and droning on about her love of Vickie. No one but the crisp cool air and soft rain starting to fall from the sky, so soft one might miss it if they weren't actively feeling rainy inside. Steve tousled his hair and wiped at his face as he continued down the path to the familiar clearing in the woods; somewhere he would be completely isolated and alone.

Pulling up alongside the road, he put his car in park and slumped against the wheel. His head hurt from the night before as he had stayed up later than normal, drinking an endless amount of coffee to get him through work and then through home. His cardigan felt heavier than usual as he wrapped it around himself quickly, trying to trap in any warmth before turning off the car and walking outside.

The King of Hawkins High now had a slight limp in his walk ever since the battle for his home. His hair was starting to lighten up at the roots and he had lost a couple pounds. Chiseled jawline and sad eyes completed the forlorn look he now wore with contemptness. Vecna was a thing of the past, but the pain the monster left him was far greater than anything that could truly heal over time. Today was full of nostalgia for him so he decided to release his emotions in the only way he knew how to; talking to Eddie.

The trees eventually opened up into the bright and beautiful field he had known all too well; the grassy meadow was a bright yellow in contrast to the darkness of the rest of the world which Steve figured was his friend's doing. Such a happy corner of the universe but such a sad day it held within its corners. 1986.

Eddie looked lovely today. The birds were flying overhead in intricate but beautiful patterns in the sky, keeping a watchful eye on everything happening down below. They paid no mind to Steve as he frequented this place often. Besides from Dustin, he was the only other human to walk this place with the knowledge of what it truly meant. Visions of Eddie running around with Dustin himself, bright eyed and beaming grins as they pranced about the meadow with their makeshift swords and shields. Robin and Steve had sat alongside the outside as they shaped spears using what they had gathered. Erica and Lucas fighting over the binoculars as they playfully expressed that they cared for each other. The last time when things were truly perfect, Steve thought to himself as he sunk to his knees by the site where Eddie rested now.

"Eddie Munson. The Hero of Hawkins."

The inscription was clear even though the rest of the grave had been worn away after quite some time. It was small so it would've been glanced over if you weren't on the lookout for the home of the Hellfire Club leader. There were a few sprouts of miscellaneous plants growing out from some of the sides and around the lot. The dead rose from the last time Steve came to visit laid atop, waiting to be replaced with another flower. He fished into his cardigan and pulled out another rose similar to the other one, although this one was very much alive. The petals were vibrant and dewey, matching the surroundings of the meadow and the sky overhead.

"Hey Eddie." Steve said, getting comfortable on the ground and fiddling with the grass. "It's been a while."

"Nancy and I will have to visit with the kids someday soon." He began, working towards trying to have the confidence speaking out in the open like this. A faint smile appeared on his face as he said his next lines.

"The meadow looks beautiful as ever, Eddie. I can see all the work you've put into it. Your aura was always a contagious one."

Steve swallowed back a tear as he ran his fingers over the inscription he had paid for himself. Eddie would always be known as the hero, even if it was only to a few people who resided in Indiana. Funny how your world can be comprised of a few science kids and a couple college friends. Or how it used to be, anyways. Before everyone grew up.

"We named our oldest after you. Ironically, he's very into Metallica. You would be so proud of your namesake." Steve said, feeling proud for a moment at the mention of his son. Him and Nancy had gotten married in the summer of '99. She had worn a plain and simple wedding dress but she looked beautiful as ever in it, hair pinned to the top of her head and a pearl necklace around her neck. Her smile had beamed so brightly that day and Steve felt like the luckiest man in the world.

"Robin apparently still visits Hawkins from time to time. She moved to Washington not long after everything went down in Hawkins. She said she couldn't take it anymore. We had a party for her and then she left the next day. I haven't heard from her since." The mention of his best friend made him crinkle his nose in fondness, remembering the night they spent drugged in the bathroom of the Starcourt Mall and her coming out to him as a lesbian.

"I know Henderson comes to see you with his family sometimes. He's almost always over at our place. He keeps me updated on everything happening in his household. Turns out, he's a great babysitter too. He tells Eddie all about you and about how great you were."

"Lucas became a professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers. He's quite good, it turns out that he's found his people and his talent. He and Max still have some unfinished business, but as far as I know she lives alone after her mother passed not too long ago. She's doing better now since she woke up from that coma, volunteering at the local hospital. She went back to college to get a degree in nursing."

Steve tried his best to explain everything he knew. Eddie was the glue that seemed to hold their group together. After his passing, everyone went their separate ways and Steve felt very isolated. He missed his kids and the way it used to be sometimes, especially on days like today. But the same part of him that yearned for their reunion was the same part of him that was ever so pleased they all ended up okay. He couldn't be anything but proud of them after they all worked so hard to get where they were.

"The Byers still live in Lenora. Hopper went with them and he got married to Joyce. Jonathan went off with Argyle and started their own clothing line. It's pretty ridiculous, but I've heard that they're making a ton of money from it. Eleven is still with Mike. They visit us sometimes too when they can. They're still distraught over Joyce and her death not long after they had gotten married themselves. Nance and I went up to see them and it was almost as if the whole gang was back together. You would've loved it!"

Steve was laughing now as he explained their wedding even further. It was a shame that Joyce had contracted an illness but she didn't go down without a fight. Hopper visits her grave all the time when he's not too busy working for the post office. He still takes care of Eleven and adopted her the moment he was able to.

"Will is working as a librarian and he got married but that's about all I know. He's the one kiddo that hardly keeps in contact anymore. I heard he's a published author, but I don't know the titles of any of his works."

Steve stopped his rambling and stared down at the plants poking out from the grave. It was refreshing to see some new flowers popping up here and there, a contrast from the yellowing of the meadow grass. It was now starting to rain harder and he could feel the water droplets hitting his head, almost like the ticking of a clock telling him that his time with Eddie was almost up. He composed himself from his slight moment of fondness and looked down at the shining stone beneath his feet.

"Eddie." He said, moving towards the top of the gravestone and petting it in the same way he used to pet his long curly brown hair that was always mischievously framing his face and flying about. Eddie would smoke cigarettes while Steve played with it as he laid on top of his friend and played some of his Corroded Coffin guitar solos. His smile would light up Steve's entire room as the eccentric metalhead boy would sit on the end of the bed and laugh with him about their music tastes and the typical drama of the day. Eddie's Hellfire notebook would be sprawled out on the floor as he placed back and forth while he talked about what was to be expected from their next campaign while Steve listened intently. He would tilt his head if Steve had any ideas to offer and would jump up and down if something he had said would be added to the exciting fun of DND. Munson would run around in Steve's bomber jacket when it was cold. He would hold his hands when he wanted him to know something important so that he would have Steve's undivided attention. Eddie would prance around the field with Black Sabbath blasting through his Walkman. He would yell up at the night sky and ask for the universe to lift the curse that held him to Hawkins.

"I never stopped loving you." Steve admitted. Before he headed back towards the warmth of his car, he took off his cardigan and placed it atop Eddie's final resting place and smiled. "So you don't get cold, is all." He said.

Steve didn't believe in God or any particular religion, but he knew that somewhere somehow, Eddie heard every word.