the new season has got my creative juices flowing (and my anxiety on high alert).
Steve Harrington x Henderson!sister OC (Katie)
Setting - Between seasons 4 and 5. Dusty is in full blown sad!boi mode and his sister ( lived w/dad in another town) comes to Hawkins to help.
The olive green suitcase bounced against her leg as she walked toward the Henderson house. She glanced down at it, all her earthly belongings all packed into this square, then back up to her family. Her little brother, if he could even be called little anymore, stood shoulder to shoulder with her, his hands dug deep into his pockets.
"Katie," he greeted her, smiling, but it didn't meet his eyes. It was so unlike him, so odd that it struck something in her chest. She pulled him into a hug, a bonecrushing one, just like she did when they were little.
"Dusty," she squeezed him, resting her cheek against his soft curls. "Who told you it was okay for you to sprout up like this?"
That elicited a breathy chuckle from him. His arms finally giving her a little squeeze back. "That's what happens when you never come visit."
Katie pulled back and nodded. She gave his face a once over, noting the swollen bags beneath his eyes - a lack of sleep or an excess of tears. Maybe both. She'd heard he'd lost his friend - the real reason she'd come back.
"Fair," she agreed with a shrug of her shoulder, releasing her hold on the boy. "Now be a gentleman and get my suitecase."
Dustin rolled his eyes and took it from her as she greeted their mother with a hug.
It was odd coming back after so long. She'd been away for years. It was the best, they'd decided. One kid with each parent, everyone's happy.
Except the kids.
They wanted to grow up together, to play and be siblings but that was never in the cards for them. But the love they shared was strong and they were the very best of friends.
"How's job hunting going?" Claudia asked later that evening, enamored with the young woman her daughter had grown into. They sat around the dinner table as they caught up, eating and happy - a real family again.
Katie took a sip of her water. "I start at Hawkins Memorial next week," she admits. "I might've had my old boss call and give me a recommendation. Said I was the best on call back in Minnesota."
Claudia clapped her hands loudly, throwing her head back in glee. "Oh honey that's great!"
Dustin nodded, pushing his peas around with his fork. "Yeah, that's great, Katie."
Katie smiled and took another bite. "What about you, Dustin? Got any plans for college? You are a senior next year, after all."
He doesn't look up from his plate, or even speak. Katie meets her mother's worried eyes. She sighs and turns back to him.
"So what's Hellfire Club?" She asks, motioning to his shirt. "Sounds badass."
"Yeah," he snorts, but then there's a crackling sound. Dustin frantically digs in the bag he'd thrown on the floor beside him before a voice cuts through. "HENDERSON, where the hell are you?"
Katie arches a brow. "Who-"
"Gotta go," Dustin jumps up, the plates on the table clinking as he does. He apologizes quickly and gives his mother and sister a quick peck on the top of the head before he makes a mad dash toward the door. "Glad you're back, Katie. Be back later, love you guys, bye!"
Katie sits there in a quiet shock, blinking slowly, before she looks back up at her mother.
"He's fine," Claudia assures her quietly, with a grin. "He does that all the time."
Katie made a small 'huh' under her breath, but sat back in her chair, listening to the quick words her brother spoke as he biked away.
A/N: Tooth-rotting fluff ahead. Idk what brought this on (and it's everything but edited), but I couldn't get it out of my head, so enjoy!
Maid of Honor!reader x Best Man!Simon Riley
The wedding had been beautiful - the sun shone brightly and the skies were a bright, cloudless blue. The gentle breeze that had ruffled the dress of the bride perfumed the air, the lingering smell of the flowers attached itself to everything in the vicinity.
Ava and Johnny were quietly married in the presence of their family and a select few friends. You had been among that group - having been Ava's best friend since you were both little girls. You played dolls together, braided each other's hair, held each other when you cried. It was only natural that you were chosen to be her maid of honor.
Johnny's best man had been his friend Simon. You hadn't met each other before the rehearsal dinner the night before and to say that you'd already formed a strong opinion would be putting it lightly.
You were balancing precariously on the edge of a tall ladder, draping tulle across the large chandelier in the middle of the room. Your tongue poked out at the corner as you tried to steady yourself. You reached out just a bit further when you suddenly feel yourself being jostled. Your brows furrow and you glare down at whoever it was that had run into you.
"Hey!" you bark, your fingers curled desperately around the slope of the light fixture above you. Your heart raced in your chest as you fought to steady your quick breathing. "What the hell is the matter with you?"
"What's the matter with me?" The man looked up and narrowed his gaze in on you, not looking amused. "You're not supposed to stand on the top cap of a ladder."
"And that gives you the right to knock into it?" you fire back, your cheeks flushed.
Slowly and discreetly you try to step down a wrung. Your foot slips and you find yourself free falling through the air. You yelp, your eyes closing on their on volition. The fall is short, stopping abruptly as you're caught mid-air. Strong arms are around your middle, the man you were just berating now holding you to his chest, your feet dangling off the floor.
Your chest rises and falls dramatically, your eyes sliding open to find the man still staring at you. The look of indifference was now gone, replaced with a slight smirk.
"You alright?" he asks, his voice lower now that you were closer to him.
You nod, swallowing the fear you were feeling. He allows you to slide down his front, keeping his gentle hold on you until your feet were firmly on the floor. You take a small step back away from him, crossing your arms over your chest to hide your embarrassment. "You know, you really should watch where you're going."
"And you should be more careful."
The flash of a the camera broke you from your thoughts. You were smiling for the photographer, your hand on Simon's chest as he posed beside of you. You could feel him staring down at you, but you paid it no attention. You quickly wrapped up the pictures and then went to find your seat, sighing as you saw the nameplate beside your own.
"Can't escape you, can I?" Simon's voice crooned in your ear.
You plop down into your seat and drain your glass of wine. "What are you, a mind reader?"
Simon chuckles lightly and sinks into his seat. If the way his fingers pulled at the collar of his shirt was any indication, he was just as uncomfortable in his tie as he looked. You arch a brow at his incessant pawing. "You gonna fight your tie all night or take it off?"
He gives you a small glance, but says nothing. You huff and reach over, your fingers picking apart the knot in his tie, undoing it with ease. You fold it up and lay it on the table by his plate.
You eat in silence, listening to the soft music that played in the background. It wasn't long before the bride and groom had their first dance. You can't fight the cheek-aching smile that curls your lips as you see them move about the room. It wasn't smooth, by any means, neither of them had any dancing experience, but it was so very in tune with the couple.
You swallow back a wave of tears as you see your best friend lean up and place a sweet kiss on her new husband's lips. You take a quick picture with your phone, knowing how she'll treasure that moment in the years to come, and then wipe at your eyes with your napkin. You chance a glance at Simon and see him watching you.
"What?" you ask him quietly.
He shakes his head, the movement so small you barely noticed it. "I didn't say anything."
"You're looking at me funny," you accuse him softly. "You gonna make fun of me for crying?"
"Course not," he defends himself with a small shrug. "It's just... this is the first time I've ever seen you not actively wanting to punch someone."
You can't stop the snort of laughter that follows. You try to hide your grin behind your napkin, but you know you've been caught by the look on his face. He looks smug, like he'd accomplished something. You relent, your shoulders relaxing a bit. "Touché."
It's quiet for a moment before Simon speaks again. "You know, I don't go to many weddings-"
"Obviously," you add, your lips still twitching upwards.
Simon narrows his eyes again, "-but I do know you're supposed to dance. Humor me?"
You're shocked, but you nod and take his hand, following him to the dance floor. You fall into a simple rhythm, a slight sway around the floor. Simon is gentle with you, his hands firm, but soft in his hold. He clears his throat and says, "You clean up nice."
"I'll take that as a compliment," you say, scrunching your nose at him.
Simon's cheek puff as he grins. "You should. It's the best I can do."
A laugh escapes you again, the volume of it drawing a few confused looks your way. You notice Ava and Johnny looking at you, both of them wearing face splitting grins. Your eyes widen and the hand you had on Simon's shoulder quickly covers your mouth. You shrink slightly, almost as if you're trying to hide behind his large frame, your cheeks burning.
"Why're you hidin'?" Simon laughs, his hand on your back firmer, guiding you back to your natural height. "Come back up here."
You straighten up, your eyes on Ava's across the room once more. She sends you a wink and a thumbs up. You shake your head and look back up at Simon, the fairy lights twinkling in your eyes. "Ava and Johnny seem to have their hearts set on something happening between us, don't they?"
Simon glances over at them, too, and Johnny wags his brows at him. Simon huffs a laugh and rolls his eyes. "Johnny has been talkin' about it for months."
The liquid courage from the wine you'd had during the dinner burned hot in your veins. You rake your eyes back up to his. He was handsome - tall, well built, the tattoos you saw peeking out from beneath his sleeve - you'd be lying if you said he wasn't your type, even if you did get off to a bad start. "Well... we can't disappoint them on their wedding night, can we?"
Simon's eyes widen, and it's the biggest reaction you'd gotten out of him the entire night. His tongue darts out and wets his lips before he speaks. "No, I don't believe we can."
You let your hand fall from his shoulder, running down his arm to grip his hand. You curl your fingers around his and guide him along with you, out the doors of the reception hall of the hotel and toward the elevators. Your footsteps were quick, your heart pounding in your ears. "We're good friends."
Simon follows behind you with a nod, his eyes never leaving you. "The best."
TW: Mentions of animal neglect/abuse (nothing violent or descriptive - my heart can't take it). Also, I'm trying to get this as close to reality as possible, but I am in no way a doctor/veterinarian. Please, please, please don't use this as a guide for helping any animal.
I proofread this as best as I could (it's cross-posted as a fanfic so I changed MC's name to Y/N) so there might be an inconsistency(ies?) that I missed!
Y/N woke to the trilling song of a blue jay that had nested on the ledge of her window. The smooth chirps and whistles provided her a sense of peace, for when she heard it she knew she was safe in her cozy apartment. Standing on her toes she peeked into the ledge outside her window, as she did every morning, eagerly awaiting the small, blue eggs to hatch.
She yawned and stretched, rising from her bed. She straightened her t-shirt as best she could - there was no hope for the wrinkles. After she brushed her teeth and slipped on her fuzzy slippers she closed the bedroom door behind her. The warm, morning light streamed through the window by her barely-ever-used dining table.
She poured herself a bowl of cereal and sat down, pulling her laptop out to begin her day. There was an email from Mari, her favorite tech.
I know you're on leave and I'm not supposed to bother you, but we've got a cat and it's not looking good for him. A black and white stray, male. He looks like he's been through the wringer, Y/N. Animal control brought him in, and found him in a dumpster.
Y/N reread the email a few times before she clicked the attached video. The cat, obviously malnourished, bared its teeth and hissed at the person behind the camera, but didn't try to defend himself. He was tired, scared, and very sick.
Y/N frowned around her bite of food, her fingers darting over the keyboard as she typed out her response.
Give me an hour.
"Morning," John crooned from the doorway, his voice still thick with sleep. Y/N glanced up noting that he was already dressed and ready for the day. She gave him a small, forced smile as she read the email Mari sent back - saying that they'd be waiting for her.
Y/N sighed softly, her eyes drifting from her screen to John's eyes.
"What is it?" John asked.
Y/N's frown deepened and she placed her computer on the table. "I got an email saying that we have an abused animal at the office. I need to go make sure he's okay - see if he can be rehabilitated or if he needs to..." she trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence. Of course, she'd had many animals that she'd had to put to sleep, but never did it get any easier, "rest."
"You've not been cleared to go back to the office," John reminded her stiffly. "You're still healing, and we've yet to find who ordered the attack on you."
"I can't let him suffer if he doesn't have a chance of making it," Y/N argued, her brows furrowed. "I won't stay, I swear. I'll assess him, see what needs to be done, and come home."
John sighed deeply and stared at her as if he were weighing her words, and then gave a single nod. "Only him."
A little while later, when they arrived at the office, Y/N was taken back to where the bi-colored cat lay. He was sedated, and connected to a drip to give him a little extra hydration. Tears burned her eyes and she sniffed, trying to contain them as she looked over the animal - he was thin, critically so. His fur was faded-looking and dirty. One of the techs was cleaning and wrapping a wound on his back leg.
"He was found in a dumpster," Mari reiterated from over her shoulder. Y/N noticed how the tech's gaze settled on her own still-healing bruised eye, but she ignored it. Mari didn't comment on it, instead, she continued to fill her in on the cat's condition. "He's a little on the wild side, Doc."
Y/N nodded as she listened, her heart squeezed in her chest. She couldn't help but feel like it was destiny that brought this creature to her at this exact moment. She took a deep breath to settle her emotions. "He needs a high-protein, high-fat diet supplemented with some vitamins for a few weeks." She ran her hand through his fur softly, her fingers roving over every one of his pronounced ribs. "But, all things considered, he seems like he'd be okay to be fostered."
Mari nodded, writing in his chart. "Okay. Have you heard from any of our fosters? Know anyone who's able to take him in?"
"Yeah," Y/N said softly, her eyes flicking from the cat to John, who stood out of the way in the back of the room, but always watching. She gently stroked the cat's side and looked back down at him sadly. "I'm gonna take him home with me. Get him fed and tamed down a bit. We can give this guy a new life, I'm sure of it."
"Y/N." Mari furrowed her brows. "Are you sure? I know you have a lot going on right now..."
Y/N tore her eyes from the cat, pinning Mari with a look. "I'm taking him with me. Find a carrier and a cone while I prepare him for the ride."
"Okay, okay..." Mari sighed, obviously wanting to protest, but she kept it to herself.
Y/N carefully took the IV out of the cat's leg and bandaged it as gently as she could. It was just Y/N and John in the room now. Y/N allowed her shoulders to fall as she looked back down at the battered creature on the table. "Poor little guy."
John sighed and stepped fully into the room, his hands clasped behind his back. He was looking at her, concern clear on his face. "You sure about this?"
Y/N nodded and carefully wiped at her healing eye as tears threatened to fall. "I can handle it."
"I don't doubt it," John agreed softly, giving her upper arm a gentle squeeze. "You'll fix him up."
"Yeah," Y/N agreed quietly. "He'll be okay."
Later that evening Y/N sat on the sofa with John, both of them watching the crate the cat was in. He had begun to rouse, stretching and mewling as he looked around the new environment. Y/N smiled and moved to crouch in front of the crate. She knelt, smiling softly as the cat bared its teeth at her, hissing.
Curled up in the back of the crate, the cat watched her. His large, green eyes were trained on her, his head followed her as she went to the kitchen and brought back some food for him. She opened the can up and put some of the medicine she'd gotten for him on top. The smell wrinkled Y/N's nose, but she stirred it up anyway.
She opened the door, not even flinching as the cat started hissing and swatting at her hand.
"Y/N," John warned her.
"He's just scared." She told him as she pushed the bowl closer to the cat. The cat sniffed as it caught a whiff of the food. She shut the door to the cage and sat back on her knees, watching him intently.
He kept his eyes on her as he ate quickly, mewling with every bite. Once he was done he went back to the corner of the crate and laid back down.
Y/N's heart broke as she watched him. She couldn't help but wonder if this poor creature had ever known love.
Days passed and little by little Y/N had managed to worm her way into the cat's heart. She had several scratches on her hands and a bite mark or two, but she didn't let it deter her. Instead, it made her want to work harder.
"Clover," she sang softly, opening the door to his crate. She placed his bowl of food outside the cage and sat beside it, watching as he slowly emerged. He looked around the room, spotting the litter box Y/N had put just off to the side. "Come on, buddy," she encouraged him gently.
She pushed the bowl just a bit closer to him, hoping to entice him. Wary, he inched closer, his eyes never leaving her. He bent down and began to lap up the food. Y/N held back the noise of happiness that worked its way up her throat. She bit back her smile and slowly reached out, gently stroking his back.
He startled and ran back into his crate.
"Okay, okay," Y/N cooed and held her hand up in defense. She stood quietly by the door and watched him creep back over to his food. She felt John's presence looming at her back.
"He's cross with you, isn't he?" John asked with a huff. "He hasn't looked away."
"Well, he didn't scratch or bite me this time," she reminds him with a huff of laughter. "That's a step in the right direction."
A/N: So here's the second chapter of Bodyguard. I'm excited to see where this goes, bc honestly right now I don't have everything planned out, I'm just going with the flow. Let me know what you think :)
Y/N pushed her glasses further up on the bridge of her nose, sighing as she attempted to get more comfortable in the chair she'd deemed her work-from-home space. She was pouring through the files that had been sent from her office, signing off on some of the easier cases - shots, medicines, things of the like. She had secured a fill-in veterinary student - the very top of his class - to administer the injections while she healed.
Her fingers were tapping over the keys of the laptop, her eyes never leaving the screen. She was very aware of the presence on the sofa before her, cerulean eyes scanning over her as she worked. She glanced up over the top of her screen, meeting his eyes.
"You know you don't have to stare at me the whole time," Y/N spoke, deciding the silence had gone on long enough. "I don't think I'm going to disappear if you find something else to do."
John shook his head, his hands clasped over his stomach as he sat. "Just doing my job, Miss."
Y/N suppressed a shiver, distaste for the pleasantry. "Don't call me miss, it makes me feel old."
John cocked a brow at her. "You're not old."
"I know," she replied. "But the next thing I know you'll be trying to start with ma'am. Just call me Y/N. Or Bunny."
"Okay," John relented easily. "Just doing my job, Bunny."
Y/N smiled, happy with her win. "Thank you."
They sat in silence for most of the day, the distinct sound of keys being pressed filling the room. John had finally decided to turn something on the television, a more than welcome background noise for them both. He had turned on a soccer match, something that the veterinarian had no idea about, and was thoroughly absorbed.
A deep, irritated groan filled the room and Bunny's head shot up, not expecting the sound that barreled from him. He was sitting straight up, his eyes zeroed in on the screen. "Fuckin' muppet."
"What is it?" she asked, confused by the sudden change. She glanced over at the television, trying to figure out what had happened, but it was just a bunch of players crowded around, pushing and pulling at each other. "Did someone get hurt?"
John shook his head with a sigh. "No, just a stupid call."
"Wow, you're a dedicated fan, huh?" Bunny asks, her brow furrowed. "I didn't take you for a soccer guy."
"I'm not a fan of soccer," John almost glares at her, his eyes flashing. "It's football."
"Not in America," she bites back a laugh. "Maybe across the pond."
John sighs and mumbles. "Where everything makes a little more sense."
A little while later, after the game had finished, a loud grumble came from Y/N's stomach. Her eyes widened and she looked up at John, placing her hand over the offending noise. Her cheeks burned at just how loud it had been - she hadn't realized that she'd gone all day without so much as a bite of food.
"Hungry?" John's lips curled beneath his mustache.
Y/N nodded. "Let me just get a few more cases out of the way and then I'll eat."
"Not happening," John said, authority coloring his words. "I'm here to keep you safe, can't do that if you fall over from starvation."
Y/N rolled her eyes. "I won't starve from not eating for a few hours. I've gone longer than that at work."
"Not with me," John informs her. "Your aunt is trusting me with your care. I don't take that lightly."
"Fine," she grumbled. She saved her work and closed the screen on her laptop, placing the device on the table beside her. She braced herself for the task of getting out of her seat, dread coursing through her veins as she realized it wasn't going to be easy. Her body was aching and, although not completely broken, one of her ribs had been fractured.
"Damn it," she hissed through her teeth as she raised to her full height. Tears flooded her eyes but she blinked them back, the pain slowly subsiding as she stood there. "I swear I'm not a wuss."
"Never said you were," he said, his lips pressed into a tight line. "You okay now?"
"Yeah," she told him. "It just... takes me a minute."
Slowly, she made her way into the kitchen of her apartment. She rifled through her freezer, trying to find the easiest meal she could, and grinned when she found a frozen pizza stashed in the back. She pulled it out, carefully, so as not to upset her rib more. She busied herself preheating the oven and finding her pizza pan, but the more she stood and moved the more the nagging pain in her side intensified. She was all but huffing when John came to check on her.
"Damn it, woman," he tutted behind her, a gentle hand on her lower back trying to guide her back to the living room. "Go sit down, I can make a blood pizza."
Y/N turned her neck to glare at him. "I'm perfectly capable of making it."
"More than," he agreed, his gruff voice right in her ear. "But you need to sit down and rest. Get back to normal as quickly as possible, yeah?"
The woman frowned, knowing he was right, but not wanting to admit it. She felt a twinge of defiance toward him. "If I go sit am I still allowed to work?"
John's stare was blank and he was unamused. "No. You've done enough work today. Isn't your office closed by now, anyway?"
She glanced at the clock on the stove - it was five o'clock, and her office was indeed closed. She pursed her lips but said nothing.
"Go sit down," he all but commanded her. "I'll chuck the pizza in and bring you an icepack."
"Fine," she sighed, stopping by her medicine cabinet and grabbing a bottle of ibuprofen. "Just so you know, I don't like to lose an argument," she told him.
"Neither does Kate," he told her with a grin, "but she also knows when she's wrong. Now go sit."
If she was able she would've stomped her way back to the living room, but the pain prevented her from doing so. She decided to sit on the couch, which was better for watching TV than the chair, and grabbed a pillow, pressing it against her chest to help with the ache. It wasn't long before John came into the room, an icepack in hand. He held it out to her, almost as if it were a peace offering.
"Don't put it directly on your skin," he advised her softly. "Do you have something to take your meds with?"
She shook her head no, reaching out to take the icepack. "Thank you."
"Just-"
"doing your job," she finished for him, looking up at him from her seated spot on the sofa. "It's almost like I've heard that somewhere before..."
"Cheeky," John noted as he crossed his arms over his wide chest, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "I'll be back with the pizza."
A few minutes later he strolled into the room, two plates in hand. He had cut the pizza - for a military-trained man a little haphazardly - and threw two pieces on each of their plates. He sat hers onto her lap, making sure she had a hold on it before releasing his grip. "What would you like to drink?"
"A water is fine," she said quietly, a feeling of shame settled deep in her bones. She hated being coddled. John turned to retrieve their beverages when she spoke up. "Could you bring the ranch dressing, too?"
John stopped, his back stiff. He turned his neck to see her, a barely contained look of disgust on his face. "Ranch dressing?"
"You know what ranch is, I'm sure," she said, puzzled by his reaction to her request.
He nodded, turning to face her fully. "Of course I do," he said, "but eating it on pizza?"
Y/N tapped her finger on the side of her plate. "Uh, yeah? What about it?"
"It's a crime," he told her seriously. "A crime against food."
A laugh bubbled from her lips, pain exploding through her torso. She gasped and pressed the pillow tighter against her, "Ow, ow..."
John watched her silently, his hands coming out to steady her. "You alright?"
She nodded. "I'm okay."
"All this over some dressing," he mumbled, his hands still on her upper arms.
Y/N glanced up at him through her lashes, the pain slowly ebbing. "You have no idea what you're missing."
"Fuckin' Americans," he mumbled under his breath, but still loud enough for her to hear, and then straightened his back and disappeared into the kitchen. They ate in silence, watching reruns on the television as they shared their first meal together. John grimaced a bit when she dipped her pizza in the white dressing and took a large bite of it. She chewed it with the beginning of a smile, noticing him watching her eat.
"Don't judge me," she said around her bite of food. "It's so good."
John shook his head. "I'll take your word for it."
"Try it," she encouraged him, holding her plate out to him to dip his slice. "It'll change your life."
He pulled his plate away from her, protecting his food from hers. "I'm good, thanks."
"C'mon," she pressured. "One bite and I'll shut up."
He shook his head. "I've gone my whole life without having it, I think I'll pass."
"A life without ranch," she mused. "What a sad existence."
He shook his head and went back to watching the television as she continued to happily eat her ranch-covered pizza. Once they had finished and John had taken the plates to the sink they simply sat and relaxed. Y/N was curled against one side of the sofa while John sat on the opposite side, his legs spread wide. It was comfortable, Y/N realized, having someone here with her. She didn't think she'd warm up to him this quickly, but she saw what her aunt liked about the Captain.
"So how long have you known Aunt Kate?" Y/N asked suddenly, her curiosity taking over. "She's never really said a lot about you."
John looked over at her, studying her question. "A long time."
"Wow," she said sarcastically, "such an enlightening answer."
John sighed and looked to be thinking about whether he should tell her or not. "It's been over ten years, at least."
"Ten years," Y/N repeated. She was quiet for a beat and then asked, "So how old are you?"
"Old enough," he answered simply. "Why does it make any difference?"
"Because I want to know," she said, tampering down the urge to throw something at him. "Do you ever give a straight answer?"
John smirked and shrugged. "When the situation calls for it."
"That's really annoying," Y/N pointed out. "That's fine, I'll just guess, then. I like guessing games." She hummed as she thought, looking over him. He had flecks of gray at his temples, but his face gave nothing away. "I'm going to say that...you aren't forty yet?"
"That isn't a guess," he chuckled, "that's another question."
"Don't be like that," she groaned. "I'll tell you my age if you tell me yours."
"I already know your age," he told her simply. "Your aunt told me the basics before I came."
"Fine," she huffed, rolling her eyes at him. "Be boring."
John fought back a smile, but he softened under her agitated gaze. "I'm not yet forty."
Y/N gave him a blinding grin, her eyes crinkling. "See, now that wasn't so hard was it?"
An amused hum left him, and he shook his head. "No, but it's so fun to watch you get angry."
She opened her mouth to retort, but a shrill ring from her cellphone cut her off. She dug it out of her pocket as gently as she could and looked at the screen. "It's Aunt Kate."
Before answering the video call she straightened her hair and wiped her mouth, making sure she'd gotten all remnants of pizza off her face.
"Hey Kate," she greeted, fighting the urge to flinch as she saw the bruising on her face.
"Bunny," Kate replied, seated in her office. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling better," Y/N smiled softly, touched by her aunt's concern. "I managed to squeeze in a little work today."
"Don't overdo it, you're supposed to be resting," Kate warned her seriously. "Is everything going okay with John?"
John eyed the phone at the mention of his name. "Everything's fine, Laswell."
"Good to hear," Kate replied. "I'm glad everything is going smoothly."
Y/N took a deep breath, not wanting to ask but needing an answer at the same time. "Have you found out anything about the men who attacked me?"
"Not yet," Kate told her. "Just give me time, Bunny. I will find them."
Y/N's heart beat rapidly, she felt it in every nerve in her body. She swallowed down her anxiety and gave her aunt a small, forced smile. "I know you will."
"I'll call you back when I get more news," Kate assured her. "Get some rest, okay?"
Y/N promised and disconnected the call. She stared at her phone, her mind racing - she had made a conscious effort not to think about the violence that had been inflicted on her just a day prior, trying to push it from her mind completely. She didn't want to live in fear, and while it hadn't been easy she'd managed.
Work and the man beside her had kept her thoughts busy, but now...
"What's going on in that head of yours, eh?" John asked her, genuinely curious. "You haven't been this quiet all evening."
She sighed, picking at her cuticles. "Just thinking."
"Vague answer," he replied.
She looked at him through the corner of her eye. "Like you have any room to talk."
"Touche," John smiled at her. "Really, what are you thinking?"
"I just hope we get them," she admitted quietly. "I don't like feeling vulnerable. Scared in my own home, scared to go to work."
"That's why I'm here," John said, his eyes softening. "I won't let them hurt you, not again."
A/N: Call of Duty brain rot has set in lolol I hope y'all enjoy it! Let me know what you think!
Y/N was a simple woman, or so she liked to think. She went to work, back to her apartment, and sometimes she'd hit the gym. She was what most people would call bland, a wet blanket. Boring.
She was single, with no kids, and no man in her life - it was lonely sometimes, sure, but she liked it. It gave her time to focus on the thing that really meant something to her - her practice.
"Doctor Laswell, the next patient is ready for you," the nurse called into her office.
Y/N rose from her chair, glancing over the chart in her hand before she entered the room with a small smile. "Hello, how are you guys today?"
The young couple looked from the young puppy in the woman's lap and then back to the doctor. "We're doing okay, just here to get Bella's shots up to date."
Taking the squirmy little thing from her owner, Y/N cuddled it to her chest, chuckling when it gave her a few sloppy kisses on her cheek. "You're so sweet, aren't you, girl."
Y/N loved her job. She had always had a knack for taking care of animals - for the most part, all they wanted was a warm place to sleep, some good food, and love. They were simple, easy to read, and never meant you harm unless you gave them a reason - they were with you for life, unwavering and full of devotion.
Y/N quickly administered the medication to the puppy, rubbing the sore spot down with her gloved fingers gently. "You're so brave, Bella. Such a good girl," she cooed.
Giving the nurse the puppy's record to update, Y/N turned and handed the dog back to her owners. "Okay, you're good to go for now. Just stop by the ladies at reception to make sure you get the appointment set up for her final round of shots, okay?"
The rest of the day went by in a blur, animal after animal treated, and, as much as Y/N enjoyed her job, she was ready to get home to her warm bubble bath. She washed her hands and bid her staff goodbye as they filed out one by one until she was the only person left in the office. She turned the lights off, making sure everything was as it should be before she locked the door and walked to her car.
She unlocked her car before she got to it, ready to sit down and give her aching feet a rest. She reached out to open the door when she felt something hard hit her across the side of her head. She fell to her knees, her vision blurring as she crashed to the ground. Her palms and knees burned as the asphalt scraped away the skin. She blinked quickly, trying to clear her sight.
"Laswell?" The man asked from above her, his voice almost a growl. When she didn't answer he grabbed a handful of her hair, pulling her face to look at him. "Are you Y/N Laswell?"
Y/N gasped, pain shooting through her head. "Yes, yes, that's me."
Her sight finally cleared and she struggled to sit up, seeing two large men with masks covering their faces. One had a gun while the other continued to land hit after hit to her, her body, her face, anywhere he could. She was crying now, her arms covering her face as she tried to protect herself as best she could.
"Tell that bitch to make it right," the man sneered at her. "Or you're dead."
She was left in the parking lot by herself, blood coming from the cut on her head and her lip. She dug desperately in her purse, finding her phone and pulling it out with shaking hands. She was still crying, tears mixing with the blood that dripped onto her scrubs.
"Laswell," her aunt's voice came from the other end of the line. "Hello?"
Y/N sobbed into the receiver. "Aunt Kate?"
"What's wrong," Kate asked instantly, her voice tight. "Bunny?"
"There were these men," Y/N explained the situation as best she could through her panic. "Can you call an ambulance to the office? I don't think I can drive."
"They're on the way, Bunny, just stay where you are," Kate told her. "I'm on my way to you. I'll see you in a bit."
A few hours later, Y/N and Kate had finally been reunited in the emergency department of the hospital. Y/N was cleared to go home as soon as the bags of antibiotics and fluid were gone - just as a precaution, they told her. They had given her an injection for pain, but still, she found her head throbbing with every movement.
"Okay," Kate mumbled under her breath, pacing from one end of the room to the other. It seemed like time was in an endless loop - Kate would stop to ask questions, jot them down on a notepad, grumble to herself, and then go back to pacing. At times Y/N could've sworn she could see the older woman looking at her, her eyes filling with tears before she would excuse herself into another room.
Y/N frowned, watching Kate's back disappear into the tiny bathroom once again. She wanted to follow her, to check on her, but the pounding in her head kept her seated. Slowly, she brought the ice pack back up and pressed it against the offending pain, grimacing when the ice pack made contact with the bruise surrounding her eye. The television was on in the background, the volume whisper-low, but she paid it no attention.
It wasn't long before Kate came back out, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. She gave her niece a small, tight-lipped smile. "Allergies."
"Aunt Kate, please you need to sit down and stop worrying. You're going to raise your blood pressure." Kate still paced the length of the room, just a little bit slower. Y/N tried to cut the tension with a joke, "Or walk a hole in the floor. They probably wouldn't appreciate that..."
Kate didn't fall for it and, instead, she came over and surveyed the damage to her niece's face with a grimace. Gently, she turned her face from one side to the other, her fingers grasping her chin. "Oh Bunny," she whispered.
"I'm okay," Y/N tried to soothe her. "Kate, I'm okay."
Kate almost glared at her, no true malice for her niece, purely frustration at the circumstance. "You're telling me that you're not in pain right now?"
"It'll heal," she said softly. "Come on, you've been waiting on me hand and foot since you got here. I haven't seen you in almost a year and I've missed you."
"Oh, Bunny, you know I've missed you too," Kate's eyes softened slightly and she nodded, sitting on the bed beside her. "Okay. Do you need anything?"
Y/N took her hand and simply held it - something she'd done as a child that still brought her a semblance of comfort. The older woman rubbed her hand softly, her eyes trained intently on her niece. "This is enough for now."
Kate nodded and sighed. "Okay, okay."
They sat there quietly for the first time since Kate had arrived. Y/N's mind was whirling with thoughts and memories. Most from the attack, but in between the awful there were also some from when she was a child - so she chose to focus on the good ones. She peeked around the icepack and asked, "Do you remember the first time you and Rachel took me ice skating?"
"Oh God. You were a wreck - you looked like the scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz when he first started walking." Kate laughed. The memory curled the corner of her lips - the younger woman's superpower if she had one - and she shook her head lightly. "You know, if it were up to Rachel she'd be here too - you are her favorite person."
Y/N gave her hand a small squeeze, taking her chance to change the subject. "How is Aunt Rach?"
"She's doing well," Kate admitted. "She's at an art show in New York right now."
Y/N had always been envious of her aunt's artistic ability. Sure, she could draw the basics, but Rachel's work was nothing short of beautiful. She wasn't even ten years old the first time she met Rachel. She was tall, thin, and willowy - she looked like something from another planet to Y/N. She was gorgeous. That day she took the time to show Y/N how to draw a rose - something the younger girl kept close to her heart for years to come.
"She's talented and she knows it," Y/N said fondly. "I miss her."
Kate agreed, a flash of pride in her eyes. "She would love for you to come stay with us - for as long as you'd want to. We both would."
"That's very kind," Y/N felt a surge of appreciation for her words but still disagreed. "But I'll be okay back at my apartment. Plus, I don't want to impose."
"Impose," Kate huffed with a roll of her eyes. "You live alone, you don't have any kind of protection. Your building's security is lacking. And plus, you're my favorite niece."
"I'm your only niece," Y/N sighed. She knew Kate was right, but she didn't want to place any more worry or guilt on her aunt's shoulders. She was still frightened, though. "How does Rachel stay safe while you're gone? Does she have a gun?"
Kate nodded seriously. "Yes, she does. She carries it in her purse, with a concealed carry permit, of course. I taught her how to shoot when we first started dating, just in case."
"Of course you did," Y/N smiled as best she could, wincing when her split lip seared with pain. "So do you think I should get one, too?"
Again, Kate nodded. "You know my stance on that. However..."
Y/N raised a brow. "What?"
"I think I may have a solution," Kate admitted. "You aren't going to like it, but remember, this would be temporary. Just until I know I have the people who did this to you."
Y/N was curious, sure, but she also knew she likely wasn't going to like what Kate had to offer. She waited, watching as the wheels in her aunt's brilliant mind spun, slowly clicking the puzzle pieces together. She pulled out her phone, tapped some buttons, and finally looked genuinely relieved since the first time she'd arrived. "It's damn near perfect."
"What are you thinking," Y/N questioned. "You look like you've solved world hunger."
"I have someone coming to keep a watch on you," Kate told her. "He'll be the one with the gun, so you don't have to worry about that. He'll stay with you until we get these bastards. Until you're safe."
"Are you talking about a bodyguard?" Y/N furrowed her brows. "Kate, c'mon. I don't think that's necessary-"
Kate cut her off. "I have just the person in mind. I've worked with him for a long time, completely trust him. He's top of the line, Bunny."
"Do I have a choice," Y/N asked softly, the answer already known.
Kate, again, gave her a small smile. "No."
That evening, after she was released from the hospital, Kate helped her back to her apartment. She was scuttling around from one window to another, checking the locks as Y/N was nestled in her chair, her body still aching. She had a tablet in her hands, reading over some of the charts of her patients. She couldn't be at work until she was fully cleared, but she still accepted the simpler cases so people wouldn't have to go to the next town over to keep their animals healthy.
"You should be resting," Kate chirped from the doorway of the kitchen. "But because I know you aren't going to listen I brought you a cup of coffee and a bagel."
Y/N gave her aunt a small smile and thanked her with a nod, taking the cup from her hands. Kate lay the plate with the bagel on the table beside her. "I wonder where I get that stubborn quality from?" Y/N joked.
"Watch yourself, smart-ass," Kate chuckled, shaking her head lightly. "But seriously, don't overdo it, kiddo. I know you want things to stay relatively normal, but you still need to take it easy, okay?"
The younger woman nodded. "I promise."
A knock at the door shattered the silence and Y/N gasped and looked to her aunt. Kate stood, her hand by her gun on her side, and walked toward the door. She glanced out of the peephole and lowered her shoulders, her hand moving from her gun to the doorknob. She opened the door and stepped outside, her voice met by another deeper one.
Y/N strained her ears to hear the conversation outside, but couldn't make out any distinct words. Kate's comfort with the person on the other side calmed her worry, so she sat back and took a bite of her bagel. When she heard two sets of footsteps enter her apartment she pretended like she didn't notice, too absorbed in her work, but in reality, she was hyper-aware of the large figure shadowing her aunt.
"Bunny," Kate's called, breaking the silence. "This is John, he's a friend of mine and a damn good soldier. He's going to be watching over you until we're sure that you're safe."
Y/N glanced up from her work at Kate before her eyes shifted over to the large man behind her. Y/N gave him a tight grin, rightfully nervous about having him in her home. He was a stranger, after all, even if Kate did vouch for him. And she knew Kate was only able to stay for a few more hours - with her important work and all.
John gave her a quick nod, his hands in his pockets. "Nice to meet you, Y/N."
"Thank you for your help, John," Y/N said quietly.
John gave her a wink and it was then she noticed how absolutely blue his eyes were. "Your aunt's told me a lot about you."
Y/N smiled at him. "I wish I could say I've heard a lot about you, but Kate keeps me in the dark about most things."
John chuckled. "Sounds about right."
"Anyway," Kate cut their conversation. "The arrangement is simple - John stays with you as much as possible. Of course, you're allowed your personal space, but he needs to be within arms reach of you if you're out. And always in the apartment with you."
Y/N opened her mouth as if to say something, but her aunt held up a finger, signaling that she wasn't finished speaking. "I've spoken to the landlord of your office, Bunny. As soon as you're cleared you can go back to work, but John will be there with you."
Y/N raised a brow. "Don't you think a random guy, no offense, John, just standing in the corner of my office is going to weird out some of my patients? Make them uncomfortable?"
Kate shrugged her shoulders and frowned. "I don't care about their feelings, Bunny. I care about you staying alive."
"It's my job, Aunt Kate," Y/N sighed.
Kate nodded, coming to sit on the arm of her chair. "I understand that, but your life is more important."
Y/N bit back a retort after seeing the look on her aunt's face - she'd seen that look plenty of times and she knew no one had ever won a battle against it. She sank back against the cushions of the chair, her arms crossed over her chest like a petulant child. "Fine."
Kate squared her shoulders, a grin curling her lips. "I'm glad to see you're taking this well."
"This is well?" John piped up quietly behind her.
Kate turned slightly. "This is her being easy. You've got your work cut out for you with this one, John."
John sighed. "I've taken down entire platoons of highly trained soldiers, Kate. I think I can handle a little woman."
Kate chuckled. "You've only just met Bunny. Don't underestimate her."
"Underestimate a Laswell," John murmured with a smirk. "Never."
Okay, I know I've been gone a while, but my brain has been stirring around and I've had some ideas hit, soooooooooo
Requests are open, but I'm really only into Call of Duty right now. So I'll write for Captain Price, Ghost, Soap, Gaz and Konig.
And speaking of Konig - I've come to realize the only person I can see as his fc is Joaquin Phoenix.. like, look at his guy
The mask? Bc he's embarassed/was made fun of/doesn't feel comfortable with his scar. Maybe that's why he's so socially anxious? Idk it all just made sense in my little rat brain :}
A/N: So apparently I'm writing for Moon Knight now lol I watched it over the weekend with my daughter and we both fell in love with the character(s).
Prompt - "No, you didn't just call me 'love' you said 'my love'. That makes a huge difference."
You mixed the batter with a quick, steady rhythm, swiping a piece of hair back from your face as you worked. You'd decided to wake a little earlier than normal to prepare a special breakfast - something you'd planned on doing the first time Steven stayed over - and you knew that he had a sweet tooth, so pancakes were the obvious option.
You peeked up and found him hovering by the counter, his attention dancing between you and the mirror that was on the back wall - conversing with Marc, you'd imagined.
"Penny for your thoughts," you said gently. "You look like you're thinking a little too hard."
"I'm just observing," he shrugged as he moved toward you. He wrapped his arms around your middle, leaning his chin on your shoulder, watching as you poured the batter onto the griddle in circles.
You could smell the scent of your soap he'd used not half an hour before, mixed with something that was uniquely him.
You leaned back against his chest, closing your eyes and soaking into the warmth he offered. "Observing what exactly?"
"You. Just you, my love." As soon as the words left his mouth your eyes flew open. The gasp you let out startled Steven enough to release you and turn you around to search for injury. "What? What's happened?"
"What did you say?" your words came out quick, you realized by the shocked look on his face. "Just then, what did you say?"
"That I was observing you?" he furrowed his brows when you shook your head. "What was it then? Love? Do you not want me to call you love?"
You shook your head again, your lips curling a bit at the corners. "No, you didn't just call me 'love' you said 'my love'. That makes a huge difference."
Steven winced and ducked his head a bit, but maintained eye contact. "A good difference or a bad one?"
You pulled him back toward you with the front of his shirt, a beaming smile on your face. You quickly pecked his lips, heart fluttering in your chest as he chased after you, as he always did, never quite ready to let you go.
Are you the one who wrote that Nacho oneshot where somehow Hector found out about reader and made her watch Nacho work and if you're not do you know who DID because I swear that thing has vanished off the internet but I kinda thought it was you
Hey, darlin! I didn't write it, and I unfortunately have no idea who wrote it either! :( Maybe one of my followers may be able to help you out?
ALSO, I haven't had much inspo for the Better Call Saul universe as of late (I never finished it lol) but maybe one day I'll be able to pick back up where I left off! <3
Steve takes cuddling very seriously. Spending time with you without the kids is very rare so when it's just the two of you he makes the most of it. Be prepared for all the kisses. He sprinkles them along your jaw, your nose, your forehead, your eyelids, and finally a sweet peck on your lips. This man is full of love and he's willing to give you the world as long as you stay in his arms for just a few more minutes.
Eddie is a big fan of cuddling. His favorite way to keep you close to him is for you to be pressed against him as fully as possible. He'll hook his leg around your hip and of course, you use his bicep as a pillow. He stares at you with his big expressive eyes and just very blatantly tells you there's no other place he'd rather be. He is a very sweet guy, so he's 100% going to be whispering how special you are to him the whole time. Honestly, I think it's a given that you'd eventually get a song written in your honor. You are his muse.
Hopper is a giant softie (buried beneath his badge, of course), but he's also kinda timid when it comes to love. He was married so he knows how to be a romantic guy, for sure. But it's been a long time and the flings in between didn't mean much to him. When it comes to you he wants to do everything right, because it's what you deserve. He doesn't want to make you uncomfortable, so he waits for you to initiate the moment. Once he's confident in your comfort he's all about the cuddles. He is the big spoon most of the time, complaining that it feels like he's wearing a backpack when he's the little spoon (he'd rather face all the demodogs at once than have to admit that he enjoyed it down to his very core). His favorite position to cuddle is for him to be wrapped fully around your back, his arms pulling you snugly against his chest. Protective, intimate and so very relaxing.
It takes Billy the longest to get comfortable with cuddling. He likes the physicality of love, sure, but when it comes to cuddling he doesn't really know what's comfortable for his partner. We all know that Billy is a ladies man- he's had more girls than he cares to admit, but he's also a loner - emotionally he's closed off. It takes time and a lot of his type of comfort first (lots and lots of sexy time) but once you have him in your arms he melts against you completely. I feel like the intimacy of it would just have him so soft. He loves to lay his head on your chest, listening to your breathing, your heartbeat. You.
I hope you are doing ok :( and I really love the Nacho and Sarah fanfic pls keep writing it 😭😭😭
Hey darlin! I’m doing okay for now ☺️ the rain is supposed to start back up for the next little bit starting tomorrow but we’re all crossing our fingers it’ll just be showers and not the crazy downpour we had a little while ago.
And thank you so much!!! I haven’t been in the best mental place as of late, but I really want to start writing more! ♥️
hey can I request number 46 with Nacho from Better Call Saul? Maybe Reader found a way to get him out without him or his dad dying and it's a touching reunion? I think we all need this after 6x03 lol.
Hi bby ♥️♥️ I’m actually going to make my nacho fic Tip a fix-it fic bc 6x03 broke my heart lolol I was full on sobbing let me tell you.
Our boy will have his happy ending, don’t you worry!! And I’ll even try to work the sweet lil kiss in too 🥰
