#joe fic

[bluetimeombre]

To be loved, to be known

SHE LIVES! I've been away, cut some bitches some slack but tell a friend to tell a friend she's back!!!! at least for now, I can't make any promises but thank you for the support and love!!! I write what I'm obsessed with and sadly i've just been so busy but I was clearing out my drafts and found this. I HOPE YOU LIKE

'Who doesn't love kittens?' said Natalia. 'You, you don't like kittens?' she said, looking toward you.

You sat between Maya and your boyfriend Joe, the four of you sitting, waiting for kittens to come bouncing in, supplied by Buzzfeed. 'I don't not like kittens.'

Joe was looking at you, a knee pulled up to his chest. 'You're a dog person.'

'Kittens are nice,' you said.

'But you prefer dogs?' says Joe, as if he doesn't already know the answer. As if he hasn't been begging to share a dog with you like some kind or parent trap thing.

'I do- I do prefer dogs.'

Joe looked ahead, sort of to the camera and crew with a proud tilt of his lips as if proving a point.

'I mean hey, kittens are kittens, they're great-' you carried on, jumping on your own defence as you watched Natalia watch you try to get out of it. 'But I'm just, I never-'

'You've never had a cat?' asked Joe, confirming it.

You shake your head. 'Never had a cat.'

'You're a dog person,' said Joe.

'Yeah!'

Slowly the kittens started to be introduced into the set, the four of you distracted by their cuteness as they occupied the room in fur and meows but Joe had looked to the crew, almost past the camera's, reinforcing the fact you were, indeed, not a cat person.

His smile was bright and all knowing. 'She's such a dog person.'

But for the whole interview Joe watched you play with kittens and even as one climbed up his own lap and started nipping at his skin.

'They're tiny, oh my god they're so small,' Maya cooed as the kittens got closer to them.

After the kittens were situated the questions started rolling in. Questions like what props did you steal from set?

'I didn't steal anything,' you admitted while holding a kitten close to your chest.

Joe's neck snapped toward you. 'What, yes you did!'

You looked over at him, the camera's zoomed on your confusion. 'What, no I didn't. Did I?'

'Yeah, we- you took like, loads of clothes,' he chuckled, jogging your own memory as he fed his favoured kitten a finger to chew on.

Charlie was down the other end, laughing at the pair of you.

'Wh- oh yeah but that wasn't stealing, not really, they let us in,' you looked from Joe to the camera's, going back and forth between the two as you told the story. 'There's like this massive warehouse of costumes and clothes and stuff and toward the end they let us go in and basically go shopping.'

'Yeah that's what I meant,' said Joe.

'But that's not stealing, they let us,' you said, sharing a knowing smile with him, until Joe jerked, lifting his arm with the cats teeth sunk in.

'What- oh, this cat's just eating me!'

'So I've kind of grown up with Stranger things, since I was sixteen,' said the lady interviewing you as you sat between Joe and Charlie, Natalia on the other end. 'So I was wondering what's something you guys have felt like you've grown up with?'

'That's a good question,' said Joe, head leant on his hand while his other arm was thrown over the back of the couch, occasionally falling on your shoulder.

There was a pink care bare sat in your lap, one that Joe had put there and smiled at.

'Probably, like, Harry Potter,' said Natalia.

Charlie nodded. 'Yeah, we were like, what? Ten-nine.'

'Yeah kinda similar age to them,' said Natalia.

Joe gestured between the two of you, you and Natalia. 'You guys, didn't you do a Harry Potter re-watch not to long ago?'

You grinned at him and the fact he remembered when him and Charlie had been doing up his garden in Atlanta while you and Natalia had found a channel that played all Harry Potter movies.

Natalia smiled. 'Yeah, we did.'

'We did, yeah, that was fun,' you said. 'I'm trying to think... what else we grew up with?'

'Maybe like- band wise- the Arctic Monkeys for me,' said Charlie, looking to you for confirmation. 'We talked about that.'

'We did, yeah, I love them,' you agreed.

'Sort of discovering them from the years twelve to like... seventeen and just being- woah. And their haircuts to! Always trying to copy it.'

'That's like a canon event, discovering them,' said the interviewer.

'Yeah really is,' you nodded.

'For me I was like that but with the Strokes,' said Joe.

Your body instantly curled into his, sharing a knowing grin. 'You're such a Strokes guy.'

He chuckled, eyes brightening with yours. 'I am. I know.'

'Ok, let's call,' said Gaten as he scrolled through contacts on his phone. 'Let's phone y/n, but lets do it on your phone.'

Joe almost wondered why but didn't question it. He got his phone out to accommodate to the sitting or standing game they were playing on Radio one. To be honest, he was looking at any excuse to get to talk to you- especially when he knew the both of you were on your own press.

'y/n, lovely, lovely, do we think sitting or standing?' asked Greg, the host of the radio.

'I think standing,' said Gaten.

Joe shook his head slightly as he got up your number, staring at the picture he had of you and the heart next to the name 'baby'.

'What's the picture?' asked Gaten, peeking over his shoulder.

Joe tilted it to him and Gaten smiled. It was 0.5 you begged him to take of you only for you to set it as his own background picture of your contact name. It was taken in Boston and in the back was a reflective window where the camera caught Joe and his smile.

Gaten shook his head with affection. 'Adorable.'

'Okay so you're saying standing,' Greg affirmed with Gaten. 'And Joe- you're saying sitting.'

'I'm saying sitting-I feel bad for saying sitting, like I'm calling people lazy. Okay, let's call.'

Joe pressed your name and waited, setting the phone down.

It rang, though Joe knew you might just be in press with Charlie, doing interviews and all things like he was.

'It's very revealing this game,' said Gaten with a chuckle as they waited.

You answered. 'I was just talking about you.'

Though it was radio the camera's around the two picked up on the blush that sprung to Joe's cheeks.

'Oh well thank you, but I need to ask you something. Okay? Are you sitting or standing?'

There was a pause and a laugh on the other end that had Joe smiling brightly.

'Is there a right answer to this?' you teased.

'No,' he laughed.

'Then I am sitting.'

'No!' Gaten yelled, throwing his headphones off.

Joe slid his sunglasses on in triumph as Greg celebrated. 'Thanks, baby.'

Gaten loomed over Joe's phone. 'y/n, how could you?'

There was a chuckle. 'Hey Gaten, how you doing?'

'I'm good, how are you?' he asked casually as if he wasn't just throwing a fit. 'Your boyfriend got it right, how is that fair?'

'I dunno, ask him.'

'Hello, y/n, you're on the bbc one radio show, how are you? what are you up to?' asked Greg.

'Oh hi, I wondered why I was asked if I was sitting or standing?' you joked causing them to laugh. 'I'm good, I've been in press but Charlie, Natalia and I are on a break right now, by the way, Joe you need to be here in like ten minutes.'

Joe went from laughing to confused. 'Wait- what?'

'Obviously music is a big part of the show, we love it, a very big moment was when Kate Bush got back up to number one obviously through her song in the show,' said the gentleman interviewing you, Joe, Charlie, Natalia and Jaimie. 'So the question is what song would each of you have to chose to save you from Vecna.'

'Yeah, pick carefully guys,' Jaimie joked, eagerly awaiting your answers.

You turned to him from your spot on the sofa next to Joe, the two of you having it to yourself. 'I feel you, Joanna-'

'Oh fuck off.'

The room chuckled as you smiled like a winner at Joe.

'That's a good question,' said Joe, throwing his arm around the back of the shoulder and resting into you. He spoke to you, the mic held up to him. 'Cause it's a song you'd have to listen to over and over again so you gotta take that into account- I know what yours would be.'

You rose your brows. 'You know what mine would be? I don't even know what mine would be, what is it?'

Joe answered with the rest of the cast. 'ABBA'

'Oh yeah,' you laughed, your body on instinct leaning into him.

'What do you mean you don't know?' Joe teased, wild with laughter. 'It's your favourite.'

'It is, it is.'

'Mine would probably be ABBA too,' said Natalia.

The two of you faced each other.

'But which one forever?'

'Chiquita? Perhaps?' Joe teased for Natalia before he faced you again, a hand on your knee. 'You love, what's the one you love?'

You thought. 'I love all of them.'

'Is it Knowing me, knowing you?' he asked.

'Yeah- that probably would be my favourite, woah,' you looked at Joe who simply shrugged his shoulders in success. 'You know me better than I know myself.'

'Someone just got brownie points,' joked the interviewer.

You and Joe laughed as Joe made a motion to fist bump the air at his so called 'points'.

Joe settled further into the sofa, looking at you with a small bite to his lips and waiting. 'What do you think mine would be? C'mon I wanna know, what do you think?'

'Oh god,' you groaned, leaning back and slightly into him. 'I dunno, you like so much. Can I not just say like, one of your own songs?'

Joe shook his head with a love sick grin. 'Listen to myself for the rest of my life, god no.'

His reaction got a laugh from the cast.

You were still thinking. 'I mean- I wanna say- cause we were just talking about it, something from the Strokes?'

Joe then had to think about it, all the while you teased him about the question not being as easy as first thought. 'Yeah, probably-'

'Or Springsteen. You're a Bruce kinda guy,' you added.

'Yeah,' he agreed, slowly nodding his head and watching you. With a look like that it seemed Joe would have gone with whatever you would have said.

And the rest of the cast knew it to.

' So what are your guys favourite British snack?' Claire Rowden, the interviewer asked.

She was sitting in front of Georgina Campbell, a British lady and Joe Keery who, though while not British had a British girlfriend of three years. It was only right he be tried as an honouree brit. He could have a cup of tea before he went to bed, he could complain about the weather and had watched all episodes of Gavin and Stacey at your insistence.

But his favourite Brit snack? He was trying to come up with an answer you'd be proud of.

' Well tea cakes are different in America than they are here,' said Georgina while Joe nodded in agreement. ' Are you talking about the tea cake that's like currents and a bun?'

' Yes, but there's also the teacakes with chocolate and marshmellow.'

' Oh yeah, there is a chocolate and a marshmallow.'

Joe continued to nod like he knew either of those things. He tried to think back to your London house and what he could find in there. His mind running a blank.

' Is that what it is here?'

' No,' said Joe. ' I think for in the States, people are niave to teacakes, people don't really know what they are.'

His co-star peered at him. ' Do you know what they are?'

' I'm speaking for myself here,' he said, laughing with Georgina. ' My girlfriend's gonna kill me, let's move to a- something I might know!'

' Something else, please!'

Joe tried to think, knowing you would see this and say you haven't done your job as his brit girlfriend well enough. ' No, what are those British little cookies- she always has them- name some of them off,' he begged.

' Like a bourbon?'

' No.'

' Jammy dodger?'

' No, not that one.'

' Custard Cream?'

Joe lit up. ' That one! I've had that, my girlfriend, she loves them, yeah. Those are great.'

' What about a Percy Pig?' asked Claire.

' I love Percy Pigs,' said Georgina. ' I brought some back actually for a friend over here and she didn't like them!'

' Wait a second, I know these, I know these. These are those Marks things right?' asked Joe, using every trick in his book.

Georgina looked to him, astounded for a moment. ' Oh my god, I love that you call it Marks.'

Joe laughed at himself. ' That's what it is, right? Marks, or is it Sparks?' he asked.

' I love this,' said their interviewer, admiring his British slang and knowledge. ' Marks and Spencers, yes!'

' Marks and Spencers, that's it,' he said with a click of his fingers. ' I do know- I do know Percy pigs but we are a Colin kinda household.'

Georgina nodded. ' Y/n runs a tight ship.'

Joe chuckled. ' Tight ship, tight ship.'

Some the pitt fics might be coming soon...

[caracaracobra]

Infestation (Part 1)

Stuff’s been going missing around COBRA HQ, and it looks like one of the organization’s newest— and most reclusive— operatives is to blame.

(Skitter belongs to me, Two-Step belongs to @peachy-wafflez, everyone else belongs to my other RPG buddies! I’ll add their credits once I know everyone’s usernames.)

I don’t get paid enough for this.

Dennis finally lifted his gaze from the newspaper, glaring none-too-nicely at the three Vipers invading his office. One Alley, one standard, and one Crimson. Delightful.

“So… you think someone stole your shit— why is that my problem? Just take the complaint to your officer.”

The standard Viper slipped their helmet off— Leonard, a first-year. Dennis had seen him around the break rooms once or twice, but they hadn’t spoken before; the most Dennis had ever noticed about him was that his shirt was always wrinkled. Even now, it looked like he’d pulled it from the back of his dresser and thrown it on last minute. Dennis’ frown deepened, and the Viper flinched.

“Not just someone, the new ninja! And we already tried to tell Brigsby. She’s never met them, she just thinks one of us is doing it as a prank. Last night they raided the supply locker and stole her goggles, now she’s saying if we don’t find the culprit ourselves, she’ll send a random dozen of us to the Scorpions. I’m not joining those assholes because of that stupid ninja creep!”

The Alley Viper nodded. “We’re not the only ones either, there’s been complaints all over the COBRAChat. Which you’d know if you bothered to check it.“

Dennis turned back to his paper. This was the first he was hearing about a new ninja, but it didn’t sound like anything that was his business. “Formal complaints are supposed to go through email—“

“Ohmygod, Dennis.” The Crimson Viper threw up her hands. “We don’t need you, there’s plenty of us to deal with this. But they’ve holed up in the boiler wing and none of us have a key. Surely the Commander gave you a spare for your inspections. We’ll bring it right back—“

That caught his attention. Dennis sat the paper down on the armrest and leaned forward. “Why are they in the boiler wing?”

Leonard shrugged. “I don’t know— secret ninja ritual or something? But they’ve been hanging out in there for a while, I know the Toilet-Vipers—“

“Ahem.”

“—the janitors said they’ve caught them in there a few times. For all we know they’ve hidden a body back there somewhere. So can we borrow your key? There’s a good number of us who want a word with them.”

Dennis was already lacing up his boots. “No, none of you can go in there. The Commander wants any complaints about our… more acrobatic associates handled by administrators. The last thing we need is to piss off the Clan when they could be needed for the next mission. I’ll handle it.” He gestured at the vest hanging by the door, and the Crimson Viper tossed it his way as he reached for the helmet tucked beside his armchair. Leonard and the Alley Viper both squinted around the room as Dennis finished gearing up.

“So… how come you get a whole office?”

“I’m Springfield’s one OSHA representative— department heads get offices. A perk for making sure nobody gets killed by anything structural.”

The Alley Viper was now reviewing a small sign posted beside Dennis’ computer. “But ‘incidental injury from mutagenic compounds, incendiary devices, weaponry, or any and all actions associated with COBRA military forces’ are… ‘exempt from coverage?’”

“It was in the fine print, man. I can help if a building falls on you— it’s not my job if you get stabbed or something. That’s under the officers.” Dennis was still working on his helmet- the hard hat was supposed to click into a slot on the main mask, but sometimes it took a bit more elbow grease… click! Finally. He shooed the other three towards the door, eager to get them out before someone moved something. “Alright, alright, everyone out. Let’s go see if we can get everything back without getting the Commander involved.”

***

In all honesty, Dennis had expected the Vipers to be fibbing.

Maybe not outright lying, but he’d been sure they’d been blowing things out of proportion. It was an unfortunate consequence of having hundreds of people all living together, working together, every second of every day in the same small-but-not-really town. People butted heads and sometimes property got stolen. He’d even had to file his own complaints before (though he’d always emailed them, like a proper Viper). So he’d guessed there was probably one or two other people involved, nothing too extreme, and he’d be able to retrieve everything within the hour so he could enjoy the rest of his lunch break in peace.

Instead, there was at least a dozen angry people crowded around the doors to the boiler, seemingly taking turns trying to bust the doors down. It wasn’t just Vipers either— he could see several other operatives grumbling to each other. The Commander’s bodyguard, Two-Step, was there tapping her foot beside a stranger in a white coat. The caduceus patch on their shoulder marked them as a member of the COBRA Health Corps, not one of Mindbender’s scientists; Dennis was relieved. He much preferred a doc— if Mindbender had been involved, the door probably would have been opened already, but the culprit would already be on their way to ‘disciplinary testing.’ Not even the worst of the worst deserved that.

Another stranger was leaning against the wall, rubbing her forehead. A small drone was hovering above her; it turned its camera to face him as the group approached, and the stranger looked up, revealing an insectile mask with no visible glass or eyeholes. He flinched, startled, but the drone and its owner both turned back to the door, seemingly uninterested.

“Hey, Dirt! You gonna open this door for us, or am I gonna have to ‘borrow’ your key myself?” Two-Step’s voice was light despite the threat; unlike the rest, she seemed to be at her usual level of cheery mild aggression, and she smiled as he walked up to her. “I’ve got a ninja that needs a wallopin,’ apparently—“

“No! No ‘walloping…’ god.” The doctor shook their head, then nodded to Dennis. “Ignore her, please. I’m MedKit, and that’s one of the Corps’ patients in there. They weren’t supposed to leave their room this early, but someone left their door unlocked… anyways, they’ll be an operative once they’re well. I know they haven’t exactly been making friends, but I’m under strict orders to return them to the medical bay in one piece.“

Dennis nodded, pulling out his pen and pad. The rest of the group had noticed him by now, and clustered around him as he began to take notes.

“Alright, I need to know everything that’s been taken or your complaints so I can address them with the ninja in question…” He paused, glancing back at MedKit. “What’s their name?”

MedKit shrugged. “No idea— I’m not entirely sure they have one. Current call sign is ‘Skitter,’ though. I’ve heard it was the Commander’s choice, word in the halls is that they like bugs or something. They’re a bit… eccentric.”

“Aren’t we all. Okay, I know about the goggles, what else? No, no, one at a time—“

By the time everyone was finished, Dennis had two pages’ worth of stolen goods to recover and he was deeply regretting his choice to participate. In a matter of days, Skitter had stolen food, weaponry, clothing, honey from the hospital’s first aid, and a drone, yet nobody had managed to see them, much less catch them in the act. Their photo also hadn’t been released yet, so nobody had any idea what they looked like or how they had managed to break into restricted areas.

It was borderline shameful. Dennis tucked his pen into his pocket, shaking his head. “You all should be concerned— security this slack is a problem that could attract the Commander’s attention. Fix it, pronto. Now, Skitter’s made a grocery store of the base and we’re all out of shopping carts, so I’ll need a couple of people to come with me and help carry everything. Any volunteers?”

For a crowd who’d been so eager a moment ago, there was a shocking lack of hands. Dennis rolled his eyes. “Alright, Two-Step. At least someone’s putting their money where their mouth is… and you. Call sign?”

“Panoptes.”

“Thank you. Those drones look like they’ll be useful in case they’re in a crevice somewhere. Not sure if you guys have been in this area before, but it gets a bit tight in places. And you, MedKit— you’ve got their files and they might be hurt. You’ll be joining us. Anyone else?”

The others had all backed away, kicking their feet or paying unusually close attention to the floor and walls. Lovely. Dennis sighed and pulled out his key ring; he had a copy of every physical key in the base, the only override for when the keypads busted— or in this case, someone locked themselves in. It took him a minute to find the right one, and another second to shimmy it into the old lock and get the deadbolt turned. He let Two-Step push the door open as he put his keys back.

“Hey Dirt, where’s the light switch?”

“There’s not a switch, it’s automatic.” Dennis looked back up to find the boiler room pitch-dark, with Two-Step nearly hidden in the gloom just a few feet beyond the doorway.

“…well then the lights are busted.” After a moment, an all-too familiar ksh-flick echoed in the gloom, and a tiny flame lit up her face. Dennie bristled, storming into the dark after her as he reached for it.

“Do not use your lighter, this is the last place you’d want to do that—!”

A bright beam of light lit up the pair; Panoptes’ drone slowly flew overhead, a flashlight on its underside illuminating the surrounding room. Each room in the boiler wing was at least two stories, large enough to accommodate the maze-like tangle of pipes needed to heat the COBRA base. The drone’s light wasn’t bright enough to reveal the ceiling or far corners, but Dennis could see well enough not to trip, and to spot a small smudge of rust-red on the floor. Then another. And another, a crooked path or drops that led to a door on the right side of the room. An empty jar was caught in the frame, keeping it from shutting completely. Dennis couldn’t quite make out the words on the label, but several yellow hexagons gave him a pretty good idea of what he was looking at.

“Sorry, MedKit. I think the honey’s a lost cause.”

The others followed him over to the door as he scooped up the jar, using his boot to wedge the door open. Just as before, the lights for the hallway beyond refused to come on, but there was a very faint, red glow from a doorway deeper in. Whatever Skitter had done to the wiring, they’d spared the emergency lighting in that area; if his memory served, it held one of the main pipe lines.

MedKit leaned past him. “…that looks… promising? It’s not like they can see in the dark either.”

“Don’t be too sure… ninjas can do some weird shit.” Two-Step squinted down the hall. “I feel like I’ve played games like this before— this is the part before the jump scare.”

“There won’t be any jump scares or ‘weird ninja shit.’” Dennis sat the jar back in the frame and gestured for the drone to move ahead. Panoptes had been watching them all, rubbing idly at one temple. Something seemed to be up with her, but he wasn’t in the mood to pry. “We’re gonna go in, ask them nicely to come back to the hospital and to give everything back, and then they’ll do that and everyone wins… Two-Step, you go first.”

She huffed, but took point as they all followed the drone into the hallway. The flashlight didn’t reveal anything of note besides a few dead roaches; Dennis made a note to tell the janitors.

“Alright, keep it quiet from here on out… maybe they’ll be sleeping or something, make our job easier…”

Back in the first room, something shifted in the shadows at the ceiling. A long, thin body rose, perched on one of the pipes that ran haphazardly across the space. It froze for a moment, watching until the door finally clinked shut against the jar, then slipped over to a nearby vent, its cover long since removed. In seconds, the figure had disappeared into the tunnel, leaving the room abandoned again as both parties headed deeper into the dark.

[mawofthemagnetar]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Another EHK fic! 

This one is fully written and will be posted one chapter at a time!

Keralis has a little shindig to try and pry the truth out of Bdubs. Grian and Joe are frantically searching for answers. 

With a clock dripping down the wall, it’s impossible to know how many minutes remain until midnight... 

[bluetimeombre]

WUTHERING HEIGHTS !

Joe sees what everyone is saying about this new Wuthering Heights film of yours, safe to say he wants to know more (language, smut but not in great detail, oral f! receiving, body worship? p in v sex)

Joe should've known better, in fact, he did but he blamed his need for 'research' through the need of missing you.

He was proud of you, so proud of your role in Wuthering Heights. He loved watching you eagerly re-read your favourite book in preparation, buying copies for him, his sisters and more for you for different annotations. He loved showing you how to shoot on film so you could take pictures of Yorkshire in the best light.

Joe loved seeing you happy.

He just sometimes wished he could be there, instead of feeding on crumbs of you through interviews.

" Isn't that so sad?" said your co-star, the handsome Jacob Elordi. It was something in relation to books and pictures snapped of him reading.

Joe wasn't sure, he was only half paying attention to anything that wasn't you.

" Can't even read in peace, or it's seen as like a performative thing."

Joe smiled at the roll of your eyes.

" Oh poor you," you joked, earning laughter from all around the room, even from people behind the camera Joe could not see. " Poor six' foot five Jacob Elordi. I have it so tough- can't even read without being drooled over."

" No, I just meant like-" But he couldn't get the words out, rendered into laughter from your 'playful' teasing.

Joe smirked, flicking through the comments. He knew he shouldn't but at the time he just wanted to see people talk about you, admire you. This was your big break by far and Joe was just excited to see others love you with only a fraction of the passion he did you.

It was full of 'she humbled him real quick's and 'she's so mother for that,'. Further down there were more. Comments about the movie, about chemistry, and about a certain scene. Something about hands over your eyes and mouth.

Admittedly Joe hadn't seen the film yet, asides from parts you'd shown him. He hadn't gone to the premier and was waiting to see the film alone.

Not because he wasn't supportive- god, he was. But because it was a film that required chemistry, needed steamy scenes and you both agreed it might work best if he saw it alone.

But he needed to know about this scene.

He dragged along the curser of the tv till the timeline bumped up enough to tell him it was a favourite of everyone's.

" There's a part in the film- or two parts really that I want to talk about. Maybe some of the most romantic parts, there's a scene where you-Jacob- cup your hands over Cathy's eyes to shield her from the rain. Was that scripted?"

" No, I just did it once in rehearsal and like all the women on set went crazy," he said.

" We swooned, it was a swoon worthy move," you added.

" But, I don't, like, get it," said Jacob, looking to you for help.

" That's cause you're a man."

The interviewer laughed. " And there's a scene as well where Heathcliff is kind of on top of Cathy, covering her eyes and mouth from something she shouldn't see- so intimate but not sex. I mean, that was rehearsed?"

" Yes, that was all rehearsed, scripted," you said. " It's a film full of such intimate moments that maybe don't always even involve sex or sexual altercations, it's important- it was important to us both that we be comfortable and understand each other."

" That scene," said the guy leading the interview. " Woah!"

Joe watched your cheeks blush and you look down to your lap while Jacob nodded like he got it.

" I mean, everyone is talking about it the-" he mimicked the hands going over the eyes, another over the mouth. " Have you seen the Tiktoks?"

" No, I don't have the Tiktok," said Jacob.

You chuckled. " The tiktok- I have seen the Tiktok's. Yeah."

" What'd you think?" asked the interviewer.

Joe watched you laugh and look toward the camera as if giving a PSA message to everyone out there.

" Keep... you know, doin what you're doing."

Jacob laughed next to you.

From then on, Joe was filled with curiosity. One he wasn't sure to fill or not. He tried to think if you'd told him about that scene, of hands over eyes and mouth but you were never to vivid in your descriptions of things like that. Through respect.

Joe didn't think of himself as a jealous lover, he'd met Jacob once at a fashion show, you watching anxiously for any signs of something off between them but you'd been happy with Joe's arm around your waist, remaining at his side the whole time.

But that didn't mean Joe wanted to watch you kiss and make fake love to another guy.

But that also didn't mean Joe wasn't intrigued by the scene, so he took to twitter and found out everything he needed to know.

djotime,

liked by.... finnwolfhardofficial, y/n, strangerthingstv, oliviadeano & 908k others

Djotime: Wuthering heights is out now, please give it some love and her, my girls worked so hard to make it beautiful like she is

view all comments

user18302237: this post just called me single in ten different languages

whatsdjodoin: OMG OMG OMG

ynlover: so we're all dying right?

djoynloverchild: I'm totally normal about this. Totally

jakejoejoe: what am i supposed to do knowing they're so in love

djogilr: they're stronger than me cause if jacob looked at me like that- girl!

ynsupertrouper: i'm obsessed with this post

ynthinksthings: i can't look away, it's been five hours

y/n: <3

When Joe had you home, all to himself, he didn't waste a second.

Your shared room was bathed in candle light, a large bouquet of flowers on your dresser, the curtains blowing in the faint wind from the open window.

You were already breathless against his lips as his fingers, nimble and steady, slowly un-worked your blouse.

" Joe," you gasped as he had it un-done, pushing it down your arms.

His lips were hot and wet, creating a path down your neck until they reached the strap of your bra. " I've missed you so much, couldn't wait-" his arm wrapped around your waist and pulled you in closer, easier access to your skin available as he dragged your bra strap down with his teeth, grazing skin and creating shivers down your spine. " Just wanted you all to myself."

Your hands crawled up his shirt, hairs twisted in his hairs along his sternum.

The both you pulled away long enough for Joe to pull his shirt over his head, your bra coming down.

" Oh-" whether it was the distance or the all consuming fact he was in love with you that had him dropping to his knees, holding your hips steady as he peppered kisses along any skin he could reach.

You giggled, the candle lights warming you. " What are you doing down there?"

Joe rested his chin on your stomach, looking up at you with bliss in his eyes and ill-intent in his hands. " I'm looking at you. I love you so much."

He took his time in peeling away your jeans, helping you step out of them before worshipping you with his tongue between your folds, his thumb circling your need.

When your legs trembled and when you were desperate he wrapped his arm around, holding you in place as you finished along his lips, proving your devotion and trust.

He stood slowly, his own need strained long and hard against his jeans but he could hardly feel his need for touch over his want for you.

Your lips and tongue met in shades of you as Joe's hands caressed your skin until he was under your thighs, hoisting you up and setting you back on the soft white sheets. He'd even sprinkled rose petals along and now he watched as you lay amongst them.

" Jesus Christ," he muttered on awe as his hands worked on his belt, pulling off the last of his clothes.

Slowly he crawled up your body, mouth taking the lead his hands followed.

He kissed you, easing your mouth to be his with his hot tongue before he pulled away. " Turn around, baby."

" What?"

Joe gently nudged you around till you were lying on your stomach, ass up for him. " Oh, Jesus baby, can't go weeks without you ever again," he uttered, his hand working over the skin of your ass.

You chuckled, happily letting him play. " Your wrist getting tired?" you teased.

Joe wasn't in the mood for teasing, unless it was him with you.

He used your arousal, spreading it over his cock as he slid into you.

Your teeth dug into your bottom lip to stop the noise of desperation easing out.

Joe saw. He didn't beg you to make a noise, he wouldn't have to-

Slowly his hand wandered around till he could feel your lips, soft and wet.

You gasped as a finger dared entrance only for a second, easing those moans out of you as he rocked his hips steady against you, into you all the way.

" Hu-" you gasped at the fullness before his mouth clamped around your mouth, muffling any noise.

Then, Joe's other hand came up and covered your eyes, gentle, but enough that you were rendered blind.

You squeezed around him, clenching him inside of you as he continued his steady rocking. He'd take his time with you tonight and the next and the next until he'd gotten himself intwined with you again, reached your scent with his and had you wanting, had him needing.

Weeks without you had been torture and he was eager to make up for it.

His thrusts continued, harder the more he sensed you enjoyed it, your fingers wrapped around his wrists, keeping his hold on you as he drove into you again and again, need driving him on.

" Fuck, I missed you so much, missed you so much," he uttered into your ear as the bed rocked and skin on skin sounded over his grunts and groans. " Oh shit, shit I'm gonna- c'mon baby, stay with me now."

It wasn't long before you were biting down on his hand, body easing in his hold as the two of you finished together.

He stayed there, hips nestled in yours as he caught his breath, his skin lit with sweat like yours in the candle light.

Slowly he took away his hands form your eyes and mouth, but you held the hand that was over your mouth close and peppered a kiss to the palm, licking over the bite you'd left.

He eased out of you and you turned over on the bed, staring up at him as he eased next to you, head in his hand and his other hand running over your stomach.

" You saw the film?" you asked, teasingly, a hand tangling in his curls that were growing less blonde by the day.

Joe nodded, eyes casting from your lips to your eyes. " You were beautiful in it."

You suddenly seemed uneasy. " And you don't, you don't mind all the scenes."

He answered with an honest shake of his head and a reassuring smile. " I know it's acting, baby, besides, now I just have a list of things for us to tick off."

Your brows raised and you looked damn right heavenly in the candles, hair spilled over the cushions, rose petals sticking to the both of you. " Oh yeah? Like what?"

Joe watched his own hand trail up to your neck, fingers wrapping around your racing pulse enough to tilt your neck back so he could lower himself there. " Why don't I just show you?"

[bluetimeombre]

HOMEWRECKER !

Reader and Joe are in a stablished very happy relationship, but I love a bit of angst so here’s the drama, she has this childhood guy best friend and they’re very close, this rubs off Joe the wrong way sometimes but he doesn’t say anything cause he don’t wanna come across as a jealous boyfriend (bless him)

But there’s this one type he can’t take it anymore, maybe it’s a party or your birthday (you decide) and this guy cross boundaries, once again, so Joe finally confronts him, but Reader is kinda naive and she’s just the type of person who doesn’t see when someone has mean intentions? So the whole thing ends up with Joe and her fighting, and even though she can’t see it, her friend is smiling cause he got what he wanted…

Then at the end of the night he tries to “comfort” her and she finally realizes what Joe has been seeing and dealing with all this time, so she goes to his place to apologize hoping it’s not too late and she hasn’t lost him. Fluff, Happy ending!! based on this request, language, sexual intents but no smut

The sun was warm against your skin, warming you more than the covers of your bed, the blankets you insisted on piling on. Yet, nothing comforted you more than the weight of the arm around you and the lips trailing down your neck.

You stirred when the lips started at your ear, kissing behind it and around before they lingered down your neck, pecking, sometimes nipping all in effort to wake you no doubt.

You moved against him, hands curling over his arm wrapped around your waist. His chest rumbled against your back, hair tickling your neck.

Joe rested his head in the crook of your neck, where small red blotches and purple and dark bruises from kisses of last night's love sat happily. "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..."

You smiled, laughing as his voice tickled you.

Joe, grinning to see you awake, ran his hands down to your hips and turned you onto your back. His hair curled down, eyes lit up, lips pink. He was still bare, the two of you falling asleep in the sheets after your 'early' birthday present. The covers slipping dangerously low on his hips.

The necklace with your initial hung between you, the silver chain teasing you.

"Happy birthday to me, indeed," you hummed, finger hooking around the chain and bringing him down to your lips.

There was no hesitation in the kiss, no gentle ease into it, Joe kissed you like he may never get the chance again. His lips slotted over yours quickly, tongue winding its way back into your mouth where it had spent most of the night.

When you were losing breath Joe pulled back, bumping his nose with yours.

"I love you," said Joe, looking down at you with eyes creased with adoration. "I love you more than I did yesterday, but not as much as I will tomorrow."

You smiled up at him. "I'm jealous of tomorrow me."

You'd always been one to cry on your birthday, but never through love. Every birthday you'd spent with Joe, he went bigger. Not in scale, but in love. In the small things.

The first year it was a large bouquet of your favourite flowers and a meal out. Nothing crazy but all you wanted.

Last year he took you on a trip to Europe.

This year you didn't care for anything but his company.

He kissed you once more before reaching down to under the bed, pulling out a small and sleek black box, handing it your way. "Your first gift."

"First?" you pushed yourself up, pulling the covers up to your chest, tucking it under your arms. "Joe, you didn't have-"

He gave you the look that was enough to quieten you as you slowly pulled the ribbon off, sliding off the lid and staring down at the necklace.

"It's to match the one you got me," he said.

It was a simple chain in the shade you always wore, a simple 'J' at the end.

"The J is my handwriting, I dunno if you can tell. And I know sometimes you want chains to be longer so I got you some different chains too, so you could... you know, wear it as much as you want, or as little, I won't be offended."

It was enough to make you cry and it was only the morning. Joe with the first letter of your name, you with his, it felt precious and beautiful and like you belonged.

"Joe, I love it, I love you, thank you." You kissed him, sweetly.

Joe smiled into it but pulled away first. "And now for the bad news."

"Oh?"

He took a deep breath, shoulders heaving with the effort. "Adam and I have booked in at the studio. I didn't realise it was today but we've been trying to get a day in for a while and it's been impossible and-"

You were tempted to let him ramble, because you loved to watch him talk but his anxiety over disappointing you only made you feel bad. "Joe-" you cut him off. "It's okay, I want you to get in the studio."

"You're sure?"

You rolled your eyes, playfully. "I'm sure, I'll just, keep myself busy, go out or something."

"Baby, I don't want you to be alone on your birthday."

"I won't," you said. "I'll call a friend or something."

There was a flicker of un-certainty in his eyes but it was gone as quick as you noticed it.

"I love you," he said again, leaning in closer. "And tonight I'll be back, seven, cook your favourite, light the place with candles and it'll all be about you. We can pick up where we left off last night?" he wet his lips, teasingly.

"Is that a promise?"

He nodded. "Oh, it's a guarantee." His tongue darted out, licking your lips before he was interrupted by the door, a hard knock there. "That'll be for you, I'm sure."

As much as you were loathed to, you rolled out of bed and threw on Joe's robe, one he got from a tour dressing room that swallowed you whole. You did the belt extra tight as you padded across the apartment, bits of you and Joe littered around, plates left dirty in the sink and wine bottles left at the kitchen counter.

The knocking was insistent.

You swung it open, the smell of roses hitting you in the face.

"Happy birthday!"

"Jack- hey!"

He crushed you in a big bear hug, the roses hitting you in the back of the head. "Happy birthday!" he said again.

Jack, one of your oldest friends, the sort of guy you always ended up back in contact with. Sure you were good friends through both your parents for the much of your younger life but you grew apart, then you kept meeting through your mutual friends, you moved to New York with Joe, choosing love and Jack got a job in the city the next year.

And it was nice to have a familiar face in the front of the big city. You loved Joe, you'd take his company over practically any other, but his friends were his friends and his sisters, his.

You liked that Jack was your friend. Though you knew Joe's friends were yours as well there was always that small voice in the back of your head that told you you didn't truly belong.

Not always.

"What are you doing here?" you asked as he strode into your place like he lived there.

"What? I can't come and wish my best friend a happy birthday?"

"You can but it's early."

He chuckled, setting the roses down on the kitchen. "It's ten. What? You sleep in?"

"Evidently."

Jack tutted, starting to fill the sink with hot water and soap. "People always sleep in on birthdays, take it easy. I like to work, you know. Treat it like every other day."

You rolled your eyes at him. Sure- he was your friend, your oldest- some might say best if you weren't counting your boyfriend. But he said things that you found easier to ignore then face. "The roses for me?"

"Of course, who else? What? Joe not get you flowers?"

There was heavy padding of footsteps and Joe appeared around the corner, grey sweat pants hanging low.

You suddenly really wished Jack hadn't shown up and that Joe didn't have the studio booked today.

Joe found Jack around by the sink. "Hey man."

Jack eyed him. "Hi."

You knew things weren't exactly great between them. You always assumed it was a dick measuring thing, though Joe was too good for that- Jack wasn't.

You fell to Joe's side, arms wrapping around his waist as his went to your shoulders, slinging there and holding you in.

"You don't have to do the dishes," said Joe in good nature.

Jack shrugged. "They were here."

"Yeah, sorry, we were supposed to-"

You nudged Joe, squeezing him. "Don't say sorry, it's our place, Jack's trespassing."

Joe smiled down at you, kissing the top of your head while Jack clattered the dishes around. Your boyfriend stilled.

"So, what are your plans today?" Jack asked over his shoulder.

"Well I actually have a free day," you said.

Jack wiped his hands on the tea towel at the side, peering at Joe. "Forgot?" he teased. You were sure it was a tease.

"Forgot I had the studio booked," Joe's hand rubbed up and down your back soothingly though you figured he was getting more upset than you were.

You really did appreciate that Joe, who hadn't seen or known Jack growing up, could put up with some of his crap just for you. His little bitchy comments or remarks that you try to ignore or laugh away. The fact he always turned up at the worst times and such.

"So, you wanna hang out? Treat me for my birthday?" you asked.

"Yeah, love to."

You smiled up at Joe, catching only his plain expression for a second before he smiled down at you. "See? Not alone."

He nodded without a smile. "Okay, okay, perfect."

The next hour of the morning was spent slowly getting ready with Joe while Jack helped himself to coffee, making you one, 'forgetting' to make Joe one.

Joe was first to go up to your room to get ready and when Jack was sat, looking from his phone to you every few seconds, you followed him up.

"Okay just don't let him ruin your day," said Joe, tugging you in closer by the belt loops of your jeans while he was sat at your vanity, watching you get ready. "Sometimes he makes these little comments and I want only smiles from you today, okay?"

"I'll send you a smile every hour."

"Half-hour."

You kissed his cheek, his recent stubble rubbing your lips.

Joe smirked. "And if you wanna send me any other pictures of yourself, you know, you in this pretty little necklace and nothing else, you know-"

You hit his bicep and squeezed it because sometimes you forgot how much you loved them.

Joe stood up, the necklace dangling from his fingers. "C'mon, turn around."

You spun your hair up, showing the back of your neck and all the other bites of love he'd left that you'd done a poor excuse of covering, maybe slightly on purpose.

The metal was cool against you as Joe made sure you were okay with where it sat before clasping it around the back of you, kissing where the clasp met at your neck.

"Hey, I'll miss you today," he said, spinning you again, hands holding yours. Where his were large, rough with years of playing guitar yours were his, beautiful and fit like a puzzle.

"I'll miss you. You know there's nobody else I'd rather spend my birthday with."

"Okay but I want you back by seven okay, no more, no later. Got a special evening of you and I planned."

You hummed again, mischief laced in your lips as you reached up to peck his. "I quite like the sound of that."

"Then you'll love doing it even more."

Joe walked into the front room, tugging on a hat and searching for his keys.

Jack sat on the sofa, scrolling on his phone, thumb going from left to right quickly and Joe was left with no guesses as to what he was doing.

"Hey," he said, walking closer, taking a seat at the edge of his chair and leaning forward, dropping his voice low to a whisper. "Listen I got a little something planned today, I need her out of the apartment all day, you think you can do that?"

Jack looked up suspiciously, an arch to his brows. "Out of the apartment?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

He had guessed he'd make it difficult, Jack often did. At first it was funny, then it got annoying and quick.

Joe didn't want to have to explain his crazy plans to him, he just needed to have his word. He actually had nothing on at the studio but he was meeting Adam to pick you up a crazy cake that had been in the works for days, balloons, banners, more presents, collect friends and family and bring them here by tonight for a party that you didn't know was happening.

A couple months ago you'd told Joe you'd never had a surprise party. He'd been scheming ever since to change that.

However, Jack was not known for his ability to keep secrets.

Joe had learnt the hard way when he'd booked a surprise trip for you and him, telling Jack because he knew you'd worry about the plethora of plants not being looked after in two weeks. Only for Jack to 'let it slip' to you about the plans. It wasn't the only example Joe had.

"Just... no reason," he shrugged.

Jack looked at him, sceptically, like he didn't trust him.

That was fine. Joe didn't much trust Jack, at least not the kind of guy he was. He'd cheated on a girlfriend or two, that much he could gather, always worse tacky suits though his job didn't call for it and the worst part was how much of an asshole he could be to you and how you let him.

'He's an old friend,' you always said but that made it all the worst.

Since the day Joe met you he felt like he'd known you forever, he learnt your likes, dislikes, the way you were happier on days when it was sunnier and he knew your coffee order within weeks.

Jack who'd got years on Joe didn't know any of that, or would 'forget'.

Before Joe could chance it and tell Jack, you entered the room with an easy smile and slinging a jacket on and Joe lost his train of thought, not that it could have been important, not if it didn't involve you.

"Did you want this jacket today, baby?" you asked.

It was one of his own jacket that of course was baggy on you but he knew that was how he liked it.

"No," Joe smiled. God, he loved to see you drown in anything that was him. "No, it looks better on you anyway."

You walked to him and he took the collar of his jacket, tugging you in close and grinning into his kiss.

"Get a room!" Jack called.

Joe had patience, his sisters and his mom always congratulated him on how much he had but it wore thin with a 'friend' waltzing in and acting like he owned the place-

You squeezed his biceps, calming him before pulling back and finding your bag that Joe left on the chair for you.

"Oh, nice necklace," said Jack. "J for me?"

Maybe Joe wasn't as good at hiding fury as he thought as you looked to him, mouthing an apology.

"J for my amazing, sweet, kind and loving boyfriend," you corrected.

God, Joe loved you.

"That doesn't start with J," he heard Jack mumble.

He really hated that friend of yours.

"I think Joe's cheating on you."

You were in a cafe, some time in the afternoon with a coffee in front of you and a half finished cake (that Jack hadn't paid for) when Jack said those words out loud.

You laughed. "What?"

Jack rubbed over his chin where he was yet to grow any facial hair. His eyes were dark and he was hunched over like he was telling you some dark secret. "Listen... I didn't wanna tell you today, your day and all but I think you deserve to know, that I'm pretty sure Joe's cheating on you."

You'd dreaded those words. The 'cheating' word. Or you thought you were scared of it, but the words left him and you didn't panic. Your heart didn't race, your brain didn't short-circuit to the worst case scenario.

Because Joe and cheating didn't go together.

Calmly, you took another forkful of cake into your mouth.

"Okay."

Jack waited for more. "Okay? That's it? Joe is cheating on you!"

"You think."

"What?"

"You said you think," you said. You couldn't help but chuckle. "You think Joe is cheating on me? Why?"

"I mean it's not like I've just thought about it, I've been watching."

Finally your mind got angry, raced up to catch up with itself but not at Joe, at him.

"Jack, what are you trying to say?"

Jack laid his hands out on the table. "I'm saying he's not at the studio today, he told me himself. He said he wanted me to keep you out."

Joe was no a secretive person, never. He hated secrets, told you himself. As soon as one of his friends told him something, a discreet 'don't say this to anyone' or a casual 'you didn't hear it from me,' Joe was coming home and telling you, just to have that weight off his shoulders.

"He told you he wasn't at the studio," you affirmed.

"Yes."

"So, that means he's cheating?"

"What else is he doing if he's not spending time with you on your birthday? And- and I've seen pictures-"

"Pictures? Of him?"

"And some other girl, you haven't seen them?" Jack reached for his phone like it was a live gun, searching frantically.

You took your own phone into your back pocket. "You're crazy, crazy, okay? I'm going to the bathroom."

"But-"

"I'm going to the bathroom."

You didn't wait for any more of his words as you walked away, shaking your head. It was crazy.

But-

You knew Jack wouldn't intentionally try to hurt you, least of all on your birthday. He was an asshole sometimes, but not the sort where he'd try to create a mess. If he had a hunch, a crushing hunch that Joe was up to something he would say. He'd proved times that he would do anything for you.

So you had two options: ignore him, go home now, continue on to have a good day. But the second option would end your mind's curiosity before it could come up with the worst solutions which slowly, as you stood in the cubicle, it was.

You were calling up Electric lady studios before you could think about it, getting through to reception, Linda who you'd shared coffee's with while Joe and the guys worked on music they weren't ready for you to hear yet. Typically, Joe wanted it to be as near to perfect as he could get before showing you even a chord.

"Hey, Linda, it's y/n, Joe's girlfriend."

" Oh y/n, I know it's you silly. Isn't it your birthday today?"

"Yes, yes it is."

" Oh, happy birthday, what can I do for you?"

"I was just wondering if Joe was there? I think he said something about coming by?"

" Joe, honey. No, he's not booked in for another month."

Oh.

Oh.

For the next five minutes you made polite little talk before Linda let you go. You wished she hadn't.

Another text settled into your phone, one's from Jack and you saw the pictures he must have been about.

The outsides of a cafe, a place you didn't recognise, was pictured grainy. Paparazzi.

In the picture Joe- it was your Joe- was next to a blonde woman, sitting close and nursing a coffee. The photos were shot by shot of laughter's, Joe talking with his hands, the woman squeezing his arm, leaning closely to him and showing something on her phone, in some pictures he even had her phone in hand and was showing her him phone.

It was close.

It was almost-

No, not intimate.

There could've been hundreds of reasons.

But you didn't know any woman that looked like that. You knew all his friends and their friends, you knew his family and the extended. Heck, you were friends with some of his sisters friends.

The last time he'd looked so close with a blonde was when you were a nobody to him and he was getting pictures with his now ex.

He wouldn't. Joe loved you, god, he was obsessed with you.

Wasn't he?

You tried his number, calling quick.

The ringing echoed in your ears before it was hung up after three rings.

Joe never hung up.

A quick text popped through.

Hey, busy atm. Are you smiling?

Busy. But not at the studio.

You couldn't jump to conclusions. You should just ask him and sort it, on a day that wasn't your birthday maybe.

Still, you did not want to leave him on read. You worked you fingers over the keys.

Like an idiot.

Maybe it was a distance thing.

You weren't there, she was.

Maybe she's a friend.

Is he bored in your relatoniship?

All things Jack said as the two of you made your way back to yours and Joe's place, the street lamps lighting the way in the dark.

"I don't know, I-I didn't think so."

Was Joe bored with you? The more you thought about it the more things started making sense.

Joe had always been loved by everyone, after Stranger things and now his music he was skyrocketed into fame, everyone was talking about him, loving him. At the start he'd assumed it would peak and fall but it stayed, steady. A steady stream of love that was hard to compete with.

And you, you weren't a big name. You'd worked in a cafe for gods sake. Your biggest ambition was just to be happy.

You couldn't be surprised if Joe got bored of you and maybe wanted someone who could keep up. Someone new.

"Surely you know if he's bored or not?"

"Everything is fine," you said.

Your phone pinged, a text from Joe.

He'd been calling and texting, asking when you would be back, you were supposed to be back by seven, it was going on eight. Being lost in your mind and your own doubts really made time fly by and by the time you were insisting you go back, sort these things out, Jack was forcing himself to go with you.

He thought you needed backup.

"Not fine, he's cheating on you," Jack insisted as you threw the door open to your apartment complex.

You greeted Freddie at the door who startled at seeing you back then smiled but you saw him reaching the for the phone as you and Jack stepped into the elevator.

You tried not to look back and wonder if Freddie was in on it too.

"You don't have to face him yet," he said. "I can go in, get a bag of your stuff, take you back to mine. Have a good time of what's left of your birthday?"

"I think this birthday's already pretty ruined," your body slumped on the elevator walls, remembering every time you and Joe had took it together, desperate hands or polite standing side-by-side if Mrs Dwight was in the Elevator. "I just want to ask and get it over with. Before I can go crazy."

"Haven't we passed that?"

The both of you were silent as it came to your floor and you un-locked the door.

"I'm worried about you," said Jack as you opened the door to what once could've been your safe space but now all you thought of was him and that woman you didn't know.

Was she older?

Available more?

Did she love him?

"I'm fine," you said but your voice held no recognition of being fine. No idea that you'd been happy at any time in your life and you could hear it in yourself.

You didn't want to start over thinking things but you had and ended up here.

The door creaked open with a squeak and you could've sworn you heard voices, not that you thought this place was haunted.

Unless she was still here.

Suddenly the lights went up in the place.

"Happy birthday!"

You heard poppers, felt confetti rain around you. When the shock vanished you were faced full of a room with friends and family. There were balloons around you, littered of your favourite colour.

Joe's sisters greeted you first, Kate and Lizzy wrapping their arms around you.

At once you forgot about what Jack had been saying, about the rumours and the doubts. Would a man who didn't love you throw a surprise birthday party with all of yours and his favourite people.

Your eyes studied the group of people for him until you found him leading the birthday song, Adam and Javi behind with their camera's out.

"Happy birthday to you... happy birthday to you..." Joe carried a large and extravagant chocolate cake lit with candles. He was grinning but he wasn't watching his steps or the cake, his eyes were on you.

"Happy birthday to you!"

At the command of the end of the song you thought about every terrible thing you'd assumed and banished it from your mind. You blew out the candles.

Everyone cheered around you and Joe balanced the cake on one hand, wrapping his arm around you with his free arm.

"I'm so sorry I'm late," you said into his ear.

"Where were you, honey?" he asked, still keeping a light nature but he only called you honey when he was worried.

Adam took the cake from his hand, patting you on the back with a smile as you and Joe pulled away.

Joe got one look at your face and his smile dropped. "Have you been crying?"

"No, no."

Kate and Caroline came up to you next, stealing you away from their brother but you could feel his anxiety like you still held it in your hand.

That's how most of the night ended up going. You were so rushed off your feet saying hello to everyone, having a polite sip of your drink that you had no time to console the aching in your heart. From the anxieties of the day to Joe knowing something was up. He knew you well enough to recognise your moods sometimes better than you did.

But this was what he was doing today- not cheating on you like Jack insisted.

There were hugs between your few friends and Joe's and catch-ups, telling of old stories and such. On occasion, Joe would fall at your side, wrapping a stable arm around your waist and dropping a kiss to the top of your head. He'd check if you needed another drink or if you needed air, all efforts you assumed to get you alone and pry some answers out of you.

He was never too far.

By the time you snook off under pretence of using the bathroom you'd lost sight of Joe.

You hid in your bedroom, closing your door quietly. The stress of the day pushed your body down on the bed. With every deep breath you took, your hands clenched into the covers.

With the hours you'd had to spare you had thought of all the terrible, debauched things Joe and his 'cheating partner' could have been doing. In the apartment you picked out together, in the sheets that smelled like you. Only for it to all be a fabrication.

The door opened and closed as the first tears fell- from grief or relief or pain, you weren't sure.

"Are you okay?" asked Jack as he wondered in.

You'd hoped it would be Joe.

"I'm fine, I just needed a minute."

"We can leave if you want?"

You looked up at him, releasing a shaky breath that betrayed you. "Why would I want to leave?"

"To get away from it, it's a bit toxic," he said with a scoff, like it was obvious.

There wasn't a sniff of toxicity in the room back there.

Jack went on. "I mean to cheat on you, lie to you and then throw this party like it's a cover up? Or a sorry?"

You wiped at your tears, your chest doing that clenching thing again as if Jack had a hold on your heart. "Joe isn't cheating on me," you said.

"Oh, what? So you've asked him?" he said, more angry than you.

"I don't need to- if he didn't love me why would he throw a party? Have you thought maybe that's- this is what he was doing all day?" you stood up, trying to get sense through to him instead of the other way round. You understood this was all moving a bit backwards but it felt like you were consoling yourself through him, like talking in a mirror.

"What all day to blow up some balloons and buy a cake from Target?" he laughed. "Why-why even throw a surprise party, you hate surprise parties."

"No I don't- I've never had one!"

"You-"

The door opened again, with more strength then probably needed to be.

"Hey?" asked Joe, seeing you and Jack alone in your bedroom. He got maybe a glance at the tears that had once been down your cheeks and your glassy eyes before he was rushing to you, voice softening. "Hey, hey, hey, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Baby, look at me."

His hands cradled your cheeks, thumbs wiping at any more tears that he coaxed out. He was trying to get you to look at him all the while you couldn't bare to be under his gaze.

How un-grateful were you to think Joe would ever cheat on you? While all the time he'd been doing this?

"Hey, what- what-" he mumbled.

"She knows, man!" said Jack.

Joe didn't even look back to him. "Knows? Knows what?"

"You've been caught man, give it up!"

"Jack!" you scolded.

Joe finally looked back to him, more than air of irritation to him, a whole damn hurricane of annoyance. "Caught what?"

"You're cheating on her!"

Joe's hands fell away from you, landing at his side.

It was as if a bucket of ice water had been thrown over you.

Then- Joe spoke, voice icy. "What?"

"The pictures, the sneaking around," said Jack, siling smug. "You-"

Joe didn't care to give him more time of day. His body curled around yours, hands on your arms as he got you to look at him. His voice was still kind to you, it always was, but there was an air of finality to him too. "I am not cheating you."

And there was no discussion about it. It was stupid to even think that.

"I know, I know you're not," you said.

"Is that.... Is that why you've been crying?" he asked, low to a whisper.

"Don't listen to him, y/n-"

Joe whirled back on Jack, the kind of angry he never got in front of you. The only sort of anger he ever showed around you was the kind for a joke. "You need to leave."

Jack made some more noises that you didn't care for. "I'm not leaving until I know she's okay."

"She's fine-" snapped Joe before attending to you, voice dropping again. "You're okay, right, honey?"

"Yeah, Jack can you just-" you cleared your throat. "Can you give us a minute?"

"Not just a minute, I want you out our apartment!" snapped Joe.

He held up his hands, smug. "Alright, alright..."

You expected more of a fuss, more driving him out but he left with a minimum slam of the door. You still had to wait till you heard his footsteps descend down the hall before you took a deep breath, hands running through your hair.

Joe turned to you, letting you go. "Baby, what is going on?"

Slowly, with deep breaths and no tears you explained. The idea of Joe cheating on you planted by Jack, how convinced he was, examples he gave, the pictures-

Joe was shaking his head, but letting you speak through. "Pictures? What-what pictures?"

You hands were shaking just enough to make it difficult to un-lock your phone and show him the pictures.

Joe took your phone gently and flicked through them. He sighed, not like he'd been caught, like he was disappointed. "Honey, this is me with Sarah. She made you your cake- we were looking at cake designs! We weren't even there an hour!"

He dropped your phone on the bed and took a step back.

Your heart cracked like it was glass applied with pressure.

Joe was stepping back because he was innocent and in a weak, foolish second you'd believed Jack was right- when had he ever been!

You'd ruined it all.

"This-" Joe chuckled, hands brushing back his hair in the same way he did when stressed. "This is exactly like Jack, to do this."

"Jack?" your lips were twisted into a frown before you could help yourself.

"Yes!" said Joe. "Baby, he knows I'm not cheating on you. He's just doing this so you would break up with me."

You wished that was almost as ridiculous sounding as Joe cheating on you but you knew which one you'd bank on in a court of law.

"What? Wh-why would Jack want to do that?"

Joe looked at you. "Because he wants you. He has a crush on you."

"No he doesn't."

"Honey, yes, yes he does," he said. He had been pacing, wearing a path into the carpet but stopped and saw you. "You really didn't know? I thought you knew."

"There's nothing to know, he doesn't like me like that." Your cheeks heated up in flames as your stomach churned. You fell back on the bed, resting your elbows on your knees and dropping your head in your hands.

Joe rushed to your side, dropping to his knees in front of you and gently prying your hands away. "Hey, hey, hey, I'm not mad- honey, I'm not mad."

Tears slid silently down your cheeks as you faced Joe who looked just as torn apart as you felt. "You should be."

"What- why? Never, never, I could never be mad at you-"

"-but for a second, a split second I did think you were cheating on me-"

"-hey, hey, that's okay, hey, you're okay."

You took another deep breath. "Okay? No it's not!"

"Listen," said Joe. His thumb was running soothing circles around your knee, resting his chin there. "I don't blame you, I'm not mad at you. Okay? I did lie today, to get you out the doors and get your party ready and I get how those pictures look, and if I has someone spinning it all into the worst light I'd think things to, okay? This is not your fault. It's Jack's."

Still, you denied it.

Since high school, even longer you'd known Jack and he had never made a move. Nothing more than an arm over the shoulder, or a kiss on the cheek on occasion. His hugs maybe lingered and he was always around when you least wanted him.

"Jack wouldn't-" wouldn't what? Hurt you, he had done so all day? "I don't like Jack, I don't."

"I know, I know," he said, taking the back of your hands and peppering them in kisses. "I trust you but I'm sorry, I don't trust him."

He said it with such finality that you didn't doubt him.

"How long have you known? That he liked me?" you asked.

"Since I first met the guy, it's pretty obvious."

You stood up. "Well not to me. I-I didn't know."

Joe scrambled up. "I thought you knew, I'd have said something if I knew you didn't know, baby, you know I would have."

Were all the hugs a misguided temptation? Was Jack planting all these doubts in your head to get you to break up with Joe? The one who made you the happiest you've ever been?

"Jack is a friend," you reasoned, your own turn to move around the room. "I've known him for years, he wants me to be happy."

"With him! You'd know I'd never cheat on you, ever!" said Joe. "And if he had these ideas of me sneaking around with someone else why'd he wait to tell you on your birthday. God- he's evil."

"Joe, he's one of my only friends," you said, a weak defence but the truth none the less.

"That's not true, there's a whole room full of people out there waiting to celebrate you."

You chuckled just as he had. "Joe, half of those people are your friends. I just tag along."

Joe looked crestfallen. "That's not true."

"It is! Okay, I haven't been here as long as you, I've made a couple friends at work and then Jack moved. Everyone else is your friends that i've just intruded on."

"You haven't intruded on anything! They love you, I love you."

The words, as true as they were, hung out in the room, heavy.

You folded your arms over yourself, caving in around yourself.

Joe's steps were slow and soft, his hands just the same as they rubbed up your forearms and helped you look up at him. "I don't wanna fight about this, not tonight, not on your birthday. Okay. We can go back out there, enjoy what's left of the night or if you like, I can get everyone home and we can talk-"

"No, no."

Joe froze. "No? You- you don't wanna talk?"

You gulped down the choak in you throat. "No, no I do. But not now, I wanna go out and see everyone."

He was slow in his consideration but slowly nodded. "Okay. Okay."

Neither of you moved.

Slowly, Joe's arms circled around you. There was no hesitation, the same old tight hold and squeeze of love in his biceps, the same warmth from this morning heating your body.

"I'm sorry, Joe, that I ever doubted you," you cried into his chest.

"You're okay, it's okay," he whispered, a hand smoothing back your hair.

"It's not, I can't- you should break up with me."

Joe grew still. His hands cupped your cheeks and tilted your neck back to look at him. "Never. You had a small doubt because of what he was telling you, I'd have thought the same. The way he must have made it sound, what were you supposed to think?"

"But all the while you were doing this for me? Throwing me a party and I've done this-"

"You haven't done anything, okay?"

Your heart couldn't live without the weight of him but you feared what sort of person you were for not believing your boyfriend to be the saint he's always been. All you could do is hide in his arms a little longer.

Joe let you, resting his head on yours and mumbling all the right words you wanted to hear.

"Are we okay?" you whispered.

"Always, honey."

The party lasted only an hour after that. Perhaps the guests could see the puffy eyes and tense smiles or maybe a discreet word went round. Everyone gave you hugs and wished you well but left in drips and drabs.

Your nerves were shattered, head ached and body heavy but you piled cups and plates, a playlist Joe put on sometime in the night drifting between the walls.

Scrubbing the dishes didn't help.

"Hey, hey," Joe came up behind your, hands on your arms and kissing the back of your head. His hands worked down your arms till they were at your hands and taking them from the sink. "That can wait, I'll do that tomorrow."

You let him stop your cleaning. "I can- I can take the sofa tonight."

"What?" he laughed, like it was a joke.

You turned to him, drying your hands on your shirt. "You know, I'll sleep on the sofa, maybe you want a night to yourself or to think-"

"No," he laughed. "Who are you trying to punish? Me or yourself?"

You rocked on your heels, wondering if there was a right answer. "Me?"

Joe turned you around, wrapping his arms around the back of you and resting his weight there. His feet shuffled, dragging the two of you to your room. "You sleep in the bed, only, ever."

You nodded but even as the both of you un-dressed slow and kissed even slower he could feel your hesitation.

He dragged his lips back from yours, holding you gently in the bed you made love in. "I don't want you to feel guilty," he brushed his lips against yours, light as a feather. "I don't want this to ruin us."

"Neither do I," you admitted, a breath against him.

"Then don't let it."

You slept through exhaustion. If you hadn't cried as much as you did you were sure you'd be awake all night. Instead you woke feeling less heavy, well rested.

Joe was asleep next to you, snoring softly, the kind you always teased him about. His arm was draped over your waist, not pulling away but not holding tightly like he was scared you would leave. It was as if nothing had ever happened.

But it had and you had only one thing on your mind.

Jack.

You shuffled enough to get your phone from the side table and text him. He hadn't been seen at the party last night and hadn't dropped you a text.

Can I come over?

The reply was instant.

Yes.

You got out of bed slow enough and dressed quite enough that Joe didn't stir. You didn't want him to worry, so you wrote a note and left it in your place.

You didn't want to spend another day with it hanging over you, with the idea of Jack purposely hurting you blocking all thoughts. You'd sort it and give the rest of your life to Joe.

Jack was a subway trip and a couple away that by the time you got there Joe had dropped you a text, asking if everything was okay? You told him yes and that you'd be back soon. You didn't think that whatever happened would take long.

Jack gave you a smile when he opened the door. He was in black joggers, shirtless and breathless like he'd been doing push-ups or something before you entered.

It did nothing for you.

"Hey."

You walked by him into his small apartment that could only be described as 'bachelor pad'. You didn't take your coat, not that he offered.

"So, are you and Joe-"

"How long did you think Joe was cheating on me for?" you asked, instead of letting him talk.

"Oh so you've brought all his lies, have you?"

Your eyes rolled. Where his tone had worked like a spell on you yesterday it did nothing today. "Just answer the question?"

He shrugged and didn't think long about it. "A few weeks."

"And you told me yesterday? Not when you first thought something was up?" you asked, accusation lying under the words. "Or when the photos first came out? You waited for my birthday?"

Finally, Jack stuttered. "Well I wanted to be sure."

"And you were sure yesterday?"

"Yes!"

It was only then that you realised he was flexing, pulling his body taunt to look strong in all the right places.

"Well you were wrong."

"Oh so that woman was just a friend?" he said, as if he was the one being cheated on.

"No, actually, she was the cake maker."

Jack laughed. "Yeah, of course she was."

"And I think you knew Joe wouldn't cheat on me, I think you wanted to hurt me because you know, not all guys cheat, not all guys are you."

His laughter died in his throat. "Oh that's a low blow from you."

"Oh it's really not and I can go lower you've given me plenty of material."

"What has gotten into you?" he snapped, getting dangerously close to your space.

"Some sense because I've been doing some thinking-"

"More like Joe's been doing some thinking for you-"

"Well it doesn't matter because we're over," you lied. It was all a formatted plan in your head, just to see what he would do. "I can't trust him so I broke up with him."

Jack's body straightened up, his chest protruding. "Oh, oh- well I'm proud of you," his hand, clammy grabbed yours, devoid of any of the tenderness Joe gave you. "You deserve someone who really cares about you."

You peered at him like you were seeing him for the first time. "And do you think that's you?"

All the supposed 'sorrow' was gone from him, replaced with a self righteous grin and squeeze in your hands. "I really think it is. I've loved you forever, thought about this, forever."

"Thought about what? About us?" you asked.

His teeth sank into his lower lip. An arm quickly wrapped around you and pulled you into his chest. "Yeah."

You cringed away from him but he didn't get the message.

He dropped his voice low, breath hot on your skin. "I've been thinking about how tight your pussy is for months now."

Your brain cut short, breath lost in your throat because-

What the fuck?

Maybe he thought he was getting a chance, or maybe he finally caught your bodies aversion because you pushed at his chest and in the moment of his surprise you slapped him in the face.

You were glad you didn't take your coat off or get comfy as you were storming to the door.

"Hey!" he yelled, slamming it again.

You weren't scared like you thought you maybe would be. You struggled to be scared in front of a guy that had to puff out his chest and lie to get you to give him a chance. "If you don't let me out of here I'll scream."

"Well let's talk about this, you don't just come in here, lead me on like that-"

"Lead you on?"

"And then act like i'm holding you hostage-"

You opened your lungs and screamed over his words, screamed loud enough the entire block would hear you.

Jack didn't let up, he held on longer but when the scream became piercing he covered his ears and you bolted out the door, letting him scream 'bitch' down the hall way as neighbours poked their head out.

You got in the elevator, alone and felt nothing but freedom.

You'd decided on the ride over being alone with Joe and his friends, making new ones was more freeing, better than sticking with the oldest you had when he was a dick. There wasn't any second thoughts about it as you rode down, only relief.

On the tube it continued, only being replaced by a moment's terror when you realised how tight his hold had been, the strength he'd slammed the door and the words he'd called you.

You'd never have to see him again. The idea keeping you going.

On the way back to yours and Joe's apartment you stopped by his favourite cafe, picked up a cappuccino and wished everyone a nice day.

The domesticated view of Joe cleaning the space from bottles and mess from last night had every ounce of you calling for him.

"Hey," you greeted.

Joe turned to you and smiled, body slouched in relief just a little, enough to tell you he'd been worried. "Hi, honey," he ditched his efforts and greeted you, an arm around the shoulder, kiss to your lips.

You shoved the coffee in his hand.

"For me?" he teased, taking a sip and licking the chocolate dusting off his lips. "That where you went this morning?"

You took a deep breath, sitting on the couch. "I went to see Jack."

The coffee cup froze mid way. Joe's brows furrowed. "What?"

He joined you on the sofa, coffee ditched on the side as you went over everything. You spilled your thought process out, what went down when you got there, every bit. You didn't watch for his reactions, knowing what they'd be without looking. Only once you were done did you stop and give him time.

Joe sat and took it all, his coffee going cold. "Are you okay?"

Were you? Physically, yes, mentally, you think you were okay. Emotionally you were exhausted.

"You were right," you uttered.

"Baby," his hand sprawled on the back of your chair.

"I hate myself I really do, Joe," you admitted. This was a guilt you'd never felt. Like you were cheating on him.

"No, okay. None of that," said Joe, voice hard. "The guy is out now, okay? I'll call it, he's out of our lives."

You nodded. He wasn't a friend, not really by the end of it. "Can you forgive me?"

Joe looked at you, taking his time to work out what you were asking forgiveness for. "Forgive you?"

"For a second I thought Jack was right, I did think maybe you wanted more, more than you could get out of me and I thought there was somebody else," you admitted, tasting the words slow in your mouth. "Can you forgive that?"

As always he was patient, let you talk, let you voice your thoughts.

"Yes," said Joe. "I would never, ever cheat on you. And I can prove it-"

"You don't have to prove anything Joe-"

But he was already searching for something and when he returned he had a small box in hand, another ribbon around it.

"This was supposed to be for yesterday but maybe now's a better time," he said, handing you the box.

You were breathless before you even took the ribbon, before you flipped open the top to reveal the ring, steel matching the necklace.

"Happy birthday."

I hope I did this request justice, I loved the drama.

[talesofzero]

Senses

Cyborg 009-verse; Tab requested a Joe torture fic, and I was happy to comply.

Torture warning, OC warning, character death warning

At first, the worst thing was the cold. They had taken most of my clothes, allowing the metal table free range to freeze my back. The restraints crushed my wrists, ankles and neck. If I thought about it too much, air became hard to grasp and I would begin to swim in lightheadedness. I distracted myself with taking in the faces of the men around me.

Despite the light above me, it was so hard to see, probably because the light buzzed with harsh, white fluorescents. I could still make out their figures though, and the white lab coats adorning each of their shoulders. This wasn’t good. I had to get out or they would take me apart like a busted remote.

Again, my breathing picked up at the thought, but I forced it steady. They wouldn’t see my fear. I would fight as long as I had blood pumping through my unsteady heart.

One of the men moved forward, and I glared daggers at him, twisting my neck as much as I could. “What do you think you’re going to do?” I hissed, trying to sound mad or feral or the least bit frightening.

He only paused for a moment. “We’re going to examine you. And we need for you to be awake, so do try not to pass out from the pain.” His voice was slow and precise like a spider creeping toward its catch.

I bit my tongue for a moment to keep my limbs from shaking. “You won’t get anything from me that you don’t already have!” I finally managed in a rage.

“Well,” another voice purred. My spine shot stiff as I felt the words so close at my side. “Actually, quite a few of our files on you seemed to have disappeared.”

My head whipped to the side so fast that the metal caught at my skin and burned it, but I barely noticed through the freezing ice-blue eyes mere inches from mine. It only took an instant to tell – he was mad. He could have been the hatter in another life.

He smiled curiously at me, his chin in his hand, his elbow atop the metal beside my head as his eyes danced every which way. It made my skin crawl to feel his gaze. His hair was platinum blond, cropped into a short and neat yet spiky style and practically shining in the light. Every other inch of him was the palest white. From his skin to his gloves to the suit he wore – everything was a blinding white. He hadn’t been standing around me before. He’d simply appeared.

I wasn’t afraid. I wasn’t afraid. I wasn’t afraid.

“Now,” he grinned, sounding like the Cheshire cat. “Let’s start with optics, shall we? Oh, those are my favorites.”

No, I was terrified.

The instrument that appeared in his hand was nothing I’d ever seen before. All I recognized was the metal that made it. It looked like some sort of metal insect and it was headed for my eye. I jerked violently, no longer caring about the pain. I had to get out right now.

“Shh, pup,” he smiled as though calming a frightened child. He brushed the hair back from where it always fell over my eye. His glove was made of silk. “I would love to hear you scream, but if you move around too much, the cut won’t be clean, and unfortunately for my collection, the Ghost wants me to keep you all in one piece. But you do have the most lovely eyes. Like garnets. I don’t have any of those.”

He began to hum lightly, curling my bangs around his finger while placing the metal piece over my eye. I tried to move again, but I couldn’t. Something was holding my head into place. What was it? I-I couldn’t breathe. The metal forced my eyelids open as I gasped uselessly for breath.

“Calm down, pup,” he smiled. “Why don’t we play a game? I know one.”

I want to blink. Let me blink! If I hadn’t been a cyborg, my eye would have been burning from the air, but I still just ached to feel that natural movement. I wanted to scream, but I didn’t have the breath.

“It’s more of a poem really. The game comes at the end. But focus on the rhythm. It will keep your breathing steady you see.”

What? No, just let me out. Let me go! Get this thing off me!

The room began to swim from my dizziness, but I could still hear his poem.

“Tingle, Tingle, Tangle Toes; She's a good fisherman.”

I caught sight of one of the other scientists as he spoke.

 “Catches hens, puts'em inna pens.”

She looked scared, refused to look my way.

“Wier blier, limber lock; Three geese inna flock.”

I wanted to ask her for help even if I knew it wouldn’t make a difference.

“One flew east, One flew west.”

He was again over me with his chin in his hand, his eyes warm and his smile calm.

“One flew over the cuckoo's nest.”

I wanted to laugh and I wanted to cry.

 “O-U-T spells out.”

But I really wanted to go home. And I really wanted to blink.

“Goose swoops down and plucks you out.”

I heard a metallic click, and then with all the breath that I didn’t have, I heard myself scream.

I couldn’t remember what had happened for a moment. My world had tilted on its axis. My head felt empty and weightless. Something was wrong with the way I blinked on one side.

And then I could see it. A madman holding something round and white and red with wires streaming from it.

“Oh, it’s lovely,” he purred, examining it like a gem. “Such fine craftsmanship. Would you mind if I kept it for a while? I promise I’ll give it back.”

That was… That was my eye.

I thought after that I threw up, but I couldn’t be sure, because I collapsed into a freezing darkness.

As I began to stir back into consciousness, I could hear his voice, lightly scolding me for so rudely passing out.

“Here I was so ready to play with you, and you decide to go to sleep? Well, that’s very cruel, pup. I specifically instructed you to stay awake. Now then, dogs that don’t listen to their masters must be punished. So let’s begin your training.”

I winced against a prick in my neck, my eyes fluttering back open. My hands were chained above me, holding me dangling in place in the center of a small room. There was nothing remarkable about it. The walls were all gray and blank except for the door on the one to my right. There wasn’t a window or a vent to be seen, just a drain beneath my feet. I was in a torture room, and I was too weak to move.

He was standing in front of me, a soft grin on his face. “Good morning, pup. Are you ready for your training? The drug should kick in soon.”

Drug? What?

I realized that I could only see out of one eye, not even able to peer through my bangs with the other, and a large portion of my face felt covered in something soft and papery. What was the point of medical treatment if I was just going to be tortured some more?

 Something small and silver was being twirled around the insane man’s gloved fingers like a baton. I stared at it, curious and mesmerized. It didn’t seem particularly threatening.

I slowly began to notice something off. My heart trilled to a fortissimo, pounding in my ears hard enough to make me flinch, and my breathing was like a sharp stab to my hearing as well. I adjusted my breath, trying to make it as quiet as possible, but at the same time, the madman in front of me grinned.

When he spoke, my internal receiver went wild, a high wail tearing through my ears along with his smooth but booming voice. “Now that you’re going to listen, allow me to introduce myself. This way, you won’t forget. My name is Icarus, but you’ll know me as Master. It’s a pleasure, pup.”

I cut off a scream with a harsh choke. Screaming would only make it hurt worse. I panted weakly, holding back a whimper as he moved the silver cylinder up to his lips like a cigarette.

“Now then,” he purred. “Let’s begin.”

It was somewhat like a whistle, the noise. But it was also like knives, stabbing into my ears, clawing and tearing mercilessly at them. I fought and thrashed against the pain that seemed to be splitting my head open. I wanted to curl into a ball, to place my hands over my ears. I heard myself screaming somewhere beneath the deafening noise.

Something warm was trailing from my ears, following the curve of my jaw. I couldn’t take this anymore. No more. Stop it. Stop! Then, like a bullet to the head, everything shot to black. My body had listened to me and given out.

I welcomed the darkness.

I begged it to stay as I faded back into reality.

“Ah, pup, you’re back!”

I flinched in anticipation for pain, but my ears didn’t bring me any. In fact, everything came through a bit muffled. It sounded and felt as though cotton had been shoved into them. I praised God for it.

But Icarus remained, happy as ever. I now sat in a chair, my wrists and legs strapped down. It didn’t matter. I didn’t have the strength to move. I didn’t have anywhere to go. I was trapped in this hell.

This room was much the same as the one before, gray and suffocating.  Icarus was crouched at my side, his chin resting on my arm, his icy eyes bright with excitement. “Are you ready for another game?”

“No more games,” I growled weakly.

He clicked his tongue at me. “Now-now, I thought I’d trained you better than that. You should be excited, pup. Games are fun.”

“Not your games,” I spat. “Your games are sick.”

“Hmm,” he frowned. He stood, stepping around in front of me before giving an exaggerated twirl. “You’re all the same,” he snarled, his back to me. “You all think Master’s games are ‘sick’ or ‘insane’ or ‘disgusting,’ but you just don’t understand. I thought you’d like my games. I could have turned you into art instead, pup.” He stared at me over his shoulder, his eyes dangerous. “I wanted to make you art, but the Ghost said no.”

“A-art?” I swallowed thickly.

He turned on the balls of his feet and leaned down, tracing my jaw with a silk glove. “I would cut you up so beautifully. Oh and you’d scream so nicely. It’s my favorite game, making people into art. Death is so lovely. There’s nothing more beautiful.”

If there had been any doubt in my mind before that this guy was insane, it was gone now. Dear God, what could make someone so demented?

“But,” he sighed dramatically, straightening his back. “I only get to play games with you. I haven’t been confirmed on my request to kill you yet. So let’s play another game. This one is usually everyone’s favorite.”

He picked up a surgical mask from the small table at his side and slipped it over his face. It was almost laughable to see that it was white. Then he grabbed a small vial and a syringe, making me squirm uncomfortably. I sure hoped he was going to inject himself with the strange liquid – opaque and light blue like an opal as it filled the syringe.

“Now, hold still,” he purred. “You wouldn’t want for me to make this messy. After testing the needle, he turned to me. I could see his grin widen under his mask. “What’s the matter? You aren’t aichmophobic, are you?”

I didn’t even know what that word meant, and I really didn’t care. I pulled back as far as my restraints would allow me from the shimmering needle headed for my neck.

“Bad, pup. I told you to hold still.” He grabbed my hair painfully, forcing my head to the side. I whimpered as the needle stabbed me ruthlessly, its contents warm and prickling as it entered my veins.

Once I was free from the cold touch of the needle, I relaxed with a sigh. Whatever that serum did, it would begin in a moment, but for now I was safe. I was free of pain.

Icarus hummed brightly, grabbing another corked vial from his table. It appeared to be filled with a variety of herbs. I didn’t understand the point of this test.

“Ready?” He moved the vial suddenly beneath my nose.

Huh?

I’d been in the middle of a breath, but inhaling the concoction had stopped it short. My sinuses lit up with fire, tears spilling instantly from my eye. It burned. It was a fire that I couldn’t put out. I screamed, shaking my head violently. What sort of torture was this? The pain was eating at me beneath the skin of my face, but it wasn’t enough to knock me out this time.

I could taste the blood that had spilled between my lips from my nose. I forgot what it was like to know any pleasant scent. I only knew agony, and I would have broken my nose by punching myself in the face if I could have.

Icarus cackled gleefully as I fell to choking and whimpers, shuddering in pain. It probably hadn’t lasted more than a few minutes, but it had been ages for me.

“Ready for another round?” he asked, bouncing on his toes.

I whimpered and cowered back against my chair. “N-no. No more.”

“Aw, come on. Just one more.”

I yelped at the sight of another vial, this one’s contents a violent red. I barely registered the sound of a door being thrown open on its hinges. “Icarus!” a voice boomed. “You were specially instructed not to damage him drastically! That’s enough!”

Icarus sighed, his eyes rolling toward the intrusion. “It’s not my fault you can’t fix him properly afterward. But fine, wolf, fix his nose and return him to me for the next game once you’re done.” He stood and strode out as though he were walking on air.

Another man a few years older stepped into his place. This one looked human. His skin held life and color, his hair a neat, curly auburn. His nose was a bit too big, his jaw long, his legs lanky. But his eyes – no, his eye – his eye was a warm russet, concerned as it took me in. The left was covered with a black patch. I barely had the strength to keep my own eye open to take him in.

“Well,” he sighed. “At least you’re awake this round, though I’m not so certain that’s a good thing. Here, close your eye.” I did as I was told, too tired and scared to refuse. Another needle pierced my neck, causing me to whine.

“Sorry,” he whispered. “It’s just a sedative. No need to worry. I swear I’m not going to hurt you, kid.”

The restraints on my wrists and ankles clicked open, and the man carefully scooped me up and carried me out. Now I realized why I’d been so weak. It was that drug. Whatever he’d been giving me was causing that drowsiness to my limbs.

My cheek lolled against his shoulder as he held me in a fireman’s carry, muttering to himself. “That bastard thinks he can do whatever he wants, and I’ll just be able to fix it. I can’t fix everything, damnit. And I’m a doctor, not a mechanic.”

A doctor? Maybe I should have guessed that sooner, but thinking clearly wasn’t coming easy. It did explain the lab coat he wore though.

He carried me into a room of white and sat me down on an examination table of sorts. It was cushioned beneath the layer of rustling parchment paper. It was practically heaven, except he wouldn’t let me lie down.

“Alright,” the doctor said. “Let’s take a look at your nose. I’ve dealt with this before, but not with a cyborg, so you’ll have to excuse me.” I was pretty sure his proper medical equipment of choice was a wet rag as he gently wiped the blood from where it had covered my face. “There’s not much I can do actually. Your sense of smell is still heightened, and I wouldn’t want to cause you any further pain with any medicines. Besides, like all nosebleeds, the best medicine is just sitting upright and applying pressure. I’ll help you out.” A light clamp was placed on my nose, shutting it.

I huffed against it, making him smile wearily. “Sorry about that. Now I just need to take a quick look at your eye.” As he tore the papery substance and pulled it away, I confirmed them to be bandages. Had my eye socket been bleeding too?

“Well, it looks good,” he frowned, studying the inside of my skull curiously. “At least, I think so. Most of my patients don’t have wires…” He grabbed my wrist to stop me from exploring the hole in my head. “Ah-ah, you don’t want to do that. Trust me. It’s not pleasant.”

“Does it look creepy?” I asked for some reason.

“Hm? Your eye socket? Nah, it’s pretty clean, and I’m used to seeing them. Icarus and I have known each other for a while.” He brushed his thumb over his eye patch. “By the way, I’m Warrius, and you’re Joe if I’m not mistaken.”

I nodded.

“Sorry you had to meet me,” he sighed with a smile, ruffling my hair.

“It’s not your fault,” I said. “Do you think…his request will be accepted?”

“Hard to say,” Warrius breathed sadly. “But if it is, I’ll make sure it’s as painless as possible for you. Unfortunately, if I take too long, he’ll storm up here and take you, but here. Close your eyes.”

I tensed as the needle stuck me, but was too weak to fight it. Besides, it was better that I didn’t.

“There,” the doctor smiled weakly. “That’s going to reduce your pain. It’s not much, but it’s all I can give you. I’m not sure what his next torture will be, but act like it hurts more than it does. I’m not saying that it won’t be hell, but it won’t be as bad as it could be. That’s also a slow-acting tranquilizer, so you’ll fall asleep in about half an hour and stay asleep for a good while.” He reached both hands behind his head and messed with something as he spoke. “Stay strong, kid. Don’t give into what he wants. It won’t make him go any easier on you.”

The wide-banded eye patch fell from place, revealing nothing but his flat eyelid. After pulling the clamp from my nose, he brushed the black fabric off a bit before moving it to my face and tying it into place with practiced hands. “There,” he smiled. “Now I wouldn’t dare anyone to go against you. You’re looking pretty cool. Do kids still say that these days?”

He mused over it as he picked me back up and carried me out toward what I imagined to be my last stand.

I was placed on my back on a metal slab, much as I had been before. Warrius didn’t buckle the restraints as tightly, but it didn’t matter. I couldn’t move. After giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze, he left the room. I closed my eye and waited.

He was coming. I could hear his footsteps, light and quick. I swallowed and sighed, trying to hold back from shaking, trying to hold back my fear. It was just a little pain. That was all. Maybe if I kept thinking that I could convince myself of it.

“Hello, pup!” he called excitedly as the door opened. “Did you miss me?”

I couldn’t answer him. My mind wandered to people who could, to those who were strong and grinned against pain and danger. I wished that one of them could be here to snarl at him, to make him take a step back in surprise. Someone to frighten the monsters away for me.

“Now-now, don’t be shy,” he laughed. “It’s alright to admit it if you did. But why don’t we go on to the game?” He pulled something from the canvas bag in his hand. I wasn’t sure exactly what to make of it. The object was small and round, flat except for the raised electronic piece in the center on one side. He placed the flat side to my neck, where it stuck. He placed another to my chest and another on my stomach, one on each arm and one on each bare foot.

“There we are,” he nodded in approval. “I think that will do. Now then.” He pulled some sort of palm-sized electronic device from his pocket and began to fiddle with it. “Ready?” he grinned.

He seemed to be waiting for a response, so I sighed, furrowed my brow, and whispered, “Go ahead.”

“Then let’s hear you howl, pup.”

Despite the restraints, I was still able to arch my back. I screamed as the electricity coursed through me, sending my circuits on overdrive. My muscles tensed and spasmed agonizingly. Some of the ones in my arms tore from the strain. As I ran out of air, my scream became a breathless whine. I fought and sobbed, tears streaming down my cheeks. He stopped as I began to cough up blood.

The silk of his glove pressed to my neck, seeking out a pulse. Through the blur of my eyes, I could see him frowning. “That’s not right,” he muttered. “That’s not right. They said I could kill you. Your heart should have blown to pieces.”

His voice trilled in rage. “You’re supposed to die, cyborg! I picked this treatment just for you! Your death was going to be special, but at this rate, you’re just going to choke on your own blood. I will not stand for such a simple, filthy death. This is-!” He cut himself off, his anger fading to a dark, dangerous expression.

“Hm,” he purred, a horrifying violence hidden in his voice. He gripped my chin lightly and forced me to look at him. “Pup, did that wolf give you something? Besides the eye patch – that’s quite adorable by the way. But I mean a drug of some sort - something clear and green like an emerald?”

I weakly shook my head. I wasn’t even sure what the colors of the injections Warrius had given me were. I’d even doubted that his painkiller had done a thing. I couldn’t have acted like I was in anymore pain if I’d wanted to.

Icarus smirked wickedly. “You don’t need to lie for him, pup. I was just given a go on my request to kill him as well.” He playfully ruffled my hair and headed for the door, bouncing on his toes. “I’ll be back in just a bit so we can finish our last game, pup. I’ll make sure to get something special for you. Just you wait.”

I spat the remainder of the blood from my mouth and bit back more sobs. I’d just brought someone his death, and I was next. There was no escape from this hell. I longed for my restraints to be broken so I could put my arms around myself and curl onto my side. I thought I at least deserved that much in death.

I was allowed one comfort. My limbs began to feel heavier, and my eyelid drooped. The tranquilizer was kicking in. Sleep came to claim me once more, and the weight in my chest eased for it. Unconscious was my only friend here.

When my eye opened, I felt rather calm. At least with death I would return to sleep. I wouldn’t have to wake up again. Icarus was sitting in a chair beside me. A whip like an endless snake rested in his hands as he cleaned away the deep red stains from the white leather.

“He didn’t scream,” the madman noted simply without even raising his head. “He never was much fun. You’ll be more fun for me, right pup?” He smiled at me in an almost normal, kind way. “Are you going to beg for your life?”

“I know you wouldn’t listen,” I whispered, smiling through tears.

“It’s not that I wouldn’t listen. It’s that I wouldn’t do as you said. It’s more fun when you beg, though whether you beg for life or death is up to you.” He pulled a vial from his pocket and twirled it around his fingers. The acrid liquid inside swirled and churned. “This,” he purred, “is a specialty acid made to melt organic and inorganic material. It can only be kept in specialty glass. Once it starts eating, there is no stopping it. It moves slowly and burns like hell fire. You’re going to drink it for me.” He waited for a response as the horror settled into my face. “This is where you beg for a quick death, pup.”

“I don’t want to die,” I managed shakily. “I want to go back.”

“Homesick?” he laughed. “Well, don’t fret, pup. I’m certain you’ll see all your friends again soon enough. You’ll just have to wait in death for a bit.” He screwed the lid off of the vial and grabbed my jaw roughly.

I fought. Pointlessly, I jerked what few muscles I could move against him. I fought back my fears and the sobs rising in my chest. I just wanted to live.

“Hush, pup,” he called soothingly. “It’s easiest if you drink it all quickly.”

The cool glass pressed to my lips. The harsh scent of acid burned my nose. Death was millimeters away. I wouldn’t get to live. I should just open my mouth and accept the bitter, painful end. I closed my eye and breathed in and out for what would surely be the last time.

An inhuman yowl of rage startled me out of my resign. “I am going to kill you.”

Was I imagining things? I almost hoped I was because that was terrifying.

Icarus sighed and stepped back. “Oh, must you interrupt? We were playing a game.”

I watched in shock as Tab moved into my vision, lunging for his throat. He lazily sidestepped, his whip appearing in his hand. She turned on a dime, clawing at the air.

Her eyes were wild with a murderous rage. Her hair was slightly messy, and deep purple lines stood out beneath her eyes against frightfully pale skin. “Don’t you dare touch him!” she screamed.

Now Icarus frowned, jumping back and sending his whip out with a flick of his wrist. Tab allowed the leather to bite through the skin of her forearm so she could grab the tail and yank hard. Icarus snarled as he was dragged forward. His foot slammed down as he clicked something on the handle of his whip.

Tab winced, releasing her violent grip on the weapon to reveal the spikes now covering it. I started to say something, worried about her bloodied hand, but she roared and jumped toward him again.

She easily dodged a few more blows from the whip, and really, it wasn’t a fair fight. Icarus didn’t stand a chance against a cyborg, but I wasn’t really going to complain. His eyes widened in momentary surprise as her hand found his neck, but then he broke out into a devilish grin.

“Go ahead then, wolf,” he laughed through a wheeze as she held him off the ground. “Go ahead and finish the game. You win.”

She released him only to spin and slam a kick into the center of his chest. The sound of ribs cracking was punctuated by his crash into the wall. He just sat there, bent over like a puppet with cut strings. Blood dripped in a steady stream from the faded grin on his lips. His chest had caved in. I was alive, but he wasn’t. It seemed strange.

Tab tore me from my stupor, shattering each of the metal bindings holding me down. Before I could even attempt to sit up, she had me in her arms, trembling slightly as she held me. “Thank God,” she choked. “I was so worried, Joe. I’m so sorry. I should have gotten here sooner, but it’s alright. I’ve got you. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

My arms were heavy and shook from strain as I placed them around her. She was warm and protective and everything I needed. I was safe as long as she was close. “Tab,” I murmured as though I needed to hear myself say it, burying my face against the crook of her neck.

“Yeah, I’ve got you, Joe. Come on, let’s go home. We’ll get you all patched up.”

“I was afraid,” I whispered, “I’d never get to see you again.”

“Don’t be afraid, Joe. I’d never let that happen.”

[talesofzero]

Conscience

Cyborg 009/Kikaider crossover; There was this little nagging voice in the back of Joe's mind saying "Hey, let's go get cake." 

Dumb fluff warning

“Hey, Joe, what’s that?”

That’s an ice-cream truck, I thought.

“Oh, it’s not made of ice cream though.”

No, it sells ice-cream.

“Why is it making music?”

That’s how you tell that it’s an ice-cream truck. They just do that.

“Are you going to go get ice-cream?”

Wasn’t planning on it.

“You should.”

I sighed. Jiro might as well have been a small child. He did love to ask questions. And there was no way to shut him off. He never got tired. He was just a little voice in my head that saw through my eyes, and he would stay there until his body was repaired. Until then, his consciousness would remain with me. Dr. Gilmore had worked with another scientist to transfer him in a bit of an emergency procedure. I’d been the only available body at the time. Not that I minded Jiro so much. He was fairly tame. Except…

I guess I could, I thought. What sort of flavor would you want?

“I don’t know. Can we get all of them?”

I don’t really have that much money with me.

“Aw, how many can we get then?”

He was obsessed with food. He wanted to try everything and eat everything. It didn’t matter how odd it was. He wanted to know what the flavor was like. He loved tasting things, and he was rather fond of Chang.

“I was just going to get one,” I muttered.

“Oh, okay.” He sounded horribly disappointed.

Okay, fine. We can get two.

“Yay!” He was really funny when he was excited, just like a little kid. I could practically feel him bouncing on his toes in my head.

Alright, which one? I stepped into line and stared at the menu for him.

“Oh, this is really hard, Joe. I can’t pick. Which ones do you like best?”

I don’t know. Coffee is good.

“But we’ve had a ton of that,” he huffed. “I thought you said this was ice-cream.”

It is. It’s just coffee flavored ice-cream.

“Ooo, okay, we’ll get that one and… strawberry!”

If you don’t bankrupt me, you’re going to make me fat, I smiled.

“Well, 006 said you don’t eat enough, so I think this is good for you.”

Ice-cream’s not good for you, I thought as I ordered.

“Why? Is it gross?”

No, it tastes great, but-

“Then of course it’s not bad for you!”

I sighed and took the small bowls of frozen sugar. Whatever you say, Jiro.

He quickly decided that ice-cream was the best food for you in existence. “Let’s go get some more! Come on, Joe!”

The truck is gone.

“Then use your accelerator and go catch up with it! I want to try all the other flavors.”

“Jiro,” I whined aloud. “I’m full.”

“Aw, Joe, just one more.”

Yeah, he was fairly tame. Except he was going to make me sick off sweets.