Took a second for my schedule to clear up once more so I could post the full fic, but I've finally be able to post my piece for the MILGRAM Girls' Night zine ( @milgram-girls-zine )!!
You can check out Curtain Call for Five here!!
Please also go check out the original zine, it's amazing and so many people worked so hard on it!!
Ever since Steve went into the Upside Down he has nightmares about tunnels, fire, and flower-shaped heads full of razor sharp teeth. His sleeping pattern is a mess (can you even call it a sleep pattern if there’s no sleep involved?) and just trying to function is hard. Billy would have to be blind not to notice the toll the insomnia is taking on Harrington - the bags under his eyes keep growing darker by the day, and he can tell Steve’s mind drifts away to somewhere else, whether he’s on or off the court.
Billy can’t stand to see his princess in pain. He wants nothing more than to let Steve’s mind rest, to help him relax. Billy doesn’t know the source or subject of the nightmares (Steve says he doesn’t want to cause Billy sleepless nights too) so he can’t exactly attack the problem head on. But he has an idea.
When he was a boy, maybe 4 or 5, Billy struggled with his own nightmares. He often dreamt of being lost - lost at sea, lost in the woods, lost in the supermarket without his mother. Billy would wake screaming, his little head of blonde curls damp with sweat, arms searching for his mother’s in the dark. She was always there in a split second, ready to comfort to him. Neil thought she was coddling him and making him soft (and voiced this opinion loudly and as often as possible.)
Billy remembers sitting at the kitchen table, head resting on his hands, watching his mother craft what she called ‘the magic fix for bad dreams’ after a particularly restless night. He remembers her hands wrapping the string around the hoop in a web, her fingers tying the beads, and attaching the feathers. He remembers following her to his bedroom and watching as she nailed the finished product to the wall.
Although I can’t be in here every night to chase the bad dreams away, the dreamcatcher will watch over you in my place. It’ll scoop up the nightmares and keep you safe. Nothing but good dreams will find their way to you.
Maybe there was some magic to it, maybe it was just because his mother made it special just for him, but either way, Billy slept soundly after that. Neil finally quieted a bit.
Billy knows it’s silly. He knows Steve is much older than he was the day his mom hung the dreamcatcher on his wall. But he figures it’s worth a shot.
When Billy shows up on the Harrington’s doorstep with the homemade hoop, he expects Steve to laugh in his face. But he doesn’t. He’s too tired. He listens to Billy’s story, thanks him, and promises to give it a try. Steve’s so exhausted he is willing to try anything.
Maybe there was some magic to it, maybe it was just because Billy made it special just for him, but either way, Steve slept soundly that night. His dreams of tunnels, fire, and flower-shaped heads are replaced with sea breezes, blue eyes, and blonde curls.
heyo yall!! @milgram-girls-zine is releasing this saturday, May 16!! It's a zine focused on all the MILGRAM girls, and it's great!! everyone else on this zine did an amazing job, and I'm so excited for you guys to see it :D
I was able to help write on this zine, so please enjoy a snippet of Curtain Call for Just Five!!
(It's about Yuno being visited during a show by a certain four girls :])
Yuno adjusts her costume one final time, taking a quiet breath. She glances around at the people standing next to her, the nerves buzzing between all of them.
She's not in the first scene of the show, but she's been lucky enough to be allowed onstage while it starts.
Honestly, with this many people in the cast, it's crazy that the stage manager even let her up here. Points to being close, probably? Then, again, her scene would be coming up quickly as well.
“Good luck,” someone quietly mutters. (The stage manager, probably, is her guess.)
The show is starting soon, and the show announcement is the usual muffled ramble of turning off phones, being quiet, and talking about intermission. All she can hear is her own heartbeat.
…it's funny, she hasn't been this nervous for a show in a while. She can't explain why.
“Nervous, Yuno? I'd get it. It's our only show, and it's three hours.” She turns her head to the voice, their lead. “...But, I heard there were people pretty excited to see you.”
Yura and her mom, probably. They're usually pretty excited to watch, even if Yura usually is too young for these.
Yuno hums and is about to respond when–
“Do you have like… a secret group of mysterious friends? I swear, I've never seen someone seem so ecstatic about one of our shows before, and especially about, well, you,” He teases.
“A group of mysterious friends–?” The words sort of tumble out of her mouth.
Woo!! It's time! It's time for the gift exchange!! (@milgram-valentines-exchange)
Happy Valentine's Day to @mrcrazyvillainvillainn!! I had such a fun time writing your gift!! Truly gotta let Mahiru and Mikoto be silly and happy! I really hope you enjoy!! I've never written a ship fic for any of the prisoners, so I guess we ball?? (Also, let me know if you want the art without the titles!!) JIAWODJIAOW Anyways, here we go! Please enjoy...
do i dare love you? (i have always loved you)
Is this selfish? This isn’t too much, is it?
I just love you so much.
How long would this dream go on?
I guess we can just say that this feeling is happiness~
Do you really think you know what love is?
You don’t have to keep it in and hide it away.
"I love you", the reason why I'm here
This is how "I" will love "you"!
---
"To be honest, Mikoto Kayano didn't know what to expect."
"Mahiru Shiina fixes the flowers in a bouquet and hands it off to the customer."
(Mikoto Kayano and Mahiru Shiina love each other in the smallest of moments.)
To be honest, Mikoto Kayano didn't know what to expect. Getting a mysterious call out of the blue? Well, ah… That’s sure to scare him.
No, no, everything’s fine. No need to resort to anything crazy.
Mikoto exhales and splashes some water on his face. Turning off the sink, he looks up at the mirror and flashes himself a smile.
…ah, okay, that was a little embarrassing. Mikoto laughs to himself as he walks out of the bathroom and back to his desk.
He drums his pen against his desk as he moves his mouse around to turn his computer back on. Placing his head on his hand, he scrolls through emails and emails.
…
It’s just the same emails. “Fix that.” “I liked the original design better; can you do it again?” “The deadline moved. Make sure your designs are ready for–”
Ping!
Mikoto blinks and glances over at his phone.
New Message: make sure to come soon!
Right, yeah. Mikoto has to head back home soon. Okay, he should really get a start on his work so he can head home early!
Sitting straight, Mikoto pulls up some designs on his computer and grabs the small stack of papers.
With one more glance at the ideas given, Mikoto starts designing.
Mikoto leans back in his chair and slumps back. The design… is done! This is where Mikoto pretends to hear a soft achievement noise. Ding!
Anyways, Mikoto exhales and looks at the papers on his desk. The design is nice! One of his finest designs, actually. He flips through the papers and nods to himself, happy with the result.
In the corner of his eye, he notices his boss and quickly waves him down. The second his boss looks at him with a small smile, Mikoto realizes his desk is an absolute mess.
Ack–! Why did he leave his energy drink can here? Oh, these papers need to be in a folder–
Right after Mikoto finishes rearranging his desk, his boss finally makes it to his desk.
“Chief! I finished the design you wanted me to make!” Mikoto hands the stack of designs with a small smile.
His boss blinks, clearly surprised at how fast Mikoto finished the designs. He flips through the small stack, checking each design.
His serious expression seriously doesn’t tell me anything… Mikoto internally groans.
“Good job, Kayano.” His boss places the stack underneath his arm. “These will probably suffice for our client. Do you have other designs that need to be completed?”
“Ah, um–” Mikoto looks around at his desk. He doesn’t think he does. “...No…?’
“Oh?” His boss asks, surprised for some reason. Hey, Mikoto knows how to finish his work if it isn’t being constantly changed! “Ah… Alright then… I guess you…” His boss looks around the office. “...Actually, it looks like everyone is preoccupied.”
Mikoto shifts uncomfortably in his seat. Please don’t give him more work. Please don’t give him more work.
His boss lifts his wrist and looks at his watch. “Hm… It’s seven. Earlier than I would like to let anyone out.”
Oh, please. Please. Please-!!
His boss sighs. “Alright, Kayano. You may head home early today. I’m only doing this because you’ve got most of your work under control and I unfortunately don’t want to bother your coworkers with giving you their work.” You would anyway, but you seem to be in good spirits today…?
“Thank you, Chief!” Mikoto smiles.
“Don’t expect this often from me. Have a good night.” His boss turns right around and walks away, going over to a different cubicle. Mikoto watches as his boss walks away and pumps his fist.
Woo! I’m free! Mikoto grins to himself as he packs his stuff into his bag. Standing up, he shuts his computer off and looks around.
To be honest, he feels really bad for his coworkers…
But, he promised to get home as soon as he could. Mikoto glances at his phone, specifically that one notification.
make sure to come soon!
He doesn’t want to break his promise. So, with a quiet exhale, he walks to the elevator and clicks the button to go down. The elevator doors open.
He walks in.
…
“…oh, I forgot to press the button to the lobby–” Mikoto mumbles as he quickly clicks the button down.
Mikoto hears the key click in the lock and turns the doorknob. As he walks into his apartment, the lights are all out.
“I could’ve sworn I left the lights on…?” Mikoto mumbles as he takes the key out of the lock and shrugs off his coat. He slowly walks through his apartment, fumbling for the lights.
His hands land on the switch and Mikoto flips the lights on–
Arms wrap around Mikoto’s neck. Something makes Mikoto twitch. “Surprise~!”
Mikoto jumps.
Mahiru laughs above him as Mikoto lies on the ground, dazed. “Ma– Mappi???”
Someone relaxes.
“Hehe~ Did I scare you?” Mahiru giggles, absolutely beaming.
“A… a little, yeah!” Mikoto dusts himself off. “I think I hit my head… Ow…”
Mahiru’s laughter immediately stops. “Ah– did I hurt you? Hey, let me see–”
Mahiru quickly kneels on the floor and scoots next to Mikoto. “No, no. I’m okay, I promise– Please don’t worry!” Mikoto gives a weak smile.
“Let me just look, okay?” Mahiru says, with a soft voice filled with concern. (Her voice is always soft, but these moments, they're just a little bit more comforting. Maybe it’s Mikoto being too detail-oriented recently, but he’s decided to notice the smaller things.)
Mikoto swallows. “Okay.”
She looks at the back of Mikoto’s head, checking for any bumps or bruises.
The moment is silent as Mahiru looks all over Mikoto’s head for anything and Mikoto sits there, quiet.
To be honest, he doesn’t want to say anything. He doesn’t want to ruin it. It’s… those small moments, right? When you know someone loves you. Those are the moments you want to hold in your hands because they’re so fuzzy and warm.
“I love you,” Mikoto whispers.
There’s a pause. Mahiru stops checking his hair. Her hands are still. She’s not moving.
Did he ruin it? Maybe he should apologize and–
“I love you, too,” Mahiru whispers back.
And, they’re back to silence.
Mahiru scoots back in front of him. “You’re okay. Nothing too bad, okay?”
She says it with a voice that makes him know she cares: a warm, loving voice. It makes him want to cry just because she loves him.
And, he loves her. And, he'll make sure she knows that.
“Okay,” Mahiru says, her voice oddly strained. Is… is she about to cry? “Um… Okay, I made some food for you. I– I know you don’t usually like big gestures and I really shouldn’t push myself, but… I think you deserve it, okay?”
“Okay.” Mikoto nods. He stands up and gives a hand to Mahiru, who takes it with a small giggle.
“Hehe, this feels like a fairy tale~” She hums.
“Hey, can I…?”
“Eh? Do what?” Mahiru asks, with a tilted head. “I mean, whatever it is, I don’t mind~”
Mikoto places a small kiss on Mahiru’s cheek.
“Ah–!! Hey–! Oh–” She’s red, blushing from ear to ear.
Mikoto laughs. “That was payback.”
“Oh, you-!!” Mahiru has an angry look, but her smile says otherwise. “Fine, fine! That’s fair. Okay, come on, let’s eat~ I don’t want our food to be cold!” Mahiru grabs Mikoto’s hand in hers, trying to drag him over to the table.
Her hands are warm.
Mahiru quickly pauses as she looks at Mikoto and their hands. “Is everything okay…?”
Mikoto nods.
“Everything’s perfect.”
Mahiru Shiina fixes the flowers in a bouquet and hands it off to the customer. “Have a good afternoon~” She grins.
As the shopkeeper’s bell rings to show the customer has left, Mahiru sighs and melts into the counter.
“Shiina…? Are you alright?” One of her coworkers asks as they walk over.
Mahiru mumbles something into the counter.
“Uh…” They laugh. “Okay, I’m guessing you’re not okay. Um…”
Mahiru keeps her head on the counter as she hears her coworker’s footsteps slowly disappear.
Mahiru sighs. She’s really tired… She wasn’t able to get any sleep last night. She doesn’t even know why. She just couldn’t sleep.
A lady like her should be getting her beauty sleep!
Oh, well… She’ll just have to brave the storm!
Mahiru quickly lifts her head up and instantly gets hit with a fit of dizziness.
Ah, that was a bad idea…
As Mahiru quickly blinks away the dizziness, she notices her boss and coworker walking over.
“I wasn’t doing anything–! I mean, I was doing something, I promise!” Mahiru awkwardly laughs as she waves her hands around defensively.
Her boss shakes her head. “Mahiru, you can head home. We don’t expect that many people today, and you seem tired. I can cover whatever is left of your shift.”
“Ah, but–”
“I’ll pay you for your full shift, alright? Just head home.”
“Okay.” Mahiru hesitantly nods and takes off her apron as she heads to the break room to grab her stuff.
When Mahiru returns with her belongings, her coworker hands her a small bouquet with lilyturf, dahlias, forget-me-nots, and red lilies.
“I know you’ve enjoyed taking these kinds of flowers home recently, so here you are!” As Mahiru opens her mouth to speak, her coworker continues, “And, don’t worry about the charge. I already paid for it.”
Mahiru blinks, taking the bouquet and looking at it. “Ah… Oh. Thank you.” Mahiru smiles at the flowers.
“Of course! Now, rest well!”
Mahiru smiles at her coworker before leaving the store, the shopkeeper’s bell ringing behind her.
Mahiru hums as she enters her apartment and quickly walks over to her table near the couch, grabbing water from the kitchen. She places her bag on the floor next to the couch.
Sitting on the couch, she pours some water into a glass vase. Then, she places her bouquet in the vase.
Mahiru looks at the bouquet for a few moments, admiring each flower.
When she yawns, she finally lowers her head on a pillow and slowly…
Closes…
Her eyes…
There’s a smell of food cooking in the air.
She feels warm.
Mahiru slowly blinks the sleepiness from her eyes and looks around.
…why is there a blanket on her…?
Is someone cooking?
Confused, she pushes herself upright and glances at the kitchen.
Mikoto.
Mikoto is cooking.
“Huh…?” Mahiru blurts out, sleepy and confused.
Mikoto looks over at Mahiru. “Oh, hey! You’re awake! Sorry, I tried calling you, but you were asleep. Um, so I let myself in with the spare key!”
Mahiru glances at her bag on the floor and quickly picks it up. Opening it, she searches for her phone. When she finally finds it, she turns it on and sees the notifications flood her lock screen.
3 Missed Calls
10 New Messages:
hey, mappi ^^!!
i’m off from work so i’m coming to visit!
Ah wait you might be at work
Go back to work!!
i think your door is locked??
hello?
mappi??
i’m letting myself in, ok?
oh dear where’s your key
found it!! Coming in now :D
Mahiru rambles as she stares at the notifications, “Ah– I didn’t realize you were calling. I’m so sorry, please forgive me–”
“Hey, hey. It’s all good!” Mikoto smiles. “You were tired, so I let you sleep. I grabbed a blanket from your closet. Hope that’s okay!”
Mahiru nods and sits there for a moment, not sure what to do.
She glances over at the table, spotting the bouquet. She looks at Mikoto, who has a smile on his face as he tries to cook some soup.
She knows why she likes getting these flowers.
They remind her of Mikoto.
They remind her of how much she loves him.
She loves him.
“Hey, let me help you, okay~?” Mahiru sings as she hops up and skips over to the kitchen.
“No, I’m okay. I can cook, see?” Mahiru looks at the small pot Mikoto is using to cook soup.
It’s… hm… not the best soup…?
“Just let me help you, alright?”
“Alright, alright.” Mikoto, stepping back, raises his hands. “Show me what you want to do.”
Mahiru quickly slides in front of Mikoto and glances at the pot. "Can you wrap your arms around me?"
"Eh–?" Mikoto coughs in shock. "Yeah, yeah– Um…"
Mikoto quickly wraps her arms around Mahiru and looks over her shoulder as he tries to stir.
“Mhm~” Mahiru hums. “You’re stirring a little too harshly. Relax, okay?”
“Alright.” Mikoto slowly stirs the soup.
“Still too tense. Okay, hold on.” Mahiru places her hands on his. “Okay, now… We’ll do this together, okay?”
Mikoto is quiet. Mahiru takes that as his yes.
Mahiru, with Mikoto’s hands in hers, slowly stirs the soup. She murmurs some small compliments.
Mahiru lets go of his hands and smiles. “See, you’re doing it now!”
Mikoto breathes a sigh of relief. “Is it better? Honestly, I really couldn’t tell the difference.”
“Hmm… Well, I guess there really isn’t.” Mahiru shrugs. “But, I think the amount of quiet, slow care you put into something will show itself."
She's made herself learn that love can be soft and strong. Ever since her last boyfriend and she broke up on... amicable terms, she's tried being better. For love, and for who she loves.
“I see.”
“...I know it really doesn’t make sense. I’m sorry.” Mahiru shakes her head and slides out from in front of Mikoto.
“No, no. It makes sense, I promise.” Mikoto looks over at Mahiru with a smile. “It shows that you care.”
Mahiru smiles back.
After a few moments with Mahiru helping Mikoto cook, they finally eat together at the table.
“Mappi?” Mikoto fidgets with his spoon.
“Hmm?” Mahiru hums, food in her mouth.
“Thank you.”
Mahiru blinks and just nods. “Y-yeah, of course…!”
Ah– That was so embarrassing…! Not at all lady-like! I should’ve just…!!
“I really don’t cook often, so that was really helpful. Haha…” Mikoto rubs his neck with a smile. “I mean, I do cook! It’s just… noodles and stuff.”
“Well, now you know how to cook one more thing!” Mahiru smiles.
“Yeah.” Mikoto looks at Mahiru with a loving smile on his face.
His smile is so sweet. He even tries to do stuff he’s never done before for me! Ack… My heart can’t take it–!!
I love you.
Mikoto stares at Mahiru before laughing.
“E-eh?? What did I do??”
“Nothing, nothing. I love you, too.” Mikoto grins.
…she said that out loud…
Mahiru is instantly embarrassed. She feels warm again, but she’s not wearing a blanket. “Oh… Ah–”
“Hey, hey. It’s okay. It’s sort of cute, I think…?” Mikoto rubs his neck.
“Ah– If you say so…!!”
The two of them continue eating when Mikoto suddenly speaks up again. “Hey, did you mean to make you help me feel like one of those scenes from a movie…?”
“E-eh?? No, no, wait– Ah. I really didn’t, I swear!!” Mahiru frantically shakes her head.
Mikoto blinks, seeming to realize Mahiru is a little panicked. “Hey, no! I thought it was sweet–!”
Mahiru awkwardly laughs. “I’m glad you do… Um… Maybe I was subconsciously inspired by something…?”
“That’s okay.” Mikoto shrugs. “Everything you do is sweet.”
Mahiru beams.
“If it’s for you, I’ll make sure it’s worth everything.”
so i finally got the birthday fic i promised to post yesterday to come out!! ao3 was down for the night so D:!!
anyways, it was inspired by my own art piece from the other day!!
please go check out when you wish upon a star (do your dreams actually come true?)
