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Organization for Transformative Works
Sometimes Curt wonders if John knows how lost he looks without Gale at his side, like Curt doesn’t notice the glances he throws behind him hoping to catch one last glimpse of Gale’s silhouette before the darkness swallows him up. John turns back smiling down at Curt, before taking in another puff of his Lucky Strike, politely blowing smoke from the corner of his mouth away from Curt like the gentleman he isn’t. Curt burrows deeper into the warmth of John’s body and wonders...
or the one where curt is emotionally tortured and horny while john's just happy to be there
The three of them hanging out together outside of the looming threat of the city exploding or Barry dying hanging over their heads.
The taste of coffee lingers in his mouth as he watches Caitlin and Iris laugh in front of him.
"Wait no, so you're telling me you two set the lab on fire for science?!" Iris exclaims as she looks between him and Caitlin for conformation, a laugh escapes her lips as Caitlin nods and continues on with the story.
"Yes! Hartley was so furious at the time but it was totally worth it when Wells found out and was immediately chill with it and Hartley freaked out even more!" Caitlin giggles as the memory takes over and she shakes her head fondly as she leans back against the Jitters chair.
"It's all apart of the process, Rathaway." Cisco chimes in mocking Eo-Well's voice. Cisco laughs as he remembers the look on Hartley's face at the words, "Oh, he was so mad."
"Furious." Caitlin says before taking a sip of her coffee.
"Wow, I wish I was there." Iris responds as she raises her own coffee mug to her lips a wistful smile on her lips. Cisco clears his throat, "Well, maybe we could do it again?" He questions, eyes drifting between the two of them, Cisco watches as both of their eyes fill up with excitement and Caitlin sits back up in her seat.
"Seriously?!" Cisco only nods at Iris's question.
"I mean yeah, why not right? It's not like we've got anything better to do." He replies with a small shrug of his shoulders. Caitlin gives him a wide smile as Iris moves out of her seat to stand.
“Well, what are we waiting on? Let’s go!” She beams, already pushing her chair in, the coffee that she was slowly sipping on long forgotten. Caitlin gets up with her before she stops and motions towards the coffee table they were just sitting at.
“Hold on, who’s gonna pay for coffee?” The three of them look between each other before Cisco speaks up.
“Alright I’ll do it.” Iris smiles as Cisco begins to put cash on the table.
“Next time, I’ll pay.” She says, her feet already walking towards the door. Caitlin’s eyebrows raise at the words, “There’s going to be a next time?”
“Obviously! You two are fun to hang out with, and besides I’ll need to pay you guys back for blowing up Caitlin’s lab.” Cisco laughs as Iris walks out the door and gives Caitlin a shrug of his shoulders before following her, catching up to the other woman easily.
Cisco and Iris laugh even harder when they hear Caitlin shout from behind them, “We’re not blowing up my lab! Cisco! Iris! Not my lab!”
Talking about non-binary Anakin headcanons with @subskywalker and somehow we ended up plotting OT3 stuff (somehow. As if it’s not what I’m thinking about all the time) and so I dug this up from my drafts (I was writing this for @tokoroth93 a billion years ago then got stuck and re used some dialogue for another fic, ops)
Anakin is trained by Qui-Gon and is only marginally aware of Obi-Wan until they are sent on a mission together then they become unlikely friends and “can I trust you, Anakin?”
“of course”
“me and the Senator from Naboo, we’re a thing” and Anakin has to admit he’s a bit taken aback, because he maybe has a nascent crush on one of them... or both?
(Obi-Wan and Padmé stayed in touch after the Naboo crisis - she used to have a very obvious crush on him, but grows out of it, or so she thinks, and they don’t meet again for many years but become really good pen pals - until they meet again and are forced to admit their feelings)
"You don't understand!"
"Then explain," Obi-Wan offered patiently.
"You can't... I know you think that loving Padmé makes you a worse Jedi, but it is such a good thing in your life. You... you shine so bright when you are with her. You can't let this fight divide you."
"Why is this so important for you, Anakin?"
Anakin's lower lip trembled. "Because... because if you are not together, then I..."
Obi-Wan resisted the urge to prompt his lineage brother and waited for his hesitation to fade. Instead, Anakin seemed to become more and more flustered, and he looked like he was about to shut down.
"It's okay, Anakin, nothing you say will make me think less of you," he shrugged with studied casualness, "You already know my secret and didn't judge me for it."
Anakin took a deep breath. "It is because I care about you. About both of you. I care a lot, more than I should. Seeing you two happy was always such a comfort to me, and I know it's selfish, but I need that. I need to know that you make each other happy, and that I can... I can care from a distance. Or I don't know what I might do, and that scares me."
aka Someone Give Them All The Poly Talk Now before someone gets hurt pls
So, the whole Nancy and Jonathan and Steve stuff in season 2 bugged me. A lot. I refuse to believe Nancy was with Steve for a year and didn’t love him! WHat the hell. So I wrote a thing.
-----
Nancy sits on her bed, and starts pulling out the hairpins, letting her hair fall free. The Snow Ball had been a success. She danced with Dustin more than once, and Mike had been blushing the whole way home, smiling like an idiot. Him and Eleven were absolutely adorable.
Nancy thinks about the words she said to Dustin. Girls your age are stupid. She sighs. Girls her own age are stupid too. She, herself, is a stupid girl. Dustin had talked happily about Steve giving him a ride, and Nancy had tried her very best to keep the smile on her face. Poor Steve. Her stomach turns with guilt and shame. And longing. She misses him.
She gets up to change out of her dress, and her foot hits something. The bottle of vodka. Nancy looks at it. She should call Jonathan. She should go downstairs and tell her mom about the dance. She should remove her makeup. She should....
***
Steve is lying on his bed, flicking through a magazine. His stereo is playing George Michael, and Steve is tapping his foot to the rhythm. He hopes Dustin had a good dance. He hopes the other kids had a good one too, but he mostly hopes it for Dustin. The little asshole deserves fun.
Something hits his window and he yelps in surprise, and nearly rolls off his bed. It's only been a month, and he is definitely not the only one who is still jumpy. Steve gets to his feet and walks towards the window, but before he makes it, another rock hits it. What the hell?
He looks outside and sees none other than Nancy Wheeler, who seems to be aiming a third rock. Steve freezes. Nancy being here can only mean something bad has happened. Shit. Steve opens the window, and waves at her. She stops and tilts her head, watching him carefully. Steve holds up two fingers, and then he closes the window again, grabs his shoes and a jacket and runs down the stairs.
"What's the rush?" his dad yells from the living room, in the tone that makes a question sound like scolding. His dad is really good at that tone. Steve ignores him, too worried about why Nancy is there. Is everyone ok? Is it Will? Is it Dustin?!
Steve runs out on the patio, and Nancy turns around and looks at him. She's swaying slightly, and her eyes look red. Has she been crying?
"Nance - what's wrong?" Steve asks, feeling almost sick with worry.
"Steve," she says, and he can immediately tell that she has been drinking. Her voice gets hoarse so fast. What did they serve at the ball?
"Is everyone okay?" he asks. She nods, and bites her lip. She looks like hell. She is still wearing the dress from the dance, but her hair is loose, and she has her red coat over it, and is wearing a pair of muddy boots.
"I lied," she says, and her lips are quivering. She must be freezing. He grabs her arm and stirs her towards a chair, sitting down next to her.
"Did you walk here?" he asks in shock. What is happening?
"I lied, Steve," she says again, and wraps her cold fingers around his, looking up at him. He stares into those beautiful blue eyes of hers, as always getting a little lost in them. They are full of tears, and she is squeezing his fingers hard.
"Does Jonathan know you are here?" he asks. It is clearly the wrong thing to say, because now the tears start falling down her cheeks. She shakes her head.
"Jesus, Nance," he says, "I'm gonna drive you home, okay?"
She shakes her head again, this time faster. "Steve," she whispers, grabbing his other hand as well, "I need you to know." The words aren't slurred, but for someone who knows her well, it's obvious she is far from sober. Steve swallows. He's scared of what she is trying to say.
"What is it, Nancy?" he asks softly.
"I lied, okay?" her voice is low, but he catches every word, "I lied that day, behind the gym. I've lied every day since. I did love you. I do love you." She stops to take a deep breath, and more tears fall.
Steve feels dizzy for a moment, and he pulls his hands away from her, resting them on his thighs. "You love me? Nancy what the hell? You're with Jonathan. You chose Jonathan!"
"Steve..."
"So, what? You love me, but you love Jonathan more?" The words sound hard. and he is not sure he wants to change that.
"It wasn't fair to you. You were going to stay in Hawkins for me and I was in love with someone else." She is full-on crying now, "I was so sick pretending and lying. To Barb's parents, to my parents, to you and Jonathan. And then... You told me to say I love you, and I just didn't. I just kept it to myself."
"What the fuck, Nancy?" Steve hisses, more frustrated than angry.
"I love Jonathan, I really do but," she pauses, "I couldn't stand you believing that I didn't love you, not any longer."
Steve bites his lip, and looks up at the sky. He wants to cry, and he wants to tell her to leave. He wants to tell her she is being unfair again. He had finally settled with the knowledge that they were over. He was even okay with her dating Byers, because Byers adored the ground she walked on and Nancy deserved something like that, but now this? She loved him and didn't choose him! She might as well have kicked him in the heart - in fact that would probably have hurt less.
Steve curses under his breath. She is drunk and cold, and he loves her. God, he loves her so much. Fuck you, Nancy Wheeler, and your sweet smile and brilliant mind and dead-on aim. Fuck you.
"Come on, let me drive you home," Steve says and lifts her up. Nancy is silent as she lets him lead her to his car. She slumps in the passenger seat, and fiddles with the sleeve. Steve turns up the heat as they drive off. Nancy sighs as the temperature in the car rises. Good. Hopefully she won't get sick. Steve wishes he could slap himself. How much of a mess are you allowed to be over some girl, before deserving a punch or two? Because this feels way past the line.
"Dustin told me you drove him to the Ball," Nancy says after a few minutes of silence.
"Yeah," Steve smiles before he can stop himself, "I'm growing fond of that little shithead."
"He's always been my favorite too, "Nancy says with a smile, before making a face, "don't tell Jonathan. He thinks it's Will."
Steve laughs loudly, still glancing at her. She is turned towards him, and her eyes look dark in the sparse light from the dashboard and street lamps. "Don't worry - your secret is safe with me," he says and they both know he is not just talking about Dustin.
"Thanks," she offers him a half smile. Another minute passes. "Actually, could you take me to Jonathan's?"
Wow, Steve really doesn't wanna look at Byers right now. Not after the revelation, but he can understand Nancy not wanting to face her parents like this.
"Sure," he says and heads that way instead.
He parks the car, and jumps out. He runs to the passenger side, and helps her out. He wants to drive off again, but she doesn't look like she will be able to make it all the way to the door on her own. Fuck. Steve wraps his arm around her and supports her the whole way there. He knocks twice, and gives her a little squeeze in comfort.
Byers opens the door, and his eyes nearly pop out of his head when he sees them. Steve gets it. It's fucking weird.
"Nancy!" Byers says in his always slightly raspy voice.
"I'm sorry," Nancy replies, and walks over to him, collapsing in his arms. Byers pulls her inside, giving Steve a look that says come in and tell me what happened.
"She's cold, you should probably get some blankets," Steve says, putting his hands in his pockets for something to do. His arms feel empty now. Fucking fuck you, Nancy Wheeler.
"I'm tired," Nancy tells them, her voice muffled against Byers' chest. He starts walking towards his bedroom, again signaling for Steve to follow. Steve does so, feeling very awkward and uncomfortable with the whole thing. Byers removes her shoes and places her on his bed. He wraps the covers around her, and sits down next to her, touching her hair gently. Steve considers flinging himself out of the window.
"What happened?" Byers asks. He is watching Steve, and it feels like he can read Steve's mind.
"She, uh..." Steve realizes he hasn't thought of a good lie. Fuck.
"She smells like vodka," Byers says.
"Look, she turned up at my house, drunk and cold and I drove her home," Steve tries to shrug nonchalantly, "I have no idea why, so you'll have to ask her when she's sober." Those damn eyes are still reading him, and Steve really doesn't like it. He starts heading for the door. "I'm gonna... leave you alone with your girlfriend."
"Steve." It's Nancy's voice. "Please stay."
Steve stops and sighs, looking up. Fuck you, Nancy Wheeler. And fuck me, because I do as you ask. He looks at Byers for approval. He just shrugs, and continues to run his hand through Nancy's hair. Steve walks around the bed, and sits on a chair as far away from Byers as possible.
"Okay, I'm staying," he says.
"Thank you," she whispers. Steve hates himself and tells her she's welcome. It's a lie. He hates this. He hates Byers and her, and their closeness and that he has to sit here and look at it because he loves her and she told him she loves him too.
She just also loves Byers.
"Why are you sitting all the way over there?" she asks. Steve rolls his eyes and walks over so he can sit next to her on the bed. Opposite side of Byers of course.
"You happy now?" he asks her.
"Yes," she says and rolls over, pressing her cheek against Byers' thigh. Steve tries to ignore the pain in his chest.
"You're an idiot, Nancy Wheeler," he says before he can stop himself.
"And you're beautiful, Steve Harrington," she replies, sounding half asleep. Steve freezes. Fuck. He looks at Byers, who now looks like he knows exactly why Nancy showed up at Steve's house drunk and cold.
"Byers, look-" Steve starts, but is silenced with a look.
"It's okay, Steve," he says, "I know."
"Well fuck." Steve closes his eyes. He sits like that for a moment, before opening them again, "Can we not talk about this right now? It's been a long night for me."
"Okay," Jonathan says kindly, "you can stay until she wakes up, if you want?"
Steve wants to say no.
"Okay. Thanks."
***
Jonathan wakes up before Nancy. He keeps his arm wrapped around her shoulder, still worried she got too cold last night. He glances down to the floor where Steve is rolled up in a sleeping bag. He is staring into the air, in the exact same position he was in last night.
"Steve?" Jonathan whispers, "have you slept at all?"
"No," Steve whispers back, not moving, "my head is too full, man."
"I heard new experiences can keep you up," Jonathan quips, unable to stop himself. It's been so tense, and usually Steve would be the one to break it with a joke, but not this time.
"Funny, Byers, real funny," Steve grumbles, but there is a bit of warmth in his eyes now.
"Someone has to crack jokes, this is getting unbearable." Jonathan stares at the ceiling as he speaks. He is a little surprised by how comfortable he is around Steve. Sure, they fought demogorgons and demodogs and things together, but they are in love with the same girl. It should be make him more uncomfortable than it does.
"How are you so cool with this, man?" Steve asks, sitting up abruptly.
"I don't know," Jonathan says to the ceiling, "I spent all of last year thinking she loved you. It's not a new feeling."
He can practically hear the wheels turning in Steve's head. "But she's your girlfriend," he says.
"Yeah." The words still make Jonathan smile like an idiot. Nancy Wheeler is his girlfriend. "Yeah, but I fell in love with her while she loved you. I don't know. I guess I love all parts of her, even the part that loves you."
Nancy stirs in his arms, and he looks down at her. She's awake and he wonders how much she has heard. "You guys talking about me while I sleep?" she asks groggily.
"Byers was just gushing about how much he loves you," Steve says, and when Jonathan looks at him, he is smiling.
"I don't deserve you," Nancy whispers into his shoulder, and Jonathan kisses her hair.
"Nance?" Steve asks, sounding nervous, "do you remember last night?" She nods and then looks at Jonathan with fear in her eyes. He sends her a reassuring smile.
"We fought monsters from another dimension - you loving two people cannot weird me out," he tells her.
"You're the only one," Steve says and then pulls a face, "I'm sorry, I'm just having trouble wrapping my head around it."
"I can't believe you stayed," Nancy untangles herself and sits up, "Steve I - I've been so selfish and terrible. I'm so sorry."
"I'm sorry too," he says. Jonathan sits up as well, and watches them.
"You shouldn't apologize," Nancy insists, "I just showed up and told you all these things. I'm sorry."
"It did confuse the hell out of me," Steve responds and rocks a bit back and forth.
"Me too," Nancy says and then they all laugh a little. "I don't expect anything from you. I just..."
"I might need some time," Steve says. Nancy nods. Steve looks sheepish, and then proceeds to get up. "I'm gonna go home. I think I left my stereo on."
They laugh again.
Steve walks out of the room, and Jonathan looks at Nancy. He kisses her and says they'll work something out. She smiles in relief and kisses him again.
"I love you, Jonathan," she says, her voice raw with emotion.
"I love you too," he says, "wait here."
He get up and runs after Steve, who has almost reached the front door. "Hey!" Jonathan calls. Steve turns around and looks at him in confusion.
"Thanks for bringing her here," Jonathan says as he stops in front of him, "and, um, I think it will be okay. We can work something out."
Steve looks at him weirdly, and then suddenly they are hugging each other tightly. "It will be okay," Jonathan repeats, rubbing Steve between his shoulder blades. Steve sighs and tightens his grip even more, just for a moment.
When he lets go, Jonathan sees the tears in his eyes. Jonathan sends him a smile, and Steve returns it, before leaving.
Jonathan heads back to his room, feeling oddly hopeful about the future.
