Dating Taniel means riding around in his Autie’s car, delivering furniture to customers. He opens up the van door for you always and offers his hand to help you up. If the window is down, of course he’ll give you a chaste kiss before getting in the car himself. He always lets you pick the radio stations or cassette tapes to play while he drives. And he never lets you step foot out of the van to carry in heavy furniture (he knows you can but wants to do all the heavy lifting for you).
Dating Taniel means him stealing glances at you all day. He looks at you with soft eyes and a warm smile on his face when he picks you up for dates. His eyes wander over your face and soft curves of your body. He loves studying your features in the sunlight, moonlight, and streetlamps.
Dating Taniel means he comes to your place late at night, tapping on the window to deliver little gifts and trinkets to you. His Auntie would get new donations and he instinctively looks for things that he knows would catch your eye. He brings you bracelets, rings, hair barrattes, trinket boxes, ceramic animals, and even tea sets. He absolutely loves it when he comes to deliver another gift and he sees your radiant smile and all the other gifts he brought around your room.
Dating Taniel means wearing his button ups to go to work or errands. While he may see, annoyed when he can’t find one of his shirts, he secretly loves it. As much as he dislikes driving around town for his Auntie (when you're not there of course), he always drives past your work or house to see if you are wearing one of his shirts. Bonus points if you wear one of his tees to bed when he comes knocking on your window at night.
Dating Taniel means braiding each others’ hair. He braids yours when it’s hot out, before you go to work, or when you're sick. He always wants an excuse to be close to you and show you his culture. It’s something that calms him down more than you. And after he teaches you about how his hair connects him to nature and his ancestors, he lets you touch and play with his hair. Whenever he’s stressed or has a bad day, he comes to you for comfort, reassurance, and to have his hair braided.
Dating Taniel means his love language is all of them. He loves giving you gifts and trinkets, opening doors for you, and holding your hand. But the one that tops them all is quality time. He yearns for you when he cannot see you. Because of the evil that lives in Derry, he never knows the next time he’ll get to see you. He wants to constantly be near you whether it’s going on dates, cooking a meal together, or just being in the same room as each other.
ÑEJEJE I NEED THA FIC OF CHILDHOOD FRIEND! TANIEL!!! I need this man (and if you can avoid explicit smut scenes it would be appreciated, but ofc you can add if u want)
‧₊˚ ┊ Childhood Friend Taniel
Synopsis: Even when he couldn’t even understand the word “ethereal,” he knew, from the moment you guys met, that it was the only way to describe you
pairing: childhood friend Taniel and a kind of oblivious reader
Warnings: fem! coded reader, pet names, Taniel plays the guitar, him trying his best to act nonchalantly, written by a non-native English speaker, mostly fluff, teeth-rotting stuff if you will, proof read like a thousand times omg
A/N: WELCOME TO MY FIRST EVER LONGISH FIC!!! HOPE YOU LIKE IT, PLEASE LEAVE ANY COMMENTS OMGG
Even before he understood what the word ethereal meant, Taniel knew— he knew from the moment you met—that it was the only way to describe you.
He was staring again— eyes soft, unfocused— as he’d forgotten the rest of the room existed— the kind that made it seem as though he might turn into a moth, drawn helplessly toward light. He didn’t even notice when he did it. It felt natural, just settled easily between you
Taniel never realized how attached he’d grown to you. When he thought back to the day you first met, it felt as though you’d always been a part of him, simply waiting to reunite.
You met at his aunt Rose’s shop. As a self-proclaimed thriftaholic, it felt fitting that the first place you visited after moving to Derry was an antique store.
It was spring, 1951. The air was warm, and you’d arrived during the only time of year the town looked halfway decent. Kids played football around the square, snot running down their noses as they yelled profanities. Couples strolled with their arms intertwined, whispering pet names and giggling. Somewhere in the air lingered the faint smell of smoke mixed with something sweet and floral.
You and your parents had moved to Derry for work—something you didn’t quite understand, considering it was a one-horse town, but nonetheless.
Curious to explore, you wandered into the shop, fidgeting with the red ribbon tied around your curly hair. You’d braided it yourself, and it showed. You browsed through dressers and nightstands until your eyes landed on a boy sitting behind the counter.
Taniel.
He looked about your age, maybe a year older—though that might’ve just been his serious expression. He hadn’t noticed you at all, completely absorbed in a comic book.
It wasn’t until Rose greeted you and casually mentioned that the serious-looking boy was her nephew—and that you’d likely be in the same grade—that he finally lifted his head.
He stared. —he’d never seen you there before—
It startled you a little. His eyes were curious, something bright flickering across his face before settling back into his usual somber look. He stood up quickly, and that’s when you realized he was surprisingly tall. Without hesitation, he met your gaze and blurted out,
“I’m Taniel, and you’re pretty—”
He froze, suddenly aware of what he’d said.
“—but you don’t know how to braid your hair.”
The words sank in. Your face puckered into a pout.
Only then did he realize how rude he sounded. Panic set in as he glanced toward his aunt for help—though she was barely holding back laughter. Turning away so he wouldn’t have to look you in the eye, he stumbled with his words,
“I could help you learn how to braid… if you want.”
If you’d seen his face, you would’ve noticed how flushed he was. But all you saw was his back, and you assumed he was just trying to apologize.
You walked closer and tapped his shoulder.
He nearly jumped out of his skin.
When he turned around, he noticed how close you were. How sweet your eyes looked up close. He shyly reintroduced himself, his serious façade melting into a small, bashful smile. You laughed, charmed by the sudden change.
You told him your name—and then said something that made his ears burn.
“I think you’re really pretty too,” you said brightly. “I’ve never seen a boy with such long hair. It looks really soft.”
From that day on, you were inseparable.
Years later, you both still laughed whenever Rose retold the story of how you met. It never got old—especially since Taniel still grew jittery and embarrassed whenever she mentioned why he had to turn around.
You spent most of your free time at Taniel’s place. Sometimes you read while he fixed his guitar. Sometimes he played your favorite songs while you hummed along. He listened patiently as you gossiped about your ignorant classmates. You went to the lake in the summer to bask in the sun. And on colder nights—when it was too late to go home, even though he could’ve driven you—he insisted you stay.
You slow-danced in the quiet hours of the night to your Joe Stafford vinyl, a gift he’d gotten for your eighteenth birthday. Later, you’d fall asleep cuddled together on the couch. According to Taniel, he slept better with you near him.
You never questioned any of it. It all fit so easily into your life.
You didn’t notice that you were one of the only people he let hug him. Or how he always found an excuse to keep you close, even for a moment. Or how irritated he became whenever you mentioned another boy asking you out—especially when you giggled about how everyone assumed you were dating Taniel.
It all seemed unconnected to you.
Until the night you tried to paint your nails.
You sat at his desk, hands trembling as you attempted to use the inconveniently small brush. That’s when he spoke.
“Do you need some assistance, princess?”
His voice was soft, as it always was with you. It caught you off guard.
Why would he know anything about nail polish? You’d never seen him wear it. Frustration bubbled over.
“Are you telling me you know something about nail polish?” you snapped, not realizing how harsh you sounded. “I’ve never even seen you use it—not once!”
You were ready to keep going, until you saw his expression.
That one.
The one he only wore when it was just the two of you. Like a kicked puppy. Your chest tightened.
“Oh gosh, I’m so, so sorry, sweetheart,” you blurted, the pet name slipping out. “I didn’t mean to be mean. I’m just frustrated.”
You closed the bottle and stepped closer. “Can you… really help me?”
You held your hand out to him.
He melted at the gesture, eyes closing briefly. He gently took your hand and lifted it to eye level.
“I practiced on my aunt’s hands,” he admitted quietly. “A lot, actually.”
He thought back to the night he’d finally asked Rose to teach him. She’d questioned him at first—until he mentioned your name. Then it all made sense. They’d practiced for hours until he could do it without making a mess.
He guided you back to the desk, pulling up a chair to sit across from you.
“It’s no big deal,” he murmured. “I know how shaky you get with small things.”
When he finished your right hand, something shifted. Years of shared glances and quiet moments gave him the courage he’d been searching for.
“I…” He closed the bottle. “I wanted to tell you something.”
The silence stretched.
“Do you remember the first thing I said to you when we met?”
You smiled. “Of course. Am I not pretty anymore?”
You teased
He smiled softly. “Of course you are. It’s just… now I know that pretty falls short.”
Your heart raced.
“I think the right word is ethereal.”
Your face burned.
“I’ve been in love with you since the moment I met you,” he continued, voice shaking. “And I know you might not feel the same, but—”
You stood abruptly.
His heart sank. “Do you want me to drive you home? I will if you want to leave”
Instead, you cupped his face and kissed him.
It was shy at first. Exploratory. Then he melted into it, heart pounding like it might burst. When you pulled away, he felt breathless.
“Does that make it clear how I feel about you?” you asked.
He nodded, unable to speak.
He hugged you tightly, lifting you off the ground and spinning you until you laughed. You both tumbled onto his bed, still giggling.
Looking at him now, you couldn’t believe you hadn’t noticed before.
“I feel so silly,” you admitted softly. “For not seeing this.”
You kissed him again—slower this time. Comfortable. Real. His hands settled at your waist, a smile pressing into your lips.
When you pulled back, he was grinning, the kind of smile that could light up a room.
“So…” you asked shyly, “does this mean we’re boyfriend and girlfriend?”
He laughed softly. “I wanted to ask you properly. But who am I to say no to such a pretty lady?”
summary: an unexpected snow storm rolls in as you’re finishing up your shift at work. with no car, and no one to call (anymore), you make the trek home. When a familiar face offers you a ride home, it’s hard to say no.
a/n: im so soft for taniel during winter that i had to write another. i’ll open up my requests soon if you guys want me to write specific fics for taniel
You huffed as you checked your watch. Fifteen minutes until close and the book store was completely dead. You had half a mind to close up early, but the voice in the back of your head told you otherwise. And it’s a good thing you listened because a group of young kids nearly toppled over one another trying to enter the store. You almost told them to leave until you heard some of their bickering.
“C’mon we don’t have much time.”
“I’m telling you guys, it’s great here!”
“By the time you find the book it won’t be relevant anymore.”
“Can we hurry up already? I’m gonna be late for dinner.”
“Yeah my dad will kill me if he knows I’m out in this weather.”
You smiled to yourself as they walked through the aisles. After what he—Taniel— told you about this town, you smile every time you see kids being kids. Too bad that thing will be on the loose again soon. Speaking of soon, you knew you needed to start your closing tasks before the weather picks up.
Outside, the wind zipped through the bare trees and threatened to undo all the colorful lights that adorned rooftops and windows. Besides the kids just now, the store had been empty for a while, yet you couldn’t find it in you to do anything besides sit and think. How could Taniel just sit back knowing that kids are going to die? There has to be something to stop this thing, right? But what’s done is done. You yelled and cried to him. Begging him to do anything but turn a blind eye. You hated him for telling you. But you would’ve hated him more if he let you live in ignorant bliss. God, why did shit like this have to happen to a small town? To you and your…to you and Taniel?
“Excuse me, how much are these?” the small boy asked you.
“Umm…yeah. It’s—I’ll let you have them for two dollars.” You knew you were under charging a bit, but you wanted him to keep his childhood whimsy as long as possible.
He looked skeptical. “Are you sure? These are pretty big books.”
You flipped through the books on the counter. They were about space, planets, and science. You raised your brows at him as a smile painted your face. “Matter of fact, I think I over charged you. They’re on the house, as long as you promise to spend the rest of your money on a nice gift for your parents,” you gather up the books in a neat stack and hand them off to the boy, “or your friends. Good friends are worth keeping around, you know?”
His face lit up as he took the books from you, “Yeah, I know. Thank you for the books!” His friends teased him about his interests as they walked out the door.
The silence hit you like the cool air from outside. Reality set in as you realized how bad the weather had gotten. Snow coated the trees, streets, and sidewalks in a thick, icy blanket. The sky was dark, the kind of dark that made the stars stand out.
You hastily started dusting and closing the store. You didn’t want to imagine how awful your walk home would be. So, you pushed it out of your mind and busied yourself with the closing tasks. But just before you put the money from the register into the safe, the unthinkable happened. The power flickered. Once. Twice. And then it went out completely.
“Shit, shit, shit,” you cursed to yourself. You finished locking up the safe and began putting on all your layers needed to brave the storm. Surely, Ms. Walker would understand why the shelves weren’t restocked.
You fumbled around the store flipping off every light switch in case the power was restored before morning. You zipped your coat, grabbed your bag, and walked out the door. You fumbled to lock the door. “Stupid, dumb gloves.”
After many failed attempts, and finally taking off one of your gloves, you were off on your trek. And it proved to be as difficult as it looked. The wind was fierce and the snowflakes blinded your vision. Your toes, fingertips, and nose grew numb from the bitter cold. Too bad the power went out, you couldn’t even call—
“Stupid. Ugh, fucking stupid!” You didn’t even check if the phone lines were down. But even if they weren’t you couldn’t call anyone. Not anyone with a car anyway. Unless…no, of course you couldn’t call him. You cussed him out and told him you never wanted to see him again. So much for that idea. Now you’re cold and alone, in more than one way.
But it seemed like your imagination wasn’t that far fetched. Through your blurred vision, you could make out the reddish brown van drive a few feet past you and stop. You sighed, out of relief or frustration, you didn’t know. But you kept walking with your head as high as your scarf and hat would let you.
The brown van kept up with your pace. You wanted to start sprinting, but the idea of wiping out in front of him kept you from doing so. “Kill me, now.”
The van slowed as Taniel leaned over to roll the window down. “Get in,” he told you.
You ignored him, trudging along through the few inches of snow. “It’s a long way to your house. Can you please just get in the van? We don’t have to talk.” He was pleading with you now, desperate to know you were out of the cold and safe at home.
When you pulled up the strap of the bag, he knew he needed to do something. He parked the van, swung open the door, and nearly slipped walking to you. “Hey, can you please just do this for me? Just get in the car.”
You scoffed, “Seems like you want me to do a lot because you can’t.” You hit his shoulder as you walked past him.
He ran past you, stopping in front of you. His face was laced with worry and panic. God, you hated worrying him. “Well, I’m trying to take you home, but it seems like you’re more content with freezing than letting me help.”
“Why the hell do you even care? People die in this town all the time, and you know why. So, what’s one more girl that goes missing in a blizzard?”
His jaw tightened as a look of hurt flashed across his eyes. “Please, I don’t want to fight. Let me take you home. No strings attached,” he raised his hands in the air, “If not, it seems like we’re both going to freeze out here.”
That’s when you looked at him, really looked at him. He didn’t have a coat, gloves, or anything other than his flannel and undershirt. You thought about his offer, not as long as you would’ve liked to, but still thought about it. Your synapses were firing at an alarming rate trying to think of the different outcomes or excuses to get out of this situation. Suddenly, the idea of a kid-eating-clown-looking-ancient-demon coming to swallow you whole didn’t seem like such a bad thing anymore.
“Okay,” you said softly as you turned to start walking to the van. There was an awkward shuffle between the two of you, not knowing if it was still appropriate for him to open your door. After a few cringe-worthy ‘sorrys’ and hesitant hands reaching for the door, he finally pulled open the door for you.
The drive was slower than you could’ve imagined. You knew he was being careful with the roads still unplowed. You curled yourself into the passenger seat, head resting against the cold window.
Taniel broke the tension. “I’ve thought about what you said. You know…the other day. And you’re right. I understand, you know…” he trailed off. He didn’t know whether he should continue or let the conversation die out like your relationship did.
“Your point?”
“I get it, really I do. I just…I don’t think you understand the gravity of the situation. This thing can’t be stopped. It can only be…contained. It’s always going to be here, watching and waiting and…I know this doesn’t make a lot of sense, but you have to trust me.”
“Trust you? You want me to trust you. We’ve known each other for years and you just tell this to me now?” You shifted your body towards him, raising your voice, “I mean, where was this speech two weeks ago?”
He sighed. “I…I know I messed up, okay. But I only told you because I lo—I trust you. It’s not your fight to fight. It’s not your battle to win. There’s nothing we can do but hope It doesn’t get to us. And it sucks, okay? I get it! But I opened up to you. I shared this with you and you took it and ran away with it—”
“So, you’re saying this is my fault?” You interrupted growing more frustrated at the snow, your coat overheating you, and the boy sitting next to you.
He began to raise his voice to match yours. “I’m not saying that at all. I’m saying that you don’t need to worry about this. About any of it. If you just wanted an excuse to break up you could’ve told—”
“Excuse me? What the hell are you even talking about? I didn’t want to break up! I just wanted things to be normal—”
This time it wasn't you cutting off the conversation. The van hit a patch of ice and started drifting. Taniel, in an attempt to straighten it out, overcorrected it. You screamed as he gritted his teeth and gripped the wheel. After spinning out a few times, the van jerked to stop. You both caught your breath and silently checked the other was okay.
He broke the silence once again, “Are you okay? Did you hit your head?”
“No…I’m fine,” you sheepishly replied.
He started driving again. “You care too much, you know?”
You gave him your infamous ‘watch it’ look. The one you would pull out when he would tease you about spending too much time reading or picking out an outfit. He always thought you were pretty and smart without needing the fancy clothes or big books to show it.
“You care, and that’s good. You want people to be the best, to do the best. You see the good in this world. That’s what I love about you! You cry when books are dedicated to loved ones, when kids fall off their bikes, or when you see old couples at restaurants. You’re always thinking about the previous owners of the furniture at my Aunt Rose’s place. You care about people. People you don’t even know! But sometimes that’s all you can see. Look, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. And I’m sorry that there’s nothing anyone can do to fix it. But you don’t need to run away from me, from us.”
A silence fell between the two of you as he pulled into your driveway, putting the van in park.
A smile crept its way to your face. “You what about me?”
He knew it slipped out during his speech, but he didn’t care. He turned to you and gazed into your soul. His hand reached up to cup your face. “I love you. I love you so much it scares me sometimes. Like I don’t know what to do or how to show it. But I love you so much—”
You cut him off, but for a good reason. You grabbed the collar of his flannel and pulled him closer. His soft lips met yours like they had a hundred times before, but this was different. It was sweet and slow, like the two of you silently agreed that this moment should last forever.
You pulled away breathless, “I love you, too, and I’m sorry. I know that I get in my feelings about these things all the time and—”
He cuts you off, grabbing your chin and placing another kiss on your lips. “C’mon, let’s get you inside before the storm gets any worse. Wouldn’t want my pretty girl to freeze now.”
him not announcing when he's coming over, giving him a key to your house ‘for emergencies only’, him waltzing through your front door like he lives there, seeing his shoes lined up by the door and his coats hanging in the hall, him cleaning up around your house like he lives there, coming home to him sitting on your front porch watching the sunset, clearing out a drawer and space in your closet for his clothes, getting him a tooth brush to leave in your bathroom
him falling asleep on your couch watching tv, the two of you laughing obnoxiously at the dad jokes he makes, playing vinyls while busying himself your kitchen, randomly making a grilled cheese sandwiches at odd hours of the day/night, him cutting up fruit and silently handing you a bowl, him carrying you into the kitchen so he ‘doesn’t get lonely’, sitting on the counter watching the muscles in his back move as he cooks, distracting him with giggly kisses, constantly setting off the smoke alarm, joking about getting a ‘kiss the cook’ apron
him wearing your shirts to make you mad, him pulling your socked feet into his lap and massaging them to busy his hands, finding strands of his hair on your pillows and clothes, resting his arms on the back of couch always, running his hands through your hair and twirling strands around his finger without realizing it, stealing your hair ties all the time, him walking around with messy hair and no shirt, leaving small notes around the house for you to find, taking pictures of you doing random things or sleeping
taking up more than half of your bed, calling your stuffed animals by the most human sounding names, leaving a piece of chocolate or mint on your pillow before bed, him waking up before you to make you coffee, you overcooking the eggs while he burns the toast because you couldn’t stop talking, him using your shampoo and you using his body wash, him following you into different rooms of your house bc he ‘misses you’
summary: after a terrifying encounter with Pennywise leaves you in a state of disarray, Taniel helps you pick up the pieces
pairing: Taniel x reader [established relationship] [minor spoilers]
word count: 2.1k
warnings: mentions of missing children, blood, depictions of suicide, death
a/n: this is my first published oneshot. hooray for me! this was a bit self indulgent for me after finishing the series. part two may be in the works?
You stare at your reflection in the bathroom mirror longer than you meant to. The nightmares had started getting bad again. Their death anniversary is coming up, but you thought things would be different this time.
You make your way to your bedroom, mentally checking that all the doors were locked and lights were off, except the light in your room. You smiled at the piece of porcelain giving your room a warm glow. Taniel had gifted it to you not long after you confided in him about your lack of sleep. It was small and sat on your nightstand warding off any evil that lurked in the darkness.
The sheets felt cool against your skin as you climbed into bed. You clutched your push rabbit tight against your aching chest. Maybe the nightmares were getting worse because of…the missing child. The kid just a few doors down never came home from school and has been missing ever since. It seemed like a possible kidnapping or runaway case, that is until Taniel started acting weird.
He tried explaining it to you as best he could. He glossed over parts about the turtle and pillars, but the rest weighed heavy in your mind. He explained that this thing comes out every 27 years to feed on children. Taniel reassured you that you had nothing to worry about.
“This isn’t your fight to fight, okay? Don’t be afraid. Just leave it to me, things will be fine.”
You scoff to yourself as you turn over in bed. ‘It can’t be that simple’ you thought to yourself.
You tried getting comfortable and closing your eyes. You were more than exhausted, but sleep still wouldn’t come. Or couldn’t. The windchimes hanging outside your window suddenly became a distraction rather than soothing background noise. You tried to ignore it so you could stay in bed, but the annoyance persisted.
You angrily throw off the covers and stomp to your window, grumbling curses as you attempt to remove the chimes. The hook below the gutters seemed to be a little too high for you to get on your own. Where is Taniel when you need him?
You dragged the chair to your vanity over to the window. The angle made it awkward to stand, having your feet inside your bedroom and your torso and arms just outside. After several unsuccessful attempts, you finally got the chimes off the hook. As you maneuvered your way back into your room, you nearly fell a story down. Just in the reflection of the window stood a clown. A clown with bright hair and a hand urging you to come closer.
The shock and instinct to whip your head around caused you to fall onto the thick cream carpet. When your brain caught up to your body, the clown was no longer there. Could your mind be playing tricks on you? Lack of sleep can do strange things to people.
Your knees felt weak as you lifted yourself up. The fast, rhythmic heartbeat was pounding in your ears as you shuffled to close the window and return to bed. You ignored the chimes that fell out of the window and onto your front lawn and the chair by the door. You knew you needed sleep, and this was proof.
When the adrenaline rush wore off, you thought you could actually get some sleep. Your eyelids felt heavy and your body started to relax until It happened again. The sound of wind chimes outside your bedroom.
Your head started aching from how fast you sat up in bed, but there they hung. The chimes you had nearly died trying to take down. They fluttered and clattered together in the cool breeze. You tried to ignore it and pulled the cover over your face as you squeezed your eyes shut.
“Maybe I’m hallucinating. That has to be it. Or maybe sleepwalking. I guess it doesn’t matter because I’m talking to myself now. Just forget about it and sleep. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid. It’s your mind playing tricks on you.” You repeated soft, encouraging phrases to yourself as the chimes continued outside. But a short tune seems to vibrate against the pieces of metal. It sounded like a jingle or familiar song. Like the perfect anthem for a…clown.
Fed up with your lack of sleep being interrupted, you ripped off your covers again, yanked open the window, and pulled the chimes off. You meant to throw it to the edge of your yard, but they clanked until they landed in the middle of the street. The frustration died down and the realization kicked in. Taniel would have to understand why the chimes he gifted you were now in the middle of your street.
You closed the window and went to lock it before freezing. It felt like all the air had been taken out of your lungs. In place of your chimes seemed to be a body. But it wasn’t a stranger, it was your father. And he wasn’t outside, you were staring at the reflection of your body. He was inside your house.
“Babygirl, please help,” he strained out, the rope constricting his windpipe.
You ran over to him trying to reach him, but the longer you looked up at him, the higher your ceiling grew. Panic set in as you tried climbing on the furniture around your house. But it seemed that he was too far out of reach. You needed help.
Your hands fumbled with the phone and shook as you dialed the police.
“Derry Police Department, how may I assist you?”
“Help, it’s my father. He’s…” you trailed off. It hit you that he wasn’t thrashing or speaking anymore. It seemed that his body was limp.
“Ma’am, where are you located exactly? What kind of help do you need?”
“Ambulance. I need an ambulance to 121 Cherry Drive. Hurry, please!” Your vision became blurry and it seemed that every sound had an echo to it now.
“Help is on the way. Remember to keep looking at him.” The comment took a second for you to register it, but the voice continued, “Look at him. Look at what you did to him. It’s all your fault.” The operator let out an inappropriate giggle.
You heard the crack before you looked up. The same clown from before had replaced the face of your father. You screamed as you backed into your nightstand, knocking over the phone and lamp. Water started to seem into your room from the walls, doors and windows.
“You’re not really here. You're just–”
“Just what, babygirl,” It interrupted, “dead? Why, isn’t that funny?”
The room kept filling with more liquid. It went from murky water to thick blood. You made your way around your room, using furniture to keep you from slipping, to try to open the window or doors. You waded though bloody water all while this half clown half dad jostled and danced from the rope. Any opening seemed to be locked or impossible to open. The liquid began pouring in from every crevice and crack in your room.
Just before the dark water went above your head, you waved at the figure approaching your room. You took one final breath before the water consumed the rest of the air in the room. Your heart felt like it was going to burst through your chest at any minute. Your limbs and lungs ached as your palms pounded against the ceiling.
Outside, Taniel tried opening the window. Seeing your frantic eyes and deadly situation, he began to panic as well. He punched and kicked the window until it broke, sending hundreds of gallons of water and blood out into the night. Taniel clung to the shingles and shudders as the liquid drained from the room.
He rushed past the broken window and into your room. He instinctively wrapped you in his warm embrace, not caring about the thick layer of blood coating every surface. He tried comforting you, “Shhh, it’s okay. You’re safe now. I’m here. I’m real.” He lifted your hand and put it on his chest. Though your hand felt numb, his erratic heartbeat seemed to match yours.
He continued, “God, you must’ve been so scared. So scared, it’s delightful. You smell so good.”
Your eyes lock onto his. Your hand hesitated for a moment. The creature before you shed its mask of Taniel and revealed itself as the clown. As It. You drew back your hand as It opened its mouth to reveal several layers of teeth.
You screamed as you turned and began crawling away. You grabbed anything that wouldn’t slip out of your hands to throw at It. You didn’t care that it was your brand new landline or the antique lamp Taniel gifted to you. You just wanted this living nightmare to be done. You make your way to the corner of your room and curl into a ball.
“It’s not real. It’s not real. It’s not real.”
You kept repeating this mantra over and over with your hands clasped over your ears and eyes screwed shut. You didn’t notice It disappear into thin air or Taniel bursting through your bedroom door.
You felt a hand on your shoulder and kicked into fight mode. You pushed it away and crawled to the other side of your room, throwing perfume and picture frames at this Taniel imposter. In a last ditch effort, you picked up the now cracked receiver and held it up, ready to attack.
Taniel was crouched several feet in front of you, hands raised in the air. He wasn’t covered in blood, except a few small gashes on his palm and cheek. He pleaded with you, “Honey, it’s me. I swear. It’s Taniel. I’m here now.” He tried to shuffle closer to you, but you still held the phone out as a weapon.
It wasn’t until his Auntie entered your bedroom that made you realize that this was real. The room wasn’t covered in blood. Your hands weren’t either. The window wasn’t broken. No bodies were hanging from the ceiling.
Rose knelt down to your level and spoke softly, “It’s Rose and Taniel, sweetie. I had a feeling that It would do this, but it’s over. We’re here now. Can you let us help you?” Her eyes were soft as she spoke. You felt comforted for a moment before the tears started.
The receiver fell from your hand as you began sobbing. Taniel closed the gap between the two of you, pulling you close and holding you on his lap. His arms caged around your body as he slowly rocked you back and forth, humming an unfamiliar tune. The rest of the night seemed like a blur
Your eyes adjusted to the brightness of the room. You slowly sat up, using your arm to prop yourself up. You blinked slowly as reality caught up to your sluggish brain. This is Taniel’s room. You’re in his room.
A new set of clothes sat folded on the corner of his bed next to your bunny. It took you twice as long to get dressed. The events of last night were still catching up to your sleepy brain. Thankfully, the clothes he left for you were comfy and soft. You couldn’t imagine if you had to go about your usual routine after last night.
You slowly made your way downstairs to the kitchen. Taniel and his Aunt watching your every step with careful precision. They sat you down, offered you breakfast and coffee, and told you about last night.
Taniel’s Auntie explained that she had a dream about something bad happening to you. Knowing that It was still feeding, she woke up Taniel and rushed over to your place. They caught a glimpse of It through your bedroom window before they even made it to your driveway.
“You weren’t in any state to be by yourself, so we took you back here. It’s safe, safer than your bedroom.” Taniel grabbed your hand, placing a kiss on the back of it.
His Aunt continued, “You are welcome to stay here as long as you like, but do be warned we tend to have company often around this time.”
Taniel gave you a soft look that you couldn't decipher. Maybe it was his way of asking you to stay.
All you could muster was a simple ‘thank you’ before she left to go to work.
“Hey, she means it. Stay here as long as you want. I know she doesn’t mind it, and we both know I would enjoy it.”
Your fingers reach up to touch the cut on his face. “Did I do this last night?”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s just a reminder that you put up one hell of a fight against an ancient God,” he joked to lighten the mood.
You gave the boy a soft smile before he placed a light kiss on your temple. A comfortable science fell between you two as well as something else. An understanding of what happened and what needs to happen.
spending the night in his bed because yours is just “too cold”, pressing your cold feet against his just to get on his nerves, warming your hands up underneath his shirt, laying nose-to-nose, playing with his hair while he hums contently, waking up before him to trace his features, waking him up early to see the first snow of the season
getting bundled up to go play in the snow, wearing his jacket and boots that are several sizes too big, sledding down the hills of his Auntie’s farm, him building snow people to look like the two of you and you making snow cats and babies, having a snowball fight that ends is snow covered eyelashes and flushed faces, playfighting and wrestling in the snow, making snow angels while holding hands
warming up inside by the fireplace, making each other hot chocolate, using your mugs to warm up your cold hands, kisses that taste like peppermint and marshmallows, making sugar cookies from scratch, accidentally covering both of you and the kitchen in flour and sprinkles, making gingerbread houses with people that look like the two of you
sight-seeing around town, window shopping for record players and clothes, seeing the lights twinkling in his dark eyes, holding hands that are hidden in his coat pocket, him giving you his scarf when it gets windy, him trying to convince you every plant and branch you pass is mistletoe just so he has an excuse to kiss you again, slipping on patches of ice, him catching you and nearly falling himself, smiling ear to ear and laughing as you walk back to the van
driving around town looking at christmas lights, rolling down the windows to “get a better view”, hanging halfway out the van like a dog on a road trip, taniel looking over at you with a love-sick grin, him pulling you back into your seat by your belt loop, giving him quick kisses on the cheek, singing christmas songs loud enough to get stares and dogs barking, him ‘accidentally’ passing the street to your house with a poorly hidden grin on his face, you rolling your eyes with the same smile adorning your face
a/n: definitely not inspired by acts of service by doja cat and tears by sabrina carpenter. I will probably add on to this and write ones for the other love languages!
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he love love loves doing things for you, it doesn’t matter if you ask or not; he will do anything for you
during the holidays the he will 100% put up all your decorations, he brings down boxes from your attic with his hair in a bun and a smile on his face, he won’t let you even touch a ladder around him, you telling him where to put stuff and him responding ‘yes ma’am’ every single time, will shovel and salt your driveway when it snows, gives you his jacket even when you tell him you’re ‘not that cold’
constantly driving you around all hours of the day, he will try to claim that where you’re going is ‘on the way’ every time, opens up every door for you from the car to your bedroom, carrying you when your feet hurt, pulls your chair out at restaurants, leaving the last bite of food for you, constantly fiddling and fixing your hair or clothes when they get messed up, tying your shoes before you go out, lifting you over large puddles when it rains, silently watches you whenever the two of you are in the same room, him braiding and pulling back your hair when it’s windy or rainy
carrying you from the couch to the bed when you fall asleep, always making you snacks and food so you don’t get hangry, him fixing stuff around your house without you knowing, helping you with your nighttime routine when you’re too tired to do it yourself, washes the dishes while you sit on the counter next to him, moving around your furniture at the drop of a hat, packing you lunches for work, turning off lights and appliances when you forget
just finished reading numb my nightmares it was so good. can i request reader saying Taniel and being at the black spot when the fire happens and when the fire is put out and all the survivors come out Taniel thinks she died but she actually made it out 🌺
hi, love! thank you so much for the request! here you go <3
word count: 2.0k
warnings: welcome to derry spoilers, racism, depictions of hate crimes, graphic depictions of wounds, blood, fire, general panic and violence
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Opening the door to The Black Spot, music and lights poured out into the dark forest. Adults drank and performed intricate swing dances while the kids slowly danced and laughed at the effects the liquor had on the adults in the room. The humid air provided a bit of comfort from the cool breeze the night had to offer.
You walk into the old bunker and immediately become self-conscious. It seemed like everyone had somebody there with them, even the kids that you used to babysit. Even though you recognized the kids and other faces from around town, you were utterly alone in an unfamiliar juke joint.
Of course you wanted your boyfriend to join you, but he had more important plans. Like dire emergency, world ending plans. You knew you had no right to get mad at him for not coming, but it still hurt. Was it too much to ask for one night of fun and freedom with your boyfriend? Why was it up to him to track this thing? But you took a deep breath, clasping your hands behind you as you walked through the door.
Shuffling around awkwardly, you can’t help but stare at all the dancers, musicians, and patrons. All these people, these children, were able to let loose and have fun for one night. Surely, you would be able to forget about Derry and join in their fun swing dances...without a partner, proper dance attire, or confidence.
“Oh, sorry,” you blurt out bumping into arms and catching elbows walking through the makeshift dance floor. You tripped over the laces of your shoes, wishing you picked something dressier out of your closet. You nearly tumbled into the bar counter overwhelmed by all the sights and sounds.
“What can I get you, pretty lady?” The man behind the counter questioned.
“Just a..just a Coke, please.” You internally cringed at your lack of alcohol knowledge. You didn’t really want to get drunk or even just tipsy, but it may have helped deal with the weird, unnerving feeling creeping up your throat.
The man handed you a glass with a wink and tried to strike up a conversation you had already checked out of before you even walked in. You simply turned on your heel and walked back to a stack of milk crates against one of the walls, taking a seat.
You fiddled with the buttons of your shirt and the hem of your skirt. You tried to keep your mind off what in God’s name Taniel was up to. No matter what you thought of to distract yourself, the thick air and condensation from your glass brought you back into reality. A reality that suddenly seems warm and hazy. Even though these thoughts still raced through your brain, a warmth radiated from your ribcage to your fingertips. There was definitely something in this drink. Something that distracted the physical pain, and that was enough.
After gulping down the rest of your mysterious drink, pulled yourself up off your seat and drifted to the dance floor. You shuffled your feet and waved your arms to the tune and lyrics of the song. You rolled up your skirt a few inches and unbuttoned the first few buttons of your shirt. You came here to forget this town, your troubles, the troubles that Taniel found himself in, and goddammit you were giving yourself a run for your money.
It felt like your throat and calves were on fire from dancing so much, but you couldn’t find it in yourself to quit. You shook your hair out and danced with some of the girls your age. They were swinging you over and under limbs that were too blurry for your vision to comprehend. Your cheeks grew hot as you stumbled over your feet and giggled at the misheard lyrics.
You were able to get your mind off work, the kids, Taniel, that is until the door swung open. The room seemed to spin as you tried to put together the scene that was unfolding before you. Several men in halloween masks stood, blocking one of the only exits in the building. You were too occupied glaring at the grown man in red face to notice the guns adoring their hands and waistbands.
There was some sort of exchange happening in the front of the club that you couldn't make out. In this situation, you knew it was better to keep your mouth shut than try to convince angry white men that they’re playing God. But even after Hank Grogan revealed himself, they left suspiciously quiet.
Everyone was too nervous to keep enjoying their night. Some of the men gathered their coats as women collected their purses. A line began to form at the front door. Many of the military officers shouted “It’s locked” and “Try the other door”, but all proved to be helpless.
You walked over to one of the windows, suddenly aware of the panic that settled over the room. The men were still outside, and they weren’t itching to leave any time soon. You flinched and instinctively ducked away from whatever was thrown through the window.
The room was illuminated with a warm, amber glow. The alcohol and smoke was enough to water your eyes and close up your throat. People in The Black Spot started running, dodging flames and bullets to find a safe way out. You fumbled around with your hands in front of you looking for a way out. Standing up meant dodging more bullets and inhaling more smoke, but the mutilated bodies covering the floor made it impossible to crawl to safety.
The floorboards scraped and cut your knees as you made your way past the flames. Blood and alcohol pooled together on the floor. Swirling happiness and hatred into a tough-to-swallow cocktail.
“Dad, help! Where are you? Dad?”
Ronnie! The kids were still here, dealing with the aftermath of pure, unbridled hatred. You tried your best to make it to the others, but the bright flames and suffocating smoke had you stopping every few steps to regain your strength. You bumped into chairs, tables, and people making your way to the kitchen.
THUD
Your eyes adjusted to the object suddenly obstructing your path. Gracie Howard. A girl in your graduating class that you were dancing with 10 minutes earlier, now dead. Her arms were covered in blisters still bubbling and her skull was burst open.
“Oh, God. No! No! Help! Taniel? Hank? Someone?” You screamed and pleaded, to Gracie, the kids, the men outside, Taniel. You were trapped between flames and the limp body of a girl you grew up with.
Suddenly you were pulled up onto your feet by the collar of your shirt. Your windpipe burned and ached from the constricting fabric and newly inhaled smoke. One of the military officers was dragging you out along with a few other patrons from the night. He shoved you down an opening in the floor, trying to tell you something on the way down. All you could think of was the sudden change in temperature and the ringing in your ears.
Your eyes blurred with tears as you fought to find a way out. Your legs felt numb and the dirt seemed to surround you, trapping you underground. Familiar faces became unrecognisable as you clawed at the ground around you.
A strong hand gripped your leg, pulling you deeper under the bunker. Your nails dug into the wood beams and dirt, bending backwards as you pulled away from the fire. Your legs thrashed trying to shake off the hand of death gripping your ankle.
You screamed, “No! No! Get off! Help!”
The cool night air did little to wake you from your living night. You weren’t being dragged anymore but lifted and carried further into the woods. Your body went limp as your head lulled back to the sky. You swore you could hear someone calling your name. But it was too cold, and too much had happened.
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The cold didn’t leave even after the paramedics tended to your wounds. You sat on the metal floor of the paramedic van, hugging the thin blanket closer. Children wept, others laughed in shock, but you felt numb.
“Where is she? I gotta see her! Let me through!” A familiar voice cut through the dying chaos. Taniel couldn’t make out more than a few vague shapes. The bodies lined up near the wall of the burnt bunker sent him running. He lifted up tarp after tarp not even registering the horrors he was laying his eyes upon. He only had you on his mind.
His mind began to scramble as he came to the end of the line. He thought about every possible outcome that could’ve—or did—happen. He circled back around, retracing his steps like an all too familiar dance. He hoped that the outcome would change. That things would be different.
After the firefighters and EMT’s disbursed, he got a better look at who was in the back of each ambulance. A girl that frequented his Aunt’s shop, a girl with an eye patch, and a girl—
Taniel rushed over to you, the heels of his boots slipping on the loose gravel. He crouched in front of you, engulfing warm hands engulfed yours as he tried to get your attention.
“Hey, hey! Are you in there? Are you okay? Can you look at me?” He cupped your face with his hands, eyes silently pleading to know that you are okay.
Your glazed over gaze met his and you fell apart in his hands. His strong arms wrapped around your head encasing you in a cage of comfort. Your hands desperately gripped fistfuls of his shirt like he was going to slip through your fingers if you didn’t hold on tightly.
“It was awful, Taniel. It was…there were so many people…and the blood.”
“Hey, hey. Shhh, you don’t need to think about it. I’m here. You’re here. We’re safe,” a few tears of his own slipped down his cheek. He tried to stay calm so as to not worry you, but god do you worry him.
He kissed the top of your head as he smoothed down your hair. He needed to ground himself to make sure you were real and safe and alive.
Taniel pulled away to look at you, really look at you. He wanted to study every soft curve and freckle adorning your face. He didn’t want to forget anything about you. He needed to memorize every detail, just in case. In case there was a next time. No, no. He would make sure there wasn’t a next time. He was gonna take you somewhere. Somewhere far away. But for now, he just needed to get you home.
“C’mon, let's go. I’ll take you back to my Auntie place. She’ll be able to help, okay?” He spoke softly like harsh words might fracture the pieces of yourself that he just put together.
The whole rest of the morning was spent curled up in his sheets, him telling you stories to help you ease into a peaceful slumber. He sat perched on the edge of the bed, intently watching your every move. He was scared that you would disappear if he took his eyes off of you. He should’ve been there. He would’ve if it wasn’t for the evil that resided in the town.
As your eyes fluttered closed and your breathing evened out, he admired how soft your features became as you finally felt peace. He hated when you were in pain. It was the one thing he couldn’t fix or take away from you.
Taniel sighed as he laid across from you. He brushed your hair out of your eyes and laid there admiring you.
“I promise I’ll make it up to you. I’ll spend the rest of my life making up for the pain you felt. I promise.”
