Bones And All

BTS (방탄소년단) @ Permission to Dance: On Stage Concert performed ‘Black Swan’ at Seoul Olympic Stadium on October 24th, 2021 in Seoul, South Korea

It's Okay to Not be Okay

Billy Hargrove X Reader

You finally open up to your boyfriend about how you've been feeling and you're met with a side of him you didn't realize existed.

⚠️ Warnings: MENTIONS OF AN ED, slight angst, slight swearing? Affectionate Billy ⚠️

Sitting outside on the steps to your boyfriend's house, you felt a pit in your stomach as you contemplated what words to use next. In the grand scheme of things, you didn't think your eating habits would be something to worry about with the Upside Down existing, but your boyfriend had you sit down to explain to him what exactly was going on. You supposed that it wasn't fair to keep him out of the loop like this, but you just really didn't want him to worry. You were doing a good job at concealing it for the most part until you had fainted earlier that evening.

"Hey." Billy said, coming out from the house with a bottle of water in his hands. He gently set the drink by you and joined you on the stairs while you looked up at the night sky. It was pretty but you would've enjoyed it more if you weren't about to have the conversation you were going to.

"Hey." Was all you said, not turning to look at him for fear of what he might do or say. Billy had always been somewhat of a menace to others and had been known to be forceful when things didn't go his way. You were usually met with his softer side, or what you supposed would be softer actions. You wondered if that would hold through to tonight. He didn't seem angry when he placed his hand on your leg, gently rubbing the spot and chewing on his lip in concentration. He was at a loss for words.

When he finally figured out exactly how he wanted to go about the situation, he spoke up, "(Y/N), Are you okay? Please don't just say yes because you feel you have to."

Your eyes started to feel droopy with oncoming tears but you pushed them down. It wasn't all the time that you were emotional with him but when he treated you as though you were the whole world, it was hard for you not to be.

Your eyes met his and you noticed how stern but worried he looked. His expression wasn't one you were expecting, to say the least. It was a nice surprise however and you felt your bones become heavy as you let yourself sink into his arms.

"Billy." You said, in between sobs as you finally let go of the words you had been wanting to say for so long.

"(Y/N)."

"I'm having a hard time eating." You said, feeling the words slip off your tongue into reality. It never felt real or like a necessity to talk about until this very moment as your lover stared you in the eyes. You felt him stiffen as you let go into his chest and as one weight lifted, another one fell.

"I know." Was what he replied with, moving his arms to wrap around you and push your hair back behind your ears. This only made you sob harder into his chest. "I've known this whole time but I didn't want to treat you as though you weren't capable of handling yourself. I should've said something sooner."

Getting up from his chest, you tried to wipe the tears off your face in a haste to stop this emotion from taking over. Surprising you with his actions once more, he held your hands gently to stop you from wiping them.

"Don't." He said, rubbing small circles onto your skin. "Let them fall. It's okay."

Billy let you cry some more in his arms as he lit a cigarette. He took a drag and then handed it to you, allowing for you to calm yourself down with the drug. Thanking him silently, you move in closer to his touch and allow for his arms to consume you entirely like the depressive episode you were having. Of course Billy had known. The more you thought about it, the more it made sense. The nights you would go to bed without eating anything he made for the two of you and all of the times you would pass up dinner dates. The breakfasts you spent together where you would insist that a stick of gum was plenty enough to hold you over until lunch and then not meeting him in the cafeteria. He had known all along, but he didn't know how to help you when you didn't know how to help yourself. He wanted to save your ego.

You started to laugh a little bit as you handed the cigarette back up to Billy to which he placed between his fingers and let a small smile loose.

"I missed that noise, where had you been hiding it all this time?" He asked, gently poking you in the sides to try and get another laugh out.

"You were trying to boost my ego." You said, turning up to look at him. That was when you saw a small tear threatening to slip out of his eyes. He was too concentrated on the stars above as he took another drag and listened to what you had to say. You didn't want him to know that you had seen the tear, so you adverted your gaze back to its original position. Now you were the one who was saving his ego.

"No. I just didn't want you to think that I would treat you like you weren't the badass I know and love." He said, passing the cigarette back over to you.

"Would I still be that badass if I asked for a little help every now and then?" You asked, trying to state your insecurity to him in a way that would be a bit playful in fear that you were dropping too much on him. He smiled at you with those beautiful eyes that you fell in love with time and time again.

"Of course." He said with absolute certainty before leaning over and placing a hand on the side of your cheek.

The stars may have been beautiful tonight, but Billy was more beautiful.

Dating Cliff Booth Would Include:

Just some cute little headcannons!

⚠️ Warnings: language, sexual innuendos, drug use, sexy Dilf Brad Pitt? ⚠️

The way you met was strange; you were at a gas station somewhere in the western parts of Hollywood when you saw a yellow 1966 Cadillac Coupe de Ville pull up out front. Sporting a Hawaiian shirt brighter than the sun and a cigarette dangling from his teeth, the man walked in and announced that he needed heavy duty cleaner because there was blood on the hood of his car. From whom, you didn't know but with the way he flashed his teeth at you and slicked back his hair, you knew that you were in more trouble than whomever Cliff Booth decided to beat up that day.

He had promised himself that he would never get married again after the incident, but you were too goddamn charming and the way your shorts rode up your thighs.......

His bright smile and even brighter persona is what drew you in; a nice contrast against your usual pessimistic attitude and overall sense that the universe was out to stab you in the back.

And your pessimism is what drew him in, you were always real with him and watching a smile light up your face after a joke he made was like heroin to him. And he also found it funny how you managed to trip over nothing when you were lost in your rants about how the seats in his car were too warm or how the sky hurt your eyes.

Long car rides where you share the aux cord- him usually going for something along the lines of Billy Idol and your response with the Sex Pistols.

In this instance, opposites really do attract.

But you loved him good and that's what he had been searching for, unbeknownst to him. He didn't think he would ever date someone with a significant age difference, but the fact that you were fresh into your twenties didn't seem to bother him too much.

On the occasion where you two would play-fight, you would call him grandpa and that would shut up any other insults he could come up with.

Him having pet names for you, which you usually hated but allowed him to continue.

Some examples of these would be: Darling, Babe, Princess, but his all time favorite would be little shrimp because he knew it pissed you off.

And your pet names for him were usually: Love, Babe, Love of my Life, Asshole, and Cowboy. Cowboy was because of his southern accent.....probably.

HIM HOLDING YOUR THIGH WHILE HE DRIVES LORD SAVE ME NOW

Becoming best friends with Rick Dalton because of your close proximity to Cliff all the time.

Spending time with Rick watching his movies while Cliff busies himself with making margaritas in the kitchen.

To which you drink with haste, whereas the other boys take it a bit slower because chances are that they're drunk already.

Laying down on Cliff while you talk to Rick about filming. Rick rolling a joint and offering one to you and Cliff.

Your favorite thing about Cliff though, was his dog.

Brandy instantly loved you and you didn't have to rub peanut butter all over your face for this to be true, unlike your husband.

Getting married with just the two of you and Rick; a bright sunny day in the middle of absolutely nowhere, your only other guests being tumbleweeds and sand.

Having antique rings that the both of you thrifted.

Cliff says it's because, "We're keepin' love alive."

Rick allowing the two of you to spend the night at his place since the camper is usually a mess and is a bit too small for the two of you.

You usually are able to make room when he-

And he-

And on the table where he-

And sometimes even outside when you-

And then in the back of Rick's car sometimes-

Y'all are horny, that's the point.

Wearing Cliff's shirts!!!!!!???

"Hey, that's my favorite yellow one!"

"it's my favorite too, now help me match it with one of your glasses."

He obliges.

Rolling up to pick up Rick but making him sit in the back because he's the third wheel now.

Sometimes he likes to throw a fit about how "movie stars ride in the front, pimps in the back," to which he receives a nice finger from you and an insult about his haircut. It's okay though because you can pet Cliff's hair from the backseat as he drives.

Grabbing snacks for the road!!! You usually grab a coffee and a bag of Twizzlers while Cliff opts for a protein bar and a lemonade.

Kissing Cliff in public all the time.

Like- all the time.

Everywhere.

Cuddling while watching movies and sitting in his lap while you fuss over his hair and making out with him while he pumps gas.

The possibilities are endless.

Chilling with Rick in his pool while listening to his tapes for auditions and giving him advice where you see fit.

Also stealing Rick's sunglasses.

"Where the f-f-fuck are m-my sunglasses?! Cliff??"

"My lady's wearin' em."

"W-well tell her to take em off!"

"Little Shrimp, can you give Rick his glasses back?"

"Nope."

"There's your answer."

Wearing skimpy outfits just because you know you're fucking with your husband.

And him taking his shirts off whenever he decides to work on a project and watching you get all hot and flustered.

Going to restaurants and choosing the wackiest things off the menu, trying to one up each other with your weirdness.

Usually sharing bits and pieces of your meals with each other.

Listening to him talk for hours about his favorite movies and musicians.

And him listening to you talk about yours.

All in all, y'all love each other.

My heart hurts.

For The Glory of Rome

MARCUS ACACIUS X READER

You're finishing your senior year at Orpheus University when your history class is chosen to give an evaluation on one of the professors. Why does he feel so familiar?

⚠️ Past lives AU! Reader is Geta and Caracalla's sister! Reader is also 22 years old, Pedro is older. ⚠️

The mountains were just visible through the window you were sitting next to; their peaks reaching toward the sky above, almost as if in embrace. They were beautiful at this wintry time of year, with the snow cascading down their formations and painting them white. Bare trees that flanked them transformed into branches of green where the cold hadn't hit just yet- your eyes traveling further down the scene. It was that transitory period of the merging seasons, where autumn became winter and left everyone with an odd illness due to the changing weather patterns. Both snow and leaves were tracked inside the bustling classrooms that were alive with the excited chatter amongst the students. Everyone was excited for the upcoming break that would mark the end of the semester. For you, it would mean the midway point of your senior year at Orpheus.

You'd gone to Orpheus all three years of your college career so far, immediately entranced by the large stone pillared building it was. It was so different from your usual pace in the rainy countryside, with its suburban feel and authentic restaurants. It wasn't immediately that you felt the urge to explore the grand halls of the place and to make it your home, but that feeling came soon enough. One glance at the psychology department and a sip of coffee from the bistro down the road were enough to convince whatever part of you left unsure this would be the place. Even with how far you had to uproot yourself and make such a move, you'd made the connections you'd needed and the friends you'd always wanted.

Lee had sat himself next to you this morning with a coffee cup in hand and his phone in the other. He was addicted to that screen- any video that would appear around his recent interest in Danish pop music would be enough to send him down a spiral of excitement. The coffee, however, was for you.

"Morning!" He said, way too chipper for an 8:00am class. He usually went to Starbucks way too close to the time you were meant to be seated with only a minute left to spare. How he didn't have crippling anxiety around his time management, you'd never know. But he did bring you a drink.

"Hey, Lee." You said, with as much energy as you could muster at the moment given how tired you were. "Thanks for the coffee."

Lee threw his bag onto the ground under the long tables in the lecture hall. His spot had been on the other side of the room for the majority of the class as he'd argued he couldn't focus if seated next to you for laughter purposes. However, today he plopped himself down into the one next to you with his notebook open to the most recent material from last week. His hair was a mess as he'd most likely not had the time to brush it but at least his pants matched his shirt today.

"Yeah, 'course."

You took a sip of the drink, wincing slightly at the heat on your tongue. He'd remembered you liked your coffee black.

This morning, you had your history course which was conveniently in the building furthest from your shared apartment. Deciding the added three minutes to your walk would mean a warmer outfit for the day, you wore a white button down with fleece tights under your skirt. You had to substitute your usual leather jacket in favor for a heavier coat but still opted to wear the full face of makeup you had on every day. Eyeliner was your saving grace and you swore you'd never be caught outside without it on. You weren't much of a "girly girl," but that beauty product was the one exception.

Your shoes were still a little damp from the snow and the water had melted into the bottom of your bookbag, to your dismay. Your notebook was mostly fine except for the bottom edge, where the pen ink had run together, ruining your script.

"Did you hear about the evaluation today?" Lee asked, with his arm outstretched, offering you one of the Starbucks napkins to dry your notebook.

You hummed in a quizzing tone, signalling you didn't hear about it as you got to work cleaning up the mess before class started. There wasn't much you could do about the few pages that had been destroyed, but thankfully it wasn't the topic you needed at the moment.

"Well," Lee went on assuming you wanted him to continue, "Professor Klotsbach had to officially go on maternity leave so they're giving us someone else for the duration of this year. Apparently they're having this new guy come in today and we get to decide whether we like him or not." Lee said, rustling through his own belongings. "The history majors are saying this is the fifth one this semester."

"Oh? that'll be interesting. I didn't realize she was out already." You stated, throwing the napkins into your coat pocket. At least that meant this class would be easy today and you wouldn't have to worry too much about the notes. You took another sip of your coffee and turned your attention back to the large window to stare at the mountains again. The sun was really starting to come up now, which would hopefully make the walk home warmer. The sunlight shone over the leaves and made its way into the classroom, turning the wood paneling into that comforting auburn color you loved. Even with the weather outside, the inside felt like summer.

You directed your attention back to Lee, who was now back on his phone. You decided you weren't too tired for a conversation.

"I wonder why they're so particular about a professor for a general education course?" You asked, inquiring Lee as though he'd know the ins and outs of how the administration worked. Orpheus was always a semi-prestigious university; you wondered if they did so many evaluations for all the subjects.

"No idea," he said, taking a sip of his own drink, "I guess they wanted insight from other majors as well."

"Ah." You said, thankful that it would at least be some form of deviance from your usual schedule. After this, you and Lee had plans with the rest of your roommates to go to the bistro down the road so you considered today an easy one. A listening lecture followed by a sweet treat was a great morning.

As you were thinking of your plans, the door on the right side of the room finally opened, meaning the professor had officially walked in and class was about to start. Lee put his phone in his pocket although he didn't turn it off, so you assumed he was listening to music. You scavenged in your case for a pencil that wasn't broken and directed your focus to the front of the room, where the evaluated professor would begin.

Your breath hitched in your throat.

This man had to have been about ten years older than you but he was gorgeous. The brown in his eyes and his hair shone under the sun with such elegance; he appeared to be a painting. His brown leather jacket placed stylishly over his buttoned shirt- save for the two at the top- and his dress pants neatly drawn with a belt. An expensive one at that. He looked less like a professor and more like the cover of a teenage romance novel. Even his facial hair was properly trimmed and accentuated the angular curves of his face, which widened into a heartthrobbing smile.

"Hello, I'm Mr. Marcus." He said, turning around and writing it onto the chalkboard with whatever chalk was left in the tray from the class before. He then wiped his hands against each other and stood in front of the desk, leaning against it in an effortless grace as he stared at the class. His eyes scanned the room before they fell on you. It was only for a moment before he looked elsewhere, but you were starstruck and your stomach flipped.

Lee snickered quietly at the face you were making which took you out of your trance. "Dilf season, huh?"

Your cheeks were flushed and your whole body felt hot. It was unlike you to immediately be so caught off-guard. You shook it aside and attributed it to intimidation. That had to be it, you were just nervous of a new professor and at this guy's confident yet inviting demeanor.

"Shut up, Lee." You said with a small smile, so he'd know not to take offense although you were serious. You didn't want to draw any attention to your heart beating wildly in your chest.

As he continued talking, however, the burning in your abdomen only got stronger. There was something to this man, some sense of familiarity that struck you defenseless, although you were unsure as to why. You were certain you'd never seen the man before in your life, yet there was an undeniable pull that rendered you speechless for the rest of the class. He was wonderful at explaining everything in full detail and perfect when it came to answering questions. One thing was for certain though, and that was there'd be no way you could focus on any topic if Mr. Marcus was the professor. Despite how well he performed his job, you just couldn't concentrate. So, when the papers came around at the end of the class for the evaluation, you checked the box stating your disinterest in Mr. Marcus as your professor. How would you be expected to learn in a place where he was the teacher if you were so flustered? All you wanted to do was go home and decompress.

You submitted your paper to the front of the room, Lee in tow. You placed it face down on the desk even though the evaluations were anonymous; you felt awful for the decision you made. How was it fair for him to do everything perfectly and to not be granted the occupation?

As you were about to turn towards the door, you locked eyes with Mr. Marcus. They were a golden honey brown, very similar to the warmth of the room you were in, and they had you entranced. He smiled at you and raised his eyebrows as invitation for conversation, which was when you realized you'd been standing there in front of him with open eyes for longer than you meant to.

"Miss (Y/N), did you enjoy the lecture?" He asked, calm and composed. He must've read your name off the seating arrangement sheet and pieced two and two together.

"Uh, yeah-yes. Yes, I did. I find Rome pretty fascinating." You said, trying to regain your own composure. You smiled back at him in a last effort to appear normal and then walked out of the room and into the large hall where Lee followed close behind.

Alone in the Lecture Hall once all the students had departed, Marcus let out a hitched breath. You must have noticed it too? There was something so off about you and he was immediately drawn to your presence the minute he'd entered the room. It was as if he'd bumped into you before, only this odd feeling of familiarity was far more intense than anything he'd encountered before.

He learned against the desk for support and reached for the evaluation papers. He remembered exactly which one you'd placed down as he counted the number of sheets placed on top. He was unsure as to why he needed this clarification so badly, as if the evaluation was going to be enough insight as to how you truly felt about him.

You'd written that he performed everything perfectly. Checked all the boxes showing the administrators that he'd done as he should. But, at the end of the form, you'd written you didn't want him to have the job.

He smiled to himself, just slightly. He must've been overreacting.

...

It was with disdain that his eyes followed yours, the vituperative look etched into his skin. He appeared no older, even with the worry lines becoming apparent as he frowned; kohl seemingly molded into the flesh of his face with its darkness around his eyes. His tunic adorned with goldened jewelry held his red cloak fastened at his shoulder, which swiftly moved side to side as he walked about the palace floor. With his domineering personality and flamboyant demeanor, one could argue he very much belonged here. But those who truly knew him, such as you, would argue the complete opposite. A child in the body of man, ruling over the Roman Empire with the ability to kill any one of the men who'd built the imperial palace with the flick of his wrist.

And to think, he was your brother.

Emperor Geta manically moved back and forth, his steps echoing in the greatness of the hall where the two of you stood. Your other misfortune of a sibling somewhere entranced by his monkey, you presumed. Even with neither of them being much too intelligent, Geta was definitely the force to be reckoned with. This flurry of anger he felt was often of your own doing and today was no different- although the situation was more dire than previous mishaps.

What was usual sibling banter had turned into something fierce, unforgiving. It seemed as though the two of you no longer stood on the same plane and no words could be spoken to alleviate the tenseness between you two.

"There's a traitor-" He began, voice laced with more anger than anything else now that the shock had subsided. "Someone is helping the Senate to conspire against us. A traitor within the castle?" Geta dramatically flung his fingers over his heart and buried it into the fabric of his dress, steadying himself from falling as if he were intoxicated.

"I've heard nothing of the sort, brother." You let out, hardly above a whisper. It felt wrong for the secret to spill past your lips after all this time of keeping it. Although this had been going on for nearly five months, to speak it aloud even partially breathed it into existence. You, who had no family other than Geta and Caracalla, were plotting the demise of both of them. Rome was a collective and you'd been appointed to preserve the democracy of the people- something your brothers had turned into tyranny under their rule. However, it seemed as though they'd just caught wind of the plot without knowing who was leading the rebellion. Of course, Geta would eventually figure it out but the best thing you could do would be to deny anything that would lead to you or Acacius. He would have his head by morn and yours by the next.

Geta focused his eyes toward the nearest column so as not to look at you, forcing himself to tongue over the idea as it repeated within his head. His ornate laurel wreath crown he wore glistened in the light from above, casting a radiant glow on the floor. He was beautiful, if undeservingly so.

"Geta." You started, still fighting the fear that was always prevalent when conversing with your brother, "You are the emperor. Who would dare conspire against you?" you asked, knowing you had to do damage control. It all felt too real and too sudden for anything to happen just yet, this was unplanned. There was still so much more to be done and now that Geta had heard, Caracalla would be next to be informed- potentially halting the senate from being able to make a proper move. Your brothers would behead them all and force you to watch.

There had to be an informant within the Senate, someone who sided with your brothers in hopes of some grand reward for ratting you out. If they told Geta of the uprising, there's no telling how long it would take until they knew you and Acacius were leading it.

Suddenly, it was as if the color returned to Geta's white painted face. The creases that had formed out of worry now resumed with a smile so horrid and vile that your stomach seemed to drop to your toes with dread. The redhead inched closer to you until he was standing directly before you, inches away from your faltering breath. Smug look upon his face with his hands placed behind his back, he whispered in your ear the one thing you never wanted to hear from him.

"Make sure to relay this message to the Senate. If I hear of any further plans or catch the name of anyone involved within the operation, I will make sure the streets of Rome run red with their excrements."

Your veins turned to ice. It was as if your body had become as still as the marble statues surrounding the two of you. The sunlight hitting your brother's hair was not a warm and comforting light, but the light of a thousand fires ready to destroy anything within its path. You could smell the antimony from his makeup, and it was churning your stomach the longer you stood next to him. And then, he pulled you into a forceful embrace.

"You're my brethren, (Y/N). But bloodshed triumphs over blood. My mercy doesn't spill out of my fingertips such as the weak do. I am to carry on the tree of my lineage and I will do so from the seed of my power. Don't let me ever hear my dear sister has fallen into the conspiracy of the people."

Then he left, and a piece of your soul died with the slam of the door behind him.

...

General Marcus Acacius, still clad in the paludamentum from the evening's dinner, gathered himself after a lengthy conversation with some of his troops. He was fortunate for the day's conquer, but he was entirely ready to return to his chambers to meet with his love; hoping she could soothe the grievances that emanated from his soul. A slight glance into the reflection of the gate showed a man worn down by war. Physically and spiritually he felt beaten and old. His face, which had appeared so bright when he'd first started his efforts, had now succumbed to the weight he felt inside. He was duller than the man he'd always been. A light had been extinguished and would never again be set aflame. His body felt as though it were an empty chamber, hollow with only the sounds of the maternal screaming he heard from war. Mothers calling home their only sons that would stay calling for the remainder of their lives. Praying for the boys who'd become soldiers, fallen under an empire that prided themselves on greatness.

The Romans were cruel murderers. And he did their bidding.

Trying his best to push his stressors aside, he stepped into the small garden flanking the back perimeter of the palace, knowing that was your usual place upon nightfall. The fountain seemed to hum as the water rushed down into the basin. The sounds of bugs chirping filled his ears. The calmness of the fire tamed within the confines of the torches made flickering shadows upon the stones beneath his feet.

And then, there was you. Turning to face him once he'd entered the palace and meeting his gaze. He'd sworn he never understood the meaning of goddess until he'd met you. From the first encounter at the palace, Acacius knew he was in love. Every statue and painting couldn't compare to the beauty that radiated off you, he knew. Your eyes were pools of mystery and your skin softer than the sheets lining the bed you shared, fragile under the callouses of his hands that were worn by the hilt of his sword. You were a delicacy. He thought you were more striking than the sun itself.

The word love would never be enough to describe the power that flowed through his veins upon the mere mention of your name or the gentleness of your kiss.

You were here in your usual palla, the purple dye of the fabric shimmering under the soft glow of the fire. Your face was hardened into a concerned expression and your lips were downturned. What was usually a gleeful expression when your fiancé returned home safely seemed to be just a little short of animosity.

Acacius immediately went to place his hands gently at your sides, pulling you in slightly with a quizzical look, assessing for any physical ailments. "What troubles you, my Lady?"

You wanted to cry, to scream, to let out all your frustrations through vile words such as your brothers did, but you felt so beaten down you couldn't even formulate the words. Acacius had done nothing wrong but be within your proximity. And now your lover would be subjected to the unforgiving wrath of Geta.

"My Lady?" He asked once more, softer this time. He had a rough day, you could tell, and his forehead lines became more apparent as his brows furrowed. His beard was trimmed but not shaven, so as not to flaunt off some of the scars he'd gathered below his nose. He had one on his cheek and one on the back of his hand that you would run your fingers over in an intimate embrace. He was beautiful, even with the years of war embroidered into his skin. He was your heart.

"It's Geta," you finally mustered, holding Acacius's hand to your cheek and letting a tear fall, "he's enlightened to our uprising."

It was the General's turn to express his worry. "How was he informed?" Hs asked, pulling you in for a stiff hug as he was still wearing his breastplate.

"Macrinus must have caught word after last night's gathering. W-we were so careful, I-"

"Shh." Acacius said, slowly rubbing circles into your back, "We'll be okay, we'll find a way." He said this almost so convincingly you wanted to believe it yourself. But you knew Geta would do his best to punish you in every way humanly possible. There would be no escaping.

"We can run away before they find out its us-"

"To where? We both have the faces of those known in Rome, we'll never even make it past the gate without our identities being revealed. And then what? Where will we go that has no promise of being conquered?" He asked, holding onto you as though your arms alone would ground him. "And (Y/N), you know my heart belongs to you and the people. I couldn't leave one in place of the other."

Any form of democracy was going to be dead if your brothers continued to be the ultimate monarchs the were. Their reign had caused nothing but horrors to the people .

"Geta may want my head when he finds out, but he'll never kill you," Acacius said, looking into your eyes, "He'd never kill our kin." At this, his hand dropped to your stomach, caressing the top of it gently.

"You will not die without me." You said, knowing what he would suggest in the hopes of keeping you safe. "I will not allow it."

"And then what? You die and there will be no hope. Not for the people or politics or our son. My work to free us from the grasp of Rome will be for nought."

Your tears started to cascade down your face as quickly as they came, taking your kohl along with it. This was unfair. All of it was unfair. You wanted nothing to do with your brothers or ruling or Rome or anything. All you'd hoped for was to live peacefully in a world without it- how foolish.

"I love you, Acacius. You know this." You said, burying your face into his shoulder. You took in the metallic scent of his breastplate, trying to ease yourself. You knew as a general that he would never leave Rome defenseless.

"As I love you," he said, moving you gently so you were facing each other, "You know what has to be done."

You composed yourself and met his eyes, trying to find solace in them. He felt more like family than the insufferable gingers you shared a bloodline with. And you knew you'd do anything to protect the family you made for yourself, even if that meant sacrificing the birth one.

"We have to kill them." You said. You found the words didn't trouble as much as you thought they might.

Blueberries and Cigarettes

Cliff Booth X Reader

Request by @multifandomfanfic : "Maybe something along the lines of you're a hitchhiker and you meet him after he picks you up from a hitchhiking experience and then you guys like make out in his car."

⚠️ Warnings: Language, drug use ⚠️

The sun was unnecessarily hot today as you dragged your feet along the sidewalk; you were quite a ways away from home. The heat blaring down on your bare shoulders signified you that you were going to be burnt by the end of the day. The sidewalk hurt your feet and your shorts felt especially sticky as you continued towards the open road; your cherry lollipop that you picked up at the convenience store on your little adventure stuck to the roof of your mouth. This summer was brutal.

You passed a couple of signs along the way that were covered with graffiti and dirt. This was Hollywood- home of the stars. Maybe you'd have appreciated it more if it wasn't so grimy. The spots that were uninhabited by celebrities and were filled with the normal working citizens of America were less scenic.

"Hey!" A voice could be heard from behind you and instantly you identified it to be one of the girls from Spahn Ranch. A brunette with large eyes and a tooth gap started making her way towards you with a large jar of pickles under her right arm. Eating one of them herself, she practically throws herself onto you with a smile and a shirt stained with pickle juice.

"Hi." You said, only because you didn't want to be rude. You weren't really a fan of Pussy (the girl, not the thing itself) since she was always a bit more spontaneous and over-the-top than you preferred in a person. She was sweet, just a bit too...

You would've finished that thought, but a pickle was suddenly stuffed into your mouth.

"You like? Stole em' from that place up in town." She said, crunching on another one.

You coughed and took it out of your mouth. "Pussy, I have a sucker."

She laughed with her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth and made a similar noise to a hissing cat. Her hair was frizzy now that she had been under the sun and her rainbow top was tied incorrectly behind her neck. These small little things about her made her redeemable in a way.

You smiled. "It's okay, you wacko. Yes, the pickles are good, you should try them with a cherry sucker in the back of your throat too."

She giggled and ran towards the bench just a little ways away from where you were walking. You ditched the candy on the ground and continued to eat the cucumber that was forced into your face. The colorful billboards around you were blinding but extravagant, and you didn't know what sight was more interesting; the colors of the advertisements or Pussy sticking her thumb out at the speeding cars nearby as she drank from the jar. "Asshole!" She screamed at the car that threatened to stop, but made a quick turn and drove off in the other direction.

After what seemed like twenty minutes of sitting with Pussy, a yellow car drove up by the sidewalk and stopped in its tracks. You couldn't really see whoever was behind the wheel, but Pussy looked ecstatic.

"It's Mr. Hawaii!!" She said, and pulled your arm up to the vehicle, forcing you and the stranger to come face to face. He was quite a bit older and very handsome, and he had a nice tan that followed all the way down to the hem of his shirt. Meaning: he was tanned everywhere. And boy, did that leave a nice first impression. Longer hair and sunglasses framed his face as he lifted the lenses above his eyes and rested them on his head. A bright yellow Hawaiian shirt adorned his figure and a cigarette was stuck between his teeth, unlit. To say this guy wasn't the most handsome man you've seen would be a complete and total lie.

"Uh, hey." You said, giving a curt wave. You took notice of how he smiled at you; it was full of warmth and invitation. You blushed, feeling your entire body go hot the moment he flashed his brilliant teeth in your direction.

"Well, hello there," He nodded and then looked at Pussy, "You need a ride?"

Pussy must've noticed how enthralled you were by Mr. Hawaii already, so she nudged you in the direction of the passenger side window and grinned as she saw your cheeks flush once more. "Nope, but they do!"

You mentally cursed the girl but also thanked her because goddamn you really wanted to get in the car with this guy.

"Well alrighty then. Hop in?" He finally lit the cigarette and rested his elbow out the window, looking completely and utterly relaxed. He was so laid back that it almost scared you, wondering if he had any ulterior motives for his car ride. But then again, Pussy wouldn't have introduced you with such excitement if she didn't trust the guy.

You nodded in response and opened the car door, giving Pussy a look saying 'Thank you,' as you sat down. The car radio was playing "Bring A Little Lovin'" by Los Bravos and the familiarity of the popular song put any nerves you had to ease. She shut the door behind you from the outside and grinned, picking up another pickle out of the jar and popping it into her mouth. You were about to say something to her through the open window, but Mr. Hawaii was already speeding away and Pussy had busied herself in flipping someone off from the other side of the street.

It had only been two minutes before the man tried to start a conversation, looking back and forth from you to the mirror. "So, how you know Pussy?" He said with a slight southern accent, something you didn't pick up the first time you'd heard him.

"She's just another hippie from Spahn." You said, looking out at the buildings you passed by. Mr. Hawaii drove pretty carelessly.

"Ah." He said, turning his eyes back to the road. Your eyes caught his hand on the stick shift and a bunch of interesting thoughts ran through your head. You knew you probably shouldn't be fancying him in the way you were, but you couldn't help yourself. "Somethin the matter?"

Oh shit. He had caught you staring.

"Oh nothing! Just looking around your nice car." You said, trying to cover up the fact that you were checking him out. He seemed to accept your answer, but you knew deep down that he was aware of your antics. With that sky smile of his and the cigarette between his lips, you knew you were done for the minute you set foot in the vehicle.

Another moment of silence passes as he continues to drive every which way, effortlessly rounding corners and driving through red lights earning a couple of honks and beeps from other cars. Ironically, you felt totally safe.

"So where'ya heading?" He shook his head, letting the glasses fall down into his face and moving his hair in every which way.

"I'm not really in a rush to get anywhere," you said, now anxious that because you didn't have a set destination that you were wasting his time, "You can drop me off here if you have somewhere to be."

He looked at the watch on his wrist and grinned. "Nah, we can keep goin'," he replied.

You played with the hem of your shirt as you stared awkwardly at your outfit. What to do now? It was probably your turn to start the conversation since he had broken the silence the past two times, yet you didn't know what to say. Luckily for you, he speaks again.

"So," he begins, his little western accent kicking in slightly as he speaks. His mouth was drawn into a smile and he leaned over in the seat, staring at you once the two of you reached a red light. "I know a really great ice cream shop a little ways down from here. We could go if you wanted."

"Sure!" You said, hoping it didn't sound too enthusiastic.

...

The car ride wasn't as silent anymore once you had made it to the shoppe. Picking out a strawberry ice cream while your driver licked away at a blueberry one, you held in your astonishment with the beautiful man before you. Sure, Pussy had forced pickles into your mouth and had annoyed you before but goddamn you were thankful that she introduced you to a specimen as fine as Mr. Hawaii.

"That reminds me," you begin, taking another lick of the sweet goodness, "What's your name?"

"Well, what's yours?" He flashes you that brilliant smile once more.

"(Y/N)." You say while watching his body language. Leaning into the table, he gets slightly closer to you and before you know it, he has a hand by your mouth wiping away the straw strawberry.

"I like (Y/N)." He says, laughing as you get all hot and flustered. "My name's Cliff. Cliff Booth."

You realize that you vaguely remember that name from somewhere, although you can't place a finger on it. Mentally shrugging, you see Cliff go for another bite of his ice cream but fail as he ends up with a glob of it on his nose. Just as he's about to wipe it off, you reach out your hand and do it for him. "Allow me, you helped me out the last time." Grinning, you see his cheeks turn a slight red.

"(Y/N), I'm not usually this blunt but uh...you said you weren't in a rush to get anywhere right?"

Wondering where he was possibly going with this, you nod your head in agreement and give him a quizzical expression.

"Well do you want to make out in my car?"

Nearly choking, you stare at him with wide eyes. There's no way someone as handsome and charismatic as him wanted to make out with you. Especially when you first met via hitchhiking. But something told you this was too good of an opportunity to pass up seeing how eager the two of you seemed. You weren't going to let the insecurities get in the way of this one.

"Uh... Yes?" You said with as much enthusiasm as you could muster in the moment, still being somewhat disconnected that this was the reality that you were living in. He takes your hand and leads you back to the vehicle you would always associate with him after this moment and you both ditch what was left of your ice creams in the nearest trash can. Time seemed to slow as you opened up the door on the passenger side and close it, watching as Cliff gets in the driver's seat. He puts a hand along your jaw, leaning you closer to him as he moves his hand to rest along your thigh.

"Are you sure this is okay?" He asks you, noting not only your physical and emotional well-being but also remembering the slightly less average than normal age gap between you.

"Yes, absolutely."

That was all he needed before he leaned in, placing his lips on yours and holding you pressed against his face. He was soft and kind and added very little pressure as he started to loosen up around you and the tight space the car had to offer. It filled you with claustrophobia but the good kind as it felt there was a closeness you wouldn't have been able to reach anywhere else.

"You taste like strawberries and pickles." He says, pulling away from you just to rest his forehead against yours after a while. Sharp deep breaths were heard all throughout the space as you tried to catch your breath, your face a giant smile and your heart a billion butterflies trying to escape your chest all at once. This was where you felt the most at home.

"Well you taste like blueberries and cigarettes, which happens to be my new favorite taste in the world." You say, leaning in for more affection from the stranger but not stranger before you.

...

(A/N): I hope this is okay! Again, I'm so so sorry that it took me this long to finish your beautiful fanfiction request but I honestly loved writing every part of this short story.

With love, Panko Shrimp 💛 🦐

“Just admit it. Brad is better looking than Leo. Accept it and let’s move on”

Seokjin x Reader (or oc)

Word count: 1.1K

a/n: I like to think that Seokjin and his partner would bicker about ridiculous topics and then lovingly give each other the silent treatment. So that’s what this is. I hope you guys enjoy! :) 

“Are you two really still doing this?” Jimin wore an annoyed expression as he stared at Seokjin.

“Yes. I’m not speaking to them until they come to their senses. Now would you please tell the love of my life the coffee is ready?” Seokjin said as he stood in front of the stove preparing breakfast.

“Oh my god,” Jimin groaned but reluctantly played along. “Y/n, Jin-hyung would like me to tell you that the coffee is ready.”

“Thanks, Jimin,” you smiled from your seat at the kitchen island just 10 feet away from them. Jimin was standing next to your boyfriend, who cleared his throat as you thanked his younger member, making you roll your eyes. “Will you tell my future husband thank you for making the coffee?”

Shaking his head, muttering an “unbelievable”, Jimin told Seokjin, “Y/n says thanks for the coffee.”

Keep reading

Announcement for my Lovely Panko Shrimps!

TOMORROW. 10:00am. BULLET TRAIN FANFICTION. PART ONE.

💛🦐

I am sobbing

STRANGER THINGS Vol 2 | Papa (4.08)

Headcannons I Have For Ladybug & Tangerine:

Ladybug X Reader, Tangerine X Reader

Just a little filler while I wait for creativity to hit me enough to write the second part of Lady Luck. Here is a little drabble for you guys 💛

⚠️ Warnings: swearing, sexual innuendos ⚠️

.🐞🐞🐞 L A D Y B U G 🐞🐞🐞.

Let's be real, this guy is such a fucking asshole so any chance he gets to annoy you, he'll take it. Whether that be pulling your socks halfway off your feet while you're laying down or pushing your hat down in front of your eyes when you're walking, this guy loves getting an annoyed grunt from you.

Your relationship together is very much a playful one. I see Ladybug as someone who would have to be really good friends with someone before things got more serious.

The two of you bicker like a married couple over really stupid things.

"Babe, where'd you put my wasabi peas?"

"Up your ass along with that shitty bucket hat of yours."

Ladybug is also the type to be overly comfortable with PDA. Don't get me wrong, this man just adores being able to hold your hand or move the hair out of your eyes, but if he's given the opportunity for a quickie in the train bathroom, he'd be stoked. Especially considering how cool Japanese toilets are.

He'll ask you to pay for his snacks. This applies to everywhere though.

You're aware of the fact he's a secret agent, but you never pry into it too much. You allow him his space and he allows you yours.

On the off-chance you're also an agent, you'll opt to work together as partners whenever you can.

He vows to protect you.

You vow to protect him.

.🍊🍊🍊 Tangerine 🍊🍊🍊.

Tangerine is definitely the more romantic type, whomever he's in love with will always feel a watchful eye over them in an overprotective way. It's not uncomfortable, more so just an unannounced presence.

He falls in love and he does so fast. He's very much a hopeless romantic and he's willing to put aside his wiseness when making decisions if it comes to someone whom he's interested in romantically.

That being said, he's also very lovey-dovey I'm public. You won't tend to get a whole lot of laughs from him but he will give you his blazer when it's cold and will hold your hand when the time allows for it. He's comfortable in a sense where he can let people know you're his, but he doesn't show any crazy efforts of PDA like Ladybug.

He complains a lot so he wants someone to balance it out with smiles and affectionate hugs.

"Hello, lovely. I apologize for being in such a mood, but as it turns out I might actually fucking die."

"That's okay, I'll give you so many hugs it'll l create a protective forcefield."

He lets you wear his cologne

He expects you to get along well with Lemon; if his person of interest doesn't do so, then they're out of the picture for good.

Lemon does like you though, I mean, you're important to his brother. So, you don't have to worry too much about that.

Peanut Butter Death Wish

Steve Harrington X Reader (Established Relationship) X Eddie Munson

Slight crack! Eddie is a little shit in this one, but you're a bit of an antagonist too.

⚠️ Warnings: Swearing, mentions of blood and weapons, eating expired peanut butter, sexual references ⚠️

"So uh, the Upside Down is a real place. I thought you guys were talking in D&D terms." Eddie says, stuffing his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. With the way that the eerie glow of the other dimension fell on the two boys, Eddie's Hellfire Club Tshirt looked brighter than ever. Besides from the strangeness of the newfound place, it was all he could focus on as the group walked towards Nancy's house- for what, he didn't know. The infamous Steve (The Hair) Harrington was walking directly next to him and Eddie thought he looked ridiculous wearing nothing but his denim jacket and bandages. Laughing to himself, he let his gaze wander over to where you were.

You and Eddie had been friends for a while, but this stupid Harrington guy always got in the way seeing as you two were together. Eddie had wished he knew you before all this craziness so that he might've had the chance to sweep you off your feet instead of killing Demobats. You were wearing black ripped jeans and a David Bowie shirt which was slightly too large for you and hung loosely at your sides- Eddie was sure it was Steve's but he wasn't going to bring it up. Your hair was pulled back into a ponytail and your shoes were triple knotted with their florescent laces. You were beautiful, and this fake snow/ash shit that fell around everywhere definitely added to your beauty. He would've continued staring if it wasn't for Steve interrupting his thoughts.

"Yeah, I've never played that Dungeons and Dragons game before, but all the kids like to make up names for this dimension using their preexisting ones." Steve said, unaware that Eddie was currently eyeing up his girlfriend. He pushed his hair back with his hand and Eddie saw a glistening stream of blood running down the top of his forehead.

"Uh, Steve dude, you've got some blood up there." Eddie motions with his finger as to where it is and Steve wipes it off with the back of his hand.

"Thanks, guess those bats did give me more trouble than I originally thought." He said, taking off Eddie's jacket. "Thank you for this, but I really don't want to get blood on it."

He hands the jacket back to Eddie and Eddie takes it with an unsure expression. He just wanted to be deemed worthy of Steve's time.

"Hey, I think we made it." You said, walking up to the two boys and immediately going to stand by Steve's side and assess the wounds he had. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay." Steve said and you watched more blood run down his forehead, giving him a look which read "Are you fucking stupid?"

"He's lying to you, (Y/N). I saw him stumble over a tree root a little ways back, I'm sure he's getting over the embarrassment of tripping." Eddie smiled and you laughed at his antics.

"Of course he did, he's clumsy as hell." You replied and winked in Eddie's direction. He felt his heart grow ten times bigger at the cute smile you sent him with it.

Walking on towards Nancy's house, Robin struggles with the doorknob and tries to get in to no avail. The lock was stuck in an odd place and no matter how many tries from the group, it wouldn't open.

"Allow me," you said, heading for the living room window and breaking the glass, "It's not your real house so it's fine."

Steve finally caught onto Eddie's staring as you contemplated the best way to slip into the room. He hit Eddie on the shoulder with a scowl and grabbed the denim jacket out of his hands. "Here," he said, putting the article of clothing on the windowsill, "This'll make it so that you don't get cut on the glass."

"Are you sure it's okay that I use this, Eddie?" You asked, completely unaware of the tension between the two. Smiling cockily at Steve, Eddie turned to you and put his hand on his chest.

"Of course that's fine, sweetheart."

Steve felt like the veins in his arms were going to pop.

"Thanks!" You said, slipping into the living room and opening the front door from the inside to allow everyone else in. The darkness consumed the entirety of the abandoned hallways that were familiar to you. Running your fingers over the wallpaper, you remembered all the nights you spent over at Nancy's hanging out with her and watching the latest VHS tapes. Smiling fondly at the memory, you move on into her bedroom following Nancy herself, and have a look around at the posters hanging up. It might've been the Upside Down, but there was the Tom Cruise poster clear as day. You didn't understand the appeal, but hey- maybe the Demogorgons liked him.

Nancy strode over to the closet and frantically searched around for the box that would contain the guns she had for self-defense. Why she had bought them, you didn't know. You picked up the diary from the bedside table and opened up to the latest entry. 1983. The year Barb went missing.

"Where the fuck did they go?" Nancy sighs with frustration as she digs through everything in her closet.

"Maybe the Demogorgons took them?" You offer the ridiculous suggestion to no one in particular and laugh at your own joke.

"Real funny (Y/N)." Nancy says, clearly still upset about not finding them.

"No, no. I think she might be onto something." Eddie says with an antagonizing grin, looking you directly in the face. You stare at Steve with a confused look now noticing what Eddie was up to, but your boyfriend was looking down at his shoes with his mouth pressed into a hard line. He was pissed.

You throw the book over to Nancy, who looks at you with confusion. "What's this?" She asks.

"Your diary. Look at the date."

"You were looking at her diary?" Robin pipes up from the hallway with her head just barely visible around the corner. You rolled your eyes with a smile.

"September. 1983." Nancy read aloud and you watched the realization dawn on her. "I haven't bought the guns yet. That's why they're not here."

"Bingo." You said, laying back on her bed and staring up at her ceiling. Because of this, you didn't notice that Steve and Eddie had walked out of the room.

Turning the corner into the kitchen, Steve leans back against the countertop which was covered in the mysterious vines that adorned the rest of the Upside Down. He glared at Eddie who had joined him and felt the anger rushing back to him. However, he decided it would be best for everyone if he stayed calm.

"What was that?" He asked, putting his hands on his hips.

"What was what?" Eddie asked, rummaging through the cupboards and finding a jar of peanut butter.

"You know what I'm talking about." Steve said, handing Eddie a spoon from the drawer behind him.

"Thanks." He replied and opened up the jar, still staring at Steve.

A couple of moments pass while Eddie eats his snack and Steve waits for him to answer. The punk rocker's hair was strewn all over the place and his shirt was covered in the stains from both the lake and the other dimension. Well, at least he had a shirt.

"Why are you trying to seduce my girlfriend?" Steve asked, grabbing a spoon of his own and sharing the peanut butter with Eddie.

"1983 peanut butter. Seasoned with the sky shit from the Upside Down." Eddie said.

"Can you just answer the question?"

"Oh uh. Because she's hot I guess." He says, moving towards the cabinet again to try and find another snack. Stopping him by placing a hand around his arm, Steve gave him the death glare.

"I respect you, dude. I really do. But (Y/N) isn't available."

"What are you guys talking about?" You came out from Nancy's room with the diary under your arm and your hair down now. You looked tired and worn out from all this Scooby-Doo investigating that both boys felt bad for leaving you to do the work while they had their petty argument.

"Steve was telling me to stop flirting with you." Eddie put point-blank and held out the jar for you. You walked over to him and dipped your finger in taking a little taste of it before deciding it was safe to eat.

"This shit has to be expired." You said, grabbing the spoon from Steve and popping more of the delicious cream into your mouth.

"It most definitely is." Eddie said.

"So uh, the fact that Eddie is flirting with you doesn't bother you at all?" Steve asked you with concern.

"Nah, it just makes you all angry and flustered and I think a jealous Steve is a hot Steve."

Steve found himself grow extremely hot when you said that, the blush on his face overpowering any other expression. He was nervous that you were secretly liking Eddie's antics but to find out that it was just to get a rise out of him, made him feel things he probably shouldn't describe with the third party in the room.

"Pants getting tight, bud?" Eddie asked with a knowing glance and Steve hurried to place his hands on his jeans to conceal anything that he didn't want showing. You were smiling and staring him up and down.

"I gotta hand it to you, (Y/N). Steve is sexy as hell."

"That's just your bisexuality talking." You said to Eddie with a knowing glance. He laughed and now started to check out your boyfriend.

"If you ever need a third party, you know who to ask." Eddie said, exchanging a fist bump with you.

"Absolutely not." Steve said, taking your hand with the spoon still attached outside of the Wheelers house.