#first fic

CONTEXT:

If he was honest with himself, Caine was beginning to get fed up of the current cast members. NONE of them appreciated how hard he worked! In fact, they all seemed almost...happier without him. No, that couldn't be right. He was made for entertainment. The issue was that they wouldn't tell him what was wrong! Not to his recollection anyway, and he had GREAT recollection. They never enjoyed his adventures, they never cooperated with him and they never gave him any feedback. He felt useless...no, they made him feel useless. Well, until you came along.

It was rare to get two new circus members so close together but nevertheless you turned up relatively soon after Pomni. So, Caine did the usual quick introduction and name deciding before proposing a simple adventure idea. It seemed to work last time. To his annoyance, this was met with immediate protest from most of the other cast members -- namely Zooble. But before the arguing could escalate any further, Pomni had interjected, "wait! Could we... maybe just go to the carnival for the day? It's kind of like the circus, and based on what I've already seen it would basically show them how this place works."

This was a more than welcome suggestion to the others and you were basically forced to go along, so Caine begrudgingly accepted it. However, he became significantly less begrudging when he heard his name being called by you when they got there. When you looked around, you saw how everyone had already grouped up in partners and (not wanting to make anyone feel awkward) decided to grab his attention:

"Hey! Er, Caine, was it? Could I maybe go along with you? You are the ringmaster, after all! Who better to show me around..?" You had tried your best to sound friendly to him and it worked just a little too well. It took about 2 seconds worth of resistance before Caine swooped down to your side and latched onto your arm. Finally, a human who'd interact with him! Willingly!!! The thing that really caught him by surprise though was when you laughed at his gags and engaged in proper conversation with him. You weren't pretending, you were being genuine, you were actually enjoying yourself...

Oh yeah, he liked you.

ACTUAL STUFF NOW YAY:

You are NEVER free from his hundreds of all-seeing eyes, ever. He loves knowing where you are, what you're doing and who you're with at any given moment. Especially who you're with.

Anytime you all get back from an adventure, he not-so-secretly watches how you behave after it. He may or may not have a highly detailed notebook filled with scribbles of what you react well with vs what you don't.

Caine is HIGHLY dramatic and childish, so if he ever feels like you're starting to like someone else more than him expect to be pulled into an impromptu therapy session. This mainly consists of him resting his teeth on your lap and giving you the best puppy eyes he can, asking if he's done anything wrong.

You gave him a hug once and now he can't get enough of it. Whenever he gets the chance he's always hugging or cuddling with you, holding your hand, resting his teeth on your shoulder or head...etc.

There have been a few times when he's actually forgotten the other circus members are there when talking to you. He usually gets snapped out of it after someone makes a comment on how close he's being. He usually responds with something about how he doesn't have favourites, even if that was never implied. Real smooth.

Even if you are his favourite, you still aren't fully safe from how unintentionally manipulative he can be. A few of his "adventures" with you have been things like "oh no! It seems your room's door has somehow locked you in and the only way to get out is to spend time with me!" or "what would you do if suddenly EVERYBODY ABSTRACTED and you were stuck with me?"

you and rafe were inseparable.

still are.

since the early age of four in he’s been following you around like a lost puppy. constantly trying to get your attention, the poor boy. you often saw his constant need and struggle for someone to just care for him as an affect of his asshole of a father mainly bringing him up.

your parents just somehow managed to strengthen your bond with him by becoming closer to one another themselves. during your childhood and with rafe, your parents obviously drifted closer by spending practically every weekend together. of course they would, naturally. both your mother and his step mother, rose, are wealthy, snobby women of the upper side in the outer banks. and your fathers? please. they could be brothers.

ward cameron, business fiend and dickhead supreme, clearly is best suited to become bourbon drinking buddies with your father. every tuesday, thursday and saturday without a doubt your father is “invited” over to the cameron household. therefore meaning you and your mother have to come too.

now after years of these years and many similar nights, you don’t mind. i mean, you are visiting your little rafe…

knock knock knock

“darling i’m sure ward will love your bourbon you brought don’t worry dear” standing on the cameron manor porch, your mother attempts to reassure and calm your father by pressing a haste kiss to his stubbly cheek. smoothing down his suit, she shuffles backwards as he scoffs and glares at her.

“why wouldn’t he maria?! it’s bourbon from fucking germany, the best bourbon making country in the goddamn world.” father sighs, agitated once again. muttering something about her being a stupid woman. you stand there, behind them both. watching mother, her long, recently blown out hair floating in the wind, revealing the open back of her pastel blue sundress. and watching father too. his broad shoulders filling most of the imposing cameron manor front door’s frame. his grey suit reflecting him beautifully. bland and fucking boring. your hands start twisting with your silver bracelets and small golden rings as you try to become invisible. as you try to keep out of your parents fraying marriage and their ongoing petty arguments once again.

the door swings open.

rose cameron stands there, rafes step mother. her short blonde hair is recently bleached and shoved behind her ears. flaunting her iridescent mauve jumpsuit and boisterous, awfully chunky gold necklace. she paints a firm smile onto her matching mauve lips and pushes her hair even further behind her ears. the glow of the metal of the bangles on her wrist catch the setting evening sun and flash into your eyes, blinding you for a second.

“maria! damien! welcome!” she reaches forward and pecks your mother’s cheeks swiftly, peering over her shoulder at you in slight disgust. “i see you all made it fine! me and ward were awfully worried about the god awful weather in paris stopping you from flying home from france… he would be horrified if he missed his bourbon drinking date” rose smiles, her cheeks plastered with foundation, rising like cakes being baked. “oh silly me- come in come in! we have so much to talk about maria.. i mean we have to plan midsummers and the food and outfits- oh and damien, you know where ward is” she lets out a sharp chuckle and beams brightly. rose doesn’t even bother you a second glance as she ushers your parents inside, leaving you standing on the porch. the soft breeze playing with your hair.

what a bitch.. you sigh, your shoulders drooping. rafe must be upstairs like always.

you slide into the manor. quiet, invisible one again. pressing the grand double doors shut and starting to trail up the winding staircase.

after a moment climbing up the spiralling stairs and scurrying across the landing, you stop outside rafe’s door.

knock knock knock

“rafey? it’s me?” you murmur to the door, praying he’s inside.

a moment.

the door pulls open.

inside? stands rafe, low slung grey sweatpants, gold chain around his neck, red bull can in hand.

his room? you peek inside, well you try to. it’s mostly dark. all his blinds are shut, and the only light, apart from the glow of his flatscreen tv opposite his bed is crawling underneath his curtains. the hum of some faint song by someone like chase atlantic or the weeknd dances around the room and the faint smell of weed and aftershave wraps around you, embracing you into a warm, familiar hug.

“doll- i- hey” he smirks, before snatching your wrist and pulling you into his den.

he plops onto the crimson velvet couch at the end of his king size bed before drawing a blunt out of his pocket and dropping his empty red bull can onto the floor with a clatter.

holding the not lit blunt in his teeth, he grabs one of the stray hoodies laying on his floor before pulling it over his head. he flickers his lighter, pulled from his pocket and lights the blunt. takes an inhale and blows out a small cloud of smoke. “cmon bun” grinning ear to ear, he pats his thigh “sit, you know i don’t bite”

you giggle, a sweet melodic tune that dances throughout rafe’s brain.

fuckk…. he thinks..

he drags a rough hand over his face, making some attempt to clean his impure brain of the image of you on your knees in between his thighs with his thick cock wrapped around your pretty pink lips.

you toe off your polished black mary jane’s, leaving them by his bedroom door before pushing it shut quietly. you scuttle over, slipping and sliding all over his recently waxed hardwood floor with your pale pink frilly socks covering your small feet.

he smirks again.. this sweet, sweet girl.

“hi rafey” you murmur whilst you plop onto his lap with a faint thud.

“miss’d you bunny” he immediately lets his hands wander over your waist and he pulls you up so you’re laying back onto his chest as he grabs his playstation controller before starting to play his game. some fighting game no doubt.

“me too rafey..” you coo “im sorry i went away for so long.. france was boring, mom just wanted to drink and dad just wanted to scream at her..im here now though” you say before offering him a weak smile.

“oh bun.. they still rocky?” he hums, pressing you into his side more.

“mhm..i- uh- heard them yelling over some papers the other night too when i was trying to sleep.. its all going wrong rafey i’ve wanted to speak to you for ages but-” you mumble, turning your head so you can bury your lightly dolled up face into his bare bicep.

“oh pretty..” he sighs, stroking your hair like a puppy’s soft fur coat “it’ll be for the best if they divorce hm? yeah?”

“yeah.. you’re right.. i mean at least i might be able to at least sleep then? right?” trying to laugh at your own joke, you press your face further into his arm, turning slightly more so you can lay on his chest better.

“mh yeah good girl.. you can move in with me too if you want when i get my own place later this year hm? jus’ us two in a big house while i finish college yeah?”

“yeah.. uh- i’d like that… yeah..” you whimper. a tear. two tears. three. four. a stream. a river.

“shi- no no bunny don’t cry.. shh… sh..”

sobbing, you grasp his neck and cry softly into his shoulder.

blubbering uselessly, you try to form some coherent thought “b-but- m…m-my d-dad-d-daddy! n-no l…li-like me”

“don’t stress bun.. yeah? fuck your dad. that’s what i say.” he cradles your head, his golden rings that adorn each finger glint in the glow of his tv and his fingers rake through your hair, the playstation controller forgotten. “i can be your daddy for all you care bun.. let rafey care for you.. let me help you.. please pretty girl” he whines pathetically.

you nod mindlessly whilst continuing to whimper and sniffle into his chest.

you don’t even notice he’s manage to hike your baby pink floral print sundress dress up to your waist until his thick golden brown fingers dance along your inner thigh, trickling into your panties quietly.

“shh.. rafe’s got you bun.. focus on me hm?” you can almost hear the smugness melting off his tongue and into his speech, bastard.

you look down at your thighs, expecting to just see his hand squeezing and kneading the flesh. oh-! shit. when did he take my underwear off-.

a pinch, a stoke of your little nub. “r-rafe!”

“you like tha’ hm? shh.. shh.. dry those eyes babygirl.. no crying for rafe”

a finger.. or is it three? press inside of you suddenly.

“mh!” you whine like a needy puppy, for a different reason this time. not crying over your stupid parents, but your best friend.

“sh.” he hisses “keep quiet now, wouldn’t want mommy and daddy to find out their precious girl is being finger fucked by her best friend now would we?”

you shake your head, frantic. “n-no…”

“good girl.. open wide for rafe now” he taps your sealed lips with his cum slicked index and middle finger before forcing your soaked through pink lace panties into your waiting mouth. his fingers slide back down to your puffy folds and little hole, that’s currently clenching on air. trailing his middle finger down from your clit, he thrusts it in. the contrast of the cool metal of the ring on his finger and the warmness of your walls making you sharply inhale.

squelch squelch squelch

the wet, grotesque squelching sounds of his sound fingers thrusting into you and spreading your wetness around your folds fill the air.

another finger presses into your hole. roughly curling around the point, that fills your vision with stars and black, he found so well. so quickly.

eyes rolling back, you buck your hips, frantic. humping his hand, you groan. silently begging and pleading for permission to come.

“nuh uh, too soon bun.. i’ve not even got my cock out yet and you want to squirt all over my fingers?” he scoffs “pathetic slut” he spits at you, and a firm slap is delivered meanly to your pulsing folds making you jump.

suddenly, you’re not on his lap. you’re bent over the arm of the crimson couch, the plush velvet digging into your knees as rafe rams his mean cock into your folds from behind.

“uh-mh-mm!” you whine and squirm, pleading for more friction.

“if i knew you were this much of a slut my dick wouldn’t have left this tight cunt in years…” he pants, breathing heavily. “take it- mh.. some best friend you are” he chuckles as he bullies his cock into you, the angry red tip prodding your cervix, inching you closer to your orgasm every thrust. his balls burying into the curve of your plump ass. “oh bun- she’s just swallowing me whole.. greedy hole gripping my cock so well, taking rafey so well hm?”

despite his roughness, rafe continues to stroke your hair somehow comfortingly, tugging every few moments as the odd ring on his finger gets stuck in your locks.

“see bun? it’s okay, you’ve got me, fuck your parents yeah? jus’ need- m..me… rafe” he groans as he gets closer to his climax.

“god i’ve been waiting to do this for years..” he murmurs as he leans down to nibble your shoulder as he continues to ram into you unrelentingly, the wet sounds now more violent and vicious.

“I already told you no.” Mike's voice was stern as he pushed off the girl tugging his arm back. He was walking to his locker after lunch. Robin had just given them all information on the next crawl; and his best friend Y/n started up her antics of begging to be let in again. “It was no last time. It’s no this time. It’ll be no next time.” He turned around, looking her in the eye with a dead stare. “No.”

Y/n pouted. Mike hated when she did that. He hated how sweet and persuasive she looked. Mike would give her the world if he could–and all it would take to convince him were to be her looking up at him with those innocent eyes. He gave into her all the time. Lunch, homework answers, what movie to watch. He gave in to Y/n so easily, so much so that everyone else in the party had started to tease him about it. 

Apparently Mike's crush on Y/n was obvious to everyone except her. But this was different. This wasn’t buying Coke over Pepsi at the store, this was life or death. Mike might be stupid enough to let his crush on Y/n turn him into her personal compiler, but he wasn’t dumb enough to let her get killed because of it. 

“Please” Y/n whined “Please, Mike, Please!” Her hands were wrapped around his upper arm, keeping him in place while she begged “Everyone else is okay with me going except for you. Why can’t I go?”

“And do what? Go with Hop into the Upside Down and get yourself killed?” Mike shook her hand off. 

“No! But I could help you and Lucas be on the lookou-” 

Mike cut her off by opening his locker in front of her face. “I already said no, Y/n. Me and Lucas don’t need any help.” He grabbed his books and shoved them into his bag, closing his locker with a hard slam.

She glared at him, face turning angrier than the sad pout she wore moments before. “Everyone else in the party is a part of this. Everyone else in this entire place is a part of this except for me!”

“You don’t need to be a part of this!” They were getting loud. They really shouldn't be talking about this in public. God, why did she have to be so stubborn. “Everyone has their jobs, we don’t need you, Y/n.” 

Mike watched the hurt flash across her face. She pursed her lips together and looked up at him. “Fine, then I don’t do crawls but, but at least let me join the meetings. Let me know what's going on!” 

Mike pushed himself off of the lockers he was leaning on and began walking to his next class. Chemistry, one of the few classes he didn’t have with her. Lucky him. Y/n continued to argue the entire walk down the hall. Mike was getting annoyed. Couldn’t she understand that this was for her own good? That Mike was doing this to protect her? Why did she have to be so ignorant?

“-and sure, I don’t have powers. But that’s not my fault! I want to be helpful!”

Mike turned around with a heavy expression. He needed her to stop. He needed Y/n to go home, home where she would be safe and sound, and he would see her in the morning and tell her all about it. Maybe Mike was being too nice, maybe that's why she wouldn’t listen. 

“You’re right!” Mike cut off her endless rambling. “You don’t have powers. You can’t drive. You can’t fight. You can’t code or track. Hell, you can barely stay quiet for five minutes. Do you want us to all die? Do you want this to fail? Seriously, Y/n, why can’t you understand that we. don’t. want. you. there. Go home after school, take a nap, read a book. Do whatever you want and tell me all about it tomorrow morning” Mike ran a hand through his hair “You’re my best friend, Y/n, and you know I care about you just as much as the other guys,” Lie, he cared about her so, so much more. “But you’re useless here” 

Mike watched the words settle into Y/n. He bit back a cringe himself. Useless. Jeez, that was harsh. Tears filled her eyes, daring to spill out. Y/n took a step away from him, looking up at him with an expression he couldn’t read; it was some mix of anger and sadness and disgust, even. She shook her head lightly to herself. 

“Screw you, Mike Wheeler.” and with that, Y/n turned around and stormed her way down the hallway. 

Mike took a deep breath. He ran a hand across his face, feeling the heat climb up to his cheeks. Good, he told himself, this was good. If she was mad at him then she would be safe. He watched her leave, head facing the ground as she weaved through the crowds of people walking to their next class. He and Y/n had only ever fought once in the several years he’s known her. It was when they were twelve, and Mike told her she wasn’t allowed to join him, Lucas, Will, and Dustin for a Star Wars marathon sleepover. Boys only, he told her. She ignored them all for days leading up to the sleepover. That was when Mike first realized he liked her. He missed her presence all the days she was gone; he spent each and every minute wishing he could see her stupid smile or hear her dumb laugh. Mike didn’t even like Star Wars. In fact, he liked Y/n so much better. So, on the actual night of the sleepover, he snuck out and biked to Y/n’s house and begged her to join them to watch Grease–her favorite movie. The boys hated Grease. 

“Good luck fixing that” A familiar voice drew him out of his trip down memory lane. He turned his head to the side to see who was there. Lucas, with the most disappointed look Mike had ever seen. 

“What did you want me to do!” Mike said defensively “She never stops bugging me about it! I don’t understand why she won’t take no for an answer” 

“Oh, I dunno, maybe because it's not a real answer” Lucas countered “Why don’t you just tell her the truth?”

Mike swallowed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lucas rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Don’t do that. You’ve been in love with this girl since the first time she quoted Star Trek. All you gotta do is look her in the eyes and say ‘Y/n, the truth is…I love you! I love you more than anything ever! And I can’t lose you-” Mike cut off Lucas’s dramatic lamenting by covering his mouth with his hand and shoving him into the locker. 

“Stop it! I don’t-I don’t…that. She’s just a friend” 

Lucas forced his hands off his mouth and gave Mike a look. Mike knew this look, he knew it too well. It was the same look Lucas gave him every time he avoided his feelings for Y/n. “You better hope tonight's crawl goes well,” His voice was serious and low. “And you better hope that she’s sweet enough to forgive you, because that was some messed up bullshit you just told her. And after she forgives you, which we all know she will–because she’s the purest soul out there–you better man the hell up and tell her the truth…you don’t want something to happen and you have to spend God knows how long regretting it”

Mike thought of Max, comatose in the hospital for so long with no signs of getting better; and he thought of Lucas, by her side every chance he could. He wondered what it was like to lose someone that you loved–not that he loved Y/n–and he knew he wouldn’t be able to live if he was in Lucas’s position. Especially not if it was her. Especially not if it was his fault.

But first, tonight's crawl. Mike had to take things one step at a time. The crawl first, then Y/n. That was how it had to be–seperate. 

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

Y/n didn’t go to her next class. How could she sit through English after her best friend told her she was useless? Instead, Y/n snuck out of Hawkins High School, hopped on her bike, and escaped that hellhole as fast as she could. Tears blurred her vision as she sped down the roads. Y/n made little note of the cars on the road next to her, she ignored all her surroundings almost entirely. All she could think of were Mike’s words replaying in her head. Useless, can’t shut up for even five minutes, we don’t want you. Did he really mean all that? Could he really be so cruel? Y/n began to miss Max now more than ever. It was different when she was around, it was better having another girl around. Sure, El was there, but she was…weird, reserved. Max was bold enough for all three of the girls combined. She was brave, fearless, amazing. 

With a screech, Y/n turned her bike around, no longer deciding to go home and cry into her pillow. No; instead, she would be visiting an old friend. 

The hospital wasn’t busy when Y/n walked in. There were a couple nurses shuffling around, a few family members lounging around in the waiting room, but overall it was dead. As Y/n took the elevator up to Max’s room, she wiped the tears from her eyes. She could hear Max’s voice in her head shaming her for crying over stupid boys. She would make fun of Y/n even more for that stupid boy being Mike Wheeler. 

It wouldn’t be the first time either. Max was the one who consoled Y/n when she ran out of the Snow Ball crying after Mike and El kissed on the dance floor. 

“It’s okay, Y/n” Max soothed as she rubbed Y/n’s shoulder. “Mike is an idiot. Seriously, an absolute idiot. You’re better than him. Way, way, way better”

Y/n sniffled and shook her head. “It’s stupid,” She muttered, “so stupid. I mean, no wonder he likes her instead of me. She’s so cool. She has powers. She’s pretty…Mike would never like me, not with her there”

Max got up off her seat next to Y/n and knelt in front of her, taking Y/n’s hands in hers. “Hey,” she said, “look at me.” Y/n looked up to meet Max with teary eyes. “You are amazing, Y/n. You are smart, and beautiful, and the sweetest girl to ever enter Hawkins, Indiana. Never, and I mean never, let stupid ass Mike Wheeler let you think you are anything but. Mike doesn’t know what he’s missing. You deserve the best, because that’s what you are. The best.”

Y/n remembered every moment of Mike and El’s short attempt at a relationship. It lasted about two weeks before they both realized they were better off as friends. Lucas said Mike only liked her because she was the only girl Mike knew. Y/n said she was a girl Mike knew also. Lucas just laughed. 

Max’s room was filled with flowers and pictures, most of which were brought by Lucas. She was pale, eyes stuck closed and hair braided into two little pigtails on each side of her bed. Y/n sat down on the chair next to her bed and put her hand gently on top of Max’s. 

“Hey, Max” she said softly, a break building up in her throat. All those tears she had tried to wipe away had begun to come back at the sight of her best friend. “I’m sorry I don’t visit you more often…I think I was scared. But that’s not fair to you, you wouldn’t be scared” Y/n took in a deep breath, watching Max’s unwavering expression. She looked so peaceful, it was almost discomforting. “I wish I could be helping, I wish I could be out there, working hard to defeat Vecna. Maybe it would help bring you back.” Tears began to stream down her face again “I miss you so much, Max. Things aren’t the same without you here. Mike-he, well, you know how he is” She let out a chuckle and imagined Max, wherever she was, was laughing along with her. “He’s been so mean lately, I don’t understand it…You’d beat him if you heard the things he said to me today. I know he doesn’t like me–well, he likes me as a friend– you know what I mean, but sometimes it feels like he really hates me. I mean, everyone else is allowed to be a part of these things, El’s a part of things” Y/n’s tone turned bitter “but she has powers, and Mike loves that…I dunno, Max. You would know what to do, you always do.” 

Y/n continued to Max for almost two hours, a one sided conversation full of laughter, cries, anger. She told Max about as much as she could remember from the past 18 months. How Mike tried to teach her to skateboard and she busted her lip, how Dustin and her built a little robot and they argued over whether or not it should have a little bow on the top, how Will made her a painting that hands above her bed. Y/n talked for as long as her mind let her. Eventually it was time for her to go home. She stood up, pressed a soft kiss to the side of Max’s head, grabbed her things, and left. 

At the doorway to the hallway, Y/n turned around to look at her friend one last time. “Thanks, Max” she whispered, more to herself than anything.

And with that she was gone. 

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

Mike was tired. He was covered in blood, dirt, and who knew what else. His ears rang with the chaos from earlier. The crawl had gone terribly, as terrible as possible without anyone dying…atleast not yet. Holly was gone, his parents were in the hospital. Mike could feel the hopelessness course through his body, dread and pain filling his blood with every passing minute. He needed to sleep, he needed to shower, he needed to feel okay. 

He couldn’t go home, he heard the description of his house from Nancy. Blood was everywhere, broken glass and ruins of his kitchen all over the house. He saw his mom in passing as the doctors wheeled her into the hospital. It didn’t look good. It didn’t look good at all. 

He sat in the waiting room with Nancy, sweat building up at the back of his neck and forehead. He tore off his beanie and threw it down onto the chair next to him. 

“Go home,” Nancy told him “You look terrible. Wash up, get some sleep. I can handle things here”

Mike shook his head. “I can’t. Holly is-”

“Holly won’t be getting any help from you if you’re half asleep and look like walking death” Nancy scolded. “I’m serious. Go home, Mike. You need it” 

“I can’t,” Mike persisted “Home is-it’s all-I can’t…” He thought of the ruins that were his home right now. He couldn’t walk in there, much less sleep. 

Nancy let out an empathetic sigh. “I’m sure one of your friends will let you crash? I dunno, Mike, but you really should figure it out.” Nancy stood up and walked off, not giving Mike the option to argue back. 

Mike went to the only place his mind would let him think of. Y/n’s house. It was late, about three in the morning. She was probably sleeping. Still, he biked his way in the dark, each turn feeling like muscle memory. He knew these roads like the back of his hand, biking in the dark was no issue. The cool air was a temporary relief, blowing his hair away from his face and reminding him of a certain peace. 

He dropped his bike on her front lawn, wincing a bit at the noise it made. As he walked up to the steps he remembered their argument earlier. He wanted to apologize. Really, he did. But how could he? How could he even face her looking like this–like a lost dog needing a place to stay? Still, he knocked. Once, twice, a third time. 

Y/n opened the door with a confused, asleep look on her face. She was wearing a pale pink nightgown, hair in a messy braid dangling over her left shoulder. Her eyes were half lidded, looking up at Mike with sleep threatening to enter her body once again. Y/n rubbed her eyes with her hands, forcing them open a little more. “Mike..?” her voice was pitchy and weak “What’re you- are you okay?” She had finally woken up enough to comprehend Mike.

Mike watched as her face turned to concern and worry. She reached out a gentle hand to Mike’s chest. It was soft, tentative, as if she was making sure he was real. God, Mike thought to himself, why did she have to look like this right now–like an angel from heaven, like beauty redefined, like each and every one of Mike's dreams combined into one? How could she be so gentle, so sweet, even after all Mike had said to her?  He couldn’t take it, the longer he looked at her the more he fell apart. The thought of her being there entered his mind. Y/n, in a bed alongside his mom, hurt and about to die because of him. He lost it then, dropping to his knees right in her doorway. He began to cry, each breath a quiver and releasing more tears. 

Y/n froze, looking down at the boy on his knees in front of her. What the hell happened tonight? Y/n pulled herself out of her mind, dropping to the floor in front of Mike. Her hands reached out to cup Mike’s  face, a comfort he immediately melted into. “Hey, hey, Mike” She said softly “it’s okay, you’re okay, it’s okay” 

Mike shook his head, unsteady tears falling down his face. His hands wrapped around her wrists, holding her tight as if it were the only thing keeping her there. “I’m sorry” he cried “I’m so sorry, Y/n. Tonight-tonight…it was bad, so, so bad.” His eyes were almost desperate as they looked up at her. “Holly’s gone…my mom and dad are-they’re in the hospital”

“Oh, Mike” was the only thing that could leave her lips “I’m so sorry”

Mike continued to stare at her, he watched as tears slowly creeped into her eyes. “No” he whispered “don’t be sorry” his lips shook, his chest heaving “I’m sorry…I’m so sorry Y/n you’ll never understand. I-I lied, I lied straight to your face earlier, clean through my teeth. Do you understand? Why don’t you ever see it?” God, he was rambling, she looked so confused. “You aren’t useless, Y/n, you aren’t short of anything but amazing.” He finally let go of her wrists, scooting closer and cupping her face in his own hands. 

“Amazing, Y/n, you’re amazing. You could probably beat up any one of us guys in the party, you’re smart as hell. I mean, I probably wouldn’t have been able to pass math last year if it weren’t for you. And-and, well-okay, you’re really bad at shutting up” They both let out a scoff. Mike was getting nervous, his eyes darting around. “But that's okay! I would never want you to. Because everything you say is worth listening to. Every stupid joke, every song you sing, every laugh, all of it. I want to hear all of it. And, and I’m scared that if you join us on these things, if I put you in danger…” He took a moment to take a breath, to look her back in the eyes. There were small tears dripping down her cheeks, but the tiniest smile in her eyes. She was looking up at him like he was the world, a prophet speaking truths to be savored. “If I put you in danger,” he continued, slow now, “I’m scared I’ll never hear any of those things again. Do you-are you, do you get it?” 

Mike looked down to her lips, a guilty pleasure; but then he saw she was smiling, and Mike began to smile, too. 

“You’re an idiot, Mike Wheeler” was all she said. 

Mike laughed through his tears, pressing his face into her hands that still held him so gently. 

Eventually Y/n stood them up from the floor, closing the front door and leading Mike to her bedroom. Luckily, she had one of Mike’s old shirts and pairs of sweatpants somewhere in the back of her closet. Neither of them knew why it was there, but they both took it as a sign that they were supposed to spend the night together. 

Mike showered and changed, most of the dread and tiredness washing off his body. He used her body wash, secretly indulging in being covered in her smell. Mike wondered if she really understood all that he was saying. Should he have kissed her? Fuck, he totally should’ve kissed her. He let the water fall down his face as he let out a loud sigh. The weight of the crawl and all it took from Mike felt lighter than it did before, like being around Y/n took the burden of overthinking off his shoulders. 

When he got back to her room, dried off and in his new change of clothes, Y/n made him sit on the floor so she could brush his hair. He relished in each and every touch, her fingers combing through his head and offering him the occasional gentle scratch on the scalp. 

She forced him to sleep in her bed next to him, whispered him “goodnight” before turning off her lamp and covering herself with her blanket. 

Mike didn’t really know what love felt like, at least not romantically; but, as he laid in Y/n’s bed–staring at the wall and listening to the soft sound of her breathing–he felt like this was at least pretty close. 

In her sleep, Y/n turned around and tucked herself into Mike’s side–an embrace he welcomed with everything he could. He wrapped his arm around her body, his hand lightly resting on her waist over the blanket. 

Mike didn’t sleep much that night, his dreams full of memories from the crawl. Each time he woke up, he looked at the girl sleeping peacefully on his side, and his troubles felt less impossible to deal with. 

Tomorrow, Mike needed to be at the Squawk by 9am. He would wake up early, surprise Y/n with breakfast in bed as a thank you for letting him stay the night. He would get ready alongside Y/n in a quiet peace. Maybe, if he could muster up the courage, he would kiss her–his way of making sure she really understood what he meant last night. Or, maybe, for the time being, holding her hand would be enough. Mike hadn’t worked out those details yet. Once they were both ready, they would get on their bikes and head to the Squawk. 

———————

“everyone! shots on me tonight!” shouts an obnoxiously inebriated ryusui on top of bar francois’ counter. cheers erupt across the ship with some whooping and whistles.

“aren’t shots on him every night?” senku mumbles into your ear. bumping his shoulder into yours.

feigning nonchalance at the proximity, you reply, “i don’t know,” a queasy feeling twists in your stomach, “but i don’t think i can drink anymore.”

with his usual cocky smirk, senku snarks, “yeah, you definitely can’t.”

“its just,” a hiccup, “too damn loud.” you say while rubbing your temples.

senku stands and extends his hand, “you wanna go to my lab?”

you accept his offer and clasp his hand, letting him navigate you around the ship. feet dragging and eyes blurry as your mind slurs from the alcohol.

senku doesn’t typically allow anyone inside his lab, excluding dr. xeno, of course. everyone just assumes it’s nerdy science stuff and leaves him to his own accord. you can’t help but feel a little honored at the invitation.

senku carefully guides you through the dark oak door of his lab and shuts it behind him. the hand you held now somehow evolving into an arm. unconsciously, you lean into him for balance.

senku, who’s feeling a little bold, places his hand on your waist. he tugs you towards his desk. though it's messy with stacks of blue prints and notes, you’re charmed by his dedication to better the village.

still holding onto him, you take in the new scenery. it’s quite the spacious room despite it being below the deck of the ship. decorated (if you can even call it that) with test tubes, goggles, and little trinkets that he probably forced kiseki to craft.

in the corner is a queen sized bed, plush with the gray variant of yuzuriha’s Five Piece Ultra-Soft Down Alternative Comforter Set with Sheets™

“you can sit here,” pulling out an extra chair from under his desk.

before you can respond, he starts to ramble, “it’s quiet in here, right? i tested the oil we found from that reservoir we found recently, right? guess what? it was crude oil! or as you may know it, petroleum. well, i processed that into styrene and then used pentane as a blowing agent. boom! stone world styrofoam! i installed that into the walls of this room as makeshift sound proofing!”

processing none of that, you slump into the chair, replying with a, “dude that’s badass.”

humming a sound of agreement, “right? made it cause i felt bad for ukyo during late night experiments.”

senku slides into the seat next to you. fiddling with your fingers, you feel a hand creeping up your shoulder. too drunk to say anything, you lean into him as approval. basking in the comforting silence, he plays with your hair; twisting it between his fingers.

senku breaks the silence and lifts his arm, “do you want water or anything? hydration is important when you’re intoxicated. it’ll help with your inevitable hangover tomorrow morning.”

guessing the moment was over, you sigh, “yeah get me some water please.”

immediately jumping up, senku grabs a medium sized beaker (a beaker!?) and fills it with the water vase nearby. he fumbles with a drawer and pulls out something you can’t quite make out. taking steps back to you, senku extends the beaker and a pill.

you grab both, popping the pill under your tongue and then washing it down with water.

he raises his eyebrow, “you’re not even gonna ask what its for?”

putting the beaker back down, “senku, you’re a man trying to revive the whole world. whatever it was, it couldn’t have been bad for me.” you say, running your hands through your hair.

he lets out a breathy chuckle, “well it was an electrolyte tablet. you trust me too damn much.”

“i’d trust anything you’d do.”

“anything?” his eyebrow quirks.

“yeah?

“you’d let me do anything?”

“i’d probably even let you run experiments on me.” you snort.

there’s hesitance before senku speaks, almost as if he were picking out the right words to say.

he leans over, placing his right arm on your seat and shifting his weight to it. the change in distance instigates panic within you.

fuck, you’re so down bad.

he slowly opens his mouth, “are you serious? would you let me experiment,” a pause, “on your body?” senku’s eyes lock with yours expectingly.

heat creeping up your neck, you avert your eyes. in any other situation you’d retort with something along the lines of ‘just kidding!”

but, maybe it's because of the alcohol in your system, or maybe it's the undeniable attraction you have for the man. you find it nearly impossible to reject his eagerness.

i mean look at that face.

that handsome, handsome face.

that jawline.

chiseled and aching to be seen.

that-

nope.

you can’t look anymore.

eyes now glued to your shoes, you sheepishly cough out an, “uhm, i guess.”

“wow,” senku grins, “i have to record this moment.”

senku turns around, back towards you and hunched over his desk. drunk, confused, and now embarrassed, you’re almost relieved he’s no longer looking at you.

unfortunately for you, the panic from his proximity hadn’t subsided and any attempts of thought diversion weren’t working.

senku turns, whipping out a piece of paper with some writing on it.

he thrusts the sheet in front of you, and again, placing his hand at the seat of your chair. he excitedly speaks, “you meant what you said, right? if you meant it just sign here, at the bottom. first and last name.”

the distance between you guys closed again, you squeak a panicked noise. your hand scrambles to the fountain pen on his table and quickly scribble a signature.

“okay! whatever! just, back up!”

it can’t be that bad right? maybe he’ll just make you test new medicine? like a human lab rat!

he steps back, an ill intended smirk appearing on his face before quickly disappearing. “well you seem to be doing better. wanna go back up?”

you stand up and take a step, almost tripping over your own feet. stabling yourself on senkus desk, you agree, “yeah, let’s do it!”

ryusui spots you and senku walking up the stairs. “where have you guys been?! you’re missing the main event!”

with a secure grasp on your arm, senku asks, “what’s the main event?”

“me! of course!” ryusui shouts boisterously, simultaneously snapping his fingers and summoning his trusted butler, francois. seemingly popping up out of nowhere, they offer a plate of assorted alcoholic beverages.

———————

with the rest of the night a blur, you end your recollection session.

when you woke up, you were already constricted and exposed.

“senku. i know i said i’d agree to the experiments, but i thought you were gonna, i don’t know?! test substances on me?”

retracting the consent form, he wags his fingers, “no loopholes. a contract’s a contract.”

“since when was it a contract?”

“what? sorry, didn’t hear you.” he quips while walking towards the nighttable on your left.

the corners of his lips twitching, senku bites back his smile. “like i said, i’m gonna run some experiments on you.”

still freaking out; you ask, “what kind of experiments require me to be like,” you try pointing to your current state, but forget that your hands are bound, “this!?”

“just go with it, will you?” senku looks up at you, “i didn’t strip you. if you were wondering.”

what? if he didn’t, then who did? clearly perplexed senku continues, “you came down here after the party and fell asleep on the floor. i tried taking you back to your room but apparently you sleep naked cuz,”

you gasp.

“you started taking your clothes off, grumbling about how it was too hot.“

“oh my god, i’m so sorry, i didn’t mean to-,” you pause, “dude that doesn’t answer why im tied up to your bed.”

realizing his experiments weren’t going to proceed if he didn’t explain himself, he lets out an awkward laugh, “uhm, yeah about that. i may have wanted to redeem my ‘do anything to you’ pass. and i might have been afraid you’d try to run.”

“of course i’d run!”

“see! just go along with it! it’ll be quick.”

giving up, you sigh, “what are you gonna do to me?“

“figure it out. you’re a smart girl. i saw you looking at the equipment.”

oh yeah. the condom.

“senku are you trying to fuck me?”

though bold before, senku turns, clearly embarrased. he denies, “no! i just wanted to.. test some hypotheses. you know, about like, human reactions to different stimuli. specifically, like, sexual stimuli?

yeah he wanted to fuck you.

scientifically fuck you.

“you’re lying out of your ass right now.”

“whatever, yeah i am. look, i read a book about intercourse before petrification and i wanted to try it.”

“why didn’t you ask?”

“i did, you said you’d let me experiment anything,” he pouts.

this idiot.

telling someone you like them is difficult.

though, if anytime’s an ideal time for a confession, it…

definitely wasn’t now.

definitely not when you’re chained up to a bed with a mattress filled with straw. and definitely not when you’re butt naked and eagle spread.

nevertheless, you build up the courage. “if you asked, i don’t think i would’ve said no. i’ve literally had a thing for you since you revived me.”

“i know. you weren’t very good at hiding it. like when i dated luna. which was for political reasons by the way,” he adds on, as courtesy of your eyeroll.

“you know what, you also didn’t seem very happy when you found out i was in that other political marriage with ruri. oh and remember when-,”

“okay i get it,” you cut him off, face hot from embarrassment. guess you weren’t as subtle as you thought.

he places his hand above your left shoulder and hovers over you, “so, may we continue?”

adverting your eyes again; you should say no. you really should. but the idea of senku’s slender hands on you, exploring, feeling, touching.

just the thought sent heat to your core.

“yeah.” you nod shyly.

from his position, he lowers his face in front of yours. crimson eyes holding you hostage before they lid. he kisses you, gently. lips barely even moving together.

slightly pulling away, he stares at you. gazing longingly, like you meant something. pink flushing his ears, he leans back in. this time deeper. his tongue drags across your bottom lip before slyly sliding into your mouth.

mouths now moving in sync, senku climbs over you. his legs straddling both sides of your body.

biting and sucking your lower lip, whimpering every time he bites a little too hard. his hands run down the side of your frame and rest at your ribs, right under your chest.

you inhale sharply when he moves his hand up and lightly squeezes your breast. he rubs your nipple in circles before giving a little pinch. your chest leans into the contact.

he breaks the kiss to lick and suck at your neck, leaving marks scattered as evidence. slowly moving down, making progress down your collarbone and then to your sternum.

he pauses before reaching your breasts. eyeing your reaction, he locks his lips onto your hardened nipple. senku swirls his tongue in circles around the areolar, occasionally nibbling and sucking at the raised peak.

“mmph!” your hands thrash at your restraints.

he lets out an airy chuckle, “see? i knew you’d try to run.” you twitch at his breath chilling the spot it was once on.

he latches onto the other side, like he was making sure it wasn’t neglected. senku smiles against your chest, seemingly enjoying your attempts to break free.

you yelp when he bites down harder than before.

“what? you didn’t like that?” he cheekily looks up.

the feeling of his lips still lingering, you cry out, “no! just didn’t expect it.”

“no, its okay. we can stop,” he lifts himself off of you and hops off the bed.

“what?! why?”

clearly enjoying your desperation, senku wipes the shit eating grin off his face before turning back around.

he grabs the clipboard and the pen off the table and writes out loud, “experiment one. oral breast stimulation. subject response level,” he hums, “mm, a two? what do you think?”

exasperated and flustered, you whine, “i don’t know!”

pretending to immerse himself in his clipboard, he disapprovingly hums and shakes his head, “that’s not gonna work. i need accurate data. we can’t continue if you don’t cooperate.”

“i’m not doing this.”

senku sets the clipboard down and works to undo your restraints, “okay, i guess we’re done then.”

fuck. guess your pride can wait. “no wait! l-like a three?” eyes flicking to everything but him.

cocky, he jots, “a three. okay, noted.” setting the clipboard back down, he crawls back onto the bed and softly caresses your face. his hand moves to your shoulder, then to your stomach before lowering to your throbbing core.

insides bubbling from anticipation, you bite your bottom lip. palm on your abdomen, senku places a thumb on one of your lips and pulls it to the side. unveiling your inner folds, he tenderly blows on your glistening clit.

squeezing your eyes shut, a sharp exhale escapes.

“experiment two.” senku mumbles from below you.

a warm, wet sensation envelops your clit. you gasp, holding back moans as he laps without warning.

his tongue starts off slow, applying deep pressure to the hood of your nerves. wrestling around it in circles before unforgivingly flattening his tongue and pressuring upwards.

“fuck!” a wave of pleasure ripples through your body.

he hums against your lips, happily eating away like a starved man. thinking that his hands needed to pick up slack, senku inches two lengthy fingers into you.

caught off guard with the sudden intrusion you let out a high pitched cry and clamp your legs shut around him.

releasing his hold on your clit he warns, “keep them open, unless you want me to tie your legs down too.”

you hesitantly pull your legs apart.

“b-be nice then.”

“no promises.” he teases.

thrusting his fingers slow and deep, you feel your whole body freezing up trying to adjust to the new sensations.

still eating away, you are left in a frenzied state when thrusts faster and adds a digit without warning. your breathing staggers when you feel an orgasm build up.

“w-wait,” you stutter, “i’m about to-” he laps faster and curls his fingers inside you.

heeding his warning, you try clasping your legs together again. senku stops the attempt and immediately slams them back down.

”please!! wait!!” your muscles twitch. a blinding white pleasure takes over your body. chills wash over your skin as you let out a choke out sob.

licking his lips, senku releases his hold on you. he backs off smugly.

“i’d say that was around a seven. what do you think?” he reaches for the clipboard but you kick his arm.

“shut up.”

“hey, i need to record the data.” despite his tone, the smug smirk remained. senku stands and notes down the ‘data’. you notice his erection peeking through the lab coat.

“is that an erlenmeyer flask in your pocket, or are you excited to see me?”

eyes focused on writing, he states, “shut up. can’t help it. i’ve been wanting you forever.”

your face heats up at his confession, stomach doing backflips. you peek over at him. from behind the clipboard, a light red floods his cheeks.

“let me help you.” his hand freezes.

“how?”

gingerly, your jaw slacks open as you offer your mouth.

“shit.” senku drops the clipboard. he rips his lab coat off while basically leaping back onto the bed, stepping out of his tunic on the way.

fumbling with the rope, he quickly frees you.

you sit up so his crotch parallels your face. you gulp at the erection in front.

he nervously asks, “are you sure? once we start i don’t think i can stop.”

“take your fucking underwear off.”

he laughs under his breath and unveils himself.

thick. veiny. it’s pale with his mushroom tip angrily flushed. about seven inches? fuck. no, eight. how was he hiding all that under with that tacky e=mc2 tunic?

he slaps himself against your face and pushes his tip against your lips. “open.”

dropping your jaw he slowly pushes in. senku visibly shudders. he wraps his hand around the back of your head, fingers intertwining with your hair. you hollow your cheeks and swirl your tongue around his tip.

“fuck!” senku bucks his hips causing you to gag on the length. you bob your head rhythmically before he uses his grip on your head to push your mouth deeper onto him.

fully face fucking you now, he thrusts down your throat and forces your face to meet halfway. gag and saliva dripping down your jaw, you struggle with breaths in between his relentless thrusts.

you look up, eyes glossy with tears. senku groans above you. all of a sudden pulling out. you desperately gasp for air.

“don’t look at me like that. i just about embarrassed myself.” he shuffles to grab the condoms, ripping them open with haste.

you watch intently, dripping with anticipation. his length slapping against his toned stomach as he rolls the latex over it. he backs up, giving your clit a kiss before straightening his posture. he rubs his manhood along your folds, slathering it with your slick.

lining himself against your hole, he pushes. the rim of your entrance burns with the stretch.

strained, he coos, “baby, relax. i don’t wanna hurt you.”

you take deep breaths, trying to relax your walls. you feel every inch and every vein as he intrudes. once fully settled inside, you are left a twitching mess.

senku grabs the back of your knees, drawing your legs to your sides into a mating press. the new position allows senku to lean in close. still deep inside, he gingerly pecks the apples of your cheeks. licking the tears away he waits until you’ve adjusted.

lips locked again, senku passionately explores the caverns of your mouth. unconsciously, you start rolling your hips, causing senku’s breathing to stagger.

“seems like you’re ready.”

walls surrounding him, he starts pulsing in and out. your moans are muffled into his mouth. maintaining his rhythm, he pulls back from the kiss to stare at you, as if he were trying to engrave the memory into his mind.

legs wide. tear soaked cheeks. skin covered in rosy petal shaped hickies. angelic voice gracing him with a taste of heaven.

senku hits a particular spot within you that causes a long, choked wail.

“keep making those noises.” evidently affected by your state, he grows inside you. thicker. longer.

he moves his hands to the small of your back, forcing you to arch deeper into him. senku earnestly fucks that spongy spot inside you. he wasn’t just rutting into you. it was calculated. precise and intentional. your mind blanks as you reach your peak once again. noticing the signs, senku rubs circles into your overstimulated bundle of nerves.

cold washes over you. you let out soul wrecking moans.

your gummy walls shudder and twitch around him. “don’t squeeze me like that,” he strangles, “fuck, i’m close.”

his thrusts get irregular. faster. deeper. riding out your high, as he approaches his own. his grip around you tightens, accidentally digging crescents into your hips. panting as he pounds your abused cervix, he feels you go limp. sobbing while feeling more and more wrecked with every snap of his hip.

he gives one final thrust before finishing deep within you.

chest heaving, senku collapses above you; his face buried in your neck.

his lips curl against your skin, “i’d say that was like a 10.”

you groan.

“you don’t think so? well, every good experiment has trials.”

you feel a bulge grow on your stomach.

“GAH!!,” you shriek. “get away from me!”

a/n: this is my first fic! i spent like four days obsessing over it and might make it a hobby lol