Dec. 3rd, 2022 at 12:56 AM
[Chrissy falls into a deep, dreamless sleep. She doesn't wake up until he pulls her out of sleep the next day. Despite knowing that Hawkins lies ahead of them, she's in a rested and good mood as they pack up their things and get ready to head out. They stop at a diner about thirty minutes away, and don't waste too much time eating. That probably has to do with the fact they both inhale their food and then some, and Chrissy's pleased to note that the waitress can see them just fine.
So maybe he's right, and they're only half dead. Either that, or starving ghosts can make themselves be seen in the name of getting food.
They go wash up in the bathroom before heading out from the diner, and Chrissy almost tries luring him into one of the stalls with her. But she behaves herself, feeling a little tense as they head back out to his bike.
The drive to Hawkins both feels like it takes forever and goes by too quickly. They listen to music and quietly chat about their childhood, and Chrissy keeps her arms wrapped tight around him the entire drive. Occasionally she presses a kiss to the back of his neck or his leather clad shoulder. The affection is easy and natural at this point, and he doesn't seem to mind her giving it to him anymore. It's just part of the way they are together.
That easy affection continues as they pull into Hawkins and Chrissy feels sick to her stomach. It's late afternoon by the time they pull up in front of her house, and her legs feel like they're made of Jello as he lifts her off the bike. She takes two steps before stumbling right into him, clinging hold of his hand for dear life. ]
I don't know if I can do this.
[She whispers, feeling so stupid. He's here with her, she can do this. She just has to be strong like he's teaching her to be.]
So maybe he's right, and they're only half dead. Either that, or starving ghosts can make themselves be seen in the name of getting food.
They go wash up in the bathroom before heading out from the diner, and Chrissy almost tries luring him into one of the stalls with her. But she behaves herself, feeling a little tense as they head back out to his bike.
The drive to Hawkins both feels like it takes forever and goes by too quickly. They listen to music and quietly chat about their childhood, and Chrissy keeps her arms wrapped tight around him the entire drive. Occasionally she presses a kiss to the back of his neck or his leather clad shoulder. The affection is easy and natural at this point, and he doesn't seem to mind her giving it to him anymore. It's just part of the way they are together.
That easy affection continues as they pull into Hawkins and Chrissy feels sick to her stomach. It's late afternoon by the time they pull up in front of her house, and her legs feel like they're made of Jello as he lifts her off the bike. She takes two steps before stumbling right into him, clinging hold of his hand for dear life. ]
I don't know if I can do this.
[She whispers, feeling so stupid. He's here with her, she can do this. She just has to be strong like he's teaching her to be.]
Comments
And maybe she starts to slam back against him as she really gets into it, making that sound of wet skin on skin even louder. His slight laughter pulls out some of her own, and she delights in the fact they can be light even in the middle of something that's so consuming and toe-curling good.
As they set a hard, claiming pace, she finds herself reaching back to grab at his hip. They move together fluidly, seeming to ignore the fact that water is pouring down over the both of them. And her feet do slip every now and then, but his arm around her holds her tight against him. He gives her absolutely no purchase, and she loves it. After everything they've been through together today, this is exactly what they both need to remind one another they're alive in their own way.
They may be dead, but they're not dead. They're right here, and in that moment they belong to no one but one another.]
Come for me, Chrissy. I wanna feel you-
[Wants that pulse, that unbelievable pressure. Whether she does or doesn't, he's about to hit that peak himself. His breath is hot against her, mixed with the steam of the shower, and he adjusts his arm around her so as to really keep her clutched tight to him as their movement together nearly makes him lose his grip. Fuck, she's so good to him. Makes him lose his goddamned mind just having her to himself.
Finally he's sent over the edge with a gasp as something nearly electric races through him, and he works her clit to try and bring her along with him too. His knees tremble, and he's grateful she's helping to support them both, because honestly it's nearly enough to make him drop to his knees. He really is worn out, but these last several minutes were more than worth it anyway.]
Her breathing is fast and heavy, and she keeps her hands braced against the tile as she continues to rock her hips and ride out her peak. She feels amazing, and he feels even better buried deep within her the way he is. Her thighs are trembling with the effort to stay upright, even as he keeps her held flush against him.
The hand that's been grabbing hold of his hip moves upward, cradling his head while they pant and tremble and come down off their highs together. Her lips part as she tries to talk, to say anything to him. But words are still not a thing she can form right now, so she just leans forward to rest her forehead against the wall.
Her hand flops downward to mess with the faucet, and she gets the water turned off. Then it's just the sound of their breathing filling the room, the water no longer drowning out all other noise.]
You feel so good.
[What she meant to make was that he makes her feel so good. But saying he feels good is just as important, she thinks.]
Mm. You too, babe.
[But while compliments are nice and all, she probably wants to be let up, and so he pulls away from her, then staggers his way toward the towels, smiling the whole way. He holds one out to her, then gets to drying himself off. His hair when wet does something ridiculous and spiky that makes him laugh tiredly, so he leaves it as is for the moment.]
Fuck me. What a day, huh? Might actually sleep through the whole night this time.
They've really been through a lot together in the past few days. It's brought them together in unexpected ways.]
I'm so tired it feels like I could sleep for two days straight.
[The towel is wrapped around herself before she stretches her arms out over her head, and turns from side to side in a way that pops her back. Her eyes look over to him as she does, and the sight of his hair makes her laugh. She's unable to resist going over and running her fingers through the spiky strands, trying to make them stand further on edge.]
Are you hungry? I can order us a pizza or something.
[Or try to. You know, since maybe the person on the other end may not be able to hear her. But it's worth a shot, if he's feeling like he wants something to eat.]
The mention of pizza sure grabs his attention, though.]
Yeah, starving! Pizza sounds perfect. Get, I dunno, the one with everything on it. Or whatever you want, I'll eat anything right now.
[He grins and gives her a brief kiss, then leaves his towel in a heap on the bathroom counter and goes to flop over on the bed with a bounce.]
Get some soda too. Oh, shit, an' breadsticks.
[Tired, hungry, and absolutely satisfied all at once, he's just going to lay there naked on top of the bed all sprawled out.]
[She teases, sticking out her tongue as she prances past the bed to lean over the nightstand and grab the phone receiver. Thankfully, there's some local places listed on a sticker on the phone itself, and she dials the pizza place and is absolutely delighted when the guy on the other end hears her. Maybe all the sex they're having really is giving them a new lease on life or something.
She places an order for a supreme pizza, making a point to say no onions or anchovies, and glances over at him with a silly smile when she does. Two bottles of Coke and an order of breadsticks are placed. If her man asks for breadsticks, she's going to get him breadsticks.
Absolutely tickled pink after speaking to a living person, she practically floats across the room to her backpack. She digs out a $20 from inside and tosses it onto the small table over in the corner of the room before going to join him in bed. She does a ridiculous leap that makes the bed bounce, and nudges him out of the way so she can sprawl out alongside him.]
[A dramatic sigh, because truly, how dare she? He has nothing against anchovies either, but onions! The loss is criminal.
Except not really and she's immediately forgiven. He smiles warmly as he listens to her talk to the person taking the order, just pleased that worked on the first call attempt, and then his grin turns broad and a little toothy as she joins him so dramatically in bed. He turns to lay on his side and face her.]
We're both gonna have pizza breath no matter what, y'know. No onions, sheesh. Next place we go, I'm ordering a mountain of garlic bread, how's that?
I guess it's a good thing I'm not a vampire. Otherwise you might scare me away.
[Since she's just mentioned being a vampire, she might as well be silly and act like one. With a dramatic (and very vampiric, she wants to add) hiss, she quickly moves in closer, her mouth finding his neck. Her teeth press firmly against his skin, never enough to hurt but definitely so he'll feel it.]
Damn! Dead all over again, you sneaky fuckin' bloodsucker.
[He rolls them both so that she's on her back and he's on top of her, then dives in for a lengthy kiss, though it's one without any real hunger behind it. Just nice to feel her lips on his, really. He snickers and follows it with a little peck before scooting away and sitting up to find clean clothes to put on.]
I'll deal with the pizza guy when he comes. Figure at least one of us better have pants on.
[And she can stay naked allll she wants as far as he figures. She can hide under the blankets or something. Seems a shame to make her get up when she looks so relaxed.]
Hey, do you have a map in your bag somewhere?
[She's already rolling out of bed and making her way over to their bags so she can rifle through them. His leather jacket is grabbed along the way, and she slips it on. It covers her well enough, and she doesn't think he'll really mind her sitting around in it naked.]
We should figure out where we're going next.
[Or like decades, but thankfully the main roads haven't actually changed, and the rest he's fine with figuring out as he goes. As long as he doesn't somehow slip too much farther in time, it should be all right. If things start looking like they're all glowy and there's flying cars then he'll have to reassess.]
Can't really figure out when I'll end up next. Guess we'd better hope you're stuck with me as long as we're together. I'll warn you though, it gets weird. I drove through Iowa during the Prohibition, made that place even more boring than you'd ever believe.
[Pants and underwear and a plain black t-shirt on, that's close enough. Next, time to hunt down his comb.]
I'm not going anywhere. [She pipes up as he talks, looking worried at the prospect that she might be separated from him. But that kind of thinking will ruin the mood, so she just shrugs it off and continues looking over the map.]
It might be fun to see the east coast. There's a lot of little beach towns there. I don't think it really matters when we go. Just as long as we get to see everything.
Well, that looks damn good on you, don't it? Look at you, reppin' my crew.
[Yeah, he already knew she needed a leather jacket but now? Extremely convinced.]
Maybe before we clear outta town, we'll have to pick up somethin' like that for you.
Yeah? [Her head ducks as she grins, looking so smitten in that moment that she's a little embarrassed.] I'd really like that.
[As she glances upward to look over at him, the sight of him standing there nearly steals her breath away. Oh gosh, she's got it so bad. But he is really handsome, with his wet hair combed and the way he's looking over at her. In order to distract from the fact she looks completely in love with him, she picks up one of the bed pillows and tosses it over at him.
Her grin is wide and toothy after doing it.]
Want me to fix your hair for you?
[He lets the pillow slap him full-on in the face and chest, then grabs it up as it flops to the floor and tosses it back onto the bed.]
Yeah, since you just fucked it up.
[He's laughing, though, obviously not actually bothered. He's all too happy to come sit down next to her on the edge of the bed and hand her the comb, then drags the map over so it's partly on his lap and they can both look at it.]
Y'know, we're real close to Nashville. Really oughta go down there, try an' catch a show, scout out some unknown legends-to-be at a bar. An' then afterward, head for the coast, I won't keep you from your beach.
Nashville would be a lot of fun. I could go to a few bars finally! And —
[It's right then that the door knocks, and Chrissy gasps in alarm before she remembers they ordered a pizza. There's one last comb to his hair to make sure every last strand is in place, before she dips down to press a wet kiss to his cheek.]
Money is on the table, baby.
[Just in case the delivery driver can see into the room, she's quick to crawl under the blankets so they won't see any part of her. The second he has their food haul and the door is shut though, she's crawling out from the blankets to stand on the bed.
She's bouncing in excitement, which turns to an all out jump as she lands flat footed on the carpet. After everything, she's starving.]
He pats her shoulder in thanks as he gets up and swipes the bill off the table, then swings past the bathroom so he can have a glance at how she did. Nice.
The door, well, he does approach with some caution and peer through the peephole first. They kinda did just set a whole bunch of fires in a town to the north, after all, and while it would be tricky for the police to have found them, given his unlicensed out-of-state bike and some probable witness confusion over their inconsistent visibility, it's not impossible. In fact, it's probably a good reason to look cleaned up and groomed and not wear his jacket, just in case.
But instead, no, it's the pizza delivery. Sweet. He opens the door, then grins as the pizza guy clearly peers right through him, looking for whoever opened that door.]
Ah man, you're havin' a fucked up evening, huh? Lookit you. You want this?
[Johnnie slaps the twenty against the wall right at eye level. The delivery guy's hands are full, one with a pizza box and the other with a bag containing the rest of their order, but he sees the money, that's obvious. Probably figures it's taped there. The guy crouches down to put down the goods, and reaches for the bill, but Johnnie slides it up the wall, then down, out of his grasp and erratic.
As the delivery driver shouts and falls backward, startled, Johnnie scoots the food into the room, folds the twenty into a tighter little bundle, then flicks it out onto the pavement past the door. And just to be an asshole, as the guy starts standing, then reaches for it, he gets a swift kick to the ass to keep him down a second longer.
But that's enough fucking around, he's hungry, so Johnny while crowing with laughter, nudges the door closed and locks it, then brings their victory prize in and sets it on the table.]
Jesus, that guy's face! You shoulda seen it. Poor dude's got a hell of a story for his coworkers now.
[Time to dig in, though, finally. He sits himself down and grabs a slice and promptly gulps down a huge bite. Mmmm, hot cheesy goodness.]
[Chrissy tries to scold him. Really, she does. It's just that it's hard to do when her mouth is full of pizza and she's busy laughing at his antics. She feels a little bad for the delivery driver, but it's not like he actually was hurt. So it's easy to just laugh it off and playfully roll her eyes like she can't believe how childish he can be.
That doesn't stop her from going to sit in his lap, turning sideways when she sits so they both can continue eating with no issue. She's still in his jacket and probably shouldn't be while eating something so messy, but she figures he'll say something if he minds.]
I bet he'll come back here with friends to see if the room is haunted.
[She thinks to reference Ghostbusters here, but she's pretty sure he hasn't seen the movie yet.]
Yeah, well, I'll be ready for 'em if they do.
[And on the one hand that sounds hilarious, so he's all in favor, but on the other, he probably should get a solid night's sleep after everything that happened today. They sure did a good job of ending it on a high note.]
Anyway, I guess it technically is haunted right now, they wouldn't even be wrong.
I'm feeling too happy to really care if they come back. We'll just have to scare them if they do.
[It feels strange to say that she's happy after everything that's happened. But he's really done a good job of turning things around for her. She still is thinking about what happened back in Hawkins, but they feel so removed from it now that it's easier to repress the memories. And he makes her feel so safe that she doesn't think there's any threat out there he wouldn't be able to take on if it meant keeping them together.
After she swallows the bite that's in her mouth, she takes the bottle of Coke from him to take a drink. A kiss is pressed to his cheek, leaving a greasy little lip mark behind. She has to laugh quietly at it, but she's kind enough to wipe it away so he won't see when he looks in the mirror later.]
Can I ask you something?
Her question does make him raise an eyebrow though. He shrugs before replying, given he has a mouthful of pizza, but then swallows.]
Yeah, of course you can.
[Asking if she can ask something is what you do when it's the kind of question you're afraid to ask, but he'll keep casual until he hears whatever she's about to say.]
[She knows that he's the kind of guy that would be direct if he did mind her up in his space, but she also thinks that maybe the connection they've formed could put him in a place where he wants to spare her feelings.]
Us being like this, I mean. I'm not sure what we even are, or if it needs a label.
[But there's something about the intimacy and the ease with one another that they have, that makes Chrissy's chest ache. It's maybe a big topic to bring up over pizza. But she'd rather have the talk out of the way by the time they fall into bed together.]
True, too, that he wants her to stick around. That if she decided she'd had enough, and wanted him to drop her off somewhere, he'd actually have a hard time with that for a while. He's not sure that he's ready to call it love, but whatever he feels, it's true, and it's pretty intense.
Well, all right. A few minutes' thought proves enough to him on the topic that he can give her an answer, and it'll be a genuine one. So the moment's surprise softens on his face as he hugs her close with one arm, given the other hand is still occupied by pizza crust.]
Why would I mind this? Chrissy, you're... I dunno, you're one of the better things that's ever happened to me. I can't get enough of you. I want you to stick around, an' come back with me to California. Fuck, babe, don't worry about anything, all right? An' - I mean, you want a word for it? Pick your favorite. All that matters is it's you an' me.
[Have a pizza kiss, because that's the only kind he's got right now.]
I'm not worried about anything.
[It feels important to clarify that. She reaches for a breadstick and munches on it as she tries to think of how to best put her thoughts into words.]
It's just that the longer we spend together, the harder it is not to tell you how I feel. Sometimes it feels like it's going to burst out of me. And I didn't want to scare you away.
[Her smile is starting to take over her face again, and she winds up briefly leaning to press her head against his in an effort to hide it.]
You're right, though. All that matters is that it's you and me. It's us against the world now.