#But yeah... Lex had his life saved and fell hard

[supercorpkid]

How you met Maya’s parents.

Supercorp, Kara Danvers x Daughter!Reader, Lena Luthor x Daughter!Reader, Kelly Olsen x Niece!Reader

Word count: 2545.

It was a normal Thursday. Until it wasn’t anymore.

Jamie and Maya were in front of the school waiting for their parents to come pick them up. You fell a little behind, because the school counselor wanted to make sure you sent your application for the robotics thing she had you applied for.

“I just want to make sure you won’t miss the date. It's very important and prestigious…” Blah-blah-blah. You know all of this. She’s been telling you about this program for two years now. You look at Maya and Jamie talking, wishing the counselor would just shut up and let you go already, so you could join their conversation that sounds way more fun.

“Oh, my parents are here.” You hear Maya’s voice. “I’ll see you tomorrow!”

It’s all a blur after that. There is so much going on it’s hard for you to know what to do next. First, the school counselor is asking something about your project. Second, you hear a car accelerating on the street close to the school. Third, police sirens chasing said car. Fourth, Maya is crossing the street.

“MOM’S HERE, GOTTA RUN!” You yell, leaving a dumbfounded counselor behind. You change using your super speed.

You quickly pick up Maya, putting her on the other side of the sidewalk, and you run to the middle of the street to stop the car with your body. There’s a loud crashing sound, but you’re obviously not hurt. The police car stops behind it, and two cops leave it raising their guns at the two criminals still inside the car. They’re handcuffed and taken away in a little time, and just then you notice the crowd, the phones and the applause around you. You smile a little embarrassed from the attention.

You look to the sidewalk, and run to Maya, who’s being held by her dad while her mom asks her several questions on whether she is hurt, scared, and ok.

“Are you ok?” You add to the amount of questions.

“You saved me.” She says, eyes blown, pupils completely dark. “Thank you.”

“Thank you, Superkid.” Her mother says offering her hand, as in for you to shake it. You try not to use much strength, although it is kind of hard given the situation you were just in and you’re still very worked up after it.

“You saved our daughter!” Her dad chimes in, also thankful. “There’s nothing we can say to thank you for that.”

“No need.” You smile, shyly. “Just doing my job.”

“Superkid!” You hear Jamie’s voice coming closer. “That was incredible. You saved her!”

“Thank you, Ja-” You bite your tongue. “Random girl.” Nope, too forced.

“Oh, is this your girlfriend, Maya?” Her mother asks and you blush furiously at the thought of them knowing about you. It takes you a while to realize they are NOT talking about you, but about Jamie.

“Oh, Ah. That’s, um-” Maya tries to use her words, but she’s too confused to do so. You decide to interrupt.

“Well, glad to see you’re ok.” You say looking back at the street where the cars are having a hard time moving because there’s a broken car in the middle of it. “I should take this car out of here.”

You pick up the car, and right before flying away with it, you hear:

“Oh my God, she’s so strong.” Coming from Maya’s mouth.

“That kid is amazing.” Her dad agrees, and you smile to yourself again, while taking the car out of the way.

A few seconds later, though, you’re back in the school, in your old clothes and glasses. Running towards Maya like you were there the entire time.

“Babe, are you ok?” You rush in, holding her hands and looking at them for any bruises. “I saw what happened from the other side.”

“Superkid saved her.” Jamie says, with a grin, like she’s just giving you brand new information, and you hold a laughter back.

“Actually, this is my girlfriend.” Maya says to her parents and they both shake their heads agreeing.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you.” Her dad raises his hand and you, and you shake it, politely.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Rose.” You say, still blushed from when he called you amazing a minute ago. You turn back to her mother. “Mrs. Rose.”

She doesn’t talk for a while. She just stares at you and you can see the wheels on her brain turning. Oh no. Not the…

“You’re a Luthor.” She says, matter-of-factly. Then turns to her husband. “She is Lena Luthor’s daughter. I’ve met them a while back.”

“What?” Maya’s dad lets go of her, turning rigid at the mention of your last name. “You can’t possibly be dating an evil Luthor.”

“She’s not evil!” You hear and you think it came from Maya’s mouth, only to realize a second later it was Jamie who said it, while reaching out, holding your shoulder to support you. “And her mother isn’t evil either. Just because Lex Luthor is the worst, doesn’t mean everyone in the Luthor’s family is too.”

You want to answer. You want to tell them to go fuck themselves because they just said you were amazing, and thanked you for saving their daughter’s life. And now they’re just staring at you like you’ve committed a crime, when you have done the exact opposite. But your words are stuck in your throat and your eyes are filled with tears before you can even form a sentence.

“You understand too little of the world, little girl.” It’s what her father answers. “You have no way to know that her mother is not evil, but I have. I’ve seen how L Corp treats people that dare to go against them.”

“Wait, you know my mom?” Your words finally come out, in complete shock and disbelief. Maya never mentioned any of that. She said her parents hated your family because Lex tried to mind control them, along with everyone else on Earth. And honestly, you know that feeling of being mind controlled by him, so you can’t blame them.

“We’ve met before.” He twists his nose while saying that. “A little too icy for my taste.”

“Dad, please. Let’s just go.” Maya asks, trying to push him out of the way.

You feel Jamie’s grip tightening around your shoulder, like telling you it’s time for you both to leave. You agree with your head, unclenching your jaw, still shooting daggers with your eyes. But, still, you breathe deep.

“Icy doesn’t mean evil. I hope you can understand that.” You say, and smile at Maya. “I’m just glad you’re ok.”

“Come on. My mami is here.” Jamie pulls you by the hand, and you let yourself follow her trying to ignore their looks to your back. Jamie wraps her arms around you and whispers in your ear. “No super hearing. It won’t do you any good.”

“Nothing about this has done me any good.” You manage to say, and Jamie shoves you inside Kelly’s momvan. And you’re so lost and sad, you don’t even understand why you’re going with her when you can just fly away. Weirdly, flying doesn’t feel like an option to you right now.

“Is everything ok? I heard that there was a car chase around here.” Kelly asks when Jamie walks in, and sits on the passenger seat next to her.

“Superkid saved everyone.” Jamie says with a smile, and you can see a smile coming up on Kelly’s face, while she starts driving away.

“Good for you!” Kelly says taking one hand out of the wheel, and patting your leg gently. “You must be so proud of yourself.”

“Yeah, it’s-Mhm-it’s…” You start, but soon you’re crying desperately, being very loud about it. “It sucks!”

“Hey, hey. No!” Jamie looks behind and reaches out to you. But she doesn’t know what to do or say, and Kelly doesn’t really understand what’s going on. They stare at each other for one second, until Kelly turns to the front again, breathing deep.

“Where would you like to go, honey?” You know she is talking to you, even though she’s using Jamie’s pet name. “Do you want to go home? To our place? Maybe you want to tell me more about what happened?”

“I’m sorry, auntie.” You dry your face, holding your tears back. “You can just stop the car here, and I’ll fly to L Corp. I have to work on a project.”

“I’ll drive you there.” She says and you agree with your head, because you really don’t want to fly right now. “Do you want to tell me what happened?”

“I’ll let Jamie fill you in after.” You shrug. “Right now, I just want to think about something else.”

They change the subject, but you don’t really pay attention to any of it. It feels so weird being loved when you’re wearing the ‘House of El’ crest on your chest, and just a minute later being hated on, when you’re wearing your glasses and there’s no alter ego helping you out of Luthor's name. One minute you’re Saving Face, the next one Earth Disgrace.

“Hey, little-Danvers.” Jamie says after Kelly parallel parks in front of L Corp. You look at her. “They’re dumbasses. They are the icy ones, ok?”

“Yeah. Thanks for your help back there.” You get out of the car and make your way inside the building. You know you have to work on your project, but you can’t even think right now, let alone come up with something new and innovatory. “Hey Aly, can you call my mom’s assistant and ask her if she’s busy right now?”

“Sure thing, Miss Luthor-Danvers!” Aly studies your face for a few seconds. “Everything alright, miss?”

“Um, yeah. It’s fine.” You agree and she does what you asked, even though she doesn’t look convinced at all.

“You can go up. She is not busy.” Aly says with a smile, and you match hers. You don’t even know what you’re going to say to Lena, but you feel you need her. You make your way to the last floor, and go inside her office. Lena stands up when she sees you, a smile on her face.

“There’s my little hero!” She says pointing at the images on the TV of you standing in front of the car. Hair blowing in the wind, hands on the waist, looking proud of yourself. Then she looks at you, looking sad and small in front of her. You get now why people think you’re two different people. These two images do not match. “My baby! What’s wrong?”

“I just want a hug.” You think about it for a second when you see her coming closer with arms open. “But I’d like some donuts more.”

Lena chuckles and asks her assistant to go out and buy you a box. She finally comes closer a while later, opens arms, and snugs you in. The tears come uninvited, and she just lets you cry for a while.

“Baby, what happened?” She presses when you don’t talk, only cry, for a few good minutes.

“I saved Maya.” You look at her, big watery eyes. “Her parents were so thankful, and it felt so good.”

Lena agrees with her head, because she understands how good it feels to save someone you love. It’s not the same as saving a person you’ve never met. Sure, both feel good. But saving someone you love is the most powerful and strong feeling you’ve ever felt.

“Then I was out of my supersuit and in my glasses and they just-” You choke on your words, and it’s like she knows what’s coming next. “They hated me!”

“Oh baby.” Lena brings you in for another hug. Tighter than the first one. She kisses your head a couple of times. “I’m sorry they can’t see what an amazing person you are. Suit or no suit. But that doesn’t make what you did today less important. It was incredible.” She holds your chin up, to look at her. “You’re incredible.”

“He said you are icy.” You say, and Lena’s response is a soft chuckle.

“Yes, well, men think that about powerful women.” She winks at you, unbothered. “I take it as a compliment.”

“Well, I don’t.” You pout and Lena cleans your face from your tears, same smile still on her lips.

“My love, they can only hurt us if we let them.” She says, raising her gaze at the door, calling her assistant in with the donuts for you. The box is placed on the table in front of you. Lena waits until she leaves, and turns back to you. “Come on, let’s eat donuts, and talk about how Superkid’s name is on everyone’s mouth today.”

“Is that a good thing?” You ask and she blinks at you like you’re asking a stupid question. You look back at the TV and see your video stopping the runaway car over and over again. Yeah. It’s a good thing.

Your phone rings at text, and you pick it up from your back pocket, while Lena goes for the donuts.

Maya: Sorry about my parents. They’re jerks.

You: Are you alright? It was quite the scare.

Maya: I’m 100% fine! Superkid saved me! Do you see now why she is my favorite hero?

You: Yes, I see now. I’m glad you’re ok. I’ll send a thank you card for your crush.

Maya: You’re my crush! Also, did I mention how sorry I am and how jerks my parents were?

You: You have.

Lena pulls your head towards her and kisses your forehead with a smile.

“You know, it’s not her fault her parents are jerks.” She says and you roll your eyes.

“Stop reading my texts.” You complain pretending to be upset, but you smile a little when she’s not looking.

You: Hey, we are not our parents, right?

Maya: No, we are not. You are the most comprehensive human being on the planet. That’s one of the things that make me love you.

You squeak in excitement when you read that, and stand up feeling so happy your feet don’t even touch the ground. You can’t stop reading the text over and over again.

“Hey! I brought donuts so we can celebrate you saving the people from your school!” Kara flies in, pink box in hands and Lena gives her an eyebrow raise.

“Beat you to it.” She adds with a smile, pointing at the pink box sitting on the table and Kara shrugs.

“The more the merrier!” Kara comes closer to you, pushing your shoulder down, making your feet touch the floor. “What’s with her?”

“Pretty sure her girlfriend just said she loves her.” Lena says with a smile, and Kara beams to you, looking as excited as you are.

“Seriously, you have to stop reading my texts.” You pretend to be annoyed, but you look back on your phone and a smile instantly comes.

You: You do, huh?

Maya: I do.

You: I love you too.

You love your girlfriend. You love being Superkid. You love donuts. And you love your moms very much. Turns out, your life’s insane, but it’s also pretty good.

Notes:

@sophixsa prompted this awesome idea, and I’m sorry it was a little sad at first, but happy ending, at least.

[myhockeyworld87]

A Crosby Christmas

Word Count: 3,713

POV: Reader

Warnings: A little smut, nothing too much...it is Christmas after all

Notes: I know I haven’t been on here in a while, but I wanted to drop this little story here for you guys to enjoy this Christmas! Hopefully I’ll be more active after the holidays. I also have Toews Christmas story I’m working on so hopefully I can drop that soon as well. Don’t worry I haven’t forgotten about your other favs. There will be new Ruined and Not So Dangerous Liaison coming as well. Merry Christmas to you all! I hope that this holiday season finds you healthy and happy! May the joy of this holiday season last all through the coming year! Love and Hugs to all!!!

Christmas had always been your favorite time of year. When you were little, you loved decorating the tree, sing Christmas carols, and of course waiting for Santa. You still loved this time of year, only now it was watching your kids do all those same things. Alexis, now five, and Lucas, three and a half, were yours and Sid's pride and joy. The two were overjoyed for Christmas this year and even though you hadn't celebrated American Thanksgiving yet, they were all geared up to decorate the house.

 One of your first holiday traditions when you first started dating Sidney had been to always decorate one tree together, and you'd continued that every year since then. This year, with Sid's schedule and the kids' anxiousness, you were going to be trimming the tree much earlier than normal. God love your husband, as he carried all the boxes of ornaments in, as well as the tree from the garage where you had them stored. The ten-foot monstrosity fit perfectly in your family room, which apparently was a pain in the ass to put up as you'd caught Sid twice almost cursing in front of the kids.

 "Daddy, I get to put the star on again this year, right?" Alexis asked drawing her father's attention, as he was putting the last piece of the tree up. "Lukey is still too small."

 "Am not," your son, who looked the spitting of his father shouted back.

 "Lex, I think Lukey is big enough this year to give it a shot." Lucas stuck his tongue out at his sister who had her arms folded into a pout.

 "But Dad…"

 "But Lex…" Sid mocked in the same whiny voice as his daughter, then he picked her up and zoomed her around the room to make her smile. He was a sucker for his little girl and she had him wrapped around her pinkie.

 "Me too, daddy, me too," Lucas cheered as he wanted in on the fun, and of course Sid happily obliged.

 "That's not fair," Alexis pouted again this time stomping her foot in emphasis.

 "Alexis Catrina Crosby, if you don't change that attitude young lady, you can march all the way upstairs and not join in any of the decorating." You finally told your daughter, for sometimes she needed that stern voice to keep her in check, especially when her father doted on her. "And remember Santa is watching." That threat always seemed to work magic this time of year.

 A lone tear leaked out of her eye, as Sid made his way over to her; Lucas firmly attached around his neck. He crouched down to his little girl. "Mommy's right. You've got to put the star on the last two years. It's time for Luc to have a turn." He remained at her level and Lucas slid off his back and over to the box where the star was almost gloating if a three-year-old could do just a thing.

 Alexis pulled her lip out, this time in sadness as she pleaded into her father's deep brown eyes just like her own. "But…but I want to do something special too."

 "And you will princess." Sid looked over to you as if you were supposed to have the magical answer to that.

 "How about you put the last ornament on the tree. Daddy will leave a spot way up high so he has to lift you up to put it there." Her lip pulled in and suddenly there was a huge grin on her face. You had a feeling it was more about having your husband hold her up in his arms than actually putting the star on. The two seemed to fight for his attention all the time when he was home. The long road stretches killed both father and children, and if you were being honest they were hard on you as well. Thankfully, Sid only had a few short ones here and there before Christmas break, so the kids should be fine. "Well, I think we need to get decorating this tree. What do you think?"

 "Yeah!!!" The kids cheered, Sid, joining in. There were a ton of ornaments to put on the huge tree that was once decorated purely in shades of gold. Now it was more of a hodgepodge of colors. There were dozens of Mickey Mouse ornaments from their trips to Disney, along with Paw Patrol ones which seemed to be Lucas' favorite at the moment. There were also ones with their little hand and footprints from when they were born. The tree held all of your life with Sid together. There was one from your first Christmas together, a few that you'd received to commemorate your wedding, and one for each child's birth. Though your favorite had to be your specially made ones with each family member's name on it. You had ones made for both Sid and your parents as well. They were the ones you loved the most putting on the tree as looking at their name brought such great memories of each person. "There's only one ornament left, and it's Alexis'." She came over and took her pink bulb, which had been hand-painted for her, and walked over to her dad.

 "Alright, little one. I saved you the best spot at the top, so everyone can see your name up high." She was grinning like a Cheshire cat as Sid picked her up and then walked up a couple rungs of the ladder to get to the right height. This was the part that always made you nervous. The kids could get wiggly from time to time and the last thing you wanted was for them to cause your husband to fall. You weren't worried about the kids, Sid would do everything in his power to keep them safe, it was him you had to fear for. Sid held her out to the tree and it took her a minute to get the ornament in the right place.

 "It looks so pretty, daddy. Good spot." He carried her down the ladder, then went over to his little man.

 "Ok, Lukey, you ready." Lucas nodded enthusiastically. He had the star in both hands, as Sid took him up farther on the ladder. Lucas reached his little arms out, stretching as much as he could to get it on the peak of the tree. It took him two tries but he finally did it, albeit crooked, but that was no problem, as you'd fix it the moment they were in bed. It's something you'd had to do the last two years with Alexis as well. "Well, are we ready to turn on the light and see how it looks?" Sid asked, already knowing the answer he was going to get from the children, and they didn't disappoint with their enthusiastic cheers. He flipped the switch and the tree lit up as bright as the sky on the fourth of July.

 "Yay!" all of you cheered and clapped.

 "It's so pretty," Alexis cooed and you had to agree, even though forty percent of the ornaments were on the lower three feet of the tree, compliments of your children, but it was simply perfect.

 "I think this is the best one yet," Sid commented, while he slid his arms around your midsection. There was nothing better than this moment you thought as you watched Lucas's eyes just light up, as he gazed at all the twinkling lights, and saw the giddy smile on Alexis's face.

 "I think you're right," you said turning so that you could kiss Sid sweetly.

 "Can we have hot cocoa and cookies now?" Lucas asked while he tugged on both yours and Sid's legs.

 "You bet bud," Sid replied, even though it would be you making the kids' favorite holiday drink. You scooted out of his arms and headed to the kitchen, while the three of them put on a holiday movie. "Don't forget the extra marshmallows, Mommy." Your husband was sometimes the biggest kid of them all.

 By the time you made it back to the family room, they had all claimed their favorite spot. "I saved you, your seat by daddy," Alexis said all proud of herself.

 "Thanks, baby girl." You passed out the hot cocoa or lukewarm cocoa in the kids' case, then set the plate of cookies on the end table by your husband.

 "Did you bake Christmas cookies already?" he whispered, as he saw the Santa shaped sugar cookies on the plate.

 "As if I had time. I called the bakery and had them made."

 He took a bite of one before handing one to each of the kids. "Not as good as yours but they'll do for now."

 "I promise you'll get mine closer to Christmas."

 "Mmm…and do I get your other cookie when the kids are in bed tonight?"

 You raised your eyes at his double entendre. "I guess we'll have to see, won't be." Though you both knew that he'd be getting your baked goods, so to speak.

 Thankfully, Sid had steered the kids toward watching Frosty the Snowman, so after the half-hour was up, you trotted them upstairs for bath time. Sid claimed he needed to 'watch film' for tomorrow's practice, so he skipped out on the nightly ritual, but made it upstairs in time to tuck the kids in for the night. "Night daddy." You heard Alexis say, as you had finished tucking Lucas into bed. Sid brushed back a lock of her hair before bending down and kissing his little girl goodnight.

 "Night, baby girl. Daddy loves you."

 "Love you too daddy." You walked in then and saw Alexis's eyes grow heavy.

 "Goodnight, my sweet angel," you whispered, kissing her forehead. "Love you."

 She yawned, then grabbed her teddy bear and hugged it tightly to her chest. "Love you, mommy." Sid grabbed your hand and the two of you snuck out of the room, closing the door as she fell fast asleep.

 "Lucas asleep?"

 "Yep, he went down pretty easy tonight." Sid had said goodnight to him first and went to read Alexis a story as you did the same for Lucas. "Poor lil guy was tuckered out from all the excitement."

 "We make beautiful kids together, Mrs. Crosby."

 "That we do, Mr. Crosby," you answered as you headed back downstairs hand in hand with your husband. You'd been trying for baby number three, the last year, but not having any success. It had been easy previously. In fact, you hadn't even been trying when you conceived Alexis. Lucas, you had planned down to the date, so that Sid would be home in the summer to help you both children. You'd automatically assumed that number three would go just as easily, but here you were twelve months into it and still not pregnant. You tried not to think about it too much, but every now and then it would get to you.

 You shook yourself, as you hit the bottom rung, taking yourself out of your melancholy. "Cold?" Sid asked, as his arms came around you. "I think I know how to warm you up."

 He somehow maneuvered you both into the family room, where he had a fire going in the fireplace, with blankets and pillows all around it. "Watching film eh?"

 The signature smirk of his, the one he always gave in the locker room during an interview came out. "Had to surprise you somehow." There was a bottle of wine and two glasses there as well, and Sid poured you both a glass before settling down amongst the cushions with you. "Merry early Christmas, my love," he toasted and you clinked glasses.

 The wine went down smoothly and was the perfect ending for what was the perfect day. You took your free hand and captured Sid's jaw, bringing his lips to yours for a heated kiss. It was the perfect mix of Christmas time with the combination of chocolate and wine mixed together with the essence of your husband, and you found yourself falling more in love with him than you'd ever been. He ended the kiss, all too soon for your liking. "Think the kids are sound asleep yet?"

 You already knew that Lucas was, but Alexis was probably still teetering. "One for sure, let me check on the other." You still had a monitor hooked up in Alexis's room, so you pulled it up on your phone. It wasn't the video that told you she was asleep but her soft snores. "Yep, she's out. Snores just like you."

 "I do not snore," he said rather indigently.

 "Um…excuse me, Mr. my nose has been broken so many times I can't count. Yes, you do."

 "Well, maybe a little but you love it." When you didn't respond right away, his hands went to your sides to tickle you. You fell back against the pillows laughing, Sid following you down until his mouth captured yours silencing your giggles.

 It was some time before you broke apart for air. "Ok, I do love your snores but then I love everything about you."

 This wasn't new information to him. "I love you more though."

 "Not a chance."

 "Guess I'm going to have to prove it." His lips were back on yours then, devouring you. Sid made quick work of disposing of your top, throwing it off to the side, before kissing his way down to your lace-covered breasts. He knew how to make you moan out, as he took one nipple and sucked it into his mouth. Your hands roamed under his shirt, feeling the rippled muscles along his back. They worked their way to his front and his well-toned abs before undoing the fly of his jeans and sliding them down. "Eager, my love?"

 Your hand slid down to his cock, where he was rock hard. "Apparently, I'm not the only one." You stroked him in your hand, twisting your wrist as you went; a move you knew he loved. Sid let you have your fun for a bit before taking control of the encounter. Before you knew what was happening, he had you stripped bare laying on the blanket, legs spread for him.

 His fingers toyed between your folds, making you even wetter than you already were. He entered you in one swift motion and your back arched at the feel of him inside you. "You feel so good baby," Sid moaned out, then started that slow rhythm of his hips you both loved so much. You weren't sure you would ever tire of this, the feeling of his lips on yours as he slid in and out of your body. It was something that was special that first time and every time after when you made love and you knew somehow that, that would never change.

 Sid's fingers found that your clit, alternating between putting just the right amount of pressure there and flicking it back and forth. After all these years, he knew your body as if it were his own, knew what you needed, when you needed it, and knew how to take you over that edge. You were there now, legs trembling as your climax hit and your pussy squeezed him like a vise. He pumped two more times into you before spilling himself deep inside you with a grunt of satisfaction. He dropped kisses to your lips as he came down off his high, then rolled to his side taking you with him.

 "That was heaven," you whispered, trailing your fingers up and down his biceps.

 "Mmm, it always is with you." He reached behind him and pulled a blanket over your bodies. "I have to say this has been one of the best Christmas decorating days we've ever had."

 "I have to agree," you hummed softly feeling your eyes grow heavy despite the early hour of the evening.

 "I should probably take you to bed."

 "Not yet, let's just lay here for a little longer." Laying there reminded you of the old days when it was just the two of you, and while you loved your two little munchkins, sometimes it was nice to just have Sid all to yourself like this.

 His fingers trailed up and down your spine, causing you to snuggle deeper into his chest. "Whatever you want baby." Sid closed his eyes then, just savoring the moment like you were, and despite being the one that said you should move to the bedroom; he was the one to fall asleep first.

 The week and a half leading up to Thanksgiving was hectic, as the Pens played at home. You took the kids to as many home games as you could, but it was always a production, by the time you packed up everything you would need for the three to four hours away from home. As soon as Thanksgiving was over, the team was back on the road and you were prepping for Christmas, rushing off to buy gifts while the kids were at preschool. Well, Lucas really didn't have school, but you did send him two days a week to a daycare like environment, so he would be used to being around kids more. You were running around so busy, some days you literally lost track of time.

 When Sid wasn't on the road, he was there to help you in any way that he could; taking the kids out to play in the snow, while you baked, or taking them to the rink to skate while you wrapped and hid the gifts. Every free second was spent making sure that Alexis and Lucas would have the best Christmas ever. It wasn't until you looked at the calendar that you noticed you were late. It was December nineteenth, and your period hadn't come yet. Dare you hope that baby number three was finally going to come to fruition? There was only one way to know for sure.

 Those five days to Christmas Eve flew by in a whirlwind. Sid had away games until the twenty-first, and then one home one on the twenty-third. There were so many last minutes things to do. Sid's parents and sister came into town on the twenty-second and were a huge help. They were currently upstairs bathing both kids for you, while you and Sid were planning out when to put the presents as it was now Christmas Eve. "I'm not sure Alexis's dollhouse is going to fit under the tree," he whispered, as he had finally finished putting it together with his dad. It was currently out in the garage with a huge sheet over it.

 "You're the one who had to get her the biggest one there is." He was always spoiling your children.

 "I know, don't start." He said sliding his arms around you as you stared at the tree. "It should fit in that corner over there." Now, that he figured out where the ginormous playhouse could go; he shifted his focus to the tree, looking at all the ornaments that had been hanging for the last six or seven weeks now. You smiled to yourself waiting for him to notice one in particular. "I feel like something is different on there."

 "Hmm," you mused just swaying back and forth in his arms. "I think your right."

 "What's that one right there?" He said pointing to the ornament that was at his eye level. "I don't remember it."

 "Maybe you should have a closer look." He peered down at you curiously, now knowing that you were up to something, before gliding you both over to the tree so that he could have a closer look. "Is that…Are we…" You could hear the excitement in his voice before he turned you around to confirm his suspicions.

 You nodded before saying, "Yes, it's my pregnancy test, and it took you forever to notice I put it there."

 "What? When?"

 "It's been on there since you came home from Toronto. I've been waiting for you to notice." He looked dumbfounded for a moment before scooping you up and spinning you around, his lips locking with yours.

 When he finally put you down, there was a huge smile on his face. "I can't believe we're finally having another baby."

 "I know me too. It's not the timing we were looking for, but I think you'll be happy with the due date." Curiosity got the best of him and you could see him trying to do the math in his brain to figure out what day it would be. "Well, you always said it was your lucky number," you hinted to him.

 "No way!" He shrieked out. "August seventh?" You shook your head, yes, and he spun you around one more time before the patter of little feet and big feet came barreling in.

 "What's all the excitement about?" Trina asked before even the kids could get a word in.

 "We're having a baby!" Sid told her and everyone came in for hugs, congratulating you both. He knelt down to the kids' level. "Are you excited, that you're going to have a baby brother or baby sister?"

 "Can we have twins? Kennedy Jenkins has twins and she says it's fun cause she always has someone to play dolls with." Sid just laughed at his daughter, then tickled her.

 "I don't know about all that princess. Let's just be happy that you're getting to be a big sister again." He grabbed Lucas, then came off the ground throwing the toddler in the air. "What about you? Are you excited to be a big brother?"

 Lucas just smiled, before looking his dad in the eye and grabbing hold of his cheeks. "I'm excited for Santa." Sid burst out laughing and you all joined in. Santa was definitely rating much higher than the new baby.

 "I'm excited for Santa too, bud," Sid told him, then slid his free hand around your waist. "Thanks for making Christmas come early, Mrs. Crosby." Your lips found his in a sweet and loving kiss.

 "Thanks for making me a mom again, Mr. Crosby."

 He winked at you, that devilish smirk on his face. "Anytime," he breathed out, then added, "This is definitely the best Crosby Christmas yet."  .

[schrijverr]

'Till Death Do Us Part

Part 10 out 13

When Alex has to bring Philip to work, he and Thomas discover that they both have something in common: they lost their love. They form an unexpected bond and connection about this that grows into something more.

A medium burn with parental feelings about Philip and flowers.

On AO3.

Ships: Jamilton

Warnings: mentions of death and loss.

~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 10: Virgin’s Bower Means ‘Filial Love’

The three of them were sitting around the dinner table eating, when Philip asked: “Are you my dad now too?”

Both paused and Alex looked at Thomas with wide eyes, clearlynot sure how to explain that question while Thomas was frozen in shock. After a moment of finding his wits he choked: “Why are you asking, Pip?”

“When I was talking to Theo about how you guys love each other now and then she says her cousins have parents who don’t love each other anymore, but they have new people they love and they are her cousins parents now too, so since you two love each other now does that mean your my dad too?” Pip explained his thought process.

“Well, uh- I- Thomas?” Alex said, not wanting to make decisions for him.

“What do you-” Thomas started to ask Alex why the fuck he was shoving this conversation on him, before cutting himself off and taking a calming breath. This was not how he had imagined his evening to go when he said yes to dinner.

Philip just watched the two of them with a confused expression, not sure why they were being so weird about his question.

“I don’t know, Pip,” Thomas finally answered calmly, “I can never replace your Daddy, John, and I can never tell you how you should feel about me. It’s honestly up to you.”

Alex mentally thanked Thomas so hard for coming up with that answer, which saved them both from answering.

Sure, he would love to not be the lone parent for Pip, but he would never ask that of Thomas. He knew the other loved his son and Thomas had assured him often enough that he enjoyed taking care of him, but being a dad was a whole other step.

A step that was more commitment, both to Philip and Alex. So Alex could never ask it, Pip however…

“Up to me?” Philip asked.

“Yeah, kiddo,” Thomas nodded, “If you’re more comfortable with me being your Uncle that is totally fine, but if you want me to be your dad, then I’m up for that.”

Alex hadn’t known that, it seemed like Thomas had thought about it a bit more than him. He had suppressed the thought every time it came up, not wanting to get his hopes up only to be disappointed.

Thomas, on the other hand, had had the thought in the back of his mind ever since it had gotten serious. He knew that if this was long term, one day this decision would come. The only reason he’d never brought it up was because he didn’t want Alex to think he wanted to replace John and because it would make them that much more serious.

And he didn’t want to scare Alex off bybeing more intense, so since Alex hadn’t said anything, neither had he. Until Philip had brought it up.

Both watched Philip as he thought about Thomas’s words. Alex was glad that Philip seemed to take this serious and was actually contemplating it, instead of just rushing into making a decision. A skill he had picked up more from Eliza than him if he was honest.

“I’d like for you to be my dad,” Philip finally broke the silence.

Alex was both relieved and tense at the revelation. Would Thomas really be okay with it? Was he just pretending and was it now going to be awkward? But- but what if Thomas meant it? What if he wasn’t going to leave?

Thomas smiled and held out his hand for Philip to shake: “Then I’m honored to be your dad. Here, we’ll shake on it.”

Philip shook his hand enthusiastically, then said: “But I can’t call you Papa or Daddy, I already have those, but dad sounds boring.”

“Well,” Thomas offered, “I call my mom, Ma, so you could call me Da, if you want.”

“Da,” Philip tried it out, then grinned toothily, “Da is good.”

And with that it was apparently settled for Philip, who went back to eating his dinner as if he hadn’t just made a big change in their life.

Alex eyes searched for Thomas and when they met, he frowned concerned, then quirked a brow to ask: ‘You okay with this?’

In return Thomas did the smile that made his eyes crinkle and nodded, even doing a small thumbs up. Alex received the message: ‘Yes.’

With the confirmation Alex allowed himself to smile back. Though he had hoped, a small cynical part of his brain had never believed Thomas would agree to this, had never believed he wouldn’t be alone.

He knew he was selling his friends short, God knows he wouldn’t have been able to raise Philip the way he had if they hadn’t stepped up the way they did. All the times they picked up Philip, watched him, took him out for fun days, had saved him so many times, but they would never be John.

Not that Thomas could be.

It was just that Thomas came close, he was so different from John, yet in all the places Alex needed him, wanted him. He fit.

When Alex was tired, Thomas got up. When Alex was busy, Thomas made time. When Alex couldn't handle it, Thomas stepped up.

The dynamic was vastly different to what he and John had and Alex didn’t think he would ever find something like that. But that didn’t matter. Thomas wasn’t the same, but Alex wasn’t the same as he was back then either.

They worked well together and Alex would never want a new John, because no one could be a new John. Alex wanted a new chance at living the life, they wanted and he could see himself living it with Thomas.

Philip might be oblivious to how much he just did, but neither mind as their – their– son happily ate his dinner while telling them about the haunted slide at his school.

Later that evening, when Philip was tucked into bed, Alex checked in again: “Hey, I don’t wanna make things awkward and I am totally on board if you are, but I do have to ask. Are you truly okay with being a dad to Pip?”

Thomas paused to think. This calmed Alex more than he would think, but Alex appreciated it when people actually thought about his words before responding that way he knew they actually meant it when they replied, which was great when it was about emotional things. Which he was bad at.

“Yeah, I’ve always wanted to be a dad, honestly. And Philip is the best kid I could hope for,” he responded finally, “I also meant it when I said I don’t want to replace John. I’m gonna be me and I’m gonna try to do my best for Pip, if you let me.”

“God, every time I think I can’t love you more, asshole.”

“The insult and statement are really messing with me, du-” he got cut off by a kiss and when Alex broke he said: “I’m going to ignore that you tried to call me dude there, bro.”

“I hate you.”

“And I live to please,” Alex smirked, a smirk that fell ashe sincerely said, “I’m very grateful for what you do. With Pip.”

“I do it with love and I mean that,” Thomas dropped a kiss on his head, beforechangingthe subject, “Now Angie told me during lunch that you once claimed Money, Money, Moneywas ABBA’s best song and I’m going to need you to defend that statement, because that is clearly incorrect.”

“Oh and what do you think it is then?” Alex challenged.

“Waterloo, duh.”

“The historical bullshittery in that song alone is enough to disqualify your position, try again.”

“And your opinion is so great because…? Eh, riddle me that.”

“Money, Money, Moneyradicalized every young queer person who watched Mamma Miaand you cannot convince me otherwise.”

“Says nothing about the quality of the song, baby. Waterloois and remains superior.”

They squabbled while they cleaned up the kitchen, finally ending up in playing the songs, which then developed into a karaoke and dance party, but they will never speak of that again.

When they got to the office the next time, Alex stopped by Angelica’s office and leaned against the door. She looked up, unimpressed, and said: “What?”

“You know, if you gossip about my relationship behind my back, you really gotta learn how to pick your dates,” he told her condescendingly.

“What?”

“Developments happen when you’re away, sweetheart,” he started to walk away with a smirk.

“Alexander come back here and tell me,” she flew out her chair and hurried after him, “Alexander Hamilton, don’t you dare set another step without telling me everything.”

Thomas heard the ruckus and poked his head out of the door: “Are you terrorizing Angie again, Alex?”

“Nah, just extorting a cookie and free dinner out of her,” Alex smiled sweetly.

“Are those your demands?” Angelica asked sharply.

“Yeah, Philip’s eating at Eliza’s tonight, hope you have time,” Alex blew her a kiss before sashaying down the hall, when he passed by Thomas’s office the man rolled his eyes: “Menace.”

“Come get your cookie at coffee time,” Angelica called after him.

Alex saluted, before settling down in his office with a satisfied look on his face as he got to work.

The day passed by as Alex typed his documents, went to his meeting, ate lunch with Thomas, before driving to Angelica’s place where he told her everything that had happened yesterday.

At the end of the night he bid her goodbye: “Bye, Angie. It was nice to catch up again.”

“Yeah, the same, ‘Lex, don’t be a stranger,” Angelica hugged him and kissed his cheeks, before telling him to say hi to Eliza and Maria from her and to tell Eliza she’s rude.

The drive to Eliza and Maria’s home was uneventful, but when he pulled up to their house, Eliza was already waiting for him in the doorway. She had her arms crossed and when Alex was close enough to hear, she said: “Why did I get a text from Angie reading: ‘One of Pip’s dads is coming your way’ winky face, she typed a winky face, Alex.”

“And you really think I’m not here to tell you and pick up Pip, you think so lowly of me, ‘Liza,” he grinned.

“Oh thank God, thought I was going to force you to tell me,” she sighed with relief, Eliza was never one for forcing people. Though she could be scary if she wanted to.

“Didn’t Pip say anything? I’m surprised, he’s usually a talker,” Alex said, stepping inside.

As if on cue, Philip came running. He threw himself into Alex’s arms and said: “Papa! We had dino nuggets for dinner and I drew everyone, wanna see?”

“Of course I wanna see, buddy,” Alex smiled.

Philip bounded away to get the drawing and Eliza asked: “So what could he have said?”

“I think he will already tell you, did you ask about the drawing yet?” Alex replied.

“No, not yet. He’s been working on it ever since he got here, but he wanted to finish it first,” she said as she led him to the kitchen table.

“Ah, how are you and Maria, by the way?”

“Good, Maria is at the orphanage today, so it’s just me here. We’re doing a drama program in the weekends currently, so that’s a lot of fun,” she told him.

“Oh, wow, sounds fun. Are the kids enjoying it?”

“I think so. We got a few actors running around, that’s for sure,” Eliza smiled.

“Well, I’ll be sure to keep an eye on movies in the future,” Alex grinned back, “Angelica says hi to you both, by the way, and I had to tell you you’re rude. She’ll kill me if I forget.”

Eliza’s smile turned exasperated and she replied: “I’ll call her tonight, haven’t spoken to her in a while, you know how she gets.”

Alex chuckled at that, but didn’t get to reply, because Philip came back with the drawing. He put it on the table and climbed into the chair next to Alex, so that he could show his Papa the figures. It weren’t stick figures anymore and most of them were pretty recognizable.

Pip pointed at first figure and began to explain: “This is Grandpa George and Grandma Martha and they’re holding hands and next to them is Uncle Laf, he’s annoying Grandpa George, but he doesn’t mind.”

Alex saw that the drawn Lafayette had a speech bubble with senseless scribbles in it.

“And then on the other side you have Uncle Herc and then Auntie Maria and Auntie Eliza, Auntie Maria is giving Auntie Eliza a kiss, like she does whenever she leaves.”

“Is she going then?” Alex asked.

“Maybe, I don’t know yet, maybe I’ll add a portal behind her,” Philip answered, “Next to Auntie Eliza is Auntie Peggy, she’s poking you. You see Papa?”

Alex studied the figure that was meant to represent him. It was a green blob with his beard and long hair in a messy bun, who was holding hands with the figure he assumed was Thomas. The Peggy figure was indeed poking his cheek. He smirked: “I can see that, Pip. Very well done.”

“Thank you, I was gonna make Auntie Angelica next to you, but she is now standing next to Uncle Laf and being tired about his actions,” Pip explained, making the both of them laugh.

“Who is that?” Alex asked, spotting a figure in the sky.

“That’s Auntie Martha, Da said she’s dancing with the stars, so I drew her with the stars and here is Daddy with angels,” Pip told him.

Alex now recognized the colors as one of the dresses Martha wore in the pictures in Thomas’s house, then also the outfit John wore in the picture on the mantle piece.

He was a bit chocked up about it and was luckily saved from replying by Eliza, who repeated in a questioning tone: “Da?”

“Yeah, Da’s here,” Pip pointed to the magenta figure with big hair holding Alex’s hand, “He’s holding Papa’s hand and I’m in between them.”

“Do you mean Thomas?” Eliza asked, giving Alex a look that meant ‘you could have at least given me a bit of information’. She was piecing it together along with Angelica’s text.

“Yeah, he’s my dad now too, isn’t that cool, Auntie Eliza?” Pip answered excitedly.

“Very cool,” Eliza smiled, “When did that happen?”

“Yesterday,” Philip informed her with a smile, “I asked if he was my dad now too during dinner and he said I got to pick and I said yes, so now he’s my Da.”

“Oh wow,” Eliza glared at Alex. The message was received: ‘We’ll talk about this later.’

Alex just rolled his eyes and just focused on letting Philip explain the drawing in more detail, before getting them home.

While that was all happening, Thomas ate dinner by himself for the first time in a while. The house didn’t feel that much like home anymore and Thomas didn’t really want to acknowledge it, so when he had finished his dinner, he decided to call his Ma.

“Hello, this is Jane Jefferson speaking,” she picked up.

“Hi, Ma, how are you?” Thomas greeted her warmly, ever since his call after his birthday they’d been calling more and Thomas found their relationship improving despite the distance.

“Ah, Tommy, I’m good, I’m good, how are you?” she replied, then cheekily added, “How’s your loverboy?”

“Ma,” Thomas whined.

“What you never tell me anything, I can ask.”

“I do tell you almost everything,” Thomas refuted, “I’m actually currently calling you to tell you things.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I- uhm, I guess, I’m a dad now,” Thomas decided to start there.

“What?”

Thomas expanded: “Philip calls me Da, so that happened.”

“Oh my God, I officially have agrandson, how exciting,” his Ma gushed.

“I guess so,” Thomas chuckled.

“Am I meeting my grandson and my future son-in-law anytime soon or are you still not asking them?” she inquired.

“They’re also coming to Monticello this summer,” Thomas was glad he could answer that question this time, “And can you please not refer to Alex like that when we’re there.”

“And why not, is it not true?” Thomas could practically see his mother’s amused look.

“It’s embarrassing, Ma,” he was also not above pleading and whining.

“I’m not embarrassing.”

“You are very embarrassing.”

“We’ll see that when you get here, will you and Alex be sharing a room?”

“Yeah.”

“No funny business under my roof.”

“Ma!”

And they talked like that for a bit more. Thomas was both excited and extremely nervous to go home again that summer. He didn’t know if Alex and Philip being there made his nerves better or worse.

A while had passed between that call and the summer break. Thomas and Alex had worked a bit longer and Pip had spend a good chunk of time at the orphanage and his other Uncles and Aunties until it was time to go.

When the day came to drive down, Philip was brimming with excitement. It was a six hour drive, so they left in the morning, but that didn’t stop Philip from pointing out everything he saw that he rarely saw otherwise.

Thomas thought it was kind of adorable and listening to his kid’s rambling calmed him as did Alex’s even breaths from where he was napping in the passenger seat.

About an hour and a half into the drive Alex woke up with a small yawn: “H’w lon’ was I out?”

“Not that long,” Thomas assured him, while Pip said: “It was soooo long Papa, you missed so much by being boring. We drove past horses a while ago.”

“Ah, maybe we’ll see more horses later and I can see them too,” Alex smiled, “Want a snack?”

“You have snacks?” both asked in a different tone, Thomas curious and Pip excited.

“Of course I have snacks,” Alex got boxes with sliced apples out the bag by his feet as well as juice boxes and a water bottle. He handed Philip a few slices, twisted the cap off the water and handed that to Thomas, before giving Philip a juice box once his hands were empty.

They switched two hours into the drive, then again two hours after that, so that Thomas was the one driving the last part. As they drove they played word games with Pip and sang music.

It felt a bit like a road trip movie and Thomas cheeks hurt a bit from the smiling by the time they pulled into the driveway.

Alex gaped at the building and said: “I knew your family was loaded, but holy fuck.”

Thomas snorted, he was kind of used to that with the mansion they lived in. It was built in colonial style and old, he didn’t even know how it had gotten into the family, but it had. The sides were covered in small white flowers and on the porch an older lady sat in a rocking chair, waiting for them.

“Da does your Ma live in a castle with a dragon?” Philip asked as Thomas unbuckled him, while Alex grabbed their bags.

“No dragon, I’m afraid,” Thomas chuckled. Then turned to his Ma, who was coming to meet them, he pulled her into a hug: “Hi Ma.”

“Tommy,” his Ma replied, holding him tight, before letting him go and saying, “Aren’t you going to help your boyfriend unpack. I didn’t raise you like that.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Thomas rolled his eyes, taking a few bags from the back, smiling comforting at Alex. He knew that if he had unpacked first, she would have scolded him for letting her stand there. His Ma showed affection through toughness, it had taken a long while for him to see that.

Philip stared at this new lady with interest. She was older and darker than his Da, but she had the same eyes and grace to her. When she saw Philip staring she smiled: “And who is this young gentleman here?”

“I’m Philip, Philip Hamilton, it’s nice to meet you, Ma’am,” he stuck out his hand.

“How polite,” the lady smiled, “I’m Jane Jefferson, but you can just call me Mawmaw.”

“Mawmaw Jane,” Philip nodded to himself, “It’s nice to meet you. Do you own the house? Da says it doesn’t have a dragon, but it looks like it has a dragon.”

She chuckled: “No dragon, no. The most fierce beast you’ll find in there is Sir Poof, the cat.”

Philip pouted while Thomas grinned: “I take it none of my sisters are home, then.”

“Don’t get cocky, young man. Mary’s coming later. Now, I think there is someone you have to introduce me to, hm?” she replied.

Alex had been keeping himself on the background. No matter what he had said to Thomas, he was pretty nervous and wanted Thomas’s mother to like him, to like Pip. So he startled slightly when Thomas said: “Yes, Ma, this is Alex. Alex, this is my mother.”

“Hi, Ma’am,” he greeted, voice a bit higher than normal, “I’m Alexander, Alexander Hamilton, it’s an honor to meet you.”

“Jane Jefferson, same to you,” she smiled, she could see that the man was nervous meeting her, but she noted with amusement how both father and son had introduced themselves the same. It was clear who had taught the boy that.

“We got you these, Mrs. Jefferson,” Alex handed her the bonbons they had gotten her. Alex had wanted to buy flowers, but those would have gotten ruined during the ride, so instead they had gotten bonbons.

“How sweet, but none of that Mrs. Jefferson stuff. Call me Ma or Jane, alright?” she told him, taking the bonbons, “These are nice, thank you.”

“It- I- Thank you for your hospitality, Jane” Alex rubbed the back of his head.

Thomas watched quite amazed at this Alex. He had never seen this version of his boyfriend before. This Alex was awkward and unsure of what to do next, while also painfully polite. He decided to step in and save him: “We really appreciate the invitation, Ma.”

“Of course, of course it’s good to see you again, here I’ll show you where Philip can sleep, you two will share your old room,” Jane picked up on Thomas’s action.

They gathered their stuff and brought it to their rooms. Thomas’s old room was at the end of the right hall and Philip was staying in the guest room opposite of it, which Alex was grateful for as they set down their bags.

“You okay?” Thomas checked.

“Yeah, just more nervous than expected,” Alex admitted, “What if she doesn’t like me?”

“She will, I promise. You’re great and Pip is a sweetheart, she’s been excited about you two ever since she heard about you,” Thomas assured him.

“You think so?” Alex asked.

“I know so,” Thomas replied, hoping he wouldn’t have to come back on that, “Come, I’m sure you’d like something to drink.”

“Lord help me through this,” Alex sighed taking Thomas’s hand and allowing the soft squeeze Thomas gave to calm him.

“It’s gonna be fine.”

“Sorry, I know, I know, just scared it will go wrong, but I’ll be fine, really,” Alex said, unsure of who he was trying to convince, “Let’s just go drink something.”

Thomas held his hand all the way to the front porch, where Jane was sitting with Philip, cat on her lap. Alex could see from the way he sat that Philip was telling one of his many fantasy tales, while also trying to drink from a huge glass of lemonade with a straw in it.

Alex nodded a greeting to Jane when she noticed him, then ruffled Philip’s hair: “Hey, buddy, have you been nice?”

“Yes, Papa, I’ve been telling Mawmaw Jane about the Ranger Apprenticethat me and Da have been reading and aboutGeorge the Glitter Glue Man,” Philip told him with a grin.

“How nice Pip, have you thanked your Mawmaw for the lemonade?” he asked.

“I have,” Philip assured him.

Jane confirmed: “He has, you’ve raised such a polite young man.”

“Thank you, it helps that he’s a sweet kid,” Alex smiled, talking about Pip was easy, he could do that in his sleep.

“He sure is, ain’t you, Philly,” she smiled to the boy, “Really, I’m afraid what Francie and Kitty’ll do to him.”

“Francie and Kitty?” Philip asked.

“My nieces, my second oldest sister’s twins,” Thomas explained, “She’s the only one of my siblings who had kids and they have been spoiled into oblivion by all their Aunts and Uncles.”

“They’re lovely ladies, don’t let Tommy get into your head,” Jane assured him, “They just have active imaginations.”

Alex didn’t want to blame two little girls for how Philip would act, but he also didn’t want to paint Philip to be a bad kid, so he just said: “Well, Pip has a very active imagination himself, so they’ll probably get along.”

“Am I going to meet them?” Philip asked.

“Probably, Mary said she’d come,” Jane assured him, “Now while my son gives our guest something to drink,” it was a bit pointed, “why don’t you tell me more about this Glitter Glue Man. What was his name again?”

“George,” Philip supplied helpfully, before retelling his heroic death by glitter bullet and his subsequent confetti revival by Theo.

Thomas took Alex to the kitchen and poured him a glass of lemonade as well with a small: “Homemade, Ma’s famous for it.”

Alex took an appreciative sip and said: “It’s delicious.”

“Ma’s lemonade is the best,” Thomas told him proudly.

“I get why,” Alex smiled, relaxing somewhat.

They returned to the porch and sat with them, Alex softly complimenting the lemonade, before listening to Philip talk. Alex felt slightly bad about clinging to Philip’s charms, but he cut himself a bit of slack.

When Philip had finished his story, he took a pause to drink some more and Thomas took that opportunity to ask: “Who’s coming?”

“Well, Mary and her girls are coming, her husband couldn't make it,” Jane said, then she went down the list, “Small Jane said maybe, but she had business,Martha, Peter probably not, Abby said no, Lucy maybe, Anna most likely, Randolph yes.”

“So only Randy and Mary are coming?” Thomas summarized.

“Yeah.”

“Wait, is there another Jane? Why is she called Small Jane?” Philip spoke up.

“It’s a family name, we call her Small Jane to keep track of which Jane we’re talking about,” Jane explained.

“That’s funny,” Philip said.

Alex was about to say something about the commentwhen Jane chuckled: “Ain’t it, Philly. Don’t you know someone who’s been named after someone else. Family does that from time to time, so that they can point and say; ‘hey that’s your namesake, ain’t that cool?’”

Philip thought for a second, then said: “Auntie Angie says Theo’s mom is also called Theo, but when I asked Theo, she says her name’s just mom. It’s confusing, but she can push really well on the swings.”

That made Jane laugh and she ruffled his hair and said: “We have a swing in the tree there.”

She pointed at a big tree and Philip’s eyes lit up and he looked back to Alex with big eyes. Alex smiled and said: “You can go swing if you want, just be careful. Want me to walk with you there?”

“I’m big, I can do that on my own,” Philip protested, but as he got off the bench, he did say, “Thank you, Papa.”

“Stay in sight?” Alex asked.

“I will,” Philip promised.

The three adults watched Philip bound over to the swings, then Jane turned her focus to Alex: “So, has my Tommy been treating you right?”

“Ma!” Thomas exclaimed, he had told her not to be embarrassing, not that he had expected her to listen, but still.

“Uh,” she shushed him with a finger, “I asked Alex a question, Tommy. I wanna know if you’re treating him right. So, Alex.”

Alex had expected a lot of questions, but not that one, so he floundered for a moment, before he found his words: “Yeah, yeah, it’s- it’s been good, he’s been good.”

“Yeah?” Jane nodded along with sharp eyes.

“Yeah,” Alex confirmed, “He’s a huge help with Pip and a great cook, actually. He also gets me flowers,” he couldn't have helped the smile on his face if he tried, “And I feel like we have great conversations.”

“Ahw, you love me,” Thomas grinned draping himself over Alex, it might have been an embarrassing question, but having Alex list off his good qualities in front of his Ma was an ego boost if he ever saw one.

“Like you didn’t know that, dork,” Alex attempted to push him off, but the push was light enough for Thomas to know that he didn’t mean it.

During the exchange Jane got an approving and pleased look on her face, before she moved on to the big hitters: “And what are your intentions with my son?”

Thomas gave her big ‘what are you doing?’- eyes.

However, Alex had gotten over his initial awkwardness and his usual way of words came back: “If I am honest, I would say grow old at some point. Though currently I am just enjoying spending time with him, figuring out what makes him smile, where I can step in like he does for me. Mostly, I just want to have the time to give him all flowers he deserves.”

It was quiet for a moment as Jane sized him up, then she grinned: “I can see why Tommy likes you, he’s also the wordy one around here.”

Alex chuckled, feeling a bit more at ease with that response: “The amount of wordy we both are has made our boss very tired on numerous occasions.”

“You can’t admit you’re wrong, that’s different, darlin’,” Thomas felt the need to point out.

Did Alex know he was sitting in front of his maybe one day mother-in-law? Yes. Could he let Thomas win this argument even though responding would prove his point? No.

“I know when to admit defeat, you just don’t have sound arguments. There’s a difference, okay?” he shot back, “And no, I will not side with you on the chicken-egg debate, picking chicken is stupid and you’re just saying it because I think it’s egg.”

“It’s chicken, cause it lays the egg, Alex, it’s just nature.”

“Other animals lay eggs. Fish lay eggs and fish were the first living beings almost ever,” Alex told him, unable to let it go, “Dinosaurs laid eggs too, they were before chickens.”

“But we’re talking about chicken eggs, only chickens can lay those, therefore there has to be a chicken to lay it.”

“One, saying therefore doesn’t make your argument better. Two, you never clarified we were talking about chicken eggs, therefore you can not suddenly introduce that as a rule for the discussion and your argument falls away.”

“What was that about therefore?” Thomas grinned.

“Okay, gentlemen, chicken, eggs, interesting,” Jane cut them both off, she’d had to sit to too many Christmases when Martha was still around for her to know that Thomas wasn’t going to stop.

“Sorry, Ma’a- Ma,” Alex corrected himself last minute.

“Which side are you on?” Thomas had never not involved everyone to get on his side and he wasn’t letting his Ma off the hook.

“Alex’s, your argument is stupid,” she deadpanned, noting Alex’s shit eating grin to Thomas as she did, “What I’m more interested in is how you’ve been. The last time I saw you was last year during the summer and I appreciate the calls, but face to face, talk to me. How have you been? Your job okay? DoI need to have words with Washington?”

“No, Ma, Washington is still a good boss,” Thomas assured her, “And I’ve been doing great, I picked up reading poetry again and I have just been enjoying the small things, they make life great, you know?”

Jane smiled at the last part: “Good to see you finally having a bit of joy in your life. You always had that weight on your shoulders, it’s nice to see it gone for a change.”

“It’s nice to have it gone, Ma,” Thomas agreed, while Alex contended himself with listening, “But how have you been Ma? Not lonely out here?”

“Nah, Mary and the kids visit often, they at least do,” she said, “It’s good to have some life in this house, you know. Keeps me young. And I’ve been going to the market. Joe from the farm down by the church says hi along with Father Adam.”

“And the knitting club?” he asked.

“You know how that is. Though last time Janet brought store bought cookies, so we don’t know if anything’s going on there, but we’re keeping our eyes on her.”

“Nothing too bad, I hope.”

Jane leaned in conspiratorially and said: “Nah, Dixie saw her in the park with a handsome looking man. We think she’s having an affair.”

“Oh no, really? Janet?” Thomas gasped and Jane nodded in return: “Uh-huh, let me tell you,” then she caught up the both of them on the local gossip with names Thomas nodded at and Alex had never heard before. After that they moved on to just daily life stuff.

At some point Philip came back from the swings, confidently stating: “I think there are fairies living in the tree, the leaves speak.”

“Really, buddy?” Alex asked, hoping Jane wouldn’t judge him for indulging his son’s imagination, since he said other – weirder –stuff like this.

“Yeah, just like in that book Auntie Eliza always reads to me,” Philip explained.

“Well, I never noticed them, but maybe you can tell me more about them while we cook,” Jane told him, getting up, “We’re making fried chicken and I hear from your Papa that you’ve been helping him out in the kitchen. Would you like to learn a bit more?”

“I would love that!” Philip exclaimed, clapping his hands, before taking Jane’s and following her into the house.

Thomas turned to Alex with a big grin and sparkling eyes. Alex looked confused and asked: “What? What does that look mean?”

“She likes Pip,” he explained, “Her asking help with cooking is the number one compliment or acknowledgment you can get from her. We’re killing this.”

“Really?” relief flooded through his system.

“Yeah, welcome to the family, darling.”

~~~~~~~~~

A/N:

I made up the nieces, bc I’m not researching family trees for a fic that has gotten too far out of hand already, okay, not doing it.

As for the others I didn’t try and figure out any of the family’s personalities or actual lives, if you’re looking for accuracy a fanfic is not the place to find it. Same forin the next chapter, have no expectations on that front.

Also, yes, I am passionate about the chicken-egg discussion and I am pro egg, you can fight me.

[kingofterrors]

I was tagged in this ask by @inktog - thank you!

I’m not great at tagging other folk, but if you see this and you fancy doing it, consider yourself tagged! Also, by the way, if anyone seeing this really likes being tagged in these kind of things, let me know! I will tag you in future!

This was hard. At first I was like, “I’m not sure I can even name ten relationships I ship”, and then had far too many as soon as I thought about it for more than ten seconds. So here we are. :)

First, list your top 10 ships without reading the questions below.

1.      Luz Noceda / Amity Blight – The Owl House

2.      Harrowhark Nonagesimus / Gideon Nav – The Locked Tomb Series

3.      Sabran / Eadaz du Zāla uq-Nāra – The Priory of the Orange Tree

4.      Caleb Widogast / Essek Theyless – Critical Role Campaign 2

5.      Beauregard Lionett / Jester Lavorre – Critical Role Campaign 2

6.      Harrowhark Nonagesimus / Ianthe Tridentarius – The Locked Tomb Series

7.      Kara Danvers / Lena Luthor – Supergirl

8.      Amity Blight / Boscha – The Owl House

9.      Korra / Asami – The Legend of Korra

10.  Percy / Vexahlia – Critical Role Campaign 1

Then answer the questions.

Do you remember the episode/scene/chapter that you first started shipping 6?

I’m going to be honest, it was from the very beginning of Harrow the Ninth – the Prologue, where we get that amazing moment of Ianthe kneeling down and taking Harrow by the chin. I’m going to quote, because this scene just marched up to my house, kicked my door down and stole my entire mind.

You were shocked into opening your eyes when you felt the girl opposite cup your chin in her hands – her fingers febrile compared to the chilly shock of her gilded metacarpal – and put her meat thumb at the corner of your jaw. For a moment you assumed that you were hallucinating, but that assumption was startled away by the cool nearness of her, of Ianthe Tridentarius on her knees before you in unmistakable supplication. Her pallid hair fell around her face like a veil, and her stolen eyes looked at you with half-beseeching, half-contemptuous despair: blue eyes with deep splotches of light brown, like agate.

Looking deep into the eyes of the cavalier she murdered, you realised, not for the first time, and not willingly, that Ianthe Tridenatrius was beautiful.

Dude.

Have you ever read a fic about 2?

Yup! More than one! I don’t generally seek out smut for my ships, for whatever reason, but I freely admit that I sought out smut for these two. And found it. Found it with quality in spades. Praise be. Is this a good spot for recs? If so:

Sleepless by pugoata

Like a Lullaby by SweetScentences

Has a picture of 4 ever been your screensaver/profile pic/tumblr?

Nope. I tend not to change my pics very much, and they tend to focus on single characters rather than ships, again for whatever reason.

If 7 were to suddenly break up today, what would your reaction be?

Yeah… Well of course they’re not together in canon. I ship supercorp foolishly, helplessly, knowing all the while that the chances of it becoming reality are vanishingly small. That said, we don’t ship purely for canon, do we? So if Kara and Lena were together and then were to break up I’d be disappointed, but I suspect they’d find their way back to each other. These two have a history of being separated, then rediscovering their love and coming back together. I give it a couple of weeks. :)

Why is 1 so important?

Man, I don’t know! It snuck up on me! I think there’s something here about firstly, the context for Lumity. Amity’s crush on Luz was just presented as normal, as something fine and good and natural, and that meant so much to me. There’s a softness here that I love so much. I also heavily empathise with Amity – the trying to live up to expectations and feeling that you have to hide yourself behind emotional walls – and the thought of her finding love with someone like Luz who is so open and emotionally giving does my heart good. I want Amity to find acceptance and openness with Luz. I want Luz to find herself seen and valued for exactly who she is by Amity. I want to see them finding strength and security in each other. I just love them, you guys.

There’s a bit in this wonderful YouTube video essay, which I recommend to the moon and back – watch it if you haven’t! (“The Owl House is Great and Here’s Why, by Film Freak”) Where the essayist concludes their section on Lumity by saying: “I don’t know if Disney will chicken out in the future with regards to Lumity or any other queer rep, but for now I’m cautiously optimistic. Maybe I just have rose-tinted goggles for how soft this ship is, but whatever, let me stan just once.”

And… yeah. That.

Which one has the strongest bond?

Wow, tough one. Probably Sabran and Ead. They’ve gone through everything together, and are prepared to wait for each other in the end. Their bond is strong enough to take that and more.

Which ship has lasted the longest?

For me or the ship itself? For me of all of these probably Korra / Asami. Shipped ‘em first time I saw LoK, and haven’t stopped.

How many times, if ever, has 6 broken up?

Have they ever gotten together? If they ever did get together they’d break up every couple of days. These two are a mess, and their relationship is a toxic trainwreck. Still ship ‘em though. Can’t help it. Sometimes ships are just fascinating. If this was real life I’d want them to not come within shouting distance of each other. In fiction I’m riveted.

If the world was suddenly thrust into a zombie apocalypse, which ship would make it out alive: 2 or 8?

Definitely Harrow and Gideon. Those two have fought through apocalyptic situations before, and my money would be on them to do it again. Plus they are the quintessential battle couple. Can you imagine Harrow’s bone magic and Gideon’s martial expertise being unleashed on zombies? Those two would save the whole damn world.

Amity and Boscha would put up a good fight, I think, but I can see them disagreeing on key decisions which might hurt their chances.

Did 7 ever have to hide their relationship for any reason?

Given that Kara is a whole secret identity, we could say they are continually hiding their relationship when Kara is out there as Supergirl? I could also see them hiding their relationship at Lena’s insistence to protect Kara from Lex before she realised Kara was actually Supergirl. She might even want to do that afterwards as well, on reflection. Lena is very protective of Kara, ironically enough. :)

Is 4 still together?

Right now? This is another non-canon ship. That said, this is one I’m genuinely hoping for a canon appearance from. Their relationship might be put under strain from the fact that they’re both mages, and mages tend to get selfish and power hungry (or at least these two claim that’s how it goes). I think they’d work through it though. These two talk big about their own selfishness a lot, and then in practice are very caring and protective of others. I can see that extending to each other. Just kiss already.

Is 10 canon?

Yup! My token het ship are still very much together, growing old and having babies.Good for them. :)

If all 10 ships were put into a couple’s Hunger Games, which couple would win?

This is an invitation to go into huge depth, but my initial feeling is that Harrow and Gideon would again have it hands down. Those two are world-endingly powerful. Although that said, Kara and Lena might give them a run for their money. Pure power ranking? Let’s see…

1.      Harrow / Gideon

2.      Kara / Lena

3.      Korra / Asami

4.      Beau / Jester

5.      Caleb / Essek

6.      Percy / Vex

7.      Harrow / Ianthe

8.      Sabran / Ead

9.      Amity / Luz (no shade, but these guys are literal children. Grown up they’d put up a better showing, I’d bet)

10.  Amity / Boscha

Has anyone ever tried to sabotage 5?

I mean… Fjord? I wonder sometimes what would have happened if Beau had genuinely put in a play for Jester, rather than stepping back to let Fjord make his move. She very obviously decided that Fjord should have a free shot, and I wonder how it would have worked if she actually decided to compete. Would Fjord have stepped back to let Beau make a try for Jester if he was aware of her feelings? I don’t know. A genuine competition would have been heartbreaking but oh so interesting to see.

Do you spend hours a day going through 3’s tumblr tag?

Not hours, but I have put some good time into finding fanart for these two. There is some good work out there!

If an evil witch descended from the sky and told you that you had to pick one of the ten ships to break up forever or else she’d break them all up, which ship would you SINK?

Amity / Boscha. Sorry you two! I wrote myself into shipping Amity and Boscha, when I fell in love with Boscha and decided she could actually be good for Amity in a snarky, take no shit kind of a way. I would still love to see more of them. (Halfway through that one-shot btw.) But if it was them or everyone else? Sorry guys. :(

[inanotheruniversemusings]

atlas: two

fill for Supercorptober2020 prompt: family

read on ao3

Kara’s still reeling from the blast, swaying on her feet as she desperately tries to catch the air that has been knocked out of her lungs when another horrible booming sound follows.

Her vision is suddenly filled with red, the same red that Rao had once shone over Krypton in his light, only to be taken away from her before she even had the chance to love it wholly.

The same red that’s darker than her cape and the symbol on her chest, her family’s crest, and it somehow feels like defeat; feels like she’s thirteen once more and on the verge of losing every single thing she knows and loves all over again.

Around her there is carnage, a fallen army of lexosuits she’s managed to best. But what for, Kara fails to see, when this carnage is all that she has left.

If only she had flown around faster, moved a second quicker—if only she hadn’t hesitated when Lex fell from the sky and into her hands, and she hadn’t felt an ache for the brother that Lena had once loved with her whole heart, she might still have everything.

Now Kara is left with nothing. Not even Lex. He slips away from Kara’s grasp the moment the first explosion shakes the earth beneath their feet, like the coward that Kara knows he is.

It's then that Kara’s heart sinks at the sight before her, the Girl of Steel falling down on her knees as she watches her worst nightmare come to life. The slabs of concrete that formerly housed part of the DEO headquarters rattle as she hits the ground, dust and rubble misting the still crackling fire like drizzling rain.

There’s a scream that tries to claw its way out of her throat, and the familiar heat humming at the back of her eyes. Kara has to fight the urge to let it out, to set the entire world ablaze and watch it burn until there’s nowhere left for Lex Luthor to hide.

But Kara knows that that’s not who she is, the emblem on her suit a constant reminder that presses a hefty weight on her chest, and leaves the weight of the world on her shoulders.

(Like Atlas, Kara remembers Lena telling her once; hears Lena saying he’s a god who just made his choice and picked a side, now forced to carry the heavens ever since.

How Kara wishes she can hear Lena’s voice again before her entire world turns dark.)

…

When she comes to, it’s to a cloudless sky littered with stars. She would’ve been terrified, remembering waking up to a similar view while she was suspended in time and space, if not for the soft, hushed voices that sounded like two of the most important people in her life.

There’s still the scent of burning concrete in the air, the metallic tang of melted steel filling the spaces in between. But what makes Kara jolt is a warm, familiar touch, and slicked back red hair that Kara’s never been more glad to lay her eyes on.

“A-Alex?”

“Oh my God, Kara!” Alex cries, a sob escaping her throat as she pulls her sister in a tight embrace.

Kara swears she feels the rumble of it in her own chest. “I thought—I thought—”

“We’re okay,” her sister mumbles in halting stutters. “We’re okay. We made it out.”

She feels Alex’s hand run all over her back; gentle, soothing touches that seep beyond her suit. There’s another warmth that joins it not long after, with Kelly’s soft smile serving as another ray of light in what Kara had thought was going to be a dark, lonely lifetime.

“Kelly,” Kara breathes out, relief coloring the lilt in her tone. “Golly, I’m so glad to see you.”

“I know. Alex tells me the same all the time,” Kelly replies; keeps her smile up and intact to stave off the dread that she can see lingering at the corners of Kara’s answering smile.

It’s both to hers and Alex’s relief that it works, when Kara giggles just as she’s pulling back from Alex’s hold. Though there’s still a hitch in her breath at the sight that greets her that Kelly doesn’t miss, a lump the size of Kara’s very own fist lodging itself on Kara’s throat.

(It tastes like guilt, the bitter pill that Kara, for all the strength she has, can’t find the fortitude to swallow.)

“What happened?” Kara then asks—finally feels brave enough to want to know. Her eyes sweep around the once heavily-guarded place, half of it left standing and the other half reduced to a mix of ash and rubble.

Agents that used to congregate for their respective missions are now scattered around, most helping to clear Lex’s fallen army out, some resting on makeshift beds that Kara’s only now noticing that she’s also been laying on.

While at the top of the wreckage, J’onn stands, gesturing with his hands to direct the heavy lifting equipment Agent Vasquez is operating. Right next to him is Nia, hoisting the lighter slabs with her chain. 

Kara briefly wonders how long she’s been out as she stares at the massive piece of machinery, its twin, too, working nearby.

“You passed out,” she hears Alex speak. “We thought there was kryptonite, or that you’d solar flared but, your vitals are fine.” 

“We figured it was from exhaustion,” Kelly adds. Alex sends her a grateful smile.

“I thought—I thought—I thought you were,” Kara tries to say. But the strength inside of her balks at the mere idea, her chest heaving as it caves in under the weight.

Because Lex said that there was no time. Lex made sure to let her know with a triumphant grin and a menacing laugh that Kara didn’t have the time.

So much for being a Kryptonian god, Kara Zor-El.

Kara turns still as those moments rush back in, the crazed look in Lex’s eyes a memory Kara doesn’t think she’ll ever forget. 

“Yeah,” Alex confesses in the wake of her sister’s silence. “For a second there, we thought so too.”

“But it’s okay,” Kelly assures. “We’re okay. And we’re here for you, Kara.”

She knows that Kelly means well; means it in ways that Kara isn’t in anyway ready to unpack. Not here. Not now. Not when—

Kara jolts again, her head snapping up in a blur. She almost hurtles towards Alex in her haste to look around, scanning every inch of space that her superpower can reach. But she doesn’t find Lena, can’t see her anywhere, and she feels the pang of dread pierce her chest, dark tendrils wrapping around her heart. “Where’s—did Lena—where’s Lena?!”

Alex reaches a hand out, her fingers curling around Kara’s shoulder to push her sister back down. It’s a futile attempt, she knows, but there’s an unrestrained look in Kara’s eyes that Alex aches to quell. “Hey, hey, Kara.”

“Alex—”

“She’s fine,” Alex mollifies. “She was on a warpath for a bit there, but she’s okay.” 

“W-what? Did she go after—”

“No. No! She’s not—” Alex wants to say, wants to assure her. But she can’t lie to her sister too. Not now. Not ever. “She almost did. But we stopped her from taking one of the spare suits and unleashing hell on her brother. She saved us, you know. Her and Brainy.”

Kara’s heart swells then, pride and comfort and love slowly prying dread’s hold on her with their light. It becomes evident on her face when a soft smile spreads across her lips as she says, “Of course she did. She’s always saved all of us.”

Still, there is a tumultuous need to know where Lena actually is, so she asks Alex again. “But where is she? I can’t see her, Alex.”

“She’s back at her lab,” her sister explains then. “Brainy’s keeping her busy.”

“With what?”

“Your new armor.”

Kara’s head whips around to follow the direction of the new voice; mumbles native curses inside her head for being so occupied with Lena’s whereabouts that she’s forgotten how she looks for her, how she makes sure she’s safe.

But it’s there, and it’s strong, and Kara swears she’s never heard something so beautiful, even including her own.

Lena’s heartbeat.

“Lena can tell you all about it,” Alex says. She pulls Kara for a parting hug and leaves her with a tender kiss on her forehead; entrusts her—and her heart—into Lena’s hands, knowing Lena will do everything to keep it and Kara safe. “I need to help J’onn round up all the agents. Make sure everyone’s safe and all accounted for.”

Kara croaks out a tired okay, her exhausted smile earning her a soft pat on her cheek.

Then, it’s just Lena and her. And for all the fretting she’s done and she’s caused not even a while ago, Kara suddenly finds herself running out of words to say.

Ultimately, it’s Lena who speaks for both of them, Lena who ends up asking the very same thing Kara has been wanting to. “Are you okay?” She sits down on the ground ceremoniously, with a kind of regal grace that Kara’s always admired about her. “God, Kara, I was so worried. When I saw you lying unconscious, I almost—”

Lena trails off, looking away and busying herself with unlocking the steel briefcase she’s brought with her from her lab. Though Kara doesn’t really need her to continue. She can fill in the ensuing silence with what Alex has told her earlier.

“I’m not,” Kara whispers. Lena almost doesn’t catch it, but she does, and it makes her stop. Her hands turn still, frozen above a silver band with a face that almost matches the watch Kara has given her. 

It’s smaller, from what Kara can see, and though there’s a part of her that wants to ask what it is—that part of her that’s forever interested in anything and everything Lena makes—Kara doesn’t feel like she’s ready to drop this conversation yet. “Rao, Lena, I thought you guys didn’t make it. I thought you didn’t make it.”

 (And now that she’s begun, Kara can’t seem to stop.)

“And it felt like losing Krypton all over again. But it was worse. So much worse.”

Because while Krypton may have had her childhood, it’s Kara’s past, something she’s been working hard on making peace with. But Kara can’t stand to lose—is terrified to lose her present, and a future she’s slowly and steadily building with the woman sitting in front of her.

So it’s worse. Kara’s heart constricts just merely thinking about it.

Lena’s breath hitches at the pain that finds its way through the cracks in Kara’s voice; finds the same pain making its way through hers, too. “Kara.”

“Sorry,” Kara says, swallows to curb the urge to cry. “I know it isn’t exactly ideal to talk about it right now. But it just—you just—”

You came so close, goes unsaid. Kara doesn’t think she has the strength left to voice it out.

“Kara,” Lena repeats, softer this time. More tender, more kind. She takes Kara’s hand, tugging at her arm to pull her close. “Come here.”

Kara relents easily, stooping down so that her head can rest on Lena’s chest, her ear pressed right where her heart is beating steadily beneath.

“I’d never do that to you,” she hears Lena say; hears the echo of it amidst the cadenced staccato that is Kara’s current melody.

“You can’t make promises like that,” Kara replies. She shifts on Lena’s hold, tipping her head up slightly so she can meet Lena’s gaze.

Lena just smiles, presses tender kisses on the crown of Kara’s head; then she says, “I know. But I also never make promises I can’t keep.”

And means it.

[usagichanp]

lexthan

*rubs hands together* I was hoping someone would ask me that

This is gonna be a long one folks.

General:

Rate the Ship -  

Awful | Ew | No pics pls | I’m not comfortable | Alright | I like it! | Got Pics? | Let’s do it! | Why is this not getting more attention?! | The OTP to rule all other OTPs

How long will they last? - Life long partners, babey.

How quickly did/will they fall in love? - I think they had crushes on each other for a while. They didn't officially say "I love you" till a few months into their relationship, but they thought it sooner.

How was their first kiss? - I wrote a lesbian Lexthan version of their first kiss, though I don't think canon Lexthan's first kiss was like that. I imagine it to be not really planned out; just like they're talking to each other in the car and lock eyes, then slowly lean in and kiss. Since they've had kisses before, it's not a catastrophe, and it's actually fairly soft.

Wedding:

Who proposed? - Ethan. Wrote a whole ass fic about it.

Who is the best man/men? - I know who the best man is in my fics (it's my man Marsh, for those who have read it), but idk about the canon Ethan's best man. Maybe Danny (the Smoke Club Boy) but I'm not sure if they'd be friends enough to be his best man. He might not have one.

Who is the bride's maid? - Hannah. Duh.

Who did the most planning? - Ethan, but Lex chipped in too. Tom might help as well if asked lol

Who stressed the most? - Ethan. Though their ceremony isn't big, he still wanted it to be a good memory down the road (it was)

How fancy was the ceremony? -

Back of a pickup truck | 2 | 3 | 4 | Normal Church Wedding | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Kate and William wish they were this big.

First they had just a courthouse wedding where they signed the papers, then had a tiny wedding ceremony with only close friends. Even if they could afford a proper wedding (Canon Lexthan prolly couldn't afford it) I don't think they'd want a big affair anyways. It's be exhausting.

Who was specifically not invited to the wedding? - Lex's mom. Obviously.

Sex:

Now we're getting to the good part lads

Who is on top? - Ethan is a fucking switch. You can't convince me otherwise. He tops maybe like... 60/40 or 65/35. But when Lex tops, she tops bitch.

Who is the one to instigate things? - Ethan likes instigating things since he's a horny teenage boy, but it Lex doesn't want to, he stops. Sometimes Lex instigates, but usually when she does she's in the mood to top.

How healthy is their sex life? -

Barely touch themselves let alone each other | 2 | 3 | 4 | Once a couple weeks, nothing overboard | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | They are humping each other on the couch right now

I'd give it a 7.5, depending on the situation. While they try to tone it down around Hannah, when they have alone time they'd totally go for it. Ethan's glovebox in his car has a box of condoms in it at all times. What can I say, as I said before, they're horny teenagers

How kinky are they? -

Straight missionary with the lights off | 2 | 3 | 4 | Might try some butt stuff and toys | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Don’t go into the sex dungeon without a horse’s head

They don't like seeing each other hurt so they wouldn't like BDSM. They're not vanilla but nothing too crazy- blindfolding, light bondage (aka tying hands up with rope or cloth), scratching, light spanking, pegging

How long do they usually last? - It depends on how much time they have to have sex. They've done quickies in bathrooms or whatever before, but if they have all night then they're pretty good at prolonging it.

Do they make sure each person gets an equal amount of orgasms? - Absolutely. It is said in multiple fics (I think?) of mine that Ethan makes sure Lex has the same amount of orgasms as he does. Always.

How rough are they in bed? -

Softer than a butterfly on the back of a bunny | 2 | 3 | 4 | The bed’s shaking and squeaking every time | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Their dirty talk is so vulgar it’d make Dwayne Johnson blush. Also, the wall’s so weak it could collapse the next time they do it.

They certainly can have slow, soft, romantic sex, but Ethan is also 100% capable of rocking Lex's world so hard she can't walk right for a week. (That happens in my first fic, Cassieopia, albeit off screen)

How much cuddling/snuggling do they do? -

No touching after sex | 2 | 3 | 4 | A little spooning at night, or on the couch, but not in public | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | They snuggle and kiss more often than a teen couple on their fifth date to a pillow factory.

1) I fucking love that metaphor 2) They don't get much physical affection at home, so they fucking love snuggling and cuddling- whether it be after sex or just hanging out. Sometimes they cuddle as a form of stress relief after a shitty day.

Children:

How many children will they have naturally? - 2, maybe 3.

How many children will they adopt? - I think they might prefer to have children naturally, but in my California series they gain custody of Hannah when she's 12. Does that count?

Who gets stuck with the most diapers? - Lex forces Ethan to learn how to change diapers. That being said, Lex isn't half bad at changing them either, since she helped change Hannah's when she was a child.

Who is the stricter parent? - They're not exactly strict parents, but both Lex and Ethan can definitely scold the kid. ("hAnNaH! tHaT bEtTeR bE fUcKiNg fLoSs!!!!!") That being said, both take care to not be abusive to their child, especially Lex. She doesn't want to be like her mom, so she tries to keep her temper in check.

Who stops the kid(s) from doing dangerous stunts after school? - Ethan has good reflexes, and has stopped his kids from falling and hitting their chin on a playground structure more than once. (Fun fact! That happened to me when I was 3. I fell from a steel elephant shaped jungle gym at a German zoo, hit my chin on a steel bar, and bit through my lower lip/knocked 3 teeth out. I still have the scar years later lol)

Who remembers to pack their lunches? - Lex. Though the lunches aren't always the healthiest.

Who is the more loved parent? - I think they're both loved, but maaaaaybe Ethan a bit more.

Who is more likely to attend the PTA meetings? - Neither would attend PTA meetings out of the goodness of their hearts. If Lex or Ethan would go to a PTA meeting, it'd most likely be because they wanted to yell at a teacher or principal. They might go seperately or together depending on the severity of the issue.

Who cried the most at graduation? - Ethan wouldn't admit he cried, but he did. So did Lex.

Who is more likely to bail the child(ren) out of trouble with the law? - Oh bitch, Lex and Ethan both said fuck the law. If it was just like, an overnight jail cell for some stupid misdemeanor, they might try to break their kid out. Otherwise, Lex would probably the one paying the bail because Ethan would try to punch the cop in the face if the cop talked shit about Ethan's kid. That reaction is not exclusive to cops.

Cooking:

Who does the most cooking? - Neither of them are exactly 5 star chefs, but they can hold on their own. Lex is better at cooking breakfast and Ethan is better at cooking dinner- but if he's exhuasted from work, Lex can cook dinner for him.

Who is the most picky in their food choice? - Neither are picky. Both of them grew up young scrappy and hungry just like their country without really the chance to be picky. They had to take what they could get.

Who does the grocery shopping? - Lex. She's good at calculating totals in her head. I wrote that in an unrealeased fic.

How often do they bake desserts? - Rather rarely. Perhaps on special occasions or to bond. Ethan has ruined the kitchen with his kid trying to bake a cake for Lex at least once. Maybe more.

Are they more of a meat lover or salad lover? - Meat lovers, babey. Fuck that fancy plant bullshit.

Who is more likely to surprise the other(s) with an anniversary dinner? - Ethan. I wrote that in the proposal fic.

Who is more likely to suggest going out? - Depends on what you count as "going out". Lex likes going to McDonalds, but Ethan is the one who suggests eating at actual restaurants.

Who is more likely to burn the house down accidently while cooking? - Ethan, but both have had near misses.

Chores:

Who cleans the room? - Both had fairly messy rooms as teenagers so they're not super anal about having sparkling clean rooms. That being said, when someone comes over Lex does try to tidy the place up a bit. At least enough to make it seem like they have their shit together. Ish.

Who is really against chores? - Ethan can be a bit of a lazy bones sometimes, but Lex isn't exactly a huge fan of chores either. However, she is used to doing chores since she practically raised herself and Hannah.

Who cleans up after the pets? - They take turns. Both hate it.

Who is more likely to sweep everything under the rug? - Ethan, because he doesn't want to incur Lex's wrath.

Who stresses the most when guests are coming over? - Lex. As I said above, she actually actively cleans the house beforehand. Not to the level of that freaking out mom from the comedy video who's name I can't remember tho.

Who found a dollar between the couch cushions while cleaning? - Ethan. He has a nack for finding random bits of money. Score.

Misc:

Who takes the longer showers/baths? - Lex, though both take relatively quick showers to save water.

Who takes the dog out for a walk? - They actually like doing it together. It's nice to get some fresh air, and they enjoy each other's company.

How often do they decorate the room/house for the holidays? - Ethan goes over the top, partially to annoy Lex. You know that Christmas tree Chris Pine vine? Yeah, Ethan would fucking do that.

What are their goals for the relationship? - Live a better life together than they did in Hatchetfield. White picket fence and California dreams shit.

Who is more likely to sleep till noon? - Ethan, but Lex is known to sleep till 3 in the afternoon if she's really tired.

Who plays the most pranks? - Ethan. That's literally canon.

I can babble about them all day lol

[writingfromkitchenator]

Chaos and Control

A Stephen Strange Fanfic

Marvel Fluff Bingo fic for @marvelfluffbingo

Square filled: Secret Dating

Stephen Strange x OFC

Words: 3,090

Warnings: Secrets, teasing, mentions of injury, smidge of violence, implied smut

The two of them weren't a couple, not in the public eye anyway, they both knew it was far too dangerous for more reasons than one.

He was Sorcerer Supreme, with more enemies across more dimensions than you could count.

She was Tony Stark's sister, off limits to anyone even close to the team, despite being in the team herself.

There were some that, if they knew, would probably say it was a perfect match.  She enjoyed danger, he enjoyed pissing Tony off.  Other's wouldn't see it, after all, she was just as chaotic and unpredictable as Tony could be and everything Stephen did was borderline on an obsessive control; it would be chalk and cheese in their opinions.

Yet, the two of them fell into an easy step with each other, bouncing off ideas in team meetings, easily backing each other up in a fight.  The truth was far more simpler than what any of the others could guess if they ever knew.

Lex, Alexandra only to Tony, found peace with Stephen, she knew it as soon as she had seen him, he was someone that you could have a reasonable conversation with and, in her case, not get compared to her brother.

Stephen, while true that he did enjoy annoying Tony, found someone steady in the chaos.  She could ground him with a look alone and there was some days that he needed that, even when they had just been friends.

The relationship had just kind of fallen into place around the two of them, neither having been looking for it. A simple moment of a small, tender kiss and that had been that, the kiss slowly delving into something more, something that neither of them had been realising they were missing, and that was that.

Then, they agreed to keep it secret.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want anyone to know, they just knew that it would be less complicated if no one did and it would safer for when they were out in the field.

Stephen had almost given it away once, when Lex had been badly hurt on a mission, barely managing to contain himself as he patched her up, his hands shaking outside of the normal reasons as her blood coated his hands.  Thankfully, years of training allowed him shut it all out, managed to save her life.

She had a hell of a scar after that incident, one that Stephen never really forgave himself for, but as with everything that happened to Lex, she took it in her stride.

Lex herself kept things under wraps most of the time, but as their relationship grew, she began to tease just a little bit more openly, unperturbed by Stephen’s looks at her when she did.  Usually it was around Tony too, and as much as Stephen enjoyed seeing Tony’s reaction, he mentioned multiple times to her that she was pushing their luck, something she would just laugh off.

Stephen knew what she was trying to do, knew that she was testing his patience, trying to get his control to slip, and each time she did it, it just made him more determined not to.  Lex would always just smile at him, pretending not to understand.  This was the game they played and at the moment Stephen was winning.

“How can you have so much control all the time?”  She’d asked him once, watching him train.  “Doesn’t it get tiring?”

Stephen had chuckled, unable to help it. “Not all of us have no self-control Lex.”

“I have plenty of self-control,” She smirked.  “And you know it.  I’m referring to everything you do, it’s like you’re calculating each movement before you do it, it’s both fascinating and infuriating.”

“Are you complaining?”  He asked, raising an eyebrow as he let the spell die from his fingers.

“Oh, absolutely,” She rolls her eyes, looking annoyed as he comes over.  “Come on Stephen, can’t you just give me a straight answer.”

“No,” Stephen dips his head, placing a quick kiss to her lips.  “Because I know it infuriates you.”

Lex huffs, glaring at him.  “You are unbelievable.”

“And you love me still.”

Little did Stephen know was that this was the conversation that made her come up with a real plan.

Her birthday was approaching quickly and everyone that knew the Stark’s knew that they loved to celebrate, the team both groaning in dread and talking in excitement whenever one of them mentioned it.  They knew how to celebrate, there was no doubt about it, but they also had a penchant for something going wrong in some for another.  There was more than a few of them that agreed that what happened at a Stark party, stayed at a Stark party.

Stephen had tried to get in early, to go do something quiet together, but he should have known better that she had been planning something for months.  He wasn’t much for the celebrations usually, but he wasn’t about to not be there for her.

He regretted it as soon as she walked into the party.

Lex never missed an opportunity to show off and she definitely wasn’t going to disappoint at her own birthday party, the red dress long and elegant, hugging just enough to tease, her hair out and in loose curls, and the smirk she sent Stephen’s way as he openly stared at her from across the room told him that she’d definitely been planning this for him.

Stephen hated the fact that it was instantly working, forcing himself to drag his gaze away from her, gritting his teeth and looking less than impressed at his drink.

But he soon worked out that that wasn’t all that Lex had planned as she moved around and greeted her guests, her laughter carrying through the room and Stephen seemed to look up each time her hand rested on someone’s arm.

She had upped the game big time.

“You alright Stephen?”

Blinking, he looks up at Bruce, who’d seated himself next to him, watching him slightly concerned.  “I’m sorry?”

Bruce gives a small smile.  “I don’t think you’ve stopped frowning since Lex has walked in.”

Stephen felt heat creep into his face, but he shakes his head quickly, hoping that Bruce doesn’t notice.  “I’m fine, it’s just been a long day and that music is giving me a headache.”

“Uh huh,” Bruce watches him closely. “So the fact that Lex has now been invited to the dance floor by Thor has nothing to do with it?”

His head snapped up and around to see the truth of what Bruce said, Lex indeed dancing with Thor, the two of them laughing and Stephen realised that she wasn’t playing the jealously angle, she was always affectionate with everyone, no, she was playing the same game that she had as soon as she walked in.

Getting Stephen to watch.

He’d completely forgotten Bruce was sitting next to him, his gaze locked on Lex and the way she was moving in time with the music, her laugh seeming to fill the air around him and for the first time since they’d started this, he thought about throwing all caution to the wind.

Bruce cleared his throat next to him and pats Stephen on the arm.  “I wouldn’t let Tony catching you staring like that, he might actually get his suit out early.”

Stephen snorts, throwing caution to the wind.  “I’d like to see him try and do something about it, especially when she is being intentionally infuriating.”

“That’s the Stark’s for you,” Bruce chuckles.  “They thrive on the chaos of annoying others.”

Huffing, Stephen downs his drink and quickly orders another, turning back around so he didn’t have to watch anymore, feeling incredibly uncomfortable now.  “You’re not telling me anything I don’t know Bruce, trust me.”

Bruce smiles at him.  “So I can see,” He casts a look over to Lex.  “You could always go join her.”

“Trust me,” Stephen growled. “That would be a bad idea at the moment.”

Chuckling, Bruce pats him on the arm again and moves away, leaving Stephen to his frustrations, even as he shifted enough to continue to watch her out of the corner of his eye.

After a while, now a few drinks down, Lex finally walked over to him, grinning widely as she leaned on the bar next to him, getting herself a drink.  “Having fun Stephen?”

She was wearing his favourite perfume too, the scent washing over him as she gives him a small nudge.  “I know what you’re doing Lex and, as always, it’s not going to work.”

Her grin widens though, reading straight through his normally carefully kept expression.  “I don’t know, I think this is going to be my best birthday yet.”

Stephen gives her a hard look, which just makes her laugh and give a quick look around before leaning in close to him, making him tense as her lips press close to her ear.  “Have you thought about what I have on underneath this dress?”

His reply is cut off by a low whistle, both of them moving to look around at Tony, who was smiling at Lex, although there was something else hidden in his gaze.  “How long did it take you to find that dress?  Must have been real expensive.”

Lex grins and gives a small spin in it. “Do you like it Tony?  Had it custom made especially for tonight.”

Stephen inwardly sighs.  Of course she did.

Tony chuckles.  “Of course it was, I’m guessing one of your own designs too?”

“Naturally,” The two of them hug, even as Lex giggles.  “I was just explaining that to Stephen, he’s been admiring it all night.”

There was no hiding Tony’s eye roll. “Well, as long as it’s only the right kind of attention Alexandra, I’d hate to think of having to bail you out on your birthday.”

“You mean like I have, multiple times, on yours?”  Lex laughs and waves Tony off.  “And thanks for apologizing that you’re late, by the way.”

Both of them watch her as she moves back to the dance floor, drink in hand.

“She really is asking for trouble.” Tony sighed and then clasped Stephen on the shoulder.  “Hope you’re enjoying yourself Gandalf, it’s only because it’s her birthday that I’m letting her away with that.”

Stephen can’t help but chuckle at this. “Tony, you’re never going to stop Lex from doing anything, you and everyone else knows that.”

Tony shrugs, getting a drink. “Yeah, but I can at least act the big brother part, can’t I?”  He eyes Stephen.  “What was she saying to you before?”

“That she likes my suit, among other things,” Stephen said quickly.  “Not unless you want to know how your sister flirts?”

“Not particularly,” Tony screws his nose up a little.  “But I hope that doesn’t mean what I think it means.”

Stephen chuckles and shakes his head. “As you’ve said, multiple times, Lex is off limits, but as you know, as she shares it with you, she flirts with everybody.”

“Stark family charm.”  Tony then does a quick look around the room.  “Well, time to go and socialize, seeing as she’s too busy dancing.”

Tony disappears quickly and Stephen’s lets out a sigh of relief, rubbing the back of his neck, only to find his gaze drawn back to Lex as he hears her laugh, her shooting a wink his way.

He knew there was no point in fighting this, she already had him well and truly wrapped around her little finger, the question now was, how long was he going to keep himself in control.

The answer came about an hour later after a squeal got Stephen’s attention, who’d been drinking his way through several glasses to distract himself, and he found himself seeking out Lex instantly, just in time to see her deck someone hard, much to several gasps and laughter throughout the room.

Lex straightened out her dress, her expression furious, in full fight mode.  “What don’t you understand of keep your hands to yourself arsehole?”

She turned on her heel and stormed from the room as several people helped the poor man up, who was now holding a heavily bleeding nose.  Stephen’s gaze however had followed her from the room and he waited barely a moment before he was on his feet following.

There was one thing about him that she didn’t know.  He loved watching her fight.  After all the other things of tonight, this was the last snap of his resolve.

It wasn’t hard to follow her, the cursing coming from the bathroom was enough to make anyone take pause, except Stephen of course, who was quick to open and close the door behind him.

Lex rounded, hard words on her lips before she recognizes him and lets out a slow breath.  “I’m fine Stephen, you didn’t have to follow me-”

Stephen didn’t care what else she was about to stay, closing the distance between them with long, quick strides before his lips crashed into hers.  It took her a moment to get over the shock before she responded eagerly, a moan caught in her throat as he backs her into the bathroom wall.

She can’t help but laugh, a little breathlessly as he breaks away from her lips and starts down her throat. “And here I was thinking you were checking if I was alright.”

A low growl rumbles through him as he nips at her throat, slipping his ring onto his fingers.  “You talk too much.”

He recaptures her lips, silencing any response, the portal moving over both of them quickly.

 The next morning Stephen was stirred slowly from sleep by light movements over his chest, causing him to hum, not wanting to be disturbed and capturing the hand, soft laughter blowing over his shoulder.

“Good morning,” Lex said softly, kissing his shoulder, on her side, one leg thrown over his, her fingers interlacing with his.  “Sleep well?”

Stephen hummed again, not wanting to open his eyes, hoping to get back to sleep, a mild hangover starting to throb at his temples.

“Oh?”  He could hear the smile in her voice.  “Not talking to me now?”

He snorts.  “I told you last night you talk too much.”

“Ah, so you want to enjoy your morning in peaceful silence then?”

“Preferably.”

“Right, well, I better-”  She broke into giggles as she moved to get up, only for Stephen to quickly grab her and pull her back to him, a slightly annoyed look on his face as he opened one eye to look at her.

“You’re not going anywhere.”  He said, keeping a firm grip on her as he settles the two of them close together.  “So you’re just going to have to stay quiet.”

Lex smiles at him and kisses the tip of his nose, making him finally open both eyes.  “You know that those two don’t go hand in hand right?”

“I’m sure you can manage to control yourself for once,” Stephen brushes her hair back from her face.  “Just as I may have gotten a little carried away last night.”

She giggles again, capturing his hand and placing a kiss on his palm.  “You didn’t hear me complaining.”

He smiles, although it was clear there was an element of smugness to it.  “No, your expressions were much more expletive.”

Lex laughs.  “Oh?  Are we getting cocky about ourselves Doctor?”

“What can I say?”  He asked, capturing her hands and rolling them over so he was above her.  “You have been a bad influence on me.”

Giggles dissolve into kisses, the two of them taking their time, in no hurry against the dull aches of their bodies.

They were interrupted by a phone beeping.

Lex blinks a little over at her bedside table, her phone flashing up, even as Stephen groaned, nuzzling into her throat.  “Ignore it.”

“That’s a nice way of saying good morning,” Tony’s voice came through, making them both freeze.  “And I’m glad I caught you both actually, saved me some awkward questions.”

“Seriously Tony, you hacked my phone?” Lex asked, annoyed.  “Don’t you think this is going a bit far?”

“Well, after you both vanished from the party last night, I thought it was only fair that I make sure that you were alright.”  Tony said. “And yes, I had to hack your phone to do it because I knew you wouldn’t answer otherwise.”

“And I wonder why that would be?”

“Don’t give me that Alexandra, you broke the rules first.”  Tony’s voice turned annoyed now.  “What part of no team mates don’t you understand?”

Lex made a disgusted noise.  “I’m an adult Tony, I am allowed to make my own decisions.”

“I’m not saying that you have bad taste,” Tony said quickly.  “But the risk involved in this-”

“What?  You don’t think I haven’t thought about that?”

“No, I don’t think you have, you’ve always been more impulsive-”

“If you say more than you, we’re going to have a problem.”

“Look, all I’m saying-”

“Tony-”

“Let me finish-”

“Nope.”  But it was Stephen that said it, giving a lazy wave of his hand, the phone vanishing, Lex staring at the spot for a moment.  “Honestly, anyone would think it was a world ending crisis.”

She looks at him.  “You know he’s likely to turn up on our doorstep now.”

Stephen smiles at her and kisses her forehead.  “Then it’s a good thing you know someone who can take you anywhere, isn’t it?”

Lex watches as he climbs from the bed and starts gathering their clothes.  “You’re serious?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”  He asked, pulling on his shirt.  “I love you Lex, and if your brother is going to be a pain in the arse about it, then two can definitely play that game.”

She stares at him for a long moment before starting to laugh, causing him to pause.  “What?”

Lex gets up and goes over to him, pulling him into a brief kiss.  “I think I was wrong about you, you know, you are definitely an agent of chaos.”

Stephen stares after her as she walks towards the bathroom.  “I think you’ve just worn off on me.”

She smiles over her shoulder. “Well, if I’ve worn off on you, then you’ll join me in the bathroom first, then we can talk about where we’re going to run away to.”

Lex slips into the bathroom, Stephen barely waiting a moment before he curses and throws his shirt back off and hurrying after her.

[theficpusher]

Falling by Lovelyziam | G | 2138 “So what? I get shot at all the time. I don’t know if you know this, Zayn, but it’s kinda part of the job—” “—and,” Zayn interrupted, “you were shot at and you fell two fucking stories, Liam. Excuse me for being more than a little concerned. I don’t know if you know this, but that kind of fall kills people, Liam.” Liam just smirked up at him, the bastard. “Aww, c’mon, Zaynie. I’m not even hurt. I thought you knew me better than this. It’s gonna take more than a little fall to kill me.” And then the asshole winked at him, fucking winked while Zayn was sitting there consumed with worry, and now more than righteous anger. If he wanted to pretend like his fucking safety was a joke, then fine, Zayn wasn’t going to treat him delicately, either.

Screamin' At My Face, Baby, Don't Trip by runaway_train | G | 2498 He’s been waiting at their table in the restaurant for thirty minutes now, already deep into his second large glass of Shiraz, when he checks his phone. No new messages. He clicks onto WhatsApp to check when Louis was last online; 3.34 p.m today. That certainly doesn’t bode well. Louis was always late, yes, but he had promised, he had sworn to Harry that he wouldn’t be late tonight. But he was. By thirty one minutes and counting. Or The one when Harry's anniversary dinner plans don't go quite how he hoped they would.

Super Secret by Caliske_XP | G | 10326 When Louis Tomlinson's life gets saved by the local superhero and his celebrity crush, his world turns upside down.

under me, you by hazzafrazza | M | 12435 You Won’t Believe Who Was Spotted Leaving Harry Styles’ Primrose Hill Pad! If Harry was being completely honest, it probably wasn’t the best idea to be a world-renowned popstar and an infamous vigilante. (Especially when all the comic books said never reveal your secret identity to keep your loved ones safe – which was all well and good, until Louis.) Or: Harry wants a lot of things – fame, glory, Louis – but that last one is particularly hard to get when everyone thinks you’re dating your secret superhero alter-ego and suddenly you’ve become your own worst cockblock.

all the stars were crashing by sarcangel | E | 25845 “We should practice,” Louis says. He’s got a faraway look in his eye that doesn’t bode well for anyone, based on Zayn’s newly-formed knowledge of Louis. “Find a place, set up a schedule, all that.” “What?” Zayn says, not sure where the conversation is exactly headed anymore. “You know, in a movie - like, this would be our montage sequence,” Louis says, hands everywhere, gesturing wildly. “There’d be some song playing in the background while we spar and gain strength and -” (and lick sweat off of each other’s necks, Zayn thinks, and then you knock me to the floor and lay on me and) “Yeah, that’d be sick,” Zayn says, instead, not knowing if he’s more surprised that anything coherent comes out of his mouth or that he’s actually agreed to Louis’ awful plan.

STRANGE HAPPENINGS AT THE DAILY PLANET! by HelloAmHere | E | 31250 Companies like LexCorp think they run the world. Louis does not think that anybody in particular runs the world; the world is a mess that no one is above, not even Lex Luthor, CEO and scion and heir to the empire, billionaire and genius. He’s walked around Metropolis like some kind of superhuman since Louis can remember, since they were both kids growing up in the city. Nobody is superhuman. Everybody has a weakness. You just have to be persistent enough to find it. Louis cannot wait. // A Superman/or a Daily Planet, AU.

Something Just Like This by kiwikero | E | 31281 Newspaper intern Harry Styles can't believe his luck when he goes from fetching coffee for his boss to writing about London's own superheroes, One Direction. Even better, he gets to spend time with the unfairly handsome Freefall, also known as Louis Tomlinson. Louis, who is way out of Harry's league and far too busy for a proper relationship—so how on earth is Harry supposed to tell him they're expecting?

Just As Fast, Twice As Dangerous by lightswoodmagic | E | 45721 When he realised it was only him and Liam in the hallway, he felt safe enough to drop his shield. Oh. Lovely. Liam was emanating affection and fondness, his primary emotions filled with warmth and love. Zayn let himself bask in it, how it would feel to be loved by Liam. He knew Liam loved him, but he wasn’t in love with him; Zayn had felt that emotion too many times to count, and this just wasn’t it. He dug slightly deeper, could feel that Liam was excited and nervous, and when he hit a wall Liam had built himself, he dropped back. He wasn’t supposed to know everything. Or, Zayn's a normal student by day, and a superhero by night. When a mysterious man seems to target him at the same time a natural disaster strikes, Zayn has to figure out a way to save the day, protect his heart, and convince the boys he's not a vigilante all at the same time.

Tell Me Now, Tell Me Now by vanillabeanniall | G | 54662 “Ladybug!” Liam Payne was standing there with his phone out. Harry couldn’t help but smile at his best friend. Not that Liam knew it was him; to Liam, this was Ladybug, hero of Paris and untouchable icon. “I have a question that I think all the viewers here on the Ladyblog want to know: are you and Chat Noir dating?” Harry blinked. “No,” he said quickly, “we’re just- friends. We’re partners! Teammates!” “Of course, I should’ve known,” Liam responded, grinning behind the screen. “Ladybug’s heart belongs to Paris!” Not exactly true. But Harry was the only one who knew just who owned Ladybug’s heart: Louis Tomlinson. In which Harry is Ladybug, Louis is Chat Noir, together they’re the hailed ‘Heroes of Paris,’ and each is in love with the other’s alter-ego.

[superredcorp]

RED DAUGHTER FANFICTION - What if Red Daughter survived?

"Hey, no, no, hey.", Kara said, worriedly, moving forward and lifting Red Daughter into her arms. Her veins were glowing dangerously green - the Kryptonite rapidly taking over her body and making it hard for her to even breathe.

"You were right. My Alex was nothing like your Alex.", she wanted to say more but Kara interrupted her: "Hey, no, don't talk like that. You'll be okay. I promise."

Kara knew she needed to save her. Like she had just saved her. She couldn't let her die after she proved she was able of redemption. "We gotta get you out of here."

She stood up, lifting Red Daughter onto her arms and flew upwards, crashing through the ceiling. She landed several feet further where all the aliens had gathered. As well as her sister who looked very confused as to why she was carrying her supposed enemy. 

"Alex. She took a Kryptonite blast. I have to go back to fight Lex but you gotta help her.", Kara explained quickly while kneeling down and carefully laying Red Daughter on the ground, where she ran a hand through her hair for comfort. 

"But, Kara-"

"No, Alex, she just saved my life. We can't let her die. We're not letting her die.", her voice clearly stated that this was not up to debate. So Alex simply nodded, crouching down next to them. Kara threw Red Daughter one last look, taking her hand and squeezing it. "Well, you know Alex. She's gonna help you. You'll be fine."

"Thank you.", she brought out and Kara nodded, standing up. "Kara." She turned her head. "I overheard him… He plans to transport… if his suit explodes. Don't let him… escape."

Now it was Kara who said Thank you. And with that she shot upwards, ready to take on Lex again. 

Meanwhile, Alex was still struggling with herself. This woman almost killed Kara. She did kill Kara, to be exact. But looking at her face now - she could only see her sister. Scared, in pain and full of remorse and grief. Her current expression reminded her vaguely of the time where Kara had been cured from her infection with Red Kryptonite and all the terrible things she had done came crushing in on her.

Alex took Red Daughter's hand. "Okay, so here's what we're gonna do-"

At the same time, Kara was facing Lex again - both floating in the air. 

"You're wasting your time with her.", Lex said. "She's a lost cause."

"That may be what you think. I believe in her. I believe there's good in her. I've seen it when she saved me from you.", Kara responded. 

"Yes, that was an unplanned intervention. However she's not there to save you now. No one is." He went on to attack and Kara was ready to battle him as well.

The fight lasted a few minutes. Then Kara took the chance and shot him with her freeze breath. In just bare 2 seconds he was completely frozen over, unable to move or control his suit. He was falling. Kara, remembering what Red Daughter had told her, flew after him, catching him under his arms and flying him back to where the others were. All the while Lex was screaming and shouting angrily. 

She landed, putting Lex down and motioning her arms in his direction as if she was an artist presenting their newest sculpture. 

J'onn came forward. "Good job, Supergirl. He should be put into the DEO. I don't think he gets cared for enough in that other prison."

Kara nodded.

Lex was glaring at the people around him. Then his view landed on Red Daughter. The green had faded from her veins and she was leaning against Alex with one arm around the latter's shoulders, to keep herself upwards.

"You are such a traitor.", he spat.

"No, you are the traitor, Lex Luthor.", Red Daughter exclaimed. Her voice was shaking, still weak from her near death experience, and she was no longer calling him 'Alex'. "And why would you care? I'm a kryptonian. You hate kryptonians."

Lex's lips turned into a thin line as his own words were being used against him.

J'onn took it upon himself to take the frozen Luthor away. 

Kara walked to her sister and doppelganger, smiling brightly. "I'm glad to see you're okay."

"Yeah, I told her how you survived your fight. You know, absorbing the sunlight which was saved in the environment. After a few tries, she was able to do it too."

"That's great! Thank you, Alex.", Kara replied and Alex just shrugged, simply saying: "It was the right thing to do."

Red Daughter smiled a little. The way her eyes closed multiple times and the way they appeared quite hazy and disorientated when opened, showed clearly that she needed some rest. 

Kara stepped closer, laying a hand on her arm. "We're getting you out of here."

"We should get her to the DEO. For some checkups.", Alex commented.

"Is that safe?", Kara asked, worriedly.

"I'm the Director. I'll make it safe.", she said simply. Kara smiled proudly and nodded. She put her arms under Red Daughter's knees and around her waist and lifted her again into bridal-style. Red Daughter's arms found their way around Kara's neck and her head fell against Kara's shoulder where her eyes shut completely from exhaustion. 

"Let's go."

[slapshot-to-the-heart]

Incomplete

Hey friends!! So, we’re here. The end of our journey with Alex and Harry. It’s been a wild ride, and I can’t thank you all enough for sticking by this story, even throughout the spotty updates these past few weeks. Please let me know what you think, and as always, enjoy!

Incomplete

April 2021

I breathe in slow to compose myself

In. Out. In. Out. Alex leaned her back against the stone wall of St. Peter’s, clutching her bouquet in one hand and the other set over her heart, feeling it beating beneath her hand. Her veil was set, the delicate heels on her feet and not a hair on her head was out of sorts. It was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, so why did she feel like her chest was about to explode? It was ten minutes until the wedding started, and Alex was scared out of her mind. The hundreds of hours she had spend planning, nearly twenty years of friendship and two and a half years of dating was all going to come to fruition. She had removed herself from the hustle and bustle of her bridal suite; her five bridesmaids mixed with mimosas was just a little too much for her to handle. Jules, Gemma, Clare, Sarah, and her childhood friend Emily had been her saving grace during the planning process, especially the last few weeks. As the date got closer, Alex got more and more nervous. She knew Harry loved her unconditionally, that was beyond question. She was more worried about herself. Would she trip down the aisle? What if people hated the cake they had chosen? She thought vanilla with raspberry jam and lemon curd sounded fantastic, but what if everyone would have preferred chocolate? It was eight minutes until the wedding started, and she was questioning everything.

A quiet knock sounded from the wooden door next to her. She had tucked herself away in what she was under the impression was a secluded corner of the church’s courtyard, and wasn’t sure who it would be. She had told Gemma, her maid of honor, that everything was okay— she loved Harry more than anything and wasn’t running off, just needed a minute to herself.

“Lex?” She’d know that voice anywhere. Scrambling around the corner, she could hear Harry’s chuckle. “Don’t worry. My eyes are closed. I’m not going to look at the dress. Just heard you were gettin’ a bit nervous, wanted to see if I could help any.”

“I’m just having a hard time wrapping my mind around all it, you know?”

“The wedding or the whole marriage thing itself?” Harry asked.

She sighed. “Bit of both?”

He reached a hand around the door, and Alex realized that he wanted her to hold his hand. Gripping it like a lifeline, Alex took a few breaths, trying to steady her breathing. “And whatever fears you have are 100% valid, I’d never tell you anything otherwise. All I can tell you is I love you more than your fears. I’m so ridiculously excited to take this next step with you, and I know that we’ll be strong enough to withstand whatever obstacles come in our way. Whether they’re in ten minutes, or ten days, or ten years, we’re a team and nothing you could do would make me love you less.” It was five minutes until the wedding started, and Alex’s heart rate was steadying.

“Have I ever told you how much in love with you I am, H?” Alex asked softly.

“Once or twice,” he said, squeezing her hand. “I mean, you are marrying me, after all.” Alex let out a watery laugh. “You good now, Lex?”

She nodded, rubbing a thumb over the hand that covered hers. “Yeah.”

“See you at the altar?”

“I’ll be the one in white.” Much though Alex loved Harry’s style and how he was unashamedly himself in his fashion, she had requested that he keep his suit to a traditional black for the ceremony. “For posterity’s sake,” she had added. It was four minutes until the wedding started, and Alex finally felt ready. Taking a quick glance behind the door to make sure Harry was well out of sight, she darted around the corner, making her way back to the bridal suite and back into the loving but slightly concerned arms of her bridesmaids. “Everything’s fine, I just needed a minute” was a phrase repeated several times.

A moment later, a knock on the door sounded, this one expected. Sam, the older or her two younger brothers, was waiting on the other wide of the doorway. “Are we ready?” He asked, glancing around the room. Seeing as how her dad obviously wasn’t there to walk her down the aisle, Sam was more than happy to step in. All three siblings were close, but Alex and Sam even more so. They always had each others backs, through the thick and the thin, and there was nobody she would rather have next to her.

She nodded, taking a shaky breath as if all of her hopes and dreams for this day could be sucked in as easy as breathing. “As I’ll ever be.” Gemma gently tugged her veil over her face, handed her the bouquet that had briefly been resting on a side table, and ushered her and the rest of the bridesmaids out of the room, down a side hallway, and to the foyer of the church. It was one minute until wedding started, and Alex couldn’t be more excited if she tried. She twisted her bouquet in her hand, took a few steadying breaths, and took Sam’s outstretched arm. The music started. Alex had been somewhat apprehensive about a piano version of “Perfect,” thinking it would sound too cheesy, but it was one of the most beautiful sounds she had ever heard. Her bridesmaids entered, each accompanied by one of Harry’s groomsmen. The doors opened, and she went.

Step. Alex flickered her eyes up to the altar, where Harry waited, hands clasped nervously and feet shuffling almost imperceptibly. Step. He looked up at her. Tears sparkled in Harry’s eyes, and he looked at Alex like she had hung the moon. To him, she had. Step. Diane sat in the front row next to her other brother Charlie, thrilled beyond belief at the scene in front of her. Her daughter couldn’t have chosen a better man to love. Step. The flower girl, Adam’s daughter, dropped a few petals haphazardly down the stone aisle. Step. Step. Step. Alex finally reached the altar, and Sam went to sit beside their mum. Harry gave a watery smile, reaching out gingerly to flip her veil as if it were made of glass.

“You look absolutely stunning, love,” he said, smiling so incredibly wide, it seemed as if his face would split in two.

“Not nearly as good as you.”

I press my lips up into your neck/I stay there, and I reconnect

They were so lost in each other that most of the minister’s words were lost on them, with Harry even stumbling over his vows once or twice. Haltingly, emotionally, Harry promised to love her forever, and “even a little bit after that.” To always be true, be her protector when she needed it and to trust her judgement if she didn’t. To always, always be honest. Even when things are hard. Especially when things are hard.

Alex promised to be his best friend, his biggest supporter, and the best wife she could possibly be. To be by his side no matter what, even if she couldn’t physically be there. To always lead first with love and grace instead of judgement. Everything was something of a blur until the reception, which was being held in a nearby garden. The courtyard was draped with fairy lights, their friends and loved ones seated around tables filled with flowers and tea lights. Alex and Harry had gone back and forth over what to have their first dance song be. It couldn’t be too common,  or too sappy, or too long, or too short. After many minutes spent scrolling through wedding blogs and checking Spotify, the couple settled on Can’t Help Falling in Love. Not as quirky a pick as Alex thought Harry would lobby for, but she soon fell in love with the timeless nature of the song, and the way Elvis captured the emotions so perfectly. Arms clasped behind Harry’s neck, she leaned in to his embrace, resting her head lightly on his shoulder.

“I didn’t ever think things would turn out this way,” she said softly.

Harry kissed the top of her head. “What do you mean?”

“We’re not the couple you’d think would make it. We’re an odd match. I mean sure, we grew up together, but that’s about it?” She said, almost like a question. “I went to uni while your career took off. I’m a graphic artist cracking about £60,000 a year, you’re a literal rock star making millions. Nothing about us seems like we ever should have been able to make a life together. But we did.”

“But we did.”

For the first time in a long time, Alex took a moment to rest. Rest after months of crazy, never-ending planning and stress and confusion and doubting. And as she leaned into him, she realized something. She didn’t need Harry, but he made her feel whole. He didn’t complete her, but something about him made her stop searching. She didn’t need to look anymore, because she had found everything. Her everything.

“When everything seems to be spinning so fast, you’re what keeps me grounded.” Harry murmured into her hair. “You don’t hold anything back, and that’s what I need.”

Over the next few hours, they danced, ate, and marveled in their surroundings. So many people who loved them and who they loved sat at the tables dotting the gardens. Their parents sat together, and if the past fifteen years were any indication, they were more than likely swapping embarrassing stories about their children. The CHASM family sat together, joined by Harry and Alex when they weren’t dutifully making their rounds and thanking guests for coming. Niall and Liam sat at a side table, sharing a few beers and even more laughter. Childhood friends and work contacts mingled together, and Alex silently thanked Harry for insisting on an open bar. The music had changed from Elvis to Ed Sheeran to Beyoncé, and they were loving every second of it. And Alex and Harry sat, surrounded by their friends. Her shoes were off, his tie was loosened, and parts of both of their fingers were smeared with the lemon curd of their cake. Which everyone had ended up loving. A few of her curls had fallen out of place, but she didn’t care. It may have looked imperfect, but what she was going to remember about that day, her wedding day, wasn’t a few stray hairs. It was the memories. The people who travelled hundreds, if not thousands, of miles to celebrate with them. Her friends, who she loved more than almost anything, giving her the biggest hugs she’d ever gotten. Her wonderful, attentive, caring bridesmaids, who dealt with her nerves and confusion in spectacular fashion. Their families, where no dry eye was to be found during the vows. And Harry. Her Harry. Her incredible, kind, intelligent, compassionate husband. Husband. She had promised in front of God and their families to love him until her last breaths, and there was no promise she took as seriously as that.

Scared of the hope in my head/It’s been making me sweat

“Does this ever all just seem like one huge dream to you?” Alex asked softly. “Like some day we’re just going to wake up and none of this is real?”

“Why d’you say that, love?” Harry said.

“It just seems too good to be true. You, this wedding, the future we’re able to have. And the fact that we get to do it together. It’s ridiculous. I love it, there’s nothing I’ve ever been this excited about, but it’s ridiculous.”

“The future, hm?”

Alex’s cheeks reddened slightly. “I mean, we’re halfway there. Bought the house, adopted the dog.” Their four-month-old Labrador mix, Clover, had been brought home from the shelter a month ago, and was settling into their Notting Hill home wonderfully. “Jus’ need a few paintings and a few kids.”

The world it turns/And we grow, we learn/How to be, to be incomplete

[thekoogler-blog]

The Koogler Watches Comic Con Trailers 2018

Comic Con Trailer

Glass.

I’ll be honest, not too concerned about this one. I feel like this trilogy should have been like a duology. Split could have been like a 20 min lead in to Glass. Like he takes the girls, there’s a montage of all his personalities, the little rascal, ms doubtfire, or maybe she was more professor mcgonagall. And then there was like his demon one who could bend bars or whatever. He’s fully demon now like climbing the walls like a cricket demon. So I’m trying to figure out the twist from the trailer, and I guess the twist is going to be this is all in their heads. Or the twist is that they’re like actually heroes and villains and then they need to save the world. The twist is that there will be a 4th movie. They’re going to wring this out and try and get one last movie out of it. Plus it has pouty face Sarah Paulson in it, I’ll probably catch this one on the VOD or something. I’ve never seen the whole movie of Unbreakable but I got the key points. Willis survives the crash, he’s unbreakable and Jackson is super breakable. He’s like the guy from SpongeBob the chocolate episode. I won’t lie, when he fell down those steps, I kind of laughed, which is like some hidden superpower that I have. I can’t get through Precious without cracking up at least three times. But anyway…….

Koogler Scale of Watchability: Three MeowMeowBeenz

 AQUAMAN

I feel like I don’t have to say much about this. I know the immense intense hate that some of the DC universe has for it. Mostly just the DCEU, the animated bit is good. The comics are good. The games are good. The movies, to me, are good too. Look, we didn’t have any of these movies, none, now we have them all over the place. I agree that we need quality over quantity, but on the DC side, we are just getting started. Let’s give it a chance. Now to the trailer. Man oh man. I’m digging the visuals. The inevitable war scene looks good. The giant jellies, the SEA TURTLES (side note, I love sea turtles. SO FUGGIN MAJESTIC), the deep sea monsters and riding sharks and sea horses and shig. DOOOOOOPE. I’m a big fan of under the ocean life in general so I’m here for all of it. They fixed the speaking thing from JL where they had to conjure a water bubble to talk, they just talk. Favorite part of this whole trailer, the sharks willing to just destroy the entire aquarium to help little AC. One thing I’m not too fond of, that red hair of Mera. And I do see the similarities of this and BP. But, there’s room for both. Always has been, always will be. I’m looking forward to seeing this because I want to see if maybe this is somehow going to set up Legion of Doom. We have the Joker, Lex, and Deathstroke, add in Manta with Cheetah coming in and then possibly Black Adam sometime in the future. I’d like to see Reverse Flash get added into this somewhere as well but hopefully DC pulls this off with all the shakeups. I’m just hoping its not going to be too heavy on the puns and one liners and what not. Arthurs transition from the surface world to becoming the king of Atlantis was no laughing matter and I hope that comes through on the screen.

Koogler Scale of Watchability: Five MeowMeowBeenz

  Shazam!

Yes BOYEEEEEEEE. As per usual with the DCEU, people have a lot of complaints, but I’m here for this one as well. Kid in a superhero body came through in the trailer and I’m looking forward to it. This is one movie that needs to have that light and breezy funny and easy touch. Billy is a foster kid down on his luck, home to home, who just got the gift of a lifetime. Needs to be funny and goofy, but have the action of MOS. Shazam and whoever he is fighting need to be slingin each other all over the place and what not. I like the suit and everything, but the lightning on the chest looks more like a night light than anything else. But you don’t really get much other than a quick intro to Shazam. Tells you the gist of who he iis. Meets the Wizard, says the name, now he is Shazam. Just like I was talking about with Aquaman with the LOD filling out, for the next one, the Justice League should be filling out as well. Now is the time to plant the seeds for it. Lex needs to be in the background of all of this plotting and scheming with Deathstroke putting his team together to take on the League. Maybe do the JLA: Doom storyline but have Lex in the driver seat instead of Vandal Savage. Yeah, yeah, that could work

Koogler Scale of Watchability: Five MeowMeowBeenz

 Godzilla: King of Monsters

So, I won’t lie, I know nothing about anything Godzilla other than what I learned from the Godzilla 2000. I think I saw pieces of the one released before this, but not much. I don’t remember if he fought a monster or not, but. This looks ok, but ONLY IF Godzilla is fighting all of these monsters. Also, Clair de Lune in the trailer. That gets two BIG THUMBS up from me. And it sounds like Vera Farmiga is going to be a bad guy somehow. Cuz Friday Night Lights coach and Millie BB don’t seem to like her. It looks like we’re going to see Mothra, and I’m guessing Rodan and the three headed one….Golgon? I don’t know names. I saw the moth one, there was a flying fire one, and the three headed one. Looks like its going to be a more dramatic world smasher. You don’t play Clair de Lune in a movie that is a bit classy

Koogler Scale of Watchability: Four MeowMeowBeenz

 Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

You guys…..you guys you guys……you……guys. When I hear that music and I see those towers. You know the music that I’m talking about. Even though Harry isn’t here anymore that sense of wonder and magic still pulls you in. It still makes you want to watch WHATEVER they put out. Its great stuff, it really is. But this is about to give us a little glimpse into the world young Dumbledore, some of his humble beginnings. We get some returning faces along with some new ones. I personally can’t wait to see this and Nicholas Flamel. I mean….I feel we’re getting deep into some of the things we kind of just glossed over in the original series. I can’t wait. I’ll see this alone if need be because I’m always ready to dive back into the Wizarding World. I’d like a movie on the founders of Hogwarts to be honest, there has to be a story there. Right? RIGHT!!!! I just want more stories and more books and more all of it.

Koogler Scale of Watchability: Six MeowMeowBeenz

 The Walking Dead Season 9

So…..Rick is an old man now. Yes, there will be a time jump I suppose, and I still need to catch up because the last episode I saw was Carl getting bit and dying in a sewer. Do I care that much about that to stop watching the show? No. Will I catch up? Yes. Do I know what’s about to happen? Yes. Everyone seems to be living in harmony. The last of the Saviors, the bad ones at least seem to be gone. The Sanctuary, Kingdom, and the Hilltop, along with the trash people, seem to be living in harmony. But, there’s some cracks in the armor. The people seem to maybe not be getting along together. Some don’t want to be in a big group and others don’t want to play nice with each other. I mean, you had to expect that this would come, the Saviors did some messed up shig to everyone and forgiving them aint gonna be as easy as 1, 2, 3. This is also the fabled season of Rick and Maggie leaving I think. There is a shot of some boots walking with blood dripping down. I wager Rick is going to get but of course and die or whatever and Maggie or Michonne is taking over. And maybe the feud between Darryl and Rick is going to boil over. My man Dan Fogel looks like he’s going to play a part in this. Maybe he’s a Whisper. Who knows. But I will watch it, but I have to watch half a season, plus Preacher is on so I’m gonna fit this shignattle in here somewhere. I won’t lie, after the whole meeting with Negan where he first arrived, I gotta say my interest in TWD has waned from about 100 to a 90, maybe an 89. But I’m still fully on the wagon.

Koogler Scale of Watchability: Four MeowMeowBeenz

 Disenchantment

I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know if I dreamed this maybe, but didn’t they try this already with another Matt Groening show that didn’t work out. But I hear Abbi, I hear Keegan, not sure who the goblin person is, but I like all the stuff. Most of the stuff so I’ll watch and take a quick sneakle peekle and see if it keeps my interest.

Koogler Scale of Watchability: Two MeowMeowBeenz

 Titans

Yall. This one gon be zoppity. These are no longer Teen Titans. These are just straight up Titans as evidenced by the trailer giving the the large TV MA right in the beginning. With Raven being such a central part of the trailer, you already know who’s coming to dinner. That’s right, I know my boy Trigon is going to be making an appearance, how, when, and in what capacity, we don’t know. But, I’m anxious to see it. The core crew from the show is there, Robin, Star, Raven, and Beast Boy, but I’m guessing in this universe, Cyborg has been drafted to the JL and they are getting two new additions, Hawk and Dove, played by Thad Castle and ARods ol girl. The one thing I’m really anxious to see, just what the hell did Batman do to make Robin that….damn…mad. Because there is an episode here called Jason Todd, so this whole I’m kinda Jason Todd but I’m also Dick is gone. He’s got a real grudge against the Bat in this one with the standout line from the trailer

“Fuck Batman”

I mean, I’m in. Plus add in the fact that Jason Todd will be mentioned in the show, throw in the Doom Patrol, and Wonder Girl. I’m getting more of a Young Justice vibe (great comic by the way), from this than anything. With just a splash of adultness. I mean Robin really stepped on that guys face pretty friggin hard

Koogler Scale of Watchability: Five MeowMeowBeenz

 There were other trailers that I didn’t mention, Arrow, the Flash, the Orville, Black Lightning, Yeah, I’m not caught up on these either so I didn’t watch because I don’t know what happen with Flash and the Thinker. I don’t know what happened with the Arrow crew Diaz or Dominguez or whatever his name is. And I don’t know what happened with Black Lightning and Tobias Church. Hoping they didn’t kill him because I like him.

[thedunkirkgang]

The Gang. Chapter 1: The One That’s Not a First Date

A/N: Here it is folks! We started working on this idea about three weeks ago but wanted to make sure it was a fleshed out, well rounded story. Consequently we have spent the last three weeks writing and brainstorming ideas, we even had a ‘part two’ planned before we ever posted any writing. We are so excited to introduce you to our original characters, Addison and Ella. Each is loosely based on one of us and we love them dearly. Please let us know what you think!  Lex was the main writer on this chapter and Adrienne beta’d.

XX Lex ( @lexilulove ) & Adrienne ( @adriennelenoir )

Next Part    Masterlist

Word Count: 2,253

August, 2016. London

Addison sat at her table in the corner of her favorite coffee shop. It was a small local place equidistant between home and work. There was a pile of books sat next to her and she was nursing her third cup. Deeply engrossed in her writing, she hardly even registered the bell on the front door ring, signaling the entrance of another patron. Addy was currently paging through one of the books for that certain quote that would support the argument she was trying to make.

Aneurin walked in the first door he could find. No one had expected it to rain that day. He did not have an umbrella, nor was he appropriately dressed for the flash shower. The heavens dumped water with such enthusiasm that in less than a minute, he was soaked. As he looked around the interior of the building he had blindly entered, he found himself in the center of a quaint coffee shop. The small room was packed, many having sought shelter from the rain same as him. He placed an order at the counter and spied a young woman at a table in the corner. It was a one of the only tables with only one occupant, however the entire surface was covered. She had a laptop, a couple of notebooks and a large stack of books. He hated the thought of disturbing her, however, hers was the only table with enough seats unoccupied. Timidly he walked over to her, finding the confidence to ask if he might share the space.

“Excuse me miss…” A soft melodic voice pulled her out of her deep concentration. She glanced up to see a man standing before her. He was average height. Taller than her she reckoned, but at 5’2 it was hard not to be. He had dark curly hair that was drenched. In fact, as she took in his appearance, she saw that he was soaking wet from head to toe. She glanced out the window next to her surprised. When she came inside it had been a beautiful sunny day. She hadn’t even noticed it had started raining, but as she looked out into the street, it was pouring.

“Hi…” She said. A little confused by why this stranger was talking to her. Then she looked around the shop. The surprise rain storm had pushed people in off the street and there were no more tables left.

“Would you mind if I share your table? Just until the rain lets up” The man asked. She was intrigued by his accent.  He was definitely from the British Isles, but she couldn’t quite place the specific part of the country.

“No not at all,” she responded “Here, just let me move some of these books.” She reached across the table and slid the large stack into the chair next to her. American, eh? Aneurin could hear it in her accent.

Aneurin thanked her and sat down pulling a book out of his bag and sipping from his steaming cup. Addison quickly reverted back into her state of deep concentration, not registering the goings on around her. This also means she didn’t notice the way the man opposite her kept looking up from his book to study her. At first it was just quick glances. But after a few minutes he abandoned his book all together in favor of watching her. She had her hair tied up in a large, hastily thrown up top knot, it was brown, a deep chocolate color. And her skin was soft and pale, her lips a dark pink. She almost reminded him of Snow White. He couldn’t put his finger on why, but something about watching her was enthralling. The way she bit her lip in thought. The way she furrowed her brow while paging through the books piled up beside her. At one point, she stopped typing for an extended period. She sat quietly staring at her laptop screen, she almost looked like she was disappointed in her computer. Then all of the sudden she gasped, her eyes lighting up and her fingers resuming their typing with renewed fervor. At that, Aneurin had to bite back a laugh. He decided he needed to talk to her.

“Excuse me, but can I ask what your working on?” She looked up at him a little startled. “Um… sure. It’s just a proposal for my dissertation.” She said it like it was not a big deal. Like it was an everyday occurrence for her. But, Aneurin supposed, that if she was sitting here writing a dissertation, then it was indeed an everyday occurrence in her life.

“Dissertation?” Aneurin responded, hoping his tone conveyed how impressed he felt.

“Yeah, I’m about to begin working on my PhD in art history at a university here in London.” she responded casually. Again, Aneurin felt like she wasn’t giving herself enough credit. Getting your PhD was a truly impressive accomplishment.

“What is your proposal about?” Aneurin questioned further. “I’m Aneurin by the way. Aneurin Barnard” He added, and as an afterthought “Most of my friends call me Ni.”

She finally glanced up from her work, truly looking at him for the first time.

“Addison Meyers. Most people call me Addy.” She smiled at the parallel. “Are you sure you want to hear? If I get started, I’m might not stop. Its a bad habit I have” She smirked slightly to herself, remembering those times her roommate, Ella, would make comments like “Oh here she goes again” any time Addison would start talking about her work.

“Well, seeing as it doesn’t look like this rain will let up any time soon, I’ve got more than enough time.” At this point Aneurin was ready to beg her to talk to him. He didn’t know why, but he just wanted to hear her voice.

Addison considered him for a moment. She was slightly taken aback by the intensity with which he looked at her.  She had just assumed he was questioning her to be polite, but looking at him now, she thought he might truly be interested.

She sighed, hitting save on her laptop and closing the lid. “Alright man” she chuckled, “you asked for it. So, I’m a modernist specializing in 19th century Europe. France specifically. Do you know what Haussmannization is?” She paused to allow him to answer. Ni shook his head. “Well basically in the mid 19th century a guy named Georges Haussmann completely renovated the city of Paris. Paris as we see it today has only looked that way for 150 years, give or take. And then in the midst of the renovation….”

Ni did his best to pay attention to what she was saying. Mentally taking down questions to ask later. She was currently saying something about the psychological side effects of Haussmannization and how the Impressionist painters of the time depicted the changes in the city. If he was being completely honest, he didn’t quite understand most of what she was saying. He just knew that watching her talk was even better than watching her work.  The longer she talked, the more animated she became. Her speech became faster, her hands started gesturing, seemingly of their own accord. It was like she was so excited to be sharing this information that she no longer had control over her extremities. And her eyes. Her beautiful hazel eyes sparkled. Every once in awhile she would laugh at herself and her eyes would adorably scrunch up, the sound leaving her mouth pure joy. In the midst of her speech her hands reached up and pulled at the band keeping her hair in place. Aneurin watched as what must be nearly two feet of hair fell from atop her head and fanned over her. From where he was sitting he could tell it reached all the way down to her lower back. He wanted to touch it. It looked so thick, it had a beautiful shine and a gentle wave. It looked so soft! Stop it Ni! You don’t even know this girl, you can’t touch her!! Now pay attention! He berated himself.

Before he knew it, her tone signaled the end to her speech. “So that’s basically it.” She paused, gauging his reaction. “And you are probably regretting asking me about it. That’s five minutes of your life that you are never gonna get back.”

“No, no, no,” Ni immediately hated the way she put herself down like that. She was captivating, and she needed to know that, he needed to tell her that. “That was incredible. I’ve never met anyone who was so passionate about their work. Or at least work like this. How do you remember all of that information? It’s incredible!!” He was trying to control his outburst, not wanting to scare her off.

His compliments were causing her to retreat into herself, she never knew how to respond when people showered her with praise. “Well thank you. I don’t know how I remember it all. But I have dedicated nearly a decade of my life to the subject so…” She let her sentence hang, hoping he would let up on the compliments.

Ni could tell that she was trying to end the conversation. He wanted to keep her talking, he needed to get to know her more. “Well Addy, clearly you are not from around here. What brought you across the pond?”

She laughed at his phrasing. She sat quiet for a minute, studying him. Half of her brain was telling her to be careful. She didn’t know this man. He was a total stranger, she should be careful not to give away too much information. But the other half? The other half was telling her about the undeniable connection she felt with him, and reassuring her that the look on his face portrayed his intentions to be innocent and genuine. The later half was screaming louder and eventually won out.

She started telling him about her childhood best friend Ella. The two had always dreamed of moving to London together. After they finished their undergraduate degrees, Ella started working at the English Embassy in the US and Addy had gotten her Masters degree in Art History. After finishing her Masters, Addy was looking at PhD programs in London. She started seriously considering applying, and in turn encouraged Ella to see if there were any jobs she could work in London.

“And it was just like the stars aligned. Ella’s transfer to the London office got approved, and I got accepted to the PhD program. So we took the big leap and made the move. We’ve been here for about two and a half months. She started her job right away and is crushing it! I’ve spent the summer preparing for my TA position. I’m going to teach while working on my PhD so I’ve been writing syllabi all summer.”

Ni was about to ask her what courses she was teaching when Addy’s phone dinged. She glanced down at it and mumbled a quiet “oh crap”. She looked up saying “Sorry I have to go, Ella and I planned a girl’s night and I’m late.”

She started hurriedly packing up her stuff when she paused. “I feel so guilty, I spent this entire time talking about myself. I know nothing about you”

Inside, Aneurin was practically dancing with joy. The fact that she felt bad about monopolizing the conversation hopefully meant that she was at least slightly interested in him. Outwardly, he kept it cool. He decided to take a risk. “Don’t feel bad about it. We can just talk about me on our second date”

She stopped dead in her tracks. “Second?…” She look confused.

Ni sent her the cheekiest grin he could muster. “Oh come on, corner table of a quiet coffee shop, romantic rainy day. This was definitely a date.” He winked at her, hoping that would convey his joking, yet serious intention.

She was quiet for a second, and then with a coy smile she exclaimed “Nu-uh!! This does not count, that’s not fair!! It can’t be a first date unless both parties agree that it is a date in advance of the meeting. You can’t just spring that on a girl!!”

“So does that mean if I asked you on a date, you would say yes?” Ni asked hopefully.

He adored the slight blush that crept up on her face. “It might. But I haven’t decided for sure yet.” She responded.

“Well can I have your number? I can’t ask you out if I have no way to contact you.” She took his phone and input her number, texting herself so she could get his as well.

She finished packing up her stuff and stood. Aneurin straightened up with her, realizing for the first time just how many inches he had on her. She stuck her hand out, “Well Ni, it has been a pleasure” she said smiling. “Yes Addy, it has” He took her hand, knowing she expected a platonic hand shake, and instead, turned it, bending down to place a chaste kiss on the back of her hand.

Slightly flustered, Addy withdrew her hand and muttered a quick ‘bye’. She walked out of the coffeeshop leaving Ni behind her grinning like a fool. He knew she would definitely say yes.

Addy meanwhile waited until she was just out of sight of the shop, and then began sprinting home. She could not wait to tell Ella all about the charming boy she had just met.

A/N: For the first couple chapters we will tag a bunch of our friends and followers so y’all see that we’ve updated. Once we figure out what our posting schedule will be like, we will let you know!

@deathbylowden @outofworkactress @albionscastle@ontheoddoccasioniwritestuff @scottishlowden @prettyboytgc@takemedancingmaine @disneydirectioner @platinumshawnn @lowdenfordays @from-the-clouds@sweetsugarhoneyfics @carneylowdenwhitehead @glynnecarney@dailyjacklowden @lowdenglynnstyles @lowdengcarney@livebreathelowden @jackrostov @fionnstracksuit @aneurinaestheticism @walkmeblowbyblow

[parrilla-my-swanqueen]

DanversSistersWeek - Day 5 - Badass Sisters

It had only been a few days since Kara had rescued Maggie from Lillian and Lex Luther, she still hadn't had the heart to tell Lena, she was avoiding Lena like the plague. Kara stayed in the DEO hospital making sure that both Alex and Maggie were okay, they kept Alex there too to save her from sneaking out of her apartment to go see Maggie.

 Kara was sitting on Alex's bed, whilst Alex was cuddled up to Maggie. "Danvers?" Maggie stirred "Hey babe... You're okay...you're okay." Alex smiled stroking back the hair from her girlfriend's face "Did she-" "Yeah Kara saved you, she banned me from coming after you because I was hurt." "Good." Maggie replied "I would have been so pissed if you had come after me when you should be healing." "See!" Kara sassed from the other bed.

 "Knock knock." Kara looked up and Lena was at the door "Hey Maggie, Alex... you doing alright?" Lena asked with that sexy Irish accent, where anything she said just sounded so beautiful. "Yeah we're good thank you Lena." Alex smiled.

 "Lena I..." "Kara can I have a word with you in private." "Sure." Kara jumped up off the bed and followed Lena outside. Lena turned to Kara in the pouring rain "What's going on?" Kara shifted her glasses on her face "I...I...I..." "Kara don't do that, you've been avoiding me ever since Maggie was taken, now she's safe, what is it?" Kara saw that Lena was worrying more than usual "Okay...look yes, I have been avoiding you but only because I was scared to tell you." "Scared to tell me what? I am not leaving here until you explain." Lena stated as she folded her arms in an annoyed poise "Lena, it was your mother who took Maggie-" "No surprise there... but why would that make you fearful of telling me? I know what she's like-" "No Lena listen. That's not all." Kara took a deep breath before she continued.

 "It's Lex." Lena laughed at Kara's statement "As in my insane, evil, twisted dead brother Lex?" "Thing is he's...not...actually...dead." "I'm sorry what?" "Lex is alive and he helped your Mother to kidnap and hurt Maggie." Lena all but collapsed to the floor, not quite passing out but close to it. "Now  I understand why you've been avoiding me..." "Lena no." Kara knelt down next to the brunette "I was avoiding telling you the truth...I didn't want to be the one to hurt you." Lena looked at Kara with a slight frown "But you didn't hurt me, My mother and Lex did."

 And not two minutes later there was cause for alarm, Lillian and Lex had decided to break into the DEO "Lena stay here, Alex!" Kara rushed in to where Alex and Maggie where laying "Maggie stay where you are. Come on Alex you're better. Want to help me kick Lillian and Lex Luther's ass?!" "Hell yes!" Alex jumped at the chance, before she left she kissed Maggie's soft lips "Love you babe." "Go on you Danvers's sisters, go and be the badass sisters I know that you are!" Maggie smiled.

 Kara flew out the room followed by a very fast running Alex. "Lillian." Alex called out "Not very smart to break into the DEO now was it?" Alex had her gun pointed at Lillian Luther "Oh Alex. I will be getting my daughter back." Lillian replied with a smug look "Over my dead body." Kara shouted as she hovered in the air "That will be my pleasure." Lillian grinned

 Alex started shooting at Lillian who had something shielding her from the bullets, Kara flew down knocking Lena's mother on to the ground, Kara got on top of her holding her by her collar and punching her a few times. "You're not going to hurt her ever again Lillian. Ever! Do you understand me?" Kara screamed throwing a blooded up Lillian to J'onn. "Put her in a cell or I will kill her if I look at her for another second."

 Kara turned around to see Alex beating the absolute crap out of Lex, she was going to kill him if someone didn't stop her. Alex hit him again "If you touch my girlfriend again I will bury you! You may be a Luther but I am a fucking Danvers." and Lex received another four punches from the eldest Danvers sister before Kara flew in and plied her sister from Lex, which even with all her super girl strength it took every ounce of her strength to remove Alex "No, SuperGirl! Let me at him! He hurt Maggie I am going to kill him!" Alex screamed. Kara had never seen her sister so angry "Alex, listen to me you have to let him go, he will pay for what he did but if you kill him, you will be locked up. Maggie can't loose you, I can't lose you... ALEX!"

  Just those words made Alex stop and see sense. Alex got off Lex and turned to Kara "Get him out of my sight or I will kill him." J'onn came back through just in time and escorted Mr. Luther away to a cell right next to his Mother.

 Alex fell into a hug with Kara "Thank you." Alex whispered "For what? As Maggie told you, we are the badass Danvers sisters, we kick ass." Kara removed herself from the hug and continued "If I were you, I'd of done the same thing, although I would have killed him in two hits. You're my sister I love you." "I love you too Kara." Kara and Alex walked back to their girlfriends.

 "Oh my god! Lena!" Kara rushed to her passed out girlfriend "LENA! LENA!" "Kara bring her in here." Alex told her sister and Kara scooped up her girlfriend laying her on the bed next to Maggie. "Lena? Come on babe, don't die!" "Kara don't be so dramatic... she's just passed out, give her a few minutes and she'll come round." Alex smiled before walking over to her own girlfrined.

 "You kicked ass danvers?" Maggie asked with a knowing smile "Kicked ass? Maggie she almost throttled Lex so hard she almost killed him." Kara said with a slight grin "Good." Maggie replied "But I'm glad you didn't kill him, otherwise I'd have to arrest you." Alex smiled "You can still use the handcuffs later, I won't say no." Maggie pulled Alex in for a long kiss, "I really didn't want to hear about your sex life Alex. But thank you so much for that image." Kara squirmed.

 "Don't act so innocent." Lena smiled as she started waking up, making Kara go bright red. "Lena You're okay... Oh god you're okay!" Kara swung her arms round her girlfriend squeezing her tight "I love you Lena Luther..." and in that gorgeous accent Lena replied "And I love you Kara Danvers... my very own super girl." The Danvers sisters kicked ass, and everyone was safe and alive and that's all that mattered.

[aion-rsa]

The Many Deaths of the Joker

https://ift.tt/2IxLjBw

There have been many stories to kill off the Clown Prince of Crime, but Batman's greatest enemy isn't so easy to get rid of for good.

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In fictional worlds where heroes and villains who can shrug off bullets like they were nothing, there exists “plot armor” for the more ordinary folks. Plot armor is the reason why the Punisher can mosey through a room with an uzi in each hand and somehow kill every single enemy while somehow never getting shot in any vital area. It’s why Stormtroopers have the worst aim and why the red-shirted Enterprise dudes have all the bad luck.

I’m having a hard time coming up with someone with stronger plot armor in comic books than the Joker. Hell, even Frank Castle died at least twice in continuity. The Joker should be dead a million times over, not just due to his injuries, but because with all the lives he’s taken, surely somebody would have murdered him by now. But again, not only does he take vicious beatings, if he isn’t apprehended at the end of a story, he usually falls off a cliff or is at the heart of an explosion or gets hit by a truck.

Then he’s back the next time, no worse for the wear.

While the comics won’t ever truly get rid of him, there are many continuities that have done away with Mr. J. Yet even then, the Joker is never really gone. He tends to haunt and taunt Batman in one way or another via his violent legacy. For someone with such an ill-defined identity, he sure is resilient.

So here's a look at all the times the Joker has died (or apparently died) in comics and on the screen.

Main Comics Continuity

Joker dying in main comics canon is an iffy subject. There have been times when he's been clinically dead, only to be brought back minutes later. Like the time Nightwing beat him within an inch of his life. He's even taken a couple of dips in the Lazarus Pit.

read more: Every DC Comics and Batman Easter Egg in the Joker Movie

But here, let's focus on Joker's second comics appearance. In Detective Comics #64, Joker decides to turn himself in and confess to every one of his crimes. The confused judge sentences him to death. Joker is put in the electric chair and acts like he's got stuff to do so wrap it up, B! Minutes after his death, his goons sneak in, find his body, and inject it with some special kind of serum that awakens the very recently deceased.

Joker pops back up and continues his life of crime. His reasoning? They can't charge him for the stuff he already did! That's double jeopardy!

Tim Burton's Batman

Jack Nicholson’s Joker completely ate it at the end of Tim Burton’s Batman. He fell from a great height while dragged down by a gargoyle. We saw the body. Dude was absolutely dead.

And he stayed that way! After that first movie, the most mention Joker got in that universe was a brief allusion in Batman Forever when Batman told Robin that revenge leads to emptiness.

We almost got a bit more of him, though! Before Batman and Robin ruined the concept of fun and killed that franchise, Joel Schumacher was originally going to do a fifth movie in that universe. Batman Triumphant would have revolved around Scarecrow and Harley Quinn as the new villains. Scarecrow means fear gas and that would have meant Batman getting a hallucination sequence.

What would Batman fear the most? Probably the skin-dyed dirtbag that killed his parents. And so, had the movie existed, we would have had a scene of Jack Nicholson's Joker confronting Batman during a psychological breakdown.

The movie would have been a dumpster fire, but...man, part of me is bummed we never got it.

Similarly, an unused Superman vs. Batman script from the early '00s would have included a plot point where Lex Luthor cloned the Joker to bring him back as part of a scheme to traumatize Bruce Wayne out of retirement and trick him into fighting Superman. Probably the most sensible reason to connect Lex and Joker.

Batman for the NES

Sunsoft made Batman: The Video Game for NES and the story was the general plot of the movie, only with lots and lots of ninjas and robots added because Batman needs something to fight. The ending is roughly the same, though Batman is a bit more cold-blooded. He beats the Joker down, tells him, “You killed my parents,” and then tosses him to his doom. We see Joker’s lifeless corpse and roll credits.

read more: Joker Movie Review

Then a year later, they released Batman: Return of the Joker. The Joker returns with some scheme involving stealing explosive metals and...he’s back. He’s alive again. Somehow. Neither the game nor the manual have any explanation. Just go with it.

Upon further review, both the Genesis and arcade adaptations of the movie make it vague whether or not falling from the top of a cathedral is enough to take out the Joker, so maybe Jack Nicholson's Joker is more resilient than anyone ever realized.

The Dark Knight Strikes Again

Dark Knight Returns features one of the most chilling incarnations of the Joker, who comes out of a catatonic state the moment he finds out Batman is back on the streets. Joker’s killing spree goes farther than the 1980s comic-reading public was used to and Batman ALMOST has it in him to kill the Joker for good. Since killing Joker is neither a horseshoe nor a hand grenade, Joker finishes the job by snapping his own neck and making it look like Batman’s finally gone over the line, thereby making him a prime target of the authorities.

Enduring one massive beating and a fake death (which people regard as “totally beat Superman in a fight” for some reason) later, Batman is fine.

Many years later, Frank Miller made his sequel Dark Knight Strikes Again, otherwise known as, “that mess.” In a story that focuses on Lex Luthor and Brainiac while including lots of DC heroes and Hal Jordan’s dinosaur space penis, the Joker appears a couple of times as a looming threat. He kills the Creeper, Guardian, and even Martian Manhunter while bringing up the mystery of who he could possibly be.

read more: The Secrets of the Joker Movie

Joker II shows up at the end of the comic as a kind of final boss showdown. He is, in fact, Dick Grayson, whose only mention in the original story was not being on speaking terms with Bruce. As the story goes, Batman fired him for being an incompetent whiner once upon a time and rather than celebrate being free of the lunatic that is Miller Batman, Dick instead went a bit mad and allowed Luthor and Brainiac to give him shape-shifting/quick-healing powers.

Even though he’s capable of surviving decapitations and the like, Joker II is eventually done in by getting knocked into some lava. Can’t heal if there’s nothing left of you.

Justice League: The Nail

Back in the late-90s, Alan Davis and Mark Farmer put together a three-issue Elseworlds story called The Nail. This “what if” tale shows how the DC Universe would have formed had Superman’s rocket not been discovered by the Kents. Without Superman as a symbol, metahumans aren’t exactly looked upon with love and astonishment. It’s more of an X-Men deal where the public’s mood is, “Thanks for saving the world...I guess.”

As part of the comic’s big villain conspiracy (and I won’t spoil who’s behind everything), the Joker is armed with a pair of gauntlets made from Kryptonian tech. They make him virtually unstoppable and he proceeds to liberate Arkham Asylum and then make the Bat-villains fight each other to the death for his amusement. Batman, Robin, and Batgirl appear and Alan Davis finally answers the question, “What would it take for Batman to murder the Joker?”

The answer: have the Joker use his telekinetic gauntlets to slowly and painfully tear Robin and Batgirl to pieces while forcing Batman to watch. Jesus. Yeah. That’ll do it.

With some assistance from Catwoman, Batman’s able to free himself, damage the gauntlets and snap Joker’s neck. While the public display and selective context makes the Justice League look bad, nobody takes the incident harder than Batman himself. Both the graphic deaths of his sidekicks and the realization that he murdered a man sends him to the brink of sanity. It’s the comfort of Catwoman, who becomes Batwoman, that keeps him from falling apart.

read more: The Actors Who Have Played the Joker

Regardless, once the story is over, Batman gives himself up to the police. He’s acquitted of murder charges, but chooses to leave the Justice League.

Several years later, we get Another Nail, which basically exists to give upbeat closure to a story that had a bunch of downers. Batman continues to fight crime in Gotham, but he starts hearing the Joker’s laughter. Due to the convoluted plot of the miniseries, things are screwy with the afterlife and the Joker is able to escape Hell.

Threatening to kill Batwoman, Joker – who has Carnage-like powers – fights Batman. Batman attempts to sacrifice himself by tackling Joker back to Hell, but the spririts of Robin and Batgirl rescue him. Batman finally decides to get on with his life and rejoin the Justice League.

Kingdom Come

The Joker’s death in Kingdom Come is a major turning point for society. After Joker murders Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and a lot of other people at the Daily Planet, he’s apprehended by the police. We’ll never know how Superman would have instinctively dealt with his loss since new superhero hotness and Cable pastiche Magog stops by to vaporize the handcuffed Joker.

Magog is put on trial, everyone and their mother is pretty okay with the Joker being murdered in any way, and Superman leaves in a huff. This causes a new dawn of “superheroism” where it’s less about heroism and more about people in cool costumes getting into fights with no care for anything but themselves. You know, kind of like a Zack Snyder movie.

While the Joker doesn’t come back from the dead, he does inspire one troublemaker to become the new Joker’s Daughter (otherwise known as Harlequin). Although we never get much on her, as she’s mostly a recurring background character, she represents the chaotic world where the mighty can do what they want while the weak are left deal with the consequences.

read more: How Joaquin Phoenix Became the Joker

It does remind me that one of the most clever moments in the whole comic is when Batman betrays Lex Luthor and admits to only joining up with him in the first place in order to see what Shazam’s deal was. As he puts it, Shazam is a wild card and if there’s anything Batman hates, it’s a wild card.

Love that.

Batman Beyond

Batman: The Animated Series is arguably better than sliced bread and its dark future Batman Beyond wasn’t bad either. Despite taking place years in the future, the writers were stingy on the details of what became of a lot of the old guard. While we got to see what became of Mr. Freeze and Bane, bigger deal characters like Robin and Joker were glazed over.

At most, during the show’s run, we saw that the Joker was replaced with an ever-changing circus-themed gang called the Jokerz. That was cool and all and fits into the nature of this list, but Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker went even further.

read more: The Best Episodes of Batman Beyond

In the dying days of the Animated Series era, the Joker kidnapped and tortured Tim Drake Robin. He warped the poor boy, made him squeal about Batman’s secret identity, and then transformed him into a giggling child version of the Joker. Depending on which version you watch, Tim would get his revenge by either shooting Joker in the chest or electrocuting him to death.

In the Beyond era, the Joker appears yet again, making the futuristic Batman Terry McGuiness question the many ways that’s possible. In the end, the Joker turns out to be Tim Drake, unknowingly taken over by a secret implant that transforms him into having the Joker’s DNA and personality. Terry is able to put an end to this Joker by frying the implant with an electric joy buzzer.

Batman: Digital Justice

Speaking of the future, there’s this Elseworlds taking place towards the end of the 21st century. While the Joker presumably died of old age, considering Batman retired, he lives on in the form of a sentient computer virus and...

For God's sake, look at that thing. Actually, better idea, let’s not. Just...next entry.

Batman: Red Rain

Throughout the '90s, Doug Moench and Kelley Jones did a trilogy of Elseworlds stories based on the very simple high concept of Batman being a literal "bat man." In the story Red Rain, Batman gets bitten by a vampire and fights Dracula. It’s pretty rad. Batman wins and Dracula’s dead for good.

A couple of years later, they did a sequel called Bloodstorm, which is based on the very human Joker leading Dracula’s horde for the sake of taking over the criminal underworld. Vampire Batman teams up with Selina Kyle, who also goes literal by being a werecat. Selena’s love is the only thing keeping Batman from going all-you-can-eat-buffet, so once Joker kills her with a crossbow, Batman has nothing left to keep him in check. Although part of him tries to fight it, he still powers through multiple crosses and holy water to snap Joker’s neck and feed on his blood.

Being that Batman is the smartest dude, he knows to shove a stake through Joker’s heart just in case...because Vampire Joker is the last thing we need.

It’s moot, since not only has Batman killed his rival, but he’s given into his vampire instincts. He has his buds Alfred and Commissioner Gordon stake him to prevent any further benders.

read more: Creating a New Joker Origin Story

Those two, unfortunately, never got around to removing his head, so despite being rendered immobile, Batman is still kicking. A few months later, Alfred removes the stake because Alfred is dumb as hell in this world. Not only does Batman have a taste for blood while being driven insane from months of his body rotting, but it’s implied a few times that ingesting Joker’s specific blood makes him even more out-of-control.

Yeah, things do NOT end well for any named character in that final chapter.

Batman 666

During Grant Morrison’s lengthy run on Batman’s comics, he wrote a one-off story in Batman #666 that depicts Damian Wayne as a more ruthless Batman in the future who may or may not have sold his soul to the actual devil. There are two alternate follow-ups to this story. One of which has Damian adopt and raise Terry McGinnis, leading to a take on the Batman Beyond era.

Then there’s a path where everything goes wrong. The Joker has died and while we don’t know the details, we do know that the madman had his own failsafe. In his death, he releases a virus that transforms its victims into Joker-like monsters, like a clown version of 28 Days Later.

Damian Batman finds a baby who appears to be immune to the virus, but his attempts to use the child to create a cure leads to disaster when he discovers that the baby is merely a carrier. Overwhelmed by infected clown people, Damian watches in horror as Gotham is nuked to contain the outbreak.

I think I like the first future better.

The Arkham Games

In the Rocksteady Arkham trilogy, Joker suffers from injecting himself with Titan, an upgraded version of the Venom drug that gives Bane his strength. In the aftermath, he’s dying, so he figures he’ll inject his own poisoned blood into Batman’s veins to push Batman into finding a cure. I’m guessing Joker saw that episode of South Park where Cartman had AIDS and had a moment of inspiration.

Though Batman cures himself, Joker shivs him. Either because he thinks Batman’s going to leave him to die or because shivving seemed like a good idea at the moment. That makes Batman drop the antidote and Joker succumbs to illness and dies, laughing at Batman’s claim that he was totally about to give him the antidote after all.

Then in Arkham Knight, we discover that having Joker blood in your system plus breathing in Scarecrow’s fear toxin transforms you into superhero Fight Club. Joker appears in visions while Batman (and some other soon-to-be-dead saps who also have Joker blood) gradually becomes Joker-like in behavior and appearance.

Batman ultimately wins out by turning the two infections against each other and confronting Joker with his own fear: being dead and forgotten. Batman goes back to normal and gets back to his mission of handing Scarecrow a knuckle sandwich.

Gotham

Batman prequel Gotham features Jerome Valeska, as played by Cameron Monaghan. Jerome is what I’d call the How I Met Your Mother of Jokers. He’s the Joker, but not really. The narrative plays up that he's either the actual Joker, he'll somehow create the Joker, or he's just thematically the Joker.

For all intents and purposes, he’s the Joker. Until he isn't. And then it's revealed that actually his twin brother is the Joker. Don't ask. Gotham is bonkers.

The charismatic psychopath and showman is killed off early in the second season during an attempt on the life of the adolescent Bruce Wayne. He gets stabbed in the neck by Theo Galavan in an act of betrayal, but dies with blood covering his lips as he smiles. Various people watch footage of Jerome on TV and go into giggling fits, including two guys who laughingly murder a homeless person, then turn on each other.

read more: Joker Movie Ending Explained

With that not being enough for viewers, they then go and bring Jerome back to life via televised comic book science. He eventually dies for reals by falling off a building while cackling, but sends his brother Jeremiah a jack-in-the-box booby trap that infects him with a venom that turns his skin white, hair green, and makes him gradually go crazy. Sure enough, Jeremiah goes on to commit crimes as "Mr. J."

Coincidentally, Jerome’s father, a fortune teller, claimed that Jerome would leave behind a legacy of death and madness. Sounds about right.

Injustice: Gods Among Us

The Injustice: Gods Among Us storyline is the aftermath of the Joker growing bored of messing with Batman and moving on to Superman. Using some kryptonite-laced fear gas, Joker gets Superman to hallucinate that a pregnant Lois Lane is Doomsday. Lois’ heart is linked to a detonator that nukes Metropolis upon her thrown-into-space death.

This especially puts Superman in a bad mood to the point that he appears before the captured Joker and impales him with his fist. Over the next five years, Superman doubles down on his decision and ultimately transforms into a frustrated dictator.

read more - The Many Deaths of Injustice: Gods Among Us

Over the years, as Superman’s hold on the world becomes more frightening, Jason Bard starts up a protest group invoking the Joker’s image. Superman doesn’t take this well and fries a whole lot of them in a fit of anger. Even then, the Joker Clan grows to become an anarchist underground counter to Superman’s regime. Even though Harley Quinn has grown to despise the Joker and what he stood for, she chooses to become the leader.

Then a handful of superheroes from the regular DC Universe are brought in via portal. Inadvertently, Joker is one of them. He quickly takes over the Joker Clan and wins over the heart of Harley, undoing years of personal progress on her part. Eventually, that world’s Lex Luthor helps Harley break the spell and she not only beats the shit out of that Joker until he begs his world’s Batman to take him home, but her more loyal Joker Clan members rebranded themselves as the Harley Horde.

Injustice 2 has Joker as a playable character and the various intro dialogues come up with different options of what his deal might be. In terms of the game's canon story, he's nothing more than a fear illusion that Harley has to fight through.

The Batman Who Laughs

Then there's the most literal take on a Joker death that affects Batman. In this world, after Joker infects some kids with a Joker virus, Batman seems to have enough and snaps his neck. Then again, Batman insists that Joker died due to the chemicals in his system finally catching up with him.

read more: The Inside Story of The Batman Who Laughs

It's discovered that the Joker has a chemical curse that comes with his death. An airborne virus that infects whoever is nearest to him when he dies. That means that Batman transforms into a white-skinned, cackling maniac. Known as The Batman Who Laughs, he kills his allies, turns Damian into a Joker Jr., and goes on a worldwide killing spree that eventually sets its sights on the main DC Universe. As it turns out, the only way to defeat a Batman/Joker hybrid is to have Batman and the Joker work together.

Gavin Jasper writes for Den of Geek and appreciates that Flashpoint Batman killed the Joker a couple hours before the world exploded. That’ll get you the last laugh. Read more of his articles here and follow him on Twitter @Gavin4L

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Gavin Jasper

Oct 7, 2019

Joker

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from Books https://ift.tt/2VlyBe5

[depressiveuglypanda]

My first SuperCorp fic, what do you think?

Well, she was fucked Lena Luthor was so doomed that she couldn't even think how deeply fucked she really was. She was a real Luthor after all, but what changed? Her mother still treated her like an unwanted brat someone who doesn't deserve being alive. Her father who used to treat her better lied to her and thought he would die with his secrets, sorry dad but mom is a bitch and decided to use your mistake to deceive me and for a period shorter than a day made me believe she really loved me. Lex, her beloved brother, the one who used to treat her with kindness and love or at least made her feel less unwanted, went insane and tried, is still trying, to kill her. Luthor's life was a though one, she figured it a long time ago. Once a reporter asked her which place she would feel like home: prison or sanatorium? She just glared at the reporter, god dammit, how many times she had to prove she was good? She was not an angel nor saint, of course not, the detect device was there to prove it. She was so focused in protecting the human specie that she totally forgot that she was becoming too much overprotective which could lead to something worst, how many times important leaders used the term " protection" like an excuse to attack whoever they wanted? Or they really believed the better defense was the attack. She didn't want to become like them, she didn't want to be the Luthor everybody was expecting her to be. Still she was afraid, terrified even, what if she was like them after all? She was similar to her family in so many aspects, she was smart, probably a genius, sarcastic as fuck but also adamant towards her aims, very dedicated to her beliefs and, of course, she could repress emotions easily, her presence would cause others chills, a mix of jealous and admiration. She liked these parts, actually she was proud of being a Luthor, but the Luthors that Lex used to describe when they were younger, how their influence was worldwide, how many people lives they could change and change for better. Lena wanted that, to be that, someone who would help people and make their lives better, that's why she studied while her colleagues were partying, how many "friends" she lost because she wanted to know more about the universe of the quantum physics. Lena sat on her couch and sighed, she mustn't let herself fall in misery like that. She was resilient, she had to be, otherwise she would be dead soon. She still wanted to be the Luthor Lex told her, she would die trying if that's the case, but people didn't give her the chance to try. She heard her phone buzzing inside her purse, she was afraid it her mother, no, not her mother, Lillian Luthor was never her mother, the real one was dead and she wanted to believe she was a good and sane person, because she must have inherit it from someone and Lionel didn't seem to be the one who gave her those qualities .Or maybe she didn't inherit anything good and it was a matter of time until she get crazy and start killing everybody to save them from death? Damn, Lilian and Lex's logic was so weird. How killing stops the end of human race? Anyway, the phone. She grabbed it and was glad to see that the message was not a tread to her life, it was from Kara, her only friend in this city. She smiled, always did when Kara sent her messages late at night, but recently that was causing her a hard squeeze over her heart. Kara: how are you today? Busy one? Did you have lunch properly? There were too many emojis of hearts and smiling faces for Lena's taste. Lena: I am fine and yes mommy, I had lunch. But tell me more about Miss Danvers daily adventures. Kara: Nothing out of ordinary Yeah Kara, kicking aliens and stopping bank robberies is so normal. What? Of course Lena knew that Kara was Supergirl, it wasn't that hard and she interact with both of them enough time to notice the similarities. Kara: Oh, right! Mike and I will have dinner today! We are finally getting along again. Thank you so much for listening to me and giving me marvelous advices about the situation I--- Lena stopped reading the message, suddenly she felt the urge to go to the bathroom and vomit. Lena: Glad I could help. I am really tired so good night. She wanted to scream at the blonde and put some reason inside that kryptonian head! Her advices were all about healthy relationships, she wasn't encouraging Kara to get back to that imbecile! Lena left her phone fall from her hand and went directly to her bedroom leaving the device behind, she turned on the radio on the max vol. fuck dinner, fuck shower, fuck taking off make-up, she was tired and she just wanted to sleep so this hell of day would end faster. She took off her clothes and jumped on her bed, burying herself under the covers. Well,fuck Kara Danvers too! But before Lena could stop giving a fuck to Kara, she remembered the message and how the blonde was happy about being with the douche and in the end that's what matters: Kara's happiness. Her furrowed brows faded and a sad smile took the place of ranged teeth. What? Lena was a true lesbian, and a true one always find a straight beautiful best friend to break her heart multiple times. Although Lena thought she had already passed this phase, damn, she was almost a dusky dyke, too old for this kind of shit. Lena looked at the ceiling of her room and couldn't repress a small desire that burned inside her chest, what if she was her girlfriend? She would treat Kara so differently of the way that jerk was doing. The hero deserved so much better than that, even Lena with all her power and influence couldn't give what Kara really deserved. Still she was doing the best she could, even as a friend. Don't get her wrong, she loved the fact Kara cared about her in a friendly way, she was an incredible one but Lena fucked-up Luthor fell in love for her. Damn, another sigh. Lena ignored the pain over her heart and decided to chose some rock music with unhappy lyrics to match her mood, because why not? She closed her eyes and put the left arm over them. Maybe she should pay a visit to her therapist again, would he tell her to take some anti depressive pills? Some tears escaped while she sang some parts of the music, what? She had the right to be dramatic, at least alone inside her apartment while no one was there to judge her. At least she thought so. She felt someone touch her left arm and by reflex her right hand punched the face of the intruder. She wasn't going to die like that, not today, son of-- Pain, was all she felt, shit!! Lena was about to retreat her hand but... "Oh my Rao" Supergirl grabbed Lena's hand before and caressed it " I am so sorry! Are you hurt? I should have turn off the music or turned on the light or just maybe I shouldn't have came here at all? But Kara Danvers called me and she was desperate because you didn't answer her calls and your mother is still out and I got so nervous...I mean, because Kara was so nervous, I got nervous and--" Supergirl's eyes wide when she noticed the wet eyes and smuggled make-up "...Lena" she whispered and rose her unnoccupied hand until it cup one of Lena's cheeks " what happened? " It took the CEO a full minute to process what was happening. She punched the hero in the face and she was rambling, then she was touching her so softly and talking so smoothly, baby blue eyes were searching answers beyond features and tears, Lena felt like her mind, heart and soul were being scanned profoundly. Finally, when air returned to her lungs and her nervous system came back from tilting, Lena pushed herself from the blonde abruptly and frowned "What are you doing here?" Kara opened her mouth to say something but she frowned too, looked at the source of noise music and went there to turn off the home theater. All this time Lena totally forgot about the loud instruments and shouts, still she heard Supergirl's rambles and whispers. How was that possible? The hero sat on the bed, near the brunette but kept an arm length distance. She rubbed the back of her neck ,a little embarrassed " Miss Luthor, I apologize for startling you, I came here to see how you are" Lena was caught by the blonde's adorable flushed cheeks, but the CEO had to keep the facade of angry citizen " You know my windows are not entrance doors, right?" Kara just nodded and mumbled sorry, like a child who got catch doing something stupid and was now feeling like a dork. The brunette couldn't keep herself and finally chuckled, Kara was just too adorable. Before she could ensure the blonde that she was okay the heard a loud growl coming from the said alien stomach. Kara got redder than before, all her face was blushing " I am sorry, it was long day" Lena couldn't repress a laugh " Skipped dinner? Because if that is the case I can help you" she said while she was getting up. Supergirl started moving her hands in protest " No no, it's not that, I just---" a suddenly breath take. Lena, who was facing the door and deciding which food she could offer the blonde, stopped because of the sudden silence. Why she...? When light green eyes noticed what was happening, Lena herself blushed furiously too. The intruder was staring at her up and down, mouth slightly opened, eyes widened. After eternal seconds kara noticed her boldness, she gulped and kept her eyes everywhere but Lena almost naked body, those long legs, pale and smooth skin, flat belly, voluptuous breasts and delicious--- " So-sorry " She got up fastly " I must go! Bye!" Before Lena could say anything Kara disappeared. Both hearts were pumping hardly, both women blushed from the top of ears until the bottom of their chest and the same thought run in their heads. What just happened?!

[lexth3emo101-blog]

All Alone (my creative writing assignment)

ALL Alone, Till Death Do We Part

By Alexis Zeringue

Chapter 1

This is a story of how I lost my brother and how the myth of runners came to life, but nothing like the fairytale. These were runners that were smart, fast, and extremely strong, but there's always a catch. The catch was that these runners looked exactly like humans. When the outburst of the virus happened most of the human population was killed off because they were mistaken for runners. I don't really call them zombies, I call them runners because they don't walk, they sprint every time they hear a noise or the smell of blood, so I call them runners. It's been 2 years since the one who I could trust, look up to, cry on his shoulder, yell at when I'm mad, and most importantly always love no matter what. ….That someone was m-my brother Justin or who I called J. It was hard for me when he got bit, it was all my fault because of a stupid damn necklace that was given to me by my our father who abandoned us when I was six and when J was seven. We got into a fight that escalated quickly, about how I could have died going into that abandoned mall alone… yes I know I'm stupid. I got mad at him cause he was treating me like a baby and said not to go out of his sight. He grabbed me by the collar to save my ass from getting bitten at the mall and in the process broke my necklace. I didn't realize that he broke my necklace till we got home and I was mad at J for breaking it and I was in a pissy mood and I overreacted like a bitch. *takes a breath* and screamed at him and ran outside when it was night. Of course, the runners are more active at night… so, yeah as you can guess I was in danger and sooner than I could blink I was tackled by two runners. Justin had to come and save my ass and in the process, as he did he got bit on the leg. He would have never gotten bit if it wasn't for me acting like an ass. We rushed inside I and I started to cry saying it was my stupid fault that I got him bit. I knew I had to be strong not just for me but for my big brother, so I put on a strong face and tended to his wounds and did all that I could for now.

He only had 1 hour before he turned.

"this is all my damn fault because of that damn necklace" I said panicked.

"no it's not Alexis" Justin said in pain.

"YES IT IS J, I WAS ACTING LIKE A BRAT AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU, YOU BIT BECAUSE OF MY STUPID ASS" I screamed.

    "I knew something like this might happen where you or I got bit so I made you something," Justin said softly holding me in his arms tightly.

    "wait here ok lex I'll be right back" Justin said calmly in a soothing voice.

    "ok" I said choking up trying not to cry.

As Justin is walking back to the couch where were sitting I looked him deeply in his sea blue eyes searching for surety, forgiveness, and praying that he was somehow immune to the bite.

"hey I'm going to be ok look at me everything's alright" Justin said trying to cry.

He sat down next to me looking at me which felt like forever, I knew exactly why he was staring at me, he was trying to make one more mental image of me.

"I will never forget your pretty light chocolate brown hair with what looks like melted gold blond ends, that match your light chocolate brown eyebrows and your clover green brownish eyes that glisten every time I look at them, oh I almost forgot your amazing smile with your pretty white teeth," Justin said.

    “you forgot one thing” I said trying to smile proudly.

“Oh yeah, the tattoo that we got together on your 17th birthday” Justin said happily.

“Yeah the quote from Lilo and stitch that says Ohana means family and family never gets left behind -stitch-” I said smiling looking down at my wrist then to Justin.

“Here take this iPod it’s full of our favorite music, some of the songs we wrote together and it's full of stories that I narrated for you and it has diary entries that are meant for you to hear” Justin said as he handed me the iPod.

“Thanks this means a whole lot to me” I said trying not to cry.

By this time he only had minutes before he turned, ….ten minutes until he turned into a lifeless brain sucking creature. I would have to say the hardest part of him getting bit would be, having to put him down.

Now it was two minutes till I lost Justin.

He looked at me and said “come here I wanna hold you one last time before I go” he said starting to let a tear fall from his face.

I walked over to J and laid in his arms crying.

“I love you and that's all that matters lex, I'm glad I had a sister who I could do everything with and now I'm going to a better place, I saved your butt out there I just want you to know that I will always be watching over you like a hawk, kick some butt lex I'm counting on you” Justin said choked up.

“Of course I will you know me better than anyone” I said kissing him on the forehead and looking into his eyes deeply.

J started to turn into a lifeless empty human being… or in this case he was turning into a empty lifeless runner.

“I-I-I lo-love yo-you l-lex now d-do w-what y-you have to d-do” Justin said trying to be strong.

“I-I can't” I said sobbing.

“D-do it now!” Justin screamed.

    I hugged him close and said “good by big bro I love you”.

I took my knife from my pocket and opened it and pushed it through Justin's right temple killing him instantly.  I sobbed for hours that night, but then I realized that night, I should give him a proper burial so I dressed him in his favorite clothes and put him on his bed, and waited until morning. The saying “my life flashed before my eyes” actually sums it up. It happened so quickly I didn't really have time to cry or to feel sad, I guess I just fell into a deep dark pit of depression that never seemed to have a bottom.

Chapter 2

I awoke next morning and just sat up in my bed staring at the iPod J gave me just before he *sighs* passed.  I Finally got enough courage to reach my lazy butt out of bed and grab the...ipod. It was  a black iPod that had a case on it that was covered in red roses. I was curious if it had an engraving on the back so I took the cover off and-and looked on the back of the iPod, sure enough there was an engraving. It read, “If you're reading this that means i'm not here anymore, I love you whatever happened to me was to save your life or to protect you” I started to cry, and I put the case back on and held it close to my chest with my heart beating fast. It was about noon now, I had just finished my breakfast and grabbed my backpack and put snacks, drinks, some overnight clothes, movies, and my speaker with my phone, speaker, iPod charger and carried Justians lifeless dressed up body to our treehouse that was like a second house that had power, wifi, a full kitchen, and a full bathroom. I set my stuff down and dug a grave for J right by the tree, I put the stuffed bear that I got him when he got no valentines on valentine's day, and I put the necklace that dad gave me when he left us, and my four leaf clover that always gave me luck whenever I needed it in with him.

“You were always there for me when I needed you and I was there for you when you needed me, but when I needed u the most I pushed you away and it caused you your life. I am sorry for acting like a total idiot, I will always be thinking about you J, I love you so much it hurts like hell. I don't know really what else to say except I should be the one in that grave, you died because of me J, because of me. If only I didn't act like an idiot, you would still be here. I love you and will never forget you” I said over his grave. I sat next to the tree by Justian and put my earbuds in and started to listen to the iPod, I selected the one that said “I'm sorry I left you lex” I sighed heavily, and hit play. Listing to it with my eyes closed made me feel like he was right next to me and nothing had ever happened. I thought I heard a noise I took out my earbuds and was afraid to open my eyes. I got up and slowly opened my eyes there were about three or four runners out a mile in front of my gaze. My heart began to race, I had so much fear and adrenaline pumping through my body it felt like I was about to have a heart attack. I started to run and climb up the treehouse because I knew I could not fend them off on my own. Little did I know that was a dumb idea, because they started to climb and fast. I knew I had to go and hide and fast, I went to the bathroom and hid in the shower. Then I heard the runners ripping open the roof of the treehouse, at that moment I thought to myself I'm done for, but I realized, wait there is a door. I ran out of the shower fast as I could to the bathroom door, but right as I was about to open the door, I heard a noise that made my heart drop into my stomach, a noise that I never wanted to her at that very moment. It was trying to open the door! In my head, I was screaming DO SOMETHING YOU GODDAMN IDIOT! But instead, I knew I was done for no matter what I did, so put my earbuds in and went into the shower and sat down starting to cry. The runners made it through the roof and the bathroom door, I hit play and started to listen to Justin's voice one very last time and closed my eyes tensing up waiting for my fate to come. There were six words that stood out to me from justin's voice… IT’S    GOING    TO    BE    OK.