#I’ll post Better Pictures of him later but that’ll probably Take A While since I’m going on a trip and won’t be able to take him with me

[frog-chemicals]

Hello tumblr! Meet Bermuda Borealis :3

[osir-ethria]

.... Debating on whether or not I should do something other than the Schneeblings...

Well here’s another thing about them anyway.

Whitley loves fashion and designing with a much more creative aspect to clothing. Jacques however found out and called it far to feminine and that he should be focusing business and other things (minus fighting).

Winter would always let Whitley choose the dress she would wear to business meeting with Jacques and tell him about the guests reactions and how many compliments she got because of his choice. She did this in the form of a letter that Klein would hand Whitley because if she was seen anywhere near Whitley he would be reprimanded by their father. She’d first give him a list on what the event was about, how she was to be represented, and if Jacques was there to enjoy himself a little or purely just business.

This helped Whitley with his look when he went out on formal events and got to choose. (This is me saying please change his outfit for once. Maybe inspired by Weiss?)

Even though Winter never directly told Weiss but Whitley was the one who designed her outfits minus the Volume 7 one... I’d have to say Weiss looks good but like, the pounds of hair in that braid is unnecessary. She has a lot of hair but why make it not proportional to the rest of the head. Other than that she actually picked up a few things from Whitley just by studying what she’s been wearing.

After the half of the group that got to Vacuo arrives at the main kingdom they need new gear. The Atlas gear is going to give them a heat stroke. They are trying to decide what to do and they see an obviously emotionally unavailable Winter write a few things down, hand it to Whitley, and tells him to go all out.

Later she explains the whole fashion thing with them and tells them that if they’d trust him with their outfit designs to just list necessities, color schemes, any requirements that’ll help with how they fight, and what style of clothing they are comfortable or uncomfortable with. When Whitley receives these papers from the group he starts crying, they aren’t seeing it as weird and actually trust him with it. Remember, Jacques hated this side of Whitley.

Whitley works with Pietro to design the new gear and everyone loves it. Comfortable, looks good, and does its job. I also remember that the Schnee dust company doesn’t only have dust mines in Atlas even though it was the majority, there are some all over Remnent. (This is from the World of Remnent episode Rooster Teeth did about the Schnee Dust Company.) The Schnees however stay with the refugees instead of going somewhere else so they can help them. They also have enough money to help provide for the refugees like buying tents, getting food and water, and any other necessity. Whitley gets a good feeling from helping and not keeping it all to himself.

Whitley better ask Winter to train him or Winter forcefully teaches him because she can’t handle losing another sibling. This is just with a sword he hasn’t gotten his semblance yet.

He’s smarter than a lot think he should be, the only thing that’s stopping him from being a huntsman is how young he is, like I would prefer if he was around Oscar’s age, and he’s not of the physical or aura capability of a huntsman. You could argue Jaune was like that but Jaune was of the age to go to beacon, had a weapon, and was physically fit to the point he could play it off as maybe going to the school. The only thing he was lacking was skill which was remedied by Pyrrha.

Whitley hasn’t had any of that but I wouldn’t doubt that he’d be a good fit. I can imagine him trying to use his left hand but it doesn’t work out so he forces himself to switch and it works but he wanted to use his left hand for that. He’s not as nimble as Weiss but more so than Winter so he’s slowly forming into a mix. Best part would be he keeps his sarcastic attitude and teasing only being serious in serious situations.

I think all Schnees are brutally honest with everything but understand and feel bad when they hurt someone who hasn’t done anything bad to them or has gotten on their nerves. If they are misunderstood for what they say and they know it wouldn’t be easy to understand said topic they go soft and attempt to explain, Winter and Penny at the Schnee manor in Vol 7.

I also like to think that each of them are slightly gifted in the others area of art. Whitley is better with design, art, and visual concepts.

Weiss is better musical and hearing as well as being able to take quickly to anything she was forced to learn by Jacques or genuinely wanted to know. Weiss and Whitley also share common interest in design from a mathematical stand point because it gets their motors going which was derived from Jacques trying to control them and force how they think, what they do, and what’s going on.

Winter is more about art through movement. She taught Weiss how to dance and is probably the only person who could stand a chance against Yang with Martial Arts. With her being the most controlling of her emotions she could easily do acting which she was forced to do while in school before Atlas Academy.

Whitley learnt how to play the piano from Weiss with videos Klein recorded where Weiss explained how to play. This was an assignment by Jacques to prove she was practicing but Whitley caught them once and asked Klein if he could see the videos. Jacques thought he had the natural talent for the piano, nah he just practiced a lot with Weiss’s help.

Winter hasn’t listened to any of Weiss’ personal songs. By personal I mean the RWBY soundtracks. I head canon that those songs are Weiss describing their journey and how she believes their friends, enemies, and family feels.

I like the idea that Weiss’s songs were used as protest. Now Winter has heard a few she just never put two and two together that that was Weiss singing since she always had a soft pitched opera voice. Well not until she heard someone in the refugee camp blast This Life Is Mine which included the more opera segment. That broke Winter. The idea was on a head canon post but I forgot the name and I’ve liked to many posts to the point I doubt I’ll find it.

Whitley got two copies of Weiss’s songs, using a bit of money for himself and Winter there, and as a bonding activity between them and if they ever feel stressed listen to her music and voice. This is how Whitley realized that Jacques had been lying to him about his sisters just abandoning him and not caring for him at all that they left him, but rather Jacques pulled him away from Winter to ensure he wouldn’t end up like Weiss. This Life Is Mine hits close to Whitley as for Winter as much as she agrees with Whitley that it hits close she knows that Weiss’s song Path to Isolation hits more for her.

Weiss had managed to submit War, Until The End, and Fear to the people who published her songs before everything the evacuation using Pietro. Pietro questioned why and she just gave a quick summary, not explaining everything but just enough. Those publishers got though the portals and with the help of Whitley and the Schnee money got Weiss’s ‘final’ track out.

The songs are played everyday which was new for the Atlesians that survived compared to the survivors in Mantle. No one expected Weiss to be so defiant and see how abusive Jacques was to her and which they can assume the rest of the family. How they weren’t picture perfect.

......... I should stop now. Written to much again. I’ll most likely try to find the post with the idea that Weiss’s song were used as songs of retaliation in Mantle. If I do I’m going to reboot it so here me go, deep diving.

[sl-walker]

All right, since I’m in the middle of a flare and have to work manual labor for the next four days despite it, I figured I would make myself -- and hopefully other people -- laugh by talking about one of my favorite OG Captain Marvel stories. Namely, from Whiz #50, with a cover date of January, 1944, meaning it was probably produced sometime in late 1943.

I want to share it because why not, this is some absurdly charming stuff.

I’ll get more into why it’s one of my favorites as we go, in the form of running commentary. So, full story (with said commentary) under the cut. If you wanna just read the story without my commentary, stick to the pictures. XD

First, let me say that the cover and splash page definitely live up to the story, though the cover’s a bit more sensationalized. But the premise is pretty damn simple: Our intrepid hero and his newsboy alter ego are on vacation. Cap decides to go swimming. It goes hilariously wrong and thus ensues a bit of a madcap adventure, no puns intended.

Second, the fact that Cap and Billy are depicted as essentially different entities makes what Billy does next the ultimate trolling:

Gee, airing out the stolen laundry on the radio? Really? I’ll leave it up to you, gentle reader, whether Billy actually was trolling his own alter-ego for ratings or whether he was just innocently sharing the story while his other-self winced quietly in whatever ether-space he exists in when not front-and-center.

Either way, I love it.

Continuing on...

I get a kick out of the fact that Billy’s monologue is that he’s no dare-devil. One, because that’s so obviously not true in any way -- (that kid is awesomely, sometimes recklessly brave on the regular even without Cap) -- but two, because the bridge is actually named Dare-Devil Bridge. We aren’t given any reason why this dangerous potential death-trap is there, hanging without so much as a gate or a warning sign or anything, because we don’t need one. It’s there specifically for what happens next.

Which, of course, is Billy calling in Captain Marvel, who does some light complaining about the situation Billy left him in. There’s no bite to it, which I find adorable -- Cap actually does get frustrated once or twice in other issues with Billy calling on him for mundane stuff, though he’s never mean about it -- but there is a bit of the sense of being put-upon there that’s just-- I dunno, cute. It’s something I miss a lot in the various post-crisis takes on the character: That duality, that difference in personality, and the way each of them responds to different situations. Often, they’re on the same page, but notably, sometimes, they aren’t.

Someday, I promise, I need to sit down and write how I think that works between those two without being a truly frightening mental illness manifested, what with them being the same person but not the same person. Because I have so many ideas, and I’ve only had since the early-2000s to percolate them. LOL! But until then, just enjoy this.

Here is another reason why I love the Golden Age Captain Marvel books and why I love this specific story: This is an absolutely normal, mundane thing to do. It’s the human thing to do. These aren’t the actions of some super-serious superdude. These are the actions of a pretty shockingly normal guy doing something mundane. And a whole story is built around that normalcy.

It’s cute. It’s funny. It’s the reader already knowing that he’s getting himself into a situation that he absolutely could have avoided, but also completely understanding how it happened anyway. It’s pretty brilliant writing: I say this as a pretty damned good writer myself.

So much of the reason why, I think, Cap was so endearing as a hero is that humanity. He’s got pretty much god-tier power in the Golden Age, once his powerset is established. He’s utterly invulnerable to all physical harm while powered up. But-- he’s human. He knows he’s human. He acts like it, and decides, “You know what? I’m going skinny-dipping.”

He and Billy are both characters it’s so easy to empathize with.

Also, a reminder that the art under Chief Artist C.C. Beck is really, really good. (He had a whole stable of artists to help produce this stuff!) Ignoring registration issues on the printing press, the actual line art is amazingly good; proportion and perspective and consistency.

But anyway--Cap does get to enjoy his swim. But, then, oh no.

I love the idea of a world where the prime hero -- and he definitely is in that world -- can take off his suit and go swimming, and where someone else is bold enough to steal the damn suit off of him. The first time I read this, I started laughing here. Not at him, but at the situation he’s found himself in. At the idea that some random passer-by saw Captain Marvel’s costume and went yoink!

Another thing I love about this particular story is how much Cap and Billy have to work together, just by necessity. Like-- it’s just really good. But anyway, thank everything Billy Batson is on the ball, coming to the rescue.

Sheer bad luck via the weather keeps this story rolling along in hilarious misdirections. Realistically, that uniform probably wouldn’t be all buttoned together (we see Cap take off pieces of it aside the pants in other issues, including socks!), but who cares? The point of the story is that giant bear rug on the floor’s gonna get put to use.

Man, when have you ever seen Superman creeping naked through some stranger’s house wearing nothing but a random polar bear because he went skinny dipping? No wonder these comics sold so well. This next panel is when I start wheezing, though, and pretty much keep wheezing.

“A lady, too! I’ve got to get away from here!”

I’m dying at this point. That’s such a characteristic response, and yet, I think that’s why it’s funny.

Anyway, because this is an excellent story (I mean this without an ounce of irony, too), our dynamic duo stumbles across a plot in play to rob the hotel they’re staying at.

Here’s a big part of why this is such a good tale: Everything fits. Even when it isn’t explained, like Dare-Devil Bridge, it still fits. Why is the tree down? Because there was just a thunder storm, the same one that blew Cap’s suit into the room with the gangsters.

I don’t know if this is Otto Binder’s story, but I wouldn’t be surprised in the least. It’s a complete story told in relatively few pages that accomplishes everything it’s meant to.

Anyway, using foliage as cover, Cap gets to be heroic----then Billy gets to get back to the business of trying to stop the robbery of the hotel and get his heroic alter-ego dressed again.  Which leads to a rather adorable and funny scene of Billy not only trying to describe what Captain Marvel wears, but what size it would need to be tailored in.

(Cap is supposedly a 44 for a suit coat, we find in some earlier appearance, which would refer to his chest size.  So, an XL for shirts and suit-coats.  He’s a big guy, but he’s actually not a hulking huge guy.  But more on that later.)

I love the fact Billy tries to like-- use himself as a model.  Maybe in another ten years, kiddo.  Billy’s actually pretty buff for like a 12-14 year old, he’s not a scrawny kid at this point, but yeah, no.  LOL!

Another thing I also really, really love about this style, though, is that they draw Captain Marvel as being strong, as having a powerful build-- but not as a dehydrated body-builder with deep cuts. He’s got human proportions, regardless of his strength; he’s got a human build, not a superhuman one.

C.C. Beck had a lot of things to say about superheroes who were just muscles on top of muscles, all clearly defined, and he didn’t like it.  As someone who first got into comics in the early 90s with Jim Lee’s X-Men--

I do get Beck’s point.  I not only get it, but I really highly approve of it.  He maintained to the end that he drew (and oversaw) the Marvel family to look like high school and college athletes, and I can see that.  I think the one person who’s gotten it right in the modern era is Evan “Doc” Shaner, who did Convergence: Shazam!  He not only nailed that strong-but-not-hulking build for Cap, but also how young he looked.  College-age, in fact.

But anyway, enough digression into art and why I like this better than most modern takes on the character.  Also, that’s just a cute set of panels.

I also like that there wasn’t an easy fix there.  Cap’s still in his not-birthday suit, and Billy’s still stuck running around trying to solve the issues at hand.  Next comes some other really good panels:

-snorts-  He’s locked in.  Yeah, that’ll hold him.

Anyway, what I really liked here was again that tandem working; Billy can’t punch through a wall, but Cap can.  Cap can’t crawl out while he’s au natural -- well, he could, but he’d probably rather die first -- but Billy’s got no such issue.  It’s just fun when you get to see them doing something like that.  You have to really think for a minute about the trust each of them must have in their alter-ego.

ANYWAY, we get the rare treat then--

--of Captain Marvel not only yoinking a dude into a dark room, but then stealing his clothes.  Except, not his underwear.  Because that’s nasty.  LOL!

I love that in this series, you do actually get to see him wear other stuff.  Go incognito.  Get his red suit messed up enough to take it to a dry cleaner’s, wherein he ends up dressed like a musketeer after.  Jerry Ordway’s series is, I think, the only other time we see Cap not wearing his famous suit, but it happened enough in the Golden Age that it wasn’t a shock.

Like, I hate to be the one to say this, but I do think DC drops the ball often on just how much you can do with Captain Marvel (or Shazam, depending on timeline, but that’s the wizard’s name to me so mostly I’ll stick with the original name) if you unbend enough to.  It’s not just the costume change, or the duality of him and Billy being the same but not, but also his inherent, essential humanity.

But I am digressing again, sorry. XD  I just feel strongly enough about these versions of these characters to spend hours writing this.

Anyway, only a single panel later:

And that’s that!  Billy Batson has just outed his own alter-ego’s most embarrassing moment to whomever’s listening to WHIZ radio -- thank everything podcasts and the internet weren’t available then, ha! -- and we get to see a recounting of a very fun story.

Like I said earlier, I love this one for its essential humanity.  The hero got himself into this mess, he and Billy got him out of this mess, and stopping the criminals was actually just kind of a lucky stroke thrown in there.  But even though Cap got himself into this, the story never treats him like he’s stupid.  It never treats him like he’s some kind of idiot.  You’re laughing, but-- not in a mean way.

I love how human it is.  How complete it is.  How genuinely funny it is.  It’s a thousand times more funny when you genuinely love and respect Captain Marvel and Billy Batson, too.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this dissertation on a skinny-dipping hero.  LOL!  I enjoyed sharing it with you.

[americasass91]

This is my stucky fic idea. Basically after this dream of bucky’s, Steve has (coincidentally) started showing off his strength to him. One day, Bucky is horny and randomly asks Steve if he could bench press him. Steve’s gets cocky and replies by flexing before easily benching Bucky. After showing off, Steve lets Bucky feel his muscles, and then after a while he lifts him to the bed for smut. This isn’t dream, and is not yet an offical request. If you do accept, do you need me to post this again?

Well hello again! Here is my second Stucky request for this lovely Anon! I hope it’s to your liking. This is a part 2 to this 👉🏻Hidden Feelings. But it can be read as a stand alone. I did tweak this just a bit. But it’s still filled with Stucky goodness! This might be my last Stucky fic for a little while. I’m still not 100% comfortable writing them. But I couldn’t let this anon down! I hope it’s what you had in mind!

Revealed Feelings

Rating: Explicit (literally almost all of my fics are😂)

Words: 3k

Warnings: smut, m/m, hand jobs, cum, Bucky and Steve admitting feelings, language

💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

Ever since Bucky had that very erotic dream about Steve, he’s been avoiding him like the plague.

He had told himself it was just because he was horny. That he couldn’t want his best male friend in a sexual way. But that all got shot to hell when he decided to take home a girl he met in a bar the other night.

He had no problems getting going. He was actually enjoying himself as he bent Stacy? Stephany? Sylvia? over the back of his couch and was plowing into her from behind. Enjoying the little moans coming from her mouth. He had a tight grip on her hip with his metal hand and had the other buried between her legs.

He could feel her coming and normally that’s when he would let go as well. But he just couldn’t get there. He slowed down a little to let her come down from her high. But then picked right back up into his brutal pace when he felt her walls stop fluttering around him. He had better stamina than he thought.

He grabbed her hair and pulled her up so her back was to his front. She was moaning like a pornstar. Telling him to go faster and harder. He obliged. He moved his hand back down and started rubbing her clit again. This time she started moaning his name.

He opened his eyes and looked down at where they were connected. Even that wasn’t bringing him closer to the edge. He was starting to get frustrated with himself when he looked up and his gaze fell forward. That was a mistake.

Right there sitting on his tv stand were pictures. And of course there was one of him and Steve. Shit. Steve looked so fucking good in that picture. He and Bucky had their arms around each other. They had just run a marathon for charity.

Bucky couldn’t help but admire Steve’s arms in the picture. The way the veins were protruding out. He could tell Steve was flexing.

Bucky started fucking Samantha? even harder. He couldn’t help but let his gaze wander down Steve’s body. Once again he was wearing a shirt that didn’t fit him. Then Bucky’s gaze got to Steve’s crotch. He had never noticed the bulge in the picture before. He couldn’t stop the whimper that escaped his mouth. He started thinking about what that would feel like in his hand or better yet, his mouth.

As Bucky’s thoughts wandered to what Steve’s mouth would feel like on him, he came without warning. He just about moaned Steve’s name out loud. Thank god he was able to hold that back. Sally? didn’t even seem to notice his withdrawn state. He pulled out and tucked himself back into his pants and promised he’d call her as he rushed her out as politely as he could.

So that’s why he was currently hiding out in the communal library. He knew Steve spent a majority of his Saturdays either working out or planning missions. Bucky figured he was safe here. Boy was he wrong.

“Barnes!”

Bucky jumped at the sudden intrusion and looked up to see Nick Fury walking towards him.

“Sergeant Barnes. I hope you’re doing well this evening.” He doesn’t even give Bucky time to reply before he’s handing him over a file. “Could you see to it that Captain Rogers gets this immediately? It contains important information on his upcoming mission. I’d take it to him myself but I’m rather in a bind and have somewhere important I need to be.”

Bucky doesn’t say anything for a minute. He just looks from the file back to Fury’s face, trying to come up with an excuse as to why he can’t take the file to Steve.

He’s about to open his mouth when Fury cuts him off. “Look I know you and I got off on the wrong foot but this shouldn’t be a task you have to think this hard about. Aren’t you and Captain Rogers attached at the hip?”

Bucky was about to argue but then thought better. He goes to stand and grabs the file from Fury. “It’ll be no trouble, sir. I’ll see that Captain Rogers gets this right away.”

Fury nods his head in thanks. “I appreciate this Barnes. Thank you.” With that he turns to exit the other side of the library.

Bucky looks down at the file as if it’s offended him. Shit. Well he was going to have to face Steve sooner or later. Might as well be sooner. He looks up towards the ceiling.

“FRIDAY? Could you please tell me where Captain Rogers is?”

“Captain Rogers is in his living quarters. Would you like me to tell him you’re on your way?”

“That won’t be necessary. It’ll be a quick visit. Thank you.”

Bucky takes off towards the direction of Steve’s room. He hoped he wasn’t interrupting anything important. Maybe Steve was just relaxing? Taking a rest after a long week? Psh like he ever rests. He’s probably filling out mission reports. He’s such a nerd.

Bucky gets to his door and takes a couple deep breaths before knocking. Preparing for when he’ll see Steve’s handsome face.

When he thinks he’s ready, Bucky knocks.

He doesn’t have to wait very long before Steve answers the door.

Steve who wasn’t wearing a shirt.

Steve whose shorts were so low on his hips that Bucky could see that perfect V practically directing him towards his cock.

Steve who was all sweaty from a workout Bucky had apparently interrupted.

Steve who had no idea how hard he had just made his best friend.

Fuck.

Steve smiles at his best friend. “Hey, Buck! To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Bucky’s brain has short circuited. He can’t seem to take his eyes off of Steve’s chest.

Steve notices where Bucky’s eyes are trained. He can’t help but smirk and start flexing a little. “You like what you see?”

Bucky snaps out of it and raises his gaze to Steve’s face. “Sorry, man. It’s just. Are you getting bigger? Hitting the gym even more?” Bucky hoped that poor excuse would suffice as to why he was ogling his half naked best friend.

Steve’s smirk turns cocky. “Yeah actually I have. Trying to buff up a little bit. You know, impress the ladies.”

Bucky couldn’t help the roll of his eyes. “Yeah, like you have trouble with the ladies. You hook up with what? 3-4 a week?” He makes his way inside and can’t help but notice the small gym that has taken up residence in Steve’s living room.

Steve heads over to grab a water bottle from the fridge. “Well, usually. I actually haven’t hooked up with anyone for a few weeks now.” He heads back over to stand in front of Bucky. He glances down and notices the file in his hand. “Is that for me?”

Bucky follows Steve’s gaze down to the file he’s still holding. He had forgotten all about it. He hands it over to Steve. “Yeah, this is from Fury. He said it was for your upcoming mission.”

Steve takes the file and sets it on his coffee table. “Thanks, man. How did you end up with it?”

Bucky shrugs. “I was in the library when I ran into him. He asked me to bring it to you. So here I am. Looks like I interrupted your workout though. Sorry. Why aren’t you working out in the gym?”

Bucky notices the blush that creeps up on Steve’s face. “Um, well. I got banned from the gym for a few weeks by Tony.”

Bucky chuckles and crosses his arms. “What the hell did you do, punk?”

Steve rolls his eyes at the nickname. “Well it was when I was sparring with Sam and a group of girls were watching us. I’ll admit I was showing off a bit and not paying attention and accidentally knocked over a row of treadmills. So i’m not allowed back in until I learn, as Tony put it, ‘Proper Gym Etiquette’ or some bullshit like that.”

Bucky starts laughing and looks around the makeshift gym. “Oh, yeah. That was hilarious! Definitely made me stop my workout because I was laughing so damn hard. Well looks like you don’t even need the gym. You have everything you could need right here.”

Steve shakes his head. “Not everything. I don’t have a bench press. Which sucks because that’s a part of my normal routine.”

Bucky’s next words fly out of his mouth faster than what his brain can process. “You could bench me if you want.”

Steve raises a curious eyebrow at Bucky. “What? Buck I can lift a hell of a lot more than what you weigh.” He flexes his biceps at Bucky, making the veins in his arms protrude out.

Bucky feels his cock twitch in his pants. Shit. “Yeah, but it would be better than nothing right?”

Steve pretends not to notice Bucky’s growing bulge and shrugs. “I guess you’re right. You wouldn’t mind?”

Bucky shakes his head. “Nope. Anything to help you out, punk.”

Steve chuckles and lays down on the mat he had stolen from the gym. “Alright then. I guess you can lean back into my hands? I’ll hold you between your shoulder blades and your upper left thigh?”

Bucky can’t help the shiver that wracks his body. “Um, yep. That’ll work.”

He knows his erection is now straining against his shorts. He’s hoping to whatever god is listening that Steve won’t notice.

Oh, Steve notices.

He can’t help the twitch he feels his own cock make. This is why he hasn’t been hooking up with anybody lately. He’s been having some not so friendly thoughts about his best friend recently. He’s been doing his best to keep them hidden. There’s no way Bucky would reciprocate them, right?

That’s why he’s been showing off in the gym more. Not for the girls. He’s been seeing if he can get a rise out of Bucky. He knows he’s looked like a douche what with all the flexing and wearing shirts that don’t fit him. And judging from the bulge in Bucky’s shorts, it’s working.

Bucky clears his throat to get Steve’s attention. “Ready?”

Steve holds his hands up and nods his head. Bucky leans back onto them. Steve readjusts his grip, making sure he won’t drop Bucky.

Bucky is trying his best not to let out a whimper. This is so much better than his dream. Steve’s hands on him feel like heaven. And when Steve starts to lift him? Bucky almost came right then and there.

Steve notices the shivers going down Bucky’s spine. He decides to turn it up a notch. He starts grunting unnecessarily every time he lifts Bucky up. He hears the little whimper escape Bucky’s mouth. That little noise goes straight to Steve’s cock. Which is now uncomfortably straining against his shorts.

“Um, okay Buck. I’m done.” He puts Bucky back down as gently as he can.

Bucky turns around and looks down at Steve confused. Only to then notice Steve’s eyes are trained on his erection. Steve quickly stands up, not even trying to hide the fact that he’s hard as well. Bucky can’t help but notice it. Jesus. Maybe Steve does feel the same way.

Steve can’t help but start flexing again. Loving the effect he’s having on Bucky.

Bucky’s eyes travel up over Steve’s body again. His bottom lip between his teeth as he watches his muscles become more prominent.

Steve decides to make a move. “You can touch them if you want.”

Bucky doesn’t need to be told twice. He runs his right hand over Steve’s bicep, earning him a moan from the blonde super soldier. He then moves his hand over to his pec and gives a nice squeeze. “Fuck, Bucky. You’re driving me crazy here.”

Bucky smirks and trails his hands down his abs. He reaches the waistband of Steve’s shorts and looks back up at him.

The heat between them is stifling.

Bucky raises his eyebrows as if daring Steve to make the first move.

Fuck it.

Steve grabs Bucky by the back of the neck and pulls him in for a bruising kiss. Bucky reacts quickly and grabs onto Steve’s bicep and gives another squeeze. Steve groans and grinds his cock against Bucky’s, desperate for some friction. Bucky pulls Steve closer and grinds back against him.

Steve can’t take it anymore. He pulls out of the kiss and lifts Bucky up and throws him onto his nearby bed. Steve takes just a second to admire the beautiful man in his bed. Lips red and swollen from his kissing. Cheeks and chest flushed. Chest rapidly rising and falling with every breath. And a beautiful erection begging to be let free.

Steve growls and quickly climbs on the bed next to Bucky until he’s laying beside him. He pulls Bucky back in for another kiss. He pulls away again after a few minutes. “Please, Buck. Tell me you want this just as much as I do?”

Bucky smirks as he grabs Steve’s hand and places it on his clothed erection. “Does that feel like I want it, Steve?”

Steve moans and pulls Bucky back in for a kiss. He removes his hand from Bucky’s bulge and starts attempting to tug his shorts down. Bucky smirks and helps Steve out, successfully pushing his shorts down enough to free his cock. Steve then reaches for the hem of Bucky’s shirt and lifts it over his head.

Steve can’t help but marvel at him for a second. He’s never been intimate with a guy before but dammit if Bucky wasn’t beautiful. More so than the women he’s been with. And his cock? Steve couldn’t wait to get his hands on the girthy length of him.

This time it’s Bucky’s turn to ask. “You like what you see?”

Steve smirks and reaches out to grab a hold of the beautiful cock. “Oh, yeah. You get this hard just for me?”

Bucky rests his forehead on Steve’s shoulder and lets out a moan. “Only get this hard for you, Stevie.”

Steve adjusts his grip just a little tighter and starts slowly jerking Bucky off. Bucky can’t help but bite down on Steve’s shoulder to stifle his moaning. Steve isn’t having that. “Don’t hide from me. I want to hear how good I’m making you feel. Come on handsome, let me hear you”

Bucky raises his head off of Steve’s shoulder. He grabs the back of Steve’s head with his metal hand and pulls him back in for a kiss. Steve starts pumping Bucky’s cock even faster. Bucky doesn’t want Steve to have all the fun. He starts pulling at Steve’s shorts, signaling he wants them off.

Steve removes himself from Bucky for a moment to stand up and remove his shorts. Bucky can’t help the whine that escapes him as he watches Steve’s cock smack against his abdomen. Long, thick, and just absolutely perfect. A cocky smirk appears on Steve’s face. He’s glad Bucky is impressed.

He climbs back on the bed and resumes kissing Bucky and once again grabbing his cock. This time Bucky reciprocates and grabs Steve’s cock, earning him a loud moan. “Fuck, Bucky. Just like that.”

Bucky pumps his fist at a rapid pace. He’s been close to coming ever since Steve bench pressed him. He wants to get Steve there. “Bucky if you don’t slow down, I’m going to bust a nut like some teenager.”

Bucky smirks and grabs the back of Steve’s head with his metal hand and leans in to whisper, “I want you to come for me. All over me. Make a mess, Stevie.”

Steve groans and starts moving his fist to match Bucky’s pace, now wanting them to come at the same time. Bucky moans and loses himself in the feeling of Steve’s hand wrapped around him. He comes with a shout and makes a big mess on Steve’s abdomen.

The feel of Bucky’s cum hitting his body is what does Steve in. He makes an equally big mess all over Bucky’s abdomen and chest. Steve removes his hand from Bucky’s softening cock and places it on Bucky’s hip to pull him in even closer. Steve gives Bucky a big, dopey smile. “That’s the fastest anyone has ever made me come. You must have the magic touch.”

Bucky moves his hand to Steve’s ass and gives a squeeze. “Sorry about that. Got a little carried away. I couldn’t really help myself. I’ve never felt like this before.”

Steve cups Bucky’s cheek and makes him look him in the eye. “Neither have I. This is new for both of us. I’m glad it’s with you, though.”

Bucky smiles at Steve. “Yeah? You okay going from best friends to”...he gestures down their naked bodies... “whatever this is?”

Steve pulls Bucky in for a kiss. He pulls back and touches his forehead to Bucky’s. “Well I want more than sex but I’ll take what I can get. If sex is all you want, then I’ll take it.”

Bucky chuckles at him. “Well sounds like we want the same things, punk. And don’t worry, we can keep it just between us if you’d like.”

Steve furrows his brows in confusion. “Why would I want to keep this just between us? Are you...are you ashamed of us?”

Bucky quickly shakes his head. “No! Of course not! I just assumed you wouldn’t want people to know since you’ve always been with women and you’re Captain America.”

Steve cups Bucky’s cheek again. “The thought of being with you makes me happy. And I want to show you off and how happy you make me. If my friends can’t get over that then fuck ‘em. They aren’t my real friends. As for my fans? The real ones will support me.”

Bucky can’t help the tear that falls from his eye. Steve wipes it away with his thumb. “You make me happy, too. Please know that. I’ve wanted this for longer than I’m willing to admit. I’m...I think I’m in love with you, Steve.

Steve smiles and goes to pull Bucky in for another kiss. Just before their lips touch he utters out, “I love you too, jerk.”

Permanent Taglist: @stargazingfangirl18 @drabblewithfrannybarnes @harrysthiccthighss

[thegalleonsnest]

Wiggle’s Muse - Short Excerpt turned into a FanFic

Yo, so, I wanted to share a small snippet of a future project I’m working on (while also delaying my current art projects). What I’ve written out here in this post was originally in a format not meant for professional writing purposes, but I said “eh, why the hell not,” and written it out in sort of a short fanfic format for you guys to read. This project btw, is not a fanfic (had to make that clear). What I am working on is a very large scale project for myself and is still in the blocking out/rough draft phases. This right here is probably my most fleshed out scene I’ve written out, and feels pretty complete as it’s own thing. Honestly, I’d appreciate the feedback if any of ya’ll found this interesting! 

Also I’m putting this in a tumblr post because I don’t have an AO3 or fanfiction account, and this is already too short for it anyway. Read the excerpt below

In front of the camera lenses, multiple grumpuses walk back and forth discussing a matter of topics but most importantly, where was Wiggle?

"Has anyone gotten ahold of Wiggle yet? She was supposed to be here hours ago,” a gruff voice coming from out of frame says. “We’ve tried calling her for over an hour, but we got nothing,” says another off camera, “do you think we should reschedule-” before they could finish, the studio doors bust open with a loud thud echoing the studio room. A tall, short armed grumpus with a boa stumbles along the room carrying an oddly shaped banjo.

“There she is,” said the gruff voiced grump, “Wiggle, whatever you got going on, you better do it now cause we got a meeting with investors in half an hour!” From the blurry view of a slightly out of frame Wiggle, she barely registered what the grump said. In a stumble, she walks to the center of the camera’s view & shakes her head, almost slurring her words, “Doooon’t worry, Darling, we’ll get you a new vest later.” “What, no, wait, that’s not what I-” before another word could be said, Wiggle readies her banjo and strikes a quick pose before strumming the strings like her life depended on it.

It didn’t take longer than a few seconds before the crew sprung into action, setting the proper lightning, mics and cameras around her. Her rhythm and measures became a lot more stable, catchy even, and then she broke into song. The next set of lyrics would become an instant, regrettable classic. 

It’s not long before the VHS tape stutters and stops, showing mostly static. A magenta furred Grumpus with some hair covering a part of eye, hits the eject button, takes out the tape and turns off the tv. “Girl, you were a right mess there!” She said with a giggle. “Tell me about it, Vrittany...” Wiggle said frustratingly, pinching the bridge of her nose. “And you’re telling me you can’t come up with anything better than that? Come on now!” “I wish I was lying, but I’m not. No matter what I come up with, nothing is topping whatever the heck my walking coma came up with instead!” Wiggle grabs her mug of coffee and takes a longing sip.

The two sit across from one another at the coffee bar. The aroma of that day’s set of cocoa beans waft through the cafe as most of the outside lamps fill out the darker spots inside. The place is nearly empty besides them, and a single muted green furred occupant sitting at a booth at the opposite end of the cafe, drawing away in his sketchpad.

“So, whatcha gonna do?” Vrittany asked sarcastically, “Stay awake for another week? Get inspired again? Hehe.” Wiggle sets her mug down, and answers, “I did try that again, but in style I fell asleep comfortably on a couch in the lobby”. Vrittany looked a bit stunned. “You’re kidding?! You’re crazy!” “Not crazy, Vrittany,” she takes another sip of her coffee before striking a pose in her high stool seat, bellowing out her voice. “Just creatiiiivly driveeeen~” “Whatever you say, darling,” Vrittany says before turning around to her bar’s sink. She cleans several mugs and glasses with gusto while preparing one last pot of coffee, enough for a single cup for later.

Vrittany takes off her apron and hangs it on the wayside of the counter as she walks around to take a seat next to Wiggle. After situating herself, she puts a paw on Wiggle’s shoulder. “Listen, pretty sure this is just a rut you’re stuck in right now,” she says. “Doesn’t every artist go through that every now and then?” Wiggle turns her head toward Vrittany, “Well..yeah, but this is different,” she desperately says. “I can’t let a song I made in my sleep be the best thing I’ve ever made! I know I can make something that’ll shake the world more than whatever ‘Do The Wiggle’ was.” 

Vrittany pulls back her paw from Wiggle to put on her best thinking cap. As deeply in thought as she was, her face immediately relaxes into a deadpan expression, “Have ya tried singing from the heart?” Wiggle cracks a smile, “HA, if only that’s how it works! It takes a musical genius to write a hit song in show biz, not just some field day with my feelings.” “Eh, worth a shot. Got any other plans?” “I’m still trying to figure that out. I need some kind of inspiration...almost like a-”

Before she could finish her thought, they both caught a glance at the muted green furred grump who walked up to them. He mustered up the words and said, “E-excuse me, you’re Miss Wiggle, right?” Wiggle turned in her seat to get a better look at the young Grumpus. She could tell he was nervous, clutching his sketchbook in his arms rather tightly. She quickly put on a more relaxed front to help calm things down, while also still showing off a bit of her excited side. “Why yes I am, Darling,” she said enthusiastically. “And I can tell you must be a fan of mine.” “Y-yeah...!” The green grump looked a little more relaxed, but still stiff in the shoulders. “Hey now, no need to be so nervous. I always got time for my fans.” “Thank you, Miss Wiggle. Um…” “No need to finish that thought, Darling, I know what you’re about to ask and I’m happy to oblige!”

Before the young man could stop to say something, Wiggle pulls out one of her many professional hand out photos that she has, and quickly signs with her autograph before handing it to him. “O-Oh, thank you, Miss, but that’s not what I was going to s-say.” he sheepishly says. “Really? Not an autograph,” Wiggle says surprisingly. “It’s usually the first thing fans ask of me.” “Sorry, I just...I wanted to show you this sketch I made…” 

The nervous grumpus slowly turns his sketchbook around to reveal a fully sketched art piece depicting a stylized Wiggle singing her heart out at the bar with Vrittany hanging out in the background cheering her on. He hands it to Wiggle to give them a closer look. It was still somewhat messy, showing a few guidelines and early roughed out shapes, but for what it was, it was still impressive to the two girls.

“Woah, that’s pretty rad!” Vrittany yelled out, leaning out from her seat trying to get a closer look. Wiggle was pretty stun, gasping at the sight of such a piece of artwork. “Darling, you drew this?! Just now,” Wiggle asked in awe. “Yeah! I was listening to some of your music and then you came in and sat down. It made me wanna draw you as fast as I could,” the green grumps says excitedly before rubbing the back of his head. “Sorry if it’s still a little messy looking though…” “Don’t be, because it is beeeaautifuuul~” “T-thank you so much, Miss Wiggle! T-that means a lot to m-me!” the grumpus says while his face lights up red from the praise. “You’re like an inspiration to me.” “Really now? Like a muse? All I do is sing the night away, Darling. You draw little masterpieces like this from me?”

As Wiggle continues to be enthralled by the young man and his work, Vrittany notices the coffee pot had finished brewing. She gets up from her seat and go back behind the counter to finish her last cup for the night. Wiggle and the green grump continue their conversation.

“W-well kind of,” says the grump, “it’s a bunch of music that inspires me when I draw. A lot of your stuff is so upbeat and fun, it gives me lots of different ideas to pump out!” Wiggle looks back, almost flabbergasted. “I’m...honestly a bit stunned that I had that kind of impact on you, Darling,” she says, almost with a melancholy tone, “...heh, kind of forget sometimes I do make some kind of impression on grumps like you.” She looks back down at the sketchbook, entranced by the creativity that sparked in the moment. That dazzling moment where it all clicked...where could she find that, when someone else can find it in her?

After an awkward minute of silence, the young grump spoke up and said, “If you like, you can keep the sketch page, Miss Wiggle?” Wiggle snapped her head back up from the sketchbook to the green fuzzball. “W-wait really? Are you sure you wanna give up this piece of art?” said Wiggle worryingly. “It’s no problem at all,” said the green grump proudly. “I already took a picture of it to save for later. I’m gonna make a painted version of it online later! Besides, it’ll make me happy if you kept it, since I was going to give it to you anyway.” “Oh Darling, you’re nothing more than a sweet one now, aren’t you? I’ll gladly keep it!” “Thank you so much, Miss Wiggle!”

Wiggle hands the sketchbook back to the green grumpus and he tears out the sketch. “No, Darling, thank you,” Wiggle says ecstatically. Vrittany returns from behind the bar with a to-go cup in hand, saying “Here’s your order, kid.”  “Oh, thank you, Vrittany. How much was it again,” the green grump asked. “Eh, don’t worry about it. Don’t feel like counting change. It’s on the house.” “O-oh you sure?” “You wanna change my mind?” “Don’t think I can, so thank you!” The green grump turns back to Wiggle and says “It was so nice meeting you in person, Miss Wiggle!”

“The pleasure is all mine, Dar-,” Wiggle catches herself before she realizes something. “Actually, what was your name?” “It’s Grite, Grite Tillsland!” Wiggle lets a genuine soft smile grow on her face. She felt a lot more at ease and happier knowing her new friend was much more relax and happy overall. She reached out her paw for a handshake, and Grite reciprocated.

“The pleasure’s mine, Grite, Darling.”

[darlinvandijk]

Jealousy

Concept: A request about being best friends with Ruel, but there being more than just platonic feelings, along with a nice touch of jealousy from our favorite soft giant (also whoever stole the acne jumper, you’re a prick), dm me and whatnot for a request and I’ll be happy to make it for you! Also this is really long, sorry about that but I just really loved the idea of it all and couldn’t stop writing. Hope you enjoy :)

“What’re the plans for today?” Ruel asks as soon as I jump into his car and he heads to the mall, since I told him I needed to buy a new outfit for today, and wanted him to accompany me.

“We’ll talk when we get to the mall, I wanna listen to the new song you promised to show me” I whine grabbing onto his arm while he looks over at me and laughs. He rolls his eyes as he grabs his phone and hits play on an untitled track. I grip his hand the whole time the track plays, before grabbing his phone to replay it.

“I take it you like the song?” He asks with a chuckle as I literally whip my head around to face him. Is this boy crazy? Of course I love the song.

“Are you kidding me? As long as you made it, I’m gonna love it. Actually scratch that, as long as you feature on anything, I’m automatically going to love it” I yell at him incredulously, he should know by now that I’m his #1 supporter, and that’ll never change.

“I was just messing with you, I already know how you’re a diehard crazy obsessive fan, I even saw you smelling my hoodie the other day” he says with a straight face, turning to watch me as he finally parks at the mall. I stare at him for a moment before finally realizing what he said and smacking him on the back of the head.

“Does this look like face to face bitch? You’re actually the one obsessed with me so get it right” I sassily reply, before hopping out of the car and making my way to the entrance. I hear footsteps behind me, before his arm is then slung over my shoulder, pulling me into his side.

“You’re right, I am obsessed with you bubs, but you already knew that.” He mumbles pressing a kiss to the side of my head, causing my face to heat up. I immediately drag him into the store I want to go to, so that he doesn’t see the blush spreading across my face. We’re friends, nothing more than that. Or at least to him that’s what we are.

I start trying on clothes once I get a decent pile, listening to rule sitting outside the stall on a bench, cursing at the angry birds level he can’t beat. I look myself up and down in the mirror, deciding that this was probably the best outfit I was going to find. It’s a kind of caramel colored plaid two-piece skirt and top set, something I’ve been trying to get for awhile.

“So what do we think? Is she cute? Is she bad bitch material? Or is she ugly and needs to be banished from the pile?” I say as soon as I step out of the stall. Ruel stays quiet as he looks me over and examines the outfit. I start to fidget nervously as he still remains silent.

“What do you need the outfit for? You still haven’t told me.” he states while looking me straight in the eyes.

“Luke is coming to visit and wanted to hangout tonight, probably just gonna eat at that one diner where I can take insta pics” I tell him before urging him to tell me if the outfit is good.

“We always eat at that diner together, that’s our spot.” Ruel deadpans. I stare at him blankly, wondering what his deal is. Like I’ve taken so many girl friends there before and he’s literally never cared.

“Ruel we’re just eating there so I can take some pics for my feed, especially since your fans keep telling me to post again” I say laughing to try and lighten the mood. His facial expression doesn’t even shift as he stares blankly at me.

“Okay but I also always take your insta pictures, I can take these ones too. He probably won’t even be able to take good pictures.” Ruel snaps back. I stare at him incredulously since he’s getting hyped up over nothing for no apparent reason when he was just fine minutes ago.

“He’s taking one set of pictures for me, literally coco takes pics of me all the time and I post them, yet you never cared then?” I question him trying to see what his actual problem is. He scoffs and turns his head away from me. I then walk so I’m standing right in front of him, grabbing his face to turn it back towards me.

“I just don’t get why you have to take him to our spot, buy a new outfit for him, and let him take pictures of you.” He moodily responds, moving out of my way and standing up to stand near the exit of the dressing rooms. I stare at him with a hurt look, because he’s never had this attitude towards me before.

“Look the outfit is great and you look pretty, can we go now?” He states before I can even reply to his previous statement, walking back into the main area of the store. I go back into the dressing room and put on my regular clothes before putting the set back onto the hanger.

I walk back into the store and see Ruel standing there, watching me as I walk back to the area I got the set from and hang it back up, getting ready to leave the store. As I walk to the exit, I hear him sigh and walk the opposite way. I watch him grab the set, before exchanging the skirt for a different size. He then walks to the cashier where he proceeds to pay for the set.

“Ruel what are you doing? I didn’t buy it for a reason, you wasted your money.” I snap at him, tired of the attitude he’s giving me, when all I wanted to do was hangout with my best friend.

“You looked good in it, so I bought it. The skirt was a little too big, so I know that this size will fit you better. You also want it for you insta posts, so I got it so you could wear it tonight.” He mumbles before grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the shoe store.

I watch him as he walks over to one of the clerks and tells him a couple things, before the clerk heads into the back, coming back out moments later with a shoe box. Ruel opens the box and nods his head before handing it back and asking him to ring it up for him. I jog over to him before he can pay for them, wondering what the hell he’s impulsively buying this time.

“Nothing important, so don’t worry about it. Wanna go start the car for me while I pay?” He asks while tossing me the keys. I stare at him for a moment before leaving the store and heading to the car. As I sit in the car, I think about how weird he’s acting. He’s literally throwing a fit over nothing and then thinks buying me my outfit is going to solve everything.

“Uhm here. These are for you, because none of your shoes will go with the outfit, and these will. You can’t have a complete outfit without shoes to match.” He mutters putting the box on my lap, before pulling out of the mall parking lot. I open the box to see a pair of plain white nike air forces, turning to stare at him because he shouldn’t be spending all this money on me.

“Ruel you didn’t have to do that. You literally have spent over a $100 on me today, that’s too much, you also probably don’t even know my size so they might not fit.” I state while trying to put the shoes in the backseat, so he can return them later.

“You’re my best friend, I’ll do anything to make you happy, and I know having this outfit for the pics and future occasions will make you happy. I also know all your sizes by heart so they’re gonna fit.” He says while pulling into my driveway. He gets out of the car and heads into my house before I can even reply to him.

I go inside and change, putting on the outfit he got me, before turning around to face him, as he sits on my bed waiting for me to finish. I give him a little twirl, waiting for his reaction to how I look.

“You look beautiful, but you didn’t need a new outfit for that, you always look beautiful.” He mumbles looking at the floor. I walk to go and sit next to him. I slowly reach my hand out and watch as he puts his hand in mine, intertwining our finger together, and putting them on his lap.

“Can you tell me what’s wrong.. I don’t like when you’re angry with me.” I softly say looking over to him. A brief look of frustration appears on his face before turning to a look of nervousness.

“I just feel like you’re trying to replace me with him. I know you’re not, but it’s just not a good feeling. I don’t like when you rely on other people for things like that, even if they aren’t things to be considered a big deal, I just want you to rely on me and need me. I just don’t like feeling like I’m not needed.” He whispers looking away from me and at our entwined hands.

“I always need you, you know that. He’s just helping me out and hanging with me for the day, since he’s only going to be visiting for a week. I’m not replacing you, don’t think I could ever replace you even if I wanted too.” I say trying to get him to see my point of view about it all. He sighs and runs his hand through his hair roughly.

“No, you don’t get it.” He snaps moving away from me and towards my door. I jump up and grab his wrist pulling him back towards me so that he can’t leave.

“Then tell me Ruel! I can’t help you and fix this if you don’t tell me what the issue is! Like why don’t you like Luke? He hasn’t done anything wrong” I snap back, tired of the back and forth of this conversation.

“I don’t like the fact that you’re relying on another guy and trying to impress another guy, that isn’t me, okay? That’s it, I’m fucking jealous of him. I want you to want me the same way I want you. Can I fucking leave now?” He snaps before angrily walking towards me door.

“You’re an idiot oh my god” I say while laughing and sitting on my bed, watching as he whips around to face me with a pissed off look on his face.

“That’s literally what you’re going to say to me after all that? You’re just going to laugh and make me feel worse?” He hisses with a cold look on his face.

“You’re so dramatic Ruel. First of all, Luke has a girlfriend, who he’s very in love with. Second of all, there’s nothing to be jealous of. You’re my best friend and I lov-“ I say getting ready to confess my feelings before the stupid giant interrupts me.

“How do you not get it?! I’m literally trying to tell you I’m in love with you, I don’t want to be your fucking best friend anymore” He impatiently yells, while throwing his arms around in the air, signifying how frustrated he is.

“Can you shut up you tall bitch and let me explain? As I was saying, I love you and don’t want anyone else. I just never thought you had feelings for me too.” I state with a roll of my eyes before I get up and wrap my arms around his neck.

He immediately leans down and presses his lips against mine, in a soft but passionate kiss, putting all his feelings into it. He leans back and softly rests his forehead against mine before giving me a small grin.

“Are you done crying about everything now?” I sassily say while raising an eyebrow at him. He throws his head back laughing before pulling me on top of him on my bed.

“Yeah, I’m sorry about my attitude today. I just felt like I was losing you to another guy, and that’s something I never want to happen. But now that we’re on this topic of us, does this mean you’re my girlfriend now?” He questions with a smirk as I roll my eyes and nod my head yes.

He grins at my reply before flipping us over and placing kisses all over my face and neck. I lay there laughing while he continues his attack against my skin. He finally stops and just lays on top of me with his head resting against my chest, while he intertwines our hands together, with my other hand running through his hair.

“I love you. I’ve always loved you and I always will. I love you with all I’ve got, I hope you know that.” He mumbles against chest, while I softly smile at the beautiful boy laying on me.

“I know, I love you too. Just try to not jump to conclusions and freak out on me next time bubs because I might just have to tell Coco and get her to smack some sense into you” I say laughing while he rolls his eyes at me.

Let’s just say, he definitely didn’t have a problem with me hanging out with Luke today anymore. He might be the most dramatic boy I know, but you don’t choose who you fall in love with. Even if I could, I wouldn’t choose anyone else.

[kob131]

https://rwdestuffs.tumblr.com/post/625097351282966528/done-dirty-ironwood

So, the guy who is declaring martial law, and thought to himself “The people who attacked Beacon hacked our systems, but they totally won’t do it again” is supposed to be the “good guy” right?

A. Better than the mass murdering, child abandoning, family endangering woman but then again considering your hard on...

B. Gee, almost like the show is saying he’s not entirely in the right OR wrong...

C. “ Watts: (sighs) While cybersecurity has been stepped up in Atlas, as usual, none of the code was updated in Mantle. “ Wanna try that again Dudeblade.

Okay, I guess we can’t be totally unfair to him. After all, he’s just being paranoid. Paranoid to the point that he’s become a nervous wreck…

And Yang being depressed to the point of doing nothing to help her sister is so terrible of her right? Since we’re mocking PTSD and mental issues here...

How is he not a grimm magnet?- Starting to get the vibe that that whole thing about them being attracted to negative emotions is a load of bull, but whatever. Subject for another time.

Like the subject of him pistol whipping an Alpha Beowolf and surviving a crashing plane in Volume 3 showcasing he’s too competent to die to a Grimm under normal circumstances. Nah that’s show don’t tell and the act of acknowledging that would probably kill Dudeblade.

Well, I’ll say this much: He looks better with a beard.

Now let’s see, what Wizard of Oz character is Ironwood supposed to be based off of?

Ah yes, the heartless Tinman. Fun fact: The Wiki labeled this as “Terminator.Png”, so make of that as you will.

In the original lore, the Tin Man wanted a heart so that he could love. But the story showed that he had that ability to begin with.

You know, like Ironwood repeatedly showing warm emotion throughout Volume 7 and having the right idea but loses it all due to his own human flaws.

Ironwood’s… recent behaviors is troubling. Nora has pointed out that Mantle is bearing the brunt of the burden while Atlas has to shoulder… Nothing.

She talks to Ironwood, not Atlas as a whole dumbass. You’ll even prove it later.

Ironwood could tell Mantle about the plan so that he could hire Hunters there to guard the tower against threats, and also maybe get some programmers to, I don’t know… Keep it safe from hackers?

Nora: I am so sick of secrets! If we just told everyone about Amity, about Salem--

Ironwood: We can’t!

Everyone turns to look at Ironwood.

Ironwood: If we talk about Amity now, we risk Salem’s forces, who we know are here, working to sabotage it. If we tell them about Salem now, we risk falling to the Grimm before we can reunite Remnant.

Stealing argument from the show now are we?

The label the PNG image has is right. Ironwood is the Terminator. Bad under pressure, easily hackable, and only knowledgeable in combat but nothing else.

... So Yang.

Dudeblade: *goes into a snarling fit of rage*

Yeah just as I thought.

Considering that he’s abandoning Mantle with no real plan to actually stop Salem, it’s obvious that he’s doing what Oz is doing: He’s just desperately trying to hold off the inevitable.

Gee, almost like that’s a theme of something...

Which I think is a post for another time.

Can’t wait to see you fuck yourself in the ass then.

Nora here is correct. No matter what Ironwood says, no matter what he tells himself, Mantle took on the burden of completing that tower. Atlas?- They never had to fear grimm attacks. They never had to fear losing their jobs (At least until jacques decided to take them away and blame Ironwood for it). Mantle was a police state once the main characters got there, and all their resources were being diverted to Atlas.

Not pictured- A mention of Atlas.

Also not pictured- Ironwood talking about AMITY, not ATLAS getting the resources.

Atlas had an embargo. But as far as we’ve seen, Atlas if full of a bunch of rich assholes that don’t give a crap about the rest of the world.

Not the point of the embargo, which is to prevent mutual destruction among the kingdoms by killing each other with Dust from Atlas.

Then we consider that Ironwood declares martial law and orders the arrest of the titular team.

So suddenly the team is in the right, even as you love to make the case they’re monsters?

Funny how shit changes according to your political whims...

In all honesty, Blake and Yang made the right call in telling Robyn of the plan, because it got her to back off of stealing the supplies, even only for a bit.

Proof? ... No?

Gee, trying to excuse characters from their actions- Guess that’s something that’ll never change with Dudeblade.

But then we get this bombshell:

Ironwood just wanted to lure out Watts. He had no plan. Just like Oz, he was only delaying the inevitable.

‘Ready to launch’ dumbass. That’s the lie.

What Ironwood is doing is dividing the people. He is basically giving Salem exactly what she wants: A divided humanity.

You know, what the show itself is saying. So how is this a failure of the show’s and not your dumb ass again?

I mean… The is the guy who brought an ARMY to a celebration of PEACE that started because HIS KINGDOM started a war. Are we really supposed to see him as the “good guy” here?

Repeating Ozpin I see.

Ozpin: (standing up) And fear will bring the Grimm. A guardian is a symbol of comfort. But an army is a symbol of conflict. There's an energy in the air now, a question in the back of everyone's minds... (gestures to the display) "If this is the size of our defenses, then what is it we're expecting to fight?"

Say, wasn’t Ozpin ‘done dirty’? How come you’re ripping off his own arguments?

He can keep saying that “it’s the right decisions that are the toughest to make” and all that bullcrap, but as we all know: The road to hell is paved with good intentions. The guy refuses to admit fault in any capacity whatsoever, instead blaming others for his own shortcomings.

Ironwood: I wanted Ozpin's advice.

Oscar: And his advice probably would've been to keep your secrets. When we first got here, you already knew that wasn't the right course. You had a new plan.

Ironwood: It's time to give up on that plan.

Ironwood straightens up, lowering his hand from his face.

Ironwood: It's all falling apart.

Oscar: The panic you were worried about? It's already happening. The secrets you're keeping? They're about to be in the open anyway. It's time.

Ironwood turns and looks at Oscar.

Oscar: Tell the truth.

Ruby: You're not alone.

Ironwood looks over to see that Ruby has approached him with an encouraging smile.

Ruby: We can do this together.

Ironwood nods and smiles.

Ironwood: Thank you. Oscar, I think it's time you get back to the Academy.

Oscar: I think you're right.

Oscar rests his hand on the Relic again. While Ironwood speaks, Winter brings out her Scroll and starts using it, heading over to him.

Ironwood: Miss Hill, Councilman Sleet, Councilwoman Camilla, there are some things you need to know about. Let's figure out how we can help Mantle… together.

You were saying?

He has the “My way, or no way” mentality. He literally shoots a teenager because he’s throwing a temper tantrum over not being treated the way he wants to. It was his drones that got hacked. It was his system that got compromised. It was his lack of empathy that made team RWBY turn against him.

All points (except the temper tantrum you fucking hypocrite) the show already made.

Wanna know what else it made?

‘Team RWBY did the same thing to Ironwood Ozpin did to them’

‘Team RWBY betrayed Ironwood and caused this division too’

‘Team RWBY and Ironwood are both at fault.’

But hey, those don’t fit your politics.

And yet, he refuses to see that he’s become the thing that he fears most.

Here’s another post that also goes in detail about what Ironwood did.

Oh hey, Dudeblade agreeing with the show!

Also: self sourcing. Source denied.

So, remind me again why we should at all trust him when he refuses to trust anyone not blindly loyal to him?

Because he’s not that and you’re being a biased asshat.

Which, I must add:

SOUNDS DANGEROUSLY FAMILIAR!

What, did you listen to yourself for once?

But congrats on making the show look good as you rip points straight from the show itself. Which I’m all but certain of was the opposite of your intention given your series. While also outing the series as your personal bitchings as NONE of this discusses the show itself.

The ultimate self fucking.

[hoboal87]

Some thoughts and a quasi fix-it on the Finale (SPOILERS)

I want to preface this by saying that I like the finale, if you didn’t, I completely get that, and if you just want to say nasty things, you can move on to the next post =)

I’ll try to keep my thoughts coherent, but no promises. Obviously, a lot of things had to change with this final episode of COVID-19, and I’ll try to address how I think they could’ve worked around it without changing the essence of this episode, which again, I’ll reiterate, I liked.

Let’s start at the beginning, shall we?

As the episode opens, we see the boys living a “normal” life. They don’t have to worry about cosmic entities anymore, they can just do what they do best. I honestly loved this, the boys just being domestic: cooking breakfast, doing research, doing laundry, all of it. My one complaint about this opening montage is there is no clear passage of time. How long has it been since Chuck was rendered powerless? A day? A week? A few months? A year? In my opinion, it’s been maybe a couple of weeks, but I feel like the writers were trying to imply that it’s been a couple of months and it was just unclear. For me, that would have solved one of my few issues with the episode. So let's change it up a little =)

We open similarly, but in the background, we can see the date it is actually five years (or whatever amount) later. The boys are getting ready for their respective days, Dean is living in an apartment over a bar, and we watch as Sam returns from his run and enters a small house. Dean doesn’t just live above the bar, he owns it, finally having some normalcy in his life, this is what wants. He proudly displays pictures of Sam, Bobby, Mary and John, his own way of keeping them close.Sam walks into the kitchen and sees a note on the refrigerator.

“Gone to get supplies, see you tonight, Love, E.”

Sam smiles at the note as he twirls the silver band on his finger, taking in the black and white sonogram displayed prominently next to the note. We follow Sam through the house, and we see photos of his and Eileen’s wedding, and pictures of their families. His kids will never have questions about their pasts, about their families, Sam and Eileen are intent on that.

Dean opens his bar, it’s a steady crowd, flirts with some of the women, but isn’t really pursuing anything, he’s closed himself off to the idea of a wife and kids. He’s got a nephew that’ll be here in a few months anyway, and he’s already told Sam how he plans to spoil that kid rotten. We cut between Sam and Dean, watching them go through their day, Dean working at the bar, Sam with papers splayed in front of him, implying he’s gone back to school. They’re both content, finally getting what they’ve always truly wanted. They still hunt, that much is apparent as we see them at one point cleaning their weapons or doing research.

As Dean closes up the bar he sends Sam a message.

“You ready for tomorrow?”

Sam rolls his eyes playfully, “are you sure its the best idea?”

“Hell, yes. I was born ready, it’s my destiny. Tomorrow 8 am.”

This would be, maybe a 5 to 7 minute opening scene? Then we get the title card. The rest of the episode plays the same from here. Sam and Dean go on a mini-vacation, which turns into a hunt.

So about Dean’s death. I wouldn’t change a single thing.

Personally, I don’t think there was any other way to end the series. As a bunch of people pointed out, Dean’s been saying some form of “I die bloody” since the beginning of the show. Now, did I want Dean to die? No. Dean deserved to live a full and happy life, but as Michael said, “since when do we get what we deserve?”

I rewatched the episode yesterday, and I SOBBED like a fucking baby throughout Dean’s death scene. I will agree it was a little Wincest-y, but, honestly, is it really that surprising? Sam and Dean have only ever had each other. Dean raised Sam, Dean is Sam's parent in every way that counts. A user pointed out, I’m so sorry if you see this please let me know and I will tag to your post, Dean speech starts more as a father to son type instead of brother to brother.

Sam is in shock when Dean tells him that he’s hurt, immediately going with “I’ll get the first aid kit.” The look on Dean’s face is heart-breaking, and you can see that he has already accepted his fate, he’s known since the second that the rebar (NOT A FUCKING NAIL) went through him that he was not walking away. Sam is going through all the stages of grief in just a few minutes.

Denial – “I’ll get the first aid kit.”

Anger – “No, we are gonna get [the boys] somewhere safe.”

Bargaining – “I’ll find a way, I’ll find another way.”

Depression – “Don’t leave me. I can’t do this alone.”

Acceptance – “It’s okay, Dean. You can go now.”

All the while, Dean is telling Sam how proud of him he is, and that he “loves [Sam] so much.” Now, please correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that this is the first time that Dean has said to Sam that he loves him. I know we’ve heard him say it to other people and it’s definitely been implied, and the closest we got was in sacrifice, “don’t you think that there is anything, past or present, that I would put in front of you.”

Dean died in his brother’s arms, which to me, was beautiful. Can you imagine, though, Sam, carrying his brother’s lifeless body back to the Impala, setting him down gingerly in the back seat and driving back to the bunker?

I believe that we were supposed to get a lot of people at Dean’s funeral. Jody, Donna, Charlie, Bobby, Claire, (honestly, probably anyone who could be there.) But with travel restrictions into Vancouver, this had to change. It is not realistic for the writers/producers to ask people to quarantine for 2 weeks to shoot a half-day (if that) of filming. I did see that Samantha Ferris did say she wasn’t spoken to about the possibility of returning. I truly believe Shoshanna was supposed to be in this episode, but, her role was going to be very limited, and as much as I wanted to see her (obviously, from the above section) I firmly believe that she was supposed to be the woman Sam married.

Again let’s fix the second half of the episode:

Sam and Eileen give Dean a hunter’s funeral, and Sam quits the life altogether. He doesn’t want his son to ever lose him to a hunt. Eileen helps Sam through his depression, knowing exactly how it feels to lose your family. We get a similar montage, Sam takes over the bar, takes in Miracle, and keeps the Impala tucked away, for now, it’s too painful to even look at. Sam leaves Dean’s apartment as is for the longest time, afraid to move anything, what if he forgets where to put it back? We can see he’s just going through the motions, that is, until his son is born.

We see Sam cradling a newborn in his arms, Dean had joked from the moment Eileen announced her pregnancy that they should name the baby after him. Sam and Eileen laughed him off at the time, saying the world only ever needed one Dean Winchester. But now, Sam can’t think of any better way to honor his brother, than to name his son Dean.

Dean is in Heaven, greeted by Bobby who tells him all about new Heaven. Jack fixed it, and it is the Heaven that Dean deserves. When Bobby mentions Cas, Dean smirks, and Bobby assures him that Cas is around. Dean spots Baby, and tells Bobby that he's going to take her for a drive. Dean doesn’t know how long he's going to drive, but remembers Bobby’s words, “time works different up here,” and knows that eventually Sam will join him.

Dean watches from afar as Sam lives on, raising his son and daughter (cause honestly Sam would want more than one kid), he keeps them knowledgeable about the life, but they don’t hunt. On Dean Jr.’s eighteenth birthday Sam takes him to get an anti-possession tattoo, but it is more of a symbol to honor his family, Sam teaches Dean about the Impala, and how to take care of her, and he’s a natural mechanic just like his Uncle. Once a year, on the anniversary of his brother’s death, Sam sits in Baby, and feels connected to Dean, telling him much he misses him and how he wishes he was with him.

Dean watches as Sam grows old, and keeps his word, even though Sam didn’t know it, he’s been by his side the whole time. On his deathbed, Sam is surrounded by his children and Eileen (or an Eileen stand-in), who tell him it’s okay to go, and tells them all how much he loves them before letting go.

We cut to Dean, waiting on a bridge, the same one from his and Sam’s first hunt, and he can feel himself becoming whole again.

“Heya Sammy.”

[hms-chill]

Everything’s Bigger

Chapter 3

Henry's not sure how long they spend in bed. He knows he dozes, even as he tries to stay awake to make sure Alex doesn't roll over onto his bad shoulder. He's dozing when Cash comes in to wake him up with a gentle, "Henry? They've found the other man he was working with. The president is on her way, and we're hoping to move Alex to the hospital for some x-rays soon."

"It's... it's over?"

"It's over," Cash says, smiling. "Do you want to wake him up and tell him?" Henry nods.

"We'll be down in a bit." Cash nods and goes to finish things up downstairs, and Henry starts to kiss Alex awake. After a moment, a half-asleep Alex starts to move his arm up to Henry's face. Henry tries to stop him, but he's not quick enough. Alex yelps in pain, pulling the arm back to his chest as Henry pulls him into a hug. He's trying his hardest not to cry, but he's clearly in pain as Henry rubs his back gently.

"Hey, it's okay. It's all going to be okay. We can go to the hospital when you're ready, and they'll get you all fixed up. I know it hurts; I'm sorry. I love you."

"I love you," Alex says, then, "It... it hurts. It hurts so bad. It hurts to move and breathe... It hurts."

"I know. I'm so sorry, Love. We... we can go to the hospital whenever you feel ready to get up," Henry says gently. He's not sure what else to say, and even less sure what will make it past the lump in his throat. It hurts to see Alex in so much pain, especially when it feels like it's all Henry's fault. Alex is hurt because of him, and that is nearly enough to make Henry cry.

After a few more moments with his face buried in Henry's shoulder, Alex pulls back to ask, "I... we can go to a hospital? It's safe?"

"Cash said so. They... they've got all the bad guys. Your mom's on her way, probably with June, and I'm going to call home as soon as I can make sure it's okay to let them know."

"Another Texan succession plan, foiled," Alex mumbles, and Henry laughs, kissing his cheek.

"Do you feel alright to get up? It'll be going downstairs, then out to a van." Alex nods, and Henry helps him up, making sure he's steady. They make their way to the van, and Henry gets permission to call home, so he calls Bea and his mom, filling them in on everything that's happened. When they hang up, he calls Pez and fills him in, too. All the while, Alex rests on his shoulder, content to cling to Henry's arm with his good one and relax for a bit.

He refuses a wheelchair when they get to the hospital, and he only leans on Henry a bit as they make their way inside. They're eventually separated as Alex is whisked off to x-rays, and someone insists on looking Henry over to make sure he's not hurt before they let him go wait in Alex's room. He gets there just as Amy is finishing her security sweep, and he pulls her aside to ask a question. She hesitates, checks with Zahra, and gives him permission. Henry pulls out his phone.

Alex is back before too long, complaining about an uncomfortable x-ray blanket and that his sling is ugly, though Henry knows him well enough to be able to read the very real and entirely unrelated pain in his face. Ellen, June, and Leo are there before long, all with Texas-sized hugs for them both before Elle's pulled into a conversation and Leo offers to get them dinner somewhere local. Alex names a place, and Henry recognizes it as the place they were supposed to meet Liam and Spencer for dinner. He hopes they're okay; hopes no one else was hurt. He hopes so badly that he and Alex didn't ruin anyone else's life.

"No one else was hurt. Amy got the first guy right away, and the second wasn't able to hurt anyone," June says, pulling him out of his head. He's alone with the Claremont-Diaz siblings now; Leo must have left to get food. Alex has let his unshakable facade drop just a bit, and Henry climbs into bed to cuddle him.

"How is it?" He asks, and Alex grimaces.

"It hurts. They said it's fractured; I'll have to do physical therapy soon to make sure I don't lose range of motion. That'll hurt like hell, too, but at least it shouldn't take too long."

"I'm sorry. Thank you."

"Nothing to be sorry for; I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Zahra said we can have Twitter again, right?"

"That's right."

"Come here." He's got his good arm out for a selfie, and Henry puts his head on Alex's good shoulder, smiling slightly. Alex takes the selfies and goes immediately to Twitter with it, posting it under the caption "we lived bitch".

"People know that meme, right? Like they'll get that it's a meme?" He asks, and Henry nods, laughing a bit as he turns to press a kiss to the side of Alex's neck.

"Get a room," June mutters, and Alex glares at her.

"You and your partners are twice as gross. Besides, I'm hurt. I've been through something traumatic; I need the support. Emotionally."

"Fine; you win. I'm going to the bathroom. You're the worst; I'm glad you're safe, both of you. But Henry especially."

Alex's indignation follows her out of the room. Henry quiets him down with gentle kisses along his neck, and eventually, the pain meds kick in for real, letting him relax for real. They both spend a bit of time answering texts and letting people they're okay, Alex especially, since most people Henry knows are in bed. He checks in with Liam and Spencer, and they're okay. They don't mind rescheduling dinner, so Alex plans that for a bit, then calls his dad on FaceTime. Oscar wants to talk to both of them, so Henry is holding the phone, his head on Alex's shoulder, when June comes back into the room to say, "Alex? I... I think you'll want to come see this. Keep Dad on; he'll want to see, too."

June takes the phone while Heny makes sure Alex can get up without hurting himself, and they follow her out of their room. They're at the end of the hall, and just to their right is a big window overlooking a park. When they look down, it's full of people. People waving rainbow and other pride flags, people holding hastily made signs that say things like "Austin Proud", "Get well soon, Austin loves you", or just "Austin ❤️'s Alex". Alex's hand goes to his mouth, and Henry hugs him from behind, careful not to bump his shoulder. Oscar says something, but June answers for them as they keep looking out over the crowd gathered in the golden hour sun. Wordlessly, Henry presses a kiss just below Alex's ear, then steps back to take a few pictures: one where Alex's face is visible in profile, a few tears on his cheeks and sheer awe and joy in his face, and a few of his silhouette, the crowd below visible in the background.

When he gets back, Alex's voice is thick with emotion as he says, "They... I was right. They are good, and they... This is Texas. This is the state that raised me; this is the state I love. This is it right here, all sorts of people coming together to love one of our own."

"The guys who hurt you? They drove over from Louisiana," Henry says softly. Amy had texted him, offering him the opportunity to tell Alex face to face. Alex turns to stare at him for a moment, then starts to laugh a bit.

"Of course they were. Texas... Texas wouldn't do this to me. Not my Texas. No, this, right down there? That's my Texas."

Henry smiles, kissing him again and resting his head on Alex's as they look out on the crowd together. After a moment, he points to a cluster of people trying to make it through the crowd and asks, "Is that Leo? And his team?"

"I think so," Alex says, smiling. "Maybe... if the staff are okay with it, maybe we could eat out here. Have a little picnic. I don't think we'd bother anyone."

"Have your mom ask and I bet they'll let us." Alex laughs at that, and he doesn't wince after, and Henry calls that a massive win.

As Alex texts his mom and coordinates dinner, Henry adds the pictures he took to a thread with his second tweet post-shooting: "Hey y'all (did I use that right?), someone very close to me is in the hospital and feeling a bit betrayed by his hometown. Anything y'all can do about that, Austin?" It's already full of replies wishing Alex well, and sharing wonderful things that happened at Austin pride. Better yet, there are people saying they've donated to the Austin youth shelter, and they can't wait to see it open. Henry grins, closing the app and helping his boyfriend convince a nurse that, really, he'll heal faster if he can eat dinner looking out at all the support.

Later that night, when they've eaten their fill, Leo and his team unveil a mountain of get well cards and messages they'd been given on their dinner run. Alex reads them all, and he cries more than once before he eventually falls asleep covered in rainbows, glitter, and well-wishes. Henry takes another picture to add to the Twitter thread: "From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Y'all have shown us some Texas-sized love today, and I'm forever grateful."

On AO3

Notes:

A quick end, though there will be an epilogue! I'm getting that worked out and it'll be up soon. I just really wanted to get some of these scenes out into the world; Alex's love for/fear of rejection from Texas is something that really resonated with me and that I loved writing about.

[miss-choco-chips]

Miraculous Ladybug Au part 1

For @iphoenixrising who I think might like the idea. Thanks for always giving me confidence hon. I hope this cheers you up a lil bit.

Where Dick is guilty for wanting what he wants, Jason is confused about who he wants, and Tim just wants to sleep.

<<-Hey, Tim, check this out! You missed big time! That’ll show you not to go on vacation without me to keep you in touch with the real, exciting world.

-Uh?

-Someone on Instagram just posted a twenty seconds clip of Robin doing something.

-People are always posting about the bats. How is this news, Steph?

-Shh, I’m getting there. Look at this. This Robin is waaay too short. It’s not the one we’ve had for the last three years.

-... and? There were two different Robins before him, maybe he just outgrew it or something.

-But, where is he? The others came back, with new names and powers, they… they didn’t left us.

-Maybe it’s just taking him some time, to decide who is he going to be now.

-...Yeah, maybe. He saved me and my daughter once, you know. Took one hell of a blow for us. Wherever he is, I hope he’s doing okay, and gets himself on track quickly. The city needs him.

-I’m sure he’ll appreciate the sentiment. And… I hope that, too.>>

Now...

He tumbled through the open window, face planting into his bed, the transformation letting up even before his forehead was properly buried in the pillow. His muscles practically melting against his Nightwing comforter (birthday present from Dick, oh the irony), the scent of smoke still clinging to it from the last time the boys dropped in for a impromptu visit (nearly scaring the bejesus out of him when he heard their voices and footsteps climbing up the stairs to his bedroom while he still was in the suit, holy fuck-!).

He wanted to sleep so badly. But he had maybe (it was around five a.m, right?) two hours until he needed to leave for work, and if he took a nap now, he might not be able to wake up on time.

-Are you alright, Timmy?

Gathering whatever leftover strength he had in him, he turned his head to the side, his almost closed eyes finding the worried ones of his kwami.

-Yeah. Only tired.

-I’d bet -the little bird-like creature huffed, his tiny black and red chest puffing like an offended peacock-. You are running yourself too ragged.

-Well, lots of things to do. Work stuff, Red Robin stuff, Tim Drake stuff... Not to mention, college.

-Speaking of… -trailed off the kwami, his big blue eyes signaling towards the desk, where his Advanced Economic’s paper awaited for attention.

Tim followed Rouge’s line of sight and promptly groaned when he got the hint, dropping his head once again in the mattress.

-Fuuuuuck. When was that due for?

-Tomorrow. And you’re supposed to met up with Jason today, and dinner with Dick after that. If you cancel on any of them again...

-...Well, it’s not like I actually expected to get any sleep today.

-Two all nighters in a row?

-It’s like you read my mind.

----.----.----

Then...

He met Richard at the circus, when he was four, but since the other boy didn’t remember (his parent’s death probably overwrote anything else in his memory of that night), their official meeting happened two months later, when Dick was formally introduced to high society as Bruce Wayne’s ward.

-Mister Wayne -his father shook Bruce's hand, fake smile firmly in place- and this must be young Richard. Hi, champ, I'm Jack Drake, and this is my lovely Janet.

Behind his mother, Tim couldn't repress a giggle. Champ, dad? Really?

-Good evening, gentleman -his mother, the perfect picture of a lady, smiled delicately behind her gloved hand. It didn't reach her glacial blue irises, but it was enough to fool most businessmen in lowering their defenses.

Tim himself had eyes only for the boy clutching the taciturn billionaire's sleeve. He wondered how was he feeling, if he had tried to fly at all since his parents deaths. He hoped so.

Dick had looked so happy while flying.

—I'm Tim —he butted in, when it was obvious his father intended to speak business and leave the introductions behind them— A pleshure.

He winced internally when the last word was mispronounced, and externally when his mother's nails sank into his shoulder in consequence.

-You'll have to forgive him, he's a baby still -laughed his mother, her hand letting him go and reaching for his father’s elbow-. Go explore, Tim. Your dad has people he needs to talk to, all boring stuff. I’m sure it’s the same with Mister Wayne.

Said man seemed to agree, though how Tim knew, he couldn’t tell, as the man’s expression barely changed.

Dick, on the other side, seemed absolutely crestfallen.

And he knows, he knows he's going to get into trouble for this the moment they are home, but the expression in the boy’s face is just… He wants to wipe it clean, like his nanny does for him when he gets tomato sauce on his cheek.

(It's so different from how he looked that night, soaring the skies besides his parents. Had been so… free)

«Was it then, when he started to put Dick's happiness before his own?»

—Mister Wayne -he finally gathered enough courage to talk, going as far as to interrumput his father’s speech about current politics- can Richard come play with me? Please? We’ll behave.

Dick's small, thankful smile was enough to warrant Bruce's permission, and seal Tim's destiny away.

----.----.----

Now...

-Tiiiiiiimmmyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!

He regrets picking up without double checking the caller id. So strongly.

In defense of his sleep deprived brain, it was an unknown number. So either Dick had a new phone, was burrowing someone’s for any reason, or he had caught on on Tim’s attempt at taking distance, decided to try and catch him when he knew he had his defenses low (before eight a.m) and bought a burner to accomplish it.

-It’s six in the morning. You better have a damn good reason to be calling me so… chirpily, at this ungodly hour.  You don’t even have to work till nine, why are you awake?

Because Nightwing, along with Red Robin, had been fighting an akumatized nurse  not two hours ago. But, since Dick didn’t know Tim knew, his obvious response at such a close corner was to deflect with a practiced, not awkward-totally-but-still-noticeably laugh.

-Come on, honey, where’s my happy Timmers? Who spat in your cereal?

Rouge passed by his bathroom mirror, where Tim was inspecting his reflection in search of his will to live, and like the god-like tiny thing he was, he rubbed comfortingly against his partner’s cheek, as if lending him strength.

Tim sighed and put the phone in speaker, dropping it on the marble countertop. He wasn’t getting out of this conversation anytime soon, so might as well continue with his morning routine.

Tam once compared it to watching a snake changing skins. From the tired, more-than- slightly-murderous teen, to the wow-lookit-a-respectable-young-man.

-First, you ever call me that again, I’ll rearrange your face a la Picasso. Second, no one uses that expression. And lastly, only you eat that crap anyway.

-That’s a lie, I know for a fact you have at least two different brands in your kitchen, even though one is an insult to the cereal industry. Fiber, blegh.

-Because one is for you when you visit, and the other I bought on an impulse of spite to punish you for… I don’t remember now, but I’m sure it was horrible and deserving of drastic measures.

He could hear Dick’s laugh over the line. Once upon a time, the sound would make Tim’s mood  lighten, like an echo of the other.

Now it hurt a little.

-You’re spending too much time with Jason and not nearly enough with me. You used to be such a sweet, eager to please angel. What happened?

-I asked your dad to let you play with me, and here I am, fourteen, fifteen years later, looking at my life, looking at my choices -and looking for his damn tie, which he swore he left by the toothbrush yesterday, where the fuck… - Asking myself where I went wrong.

-Yeah, now I remember why I never call you this early.

-About that, was there a reason, or you just wanted to take Jason’s place of honour in my hit-list?

Dick choked on a laugh, and Tim took the chance to quickly brush his teeth. His hair was a lost cause and he had learned to ignore it or risk spending too much time in a battle he wouldn't win. Easier to just ask Tam to brush it for him at the office, because that woman was a magician and Tim would fire the whole board of investor from D.I  before letting her go.

-Just checking in. We are still on for movie night, right? Because I might just use my power as a law enforcer and arrest you if you cancel on me again.

With one last look at his reflection (making damn sure his concealer hid both the black and blue spot by his jaw and his ever-growing eye bags), he picked up his phone and started for the kitchen. Rouge, bless his little soul, had plugged in the coffee maker, and the smell called to him like light to a moth.

And there was his tie, by the pot. Score.

-Movie night? -he asked, dubiously, glancing at his kwami. Rouge’s brow furrowed and he shook his head- No, we were going out for dinner. I’m sure.

-It’s Tuesday. Tuesdays were always movie night days. I thought it was implied, Timmy, for God’s sake.

Tuesday were movie night days back when they were five and eleven respectively, even before Jason was adopted, up until Dick started getting busier and calling it quits more often than not. It had been a while since they followed the tradition.

-Uhm, no, sorry. I have a paper due tomorrow, and was going to work on it after dinner with you. Can’t stay the night at your place. Rain check?

-...Yeah. Okay, sure. But you aren’t getting out of dinner.

He could hear Dick’s disappointment over the line. Once upon a time, the sound would ruin Tim’s mood, like an echo of the other.

Now, it still hurt a little.

(More than a little. Fuck)

It’d be easier if he could just cut ties with them all as Tim Drake. If he could get up and leave them, betray their trust, their love.

Like Nightwing had done with Red Robin. Or, to be fair, Robin.

----.----.----

Then…

Tim had known of the Akumas since… forever, really. They had been haunting Gotham long before he was born, hurting people, destroying things, breaking everything in their reach apart.

And then, when he was but a baby, the Batman appeared. Mrs Mac, the housekeeper, told him about it once. How, when the city was going through it’s darkest times, a knight of shadows and justice had risen, taking upon himself the responsibility of protecting the city.

Protecting everyone, really.

He, as any gothamite born and raised, had watched in wonder at whatever recordings the News Channels could provide, talked theories with his friends, stayed up at night wondering who the magic hero might be…

Until said magic hero recruited a sidekick, and Tim stayed up at night for totally new reasons.

(He’d recognize those moves, those tricks, but above all else, that laugh, anywhere)

He wanted so badly to knock at Wayne Manor’s doors, hunt down Bruce and fucking scream at him. Akumas were dangerous, whoever sent them was dangerous, fucking Gotham was dangerous, and Dick was his friend. His thirteen year old friend, who had been a hero for years before the lucky camera man had caught him on frame, revealing the mysterious partner to the world. And while Tim was a kid himself, barely seven, he was smarter than tons of adults he knows. Smarter than Bruce, at least, since he, unlike the other, understood the dangers of the night. Of Gotham herself.

He got as far as the inner gym, where Dick was practicing by the trapezius, flying from end of the room to the other, spinning, twisting mid air, laughing when the roof got too close to his face in one of the highest jumps. And then (maybe because he caught sight of Tim watching by the door, maybe he wanted to show off just a little, maybe he wanted to tell him something and this was the only way to properly express it...), a quadruple somersault, the one he performed for Tim that first night -even if he doesn’t remember that-, the one Robin was caught on camera doing, the one that gave him away.

And Tim, caught in his amazement of the boy, unable to take away this if it was what gave him his wings back, could only clap and yell ‘again!’.

----.----.----

Now...

-You look like death warmed over -greeted Tam when he passed by her desk in his way to his office. Like the well trained boy he was, he detoured, dropping in the empty chair by her side she always had ready for him. Within a second, his assistant took a hairbrush from her purse and started to work her magic in his head.

-Didn’t sleep and had to deal with a morning person before seven. You’d look just as bad, thank you very much.

-Dick called?

He huffed. Rouge, in the inner pocket of his jacket, pressed closer to him for the movement. He stilled immediately, knowing the kwami needed all the sleep he could get.

-That obvious?

-You don’t associate with a lot of morning people.

-There’s something inherently wrong with them, if they are happy that early.

-One of your best friends is like that -Tam tutted, working on a specially difficult knot. Tim didn’t dare complain, even when the tug to his scalp made him wince.

-Bart is a special case, he lives in a perpetual state of high. I still believe he takes cocaine and redbull with his breakfast.

She hummed, hairbrush now discarded in favour of her fingers. They passed through his hair without resistance, his bedhead (could it be called that, when he hadn’t actually slept?) all but gone, the movements soothing. There weren’t a lot of things capable to relax him, these days.

-Well, you have an eleven o’clock appointment with a possible investor, but between that and the board meeting at three, you are a free man. I can make sure no one bothers you while you cat nap.

-I’d love to, but Jason will come and drag me out of here kicking and screaming if I miss lunch with him. Or worse, he might find me asleep and princess carry me all the way to the restaurant in plain view of as many cameras as he can as punishment.

Tam shook her head in amusement and fondness, releasing his hair and straightening on her chair, her ‘back to business’ pose- I’ll never understand your relationship with those boys, I swear.

A sigh, roll of shoulders and he was ready to face the day too.

-Neither will I.

-But you’ll miss them, if they leave.

A flash of something passes through his eyes.

----.----.----

Then...

-I miss you. Don’t you miss me?

Dick, sixteen in body but about five in soul pouted at the screen of his computer, trying to convey the ‘mean, little brother!’ expression as perfectly as possible.

Tim snorted through his nose, getting comfortable on the bed; the notebook on his lap, back to the headboard of the too-big matres, pillows everywhere.

-I can use your bed whenever you go away, so I’ll go with a tentative ‘maybe’. ‘sides, you’ve been gone for two months, Dick. The exchange program goes for seven to eight. Give me another one or so, and I’ll be crying for you to come back.

-That’s an ugly lie, but I appreciate the effort -a change of stance, then the voice turned utterly blank- How are things over there?

Tim bites his lip, wondering, but what would he gain hiding it? If Dick already knew, he would expect Tim, as a young kid, to mention it. If he didn’t, he would find out soon enough and wonder why he didn’t tell him.

-You know how for the last few months Robin just… stopped appearing?

-...yeah?

-Well, he came back a few days ago, and either he shrunk, or it’s someone else.

Dick’s expression doesn’t change, so Tim knows he made the right call telling him; he was already aware.

-Oh? Another kid, putting his life in danger? I wonder what those child activists think about it.

-Keep asking for Batman’s head on a platter, like usual. I think it helps that this one isn’t as small as the previous one was when he first appeared, but, you know. Still setting on fire Batman merchandise in the streets.

-The original Robin wasn’t small. You are small.

-Reaaally mature, Dick. Since when are you in Robin’s protection squad?

-Always been my favorite hero.

Self centered, much?

-Hm… And what about the new one?

-...Let’s wait and see if he can fill the shoes.

-Lucky for him, they’re just kid shoes, no clown ones.

A small, real smile steals his way into Dick’s face, and Tim wants to throw a happy fist to the air.

He lives for that smile.

-You are a dork. Anything else new?

Again, uncertainty, but this one was easier to explain if detected. After all, Dick was aware of how uncomfortable was Tim in his new position as the mediator.

-Jason’s adapting. His grades went up and…

-Oh, look at that. Sorry, Timmers, I gotta go. My roommate is texting me that he wants to hang out.

-Oh… okay. Are we… are we face timing for movie night later? right?

-Yeah, yeah, sure -he waved a hand, as if discarding Tim, and he just knew Dick was going to forget about it… again-. Go have fun. Your parents are still traveling, right? Give Bruce a few white hairs while you’re at the Manor for me. I think he might get bored, without me there to spice things and kickstart his nervous system once an hour. The life of a businessman is soooooo dull.

(Except when said business man is practically a magical girl. God, once Stpeh had made that comparison, Tim just couldn’t unsee it)

He tries to laugh, but it’s empty. He won’t push the issue, and Dick won’t talk about it willingly, but they are both aware of the elephant in the room.

-Wouldn't dream of taking your place as the ever-evolving ulcer in his stomach. Take care. Bye.

He closed the computer lid and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. The situation made him uneasy. It was hard, being Dick’s loyal, loving little brother, Bruce’s unproblematic charge (since his parents decided that letting Tim stay with Wayne during their trips was cheaper than the nanny and housekeeper), and Jason’s-

-Hey, Baby Bird, you done talking to the jackass?

He nearly jumped out of his skin, neck almost breaking with how quickly he turned to face the door.

-Jason! -the automatic smile, brought to fore by the mere sight of his friend in workout clothes (he must have been training) melt into a frown when the words sank in- Don’t be a jerk.

-He’s a dick, pun unintended.

-Cut him some slack, it’s the ‘no more single child’ symptom. He’s just jealous to have to share Bruce’s attention.

-Ain’t he a little too old for that?

-I don’t think ‘old’ is a word you could ever use to describe Dick. Ever. I mean, he’ll be retired and have like twenty grandchildren, and still give off the ‘young, single and ready to mingle’ vibe.

The laugh is so sudden, so surprising, Jason chokes on his own spit.

-You’re a riot. Why do I like you, again?

-Because if not for me, you’ll be alone in this big, scary house, with only Alfred and Bruce for company.

-Alf’s cool.

-Yeah, but he’ll put you to do chores if he thought you’re bored enough to get up to some mischief.

-Sometimes you talk like an 90’s British book.

-Shut up, Harry Potter is my Bible. Besides, not like you can talk about british literature.

Another laugh, and the last of Jason’s tension faded away like a charm. Tim left the computer on the bedside table and stretched, getting up.

-Come on, let’s go find some way to make your Dad rethink his life choices.

-Fuck French, you speak the language of love.

----.----.----

Now...

It was on his way to that new Barbeque on Cameron Street, northwest from Diamond district, when the ground beneath his feet shifted and he and another fifteen passers-by were caught in what seemed like an asphalt cage.

In the middle of the street. With no corner to hide and transform.

Great.

There wasn’t any villian in sight, so the akumatized person probably had just wanted some back up hostages. Most likely, they weren’t the only ones trapped.

And that in the corner was a street cam. Fuck.

He needs to get out and help catch the bad guy of the day, but can’t exactly break asphalt with his bare hands, and transforming in front of fifteen eyewitnesses and a camera isn’t exactly an option.

So, he takes out his phone.

-What’ll you do? -comes the whisper from within his jacket, and he looks down just enough to look at his kwami without drawing attention at himself.

-Well, at this rate I’m going to be late for lunch. It’d be rude of me if I don’t tell Jay about it -he types quickly while he talks, making sure the annoyed (and it always stuns Conner, his friend from metropolis, how Gothamites consider freaks and monsters running around a minor inconvenience; how used to crazy they are) people around him aren’t paying his actions enough attention-. There. Sent.

-Hope he’s not  mad at you.

-He can't be, I didn't postpone anything. Just told him I'll be held up here until Red Hood gets his ass on gear and does his job.

-Should you text Dick as well?

-Nah, that'd be too much of an overkill.

-...

-...

-...How long until he comes guns blazing to the rescue?

-Two, three minutes tops.

It was the basis of his and Jason's relationship, the knowledge that, if in peril, they could always count on the other to come running to either save them or hold their hands while everything went to shit.

----.----.----

Elsewhere…

-Hm… the little shit is taking his time. Think I should go get him?

The kwami popped her head out of the bike helmet Jason had left in the extra chair he requested for the table. She seemed deeply unimpressed.

-okay, okay, I'll give him five more minutes. Then, it's fair game.

A sudden ping called his attention to the cell phone carelessly left above the tablecloth. It was the most obnoxious sound he could think of, and was as such his ringtone for the young man he was actually waiting for. It was a sound he couldn't ignore, or sleep over it.

BabyBird:

^Hey Jay, might be a little late for lunch

-That little…

Another ping.

BabyBird:

^Got held up on my way there, some akuma caged me and other fifteen people. Don’t know how long until one of the masks comes to the rescue

^Lol, some woman doesn't give a DUCK and just keeps fighting with someone over the phone about someone named Jerry

Ping.

BabyBird:

^update; Apparently Jerry is her son and she's fighting her ex.

Another ping, quickly following the former.

BabyBird:

^...I'm going to kill either you or Dick. Who programmed my phone to replace all swear words? You motherHUGGERS.

He was out of the door before the last text actually sank in and, by the time he ducked behind a corner, was already laughing.

-Tireur, arm me up!

----.----.----

Then…

He didn’t care who he pushed or tripped on his way to Jason’s room. He wasn’t hearing their screams and complaints. The sound he heard when turning left on the next corner might have been a paparazzi’s camera, or an IV stand he knocked down in his haste, but, again, it wasn’t important at the moment.

The only thing in his head right now, was the echo of that psychotic laughter, of Batman’s screams, of his own gasp when the news coverage showed footage of Robin, bloodied and hurt, trying to get away from a building about to blow up… and failing.

The full blown panic attack that followed made him hyperventilate so bad he actually lost consciousness, only to wake up to the sound of his phone going off and Alfred’s voice on the line telling him how Master Jason, along some other victims, had been caught in the same explosion the Joker, the clown that got akumatized every other week, caused. The same that took Robin out.

He refrained from yelling at Alfred to not lie to him, he already knows who Robin is and who he was before. He knows everything, so don't lie to him, not about something as serious as this…! But only because it was Alfred, and no one yelled at him.

Instead, he asked for updates, still on his phone while running to Wayne Manor, where the butler was ready to give him a lift to the hospital.

Jason was just asleep, they told him, like he was too young and naive to hear the truth. His body needed time to get better, so his head had taken a little vacay.

He was just asleep, the doctors said. All the while Tim kept running numbers in his head, statistics on how likely it was for comatose patients to wake up.

But Jason wasn’t another statistic. He was his friend, his brother, his hero.

Robin. His Robin. The one he watched from the very beginning, the one he discretely helped easing into the hero life by being always there, to unwind after a fight or hang out when the dangers of the life he lead hounded up on him.

The sobs he tried so hard to reign in were now freely bursting out of his dry lips.

When Tim cried, it usually was a quiet thing, tears rolling down marble cheeks, not a sound escaping his mouth. A cry for help from a child who knew no one would come running at the sound of his pain. A resigned thing.

There, at Jason’s bedside, clasping the boy’s hand on his own, what came out of his chest through his mouth was a full out, loud, broken wail.

The next couple of days were kind of a blur to him. He was aware that, at some point, Mister Wayne had tried to coax him away from the room and to his home. He knows, too, that had his parents been there to witness his hysterical tantrum, he would have been grounded until it was time for him to leave for college. Every few hours, Alfred would came and feed him small bits of food. Sometimes he threw up, sometimes he didn't. It was like tossing a coin on that one.

He thinks it’s a week later, but it could very well be a month, when he weaseled his way into Jay’s bed, careful of the IVs attached to his arms, and spoke out loud for probably the first time since the explosion.

-You don’t have to keep hiding. I know about you. About how… you gave Dick, and then Jay, their powers. I… I know I’m not the only one grieving, so if you want, we could… keep each other company.

A few moments passed by. It was okay. Tim wasn’t going anywhere.

Then, a small green and yellow head poked out of Jason’s pillowcase, big blue eyes staring at  Tim in wonder and wariness.

-...how?

-Dick’s not nearly as inconspicuous as he believes he is. I already knew he was Robin, but couldn’t figure out how exactly did he get his powers… Until one day, he thought I was asleep, and transformed in the bathroom attached to the room I was in. Doofus didn’t even completely close the door.

The little thing laughed, like a bell. Tim borrowed deeper into Jay’s side.

-My name is Merle, Robin’s kwami.

-I’m Tim.  Robin’s friend.

----.----.----

Now…

Red Hood arrived at the scene in record time. He was almost impressed.

Once there, the masked hero drew his guns, loading each of them with a brown and gold magazine. As far as Tim understood, Hood’s powers derived from his firearms, and he had different kind of bullets for specific situations.

He shot at strategic points in the asphalt cage, crumbling it to the ground. Coincidently, none of those points were near the corner were Tim was crouched. Typical.

-Is everyone alright? -asked the hero, once the dust had settled and they were free.

A few nods, some ‘thanks for the save’ then and there, the occasional ‘any clue where the Akuma is? I’d like to avoid it today’, and then the people scattered. A woman strode past Red Hood, phone at hand, yelling something about child support.

Tim took his time getting up, straightening his tie and running his fingers through his hair in an attempt at controlling the strands again.

-Hey -the masked man approached him, concern palpable in his tone- you alright, Tim?

It said something about his life as Tim Drake, that he was on first name basis with Gotham’s heroes.

-Yep, just hungry. I was on my way to have lunch with my friend, so I’ll be leaving now.

He saw the anxiety flash through Hood’s expression at the mention, remembering that Tim was expecting to see his alter ego at the restaurant, but he still had an Akuma to catch.

-Ah, wait! You mean, that Jason dude, right?

-Yeah?

Tim wondered if it made him a sadist, the satisfaction he got from making Jason, Dick or Damian squirm like this, putting them on the fence with his ‘innocent’ worry about their alter egos.

-I saw him on m’way here, actually. Said somethin’ came up, and he’s gonna take a raincheck on lunch.

He let the tiniest bit of disbelief slip into his facade, before seemingly deciding to trust the masked man.

-Oh, what a shame. I’ll be very busy the next couple of weeks, it’s going to be a while before we can meet up again.

-That.. that sucks. But, ah, ‘m sure he’ll get it. I gotta go now, kid. See ya around.

He watched Hood’s retreating back as he shot a line at the nearest rooftop. Perfect, since now he’d have the time to transform and catch up with him to help with the Akuma as Red Robin. If Tim Drake got the chance at skipping bonding time with Jason? Even better.

He wasn’t mad at Jason, the way he was at Dick’s alter ego, Nightwing. Jay never hurt him, never casted either him nor Red Robin out (exception made for the very first encounters they had as heroes, back when he still used the Robin miraculous).

But, since his alter ego had slept with Jason’s, he figured he had every reason to feel a little shy.

----.----.----

Then…

-You never tried to get to know him -he said, and it wasn’t a reproach, just a fact. Nevertheless, Dick still cringed in place, bending in on himself like a kid sent to time out.

-I… I know.

-He is just a kid Bruce saw something in. Like you, a kid who needed someone to see his brightest parts, and take him in to give him a chance at a better future.

-I know.

-He’s… he’s a very good person. Really smart, loyal and caring.

-I… know. You told me.

-You are/ Dick, you are one of the best people I know, if not THE best. Why would you treat an innocent kid like the gum stuck in your shoe?

Dick squirms in his place by the door, not daring to get closer to the bed where both Tim and Jason laid, but obviously wanting. Not that it mattered. Jason wouldn’t want him so close by, specially at his most vulnerable, and Tim was nothing if not the ferocious dragon protecting the sleeping Prince’s will, his surname all too fitting.

-Just… It’s just stupid, okay? And it doesn’t matter now. All that matters, is that he gets better. And if… when, he wakes up, I’ll explain it to him.

Dick wouldn’t be able to see him, because of the angle, but Tim catched the yearning and sad look Merle, hiding between Jason’s covers, sent his oldest partner. The little fairy (kwami, Tim reminded himself), his companion this last weeks in guarding Jason’s room, seemed as troubled as Tim had been when he was expected to mediate between the two adopted brothers.

-But not me.

There was something a little dark, a little sad and a little empty in Dick’s eyes. For the first time ever, he didn’t feel the compulsion to fill that void with happiness.

-I don’t think I can stomach telling you, BabyBird.

----.----.----

Now…

He intercepts Red Hood two blocks away from Newtown, still in Crime Alley territory but close enough to the other neighborhood. Since D.I was by Moench Row, just between the Fashion and Diamond districts, it took some time to catch up on the hero.

The fight is well in its final course when he arrives. The Bat is here, which means Red Hood is content on just sharpshooting from a close by rooftop. N and R are missing, but Tim already knew they would be: it’s not Dick’s patrol time, and R must be at school.

As the independent vigilantes, neither Red Robin nor Red Hood follow Batman’s patrol routes nor schedules. For the later, it means he can choose to stay close to the Bowery, Crime Alle and Chinatown, where he feels he’s more useful. For himself, it means he doesn’t have someone putting a hand to his shoulder and mandating down time after a few  consecutive hard patrols.

When he was Robin, he wasn’t allowed to fight during school hours, nor after three a.m. If there was some kind of emergency that required all hands on dock, it meant almost a week of taking things slow, because even if B didn’t know his nightlife protege was also his daylife charge, he would never leave a kid under his protection unsupervised enough to hurt themselves. Now, he can choose whenever the fuck he wants to help, and when he feels like leaving the others to deal with it (watching from afar how Dick and Jason dealt with a akuma with the powers of body switching people, and how the heroes had to improvise working with bodies and powers that didn’t suit them, had been too funny to actually put any effort to stop).

Shaking his head to clear it from the memories, he landed softly by Hood’s side, careful to not startle the hero laying on his stomach by the edge of the roof, with a long-distance rifle ready to go on his hands.

-Ya came all t’way here for nothin, Pretty Bird. The old man has it all in hand.

Letting himself fall at the edge, legs dangling and resting his weight on his arms behind him, he allows his gaze to travel through the skyline of buildings. It was a nice view, for those used to the air pollution and angry drivers yelling a few stories bellow.

-Had lunch cancelled, thought I might as well.

Hood grunts, shifting his stance to a less alert one. B clearly didn’t need their help.

-I had fucking plans, man. If B wasn’t in the fucking way, I’d put a bullet through the bastard, see if he lets himself get akumatized again.

Tim crooked his head to the side, analyzing the crazy of the hour.

-It’s a new one, though. I don’t recognize him. Probably his first time getting transformed?

-It’s already one too many. Our lives are just as shitty as anyone’s in the city, and you don’t see us fucking shit up.

-To be fair, we get our chances at therapeutic skull smashing when we keep those guys in check.

A few feet under them, Batman’s batarang was already boomeranging past the former akumatized transit police woman, slicing through the black and green butterfly and setting free the white and pink one trapped inside it.

And he hadn’t needed to move a single muscle. Sighing in defeat (he sooo could have used this time to power nap before his next meeting at work), he climbed to his feet.

-Seems like you were right, we shouldn’t have bothered to come. See ya, Hoo/

-Hey -interrupted the other, suddenly standing, rifle out of sight and way too deep into Tim’s personal bubble-, since we r' both here… no energy lost… n' we didn’t use our miraculous, so no chance of us de-transformin' suddenly…

Don’t say it. Don’t say it. Hood, please don’t say it.

-One of my safe spot’s near. Want ta come for a cup of tea?

Don’t play along. Don’t play along. Goddammit, Tim, Don’t play along.

He takes that last step separating them, hands carefully delineating the outline of Hood’s suit of armor.

-You know I don’t drink your dirty leaf-water.

The other hero’s hands were big enough, they could almost completely envelope his waist, something never failed to arouse him.

-Good. Then we can go straight to the cake.

All the way to Hood’s (Jason’s) secret apartment, Tim berated himself, again and again, about how bad of an idea this was. How fucked up (in both senses, oh my god) was he going to be by the end of it. How uncomfortable was it going to be for him to actually talk to the man when the masks came out and Jay was looking at his best friend, not knowing he had had his tongue on his mouth, his neck, deep inside his ass. Not knowing why Tim was suddenly avoiding him.

Why he felt so goddamned guilty.

But, once they arrived to the place, and his back was to the wall not two seconds later, Hood’s strong body pressed tight against his, hands grabbing anything they could, mouth hot and dirty and doting…

He could only throw his head back and moan.

----.----.----

Then...

The city was in absolute chaos. From his place by Jason’s windowsill, Tim winced at the fiery remnants of the last explosion (by the library? It could have also been the post office), the hospital one of the few places untouched by the madness that was Gotham right now.

In his hands, his smartphone kept him up to speed about what was taking place on the streets. Apparently, the patients at Arkham Asylum had been akumatized again, only at the same fucking time. The Joker, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Two Faces so far. Apparently, the first two had already been apprehended and de transformed, and the third was calm and unobtrusive at Robinson Park, but since they had kept the Bat focused on them until now, that meant the last of the lot had enough time to completely cover the city in bombs.

Which exploded two at a time, every two hours and twenty two minutes. There was a serious OCD there.

Perched on Tim’s propped up knee, Merle’s sky blue eyes danced from one burning spot to the other, shining like little red and yellow dots on the map that was Gotham from such a height.

-The library -quietly commented the kwami.

-And the Museum -Tim added, fingers tapping the location on the screen of the phone, on the downloaded blueprints of the city.

-Before that, it was the park.

-And the Aquarium.

-And the first two where the Zoo…

-...and planetarium.

-Why those places?

Minutes were ticking by. Bombs kept going off, unpredictable locations being blown up with everyone inside with them. Batman and Nightwing, Gotham’s newest hero, were running themselves ragged, trying to contain the damage and stop the villain. Batgirl worked with the authorities to keep buildings standing, her Eye of Insight (which, Tim was now aware, was her Miraculous) determining the most flimsy spots in the structures, the ones they needed to reinforce before the entire thing crumbled down.

And Tim was here, at the hospital, hearing the nurses and doctors doing their best to save everyone from being a casualty of the akuma’s violence, useless to both his family and the innocents from Gotham that were most likely going to die today.

(Everything because Bruce couldn’t think straight)

-Kids, Merle -he answered, his phone going, once again, to the billionaire's voicemail-. Those are all places where kids like to go, or have to. If he keeps the timeline, the next attack would be at two twenty two a.m, and it’s going to be…

-Gotham’s kindergarten? -the little creature tried to guess. It wasn’t too far off, since, judging by how many witnesses on twitter swore to have spotted the bat at Gotham’s primary school, B thought the same.

But it was wrong.

(Everything because, since Jason died, Bruce stopped thinking about the akumatized people as… people. People with minds of their own. With feelings)

-The orphanage.

(Horrible and twisted feelings, but feelings after all)

-We have to stop him!

-How? B isn’t picking up. Neither is Alf. Dick’s phone is at my house where he left it yesterday. I have no other way to contact them. And Bruce is so deep in his rage because of Jason’s accident, he’s so desperate to hurt something, he’s being impulsive. Reckless. He’s not going to think about orphans until it’s too late.

-We can’t just stay here! -Merle cried out, desperate at the sight of his city in flames, of one of his boys out there risking his life, and the other fighting for it in the bed behind their backs.

-Well, what would you have me do? -Tim finally snapped, standing from the windowsill and turning to face the kwami- I can’t just take a bus to Gotham’s school and yell at B to move his ass!

-Yes you can! You have to!

-I’ll never make it in time! There’s no vehicle that could dodge the shitstorm that must be the streets now, and unless you have some way for me to travel via rooftops, I would never make it there! I can’t help anyone! I’m not Robin!

When no reply came, Tim’s eyes, that had strayed to the window again, looked for the kwami.

Merle floated right in front of him, face determined, eyes pleading. He held a too familiar necklace, that almost every boy and girl wore as an ode to their hero. A green ‘R’, encircled in red, on a golden chain.

Robin’s necklace.

-But you could be. If you take this and fly with me, you could be. Gotham needs a hero. Batman needs a Robin. Your family needs you.

On the little screen, the reporters said something about Nightwing being hurt by a burning beam falling on him.

He made the decision before he could even think about it.

-Merle, help me fly.

Robin soared the skies again.

[cruddyborderlandstheories]

Sanctuary-III: Demo Analysis

Hi again! I’m here to do my full Sanctuary-III analysis. (im back on my bullshit of actually structuring posts like a functioning human. holy mother of g-)

Tl;Dr: So from what I’ve gathered so far, Sanctuary-III looks like a Maliwan-inspired ship, but was actually built by a company named <SUPAMAX MFG>. I do think the ship we go on in the demo is taken from another part of the game, probably the time period when we’ve reached the Maliwan/Monastery planet of which I don’t know the name (the one we see Maya on). I understand that we can see Pandora in the demo, but it’d be easy to travel back there and simply remove the option for the monastery planet when we go to Promethea. I have a couple reasons for thinking this, so I’ll go over it when we get there.

For now, let’s get started :D

So, even though we’re going to be doing a full analysis of the demo, I did want to start with our previous sightings of the ship.

Ellie hanging onto a smaller version of the ship.

Lorelei resting her foot on a larger model

one hiding behind Zane near the car

better view below:

and a ship as we see it on the cover art:

notice I say A ship because there are definitely differences between this one and the Sanctuary-III we meet in the demo.

Most notably the colors/design, but also the back engines are missing from below the spoiler and the fins on the front are different shapes. Additionally, the one in the cover has windows that are significantly different from the demo and the engines in demo have fins coming off the tops that we don’t see here. I’ve been yelled at before that this isn’t a noticeable enough difference to think about, that the developers just decided to roll with it, but honestly I believe if the designers put that much time into ensuring the cover art has a dozen easter eggs to solve, why would they look at the ship and decide “eh, that’s good enough”? I wanna believe they’re not that laidback about this.

So I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt for now and provide a handful of theories as to what this cover art ship could be:

1. Sanctuary-II or an earlier model of Sanc-III (or both)

2. A shuttle used to move people to-and-from places Sanctuary-III is too large to access and the drop pods are too violent to hit (I’m thinking meteors/asteroids here) annnd hopefully we get to putz around space in one

3. A fully separate ship from Sanctuary-III that we’ll have to use later on in the game, either due to Sanctuary-III being destroyed, or other weird circumstances that would render it unavailable. Could possibly be used to reach Elpis?

Anyway, enough of that. Let’s get right into the thick of things with the actual ship from the demo!

This hit me right in the heart. I love that u can see Pandora in the background, too.

The actual ship! Do you see what I mean by those minor differences to the cover art ship? Moving on.

The reason I thought this ship was mainly because of the huge swaths of orange and the blue engines/bridge. I had thought it was Atlas as well at one point, but retracted both those statements when I saw the name of the manufacturer printed everywhere inside lol

It is possible it was made specifically for either of those companies. I am leaning towards Maliwan, so I’ll point out my reasons why as we move through this.

Also, check out the docking bay on the bottom there. That door leads to the large room we see Ellie in. I think the fins on the front of the ship are to hold it up when it’s landed so we can drive vehicles out the bottom. I am hoping for a scene near endgame where the ship is shielding us from huge attacks from above as we drive out of the bottom and, right as we escape, it collapses behind us. Fingers crossed.

the back of the ship. And the engines I mention you can’t see protruding out the back on the cover art.

Oh, and say hi to the CoV!

that’s where Troy’s sword gets launched from orbit

as we zoom in, we can see a whole bunch of things

to start, looks like Hyperion got some nice rebranding. I hope Blake took over tbh

a poster of moxxxi’s. I love the feather in her hat; I wonder if that means her a mordy got back together...

also im going to take the time to point out

how much I love that each Vault Hunter gets something that glows. Amara has her tattoos (and she can customize the color!), Fl4k has their eye, Moze has Iron Bear’s digistruct pack, and Zane has a cool jacket. Rock on my babies, you’re all beautiful. Oh, and the whole teleporting animation for this, I don’t know if its like a “first time” only thing or what, but I love it, I love it so much. I’m so glad we’re going to be able to see our Vault Hunters in the third person.

okay moving on

so right away you notice the guide telling you where places are, with arrows point in different directions. It’s quite hard to read at the moment, but we do see it again later. 

We all know about the quick change station and the lost-and-found, so I don’t think I ought to go over those right now. 

claptrap seems to have his own little cereal or something, not sure if that’s been sighted anywhere else, but im afraid for anyone who eats it

player quarters! holy balls im so excited for these

We can see the display cases everywhere, but there’s also a vault (not that kind) in the back left. I imagine that’s the bank. Hoooopefully we get a larger storage capacity or my mule characters are gonna have a ton of new buddies to talk to lol

better look at the cereals.

also apparently that water bottle we see in the Game of Thrones joke the twitter posted is an actual asset in the game.

While we have singular display cases for guns, it looks like items get their own display cases

it can show off rarity color and on the bottom left, you get to see exactly what you’re looking at. no more confusing grenade mods for shields in this house

a non-holographic poster for the Typhon Deleon movie. I think this is the first we’ve seen outside of Promethea. I guess Amara’s a fan.

A vault symbol rug, and the symbol spray painted onto her punching bag. I think that poster in the back is a Monty Python reference? I didn’t get quite a good look at it, we might see another one later on.

Amara has a window seat, I’m actually hoping we’ll be able to hang out in our rooms and look out the window at space. I would honestly spend so much time here. Also, regarding the bed (not pictured, that’s the window seat), I’m wondering if that will have any gameplay effects or if it's just aesthetics. I hope it’s at least bouncy...

she does have some jakobs crates holding up the plants. Don’t know if that has anything to do with her backstory or if its just to fit the aesthetic of her room.

we’re also told “again, you can modify your player quarters to how you want to play” which... I don’t know if I’m looking too deeply into that, but it seems like we’ll be able to pick and choose things like furniture or overall layout. I wonder if they’d let us cycle between the other VH’s rooms. Not sure exactly what it’s supposed to imply, but it is something to point out.

Our first look at the SUPAMAX MFG logo. “Ships made Quick”

We also get our first look at Ellie’s cargo bay. More on this later

behind the curtains to the left of here

a poster of Jack and some lootable washing machines. We’ve seen the poster before, from what I’ve heard it's a movie poster starring timothy doppleman. Which... What a legend. 

Now, I do want to point out we see this logo next to the cargo bay

this is one of the reasons I thought the ship was Atlas at first, however you can tell there’s no gap on the right of the triangle and the bottom edges don’t match. I definitely think the new Atlas logo is a delta to signify change, though, cause Rhys is a big ol nerd.

some blueprints of the ship and a bunch of reused posters from BL2 thrown in for decor purposes. There’s another poster of Typhon to the left of that, but since we’ve already seen it, fuck ‘em

We also see a buttload of Maliwan crates hanging around the ship, matching the color design of the one we saw floating around space 

here’s one of them!

a better look at the blueprints as a standalone poster. It looks like ‘Sanctuary’ was written over with something, but I can’t make out what. also checkout how the paint on top doesn’t match the paint on the cover art’s ship. Nor does the cover art have the fins coming off the engines like we see here. I actually just noticed that even the spoilers are different shapes.

Moving on before I go off on another tangent

a poster for Marcus’s shop

the new golden chest as Randy called it. I believe we’ve seen the animation already, where the guns splay upwards like a peacock or smth

a cowgirl hangin out on more Maliwan chests

Marcus’s new sign. Honestly? He’s rocking the bun.

this dude we find walking out of the store. Don’t know what his deal is, but I’m digging it.

this Amara already has 5/8 Pistol SDUs unlocked! (Also, there are 8 max SDUs) Makes me think she’s a high level character. That’ll come into play later lol

5/8 Backpack SDUS. I didn’t show it but she also had 1/8 Shotgun SDUs. Also only +3 to backpack space each. Considering Amara already has 5 unlocked, that means we get the regular 12 backpack space to start. D:

bank space only gets +2. Amara already has 2, meaning the bank can only hold 8 items without upgrades. F in chat for the big bank dreams. Max amount the bank can hold is 24. Somebody comfort me... hopefully these SDUs increase exponentially 😭

the mystery SDU. It looks like a box with a question mark on it, giving out guns and grenades. Makes me worry this is some form of loot box, but considering it can be bought with cash in-game, that’s probably a good sign. Maybe you can buy golden keys in game to open the gold chest now? Randy said no microtransactions and, while he is Randy, I want to believe him (disregarding the skins fiasco because we all knew that was coming).

since i’ve also seen speculation that it’s the upgrade for the capacity of the Lost-And-Found, I think that’s probably what this actually is.

the shooting range we can see from here. Doesn’t appear to have any targets yet, but it may be like the one in BL2 where they only appear when we enter.

more Maliwan boxes to the left of the shooting range.

Crew Quarters sign!

some very big (tm) Maliwan crates

tannis’s sign!

this NPC actually seems important, I’m wondering if she’ll give us a side quest or something

what i’m guessing is the power core to the ship. It’s in such a great place to get shot... i wonder if perhaps... we’re going to have to do that at some point...

“ain’t no place like space” I love this place.

also looks like there’s a shortcut here. You can see the planks across the pipes, the balcony, and the railing here that’s gonna be easy to get over. Excitement!

looks like a control panel right in front of the core. Yeah, there’s definitely going to be something related to it. Maybe we’ll get attacked and we have to go stabilize it. Maybe our ship will get hijacked and we’ll have to blow it up from the inside. I can’t be the only one who thinks this place is wayyy too grand to not get destroyed...

better look at that bad boy

the opening to moxxi’s bar

actual bar

i have no idea what this is, but i dig it. Also the zer0 for the O is making me go  🤔 i don’t THINK Zer0 would get involved, but then again, they are doing missions for Moxxi in Tales, so maybe the two got together to make something

this door seems different enough and detailed enough (red glowing light) to make me think we’re going to be unlocking this and going through it at some point. Then it shall glow green and make me happy instead of frustrated. the minimap, unfortunately, does not agree with me, but I want to believe. or that’s gonna bother me to no end. Maybe some sort of “we just escaped control core angel” situation, idk.

some slot machines. Ca$hTrap! and Tinx’s Hijinx. Looks like an NPC is using the latter though so idk if it will be available to use. 

scoring system. Looks like the ??x row will give us a new character skin!! hype.

the uhhh... Lava Lamp column... will give us...? ???

A devil fruit?? A grenade? wtf is that???

3 bananas gives us new colors! Crowns = head

the... Eridium...? That seems way too pink to be Eridium tbqh. It reminds me more of Seraph crystals, but maybe its a reference to the ‘Eridium’ growing out of the ground on Promethea? ...... Maybe that’s growing because Atlas/Typhon actually DID open the Vault on Promethea

uh anyway

The last column is about more crystals and then cash and then the last one... I assume the icons are Claptrap’s eye (considering the game), but the reward? i think that’s the grenade the demo player gets in the demo 

we’ve also got Loot Boxer (also taken by an NPC) and Vault Line. I’m wondering if the NPCs using the machines are just a gameplay mechanic and they’ll disappear after a certain level/event. Maybe those ones give us better loot. idk.

for Vault Line, i think that says “Knockout Prizes” but I could be wrong. More importantly, it looks like we can get legendaries from this one! First column shows a green/purple/yellow (legendary?) gun. I can’t tell what the other icons are meant to be, though. i think the next 3 are shields, then maybe class mods? or... grenade mods? i don’t know. The last one is a total blob for me, no ideas on that. Also wondering if that machine costs Eridium to play or something, 1) because of its design and 2) because the rewards seem sooo much better than Claptrap’s.

outside we see the Crew Quarters sign for the first time and, interestingly enough, a TV broadcasting the same symbol we see being broadcasted all across the CoV camps. What’s up with that?

infirmary and crew quarters signs on the wall this time

more Maliwan crap. even says it right on the tin. Why is there a pokeball on there?

a map of the ship. We see this on a bunch of monitors, even ones on Promethea, for some reason. This one is mirrored. dunno why.

more signs. Left top to bottom: “Cargo Bay” “Armory” “Infirmary”

Right top to bottom: “Engine Room” (OwO) “Crew Quarters” “Cargo Bay” “Armory” annnd nothing on the last line this bend around. when they turn the corner, you can see that it, too, says “infirmary”

Also, the Heatant and Coolant Pipes lmao

“LAB/SICK BAY” pointing to the left towards Tannis’s corner

so, here’s where we get our first glance at something very very interesting

now, the crew makes us think this is our first time visiting Promethea in the demo. But if it is, why are there Promethea civilians wandering around the ship? I believe i go over this some in an older post, but I’ll recap:

1) It could be that Sanctuary III was already in the air before the game starts and had already visited Promethea to take some Civilians off Rhys’s hands so he had less to worry about. That would mean that we’d need a shuttle or something to reach the ship in order to activate the fast travel station, which is (possibly) where the ship on the cover art could come in. Because in the borderlands universe, you need to reach a Fast Travel station first before you’re able to teleport to it and if Sanc III is flying and Lilith doesn’t have her powers, we’re stranded on Pandora. (Alternatively, the ship could come down from space, but... I kinda doubt it can without not being able to take off again. Maybe borderlands just has cooler spaceships... idk. They were able to make a caravan space capable). Unfortunately, this would mean those screencaps from the new trailer that looks like Sanctuary III being infested with wildlife would not take place on early-game Pandora/that we wouldn’t rescue the ship and claim it as our own. (We could possibly get Sanctuary III in the air in the new BL2 DLC if this is the case.) The ship getting infested then could take place above the Maliwan planet or Promethea or soon after we join the crew and we’re sent down there to clean it up as a side quest. Or there’s a time skip and the ship gets overrun and we have to fix it. Now that’d be rad... 

2) gearbox is being sneaky beaky about the demo time. We do see Maya later on, which leads me to believe this takes place after we meet her. Where does it look like she’ll be? On the Maliwan/Monastery planet. It could be possible that the devs took the ship back to Pandora and simply removed the Maliwan planet from the list of places to take our ship. That would leave Promethea as an option while also explaining why there are both Promethean citizens and Maya on board. Could also explain Lilith having her tattoos back, since we don’t know the events of the story that lead to us going to find Maya. Though, I think I have an idea... I’ll leave that for my Maya masterpost though. Lilith also says “We arrived in one piece... that’s a first” when we travel to Promethea, leading me to believe either that’s where Sanctuary-II warped and got destroyed (maybe explaining why there are Promethea Civilians with us now), possibly in the asteroid fields, also maybe due to a mechanical failure, or Sanctuary-III, when it first went to Promethea with us, got a bit damaged by the rocks floating around Promethea or some other thing like the CoV attacking, idk. What are those rocks for, anyway? ....... I gotta make a post on that, don’t I? oi oi oi...

Moving on

the front of the Infirmary

....

this kinda looks like a baby T-Rex. There are T-Rexes on the swamp planet, which we now are assuming is Promethea, aren’t there? Oh hell yeah. If the swamp planet ISN’T Promethea I’m gonna be all like [shocked pikachu face]. that outskirts area was really making me believe. 

anyway, see above lol

we also get another glimpse at the SUPAMAX logo

some lootables in the back

not sure if these are Maliwan or not.

Zed also has a machine in the back here. We haven’t seen him around yet, but odds are he’s still kicking because of this. And hopefully still friendly with the crimson raiders. Maybe Tannis locked him in a closet or something, idk.

oooo i haven’t seen this screen before

i want to know what it isssss

this also looks eerily familiar. brb, gonna go find what this reminds me of

okay, so

not sure if its exactly the same material/type of symbol, but this location, what i have dubbed the “temple” cuz i got no better name for it, does have square emblems across the floor with borders.

so, interestingly, this one has what looks like an eye with beams shooting out of it. if that description sounds familiar to you, it should, because

EYEBALL

now i got no idea if these are related aside from being in the same game, but it does interest me that they’ve both got eyeballs and streaky beams.

Oh and Tannis’s Vault symbol doesn’t have the writing (?) across the edges, but I will say, it does kinda look like cuneiform and eridian writing had a baby. Like, if you super heavily pixelate the Watcher’s name on her title card...

tbh I’ve theorized a lot about this place, but haven’t found anything I particularly like. From the place where the first Vault Atlas ever opened is (meaning its on Promethea and could explain why Tannis has that slab), the Great Vault’s holding place (where the skeleton on the ground is Typhon and his final journal) (perhaps the Great Vault is the entryway to the Eridian homeworld... that could explain why the CoV are trying to find it... might be a reason why they’re being manipulated by new aliens to find it. god please let them be the Seraphs...) uh, anyway, I also had an idea that it was someplace on the Maliwan planet, and maybe that it was in the archives area that was taken over by Maliwan and that the skeleton was of a Siren. That would explain why Maya is shown handing the book to Little Blue in the MoM. I go over that in an old post though, so moving on.

 oh, there’s also a frame of Tannis’s animation where the dinosaur she was inside stands up and clips through the table:

there’s a small room over here we don’t get to see, and I’m wondering if there’s another NPC joining us on Sanctuary-III that isn’t showcased. god I hope if its pickle he got more bearable as he got older because dear god i hated him in tps. I can’t see Athena nor Janey with a desk like that. Maybe Vaughn? Though would he really want to go back to being an accountant after everything...?

more maliwan boxes btw. looks like someone scribbled on this one lol

now we head to the bridge!!!

looks like an arcade game lol

but possibly a control mechanism for shuttles coming in???  👀 👀 👀

Crew Quarters and the SUPAMAX logo

oh yeah, and in case you were doubtful that this was a borderlands game:

“Caution: Excessive Farts Detected”

the Bridge!!!

We’ve got a holo-projector thing up front like we’ve seen Rhys use, as well as a mini one used as a digistructer during Lorelei’s hamburger quest. Most interesting, Lily has her tattoos! Definitely wondering if this takes place later on in the story or if they swapped her early game model in. either way, they’re definitely there. 

some cool art of Sanctuary III zooming away

just have to say

i love this so much

its great

okay moving on

I wish they’d be more specific. do ruins = vault? Typhon says he discovers the Vault and the Key in one fell swoop. if Typhon DID give atlas the Vault key and the location to the Vault (and we’re not just listening to an ARG for the movie or smth) then why didn’t Atlas open it immediately?! I mean, in TFTBL Cassius says Gortys is their last ditch attempt at opening a Vault! So what the heck?? I can’t believe that it would be less than 200 years from the first Vault being discovered to the Eridians abandoning everything. like vault keys take 200 years to naturally charge so there’s no reason why it wouldn’t be already charged and available (Unless its more of a cycle thing where it charges and then discharges after a while for safety’s sake??). 

And another thing, if that IS Eridium growing out of the ground on Promethea, then they totally DID open the first Vault. Or at least Typhon did. Unless there was something stopping them... like... Maybe in the temple those demon-looking-things stopped them from getting through and that’s why we find a bunch of skeletons around the place? Or maybe the Guardians got to them, or some other Eridian protection scheme. i don’t know... im so confused... brain hurt...

anyway

why the fuck does Elpis look like this

is that the light side of the moon? dear god im blind.

hhhh at least we can still see the crackening

lowkey wondering if the ship is based off of Eridian tech. I could totally see a slip-space drive being based off Lilith’s phasewalking

when we finish travelling, Lily says “We’ve arrived in one piece. that’s a first” and yeeah, i can see whyyy

rocks. rocks everywhere. tbh i think these rocks are 1) why lilith says that (we’ve either been to Promethea before in Sanc-III or Sanc-II got decimated slip jumping here) and 2) why the VH’s entry into Promethea is apparently so awful Lilith needs to ask if they’re actually still alive. also, we get to see just how much of Promethea is cities and goddamn. that’s a lot for a borderworld.

sorry for the youtube bar. 

Deck A: Hammerlock - Infirmary/Tannis - Deck B: Marcus - Moxxi Deck C: Cargo Bay

I am honestly so curious how they got this ship with that lettering on it. I guess they could’ve made it themselves, but... you gotta wonder... maybe we get the ship built on Pandora by Ellie. Or she helps us fix it up after we remove all gross rat things from it.

MAYAAAAA

better look at the Monty poster plus some other stuff, like a clock, dartboard, and a gas mask. Also if anyone knows what that says up top there, please let me know, im super curious!

Hammerlock’s quarters!

this guy has the same facial hair as Zane. I swear to god if I hear “Oh, that’s me fourth brother” im gonna lose my absolute shit

something to the far left outside of Hammerlock’s quarters we’re not allowed to see yet :(

there’s also graffiti of “Charge port here” around the ship and i think that’s hilarious. It’s like an airport

put your ports in, damn it!

Ellie!!!

More maliwan boxes to her left, btw

the actual cargo bay. remember how i said to look at the bottom of sanctuary III to find the door? I’m like 90% sure that’s it right there. Randy also says “down here we can check out the vehicles we’ve collected AND this is how/where we get access to the planets while we’re in orbit”.

Crazy Earl’s black market! dunno how he’s actually, like, connected to the black market from here, but, hey, who knows what he’s got in there.

veteran rewards, apparently drawn over one of Marcus’s machines lol

“Inter-Galactic” a little drawing of Sanc-III and another Maliwan box (you can see why I think this ship is Maliwan, right?)

Clappy and his GF... yeah...

one very big digistruct pad. listen... im praying for a space shuttle. i really am.

finally:

the drop pod

god this looks awesome. I bet we’re gonna have many a fun time in there lol

I finally get to live out my dream of being an ODST in borderlands. what badasses they are.

[eleanor-writes-stuff]

and my heart goes boom, boom, boom [ficlet]

When Ben first decided to start a rival fireworks shop near his father’s place at the young age of eighteen, he didn’t really have much of a plan aside from “piss Dad off”.

But he can’t exactly say that to the beautiful girl behind the counter now, can he?

Earlier this week my sleep-deprived mind and I were scrolling down my dashboard when I came across this post about rival fireworks shops. @orkindofamazing had reblogged it with a couple of Reylo tags, and next thing I knew I had a ficlet on my hands. 

So here’s the fireworks shop AU no one ever asked for.

First posted here. Also available on AO3. And hey, maybe check out my Twitter and Ko-fi?

Ben Solo might well be the only kid in the world who can say he grew up splitting his free time between a Senator’s office and a smuggler’s illegal fireworks shop.

His father has been running Dishonest Don’s for as long as he can remember. Hell, his very first memory is of the shop, of being shut away in the back office and slowly sinking into the lumpy couch while his parents made annoyed faces and wild gestures at each other just beyond the window. It was all so funny and entertaining to young Ben until his mother stormed into the office, scooped him up, and shouted something about child-appropriate environments at his father while Ben waved goodbye over his mother’s shoulder.

He was back in the shop less than a week later, when his mother couldn’t find anyone else to watch him during her filibuster. Just this once, she told him and his father. This is the last time, she promised him two months later.

It wasn’t.

The last time was when he was thirteen and rumors were spreading about Senator Organa’s shady husband and Ben watched his father pick the stupid shop over his family.

The next time his mother tried to drop him off at Dishonest Don’s, Ben tried to convince her that he was old enough to stay home by himself. His mother agreed almost immediately, in what was probably the shortest argument in her entire life.

So from then on Ben stayed home and watched his father head off to work, and he sulked, and he seethed, and he plotted.

In lieu of a big bash with non-existent friends for his eighteenth birthday, Ben gets a typical Organa-Solo family dinner.

His father is actually home in time for dinner, for once, but he and Chewie talk about work all evening anyway.

Uncle Luke tries to ask him about school, then girls, then his future, until his mother takes mercy on him and drags her brother away under the guise of needing to consult him on a very important, very confidential matter.

There are a few others scattered here and there, familiar faces always in the background of nearly every birthday he’s ever had, but there’s only one Ben is interested in talking to.

“Happy birthday, kid!” Lando grins as he approaches, and Ben knows he’s made the right choice when his uncle toasts him with a beer and immediately proceeds to hand said beer to him. “Probably time to stop calling you that, huh? Eighteen. Eighteen,” he whistles. “Feels like just yesterday you were hiding in my cape to block out the fireworks. And now look at you. There’s no cape in the world big enough for you to hide in, young man!”

Ben drops his eyes to the ground, scuffs his feet for a bit, holds back a satisfied grin at Lando calling attention to his newly filled-out frame.

His uncle knows him well enough to change the subject.

“So, any plans, Benny? Eighteen’s a pretty big deal.”

He looks up, holds eye contact as he knocks back his beer. Is alcohol supposed to be involved when you pitch a business idea to your mysteriously rich uncle?

Either way, Ben figures it can’t hurt.

“Actually, on the subject of fireworks…”

At the ribbon cutting for Honest John’s, Han laughs until he’s doubled over on the sidewalk, tears streaming down his face.

It’s not exactly the reaction Ben was looking for, but he almost doesn’t mind when his father comes up to him later that day and squeezes his shoulder.

“This is… this is really something you’ve put together here, son. Much better than anything I could’ve come up with.”

Much more legal, too, but Ben keeps that thought to himself for once. Because his father is looking up at him, and he’s got a hand on Ben’s back, and for once Han smiles, actually smiles, when he says, “I’m proud of you, Ben.”

So maybe it’s not the confrontation Ben’s been itching for since he was thirteen and he saw tears in his mother’s eyes for the very first time as she tried to make his dad understand the consequences of his actions.

And yeah, it’s probably not going to turn into a fistfight that’ll finally give him the chance to wipe that cocky smirk of his father’s face.

But there’s a telltale shine in his mother’s eyes as she runs her hands over the counter he built, and there’s no sign of a smirk on his father’s face as he admires the rest of the shop, and when his parents meet in the middle they take each other’s hand and turn to him with a look of pride and joy that nearly chokes him up.

That’s good enough, Ben decides, and throws himself into running the best damn business he possibly can.

“Hey, Mitaka. Been a while,” Ben comments as he walks out from behind the counter to assist one of his oldest regulars.

He doesn’t mean anything by it, just a simple observation, but then Mitaka avoids his eye and looks down at the ground and-

“Sorry about that. It’s just, everyone said it’s different now with the new regulations, and of course you’d have to follow them because you’re above the board and all that, which is great, really, it’s great, but no one wants boring fireworks at a 4th of July party, you know? Not- not that I’m saying your stuff is boring-”

Ben frowns as he steps forward, resting a hand on the red-faced man’s shoulder. “Dude. Breathe.”

Mitaka does as instructed, even as he continues to twist his fingers together nervously. “So yeah, sorry it’s been a while. But I’m back now, and I’ll never go to Dishonest Don’s again, I promise-”

“Wait, wait,” Ben interrupts. “Dishonest Don’s? You’ve been going there?”

Mitaka looks like a kicked puppy as he nods.

“Why? You’ve been coming here for years! And you know they’re illegal-”

“But they’ve still got the meteor shower ones, and I know you’re not allowed to sell those anymore.”

This is news to Ben, who just received a box of said fireworks two hours ago. “Says who?” he demands incredulously.

“Um, well, everyone really, but mainly-” Mitaka pulls his phone out and opens up a familiar-looking website before handing it over to Ben.

The design is unmistakable, and the URL at the top can’t be a coincidence.

His father’s latest post is titled The Silent Night Act and what that means for you, which sounds nothing at all like the succinct announcements Ben’s gotten used to. New stuff, the posts usually read, followed by a slew of pictures and prices and nothing else. This… this article about new sound and light pollution regulations warning against hefty fines for those caught red-handed and watered-down versions from licensed sellers trying to toe the line sounds nothing at all like his usual style.

It’s also not like his father to stoop this low and try his hand at sabotage, but here they are anyway.

Ben throws the phone back at Mitaka and stalks towards the front door.

“Hux, watch the shop! I’ve got a fucking bone to pick with Han fucking Solo!”

Dishonest Don’s is both fifteen minutes and worlds away from Honest John’s. While Ben’s shop operates in a perfectly respectable area, it’s just a short walk away from shady repair shops, hole-in-the-wall spots, and, of course, the city’s worst-kept secret.

For fuck’s sake, his father even has the name of the shop spelled out in neon lights. The sign stopped working properly a long time ago, way before Ben hit puberty, but it’s still there, flickering every once in a while like some kind of prolonged death rattle-

Ben stops short right outside the door. For the first time in nearly fifteen years, the lights are working. Dishonest Don’s is spelled out in full, rather than the usual hoe on that’s greeted customers for as long as he can remember.

Inside is even more baffling. There are lights, actual lights bright enough for him to see where he’s going. There’s a bell over the door that announces his arrival. And most unexpected of all, there’s someone other than his father and Chewie standing behind the counter.

“Hi there, looking for something?”

She’s young (probably younger than him) and tall (for a girl) and beautiful (in every sense of the word) and Ben almost, almost blurts out you because when she smiles, it’s brighter than a thousand fireworks lighting up the night sky.

He shakes the thought away, stalks further into the shop and towards her to show her the post. “Where’s Han? We need to talk about this.”

The girl tilts her head. “What about it?”

“It’s- it’s-” Ben splutters, dropping his phone on the counter. “It’s slander! Fake news! Total and complete bullshit meant to sabotage me-”

“Wow, I did not expect this big of a reaction.”

Ben stops, considers her in silence for a beat. “Wait, what? What do you mean- you knew about this?”

“Of course I did,” the girl shrugs as she scrolls past the article on his phone. “I wrote it, after all.”

Everything comes to a screeching halt. The world stops making sense. Up is down and down is left and why in the hell would this random girl use his father’s website to sabotage his business?

“Why the fuck did you do that?” Ben demands, snatching his phone out of her hands. Small hands, rough hands, hands that look like they would fit perfectly into his own- “You lied about me!”

The girl shrugs. “Thought I’d make things interesting.”

“You stole my customers!”

“Mm-hmm,” she hums, shifting her focus to the register. “Gotta meet those sale targets somehow.”

“What the fuck is wrong with you?!”

At this, she finally looks up. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” she retorts without missing a beat, without losing control. “What kind of asshole sets up shop right across the street just to piss off his father?”

Truth be told, sometimes Ben does look back at his teenage self and feel a slight bit of shame over his actions. But this stranger doesn’t need - or deserve - to know that.

“You wouldn’t get it. It’s a long story,” he says dismissively, crossing his arms over his chest as he looks around the shop and takes in the small changes she must be responsible for. Things are… things are actually organized, for once. And he can stand here without worrying that one of the highly flammable, highly explosive piles his father likes to keep things in is about to roast him to a crisp. It’s… nice, and Ben’s happy just looking around until-

“And I’ve got a long lunch break,” mystery girl replies easily, pinning him down with a challenge in her eyes. “So start talking, Honest John’s.”

There’s a chair on the other end of the counter, a little waiting seat of sorts. Ben remains silent until he’s settled down. “It’s, um… it’s Ben, by the way. Not John. Or Honest John.”

She smiles at him again; just one more and his heart will probably fail him. “Yeah, that sounds better. Fits you.”

And then she holds her hand out and offers him the beginning of everything.

“I’m Rey, in case you were wondering. Rey like sunshine, but with an E.”

Of course the only thing brighter than all the fireworks in the world is the sun herself.

So, um... yeah, that’s that. This is what happens when you attempt to write while severely sleep-deprived, kids.

As always, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed at least some part of this. Please don’t hesitate to like/reblog/comment!

[ladylynse]

Snapshots: Phantom never changed, even though everything--everyone--else did. Even Dani. Especially Dani. Danny didn’t realize what that meant until later. AU  [FF | AO3]

Based off this post featuring @ghostgabber’s AU where Danny’s human half ages but his ghost half doesn’t; for @faiasakura and Phanniemay 2018 Day 24. Eventual character death. (This was getting long, so I’m going to split it into two parts.)

It was a moment of time frozen forever, but Danny didn’t realize that at first.

The changes were gradual; though his parents joked about it, he really didn’t shoot up overnight, and it took time for him to fill out his scrawny frame. He couldn’t hear the changes in his voice, and it’s not like he tried to grow out his hair or grow a beard. (The less he looked like Vlad, the better.) His face eventually lost the boyishness of youth, and he was unmistakably a young man.

But Phantom never changed.

It was embarrassing at first, especially with Sam and Tucker and Jazz teasing him about it relentlessly. Geez, Danny, you could give the little match girl a run for her money. He’d thought his ghost form would change with him. You’re shorter than me and you know it; you’re my little brother. He’d seen the other ghosts change their forms over the years; why did his stay the same? Oh, man, you look so puny!

Look young though he did, his powers grew. He honed his skills, and any ghost who knew his reputation didn’t cross him. Some of them seemed to pop up and attack for old time’s sake—Skulker and the Box Ghost being the most frequent—but he became friends with most of them. Johnny 13 would let him help fix his motorcycle (Danny still wasn’t sure whether it had ever actually broken if it was just a peace offering, but he wasn’t complaining), and Ember actually invited him to one of the concerts she held in the Ghost Zone.

Danny’s grades had never been good enough for him to get into the space program, and despite his parents expressing their support for him to pursue whatever he wanted, he chose to stay in Amity Park after high school instead of applying to college. He’d wanted to assure himself that the town wouldn’t be overrun in his absence. Sam and Tucker had been reluctant to leave him on his own, but Tucker had been offered a great scholarship to MIT, and Sam wouldn’t have been happy staying under her parents’ roof any longer. Even Valerie left, though judging by her visits home, she monitored the news from her hometown closely.

So instead of seeking higher education, Danny officially took up the family business. With Jazz off at university, he could no longer depend on her to monitor their parents’ inventions. And by working more closely with them, he got a better idea of their views. They still had no love for Phantom, but they were eventually willing to (begrudgingly) admit that Phantom did a good job protecting the town.

It was a start.

It made him think he’d be able to tell them, eventually.

When it became clear that Phantom wasn’t physically changing to match Fenton, Danny used that to his advantage. They didn’t resemble each other as much as they once had, and the fact that they didn’t was seemingly further proof that there was no connection between them whatsoever. Not that anyone had really been looking. Not that he’d known of, at least. But if anyone had, now it could be laughed off as a strange coincidence, not used as potential evidence of what should be an impossibility.

If the Guys in White were still sniffing around, they hadn’t shown their faces in years. Danny rather hoped that their department’s funding had been cut and the program was now defunct, but he wasn’t going to get sloppy because of that assumption. He couldn’t afford to. It was better if next to no one knew his secret. It was still safer. For him. For his friends. For Dani.

The first time he realized the changes—or lack thereof—weren’t simply physical was during one of Dani’s visits, actually. He’d been twenty at the time and over at Sam’s to escape some of the Christmas-y-ness of his own house and to visit with her and Tucker while they were home for the holidays. Dani had dropped by with Youngblood to remind him where everyone was gathering for the Christmas Truce.

Sam and Tucker had thought she’d come alone.

No one had corrected them, and that had been the beginning.

“Maybe you just need to get out of this town,” Dani said as they flew over Amity Park. “Travel the world. Actually see something. Maybe that’ll jumpstart whatever’s not developing.”

Danny huffed. As Phantom, he still looked like he was fourteen. Dani, on the other hand, looked twice his age and barely resembled the scrappy twelve year old she’d once been, no matter what form she took.

It wasn’t fair.

She was a clone.

He shouldn’t have to be stuck looking like snot-nosed kid when he was in his thirties.

“I’m serious,” she said. “Tell your parents you want to see about expanding their company. Use Vlad as an excuse if you have to. I can hang around here for a while if that’ll make you feel better, but I doubt any of the ghosts are going to break your truce.”

She had a point. It had taken years of negotiations—begun, of course, during the Christmas Truce, when he could hold a decent conversation without trading shots—but he’d worked out a system, more or less. If the ghosts didn’t harm anyone when they came, he’d allow them to visit without interfering.

The Box Ghost still made a mess of things, but he was no more terrifying than usual. Johnny 13 and Kitty became regular visitors, along with Wulf and Dora and occasionally Youngblood and Klemper. Poindexter had even dropped by on occasion. Ember was limited to one concert in the Real World per tour, but Technus was free to scavenge for recycled or abandoned electronics as long as he did all his compilations in the Ghost Zone. (Danny was pretty sure he was still planning world domination, but a strategic comment regarding his skills had him competing with Skulker in a rivalry that kept both ghosts fairly busy.)

“I don’t think the fact that I haven’t travelled the world is the reason for this.”

Dani shrugged. “Suit yourself. But don’t rule it out till you try it, cuz. Travelling’s about the experience, not the destination. You’re not going to find out what a place is really like from a TV screen.”

Danny pulled up short, and Dani flew back to join him. “You think I’m wasting my life by staying here, don’t you? Dani, I’m protecting people.”

She crossed her arms. “You were protecting people,” she corrected, “and then you fixed it so that they don’t need you anymore. By staying here and claiming you’re protecting this town? You’re just trying to protect yourself.”

“Dani—”

“You have a family. And you can’t tell me you think they wouldn’t accept you after everything. So obviously that’s not why you’re not telling them. But maybe you think you’re trying to protect them now, instead in of yourself. Protecting them from the truth. You’re forgetting how much lies hurt, and you’re shortchanging them for thinking they can’t handle this.”

“That’s crazy!”

“Yeah, but it’s true. You’re not telling them because you don’t want to admit you’ve been lying to them.”

“I’m not—”

“You didn’t even try to pursue your dreams once you thought it was safe to do so. And, yeah, fine, so maybe it would’ve been hard to’ve become an astronaut, but there are other jobs out there relating to space that you definitely could’ve done. You’re smart, Danny. Intuitive, which is worth much more than book smarts. But even when your parents were willing to let you go, you stayed. If I’m dead wrong, then why are you still here?”

“I like what I do, Dani.” Normally, he’d give her points for the pun, but not now. “And Amity Park still needs Phantom, whatever you think. Pretty much every time I let my guard down, someone comes through and tries to destroy the world.”

“That hasn’t happened since your truce.”

“And you think I’m going to tempt fate with my luck?”

Dani shot him an exasperated look. “C’mon, cuz, you can concede my point. I mean…. I get if you don’t want to tell them about me. You’re my family. I don’t need anyone else.” Lies, judging by her face, and that made them more painful for it. “But you still need them. They’re your family. And this isn’t a good reason to push them away or just put up with them trying to kill you whenever you’re in ghost mode. They wouldn’t if they knew the truth. And I get it’s been easier to keep your secret from them because Phantom hasn’t changed, but…. Think about what you’re taking away from them by keeping this up.”

She wasn’t really wrong. He did think his parents would accept him if he finally told them, and he really didn’t want to admit that he’d been living a lie for years. If he told them about Dani, they’d probably accept her, too. But he just….

This was easier, in a way. Predictable. And he didn’t have to deal with Vlad hovering over him, demanding to know why he’d done what he had when the truth endangered his secret, too.

He hadn’t talked to Vlad in years except when he couldn’t help it, but he might have to. Dani was right about something else, too: whatever this was, it couldn’t be normal. Not when she was his clone and she wasn’t affected by…whatever this was. To Danny’s eye, Plasmius had never changed, but it’s not like Vlad had ever pulled out pictures from his days as a young halfa. So what if something was wrong? And if there was something wrong, who was affected? Him or Dani?

“Look, cuz, fun as this has been, I need to head out of state again. Valerie wants me to back her up while she checks something out. I’ll call you later. Just…please, think about what I said.”

She took off without waiting for a response.

Vlad raised his eyebrows. “You’re only asking me this now, little badger?”

Danny bristled. He still hated that nickname. And even though he was taller than Vlad in his human form, the other halfa hadn’t changed his ways. “Just tell me.”

Vlad shuffled the papers on his desk, playing for time and just trying to make Danny squirm. It didn’t improve his mood. But while Dani hadn’t brought it up again, Danny had been thinking about what she’d said that day—and, more to the point, what had been bothering him since he’d first realized that her ghost form was changing while his stubbornly stayed the same. That was why he was here, now, crashing at Vlad’s unannounced and demanding answers.

He hadn’t wanted to give Vlad warning, since the old fruit loop might use the time to prepare convenient answers that seemed to be the truth but were really just what Danny wanted to hear.

“Danielle is a clone, my dear boy, but she is not a perfect one. For obvious reasons.”

Danny rolled his eyes. “Just spit it out.” Vlad never got straight to the point when he could go on and on. While he had more or less given up on the whole idea of getting Danny to turn on Jack and be the son Vlad had never had or of creating a reasonable facsimile, he still enjoyed the attention. And antagonizing Danny at every turn.

“How’s your biology?”

“Aside from what I need to know? Terrible.”

Vlad sighed. “Then suffice to say, little badger, that by her very nature, Danielle’s body will age faster than yours.”

Danny just stared at him.

“One of her imperfections is her instability. You may have stabilized her once, Daniel, but she is not exactly conservative in her actions, and such wear and tear is hardly the best thing for her fragile body. I must admit I cut quite a few corners accelerating her age to twelve years when I first started; it’s surprising that she does not appear older than her current age now.”

Danny opened his mouth, closed it, licked his lips, and tried again. “So, what, one of these days, she’ll destabilize again? Why didn’t you tell me this years ago? How can we stop it?”

“It’s not a process that can be stopped. There are simply too many mutations within her genome, and cytolysis seems to have been introduced with the accelerated aging—”

“And you haven’t figured out how to fix it?” Danny growled, knowing his eyes were burning green but hating that Vlad had kept this knowledge to himself, that he was content with letting Dani die so easily. “We have to save her!”

“There isn’t anything we can do.”

“But there has—”

“Daniel. Her aging isn’t normal. Surely you’ve realized that, considering that your own ghost form hasn’t changed.”

“That just makes me the abnormal one,” Danny bit out. “Other ghosts have changed and grown. It’s not just the shapeshifters.”

“The other ghosts are ghosts. Have you really not figured this out? It’s been years, Daniel. I had thought you at least a little cleverer than this.”

Danny was about to retort when Vlad’s words clicked. He’d made a distinction between ghosts and halfas and already made it fairly clear that Dani’s apparently normal growth was the furthest thing from it. Which meant…. “You’re not aging, either? In ghost mode, I mean?”

Vlad leaned back in his chair and changed into Plasmius. “Do I still look so old to your young eyes?”

Plasmius didn’t resemble Masters as much as Phantom resembled Danny’s human half, but— “No. You look…. Geez, you almost look younger than me.”

“I am. I was in my mid-twenties when your insufferable father caused the proto-portal to explode in my face. But this form has its advantages, little badger. It becomes more and more difficult to give up.”

“Uh huh.”

Vlad gave him a level look, a slight curve of his lip the only indication that he disapproved of Danny’s flat tone. “You’ll understand someday. Youth isn’t something to be scorned.”

“You can’t talk. Plasmius doesn’t look like a teenager. People don’t look at you in ghost mode and not respect you. I swear, the kids these days—”

Vlad cut him off with an amused chuckle. “And you call me old. But let an old man teach you a lesson you should have already learned: accept what you cannot change.”

“What, not be the change you want to see?”

“You were always good at changing things, Daniel, but you never quite got the hang of accepting them.”

“I handled the half ghost thing well enough,” Danny muttered. He wasn’t sure what Vlad was trying to do by giving him this so-called advice, but he was more concerned about everything else the other man had said. If he wasn’t lying about Dani…. “Did you really not figure out a way to stabilize your clones? I mean, you could’ve adapted your own mid-morph sample if you were messing with DNA anyway.”

Vlad frowned, though Danny didn’t know if that was because he was incorrect or just grossly oversimplifying things. “Is that really your biggest concern right now?”

“Yes!”

“Then you haven’t learned anything at all. Run along, little badger. Try to prove me wrong. But don’t be surprised when you fail.”

“So you still haven’t told her, huh?”

Danny phased his hand through the wall of his old bedroom to the empty space where he kept a vial of Dani’s ectoplasm. He’d had to beg it off Vlad, not wanting to tell Dani what he was doing until he found a way to fix this, so he was careful with it; he wouldn’t have the opportunity to get more. Fortunately, his parents weren’t home right now, which meant he had free reign of the lab—and it meant he could have Jazz on speakerphone. “There’s gotta be a way around it. C’mon, haven’t you come across anything?” As of last week, Tucker hadn’t had anything, either, and according to Sam’s text yesterday, her best attempt at a lead had fizzled.

“You’re the one working with Mom and Dad, not me. I haven’t been covered in ectoplasmic goo in years.” Danny opened his mouth, but Jazz continued before he had a chance to say anything. “I know, I know. I’m keeping an ear to the ground, but I don’t think I’m going to be much help. You should ask Mom.”

“That would require more explaining than I’m prepared to do,” Danny pointed out as he headed downstairs. Jazz was just trying to make the point again that he should tell them his secret, especially now that he’d finally—finally—gotten them to agree to work with Phantom more overtly than ever before. He knew they didn’t trust him much, but they were getting older, and they weren’t as quick or—at least in his mom’s case—as accurate a shot as they’d once been. He’d told them, as both Danny and as Phantom, to turn on Phantom if he ever went bad, but that was as much for their comfort as for his.

He didn’t want to be let loose on the world if, for some reason, he was being controlled or anything like that. Valerie knew that, too. She didn’t need to live in Amity Park or Elmerton to keep up on the news, and Phantom going rogue? She’d pay attention to that.

But he hadn’t told her his secret, either, even after she’d accepted Dani. Because that wasn’t the same. On that point, it did come down to cowardice. Like Dani had said, he didn’t want to admit to the years of lies. And, brief though the period had been, he had dated Valerie. She might take that as a betrayal of trust. Willing to work with her enemies though she might be, she could definitely hold a grudge.

Of course, mad at him as she might initially be, she would get over it. Eventually. And then he’d have someone else to help him solve this problem with Dani before it was too late. He was beyond pretending that he didn’t need help.

“And you tried talking to Vlad again?”

“He’s no help and you know it,” Danny said as he flicked on the lights in the lab. “He gave up on her a long time ago. As far as he’s concerned, he’s humouring me. Waiting for me to realize I can’t do anything. As if I’m going to abandon her.”

A sigh. “Danny, I know how much this means to you, but you need to talk to someone who knows more than we do. Sam and Tucker have their own lives now. They can’t drop everything to help you as easily anymore.”

“And neither can you,” Danny finished. “I know. I’m not asking you to do that. I’m just—” From Jazz’s end, someone leaned on a car horn. Danny winced. That was the downside of calling Jazz in the middle of the day; if she was somewhere she could talk to him, then she was in transit, fighting her way through what seemed to be constant traffic. She walked as much as she could, claiming it kept her fit, but Danny suspected the truth was one too many close calls with drivers little better than their father. “Someone got cut off?” he guessed.

“Patience is hard to come by in the big city,” was all Jazz said. “Sometimes it feels like you’re risking life and limb even venturing out onto the sidewalk.”

“But your patients thank you for it,” Danny said, grinning as he imagined Jazz’s eye roll. “And I’m grateful that you still put up with these phone calls from me. You’re a life saver, Jazz. Really.” He glanced at his watch. “You’ve got, what, ten minutes till you want to be there for your next appointment?”

“Yeah. It would be tight if I didn’t give myself a few extra minutes. But you didn’t call to talk about me. Was it really just to see if I’ve miraculously discovered something to help Dani?”

She knew it wasn’t; her tone made that perfectly clear.

She could still read him like a book.

“Dani was wrong. About me just needing to travel, I mean. Since Vlad confirmed that he’s the same as me…. The joke about me being half dead might not be as much of a joke as I thought. Phantom’s never going to change, Jazz. I could be ninety, and if I go ghost, then bam! Wimpy teenager. Again.”

Jazz snorted. “Phantom can’t exactly be described as wimpy, and I don’t think perpetually looking like a teenager is what you’re really worried about. You aren’t losing yourself whenever you change, little brother. Just because you look like your past self, it doesn’t mean you’re becoming him. You’ve grown a lot over the past couple of decades, even if you can’t see that growth on the outside. That face in the mirror is still yours, and you’re still you. Phantom might be almost unrecognizable alongside Fenton, but that dissociation isn’t—”

Jazz’s words ended in a shriek, difficult to distinguish over screaming tires and blaring horns. After a loud crackle, the line went dead.

Danny’s shouts went unheard.

A warm hand dropped onto his shoulder. “She’s gone, sweetie,” Maddie said quietly as she moved around to join him at her kitchen table. “We have to accept that.” He’d come over for a visit, found them both out, and sat there to drink some tea which had long since gone cold. He hadn’t heard them come back. He had also apparently missed the kettle boiling, as she held her own steaming mug as if she were going to attempt the same thing he had. He wondered if she’d be any more successful.

Nothing seemed to be successful lately, including getting some sleep, considering there hadn’t been any ghost attacks.

It had been three weeks.

Three weeks of numbness. Three weeks of anger. Three weeks of tears. Three weeks of being an emotional mess, swinging between feel nothing (dead inside) and feeling too much.

Three weeks of that unfinished conversation repeating itself whenever he closed his eyes, always ending the same way.

Maddie pushed the warm mug toward him and pulled his untouched one away. He stared at it dully for a moment before slowly curling his fingers around it in acceptance. The patterns of steam in the air were mesmerizing. “This is incredibly hard for all of us, honey,” his mother said. “You should consider talking to someone like Jack and I do. Jazz would have wanted that.”

You don’t know what she wanted. He couldn’t bring himself to voice those words, though; there was no reason for such venom. Had a ghost taken Jazz from them, no one in their family would have hesitated. They would have been able to spring into action and take down the ghost, stopping it from doing this to anyone else even if they weren’t in time to save Jazz.

But it hadn’t been a ghost.

It had been an ordinary human. Driving. Drowsy, maybe, or drunk or texting. Danny didn’t know for sure. All he did know was that the man had run onto the sidewalk and hadn’t been able to stop fast enough. He’d hit Jazz and a few other pedestrians. He’d died from his injuries after a few days in the hospital; the others had, as far as Danny knew, recovered.

Jazz hadn’t even made it to the hospital.

“This isn’t right,” Danny whispered. “Jazz has too much left to do.”

Maddie found his hand and squeezed it. “I know it hurts, sweetie. Your heart is aching with her absence. But she’s gone, and you have to accept that. We can’t change it.”

Her words made him remember the conversation he’d had with Vlad years ago. “You were always good at changing things, Daniel, but you never quite got the hang of accepting them.”

But did he have to accept this? Jazz’s death had been abrupt, senseless, and had come well before it should have. She was the definition of someone with unfinished business in this realm. Didn’t that mean there was a chance that she was out there somewhere? Lost in the Ghost Zone, trying to recollect her memories of her past self or trying to muster up the energy to move through the Ghost Zone, find their portal, and break through?

Danny let out a slow breath. “She might not be gone gone.” He tore his eyes away from the mug and looked at Maddie. “She might be out there. In the Ghost Zone. Mom, I might be able to find her.”

Maddie’s smile was small. Sympathetic. Saddened. “Jazz wouldn’t have wanted to come back as a ghost, sweetie.”

“That’s not necessarily a choice! And if she’s out there—”

“Even if something is out there that resembles her, Danny, it wouldn’t be her. You know that.”

“You’re wrong,” he insisted. “You know as well as I do that some of the ghosts in the Ghost Zone are people and animals who had once lived in our realm. They aren’t all just sentient ectoplasmic forms or whatever your latest term for it is. And the ones who aren’t, the ones who were once alive— There’s more of the people they once were in them than you think. Death doesn’t change everything. Jazz would still be Jazz, not just a ghost that looks like her.”

Maddie sighed. “I know it’s a comforting notion, Danny, but you can’t delude yourself with such falsehood.”

“It’s not—”

“Ghosts aren’t alive!” Maddie snapped. Danny blinked, not expecting her anger, and she took a few breaths before saying, “It’s dangerous to hope like that, Danny. You’re just setting yourself up for disappointment, and you know better.”

Danny swallowed. “I know more than you do. I know more than you think.”

Jazz had always wanted him to tell them.

“Danny—”

“Do you remember that accident I had in the lab when I was a kid? The one that sparked the portal? When you wanted me to go to the hospital but I insisted I was fine and Dad was so excited about the portal working that you didn’t push the point?”

Maddie’s lips thinned but she nodded.

“More happened then than I ever told you. I…. I don’t know how it works, exactly. Jazz always understood it better than I did. But my DNA…. Something changed. I think it was infused with ectoplasm.”

There was a frown on her face now, but at least she wasn’t interrupting him. He was surprised she’d let him get this far.

“The thing is….” Danny could still see the steam rising from the mug. He looked down at it and channelled some of his ice powers into his hands. The mug cooled, and the liquid within froze solid as ice painted the outside. He didn’t look up, even though Maddie’s gasp meant she’d seen it as he’d intended. “Everything changed then, Mom. I was just fourteen. I’d been in an accident that probably should have killed me—it was worse than I ever admitted—and…. I came out of it alive and with ghost powers. Which sounds crazy, like something that should be in a cartoon or comic books or something, but it’s not. It happened.” He glanced up and met wide violet eyes. “I can turn into a ghost.”

Silence.

“I’m Danny Phantom, Mom.”

Heartbeats passed.

Maddie let out a slow breath.

Danny waited.

Finally, a quiet, heart-wrenching, “Jazz knew?”

Not what he’d expected, but Danny treated the question as the lifesaver it was. “Not at first,” he admitted, “but she figured it out, and then she helped me. Sam and Tucker knew from the start. And Vlad….” He hesitated. “Vlad knows, too. Since that reunion you dragged us to. He, um, hadn’t entirely given up ghost hunting like you and Dad thought.” That was the safest way to put that. Let Vlad explain it for himself. “But my point is, Mom, I can go into the Ghost Zone and look for Jazz. I’ve been in there before. A lot. And I’ve got friends in there who can help me. We can find her.”

Maddie took a shuddering breath. “Please don’t.”

“I—what?”

The tears that had been gathering in Maddie’s eyes began slow tracks down her cheeks, disturbed as she’d tried to blink them away. “I…. I don’t want to think that she’s a ghost.”

A lump that had nothing to do with grief and everything to do with an old terror filled Danny’s throat. He managed to choke out, “B-but…ghosts aren’t evil, mindless beings. That’s my point. I’m still your son, even though I’m a ghost, too.”

Maddie closed her eyes. “I know. And I….” This time, she was the one having trouble finding the right words. “I still love you, Danny, and so will your father. I don’t have to understand this to know that. But that’s different than what happened to Jazz.”

Relief flooded him, and he found himself smiling as he argued his point. “No, it’s not.” He almost felt like laughing. Jazz was right; he should have done this years ago. He’d have to tell her the good news. “I can go find her, and—”

“Jazz is gone, Danny,” Maddie repeated. “You can’t find her. There isn’t anything here—or in the Ghost Zone—for you to find.”

“But—”

“No. Please, just let your sister rest in peace. For all our sakes.”

Maddie stood and went down to the lab, presumably to find Jack. Danny just stared after her, dumbstruck. He’d thought…. He’d thought she’d be happy, knowing her daughter might not be lost forever.

He headed into the Ghost Zone the next morning anyway, determined to find Jazz.

Part II or see more fics

[janethepegasus]

BMC Miraculous AU RP Thing: Multiverse Search

An RP me and @pika-ace did relating to the BMC Miraculous AU, this one is one of the specials, where the Main Seven search the large space containing the multiverse to find the former akuma (which spoilers for the dimension hopping akuma, Arietes just throws him into a portal that has the multiverse and just leaves him there)

(Jeremy and Michael were walking home from school, both of them were heading to Michael's place for Game Night) (They were chatting about what kind of video games should they play, but then Jeremy noticed a missing poster on a wall)

Jeremy: Hm?

Michael: What is it, Jere?

Jeremy: Look at this... *looks at the poster* You don't really see these in real life

Michael: Yeah, the only missing posters i've seen is about pets, rarely i seen ones about people :/

Jeremy: Yeah... *studies the poster* wait...does this guy...look familiar?

Michael: *studies the poster* Yeah...kinda...

(They both look closer at it)

(They look at the picture of the guy for a bit and then they blink and their eyes widen) Jeremy: Is that...? O_O Michael: That dimension hopping akuma?! O_O

Jeremy: Oh my... O_O Michael: Fuck... O_O

(Jeremy pulls out his phone and texts the rest of the Main Seven)

Jeremy: *text* Can we have a meeting? Like right now??

Joe: *text* Um...why??

Michael: *text* Just...we'll explain when we get there, just trust me, we kinda need to talk

Joe: *text* Um...alright

(Jeremy takes the poster off the wall and they run) (A while later, five of the seven sit in Joe's apartment waiting for Jeremy and Michael)

(A minute later, Jeremy and Michael open the door)

Jordan: Hey boys; so what's going on? Jeremy: This is. *hands them the poster*

(They all look at the poster)

Michael: That guy...that's the dimension hopping akuma Joe: What?!

Jeremy: Yeah! The same guy that got thrown into the multiverse by Arietes!

Eric: He...hasn't come back? Michael: Apparently not Eric: But...I restored the damage...

Joe: Hmm...perhaps whatever magic Arietes had in his domain prevented it from reaching out any further...

Lin: And clearly someone cares for the guy... (Post does a quick search on his phone to see if there's any other information)

(But then Post finds something) Post: Um guys...it's not just one person who cares...it's literally everyone who knows him Jeremy: What?! (Post shows him many social media posts and comments coming from friends and family of that former akuma)

Post: The guy has a wife and kids...

Post: And apparently they've been searching for him for months! Ever since we encountered him as an akuma!

Lin: Whoa...this is weird...and it's never happened before... Joe: That's likely because Raven shockingly sometimes has the courtesy to akumatize people who have nothing to lose and no one to return to Jordan: That explains why we've heard nothing about three dead akumas...

Michael: Though i do think the closest thing to that is like...news articles about that Jordan: True :/

Jeremy: Then...aren't we gonna fix this? It's kinda our fault that we didn't think about this and now this guy is probably who knows where!

Joe: Yes...but how are we gonna fix it?

Joe: How can we possibly locate him, let alone get to him?

Jeremy: Yeah! How are we gonna do that??

Michael: I don't freaking know!!

(They think for a while, passing around ideas of how they should save the former akuma)

Lin: There's gotta be a way...you know, without involving birdbrain

Jeremy: Yeah, we do NOT wanna resort to him! Michael: Yeah we better not XS (They keep thinking and passing around ideas, until...) Post: Guys...i may have an idea, but it might sound crazy...

Jeremy: Let's hear it

Post: What if...we turned into our Space Forms, fly through space until we get to multiverse space, and just search for him!

Lin: ...Multiverse space is a PLACE??

Post: I guess?? I was just describing that large space thing we saw when Arietes opened that portal :/

Post: Is it a place, Dad?

Joe: I...guess...? It's probably a perfect term to describe the multiverse...

Joe: But that plan is better than nothing

Jeremy: Yeah, it's worth a shot :/

Jordan: Yeah, what have we got to lose?

Michael: Yeah! Let's do it!

Joe: But first, we need to prepare ourselves before we do it, since we will be out for a while Jordan: Oh right...

(They spend the rest of the week getting ready; once the weekend hits they're ready to go)

(They're out on a field, the Main Seven are getting ready to go, Joe prepares a bag full of water and food, and a few other Holders, plus Jane and Kirsty, are by them

to give them support and say goodbye) Joe: Alright, we're almost ready to go *to the other Holders* All of you do a good job defending the city while we're gone Tobias: We will Joe Joe: *to Jane* And Jane, you be good to the Trinity brothers Jane: I will! Don't worry about it, i'll be fine! :3

Kirsty: I’ll show her the ropes :3

Philip: We'll take good care of her! Max: As long as she doesn't bug the crap out of me -_- Jane: Don't worry, i won't ;3c (Joe gives Jane a quick hug and he gathers up with the rest of the Main Seven) Joe: Ready?

Cyber: Yes Joe: Alright then (They all transform into their space forms)

Rich: Good luck you guys! Tobias: Stay safe! Leo: We will! Owl: Alright, lets go! (The Main Seven fly off and everyone waves goodbye to them)

(They quickly exit the atmosphere and enter space)

(They fly through space for several hours, passing by planets and stars as they fly)

Leo: What are we even looking for?

Hound: A way to get to that “multiverse space” place, I guess :/

Leo: That doesn’t help >:/

Hound: Well I’m just saying! >:/ Leo: Besides, How the hell do we get there anyways?! Owl: Well...my best guess is to fly towards the end of the universe and hopefully there will be something that’ll lead us to it Leo: Oh great, more flying XS

Cyber: Don’t whine >:/ (They continue flying)

(They keep flying for several more hours, flying as fast as they can to hopefully pass more time. This goes on for many hours, until they start to notice the space

around them was starting to fade away and be replaced by space clouds) Dasher: Uh guys, somethings happening!

Owl: As I thought... Michael: Oh god, the science, the astronomy! EVERYBODY WAS WRONG!!!

Leo: WE'RE GONNA SEE STUFF THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS SEEN BEFORE!!!! Owl: And we're not gonna tell everyone this, got it? >:/ Hound: Why not?! Owl: Because i said so >:/

Hound: Fiiiine (They keep flying)

(They keep flying through space clouds until they emerge out of their universe and find themselves in a large space that's filled with universes that are floating

around)

Timber: Alright...which one first?

Swan: There's so many universes...i don't know where to start!

Dasher: Should we split up? Cyber: That might be risky...

Leo: Yeah, this place is huge! We might get lost if we just split up!

Timber: There’s gotta be a way to narrow it down

Swan: But how?

Cyber: It’s worth a shot but...Quantum Analysis!

(A visor appears on his face and data starts pouring in. However, after a minute or so, Cyber starts to look confused) Leo: What is it Dad? Cyber: ...It's...not working...! Leo: What?! Cyber: All i can gather is just "Don't go too far out" but it's not showing me where to go or how to narrow down these universes!

Dasher: Dammit! Hound: Welp, that idea's a bust XS

Owl: Well now we have to worry about Cyber transforming back out here, since he used his special move >_> Cyber: O_O Oh...oh right...

Owl: Alright, let's pick one to rest and then we can figure out a plan from there

Hound: Alright! ...But which one??

Leo: I don't know, one where the chances of us dying are the lowest!

Hound: Well do i look like i know which universe won't kill us upon entering?! >:/

Swan: I'm tiiiiiiired XS Dasher: *to the adults* Better hurry and pick, the kids are getting antsy

Timber: Alright, ummm.... *looks around at all the universes for a bit and then points to a random one* How about there?

Cyber: Better than nothing *his Miraculous beeps* And at this point we don't have a lot of options anyway O_O

Owl: Alright, let's go, quickly!

(They fly into one of the universes)

(They fly as fast as they can, looking for a place to rest. Until they spot a nearby planet)

(They quickly fly down and land safely)

(As soon as they land, Cyber's Miraculous blinks and he transforms back)

Eric: Phew!

Eric: Made it! (Zip flies out and takes a deep breath) Zip: Phew! That was the longest time we've been in our Space Form! Now i gotta recharge XS Owl: Luckily for you, i packed some Mountain Dew in the bag ;) *gestures the bag*

Zip: :D (Eric takes a bottle from Owl and opens it for Zip who dives inside)

(Zip swims around happily in the bottle)

Dasher: Okay! Where are we?

(They look around and see that they're on an alien-like planet; the ground being purple, the trees, bushes, and flowers look twisted and deformed, and the only sound

they hear is a strange beeping like noise)

Leo: Ooookay, so far so good

Hound: Oooooh, what if we encounter some kind of alien species? :Oc Owl: We're not gonna stay here for long, so chances are, we're not gonna encounter any alien species here :/

Hound: Awwww :( Swan: Now what?

Dasher: Guess we just...chill and try to figure out a plan!

Dasher: I doubt anyone here has seen our guy

Hound: Yeah :/

Timber: *to Eric* You stay close to me until Zip has her energy back Eric: Right

(They walk through the land, looking for a place to relax, until they spot a cave nearby)

Owl: Perfect (They head inside and settle)

(They settle into the cave and they relax)

Hound: Alright...now what?

Owl: Well we gotta think up a plan on how we should find our former akuma, since obviously we can't use Quantum Analysis to do it

Leo: How the hell are we supposed to even narrow it down, let alone track him??

Hound: I don't know! He could be anywhere out there! XS

Swan: Then what do we do??

Owl: Well our best bet is to just search around- Dasher: You kidding me?! I'll take FOREVER to just search through every world we find! I think i should zoom around the multiverse until i find something! Hound: But you'll get lost if you do that! Dasher: ...Oh yeah :/ Leo: What about me and Dad meditate and try to talk to the Sun and Moon gods? Maybe they might have some idea where to go! Eric: Though i think it might be a bit odd to come up to them just to ask for help :/ Leo: Well do YOU have any ideas Mr. "Quantum Analysis won't work here cause reasons"?! >:(

Eric: >:O Don't take that tone with me, young man! Swan: We really didn't think this through... XS

Dasher: Yeah, we just ran in here thinking we could just narrow it down and find him, but the universe said "NOPE" and now we're here XS Owl: Well we have to come up with some plan, regardless on what we do. I just hope our former Akuma is okay... (They keep discussing and talking throughout the day, until they decided to take a little rest. Everyone, who transformed back, is asleep in some sleeping bags that

were in the bag) (However, the only one that was awake was Joe, he was sitting in a meditation pose)

(Joe closes his eyes and concentrates)

Joe: *internally* Please...Miraculous Gods...we need your guidance...show us where to go... (He meditates for a while, going deep into his Miraculous, reaching out to any Miraculous Gods or Demi-Gods out there. Until he suddenly sees a flash of light and when

it faded, he finds himself floating through multiverse space)

Joe: What...? (His vision moves on its own)

(He sees himself floating through multiple universes and flailing around a bit) Joe: Am i...having a vision...? (For a brief moment, he sees his hands, but it wasn't his at all) Joe: It is...! I'm looking through the eyes of our former akuma...!

Joe: Alright...where did you go...? Give us a clue...

(Joe watches the vision play out, seeing the former akuma float around and sometimes flail, and oddly he starts to feel a sense of...loneliness, he feels like it went

on for days...weeks...even months...he even feels a dash of sadness and homesick) Joe: Oh...oh dear...i...wish we could've acted sooner...we're sorry you felt that... (It goes on for a bit, until he spots a large snow globe come into view)

Joe: Where are you now...?

(He sees the former akuma slowly float towards it, when he was not too far away from it, he could see that there was someone in that snow globe...it was a giant woman

who was completely white, glowing, long wavy hair, antlers on her head, and had six arms, and it seems like she's dancing in the snow globe)

Joe: What in the world...?

(Then the large woman turns her head and locks eyes with him, then Joe feels a sense of fear and sees that he tries to run away as best as he can, but he was getting

dragged towards her)

(Joe jerks out of the meditation with a sharp breath and pants)

(He takes deep breaths and tries to calm himself down, but then he hears...) ???: Dad...? (He looks and he sees everyone looking at him with a worried look)

Post: Are you okay?

Joe: *deep breaths* Yeah...i'm...okay...

Joe: And...I think I have an idea of where we need to go... (He tells them what he saw)

(After he tells them his vision, everyone looks both shocked and slightly confused) Lin: So...our guy may be with some giant glowing lady in a snow globe?? Joe: Apparently...

Joe: There was probably more but being attacked startled me so much that I jumped out

Jeremy: At least we have some idea where our guy went...

Jordan: So we just gotta go back out and look for that snowy dimension?

Joe: Yes, but that...snow globe thing wasn't IN a dimension, it was floating in that multiverse space, so i guess we should focus on finding that

Lin: Now THAT narrows it down! :D

Jeremy: Yeah! :D Joe: Alright, let's go *gets up*

(They transform back into their space forms and fly back up into multiverse space)

Dasher: Okay, the search, take two! Owl: Alright, we just have to look for a giant snow globe...

Swan: How will we find it?? Hound: Pretty sure this is basically like a rare spawn thing like in RPGs Leo: Yeah, we just gotta...look for it

Owl: Yes, so keep your eyes open for that... Swan: Wait, if we do get him, how are we gonna find home if we're gonna be so far away from our universe? :S Owl: We'll just retrace our steps

Dasher: And maybe we can find someone who can help :/

Owl: IF there's anyone out here in this multiverse space... :/

(They float around, looking)

(They float through multiverse space for hours, keeping their eyes open for any large snow globes out there. Occasionally they would take a break just to have a little

lunch, and then they would go back to searching again) (This goes on for several more hours; at that point, the kids were getting tired but the adults were still pushing forward)

(Cyber, Timber, and Dasher let the kids stay on their backs to rest while they keep looking)

Cyber: C'mon, it has to be somewhere! Dasher: It's a giant snow globe! How the fuck is it so hard to find it?! (Owl looks around, but then he looks at universes around them, and oddly they looked familiar, that's when he remembered the vision; the former akuma was passing by

those same universes before he encountered the strange being) Owl: I...think we're getting close

Owl: This area is like my vision...C'mon!

(They follow Owl as he flies through the trail of universes, they keep following him until he stops) Owl: We're here... (They find themselves in a large area where there's a HUGE dark gap in the sea of universes, universes float around the large dark gap, except for one world that's

just floating there, and in the middle is a large snow globe, with the large glowing woman inside, and a couple feet below it was a floating piece of land that's

guarded by a net made out of light)

Leo: Whoa... Hound: Okay then...

Swan: That's one giant woman! O_O *points to the giant glowing lady in the snow globe* Leo: Yeah... O_O

Dasher: I guess that's the place...so who wants to go in first? >_>

Leo: Um... (They all look at each other) Leo: Maybe...Dad...? Hound: No, MY dad should go there! Swan: What about Dasher? :/c

Owl: *rolls eyes* I'LL go

Leo: Okay, fine, i guess >_>

(Owl carefully flies down to the net)

(He carefully flies closer towards the net until he can clearly see the former akuma, curled up and shaking in fear)

Owl: Oh dear...

(He flies down near the net and sees the former akuma) Owl: Sir? (He looks at Owl and jumps in fear, but it took him a moment to actually see him) Winston: O-Oh...it's you...! Owl: Yes, we came here to save you. We're really sorry that we didn't came here sooner

Owl: Can you tell us how to get you?

Winston: I-I-I...don't know...how...i-i've been in here for...god knows how long...

Owl: Alright, hold on, we'll think of something

(Owl looks around to come up with a plan, but then his eyes fall upon the net) Owl: Hmm...maybe... (He pulls out his sword and slashes the net open) Owl: Alright! (Owl was about to fly in, but then a second later, the net repairs itself and then Owl hears an alarm, sounding like an alarm played on a flute)

Owl: Oh dear... Swan: Dad, what did you do?! >:O Owl: I was trying to help!! >:(

(Suddenly, a vine made out of light comes out from under the snow globe and uppercuts Owl, sending him flying)

(Owl tumbles through the air into the other holders, knocking them aside like bowling pins)

(The Holders tumble around a bit until they manage to balance themselves) Swan: Ow... XS *rubs his head*

Timber: What the hell is this thing?? Cyber: I guess it doesn't want guests

(Then, the giant glowing lady opens her eyes and stares directly at them) Leo: *shrinks* Shiiiit O~O

(They all huddle together)

(The giant glowing woman keeps starring at them, as if observing them) Dasher: *whispers* What is she doing...?! Owl: *whispers* I don't know...! (She keeps starring at them, until she starts to form an angry and livid look on her face)

Hound: Well whatever it is, she doesn't like it!!!!

(She keeps starring at them angrily until she spoke...) Lumine: Leave...! Owl: E-Excuse me? Lumine: *angrily and loud* LEAVE!!!!!! (Her scream causes the Holders to be pushed back but they manage to hang on)

Cyber: Uh, w-we will! We just came to bring home that man you have!!

Lumine: *angrily* NO!!! You will not destroy another world of mine!!! Not again!!!

Leo: ...Pardon?

Owl: What do you mean by "destroy another creation of mine"? Lumine: *angrily* DON'T ACT LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW!!! I know it was you!!! I know you destroyed my world!!! And you took the only survivor away from me!!! I will not let

you do it again!!!

Holders: ????????????? Dasher: Okay, you're gonna have to give us some context cause we are TOTALLY lost

(Lumine angrily glares at them and suddenly vines made out of light emerge out of the snow globe) Lumine: *angrily and loud* LEAVE THIS PLACE NOW!!!!! YOUR MIRACULOUS GODS SHALL NOT DESTROY ANOTHER WORLD OF MINE!!! NEVER AGAIN!!!!!! (The vines made out of light quickly charge towards the Holders)

Hound: SCATTER!! (They all push away from each other and fly out of the way) Leo: Owl Dad, is there something we should know about our Miraculous namesakes?!

Owl: I-I-I don't know!! I-I have no idea what she's talking about!!

Cyber: Not like we can ask Sun and Moon about it, either!!

(They keep flying around, dodging as many light vines as possible)

Hound: Lady c'mon, we didn't do shit!! What did these people look like?!

(Lumine doesn't answer at all) Hound: C'MON!! Just tell- Timber: Look out! (Timber grabs Hound and gets out of the way of another light vine)

Swan: What do we do?!

Owl: I-I don't know!! She's not letting us get to him!! (They keep dodging the light vines; however, as Leo was dodging one, another one from below him passes by him, but causes him to tumble around in the air) Leo: Ahhhh!! DX (As Leo tries to regain his balance, another light vine charges towards him and Cyber sees it)

Cyber: NO!! *flies towards him*

(Cyber flies towards Leo and holds him, but the light vine smacks the two and they were sent flying straight down)

Timber: WILL!! JERE!!

(They fall down towards the large dark gap and they fall through the one universe that was nearby it) (Cyber and Leo keep falling at a rapid pace, falling through an oddly empty space. Until they reach a planet, where they reach it's atmosphere and crash land on the

ground, knocking them out)

(They were knocked out for quite some time, but during that time, Cyber had an odd dream; he and Jeremy were hanging out on a patch of land, feeling so peaceful. But

then, a light vine appears from out of nowhere and reaches out across the field. Then it stops and digs deep into the ground, a few seconds later, the ground begins to

shake madly, until the light vine manages to tear a piece of the Earth off the planet itself and starts dragging it across space. He clings onto Jeremy tightly as

they're forcibly dragged through space, until they fly out of their universe and saw many light vines extend to other universes) (The light vine drags them close towards a light net, where a few pieces of land are in there already. Eric holds Jeremy tighter as their land gets closer towards the

net, but as they got close, he started to see quick flashes of other people on different pieces of lands, he even saw some people flying off those lands and be whisked

away into the multiverse space, people reaching out to them and crying as those people get whisked off. And as soon as their land got close to the net, he woke up)

Cyber: What...was that...?!

(He takes a few deep breaths and looks around the place, and then he looks at Leo...but wait, he's back to Jeremy!) Cyber: What the...? (Then he looks at himself and noticed he transformed back too, and plus, his Miraculous seemed to be missing!)

Eric: Jeremy, wake up!!

(Eric shakes Jeremy and he starts to stir) Jeremy: Huh...wha...?

Eric: Wake up, our Miraculous are gone!!

Jeremy: What are ya talking about- *looks at his wrist and sees his Miraculous is gone* Huh?!

(Eric pulls him to his feet) Eric: C'mon we have to find them!

Jeremy: But where should we look for them?! (Eric looks around until he spots that they were behind a large junk-like city)

Eric: That might be a good place to start

Jeremy: Alright, let’s go

(They head into the town; Jeremy sticks close to Eric upon seeing the people and the buildings)

(They pass by many people that are many different kinds of species, from humans with odd additions to strange creatures. There were many stores and stands selling

exotic stuff and saw many people come and go, they even saw some Cookies, from Cookie Run, running off with a loaf of bread while a French chief chases after them) Chief: *french accent* Come back here you rats!! >:( Gingerbrave: Nope! It’s ours! >:D (Eric and Jeremy watch as they run past them)

Eric and Jeremy: The cookies! :D

(As they watch the Cookies run off, they accidentally bump into someone) ???: Hey! Watch it! >:( Eric: Oh sorry- (He turns around and sees a slightly older Jane glaring at them)

Jeremy: Whaaaaaaaa...???

Eric: Jane?! Jane: How the fuck You know my name? You psychic or something?! >:/

Jeremy: *softly* Dad! Different dimension! >:/ Eric: *softly* Oh right.... *normally* Uh...just a coincidence, you...look like someone I know...

Jane: Oh :/ Jeremy: So Uh...sorry for bumping into ya... Jane: *sighs* That happens a lot here honestly :/

Eric: Well um, while we have you um...have you seen two trinkets around here? A green pin and an orange bracelet?

Jane: Hmmm...nope, haven’t seen anything like it. I’m just focused on meeting up with Kirsty, since she’s watching over my little “tool”

Jeremy: Do...we wanna know what that is?

Jane: Well it’s something that many people call it something else, but I see it as a form of...punishment for a certain somebody >:3c Jeremy: Um... ???: Hey Janey!! (They look and they see Kirsty; who is WAY taller than the one Jeremy and Eric know, almost the same height as Jane, and has long hair. And she seems to be holding

Jane’s old mom on a leash; her wrists are tied up and has tape on her mouth) ((Yeaaah, the world those two came from....Jane did kinda a fucked up thing to her Mom, as punishing her for that one incident))

Jeremy: What the FUCK?! Kirsty: Who're these clowns?

Jane: Some dudes that I bumped into, Apparently they’re looking for some trinkets around here :/

Kirsty: Oh yeah? Eric: Yes um...a green pin and...an orange bracelet?

Kirsty: Hmm...haven’t seen those around here...maybe the Trinket stand might have it? :/c

(Kirsty points in the direction)

Jeremy: Okay...we’ll um...check it out

(They hurry away from them)

Jeremy: Hooooly fuck, did you see Jane’s old mom?! That was so fucked up!! XS

Eric: Yes, and I have a feeling a LOT of things here are fucked up :S

Jeremy: Yeah, let’s just hope our Miraculous are someplace safe, I hope! XS

(They hurry to the Trinket Stand)

(They pass by many people and stands as they go towards the Trinket Stand, they even saw an alternate version of Jeremy selling pills) Other Jeremy: I’m selling Squip pills here! One dollar for one, three dollars for three, five for five, and a hundred bucks for a whole shoe box full of them! Just

PLEASE buy them all! I need the money!! XS Jeremy: Oh god, I’m selling drugs XS

Eric: Just... *pulls Jeremy close* don't look and don't think about it... *they walk faster*

(They walk by different people and stands until they get to the Trinket Stand, where a older and slightly beat down Ash runs it, with Pikachu laying on the table) Ash: *monotome like voice* Hey...welcome to my stand...pick what you like for a price...

(Eric and Jeremy scan the trinkets for their Miraculous)

Ash: *monotome voice* What are you looking for...?

Eric: Uh...a green pin and an orange bracelet

Ash: *monotome voice* Oh...that...? (Ash gives them a cheap plastic bracelet and an emerald pin) Ash: *monotome voice* That’ll be 10 bucks please...

Jeremy: Yeeeeah that's not what we're looking for...

Ash: *monotome voice* It’s not...? Jeremy: Yeah, you just gave us these cheap trinkets! >:/ Ash: *monotome voice* Oh look at that...I failed at something again...just like my Trainer career...

Jeremy: Ooooooh...that explains a lot... O_O

Ash: *monotome voice* Yeah...I’m a walking failure...the only thing in my life that makes my life worth it is Pikachu... Pikachu: Pika! :3

Eric: Awww... Jeremy: Well, uh, good luck with that...

(Jeremy and Eric put the orange plastic bracelet and emerald pin on the table) Jeremy: Thanks for the offer Ash: *monotome voice* You’re welcome...

Jeremy: uh...think you might be able to tell us where we can get...REAL jewelry?

Ash: *monotome voice* Like...What KIND of jewelry...? You looking for Gems...or actual pretty jewelry...?

Jeremy: Like what these are *holds fake trinkets* Except, you know...NOT plastic?

Ash: *momotome voice* Oh...like legit jewelry...? Jeremy: Yeah! Ash: *monotome voice* Well...do you have lots of money on you...?

Jeremy: ...What if we do?

Ash: *monotome voice* Well...I hear that the only place to get actual expensive jewelry is at the black market...they sell a lot of stuff there...

Jeremy: Where can we find that?

Ash: *monotome voice* Well...it’s- ???: Ahem! >:/ (They turn around and see a somewhat impatient person waiting behind them) Ash: *monotome voice* Oh...you’re making a line...can you guys...move out of the way...? So I can do...a thing with that other guy...?

Jeremy: Oh c'mon just tell us, it'll take two seconds!

Ash: *monotome voice* Nah...just get out of the way...so I can help that person...buy something...

Jeremy: But- Guy behind them: *pushes them* Move it, kid >:/

Jeremy: >:O Rude!

Jeremy: now what? Eric: Well, we know to look for a black market

Jeremy: But How do we find it?! Eric: Maybe someone around here knows :/c

Jeremy: Dad, call me crazy, but not a lot of these people look approachable for directions XS

Eric: Well, maybe someone out here is?

Jeremy: Then YOU do the talking this time XS

Eric: Fine fine! >:/ (They start walking around, asking people who are approachable) Eric: Excuse me, do you know where the Black Market is? Cloudy: *thick accent* Never been there Eric: Where’s the Black Market? Amy: I rather not speak about it >:/ Eric: Black Market? Ruby: Nope Eric: Do you know where it is, Uh...short White Diamond...? White Diamond: *depressed tone* No... :( (He keeps asking more and more people and still no luck)

Jeremy: At this rate, we’ll never find them XS

Eric: We can try Jeremy! We can try! (Eric looks around but then he spots an alternate version of Jordan hanging around)

(Eric slows but Jeremy leads him on) Jeremy: No, Dad, your REAL husband’s in space

Eric: But can I at LEAST ask him?! >:/

Jeremy: ......No flirting >:/

Eric: Fine (Eric approaches him) Eric: Um...hey! (Other Jordan turns around and looks at him) Other Jordan: What the hell do you want?

Eric: *flinches and swallows* Um...my son and I are...looking for a Black Market that...sells legit jewelry...do you, uh...know where it is...?

(Other Jordan raises his eyebrow and looks at Eric) Other Jordan: So you’re looking for the Black Market...JUST so you can buy jewelry?

(Eric flushes as Other Jordan leans in close with suspicion) Eric: Uh...it’s...important...

(Other Jordan raises his eyebrow in suspicion) Other Jordan: HOW important?

Eric: Uh...um...

Other Jordan: How important is it to go over there and face the nastiest and dangerous people in there JUST so you can walk off with pretty jewelry? >:/

Eric: Because they were stolen from us!!

Other Jordan: *blinks* What?

Eric: Something special was taken from us and we think they might be in that black market!

Eric: So please!! Just tell us where it is!! (Other Jordan looks at him for a moment, and then smirks with a short chuckle) Other Jordan: Heh, well if you’re that determined to get there... *shift his eyes and then leans close to him* *whisper* Let me lend you in on a secret, the only way

for anybody to get in is to get the password for the front door

Eric: *whispers* Well...What is it?

Other Jordan: *whispers* Well, I hear they change the password every month, however I will give you the password I have. If it doesn’t work, try to find somebody who

knows the current password. Eric: *whispers* O-Okay... Other Jordan: *whispers* Alright...the password is... (Other Jordan softly whispers the password into Eric’s ear, Eric listens to it, though he blushes a little and accidentally thinking about HIS Jordan)

(Jeremy frowns and tilts his head as Other Jordan pats Eric on the cheek and walks away)

(Jeremy approaches him) Jeremy: Well? What did he say?

Eric: *coughs* Um yeah, I got it...the...password too

Jeremy: Did he tell ya where it is? Eric: Y-Yeah...i-i think we can find it...

Jeremy: ...What did he say to you? >:/c Eric: Not important, l-lets go... (Eric hurries off and Jeremy follows)

(They walk through the town until they find the place; a single black door with a yellow X with arms, legs, and a face guards it) Eric: O-Okay...Jordan said that the door is guarded by someone, so we'll just say the password and he'll let us in

Jeremy: Okay Dad...Do your thing

(Eric approaches X, with Jeremy following behind him) Eric: Um, excuse me? We like to go in? X: Oh! Uh...what's the password? Cause...you know...i can't let you in without a password... Eric: It's Riverdale (X looks at a board and looks at the paper) X: Sorry, wrong password

Jeremy: Huh?? Dad!!

Eric: Wha?! B-But Jordan said this was the password! X: S-Sorry, but the password changes every month, plus that one is a REALLY old one. So come back if you have the new one

Eric: But- X: Sorry

(Eric sighs sadly and he turns around to walk away, but then someone that was passing by accidentally dropped a coin and X sees it) X: Oooh! A penny! :Dc (X walks towards it but he accidentally drops the board) X: Oops! (Eric and Jeremy turn around and see the board on the ground)

(They look at it)

(Eric quickly grabs the board and X sees it) X: Hey!! Give it back!! D:<

Eric: No! >:(

X: Give it back!! >:( (X jumps and tries to get the board, but since he's so short, he could't jump up high enough)

Eric: Then let us in >:/

X: I won't let you in without a password! >:/

Jeremy: Then What is it?!

X: I won't tell you! Just don't look at the paper on that board! >:/

(Eric gives him a look and looks at the paper)

(Eric sees the password on the paper and looks at X) Eric: ...It's Lasagna -_- X: *whines* Wha?! I told you not to look at it! DX

Jeremy: Just...let us in -_-

X: But- Eric: Let us in >:( X: *sighs* Okay...okay... :( (X opens the door)

(Eric and Jeremy hurry inside, leaving the board behind)

(X gets the board and closes the door) X: ...The boss won't like this when he finds out... :( (Meanwhile in space, Timber, Hound, Swan, Owl, and Dasher are still dodging the light vines) Dasher: C'mon lady!! Give it a rest! Timber: Guys! We need *dodges a light vine* to get to Will and Jere!

Dasher: Tank, we have no idea where they- Whoa! *dodges* Went!

Hound: Yeah! For all we know they- AH! *dodges* could be in that dark abyss down there! *points to the large dark gap below*

Timber: I ain’t- *dodges* leaving them down there!

Swan: Then what do we- *dodges* do to get to them?! We don't know- *dodges* where they are!

Owl: I don’t know!

(They keep dodging for a bit, until Timber looks down and decides to search for them) Timber: I'm going down there! *flies down*

Dasher: Tank no! *dodges* We need you up here!

Timber: But i gotta find Will!! Dasher: But you don't know *dodges* where they are! Timber: Then i'll just search for them! >:(

Owl: We can't risk being split up even more! Timber: But- Owl: Jordan Ellis-Williams, Holder of the Wolf Miraculous, you are to stay here until we- *dodges* figure this out! >:(

(Timber stands still, but then he gets hit by a light vine and is sent flying)

Hound: DAD!! *flies after him*

Dasher: You told him to stay still *dodges* but the giant lady said "No, you move" Owl: Lin Manuel Miranda, Holder of the Weasel Miraculous, don't even *dodges* DARE test my temper >:/

Owl: And I DIDN'T tell him to stay STILL, I told him to stay HERE, as in this AREA WITH US!! Do you all even listen to a WORD I say?! >:(

Dasher: Well next time, be more specific on what you say >_>

Owl: >8O I WAS!!! Swan: Yeah Lin, he said stay here not stay still, there's a difference >_>

Dasher: Well i- (Then Dasher gets hit with a light vine and is sent flying)

Owl: FOR GOD SAKES DON'T STAY STILL AND TRY TO STAY TOGETHER!!! >8((((((

Swan: Well now we're just going down like flies XS

Owl: Then lets retreat for now!

(Swan and Owl retreat while flying towards where Timber, Dasher, and Hound are)

(They grab the three of them and fly until the vines stop following them but they can still see the snow globe from a distance)

Timber: We gotta go back there and find Will! D:

Owl: For the last time, we have no way of knowing where they landed! We could just end up more lost than them!

Timber: Then how are we gonna find them?! >:(

Owl: We may just have to let them find us

Timber: But what if they don't?! What if they can't find us and get lost?!

Owl: Have some faith in them, Jordan!! Eric can’t always rely on you to save him, so trust him if only this one time to be able to take care of himself and Jeremy. And

you’ll know if he’s in true danger; if that feeling comes...then we’ll follow you to him

Timber: But what if he can't?! What if they're trapped in some endless void of nothingness and i couldn't feel that feeling at all?! I don't want to loose Will!! I

don't want to loose him in a place where i can't get to him!! *starts to tear up* I don't want to loose him...!! I don't want to loose my Peach...!!

Owl: I think both you and I know that you WOULD feel something if something was truly wrong Dasher: Yeah Tank, you and Sparky defy all laws of science with your love

Hound: Yeah! Plus, i think Papa will be fine! Owl: Yes, so give Eric a chance to- *notices Timber shaking* ...Jordan? Are you okay...? (Timber doesn't respond as he starts crying while muttering "I don't want to loose him" over and over again)

Hound: Dad... *hugs him*

Timber: *sobs* I don't want to loose him...! I don't want to loose him...!

Hound: You won’t Dad...he has a freaking Moon god in his Miraculous, he’ll be fine

Owl: Just trust him, Jordan, he'll be alright

Timber: O...Okay...

Owl: And if he does get in danger, you will know Timber: Y-Yeah... (Meanwhile with Eric and Jeremy, they walk down the stairs until they approach a door) Eric: Alright, you're gonna stay near me the whole time, and let's just focus on our main objective and DON'T get distracted by anything, got it?

Jeremy: Yeah >:/

(They open the door and they see a large area that has stores that sell all kinds of things and shady people wonder through the area, some were even carrying things

that they bought)

(Eric keeps his arm around Jeremy as they hustle through the place, looking for their Miraculous)

(They look around until Jeremy spots a Jewelry store)

Jeremy: Over there

(They head over to the Jewelry store, where they see Holly Blue Agate running the store) Holly Blue: Ah, welcome! Here to buy some of the finest jewelry?

Eric: Um, I suppose...did you happen to get a green pin and an orange bracelet?

Holly Blue: Well...i did had a customer with those two things... (Eric and Jeremy perk up) Holly Blue: ...But when i saw the magical capabilities of those two, i simply told them to find another store that'll give them something better in return. (Eric and Jeremy frown)

Jeremy: What kind of stores here would take them?

Holly Blue: Not sure, possibly stores that offer things like creatures, substances, and possibly other things :/

Eric: Alright, Thanks! (They leave the store)

(But before they leave, Holly Blue stops them) Holly Blue: By the way, since you're not buying anything here, care to have an Off-Color or Defective Gem? (She pulls out a box full of Gems) Holly Blue: They're free Jeremy: Um...no thanks Holly Blue: No no, i INSIST *gestures the box*

Jeremy: Uh... *looks at the gems in the box*

Holly Blue: Take whatever you like! Take one, take two, hell, i won't mind if you take the whole box! Ha Ha! Just PLEASE take them! I don't know what to do with those

defective gems!

Jeremy: Okay, okay I'll just take it *takes the box* to make you stop talking! Holly Blue: Perfect! Everyone wins!

Jeremy: Ugh...see ya... (They leave the store)

Jeremy: Now I just hope that they all don't re-form at the same time in this box...

Eric: Yeah; but let's just focus on finding where our Miraculous could be...

(They wander through the market, looking for stores that specialize in magic or creatures)

(They keep wondering around until they spot a purple reptile that's gonna give out their Miraculous to someone at a weapons shop)

Eric: Over there! >:O (They bolt over as fast as they can)

(They run towards her and confront her) Jeremy: How DARE you sell our things at a black market! >:O Susie: Wha? *looks at them* Oh, it's YOU two losers, finally decided to wake up, huh?

Eric: Give them back, right now! >:(

Susie: And why the hell should i give them back to you?

Jeremy: Uh, because they're ours? >:P Eric: And they're special and DANGEROUS in the wrong hands!

Susie: Hmm...dangerous, huh? >:3c Eric: Yes! Just please give us our Miraculous, now! Susie: *looks at them and smirks* Hmm...you know what, i WAS thinking of just trading them for an axe, since all they could do is summon mini magical animals...but

since you mention that they're dangerous... *pulls her hand away from them* I might keep them and use them for something >:3c

Jeremy: You better not! Susie: Imma Do it >:3 Jeremy: Dont you dare >:(

Eric: You better not use them, or else- Susie: Or else what? You're gonna lecture me on how i'm a "bad girl"? Oh please, don't even try to get on my nerves! Or else... (Susie snaps her fingers and a whole gang of baddies appears and surrounds them)

Eric: I...wasn’t going to do any of that :/

Susie: Well you look like the kind of guy who would do that >:P Eric: >:O

Jeremy: Just give ‘em back, please!

Susie: Well if you want it so bad, then try to take them from me! >:3

(Eric reaches out and grabs them from her hand) Eric: *to Jeremy* Run.

(Jeremy manages to escape the gang circle and runs away) Susie: Wow, i can't believe you actually took that seriously! Though i didn't expect ya to take it so easily >:( *cracks her knuckles, looking ready to fight him*

Eric: Eh heh heh heh... *runs after Jeremy*

Susie: Hey!! Come back here you punk!! >:( (Susie and her gang chase after them)

(Eric and Jeremy run as fast as they can) Jeremy: What’s the plan?! Eric: *gives his bracelet while he gets on his pin* Transform, FAST!!

Jeremy: But can we transform while we run?? Eric: Just do it!!

Jeremy: O-Okay! Jeremy: Leo, Fangs Out! *he jumps in case that will help and transforms* Eric: Zip, Power On! *does the same as he transforms*

Leo: Now what?! (Just then, a spade zooms past them) Leo: Eep! O_O (They look back and see one of Susie's gang members, Lancer, throwing spades at them) Lancer: Take them down!! >:D

Cyber: At least now we can defend ourselves...! (He leaps onto a roof; Leo yelps, barely keeping a grip on the box of gems as he follows)

(Susie's gang stops at the roof they're on top of) Susie: Lancer, don't stop shooting at them until they fall! Lancer: You got it, boss! >:3 *shoots spades at them*

(Cyber shoots the spades with lightning while Leo cuts any that get too close while protecting the box) Cyber: Why are you still carrying that?! Leo: They're alive, Dad, I'm not gonna abandon them now!

(Cyber keeps shooting the spades, but one of them manages to hit Cyber on the shoulder)

Cyber: OW!! Leo: You okay?!

Cyber: Y-Yeah...i'm- *gets hit with another spade* OW!! Lancer: Hehe! Wide open for hits! >:D (Meanwhile, Timber suddenly gets a sinking feeling in his heart)

Hound: You feel something? Timber: I do Owl: Can it lead us to them?

Timber: Yeah, follow me! (Timber zooms off and the others follow. They follow him until they reach a universe that was near the large dark gap)

Hound: Oh PLEASE tell me they landed in the universe...

(Timber goes towards the universe and they follow) Hound: Oh thank god, they are! (They float through the space clouds until they reach the universe's space. They float through the empty space as fast as they can) Owl: *looks around* Hmm...this looks...odd...

Dasher: Well we can figure that out later; take us to 'em, Tank!

Timber: Right! (They zoom through space until they see a single planet) Timber: They're over there!

(They zoom towards the planet with Timber zeroed in on one location)

(He lands on the ground and the others land as well. They get up and Timber runs into the city that's nearby them)

Timber: They're close, I can smell 'em! Hound: Same!

(They run through the crowds of people as they follow Timber) Owl: Excuse me! Pardon me! Get out of the way please! Move, Jane! *blinks and looks back* Wait, Jane?? O_O Swan: Focus Dad! Owl: R-Right!

(Owl and Swan fly to get a better look at where they're going)

(Timber keeps running and everyone keeps following him until they get to the Black Market entrance, where X is still guarding it) X: Uh, you need to tell me the password before you can get- (Timber grabs him tightly, lifts him up, and gives him a death glare) Timber: *dangerously* Let us in, or i'll turn ya into a fucking V! >8( X: *shrinks* O_O

X: *high pitched* Go right on in, sir... (The holders hurry in)

(Timber throws X against the wall and runs inside) (They open another door and they run into the black market entrance)

(It doesn't take them long to spot the big commotion happening)

(They see Susie's gang attacking Cyber and Leo, trying to get them down, while Cyber shoots lightning at spades and Leo protecting a box full of gems)

(Timber sees red and whips out his hammer)

(Timber charges towards Susie's gang)

(He jumps and slams his hammer down on the ground, sending out a huge shockwave, knocking Susie and her gang off their feet)

Susie: GAH!! What the hell?!

(Dasher then zooms around them at top speed, landing hits on them while Swan and Owl fly up to where Cyber and Leo are)

Owl: Are you two okay? Cyber: Yeah, we're fine... Swan: *looks at the box full of gems* What do you got there, Leo? A box full of gemstones?? :/c

Leo: It's a long story... XS But how did you guys get here? Swan: We followed Timber's husband radar XD

Leo: Oh, should've known that XD

(Cyber blushes slightly as he looks down and watches Timber beat up the gang while Swan checks the gem box with Leo)

Cyber: *sighs lovingly* So brave...

Swan: So what are they? Leo: A Holly Blue gave them to me, said they're all off colors or defective Swan: Oooh... (Timber, Dasher, and Hound beat up the gang)

(They keep beating them up until only Susie is the only one standing, trying her hardest not to fall) Susie: Damn...you're...strong...! You wiped out...my whole gang...!

Timber: Don't mess with my husband and kid >:(

Susie: Hey...it's not my fault...that they were wide open...for me to steal those...things...! I could've gotten a battle axe...if those two...didn't show up...! >:(

Timber: Well then take something else to get it >:/

Susie: *growls* Fuck...you...! >:(

(Timber knocks her out and join the others on the roof) Timber: Will! :D

Cyber: Jordan! :D

(They hug and kiss while Hound joins Leo and Swan in looking at the gem box to pass the time)

Owl: Well i'm glad the two of you are safe now Leo: Yeah; and i'm glad we finally got our Miraculous back, it took SOO long to actually find someone who has it!

Leo: How did it go with the Snowglobe? Dasher: She wouldn't quit XS

Leo: Really? Swan: Yeah, she kept throwing light vines at us nonstop! Hound: But when we retreated, she stopped and kept doing her thing

Hound: Soooo we gotta think of another way to get in there

Owl: Indeed Leo: Sooo...we're gonna stay here until we can come up with a plan??

Owl: That would be ideal, or we could try to think of one while we try to find her again

Hound: Well the universe we're in is nearby her, so it wouldn't be THAT hard to find her :/

Owl: Alright then Swan: And maybe we could find a home for these gems while we think

Hound: Yeah, cause obviously we can't take them home Leo: Aww, can i at least take one?? :( Owl: Leo, our world already has remnants of people from other worlds that were once prisoners of Arietes, i don't think our world has room for Gems >:/ ((Oh yeah, all those people in those green ambers were set free when Arietes was defeated))

Leo: Okaaaaaaaay...

Owl: But before we do anything else...let's get out of this place XS Swan: Good idea... (They jump off the roof and they exit the black market)

(They eventually find a quiet place to sit and relax)

(As they relax, Cyber and Leo tell them everything they saw on their search for their Miraculous)

Leo: ...So I saved these gems and they still haven't reformed, and then we found our Miraculous, and then you guys showed up and...that's about it

Owl: Goodness, you two went through a lot! Leo: I know! And i've seen things that i wish i could forget XS Timber: Will, you met an alternate version of me here? Cyber: Yeah, it was...kinda hard to talk to...i just kept thinking of you and seeing you...even though i KNOW it's an alternate version of you! XS

Leo: Plus an alternate Jane and Kirsty, and...I think they're even MORE kinky here than back home if what they did to Jane's Mom is anything to go by XS Hound: O_O ...Huh? Leo: Please...don't make me explain... XS

Cyber: I don't think it was kinky at all, frankly i think alternate Jane straight up turned her mom into her slave O_O

Leo: Yeah, but we don't know what they do when they're together without Jane's Mom there XS Cyber: ....Fair point...

Hound: So...what are we gonna do with that snow globe lady? Leo: Well obviously we need to get our guy out of that net, we just don't know how Swan: Yeah, cutting the ropes only worked for like...a second, until it repaired itself again Timber: Yeah, so we gotta find a way to open the net and get our guy out of there as quickly as possible

Dasher: Could sneaking in be an option?

Hound: Maybe??

Timber: We could try sneaking in the back, cause brute forcing our way in obviously isn't an option

Hound: Yeah...maybe she won't see us do it when we try that! Leo: Maybe? (As they talk about their plan, they start to notice that Owl hasn't said anything and looked like he was thinking) Leo: Uh...Owl Dad? You okay? Owl: *blinks* Oh! I'm okay, i'm just...thinking... Hound: About what? A plan? Owl: No...but rather, the things she said to us...

Dasher: That whole thing about how we apparently destroyed her world? Yeah I'm kinda wondering about that too

Swan: Yeah, and she said we took her only survivor away from her Hound: And she kept screaming at us to go away all because she doesn't want us to lay a finger on her world??

Leo: Yeah, was that an ancient Miraculous thing or...is she just nuts?

Dasher: CAN giant space beings go insane? 8/c

Timber: Who knows? :/c

(Owl thinks for a bit, trying to make sense of Lumine's claims, but then, he thinks of something) Owl: ...I think i might know something about her second claim... Leo: Really? Owl: Call me crazy but...what if she was talking about...Arietes?

Leo: Uh...pre or post reincarnation?

Owl: Pre-reincarnation

Leo: Okay that makes sense... Hound: How the fuck did she mistake US for a giant centaur man???

Owl: No no no, you don't understand me! You all remember the reason of his motivation to take parts of worlds and stitch them together? Leo: Kinda?? Owl: Well his reasoning is because he wants to rebuild his world! The world that was destroyed by an unknown force and HE was the only survivor!

Holders: ???? Hound: ...Elaborate please?

Owl: *rolls his eyes* Ugh, okay, so we all know that Arietes was gonna take part of our world and stitch it with an incomplete world that's made up of pieces of other

worlds he invaded Leo: Right... Owl: But the reason he's doing this, and the reason why he's going around, world to world, doing all of that, was because he wanted to rebuild his old world Hound: Okay... Owl: And apparently, his world, the whole universe he lived in, was destroyed by an unknown force, and he is the only survivor cause he opened a portal and escaped to

another world Swan: *nods* Owl: But when we defeated him, and stopped him from continuing any further with his plans, the Miraculous Gods turned him into a Guardian and gave him a second chance Cyber: Alright Owl: So i believe that when she said that we took her only survivor away from her, she was talking about Arietes! Meaning that SHE was related to Arietes' homeworld

and she blames us for taking her only survivor of that world that got destroyed!

Everyone: Ooooooooh

Leo: Oh that makes much more sense now (Owl sighs with relief) Cyber: Wait, she also mentioned that we destroyed her world, so since Arietes is that survivor she said we took away.....does that mean she blames US for destroying

Arietes' world?

Hound: Yeah What the hell?! >:/

Hound: We never BEEN to that world! We only know it's existence from Arietes! >:/ Leo: Or maybe the Miraculous Gods did it? :/c Owl: No, they couldn't Leo: Why you say that? Owl: Well the thing is, the Miraculous Gods cannot destroy worlds. At all. They never have any intentions on destroying worlds out of any desire.

Cyber: Well there’s no way she’ll listen to us either way

Hound: Yeah, she'll just screech at us for how it's OUR fault that we destroyed her world, even though we didn't do it :/

Swan: Soooo...is sneaking in the best way?

Owl: I guess so :/

Owl: That May also be the safest option

Hound: Yeah, to avoid us getting smacked around my light vines :/

Timber: Alright then

Leo: So, sneak in there and take him out of there? Cyber: Yep Leo: Alright, let's go! (They get up, but then one of the gems in Leo's gem box starts to glow)

Leo: *gasp* Someone’s reforming! :D Swan: Oh boy! :D

(A Pearl floats out of the box and it reforms it's body, revealing to be a light pink Pearl)

Swan: Pretty! :0c

(The Pearl floats down and looks around, confused) Pink Pearl: Huh?? Where am i??

Leo: Uh.....what’s the last thing you remember?

Pink Pearl: Well um...i fused with Ruby...then we were caught and then...they poofed us...

Leo: Oh... *digs through the box and finds a ruby* This ruby?

Pink Pearl: Oh! Yes that Ruby!

(Leo hands it to her)

Pink Pearl: C'mon Ruby! Come out! (A few seconds later, the Ruby starts to glow) Pink Pearl: Oh, there you go! :D

(The ruby forms and blinks) Ruby: Huh?

Ruby: Where am i? *sees Pink Pearl* Pearl! :D

(They hug)

Swan: Aww! :3

Leo: Maybe you guys can watch the rest of these guys *gestures to box*

Owl: And perhaps find a safe place for all of you to live :) Pink Pearl: Um...sure!

(Leo hands them the box)

Leo: Okay, with that out of the way, let's go!

(They transform into space forms and fly off)

(They fly out of the planet and Owl looks back at the planet and notices how it’s made up of different pieces of land that don’t match with each other) Owl: Hmm...how odd...

(They fly until they reach the snow globe but keep their distance)

Owl: Alright, we’re just gonna sneak down there and get him out without her noticing us Leo: Yeah...

(They float so they’re behind the snow globe)

(Then they float down towards the net, where Winston is still on the piece of land that’s inside)

(They carefully slip through the net)

Cyber: Okay, so far so good... (They float towards Winston and hold him up) Leo: It’s gonna be okay dude, we’ll get you out Winston: O-Okay... (One by one, they carefully slip out, but then Owl’s leg accidentally touches the net and he suddenly screams in pain) Owl: GAH!!! (Then the alarm goes off) Leo: Shit!! Move move move move!!! (Swan quickly cuts the net and they fly out of the net as fast as they can)

Dasher: We better fly home now or something!

Leo: Yeah, let’s get out of here!! (Lumine glares at them and screams...) Lumine: *angrily* LEAVE!!!!! (Lumine summons light vines and they charge towards them) Leo: GO GO GO GO GO GO GO!!!!!! (They fly as fast as they possibly can, trying to outrun the light vines)

(They hold Winston as tightly as they can as they fly)

(They keep flying faster and faster, slowly outrunning the light vines)

Leo: We’re doing it!!

Hound: Keep flying faster guys!!

(The vines start to peeter out)

Leo: Keep going guys!! We can outrun them!!

(Finally the vines stop chasing them)

Leo: YES!! Hound: We did it!!

Owl: *to Winston* Lets Get you home :)

Winston: Alright :) Leo: Sorry we left ya out here for a long time XS Hound: Yeah, we feel kinda bad for it XS

Winston: I-It’s okay

Winston: Don't feel too bad about it...i'm just glad you all saved me... :)

Dasher: Yeah well you have a lot of people who will be happy to see ya

Winston: Yeah, i'm sure everyone will be surprised at what i've been through! Owl: If you plan on doing that, just...tell them not to spread it around to everyone else, this is something only you and whoever you talk to should only know

Winston: Okay... (They fly and soon their universe comes into view)

Owl: There it is! Let's go! Leo: Wait, how is he gonna breathe if we go into our universe's space?? *gestures Winston* Holders: O_O

Swan: Uh...maybe if he holds his breath and we fly REALLY fast we’ll make it

Owl: It's...worth a shot...

(They get as close as they possibly can) Owl: Alright...ready?

Holders: Ready! Owl: *to Winston* Hold your breath and hope and pray we make it Winston: Okay... *takes a deep breath and holds his breath*

(The holders fly as fast as they possibly can)

(They fly through space as quickly as possible while Winston holds his breath as long as he can)

(Earth eventually comes into view and they pick up speed)

Leo: I see Earth! Owl: But if we enter the atmosphere, he might burn up! Leo: ...Oh yeah O_O Timber: I got an idea, how about i shield him from the heat? Hound: That could work! :D Owl: Timber, get over here and shield him!

(Timber moves in front of Owl to sandwich Winston between them to shield him)

Timber: *to Winston* It's gonna be okay, we're doing whatever it takes to get ya home safely! (Winston nods) (They fly towards Earth and they enter the atmosphere)

(They fly through it and Winston doesn’t get burned; once they’re through, Winston breathes again)

Winston: Oh thank god... Leo: We're almost there! Oh, and by the way, what's your name? Winston: I'm Winston Leo: Winston, got it.

Owl: Where do you live?

Winston: I live in New Jersey, the same city you all live in

(They fly down and Winston directs them to his address)

(They all fly towards his home and they land)

(Leo and Hound knock on some of the windows before they land and Owl puts Winston down)

(Then they knock on the door and a few seconds later, the door opens)

(A woman stands at the door and two little faces peek out)

Julia: Hello? Leo: Uh hey, we found your lost husband (She looks confused at first, but then she looks and sees Winston)

Kids: Daddy!!!! :D *run out*

(The kids run towards Winston and hug him) Winston: Hey there! I missed you two! :D (Julia walks out of the house and towards Winston, tears forming in her eyes)

(Julia just about throws herself at him and kisses and hugs him) Swan: Awwww...

Leo: What a happy reunion! :)

Owl: Indeed... :)

Winston: Thank you for bringing me home... :) Leo: You're welcome dude! :) Hound: We'll just leave ya to reunite with your family :) (Winston nods and the Holders fly off, then they fly towards an alleyway where they transform back)

Lin: Well doesn't that feel good :) Eric: It has been a while since we've saved someone like this :)

Jeremy: Yeah! And it was the first time we did a little space adventure! ...That didn't involve an akuma Michael: True (Joe pulls out his phone and texts to the Miraculous Armada group chat that they're back home and Winston is safe)

(The armada responds happily) Joe: Well, I think we all deserve a good rest after that

Jeremy: Yeah, we deserve it! :)

(They all disperse)

[omgkatsudonplease]

[fic, viktor/yuuri, nosedive au] mid-air turbulence

so @rosyredlipstick donated to @katsukiyuuristrophyhusband‘s nancy fund and requested a ficlet of “pining!viktor and oblivious!yuuri”. I just added the Black Mirror elements because I was thinking about how amplified Yuuri’s anxiety might be in the universe of “Nosedive” and this came out as a result. hope you like it and thank you for donating!

“You’re serious about this?” asks Christophe, raising an eyebrow at Viktor.

Viktor nods, scrolling across the page. It’s full of pictures of dogs and food, little clips of figure skating routines, and not much else. Most of the ratings seem to be five stars from a Phichit Chulanont, whose current rating is at an atmospheric 4.9, but there’s also a lot of three and two-star ratings from other people, usually anonymous.

“He was so… alive at the banquet, Chris,” Viktor says, tracing the name ‘Yuuri Katsuki’ emblazoned across the top of the profile, followed by a profile picture of a young man with blue-framed glasses, looking down at something with a soft smile that tugs at Viktor’s heartstrings. Yuuri doesn’t post a lot of pictures of himself, but Viktor isn’t going to forget the images he has of Yuuri on his own phone, sinuous and beautiful around the pole. “And that got his rating up to 3.9, didn’t it?”

“Only after you and I stepped in,” Christophe points out. “He was a drunken scandal before that, stumbling around challenging people to dance with him. I mean, his performance on the ice was rough that day, which definitely contributed to his last place finish, so I guess he drowned his sorrows in Brut and stopped caring about his score.”

“He was the best thing to have happened to one of these stupid stuffy banquets, ever,” Viktor bites out. Christophe laughs.

“Speaking your mind now, are we?” he asks, reaching over to swipe some of Viktor’s tapenade.

Viktor rolls his eyes, hovering his fingers over the ‘Call Yuuri’ button. “Do you think I should change for this?”

Christophe sizes him up and down. “Nah, you’re fine,” he says. “Don’t ask him to coffee in a suit and tie; it’ll probably give him the wrong impression.”

Yuuri accepts the call a couple rings in, and Viktor’s breath flees him the moment he sees Yuuri lying on a bed somewhere, the light from the room soft and golden against his face. His voice is soft yet sure as he asks Viktor how his day has been, and Viktor has to physically restrain himself from gushing, in order to try to not look too desperate for Yuuri’s approval.

Christophe is smirking at him from the counter where he’s eating all of Viktor’s tapenade, but Viktor can’t currently bring himself to care. He smiles back at Yuuri, feeling his stomach flip-flop pleasantly as Yuuri talks about the walk he and his friend Phichit have gone on.

(Viktor has seen the photos on Phichit’s feed. Yuuri had looked gorgeous against the sunset, Lake Michigan sparkling in the background. Viktor wants to be there, more than anything, drinking in the warmth of Yuuri’s hands as surely as he drinks a mug of warm tea. But he refrains from saying that.)

“I, uh, I’m going to be in Detroit next week, and I was wondering if you wanted to get coffee?” he asks. Yuuri bites his lip, as if considering it, and then nods, almost imperceptibly.

Viktor sets down the logistics for it with a song beating in his heart and warmth fluttering in his stomach. When he wishes Yuuri well and hangs up, he can only send a soppy grin as he rates Yuuri another five stars and looks over at Christophe standing by the island.

“You know not everyone’s going to like that you chose a 3.8,” Christophe says.

“Do you care?” asks Viktor, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m happy for you,” replies Christophe.

“That’s all that matters,” says Viktor. “I’d rather be genuine with someone with a lower score than fake-smiling my way through another bunch of ‘quality people’.”

And ultimately, that’s what gets him on the plane to Detroit. He barely spares time to check in to his hotel before he’s grabbing a taxi out to the coffeeshop Yuuri has agreed to meet him at, desperate to make a good impression by being early. He takes a seat at one of the sidewalk tables, donning his sunglasses and smiling neutrally at the passerby.

Then Yuuri shows up, cute and casual in his oversized pastel sweatshirt and leggings, and Viktor’s glad he’s sitting because he might have collapsed at the sight. As it is, it takes all of his willpower to get his knees to stop wobbling as he stands to extend a hand to Yuuri.

“Hi, I’m Viktor,” he offers, though it’s rather redundant since Yuuri knows him already. But Yuuri’s cheeks flush at that and he nods, taking Viktor’s hand.

“I know,” he says. “I’m Yuuri. Have… have you ordered yet?”

They wait in line for the coffee, rating the barista well when they come deliver the drink to their table, and Viktor takes a picture of Yuuri with his mug, which earns him several five-star ratings from various people. A couple anonymous people rate him lower, but Viktor brushes them off.

Yuuri’s own hands tremble when he takes a picture of his mug, and he bites his lip as he sends off the picture. Viktor watches his shoulders relax as the happy chimes of five-star ratings roll in moments later.

“Is posting hard for you?” he asks. Yuuri shakes his head vehemently.

“I’m just… a bit of a perfectionist,” he admits. “Also sometimes I forget to get a picture before I start eating or something.” He shrugs, taking a sip of his latte. “But I get better ratings with pictures of my dog, so…”

“Your dog is very cute,” says Viktor, quickly scanning through Yuuri’s feed. “Vicchan, right?”

A shadow briefly passes across Yuuri’s face, but then he smiles and nods. “I miss him,” he says, his tone neutral.

“I miss Makkachin, too,” agrees Viktor. “At least, whenever I’m not home I miss her, so I try to go home as soon as I can. Except this time. Because I like… I bet Makkachin would like you, too.”

He sounds so stupid. But Yuuri laughs at it, a quiet, charming sound that makes Viktor’s toes curl in his patent leather loafers. He takes a thoughtful bite of his croissant, smiling to overcome the feeling of disappointment at how it tastes nothing like its European counterparts.

The rest of the coffee date goes well, and Viktor walks with Yuuri back to his apartment building after. The afternoon is lengthening into twilight now, the shadows of the city elongated against the fading golden light. Yuuri fiddles with his mobile as they approach the apartment building, his gaze darting anywhere else but at Viktor.

“I had fun,” he says once they get to the door. Viktor nods, fascinated by how Yuuri scuffs his sneakers against the front step, how he worries at his lips with his teeth.

“I did, too,” agrees Viktor, rating him five stars with a wink. Yuuri flushes hard, doing the same. His score’s jumped up to 3.9 during the course of the afternoon, based on all the pictures Viktor had taken of him.

“Thanks. For coming to spend time with me. You didn’t have to.” Yuuri presses his palm to the scanner that will let him into the apartment. It rings cheerily at him, welcoming him into the building. Viktor catches his wrist just as he reaches for the door.

“I want to take you to dinner, too, before I return to Saint Petersburg,” he says.

“You… I…” Yuuri fumbles for his words, tilting his head so that his eyes are obscured by the glare from his glasses. “That’s kind of you,” he manages. “I would love to.”

Viktor beams at him, and wishes he could rate Yuuri five stars for everything, indefinitely.

He’s a bit of a nervous wreck again come the night of the dinner. He calls Christophe in the hotel ensuite’s mirror while he’s preparing, though Christophe seems to prefer laughing at him as he fusses over his hair and his cuffs instead of actually offering any advice.

“I’ll give you a one-star rating for this if you continue,” Viktor warns, though there’s no real heat behind his words; Christophe pulls a fake-hurt look anyway.

“Mon cher, I thought you loved me,” he whines.

Viktor shakes his head, laughing. “Terrible,” he declares, before rubbing a bit of aftershave behind his ear. “Well, how do I look? And give me better feedback than just laughter.”

“You look pretty good,” replies Christophe, grinning. “What restaurant did you pick again?”

“It’s a cute little bistro downtown,” says Viktor, waving a hand.

“Probably 4.0 to get in, right?” Christophe chuckles. “What if they turn Yuuri down?”

“He’s gotten up to 4.0 these past few days,” Viktor points out. “And even if he’s fallen below since then, I can probably convince the host to let him in. But I highly doubt that’ll be necessary.”

Yuuri is at a 3.95 when he comes by to get Viktor, but he’s dressed so adorably that Viktor rates him five stars upon seeing him and then asks to get a photo to boost his ratings a little for the door. Yuuri acquiesces, though his expression seems a bit distant as he drives them to the bistro, and Viktor can’t help but wonder what the other man is thinking of.

“Looking forward to dinner? I heard this place is amazing,” he says.

“Probably is, given the entry requirements,” replies Yuuri coolly. Viktor nods, and looks out at the passing skyscrapers stretching out to the stars.

They’re let in without incident, and shown to their table swiftly. Yuuri looks around, eyes slightly unfocused as he scopes out the ratings of their fellow diners; his expression gets paler and paler as he does. Finally, with a nervous tap at his napkin ring, he pulls himself out and smiles at Viktor before diving behind the menu.

Viktor resists the urge to message Christophe and ask why Yuuri’s behaving like this.

They order quickly, Yuuri getting a soup with his risotto, and Viktor ordering a filet of whitefish as well as small green salad and a bottle of pinot grigio for the table. The service is quick, dreamlike, up until Yuuri accidentally bumps into their server on the way back from the restroom and gets soup down their fronts.

“Oh my god,” Yuuri gasps. “I’m so sorry.” And he immediately darts back down the hallway into the restroom. There’s the sound of negative chiming all around the area from the onlookers and the server themselves, and Viktor feels his heart sink from where he sits at his table.

Slowly, he gets up from his seat and heads in the direction of the restroom, ignoring the curious glances from the strangers he passes. At first glance, the restroom is quiet when he steps in, but then he hears a small gasp and sniff, and he quickly finds the stall it’s coming from.

“Yuuri?” he asks quietly.

A swallowing noise. “Don’t come in,” Yuuri says. “I’m a mess.”

“That’s fine,” Viktor says softly, standing in front of the door. “How are —”

There’s more sounds of negative chimes from Yuuri’s side of the door. Viktor scans his visual feed, noticing that Yuuri has dropped back to a solid 3.8. He sighs.

“It’s not your fault,” he says.

“It is my fault,” counters Yuuri. “I was clumsy.”

“You didn’t mean to do it,” Viktor points out.

“I don’t belong in this restaurant,” snaps Yuuri. “I’m careless and standoffish and I have resting bitch face. People hate how I skate, how I can barely land a quad Sal, and the only reason I haven’t been hauled off the ice is because of my step sequences. They hate that I’m always squinting in the kiss and cry. They hate that I got drunk at the banquet in Sochi and made a fool out of you and Chris.”

Viktor feels ice run down his spine at how easily Yuuri parrots all the negative feedback from his feed. Each word is a shard of ice stabbing into Yuuri, but now he’s turning it back around, using it to lash out, to stop Viktor from getting closer. His heart aches, but he shakes his head and grits his teeth, and replies:

“My rinkmate Yuri Plisetsky is regularly rude to everyone and he’s still averaging about 3.5 and hasn’t been kicked off the ice by our skating federation yet,” he points out, pressing his forehead against the cool metal door of the stall. “You’re perfectly fine in your press, you smile when you hear your scores, you work so hard — people notice that, too. Your step sequences are sublime, you’re frequently rated fives because of your cute ass, and Chris and I both have had more fun at that banquet than we’ve had in all of our previous banquets together, combined.”

There’s a small sniff, and then a sigh. “I thought…” Yuuri pauses, as if the words are lodged in his throat. “I thought someone from Reputiligent told you to do this to boost your score or something.”

That hurts, a little. That Yuuri thinks it’s just numbers, some sort of calculated ploy to get people to like him better because he took pity on Yuuri or something. But Viktor swallows that down, takes a deep breath.

“No,” he says. “I don’t care about my score, Yuuri. I haven’t for a very long time.”

“What about your sponsors?” asks Yuuri. “Some of them bail if you drop below 4.5.”

“The higher-end ones, yeah, who’re stupid anyway,” replies Viktor, chuckling. “I haven’t been below 4.6 since I was 16.” He pauses. “I haven’t been alive since I was six. I’d almost forgotten how that feels, until the banquet.”

“That wasn’t me,” Yuuri points out. “I was drunk.”

“I know,” says Viktor. “But you’ve been just as enchanting sober.”

“When I’m sober I have to put on a mask to just get through the day,” Yuuri says. “I have to pretend like people rating me low for not being perky at them all the time isn’t getting to me. It’s exhausting. I just… I don’t know. I’ll just drag you down all the time.”

Viktor wants to scream. Wants to rail against the world for treating Yuuri like this, for forcing him into such a state of mind with their fake smiles and vicious ratings. “I’d rather be at a 1.0 and happy with you, than at 4.9 and pretending that my loneliness is the best thing in the world,” he admits. “I don’t know how your friend Phichit does it.”

“He’s just a natural beam of happiness.” Yuuri laughs a little, and then there’s the sound of him standing up, and the beep of the stall door unlocking. It slides open at Viktor’s touch; he steps inside to see Yuuri standing there with soup down his front and his eyes red from crying. His score has evened out to a 3.82.

“I have pills for this,” Yuuri admits, shuffling nervously against the marble floor. “But it doesn’t work as well as I like. Phichit’s been a great help, letting me talk to him about this stuff without rating me down for it. And I’m glad, because —”

“Because anyone who bottles in all of their frustration at being rated for every social encounter they ever have with someone would surely explode if they do it alone?” Viktor asks, reaching out to wipe at Yuuri’s tear tracks. “I know. But it’s going to be all right. I swear I won’t judge you, too.”

“Okay,” says Yuuri, nodding as he takes a deep breath. He steps into Viktor’s arms, and Viktor thrills the warmth of his body, at how he’s at the right height to tuck his face against the crook of Viktor’s neck. He might have some soup stains transferred onto his clothes, now, but he doesn’t care at all.

“Let’s go be brave together,” he suggests into Yuuri’s hair, and he feels Yuuri smile against his collarbone.

“Yeah,” he says, soft and sweet. “I’d like that.”

[ohmygraysonsthighs]

Too Much Attention (E.D.)

A/N: Ahhhh!!!! My last post got a LOT more recognition than I was expecting (like I was expecting 5 notes tops) and it made my heart swell thank you all so so much!!!:))

You clipped your necklace, ruffled your hair, and looked in the mirror. Your dress fit you in all the right places, which you knew would drive Ethan crazy. He texted you this morning to get dressed up all fancy for a spontaneous date tonight. A few minutes after putting on your heels and adding all your necessities to your purse, you heard raps at the door, either being a murderer or Ethan, since Ethan was never on time. Let’s hope for the latter.

The peephole showed a classy looking Ethan holding a small bouquet of your favorite flowers. You let out a little squeal and opened the door. He looked even better when you could touch him (which you would definitely be doing later on). How you were able to score Adonis himself as your boyfriend still astonished you. He wore black dress pants that hugged his thighs, a white dress shirt that beautifully contrasted his sun kissed skin, and a purple tie. Yum.

“Holy shit you look sexy as fuck.” Ethan mumbled, leaning in to give a quick but passionate kiss on the lips.

“Ok Mr. Greek God. So why did we have to get all fancy tonight?”

“Well, I was thinking I should take THE most gorgeous lady in this here universe out to a bougie ass restaurant.”

“Alright, you were going to get laid even without the compliments, E.”

“I’m dead serious, Y/N.” His eyes darkened and his hands roamed your body.

“E. Ethan!” He paused. “It’s not that I wouldn’t want to fuck right now, but how about we at least make it to the restaurant, ok?” He gave you puppy dog eyes. When he realized you weren’t giving in, he put out an arm for you to take.

“Ahh. Fine. Have it your way.” He huffed and led you to his car.

About 20 minutes later, you arrived at the venue. Everything here looked like it cost more than you and anything you’ve ever owned in your life. You and Ethan held hands as you walked up to the hostess.

“Reservation for Ethan Dolan.” The girl, who looked like she couldn’t be any older than 20, shot her head up, her eyes wide.

“Holy. Shit. No way!” She ran out from where she was standing, pushed you aside, and gave Ethan a big hug. Now you’ve had your fair share of encounters with fans, and they’ve almost all been extremely sweet. But none of them have physically pushed you away from one of the twins.

Her and Ethan talked as you stood to the side patiently.

“Can you take a picture of us?” She asked you, eyes never leaving Ethan as she jutted her phone at you.

“Erm. Yeah of course.” They posed for the picture. Right before you could give the fan her phone back, she whispered something in Ethan’s ear that made his eyes go wide, grabbed a pen from her booth, and wrote something on his hand, presumably her phone number. Alright yeah, it’s not like you two walked into there holding hands. It’s not like he reserved a table for two and the second person was most likely the one he walked in holding hands with. It’s cool. When she went back to her booth, she just stood there, staring at Ethan.

“Oh right! Your reservations! Right this way.” She said, grabbing two menus and leading the way to the table. “Right here, handsome.” She handed him his menu. When she saw she still had another menu in her hands, she turned around to look at you and scowled. “Your menu.” She said, plopping it on the table. Ok honey, just come right out and ask me to leave why don’t you.

“Thank you so much. It was great meeting you!” Ethan said as she walked away, grabbing her heart in response. Ethan turned to look at you, oblivious to how she was acting before. You internally sighed. You’ve gotten used to the gawking and the touching, but you were still trying to get used to how rude some of the fans can be.

“Well she was sweet.” He said with a smile on his face. Of course he thought she was sweet, she basically idolized him.

“Why don’t you go on a date with her then.” You murmured.

“What?”

“Uh. Yeah. So very sweet.” You said with a tight smile.

“Oh come on Y/N. You can’t tell me you’re jealous of an innocent girl like her!”

“I’m not jealous, Ethan. She pushed me, whispered something to you that made your eyes basically bulge out of your head, wrote her number on your hand,” you pointed to the neat blue inked numbers on his hand, which was very clear now, “flirted with you, then plopped my menu on the table. After she saw us holding hands walking in. Now I’m used to most of that stuff but she was pretty impolite.”

“Oh please. You’re over-exaggerating. Guys flirt with you 24/7 and I don’t get jealous!” Ethan crossed his arms.

“Really that’s the part you’re gonna focus on? And me? Guys flirt with me? Girls attract to you like a magnet and I have to- you know what? No. We came out for a nice dinner date and we’re not going to ruin it by arguing, ok?” You calmed yourself down even though you were more than ready to out sense him.

“Agreed,” he snaked his hand out from under the table and grabbed yours, “I love you.” You sighed. “I love you too E. Even though- nope. Nope. Not being petty.” You cut yourself off before proving your point.

The waiter swung by while you and Ethan made small talk. At a glance, this guy was a real looker (not as attractive as Ethan of course, but still).

“Hello. I’m Oliver, I’ll be your waiter today. Can I start you two off with some drinks?” His smile sparkled through his sentence as he only looked at you the whole time he spoke and took your orders. You watched as his eyes roamed from your face, to your cleavage, to your well fit dress. If Oliver continues like this, tonight should be fun. “Alright, I’ll get those out in just a moment.” He said, winking at you as he left.

You turned your gaze to meet Ethan’s and he looked confused to say the least. “What’s up with that guy. Did you see how he never even looked at me? And that wink?” Ethan leaned in directly after Oliver left.

“I have no clue what you’re talking about.” You said, trying to act as oblivious as possible. Ethan’s face showed he took what you said into account, leaning back. “Yeah. Yeah, I guess I just wasn’t paying attention.” Oliver soon returned with your drinks and you both ordered your food. Again, Oliver never bothered to even glance at Ethan, forcing him to ask Ethan to repeat his order 5 times.

“Wonderful. I’ll get that out as soon as possible, wouldn’t want to keep the pretty lady waiting.” Oliver responded, walking back to the kitchen.

“Ok, no, I know I’m not delusional. He’s looking at you like you’re a piece of candy and even complimented you when leaving!” Ethan exclaimed.

“He was just being friendly, probably trying to get a good tip.” You shrugged.

“That is not how you treat strangers when you’re trying to be friendly.” Ethan mumbled. You cocked an eyebrow at his statement. Big bet.

The food came out sooner than expected. Oliver lay Ethan’s food in front of him, and when doing the same to you, he said, “Careful, the food is very hot. Hey, you and the food have something in common.” You blushed and you could see Ethan’s eye twitch from your peripheral vision. “You look stunning by the way. Have we met before?”

“I don’t believe so.”

“Well do you have a name?”

“Y/N.”

“Well, Y/N, I’m glad I have the pleasure of meeting you. Hope it won’t be the last.” And like that, Oliver was gone again.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. Who even is that guy?” Ethan said through clenched teeth.

“I thought he was sweet.” You repeated Ethan’s words from earlier. He opened and closed his mouth, trying to defend himself. He amusingly chomped on his food like a child before he finally just settled on, “Whatever. That guy better back the fuck off, just saying.”

Oliver came to check on how you were doing every once in a while (of course the food was amazing, you’re at a five star restaurant, even though Ethan kept claiming it was ‘mediocre at best’). About 5 minutes after you both finished your meals, Oliver returned once more.

“Dessert?”

“No, I think we’ve had enough.” Ethan grumbled.

“Oh come on, you don’t want to get your little sister something as sweet as she is.” Steam. Steam was coming out of Ethan’s ears.

“Little sister? I’ll have you know Oliver,” his name was ridden with venom, “that Y/N and I have been dating for almost a year now. I’m skipping out on dessert because I’m going to be eating something coming out of her that’ll be a LOT sweeter and enjoyable than anything you guys carry here, alright? So how about you bring us the check and I can get to my favorite part of any meal.” Oliver’s eyes went wide as he shuffled away and Ethan gave him an almost sarcastic smile.

“Ethan! What the fuck!” You slapped his hand. “You can’t just say those things!”

“You can if they’re true.” He winked. Oliver came back with check and Ethan pretty much yanked it out of his hands, giving it a once over. He looked back at you, his expression more annoyed than it had been the whole night. Taking a shot in the dark, you’re gonna have to say Oliver plastered his phone number somewhere on the check.

“My fucking-” Ethan was astonished more than anything over how persistent this Oliver kid was.

“I hope everything was wonderful and I’ll be seeing you here again.” Oliver looked at you.

“Hey, olly olly oxen free. I’m not sure if you’ll be seeing us again, but you can hear from us tonight if you want me to send you a voice memo of Y/N screaming my name. That would make good use of you putting your phone number on our check.” Ethan payed for the meal (tip included in the price, even though he complained later that Oliver shouldn��t have gotten a tip period) in cash, jerked you out of your seat, and gave your ass an obnoxious slap, right in front of Oliver and anyone else in the restaurant watching. He kissed your neck as he led you out of the eatery, his large hand still holding your ass.

Once outside, you pushed Ethan off.

“What the fuck was that!” You practically screeched.

“That little fucker needed to know you’re mine and only mine.”

“So you told him that you’ll send him the sounds of us having sex?!”

“Yes. Maybe I got a little out of hand but it got the point across. Man, the audacity of some people. They just don’t know when to give up.”

“Oh really? I guess it can be annoying when people persistently flirt with your significant other right in front of you and they’re oblivious to it.” You uttered matter of factly.

“Oh. Oh now I get how annoying it can get. Sorry baby. Forgive me?” Ethan said with pouty lips.

“You big goof, of course I forgive you. Plus, jealous Ethan is sexy as hell. Got me kinda turned on in there.” You wrapped your arms around his neck.

“Oh yeah? Well, how about you show me who you really belong to?”