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adiya60 · 4 months ago

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Automated Container Terminal Market Growth Drivers: Share, Value, Size, and Insights

"Automated Container Terminal Market Size And Forecast by 2028

According to Data Bridge Market Research Due to the increase in demand for large container ships, the demand for automated container terminal is subsequently rising. analyses that the automated container terminal market will exhibit a CAGR of 2.9% for the forecast period of 2021-2028. This means that the current market value will rise up to USD 12.32 billion by the year 2028.

Automated Container Terminal Market is making significant strides in the industry with its latest advancements and strategic expansions. As a leading player, Automated Container Terminal Market continues to revolutionize the sector with cutting-edge solutions and a commitment to excellence. The company’s recent initiatives have strengthened Smart Port Automation Market position in the global market, driving growth and innovation. With a strong focus on customer satisfaction, AI-Driven Container Handling Market has introduced new products and services designed to meet the evolving demands of consumers. By leveraging advanced technologies, Robotics in Terminal Operations Market is set to redefine industry standards and enhance its competitive edge.

Automated Container Terminal Market remains dedicated to sustainability and market leadership through innovative approaches. The company has expanded its operations, ensuring Smart Shipping Terminal Market footprint grows across multiple regions. With increasing demand, Automated Container Terminal Market is investing in research and development to drive continuous improvement. The latest reports highlight Automated Container Terminal Market impressive performance, reinforcing its role as a market leader. Moving forward, Digitalized Port Solutions Market aims to strengthen its impact through sustainable and customer-centric solutions.

Our comprehensive Automated Container Terminal Market report is ready with the latest trends, growth opportunities, and strategic analysis. https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-automated-container-terminal-market

**Segments**

- On the basis of degree of automation, the automated container terminal market can be segmented into semi-automated and fully automated terminals. Semi-automated terminals involve a combination of automated and manual processes, while fully automated terminals are completely operated by technology-driven systems. - In terms of offering, the market can be categorized into equipment, software, and services. Equipment segment includes various machinery and tools used in automated container terminals, software segment covers the technological solutions for managing terminal operations, and services segment involves maintenance, support, and other related services. - Geographically, the market is divided into regions such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Each region exhibits unique trends and opportunities for the automated container terminal market, influenced by factors like infrastructure development, trade volumes, and technological advancements.

**Market Players**

- Some of the key players in the global automated container terminal market include: - ABB - Konecranes - Cavotec - Liebherr Group - Kalmar - ZPMC - TMEIC - Cargotec - CyberLogitec - Camco Technologies

These companies are actively involved in developing advanced technologies, strategic partnerships, and expansion initiatives to strengthen their market presence and meet the growing demands for automated container terminal solutions worldwide. With a focus on innovation and efficiency, these market players are driving the evolution of container terminal operations towards increased automation and productivity.

For a more detailed analysis of the Global Automated Container Terminal Market, please visit: [https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-automated-container-terminal-market ](https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-automated-container-terminal-market )The Global Automated Container Terminal Market is experiencing significant growth driven by technological advancements, increasing trade volumes, and a focus on operational efficiency. As the demand for automated solutions in container terminals rises, market players are continually innovating to meet the evolving needs of the industry. A key trend in the market is the shift towards fully automated terminals, as they offer enhanced efficiency, safety, and cost savings compared to traditional manual operations. Companies such as ABB, Konecranes, and Liebherr Group are at the forefront of developing cutting-edge technologies for automated container terminals, including robotic systems, AI-driven analytics, and IoT integration.

In addition to equipment and software solutions, services play a crucial role in the success of automated container terminals. Maintenance, support, and training services are essential for ensuring the smooth operation of automated systems and maximizing terminal efficiency. Market players like Cavotec and TMEIC offer comprehensive service packages to help terminal operators optimize their automation investments and minimize downtime.

From a geographic perspective, different regions offer unique opportunities and challenges for the automated container terminal market. North America and Europe are early adopters of automation technologies, driven by the need to enhance port efficiency and handle growing container traffic. Asia-Pacific, on the other hand, presents immense potential for market growth due to rapid industrialization, increasing containerization trends, and a focus on infrastructure development. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa regions are also witnessing a rise in automated container terminal projects, propelled by investments in port modernization and increasing trade activities.

Overall, the global automated container terminal market is poised for significant expansion in the coming years, fueled by the increasing demand for efficient cargo handling solutions and the need to stay competitive in the global logistics landscape. Market players will continue to invest in research and development to bring cutting-edge technologies to market, while also focusing on building strategic partnerships and expanding their global footprint. By leveraging automation, innovation, and industry expertise, companies in the automated container terminal market are driving the transformation of port operations towards a more streamlined, sustainable, and digitally-enabled future.

To gain a comprehensive understanding of the market dynamics, competitive landscape, and growth opportunities in the Global Automated Container Terminal Market, thorough research and analysis are essential. Companies looking to stay ahead in this rapidly evolving industry should stay abreast of the latest trends, technologies, and market developments to make informed decisions and capitalize on the growing demand for automated container terminal solutions.The Global Automated Container Terminal Market is witnessing a significant transformation driven by technological advancements, increasing global trade activities, and a strong emphasis on operational efficiency. Market players are continuously innovating to cater to the evolving demands of the industry and enhance the overall performance of container terminals. One of the key trends shaping the market is the widespread adoption of fully automated terminals due to their ability to deliver superior efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional manual operations. Companies such as ABB, Konecranes, and Liebherr Group are leading the way in developing cutting-edge technologies for automated container terminals, including robotics, AI-driven analytics, and IoT integration.

Apart from equipment and software solutions, services play a vital role in the success of automated container terminals. Maintenance, support, and training services are crucial for ensuring the seamless operation of automated systems and optimizing terminal efficiency. Market players like Cavotec and TMEIC offer comprehensive service packages to assist terminal operators in maximizing the benefits of their automation investments and minimizing downtime.

From a regional standpoint, different regions present distinct opportunities and challenges for the automated container terminal market. North America and Europe have been early adopters of automation technologies driven by the need to improve port efficiency and handle the increasing volume of containers. Asia-Pacific, with its rapid industrialization, rising containerization trends, and focus on infrastructure development, offers significant growth potential for the market. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are also witnessing an uptick in automated container terminal projects, fueled by investments in port modernization and expanding trade activities.

In conclusion, the global automated container terminal market is set for substantial growth in the foreseeable future, propelled by the rising demand for efficient cargo handling solutions and the imperative to remain competitive in the global logistics arena. Market players will continue to invest heavily in research and development to introduce advanced technologies, while also concentrating on fostering strategic partnerships and expanding their global presence. Through the integration of automation, innovation, and industry expertise, companies in the automated container terminal sector are reshaping port operations towards a more efficient, sustainable, and digitally-enabled future. It is imperative for companies operating in this space to conduct thorough research and analysis to grasp the market dynamics, competitive landscape, and growth prospects fully. Staying informed about the latest trends, technologies, and market shifts will enable businesses to make informed decisions and capitalize on the increasing demand for automated container terminal solutions in a rapidly evolving industry landscape.The global automated container terminal market is witnessing a notable transformation driven by a combination of factors including technological advancements, globalization of trade, and a focus on operational efficiency. Market players are continuously innovating to address the changing demands of the industry and improve the overall performance of container terminals. One of the prominent trends shaping the market landscape is the increasing adoption of fully automated terminals due to their ability to offer superior efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional manual operations. Companies such as ABB, Konecranes, and Liebherr Group are spearheading the development of cutting-edge technologies for automated container terminals, including robotics, AI-driven analytics, and integration of IoT solutions.

In addition to the equipment and software offerings, services play a crucial role in ensuring the success of automated container terminals. Maintenance, support, and training services are essential for the seamless operation of automated systems and maximizing terminal efficiency. Market players like Cavotec and TMEIC are providing comprehensive service packages to assist terminal operators in optimizing the returns on their automation investments while minimizing downtime and operational disruptions.

From a regional perspective, different geographical regions present unique opportunities and challenges for the automated container terminal market. North America and Europe have been early adopters of automation technologies driven by the need to enhance port efficiency and manage the increasing volume of containers effectively. In contrast, the Asia-Pacific region, with its rapid industrialization, growing trends in containerization, and emphasis on infrastructure development, offers significant prospects for market growth. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are also observing a rise in automated container terminal projects, supported by investments in port modernization and the expansion of trade activities in these regions.

In conclusion, the global automated container terminal market is poised for substantial growth in the upcoming years, fueled by the escalating demand for efficient cargo handling solutions and the necessity to remain competitive in the global logistics landscape. Market participants are expected to continue investing in research and development to introduce advanced technologies and solutions to the market while focusing on building strategic partnerships and expanding their global footprint. Through the amalgamation of automation, innovation, and industry expertise, companies in the automated container terminal sector are reshaping port operations towards a more streamlined, sustainable, and digitally-enabled future. To navigate this rapidly evolving industry effectively, companies operating in this space should conduct thorough research and analysis, stay abreast of the latest trends, technologies, and market dynamics, and make informed decisions to capitalize on the growing demand for automated container terminal solutions.

The market is highly fragmented, with a mix of global and regional players competing for market share. To Learn More About the Global Trends Impacting the Future of Top 10 Companies in Automated Container Terminal Market : https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-automated-container-terminal-market/companies

Key Questions Answered by the Global Automated Container Terminal Market Report:

What is the current state of the Automated Container Terminal Market, and how has it evolved?

What are the key drivers behind the growth of the Automated Container Terminal Market?

What challenges and barriers do businesses in the Automated Container Terminal Market face?

How are technological innovations impacting the Automated Container Terminal Market?

What emerging trends and opportunities should businesses be aware of in the Automated Container Terminal Market?

Browse More Reports:

https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-water-operations-cloud-computing-markethttps://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/asia-pacific-laboratory-hoods-and-enclosure-markethttps://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-nucleic-acid-electrophoresis-markethttps://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-japanese-encephalitis-markethttps://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-thermal-injection-enhanced-oil-recovery-market

Data Bridge Market Research:

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#Smart Port Automation Market #AI-Driven Container Handling Market #Robotics in Terminal Operations Market #Smart Shipping Terminal Market #Digitalized Port Solutions Market #Automated Crane Systems Market #AI-Enabled Cargo Handling Market #Maritime Logistics Automation Market #Self-Operating Container Port Market #AI-Driven Freight Handling Market

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hyacinth-in-a-haze · 2 days ago

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Prairie madness-Yandere outlaw x fem reader

Contains- violence, abuse, threat of noncon, gun violence, age gap, manipulation, set during American westward expansion 1865-85, reader is explicitly an Irish immigrant to the us, I am enforcing the yandere cowboy agenda.

It's your own damned fault for smiling back at the tall stranger who rode alongside your wagon. You didn't say nothing, only lifted your gaze to meet him with a fleeting smile when he called you a pretty gal. You liked his accent, nothing you ever heard before coming here, there's been lots of new discoveries.

You missed home something fierce, that cottage always smelling of the dried peat in the fireplace. You never thought that would be the smell you missed most, but when the evenings are spent searching for dry buffalo muck to fuel the fire, peat is a distant memory. You missed the closeness of it all, everyone knowing everything, when one person coughed the doctor would practically already know. That's the funny bit, the familiarity you once thought you would suffocate under, compared to here where you companions barely speak the same as you, and some don't take too kindly to folk like you. When your family got off the boat in New York, you couldn't begin to count all the “Irish need not apply” signs that littered the walls, not to mention how you heard some of the others on the trail loudly talk about how your kind bring nothing but disease with their lazy godless ways. After that you stopped trying to find friends amongst the other families, sticking close to yours.

So you smiled at the stranger, glad to be found pretty after three months on the trail, not to mention the six weeks on the coffin ship to get to this vast country. You only catch glimpses of your face in the reflection of rivers as you bathe or cross them, vanity doesn't do much out here where your body is already worn through.

And when your Mam tutted and told you to lift up your shawl you let it slip lower, wanting him to see more of your face, trying to be noticed for something good for once. He seemed kind, gentle even with how he handled his horse, cantering beside you at a steady pace while your mam drove the oxen. Was clean too, a great difference between him and many other men. It wasn't as though you even knew other men, sure there were the boys in your village, but those were but the elder brothers of your friends, but this cowboy was a man. Not quite your father's age but between yours and your father's you assumed, he looked practical, sure of himself and the sweet words he said to you.

When you camped for the night he asked you your name, giggling gently as he stumbled on the Gaeilge. He only lifted his stenton hat up in response, showing you the flash in his stormy eyes.“I reckon rather than butchering a pretty name I'm just gonna call you little bird instead.” His voice measured and deep. With your cheeks blushing you don't know what possessed you to talk back to him to ask him why he was choosing that of all things to call you. He only smiled back with sharp teeth, “cause I think that little Irish lilt of yours is the sweetest song I've ever heard.” Your voice got caught in your throat as you practically ran away, mumbling some excuse about needing to watch over the children. No matter what, he saw the red in your cheeks, heard the stammer of your voice, you were never smart enough to wear your emotions anywhere other than your sleeve. He wasn't the only one to see, despite how well you thought you hid yourself. Your mam pulled you off to the side one night to lecture you about how to act right around the men. Telling you nothing more to mind yourself and not get into any trouble, confused you asked for clarification about what kind of trouble she thinks you'd fall into. The only answer she said was to never mind the details and just to not be foolish. Without her letting you have the truth you posed the question again to the only other person you could.

“My Mam is telling me to not get into trouble, but I didn't think I was troubling you, was I?” You turn to him earnestly wondering if perhaps the fact that you followed him about like a duckling was bothersome. He didn't need to accompany you and the little ones out to go berry picking a ways away from camp, but when you told him of your plans he simply followed suit, gun on him in the case for bears. He snorted hearing your genuine worry, trying not to laugh in your face as he responded.

“Little bird, I don't quite reckon that was the kinda trouble she was meaning, but I'll let you know now that you are the opposite of troublesome when I see your sweet face,” before you can question what he even means by that your attention is pulled away, back to the littles you're meant to be watching over. Leaving him to watch over you. Sometimes now you wonder why no one said nothing, if anyone else could have seen the way he looked at you. Perhaps they were all so smitten as you, or they let you make your own bed with the expectation you'd have to lie in it eventually.

It was warm that day, a cloudless kind of heat where the sun almost makes you feel ill. The men having all ridden ahead of their family's, scouting for camp while the rest stayed by the lazy riverside. No use for all of you to ride when washing had to be done, with the absence of the men it was almost freeing the way the women congregated. Turns out months of the same dust do wonders for those who think they are better based on the language they speak.

You didn't expect to see your cowboy come riding over. Funny how then you thought of him as yours, no longer a stranger but as yours in a way. Only this time it felt odd, he was alone, with a hardness in his gaze once he dismounted. When he approached you, there wasn't even a sensation of anything wrong till he had one arm round your neck so tight you lost the air to scream, and the other pressing his pistol against your head, barking out as everyone else screamed.

“Now we don't need to stop being civil, cause if anyone tries something I'd have to blast her pretty little head open and we don't want that do we?” receiving a round of terrified nods, you trash trying to break free only to be hit across the temple with the barrel, over and over until you still against him, “now if you don't stop squirming I'm gonna do something I'll regret to you, so I'd appreciate if you'd calm the fuck down.”His voice has never sounded like that before, gone was the easy softness about himself. In its place was a coldness you had only ever seen in the eyes of little boys throwing rocks at penned dogs, knowing the poor things can do nothing but take the violence in hopes it will stop. You can barely register his words, ears ringing and head throbbing. You understand nothing as all the other women frantically hand over what little valuables they have, only somewhat aware of a dampness trickling down your forehead. He has never touched you before, and now all of a sudden he's done it with such violence you can't begin to separate the dissonance of it all. Where have all those sweet words gone, dripped into the dust like the blood down your face?

Suddenly you're being yanked backwards, you can't understand a thing that he is doing, everyone did as he said. Why won't he release you? Your Mam lunges forward, only freezing when he quickly moves the gun from your head to shoot in the ground, the sound as the bullet ricochets from the floor deafening you further and sobering everyone else. “I won't want to do it, but I will if you make me, and where would that leave me? If you make me shoot her I might have to go for someone else next to make sure you understand how I feel.” You can't move, can't breathe, only slump with a dead weight as he pulls you with him, throwing you atop his horse with the rest of his loot. Turning back to the terrified corral of women he just tips his hat with a smirk, “I can promise you I'll take care of her at the very least.” Before he mounts his steed and rides off, the last you see of your Mam and the littles clouded by the kicked up dust.

You don't know how long it takes before the thoughts come back to you, before you realise the man you always made sweet eyes with was nothing short of a rotten bastard.

“Aren't you gonna tie me up?” Your mumble is only received with a snicker, why is that the first thing you say to him after what he's just done. You say no word of his violence, curtsey and thieving, no word of the fact he's just stolen you from all the family you have left and he's riding deeper into territory unknown to not just you but to civilisation.

“I don't need to. You'd be smart not to run unless you want the wild to eat you right up little bird.” His light and easy demeanor is back, at first you thought these could have been two different parts of him, but you know violence comes just as easy as his smile, the only difference earlier was that he showed you the smile.

He only rests at nightfall, pitching the horse and building a fire for your sake. He makes a big to do of giving you his bedroll like a gentleman, that he will sleep on the cold ground and ruin his old bones further, you find no humour silently wishing his sleep is fitfull, without any rest.

“Why did you do it,” you ask quietly over the glowing flames, knees tucked to your chest. He looks at you as though you are soft in the head.

“Because I wanted too, sweet bird, I was always gonna rob you folk, that was a given. I ride alongside for a few days, gain trust and have you think I'm just a fellow traveller, then I rob the women when the men are far away. The only difference this time,” he outreaches a firm hand to lift up your chin “was you, and suddenly I began to think how nice it would be to hear your lilt every morning when I wake and every night when I sleep. Fuck, if I was a worse man I would have just had you out in the woods like a whore and left you with your skirts about your head.” The casual way in which he speaks of such a thing makes your stomach turn and you taste bile in the back of your throat. You know nothing of what goes on between couples, nothing but the hushes spread by other girls, or the mumbling of your Mam that marriage is first.

“You can't do that, we aren't married.” You don't know what even possesses you to find that is where the problem lies, not his threats, his easy violence, or the very fact that if you didn't respond back to him that awful morning you wouldn't be here. Wouldn't be bruised and torn from all those you've ever loved. Your voice is pitiful but he howls as though you've uttered the greatest joke.

“You'd like me to marry you little bird? Can't say I've heard any other women say that to me, but you ain't a woman are you? Just a sweet girl who doesn't know a thing of what she's gotten herself into, but I quite like the idea of having a wife. Might find some traveling reverend and make it proper like one day.”

“I'd need a priest, I'm Catholic” you don't even understand why this is what you're fixated on, the absence of a priest as though God wasn't looking away from you right this moment. But when you've lost everything else it's only the meaningless things you've been left with.

“Sugar, I think I'm doing enough by entertaining your proper ass, what the fuck would it matter out here for the specifics? This is godless country, you don't realise how good you have it that I'm such a gentleman to you.” he smiles despite his words, leaning down to give you a kiss atop your hair. “But I'll be a good husband to you, give you little trinkets and treats when I come home to you. You just got to be a good girl to me like you were a good girl to your family, maybe in time we will have littles of our own running about.” The thought made you feel ill, curling up on yourself further and refusing to give him an answer. He just sighs and tells you to get to bed before the fire dies out.

You wake sometime in the dead of night, confused about where you are when you open your eyes to see stars rather than the canvas tent that has been your bedroom all these months. Until it all comes crashing back to you, your forehead has scabbed over, strands of hair stuck to the dried blood. Other than the hoot or howl of some far off creature the prairie night is silent. The outlaw is silent too, turned on his side, his chest rising and falling with each breath he takes, doesn’t seem like the hard ground causes him to lose any sleep. You get up slowly, like a kicked dog slinking its way to the barn. He's left his belt off, close by his head but you could grab it, it would only take a few seconds to steal his gun. Without it he couldn't hurt you, or do worse.

Steadying yourself you crawl over, both hands reaching for the holster, it is heavier than you expected. Almost like a newborn, the same kind of warmth to it too. The moment you have it you start sprinting, the entire ride he only went north, facing far from the sun, with the moon gloaming above you only hope you're making your way south. Hopefully to some farmstead or town or anything. Anyone even who could help you, who could keep you safe from his wrath when he wakes to find you and his gun gone. You still, catching your breath. It is cold, you have no food nor water and are exhausted after barely half an hour at most. And your lost, lost in this stupid land of false promises and nothing but the fucking prairie for company. You should go back, crawl on your knees and tail between your legs and beg for what mercy he can give to you. Go back before he finds you and gives you an answer to those veiled threats. Perhaps he will forgive you, it wasn't as though he couldn't be kind, he made those promises like he meant them. Between death and the devil at least the devil offers you warmth, you turn around.

You hear him before you see him, the horse galloping as fast as it can, searching for you. The dust clouding up his silhouette as he comes into focus, before you can say a thing he is atop you. A hand wrapped tight on your throat pushing you further to the dirt, his eyes are a whirlwind of anger and fear fighting over each other, with the faintest flicker of relief.

“What we're you thinking?” He hisses, spittle hitting your face, he's that close. “You don't even know where you are and you thought to fucking run from me? You stupid little girl, you could have gotten yourself killed.” He is heavy atop you, hand squeezing sharper as if to punctuate his points. “Did you think I was just teasing when I said that you would die if I was not there? You know nothing of this land you little fool!” He heaves above you for breath, his free hand making its way up your skirt, grabbing onto your bloomers. “What will it take for you to learn huh? Should I fuck you in the dirt to teach you a lesson? Break your legs and cripple you? Ruin you so badly you'd never think something so stupid as this!” He screams with only the cicadas to hear you two.

“I'm sorry!” You howl with tears streaming down your face, he is so startled he drops his hand from your drawers, “you were right, I was stupid and so scared I didn't know what else to do. Please I'm sorry it won't happen again, please! I was stupid and ungrateful and you were right.”

He pauses, hands moving to wipe your face and his eyes turning tender once more as it was before all this. Your heart settles in your throat like a jackrabbit

“Come now sweet bird I only was worried for you, that's why I'm upset. When I woke to find you and my gun missing why, you made me mad. I can't lose you to the land or two some other man who wouldn't treat you as gentle as me.” As you babble your apologies over and over he slowly relaxes, dropping his shoulders and holding you tight. “Now now let's stop the waterworks, I understand you were scared but you still did the right thing to understand that without me there's nothing for you. I forgive you this time, but if you ever try this again I will need to take matters into my own hands.”

He helps you back up, climbing behind you on his horse as you soberly renew your journey. Eventually you come across it- a small homestead in a clearing. Surrounded with nothing but great trees as far as the eye can stretch. If you squint you could almost pretend it was the whitewashed cottage you left far behind you, how long has it even been since you've had the safety a house can provide? It is dusty and disused but he looks at you with pride in his eyes as he opens the doors. “Now I finally have a reason to return home so long as you're here.” He leans in again, a chase kiss upon your cheek as though the past few hours never happened. But you know there's no one to blame but yourself for giving up and accepting this as yours. For accepting those easy eyes and quick smiles without peeling them back to understand what could be underneath. For smiling back at a strange man who rode up one day alongside you.

#yandere imagines #yandere oc #yandere #male yandere #yandere drabble #yandere x reader #fem reader #yandere cowboy #yandere outlaw #cowboy agenda #prairie madness #yandere fic #yan x reader #male yandere x female reader #older man younger girl

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thehydraethereal · 6 months ago

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ALL I SEE IS 'RED LIGHTS'

》[summary] You are shown the effects of what happens if you cross your boyfriend's line.

》[word count]: 1k (I'm shoked lol it's so short but long for me)

》[warnings]: Not proofread. This work contains dark themes and elements such as abusive relationships; heavy violence and implied homicide; obsessive behavior, mental issues; abuse; mentions of abduction and drugging; and more. This is dark, so if these warnings trigger you, do not interact. MNDI, for your own safety. You are responsible for your own media consumption.

》[note] : Thank you for reading and reblogging. Visit my masterlist and check out my warnings. Asks and new requests are always appreciated. ughhh, this is...concerning. also, for my soulmate in the district of dark art @highonmarvel. დ and a lil' something to @stargirllanaa, if you want to read :((

“Pl-please…Rafe? Rafe, please, d-don’t l-leave me h-here-” you sobbed, struggling against your boyfriend’s rough hands that were trying to secure your wrists together. “Shut up! I need to think-” he hissed, tossing you on the iron floor of the ship. You knew the pogues had got on the boat and they were your only rescue before Rafe would get to take you to a foreign country where you won’t be able to leave him and no one will ever find you, but the problem was that Rafe knew that too. And he didn’t want his plan spoiled by his sister and her stupid “friends”.

You cried harder when Rafe crouched down next to your shaky form and secured the scratchy rope with zip ties. His hair was falling into his eyes that were constantly darting from your wrists to your face. “Somebody help me-” you cried, your voice barely coming out audible from your aching throat, before Rafe slapped you hard across the face, your head meeting the wall of the tight room he was trying to put you in. “Can you just shut your fucking mouth or should I do it for you? Huh?,” Rafe growled, his heavy breath hitting your burning skin. You gave him a small nod before he got up, looking for something to use as a weapon against nothing else than his own sister and the other kids. “I-I’ll di-die down h-here, Rafe, I can’t…I can’t breathe-” you whispered, the hot and small place choking the hope out of you. Your ribs were met by the kick of his foot, and you bent your body even more to try to keep the pain out. “You should’ve thought about that before you decided to play the smart bitch, tryin’ to act like you could fuckin’ leave me.” Flashbacks of his hands dragging you by your hair to the car and drugging you with chloroform, all these just to get you on this boat made you nauseous all over again.

When he finally found what he was looking for, he shot a last glance at your trembling form then he closed the door after him, leaving you in utter and complete darkness and pain.

The only thing that you could see was the constant flickering of a red light. You did not know what to do, you felt broken. But you had to try something, unless you wanted all your friends, the only people that really cared for you, dead at the hands of the man you alone decided to let in your life. You attempted to control your breathing and just focus. Had Rafe locked the door? No, he didn't have a key, the ship was massive and there was no chance he had fully explored it. As you struggled to break free from the restraints, they were so tight that they caused your skin to tear.

Ignoring the pain, you searched with your fingertips for anything sharp that could help you escape. Your fingers came across a pointed object, causing an excited squeal to come past your lips. Sliding your wrists against the sharp edge, you eventually heard a slight noise and felt your hands become free. Tears of relief welled up, ready to spill just as warm blood ran down your hands.

As you stood up, your vision blurred from the sudden movement, almost causing you to fall again. Bracing yourself with your arms on the wall was efficient, and you managed to push the door open. You sobbed shakily, grateful for this little victory.

The happiness didn’t last because now you had to figure out a way to…find your friends, get off this fucking ship and make it out alive back to Kildare.

Small droplets of sweat rolled down your forehead and you wiped your face with both of your hands, trying to smooth down your hair and keep it out of your eyes. You took a few small steps, looking around the unknown illuminated surroundings for any signs of Rafe or other men.

A loud bang made you flinch so hard and you thought that, for a moment, your soul had leapt out of your body. Through the tears blurring your vision you saw your older brother, John B, on the dirty floor, coughing heavily and before you knew it, your terrified sight caught your boyfriend straddling him.

Rafe looked almost like a demon, his pupils so dilated his eyes were coal black, hair stuck to his wet face that was hit by the crimson lights, low growls erupting from his veiny neck. The gun in his hand was constantly hitting your brother’s face, slowly turning him into an unrecognisable bloodied creature.

You felt like your insides had been set on fire, and your feet carried you next to the two men. The tendons in your knees gave up on you, throwing you over your brother’s limp body. You did not care about Rafe anymore, you didn’t care if he’d kill you, you wanted to die right now. “Wh-what are you doing to me…?”, you whispered hoarsely, the pain becoming unbearable all of a sudden. Your ears stung, and your tears mixed with John B’s blood, dripping patiently on the iron floor. Your forehead fell on his chest, and his flimsy, yet comforting arm wrapped weakly around your lower back. Your fingers caressed his cheek, gathering the maroon liquid and tiny pieces of broken skin.

Then, Rafe’s agonizing grip fell on the back of your neck, pulling your sagging, delicate body up with his. If it weren’t for his thick bicep that had wrapped around your waist or his broad chest that was sustaining you from behind, you would have collapsed back, right next to your brother. “You are not leaving me.” Rafe snarled awfully calm in your ear, as if he didn’t just possibly murdered somebody. “Get that in your fuckin’ skull already.”

Your tears washed down the blood on your cheeks as you were being dragged further and further to the only one left in your family which was agonizingly consuming his last breaths and, as always, there was not a single thing you could do against Rafe Cameron. It always ended how he wanted.

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softlymellow · 2 months ago

Text

The Order Forgot Me First - Chapter 6

☆⁠ PAIRING : Anakin Skywalker x Reader

☆⁠ word count: 3.3k

☆⁠ story themes: lovers to enemies to eventually lovers

☆⁠ warnings: spoilers to swtcw, angstttt

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7

"...he almost remembered what it meant to him. Except he didn't. Instead, it was a taste from a dream he couldn’t quite remember."

A dimly lit mission room deep within the Jedi Temple, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-wan Kenobi and Mace Windu gathered around a holographic display. The hum of the holographic offered a soft backdrop to their conversation.

“Many reports of two skilled bounty under the names ‘Ani’ and ‘Dev’ have been causing disruptions across various sectors.” Mace Windu sternly said whilst Anakin gulped at the use of a name he hasn’t heard in a year. “They have slipped through the Republic forces on multiple occasions.”

Obi-wan leaned forward, “two bounty hunters causing this much trouble? That's unusual.”

“Indeed. But their methods have grown more aggressive, even by bounty hunter standards. What is more concerning is Dev. ” Mace Windu tapped the datapad and the holographic image flickered to life, a materialised image of a young boy no older than 15.

“But that’s only a boy.” Anakin furrowed his eyebrows at Mace Windu, confusion evident on his face.

“Once a boy, yes. He was once a skilled Jedi, dismissed from the Order for the refusal to adhere to the Code. His descent began when he lost his family and, in a fit of anger, slaughtered civilians. Dark tendencies grew within him.”

Anakin stiffened immediately and felt a foreboding feeling grow in his stomach. Obi-wan's expression darkened beside him. “A former Jedi turned bounty hunter with such a violent past…It’s troubling.”

“And what about this..Ani?” Anakin reluctantly asked.

“She is a much newer addition to the bounty hunting world, but she has proved to be some sort of a prodigy. They were just spotted on Corellia after a bombing to capture Dengar, another well known bounty who worked with Maul and Savage to capture me.” Mace Windu informed them, turning off the holograph.

Obi-wan frowned, concern etching lines on his face. “We’re going after two bounty hunters? Isn’t that more of a job for local security forces in Corellia?”

Mace’s gaze shifted from Anakin to Obi-wan, “You both are uniquely skilled in dealing with unconventional situations. We need to contain them before they both spiral out of control.”

Anakin’s jaw tightened, resolve evident in his eyes. “Understood, Master Windu.”

Obi-wan nodded in agreement, his focus unwavering. “We’ll head to Corellia immediately.”

“Good. May the force guide your actions.” Mace Windu stood tall.

—

Anakin and Obi-wan sat in the ship en route to Corellia. Neither had spoken a word, just eyes drifting at the stars that illuminated outside.

Dev.

Ani.

Not their real names. It wasn't hard to miss the amount of blanks throughout their whole file. Dev's one gave a general consensus though; a disobedient Jedi Padawan, now a runaway. But the latter… No image. No backstory. It was as if she only existed a few months ago.

Anakin ran a hand through his hair, teeth gnawing the inside of lips. His eyes lazily read the datapad in his lap. A boy stared back at him. Dev. Just 15 years of age in the image, younger than the recent sightings of him. Much younger. His eyes looked hollow, already hard. Like part of him had lost something but was never filled again.

“Nothing on the girl?” Obi-wan asked beside him, still gazing out the window, but deep in thought.

Anakin inhaled, his chest rising against his robes and shook his head. “Nothing. Her name is clearly a placeholder, but no record of her.” Anakin turned off the datapad.

“She is either very smart,” Obi-wan murmured, “or lucky.”

Anakin leaned in his seat not liking either answer. “What business do they have blowing up a civilian square in the middle of a Corellian protest?”

Obi-wan stroked his beard, “I’d say they are after another bounty hunter. Denger I assume. He was spotted here the night before.”

“So they try and bring him in, only to level half the plaza in the process?”

“Looks like it.”

Scoffing, Anakin dragged his hand down his face.

Outside the ship, Corellia was a mess. Alarms sounding through the cities, smoke darkening the skies and protest fires on the rooftops. What was usually a beautiful planet is now filled with protests against the war.

Once the ship doors opened, Anakin and Obi-wan were hit with heat. Not physical. But tension. Soldiers and civilians buzzing through the streets, it was as if they weren’t at a docking platform.

“Well, it seems like we have your day cut out for us.” Obi-wan muttered as they made their way down the streets, glancing at the protest signs abandoned on the floor. “No Justice, No peace” was written in Corellian dialect.

Burn marks scattered around the floor piquing Anakin’s interests. Crouching down, his fingers gently grazed the soot left, leaving his fingers darkened.

“There was a bombing,” Anakin concluded, spotting several pieces of metal scattered around the floor.

Obi-wan nodded, "the security reports said they did vanish into the crowds before troops arrived.” His eyes scanned the crowd up ahead. “I’d say our perpetrators are there.”

That annoyed Anakin more than it should have.

“Then we’ll start there,” Anakin said.

—

Corellia bled with fury and fight.

Anakin walked ahead, his hood drawn low and his feet dragging along the concrete, stones skidding away. He wasn’t really in the mood. Trying to find 2 cloaked figures in a sea of more cloaked figures wasn’t exactly ideal. After 2 hours of dead ends, he kept replaying the grainy footage hoping it would offer a clue.

On the other hand, Obi-wan walked behind being Obi-wan. A calm diplomatic Jedi master. He was always asking the right questions to the right vendors, nodding and being friendly. His warm voice made people eager and more keen to offer tips.

“I spoke to the surveillance clerk”, Obi-wan broke the silence, catching up to Anakin. “He said the crowd tripled after the bombing, half running to shelter and the other protesting even more.”

Anakin stopped in front of a sign that read “THE REPUBLIC DOESN’T SEE US”, the edges of the banner burnt.

“Give it a few days and then the Senate will fix this with a speech.”

Obi-wan’s face hardened, “Well it is the Senate’s job to do that.”

“It shouldn’t be.” Anakin muttered, leaving Obi-wan dumbfounded. Did he mean that the planet should fend for itself, fixing its own politics? Or did he mean that the Senate was useless, giving out speeches with no real backlayer. Maybe a bit of both.

Obi-wan pursed his lips, his eyes scanning the buildings that now had a layer of dust covering it. Walking was starting to get irritating as every few seconds a person would nudge their shoulder with their own, making them lose focus every few seconds.

That’s when Anakin saw it.

Small smears of red on the cobblestone wall. Dried and just there. Followed by a few more droplets that painted the floor into an alley.

Anakin crouched down taking a further look, gaining Obi-wan’s attention.

“Blood.” Obi-wan hummed, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

“Might not be theirs.”

“Still, we are Jedi. Whoever blood it belongs to may need help.” Obi-wan advised.

They followed the trail that led to a rusted backdoor. Anakin didn’t hesitate. Immediately pushing past the door as it creaked loudly.

It was dim inside.

And in the corner was an elderly Twi’lek couple.

Anakin and Obi-wan both flinched, least expecting to break into a home.

The couple sat on the floor, a blanket engulfing their lower body and a half-crushed medpac that rested near their feet.

Obi-wan immediately put his hands up in defence, “We’re not here to harm you.”

The couple's eyes traced both Anakin and Obi-wan’s figure, their eyes flickering between the saber’s that rested on their hip and their defensive face.

Noticing that they haven’t said anything, Anakin used the opportunity and stepped forward, the woman clutched her blanket a bit tightly.

“We’re investigating the bombing that happened here. Do you know anything about that?”

The male shook his head, his blue tentacle like tendrils moving with him, “N-no.”

Obi-wan moved up with Anakin, realising that they can speak Basic. “A young man with blonde hair and a cloaked girl. Does it sound any familiar?”

The couple stiffened.

Silence.

Anakin folded his arms and furrowed his brows, “they came here. Didn’t they?” His tone lowered.

Silence.

“They paid you.” Obi-wan spoke calmly, already analysing the situation.

The purple woman looked down, and then gently picked up the half used medpac, her hands shaking.

“The girl…was worried.” Her voice was soft spoken. “Not for herself, but him. He was bleeding.”

Obi-wan crossed his arms, parallel to Anakin and stared down the medpac. “So you helped them..”

“It is not a crime to help someone!” The man besides her called out defensively, squinting his eyes.

“Well it is a crime to help terrorists,” Anakin muttered, but loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Terrorists?” The woman's eyes widened. “They were terrorists?”

Obi-wan glanced over to Anakin and tried to laugh it off, not wanting to send the couple into cardiac arrest. “Well. We aren’t sure of anything.” He tilted his head. “Do you know where they are now?”

The older woman nodded speedily, “She said she was heading to the city square where the protests are. Near the farmers market. But..she was scared.”

Anakin lifted his brow, “of what?”

Looking him dead in the eye, “being seen,” she announced.

–

Obi-wan and Anakin were on the outskirts, just enough steps to see the masses of bodies that moved.

Protestors moved, some shouted and some watched. It wasn’t long before Obi-wan caught a flicker.

A flicker of gold that was reflecting from the sun. Moving too fast. An uncomfortable limp.

Obi-wan’s eyes widened and locked onto the figure. Blonde hair. Broad shoulders. It was worth a shot.

“That might be him,” Anakin huffed, already making his way down, eager to end this mission.

Obi-wan rolled his eyes, “Always ahead of the game,” he said, racing down the steps and into the crowd.

It was suffocating. You could feel the sweat and anger that radiated off the bodies.

Obi-wan pushed through bodies, wanting the man to enter a clearing before holding him in the masses of people. Locals were yelling in languages he didn’t recognise which only intensified everything around him. His cloak constantly was snagging on someone’s arm but he didn’t stop, pushing through, curses were flying at him.

He needed an opening - just one - and it would be fine.

Something is off.

The force rippled.

The blonde headed man suddenly turned his head towards Obi-wan.

It was him. It was Dev.

And not far behind him was a cloaked figure. Her.

Dev locked eyes with Obi-wan, his eyes widening and stray locks of hair falling on his face.

“Jedi!” Dev exclaimed to you, his eyes darting between behind you and yourself.

Without even taking a chance to glance behind you, you began to push through the crowd. Gritting your teeth, you used your arms to almost shove people out of the way. You could not be caught as a bounty hunter. It was not necessarily the legality of it, it was the bombing that was associated with you and it was your honour shattering that you have been reduced to this much. How low the galaxy forced you to crawl just to survive.

Just a little further. A little further and there was an opening and you got yourself out of this mess.

“Dev! Over there!” You barked, pointing towards the clearing. Dev nodded and attempted to make his way out with his limp. His face pale but understanding. He always understood. Understood you. You didn’t need to speak much for him to completely understand you.

You surged through the crowd with all your might. Suddenly hyper aware of the blaster at your side, your fingers grazed it, ready to use if anyone tried touching you.

Relief. Oxygen. As you finally made it out of the crowd. Your hands were shaking but you didn’t stop, you can’t stop.

And then- a shove.

Dev’s body slammed into the ground right where he was supposed to make it out and the Jedi tackled him to the side. You heard him grunt in protest, his wrists pinned and the right of his face scraped against the ground.

Before you could react and turn back to Dev, you heard the hum of a saber.

Right behind you.

What should I do?

Fuck.

They’re getting closer.

Your lungs feel like they could explode and your chest hurts. You’re running so fast. Any of that relief you had just felt from making it out was gone. Dead. You just felt like you were burning. Your veins pumping with adrenaline – hot and sharp and screaming.

You didn’t dare look behind you. If you did it would slow you down immensely.

But it didn’t matter.

A rough hand –bigger than your own– pulling on your forearm, throwing you down, your hood falling in the process. Without another second to think your free arm gripped onto your vibroblade. Having been pulled down to the ground, you shifted your body to meet the Jedi, your blade coated in cortosis weave and pointing up towards said person.

…

“Y/n?”

It was like time stopped.

You locked eyes.

Your mouth fell open.

His did too. Confusion. Bewilderment. Shock. All on his face.

His voice… Sounded different. Quieter than you remembered. It wasn’t anger. It wasn’t hateful. Just quiet. Broken.

Your right hand weakened and the blade fell down on the floor besides you, the metal clanging against the concrete. Your palms fell on the floor and you found yourself staring at…Anakin above you.

Anakin staggered back, stunned, as if he was shot straight through the heart. His head shook slowly and ever so subtly but in complete disbelief.

No one said anything. You couldn’t hear anything. It was just you two. Two broken people. The force felt electrifying, like it was rippling and pulling both of you towards each other.

Anakin loomed over you, the deep blue of his saber still humming, but pointing towards the ground. His own arms feeling too weak to even lift it. His face was unreadable. His dark brown hair looked longer, almost below his ears. His eyes…tired. Like he was staring at a grave.

It wasn’t until the other Jedi came out, holding Dev in handcuffs that you realised your situation. It was Obi-wan, of course it was. Of course it was Anakin and Obi-wan who would catch up to you. Dev struggled in defiance, his face discontent.

Obi-wan walked up beside Anakin, and then his eyes fell on you.

“Y/n?” His voice was quiet, like he wasn’t sure if this was real or not. “You’re Ani?”

You looked away from him, pursing your lips in shame. What were you supposed to say? You weren’t supposed to be caught, stripped of your mask. You were just supposed to be Ani. Not Y/n.

You swallowed hard, your fingers soft in comparison to the floor. You were now looking up to both Anakin and Obi-wan but –force– you felt so much smaller than you actually were.

Anakin inhaled sharply, his saber hissed off yet his grip strong enough that his knuckles were still white. Running a hand through his hair, he turned his back to you, moving away from both you and Obi-wan. You felt the disappointment in the air. You felt the judgement from the people who you used to consider the closest to you. Anakin turning his back to you after a year said more words than he did.

But he could feel his heart hammering against his chest.

thump

He was suddenly hyper aware of his breathing.

thump-thump

The way he wasn't sure what to do with his empty left hand.

thump

The fact that his knees would buck in any minute.

thump-thump-thump

It felt like everything was swirling around him and he needed to ground himself.

However, Obi-wan walked over to you, crouching down to eye level. You noticed the small things in his face, the way he had worry lines on his forehead, a slight frown, and furrowed eyebrows. He wasn’t looking at you like a master or a commander, but a concerned friend.

“Y/n, you became a bounty hunter?” He asked.

You didn’t know how to respond. What were you going to say? Yes? Well, yes you are. But suddenly you felt embarrassed. Ashamed.

“I…” You croaked out.

“You know them?” Dev called out, struggling against his cuffs. All three of you diverted your gaze to Dev.

Dev broke Anakin from his trance, his need to distract himself hitting him harder than ever. He needed to redirect his attention to something else just like he was doing for the past year. Anakin stood still for a moment before grabbing the back of his shirt, replacing Obi-wan but far too aggressively.

“Hold her.” Anakin said to Obi-wan, forcing his voice to be strong. “We’ll take them somewhere else.”

That’s it? That’s all he’s going to say?

Anakin spoke as if he didn’t know you. Like you were some lowlife smuggler. Obi-wan even felt caught between two worlds. Was he supposed to disregard your history together? Or would he hold you accountable?

Clearing his throat, Obi-wan pulled out stuncuffs from his satchel, looking at you as if you were a wounded animal.

“I’m just going to put these on just for now. Precaution.” He said softly.

Nodding, you slipped in your fallen vibroblade to your belt and slowly brought out both your arms in front of him. Obi-wan hesitantly and carefully attached the cuffs to your arms.

Click.

Immediate discomfort radiated in your arms, the restraints tightening specifically on your wrists.

You looked up at Obi-wan who you could tell was uncomfortable with the situation.

“I’m fine, Obi-wan.” You tried to reassure him.

Obi-wan nodded, inhaling deeply before getting up. Scrambling to your feet against the concrete, you rose and immediately felt smaller than you were. Now seeing both Obi-wan and Anakin in their usual height, it felt different. Like there was a rift between you three.

Looking over at Anakin, Obi-wan scratched his beard. “We won’t be able to fly tonight. It seems the city's protests will make it difficult to get out slyly.”

Without a response, Anakin began to drag a cursing Dev to Force knows where.

Obi-wan followed behind him but distant enough, making sure you were keeping up.

The walk felt excruciatingly long as there was nothing but pained silence. Every now and then you could feel Obi-wan’s gaze drill holes in you. Anakin said and did nothing but hold onto Dev and try to find an abandoned place for the night. You were lucky enough Obi-wan still trusted you to allow you to walk on your own.

It wasn’t until he broke the silence.

“Are you okay?” Obi-wan spoke in a hushed voice, trying not to gain Anakin’s attention but that was naive thinking. Anakin heard everything when it came to you.

You blinked at the question, unsure what to say. Your throat tightening but you forced out an “I’m okay.”

Silence.

A beat passed.

“Are you?” He asked again but much quieter. He knew your response and he knew not to expect an answer but if he didn’t ask now it would eat his conscience later.

“Yeah. Just tired.” Anakin’s grip tightened on Dev, their boots scraping and their clothes shifting pulled your focus.

The sky began to set and orange rays stretched far and wide. Dipped in dusk and every step you took would create long shadows of the three of you. The chants from the protest began to fade and street lights began to flicker on.

Anakin was a walking storm. He was silent. You missed the way he said your name. It sounded like honey -warm, golden- like he almost remembered what it meant to him. Except he didn't.

Instead, it was a taste from a dream he couldn’t quite remember.

Anakin stopped at a stone-framed building. Abandoned, yes but still intact. The door had its hinges, there was no lights except from the windows and no lifeforms either. Without saying a word, Anakin dragged Dev inside, the door creaking open and they vanished into the unknown.

You and Obi-wan stood in silence.

“He’ll be alright.” He said gently, not exactly sure if he meant Dev or Anakin. Nodding, you stepped inside first, the evening wind biting your skin. Obi-wan followed right behind you.

A/N: YAAAY ITS HAPPENED im sorry its kinda on a cliff hanger ik yall want longer chapters but i also need to catch up and write :( also just a general q do u guys want this to be a full blown series leading up to order 66 following the clone wars final season/eps with more drama and romance and angst or keep it until this like 'arc' ends.

i lowk feel like a longer series but i feel like tumblr isnt the right place for this lol maybe ao3 or wattpad also hope u guys appreciate me trying to use coordinated gifs for the chapters 😭

HOPE U GUYS LIKE IT THO <3

Taglist: @endairachristensen26 @hayden-christensen-verse @ducks118 @seventeen-x @movingalongthekiwi @ssnapsaurus @caramelfondu @dayrin085 @devilslittlehelper @f1wh0recom @green-lxght @bettysgardenswift

if u want to be added or removed lmk!

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wynnerwynner · 3 months ago

Text

𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇

avengers au!joaquin torres x toxikensis!avenger!reader

synopsis: y/n and joaquin have to keep their relationship hidden due to the avenger’s unspoken rule. meanwhile, joaquin shows y/n she is more than her trauma.

request: yes

warnings: hints at murder, trust issues, happy ending

wc: 3.2k

an: i never said i was good at endings y'all 😫. also if anyone has any tips for tmj pain let me know bc im bouta go ape shit

There was no written rule for “no sexual relations among teammates”, however, it was heavily implied. After Natasha and Bruce’s relationship crashed and burned, rumours of teammates possibly hooking up or even liking each other seemed to set everyone on edge. It was too much of a risk, one person favouring another’s safety during missions or getting distracted. The only exception was for Vision and Wanda, who the team did not exactly count as committing a crime because Vision lacked human error.

As someone who was closed off, Y/N had never thought much of the rule. She’d conditioned herself to keep a distance from people, even after learning to tame her poison abilities. She was so used to burning someone’s skin by simply touching them or poison someone by sharing a drink that the idea of being able to return to some of her previous indulgences was discomforting. However, with Joaquin’s arrival, that rule suddenly flashed before her eyes like an obnoxious billboard.

Joaquin was speechless when he first met Y/N. He’d seen her in the media but in person, she took his breath away. When he’d tried to shake her hand, she stared at it for a moment before returning the formality. As their skin touched, she looked him in the eye and offered him a small smile. She was quiet, but he could almost see the gears turning as though she had come up with a particularly smart response in her head. He could tell that despite the cold exterior, she was all fire within.

The first time Joaquin went to the gym to train with his new teammates, Y/N was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s Y/N?” he asked Sam.

“She doesn’t like to train with us,” he answered.

“She has her own space down the hall,” Natasha pointed over her shoulder. “Something to do with not wanting to hurt anyone.”

The room Y/N trained in was similar in size to a shipping container. The longest walls were made of glass but the shorter were of cement. He watched her from the other side of the glass, fighting off Tony’s training drones and dummies. As she raised her hands, thick neon-green liquid rose to her fingertips and sprayed out at the training dummy. She took down three others by blowing a cloud of yellow, billowing gas at them. Joaquin clapped, causing her to look around with furrowed brows. She went over to a high-tech panel a few feet from him and when she tapped a few buttons, her eyes widened as they caught his.

He raised a friendly hand with an abashed smile, “Sorry.”

Y/N only assessed him, then turned back to her work.

Joaquin proceeded took the long route to the gym every morning. His new path allowed him to walk past her training room and the more he passed by, the more sure he was sure she’d stopped using the two-way glass feature. One time, he caught her as she was exiting.

“You’re late,” she commented.

It was so rare to hear her speak that he savoured every syllable.

She was right, though. He was very late to training that morning.

“Yeah, I was on the phone with my mom,” he sighed. “I love her but sometimes I feel like she’ll never let me go.”

Y/N cracked an almost imperceptible smile and nodded.

“How come you practice alone?” he asked.

Her eyes roved over him, detailing his appearance for the morning. “I’m sure you’ve seen the news.”

“Don’t believe everything you see online.”

Y/N’s snort brought a smile to his face. It was like an achievement, making her laugh. To others it was nothing, but to him it felt like everything.

“It’s safer this way,” she glanced back at the darkened room.

“But you’ve learned to control your powers, right?”

Her head cocked and she peered at the ground. “I’ve been meaning to tell you…” She hesitated, “Thank you for shaking my hand.”

Joaquin’s brows furrowed. What an odd thing to thank him for.

“It’s only the polite thing,” he replied.

Y/N looked from one of his eyes to the other. He couldn’t tell if she was studying him or judging him. He felt like he was missing something. Without another word, she walked away.

Another morning, Joaquin knocked on the glass and waved her over. She stuck her head out the crystal door, waiting for him to speak.

“Hi,” he smiled with a sigh. “Uh, I was just wondering if you wanted to get some food sometime? Not—not as a date, just… just to get to know my teammate. I think you’re really cool and—”

“I don’t eat out,” she interjected his rambling.

“Why not?”

Her lips flattened into a line and she pushed her sweaty baby hairs from her forehead. “It’s not safe. I’m like a virus. I could kill someone by them touching my fork.”

“You touched me and I’m still here. See?” He held up the hand she shook.

Y/N sighed and pulled the door closed. Joaquin jammed his foot between it before it could fully close and grabbed the door.

“Let me cook for you,” he offered.

“That’s—”

“I can buy disposable dishes or you can wash them yourself,” he spoke quickly. “Whatever makes you comfortable.”

The look in his eyes was desperate and she almost felt bad saying no. She looked him over again, then nodded.

That had started it all. Y/N had spoke more than she had in a long time. As time went on, he would catch her in the halls and make conversation. He even managed to make her fully smile.

One late night, Joaquin found her sitting on the edge of the koi pond in the lobby, a ceramic bowl in one hand. He hadn’t seen her in anything other than workout clothing or their suits. A smile graced her lips as she dropped food into the pond. He’d never seen her so relaxed.

“Doesn’t Stark have someone doing that for him?”

Her head whipped to meet his gaze.

Joaquin cringed, “Sorry.”

Y/N returned to her fish, dropping a small piece of orange into the pond. The fish leapt at the food, splashing water on her sweats, but she didn’t seem to mind. “He does,” she replied to his inquiry. “When she’s on vacation I do it for her.”

“At one in the morning?”

She eyed him, “You’re one to talk.”

Joaquin chuckled at her quip. “Do you mind?”

At a shake of her head, he sat himself beside her. He watched her take another piece of orange and hold it out to him. Her fingers brushed his skin as she set the wet fruit in his palm and he wanted to say he was proud of her but was afraid it might scare her off.

“Did you know,” she began, grabbing some orange, “koi can recognize people?”

Joaquin watched her put her hand in the water and four fish fought for the food in her hand. He couldn’t look away from her satisfied smile. It made him feel giddy, like a school boy with a crush again. She made him feel things he hadn’t in a long time.

“Go on.”

Joaquin did a double take as he realized from her words that he had been staring. Instead of her usual blank expression she offered him, a small smile was tugging at the corner of her lips.

“Do I just… drop it in?” he asked, angling his hand over the water.

Y/N nodded encouragingly.

Joaquin let go of the fruit and a laugh left his lips as they dove for it. This time, it was Y/N’s turn to be caught staring. They both couldn’t seem to look away. Caught up in the moment, Joaquin reached for her free hand. His breathing picked up as she didn’t pull away from his touch. Her skin was warm, just as he’d imagined. He ran his thumb gently over her knuckles. A smile twitched across her lips and when it fully appeared, his world felt a little brighter.

“You’re beautiful,” he found himself saying.

Y/N looked to the wall of windows, out to the hanger across the property. The light of the moon and the glow of the lamplights illuminated her face. She came back to him, peering at their hands. Y/N raised her hand and he thought for a moment she was going to push him away, but she didn’t. Joaquin could only watch as she raised his palm to her cheek. His fingers were covered in the juice from the orange but she didn’t seem to care. As he ran his thumb under her eye, she closed her eyes.

“When I first came here,” she began, “no one shook my hand. They weren’t trying to be rude, I know that, but they knew what I was. They were afraid, even if they didn’t want to admit it.”

Joaquin almost couldn’t believe what he was hearing, but he also wasn’t surprised. She’d joined the Avengers years before him and if he guessed correctly, the articles that came out about her accidentally killing people because of her powers were still fresh on people’s minds. The only difference between Joaquin and the rest of the team was that by the time he joined, people with superpowers were normalized and rarely went about the world terrorizing others on purpose. Joaquin knew there was no way Steve Rogers would have agreed to have her on the team if she was a danger.

After that night at the koi pond, things began as innocent brushes, small conversations while their teammates were around, shooting a glance to each other across tables.

Y/N had kissed him first. He wanted to give her the control—only advance things when she was comfortable. The more she’d pull him into empty hallways and kissed him before running off again, the more comfortable he was with waiting for her. Joaquin was addicted to her and he wasn’t afraid to admit it.

After a while, he suggested she try using the same gym as them. The day she’d walked in, almost all eyes were on her. Joaquin had caught her rigid shoulders and took advantage of Sam’s distraction, slamming him to the mat with a loud smack. The entire room looked to Joaquin standing over Sam. Bucky’s laugh echoed from his spot on the bench.

“Hey, that’s not fair!” Sam exclaimed.

“Never let your guard down, Sam,” Natasha smirked. “Good one Joaquin.”

“No, man, get away from me,” Captain America smacked Joaquin’s offered hand.

He laughed, teasing him, “Don’t be such a sore loser, Cap.”

“Listen, I’ll get you back,” he pointed as he went for his water bottle.

Joaquin took the momentary breather to find Y/N again. She was wrapping her hands, preparing to use the punching bag. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at him and nodded her thanks.

Joaquin made sure to distract them any time she entered the gym and eventually, he didn’t have to anymore. The team could see she was getting more comfortable and yet no one seemed to question her sudden change in attitude. Natasha began to spar with Y/N, helping perfect her moves and teach her new ones. Joaquin was proud as he watched her day after day grow closer with their team. He was happy seeing her be herself, understanding that she wasn’t defined by her past.

After months of hiding their relationship, Joaquin strode into the kitchen late at night. Natasha was leaning back against the counter, spooning yoghurt into her mouth.

“You looking forward to tomorrow?” he asked.

Tony was hosting his annual Stark Expo and the Avengers attendance was mandatory.

“Not really,” she mumbled. “I’ll probably show up an hour before it ends. Then Tony can’t say I didn’t show.”

Joaquin chuckled as he grabbed an orange from the fruit bowl. “That’s smart.”

Natasha watched as he got out a cutting board, knife, and bowl.

“You gonna bring anyone?” she asked.

“Why? Wanna be my date?”

Natasha cringed, but a laugh escaped her. “You’re a little too young for my taste, kid. Besides, I don’t think it’d be appropriate.”

“Because of the no-dating-teammates rule?” he cut the orange into small pieces.

Natasha was quiet as she scraped the last of the yoghurt from the cup. Joaquin glanced up to find a small smile on her lips.

“You going to feed the fish?” she asked.

“Uh…” he looked down at the sticky mess on the counter, “yeah.”

“Sometimes thing echo around here, you know?” Natasha smirked. “Walls are made of glass. Lots of open space in the lobby.”

Joaquin continued to cut up the orange. “Yeah.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anybody.”

“Won’t tell anyone what?” he chuckled, feigning confusion.

Natasha threw out her yoghurt cup and put the spoon in the dishwasher.

“You’re a good liar, Captain,” she said as she made her way back to the hall. “It takes one to know one.”

Natasha disappeared toward the bedrooms with a wink, leaving him alone in the kitchen with his thoughts.

The next night, Joaquin was dressed in his best suit. He couldn’t keep his eyes off Y/N in her outfit. She was the definition of beautiful. There were a few times he was sure his teammates had caught him admiring her.

Thor suddenly clapped a tipsy hand on Joaquin’s shoulder. The Falcon bent slightly at the knees from the weight of his grip.

“You’re a good man, Captain Falcon,” the god slurred a little. “You deserve a good woman. Y/N seems good, too.”

Joaquin had laughed awkwardly, trying his best to come up with a way out of the situation. “Thanks, man.”

“You should ask her out,” Thor encouraged.

“I don’t know…”

“What? Are you scared? Never be afraid, little man,” he squeezed a little harder with a good shake and Joaquin had to fight back a groan from the throbbing of his shoulder blade. “You need not be afraid of women. Or men. Whichever you prefer. You know, my brother is—”

“I don’t think that’d be fair to everyone,” Joaquin quickly replied. “I wouldn’t want to make things awkward.”

“You’re a good man,” Thor tapped him a little too hard on the cheek. “I’m sure no one would mind.”

Joaquin searched for Y/N in the sea of people as Thor walked away. He didn’t care if people noticed him staring. Maybe Thor was right. If they kept it professional around their teammates as they already had, there would be no harm. Besides, if Vision and Wanda could move out and build a family together, why couldn’t he and Y/N have a life of their own, too?

That night, when their formal clothes were on the floor and Y/N lay against his chest, Joaquin spoke into the dark, “I think we should tell them.”

Y/N lifted her head, looking at him through the golden lamp light, “What?”

“Natasha knows,” he admitted. “And Thor—”

“Don’t tell me he does, too,” she sat up. “He can’t keep a secret, Joaquin. If he knows, everyone does.”

“Y/N,” he cradled her face in his hands. “He doesn’t know.”

She sighed, but her lips remained in a flat line.

“Thor suggested I ask you out. I told him it wouldn’t be fair to the team but he said he didn’t think they’d mind.”

“And you agree.”

Joaquin brushed his thumb under her eye, “Y/N, I love you and I want everyone to know. We’ve already done great at hiding it so it shouldn’t be difficult to continue keeping it professional once it’s out there.”

“When we put it out there, they will make assumptions,” she argued. “They will disregard how everything’s been in the past and they’ll think we can’t handle working together.”

He knew her words were coming from a place of anxiety and he didn’t wish to push her, only to reassure. She was good at listening and considering opinions, even if she didn’t agree at the time.

“These people aren’t just our teammates,” he said carefully. “They’re our family. Natasha and Bruce broke up, but they’re still cordial. They don’t make it uncomfortable for us because they are professionals and we are all there for each other. Most of these people don’t have anyone outside the compound they can call family.”

Joaquin never brought it up again after that night. He would let her think about it for as long as she wanted.

After a couple of days, Y/N decided she didn’t want to be cold anymore. She realized that she’d been using her trust issues as an excuse and a deluded explanation for why she didn’t deserve happiness. Joaquin and Thor were right, they wouldn’t care because they trusted each other.

She’d kept herself locked away for too long. She’d been scared of how people would perceive her for too long. Joaquin had proved to her that she was worthy of love; that she was perfect the way she was. It wasn’t fair to him to keep them hiding any longer, but it especially wasn’t fair to herself. She deserved to be something more than the water that had devoured her all those years ago. It may have ate at her blood and altered her brain, but her heart was still hers.

She deserved love.

The team sat in the common area eating take out together. Joaquin stood at the counter with Sam and Bucky when he caught sight of Y/N entering from the hallway. She stopped in the archway and looked at him before eyeing the rest of their teammates. The room went quiet as they took notice of her clear need to say something.

“Joaquin and I are dating.”

The room erupted in voices. Joaquin flinched at the sudden noise, almost choking on a piece of broccoli. Sam looked to him with wide, excited eyes.

“I knew it!” he exclaimed. “I told you!” he looked to Bucky, who smiled into his food with a shake of his head.

“I would like everyone to know this was my doing,” Thor raised a hand. “I set this up.”

“No, you did not,” Pietro laughed.

“I did!” the god insisted. “I suggested he ask her out.”

“How long have you been dating?” Wanda asked the couple over her shoulder.

Joaquin looked to Y/N, who stared at him like a deer in headlights. She couldn’t speak even if she wanted to.

“Almost a year,” Joaquin said.

“Yo, what the hell, man?” Sam back-handed him in the chest.

From the couch, Rhodey whistled.

“I thought we were close,” Sam continued teasingly.

“I can’t believe you two have been doing it under my roof for almost a year and I didn’t know,” Tony quipped, face serious.

“God, Tony,” Natasha chastised.

“Tony, really?” Rhodey reached over to Peter, clamping his hands over his ears. “There are children present.”

“I’m twenty-five!” Peter exclaimed, pushing his hands away.

Joaquin’s smile at Y/N from across the room seemed to shake her from her thoughts. She broke the distance and he slid an arm around her shoulders, shielding her from the excitement of the room.

“I only have one rule,” Tony said, catching everyone’s attention. “No kids under my roof. I don’t need any of those around here, especially ones shooting poison darts at me while I try to enjoy my breakfast.”

Joaquin laughed and gazed down at Y/N who hid against his chest. He placed a kiss to the top of her head and she squeezed him reassuringly.

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raven-at-the-writing-desk · 11 months ago

Text

book 7 part 10 thoughts!

***THIS POST CONTAINS MASSIVE SPOILERS FOR BOOK 7 PART 10 OF THE MAIN STORY!!***

Please note: this is NOT meant to be a summary or a translation; these are only my initial thoughts on the events that roughly unfold. There may be details overlooked or misunderstood in this post, so PLEASE do not use this as a translation.

This update spans part 158 to part 191.

BAHAHAHAHAHA THEY'RE AT THE CORAL SEA (not "in" it yet, more like at the surface level of it) AND JAMIL'S ALREADY UPSET OVER THE LOCALE

Jamil comes up with the smart idea of using ice magic to make a boat for them all. Silver takes up the oars (how princely lmao) and Ortho praises the second years for being so reliable!

WEL;ANJFDBIUGSOGSBIAF THAT BOAT DIDN'T LAST LONG, LITERALLY ONLY A SINGLE PART BEFORE WE CAPSIZE????? We see a dark and gloomy place with an abandoned ship, similar to where Ariel was exploring in the opening of The Little Mermaid. The gang can breathe though, since Idia hacked in bubbles around each person to provide them with an air dome made of magic nanomachines.

THERE HE IS FELLAS, MERMAID FLOYD PULLED UP. Mmm, interesting?? He sounds really flat and bored, expressing that he no longer has an interest in land creatures since everyone was weak + so easily deceived by Azul. Floyd also seems to report that Azul has found success with Mostro Lounge...? And Jade is probably supporting him there.

Floyd tells us that he's been traveling Twisted Wonderland in his dream world. He's been to the Shaftlands (Fairest City??) to try out the latest fashion and model (but got bored because he was asked to work exclusively with the brand), worked part-time in a restaurant in the Sunshine Lands (but got bored because so many people wanted to eat his food), and exploring the Scalding Sands. Floyd wandered the desert and found a black magic lamp in the Cave of Wonders and decided to bring it home because Jade said "the teapot" would be nice to have. Floyd summoned the genie and used it to wish for delicious food, www

He mentions having plans to visit other places too, like the Queendom of Roses, Briar Valley, Sunset Savanna, etc. (Floyd's looking for a challenging opponent to fight!!) But now he has returned to the sea, even though he considers it boring too. Floyd basically tells them to fuck on off and then stares floating around depressingly.

Idia theorizes that Floyd must be "resetting" his dream again and again since Malleus has set the parameters to achieve a "happy ending". Since Floyd is constantly dissatisfied, the dream continues to scrounge for something that will please him. The happiness never really lasts long though. The group decides that they have to provide him with that strong foe he wants to shock him awake!

OH MY GOD Silver and Jamil just walk up to Floyd and tell him he’s in a dream. Of course he doesn’t believe them????? But then they start telling him stories of things that happened irl including clarifying what it was that Floyd had done to disrupt his own first year opening ceremony. Apparently he grabbed Riddle’s hair and went “oh, it’s bright red but it isn’t hot”, which led into a massive fight with Riddle shooting fire at him. The staff (specifically Vargas) had to hold Riddle back. There’s another story of how Floyd tried to fight Cater but Cater used his UM to hold Floyd back and bro wiped hard 💀 According to Idia, Malleus and Leona also beat Floyd in combat.

Jamil talks about how sometimes Floyd would find it hard to keep up with him and/or how Floyd would get in trouble for wailing on the younger kids in their club. The headmaster wasn’t happy and made Floyd clean up the gym for a week

Wh A t😭 Grim recalls how Octavinelle made us HOMELESS in book 3 (and then how they got their asses beat BUT I’M BAWLING AT THE AUDACITY)

The dream manifests a fake Jade and Azul to drag Floyd deeper… We finally get a non-OB octoform Azul to look at!!

They goad Floyd and say he shouldn’t lose to land creatures, so beat them back and then the three of them can live peacefully in the sea together. Silver warns Floyd not to listen to the fake Jade and Azul, but he ends up not needing their help??? Instead Floyd blows up at the fakes and claims Jade and Azul would never say such boring things. Like, he actively gets SO pissed off that they’re borrowing their faces and voices to try and deceive him 😭

They tell Floyd about what’s going down and he’s delighted??? He starts calling out locations and the dream responds to it, he thinks it’s so interesting. Idia and co. panic because this spike in activity could alert Malleus OTL

They theorize that Jade’s dream may take place in the mountains, so Floyd should change into a land form.

When they change to Jade’s dream, Floyd praises Silver’s UM. Silver is flattered but Jamil is thanking the stars that someone mindful like Silver has Meet in a Dream and not Floyd. He says Floyd would probably abuse the UM and give people nightmares lmao

Now they’re in a part of the Coral Sea that has tons of underwater volcanos. Floyd saves us all from a blast of black smoke from one of the vents. Idia warns the air domes are not strong, so one blast from the smoke could drown them all.

Floyd suggests Idia make merforms for everyone. However, Idia says it’s hard to do, especially on a short time frame, since he lacks data on merpeople.

OOOOOH Floyd reveals his bioluminescence!! Looks so pretty aaaaaaah ✨ (He calls it “counter illumination”?)

J WORD SiGHTING

OOOOOH I GET IT, the volcanic vents are like the sea’s equivalent of “mountains”. He and dream!Azul are exploring this area looking for a gold mine or something. Interesting that Jade dreams of still assisting Azul for fun…

sguaddr(dFacFFh ??!!\!]]!£]!] AZUL????? He got hit by a blast from the vent while casting magic on it to get to some gold ore he spotted. Jade gets a good laugh out of it.

WHO THE FuCK ARE yoU, WhY Sre your eyes SO Big AnD WAtERY

Azul tearfully declares he won’t give up and Jade gases him up 😭 YOUR DREAM IS TO BULLY AND ENABLE HIM??????? WOW J WORD

Floyd claims he would never go mountain climbing with Jade but then—

WhAT YHR fUVkinh FVkkkKKKKKKKKKK

THAT’S DREAM!FLOYD?????!!?!!! HE LOOKS SO FRIGHIn DERPY 😭 😭 😭 BRo JUST StARTS EATINg SHRIMP AnD HAPPILY GOING AlONG WiTH wHatEVEF JAde AsAyS

Floyd gets pissed off seeing all of this and goes in for the attack. Everyone panics, but Jamil pulls a Silver book 7 part 9 and basically tells them to let Floyd cook 💀

Dream!Azul of course tries to convince Jade that Floyd is dumb and cute and everything, not some THUG cbjssbkwebodnxsk Jade is convinced that “this” Azul and Jade would use useless without him so he buys dream!Azul’s lies. FLOYD GETS MORE ANGRY THRymRE GONNa BRaWLLLLLLL

Uhhhh so fighting doesn’t wake Jade up. Idia suggests this is because while Jade doesn’t have a particularly strong imagination, he’s good at exploring possible scenarios within himself…? Not sure if I totally understood the wording here (I’ll have to double check with other sources later), all you gotta know if that punching was ineffective. ***Edit: It’s because (according to Idia), Jade has a strong belief in himself.***

OH, WORM??? J WORD AnD FKOYD ArE mAKinG HISSING NoiSES At eaCH OYher As THEY FIGHT (the NPC Azul and Floyd are busy cowering in a corner) 🍿 I believe it was previously said in a voice line or some vignette that when the twins fight, they get VIOLENT and it’s kinda funny we get to see it on-screen now.

Sebek gets the idea to stop both of the twins’ movements with his UM. (Very thoughtfully, he warns everyone, particularly Ortho, to stand back before he casts Living Bolt.) It works very well because salt water conducts electricity better than distilled water!! I think that helps Jade with realizing something’s off because right when dream!Azul and Floyd rush to him, Jade points out that the real ones wouldn’t call him “cute” and such.

WHoa WHOA, sCARY hot

Aaaand we got two eels added to the party! Onward to Azul’s dream~ (jxbsksvxiwnw J WoRD THROWS uP)

We’re underwater again! Jade theorizes it must be because Azul has expanded the Mostro Lounge into a worldwide chain, since Azul has expressed the desire to run a successful restaurant business like his mother.

We hear cheering, it seems to be from a Coral Rush (underwater ball) game. It’s similar to Magical Shift, but instead of brooms you ride on the backs of dolphins. Coral Rush is popular among merfolk!

WhAT

If I was drinking something then I would be spitting it up right now because WhY IS AZUL AN ATHLETE (If I’m understanding this correctly, he’s playing for a Coral Rush team called Golden Trident? And he’s the LEADER) 😂 I guess maybe because he’s been insecure about this weakness of his…?

LMAO IDiA CALLED StAR AtJLETES AnaRCiSsists… anD LEONA’S GHoST AppEARS ON SCREEn

MAN. Jamil is going to bully his ass later about this, I just KNOW he is… Azul goes all chuuni and shouts “KRAKEN SHOT” before scoring 🪦 Cringefail bbg…

OH MY GOD THIS SHADY BITCH

Jade has “-san” in quotation marks 💀 HE’S BEING TOTALLY SARCASTIC

Fun little detail, it looks like the Octatrio had a group handshake…? Jade and Azul do it here and later Jade and Floyd do the same, ending it each time with a cute little “yaaay” 🥺

dndjsnkweneow Jade asks Azul to sign Idia’s tablet OTL YOU ASSHOLE BE SO FR RIGHT NOW

Azul remembers “Leech-kun” and “Leech-kun” (*shudders*) from elementary school. His team mates call out to him and Azul invites us to their victory celebration at his mother’s restaurant (which finally gets a name!!! It’s called La Grotta). Apparently it would be hard for your average student to get in, but with Azul’s invite we should be okay!

Jade starts brainstorming again and suggests that this dream is what we see because Azul wanted you to erase the sad past in which he was bullied. He says he won’t divulge too many details since it involves Azul’s privacy (aw, the ONE time he decides to not leak info 😂).

Aaaaah Idia says he has a bad feeling about something… which gives ME a bad feeling…

They arrive at La Grotta and Azul casts a spell that makes an anemone crop up on everyone’s head?! Azul says that anemones are the most formal hair accessory one can wear in the sea; it makes them “fit in” more. He leaves Jade and Floyd alone though since they’re already merfolk.

Uhhhh Grim gets distracted with dancing and drags Sebek off with him??? Okay???

The entire time this is going down, the twins are watching silently.

Grim, Sebek, and Ortho dance but they end up falling down. The mob merpeople start to laugh and make fun of land creatures. It’s then we learn that Azul lied about the sea anemone being associated with high status, it’s instead something that indicates stupidity. So… uh… He just wanted to bully us??? This whole dream is playing out like a bitter high school revenge fantasy…

Azul says the twins can stay if they play Coral Rush with him. Surely they’re tired of hanging around dumb land creatures right? It’s better to come along with him.

Floyd makes a mess and passes an antique to Jade, and the two start to “play” with it. (… Nah, they start breaking shit 😬)

LOL???? Is Azul threatening to sue the fins off of the twins??? He’s all like “MY PAPA’S A LAWYER YOU KNOW” at them… (He also calls his mom “mama”; the word choice and behavior really makes me think he’s a mama’s/daddy’s boy.)

Jade says to everyone that we should move onto the next dream. He pretends (?) to leave, which triggers a memory of book 3 where Azul declares that he’s always going to be alone.

HMMMMMMMMMMM, there’s no dream!Floyd or dream!Jade to lure Azul to the darkness, only the mermobs 🤔

Ortho expects the twins to dive after him, but neither of them do 🤡 They say it’s Azul’s choice to dream more deeply, so they’ll allow him to.

Grim drowns in the darkness so we (Yuu, Silver, Jamil, Sebek) go after him. Ortho tries to appeal to the twins by saying if they don’t follow, then they’ll be trapped in the dream forever. Sooo Jade and Floyd depart into the dark. Ortho is left wondering if this coldness is actually how the twins express trust.

LOLLLLLl???????? Azul’s setting the photo of their class trip on fire and laughing like a maniac… (He also has apparently gained Ramshackle AND stolen the UMs of his fellow dorm leaders.) I counted, Azul has no less than like 3-4 Evil Villain Laughs this update 💀 OKAY KING POP OFF LIVE LAUGH LOVE

They split into two groups (the player gets to go with J word 😳), each with the goal of taking out one of the dream!Tweels. Jamil lures dream!Floyd out to the basketball court under the false pretenses of a special club activity (where a strong merman opponent would be present).

Jade meanwhile goes to the botanical garden?? And he starts to smash plant pots… He claims it’s a dream so it’s okay! It’s not like he’s doing this because he wants to (lie). Jade makes (anemoned) Grim take a bunch of rare ingredients he “harvested” to Mostro Lounge.

Azul becomes interested in the ingredients and wants access to the source to maximize profits. Dream!Jade is led off by Grim and Yuu to the woods behind campus. SILBEK JUMP HIM—

Jade uses Shock the Heart to learn where Azul has moved the contracts. They weren’t in his office vault when the group checked earlier; the contracts are now in Azul’s room…? Which… I feel like that was such an obvious place to check, not sure why the thought didn’t occur to them sooner??

They find the contracts but there’s like 500 of them and no efficient way to destroy so many in a short amount of time. Ortho suggests his beam, but it might result in collateral damage to them if he fires it this close. Floyd says they can just trick Azul into destroying the contracts himself but before they can say anything more they hear voices getting closer.

Jade and Floyd return to Azul warning him that someone is after his contracts, so Azul, concerned, asks for the contracts so he can relocate them again. When they don’t, he starts threatening them (even saying that the headmaster is under his thumb too, no one at this school can oppose him).

Azul is baited to cast a spell at them, which Floyd deflects with Bind the Heart. He then summons anemones (Ace, Deuce, Riddle, Leona, Kalim, Idia) to help him. Some mob anemones called him “Azul-sama” in dead-sounding voices which. Makes me think maybe he stole Jamil’s Snake Whisper in the dream too??

Together, the twins keep taunting their dorm leader until Azul unleashes King’s Roar. They use Bind the Heart once again to redirect Leona’s UM and dust the contracts ✨ (We also got Floyd’s UM chant!! Roughly: “This is a nice place/it was just getting good, but how about I interrupt it?”)

NxdbsjsbkFAJHQAN OF COURSE THAT’A WHEN AzUL BREAks 😭 and it happens like automatically too… The loss of the contracts really is a sore spot for him.

Here comes the suspicious black gloop again~

Azul starts to sink down BUT THIS TIME YHE TWINS CALL OUT HIS NAME AND GRAB ONTO HIM?????? Jade even specifically tells Azul to “take his hand” and instructs Floyd to help pull. Ayo… the “take my hand” imagery again…

Waaah… Octavinelle trusts each other so much?? When Silver warns them that he doesn’t know what will happen to the twins if they end up in Azul’s abyss, Jade and Floyd wish Azul luck/don’t go to hell AND AZUL’s CASUALLy LIKE “you too” 🤡

Azul finally faces his OB self!! How interesting, he tells his OB that with the weight of all that he stole from others, it’s hard to move. I think he means that metaphorically… like, it’s hard to achieve personal growth if all you do is take and hurt people. “Unlike you, I’ve learned.” He wants to make his dream of making everyone bow down to him a reality on his own. Azul’s not satisfied with this, he wants something of “real value”.

Azul wakes up back in his mom’s restaurant and surrounded by his team members. He asks them to sign a contract which states they will all continue playing hard together. Duh, it’s a trap and actually anemones them. The contract just handed all their powers over to Azul 💀 Bro… How dumb are you, you didn’t even SKIM to check the terms of the contact are what to claimed them to be??

Azul regroups with the others and they inform him of what’s going on. He immediately expresses concern that the Mostro Lounge hasn’t been operating + the ingredients in their fridge might spoil because of Malleus’s magic. Man has his priorities www Thankfully they’re fine since the flow of time has stopped and potential customers are all sleeping. No ingredients or business lost!! Azul still wants Malleus to pay him back for the inconveniences though.

Ortho recommends that Jade and Floyd stay behind, as they both have taken significant damage from fighting. Idia adds that they should lower the number of people dream hopping to minimize the chance of bugs showing up; Jamil volunteers. Azul says it’s a shame because he was looking forward to fighting alongside him; Jamil says that “friends” with Octavinelle’s dorm leader has its uses, so he “looks forward to it.”

… Jamil acknowledging what Azul wants and agreeing to go along with it feels… weird…

Azul joins us and we hasten to the next dream. “Time is money!!” so chop, chop!! Next update… Savanaclaw!!

Overall, I really enjoyed seeing the twins fight, as well as seeing their more animalistic aspects (ie the bioluminescence) come out. The Coral Sea locations were so fun and colorful, it makes me want a hometown event even more!! Merform Azul we kiiiind of already saw with his OB form (and I’d seen lots of edits from fans making their own prior to this) but I thought it was nice to have that confirmation nevertheless.

There were a lot of small moments that made me do a double take (derpy dream!Floyd is one, Azul’s Big Bad scenes were several others). It was cute to see their Club Wear outfits utilized in the dreams too; we saw Basketball Club and Mountain Lovers Club looks make an appearance. I felt like I was watching some kind of variety show while reading.

This update gave me many thoughts, most of them surrounding the Octatrio and their relationship with one another. I’d like to talk more at length about their dream worlds and the roles they played in one another’s headspaces. However, that will get very bulky and I don’t want to add even more to an already bully post. I’ll make that a separate post and put it up later, so please bear with me ^^

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xislyns · 4 months ago

Note

could you please do some headcanons for benn beckman? 🙏

UGHH OFCCC i love benn sm , i actually have an upcoming mini fic containing beckman and other men in the works when writing asked this 😭, im sorry if there are typos . i wrote this during a study break 🥹🥹

BENN BECKMAN HC'S

op masterlist : 𐙚🧸ྀི

another note : this became longer than i expected 😭

HOW YOU MET

• i feel like meeting benn must be by a random encounter, when the red haired pirates had stop on your island. you were by chance walking in town. you were busy with your own errands when you noticed him leaning against a post, observing everything with a sharp yet relaxed look. Something about his quiet confidence drew you in. He noticed you too, nodding in acknowledgment as if he already respected you without even knowing you.

• The first time you talked, it’s because of a shared moment of curiosity. you were asking him about his crew, or he’s curious about something happening on the island you live on. The conversation is smooth and comfortable, leaving you both feeling like you’ve met someone reliable.

YOUR RELATIONSHIP

• Benn isn’t overly expressive like a certain red haired pirates we know.. , but he keeps an eye on you at all times. Whether it’s keeping an eye at the small of your back in a crowded place or his intimidating glare at anyone who dares to bother you, he protects you silently to him, actions speak louder than words.

• When you get angry or upset at something he did or the lack of it, expect him to know how to make you feel safe without being overbearing. When you’re upset, he doesn’t push you to talk or solve the issue right there and then. but he stays by your side, waiting for you to talk it out with him when you’re ready.

• Actually benn being as smart and strategic as he is, i feel like he would love debating with his you. He loves when you can challenge his views, instead of just nodding along and following with it. He finds it as something new and both frustrating and endearing when you are able to outsmart him in a battle of wits.

HOW DOES HE SHOW HIS LOVE?

• Benn would show his affection by subtle but caring gestures Benn shows his affection through small actions,offering you his coat when it’s cold, remembering the little things you like, or quietly helping things that he knows you cant do alone.

• His smiles are rare but reserved just for you. When you successfully make him laugh, it feels like you’ve won a victory in your book.

LIFE ON THE SHIP, AFTER YOU CAME

• The crew would love teasing Benn about how you’ve softened him. Despite his objections and grumbles, he secretly enjoys the way you’ve become a part of their family

• Late night conversations become the light of ur relationship, Benn often stays up late keeping watch or reading. You’ll find yourself sitting with him under the stars, sharing quiet moments or deep talks about life, dreams, and the future you will have together

CONFLICTS & RESOLUTIONS

• You and Benn occasionally clash over his protective instincts. He worries deeply about your safety, while you wish he’d have more faith in your ability to take care of yourself. Despite the tension, these disagreements always end in mutual understanding. he learns to respect your independence, and you have come to appreciate that level of care from him.

• Benn isn’t one to easily share his feelings. At first, it was hard to tell how deeply he cared about you, but over time, you learn to read the subtle ways he shows his love. Eventually, he grows more comfortable opening up to you, even if it’s just in his own ways.

TENDER MOMENTS

• When you’re hurt or sick, Benn is always ready to take care of you. His hands are steady as he bandages your wounds, though his eyes betray his worry. He’ll quietly scold you for being reckless, but his soft kiss on your forehead afterward tells you everything you need to know.

• Benn isn’t really one for PDA , but in private, he’s incredibly tender. He loves pulling you into his arms, resting his chin on your head, or simply sitting with you in comfortable silence.

• Even in the middle of a battlefield , you and Benn share a connection that doesn’t need words. He can sense when you’re in trouble and will make his way to your side, always ensuring you’re safe before he focuses on anything else. you are his priority.

BENN BECKMAN SUPREMACY 🛐

#fanfic #anime #x reader #one piece #one piece x reader #benn beckman #benn beckman x reader #headcanon #head canon #one piece fanfiction #asks open #answered asks #send asks #send me asks

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skywalkoverme · 2 months ago

Text

"𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧" 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 3

Series Masterlist

𐙚 Anakin Skywalker x Fem! Reader 𐙚 18+ MDNI

Summary: You assist the Jedi with their mission.

Warnings/contains: dom! male, dom! fem, Enemies to lovers, sexual tension, forced proximity, anakin does not like you, more to come as the series goes on etc, not proof read-- english is not my first language!

Word Count: 1.8k // More on my Master list! + follow & reblog pls

Obi-wan’s eyebrows furrowed upon seeing Anakin. A drunken smile on his lips, white- and cream-colored robes draped across his body. “Obi-wan!” Anakin opened his arms out as he followed you into the meeting room. You sat at the head of the table, two advisors by your side. The padawan pats the shoulder of his confused Master. “This trip has already been…a unique experience.” He smirked and sat beside Obi-wan.

“Ahem,” Obi-wan turned his gaze to you and your advisors as well as the generals to his right. “Should we start?” You waved a graceful hand in his direction. On the table rests a large map of Erden. His focus was on the Eastern Hemisphere. “Here is the confirmed sighting of the droid base.” He pressed a bolt down on the location. “We are here.” A single clear crystal on the palace. “They were smart enough to hide in the thick rainforest. Here,” He turned to Anakin, “the terrain is thick, so thick, sunlight cannot come through overhead.” He grumbled.

“We’re going in blind. They’ll have traps for sure.” Anakin muttered.

“We are guessing mines. They won’t want to waste droids by having large patrols.”

“Now that we know they are on our planet, it’ll be impossible for them to get a ship passed our atmosphere.” You added and slid a few more crystals over the map. “We have bases across this terrain: here, there, there and there.” You showed Anakin. “But not nearly enough men to fight the droids. It’s for scouting mostly, training facilities. Most of them don’t know how to work a canon, let alone a rifle.” Anakin wiped his face with his palm and held it over his mouth. “Most of my men are here.” You circled a finger around the palace and its nearby woods.

“We can’t go in there in two days.” Anakin stood. Obi-wan folded his arms.

Your eyebrows furrowed, “Why not?”

“Because we need a better estimate on what we are dealing with. Regular droids can’t handle a rainforest like this, it must be different than what we first saw.” Anakin brought forth the hologram token, “That, and you need more men sent to these bases in the rainforest.” Anakin huffed and showed the original proof of the droids.

You stood with the men and pointed to the map. “No. I cannot wait beyond two days.”

Obi-wan looked to his Padawan, “Two villages have been wiped out.”

“They now have our weapons. It won’t take long before they learn the components and develop a strategy to wipe us out!”

“You need to be patient! A gun is a gun. A sword is a sword. It kills a droid.” Anakin’s expression screwed as you cleared the map. “You worry about protecting your atmosphere and we can handle what’s happening on the surface.”

“Need I remind you for the third time, you don’t give orders here, General.” He leaned closer to your face, a scowl rid his expression. “My word is law and you sure as hell will follow it!”

“Your people will die.” He said darkly, his stark blue eyes were all you could see for the moment. Anakin simply folded his arms and stood back from the table.

“…I’m not new to war. We will lose some, but I refuse to let more die in vain.” You turned to your generals. “I need a sniper, and a bomb tech to come with me tomorrow at 0600. The Jedi and us are going into the rainforest. We will make the enemy vulnerable, take out their ships and such near the bases. If we don’t meet our checkpoints within the set 30 hours, send in the first wave of soldiers to the bases, corner the droids in.” Obi-wan nodded as well as the generals.

Anakin swallowed his spit and exhaled deeply. You turned to him and pressed a crystal to his chest, “Rest.” You said before leaving to your quarters. He held the blue crystal in his hands, turning it over before rolling his eyes.

He turned on his heel and followed Obi-wan to their guest rooms. “Anakin?”

“Yes, Master?”

“Do you trust the Queen?”

“No.” he replied quickly. “I still believe she is hiding something.” He said, still twisting the crystal over in his clutch.

“I don’t sense what you do. Are you sure your judgment isn’t clouded?”

Anakin sneered and leaned on the doorway to his bedroom, “I know what I feel, Master. You always tell me to trust myself. I’m doing that now.”

“Anakin, clear your head. Let us follow her lead, we need her as much as she needs us. She has a planet to protect, have grace.” Anakin dropped his head and sighed deeply. Obi-wan pats his shoulder, “I’d stop arguing with women if I were you. Good night, Anakin.” Anakin watched his Master as he tucked into his bedroom for the night and shut the door.

“Good night, Master…” He lay nude over the sheets, the cool air from the crisp sea chilled his warm skin. It was a nice change of pace from Coruscant but still uncomfortable. He couldn’t shake the distrust he felt for you…commanding him around like some higher power, putting him in his place like a common street rat, like scum.

However, the thought of bickering with you, watching your already tense face tighten, feeling his own chest heave and his glare harden, it made his blood rush. When you yelled in his face, pointing fingers in his direction and calling him all sort of names, trashing his skills or walked away from him--- all of it riled him up to a point of animalistic hunger. He wanted to pull you back each time, to keep you perfectly tight and annoyed, frustrated and livid.

He could feel your anger as you did his; it wasn’t obvious on you but just beneath that layer of divine femininity, there was a passionate disgust and lately, Anakin has been the cause of it.

You had to admit as you rest on your side, it excited you to have someone challenge you. On Erden, there’s no one above you, no one to match your rank either. Just the pure audacity from Anakin is foreign to you; his words, his body language, all of it is so intense. Standing against him made your heartbeat race, your blood boil.

But every time you two saw each other, in those short seconds before one could talk, a silent exchange occurs. When his eyes roam your exposed skin and yours followed the contours of his muscles. Not that you ever thought of fucking him or vice versa but seeing him vulnerable, nude…seeing you naked and exposed…he wanted to have it that way. To listen to you scream in his face with your perky breasts out. You wanted to listen to him yell at you, your attention on his fat cock.

He dressed early the next cycle, concealing his metal arm in the glove after dressing. He combed through his hair with a mix of water and oils from the sink area, twirling his curls just right around his head. Anakin placed his lightsaber on his belt and walked to the palace hangar on the ground floor.

You spoke with Obi wan by the ship, short, pale blue and green robes adorned your body. Two braids went down by your ears and over your breasts; your arms folded under. On your thighs, two electric shockers strapped to you and a crystal sword on your hip. The hilt was carefully wrapped with a cluster of gems where the blade meets the handle and at a single aquamarine at its tip. Anakin joined you two onboard and gave a short bow to you before turning away. “Let us go, Pilot.”

“I thought we were going in discreetly!” Anakin said over the loud engine and jets.

You hummed, “You may but I am not going to walk the whole way there!” Anakin mocked your folded arms and did the same. “We are going to be dropped off at the edge of the rainforest!”

“My Queen?” You turned to Obi-wan. “Is there a significance attached to crystals? The jewels? I mean, why use them in weapons?”

“Crystals come the way they are. They don’t break into smaller pieces here, so, every size you see, is what fate made.” You shrugged. “That and it cuts metal like no other. Well, other than that.” You pointed to the lightsaber on his hip. Obi-wan smirked.

“What about the silver?”

“Just another metal.” He nodded. “General?”

“Yes?” Obi-wan asked. Anakin eavesdropped over his shoulder as he looked out the window at the view of the city.

“I meant, Anakin.” Anakin looked at you, he faked annoyance however it excited him to be a part of your conversation. “Do you have faith in me?”

“That’s too broad for me to answer!”

“Do you trust me?” You spoke over the loud sounds or rushing wind.

He held his biceps, “I trust you as much as you trust me!” He said with a reassuring nod and a fake smile.

“We might run into some problems then!” He looked at your braids and nodded.

“My Queen? We have arrived!” The pilot said from over the headsets.

He lands the aircraft, your bomb technician and sniper filed out of the aircraft first and the Jedi followed. You walked between the four, and double-checked comms. “Head back, Unit.” You said and the aircraft was out of sight in seconds. Your boots on the ground of the muddy and thick forest, hands by your side as you all surveyed the dark area. The loud sounds of croaking amphibians and buzzing creatures surrounded you.

You raised your hand to swat at insects as the team moved forward, your eyes on the bomb tech as he took a discreet scan of the area. Anakin knew it was probably inappropriate to ask but he couldn’t resist, “Why did you come?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Why did you come along? We could’ve done this without you.”

You began to feel it in your core. Anakin could feel it begin to come from you, that heat you tried so hard to push down. He enjoyed this teasing, as long as you kept rewarding him with your reactions. “I don’t believe you could have.”

“I must disagree.”

“There are more than droids in this rainforest.”

“Nothing I can’t handle.” You felt his finger brush your shoulder. You didn’t need to look over your shoulder to know that he was more than happy while teasing you.

“There is much you cannot handle. Not everything can be cut with a lightsaber.” Anakin stood by you, an annoying fly continued to buzz by your face, hitting your skin. He ignited his lightsaber, disintegrating the bug and a stand of your hair in half a second. He smirked in the blue light of his saber before extinguishing it.

“The first checkpoint is up ahead. Let’s move.” Anakin said before walking ahead of you.

Series Masterlist

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andy-15-07 · 29 days ago

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Hi! Could you please do either a Pedro Pascal or Javier Peña x Reader where the reader is plus sized and doesn't give him the time of day because she doesn't think he would ever be attracted to her? A feisty reader is appreciated! Thank you so much! Smut is whatever the author feels is right! Thank you thank you thank you!

Agent of My Heart

PAIRING:Javier Pena x reader

WORD COUNT: 1167 | requests are open (send requests, I will gladly answer them all)

Pedro Pascal Masterlist | Pedro Pascal Masterlist II

Javier Peña crouched behind the overturned crate in the dim warehouse, sweat slicking his brow as he loaded another round into his service weapon. Bullets ricocheted off concrete walls in the distance, mixing with shouts in Spanish and the thud of heavy boots. Across the room, his partner Steve Murphy returned fire, cursing under his breath.

“Peña!” Steve barked, ducking behind a stack of pallets. “We’re pinched tight! Where’s the exit?”

Peña’s gaze flicked to the grated window high above. “Only way out is through the back corridor!” He fired a burst, then motioned. “Cover me!”

Steve leaned out, returning fire,and then a voice sparked Peña’s attention.

“Hey, macho, watch the exit!” it called, sharp and amused.

Peña’s head whipped toward the voice. You,Y/N,stood in the center of the chaos: smartly dressed in dark cargo pants and a fitted tee that showed off curves you shrugged at, and a flak vest that left no doubt you knew what you were doing. You raised your pistol with easy confidence and let two shots fly at the nearest gunman, who collapsed. Then you pivoted on your heel, heels clicking on the concrete, and disappeared down a side corridor.

Peña stared. “Did she just,?”

Steve cut him off. “She did. Let’s move!”

They followed you into the corridor. You rounded the corner, dropping into a quick crouch and firing again. Peña and Steve fell in behind you, a surprising trio as you bounced from cover to cover.

Once you reached the emergency exit, you yanked it open. Fresh air slapped your face. You vaulted outside, Peña and Steve close behind. Bullets ripped through the wooden door moments later.

You slid down the wall, panting. “That went… well.”

Steve grinned. “I owe you a beer.”

You gave him a cool once-over. “I work solo, agents. I don’t do beers with sidekicks.”

Peña stepped forward, chest heaving. “We’re not sidekicks, and I’m not an agent.”

You laughed, eyes bright. “Peña. Javier Peña, right? DEA?” You tucked a curl behind your ear. “I’ve heard about you.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You have?”

You shrugged. “I follow the headlines. Wanted to see if the legends were true.” You cocked your pistol at his knee, playful. “And you are.”

He swallowed. “You’re pretty… accurate with that gun.”

Your grin turned wicked. “Lucky shot.”

They exchanged glances. Steve rolled his eyes and wandered off toward the street. Peña remained, hands in his pockets.

“Look,” he began, voice lower, “I,thank you. That was a hell of a extraction.”

You pushed off the wall, dusting gravel from your pants. “Don’t mention it. I wasn’t about to let them drag you into a shipping container.”

Peña stepped closer, chest brushing yours. “You think I would ever… could ever be attracted to someone like you?” He flicked a glance at your hips, your smile.

You stiffened, arms folding. “Someone like me?”

He sighed. “Yes,like you. Strong, smart… fearless.” He paused. “You’re not even looking at me.”

You looked away, jaw set. “I’m plus size. I’m not exactly the leading lady type.”

Peña’s hand reached out, brushing your arm. “I’ve seen lead actors in Hollywood,I’ve never seen anyone move like you do. You’re commanding.”

You swallowed, gaze flickering. “You say that to all your… contacts?”

He shook his head. “No. Only the ones who can shoot first and ask questions later,and still smile.”

Your heart thudded. You turned back, eyes narrowing. “You’re charming.”

“Not trying to be.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I,look, Y/N. I’d like to see you again. Over coffee. Or something.”

You bit your lip. “I don’t do coffee with DEA agents.”

He lifted one shoulder. “Then what?”

You sighed, crossing your arms. “I’m busy. I have a network to manage.”

He nodded, respect in his eyes. “Understood.”

You steeled yourself to walk away,then paused as Peña gently took your hand. “But, if you ever want company,” he said quietly, “I’d be honored.”

You stared at your joined hands, warmth spreading. Whatever you felt,business, adrenaline, something more,you nodded. “Alright. Maybe coffee.”

He smiled, genuine. “It’s a date.”

A week later, Peña stood outside a small café in Chapinero, sky gray with the promise of rain. He checked his watch. 3:10. You were late,but not surprising.

The bell over the door jingled. You entered in a trench coat and boots, hair in a high ponytail. Peña stood, heart stuttering.

“Sorry,” you panted, shaking water from your coat. “Traffic. This city…” You exhaled. “Coffee’s on me.”

He waved you to the table. “You saved my life. I insist.”

You sat, folding your arms. “Just answer one question,why me?”

He took your hand across the table. “Because in a world full of whispers and shadows, you’re the human spark.”

You blinked. “Don’t quote me that next time.”

He laughed, warm and deep. “No promises.”

You studied him, feeling your walls crack. “You’re… different from what I’d expect.”

He smiled softly. “I guess I’m not your usual type.”

You shrugged. “My usual type is nonexistent.”

He squeezed your hand. “Then we’ll write a new type.”

Your heart fluttered. Conversation flowed,laughter, shared stories, a spark neither wanted to deny. When you stepped out into the drizzle, Peña offered his umbrella.

You slid under it with him. “Thank you.”

He tipped the umbrella. “Always.”

In the weeks that followed, you fell into a rhythm: late-night stakeouts (you preferred intelligence; he preferred field work), off-duty dinners in barrio eateries, and,eventually,drinks at the bar you’d originally spotted each other in. Each time, you challenged him,feisty comebacks and fearless banter,while he met you,steady, admiring.

One night, after a particularly grueling raid, he found you on the rooftop of the safe house, staring at the city lights.

“Mind if I join you?” he asked.

You nodded, then sighed. “I’m glad you’re here.”

He wrapped his arms around you, protectively. “I’m glad you’re here.”

You leaned into his chest, his heartbeat a balm. “I was stupid,” you whispered. “Thinking no one like me could ever…”

He lifted your chin, eyes unwavering. “You’re everything I didn’t know I needed.”

You closed your eyes against the rush of emotion. “And you… what do you see in someone like me?”

He brushed his thumb across your cheek. “Exactly what I needed to see.”

You tilted your head, breath caught. “That sounds like a pickup line.”

He smiled. “The best kind. Honest.”

Your lips curved. You rose on tiptoe and kissed him,light and electric. He responded, arms tightening around your waist.

When you broke apart, he rested his forehead against yours. “Stay with me.”

You laughed softly. “Until the next raid?”

He chuckled. “Until forever.”

Back in L.A., Peña found himself staring at your last text: Safe? He typed back: Safe. Thinking of you. Then stared at the second line, deleting and rewriting it.

Finally: Couldn’t do this without you.

He hit send. A moment later, your reply: I’ll always have your six.

He smiled, heart full. And across two cities, two hearts matched rhythms,plus sized, feisty, fearless,writing their own legend.

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adiya60 · 5 months ago

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Automated Container Terminal Market - Industry Trends and Forecast to 2038 Leaders: Growth, Share, Value, Size, and Scope

"Automated Container Terminal Market Size And Forecast by 2028

According to Data Bridge Market Research Due to the increase in demand for large container ships, the demand for automated container terminal is subsequently rising. Data Bridge Market Research analyses that the automated container terminal market will exhibit a CAGR of 2.9% for the forecast period of 2021-2028. This means that the current market value will rise up to USD 12.32 billion by the year 2028.

Smart Container Terminal Market is proud to announce an exciting expansion of its product line and services, reinforcing its commitment to providing high-quality goods at competitive prices. As a staple in the community, Automated Container Terminal Market has always prioritized customer satisfaction by offering fresh produce, top-tier household essentials, and a wide selection of locally sourced products. With this expansion, Automated Container Terminal Market aims to enhance the shopping experience by introducing new organic options, expanded international food selections, and a more convenient online ordering system. Customers can now enjoy a seamless shopping experience both in-store and online, ensuring Robotics-Enabled Port Terminal Market remains their go-to destination for all their grocery needs. By continuously evolving to meet customer demands, Automated Container Terminal Market reaffirms its dedication to being a trusted and reliable shopping hub for families and individuals alike.

In addition to expanding its product range, AI-Driven Container Terminal Market is enhancing its commitment to sustainability and community engagement. Automated Container Terminal Market has launched several eco-friendly initiatives, including reducing plastic waste, supporting local farmers, and implementing energy-efficient store operations. Customers can expect Automated Cargo Handling Market to introduce more sustainable packaging options and partner with local organizations to promote environmental awareness. Moreover, Automated Container Terminal Market is strengthening its community involvement by hosting charity drives and food donation programs to support those in need. These initiatives reflect Autonomous Port Operations Market mission to not only serve as a leading grocery store but also as a responsible corporate citizen. With these improvements, Automated Container Terminal Market continues to be the preferred shopping destination for quality, affordability, and community support.

**Segments**

- **Automation Level**: The market can be segmented based on the level of automation, including semi-automated and fully automated container terminals. Semi-automated terminals involve manual interventions, while fully automated terminals are equipped with advanced technologies like autonomous cranes and trucks.

- **Component**: Another key segmentation is based on components such as hardware, software, and services. Hardware includes machinery like cranes and automated guided vehicles, software involves the integration of technologies for managing terminal operations, and services cover maintenance and support.

- **Mode of Operation**: The market can also be segmented based on the mode of operation, which includes manned terminals, semi-automated terminals, and fully automated terminals. Each mode offers distinct advantages and challenges based on the level of human involvement.

- **Region**: Geographically, the global automated container terminal market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Each region has varying levels of market penetration, technological adoption, and regulatory frameworks influencing the market dynamics.

**Market Players**

- **DP World**: A global leader in port operation, DP World has been investing heavily in automation technology to enhance efficiency and productivity in its container terminals.

- **APM Terminals**: Operating in multiple continents, APM Terminals is known for its adoption of automation technologies to streamline container handling operations and improve overall performance.

- **COSCO Shipping Ports**: Being one of the largest terminal operators in the world, COSCO Shipping Ports has been implementing automation solutions to optimize its terminal operations and stay competitive in the market.

- **Hutchison Ports**: With a significant global presence, Hutchison Ports has been at the forefront of automation in container terminals, utilizing cutting-edge technologies for improved operational outcomes.

- **PSA International**: Known for its innovation in port operations, PSA International has been investing in automated solutions to enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction at its container terminals.

The global automated container terminal market is witnessing significant growth driven by the increasing need for operational efficiency, rising container traffic, and advancements in automation technologies. The segmentation based on automation level, components, mode of operation, and region provides insights into the diverse market dynamics. Key players like DP World, APM Terminals, COSCO Shipping Ports, Hutchison Ports, and PSA International are at the forefront of adopting automation to enhance terminal operations. With ongoing technological advancements and strategic investments, the market is expected to continue evolving to meet the demands of the ever-changing maritime industry. [https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-automated-container-terminal-Market ]The global automated container terminal market is poised for robust growth fueled by several key factors. One of the primary drivers is the escalating demand for operational efficiency within the maritime industry. As container traffic continues to rise worldwide, there is a pressing need for terminal operators to optimize their processes and enhance productivity. Automation technologies offer a solution to this challenge by streamlining container handling operations, minimizing errors, and reducing turnaround times. By segmenting the market based on automation level, companies can tailor their offerings to cater to specific needs, whether it be semi-automated terminals requiring some manual intervention or fully automated terminals leveraging cutting-edge autonomous solutions.

Furthermore, the component-based segmentation of the market provides valuable insights into the diverse technological aspects driving the industry forward. Hardware components such as automated machinery play a crucial role in the physical automation of terminals, while software integration enables the synchronization of different technologies for seamless operations. Services like maintenance and support are essential for ensuring the smooth functioning of automated systems and addressing any issues promptly. By understanding the significance of each component, market players can develop comprehensive solutions that encompass the entire ecosystem of automated container terminals.

Moreover, the mode of operation segmentation sheds light on the different approaches adopted by terminal operators to manage their facilities. Manned terminals rely heavily on human intervention, semi-automated terminals strike a balance between manual and automated processes, and fully automated terminals operate with minimal human involvement. Each mode presents unique advantages and challenges, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right operational model based on specific requirements and objectives. Geographically, the regional segmentation of the market highlights varying levels of market maturity, technological adoption, and regulatory frameworks that influence the expansion of automated container terminals across different parts of the world.

Key market players like DP World, APM Terminals, COSCO Shipping Ports, Hutchison Ports, and PSA International are driving innovation and pushing the boundaries of automation in container terminal operations. By investing in advanced technologies, these companies are not only enhancing operational efficiency but also improving customer satisfaction and competitiveness in the market. As the industry continues to evolve with ongoing technological advancements and strategic investments, the global automated container terminal market is expected to witness further growth and transformation to meet the evolving needs of the maritime sector.**Segments**

Global Automated Container Terminal Market is segmented based on the degree of automation into Semi-Automated Container Terminal and Fully Automated Container Terminal. Another segmentation is on project type, distinguishing between Brownfield Projects and Greenfield Projects. The market is also segmented based on offerings into Equipment, Software, and Services. Geographically, the segmentation includes countries such as the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Italy, U.K., France, China, India, Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, and others across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa, each with its unique market dynamics and technological adoption trends.

- **Global Automated Container Terminal Market, By Degree of Automation (Semi-Automated Container Terminal and Fully Automated Container Terminal), Project Type (Brownfield Projects and Greenfield Projects), Offering (Equipment, Software, and Services), Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, Germany, Italy, U.K., France, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, Rest of Europe, Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2028

**Market Players**

- Cargotec Corporation - Konecranes - Liebherr-International Deutschland GmbH - ABB - KUNZ Aircraft Equipment - CyberLogitec - Camco - IDENTEC SOLUTIONS AG - ORBCOMM - Orbita Ports & Terminals - PACECO CORP. - TOTAL SOFT BANK LTD. - INFORM Software - LogStar - Infyz - Tideworks - Loginno Logistic Innovation Ltd. - WCS – World Crane Services FZE - Starcom Systems Ltd

The global automated container terminal market is poised for substantial growth fueled by the ever-increasing demand for operational efficiency and the surge in container traffic worldwide. Automation technologies are becoming increasingly integral to modern seaport operations, offering solutions to enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and improve productivity. The market segmentation based on the degree of automation, project type, and offerings provides a comprehensive understanding of the market landscape with unique insights into various components and operational models driving growth across different regions.

The market players in the automated container terminal sector are continuously innovating and investing in cutting-edge technologies to stay competitive and meet the evolving demands of the maritime industry. Companies like Cargotec Corporation, Konecranes, Liebherr-International Deutschland GmbH, ABB, and CyberLogitec are spearheading advancements in automation solutions for container handling operations. These market players are not only focused on enhancing operational efficiency but also on delivering exceptional customer satisfaction and staying ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving market landscape.

As technological advancements continue to shape the industry, the global automated container terminal market is expected to witness significant transformations and further growth in the coming years. With a robust forecast till 2028, the market is set to expand its footprint across various regions, offering lucrative opportunities for market players to capitalize on the increasing demand for automated solutions in the maritime sector. The convergence of automation, digitalization, and innovation is redefining the container terminal landscape, paving the way for a more efficient, sustainable, and competitive future in the global maritime industry.

Key Questions Answered by the Global Automated Container Terminal Market Report:

What is the current state of the Automated Container Terminal Market, and how has it evolved?

What are the key drivers behind the growth of the Automated Container Terminal Market?

What challenges and barriers do businesses in the Automated Container Terminal Market face?

How are technological innovations impacting the Automated Container Terminal Market?

What emerging trends and opportunities should businesses be aware of in the Automated Container Terminal Market?

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