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kitten-keith · 5 years ago

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Horrid Self Indulgence

Wrote this long thing and now it’s gone cause I posted it to the wrong account and copy paste didn’t work so /fuck me/ anyway.

The whole following fic is purely self indulgent garbage, thus the name (it’s even called this in my google docs because I HAD A PLAN for what I was doing and it was supposed to be insanity) though as usual things get derailed and Idk. I had wanted to get into the hijinks of this concept but lost steam after starting the second bit. But the first bit can stand alone. ish. I guess.

Idk. It’s all completely ridiculous though so idk have fun.

Klance, slightly intoxicated, sharing a bed, Keith is uncomfortable AF and Lance is trying to be chill about it. Weird head shit and accidental rituals. You’ll see. Seriously. Horrid self indulgence.

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It was a pleasant moment between comrades that went horribly, heinously, horrifically wrong.

And if that’s what bonding with Keith friggin Kogane gets him then absolutely not, never again.

It was such a simple stupid fuck up. How was he supposed to know?!

They were at a dinner, stumbling awkwardly through an alien planets customs, trying unsuccessfully to pretend they were okay with the garbs they’d been forced to wear and that the food didn’t make them nauseous when Lance had made the biggest mistake ever and looked at Keith.

See, because he was the leader his attire had to display this-this—nobility. And god, Keith was anything but noble. He was sitting to the right of the planet’s leader, Allura across from him, and he looked like they might as well have sat him at the kids table with how his brows furrowed and he looked at the ground like he was trying not to cry.

His face was red enough to match the silk scarf loosely clinging to his shoulders and his thumbs rubbed absently over his ungloved hands. He was bare aside from the scarf and a darker one wrapped around his waist for modesty that he’d had to fight for. Apparently this planet had no concept of an external penis or whatever and needed to be educated on human biology before they gave in to Keith’s demands.

The whole thing was about respect, leaving yourself bare to show you had nothing to hide, but to remind everyone of his station the locals had him decked out in jewels from head to toe. They were braided into his hair, dangling from thin chains across his chest, Lance was positive there was some sort of jeweled sandal decorating his tiny delicate toes too.

(And not because he paid attention to that sort of thing. Just. Ya know. Shiny shit.)

Allura was actually dressed about the same though being a woman with no external penises she was actually way nakeder than Keith. And, as she was a full on princess they’d given her a whole slew of silver that had strategically covered all necessary bits that Lance’s mother might have flinched at.

Not that Allura seemed to give a fuck in the slightest and even seemed to enjoy it as she spoke animatedly to the world leaders, the jewels on her body making small clinking noises with every movement.

Lance had spotted perfect (and he means perfect) dark nipples exactly 16 times since they’d all sat down to their meal and absolutely couldn’t take it anymore so that was when he’d turned his attention to Keith.

And somehow had been unable to turn away from him since.

The other Paladins were stripped some and given a few shiny baubles. Lance himself was wearing flowy pants slit up the sides over the dark boxers he’d thankfully been allowed to continue wearing. A couple gold plated necklaces and an arm band and he was good to go. Lance has no issue being topless and actually kinda liked the style. Hunk was a bit more uncomfortable, same pants, same boxer treatment (his were white with yellow suns on them, Lance clapped him on the back for unintentionally matching.)

Hunk had the same kind of jewelry too but try all he might he couldn’t drop his hands from where they were wrapped around his chest.

He said he was cold repeatedly but lance figured he was just self conscious and offered him plenty of wolf whistles back in their dressing rooms because “man hunk you wanna bench press me later cause those arms are making me weak~!”

But sadly it didn’t seem to work.

Pidge was an interesting sell. Same bottom situation in her signature green but she’d also managed to get away with a pair of socks that she was no longer wearing on her feet.

They were providing just a hint more cover for her chest after she’d wrapped Lance’s, Hunks’s, and her own scarf around herself like a makeshift halter top. The locals hadn’t liked it and Allura had tried to explain that female breasts were nothing to be ashamed of but Pidge’s size and thus assumed age had granted her the “let the child be” excuse.

And sure, Lance was a grown man who was all for equality and free the nipple and aaallll that jazz but if they had forced his pseudo baby sister to go topless he might have lost his absolute shit and gotten them all sent back to the castle.

Not that that would have been the worst thing at this point because then he wouldn’t be staring at Keith like this— to avoid staring at Allura! Of course— and then he wouldn’t have gotten elbowed in the side by the Pidgeling and gotten the funny look from Hunk and nah man okay.

Lance wasn’t ogling the leader of voltron.

He wasn’t.

He was just.

Uh.

Worried about him.

Yeah, that’s right. Worried.

Which was what lead him to follow Keith’s retreating form the second they were allowed to adjourn for the night.

It’s what compelled him to bump his shoulder and wave a hand in greeting.

And maybe that pout had something to do with Lance’s laughing, throwing his arm over his shoulders, and ushering him to his room for the night.

“Come on dude, I've got something for you, stashed from that one planet with the abomination? You know the one… Kell? Krell? It’s good okay, better than what they just tried to feed us. Take the edge off.”

Take the edge off.

Famous last words?

Keith groaned and wrapped his arms around himself tightly but nodded and willingly turned off course from his own room. Lance wondered if this was so easy because he’d been so beaten down by the day or because he actually found solace in Lance’s company.

He didn’t have the nerve to ask and instead simply sauntered into his room, leaving Keith to stand idly by the newly shut door.

“It tastes better than nunville but it’s a little stronger so you’re gonna wanna sip at it okay?”

Keith nodded but his eyes looked glassy, like he wasn’t actually listening.

Lance moved to his temporary rooms vanity setting and shuffled through his bottles of toiletries. When they’d decided to indulge the locals in their customs and stay a few nights basking in their hospitality Lance had been told to pack quickly but he hadn’t forgotten anything important. This included the little silver pouch that he’d somehow barely touched since keeping it with him all this time.

He opened the pull top with his teeth to take a small sip before offering it to Keith who was still standing right against the door as if he was afraid to move. Considering how loose the scarf around his waist looked, he might have been.

He did look… good though.

Remarkably so.

Amidst the finery and the sheer and silk fabrics, his hair in a loose braid over one shoulder and that almost permanent flush across his cheeks, he was beautiful and adorable and stunning all at once and it was doing ridiculous things to Lance’s chest. He almost regretted taking the sip that he did because he worried about what he might let slip aloud, looking at Keith like that, but as the alien substance travelled down his throat and warmed his body he kept his wits. He felt the buzzing under his skin but retained his sense. He was here to offer Keith a moment to relax. Nothing more.

He walked over to Keith and instead of handing him the pouch he resealed it and held it softly under one arm as he reached out with both hands for Keith’s waist.

Keith flinched so hard his back hit the door, “what are you doing?!”

Lance rolled his eyes, pushing closer and grabbing on to the scarf around his waist tugging and tightening it for him.

“Looked like you were having trouble.”

Keith’s flush was so hot Lance could practically feel it.

Poor thing.

“Right… thanks…” he stayed against the door but took the pouch when Lance offered it.

Lance turned to walk over to his bed and make himself comfortable and by the time he turned his attention back to Keith the boy was swallowing.

“You remembered what I said about that stuff being hard hitting… right?”

Keith shrugged.

Took another sip. (This one looked more like a sip at least. Maybe Lance wouldn’t have to carry him back to his room later.)

He sealed the stopper and looked around the room briefly before walking in the straightest line imaginable to sit on the foot of Lance’s bed, holding the pouch out to him again.

Lance considered it, wondering if it would help or hinder his case to not make a fool of himself with Keith looking like that and decided why not. Besides, he could pace himself, unlike some people.

When he finished taking his last sip, feeling the warmth and the contentment sitting in his stomach as he leaned back on his elbows on his bed, he hummed to himself and shut the top, putting it to the side.

Keith shuffled around so his back was to the bed post and he placed his hands over his lap uncomfortably.

“So uh. Was—was that it?”

“Chill Keith. You’ve been looking so tightly wound today I figured you could use a break.”

Keith visibly paled and moved to curl in on himself but thought better of it. His thumbs started to track back and forth over his fingers though. Bad sign.

“Relax!” Lance demanded, stretching the vowel sounds to make it more playful.

Keith neglected to heed this order and instead looked away.

“Look, I doubt it’ll cause any problems, everyone knows their customs made you uncomfortable. Here, if you want you can go ahead and get under the covers.” Lance reached behind him and pulled up the bed sheets. It would help his own situation too. Cover Keith and that pretty skin of his up. Put that beautiful body away because his own was starting to get ideas he didn’t need.

He remembered Allura looking just as beautiful if not more so and it helped for a second to feel better mentally but he was still fighting not to be turned on next to half naked (that was being generous) Keith.

“That might actually be… are you sure? I could just— leave. I could leave.”

Lance rolled his eyes.

“Would you chill if you left or would you stay up all night worrying about the kinds of impressions you’re leaving?”

Keith was silent. His thumb disappeared behind his pointer to dig his little blunt nail into his middle.

“Get in the bed. Let me tell you stories.”

Keith’s eyes lit up at that and for a moment he started forward to crawl across the bed toward where the sheets were up, but he stopped himself again.

Lance sighed.

“Feeling exposed?”

Keith nodded.

“You know we showered together back at the garrison right? I’ve seen you naked. Completely naked. And lathered.”

Of course, this was before Lance’s full sexual awakening and before Keith had filled out like he did with those abs and thighs for days but uh— that wasn’t a necessary addition to the conversation it just wasn’t.

Keith still flushed like a tomato and it made Lance’s little traitorous heart do a flip.

“Right right. I forget you didn’t even remember me from the garrison.” Lance offered sardonically, trying to shift the mood.

Keith bit his lip. Man, even that looked good. Lance wanted to bite that lip. He could just see it. Lip to lip with Keith Kogane groaning out. Lance’s hand on his shoulder pushing him back on the bed, the other reaching beneath him to get a nice big handful of that round perky ass—

Okay.

Okay maybe Keith shouldn’t get under the covers.

Maybe he should leave.

He should leave.

He should—

Keith started to mumble something when Lance turned away and shut his eyes.

“Alright you have ten seconds, go on princess.”

It was silent for a moment.

Lance squeezes his eyes shut tightly because this was the exact opposite of what he was supposed to be doing.

“10.”

But he was doing it.

“9”

There was the sound of Keith shuffling behind him, pulling up the sheets more and crawling into bed. He was getting comfortable by the time Lance reached 3 and Keith spoke up telling him he could stop.

Lance nodded and turned around so he could face Keith, continue conversations, see if he could find a relevant story in his brain about his family or something simple back home that would help Keith unwind.

Instead he was struck a bit dumb by Keith snuggled under his (always color coded) blue bed sheets, his inky black hair splayed out on the pillow. Lance had always thought Keith’s eyes were this remarkable shade of blue but surrounded by all the blue in his bed Lance realized he was wrong. They were clearly more of a violet, wide and staring at him under lashes that were too long and too elegant for a guy who made a living kicking furry alien chinchillas in the face.

And with that thought came the image of Keith kicking ass, those muscle toned legs under skin tight space suits…

Now basically bare and in his bed.

Naked.

Naked Keith in his bed.

Naked Keith in his bed staring at him expectantly like— like—

Right. Right he was waiting for a story.

Okay.

Lance flopped onto his side, too close to Keith but in an effort to remain comfortable and casual it had to be done, and went back to racking his mind for an idea that didn’t involve pressing his body as close to Keith’s as physically possible.

Something jingled as he went down and he remembered the abundance of jewels that had been decorating Keith’s body.

There were still a few left in his hair that he seemed to not care about but it looked like the little jeweled sandals were there, as were the ones that had decorated his arms.

It took him a second but Lance scooped them up and put them on the bedside table before getting comfortable again.

“Oh okay so, let me tell you about the time my big sister Veronica brought home the biggest stupidest “boyfriend” she could find…”

Lance could see Keith smile just beneath the blanket.

He reached out and started to pick the jewels out of Keith’s hair as he spoke, occasionally running his fingers through it. If Keith had a complaint he didn’t voice it. Besides, just because it was styled stupid didn’t make it any less soft.

By the time Lance got to the big reveal of the story, the part where Veronica had hired the guy to piss off their dad over an argument they’d had about Veronica’s openness to bringing a girlfriend home (maybe, in the future), Keith had completely knocked out.

And for some reason, Lance thought that was alright.

They could totally just. Sleep in the same bed. No problem.

With Keith wearing nothing but a silk scarf.

He thought this was a perfectly good idea as he showered and put on a fresh pair of boxers and crawled under his sheets to the sound of Keith’s light breathing.

He was a little dizzy, but forgot that the biggest after effect of inebriation was poor judgement, and easily curled up next to Keith.

Keith, who was just awake enough to take Lance’s hand.

Lance thought it was adorable.

Because Keith was adorable.

And Lance wanted to be touching his skin like this (sort of) anyway.

It worked for him.

He was sleepy too.

So sleepy he lapsed almost instantly into dreams.

Dreams of Allura dancing just out of his reach. Of her nonchalance at his flirting and efforts to be noticed by her. Making him feel useless. Undesirable. Unworthy.

He was so pathetic.

Keith’s voice was in his head.

Telling him how kind he was. How sweet he was.

“I couldn’t do any of this without you Lance.”

“I need you.”

“I hope you know that. I hope you know that—if you could see yourself how I see you…”

“Lance you’re so…”

“I want…”

“I wish…”

Keith was at his side. Mumbling those nothings into his ear in little breathy sighs.

It felt nice.

It was nice to hear.

Nice to feel Keith pressing in beside him.

“I wish you could see what I see in you… love yourself as much as I do...Lance, I…”

Well this was awfully self indulgent of him. Dreaming of a Keith who would say those kinds of things. As if the real Keith capital L Loved him.

Like Lance hadn’t spent years trying to get his attention the same way he had with Allura too.

As if he hadn’t gotten shot down with every attempt to—

“I liked you then too! I was just… afraid to let anyone in…”

“Liar, you didn’t even remember me.”

“That was the lie…”

“That was…?”

“You were so cute… always trying so hard… always going the extra effort to make people smile or laugh… I always thought you were…”

“You liked me back at the garrison? Like... one smoothie two straws, like-like…?”

Keith turned away, rolling onto his side. Face probably flushed a deep crimson again. Man he was so cute…!

“Like write your name in my notebook with a bunch of hearts, like-like… yeah.”

Extremely self indulgent dream.

But Lance was gonna take it.

He squeezed himself close to Keith’s body, wrapping an arm around his chest as Keith jumped.

“And now you…?”

“Now I…”

It was silent.

Lance tried to ignore how perfectly Keith’s ass cheeks felt pressed to his crotch.

He felt naked.

Naked Keith in his bed. Saying all these pretty hopeful things...What a perfect dream…

Lance gently bumped his hips. He couldn’t help it, and it was his dream after all right?

Keith was silent, but reached a hand back to slide down Lance’s waist, breathing loud.

Was that how Lance’s mind worked? Show me a love confession followed by an immediate bone.

Lance’s wet dreams were clearly things of substance.

“Do you love me?”

He bumped his hips again. His dick hardening fast.

Keith’s fingers dug into Lance’s boxers, applying just enough pressure to drive him forward, keep him pressed to his ass.

“I do… do you…?”

“Hmm… never thought about it before.”

Keith made a low unhappy noise.

“I def love your face… your so fucking pretty face…”

Keith went silent again. Lance ground his hips against him and his hard cock was finding a very comfortable place right between his cheeks.

“And I love this body...your ass is heaven, Keith, wish you could feel this...”

Keith was definitely naked. Naked enough that Lance was desperate to get out of his boxers.

How could his dream provide him perfectly naked love confessing Keith and not leave Lance equally perfectly naked?

Sense, where was it?

“I love how brave you are… stupid and reckless and it drives me insane with worry. But brave.”

Keith backed into Lance’s lap, rolling his hips and made Lance’s mind stutter.

“I love how—how much you care about things even when you don’t show it… I love your laugh…”

He could feel Keith’s entire body against his front, a single useless silk scarf around his waist, the rest probably lost somewhere in the bed. His hand found one of Keith’s nipples and he started to slowly rub his fingers around the nub causing Keith to raise his chest into the touch a bit more with a small high pitched sound.

“I love how you hum during flight simulations and I always leave coms open so I can hear you…”

With Keith raising his chest for Lance’s hand it gave him a moment to slip his other hand underneath him. He pinched his nipple between his thumb and forefinger once before sliding that first hand down the span of his body. Feather light touches over the ridges of his abs, loving the way Keith twitched and rocked harder back into Lance.

“I love how unbelievably dense you could be sometimes, you’re such a mess you’re perfect—” Lance moved his head so he was right against Keith’s ear for the word “perfect” but lost his nerve when he dropped his face into the back of Keith’s neck, “What am I saying… of course I love you.”

Did Lance have feelings for Allura? Yes. Did he wish she’d reciprocate? Yeah.

Did Lance feel guilty about indulging himself in a dream with someone who he also had some very strong (possibly stronger) feelings for? No, not at all.

Because real talk? If Keith had said half of this in real life Lance’s heart would have combusted and he would have kissed the life out of him by now—

Because that was just what Keith did to him sometimes.

He just… blew his mind with how much he could make Lance feel.

Christ.

Good lord.

He hadn’t taken advantage of the opportunity to kiss him yet.

He reached up with the arm that was beneath Keith, his hand spreading wide over his neck to grab his jaw and tentatively guide him to face him.

“Can I kiss you?”

Keith’s hips ground back hard as he laughed, “you’re asking that now?”

He was right.

Besides, kinda stupid to ask permission from a dream right?

“Stupid stupid me, right?”

“Stop that.”

“Right let’s get to the smooching.”

“Yeah alright I take it back.”

“If you love me you have to love all of me.”

Lance could practically hear Keith rolling his eyes.

“Hey it’s my dream—“

And it was absolutely superpowered. Maybe there was something in his drink that had different properties on this planet because when Keith parted his lips and lifted his head they had never looked so inviting in his life. He had to stop himself mid sentence to dive for those lips.

Smashed up his nose a little bit on Keith’s cheek which he was sure he would have felt too if this wasn’t a dream but Lance didn’t care because he was kissing Keith Kogane.

And yes. He’d had plenty of dreams where he’d kissed Keith. Plenty of dreams where they’d made out on the rec room floor or the garrison showers or had sex in reds cockpit.

But they had never ever felt like this.

His brain practically fizzled out.

He felt Keith’s tongue against his and then suddenly it was gone.

Felt like he was falling, disoriented. Someone (Keith?) reached out to catch him. Dug little blunt nails into his arm in panic.

“Lance—what—“

The dream shifted. Lance was alone, floating in an empty pool, naked and confused and annoyed.

The water was cold but didn’t make him shiver.

There was a splash in the distance, and Lance hoped it was Keith but he couldn’t see anything. Time passed and he started to lose sense of where he or the water began.

He’d have given anything to be back with Keith.

What a shitty way to end his dream…

When he woke up his throat was dry, like he’d had too much to drink the night before and his head spun a bit.

He sat up and found he was on the far side of the bed where Keith had gone to sleep. Didn’t even see Keith, so maybe he’d gotten up earlier and Lance had managed to settle into place where his body heat had been.

Of course that was for mere moments before he glanced to the opposite side of his bed and found… himself?

He also realized very suddenly he was buttnaked with only a silk scarf tied loosely around his hips and his hair was long enough to tickle his shoulders.

He looked down at himself and saw the expanse of absolutely flawless Keith body, down to the little dark hairs just under that useless scarf.

Lance wasn’t sure why he did it, but he reached down to grab himself in his palm (Keith in Keith’s palm??) And was immediately overwhelmed by the sensation of it. He had to bite his lip to keep quiet and fell back on the bed hard as his hand tightened to seek out the feeling. He was partially hard already and from the feeling of it he must have been suffering all night.

But excuse you Lance. This isn’t your body what are you doing?

Dreaming? Still? Could have sworn he was very much awake now…

He forced himself to stop, noting quietly that he was absolutely not going to forget what it felt like, and looked over at his own body.

Had to be a dream.

Had to be.

He shut his eyes, letting his finger tips graze over the inside of Keith’s thighs because dream or no there were so many nice things about that he was gonna keep doing it.

Well until someone shook him awake (again?)

It was strange seeing an expression that was so clearly Keith, puzzled with furrowed brows and tight lips, on his own face.

But there it was.

Staring at him like he was the strangest mystery in the known universe. Which, to be fair, if he was still wearing Keith’s face he kind of was. (And kind of had to be considering he definitely wasn’t the one wearing his own face.)

Keith (you know, it felt like Keith and acted like Keith, but he really didn’t know if that was Keith) was the first to register the shock of the mornings revelation. Lance actually felt kinda slow and confused. Maybe he’d drank too much— no wait, Keith did.

Anyway.

So.

Keith started screaming. And Lance started screaming.

And maybe that wasn’t a great idea while guests on a diplomatic mission in another world palace with your comrades in arms down the hall while you’re both pretty naked and in bed together.

But uh.

Fun morning.

#I hate that I have to do this again #Klance #body swap #sharing a bed #smut #smutty stuff for this blog because it's owed lbr #all I do anymore is whine #and my writing is off #idk #this is one of the older ones so maybe it's not too awful #keith is a mess #Lance has mixed feels #heavy pining #whatever

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revengerevisited · 5 years ago

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Maddie rambles about Kingdom Hearts: Dark Road

Let’s just get this outta the way: Xehanort is my least favorite character in Kingdom Hearts. Now there are certainly more boring and underdeveloped characters but as far as evil deeds go, it doesn’t matter how ‘cute’ or ‘relatable’ Nomura tries to make Xehanort. I will never forget that he tore Ven’s heart in half, tortured Vanitas for four years, killed his own best friend, possessed Terra’s body for a decade, possessed Riku’s body as Ansem, unleashed Heartless on the worlds resulting in countless deaths, manipulated Organization XIII for years, and experimented on Kairi as a child and eventually murdered her in front of her best friends. Any attempt to make me sympathize with him just ain’t gonna work.

Also, I’m not taking any of these ‘Character X is secretly Character Y’ theories too seriously until they actually happen. Yes, it can be fun to speculate that Bragi or Odin is secretly Luxu or the Master of Masters, or that Brain is Eraqus’s ancestor, or that Demyx is the MoM, or that Ava or Vor is Kairi’s grandma, or whatever other theories are out there. But until there’s conclusive evidence that’s all they are, speculations and theories.

On that note, I don’t know why Xehanort is having dreams about the KHUX Player’s adventures but I don’t think it’s because Xehanort is the Player’s Nobody or a reincarnation of the Player. Reincarnation has never been a concept present in the KH series, and honestly it just sounds like bad fanfiction. Plus, if Xehanort does turn out to be the Player, then I feel bad for everyone who spent a lot of time creating their own unique character only to have it be replaced by the generic default Player in KHDR’s opening cutscene and then re-replaced by Xehanort of all people. Perhaps Xehanort simply has a unique, unexplained power to see into the past like Namine’s memory manipulation or Terra’s precognition.

Either way, this past-sight just makes it harder and harder for me to believe that Xehanort wanted to learn about the Keyblade War in BBS, since it seems he already knew all he needs to know. Xemnas knows that Luxord, Marluxia, Demyx, and Larxene are from the past, young Xehanort lives in Scala ad Caelum which was built over the ruins of Daybreak Town complete with a huge machine explaining Daybreak Town’s demise, Eraqus talks about the Book of Prophecies like it’s common knowledge, the list goes on. Also, I don’t like the implication that Xehanort chose Ventus as his vessel and later as material for the X-Blade only because he knows him from the Player’s dreams. Then again, if his dreams of the Keyblade War end before the Player meets Ven and Lauriam, then Xehanort wouldn’t know about them and would instead be more familiar with Skuld and Ephemer.

I will say that one thing I do like is Xehanort comparing himself to a starfish laying on the beach, both for the humorous imagery and also just a bit of that islander backstory flavor. Xehanort being the outsider of his friends group and not telling the whole truth of how he ended up in Scala is also an interesting Kairi parallel, although him being found unconscious in the middle of a city is kinda overused. I do like that the surrounding cities around Scala are all uninhabited, since trying to wrap my mind around these huge mountain-sized cities with potentially millions of people in them was a little too much for my brain to handle.

I do however find it quite bizarre that it’s taken some worlds so long to recover from the Keyblade War. Not only that, but apparently people just appear out of thin air once their world is restored. Like, how? It just feels weird and uncomfortable, almost like these people only exist for the protagonist and audience’s amusement rather than being independent living beings in their own right. I dunno, there’s just something deeply unsettling about those implications. It also makes me wonder how long ago the Keyblade War was, if places like Agrabah still aren’t finished only 75-ish years before KH1. The characters refer to it as a legend, so it must’ve happened a long time ago, right? Some fans think it’s only been 100 years since the Keyblade War, but that would be like the equivalent of calling World War 1 a legend.

The worlds all being on different timescales is also extremely headache-inducing, both as analyst and a fanfic writer trying to keep track of the plot. Couple that with time travel and the whole thing just falls apart. Of course, if each world runs at a different time, then perhaps this is why Xehanort looks so much older than Eraqus, or rather why Eraqus looks so relatively young when he’s supposed to be 80-ish years old. And if that’s the case, then do any of the characters’ ages really matter? I’ve already proven that their ages have been retconned before. Also, this renders timecodes such as ‘75 years later’ and ‘one year later’ from Re:Mind and other parts of the series completely meaningless. The timeline is broken.

Anyway, I’m not sure how much Norse Mythology will play into the story, but all the new characters have Norse names with two that stand out the most. The first is Master Odin, named after a Norse god who sacrificed one of his own eyes for knowledge, which is an interesting parallel to the MoM. The second is Baldr, the as of yet unseen seventh student who has a missing sister, because evidently Nomura likes recycling his previous plots before they’ve even finished. In Norse Mythology, Baldr is the god of light whose death kickstarts the events of Ragnarok. How this’ll be relevant in KHDR remains to be seen, but after seeing those four gravestones in the timeskip/flashforward, I can’t imagine this ending well for anyone not named Eraqus or Xehanort.

Now, as funny as I find it that the new characters have all been killed off this quickly, I’m not entirely convinced that those are Urd, Hermod, Bragi, and Vor’s graves. They could actually be the graves of the missing upperclassmen, if some of them turn up dead. Speaking of the upperclassmen, I would hope that Yen Sid is one of them, but I have a feeling he won’t be allowed to show up simply because of Disney’s stranglehold on its own IP. It’s pretty sad and ironic seeing as this series used to be all about Disney, but I assume that’s why Nomura is straying further and further from the brand.

About the four new student characters, I don’t have any particular attachment to any of them, beyond Vor’s name being hilariously unfortunate. I find it a bit eye-rolling that fans continuously snub Kairi but will instantly latch onto any new characters like Yozora and these four despite barely knowing anything about them. It doesn’t help that, and please correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems that any of the four who you choose to be in your trio will have the exact same dialogue in cutscenes no matter who you pick, meaning that these new characters don’t even get much of a chance to develop their own personalities because all of their dialogue has to be generic and bland enough to fit all four of them.

Young Eraqus is probably the best character so far, simply because he’s the only one with any personality. Granted his supposed cowardice has yet to be seen, but it’s mentioned so often that I assume it’s gonna be an important plot point later. However, I’m finding it hard to relate young Eraqus with his adult counterpart seeing as their personalities are just so different. I’m aware there’s a 65-ish year gap between this Eraqus and older Eraqus, but there better be some major character development to explain this, especially since even standing in front of his presumed classmate’s graves he still seems fairly chipper.

On that note, as humorous as ‘Tardy Fleetfoot’ is, just like with Xehanort, don’t think I’ve forgotten that this guy caused Terra’s insecurity and self-doubt with his overzealous anti-darkness stance, probably heavily influenced Aqua’s black-and-white anti-darkness keyblade-first-ask-questions-later thinking, was also probably the one who told her to lie to Ventus about always living with them, and attempted to straight up kill Ven and Terra. Eraqus’s actions aren’t as bad as Xehanort’s, but they certainly aren’t acceptable in any capacity.

Something odd I noticed is that Eraqus knows what the Heartless are called, and even the difference between Pureblood and Emblem Heartless-- well, part of the difference; I’m assuming he doesn’t know that future Xehanort created them. But anyway, my point is that Aqua doesn’t know what the Heartless are called until Mickey tells her in BBS 0.2. Before that she simply calls them ‘dwellers of darkness’, and even mistakes one for an Unversed. Does this mean Eraqus never taught his students about the Heartless? Why? Perhaps after his classmates died, he decided to shelter his own students from the worlds, hence why their Mark of Mastery was so simple? I’m just guessing at this point. Of course, there’s still no real explanation as for why the Emblem Heartless are here in the past. My best theory is that someone used the Book of Prophecies to summon them... somehow. It really just seems like an excuse to gloss over the corner Nomura wrote himself into with the whole ‘Emblem Heartless were made by Ansem’ thing, but we’ll see.

Honestly this whole series is just one big endless death-spiral of constant retcons and nonsensical plot twists and at this point I’m just exhausted. My view on KH has become one of mild and morbid curiosity, rather than expecting anything truly great. Is that cynical? Yes, but I’ve watched other once-great series (Star Wars, Voltron) worsen over time to the point that they just fizzle out and die, and I’m afraid it’s the same deal with Kingdom Hearts. I don’t think I’ve truly enjoyed a KH game since BBS, and if the series just continues down the path of introducing bland new characters every time Nomura gets bored rather than developing the already established ones, I don’t know how long I can stay interested. The Dark Seeker Saga is over and he really needs to let Xehanort go.

To end this on a positive note, I am tentatively hopeful about Melody of Memory. The gameplay looks cute and fun and the story looks like it will have more development for Kairi and her backstory, which is something I’ve been wanting for a while now. Focusing on the original cast is definitely a step in the right direction, and I hope this series can keep moving forwards rather than backwards.

#khdr

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metalbatandzenko · 5 years ago

Note

all the numbers owo

GrCUnA gaoh god sdljhdkjshfkjsh

This is gonna get long so I’ll put it under the cut. I’m also gonna remove the ones I’ve answered already.

1. What fandoms do you write for?

OPM and AtLA. I have a Miraculous Ladybug fic, but the creator is a nightmare and I hate the way the show treats the main character (literally the creator said part of the show’s episode formula is the main character “learns a lesson” every episode: usually through humiliation) and all the characters of color so I really don’t write for it anymore.

2. What pairings do you write for?

Batarou, Mumensai, and I do general fics.

3. What is your most popular fanfic?

My Miraculous Ladybug fic. By like. a lot akfdjhlgkjhfdlkg

It’s got triple the subscriptions and bookmarks, double the hits, and more kudos than any of my other fics. And I haven’t updated since January.

4. Do you write original stories as well?

I do! I’m a creative writing major, so I do a lot of memoir nonfiction and poetry, but I also write fictional short stories.

5. What fanfic of yours should everyone have read?

I don’t think there is one! Different strokes and all. But if you weren’t aware, I’m working on an ATLA fic rn about Zuko trying to repair his relationship with Azula. Not for this fandom, but a fun fic for me because it’s a bit out of my wheelhouse.

6. What is a fandom you will never write for?

Out of the ones I’ve been in, voltron.

7. What is a ship you will never write for?

There are...a lot. For the sake of my mental well being, I will not list them. But I will say any ship between a teen and someone in their mid twenties or beyond is a no go for me.

8. Archive of Our Own, FanFiction.net, Wattpad, Tumblr, etc. which platform do you prefer?

Begrudgingly, Ao3. I have my issues with Ao3 and I think I’ve made those pretty clear (and they’ve gotten me into some hot water lmao) but it’s a good place to put fics.

10. How do you stay motivated to finish what you’ve started?

I could not tell you. I am so bad at staying motivated. Certain fics I love writing. Others feel like I’m pulling teeth.

11. What’s your longest fanfic?

Hidden Horns. By a lot. like 20k words a lot.

12. Do you want to break your readers‘ heart or make them laugh?

A bit of both, but I lean towards laughing. The world needs more light.

13. What is your planning process?

Depends on the fic. For short ones or oneshots, there really isn’t one. For longer fics, I’ll have an outline, but a lot of times I’m laying tracks as I go. If I think of a good scene or line, I’ll write it down and just keep it at the end of my doc until it comes up in the story.

15. OCs or no OCs?

OC’s only when they’re necessary for plot. For example, Madame Oshitani in Hidden Horns only really showed up because I needed a piano teacher, and I couldn’t have it be an existing hero. Outside of that, I tend to avoid putting OC’s in fics, because I find them disruptive when I’m reading fics.

16. Do you use sentence starters, writing prompts and/or fandom headcanons for your fanfics?

Sometimes! Hidden Horns was based off of this fanart. If they are, I make sure to note that in the notes.

20. Can we get a list of all of your current available fanfics?

Yeah you got:

A (Not So) Brief Hiatus-Miraculous Ladybug

Promises to Keep-OPM/batarou

Little Boy-OPM/Metal Bat centric

A Game of Chase-OPM/batarou

Not Invincible-OPM/batatou death

Someone Fun-OPM/Mumensai

Date With the Devil-OPM/Mumensai sequel

Something of Note-OPM/Mumensai

Conduct Evil-OPM/batarou

Grief and Other Intangibles-OPM/Zombiedad and CE death

Horns and Fangs Series (Hidden Horns and Fear and Fangs)-OPM/batarou

Spaghetti and Juiceboxes-OPM/Zombiedad and CE

I guess they don't like me but I never figured out why (I guess they think I don't like them either)-ATLA/Zuko reaches out to Azula

21. What’s your shortest fanfic?

Conduct Evil at a whopping 354 words.

23. Long chapters or short chapters?

They vary! Mine tend to be pretty short, like 1k-4k.

24. How many WIPs (work-in-progress) do you’ve got?

*sweats* Like 17 at least

25. How many WIPs will you finish?

Rude to assume I won’t finish all of them eight if I’m lucky

26. First-person-narrative or third-person-narrative?

Third. I hate writing in first person except for in nonfiction.

27. Do you take requests?

Kind of. If people send me an ask that I vibe with, I might write something, but as a general rule, no. I’ve been considering doing commissions though, so if you want to toss a coin to your bitcher lmk

28. I will name you three things (object — scenario — fandom/ship): write a paragraph or two!

I can’t do this one without those three kdjhflkjsdh

29. What’s more difficult? Fanfics or original work?

They’re difficult in different ways, but original is way harder.

Original work means there’s zero scaffolding to build off of except for the scaffolding you make yourself, and there’s a lot of issues with worldbuilding and creating complex and relatable characters.

Fanfic relies on a solid understanding of existing characters and dynamics, as well as the internal logic of the world. The scaffolding is there, but often times it’s stifling.

30. What writing software do you use?

Word and Google Docs fkjhslgkjh

31. Do you use beta/sensitive readers?

Nope. I probably should though.

32. Past or present tense?

Past. I can’t consistently write in present.

33. Do friends and family know that you write fanfics?

Some of my friends do. I’ve shared some with them! I use fanfic as warmup, so a lot of my writing friends know about my fics.

34. How did you find the world of fanfics?

I wrote Adventure Time fanfic on middle school and published them on an Adventure Time facebook group. They were wildly popular in the group.

36. Did you ever delete a work of yours?

I don’t think so tbh.

37. Did your work ever get plagiarized?

If it did, I wouldn’t know. But I highly doubt it.

38. Do you partake in any fanfic/writing events? (Big bangs, zines, NaNoWriMo, etc?)

No because I can’t stick to a deadline.

39. Collaborations or working solo?

I’ve never done a collaboration before.

41. What is something you don’t like about your writing?

I rely really heavily on dialogue and I’m suuuper aware of it. I think the thing is I do a lot of domestic fics, and even my story fics tend to be pretty domestic. I’m looking at you Hidden Horns

My original work doesn’t tend to lean on it as heavily.

43. Guilty pleasure tropes and scenarios?

I am a die hard found family bitch. Nothing guilty about it.

44. Does fanart of your fanfic exist?

Yes, actually. The aforementioned middle school fic got mini fancomic for the first chapter, and I wrote a Miraculous Ladybug ficlet in a fic chain that got fanart.

45. Do fanfics of your fanfic exist?

I think there might be one that was inspired by my fic, but I can’t remember tbh.

47. What fanfic of yours is truly underrated?

My ATLA fic!!! give it some love tf :/ (kidding of course.)

50. Can we get a teaser for an upcoming chapter?

Yeah, here you go:

The hero removed his coat and dropped it on the ground, where it landed with a solid “thud”.

He unhooked the holster under his arms, removed a knife from both boots, and unstrapped the machetes from his back.

They joined the trench coat in the pile.

Garou watched in equal parts awe and horror as Zombieman continued to produce weapons from increasingly improbable locations.

Finally, when the pile at his feet was large enough to arm a private militia, Zombieman stopped.

“I’ve got a pistol in my chest, but I’d prefer not to take that one out,” he said, pushing past Garou. “Feels rude to invite myself over then get blood all over the tatami.”

#hidden horns #Anonymous

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yellowmagicalgirl · 5 years ago

Text

Fic Writer Tag Game

tagged by @im-the-king-of-the-ocean

...it feels like I just did something very similar to this very recently but I’ll do it again I guess. This time I’m gonna include Fanfiction.Net, though, just so I can give different answers. That being said, I’m only going to link to the AO3 version of the fic

Fandoms:

These days, it’s almost all Tales of Arcadia, but my AO3 also has some Miraculous Ladybug, SPOP, and RWBY as well as a crossover with The Hunger Games. In addition to the above, my FFN also has some PMMM, Tai Chi Chasers, Sailor Moon, iZombie, Harry Potter and Voltron Legendary Defender in there.

Number of Fics: 98 on FFN, but only 60 of them ever got transferred to AO3.

Fic I Spent the Most Time on: I know I said I was torn between two fics last time, but honestly? I spent hours looking up the effects of PTSD, solitary confinement, and various forms of torture for the Juliet Dies; Life Continues fics. There’s a reason why when I finally publish Juliet Survives in This I’m gonna contain two disclaimers: one for the Dead Dove Do Not Eat and another for the fact that I’m using magic and the fact that Claire’s not entirely human anymore just so I can find a way to make it so that Claire has a good reason for not being any worse off. The other fic I was writing I only did some research before going, “nah I’m bastardizing Arthurian legend”

Fic I Spent the Least Time on: *looks at old writing and cringes* Raked over Crimson Waves, probably...

Longest Fic: Every Ghost in Me is the longest fic I’ve ever written at a proud 10,188 words... and somehow it’s a oneshot.

Shortest Fic: For actual fics, it’s A Shop Infested on AO3 and Arme Harry on FFN. Though, A Shop Infested is also the shortest English actual fic on FFN for me as well (yes, I have one (1) fic written in German.) However, this doesn’t count my poetry. On AO3 it’s Isn't It Ironic? On FFN it’s In My Arms.

Most Hits: On AO3, it’s I Bet You Kiss Your Knuckles (Right Before They Touch My Cheek) with its 1741 hits. On FFN, it’s Dare, which has 15,174 hits. Though, for comparison, Dare was written in 2015; I Bet You Kiss Your Knuckles (Right Before They Touch My Cheek) only has 348 hits on FFN.

Most Kudos: I Bet You Kiss Your Knuckles (Right Before They Touch My Cheek)

Most Comments: On AO3 my collab with Tuna, Birds, Bees, and Blood Magic, has the most comments, but Juliet Dies in This has the most threads. On FFN, it’s still Dare.

Most Bookmarks: Birds, Bees, and Blood Magic holds this title on AO3. The closest similar thing we have on FFN is favorites, so that title goes to Picked the Wrong Girl.

Total Word Count: On AO3, my net word count is 82,299. On FFN, I had to break out excel, and my net word count would be approximately 136,615 words. Approximately because I can’t separate the fic from the author’s note.

Favorite Fic I Wrote: You can’t make me choose... but it’s probably one of those jlaire hurt/comfort fics I’ve written. Or for that matter, the LadyNoir hurt/comfort fics I used to write when it comes to FFN even though I decided not to move them off of AO3... wait a second. I have a type. Oh no I have a type when writing and shipping and that type is the person who’s associated with light and goodness comforts the person who’s associated with darkness. I mean I’ve written outside of this type many a time but let’s face it so many of my shippy hurt comfort fics more or less boil down to this description.... how did I not realize this before.

Fic you Want to Rewrite or Expand on: I will never actually finish it but every so often I still want to go and give With the Distance Amplified a proper ending. Other than that, I kind of want to go and expand upon I Bet You Kiss Your Knuckles (Right Before They Touch My Cheek) despite the fact that I don’t want to have to watch ML canon to do so properly... oh, and also? I really need to finish the 3Below interlude to Juliet Dies; Life Continues.

Share a bit of a WIP or Story Idea you’re Planning on: so earlier today I posted a Krexie ficlet... I need to do some more editing so that the fic makes me nearly cry as much as the ficlet did and write all the other scenes because the fic is much more than just the kiss but here is the kiss from Krel’s POV:

There is a very full bowl of cat food, and multiple bowls of water. Krel follows Archie, and he finds Douxie, sitting on the floor, curled in a blanket, back to the door. Archie meows and runs away. Douxie doesn’t look up, and so Krel walks around him. Douxie’s head is bowed, and he is typing frantically at his phone, and then erasing what he wrote. There are tear tracks on his face, though they are hard to see, when most of the tears probably crawled into the cracks. Krel kneels in front of him, trying to see what Douxie is typing. The movement catches Douxie’s attention, and he startles. The blanket falls away from Douxie as he scrambles to his feet.

Normally, his reflexes are better. Not so clumsy. Not almost falling over his own long, cracked limbs. Krel reaches out to help Douxie stabilize himself, but Douxie uses a wall instead.

Douxie rips his earbuds from his ears, and for a second Krel can hear a woman singing from the earbuds before Douxie silences the music he was listening to. Douxie takes a breath. It is wet and shaking.

“Krel, why are you here?” Douxie wraps his arms around himself, and Krel isn’t sure if Douxie is cold from wearing a sleeveless shirt or just uncomfortable.

“I saw your text; I worried.”

“I’m sorry.”

Krel takes a large step towards Douxie; Douxie takes a small step back.

“Douxie, you, we’re gonna break the curse, you’re going to –“

“I’m going to die today,” Douxie whispers, looking at his own feet. Krel looks past the soft shorts Douxie is wearing to Douxie’s ankles. They have been taken over by cracks, and they’re advancing.

They are out of time. Douxie is out of time. Krel feels his lower lip start to tremble, and he tries to make it stop.

“You, you should probably go,” Douxie says like he doesn’t mean it. “I don’t… I’m not going to make you watch me die.”

“I’m not going to make you…” Krel can’t bring himself to say the word “die”, like saying it aloud will make it true. And that’s silly, that’s superstition, that’s not scientific, but every scientific way Krel has tried to save Douxie hasn’t worked. “I’m not leaving you alone; I don’t think you want to be alone right now.”

“Then can you-“ Douxie breaks off into a coughing fit. “Can you hold me? If that’s okay?”

Embrace your mistakes, like Mother would have said if she were not dead.

Krel takes another step towards Douxie, and Douxie does not step away, rather, he leans into Krel, unwrapping his arms from his own torso. They take one, two, three steps backward, to where the blanket lays abandoned on the floor. They sink to the ground, arms around each other. Krel cannot save Douxie, but he can make sure that Douxie is comfortable. Douxie clings to Krel with a surprising amount of strength. Krel ignores the urge to wrap his fingers around Douxie’s neck, just so he can keep track of Douxie’s pulse. Krel cards his fingers through Douxie’s hair instead. His other arm wraps around Douxie’s torso and his hand rests on Douxie’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” Krel says, hating how his voice sounds when he’s about to cry.

“It’s not your fault, all of you did your best,” Douxie says, voice choked and so very scared. Krel feels his shirt starting to grow damp. “I don’t want to die; I wish we had more time.”

“Me too,” Krel says. A tear slips down his cheek, and he tightens his grip around Douxie’s torso, like he can keep Douxie from slipping away.

Douxie jerks, and Krel fears Douxie might be convulsing, but he’s just pushing himself up so he can look Krel in the eye. “Krel, I…” Douxie coughs, turning away, and when he turns back his glowing eyes are so much dimmer. “I love you.”

Douxie goes slack in Krel’s arms, closing his eyes. Krel presses his lips against Douxie’s and hopes.

A couple tears escape Krel’s eyes as he tries not to think of how he still doesn’t know for sure if he loves Douxie the way the curse wants him too, if he’s too late and he should have kissed or at least told Douxie sooner instead of waiting.

Krel closes his eyes. Douxie’s lips are chapped or cracked or maybe both, but they are still. Passive. Krel exhales through his nose; Douxie’s lips feel dead.

Krel is about to pull away, but then Douxie starts kissing him back. And it isn’t much, just a firm press that wasn’t there before, but it is enough to convince Krel that maybe it isn’t too late.

Tagging (for the record your participation is optional): @clairekatswritingcorner, @fieryartemispublications, @mambo-no-5, @dork-empress, @brothebro, and @akozuheiwa

#my writing #krexie

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musicanddancingthroughlife · 6 years ago

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Langst/Klance -- Pierrot

Okay guys, I know I forgot to upload something last week but this is like. My longest chapter yet, I guess. It is Klance, which I haven’t written in a while, and it’s probably super rough cause I hate myself and won’t go back and edit, but hey, have. Other than that, I hate myself and that sums up a lot of aspects of my life right now.

-------------------------------

“Hunk? Hunk, where’d you go? All right, so Coran isn’t as good of a cook as you are, but I think by now we should be used to that, there’s no need to run from it.”

Lance stopped short when he heard loud sobs and that too quick breathing that signaled Hunk’s anxiety attacks. Lance didn’t hesitate, though. “Hey, Hunk? Can I touch you, buddy?” His friend shifted under his mess of blankets, shivering and shaking. Lance swept him up into a hug, holding close for a few minutes before he grasped one of Hunks’ larger hands in one of his own. He settled their joined hands on Lance’s chest, Hunk instantly using lance’s heartbeat to steady his gasping breath.

It took several minutes, but Lance sat patiently, whispering reassurance and comfort in both English and Spanish. Once he was sure Hunk was calmed down, he pulled back into a tight hug, letting Hunk weep into his neck, uncaring of how the tears were dampening his clothes and making him uncomfortable. “Wanna talk?” Hunk nodded, but it was still a while before he said anything. And when he did, Lance felt his heart stop.

“Lance, what am I doing here? I’m not a pilot like you guys; I don’t even like flying. How can I save the universe if I can’t even do basic flight exercises like today’s?” And with that, he burst into a fresh wave of tears.

Lance contented himself with rubbing Hunk’s back, letting him cry out his insecurities and frustration, but he didn’t let that stop him from trying to assuage those fears. “Come on, man, you’re one of the two smartest people on our team! 50% of our brain power! Maybe something like 33% if we’re really gonna count Coran, but let’s also keep in mind that you’re the reason we’re not dying of starvation or too much exposure to goo, so at the very least, you deserve more credit than that. And you’ve come so far! Yellow is lucky to have you as her pilot! And you’ve got some of the top skills in the training rooms, don’t you? You’re just behind Shiro and Keith!

“And come on, it’s not like you’re the only making mistakes! Remember last week when I accidentally used those weird pellet gun things and shot Shiro in the ass? And what about when I was racing Keith and wound up making both of us crash into the ground? Was that stupid, or what?” Lance belted out a laugh, cringing inwardly when it sounded just a little too loud, but thankfully Hunk didn’t seem to notice. He just let out a weak giggle, but Lance could see that there were still tears in his eyes. That was fine. He had plenty of stories to entertain Hunk with.

Keith was annoyed. Why was he always the one having to track down Lance when he wandered off? It’s not like Keith was his keeper or anything. Hell, he didn’t even like Lance!

…Okay, maybe that was a lie, because what wasn’t to like? Honestly, Keith was just as infatuated as he was irritated, even at that moment, which was impressive because at that moment, Keith felt more horrified at what he was hearing. First, the very idea that Hunk was doubting his worth on the team, was ridiculous, and he wished that he knew what to say in order to make him feel better, but at least Lance was handling that okay. Keith just wished it wasn’t at Lance’s own expense.

At first, he was just surprised at hearing Lance recount those stories, stories which made Lance look like an idiot who can’t do anything right. He was pleased to hear that Hunk was seeming to cheer up, but he also knew that Lance’s laughter wasn’t completely honest. There was a tinge of pain to it. Lance normally tried to avoid reminders of those moments, and here he was, voluntarily sharing them, just to help a friend.

More laughter spilled from the room, and Keith bit his lip. Lance’s laughter was sounding more and more broken as he continued sharing stories. Thankfully he had begun reminding Hunk of all the good he had done, both before and after Voltron, but the tears in Lance’s voice were starting to hurt him. Thankfully, it was really only a couple minutes later when Hunk and Lance stepped out of Hunk’s room, arms slung over each other’s shoulders. Keith felt a pang in his chest.

“Keith!” Hunk’s eyes were rimmed with red, but the beaming smile he gave Keith told him that Lance had succeeded in making his friend feel better. “Did you need something?”

“Coran and Allura wanted me to tell you guys that we’re ready to have dinner, if you want to join us.” His eyes drifted over to Lance, and found himself amazed by how Lance was able to mask the pain in his eyes. Sure, Keith could still tell, because he was actively looking for it, but no one else would have any idea. How did he do that? Why would he do that?

Hunk quickly ducked under Lance’s arm to clasp a large hand on Keith’s shoulder. “Well, let’s get to it, man, I’m starving!” And Hunk began to drag Keith away, leaving Lance behind to follow. Keith glanced back, but when he did, he just saw Lance flash a wide grin at him, and then Hunk was pulling him around a corner.

The next time he saw Lance was a few minutes after he and Hunk had seated themselves, when he quietly slipped into the dining hall. He was just a little too quiet while they ate, but nobody else seemed to notice, and that’s when Keith resolved to keep a closer eye on his sharpshooter.

“Lance! You’re not nearly fast enough!” Lance’s concentration broken, Pidge managed to catch his foot with her katar. Startled at the unexpected catch, she accidentally shocked him, and Lance yelped in pain, crashing to the ground.

“Oh my god, Lance, I am so sorry!” Pidge started to rush over, but Allura stopped her before she could.

“Lance!” she snapped impatiently, “get up, now, and try again!” Lance was amazed. She wanted him to what? He just got shocked with who knows how much electricity! Hunk and Keith stared in shock, first looking at Allura in disbelief, then at Lance, still on the ground, trying to breathe through the pain coursing through him, and finally at Shiro, begging him to do something. He stepped forward.

“Allura, come on, we’ve all been training for hours. We’re exhausted.”

“You guys are fine. Go get some rest. Lance still has a lot of work he needs to do, and he’s never going to improve if he doesn’t stop wasting our time!” These last words were focused on Lance, who squeezed his eyes shut, shooting hand rhythmically flexing and relaxing. He felt a stab of shame in his chest. Of course, she was right. He was the weak link. He was behind everybody else in hand-to-hand, hell, even Pidge just took him down! They were never going to get anywhere with him being such a baby about training.

“Allura—” Shiro began, but Lance cut him off.

“No, she’s right.” Lance shakily got to his feet, small gasps and grunts escaping him as he forced his wobbly legs to support his weight. “I can do better, just let me go again.”

Shiro looked less than impressed. “Lance, you can barely stand. Let’s just call it a day and we can hit it hard in the morning.” And hell, Lance wanted nothing more than to be able to take a break. He wasn’t positive how long they had been going so far, but he knew it was at least a couple of hours – usually they train hand-to-hand for two, taking turn so everyone could rest, and so that they could each practice with varying styles and techniques. Then they would take an extra hour in the shooting range, and then move on to team building exercises before finishing for the day. Briefly, he wondered how long Allura wanted him to continue practicing.

“There, you see? He gets it, at least.” Oh, he got it all right. He was a failure, as usual, and he needed to work harder to catch up, to not bring his friends down. People could die if he wasn’t good enough. Lance gritted his teeth, preparing himself to go again. “Come on, Pidge, I won’t make it as easy on you this time.”

“Actually, I believe Coran needed both Pidge and Hunk for a project today, so if you two would go get showered and then meet with him, that would be fantastic.” Allura’s face was set, decisive. Pidge and Hunk were done for the day. Lance blinked.

“Okay… Shiro, will you run through it with me again? I know I can get it.” He really didn’t, but he wasn’t going to stop until he did, so it wasn’t like he had any other choice.

“Lance, I need Shiro so we can plan our next course of action. Got that, Shiro?” Her voice was hard and unforgiving, but still, Shiro hesitated, looking back at Lance almost questioningly. Lance shook his head. “It’s fine, Shiro, I’m sure Keith will help me?” Keith stepped forward, but Allura spoke up again.

“Honestly, Lance! Keith spends too much time training as is. You are the only one who needs the extra practice, stop trying to guilt the others into staying behind to help you. Keith, I don’t want to see you anywhere near the training room until tomorrow, when we are in fact scheduled to train.” The look in her eyes dared Keith to argue, and Lance knew him well enough to know that he needed to step in.

“Don’t worry, Princess, I can do it on my own. More fun to have company, but you’re right. Keith deserves a break.” Lance couldn’t look them in the eye. Not only was he going to struggle with the training itself, but now he was going to be isolated from his friends for who knows how long. What a day.

Keith clenched his fists, anger rushing through him. Lance was trying just as hard as any of them! In fact, he was trying harder than most of them! This was ridiculous, and he had no idea why Allura was acting the way she was. Like Lance needed a punishment or something! But with Lance agreeing with her, Keith couldn’t see how he could stay behind to help him with the combination.

“Lance, if you need to see the combo again – though you really shouldn’t, seeing as Shiro and Keith demonstrated it numerous times for you and you would have it if you had been paying attention – you can recall it on the databases here in the training room. You will practice until you get the combo, and until either Shiro or myself can confirm that you know it.” And without another word, she swept out of the room, calling to the other paladins on her way out.

Slowly, hesitantly, Pidge and Hunk wished Lance good luck, before they left to find Coran. Shiro look sympathetic, but ultimately, there wasn’t much they could do. Especially where Lance was willing to just put in the extra time. Already, he was gulping down some water, shuffling and shifting to allow his feet to find the beginning stance. Keith wanted nothing more than to stay behind, to offer some help or advice or dammit, even just some company! Lance needed people, and to cut him off from everyone like this was unnecessarily cruel. But before he could even offer any encouraging words, Lance was moving his way through the combination, slowly mapping out each step. Keith sighed, but then he followed the rest of their friends out of the training room.

Hopefully Lance would be okay.

Of course, none of them saw Lance again until way after dinner. The other paladins had long since headed to bed, but Keith had been unable to sleep and was in the middle of debating whether it was safe to go to the training room or not when Lance came stumbling out of it. Trailing behind Allura, he looked beaten and exhausted. His hair and clothes were soaked through with sweat and Keith suspected he was favoring his leg. Meanwhile Allura looked smug, pleased with the knowledge that her slowest paladin was improving, that they were that much closer to defeating Zarkon. Lance slowly shuffled towards the kitchen, but Allura stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

“What are you doing?” she questioned.

Lance frowned. “I haven’t eaten yet…”

“It’s far too late to be making another mess in the kitchen,” she looked at him disapprovingly, and Keith felt anger rising to the surface. “It’d be best if you slept instead. Eat in the morning.” Keith gaped at her, but he was unnoticed by the two of them. Really, that just meant that once Allura had turned Lance towards the direction of their bedrooms, Keith was in the perfect position to see the pained resignation cross Lance’s face.

Before he even realized it, Keith had retrieved some light food from the kitchen and was knocking on Lance’s door. He left the foot on the floor, where Lance would hopefully see it, and then scurried around the corner as quickly and quietly as he could. He heard the door open, there was a few seconds of silence and then some rustling before the door shut again. When Keith peeked around the corner, the food was gone.

Only a couple days later, and Keith was again frustrated about Lance. It looked like he still hadn’t recovered fully from that long night in the training room, and he couldn’t understand why. Shiro had been really careful in making sure that nothing like that happened again, but that didn’t stop Allura from pushing Lance’s limits as hard as she could get away with when Shiro wasn’t looking. But despite this, Lance still looked so tired all the time.

That night, at dinner, Keith kept a close eye on Lance. He seemed normal, though tired, and it wasn’t until after dinner that he realized Lance wasn’t retiring to his room like most of the rest of the paladins were. Instead, he headed to the training room. Keith camped out outside, bored out of his mind, but more determined to find out if Lance was really okay or not. Lance logged a good three hours before he finally came out of the locker room exit. He was breathing heavily, gasping for air, and muscles loose and trembling, but otherwise seemed unharmed. Keith forced himself to relax as he followed Lance down the hallway from a distance. Lance gulped down a water pouch, and then set off to the Lion Hangar, where Pidge was still absorbed in her latest project.

“Pidge.” It was quiet, and the reaction was slight, but Keith still recognized how Pidge flinched and her shoulders shot up to her ears. “When are you going to go to bed?”

“None of your business!” Pidge spat, and Keith was more than surprised at the venom in the girl’s voice. Lance only sighed.

“Pidge. You need to sleep. Please.” Was this why he was so tired? He was trying to make sure Pidge was getting to bed? Keith looked at Pidge critically. If that was the case, he really wasn’t doing a good job. But, he realized with a pang, that wasn’t his fault. No one else was trying to get Pidge to sleep at all, and it was obvious she desperately needed the rest.

“Fuck off, Lance, I don’t need a babysitter.” Lance flinched, but refused to back down. “Come on, just one night. You haven’t slept more than a couple of hours in who knows how many days.”

Pidge narrowed her eyes. “Have you been keeping tabs on me?”

“I’m worried about you.”

“Well no one else is and the only people who really care are who knows where and I’m trying to find them, so leave me alone.”

There were a few moments of silence where Keith wondered if he should intervene. Before he could, Lance spoke up again. “I know you have nightmares, Pidge.” Pidge froze. “Come on, did you really think I wouldn’t notice, kid? You’re pushing yourself too far. Keep it up and you won’t control when you collapse from exhaustion. You’ve gotta sleep at some point. At least this way, you’ll have more control over when and how.”

Pidge shook her head, but even Keith could tell that her eyes were glazing with tears. “Pidge, come on. I’ll stay with you. You don’t have to worry about nightmares. I chase nightmares for my siblings all the time.” Lance’s hands fisted briefly, then relaxed again. Pidge looked up at Lance pleadingly. “Would you really stay?” she asked hesitantly.

Lance bent down without another word, scooping her up into his arms. “Of course I will. If Matt can’t be here to do it for you, then I’ll gladly fill in for him until he can, don’t worry.”

When Keith saw them the next morning, Lance looked even more exhausted than before, but Pidge was obviously more relaxed and clearheaded.

Everyone expressed their joy at Pidge getting rest, and they praised her for finally taking some time to herself.

She didn’t mention a single word about how Lance basically had to force her to finally get some sleep, or that he was the whole reason she felt comfortable for doing so in the first place.

And no one else seemed to notice how Lance was so tired he could barely keep a handle on his emotions during training that day.

In fact, Keith suspects it was because of that loose grip on his emotions that the disaster that was training really occurred.

“Lance, come on, really try here! Everyone else is working so hard, and they’re doing great, just try a little harder for us! We’re a team, and we can’t be that if we have to drag you along on missions.”

Keith knew, okay, he knew that Shiro was under a lot of stress. He was still young, only a little older than them, and he’d suffered a lot of trauma that no one should ever have to go through. But, really? Lance was so tired, and he was trying so hard, and he was doing so much for all of them. He didn’t deserve this.

Lance, though, merely looked up at Shiro from where he was laying on the floor, eyes bleary and unfocused. Shiro clenched his jaw, visibly willing himself to dredge up some of that incredible patience he’s always preaching at Keith about. “Lance, if you won’t take this seriously, then we have no reason to keep you on as a paladin. I’ve been trying to defend you from Allura, but honestly? She’s right. You need to work harder and take this more seriously, and if you can’t even do that then I don’t know why you’re bothering to stick around.”

Keith glanced around for help from Pidge and Hunk, but they were far on the other side of the training room, and hadn’t noticed what was happening yet. Keith slowly stepped forward. “Shiro, maybe we should…” Shiro barely glanced at him when he walked past, all but racing out of the training room, leaving Lance an overtired and emotional mess on the floor. At first, they both just sat there in silence, but then Lance visibly steeled himself, taking a deep breath and choking back tears. And when he finally staggered to his feet, wiping his eyes clear of any moisture, Keith felt like his heart might break.

“He’s right, it’s fine. I’m going to go take a breather, and I’ll come back to try again after dinner, I think. I need to get this right.” For a moment, Keith couldn’t breathe, his heart and soul ached so much for this sad, lost boy in front of him, but before he could gather his thoughts enough to speak, Lance had taken off.

He didn’t see him again until very late in the night, or early in the morning, depending on your perspective. Keith had been heading to the kitchen to get a water pouch, but instead barely managed to stop himself from walking into Shiro having a panic attack. Keith was more surprised by that than by the fact Lance was talking him down from it. He had Shiro’s hand clutched against his own chest, helping him to time his breaths, and he was gently chattering away about his family, joking with Shiro as if it wasn’t a one-sided conversation during which the other participant was having a full-scale attack. It was impressive, but when you looked closely, it wasn’t hard to see that Lance’s hands were trembling, and there were tears in his eyes.

Some time later, it was evident that Shiro was too tired to notice any of those things, as he instead broke down into tears once he’d calmed down enough. Lance stayed with him the entire time, and Keith kept a silent vigil over his friend. The two of them didn’t retire until the day castle had begun shifting into its day cycle. And if anyone else noticed that Lance was starting to look a little less vibrant, a little less happy, a little less excited about life, they didn’t say anything. Lance appeared to wish to just brush it off, and Keith was content to bide his time.

But that wasn’t going to last too long.

“I don’t know how to help you, okay!” The quiet that followed that outburst was just as loud. Keith couldn’t bear it. Lance should never look this depressed, this dejected. “Lance.”

There was silence, Lance refused to glance up and acknowledge Keith, so he tried again.

“Lance. Please. Look at me.” Another few seconds of silence before Lance shook his head weakly. Feeling the pain in his chest tighten, Keith tried again. He had a vision of Lance comforting and coaching Hunk through a panic attack, Lance running himself ragged training for Allura’s peace of mind, Lance’s willingness to sacrifice his own sleep to ensure Pidge slept, the trust and faith he placed in Shiro, despite consistently feeling that Shiro didn’t even like him, forget about trusting him.

“Just. Please. I just want you to be honest. Be you. Please, just be selfish for a few minutes. I promise, I’ll still be here. I don’t… I don’t need you to be anything but yourself. Please.” Still silence. “You’ve done so much for all of us, and I need you to know that even if you didn’t stretch yourself so thin for all of us, we would all still love you. We would still value you. You’re our friend. None of us knew what we were getting into, but we do all know that none of us would be here without you. We wouldn’t have even found Blue, we would’ve give up, I don’t know what exactly, I just know that we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you, and that we can’t do this without you!” Keith’s voice went soft, and Lance stood frozen, looking back at Keith with a shocked expression. “I can’t do this without you, Lance, and I can’t stand to watch you push yourself so hard and get no credit or appreciation or even a thank you. You’re worth more than that to me, and I know you’re worth more than that to the others, too.”

Lance’s lower lip trembled. “I can’t not help them, Keith.”

Keith stepped forward, placed gentle hands on Lance’s shoulders, carefully pulled him into a hug. “I know, Lance, I know,” This close, he knew to keep his voice quiet, murmuring directly into Lance’s ear. “I love you for that, but you can’t push too hard too fast. You deserve better, and we want more than that for you. I promise. Just talk to us, we can be there for you, just like you’re there for us. I’ll be there for you, if you’ll let me.” Keith felt his face flush, but he forced himself to stay put. Lance needed him more, right then.

They stood there for several minutes, no sound save for Lance’s quiet sobs and Keith’s hushed reassurances and promises.

“I’ll try.”

#langst #klance #lance mcclain #keith kogane #vld #vld fic #voltron #voltron fic #voltron legendary defender #fluff #emotional hurt/comfort #hurt/comfort #no triggers i think #mywriting #jessi rambles

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firelxdykatara · 5 years ago

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my one fear though is what if it's zuk//ka and they greate diminish katara's character to prop up Sokka and the rest of the male characters even more? 'Cause honestly Netflix doesn't have the best track record when it comes to female characters.

Like when it's a project aimed at female audiences it's very good. Like She-Ra. But with projects that aim for a more male or mixed audience male characters always get the most focus and female characters get treated horribly. Usually because they listen too much to fandoms and we know fandoms are awful at respecting and apreciating female characters. I have no hopes for Netflix ATLA without the original team and them desperatly trying to appeal to the fandom. Its gonna be Voltron all over again

i’m gonna be real here--the only way they could make zukka happen in the live action, and make it make sense is..... well, pretty much what a lot of the shippers are already doing: take katara’s core characteristics, particularly her compassion, and give them to sokka, along with the major emotional beats of katara and zuko’s relationship throughout the series. this, however, would provoke a major outcry--it’s bad enough that side of the fandom so frequently erases katara from the narrative (and also tears her down constantly to prop up her brother), but if the live action did the same thing, i’d like to think a majority of the fanbase would reject it as soundly as most of us rejected the comics and the gaang’s depiction in lok.

(not that there aren’t people in the fandom who still stand by the comics and think they’re great and in character, and also people who think that any criticism of lok is rooted in misogyny rather than taking a moment to actually examine what people in the fandom are saying, but whatever. there will always be people with poor taste in any fandom.)

i’m not particularly worried about zukka, being honest, because i think there’s a lot more potential in fleshing out the kyoshi warriors, and suki in particular, giving her more of a role in the gaang’s story--and, of course, sukka along with that. maybe that would help kick the fandom in the ass and get them to stop leaving suki out of the gaang metas and art >.>

on the other hand, it absolutely could be voltron all over again. there’s really no way to tell, at this point, and i’m trying to keep my expectations as low as humanly possible, while also keeping all my clown regalia in reserve, just in case.

#atla #atla live action reboot #zukka salt #salt for ts #asked #Anonymous

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drawnandredrawn · 6 years ago

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I’m gonna open my sketch and art blog with VOLTRON GARBAGE. =DDDD

So, last year my wife and I started a Voltron-themed year long art challenge. A lot of factors kept me from keeping it updated. This year I’m trying to learn to do digital art, so I’m doing the entire list all over again using my tablet and Sketchbook Studio instead of a pencil and my hugeass sketchbook this time.

Day 1 is ‘Bayards’. The bayards in VLD change designs between seasons 2 and 3, and I’ve got to say, I like the big smooth chongy design in the later seasons way better than the skinny angular design in the first two. Last year I spent page time trying to figure out which one I liked better, this time I just played with nice smooth curvy shapes because it made me happy. Since the first few weeks are supposed to be all about just sketching and getting stylistically comfortable, I really just wanted to focus on figuring out these, since I liked them better. TBH I have a hard time following straight or angled lines, which I think is pretty obvious because wherever the ‘pieces’ of the bayard straighten out, I lose track of where and how they connect.

Also, I forgot to use layers. It’s still not intuitive for me to do so. Hopefully I get it down in this set of prompts before stuff starts getting complicated on me!

#Fanart #Voltron Legendary Defender #VLD #Bayard #Year of Voltron 2 Electric Boogaloo #art challenge

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notdeadjack · 6 years ago

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annual reclist 2019

yoo my favourite reads of 2019!

20 Fandoms represented:

Haikyuu!!: 3 fics Boku no Hero Academia: 17 fics The Umbrella Academy: 8 fics Resident Evil 6: 3 fics Harry Potter, assorted: 1 fic Star Trek: 10 fics Voltron: 8 fics Teen Wolf: 73 fics Marvel, assorted: 25 fics Naruto: 8 fics Star Wars: 4 fics Good Omens: 1 fic Merlin: 5 fics Borderlands: 1 fic Hannibal: 1 fic Avatar The Last Airbender: 1 fic Toy Story: 1 fic South Park: 1 fic Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 2 fics /r/nosleep: 4 fics

total fics recced: 177

(if the cut doesn’t work, i am so sorry)

Haikyuu!!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15429966 big by shouyoto 1k, Hinata/Kageyama, size difference,

Kageyama is big.

At first, Shouyou thinks it was annoying. At first, it had been a constant reminder, a buzz to his ears on how simply unfair the universe was since he aged a few months older than Kageyama, and yet, somehow- somehow, he's still the one who ends up with the shorter end of the stick. But much like their bond, this impression didn’t last long either.

...

Shouyou finds himself fawning over Kageyama's big build.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/4409042 Girl trouble by PhoenixGFawkes 37k, Hinata/Kageyama, rule 63, they’re lesbians harold,

Kageyama is annoyed by the boys that approach her to ask her out (she’s not interested), to offer to carry her books for her (she can handle it) or give her flowers (what would she want them for?). Hinata says that she’d like it if a boy once did any of that stuff for her, but she’s a dumbass who doesn’t know what she’s talking about.

When that boy for Hinata shows up, though, Kageyama isn’t annoyed.

She’s furious.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15005018 Make You Say I Look Good by Esselle 5k, Hinata/Kageyama, crossdressing,

'Kageyama balances a tray of scones, and little teacups and saucers, and a pretty teapot, as he walks across the room slowly and carefully. His attention is entirely focused upon the very breakable, spillable things he is holding. So much for his innate setter's skills at the task; he moves so slowly that Hinata isn't sure how he's managed to serve anyone since they started. He's sweating profusely, apparently from stress and intense concentration, little beads of perspiration running down the side of his face and arms. His shoulders are too wide and broad for the outfit, the bulk of his muscular arms straining against the ruffled sleeves.

"Oh, no," Hinata says.'

In which the volleyball club decides to open up a maid cafe, and Hinata is forced to confront his feelings for a certain setter.

Boku no Hero Academia

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17795849 I Can Make You Feel Good by dinosaurspice 4k, Kirishima/Bakugou,

curious teens experiment

- the whole series (as of mars at 20k words) is gold really

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11813826 Two Hour Vacation by ArgetCross 10k, Midoriya/Todoroki, pining, first time, past child abuse,

“May I join you?” He asked, as if he didn’t expressly text Uraraka and Iida to hunt Midoriya down. Midoriya’s own phone had been off and Todoroki had silenced his own before coming. In a pinch, their friends knew where they were.

Even the life of a hero had to allow them this one night.

Or on the day of his father's funeral, Todoroki Shouto loses his virginity.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13421988 Everything Except by Pouler (poulerslashes) 28k, Midoriya/Todoroki, sex pollen,

"In retrospect, Midoriya probably should’ve realized the moment they were enveloped in a glittering pink cloud that something was about to go Very Wrong."

After an encounter with a unique villain threatens to change the nature of their partnership, Midoriya must find a way to get things back to normal between him and Todoroki. That is, if he's certain that getting 'back to normal' is what he really wants...

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15272805 your warmth is all i need by drifting_i 17k, Kirishima/Bakugou, AU, dragon!Kirishima,

This is how it begins. Kirishima is running for his life.

His feet hit the earth hard and fast, he can’t feel it. They're on him now, he can smell them. Four to the left and six to his right. The sides of his arms grow red starting by the elbows. He curses silently. His throat burns.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17158511 winter doesn’t linger here by drifting_i 14k, Kirishima/Bakugou, pining, bed sharing,

“I don’t want you to leave,” Kirishima admits. “I mean, it’s break, man. For the first time in months we don’t have school breathing down our necks so we can finally hang out like we used to and I did miss you!”

“We saw each other last week,” Bakugou says, deflecting.

“Still.” Kirishima smiles sheepishly.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17531774 had to be (you) by bigstupidjellyfish 11k, Kirishima/Bakugou, light bondage, kink exploration,

do you ever just discover you have a kink in the least appropriate situation

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14331180 'Cause the Dark's Not Taking Prisoners Tonight by imatrisarahtops 52k, Kirishima/Bakugou, emotional h/c, bed sharing, mutual pining, slow burn,

“Are those soba noodles?” Kirishima asked.

Again Bakugou’s only reply was a grunt. He offered no further explanation—not that Kirishima honestly expected one—as though making soba noodles from scratch at half past four in the morning wasn’t at all a bizarre occurrence and made complete and total sense. For a fleeting moment, Kirishima even wondered if maybe he was the odd one here. Besides, he’d already decided it was generally not in his best interest to question these types of things with Bakugou, especially when it was something essentially harmless.

When Kirishima has a nightmare and is unable to fall back asleep, he accepts defeat and decides to study in the common area of the dorms. What he doesn't expect to find is Bakugou, also very much awake, and Kirishima can't help but think that maybe they're both having the same problems with sleeping. If he's worried, it's just because they're friends. (Right?)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12794481 the easy parts by chonideno 11k, Kirishima/Bakugou, h/c, scars,

Kirishima made it out alive but his body is covered in wounds that won't heal without leaving marks behind. He hides them away from the sight of others, away from his own, and he hates every part of it. Bakugou watches him reduce his own character to a parody of what it used to be, and he can't stand it.

Or how Bakugou and Kirishima learn to deal with these scars, with themselves, with each other.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14947955 Glow by argentconflagration 1k, Kirishima/Bakugou, pining, bed sharing,

Kirishima is warm and somehow far softer than a person with that much muscle definition has any right to be. His breath is tickling Katsuki’s hair, which should be uncomfortable but isn’t, and Katsuki can smell his hair gel, which is cloying and chemical but too familiar to be irritating. Katsuki sighs softly as his body continues to relax. His eyelids droop. Before long he’ll be slipping off into the throes of sleep.

Kirishima reaches forward and takes his hand, and his stomach flips. He immediately forces himself to relax, though. If it meant something like that to Kirishima, he wouldn’t be doing it, would he?

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17338961 sunchaser by chonideno 35k, Kirishima/Bakugou, pining, bed sharing,

that feeling when you suddenly want to jump off a cliff for no reason but instead of a cliff it’s your best friend and instead of jumping it’s growing feelings out of nowhere

or how Bakugou has to try really hard not to throw everything to the wind, and Kirishima doesn't help

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17569586 Already Everything by roxashighwind 16k, Kirishima/Bakugou, body swap, deaf!Bakugou,

He feels drunk and hungover at the same time, feels like he’s about an inch to the left of where he actually is and dizzy to boot. He tries to sit up and is filled with instant regret. He groans, and he can’t hear it though he feels the vibration of the sound in his chest and throat. He can’t hear anything. Why can’t he hear anything?

- Eijiro wakes up, but he's not himself.

A villain's body swapping quirk leads to admissions between friends, which leads to something more.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12676416 This Changes Nothing by vulcanhighblood 68k, Kirishima/Bakugou, a/b/o, slow burn,

First heats, even ones triggered by a classmate's "prank" gone awry, aren't supposed to take your quirk away. Then again, omegas aren't supposed to be in hero training, either.

Katsuki does enjoy defying expectations, just... not like this.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17284061 dusk and dawn by bigstupidjellyfish 13k, Kirishima/Bakugou, sex pollen, biting, friends to lovers,

sex pollen, again, yea

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17094788 Against All Odds, Thriving by jettiebettie 12k, Kirishima/Bakugou, pining,

“The naked adoration! The loving caress! Lively colors accenting warm eyes and an endearing smile!”

“... I'm gonna go take a nap.” Bakugo is halfway out of his chair when Shiozaki turns the screen and he stops dead in his tracks.

Kirishima's face stares back at him with a look that nearly knocks the air out of his lungs. The expression he's giving the camera is tender, his pretty eyes full of fondness and framed by loose red bangs, with a small amused smile on his lips. The hand Bakugo used to manhandle his head into position has no right looking that gentle; his hands were never meant for gentleness to begin with, but to see his holding Kirishima's cheek like that... To see the way Kirishima is looking at him-

Bakugo slams the laptop shut. - Class A and Class B must complete a joint art assignment, and it honestly may be too much for Bakugo.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16261352 you can get what you want or you can just get old by hyperlight 55k, Kirishima/Bakugou, 13 going on 30, angst, suicide attempt, minor character death, happy ending,

Bakugou gets a preview of what his future might be and doesn't like what he sees.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11845740 Electrification of the Soul by cighail 8k, Sero/Kaminari, pining,

So if he is a simple kid, then he will live by simple rules:

Make friends, make enemies; tease and be teased. Slip comedy into your words that garner the slightest bit of attention. Give and receive praise, criticism, advice, so long as it strays not too far from the norm. Become uniquely un-unique.

And ah- “Hanta, my dude, you’ve gotta check her out.”

Fall in love.

(In which Hanta is not as chill as he makes out to be)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14446512 Hero Class Civil Warfare by RogueDruid (Icarius51) 85k, gen, plotty plots,

Heroes lead by Bakugo. Villains lead by Midoriya. Seven days prep time. Three days for Izuku Midoriya to show why they should be glad he's not a real villain.

The Umbrella Academy

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17890052 Partners, Parents, or None of the Above by DarkFairytale 7k, gen, brotherly bonding, protectiveness, past drug abuse,

Kenny's mom assuming that Diego and Klaus were A) a couple and B) Number 5's parents was both bemusing and amusing at the time. But that was because it was the only time it had ever happened. Now though? Now they just can't understand why these misunderstandings keep happening.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17846012 Let Him Cry by Achrya 3k, Ben/Klaus, incest, first time, tentacles, drugs,

“Ben is crying again.”

“Yeah well. Dad says it's just growing pains.” -- Klaus decides to help his brother out.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17962079 the devil's jaws are far too weak by ictus 1k, Ben/Klaus, incest, drug withdrawal, h/c,

Truthfully, it’s far from the strangest thing Ben’s ever done. When you grow up in a family as sick and twisted as the Hargreeves’, jerking off your brother in a motel closet while you’re waiting for hired guns to come back and finish the job is barely a blip on the radar, even if he is technically dead and Klaus shouldn’t be able to feel him at all.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17932085 Can Someone Tell Me (If It's Wrong) by merle_p 2k, Klaus/Ben/Diego, incest, emotional h/c, canon time travel,

"Your favorite,” he adds, unnecessarily but correctly, because leave it to Klaus of all people to know what kind of candy he prefers. He is pretty sure not even Eudora ever had any clue just how much he liked the taste of the rainbow.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18005399 Six of Cups, Four of Swords by prodigy 9k, Ben/Klaus, incest, drugs, addiciton, withdrawal, prostitution,

Ben Hargreeves tries to keep his brother--and himself--on the devastating road to getting well. It doesn't go in a straight line.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17860256 i scream, you scream by kyrilu 2k, vauge Ben/Klaus, introspection,

One of Ben’s favorite childhood memories is eating ice cream with his family after they’d saved Paris from the rampaging Eiffel Tower.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17836067 Family Affairs by manic_intent 58k, Klaus/Ben/Diego, incest, time travel, post-canon,

“This isn’t going to work,” Diego said, once everyone had stopped moaning on the grass and/or throwing up.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18307292 the year that wasn't by achilleees 21k, Diego/Klaus, time loop, incest,

Diego turned to Five. “I’ve already, uh, lived today. This has already happened.”

Everyone went still.

“Ooh, that’s a mind-fuck,” said Klaus.

Resident Evil 6

https://archiveofourown.org/works/2367419 hold on (we're going home) by viii 8k, Piers/Chris,

no summary given, first paragraph:

It's raining in Vancouver on the last day of November. Piers has been gone for six weeks. It hasn't been the longest he's been gone, but it hasn't been the shortest either. He doesn't know how he's going to find Chris when he pulls out the rusty key that he doesn't use as often as he should and unlocks the door to Chris's apartment.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/6774688 Crossed Out by deansparkles 47k, Piers/Chris, time-travel (kind of), pining,

Piers Nivans is ready to die. That doesn't mean the universe has to agree with him.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1031021 You, Me, and the Monster by AkumaStrife 5k, Piers/Chris, h/c,

They pull Piers out of the ocean and patch him up as best they can, but some things will never be the same. Chris can't forgive himself and Piers doesn't trust himself, and between them is a chasm of things unspoken.

[Alternatively: Hospital Recovery fic in which Piers has to learn to live with the thing he's become.]

Harry Potter

https://archiveofourown.org/works/5025334 chalk this one up as a win by tamerofdarkstars 6k, Marcus Flint/Oliver Wood, soulmates, fluff,

Oliver Wood wakes up in the Hospital Wing a week after his first Quidditch game ever with a head injury and his soulmate's thoughts wound around his left wrist.

Frankly, he's more concerned about missing the Quidditch game.

Star Trek

https://archiveofourown.org/works/856754 The Mark by thecadenceofherlastbreath 4k, Chekov/McCoy, soulmates,

Prompt: AU where everything is the same, except everyone is born with a insignia, a mark that is unique to only two people in the world, that tells them who their soulmate is. Usually the two people are born on the same day, at the same time, but that doesn’t mean that aren’t circumstances where an age difference has happened.

Leonard McCoy was born without an insignia, only for one to appear on his 20th birthday. He always hated the idea that the one person he was supposed to be with being a child, and maybe that was why he married his high school sweetheart. And maybe, that was the fact their relationship fell apart six years later, and he made the choice to join Starfleet.

He had never really forgotten about his supposed soulmate, but it certainly wasn’t expected to be confronted with the seventeen year old Russian genius whose insignia, his insignia, their insignia, plastered so obviously on his neck…

I tweaked it just a little, but it's essentially that. Hope I didn't butcher the idea!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11468154 Now the Sons Look For Their Fathers/ But Their Fathers Are All Gone by Straight_Outta_Hobbiton 30k, gen, kid fic,

Leonard is exhausted, and there is a crying kid in front of him with a bowl-cut and pointed ears.

Of course he picks him up.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1058476 infixion by Etharei 37k, Kirk/Spock, kidnapping,

A mission of this duration has never been attempted. Just a few months in, the crew of the Enterprise are beginning to understand why – luckily, they are also, somehow, making it work. A series of events, both great and small; featuring cameos by unsuspecting planets, complicated interpersonal relationships, off-record shenanigans, and a surprising number of hostile life-forms.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15327285 Thy Soul, Alight In The Dark by Aerlalaith 51k, Kirk/Spock, AU, horror, mind control, possession, accidental bonding,

When disgraced former Starfleet captain and current salvage runner James T. Kirk stumbles upon an abandoned Vulcan research vessel on the edge of Federation Space, he thinks he’s finally found some luck. The state of the ship and the fate of her original crew however, turn what was supposed to have been a standard day’s work into something quite a bit stranger. As Kirk and his crew debate if they can—or should—wake a sleeping survivor, it soon becomes clear that the nightmare is just beginning.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17246120 If Symptoms Persist by billiethepoet 7k, Kirk/Spock, pon farr,

The aftereffects of pon farr do not go away as quickly as Spock would like everyone to believe. Jim can tell and he's ready and willing to help.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14913942 Mind Readers, Man! by dothedeux 12k, Kirk/Spock, Spock&Bones,

After Spock is injured on a mission, he forms a mental link with Bones in order to survive. Afterwards, both men decide the link can come in handy at work, and that they should keep it in place. But as their friendship grows stronger, Jim struggles with his new feelings. It's basically a soap opera in space.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/996674 what legends are made of by Rosslyn 33k, Kirk/Spock, suspense, adventure,

On a routine mission to a normal-looking planet, Kirk and Spock discover a strange cave. Seven handprints were carved into the wall — each moulded to a member of the senior bridge crew of the Enterprise. In order to investigate this anomaly, the entire crew beam down to the planet, and falls into a nightmare. -

Post-Mission Reviews attached under Enterprise Report 5-2261-7a:

"Is this a mission report, or the script of your blockbuster-wannabe holovid show, Kirk?" - Admiral Bennett "Suggestions to update Starfleet Official Course Material on relevant subjects, Captain" - First Officer Spock "Definitely too old for this shit" - Chief Medical Officer McCoy "I'm never beaming down without a bottle of Scotch again, mark my words" - Chief Engineer Scott "It was fun up until it happened to me" - Helmsman Sulu "Vodka cake deserved by all" - Navigator Chekov "Captain, should I put in a footnote explaining the farm animal reference?" - Communications Officer Uhura "That's it, privilege for PMRs closed. Kirk Out." - Captain Kirk

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11135340 out of obscurity into the dream by spectralPhobia 87k, Kirk/Spock, AU, adventure,

Started as a Tangled AU fusion with Star Trek 2009, developed into its own thing. Spock has lived an entire life in seclusion, brought up by a Romulan to believe he was one too. Convinced his telepathy was a rare gift that must be protected at all costs, he was prohibited to touch anyone and leave the house. Jim Kirk comes across him accidentally after he was hired to steal a Vulcan artefact. Together, they start an adventure of finding a soulmate in each other and preventing another catastrophe from happening after the artefact turns out to be a part of an ancient psionic weapon.

Also known as “How I almost died three times in two days and found my soulmate”, an autobiography by J.T. Kirk.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1077361 a sequence that you never learned by annataylor 64k, Kirk/Spock, kid fic, fake marriage,

"'Spock,' Jim breathes out, completely overwhelmed by the gesture—not quite believing that Spock knows him so well, that's he's already started researching, that he trusts Jim with a member of his own endangered species."

When Jim gets it in his head to adopt an eight year old Vulcan, Spock presents a logical solution to the issue of Jim's humanity: marriage to a Vulcan citizen.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/208971 Of Twin Stars and Other Eccentric Satellites by winterhill 30k, Kirk/Spock,

A year into the mission, Spock and Jim have got on with things and are well on their way to that great destined friendship -- or maybe more. There’s spanner in the works, though, when a group of colonists exploring an unknown part of New Vulcan go missing, and the Enterprise crew is called in to help. The problem? The Vulcan High Council has insisted they take a guide — Spock’s wife, T’Pring.

Voltron

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14873321 Our Future Hearts by mizufallsfromkumo 4k, Lance/Shiro, time travel, established relationship, emotional h/c,

“You know, you could warn a guy, if you’re going to drop out of nowhere.” The man said dramatically as he pulled his hand away.

It caused Shiro to look up from the note, in surprise, his brows pulling together. Because that wasn’t how it worked. There is nothing he can do in warning, he never knows where he’s going, and when he’ll end up.

“Not you you,” The man huffed with a roll of his blue eyes. Almost like he knew what Shiro was going to say. He gestured at Shiro lazily, before he grinned. “But, you know, older you can warn me. Scared me half to death, face planting in the grass like you did.”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16114160 Milkshakes by General_Button 6k, Lance/Shiro, male lactation,

In order to ensure a fruitful alliance with a species of animal-like aliens called the Ankarine, Shiro takes one for the team and consumes a traditional dish that ends up having unforeseen consequences.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12593748 i need my monster by mettaverse 4k, Lance/Shiro, AU, injury, monster!Lance, h/c,

“Are you okay?” asks a voice from under his bed.

Shiro stiffens. He holds his breath. Maybe it's the drugs-

“Hey,” says the voice. Then, a flicker in the peripherals of his vision is a- tail? Long and skinny, like it's out of an honest to god comic book, of all things. Like a devil's.“Are you okay?”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11343876 Hell and High Water by StarrBomb 39k, Lance/Shiro, AU, mermaids,

All his life, he's known these three things.

The darkness.

Loneliness.

And fear.

But he soon comes to understand a much more different and harsher meaning behind these things. And somehow, he ends up finding something he never knew he needed.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11019165 Twelve Nights by WildWolf25 19k, Shiro/Pidge, AU, trans character, She’s The Man au

“Matt, I think I can safely say that this is the dumbest idea you’ve ever come up with, including the time you thought you could put marshmallows in your hot chocolate before microwaving it and it exploded.” Katie said flatly.

“Come on, Katie, please?” Matt clasped his hands together in front of him. “I will pay you in jars of peanut butter. A lifetime supply of cookies. A trophy that says ‘best sibling in the world’. Whatever you want.”

“It’s not going to work, Matt.” Katie sighed. “Everyone’s going to know I’m not you.”

“But that’s the thing, I don’t know anyone at that school yet.” Matt said. “No one knows me, so no one will know that you’re not me.”

(Matt needs everyone to think he's at school for a couple of weeks and convinces Katie to disguise herself as him, leading to an awkward crush on his roommate, Shiro, a very ambitious astronomy class competition, new friends, and maybe some bruised hearts if the truth gets out)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12102285 Kafka's Revenge by Bellybits 21k, Keith/Lance, xenobiology, mild body horror, trans character,

Keith's been worried about what his Galra genes meant for him for a while. He's been expecting some horrific transmutation, to turn into some kind of monster despite the comforts of his peers.

But he wasn't a monster, and it isn't a catastrophic change. It was slow and gradual in the way most metamorphoses were.

He had thought that going through two puberties was bad- and now he was having a third one. Great.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17183669 Starbound by fenfyre (Jace) 3k, Lance/Shiro, pining,

Lance expected nothing more but good company when Shiro showed up on the farm one day but old and new feelings soon catch up to them.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16873671 Good Luck Kiss by OverMyFreckledBody 1k, Lance/Shiro, accidental kissing,

An accidental kiss leads to more... not so accidental ones.

Teen Wolf

https://archiveofourown.org/works/862347 Just Been Born by idyll 3k, gen, gender swap, trans!Derek,

“The mage's spell seems to have changed your sex.”

Derek inhales raggedly, then slowly looks down at his chest—at his breasts.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/4012684 Cross a Canyon (with a broken limb) by theroguesgambit 18k, Stiles/Derek, fake relationship, pining,

“You never graduated,” Stiles says, just to say it. To test it out in the open air. That's... huh.

Stiles spends his senior year battling troll-gremlins, taking on an unexpected tutoring job, and definitely not falling for a certain sourwolf (even though everyone else seems to think he is).

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1828693 Pinch Me by Wolftraps (AlwaysBoth) 12k, Stiles/Derek(/Nogitsune), angst, possession, and then not, disassociation, identity issues,

It doesn't work. When the nogitsune crumbles to ash, he's weakened, but he's right back in Stiles head with his damn riddles. And Stiles feels like he's not just losing control, but also losing himself.

But no one can lose their shadow.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/2118756 (Rode Hard) Put Away Wet by calrissian18 3k, Stiles/Derek, scent marking,

As it turns out, the etiquette for joining a werewolf pack is a little bit more involved than saying, "Whatever, fine, I'm in." There's, like, stupid werewolf rules. Because someone put stupid werewolves in charge.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/577223 Highly Inappropriate by asocialfauxpas (fuzzytomato) 5k, Stiles/Derek, h/c, frottage,

Derek was drugged and literally covered in blood and Stiles was about to crumple under the weight of guilt that came with being an impulsive idiot, but for some reason his dick wasn’t getting the message that this was by no means a sexy situation.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/644558 Flying Changes by otter 10k, Stiles/Derek, AU, horsies,

Derek's a dressage rider with a reputation for frowning and making people cry. Stiles is an acrobatic stunt rider whose resume includes medieval-themed dinner shows and the actual circus. Derek's an Olympian, he doesn't need this shit.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/614271 Dog Days by flaming_muse 15k, Stiles/Derek, wolf!Derek,

Stiles has always wanted a dog, so he should be happy when he finds himself suddenly in possession of one, right? Unfortunately, it’s more complicated than that. Or, the one where Derek is turned into a puppy.

pre-slash set after season 2, no spoilers for season 3

warnings for humor, all of season two, repercussions of canonical deaths, brief panic attacks, lots of adverbs, and Stiles hitting his head a few times

https://archiveofourown.org/works/586648 Bingo by betp 23k, Stiles/Derek, sex pollen,

Derek scowls.

Or, the one that was supposed to be every item on the Sterek bingo chart and ended up being a Derek manpain feels jamboree.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/798827 Switching Goals by betp 3k Stiles/Derek, rule 63, established relationship,

“You’re kind of cute,” Lydia says, changing the subject, “in a sort of… lost baby squirrel in a pixie cut sort of way.”

“Great,” he says, fumbling ineptly with the clasp on the bra. “Th… thanks, Lydia, that’s… quite the endorsement. I’m vermin.”

Lydia and Erica peaceably watch him fuck around with the hooks for a full five minutes, this look on their faces like justice is finally being delivered. Stiles refuses to lose his temper with the thing in front of them, so he just doggedly keeps at it. Eventually, Lydia says, “We might have to invest in a frontal clasp for you.”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/665066 let me in lover, be kind by orphan_account 3k, Stiles/Derek, emotional smut,

It's a cosmic balancing act.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17591744 (this isn’t exactly) where you’d want me by decideophobia 19k, Stiles/Derek, AU, pining, doctor!Derek, snark,

“Do you even have any nice and soothing words in your repertoire?” Stiles asks, holding still while McBroody shines a light into his eyes. “Or is it only me who they let you loose on?”

“I actually just downloaded a new set of comforting phrases to use on patients this morning but I haven’t had a chance to listen to and internalize them yet. I do know how to say, Good news: you’re not dead, and We only need to take off one of your legs, though.”

OR, the one where Stiles keeps ending up in the ER and Derek almost gets brain damage from so much stupid.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13001157 Detect by twilight_shades 9k, Stiles/Derek, canon-AU,

Derek is a fake psychic (that’s an accident). Stiles goes to work for him (that’s deliberate). Stiles is pretty good at figuring things out (that’s alarming). Derek is pretty slow at figuring himself out (that’s unsurprising).

https://archiveofourown.org/works/946982 The Newlywed Game by Captain_Loki 19k, Stiles/Derek, fake dating, UST,

Stiles is (still) single when the pack's getaway to the Caribbean comes by (oh misplaced optimism); lucky for him Derek is committed to being uncommitted and even after all these years is still powerless against Stiles' unique forms of persuasion.

Cue a romantic getaway for two: sun, sand, and sarcasm abound...and the two roped into competing in the Resort's version of the Newlywed game. Only it's completely obvious it's going to end in disaster. Probably homicide.

Most probably homicide.

Plot twist: It doesn't.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/581046 things that fly, but cannot land by growlery writes (growlery) 12k, Lydia/Stiles/Allison, AU, poly,

If Allison has to explain to one more person that she is not dating her ex-boyfriend’s best friend (and really, she broke up with Scott so long ago that the ‘ex-boyfriend’ part has mostly dropped off that title) she is going to explode. Especially now that Stiles has a girlfriend of his own, a girlfriend Allison is definitely not attracted to. Or jealous of. Danny has no idea what he’s talking about, except for the fact that he actually kind of does.

(or, the one where Allison writes about werewolves, Stiles is her roommate and everyone is in love with Lydia.)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16485551 With Eyes, and Hands to Touch by red_crate 37k, Stiles/Derek, AU, teenage!Derek, accidental voyeurism,

The summer before high school starts, and all Stiles wants to do is hang out with Scott and work on his plan to win over Lydia.

But then Scott's brother, Derek, becomes an accidental distraction.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16177544 Dangerous Curves & Divine Moves by TaraSoleil 30k, Stiles/Derek, rule 63,

When Stiles wakes up as a girl, there's only one thing he can think to blame: the nogitsune. And that bastard didn't leave any instructions on how to turn him back to normal. Now Stiles is the only one freaking out, and Derek is being weird(er).

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17195975 Stupid Say What? by isthatbloodonhisshirt (wasterella) 8k, Stile/Derek, accidental relationship,

Stiles shoved another bite into his mouth, glancing over at Boyd and Erica. Boyd was smiling down into his eggs benedict and Erica was grinning at Stiles.

He frowned in confusion, his chewing slowing. Tucking the food into one cheek, he asked, “What?”

“Nothing. It’s just nice. I like when the four of us come out together. Our little double dates,” she teased, stabbing her fork into a strawberry and putting it between her lips.

Stiles snorted at her comment, since this wasn’t a double date—he wished—but didn’t comment on it because he liked their outings, too. Even if he whined incessantly about it until he got there, it was always a good time.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16813009 Words Cannot Espresso How Much You Bean to Me by isthatbloodonhisshirt (wasterella) 68k, Stiles/Derek, AU, mates, puns,

“You’re late,” Derek informed him coldly, jaw clenched. He barely even moved his mouth to speak. This guy was seriously scary.

And because Stiles was suicidal, he said, “No, I’m Stiles.”

The look he got could’ve curdled milk. Stiles even noticed that Derek’s muscles were tensing, arms bulging even more and wowthis guy was scary and hot but mostly scary holy shit.

“You’re not funny,” Derek informed him coldly.

Stiles shrugged. “I think that’s a matter of opinion.”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17785586 Strike Me A Match by clotpolesonly 11k, Stiles/Derek, superhero!Stiles, pining, soulmates,

Derek stared at the reporter on the campus lounge’s television screen, gleefully reporting on Ignition’s latest fight. Behind her floated a photograph of him mid-battle, zoomed in on where his bodysuit had been slashed open across his left shoulder blade. It was a little blurry, a little pixelated, but more than clear enough to get a good look at the black mark on the bare skin there.

“Oh shit,” came Erica’s delighted voice as she dropped down onto the couch beside Derek. “Let the circus begin!”

Derek’s his heart dropped; circus was right. He resisted the impulse to reach for the spot on his own shoulder blade that itched and burned. It wouldn’t do him any good. He could make all the calls, send in all the verifiably undoctored photos of identical marks, make all the noise and fuss he wanted. With the buzz and the confusion, it wouldn’t matter. No one would believe him.

True match-ups never made it through a circus like this.

In which Derek discovers his soulmate is a superhero too far out of his reach to ever actually be with. But it doesn't feel right to flirt back at Stiles now either, no matter how much Derek wants to. Amazing or not, he's not Derek's soulmate.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18650299 What Fresh Twilight Bullshit Is This? by isthatbloodonhisshirt (wasterella) 196k, Stiles/Derek, soulmates, pining,

“I am not Bella!” he insisted, shaking his fist angrily at Jackson, as if he’d been the one to suggest he was. “I am not Bella! I am, like, a Jacob, at least!”

Lydia made a noise of debate from his right and he whipped around to look at her.

“What?! What was that sound?!”

“You’re more of a Mike,” she insisted, shrugging neatly and flipping some curls over her shoulder.

“Wha—” Stiles had never been so offended in his life! “I am not! No way! I am a solid Jacob!”

“Mike,” she argued.

“Who’s Mike?” Scott asked.

“Shut up, Scott!” Stiles insisted, pointing a finger at him but still glaring at Lydia.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19008223 tasting heartbeats in skin tears by OverMyFreckledBody 5k, Stiles/Derek, 5+1, ust, licking, untimely boners,

After a battle resulting in Stiles getting a cut on his face, he discovers that the werewolf healing can be transferred through the saliva. After that, he seems to be a magnet for getting hurt - more so than usual.

Derek is surprisingly helpful about it all. Now, only if Stiles could get through their licking sessions without embarrassing himself.

[Or, 5 Times Derek Healed Stiles with his Magic Werewolf Spit + the 1 Time He Left a Mark of his Own.]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17936444 Care for Me, As I've Never Known by lavenderlotion 2k, pre-Peter/Stiles,

“Why...why did you offer me the bite?” Stiles asked quietly, the cover of night and the hum of the Jeep’s engine giving him courage he wouldn’t usually have.

Peter hummed thoughtfully, taking a turn smoothly. “That is quite the question you’re asking. I’m not sure the answer is one you would be happy to hear.”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/9318200 Help Wanted (But Not Really) by reillyblack 26k, Stiles/Derek, AU,

"Stiles, I'll clear up your confusion about the position. Derek here needs someone to live with him. He's a difficult person to live with, so I won't sugarcoat that. But his responsibilities at the company right now make it impossible for him to actually take care of himself and his home. That would be your job," Laura explained.

Both Stiles and Derek objected at the same time.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16555949 Child King by ShanaStoryteller 66k, light Stiles/Derek, AU,

Stiles is born with red eyes.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17049731 No Mercy by Gia279 64k, Stiles/Derek, AU,

The story of the Boy King was this: when he was sixteen, the Stilinski kingdom was at war with the Novak kingdom. King John was on the front lines with his soldiers when his teenage heir came to check in with him. The king was struck down in a nighttime attack, in front of the boy. The boy took up the king’s dropped sword, mounted his war steed, and slaughtered the enemy forces.

When the remaining soldiers surrendered, he cut them down with his father’s sword and returned home a boy king with a bloodstained reputation.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16919445 Let It Burn Fast by RurouniHime 32k, Stiles/Derek, sex magic, pining,

“So.” Stiles rubs his thighs, snaps his fingers again restlessly and looks around. “Thoughts? Comments? Revisions you’d like to submit for consideration?”

Derek weighs it. “Stiles, are you asking me to have sex with you for the good of the pack?”

“I—yeah.” Stiles blinks a couple times, then smiles again. “Yeah, I guess I am. That is the thing that I am doing.”

(or, the one where Stiles proposes no-strings-attached sex for Magical Reasons and Derek somewhat unwisely agrees.)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18850138 Love Story by skoosiepants 3k, Stiles/Derek,

"Huh." Derek looks less concerned than Stiles thinks this situation warrants, but his hands wander up to cup his face and his mouth opens up over his again and all the bones in Stiles's legs melt, so he has to, like, prop himself up against Derek's entire front.

Derek says, "Okay?" when he pulls back slightly and Stiles manages an eloquent, "Buh."

Or –

A spell made them do it. Sure, Stiles. That works.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17757842 Open Your Eyes, Don't Walk Blind by Ragga 14k, Derek/Stiles/Peter, pining, Sheriff & Cora brotp

The Sheriff of Beacon Hills could be called many things but willingly blind was not one of them. When the supernatural world was shoved before his eyes and he found his son right in the middle of it, there was no other choice for him but to follow in Stiles' footsteps. And he did, willingly; there was nothing in the world he wouldn't do for him.

He just wasn't expecting to find out the things he did while learning how to swim in the deep.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14869391 Once Upon a Dream by Ragga 19k, Peter/Stiles, dream walking, h/c,

It was like the door was on fire.

Stiles stood there, staring. As the realization sunk in, he slowly reached for the doorknob. He grabbed it. It burned, as if blazing hot and freezing cold at the same time. He was stuck, fascinated, and then the door clicked-

-and he was blasted with rage and grief so powerful the next thing he saw was the ceiling of his room.

Who was that?

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19223467 There’s No Escape for the Potato Man by isthatbloodonhisshirt (wasterella) 53k, Stiles/Derek, AU, texting,

“Who is this? Where’s Erica?”

“Wrong number, asshole!”

“Stop calling me an asshole,” the man on the other end snapped aggressively.

Stiles could understand. He’d be pretty aggressive too if he’d murdered someone and texted a wrong number to ask for help burying the body. This guy obviously failed How To Be a Serial Killer 101.

“What kind of idiot thinks I murdered someone?”

“The kind of idiot who got your text messages, you fucking dumbass!” he retorted hotly. “Maybe double check your contacts before sending a random stranger details on your nefarious plans to dispose of a freshly cut up body!”

“What?!” the guy on the other end demanded, crossed between horrendously confused and livid.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12849630 like black moonrise (his voice fell still) by OverMyFreckledBody 1k, Stiles/Derek, UST, oral kink,

"Shut up," Derek rumbles, close, dangerously close.

"Or I'll make you."

-- He does.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12510356 kisses unclean like the words you say by Omorika (Zercalo) 19k, Stiles/Derek, psuedo-incest,

There are less torturous things than to live under the same roof with Derek Hale (and his entire family) - it's just that Stiles can't think of any right now.

. https://archiveofourown.org/works/14682198 You’re an Understatement (you’re getting worse) by LadySlytherin 13k, Stiles/Derek, AU, neckz’n’throats,

Erica’s goal in life was to be hired by Neckz’n’Throats. Not as a model, though she knew she was hot enough for that. No, she wanted to be behind the camera. And to do that, she needed two things. A glowing recommendation, and a portfolio that would grab their attention; that would make them take her seriously. For that, she needed the right models. Thankfully, she knew just who to ask.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/2124261 I’ll take hold of you by Lessandra 30k, Stiles/Derek, AU, touch kink,

If Stiles could boil his life down to one moment, it would be this: his hand in Derek’s hand, radiating warmth as they sit together—on the edge of the forest, in Stiles’s living room, on the terrace of Derek’s house, wherever—and wait for the morning to come.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/998921 Stiles, why is Derek Hale passed out on our front porch? by marguerite_26, mothlights 4k, Stiles/Derek, bonding, h/c,

Stiles doesn't hear the knock on his front door, but he figures there must have been one, because now his dad's calling out to him,

"Stiles, do you know why Derek Hale just passed out on our front porch?"

Stiles freezes, carton of milk half way to his mouth. He looks around the empty room, wondering if it has any answers. Derek Hale just passed out on his front porch -- sounds like one of the signs of the coming apocalypse.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17216009 Risky Business by skoosiepants 14k, Stiles/Derek, canon-AU,

Stiles stumbles back when Derek takes a step toward him, but still says, "Tell me, did you offer Isaac, Erica and Boyd 'the bite,' too?" He's not proud of the air quotes he uses, but it's too late to rethink them now—Derek lunges at him with a growl and Stiles trips over his own feet and falls on his ass on the rocky ground. "What the fuck, Derek?"

"You don't know what you're talking about," Derek says. He crouches over Stiles, insanely thick thighs bracketing Stiles's raised knees. His eyes flash red.

Stiles sucks in a breath, heart beating high and terrified in his throat. He barely has enough breath to rasp, "What the fuck?" again.

There's a growl low in Derek's chest. He says, "You can tell Scott that if he shows up with you, the deal's off."

or -

An AU where Scott was never bit by Peter Hale, Derek actually manages to be a good alpha, and Stiles gets kidnapped a lot.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11268102 Blackbird by skoosiepants 25k, Stiles/Derek, canon-AU,

Stiles groans and drops his face into his hands. “I’m seventeen, I can kind of use mountain ash and I can explode houses when I’m mad enough. How am I gonna win any kind of magic fight?”

“We’ll work on it,” Deaton says, as infuriatingly calm as ever. “The important thing to remember, Stiles, is that when everything else is chaos, you’re the port in the storm.”

Or-

Laura Hale never died, and Stiles is magic.

https://archiveofourown.org/series/34660 Tell me what Pack Means series by afullrevolution 22k, Stiles/Derek, AU, space, cuddling,

Fourteen days into a two year mission, Stiles finds out that his companion for the voyage is a werewolf. Stiles wants to know what it means.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/5822248 Tell me Where it Hurts by Gia279 45k, Stiles/Derek, AU, wolf!Derek, curses,

Stiles learns to do magick and Derek is cursed to walk the woods on four legs and keep his silence.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17415641 Under the Wolf Moon (Formerly Erase/Rewind) by Pdxtrent 102k, Siles/Derek, canon-AU, fix-it, slow build,

Laura Hale has disappeared. But from there, things go very very differently. Expect adults acting like adults, and actual communication and not terrible decision making.

************************************

He packed a bag as quickly as he could and grabbed his passport just in case. He looked around the apartment, glanced at his sister’s closed bedroom door and then walked out.

An hour later he was at the airport.

Two hours after that he was in the air.

Seven hours after that he was touching down in San Francisco.

Another hour and he was getting into the rental car that would take him to literally the last place on earth he ever wanted to return: Beacon Hills, California.

Four hours later he stopped in Redding for food and gas. He hated Redding. He hated California. He hated every hour that took him closer to Beacon Hills and to the memories he couldn’t escape. He knew that, most of all, he hated himself. Death and disaster followed him like a shadow. First it was Paige, then his family, and now Laura was missing.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/3387539 I'll be right back (in 24 years) by AnaIsFangirling (Ana_K_Lee) 48k, Stiles/Derek, time travel, de-aged!Derek, slow build, fix-it,

When Derek thought about time travel – and he did, a lot – this was not what he'd had in mind. He'd thought he would see his younger self, tell him to leave Paige alone and NEVER trust Kate Argent. He'd thought he’d get to come back once that was done and everything would be perfect. He never imagined having to relive his entire life.

comment: can i just.. highlight that “entire life”, is entirely literal and i am LIVING for it.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/579880 Derek Hale's Seduction Techniques by omelet 6k, Stiles/Derek, pining,

It doesn't sit well with Stiles, the thing at the police station and with Erica. It niggles at him from the back of his mind, screaming PAY ATTENTION TO ME. Because Derek's apparently familiar enough with flirting to do it successfully, like it's something that comes naturally to him, but what kind of broody misanthropic guy flirts?

https://archiveofourown.org/series/32393 Most Important Meal of the Day series by peroxidepest17 11k, Stiles/Derek,

The one where Derek is like a box of Kix (or something).

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1045495 Unbroken by Piscaria 43k, Stiles/Derek, cancer, werewolf!Stiles, made them do it, bloodplay, mating bond,

When Stiles starts getting sick, he assumes his appetite loss and lethargy stem from the darkness the Nemeton left in his heart. But soon enough, even he can’t deny that he’s showing the same symptoms his mom had. When he's forced to face the truth about his illness, Stiles finds himself making a choice he never thought he’d make.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13119609 Start Small, Like Oak Trees by SmallBirds 24k, Stiles/Derek, the sheriff is amazing,

The months following Allison's death have passed Stiles by in a haze of monotony. He sleepwalks through days that seem to lose their color, an unwilling passenger in a body he no longer trusts. Eventually, he thinks, he'll just fade away. He isn't sure anyone would notice. Then, during a spur of the moment grocery run, he stumbles upon Derek Hale attempting to console a lost child, and for the first time in recent memory the world doesn't seem so awful. He's not sure what he'd been expecting when he eventually convinces Derek to move into the Stilinski's spare bedroom, but a newfound passion for weeding and topsoil certainly isn't it.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11748945 Scrubbing Bubbles by MargaretKire 46k, Stiles/Derek, AU, scent kink,

Stiles thought it would be easy doing janitorial work for an office. At first, it really was. The job only took a few hours in the evenings and it helped pay for rent and college. Sure, Hale Industries took up an entire floor in one of the downtown financial buildings, but the place was new and easy to care for. He didn’t even have to spend much time cleaning the huge corner office, because the trash was nearly always empty and the office itself was spotless, like no one used it.

It was basically the perfect college job. At least, until the boss started staying late.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/4273428 Into The Open Air by Acherona, trulywicked 99k, Stiles/Derek, AU, kid fic, huamn alpha!Stiles,

It was a little strange moving back to Beacon Hills. His daughter becoming enchanted with his odd and very attractive neighbor didn't really help matters.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13560651 What Goes Around by KouriArashi 71k, Stiles & Peter, Stiles/Derek, canon-AU, BAMF!Stiles, killer!Stiles,

“Well,” Stiles says, “if they’re going to hunt werewolves, I’m going to hunt them.”

It’s a ridiculous statement from a ten-year-old, but he’s obviously one hundred percent sincere. For the first time since the fire, Peter feels life stir inside him, feels purpose. It’s kismet, clearly. He’ll never meet the child he would have had with Olivia. Instead he’s met this boy, this brilliant, determined, cynical child with a world of potential.

Peter kneels down in front of him so they’re at eye level. “How do you feel about doing that together?”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14716970 Truth and Consequences by KouriArashi 45k, Peter/Stiles, slow build, h/c

“The place you give the Bite has meaning," Derek says. "Biting someone on the side is to make them your beta. It makes them your subordinate, but it also invites them into the pack with the full protection of the alpha. Biting someone on the legs indicates that you’re turning them to an omega. And biting someone on the arm, particularly the wrist, turns someone as your equal. It’s a mating ritual.”

Stiles nearly chokes on a mouthful of granola. “A what?”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1070471 With or Without You by KouriArashi 62k, Stiles/Derek, AU, fake dating, UST, mating rituals,

Derek thinks that the mating rituals are overly romanticized bullshit, but claiming a mate and defending them from challengers is something werewolves do, and his pack can't afford to appear weak after the fire. Especially not when Deucalion and his friends are in town for the rituals. Enter Stiles Stilinski, who offers to let Derek claim him so he won't be overrun at the ceremonies. Nothing goes as expected.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/485744 The Domestication of Canis Lupus by zoemathemata 3k, pre-Stiles/Derek, wolf!derek,

The age old story of a boy and his dog werewolf. They play in the woods, they go for walks. They don’t talk about it. Ever.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/629986 til the earth dies with the sun by callunavulgari 11k, Stiles/Derek,female!Derek, mythology,

“What are you doing to yourself, Derek?” — In which there is a retelling of season one, wolf pelts of selkie-esque origins, Derek fucking up, and Derek realizing that she can, in fact, forgive herself.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/532745 In quiet, a favor by Helenish 12k, Stiles/Derek,

“You like happy endings, huh?” Stiles says, lying pressed in against his back, sliding his fingers along the edge of Derek’s chest, along his ribs and up his sternum.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/550685 this boy, half-destroyed by M_Leigh 25k, Stiles/Derek, derek hale and his infinite pain, 2pov,

"Bodies – those are something you understand, mostly; you know immediately exactly how much smaller he is than the last time you saw him. Too skinny, too pale; his cheeks cave in a little too much, from his face. He’s a shadow of something: he looks like the dead walking. His hands are stuffed down in the pockets of his hoodie and he looks tentative but not afraid."

Derek Hale used to have a family. Now, he's got a teenage human more trouble than he's worth. Post-S2.

2nd pov done RIGHT

https://archiveofourown.org/works/730880 Rattle This Ghost Town by whiskey_in_tea 20k, Stiles/Derek, pack dynamics,

The Second Annual Totally Democratic Meeting of the Equals of the Beacon Hills Werewolf Pack does not go any better than the first one did.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11509980 Under the Songbird’s Wing by mia6363 87k, Peter/Stiles, AU, PTSD, captivity, trauma, touch starved, pack bonding,

Captivity easily destroys the will of escape. It can break the fiercest of animal. It can strip the most regal man and woman down to nothing but animal needs.

Captivity can, if met with unwavering determination, shape a person into something unimaginable.

Stiles is sixteen when he's captured. Stiles's first thought is, "I won't die here."

dark af but deep and lovely and definitely one of the best fics i’ve ever read

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19274371 Bad Blood by DiscontentedWinter 62k, Stiles/Derek, Peter&Stiles, AU, hunter hunting!Stiles, murder,

Stiles Stilinski was taken from Beacon Hills when he was ten years old. Now, six years later, he’s a trained hunter, and he’s back to help the Argents finish the job they started.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/6798541 Wolfsbane by DiscontentedWinter 48k, Stiles/Derek, AU, torture, captivity, kate argent as a warning,

Kate Argent has kept a little trophy of the Hale fire for all these years - Derek Hale. When Deputy Stiles Stilinski finds him, he doesn't just need to rescue Derek from the Argents. He needs to rescue Derek from his past.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19981762 hold on to me because i'm a little unsteady by starcanopus 6k, Stiles/Derek, AU, time travel, hale family,

“Derek.” Stiles casts a slightly nervous glance around the cafeteria, eyes widening. He's a little surprised that Stiles knows his name.

Derek can feel his teammates’ gazes on him, can hear their confused whispers. He doesn’t care. There’s just…something about Stiles, and despite his parents’ warnings (“be careful of that Stilinski boy, son, he doesn’t feel right”), Derek wants to know more. He wants to know why Stiles is always alone and why, despite the sarcastic grin that seems permanently etched over his lips, he sometimes reeks of grief and rage.

“Can I sit here?”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1153006 Sleep Awhile by allyasavedtheday 7k, Stiles/Derek, bed sharing, fluff,

Stiles and Derek decide to take part in some mutually beneficial naptime

https://archiveofourown.org/works/628714 The Mending That You Need by torakowalski 3k, Stiles/Derek, subdrop, aftercare,

“He’s not my boyfriend, Stiles. He’s a man from a club. I couldn’t call him, if I wanted to.”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/824824 Wash Me Clean by tigerlady (shetiger) 37k, Stiles/Derek, first time, scent marking, watersports, ritualistic sex,

Derek doesn't know what the alpha pack is planning, so all he can do is keep watch on everyone they might target. Stiles is so not on board with that plan. Somehow their clash of wills leads to a sexual relationship Derek knows he should put an end to—if he can just get himself to do so.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/673925 That's What Friends Are For by tigerlady (shetiger) 6k, Scott/Stiles, genderswap, first time,

Somehow, Scott managed to wind up on the wrong end of a genderswapping spell.

Turns out, it's not a completely bad thing.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/558702 he pushed inside and made me new by tigerlady (shetiger) 11k, Lydia/Stiles, fuck buddies,

"I love Jackson," she says as soon as she's close enough that she doesn't have to raise her voice.

"Okay?" Stiles glances left to right, like her meaning is crouched in the darkness somewhere. "I love Taco Tuesdays. Back to you."

They go back to school in the fall, and everyone acts like it's all okay. Like none of it ever happened. That's all right, because Lydia could have an Oscar someday. If she wanted one.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13580295 How We Got Here by Areiton 9k, Stiles/Derek, bed sharing, domestic fluff, didn’t know they were dating,

Maybe if you fight the creatures of the night together like they did, if you bury enough friends and strangers and enemies, you don’t lose touch.

He thinks that’s why he and Derek are friends--because Derek understands his nightmares, understands the nights when he can’t talk, and the nights he can’t stand the dark.

OR: Against all odds and expectations, Stiles and Derek have become respectable adults ( WHY?) and friends.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/5030350 Unlucky Ace by MissAnnThropic 41k, Laura/OMC, Stiles/Derek,

Laura Hale brings her boyfriend home to meet the family, and there is something absolutely terrifying about the Hales.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7740541 Sanctuary by DiscontentedWinter 56k, Peter/Stiles, past torture, PTSD, scars,

The Hale Wolf Sanctuary isn’t just for wolves.

It turns out it’s for Stilinskis as well.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16619414 Baby Daddy by DiscontentedWinter 55k, Stiles/Derek, canon-AU,

Laura Hale decides it's time to expand her pack. And Stiles could really use the money. And Derek... well, that's when things get complicated.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/3195734 Home by TheTypewriterGirl 167k, Stiles/Derek, h/c, depression,

January seventh. Seven days since the start of 2015, and seven days since his father’s death.

The bastard, he thinks bitterly. The past year Derek Hale had made it blatantly obvious that he hated his scrawny guts, taking every given opportunity to shove him up against a wall, growl threats in his ears and roll his eyes whenever he stepped into the room, muttering some snide comment about how spastic or idiotic he was.

So why did he fucking volunteer to take him in?

https://archiveofourown.org/works/5943391 Whatever Works by KouriArashi 61k, Peter/Stiles, Stiles/Derek, soulmates, asexuality, aromantic, polyamory,

The problem with having your soulmate's first words to you tattooed on your arm is knowing your whole life that you're fated to be with a jerk. It's enough to make Stiles want to date other people ... which is how he winds up dating his soulmate's nephew.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/4070788 Call My Name by KouriArashi 81k, Peter/Stiles, mystery, angst, mental health issues, mating bond,

After moving to Beacon Hills, Stiles starts having recurring dreams of a man in some kind of prison, who needs his help. Things get so bad that he ends up in Eichen House, where he finds out that the man is real.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18388196 A Match Unmade in Beacon Hills by KouriArashi 47k, Stiles/Derek, AU, soulmates, pining,

Derek met his soulmate Kate Argent when he was 15, and he's tried for years to understand why his soulmate is so cruel to him. Then he meets Stiles Stilinski, who has no soulmate mark, an extremely rare phenomenon. Stiles thinks that he's destined to be alone forever, but apparently fate has other plans...

https://archiveofourown.org/works/2533796 Devil of Mercy by KouriArashi 82k, Peter/Stiles, AU, mystery, mating bond, sexual assault, prostitution, pack politics,

Peter's heard people talk about what it felt like when they saw their mate for the first time, from those who actually believe in the mystical bullshit. Like a magnet, like gravity. Peter just feels... sharply curious.

Marvel

all of the universes

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14826525 in cayenne and honey, in vinegar and lime by alby_mangroves, Nonymos 27k, M’Baku/Bucky, Steve/Bucky, enemies to lovers,

M’Baku fought for T’Challa. But should he keep fighting for T’Challa’s vision? The king is professing change, such deep change, while the Jabari are supposed to be the guardians of tradition.

It’s a complex problem, which demands a cool head. So M’Baku could really do without an old love coming back to haunt him, an obnoxious royal teenager, and T’Challa’s secret one-armed guest.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16437236 taking everyone for a ride by Nonymos 49k, Venom/Eddie, Venom/Eddie/Dan/Anne, poly, all the kink,

Things Eddie Brock flirts with on a regular basis: death, insanity, his ex, his ex’s new boyfriend, and also the alien symbiote that lives inside his body. Not bad for a loser with no game, really.

- Everything by Nonymos is pure gold, honestly.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12823671 despite the threatening sky and shuddering earth (they remained) by praximeter (Zimario) 71k, Steve/Bucky, body horror, drug withdrawal, angst, touch starved

“They really didn’t want the mask to come off.” Hill thumbed through the scans, and pulled out a film that she then handed over to Sam, face mostly expressionless but for the flat line of her pursed lips.

Sam accepted the film and held it up to the light, angling so both he and Steve could see it, squinting at the outline of the Winter Soldier’s skull, and the blips of unnatural white that showed up, God, in his brain, not to mention about half his teeth, plus the mask, with its thin protrusions—

“Those are pins,” Steve realized. He looked over at Hill. “The mask—it’s nailed to his face.”

Hill’s face was as unmoved as ever. “Like I said. They really didn’t want it coming off.”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/8615512 Side bitch out of your league by rohkeutta 2k, Steve/Bucky, AU, wrong number,

“I tried to call Sam,” Captain America says, bewildered. He’s sprinting like Usain Bolt and doesn’t sound even a little out of breath. Fucker. “Who’re you?”

“Someone who’s watching you live on TV,” Bucky tells him as the tiny patriotic figure on the screen takes the turns like he instructed. Bucky should probably be a lot more freaked out about this, but honestly? After a tour in the Middle East and six years as a nurse in New York, even this isn’t enough to ruffle him. One sees a lot of shit in the ER. “Also, you better hang up now, that thing is behind the next bend.”

“Uh, okay,” Captain America says. “Thanks?”

“Whatever,” Bucky says, disconnects the call and turns the TV off to get ready for his shift.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1583054 Come To Morning by orphan_account 4k, Steve/Bucky,

He figured it was natural, kind of—well, not natural, but he and Steve spent a lot of time together, and Steve didn’t get so much attention from girls, which was a crying shame because he was a good guy and a girl could do a lot worse. But it meant maybe Steve got a bit confused, because sometimes he would look at Bucky with this look. This bright, astonished look, like he was seeing something so good he couldn’t quite believe it was real. It made Bucky squirm inside, a little.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/2628242 Kiss Me Hello by kehinki 5k, Steve/Bucky, fluff,

Bucky and Steve take to kissing each other hello, goodbye, goodnight. It's all very platonic until it isn't.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/3765634 Painted in Indigo by nekare 11k, Steve/Bucky, pining,

“You should be careful of that one,” Mr. Hendrickson says, with a nod to Bucky outside the window. “It ain’t right. Looking at you all the time as he does. The way he should be looking at girls.”

Steve laughs, because damn, but what a ridiculous idea.

Or, five times Steve caught Bucky looking at him, and the one time he looked first.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/2365754 all different names for the same thing by becausemagnets 11k, Steve/Bucky, asexual character,

"Doesn’t mean that much, you know. Plenty of guys go down to the docks every once in a while, get themselves taken care of. Their shoes shined.” He sneered at Steve, but Steve wasn’t looking at him, lost in something he’d probably never tell Bucky about. “Some of ‘em got wives and kids and everything. Sail all the way around the world to get it in Brooklyn. I’m, uh, I’m pretty good at it. Shining shoes, I mean. At least as good as a dame you’d pay for, probably. It wouldn’t mean anything if we-- did that. I mean, I could be the punk, that’s not a--”

“Bucky, shut up.”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/3520175 hold me until we crumble by queenklu 22k, Steve/Bucky,

“Sam told me you were watching Antiques Roadshow,” Natasha says, shaking out her hair. “I assumed it was a national emergency.”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/2537363 Silent thunder, as of a thousand wings by kaasknot 83k, Steve/Bucky, AU, angel!Bucky, pining, angst,

A theologian once said that angels are constructs of love and holy rage, and chained to obedience through both. Or maybe a theologian hadn't said that. Maybe it was the Bright One himself, or just Uriel being grumpy.

But Bucky knows that he loves Steve, and he loves his taskmaster of a boss even as he gripes about him over beers after work, and he loves the dames with their red, red lips and smooth, soft curves (and he loves the guys, loves their strength and the tall, proud lines of them), and he loves old Mrs. Greene even when her rheumatism acts up and she turns mean as a wet cat. But he loves Steve most of all, and if Bucky is shackled to mindless obedience because of it, he calls it a good trade, because Steven Grant Rogers is the best person he knows. When it comes down to it, he figures his desire only adds a new dimension to a love that was already there, glowing hot enough to burn.

He was sent to Earth in a cage of mortal flesh to watch over Steve, and Bucky can do no less than love him with all his heart.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1871955 Out of the Dead Land by orphan_account 62k, Steve/Bucky, identity issues, h/c,

Someone is building machines that look and act like people.

Meanwhile, the Winter Soldier tries to be Bucky Barnes.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1920351 Try jumping by brokentoy 1k, Steve/Bucky, frottage,

His legs tighten their hold and Steve grunts, pushes his head back until it thumps against the floor and Bucky looks up, takes advantage of the moment and fists his hand into Steve’s hair, right at the nape of his neck.

‘’Say uncle,’’ he says.

‘’Nope’’, Steve answers.

He pulls his hand a little, ‘’Come on.’’ Steve’s head arches with it.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1560899 Jonathan to his David by Vera (Vera_DragonMuse) 9k, Steve/Bucky, codependency, small dick,

Before, Bucky loved Steve's size. After, he falls in love with the whole package.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1825195 The Unlikely Summoner by Kryptaria 4k, Steve/Bucky, AU, demon!Bucky,

The fallen angel Buchuel has been summoned to the mortal world many times. Its powers have toppled kingdoms and destroyed armies. It thought it had seen it all... until a lonely young man from Brooklyn, seeking a good luck charm, accidentally summons Buchuel.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1181292 Targets And Taking by Salmon_Pink Peter/Flash Thompson, bullying,

He's left his bruises on Parker, but Parker's left a mark somewhere under Flash's skin.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11211306 The Man in the Mask by thelonebamf 21k, Wade/Peter, AU,

When Wade is unceremoniously dropped off into the custody of one Dr. Parker, he assumes the man has only the worst possible intentions for one of the world's last remaining mutants. But it turns out, the universe still holds plenty of surprises for them both.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12292941 From the Mouths of Babes by CAPSING 6k, Wade/Peter, age difference, internalized victim blaming,

“There’s a guy who’s been flirting with me.” “Mhmm,” Ned turns to Peter, swallowing his bite. “Is he hot?”

(Or: Deadpool starts hitting on Spider-Man, unaware he’s a minor; ignorance turns up not to bring any bliss to either of them.)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16667122 The Devil All The Time by LeafyGreenQueen773 6k, Wade/Peter, AU, crush, catholic guilt,

AU: Peter doesn't have powers, but Wade does. Peter Parker was raised Catholic by his parents, and Uncle Ben took up the gauntlet of taking Peter to mass every Sunday. Now that Ben is gone, Peter feels guilty all the time. His emerging sexuality doesn't help.

Excerpt: Peter slipped a hand under the waistband of his pajama pants; he was already hard, and sensitive. The moment he wrapped his hand around himself, he felt a bead of moisture drip out of him. “Oh God,” he murmured into the darkness. Guilt surged into his chest. With a groan, Peter pulled his hand out of his pants and grabbed onto the sheet instead. He turned onto his side and forced himself to close his eyes.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18242423 Arachnid meets Mercenary (and is happier for it) by landunderwave 11k, Wade/Peter, emotional h/c, first time, loneliness,

Spiderman is strong, fast, self-confident, sassy. Peter Parker is awkward, nerdy, socially graceless, and visibly not-human. They are both so very lonely. Enter stage left, one Merc with a Mouth, aka Deadpool, aka Wade Winston Wilson, booty-seeker extraordinaire. Also secretly lonely. Will they overcome their hangups and fall in love? Definitely, it's written in the tags.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17647748 A Study of Stairways by sparkstarthetrashcan 14k, Wade/Peter, AU, ghost fic,

Wade Wilson is a bad student. Poor grades, no attention span and not a soul to help him. Even if he tries to study he’s always distracted by his phone or a supernaturally attractive boy who showed up out of nowhere, whispering answers in his ear.

Peter, almost got into Harvard, Parker spends his time tutoring students. He’s smart enough and he’s got nothing else to do, so he might as well. But Wade’s different. He doesn’t seem to want Peter for his brain like everyone else, Wade cares about him.

Problem is, Peter isn’t normal. He’s a ghost.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12664023 Weaver of Silk and Dreams by a_stands_for 73k, Wade/Peter, Peter/Johnny Storm, AU, mutant!Peter, age difference, slow burn, pining,

Ben Parker sighed as he looked up into The Thing's eyes, so expressively human in spite of the rest of his rocky appearance.

“My fifteen-year-old nephew--who's practically my own little boy!--” he choked out with a tight voice, “h-he can't pass for human anymore. He's scared, and he's isolated, and he just needs someone else to talk to! Someone who can understand. Please."

_____

Some alternate realities are unrecognizable, and some are indistinguishable. This one lies somewhere in between.

Peter Parker's life was derailed when he mutated into a strange human/spider hybrid, and he knows that's not the way things went down for him in other realities. Still, he's determined to forge a new path and make the best of it. Sometimes "the friends we made along the way" really is the greatest treasure anyone could ask for.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/561716 We Might Be Radioactive by Croik 48k, Bruce/Peter, age difference,

Peter misses his chance at saving the world alongside the Avengers, but he's not out. When he scales Stark Tower hoping to meet Tony (and possibly secure a seat on the team) he instead meets Bruce, who has taken up a temporary residence while he continues his Hulk research. The two bond over science-y things, but between Bruce's dry spell, Peter's teen hormones, and the secret identities they're still coming to grips with themselves, it doesn't take long for things to get complicated.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/6578101 Calenture by Florentium 12k, Steve/Bucky, first time, body dysphoria, gender roles,

A heatwave has had Steve and Bucky cooped up in the tenement for the past couple of days and Steve is starting to wear out.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/2599046 there's nothing left of you by notallbees 22k, Steve/Buck, pining, body dysphoria, emotional h/c,

Bucky’s having a hard time reconciling Captain America with the friend he left behind in Brooklyn. It’s bad enough that every time he closes his eyes he sees the inside of a torture chamber. Now, every time he opens them again, he sees a stranger with Steve Rogers’ eyes and smile.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7907179 Strays by snarklyboojum 33k, Steve/Bucky, semi-accidental voyeurism, weaponized music, surveillance,

After finding himself alone for the first time in decades, the Winter Soldier learns how to be a person again. Mostly through caring for an orphaned kitten, countless rounds of YouTube roulette, and stalking Captain America.

Or: Bucky Barnes, accidental millennial.

Naruto

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11500380 I'm falling for your eyes (but they don't know me yet) by blackkat 1k, Shisui/Naruto, gender fluid character,

Shisui is done. Gone. That’s it for him, he’s toast.

(Or, Shisui is in love. Naruto is mostly oblivious. Everyone else is entirely convinced that Shisui is a creeper.)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7726795 How To Survive The Weirdest Experience Of Your Life by IncompleteSentanc (Erava) 40k, Obito/Kakashi, everybody lives nobody dies, post time travel fix-it, PTSD,

Obito has lived through the single weirdest experience of his life. Not many could say that they'd gotten crushed by a boulder, had half their body replaced by creepy alien flesh, was promptly held captive for a year by a supposed-to-be-dead Madara Uchiha, was saved by a randomly raiding pack of supervillains, then promptly killed by them, fixed up again, then dumped in a forest, and finally, FINALLY, returned home again.

Yeah.

His life has gotten pretty weird. But he's home, he has his family, and he has hope that someday soon he'll be able to say he didn't just survive the experience - but that he also come out of it pretty okay.

(Sequel to How To Save The World)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14084685 kintsukuroi by tomorrowsrain 26k, Obito/Kakashi, AU,

In which Kakashi and Obito survive the Kyuubi attack, get exiled from Konoha, learn how to survive, and still manage to become legends along the way.

(The bratty genin are unexpected, though.)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/10220633 Sakutaro by NikkiGrand 9k, Sakura/Sakura, rule 63, self-cest,

When Haruno Sakutaro said that he'd date the hell out of himself, he wasn't being literal.

But they say that man makes plans and God laughs, and ain't that the truth?

Somehow finding himself in an alternate dimension where he's a girl, Sakutaro finds himself venturing into unknown, salaciously ridiculous territory...for science.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14826039 three is a crowd by exarite 3k, Sakura/Neji/Shikamaru, voyeurism, exhibitionism, poly,

There's no real time and place to pinpoint how exactly the three of them began, and so all they have is this: moments in time, steps in place for the three of them to fall together.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/876332 Forbidden by enodia 2k, Sakura/Shikamaru, infidelity, secret relationship,

Sometimes what you see is what you get. Sometimes not. Sometimes only a select few know what really goes on behind the scenes. Sakura and Shikamaru are both aware of this and they prefer to keep some secrets to themselves.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13544241 J'accuse! by TipsyRaconteur 38k, Sakura/Kakashi,

In which Kakashi and Sakura make a series of escalating accusations.

-----

Glaring at him, she said accusingly, “You like me.”

His eyes widened, and a short, disbelieving laugh escaped his lips. “What, are you twelve?”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15123857 An Experiment by mummapaintstheblues 140k, Sakura/Kakashi, slow burn,

Surely even the Hokage is able to indulge in the occasional mope in the privacy of his own office.. A project to get these ninja some much needed therapy brings two of them together in a unique way. It might just be enough to pull them out of the loneliness, and Kakashi is determined she won't end up like him. A long winded slow burn in which Kakashi makes questionable decisions to end his Hokagedom and Sakura continues to be awesome.

------------------------------------

Star Wars

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21798157 Binary Stars by Pawprinter 2k, Finn/Poe,

There is nothing like an approaching battle and looming death to make one come clean about their hidden feelings. Minutes before he is set to take off, Poe has one thing on his mind.

He needs to find Finn.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/6056386 Sehnsuch by tjiokra (scatteredmoonlight) 27k, Finn/Poe, canon-AU, conditioning, memory loss, PTSD,

Phasma issues to the FN unit refurbished datapads plundered from a demolished Resistance base, which have been refilled with First Order propaganda. Naturally, FN-2187’s datapad malfunctions and resets to its original settings. Before FN-2187 can properly panic over this, a message is sent to him by a Resistance fighter under the code name Black Leader. It’s one simple word: “Status?”

FN-2187 wakes up to the orders of committing coldblooded murder and falls asleep to the despair of the dead. He’s one step away from messing up and getting reconditioned. When Black Leader asks how he’s doing, even if the question isn’t intended for him, FN-2187 can’t help himself.

He replies, “Alive.”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7423957 A Thicket of New Veins by gloss 5k, Finn/Poe, first time, PTSD, accidental stimulation,

"I'm okay." Poe grabs Finn's shoulder and tugs him closer. "Promise you won't laugh?"

"Yeah, of course, I won't." Finn nods and hope it looks reassuring. "You know, other than that one defection, I'm a pretty reliable person."

"Yeah," Poe says, and maybe it's just because they're leaning so close like they're about to share their deepest secrets, but Finn hears Poe's *breath* every bit as much as his words. "You really are. Um." Unexpected reunion, post-battle stress, and accidental stimulation=desperately needed first time.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/5609887 to the sky without wings by leupagus 81k, Poe/Luke,

Poe dreams of a blue-green tree.

this is a very, very good read.

------------------------------------

Good Omens

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19386730 Spoonful by Demorra (thebibliosphere) 2k, Aziraphale/Crowley,

“Nanny?”

Crowley’s head jerked up as he twisted round awkwardly in his chair to find a familiar face staring at him through the crowd, the time-altered features torn somewhere between consternation and twitching on the verge of a grin. He stared.

“Warlock?” Crowley he demanded, reaching for his glasses and only just managing to resist the urge to pull them off, “Warlock?”

----------------------------------

Merlin

https://archiveofourown.org/works/638875 The One Where Arthur Sells Tongue Cuz Being Rich is Hard Life by derryere 5k, Merlin/Arthur, AU, pining,

Arthur sells make-out lessons at a boarding school.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/10991331 Heart Lines by PeaceHeather 47k, Merlin/Arthur, soulmates, asexuality,

Everyone is born with a heart line, a pigmented mark running from the heart down the left arm to the palm, which turns color when the person comes of age, telling them when it is time to seek their soulmate. Red indicates a romantic love, while blue is for platonic "heart-friends", as the minstrels called it.

Uther had always told Arthur to ignore his heart line, that it wouldn't matter who his soulmate was; princes did not marry for love, after all. If was lucky, he'd be able to keep her as a mistress, so long as he did not get any children with her. Uther hated magic and would have urged Arthur to ignore the heart line anyway, if he could.

Arthur wasn't sure his soulmate was really a woman despite Uther's assumptions. But Arthur's heart line hadn't even come into its full color yet, which meant he hadn't come of age in the eyes of the gods, despite being named crown prince by Uther. So it really didn't matter: whoever his soulmate was, he wasn't yet ready to meet them.

Then one day his heart line comes in, and it's neither red nor blue.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19835569 Show Me by tehfanglyfish 10k, Merlin/Arthur, telepathic bond, accidental voyeurism, mutual masturbation,

An attack from a vindictive sorcerer leaves Arthur able to hear Merlin's thoughts and share his dreams, revealing secrets Merlin would rather keep hidden.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/3218075 Fathom Me Out by supercalvin 21k, Merlin/Arthur,

After ten years, Arthur thinks he has Merlin all figured out. But as he watches Merlin, he finds out that he has more questions than answers. The longer he thinks about it, the more uneasy he feels. So he pushes it aside. Except, he can no longer ignore the questions he has about Merlin.

Not your everyday reveal!fic.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/245495 The Promise Within by MK_Yujji 49k, Merlin/Arthur,

“This is not as destiny intended, young warlock. You are meant to be the magical side of this coin, not the young Pendragon. I can no longer clearly see what path destiny will follow.”

An ancient ceremony alters the course of destiny and everyone must face choices that no one expected. As Uther’s hatred of magic clashes with his love for his son, Arthur sees everything in a different light.

----------------------------------

Borderlands

https://archiveofourown.org/works/5784007 up into the silence, the green by bellpickle 78k, Handsome Jack/Rhys, AU,

Rhys thought he was ready for anything when he arrived on Helios as a newly minted Hyperion worker bee. Until the CEO was murdered on his very first day.

-----

"Hey there, kiddos! Handsome Jack here. I’m sure you’ve all heard the good news by now, or at least waved at it as it floated by the windows. If you look real closely at Mr Tassiter’s frostbitten face, you can see the tear streaks from when he cried like a pansy bitch in his final moments. Good times!”

“Anyway, just wanted to tell you all how honored I am to know that you dirty ingrates are already making attempts on my life. I’m expecting at least one more before the day’s end, so don’t disappoint me. I’ll be waiting."

-----

The story of how Rhys fell in love with the most hated man in six galaxies.

----------------------------------

Hannibal

https://archiveofourown.org/works/10505733 The Fault in My Code by LiaS0 90k, Will/Hannibal, AU, soulmates, manipulation, gaslighting, murder,

Soulmate AU: Soulmates find their other half when they look into their eyes. After the next time they sleep, they wake with one eye the color of their intended.

Will Graham avoids eyes. He's never wanted a soulmate, never wanted to be told by the universe who he was supposed to feel a connection to. He already struggles enough with connections, thank you very much. As a psychiatrist, he works with soulmates who have lost their other half through various means, part of a social system that regards the journey to your soulmate as the most important thing a person can do. Coerced by Jack Crawford to consult on a case where the assailant is targeting soulmates, Will finds himself turning to the notorious Dr. Lecter to gain insight on how he's choosing the soulmates to target.

Things go horribly awry when he looks into Hannibal's eyes, though. The next morning, he wakes up with one eye blue, the other maroon. He's never wanted a soulmate, least of all one behind bars for murdering dozens of people and eating them. Hannibal thinks it's delightful -it's been dreadfully boring since he was locked up.

Romance, thriller, mayhem, mystery, soulmate au with a realistic twist, and a grumpy Will Graham

absolutely fascinating take on the trope

----------------------------------

Avatar: The Last Airbender

https://archiveofourown.org/works/4592961 challenging by orphan_account 5k, Sokka/Zuko, sparring,

Sokka knew Fire Nation customs were weird, especially the customs surrounding royalty, but it seemed impossible for something like treating your sparring partner to be so outrageously out of Zuko's comfort zone. For Sokka, it was common sense, even if he'd grown up sparring with cloth bundles instead of real people. It was just the right thing to do. Maybe this wasn't even a Fire Nation thing, maybe it was a Zuko thing. After all, it was only recently that he'd even decided to join Team Avatar and hitch his hopes with the good guys. This might just be one of the many things that former villains had to learn – like smiling, or laughing in a way that didn't sound sharp and bladed. But looking at Zuko now, still staring at him, he had a good idea it was the former.

----------------------------------

Toy Story

https://archiveofourown.org/works/617850 Under the Table and Dreaming by hollycomb 103k, Andy/Sid,

Andy met Sid when he was four years old, and while some things change, a lot of things stay the same.

this fic is an amazing read

----------------------------------

South Park

https://archiveofourown.org/works/2460731 Never Change by hollycomb 115k, Stan/Kyle, murder mystery, closeted character,

Thirteen years after his high school girlfriend's pregnancy upended his life, Stan is still in South Park, working with his partner Bebe as a local cop. They're in the process of investigating a series of possibly connected murders when FBI agent Kyle Broflovski returns to town and informs his old friend Stan that this is his investigation now.

----------------------------------

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16691212 Little Runaway by scarecrow_horses 42k Xander/Spike, domestic, off-screen prostitution,

An alternate ending to the 'Glory' problem from season 5. Dawn comes up with the perfect solution, and Spike reluctantly agrees. Now they just need a 'rational, mature, adult' to make the idea palatable to Buffy. Enter Xander.....

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1076429 Ritual, With Oil by dustandroses 2k, Xander/Spike, painting on skin, magical ritual, voyeurism,

This was what Xander got for volunteering. He needed to stop doing that.

----------------------------------

/r/NoSleep

https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/8oueb7/i_work_security_at_disney_world_well_i_mean_i_did/ I work security at Disney World... well, I mean I did. by u/disneysecurity

I work in security at Disney World, the happiest place on Earth. Typically, I wouldn’t say where I work as obviously there are some pretty strict rules about things employees can put online, but I just don’t think I can tell this properly without that context. And, honestly, I think this may be it for me anyway with this job. I just can’t see myself working here any longer now.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/3iex1h/im_a_search_and_rescue_officer_for_the_us_forest/ I'm a Search and Rescue Officer for the US Forest Service, I have some stories to tell by u/searchandrescuewoods

I wasn't sure where else to post these stories, so I figured I'd share them here. I've been an SAR officer for a few years now, and along the way I've seen some things that I think you guys will be interested in.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/9z3cm6/so_yeah_i_dont_do_drugs_anymore/ So, Yeah... I Don't Do Drugs Anymore. by u/TheJesseClark

I mean, I was never a heavy addict, or anything. Never did heroin, or meth. Tried crack cocaine once. That was… yeah. But I was only sober for eight months between that and when Eddie, an old buddy of mine, introduced me to something called K3. Against my better judgement, I took him up on the offer.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/9418eh/i_saw_something_on_the_evening_news_that_i_cant/ I saw something on the evening news that I can't explain by u/OQS

My work friends and I were out at our favourite pub last night. Not a really fancy place but, you know, cheap beer and close enough to home that I don't have to drive. The night started out normally enough, the four of us crammed into a small table off in the corner, mostly talking shop and shitting on our boss. Being this was the middle of the week there weren't too many other people around, maybe around eight or nine others in the whole place. Everybody just kinda keeping to themselves, sorta people you'd expect to see in a pub on a Wednesday.

Not enough? check out my notdead recs tag for previous editions containing another 1586+ fic recs (jfc) in various fandoms

#notdead recs #fic recs

9 notes · View notes

tiny-opal-essence · 6 years ago

Text

Pocket Paladin Chpt 1

Where are They Now?

While rescuing Shiro from the Galra, Lance is given a new perspective on life. How will everyone handle his new stature and how long will he be stuck like this? What does this mean for team Voltron? What are the villains up to?

or, Lance gets shrunk and shenanigans ensue.

(This is also posted on AO3 if you want to read it there)

“Look out, Hunk!” Lance said as he flew the red lion out of the way of the robeast. The robeast spread its wings and brought them down, creating a hurricane-force wind tunnel aimed right at the yellow lion.

“Ooof. Aaaaaah!” Hunk yelled as he was thrown around mercilessly by the wind tunnel.

“Are you alright, Hunk?” Allura worriedly asked while she brought down some of the Galran fighter jets using the blue lion.

“Ugggh. I’m okay. Just remind me never to do that again. I think I left my stomach behind.” Hunk groaned out through the coms.

“I didn’t know that could happen to humans. Do you need us to cover you while you go back and get it?” Allura asked.

“Oh, I didn’t actually leave my stomach behind. It just means that my stomach is feeling upset.” Hunk informed her while he shot down another fighter jet.

“Why wouldn’t you just say that your stomach isn’t feeling well?” Allura questioned as she flew the blue lion out of the way of one of the robeast’s missiles.

“It’s an earth thing. It’s a lot more fun to joke about it.” Lance explained as he shot down two fighter jets with the red lion.

“Now is not the time for jokes! We have to keep the Galra’s attention on us while Pidge and Keith are on their ship. They might be able to find out where the Galra are keeping Shiro and Pidge’s father.” Allura snapped as she barely avoided getting caught in another wind tunnel that was unleashed by the robeast.

“Pidge, Keith. How are things going on your end?” Hunk asked, including the other two paladins in the communication loop.

“I’ve almost downloaded the prisoner database here. There aren’t any prisoners on board, so once we’re out you can open fire on the ship. I’ve also got the ion cannon rigged to blow once we’re a safe distance away.” Pidge responded before going back to making sure that the Galra wouldn’t notice they were being hacked.

“How’s the robeast situation?” Keith asked.

“It’s going great! You’re missing out on all the fun down here, Mullet.” Lance teased Keith while taking out yet another fighter jet.

“Will you stop calling me that?” Keith asked, annoyed at Lance’s comment on his hair.

“I will if you get rid of the mullet and admit that I’m a better pilot than you.” Lance smugly answered.

“Well we know that’s not gonna happen anytime soon,” Pidge commented with a smirk in her voice.

“Oh come on. I’m a great pilot, right Red? Ooof” Lance yelled as he was hit by one of the fighter jets.

“Heh. You were saying?” Keith commented failing to hide his amusement at the situation.

“Oh shut it mullet. You try flying a different lion than you’re used to.” Lance grumbled out.

“I am?” Keith reminded Lance.

“Oh yeah. Well, at least I don’t have a mullet!” Lance exclaimed.

“Wow. Great come back. Can’t argue with that.” Pidge said with sarcasm evident in her voice.

“Paladins, please! We have a mission to do here. We need to focus on protecting the Vorurteil from the Galra empire, not on someone’s hairstyle.” Allura reminded everyone of the reason they were there in the first place while reprimanding Lance. “We cannot allow any more planets to fall prey to the empire.”

“Don’t worry princess, Lancelot and his noble steed are on their way to save the day!” Lance said as he flew closer to the robeast to help Allura and Hunk.

“Good reference Lance!” Hunk encouragingly said as he shot down another fighter jet.

“Lancelot? Who is Lancelot?” Allura asked as she froze a fighter jet before ramming into it and shattering it into space dust.

“You know, knight in shining armor, slayer of dragons, savior of princesses” Lance answered unaware of the missile coming right towards him.

Luckily, Allura noticed it and was able to push the red lion out of the way

“More like saved by the princess.” Hunk commented.

“Lance, are you implying that I can’t defend myself?” Allura asked.

“What? No! You can take care of yourself. Most princesses faint at the sight of danger, but you sure don’t. You could kick my butt any day.” Lance quickly said.

“Really? Well in that case, it looks like you could use some more training. That’s an extra half varga of training for everyone tomorrow.” Allura responded.

“Oh come on” groans and similar sounds came through the coms. “Why should we all be punished because Lance couldn’t keep his big mouth shut?” Pidge asked.

“Because we’re a team. We train together to win together. What one individual does affects the whole team. It is only fair that we share in their fate.” Allura stated.

“Remind me why the girl with super strength is in charge of training. Not all of us are Wonder Woman you know.” Pidge muttered to herself.

“What was that, Pidge?” Allura asked, having not heard what she said clearly.

“Nothing. Just saying that I could use some peace and quiet so I can focus on not alerting the Galra to the fact that we’re on their ship.” Pidge responded.

“Sorry, Pidge.” Everyone chorused.

Lance noticed that the robeast was aiming its missiles right at the yellow lion. Hunk was distracted by all of the fighter jets swarming him and didn’t seem to be aware of it. Not even thinking, Lance charged across the sky and slammed his lion into Yellow letting the missiles hit Red instead. “Uggggh. That’s going to leave a mark.” Lance groaned out.

“What did you do to Red?” Keith questioned.

“Nothing. Sheesh. We just got hit by the robeasts missiles. She’ll be fine. Stop backseat lion driving.” Lance answered.

“Can you two leave your little rivalry for later? I got the database downloaded. We’re on our way to our lions now. Once we’re out, let’s form Voltron, defeat this robeast, and blow this popsicle stand.” Pidge said.

“We really should start naming the robeasts. It’s hard to keep track of them.” Hunk suggested.

“I don’t think naming them is going to help us fight them,” Keith said.

“Yeah, but think how much better the story of saving Shae and the other Balmerans would be if instead of saying that we faced a robeast with lasers all over its arms we say that we fought the lazer squid. It rolls off the tongue a bit nicer and adds a bit more of pizazz to the story.” Lance said as he used Red’s fire to melt through some of the fighter jets. “Any suggestions for names for this one?”

“Yeah, how about shut up and focus Lance!” Pidge yelled through the coms as the Green and Black lions zoomed out of the Galra ship while the ion cannon exploded from the inside just as Pidge had told it to.

“Mmm good try, but I was thinking something more like the Terror-dactyl, cause it looks like a pterodactyl and inspires terror in its victims,” Lance responded.

“Good one, Lance.” Hunk commented.

“Could you please focus on the mission? Honestly, it’s like dealing with a Glolnor.” Allura said, muttering the last part under her breath.

“Alright. Let’s form Voltron and fight the pterodactyl.” Keith said

“Keith, it’s called the terror-dactyl.” Lance tried to correct his teammate.

“That’s what I said. The pterodactyl.” Keith responded.

“No, it’s…oh never mind. We’ll work on it later.” Lance said

“Form Voltron!” Keith yelled as the paladins all flew in formation focusing on their bond as paladins.

“Did anyone see any weaknesses for this guy?” Pidge asked.

“Our lazer guns have some effect, but they aren’t able to pierce through the armor.” Hunk answered.

“The most they could do is hold the creature at bay, but we can’t do that forever,” Allura added on.

“He didn’t seem to like Red’s fire. Maybe we can try to draw him closer to the volcano over there.” Lance suggested.

“That’s…actually not a bad idea,” Allura commented.

“Why do you sound so shocked?” lance asked incredulously.

“Yeah, I mean, even a broken clock’s right twice a day,” Pidge said.

“Yeah, uh-huh, exactly. Wait…” Lance started to say before he was interrupted by Hunk yelling

“Guys! On our left!”

“Pidge, shield!” Keith yelled upon seeing the robeast’s missiles heading right for them. The impact from them hitting the shield was enough to push back Voltron.

“That gives me an idea! We can use my gun to force this guy up against the volcano, just like how he was able to push us!” Lance said excitedly.

“That could work, but you’re not enough on your own. We need more power if we want to push this guy back.” Keith commented. “Hunk, your weapon should work, so get ready.”

“I was born ready.” Hunk said.

“Now!” Keith yelled as Pidge’s shield went away and Hunk’s canon emerged. He fired at the Terror-dactyl and hit it dead on.

“Direct hit! Nice shot, Hunk!” Lance called out as the robeast stumbled back towards the volcano.

“Thanks, I try.” Hunk said.

“One more hit like that should force the Terror-dactyl right next to the volcano,” Pidge remarked.

“He’s starting to get up, guys!” Lance exclaimed.

“Hunk, how long until your cannon’s charged?” Keith asked.

“Just a tic more and…ready when you are.”

“Ready, aim, fire!”

Most of the shots hit the Terror-dactyl, but a few of them missed and hit the side of the volcano. Unbeknownst to them, this robeast still had one trick up its sleeve. As Keith summoned his sword, the Terror-dactyl fired what looked like a net at Voltron.

“Really? A net? That’s the best the Galra can do?” Pidge commented with a smug look on her face.

Suddenly electricity flowed through the net that had Voltron in its clutches.

“What the cheese? I can’t move!” Lance yelled.

“Neither can I!” Allura said, with the rest of the paladins confirming that they were also unable to move. “Somehow, this net must be able to immobilize Voltron. We can’t get out!”

“What do we do, Keith?” Lance asked worriedly.

“I…I don’t know,” Keith responded, voice sounding small.

“What do you mean you don’t know? You’re our leader!” Lance yelled on the verge of panic.

“That doesn’t mean I know everything!” Keith yelled back.

“Shiro would know what to do,” Lance muttered to himself.

“Well, guess what, Lance. I’m not Shiro. He’s not here.” Keith responded angrily, though that anger was more directed at himself.

“If you would please stop antagonizing each other perhaps we could figure a way out of this situation,” Allura interjected.

“Sorry, Allura.” They chorused. Suddenly they were thrown in the air towards the base of the volcano.

“Uggh. I still can’t move. Pidge, do you think you can hack our way out of here?” Hunk asked.

“No. Green won’t let me in. The net is stopping the lions from doing much of anything.” She responded.

“Does anyone else feel like the ground is shaking?” Lance asked.

“Now that you mention it, yes,” Allura answered.

“I think the volcano’s going to erupt! Hunk’s cannon fire and Voltron hitting it must have triggered it.” Pidge said.

“Can Voltron survive lava?” Hunk’s worry showed in his voice.

“For a short while, yes, but only the red lion can survive more than 5 dobashes.” Allura responded.

“So we’ve got 7 minutes until we’re toast. Literally.” Lance said.

“We’ve got to get out of here! Can anyone move?” Hunk asked only to receive a chorus of “no” in response.

Suddenly there was a great sound of thunder as a plume of smoke rose up into the air. Lava began to flow down the slope of the volcano all the while the robeast approached Voltron, ready to strike.

“It was nice knowing you all…and Keith.” Lance said.

“Really, Lance?” Keith said exasperatedly.

“Do you still have to pick a fight with Keith when we’re about to die?” Pidge yelled through the coms.

The lava was nearly upon them. The Terror-dactyl roared in Voltron’s face as it steadied itself against the volcano and Voltron to aim its missiles right at the lions. Before it could fire, the lava reached its hand that was on the volcano. With an agonizing roar, it released its hold on Voltron and stumbled away.

“We’re free! Let’s go!” Keith said as Voltron regained its movement and stood to take down the robeast once and for all.

“Your sword should be able to pierce through the armor,” Allura commented.

“It would be better if it were Shiro’s flaming sword,” Keith said dejectedly.

“Well, if all else fails, Hunk can always knock him back into the lava,” Lance suggested.

“Yeah, if we don’t get caught in that net again.” Hunk worried out loud.

“We won’t. We know about it, so he no longer has the element of surprise. We got this guys!”

“Everybody ready? Let’s go!” Keith said as they approached the beast once more.

The Terror-dactyl had finished grieving over its charred skin and was ready to finish what it was created to do. Voltron and the Terror-dactyl charged at one another. The robeast fired its net at Voltron once again, but they were able to dodge it. With a quick swing of the sword, the robeast was sliced clean through. Its corpse fell into the lava that still flowed down the volcano.

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“The Vorurteil humbly thank you all for ridding our planet of the Galra.”

“It was the least we could do after receiving your message. You must be Virelai.” Allura said.

“And you must be Princess Allura. Even here we have heard tell of you and Voltron.” Virelai said at seeing her surprise at knowing who she was. “Though I must say, the stories do not do your beauty justice.”

Allura blushed slightly at the comment before regaining her composure. “Thank you, but we are not here to just exchange compliments. We would be honored if you would be willing to join the Voltron Coalition. Together, we will be able to defeat the Galra empire once and for all.”

While the two leaders were discussing, Lance looked over at Keith and noticed a thin line of blood flowing down his face. “You’ve got something on your face, Mullet.” He said while pointing at Keith’s cheek.

“I wish you would stop calling me that,” Keith said as he brushed away the blood with his hand. “I must have bumped my head during the fight.” He began to take off his helmet to better inspect the wound.

A wave went through the crowd as the Vorurteil nearest to them grabbed their rifles and pointed them at Keith.

“What is the meaning of this?” Princess Allura asked.

“He is Galra.” Virelai spat out, fury evident in her voice.

The other paladins formed a circle around Keith to shield him from the crowd upon seeing their reaction to Keith’s ears giving away his Galran heritage.

“So what if he’s part Galra? He is a paladin of Voltron!” Pidge exclaimed.

“A position for which his kind should never have been chosen for.” Virelai retorted.

“He risked his life to save your planet. I believe the words you’re looking for are thank you.” Lance said.

One of the Vorurteil near them spat at Keith “I would rather die than be saved by the likes of them!”

“Okay, that’s a bit harsh there. How about everyone puts their guns down so we can talk this out peacefully.” Hunk put his hands in front of him in a calm down motion.

“And leave ourselves defenseless for him to attack?” Another Vorurteil yelled out in the crowd. “How do we know you aren’t working for the Galra empire?”

“I can assure you that we are not and will never affiliate ourselves with the Galra empire,” Allura responded.

“And yet there is a Galra among you.” Virelai icily spoke as she narrowed her eyes.

“Keith is a valued member of our team,” Allura emphasized Keith’s name.

“Yeah! He’s one of the good Galra!” Lance exclaimed.

“The only good Galra is a dead Galra.” Someone in the mob shouted. Other voices echoed in agreement.

“Actually, that’s not true. The Blade of Marmora have helped us out quite a bit.” Hunk continued trying to calm the crowd.

“And just who are the Blade of Marmora?” Virelai raised a hand to silence the crowd.

“They are a group of Galra who fight against the empire and among our most trusted allies,” Allura replied. “Keith himself is a member, as was his mother.”

“How do you know that his mother and the others were not preparing him to be a mole on your team?” Virelai prompted.

“Well, that would be kind of hard for them to do given that my mother left when I was a baby. I only found out I was part Galra a month, err, pheeb ago.” Keith responded.

“Yeah. Don’t go around dissing the Blade of Marmora. Without them, Voltron wouldn’t be here now.” Lance commented.

“If it were not for the actions of their man on the inside, Thace, Voltron would have been in the Galra Empire’s clutches. All would have been lost.” Allura stated.

“Not to mention if Ulaz hadn’t freed Shiro, we wouldn’t have even found Blue at all. Without the Blade, there would be no Voltron.” Lance added on.

“We owe everything to them,” Allura said.

There was indistinct murmuring though out the crowd before Virelai once more silenced them with a wave of her hand.

“If what you say is true, then perhaps there is hope for an alliance. There’s just one problem. How would we tell someone from the Blade from someone from the Empire?”

“If they truly are from the blade, they will have a knife like this,” Keith said as he held up his knife. “They will also be able to activate it like so.” A purple light surrounded the knife as it transformed into a messer. “Only those with Galra blood who have officially joined the Blade can do this.”

“Thank you for this information. We thank you all once more for your assistance and would be honored to be included in the coalition. I would also like to apologize for my people’s and my reaction to you, Keith. We should know better than to judge based on what one is. It is one’s actions that determine who they are.” Virelai said as she bowed her head to Keith.

“You don’t have to apologize. I know how hard it can be to accept that there are good Galra out there when the Empire is doing such terrible things. It took me some time to accept that part of myself.” Keith responded.

“It was an adjustment for everyone. I was…less than welcoming to the idea. The empire had destroyed my planet and my people among many others. How could someone of their blood possibly be chosen as a paladin of Voltron? I did come to realize that it was not Keith who did those things. The people who committed those atrocities are long dead, save for Zarkon and Haggar. I could never forgive them for what they have done, but their descendants I could seek reconciliation with. I trust Red and Black’s choice in Keith serving as a paladin.” Allura stated.

“Both Lions chose him as a paladin? Is that why he wears red yet pilots the black lion?” Virelai asked.

“Something like that. Our true black paladin, Shiro, was captured by the Galra. I’m just subbing for him until we find him. I don’t like to think of myself as the black paladin. I’m the red paladin and once Shiro’s back, I’ll go back to piloting Red.” Keith responded.

“Is that why some of the rest of your team’s colors don’t correspond with their lion’s colors?” Virelai prompted.

“Yep, you got it, pretty lady,” Lance responded. “It has taken some getting used to, but the ‘paladin shuffle’ has held up. We’ve had our struggles, but they help us grow closer as a team.”

“And we as a people are thankful for it. You can count on the assistance of the Vorurteil in your fight against the Galra Empire.” Virelai stated.

“Here’s a communicator. If the Galra Empire comes back, give us a call and we’ll be happy to assist you.” Allura said as she handed the communicator to Virelai.

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“Greetings paladins! How did the mission go?” Coran asked as the rest of team Voltron filed into the bridge of the castleship.

“It went well. The Vorurteil have agreed to become part of the coalition.” Allura responded.

“How are the castle upgrades going?” Hunk asked.

“Quite well in fact. Within a few varga, the particle barrier should be able to withstand more than a single blast from an ion cannon.” Coran replied. “I am sorry that I couldn’t provide any air support for you all on the mission. My grandfather designed the ship to upgrade something only when the system was turned off. If the ship had been there, it would have been a sitting…what was that animal you said, number 5?”

“A sitting duck.” Pidge supplied.

“Ah yes. A sitting duck. Quite the interesting creatures your planet has.” Coran commented.

“Well, if we’re ever in the neighborhood, we could make a pit stop and show you a duck,” Lance said. “My family has a farm in Cuba, so there would be plenty of animals for you to see.”

“That would be smashing!” Coran replied. “Is there any more news?”

“Not yet. Shiro and Dad weren’t on board, but I did download their prisoner database. I should be able to find a clue of some sort in there once I decode it.” Pidge said as she tried to stifle a yawn.

“That’s wonderful! I wish you luck.” Coran exclaimed.

“Please do try not to stay up all night working on it. Remember, extra training in the morning. For every dobash one of you is late, it’s an extra 5 dobashes for everyone.” Allura reminded the team.

“Yeah, Lance.” Pidge snidely remarked.

“Hey, it takes time to look this good,” Lance said as he gestured to his face.

“You’re joking, rights?” Keith said with a small snicker.

“I wouldn’t expect some desert heathen to understand that moisturizer is your friend,” Lance said in a joking manner.

“Oh haha.” Keith said dryly.

“I can go whip up something in the kitchen if anyone’s hungry. I think I’ve perfected space pancakes.” Hunk suggested.

“Woohoo! Breakfast for dinner is the best!” Pidge exclaimed.

“That sounds delightful, Hunk. What are pancakes?” Allura asked.

“Wait. You’ve never had pancakes? They’re like one of the best kinds of food ever. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried Hunk’s.” Lance responded.

“Yeah. He makes the best pancakes in the universe.” Pidge added on.

“Aww, guys. You’re gonna make me blush.” Hunk commented. “But if I’m gonna make the ‘best pancakes in the universe’, I’m going to need a taste tester.”

“Called it!” Lance excitedly raised his hand in the air as everyone made their way to the kitchen.

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Before heading off to bed, Lance had finally gotten the chance to ask Coran about the creature Allura had mentioned during their battle on Vorteil. The conversation was still floating through his mind as he tried to fall asleep.

“A Glolnor? They’re brainless creatures from planet Gleedon. Quite daft little things. My grandfather said that some once tried to keep them as pets, but they had a tendency to become distracted. Quite a few died because they were distracted from eating. Can you imagine being that senseless?” Coran said with a chuckle.

“No, I can’t.” Lance said

I guess that’s how Allura sees me.

“Why do you ask?”

Not wanting to say Allura had referred to him being similar to one of those creatures, Lance quickly said “Oh, I just read it in something in the library.”

“Ah. It’s nice to see you contributing more to the team.”

Guess I don’t contribute enough.

Other bits of conversations started spiraling in his head as he tried to fall asleep.

‘Not enough.’ Keith said

‘Broken.’ Pidge commented.

No. That’s not true. Lance tried to assure himself.

‘Shut up.’ Pidge spoke again.

‘Focus on the mission.’ Allura said.

I was. I do focus on the mission. I just have my own way of dealing with things. Lance weakly argued.

‘Stop antagonizing each other.’ Allura stated.

‘Worst pilot’ Keith commented.

‘Naturally dumb.’ Hunk said.

‘The only reason you’re here is that the best pilot in your class had a discipline issue and flunked out.’ Iverson barked out.

I know I’ll never be as good as Keith or any of them, but I’m trying. Tears began to fall. Why can’t they see that?

He heard a worried *Squeak* from his nightstand.

“Oh. Hey, Chulatt.” Lance sat up as he brushed away his tears. “What are you doing here?”

Chulatt started doing charades to talk to Lance.

“You’re worried about me?”

The space-mouse nodded with a *Squeak* of agreement.

“You don’t have to be, though it’s nice to know someone cares.”

Chulatt raised his hands in a grabbing motion.

“You want me to pick you up? Okay. Hop on.” Lance said as held his hand flat on the nightstand next to Chulatt.

The blue mouse climbed onto his palm and gave him a thumbs up.

“Alright, going up.” Lance raised his hand that was holding Chulatt.

The mouse held onto his thumb like a handrail. Once he was in front of Lance’s face, he started hugging himself.

“You want a hug?”

*Squeak*

“Aww. How can I say no to that face?” Being careful not to squeeze Chulatt too hard, Lance lowered him to his chest and pressed him against it.

Chulatt nuzzled into the embrace as Lance began to pet him. A few minutes passed as Lance continued to pet him.

“Thanks for worrying about me, but it’s getting late and I’m sure Allura and the other space-mice are wondering where you went. You should probably head back before they miss you. Oh!” Lance exclaimed as he brought Chulatt back in front of his face. “Before you go, can you keep this between us? I don’t want anyone else to know I was crying. I know crying is not a bad thing, but please? I got some mouse treats at the space mall. If you don’t tell, I’ll give you one.”

Chulatt tilted his head to the side in a thinking motion before gesturing to Lance, crossing his arms and shaking his head, then moving his fists to his eyes and making a crying motion.

“You’ll think about it if I stop crying?”

*Squeak*

“Alright. You drive a hard bargain, but I’ll try to stop crying. You’re very persuasive for such a small mouse.”

Chulatt let out an indignant *Squeak* and stomped his foot on lances palm.

“Sorry, sorry. For such a sweet mouse.”

Chulatt beamed at the praise as Lance placed him back on top of the nightstand.

Lance opened the drawer on his nightstand and pulled out the bag of treats. He grabbed one out of the bag and handed it to Chulatt.

“There you go.”

*Squeak*

“You’re welcome. Goodnight.”

*Squeak* Chulatt said before he dashed back off towards Allura’s room.

Lance tried to fall asleep once more. The voices were still present in his head, but they were much quieter now. He soon drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

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“Sir, the paladins were able to defeat the cruiser and the robeast.” Acxa informed Lotor.

“I would have expected nothing less of them. Truly remarkable. We have their leader, and yet they remain a force to be reckoned with.” Lotor responded calmly.

“There’s more. The green one was able to access and download the prisoner database you put on the ship, just like you said they would.” Ezor added on.

“Perfect. They’re playing right into our hands.” Lotor stated.

“Why did you put that on there anyway? Now they’re going to know where all of our prisoners are.” Ezor questioned.

“It’s all part of the plan. Besides, they’re only interested in two of our prisoners. And of those two, they are more likely to go where they believe we’re holding their leader. That location is the only accurate information in the database.” Lotor explained.

“I still don’t get why we couldn’t have gone there and bashed some heads,” Zethrid said as she cracked her knuckles.

“All good things to those who wait. We can chase them in circles like a yupper chasing its tail, or we can wait for them to come to us. They have something we need. It would do us no good to destroy them at this point.”

“Ooooh. Are we going to trade their leader for it?” Ezor asked.

“Something like that,” Lotor said with a smug smirk on his face.

Narti pulled up some of the security feeds from the cruiser the paladins had taken down earlier. These cameras were powered remotely by their ship, so the paladins were none the wiser to being observed and mistakenly believed that they had shut down all security feeds on board.

“Narti’s right. We should continue to analyze the security feeds of the paladins.” Acxa said.

“Yeah! That way we know the best way to beat them in a fight!” Zethrid exclaimed.

“Remember, there will be a fight, but we will let them get away with what they came for.” Lotor directed at Zethrid.

“As long as I get to fight the princess again, I’m happy,” Zethrid said.

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Next Masterpost

#pocket paladin #voltron #klance #vld #g/t #giant/tiny #the g/t content starts in chpt 3 if you want to skip ahead

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naruwitch · 5 years ago

Text

Code Geass: Paladins of Voltron Chapter 28: Cheering Mao

"Okay, C.C., first of all, we need to confirm something with you. Are you an enemy or an ally?"

Lelouch scowled expectantly at the immortal on the castle's bridge. All of Team Voltron had assembled. Once they had returned to the castle, the Paladins updated everyone on what happened in Shinjuku. They also warned the Black Knights to watch out for Mao if they needed to go to Earth for any reason. If they ran into him, they were to get as far away from him as possible and then alert the castle. Lelouch had also informed Kyoto about Mao, and they were currently using all of their resources to track the man down and promised to update them when they had news.

"Where's this suddenly coming from, Lelouch?" C.C. asked.

"No, Lelouch is correct, C.C.," Allura stated, "In the past, you formed a contract with this Mao individual and gave him a power that could get inside people's minds, and exploit them for his personal use. Am I correct that that is how his power works?"

"Yes, the way Geass manifests is different for each person. If Mao concentrates, he can hear thoughts up to five hundred meters away, and he can read clear down to your subconscious if he wants to. For someone like you, Lelouch, who fights with his head, he's the worst possible enemy," C.C. answered.

"C.C., you made a contract with Mao in the past, but why did he attack Allura?" Suzaku asked.

"Mao's after me. He may be Voltron's enemy, but he's not necessarily targeting you," C.C. calmly answered.

"No, really? We could totally see that!" Kallen exclaimed sarcastically.

"Anyway, he knows who the Paladins are," Milly said gravely, "He could tell the police or the military at any time!"

"C.C., you need to tell us everything you know about Mao's Geass. Limitations, weaknesses, anything." Lelouch ordered.

"Mao's Geass is very potent," C.C. explained, "He can use it as many times as he wants, and he doesn't need direct eye contact as you do, Lelouch. And if you want weaknesses, I guess one is that he can't turn his power off. In a crowd, he hears all the minds reeling and writhing around him, whether he wants to or not."

"Well… I guess if I was constantly hearing everyone talking non-stop in my head, I'd go bananas too," Rivalz commented.

"I don't get it, how come you never told us about Mao before, C.C.?" Shirley asked with a frown.

"I thought he was dead," C.C. bluntly admitted with a shrug, "I haven't seen or heard from him for years."

"Are there any other contractors you have that we should maybe know about?" Kallen asked with a scowl.

"No, none that are still around anyway."

"...Wait, hold on," Milly eyes widening in realization, "you just mentioned earlier that Mao can't turn his Geass off. Why can't he?"

"Come to think of it," Allura frowned, "when he approached me, I do remember seeing the Geass mark in both of his eyes. However, the Paladins only have it in one eye. And they can turn it on and off at will."

"Well, the more you use your Geass, the more powerful it becomes," C.C. explained, "Those who can not control the power are ultimately ravaged and consumed by it."

"Wait, so are you saying that Lelouch, Shirley, and Kallen could end up like Mao too?" Rivalz gasped.

"Wh-what?!" Shirley exclaimed, eyes widening, "B-but I don't want to be invisible for the rest of my life!"

"Not necessarily," C.C. shook her head, "It is possible to control a fully-evolved Geass with enough willpower."

"...Has anyone ever fully controlled their Geass before?" Milly asked.

"Only one of mine. My first."

C.C.'s simple answer left a heavy feeling in the air. It almost felt like there was a guillotine dangling above them, threatening to fall at any moment.

Kallen suddenly let out a breathy chuckle, "Okay, so let me get this straight. Even though you knew that there was the possibility that our Geass would go berserk or whatever, you still offered it to us?"

C.C. didn't answer, but this seemed to answer Kallen's question anyway.

"That's cruel, C.C." Rai said with a frown, "Because Mao couldn't fulfill your contract, you cut him loose without explanation, right?"

"And what, pray tell, exactly were the terms to your contract anyway?" Allura asked.

C.C. still remained stubbornly silent, which didn't seem to quell the princess's anger at all.

"How despicable. You should have at the very least taken his power away from him when you left! Then he wouldn't be able to use it for his own contemptible ends!"

"Speaking of who should have this power and who shouldn't," Lelouch interjected, "I know you informed me that you didn't give it to him, but then how does my father have Geass?"

"Whoa, wait-WHAT?!" Rivalz exclaimed, in shock.

Lelouch winced. He knew he'd forgotten to tell them something.

"Your dad has Geass?!" Shirley gasped.

"Brilliant. Just brilliant…" Suzaku sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Either way, considering you said you didn't give Geass to him, does that mean this other character, V.V. did?" the prince asked again.

"V.V.?" Milly asked, sounding out the name as if it sounded foreign.

"As far as I'm aware, V.V. is the only other Code-Bearer in the world, and yes, he's the one that gifted your father with Geass," C.C. confirmed.

"And again, you didn't think to tell us about this because…?" Kallen asked, waiting for an answer.

"There was no reason to bring it up. I highly doubt we'll run into him, even on Earth," C.C. answered.

"Okay, but still!" Kallen exclaimed, "You could have at least told us that Lelouch's psychopath dad had one! What if we ran into him?!"

"I agree with Kallen," Allura frowned, "I find it foolish that you kept information like this from us, even if you didn't think it would be of any importance!"

"Um… what about Haggar?" Rivalz suddenly asked.

The Blue Paladin's seemingly random question diverted the line of questioning away from C.C. as the group looked at him.

"What about her?" Milly asked.

"Well, I mean, would she technically be a Code-Bearer too?" Rivalz asked, "We know she gave Rai Geass, so…"

The Green Paladin involuntarily shuddered when Rivalz brought the witch up. If she did, and he was positive that she had, he feared to know what sort of contract they must have made. He simply prayed that he would never need to fulfill it.

"Well, I don't know the first thing about Haggar," C.C. said, "And at the moment, she's not our top priority."

A tense silence followed once more, though most of the group was shooting C.C. suspicious looks.

Suzaku then sighed, "Look, guys, I know you're angry, and I am a little too. But I don't think it's fair to treat C.C. like this. Remember that Allura did the same thing when it came to Zarkon and the Black Lion." The princess grimaced at the reminder. "C.C.'s been with the team since this whole, crazy thing started. She's even saved us once."

"Yeah, I mean, we shouldn't let one mistake like this break our trust completely," Shirley added timidly.

Before anyone else could voice their opinion on the matter, C.C. stood abruptly.

"It's fine. There's no point in trying to defend me," she said bluntly. She began to stride towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Rai asked.

"To deal with Mao. He's my responsibility, so I'm going to put an end to it."

"...You're going to kill him, aren't you?" Lelouch realized.

C.C. just nodded. No other words were needed. Considering how obsessed Mao was with her, this was the only way to stop him.

"Wait, but what's going to stop Mao from reading your mind?" Milly questioned.

"He can't. Just as Lelouch can't use Geass on me, Mao can't read my mind," C.C. answered, looking back at them with a small smile. However, the group could tell it wasn't a heartfelt one. "You all should be happy about this. We're going our separate ways now."

That comment caught all of them off guard.

Kallen scowled angrily, "Wait, so you're betraying us now?!"

"Calm down," C.C. sighed, "I don't plan to tell anyone about you. Besides, I'm not exactly essential to the team. I'm not a Paladin. You can all form Voltron just fine without me. You can keep your Geass too."

With that final statement, C.C. left the bridge, leaving the team shell-shocked, and even… a little empty.

o~o

'Dammit, I can't believe that bitch! How dare she treat me like this!'

'Crap, crap, crap! Oh man, I'm gonna be late for my date! Jeez, Sora is gonna kill me!'

'Honestly, where is that idiot? I thought he'd be here.'

'Oh man, check her out... Should I try to talk to her?'

'How am I supposed to find Mike out of all of these people?!'

Mao grit his teeth as all of the thoughts came roaring through his head. Sweat dripped like a fountain down his face, eyes wide. His fingers fidgeted on his mp3 and turned the volume up to its highest setting.

'Don't worry, Mao. I'm not going to die.'

'Mao! Mao! Are you awake, Mao?'

'Oh Mao, How silly…'

"C.C.," Mao whispered with a crazed smile, "I can't live without you. Wait for me. I'm coming to you."

o~o

"So… what did you want to talk about, Kallen?" Ohgi asked as he and Kallen perched on Aka's massive paw.

Kallen bit her lip. Ever since the ordeal with Mao in Shinjuku, the things that Mao said in the building clung to her. However, due to the mental health of the bond the Paladins shared, she knew that she needed to get this off her chest before it became a problem. Still, she didn't feel comfortable sharing her feelings about this particular subject with the Paladins just yet, even if Milly and Lelouch were already aware of it.

"Ohgi… if Naoto was here right now, what do you think he would think of all of this?" she asked eventually.

Ohgi cocked his head, "What do you mean?"

Kallen grimaced, "Well… I don't just mean the Paladins and Voltron thing. Naoto, Mom, and I used to be so close he was still alive, even after Britannia took our home. But after Naoto died, we just… fell apart. For years I just thought my mom was a fool for putting up with that bitch, Mrs. Stadtfeld. I know now that she was just keeping an eye on me, but… I just wish I did more to help her. I'm probably the worst daughter in the world."

"Kallen, that's not true," Ohgi immediately argued. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder, "We all make mistakes, we're only human after all. Look, I don't quite understand how these Lions work, but if they do choose their Paladin like the Princess said, then that means Aka saw something in you that's special. You're an amazing person Kallen, and I'm sure that if Naoto was here right now, he'd be proud of you too."

Kallen smiled slightly before hearing a low purring growl, the paw she and Ohgi were sitting on vibrated a little, making the man jump a little in surprise.

Then she noticed a familiar nudge in the back of her mind. Kallen felt a strong sense of righteous anger and even possessiveness coming from the usually temperamental Lion. She felt like she was the favorite teddy bear of a child being clutched tightly to their chest. It was an interesting feeling, to say the least, but Kallen found herself enjoying it. Kallen got the message, though. Aka had not made a mistake picking her as the Red Paladin, and she wasn't planning on letting Kallen go anytime soon either.

Kallen sighed, but she was smiling as well. She leaned over and hugged Ohgi tightly, who promptly returned the gesture.

"Thanks… both of you."

o~o

Though Coran was continually checking the operational pods and said he would alert him the second his sister was ready, Lelouch found him wandering back towards the medical wing. He trusted Coran and the pod's healing abilities, but his older-sibling-paranoia that something could still go wrong simply wasn't going away.

Lelouch stopped short when he saw that he wasn't the only one paying Nunnally a visit as he spotted Milly standing in front of Nunnally's pod too.

"Hey, Milly," Lelouch greeted upon entry. The Yellow Paladin jumped and turned towards Lelouch, but her eyes flickered between the brother and sister.

Lelouch frowned. It wasn't like Milly to be nervous like this. Out of all Paladins, Lelouch would actually see her as the bravest, or at least the most driven.

"Lulu, be honest with me…" Milly hesitated, "do you think I'm a good person?"

Lelouch blinked, not expecting that response, "Where's this coming from?"

Milly sighed, "Well, ever since your mom died, my family lost everything too. You know all of those arranged dates that my parents set up? They're desperate to reclaim what they lost because of it, even marrying me off to a stranger if they wanted to," the blonde sighed, "I don't know… I guess it just makes me wonder what else they'll try. I'm pretty sure that it's only because of my grandfather that you and Nunna managed to hide for so long. But now… what if they sell us out. What if they finally sell you out?"

Lelouch was surprised. Milly wasn't really one to let out her insecurities like this. Milly's parents were not much different from typical Britannian nobility. However, they were, in some ways, worse as they were continually trying to sell their daughter off into a loveless marriage.

Milly's father, Ruben Ashford's son, never cared for the military work the Ashford family specialized in and attempted to set up other branches of the business elsewhere. Unlike his father, though, he lacked the business skills to do so and had literally no sense of intelligence or wit. It was bad enough to the point it was hard to believe that he was even related to Ruben Ashford at all.

While Milly's father was a spineless idiot, her mother was a completely different story. Milly hated her mother with a burning passion, and Lelouch disliked her just as much, if not more.

Mrs. Ashford was a conniving vixen who used her pretty face to hide her sharp fangs. She seduced her brainless husband into marriage to become the matriarch of the Ashford family. She had done everything in her power to regain the family's status ever since Lelouch's mother died. She had even attempted to reveal Lelouch and Nunnally to Britannia once. This attempt was thwarted by the combined efforts of Sayoko (who threatened to slit her throat in her sleep), Ruben, and Milly. With all three of them protecting the vi Britannia siblings, there was nothing she could do. For all her ambition, Milly's mother was simply too arrogant and impatient. She was unable to, or simply refused to see her own weaknesses that left her like an open book to both her father-in-law and daughter. Any scheme she attempted was easily outmaneuvered by them in some way.

However, despite all of this, it seemed Milly was lucky enough to only have received only a tiny trickle of her mother's trickery (she wasn't called a she-devil for nothing). Her grandfather's intelligence also seemed to completely phase through her father and land in her instead. His kindness and generosity were also prevalent in her.

"Milly, if you think that you're like your parents, you're wrong," Lelouch said with a frown, "Despite everything that's happened, you kept Nunnally and me safe. If you were anything like your mother and father, we'd be back in Britannia's clutches by now. I'm not exactly a saint myself, but I'm genuinely grateful for all you've done for us, Milly. You may be a she-devil, but you're a good person and a real friend to me. So thank you."

Milly stood shocked for a moment, before running up to Lelouch and hugging him. It was a brief one, which the Black Paladin returned, but it expressed all of the gratitude and appreciation they felt for all of the years together.

o~o

The man grunted as a heeled shoe slammed him by the neck against the wall.

"I'm not looking for a Refrain dealer!" the woman exclaimed, "I said a Chinese guy named Mao. Did you hear me?!"

"Believe me, I have no idea," the man groaned, "the only Chinese guys around are the gang laborers. G-Go ask the cops or something!"

"I don't like cops," she growled.

"Th-then ask the Black Knights about him! They're all over the underground, they're wired into the settlement and the ghettos!"

C.C. was getting frustrated. This was the fifth guy that she had interrogated, but he was telling her the same thing. Either go to the police or contact the Black Knights. Well, that was a little hard, considering that she was avoiding contacting either one. Plus, even if she changed her mind and wanted the Paladins to help her, she had no way of doing so, especially after purposefully sinking her pod in the harbor. She doubted the Britannians would find it, and even if they did, there was no way they'd be able to replicate the pod or its functions.

"Everyone tells me the same thing!"

"Cause it's obvious!" the guy protested.

Before C.C. could ask any more questions, the sound of a phone ringing filled the alleyway. It was coming from the man's pocket.

C.C. lowered her foot as the man fumbled to answer it.

"Hello…? Huh? Who's this…? Uh, it's for you, Miss," the man said, holding his cell phone out to her unsteadily.

C.C. frowned but took the phone, holding it to her ear, "Yes?"

"It's me, C.C."

"Mao," C.C. greeted impassively. The guy whose phone she had suddenly looked very freaked out, looking around anxiously.

"I'll be at Clovisland tonight. Come alone. If you don't, I'll walk right up to Princess Cornelia's doorstep and tell her who the Paladins are. Don't think I can't, I have my ways. I can have them exposed and wanted at any time."

C.C. scowled. Well, what other choice was there?

o~o

Princess Allura sat solemnly in her bedroom. Her eyes were trained on the hologram of her parents. She didn't cry, but she didn't acknowledge the space mice nuzzling her fingers either, trying to cheer her up and shake her out of her trance.

She barely registered the doors to her bedroom sliding open.

"Allura, there you are," Coran said as he came closer, "Shirley and I have been looking for you everywhere."

"What's wrong, Allura?" Shirley asked cautiously.

The princess grimaced and sighed, falling back onto her bed, "Do you think I'm like Zarkon? Or at least, becoming like him?"

This question shocked both of her guests. Though Shirley had a feeling she knew where this was coming from, Coran never thought he'd hear something like this coming from Allura. Ever.

"I hate the Galra, you both know that. And I want to stop Zarkon's conquest and protect other civilizations. But… when I met Mao… he wasn't lying either," the princess reluctantly admitted, "There have been times where I thought about a universe where there are no Galra at all. They destroyed Altea and countless other planets… I've wanted them to feel the same pain they've brought upon others. So… I am becoming evil?"

"No! Absolutely not!" Coran exclaimed in horror.

"Allura, you're not like Zarkon!" Shirley reassured, "You're one of the most kind, caring, and noble people I've ever met!"

"Allura," Coran said softly, "It's not unnatural to feel such things sometimes. I've felt similar things in the past as well. Vengeance is certainly not an unfamiliar topic for me. However, I also have to remember that revenge would not be something that Alfor would want. He's always said that revenge only leads to more pain. But, Allura, understand these feelings may hurt, but they can become a strength too."

Allura looked towards Coran, eyes desperate for resolution and release from the pain behind them.

"It's okay to hate Zarkon. I hate him as well. But, we should not let this hatred consume us," Coran adds.

"It's like with Lelouch," Shirley says, "He hates Britannia, and only wanted to destroy it at first. But, we've been there for him. We've shown him that he's not alone, and now look at him. I doubt that Lelouch would have even considered saving Britannia before. We're here for you too, Allura. We're not going to let you turn bad!"

Allura smiled softly at her advisor's words and Shirley's reassurance. The heavy weight in her chest felt lighter. It wasn't completely gone, and the princess doubted that it would leave for a while, but it was comforting to hear people who expressed their belief in her.

"Thank you, Coran. Thank you, Shirley."

o~o

"Urabe and the others are late," Chiba sighed. She, Asahina, and Todoh were waiting at their rendezvous point. It was at the shrine of the late Genbu Kururugi, the former Prime Minister of Japan.

"Well, this sure is an ironic meeting place, isn't it," Asahina commented, "the grave of Prime Minister Kururugi."

"The traitor who told us to fight to the end, but then committed suicide himself," Chiba spat in disgust.

"Enough!" Todoh barked gruffly, "Don't speak ill of the dead."

Unbeknownst to the small group, they were being watched from higher ground.

"Fugitive Todoh has been identified. All units prepare to move in."

"Yes, my Lord!"

o~o

Kaguya giggled as she playfully maneuvered around the pill bug aliens as she walked down the hall. From what little experience she had with aliens, mostly from sci-fi anime she'd watched, she never expected to encounter any that were as cute as these things. The Paladins and Alteans admitted that they didn't know what exactly they were, and there was no history of them in the Castle's database. This species likely sprung up within the 10,000-year time frame that the Alteans remained in stasis. From what they could see so far, though, the aliens were harmless and acted more likely curious puppies most of the time. They also seemed to be empathetic enough to communicate through action, according to Shirley and Rai's account of their first encounter with them.

Kaguya eventually wandered into the lounge and seemed to interrupt a tense conversation being shared between her cousin, Rivalz, and Rai. She managed to catch the name 'Mao' before they noticed her coming in.

Kaguya frowned slightly. She and the other Kyoto heads had been made aware of Geass shortly after Lelouch revealed himself. The fact that there were other people out there with similar powers was disturbing as well.

"Oh, sorry, am I intruding?" she asked.

"No, you're okay, Kaguya," Suzaku assured her, as he tapped a space next to him on the couch, which she gracefully took.

"A-Anyway, Suzaku, what I was trying to say is, I'm sorry!" Rivalz said, looking ashamed, "Lelouch and I drove by the ghettos all of the time, and not once did I ever consider how bad it was for your guys. You too, Kaguya. I'm sorry! I'm just an ignorant idiot!"

"Rivalz, we've talked about this before," Suzaku replied, "being ignorant doesn't make you evil."

"Plus, the fact that you're trying to fix things speaks volumes too," Kaguya added.

Rivalz looked so relieved as he looked gratefully at the two cousins. "Thanks, you two."

Rai then chuckled bitterly next to them.

"Rai?" Rivalz asked.

"You're lucky Rivalz," Rai mumbled, "At least you know who you are. Me? I still have no idea…"

"Don't talk like that, Rai," Suzaku responded, "We're going to help you remember and get your memories back."

Rai groaned, leaned forward from his spot on the couch, "Well, that's the thing. I don't think I want to remember my past anymore."

This remark shocked the group. Ever since Rai had shown up at Ashford's doorstep, all that the Green Paladin could think about was who he was and where he came from. To hear that he didn't want to know anymore sounded crazy.

"It's just…" he groaned again, "What if I find out that I used to be the type of person I hate now?! It's so frustrating how I have no idea about anything. I don't even know if my dad is still alive, or if I ever had a dad! I don't even know how my family got captured by the Galra in the first place. I mean, come on, I hurt my own sister!"

"Rai, you hurt her so that you could protect her!" Suzaku reminded him hastily.

"Yeah, but what if it was bad enough that I just made it worse?! You've seen how the Galra view things. It's just like with Britannia. If you're 'useless' to them, they just get rid of you! The fact that I don't know if what I did was worth it or not is torture all on its own!"

"Rai, you can't just assume that!" Suzaku protested, "Until you… we… have solid evidence about what happened to them, you can't give up!"

"Yeah! And besides, even if they aren't...around anymore…" Rivalz said carefully, "you still have us. And even if you were a terrible person in your past life, that won't matter! You're your own person. It doesn't matter where you came from… the big thing that you should be asking yourself is, what do you want? And if you want to be good, be a Paladin, then that's what you should focus on!"

Rai sighed and breathed deeply to try and calm down. The insecurities and anxiety over his mysterious past still bubbled beneath the surface, but he would admit that his friends' words comforted him.

"Also…" Kaguya piped up, "I know I can't really contribute much to this conversation, but I do see you as a friend, Rai if that makes you feel better?"

Rai looked up and smiled kindly at the young girl, eyes still misty from the couple of frustrated tears that had fallen moments ago.

He gasped slightly when he felt something bump him lightly from behind. Turning, he grinned as he spotted Rover hovering just over his shoulder. The robot beeped what everyone assumed was some sort of encouragement. Rai placed a hand lightly on top of the robot as thanks.

Before any more words could be shared with the group, they heard the intercom frizz to life.

"Paladins, please meet on the bridge!"

o~o

Suzaku, Rai, and Rivalz were the last ones to arrive. Rover trailed closely behind them. They were greeted by their fellow Paladins and were quick to notice the grave expressions on everyone's faces.

"What's going on?" Suzaku questioned.

"It's about Mao," Lelouch answered, "We need to figure out how to deal with him."

"Wait, but didn't C.C. say that she'd take care of it?" Rivalz asked, confused.

"She did say that," Shirley remarked, "but I don't like the idea of leaving her alone with that… that… that psycho!"

"I'm sure C.C. can handle it," Kallen shrugged, "Mao can't read her mind, and she's immortal, so it's not like anything bad is going to happen to her."

"I don't know," Suzaku disagreed, "Allura has super-human strength, and yet Mao was able to capture her, hold her hostage, and then rig the entire building she was being held in with explosives before we got there."

"I agree," Rai nodded, "He's bound to have a couple more tricks up his sleeve. He may not act very smart, but he is definitely unpredictable. He may have a trap ready for C.C."

"...Perhaps if used correctly, C.C. could also be Mao's greatest weakness," Lelouch said in realization.

The team turned to the Black Paladin.

"What do you mean, Lelouch?" Milly asked.

"Well, remember right before we cornered him the first time? Rover was playing a recording of C.C."

Rover beeped quickly before playing the exact same recording off to the side.

"Why does this remind me of Star Wars?" Rivalz asked off-handedly.

"Not the time Rivalz," Milly chastised.

"Er, right! Sorry."

"Anyway, when Rover played that recording, Mao's demeanor completely changed. He got excited. He didn't even stop to think if it was a trick. He just ran straight for the hologram. Plus, the whole reason he kidnapped Allura in the first place was to draw C.C. out.

"Come to think of it, when he confronted us in Shinjuku, he specifically asked us to bring C.C.," Milly recalled.

"Yes. When Mao read my mind when I saw his Geass, he got excited that I knew C.C. as well," Allura added.

Kallen snorted, "What is he in love with her or something?"

"Love? More like obsessed," Lelouch corrected, "but it's not just that. He has a personality as well."

"Um… doesn't everyone have a personality, Lulu?" Shirley asked, not quite following Lelouch's train of thought.

"Well, think about it. Kidnapping Allura and using her as bait to lure out the Paladins was a sound strategy. Still, how he handled it wasn't," Lelouch explained, "He kept monologuing with each of us, probing our mental weakness while also making wild and immature claims with a completely straight face. When things didn't go his way, he was visibly upset like he was about to throw a tantrum."

Suzaku gasped, "That's exactly how he reacted when he couldn't probe my mind."

"Hey, speaking of which, do you think you could teach us how to do that?" Rivalz asked.

"Um, maybe, but let's stay focused on the topic for now," Suzaku reminded him.

"Mao acted as if he was never told 'no' before. Like things would go his way no matter what. He has the personality of a spoiled brat. A man-child," Lelouch continued.

Coran frowned, "A child with a very dangerous ability, however."

"One that also drove him completely nuts," Kallen added.

"Exactly. He's immature, obsessed, and insane," a devious smirk then spread across Lelouch's face, "and we can use that against him."

"Does the mighty Zero have another master plan up his sleeve?" Milly grinned mischievously.

"I do. And it's one that Mao won't see coming."

o~o

The Clovisland amusement park had been closed hours ago. Both employees and patrons had gone home for the evening. Everything was dark and completely deserted. C.C. walked casually into the center of the area, having arrived alone, just as she promised. The Paladins likely wouldn't be able to track her here. Now she just needed Mao to show up.

She didn't need to wait very long as lights and music filled the space. The carousel in front of her started running, along with the Ferris wheel and other rides.

"C.C., your mind is so quiet. It's the only one I can't read," Mao merrily as he appeared riding on one of the horses on the carousel, "You really are the best there is!"

C.C. sighed, "As childish as ever, I see."

"I'm a prince on a white stallion, and a prince has to rescue the princess," he cheered as he leaped off the ride and pranced towards her, "Does that make you happy, C.C.?"

"Mao, we talked about this before," C.C. said, sounding annoyed, "I told you that you and I-"

"Those were all lies. Lies!" Mao interrupted, "C.C., you love me, and this is how I know." He reverently took off his headphones, and C.C.'s voice could be heard playing from them. The thing that he listened to 24/7 just to try and stay sane.

'Thank you, Mao. Mao. Mao.'

"Stop it!" C.C. shouted.

(Flashback)

"BE QUIET!" Mao shouted, clutching his ears and burying himself in C.C.'s torso, shaking.

"Don't listen to them," C.C. said softly, "Just listen to the sound of my voice."

Mao exhaled as C.C.'s words soothed him.

o~o

Mao sat happily by a pond. C.C. was wearing a pretty purple Chinese dress. Holding the sketchbook that he'd drawn C.C. on, he turned it to show her portrait that he made.

"That's it. Since my mind is the only one you can't read, and you can only be happy when you're with me. I'll stay with you always."

o~o

"Yes, I'm right here. So you don't need to worry."

C.C. held Mao close as the two of them slumbered in an abandoned barn, the full moon shining brightly overhead.

(Flashback end)

"C.C., you're the only one! The only one I want, forever!" Mao continued excitedly, approaching C.C., "Lelouch, Kallen, Shirley, Voltron, none of them matter at all. Forget those dumb kids. If you just come with me..."

"Stop it!" C.C. repeated, pulling out a shotgun, and pointing it at Mao, knocking the headphones out his hands in the process. Mao stopped, staring in shock. "I should have done this a long, long time ago."

C.C. was about to pull the trigger, but more memories of Mao's childhood came rushing back. As much as she tried to deny it, she did care about Mao. She had bonded with him in a way that she hadn't been able to in centuries. He was like a son to her. The last person she had managed to genuinely feel something for was-

She shook her head. There was no point in thinking about him. He may have promised to return someday, a vow to find a way to undo her immortality falling from his lips as he left her. But those were old memories. She doubted he even remembered her after so long.

Her hesitation cost her, as Mao pulled his own gun, shooting C.C. in the shoulder. The pain shook her out of her trance as she dropped her weapon, and clutched her shoulder, trembling.

"I knew it! I knew you couldn't pull the trigger! That's cause you really love me, C.C.!" He laughed maniacally as he clapped his hands.

"You're wrong! I was just using you right from the start!" She exclaimed, almost desperately.

Mao stopped laughing and frowned, "What are you saying? You shouldn't tell lies like that. You really shouldn't," he fired at her again, hitting her other should this time. C.C. gasped in pain, collapsing, spread eagle on the ground, "Lies are very, very wicked. Wicked lies!" He fired twice more, hitting her knees. And then again, this time her elbows. She was now wholly immobile, at Mao's mercy. It would take too long for her to regenerate, and that was time she didn't have.

"Don't worry… I understand…" Mao murmured almost remorsefully, "C.C. you must listen to me. I've built a big brand-new house in Australia. A very quiet, white immaculate special house," he said this rather robotically, as he approached the immortal on the ground. "But to get to Australia, you'll need to take an airplane, and there isn't very much room," he continued to explain as he then turned away and walked back towards the carousel entrance, "The thing is, C.C., you're a little too big to bring on a plane."

C.C.'s eyes trailed him, a flicker of fear crossing her eyes as Mao leaned over and pulled out a giant chainsaw. His face morphed into a huge grin once more, turning the tool on. "So, that's why I'm going to make you compact!"

He laughed again as he swung the saw around, cutting a 'Please hold on to small children' sign cleanly in two, "It'll take no time at all!"

"Is this your revenge?" C.C. asked weakly, barely able to move thanks to her injuries, "You're punishing me?"

"Oh no, I'm not!" Mao exclaimed, his smile never leaving his face as he approached her, chainsaw looming over him, "I'm not, I'm not, I'm not at all. I'm showing you my gratitude."

"So this is the place you picked," a voice on the monitor next to Mao suddenly pixelated to life. A familiar-looking face and background of the bridge on the Castle of Lions glitched to life. C.C. and Mao both looked towards the monitor. Lelouch's face soon became visible. "A place where there'd be no one else's thoughts to bother you. That narrowed it way down."

"Lelouch," Mao growled at the screen. C.C. gasped in both shock and relief.

"Since your Geass has a total maximum range of five-hundred meters. It can't reach me, or any of the other Paladins here at the Castle of Lions."

Mao laughed, despite this fact, clapping his hands again, "That's true! That's very true! But what can you do from so far away, hmm? After taking all that trouble to hack into the system, what's your grand plan? A remote-control attack with some battery-operated toys? Having your precious Lions completely destroy the park? Or a tongue-lashing to lecture me into submission?" Lelouch didn't seem to respond, "Ah, cat got your tongue now? If you want C.C., then you're gonna have to come-"

"Mao, think!" Lelouch interrupted, "You don't believe C.C. is her real name, do you? She never even whispers it to anyone."

This caused Mao to gasp and pause. He turned and looked at C.C. in disbelief.

"But I know it, though," Lelouch continued, "she told me her true name. Why, even Allura, Coran, and the other Paladins know it."

Mao could only stare at C.C., betrayal and shock present on his face, "Is that right, C.C.? You never told me, ever, ever. But you told it to him?"

"You know why?" Lelouch smirked, "Because C.C. is mine. C.C. belongs to me in every possible way."

"No!" Mao shouted, marching onto the stage where the screen was, "She doesn't. She doesn't! She doesn't! She doesn't! She was mine long before she met you!"

"I have gained every single thing from her. Including all of the parts that you have never seen." Mao stumbled back upon hearing this. "All of them."

"Lelouch…" Mao seethed, as he revved his chainsaw, "FACE ME!" he charged at the screen, slashing it wildly with the saw, "LELOUCH! COME HERE! COME HERE SO I CAN LOOK INTO YOUR MIND! I'LL SEE THE TRUTH! I'LL SEE WHAT A LIAR YOU ARE! LIAR!"

"Mao, you've lost," Lelouch said as the screens slowly crumpled from the screen, circuits, and electricity flashing everywhere.

"What are you talking about?" Mao demanded, "I don't care. I'm gonna be with C.C.!"

Mao suddenly gasped as multiple voices started pouring into his head. He looked around wildly. Where were these thoughts coming from?! And from the sounds of them, they were coming closer, fast!

"Is that Lelouch? But he's too far away. Sounds… everywhere… all those voices."

"Hold it right there!" a man's voice shouted, "Drop the weapon and surrender!" Before Mao's eyes, dozens of policemen, and a couple of Knightmares surrounded him, all with their guns drawn and pointed at him. SWAT body armor and bullet-proof shields were held up in front of them too.

"What are they doing here?!" Mao gasped. Suddenly a blinding spotlight shined down on him from above. Looking up, Mao gasped as he spotted a helicopter hovering above him as well.

"Remain where you are! Drop your weapon and raise your hands!"

"I-it's the police! Who contacted them?!" Mao wailed, frightened.

As more officers raced by, C.C. was approached by two of them, who knelt down and helped her to her feet. Her arms were placed over each of their shoulders. The taller, blonde one slowly picked up C.C.'s gun. She gasped when she saw their faces.

"Lelouch! Rai! What are you two doing here?!"

Mao heard C.C. and gasped as well, "It can't be. Lelouch was just at the Castle! He can't be here now!"

Lelouch looked up at Mao and smirked, 'Are you that slow? I was never there.'

"That's a lie!" Mao denied, "You-you were talking to me! Answering me!"

'Your thoughts are simple,' Lelouch continued, 'It seems you've forgotten about a little robot friend of ours.'

Mao gasped as he suddenly remembered the little triangular droid that had been in Shinjuku. The one that tricked him with the video of C.C.

'Well actually, it wasn't just Rover,' Rai thought this time, 'Milly was the one doing the talking. All Rover had to do was cover her with an image of Lelouch. It was child's play afterward with all of the Altean technology at the Castle. Consider this payback for Shinjuku.'

"You-you!" Mao sputtered, "Even so, how did you get to Earth so quickly?! And why didn't you just sick your little kitty-cats on me?!"

"One of them is right over there,' Rai pointed with his eyes. Looking over, Mao can now barely see a slightly distorted area behind them, 'If you can really read minds, you'd also remember the skills each of the Lions have. Like how Zerith can turn invisible? And besides, you simply aren't worth the Lions' time.'

Mao grit his teeth, his fury building even more, "Don't play games with me, punks! If the cop arrests me, I'll be back out in a heartbeat!" This only caused the thoughts of the cops to surface again. They called him and crazy, deluded, and insane, "SHUT UP! JUST STOP TAUNTING ME!"

Lelouch's smirk never left his face, 'C.C. told us that you can't turn off your Geass. And your reach is erratic. If you don't concentrate, your range gets very short. It was the perfect time to fly down in Zerith while she was invisible.'

"So, you used the monitor to keep me distracted?" Mao realized, "Even so, I can still defeat you. I'll have you ruined!"

'The moment you try, the moment you die.' Lelouch thought as he and Rai finally turned and started to walk off, pulling C.C. along with them.

"Lelouch, Rai, wait!" C.C. protested, "If I talk to him, I can get through."

"You think I'll die?!" Mao screamed, "Listen, cops. You know who that guy is? He's the terrorist you want. He-"

"FIRE!" the head officer, under Lelouch's Geass, ordered. The cops open fired on Mao before he could say anything else.

"Oh, no!" C.C. gasped in horror as she disappeared into the Green Lion's mouth. As stealthy as she had come, Zerith lightly took off from the ground. She roared loudly and dropped her cloaking once in the sky, far out of distance from anyone.

Mao never took his eyes off the Lion, eyes full of pain and despair, even as he grunted in pain on the ground. "Zero…"

Unbeknownst to everyone else, one of the cops observed the scene silently in her disguise. Her yellow eyes landed on the downed human in front of her.

A poisonous sneer spread across her face.

o~o

Zerith made it back to the Castle of Lions without any further incident. C.C.'s wounds had finally healed, so she was able to walk on her own when they landed. Wordlessly the boys escorted C.C. back to the bridge to find that everyone was waiting for them.

"Why did you come back for me?" C.C. asked, her voice sounding bewildered.

"Why?" Shirley asked incredulously, "Because we're your friends C.C. We've been through so much together already, we're not just going to abandon you now! And don't say that any of our adventures haven't actually meant anything to you so far."

C.C. nearly snorted, but smiled nonetheless, "I'll admit, this has been one of my more… unique experiences."

This elicited a chuckle from a majority of the group. 'Unique' was certainly one way of putting it.

Once the laughter died down, though, Suzaku spoke more seriously, "C.C., you don't have to tell us if you don't want to, but why did you form a contract with Mao in the first place?"

C.C. sighed, "Mao was only six years old when I made my contract with him. He was an orphan who'd never known the love of a parent. He couldn't read or write and knew nothing of good and evil. When I gave the Geass power to Mao, it isolated him. In his mind, I became his only friend and his lover, though I was still a perfect stranger. I'm the only one he even thought of as human. I was Mao's entire world."

"Then why did you leave him?" Allura asked, a frown still on her face, though this one wasn't as harsh the one she wore earlier.

"You already know the answer. He couldn't fulfill my contract," C.C. answered.

"...That's so selfish of you," Kallen pointed out.

C.C. didn't answer, but the look on her face gave them her response anyway.

"But, you did care about him, right?" Milly asked.

"Yes, though not in the way that he viewed me," C.C. admitted, "I suppose I felt he'd be better off without me. I'm immortal. I've lost everyone I've come to know through time, while I remain the same. It's painful to watch people grow old and die right in front of your eyes."

Coran hummed, "I suppose immortality isn't as glamorous as one would think."

"It's a nightmare," C.C. answered honestly, "I won't lie and say it doesn't come in handy sometimes, but... you can't make friends or form bonds with anyone... not really... not when you know you'll outlive them."

The Paladins and Alteans looked at C.C. sympathetically. Allura and Coran could relate only slightly. They may not be immortal like her, but they definitely had outlived everyone they had grown to love, being the only Alteans left alive.

"Do you know if there's a way to stop it?" Lelouch asked, "A cure or a way to get rid of your immortality?"

C.C. shook her head, "If I knew, I would have done it a long time ago."

"Then we'll find a way," Allura said resolutely, "Even if the method is not on Earth, there has to be some way in this universe somewhere. No one deserves to hold a curse such as this."

C.C. gasped slightly, a sense of deja vu she hadn't felt in a while overcoming her. She remembered someone else asking her the very same questions. Making the exact same proclamation so long ago. When she had this very conversation with someone else… with him.

"Why…?" C.C. asked, "Why would you go so far for someone like me?"

"Because you're our friend!" Shirley repeated, "That's why! What other reason should we have?"

"Yeah! Sure, you may not be a Paladin, but you are a member of this team, C.C.!" Rivalz exclaimed, suddenly approaching her, "And to prove it, I want to form a contract with you. Here and now!"

C.C.'s eyes widened in shock, and most of the other Paladins looked at Rivalz in surprise too. Apparently, this hadn't been a part of their 'welcome back speech.'

"...You understand there are risks to this," C.C. said carefully, "And I have no idea what type of power you'll have."

"But… it is possible to control it, right?" Suzaku asked before Rivalz could say anything, "You said it's only happened once for you, but it is possible to completely control a Geass?"

"You mentioned that this power could isolate us," Shirley remembered, "but that hasn't happened so far. I'm sure if we stick together, we can find a way!"

C.C. honestly didn't know what to say, eyes still wide.

Lelouch slowly walked up to her, placing a hand on her shoulder, "C.C. it doesn't matter who you were in the past. What matters is who you want to be right now. That's what's most important. So tell us, who are you?"

C.C was silent for a few moments. When she answered, she smiled, eyes misty as tears gathered in them, "I'm C.C…. I'm an ally of Team Voltron."

Everyone smiled as she took Rivalz's hand, initiating the contract between them.

The Blue Paladin gasped as he felt the shock course through his body. His left eye burned as new power awakened inside of him. He stumbled back as he clutched his eye, though Milly helped to steady him before he could fall over. He blinked as the Geass sigil faded in his pupil just as the bridge's doors slid open.

"Excuse me, I hope I'm not interrupting anything," Ohgi said as he came in. He didn't voice it, but he managed to catch most of the conversation. He was happy for them, especially Kallen for making so many new friends.

"What's up, Ohgi?" Kallen asked.

"I just wanted to inform you that that Britannian Pureblood you brought back, Villetta, she's awake," Ohgi told them, "But… there's a problem."

"What is it?" Lelouch asked, frowning.

"She must have hit her head or something in your last fight," Ohgi guessed, "she doesn't remember anything. When we called her by her name, she didn't respond. She doesn't even know her own name."

Lelouch's eyes widened as he glanced at the other Paladins. Ohgi was right. This was a problem. If Villetta had really gotten amnesia, what did they do with her now?

o~o

Mao groaned as he opened his eyes. Once his eyes adjusted, the first thing he spotted was the dark walls around him. Shooting up, all he could see was darkness, with slight splotches of purple lining the walls.

He squinted, and spotted a figure on the opposite end of the room, staring at him. They had a hood pulled over their head, and he could barely make out the lining of their jaw, though their white hair stood out like a beacon in the darkness.

The being approached, seeing that he was awake. That's when Mao realized something else. He couldn't hear anything. Not a single thought was entering his head!

"I... I can't read your mind… are you… are you like C.C.?" his mind wandered back to the thoughts of the Paladins, and a face popped up from their memories. The face of a sworn enemy of Voltron, "You're Haggar."

"You think your power can only let you read minds?" Haggar asked him. Mao eyed her with interest, "Foolish boy. Your 'Geass' that you have now is only the tip of the iceberg. But more importantly, I know you desire this C.C. girl, but there's something else you want much more. Revenge against the Paladins. Am I correct?"

Mao's eyes widened, and he nearly saw red. Just the mention of those traitorous thieves made him clench his fists, hatred coursing through his veins.

"Well, I think I may have the solution for you then," Haggar said with a smirk, noticing Mao's reaction, "I can grant you power beyond anything you've experienced before. In return, however, you will pledge your fealty to Zarkon and his Empire and will let me study this C.C. girl. If you accept these terms, then you can have C.C. all to yourself, and have each of the Paladins heads on a platter."

A sinister smile had grown on Mao's face as he continued to listen to the witch. He may not be able to read her mind, but he also wasn't as stupid as Lelouch thought. Right now, he didn't care what happened to him. All that mattered to him was revenge. And if this witch could give him that, then so be it! Once the Paladins were gone, he could finally be with C.C., and nothing would bother them or separate them again!

"I accept!" he grinned, sticking out his hand.

Haggar smirked and gracefully clutched the Earthling's hand firmly in her own. The moment they made contact, sparks of malicious black lightning shot in all directions, and Mao screamed in sudden pain. Before his eyes, a familiar vision over him. The same tunnel he saw when he was six sucked him deeper and deeper inside. However, as he descended, the walls turned from a soothing blue to an evil purple and maroon, black and indigo lights flashed all around him.

He finally came to the end, seeing nothing but a white void surrounding him. This barely lasted a moment before dark creatures began swirling and writhing around him. As he clutched his head, he saw an inferno completely devouring a planet he didn't recognize, and the pained screams of the dying consumed his ears.

After several more minutes of this torment, it stopped just as suddenly as it began. Mao was slumped over, on the floor, clutching his skull.

His eyes flickered open, and the sigil in them that was once red morphed into a dark, malevolent black.

#Fanfiction #AU #Voltron #Code Geass #lelouch lamperouge #kallen kozuki #suzaku kururugi #rai (lost colors)#shirley fenette #milly ashford #rivalz cardemonde #allura #coran #c.c.#haggar #mao

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