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twstedwonders · 3 days ago

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SFW Alphabet - Malleus Draconia

A/N: First Post! I do eventually want to do this with all the boys, this just took an unbelievable about of time to write.

I still can't tell when to properly use a comma, semicolon, or hyphen. Pls help.

Warnings: Mention of hair in "Q". Reader may or may not be M/C, up to you, hon.

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

In public, Malleus is a little more reserved with his affections. Being the heir to Briar Valley, he does have to be conscious of public opinion. A kiss to the back of your hand, guiding you through a crowd with a hand on your back, walking around with your arm looped around his. Almost a classy type of affection.

In private, he's constantly touching you. Hand holding as he reads with you doing your own thing beside him, your legs dangling over his lap as you share a pot of tea- his hand caressing your calf, he presses kisses to your head often- even in passing if there aren't too many witnesses. He enjoys your presence and soaking in your warmth.

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

You would have to approach him first. Malleus is often regarded with caution and met with distance from his peers, and to an extent- even his citizens. Once you show him you're interested in knowing him and don't have that trepidation, he's ecstatic and will seek you out, the friendship growing with time.

As his best friend, you have an incredible privilege many others don't get. You see his genuine enjoyment in life. You see the spark in his eyes as he speaks of his passions, you get to hear his laughter as you regale him with silly tales about your day.

He often will gift you little trinkets he finds, and for your birthday, he gives you a replica of your favorite gargoyle he handcrafted himself. You're a very dear person to him, and he holds your opinions very high.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

At the start of your relationship, he's very stiff during any type of cuddling. The Fae has incredible strength, physically and magically. He's overly cautious when handling your much more frail in comparison form.

Once he gets over his fear, and learns to trust himself, he's a cuddlebug. Mentioned in 'Affection', Malleus enjoys being in constant contact with you. Cuddling is a way to relax and have yourself wrapped around him, being as close as possible. He enjoys you laying across his chest, getting to stroke your head and back, and in a way, it feels like he is protecting you from anything and everything the world can throw at you when you're in his arms.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

Malleus does wish to marry you one day. You're the perfect partner for him, and he knows with time you can grow to be a wonderful leader beside him. Ideally, a child or 2 (or more) would be included.

Malleus is competent at cooking and cleaning, but he doesn't have to do it much. He was privileged enough to have attendants do those things for him growing up, but he is more than capable at cooking something for you two and keeping a tidy space.

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

It's hard to imagine Malleus choosing to get romantically involved with someone who isn't completely compatible with him. I kinda feel once he is romantically involved with someone, you are his forever. But let's imagine otherwise, for the sake of writing.

He would take you out for a stroll around the castle at night, enjoying your presence for one last time before he would grab ahold of your hands and turn to face you. With a heavy heart, he would confess how although he still adores you, he believes it to be best if you two were no longer romantically involved. He would likely still keep track of you through life, with how important of a person you were to him.

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

Malleus is not the type of Fae who would enter a relationship if he didn't imagine the possibility of marriage one day. As the heir to the throne, it is encouraged he find a life partner one day. And incredibly enough, he's found you.

Once you two reach a stage of comfortable affection and mutual understanding, he imagines you're already bound for life. It would likely be a few years after that first moment together that you would marry, when he ascends the throne and is proud to have you beside him as his (queen/king).

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

Physically, Malleus is incredibly gentle with you. As stated before, he has incredible strength and fears hurting you, no matter how strong and durable you may be. Even with time, when his touches grow more confident, they're still very gentle. Malleus for all his power and wisdom, is gentle for you. Gentle with you.

Emotionally, he may have some hurdles as he's never been emotionally open with anyone before like this, but he still tries his best to be gentle. You may have to speak up if he is ever unintentionally harsh in his wording- and this usually comes from his isolated upbringing, never from a place of animosity.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

Similar to 'Cuddles', Malleus loves having you in his arms. It's a way to feel like he can protect you from the world and its harshness. He also just enjoys holding you, embracing your form and breathing in your scent. His hugs are secure, but of course, gentle. He wraps his arms around you, and cradles your head into him. His chest, his neck, wherever you can comfortably reach. And if you're somehow even larger than he is, he would like to bury his head in your neck, but is worried about his horns.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

You know his love for you long before he actually states it. He likely even needs assistance from Lilia to recognize the actual term for it before he tells you. He shows his love for you practically everyday, in both subtle and major ways. He always wishes to be with you, he shares his hobbies with you, he's always mindful of your state of being, checking in on you and how you're doing. He's affectionate with you, when he's usually a reserved person, and he finds solace with you.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

Now in the beginning, Malleus is rather jealous. He's jealous when you spend time with others, wishing to spend and experience moments together. He's jealous when he hears your laughter across the hall, wishing to be the one bringing you such joy. He's jealous when you touch another person, even in the most innocent ways, wanting to be the one who feels your touch. He's very.. pouty when jealous, as his jealousy is a more innocent and pure form. He's not insecure, he just wishes to be the one experiencing these things with you instead of others. With time, he learns to control his silly jealousy, and grows confident in his status as your one and only.

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

As most things are when involving Malleus, his kisses are often soft, but consuming. When he kisses you, it's easy to get lost in them, get lost in him. He will delicately press his lips to yours, tilting your head to the side as he cups your cheek, caressing your skin with his thumb. He merely loves kissing you. Placing a kiss to your forehead as you part ways for the day, or to your hand if you're in a crowded place. He kisses your neck when he's feeling a bit cheeky and wants a little more attention from you. He kisses your head often when you cuddle, merely getting the urge to press his lips to you and acting on it. In the same vein, he just enjoys getting kisses from you, but his favorite kiss is when you come up to him as he's sitting, sweeping aside the bangs covering his forehead and placing your soft lips to his scales that rest there. You pull away with a smile and gaze into his eyes, such warmth and love reflected in them he feels like he will combust.

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

Now as someone so reserved and elegant, Malleus can be awkward around the more rambunctious and energetic children. But those quiet ones? The ones who perhaps are off by themselves enjoying the peace, or are a little shy? He's a sight to behold. He will lower himself to their height with a small smile and speak to them in a soft voice. Asking them "what do you have there little one?", and "my, what a lovely spot you've found. Can I join you?" Somehow, he can make even the most shy child come out of their shell and watching their interaction makes you melt.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

While attending the College, you and Malleus may have completely different daily schedules, so mornings and nights are very dear to you two. You wake up to the ceaseless motion of a hand trailing along your back, Malleus waking you slowly and softly. He is almost always awake before you, as a Dragon Fae, he doesn't require as much sleep as others. You spend a serene few moments encased in each other's arms, enjoying the rays of light trailing in through the window before you have to separate and get ready for the day. He will try to walk you to your first destination, but if he cannot, he bestows upon you a sweet and tender kiss.

Once you move into the castle with him, not much changes. He still wakes you softly, wrapped up in his arms, but this time you two get to enjoy a cup of tea together, speaking about your plans for the day. If it's a day off or responsibilities are later in the day, you two will have some pastries with your tea and enjoy a slow morning before changing into appropriate attire and moving on to the dining room to have breakfast.

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

Regardless whether you're at the College, or the castle, nights are almost always the same. Its the biggest routine you establish within your relationship, spending nights together.

You two will go for a stroll, whether it be around the college, the castle, some ruins, or old architecture. You speak of your day if it was spent apart, or merely what comes to mind. Sharing worries, fears, or concerns to see the others opinion on a bothersome subject, eventually trailing off into a comfortable silence as you enjoy the brisk night air and stars twinkling in the sky.

On days when the weather is too chilly, you spend nights by the fire, cuddled up with a warm drink and reading or doing some simple paperwork. Malleus will always try his best to ensure you fall asleep beside the other, and very rarely has he ever broken his promise.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

Most of what you learn about Malleus happens slowly, starting during the stages of your friendship. Malleus can be an open book for those he trusts, but it takes a lot to get there. Once you two take a more romantic turn, he will reveal things of his past that may not be entirely pleasant to remember. The loneliness, his fears, the pain of losing his parents, things that will tear your heart apart now- knowing what he's been through. Things he may hide from many others, or refuses to be vulnerable with anyone other than you.

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

With all his years of life and being secluded, Malleus has gained incredible patience. He doesn't get frustrated or irritated easily. But the rare times he is angered? Its a terrifying sight. You can feel his anger as it's practically radiating off him. Green lightning flashes across the sky as thunder booms nearby. His words are sharp, voice strong, leaving no place for discussion. He has never been angry at you, hardly ever does he raise his voice at you. Only when he is very passionate about what he's saying will his voice grow louder, and often it is a pleasant thing to see. You're far too precious to Malleus for him to ever grow irate with you.

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

Malleus is the kind of lover who will remember the tiniest details about you. You're wearing a new perfume/cologne? You've changed how you style your hair? New cozy clothing item you practically live in? He's mentioning and complimenting it within seconds of seeing you. If you're out viewing shops, he will observe everything your eyes linger on and will buy it or something similar at a later date. He always listens intently when you're speaking, and if you mention even the slightest preference for something it's being saved in his memory forever.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

Oh, there are so many moments Malleus remembers fondly. The first time he made you laugh so hard you practically crumbled over with tears in your eyes, the first time you laid your head upon his shoulder, when you invited him to spend time with you, your first embrace, first kiss.

But his favorite moment may have to be the time you both were spending time with Silver, Sebek, and Lilia at the dorm and Sebek was telling an obviously hyped up tale trying to impress Malleus and Lilia, whereas Silver was dozing off and Lilia was fondly watching on as you humored Sebek. He felt so complete. This little family was missing something before you, and now with you here, it's perfect.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

Malleus is so very protective over you. Perhaps even a little excessively so. He hasn't had a lot in life he's treasured as much as you, and certainly nothing as frail, so he's a little extreme at times.

He hates to see any sort of harm come to you, he would heal a simple bruise in the beginning of your relationship, and Seven forbid anything made you bleed or cry.

He tries his best to shield you from the cruelty of the world, something he knows all too well. He thinks you're safest beside him-another reason he wishes to spend so much time with you, to protect you from everything. And if somehow he fails that, well, he'll fix it and do more in the future.

As one of the most powerful magi in the world, it's a little unnecessary to protect him. At least, that's what he thinks. You often try to protect him emotionally. You know he gets upset when he is forgotten, and when other students give him a wide berth. You try your best to invite him to school functions, and distract him from other students by getting him to focus on you, something that is very easy to do, with how much he loves you.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

Dates are often simple with you two. You consider your nightly strolls as a date of sorts. Merely enjoying one another's presence in solitude, getting to be affectionate without prying eyes.

Anniversaries, he tries to do something special if your schedules are willing. In the very least, he gifts you something extravagant that you've had your eye on.

For gifts, its been previously mentioned hes very attentive to what your likes are, and he enjoys giving you little things that remind you of his love.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

A bad habit of his is how protective and cautious he is, especially in the beginning. It comes from a good place, but you often have to remind him you're not made of glass and won't break if he's a little more firm in his touches.

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

Malleus has to be well kept, due to his high status. He's not overly concerned, as he has a well refined and elegant style, and he has been gifted with gorgeous looks.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

Before he met you, he often felt something was missing, but was unaware of what that thing was. Once he befriended you, he knew you were someone important to him, and he felt a bit saddened when you spent long times apart. Now, as lovers, he knows he can't be without you. You've become so ingrained in his being, if he were to ever lose you, he would lose a part of himself. He hates to think of how long Dragon Fae lifespans can be compared to others. It's something he tries to push aside.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

You learned early on about Malleus' dislike for whole cakes from Lilia, and already knew by spending time with him that he likes ice cream. For a big celebration of his, you got him a mini ice cream cake. He was hesitant when you revealed the tiny cake, but it was adorable just how excited he got once he cut into it and discovered the ice cream, unaware that the delicacy existed. It was one of the first times you saw genuine elation from him, and you knew you were in deep.

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

In a partner, he wouldn't like someone who is petty or seeks out sympathy. Being the heir to the throne, his partner will have to rule beside him, and you need to have a certain maturity to you. You will have eyes from around the world on you, and need to act a certain way. Malleus isn't expecting perfection from you, and he's very willing to help you grow into a person fit for the crown, but there are some personality traits that are very unattractive, and many that are childish and immature are turn offs.

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)

Before you began to share a bed, he almost dreaded going to sleep. Although he may not need as much rest as most, it's very easy for him to get lost in his thoughts and dwell on unfavorable things as he tries to drift off to sleep. With you- he focuses instead on you. He absentmindedly trails his fingers along your spine as he soaks in your warmth, your scent. He focuses on your breathing and is able to eventually fall asleep to pleasant thoughts of you and your future together.

#twisted wonderland #twst #twst x reader #twisted wonderland x reader #malleus #malleus draconia #malleus x reader #malleus draconia x reader #sfw alphabet

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mona-risms · 2 days ago

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Perchance…Mira with a gn!reader where reader is someone who is famous/if not more famous than huntrix, but they work in a different industry, like acting. (I looove her so much, it’s a tie between who is my favorite between the girls rn..)

◆ MAIN COURSE: Mira x famous actor!gn!Reader

◆ TYPE: SFW, romantic

◆ ALLERGEN WARNINGS: Like. A single tiny mention of the making of intimacy scenes in movies

◆ NOTES: I love them all so much too IT'S SO HARD TO DECIDE WHEN THEY'RE ALL SO SILLY

Oh this is so cute insert that one track that plays with Rujinu meeting that's funny asf 😭

No one would even actually guess that the two of you were actually dating, especially considering idols mostly get matched up with other idols. Even more so during the middle of the movie, where Romirabby was RIFE in the shipping legion

I'd like to think that usually she doesn't really care otherwise, but when it comes to you she actually wants to keep things secret. The two of you both know full well just how fame kinda takes privacy away from the two of you—she just wants to go on dates w you without getting pissed tf off by of the amount of people that'd inevitably swarm the both of you

That DOES obv mean the two of you end up witnessing the multiple speculations in ships that Mira and maybe you too have

"Ro..mi..rabby?" You sounded out in amusement as you lowered your phone just to look down at your girlfriend, who was scrolling through her own phone while nestled into your side, "Sounds.. creative."

Mira snorted, and you could tell she rolled her eyes even if you couldn't see her face, "Sounds like a disease. Like rabies."

"Aww, don't be like that," you dropped your phone on the side of the bed to fully wrap your arms around her, pressing a kiss on the top of her head before watching her screen, "they seem nice."

"Right. 'Nice'."

"And your hair colours match! Like a pink poly trio. K-Pop news of the century."

"Are you seriously shipping your own girlfriend with two other people?"

"I mean.. the guy with the abs definitely seems like your type."

Mira turns her phone off before squirming to turn and look up at you, "You're my type."

A large grin stretched your lips, "Yeah?"

"Yeah." And she crawls up to press a kiss square on the lips, lingering long enough for you to draw random circles on her hips as her hand went up to lightly cup your cheek. When the two of you eventually pull away, she leans her forehead onto yours before murmuring against your lips, "So stop looking at them. And stop ego-feasting—you get that enough as is."

"Boo."

It'd definitely be mind-boggling for her, that she's managed to bag someone like you. Not just bc of your fame—she understands VERY well how it can eat at your time, but you two make it work frfr—but bc even with HUNTR/X, it's crazy to think that there's someone like you that makes her feel like she's home by just existing

The two of you would def be each other's hypeman trust. Like you support her with her idol stuff, and you'll have her binging every single thing you've acted on; she's gonna tease the living shit out of you if you've ever said/done smth embarrassing for a script, but she does it out of love trust. She'd also come watch you on-set too!! And make fun of you LMAO but it makes things much more fun. OH and since she knows how to choreograph, even as a dancer, it's still useful when it comes to shit like fight scenes for example. And with her experience as a Hunter fighter, it's genuinely really helpful

In a relationship with Mira, especially when you're someone famous, I think there's that cemented understanding that the both of you have your own lives and you're gonna be doing different things. You hang out with each other when you can, and you ALWAYS come home to each other in the end, but time can be sparse. So you two would often do whatever you can to stay connected—calling, texting, gifting, the works

This would prob be especially the case when it comes to you, considering you're an actor in this scenario. You'd be playing different characters and different scenes, and some scenes would be.. Something. Kiss scenes, intimate scenes, that kind of stuff. She's protective, hell yes she is, but she also knows that this is something you do in your job anyway 🤷‍♀️ to compromise, her request is that if you ever do an intimacy scene (which honestly the ideal case is to just lessen the amount you'd have to do, best case you do none at all), you let her know so that she can carve out time to watch you film and make sure that all the proper procedures are taken (intimacy coordinators doing their jobs, camerawork, etc). Unless you two have revealed your relationship, they'd just think you two are besties and she's protective of her bestie

HUNTR/X would be your biggest supporters. We know Zoey is an all-time fangirl of all things right. Like she is THE rep for us all. So her finding out that Mira's been dating this WORLDWIDE FAMOUS ACTOR THIS ENTIRE TIME ARE YOU JOKING???? AND SHE DIDN'T THINK TO SAY ANYTHING?!??!?!?! This girl would be freaking out, sobbing, asking for an autograph, EVERYTHING. Rumi's calmer, and would most likely be more impressed at the fact that you two kept it quiet, IF you keep your relationship a secret from them too at first (probably just at first when Mira's got no clue if it'll last or not, then she'd probably say something bc hellooooo they're HER FAMILY!!!!!!) BUT she's still sososo happy anyway and will also tease Mira to DEATH about it

Apart feom all that though? I don't think your dynamic would be any different to if somehow you two weren't famous whatsoever. She doesn't care about your fame!!! She genuinely just loves you and wants to support you as much as she can, not in the way a fan would with an idol or someone famous, but in the way that someone who loves someone so deeply would support her beloved. After being discarded and not loved in that way for most of her life, she refuses to let this relationship sour via treating it the same way her family treated her when it came to affection :(

#mona's main course...#mira x reader #kdh mira x reader #kpop demon hunters x reader #kpop demon hunters imagines #kdh x reader #kdh imagines #huntrix x reader #huntrix imagines #huntr/x x reader #huntr/x imagines

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sturniololuvz · 8 hours ago

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Can you make a very angsty sister fic pls I feel like reading something sad

you got it! my favorite thing to writeee!

⸻

“You Never Ask If I’m Okay.”

It’s 12:43 a.m. and you’re staring at the ceiling again.

Your chest feels tight, like someone’s sitting on it. Your eyes are raw, but not from crying — crying would be a relief. You’re just tired. You haven’t truly slept in… four nights? Five?

You lost track.

Everything feels too loud lately. The triplets are always filming, always laughing, always moving. You love them. God, you love them. But you can’t keep up. And they don’t notice you’ve stopped trying.

You haven’t eaten dinner in two days.

No one asked why.

Your grades are slipping.

No one noticed.

You stopped talking as much.

They just talked over you.

Tonight, you tried to clean up the kitchen. Just something small. Something to make you feel useful. And when Chris came in and saw the broken glass on the floor — you didn’t mean to drop the mug, your hands were just shaking — he lost it.

“Jesus, Y/N, can you not just not break shit for once? Seriously? Every time you try to help, you just mess things up.”

His voice was sharp. Louder than he meant. But it hit you like a slap.

You froze.

The lump in your throat was instant. You nodded silently, kneeling to pick up the shards.

But your hands were already trembling, and now they were worse.

“Don’t pick that up, you’ll cut yourself,” Matt said gently from the doorway, finally noticing something was off.

Nick was behind him. Quiet.

Chris was still pissed, muttering something under his breath — until he turned and saw your face.

Your lip was trembling. Your eyes were wide and glossy.

And then the words fell out of you like a dam breaking:

“You never ask if I’m okay.”

Silence.

The glass clinked against the trash bin as your hands shook.

“You just assume I’m fine,” you whispered. “Like I don’t feel things. Like I don’t get tired. Like I’m not in this house trying so hard to be seen.”

“Y/N—” Chris’s voice cracked, but it was too late.

“I haven’t slept in five nights, Chris,” you said, louder now. “I can’t breathe some days. I feel like I’m falling apart and none of you even see me.”

The tears came hot and fast now. Ugly, chest-heaving sobs that made your whole body shake.

You collapsed onto the floor, knees tucked under your chin, as if curling up small enough might make the pain stop.

Chris was frozen. Staring.

Matt rushed forward, kneeling beside you. “Y/N, hey, hey, hey, it’s okay, it’s okay—”

“No it’s not,” you sobbed. “I don’t want to feel like this anymore.”

That’s when Chris moved. Fast. He dropped down beside you, arms wrapping around your shoulders, pulling you tight against his chest.

“Shit, Y/N, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he whispered into your hair. “You didn’t deserve that. You didn’t. I didn’t know—fuck, I didn’t know.”

You didn’t even respond. You were just crying.

Crying like you hadn’t cried in years.

Chris held you tighter.

Nick crouched nearby, eyes red, watching you like he didn’t know whether to hug you or cry himself. Matt placed a blanket over your shoulders and wiped your cheeks gently with a tissue.

Eventually, the sobs turned to soft hiccups.

Your breathing slowed.

Chris was still holding you, rocking you slightly like when you were little and had night terrors.

And then your body went still.

You’d fallen asleep in his arms.

A quiet hush fell over the room.

They didn’t move for a long time. Chris looked up at his brothers, eyes glassy.

“She’s not okay,” he whispered.

“I know,” Nick said quietly.

“We haven’t been paying attention,” Matt added.

“We gotta do better,” Chris murmured, pulling the blanket tighter around you. “She’s our baby sister. We can’t keep missing it.”

That night, they carried you to bed together.

And none of them slept.

They just sat in the hallway, eyes on your door, finally understanding that the quietest person in the house had been screaming for help.

And no one had listened.

⸻

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brooklyn-duo · 5 hours ago

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Bucky tries to keep up with everything Tony was saying, it was hard to stay focused when he kept touching the metal arm and hand and he was getting overly focused on the way that felt. He hadn’t expected this but the way Tony trailed a finger down his palm tickled a little, which made Bucky smile as he’s listening, nodding as he understands the point about what the neuro receptors did and the way his brain figured out what those signals were for.

He grows serious as Tony explains the potential drawbacks and side affects, or the fact that there might be side affects and they had no idea what they were. He swallows uncomfortably the mention of being a test subject, that was what he had been for HYDRA and essentially in Wakanda when they were figuring out how to break his conditioning. He knows that Tony didn’t mean it like that and if he hadn’t been masking the other fears and insecurities already it wouldn’t have mattered as much but it made his stomach turn even if he refused to show it.

“I..I’ll keep a close eye on how it feel and if I noticed anything out of the normal although..that might take a second to figure out what even is normal since this is new to me too. I..I’ll try though, try to keep track of things and I’ll keep you updated too,” he offers softly, looking down at his black and gold hand for a long moment.

One thing that did help cheer him up internally was knowing that the next time he touched Tony, even just held him, he’d feel him with both arms now. And he hadn’t realized it since he’d been having the other one for decades, but he had felt like sort of a machine with a missing part when it came to his senses, since he couldn’t feel with his hand or arm. Being able to now, even if it wasn’t totally the same as the feeling in his regular arm, he felt a little bit more whole than he had before and that makes him smile again.

“This..Tony, this means so much to me, all of it, thank you for…i mean if it wasn’t for that first appointment I don’t think this would have happened so..so thank you. And seriously…I’m buying dinner next time,” he chuckles even though he’s dead serious. He had no idea how to thank Tony for being part of this and for helping him, what do you get or do for a guy who had everything he possibly wanted and if he didn’t he just got it for himself? He would make it a point to figure out the food delivery apps sure but maybe there’s something he could do for Tony, something small, it would have to be heartfelt because that’s something you can’t buy.

Bucky’s eyes widen, “No! No that’s why I asked, it’s so much better than anything i’ve ever had from that cafeteria, I thought maybe you had a special connection in the kitchens and got the good stuff,” he grins, taking another bite and its quiet while he chews and swallows, “You made me a sandwich for after surgery? That’s real nice Tony, thank you,” he says with a warmer, sincere smile, tempted to reach out his hand but he didn’t know how Tony felt about that now that Steve was around.

Steve knew about them sure but Bucky was used to tamping down the affection in front of anyone, so he busies his hand with reaching for the cup of ice. He picks it up with his metal hand, eyes widening as he could feel the cold beneath his fingers. He sets his sandwich on the wrapper and pours some water into the cup, unable to resist the urge to dip his finger in it, staring in awe as he was able to feel the wetness of the water, and the chill from the cold.

“Jesus..I ain’t felt anything with my left hand since I fell..” he mumbles, trying to come to terms with the fact that he would be able to feel with both hands now. His flesh hand travels up to his shoulder to feel the skin at the base where the prosthetic connected to his arm, “and my shoulder doesn’t hurt anymore, the Cradle must’ve done it’s job..”

#ironwinter rp #pick your battles #james buchanan barnes #tony and bucky #bucky barnes rp #marvel roleplay #bucky barnes roleplay #mr tony stark

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sydwritess · 3 days ago

Text

The Life of Racing Pt. 1

Lando Norris x fem!reader

Summary: through it all, the racing, the media, the meetings. What matters to Lando the most is you. His home life is just as important as track life. Some days, he doesn't balance it easily. But through it all, the both of you try. Going through some challenges, but always coming out together, hand in hand again.

Second Person POV

Notes: my first F1 series! Requests are open!

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08

You were a well know journalist in the F1 community. You were known more for what your write. Articles on driving life, as well as interviewing drivers about their F1 experience as a whole.

To say the least, you were well respected in the community, and by the public, you were known as an influencer to. You showed up at multiple events and races, surly not as big of a base as the drivers, but people knew you.

You were hired by f1 around a year ago. Climbing your way up the ladder in the workforce.

You were grateful to be working there. And you weren't alone in it either. Your best friend, Lewis, has been by you for what feels like forever, seeing how your families did know each other too.

Article after article. Late night after late night. You got so well ahead that some of the drivers started talking to you and hanging out with you on paddock. Which tells the story itself, seeing how you were an interviewer.

Your main focus was on the McLaren team. Zak, your boss, knew you were a 'hard worker' from the moment he saw you, he said.

Now you were at the Canadian GP. You were walking out of the paddock and into the McLaren garage, sitting down at a desk they watched the races from.

You got out your laptop, notebook, and pen. Cliking it quickly on the desk, out of anxiousness.

"Y/n, did you get those interviews recorded today?" Zak asked, walking by you in a hurry.

"Yeah. I'm working on it." You say tiredly.

It was a long day to say the least. A long week. You look over to your right, seeing Lando sit down next to you.

He smiled slightly before logging into a computer.

"Looks like someone can't keep up with this job." And engineer said from the back.

"Will you shut the hell up?" You say, slamming your pen down and looking at the person. He just put his hands up in defense and turned around.

"Fucking Christ." You mumble, turning back around to your laptop.

"Y/n, do you need to go home? It's been a long day-." Zak said quietly, walking up behind you.

"No. I need to get this done." You say. He takes a deep breath before walking away.

You were working silently for a couple of minutes, writing down notes from today's interview.

"What are you working on?" Lando asked quietly, leaning over and looking at your screen.

"Just... today's interview." You say. He nodded his head silently.

"You know. Don't listen to Gerard. He's always and asshole." He says, a slight grin forming on his face.

"Thanks." You say, smiling slightly.

You continue working on different article drafts for Zak, hoping to get them published this week.

Next to you, you hear Lando sigh deeply, rubbing his hands on his temples slowly. He had the replay paused on his crash.

"You shouldn't let one crash define who you are." You say quietly.

"What do you mean?" He asked, looking at you with a straight face.

"Within the short time I've been here. I can tell your the type to beat yourself up about one mistake. You just... shouldn't." You say.

"You know, you definitely have some great opinions." He says, smirking.

"It's called... being open minded." You say, letting out a huffed laugh.

You continued to work on your drafts, while also looking at the interviews from today. You were deeply focused on what you were working on, signaling out Lando's voice.

"Do you want to hang out tonight?" That came clear to you.

"We can. But I'm just going to be reviewing the race. Nothing special." You say.

"That's fine. We can work, or do whatever." He smiled.

"Yeah, okay meet me at my hotel room around five." You say. You write down the floor and room number and give it to him.

"Fancy." He said slyly.

"Please, I bet you have a full house out there." You joke.

"Maybe. Maybe not. But..." He holds up the paper. "I'll meet you there." He says.

It get's closer to evening time, and people start to leave. You begin to pack up your things and leave the garage, walking down the paddock strip.

The crowds were dying down. There was a long line to get out of the gates. You walk around to the back entrance, mainly for workers.

You walk up to the gates, security guarding the entrance.

"Ms. Y/n, right this way." One of the guards say. He walks right next to you, leading you to your car.

You look at him slightly confused along the way.

"It's a new protocol. Anyone who works here, or who is known to the public eye, unfortunately needs escort." He says.

"Right, okay."

You walk down to your car, the guard opens your door for you.

"Thank you." You say, he nods and shuts it when you get in.

You slowly drive out of the parking lot, making your way out of the circuit and into downtown.

You made your way through the heavy evening traffic and to the hotel. You quickly walk through the lobby, and to the elevators.

It took a minute before the doors finally opened. You stepped inside, clicking the 30th floor button. The elevator slowly rose to the top.

You got off and walked down the hallway, entering your room at the end.

It was big to say the least. A little foyer at the front. Straight in is a small living room, to the left was a kitchen and small island, and to the right was a small hallway leading to the bedroom and bathroom.

It was spacious, which you were grateful for seeing how you were spending over a week here.

You kick off your shoes, putting them under the bench near the door, and dropping your keys down on the table.

You walk into the living area, quickly turning on the TV, putting on the race to review for work.

You walk over to the kitchen, grabbing a wine glass and a bottle of Barolo wine.

Your pour some into the glass and go sit int he living room, watching the TV and taking down notes.

You continue the notes that you need to when you hear a light knock on the room door. You walk over to it, and open it slightly. Lando stood there.

"Hey, come on in." You say, moving over. He walks in slowly, standing across from you as you close the door.

"I'm just finishing his up." You say, lazily pointing to the TV as you sit on the couch.

"It's alright, I don't mind watching me be a brilliant racer." He teased. Sitting down to the left of you.

"Yeah, I mean, you totally didn't crash or anything." You smile. You press play on the race, grabbing your notebook.

"You've got a lot of notes." He says.

"Got a lot of writing to do." You say.

You keep you eyes on the TV, writing down details of different laps. You are mid sentence when Lando reaches over and takes your book and pen, setting it down on the table.

"Hey, what are you-" You cut yourself off when he put's his hands around your waist, effortlessly pulling you onto his lap, gently kissing you on the forehead.

"I hate hiding us." He sighs. You reach your hand to the back of his head gently.

"I know. But you knew this when we started going out." You say.

"Is it wrong to want to brag about my beautiful girlfriend all over social media? Or tell people that your mine when walking around the paddock?" He whines.

"No, but you can't. It might get us in trouble." You say.

"By who?"

"By our boss. Who does, might I add, have a very, very high temper some days."

"We could find a new job."

"Your really willing to let go of a Formula One career for a relationship?"

"If it means I get to stay with you, then yes." He said, putting his head into the crook of your neck.

"You'll be fine. At least we get to be together after work."

"But it's to short of time." He mumbles into your neck. There was a pause, a deep silence.

"Do you know why I crashed today?" He asked, looking up at you.

"Why?"

"Because you weren't there to hold my hand, or kiss me before getting into the car or I couldn't post you on Instagram the night before." He said, slowly, and sadly.

"So am I just your good luck charm?"

"No- no, no I'm just saying. I missed you, that's why I crashed." He said, backing up his answer.

"Hmm, I think you crashed because you thought you could get through a gap that wasn't big enough." You say, looking him in the eyes.

"Because I wanted to impress you." He said, smirking.

"Impress me?"

"Yeah. Like how you impress me."

"How do I impress you?" You ask curiously.

"Because, some people might think your just another journalist, but your good at what you do. And you even need a security escort to your car at work." He said.

"Yeah, and he told me it's for every worker on the circuit."

"He just said that to make you feel not special." He said, pausing. "He downgraded my girlfriend."

"Downgraded? Lan I don't think-"

"Yes he did." He interrupted.

"Okay... whatever you want to believe." You say, smiling. He leans to the table, grabbing your book and pen.

"You can write again." He smiles.

"Thanks." You say. You flip open the notebook to an empty page, and start writing something.

Lando tried to peer over to your book, but you turned it away, closer to you. You finish writing your sentence, and give it to him.

"Lando Norris, states privately that he crashed into Oscar in Canadian GP due to his secret girlfriend, journalist y/n, y/l/n, not giving him a kiss before getting in the car." He mumbles.

"Y/n." He gasps. "You can't write this!" He said, scrambling the notebook back into your hands.

"Oh I'm sorry. Weren't you the one who wanted to brag about e everywhere?" You ask.

"Yes but that's different. That is my love. This." He said, tapping on the page. "Is just calling me out."

"I thought." You pause, working up fake tears. "I really thought you loved me." You say.

"Awe come on, don't be sad. I do love you." He says, cradling you in his arms like a kid.

"It's a joke."

"Not a very funny joke." He says sternly. You stay like that for a couple of minutes in silence. The race playing in the background.

"Can I spend the night tonight?" Lando asks.

"You really want to risk that?" You ask, pulling your head away fro hi.

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is that you and Oscar are only a couple floors above us. He's staying right next to you. And he's suspicious of like... well everything." You say.

"So, I can just leave early."

"Right. Did you forget he has early training tomorrow?"

"Wait- how do you know that?"

"Because there's a calendar in the team garage."

"Okay, then I will leave extra, extra early." He says, smirking.

"Whatever you say." You smile.

Hey loves! Pt. 1 of 'The Life of Racing' is here! Hope you like it, any more chapters to come! Comment ot be added to the F1 tag list! Requests are open!

Tag list:

@mimisweetz

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fatehbaz · 20 hours ago

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pondering some stuff on refrigeration. (just woke up and have to go straight to work [on what was supposed to be my one day off], so couldn't round-up all the other good stuff on refrigerated ocean liners and bananas/fruit, maritime shipping, canal in Panama, and other turn-of-the-century US plantation interests in Latin America. sorry. go check out some images of United Fruit Company print advertisements for luxury leisure cruise tours in the Caribbean aboard their Great White Fleet circa 1915 to 1930.)

It took a lot of effort to get ice around the globe. […] This guy Frederic Tudor, he basically dominates the American ice trade across the nineteenth century. He develops technologies for insulating ice in the hulls of ships […]. So he’s harvesting pond water from the American northeast in Massachusetts and Maine. Typically, he’s using sawdust as just a byproduct of the Maine lumber industry […].

The majority of the ice trade goes to cool down sweltering British colonialists who are in Bombay and Calcutta and really desiring a nice cold drink. Speculative shipments go off to South America, to the Caribbean, to the American South. [...] But what really blows my mind about these particular shipments and these journeys is that you kind of think that they would be going through all of this effort to preserve something, right? To keep maybe a particular product cold and fresh on the way across. No. They were going there to make cocktails. […] So basically, it’s arriving speculatively. […] Tudor, when he first came up with this business idea, he was trying to send it down to places in the Caribbean, particularly Cuba. And sending it to, like, bars and saloons to be served. [...] So he had to bribe bartenders to automatically start putting it in peoples’ drinks [...]. So we have these ideas that, like, it’s inherently refreshing to have these things, but it was actually a learned social practice [...]. [T]he consumption of cold, alcoholic drinks really got attached to ideas of leisure and implicity, and adversely, race and labor. [...]

So ice kind of shows up to this particular social landscape of elite businessmen […]. So ice becomes shipped to Hawai’i in the 1850s and 1860s. […] And not very much time later, freezing and refrigeration technology starts to emerge. […] And then we’ve got these Western ideas of coldness and purity and refreshment. And so we have Native Hawaiian foods that are sour and salty. Room temperature kinds of things. And then we’ve got these Western prized tastes that are sweet and cold […]. We have annexation in 1898. A bunch of American military backed businessmen depose the queen in 1893 […]. And with annexation came the importation of a lot of American legal frameworks […]. So in 1906, we have the Wylie Act, which is the Pure Food and Drug Act, which essentially aimed at regulating product labeling […] in terms of ideas of purity, quality. Right? [...] [T]he US kind of had a little checklist of, “Is it ice cream? Is it not ice cream?” [...] [or] clos[ing] down all of the poi vendors in Honolulu [...]. One place that you can really track changing tastes is through institutions, right? Hospitals, schools, training centers, whatever it is that has a kind of food program, you can look at what's on the menu [...].

Words above from Hi’ilei Julia Kawehipuaakahaopulani Hobart. As interviewed by Jonathan Van Ness. “What’s The Cold, Hard Truth About Ice in Hawai’i? with Hi’ilei Julia Kawehipuaakahaopulani Hobart.” An episode of Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness. 7 December 2022.

Fencing became a primary mode of seizure of […] land and resources for the benefit of individual ranching enterprises in the West. […] Estimates are that 100,000 bovine animals roamed Texas by 1830. Three decades later, on the eve of the Civil War, that number had increased to an estimated 3.5-5 million. […] In the boom years of the 1870s and 1880s, the cattle barons enjoyed “near hegemony” […]. Thus, part and parcel of the American colonial project was this type of land acquisition […]. As the railroads began to extend and connect to rural outposts in the Plains states, entrepreneurs in the new cow towns such as Abilene, Kansas, sought out Texas livestock trails […]. The most-well-known [...] [f]rom 1867 until 1871, the 1,000-mile-long Chisholm Trail was the main livestock trail from Texas, a trail that ran from San Antonio […] and ended at Abilene. […] They collectively drove 600,000-700,000 [cows] north from Texas during 1871 alone, all eventually bound for abattoirs in St. Louis and Chicago. […]

Infrastructural and technological developments at towns such as Abilene […] also represent a singularly important carceral phenomenon of the nineteenth-century United States innovations in transportation, specifically, the “cattle car�� (and by 1869, the refrigerated car that hauled dead animal carcasses) […].

It was primarily British companies that played a major role in developing the transcontinental railroad in the 1870s and 1880s [...] and who eventually also shipped refrigerated cow carcasses to Britain in ocean steamers. […]

Railroad development actually included an array of ancillary infrastructural developments […] - railroad stations with telegraph facilities, supervisory personnel, and company-owned […] stockyards. […] The first twenty-car shipment of cows from Abilene to Chicago was in September of 1867. […] This north-south cattle complex expanded in the 1870s, as the demand for beef, tallow, and hides greatly expanded amid postwar [conditions]. Concomitantly, one of the most significant instruments […] was the revolutionary invention of wire fencing […]. Netz argues for the critical importance […] [of] the case of barbed wire [in] the violent enclosure […] during colonization of the American West. [J.G.] patented barbed wire in 1874 and opened a small manufacturing plant in DeKalb, Illinois, for its production, with large-scale production and sale eventually located to […] Massachusetts. More than 350 barbed wire patents were issued between 1875 and 1890, although it was the [J.G.] patent that came to monopolize the market […]. One rather infamous early adopter in the Texas Panhandle […] fenced in over 3 million acres of public range with illegal fences while others followed suit […]. Also in the Texas Panhandle, [a] Scottish-backed […] ranch pursued its own 3 million acre fencing project, operating on a grant from the state with an estimated 6,000 miles of fence. […] Such […] activities led to what has been called the “Fence Cutting Wars” […].

Text above by: Karen M. Morin. "Bovine Lives and the Making of a Nineteenth Century American Carceral Archipelago". In: Carceral Logics: Human Incarceration and Animal Captivity edited by Lori Gruen and Justin Marceau, pages 261-275, 2022. Online publication date April 2022. DOI: doi dot org slash 10.1017/9781108919210.018 [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me. Presented here for commentary, teaching, criticism purposes.]

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allthingsfangirl101 · 1 day ago

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Not Impressed – Tyler Owens

"Explain to me why we drove forty minutes to see a group of storm chasers?" I asked as we finally got out of the car. I instantly stretched, trying to get any relief for my back.

"Only because they are the best!" My friend, Lily, giggled.

"You mean, the hottest," I corrected, sending her a knowing look.

"Tyler Owens is GORGEOUS!" Mandy sighed dramatically.

"Yeah," I scoffed. "And will most likely die, chasing a damn weather report."

"I know how you feel about. . ."

"Don't," I cut off Jess. "You pestered me for days to come here. I'm here. That doesn't mean I have to hop on the same hopeless bandwagon and goo and gaw over these guys."

"You can at least enjoy how sexy Tyler looks," Mandy smirked.

"For the time being," I mumbled under my breath.

Luckily, I was saved by the over-the-top truck and RV pulling into the rest stop/gas station. I honestly had no idea how my friends knew that the YouTube-famous Tornado Wranglers would stop here. These guys may be good at tracking national disasters, but my friends were good at tracking people.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes as my friends started screaming and excitedly jumping up and down. I could only handle their fangirling for so long. To save myself from second-hand embarrassment, I turned on my heel and headed into the gas station.

I absent-mindedly roamed around, grabbing a few snacks and drinks. I checked out and let out a disappointed sigh when I saw my friends still shamelessly flirting with the Tornado Wranglers.

I walked over to the picnic tables and slowly ate some of the snacks. A lot more time passed. I finished the snacks, but stayed at the picnic table. I knew my friends would come and find me when they were ready to leave.

"Hiya, darling."

I looked up from my phone to see the head storm chaser smirking at me. I smiled politely at him before turning my attention back to my phone.

"I'm Tyler," he introduced himself.

"I know," I shrugged, not looking up from my phone.

"Would you like a picture?" He asked, clearly fishing. "Or a signature? Or a shirt?"

I looked up at him with no amusement on my face. "What makes you think I'm here for you?"

"Well. . . You're here and. . ."

"My friends wanted to see you," I clarified as I stood up and threw my trash away in a nearby trash can. "I, unfortunately, was dragged along."

"Unfortunately," he repeated, clearly surprised. "So you're not. . ."

"Impressed that you chase after tornadoes instead of doing something worthwhile with your life?" I taunted. "No, not at all."

* * * * *

I walked out of the motel office and sighed when I saw that tornado chaser and his friends talking in the parking lot. I quickened my step, hoping to go unnoticed.

It didn't work.

"Well, if it isn't Ms. Not Impressed."

"If it isn't Mr. Trying To Kill Himself," I shot back as I kept walking.

"Whoa," he stuttered. "That seems a bit harsh."

I was hoping he'd give up as I jogged up the stairs, but he didn't. "At least tell me your name!" He called after me.

I stopped walking and crossed my arms over my chest. "Why?"

"So I don't have to keep calling you boring nicknames," he tried to flirt. He tried to pout to get me to give in, but it didn't work. What did work was me realizing that he would probably follow me to my room if I didn't tell him.

"Y/N," I said before walking away.

"Now, was that so hard?" He asked as he chased after me.

"It was painful," I mumbled. He started walking with me and kept looking at me as he got closer.

"I'm Tyler," he reminded me.

"Congratulations," I scoffed.

"What's with you?"

I stopped walking and turned toward him. He cleared his throat as he apologized. "I'm sorry. I just. . . I'm not used to women not fawning all over me."

"Hopefully, you've learned something from it."

"Why aren't you swooning?" He asked.

"Seriously?" I scoffed. "Does it matter?"

"Actually," he said, slightly clearing his throat, "it does."

"It's simple," I sighed. "I'm not into your type."

"My type?"

"Adreneline junkies."

"I wouldn't consider myself an adrenenline junkie," he stuttered.

"Adreneline junkies only care about one thing," I scoffed. "The next big chase or jump or whatever. They don't care about the people in their lives. They would happily die chasing the next big thing, not giving a damn about the person they leave behind."

I turned around and started to walk away.

"Wait!" He yelled, chasing after me.

"No," I spun toward him, catching him by surprise. "I will not wait. You know something, Tornado Wrangler, I've been here before. I used to be in love with an adrenaline junkie just like you. And guess what? The adrenaline won. And I had to bury him."

"Oh," he said under his breath. "Y/N. . . I'm sorry. Maybe we could. . ."

"No," I cut him off. "You seem like a decent guy, but I am not getting my heart broken by another adrenaline junkie."

Part 2

#glen powell tyler owens #tyler owens x reader #tyler owens imagine #tyler owens #glen powell twisters #twisters imagine #twisted fanfic

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vm-haunts · 2 days ago

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The world shaked apart around them as they moved further away from the hospital, debris covering their tracks and buries their way back.

It worked out alright though, in the end.

Between Ghost's help and Jason's better control, they managed well enough to keep the body alive in the chaos around them.

Ghost... isn't entirely sure why that is important when they're both ghosts, but he knows it is.

...

The people around them is... Hard to focus on.

Ghost first noticed at the hospital, with the doctors and nurses passing in and out of their room. They all feel like the cutout background crowd in a cartoon, to him at least.

Jason is getting better, slightly more aware and for longer every time he wakes up. Still, there is no way to tell how much he retains between his wakings, and communication is still hard despite his efforts.

So perhaps the reason Ghost felt like they're drifting is because the other people are all so alive, when they're both dead, and the dead isn't meant to interact with the living. Or perhaps it's because Ghost isn't anchored to anything living, and Jason who is wouldn't feel the foggy glass between him and the world at all.

Whatever the reason may be, if Jason can feel the world better than he does or not, it doesn't change the fact that they just drift through the living's world without much interaction.

Which makes it that much harder to notice, and that much more jarring too, when the living does manage to impact them.

...

Here's a secret: they remembered how to break a man's every finger before they remembered to eat every day.

Although, both realizations actually happened together when they fell over the passed out man, so it doesn't really matter anyway.

It could also be because one is an active threat to them, and the other is an... inconvenience that neither of them had to worry about for a long while.

Between the grave and the hospital, Ghost isn't even sure when was the last time Jason actually has to eat anything. His ghostly self doesn't remember eating anything, ever.

The only thing that matters is that they did remember, when they collapsed after giving the man a broken hand.

The guy has enough on him for a meal or two. It's harder to find somewhere to get said meal, and harder still to get things past their throat, but it worked.

Now they just have to remember to do it often enough the body don't shut down.

...

There's chaos everywhere, ruins and rubbles in place of buildings and streets.

Ghost isn't sure if that makes it better or worse.

On one hand, they fit right in with the miserable people camping out on the streets. No one cares if they can't respond right, not when so many others is just as unresponsive. Shock, ghost recalls, something that'll turn normal people into half living ghosts too. Metaphorically.

On the other hand, they don't know where else to go. Jason still wants to find Bruce, and as much as ghost wanted to help, he has no idea what else he can do when neither of them has a clue on where to and how.

Without a clear destination, the only thing they can do for now is stumble around blind, but Ghost doubt they can sustain it forever. Sure they are getting better at moving the body, but trying anything beyond the most basic instincts remains a struggle.

Guess they'll figure it out as things comes by.

...

There are... people, watching them.

Ghost isn't sure what they want. They aren't like the others that wants their spot to sleep, or the food they aquired. But they must want something from them, even if they can't figure out what.

Jason is wary, though Ghost doesn't feel any kind of hostility from them. They felt like the crows in the graveyard, or the shadows that lives in them. Watching because they're curious, or bored, or because they're told to.

Ghost suppose it doesn't hurt to be careful around them.

So these people watched them, from a distance, and they watched back. On and off again they caught sight of each other, as Ghost and Jason make their way around the crumpled city.

...

They walked some more.

One day they got to the seaside, where they can see the reminants of some collapsed bridges. Jason almost lost it when they did, and ghost still can't tell why.

Ghost steered them away from the ocean after that.

Another time a bunch of clowns tried to jump them outside of a park, but Ghost can clearly hear them scheming. They turned and left before the stupid clowns can start anything, and stayed away from the parks.

The people watching them disappeared for a while, and something is different when they cone back.

The chaos continues in the streets, but the scent of death is letting up. Change is on the horizon, Ghost can tell even without the crows.

...

They tried not to sleep at the same time, but sometimes they still crashes together.

They were moved again, is the first thing Ghost noticed when he wakes up. The second is that they are sitting in a room, with more people watching them.

He was wrong apparently, these people aren't like the crows and the shadows. They are speaking, he thinks, and it's clearer than any other people speaking, but the words eluded him unlike the crow's.

He has no idea if Jason even noticed they were moved. He's been out of it ever since they went to the seaside.

After a while ghost lost interest in the people watching them, when they presented no more threat nor entertainment.

When they wakes again, there is a lady with them, in green rather than black.

Lost Ghosts

[continuation of Little Prayers]

Something went wrong.

The boy woke up. The ghost knew that Jason would wake up, knew it with a surety when he doesn't know anything else. He had been waiting for that moment, for a fellow ghost to emerge ever since he felt Jason's first wobbly core speak.

But that's the problem, isn't it? He was waiting for a fellow ghost to come out of the grave, not- not for the boy to wake up back in his body, still stuck in the casket!

Soon the faint sounds of movement from beneath the grave turned into frantic scratching, and the ghost ties himself into knots with worry. What is he supposed to do? He need to get the boy out, body and all, but how? He had tried digging, but his claws are no help when it pass straight through the earth without moving a single blade of grass.

A distressed cry for help comes from beneath, and suddenly the ghost is hit with a memory. His very first memory really, of a warehouse, of sealed doors, of a freshly forming core's first cry.

Most importantly, of moving a half dead body around.

The ghost frowns at his claws and tried to think. A moment later he sinks into the grave with a reassuring hum, and the faint scratching turned into loud rakes of claws on wood.

...

Breaking through the silk and wood of a casket is a simple task, when sharp claws are involved.

Digging free through six feet of crushing dirt is much harder, but the ghost managed. It does get significantly easier after he found a way to pass through the earth again, this with the boy's body in tow.

The real challenge though, comes after they're out of the grave. Namely it comes in the form of figuring out how to walk. In a physical body. With legs.

Oh he can control the upper half just fine, his own ghostly self has similar enough bits. But legs? Tough luck. Not to mention that this body is also affected by annoying things like physics and gravity.

Even worse, he is also running out of energy, fast.

After the fifth time they land on soft muddy ground, the ghost huffed out a cold breath and laid there for a long second. Five falls in twenty yards, this really isn't going well at all. The edge of exhaustion is closing in swiftly and moving in the boy's body is getting harder by the second. At this rate they're never gonna make it out of the graveyard.

The ghost blinked, and took a moment too long to open his eyes again.

Distantly, he had the impression that someone is laughing.

#dcxdp #dpxdc #danny fenton #jason todd #god of arepo au #little prayers au #yippee this one is done!

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gugudalala · 2 days ago

Text

ft. sae itoshi / rin itoshi x reader

synopsis: They grew up together, hearts quietly entwined — even when Sae left for America. Now that Sae's back, Rin is done watching from the sidelines and pushes his way between them, Sae's long-suppressed jealousy boils over — the quiet bond they once shared threatens to erupt into something far more dangerous.

TW: smut with plot, spanking, degradation, size kink, unprotected, praise, ect+++

words: 1087

A/N. I do not own any of the character or picture (credit to the rightful owner) only the plots are mine.

Enjoy ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧

CH: 1 | 2 | 3

────୨ৎ────

You slip out of bed quietly, careful not to wake Rin. Last night was never something you imagined would happen. He had always been the quiet, kind younger brother you grew up with. Your family member would never question the night as you sometimes sleep over at his place after some long night tutoring and today they would leave with his family for a trip Sae provided as a gift.

As you dress and move to leave his room, you try not to make a sound, not wanting to disturb anyone else in the house. But just as you reach the hallway, you stop in your tracks — Sae is standing by his door, half-naked as if he’d been waiting for you all along. Without a word, he grabs your wrist and pulls you into his room, the door slamming shut behind you. Before you can react, you're tossed onto his bed, the mattress dipping beneath you.

“Sae?” you breathe, barely getting the name out. It feels like last night all over again but this time with Sae.

His eyes burned with anger, yet beneath it, I could feel the heat of his desire “If I had known, I would fuck you way sooner” he grunted as he got down to the side of the bed. Reaching out to you and force your leg open “No!” you scream as you try to close them. You didn't want him to see the tace that had been left from the night before. But that does not stop him as he forces you out of your dress and rips out your panties keeping you wide open for him.

“You're sore” he mentioned as his hand spread you open. Tracing along your slit, he yank his hand to slap your pussy “I had you first, but you let him steal what already belonged to me” he slapped again on your slit, on your clit, on your tights. You try to squirm and close your leg only to be forced open and slapped harder you choke out a noise somewhere between a sob and a moan as you feel both pain and pleasure from him “I want it red” he demanded as he gave you one last hard slap

he grabs you tight with both hands and keeps you open as he takes his time viewing his work on you. His face was so close to your cunt, you could feel his breath on you. He then licks your pussy soothing the pain that was there. He takes his time tasting you. As he pushes his tongue into you, you whine from the soreness of the night before. But that didn’t stop him as he kept linking using his tongue to pleasure you. You can’t help but feel the tension in your stomach knowing that soon you will cum, you grab onto his head trying to push him out only for him to dig in deeper, and you come onto his face. By the time you come down from your high the whole lower half of the face is soaked and dripping and he still doesn’t stop

“Please, no more…” you plead. But that does not stop him. He used his tongue to play with your clit as he used his finger to gather your juices to play with your arse “No! Don’t—please, not there… I’m begging you” you cry out to him “You give him your front, then I should take mine as well” he murmurs, voice low, taunting. He pushed his finger in deeply, spreading you open. He kisses, licks, and plays with your clit to make you feel nothing but pleasure. You could feel the coil coming back, you reaching your peak again with a shaking leg. He got up and remove his pants, at this point you are too tired to even move. He sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled you onto his lap with your back to him and your leg wide open. You could feel the cold air hit you cunt. He adjusts himself and rubs his cock on your slit taking all the juices before then he slowly pushes it back into your arse.

You tense up as you feel it going into your back “Relax” he groans as one of his arms holds you to him he uses his other hand to finger you. Being distracted from the pleasure from your front makes you relax and he was able to make you sink down to him, talking him whole.

“I know you can take it, what a good slut you are” his hand continues to finger you as he makes you bounce on his cock. He slides in and out, harsh thrust, so deep that your eyes roll back and you let out choked moans. You never felt this much pleasure from both front and back, you can't help but scream his name.

“That right scream my name, so he knows who fucking you” he thrust in harder both front and back. “Too much, too much” feeling from both sides, making you feel dizzy. The pleasure is too overpowering but what Sae did next pulls you back to your senses “Look who is here to watch” he whispers against your ear. You look up, coming to your senses to see Rin standing in front of you. Your eyes widen, heart pounding, as you meet his eyes burning with a mix of desire. But even with Rin in front, Sae didn’t stop he kept on thrusting while all you could do was whimper and taking it all.

You let out a broken moan reaching yet another climax and he grinned “Go on come, come like a whore you are” You came squirting, making a mess all over the place. His finger doesn’t stop making your mess go everywhere “Good fucking girl” after a few thrusts he comes into your arse.

You’re so far past tired, it’s like your body doesn’t belong to you anymore. Every inch of your skin is still echoing with last night’s touch and this morning’s cruelty. Sae lowers you onto the bed and Rin is still there, unmoving—silent, unreadable like a storm waiting to break.

Their eyes meet over your barely conscious body, and the air thickens. Something cracks between them, quiet but violent. You can’t tell if it’s jealousy, guilt, or possession snapping taut, but it coils in your chest like a warning.

You know, with a sinking certainty, that today isn’t over. It’s only just begun.

#blue lock smut #blue lock #bllk #rin itoshi x reader #sae itoshi x reader #bllk smut #bllk headcanons #bllk itoshi rin #bllk itoshi sae

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3rizu · 2 days ago

Text

The Look In Your Eyes

Pre-relationship

He fell first and fell harder everyone knew he had a crush on you even people he wasn’t familiar with so most guys stayed away from you

Everyone knew that if you were drunk he was automatically going to volunteer to take you home not take advantage of you like some weirdo but because he wanted to keep you safe

Some people said his pupils were shaped as hearts when his eyes landed on you, did not matter how you were looking that day or night

He always glared at guys when they came up to you trying to flirt with you most just ended up backing off because they didn’t feel like dealing with him

Nobody heard the end of it when he found out you were going on a date all they heard was him being a dumbass for not confessing

He was always found in his room sobbing whenever he found out you had a boyfriend that wasn’t him all of his friends just looked at him with pity

If you were heels and your feet start to hurt he’s immediately taking them off of you taking his time so he doesn’t hurt you then he carries you

After this happened a couple time he figured out your shoe size and just bought you some sandals and shoes to keep in his car for you

He loves going out with you doesn’t matter what it’s for lunch, shopping spree, or just hanging out he’s right there though for shopping sprees he mostly always pays

Is absolutely obsessed with the way you seem to light up when someone mentions something that you’re passionate about

You once left the door open while showering and gave him a peek he got bricked up and couldn’t forget how you looked like naked

He does get hard when he looks at you it’s a pin in the ass since he always has to cover himself or go jerk off

If you’re still studying he is always there to be you’re study buddy and he does great at it too so you’re always asking him to help

Foams at the mouth because of the way you smell perfume on or not he thinks you smell like flowers blooming in spring

(He bought the perfume you wear the next day)

Is a fein for you he’s acting like a dog when you’re around you could order him around like he’s some servant and he’ll listen

He knows when you’re uncomfortable when a man is trying too hard to get into your pants so he immediately steps in and makes the guy apologize

He loves when you touch him doesn’t matter where he is melting at the mere touch of your finger tips

Every relationship you’ve had an argument starts about how your boyfriend wants you to stop being friends with him though as you’re oblivious you think they’re insecure

He gives your exes the most smug look ever when you guys come across them at some store

If you have pets he starts to buy treats so that every time he comes over he just gives them some like a bribe so they can like him

He will always stand up for you if you’re arguing with friends or some random person he’s right there defending you doesn’t matter if you’re wrong or right

Dating

He’s the sweetest boyfriend alive and your parents/guardian love him to the fullest your friends also love him for you too

He likes when you speak of marriage it gives him a sense of hope since the thought you of both being together till death did you part was a favorable future

He’s tracks your period on whatever app you have Flo, Stardust, etc he has it on his phone and writes down whenever you get it

He makes sure that when he is picking out an engagement ring that he is including very close friend and family’s opinion to make sure it is exactly how you want it to look

He tracks your period so he knows when to be more kind and careful he also tracks it so he can buy you some snack you might be craving

He loves showering with you if you’re comfortable with it since he gets to see your raw self he definitely helps out with washing your hair

He likes to tuck you in bed since you seem comfortable and warm so he’ll tuck you in then slide into bed right next to you and with consent he cuddle up to you

If you like reading books expect books being bought often for you some are even hard cover or whichever you might prefer

If you’re not waiting till marriage the first time is mostly likely passionate and slow since he’s been pining for you for a while

Is in love with every silly quirk you have and does not judge you for them at all he loves for you so if this is a part of you he doesn’t mind he loves you flaws and all

He likes knowing your music taste so when you’re feeling sad or mad he knows exactly what to play to cheer you up

He likes physical touch with you so he’ll always be touching you whether it’s holding your hand, arm wrapped around you, pinky’s interlocked, etc that is though you if don't mind it

If you want children with him he loves the idea though if you’re opposed to the thought of having them he doesn’t mind either since he’s going to have you for the rest of his life and that’s enough for him

As soon as you’re both real comfortable sex with him varies depending on how you want it or how he wants it either rough or slow he’ll do it all for you

When thinking of how he’s going to propose he asks your friends to subtly bring up the way you’d like to be proposed to and he makes sure he has it written down

He honestly had the ring picked out a little early into the relationship it was half a year only because he was saving up for it years of yearning and pining weren’t going to waste

He was a nervous that you would say no to him but his friends talked him down and made sure to give him so comforting words and obviously words of encouragement

He had many dreams of proposing to you the way you’d react and how your eyes would absolutely light up as you glanced at the ring in the little velvet box

If you can’t cook he will either learn for you or he will help you learn how to cook since he wants you to be able to cook for yourself

He made sure that the day before he proposed was filled with you being with friends and family an entire spa day he made sure your hair and nails were done

The day of your engagement he made sure he woke you up with breakfast in bed and then a romantic date and whether your preferred a private one or a public one it happened

When dating if you come up to him with food that you’re offering doesn’t matter what it is he eats it he won’t notice if you’re feeding him pineapple for certain reasons

He could not forget the look in your eyes as you nodded and said yes the ring slipped onto your finger perfectly then he pulled you into a soft kiss

Engaged

When he wakes up and remembers he has proposed to you he tears up and immediately cuddles up next to you he was so glad you said yes

At a time in his life he had honestly thought he would be crying at you getting married to some other man now it was at his own wedding he’d be crying

If you are the type to want a specific wedding he lets you take the lead in everything what food you want served, the cake, the seating arrangements, etc

If you’re the type to not really care he takes over and makes sure that the wedding is unforgettable for everyone that you want to come

If you’re the type to want one that’s only you two or maybe so close friends/family that would also be perfectly arranged for the both of you

He loves the sight of your ring on your finger he’s obsessed with you even more that you’re almost all his to keep forever

Your life doesn’t really change much when you’re engaged with him but gosh the day before the wedding was really nerve wracking for him and you

He is the type to correct people when they call you his girlfriend he’s quick and says “she’s actually my fiance not girlfriend”

He was able to sleep into the night mostly because he was thinking of marrying you and now calling you his wife

If you’re waiting till marriage he is excited but nervous for the wedding night though he is diet will be good including pineapple and other things that’ll help

The thought of being married to you sounds completely unrealistic to him but it is going to happen and you best believe he prays to any higher being that may exist that you say I do

Married

As soon as he sees you walking down the aisle the tears start flowing down his cheeks you look as gorgeous as ever and the dress suits you perfectly

When you get to the altar he almost can’t believe he is going to be your husband he starts to believe that you were a fallen angel with how ethereal you looked

The look in his eyes was almost unreal he looked at you as though you hung the moon and stars like you were a goddess and he was the mortal that you fell in love with

The kiss was absolutely full of love and adoration you could tell he was obsessed with the way he kissed you though he felt quite disappointed when you pulled away

The day went perfectly just as you imagined and how you wanted the cake was perfect and it tasted even better

Some friends pulled you away and he was with his friends looking at you he was so focused on you since you were the star of his life

When the wedding finally ended the room was set up quite beautifully for you and him he especially took his time with you

He whispered loving words into your ear the entire time going soft and slow before he couldn’t hold back anymore and got rough with your full consent

Poor thing felt horrible in the morning when he noticed you had some bruises and were sore you reassured him that you felt fine and it was great

He made sure to make it up to you in several ways whether it was eating you out like you were some type of fine cuisine or when he took care of you like we’re a queen

The honeymoon was lovely and each day felt great when he was with you he loved it because it was just you and him

The wedding ring looked gorgeous though if you’re the type to loose things easily he bought a necklace and put the wedding on it while he bought another ring for the honeymoon

He also has the engagement ring kept safely in a place no one would ever think of looking he would make sure that if you ever had children they could see it

The honeymoon phase never really ended though every once in a while arguments did happen but they were resolved quickly since he didn’t like seeing you angry

He valued your opinion a lot and if you ever mention a friend of his that’s a girl being way too friendly he immediately drops them

Absolute fein for you especially when you guys haven’t had time for sex best believe the bed is creaking loud as hell and your back is hurting the next day

He’s the best with aftercare he immediately cleans you up and if you feel up for it he’ll give you a bath while he massages you

He takes care of everything the sheets, you, the mess made obviously since he made it who else would do it?

You’re then tucked in bed all nice and clean with him holding onto you tight kissing your cheeks and then pecking one final kiss on your ring finger

A/N: again can be imagined as anyone but honestly don’t know if it’s long enough for my liking

Characters aged up

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typewritingyip · 2 days ago

Text

The Arcturus Missions

Part Fifty - Lead Off

Part Forty-Nine

———

There is a difference between the United States government mech program run through their militaries and the state sanctioned program named MECHA. Originally, MECHA was a small private organization with the first US based government contract to build mech suits for the fight against the kaiju.

Eventually, it evolved into the world leading agency that most of the US mech’s went into or were built at, even the military mechs.��

They created the main system for pilot safety and guidelines. Their mission parameters and time limits and logs important towards the health of each mech suit pilot.

It all became dependent on class, whatever class a pilot would be found compatible for would then show what their body could physically handle. Starting from the most limited, Striker, to the maximum known limits in Hunter.

Striker class was expected to roughly be able to do two weeks on with one week off intervals, anything past that would start to show symptoms of overuse and its list of symptoms. Followed by the crash and possible death if overworked.

Rescue class worked primarily on-call when they were more active, now with the limiting number of this class it is less likely to be found compatible with this class. Yet, they would be able to work for an estimated three weeks with ten days off during that time. Taken within thirty minute to five hour intervals at a time.

Tanker class is expected to work two days on with a day off and repeat. So within sixty days, they will have thirty off, but that is just the recommended amount. More often than not, they work on a longer schedule with unhooking from their suit more often.

Hunter class is known to work for weeks to months on end without rest, dependent on what they are tracking. This class is one of the most likely to deal with overuse systems, but has stricter guidelines than the other classes for that reason.

MECHA designed these systems for the world to use, to understand the limits and not push past them at the cost of their pilots.

Dependent on the agency initially was dependent on whether the pilot would follow these specific guidelines.

In the early part of the 2010’s decade, MECHA pulled these guidelines from typical pilot safety programs, labeling them as outdated and unreliable, to the extent of unnecessary. The lead scientist redesigning the annual report on behalf of the US government.

As of this moment in time, it has still not been returned to reports even as the pilots death rates rise, many based on symptoms of overuse.

It is hard to not listen to the world leading scientist, engineer and public speaker for the mech suit cause when they are creating and designing under US government contract. The world leader as of the current era in mech suit design, safety, and pilot registration.

—

The next day came around faster than any of them would have liked, recovery times were shorter than they were on Earth, but it was hard to explain that they needed more than a day or two of rest to completely recover when trying to keep the big secret. Maybe someday they’d all get some bit of rest.

Damn were they tired though and so far were having little to no luck at finding a coffee, soda, or energy drink replacement. Apparently caffeine was harmful to most other organic species. It was deeply annoying.

There was no other way of describing it, they were corpses trying to pull themselves out of their beds. This would mark the third day of their existence being described as corpses, the walking dead, or zombie-like but that was just bound to happen.

Even the Cybertronians seemed tired though, the attack on Iacon had been relatively short but intense. Something like that hadn’t happened in Iacon in almost a thousand years, so they had gone to even more meetings while the humans had slept.

With their new paint dry and ready, there wasn’t much holding them there now. Loading up their suits with supplies wasn’t great though, none of them knew how long they’d be gone and everything from water to food to miscellaneous supplies that they always needed took up a lot of space.

Most of their cots were now resting on top of boxes of the dried foods and cleaning supplies they’d need for being gone for an extended period of time. There was little space to move around in the cockpits of their suits, but rather be safe than sorry and starving.

None of them knew when they’d be back to the apartment, so it was better to be prepared than not.

—

Iacon was the shining city in the north, somehow both familiar and unfamiliar. It often reminded him of his trips to the city as a kid, whether Los Angeles or San Francisco before the first few attacks. Beautiful in a way that made it feel empty, that made it seem like a façade for something worse underneath. He was thankful that it was more history and trying to make up for the past then the present.

The quiet was the best part of the early morning to him, why he was willing to be one of the first up and out.

They were all splitting up already, it had been Jazz and Prowl first, getting called out to a meeting with Optimus Prime; he’d left next after getting a comm message from Megatron, then Sideswipe had been alerted to Elita-One landing, followed a while later by Sunstreaker and Bluestreak, then Breakdown.

Now here in the early morning light, he could see things slightly more clearly, better than in the apartment.

His paint was abnormally shiny right now, even in the typical army drab green, it almost shined in the light. He’d told Sunny not to wax it but the man had acted like a being possessed, so now they all apparently smelt nice and were shined brighter than glass. Rubbing one hand over the back of the other, he frowned a bit. Sighing, he glanced around instead.

It was still early, that was the point, to try and get out of Iacon before most people were out and about for the day. There were a few people out but most seemed to be taking in the sights and sounds like he was. Rolling his shoulder a bit, Hound paused briefly before entering the square. It was mostly filled with shops and stands that he still had not taken to purchasing from, but knew a few of his pilots had.

Moving through the market, there were only a few stands open this early in the morning, mostly different types of energon or food supplement stands. He’d seen others eat things that weren’t energon, but he’d never heard them mention what they were like. A lot of people avoided talking about food with him, or the other pilots.

He was pretty sure they all thought that they didn’t eat, he could almost laugh about it with how much crap was stuffed in his cockpit right now.

Sliding aside a piece of platting in his arm, he jingled a bit of the shanix about with a frown. They’d been paying them all, as Megatron had put it, a typical contractors fee. Now he had money he hadn’t spent in almost a year, Jazz typically bought the stuff they needed from off-world with Prowl’s help and everything else he either made or found.

With a glance up at one of the booths, he moves over and awkwardly dumps some of the strange cash into his hand, sliding the compartment shut, “Hi, uh. Do you have any rust sticks?” It was the only thing he knew.

One of the few things other than energon he’d seen Mirage eat.

The merchant nodded, his smile was slightly unnerving, “Yes of course! Would you like more than one box?” Already shaking his head, “No, no one box is fine. Thank you.” The mech nodded and moved about slightly, closing a box, “That will be five shanix.” Nodding a bit, Hound counted them out a bit awkwardly before handing them over. It was traded for the box.

Tucking it into his leg compartment, he wandered towards a few other stands.

None really caught his eyes, starting back towards the area called the docks, but he slowed down at seeing a stand that was just opening. Filled with bright colors but that’s not what caught his eye. It was the way it moved in the wind, it was as close to cloth as he’d seen.

Moving over, he waited for a second before stepping forward, “Excuse me, is your stand open?” The mech glanced up, “Yes, of course. Can I help you?” His eyes flicked over everything before nodding towards a blue piece, “How much for the blue one?” The mech face lit up, “Ah, yes. Fifteen shanix, the mesh is more fine then the rest.” Already nodding, Hound struggles to count out fifteen and handed it over.

Smiling, the mech took the blue mesh down, folding it, “Would you like it boxed?” Hound paused before shaking his head, “Uh, no, no thank you.” Nodding, the mech gently tied up the fabric before handing it over.

It passed over his hands almost like silk, brushing his fingers over it he could almost feel it. It would be soft and seemingly cuttable, which was perfect. Tucking it in with the rust sticks, he sighed and left the square, turning back towards the main street.

The trip through this part of Iacon had become so familiar to him now, the streets were easy to get lost on but he had a better sense of direction than some of the Arcturus crew. Probably most.

Walking by himself through Iacon, taking in the sights and sounds for likely the last time for a while, with his purchases basically in hand it was an almost tense walk. Sighing, he kept walking towards the docks where the shuttle was, already seeing a few from his unit wandering in.

Megatron was ordering people around as they packed supplies into the non-sentient shuttle, he hated it in a way, how he thought of it but it was the only way to think of it now. He knew so-called shuttles, people who transformed into larger alt-modes that could effectively carry their friends. It was really bizarre to him, but he didn’t want to make them uncomfortable.

He guessed it wasn’t terribly different than if his own suit was sentient, but it wasn’t, it was just an extension of himself.

Even the shuttle was familiar now, in its greys and purples, it was larger than any plane or rocket he’d seen back home, but it could still become cramped when it was packed with supplies and soldiers.

It oddly reminded him of home, or more so his stent in the military. Cramped vehicles full of people and supplies. All able to laugh, joke, and complain about it at the same time.

Coming up towards Megatron, Hound slowed, “Sir.” Megatron glanced over, smiling, “Hound, mind offering a hand?” Nodding a bit, he sighed and moved to help the others with the crates. Brand new paint on his hands, already getting scratched by the boxes.

Relief flooded him oddly, no longer looking like a fresh suit, fresh suits usually meant some point was either hurt or dead. His hands wouldn’t shine like glass, like they were breakable.

He nearly paused, stumbling slightly while trying to balance the crate. It wasn’t terribly far off for them, how close they all came to death two days ago, he certainly felt close to death but it had been easy to ignore then.

Anxiety was clutching at his throat and heart.

Sighing while setting down the crate, he shoved it into place, his mind was everywhere at the moment. Unable to focus. Stepping back slightly shakily, a hand lands on his shoulder, “Hound, are you alright?” Shaking his head a bit, he sighs, “Uh, mostly.” The grip on his shoulder tightened and he was promptly shoved deeper into the ship, away from the cargo space.

“You and your humans do not take well enough care of yourselves.” Megatron shoved him to sit, frowning, “Stay put.” Then turned to leave.

Whiplash would be the easiest way to describe how he currently felt, what just happened, but then again Megatron was all up in arms over their handling of being humans. Leaning back, he sighed slowly and stared at the ceiling for a while.

It shifted and he swore.

The space washed with light and he bit back a groan, this was something with overuse he was well and truly exhausted of, but the whole scene didn’t shift. It was just pieces, fragments of his vision. The focus of it was the ship, the ship around him but the edges, the voices, those were full of memory.

A hand rested on his shoulder, “You are going to do great things kid, you just have to pull your head out of your ass long enough to see it.” He wanted to ignore it, the voice faded briefly, but floated back to him, “Just, go through the testing. If you don’t pass, you don’t pass, but if you do, you could be a pilot. You could end this damned war.” Sighing slowly, he hangs his head, covering his face and closing his eyes.

Taking slow, deep breaths.

Clanking footsteps approached again and he looked up, opening his eyes to stare at Megatron.

Who was holding a gun.

Yeah, this day probably wasn’t going to go well.

“Hound, I know you feel that what happened in Iacon was a failure of yours but I swear it was not.” He stops a few feet away, still giving Hound space. It was another relief, “You haven’t been yourself since I saw you in that bar, it’s unlike you to be so unfocused or anxious.” Nodding slowly, Hound sighs.

Megatron shifted, still holding the rifle like he wasn’t entirely sure what to do with it, “You have been the biggest asset in this war, more than any of us can claim to be and for that I owe you a debt.” He blinked, “I’m sorry, sir, but, what?” Megatron almost smiled.

Shifting it around, he shifts the gun to show it to Hound, much less threatening a position.

”There is something significant in cybertronian culture about having a weapon crafted for you Hound.” Megatron sighed deeply and kept hold of the gun, shifting it slightly to show a different angle, “I am putting my faith and trust in you, not your pilot's Hound, but you. It sounds ridiculous, but you are capable and need a reliable weapon. One that you do not throw at the enemy when overwhelmed when you inevitably run off, or can be easily destroyed as the last two I’ve seen you hold.”

He wasn’t sure what to say, how to feel but trying not to grin, Hound nods slowly, “Uh, yes sir.” Megatron hummed, “This is a weapon designed by Wheeljack, it had been tested as to not blow up in your face.” He grimaced, as if that was a recurring occurrence.

Nodding slightly, Hound held his gaze, Megatron continued, “Treat it as your ally, not something you can throw down when disappointed or overly aggressive. I also hope that in this we’ll be able to work together, reduce your running off.” They both almost cracked a smile, but Hound sighed and nodded slowly, “Sir, if I may?:

Humming again, Megatron nodded and Hound sat back, closing his eyes.

”On Earth, when I first became a pilot, I was what is called a hunter class pilot for the first few years. My job was to stalk, attack, and kill Quintessons. By myself, there was no team or unit like I have now.” He finally looked up, opening his eyes again, “Up until this year, I had not worked with a unit of soldiers in what will be at the top limit of a tenth of my lifespan. Currently sitting around thirty percent of my life.”

Sighing again, he rubbed a hand over where his implants were, laying under the connector, “I wasn’t the best at working with others before that either, sir, or honestly after when I became a striker class pilot. So, I can’t guarantee that I won’t run off to handle a situation when I can see it before anyone else, because that is what was in my training. What I was originally made to do.” He looked up.

Megatron was staring but nodded slowly, “You are more than what you were made for Hound, I hope you come to understand that.” Smiling now, Hound nods, “I’m trying sir, but, when we fought in New Kaon. I brought back what I thought was deleted coding, my hunter class instincts where everything is dialed to an eleven. It came back and since then…” Megatron hummed, “Since then it has been difficult to not follow them.”

Nodding again, Hound sighs, “It’s like, I’m me again. More than just a pilot but me.” Megatron’s hand moved and rested on his shoulder, squeezing it, “I am glad, but I hope we can refine those instincts to include each other. More than just Mirage.” His face burned but he nodded, “Yes sir.”

They both paused as Megatron held the rifle for a moment longer before leaning it towards Hound, “I have faith in you. Earn it.” Carefully taking it, Hound sighs and picks it up, keeping the barrel away from Megatron as he systematically goes over it.

Of course it was a work of art.

Smiling, Hound looks up, keeping the barrel pointed down, “Thank you, Megatron, I hope to have earned this privilege.” The eye roll looked almost painful, “Just, settle in. The shuttle ride will be long and crowded.” He turned to leave but paused, “You did well, in Iacon. It was not a failure Hound, I hope you grow to see that.” And he walked away.

Looking down, Hound sat back and admired the rifle again. The green just shy of matching his own perfectly, the barrel would come apart just as it had before but less in a made for convenience way and more methodical. He’d have to try to speak to Wheeljack, even if the scientist was still less than trustworthy in his mind.

Eventually, Mirage appeared, moving and sitting next to him as the ship filled up. He whistled, “Damn Hound, how come you always seem to have all the new toys?” He grinned, looking at Mirage and offering it, “To show them off with, of course.” Mirage laughed.

It was far too much like music for Hound’s liking.

Mirage carefully looked over the rifle before handing it back, “You’ll use it well.” Hound took it and rested it carefully against the seat to his other side, before opening the compartment on his leg and pulling out the carefully packed box. Offering it, “For the journey.”

The look on Mirage’s face was worth more than the five shanix he paid for it.

His heart beated hard and clenched harder, which was bad to experience in a war zone, but for now they were on a shuttle. Even if the nearby seekers would make their raunchy and rude hand gestures while Hound slept. Head resting carefully on Mirage’s shoulder.

A new comm between them opened, so when Hound needed to eat but still wanted to talk to someone, he could.

He just hoped that all his nerves would stop being on fire for a day or two, to get back into the swing of things.

—

He didn’t know what to expect, whether from his stupid injury leaving him on Cybertron for the last week or two, or the full blown attack on Iacon, he really didn’t know what to expect from his unit. Let alone Elita.

There was something about her reaction to everything that he wasn’t looking forward to experiencing. Sighing, he stepped out into the early morning sunshine. The sun was coming up and the streets were starting to fill with the early morning traffic, turning left he started in what he hoped was the right direction.

Seeing Elita was the second task of today, the first one was to not get lost on the way there. If anyone was labeled as having no sense of direction among the pilots, it would be him. Every time he’d gotten lost in Iacon though, he’d found something, usually something he needed so hopefully today was included in that.

Iacon in the morning was pretty, but it made him miss the sunrises in Florida, whether before or after the attacks. Just being with Sunny on the beach or when his parents were alive with them; it was just one of many reasons he slept in most days.

To avoid the past.

Turing down another street, he almost stalled as he faced an alleyway, his heart stuttering briefly before he continued forward. There was no sense in being stressed about stumbling upon a place like the bar again, he doubted there was another place in the whole galaxy that would randomly play music from Earth.

Humming to himself, he kept walking, turning on the music in his suit. Having it low so it wouldn’t echo in his cockpit, he took another random turn, glancing vaguely at the map on his screen. It wasn’t perfect though so he kept wandering, for a while, bobbing his head to the music.

It was only when familiar voices fluttered through did he focus on actually where he was.

Which he was pretty sure he’d never been around here before, wherever he was, but Chromia and Moonracer were standing near a shop, where a few others were inside. Sighing, he moves over, “You know, I never thought I’d be happy to run into you all in public, but here we are.” Chromia looks up and smiles, “Well, look who's crawled back!” Her hand clapped his shoulder once he was within reach.

“How are you feeling, Sides?” Her voice almost softened and he shrugged off her hand, “I’m good, how was the mission?” She sighed and shook her head, “Slow after the chaos we had.” Nodding a bit, he glanced into the small shop.

Elita was inside, waiting on what appeared to be heated energon, “What about you?” “Hmm?” He glances over, “What?” Her smile was strained, “How was your mission, what, two days ago? What happened to that?” Nodding slowly, his throat tightened slightly, “Ah, uh, that.” His fingers ached.

Chromia shifted forward, “Sides? Hey, you alright?” She took hold of his shoulder again and he pulled back so hard he hit the wall behind him, “I’m fine! I’m okay, really.” Chromia and Moonracer shared a look, both taking a step back, “Okay, Sideswipe, take a breath.”

Nodding a bit, he did, even as his face burned.

The door to his left swung open, “Alright, all of you off to the shuttle, I need you to pack the supplies. Break is officially over.” Elita moved over and almost stood in front of Sideswipe, both Moonracer and Chromia sub-spaced their cubes before saluting and heading off at a job.

Punch and Skids followed as they exited the shop.

Sideswipe moved to go around her to follow, but her hand grabbed his shoulder, “Not you Sideswipe, we need to discuss what happened two days ago. Those comm calls, we don’t have to talk about everything but we have to talk about some of it. Come on, I’m still waiting for my drink.” She didn’t wait, shoving him towards the door.

The inside of the shop was warm, he could almost feel it though the suit, but it was subtle enough to not warm him up like the heaters would, “Go ahead and sit, ill be there in just a second.” Slowly, he moved to one of the tables near the window, sitting down carefully.

For an energon cafe, it wasn’t dissimilar to the ones he’d seen on TV growing up, old school reruns. The ones his mother would have on when the attacks were in the distance, to block out the car alarms or sirens from the next town over. When it would be too quiet for anything else to be on.

Picking at his fingers, he kept his head down, unable to look at his monitors a moment longer. His stomach turned over uneasily.

After a moment, Elita moves over and sits across from him, sighing, “What happened?” He doesn’t look up, staring at the table, “Other than Iacon being attacked, nothing.” She shook her head, “No, don’t you dare talk crap. I heard you on comms. Look,” Shifting forward, she sighs.

”You don’t have to talk about it but I can’t have you jumping out of your plating every time someone asks about it, they're going to ask even when I tell them not to. So come up with something better than "I'm fine or it’s okay.” Please.” He finally looks up and sits back.

Sighing, he nodded a bit, “My mom died in a building collapse, my dad not long after her. Sunny was there when the building went down and was one of very few survivors. I was at school.” The way he said the word showed the disdain, “I didn’t go back until years later, when I didn’t have a choice.” Closing his eyes, he sighs shakily.

”I didn’t get a lot of choices after they died. That day just brought it all to the surface again.” She nodded slowly, sipping her energon, “Sideswipe, I’m sorry about your creators.” He almost stared, but got it after a second.

Shrugging a bit, he sighed again, “It was a long time ago, just, when the bar fell. It was our only real piece of home, so it brought too much of that back.” Nodding again, he sits up, “It won’t happen again.”

She sat forward a bit, “Sideswipe, no, Simon, you don’t have to put all this behind you. I know it’s going to be rough, but we are going to be here for you. Don’t shut us out, I’ll order you if I have to.” He smiles a bit and nods, “Yeah, I’ll try.” She did smile then, finishing her cube and standing.

”Our shuttle is at the docks, follow me unless you want to be lost for the next several hours.” Rolling his eyes a bit, he stands and follows her out, “My sense of direction is not that bad, ma’am.” She chuckled, “We both know that is a lie.”

He chuckled a bit too, shaking his head, “Alright, maybe. Now, where are we off to?” Nodding, Elita sighs, “A planet in New Kaon’s system. We’ll have a day or two in the city before being stationed.”

Nodding, he shrugs, “Sounds like a blast.” Elita grins, “I’ll say, shuttle is this way.” They turned onto an actual road and he could see the hustle and bustle of the docks, filling up with mechs, carrying weapons and crates alike.

It looked like a war movie, those English train stations filled with soldiers and their sweethearts. A few mechs were off to the side talking with other mechs and some younger seeming mechs hanging off of others, like children.

His heart clenched and he looked away, looking back to Elita as they moved towards one of the smaller shuttles in the docking bay. The ramp was open and his unit was standing around inside, a few crates took up the leg room and there were a few larger weapons taking up space too.

The thrill of the fight finally felt like it was coming back to him.

So much of it had drained out of him when the damn bar fell on his head, none of it had felt like the prep for a fight which he’d been thrown head first into. Normally the missions grip at him nobody’s business, but he hadn’t been in the right headspace for it. Now he felt like he was actually going to face the Quintessons again.

Climbing up the ramp to their shuttle, he glanced out at the docks briefly, sighing slowly. In the distance, he could see Ironhide getting gear around for their own shuttle. However this all was supposed to go or pan out, he was glad to know his brother was with someone Elita trusted.

Even if Bluestreak was with him.

”Hey, Sides, come settle this for us!” Glancing over his shoulder, he smiles a bit and moves back into the shuttle and towards Chromia, “What am I settling now?” Her smile was bright, “It’s a bet on how soon you’ll get hurt next.” Rolling his eyes, he shoves Skids and sits down, “Ha ha, very funny. Alright then, what’s the pool look like?”

Elita moves over, crossing her arms but smiling, “I say two weeks, not so bad you’ll end up on Cybertron but enough to where you sleep for a day.” He scoffs as the others chuckle, “Does anyone have me not getting hurt?” The chorus of no’s was comforting and insulting.

Shaking his head, he smiles, “Fuck you guys, alright, a shanix on a month.” He hands the money over to Nickel.

Her smile was always unsettling, but they all moved about to write down the bets, laughing together.

—

When he’d received a comm from Optimus Prime that morning, he didn’t think it was for breakfast. Or, well, not exactly breakfast. Everyone on Cybertron danced around the fact that they didn’t appear to eat, he was pretty sure it made most people uncomfortable.

Leaving the apartment had been chaotic that morning, everyone moving around to gather supplies and prep their suits for the extended missions, but he moved slower. Picking this specifically and packing the cockpit of his suit tight, even though he was fairly sure he’d be sticking to Cybertron.

The reassignment had hardly been a shock, but he was a slower and bulkier mech, made for the distanced launch of weapons. To be held behind the lines was expected, but not so far back he wasn’t even in the fight.

He’d smashed his way through his fair share of Quintessons by hand, even with closer range guns, but this was nearly absurd. If it had been Megatron who had asked, he would have understood that.

Everything about their political structure was odd, but the Lord High Protector was the every standing guard of their Prime. So if Megatron had asked him to remain at Optimus Prime’s side, he would have understood. To know it was the medic, that was what made it odd.

Stepping down to the street, Breakdown turns and starts towards headquarters, moving at a comfortable pace. Optimus had said not to rush and he probably spent the least time out and about in Iacon than any of the others. He usually was hurt, healing, or just too busy.

Glancing up and around, he could see some of the things about the city that the others couldn’t, or at least never commented on. The mixing of architecture, the types of metal in use the deeper into the city he got, a clear balance of pre and post-war designs.

It reminded him of Kiev, the older architecture closer to the city center, buildings that had stood through wars and conflicts, versus the newer towards the edge of the city. Most war-torn cities looked like this, at least all the ones he had seen. Of course, cities were also likely to keep some original architecture towards the center but others wanted the development to spread outward.

This city looked more like it had lived through war then anything else, which he knew it had. Longer than he could even know, but now, he glances towards where the bar had been. A nearby skyscraper had been damaged by the crashing ship.

The building had been newer construction, at least when compared to the bar which clearly was ancient. Not old, not even just pre-war, that building’s metal had been entirely different from every part of the city. It was hard to tell but he could see it, clear as day.

Sighing, he kept walking, rubbing at his palms. Sunstreaker had made his suit so bright, it reminded him too much of when he’d been assigned this suit, and reminded him of how he kept finding reminders of his brother inside that first year.

It tore at his heart a bit, just the subtleness of the similarity from now to back then.

He stayed alive so none of his little brothers would get stuck in this suit, how it tried to tear you apart.

Climbing up the steps towards headquarters, there were a few guards standing outside, as if waiting. Probably for him as they open the gates while he moves up, “Thank you.” He nods slightly as he goes past, starting to move inside, “Ah, Breakdown, just the mech I was waiting for.” He slows and turns.

Optimus Prime stood in an arch way, smiling softly and holding a cube, which appeared to have a seal on it, “Walk with me.” Nodding a bit, he picks up the pace and moves over, “Sir.” Optimus smiled and started walking, into what could only be described as a garden.

Though they weren’t exactly growing planets that he’d be used to, it looked like they were growing crystals and glass.

It was beautiful.

Optimus hummed, glancing around, “Are there gardens like this on Earth, Breakdown?” Glancing around, he shrugs, “Some, but not many since the war. Most were handled by government resources, they have other priorities now.” Optimus nodded slowly.

Scuffing his foot lightly against the ground, Breakdown sighs, “Sir, why exactly are we here?” Chuckling weakly, Optimus sighs, “Breakdown, I listen to my people when they ask of me little. Knockout, my CMO has asked that you remain here to guard both of us. As he will travel with me and my primesguard, with Ironhide being away, we do not have a heavier weight class soldier at the ready.”

This was making a lot more sense, “I see.” Optimus hummed again before gesturing, “Sit with me.” Nodding some, he moves over and sits down. Optimus slowly sat next to him, sighing and opening his cube, “I apologize for eating while you cannot, but enjoy the view with me.” Nodding slowly, Breakdown looks out and freezes.

Through the crystals in front of them, it enlarged the view in the distance, pointing out the border of the city and the cities connected to it. You could almost see half of Cybertron from this one seat, “Wow.”

The smile on Optimus’s face was bright, “This was a gift from Megatron, when we were still formulating our peace. I mentioned once that I never wanted to lose sight of what mattered, which was Cybertron. So he had these clear crystals planted. Someday, when they are fully grown, I will see even more than we can now.” Nodding slowly, Breakdown sighs, “It’s beautiful.”

Resting a hand on his back, Optimus nods, “I have to ask that you stay here in the Primesguard quarters, so they are able to get you on schedule and into our routines. Those same routines will lead to basic training and prepare you for working in our lines. You’ll fit right in Breakdown.”

Nodding again, he sighs slowly and looks back out at Cybertron.

It really was beautiful, “I have to go back inside, I’ll be sending Knockout out this way to show you around headquarters. It seems a lot more daunting than it actually is.” Optimus rose and paused, smiling some, “Also, at some point you will have to explain the Joan nickname I have earned from you and the other pilots.”

Breakdown’s head snapped up, “Uh,” Optimus chuckled, “I understand it will be a long story, enjoy the view and the morning.” Nodding slowly, he watched as Optimus wandered off again.

Sitting back in his piloting chair, he sighs deeply and drags his hands down his face, “There is a time and a place to freak out, this is not that time.” Sighing again, he picked up one of the pouches of water in his cockpit and sips.

He got to enjoy the rest of the sunrise, watching the light cast over the cities in the distance, Knockout didn’t appear until the sun was up.

Knockout moved slowly, still wiping at his hands with a cloth, “Good morning Breakdown, how was your rest?” He didn’t glance away from the crystals, “Well, Knockout. Thank you for asking.” Pushing up from the bench, he turned to Knockout and lightened his visor in a smile.

The gaze from Knockout warmed his face, his smile was small and soft, caring.

“You look well, Knockout. Recovered from the other day?” Knockout nodded and gestured, “Let me give you a tour, this place is massive.” Smiling, Breakdown moves over and takes up his side, “Well then, we might as well start now.” Slowly, they moved out of the garden.

A place where Breakdown knew if he could, he’d spend far more time. Glancing at Knockout, he smiles a bit, hoping to spend more time there with him.

”Breakdown, I was worried the other day, but you look nearly better than new. I am very glad to know you are alright.” His face went from warm to nearly burning, clearing his throat a bit, he nodded, “As much as this might not be reassuring, I have in fact been through worse Knockout. It will take more than knocking my head off to kill me.”

The look on Knockout’s face clearly showed that this was, in fact, not reassuring.

Chuckling weakly, Breakdown rubs his back a bit, “That sounds terrible, I understand but it is merely how the human mind works. Forgive me.” Knockout’s hand quickly took his arm, holding it briefly before letting go, “You, Breakdown, are amazing and deserve better than what they made you think.”

Looking down, his blush did not die down, “I, I thank you Knockout.” Clearing his throat, he nods as they enter the building, “So, the tour?” Knockout nodded, clearing his throat, “Yes, the tour.” Gesturing again, he smiled, “You’ll like this part, it’s one of the oldest structures in all of Iacon. Maybe on all of Cybertron.”

Nodding, Breakdown smiles, “Sounds interesting.” Slowly, they moved together. Hands hovering near each other as they walked.

—

There was something that had been relaxing and relieving yesterday, about painting everyone’s suits and ensuring that the maintenance was caught back up. To know everyone would be safe even as they all separated again, even more than normal.

After the bar collapsed, he couldn’t just let them wander back off without checking over the systems and making sure everything was working.

Though now that his cockpit was weighed down with supplies, he wasn’t sure if he should have replaced some of his hydraulic lines or not beforehand. It certainly weighed more than it typically did and that could be dangerous.

He just had to be one of the last ones out of the apartment, things bumping around in his cockpit as he hurried. Ironhide had sent him and Bluestreak a message, claiming they needed to hurry and that they all needed to be at the shuttle urgently. Ironhide rarely spoke like that, let alone sent messages so he left the apartment building at a run.

Not only did he have no idea where they were going yet, but had limited idea as to why they were leaving Cybertron after the attack. Especially while Breakdown was staying behind and suddenly all of them were leaving.

Blue caught up with him on the street, also jogging, “You know, Ironhide doesn’t really send messages unless it’s urgent.” Nodding a bit, Sunny sighs, “Yeah, I figured. I’ve never gotten a message from him, at least not in the handful of months I’ve been working under him.” His skin prickled.

Taking his hand suddenly, Bluestreak squeezed it, “Oh relax Sunny, I doubt it’s anything that bad. Probably just wants us all there already.” They jogged down the street, hand in hand.

Briefly reminding Sunny of couples out of old rom-com movies his mom used to love, the ones he’d watch when he was home sick cause she had them on DVD.

“Still, we should get there as quickly as possible. I mean, it’s Ironhide Blue.” Bluestreak sighed, “Please, you didn’t know home during the last war Sunny. You weren’t even alive in the last war, this is just how Ironhide gets when he’s going to be doing something he doesn’t want to do.”

Rolling his eyes a bit, Sunny shakes his head, “I doubt that, honestly Blue, this could be serious. After the attack on Iacon, we could be going just about anywhere in the galaxy. Doesn’t that worry you?” Bluestreak was already shaking his head.

Sighing, they kept jogging, passing through the market square as most of the stands were open at this point in the morning, people were moving around everywhere.

Iacon felt strangely busy.

They moved through the streets at a rapid pace, Sunny focused while Blue was mostly staring at him, biting his tongue while they moved through Iacon.

“You know Sunny, I like how you redid your paint. Plus the wax you put on is really nice,” his fingers brushed over the back of his hand, “How’d you learn to do this?” Sighing, he smiled a bit and nodded, “I used to work on cars, uh, personal transports back home. Painting them, waxing them, and general work.” He shrugged a bit.

Smiling at him, Bluestreak could have melted, “Wow, that sounds incredible.” Chuckling a bit, Sunny shakes his head, “Not really, they were mostly hunks of junk by the time I started working on them. Sides and I did it to get by, but we both loved it.” They started to slow, still holding hands.

Nodding, Bluestreak hummed, “Still, the fact you found a wax that also smells nice is fantastic. What is it like, on Earth?” Sighing a bit, he shrugs, “Personal transports are quickly becoming a thing of the past beside for the government and in sports. No one can afford them really anymore and the resources aren’t there.” Blue frowned, “What do you mean?”

Sighing, Sunny almost stops before remembering and picking the pace back up, “A lot of personal transports relied on gasoline, a substance which is dwindling on Earth, but in the latter half of the last century they started to mine out at sea. Uh, it’s not really safe to do that anymore.” He shrugs.

”It happens, but the Quintessons tried to break apart our oil rigs early on. It was better to get them out from the sea than face the ecological disaster.” Bluestreak nodded slowly, frowning, “You said your planet is like, seventy percent water, right?” Nodding again, Sunny smiles, “Yeah.”

Whistling, Blue shakes his head, “Earth sounds weird.” Chuckling, Sunny nodded, “Cause it is.”

Finally, they came up to the docking bay, where multiple shuttles were preparing to leave or were in the process of leaving.

Glancing around, Sunny just caught a flash of red as one of the shuttle's doors closed, his heart clenched. See you later Sideswipe.

He pinged him once and got a pin back before they turned toward Ironhide’s shuttle.

Ironhide was standing outside of it, looking stressed as a few people were loading the shuttle, “There you two are! Civi, I need your help with something!” Glancing at Bluestreak, Sunny let go of his hand and hurried over, “Sir!” He only slowed when he was in front of Ironhide.

”You need to look over this map of the Archa system, the planets there are organic and we need your advice on where you think the Quintessons might hit next. They keep circling the system.” Sighing, Sunny nods and moves forward, “Is that all?” Ironhide scowls, “Far from it, but it’s what I am at liberty to tell you right now, Civi.”

His heart sunk but he nodded and moved onto the shuttle, heading towards the mapping table. It was lit up with the Archa system, one of the planets, pretty and blue spun lazily.

Returning to the Archa system sounded like heaven on earth, at least to him. Every time they went there it reminded him of home, but the fact that they were asking him for advice was probably not a good sign.

He was far from an expert in strategy, “So, take a look.” Nodding a bit, Sunny sighed and looked. Some were too small, others too violent, but one was too much like Earth and another too much like Cybertron, “Uh, why do you need my advice on this?” He looks to Ironhide.

Frowning, Ironhide sighs, “Because you can tell when they're scouting something or getting ready to attack.” He hit a button on the table and more than a dozen small Quintesson ships appeared. He stared.

That was not good.

—

He could have dozed off, content for the moment, until everyone started to grumble and groan. It only took a few seconds to realize why as Jazz sat next to him and Prowl went towards the front of the shuttle.

Pausing, he shifted towards Jazz, “Uh, what’s going on?” He pinged him and Jazz came up in the corner of his vision, wearing a grin, “Well, Spec ops is going with Megatron it would seem since most of the primesguard have to stay behind.” Nodding slowly, he frowned, “Uh huh, okay, why?” The glint in Jazz’s eye was criminal.

He knew it well.

“Well you and Mirage are going, plus a few of the others. Only ones who were missing were me, Prowl, and Smokey so we thought we’d join. Joan doesn’t need us planet side for what we do and that way, at least, the five of us might be able to kick some ass.” He blinked, then looked to Mirage.

Who was stuffing his face with rust-sticks.

Dragging a hand down his face, Hound groaned but smiled. Sitting back against Mirage, he sighed, “You’ll have to explain to me what Spec Ops is to you know, cause we certainly don’t dress like those guys did in the army.” Jazz laughed and shook his head, “Nothing like those gun nuts. We’re more crazy.”

With a nod, Hound hums and tries to settle back in again, before Smokescreen comes shuffling over with yet another rifle. It was bad enough that he and Mirage had one a piece and now there was another sniper joining them. He sat one seat away from Jazz, clearly leaving room for Prowl, “I hate traveling by shuttle.”

Jazz nodded, “You and me both buddy, so, do any of you know where we’re going?” Shaking his head, he sighs a bit, “Megatron simply told me that the shuttle ride would be long, so I’d settle in if I were you.” Sitting back again, Hound tried closing his eyes.

Tapping his shoulder, Jazz smiled, “Oh come on Hound, it’s early and we all slept last night. Sleep is the last thing that we need.” Cracking open an eye, Hound glanced at Jazz, “One of the rules I learned in the army was sleep when you can. We’re hardly going to be able to hear each other in a few minutes during take off and lights will be cut off for the first hour. Sleep while you can.”

Shaking his head, Jazz sighed, “Oh come on Hound, we can talk strategy.” Sighing, he sat back up a bit, “Fine, but only because we’re sitting here. Mirage, care to join in?” Mirage groaned and closed up the box of rust-sticks, “Why do you have to involve me?” They all chuckled.

Prowl moved back down the aisle and sat in between Jazz and Smokescreen, crossing his arms, “We’re going back to that organic planet from last year Jazz, the one with the purple fruit.” Jazz grinned, “Fantastic!” Hound smiled and settled back as Jazz started to describe the planet.

There was nothing else, nowhere else, that he felt needed. Not like this. He could spend the rest of his life fighting Quintessons alongside the Cybertronians and he’d feel more fulfilled in life than he had doing it on Earth.

He’d always miss home, miss his passion projects he’d work on during his nights off, but he had the garden, he had Mirage, and his closest friends were here. If he looked back on what he was missing, it would tear him apart, but looking around the shuttle showed him what he had.

And he wouldn’t trade this for the world.

A competent commander in Megatron, reliable allies in Prowl and Jazz, someone who had his back in Mirage, and a cohesive unit. He never thought he’d miss the familiarity of the military until he was thrown back into it and felt more at home than he had in the better part of a decade while working with MECHA.

This is where he was meant to be, somehow, someway, this was where he was meant to be.

Slowly, Jazz, Prowl, and Smokescreen conversation drifted away from them and the shuttle rumbled to life as the lights cut.

Mirage leaned closer, resting his hand on Hound’s back before shuffling down slightly, “Get some rest Hound, we’re going to be here for a while.” Humming, he nodded and leaned back, sighing.

Yeah, he was exactly where he was meant to be.

———

A/N

This officially is the longest chapter of Arcturus at just a little over 8k. Damn, this took a minute to write. But life also didn’t want to slow down the last few weeks, for whatever reason.

Friday will be Arcturus Three and then next Tuesday I will hopefully have the first part of part two of the Arcturus missions.

I can’t believe I wrote 50 parts of the original team. That’s insane to me. But I love these guys and I am glad you all have been enjoying it!

I also only realized while adding tags that Soundwave is not in this chapter, oops. He’s just busy.